Universe 28. Empress Twilight's spare palace. Laboratory. Night.
Within the lab, Premium Polish was the conduit for a force known as the Magical Unite. A form of magic that will link every living being across not just this universe, but other universes via the Magic of Friendship lying within Premium Polish. All the while, having every being in multiple universes ruled by Empress Twilight. Only 6 days for it to fully take effect as Skyblue Shine was waiting for those days to pass quickly.
But arriving at the scene was an unexpected guest in the form of Daybreaker. She showed up via gateway travel, right next to the Empress as she was setting up a trap for Celestia and the other's inevitable arrival.
"Oh, what's this? Relying on children now?" Daybreaker spoke with a faint chuckle as she had witnessed Premium Polish within the machine. "My, how desperate can you get, Twilight?"
"Daybreaker. What do you want?" Empress Twilight asked.
"Well, I came to check on what you were up to. After all, even though I did decide to have a turn on dealing with the universe that gave you so much trouble, you're already fixated on revenge aren't you? What is this exactly?"
"A way to control everyone out there in multiple universes. My greatest creation. The Magical Unite!" Empress Twilight spread her hooves out. "Something I had planned for years now."
"Uh-huh."
"Not even those Pokemon will be able to resist its control. Speaking of which, I'm a bit busy making one large trap for when Celestia and her group decide to barge in and take the girl. So I don't have time to gossip." The Empress made her way towards her throne whilst Daybreaker teleported in front of her.
"About that. I'm not sure if anypony's told you yet, but I had a recent chat with Cosmos the other day and-"
"Cosmos?!" The Empress raised her voice, startling the guards as the room trembled. "Why would you converse with her?! Are you insane?!"
"Pssh. Not my fault you decided to add her to the alliance. You're the one who wanted more powerful allies and you just happened to pick the most powerful one by far."
"Tch." The Empress scoffed. "I hate it when you're right..."
"And you expect to control everyone out thee in just 6 days? Seems like just delay towards the inevitable, hm?" Daybreaker put her hooves on the machine. Premium Polish was unresponsive even though she could see everything in front of her.
"Precisely. And what about you? Relying on just Cosmos?"
"Oh, no. I have plans of my own." Daybreaker sat on a chair, acting like she owned the place while breathing a small spark of fire from her mouth. "They'll be in full swing. Plus, they're a bit above and beyond what we usually do. You see, I've decided to investigate the Pokemon World myself?"
"The Pokemon World? The real one instead of the new correct?"
"Correct." Daybreaker ended up stealing the food of a scientist for herself, heating the food with her fire breath. "If you want to defeat your enemies, you have to sometimes use what they have against them, catch my drift? And I've already discovered a few things that could help. I even heard rumours of a Sea Temple in the Pokemon World. And what it holds is tremendous."
"So you're saying I should try to visit Pokemon World a visit myself? I suppose I could learn something over there of great use. Those Pokemon hold wonderful power after all."
"Exactly." Daybreaker took a bite out of her food. "But anyway. Seems you're about to be involved in something interesting. I wonder how this little rescue mission will play out?"
"It won't play out at all once the trap is sprung. Celestia and her group won't even get near the child. No matter what." Empress Twilight declared before getting up in Daybreaker's face.
"If you say so. Gotta go~" She pranced off the seat whilst opening a gateway. "Might come back soon before those 6 days pass by. If Cosmos comes by, then things will be just as riveting." Those were her last words before just went through the gateway, closing it afterwards.
"I lose one invasion and she acts all high and mighty. Hmph." A disdainful scoff came from Empress Twilight as she walked off. "Who does she think she is? But, Daybreaker, or rather Celestia always had the best suggestions. The Pokemon World itself might have something I'm missing out on."
Pegalysium.Day.
The rescue of Jade Skies was in motion. Team Rocket had brought Ash and the others to Pegalysium via their Rocketship. And the one to guide them through Pegalysium would be Prince Shooting Star.
As Team Rocket stayed on guard near the ship, the group were currently on a jungle island, going through their plan once more. There was a way to possibly find Jade even if the Indigo's Alliance was unknown.
And coming along with them, with the involvement of Cold Colt was Emerald Aura. She didn't want to be here at all, but it was for a friend. She couldn't turn down Cold's help. And a chance to save another Rift Pony friend of hers. Jade.
"Alright." Shooting Star said. "So this plan's a surefire success. Your Slurpuff can just track them down and find their hideout with no problem and then everything else will be left up to you guys."
"That's right. We may not have seen them, but Slurpuff can identify anyone's scent after being near them for the first time." Pinkie Pie nodded, patting Slurpuff on the back. "We're counting on you, pal."
"Slurpuff!"
"But uh...you ll should be a bit careful. I mean...everypony over at Feathercoast and my parents are gonna be cool with you all showing but...not so much elsewhere." Shooting Star gave a warning to everyone before having a nervous grin.
"What do you mean by that?" Emerald Aura asked.
"Well...you kinda already know about the whole Pegalysium being away from Equestria since that's why it was founded in the first place. Feathercoast and my parents may move away from that but not sure about the rest of the Pegalysium locations. They might even be scared."
"He's right. Most of us are different from pegasi. Only Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and...maybe me might fit in." Twilight replied before looking at her horn and wings.
"So do we need a disguise? But...how are we gonna look like pegasi? And what about the Pokemon?" Starlight wondered. True that the rest of Pegalysium might be overwhelmed and shocked by the arrival of different ponies tribes considering the reason for Pegalysium's existence.
"The Pokemon...eh." Shooting Star shrugged. "They'll just think they're regular animals that are extra special."
"Ooh! I know what I can do!" Cold Colt spoke as he raised his hoof. An idea had already come to fruition for him. And he would showcase it like so. Not too long ago, just yesterday, his Rift Magic capabilities had improved to the point where Cold was almost at his absolute best.
It was time to show how far he's come. And he did so by disguise Twilight, Starlight and Rarity's horns via invisibility while also giving Applejack and the rest wings. He could now change appearances. At least, with certain parts. Twilight and the others gawked as all they had now were wings. Everything else was there but shrouded in invisibility.
"Ooh! Not bad, Cold!" Applejack gawked before looking at her wings. Much to her surprise and the others, she could actually move them. "And they're real!"
"Yeah. I put a levitation spell on them so it makes look like you're flying. Pretty great, huh?" Cold crossed his hooves, feeling proud of himself as always.
"Great is right. I'm so proud of how far you've come." Twilight complimented the little unicorn before giving him a head pat. Cold Colt felt embarrassed with more compliments as he let out an unintelligible laugh.
"Well done, squirt. You're a real prodigy now." Emerald was mostly proud of him, seeing how far the little colt had come. From utilizing simple mind control to ow forming invisible disguises. Such growth.
"Wait. What about you two?" Shooting Star pointed his hoof over at Ash and Spike.
"Oh me? Well, I'll just say I'm a Pokemon and blend in. Easy." Spike shrugged, already having a solution. "And Ash?"
"Hmm..." Ash crossed his arms before standing there. Indeed, he was technically the odd one out being a human and all. However, it was at this moment that something sparked in Ash's mind. A memory.
Last year, when he was just sitting on the bench in Ponyville, he remembered a certain scenario. When he wondered what it would be like to be a pony, Discord appeared out of nowhere and granted him that wish. Granted it was only for a day, however, even though Ash returned to normal, Discord decided to keep the pony form of Ash inside of him. Just in case for a special day.
And that day was today.
"Aha! Thanks, Discord!" Ash grinned before closing his eyes. He wouldn't be using his Aura for this. He would be using the small semblance of Chaos Magic lurking within his body. He hadn't used this form a second time in a year ever since he obtained it.
Chaos Magic covered Ash as everyone had backed away. They had witnessed a transformation of a different kind happen before their eyes. Ash's eyes lashed as his shape was being altered rapidly. Shooting Star's jaw dropped as he immediately saw a pony silhouette forming.
Out of the magic, Ash's Pony self had emerged. AKA Aura Ash.
"Haha! Still works!" He exclaimed while standing in a bipedal position. He quickly realized his stance before getting on all fours. "W-Woah..."
"Pikapi!"
"Oh, right!" Twilight exclaimed. "The pony form Discord gave you! You can really still use it to this day?"
"We ain't seen that in a long time...Second time actually!" said Applejack.
"Good to have you back, Aura Ash." Pinkie put her hooves around Ash's neck. "Now we're all matching!"
"Awesome! H-How'd you do that?!" Shooting Star gawked.
"Oh, a friend of ours named Discord gave me something like this. I haven't used it in a while, but if there's any time to use it, it's now." Ash nodded whilst adjusting his hat. "Do I look the part even with the hat?"
"Hm..." Cold narrowed his eyes before hiding Ash's horn and giving him the same wings. "Now you do."
"Nice. Okay, guys. Let's get our friend back as soon as we can. And maybe bust a secret society along the way." Ash spoke as Pikachu hopped on his back.
"Pikachu!"
"Let's get to tracking. Go for it, Slur-" The path to Jade Skies was about to begin, only for an interruption to halt and shift things for a moment. That interrupted involved the sky jungle that everyone was standing on.
Without any warning, the island started to move with the wind currents becoming more ferocious and aggressive. This was of course meant to be another scenario where the islands are constantly shifting to random locations.
"Oh, this again?! Can't there be a warning for these?!" Rainbow Dash groaned before holding onto a tree.
"N-No! Something's not right!" The young prince bellowed while trying to keep his balance. "The clouds moved yesterday! They don't usually move this fast! And this wind is stronger than it usually is!"
Indeed, something was not right according to the prince. He knows Pegalysium more than everyone else here. And most definitely, there is an anomaly. And the prince saw this after seeing the island being outlined with a form of green cosmic energy.
Rift Energy that is.
The jungle moved rapidly under the control of Rift Energy. It wasn't even the clouds being manipulated. Just the land itself. Thus, this made the movements more erratic than usual. Not only that but the skies were being covered by an odd mist of Rift Energy. That's when Shooting Star saw an Indigo Alliance member on the nearest island, using Rift Energy to move the islands. Soon, Ash and Twilight saw the member too.
Once the member was found out, they decided to do one last thing before rushing off. The member manipulated only the wind currents this time. And by doing so, it made the currents so hazardous that it had scattered the entire group into various directions.
"Oh!" Ash cried out as each of his friends were sent flying through multiple air streams. The member then rushed off after the deed had been done. The goal was to confound Ash and the others. And it certainly happened.
The Indigo Alliance knew that Ash and the others would come for their friend after Jade made the statement of them losing. And they most certainly took it to heart.
"C-Come on...! Dragonite!" Ash cried out whilst flying through the air with Pikachu, Shooting Star, Twilight, Fluttershy, Audino, Chikorita, Scorbunny and Starlight. He called for his Dragon Pokemon to help them as the distance they went was ridiculous.
"Dragonite!" And she did respond. Emerging out of the Poke Ball was the Dragon Pokemon Dragonite. Once she showed up, she saw how some of her friends were being thrown through the sky, travelling on wind currents without any control of themselves. "Dra?!"
Kowing the danger they were in, Dragonite kicked it into high gear, flapping her wings as fast as she could. The Dragon-Flying-Type chased down her friends and the wind currents carrying them.
Twilight, Shooting Star and Fluttershy were unable to control their aerial movements. These wind currents were strong enough to throw their wingbeats off balance. Thus, they had to rely on Dragonite for this one. But not just Dragonite. Togekiss forcefully exited the Poke Ball after sensing Twilight in danger.
"Togekiss!" Now there were two Flying-Types here to save their trainers and friends. One was a Dragon and the other a Fairy. They flew beside each other, heading for their trainers and friends.
Dragonite and Togekiss entered the wind currents as even they were starting to feel their balance gaining with how powerful it was. Perhaps even greater than a hurricane. However, they both powered through as Dragonite grabbed Ash, Shooting Star, Fluttershy, Scorbunny and Audino whilst Togekiss caught Twilight, Starlight and Chikorita.
"Gonite!" And to counter this powerful air current, Dragonite used a powerful form of wind herself. With her eyes glowing, the Dragon Pokemon had used Hurricane by flapping her wings. By doing so, she was able to negate the currents made of Rift Magic.
"Thanks, Dragonite!" Ash thanked his Pokemon.
"Great save, Togekiss!" So did Twilight.
They had found a nearby island to land on. Dragonite and Togekiss landed safely, placing their friends down without any harm done to them. They did feel a bit bewildered after that unpleasant air ride.
"Phew...That was close." Starlight sighed before sitting down. "You said this wasn't right, Prince Shooting Star. That they don't normally move this early. What do you mean by that?"
"Usually it only takes about 5 or 4 days for the clouds to move the islands. They only just moved yesterday. But I saw an Indigo Alliance member move it."
"That means they know we're coming for Jade," said Ash. "Guess stealth's never an option for us, huh?"
"Pikachu."
"Plus we've been separated from everypony else. And they covered the sky with Rift energy for any high views..." Twilight looked onto the distance before shouting out for the rest of her friends. "Rainbow Dash! Rarity! Applejack! Spike! Can any of you hear me?!"
No response towards her shout, unfortunately. The alliance member had done their job. They had all been separated across Pegalysium. Just to throw them off guard.
But the plan was still in motion.
"We'll meet up with them again. No time to waste either. We need to get to Jade." Ash believed that he and his friends would reunite once more. But in the meantime, they must pursue Jade Skies. Rainbow Dash and the others would be doing the same.
"Up ahead. There's a city over there where we can maybe get some answers or...something. Uprear Borough." Shooting Star pointed his hoof to the north. There was a city for them to head to. If they wanted to find the Indigo Alliance, they would have to also ask questions.
Then again, the Indigo Alliance have been stories for 400 years. It was hard to say who would be honest or who would flat out disregard it as a foal's tale like it always seems to be.
Equestria. Canterlot. Day.
Meanwhile, over at Canterlot, plans to rescue Premium Polish were also ago. Celestia would need all the help she could get. For that, she had summoned her Universal Alliance, informing them of Premium's capture. And now, she gave out a plan to rescue the little unicorn and the one guard that had been taken.
"Unlike last time, we'll be all stealth when it comes to it," Celestia spoke to her other versions. "And I know just the trick. I call it, the Celestia Frenzy!"
"Celestia Frenzy?" Luna and everyone turned to her. "W-Why is that exactly?"
"Well, if there's one thing that we most definitely know...Empress Twilight can't stand my guts at all. I'm no psychic but I can tell she probably hates me more than anypony out there."
"Oh yes." An alternate universe Cadence nodded. "Even her troops talk about how she rants about you when they pass by."
"Precisely. Which is why, when we show up there, she won't hesitate to try and capture me. Taking all of my magic for herself. That's where we all come in. Every Celestia."
"All of us?" Each of the Celestia's said before quickly picking up on what their other self was getting at. "Oooh...We see."
"Nice catch on. How does an overwhelming amount of Celestia's sound?"
"Wait." Luna stopped her big sister in place. "Sister. I know what you're planning...but won't that risk your capture as well. And the rest of the Celestia's too?"
"I know, I know. But in truth, we will be taking it a step further. You see, we'll be there but with a few details. Such as this." By using her magic, Celestia took out a particular item. The Shift Stone. Multiple crystals of it.
"Trixie Lulamoon's Shift Stones? Wouldn't it have been better to request Chrysalis and the Changelings for assistance?"
"Chrysalis is a bit occupied at the moment. So these are great substitutes. Obviously, we can change shape and form with these crystals as said by Trixie. "But that's not all. There's one spell we can use to further confound the Empress' forces and herself." Celestia took out a book, opening it to a specific page. "The Duplication spell."
"An coupled with the Shift Stone...oooh..." Luna's mind was catching on as well as she gave an approving smile, knowing what Celestia was going for. "Sister, you really are cunning."
"Thank you. Now!" Celestia closed the book before standing up. "Here's what we shall do. Each of us will take a Shift Stone while utilizing the Duplication Spell. Our duplicated selves will be able to hold the stones and use them to their full advantage. However, our clones are fragile. They can disappear if something attacks them. Once they use the stone to transform, we will take it from them. That way, when they disappear, the stone will not be revealed to the Empress' troops. Aside from that, these are the disguises we can utilize. A common soldier, the Empress herself, Ghetsis or even a random object that blends in with the environment."
"Any more?" Luna asked.
"Well, you're all going to be creative in your own ways. Once in there, be as stealthy as you can be. Try not to draw too much attention. And if you do plus your disguise being discovered, used the telepathy spell to communicate with us. Now, here's how we'll enter it without making a scene."
Universe 28. Empress Twilight's spare universe.
As the trap was being laid out, the Empress was multitasking. Both forming the trap and continuing on her own Magic Siphoning Weapon. At the same time, Premium Polish was gradually building up the Magical Unite.
Skyblue Shine sat down, watching her daughter build up the magical energy for this multiversal force. She hadn't been assigned to any job at the moment by the Empress. The android sat there, waiting for the 6 days to pass for the sake of her daughter. But while she sat there, appearing behind her was a surprise guest. Someone who was already here before.
Daybreaker.
"Some mother you are," Daybreaker spoke as she startled Skyblue, causing her to jump back.
"D-Daybreaker?!"
"Sorry for the scare." Daybreaker trotted past Skyblue Shine. "But honestly, I had to think about something for a moment. After seeing your daughter her in this machine?"
"And what's that?"
"Well, it surprises me that you're okay with this. Okay with having your own flesh and blood, well...bolts and oil be used in such a way. Against her own will nonetheless. My, you are beyond a strict mother, aren't you?" Daybreaker chuckled.
"I'm doing it for a greater cause." Skyblue Shine narrowed her eyes with a pout. "Once these few days are over, then we can live peacefully. At least...I hope Premium Polish will accept me after this."
"I highly doubt she will. After all, won't she despite you since you essentially chose somepony else other than herself. The loyalty towards Empress Twilight beating out the love you have your daughter is...Well, it's unique." Daybreaker shrugged as Skyblue Shine shifted her eyes. The alicorn then went over to the android, whispering in her ear. "Honestly. Do you expect things to ever be the same again after this? The trust of your daughter will be severed. If it already isn't that is. All because of somepony you can't break loyalty too. Makes me wonder if you love your daughter truly."
"I do love my daughter!" Skyblue Shine stomped her hoof after that response.
"Then act like a mother and prove that you do." Daybreaker stood up tall, giving potent words for Skyblue Shine to remember. And Skyblue Shine's facial expression showed it.
Daybreaker said all she needed to said as she backed away into the gateway, leaving Skyblue Shine to think about what the alicorn had just said. Daybreaker left a smile as the gateway closed.
Skyblue turned to face her daughter, taking Daybreaker's words to heart. Truly, her trust with her daughter was broken at this point. First the incident at Vanhoover and now this. Skyblue Shine needed some time to think and take a break as she walked off. For now, there was nothing she could do.
As the journey continues.
Chapter 536 End.