//------------------------------// // A Single Step // Story: Equestria: A World We Must Defend // by LightOfTriumph //------------------------------// It was an awkward night. The two trainers went home, Twilight told them she would explain everything in the morning. Ace's mother was concerned and a little surprised at the sight of an Elekid accompanying her son home. She didn't object though. Sparks seemed to get along well with her Squirtle, so it was all good. Spark Plug made it clear that he had no use for the PokeBall. Ace figured he'd just be a free walker. He met up with Crystal outside of the lab. Her father was apparently livid. He didn't want her throwing herself into battles with criminals. Mostly however, he was just glad she was okay. They walked in to the Lab, and met with Professor Sparkle. "Well," she said after a moment. "Where do I begin?" "Your tragic backstory?" Ace blurted out. Crystal smacked him upside the head. Twilight smiled. "About ten years ago," she started. "I was involved in a project that was dubbed 'New Species'. We were taking a look at the genetic structure of a certain Pokemon." "New Species...," Crystal repeated. "You were looking at Mew?" Twilight nodded. "You've been reading the PokeDex," she said. "I'm proud of you. Yes, we were studying Mew. We had found a fossil that we thought belonged to it. I was running some tests when... I ran out of funding. Halfway through the research I couldn't continue. I was devistated. And then I was approached..." "Team Chaos...," Ace guessed. Twilight looked down. "I'm not proud of it," she said sadly. "I was desperate, young, and brash. For the next three years I worked for them. Until I discovered what my research led to... I saw a sin that could never be forgiven." "Excuse me," Ace spoke up. "But why were they here? Just to get you? There seemed to be more than that..." Twilight smiled. "The boss didn't take my resignation well," she sighed. "I had to run. And when I did I took my sin with me. I hid him somewhere where he could live his life in peace. I've spent the last five years rebuilding my life here." Crystal looked puzzled. "Forgive me, Professor," she began. "Team Chaos is a multimillion bit association. It has to be in order to fund your research. And assuming that the caliber of employee is more like Trixie, and less like Snips and Snails, they're a force to be reckoned with... You couldn't have gotten out of there without help..." "I didn't," Twilight said simply. From her expression that was all she was going to say. Ace considered all of the information given to him in the last five minutes. He wondered if it would change the way he looked at Twilight. She had been his mentor for most of his life. She taught him everything he knew about Pokemon. About life. And she had this shame in her past... And... And he didn't. He wasn't ashamed of anything. He wasn't proud of anything. Until last night and the battle with Snips and Snails, he had experienced nothing of note. His life had been fine, but basic. Devoid of any event or consequence. He had risked nothing. Hid nothing. Accomplished nothing. Tomorrow he would go home to his mother, wake up, go to bed and dream of nothing. What Twilight told him did change things. It changed the way he looked at Twilight. She had lived an incredible life. She had made mistakes, and when she realized it, when it mattered, she did the right thing. She had memories, good and bad. It was time Ace made his own. "Prof," Ace started. "Give me my Dex." "What?!" Crystal said shocked. "Are you sure?" Twilight asked. "In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Equestrian Pokemon League, I am requesting my PokeDex, Badge Case, and Town Map," Ace said firmly. "Celestia knows I need the Town Map, otherwise I'm going to end up eating Spark Plug." "Kid?!" said Spark Plug. "I'm joking dude," Ace assured him. "You're sure about this," Twilight asked. "I've tried the life as a Trainer. It isn't easy. You're sure you want to do this?" "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Ace smiled. Twilight paused. "Alright," she smiled. Trixie always thought it was ironic how clean the Boss's office was... It was always so tidy and so neat. Everything was dusted, cleaned and perfectly in order. For a gang that went by the moniker "Team Chaos" it was kind of misleading. Even the Boss himself (despite his physical appearance) was always in perfect order. Well pressed suit, perfect stride, cool temper. ' But Trixie new well enough that the Boss was "chaotic" in his own way. If you asked questions you'd figure out just how true that was. She hated this wait... Alone in the boss's office... She always wondered what he was doing that took him so long. Then she decided she really didn't want to know. After five minutes the Boss strolled in. Trixie stood up instinctively. "Sorry I'm late!" he said cheerfully. "A bit of a workplace dispute, how are you Trixie?" "Workplace dispute" meant somepony had died. "I'm fine, sir," Trixie said shakily. "A bit confused as to why I was pulled back from my assignment..." "Oh that," he chuckled. "I don't think Sparkle would have given 150 up for anything. I'm sorry but that was a waste of your time and mine." "I don't understand...," said Trixie. "Is the Prodigy Project no longer a priority?" The Boss suddenly got very serious. "Oh no," he smirked. "Prodigy is the single most important goal Team Chaos has. It is necessary for us to reach our destination and bring him forth. So that we may wipe the lies of balance and harmony of the face of the Earth. Make no mistake, we need 150 back. We can't do this without his help." "So...," Trixie was scared to ask the next question. "Why?" "I'm glad you asked!" the Boss started pacing around the room. "You remember the day they escaped right? Things were very hectic. Disorganized. People were wondering what happened and who to trust. It was impossible that some things wouldn't get lost in the shuffle. On a hunch, I asked our boys to review the incident again. What they found intrigued me. You see, I thought that the only member of our personnel that went missing was Twilight Sparkle. I was wrong. It turns out that a lab aide of hers, a grunt, also ran off that day. I had her I.D. pulled up." He took a card out of his pocket and handed it to Trixie. "I remember that Aide...," Trixie muttered as she took the card. She looked at the face on the Identification, and the name. Then something clicked in her brain. She had seen that face. She had heard that name. And it was far more recent than five years ago. It was impossible to get away from this pony. She was probably one of the most influential trainers in the region, if not the most. She was staring at a picture of the Champion. "That's-!" Trixie said flabbergasted. "I know," the Boss chuckled. "Why?" Trixie shouted. "Why would she put herself in a position where we could find her? She had to know we would come after her! Why make herself one of the most prominent figures in the region and not even change her name?! It doesn't-" "Make sense?" The Boss let out a long slow laugh. "Oh, Trixie... "What fun is there in making sense?" said Discord. Ace had spent the next night packing. His mother made him pack several changes of clothes and a few days worth of food. He would replace the clothes almost immediately, but the food was highly appreciated. She tried to convince him not to go, but she looked at Ace's brand new cutie mark and new that was impossible. She told him to be careful about 148 times, and she gave him a sheet with the phone number on it. Making it very clear that he could make the call any time he wanted to come home. "You're sure you want to do this?" she said sadly. "It's not going to be easy..." "I know," Ace smiled. "But it's what I want to do. It's what I need to do." "Well, be careful..." That was 149. "Where are you headed first?" "The Prof says there's a gym up in Ponyville," Ace answered. "I'm going to get a team together and challenge it. Mom, your son is going to become the next Equestrian League Champion." Ace's mother gave a soft smile. "I don't doubt it. With little Sparky by your side, who can stop you?" She scratched the Elekid on the head. The Pokemon gave a contented and blissful smile. There was a knock on the bedroom door. "Hello?" called Crystal's voice. "Can I come in?" "Yes dear," said Ace's mother. "We're just making sure everything is all set." The door opened and in stepped Crystal and Teekay. "You realize I'll get you for this..." "Get me for what?" Ace laughed. "I probably won't be gone for that long. The chances of me actually becoming the champion are slim to nil... I'll be back before you know it." "Oh no!" said Crystal firmly. "If we're gonna do this, we're gonna do it right. Eight badges, Elite Four, Championship, come home a hero. I won't accept anything less. I'm not going to waste my time with a stallion who gives up!" "What 'time'?" Ace was confused. "What are you talking about?" "I am going to be your personal Pokemon Guidance coach," Crystal said proudly. "I've got my own PokeDex and Town Map from Professor Sparkle permission from my parents and Teekay." "Abra!" Teekay said proudly. "We're coming with you!" Crystal said firmly. "And there's no way to stop us." "Kid?" said Spark Plug confused. Ace wanted to protest. He wanted to say he didn't need any help. He could do this by himself. The point of this adventure was for him to grow up. He didn't need anyone to hold his hand... But the truth was, despite his pride, he couldn't be happier. He couldn't think of any better pony to share this with than Crystal Ball. He threw his forelegs around her for a tight hug. "Thank you," Ace whispered. Crystal hugged him back. "I couldn't let you do this alone," she said softly. "Where would you be without me?" Ace didn't want to think about it. The two Trainers looked at the way to Route 1. Up until this moment it had never looked so huge and daunting. They stood on the border between Spectrum City and the road, frozen solid. "Well..." Crystal swallowed hard. "Last chance to turn back." "No way," Ace said firmly. "We're doing this. Once we step over that line we're on our own. This is the beginning of our Pokemon journey. My League challenge. I'm not turning back now. Crystal looked Ace. "Alright then," she said. "Together." Ace smiled at her. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... So they took theirs.