“It’s a beautiful day outside...” An eighteen-years-old girl muttered as she stared at the sky of the region of Equestria, or Equus, through her bedroom’s window. “The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming.” Fairy sighed contently and closed her eyes. “On days like these, girls like me-”
“FAIRY, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY PIXEL ART?!” An angry voice roared through the entire house.
A smirk played on her lips. “Should be burning in hell.” She finished with a chuckle. ‘Perfect timing as always, Lighty.’
Fairy left the window and calmly walked towards her sister’s bedroom, where a blonde woman, slightly older than Fairy, what almost ripping her hair off as she stared at her computer’s screen. She was wearing a pink blouse with a yellow star in the center and black shorts; and while the younger sibling couldn’t see it, she could easily make out her sister’s dark pink eyes wide in fury. Fairy tilted her head to the side, peaking at the screen, and stifled a laugh. She took a moment to recompose herself before answering. “Yes, dear sister?”
Lightning turned to her sister with pure rage in her eyes and pointed to the screen. Minecraft was running on the computer, and she was playing on the map she created solely for pixel art building. The game was showing a very impressive Kratos pixel art brandishing his blade, frowning in concentration like he was about to fight a god. The weird thing was that Kratos had a poorly built mustache on his face and a monocle over his left eye.
And a dick tattoo, just because.
“Explain.” Lightning hissed. Fairy couldn’t hold it anymore and exploded with laughter, making her sister growl. “Dammit Fairy, do you know how much time I spent on this?!”
Fairy slowly calmed herself and wiped her eyes before turning back to the Blonde girl. “Too much. Come on, not even I spend this much time on the computer when I’m playing. Go outside, free-run, battle someone, do fucking anything. I can correct the PA in five minutes and have a backup file before I made the prank.” Fairy waved her hand dismissively. “No harm done besides your roar of anger.”
Lightning opened her mouth to argue but found herself sinking on her seat and sighing. “Just… fuck you.” She muttered, fighting off a smile.
Fairy giggled again until her Xtranceiver suddenly beeped. The pink-haired girl curiously looked at her watch-like computer and read the message that was sent to her.
‘I need your help with something.
Meet me in the lab in fifteen minutes.Professor Moon Dancer.’
Fairy frowned. “Well, Prof’s calling. See you later, Sis.” She said as she stepped out of her sister’s room and into hers, making a beeline towards the mirror and the nearby drawer. She looked herself in the mirror; her pink hair was untied and cascaded down her back, stopping just after her shoulder line, she was wearing her pale pink strapless sports bra, with a slightly darker pink heart on the middle, holding her breasts up as well as her open white jacket and pink pants. She grabbed a lab coat inside the drawer and ran to her bed, holding up a large pinkish white purse with a long chain for a strap and stuffed the lab coat inside before running out of the house and towards the Lab.
She was the assistant of Professor Moon Dancer, and every day she helped the older woman with just about everything there was to do around the lab, but mostly helped with building machines that were the result of Moon Dancer’s research, as she had a better hand for that than the Professor had.
But sometimes she regretted staying to help the Professor instead of going to her journey, and every time this happened she punched herself in the face, painfully remembering herself that she was did the right thing and that the Professor’s research was something that would change the world if they achieved it.
Clearing her thoughts, she avoided a Zigzagoon running down the street and focused on her path to her workplace.
A green-haired nineteen-years-old boy hummed a happy tune as he cleaned the Gym’s arena after a challenger well… challenged his sister, and Ponyville’s Psychic Gym Leader, Twilight Sparkle. He chuckled as he remembered the fight; thought he could just knock out every Pokémon of hers with his Zorua, and got his butt handed to him.
People often forget that Medicham is both Fighting and Psychic.
Currently, Twilight was on the Library, studying her psychic powers and whatnot as usual. Having studied under Celestia, principal of the Pokémon School of Canterlot as well as member of the Elite Four, made her a girl of the studying type, who tries to understand and explain everything that happens around her scientifically.
Spike was content in just being her loyal assistant, but just like Fairy he sometimes found himself wondering what would have happened if he had left for his journey when he was ten.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Spike finished his cleaning and wandered inside his house, in search of something else to do. He stopped on his bedroom, staring at his computer, and shrugged his shoulders. Playing for the rest of the day was an option.
“Spiiike?” A voice called out from the living room just as Spike turned on the machine, making the boy sigh in disappointment and slight frustration.
“What is it, Twilight?” He shouted to his sister, not wanting to leave his beloved computer just yet.
“Would you come here, please?” Twilight called again, making the boy groan and stand up, walking towards his sister.
“Yes?” He said as he entered the living room and plopped down on the sofa, making his sister giggle. Twilight was wearing a white shirt under a purple vest, as well as black jeans.
“Moon Dancer called us, she said it was important.” The Gym Leader said. “She asked all the gym leaders to go there to her lab, and also asked for you to come with me. The others are already there, as Aguion asked them to visit him for… something.”
The boy chuckled slightly. “Didn’t he say something about a round of drinks for every Leader since the Gym Challenge just started? If I remembered correctly, you were the only one to turn down the offer.”
Twilight’s mouth made an ‘o’ and she blushed slightly. “Hehe, I forgot about that.” She shook her head. “Anyways, make sure you’re prepared, I’ll ask Alakazam to teleport us there.”
Spike nodded and looked down at himself. He was wearing a purple t-shirt with an emerald blaze on the center, as well as black denim pants. He shrugged, thinking he looked good enough. “Let’s go, I doubt we’ll be there for long.”
The psychic nodded and let out her Pokémon. “Teleport us to Moon Dancer’s Lab, if you may.” Alakazam nodded and teleported the trio to the requested destination.
“Moon Dancer?” Fairy called her friend and Equus local Professor as she opened the Lab’s door. The girl started to walk towards the back of the lab where many of the Pokémon gathered when she heard footsteps coming closer and stopped herself.
Professor Moon Dancer walked inside the room and smiled as she saw Fairy standing in there, in the process of putting on her coat. The Professor had purple eyes and a red hair with two streaks of different shades of purple on it; the funny thing was that her bangs were bound upwards. She was wearing a lab coat. “I’m glad you came, Fairy. And just in time too.” She said. A small Aipom walked behind the Professor, and waved with a smile when he saw Fairy.
The girl smiled at the Long Tail Pokémon before turning to the woman in front of her. “What did you want to talk to me?”
Moon Dancer gestured for her to follow and walked towards a door. Fairy raised an eyebrow, but followed her nonetheless. The moment they stepped into the room, Fairy was greeted with the sight of a large library containing books about almost everything, as well as nine figures sitting around a table in the middle of the room.
The figures looked at them and smiled – and waved in the case of three of them – which caused Fairy to smile back as she took her seat next the head of the table.
“Hey Fairy.” Spike greeted, lifting a closed fist towards the girl.
“Hey asshole.” Fairy replied cheekily and bumped her fist into his, making the boy and two more to chuckle slightly.
“All right, Professor Moon Dancer, why did you call us here?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, you call us here and then make us wait. What’s the deal?” Rainbow Dash, the Flying Gym Leader or Cloudsdale, demanded in a slightly irritated tone. She was wearing a white shirt with a multicolored thunderbolt in it, as well as a small denim jacket and pink skirt.
“Come on, Dashie! She must have something fun to tell us! Ohh, maybe she’s planning a party to celebrate the start of the League Season?!” Pinkie Pie, the Fairy Gym Leader of Las Pegasus, exclaimed excitedly. She was wearing a sky blue shirt and a pink skirt with a blue balloon etched on it.
“Calm down, now.” Professor Moon Dancer said. “I called you all here because I’d like to show you my newest accomplishment in my field of study. As you know, all Professors choose a field of study for them, and I chose Pokémon Communication and Speech Patterns. My dream and objective is finding a way for humans to understand better their Pokémon, and I may be realizing it.” Fairy smiled faintly, remembering how she helped create the device herself.
“Now wait a sec. Are ya’ll sayin’ you found a way t’ understand Pokémon?!” Applejack, the Grass Gym Leader of Appleloosa, shouted in surprise. She was wearing a Stetson as well as a striped shirt and jeans overalls.
“Maybe.” The Professor nodded. “It works with all Pokémon here at the lab, but I can’t be certain it works with every species of Pokémon.”
“What do you need us to do?” Spike asked what all were wondering.
“I need you to test it for me. Since eight of you are gym leaders, you’ll be able to get in contact many different Pokémon, and test the dispositive for me. And you two…” She looked at Fairy and the boy. “I need you to test this on the field.”
Fairy’s eyes widened as she said that. “Wait, you’re asking us to ‘go on a journey’, as the kids say?” Spike had just about the same reaction.
Moon Dancer nodded. “Yes. Fairy, when you were little, you wanted to become a trainer badly, but you threw everything out of the window when you discovered what my research was about and pleaded for me to let you help. For the past nine years you stayed here in Canterlot, even after most of your family went on their own journeys so you could assist me.” She said truthfully before smiling. “I want you to go have the adventure I know you’re waiting for, and this way you’ll also help me, so you have no excuses to stay here.”
“Yeah sis, you’re a great help for the Professor, but you should have your adventure too!” Aguion, Electric Gym Leader of Canterlot and Fairy's brother, exclaimed from the other end of the table. He had yellow hair just like his twin, Lightning, and wore a yellow sleeveless shit and blue jeans. “You should have left for it the moment I turned into Canterlot’s Gym Leader.”
Moon Dancer turned to Spike. “And you are a similar case, Spike. You stayed to assist your sister when she was named Ponyville’s Gym Leader, instead of going for your journey. I already talked with Twilight, and she agrees with me in this matter.”
Fairy and Spike found themselves speechless, the Professor’s words playing inside their minds. They turned to each other and smiled; simultaneously, they stood up and turned to the Professor.
“I accept your request, Professor Moon Dancer.” Spike said confidently with a nod.
“Eh, why the hell not?” Fairy shrugged, internally jumping with joy. “Hey, maybe we can even take on one of the challenges while we do that.” She mused.
“Take on the gym challenge, huh? Yeah, why not?” Spike smiled.
“That’s great, Spike. Fairy. I’ll be waiting for both you on my Gym.” Fluttershy, the Normal Gym Leader of the Rainbow Falls, said with a timid smile. She wore a yellow blouse and grey jeans, and had a butterfly-shaped pink and blue clip on her hair.
“Same.” Starlight Glimmer, the Ice Gym Leader of the Crystal Empire, agreed. She wore a teal blouse and a purple skirt with a four-pointed blue star surrounded by blue energy.
“I’m eager to see what kinds of Pokémon you’ll bring when you challenge me, Spikey.” Rarity, the Water Gym Leader of Manehattan, commented. She had a beautifully made purple hair and was wearing a beautiful white dress with a few diamond-shaped marks near the bottom hem.
“They won’t be as cool as mine, that’s for sure.” Rainbow boasted with a confident smirk, ignoring Aguion smiling at her with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll capture a Electric-type or two.” Fairy snickered.
“Just watch out for the falling rocks when I challenge you.” Spike laughed.
Rainbow Dash crossed her arms with a huff, muttering about the ‘uncool duo’, causing chuckles to spread around the group.
“It seems you already have your future planned.” Moon Dancer chuckled. “Don’t forget to write down all Pokémon the device can translate. Do that and you’re free to do as you please.” At our nod, she started to walk out of the room. “Come with me. Let’s get your starters.” Spike and Fairy looked at each other and quickly did as she asked, Spike almost jumping over the table to do so and Fairy in the process of taking off her lab coat and stuffing it inside her purse. The eight Equus Gym Leaders shook their heads in amusement before following the trio.
The group stepped on the Lab’s backyard, where multiple Pokémon of various species could be seen, and went towards the sector where the Pokémon for new trainers were. “As you know, Equus has a large quantity of biomes, and so is perfect for Pokémon from almost all around world to live here.” Moon Dancer explained. “Because of that, instead of receiving one of three Pokémon of different types, the new trainers are brought here to choose one of the Pokémon of multiple species that live here. It gives the trainers a wide range of options, and also prevents trainers to be forced to choose a Pokémon with a type they do not like.” Most of the group nodded. As Gym Leaders, they need Pokémon of a single type, and so some of them never had a Water, Grass or Fire-type Pokémon.
A rustle caught the attention of the group, and the same second they turned to investigate a brown blur shot and tackled Fairy, making the group gasp, only to be relieved when they heard Fairy’s laugh. The girl had impacted the floor, but the display of affection that the furry brown-and-cream-colored creature on top of her showed, the pain quickly subsided and she hugged the tiny Pokémon.
Spike laughed as he recognized the Pokémon that Fairy took care at the Lab. Fairy slowly sat up, holding the Eevee close to her chest. “You two know each other?” Fluttershy asked, petting the Eevee’s head.
Fairy nodded. “Yeah, when she was moved to here a few months ago along with her brother, I helped them settle in, and in turn she helped me a lot with the research here; Spike helped a bit when he visited, though he got closer to her brother rather than her.” She patted the head of the Evolution Pokémon. “Speaking of him, where is he?”
The Eevee released an “Eev!” and pointed to a direction with a front paw. From a bush that was on the path the Eevee pointed, another Eevee emerged, walking more calmly than his twin. The male Eevee had a smile on his face and extended his paw to Fairy, who shook with a smile.
The male turned to Spike and smiled as he walked towards the boy; Spike matched his expression and lowered himself to a knee so the Eevee could jump to him, and he held the male Evolution Pokémon close, laughing when he almost fell backwards because of the half-Tackle.
Fairy and the Eevee she was holding looked at the boys and nodded, before Fairy’s face lit up and she lowered the Eevee to the ground, confusing the Pokémon. The Eevee turned to the girl, who looked back with a soft stare. “Hey, Eevee. Look, Spike and I are both leaving soon to test the Professor’s translator as well as taking on the Gym Challenge and… I want you to be my companion.” The girl said, making the Eevee’s eyes widen. The Pokémon was ready to agree and jump to hug Fairy, but stopped and nervously turned to her brother and talked to him for a moment, her ears dropping.
The male Eevee and Spike both observed the scene, Spike not needing a translator to understand what was going on. “Hey, I’m also going with her, and I need a Pokémon too y’know? I wasn’t sure what I’d choose, but I’d appreciate if you came with me.” The boy told the Eevee he was holding. “That way you two don’t need to be separated, and it’ll be better if I start with a Pokémon I already know from my visits.” Both Pokémon stared at him and as one they jumped to hug they new trainers’ necks, making both teenagers laugh.
The adults watched the scene with fond smiles in their faces, even Rainbow Dash found her mouth curling upwards slightly. “Interesting. Most new trainers that come here together often try to counter the other’s choice. I remember a duo of trainers that came here a few years back; one of them picked a Budew just to counter his friend’s Wooper.” Moon Dancer commented with a stifled laugh as she remembered that day. “But I agree, the four of you already know each other very well, and I don’t doubt for a second that you’ll make a good team.”
Both new trainers stood up, leaving their not-official Pokémon on the ground. “Alright Eevee-” She stopped herself when she saw both Eevee turn their heads to her. “Ok, that’s going to be a problem.” She admitted. “Hey, would you be ok if I gave you a nickname? It’ll be quite chaotic otherwise.” The two Pokémon looked at each other and then nodded to their respective trainers. “Looks like he want one too, Spike.”
The Professor quietly walked away from the group while the teenagers thought of the names they wanted to give their Pokémon. A few moments later she returned with a case in her hands, and cleared her throat loudly, catching everyone’s attention. “I believe this is going to help you.” She opened the case, revealing eleven objects stored within. “We failed to make the device Pokédex-compatible – it always clashed with the Dex’s drive – but because it’s a really small circuit, we could turn them into these accessories for you to use. There’s also one for me, of course.”
Every one of the humans looked at the case and immediately recognized what would be their translators. Fairy picked a pink heart pendant hung by a silver chain and put it around my neck. Spike grabbed a thick black leather bracelet with a green blaze on it, similar to the one in his shirt, and put it on his left wrist. Aguion, Starlight, Applejack, Twilight and Moon Dancer grabbed pendants similar to Fairy’s, two crossed swords with a lightning in the middle, a purple four-pointed star releasing a blue mist, a red apple, a purple six-pointed star and a purple crescent moon with a pink star in the middle respectively. Pinkie and Rarity both grabbed earrings and put on their left ears, a blue balloon and a teal diamond. Finally, Rainbow grabbed a bracelet similar to Spike’s but with a multicolored lightning on it.
“Awesome!” Rainbow and Pinkie shouted.
“I must say, those translators are rather fashionable.” Rarity said in a slightly impressed tone, looking herself in a hand mirror she always carries with her. Twilight, Starlight and Fluttershy nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, they look good on you.”
“I have to agree.”
They turned back to the two Evolution Pokémon and Fairy smiled. “Good to hear your voice again.” Since she made the machine, she could test it on the twins a few days before.
“Thanks!” The female exclaimed, wagging her tail back and forth while her twin only nodded.
“So… what do you want to be called? I have no idea what to call you.” Fairy admitted to her Eevee.
“I think I’ll call you Shade.” Spike told his to own.
“I like the sound of that.” The newly named Shade said with a faint smile.
“Now I want to call you Shine for some reason.” Fairy mused.
“Well… what about Prism?” The female Eevee suggested meekly.
Fairy raised an eyebrow. "Why Prism?"
The Eevee shrugged. "Reasons."
Fairy snorted but smiled with a nod. "Sure. I kind of like it."
Prism nodded eagerly, jumping around her new trainer chanting “I have a trainer!” over and over enthusiastically, causing the others present to chuckle in amusement.
“Your siblings already gave me the necessary data to register the two of you as trainers when I grabbed the translators. Now, you can have this-” Moon Dancer said as she fished two Pokédexes from her coat’s pocket, one pink and another green. “And this.” She also handed the teenagers six Pokéballs each as they grabbed their Dexes.
Storing five minimized Pokéballs on their pockets, Fairy and Spike pressed the button on the last ones, causing them to expand. They both turned to the two Eevee, and lowered the ‘balls to their level. Both Eevee tapped the Pokéballs, and turned into red energy as they entered the capsule; the Pokéballs not even having the chance to shake before they released a ‘ding’ to signalize the Pokémon were successfully caught.
The teenagers stared at the Pokéballs for a few moments before smiling brightly and releasing their new Pokémon. “Wow, trippy.” Prism commented and blinked her eyes.
“You said it.” Shade agreed, wobbling in place slightly.
“It’s like that for the first few times.” The Professor’s Aipom said as he walked up to them from the lab. He then turned to the Professor. “There’s a guy with glasses looking for you.”
“Thank you, Aipom.” Moon Dancer nodded to her Pokémon before turning to the trainers and gym leaders. “I must go, but I look forward for your discoveries. And please, keep track of all the Pokémon you talk to.” With that, she left.
“Speaking of which, how does these things work?” Starlight Glimmer asked in curiosity. “It isn’t even connected to our ears.”
Pinkie gasped loudly. “It can’t be… it’s magic!”
“Close enough.” Fairy giggled and looked at Starlight. “I helped build the machine. A year or so ago, the Professor managed to talk with a trainer from Unova that had a Lucario that could use aura to translate his words. The Lucario and the Professor studied for quite some time, trying to create a way to do that artificially. After some time, they discovered a way of building a machine that ‘enchanted’ an object to change the wearer’s aura enough to understand Pokémon language. She ‘enchanted’ a chip that’s inside the ornaments.” She tapped the heart pendant. Starlight nodded in understanding.
“Well, now that this is over, it’s better if we return to our cities. I have my work and studies to do.” Twilight said, making half of the group roll their eyes. The Psychic Leader continued, oblivious to the gesture. “I’ll teleport Spike here so the two of you can start your journey together. In the meantime, Fairy, it’d be better if you prepared yourself for the journey.”
Everyone nodded and congratulated the new trainers before leaving, the only ones still in the lab being Twilight, Spike, Fairy and the Eevee twins. “Alakazam.” She released her Pokémon again. “Teleport me and Spike to the Gym, please.” Alakazam nodded and prepared for the jump while Spike returned Shade and waved good-bye. In a flash of Psychic-typed energy, they were gone.
“Well, better go home and prepare ourselves as well.” Fairy said and scooped Prism up. “Let’s go.”
Fairy opened the door to her house, and walked towards her room, almost walking into her sibling on the way. “Oooh, who’s this cutie?” Lightning gushed when she took sight of Prism.
“That’s Prism, my new Pokémon.” Fairy said, lifting Prism slightly. “We’re going to take on the Gym Challenge together along with Spike and Shade – his own Eevee; as well as testing the new translating device Professor Moon Dancer created.”
Lightning nodded. “Good for you. Unfortunately my journey wasn’t one of the best. I prefer to stay at home and help at the school anyways. Hey, maybe you’ll find Amber and Scarlett.”
Fairy nodded. Her sisters Amber and Scarlett went on their journeys years before, strangely starting in Hoenn instead of Equus; Amber because it was the best place to start competing at contests, and Scarlett because she really wanted a few Pokémon that are more easily found there than at Equus. Now though, after going through multiple other regions and visiting only between Contest and League Seasons, they were finally having their journey through Equus. “Maybe. Better prepare for my journey.”
Lightning nodded and stepped aside for Fairy to walk towards her bedroom. “Ok, gonna need a few clothes, swim gear, towel, food, brushes, scissors, charger, notebook, pencils, laptop…” She trailed off as she walked around the room, ditching her lab coat and gathering everything she thought she would need while Prism watched from her bed. A few minutes later, she was ready for her journey. “Huh, lighter than I thought it’d be.” She hummed as she walked out of her room, Prism following her closely.
The moment she stepped outside, she found Spike, Shade, Twilight, Alakazam, Aguion, Moon Dancer and Lightning waiting for her. “We came here to say good-bye.” Aguion answered the unasked question.
Fairy smiled fondly and walked to the group. “See you two when we challenge you, I guess.” She told the Gym leaders before turning to Lightning and Moon Dancer. “I promise I’ll visit when I return to challenge my brother.” Her sister and the Professor nodded and she turned to Spike. “I guess we’re partners for now on.”
The boy nodded with a smile. “You said that as if that’s a bad thing. Good bye, guys. We’ll visit.” He told the others before turning and walking away, Fairy and their Pokémon following closely.
“So, what are we going to do? We need to get stronger if we want to challenge the Gyms. We’ll need to capture a few Pokémon too, and test the translators with every species we encounter along the way.” Fairy noted.
Spike thought for a moment. “I suggest we train for a bit and get more Pokémon before challenging Applejack’s Gym in Appleloosa.”
“Why hers?” Shade asked, walking beside his trainer.
“Good idea. She’s a Grass Gym Leader; we wouldn’t be in either advantage nor disadvantage. Well, unless she has a Pokémon like a Trevenant or a Breloom.” Fairy nodded.
“Makes sense. Still, let’s try to find a Flying-type or a Fire-type Pokémon. That way we’ll have someone with us that has some advantage.” Prism agreed. “Hey, why don’t you look us up on your Pokédexes? Just to see our entry and moves.”
Fairy and Spike stopped and pulled out their Pokédexes, pointing them at the Eevee twins to see their information and moves.
“Eevee, the Evolution Pokémon. Current studies show it can evolve into an incredible total of eight different species of Pokémon.
Gender: Female
Ability: Adaptability
Moves: Tackle, Flail, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Shadow Ball.”
“Gender: Male
Ability: Anticipation
Moves: Detect, Quick Attack, Sand Attack, Growl, Bite.”
“Huh, looks like we won’t need to look out for Trevenant after all.” Fairy mused. “How did you learn Shadow Ball?”
“A good Pokémon from another trainer taught me.” Prism answered.
“So you can learn TM moves without the TM, if you have someone to teach you it? Interesting.” Spike said.
“We can find Flying-types on the plains near Ponyville while we go to Appleloosa. And a few good Grass-types near the orchards of both cities. Maybe a few Normal-types too.” Fairy noted.
“Sounds like a plan.” Spike said with a nod and a smile, happy they were finally starting their journey with a Pokémon they liked and also with a good childhood friend.
‘The Equestrian League better prepare, because our train is coming with no brakes at all.’