Luna felt insulted by the creature that stood before her. It was bad enough that she was forced to be subservient to her friend David, when she herself was co-ruler of a vast empire any other given time. But now, here in this twisted dream, she was not even unique?
"Uh, so I guess you're not one of a kind then," David finally spoke, giving Luna the obvious information she had gathered.
"Very helpful, thank you," she replied. It was like looking in a mirror, the wild... her copied Luna's expression as she studied this being. Slowly lifting a hoof to inch closer, her twin did the same, stopping just as Luna did when she saw movement.
"So, what do we do now? It seems peaceful enough, if not a little embarrassing," Luna grumbled, turning to David. He seemed transfixed by the whole charade, before abruptly racing his arm and pointing.
"Luna, look out!" he shouted. Luna quickly whipped her gaze back forward, just as a hoof struck her across the muzzle. She stumbled backwards a few steps, dazed by the sudden strike.
"That was a cheap shot, you unscrupulous little whelp," Luna growled. Her twin merely cackled with a mischievous grin, evidently pleased with itself.
"No, that was a Sucker Punch, Luna," David called out to her. "It's a Dark-type move."
"It matters not what fancy names it may have for its underhanded tactics, that was uncalled for," Luna shouted back angrily. She was in no mood to be dealing with this impostor right now. She focused her mind, reaching for the power inside of her and concentrating. Nopony had the right to be this disrespectful to her, and she would demonstrate her full might to this world and this animal right now.
With a triumphant battle cry, Luna lowered her head and released the energy from her horn, expecting to hear the sizzle of raw magic cutting through the air. Instead, another bout of shrill laughter reached her ears, breaking her focus.
"What is so funny? You should be vaporized," Luna barked. She looked up to see the other Luna on the ground, pointing at her with a hoof as it giggled.
"Um, that was a good Flash, Luna," David quietly responded. Even so, she could sense some minor amusement in his voice as well. Frustrated, she turned around and headed back toward her friend who was having difficulty keeping a straight face amidst her issues.
"I don't understand what is going on, what did I just do? Why did I not send that..... me, to oblivion?" she demanded. "I am Princess Luna, even in this weakened state I should have no trouble eliminating all adversaries that stand in my way."
At once David gained complete control of himself, seeing Luna genuinely upset with the predicament before them. No, he wasn't laughing at his friend, but he had always gotten a kick out of her temper. Whenever it flared up, her vocabulary expanded in a big way, the exact opposite of most other people, and for that matter, ponies.
"Flash is an accuracy damaging move, it doesn't do anything other than make the opponent have trouble landing an attack," David replied, squatting down to be closer to eye level with her. Luna was normally just a few inches shy of meeting his gaze, but in this form she was relegated to, it was closer to a foot, if not more. "I guess your power doesn't translate into the same kind of power here. Battle works completely different from how it does in the real world."
"All it took was one attack for you to back down? I overestimated you," came a voice from behind the duo in conversation. Luna perked up, her anger renewed and amplified, while David seemed oblivious to the heckling.
"You would be foolish to overestimate me for even an instant," Luna replied sharply, whipping around to face her foe. "I hold more power within my hoof than you do your entire..." Luna paused for a moment, realizing that not only was she insulting a mirror image of herself, but that this being had spoke, in a voice much different from her. Despite the high pitch, this creature sounded more male than female, akin to a young colt.
"Wait, is that... are you two talking to each other?" David asked in astonishment. Once again Luna found herself craning her neck to view her friend.
"You do not hear this fiend insulting me?" Luna asked, once again feeling rather frustrated. David only shook his head in response, causing Luna to return her gaze forward.
"You two aren't worth my time, stay out of my territory," snarled the other Luna. Without warning, its form lit up in a blinding flash, forcing Luna to shield her eyes from the intense light with her forehoof. But no sooner had she done so, the flash faded away, leaving her with an entirely different being standing before her.
This creature was not even half the size that she was, standing perhaps a foot or two in height. Its form was much more predatory in nature, looking quite similar to a vulpine with its small paws and lithe form. Its deep gray coat was accentuated by patches of red upon its paws and the tip of a tuft of fur atop its head, which was framed by large triangular ears. In addition, a scarf-like patch of black fur surrounded its neck, and as the creature looked at her, perhaps the most striking feature was its piercing blue eyes, a stark contrast from the rest of its markings.
"So you in fact are not the same am I? Good, I will not feel as remorseful when I am done with you," Luna snapped. "And this footpath hardly seems like something a little kit such as you could claim as its own, besides."
"Luna, that's a Zorua, be careful," David warned. "They're known to be quick and evasive, though I don't know what the heck one is doing here in Kanto."
Luna quickly found herself becoming annoyed with David's distracting commentary, doing her best to ignore him as she stared down her fully-revealed foe.
"Your trainer seems to know more of what's going on than you do, maybe you should try listening to him," snickered the little fox. "I don't think you have any idea what I can do or any idea on how to battle by the sounds of it."
"I know how to handle myself in a battle, I have won many in my lifetime," Luna growled. Rather than continue to argue, she jumped into action, racing towards the Pokemon and slamming a hoof down towards it.
But the Zorua, as David had described, was quick to dodge her, leaping backwards a few feet in the blink of an eye. Just as its tiny paws touched the dirt, it sprang into the air again, this time towards Luna. Opening its maw wide, Luna had no time to react as the fox landed a savage Bite upon her neck. She felt small but pointed teeth dig into her flesh, as her foe clamped down hard.
"Augh!" Luna cried, wincing in pain as she struggled to shake off her attacker. Meanwhile David stood just a few feet away, frozen in place with indecision. He didn't intervene physically, did he? No, that would be a stupid idea, especially with Luna thrashing about. But at the same time, he realized he did not have any idea what kind of attacks Luna would know, aside from the Flash she demonstrated. That certainly was not going to get them far in a fight.
But for now, he just had to hope she would tap into something.
Finally, after almost a minute of shaking about, the Zorua let go of Luna. Her rage reached a new high as she stared daggers at the fox Pokemon, who gracefully landed several feet away from her, smirking. Once again she charged at him, lowering her head and in doing so, felt a rush of energy course through her veins. In fact, it felt quite similar to the magic she was used to wielding through her horn, just suffused through her whole being.
"Heck yeah Luna, hit him with a Quick Attack," cheered David. She had no idea what David was talking about, but as she opened her eyes to guide her charge, it was obvious she was going fast. Way faster than normal, just as her target leaped once again to dodge her. The evasive mood came just a hair too late, as Luna made contact with the tip of her horn, strong enough to send Zorua somersaulting through the air.
"You would do well to back down now," Luna announced, holding her head high as she skidded to a stop. Her adversary landed awkwardly upon the dusty ground ahead of her but was quick to regain his footing. "There is plenty more where that strike came from."
"I've been trying to be nice, but now I'm mad," shouted the vulpine. It rose back to its feet, opening its mouth wide again. But as Luna readied herself for Zorua to pounce again, she was instead surprised to see a ball of energy materializing in its maw. Slowly, the orb grew, an angry swirling sea of violet and black.
"Dodge that Shadow Ball, Luna," came David's voice. Irritated, she turned her gaze towards him.
"Do you not think I am intelligent enough to observe and avoid its attacks? I know what I am doing," she complained. Instead of a reply, David only cringed and turned away, drawing her attention back forward just as the sinister energy struck her in the chest.
Luna slid backward a few steps as the orb hit her, the attack's energy crackling around her body. She braced herself for pain as best she could, squeezing her eyes shut. Yet the expected sensations did not come, and as she opened her eyes once more, the attack had already dissipated. In fact, the only effect the Shadow Ball seemed to have was knocking her backward by a few steps. Zorua took a step back himself, his confidence diminished by Luna's resistance to his attack.
"Really, another illusion? You truly are shameless," Luna taunted. She lowered her head and changed in again with another Quick Attack. She overheard David call something out to her but ignored it. She knew what she was doing, his orders were unnecessary and a distraction. But she was not as lucky this time, Zorua evading her with a quick sidestep.
Meanwhile, David relented with his shouts to Luna, realizing he was wasting his time. It didn't necessarily bother him that Luna did not want his input, it was the idea that she was essentially fighting blind as far as knowledge of how fighting worked. Especially considering her magic was not what it was back in the waking world. Rather than worry too much about something he could not control, he sat idly by and watched.
"Wow, another Quick Attack, how surprising," the Zorua shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He circled around Luna as she turned in step with him, silent as she waited for him to make a move. As much as she hated to admit it, her opponent was right, she did not know what else to do other than charge at him. Without her magic she was accustomed to, she felt a bit lost. Not that she would be willing to admit such a thing, not now. But as the fox leaped at Luna again, she remembered her other advantage she had yet to use.
Just as Zorua closed in, Luna herself leaped upward, spreading her wings wide and flapping them to avoid his charge. Just as he passed below her hind hooves, slashing at thin air, Luna kicked, striking Zorua square in the back. The hit sent him sprawling to the ground, briefly knocking the wind out of the little Pokemon. Luna proceeded to hover just above him, smirking as her foe struggled back to his feet.
"Oh, you seem to be rather predictable yourself," Luna gloated. "Don't worry, you aren't the only one with tricks at their disposal."
"You talk way too much," panted Zorua, glaring at her as she continued to lazily flap her wings, staying just out of his reach. After a moment of staring between the two, Zorua growled, backing away just a few steps. "You'll get knocked down a peg, sooner or later."
"Oh, giving up so soon?" Luna sarcastically pouted. "We just started having fun. Is the poor little fox all out of ideas?"
"I'm not wasting my time with you anymore," Zorua angrily shouted back, turning away from the alicorn. "But here's a gift for you before I leave." Abruptly, he turned his head around, opening his mouth and spitting a single blue-tinged fireball towards her at high velocity. Despite her quick ascension higher into the air, the eerie flame followed Luna, before rapidly closing the distance and striking her in the torso, just behind her right wing.
A stinging, searing heat enveloped her whole side as Luna cried out in pain, the shock of it causing the rhythmic beat of her wings to falter. She felt the skin below her fur coat sizzle and blister in almost an instant, and as she tried to retain her altitude, the movement of her wing only created a further jolt of agony, paralyzing her in mid-air. Quickly she began to fall back to the earth.
"Luna!" David shouted, terrified as he watched her struggle to fly. He sprinted over to where she was rapidly plummeting, getting there just before she hit the ground. Instead of catching the alicorn, her body used him as a cushion, as the force of her momentum sent him sprawling to the ground in a heap with her atop. Nearby, Zorua cackled, as he bounded away from the duo and into the underbrush, disappearing from sight.
"Luna, are you okay?" David inquired, frantically twisting about to get a better view of the alicorn laying atop him. Luna only groaned in response at first, the fall having knocked the breath out of her for the moment. Even so, she remained fully aware of the horrendous pain wracking her right side.
"I do not know what that was, but it burns like nothing I have ever experienced in my life," Luna finally moaned. She moved slowly to avoid aggravating the area as best she could, leaving her right wing fully unfurled while she tucked the other away. Eventually, she made her way back upon her hooves, as David finally sat upright and got a better look at his friend.
"Yeah, I think it was a 'Will o the Wisp,' but that's an odd move for that little thing to know," he responded, peering at her injured side. While the fur was merely singed in a few areas, he didn't doubt the supernatural flame caused a much more severe burn than was visible. But trying to get a better look at her skin underneath would only multiply her misery, so he stopped his investigation there. "How do you feel other than that?" he asked.
Luna moved her extremities in demonstration, wincing as her right hind leg and her wing on the same side moved. "I find it difficult to feel anything besides the burn" she admitted before her stubborn attitude kicked in. "But I have experienced worse injuries. I will be fine."
"No, we need to get that taken care of right away," David replied, reaching for his bag for the heal items left for him in the lab. As he did so, he realized he had made a big mistake - in his haste to get going, David left them on the table, never even opening up the package in the first place. "Crap. Luna, we gotta head back, I don't have anything to help you with that burn." He quickly rose to his feet, and Luna stepped in front of him.
"Absolutely not, we move onward. I can manage with what I have been dealt," she announced. Before David could even protest, Luna turned and began to shuffle northward past him. He let out an audible sigh as he watched his friend's limping gait, setting out after the bull-headed mare.
He caught up to her quickly even at a walking pace, before ambling alongside her. The pain Luna felt was evident by the grimace on her face, yet she continued to push forward. David briefly considered calling her back to the Poke Ball, but decided against it.
"So that was battling in this realm. I must say I do not find it particularly enjoyable," Luna said, reflecting back on her experience. "It seems to me hardly honorable to burn somepony and run away like that. Then again, there was not much to respect with that Zorua creature."
"To be fair, you were taunting that Zorua. That probably was not the best idea. Plus, that last hit you got was a pretty good one, though I don't know what attack it was, if anything," David responded.
"To be fair, he was the one that began the taunts, I just gave him a taste of his own medicine. But apparently, you did not hear any of that, so I have no proof," she grumbled.
"I never said I didn't believe you. I just meant you were laying it on thick. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I told you before I can manage," Luna replied. Her outstretched wing began to cramp up, not used to being extended for so long in one place. Gingerly she half tucked it away as she continued to walk, a fresh surge of heat coursing through her nerves despite her care.
"No, I mean are you okay with what going on? With this dream? I know you aren't thrilled with the way it turned out, or... well that back there, but you have been on edge this whole time. You seemed excited about experiencing all of this at first, what happened?"
"I suppose the idea of being a princess ordered around by her friend does not excite me," Luna admitted. David stopped in his tracks, causing her to do the same after a few more steps. As she spun around, David had shuffled over to a fallen log beside the trail, squatting down and taking a seat.
"Luna, let's take a breather," he said, motioning for her to join him.
"David, I said I am fine, we should keep mo-"
"Okay, how about I need a breather," he interrupted. She knew he really did not need to rest, but humored him anyways, limping over and slowly easing down upon her haunches. David opened up his bag and retrieved the Poke Ball he had found Luna inside earlier, holding it in the palm of his hand for her to see. She recoiled a bit in response, like a feline confronted with water.
"You would dare not use that on me, would you?" Luna asked apprehensively. Her response only made David's shoulders slump a bit in disappointment. Instantly she regret opening her mouth without thinking, as this clearly was not why he had fished the item out.
"No, I wouldn't. Honestly, it might be in your best interest to rest in this, but I'm not going to recall you unless you ask. You know why, don't you?"
"Because I asked you not to do such a thing in the lab?" Luna questioned.
"Yes, because you're my friend, and I respect your wishes. I may not agree with them, but I will respect them unless it is an emergency. I trust you know your own strength, and I'm sorry if you felt my input earlier felt like orders. But if I really wanted to order you around, this would be the ultimate 'obey me' moment." He paused for a moment as he tossed the capsule back in his bag and zipped it up, slinging it back over his shoulder.
"Luna, all I'm trying to do is give you information. You said so yourself, this is a learning experience. But whatever is going on in this dream, you don't have your normal magic do you?" he asked.
Embarrassed, Luna looked down, kicking one of her hooves in the dirt beneath her. "No, it seems I do not. I can do menial tasks, such as opening doors as I demonstrated earlier, but more complex spells... I don't know. I can feel some of my magic within me, but it will not manifest as I would expect it," she sighed, feeling uncomfortable admitting such a thing out loud.
"Right, but it did when you use that Quick Attack a few times, didn't it?" he asked. Luna nodded in response.
"Yes, it was quite unlike anything I have experienced before. Rather than magic being focused within my horn, it felt as if my whole body was the conduit," she explained.
"I think that's the key, Luna. I think you still have your magic, but with the way this world works, I believe it's just used in a different way than you're used to. After all, you've only used two proper attacks that I have recognized, who knows what else you can do."
"Is there a way to find out without going through that mess again?"
"Maybe. We'll just have to work together. As a team," he said, holding out his hand, Luna looked down at it, those last words echoing in her mind.
As a team.
Like she and her sister.
Relying on each other.
Helping each other.
As equals.
Luna quickly placed her hoof in his palm.
"A team."