Prologue - Connections Beyond
Equestria, Ponyville, Castle of Friendship
Around Seven PM
"I must say everypony…" Rarity spoke from her position at the crystalline dinner table. "That was quite the fulfilling meal."
"Hear, hear." Applejack agreed, leaning back in her chair. "You know, Twilight, your cooking's gotten a lot better."
Twilight Sparkle, Equestrian Princess of Magic and currently seated at the head of the table, blushed and waved in a grateful tone.
"Oh, I'm not that good. I only managed to make dinner tonight because Pinkie gave me lessons." she smiled shyly. "But thanks for all the compliments."
"You deserve them." Rainbow Dash said. "So, what's for dessert?"
"Spike?" Twilight called into the kitchen. "Bring out the pudding!"
"On it!" the little dragon replied, toting out a large pan full of marble pudding. "Here you go, fresh from the oven."
As Spike set the pan down, he felt a familiar tingle in his belly, meaning a message from the Princesses. Moving away as to not leave the scroll covered in pudding, he burped and expelled the scroll, handing it to Twilight.
"A letter from the Princess?" Fluttershy queried. "At this hour?"
"Wonder what it's about?" Applejack added. "So? Twilight, don't keep us hanging."
"Oh, right!" Twilight said, opening the letter and proceeding to read.
Dearest Twilight and the Element Bearers,
Though I hate to interrupt your dinner or after-dinner activities (It is around that time, after all.), I must ask a favor of you. I'm sure you remember the Mirror Portal incident from about a month ago?
I bring it up because you should know that the Mirror is not the only supernatural portal in Equestria. Another exists, locked away beneath our former Castle in the Everfree. We sealed it because it links not to the world of "Canterlot High". It links to a world with humans in it, but ones who do not use or know of magic whatsoever.
"No magic?" Rarity gasped. "That's certainly an odd world to live in."
"Well, maybe for us, but possibly not for them." Twilight said. "Let's keep going."
These humans rely on their technological development and their bonds with creatures...sorry, I digress from the subject at hand. We once visited this world, and let's just say it didn't go over well with the deity that rules over their realm, or his many powerful offspring. He ordered us to depart lest we endager his realm, and seeing as his power far exceeded and still exceeds our own in all extents and purposes, despite how impossible that might seem, we did as he asked. We haven't dared to return for over 600 years.
Now, this deity has since...reconsidered his stance, and after we told him of your accomplishments, has invited you all to his realm for a diplomatic journey. However, he made it clear that there might be some...rules and side-effects, you could call them, should you choose to accept.
First, you won't look the same as you do know. You will assume the appearance of humans in order to blend in. They also wear clothing at all times, so he will supply suitable garments for you as well when you arrive. Your current bodies will, not might, attract unwelcome attention.
Second, the gateway will seal behind you once you depart from Equestria, so bring absolutely everything you need beforehand. It will reopen at the end of your journey, and not any sooner. Our friend insisted on this point quite adamantly. Well, unless there is a clear danger to both worlds, then he will pull you all out immediately to protect you.
Third, there are people in that world that if they learn your identities, they will seek to do you harm. Rest assured that our friend has taken necessary precautions to prevent any danger from coming to you.
And fourth, once you arrive, you will not be able to use your magic. Our friend stated that this is to keep further unnecessary attention away from you. I understand the implications, but please, don't use magic unless your life depends on it. That includes when you are alone and away from prying eyes.
I suggest you leave as soon as you are ready, the portal will only be open for a limited time and only for tonight. However, I will still be able to contact you through the enclosed journal I have enchanted just for this purpose.
Spike handed Twilight a newly-made notebook emblazoned with the Equestrian Royal Seal.
Good luck, Elements. And best of wishes once you reach the other side.
Celestia.
"Huh." Twilight said. "Wait, there's a postscript."
PS - Once you arrive, search for a man named Augustine Sycamore. Our friend assured me you can trust him with your origins when you meet him. Other than that, make many new friends, but keep your identities a secret unless absolutely necessary. Trust me on this, and if asked, say you are travelers from a distant region and nothing more, especially nothing about your exploits. Or in your case Twilight, your Royal status. I cannot emphasize that last point enough. Once again, good luck.
As Twilight sealed the letter and journal in a magically conjured pair of side-bags, Applejack gave a hum of thought.
"What's up?" Twilight asked.
"Something tells me that the Princess isn't telling us everything we need to know." she mused. "That one part about "bonds with creatures" that she didn't finish? She didn't tell us anything about them or even what these creatures are."
"True." Rarity said. "I suppose we'll deal with it when the time comes. Anyway, we should get moving while there's still light outside. Sun's about to go down, and I don't think we want to be caught in the Everfree when that happens."
As the Ponies nodded and departed to pack their things as quickly as possible, Spike came to Twilight.
"I'm holding down the fort again?" he asked.
"Yes." Twilight said. "Be safe, Spike. Next time we go on a crazy new adventure, you can come with us. I promise."
Spike nodded, placed the uneaten pudding in the fridge, and headed upstairs. As the Elements regrouped and headed out towards the Everfree, the sun began to lower, signalling the end of the daytime.
====
As the Elements, now wearing sidebags packed with their necessary provisions, headed into the Everfree, the daylight began to fade quicker than anticipated.
"Wow, I can't see past my own front hooves." Rainbow said. "How are we supposed to find our way to the Castle like this?"
"We ask for help." Fluttershy said, moving over to a patch of fireflies gathering near some flowers. She made some strange buzzing noises with her mouth, and the fireflies assembled into a cloud of light. They went ahead of the Elements, lighting the path up, one by one.
"Wow, I knew you were good with animals, but with bugs too?" Rarity said, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "I didn't know you speak bug."
"Well, it took some practice." Fluttershy said. "And Mr. Grizzly wouldn't stop raiding some beehives in the plains earlier in the week, and the bees weren't happy, so...well, let's just say we came to an understanding."
"Fluttershy, I'm impressed." Pinkie quipped. "Do all bugs talk?"
"Not all of them." Fluttershy said. "Mostly just the bees, butterflies and fireflies. I've tried to teach the crickets to sing at night, though."
"How'd that go?" Twilight asked.
"Well, they're actually better musicians than we give them credit for." the pegasus rolled her eyes playfully. "They could already recite Moztrot and Beethoofen quite well, if I say so myself."
"Geez, the Canterlot Philharmonic should hire bugs instead." Rainbow smiled. "Not sure what they'd be paid, though."
As the girls laughed, the fireflies led them to the old Castle. Once they were safely across the rope bridge, the fireflies flickered a few times and buzzed away.
"They said good luck on your trip." Fluttershy translated. "So, where's the portal that's taking us to this other world?"
"I think it's the giant swirling crack in the air that's right in front of us." Pinkie said. True to her word, a portal shaped like a circular, cracked hole in a sheet of glass swirled inside the castle's ruined courtyard.
"Well, everypony ready?" Twilight asked. Everypony else replied in the affirmative, and they jumped through as one. As their vision turned white, the portal closed behind them, leaving no trace it was once there.
====
Kalos Region, Southwest of Lumiose City
Near Camphrier Town, Forest Clearing
"Girls, you all okay?" Twilight asked once her vision returned to normal. True to what the letter said, the six of them were now in human bodies greatly resembling their original forms, albeit a few changes in skin color. Rainbow, Pinkie, and Twilight's coats had changed to a more human-like yellow tan, though their manes had remained the same. Their wings and horns were gone, presumably to keep their disguise.
Furthermore, each of them now wore clothing like their Canterlot High counterparts, and each of them had a sidebag or satchel of some kind with them, emblazoned with their Cutie Mark.
"So, this is what a human looks like?" Rarity raised an eyebrow. "I expected something more...well, this is not what I would have expected."
"Yeah." Rainbow said, stretching her arms. "I am missing my wings, though. Why are my wings gone, anyway?"
"Because humans don't have them." Twilight said, easily getting up onto her legs. "Or horns for that matter. They don't use magic here, remember?"
"Oh, right." Rainbow groaned. "So, what now?"
"We find a way out of this forest and we start walking." Twilight said, motioning towards the treeline. "With luck, we'll find some humans who can give us directions to the nearest town. We start there on our search for the "Augustine Sycamore" that Celestia mentioned."
"Sounds good!" Pinkie smiled. "Let's go!'
As the six of them exited the forest, they didn't notice they had already been spotted. A small quad-rotor drone buzzed quietly beneath a branch, out of sight. It activated its built-in camera and followed the girls, streaming the feed to an unknown location.
====
Team Cosmos HQ
Team Leader's Office
"Sir?"
"Hmm?"
"We have a problem on the perimeter."
Inside a subterranean complex colored white and purple, two men spoke in a lushly-decorated office. The first wore a black jumpsuit with a hood and mask. The mask featured a logo of a pair of stars surrounding the letter C.
The other man wore a suit, colored black. His eyes were shrouded by sunglasses, and his hair was colored pepper-blonde. As he pulled up the surveillance feed on his laptop, it displayed six girls moving through the forest near their HQ with no Pokemon in sight.
"Hmm…" the man in the suit said. "They made it after all."
"Should we bring them here?" the second man asked.
"No." the first replied. "I will deal with them personally. Have a few of our colleagues prepare in case of a struggle. Until then, let me deal with them."
"Yes, sir."
====
Twilight and the Elements continued to tread through the forest, the calls of avian animals filling the air.
"Hmm…" Twilight said, taking note of one bird with a drill-like beak and broad wings. "That's certainly not a bird I have seen before."
"If you are speaking about that Fearow, then yes, I doubt you have seen them before, Princess."
The Elements froze and slowly turned around. A strange human wearing a formal suit walked up to them, his eyes hidden by sunglasses.
"Who are you?" Twilight asked. "I'm not a Princess, so…"
"Don't play dumb, Twilight Sparkle." the man said. "I also believe your companions are the Elements of Harmony?"
That made everyone there flinch.
"How do you know that?" Rainbow demanded.
"I have my methods." the man replied cryptically. "I know of where you come from, and I suggest you come with me. I can answer any question you might have."
"Why should we?" Rarity raised an eyebrow. "We don't even know your name."
"Ah, apologies. I am Vance, leader of Team Cosmos." he replied. "And if you will not come quietly, there will be…"
Vance pulled out an orb, colored red on top and white on the bottom, with a disc in the middle.
"...trouble." he finished. Twilight shook her head as the Elements stepped back.
"A pity." Vance said. "Mismagius? Care to join us?"
The orb opened, and a stream of white energy came out. The energy the coalesced into a strange, ghost-like creature. It was purple-colored, and it also seemed to be wearing a spectral witch's hat of some kind.
"Maagi!" it cried out, as it assumed a battle stance. Twilight and the Elements stood back, readying themselves for a fight.
"Mismagius, Shadow Ball." Vance commanded. The creature, or apparently "Mismagius", formed an orb of purple and black energy in front of itself, and fired it like a bullet towards the Elements. As they braced for impact, another voice entered the fray.
"Flairees, Blaze Kick!"
There was a roar, a cry of challenge, and Twilight Sparkle passed out.
Author's Note
Wow, this took a while.
