Jessie, James, and Meowth walked directly towards the room, intending to perform the quick snatch and run mission they were on without delay. It was only when they walked right up to it without it budging an inch that they began to suspect there might be some kind of difficulty.
“Where’s the handle on this thing?” Jessie whispered, eyes darting left and right.
“I don’t see anything, not a hinge nor a bolt nor a keypad!” James muttered back as he too looked around.
Both suddenly felt a small tug on their pant legs. When, they looked down, Meowth pointed up and to the side. There, on the wall a few paces to the right, was a simple, flat pad glowing softly with red light.
“Hey! Just what do you think you’re doing?”
All three jumped at the sound of a familiar voice. They looked franticly around, but barring themselves the hallway was deserted.
“Up here you cretins,” the voice now sounded exasperated.
Three pairs of eyes tracked the noise up up up… and right to the ceiling, where tucked away in a small and shadowy corner was a faintly visible speaker. The trio swallowed nervously as they hastily snapped to attention.
“What, did you forget I don’t wear this visor just because it looks cool?” the voice of the same woman who had berated them earlier continued. “It links up with the lab’s security system, allowing me to interface with any camera, sensor, or speaker in this building at anytime from anywhere. My own invention.” She sounded proud of herself. “Nothing says motivated employees like the knowledge your superior could be looking over your shoulder at any moment. But as for you three…”
The two humans stood stiff as ramrods, while even on four legs Meowth tried to look attentive.
“For starters, you’ve somehow managed to wander into the completely wrong section of the building. Xerosic’s lab in the east wing, you’re in the central hub. That’s our primary data storage facility in there. Secondly, do you think our biometric scanners would let a bumbling pair of idiots like you two inside? Director-level access only, since you seem to have forgotten. We didn’t spend all that time and effort building a localized network completely cut off from any conceivable outside source just so two morons could wander in and access anything they felt like.”
Beneath their sunglasses, Jessie and James shot one another a glance.
“And thirdly, I seem to recall assigning you two and your new pet a new job tonight. So I suggest that if you don’t like the idea of spending the next week in the brig, that you MOVE IT!”
“Ma’am yes ma’am!” they screamed as they scampered.
“Well,” James muttered under his breath as he swabbed the floor. “This complicates things.”
“No kidding,” Jessie grumbled before spraying another squirt of cleaning fluid on a metal table. She followed up by scrubbing hard with a bright red cloth. “How are we supposed to get anything done if some creep can just be watching us at any second?”
From where he sat relaxing on the floor, Meowth pointed up against the ceiling and then put a paw to his lips.
“How come you don’t have to do any of this?” Jessie hissed as she struggled with one especially resilient chemical stain.
“Because Meowth can’t use their front paws like we can our hands, silly,” James said hastily. “He is just an ordinary cat Pokemon, remember?”
“…Right,” Jessie forced a grin onto her face. “But the question remains, what now?”
“I guess we’ll just have to… come up with something.”
Far away, after dinner and a little bit of curative Potion, Ash and Pikachu found Twilight staring out a window at the Pokemon Center. The food she had been given sat beside her, almost entirely untouched. She simply stared straight forward into the pale moon, not even acknowledging either of them as they entered the little guest room.
“Hey there,” Ash said softly. “You haven’t said much since we got back, so…”
“We thought we’d come and check on you,” Pikachu finished.
Twilight didn’t say anything.
“Hey…” Ash frowned a little, then took a few steps forward. “I know we didn’t find your friend today, but that doesn’t mean you gotta stay couped up in here.”
“You didn’t say anything at dinner,” Pikachu added. “And you didn’t eat. Are you feeling okay?”
“I mean, sure we may not have found Team Rocket this time, but that doesn’t mean that we’ll give up on it.” Ash clenched his fist. “We’ve met those creeps hundreds of times now, and they’re always trying to take Pikachu from me! They’ve never given up after all this time, and neither will we!”
“That’s right!” Pikachu nodded. “There’s no way that we won’t meet again, even if we have to hunt them down to the ends of Orre! They won’t be able to get away from us!”
“I understand you’re worried, but sitting up here and not talking to anyone isn’t going to make anything better.” Ash smiled softly. “We may not have known each other for very long
There came the sound of a faint sigh.
“Neither of you get it…” Twilight whispered softly.
“Huh?” Ash looked down at Pikachu, who nodded and then stepped forward.
“What do we not get?” the little yellow Pokemon asked. “You can talk to us. Trust me, Ash and all our friends are really great people. If we can, we’ll help you.”
“That’s just it,” Twilight still hadn’t moved an inch. “I’m not sure you can.”
“Huh?” Pikachu’s ear twitched.
“I’ve been thinking…” she continued. “About today. I know you guys did a lot of hard work and uncomfortable waiting around to try and help me, but…” Twilight sighed. “It was always a longshot plan, but that it was the first thing that you thought to try and find them doesn’t bode well. You said you’ve known them almost as long as your trainer, but your only idea on how to find them was to present yourself as bait. It’s kind of you, but it doesn’t speak well to your abilities. You don’t know the kind of places they seek out, the criminal networks they trade with, the sorts of people who would know that. You don’t know how to run a proper investigation or manhunt. Not that I blame you,” she added quickly. “You’re both so young, still on your journey together. I think traveling the world to meet new people and Pokemon sounds like a marvelous idea, but I don’t think it prepares you to track down a devious gang of ruthless criminals holding a princess hostage.”
“Are you-” Pikachu began.
“You have to see this from my perspective,” Twilight cut him off. “I need to rescue Princess Celestia, without delay. The fate of my entire world could depend on it!”
Pikachu’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes,” Twilight nodded, back still to him. “I haven’t told anyone here this, but the princess is more than just a ruler to Equestria. She’s the bringer of life and light, literally and metaphorically. Our nation’s political system depends on her, our guiding hoof for a thousand years and more. There are other princesses sure, but I don’t know if they can cope. But even worse than a missing princess, what if the news got back that she had somehow been corrupted?” Twilight shook her head. “Don’t you see? It would be a disaster, an upending of a millennium’s traditions and faith. If the princess, the firm bedrock of our polity for so long, fell to darkness then the consequences would be unthinkable. I’m afraid it’s already too late, that those… monsters that captured her have already broken her totally. I can’t imagine how, but I can’t imagine how they managed to both overpower her and press her into servitude either. And every passing minute gives them more and more time to break the last vestiges of her resistance, if there are any. Can’t you understand? Equestria needs her to be alright.”
“I…”
“I need her to be alright!” Twilight finally turned, her large eyes now visibly watery. “The princess… Princess Celestia has been like a second mother to me, ever since the day I first met her when I was a little filly. She taught me all I know and sent me to find the best friends in all the world. She helped me in more ways than I can describe, but now she’s been thrown into another world and captured by villains and it’s all my fault!” Twilight finally let out a sob, tears beginning to trickle softly down her cheeks.
Ash frowned and began to move towards her, but felt a slight tug on his leg. When he looked down, Pikachu shook his head.
“I built the portal that sent us here!” Twilight cried. “I made the misculations! I threw Princess Celestia into a strange and terrifying new world! Without even the slightest magic to defend herself! It’s my fault she got captured by a gang of villains like Team Rocket! Whatever manipulation, mind control, or torture she’s gone through are all my fault!” She sobbed. “And I know, in the very core of my being, that if it hadn’t been for me and my mirror whatever happened to her here wouldn’t have happened! She’d be safe and happy at home with her sister and subjects if it weren’t for me!”
“You don’t need to be so hard on yourself,” Pikachu said softly.
“What I need is to find Team Rocket and my mentor, yesterday! I have to pry her from their grip, no matter what it costs me! But to do that, I have to find them first and… and… and…” She cried a little more. “And I don’t have a clue how to do that. If I had my magic… if we were back in Equestria then maybe… but I don’t, and we aren’t. And from what I can see none of you have any idea either.”
“Well…” Pikachu tapped a tiny finger on his chin. “We may not, but now that I think about it we did meet someone who might. Not very long ago.”
“What?!” Twilight blinked, tears still staining her fur. “Who?! Where?!”
“Lumiose City I think,” said Pikachu. “His name was Lysandre.”
Shadow: Oh, this isn't good.
This will end poorly...
Oh dear. Mulch is going to hit the Fan (Rotom).
I'm getting the popcorn.
Ooooooh poop pikachu if he finds out twilights from another dimension i can only imagine what lysandre would do. Truthfully of all the princesses twilight should still have her magic. Even if she's in another dimension she's still connected to her element which is ... magic. They don't have to physically carry them anymore. Plus it might be interesting for her to be dark balled and turned into midnight sparkle and obliterate all comers good and bad. Then some legendaries get involved and bamn titans against a bigger titan.
Hymn... lysandre would probably love equestria a land of peace and harmony with no other humans to f it up he'd probably be a ok guy.
"See, we do know what kind of criminal network they frequent!"
Negative! Abort operation! Abort!!
So, Twilight is essentially crushed by guilt, accusing herself for everything gone wrong. Then, when she sees Luna is here too (and maybe Cadance as well?) ... Hopefully Celestia will help her to get over it and comfort her.
And maybe there is one princess left in Equestria!
vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/7/71/Flurry_Heart_ID_S6E1.png/revision/latest?cb=20160327000953
Everything is going to be fine!
8350642
Well Lysander is going to find Equestria will oppose his plan, his core goal may be noble but it's drowned buy his amoral methods. Celestia won't be happy with Giovanni's goals but will note he wasn't willing to use dark balls that hurt pokemon. Ponies are very forgiving and peaceful but wouldn't stand for someone willing to spread pain and commit genocide to make the world the way he thinks it should be.
I looked at the title and mistook it for "on crack".
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As she ought to be; she did build the mirror, she did build it poorly, she did fail to test it before presenting it to the others.
Nononono pikachu why no don't do this DONT TRUST HIMMMMMM
Why would Pikachu think Lysandre could help Twilight? As far as I recall the dude has never been shown to know anything about magic or hopping dimensions. As far as Pikachu knows, he's just some dude they helped from Team Rocket, right? Maybe it's just been a while, and I'm forgetting something. Anyway, nice chapter.
If all the princesses are missing... then I guess Discord rules by default? He's the only one who can raise and lower and raise and lower and raise and lower and raise and lower the sun.
Because everyone thinks that princess cadance is in the pokemon world if clearly mind was told that she could not attend the test portal ??
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I doubt they would trust Discord, instead going back to a large group of powerful unicorns like before the sister's look over the job. I also suspect that if all the princess are lost (or even if it's all but Cadance as she has her own country to run) that the day to day operations of Equestria would fall to the last royal left around.
Prince Blueblood.
Twilight needs to work faster.
Well as they say, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. As we all know this shall not end well.
Ooooooooh... That ain't good at all is it?
Alright, alright, don't overdo the dramatic irony of Twilight thinking Celestia's being tortured. If you tell the same joke every chapter, it gets old fast.
Plus, you know... torture's pretty dark.
Well seems Team Flare does have some measure of security, but the high up is so arrogant, she tells all the details of their security network to outsiders.
Twilight going down the guilt trip and isn't she aware that Luna was also pulled with them, that's pretty insensitive of her. Luna is also important now.
Mistakes found.
Xerosic’s lab is in the east wing,
Forgot the punctuation a the end as well as closing the quotation mark.
Sooner or later, someone is going to drop their juiice carton in that secure vault, and the janitors will get forced into cleaning it up.
And now we can see this going full crazy. Celestia with Rocket, Twilight with Flare and Luna playing with the immortals.
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Discord: *takes one look at Blueblood on the throne* .....yeah, no. I'm just going to take over now.
On the road to
VermillionLumiose City!8350805
Because Lysandre led them to Team Rocket the last time they met and seemed to know what they were up to, so maybe he does now?
8351125
It's not being played for laughs in this chapter, you can see that the belief is really getting Twilight to feel guilty and afraid. She really wants to find Team Rocket.
Punctuation errors. It should read thus: “Up here, you cretins.” The voice now sounded exasperated.
Homophone error. Correct spelling here is "cooped".
Missing closing quotation mark. And if Twilight's sigh is interrupting Ash, then you need an em dash to show that:
“I understand you’re worried, but sitting up here and not talking to anyone isn’t going to make anything better.” Ash smiled softly. “We may not have known each other for very long—"
There came the sound of a faint sigh.
Well, Twilight is being pretty Wrong Genre Savy right now. People who fall for stupid bait is just who the Team Rocket Trio is.
PIKACHUUU! WHY??
Alright, I have one question: How does Pikachu know about Orre?
Tfw a story doesn't update for a while when it is about to be one of those pivotal moments
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Hoping Snake Staff will come back and continue it as well as his other fanfics...
It's been about two years since I've been on this site (so long that I had to make a new account) but I'm glad to see this is still going! Hope we get more soon
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Hope Snake Staff will come back one day, not having logged in since the 8th august.
Did I ever get to mention how much I love this story? No?
Well, I love this story.
The characters are pretty much in character; the concept is great, and everything seems to be coming along nicely.(I love how you write Celestia, and Pikachu made me laugh more than once. ^^ ) I'm hype for Twilight to see Celestia as um...A fellow rocket criminal. Lol this is gonna be great.
It isn't been updated in months? Quite fine, but just know this story is fantastic!
...I binged it in a few hours! (I believe 4.)
Until then, tracked and favorited!
Loving this story so far. Keep up the good work
uh oh. Now I'm imagining Lysandre getting his hands on Twilight. Bad things, man.
Oh, shiiiiit. That's bad...
twilight meeting team rocket and seeing everything she was told about them was truth....... man i would pay to see the look on her face when that day come
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i just wanted to see the look on her face that everything she was told was the turth about them
this story must live
I never really understood why everyone seems to trust Lysander. Maybe it's just because I played all the games leading up to it, but the moment that guy appeared on screen I said, "Well, there's the main villain. I wonder what his shtick is. Oh. Talking. Lovely." And by the middle of the game I was begging him to stop the vacuous monologing and just try to kill me already.
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I love how your avatar goes with your comment. Shh. it's okay Twilight. We'll all stop talking to you.
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He was an obvious choice for a villain. Amazing reputation, a serious good-doer, a hate for all things evil! It’s the perfect plot-twist.
9830765
Seems less a twist and more ‘two shots of Vodka’ of foreshadowing. I love the Pokémon games, but the last thing I’d call their story is subtle.