//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: A New World, a New Identity // by Snek //------------------------------// Tyler and Offered Hoof wandered around Canterlot for several hours. It was plain to see that the guard were doing their job of nabbing Pokemon very well, as there were very few on the streets. Luckily the pair weren’t harassed at all by guardsponies. After about an hour of wandering around, the butler, Loyalty came trotting up to them. “Ah, hello, It’s good that I could find you. The Pokemon that were captured by the guard are being released on the order of her Highness Twilight Sparkle. You should go down to the warehouse where they’ve been keeping them.” “I’ll do that thanks. Where is it, though?” The butler started to speak, but stopped, and lowered his hoof. “I don’t believe the message named a location. My apologies for getting your hopes up. But at least now you no longer need to worry about-” His statement was suddenly interrupted as a voice rang out in their minds, everyone around them also stopping from the shock of an outside intrusion upon their most inner sanctum. “Greetings citizens of Equus, both old and new. I am Lord Arceus, creator of the Pokémon realm.” Of course! Arceus was probably the only being capable of this. “You have no reason to fear me, I come in peace. I have revealed myself to inform you that I am the one responsible for the Pokémon’s presence in this world, for the citizens of Equus, the Pokémon are the beings who have appeared over the past few days. To my Pokémon, I say this, I brought you, all of you, here so that you could live in peace, do not seek to harm the natives of this world, for I am the one responsible for your displacement. And to the Pokémon who went through changes when I brought you here I say this. You are the ones who proved themselves worthy, those who were fair, kind and good in the old world, consider this your reward. And to all of you, as sapients, the laws of Equus, and the varying countries, now apply to you, and only the laws of Equus. That is all for now, but just to be clear, the Pokémon are not to be harmed simply out of spite, if you have a problem with what I’ve done, feel free to contact me, I currently reside in an ancient temple deep in the Everfree Forest, or a pocket dimension outside of the space time continuum, so if any of you wish to face the sheer power of a god, feel free to come by. Goodbye for now, though I doubt this will be the last you hear of me, and peace to you all.” After the end of the long-winded, or long-minded, speech, there was a moment of silence as everyone contemplated the god’s words. Then, all of Canterlot seemed to break into a panic at once. Both ponies and Pokemon rushed about madly, mostly it would seem for the sake of running around in panic, without any specific goal. The small group began getting pushed around in the crowd, especially Tyler, who was considerably smaller than the ponies stampeding around them. Seeing his distress Offered picked him up with his magic and placed him on her back, despite his protests. “My house is nearby, we can go there until things cool down some.” Tyler looked for Loyalty, but the butler seemed to have disappeared into the crowd, likely to go to Fancy Pants to see if he was fine. Offered was doing her best to push through the crowd, but it wasn’t working all too well. She was barely making any headway. Eventually after what seemed like hours to Tyler, she made it to a side street that wasn’t too crowded. She quickly trotted through to the other side, to another crowded street, though not as bad as the previous one. She was luckily able to move with the flow this time, not getting knocked around as much. Finally she stopped in front of one house and came up to the front door. She fumbled with her keys for a moment until a Gothitelle opened the door for her. The frazzled pair came in, Tyler dropping down to the floor again from the mares back. The strange Gothitelle quirked an eyebrow at the Flaaffy. “I thought we weren’t taking in any more Pokemon?” Offered stopped for a moment before chuckling and replying, “No, no, he isn’t going to be staying with us. My boss wanted me to guide him around the city so he wouldn’t get lost or detained by the guard, who luckily now have stopped doing that.” “Well that’s nice, I can finally go outside without harassment. Perhaps I will look for a job in the theater district. I don’t know. Just so you know most of the other Pokemon staying here have left, I think the only ones planning on returning are that group with the alcoholic Scrafty and Valerie.” “They know each other?” “No I believe that Umbreon with them just met her yesterday, but already knew the Scrafty. Honestly I don’t care about anything to do with that slob.” “Wait, you said there are a Scrafty and an Umbreon staying here?” Tyler interjected with a hopeful look. “Hmm? Yes, I believe the Umbreon was named Shadow, came in with a Klefki and… another Pokemon.” Tyler blinked at the last one, but shrugged off the vague explanation. “Where are they now?” “I don’t know, they said they were going out to look for their trainer and the rest of their team, and Valerie said she was tagging along to look for some of her friends.” Tyler’s eyes widened, he had to find his team, he started for the door again, but Offered blocked him with a hoof. “Oh no you don’t, you’d get trampled to death out there! Just stick around here for a while, they’re coming back.” Tyler considered resisting, but he knew she was right. At his size he wouldn’t get anywhere fast. “Fine.” Just then his stomach did a convincing impression of a Wailord call. “Got any food around here? Heh.” After the big announcement the group of Pokemon had decided to hide out in a nearby donut shop until the panic died down some. BBK had “found” a few bits and they bought themselves a dozen of the sugary circular delights. “Well at least this world has some of the same foods we had.” Spewed Damian. BBK wiped the crumbs off her face, shooting a glare at the Scrafty. “I’m glad that they’re here too, except we never really got good food all that often back at the lab. Especially after Mary escaped.” Shadow looked surprised at that statement. More from the end part. “There were escapees? Why didn’t they ever try to contact the authorities?” Valerie shrugged, “I don’t know, if they escaped we never saw them again. I have a feeling quite a few of them were left with very little trust for humans after what the Doctor did to them.” “Oh, right. Well you would think they would at least try to assemble a rescue team made of Pokemon or something.” “It wasn’t that easy. The doctor had the whole lab rigged with anti-Pokemon security,” she stopped for a moment, her contemplative expression taking a much darker appearance, “and he had this Porygon helping him. I swear if I ever see that stupid cyber-duck again…” She then switched to a more forlorn look, her eyes beginning to water up. After a few moments of this she let out a few soft sobs. Shadow looked shocked at the quick change in emotions the Poison-Type was suddenly exhibiting. He quickly pulled her into a hug, holding her still even as she tried to pull away. After a moment, BBK joined him, wrapping her metal bands around the two. Damian simply ate another donut. When Shadow shot him a glare over Valeries shoulder, he just mouthed, “What, I’m not a hugger.” Once Valerie had calmed down again, Shadow handed her another donut from the plate, earning him a weak “Thank you.” As she quietly munched on the treat, Shadow spoke up again. “So what do you think you’re gonna do now that you’re free? You can stay with us if you like of course.” Valerie took another bite of her donut, contemplating his question. After she swallowed she replied, “I think I’d like to find my family again. See what’s become of my only remaining brother.” She sniffed, and Shadow moved to hug her again, but she stopped him with a paw, shook her head, and continued. “This Equestria sounds like a big place though. I doubt I’d be able to find them just be looking around. I think the best way to find them would be to go see Arceus. After all, he did say we could come see him. I’ll have to ask Offered Hoof about where this ‘Everfree Forest’ is.” BBK chimed it then, “That sounds like a pretty good plan I guess. Maybe we can go too. I’m sure he’d be willing to help us find the rest of our team too. I hope.” “Well then how about we get off our asses and go talk to Arceus!” The group got up and cleaned up their mess. Damian carried the donuts, since he was the only one with arms, just as they did so, the voice or Arceus returned. “I am Lord Arceus.” “Aw not again, and it just started to calm down outside!” Groaned Valerie. “Now I realize that this has been somewhat of an inconvenience, and I would like to thank the princesses for putting up with me. And as such, I would like to present them with a gift, a show of goodwill if you would.” “Inconvenience is an understatement” Muttered BBK. “What kind of present?” wondered Shadow. “I present to you, the Eternal Sundial.” They saw a flash in the window, and upon approaching it, saw a large pink crystal structure floating in the sky. It disappeared in another flash and reappeared behind the castle. A soft yet powerful thudding noise echoing throughout the city as it touched down. “Well that’s a present for ya.” Commented Damian. The gift seemed to have it’s desired effect, as most of Canterlot was now calming down as they admired the great structure from afar. The group saw a good opportunity to go back to the house and began the now much easier journey. “You think that we should go back out now? It’s calmed down outside.” Tyler was extremely anxious. He finally had a lead on where his friends were, but he couldn’t follow it! “Your friends should be back soon, don’t worry.” “Patience is a virtue,” was all that Henrietta supplied to the conversation. Currently reading a newspaper, doing her best to ignore the Flaaffy who was currently pacing back and forth in the living room. “I know I know, but still, I’m so close! But I can’t do anything else but wait now!” “Well you could finish your lunch to help pass the time.” Suggested Offered. “No, I can’t eat right now. I’m just too… ugh. It’s nothing against your cooking, don’t worry.” Suddenly the sound of a door opening could be heard. Tyler immediately stopped his pacing and rushed to the front door, seeing a familiar Scrafty, Klefki, and Umbreon. He immediately rushed forward and hugged the first Pokemon of the group to come through the door, that Pokemon being Shadow. The Dark-Types eyes widened as the strange Flaaffy pulled him into a hug. “Um… Do I know you?” “It’s me, Tyler! I've been looking everywhere for you guys!” BBK squeed, and joined the hug, Damian gave a curt nod, and smiled. “Nice to see ya bud. What have you been up to?” Once the three Pokemon broke the hug, he replied. “I’ve been staying with a noblepony, who fortuitously is also Offered’s employer! I just wish I had given her a description of you guys sooner so we didn’t wander around the city for so long this morning when we could've come straight here!” He glanced behind Shadow to Valerie. “Who’s the new girl?” The Veneon took that moment to introduce herself, “My name is Valerie, Shadow and I met yesterday when we were captured by the guards. And in case you were wondering, which I know you were, I’m a Veneon, a… newly discovered eeveelution. I was forcibly evolved by a mad scientist by the name of Doctor Nurem.” There was an awkward pause at her forwardness, before Tyler spoke up. “Oh! Guys! I already have us set up with a job with the Noblepony I’m staying with. He wants us to act as special guards at his house in case of problems with Pokemon. We’ll get decent pay and a place to stay! And all he wants is for at least one of you to be on the property during the night. During the day we can do whatever, preferably staying in the city of course.” Damian was the first to speak up, “Nice! Sounds like a perfect cushy job!” “We have to guard this place? Screw that, this is like a thief magnet!” The group was now standing outside Fancy Pants’s manor, staring through the gold gates at the marble mansion standing amid a large green lawn, complete with fountain. “It isn’t as bad as you would think, we have rarely had robberies in the past. Master Fancy is simply taking extra precautions,” Loyalty explained. “But this place is huge! How are the five of us supposed to guard the whole thing! It must be like ten acres!” “Eleven actually, but I assure you, your duties do not involve patrol. Master Fancy simply wishes for you to be on hand in case of an emergency. Otherwise you may do as you wish.” BBK took this opportunity to join in the conversation. “Well I think it’s still a wonderful offer. We can’t exactly stay at Offered’s house forever now can we.” Tyler nodded. “It’s a good chance for us to get a solid start here in Equestria. We’ll all get forty bits a day each, which I believe is a generous sum of money in Equestria, especially considering how little work it will actually be. Now c’mon, let’s go introduce you guys to FancyPants, I’m sure he’ll like Shadow and BBK, and you too Valerie.” “Hey! What am I? Chopped liver?” BBK wrapped her metal bands around Damian’s neck and hung from it like a necklace. “No, you’re an asshole, but we still love you.” The Dark-Type just humphed, pulled up his loose skin again and followed after the rest of the group. They came inside and were lead to Fancy Pants’s office. Compared to the rest of the mansion it was surprisingly modest. Several bookshelves with labeled binders lined the walls, and Fancy Pants sat at his desk in the center, his back facing the window. He had several stacks of paper on his desk, all of which looked official and important. Upon the Pokemon entering the room, he broke into a smile. “Ah! Tyler! It’s good to see you found your companions. I hope they weren’t too hard to find.” “As it happens they were staying with Offered! I kinda wish I had thought to give her a description of them earlier. We only found out when we went back to her place to avoid the stampede that Arceus caused with his speech.” Fancy chuckled at that, “Well what do you know, I suppose this new world is a small one isn’t it.” Tyler nodded, and introduced his friends. Fancy reaching out and shaking the paw, hand, or ring of each of Tyler’s teammates. When he got to Valerie she just gave a polite wave, and an awkward smile. Fancy just continued to hold his hoof out for a few more seconds, his friendly smile faltering slightly. As Valerie realized what was happening she quickly apologized, “Oh I’m very sorry I mean no disrespect. It’s just, I’m very poisonous, so it isn’t a good idea to touch me.” Fancy Pants’s eyes widened, “Oh my, no offense taken, I understand. Just speak up sooner in the future to possibly avoid awkward situations.” He looked over the Pokemon in the room again. “So are these all of your ‘teammates’? Or are there others you haven’t found yet?” “I’m still looking for two of them, a tall red fox Pokemon named Kenny, and a large fluffy gold and white bird named Queen.” He looked back to Valerie, “Valerie isn’t part of my team, but I hope she can stay as well.” Fancy Pants nodded, “Of course, she may stay as long as she likes, given she performs her expected duties as well.” “Of course, sir, and thank you for letting me stay. Now um, before I get started I think I need to go see Arceus in the Everfree Forest, wherever that is.” “Of course. It isn’t that far from Canterlot really. Just a little west, an half hour train ride at most. I can lend you a few bits to get there and back, with some dinner as well.” Shadow spoke up then, “Could you make that enough bits for two? I should probably go with her in case if she accidentally poisons anyone. I can cure it.” “Of course, that would be most wise.” He pulled out a coin purse and pulled ten bits from within with his magic, and handed them to the two Eeveelutions, then realized they didn’t have a bag for them, chuckling, and poured out the rest of the bag into his drawer and gave them the now empty bag. “I gave you enough to get a hotel room for the night as well in case if the journey through the Everfree takes longer than expected. Let me warn you, the forest is a dangerous place, so be careful. And it would be best if you departed soon, I believe the train leaves for Ponyville in about twenty minutes.” At this the two Eeveelutions eyes widened, and they rushed out the door to make the train, yelling quick goodbyes over their shoulders. Offered looked through the door at the two retreating Pokemon. “I should probably go with them so they don’t get harassed at the ticket booth, and make sure they actually know where to go to get to the train.” She then trotted after them.