Ash and the group were heading towards Zecora’s house, followed by Celestia and Luna who were both interested in the foreign zebra’s line of work as it was fairly unknown and unused in Equestria. Ash was sitting on the back of Luna, while
Pinkie was on Celestia, riding on them as it went faster this way. They dodged a few poison jokes, not wanting another transformation or prank performed on them, as Ash was weirdly enough eager to return to his pony form, same was Pinkie as she smiled brightly.
They were soon gathered in front of her house, as Ash knocked on the door and a slightly tired, but cheerful voice said “Come in my friends, come in with cheer. The brew I made to cure you is finally clear!”
Ash shook his head in amusement as Luna looked surprised at her way of speech in rhymes and Celestia just smiled fondly. He opened the door and was greeted by Zecora who had a large brew of hot water ready in a huge barrel, she smiled to them all and her eyes widened, before she bowed and said “Princess Celestia and Luna, the legendary sister duo. It is truly an honor to meet the two of you.”
Celestia nodded respectfully to the zebra as Luna looked surprised at another show of respect, not used to this in comparing to the fear and doubt she got in Canterlot and Celestia said “I understand Miss. Zecora, that you have big understanding under the nursery skills of certain plants and effects of others, that do not bring good with them?”
Zecora nodded with a smile and said “What you hear is true, not to brag. Understanding of plants and their effects is not something I lack. Many diseases that ponies find impossible to cure. Are well known in zebra history and culture.”
She looked at her with a raised eyebrow, not in doubt, but in interest as she asks “And what kind of diseases would that be?”
“I believe the infamous ‘Cutie pox’ that many ponies fear. Is a good way to send my message clear. The cure to this disease to end you must acquire, a seed from a plant called ‘Hearts Desire’. Many eons ago the ponies suffered from the snooze.
A legendary zebra went in and with skill and stealth cured the ponies without letting the secret go loose.”
The ponies all looked shocked as Ash and Brock looked confused and Celestia said, lightly breath taken “I don’t think you know how big of a favor you have just done Equestria Miss. Zecora. That disease may have been gone for many years, but it can still come back and when it will, we will be ready to cure it, before it spreads too much. If you ever need something done or a favor, feel free to call me via Twilight and I will do what it is my power to help you.” Luna nodded in agreement.
Zecora bowed once again “I thank you then Princess of the day. But on to cure Ash and Pinkie, let us not further delay. The brew is ready, just jump in. Let the remedies erase the poison joke’s sin.”
Pinkie immediately jumped into the bath, followed be Ash who stepped into it, both sighing as they felt the warm water around them and slowly they began to transform in front of their friends. Their bodies shrinking and the fingers growing into their flesh and their hands being replaced by hoofs as fur began to cover their once clothed bodies.
After a few more seconds they both sat down in the tub, fully pony again and enjoyed the bath, as Pinkie giggled and moved her front hooves and said “Hooves feels weird after having hands for so long!”
The girls laughed as Celestia said with an amused smile “I can imagine, even if I have never tried having fingers myself.” Even Luna looked at the sight with an amused.
Pinkie looked at Ash with a huge grin, before she pounced on him and gave him a sounding kiss, causing most of the girls to giggle and Fluttershy to blush and she muttered “Oh my…” While Brock laughed and gave a wolf whistle to his friend, as he returned the kiss.
Zecora, after a few minutes, laughed and said “As happy as this reunion might be. Don’t you have a pokémon battle to see?”
Ash nodded and got up, shaking a little, as he had to get used to hooves again as he looked at Brock, who looked back, and said “Sounds like an idea. Can’t wait to whoop your ass.”
“It will be over my dead body.” He joked back, as the rest rolled their eyes in amusement.
Ash turned back to Zecora and said with a grin “You’re welcome to join and watch us battle. I can guarantee you that it is worth the watch.”
Zecora looked thoughtful for a moment, before she smiled and replied, as she walked towards the door “Then in watching the battle I will join you. Besides my abilities as healer might come useful too.” Celestia nodded in agreement and began to lead the group back to Ponyville, as no creature would dare to attack one of the most powerful beings in Equestria.
What met them back in Ponyville was mildly said shocking for the group of ponies, except Celestia and Luna, who already knew of it. In the normally small village was now filled to the brim with a huge gathering of ponies from all over Equestria that had wanted to see the battle, even a few griffons had showed up, interested in the rumors about foreign powerful creatures with abilities to destroy buildings with a single hit. They were all chatting and talking in a huge group in the main street, buying food and drinks from the local shops who looked like they had a field day with all the increase of wares they have sold already and Big Mac had taken the place of shopkeeper from Applejack with Granny Smith, so they didn’t lose any of the profit from this.
Ash looked shocked at Celestia, who grinned, and he said “Are all these ponies going to watch?”
She nodded in response and said “I believe the rumors might have gotten around more than I expected. I hope this is not a problem?”
He smiled and said “Not at all, I’m used to battle in front of large crowds by now. So how about me and Brock go get ready, while all of you tries to get this gathering out to the stadium?”
Celestia nodded and said with a loud, yet calm voice as Ash and Brock left, walking around the large crowd “Everypony. The battle that has been spoken of it about to commence, me and my sister will lead you to the stadium where the two contestants will battle with each a group of six pokémon. I will have to warn you that this is a serious battle, which means there is chances that some of the pokémon will get hurt seriously. Do not interfere wit this, if it happens. It is a part of their traditions from the land they are from and should be respected. I will also put up shield that will block any attack that might miss and puts the crowd in danger. Do everypony understand?”
Everypony nodded in understanding, some of them looked a little uneasy, but followed the princess anyway as she walked out towards the stadium.
Half an hour later sat over three hundred ponies in the stands of the stadium, the air filled with excitement as many was down towards the dome, waiting for each contestant to walk into the arena to begin the battle, Luna standing in the judge box as she began to speak with her royal canterlot voice, a perfect use as it was needed for everypony to hear “We now declare the pokémon battle between Ash Ketchum and Brock begun! Will the two contesters please come into the stadium?”
The crowd cheered wildly, the loudest part being them from Ponyville who had watched the last battle and knew the power they were about to watch. Ash looked at Brock with a grin and nodded to him, as he returned the nod with a smile. Luna looked at both and said “Ash Ketchum has volunteered to be the one that first sends out his pokémon. So if thou will start Ash?”
Ash grinned and nodded “As you wish your highness.” He picked up a pokéball with his tail and threw it quickly into the air and gave it his trademark kick, as he yells “You’re on Glalie!” The stadium froze as the ice pokémon entered the arena and gave out a chilling wind in the air. His look causing a few ponies to tremble lightly in coldness and a small amount of fear, while the griffons eyed it interested.
Brock smiled and said “So we go with the ice type today Ash? Fine, then let’s battle. I call Ninetails to battle!” He simply placed the pokéball on the ground and lightly pressed the button, as the nine tailed fox pokémon was released into the arena, her appearance alone caused several mares to gasp at the beauty. Brock ignored this as he swiftly called “Ninetails fire a Flame Thrower quick!”
Ninetails nodded with a fire in her eyes as she opened her mouth, revealing several sharp teeth and a large bust of flames shot out and headed quickly towards Glalie. The crowd cried out in shock from the sudden intense heat from the flames and cheered loudly already. Ash just grinned and shook his head “Glalie. Use Icy Wind to counter and then follow by Hail.”
Glalie made a happy rasp and his body glowed in an icy blue light, before a wind suddenly picked up inside the stadium and the crowd shuttered in the coldness that surrounded them as the flames slowly died out in the lack of heat and sudden change of degrees. Glalie let out another raps the glow brightened and suddenly dark skies formed in the top of the shield dome and a storm of hail began to fall down upon both of the pokémon, causing Ninetails to wince in pain and Glalie to power up, because he is an ice-type.
Brock grimaced, realized he foolishly thought he could surprise Ash, who happened to be the champion, and said “Ninetails use dig to get away from the hail!” Ninetails held no restrain in getting away from the offending attack and dug quickly into the ground, leaving Ash clueless of how he would know where to attack.
Ash grimaced lightly, having expected this, but with no plan of countering it with Glalie…Except if he… “Glalie! Use Ice Beam on the ground under you!” Glalie nodded as some from the crowd looked confused, while others of the more strategy stronger minded saw what he was doing and nodded in approval and with a hint of a smile.
Brock smiled and said mentally, as he knew Ninetails always kept a mental link between them, but had never told anyone of it “Dig up right under the ice and fire your strongest flame thrower up against Glalie. Do it fast Ninetails.” He heard a happy purr of approval through the link, smiled and watched as the ice began to glow in a red light.
Ash noticed the ice color too and was shocked as Brock had given Ninetails an order without saying it and he quickly called “Quick Glalie! Fire an Ice Beam down!” Glalie did as told, just as the ice broke from the Flame Thrower and the two attacks collided, causing an enormous explosion in the middle of the dome and several from the crowd cried out in terror, while
Fluttershy whimpered, as she hates the sight of any creature getting hurt.
Soon the smoke cleared away and in the middle lied both Ninetails and Glalie unconscious, eyes swirling. There was a moment of silence at the stadium, before the crowd cheered loudly and Luna raised both flags with her magic and said “Both trainers pokémon are unable to battle! We hereby declare first match a draw!”
Brock recalled Ninetails and whispered to the pokéball “You did well my friend, rest and heal.” He took another pokéball out and summoned as he yelled “If you want it tough I get you tough! Steelix! Rock the stadium!” As the huge steel snake was summoned and let out a huge roar the crowd gasped and shrunk in sheer terror and even the Griffons looked dropped they jaw (Lower beak?) when they saw the sheer size of it.
Ash grinned and said “Already pulling the big guns Brock? Fine, Pikachu! Get ready to shock the world!” Pikachu let out a cry in excitement and jumped into the stadium and the crowd looked with disbelief as the small rat looking creature was about to face a steel snake large enough to level Canterlot to the ground.
Ash and Pikachu just ignored the looks of disbelief as he yelled “Ok Pikachu. He might be bigger, but remember. You’re the faster and the harder one to hit! Don’t let him get you! Use Agility!” Pikachu gave him a thumb up, before disappearing from sight, just dodging a crushing hit from the steel tail of Steelix. The crowd gasped, thinking that Pikachu had been crushed and killed before Ash said with a grin “Now use Iron Tail.”
The crowd looked at the ground shocked as Pikachu suddenly appeared as he ran towards Steelix with incredible speed as his tail began to glow brightly white, even Rainbow Dash looked surprised by the speed, as Pikachu jumped swiftly into the air and made a twist, before storming down towards Steelix. Brock immediately saw the danger and called “Steelix use Iron Defense!” Steelix growled and his body shone quickly in a white light, before he prepared himself for the impact of the Iron Tail attack.
As Pikachu tail hit directly on Steelix tail, it caused a huge shockwave to pass through the stadium, pushing dust away from the sheer force of the impact. The crowd cheered wildly as Celestia and Luna looked into the dust filled dome, before the dust cleared and revealing both pokémon, still standing and not even looking tired.
Brock grimaced and said “Steelix use Rock Throw!” Steelix let out a roar, as he slammed his enormous tail into the ground and the shockwave brought up several large rocks that he immediately picked up with his tail and threw them at Pikachu, who cried out in shock and dodged the large rock that just made a small crater where Pikachu just stood.
Pikachu didn’t even need an order as he dodged the rocks skillfully, until Ash called out in panic “Pikachu! Behind you!”
Pikachu turned around in midair and was just able to see the heavy glowing tail slam into him as it sends him across the field and slams into the shield with full force, a few cracks appeared where Pikachu hit it.
Ash cried out as Pikachu was slammed away by the heavy hit and said “Pikachu! Use Quick Attack, followed by Iron Tail!”
Pikachu obeyed immediately as it stormed over towards Steelix, immediately making impact with him, followed by a stronger
Iron Tail attack.
Steelix grunted in pain and immediately reacted as Brock said, now that Pikachu was closer “Quick Steelix! Use Wrap!”
Ash’s eyes widened in shock, as Steelix wrapped his huge tail around Pikachu, squeezing him tightly and causing Pikachu to cry out in pain. Ash immediately remembered this scene and knew what he had to do, even if he didn’t like it.
“Pikachu. Come back.”
Everypony looked at Ash shocked, most of all the mane six and Pinkie, as Brock nodded and said “Fine choice Ash. Steelix, release him.” Steelix did as commanded and Pikachu immediately jumped away from Steelix and over to Ash as he let out an apologetic whine.
“Chhaaa….”
Ash smiled and leaned down and scratched him behind his ear “Don’t worry about it pal, I was stupid and forgot the main thing about Steelix and Onix, watch out for the tail. We get another chance someday.”
He turned back to Brock, who still had Steelix out on the field as Luna said clearly “Trainer Ash Ketchum has forfeited this round. Bring out thine next pokémon!”
He nodded and took a pokéball and said with a grin “Want to play tough? We let you feel tough.”
Evil cliffhanger is evil :3