Ponyville, Early morning.
The day is going swimmingly for everypony. Nothing too out of the ordinary, just a normal day where everypony does what they normally do.
Ash and Pikachu are sitting about on a bench, just minding their own business and taking in that sweet Ponyville air. Again, nothing too out of the ordinary. The Mane 6 were hanging next to Ash and Pikachu, chatting with each other. All is well, but no one can predict what is about to happen next.
"Man...wonder what it would be like as a pony?" Ash said.
"You curious about us?" Applejack spoke.
"Oh yeah. I mean, I think it's not too different from being a Pokemon."
"But you're not a Pokemon Ash." Fluttershy walked up to him.
"I became a Pokemon once. I remember turning into a Pikachu. It was something alright."
"Turning into a Pikachu? You've got to tell us all the weird stuff you've gotten yourself involved with." said Rainbow Dash.
"But I bet it would be cool to be a pony as well." Ash thought.
"Wish granted!" Out of nowhere, Discord showed up, poking Ash in the face with his paw.
"DISCORD NO!" Twilight and the others cried out, but it was too late. The transformation had taken place. Ash felt his entire body change into the form that fit this world. The Mane 6 backed up as they saw a bright light engulf him. His skin colour remained the same along with his hair which was now his mane and his signature Z marks on his face. His clothes had even changed in size to fit his newfound appearance. Even his new gloves had changed to fit his hooves. His hat remained the same though. He looked exactly like a stallion would. He had become a unicorn and to top it all off, he even got a Cutie Mark. His mark was the Pokeball with a blue aura surrounding it.
"Pika-Pi?!" Pikachu was perplexed by his best friend's new look. The Mane 6 gasped as they set their eyes on their friend's ponified appearance.
Ash looked at his hooves, seeing that he had actually become a pony. "Woah..." Is all he could say.
"Oooh... Discord!" Twilight stormed towards the Draconequus.
"Why so mad? I only granted his wish. He wanted to know what it would be like to be one of you, and voila. Wish granted."
"You can't just change someone into something else like that! Change him back now!" Twilight exclaimed.
"No, no wait guys." Ash stopped them. "I did say I wanted to try it after all."
"That is true. Ash wanted to know." said Fluttershy.
"See? Why can't you all be understanding like my good friends Ash and Fluttershy here." Discord split himself into two, putting his paws around Ash and Fluttershy.
"Ugh...fine! Just make sure you turn him back by the end of the day!" Twilight demanded.
"I will. Now if you'll excuse me. I have places to be." Discord teleported off, leaving them all with this new Ash.
"So this is what if feels like?" Ash was standing in a bipedal stance. "It's definitely different from a Pikachu, that's for sure."
"I'm surprised by how well you blend in, darling. You really do look like one of us." Rarity walked up to him. "And it's good to know that my wonderful clothing still looks good even on a pony."
Ash was struggling to keep his balance since he's not used to standing like this. He was wobbling about, attempting to take one step forward. "How do you work with these things?"
"Just relax and place them down, Ash. Not too difficult." Applejack held Ash in place so he doesn't fall.
"Why do I feel so fluffy and light?"
"So what do we call you now that you're a pony?" Pinkie bounced to him. "Ash is a pony-like name. Is Ketchum one?"
"Well, he has a horn. Which means he's a unicorn now. So something unicorn related." Fluttershy and the others noticed the horn. Ash put his hoof on it, feeling it.
"Oh, sweet! I'm a unicorn! So does that mean I got all the magic in here?" He grinned.
"That's what the horn's for. But do you even know how to use magic? Or have you ended up using it in your long adventures?" Twilight asked.
"I think so. I remember holding an orb that had the King of Pokelantis in it. So I guess that's magic. Now, let's test this out." Ash wanted to give magic a go, so he concentrated whatever he had in him through his horn. But to their surprise, what came out wasn't magic, but aura. Ash may not possess magic, but the dormant aura in him is a good alternative.
"That's not magic...it's aura!" Twilight exclaimed. "I'm actually glad Discord turned you into a pony. This is revolutionary."
"It is?" Ash tilted his head.
"I recognize that blue energy from anywhere. So instead of magic, you get aura. I guess that's your alternative." Twilight was taking notes.
"Oh! How about this? How does Aura Ash sound?" Pinkie suggested. They nodded their heads, agreeing that it was a pretty good pony name. But they were still going to call him by his actual name. Ash.
"Now that I'm one of you...and still taller than you," Ash smirked at Twilight. "I wanna put this new body to a test! What first?" Pikachu hopped on his trainer's back, using it as a replacement for the shoulder. Pikachu was already missing sitting on Ash's shoulder.
"Aura Ash? I like the sound of that! What do you think, Pikachu?" He turned around to his partner.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed even though he was still perplexed by this sudden change.
"Now let's get moving as a pony!" Ash outstretched his new hooves forward, trying to walk like a human in a bipedal stance, but he lost his balance, falling flat on the ground. "I've gotta get used to this."
Ash's first experience as a pony began. The Mane 6 helped him get adjusted to his new appearance as everypony watching noticed that this stallion resembled Ash. The CMC especially. He still had his getup, just slightly different.
"Uh...excuse me. But who are you?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Yeah. And where did you get that outfit? I want an Ash outfit that fits me." said Scootaloo.
"Girls. This is Ash." Fluttershy said. The 3 of them took a moment to process the words that were transferred over to their ears. At the same time, they let out a resounding 'HUH' which rang in everypony's ears.
"How?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"Discord did it. I was wondering what it's like to be a pony, and here I am." Ash explained.
"You look exactly like us. Freaky..." Scootaloo uttered. "But cool!"
"Aw...you got a Cutie Mark but we don't?" Sweetie Belle sighed, looking at his mark.
"So, Ash. Let's test out your horn. I really want to know more about how aura works. And this might be the best possibility." Twilight was eager to dive deeper into the properties of aura.
"Right. Uhh...I'll try something." Ash's horn emanated that blue aura once more. Instead of spells, he conjured up small little Aura Spheres, floating atop his horn. "Oh! An Aura Sphere!" Ash waved his head around, making the Aura Sphere move about.
"Can you fire it?" Pinkie asked.
"I should be able to." Ash aimed his horn up, firing the sphere into the air as it kept on zooming up into the sky, breaking through the clouds as it kept going. "Sweet."
"Check out the range that thing's got." Rainbow Dash looked up at the Aura Sphere, seeing just how far it kept going.
"So far, being a pony rocks! Wonder what else I can do?" Ash was starting to get comfortable with his horn as he utilized it once more. This time, his aura made the everypony around him achieve barriers that were inside. A protective one even.
Twilight placed her hoof on the barrier, feeling its emanating energy. Once she touched it, she could feel aura for the first time in physical form. It felt like the essence of infinite energy being contained within it. So much energy that it is impossible to figure out what makes aura so potent. "So this is what aura really feels like. It's unexplainable."
The others placed their hooves on it too, feeling that boundless energy within. Once they all felt it, that same unlimited energy granted their bodies with the essence of aura. This only made Twilight more confused about what aura really is.
"Pikachu. Pika-Pika." Pikachu and Pinkie Pie were moving around in the barrier, finding it a bit fun.
"So far, aura's proving to be just as effective as magic." Rarity sat down in the barrier.
"Too effective if you ask me," AJ replied. "And you don't even know what else you can do?" She then turned to Ash.
"I only know a few things about aura and I've seen it in actions a few times. I remember Riley using aura to contain an explosion, and every time a Lucario battles, I see its waves all the time. So I'm pretty experienced with aura." Ash responded.
"Well don't stop. The more you use aura, the more I can learn about it." Twilight spoke.
"I'll see what I can do. Right now, I'm starving." Ash held his pony stomach as he could hear it growling.
"Oh! Maybe your taste buds are different now that you're one of us!" Pinkie hopped in the barrier. "If we lend you some cake, your pony form will find it even yummier than your human form!"
"I already find cake really delicious, but sure. Let's eat!"
"Uh...can you let us out first." Applejack said.
"Oh right." Ash closed his eyes, focusing, as he released them all from the barrier.
They headed over to SugarCube Corner to fill that hungry pony stomach. Pinkie placed down a usual strawberry cake. If she was correct, then Ash's taste buds would adjust themselves to this world and his new body. He started chomping away at the cake, and the result... the same. His taste buds weren't affected at all. He still found the cake to be delicious either way.
"Nope. No change in taste buds. But this stuff is still good!" Ash continued to eat away.
"Well, personally I think what we should do next is to figure out what fits you now." Rarity said. "The clothes that I made for you look gorgeous still. So, I'll see what else can work."
"You're not planning on putting me in a suit?" Ash groaned. He was not a fan of suits.
"What else of course? Come along now."
Rarity dragged the trainer over to her boutique, already planning out different clothing options. He was placed in a standard suit for stallions, but she discarded it. He was then given gala suits, wedding suits, suits from Manehatten, a bunch of suits that were made in the past and so on. Ash sighed, not digging any of these choices.
"So? What else looks good on you?" Rarity asked.
"Thanks, Rarity. But I'm not a fan of suits." Ash removed the one he was wearing. "I like my trainer clothes better. All of them."
"Very well." Rarity used her magic to grab his clothes. "Although, strangely enough. These clothes are somehow my best work yet. Compared to everything else I've done, they're so simple and standard. Yet they work so well."
"That's why I love to wear em." Ash replied.
"Enough of that. Are ya fast at galloping?" Applejack spoke.
"I can already run really fast." Ash replied.
"Yeah, but as a pony, you never know."
Next was a test of speed. Ash can already run fast enough to keep up with a lot of people, Pokemon and ponies. Just a natural reward of journeying across many regions for so long. But how does he fair at galloping like a pony? Applejack herself can move at quick speeds due to her benefits of being an Earth Pony.
Ash put his hooves together, wondering if he can actually run faster with them. He rubbed them together, still trying to get used to them.
"Alright. From home to Ponyville. Simple as that." Applejack explained as they were at Sweet Apple Acres.
"I know how to walk with these a bit...but how do I run?" Ash kept looking at his hooves.
"Just relax and move like you normally would. You're always full of adrenaline ain't ya?" said Applejack.
"Guess so. Alright, I'm ready."
The two ponies readied themselves up as Pikachu and the others were waiting for them at Ponyville. The short race was on as they began their galloping. The speed difference with Ash as a pony didn't change at all. In fact, it was still the exact same speed he had. The same result as his taste buds. He and Applejack ended up reaching Ponyville in 8 minutes as their race ended in a tie.
"Woowee! Feel any different?" She asked.
"Not really. I still felt the same speed I always had. I guess nothing changed."
"So you mean to tell me that even though you're one of us, you still got everything you had as a human?"
"Looks like it. Guess my human form and pony form aren't so different, eh?"
"Guess so. But I'm okay with it. Even if I'm my normal human self or a pony, or anything really. I still enjoy being around all my friends, ya know. I don't care what I turn into as long as I get to have fun with it."
"Aw shucks, Ash. Keep talking like that and you're gonna make me turn red." Applejack put her hat over her head.
"Guess I'm only gonna stay like this for a day until Discord turns me back. Wonder what else I can do..." Ash thought for a minute and realised there's one thing he wants to try before he returns back to normal. "A battle!"
"Battle?"
"Oh, yeah! Before the day is over, I wanna battle as a pony. Just something that I really wanna do and remember."
"Then how's about a battle with me?" Rainbow Dash flew over to him. "My team's gotten way stronger over the days, ya know."
"You got it! I know for a fact my skills haven't changed as a pony."
"Pikachu!"
The two trainers were already ready to go. Ash's Pokemon still remained in his pocket, despite the size change.
"My gym battle is tomorrow. And I wanna prove my growth by backing you into a corner." Rainbow Dash commented.
"We'll see."
"Luxio. I know we haven't interacted much, but I'm counting on you!" Rainbow Dash looked at her Pokeball, tossing it out as Luxio came out.
"Lux!"
"Pikachu! I choose you!"
"Pika!" Pikachu hopped off Ash's back.
"Perfect...Ash's Pikachu doesn't have any moves that are good against my Luxio. Iron Tail, Thunderbolt and Electroweb aren't gonna be an issue. That Pikachu's going down." Rainbow Dash thought to herself, having a smirk on her face. "We'll start off strong! Luxio! Use Crunch!" Luxio made the first move a energy surrounded its fangs. The Spark Pokemon ran forward, ready to chomp on the Electric Mouse Pokemon.
"Pikachu! Quick Attack!" Ash's Pikachu still had Quick Attack to bank on. Pikachu rushed in, hitting his head on Luxio's face and preventing the Crunch.
"Xio!"
"It's okay Luxio! Use Ice Fang!" Luxio recovered as ice energy surrounded its fangs now. Going in for another bite and hoping to land a hit this time.
"Electrified Iron Tail!" Suddenly, Ash let out a command that no one else has ever heard other than his Pikachu. Pikachu sent all of his Thunderbolt energy and mixed it with his Iron Tail. With one swing, he struck Luxio's face with both hard steel and 10,000 volts of electricity. This combination of moves proved to be effective against a Pokemon that isn't weak to these moves at all.
"W-What was that?!" Rainbow Dash stammered.
"Just a little trick I picked up when I battled my friend Clemont. I've got loads more where that came from!" Ash replied, crossing his hooves together.
"It isn't over yet! Discharge!" Rainbow Dash went for Discharge as she was hoping to get some distance. Pikachu's pretty fierce from up close. Luxio sent a discharge of electricity towards Pikachu.
"Run through and use Quick Attack!" Pikachu ran through the Discharge, bypassing it completely as he crashed into Luxio head-on. This was enough to knock out Luxio thanks to the move combination dealing some good damage earlier. Luxio had fainted from the last hit.
"Lux..." It groaned.
"Aw...return Luxio." Rainbow Dash sighed, bringing Luxio back to its ball. "If I had known you had improvised moves, I would've prepared more!"
"I'm unpredictable like that."
"Pika!"
"I won't let you get the best of this time. Go! Whirlipede!" Next up was Whirlipede, her first Pokemon. "Whirlipede and I have some new moves that are gonna throw you off, for sure."
"Show me what you've got then." Ash used his hooves to replicate the bring it on hand motion.
"Whirlipede! Iron Defense!" Its newest move was shown. Its body was engulfed in a bright silver light similar to that of pure steel. The Curlipede Pokemon's defence had been raised greatly. "Now charge in with Rollout! Let's see you try and stop Whirlipede with all that defence and speed!" Whirlipede picked up some speed on the spot, kicking up some dirt as it rolled towards Pikachu.
"Alright, Pikachu. Spin with Thunderbolt!" Ash used one of his many moves. The Counter Shield. Pikachu got on his back, spinning with Thunderbolt flying out. A frantic frenzy of lightning was in front of Whirlipede, shocking it and knocking it back. Now it couldn't get close because of the erratic Thunderbolts.
"Are you kidding me?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Whirlipede! Use Iron Defence one more time!" Rainbow was planning to get Whirlipede to a high enough defence so that it can break through the Counter Shield.
"Got ya. Iron Tail!" Pikachu jumped off his back, ending the Counter Shield. He was in the air as Iron Tail was ready to strike. Rainbow Dash and Whirlipede looked up to see Pikachu approaching.
"Dodge it!" Whirlipede luckily dodged it in time thanks to its speed. But Ash still had the distance advantage.
"Thunderbolt!" Pikachu turned around, shocking Whirlipede with Thunderbolt. The way Ash was performing this battle seemed to be much quicker than usual. And surprisingly, it had nothing to do with his pony form. It's just that at times, his battle instincts accelerate without warning.
"It's not over yet! Whirlipede! Venoshock!" Whirlipede recovered as it unleashed its newest move. It drenched a venomous poison towards Pikachu, but Ash had a way around this as well.
"Use Iron Tail to take it!" Pikachu turned his tail iron once more as he raised it up, absorbing the poison and negating the damage. "Poison moves have no effect on Steel moves. So this is a perfect way to deal with that!"
"You seriously have that?!" Rainbow Dash felt like ripping her mane out.
"I just came up with that trick just now. Into the skill arsenal, it goes! Now use Quick Attack!" Pikachu ran forward, hitting Whirlipede before Rainbow Dash could even make the command.
"Whirlipede! Recover and use Pin Missile!" Whirlipede recovered from the sudden impact as it fired missiles of sharp pins towards Pikachu.
"Jump and use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu jumped over the Pin Missiles, instantly shocking Whirlipede from a distance. This was strong enough to take Whirlipede out, making it faint.
"Whirli..."
"Yes!" Ash jumped for joy.
"PikaPika!"
Rainbow Dash returned Whirlipede, putting her hoof on her head. She was in awe of what she was witnessing. "Woah... that was brutal. You really are an amazing trainer, Ash. Even as a pony. Guess I was the one backed into a corner."
"Thanks. Now we gonna continue?"
"Nah. I think I know when I'm beaten. I'm still nowhere near close to your level. But I'm still ready for my Gym Battle tomorrow! Thanks for battling with me."
"No problem."
After their battle, the entire group decided to hang out for the rest of the day at the Pokemon House. The day was nearing its end with the sunset closing in. Ash so far had enjoyed his time as a pony. He got to utilize the unicorn horn, eat, gallop and battle as a pony. He's basically done everything a pony normally does.
"Man..being a pony is pretty neat. Even if it feels different from my normal body." Ash sat back on a wall of the house.
"Glad you enjoyed it, Ash. Shame you can't stay as one much longer." Fluttershy fluttered over to him, holding Pikachu in her hooves.
"It's fine. I get to remember it at least. Now, where's Discord?" And with the mention of his name, Discord appeared, knowing that it had been a good amount of time.
"Alright. Time to return back to your fleshy self, compadre." Discord got out a human button as he pressed it against Ash's face. Ash's body was engulfed in a bright chaotic light once more. His original size was returning to him again. His clothes reforming to fit him again along with the disappearance of his horn and Cutie Mark. He was back to normal.
"Back to being me." Ash felt his hands. "Fun while it lasted. Thanks, Discord."
"Anything for a fellow lover of chaos such as myself. Toodle loo!" Discord got on a bike, riding it in the air as he vanished back to where he lives.
"Aw...That means my pony outfit for you won't do." Rarity sighed.
"You can always just make some of Ash's outfits for other ponies Rarity." Twilight suggested.
"Oh! Good point! It'll be a trend like no other!"
"I've got a story to tell mom and Goh!" Ash laughed as he held suddenly turned his hand into a hoof. "Huh?" The others leaned in to see this. Ash then shook his hoof, turning it back into a hand. "Woah..."
"Ash...can you... turn it on and off?" Rainbow Dash spoke.
Ash then shook his leg as it became a hoof. He almost lost balance as he quickly returned it to normal. "No way. I can turn it on and off?!"
"Ugh! Why does Discord have to always leave everything with a side effect?!" Twilight face-hoofed.
"Does this mean you're going to stay a pony from now on?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Nah. I'm fine with just being a human. But I may use this form for sneaky purposes at times."
"Pikachu..." Pikachu sighed, knowing that things are only going to get weirder from here on out.
Today was an odd day. One of the more unexpected days indeed. With Ash's newly obtained pony form which he'll rarely use and Rainbow Dash's 4th Gym Battle tomorrow, the future of both worlds has become even more unpredictable, as the journey continues.
Chapter 112 End!