//------------------------------// // Dimensional Intrusions pt. 2 // Story: A New Dimension, A New Threat // by ZeroChill //------------------------------// Spitfire walked down the hallway with an uneasy frown on her face. She looked towards Joker, who strutted with lanky arms. She then set her gaze on Monarca, who walked with a calm and cool demeanor on her two hind feet. “So are you sure that Rainbow Dash will make sure that Gordo isn’t hurting anybody?” She asked. “Ehhhhhh… I can’t really guarantee that. I mean, if Gordo starts making a mess of things, then-“ Spitfire felt her watch ring out a third time in the day. She raised it to her face and touched it. A hologram of Rainbow Dash’s head is revealed. “Hoy, Commander. The three of us convinced the two Pokémon here to arrive at H.O.R.S.E. without much of a fight.” Rainbow Dash announced. “‘Three of you’? I wasn’t even aware that you were assisted or the fact that there is an extra Pokémon at the scene.” Spitfire noted. “It looked like Fei and Sophs were here taking care of the situation. The other Pokémon is a duck with a leak. Seems like the big guy answers to him.” “Alright, bring ‘em in. We’ll get them fitted with translation bracelets.” Rainbow Dash’s hologram disappeared. Joker chuckled underneath his breath. “So it looks like they found Rey and Gordo. Now all we need is Inge and the first squad of the Royal Flush Gang will be all here.” He explained. “Who’s Inge?” Spitfire asked. “Inge is a sweetheart! She’s very nuzzling and gets along well with others.” Joker explained. “Or, in actuality, she’s a bit of a nutjob who has a fascination with appearing when we least expect it.” Monarca rebutted. “She could actually be in here right now.” “Like this?!” An excited voice rang out. The lights above flickered with an erratic pattern. Within a bolt of zeroes and ones, a strange Y-shaped being with a blue head and body with a lilac stripe around her appeared in front of the trio. Her jetting limbs and beak are colored in lilac. Spitfire looked into her swirling yellow eyes and felt dizzy. “Ah, Inge! So nice of you to arrive.” Joker said with a happy smile. “…This is a Pokémon?” Pausing in disbelief, Spitfire asked. “It speaks like we do and it looks so… artificial!” “I downloaded the specs for the translation device into my software. So now I can speak in your common and native tongue!” Inge stated with its eyes closed and a large grin on her face. “As for my artificial appearance, Porygon is the world’s first artificially-created Pokémon. I just happen to be descended from one of the first Porygon.” “Truer than true. Isn’t she just the most adorable thing your eyes ever looked upon?” Joker asked with glee emanating from his tone. “Ummmm… no?” With her head cocked in confusion, Spitfire responded with an unsure tone. “Tu madre.” Inge responded. “Insult my mother one more time and I’ll have you sent to the incinerator to be scrapped.” Spitfire threatened. Inge’s head shot up in anxiety. She looked down to the ground with crestfallen eyes. “I’ll behave.” “A bit harsh there, don’t you think?” Monarca asked. “I don’t have any time for any sort of ridiculous activity. That’s why I’m trying to keep contact with this freak here to a minimum.” Spitfire proclaimed. “You say I’m a freak, but at least I don’t have a desire to become a crazy cat lady like you.” Joker rebutted. Spitfire’s lips gnarled into a frown. The gate to the vehicle bay lifted open, revealing Rainbow Dash, Sophia and Fei. Gordo and Rey followed them inside. Their eyes wandered towards the Equusians taking their welding torches to the various exos within. Rey’s beak dropped in awe. “You work alongside machines like this?” “Yep! Fei has a license to pilot these monsters, but he prefers not to do so.” Sophia responded. “Can’t stand them. I don’t care what Commander Spitfire says; she can’t force me to go inside one of them against my will.” Fei pouted out. “You’re not sucking on your mommy’s tetas, so don’t act like you do.” Gordo announced. Rainbow Dash looked at Fei’s face. Her eyes picked up on the stare tightening in his eyes. “You okay there, Fei? You look a bit insulted.” “No… I’m fine.” Sophia wandered into a wide chest down the road and rummaged through it. She tossed two translation bracelets with her mouth, which were caught by Rey and Gordo. “Try wearing them in any way you want.” Sophia explained. Rey shrugged his shoulders and brought the bracelet around his head. “You mean like this?” Rey asked. “I can understand you, so yes.” Rainbow Dash responded. Gordo stretched out the bracelet and brought it to the base of his left arm. “Can you understand me now, butch?” Gordo asked. “Did you just call me a ‘butch’?” Rainbow Dash asked with a deadpan voice. “Just because I am an aggressive female with a rainbow mane doesn’t give you the right to call me names like that.” “And what are you gonna do about it? Shoot me?” Gordo threatened with a cheeky grin on his face. “I’m too thick for any conventional gun to shoot through.” “Good thing that this isn’t a conventional gun I have then. It was imbued with the latest of Magi-Poke tech that gives it moves that Pokémon can use. I’m sure a Focus Blast from this baby will ruin your day.” Patting her weapon with a soft grin on her face, Rainbow Dash said. “First mechas and now weapons developed that can use Pokémon skills? Just how technologically advanced is this world?” Rey questioned. “Very. Through the combination of magic and machinery, the Equusians were able to modify their technology fifty years ahead of our respective universes.” Sophia stated. “Unfortunately, most of the technology developed here is used for warfare.” Fei added. “I am not sure why aliens are invading this world, but we cannot progress with civilian-centric technology until we defeat the invading forces.” The group gazed ahead and saw Joker sprinting his way towards Gordo and Rey with leaps exaggerated in each step. “You came! Oh you two came!” Screaming this, he dropped onto Gordo’s feet and hugged them. He burst out with loud wailing and dry tears. “Do you really need to do this every time I am gone for even an hour?” Gordo asked with a monotone voice. “Yes.” Standing up from the ground, Joker responded. Spitfire, Monarca and Inge wandered out of the hallway and into the bay, where they met up with the rest of the group. “So apparently, you know these two?” Spitfire asked. “They are a part of our Normal-type team. Rey there is the King, or the leader of the squad. I am the Queen, or the second in-command. Gordo over there is the Jack, or the muscle of the team, and Inge is the Ace, or the jack-of-all-trades of the team.” Monarca explained. “If my knowledge on playing cards is correct, then there must be four teams in the gang then?” “Correct! You’ll also notice that we all have national themes to each theme. Take a guess what we are. Come on!” Inge challenged. “Mexicolt I assume?” Spitfire guessed. “Your world’s version of the region south of Orre? Then you are right! You win a hug!” Inge wrapped her arms around Spitfire’s neck. Spitfire smiled and chuckled. She pushed Inge away. “Enough already. You sure can be affectionate.” Spitfire’s watch rung out once more. She sighed and tapped on the watch. A hologram of Dune Bug’s head appeared. “Commander! We found more strange creatures by Floral Avenue.” He stated. “I’ll give you props for finally steeling your nerves, Dune Bug. What is the status of the creatures?” “They were causing some trouble and, errr, well, a thestral made a citizen’s arrest.” Spitfire’s eyes narrowed and a low hum resonated from her voice. “Do you know who made the arrest?” She asked. Dune Bug’s eyes wince and his head shivered. “Scary Story.” He muttered out with a shaken tone. Spitfire’s nerves chilled underneath the nerves of Dune Bug’s words. “I feel bad for those creatures. Just bring them into H.O.R.S.E. custody and we’ll take it over from there.” Dune Bug saluted and his image over the watch disappeared. “Ummm… what happened?” Rey asked. “Apparently, two more of your buddies got apprehended by someone whose name I will not speak because it darkens the air around here. I mean that in the most literal sense possible.” Spitfire explained. A bipedal plant with a brown tail stem and face stood in front of the gates of H.O.R.S.E. Her body is wrapped around in green flesh. Her head is a green mushroom cap and her face is a part of the light brown stem upon it. She swung her light brown tail that ended with four green balls. Her feet and hands each had two giant red claws on them. Towards her right is a brown and bipedal creature with four stubs for limbs and two green horns curled at his forehead. He is covered in a giant cotton ball colored in a very light shade of brown. His orange eyes and lips quivered. “Are you alright, Iosac? You aren’t normally this uneasy. You’re usually a mischievous ball of fluff.” The mushroom plant asked with a concerned voice. “Aye, Sareid, I’m still a bit shaken by that dark fella’s dark scare. She’s a demon I tell ya.” Iosac responded. “Besides, weren’t ya a wee bit scared by that lady?” Sareid cocked her head and flashed an aggressive frown. “I tell ye once and I tell ye again, Iosac; getting scared’s for the peasants. Now, do I look like a peasant to ya? The answer is no. I’m a purebred Breloom perfected through decades of selective breeding.” She responded with a condescending tone. Iosac chuckled underneath his breath. “Then how do ya explain turning your backside to that fella and hiding your head underneath those fine claws of yours? That looks like peasant activity to me.” He teased. “Can it you scaredypuff of a Whimsicott.” Saraid responded in a dry tone. The gates opened on their own accord. The two Pokémon took their first steps on the grounds of the area. Saraid’s eyes detected the metal cargo towards her left. To her right is a building made entirely out of solar panels. Iosac smiled and hopped around in place. “This place looks amazing!” He noted. “I wonder how important some of these things are to the aliens.” “Don’t even think about it, Iosac. We’re under arrest, so anything we do will flash negatively on us.” Saraid warned. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything… yet.” At the front doors of the central building, Saraid and Iosac saw Jasmine leaving through the front door. Jasmine stopped in her steps and looked at the two Grass-types before her. “Are you two a part of the Royal Flush Gang I’ve heard about?” She asked. “It seems that our reputation extended even into this world.” Saraid stated with a pompous tone. “Or maybe some of our other teammates came into contact with them?” Iosac questioned with an eye raised with confusion. Jasmine’s eyes wandered towards Iosac’s direction. She grinned, squealed and picked him up. Iosac wiggled with a continuous motion in an attempt to break free from her grip. “Well aren’t you just the cutest Whimsicott I have ever laid my eyes upon?! You look a bit filthy around the cotton. Oh well, this means I get to bathe you!” Jasmine declared. Iosac’s eyes widened and his mouth shut with a deep frown. Feeling his body being spirited away into the building, he stretched out his right hand towards Saraid. “Saraid! Help me!” Iosac screamed out. Saraid held her left claws towards her mouth and suppressed a giggle. “I’d love to help, but ya do look a bit dirty around the cotton!” She called out. “Well, isn’t that something?” Walking up towards Saraid, Stereo asked. “And who are you supposed to be?” Saraid questioned with a haughty tone. “My name is Stereo. I am an operative here and a part-time artist under Miss Fleur De Lis’s apprenticeship.” Stereo responded. “Your Joker buddy also happened to ruin many pieces of artwork at the museum! Do you know how that makes me feel?!” “Wait, wait wait, hold on… you said you were an artist?” Saraid asked. “Artist in training, but what does that have to do with anything?” “Paint a picture of me. This world doesn’t know perfect beauty until it has seen an image of me!” “A bit boastful there, aren’t you?” Stereo asked with narrowed eyes. “Maybe a bit, but I’d like to see ya paint a portrait of me.” Saraid responded. “Well… Fleur does want me to paint something new. Alright, but we first have to get a translation bracelet on you so that the Equusians won’t think that you are trying to harm them.” “Fair enough.” Fluttershy stood outside of the city and gazed upon a tranquil lake whose size reminded her of the ocean. Her eyes set themselves towards a flock of long-legged birds with purple-tinged feathers and green eyes. Her watch on her right front ankle unveiled a blank page above it. She took a stylus from the watch with left front hoof and began scribbling words on the hologram. “It seems that the green-eyes purple flamingos had come back from their migration from the south. How I hope that I can visit the Island of Volcanic Steel to see what they do there.” She said with a hopeful tone. The green-eyes purple flamingos landed upon the shoreline of the lake by Fluttershy. She smiled and sighed at the sight of the birds folding in their straw-textured legs and gazing out towards the lake. In the midst of the event, a giant shadow descended upon her and extended towards the shoreline. The flamingos all looked into the sky and flew away from the area. Fluttershy set her sights above and gazed upon a ship the size of a mountain above her. A beam shot onto a flat section of land behind Fluttershy. A squad of five transformed Van’Goths appeared within the light. The central member’s skin and armor is tinged with red. The member to the middle-left is wrapped in blue skin and adorned in armor of the same color. The member to the middle-right has its skin and armor fashioned in a verdant green. The member to the far right had its armor flash in a bright yellow and skin that matched its color. The final member to the far left had a suit of pink armor that matched its skin’s color. The ship vanished within particles of accelerated light. Fluttershy’s eyes widened. She bore her teeth and pulled out her rifle. She aimed it towards the head of the central Van’Goth. “I’m not running away. Not this time! I won’t let anyone else die to your vicious ways!” She called out. “Big talk from a small pony. You, your kind and those aliens assisting you may have thwarted our forces before, but you are nothing against the Sallerian Rangers. Roll call!” The central member called out. Each of the members held out their arms and saluted into the sky. “Sallerian Ranger Red!” The central member Red introduced. “Sallerian Ranger Blue!” The middle-left member Blue declared. “Sallerian Ranger Green!” The middle-right member Green reported. “Sallerian Ranger Yellow!” The far right member Yellow called out. “Don’t forget Sallerian Ranger Pink here!” The far left member Pink asked. “Life forms don’t stand a chance against our quintuple-force tag team! Prepare to be annihilated!” They all declared at once. Red vanished with the first step taken and appeared in front of Fluttershy’s face at half a blink later. Fluttershy failed to make any sort of reaction within the span of a second. She felt an iron-clad fist pound against her chest and knock her into the air. Her body landed onto the water back first. “Blue! If you can!” Red ordered. Blue aimed its right hand towards the lake, which flashed in a blue aura. Fluttershy felt the water welling underneath her. She flipped onto her other side and began paddling her hooves with a hurried attempt at escape. The water underneath her exploded, knocking her back towards the group of Van’Goths. A bruise formed around Fluttershy’s chest. She gritted her teeth and stared at them with a tranquil gaze. Pink walked towards her and flicked her forehead. “This pony’s too much of a pansy to do anything right now. We should just end her life and get this scouting episode over with.” It said. Red pointed its fingers towards Fluttershy. Flaming tongues of fire spiked from their tips. Fluttershy aimed her rifle at Red’s face and fired a round into it. The bullet collided with its helmet and failed to dent it. Her heart dropped down into her stomach at the sight. “B….but how?” “Firmusite Armor. We aren’t the Sallerian Rangers without it.” Red answered. “That was a cute move you did, but I bet you’d be even cuter when the tongues of my flames will have you screaming in agony for death’s release.” A green vine smashed itself into Red’s hand, dismissing the flames within. Red held its hand back and looked towards the opposite direction. In the sight of the ranger is a large quadruped lizard with bumpy and bluish skin. On his back are multiple green fronds that surrounded a thick and brown trunk. The trunk held a pink and red-spotted flower that covered the entirety of his back. Blue gazed upon the red eyes of the creature behind it, which burned a hole through the ranger’s helmet. On closer inspection of the skin, each of the rangers picked up on deep scars along the creature’s skin. “I don’t know who ya are, but I’m pretty sure ya want to face something that won’t bore you.” The creature said. “This must be one of those Pokémon I’ve heard so much about.” Green stated. “I’ll handle this one.” Saying these words, Green dashed forwards and raised its iron fist towards the Pokémon. The Pokémon opened his mouth and shot a flurry of brown sludge towards Green that exploded on impact. Green flew away. Green stood its ground and touched the sludge on the chest. The sludge dissolved through the armor. “Figured that your armor was a Grass-type and lacked any sort of Steel-type affinities within it. That Sludge Bomb will take good care of you.” Fluttershy gazed upon her savior with a curious stare. He stood with a stoic grin on his face. Yellow rushed towards the Grass-type Pokémon and conjured tornadoes from the palms of its hands. The Pokémon shot a Solarbeam from the center of the flower on his back and destroyed the tornadoes. “It’s definitely strong. But we rangers will stand together to take out this Pokémon!” The rangers aligned themselves into an arrow-shaped formation and fired a rainbow of lasers towards the Pokémon. Multiple explosions erupted from the ground where the lasers struck, knocking the Pokémon into the air. He landed onto the ground with a loud thud. He lifted himself with his massive legs and laughed. “Impressive, but Breasal of the Royal Flush Gang will never falter to a challenge!” His body’s muscles tensed up and a red aura surrounded him. His eyes became wreathed in a burning aura. He rushed towards the group, flinging his body in his rampage. The Sallerian Rangers caught in his rampage flew into the air and towards the lake. Breasal looked onto Fluttershy with an intense rage. Fluttershy stood in her position with eyes not filled with fear, but understanding. She heard Breasal’s growling and his deathly intent, but she extended her left front hoof towards his face and touched it. She stroked him with soft and motherly pats. The anger from Breasal’s eyes dissipated away, revealing his calm exterior. Fluttershy smiled. “Thank you for saving me. My name is Fluttershy, but I probably wouldn’t be able to understand you if you tried to speak without a translator. I haven’t learned to understand Pokémon phrases yet.” She said. A brown-coated goat with a white-furred face stood upon a lone plateau by the lake and gazed upon Fluttershy and Breasal’s interactions with her orange eyes. Her black horns that are straighter than a longsword’s blade, her green shrubs that covered her neck, back and tail and her black-membraned eyelids created an air of intimidation around her. She smirked. “The kid has the ability to calm down even Breasal in his rampage? She truly must have a talent for understanding the heart of Pokémon if she could do that.” She said to herself. “I guess that if Breasal’s gonna be with her, I should follow behind.” The goat-like Pokémon leaped onto the ground and stalked Fluttershy and Breasal, who walked away from the scene of the area. Each of the Sallerian Rangers popped their heads out of the water and gazed upon each other. “The new tech developed by Wilhelm is pretty good, but we got to report on the kinks of the armor.” Red noted. “Especially this poison corroding my chestplate.” Green stated. “You’ll live through it.” Pink chastised. Saraid stood with a proud smile on her face and gazed at the heavens above. Stereo’s hands moved at light speed and the skill of a surgeon. He smiled and wiped his forehead. “And done.” Saraid dropped her stance and rushed by Stereo’s side with a smile on her face. “How do I look? I hope ya caught my good side!” Her eyes set themselves upon the canvas. She saw an image of her own body painted from a lower perspective that brought an air of opulence and power around her. Her eyes wandered to the lens flare that flashed down from the image of her cap. “Do you like it? I figured that you would be into an image that showed your beautiful power.” Stereo said. “Beautiful, yet so powerful… and you say ya just are a wee novice?” “Well, yes. I’ve only began painting about a year ago under the tutelage of one of my closer friends who happened to be a Smeargle and her human companion.” “Smeargles are known for their art, and I can see that this particular Smeargle’s style seems to have rubbed off on ya.” Saraid complimented. “Well, some of the more technical effects were actually taught to me by my current mistress Fleur. She taught me about the importance of perspective and the dynamics of how I can paint.” “Regardless, I am happy with this piece of art. This world has been blessed with my perfection.” Jasmine and Iosac walked out of the front doors of the main building. Iosac frowned, crossed his arms and turned his face away from Jasmine. Jasmine smiled and patted Iosac’s cotton. “Look who’s clean and is presentable to society!” Jasmine called out with an excited tone. Iosac looked back towards her and blew a raspberry towards her direction. “Ya really shouldn’t have taken my dignity by showering me like that.” He stated. “I’ll make ya rue the day you did!” “Oh hush now, Iosac. You look clean and you should be happy that I used some of my Mist-Rise Forest shampoo on you. Now you smell like a forest angel.” Jasmine stated. Iosac gagged. Saraid stifled a rising giggle. “Well don’t ya look presentable now, Iosac?” She asked with a tone of genuine cheerfulness. “Ya… really like how I cleaned up?” Iosac asked. “Of course! The Ace of our squad has to look his finest at every given moment. And I can say you look very féaráilte.” Saraid stated. Iosac’s uneasy frown flipped into a smile. He looked back into Jasmine’s eyes. “Alright bean neamhphósta, you did good. But next time ya force me to take a shower against my will; I’ll heckle ya until your bladder bursts!” Jasmine giggled and ruffled Iosac’s head. He winced and pushed away Jasmine’s hand with his hands. Fluttershy walked through the gates of the area with Breasal by her side and the Gogoat following behind her. Saraid and Iosac’s eyes lit up with joy. “Breasal! Riona! You two are here!” Saraid shouted. “Aye there, Iosac and Saraid. Didn’t think I’d see ya two in a place like this.” Breasal called out. Riona stared upon the group before her, humming and analyzing each member in the area. “Interesting set-up you have here. I wouldn’t have expected this girl to come from a big city like this.” She said with a wary tone. “You mean Fluttershy?” Stereo asked. “Yes. I can sense a special aura emanating from her.” Riona explained. “Fluttershy, are you alright? You have a nasty bruise on your chest.” Jasmine questioned with concern dripping from her tone. Fluttershy looked down onto her chest and jumped at the sight of the blackened skin hiding underneath her canary yellow coat. “It’s nothing. I just… errr, fell.” She responded with a quick tone. “Liar! I was there when I saw ya getting pummeled by those freaky aliens.” Breasal called out. “What?! The Van’Goth attacked Fluttershy again?!” Jasmine shouted. “Please Jasmine; it’s nothing to be worried about. I’m not the same helpless filly you first saw when you appeared in this world. I have grown, even if I wasn’t able to do much.” Fluttershy reasoned. “But why lie to us? We can help you out with your expeditions and protect you.” Stereo asked. Riona held up her right front hoof, silencing any potential words that anyone would have had. “I can understand Fluttershy’s motives with lying here. She wants to prove to you that she isn’t weak. Even if she only made a dent on the armor of the aliens, this girl is very strong in heart and will. She looked onto the aliens with defiance and she would fight until her last breath. Truly, this girl is someone special.” “Being sagacious with us again, Riona?” Saraid asked. “Nonetheless, Riona’s got a point. She’s the wisest out of all of the Royal Flush Gang, so we don’t argue against her because she will always be right.” “Fluttershy is a teammate of ours. We can’t just let her go out when the Van’Goth will be targeting her.” Stereo reasoned. “I am all for teamwork and you have a point, but please do not look upon Fluttershy as someone who is helpless. But rather, see her as someone with grand potential that would even be able to challenge the gods themselves.” Riona said. Jasmine paused in her tone. She felt any words she had robbed through the voice and stare of Riona. She let out a sigh. “I understand. At the very least, allow me to give you two some translation bracelets of your own. I want you to say those words to Fluttershy.” She said. “So that is how this girl can understand you four, but cannot understand Breasal or I. I gladly accept.” Stereo glanced towards Fluttershy and rubbed the back of his head with a shaky speed. “I don’t think you are helpless. In fact, you have one of the biggest hearts on the team. I just don’t want to see that go away.” Fluttershy smiled and patted Stereo on his head. “Do not worry about me losing my big heart, Stereo. I’ll live for a long time and still take care of everyone here. I just want to get stronger so that I don’t need to rely on being protected anymore.” She said. “I understand.” “Ey, are ya just gonna sit around and talk or are ya gonna give us our translators? I have a couple of words I’d like to say to these aliens!” Breasal announced. “Hold your cans, Breasal. We don’t need ya going on one of your famous Outrages again. Besides, we all know that I can stop that Outrage.” Iosac proclaimed with pride in his tone. “Yeah, but my Sludge Bomb will wreck ya. How does that make ya feel?” Breasal called out with a jeering tone. “I’ll behave…”