Friendships New and Old [Edited]

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“Thank you, and goodbye my friend.” Those were the last words Curtis heard from his partner, Jasmine, before she disappeared. Forever lost to him, and forever haunting him. It has been months since the duo had defeated Primal Dialga and saved the world. Months since Jasmine disappeared. Months since they first started adventuring together. Months since she helped him get his personal treasure. Months since she and him formed Team Dynasty. Months since, and yet he couldn’t forget about her... Every memory was just as vivid as when it first was happening.

The Riolu felt tears fall down his nose as he cried. He was at the spot. The spot he first found her. It looked exactly like it did when he first found her. The Krabby were all out, blowing their bubbles. The waves were gently lapping over the sand. The dying sunlight was bouncing off the waves. All of this created a beautiful sight, but it currently isn’t appreciated.

“It isn’t fair!” Curtis shouts to no one in particular. “It’s not fair! Why did she have to leave! She saved the freaking WORLD and she’s gone! WHY!?”

“Curtis! H-Hey Curtis!” Someone’s voice shouts across the beach. But he ignores him. “Curtis? Curtis! Are you ok!?”

“Go away Bidoof…..” Curtis mumbles half-heartedly.

“*Hoof* *Hoof* Curtis! Curtis come back to the guild we’re all worried about you!”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be back for dinner”

“That’s not why we’re worried,” Bidoof frantically replies. Curtis does not reply. If someone was to look at him now they’d see he is lost in thought. Completely on the brink of tears.

“Listen… Curtis... We’re all worried. You haven’t been the same since -”

“Since Jasmine left, I know!” Curtis explodes angrily, scaring Bidoof.

“Y-Y-Yes, since Jasmine left you haven’t been the same. You need help. We want to help you.”

“You can’t help me… No one can help me. She’s gone…” Curtis moans out pitifully, before sighing wistfully.

“You need to move on with your life! Jasmine wouldn’t want you to-”

“How do you know that!? I knew her better than you did! I pretty much knew her inside and out! How would you know what she would want me to do!?”

“Because he was friends with her. They all were. They are your friends too young Curtis” a loud raging voice booms out of nowhere.

Both Pokemon look around frantically for the voice, “w-who's there!? Show yourself!” Curtis yells.

Suddenly a giant blue vortex appears a little ways next to the two Pokémon and Dialga steps out of the portal.

“D-D-Dialga!” Curtis meekly manages to sputter out as the portal Dialga created collapsed on itself as the legendary Pokémon stepped completely out of the portal. "W-What are you doing here!?"

"To put you out of your misery! I have some news for you that you may deem important.” The legendary exclaimed loudly, matching, if not surpassing Loudred. Curtis wagered the only reason why they could still hear what Dialga was saying because of all the times they were awoken by Loudred's incessant howling. Thank the gods, he hadn't evolved again.

“W-Woah! You and Jasmine had to fight HIM!? How did you do that!?” Bidoof exclaims fearfully.

“To be honest I have no idea. We’re just lucky we had Stun Seeds so we could heal ourselves.”

“I HATE THOSE THINGS! I AM DIALGA! MASTER OF TIME! I WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY A SIMPLE SEED!”

“Yeah, and your roars almost killed us!”

“I was not my normal self! Anyway thats not why I’m here! I’m here about your partner!”

“J-Jasmine!? But she’s gone!....”

“I know that! I felt your grief all the way back up at the top of the Tower of Time! That is why I’m here with you now. Your partner, Jasmine is still alive!”

“W-WHAT!?!?” Both Curtis and Bidoof scream.

“Yes, it is true. You may find it hard to believe, but she is alive and well. There are just some… complications.”

“How is she alive!? I saw her DISAPPEAR! She was from a future that no longer exists!”

“If you would LET ME EXPLAIN I would answer you! When you and Jasmine defeated me, I was severely weakened. When I felt your grief for her loss, I used what little power I could muster to send her through time.”

“So she’s….Alive!? She’s okay!?”

“Yes and… No. Like I said there were, and still are complications.”

“Complications!? What complications!?” Curtis asked, panicked.

“Well for starters I miscalculated where I sent her. I took her out of my domain, not into it!”

“WHAT!? How do you miscalculate putting something into your domain!?” Curtis questions, full of disbelief.

“You try teleporting someone though time while weakened!”

“Point taken.”

“W-Wait! I’m confused,” Bidoof starts saying, before shying away when Dialga and Curtis turn to look at him.

“It is okay, young Bidoof. You may proceed. I will not eat you! The last Bidoof I ate was seven thousand eight hundred years, twenty nine days, ninety seven hours, thirty two minutes, and sixteen seconds ago."

“W-Well umm…. If Jasmine is alive and well, then where is she? If you’re here talking to Curtis, then you know where Jasmine is!” Bidoof exclaimed joyously.

“Very perceptive, young Bidoof. Although you are merely half right. I do not know where Jasmine is. However I do know someone who probably does.”

“R-Really!?” Curtis exclaims, looking more cheerful by the second.

“Indeed! I have come to you today because the Temporal Tower is fully repaired! I can put all my, for a lack of a better term, time and energy into this!” Dialga turns toward the sunset, despite his internal clock, “It is getting late. We will begin in the morning. So be ready Curtis!”

“I will be!” Curtis turns to leave but stops, "wait! You never told me who knows where Jasmine is!”

“Indeed it seems I haven’t.. Tomorrow we are going to meet my brothers!!”

Dark. Everything is dark. And cold. Why is it always cold, can't I ever be in a warm place? I get up and start to stretch. I sigh as I feel all my joints popping and creaking. Then I quickly shook off the thin layer of snow that was on my coat.

Wait…. Snow?

I look around to get a view of my surroundings. It seems I am in a forest. Wintertime by the looks of things. Where am I? It wasn’t winter in Treasure Town when we left for….

OH! Where’s Curtis! Where’s our stuff!? Where am I!?

Oh… Oh thats right... He’s gone. I left... that must mean the future is fixed. But why am I still alive? Shouldn’t I be faded from existence, or something? Is this where Dialga keeps all the Pokémon that fade from existence? Huh, I thought there would be more Pokémon in here. Maybe it's only for the Pokémon with good hearts? Actually, it's probably be more how not many Pokémon change themselves out of a time-line...

I won’t pretend I know all the answers but what I do know is I am in an unknown place. So all I have to do is get out of here and find a town. There I can buy a map and try and make my way back to Treasure Town. Assuming I’m still on the planet. No, no, I shouldn't say that. I’m still on the planet, right? But why do I have this feeling.....

Ugh, it must be the nerves. I lay down to take a nap and yelp as the snow touches my coat and the cold seeps in. Well that's a sign if I've never seen one. Better get moving...

I see the exit just as I finish off the last of the wooden Poochyena in the clearing.

I brush past the trees of the forest and notice a trail just off to my left. Following that trail will lead me to what looks like a small town. About the same size as Treasure Town I think. It's hard to tell but I think there are Ponyta living in the town. And some of them are... Flying? Yeah, I don't think I'm on my planet anymore.

I follow the trail to the town. My planet or not, Pokémon are friendly and they'll help me. With the exception of extreme situations, like a possessed legendary. Why should this planet be any different?

I make it halfway to the town when one of the flying Ponyta in the sky notices me. It then starts to fly toward me. Are they... Multicolored as well? Weird. The blue Ponyta is moving really fast now. In my direction too. That's odd, I don't look hostile do I? I look around me to see if there are any bad Pokémon around me. Nothing is here but the occasional normal type and the course grass. It's weird, I haven't seen any grass Pokémon here, aside from those wooden Poochyena. There should be more around here, it's almost a paradise for them.

The cyan, looks cerulean actually, Ponyta is not stopping I realized as she, definitely a she, tackles me with Fly. With a yelp I toss her off of me and leaps back before she tries to attack me.

She turns to attack me and stops suddenly. "Wait, you're not one of the Everfree's monsters."

I cock my head at her in confusion, "Everfree? Is that what you call those woods?"

“Uhh yeah, what else would I call it?”

“I don’t know. I’m not from around here,” I say, shuffling my paws slightly.

“Ah, I see…. Where are you from? What are you anyway? You look like a fox, but like... Poofy-er."

I put one of my paws on my chest, mimicking hurt, “I’m an Eevee! I’m not a fox.”

“But you look like a fox,” the rainbow maned pegasus pointed out bluntly.

“But I’m not! I’m an Eevee!”

“Yeah, whatever, and I’m a unicorn”

“Unicorns have horns. Like a Zebstrika. You have wings. I don’t think there are any pony-shaped Pokémon with wings. There are Ponytas, but they don’t have wings or horns until they evolve.”

The cerulean Ponyta is looking at me like I just spoke a different language, “okay first off, Ponyta? Is that some sort of lame pun? We’re ponies. Well, I’m a pegasus but, you know. You’re really not from around here are you?

“Not exactly. You could say I’m from… another planet, I think, it might just be another time, it was Dialga who sent me here..." I responded with a little confusion.

The winged Ponyta throws her hooves in the air with an aghast exclamation, her wings flapping to compensate for balance. “OKAY! That’s it! We’re taking you to Twilight! Come on, I’m taking you to town.”

I shrug, “I was going to go there anyway. I’d like a map,” then at that moment, my stomach decides it wants to be supreme ruler of my body. I give a sheepish smile “And maybe some food...”

If the Ponyta wasn’t laughing so hard she might have heard her stomach growl as well. However she did feel it, “heh heh, yeah, I feel you there. Don’t worry, foods on me. Come on, let’s go.”

We’re almost at the town, Ponyville it's apparently called, when the Ponyta remembers to give out her name. “Oh yeah, almost forgot, I’m Rainbow Dash.”

I give her a polite smile. “I’m Jasmine. So, what can you tell me about this Twilight?”

“Easy enough. She’s my friend, she’s awesome, she is royalty so that makes her royally awesome. She lives in that tree over there on our right, that’s where we’re going. Spike should answer the door, he always does.”

We walk up the door when Rainbow Dash giggles. “You know, I just realized there is finally another pony just as tall as him now” She says as she knocks.

I hear a voice shout out, “Spike! get the door please!" along with an; “On it Twilight!” from a younger sounding being. The lines are followed by thumping and the sound of a doorknob turning. The door opens and there, standing in front of me, is something I really hoped I wouldn’t have to see anymore. Spike is a... Sableye!?

Misunderstandings and Introductions

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“Sableye!” I scream as I tackle the Sableye into the nearest wall. This place is a library by the looks of things. And that Sableye just crushed a bookshelf. Oh well, no time to contemplate that, it's getting up!

I pounce on the Sableye and bite him. All he is doing is…. Screaming? Why isn’t he attacking? Oh wait nevermind that is fire. He uses what I think is a strange colored flamethrower at me, Dragonbreath, maybe? But he is either very new at that or I’m just lucky he barely missed. I feel the hot flames touch my coat as I leap out of the way and hit him with wide strike. That seemed to stun him long enough for me to leap on him again and bring a claw to his throat.

“Where is Dusknoir!?” I holler at him. He flinches at that.

“I don’t know! I don’t even know who this ‘Dusknoir’ is!”

“Liar!” I scream as I press my claw harder on his throat. “All of you Sableyes work for him!” Or at least the ones I know, I can't take any chances though, I thought in my head. “Now where is he!?”

“Jasmine get off of him!” Rainbow Dash yells and tries to get me off of him.

Another wide strike, this time colliding with the Ponyta and the Sableye, “you work for him too Rainbow Dash!?”

“What!? No! Of course not! We don’t even know who that guy is anyway! Why? Is he a bad pony? More importantly, why did you attack Spike!?” She looks angry as she says this. Maybe this Sableye…. isn’t a Sableye?

“Wait so this isn’t a Sableye?”

“What!? What is a ‘Sableye’ Anyway? Spike is a dragon”

"Dragon... You mean, like a Bagon?"

"Uhhh, yeah... Sure"

"Oh, okay then," I say and lift my paw from the dragon type's chest, "sorry about that. You looked a lot like them. Same size, purple all over, claws on their hands and feet. Of course now that I look at you, you're a little different from them. For starters your eyes aren't jewel like, you have green on the center of your chest and your smile... And your a bit... Fatter..." I whisper the last part as not to offend him.

He frowns a bit and puts his hands on his mouth. "What about my smile?"

"You don't have a wicked grin. No bloodlust or cruelty in them at all," I say, shivering slightly.

"Man, those 'Sableye' must have done a number on you" Rainbow Dash remarks glumly.

"Oh, trust me, they did. They almost killed me and my... companions," I gasp quickly, earning a collective question from my hosts, "Grovyle.... He could still be alive!"

It made sense to me. We both came from the same future. We both were good Pokémon. The only difference is that he went to our future before me. I mysteriously ended up here, so he should be around here too!

“Who?” Was all Rainbow Dash said.

“Grovyle.” I reply. “He’s a… let’s just call him a... time-traveling Pokémon. He used to be my partner, or one of them anyways. It's a long story, I don't want to have to tell now.”

The pegasus shrugs and helps the dragon type up, as I look on sympathetically, “again, sorry about that. I’m Jasmine, by the way.”

He gives me an odd look, then shrugs it off as well, “It's okay, you didn’t break my scales. And I’m Spike.” He says while looking around the place. “Man, Twilight is going to freak when she sees this”

As if on cue I can hear hoofsteps coming from upstairs heading toward the stairs. I can be wrong, but I think I heard Spike say “Ooooh no….”

“What was all that ruckus about? It sounded like Rainbow Dash crashed into the-” She stops suddenly as she peeked over the ledge and saw the damage around the library and immediately noticed me. “So you’re our new visitor? Welcome, I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

“Wait, so you’re not mad about all of this?” I ask her, suspicious of her indifference. Spike gave her a much more malignant character, that’s for sure.

“To be honest, not really. I mean sure I’m mad about you attacking Spike, but other then that Rainbow Dash usually does more damage when she crashes into the library. By the way Rainbow, you need to be more careful. You’ve crashed into my library so much I bought INSURANCE on Rainbow Dash related property damage!”

Rainbow Dash sheepishly smiled and rubbed a hoof on the back of her head, “Heh heh heh… Sorry?”

Twilight sighed then walked all the way down the stairs. “So what’s your name? What are you? You look like a fox, just….. Poofy-er”

“That’s what I said!” Rainbow exclaims as I roll my eyes, a bit annoyed that so far every ponyta I met called me a fox.

“I’m not a fox, I’m an Eevee! And my name is Jasmine, before you ask...” I cried out indignantly, constantly offended by the assumptions.

“An Eevee? I’ve never heard of an Eevee before… and I thought I knew of every animal in Equestria!” Twilight trailed off into a mess of mutterings, pacing in front of the Normal Pokémon.

“And I’ve never heard of a Ponyta with wings before. Or a Ponyta with with a horn for that matter. You’re too small to be a Rapidash.”

“Twilight this is why I brought her here. She keeps speaking this nonsense and insists we’re these things called ‘Pokemon’. Its crazy!” Rainbow Dash tells Twilight in a flurry of hoof waving

"Hmmm you're right" the purple ponyta says, nodding her head. "So Rainbow said you're not from around here?"

"Yeah you can say that," I tell her earnestly.

"Mind if you tell me where you came from?"

"It’s a long story. The short version is that I'm from another planet. I saved the planet from total paralysis by putting time back into it’s place. However I was from a future that no longer exists so by all rights I shouldn't exist anymore. However somehow, something saved me and here I am.”

Rainbow Dash gives Twilight a look that seems to say “See? I told you so, now where’s my money” while the not-quite-there-yet Rapidash frowns at my explanation.

“Rainbow Dash, you did the right thing coming to me. She certainly is weird. Even by Ponyville standards”

I fold my ears while they were talking. I’m the weird one? How am I the weird one? I’m not the one who is a colorfully mutated Ponyta… Do their colors represent where they came from like Villilions? Then yeah, I guess I would be sort of strange… But they’re still weirder. I can tell.

Twilight must have noticed my expression for she softens up and asks me if I’m okay. I tell her I’m fine but she nor Rainbow Dash believes me. “Are you sure?” Twilight asks me again.

“Yeah you sure?” Rainbowdash says as well. “You look like Fluttershy when she gets upset”

“Oh yeah. Now that you mention it Rainbow, she does.”

“I do?” I reply, before asking. “Wait, who’s Fluttershy?"

“Yeah you do. Your ears are flat on your head, and your tail is between your legs.” Rainbow Dash points out.

“That is… actually a good perception Rainbow” Twilight says with surprise.

“Eh, it’s what you get for knowing Fluttershy your entire life” Rainbow shrugs.

“Anyways, why are you upset? Is it something we said?”

“Yeah it kinda was….” I tell her. “You call me the weird one. Where I’m from, everything I said is normal and everything you said is the weird thing. Heck, you two are weird by my standards. Where I’m from most species of Pokémon usually don’t stray from one or two colors. With the exception of my species. So hearing you two call me the weird one….. It’s rather insulting. Genetics that can alter your entire appearance and ability is not considered weird.”

“Oh Celestia…. I’m sorry we didn’t know. And what do you mean? Only a few colors? How is that possible? Here in Ponyville we have almost every color under the rainbow. And we’re a small community! In bigger cities they have white and black ponies as well as other races!”

“Well my species is…..Unique. I could evolve into one of several different species. All with different types and therefore different colors. And what species do you have? Do you have several hundred different species able to reproduce with each other?”

That seemed to make Twilight blush. A lot.

“Uhhhhh…… Not… Really…...We only have a couple of sapient species. Ponies, griffons, zebras, diamond dogs, changelings, and dragons.”

“That’s not a lot of species.” I say pointedly.

“It isn’t but those are the ones that are like me and you.”

“Your world is strange.” I say with finality.

“But it’s the world I know” She says with a trace of a smile.

“True enough” and I smile with her.

“So who are your siblings anyway?” Curtis asks Dialga as they wait on the beach.

Dialga just shrugs. “Oh you know, Palkia and Giratina. Masters of Space and Anti-matter.”

“W-What!? Palkia and Giratina are your BROTHERS!?”

“Yes, I believe I Just said that.” Dialga replies, now annoyed.

“So when are they supposed to be here?”

“Palkia should be here any moment. Giratina usually shows up when it’s dark. So by nighttime he should arrive here.”

As if on cue, a pinkish purple orb appears on the beach, shocking Curtis and making Dialga squint his eyes at the orb.

“Palkia, you’re late! I expect this kind of stuff from Giratina.” Dialga exclaims to his brother.

“Dialga! Really? We Haven’t seen each other in Arceus knows how long and you tell me I’m LATE!?”

“It’s good to see you too Palkia, and yes, you’re three seconds late! It’s only been four thousand years, nine hundred and seventy five minutes since we last saw each other.”

”Yeah you’re right!” and the two legendary brothers did something Curtis never expected. They hug. They hug it out, leaving Curtis dumbstruck.

“W-What…….What is going on?”

“Young Curtis, did you really think I hated my brothers?”

“Kinda….. Legends say last time you guys met you…..fought”

“Palkia was having a temper tantrum. It happens with families.”

"Oh."

"So this is the legendary Riolu that saved my brother from madness? I thought he would be bigger."

Dialga smacked his brother on the backside of the head. “Palkia! This is the boy that saved me from insanity! The least you can do is show some respect. He is the reason we’re here anyway. I… Kinda owe him a favor”

“A favor? Really!? How come?”

If looks could kill, Palkia would have been little more than a lump of ash on the beach for that question, with the stare he was giving him.

“Oh… Right, sorry! My bad!!” Palkia says as he grabs the back of his head sheepishly. “So what exactly is this favor anyway?”

“O-Oh…. W-Well…..” Curtis said. “There’s this girl….. She was my-”

“THERE’S ALWAYS A GIRL! EVERY TIME!” Palkia interrupted Curtis angrily, throwing his claws into the air.

“W-WHAT!? N-N-NO! No not like that! She was my partner. When we defeated Dialga and saved time she disappeared.” Palkia raised an eye and maybe an eyebrow at him. “She was from a future that was with insane Dialga. Since we changed time and the present, we changed the future too. So she…..disappeared....”

“I’ll take it from here young Curtis.” Dialga informs Curtis. “And when she disappeared, I was still weak. When i felt her disappearing and felt his grief i felt like I had to do something. So I used what little power I had to send her into my time and preserve her until I can change her future. Unfortunately I think i overshot and landed her somewhere I cannot track. Probably into yours or Giratina’s. So I called for you two. Besides i cannot do it alone. I’ll explain the rest when Giratina gets here.”

As if on cue, again , Curtis thought, a giant deep dark purple orb appeared to the right of Palkia. A leg stepped out first. Then a body. Then the rest of Giratina, master of antimatter, in all his arachnid-bat-serpentine glory.

“OOOOOH YEEEEAAAAAH! It feels good to be back in the mortal world again!” Giratina says to no one in particular.

“GIRATINA!” both legendaries cry out as they sweep their brother in a legendary hug. They also almost stepped on Curtis, though no one but Curtis seemed to notice. Bidoof had long since ran away.

As soon as they finish hugging Dialga looks over to Giratina. “ Giratina! It is good to see you again.”

“Indeed. You and Palkia are sure a sight for sore eyes. Now what did you call me here for?”

“I OWE THIS RIOLU A FAVOR! HE’S CALLING IT IN! I’LL EXPLAIN IN A MOMENT!”

Giratina turns toward Curtis and looks him over. “He is the one who cured you? I thought he would be bigger.”

“Hey that’s what I said!” Palkis chimes in.

“So tell me how a lowly Riolu beat you, Dialga?”

“First off there were two Pokemon. An Eevee who was from the future and this one here. And . . . I don’t want to talk about it . . . ” Dialga grumbles the last bit. Curtis didn’t catch much but it sounded like something about stun seeds.

“Oh? An Eevee? Thats a new one. Better add it to the list”

“List? What list?” Curtis asks, curious.

“Do you really think this is the first time one of us has been defeated by the likes of you?” Palkia screeches. “We keep a list of every pokemon that has defeated at least one of us.”

“And how many times have you guys been defeated?”

“27 times by 12 different species. 13 now with the Eevee. Pikachus, of all pokemon, seem to be the one that beats us the most.” Dialga says.

“And defeated the most! They taste good.!” Giratina replies.

“I prefer Wobbuffets. They’re so squishy.” Dialga says.

“Personally, I like charmanders.” Palkia comments.

“Uhhhh… Can we not talk about eating Pokemon, please…?” Curtis says meekly.

“Fine then. Brother why are we here?”

“Well you know how I was defeated a few months ago yes?” Dialga asks. He quickly got a chorus of yes. “Well a little while after I was defeated, the Eevee we mentioned disappeared. She was from a future where I was, to put it lightly, batshit insane! Since she and Curtis changed that, her future doesn’t exist anymore. While she was disappearing I think I sent her into one of your dimensions by mistake.”

“Okay, what does this have to do with us?” Palkia asks.

“I want you to help me find her.” Dialga turns to Curtis. “Curtis, do you happen to have a piece of her on you or in that bag?”

“Actually, yeah. I have the bow she always wore” He says as he opens his bag and digs out Jasmine’s bow: a sky blue, worn out, tattered old thing but still recognizably a bow.

“Hmmm sky blue… She’s a jolly character yes?” Giratina asks the Riolu.

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“We’ve been alive for well over thousands of years. I’ve learned that colors with Wigglytuff’s bows correspond to the user’s primary characteristic type. For example a cautious type like you would be an orange.”

“Wait, you guys know Wigglytuff!?” Curtis exclaims, surprised by this revelation.

“Indeed we do. Be warned though, never make that Pokemon angry! Bad things happen to you when that guy gets mad” Dialga pronounces, shuddering the entire time.

“Anyway, this is her bow, yes?” Palkia asks.

“Yeah, it’s hers. You should’ve seen her when we first got those supplies. She put on that bow and she looked so adorable and cute in it and-” He quickly put his hands on his mouth quickly. But it was too late, the damage has been done.

All three legendaries are looking at Curtis now. Their eyebrows, or where they should be if they have any, are raised in a knowing expression. “Brothers, i think I know the reason why he wants her back so much” Giratina says condescendingly.

The other two brothers nod in agreement while Curtis is frantically denying it. Dialga chuckles. “Curtis please don’t try to think we’re fools. We know young love when we see it.”

“N-N-NO! Its not like that! I swear!”

“Sure and Palkia is challenged.”

“HEY! I thought we dropped that!” Palkia angrily screams.

“But in all seriousness, brothers will you help me find her?”

“Sure, anything for you Dialga.” Giratina agrees, wholeheartedly.

“NO!” Palkia says as he turns his head.

“Palkia, please!”

“NO! Take back what you said!” Palkia demands childishly.

“No. Instead, how about after this we’ll go to Mc’Pokemons? My treat!”

Palkia ponders over this for a moment. Eventually he makes his decision. “Fine! But I want the double Mc’ Charmander and a side of Bidoof!”

“DEAL!”

“Alrighty then! Curtis was it? Hand over the bow please.”

Curtis noticeably has a pause in hesitation to giving the bow to the legendaries. Dialga noticed it too.

“Don't worry Curtis. I promise we will give it back in one piece.”

Reluctantly Curtis hands over the bow into Palkia’s hand. The bow gets enveloped in a pink afterglow as Palkia uses psychic. The bow floats to the middle of the three legendaries and they close their eyes. A bright white light envelops each of them as each one focused their energy into finding her. Soon it got so bright Curtis had to avert his eyes from the bow.

“Got her!” one of them screamed, Curtis couldn't tell which, they were all loud.

“Good job brother! Now show us where she is!” Dialga shouts.

“Way ahead of you. Should be able to see it now”

"Ooooh come on!” Palkia screams unexpectedly.

“You said it brother. I... Dislike that place.”

“W-What place are you talking about!?”

“A place whose inhabitants does and does not at the same time recognize our power.” Dialga informs him.

“A place whose “ruler” thinks she can go toe to toe with us. She’s a total bitch.” Giratina rants angrily.

“A place full of colorful talking mutated Ponyta who freak out if you try to eat one of them. They are a joke! You can compare them to flying types. Some are stronger than others, others are faster, but overall they suck!” Palkia lectures.

“Sounds like a horrible place” Curtis remarks.

“It is!” All three legendaries agree.

“Back to business. Brothers, are you ready to create the portal?” Dialga asks his brothers.

“YES!” Both shout.

“Then do it … NOW! “

The bright light has gotten even brighter. It is at the point where even if Curtis is looking away with his eyes closed, it still hurt. Then as sudden as it appeared, it went away. Curtis slowly opened his eyes. No pain. He then turned toward the gods of time, space, and anti-matter.

In between them, where the bow is supposed to be, is a huge colorful orb. Jasmine’s bow was floating just above it by Palkia’s grip. It floated down and Curtis was able to grab it and put it back in the bag.

“Are you ready Curtis?” Dialga asks him.

“For?”

“Well, isn’t it obvious? You’re going after her.”

“W-WHAT!?”

“You are going through the portal to retrieve her. We will give you an item that, when broken, you will be able to contact us and you and Jasmine will come back to your world.” While Dialga is talking Palkia floated out something and gives it to Curtis.

Curtis, suspicious of the item, inspects it. It looks like a rock, small and pointy. It is, thin enough that Curtis can easily snap it in half if he wants to, but thick enough that accidentally dropping it or sitting on it won’t break it.

“So, I just need to go to the world in a world you guys don’t like, find Jasmine, meet her and have her agree to come home. Break this rock, and wait for you guys to come pick us up?” Curtis asks them.

“Yes!” They all say.

“Okay then…” Curtis hesitates, looks at the portal, and thinks about what he is about to do.

“Are you going? The portal cannot be open for much longer!”

“Roger that!” Curtis says. He then takes a deep breath, starts screaming, and runs toward the portal. As soon as he get close enough, he jumps and flies through the portal. He can hear them scream words of encouragement at him. He heard Dialga say something about a special compass in his bag, but he didn’t get to hear all of it, for as soon as Curtis touched the portal he heard a roaring in his ears.

Then he saw white.

Then black.

Then he hit something hard. That is the last thing he remembers before losing consciousness.

“Come on! We need to get out before its too late!” A masculine sounding voice said.

“I know! It’s hard to concentrate with you panicking!” Another voice said, this one feminine.

“Sorry. I’m just… Anxious.” the first one replies quietly.

“Anxious?” The second asks.

“Yes, anxious. Wouldn’t you be if you were told what I was told?”

“Probably.” The second voice honestly says. “But you’re too philosophical to be worried about stuff like that.”

“...You really think so?”

“Grovyle, you came back for a third time. Hopefully, you succeeded in your mission this time. that is all I need to know to understand.”

“If you insist then…. I hope we’re not too late”

“Hey now, we’re still here aren’t we? That’s proof enough it’s not too late. I wouldn’t hesitate though, I can feel time ripping apart all around us.”

“Then I will stay quiet...”

A sound can be heard, it sounds like a portal opening.

“You did it!” the first voice exclaims, excitedly.

“No time to waste! We need to move, now!”

“Alright then. Team Time Travelers, move out!”

Sugar High and Nostalgia

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“Uhhhhh… Where am I?” Curtis asks as he rubs the back of his head. He looks around and notices he is in some… Desert he thinks.

It certainly looks like a desert to him. It is hot, dry, there are rocks everywhere. Definitely a lot of rocks. Curtis remarks to himself.

Then something moved. Just barely within his peripheral vision. He quickly snaps his head to where he thought he saw it. Nothing. Wierd, he thought to himself. He sees it again. Something black. He turns again. He sees nothing.

“Ok come on out! I know you’re there!” He shouts at the “thing”. It didn’t look like anything he has seen or heard about. It looked like a bug’s chitin. But it was black so it is also a dark type? He can’t think of any Pokemon that are dark and bug. They shouldn’t be hard to fight though. His fighting type blood will make this quick.

Curtis hears another sound. This time behind him. Ready to fight, he turns around quickly and gets a good view of his stalker. It’s definitely a bug type. Its glowing blue eyes stare him down. Its’ chitin is… Full of holes for some reason. Its wings look tattered and beaten. Its’ fangs sharp and pointy.

No biggie Curtis thought. Unless it is supposed to look like that, it looks half starved. If it doesn’t wish to communicate he believes can fight it out. Even if it is a bug type, and bug types are strong defensively against fighting, Curtis is confident in his fighting skills now to be able to fight it.

All because of Jasmine... he thought. Then quickly shoot those thoughts away. She’s alive. Dialga and his brothers confirmed that. There’s no need to think things like that. Or at least continue that train of thought.

Curtis hears the same sounds, this time coming from the left and right of him. The bug in front of him is still standing there. Watching him with those blue eyes of his. He turns to his left. two more of them! To his right, three more! He turns around and theres two more. They have him surrounded. Now he’s really worried. He has faced overwhelming odds such as this before. But only with Jasmine. And she isn’t here right now. He’s surrounded and he’s all alone.

“W-what do you want from me?” He asks them, hoping he could talk his way out of this. Even though he wasn’t the best negotiator. That was usually Jasmine’s job.

Either the bug/dark hybrids didn’t understand what he said or they didn’t care for none of them replied back to him. They did, however start talking to each other in a series of chips and chirps in a language he didn’t understand. Which unnerved him. Every Pokemon spoke to each other in one language which they usually call Basic (accents of said language are everywhere) If there are pokemon who speak a different language than Basic, what kind of world did he end up on?

While they continue chirping at each other, Curtis focuses himself, ready to strike the first pokemon and making a run for it. They continue to chirp, which confuses him. He is in the weak, shouldn’t they start attacking him now? Yet they continue to chirp. The one in front, whom Curtis assumes is the leader of the pack, is chirping angrily at no one. It (He can’t tell if it is male or female) seems to be staring at the sky.

Finally the leader stops staring at the sky and looks at Curtis. In perfect, yet foreign Basic it says, “You. Whatever you are, you’re coming with us.”

“I….I don’t think so” Curtis says as he unleashes his focus punch onto the leader. The effects are immediate, for the hybrid was sent sailing and smashed right into a rock. If it wasn’t fainted by the punch itself, the collision certainly did it.

This of course made the rest of the hybrids attack all at once. Luckily though, that fight with Primal Dialga made him stronger, and he was not only able to endure the hit, but deal damage as well. He is constantly using Feint and Force-Palm as they have the most PP to use against them. Focus Punch leaves him too exposed to use, despite the fact that if he used it, he’d be guaranteed to be able to one-shot each of the hybrids. Most are surprisingly weak, and go down with Focus punch. Those who are hit with Feint usually ran away or went down running into their buddies.

Not much time has passed and Curtis has taken down every hybrid that dared attack him. The rest ran away, almost as if by command. Like a Vespiquen and her Combees. He doesn’t question it much, he has a chance to run!

And run he does.

He doesn’t know how far he ran but he kept running. He can hear them chasing after him. He doesn’t know if he is going farther in or away from this place he finds himself in but he keeps running. Until his stomach decided to make a protest.

He stops and looks around where he is, checking to make sure it is safe. He is nearby a rocky mountain. Said mountain is full of holes. He doesn’t see any of the hybrids coming in or out of the mountain’s holes so he dismisses it for now. He continues to look around and sees nothing but shrubbery and occasionally, a couple of tiny Skorupi.

After observing his surroundings he looks at the mountain to see if any of those hybrids actually do come in and out of it. A few minutes pass and nothing has moved from it. He makes a bold move and starts to climb the mountain. Once he gets high enough, he crawls into one of the many holes in the mountainside and makes camp there.

It makes a perfect hideout, he thinks to himself. Indeed it is though. The massive amounts of holes in the mountains makes chances of finding him very slim. Add the fact that there are several other mountains that look exactly like the one he is hiding in and also the fact that they don’t know where he is makes his getaway a successful one.

His stomach growls yet again and now he finds the time to dig into his pack for the apples he’s packed. He brushes past the perfect apple the Guild master gave him. “For when you can celebrate with Jasmine!” He cheerfully told Curtis when he gave the Riolu the apple. He smiles at the memory. The Guild master has a way of making you smile, even in the grimmest of times.

He selects a bright red apple from his collection and sat at the edge of the cave and started munching on his apple. The view up here is fantastic, he thinks to himself as he stares off into the sunset. The height, being so high up, makes everything seem so small and yet that much more beautiful. The dying sun streaked brilliant colors of red and orange all over the wasteland, giving the place a look and feel as if it’s on fire. The clouds, having caught the reflection of the sun, glowed the same brilliant orange or the soft red of the rays.

As soon as the apple was eaten and the core was thrown off the mountain (hey a guy has to have some fun) he retreated into the cave where the warmth still lived. He grabbed one of the emergency blankets that they kept in there and curled up in it. Before he went to sleep to manage to murmur a “Good Night Jasmine…” before falling asleep.

“So who is this ‘Pinkie Pie?’” I ask Twilight. “And why do we have to meet her?”

Twilight chuckles, “You’ll see. But thats where the rest of my friends should be. You’ll probably want to meet them. Although you did get the brashest one out of the way first *cough*rainbowdash*cough* It will probably be wisest to meet the rest of them.”

“Okay, but why Pinkie Pie?”

“Because…” Twilight put a hoof to her chin, thinking for a moment. “You know, I really don’t know. It just seems like the best logical choice. She knows everyone in this small town of ours.”

“Oh, okay then,” I say and the rest of the way was met with silence. Of course it wasn’t true silence since the other ponyta went up to Twilight and greeted her. They seemed to ignore me though. Weird.

By the time we make it there, I think I see where we’re going. “Are we going to that house there? The weird one there that looks like it is made out of food?”

“Yep,” she says, “that’s sugarcube corner. It’s where pretty much all of us go to get our sweet tooth cravings fixed.”

I didn’t understand a word she said, but I went along with it and nodded my head. I know the word sweet, but it is a rarity in treasure town. Any sugar in town is usually bought out by the Kecleon brothers who use it for Arceus knows what. And the few times the guild gets some, my ears hurt too much thanks to Loudred who utterly loves the taste of it.

We enter the shop and the first thing I smell is the food. Oh sweet Arceus that smells sooo good! Sure there are towns out there who bake, but Treasure Town isn’t one of those towns. “Mmmmmmmm….” Was all I can manage at that moment.

“Twilight! I knew you’d come with a friend! My Pinkie sense told me there would be a newcomer but I didn’t see them!” Says the PINKEST Ponyta I have ever seen in my life! What kind of defect is that!? “Did you see them? Oh! You got a new pet! Hi there, I’m Pinkie Pie! What’s your name? Can you talk like Spike can? Oh, this is going to be so great! You’re going to like it here in Ponyville! *GASP!*” The pink menace has stopped talking for a moment! Now’s my chan- “I’m going to have to throw you a welcome to Ponyville party!

My ears… My poor ears. I think something is broken… Everything is still spinning. This is worse than the first time I met Loudred. His screaming made Curtis and I dizzy at most. This is…. Worse, in a way. Yes, there was the ringing and the eye spinning, but this is worse. Maybe because of the high-pitch of her voice? I don’t know.

“Ooooooh…” I manage to moan out. Or maybe it was whimper, I couldn’t tell. I think they’re talking to me I can’t tell. My vision is gaining focus though. That’s good. Twilight is talking to ‘Pinkie’ about something. She seems confused. Like she knows she is in trouble but she doesn’t know what she did wrong. Wait, I think I can hear Twilight saying something.

“... So please be gentler… She isn’t from around here. I think she isn’t even from this planet! The way she talks about things… It’s not right.”

“Uhhhh….. I thought we established my right and your right are different from each other.” I tell her.

She smiles at me, “That is true. But I still think it’s odd. Plus, Pinkie Pie doesn’t know. By the way, Jasmine this is Pinkie Pie, Pinkie Pie this is Jasmine. Go easy on her, please.” While she is talking to the both of us she points her hoof at each of us when she gets to our name.

“Hi there! Sorry about making you dizzy and what not. Really I am! So to make up for it have a cupcake! On the house.” As soon as she mentioned this ‘cupcake’ she shoved what looked like a tiny cake with A LOT of sugar on it. It also has these little colorful things on there that look a lot like gummis back home.

Cautiously I took a bite out of what I assume is the cupcake and taste it like I would with a gummi shake, and OH MY ARCEUS! That is delicious! “MMMMM!” I manage to mumble through my mouth as I devour the rest of the cupcake.

“Wow! You sure are a messy eater! And that’s saying something coming from me!” Pinkie exclaims as I finish eating it. I give off a burp and notice every pair of eyes is on me. I blush (not that anyone can see it, brown fur and all) and put my tail between my legs.

“Heh heh… sorry?” I say and, just like that, most of the eyes are off of me. The ones that didn’t watch me, their eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Its okay.” Pinkie shrugs. “It’s nice to see new ponies. It’s even better when they enjoy my food.”

“That was a cupcake you said?” I ask her. She gives me a nod. “That was delicious! What is it made out of?”

“Do you mean to tell me, you’ve never had cupcakes before!?” Pinkie practically screams. Her eyes completely filled with worry, as if not having cupcakes is the worst thing in the world.

“Ummm, yes?” I hesitantly tell her. To that, she gasped and FLOATED into the air for a second or two.

“B-But how could you NOT know what cupcakes are!? Do you live under a rock or something!?”

“Actually, I lived in a cliff….” I hesitantly tell her.

“Same difference!” She yells, probably for the sake of yelling. My ears are starting to hurt again…

“Okay, okay!” I manage to scream over her and she quickly calms down. “Where I’m from, we knew about the concept of baking. We usually made bread though. We never heard of this ‘cupcake’. Until now anyway.”

“Oh… Well I’m so sorry to hear about that. Well, since you asked so nicely, and said some things about it, I’ll tell you Pinkie Pie’s cupcake recipe! But first you need to Pinkie swear!”

I give her my confused look. “Pinkie swear?”

“Uh huh!” She says, starting to bounce. “Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye! A Pinkie Pie promise can NEVER be broken!”

“Ummmm….. okay?” I tell her. “I….Pinkie Promise…. To not tell anyone about your secret part of the cupcake recipe.”

She seems to deflate a bit when I said that, but she shrugs it off and continues to bounce. “Close enough. But you didn’t do it right!”

“Huh?”

“You gotta do it exactly like I do it! Here I’ll help you.” She then, somehow, moves faster than I can blink, for the next thing I know she is next to me and grabs my paw. “Cross my heart” She says as she moves my paw toward my heart and makes an X motion. “Hope to fly” She then takes my paw and extends it all the way, pointing at the sky. “Stick a cupcake in my eye!” And to top it off she bends my arm and pokes my eye, earning a yelp from me.

“Oops! Sorry!”

“Its okay,” I manage to reply. “It’s just a little poke. I’ve been through worse”

“If you say so!” And she casually tosses one of those delicious cupcakes into the air and puts all of it into her mouth. “So the cupcake recipe is very simple. In fact, by tomorrow I can have the recipe written down and I can give it to Twilight who then can give it to you.”

“Wow,” Twilight comments. “That is very responsible of you Pinkie. I’m actually kinda surprised”

“Why are you surprised Twilight? You know I’ve become more responsible, especially with watching Pumpkin and Pound.”

“True, but its still a shock you know? I still kinda see you as a lovable goofball, even if I know that isn’t the case anymore.”

“I know. It’s kinda weird like that. But it’s like what Discord occasionally says, you have to roll with it.”

“That is very wise.” I comment and to which Pinkie thanked me.

“Anyway,” She starts.. “Before we get sidetracked.” She leans in close to me….erm, closer. “The secret to my cupcake recipe,” She says in a quiet, yet still high pitched, whisper, “extra sugar and lots of love.”

I look at her with my head turned at her. “Really?”

“Yep!” she said with a beaming smile. “Now that I told you the secret part of my secret recipe, want to make some cupcakes?”

My eyes widen and my ears straighten up at that. A chance to gain the firsthand knowledge on how to make those heavenly glorious foodstuffs? Yes, please!

Pinkie giggles, probably at the way I look right now. “Well I see you’re excited! I’m going to go find you an apron so we can begin!” And just like that, the hyperactive, although to me she seemed very tame, pink pony bounced away from me and into the kitchen. Sounds of pots and pans can be heard from said kitchen and I think I heard glass break in there somewhere.

Twilight giggles. “Yeah that’s Pinkie Pie alright. You should see her at parties. Anyway, I’m going to leave you here, okay Jasmine? I have work to do at the library.”

“Yeah, it’s no problem. If something goes wrong, I can just spend the night here with Pinkie.”

I think Pinkie was eavesdropping on us, because as soon as I said that, I hear her scream “YAY!” Of course she could have just found the apron. Probably the latter, seeing as she is running out with an apron in her mouth. “Found it!” She exclaims and wraps it around me. “You ready to begin baking!?”

“You bet!” I exclaim and we run into the kitchen to make a mess. Oh, and to make cupcakes. Can’t forget that. Needless to say, this will be fun!

Curtis yawns as he begins to wake up from his sleep. He then stretches and pops his joints. If there is one thing he can say about this cave, it is that it doesn’t feel like the guild’s beds. Or his bed back in Sharpedo Bluff. But it suited his needs.

He looks out of the cave to the rising dawn of this planet. “Wow” He breathes in awe as he watches it. He couldn’t believe what he is seeing. It is more beautiful than any sunset he has seen back on his planet. Even more than what he witnessed when Jasmine agreed to help him. He smiles at the memory

“R-Really? You’ll really help?!” I remember asking excitedly.

She nods at me. “Of course. Its not right to sit out when I just saw that. Plus, those two are mean.”

“Th-Thank you!” I exclaim as I wrap her in a hug, surprising both me and her. “This means a lot to me.” I saw as I look over the water and into the sunset. It wasn’t a sunrise, but it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw.

“Right, let’s go! Quickly!” I say as I break the hug.

She nods. “Follow me!” and she starts running off

“Right behind you!” I saw as I look at the sunset one more time before following her into the cave

“Good times” Curtis says to himself and starts to climb down before he gasps in surprise. “No! no no no! No not here!”

He looks frantically left and right, up and down. The clouds are frozen in place, down below a dust storm is frozen, a cactus is suspended halfway through falling down in the ground, the grass looks stuck, blown in a wind that no longer exists.

Time in this region has been frozen to a standstill.

Investigations and More Misunderstandings

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“No, no no! How did this happen? I thought Jasmine and I saved time by defeating Dialga! How is time frozen here?” Curtis says with panic. When they defeated Dialga, that was it, game over. The moment they put the time gears into the tower, all of time was saved and restored. Is that what's happening here? he thought. is someone is trying to restore time here? Or are they just trying to cause malice?. If it is the former, then it is only a matter of time before the world goes into eternal chaos. If it was the latter… well the world is still gonna plunge into eternal chaos. So either way he must do something!

“But where to start….” He says with a frown. If this was back where he calls home, it wouldn’t be hard to find where he is and return to Treasure Town. Arceus knows how many times that has happened to him when Jasmine wasn’t around. But the problem is, he doesn’t know where he is. He is a stranger in a strange land.

He sits down on the edge of the cave and digs into his pack for anything useful and checks his inventory. He shuffles around and finds several Oran berries, apples both big and small along with the one perfect apple, a couple of stun seeds, Jasmine’s bow, a few reviver seeds, and many orbs that aren’t of use right now, and a…. Compass. He frowned at finding this; he didn’t remember packing it.
Upon closer inspection the compass seems very ancient and surprisingly well cared for. It is made of what looks and feels to be leather, possibly from a Miltank. The inside looks like its made of black pearl but feels like marble. it weighs about the same as several gravel rocks. The compass itself is blank, the only marking on it is the arrow thingy that tells you where to go. Etched on the side of it, in ancient basic, reads the words “Compass of Desires”

“What do you do?….” Curtis wonders aloud as he does what any sensible Pokemon would’ve done: He shook it until it did something.

Shaking it for about five minutes, Curtis realized it wasn’t going to do anything and immediately stopped. Looking at the compass again, he realized he did nothing but make it spin wildly. He scoffs at it. “Useless….. Now if you could at least start pointing me North we could go somewhere” His eyes widened in surprise as he watches the compass go from spinning wildly to sticking firmly on where Curtis assumed was North.

“Hmmm…” He says as he opens his pack and lays out several items around on the floor in a circle and places the compass in the center. “Okay now… Point me to… the Power band” He watches in awe as the compass moves to the direction to his right, right where he placed the band. “hmm... now do the apple” He watches yet again as the compass directs him to the correct location of the apple. “Alright, now do….”

He plays with this compass for a little bit before he realizes what it does. “You point me to what I want, so long as it is my desire… Or something” He says while munching on another apple. An idea comes to his mind as he swallows hard.

“S-Show me…” He swallows again. “Show me where Jasmine is”

Almost immediately the compass turns toward West Northwest toward some more, less holy, mountains. “Alright” He says out loud. “Let’s get started.” He looks at the sun one more time before hopping down the mountain. I’m coming for you Jasmine…

It took two days to make it to the mountains, “They looked so much closer from far away…” Curtis complains to himself as he made it to the peak of one of the taller mountains. “Woah” He says as he looks over the entire country of this place.

This place is so… alive He thinks as he looks around. To his left is a desert, much more pleasant looking than the one he walked through, in front of him, more left than the desert, and to his right is a beautiful green grasslands with the occasional hill in the way.

Looking around he sees two civilisations he can walk to for information. One in the desert and the other… not so much in the desert. The former is in the direction of where Jasmine is, the other is closer, but he would have to go slightly out of his way to reach it. His stomach growls, so he grabs an apple and eats in. Looking deeper in his bag he realized he just ate his last apple. “Alright the closer one it is then” He says and starts the trek down the mountain.

Only to be stopped by a dragon! “You” It says in a deep voice. “What are you doing at the entrance to my hoard?”

“W-what!? What hoard!? I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“Lies!” He growls. “Why else would you be here!? I bet that town sent you!”

“N-No! Of course not! I Don’t know anyone in that town!”

“I know! I bet they sent you to kill me! Those ponies don’t have the heart, will, or courage to even face me so they sent you to do their dirty work! Typical of them!” He (Curtis assumes it is a he, kinda rare to hear a deep voiced female) then proceeds to roar and then try to stomp on Curtis.

“W-Wait!” He screams as he leapt out of the way. “I’m serious, I don’t know anyone at that place! I just need to go there to buy some food!”

“I don’t believe you!” He hollers and doubles his efforts at squishing the young Riolu.

Curtis realize he’s going nowhere with the dragon so he begins his onslaught. With a quick jab of Force Palm he leaps over the dragon and prepares a Focus Punch. The dragon turns around and starts spraying him with flamethrower. Shrugging off the flames and possibly a burn, he unleashes the fury of Focus Punch followed quickly by Feint. The dragon, for some reason, uses Scratch against the fighting type. Based on that, Curtis makes a quick decision and strikes with one more Force Palm.

The dragon roars in anguish before falling down with a huge THUD! “I submit!” He cries. “Do what you will on me”

“Oh… Well… I just want some information really. I’m not from this…. Area” Curtis says, careful of what he says. After all, you wouldn’t go up to a stranger and say, “Hi I’m not from this world! Mind telling me the basics of this place?”

The dragon scoffs. “Information? Why won’t you just kill me already?”

“Why would I kill you?” Asks a confused Curtis.

“You mean to tell me that the city below us did not send you to kill me?”

“Yes, that is what i was trying to tell you before you attack me. Like I said I just want information. I can get food from the town”

“What kind of food do you eat? You have shown me kindness, I might as well show you kindness in return.”

“umm ok?” Curtis says, now more confused than before. “I eat mainly fruit, although I believe I’m capable of eating meat as well”

“Alright then. Come inside my cave. We’ll talk in there.” The dragon uses his claws to push the reluctant Riolu into the cave.

Grumbling a bit, Curtis walks into the cave instead of being dragged and stops to stare in awe at the cave. Crystals and gems of every color and type litter the entire place. Gold coins and other treasure compliment the cave and the jewels. Only the ceiling, he noticed, is not covered in jewels. Instead many small, glowing crystals, mainly white and dull yellow, hang off the stalactites to create enough light to see in the cave. Off to the side, is a surprisingly well maintained table big enough to seat the dragon and several guests of his size

“Go ahead and take a seat. I’ll be with you shortly” The dragon says rummaging through… Something. Curtis assumes its food storage. The seat, surprising Curtis once again, is extremely comfortable and well maintained. The dragon noticed and chuckles.

“You have to love Griffon made products. Extremely durable, especially if its enchanted by unicorns. And as a bonus, they trade with me in exchange for some of my jewels.” he takes a seat and gives Curtis various fruit and something that he doesn’t recognise. “Thanks to you” the massive being starts, “I have finally a reason to bring this out. I believe the griffons called it ‘Bacon’. Go ahead and eat.”

Reluctantly at first, the Riolu begins to eat. He’s surprised for a third time as the food is not only fresh, but delicious. Soon, He was devouring everything on his plate. Except the bacon. He savored the delicious and unique godly and Arceus level taste that is bacon. Even the dragon, who was eating more food more viciously than Curtis, savored the taste.

After finishing both had a large burp. Naturally, the dragon, being the bigger of the two and ate more, burped the loudest. “I am glad I saved that. It is truly a great item to savor when you have almost died.”

“Yeah! and it tastes great! Its almost like the taste of victory” Curtis happily replies

“EXACTLY!” The dragon shouts. “The taste of VICTORY! That is a good analogy my good friend.”

“Please just call me Curtis.”

“As you wish, Curtis.”

“What about you? What is your name?” To Curtis, it feels odd to call the dragon, the dragon, even if he is a dragon.

“I have long since forgotten my real name. But I believe myself to be a philosophical dragon so you can call me Philosophical.”

“I’ll just call you Phyllis.”

Phyllis chuckles, “Next thing we know, you’re going to call me Sheila at this rate”

“I won’t do that!” Curtis defends. “You’re not a girl.”

“True enough.” Phyllis’ face turned serious. “Now what kind of information are you looking for?”

“Well… The basics really. What anyone and everyone should know. Like I said I’m not from around here. But before we get to that, why treat me with kindness? Just a while ago you were trying to kill me and now its like we’re old friends.”

“Dragon Code” Phyllis answered simply. “Because you technically saved my life the Dragon Code states I am indebted to you until I save your life. Speaking of which” Phyllis turns around and starts rummaging through his hoard for something. “A hah! here is is” He turns around and gives Curtis a whistle made of what he assumes to be stone. “This here is a special whistle almost every dragon carries in their hoard. Whenever you are in need of help, blow the whistle and I’ll come to your aid. Assuming I am not sleeping of course. Dragons as you should know, sleep for hundreds if not thousands of years.”

“R-Right! I knew that!...” Curtis lies. Sure where he is from there were some dragons that slept for a long time, but its normally for a few years, not hundreds!

“So, back to business, Alright so, the basics…. hmm where should I start…. Oh yes! Lets start with Equestria’s rulers…”

Throughout the day and the next day Phyllis tells Curtis all the basics of Equestria: The history, the ponies, and the economy. As well as some of the local news as an added bonus.

Curtis is at the edge of the cave, his pack now full of supplies that should last him for several days in the wilderness. However if all goes well, he shouldn’t be in the middle of nowhere. Phyllis explained to him what a train is, so the train tracks didn't look as foreign to him anymore. He was told to follow them, and make it to “Canterlot Castle” on the tallest mountain. From there he should find a guard and hopefully (s)he’ll help him find Jasmine.

He hid some fairly important information from his recently made friend. For starters the fact he is from a different planet or that his partner isn’t a Riolu (Phyllis thinks he’s just finding a soon to be mate). Its not that he doesn’t trust him (it would be a lie if he said he didn’t) its that he worries Phyllis won’t believe him.

So with that in mind, Curtis waves goodbye to his newly made friend and made his way to the odd city inhabited by nothing but strange ponytas called ‘Ponies’.

He easily heads down the mountain by a mix of jumping and climbing and makes an hour trek to make it to the town. To his right a large “Welcome to Dodge Junction” made out of broken planks of sun-bleached wood greets him.

Looking ahead the town is relatively quiet despite being the middle of the day. There are a few merchants out selling their wares to customers but other than that, the town is a ghost town.

“Uhhh…. Hello?” Curtis says to one of the merchants as soon he gets near.

The merchant, a mare of desert brown and a red mane turns toward him. “Hello what can I… Get…. You….” Her eyes grew wider and wider as she finished her sentenced and took a good look at the lost Pokemon.

“What are you selling?” He calmly asks her, but that didn’t snap her out of it. “Hello?” He starts waving at her but she still stares at him.

The other merchants by this point have noticed Curtis and have become awfully quiet, some stopping in the middle of talking with customers. Then the customers themselves started looking at him. All were quiet. Some had the same face that the merchant he tried to talk to had. Others just didn’t know what to do.

No one moved. No one made a sound. Until one of the fillies with their parents grew bored of the quiet and tried to get a look at what started the quietness.

“Sweetie don’t stray away from mommy” the filly’s mom says to her child but to no avail. The filly kept moving through the crowd. “No no sweetie. No don’t go there. No” Yet she keeps ignoring her mom. “No NO NO!” She keep screaming.

Unfortunately somepony who overheard the frantic mother’s screaming has a trigger word. That trigger word is “no” So hearing the screams triggered him/herself and (s)he screams like a filly. This caused a chain reaction of ponies screaming, ponies running around in circles trying to get away from the “monster”, and leaving a very confused Riolu alone. In that order.

“Well…. That happened…. Whatever that was” Curtis mumbles to himself and starts to walk forward.

Only to be hit on the back of the head by a heavy piece of wood. The surprise strength of the pony combined with the fact that Curtis wasn’t expecting it was more than enough for him to have black dots swimming along his vision and making him lose balance. HIs hearing, however worked very well. Before he blacked out he managed to hear, “Damn dude! Did you have to hit it so hard? You broke the cue! You know how much that’ll cost you!?”

“Eh better overkill than not I’d say. Besides it looks like I did nothing more than give the thing a nasty bump on the head. As for the cue I’m sure we can work something out.”

Curtis would’ve heard more, but the surprise attack sapped his strength and he closed his eyes.

Only to wake up in a prison cell several hours later.

communications

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Morning came and I was just rudely awakened by the blinding death rays of the sun. “Uhhh” I groan as I shift around on my comfy bed that Twilight graciously gave me in their guest bedroom. Not a guild bedroom they told me, just for guests. Why anyone makes a spare bedroom for someone (or somepony in this world) that they don’t know is beyond me; especially if they could be unused for months at a time. I yawn and open my eyes and immediately shut them again after noticing the evil, evil sun is still there.

I roll to the side and stand up and sigh as my joints start popping and I start to stretch. It has now been a few days since I met Twilight and made it into Ponyville. It has been a few busy days as she introduced me to her friends…. Well I should say the entire town. It’s a close knit community, kind of like Treasure Town now that I think about it. Everypony here knows each other and are usually good friends. So I met everyone, from that mare who sells roses, to Pinkie Pie. From Rainbow Dash (again) to Derpy hooves.

This is my first morning where Twilight or Pinkie Pie didn’t drag me out of bed the first moment the sun was up, maybe because it was Saturday, but more than likely it was because I met everyone….erm everypony.

I debated whether or not I should go back to sleep when I smelt what I assume to be breakfast cooking. Deciding food would be better than sleep I jump off the bed and head down the stairs.

The first thing I notice is that Spike is in front of the stove grilling what looks to be some kind of sandwich. Twilight is nowhere to be seen after a quick glance around the library.

“Hello Spike” I politely say. “That smells nice, what’s for breakfast?”

“It’s lunch actually” He tells me. “And its grilled cheese, want some?” he asks after a quick pause to flip the sandwich.

“Yes please, that sounds, and smells, wonderful” I reply and I take a seat. “So where is Twilight anyway?” I ask when Spike gives me one of the grilled cheese.

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Thanks for reminding me. Twilight wanted to see you. I think she was going to take you with her to her trip to Canterlot.”

“Canterlot…” I mumble through a mouthful of food “That is the capital of this place, right?”

“Yeah it is. It’s a really cool place. Me and Twilight grew up there until we left for Ponyville. Oh! If you ever get the chance tell Donut Joe I said hi.”

“Ok I’ll try. So where is Twilight?” I say as I take another bit. Dear Arceus this is good.

“Oh yeah… Whoops.” He says, putting a sheepish smile on his face. “Honestly though, she’s rounding up her friends. I don’t know why but she always brings them with her. Always.”

“I can’t blame her. Friends are hard to come by back home.” The mumbling finally stops as I finished the sandwich and gave him my compliments.

“Yeah well they’re common as grass here. Eh I won’t pretend I know what goes on in her head. But anyway, she’ll probably have them come here and they’ll leave together.”

“Alright then. Thank you Spike. Let me know when she’s home” I tell him and I get up and grab a random book and start to read it to kill time.

“Yeah no problem Jasmine. But don’t get too comfortable, knowing Twilight, she is going to bust in here, probably with Pinkie Pie and Rainbowdash, any minute now.”

“Really? And how come Rainbowdash and Pinkie? Why not Applejack or Fluttershy?”

“Simple, Pinkie Pie is practically a ninja; she has everything packed ahead of time, even If you just told her about it. As for Rainbowdash, she literally packs nothing but a travel bag with her toothbrush and toothpaste and emergency toilet paper. Now if the wonderbolts are going to be there then she’d bring paper and pen. And enough bits to buy every souvenir twice.

The moment Spike finished talking; Twilight came in through the door and immediately noticed me. “Oh good you’re awake! I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t wake you up. You looked like you needed it.”

I smile warmly. “Thank you for that. So what did you want to see me about?”

“Oh yes right,” Twilight said, smacking her hoof on her head. Why do ponies do that? Wouldn’t it be simpler to just droop your head in frustration or defeat? “So you remember how I told you about Canterlot?”

I nod my head at her, “Yeah I remember that. Capital city right?”

“Yep. Now I have some business there, and I was wondering if you would like to come with me and the girls to Canterlot and see the sights. Also, since you’re technically an extraterrestrial species I think it would be a good idea for you to meet the princesses.” She stated.

Again, I nod. “Ok then. I understand. I’ll come along.”

For some odd reason, she beamed at me and said “Great! We’re going to be here till the rest of the girls come with their stuff.”

“Alrighty then, thanks Twilight”, I say as I sink back into my book.

About an hour has passed I think when the last of Twilight’s best friends came into the library. I close the book I was reading about. It was a fairly interesting story about a family who’s forced to move to Coltifornia in hopes of making a living.

“Alright we’re ready to go! Jasmine are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, I’m ready” I reply while getting up from the really comfy chair.

“Good, Ok girls, is everyone ready?” after the question was said she received a series of yes from everypony present. “Then let’s go!”

“We’re getting on THAT!?” I exclaim loudly the moment I saw what our ‘train’ looks like.

“Yeah, why? Is there a problem? Because that would be bad if there was…” Fluttershy timidly asks.

“Yes, actually.” I tell her, earning a bunch of confused faces in my general direction. “Why do we have to ride on it?”

“Well darling, what else would we ride in?” Rarity counters my question.

“But it’s so….” I struggle for the right word to describe it. “…. Girly” I finally say.

Everypony here decides that it is ridiculously funny for some reason. I droop my ears, and then start debating if it is ok for me to fight them and be innocent. Probably not I decide as they finish laughing.

“Yeah Jasmine I feel you on that one,” Rainbowdash tells me.

This perks me and I tilt my head confusingly at her, “Really?”

“Yeah, did you really think I lived here all my life? That was one of the first things I had to get used to when I moved here.”

“Yeah I will admit” Twilight adds in, “Even though it passed through Canterlot, every time I saw it I thought the same thing”

“But y’all learned to get used to it.” Applejack says, turning toward me, “Dun worry sugar cube it gets a little better the more ya look at it….. Kinda.”

I release a sigh. “Well nothing we can do about it. Let’s just get on it already.”

“That was a LOT better than what I thought it would be.” I announce to everypony in the group as we step off the train into Canterlot.

“See? You were just being a silly filly!” Pinkie Pie tells me and starts humming a tune. I caught something about ‘giggle at the ghosties’?

“Yeah, you were right Pinkie” I mention and turn to Twilight. “So where are we going?”

“Well” The purple alicorn starts. “First we need to head to Canterlot Castle and check in with Princess Celestia so we can get our suites. Then she’ll probably invite you to tea. Finally when you’re done talking with Celestia we’ll explore Canterlot. I’ll pay for anything you may want.”

“Really?” I say, my ears perked up out of interest.

“Yep” She smiles proudly. “My treat. You’d be surprised how much money a princess’ salary makes.”

“Well ok then.” I tell her, “Can’t argue with that really.”

“Halt! Who goes there?” One of the big white ponies asks us. Alright what are they? Some sort of police? Like what Officer Magnezone and the Magnemite are back home? What was it Twilight called them…. Guards right? Royal guards, yeah that sounds right.

“P-Princess Twilight” The first one’s buddy squeaked out when he saw Twilight. This for some reason made both of them shape up and stand taller and stiffer than before.

“At ease” She tells them, but they refuse to loosen up. She sighs, “Or don’t, but anyway, we are here to see Princess Celestia” She says to them while she motions for us to follow her.

“Yes your majesty” The two reply before giving her a salute.

I lag behind the others so I can stop and stare at the guards for a little bit longer. One of them notices me and is about to say something when Rainbow Dash interrupts him with a “She’s with us buddy” and I quicken my pace to catch up with the rest of the group.

“Well Jasmine” Twilight exclaims as we reach two very large doors. “Welcome to Canterlot Castle!” the doors open and I am witness to one of the most extravagant rooms I have ever seen.

“Woah!” I shout as I walk on the floor. I look down and the floor looks like pure marble. The walls were also marble although they had a mix of some other thing in it.

“Over here Jasmine” Applejack calls out from all the way across the room. Feeling sheepish, I race across the floor to catch up to them.

For some reason they stopped at another set of large double doors. “This here is where we part for a bit Jasmine” Rarity tells me. “Princess Celestia is waiting for you.”

“She’s waiting for me?” I question with my head turned. “Why would she want to wait for me?”

“Oh many reasons darling,” She replies. “But in the end, nopony knows really. It IS Princess Celestia we are talking about. Now come along. It is rude to keep a lady waiting. Especially if she’s a princess”

“Alright then” I take a deep breath. I look back at them and they’re giving my encouraging hoof waves toward the door. Another deep breath and I open the door.

The door lead to a balcony with a gloriously beautiful view of a large part of Equestria. “Ah Jasmine! There you are” A smooth, regal voice says. I turn my head to the sound of the voice to find two chairs and a table. Sitting in one of the chairs is a really tall white alicorn with a mane of varying calm colors. “Please sit” Princess Celestia tells me, “We have much to discuss.”

Curtis groggily wakes up to find himself in a hastily built wooden jail cell. He tries to get up but is stopped by a rattling of chains on the ground.

“H-Hey boss! It’s awake!” He hears someone scream just out of eyesight. A clopping of hooves is heard as a Ponyta with an odd coloring step in.

“Who… Who are you?” Curtis asks, still trying to wake up fully from being hit on the back of the head.

“That is none of your business” the ponyta, gruff sounding Curtis noted, told him. “What IS your business though, is why you did what you did.”
“Wait, what I did? What did I do?”

“You know what you did!” He growled at the dazed riolu. “You made everything stand still! The cactus, the wind, the tumbleweeds! All of it frozen! It has gotten to the point where the SUN doesn’t set anymore! It’s as if time itself stood still in this region!”

Curtis’ eyes widened at that phrase. “What? That wasn’t me!”

“Yes it was! It had to be you! You are the only suspicious looking thing we’ve seen all month!”

His eyes widened even more, “All month? How long has this been going?”

“For the past three months at least. At first we thought it was the changelings. But they are as confused as we are. We sent a letter to the Royal Princesses but they haven’t responded yet. That was a week ago. When you got here we sent our fastest pegasus to the closest train station. That was a day ago. We’re certain he’ll come back with a group of royal guards to take care of you.”

“But I didn’t do it!”

“Then whose fault is it!?” He roars at Curtis.

“I don’t know! But it wasn’t me!” Curtis cries.

A pregnant silence falls between the two as they wait for the other the say something. Finally the stallion breaks the silence with a “I don’t believe you”

Curtis’ eyes widen to the point that any more will expansion will make his eyes burst.

“But” The stallion starts. “Somepony else might. I don’t believe that you’re lying, but I have a feeling you know whats going on. And that makes you suspicious.”

“B-but… Can you let me go?” The pokemon asks meekly

He slowly shook his head. “I'm sorry. I would, but the rest of the town wouldn’t agree to that. You’ll have to stay there.”

He turns around and leaves. Curtis can hear the clopping of those hooves as he cries himself to sleep.

Conversations

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It has been several days since Curtis has been taken. Or at least that’s how long he thinks he has been captured. It is hard to tell when the sun doesn’t move at all.

Over the course of the ‘days’ several ponyta came in to ask him questions. Most of them, if not all we’re “Who are you? What are you? Why did you do this?” And each time he answered very briefly. He told them his name, his race and that he didn’t know. He didn’t do it.

“But you must have seen it before” They say. One said something about he can see it in his eyes. He replies back that yes, he has seen this before. No he didn’t do it. “But you had to do it. Who else would’ve done it?” They would go on to say something about a nightmare, a thing called a “Discord”, and a Chrysalis would never have done this. Usually they would end with “Is there any way to stop this?” And almost answers with a its hard to explain. It requires many steps that neither one knows. They would get frustrated and yell for a bit. When they walk out they always mention that the “Royal Guard” Will come any day now.

Curtis sighs. They loosened the chains a while ago. Before they did that, he contemplated breaking out and find Jasmine, but his mind would wander back to when he went unconscious. There are only two ways for him to faint in one shot: A high level took him down with a good hit, or there was a psychic type around. He could take down the psychic by himself with little to no problem; the problem would be if there were more of them.

He sighs once more. He wished they would at least get a ball to play with. It gets so boring here doing nothing. He hears a clopping of hooves, then another set which makes him look up.

The Riolu sees the Ponyta he first met in prison walking along with a small Rapidash wearing a fancy set of robes. The Rapidash, like the Ponyta, mane isn’t on fire. She, Curtis noted, is also just as tall as the Ponyta, if not slightly smaller.

“Honestly Tumble Weed” The rapidash says. “This better not be one of your attempts to bed me.”

“It’s not” Tumble Weed gruffly replies. “This time I’m serious. We caught something. It claims to know about the time freeze that’s happening around here. It also claims to-“

“Claim it is innocent.” She interrupts him. “Yes I’ve heard that one before. They don’t call me the royal interrogator for nothing. Let me through I’ll make it talk. But remember this. Whether or not I get what I need, it is coming with me. It is an equestrian alien, probably illegal, who is accused of a heinous crime. Now let me through. I have my job to do.”

“If you say so ma’am,” Tumble Weed says. He then whispers quietly, but thanks to Curtis’ acute hearing he can hear it well enough, “Go easy on him. Ever since we caught it, it’s been nothing but cooperative to us”

“I’ll keep that in mind” She says and opens the door.

“Who are you?” Curtis asks.

“I’m Mage Light” The Rapidash known as Mage tells him. “And I will be asking you some questions.”

“Soooo….” I say as I take my seat next to the Princess.

“Hello there Jasmine” She tells me once again as she sips some tea. “Would you care for some tea?”

“Sure…” I say hesitantly as she uses what I assume is a levitate on a teacup and puts it in my outstretched paw.

“I promise it’s not poisoned” She tells me with a small chuckle after I look at it for too long.

“It’s not poison I’m worried about. It’s what comes after I take a sip.”

“Well don’t then. We can go on without the small courtesy.”

“No no,” I politely tell her. “I’ll take a sip. I happen to like tea” I mention as I take a sip of the soft brown tea. “Mmmm smooth” I say through a sigh of bliss. “You wouldn’t happen to have honey now would you?”

Celestia chuckles and passes the honey, “Indeed I do. I prefer honey with my tea too; although nopony seems to serve me any.”

“Ha ha yeah, I know how that feels. I have to buy my honey specifically from a Vespiqueen because no one else sells them.” I comment taking another sip.

“Now that pleasantries are over, how are Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina doing?”

Her comment makes spit my tea I was taking a sip of. I'm fairly certain I nailed a royal guardspony somewhere down there. “W-wait!” I exclaim through gasps and coughs. “You know Dialga!?”

“Why yes, I had the pleasure, or misfortune depending on who you ask to meet them. It was about 500 years ago….

It was a beautiful day back then in Equestria. Back then I didn’t have as many responsibilities as I do now and I still felt depression for banishing Luna to the moon.

On a whim I decided to go for a walk. I left the castle at sundown and took a stroll through the Everfree Forest. I was walking for who knows how long anymore when I met them. They were sitting in a small clearing playing around with several “things” I later now realize were pokemon. But at the time I thought those pokemon were part of my country. They… Devoured into them like they were leaves. All the while they talked about how delicious they tasted.

In a rage, I walked over and yelled at them about why they’re eating poor innocent creatures. All they did was look at me like I had three eyes. I reiterated myself and that’s when they told me and I quote “If Father Arceus wished we didn’t eat other pokemon, he wouldn’t have made them out of meat” and they continued to eat.

Infuriated even more, I casted a lightning spell and casted it at them. The lightning hit dead on but it seemed to do no more than give them a small jolt. They only pause to look at me and say “Do you know who we are?”

Calming down slightly when they talked, I told them I don’t know who they were, because I assumed they would tell me. They didn’t disappoint in that regard as almost immediately they told me. Dialga was, and still is, the master of time, Palkia has the title of space wielder, and Giratina is the lord of antimatter, whatever that is. After asking them who they really were they just stared at me. That was the moment they decided to demonstrate their powers.

“The Everfree Forest is the way it is now because of those three.” Celestia said through another sip of her tea. I’m nodding along, enjoying my tea as well. “Granted they didn’t do it on purpose… Much. I find out later that their magic bled into the equestrian soil and did some things that even I don’t know about to it. That I believe was the final straw for moving the capital of Equestria and henceforth we built Canterlot too by the way.

After their demonstration of power I was awed and suddenly fearful of them. They noticed and they calmed down and asked if I was ok. I nodded and sat down by them. They apologized for the show of force and we chatted for a bit.

I tried to tell them that they weren’t allowed to do what they do here and they asked why. I told them it’s against the law.

Under whose authority they question me. I reply back mine. Of course they ask who I am so I tell them I'm the princess of this nation.

They flat out tell me that they don’t recognize my authority; or my power for that matter. After an angered yell fest of questions they tell me it’s because I'm weak. Surprisingly they tell that to me calmly, and that’s what made me challenge them.

The fight I think lasted for hours. Or it could have been days. It was all a blur to me. By the time the “fight”, if you could even call it that ended I was unconscious. I wake up the next day with a massive headache and those three were still there. They made sure I was okay and they gave me some berries to eat that made me feel even better than before and that’s where we parted ways.”

It was lucky that I had no tea in my mouth when she finished her story. If there was, it would have drooled all over my coat by how wide open my mouth is. “Wow…” Was all I can get my mouth to say.

“Personally I like to think we got off the wrong foot at the beginning.” Celestia said. “When they were taking care of me they seemed to be some of the nicest things I knew. Especially since they basically had the power of gods and never called themselves that. I don’t know what they think of me but I hope it’s nothing too harsh”

“I'm sure they think you’re pretty neat” I comfort her. “I'm fairly certain they don’t hold a grudge… I think.”

She gives me a sly smile, “You think? Well why do you think that?”

“Well…” I sheepishly smile and put a paw behind my head. “I kind of did beat Dialga into the ground with my partner and all he did was send me here”

“Yes that would seem so.” She says after a refill of her tea. Then her face grew serious. “However as enjoyable as it was, that was not the reason I requested you.”

“I look at her slightly confused, I expected it, but at the same time I didn’t. “Oh? Well what do you want to talk about?”

“How much do you know of time gears?”

“That’s all I know. I swear!” Curtis screams loudly at the Rapidash known as Mage Light interrogates him.

“Lies!” She hisses at him. “You HAVE to know something!”

“I told you what I knew!” he cries. “I told you my story about the time gears! I don’t know where they are or how to get to them.”

“And yet you still haven’t told me why you’re here in this world.”

“Again, I told you this already. When you started this 'interrogation' I told you I’m looking for my partner.

Damn Mage Light thinks to herself. he’s telling the truth. If he were lying I would know about it. But he’s our only lead…

“Come here. You’re coming with us.”

“What!?” He exclaims loudly. “Where are you taking me!”

“We’re going to see the Princess. Something doesn’t add up."

In matters of fight or flight, the slightest hesitation makes a difference. Which is why Curtis simply says “No”

A deep silence fills the air as the two do nothing but stare at each other. One has a look of defiance while the other has a look of disbelief. The two Ponyta behind the Rapidash shift uncomfortably as they knew what would come next.

“No? I'm sorry, what did you just say to me?” Mage’s voice is strained.

“No. I'm not going anywhere with you” Curtis says strongly. He wishes Jasmine were here though. He could use her strength right about now. He can feel his nerves about to quit on him. But he must stay strong; for Jasmine!”

“Well I guess I’ll have to fix that then” She says through clenched teeth as her horn lights up.

Curtis uses this moment to attack. With the use of Quick Attack he leaps and rushes his arms forward, breaking the chains that bind him to the ground. Turning, he uses the momentum of the chains and lashes them at Mage, who has to drop her spell to cast a hasty Protect-like shield over herself. The chains connect to the shield and break it on contact. It also destroys the chains in the process.

“What are you doing you fools?” She screams at the two “bodyguards” behind her. “Get him!”

With a nod, the two zerg rush the Riolu. But he was ready. He unleashes the Focus Blast he was charging up at the closest one, smashing his fist right into the poor stallion’s face, sending him flying into the wall. With a quick side roll he is right on the other one and is going to hit him with a Force Palm. Instead he got hit with Psychic and flies into the wall opposite of the stallion whose face he bashed in.

The wall wasn’t able to support him crashing into it, so he soars outside the jail cell he was in. Terrifying the entire town, he gets up. Not too bad, he’s been hit with worse. She’s powerful Curtis thinks to himself. But she isn’t the powerful one who took me out.

Looking to his left and right, he notices the other Ponytas are quickly surrounding him. There are too many of them for him to effectively fight. It reminds him too much of the Monster Mashes in various dungeons when they don’t have any mass paralysis orbs. So trying an impromptu move, he brings a Focus Punch to the ground, causing a makeshift Earthquake.

The results were instant as most of the Ponyta are launched into the air and fall down with an audible THUD!!! Most if not all were knocked out when the made contact with the ground again. All that remained were a couple of the Psychic Rapidash.

For some reason they shoot this weird Aura Sphere like missiles at him. They seem to miss though. A lot. With the use of Quick Attack, most of the ccasters are down and out.

This is too easy Curtis says to no one. Where is the one that took me out?

His question got answered immediately after he asked that. Several rocks were launched at him and hit him in a Psyshock like fashion. The relentless attack of the rocks forces him on his knees to protect himself.

“I am DONE with you! You are coming with me to the Princess!” Mage light roars at him. She charges her horn and points it directly at him. It shouldn’t miss.

With a tremendous force of will Curtis pushes forward, the pounding of rocks ceases to relent so much that the old rocks are starting to be reused to be thrown again. Gritting his teeth he jumps right in front of the unicorn with the use of Quick Attack and through even more Quick Attacks delivers a quick brutal onslaught of punches, kicks, and bites.

The unicorn fell on her knees and screamed once more. Her psychic energy wraps itself around Curtis and throws him several feet away into a wooden cart. “MY CABBAGES!” the owner of the cart screams as he climbs out of the broken cart.

Curtis notices that several of these Ponyta now have golden looking armor and Mage Light is surrounded by other Psychic type Rapidash. “Give up now creature! We have you surrounded!” one of the Rapidash shouts.

“You fool!” Mage shouts at the Ponyta. “Don’t negotiate with it! Take it down!”

“Yes ma’am” The he answered as he and several others shoot a wave of Psychic energy at him and obliterate him into the next two buildings.

His vision failing him, the exhausted Riolu can barely hear the words “Did we get him?”

“I think so” some other Ponyta said. Curtis barely can hear him.

“Great! Let’s get him packed up and loaded on the carriage. I want it at Canterlot before he wakes up now!” He couldn’t hear who said that, for when he almost could recognize the voice, his eyes started blackening, and he fell unconscious for the second time.

Reunion

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“… And that’s how I ended up here” I finish saying to her. I just finished my entire tale of saving the planet with Curtis and that took the better part of several days. Apparently Celestia wanted to hear every little detail from my adventures with Curtis. It still awed me to see Celestia raise and lower the sun like a god.

“Well that is certainly quite a tale,” Celestia mumbles through a mouthful of cake that she ordered. “I’m not even sure I would believe it even if I was there!”

I was about to reply to her when a royal guard came in. “Sorry to interrupt Princess” He said with a bow. “But I am here for two things. First….” He hesitates and looks around, as if he is guilty of a crime and is trying to claim he’s innocent.

“It’s ok” the solar princess soothes the guard. “I don’t shoot the messenger for bringing bad news. You know that.”

“R-right” He said through a deep breath. “Of course, my apologies your majesty.” He takes another breath as the princess nods for him to go on. “First, we have reports of another region being... Frozen in time.”

The air around mine and the princess’ breath tensed as quickly as it came. No one said anything for a good minute before I manage to say one word. “What?”

“Indeed madam. We have reports that the Northern Equestria and the Crystal Empire have been frozen in time. Evidence being that the snowstorms that the region is known for are all not moving. Even when the snow is in midair, it didn’t float to the ground. Pegasi report that it’s more difficult for them to fly within the region and the unicorns report a distinct lack of magic. Conclusion: Princess, all evidence points to a time gear being stolen from that region.”

“I see…” Celestia’s face is rather grim. Then it immediately lightened up, to my surprise. “You said there were two reports. What of the second one?”

“Well this one is much lighter I can tell you that much Princess. The provoker of the Dodge Junction Incident has been captured about a week ago by this point and the Royal Interrogator Mage Light personally went to question the captive. We received a letter yesterday saying she is taking it up to Canterlot for further questioning and just entered the city as we speak.”

“Dodge Junction?” I ask curiously. Celestia answered for me.

“It is a place near the changeling badlands. We had reports of a blue bipedal dog thing making a disturbance. At first we thought it was an oddly colored diamond dog but we were wrong. Reports are sketchy but shortly after capture and several questionings he broke out and fought against our guards that were stationed there. Mage Light’s personal guards took the worst of the injuries during a close quarters engagement with it. So Mage Light threw it out the window and the guard rushed it an attempt to subdue it. It surprised everyone when it slammed its fist in the ground and caused a mini earthquake to erupt. We managed to subdue it by having our mages fire waves of magic projectiles at it.”

The guard nodded in agreement. “Indeed, as the princess stated. As I said before, they have arrived recently and the Royal Interrogator should report in soon.” He gives off a quick salute. “Your majesty, with your permission I take my leave.” he says, and the moment Celestia nodded at him for him to go on, he turns around and walks back into the castle.

“Did he say really say a bluish wolf thing?” I say aloud.

“Indeed he did. I believe he said his species name is a…. Riolu I think it was?”

My ears perk up and I jump out of my seat. “A Riolu!? Are you sure?”

“Yes I am certain the report said it was a Riolu, why?” she asks curiously.

“Weren’t you listening!? My partner was a Riolu! It’s him! It’s Curtis!” Without waiting for her to reply I race away from the balcony and down the hallway to where the gates are in the castle. I turn (and bump into) the corner to see a battlionish of guards surrounding a lone Riolu.

“Curtis!” I scream happily and charge toward him, intent on getting a hug from a long lost friend.

Curtis turns toward my voice and beams at me the moment his eyes lay upon me. “Jasmine!” He screams as his chains that held his arms together broke off, scaring his guards back several feet. He leaps toward me and I ran even faster to meet with him even sooner.

The moment we made contact makes everything feel right. Like from now on, everything will be okay and nothing bad can happen anymore.

“Oh Jasmine…. You’re alright.” Curtis says in the middle of our hug.

“And you’re here,” I reply back. “Not that it is a bad thing I mean, but what are you doing here? I thought Dialga put me here. How did you get here?”

He breaks the hug; “By Dialga of course!” he smile gets bigger. “I came here to look for you. To take you home.”

“Take me home? How? I’ve been here for…. Two weeks I think? Two weeks and I haven’t seen a clue on how to get home.”

“Don’t worry about that. Dialga gave me something to let us know when to pick us up.”

“Really? That’s great!” I nearly bounce in joy. Then I grow serious and slightly grim. “But… We can’t leave yet. This planet needs us.”

“Really? Why, what happened?”

“Time…” I start but Celestia cuts me off.

“Time has come to a standstill here.” She looks at the guards, still tense and ready to pounce on Curtis at any moment “Stand down. This one here is with her.” Immediately they relaxed.

“Welcome to Equestria Curtis. I hope your stay here wasn’t too troublesome. I apologize by the way, for what has happened. The guards didn’t know what to do and I feel, while at times it went a little too far, but they handled it very well.”

“It’s no problem your majesty” Curtis replies simply. “They didn’t do anything that a good night’s sleep won’t heal.”

“Are you sure? From what my reports say you took quite a beating” the solar princess asks, genuinely concerned.”

“Yeah, like I said, nothing some sleep won’t fix…. And maybe some oran berries. Those guards hurt.”

The smile quickly came back on the princess, “I would hope so. They were trained to take down higher beings…. Supposed to anyway” Her face went through a series of facial movements that I couldn’t make out. “But that is not what I wish to ask of you” she looks down on the two of us. “Will you help us recover our time gears and defeat the menace that stole them?”

“But what if the one who took the time gears is doing this for good?”

“Then we help them save our planet” the reply is simply put.

I look over to Curtis, “Well? What do you say? Save the world or walk away?”

“What do you think? We’re explorers!” He looks at Celestia. “We’re in”

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Friendship

by mooneyboys

Friendships New and Old [Edited]

Misunderstandings and Introductions

Sugar High and Nostalgia

Investigations and More Misunderstandings

communications

Conversations

Reunion