A side story to zuesdemigod131's A New World, a New Way, telling the story of Eva and her partner Absol, the past they share, and how they met Gene and Belle on Earth, reuniting on Equus years later.
This is the story of Eva, a young former Top Ranger, and her partner Pokémon, Zero, and how they first met Gene and Belle on Earth, and how they reunited in Equus years later, with their forms radically changed.
NEW: Following Part 2, we will be going back in time to Earth for some backstory of Eva and Zero, as well as how they reacted upon arriving on Equus.
NEW #2: Due to issues involving my OCs, I will be changing the story behind Lovely Feathers so it will be more AU and won't involve alicorn oc. Be sure to keep an eye on the Equus arrival chapter for changes. Also, thanks to the Stag Prince for helping in rethinking the idea behind Lovely Feathers.
Please enjoy. Comments and critique are greatly accepted ^^
The Nidoran♀ inspected its paw before giving a happy chirp.
Eva couldn't help but laugh as she watched the gunmetal-colored Poison-type bounce around merrily, its male counterpart making excited sounds as well. The red-head got to her feet, placing the leftover bandages and antiseptic in the medicine bag on the bench.
"Now be sure to go easy on that paw from now on," Eva's partner Absol, Zero, told the Nidoran♀.
The tiny Pokémon nodded before she and her companion scurried off.
Eva sat down on the bench and ran her hand affectionately along Zero's cheek. "I'm glad to have you with me, Zero." She then quickly surveyed her surroundings and, seeing as no one was around, placed a kiss on the same cheek she had pet.
Zero returned the gesture by licking his partner's cheek back. He looked at Eva with loving crimson eyes, meeting the girl's emerald-green ones.
Tears started to streak Eva's cheeks as she tightly hugged Zero's neck, careful to avoid his scythe-like appendage. She had been raised on the ideal that all humans and Pokémon are created equal and should be loved so, but the teachings she had received while attending Ranger School had caused great confusion, making her question her morals. Even after being promoted to Top Ranger, she tried her best to avoid the Poképhilia cases, hating seeing innocent trainers being separated from their Pokémon simply because they cared deeply for each other. Eva remembered the conversation she had had with her parents when she reached out to them for guidance, the pained looks they gave her upon hearing that humans and Pokémon couldn't be together because they weren't of the same race etched into her mind.
It was not long after this talk that Zero became Eva's Partner Pokémon and the attraction between one another was almost instant. Hiding their relationship was no easy feat, being based at the center of anti-Poképhilia in Almia. Eva was almost grateful when she collapsed after getting electrocuted by a frightened Electavire, forcing her to give up her Top Ranger status due to the extensive damage to her heart. Although she would be called upon when the Union was in need of extra hands from time to time, her life had become very quiet, allowing her and Zero to express their love for one another more often.
The sound of beeping was heard and Eva let go of Zero to grab her pager. It said "From Cynthia: Call me ASAP." Eva blinked a few times and re-examined the page, making sure she had read it correctly. It had been some time since she had heard from the Sinnoh-League Champion having not spoken with her since Eva had learned that Cynthia was against the Ranger Union's ideals towards Poképhilia.
"I wonder what's up," Eva stated as she grabbed her medicine bag and got to her feet. Turning to her partner she added "I'm pretty sure the professor has a video-phone in the lab. Let's go."
In Professor Juniper's Lab…
"I'm glad you got my message," Cynthia said over the phone. "Iris said you might be at Juniper's lab, but she didn't want raise suspicion by flying over there herself."
Eva blinked in confusion. "What do you mean? Is everything alright?"
Cynthia sighed heavily and shook her head. "I'm afraid not. Has Iris ever told you of a friend of hers by the name of Gene Phillips?"
Eva racked her brain for a few seconds, then remembering a conversation she had had with the Unova Champion where the name had come up. "Yeah; Iris said that Gene is a trainer who's fallen in love with his Gardevoir, Belle, right?" That's when it suddenly clicked. Oh, Arceus, no! "Please don't tell me that the Union has found out about him!?"
"I'm afraid so. Apparently, Gene told his mother that he and Belle were going to get married, and she ratted him out to the Union. Every available Ranger is heading to Undella Town to arrest him. Iris and I have already contacted some Champions and Elite Four Members; I'm heading over there myself, but-"
Eva shook her head. "Say no more. Just send him and Belle towards the woods outside of town. I'll meet up with them and cover their tracks."
Cynthia sighed in relief. "Thank you, Eva. I'll see you soon." The screen then went black as the Champion hung up the phone.
Eva hung up the phone as well and turned to Zero. "Ready to save a fugitive?"
Her partner nodded firmly. "Ab-sol."
"Everything alright?" Professor Juniper appeared around the corner, a concerned look on her face.
"Sorry, Professor," Eva apologized, bowing. "There's trouble in Undella Town. Iris and Cynthia need my help."
Juniper nodded in understanding. "Alright, but be careful. Remember what the doctor said."
Eva smiled and gave the professor a thumbs up. "Don't worry. Thanks for everything." And with that, she and Zero rushed out of the lab.
"I'll never forgive her!" Gene stated angrily. He clenched his hands into fists until his knuckles turned white, all the while rushing out of the city with Belle at his side.
"There's no point in worrying about that now, dear," Belle replied telepathically. "Iris said someone should be waiting for us just up ahead."
Not a moment later, they spotted, to their surprise, an Absol, almost seeming to be waiting for them within the tree lines. The Disaster Pokémon motioned with its head for the two of the them to follow as it vanished over a small hill.
Gene turned to Belle, who nodded, indicating that the Dark-type could be trusted. They climbed the small hill and began to descend on the other side, but they were suddenly pulled into a hollow tree trunk by a Psychic attack. They turned and saw a Gothorita and the Absol with stern looks, as if telling them to keep quiet.
"I think I saw them go this way," a male voice could be heard in the distance.
"Even if the Gardevoir used Teleport, they couldn't have gotten far," another voice, this one female, added.
Footsteps started to come get closer and closer, dangerously within range of Gene and Belle's hiding spot.
Be ready to push our way out of here, Gene thought, knowing his partner could hear him.
Two shadows appeared over the hillside, forcing those in hiding to all hold their breath. They began to approach the tree, but yet another voice, also female, was heard, causing the first two to stop.
"Hey, guys. It's been a while."
Gasps of surprise sounded from the shadows as they climbed back up the hill.
"Miss Eva?" The female voice asked in shock.
"What are you doing here?" The male voice chimed in.
A huff. "That's not nice. Just because I'm not as high up in the food chain as I use to doesn't mean I'm still not your superior officer."
"S-Sorry," the male apologized. "You just surprised us. Everyone thought you were spending your days back in Almia."
"I was," the new voice stated. "But Professor Juniper invited me to stay with her at her lab in Nuvema Town and help with taking care of some of the Pokémon she's studying."
"Well, we're glad to have you here, Miss Eva," the first female voice said. "Hey; where's your partner?"
"I had him scout the area for the fugitive. We got this area covered, so why don't you two head back towards the city in case they doubled back?"
"Alright then," the male voice agreed. "Contact us if you find anything."
"Will do."
The two shadows disappeared and their voices slowly faded until they could no longer be heard.
After a few moments of silence, the most recent newcomer sighed. "You can come out now."
The Absol and Gothorita stepped out of the tree, the Absol turning back to Gene and Belle, silently asking them to follow.
The two looked at each other for a moment, Belle nodding her head, seeming to believe the Absol. Holding hands, they left the safety of their hiding spot and into the open.
"Sorry I had Gothorita grab you like that, but those two Rangers were right on your tail."
The couple swerved around to see a young woman with long, red-brown hair looking down at them from atop the hill. The Absol stood close to her side, while the Gothorita sat on her shoulder, a smile on its face.
"Who are you?" Belle questioned telepathically in a threatening tone.
The fur along the Absol's spine began to bristle, making him appear twice his size. "How dare you speak to someone like that who just saved your skin!" He growled.
The girl placed a hand on the Absol's head, calming him instantly. She looked at the Dark-type with soft eyes, before turning back to Gene and Belle. "Please don't mind Zero; he's just looking out for me." She climbed down the hill and stood in front of the two, extending her hand to Gene. "The name's Eva Marks. You must be Gene, am I right?"
Gene's eyes grew wide, before they turned suspicious. "How do you know who I am?"
Eva seemed unfazed by the cold attitude and smiled warmly, adjusting the blue-tipped white lotus flower in her hair with the small brush of her hand. "Oh, a little birdie by the name of Iris told me," she teased. "I hear you two are good friends."
The boy blinked in surprise, surprised at how Eva had answered in such a nonchalant manner.
Belle, however, was yet to be convinced that this Eva girl could be trusted. "How did you know that we would be here? Do you work for the Ranger Union?"
Eva placed a hand to her chin and looked at the ground as if trying to think over the next few words she would say. "Hmmm… I would be lying if I said I don't, but then again, I don't take orders from them at the same time."
Gene and Belle looked at her, clearly confused.
The red-head seemed to notice this and chuckled as she rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "Sorry; I guess that sounded strange. Let me explain; you see, at one time, I was a Top Ranger, so I never had to take orders from anyone except the very top, but I had to give up my position after an accident forced me into early retirement." She pushed the shoulder of shirt down slightly, revealing blackened skin.
Shocked looks crossed Gene and Belle's faces, the sight sending shivers down both their spines.
Eva quickly covered her shoulder once more, a slightly pained look on her face. However, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a sincere and calmer face. She turned to Belle and said "I understand that it's hard to trust someone who you've just met, especially after what you two have gone through. That's why I'm gonna leave you with a few options. The first option is that you may leave now. I will not stop you, but I cannot guarantee that you will escape the eyes of the Union without my aid; which brings us to the second option." She picked up the Gothorita and placed it back on the ground, then took a deep breath, and finished "You may comb through my mind and look wherever you wish. I will hold back nothing if that is what it takes to earn your trust."
Zero's eyes grew wide and he looked up at his partner in astonishment. "Ab-sol Ab!"
Eva looked down at the Pokémon sweetly. "I'll be fine. It's my heart that can't take the strain, not my mind." She retuned her gaze to Belle, waiting for the Gardevoir to respond.
Unsure, Belle turned to Gene for guidance. The boy smiled and nodded, silently telling her that a little digging wouldn't hurt. Belle nodded back, then looked at the red-head. "We will give you the benefit of the doubt. I promise not to probe into anything too private."
Eva smiled. "Thank you." She then closed her eyes, opening her mind to the Gardevoir.
Using her psychic power, Belle's eyes glowed as she probed into Eva's mind, and almost instantly, she could hear voices that were part of one of the Ranger's memories.
"Do what you think is right, Eva."
"I love him, but I don't know what to do."
"Never doubt yourself, Eva. Trust your heart, for that is your greatest guide."
"I'll abandon my position if that's what it takes to get away from the judgement of the Union and be with him."
"We will support whatever choice you make."
"No matter what happens, you will always have the support of us Champions~!"
"Thank you. Iris. Cynthia."
"Let us work together to prove that humans and Pokémon can be together."
"Yeah~!"
Then, Belle began to see different images, all of which made her heart flutter. She pulled out of Eva's mind and the glow faded. When her eyes returned to normal, she turned to her partner and smiled. "We can trust her." Gazing back at Eva she added "I know without a shadow of a doubt that she's here to help us."
Trusting his partner, Gene accepted this and held out his hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Eva."
The Ranger's emerald-green eyes lit up and she greatly accepted Gene's hand with her own and shook it. "The same goes for you, Gene."
Belle smiled at the forming of the new friendship, while Zero kept his neutral look, but was inside very relieved that it had gone so well.
Unbeknownst to all of those present in the forest, however, a small pink Pokémon was watching from the shadows of the trees high above, giggling to herself.
Lunick and Solana, along with their partners Plusle and Minun, all sat near the edge of a river outside of Ponyville, thinking over what Princess Twilight told them.
"I feel sick to my stomach," the recently transformed Medicham muttered, Plusle placing a paw on her knee, looking at the former Top Ranger with a sad expression.
Lunick, who had been staring at his reflection in the river, turned away in disgust. "Even with a new body, I still can't look at myself."
"So many innocent relationships we destroyed," Solana continued. "How can anyone call that justice!?"
The transformed Hitmontop just shook his head, having no answer.
A pregnant silence followed, the only sound that of the river flowing. Plusle and Minun at this time looked at one another, then nodded and the former broke the quiet atmosphere.
"So; what do we do now?"
There was no response right away, and another episode of uncomfortable silence would have surely come to pass, if not a new voice had replied.
"Trust your hearts, for they are your greatest guides."
The group all looked up to see who had spoken, almost seeming to recognize it.
"No way," Lunick said, just barely above a whisper.
The figure smiled. "Arceus must have great plans if he brought you here, don't you agree?"
"That should do it," Rarity said gleefully as she finished writing down the measurements for Gene's tuxedo.
Gene sighed in relief, finally being able to move after having to hold still for so long. The Gallade rolled his neck and shoulders, creating loud cracking sounds.
Belle could only laugh at her mate, seeing how exhausted he was. "Look at it this way; at least you can rest on the train ride."
Gene gave the Gardevoir a soft smile and nodded, then turned to Rarity, who was already looking over designs for the couple. "We'll be leaving for the station now."
The unicorn did not look up from her work, but managed to wave as they headed out the door. "Stay safe, dears."
"We will," Belle replied as they exited the Carousel Boutique, holding hands. As they headed for the train station, the clock tower chimed, indicating that it was half-past six.
"Looks like we may get there a little before the others," Gene pointed out. "Should we head back to Twilight's and go with her and Juniper?"
Before Belle could respond, a voice caught their attention.
"Why am I not surprised that you would take that form?"
The two Psychic-types turned towards a small group of trees to see two figures step out from the shadows.
They seemed to have canine-like appearances, but had very short snouts. Their faces were a sort of navy-blue shade, the same being said of their claws and strange scythe-like appendages on the right side of their heads and as a tail. Snow-white fur graced the rest of their body, some of the fur atop their heads hooking down the left side of their face, one of the two figures having this piece of fur concealing its left eye slightly, a blue lotus keeping it from covering the creature's entire face. Tall, oval-shaped horns the same shade as their skin sat atop their foreheads just above where the fur started on their head.
Gene and Belle looked at the two Pokémon, trying to place a familiar face on at least one of them.
"I feel like I know you from somewhere, but can't remember where exactly," Gene stated.
Belle nodded in agreement.
The Absol who had the lotus in its fur giggled, giving off the sound that was clearly female. "I can't blame you for failing to recall. We did only meet once, and even then, we never had time to get to know each other, what with us trying to get you two as far away from Undella Town as possible."
The couple's eyes immediately lit up, placing a familiar voice with the Dark-type. "Eva!?" They exclaimed at the same time.
The Pokémon smiled. "The memories held within our hearts never lie. I'm relieved to see that Arceus deemed you worthy and brought you both here."
Gene walked over to Eva and, kneeling down, hugged the Disaster Pokémon's neck, careful to avoid the scythe on the side of her head. "It's good to see you, Eva. How have you been?"
Zero and Belle joined in, standing by their respected partners.
Eva pulled away and looked off into the distance, a sad look on her face. "To be honest, from a month leading up to the day Arceus brought us here, I was in the hospital."
Gene and Belle gasped.
"What happened!?" Belle asked almost frantically.
Eva brought her eyes down to her chest, placing a paw on it. "My heart was failing. My condition was worst than the doctors had originally thought and I had to be put on a heart-transplant list… They lost me a few times and were worried I wouldn't even make it through the surgery." She then looked back at her friends and her warm smile returned. "But when I woke up here in Equestria, it didn't hurt as much. I still have an occasional sting in my chest, but other than that, I'm cured."
The couple sighed in relief, followed by smiles of their own.
"That's great news," Gene congratulated.
Eva nodded. "Although I may never get my real body back, I'm rather glad that Arceus gave me this opportunity." Saying that, she nuzzled Zero's cheek and gave it a lick.
This caught Gene by surprise, but Belle knew all too well of Eva's feelings for the Dark-type. Ever since that day where the former Ranger let Belle search her mind, the Psychic-type had kept those images of Eva and her partner sharing loving moments deep within her heart.
Just then, a familiar voice called out Gene and Belle's names. The group turned to see Professor Juniper floating towards them, pacing herself.
"What are you two doing here?" The Beheeyem asked with a sort of irritated tone. "We need to get to the station early so we don't… make a… scene." She slowed her words as she looked at Eva and Zero, an interested look on her face.
Eva smirked. "Looks like your research got the best of you, Professor," she teased.
Juniper's eyes grew wide as she immediately recognized the voice. "Eva!" The former Pokémon Professor quickly wrapped her arms around the newly transformed Absol, squeezing tight. "I'm so glad to see you were brought here!"
Eva chuckled as she patted Juniper's back. "Good to… see you too…, Professor. Could you…. possibly…. let me…. go?"
The Cerebral Pokémon gasped and instantly released her death grip, blushing in embarrassment.
"How do you know Eva, Professor?" Gene inquired.
Juniper turned to the Gallade and stated "I actually met her through Iris and Cynthia."
"They brought me to Professor Juniper's lab in Nuvema Town not long after my accident," Eva added. "They thought that staying cooped up in my house back in Almia wasn't good for my health and I could get some fresh air at the lab while helping out with the Professor's research."
"It also gave us a chance to spend more private time together," Zero said as he nuzzled Eva, having remained utterly silent up until that moment.
"I'm glad to see that everything turned out alright for the two of you," Juniper commented.
Belle and Gene nodded in agreement.
The clock rang out three times, indicating it was a quarter-to.
"You should all probably get going," Eva pointed out. "I'll tell you everything when you get back."
The group nodded and said their goodbyes as they quickly headed for the train station.
The moment they disappeared from sight, a giggle was heard from above and a young, yellow pegasus mare dropped down to the ground, landing beside Eva and her partner. She blew a stray strand of her fiery-orange mane out of her face before sporting a giant grin that would make Pinkie proud.
"Quite the friends you got there, Eva."
Eva smiled and nodded. "All my friends are very dear to me. To see them so alive and well, it warms my heart." Saying this, she looked down at her chest and placed a paw on it.
"Do you feel better, having seen them?" The mare asked.
"Yeah." Eva turned to the pegasus and bowed her head. "Thanks for bringing me here, Muse. Shall we head back?"
The mare nodded. "My mom is waiting just outside of town. Let's get going."
The group headed for the edge of town, unaware of a certain pink Legendary Pokémon watching from the cover of tree branches, giggling to herself.
Eva Marks was only ten years old when she and her family decided to leave the bustling city of Lumiouse City in the Kalos Region for the more quiet and serene forest region of Almia. From the very moment she stepped onto the region that was home to the Pokémon Rangers Headquarters, Eva wanted to become a Ranger, dedicating her life to helping people and Pokémon alike. Her parents were more than willing to support their daughter, and enrolled her in Ranger School at the age of 15.
However, Eva learned early on in her education that certain… ideals, were viewed in ways that made the teen question the teachings she had received from her parents since before she could talk. During Christmas break, Eva was staying with her family and had brought up the subject after dinner the day before New Year's Eve.
"Mom. Dad. Why is it so wrong to love Pokémon like how humans love other humans?"
Mrs. Marks, who was washing the dishes at this time, suddenly dropped the baby blue plate she was drying, causing it to shatter into many sharp pieces. Mr. Marks stared at this daughter with astonished emerald-green eyes that Eva had inherited, seeming dumbstruck.
After quickly cleaning up the broken china, Eva and her parents sat on the living room couch as Eva explained to them the "lessons" she had been taught about Poképhilia and how it was the most shunned crime against nature itself. As she told her parents about the horrid videos she and her fellow peers had watched in class, anguish became clearly visible on the adults' faces, Mrs. Marks having to fight back tears.
When Eva finished, there were a few moments of silence before her father coughed uncomfortably and spoke up. "What do you think is the right thing, Eva?"
The teen looked down at her lap, an unsure expression on her face. "I… I know that there are some people who take advantage of their Pokémon's trust to do… that sort of thing, but, surely not everyone who has fallen in love with their Pokémon is bad, right?" She returned her eyes to her parents for clarity.
They both nodded, proud looks meeting their daughter's.
"Always remember this, Eva," her mother started. "Whenever you are in doubt, trust your heart, for that is your greatest guide."
And from that point on, that's exactly what Eva did. She learned the skills of a Ranger and graduated the following spring. She was assigned to the frigid Shiver Camp of northern Almia where she quickly climbed the ranks. It was during her last mission just before she had to report back to HQ to accept her Top Ranger status when she met her partner Pokémon and the one being she would spend her entire life with.
A researcher who had been exploring Almia Castle had been reported missing after failing to return to the camp three days prior. Snow storms had been more frequent and temperatures were far below normal, leading the researcher to believe something was occurring at the castle and left to investigate. When he did not return after two days, Eva was called upon to search for the scientist. Despite the dangers, Eva braved the blizzard, not wanting to let the researcher spend another night in the unforgiving storm.
After crossing Ice Lake by Empoleon, the young Ranger began to search for the missing man, squinting against the blistering wind and flying snow. The events that followed forever remained in Eva's memory.
The howling wind nearly concealed the sound of beating wings, but when it reached Eva's ears, however, she had less than a heartbeat to narrowly dodge the outstretched claws of a certain Legendary Bird Pokémon. Unfortunately, as she did so, the teen slipped on a piece of ice, causing her ankle to tilt sideways, spraining it. Eva cried out in pain as she lost her footing and began to slide down a slope, the freezing waters of the lake just below.
Yet, just when Eva would have fallen into the dark blue lake, a shadow appeared out of nowhere and caught the Ranger by the hood of her heavy winter coat, landing on a patch of fresh snow. As she was set down, Eva took several deep breaths, trying to calm her pounding heart.
When she managed to catch her breath, she looked up at her savior, only to find, to her utter surprise, a tall Absol, its oddly-colored amber eyes looking down at her intently, almost seeming to ask if she was alright.
"Th-thanks," Eva stammered, trying to recover from her initial shock.
There was a screech from above and both looked up to see an enraged Articuno glaring down at them. It began to beat its wings hard, summoning a strong gust of wind, while at the same lifting its head to the sky, charging an Ice Beam attack. Acting quickly, the Absol scooped up Eva onto its back with ease and leapt out of the way, just as the Articuno fired its Ice Beam right where the two had been not a split second before.
"Absol. Sol Absol!" The Disaster Pokémon was barking at the Ice-type, seeming to try and reason with the Legendary Bird.
However, this only seemed to enrage the Articuno further, for it fired another Ice Beam, which Absol dodged once more.
Seeing that the Absol was struggling, Eva made a quick plan in her mind and looked down at her rescuer. "Let me down! I have an idea!"
The Dark-type was hesitant for a minute, but eventually complied and set the Ranger down.
Eva stumbled as she tried to steady on her sprained ankle, but managed to stay on her feet, and lifted the bottom of her coat slightly, revealing her Capture Styler. She released it from its holster and pointed the instrument up at Articuno before calling out "Capture ON!" She clicked the center button, sending the Capture Disc flying towards the Legendary, a neon-blue line following the path of the disc.
As it began to circle Articuno, the Ice/Flying-type let out another screech and started an Ice Shard attack, summoning several large crystals of ice around it. Flapping its wings forward, the crystals shot down straight for Eva. However, before the teen could dodge, the Absol jumped in front of her and shot a powerful Flamethrower attack up at the Ice Shard attack, instantly melting right through them and hitting Articuno at the same time. The Legendary Bird Pokémon cried out in pain and was pushed back several feet in mid-air.
"Please calm yourself, Articuno!" Eva cried out, conveying her physical friendship towards the agitated Pokémon. Seeing her chance, she waved her styler, creating the sigil for a completed capture. As she did so, the loop around Articuno shrank until it fused with it, causing the Legendary to glow white for a split moment. When the light faded, Articuno appeared less upset and the blizzard came to a slow halt.
Eva sighed in relief and fell down to her knees in the snow, an exhausted look on her slightly pink face. She did, however, manage to look up at the Legendary Bird and, seeing that it had calmed, smiled.
Articuno bowed its head in thanks, before taking off, disappearing over the icy mountains. As it did so, it let out a content cry and took the storm clouds away, bringing back the dearly-missed Sun.
The young Ranger gave a silent goodbye before passing out, no strength left in her body.
When Eva came to the following morning, she learned that the Absol had brought her as well as the researcher -who had been holed up in the castle during the storm- back to Shiver Camp. When she told the story to her fellow Rangers, as well as those at HQ after a week of recovering, they were skeptical, but the data in her Styler was all the proof she needed.
As life went on, Eva and her partner - whose name she learned was Zero with the help of a friend's invention that let her understand Pokémon- traveled the regions together, helping those in need. It wasn't until the first year after they became partners, however, when the relationship between them became more than just partners.
It all started when Eva and Zero were on a mission in the Hoenn Region. After a believed brief awakening of Groudon, the region was stuck in a horrible drought. Eva -as well as several other Rangers and one particular Field Ranger by the name of Jackie Walker- were assigned different parts of the region to bring water relief. With most of the Water Pokémon having fled to damper areas, Eva had decided to borrow her parents' Pokémon. The team consisted of a Ampharos and Golduck from her father and an Azumarill, Vaporeon and Swanna from her mother.
After bringing heavy rainfall to Rustboro City and the surrounding area, she decided to make a quick stop in Petalburg to visit some old family friends. Just as she reached the outskirts of the city, she ran into Mr. Briney, another old friend of her family's, and his partner Wingull, Peeko.
"Are my old eyes deceiving me, or is that little Eva?" Mr. Briney teased.
Eva smiled as she walked up to the old sailor and gave him a hug. "It's so good to see you, Mr. Briney. It's been a long time."
Mr. Briney chuckled. "Too long, child. How are your folks doin'?"
"They're wonderful," Eva replied. "They really wish they could have come, but the drought is making it too dangerous. They did say they might visit close to the holidays though."
"That's good to hear," Mr Briney stated with a nod, then seemed to notice Eva's attire and Zero, who was at her side. "I see you've joined the Ranger Union, and you've got quite the Partner Pokémon there. I hear that most Absol's prefer to be loners, but it seems this one's taken quite a liking to you."
Eva nodded as she looked down at Zero and pet the top of his head. "Zero's a great partner. In fact, today is the one-year anniversary of when we met in Almia."
Mr. Briney gave a mischievous smile. "From the looks of things, Zero sees you as more than just a comrade."
Eva felt her body go numb upon hearing this, while a visible blush became visible on Absol's face.
The old sailor laughed. "Do not fear, my dear child. I am fully aware of the Ranger Union's disapproval of humans loving their Pokémon on an intimate level, but I'm also aware of your parents' teachings and fully approve." Saying this, he scratched Peeko under the chin, who had been sitting on the man's shoulder. "The world has accepted the fact that those of the same gender can love one another, and we've known for many years that Pokémon are just as intelligent as we are, if not more so, so the idea that humans and Pokémon loving one another is sick and cruel makes me wonder what has become of this world. Do not get me wrong; I believe that there are some humans out there who use Pokémon for horrible acts and the Union is doing what they believe is right, but I have met so many trainers and their Pokémon that are always living in fear of being discovered breaks my heart. However, I believe that in time, the Union will see light, and having someone with strong beliefs in Pokémon and human equality such as yourself may just be the key to it all."
Eva was speechless, which caused Mr. Briney to laugh again. "Don't let it overwhelm you, Eva. Take it one step at a time. I'm sure that you'll one day get there, and Zero will no doubt be there every step of the way." Looking up at the sky, he added "Well, I must be off. Good luck, and send my regards to your folks." With that, the old sailor slowly headed back towards his home on the beach.
Once he was out of sight, Eva reached into her pocket and pulled out a blue and white earpiece. She slipped it over her right ear, tapped a button, and looked down at her partner. "Is… what he said true? Is that how you really feel about me?"
To any other person, they would have only heard random barking from Zero, but thanks to the small device on Eva's ear, the Absol's voice came out clear English to the Top Ranger.
"Y-Yes… For the longest time, even from the moment I saved you during that blizzard and our eyes met, I knew there was something really special about you. I had lived my entire life alone up until that point, not really knowing what it meant to care for someone, but at that moment, I wished for nothing more than to be by your side. I love you, Eva, and I don't care what the Union or anyone else for that matter thinks; the feelings I have for you are real."
Eva's eyes began to turn red as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her body shook as a soft smile graced her face and she fell to her knees, leaning forward and hugging Zero's neck, careful to avoid his large horn.
"Eva?" Zero asked, clearly concerned.
"I… I'm so glad," Eva mumbled from beneath Zero's white fur, dampening it with her salty tears. "I'm so glad… that you have feelings for me. I… I also have felt a strong bond between us that seemed more than just a partnership, but I was so worried that you.. you wouldn't…" She couldn't find herself to finish the sentence and just contented to keep crying, Zero resting his head on Eva's shoulder, nuzzling her sweetly.
After pulling herself together and drying the tears, Eva led the way into Petalburg City. After climbing the small hill, she and Zero reached the temple-like building that housed the Petalburg City Gym, as well as the Gym Leader and his family. Eva took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Only to have a large explosion respond, a small earthquake accompanying it. Concerned, Eva and Zero rushed inside the gym on high alert, but the moment they saw the scene before them, they relaxed.
A Wartortle and Beautifly were beside each other on the battle field, staring embarrassingly at a destroyed bench that was against the wall. Not too far away from the Pokémon, a teenager about Eva's age with brown hair had her head bowed and was shaking it slowly, her right hand covering her eyes in embarrassment.
"Where did it go wrong?" The teen muttered to herself.
Eva smiled sympathetically and walked over to the girl, placing a hand on the latter's shoulder and forcing her to look up. "Practice makes perfect, May. Even a high-ranked Coordinator should know that."
It took a few seconds, but the brunette eventually seemed to recognize Eva, for her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "Eva!" She nearly squealed as she hugged the Ranger around the neck, only to let go a heartbeat later and rush towards a door that led further into the building. "Mom! Dad! Eva's here!" She called out as she opened the door.
A few more seconds passed before footsteps could be heard coming down the hall and three individuals hurried out. Norman and Caroline's eyes lit up the same way May's did, while Max blinked in confusion, obviously not aware as to why his family was excited.
Eva walked up to the family, Zero at her side. When she was standing before them, she gave a warm smile. "It's so good to see you all again."
Caroline hugged the teen affectionately. "It's been far too long, Eva." She backed away slightly and cupped Eva's chin with her hands so she could see the Ranger's face. "You have your mother's looks, but your eyes are definitely those of your father's."
Eva laughed lightly, nodding in agreement. She then turned to the Gym Leader and held out a hand.
Norman chuckled. "No need for such formalities." He hugged the red-head sweetly. "You're like a third child to us."
After a couple heartbeats, the two separated and Eva finally turned to the final member of the family. "You probably don't remember me, since you were just a toddler when I was here last, but my family and yours are real close friends. Our dads actually started their Pokémon journey together when they were kids."
Max nodded. "I think I've heard Mom and Dad talk about your family before. You guys used to live in Kalos before you moved to Almia, right?"
"Yep." Eva nodded back. To the whole group she added "I just happened to be in the area and decided to swing by before joining up with the other Rangers in Slateport."
"At this hour?" Caroline exclaimed, looking to the quickly setting sun through the window.
"The plane doesn't leave till tomorrow afternoon, but I have to brief the Ranger in head of the operation back at the Pokémon Center there," Eva explained.
"You can brief him from our video-phone," Norman stated firmly. "You and your team can stay here the night, and I'll ask Mr. Briney to give you a ride to Slateport in the morning."
"But-" Eva started to argue.
Caroline, however, cut her off. "You've been working so hard, bringing relief to this drought. The least we can do is put food in your stomach and give you a nice bed to sleep on."
"Besides; it will give us a chance to catch up," May put in. "You can tell us all about your adventures."
Eva still seemed unsure, so she turned to Zero. "What do you think, Zero? You alright with staying the night?"
The Absol nodded. "Traveling at night isn't the smartest idea. Besides; I've heard from your parents that Caroline is quite the cook, and the others could probably go for some food themselves."
"Good point. Alright then." When Eva turned back to May and her family, she was met by confused expressions. Suddenly, she noticed that she had understood Zero and still had her earpiece on. She rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment and laughed. "Sorry," she apologized, taking off her earpiece and showing it to the group. "I had forgotten that I still had this on. A friend of mine from the Union made this device so that I'm able to communicate with certain Pokémom, Zero being one of them."
They all looked down at the Absol, figuring that Zero was his name, then nodded in understanding.
"Well, I better start preparing dinner." Caroline headed towards the door that led into the residence part of the Gym. "Would you be a dear and help me, May?"
The teen nodded and followed her mother.
"How many other Pokémon do you have with you?" Max asked. "I can make them some Pokémon food if I know what types they are."
"Thanks, Max." Eva pulled the Pokéballs from her belt and held them out. "Mind if I let them out?" She looked to Norman for approval.
The Gym leader shook his head. "Not at all."
Eva smiled and threw the red and white spheres in the air. "Come on out, everyone!"
The capsules opened and light poured out as five different forms appeared from them on the ground. When the light faded, the Pokémon let out happy noises upon being released, stretching their limbs to relieve their aches.
Max's eyes grew wide, looking over the beautiful Pokémon with awe, but the Swanna in particular seemed to catch his attention. He looked to Eva and asked "Did something happen to Swanna's wing-feathers?"
Eva shook her head. "My mom actually found her like that. Professor Juniper - who is the main Pokémon Professor in Unova- believes Swanna's wing-tips are blue due to something in her genetic makeup, but it doesn't seem to affect her health." She pet the top of The White Bird Pokémon's head affectionately before adding "If anything, it just adds to her serene nature. She was kinda like a mother hen while I was growing up and my parents weren't around."
"Swa," Swanna chirped, nuzzling Eva affectionately.
"So cool," Max simply stated, petting the Flying-type's head as well, earning an affectionate nuzzle of his own.
Later that night, after everyone had gone off to bed, Eva lay in her bed in the guest bedroom, staring up at the ceiling with her hands under her head. The events of the day had been nothing short of surprising and Zero's confession had really thrown her for a curve, but she was glad to know he shared the same feelings she had towards him. Still; knowing that she and Zero were committing such an act that the Ranger Union saw as an act against nature itself, worried her deeply. Would they be able to keep their relationship a secret, much less alive, despite being near the center of hatred for it?
"Absol, Ab, Sol, Sol."
Eva turned to look at Zero, finding his amber eyes looking back with hope. The teen reached into her jacket pocket on the chair by the bed and pulled out her earpiece, then placed it over her ear and turned it on. "What did you say, Zero?"
"We aren't alone, you know," Zero repeated.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you and I aren't the only team in the Union that are in love."
Eva's eyes grew wide. "There's another team that's in a relationship!? Who!?"
"Do you remember Abby Trombly?"
"Of the Poképhilia Unit!? You mean she and Kasai are together as well!?"
Zero nodded. "Kasai and I have shared a few small conversations, in one of which he slipped his relationship with Abby. He was so worried that I would report them, since he knew about the device you have to understand me, but I told him that I had feelings for you, and well… he helped me sort some of my thoughts out and summon up the courage to tell you." The Absol blushed as he said this.
Eva smiled and, getting off her bed, kneeled in front of Zero and took his head into her hands, placing a kiss on his forehead. She then looked at him directly, realizing for the first time that his unique amber-colored eyes were stunning beyond belief. "I'm glad you did." She returned to the bed, but scooted as close to the wall as she could and patted the empty space.
Zero's eyes lit up and he eagerly joined his love on the bed. He curled up so he was facing Eva, looking at her gorgeous emerald-green eyes.
Eva pulled the blankets so it covered their lower bodies and placed an arm over Zero's neck. "Good night, Zero."
"Good night, Eva."
After that night, Eva and Zero's love continued blossom, right under the Union's nose. Abby and Kasai had approved of their love and the two teams spent much of their time together when they weren't on any missions.
Two years after Zero's confession, however, Eva's career was cut short. It was during what seemed as a simple case of Pokémon abandonment and the Pokémon was causing a small disturbance is a highly-populated area. The location just so happened to be Lumiouse City, so Eva was more than eager to return to her birth-town and show Zero where she had spent her early years of youth.
There would be no time for sightseeing, though, for the moment Eva and Zero arrived in Lumiouse, the ranger found out that the situation had gone very south. According to local law enforcement, a group of teenage punks had harassed the Pokémon that Eva had come to help - an Elekid- and ended up chasing it to the top of Lumiouse Tower. To make matters worse, a strong wind had started to pick up in the city, risking to blow the Electric-type off the structure. Clemont, the Gym Leader, was failed to reach due to being on a journey with his sister and two other Trainers, so access to the building was extremely limited, as the robot substitute was of little help.
Eva and Zero managed to reach the upper part of the tower with the help of a Skarmory and quickly found the Elekid shivering against the wind. When the Electric-type first saw the duo, it grew nervous and edged closer to the edge.
"Don't be scared, Elekid" Eva said as softly as possible but loud enough so the Pokémon could be heard her over the howling of the wind.
The young Electric Pokémon looked at Eva with frightened eyes. "El?"
Eva gave a sweet smile and got to one knee. "My name is Eva and this is my partner, Zero." She gestured to her partner, who dipped his head in greeting. "I know you're scared and confused, but Zero and I are here to help you." She pointed to her earpiece and added "This device let's me understand you, so can you tell me what happened to you?"
Elekid sniffed and did his best to dry his watery eyes. "T-Those mean humans chased me. They threw rocks at me. It…. it really hurt." He rubbed his left arm were several cuts were clearly visible.
He sounds real young, Eva thought to herself. I wonder… "Elekid; where are your parents?"
Before the tiny Pokémon could answer, a different voice screamed out, this one being female.
"Get away from him!"
Eva looked up to see an Electivire appear from out of nowhere and land protectively over Elekid, a very unhappy look on her face.
The Electivire glared at Zero menacingly. "What did you do to my son, filthy Dark-type!?"
Zero kept his calm demeanor. "There is no need to jump to conclusions. My partner and I came here to help Elekid."
Electivire seemed unconvinced. "You can't fool me! You Dark-types are all the same; cold-hearted and always picking on the young and weak. Well I won't let you go unscathed!" Electricity started building up around the mother's body, crackling with dangerous energy.
"There's no need for violence," Eva tried to reason. "Zero is very kindhearted and would never hurt your son. We can have Nurse Joy take care of his wounds and take you both somewhere safe, away from the dangers of the city."
The Thunderbolt Pokémon turned to Eva, realizing for the first time that she was there. "Are you a Ranger?"
Eva nodded. "We only want what's best for Elekid. The humans that hurt him are going to jail for what they did, so you don't have to worry about them anymore. Please believe me, Electavire."
The electricity surrounding Electivire started to settle and her eyes grew slightly softer.
"You have no reason to distrust us," Zero pressed on and took a cautious step forward.
However, this was a mistake as the protective mother grew rigid once more and stared darkly at Zero. "Don't you come near us!" She yelled and threw a Thunderbolt at the Absol.
"Zero!" Eva cried as she did the only thing she could think of and threw herself in front of her partner. Taking the full attack directly to her chest.
The Disaster Pokémon could only watch in utter horror as the love of his life let out an earsplitting scream as the Electric-type move pierced her like a dagger, before collapsing to the ground.
Eva felt numb as she slowly slipped out of consciousness, barely hearing Zero scream her name in anguish.
Eva survived the experience, but the extensive damage led to complications with her heart. Like any law-enforcement, she received a medical discharge from the Union and was honored back in Almia for her actions as a Top Ranger. For the first several months following the accident, Zero blamed himself for what happened, but every time, Eva insisted that it was her choice to risk her life if it meant saving him.
Although she would still help around the Command Center at HQ for small tasks, for the most part, Eva suddenly had a lot of free time on her hands, causing her to go into a sort of depression. That was when Cynthia and Iris had taken her to Unova and have her help Professor Juniper with her studies. Eva was glad that the two League Champions had stepped in, for it gave her and Zero more private time together, plus the fateful meeting of Gene and Belle had been a big bonus.
Some time had passed before Eva decided that she wanted to start a new life in Sinnoh with Zero; though her true motives to moving to the region were only known to a few, as there was a rumored underground railroad for Trainers and their Pokémon that shared true and pure feelings for each other and needed a place to lay low when law enforcement was on their tail.
They moved into a small cabin not too far from Twinleaf Town, Lake Verity but a few short meters away, and quickly set up shop. Eva and Zero would offer food and shelter to refugees and help them with getting to the next safe house or even transportation off the region. Of course, Eva had to keep the fact that she was a former Top Ranger secret, for she would quickly lose trust to those that so desperately needed her help, another reason for which she moved to Sinnoh.
It was a sunny day when everything would change. It seemed like any other day; Eva was hanging up laundry, taking advantage of the warm sunshine and slight breeze so she could prepare for the next set of guests, as she had received a telegraph from a friend in Oreburgh City that "A very delicate package was on its way and would arrive within the next day or so." The network that Eva was part had long-since resorted to using Bird Pokémon to send encrypted letters between its members, as conversations on phones could be easily recorded and/or traced.
Zero was playing with some younger wild Pokémon, if by playing meant letting them climb all over him and bite at his tail and fur. Still, the Absol had a grand patience with kids and enjoyed seeing them having fun. However, something seemed to grab his attention and he suddenly got to his feet, causing the little ones on his back to tumble to the ground. He sniffed the air and seemed to listen to the wind, almost as if trying to pinpoint something off.
Eva took notice and walked up to her partner. "What's up?" She rarely these days didn't have her earpiece on her ear, and this day was no exception.
"Something has happened," Zero replied, an almost nervous tone in his voice. "I can feel it coming from Mt. Coronet, deep within."
Eva's eyes grew wide as a thought occurred to her. "Could it be the Sky Pillar?"
Zero did not respond and instead turned towards the direction of the lake, then darted off.
"Wait up!" Eva called as she rushed after her partner. She weaved around the densely packed trees and soon saw Zero at the lake side, staring at it intently. The young woman quietly joined him and kneeled, placing a hand on his back. "What's wrong?"
Zero shook his head. "Lady's Mespirit's presence; I can't sense it."
Eva was speechless. Mespirit was missing? What could it possibly mean?
Suddenly, a wave of drowsiness came over the two of them. As they fell into unconsciousness they didn't even hear the words that seemed to be spoken through their minds.
"Rest now my children, for when you awake a whole new world shall be your home."
Eva slowly opened her eyes to find two strange Ponyta and Rapidash-looking creatures talking to one another. The older of the two had a light-grey coat with a horn and darker grey mane, tail and mustache, wearing a sort of camouflage-printed coat. The younger one had a pair of wings that matched his silvery-coat with a white mane and tail, black streaks going through them.
"That fur of theirs is quite something though," the older stallion stated, brushing his mustache with a hoof. "I could get my friend from the city to make a nice coat and scarf for your mother with those."
What are they talking about? Eva thought to herself. And why can I understand them? I don't remember falling asleep with my earpiece.
"I don't know, Dad," the younger stallion began. "What if they're some endangered species or something? The Princesses have already shown their dislike of clothing made from animal pelts and, well, it just doesn't seem right. They're not causing any trouble or hurting anypony and-"
"You've been talking to that Muse girl again, haven't you?" The father spoke as though it tasted like vile on his tongue. "That mother of hers may have held a major position in the royal guard, but her connections with Princess Celestia is nothing but lies. Her powers don't scare me!"
"You have no right to speak about Lovely Feathers like that. It's thanks to her command that Canterlot has stayed safe for as long as it has. Besides; Muse makes a fair point. If you continue to have that shady guy make coats from the animals that you kill, the Princesses will eventually catch wind and you'll get thrown in jail! This place is an animal sanctuary and-"
The younger was cut off when his father slapped him across the face, causing Eva to gasp silently.
"The only way they'll find out is if someone tells them, and I will not have my son ratting me out!" The father raised his hoof to hit his son once more.
"Stop it! Eva cried as she got to her feet. Only to topple over when she lost her balance. She looked down at her body and gasped when she found she was no longer a human, but a very familiar Dark-type. She swerved her head around to see the matching scythe-like tail and appendage on the side of her head, confirming that she was indeed an Absol. "W-What happened to me!?"
"Eva?" A male voice spoke from behind her.
Said girl turned to see Zero lying behind her, staring up at her with confused, amber-red eyes.
Zero got to his feet and sniffed Eva, then spotted the familiar blue lotus he had given to his mate when they had visited Oblivia tucked in a patch of fur just above where it slightly concealed part of her left eye. Eva… is that you?"
Before the newly transformed Absol could respond, the older stallion started to yell at his son once more.
"Look what you've done! I was going to be merciful and kill them in their sleep, but I guess they'll have to suffer." His horn began to light up and crackle with light-blue energy.
"Dad, don't!" The son tried to stop his father, but was only pushed away.
Just as the unicorn fired his spell at Eva, Zero leaped in front of her and deflected it with Protect.
"You will not hurt my mate!" Zero growled menacingly.
"Stop, Dad, before you make it even more mad!" The pegasus tried to reason.
"Be silent!" The father shot another spell, this one directed at his son.
Instincts suddenly kicking in, Eva rushed to the younger stallion and, using her entire body, shoved him out of the way, just as the spell smashed into the ground where they both had been not a moment earlier. The pegasus stared at Eva in disbelief, dumbstruck.
"Are you alright?" Eva asked.
"I… don't know what you're saying, but thanks," the stallion said before getting to his feet.
"Get away from my son, demon!" The unicorn looked ready to explode with rage.
First he tries to kill his son, now he's trying to protect him? That's some seriously messed up logic, Eva commented silently.
"What in Equestria is going on here!?"
Everyone turned to look in the direction where the new voice had come from to find two more ponies, both mares, standing a few yards away. The taller - and clearly older- of the two had a turquoise coat and wings and a majestically long white mane and tail that flowed in the light breeze. The other mare was also a pegasus, but had instead a yellow coat and fiery-red tom-boy mane and tail, the tips of her wings dipped crimson red and two small red triangles under both eyes.
"I better have not caught you trying to attack these creatures, Maxwell," the older pegasus spoke with the voice from before. "You know full well I don't take kindly to those that think they can use their position to make excuses when it comes to breaking the law."
The unicorn suddenly turned white as a ghost, his boast of not fearing the pegasus soldier clearly a fluke. "Y-You misunderstand, Lovely Feathers," he stammered, bowing respectfully. "It's just that that creature over there attacked my son for no good reason," he stated, pointing to Eva with a hoof.
Lovely Feathers didn't look convinced. "From what I saw, Maxwell, that 'creature' saved your son from your magic, so try again."
Maxwell gulped, then bowed his head in defeat. "I apologize, ma'm. It shall not happen again."
"I'll hold you to that." The mare turned her head, indicating for the stallion to leave.
The unicorn couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough and was gone within a few short moments.
Once he was gone, the pegasus stallion walked up to the two mares and bowed his head gratefully. "Thank you, Miss Lovely Feathers. I don't know what my father would have done if you hadn't shown up."
Lovely Feathers smiled. "You are most welcome, young Arrow Streak. If there is ever anything I can do, just let me know."
"I will, thank you." Arrow Streak turned to the other pegasus and added "I'll see you later, Muse?"
The yellow pegasus smiled and nodded. "We still on for the park clean-up next week?"
Arrow Streak nodded back. "Of course." Looking back to Eva he bowed his head in thanks. "Thank you again for saving me and sorry about my dad. I'll make he doesn't hurt you or your friend again." With that he trotted off in the direction his father had disappeared.
Zero joined Eva's side, nuzzling her sweetly. "Are you alright?"
Eva nodded and licked her mate's cheek fur. "I'm fine, love."
A cough interrupted them, bringing their eyes back to the two mares.
"We're sorry you two had to go through that," Lovely Feathers stated. "We'll see to it that Maxwell doesn't cause you anymore trouble."
Zero dipped his head in thanks. "We appreciate that."
"But what are we gonna do about this?" Eva stated, indicating to her body.
The mares blinked in confusion.
"I apologize, but we can't understand what you are saying," Lovely Feathers stated. She placed a hoof to her mouth in thought, her face brightening a moment later. "Come with us. I believe I have something back at our cottage that will help." She turned and headed back up the hill.
Muse smiled at the two Absols. "Follow us," she said cheerfully, trotting after her mother.
Zero looked at his mate with an unsure expression. "Should we follow them?"
Eva nodded. "I think we should. We won't get any answers standing around here."
"Fair point. Can you walk alright?"
"Yeah. Let's just hurry and catch up with them." And with that, the two rushed after the pegasi.
The Absols didn't have to run far, for the pegasi were waiting for them just beyond the ridge. From there, they traveled less a few hundred yards before they came upon a beautiful cottage with a giant fenced yard and enclosures all around.
"My mom and I watch over this animal sanctuary and take care of any injured creatures here in our home," Muse explained as they walked into the household. The young pegasus led Eva and Zero into what appeared to be the living room while Lovely Feathers went upstairs.
Eva and Zero looked around the room, taking note of the several photos on the wall of animals they had never seen before but greatly resembled different Pokémon, such as Eevee, Stantler and Zigzagoon.
"Please, make yourself at home," Muse offered as she indicated to the couch.
Both Absols nodded in thanks and jumped onto the simple red couch, just as Lovely Feathers entered the room, a small wooden box in her mouth.
The older pegasus placed the box on the coffee table in front of the couch. "My dear mentor gave this to me many years ago. She told me that her mentor gave it to her to use whenever one needed to communicate with those that don't or can't speak our language." She removed the lid to reveal a beautiful pendent inside, the design of crescent moons and stars engraved on it. Lovely Feathers took the pendent out of the box and walked over to Eva and Zero. "May I place this around your neck?"
Eva looked at her mate to get his opinion, who smiled and nodded his head, seeming to trust the pegasus. Eva smiled back and returned her eyes to Lovely Feathers and nodded, showing her trust as well.
Having permission, the pegasus mare placed the pendent around Eva's neck, latching the hook behind with surprising ease, before stepping back.
It was a few seconds before the pendent shimmered, causing Eva to shiver as she felt a wave of energy pass through her, followed by a warm sensation in her chest. "What was that?" She asked.
"Oh good, it worked." Lovely Feathers sighed in relief. "We're able to understand you now thanks to the charm casted on that pendent. I was worried for a moment that due to its age that it wouldn't work, but that's the power of Starswirl the Bearded for you." She joined her daughter on the couch opposite of Eva and Zero before continuing. "Now then; can you two tell us as to who - or what- you are?"
"And where in Equestria did you come from?" Muse piped in.
Eva and Zero looked at one another in confusion before looking back at the ponies.
"Equestria?" Zero repeated. "Is that a region near Sinnoh?"
"Sinnoh? I don't believe I've ever heard of such a place," Lovely Feathers stated. "And I should know, I've traveled the world many times."
The couple looked back at each other once more.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this next question?" Eva said nervously. She turned back to the mares and said "Ever heard of the places Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Fiore, Almia, Oblivia, Unova, or Kalos?"
The pegasi both blinked, silent.
Eva sighed and brought her eyes to Zero. "We're a long way from home, Zero."
Lovely Muse had always fantasized that the creatures she had read about as a filly could be real, but what she saw before her now was beyond anything she had imagined.
The two 'Pokémon' as they had called themselves had been explaining to them who they were and where they had come from for the past hour. When the name of the world came up, though, things got quite interesting.
"You're from Earth?" Lovely Feathers inquired.
"So you have heard of it!" The one named Eva stated happily, her emerald-green eyes lighting up like a Hearth's Warming Eve tree.
However, the pegasus shook her head. "Not the one that you speak of, but I think I understand a little better now. You see, there is a theory - and this may true on your world as well- that there can be multiple versions of the same world. What you have just told me has me convinced that this is indeed the case, for I too have not always possessed this form." She sighed heavily before continuing "Not many know of what I am about to say, but I feel that I can trust you two with this secret… You see, I too come from the world known as Earth, one that is perhaps not that different from your own. It was perhaps some forty years ago that I was caught in a strange phenomenon back on Earth during a meteor shower in the desert. My mind was transported here and placed into the body of a young filly with no memory of my life as a human. Princess Celestia, one of leading princesses of Equestria, took me in and raised me as her own. Several years passed and I eventually found my way back to my human body back on Earth, but too much had changed in the time that I was gone, so I gave up my human life and returned here to Equus and took command of the Royal Guard. Not too long after that, I met my husband and, well," she smiled at her daughter before finishing "you can see the rest."
"That's amazing," Eva said softly, almost seeming to be at a loss for words, a paw on her chest. "It almost seems like something out of a fairytale."
"If that's the case, then maybe this can be our fairytale," Zero pointed out.
Eva laughed. "I guess you're right," she replied as she nuzzled her mate. "Seems like a twist on Romeo and Juliet."
Lovely Muse tilted her head in confusion. "Why do you say that?"
The two Absols looked at one another, as if having a silent conversation. Eventually, Eva turned back to the two mares."You see, the thing is, back where we come from, the idea that Pokémon and humans can love each other on an intimate level was well…" She looked back to Zero for assistance.
"Considered wrong, putting it lightly," Zero finished.
"I don't quite understand." Lovely Feathers put a hoof to her chin. "From what you've told us, it seems to me that, despite being of different species, most Pokémon are as sapient as humans, if not more so. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that seems somewhat discriminating towards Pokémon, does it not?"
Eva nodded solemnly. "It's true that, when put under the microscope, the laws against Poképhilia, as we called it, seem faulty, but try to understand when I tell you that when they were made, the well-being of the Pokémon was considered. Although there have been many innocent couples that were torn apart because of it, there are those that do take advantage of their Pokémon to commit… those types of things, which is why the laws were first created. However, my parents raised me on the ideal that love is love, no matter who it's directed towards or what others think of it, so that's what I chose to believe and continue to stick by it. They always would say 'Whenever you are in doubt, trust your heart, for that is your greatest guide.' I've followed that saying just about my entire life, but never truly understood what they meant until after Zero and I became a couple." She placed a paw on top of Zero's before adding "I love Zero the same way two humans or two Pokémon would. I accepted the dangers of being together with him and will defend my love for him even in this new world."
Lovely Muse and her mother were at a loss of words, realizing that the love that Eva and Zero shared for one another matched in strength to that of Cadence and Shining Armor, perhaps even more so. Eventually though, Lovely Feathers broke the silence by clearing her throat.
"That is a very remarkable story, and it pleases me to know that there are still those out there that continue to fight for what they believe in." She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking about something, then looked at Eva once more with a smile before adding "Please continue to fight on, Eva, and others will surely join you."
"It's bigger than Lumiouse!" Eva exclaimed, her emerald-green eyes growing wide in wonder.
Lovely Muse turned to the former human with a curious expression. "Lumiouse? Is that the city you grew up in?"
Eva nodded. "I was born there, but my parents and I moved to another region when I was still pretty young. It was there where I went to school to become a Pokémon Ranger." The Absol looked off into the distance, remembering fond memories. "After I graduated, I was assigned to a base up north, where I eventually met Zero. He saved my life that day." She nuzzled said Dark-type sweetly, enjoying the feel of his soft fur.
Lovely Muse smiled warmly. She had always been a sucker for romantic stories, especially the ones Princess Cadence shared. Back before her mother retired when she and her parents lived together in Canterlot, The Princess of Love would foalsit young Lovely Muse while her parents were on duty. The alicorn was certainly wonderful to be around, Muse only hoped that Eva and Zero might have a chance to meet Cadence; she was certain they would get along wonderfully.
"Well, if this Lumiouse City of yours is anything like our Manehatten, it must be amazing," the pegasus stated.
Zero nodded. "It is." He looked to Eva before solemnly adding "I just wished we had gotten a chance to better see your birthhome."
This seemed to cause a shift in Eva's demeanor as her smile faded and her shoulders slumped. She sighed and nodded slowly, seeming to hold back tears as she placed a paw on her chest.
"I'm sorry," Muse apologized, quickly noticing Eva's change in behavior. "Did I prod into something I shouldn't have?"
Eva shook her head and looked back up at the mare, a sad smile on her face. "There's no need to apologize. It's just that the last time Zero and I were in Lumiouse…"
The newly transformed Absol told Lovely Muse the events of that fateful night, of the sacrifice she made to protect her love, and the permanent damage to her heart that forced her to retire the job that she loved so much. The entire time she was telling her story, Eva slowly began to let her emotions flow freely and by the time she was finished, she was trembling, tears streaking down her cheeks. Zero reached a paw out and pulled his mate close.
Lovely Muse was having a hard time herself, Eva's story truly heartbreaking. However, she managed to keep her composure as she took a deep breath and slowly released it. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Thank you for sharing it with me; I can only imagine how hard it must have been to do so."
Eva used the back of her paws to dry her tears before looking back at the mare and shaking her head. "There's no need to apologize. I feel that telling my story helps me come to terms with it. Besides; even if Zero and I weren't a couple at the time, I probably wouldn't have done anything different. He's my partner for life."
"And I would have done the same for you," Zero added, kissing his mate's cheek once more.
"Miss Muse!"
The pegasus turned around at the sound of her name, her eyes going beyond the cliff side to the open space. She found herself smiling when she saw a familiar red-brown pegasus mare come gliding towards her. She stepped back slightly to allow the pony to land in front of her, albeit clumsily. The new arrival didn't seem to be the slightest bit embarrassed though, and casually straightened herself as if she had landed perfectly.
"Hi, Miss Muse," the newcomer greeted with a giant grin, appearing to be completely oblivious to the two Absols standing at Muse's side.
The older mare chuckled as she shook her head. "I thought I told you that it's okay to just call me Muse, Autumn Gale? I'm only two years older."
"But you're still my senior," the red-roan pony insisted. "It's only polite for me to address you so, Miss Muse!"
The bright yellow pegasus sighed, knowing that it would be impossible to convince the younger mare otherwise. "Well then, what brings you way out here?"
Autumn Gale's smile grew even larger. "Check it out!" She turned her body slightly to reveal a gray messenger bag with a logo in the shape of an envelope with wings on it. "My cousin in Ponyville managed to pull a few strings and got me an internship with the postal service."
"That's great, Autumn," Muse congratulated. "How are you enjoying it so far?"
"It's super awesome! I get to meet all different kinds of ponies and-" The mare stopped when all of a sudden, her bag began to move, followed by what sounded like a child's crying. "Oops, I almost forgot the real reason I came up here." She opened her bag and pulled out, to everyone's surprise, a duck-like creature of two different shades of blue.
"It's a Ducklett," Eva stated, surprised.
"And a young one at that," Zero added.
Autumn Gale finally took notice of the additional bodies, but instead of freaking out, she seemed to get really excited. "Cool! There's strange creatures even here! And they can talk, too!"
"Wait; you mean there's more Pokémon in Manehatten?" Muse inquired.
"So that's what they're called; neat." The younger pegasus looked down at the Water Bird Pokémon. "But yeah; I was doing my rounds when I found this little guy in a bush, seeming real upset. I figured since he looks so young he may have gotten separated from his parents, but I wanted to get you and your mom's opinion on what I should do."
Eva smiled sympathetically and stepped forward, trying her best not to frighten the little bird any more than he already was. "You're safe here, little one," she said in a soft, soothing tone.
The Water-type stopped trembling and looked up at Eva, tears in his eyes. "I-I miss my Mommy and Daddy," he whimpered, though the ponies only heard "D-Duck, Ducklett, Duck."
"I know, sweetie. I promise that we'll help you find them," Eva said, lifting her paw.
The Ducklett flapped his wings and jumped onto the former human's paw before wiping the tears from his eyes. "T-Thank you."
Eva nodded.
Zero stepped forward and looked down at the little bird, seeming surprised by something. "Eva, look at his wingtips."
She did so, her emerald-green eyes growing wide as well. "No way." Her mind began to race when she saw that the Ducklett's wingtips were a darker shade of blue. They're just like my mom's Swanna's, she thought to herself.
Zero chuckled. "I was wondering when Braviary was gonna make a move."
Eva shook her head to clear it and looked to her partner, shocked. "Wait; you don't mean my dad's Braviary, do you? Then that would mean that he and my mom's Swanna…" Her eyes fell back down to the Water/Flying type, everything suddenly clicking into place.
The young Pokémon seemed to realize what the two Absols were talking about and smiled, his eyes gleaming. "Do you know my mommy and daddy!?"
Before either of them could respond, Muse stepped into the conversation. "Sorry to interrupt like this, but is everything alright? Autumn Gale and I can't understand him."
Zero turned his eyes to the two pegasi and nodded. "It's fine. We just figured out that this Ducklett's parents are Eva's parents' Pokémon." To Autumn Gale he added "It's a strong possibility that they aren't far from where you found him."
The red-roan pegasus nodded eagerly. "Now that you mention it, the bush I found Ducklett in wasn't too far from a large pond in Central Park. I remember seeing a lot of bird-like creatures hanging around there as well." Looking up and putting a hoof to her chin she added "I also remember seeing a couple of ponies screaming and running away from that area and what looked like a bipedal black and red fox thing snickering before disappearing into the shadows."
Muse looked at her companion in confusion, but shook her head and decided to delve further into that at a later time. "Then let's start looking there. Let me just tell my mom; she'll probably want to come as well and assess the situation."
