//------------------------------// // When Twilight Turns to Ash // Story: My Little Pokémon: Grander World // by Amarvax //------------------------------// Unova. Mistralton City. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon. After placing the forest back to its original position, here at Mistralton City, Ash reunited with another part of his friend group. In the distance, the aftermath of the event could be seen in the form of the sun rays faintly beaming down on that very forest. "You saw it first?" Ash spoke to them about the forest. "And you fought multiple Pokemon in one? Lucky!" "I wouldn't call it lucky...Not knowing what we were up against almost ended us." Shaking her head was Sunset Shimmer. "For a moment, I thought the world was about to end with that ray of light." "But Ash. I didn't think you being the King of the Sea was real." Rarity slid over, nudging Ash. "If it isn't any trouble, could you maybe lend us some Sea Temple exclusives? I mean, the temple is gone at the moment but still." "Sea Temple exclusives? Well...They do have this." Digging into his, Ash had something from the Sea Temple at his disposal. Rarity had quite the grin on her face, expecting diamonds and pearls, maybe even rubies and sapphire. "This is pretty sweet!" But all Ash took out was a lantern of some sort. "Check it out! It's called an Aqua Flame Lantern! Alo said that it never goes out if it touches water. How cool is that?!" In his hand, he held a dazzling lantern that burned with an aquaflame, a mesmerizing blue flame that never extinguished when coming into contact with water. "I suppose it is nice." Rarity shrugged. Not quite what she was looking for but at least the lantern looked good. "Pass it over, it'll look good in the hallway." "We've only got like 1 or 2 weeks left of this Pokemon Festival, right? We just got started too." Pinkie Pie spoke. Time was running out for the Pokemon Festival and the humans from the Human World missed out on the first week. "You're a bit behind. Believe me when I say that a lot has happened. "Sci-Twi replied. "I have a Kubfu and a Bulbasaur by my side and I got to take part in a dojo that gave me them." "You've still got time though. You're gonna wanna check all of this out." Ash would point his thumb to the rest of the festival, which would still continue even after the world-shaking event. "As for me, I'll be heading back with my last group." "Are you still going to give that Breezeseal to Windflash and her siblings?" "Yep. I wanna keep my promise. If she doesn't take it, then it is what it is." Ash looked into his bag, gazing at the Breezeseal as the voices within were waiting for their chance. Everyone looked inside to see this mystical item made by Windkiss, which had no distinguishable form unless they were from Windkiss's family. But that didn't matter. So as long as it could reach Windflash and her siblings. Even though they weren't all into their ancestor's legacy, Ash still vowed to let the Breezeseal see them regardless. Alola. Akala Island. Heahea City. Over at Akala Island, it was as peaceful as always with Daybreaker's group away from here, for now. Princess Luna had returned to Equestria to discuss matters about Daybreaker's actions. Left behind was Nightmare Moon, who could still exist seperately, even from this distance. In her hooves, Rarity held the newspaper that informed her and everyone about what happened in Sinnoh. "Yeesh! Check out the size of that crater!" "That's more of a hole than a crater." Fluttershy pointed out. The fact that it even led to the sea made it beyond a crater. The only piece of land left had been ruined as the universe was currently trying to pacify this damage. "It's a shame. I hope the Pokemon there are alright." "That Daybreaker...Oooh, if she were here, I'd take her down!" Rainbow Dash angrily grizzled her teeth, scrunching the newspaper. "You could barely stop Spitfire though..." But Fluttershy quickly shut that possibility down. Or at least, questioned it. "Yeah..." The multi-coloured-maned mare sighed, knowing she was probably not strong enough. Probably. "Ah, whatever. At that moment, Zeraora approached Rainbow Dash, her resolve evident in the determined gleam of her eyes. The air carried a sense of calm, a stark contrast to the recent tumultuous events. As the Thunderclap Pokémon approached Rainbow Dash, she sought to have a crucial conversation about the future. "Zera," Zeraora began, her voice carrying a mix of determination and vulnerability. "Zeraora? What's up? You're away from your favourite spot." Rainbow Dash questioned, seeing that vulnerable look on her face. "She said there's something we need to talk about." Fluttershy translated. "It's about everything that's happened." "Ze..." "Oh. Well, we're all safe now, thanks to Tapu Lele." Rainbow Dash turned to face Zeraora, sensing the weight behind her words. The past adventures and challenges had forged a bond between them, one that went beyond mere camaraderie. "Zera. Zeraora," Zeraora continued, acknowledging the events that transpired. "She's saying this. She's still blaming herself for all the trouble that's come our way. But she also saw something important there." What Zeraora saw; was Rainbow Dash's loyalty. Her dedication to your friends. It made Zeraora realize that she wanted to be a part of that. Even her most favourite place didn't compare to that feeling. Rainbow Dash regarded Zeraora, absorbing the sincerity in her words. The air became charged with unspoken emotions as the two Pokémon stood amidst the serenity of the morning. "You...wanna come with us?" "Ze!" She nodded at high speeds. Zeraora was hoping that Rainbow Dash would say yes. And if not, she could understand since her rage was still a potential issue that had yet to be solved. "Zeraora," Rainbow Dash responded, her voice carrying a warmth that reflected her genuine feelings. She approached the Thunderclap Pokemon, making sure one thing was clear. "No need to worry. You're one of us. You'll never be alone in this, no matter what." "Ze...?" The Electric-Type leaned in, hoping that meant what she meant. "I'm just sugarcoating it. Of course, you can come along!" Rainbow Dash approved, taking flight with excitement. While Zeraora was still technically a captured Pokemon, she was basically free, being Rainbow Dash's team. Zeraora was now fully enveloped in this ever-growing friend group. A moment of understanding passed between them, reinforcing the unspoken bond that had formed during their shared adventures. Zeraora's decision to stay echoed the enduring strength of friendship that transcended realms and dimensions. "We're gonna do awesome things together, Zeraora! You, me and everyone!" Rainbow Dash held her hoof out. "And I promise you, we'll stop Daybreaker together!" "Zeraora!" Zeraora loved to hear it. She was all for this new beginning in her life and to take down those who took her original home from here. Rainbow Dash and Zeraora embraced the shared path ahead, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them. The skies of Alola and beyond held the promise of new adventures, united by loyalty and the unbreakable ties that bound them as friends. However, Breaking up this lovely moment was Nightmare Moon, who would suddenly appear in front of Rainbow Dash's group. "Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy! I need your Xtransceiver at once!" "Nightmare Moon? What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked. "It's Twilight Moonlight! She's gone!" With a bellowing voice, Nightmare Moon revealed that she lost sight of Twilight Moonlight. "Seriously!? Did she head back to her universe already?!" Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. "No...Not at all. Twilight Luminaria wouldn't let her leave until she reached Ash Ketchum or any of his counterparts." Nightmare Moon debunked that, knowing better. "It happened last night...that whole ting about her magic growing over the night, it seems to have grown to a good enough level." Last Night. Last night, which was the same night that Daybreaker and Gardevoir unleashed their newfound power that shook the world, there was a First Quarter Moon in the sky. The world was still shaking because of this unprecedented power surge and of course, Twilight Moonlight felt it. While Nightmare Moon and many others were startled by this power, Twilight Moonlight formed a smile on her face. As the Alola Region started shaking with the trees violently blowing, the Twilight from another universe had her magic improve to a new level. Without a sound, not even a silent glimmer, Twilight Moonlight was gone, enveloping herself in a white light. Nightmare Moon couldn't hear it but she could feel it. By turning her head, she witnessed Twilight Moonlight's signature magical aura and that was about it. The body of Twilight Moonlight was out of here. Twilight Moonlight found the best possible time to flee, especially with the wind pressure getting strong enough to match that of hurricanes. While Alola got off easy with the power surge's fearsome effects, it still caused a ruckus as Nightmare Moon would spot how some buildings were threatening to come apart. Prioritizing the lives of many over Twilight Moonlight, the alter-ego of Princess Luna risked losing sight of Twilight Moonlight. She was gone from Nightmare Moon's sights, searching for Ash yet again. Unbeknownst to her at the time, minutes after the ruckus came to an end, she encountered Twilight Sparkle in the dead of the night. Her other self stood before her, expecting Twilight Moonlight to depart from here at the right possible moment. And she certainly found that moment but not without eyes on her. As the Alola Region simmered down thanks to the fearsome power surge that was felt throughout the world, Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Moonlight locked eyes as the wind would blow around them. "You're leaving already? Heading to Ash, I'm guessing." Twilight Sparkle spoke to her counterpart. "I am. Don't try and stop me." Moonlight replied, already planning to go for her Poke Ball. "I want to speak with Ash right now and this is my golden opportunity." Twilight Sparkle sighed, understanding where Twilight Moonlight was coming from. She knew that Twilight Moonlight had her reasons for seeking out Ash, and it was clear that this encounter could be different from the ones they've previously had. "I won't stop you," Twilight Sparkle said, her eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and understanding. "You won't?" Shocked, Twilight Moonlight leaned back. She then narrowed her eyes. "No. I'm coming with you." Twilight Sparkle smiled. "I still need to make sure Ash is safe from you, since you want to capture him. But I'm surprised. You're going for him instead of Lucas or Nate? Why? They're a part of Prisma." "Looking at everything surrounding Ash has made me think. My efforts have failed me back to back, even though I trained hard to be the best that I can be. I even had to question my abilities, but it's clear now. There's something specific about him that affects everyone and everything around him. Most likely, it has something to do wit his connection to Prisma." "Well, I guess you could say that." Twilight Sparkle snickered. She knew the truth behind it and it wasn't a surprise that Twilight Moonlight was goign through the same thing. "What? What is it?" "I was like that from the start. Believe me, I didn't understand Ash at all when I first met him." Twilight Sparkle would look up at the night sky, thinking about the day their two worlds crossed. When gateways opened up inbetween her world and the Pokemon World. On that day, she encountered Ash. You were like that too? Confused by him?" Twilight Sparkle nodded, a fond smile playing on her lips. "Oh, absolutely. The way he approaches challenges, the bonds he forms with his Pokémon, his unwavering determination—it was all so different from what I was used to. But over time, I came to realize that it's precisely those qualities that make Ash so extraordinary. I never realized how big that first meeting would truly be." In her mind, that was the most vital moment in her life, meeting Ash and Pikachu for the first time. Ever since she passed through that gateway, both of their worlds changed forever, while still keeping everything that made them special. Twilight also giggled when remembering how the conversation between her and Ash went. 4 Years Ago. Kanto. Pallet Town. Day. "Holy moly, Pikachu! You see that?!" Ash exclaimed, his finger pointing enthusiastically at the rift in the fabric of reality. Pikachu, always ready for an adventure, hopped onto his friend's shoulder, fixing his gaze on the mysterious anomaly. At that moment, the air crackled with an otherworldly energy. Suddenly, a hoof emerged from the rift, its colour a mesmerizing shade of purple. "A hoof? Which equine Pokémon is that?" Ash wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued. Out from the rift emerged none other than Twilight Sparkle, accompanied by her loyal dragon assistant, Spike. The boy, still in his pyjamas, reached for his Pokédex only to realize his current attire wasn't exactly suited for Pokémon research. "Oh." Twilight, with her sharp, violet eyes, took in the sight of the young trainer and his Pikachu. "Unbelievable, Spike. There's another world past here," she remarked, her voice tinged with amazement. Ash, still processing the sight before him, finally caught up to the conversation. "Huh? Woah, you can talk?! Or is it just telepathy?" Ash marvelled, zipping around Twilight Sparkle to see what she was using. But it was her mouth, no use of magic or anything of the sort. "Telepathy?" Twilight responded, a hint of confusion in her voice. Ash, however, was convinced that the pony was indeed speaking on her own. "No way. You can talk without telepathy. I thought Meowth was the only one that could do that." "What is he on about?" Spike asked Twilight, sharing in her bewilderment. Twilight couldn't offer an explanation; this encounter was proving to be more perplexing than any magic she had encountered before. Meanwhile, Pikachu hopped off Ash's shoulder, making his way over to the duo. "Aww, look at how small it is," Twilight gushed, her eyes softening as she observed the electric mouse Pokémon. Pikachu extended his tiny hands toward Spike in a friendly gesture. "Oh. Hey," Spike replied, shaking hands with Pikachu. "Pikachu!" he added, conveying his greetings. Pikachu mistook Spike for being a fellow Pokemon the first day they met. So many misunderstandings came from that very day. "He said hello back to you," Ash translated, kneeling down to pet Pikachu, who blushed in response. "That's so sweet. Being best friends is always nice." Twilight couldn't help but appreciate the bond between Ash and Pikachu. However, she quickly refocused on the reason for their presence. "Oh right! We're here because of that!" She pointed towards the rift, drawing the attention of both Ash and Pikachu. "That rift appeared out of nowhere suddenly. And then it let out a blinding light that caused this. Ponies were being sent everywhere, and even some of your species ended up in our world." "So you're from another world, huh?" Ash mused before turning his attention back to the gateway. "Yes, and we hoped to come through here to find some answers. Luckily, the Rift seems harmless." "Hm. Well, I got no idea really. I was kinda asleep through it all." Ash crossed his arms, chuckling at the absurdity of the situation. "This is no laughing matter! This could be dangerous for both of our worlds!" Twilight roared at him, blowing his hair. "At least... I think it will. Spike, go on and tell the others that we should go see Princess Celestia. She may know what to do." "Roger that." Spike darted through the rift, returning to his world to relay the urgent message. "In the meantime, I have a few questions for you... uhh." Twilight struggled to recall his name. "My name is Ash Ketchum." He fully introdcued himself on that day. "Ash Ketchum! ...What kind of a name is that?" Quite unorthodox compared to where Twilight came from. If she didn't know better, she'd think he was trying to say Ash Ketchup but was unable to say the last part properly. "Well, what's yours then?" He asked while leaning forward. "Twilight Sparkle," she responded, prompting a suppressed laugh from Ash. "Sure thing. Ask away, Miss Sparkle." "Hmph." Twilight frowned at him, her inquisitive mind ready to unravel the mysteries that connected their worlds. It was a stark contrast to Twilight Sparkle's personality and way of doing things. This meeting already allowed both of them to get a good gist of who they were and Twilight wasn't all that impressed. Yet, despite what seemed like an unorthodox and chaotic encounter, Ash's actions with unmatched spirit. As time went on, As she continued to observe Ash, Twilight Sparkle noticed the string of fortunate events that seemed to follow him wherever he went. From narrowly escaping dangerous situations to encountering rare and powerful Pokémon seemingly by chance, Ash was surrounded by an aura of extraordinary luck. This, too, was perplexing to Twilight Sparkle, who was accustomed to relying on careful planning and research. This also rubbed off on everyone else. Very soon, many of his new friends would find themselves facing such moments. Whether it was scenarios where they could've perished or meeting with some of the most powerful Pokemon out there. This new world, even before it became one, was something else. Over time, Twilight Sparkle and Ash formed an unexpected friendship, each learning from the other's perspective. It was a meeting that would set the stage for the interconnected destinies of the two Twilights and the events that led up to the wake of the power surge that shook the world. "So...It's always been like this?" Twilight Moonlight said, captivated by Twilight Sparkle's short story. "Yep. I wouldn't say from day one, but the signs were there. The world that Prisma and Twilight Luminaria used to live in was just like that but the Rift scrapped it and stuck to what we always had instead of just making us composites or something like that." "Even after knowing this and the existence of Prisma, you still want to protect him." Moonlight commented. "He's protected us all so much. I should return the favour. I know you don't mean any harm, Moonlight. I know you just want to keep everyone else safe, especially what happened back in your world. But please, don't hurt Ash. Or anyone related to him. " Moonlight took a moment to absorb the sentiment, the connection between the two Twilights resonating with shared understanding. "I suppose we both have our reasons for seeking him out, then. "I don't get it at all. I need to speak with him myself and maybe I will." "You won't regret it." Twilight Sparkle smiled, glad to hear it. She was glad that Moonlight would take a different approach this time. But at that moment, both of their bodies felt funny. That familiar light from before which went back to Twilight Luminara returned. It specifically responded to this conversation after it came to an end, almost as if it was listening in. And that would make sense since Luminaria's soul is in them. "This light. Is she making an appearance again? We're close to each other but..." Twilight Sparkle wondered. But with her eyes closed, Twilight Moonlight knew what this was. "I don't have that long in this universe...She'll probably force me back and try again. Or my own universe will show up here to bring me back. Either way...before I return, I need to speak with Ash at once. Take me to him." Alola. Akala Island. Heahea City. "What's worse is that I can't find Twilight Sparkle anywhere. I need you two to call her or Ash Ketchum at once." Nightmare Moon requested after retelling what she knew, but not all of it was revealed to her. "Well uh...About that..." The pegasi would squee in unison, slowly taking out their Xtransceivers. Alas, thanks to Daybreaker's forces, their Xtransceivers were ruined and unresponsive. So much for calling them since their devices were out of commission. Nightmare Moon grumbled, but she didn't lose hope. Others had Xtransceivers. Spike Applejack, Rarity and the CMC all had them. She would just have to try her luck with them and hope that she wasn't too late since it was already the afternoon. Nightmare Moon didn't regret helping the civilians, but she did regret losing sight of Twilight Moonlight. Unova. Mistralton City. Back with Ash's group, as they were enjoying themselves and Ash and Sci-Twi were ready to depart once more, surprising them was the arrival of what appeared to be a gateway. Opening up here at Mistralton City was a new gateway made by the only person who could craft them now. Lucas. And indeed, Lucas was seen through the gateway, having his hands out, but he wasn't alone in this. Obviously, Twilight Sparkle was helping him stay stable but he had a new way of staying stable that would soon reveal itself. Right as Ash was excited to see the other Twilight Sparkle, a third Twilight stepped through first. The one who was hunting him down from the start. "Ash Ketchum." Stepping here with a hoof on the ground was none other than the other counterpart of Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Moonlight. At last, she caught up to Ash, keeping that serious look on her face as always. "Twilight?" Sunset Shimmer and the others spouted, recognizing that signature face even without glasses. Twilight's face was just indistinguishable. They were amazed to see their friend's face on another body yet again. Third time in a row. "I need to talk to you...now." Twilight Moonlight didn't have much time left. Her body was running on a time limit since last night as she was about to return to her universe fairly soon. Ash looked Twilight Moonlight in the eyes, knowing she was here for another reason. And with this time limit, she couldn't exactly do what she wanted to do. Not when Twilight Luminaria was interfering, even opting to end this quickly despite Ash being this close. As the journey continues. Chapter 387 End.