//------------------------------// // Chapter the Fifteenth // Story: Looking Through the Pokeball // by Magical Trevor //------------------------------// Luna nodded to herself as she left Kaye with Fluffy, knowing now that she would be in safe hoov-err, paws. Besides, who knows what the next Pokemon is going to be like? I know I can protect her, but why endanger her all the same if she’s content here? Now, let’s see... Hmm, so that’s where We miscalculated... Alright, here We go! Luna disappeared, reappearing in the third of the new guest’s dreams. Luna blinked in shock, charging her magic. “What in the blazes of Tartarus is going on?” If she hadn’t triple-checked her spell, she would have sworn she had found her way into Discord’s dreams. Only he were as random as to have the ground made of rubber, trees made from sand, and buildings made of glass. Luna saw brown clouds raining, and grinned. While she and Discord didn’t get along all the time, one thing she did appreciate were his cotton candy clouds that rained chocolate rain. Sticking her tongue out happily, she walked over to the nearest cloud to get a drink, only to start spitting and gagging. “What sort of monstrous, demented monster creates clouds that rains this strange, bitter stuff instead of chocolate milk?! Heads shall roll for this insolence! “Well hello there, gorgeous,” came a sultry, feminine voice from behind Luna. “What is a lovely lady like you doing in a place like this, hmm?” Luna turned around, still sputtering from the aftertaste of the coffee rain, only to be surprised further. The creature was, easily, the strangest she had yet seen. It didn’t appear to have any legs, and was floating above the ground. It was fairly aerodynamic, having a long, sleek white neck, and forelegs that could tuck into its body to a degree. It had a larger, egg-shaped torso, with two large fins sprouting from its back like immobile wings, with two more sticking behind it, roughly where its hind legs should have been. A triangular blue mark stood out against its red chest, with a red triangle against its white head. “We... were looking for you, actually,” Luna said cautiously, backing away a step. “We were wondering-” “There’s more than one of you? You know what that calls for,” the creature replied with a titter, eyes gleaming. “An orgy!” Luna blinked, trying to figure out if the word had changed meaning over the years she had been gone from Equestria. “... Come again?” “Not yet, silly, we haven’t even started...” “Started what? We are not amused by thine antics, floating one! Answer our questions or suffer the consequences!” Luna exclaimed, reclaiming her poise as she pointed a hoof menacingly at the Pokemon. “Ooh, so you’re into bondage? Kinky... Not sure you have a pair of handcuffs big enough for me, though,” the creature simpered, its gaze turning to a smolder. Luna staggered back several steps, trying to compose herself. What is wrong with this creature? The voice sounds feminine, so... Perhaps she is in heat? Yes, that would make sense, but where wouldst we find a male of her species? Even if Fluffy were willing, she is far too big compared to him, so that would not work... The only option is to quarantine her, and ask her forgiveness later. Luna, having decided on a plan, turned to face the Pokemon once more. “We have decided that it is in your best interests for you to be temporarily quarantine thee, as thou art clearly in heat, and might accidentally injure others. We-” “You can’t hold me! You are in my world! You can’t do anything to me!” “Thou darest to challenge Us in Our own realm?!” Luna shouted back, furious. “Thou art nothing compared to Us!” Luna staggered, however, as the ground started to shake, the sky turning dark. She has magic?! Collecting her magic, Luna prepared to leave, snarling, “Thou hast merely caught Us off guard! We assure thee that thou shalt not do so in the real world, youngling!” Luna left the dream world, panting heavily as she collected herself. After making sure she still had plenty of energy left, she teleported to where the prisoner was being held, rushing up to the door, noting the lack of a guard, which instantly raised her vigilance. She blasted the door open, rushing inside, only to find that the Pokemon had already disappeared. When she heard a distant explosion, Luna’s eyes widened in horror. “Kaye!” Luna teleported instantly, arriving next to Kaye’s bed. Kaye was still asleep, but she was restless in her sleep, worrying Luna. As she refocused, she realized that the explosion took place in a different part of the castle. Not wishing to take any chances, Luna took Kaye into her telekinetic grasp, then teleported to her sister’s room. Ignoring the startled gasps, she set Kaye on the bed, nearby Fluffy, saying quickly, “One of the Pokemon is insane! She’s attacking the castle, and I can’t let her escape. Come!” Not bothering to warn them further, Luna teleported to the correct location of the explosion. Luna gasped as she saw a large hole in the side of the castle, sensing that the Pokemon had left the castle. Luna sent out a magical pulse, trying to sense where the other Pokemon were. “What?! Impossible!” “It... It’s gone... The Pokemon is gone, and it took some of the others with it!” Luna exclaimed, straining to keep her poise. “We...” Okay, calm, think... We need to take stock of which Pokemon are still here, which ones ran away or were kidnapped, and the general plan of action, but I can’t enter their dreams until they’re asleep, as it’s doubtful she kept them asleep as she left... Sighing, Luna charged her magic once more, using the moon as the basis for her spell. There. She took... Oh frell... She’s already nearing the badlands?! Just how fast can that thing fly?! Okay, okay, calm, concentrate... She took... Great... She took the green bug, the dog thing that broke into the medical supplies, the self-beating blue metal thing, and some purple blob in a dress. So... She took all of the crazy ones with her? That... That’s actually moderately helpful! Well, at least she won’t be able to come back without Celestia or I knowing. We’ll have to keep an eye on her, though. She’s clearly dangerous... Luna sighed, then teleported back to Celestia’s room, which was strangely empty, aside from those sleeping on the bed. Frowning, Luna walked into Celestia’s study, and found everyone in quiet conversation, all clearly ready and anticipating some action. “We are sorry. We had misjudged the mental state of our guest. She has escaped, and taken some of the others with her, though We can not tell if it was against their will or not.” “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s just grab the elements and blast her!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flaring her wings. “We’ll knock the crazy right out of her in thirty seconds flat, or my name’s not Rainbow Dash!” Luna sighed, laying down next to her sister, leaning against her to rest. “She hath already reached the badlands...” Ignoring the gasps of surprise, Luna continued, “Besides, we need time to plan, and find out more about Pokemon. Fluffy was able to give me some, and I’m sure he has more, since Kaye interrupted us, but-” “Wait, who’s Kaye? Is this Kaye?” Pinkie asked, holding up the sleeping Eevee with her forehooves. “Aww, but I wanted to name her Fuschia Floofy!” Pinkie complained, pouting as she hopped back out of the room gently, placing Kaye back on the bed with the crusaders and Fluffy, making sure she would stay warm. “But, um, how did Kaye interrupt you?” Fluttershy questioned. “She didn’t want to be alone,” Luna answered simply. “So I took her with me. She’s just a filly, and We weren’t going to ignore a request like that. She’s alone, and she is not going to have anything to fear so long as We can help it.” “Even foals are being dragged into this?” Applejack sighed, shaking her head. “That ain’t right...” “We assure thee, Applejack, she will be well taken care of,” Luna stated firmly. “Though she seems attached to Fluffy, so that may make things a little difficult.” “In what way did she seem attached?” Celestia asked, privately worried. Luna sighed, messaging the bridge of her muzzle as she answered. “We might be wrong, but it seems she wants him to be... her pet.” “Sweetie already called Dibs.” Luna blinked, then turned to Applejack. “Beg pardon?” “Ah said Sweetie Belle already called Dibs,” Applejack repeated, as if that was all there was to say on the matter. “... And what are Dibbuns?” Luna asked, mispronouncing the word. Everypony blinked, then remembered that Luna wouldn’t know what Dibs was. As they got ready to answer, however, they heard a squeal from the next room, causing a pony pile-up as everypony rushed to see what was going on. Rarity, having recovered from her swoon, had been escorted back to Celestia’s room by Twilight, with Blueblood strangely absent. The squeal that everypony had heard, however, came from Rarity, as she saw the spectacle that awaited upon Celestia’s bed. “Camera, camera, camera! I need to find a camera!” “Here you go!” Pinkie said cheerfully, pulling her camera from hammar-space once again. “You can use mine!” Rarity thanks Pinkie quietly, her eyes glazed over as she took picture after picture, trying to cover every angle she could. “What’cha taking so many for, Rares?” Applejack questioned, quirking an eyebrow. “We already took one earlier...” “Blackmail!” Rarity chirped happily, tucking pictures away carefully. “Never hurts to have something to barter with if he ever misbehaves.” In the stunned silence that followed, Luna commented idly, “We like her. She doth not waste opportunities when they arise. Most useful indeed, even if We doubt that Fluffy would do anything that horrendous.” “Oh? I thought you didn’t trust him before,” Celestia noted, questioning her sister. “What changed?” “Kaye.” Luna replied simply, smiling at the sleeping bodies on the bed. “Foals possess the most odd ability to see straight to a pony’s true heart. She trusts him, and so shall We. Come, We are fatigued, and must rest forthwith.” “Don’t mean he can’t still make mistakes,” Applejack pointed out quietly, following behind. “Doesn’t mean he won’t try to fix his mistake and become a better pony,” Twilight shot back, grinning at her friend. “Hush! You’re going to wake them up,” Rarity hissed, chiding her friends. “Now move quietly!” Sparing one last glance to the bed, Rarity sighed, wearing a tired smile. “Sleep tight... Tomorrow is another day, and, hopefully, it won’t be nearly as chaotic as today was...”