Chapter 5: Equestrian Opportunity Citizen
Ash, Sunset and Pikachu entered a rift within the statue's stand. They arrived at a study room but two had changed appearances. Looking, Ash awed the new place. "Ash, welcome to Equestria," Sunset announced. Ash turned to Sunset, but she appeared incredibly different: instead of a person, she appeared as a young bright orange unicorn with a yellow and red sun around her tail. Her hairstyle still showed as a mane. Ash seemed surprised and horrified.
"Sunset, what happened to you?" he gasped.
"Hey, don't be surprised. This is what I looked like before I lived as a human. Besides, you don't look bad at all." Ash blinked before he looked to find his hands becoming hooves. Ash became a pony himself. He had blue fur around his body while his hair became a mane. Pikachu hopped down to see his trainer's new look. His jacket became all white and his cap remained unchanged. Sunset strutted to Ash, wrapping a hoof around Ash's neck. "In fact, I may have you better like this over the human form." Ash sighed to the cooing.
"Not the first time I changed form." The tidbit interested Sunset but before she could ask…
"You finally made it!" sounded someone familiar. All turned to a purple unicorn pony with wings. She had sparkles around her tail. Her mane looked similar to Twilight's hairstyle except it draped and not into a ponytail. Still, Ash had a guess to who he faced.
"Twilight?" he questioned. The pony gawked to the guess.
"That's… me," she stuttered. "Did Sunset tell you? As a matter of fact…" Sunset hoofed forward to clarify.
"My apologies, Princess Twilight," she spoke. Ash gawked with a leap to the air.
"Princess?!" he gasped. However, he tried to land on his back hooves, forgetting he's not human. He hit the ground with a funny thud but soon got back to his… hooves. "So not only do I have to contend with this form but now I'm facing a princess?" Twilight and Sunset giggled to the startled reaction.
"Don't feel bad," Twilight assured. "When I became human, I didn't know how to do much, let alone learn to walk. After all, I spent almost all my life as a pony." Sunset was ready to give introductions.
"Ash, this is Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship," she named. Ash awed the title while Pikachu leaped down and bowed. Seeing Pikachu's greeting, Sunset continued. "This is Ash Ketchum. He's a Pokémon Trainer and that's his main partner, Pikachu." Twilight seemed inspired to know more about Pikachu as she came to see the Mouse Pokémon.
"I can tell Fluttershy will like you a lot," she believed. Pikachu squeaked, interested to Twilight's belief. "So, you're the young colt Sunset told me about. Not too shabby…" She petted Ash with her hoof. "And it's actually coincidental you came by."
"How so?" asked Ash.
"Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are also here," she explained. "When I told Sunset to bring you here, Princess Celestia wanted to see you, Pikachu and whoever else you have on hand." Ash blinked to the names before leaving the study room. In the hallway, the group came to find two tall ponies: one white with a mane like Principal Celestia's. Like Twilight, she had wings and a long horn. The other was a black pony with the wings and horn but appeared shorter than the white. Her mane was like Vice Principal Luna's hair. Both tall winged/horned ponies wore plates matching the tattoos on their hides: the white being a yellow sun while the black had a white moon.
"Missed us already, Sunset?" the white pony joked. "Twilight said you'd be coming with someone you wanted to show." Ash heard the voices and soon took guesses.
"Celestia?" he assumed. "And Luna?" The two tall ones glared down to the visitor.
"How do you know us?" the black pony wondered. Ash gulped to what seemed like a scold coming up. Sunset helped explain.
"He met your human counterparts," she mentioned. "As well as Princess Twilight's." To the two tall ones, he recognized their appearances.
"I see…" the white pony sensed. "It's not everyday you encounter royalty up close." Learning about their brief title and learning from Sunset, Ash bowed by kneeing one hoof.
"I'm sorry if I disrespect you in any way," he apologized. Celestia scoffed to Ash's apology.
"I understand that you're not familiar with our appearance," she eased. "Allow me to show you." She strutted to Ash and leaned down, her horn touching his head. A flash lit the room. Celestia saw inside Ash's mind. She viewed moments of Ash, in human form and wearing numerous clothes, protecting different Pokémon and people from other humans. Most of the time, it involved a crimson redhead woman and an ice-violet-haired man. Both wore white uniforms with red "R" emblems on them. The redhead's hairstyle extended from her head in a narrow blood wave. "These humans… I detect they're the bane of you." Others have shown up but Ash, with help of Pikachu and other Pokémon, dominated them. She removed the horn and Ash regained consciousness.
"What was that?" he asked. Sunset hoofed Ash for comfort.
"Sister, what did you see?" asked Luna.
"One, I saw him as a human," Celestia started. "But a strong human, one possessing many capabilities. A defender of those who cannot defend, especially regarding two evil adults." Ash scowled to the identity of the description.
"Team Rocket…" he named. "But we're here and it would be a miracle if they're able to find me and my Pokémon."
"Is that the name of the creatures I saw?" asked Celestia. "Including the cute mouse?" Pikachu squeaked to confirm Celestia's suspicions, bringing Twilight to pet him.
"Fluttershy will have plenty of fun with you," Twilight suggested. Pikachu blinked before the group arrived in a new room. A large throne room with six chairs that had tall back supports with one smaller chair by one. Each one had symbols on them: sparkles, diamonds, balloons, butterflies, apples and a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt. "This is the throne room." The gold round table had a star which one point was longer than the rest.
"This is cool," Ash awed. That's when he spotted a small purple dragon with green scales on the front, curled up and sleeping.
"There's Spike," Sunset noticed. She hoofed Spike's back, stirring it awake.
"Not so rough," he moaned. Looking up, he saw a pony he almost didn't recognize and jumped. "Sunset?! Whoa!" Ash laughed to Spike's reaction.
"That's definitely Spike for you!" he joked. The dragon glanced to the new pony, blinking in confusion.
"Who in Ponyville are you?" he asked. "I mean, how would you know me?" Celestia came to explain the issue.
"Apparently, he met your other self in the human world," she pointed out. The sound of the doors opened, forcing all to turn to the noise. Eight more ponies, three shorter than the others, entered and arrived at the throne room. Three of them: a light blue pony with a rainbow-colored mane, a yellow pony with a wavy pink mane and a tangerine-colored little pony with a fuchsia mane; all had wings with the tangerine-colored having the smallest pair. Two more ponies, both white, had horns. The bigger pony had a curled violet mane while the smaller had a puffy mix of pink and purple. Three more ponies had neither extra feature: a light pink pony with a slightly darker tone of a puffy pink mane, a light orange pony with a blond mane and cowgirl fedora, and a small yellow pony with a red mane.
"Hey, Twilight!" the orange pony greeted. "Whoa! Princesses Celestia and Luna?! What's going on!?" Even Pikachu had a shocked look to who came. The yellow winged pony saw Pikachu and flew to greet him.
"What an adorable mouse!" she cooed. Pikachu squeaked in curiosity. "Oh? I sound like someone you met?" This irked Pikachu more where Sunset reached the two.
"I know it's kinda hard to tell Fluttershy's the same here as the human world," she informed. Pikachu gawked before Fluttershy used her hoof to pet him. Ash realized who was who.
"Hold on…" he irked. Using his hoof, he pointed to the ponies with Fluttershy first. "Fluttershy…" The blue pony was where his eyes turned to. "Rainbow Dash…" Now the taller white pony. "Rarity…" The orange pony had her turn. "Applejack…" The pink pony followed. "Pinkie Pie…" The smaller ponies were last. "And the Crusaders?" This made the arriving ponies skeptical. When Sunset approached, they became irked some more.
"Sunset Shimmer?" gawked Rarity. "You dare show your face around after what you did!?" Twilight stood by Sunset to settle everyone.
"Look, every pony," she called out. "The Sunset here and the Sunset who stole my crown were two different ponies. Drop all accusations and let's learn from her appearance along with Ash Ketchum." Ash nodded, but it irked Pinkie and the Crusaders to approach.
"You're Ash?" she gasped. Ash turned to Pinkie and realized how close her snout was.
"Yes…" he stuttered. She let out a squeal while jumping up, her hooves spinning in excitement and hearts replacing her eyes.
"He's so adorable!" she cheered before tackling him to the ground and pelting him with a barrage of kisses.
"Pinkie!" he yelped. "Whoa! Pinkie! Cut it!" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo saw Ash, awing his young look with hearts for eyes.
"I think I found my special some pony!" cooed Sweetie Belle. She raced and joined Pinkie in swarming Ash with kisses.
"Oh no!" jolted Apple Bloom. "He'll be my special some pony!"
"Not if I'm the one who gets him!" challenged Scootaloo. Those two piled onto the first three, kissing Ash nonstop. Sunset laughed to the onslaught. Celestia nudged her head as Twilight turned to the princesses. She hoofed over to the two.
"Princess Celestia, is something wrong?" she asked. A few seconds hesitation told Twilight that Celestia discovered something serious.
"When I delved into Ash's memories, I sensed an essence that I've never discovered," she warned. Luna turned to understand her finding.
"Sister, what do you mean?" she questioned.
"It's hard to describe," Celestia shuttered. "But no question that it's inherited from an ancestor possessing the essence." Twilight turned back to see Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow pulling the Crusaders off Ash. Fluttershy and Spike tried to peel Pinkie from Ash, now sweating profusely to the onslaught.
"I've never been given so many kisses like that!" he gasped. Sunset and Applejack helped Ash back to his feet.
"I'm sorry for Apple Bloom and her friends," Applejack apologized. "And especially Pinkie." Ash sighed to Pinkie's kissing campaign.
"She's worse than her human counterpart," he groaned. With everyone settled down, Twilight resumed her discussion with Sunset.
"Now, I read about a play going on at Canterlot High," she brought up. "Have they decided?" Sunset and Ash knew the play from the principal's announcement.
"We know now," she allowed. "It's Raiders of the Lost Ark, a movie where Indiana Jones battles Nazis to retrieve an artifact known as the Ark of the Covenant." Ash blinked to the summary while the others awed.
"I have… so many questions," he gulped. Rainbow flew to Sunset with some questions of her own.
"Retrieve an artifact?" she repeated. "That sounds a lot like Daring Do!" Sunset blinked to the name.
"Daring… Do?" she irked. "I've been mostly living like a human, so Daring Do doesn't ring a bell." Rainbow needed to know.
"Okay! Is Indiana Jones a archaeologist?"
"Yes…"
"She find anything she wanted to keep?" Sunset shook her head to the mistake.
"What if I told you his real name is Doctor Henry Jones, Jr.?" Rainbow blinked to the name.
"A colt? Not a mare? So, a male version of Daring Do?"
"Pretty much. Flash Sentry got the role." The name brought Twilight to confront Sunset.
"Flash is the lead?!" she gasped. Recalling Twilight's visits beforehand, Sunset snickered.
"Wish you can see him whip some Nazis to shape?" she teased.
"Would I ever?!" pleaded Twilight. "Is Ash a part of it? I bet you are!"
"Well, of course!" confirmed Sunset. "I'm playing Marion, Jones' love interest." She sighed at the concept of working with someone she's a friend to. "Just like old times…" Twilight became a little upset. Ash stood by Spike, looking at Twilight's face.
"This can't be good," Spike pointed out. "When I traveled to the human world, she and Flash became friends but…" Ash scoffed to Spike's concern.
"Flash is cool," he expressed. "And maybe I'll hang around to see his play." To Pinkie, Ash wasn't participating.
"You're not in the play?" she gawked.
"I'm not a student at the school Sunset's in," he clarified. To Pinkie, his disqualification made her even happier.
"That's great!" she cheered. "You can spend more time with us!" Rarity didn't agree with Pinkie's wish.
"Daft as usual," she groaned while approaching the small group. "Pinkie, he's not a purebred pony like the rest of us." Ash nodded but noticed something about the pony.
"Now that I've had a closer look, I recall a Pokémon that looks similar," he pointed out. Rarity rose an eyelash.
"I… beg your pardon?" she blinked. Pinkie dug into Ash's jacket with two hooves and pulled out the PokéDex.
"Got it!" she announced. Ash gawked to how Pinkie pulled out his device.
"How?" he wondered. "Laying it down, Ash put his snout to work and nosed the buttons. "There we go." What came on the device's screen was a white pony with a mane of fire.
PONYTA – HT: 3' 3" - WT: 66.1 LBS. - TYPE: FIRE – ABILITY: RUN AWAY
"Ponyta, the Fire Horse Pokémon," it registered. "Ponyta's hooves are as hard as diamonds. They can burn anyone who it doesn't trust." Rarity and Pinkie awed the horse that appeared.
"It's actually pretty cute," Rarity awed. "Except for the burning part, of course."
"And that's not all," Ash sneered before hitting a button. On display was a larger Ponyta with light yellow fur and a horn.
RAPIDASH – HT: 5' 7" - WT: 209.4 LBS. - TYPE: FIRE – ABILITY: RUN AWAY
"Rapidash, the Fire Horse Pokémon and the evolved form of Ponyta," it computed. "Rapidash can gallop around 115 MPH, making it one of the fastest Pokémon in existence." Fluttershy saw the picture of Rapidash and noticed the look.
"Wait… that looks like Twilight after not understanding Pinkie's Pinkie Senses," she pointed out. Pikachu looked confused.
"How?" irked Ash. "Rapidash doesn't have wings like Twilight does." Fluttershy cleared her throat before explaining.
"This was before Twilight became an Alicorn," she informed. "Twilight dedicated an entire day trying to understand the Pinkie Senses like her Twitchy Tail that detects a falling object. Twilight got so mad that she became… what you have on that." That gave Ash a picture in his mind about Twilight without wings becoming a Rapidash.
"Oh yeah!" remembered Pinkie. "The doozy! That was so classic!" Twilight came to the ponies with an idea.
"Every pony, I'm gonna take a temporary leave," she announced. "I'll join Ash and Sunset…" She turned to Pikachu who seemed left out. "I wouldn't forget you, Pikachu." The Mouse Pokémon sighed in relief.
"Don't get discouraged," Fluttershy assured. "Twilight doesn't know you that well, but I'm sure she'll warm up after sometime." Pikachu wanted to trust Fluttershy. Meanwhile Celestia informed Sunset the same items she told Twilight.
"I won't bring it up," Sunset promised. "Not unless there's a need."
"I'll hold you to your word, Sunset," Celestia urged. Sunset bowed as Applejack reached the group.
"Sunset, I know we still have an issue or two between all of us about you," she brought up.
"I know," Sunset acknowledged. "So does… oh, I don't know… Every pony? Not that I don't deserve it." She then blushed. "Then again… I do wish Ash was part of the play so that we could work together." Applejack saw the face and sneered.
"And I thought seeing you back in Equestria would bother my apples," she slyly neighed. "Though, it may be tough getting Pinkie to pry off him." Sunset, Celestia and Luna saw Pinkie clutching onto Ash.
"If he's… going back…" she struggled with Rainbow and Rarity pulling her from Ash. "I… wanna go… with him!" Rainbow peeled Pinkie off Ash while Rarity pulled Ash away, knocking his cap loose. That's when a shadowy figure flew into the cap before Rarity made her horn glow and put it back on his head.
"I'm dreadfully sorry about Pinkie's behavior," Rarity apologized. "We'll hold her off while you return home." Ash nodded before the Crusaders came by.
"Well Ash?" started Scootaloo. "Good luck back in the human world."
"If you wanna come back," Sweetie Belle spoke. "We can show you the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse."
"And I'm sure you can show us some of your pets like Pikachu," Apple Bloom wished.
"Of course!" accepted Ash. All hugged at once. Ash broke to join Pikachu, Sunset, Twilight and Spike. When they all entered the rift, Pikachu remained unchanged. Ash and Sunset returned to human form while Twilight became the same as the flashback from earlier. Spike turned into a dog, a lot like the Spike the other Twilight had.
"It's been awhile," Twilight said. Seeing Ash as human, Twilight started to see his real person. "Personally, you're better off human than a pony." Ash turned to Twilight with a bit of a guilty face.
"Well, it's not the first time I've worn fur," he admitted. Twilight and Sunset looked to Ash, a little concerned.
"Wait, what?" gawked Sunset.
"A long time ago, I met a Pokémon Magician named Lily," he started. "She tried to make a spell that could get into a Pokémon's head. However, the concoction was smudged up by Team Rocket where instead of getting into Pikachu's mind… I became Pikachu." The girls soon realized his meaning and burst into laughter.
"Priceless!" squealed Twilight as she put her hands on Ash's shoulders. "Oh, I'm gonna have a great time with you around!" She got her feet tangled and both spilled onto the concrete. Sunset jerked her head from seeing the thud. When she looked back with Pikachu on her shoulder, they saw Twilight on top of Ash. Both seemed surprised that they're kissing each other. Twilight jumped up to the kiss with a blushing red face. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-" Ash groaned, another unnecessary kiss on his face.
"So who's next?" he murmured. "Rarity? Rainbow?" Twilight and Sunset helped Ash back to his feet.
"That tells me he's exhausted," Sunset studied. "Can't blame him, though. Let's head back home." Twilight allowed Pikachu to board her shoulder while she held Spike in her arms. Just as Twilight began to follow Sunset keeping Ash standing, Pikachu's ears picked up. Behind Twilight was Flash.
"Is that you, Twilight?" he spoke. Twilight heard the voice and turned. Seeing the star of the play made the princess giddy.
"Flash!" she recognized. "I'm sorry I've been gone so long! I heard you got the leading role so I… uh, ran here as soon as I could!" Convinced, Flash embraced Twilight in a hug.
"There's the Twilight Sparkle I love!"
"Oh… Flash Sentry!" Pikachu cooed to the two loved teenagers. Flash briefly broke to pet Pikachu, believing he made the reunion possible.
"So, you're the rodent responsible, huh? Probably a treat while I perform." Pikachu squeaked to scoff the remark. "By the way, you might wanna wear something you don't mind getting wet in." Twilight blinked to the new information.
"What do you mean?"
"We're having a car wash tomorrow to raise money for doing the play." Flash's explanation made Twilight giggle.
"I gotcha." They finally broke. "I'll see you tomorrow!" Pikachu also waived to Flash. At a new household, Ash had enough energy to remove his coat and shoes. Sunset led Ash to a bedroom as he was on the cusp of sleep.
"Thanks for staying with me and Twilight, tonight," she welcomed.
"After all that," he yawned. "I'm about ready to call anything a day." Twilight entered with Spike and Pikachu.
"Pinkie just wouldn't let go," Spike muttered. "Kinda wish that was me getting that kind of mobbing from Rarity." Pikachu blinked to Spike's wish. Sunset helped Ash into bed and got the blanket over. Ash fell fast asleep. Twilight gulped to the sight.
"Sunset, isn't that… your bed?" she pointed out. A giggle from Sunset seemed to say that it's part of her ploy. The girls left the room.
"Is it wrong for me to say that I've fallen for him?" she asked. They entered the living room where Pikachu spotted a small leopard gecko in a cage. Sunset opened it and retrieved the gecko. "Wanna see me before tonight's over, Ray?" The leopard gecko sped up Sunset's arm and nuzzled her cheek from her shoulder.
"What in Equestria is that?" Sunset extended her arm where the gecko crawled back down.
"He's Ray, a leopard gecko I adopted. He's… been my ray of sunshine since meeting him at the animal shelter." Ray raced back to Sunset's shoulder.
"At least before Ash dropped by… literally from what you've told me." Pikachu nodded. "But, why would you be chasing someone like Ash? I know it wasn't long since I took Flash from you… not that I wanted to brag or anything."
"Brag all you want. When I touched him, I saw into his memories and saw him as someone who… given any obstacle, he'd find ways to overcome. He's been incredible with any Pokémon he's come across, whether it would be a Pokémon he's been training like Oshawott or Scraggy or even Pikachu, or even those who belong to other trainers. He's selfless, he's strong, and I don't mind someone who'd rather travel the world!" Twilight blinked to the description Sunset gave.
"Touching him?"
"Yeah, gimme your arm once!" Twilight extended her arm before Sunset touched it. Her eyes began to glow.
(Sunset's Vision)
Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow and Fluttershy, all with longer glowing manes, faced down a red-faced centaur with a white mane, white beard and red arms to go with the black fur and white tail. With the devil horns, he fired a red energy beam at the glowing shield encasing the six. The shield held. The centaur growled. "How is this possible?!" he snapped. "You have no magic!"
"You're wrong, Tirek!" protested Twilight. "I may have given you my Alicorn magic, but I carry the most powerful magic of all!" Six rainbow beams shot and nailed Tirek. He began to reel as he began to shrink, his powers drained from within himself. Soon enough, he became a fraction of the centaur while locked away in a desolate area.
Sunset released her hold on Twilight before reeling. "You… gave your Alicorn magic to that thing?" she recalled. Pikachu blinked to the name of magic. Twilight snapped her fingers to Sunset's question.
"You saw my battle against Tirek!" she guessed. "He wasn't exactly a pushover by any means."
"I guess not. After all, you're here instead of six feet under." The group giggled to the alternate outcome avoided. They called it a night. Sunset slipped into bed and wrapped her arm around Ash, who slept soundly. She gave Ash a kiss to the cheek before going to sleep. Fluttershy had no problem sleeping back at her place with Angel.
(Fluttershy's Dream)
Ash and Fluttershy were in the woods with a campfire between them. In the middle of the wood, they roasted marshmallows with graham crackers and chocolate by. Pikachu, Scraggy, Tepig, Snivy, Oshawott and Leavanny ate some fruit. Owls, deer, foxes, raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits, including Angel watched as Fluttershy gazed at Ash with admiration. After enjoying a few S'mores together, they laid in sleeping bags and gazed at the stars. "You have to admit, this is like the first night out in the open," Ash admitted.
"I can tell," Fluttershy believed. "You know where to go to find great stargazing spots." Ash snickered as he continued to gaze at the stars. Fluttershy turned to Ash, a loving sight in her eyes. She grabbed his hand and tangled his fingers together with hers. "Ash, I can't hold back with my feelings!" Ash wondered as Fluttershy crawled on top of him. Her fingers locked with his as they gazed to each one's eyes.
"Fluttershy…"
"I want to marry you! I want to love you, your Pokémon, your family… everyone!"
"Fluttershy… Then you know my feelings as well." Fluttershy smiled before they engaged in a long, romantic smother. She no longer wanted to let go, and he no longer wanted to wait.
Fluttershy's dream led her to smother her lips… on a white body pillow. Still, she pressed her lips on it like she had been engaged to Ash. Drool covered a lot of the fabric. To Fluttershy, she would like the dream to come true.
TO BE CONTINUED…