//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: A Moment, Please // Story: Equestria, I Choose You! // by BronyDJ //------------------------------// Stephen stood alone in the castle's training grounds. It was midday, and he was waiting for somepony. Stephen just stood there, many thoughts on his mind. Was he ready to take part in this journey? Would he take all of his Pokemon? The Trainer didn't know. His attention was broken by a certain purple Alicorn galloping his way. "Stephen," Twilight raced to the human, Kara's bag in her telekinetic grasp. "I've been looking for you! I've been wanting to ask you something for a long time!" Stephen raised his eyebrow, waiting. His eyes finally recognized the bag, and Twilight received a harsh glare. "What does Kara's bag have to do with it?" He asked. "Did you break something?" "What?" that caught her off guard. "No, not at all! I just wanted to know what this thing was!" She used her magic to pull out a a medium size laptop computer. On its side was a small, concave bit where a Pokeball could sit. This was yet another thing that Stephen recognized. "That's..." Stephen began, but Twilight cut him off with her ramblings. "Ooh!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Is it some kind of magic device? Can you watch movies on it? Is it-" Stephen raised a hand to stop her. "It's a mini-PC." Stephen answered. Twilight tried speaking again, but was cut off by a stern glare. "In my world, a regular PC is used to store and trade Pokemon a long distance from home. This mini-PC was especially made by a friend for short communication services. I can do trades, but only with the right person on the other side." "But what does this little flashing light mean?" Twilight pointed out a small blue light flashing in the corner of the blank screen. "Can I have it, now?" Stephen asked, arm outstretched for the mini-PC. "Please?" Twilight handed over the device to Stephen, who tapped the screen's corner right on the blue flashing point. At this, the mini-PC's screen came alive with light. Three options popped up: Trade/Store Pokemon, Call Contact, and Log Off. On the second option, small text read, "Incoming." "Ooh!" Twilight saw over Stephen's shoulder. "Press it!" Stephen did, and the screen became static. "Awww... that's too bad." "I seriously doubted I could get the call through." Stephen admitted. "But who's calling her?" At this moment the static ended and a familiar face holding a phone receiver to his ear. Bill was on the other line! The tech from Cerulean's face lit up a the second everything cleared up. Stephen picked up his own receiver and sat down. "STEPHEN! Bill's voice exploded into cheer. "It's seriously great to see you again man. Where's Kara? IS THAT A PURPLE UNICORN BEHIND YOU?" "Okay, Bill," Stephen responded. "I'm gonna need you to calm down. A lot of stuff's happened lately and-" "I know, I know," Bill cut him off. "Now get Kara! We can get you out of there in a few hours, I think." "Whoa, whoa, whoa." Stephen cut his friend off. "Dude, what do you mean you can get us out of here?" I turned to Twilight, and saw a very sad expression at the very thought of the human's departure. "I can't just leave right now. We have serious problems right now!" "Problems?" Bill repeats. "Besides the purple unicorn next you, I think the only problem is getting you two home." "I have a name!" Twilight was done with being called a noun, and not given proper recognition. "It's Twilight Sparkle, and I can completely understand you!" "And it talks!" Bill exclaimed with wonder. "I'm a mare!" Twilight barked, then cantered away, steaming mad. "Did I say something?" Bill asked. "Seriously," Stephen facepalmed. "I have no idea what Bebe was on when you asked her out." Bill scowled at this, then reverted the subject. "But onto the subject of girlfriends, Kara is MIA." "What?" Bill asked incredulously. "How? We sent her to go and help find you not too long ago!" "Seriously?" Stephen was starting to get angry. "How could you let her do that?" "She wouldn't listen! Bebe let her go, and I couldn't do much but think that this was the fastest way to get you back, man." "I understand," Stephen responded. "But- " "Now," Bill cut him off. "Where. Is. Kara?" "Well," Stephen took a deep breath. "She's been brainwashed and is acting against her will under an evil entity hellbent on invading and taking over the world. And according to some prophecy, one of us has to save the world. Then we'll be given some kind of reward that can send us home." "I guess that's legit." Bill considered. "Not the first time you've had to deal with prophecies. And I do suppose I need time to regain enough energy. Kara's travel caused a blackout in the whole east half of Kanto!" So, Stephen thought. That's why we need to to get that magical energy? So that both sides have enough energy to send us back? "How long do you think that will all take?" Bill asked. "I have no idea." Stephen answered. "We're going to leave to try to save Kara soon." "That should be easy!" Bill smiled. "You have Nova with you, right?" "I... I," the Trainer couldn't speak. "S-she..." "Stephen?" Bill called out. "What's wrong? What happened?" The Champion slammed the receiver into the holster, ending the call. Tears now streaked down Stephen's cheeks. "Stephen?" he turned to see Twilight had returned, and he now realized he was crying. "C-can you come here?" Stephen asked. Twilight moved closer to Stephen unsure of what he was going to do. She tensed up a bit when Stephen put his arms around her and hugged her, his head leaning against her neck. "I don't know what to do anymore. I nearly lost one of my closest friends, I have to face my own brainwashed girlfriend in battle, and now I have to defend the whole damn country against legendaries!" Twilight looked down at Stephen, now unsure of what to say, but gave him a small smile. "You have your other friends, don't you?" Twilight looked at Stephen's sash, where the rest of his team rested. "They're by your side everyday, and they're your friends as well. I have complete faith in you and your team." The human looked up to the purple Alicorn. He was in his twenties, yet the tears made him look much younger. "You can do this, Stephen. Princess Celestia told me that she saw your memories, and that you were strong and determined where ever you went and battled. You have Pokemon and ponies. I have no doubt the real Kara waiting and confident that you'll save her. If you are a good friend, you should rely on your friends, the Pokemon, and help your new friends in Equestria. With all of that done, you can go home knowing that you really achieved something great." Stephen wiped his eye and pulled away from the hug. "I wouldn't exactly call us friends," Stephen responded. "But, okay." "What?" Twilight asked. "We're not friends?" Stephen now stood up, dusting off his pants. "Not exactly," Stephen repeated. "I'd say acquaintances, but I suppose we can get to 'friends' someday." Twilight thought for a moment, then smiled. "Okay." she nodded. "Acquaintances until further notice, Stephen." She held out her hoof, and the Trainer held out his hand. For the first time ever, Stephen shook his hand with a pony. He looked into Twilight's eyes and saw that she was sincere with everything she said. At this moment, the pegasus, Swift Gale, unicorn, High Marks, and the volunteer Changeling silently approached the human and Alicorn. The three looked ready as ever, even though none of them had any weapons equipped. "Stephen!" High Marks addressed the Trainer. "We will leave tomorrow morning. We expect that you are on time, seeing as this mission is as important to you as it is to us." "Jeez, old man." Commander Gale nudged the Lieutenant. "Don't be so formal. Chill out, we get one day to relax and prepare before we have to go to work." The stallion glared in response. The Changeling stayed silent. Stephen turned to them, as if they weren't in the army. "What's up guys?" Stephen nonchalantly asked. "Besides the fact that we have the mission tomorrow." "Well," High Marks hesitated, unsure how to respond to him. "W-we were-" "Marks here," Swift Gale cut in. "Just wanted to make sure you're in line for this mission. As in: Do what we tell you, and there will be no problems." She finished with a glare that barely affected Stephen. "I do not want to go barreling into that lair with an incompetent child who relies on pets for battle." "One," Stephen answered immediately. "I'm not a child, I'm 24 years old. Two, of course I'd let the army do that, I'm not exactly about to charge in stupidly against a bunch of Legendary Pokemon that could destroy me in a single blow. I'm no expert strategist. Three, my Pokemon are not pets!" he yelled with emphasis, causing Twilight to step back, but not the army ponies and Changeling. "They are competent enough to go on alone and destroy countless cities. They function even better and stronger under my leadership, because I treat them as friends." The pegasus and human held each others glares for a minuted, before the mare smiled and spoke. "Nice," Swift Gale said, nodding. "I like you. You have spirit." Stephen raised an eyebrow, then turned to the Changeling. "So," Stephen began. "What's your name, again?" "Corporal Mirror." The Changeling responded. He stared at the human with a bored expression. "But you can call me Facade." Hm, The human thought, liking the name. Appropriate, I guess. "The other reason why we're here," Swift Gale regained Stephen's attention. "Is because we wanted to see those 'friends' of your in action!" "Seriously?" Stephen was take aback. Swift Gale nodded enthusiastically. High Marks nodded reluctantly. Facade shrugged. Twilight shrugged, then smiled. She had seen his Pokemon before, but really wanted to see them in a different light. "Well, I guess that's okay. Nothing like a good Pokemon demonstration to pick me up!" Stephen reached for his first Pokeball, threw it up and yelled, "Let's do this!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luna and Celestia watched from a balcony as Stephen showed off his Pokemon. Celestia especially liked Maple's SolarBeam and Volta's Thunderbolt. Luna took a liking to Hydreigon and Tempest. "I do suppose," Celestia said. "That is one way to have Stephen cheered up and ready." "I agree." Luna watched as a skyward Hydro Pump from Tempest resulted in a little downpour. "Also, it was good to see that Twilight Sparkle was able to connect to Stephen somehow." Indeed it was, and they continued to watch the spectacle of Pokemon below. It was always nice to have a good laugh before leaving. However, tomorrow would not be a day of laughter. Tomorrow would signify the start of war.