After a long night of passionate discussion, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy settled in for sleep. While not the most comfortable bed in the world, the Professor's couch was a decent enough stand-in. Pinkie and Applejack dropped within minutes, but Fluttershy's anxiety made it more difficult for her. She tried her best to lie still and let sleep overtake her, but it wouldn't come. Quietly she sang to herself, "Hush now quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head..." It was no good. She was in a dark, unfamiliar environment, there was no hope of putting her mind at ease.
Fluttershy. The echoed male voice was clear as day, but surprisingly Applejack and Pinkie Pie didn't so much stir at the noise.
"Wh-who's there?" she whispered nervously.
Do not be alarmed. I speak to you telepathically from very far away. She realized that indeed, she could hear the voice, but somehow couldn't sense it in her ears.
"Who are you?" she asked again
I am the Pokemon, Latios. I come because I sense a great distress coming from you, my child.
"You can read minds? Eep!" she squeaked, "please don't, it's so... intrusive."
Rest easy, I read only enough to figure out a way to help you. In your home world, Equestria, there is a pony with mystical connections to the moon, is there not?
"You mean Princess Luna? She's... loud."
To the north of Pallet Town sits Mt. Moon. It is said that on the night of a clear full moon, the lunar energy intensifies and harmonizes with other moons in the multiverse, and that at the summit, one can communicate with beings in synch with the moon.
"We could talk to the princess?"
Yes. You mustn't dally, for the next occurrence is in just three nights
"Oh no! Can we make it there in time?"
You must leave the comfort of this home and set out in the morning, but you will make it, Fluttershy. In your heart, you know you can. Sleep now, your friends will need you in good health and sound mind. Though she knew Latios wasn't in the room with her, Fluttershy could swear she felt a soft-downed wing brushing against her comfortingly. Gradually she drifted off to sleep.
*****
"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" The all-too familiar winds of free-fall whipped around Rarity's face as she plummeted towards the ground, eyes clenched shut. Contrary to popular belief, falling from 5,000 feet in the air did not get easier the second time around. To cope with equal parts chagrin and fear, Rarity fell back onto the most basal of instincts; she screamed.
"Rarity, would you knock it off already? I grabbed you like two minutes ago!" Rarity unclenched her eyes and looked up. Indeed, her fores were locked with Rainbow's, and their descent was beginning to lose speed. Twilight was safely on Rainbow Dash's back, having not trusted her own novice flying skills. As the ground below approached, Rainbow beat her wings furiously to slow the trio down. As they reached the surface, they slowed to a near crawl, Rainbow's wingbeats kicking up sand from the ground below, They landed gracefully and took stock of their surroundings. Once again they were on a beach, but this one had something that Starter Island lacked; people. Spread out along length of the beach were towels and parasols of all colors. Young children with inner tubes frolicked in the water while their parents kept a watchful eye from the shore. But the ponies were most taken by a much more concerning sight. At the threshold of the city in front of them stood a gigantic blue banner, which read "Team Aqua reminds you to keep the beach clean." As they gazed further up the shoreline they could see people in Team Aqua uniforms passing out fliers, and selling costumes & Kyogre plushies.
"Twilight we have to get out of here" whispered an unsettled Rarity, "We've landed right in the middle of their territory."
"Yeah, I say we rocket outta here and don't look back!"
"Actually, I think we might be fine." The two did a double take gave Twilight a skeptical look. "All this is nothing more than a PR campaign to get back on the public's good graces. And not a very well thought-out one at that; half of those fliers are probably going to end up in the garbage, and the other half littered on the ground. Heck, those Team Aqua members are probably just some people off the street who needed quick cash. They wouldn't dare abduct us in broad daylight, especially since we're making such a scene." She indicated at the large crowd of curious onlookers that had begun to gather around them.
"What are they?" "Did they come from the sky?" "They talk!" were among the murmurs from the crowd.
"People," Twilight addressed them with a powerful voice, "We come in peace from another world called Equestria."
"Seriously Twilight?" Rainbow snickered in the background at the cliche, "geez, we're not space aliens."
Ignoring her, Twilight continued, "We are in search of no more than refuge and a way home. As for what we are, we're trainers." The crowd perked up at that, and there was a murmur of approval. "In fact, my friend Rainbow Dash here has yet to experience a Pokemon battle. Anyone up for match?"
"Wha?" Rainbow Dash wasn't afraid of the challenge, but at the same time, she didn't expect to be put on the spot like that.
"Relax" whispered Twilight, "Pokemon battling is how they say hello in this world."
"Alright yeah!" spoke up Rainbow Dash, quickly getting in to the swing of it, "anypony think they're awesome enough?"
"I've never had a battle either, Miss Dash. But I'm ready!" The crowd parted for a little boy, who stood with a relaxed confidence, Pokeball in hand, despite the size difference between himself and Dash.
"I like your attitude kid! Let's do this! Happiny, I choose you!"
"Go, Zigzagoon!"
The Pokemon materialized simultaneously, giving their respective cries. Happiny elicited an "awwww" from the females in the crowd, which Rainbow silenced with a glare.
"Happiny, let's start this off with Pound!" Happiny lunged at its opponent with a left hook, but Zigzagoon easily dodged.
"Zigzagoon, Headbutt!"
"Zigzagoon!" declared the Pokemon, charging at Happiny in a zigzag pattern
"We can dodge too, can't we Happiny?" Happiny leapt to the side, but tripped and fell on its face, taking the brunt of the Heabutt. Undaunted, it shook itself off and got back onto its feet.
"That's what I like to see!" commended Dash, "Now use Copycat and give it a taste of its own medicine!" Happiny flew headlong at Zigzagoon.
"Zigzagoon, use Sand Attack!" Zigzagoon began pawing at the ground and kicking up sand until it had formed a cloud that obscured it completely. Happiny flew straight into the cloud, the impact kicking up even more dust. Once it cleared, the crowd could see Zigzaggon, five feet away from the point of impact, and the bottom half of the upturned Happiny, whose attack had done naught but got her her head stuck in the ground.
"Tackle it, Zigzagoon!" The Pokemon siezed the free hit against the helpless Happiny, its slam freeing the Pokemon, but with a considerable impact the sent it rolling backwards. It got to its feet, dizzy and dirtied, but still tenaciously fighting.
From the sidelines, Rarity commented to Twilight, "that Zigzagoon has Rainbow outclassed completely"
"Happiny can't match it on speed, but she does have great endurance for such a small Pokemon. Not that it's going to matter if it can't fight back.."
"You've almost got this one, Zigzagoon!" declared the boy, "Finish her with another Headbutt!"
"Happiny...." began Rainbow Dash, her mind racing a mile a minute to come up with something. Zigzagoon was less than five seconds away from making a hit, she needed something really quickly. "Happiny, stand your ground!" The crowd gasped, ponies included. Right as Zigzagoon was about to hit, Happiny dug her feet into the sand and thrust her arms out, pushing back against Zigzagoon's charge. She couldn't overtake him and began to slide backwards, but was for the moment not taking damage. Just the opportunity Dash needed.
"Happiny! Use Sweet Kiss!"
"Zigzagoon get away!" cried the boy, but his Pokemon was trapped by its own forward momentum. Hapiny leaned in and gave Zigzagoon a peck on the forehead. Pink hearts burst out and Zigzagoon's eyes went foggy. It began to stagger haphazardly from side to side.
"Now Happiny! Give it a taste of your Return!"
"Happiny!" The Pokemon leapt into the air and somersaulted, slamming down directly on top of Zigzagoon with its full weight. The Pokemon wheeze as the wind was knocked out of it, and it slumped over, fainted. The crowd gave Rainbow a polite applause and then dissipated, the boy looking a little bit disappointed.
"Very impressive, Rainbow. You really took to battling."
"Please Twilight, it was nothing. Soon as I realized that Happiny was more of a sumo than a boxer, I had him right where I wanted!"
"Excuse me, R-rainbow Dash?" Rainbow turned around to see a little girl of no more than eight looking up at her nervously. The girl wore a bathing suit emblazoned with Torchics, and carried an orange and purple striped inner tube around her waist. "Your Happiny was so... so cool out there! A-and you were too of course. I was wondering if maybe you'd... like to trade your Happiny for my Pidgeotto?" She tossed her own Pokeball onto the ground, and from it sprang a majestic hawklike Pokemon with fiery red & yellow tail feathers and a proud crimson crest.
"Pidgooooo!" It declared, spreading its wings grandiosely.
"Sorry squirt, not a chance!" replied Dash instantly, "but you keep working with your Pidgeotto, alright? Maybe one day you'll be as awesome as Happiny and me!"
"You really think I can do that?" asked the little girl, stars in her eyes, "alright then Pidgeotto, we've got some major training to do!"
"Pidgooooo!" The two of them scooted off down the beach.
"Hey guys, I'm gonna take a few laps around the beach. I'll catch up with you later." said Dash
Twilight looked confused "Now? But you just go through falling out of-"
Rarity covered Twilight's mouth with a hoof, "We'll get some supplies and a hotel room. You enjoy yourself." After Rainbow was out of sight, Rarity continued with Twilight, "Darling, can't you see that Rainbow Dash is hurting on the inside?"
"But I snapped her out of it back on the plane."
"Flying is Rainbow Dash's favourite thing in the world, she wants to enjoy as much of it as she can. You lifted her spirits, but she'll never be completely "snapped out" of such a handicap. You must not interfere with her coping methods."
."Wow Rarity. I didn't know you were so in tune with Rainbow's feelings."
"Nor did I. But desperate times make strange bedfellows out of all of us. Don't be too hard on yourself, these are very complex emotions we're going through. Now, why don't you join me for some shopping?" she suggested, hoisting up her hefty saddlebag, the gems making a jangling noise inside, "my treat."
The two of them made their way to the beachside market stalls. The clothes were made for the human form, so Rarity made do with just scarves and hats.
"Make sure to save enough for some medicines and Pokeballs" advised Twilight
"You want to capture more Pokemon?"
"Of course, you can't just expect one Pokemon to be suited for every situation. For instance, all of our Pokemon are smaller than us, and none of them can swim. We can carry up to six Pokemon each, and I plan to do that eventually."
"I suppose my little Sableye could use a friend or two. Ooh! They have sewing kits!" She hurried over to the arts & crafts stall. Twilight continued to browse the tables on her own, stocking up on the occasional food ration and battle item.
"Two-for-one, all evolutionary stones" read a banner at the treasure stall.
"I'll take the Oval Stone" said Twilight, "and hmm, I'm not sure what else."
*****
"Gooooooooood morning, sleepyhead!" Fluttershy awoke to a bubbly voice, and found herself face-to-face with a beaming Pinkie Pie. She stretched out and yawned.
"Sleep well, sugarcube?" asked Applejack. Fluttershy didn't answer, still pensive over the mystical encounter of last night.
"Good morning everybody- erm I mean, everypony" Professor Oak entered the room with a tray of fresh toast and marmalade, "I wasn't sure what you had for breakfast in Equestria, but this seemed like an inoffensive choice. Would any of you like some coffee?"
"NO!" cried Applejack, "ah mean... no thank ya, toast'll be just fine."
"Aww" sighed Pinkie Pie.
"Er, alright then. You three eat up, I have something I want to show you." He exited the room.
Applejack and Pinkie Pie started to dig in almost immediately, but Fluttershy barely acknowledged the food. "Fluttershy, you been actin' odd. Everythin' ok?"
"Well, actually, something strange happened last night. There was this voice in my head that alled himself Latios and-"
"Here it is!" Professor Oak had re-entered the room, carrying a laptop. A large slab of stone with ancient-looking symbols was displayed on the monitor. "The significance of this stone tablet has confounded me for the longest time. But I think I might have a theory now.
Pinkie Pie had began to have a giggle fit, "Silly! That's not a stone! It's a plasticy-shiny-glassy thingy!"
"Er, wha? ...Oh of course, I keep forgetting you don't have computers in Equestria. What you're seeing here is just a photograph, the real one is in a museum in Slateport. But more to the point the ancient symbols roughly translate to, 'Lo, the traveler, in the time of chaos and discord, shall bring about harmony by assembling the world's greatest team of six. I was under the assumption that this referred to a Pokemon team, because six is the maximum team size under standard regulations."
"But ya think th' six they're talkin' about is us? 'Cause we've saved th' day plenty o' times, but that still sounds like a mighty big stretch."
"That may be, but look at the image carved beneath the text." He scrolled down on the picture.
"Oh my!" yelped Fluttershy, "That's...!"
*****
"Me???" gasped Twilight, gaping at the museum exhibit before her.