What kind of Pokémon are you?
Author's Note
Okay so, here we go I guess. For quite some time now, I've had a rather nasty combination of depression, anxiety and writer's block. I've so many stories on my computer. Half-started things that never panned out. My brain flicks from one idea to the next like a Hummingbird on Red Bull.
This is an attempt to go back to my roots. Taking two franchises I cherish and doing something cute with them. I do hope some of you enjoy my latest drivel.
What kind of Pokémon are you?
Luna wasn’t angry.
Nay, angry was for ponies far calmer than Luna.
Luna was absolutely livid!
She’d woken up some short minutes ago and already knew something was off. For starters, she was not in fact, in her luxurious cloud bed with Somnambulan silk sheets. The lovely enchantment above her bed that depicted her night sky. All of it was replaced by the wide outdoors and her sister’s infernal ball of eye-searing light beating down on her.
Luna was outside, in the grass and dirt, sleeping like some… some common beast!
And then things got really weird. When she’d woken up to stretch her limbs, she’d found that said limbs were significantly shorter.
She was a moon-damned filly! Borderline foal even.
This was the fault of one of two individuals. Either this was one of her sister’s more elaborate pranks, or the second and much more likely suspect…
“When I get my hooves on Discord, I will hang him from the throne room ceiling by his own entrails,” the petite moon pony muttered as she waded through the ridiculously tall grass. Did this place not have a groundskeeper? Even if this was the wild, natural herbivores should keep the grass manageable no?
“Okay Luna, just… keep calm and get back to Canterlot,” she muttered to herself. Placing one hoof in front of the other she--
Did that patch of grass just move!? Luna’s careful gait soon became a panicked run. She could hear voices ahead. Thanks the gods, she could find some ponies, get some help and--
That was her last thought before a metal sphere collided with her face, and her world fell to darkness.
***
Red stretched and yawned as he sat up. Okay! Today was finally the day. He’d get to go out and begin his Pokémon journey. He’d spent weeks going over his choices and the pros and cons of each starter. In the end, he still couldn’t decide.
“Red?” his mother called from downstairs. “Are you ready to go yet? Professor Oak isn’t going to wait all day dear.”
“Yeah I know!” he called back as he picked up his backpack. It held all the necessary camping essentials and whatnot. He’d need his Pokédex to prove he was a registered Trainer before he could buy things like Pokeballs and such.
Heading downstairs, he had breakfast with his mother and bid her goodbye. Hopefully the next time he came back here, it’d be as the Pokémon Champion. Taking a deep breath and heading outside, this was the start of his amazing journey!
…
“Professor Oak isn’t home,” Red deadpanned as he looked at the closed doors to the lab. A kid that often hung around said lab nodded.
“Yeah, I saw him take off a little while ago. Sorry Red.”
“Dangit,” Red sighed as he started heading home. He paused as he looked up the street, towards the exit of the town. More often than not, if someone wanted to go to Viridian City, they either stocked up on Repels first, or had one of the local trainer’s escort them. This far out in the sticks, their routes weren’t paved and were thick with wild Pokémon. Thankfully, local trainer’s kept the more powerful ones at bay.
“I could just… take a look?” Red murmured to himself as he headed for the gate. Route 1 was just a few feet away now. A little bit closer and maybe he’d get to see a wild Pokémon…
“Hey, don’t go out into the tall grass!” a voice called, making Red freeze in place. An older man walked up behind him, patting Red on the head. “That’s dangerous you know. Wild Pokémon could leap out at a moment’s notice.”
“Oh uh, hi Professor Oak,” Red said. Craaaap, he was so busted. “Nice day huh?”
“Indeed it is,” the elder man chuckled. “So, how about we get you set up so you can actually head out through here hm?” He winked and looked up as the tall grass rustled. No sooner had a blue shape emerged from the grass, Oak’s arm flicked and lobbed a Pokéball, years of honed reflexes on display.
The ball snapped shut, capturing whatever it was inside. Problem is, both males didn't actually see what Oak caught.
***
Luna was panicking. Her head kind of hurt and she found herself in some kind of black abyss. She couldn’t sense anything and it very much reminded her of her prior imprisonment. She started to hyperventilate as she glanced rapidly around.
“No… nonononono!” Luna yelled into the abyss. “I will NOT BE CONTAINED AGAIN!” She started to run, she didn’t know where but she seemed to be able to move in this abyss and by gods she would find a way out.
***
Oak and Red could only watch as the Pokéball started to literally spaz out. It spun, twitched and bounced, before spinning out like an irate Sandshrew using Rapid Spin and bolted, heading in the direction of Oak’s lab. They looked at one another for a moment, both in equal states of confusion before giving chase.
When they finally caught up, the ball had apparently gone inside the lab, and was now nestled on top of one of the tables there.
“Goodness me, it’s quite the lively one isn’t it?” Oak chuckled, pausing to catch his breath. “Well, that was quite the adventure for one day. Now,” he dusted his hands off and looked at Red. “Let’s get you your starting Pokémon hm?”
“Sounds good to me,” Red smiled. He’d been waiting for this moment for so long and now it was time. He approached the table that held a half-dozen Pokéballs and reached for one…
Let. me. OUT!
Before the weird one from earlier twitched violently and shot off of the table, smacking him in the chest. The ball then snapped open, the Pokémon contained within materializing on the table.
“Aha! So you chose… er…?” Oak blinked as he and Red stared at the Pokémon. It appeared to be a tiny equine, like Ponyta. Only it was small, maybe about the size of a Bulbasaur? It had a soft, teal-blue mane and tail. A coat that was a deep, darker blue. On its head sat a short, stubby horn and it’s back was adorned with little flickering wings.
“What kind of Pokémon are you?” Red wondered as he looked at it. It was really cute though. It’s eyes flickered open and looked around in confusion.
***
Luna was, confused. Whatever she did had gotten her out of that abyss and she’d been so relieved and thankful that she hadn’t noticed her surroundings at first. By the time she did take stock of her current situation…
“Where, am I?” Luna asked aloud. She looked around the room she found herself in. It was massive, maybe. It was hard to gauge in her smaller form. Though it wasn’t familiar. She saw odd machines, kind of like the ones friend Twilight kept in her basement. Tall (to her) shelves of books and-
“WHAT IN BLAZES!” she yelped and flared her tiny wings as she saw two giants looming over her. They appeared to be massive, furless bipeds. And both appeared to be almost as surprised as her. Well, maybe. Their expressions were hard to read.
***
“WOONA!” the tiny pony shouted and flared her tiny wings. It seemed to be attempting to be threatening, but it was really kind of adorable.
“Woona?” Red repeated. “Professor? What kind of Pokémon is that? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Nor have I,” Oak agreed as he looked over the Woona on his table. “Have we discovered a new Pokémon? How marvelous.” Ooh, he could only imagine the excitement of the other professors when he told them. Discovering a new species was always a delight. First that ‘Meltan’ creature Professor Willow first discovered, now this? What a time to be alive.
***
W-What did they call her? How did they know that insufferable, foalish nickname of hers!? Her cheeks tinted pink with righteous indignation. “You foul curs! I swear if you are in leagues with that damnable spirit! I shall see to it personally you share his grim fate!”
***
“Woona! WooWooonaaa! Nanana! Woona!”
“Huh, it’s really talkative huh?” Red chuckled as he reached out to pet its head, only to have it snap at his fingers. “Or maybe just really mad?”
“Hmm,” Oak mused. “Hey Red, how about you take this Woona as your starting Pokémon? That way, we could get some excellent data.”
“Huh?” Red blinked and looked at the little thing. A completely unknown Pokémon, and Oak was letting him take it!? “Oh heck yes! This’ll be amazing!”
“Heeeeey!” Another voice called out as someone new ran into the room. A short, somewhat lanky young boy named Trace. “Hey Red! I heard you were here and… wooow! What’s that!?” he exclaimed, running over to the table.
***
Luna had no idea what the two giants were talking about. What the hells was a ‘Pokémon’ and why did they seem to think she was one? Before she could ponder too deeply, a third, louder voice chimed out and she suddenly had another giant rush over, shoving his big, stupid head right in her face.
Her reaction was something she deemed valid and at an acceptable level.
She shrieked, her horn lighting up as she lifted him off of the ground and tossed him. The giant yelped as he crashed into one of the bookshelves, many of the tomes knocking free and landing on him.
“Humph! Serves thee right!” Luna huffed, folding her forehooves.
***
“Whoa! Was that… Confusion? Or maybe Psychic?” Red asked as Oak wrote this down.
“Perhaps?” the old man nodded. “Perhaps it’s a Psychic type, or one of its types. Given the wings… maybe also Flying?” He scratched his chin as he took out a small, red metal book and typed in some details. “Nonetheless, we’ll add data as we go along.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Red nodded as he turned his head. “Hey, you okay Trace?”
“...Golden,” the boy groaned as he extracted himself from the pile of books. “So uh, what was that?”
“That would be called, ‘don’t startle the unknown Pokémon’,” Red laughed as he looked back at the Woona. “You’re a strong lil thing huh?”
***
Luna looked up at the giant. Okay, so for some reason. She could understand them, but the reverse didn’t appear to be true. Also, aside from what she assumed was telekinesis, she didn’t seem capable of any other spells. She tried teleporting, casting sleep and none of which even got her horn to light up. Also, now that she was a bit calmer, she noticed that these giants appeared to be similar to the ‘humans’ that inhabited Sunset Shimmer’s world. Though they looked different than the one’s she’d seen in Twilight and Starlight’s dreams.
No matter, if they assumed her to be one of these ‘Pokémon’ creatures, she’d assume them to be human. So there!
‘This could be bothersome,’ she thought as she looked at the trio of giants. ‘Okay Luna. You’re not lucid dreaming, nor do you appear to be trapped in somepony else's. These human giants don’t ‘seem’ to be dangerous. Perhaps I should play along for a while, until I can get a better understanding of my surroundings.’
She looked at the human identified as ‘Red’ and pondered. Given physical appearance and height, Luna determined him to be a human colt. Perhaps a little after the standard age of gaining a Cutie Mark?
***
Meanwhile, Trace had recovered and had made his way over to the table to pick up one of the other Pokéballs. “Hey Professor? Can I have this one?” he asked excitedly.
“Hrm? Oh yes of course,” the old man nodded as he typed away some letters of correspondence to a few colleges.
Trace grinned as he called out his new partner, an adorable Eevee. She yawned and licked her lips sleepily as she turned her head and looked at Luna.
They stared at one another for a few solid minutes, before simultaneous words left their lips.
“What the hell are you?”
***
“Okay so… let me get this straight,” Luna said as she and the Eevee sat outside the lab, looking over a bed of flowers. “You Pokémon partner up with humans to fight gladiatorial matches for honor and glory?” That.. actually sounded awesome! Luna was rather upset when she found out Celestia outlawed the gladiator arenas a few centuries after her exile.
“I think you're overstating it,” Eevee sighed and shook her head. This Pokémon was really weird. Was she dropped as an egg or something? “Battling is how we grow and evolve.”
“Hrrm, well as long as I can find a way home to Equestria,” Luna said and closed her eyes. “I suppose I'll have to go along for now. My powers are weakened and I do not know this world.” She looked up, most disconcerting was her loss of connection to the moon. It left her feeling, empty inside. Like she'd lost a piece of herself.
“If you say so,” Eevee sighed. Magical princess from another dimension? This weirdo watched waaay too much tv.
From the lab, the two trainers emerged. Trace picked his Eevee and put her on his head. “Well I'm off. Wanna meet up later?”
“I guess,” Red said as he took out Luna’s Pokéball. The moment he did though? A blue aura snared it and hurled the ball as far as it could go, landing in a distant body of water with a small ‘plunk’.
“....Okay, so that's a no to Pokéballs then?” Red blinked, looking at his empty palm.
Luna snorted and nodded. She would not go back into one of those horrid things. Red wondered why a shiver went down his spine. It could be the teal-eyes glare he was getting from the tiny equine Pokémon.
“Okay, sooo…” Red looked down at her. “Do you want to get going Woona?”
“STOP CALLING ME WOONA!!”
***
Now that she wasn’t running about in a perpetual state of confusion and anger, Luna could properly admire the scenic route to the next human settlement. Even better was that her human guide could be used as a useful perch to secure a vantage point.
“My head isn’t…” Red sighed as Luna tapped his noggin, refusing to budge. “Oh nevermind.” He waded into a patch of tall grass. As he neared the end of it, a small purple rat leapt out, baring its sizeable fangs at them.
“A Rattata!” Red exclaimed as he looked up. “Okay Woona, you’re up. It’s time to battle!”
Luna looked down at the human. Was… was he serious? He wished to use her vast alicorn might.
Against an oversized rodent.
“You cannot be serious,” she deadpanned and looked at the Rattata. “You cannot be serious. Go on, off with you. Shoo!”
The little rat Pokémon blinked and bared his fangs again. “Oi, you wanna go luv! Comeon! l’ll shag ye mum!!”
“...Charming,” Luna deadpanned as she hopped down from Red’s head, giving her tiny wings a light flitter as she landed. “So, allow me to clarify, I am to simply defeat this simple creature in combat, without killing it?” With a sigh, she looked at the Rattata. “...How droll.”
“Oh that’s it!” The Rattata charged forwards with a Tackle attack, body-checking the tiny alicorn as she was sent tumbling across the ground. “Ahahaha! How do ya like THEM Leppa Berries ya blue-faced twa-AH!”
Luna stood up, her horn glowing as she lifted the Rattata off of the ground. “Thee dareth striketh me? Thee insignificant rodent!”
“Um… use, Confusion, I guess?” Red blinked as Luna sent the poor Rattata rocketing over the fence bordering the route. “Um… good job?”
“Humph, what a fool,” Luna snorted and shook her mane. She looked at the stunned human and climbed her way back up onto his head. “Well? Let us carry on. We’ve no time to waste. I still seek a way home after all.”
“Catching new Pokémon just got a looooot harder,” Red sighed as he resumed his trek.
***
The rest of the walk to Viridian City was a dull one. A few Rattata showed up… and learned to fly when Woona tossed them away and out of sight. She really didn’t like Rattata huh? He gave a small sigh as he reached Viridian, pausing at the entrance to the city. This journey had started out… strange. Not only did he have a Pokémon that nobody knew anything about, but she didn’t seem to listen much to him either.
Well, part of the journey was to get your Pokémon to bond with you right? He just had to figure out how to go about that. Every Pokémon was as unique as every human. No two had the same personality, the same thoughts and memories. But Woona was a complete unknown.
“Okay, let’s get to the Pokémon Center and rest up. Then figure out where to go from here.” Red said as he walked towards the building with the bright red roof.
Luna in the meantime, was busy looking around at the town. It was very different to anything in Equestria. The architecture was rather unique, at least for her. It had the similar, alien feel that Manehattan did.
She wasn’t fond of that city. Everything was far too tall and far too loud. And the ponies within far too rude. Ponyville was much more like how things used to be. Even after having come back from the moon, to find their old home in ruins. Their new home an overly-opulent mountainside structure. And many of the settlements advanced to the point of being unrecognizable.
And now she was in some other place, even more unrecognizable than home. Luna took in a sharp breath as her body shuddered, something that didn’t go unnoticed by the human whose head she was riding on.
“Hey? Everything okay up there?” he asked, looking upwards.
The little filly nodded her head. It’s not like she could communicate her melancholy to him anyway. She looked back at him, now thoughtful for a different reason. He had gone out of his way to take care of her, make sure she wasn’t braving this world alone.
Being alone, that was likely her biggest fear.
The glass doors to the Pokémon Center slid open, the warm sun making way for the cooler indoors. It made Luna’s fur prickle as she looked around. Interesting, did they possess some kind of cooling runes or somesuch?
Aside from humans, she also saw a variety of strange creatures. Much like that Eevee or that purple vermin. Were these all Pokémon? How were they so… varied? Luna couldn’t believe her eyes, the only thing snapping her out of her introspection was the human lifting her off of her head and placing her on a countertop.
“My goodness,” an adult female in a pink and white nurse’s outfit. “I’ve never seen this Pokémon before.”
“Yeah, Professor Oak and I found it near Pallet Town,” Red said with a nod. “We’re not even sure what type it is.”
“Hmm, I’ll run some tests, see if we can’t narrow it down for you,” Joy said to him as she pet Luna’s mane, making the pony bat her hand away with a hoof. “Heehee, she’s very cute.”
“Yup, doesn’t listen to a word I say however,” Red sighed and shook his head. “Okay, I’ll leave her in your care Nurse Joy. I need to call Professor Oak and let him know how things are.
Luna watched as the young colt walked away. Hm? He was leaving her here with this medic? She was not injured. Well, the place where that insufferable vermin tackled her felt a bit bruised, but t’was nothing compared to the glorious battles of the past. She suddenly yelped as she felt herself get lifted off of the counter and placed on some kind of cart. One of those creatures-- Pokémon-- was pushing said cart. A large, egg-shaped thing covered in light pink fur.
“It will be fine,” she smiled, her voice light and calming. “We’re going to get you all fixed up.”
“I am uninjured, but I thank thee nonetheless.” Luna said and sighed. “May I ask where I am?”
“Such a well-spoken young one,” the Chansey giggled as she pushed the cart into one of the exam rooms.
“I am not as young as you might think,” Luna mumbled. She looked around the room, everything in it was utterly alien to her. Things made of metal with glowing glass windows. Glowing, slightly buzzing rectangles of bland, white light in the ceiling. No colour at all, just shades of white and steel. Honestly, this room felt… cold. Lifeless. There was no magic here.
“Alrighty,” the human mare walked in an smiled. “Let’s start with a physical exam okay? I’ve no idea what your normal vitals are. So we’ll record what we have for now.” Joy took out a stethoscope and placed it against Luna’s chest. She nodded as she wrote down her heart rate. “Breathing seems normal… no respiratory problems from the sounds of it.”
After setting the stethoscope aside, she noticed the Pokémon had flinched slightly. “Hmm, is your chest sore?” she asked as she prodded it lightly, getting a frown and a batting from the ‘mon’s hoof. “Slight bruising there. Maybe from a Tackle or something similar?”
Luna had to admit, this medic was perceptive. She reached for a counter next to them and picked up a spray bottle, a purple one with a white handle. “Okay sweetie, just sit still and we’ll get you all fixed up,” she said as she sprayed the wound. It stung slightly at first, making Luna wince. But the pain soon faded entirely. My my, what a wonderous potion. Was this medic also a skilled alchemist? Luna had to admit, she could use someone like that on staff at the castle.
Such idle musings that were cut off when Joy stuck a thermometer in her mouth.
Over the course of around a half hour, the nurse continued to take notes and do more tests. She was rather thorough and it left Luna mentally exhausted afterwards.
“First exam?” Chansey smiled as she placed a small, blue-hued berry the size of Luna’s hoof in front of her. “Here, this will pep you right up again.”
“Ah… my thanks,” Luna nodded as she lifted it with her magic and bit into it. Hmmm, not a bad flavour to be sure. And she could feel her fatigue washing away with each bite. “My my, this would go rather well with a good cup of coffee.”
“Alrighty, we’re all done here,’ Joy smiled and clapped her hands. “Let’s get you back to your trainer now hm?”
“Very well,” Luna said as she hopped up onto the trolley again. “Your skill is admirable Medic. Take pride in knowing you have served your Princess well.”
Chansey giggled as Joy tilted her head. “Oh, she say something funny?” the woman mused as they took Luna back out to the front desk.
***
Red was waiting on one of the nearby couches, playing with the Pokédex that Oak had given him. He looked up when Nurse Joy called his name.
“So,” he said as he approached the counter. “How’d it go?”
“Very well,” Joy smiled as she pet Luna’s mane. “She was very well behaved and seems to be the picture of health.”
“Um, ‘seems to be’?” Red repeated as Luna climbed up onto her perch, aka Red’s head.
“Well, I’ve no idea what kind of Pokémon she is, much less medical records,” Joy sighed slightly. “So I just kind of had to go off of similar-sized Pokémon. She has no obvious wounds or conditions. Also, I ran her through our scanner. It detected the energies of Dark and Psychic types in her. Though only time to tell for sure.”
“A Dark/Psychic type eh?” Red glanced up. “That’s quite a mix. Not a lot of weaknesses there.”
Luna harrumphed. “I has't v'ry little in the way of weaknesses. Thee wouldst doth well to rememb'r yond human colt.” She gave his head a light bap with her hoof. “Now come, thine Princess hungers!”
Red’s stomach chose a fine moment to loose a growl. “Well, I guess it’s lunch time,” he chuckled. “Okay Woona! Let’s eat, then explore the city for a bit.”
“This one finds the language barrier quite damnable… and how they learned my insufferable nickname is even more of a mystery.” Many questions, so many questions she had. And very little in the ways of answers. Hopefully further travels would shed some enlightenment. Well, no matter. Food first, mysteries of the universe later.
A mare had to have her priorities straight after all.
How do you do the things you do
Red and Luna were busy exploring Viridian City. Their first stop was a place called the PokéMart. Apparently they sold products useful to Pokémon trainers.
One was that lovely alchemical potion. It's properties were quite useful and Luna managed to somehow commune the boy to buy some.
Some were those infernal imprisonment devices. And to her great displeasure, he bought some of those too.
It did make Luna wonder how they came up with such devices. Or why these Pokémon seemed alright with being encapsulated in such things. Then again, she doubted any of them spent a thousand years locked away in her own darkness…
She shook her head to clear that line of thinking, wincing as they stepped out into the sunlight once again. No sense in dwelling on the past now. That had resulted in the Tantabus and the destruction of reality…
“Hey,” Red’s voice broke through her introspection. “You okay up there?”
She exhaled, this one was rather perceptive wasn’t he? “Woona Woon,” she murmured to him and pat his head. He seemed to be rather kindly, given he was burdened with being her guide in this odd world.
“Well, if you say so,” Red said and looked around. “Now, they say there’s a Pokémon Gym here. Wanna go and check it out?”
A gym? That was one of those, new-fangled thingies where ponies exercised yes? What was even the point of that? Just go outside and run around. And if it was raining, then go outside and run around. That built character!
How is it that they managed to turn the art of getting fit into being so lazy about it? It boggles the mind.
“Oh, I guess you might not know what they are huh?” Red said as they walked through the quiet streets. “A Pokemon Gym is where a trainer and a Gym Leader compete in a Pokémon battle. If the trainer wins, they get a badge that’s proof of their victory.”
Luna blinked, taking this new information into account. So, a Pokémon Gym was a place one fought for dominance, for little more than a trophy and glory?
How wondrously barbaric. She could really see herself liking this world, at least for a time.
Red and Luna stared at the closed doors and darkened interior just beyond.
“Closed?” Red murmured as he read the sign on the door.
“Eeyup,” a man approached them. A tall, broad man with a mop of messy blonde hair. “This gym’s been closed fer a while now. The Leader ain’t ‘round too often.”
“Ah, that sucks…” Red sighed as he rubbed his chin. “Now what do we do?”
“Well,” the stranger said. “Most folk jus’ carry on through th’forest and on to Pewter City to challenge the Gym there. Reckon that’s yer best bet.”
“Huh, well… got no choice really,” Red said and looked at him. “Thanks for the info.”
The man tipped his hat and headed off. Odd, Luna was having the strangest sense of deja’vu right about now. He seemed… familiar somehow. Oh well.
“Okay, so this turned out to be a total bust,” Red sighed as he started heading back towards town. “I don’t think we’re quite ready for a Gym anyway.” Not while Woona barely knew how to battle and wouldn’t follow commands. Heck, he didn’t even know what moves she knew. What he needed was some more Pokémon,
“Okay, I think we should try catching another partner,” Red said aloud. “Especially if we get into a battle with another trainer. I can’t expect you to defeat every opponent single-handedly.”
Luna furrowed her brow. She’d beaten that little vermin quite easily has she not? Still, his words held merit. If Twilight and her friends had taught her anything, there was strength in numbers. And having a good friend by your side, you could surmount even the impossible.
It meant that he’d likely capture one in one of those horrendous balls, but… if that’s how things worked. “Alright human, let us go make a new friend.”
Red looked up and smiled. Well, whatever she said, it sounded positive.
“...You really dislike Rattata don’t you?” Red sighed as he looked at the unconscious rats that Woona had utterly thrashed. She didn’t even use any moves! Just, knocked them out with her bare hooves.
“Tch! Vile little vermin,” Luna spat and furrowed her brow. “Surely there is a Pokémon worthy of joining you?”
“Whoa? What happened here?” a voice spoke up as a new Pokémon emerged. It kind of looked like a furless, pale blue rabbit. Kind of. Luna considered most of these Pokémon to be very odd-looking.
“Oh? A Nidoran?” Red said with a surprised voice. “Woona, let’s try and catch it!”
“Hrm, a trainer huh?” the Nidoran said as she turned to face them. “Well then, let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Okay, Woona! Use Confusion!” Red called out. The petite mare blinked and turned her head to look at him like he’d grown a second head. Use what now?
“Oh dear, they look like rookies,” The Nidoran chuckled as her little horn lit up and she fired some Poison Sting, the purple needles pelting the area as Luna yelped as several stung her flank painfully.
She blinked as she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Urgh… what the hells was going on here? Why did she suddenly feel so ill?
“Crap, did she poison you?” Red asked. “We’ll end this fast. Use Tackle!”
Well, he wanted her to tackle it? Why not. Luna pawed at the ground and charged with considerable speed, body-checking the surprised Nidoran. The little rabbit-like Pokémon was sent tumbling across the ground as Luna stopped and coughed. She was feeling worse now. Was she really poisoned? Dammit. She tried casting a general detoxifying spell, but nothing happened.
“Okay, so you’re a bit tougher than I thought,” Nidoran said as she got up and shook her head. “Though that poison will knock you out soon enough dear.”
“So you did poison me!?” Luna shouted and frowned. “Monster!”
“...Well, technically yes, all Pokémon are,” Nidoran blinked. Was this one alright in the head? "It's honestly a common mo-eeh!?" Nidoran found herself lifted off of the ground, the little mare's horn and eyes glowing with light. "Oh dear… you're a Psychic type."
Then she was slammed into the ground, the wind knocked out of her,
"Now you use Confusion?" Red sighed as he took out a Pokéball and tossed it. The red and white sphere connected with the dazed Nidoran and opened, engulfing her in light and sucking her inside.
The ball hit the ground as Red held his breath. Once… twice… thrice the ball wobbled, before pinging as the red warning light faded, signalling a successful capture.
"Alright!" Red cheered as he ran over and picked up the ball. His Pokédex bleeping as the Pokémon was registered as his. "Woona! We caught a Nidoran!" He turned and his expression fell. Woona was on the ground, panting weakly as the poison wracked her body.
"Woona!!"
When Luna awoke, she found herself lying in a large bed. Next to her, machines beeped softly in time with her heartbeat. She let out a groan and rubbed her head. She… knew this place yes? That hospital-like place that Red had brought her to before?
How had she gotten here though? She was… Luna paused and closed her eyes, thinking back. There was a battle. Against that spiky rabbit thing.
"The poison!" Luna sat up. She needed to see if there was an antidote or…
"Wait, I… I feel fine?" Luna pat her body down. She felt… amazing actually. Luna turned her head and looked out of the window, a bright, three-quarter moon shining down on her. It really was a lovely moon. It wasn’t her moon. But lovely nethertheless.
She stared at it, trying to draw power from the celestial body. Maybe it could at least give her enough magic go get home.
Or any magic at all.
It wasn't working though. She couldn’t feel a connection. With a small yell of frustration and anger, she threw her pillow to the floor, her brow furrowed with rage.
It was when she looked up again that Luna looked around the room. There were several other beds. Some bare, some holding more of those Pokémon creatures. One or two were inside glass capsules, looking more grievously injured.
"My word," Luna murmured as a door against the far wall hissed open, revealing the Chansey she met earlier that day. She looked about the room, before noticing Luna and her dishevelled bed.
“Oh my, are you alright?” Chansey asked, waddling across the room and picking up the thrown pillow. “Well, you certainly seem to be spirited hm?”
“My apologies medic… I am, frustrated,” Luna sighed and hung her head. “I am, I am very far from home I fear. And I have no way back. I… fear that I may never see home again.”
“Ah, quite the problem indeed,” Chansey said as she put the pillow up on the bed. “May I ask what your home is like?”
“It’s… very beautiful,” Luna said, closing her eyes as her mind drifted back to Equestria. “Tis, not the first time I’ve been away. The last time was for a very long time. Much changed in my absence that… that I’d feared it was my home no longer. It took, many moons to adjust. But, I made a few dear friends. And mine duties also kept my mind and body busy.”
Chansey sat patiently and listened to the little Pokémon. It was, odd. While she looked very young. The tone in which she spoke made her seem, far, far older. For some reason, Chansey was the one that felt like the child here.
“Change is… difficult,” the round Pokémon said once the Woona fell silent. “Yet, it is also one of the few constants in life. We all change, day by day. Even if only a little. And sometimes change happens drastically and suddenly. Much moreso for us Pokémon. You just need to keep putting your best foot forwards. Heehee, or hoof in your case.” Chansey reached over and pat Luna’s leg. “I’ve no doubt you’ll see your home again. Until that time, and perhaps beyond. Have faith in your trainer. He seems like a good and determined boy. He was very worried about you when he brought you in. Poor thing blamed himself for your condition.”
Luna recalled the battle with more clarity now. She recalled his odd commands, and her thusly ignoring them, dismissing them as gibberish words. Perhaps there had been more to it. “Nay fair medic. I believe the fault lies with me. There is, much I do not understand about this place. And that failure nearly cost me mine life.”
“Oh dear, you weren’t quite that far gone. Nothing a round of Antidote and some rest couldn’t fix,” Chansey giggled. “Now, since you seem to be feeling better. Shall I take you to your trainer?”
Luna took another look at the moon, her teal eyes glimmering in it’s gentle radiance. “Aye, I believe that would be best.”
Luna rethought her earlier decision. Red was certainly trying to crush her to death with his embrace. The young filly tapping his shoulder as she tried to draw in breath. If it wasn’t for the Nidoran poking his leg, she might have gotten to meet Goddess Epona in the afterlife after all.
“Ah, s-sorry,” Red chuckled as he set a panting Woona down on the bed. He’d been rather worried, despite the assurances of Nurse Joy that Woona would be just fine. Once Woona and his new Nidoran had been taken care off, Red had rushed to the Pokémon Center to stock up on Antidote and Potions. He’d never let something like this happen again.
Nidoran had been the first to recover and, well… she seemed kind of mellow. Red had decided to nickname her Marie. She seemed to like it well enough. Ever since, the pair had been waiting in his room for news that Woona had recovered.
“Honestly,” Luna sighed, rubbing her now sore chest and ribs. She looked past him, seeing Marie sitting on the floor. “Ah, you’re here?”
“Indeed,” Marie nodded. “I am named Marie now. My species is Nidoran, a Poison type.” She hopped up onto the bed, her ears twitching. “You’re a curious one though. Powerful, though rather clumsy in a fight. Never seen your species before. Our young trainer here says it’s ‘Woona’.”
“I’ve no idea where he heard that infernal name,” Luna growled and sighed. “My name is Luna. I’d appreciate you calling me that Miss Marie.”
“My my, how polite,” the Nidoran giggled. “Simply Marie shall suffice sweetie. As for how, it’s likely how you sound to them. Humans cannot understand us through speech. All they seem to hear is us saying our species name.”
“...that’s very weird. Why that off all things?” Luna said with a tilt of her head. She was no stranger to odd languages. But a language comprised on a single, repeated word? That was… how was that even possible? Languages were often very complex. This world made no bucking sense!
“That said,” Marie said to her. “Why did you ignore your trainer in battle? He doesn’t seem like a bad sort. Do you think him unworthy?”
“No I…” Luna rubbed her head. “I do not understand this ‘battling’. Or even how to do so without the aid my magic. Only my Telekinesis spell seems to work.”
“Your, magic?” Nidoran was the one to tilt her head. “What spell is that? Can you demonstrate?”
Luna nodded and looks around, before lifting a pillow in her aura. Her horn and eyes glowing as she did. Marie walked up to the pillow and touched it with a paw, before jerking it back like she’d burned herself.
“Are you injured?” Luna asked, dropping the pillow and killing the spell. It was weird, doing that seemed to make her head ache a little.
“That was definitely a psychic-type move called Confusion,” Marie said, licking her paw. “As a poison-type, I have a weakness to psychic. Hence why I was injured a little.”
“Psychic…? Nay, that was a common spell. Almost all ponies learn that spell at a very young age.” Luna was now confused also. What was going on here?
“Well, you also used Tackle on me,” Marie said to her. “Can you use any other moves?”
“I… do not think so?” Luna blinked as she looked at her trainer. Did he also think her magic was psychic power as well? Luna supposed that it might appear that way to someone that didn’t know what magic was, or that any unicorn could basically do it. She continued to stare into his eyes. And for some reason, he was staring back.
She felt an odd sensation, an inkling of power that seemed both foreign, and yet oddly familiar. She didn’t notice her eyes glowing softly…
She did notice her human suddenly drop to the bed, snoring away. He, he suddenly fell alseep!? Did he suffer narcolepsy?
“Oh dear, seems you used Hypnosis on him,” Marie giggled into her paw. “if you’d used that in our battle, it would have been much easier on you.”
“Hypnosis?” Luna put a hoof to her head. This was all so strange. They seemed to have different names for her spells. And she certainly didn’t feel like she’d used a sleep spell on him. What the hells was going on here?
“That said, it might be for the best. He was fraught with worry over you,” Marie said. “Help me move him onto the bed properly, then we shall retire ourselves. We can talk more in the morning.”
“Oh, very well,” Luna sighed as she lifted him with telek-er, Confusion? Either way, the moon’s light seemed to invigorate her. It made the task much easier as she tucked him into the bed. Marie took a spot near the end and curled up.
Luna saw the switch on the wall and flipped it with her powers, turning off the artificial light. Only pale light of night remained now. Unable to sleep, she turned and used her small wings to flutter-hop over the window and stare out at the night sky. “Sister… what should I do?” she murmured to herself. And as she expected, she received no answer.
Okay. So several things Luna made note of as they ate breakfast.
One, upon coming to this world, her body was changed. Not only stuck in the form of a filly. Something within had changed too. Robbing her or her magic, but somehow granting her other abilities in return.
Two. These abilities seemed to be common amongst creatures known as ‘Pokémon’. They were as varied as the wildflowers in the field. Magical creatures that came in countless shapes and sizes apparently. And from what Marie had said over the breakfast table, all were tired to one, or multiple elements. And perhaps now Luna was one of these creatures too. The idea wasn’t unheard of. Changelings could mimic the forms and powers of others. And polymorph spells existed too. Twilight Sparkle mentions that her trips to the humans world changed her into one of them against her will. Perhaps similar powers were at play here?
Three. If Luna was to find a way home, she would need to play by these worlds rules. She seemed to possess new powers, stemming from the psychic element. While Luna argued that psionic powers weren’t an ‘element’, like fire or water… Well, that argument with Marie had gone around in circles. So, just another rule to play along with she supposed.
Four. She could apparently also eat far more than her body should physically allow. Given she’d just consumed her own body weight and size in pancakes. Delicious, syrupy pancakes. Honestly, it reminded her of breakfast with her sister. Delicious pancakes, and Marie seemed to be wiser and older than her apparent appearance let on. Something she and Luna had in common.
In exchange for this information regarding this world. Luna shared her secret. That she was an alicorn princess. One that commanded the moon and has ruled for centuries. Marie of course, didn’t believe a word at first, insisting Luna was addled in the head. But the filly was eventually able to get her to admit it was plausible. If only because all her stories would be difficult to simply make up.
“I swear, your life sounds like a human’s television show,” Marie said as she sipped her milk. Her own food already gone. “So. You’re an immortal magical princess. And you’re somehow stuck in this world, and have become a Pokémon.”
“I… believe so?” Luna said with a sigh. “I am honestly unsure as to a lot of things. But so far, that seems to be the logical conclusion.”
“Literally nothing about that is logical,” Marie deadpanned.
“You creatures claim to undergo millions of years of evolution in a matter of seconds. That is far more illogical,” Luna sniped back.
“Of course, evolution is a fundamental part of our world and us as Pokémon,” Marie said and sighed. “Okay, we’re arguing in circles again. Let’s just, set that aside for now. No matter the truth, you need to learn how to battle if you intend to keep your trainer safe.”
As yes, that brings us to Five. Red was a Pokémon Trainer. Thusly, as his partner Pokémon, it was Luna’s duty to see him safe and bring him glory and victory through gladiatorial battle! It honestly kind of excited her. Apparently this bloodsport had ‘rules’ and such. And she would have to learn her new powers. As other Pokémon would surely defeat her otherwise. If what Marie had also told her was true. Through training, she could learn greater skills. And perhaps even retake her true form again.
Could that be it? Perhaps if she were to grow and… urgh, evolve. She could unlock her original powers and return home to Equestria. Well, it was better than her original plan of absolutely nothing.
“Very well,” Luna nodded as she finished of her pancakes, her adorable muzzle coated in crumbs and syrup. “Then I shall endeavour to learn this was of battling.” Who knows, it could even be fun.
Once breakfast was done with, there was a place Red wanted to visit while they were here. After leaving the Pokémon Center, they headed off the route leaving the west side of the city. A sunny little road that went up a slight hill. As the trio walked, Luna could see more Pokémon frolicking about in the wild. More of those infernal purple vermin which she scowled at, along with some large brown birds and other Pokémon.
After taking a winding mountain path, they stopped in front of a large building built into the side of the mountain.
“Past here is where the Pokémon League lies,” Red explained. “The most powerful trainers in the Kanto region are here. And, well. It’s my dream to defeat them and become the Champion!”
“Woona?” the little alicorn tilted her head, getting a chuckle and a pat from Red.
“Well, not quite yet,” he smiled. “We’ve got a long way to go before we can challenge the Champion. For now, let’s head out to Pewter City and start earning Gym Badges.”
“Oh?”
Red turned to see Trace walking up behind him. “Guess you had the same idea hey buddy?” the boy smiled and waved as he looked at the League. “Yeah, no doubt about it. You and I are gonna have an amazing battle in this place.”
“You seem confident,” Red chuckled. “Then again, you usually are.”
“Yup, no point in the what if’s right?” Trace grinned and looked at Red’s Pokémon. “Oh hey, you got a second Pokémon too? Wanna battle then? Two aspiring trainers. Standing before the Pokémon League? This’ll be epic!”
Red looked up at the filly on his head. He wasn’t sure if she could still battle properly. Maybe, Marie would be enough?
Luna looked at him and then jumped off of his head, landing on the ground. “I shall do battle,” she nodded. “This shall be a good start to learning how this body works.”
“Oh hey, she seems raring to go,” Trace grinned as he pulled out a Pokeball and called out his Pidgey. “Then let’s battle! Pidgey? Use Sand Attack!”
The little brown bird flew up, flapping its wings hard and kicking up a cloud of blinding sand. Luna coughed as the stinging dust got into her eyes, forcing her to close them and shy away.
“Woona! Use Confusion!” Red called. Okay, so that was her telekinesis spell yes? She reached out with the mag-move. Feeling around for the bird Pokémon. When she felt a mass, she snared it and slammed it towards the ground. As the sand died down, Luna saw that she did indeed snag the bird.
“Whoa…” Trace murmured as he recalled the fainted Pidgey. Maybe he shouldn’t use a Pokémon he only caught ten minutes ago. Taking out his second ball, he smiled as he called out his partner, Eevee.
The little fox popped out of her ball, shaking her fluffy tail and blinking. “Oh, hey there filly. We meet again.”
“Oh, it’s you,” Luna said, rubbing her eyes with her hooves.
“Eevee! Use Tackle!” Trace called.
“Sorry~” Eevee grinned as she lowered herself down then charged, tackling Luna and sending her sprawling. Luna grunted as she hit the ground and shook her head. Okay, that hurt.
“Woona! Counter with your own Tackle!” Red called back. Luna picked herself up and tried to tackle back. But the sand from before stung her eyes and blurred her vision, allowing Eevee to sidestep it as the filly faceplanted the ground.
“Now use Quick Attack!” Trace commanded as Eevee dashed forwards with a burst of speed, surrounded with a white light as she slammed into Luna while she was still recovering from the failed Tackle.
Seeing the concerned look on Red's face, that was the last thing Luna saw as her vision faded.
Damn it… she was really getting sick of losing.
