Cultural Exchange
“Hey! Get up!” Zander woke up to see Aurora standing over him. Huh? I had dreams and nightmares start like this. Zander sat up with a groan.
“What evil hour is this?”
“It's called eight o’clock in the morning.”
“Why so early?”
“Because the professor said so. Come on get up, I have to help Violet with the girls.”
“Alright fine.” Zander got his clothes on. A blue T-shirt with a green pokeball on the lower right corner, blue jeans and a brown jacket. In his hand was his red and white hat.
Zander went downstairs to find his life blood. Coffee! It's a common misconception that all trainers are morning people. Zander used to be one but the laziness born of boredom sapped his cheery mood away. He use to be like Aurora. Where does she get the energy.
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“Good morning Aurora,” Violet said, “are you ready?”
“Yep.”
Violet knocked on the door to the girl's room.
“Come in.” A voice that sounded like Twilight's said. Once inside they saw all the girls were up except Rainbow.
“She ain't much of a morning pony,” Applejack said.
“Ha! Guess she has something in common with Zander.”
“Aurora!”
“Er. Yes, we have some clothes for you. So someone might want to wake her up.”
“Oh, oh me, me!” Pinkie didn't wait for anyone to object before she pounced on Rainbow's bed.
“*groan* Pinkie? Ga! What is this evil hour?”
Aurora burst out laughing. “Zander said the exact same thing.” Her laughter continued for a few minutes before she calmed down.
“Excuse me,” Rarity said “But I need to use the facilities.”
“Oh, down the hall, last door on the left,” Violet said, “do you want any help?”
“No, it should be fine.”
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“What do you think is taking them so long?” Zander said as he started on his second cup of coffee.
“Well, they might be having trouble with getting the clothes on. They also might need to use the bathroom and if they don't know how...”
“Fun,” Zander said with a chuckle. “So, what's with all the cameras and stuff?”
“Well, if they are from another world like you suggested, then I want to record our conversation. As for the computers, they’re to look up information we might need. They're also hooked up to the big screen in case we need to show them pictures.”
“Okay.”
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“Um... Miss Violet?”
“Yes Rarity.”
“I'm sorry. I kind of made a mess in the bathroom.”
“Oh don't worry about it. Did you finish?”
“Er...Yes.”
“That's all that matters. Does anyone else need to go?”They all shook their heads no. “Well then lets go get some breakfast.”
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Zander was in the dinning room with the professor when the girls came down. The first thing he noticed was none of them had a bra on. Dammit! Is Aurora trying to screw with me? Or do girls not let other girls borrow their underwear? Does that mean they’re not wearing panties?
“Good morning ladies.” The professor's comment snapped Zander back to reality.
“Yes! Good morning!”
Zander took note of their outfits. They were the same as what Aurora was wearing, a blue blouse and red skirt. They were like her clones. It was a little terrifying.
“Please sit down. We'll eat before we start talking.”
The professor sat at the end of the table with the equipment. Zander was to his left, Aurora to his right, and Violet at the other end. Twilight sat next to Zander along with Futtershy and Pinkie. Rainbow was next to Aurora as well as Applejack and Rarity.
“How's your arm?” Zander asked.
“Good, thanks for asking. Oh and, since I don't think I thanked you for saving me, thank you.”
“It was nothing. Anyone would do the same.”
Breakfast was mostly uneventful. Twilight asked what the equipment was for, surprised by the level of technology. After breakfast Violet excused herself.
“Well dear I'll leave you to your work.” As she walked by she stopped to give the professor a kiss. Rainbow rolled her eyes. This caught Zander's attention.
“You shouldn't act like that, after all, you guys did end their anniversary party early.”
“Hey!” She said slamming her hands on the table. “It's not like we wanted to come here!”
Zander chuckled “There's some fire. I like that in a girl. But relax I'm only teasing.”
“Zander could you please refrain from antagonizing our guest?”
“Sorry, I'll be serious from here on out.”
“Right then lets get started.” The professor cleared his throat and began. “Last night Zander proposed a theory about where you're from. So if you wouldn't mind, could you tell us where you're from?”
Twilight spoke up. “We're from a town called Ponyville, Equestria, on the planet Earth.”
“Well,” Zander said to the professor. “I guess that means they're from an alternate universe.”
“I suppose so.”
“What do you mean?”
Zander looked at Twilight. “This planet is called Earth.”
Twilight and the rest of her friends had shocked expressions on their faces.
“How is that possible?”
Zander looked to the professor for an answer.
“Er... well I'm not an expert, but if I had to guess. I'd say a massive energy spike on your side caused a rift in space-time, opening up a portal bringing you here.”
“But why, and why this world?”
“I think I might know.”
“Zander?”
“Just hear me out. After all I did feel them coming.”
“Alright.”
“Now, the reason why is probably because the space-time matrix is unstable right now. I'm sure whatever happened didn't help that. As to why here? It's probably because this is the epicenter of the disturbance that caused the whole thing to go out of whack.”
“That actually makes sense.”
“Don't act so surprised professor, I'm not an idiot.”
“Coulda fooled me,” Rainbow said with a chuckle.
“Says the girl who wanted to fist fight an Onix.”
“Settle down you two! Twilight please continue.”
Twilight spent the next few hours telling them about their world. The type of government, the main inhabitants, and some of their adventures. But the kicker was hearing that their princesses could control the sun and moon, and then learning about the elements of harmony.
“That's quite the world you come from,” Zander said with awe in his voice.
“Is it really so strange?”
“Not strange, just different. I mean weather manipulation isn't a big deal, a lot of Pokemon can manipulate weather. But to control the sun and moon? Wow just wow. Oh, and using the elements of harmony to save one of your corrupted rulers and take down a demigod of chaos, unbelievable!”
“Hey, it happened!”
“I'm not saying it didn't Rainbow. I have a new found respect for you, all of you.”
“Thank you, can I ask some questions now?” Twilight asked eagerly.
“Yes of course Miss Sparkle but I think we should break for lunch. I also have research to do. Zander, Aurora please answer any questions they have would you?”
Way to throw us under the bus professor.
“Sure professor, it's not like you're the authority on Pokemon or anything like that!”
“Now Zander you know just as much as I do,” I highly doubt that. “And Aurora can help you fill in the blanks, plus you have the internet.”
“Okay, fine go do whatever.”
Once lunch was over, Zander got up and stood at the head of the table.
Twilight then began the next part of the Q and A.
“First thing I'd like to know is what is an internet?”
“Well, the internet is a place computers like this one can be used to find information.”
“What kind of information?”
“Anything you want. From biographies to research papers. But that's using the internet responsibly.”
“What do you mean?”
“Some people like to use if to find... porn.”
“That something you do often Zander?”
“Okay Aurora what the hell? You've been doing this for a while now. What gives?”
“It's fun messing with you.”
Zander let out a heavy sigh.
“You sure you two ain't together?”
“Yes!” The two said unison.
“Besides, I can't find a girlfriend no matter how hard I try.”
“Why not darling?” Rarity said. “You seem like such a nice... man?”
“Yeah, why is that Zander?” Aurora asked with genuine concern.
“It's because of my damn championship status! Most girls are fan girls that don't care about the real me, or they think I'm using my title to impress them!”
“I didn't realize it was a catch 22.” Aurora said as she got up to hug her friend.
“Thanks Aurora. Now where were we?”
“Answering our questions? Speaking of which,” Rainbow said. “You mentioned being a champion before, what does that mean?”
“Ah Yes, to understand what it is to be a Pokemon League Champion you have to understand what it is be a trainer. And before that Pokemon them selves.”
“Great, I smell a lecture coming on.”
“Pokemon are the semi sentient creatures that live with us humans. For some Pokemon are pets, others use them for fights. People like the professor study them.”
“Hold on a minute.”
“Yes Fluttershy?”
“You use Pokemon to fight?”
“Yes, it's in there very nature for Pokemon to battle one other to get stronger. I thought that was obvious when I saved you.”
“Well it sounds...”
“We don't battle to the death if that's what your worried about. In fact trainer Pokemon have it better off. Wild Pokemon have been known to... take things to the extreme.”
“So how do you battle?” Rainbow said showing genuine enthusiasm.
“Well, there are many different rules and styles of battling. But the basics are two trainers send out a Pokemon. The trainers call out attacks. The first Pokemon to knock out it's opponent is the winner.”
“But there's more to it than that isn't there?”
“Gold star for you Twilight.” Zander actually pulled out a gold star and put it on Twilight's head.
“An important thing to keep in mind is type.”
“Type?”
“Yes type. All Pokemon have a type, some have two types, and some can change their types. There are seventeen types in all normal, fire, water, grass, electric, ice, fighting, poison, ground, flying, psychic, bug, rock, ghost, dragon, dark, and steel.”
“Pa'don me.”
“Applejack?”
“What does this have to do with the champion thing?”
“Oh sorry, guess I got a little side tracked. When someone becomes a trainer they have a few roads to go down. Some become Pokemon coordinators and compete in contests. Although all the contests halls have been shut down because the administrators are ratifying the rules. Others might use Pokemon to commit crimes like Team Rocket.”
“Pon-people use Pokemon for evil?” Fluttershy gasped.
“Don't worry groups like the Rockets are not a threat anymore.”
“Why's that?”
“Because I crushed them,” Zander said with a grin, “now the road most traveled is to the Pokemon League. To enter the league you need to collect eight gym badges. Than you can enter the tournament. If you win the tournament you can challenge the Elite Four the most powerful trainers in the region. And if you beat them...”
“You become the champion!” Rainbow interrupted.
“No, you get to challenge the champion of the region. If you beat him or her then you become the champion.”
“Zander,” Twilight said. “You said that you are the champion of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. So your a four time champion?”
Zander nodded.
Rainbow stood up and brought her hands up to face before squeaking out, “That's so awesome!” If she could she would be hovering in front of him. The rest of the girls were in awe of his accomplishment.
“Yeah well being champion isn't all it cracked up to be.”
“Are you kidding! The fame, the fortune.”
“And what do I have to show for it! My love life is nonexistent! The challenges I do get are barely a warmup for my Pokemon! And in between is NOTHING! Nothing but loneliness.” Zander sat down, burying his face in his hands.
“Hey.” Rainbow came over and patted Zander on the shoulder. “I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you upset.”
“It's okay I shouldn't have gotten so excited.”
“Oh, oh I have an idea!”
“Great, a Pinkie idea. Can't what to hear it,” Rainbow said rolling her eyes.
“Maybe you could give up your title?”
“I can't do that! Giving up my title to someone didn't earn it is an insult to that person, an insult to me, and worst of all an insult to my Pokemon!”
“So,” Rainbow began, “you're trapped until someone beats you fair and square huh?”
“Eeyup.”
“Wow, I didn't know being famous could be so difficult.”
“Well, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. It's not all bad, I just miss the simple days.”
The room was silent for long time. Zander was the first one to break silence. “Whoa it's five o' clock. We should get ready for dinner.” Soon after the professor and Violet returned to the dinning room.
“So, how is everyone?” The professor asked.
“Good. We learned a lot, though I would've liked more.”
“Can't learn everything in a day.”
“Doesn't stop Twilight form trying,” Rainbow joked. All of her friends laughed, even Twilight.
During dinner the girl asked some more questions. Mostly about how to act and talk in public. After dinner, Aurora took the girls on a little tour of the lab. The professor on the other hand asked Zander to come with him to the study.
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“Okay, professor what's up?”
“It's about the girls and what we're going to do with them.”
“You have a plan?”
“Of sorts, I called everyone I could think of that could help. They'll be coming here in a few days.”
“Wow, with a think tank that big we'll get them home in no time!”
“It's not going to be that easy. Remember this is some thing we're never dealt with before. Even it there is a way, we may not fined it.”
Zander through for a moment. He thought of a question he almost didn't want to ask. “Professor, this is all very interesting, but what does it have to do with me?”
“I'm afraid if those girls stay here they might be a hindrance to our progress. So I want you to take them on a journey.”
If Zander had something in his mouth he would've spat it out. Did the professor lose his marbles? He wants me to take six 'alien' girls out into the world? “Do you have any idea how crazy that is?”
“I know it's short notice but the other professors agree. They will also be bringing starter Pokemon with them. You have at least three days to get them ready.”
The professor left, leaving Zander dumbfounded. Well, it finally happened. The professor went nuts it was only a matter of time. What am I going to do? How am I going to convince them to go on a journey? Well I guess that's future Zander's problem. He began to walk out of the study. Why did I think that? That's a stupid thing to say or think. I guess the first thing to do is just tell them.
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Zander walked in to the living room and saw the seven girls sitting around the coffee table. They all had sad expressions on their faces.
“Hey, what's wrong?”
Twilight spoke up, “We just came to the realization that we're in a new world and...”
“And your worried about your friends, family, and everyon-pony you left behind. Am I right?”
Twilight nodded tears appearing in her eyes. Well, crap. Looks like I'm not telling them the 'good news' today.
“Hey don't cry. I know when the professor figures out how to send you home, it will be at the exact moment you left. It will be like you never left at all.”
“You really think so?”
“Absolutely, half of space-time is time.”
That seemed to bring up their spirits. They were smiling at least. Aurora gave him a warm smile that told him he did good.
“So whata we goin' do tomorrow?” Applejack asked.
“Oooh, I know! Lets have a party!”
“Actually Pinkie I have an idea, but I'll tell you tomorrow. In the mean time we should get some rest.”
The eight of them went upstairs. After saying their good nights Zander pulled Aurora aside. “I need to talk to you.” He pulled her into his room.
“What's this about?”
Zander told her the professor's plan and his part in it.
“Wow that's a lot of responsibility.”
“I know right?”
“So what do you need me to do?”
A wave of relief washed over Zander. Seeing Aurora willing to help made him feel a lot better.
“Since we have little time. I would like you to teach them what you can about raising Pokemon.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I'm going to get them the things they'll need, clothes, bags, pokeballs, etc. That means I'm going to need their measurements.”
“Oh, I have those.”
“You do?”
“Yeah! Violet and I took them when we got them dressed. We even got the colors they want. Apparently, they're the same colors of their coats when they where ponies.”
“You know. If you don't mind me asking? Why do you have those?”
“Well duh, so we could get them new clothes like your gonna do.”
“Oh! Right.” Zander laughed in spite of himself. “Well, we should go to bed.”
“Right, see you tomorrow.”
“Yup, looks like the next few days are going to be busy.”
“Isn't that what you wanted?”
“Yeah, but I didn't expect it in the form of six girls from an alternate dimension.”
“Life's full of surprises. Isn't it?”
“Yeah, goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
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“Okay girls,” Twilight said getting everyone attention, “I think today went rather well. What do you guys think?”
“Ah think Fluttershy was right. These folks don't seem all that bad. But ah don't think we should be lettin' our guard down.”
“I'm with AJ. I don't think we should trust them too much.”
“Now Rainbow,” Rarity said, “you're the one who went up to Zander to comfort him.”
“Hey, I felt bad alright! I didn't mean to upset him like that.”
“In any case,” Rarity continued, “I for one am looking forward to seeing more of this world. And getting new clothes.”
Twilight looked to Pinkie. “Got something to say?”
“Well I think Zander is really great!” Pinkie's happy demeanor faded, “Even if he is a little sad and lonely. He reminds me of you Twilight.”
“How?”
“Well he's really good at Pokemon, you're really good at magic. You were sad and miserable before you meet us...”
“I was not!”
“But your happier now aren't you?”
“Well, yes.”
“See, and I can tell we’re going to do the same for Zander!”
“Fluttershy do you have anything to add?”
“Yes, I'm looking forward to meeting more Pokemon. If they are this worlds equivalent to animals, that may be why I could tell that Zander was friends with his. Though I'm not keen on the whole battling thing.”
“Well I thing that's enough for to night. We should get some sleep. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
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“Do you think it was right to give Zander that job?” Violet asked her husband.
“He's a big boy. He can handle it. Besides I can think of worse things than traveling with six pretty girls.”
“Well do... You think they're pretty?”
“Not as pretty as you.”
“Riiight, so do you believe you can get them home?”
“I believe in trying.”
“And if you can't?”
“Then Zander might get one or six new girlfriends.”
“Either way I hope the best for them. Goodnight dear.”
“Goodnight love.”