I lay awake on the couch, unable to sleep. I got so far. Today... it was the day my ultimate dream came true, but was torn from my grasp at the dawn of my achievement. I was about to become a trainer, but I wasn’t. True that lie detector should clarify things and legalize me, but to have it be so close, and then denied right to my face.
I felt crushed, I need that license. Here in this world, it’s all I want. Heck, even back home it was something I wanted. I grew up and accepted the facts behind the fiction. Joined message boards, scoured theory sites and offered my two cents, a loyal fan since I was old enough to hold a Gameboy!
And here I am, living in the Pokémon world... but denied a trainer’s license. That was it, wasn’t it? We all wanted to live in the world, but nobody ever specifically wished to be a legal, licensed trainer. We just assumed eligibility upon entrance. At twenty-two years old, I was still a child, blinded by my dreams.
But they might come true after all! Even if it means accepting the fact that my powers have been dumbed down to nothing... I’ve dealt with it. Sure I knew the toxin would work it’s way out and was patient until I got them back... but if this dream comes true... if I get my license and become a trainer... I’d give up my powers for good in a heartbeat if I had to!
I was aware of the dangers, much more than just a simple roadblock requiring a certain HM. No, there were actual dangers... but I’m prepared, I know I am! Mentally at least. I just need to wait through this night. Just have to make it until morning, and then I just have to tell the blatantly-obvious truth and I walk out of here, one step closer to victory.
I just can’t sleep though. My mind racing between the results of me getting my license or being denied it once and for all. It just irritates me so much that I get up off the couch. I walk back into the lab room and see the little Pokémon dispenser, locked up of course. But then something else catches my eye. A small box with some Pokéballs in it.
I just instinctively reach my shaky hand into the box and pull out one of the tiny orbs. I press the button as before, and the ball enlarges. I feel the shiny metallic sphere in my hands. It just feels so... satisfying. Even if I know it’s empty, I just... I need this.
I know I can’t miss this chance to prove my dreams to be fruitful, not just the hopeless wish of a child in a grown man’s body.
This is it. Tomorrow, I turn a wish of thousands... into the reality of one. I look out a window, half expecting to see the sun peeking up from the ground, but it is still pitch black out. What time is it? I look at a clock.
9:00 PM!? This night will last forever... hanging my head, I return the pokéball to the box and go back to the couch to at least attempt to sleep.
I’m not sure if I fell asleep or just zoned out, but I suddenly snap back to reality. Yep, still on the couch, everything’s the same. I look out the window again and this time I see the sunrise just barely visible. A thought enters my mind.
I get up and go into the guest room. I gently nudge the sleeping Twilight, back to a unicorn once more. She grunts and sits up groggily. “Mnn?”
“Twilight.” I whisper. “You need to see this!”
I don’t get much in response other than another confused grunt, so I pick Twilight up and carry her back to the couch and put her in front of the window. “Look at that, Twilight!”
Her face is scrunched up and she opens her eyes blearily, and mumbles in response. “It’s the sunrise...”
“Yep.” I say. “And not a single alicorn around telling it to move.”
That gets her attention, and she looks back at the sunrise, as if seeing one for the first time. She just mouths out a ‘wow’ and I chuckle.
“A new day is upon us, and it arrives on it’s own, no force pushing it forward except nature itself. This is why I was skeptical of your princesses controlling the day and night cycle. Here you can clearly see what I’ve seen all my life: The sun and moon doing their special dance without anyone telling them which steps are right. They just... do.”
Twilight is rather wordless still, but I feel like piling on more sappy garbage. “This is nature, and nature alone, the guide of all things large and small. No matter where you come from, nature created everything: Humans, Ponies, and Pokémon alike.”
I lean back on the couch and stare up at the ceiling. “And today, after one more final test, as simple as telling the truth, we will end up in the middle of it. Practically every path open to us, the whole world itself an open book, and we choose the story. Whether it be a drama, an adventure, or a horror is unknown, but... I don’t care. The question is, are you willing to open the book?”
Twilight flashes me a knowing smile. “I will always be ready to open another book. And you’re right. This world is difficult and dangerous, but I must admit... battling like that, I don’t know what it is, but I just... liked it. Maybe not the fighting itself, but... something else about it. You could have talked my ear off about these creatures for days on end, but I doubt that it would ever compare to the experience.”
“Books are important, and knowledge may be the sharpest weapon you can have in this world, but nothing will compare to experience. And you know what I like most about pokémon in the practical sense?”
“What’s that?”
“All the thinking! Calculations, strategies, predictions, unforeseen variables... No matter how much you know, there will be more to learn. And these are more than just grades on an exam. Here, your mental strength, as well as the connection you have with your pokémon can determine victory or defeat.”
Twilight chuckles. “Careful about your wording Anthony, I think you just admitted that friendship is magic!” She playfully pokes me in the chest.
I grin. “Pay attention, Twilight. I’m gonna tell you about a move called Return...”
I’ve been spending the past half hour questioning Twilight on what she knows about the rules of being a trainer, as there weren’t as many as I thought in the exam.
“For whatever reason, you and another trainer are in an argument over something, and he challenges you to a battle, stating that whoever wins the battle will win the argument. Is this legal?”
“No. Pokémon are not tools of war, and using them to fight your personal battles is a violation of the rights of your pokémon.”
“The League rules dictate that pokémon can only use four moves during a battle, despite them being able to access anything in their movepool under normal circumstances. Why is this?”
“For... uh... balance! So that a trainer using a pokémon with a smaller movepool won’t be at an unfair disadvantage.”
Heh, she’s doing pretty good. Guess all those morals help. Time for a tougher one.
“You see an injured pokémon lying on the road, and it is unfit for battle, are you allowed to catch it, knowing that the pokémon will be unable to resist capture?”
“No, that is another violation of the pokémon’s rights. You should help it in any way possible. That was on the test! I passed, remember?”
I nod my head and continue. “And what if you cannot offer the assistance it needs, and the only option you have to help it is to capture it and bring it to a Pokémon Center, since the injured pokémon will be safe inside the pokéball until they are given proper medical treatment?”
Twilight is a bit shocked, this obviously not something she thought of, and releasing pokémon had never been brought up aside from if the pokémon was legally taken from an irresponsible trainer.
“Well... Uh... I...” Her ears go flat, unable to come up with anything. “I don’t know...”
“And that’s what I’m here for, Twilight.” I scratch her ears, and they perk up. No matter how many times she says she hates it, I know she likes it just as much as any pony. “You can capture the pokémon, but you must inform the medical staff present of the nature of the capture. Once the pokémon is healthy, it gets to choose whether to stay with you or be released.”
Twilight nods in understanding. “Alright, I think I understand the rules. Anything else?”
“Yeah, there is. Next is one of my favorites, the Pokédex...”
We spent the rest of the time discussing things about this world, among other things. The idea of the Pokédex was her favorite though. An entire bestiary, that would span hundreds of yards of parchment just to write down... in your pocket. That can talk to you.
I was gonna quiz her on type combinations when dealing with dual-type Pokémon, but it seems that we’ve been doing this long enough for the others to consider it ‘morning,’ as Rarity walks in. Blinking in confusion, I see that her mane is a terrifying birds-nest of bedheaded horror. As well, her lidded, bloodshot stare is more terrifying than anything I’ve ever encountered before, as she trudges, zombie-like, towards the kitchen. I hear something about ‘there will be coffee or blood’ before she’s too far out of earshot for me to hear anything more.
Twilight chuckles. “Oh, Rarity. She’s always like this in the mornings.”
I give a nervous glance towards the kitchen then turn back to Twilight. “Uh huh... anyway, I guess we can continue this later. Though I am surprised, nobody has been able to listen to me talk about Pokémon and such for so long and retain all the knowledge. Guess I’ll have to beat you in skill rather than smarts.” I give her my usual cocky grin. “An easy task if I consider your battle with the professor yesterday.”
“Hey!” Twilight says, grinning back.
A few minutes later, Rarity steps out of the kitchen, her mane fixed and an orb of coffee floating in her magical grasp. When she sees my look of interest in her method of coffee carrying, she responds simply with, “I couldn’t find the mugs, and this is more dignified than drinking from the pot.” Makes sense.
“Eh, my mom drinks it from a bowl. But then, it’s more like hot chocolate with coffee in it. So, I guess we’re waiting on this friend of the professor’s. I want to be able to walk into a Pokémart and buy a ball without getting arrested.”
Speaking of, the professor comes down the stairs next, wearing what I first assume is a labcoat, until I see that it’s just a white bathrobe being worn the same way. As well, she’s wearing a set of lightning-bolts-and-raichu-and-voltorb pajamas that make me very jealous. It’s a full footie-pajama set in size adult, and it’s not fair I don’t have some.
“Morning, so I’d like to meet this friend of yours. I’d rather not have to be considered a possible criminal, considering this would be the first time in my twenty-two years I’ve ever gotten a criminal record. From anywhere.”
The woman shrugs, not looking fully awake yet. She takes a few sniffs of the air, before marching listlessly towards the kitchen. Like an echo out of time, I hear something about ‘if someone drank all the coffee, there’s going to be blood’. Eerie.
“Oooooookay then. Waitaminute.” I look over at Twilight, recalling my first night in Ponyville, and Twilight being a total bed-headed prick. “Why are you a morning person all of a sudden?”
Twi shrugs. “I’m not, but I wasn’t just asleep. It’d be different if I was just getting up, but... as it is, I’m as lively as I’ll be. I’ve gone longer without good sleep, you know.”
“I’ll bet you were one big pain during that. Or just completely insane. Anyhow, when the coffee addicts finally have their morning fix and we’re in the clear, I want to get us prepared for our little adventure.”
“Prepare how?” Twi asks, tilting her head. “It can’t be too far from town to town, right?”
I can’t help but chuckle at that. “I have no idea what this place looks like geographically. It could be hours, it could be a week. Who knows, we may have to cross water to get to the next destination. That, and I also mean things like adventuring gear and such.”
“But we have our saddlebags-”
“Which you can’t carry when you’re a human. We need to get backpacks for everyone, and clothes for dealing with varied weather conditions. Rain, wind, cold, drought, that stuff. Not only is the weather unpredictable, but there are Pokémon out there who can mess with the weather just for the heck of it.”
“Like pegasi?”
“Sure. If they were more animalistic, had no orderly schedule, and could change more than just a few clouds. There’s a Pokémon who can just make a place cycle through searing heat and pouring rain to driving hail... in seconds. That’s it’s main defining power. Absolute weather manipulation.”
Twilight looks aghast, and Rarity shifts in the seat she’s on. Several moments of silence follow, until Professor Basswood walks in from the kitchen, a large mug with ‘World’s Best Grandma’ printed on the side in her hands.
“Alright, he said he’d be here at ten AM sharp, and the couch is his favorite spot. As such, you need to move over a little, Twilight, telefragging is a real thing.” Twilight’s eyes widen at Basswood’s comment, and she hurriedly hops off the couch and moves to the next chair over. I take a moment to shift away as well, when I remember what the trope ‘telefrag’ refers to.
And, at precisely 10:00am, a bright, light-pink flash emanated from the spot next to me, and materialized into the form of...
A mega Alakazam!? Well damn, this is a pretty awesome morning already! I don’t really know what to say so... I just introduce the species to my pony companions. “This is a, uh... an Alakazam. Mega Evolved. They’re, like, the smartest Pokémon recorded thus far... Yeah...”
<<Thank you for the introduction. My name is #$↑!%↑↓#↓@←$^→%←*&→^&ᵦ@*t, though you cannot truly comprehend it. You may call me Ego, as that is the name I was given when I began to journey with the Professor.>>
“Heh, yeah, telepathy is a thing here. You may have your fancy magic, but when you have powers that are developed from sheer power of the mind, I’d say that’s cooler than casting spells.”
<<Magic does exist in this world, though much of it has retreated from the places man has settled. On to the problem at hand... you have made claim that you come from another world, and that this is the reason you do not appear in the national registry. I will ask you a series of questions, and divine the truth from them.>>
“Well then fire away. I got nothing to hide. I don’t think the ponies do either. Heck, they’re such straight arrows I doubt they’d be able to lie for their lives.”
<<Very well. First, a series of questions to determine truth and lie in your mind. Tell truth: what is the Professor’s name?>>
“Professor Basswood.”
<<Good. Now, tell a lie: what is the Professor’s name?>>
“Captain Galarzabaselisa of the giant space-fleas..”
Something like a snicker echoed across the telepathic connection, and the professor narrows her eyes at me. <<Now, tell a partial truth, of your choosing.>>
Time to mind-fuck the ponies. “My name is Anthony.”
<<Interesting... technically true, but not true. Most people have no answer for that one. On to the determining questions. Are your companions pokémon?>>
“Pffft, they wish. You wouldn’t believe the whooping Twi got from a Rattata! A Rattata!”
<<Those are vicious creatures! Do not mock them.>> Ego says, looking at me. <<Ahem, sorry. Next question, are you from earth?>>
“Yeah. My Earth.”
<<Your earth? Please explain further.>>
“Oh please, don’t tell me someone like you has never heard of the multiple universe theory? I’m assuming Terra where the ponies live is an alternate earth, and this one is another alternate. For one, you do call this planet we’re on, ‘Earth’ don’t you?”
<<Yes, hence the question. And I am aware of the many worlds, though most are not named the same as here. However, before I allow my curiosity to get the best of me, I must continue these questions. Are your friends from another world? You answered this indirectly, but it must be given a direct answer.>>
“Oh yeah. And boy what a world. Don’t get me started on their idea of what ‘technology’ is.”
<<There will be no need to further agitate your companions. The next question is both simple and complex; What do you intend to do, once you have become a pokémon trainer?>>
“Travel around, capture Pokémon, learn things about them I don’t know yet, and look badass doing all of it.”
<<That is not the full answer, and you know it. Please, explain in full.>>
“Okay, okay, I wanna be the best trainer ever, and have the strongest team beyond anyone else and become the champion for ever and ever. But that’s pretty much on everyone’s agenda, isn’t it?”
<<No, but I understand. You’re almost done with the questions, though. Have you ever committed or aided in a crime, in any world you’ve been in? If so, what was the nature and reason for the crime?>>
“I suppose I have. The crimes were mostly minimal though. Petty thievery is probably the worst I can come up with. I’ve committed assault, but served my time for it and the act was done with good intentions, knowing full well the target would make a complete recovery within a couple days.”
<<Hmm... you will need to be less... violent in the future. However, your reasoning has been sound, and I can sense your regret over causing the injuries.>>
From behind me, I hear a sigh, and prof. Basswood speaks up. “Alright, I guess... well, I suppose you can get your license, though I’ll have to speak with the officers to get you input into the system. It’s a good thing they’ve got that one guy, the one with a Rotom, on the force. He’s really good at getting electronic stuff filed quickly.”
“Alright, so in the meantime... I think Twilight’s the only one here without a starter or a plan for not having one.”
<<I have things to get done- but I wish you luck on your journey, Anthony. As for the young ponies, I would suggest donning your human personas, as there is someone arriving with the next shipment of starters. Farewell.>> And with that, the Alakazam disappeared in a flash of pale pink light.
“New shipments huh?” I think for a bit. “Nah, I’ll stick to my plan. I’ll catch something myself. Feels a bit more satisfying if you earn your first rather than just taking one.”
Twilight and Rarity change while I muse, and the professor begins shuffling around. I catch a glimpse of pink, and realize she’s wearing Wigglytuff slippers. that is so far beyond ‘unfair’... I want a pair of them, now.
When the girls are done and the new shipment has arrived, I wait as Twilight looks over her options, mumbling to herself about what information she can glean just by looking at them. Rarity is sitting on the couch by me, petting a very happy-looking Ledyba.
“Come on, Twi. It’s not like those starters are gonna be that different from one another unless you pick one and raise it.”
“Well... I guess, then, I’ll... uhm...” Twilight sighs, inhales deeply, then looks back at the list. “Fine, a Tepig it is. They look cute, anyways.” I snicker, aware of what their evolutionary forms look like. That pony picked a cutie, and is gonna end up with a wrestler. This oughta be fun.
I walk over to appraise her choice. “Not a bad pick. I’m kinda partial to Grass types, but to each their own I guess.”
“Well, I suppose I’ll do just fine. After all, from what I read, most fire-types are pretty capable in a fight and useful in day-to-day things as well.” Twilight smiles at her reasoning. “And it’s cute, so that’s another plus.”
I sigh, grinning. Yep, they all are when they’re young. Then they get older and end up cool. Or pretty. Or more cute. Damn, forgot just how many there are out there for a sec. I turn to Rarity. “So, while Twi gets her Pokémon, you wanna do a bit of shopping to prepare for the adventure of a lifetime?”
“Ooh! I never took you as one for shopping, and I’m sure you can help me figure out what I’ll need. And I’ll make sure you get an outfit that looks truly amazing!”
“Yeah, normally I’m not, but in this world where you need to buy things to keep your Pokémon healthy and well when there’s no other option for another five miles... Shopping becomes important for your safety and that of your friends.”
“Hmm, very well then. And we can find new clothes!” she gestures at the tasteful, though rather flattering, blue dress she’s wearing. “While I’m sure this dress will be plentifully in fashion once I’ve worn it, I’d rather blend in at first. I’ll make my big statements in fashion once I know more about how this world flows. Now, onwards, to the market!”
With that we get up and leave, expecting Twilight to catch up later, and we make our first stop. The clothing store. Figuring I need an outfit that is light but effective, I pick out some clothes that resemble the typical ‘Gold’ look. Rarity deciding I’d look much better with a blue jacket, I make the change for the sake of keeping it a bit different. Also, I’m not wearing shorts, using some pants with more than enough pockets to carry smaller items.
Rarity selects a nice beret with a pokéball-style design on it, a tasteful scarf, and puts together a rather elegant and impressive outfit with minimal effort. She also decides to get an outfit for Twilight, and we buy a labcoat for her as well, just because it entertains us. It’s always good when the fashion person gets the clothing joke.
Our next stop is the Pokémart... when I realize that we haven’t actually gotten our licenses yet. I bemoan my shortsightedness and we begin to trek back to the lab. About halfway there, Twilight runs into us, drawing stares the way Rarity did. Those dresses may have been a bit revealing, now that I think about it... anyways, Twilight holds out a pair of small, plastic cards, just like ID cards... and it’s our licenses!
After that wonderful coincidence, we show Twilight her clothes. Holding up the labcoat, her eyes start to water.
“What? It’s not torn or anything is it?” I pick up one end to inspect it, but I don’t see any issues with it at all.
“It- it’s amazing! Thank you!” she launches herself at me, glomping me hard enough to almost send us sprawling. Instead, it only thuds me painfully to the wall I’m standing near. Ow. She’s hugging me hard enough I can barely breathe, and I can see several jealous looks from the guys in the crowd. Heh, if they knew...
“Alright Twilight, I know I’m awesome, now come on. We need to get some actual gear, not just clothes.” I jab my thumb behind me, pointing towards the Pokémart.
“Oh, right, sorry.” she gently disengages, looking embarrassed. Stifling a chuckle at her expense, I lead her inside the store, her clothes still draped over her arm after she shrugged on the coat. Now I just need to find some big, dark-lensed mad scientist goggles...
But first, I need some balls. Literally. And a few potions, maybe a TM or two. I go over to some of the shelves to check out the merchandise available. I pick up eleven normal Pokéballs, not entirely enthused they had no specialty balls or even a Great ball available. Oh well, guess that removes TMs too, now that I think of it. Gonna have to hit a mall later for energy drinks too. I can get a few potions as well, so I should be set.
After looking over everything I want, and putting them in a basket, I come to a rather pertinent realization: I have no way to carry all of this, and Rarity and Twilight are currently carrying their bags with them, but those are heavy.
Looking at the aisles, I see no bags, until I get to the front of the ‘mart. On display, in the big glass counter, is a series of bags in several colors. Each is a satchel-style bag, and a tablet-style device in a similar color combo and design is presented with it. And, they’re marketed as ‘only’ 50,000 poké each! Holy shit, that’s more than we’ve spent between us today...
I pass my items to Rarity and ask for a bit so I can go to another store and get us some more practical bags. I do not want to blow a ton of cash on just bags.
The store owner overhears this and chuckles. “Oh, you are too funny, young trainer. These’re on sale! Nobody makes hyper-compression bags like these around here. And, they come with an éTech already synced, so you can manage your gear from your device at a moment’s notice!”
Okay, that’s different. “Okay... I guess that would excuse the price. Alright, guess we’ll be taking three, then.” I look over the available selections and I pick out a green one for myself, and Twilight takes a white-and-gray one, to match her new coat. Rarity requests a sky-blue and royal purple bag that matches her new outfit, of course.
When I’ve described the importance of what items the girls will need as well and we’re all done shopping... for what the store has available. Would it kill them to stock a Burn Heal? I’m sure that not having one will bite me in the rear later. Oh well. With the bare basics of required items paid for, we leave the Mart. On the way out, the storekeeper stops us and hands us each a shiny, solid-white ball with a red divider. We each got a premiere ball! I totally forgot these things get handed out for big purchases.
As we step out, I stretch. The new bag is incredibly comfortable, and the outfit is nice, too. I jump back as someone shouts more or less into my ear.
“Hey, buddy, you seem like a big spender! Why don’t you get yourself an amazing pokémon, right here!” The man, dark of hair and with a very faint moustache on his upper lip, gestures down at a tank full of fish pokémon... mostly Magikarp.
“It’s simple, you take this net,” he shows me the net, about the right size to catch anything in the normal range of basic-stage fish pokémon, “and simply take the first pokémon you can out! Every one of ‘em is a winner, but there’s a few special ones in there!” As if to accent his declaration, a shimmering, golden-hued Magikarp surfaced for a moment for a few crumbs, then sunk again.
“I’ll say!” I exclaim, humoring the guy. “You’ve got a tank full of baby sea-monsters right here. Any one of these could become a Gyarados. How much for one go?” Twilight and Rarity look at each other in confusion.
“Heh, you sure know a lot about these guys. 500 poké, and it’s until you get something. My uncle used to just sell ‘em, but he always gave out the weak ones. I’ve been pampering these guys, but it’s slowed their growth.”
“Deal! Hey Rarity, you’re pretty good at getting fine details. Why don’t you try and get one?”
“Well, I don’t know Anthony. They all look so... tacky.” One of the Magikarp has enough in it to give her the stink-eye in passing.
“Well, sure they don’t look like much, but beauty is only skin deep right? Give it a go, you might get something good. We don’t know what is in there, just the majority. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?” I do my best to hold back a snicker. I’m as slimy as this salesman, and it’s just fun!
“Well, alright.” The fashionista gingerly takes the net, and pokes it at the tank. In unison, the Magikarp flee the net, showing a truly impressive level of coordination for the normally pretty dull pokémon. Hmm... maybe this salesman is running a different con than the usual. Painted Finneon, maybe?
After several increasingly frustrated tries, Rarity concentrates so hard on nabbing one of the fishy pokémon that she actually topples over into the glass tank, and has to stand up, sputting.
Neither me nor the salesman can stop laughing, and even Twilight is suppressing a giggle as she helps Rarity up. The mare-turned-woman sputters and looks like she’s trying to cry through the water as she steps out of the pool, dragging the net limply with her. I stop laughing so much when I see what’s in the net: an ugly, bruise-purple fish, with an almost triangular hollow fin on its back, flopping weakly in the webbing.
“Wow Rarity, you caught a Feebas! Now that’s what I call a prize!” I say, clapping and laughing. “Congratulations!”
She just starts crying harder. “B- but it’s so uuugly!”
I put a hand on her shoulder. “Oh come on, look, I think it likes you!” the Feebas flops again. “Besides, just give it a chance, you never know what he can become with enough love.” I know exactly what that ugly piece of carp is gonna become, but for the sake of chiding Rarity, I’m gonna stay vague. Oh if only she knew this little guy’s secret...
Rarity just sniffles again, and numbly accepts the pokéball from the merchant. Impressively enough, it’s a Cherish Ball. That would be worth major points in a contest on top of the resulting Milotic. That gives me an idea. “Come on Rarity, you just got the best Pokémon a coordinator could have; In time, this little beauty will win you more contests than you’d imagine possible!”
Rarity doesn’t answer, so I just sigh and guide her away. The sun, at least, is helping dry her off, and she takes a moment in another store to change back to her blue dress until it does dry out. Twilight also changes, this time into her adventuring clothes. Though, she keeps the labcoat on. She really does like it, huh.
I walk over to Twilight and whisper to her. “Hey, can you keep a secret about Rarity’s prize?”
“Uh, depends on what the secret is. It’s not dangerous, is it?”
“Of course not. That thing really is a prize. In fact, Feebas are rather rare, and it’ll only be ugly for so long. Once Rarity tries to make it beautiful and accepts it as such, it will become absolutely amazing.”
“Wow, really? That’s actually... really amazing. Well... I hope she takes well to it; I don’t think she’s angry at the Feebas, really, I think she’s just reacting poorly because she fell in.”
“I hope so. Heck, some pokémon realize their true potential only when their bond with their trainer becomes so strong that it empowers them to a point where they reach a new level of strength. Return isn’t the only way friendship makes Pokémon incredibly powerful, you know.”
Twilight smiles, and Rarity rejoins us. I think it’s time, now.
Time for our journey to really start!
