//------------------------------// // Confession and Contest // Story: Sunset Shimmer and the Land of Pokémon // by The Skyrunner //------------------------------// "Well. That proved to be easier than I thought." Sunset mused to herself, leaning against the railing of the boat’s upper deck. When Fredrick told them he had a boat they could travel on for a while, he failed to mention it was a yacht large enough to boast two decks, full accommodations for up to eight people to have their own rooms, a well-stocked kitchen and bar, and plenty of luxury pastimes. Flandre was for once not on her head, the small espurr content to sleep in the bed in her cabin for the meantime. Abel was busying himself in the ship’s small study by reading a few books with the aid of Esmeralda. The moon was high in the sky, signaling the approach of midnight, as the flame-haired girl let out another sigh. “What did?” A voice asked. Sunset turned to see Crystal walk over. She smiled at her, and gestured to the rail nearby. The girl nodded and leaned on it as well, looking out over the water. “I don’t want to pry, darling, but you look like you have a lot on your chest.” “Yeah, you could say that.” Sunset responded. For a time, the two of them looked out upon the clear water, the moon and stars reflected in perfect clarity. Sunset’s mind wasn’t on the water, though. A mental battle was going on in her head, one side begging to keep everything in, the other wanting to confide in Crystal about her home. Crystal would most likely be appalled, or think she was crazy, or even call the authorities about a crazy teenager. Sunset thought back to Esmeralda’s words, and prepared herself for any reaction that could happen. “Hey, Crystal?” “Yes, darling? What is it?” “What would you say if… well,” Sunset paused for a second, to catch her breath. “If one of your friends was hiding something from you, and knowing it would make you think they were insane at best?” “Well, I would of course be shocked at whatever news I was told at first, but ultimately I would realize that a friend wouldn’t lie to me.” The more high-society girl replied, a knowing smile on her face. The look went unbeknownst to Sunset. “Why do you ask?” “Crystal, what if I told you that I’m trying to get home by going to Sinnoh… but my home isn’t there.” Crystal looked confused for a second, but let her continue. “I’m going to Sinnoh because Professor Sycamore told me one of his associates does a lot of research on the properties of space and time, and contemplating on traveling using them.” “Well, that’s a noble pursuit in my opinion. Why wouldn’t someone want to know more about the mysteries of our world?” “As much as I would like to, I’m going to find out all I can about this method of travel because…” Sunset took one last gulp of air before uttering: “Because I’m not from this world.” Silence filled the night. Sunset’s eyes were closed, hoping she didn’t create a rift in her newfound friend. Silence filled the air as she saw nothing through her eyelids. A small shuffling, and then a warm feeling on her shoulder. Opening her eyes, Sunset found Crystal’s hand on her shoulder as the more fashionable girl looked almost apologetic in the moonlight. “Crystal, I understand if you’re not going to believe me, but-“ “You quiet down now, Sunset. I won’t hear any of that.” Crystal said, her face bearing an indescribable emotion. “You kept this secret form me. I can understand why – you thought I’d find you crazy, or unstable, or, or… something. But Sunset, know that I consider you a friend.” “But I’m not from here!” Sunset responded. “I’m basically an alien to you, how could you just trust me like that?” “Sunset, dear, my other friends are a gentleman frog, a gemstone-covered boulder, and a psychic who can only talk via telepathy and has the power to create a black hole.” Crystal let this information sink in. “Compared to them, dear, this is normal. At least you look and speak like a human. Err, you are still a human, right?” She added a small chuckle to that last bit. “Well, technically I’m a unicorn pony.” Sunset answered this as plainly as she could. Upon seeing Crystal’s flabbergasted face, she chuckled softly. “It’s a long story.” “We’ve got time, Sunset.” And so the Unicorn-turned-human began to recount her tale to Crystal, the latter only interjecting to ask a small question. Sunset told her of her studies in Canterlot, her brief reign and fall over Canterlot High, the Dazzlings’ attempt to mind-control the student body, and finally the events of the Friendship Games. Crystal was astounded that one of Sunset’s friends in the other world was so similar to herself, even having a similar hairstyle and disposition. “…and that’s when I woke up in Lumiose City, met with Professor Sycamore, and then ran into you. You know the rest, I guess.” Sunset finished up. A quick glance at the XTransceiver she had told her the story took them into the early morning at around two-thirty. “So you truly don’t know how you got here to begin with?” A shake of flaming hair answered Crystal’s question. “Well, I don’t know how I would have acted myself. It’s a wonder how you haven’t gone crazy or anything.” “Well, it is my second alternate reality than my first, and it’s similar to the one I call home. Culture shock was a thing for the first day or so, but I think I got used to it.” Sunset pulled out her Pokédex, flipping through the entries. “I mean, my academic mind found studying the Pokémon here fascinating. They’re a lot different than the animals of the other two worlds.” The two aimlessly chatted into the night, stopping only to sleep when they thought it was too late. Sunset went back to her cabin to find Flandre curled up on her pillow and fast asleep, while Abel was curled up in a small basket. The small Absol looked adorable like that, and Sunset quietly changed into a nightgown Crystal fashioned for her and crawled under the covers of her bed. In the morning, breakfast was served late for everyone’s benefit. Sunset lazily walked down in what she slept in, happy inside to find that Nelson and Fredrick did the same. Crystal however, was in a more fashionable outfit, and Fleur was nowhere to be found. “Well, I see someone isn’t a morning person.” Nelson joked as he sipped from a mug. “Can’t talk. Need coffee.” Sunset muttered, flopping into a chair and reaching blindly for the pot of brown wake-me-up juice. When she flopped, Flandre was revealed to be in her hair, the smaller Pokémon falling out of the frazzled mess and straight into a sugary doughnut, which she munched on slowly but happily. Sunset poured herself a cup (Which spilt all over the table, causing Crystal to pour one for her while a maid cleaned it up) and drank out of it, savoring the taste and fragrance of dark coffee. “So, while this method of travel is faster than walking there, we still have two or three days until we reach the ports to the open ocean.” Nelson said, silently chuckling at Sunset’s antics. “Any ideas on how to spend the time?” “I for one will be getting some work done on my new designs for the Spring Season in a few months. Sinnoh must be full of new fashion ideas…” Crystal said. “I’ll be relaxing with my beloved.” Fredrick said. “You all are welcome to use the facilities on my boat. Any friends of the talented Lady crystal are friends of mine!” “You flatter me too much, Sir Fredrick.” The mulberry-haired girl then turned to Sunset. “What will you be doing, dear?” The girl in question looked up, her hair still looking as if a flock of birds moved in for the night but her eyes wide and alert. “I’m not entirely sure. If at all possible, I’d like to have a Pokémon battle or two. I’m still new at them, and some experience might not be bad.” “In that case, I’m free.” Nelson offered. “Shall we?” “In an hour or so. I still need to wake up.” Sunset said. “And from the looks of it, my Pokémon need to as well.” She said this simply by looking over at Flandre, who had passed out in the doughnut she landed in. In about three more hours' time, to be exact, Sunset and Nelson faced each other on the sizeable deck of the ship, a good amount of space to have a battle on. “Alright Sunset, I presume you know the normal rules. Since you’re new, this’ll be a one-on-one matchup, and we go until one Pokémon can’t battle anymore. Got it?” “Got it!” Sunset replied, Pokéball in hand. “Alright then! Arisu, let’s go!” Nelson said, tossing a red-and-white sphere out. After a flash of red light, a small Pokémon had appeared, sloth-like in appearance and lazily scratching its head. “Abel, let’s show them what we can do!” Sunset said, tossing out her own Pokémon. The small Absol bounded out of the ball, ready to fight. “Aww, we’re fighting a Slackoth? They’re no fun…” Abel whined, but still in a battle stance. “C’mon, let’s fight already!” “As you wish.” Nelson said. “Arisu, be a dear and use body slam, please.” Nelson said this calmly, and the Pokémon he was talking to immediately jumped into the air, surprising both Sunset and Abel. The sloth then fell on top of Abel, crushing the smaller Pokémon beneath her larger frame. “Crap!” Sunset swore, looking at her Pokédex to check on what moves Abel knew. “Uhh… Abel, use Night Slash!” She called this out and a blast of dark energy erupted form beneath Arisu. The Absol under her had pelted her in the sky, his horn glowing a dark purplish-black color. “Good job! Follow it up with another!” “Aye Aye, boss lady!” Abel called out, jumping up and swinging his horn at the flying sloth. He laughed a little too much like a super-villain as his attack hit, knocking the Slackoth back. “Arisu, please get up.” Nelson said calmly. She did so, seemingly alright. “Now, go ahead and use yawn, if you would.” The Pokémon simply did what the move implied, and Abel looked at Sunset. “That’s all she’s gonna do? We got this…” Abel yawned deeply. “In the bag…” And with that, he fell to his side, fast asleep. “What? Abel, get up! Now’s not the time for a nap!” But it was no use. Nelson politely asked his partner Pokémon to slash at Abel, the sleeping form unable to dodge. This continued for several minutes, until one Slash attack knocked the Absol back into Sunset’s arms. She held him in one and swiftly slapped him across the cheek. “Wake up!” “Huh? Is it morning already…?” Abel said groggily. “We don’t have time for this!” Sunset said. She threw the Pokémon at his foe. “Use Night Slash again!” “What for- Whoa!” Abel quickly used the move, just in time to land the attack on Arisu. As the battle continued, blows were traded between the two Pokémon, each one just as fierce as the last. The battle lasted a good fifteen more minutes, until Abel landed a lucky hit on Arisu’s rib area with a bite attack, landing what Sunset would later know as a critical hit. “Yeah! We won, we won!” Abel said victoriously, circling around and around Sunset’s feet before falling over, tired and exhausted from the fight. “Nice battle.” Nelson said, returning Arisu to her Pokéball as Sunset did the same for Abel. “You’d make a good coliseum battler in Orre, if you trained some more.” “Thanks. For now though, I say we let these guys rest. They need it.” Sunset and Nelson walked back into the depths of the ship, Sunset realizing that she found him more friendly than before. Perhaps this was more than a way to express one’s strength in battle? Maybe Pokémon battles can strengthen friendships as well, she thought.