//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: A New World, a New Way // by zeusdemigod131 //------------------------------// “Gene you need to calm down!”          “Calm, right calm...... I can’t get calm!” "Please sweetie, I promise everything is going to be alright, maybe Mage can do something." “Well that’d be great, except that I have no idea where we are or where the rest of the team is!” “Ok... I admit this is confusing, I mean you’re a Pokémon, we have no idea where we are, and the others' Pokéballs are gone, but we’ve been in situations worse than this before, now please, lets just sit down and relax.” Gene took a few deep breaths and looked into Belle’s eyes. The worry he saw there was enough to snap him back to reality. “Ok, ok.” Gene leaned against a tree trunk and slid down it until he was sitting on the ground. “I’m calm, I. Am. Calm.” “Good,” Belle said, kneeling down next to him. “Now then, let’s deal with the problem at hand.” “Which one?” Gene asked. Belle pursed her lips and said. “The one where you’re a Gallade.” “Yeaah, I’ve got nothing, sorry.” Belle sighed and said. “That’s obvious, but what are we going to do?” Gene thought for a moment considering his options. “I think Iris might be the best chance...although Cynthia might have an idea or two, that old man in Shalour City might know something too but none of this is any help if we can’t figure out where we are.” Belle nodded and sighed. “So, I guess we’re back to plan A then.” “Yeah... wait, what’s plan A?” Gene asked, looking up at his partner. Belle smiled deviously and grabbed Gene’s hand, pulling him to his feet as she stood up and pulling herself into Gene’s arms. “This is plan A.” She said snuggling closer to him, blushing slightly. Gene was shocked at first, but after a few seconds he smiled and pulled Belle closer to him. The bridges of their helmets pressed together as they stared lovingly into each other's eyes. “I love you.” Gene whispered. Belle smiled, she had heard the words many times before but she never got tired of hearing him say it. “I love you too.” Gene smiled and kissed Belle deeply, meeting her eager tongue as she forced her way into his mouth. This was far from the first time they had done this, and was far from the farthest they’d gone, but something was different this time. Possibly the fact that what they were doing was no longer considered illegal in most of the world. When Gene finally broke the kiss to breathe he smiled, saying. “Well, it’s good to see that that hasn’t changed.” Belle wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked him on the lips. “You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily. You’re my mate, and a new body is not going to change that.” Gene smirked and kissed Belle again. “Well then,” He leaned over Belle ballroom style, and said. “Why don’t we take this body for a test ride before finding out what happened?” Belle blushed deep red against her white skin. After a moment she smiled softly and said. “I think I’d like that.” Gene smiled and leaned into a deep kiss from his mate, as he did this Gene felt his hat being lifted off of his head, revealing the large, blue fin that topped his helmet. “Gene," Belle said, breaking the kiss. "You know I love you no matter what but I gotta say, you look so handsome right now.” Gene smiled and kissed her again. “You know what? Maybe I’ll consider keeping this body for a while,” He pulled her closer to him, electing a small eep from his lover, and whispered in her ear. “Cause I can think of a few things we can do with it.” Belle’s blush grew ever fiercer as her mate peppered her neck with kisses, she could only hold herself back for so much longer until she- “What are they doing?” The pair heard a voice from the bushes whispering and, considering what was happening between them, reacted accordingly. "AAHH!" "Psychic!" Very suddenly three shapes were thrown into the air and held there. “Aah!” “Aah!” “Aah!” Belle and Gene stared at the creatures in the air and Gene, simultaneous with one of the creatures, said. “What the heck are you?” “What the hay are ya?” In a clubhouse on a secluded part of Sweet Apple Acres three little fillies sat in their tree fort discussing their most recent... attempt, at getting their cutie marks, and the scoldings they got once they got home. “Ah still don’t see how we didn’t get are cutie marks, ah thought we did everythin' right.” Sweetie Belle was the first to answer. “I don’t think the problem was the execution so much as the idea itself.” Scootaloo, the one who had come up with the idea, looked at her friend quizzically. “What do ya mean?” Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and explained. “I’m just saying, in hindsight, attempting to parachute off of Sugarcube Corner, in full view of everypony wasn’t a really great idea. In fact, I don’t think trying to parachute in general is a good idea.” “What?” Scootaloo said in disbelief. “Naah, we just have try to again...” She tapped her chin. “Maybe the barn this time.” Apple Bloom shook her head, seeing Sweetie Belle’s logic. “Ya know what Scoots? Ah think that Sweetie here has-” “DOOZY!” All three fillies' eyes went wide as the sound of Pinkie’s scream echoed across the fields. “Oh man, I gotta-” Sweetie started, she was interrupted however, when another cry went out. “TWITCHY TAIL!” Followed by a flash of light and a resounding crash. “Aah!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders screamed and dove under the table at the side of the room. “What was that?!” “Ah don’t know, sounded like a crash.” “What could cause a crash that big?” “Maybe it was Discord? Or one of the Princesses?” Apple Bloom squinted out the window. “Nope, sun's still in the sky.” Sweetie Belle face hoofed and mumbled. “That’s not what I meant at all.” The conversation might have continued had a certain mare not interrupted them. “Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Are ya’ll alright?!” Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo poked their heads out the window. “Yeah sis, we’re fine.” A look of relief came across Applejack’s face. “Good, now ah want you three ta come down here and then we’re gonna go back to the house... and maybe the cellar.” “Aw come on Applejack,” Scootaloo whined. “I wanna go see what happened.” “What!?!” Sweetie Belle looked at her friend like she had lost her mind. “Are you crazy?” “Ah’m gonna agree with Sweetie here Scoots,” Applejack said as the fillies trotted down the gangplank. “What exactly are ya thinkin’?” “I’m thinking that it’s just Pinkie being Pinkie again,” She explained. “I mean, when has one of her Pinkie senses ever hurt anypony?” Apple Bloom stared at her friend and said. “How ‘bout the time when it dropped a piano on Princess Twilight’s head?” “Or when it got me, Twilight, Pinkie, Spike, and Fluttershy chased by a Hydra?” Applejack added. “Or when it got that load of pine sap dropped on Rarity?” Sweetie said. "Oh, ah remember that,” Applejack said chuckling. “She couldn’t get her mane clean fer a month.” Apple Bloom smiled and remembered another example. “Or the time that it got Spike stuck in the old well?” “Or when-” Sweetie started. “Ok, ok,” Scootaloo said, waving her hoof. “It was just an idea. I thought... never mind.” Applejack led the fillies back towards the farm, where Granny Smith and Big Macintosh were in the kitchen, Big Mac had a look of nervousness on his face and was being even quieter than usual, Granny Smith was... fast asleep in her rocking chair, not even the warning screams or crash could wake her from her nap. Applejack left the fillies in the living room giving them explicit directions not to go anywhere, touch anything, or do anything. But the crusaders, or at least a headstrong little Pegasus, had only heard, go anywhere, touch anything, do anything. And responded accordingly. “Come on girls,” She said hopping off the couch. “We’re going to investigate whatever crashed.”   “You're jokin, right Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked hopefully. “Are you kidding me? This could be our only chance to get our Cutie Marks in, in,” Sudden inspiration hit the filly and she reared upright saying, just quietly enough not to be overheard. “UFO investigators!” “Hang on a second, do UFO’s even exist?” Sweetie asked. “Well duh,” Scootaloo said. “One just crashed in the Everfree.” “It’s not a UFO!” Sweetie shouted. “It’s probably just a meteor or something. “Or the moon.” Apple Bloom added. “What?” Sweetie and Scootaloo asked together. “We only know that Princess Celestia didn’t drop the sun, maybe Princess Luna dropped the moon.” Apple Bloom stated matter-of-factly. “That’s impossible!” Scootaloo shouted. “Thank you.” Sweetie was glad one of her friends was starting to show common sense. “Princess Luna is way too awesome to drop the moon.” “Uggh.” Or not. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo started arguing about the possibility of a celestial body falling in the Everfree, more accurately why Princess Luna wouldn’t be the one to drop it. “Girls!” Sweetie shouted. The pair stopped arguing and looked at their friend. “Ignoring everything else don’t you think one of the princesses would have come around here if the moon did fall out of the sky?” Meanwhile in Canterlot two princesses and a god of chaos sat inside one of the only open bakeries in the city, Pony Joe’s Doughnut Emporium. “Thank you Luna, Discord,” She said, having just finished a doughnut cake they bought for her. “And I’m sorry for threatening to send you to the moon.” “Mmm.” Luna grumbled. “No problemo Celly.” The Draconequus said. “Now come on, we have most of the city to ourselves and you know what that means!” Celestia raised an eyelid and said. “No, what does that mean Discord?” He smiled and said. “Shopping spree!” Before rushing out the door. “... Shouldn’t we stop him before he does something stupid?” Luna asked. “Yes,” Celestia said, sighing. “I suppose so.” Luna followed her sister out of the doughnut shop, teleporting some bits into the tip jar as she left. Once outside, the royal sisters quickly found Discord looting a souvenir shop, and he had gone all out in his looting, he had a miniature pirate ship parked outside, bobbing up and down in the pavement, and, once they got inside, they saw that he was sporting a pirate hat and dreadlocks, which were threaded with beads, there was a bandanna wrapped around his head and he was wearing a brown coat and a white undershirt. “Ahoy me hearties,” He said in an exaggerated accent. “What brings you fine ladies to this..” He gestured around the room, looking for the right word. “Place.” And failing. “Discord,” Celestia said warningly, eyeing the loot sack over Discord’s shoulder. “Oh, fine.” He snapped his fingers and the room went back to normal. The pirate paraphernalia, instead of vanishing completely, appeared in the bedroom of a young colt in Ponyville, a smile appeared on his face and he whispered. “Thanks capt’n.” Back in Canterlot Discord, Luna and Celestia were on their way back to the palace. “I still think we should-” Luna never finished her sentence as she was interrupted by the rattling of a nearby trashcan. “... What was that?” Discord asked. “Probably a cat.” Celestia said, walking over to the trash can and lifting the lid. “Come out little ki-” Her eyes went wide as she stared at the creature inside, which, unless something was really wrong with nature, could never be classified as a cat... or an animal. Discord and Luna peered into the trash can and gained the same dumbstruck expression as the solar princess. “What is that thing?” Luna asked. “It looks like something you’d make Discord.” Celestia commented. "Maybe if I had been smoking poison joke.” The chaos lord replied, peering at the thing, which turned its misshapen head up at them and said. “Trubbish?” Scootaloo and the other crusaders stood at the threshold between Apple Bloom’s house and Sweet Apple Acres. “Well, I’m going, and if you two are coming then you can follow me.” She shouted before heading outside.          “Fine,” Said Apple Bloom, sighing. “But only ta prove ta you that it ain’t aliens.”          She trotted after the Pegasus, leaving Sweetie Belle alone in the living room. She looked into the kitchen and only saw Granny Smith asleep in her rocking chair. “Why does the voice of reason always go unheard?” Sweetie said as she trotted after her friends.          After catching up with her friends, right in the middle of an argument about aliens Sweetie Belle sighed and thought. We are going to get in so much trouble for this.As the trio walked in the direction of the Everfree.          “Exactly how far are we going to go?” Sweetie asked after they entered the part of the property that converged with the Everfree, forming a thin woodland rarely populated by anything larger than a rabbit.          “Until we find the UFO.” Scootaloo said.          “Or until somepony finds us and brings us back.” Apple Bloom added. “Are we really going into the Everfree?” Sweetie asked nervously. “Maybe,” Scootaloo said. “If that’s what it takes to get our cutie marks then-” “Gallade.” “Gardevoir.” “What was that?” Apple Bloom whispered. “Sounds like it came from over there.” Scootaloo pointed towards a clump of bushes. “Come on.” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom rushed over to the shrub while Sweetie walked over, once she arrived Apple Bloom pushed some of the branches so they could see whatever was in the clearing. What they saw took their breath away. To the fillies the creatures in the clearing looked vaguely like that Minotaur that came to town. But not really. “What are they?” Apple Bloom asked. “Aliens.” Scootaloo whispered. “Impossible,” Sweetie said. “Th-they’re probably just monsters from the Everfree.” “Then why are they kissin’?” Apple Bloom asked tilting her head in confusion. Just as Sweetie was about to stutter out an unintelligible response the creature's broke their embrace and began to speak to each other. “Gallade, Gallade Gallade Gal Gallade Gallade.” “Gardevoir Gardevoir Gar Gardevoir. Gar Gar Gar Gardevoir Gar.” “What are they sayin’?” Apple Bloom asked, ignoring the creatures as they continued to talk. “I don’t know.” Scootaloo said. “I don’t speak alienese.” “They’re not aliens.” Sweetie Belle said. “They're just monsters from the Everfree.” “Ya know, ah bet that’s what a lot a Ponies said about Zecora before ah proved ‘em wrong.” Apple Bloom said, shooting a disapproving glare at her friend. Sweetie Belle, with a guilty look on her face tried to take back what she said. “No I just meant, it’s just that they’re, I didn’t-” She was cut off when the creature wearing a dress pushed the other one against the tree in front of their bush. “Gar, Gardevoir Garde, Gar Gar Gardevoir.” “Gal Gal? Gallade Gallade Gallade Gal, Gallade Gal Gallade.” “What are they doing?” Scootaloo asked, her voice just above a whisper, the slight increase in volume, and the vicinity to the creatures alerted them to their presence. “Gallade!” “Garde!” The trio suddenly found themselves being grabbed by what felt like a Unicorn's telekinetic grip and being held in the air in front of the creatures. “Aah!” “Aah!” “Aah!” The creatures stared at the trio in confusion and Apple Bloom couldn’t hold in her curiosity any longer. “Gal Gallade?” “What the hay are ya?” Belle and Gene looked at the creatures squirming in the air. “What are they?” Belle whispered. “I don’t know, pre-evolution of Ponyta maybe?” Gene wagered comparing them to the only thing he could. “Then why does that one have wings?” Belle asked. “You freaky aliens better put us down right now or you’ll be sorry!” Scootaloo shouted. “...What?” Gene said. “Just please let us go, ah p-promise we won’t tell anypony ‘bout ya.” Apple Bloom was on the verge of tears. “Gene, I don’t think they understand us.” Belle said. “Just look at them.” Gene took a closer look at the little... foals, he decided, and saw the fear in their eyes, although the little winged one, was trying to hide it. “But, if they can’t understand us then,” “They’re not Pokemon.” Belle finished. “Wow... we are so lost right now.” Gene said shaking his head. “Girls... do you think they’re gonna dissect us?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Ok that’s enough.” Gene said rubbing his hands together. “Belle can you set up the translator?” She frowned, upset that her fun had been interrupted, but said. “Alright.” Gene noticed his partner's attitude and said. “Don’t worry, when we’re done here I promise,” He whispered in her ear and whatever he said caused her to blush profusely. Belle, still blushing from her lover's words, began to enter the fillies' minds, causing them to flinch and shriek in surprise, this, in turn alerted a Pegasus flying over head to their location. “Hold on girls!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she shot into the clearing and rammed Belle. “Ahh!” She cried as she was knocked to the ground, dropping the crusaders as her concentration faltered. “Belle!” Gene cried as he rushed over to her side, kneeling next to her. “Are you alright?” He asked as he helped her sit up. “Yeah.” She said, rubbing the back of her head. “Whatever that was packs quite a punch.” Gene glared at the blue pony who had struck Belle. Rainbow Dash was ignoring them, busy comforting the crusaders, specifically the little Pegasus whom she was holding in her arms. Gene cleared his throat to get her attention and, once she was looking at him, brandished his sword arms in her direction and said. “You really shouldn’t have done that.” And took a single step forward. Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, and the two little Pokemon on her back, arrived at Sweet Apple Acres and were surprised when they found Applejack and Big Mac out bucking trees instead of hiding. “Get down here ya no good filthy varmits!” Applejack shouted as she kicked the tree again.   “Applejack!” Twilight cried as she ran up to her friend. “I’m glad I found you, we have a... what are you doing?” Twilight noticed that the tree was barren of apples as was the one Big Mac was bucking, and most of the trees in the area. “What does it look like ah’m doin’?” She asked, delivering another kick to the tree. “Ah’m tryin’ ta clear out these pests before they destroy our entire crop.” “Fruit Bats again?” Twilight asked. “Not exactly.” Applejack said. With an exceptionally powerful kick the tree shook and an extremely large beetle fell out. “Aaah!” Twilight screamed, again. “Heracross!” It cried before opening the shell on its back and flying off. “What was that thing?” Twilight asked, already suspecting the answer. “No idea,” Applejack said as she moved on to another tree. “Darn things just started showin' up, reckon this has somethin’ ta do with Pinkie’s doozy so they can’t be anything good.” This time when she kicked the tree something fell out immediately, a black bug with a golden mask covering its face shot out and would have been missed entirely had it not paused to peer at the ponies before flying off, and a green creature with no arms, no legs, and, from what was visible, no mouth, fell to the ground with a thud. “Metapod.” It announced drearily, not even moving. “Not again.” Applejack said, tying one end of her lasso to it and shouting. “Mac, ah got another one of them pod things, ah’m gonna put it with the others and check on the girls.” “Applejack wait.” Twilight said as she raced after her friend, Spike and Fluttershy following. “Sorry Twi, ah can’t really talk right now, got a bit of an emergency goin’ on.” “I can see that, but we really need to figure out what’s going on,” She explained. “Especially what’s with these creatures and what crashed in the Everfree.” “Well ah don’t know what’s up with the Everfree, but these critters,” She pointed at the Metapod she was dragging behind her. “Ain't nothin but trouble, you have any idea how many of those things we've found on the propert-” For the first time Applejack noticed the Togepi and Cubone on Fluttershy’s back, and she was none too happy about it. “Shy,” She said, a cold tone creeping into her voice. “What are those things?” “Oh, this is Togepi and this is Cubone, they’re my new pets.” Applejack shook her head and sighed. “Shy, ah don’t think you should be keepin’ those things, if they have somethin to do with whatever crashed... then they're probably not safe.” "W-what? No, they’re perfectly safe, I mean, how could anything this cute and sweet be dangerous?” She nuzzled the little Pokemon, eliciting a giggly response from both. “Cubone!” “Togepi!” Applejack just said. “That’s what you said ‘bout the parasprites.” Fluttershy fell silent and, while she didn’t like it, Twilight had to agree with Applejack, these creatures' sudden appearance coinciding with the crash couldn’t be a coincidence and, if it came to light that these things, cute they may be, were dangerous, then they would have to be rounded up and... Twilight hoped it didn’t get to and. As the group arrived at the barn Applejack opened the door and revealed the occupants, at least three more Metapods lay scattered around the room, and another two were somehow in the rafters, no less than five yellow limbless creatures covered in some kind of plated exoskeleton leaned against the wall and, in one of the corners near a window, a group of purple and white spiked balls sat piled atop each other in a pyramid. “What are these things... doing here?” Twilight asked, deciding to get an answer other than ‘I don’t know’ at the last second. “Like ah said,” Applejack explained. “We’ve been at this all day, and these things can’t run off so we’ve been puttin’ em here ‘til we can figure out what ta do with ‘em.” Applejack put the newest addition to the barn on top of a barrel near the door. “Now ah just have ta check on the girls and then ah gotta get back ta work” “But Applejack,” Twilight pleaded, following her friend. “We have to talk about this, I already called a meeting and everything.” “Look Twi,” Applejack said, pushing open the door to her home. “Ah understand that ya want ta do somethin’ but whenever Pinkie Pie is involved ah find that it’s best just ta handle things at home, besides whatever crashed crashed in the Everfree so it ain’t really are pro-” Applejack stopped and looked around the room. “Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo? Where ya at girls?” When no answer came Applejack groaned and ran upstairs, leaving Twilight and Spike alone in the living room “Wait,” Twilight said worriedly. “Where’s Fluttershy?” “Calm down Twilight, Fluttershy’s back at the barn, she said she wanted to talk with whatever those things were.” Spike explained. Not a moment later Applejack ran back downstairs. “Ah can’t find the girls.” She said, worry in her voice. “Ah think they went after whatever crashed.” “What!” Twilight exclaimed. “Why would they do that?” Applejack stared at her friend blankly. “Why do those fillies do anything?” Twilight face-hoofed and said. “Cutie marks.” “Exactly, now come on, ah think ah know which way they’re goin’.” Applejack pushed past Twilight and ran out the door, Twilight picked Spike up and put him on her back before rushing after her. Applejack ran towards the part of the farm where the Everfree met the orchard and was solely focused on finding her little sister and the others. She was so into her focus that she almost missed a familiar voice next to her asking. “Hey AJ, where’s the fire?” Applejack turned her head and saw Rainbow Dash flying next to her. “Not now Dash.” She said. “We’re in the middle of an emergency.” She looked down and finished quietly. “The girls are missin’.” Dash’s eyes went wide and she shouted. “What!?” Applejack shook her head and said. “Ah think they went to investigate whatever crashed.” “That’s why I’m here,” Dash explained “Pinkie told me to meet Twilight here about that and then she went to get Rarity. I was heading to your place when I heard you running this way.” “Well ah’m glad yer here,” Applejack explained. “Ah could use some help findin’ the girls, ya think you could-” “Say no more,” Dash interrupted. “Search and rescue Dash is here!” She flew off towards the Everfree, leaving the others behind, and started searching for the Scootaloo and the other crusaders. She was searching for less than five minutes, skimming low over the tree tops, when she heard three shrill shrieks from just ahead of her and to her left. She altered her course and ducked into a small clearing where she saw two creatures standing in front of three little fillies who were being held in the air. “Hold on girls!” She shouted as she dive bombed the one with its hand out stretched towards the fillies and knocked it in the back of its head. “GAR!” “Gal!” Rainbow Dash ignored the creatures and grabbed Scootaloo, who immediately grabbed on to her big sister figure and was put through a mixture of comforting and scolding. “What were you thinking? You could have gotten hurt! I’m so glad you’re alright. Why would you worry me like that?” “Eh hem.” Rainbow Dash removed her attention from Scootaloo for a moment and turned back to the creatures and saw the more masculine one brandishing the blades on its arms towards her. “Gal Gallade.” It took a single step forward. And was then hit with a blast of purple energy. Gene’s eyes went wide and he cried. “SHIT!” As he flew backwards and hit a tree. Twilight Sparkle stepped out of the bushes with Spike on her back and Applejack behind her. “Stay away from them!” Belle stood up and looked at her partner, who was lying unconscious on the ground, then turned her attention to the ponies and Dragon. Anger blossomed in her and her eyes glowed blue, she again stretched her arm towards the group, lifting Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Applejack into the air, knocking Spike off of the Alcorn's back, and broadcasting her thoughts throughout the entire clearing. “You’re going to regret doing that.” Twilight’s jaw dropped open and she shouted. “You can talk!?” In surprise and confusion. “Yes, I can talk,” She spat. "Now, quiet while I tear into your minds." “Wait, what?!” Rainbow shouted. Belle pulled Rainbow Dash closer to her and stared right into her eyes. “What did you think was going to happen?” She pointed the floating ponies toward Gene’s still unconscious body. “You attacked me and my mate.” “P-please.” Twilight begged. “We didn’t know you could talk.” “I thought the girls were in danger.” Dash added. Belle put Rainbow back with the others and looked over them. “You swear you were just trying to protect your young?” She asked. “Technically they’re not our kids but yeah.” Twilight explained, Applejack and Rainbow shot glares at her. Belle sighed and set the ponies back on the ground next to the cowering crusaders and baby Dragon. “Apologies,” She said begrudgedly, walking over to Gene and placing a hand on his forehead, focusing her powers and pulling him back to consciousness. “I was merely-Gahh!” Belle slammed into the tree as a powerful force rammed into her from behind. “That’s for scarin’ my sister and threatening my friends.” Applejack said, standing over the now unconscious Gardevoir. Unfortunately for the mare, not all the Pokemon were unconscious. Gene’s eyes blinked open and he, seeing Applejack standing threateningly over his unconscious beloved, did what, in the medical world is known as, snapped. “GET AWAY FROM HER!” He screamed, activating his mental powers for the first time. Applejack was suddenly shoved backwards by an immense amount of psychic force. Gene stood himself up and stared hatefully towards the startled Earth Pony. Applejack, seeing how dire the situation was, attempted to run back to her friends. She was interrupted when Gene whispered. “Stop.” And shot forward grabbing the mare and using one of his blades to pin her against a tree. “Now then, give me one good reason why I shouldn’t-” “Enough!” Gene and Applejack both turned to see Twilight’s horn light up, then they were surrounded by a purple glow and lifted into the air. “Now that I have your attention,” She turned towards Applejack and said. “First off, you don’t attack ponies... or whatever they are, when they’re explaining themselves.” She turned towards Gene and said. “And you. Don’t. Hurt. My. Friends. Ever. Do we understand each other?” Applejack sighed and begrudgedly mumbled. “Yes.” Gene rolled his eyes and said. “Gallade.” Having lost control of his powers as his anger faded. When the ponies started giving him odd looks he quickly nodded his affirmative. “Good, now I’m going to put you down.” She pointed one hoof towards Applejack. “You get over there and comfort your sister,” She pointed to Gene. “And you get over there and check on your wife.” “We’re not married.” He said, knowing they wouldn’t understand him anyway. Twilight placed the Pony and the Pokemon on the ground and they ran over to their respective family members. Apple Bloom ran up to her sister and buried herself in a hug. Gene knelt down next to Belle and held her tenderly. “Are you alright?” He asked as he placed a hand on her cheek. Belle’s hand weakly grasped his and her eyes fluttered open. “Now that you're here.” She whispered weakly, a small smile blooming in her face. Gene smiled and pulled her closer. “Don’t scare me like that.” Belle broke the embrace and pushed herself upright. “What happened?” She asked, looking around. “The orange Ponyta thing kicked you.” He explained. “But don’t attack her, the purple one’s apparently a Psychic, and really powerful at that." Belle turned to the group and asked. “Do we know anything about them yet?” She looked around the clearing. “Or where we are?” “Not yet,” He answered. “But I think we should go find out.” He pulled his partner to her feet and the two walked over to the ponies. “That’s close enough.” Applejack said, glaring at them. “Well,” Belle said, expanding her psychic field over the entire group. “She seems a bit high strung.” “Hey!” Applejack shouted. Rainbow Dash snickered but stopped when her friend glared at her. “What do ya want anyway?” “Applejack...” Twilight said warningly. “We just want to talk,” Gene explained. “Maybe figure out what’s going on if we can.” “Oh thank Celestia.” Twilight sighed. “Finally, somepony with an explanation.” She looked expectantly at the pair with a slightly off putting smile. “Oh,” Gene stammered. “Um, sorry to disappoint you miss...”      “Princess Twilight Sparkle, at your service.” She answered. “Well... Princess,” Gene continued. “Sorry to disappoint you but we have no idea what’s going on here. We don’t even know where we are.” “Ugggg.” Twilight groaned, she thought she had finally found an answer. “Well can you at least tell me who you are?” She looked over the beings in front of her. “Or what you are?” “I’m Belle,” She answered. “A Gardevoir, and this handsome Gallade here.” She kissed Gene on the cheek. “Is Gene.” Twilight was about to ask another question but was interrupted when Applejack rudely asked. “Could ya’ll stop doin’ that? Ah don’t like hearin’ ya in my mind.” Gene and Belle looked at each other and smiled deviously. “Sorry, is this better?” Gene asked. Which, to the ponies, came out as. “Gallade, Gal Gal Gallade?” “Excuse me?” Rainbow asked, confused. “You’d rather us talk. Well, we’re talking.” Belle explained. “Garde. Gar Gardevoir.” Was what they heard. “Huh?” Twilight was developing a slight twitch in her right eye. “You can’t understand us when we talk.” Belle explained. “Which is why we’re communicating like this.” “Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?” Twilight asked. “Because then we would’ve missed the looks on your faces.” Gene said, smiling. Applejack just glared at the Pokemon. Tension rose in the clearing and an awkward silence fell between the groups. “Anyway,” Rainbow Dash said, breaking the silence. “What were you doing with the girls?” Suspicion creeping into her voice. “They interrupted-” Belle stopped herself before she got any farther. “I mean, we were trying to talk with them.” “Wait, what were you saying before?” Applejack asked with suspicion. “That is between me and my mate.” She explained, accentuating the last word to get her point across. It worked. Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight’s eyes went wide and they all blushed. Scootaloo had been quiet throughout the ordeal, partially from fear and partially from not wanting to draw attention to herself, finally she couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer. “What does she mean by that Dash?” “Well Scoots you see... dangit you two!” She shouted at the Pokemon. Gene shrugged and said. “You asked.”  Twilight shook her head and sighed. “Ok, no more jokes and no more,” She shivered. “Personal questions, I just want to know what’s going on and where you two came from.” “Ask away and I’ll try to oblige.” Belle said. “Alright, where did you come from?” “The Kalos region,” Gene said. Twilight looked at them quizzically. “Where’s that?” Belle and Gene looked at each other. “Umm, that’s a bit difficult to answer. Where are we anyway? Hoenn? Sinnoh? Unova? Kanto? Oblivia maybe? It's definitely not Orre.” Gene asked. Twilight stared blankly at them. “Equestria. We’re in Equestria.” “Where’s that?” Belle asked. “I don’t know how to answer that.” Twilight said. “Oh come on!” Rainbow shouted. “Where on Equus did you two come from?!” “Equus?” Gene asked, confused. “What’s Equus?” “The planet is Equus and... oh Celestia.” Twilight’s eyes went wide as a realization hit her. “You two aren’t from this planet.” “Oh Arceus!” Gene cried. “You mean we’re not on Earth anymore? How is that even possible?” “Told you it was aliens!” Scootaloo gloated. “How can you not know how ya got here?” Applejack asked, still suspicious of the Pokemon. “Don’t you need a spaceship or somethin’?” “Maybe that’s what crashed.” Spike guessed. Belle shook her head. “No, we don’t have a spaceship,” “But I know some Beheeyem might.” Gene interrupted. “And we just woke up here, in this clearing.” Belle finished. “What’s a Beheeyem?” Apple Bloom asked, interrupting any questions from the adults. “Another type of Pokémon,” Gene explained. “Kind of annoying actually, they’ve been known to abduct people and Pokémon, don’t actually cause any real trouble though.” “Pokémon?” Everyone in the group asked. What’s a Pokémon?” Twilight inquired. “You’re kidding right?” Gene asked. “How can you not know what a Pokémon is?” “Different world, remember?” Twilight said. “Just humor me.” “Well,” Gene started. “Pokémon are... it’s like, uh, huh, I never actually had to explain this before, Belle’s a Pokémon, and so am I...now. But Pokémon come in every shape and size, some of them are actually very similar to you.” “So, like animals?” Rainbow asked. Belle gritted her teeth. "No," She stated coldly. "Pokémon are NOT animals." The ponies all backed away slightly as the temperature seemed to drop. "What gives?" Rainbow Dash asked. Gene placed a hand on Belle's shoulder, the two shared a glance and Belle seemed to calm down significantly. "Calling a Pokémon an animal is... well, I suppose like calling you animals, it's an insult to their intelligence." "Oh, huh, sorry." Dash said sheepishly. Twilight took a deep breath and began again. “Ok, this is getting us nowhere.” Twilight complained. “Your world and our world are apparently really different in terms of life so comparing them is useless. Let’s just head back to Sweet Apple Acres and I’ll send a letter to the princesses asking for help.” “Wait, you're not bringin' those things back to the farm!” Applejack cried. “They’re obviously dangerous, ah mean that one has swords on its arms.” Gene did his best to hide his blades behind his back. “I wonder what they’d do if they saw a Scyther.” Gene said solely to Belle through their psychic link. He noticed his hat on the ground and picked it up, he brushed it off and placed it back on his head, maneuvering it over the spike that topped his new form. Belle smiled and then, to the group before her, said. “Well you’re welcome to stand out here in the woods and ask us questions if you want.” “Applejack...” Twilight whined, wanting to actually get some answers. “Fine.” She said begrudgedly. “But ah want you two where ah can see ya at all times.” “Fine.” Gene and Belle pushed ahead of the poniesp but stopped and turned back. “Which way is this farm?” Rainbow Dash volunteered to go ahead and lead the Pokemon back so that Applejack could glare at them from behind. Without the necessity to answer everypony’s questions Belle set her mental link just to herself and Gene. “Any ideas?” She asked Gene as they discussed the ponies. “Well they seem to be elementally inclined.” He explained. “Like I said, I think Princess Twilight is a Psychic-Type and the wings would imply Flying, I’d bet Rainbow Dash is at least part Fighting and again Flying.” “How about Applejack?” Belle nodded toward the mare still watching them from behind. Gene thought for a moment and said. “She could be Fighting, or Normal, or Ground or some combination there of.” He had always been good at figuring out Pokemon, and people, by watching them and how they acted. “The little Dragon is, well, a Dragon, but he looks about as dangerous as Dratini.” Gene wasn’t doubting Spike’s power, actually he was overestimating it, he had trained a Dratini and knew what they were capable of. "Well what about the-" “Protect the hive!” Gene and Belle turned towards a thick grouping of trees and ducked just as something was blasted over their heads. “What the hay!” Applejack and the others ran towards the clearing. “What was that?” Belle asked, looking towards where the creature had disappeared. “I think we’d better find out.” The partners ran after the ponies and entered the clearing to see a large red stallion surrounded by dozens of buzzing bugs, none of them daring to attack as the stallion was currently threatening a much larger being at the center of the congregation, a being who was quite obviously the queen.