Sunset Shimmer and her friends, the 'main six' of the human world, were by the portal, talking about their summer plans, not expecting the day to be anything but ordinary.

They really should know by now that things rarely turn out the way it starts.

Ash Ketchum had come back from saving Lillie's mom from the ultra dimension two days ago, and needed to talk to someone.

He didn't want to bother Misty or Brock, Max, Bonnie, May, Dawn, and Iris were on their own journeys, Cilan and Clemont had to take care of their respective gyms, and Serena . . . well, Ash didn't have the courage to tell her that he already had a girlfriend, one that he loved and cherished. 'Sides, it'd be awkward, 'specially since he'd turned his head last second.

So, really, there was only one person that he could talk to.

His girlfriend.

Ash walked out into the woods, leaving the professors a note. Pikachu knew that he needed some space, and he was forever grateful about that. Ash loved his partner, but there were times that he needed to be by himself, ya know?

I thought you did.

And - oh, I guess there's some second-person stuff in here. Bare with me, alright? I've had a stressful day today. (explanations in the A/N down below.)

Anyway, once Ash was sure Nobody (get it? Nobody? Like . . . from SoM? No? 'Kay, well, this is awkward . . .) was there, he softly called out, "Mew?"

The cat-like legendary appeared in a soft pink light.

"Mew mew?"

"What's up?"

"Can you make me a portal to Canterlot High?"

Mew nodded, and swirled her tail. A white oval appeared, and Ash sent his friend a grateful look. "There are some berries a bit deeper in the woods," he instructed softly.

Mew nodded, and rubbed her soft head against the tense trainer, making him relax a bit.

Ash stepped through the light, surprising the seven girls (and talking dog) that were talking.

Sunset was the first to recover, catching the weary teen into a hug.

The others looked at them in surprise.

Releasing Ash, Sunset turned to her friends. "Everyone, meet my boyfriend, Ash."

"Boyfriend? Darling, why haven't we heard about this?" asked Rarity.

"Yeah! You can tell us, yo know," Rainbow Dash said, bouncing a soccer ball.

Pinkie looked down from the top of the statue from where she was playing spit with Apple Jack.

"Double yeah!" she said, her head upside down.

"So, are you from Equestria?" asked Fluttershy.

Twilight stroked Spike, who whined and asked for more with his pleading puppy eyes.

"Is Equestria okay? Is something wrong? Is there a magical fiasco only we can fix?" she asked.

Ash grinned slightly and shook his head. "No, I'm not from Equestria, but the ponies there are good friends of mine." Lower, he added, so only Sunset could hear, "Chiron'd kill me if he heard me call him a pony."

Sunset snickered.

"So where are you from then?" asked Spike.

Ash wasn't at all all surprised when he heard the talking dog. But, to be fair, he had to deal with the TRio on a regular basis, so . . .

"I'm from Japan," he told them, which technically wasn't a lie.

Sunset scanned his face. "Something happened, didn't it?" she asked.

Ash bit his lip. "Jason's dead," he told her softly.

Sunset gasped. "I bet Nico flipped," she said, worrying her bottom lip.

"Will helped him. But . . ." here he hesitated

"But . . . ?" prompted Sunset.

Ash took a deep breath. "Lilliesmomgotkidnappedbyanultrabeast - thatsanewtypeofpokeonIguessandwehadtogototheultraspacetosaveherandmeandPikacumadeanewtypeofz-movethatLilliecallsPikashniumz-AshandPikachu,getit? AndIthrewupyestersaybutIdidnttellanyoneandIhadtotalktosomeoneandyouwerethfirstpersonIthoughtofsohereIam.

"Slower, please?" asked Sunset.

He repeated it.

"C'mon, let's go to my house, we can binge-watch Just Add Magic."

Ash nodded.