Chapter 1
Undella town, the premiere resort town in all of the region which truth be told wasn't saying much considering it was the only resort town in the region. That didn't though that is wasn't a great place to vacation no, far from it, the town was rated well within the top ten vacation hot spots and was frequented in the summers by none other the Cynthia, not that she wanted the fact broadcast it was her vacation after all.
Not far from this picturesque town was a small smattering of mountains a boon to the brave as well as the adventurous and good money for the local tourism board if vacationers and the occasional trainer didn't want to go for a swim in the pristine waters. A good example of this sort of person was make his way through the woods though he was neither trainer nor vacationer. He was man on a mission wasn't going to be deterred by rather increasing incline.
He was dressed oddly enough for the current weather and should have been sweating profusely considering he was dressed as what could only described as medieval knight complete with a sheathed long sword. Though it was closer to chain mail than full on armor with a tunic with stylized P printed on it. Though the clothing was heavy he had long gotten used to it’s weight on his shoulders and carried himself with his head held high.
Thankfully after a good two hours walk he finally came to his destination a pair of vaulted doors that where embedded into side of the mountain. Emblazoned on the door was the same emblem emblazoned on his tunic though a much darker shade. As he stood before the door he couldn't help but, smile as he knew a small camera lens focused on him zooming on his youthful features. “Knock knock anybody home?”
Behind the door inside what could only described as vast research complex a set of fossil revival machines hummed incubating a new generation of ancient pokemon. Above these machines was a skybox with a number monitors as well as six individuals. All six of these individuals where dressed in nigh identical gear making them appear as what one would expect modern day ninja or spies would dress with black vests emblazoned with same darker P. While one of these modern day ninja continued to monitor the development of the new born pokemon the rest crowded around the security feed.
The first to speak was the one who was supposed to be on security duty anyway a headset mounted on his head. “It looks like one of the old guard?”
The one standing above him a female could barely hold back a whistle. “He sure does cut an impressive figure do, you think he comes to join us?”
“Yeah right,” Another male was looking over her shoulder. “If he isn’t already wearing our colors I’d be willing to bet he’s loyal to N and not the master.”
Another female nodded put her hand on the shoulder of the one on monitor duty. “Standing orders from master Ghetsis if they aren’t wearing our uniform colors they are to be considered traitor and eliminated on the spot. Contact the checkpoint guards and tell them to use maximum force.”
The monitor grunt nodded tapping a few keys on his key board before tapping his headset. “Guard station one this is control room, we’re opening primary doors prepare for maximum force single target visible.”
Seeing her orders carried out the female grunt stepped back. “the rest of you return to your posts we need to make sure everything is running smoothly.” A chorus of affirmations delivered she walked over to the grunt who had remained at her post again putting her hand on a grunts shoulder. “Is everything ready.”
“yes ma’am,” the grunt turned her face up at her superior her voice barely above a whisper. “Is it, him?” The ghost of smile spread across the grunts face before turning grim again and nodding. This caused the grunts eyes to light up her twin blue tipped pigtails seemed to bob up. “then I’ll be ready!” Had anyone had paid attention they would have seen a small black and blue tipped tail wag in the seat before disappearing.
Outside of the underground complex the youth took a small side step to right as he heard the hiss of the doors opening. That small step to the right was just wide enough as searing stream of energy exploded past him slamming into the doors ripping them open. The dragon pulse completely catching the grunts off guard both having to duck as the doors where ripped completely free and over there heads.
After few seconds they heard a crunch of someone entering the compound only when the looked up and saw a Hydreigon hovering behind the youth did they realize who they where dealing with. “Orion!”
Orion smirked his hand resting on his weapon of choice. “Hope you don’t mind I let myself in,” Walking past the two grunts he made an off hand movement with his hand. “Dren could you take care of this?” The grunts slowly turned there heads toward the rather menacing looking three headed dragon. Dren responded to command simply enough a roared. Wild pokemon who heard this roar tended to run away, caught pokemon tended to return to there balls, on humans the effect was something different, the two grunts eyes widened in terror the flight or fight response kicking in and for them triggering the faint response.
Orion chuckled as he heard a pair of thunks of bodies hitting the ground and knew he would soon be joined by one of his partners. It wasn't long before he felt a head hovering next his allowing him to affectionately rub the triple headed dragons center head. “Good girl, that was easy enough, shall we continue to remove stain that is Ghetsis from Plasma?” He chuckled as he got a half growl in response. “For lord N we do this.”
Inside the command and Control chaos had erupted as the revelation who was making his way into the base. Orion one of them, a tried and true member of the old Plasma guard, one of the honor guard, Those assigned the personal duty of protecting N himself! When they could find him that was. The honor guard whose loyalty was without question belonged to N. The honor guard who had made it there personal mission to remove the stain of Ghetsis from all existence. What was worse it was there Arceus damned captain! Who was whispered to be N’s good right hand! And a force of nature all to himself! Though they where just rumors it instilled fear into the new Plasma without Ghetsis to lead them they where running like Torchic’s with there heads cut off.
Inside this chaos the leader of the grunts was trying to semblance of order. “He can’t use his Braviary inside a complex like this!” She pointed at three grunts. “You, you and you head for sublevels 1, 2, and 3,” there was rumbling and someone shouting that a Escavelier had been spotted on level one. “Make that 2 though 4 we can’t have him make it down here!” She looked over to side of the room and saw another grunt curled up into a little ball. “he’s just one man! Get up and prepare the escape ship we’ll need it if he gets past the blast doors on level 5! And someone shut that damn alarm off we already know he’s here!”
The grunt on the floor nodded. “yes Ma’am.”
With the other grunts already out of the room she turned toward the final grunt. “Are transport arrangement ready.”
“Yes ma’am, I only need to press enter and the process will begin.”
“Do it,” Order given the grunt pressed the enter key an poke ball transport system activated sending the newly revived fossil pokemon to an off sight location. The grunt in the chair seeing the transporter at work stood up and seemed to leap at the other grunt before popping in a puff of smoke a shiny zorua landing easily on the grunts shoulder.
Scratching the Zorua behind the ears she pulled down her mask. “Gah, that mask is stifling.” The zorua nicked the hat off taking with it the ginger wig, the so called grunt pulling off a bald cap revealing her lustrous pink hair. “I can’t believe it took him two weeks, the food here is horrible!” the illusion fox snickered. “Oh you! Don’t think I don’t know about your stash!”
Orion was beginning to wonder if splitting the guard had been his best idea as Dren was making her prescience felt and Lex his Escavalier holding off another trio of Liepards. He pinned another grunt to ground his sword pinned into the shoulder of the grunts uniform the edge of the blade rubbing against skin he made a vague threat about decapitation causing the grunt to surrender, he couldn't remember it had been this particular grunt who said he made a mistake a bringing a sword to a gun fight. It wasn't like he didn't want to find N, the master was king at hiding from his own honor guard if nothing else, he just wanted the stain of Ghetsis removed quickly as possible if and when that happened they would be able to find the master far quicker.
It also annoyed the captain that he had to spend so long in setting up covers for them, not that Elle infiltration skills weren't top notch he preferred the direct approach. Speaking off, “In the name of our lord N surrender thyself to judgment!” Ole time words out of date yet always effective not surprising that most of the old guard looked a like medieval novel come to life. Problem was Orion thought is was getting old fast. It wasn't that he wasn't loyal far from it he’d slap Arceus across the face if ordered by lord N, he was just getting tired of the same phrase over and over and only getting the same response time and again.
Case in point. “this world will belong to Master Ghetsis!” cue Liepard oh wait this time Garbodor good variety spice of life they say. Still same pattern damn fanatics, oh wait, aren't I fanatically loyal to Lord N? Yeah if Dex weren't outside with his Reuniculus taking the air ship he’s probably laugh at him. Those two where way to close for Orion’s comfort.
Reightly would say it was precious and scold him for not being romantic, he was glad he had sent her to find Lord N. Seriously wasn't it the goal of Team Plasma to liberate pokemon from humans? Yeah, the wonders of being a true believer. Romance and possibility of doing the deed with a pokemon that unnerved him more than he cared to admit.
No one expected a Nurse joy to be part of team Plasma, nor did they expect one to be packing a Salamence. Elle’s mother would not approve, Joys where supposed to be healers and while Elle agreed with that she also believed that sometimes force was needed. During Plasma’s early recruit phase, before the splintering, there words had struck a cord with the young Joy. She’d seen enough abuse cases with her mother and father that she knew that something had to be done. So Plasma seemed to have been the answer then the whole thing with Ghetsis happened. Cue depression and a pep talk from Orion now here she was infiltrating the splinter group smashing them from within.
Transporting the revived pokemon was a big surprise too, for her mother anyway an anonymous donation so to speak. Orion had whined complaining that they should have the fossil pokemon help them before crumbling like a sand castle big ole softy for all his bluster. It was part of the reason they followed him as he follow N. Lord N was nice enough he just reminded her to much of that Goth of a Jenny she knew in grade school .
She watched as Salamence pushed head out of the double doors that lead to hidden dry dock holding the air ship that splinter cell had been planning to use for escape. Fat lot that did them she thought to herself as she walked to his side. The look he gave her said she really needed to see what was going in the dry dock.
Stepping into the dock she could only roll her eyes as the Dex’s Ariados had been busy, for hang from gas bag in what could only be called cocoons where seven of the splinter cells grunts including the one she had sent to prepare the air ship in the first place. Below the cocoons sitting on top of the wheel house was Dex and Lorrina his Reuniculus partner both having tea with Ariados resting after expending so much web. Pokephilia something she was really on the fence on sure she’d seen some loving relations though then again she’d seen some truly traumatized pokemon. “How goes launch prep?”
Dex sipped on his tea. “we waited till they got everything stowed so we’re ready to go.” He glanced over the collected balls taken from the splinter cell grunts. “We’re ready to release them back into wild after Lorrina gives them a quick mental health check.”
“While none of them are showing in outward signs physical trauma.” The psychic types mental voice chimed into her head. “there are more than physical wounds that need to be checked.”
It didn’t need to be said there where more trauma’s than the physical kind and while Elle trusted the psychic’s judgment she knew enough to know that some of the grunts might have gotten creative. When they where in clear and she had gotten back in her proper uniform exams where in order.
There was the sound of body bouncing and if it weren’t for Salamence reacting quickly a splinter cell grunt would have gone to meet the ground. Blu gasped on Elle’s shoulder the zorua watching as rather huffy Hydreigon came into few. Salamence tossed the grunt against a wall not hard enough to do any damage before softly nuzzling it’s mate.
“what happened?”
Orion rolled his eyes. “Remember the incident when Art said Hydreigon where all the same just big balls of rage?”
Elle winced remembering the loud mouthed member of there team had been laid up for a week. “We’ll deal with it latter.”
Orion looked at the hanging grunts. “Dex cut them down, we are not taking them with us they’ll weigh us down . Leave them to the rangers.”
“Pity.” Dex snapped his fingers the webbing holding the grunts snapped and before they could fall they where grabbed by Lorrina in the air before being levitated onto the platform. “We could have used them as target practice.”
Orin shook his head waiting for the Salamence and Hydreigon to board the airship. “Dex my psychic friend you are disturbing. Now cast off!” The anchors holding the airship in place snapped as a psychic force from Lorrina. With just simple signal from her psychic power the engine of the airship started pushing them out of the dry dock.
“Blu could you make sure the too love dragons don’t fly off?” The Zorua snickered before saluted hopping off Elle shoulder. “I going to go change Dex you remember to bring my spare?”
“Of course I’d rather you not chew my ear.”
“Good,” Elle looked at Orion who was watching the sky his sword at his side. “As for you, eyes front!”
“Understood,” He waved dismissively as he took in a deep breathe of the open air. “The open sky with whole world out before us, just a few more.” Meanwhile in the middle of the deck the zorua made pest of himself causing the Salamence to huff in annoyance.
As the airship locked on it’s course no one noticed a voice so filled with power, no one noticed the weight in there eyes. All they remember was one sentence and then the air ship drifted.
0o0o0o0
Manehatten one of the biggest if metropolitan cities in the land of Equestria with only possibly Filly and Canterlot dwarfing the major trade city. If it didn’t come over land or air is was usually shipped by sea which meant it was almost guaranteed to the shores of Manehatten.
If someone wanted something somewhat more refined and cultured one need look no farther than the theater district. Which housed everything thing from street performers all the way to major studio companies looking to but, on a major production. If your dream was to become a designer a pony didn’t have to go very far, if you looking to successful at it though you needed two things as Pommel had learned.
The first thing was of course hard work and Coco Pommel could was more than natural inclined to it. The earth pony mare hummed a tune to the latest production she been hired to create costumes for her hind leg working the foot pedal of the sowing machine while he fore hoofs moved the fabric along the lines she created. Finishing the final stitch she took the now completed costume and slid it onto the display and took a few steps to admire the fine craft pony ship. She could help but, take a small amount of pride in her accomplishment the costume having been based on her third sketch approved by both the producer and director. “now for something to eat.”
Her stomach rolled in agreement after missing not one but, three meals so she could finish the costume. “Glad we can agree.” She giggled pushing the mannequin with others before making her way into the small apartment com studio’s kitchen opening the ice box. “Left over hayfries, half can of coffee, ah that’s it.” Taking the plastic wrapped cucumber in her mouth she placed it on a cutting board and soon joined it with some freeze dried daffodil and wheat loaf before bumping the icebox with her flank causing it to slam closed.
The second thing you needed to know about thriving in the big city was who you knew, for Coco that person had been Rarity. Hanging on the icebox being held up by a magnet was old news clipping of Rarity while attending a wonder bolt race in Canterlot. Slicing the cucumber length wise Coco once again found herself humming the tune from the play this one about conmare who came to small town only to fall in love with a school stallion. “If there’s one thing I miss about small towns,” She crafted her sandwich. “is the fresh flowers.” She looked at the costumes and laughed. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything though,”
Taking her newly crafted food stuffs in her mouth she trotted then flopped down onto her couch setting the sandwiches on the hoofrests she took out her personal design book and began with her sketch pencil began to trace out her own personal designs. Sure making costumes was fun she still hoped for her own designs to hit the runway. “Now that I don’t have deal with Suri anymore,” she snorted trying not to think about that Mare. “maybe something more formal,” It wasn’t long before the ideas began to flow only stopping every once a few lines to take a bight before. “A gala dress, yes that’s the ticket.” She smiled as the design came together. “Maybe one day.” She blushed the thought of a handsome stallion in full. “Bad Pommel a member of the royal guard honestly..” She quickly put the book away again. “Maybe one of the shows I work for will go to Canterlot. Oh a mare can dream can’t she?”
Stifling a yawn she quickly scarfed down the last bits of her sandwich although unlady like she was still country mare at heart. Leaning over the rest she tapped the alarm into on position she did have a early start tomorrow. Pulling her mothers quilt off the couch back she curled up in the warm implement stifling another yawn she smiled. “maybe I’ll dream of my own Stallion in shining armor.”
0o0o0o0
“yes lord N I can get you that tuna sandile.“ He grumbled more to himself than anyone as something smacked him in the face. “Stupid,” Orion groaned as he pushed off the offending object his sight trying to focus. “Last thing I remember getting really sleepy.”
Reaching up he began to wipe the sleep from his eye, this action caused a number of realization to hit him at once. If he had been a normal person he would have shifted into all out panic mode then again his mother had never accused him of being normal. So in order to not freak himself out he began to verbalize the various things that where going wrong. “I’m floating or more accurately levitating. Second I don’t seem to have any depth perception. Oh my hands aren’t hands I think.” It was in the middle of this attempt rationalize that a blinding light hit him giving him a few of ponyta that wasn’t on fire then that vision of quickly cut off.
Bleary eyed and half dead to the world Coco’s eyes snapped open as she heard the sound of something thumping in her storage closest. Groaning lightly she used her chin to drag her eyes to where her alarm sat. “To early. Need Latte…”
The fashion designer turned costume designer rolled unceremoniously off floor which was nice and warm. “Somepony left there heater on,” Half awake and probably less aware than she should been , not even noticing a green yellow spider lowering itself on the fire escape outside her window. Trotting easily over to storage closet smacking her lips she expected a rat. You could expect those in the big city what she saw as she opened the shutter door just wasn’t. She quickly slammed the door shut starting to hyperventilate, “Giant floating sword, talking to itself.” She trotted in place turning in circles. “It’s okay Pommel they don’t exist, only in fantasy stories and enchanted castles no need to panic.” She began to turn in circle a few times before looking through the slats as a single eye seemed to stare back.
Orion didn’t know if he was blinking, in fact he didn’t know if he could even blink for that matter. “I need more context clues.” Ignoring panting breathes and sounds of hoofs hitting wood tiling in circles he began to look around his vision adjusting quickly in the darkness. “Art supplies, a couple of sketch books, an artist?” Looking behind him he noticed the pile fabrics as well as some designs that had been tacked on the back wall. “ Ah Designer, Burghe eat your hurt out.” Turning back he looked through the slats back at his unlikely host. “Hi,”
Coco Pommel nearly passed out as she heard the word Aegi likely coming from the apparently magical sword and shield that had chosen make it’s home in her design closet. Dropping onto her rump she really wished she had bought those self help books last week. “enchanted sword in closet need, breathe.”
If he could he would have pursed his lips if he had lips at the moment but, that could wait for another time. “Let’s see if I miss my guess I’m Aegislash which mean ghost typing.” He fell back into his training focusing his minds voice. ’Testing testing, one, two, three, is thing on,’ Feeling somewhat cheeky. ’Hello! Unova!’
Coco squeaked as she heard something in her head then it suddenly yelled much louder. Now be a somewhat well traveled mare having come from small village in Prance then coming to Big city she seen and heard her fair share of weird. Unfortunately hearing a masculine voice in your head had broke her weird meter. That had the effect of putting her brain into a loop which came to only one conclusion.
Thump
Now that was a familiar sound to Orion though it usually was accompanied by a loud roar making him think about his partners. “I really should find them.” Putting that thought to the side for moment he reached out with his hands so it where and opened the closet door. “I’ve only see that once with a Gogoat kinda amusing really.”
Hovering over to stiff legged unconscious mare he reached out with his fingers as they where and rocked the pony by her rear hind leg. “Far to small be a Ponyta, And she could talk.” Figuring he needed answers more than he needed to wandering around in some unknown place he gently picked the mare up placing her on the couch.
Coco blinked a few times as she finally came out of her catonic state rolling over she noticed she was covered in her quilt. “It had to be a dream.”
‘fraid not,’
Instinctively Coco pulled the quilt closer as she stared at the thing hovering a few inches from the couch in it’s hand clothe things it held a glass of fizzing water. “Your not really,”
‘Yes, I am.’ He watched as she gingerly took the fizzing water. ’though I could say the same about you though I had a few minutes longer to get used to seeing a not flaming ponyta.’
Coco placed her snout over the glass taking a whiff of the drink and realizing it wasn’t dangerous chugged it down. The antacid tablets going a long way to calm her panicked state leaving her somewhat able to piece to together a question. “What are you,”
‘Glad to see you've not passed out again,’ Reaching out he took the glass before floating into her kitchen and rinsing the glass out. ’If I had to guess I’m an Aegislash which is surprising considering that they’re not even native to where I’m from. Though considering my personality it doesn't come as a surprise. As to how I came to be here and how I became what I am I really have no idea.’
Slowly she raised her body to watch it or him considering that the mental voice in her head most definitely fell within the stallion range. The way she saw it was like to someone trying to grasp at the strangeness of his own situation by doing what ever was at hand.
Orion sighed mentally trying not to think about how he had become an Aegislash of all things, a steel and ghost type did that mean he was dead. As thought about it remembered that it usually took decades and possibly centuries for a persons spirit to become a pokemon especially a Aegislash a fully evolved ghost type. When that happened the spirit usually had only vague memories yet his where clear as water and that thought caused a pit to form where is stomach should have been.
She watched as the creature swiftly switched to another mind numbing job having put away her dishes and it was becoming very depressing to watch. “Stop! Please! And talk!”
“huh wah,” He looked at the oddily shaped ponyta and realized she was giving him a rather curious look. ‘Sorry, this is new to me probably as much as it to having a floating sword around is to you.’
The earth pony mare shook her head. “I,” She hesitated trying to find the right words. “Yes, this is new to me, it’s just that watching you it seems that your lost.”
‘A stranger in a strange land.’ He would have smirked at that if he had a mouth. ‘For Zekroms sake I’m afraid what I might find if I look out your window.’ He turned away from her facing the semi polished counter top. ‘some captain I am. By the legends only a few ours ago I was alive! At least,’ He paused just letting it sink in for himself. ‘I thought it was few hours ago.’
Coco tilted her head trying to process what the rather gentle voice in her head had claimed. “you, mean you’re a spirit inhabitation a sword and shield?”
‘I…suppose so mind you a doubt most noble spirits find themselves waking up as Aegislash I thought that state was supposed to be attained over time!’ He watched as the mare winced and realized his mistake. ‘sorry don’t think you appreciate someone screaming in your brain.’
“It’s, okay.” She collected her herself. “At least you apologize and mean it unlike some other mares I know.”
Reaching down Orion pulled up her quilt up onto her shoulder causing her smile. ‘I guess we should introduce ourselves. My name is Orion, Lord Captain of Lord N’s honor guard a adjunct section of the now defunct Team Plasma.’
“Coco Pommel I’m just a seamstress though I’m currently working as a costume designer.” Introductions finally made the two of them traded stories.
Listening to the supposedly dead man she realized he was quiet a lively person if not somewhat boastful. A trait that he explained was present in most of the honor guard shared as a whole. Though he did become introspective on how Plasma had splintered in those who followed and wanted to free creatures called Pokemon which he could now be counted among, while the other half wanted power the two factions breaking into shadow civil war. Though N didn’t lead them Orion believed in his heart the he would return. When the subject of Ghetsis came up Orion became cold and almost blood thirsty in tone sending a shiver up the mares spine. He quickly shifted gears to ask about her past and her land of Equuis
Now off the subject of his past Coco explained the Equestria was ruled by diarchy though for long time it had be ruled by a single immortal Mare. The concept of immortal beings not even phasing him as he considered that most legendaries where considered such. She explained to the best of abilities about the pony sisters and three tribes though she admitted she wasn’t a scholar by no means. Finally reaching to more recent history of her former history with Suri.
‘If I had met this Suri mare,’ He paused waiting to make sure he had used the right terminology to which she nodded. ‘I would have given her such a swatting!’
Coco giggled the image of Orion using his blades flat edge to swat Suri’s behind formed in her mind. “Now that I’d pay to see!” She poked him playfully with her hoof and found his shield surprisingly warm. “So do you think you’ll find your friends?”
His body tettered before righting itself from her playful poke. “My friends? You mean the rest of the Honor guard? I’ve, never really thought of them as friends, compatriots yes, but friends.”
“It’s just the way you talk about them,” She looked up at the ceiling wistfully. “Like an order of knights always having each others backs not matter your eccentricities or backgrounds. Kind of romantic if you get me.”
“well, I suppose the theme is there I mean I did hand select them out dozen possibly hundreds of possible members. That doesn’t mean there here with me or even near by I did appear inside closet. I mean who starts there journey inside a closet? Not the most dignified entrance if you ask me.”
That caused Coco to giggle. “True it’s not the most dignified entrance in the world. Then again we aren’t writing an epic.”
‘We?’
“Of course, I am coming.” She unwrapped the quilt. “I’ve already finished my current project and can have it delivered to the theatre. They have my designs and few seamstresses to make adjustments, I also due to take some vacation time anyway.” Stepping up from the couch she draped it across the back. “Besides it was my closet you came out of, so I’m not getting left behind.”
‘And I have no money or nor do I know the layout of your lands.’
“Yep,”
He couldn't help it they had crept up on him, he started to laugh a loud boisterous laugh. “Aeaeaeae!”