The Element of Hope

A week has passed and Moonshine enjoyed her quality time with her mother and Luna, despite the incident. Celestia and Moonshine shared a few sweets with each other while Luna and Moonshine played some music together. The week went by fast and it was time for Moonshine to return to Ponyville. "It's been a wonderful week, Moonshine." Celestia said.

"Yeah Mom. Thank you. You too, Auntie Luna.." Moonshine thanked.

"Your welcome." the two sisters said in unison. Moonshine smiled as she put her bag into the chariot, "Oh, and there's something that I wanted to give you Moonshine."

"Huh? What is it Mom?" Moonshine asked. Celestia pulled out seven golden tickets. "Here, seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala; for you and your friends." Moonshines' eyes widened, seeing the tickets and she put on a small grin, "... Greeeat... hehehe..." she said nervously.

Moonshines' chariot landed in front of the Golden Oak Library and Spike opened the door. "Moonshine, hey! How was your visit?"

"It was... exciting. Hehe." Moonshine said nervously, not wanting to inform the baby dragon about the shadow pony. "Don't worry, Twilight already told me about the shadow pony." Spike said before he put a finger in front of his mouth, "Ssshhh..."

Moonshine nodded, knowing the dragon would keep the secret. "Moonshine!" Twilight called as she spotted her best friends. Moonshine entered the library, "Are you alright?" she asked, looking her over.

"Yeah.. I'm alright..." Moonshine replied with a small grin.

"Hey, why are you still wearing your Element?" Twilight asked, noticing Moonshine's Element of Hope still on her head. "... About that..."

Flashback

Moonshine and her mother and auntie came up to the tower where the Elements of Harmony are kept safe. "Time to put you back where you belong." Moonshine said, taking her Element off of her head. Celestia performed the spell to open the door, revealing the chest that held the Elements of Harmony, but when Moonshine prepared to put the Element back into the chest... it levitated out of her hooves and back onto her head!

"Huh?" Moonshine tried placing the Element back into the chest but it kept placing itself back on her head, "What's wrong with it?"

"I believe the Element refused to leave your side." Luna suggested. Moonshine looked surprised but with the way her Element was acting.... she had to agree...

Flashback Ends

"So Luna and Celestia let you keep the Element with you?" Spike questioned, earning a nod from Moonshine.

"Woah..." Twilight gasped and then she noticed the envelope. "Hey, what's in the envelope?"

"Oh..." Moonshine grumbled before she took out the eight tickets. "Tickets... to the Grand Galloping Gala...yeah..."

"Woah! Awesome!" Spike exclaimed, grabbing one while Twilight grabbed one in her magic. "This is amazing, Moonshine!" she exclaimed with a smile before noticing the frown on her face, "Moonshine...?"

Moonshine sighed, "I don't think I'm gonna go to the Gala this year.."

"Why not?" Spike asked. Moonshine gave Spike a knowing look. "Oh... right..." Since she was a filly, Moonshine was never a fan of the Grand Galloping Gala. Moonshine saw the Gala as just a boring party where ponies would just talk all day.

"Come on, Moonshine, maybe it won't be that bad this year." Spike suggested.

"Yeah, I've never been to the Gala before either." Twilight said.

"Well Mom says its always awful." Moonshine grunted. "And I'd rather spend the night in here. Give the tickets to the others will you, Twilight?" Moonshine asked, handing the tickets to Twilight before heading upstairs, "Where are you going?" Twilight called.

"To greet two pokemon and a dragon." Moonshine stated as she headed upstairs to her room.

Up in her room, Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless were napping when they all heard the door open. They opened their eyes and they saw Moonshine there, "Hi boys, miss me?" she teased. Rockuff barked happily and lunged at Moonshine's chest, nuzzling her hard, "Hahaha, hey..!" she laughed. Toothless and Lycanroc smiled, seeing their friend again.

Rockuff stopped nuzzling and Moonshine placed him on the ground, "You boys were good for Twilight, right?" The pokemon and dragon nodded and Moonshine smiled, "Good."

"Wanna go out and play?" Moonshine asked. Rockruff barked and wagged his tail. "Hehehe, alright. Come on." Moonshine, Lycanoc, Rockruff and Toothless headed outside and went out in a field outside of Ponyville. "Rockruff, Lycanroc, how about some training for you two?"

"Rockruff..!"

"Lycan." Lycanoc smiled.

"Alright." Moonshine stated. Lycanroc and Rockruff soon stood on either side of the field with Toothless and Moonshine standing to the side, "Alright. Lycanroc use Stone Edge!" Lycanoc howled and punched the ground, creating a line of large, glowing rocks that ran towards Rockruff. Rockruff barked and leaped into the air, stepping onto the Stone Edge and ramming Lycanroc, but Lycanroc blocked the attack and deflected Rockruff away. "Roooo...!" Rockruff landed on the ground. "Now Rockruff, use Rock Throw!" Rockruff barked, "Rockruff...!" and unleashed Rock Throw at Lycanroc. Lycanroc blocked the attack with his arms and he charged forth towards Rockruff. Rockruff growled and he charged Lycanroc as well. "Rooo...!" the two of them collided with each other and Rockruffs' collar glowed white and it unleashed a close range Rock Throw!

Lycanroc was sent skidding back a little but still has plenty of fight in him. Rockruff backed off and barked, "Ruff..!"

"Great, Rockruff!" Moonshine praised.

"Ruff...!" Rockruff then charged forth with a Bite attack ready to go, but Lycanoc moved to the side and dodged the attack before unleashing Rock Throw as well. Rockruff was struck and he was sent skidding back. "Roooo!"

"Rockruff, are you okay?"

Rockruff growled as he got back on his feet. "Rockruff..!"

"That's the spirit!" Moonshine exclaimed, "Now use Tackle!" Rockruff charged forth with his Tackle attack when suddenly... mud came out of nowhere and splattered onto Rockruffs' face. "Rooo!" Rockuff tripped and fell on the ground. "Rockuff! Hey, who did that?" Moonshine called out.

"Muudbraaaayyyy!"

"What the-?" Moonshine, Lycanroc and Toothless looked at the side and saw a small donkey like pokemon. "What the- What pokemon are you?" Moonshine pulled out the pokemon book and she flipped through the pages, "Aha, Mudbray, the Donkey Pokemon. A ground type. It has a stubborn, individualistic disposition. Eating dirt, making mud, and playing in the mire all form part of its daily routine." The Mudbray was laughing at his little prank on Rockruff. "Mudbrayyy, Mud..."

"Mudbray, that was not funny, that was mean." Moonshine scolded.

"Lycanroc." Her Lycanroc agreed as Toothless helped Rockruff get the mud out of his eyes. Mudbray only laughed before it spit more mud, landing on Moonshine's face! "Hey!" she exclaimed. Lycanroc had enough and charged the little pokemon but Mudbray cried out and turned around, kicking Lycanroc twice, sending him flying back. "That was Double Kick!" Moonshine gasped.

Not good. Double Kick was a fighting type move, super effective against Lycanroc, a rock type!

Mudbray laughed again but Lycanroc recovered and growled, "Lycanroc, try Rock Throw!" Lycanroc howled and launched rocks at Mudbray which just stood there and took the attack head on. When the dust cleared, Lycanroc and Moonshine saw orange lights surrounding Mudbray, "What the-? What's that?" Moonshine asked herself. She looked at the Mudbray page once more and discovers, "Ability: Stamina, this pokemons' defense raises each time its attacked."

"Oh pony feathers!" Moonshine exclaimed. That meant the more attacked Lycanroc threw, the less damage it would do it Mudbray. Mudbray scrapped the ground before charging forth with its front hooves glowing red, "That's Rock Smash! Lycanroc, lookout!"

Lycanroc growled and leaped to the side to dodge the attack but Mudbray quickly changed direction and struck Lycanroc, "Mudbray!"

"Roooo!"

"Lycanroc!" Lycanroc crashed onto the ground with some catches on it while the Mudbray chuckled and began dancing around, "Mudbray, Mudbray, Mudbray~"

"Hmmm... you're a tough little pokemon, aren't ya..?" Moonshine thought before she grinned and took out a pokeball, "If that's the case, then I'm gonna catch you, Mudbray." Mudbray stopped dancing and stared at her in shock, "Mudbray!"

Lycanroc stood back up, "Lycan..." Mudbray recovered from its shock and actually smiled, "Mudbray...!" It charged Lycanroc once more with a Rock Smash attack. "Use Stone Edge!" Lycanoc howled and punched the ground using Stone Edge. Mudbray, using Rock Smash, used the move exactly what it was named for, smashing rocks! It smashed he Stone Edge! "Careful, here it comes!" Moonshine warned. Lycanroc nodded, "Lycanroc."

Mudbray smashed through the final rock, "Now Rock Throw!" Lycanroc howled and launched rocks, catching Mudbray off guard! "Mud!" the attack struck hard and Mudbray was sent skidding back. "That's the way!" Moonshine praised.

"Lycanroc." Lycanroc smiled. Mudbray got up and its Stamina kicked in once more, "Defense rose again!" Moonshine grunted. Lycanoc howled and charged straight in, "Lycanoc?" Moonshine called.

Lycanroc howled before its tail glowed and turned to steel! "What?! Iron Tail!" Moonshine gasped. Mudbray gasped as well as Lycanroc smashed Mudbray with Iron Tail. "Mudbrayyyyyy!" The super effective steel type attack, sent Mudbay flying into the air and it crashed onto the ground. "Mud...." it groaned and it glowed red which meant, "Iron Tail, lowered it defense!" Moonshine gasped. She took out the pokeball, "Now's my chance! Pokeball, go!" Moonshine called as she threw the pokeball at Mudbray. it bounced off of Mudbray and it turned into red energy before going into the pokeball. The pokeball landed on the ground before shaking three times and clicking. "Alright..! I caught Mudbray!" Moonshine cheered.

"Rockruff..!"

"Lycanroc!"

Moonshine then let Mudbray out, "Mudbray, come on out..!"

Mudbray came out with a smile, "Mudbray!"

"Mudbray, you're one tough cookie and its great you'll be joining us.." Moonshine smiled.

"Lycanroc." Lycanroc smiled at Mudbray, earning it respect and Rockuff came bounding over, now free of mud and nuzzled Mudbray. "Mudbray." Mudbray smiled.

Then, "Hey Moonshine!" The group turned and saw Twilight and the others coming towards them. "You okay? We heard some commotion." Applejack asked.

"I'm fine." Moonshine said.

"Hey whose the tiny donkey?" Rainbow asked, noticing Mudbray.

"This is Mudbray, my new pokemon." Moonshine smiled.

"You caught it?!" Twilight exclaimed, earning a nod from Moonshine, "And its' one tough cookie."

"Oh really...?" Applejack questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Mudbray!" Mudbray exclaimed before stomping its hoof. "I think that's a yes, Applejack." Moonshine stated.

Applejack looked at the tiny donkey which was a bit smaller than her, "I don't see it..." that annoyed Mudbray and it unleashed Rock Smash, on Applejack, sending her flying, "WAH!"

"Aj!" Rainbow exclaimed before flying after her and catching her. She brought her back down to the others, "Okay... I take that back." she stated, now convinced about Mudbray being a tough cookie.

"Anyway, Twilight says you don't wanna go to the Gala this year, darling." Rarity brought up.

"Yeah.. don't really see it as exciting..." Moonshine stated.

"But at least give it a try, this year, Moonshine." Applejack said. "It might be fun..." Moonshine sighed.

"Please...?" Twilight asked her best friends. Moonshine looked at her and she could see that she wasn't going to give in so... "Alright... I'll give it a try this year..." The girls cheered happily while Moonshine sweat-dropped.

"Looks like we're going to a gala in a few weeks, guys." Moonshine told her pokemon and Toothless. They all nodded at Moonshine while Mudbray chuckled.