Twilight tapped her foot as she listened to Fluttershy shakily speak to whoever else was on the other end of the line. Sure, maybe some help would be good but it wasn't like she wanted to see anymore locals. Zecora was one thing. Even though the woman was mysterious, doing and saying things that even Twilight wasn't sure she understood, she still respected the professor for her research and qualifications. But the same couldn't be said for the ones who showed up. All at once, she was hit with it; those same faces that greeted her before as she tried making her way through the town, the ones she thought she was done with.
"I hate coincidences…"
"Helloooo? You in there?" Rainbow waved her hand over Twilight's eyes, chuckling. "You look like your head's about to explode."
Twilight forced a smile. "Just… Fine!"
"Uhhh… Okay." The athlete frowned before turning back to Fluttershy, who was currently looking over all the berries in her possession. "You ready, Shy?"
"N… Nearly…" Fluttershy was caught between two mindsets. On the one hand, she would have to go into the terrifying forest where dangerous Pokemon notoriously lived. But those Pokemon had been taken by bad people. She should do something, but would she be of use? But as she was thinking, her Bunnelby hopped up and shoved her forward.
"Oh!" She yelped as she stumbled forward, before looking back to Bunnelby tapping its foot. "I mean, let's go. I-If it's alright with all of you, that is-"
"Well everyone's ready so let's go." Twilight said, walking into the forest. Spike began to follow her, but she stopped him.
"Oh no, mister. You heard how dangerous this place is. You're staying right here." The bookworm's words were as firm as she could be, mimicking her mother's movements whenever her older brother was told off.
"But Twi-"
"No buts. Stay here." Like that she walked into the forest, the other trainers following behind. The moment they set foot on forest grounds, each of them was greeted with a shiver, except Zecora.
As Twilight followed, she remembered what the professor had told her. Of course, Everfree held many dangerous Pokemon, but there were different levels of it. They were practically still on the edge, so they'd be alright for now. But even with the powerful Pokemon, they weren't the biggest danger. That would be the unyielding darkness that got stronger the deeper they went. They could relatively continue as they were, but…
"Dears… Would any of you happen to feel as though you're being watched?" Rarity piped up, unable to shake that feeling. "What if they know that we followed them, and are laying some sort of precarious trap?"
Fluttershy squeaked out, her eyes darting left and right now as she huddled near her fashionista friend, while Bunnelby's eyes rolled.
"IEEEE! THERE IT IS AGAIN!" A chill went down her spine. "Something just brushed my hair! I swear, something is definitely here."
"Skull…"
She froze. Her eyes drifted through the darkness. Suddenly, there was a red light. For a moment she stared at it, before it shot at her, making a rattling noise.
"AHH!" She ducked out of the way, but she couldn't avoid it when it shot at her again and she hit the ground into the grass, her white dress becoming stained with green. She groaned as she stood up, before looking at the glowing red. There was a twinkle to it. Rarity's eyes widened, and she patted herself down. She was silent, looking to the red light. In the reflection of the twinkling object, it could be seen a little clearer. A floating human skull wrapped in cloth, a red light in the centre that shone out of both its eyeholes.
Twilight, seeing the opportunity to examine another Pokemon, got her Pokedex out.
Duskull: the Requiem Pokemon.
Duskull wanders lost among the deep darkness of midnight. There is an oft-told admonishment given to misbehaving children that this Pokémon will spirit away bad children who earn scoldings from their mothers.
"Amazing… So this is the type of Pokemon that dwells in the Everfree." Twilight smiled, before glancing at Rarity, getting a strange vibe from that girl.
"Give it back…" She clenched her fist. "How dare you… That is not yours!" She threw out a Pokeball, summoning a large and grumpy-looking feline. Twilight knew a Purugly when she saw one, enough uptight upperclassmen and women held onto one.
"Assist!" Purugly suddenly shot a beam of cold energy at the Duskull, launching it into a tree. The ghost-type shivered as it looked down. Purugly fired again and Duskull avoided a few, before firing a Night Shade. The attacks collided for a moment, before the ice attack overwhelmed Duskull. More ice collected on the Duskull's body as it turned tail and ran.
"Don't think you'll get away that easily!" Purugly was already running towards Duskull. The ghost-type's shadow extended and struck the cat multiple times, but it shook them off and leapt up at Duskull. "Slash, now!" Its claws extended and it attacked Duskull, landing on its feet. Rarity smiled, before looking up. Duskull was gone.
"W-What?!"
"That… Was a normal move Rarity. That won't work on a ghost." She sighed.
"NOOOO! I CAN'T ALLOW THIS!" Rarity looked around, gripping her head. "THAT VILLAINOUS PHANTOM STOLE SOMETHING!" She looked around. "Where are you?! Where did you go?! Relinquish that necklace this instant!" She clenched her fist.
"Consarnit Rarity, calm down! Ya can just buy or make whatever dumb trinket it is ya lost!" Applejack yelled.
"As if I could simply let this go! It is-"
"Stop." Zecora spoke, and all of them froze. "We cannot worry about that right now, we are still being watched somehow."
Now, Fluttershy was hiding near Zecora. Each of them looked around, but the professor was looking in one location.
"Tell us by whom you were sent, or you will be dealt with by my Lampent."
The fiery phantom floated around her, looking at some bushes. They rustled for a moment, before something popped out.
"W-Wait! I'm sorry!" Spike raised his arms.
"Wh- Spike?!" Twilight went from shocked to furious. "What are you doing here?! This is one of the most dangerous places in the region!"
"I can handle it, I swear!"
"Not here, you can't!"
While the two were arguing, Applejack stared at a tree. The bark had been slashed right off. From there she stared at the ground. Footprints.
"Wait…" She brought Herdier over, the canine sniffing the footprints. "Be quiet for a moment, Herdier's got somethin'!" The canine pointed up and barked. "Woowee! We got a lead, y'all!" They all looked to her.
"Y… Are you serious?"
"I ain't gonna lead you wrong, and Herdier ain't either!" She stood up, putting her hands on her hips.
"You won't get away with this!" Rainbow was already running in the direction Herdier was pointing.
"Hold on a second!" Applejack and Herdier followed their technocolour friend.
"Wait!" Twilight tore herself from Spike, who was currently next to Zecora, and ran after them. The rest followed behind.
"This is all YOUR fault!"
"Mine?! If you hadn't suggested we run into the Everfree, we'd be lost!"
"Well how was I supposed to know there were several Ursaring running around in that stupid cottage! It was hard enough rounding these things up!"
"Still, I feel like a cartoon burglar!"
"And whose fault is that?!"
"Again, didn't know those things were there! Besides, we got something didn't we? Dumb bears."
"I still don't get why Sunset couldn't come and do this herself! We have to walk into the belly of the beast!"
Applejack just managed to hold Rainbow back as they listened in. They could see one with messy green hair and a vacant expression. The one in the middle had orange hair with red eyes, his arms folded.
"Are you idiots done yet?" One of their Pokegears spoke.
"W-We're on our way!" The middle one said.
"You three idiots had best be. I have better things to do than wait for you."
The Pokegear went silent.
"...Alright. We need some sort of distraction." Twilight whispered as they all watched. "First, I think-"
"HEY YOU!" Rainbow leapt out of Applejack's grip after kicking off the cowgirl's body and leaping forward. "You better let those Pokemon go, or you're in for a world of hurt!"
The redhead paused, before laughing.
"Pfff, get a load of this, Crackle! So a wimpy dame wants to take on a dragon master? Fine." Both he and Rainbow got a Pokeball out.
"Overtake them, Shuckle!" Out of the red ball came a red shell full of holes. Out of some of those holes emerged legs and a head.
"...Pfft! That's it? Destroy them Druddigon!" A reptile with blue and red scales was released, roaring as it stomped on the ground, running towards Shuckle. Twilight already had her Pokedex out.
Druddigon: The Cave Pokemon.
It races through narrow caves, using its sharp claws to catch prey. The skin on its face is harder than a rock.
"Bite down on that thing!" It sunk its teeth into Shuckle's shell, which the rock-type had already retreated back into.
"Struggle Bug!" Shuckle's shell began moving around. Its legs shot out and flailed everywhere, hitting Druddigon in the face and forcing it to release the rock-type from its maw. "Alright!" She pumped her fist as Shuckle fell to the ground, but frowned when she saw it wincing.
The redhead smiled. "Idiot. Metal Claw!" It swung its claw, shining like silver, down at the mold Pokemon who managed to kick itself out of the way, before using Struggle Bug again. It jumped back, and Rainbow could see it even clearer now.
"Why are you hurt? You avoided that attack!" The athlete was confused, but Twilight realised.
"Rough Skin."
"Huh?"
"Its skin is harder than rock. Some of them get skin so tough it hurts just to touch them, and it becomes their ability."
"So we can't even hurt that thing?!" She cried out, and Twilight sighed.
"I didn't say that. All you need to do is use a non-contact move."
"Ohhh… I got it now! Rock Throw!" She pumped her fist as Shuckle's legs extended, grabbing a stone and throwing it at Druddigon.
"Dragon Rage!" Druddigon blocked the stones, they could see it building up energy, and the true anger in its eyes. Then, it fired. That beam of pure rage erupted from its mouth straight into Shuckle. It never stood a chance.
"Shuckle!" Rainbow ran towards her fainted Pokemon, picking it up. "You okay there? Anyone got a berry?" Fluttershy ran towards them, her bag full.
"Where are you looking?!" The redhead grinned as Druddigon's claw was poised to slash the two of them. Fluttershy stared up with terrified eyes, before Bunnelby shot up behind her, hitting the dragon-type with a Double Kick, fazing it enough to make it miss. It alternated between that and Doubleslap, but that combo was quickly broken as Rough Skin took its toll, and Druddigon knocked it back.
"Bunnelby!" After leaving a berry for Rainbow Dash, she ran over to her partner Pokemon and picked it up.
"I don't know what she was worried about! This town really IS full of sissies! You can't compare to a Pokemon straight from the Dragon Lands! And if it weren't for this forest and that gym leader protecting you babies, I'd be running this town!"
Zecora was currently fighting the other one, Crackle. He'd sent out a Fraxure while she battled with her Mismagius while Rarity and Pinkie backed her up.
"Confusion!" Druddigon slid back as it was attacked by the psychic force. Hoothoot flew above it.
"Grr… Dragon Rage!" It shot the beam at Hoothoot, who fired another Confusion throwing it off. "Fine. Then I'll go to you! Metal Claw!" Druddigon jumped up, slashing Hoothoot with its shining claw. He grinned when the owl was knocked back, but it hadn't done as much damage as hoped.
"What are you doing Druddigon? It's just a little owl!" He looked up and saw Hoothoot's body shining, almost as if it were surrounded by a barrier.
"Reflect." Twilight explained. "You might consider it the opposite to your Rough Skin. Now Confusion!" Hoothoot's eyes glowed, and psychic energy surrounded Druddigon shooting it straight down.
"Get up already you dumb lizard! No way I'm going back empty-handed!" Druddigon stepped back up, growling. It was poised to attack, looking around at the different Pokemon before its eyes settled on the fashionista battling Fraxure. It readied a Dragon Rage before something struck its side, making it hit the tree near the other group. The dragon stumbled as the shadows around it sank back down, returning to their source: A Duskull.
They all turned, Rarity was the first to see the source.
"What are you-" She began, but it turned back to its enemy. Druddigon's eyes widened. It stumbled around like it was dizzy. Twilight looked back to Duskull. Shadow Sneak and Confuse Ray. But why was this ghost protecting them now? Wasn't it supposed to be a wild Pokemon?
"What's wrong now?!" The redhead gripped
"Confused." Twilight folded her arms. "You're finished now. You managed to get a Pokemon with a strong move early and a decent ability, but that's it. You're just an amateur no better than any of us."
"Arrrrgh! Dragon Rage, Dragon Rage, Dragon Rage!" Druddigon wildly shot around, hitting whatever it could. They took cover as the draconic energy shot in every direction possible. Though they mostly ended up hitting tree trunks and making them fall. One of them fell into a nearby river, making a huge splash.
Druddigon and Fraxure were both on their last legs. However, Druddigon had snapped out of its confusion and could fight more effectively.
"Ponyville brats…"
"What are we gonna do, Garble?" The green-haired one asked.
"Tch… DRAGON R-"
There was a huge splash behind them. There was a shadow over them. Everyone looked to see the enraged Gyarados over them. With a flick of its tail, it knocked the two to the side before unleashing a Whirlpool, knocking the group back. Most of their Pokemon had fainted, and Fluttershy's head had hit a tree, knocking her unconscious.
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow ran towards her friend, but Gyarados didn't let up.
Applejack sent out everything she had, but quick work was made of her Pokemon.
"Consarnit, nothing is strong enough!" She clenched her fist, but she was worried. She stood in front of the Gyarados.
"You all can clearly see, this is the wrath of the Everfree." Mismagius was doing its best to protect the group. Besides, defeating Gyarados wasn't the main problem. If this ruckus continued then it'd attract something else. A quick defeat was needed.
"Z-Zecora, you can beat this thing right?" Spike asked.
"Victory is not the problem. What I am worried about is them." She looked to the other trainers. "A swift defeat is what we need, or others will be attracted indeed."
"Something strong enough… Twilight!" He yelled, getting the bookworm's attention. "Use that!"
Knowing what her brother meant, she hesitated.
"But-"
"You've got somethin' that can help us, right Twilight?" Applejack panted as she stood up. Twilight looked around at everyone there. The danger was real and unavoidable. Sighing, the bookworm got another Pokeball out; a Dusk Ball.
"Go, Gengar!" The Pokeball revealed a dark purple Pokemon with a roundish body. It opened its eyes and let out a grin, stretching out as if it had just woken up from a long nap. "Daze that Gyarados with a Confuse Ray!"
Gengar's smile widened, before forming a Shadow Ball on its fingers and shooting at Gyarados. The attack exploded in the water-type's face, knocking it back into some trees. The smoke cleared to show a heavily-damaged, even angrier Pokemon.
"Hey! I said Confuse Ray!" Twilight complained, while Gyarados shot towards the poison-type for a Bite. Gengar ducked, and Gyarados's enraged expression turned to one of pain. It had shot ring into a Poison Jab. For a moment, Gyaradod was stunned. Finally, it fell to the ground with a wince.
Garble got up. He breathed heavily, before looking at Gengar, which had made short work of Gyarados. He then looked down at his Pokemon. "Get up! This is our chance! Hit its back with Dragon Rage!" After taking a moment, it shot the rage-fuelled attack… Only for it to be met with a Shadow Ball as the two were faced with an unsmiling phantom. It let loose an onslaught of Shadow Balls at both the Pokemon and the trainer.
"Stop it! Listen to me!" Twilight almost pleaded. Gengar landed one just beneath his feet, causing him to fall. As Gengar prepared another attack, it was returned to its Pokeball. "You've gotten worse… Why are you attacking trainers now?"
"This isn't over!" Garble yelled, before he and Crackle made a run for it after returning their Pokemon. They'd lost the Pokemon they tried to bring, their team was run ragged. The only option was to run… At least it would be if not for the Medicham in front of them. Behind it was a woman in formal clothing, a green cravat on her neck and grey hair on her head. The gym leader of Ponyville folded her arms as she looked down at the two.
Twilight let out a sigh of relief as she leaned against a tree. She looked as the mayor took them off. Wait… Were there two or three? She walked forward, before Spike put a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you doing, Twilight? We got all the Pokemon back. Let's get out of here."
Twilight looked back at the forest before agreeing, unaware of the ones watching her.
"You'll learn! You'll never mess with Team Chaos or a Dragon Master!" Garble yelled as he and Crackle were taken away by the police. "You'll regret this when we rule Equestria!"
The rest of them went to Zecora's lab, since it was much closer than the entrance. Fluttershy had woken up just before they got there, while Duskull hovered around Rarity, holding a necklace around where its neck would be.
"I'm quite confused. Why did you steal something only to come back again?" The fashionista asked, and Duskull floated through her hair. When she looked down, her scarf was gone. Duskull wore that over its head.
"Wait… Was that it? You wanted clothes?" She asked, and the Requiem pokemon leisurely floated around, evidently quite happy with its new apparel. Spike looked up at the Duskull, recognising the necklace and was about to say something, before Rarity did. "If you want my scarf so much that's fine, but I can't let you keep that necklace. It isn't mine to give. I'll even make you something else even nicer."
Duskull thought for a moment, before shaking its head.
"Hm? Then what do you want?"
"Come on, Rarity!" Pinkie giggled. "It wants to go with you!"
Rarity stared back at Duskull. "Is this true?" When the ghost-type nodded, she smiled. "Very well!" She raised both her hands. The first hand was empty, and it was in that hand that Duskull set the necklace down on. Her other hand had a Pokeball, which Duskull tapped. In a flash, it was inside the ball. It shook once, before going completely still. She held the Pokeball close with an elegant smile, before turning to Spike with the necklace. "Now! I believe this is yours?"
Her smile turned into a look of surprise when the boy fainted, all red in the face.
"I'll give it to him." Twilight took the necklace from Rarity, sighing as she looked down at Spike. Her eyes then went to the wild Pokemon. Six Eevees, a Dratini and an unhatched egg. Her shoulder was tapped and she turned to look at Zecora.
"If the subject I may shift, I still must give you that gift." Zecora handed Twilight a device. Its design was similar to the Pokedex but when she switched it on it had options like Radio, Map and Phone.
"A Pokegear?"
"I hope it is not too much, to ask if we could keep in touch?"
"Of course Zecora." Twilight said as turned it on and registered the professor's number.
"Well… I gotta go. I have a bunch of training to do."
"Mr and Mrs Cake will be worried if I'm gone too long!"
"All well and good. Equestria won't wait for me." They each began walking towards the doors, only to see all the Eevee there. Their fur was still a little wet from the Whirlpool but they were otherwise fine.
"Huh?" Twilight frowned.
"Wait… I think they wanna come along with us!" Each of them had a determined look on their faces. "I get it, they were inspired by our awesome fighting!" Rainbow pumped her fist. "Okay, pick who you wanna go with!"
Before anyone could say anything else, each Eevee spread out to find their trainer. The girls, unable to refuse after looking at those faces, each found themselves filling an empty Pokeball.
Spike, who had woken up, blinking as he felt something wrapped around his neck. "Huh?" He looked down to see a Dratini. He paused, before his eyes widened.
"T-Twilight! I think it likes me!" He smiled, his eyes sparkling. "Can I keep him?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Sure." She smiled.
"As well as that Dratini around your leg, it might be wise to take the egg." Zecora said, before Fluttershy blinked.
"That egg… I found it abandoned at my cottage one day. I've accommodated as best I can, but… it hasn't hatched yet."
"Perhaps some travel will do it good. To allow it with Spike, do you think you could?"
Fluttershy thought for a moment, before nodding.
"Well, glad that's all sorted. But now we have to go." Twilight walked to the door, but Spike popped up.
"Hold on… Uhh… Can't you wait a few hours?" He smiled. "Get rested up in town?" Twilight looked at him for a moment.
A few hours later, Twilight and Spike stood on the edge of Ponyville. They looked back at it for a second before they left. Hoothoot was on Twilight's shoulder and Dratini was wrapped around Spike, who was also holding a container to keep the Pokemon egg safe.
"I hope you're satisfied, Spike. You're the one who insisted I take that rest, but you weren't even there when I woke up and I had to wait even longer for you!" She sighed. "This town has been… Something. But I've indulged in it long enough. Now let's head to Los Pegasus, and keep that egg safe."
"Los Pegasus…" Both Spike and Dratini shivered at the thought of ice-types.
"Room for others, sugarcube?" Twilight turned around and saw Applejack, along with all her other friends and they were all wearing rucksacks.
"You girls? Did you come to see me off or something?" Twilight frowned.
"No, silly! We're coming with you!" Pinkie giggled.
"See, we realised something." Rainbow piped up.
"Those guys called themselves a team, and it means trouble if there more of those meanies."
"A-And using those Pokemon for… umm, evil."
"We all wish to travel across Equestria darling, doesn't it make sense that we do it together?"
Twilight wanted to tell them she was fine and they could go their separate ways, but Spike looked at her.
"Would it really kill you to make some friends, Twilight? They could help you."
Twilight looked at Spike for a second, then sighed. It did allow an easy solution for Celestia's task.
"Don't fall behind." She said as the five other girls smiled and went up to her. They all began to walk along the path, heading towards Los Pegasus.