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// Red and Blue 
// Story: My Little Pony: Red Version 
// by FaelaArts 
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"How did you just DO THAT?! I mean, you just took out that ball thing like a total awesome pony with sunglasses!, except you didn't have sunglasses; but then you were all like 'asta la vista Chimeras.' " As they sat in the living room of Lyra’s, who was fawning over his victory over the chimeras, Red just sat there. The doorbell chimed, Lyra quickly got up and went to answer it; giving Red a break in the one sided conversation. The door closed after some muffled talk and Lyra and Twilight walked into the room, Red turned his gaze, greeting them with his trademark stare.

“Talk, was that what you were going to do to me back then?” Red knew when she was referring to, and shook his head. Twilight blinked, as if expecting him to say yes like he normally did. Lyra was peeking over his shoulder at his bag. She flinched when she noticed his gaze.

“Can, Can I see what is inside?” Red saw her hopeful gaze, and pulled his backpack off his back and held it out for the Pokémon to go through. Lyra saw the many pockets, and nodded to herself as she noted she would have to ensure she didn’t mix up the pockets. Lyra opened up his TM compartment first, and frowned at the small discs with words like HM1 and TM42 on them, before putting them back in her pocket. Red returned his gaze to Twilight as Lyra began looking in his berry pocket, sniffing the berries before putting them back.

“So what were you going to do to me?” Pausing in her task of opening his main compartment, Lyra glanced to him as if curious about the answer as well. Red paused, and after glancing between them both, he closed his eyes; thinking. Twilight and Lyra raised an eyebrow, curious as to the different behavior of the normally stoic Red. Opening his eyes, he motioned for Lyra to give him his backpack, and turned it around to the hidden pocket on the back section, covered by his back most of the time, he pulled out a small leather bound notebook and flipped to a certain page before turning around to show them.

“…”Noticing Red's lack of commentary, the two leaned forward, taking in the page. On it was a crude picture of his Blastoise, some numbers that meant nothing to the two Rapida and four words with a number next to each of them. The first one was labelled surf, the second one bite, the third one hydro pump, and the fourth one rain dance. 

“Oh so that’s what those fingers you put up before your turtle thing attacked meant. Wait you were going to bite me?” Red closed the book and slipped it back into its pocket before handing the bag back over to Lyra, before turning to Twilight and waiting for her to continue.

“I don’t know what those things in those balls are, but I’m a PONY, well technically I’m a unicorn, well was a unicorn I’m an Alicorn now, but still.” Red blinked, this Pokémon was called a pony? More importantly, her evolution strain was called an Alicorn. Red glanced out the window, and pointed to a Ponyta and Rapida walking by the house, which caused Twilight to frown.

“That-That’s an earth pony, and a unicorn...” Red then glanced to the sky, and pointed to the Flyingta moving some clouds. He assumed it was a new move he didn’t know about. His hand pointed to one with a rainbow mane in particular, who was working faster than the others.

“Those are Pegasus ponies, and that one is a good friend of mine named Rainbow Dash. You met her the other night?” Red nodded once, twice, three times, putting the information away for use at a later date. Pony, close to Ponyta but not quite the same species. Then there was that legendary pony that had had both wings and a horn, similar to the Twilight Pokémon. Red could tell she was a lower level ‘Alicorn’ compared to the white one.

“Hey what’s this thing, what happens if I press this butto-“Red turned as Lyra clicked the button on a blank Pokéball, and was sucked inside. The Twilight one rushed over, trying to get it to open as it shook once, twice, thrice, and was still. Twilight grew concerned when Lyra didn’t come out, and glared accusingly at Red. Red leaned forward and gently took the Pokéball from Twilight, and chucked it, the ball split open, and a dizzy Lyra flew out and stumbled around before shaking her head and standing up properly. Red went to click her Pokeball onto his chain, then hesitated. Deciding against it, he merely put it on the table for both the ponies to see.

“What is that thing?” Lyra cautiously approached the ball, feeling somewhat connected to it for some reason. Twilight continued glaring at Red, which he ignored. Red didn’t have any way to explain how a Pokéball worked for them, so he merely stared at them, blank faced. Eventually,they sighed and gave up trying to get answers. Lyra braved touching the ball, and soon enough picked it up and deposited it on a desk over to one side and out of the way. She also gave Red back his backpack, done braving the dangers of his bag for today.

“I don’t know why Celestia says to give you the benefit of the doubt, but know one thing Red.” Red turned his gaze to meet Twilights glare. Taken aback by the fact he hadn’t even flinched, she hesitated, before continuing full force.

“If you ever do anything to harm Ponyville, harm Equestria, even if indirectly, I will find a way to banish you to a place you will never be coming back from.” Red took her threat, and replied with a single nod. Twilight seemed satisfied he knew the risks, and stepped back.

“I know one thing, we don’t need the populace freaking out over a human being here, so you’ll have to stay inside until I can calm them down enough to let you walk around in public. So for now-“Red blinked as Twilight was suddenly cut off by a very loud sound. If he had to describe it, it was like a lightning strike had happened just outside the house. Instantly he was standing, Pokéball in his hand. Twilight and Lyra were looking at him, and toward the door.

“Uh, Red do you mind going first?” Red nodded once at Lyra, before walking toward the door and opening it. There was a growing crowd of ponies, and his Rapidash and Ponyta were instantly alert, standing up to follow him as he left the house and made his way toward the commotion just down the street.

“What are you staring at?” Red recognised the voice of his rival Blue instantly, and returned the pokéball he was holding to its place on his belt. Twilight frowned at him, and then looked to the crowd who had just noticed his appearance and was parting to let him through. Some of them ran away outright, while others slowly backed away. Red didn’t notice any of this; his eyes were on the orange haired individual giving all the ponies mulling around him a glare, causing even more to run off in fright. Standing up, he turned and noticed Red walking to him.

“Well well well; I was wondering when you would show up. Thought you could get one up on me for a new type of Pokémon did you?” Red noticed the Pass on Blue’s hand, and then glanced upward as Blue began speaking again.

“Why I bet you’ve caught nearly every type here, and were going to parade them around in front going 'I've got something you cant have.' Well, not today Red, I’m going to catch these new Pokémon and train them better than you ever could.” With that, Blue pulled out a blank Pokéball and prepared to throw it at the nearest pony, a small unicorn standing next to a cross eyed Pegasus. Red was quick to intercept, putting a hand on Blue’s arm, causing Blue to turn and narrow his eyes at him.

“What’s your problem?” Blue wrenched his arm out of Red’s grip, and then actually looked at where he was. He noticed Twilight first, and the glowing horn that was probably an attack ready to be released.

“Let me guess, I need to weaken them first? Got it, let me just release my good old friend and-“ Lyra trotted over and spoke directly to Red.

“Um, Red who is this human?” Red and Blue both turned their eyes on Lyra, Red with his normal stare and Blue with a glare. Lyra flinched under Blue’s gaze, and trained her eyes on Red.

“You don’t know me? I’m Blue, the best Pokémon trainer the world has ever seen. And I'm going to capture each and every type of these new Pokemon and beat Red into the ground with their might.” Blue stood up proudly, and Twilight’s spell vanished hesitantly. Whatever Lyra was doing seemed to be getting Blue less focused on ‘catching’ and more on talking.

“So uh Blue? Why is it you are here? How did you even get here?” Lyra hesitantly met Blue’s cocky gaze as he studied her. Red simply stood there, silent and blank as always.

“I’m here to give this bozo some gift from the Professor, and I came here the same way he did-using a defective Pass.” Lyra blinked, and glanced backward to Twilight, who was slowly approaching the group. Most of the crowd had cleared out when Blue had threatened to ‘catch’ them. Red automatically caught the thing Blue tossed him, before glancing downward at what it was. It was a simple phone, but this one was apparently solar powered so it wouldn’t run out of charge.

“Ok Blue, you’re going to answer a few questions for me and-“ Blue cut Twilight off mid sentence, causing her to also stop mid stride.

"Hmmm nope, not doing that, if you want answers ask Mr. Silent over there." Twilight glanced to Red, and then trained a glare on Blue.

“He doesn’t talk, how are we supposed to get those kind of answers out of him?” Blue yawned, pulling out a Pokéball and tossing it into the air. A Pidgeot glided out, coming to land, Blue hopped on. The remaining crowd fled at the sight of the flying monster, over twice the size of them. Twilight back peddled and Lyra took a step back, glanced to Red, and then stood her ground.

“Not my problem missy, Red, my numbers on there if gramps wants me for something. Don’t call me just to talk; my time is way too valuable for you. Smell ya later.” Twilight made to run after him, but as Pidgeot took to the sky a whirlwind picked up, and before anyone could do more than stand in place, Blue had headed into the Everfree. Twilight gritted her teeth and walked over to Red, directing her frustration at him,

“Red, is your friend there always like that?” Red glanced in the direction of the forest, where a silhouette could be seen gliding into the forest and nodded once.  Lyra followed his gaze, and snorted at Blue.

“No offence, but he seems to be kinda a jerk.” Red replied with another nod. Twilight growled, frustrated the one human they had found that could talk wasn’t going to; she instead turned her gaze at the device on his arm. Gazing it over, she could tell it was no technology she knew how to work, and remembered the machine she had found lying next to Red when he had appeared and glanced around the scene, spotting a similar one on the ground near where Blue appeared. Levitating it up, she examined it and realised she had no idea if it was broken or not.

“So this Pass on your arm is what brought you here?” Red nodded once, still gazing in the direction of the Everfree.  He felt something touch his waist, and glanced down to see Lyra trying to undo his Pokémon belt. With one swift movement, he took a step back, and Lyra’s eyes rose to meet his as he shook his head.

“Sorry, I should’ve asked first.” The sky was suddenly shrouded in shade, and Red glanced up so see that the Pegasi had finished doing whatever it was they were doing with the clouds. Lyra shifted, and glanced to the ground, sensing she had passed some invisible line.

“Uh, is there a reason you don’t like people touching that belt?” Turning to gaze down at her again, Red blinked once, and he frowned. Lyra, completely caught off guard took a step back, Twilight who had been watching this exchange widened her eyes at the suddenly display of emotion. It was gone a moment later, and Red nodded before turning to gaze back at the Everfree.

“Uh, sorry Red I didn’t mean to cause any problems…” Red didn’t answer or move; and Lyra could sense he was thinking deeply about something, but she didn’t understand the problem. What would make Red, who seemed to be scared of nothing, so tense? Suddenly the device in Red’s hand vibrated, and he pulled it up to his ear to take the call.

“Hello, Red can you hear me?”