Canterlot, The Pokemon Festival. 8:00
"Queen Pyrestar sure knows how to make a plan doesn't she?" Sunset spoke as she and the Dazzlings had left the castle, coming out to the Pokemon Festival.
"I'll admit that." Adagio nodded. "It sounds like it might actually work in all honesty."
"But do we really have to wait for 2 months?" Sonata asked. "I say we just go there and give her a real good thrashing!"
"You chucklehead!" Aria bonked Sonata on the head. "Rushing in blind is the worst mistake you can do."
"Ow!" Sonata whimpered.
"But Adagio...I'm surprised to see you actually working hard to stop a bigger threat," said Sunset.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Adagio turned around, narrowing her eyes at Sunset Shimmer.
"Ah...well, uhh..." Sunset chuckled nervously. "I didn't really see it coming, ya know. I mean, you were even cooperating with Queen Pyrestar who's like one part Princess Celestia and the other part Princess Luna."
"That's because of the Celestia part of her." Sonata slid over. "Adagio and Celestia friends!"
"We are not friends!" Adagio screeched.
"Really? Then what are you?" Aria questioned.
"We're just..." Adagio thought for a moment. "What do you call someone who you respect and tolerate?"
"An acquaintance?" Sunset answered.
"That's the one. We're just acquaintances. That's all."
"You're trying really hard to deny that you're potentially friends, aren't you?" Sunset chuckled.
"Ugh!" Adagio groaned. "2 months of this...? And you're stuck to me like glue."
"Sure am." Sunset nodded. "I can never be too careful, ya know. But so far, you seem to have mellowed down the last time we met."
"You have no idea!" Sonata exclaimed. "You should've seen her during the Canterlot Tournament! At first, she was all aggressive and brutal!"
"But then when we had a break and came back for the tournament she got all calm and so-" Aria was about to finish her sentence until Adagio interrupted.
"Don't remind me!" Adagio screeched. "Let's just...go on an attraction or something!"
"Oh! About that!" Sonata placed her hoof on Aria's neck. "Aria and I decided that we wanted to go somewhere else in the Pokemon Festival."
"Canterlot's fun and all but there are more attractions out there that we wanna try." Aria nodded. "What do you say, Adagio?"
"Hm. I'm not going to object to that. I did promise to spend time with you two...Minus her." Adagio shifted her eyes at Sunset. "Where to?"
"Manehattan!" Sonata bellowed as Aria nodded in agreement.
"Manehattan, huh? Fine." Adagio accepted their request. "I do want to make myself look good. My hair's been a bit aloof recently." She lifted her mane as Kricketot popped out of it.
"Oh, who's this little guy?" Sunset took out her Pokedex.
"Kricketot. The Cricket Pokemon. Its legs are short. Whenever it stumbles, its stiff antennae clack with a xylophone-like sound. It shakes its head back to front, causing its antennae to hit each other repeatedly. These sounds are fall hallmarks."
"Tot!"
"This is Adagio's best friend in the whole world!" Sonata grabbed Kricketot. "Isn't that right, Adagio?"
"Kricket!"
"Hm!" Adagio shot up from that. Sonata had gotten her in a trap. She couldn't deny that Kricketot was her best friend because she genuinely loves Kricketot.
But she also didn't want to admit to Sunset Shimmer and her sisters that Kricketot was like a friend to her. Even if she doesn't believe he's a friend. So it was a rough spot for her.
After all, Kricketot has been there for Adagio all the way. He's stuck beside her no matter what she has done and their relationship and bond have evolved to a point where Kricketot was not an acquaintance, liability, deadweight or even a bother at all. Calling him any of that would just be an insult to a truly loyal Pokemon.
"Kricketot?" The Cricket Pokemon turned to his partner.
"...Mmm. Yeah. Kricketot and I are close." She chose her words carefully.
"Tot!" Kricketot jumped off of Sonata's hooves, latching onto Adagio's face. "Krick!"
"Aww..." Sunset gushed. "You really do have a friend."
"I do not-"
"Then what is Kricketot to you?" Aria asked.
"He's...uh..." Adagio groaned. Looking at Kricketot's cute face and how much love he was exhibiting made it impossible for her to break his heart. So she improvised with one of the most common words used for a Pokemon and their trainer. "He's my partner."
"Kricketot!" Kricketot enjoyed those words as well as he tightened his grip.
"Ow! Kricketot!"
"That means he's totally a friend of yours, right?!" Sonata squeed.
"Let's just go to Manehattan already!" Adagio groaned as she was trying to break out of this conversation. But from how Adagio acted when with Kricketot and how she was yelling her words, Sunset, Aria and Sonata could easily tell that she did in fact have a friend but she didn't want to admit it.
Manehattan. 9:00.
Speaking of Manehattan, it took a whole hour for them to reach it due to the train ride. Not too long and a fairly short ride honestly.
Adagio and her sisters set foot into Manehattan with the sun beating on their faces. The extra sunlight today was a bit too powerful.
"Ugh..." Adagio raised her hoof over her face. "Too bright..."
"Manehattan, here we are!" Sonata jumped over Adagio.
"First time being here in a place this big. I've got a good feeling about this one." Aria nodded.
"This is my first Pokemon Festival..." said Sunset. "I'm so excited!" She pranced on the spot. "There's so much to do and explore I can't wait! I mean this is all new territory for me since the festival isn't over in the human world! Oh! What if I-"
"I can't listen to any more of this." Adagio walked off while Sunset kept on talking. But since Sunset vowed to stick by Adagio, that didn't matter because she immediately followed after the siren. "You're seriously going to follow me for 2 whole months?"
"Yes?" Sunset replied.
"A bit creepy, don't you think?"
"I-It's not creepy!"
"It is a little bit creepy I'll admit." Aria nodded as Sonata slid in.
"Yeah! Maybe you can try a different approach, Sunny. Oh!" Sonata shot up. "I like that! Can I call you Sunny from now on?"
"...Sure." Sunset squinted her eyes. "And what other approach is there?"
"Uh...Do you have an Xtransceiver?" Sonata asked.
"I do but...does she?"
"No way. I'm not a trainer." Adagio shook her head. "And I didn't ask for your company, Sunset Shimmer. This is supposed to be a time where I hang out with my sisters and nothing else."
"Kricke?" Kricketot popped out of Adagio's mane, seeing that things might get heated between Adagio and Sunset Shimmer.
"All because of what? Some jar that I never intend to use on myself?" Adagio scoffed.
"You can never be too careful but..." Sunset took a deep breath. "I guess I am kinda being a bit invasive. But I'm also here to help my world. If it's being invaded in 2 months, I have to be here. I was born here after all. You all know what I mean right?"
"Of course I do," Adagio replied. "This is my home too. And I won't let some random Twilight Sparkle from another universe who thinks she's all that conquer it!" She stomped her hooves which startled her sisters, Sunset Shimmer and Kricketot who hid back in her mane.
"My oh my. Such fire." The voice of Sunlight responded to Adagio's blazing words of anger and fury. That was because Sunlight, along with Eventide, Celestia and Luna were coming up to them. "I'm curious if your mother was the same."
"Hiya!" Sonata waved at them as a way of greeting. The three sisters, mainly Adagio were glad to see some familiar faces here. Adagio especially when it comes to Celestia and Sunlight.
But for Sunset Shimmer it was a different outcome. Seeing Sunlight and Eventide, two new alicorns was already surprising to Sunset even though she had seen a fusion of Celestia and Luna in the form of Pyrestar earlier. Especially since they look a lot like Celestia and Luna.
But what was more surprising was that the actual Celestia was here. In full form. Which Sunset feared the most. This was what Sunset was worried about in the first place. Coming to Manehattan as a Gym Leader, she was hoping that Celestia would've never figured out that she had been coming in and out of this world frequently but only for a short period of time.
Sunset still fears Celestia after what she did many years ago. And she also fears that Celestia would punish her if she ever caught Sunset Shimmer one day.
And that day was today.
"P-Princess Celestia..." Sunset shuddered.
"Sunset Shimmer?" Celestia turned to face Sunset as her attention was focused on her now.
"Gardevoir?" Passion was wondering why Celestia's tone had shifted all of a sudden.
"Oh, this was probably a bad idea..." Sunset hid behind Sonata.
"What's the matter with you?" Adagio raised an eyebrow at her fellow orange pony.
"Oh, right. This is Sunset Shimmer, correct?" Sunlight shot up. She then took a moment to read the atmosphere as she saw how her daughter was glaring at Sunset Shimmer. "Oh. I'll...let you sort this one out yourself."
"Why so nervous? You met with Pyrestar who's like both of them in one." Sonata asked.
"Mmm..." Sunset grumbled. "But this is my world's Celestia and...we didn't exactly end off on the best note."
They certainly didn't. While Sunset was looking at Celestia with fear and worry in her eyes, Celestia was looking at Sunset as if she was judging her.
This was their first time reuniting with each other in so long. Sunset wasn't sure that she was considered Celestia's student anymore after what happened in the past. From how Celestia opened up her wings and kept that same stern glare at Sunset Shimmer, there was a possibility that this reunion wasn't going to end up being so heartfelt.
Passion and Arcanine looked over at their trainer, wondering what Celestia's response would be. They had no idea what Sunset and Celestia's history was. Passion has only ever known about Sunset by name thanks to the Equestria League Leaderboards.
Sunset realized that things weren't going to get any better by just having a staring contest with her potentially former teacher. So she decided that now was her chance to apologize after so long. She took a deep breath, moving away from Sonata as she prepared herself.
"Princess Celestia," Sunset spoke. "The last time we saw each other, I was your snide little pupil who betrayed and abandoned you."
"M-Maybe that's not the best way to start things off?" Sonata winced as she slowly backed away. "I think she means-"
"I mean that I appear before you a changed pony." Sunset cut Sonata off. "Humbly asking for forgiveness, guidance and knowledge."
"Snide?" Adagio narrowed her eyes. "I would've loved to see that."
"Adagio..." Aria nudged Adagio.
"Should we-" Eventide was about to make a suggestion but Sunlight quickly stopped him. This was between student and teacher only.
After hearing that, Celestia lowered her wings as she walked towards her previous pupil. Seeing the alicorn princess approach her made Sunset a bit shaky as she was about to go behind Sonata once more. The shadow of Celestia cast over Sunset Shimmer, which didn't make things better for her at all.
"Or I can...just go somewhere else and...you never have to see me again." Sunset whimpered. She believed that there was no forgiveness coming her way.
But that wasn't the case. Suddenly, Celestia placed her hoof on Sunset's chin, raising it as they both looked at each other once more. Celestia's frown transformed into a soft smile.
"I've missed you Sunset Shimmer." There it was. Forgiveness did come her way. Ever since Celestia found out about Sunset being involved with the League by seeing her name on the leaderboards, she had been yearning to see her once more.
And that time was now. Seeing that Celestia had forgiven her despite what she had done gave a warm feeling in Sunset's heart. And now it was time for her to say those words she never got the chance to say.
"I'm so sorry." Apologizing for the past is what she was missing as Sunset went up to Celestia as they both embraced each other with a hug.
Reunited at last.
"Phew." Sunlight wiped the sweat off her forehead. "I was worried there for a moment."
"Ah! But that just goes to show just how well we've raised our daughter!" Eventide chuckled. "It's a wonder to meet you, Sunset Shimmer."
"Wait...who are you two?" Sunset asked.
"The parents of your lovely teacher! Wait." Sunlight slid over to Celestia. "Celestia, dear. Do you still consider her your pupil?"
"Hm...Sure." Celestia nodded.
"Parents...?" Sunset froze as her mind just clicked on why they looked so similar to Celestia and Luna. "Ooooh...Okay, that makes sense. My, You're much taller than Princess Celestia."
"Is it possible for me to grow even further, mother, father?" Celestia questioned.
"Sad to say that won't be the case." Eventide shook his head.
"Drat." Celestia stomped her hoof. "Anyway, I assume you're here for the Pokemon Festival, Sunset Shimmer? Is this your first or second one?"
"Oh, this is my first one! I'm pretty psyched." Sunset grinned. "I'll get to interact with Pokemon even more than the human world!"
"Are there not that many Pokemon in the human world?" said Sunlight.
"Well, there are a ton of them. It's just our world is still adjusting to Pokemon whereas this one has already figured it out. I mean, if Arceus didn't show up things would've just been a huge trainwreck!"
"Hm. I didn't take into account what the parallel world would be like with Pokemon. I hope nothing horrible has happened." Celestia said.
"Nothing. I mean, every time I finish my Gym Leader job and head back, everything seems fine and not completely obliterated." She chuckled nervously.
"Well, you're going to enjoy your time here. And maybe later, you can show me how a Gym Leader battles," said Celestia.
"I can show you now. I'm a pretty good Gym Leader if I do say so myself. Some ponies even consider me the first real roadblock for them." Sunset smiled with confidence. "Well...all except for Princess Luna. I was demolished."
"Mhm." Then Luna was the one who smiled with confidence.
"Well, some evil part of me would like to see you battle against one pony. Just for fun." Celestia giggled as she already had an idea swirling in her head.
"Who?"
Outskirts of Manehattan.
"I needed this..." Ash was laying on a tree, relaxing and letting the slow energy of the 4th day go by. It truly was a slow day. Possibly the slowest the festival has been so far.
"Pikachu..." Pikachu did the same along with all of Ash's Pokemon who just wanted to take things slow and steady. No rush whatsoever until they feel like it.
"Feeling relaxed, Ash?" Twilight walked over to him.
"Sure am. It's nice to cool off once and a while, ya know."
"Pika."
"But tomorrow, I'm gonna go wild!" Ash raised his fist to the sky. "Las Pegasus doesn't sound so bad since Rarity thought of heading there. Might get some awesome battles there too."
"You sure do love your Pokemon battles, don't you?"
"Sure do! I never get tired of them for one bit. Even when I started my journey as a Pokemon trainer."
"And it's for your goal as a Pokemon Master, right? And beating Champion Leon?"
"Mhm." Ash nodded. "Beating Leon, the strongest trainer in the world is one step closer to becoming a Pokemon Master."
"Pikachu!"
"Leon is a bit intimidating after hearing what he's done to reach the top...but I guess the more impressive the trainer the more psyched you'll get, right?"
"Ain't that the truth! Strong opponents really get me pumped up, ya know! No matter who it is, I'm always looking forward to battling them!"
"Even if they beat you?"
"Yeah. It doesn't matter if I win or lose my battles. Cause I always wanna share them all with my friends by the end of it, ya know. I'll always and forever be doing well, but despite my efforts, I can't guarantee you."
"I guess that's true." Twilight nodded.
"But all the time and every day, I'll live honestly and true. Cause I've got some great friends by my side." Ash looked over at Pikachu who climbed onto his shoulder.
"Pikachu!"
"Guess nothing keeps you down, doesn't it?" Twilight giggled.
"Oh, yeah! Ya know, I'm feeling energized from talking about strong opponents. So why don't we have a battle, Twilight?"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"This again, Ash?" Twilight pouted. "You know I'm nervous to battle because of how strong you are. Why don't you just go and help Rainbow Dash with her training?"
"Absol." Absol went up to Ash and Twilight as he responded to Ash's request. "Sol. Absol."
"Hm? What is it, Absol?" Twilight asked him.
"Sol. Absol" Absol was referring to how Twilight was nervous to battle against Ash. But Absol wasn't nervous at all. Not one bit.
"Don't tell me you want to..." Twilight grimaced as her wings shot up
"Absol's itching for a battle, huh? Nice!" Ash nodded.
"Absol!"
"Of course I have to have one Pokemon who's battle-orientated." Twilight sighed. "Well, can I at least battle somepony else? If that's okay with you, Ash."
"Fine with me. I'm up for watching battles too. Just gets me more excited, ya know."
"Pikachu."
"Phew...Dodged a big one there..." Twilight felt relieved that she wasn't going up against Ash. "I can't wait to head back to the Pokemon School where they can teach us about battling more. Oh, but you already do that with us, don't you, Ash?"
"Sure do. But other trainers always have something new to teach you that I can't. Every Pokemon trainer's a teacher in their own way."
"That is true..." Twilight nodded. "Alright! Time to put all my skills to the test!"
"Pika!"
Now she just had to find somepony to battle. To find a trainer, she would have to head back to the festival where thousands of trainers were having the time of their life. There, she would most likely find somepony who is at least around her level.
It could take a while since everypony is occupied with all the attractions here since they are so heavily addicting. But since the fourth day is so slow, she has all the time in the world that she needs.
The Changeling Hive. 9:50
Or at least, there would be a hive here. But there wasn't one anymore. Not after what Ghetsis and his Hydreigon did by obliterating it with Draco Meteor.
The hive no longer existed. It had been wiped out from the face of the planet, much to the dismay of Queen Chrysalis and the changelings.
They now lived in a wasteland at this point. A dry, soulless and damaged wasteland with craters formed by Draco Meteor. They no longer had a home.
The changelings were all at the lowest point in their life. Perhaps the lowest it'll ever get. It was hard to say if they could recover from this.
Wings that have either been broken or destroyed, damaged horns, missing ears and just a plethora of horrible injuries that they have all suffered from.
But it wasn't just the hive that was lost. Many changelings had perished during the Draco Meteor rain. Those that had perished met their unfortunate end with their bodies being wiped out.
Not even the changeling eggs survived the onslaught of meteors from above. So many future changelings could never be born in this world. Chrysalis was without a doubt the one who had been the most affected by this as she was unconscious from shock and horror.
Chrysalis had never felt so defeated before in her life. Her previous losses do not compare to this. Her greatest loss came from someone she had allied with. If she were to wake up there is a guarantee that she would mourn what she has lost to Ghetsis.
Once again, that dark green glow emanated from her body, affecting every changeling around her, even when knocked out. However, after experiencing that horrifying event, she finally understood what this strange magic was. This magic was an emanation of her sorrow and fear.
This was truly the darkest day for the changelings overall. They could no longer defy Ghetsis. If they do, the next Draco Meteor will surely wipe them all out.
That's when another gateway opened up.
But this gateway wasn't Ghetsis's doing. Instead, it was by Empress Twilight Sparkle, who was here in response to this Draco Meteor assault that wiped out the hive.
The Empress casually trotted towards Chrysalis as she watched over the destruction. The sound of her dominant hooves were enough to wake Chrysalis up from her unconscious state, making her conscious once more.
As Empress Twilight navigated her head, she saw how horrifying a Pokemon's power can truly be. Or rather, how horrifying Ghetsis can be. One move and an entire hive had been wiped out of existence with barely any effort. Truly a mortifying display of power.
"Pitiful." She said as she stopped in front of Chrysalis who looked up at her.
"H-Help..." Chrysalis groaned.
"Hm." Empress Twilight noticed something of intrigue right near her hoof. Small bits of metal were on the ground with a small little camera mixed in with them.
Due to the massive destruction that Draco Meteor brought it also destroyed the many spycams that Colress had plastered around the hive. So now there were no more spycams to spectate over the changelings.
Empress Twilight used her magic to grab the tiny bits of metal and the camera up, observing it. If these spycams were never around in the first place then perhaps, none of this would've ever happened. However, Ghetsis is one to predict betrayals either way.
Chrysalis saw the spycam as she finally realized how this had happened. She took all the blame since the spycam picked up on her plan to overthrow Ghetsis. In her eyes, this was all her fault.
"It's all my fault..." She whimpered and mourned. "Please...help me..."
"Hm. Hahaha!" Empress Twilight suddenly burst out into laughter from Chrysalis's words. "You honestly think I'd help you? You were attempting to betray me as well just to stop Ghetsis." She continued to laugh.
"I..."
"Oh, poor, poor Chrysalis." She raised Chrysalis's head with her hoof. "But, I suppose I can still find some use for you. In one special way. Perhaps in 2 months when I conquer this world or maybe even earlier. But for now...you're on your own. Toodle-loo!" She dropped Chrysalis before walking off to the gateway, leaving her in an even worse state.
At this point, Chrysalis had no hope left.
No one was there to help her. All she could do now was follow orders from Ghetsis and Empress Twilight and nothing more.
However, she noticed that there was one changeling egg that survived the Draco Meteor rain. It was the only surviving one here. That one single changeling egg hatched early due to the destruction that came to this land.
A tiny baby changeling popped out of the egg as a new life was brought into this world.
Unfortunately, it didn't have a place to call home since the hive had been destroyed. But, even without a home, it had something greater than that. Chrysalis was here to take care of it. Even if her hive had been destroyed, she would still take care of the hatched changeling either way. As a mother normally does. Because of this, the dark green glow had diminished away. After seeing that, Chrysalis could also see that this dark green glow only fades away when happiness is formed.
But even with that happiness, the horrifying dread of Ghetsis remained. Chrysalis had made up her mind. She would have to find a new home now. One where she and the changelings could continue living on. Chrysalis and the changelings went on a journey with the small little changeling baby in her hooves. They weren't sure where they could go now in Equestria since they've had one home in one location for so long. But they would surely end up somewhere as the journey continues.
Chapter 317 End.