Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie were, despite the delay of Team Rocket’s attack, continuing northwards along the Kalos region’s Route 14. Their destination was Laverre City and Ash’s sixth gym badge from the region. The sky was blue, the sun was shining brightly overhead, the Fletchlings were singing, and all was right with the world.
Naturally, that didn’t last long.
*BEEP* *BEEP*
“GAH!”
The small group scattered in all directions as a massive truck came barreling down the road with great speed and somewhat less regard for traffic law. As the quartet of humans dived for the safety of the surrounding swampy forest, it swerved down the road towards Laverre seemingly at random, paying no attention to lanes or pedestrians. Just as it passed by, Ash caught a slight glimpse of two people up front wearing identical bright red suits and sunglasses.
“Geez,” he said from the puddle of murky water he had fallen into. “What was that all about?”
“Pikachu.”
For some time, Celestia simply watched as her new companions repaired their balloon in something close to stoic silence. Every one of them joined in, human and Pokemon alike. Even little floating pumpkin – Pumpkaboo, Inkay had said it was called – was pitching in, managing to lift a needle in some sort of aura without limbs. She resolved to ask it about that when they had a free moment.
It wasn’t long, though, before Meowth glanced up from his work. “Hey!” he yelled, pointing at the princess. “No slackin’ off, newbie!” That caught the attention of the rest easily enough.
“Meowth’s right,” Jessie said. “I don’t care how crazy you are, if you’re going to be part of Team Rocket you’re going to have to pitch in!”
“They do have a point,” James added. “If you’re feeling better, a little sewing shouldn’t be too hard, should it?”
Celestia raised a hoof and an eyebrow. “No hands.”
“So?” Meowth said. “Use a move. You know Psychic, don’t ya?”
She cocked her head. “Pardon?”
“Don’t you remember?” James asked. “The move you used yesterday, in battle?”
“A battle where you didn’t do jack an’ got creamed, I might add,” mumbled Meowth. “’Cause ya spent more time yellin’ at us than you did fightin’.”
Celestia’s expression was less than amused. “I’m afraid that I’m not entirely sure how I did that,” she admitted. “I just… did.”
Meowth shrugged. “So use another move. Ya must have somethin’ in your bag of tricks dat can help.”
“Nothing that I know of.”
“What moves do ya know how to use?”
“Reliably and at this moment? None.”
Meowth’s face sunk. “You’re kiddin’, right?”
“I’m quite serious.”
“What is it, Meowth?” Jessie asked. “What’s it saying?”
A large sweat drop rolled down the back of Meowth’s head. “Dis Pokemon is sayin’ dat it don’t know any moves at all!”
“WHAT?!” Jessie jumped to her feet, clenching her fist. “What good is a crazy Pokemon that doesn’t even know any attacks?! Why would we want to keep such a thing around?!”
“Yeah!” Meowth joined her. “So far you’ve eaten our food, barely even fought in a battle, and used up two of our super potions! You have any idea how much those tings cost?!”
“Now hold on, hold on…” James tried to interject, only to be summarily ignored.
“You were the ones who threw me into battle in the first place!” Celestia retorted. “After you tricked me into imprisonment!”
“Tricked ya? Ya looked like you went into dat Poke Ball pretty willingly ta me!”
“I had no knowledge of what it was!”
“Dat’s Grimer slime! Dere ain’t no Pokemon in the world what don’t know what a Poke Ball does!”
“I told you already: I am not from this world!”
“Dat’s a load a garbage! Ya know what I tink?” Meowth folded his arms across his chest. “I tink you’re just tryin’ ta freeload! And dat just won’t fly around here!”
Celestia’s eye twitched. “After what you have done to me with no provocation, you dare accuse me of taking more than I give back?”
“Yeah, I dare! And another-”
“WAIT!”
James was standing between the two Pokemon, a hand held up to each. Meowth and Celestia both paused, looking at him.
“Have neither of you considered the condition we found her in?” James asked, after a moment had passed. “The poor dear looked like she was halfway to the netherworld just yesterday morning! And then she took the full force of the twerps’ Pokemon.”
“We already gave it two of our super potions,” Jessie countered. “That should have been more than enough to get it back on its feet.”
“But what if the damage was more than physical?”
“Where are you going with this?”
“I have a theory,” James said. He looked at Celestia, then back at Jessie and Meowth.
“Yeah, what is it?” asked the cat Pokemon.
“I think that whatever injuries this Celestia had before we met her, in combination with Pikachu’s attacks, have caused her to lose her memories,” he put a fist into his palm. “That would explain why she’s so confused, and why she thinks she doesn’t know any moves.”
“And da princess ting?”
“A minor case of amnesiac dementia.”
“Is that even a real thing?” Jessie asked.
“Probably.”
Celestia opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again. It was obvious that they weren’t going to believe her story until she had more proof, proof that she yet lacked. And she still didn’t like her chances wandering this world’s wilderness without a native guide or any means of self-defense. She would do Equestria no good if she perished here. Her first priority had to be personal survival.
“Just remember the Psychic she pulled out,” James continued. “With training, patience, and a little love, I’m sure she could make a great addition to our team!” he paused. “And besides, we can’t just let her go back into the wild. In her state, she wouldn’t last a day.”
“I don’t know…”
“Come on, Jess. Have a heart!”
“Well… it would have a hard time out there… and it might have potential…” Jessie closed her eyes, folded her arms, and tapped one foot. “Alright, I suppose it can stay,” she opened her eyes and pointed at Celestia. “But you’d better not make me regret this, got it? Team Rocket isn’t a charity organization.”
“I understand your position,” Celestia nodded. “You feel that you are investing in me, and expect returns.”
“Hmph! You guys are startin’ ta sound like a pair of Chanseys. So what if she has a bit of hard luck out dere? We all gotta go trough dat at times. I still say dat if she ain’t gonna help right now she can hit da r-”
The princess’ already fragile patience abruptly couldn’t take any more of him. More than anything personal, it was the hard-hearted lack of sympathy that drew her ire. There was nothing, so far as she knew, preventing simply storing her in a Poke Ball until she could be released somewhere safe, but he wanted her ejected into the dangerous wilds regardless.
“CEASE, THOU CUR!”
Celestia was as surprised as anyone when a trio of semitransparent blue shockwaves burst out from her mouth, crossed the distance in the blink of an eye, and smashed into Meowth. The cat Pokemon was sent flying back over a dozen yards before crashing into the earth and skidding some distance.
“Uuuuuggggghhhhh…” came the faint sound of his moan.
Jessie looked back and forth between the two, blinking. “Was… Was that Hyper Voice?”
“I… don’t know,” Celestia answered, the language barrier momentarily slipping her mind. “Was it?”
James clenched a fist and smiled at Jessie. “Why I do believe it was! What did I tell you?”
“Maybe you were onto something,” she tapped her chin.
“Celestia,” James walked up to her and met her gaze. “Just so we’re clear: you do want to travel with us, right? To join your cause to ours and become a member of Team Rocket?”
She considered briefly, then nodded.
“Then it’s settled!” James declared, sounding happy.
“I suppose it is,” Jessie remarked.
“For now,” Celestia added, under her breath.
“That’s the way it is,” said Wobbuffet.
Canterlot Voice becomes Hyper Voice attack. Awesome! I am just picturing Celestia doing it and lightnings shooting out of her mouth. So epic!
Celestia proved her worth, but I think permanently made an enemy. I don't see Meowth as the forgiving type.
I wonder if Celestia has any evolutions.
Celestia following them... Now, what is going to happen after she discover they kidnap pokemon?
6089834 Apologies i used the wrong word and yes Celestia is not made a simpleton my explanation was hasty.
Ok so let's try again. So let's take canon Celestia and describe her traits. She is patient, loving, caring, has control over her emotions, mischievous (Trolestia yey), versed in politics, seasoned adult of life, chess master when it comes to planing ahead, etc.
Now what bothers me is this, when you take the description i just made and compere it to Celestia in this story you will probably realize she is a bit lacking. The problem is the only thing your portrayal of Celestia has in common with the Celestia from the show is her body and name nothing else and it bothers me when authors simplify her personality to match a young adult lost and unsure of herself. It's why maybe you should have picked some other pony to be the protagonist because i don't think Celestia would ever consider thinking of murdering James (dat came out of nowhere and was rely jarring) or being verbally beaten by freaking Meowth and declared insane I mean common i was hoping for some clever banter and putting Meowth in his place not throwing a temper tantrum and shouting at them like a child. I hope you can see why I personally don't like Celestias portrayal here.
Too bad she can't learn solar beam.
Yay Celly! You go, girl!
6091367
Maybe she already knows it?
6091362 If I may.
Celestia is old, she's very old and she has grown comfortable in her own might. As we know, there has only been three occurrences when she has lost power completely in the last thousand years, and that's with The Plunder Vines, Tirek (where she gave her power away willingly, and the defeat against Chrysalis, which she may or may not have been hampered by the presence of her subjects so that she couldn't bring out her full power without endangering them.
Suddenly she is thrust into another world, powerless and she can't communicate with what she assumes is the dominant species of the planet. In her mind she is probably feeling as powerless as a foal, and that's quite jarring for a creature that's thousands of years.
Aside, in the latest episodes, Make New Friends but Keep Discord and Slice of Life, we've seen there's a lot more to Celestia beneath the regal surface.
First off, let me say I am enjoying this story! :D It's really fun to read and the antics so far have been very entertaining. I am not a Pokemon expert (watched the anime intermittently, but I lost interest when I realised they are just repeats basically... Movies were fun though), and it was nice to see your explanation earlier. Also, I like James and Meowth and how they behave - very nice contrast. Jessie is ok, but I personally find her annoying (not your fault; she was annoying to me in the show too).
Celestia seemed a little less mature and calm that I expected her to be. Yes she is in a completely unexpected situation, but I would have thought that in her long life, she would have been used to many situations - moreover, she is the ruler of an entire country; surely she would have a very cool head. Honestly, some aspects of her characterisation seemed more akin to Luna that her. Speaking of which, right now there is pretty much nothing which convinces me that there is a definite reason it had to be Celestia that got teleported... but I guess that may be revealed in the future. I await that eagerly.
It was kind of a mixed bag to me that you made her unable to use her power. Yes it fit the pokemon world and all, and yes it would have been broken as hell to just make her all OP or something and into a god-like figure. However I am a bit miffed, so to speak, to see this proud character reduced to something even these idiots (I use the term affectionately) from Team Rocket can basically insult her without a shred of thought. You'll probably develop this idea and it might be premature of me to judge this story on just these first chapters, so I apologise in advance if her power levels are ironed out in the near future.
Oh and one important thing (I am almost 100% sure you will mention this in the future however), what on Earth will happen to Equestria without their primary ruler being present? I expect that place will be abject pandemonium. Celestia, why aren't you thinking of your loyal subjects?
Also, why did Celestia just agree to: "...join [her] cause to [Team Rocket] and become a member..."? That sounds like legalese to me. Call me paranoid, but I personally tend to examine such measured language very very carefully. I hope this isn't another pokeball incident. Part of me wishes that Celestia would've just left them there and then and joined the wild Pokemon - (maybe even gone all the way to Arceus or such), but again that is cliched. And Team Rocket is interesting... Can't fault you there, author, but I personally wouldn't have had James utter those specific words. Seems far to careful and cunning than I expected out of James.
In conclusion, I think this kind of thing might be more suited to a weaker character than Celestia - someone we might not know very well and would be able to appreciate their growth. Also their loss from Equestria would be far less immediately consequential, and we might be able to appreciate their antics here without feeling constant terror over the consequences. But you can't do that now!
And overall, the story really is quite entertaining. As long as this doesn't drag on into a slice-of-life, I am really excited about the future of this story! :D:D:D
reactionimage.org/img/gallery/1419484549.jpg
6091408 True but i never said it's her power that bothers me it's her personality and yes there is more to Celestia that we don't know it's why it's hard to portray her accurately in a story and why i find it lacking here .
6091471 Oh, my apologies, I focused more on her power to explain her sudden shift in personality. She is in an unfamiliar place completely powerless and that's why she's bringing out her more immature side, being frightened, insecure and letting her regal facade drop completely.
Edit: Oh, and that's an absolutely Lovely profile pic.
6091362
Why shouldn't she be unsure? For all intents and purposes, she is a young adult in this world (actually worse off, because even baby Pokemon have an instinctual knowledge of some moves). Her accumulated magical knowledge, contacts, wealth, and political power all mean nothing here. She has to be realistic and work with what she has if she wants to survive and make it home.
How exactly was she to banter with Meowth? She has very limited knowledge of this world and absolutely no proof that she's anything other than a rare species of Pokemon with a head injury. She could run rings around him in Equestria, but not here.
And she didn't think about killing James, she considered breaking his legs so he couldn't chase her while she ran. That wouldn't, to her mind, be permanent damage. She has no reason to believe a super potion wouldn't be equally as effective on him as it was on her.
But if you still don't like the story, suit yourself.
6091483 thank you it is a butiful picture of crysalis
Training montage with James!
6091532 Hah i like the story I'm just pointing out what i don't like
So much bickering, so gooooood... mmm...
6091339 *Your... THE Celestia is evolving*
*evolving music*
*Your... THE Clestia has evolved into a... THE Solar Flare*
Jessie: Looks now like a normal Rapidash to me.
James: Wrong! She still has that mark of the sun!
Yes! I love your stories Snake Staff! I've never been a fan of Pokemon, but this story makes me wanna be one! Bravo, sir! As always, good work!
I wonder If Celestia is capable of producing an egg?
6091337 There isn't a Forgiving type. Meowth's a Normal type.
Nice update!
Freaking Wobbuffett
Now we wait to see if Celestia will develop a possible case of Stockholm Syndrome.
I'm looking forwards to her reaction when she learns just what it is that Team Rocket does. No one is shy about yelling out to everyone who can hear about Team Rocket's criminal actions, about them being bad, evil, thieves, etc. That is, if the bags and cages of frightened, squirming Pokemon don't tip her off.
Oh, and this line.
She might have problems with that. Y'know, just maybe.
Has the hurtling of Celestia through the Pokemon world's dimensional barriers gathered attention from the Legendary Pokemon? At least a few of them would have an interest in such things--for maintaining the integrity of the world, if nothing else..
6091367 Why couldn't she? Very nearly every Pokemon can learn a few moves that are outside of their typing. 148 non-Grass type Pokemon can learn Solar Beam by TM, 6 of which do so by leveling up. Many of these are Fire types; of note is that both Ponyta and Rapidash can learn it.
Celestia should be able to use unicorn telekinesis, as that's a "move" all unicorns know.
Meowth is a bit of a douchebag, but that's not really surprising. I wonder if he'll come around once Celestia reliably learns how to use some attacks! Or at least perhaps he'll watch his mouth. I can't wait to see what Celestia's reaction is going to be once she has some proper context for Team Rocket's operations though. I can't see her ultimately going along with it, bit maybe she'll see it as a temporary evil. Hrrnnggh... MORE!
COOOOLLLL!!!!!
I have to say, that although I'm not any kind of Pokemon fan, at ALL, I'm still finding this story fascinating, and I look forward to reading more chapters.
One tiny question/request?
Just by being alive in the world during the last decade or two, I'm aware of what the characters in Pokemon look like, and that Pikachu and the cat guy are smallish in size... but how big is Celestia, in comparison to Jesse and James? Is she less than waist-high as well, or does she stand tall enough to look a human in the eye, or does she tower over them in the same way she does the average pony back home?
If you could throw just one or two lines in there at some point, to give us an idea of what we're seeing in that respect, I'd be grateful.
I really like the idea of James bonding with Tia, I'm just trying to visualize the two of them, and wondering if he's reaching up, down, or across when he scratches behind her ears, and whether or not he could pick her up to cuddle and comfort her, or, even cooler, whether he could RIDE her at some point.
Anyway, very interesting idea, nicely written, and I hope to see more soon.
6091632 Celestia's Mega Evolution?
img12.deviantart.net/950f/i/2012/258/4/5/solar_flare_by_cuttycommando-d5ethgn.png
I know that this is only tangentially related to this story, but I recently just realized that Team Rocket's been going about trying to catch Pikachu all wrong. O.K., it's obvious that they've been doing it wrong for a while, but it's not just the over-sized mechs. and pit-falls that are the problem. They've been trying to capture Pikachu, and pretty-much every other target pokemon, as they are, out in the field. They don't need some shock-proof cage or whatever else they are likely to think of next. They just need to get Pikachu's pokeball away from Ash.
Pikachu tries to run away.
"Pikachu, return."
Pikachu makes to shock them.
"Pikachu, return."
Pikachu gets a bit huffy.
"Pikachu, return."
Just because he never makes Pikachu enter it, doesn't mean that Ash doesn't keep Pikachu's ball with him.
I think that we should all be glad that Celestia is the only one of her species: no chance for a shiny.
6092009 D...D...D...Daymare Sun!!
[Not very creative, I know]
6092125
I thought Pikachu didn't have a pokeball?
6092361 Solar Flare is usually the most common name for Nightmare Celestia
You amazingly cheeky bastard.
6091817
Except, well... 'Denounce' means to declare as wrong or evil, or to Declare against.
So 'Denounce the evils of truth and love' would mean to declare that there is no evil in truth or love... Something Celly actually Would likely agree with... the rest of it? Yeah, probably not as much.
Let's see Snake Staff... You say that she is indeed a Fairy/Fire type, yet she takes super effective damage from steel... I went back and checked to see if we had any of the conditions of the time the battle happened, but we have no clue if it was day or night, sunny or cloudy...
My working theory is now that Celly has a legendary class ability that revolves around sunlight. The weaker the sunlight, the weaker she is, and vice-versa. This is assuming her battle was either at night or in cloudy weather of course.
So the tiers of this ability could be like:
No Light - All type resistances are negated and Changes into Filly Celestia form.
Weak Moonlight - All type resistances are negated and all stats are lowered.
Cloudy Weather or Strong Moonlight - All type resistances are negated.
Weak Sunlight - Nothing happens.
Normal Sunlight - All type weaknesses are negated.
Intense Sunshine (Sunny Day and Drought) - All type weaknesses are negated and all stats are increased.
Strong Sun (Desolate Land) - Immune to all damage and Changes into Solar Flare form.
The ability's name? Sun Block
6092596
I like this.
6092429
That's why I said something is blocking Celestia powers.
6092495
He has one, but HATES being inside it.
Really liking this so far! Keep on doing what you're doing!
Personally I think it would have been funny if the Pokemon only heard Wobuffett saying its own name too, and no one really understands what he's saying. Then when Celestia asks why, they just shrug and go 'no one can understand him.' :p
But I don't watch the Pokemon anime that much, good so far!
nah i think her mega evolution would look like this:
Mega Stone X
th08.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2012/112/c/2/chaos_celestia_by_darkestdragonking-d4x9m9z.png
Mega stone Y
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6092924 Or this: th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2011/186/1/d/devo_celestia_by_qsteel-d3l4sa6.png
6092890 That's right! Even in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, where you play as a pokémon, Wobbuffet can only say it's name...
... But wait! I just saw this in the Bulbapedia:
Huh... interesting...
6092125 Not really. Even though they tend to keep themselves inside unless their trainers call them, a pokémon can willingly get out of it's pokéball, as shown in the episode Snow Way Out with Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and Pidgeotto. Misty's Psyduck could get out of it's pokéball by it's own too, usually at the worst times.
So even if Team Rocket managed to trap Pikachu in it's pokéball, it would escape shortly after and quickly blast them off.
To Celestia Kind hearth just remember the day you see that yellow rat is Pain Day it also
may come with possible desire of dismembering and occasional rage outburst.
6092924
6093150
The only problem I have with her having a mega-evolution is that she is an inter-dimensional traveler. Why exactly would a mega-stone exist for her? Doesn't really make sense when you think about it.
Sort of why I suggested the ability like I did. Also for the luls of Filly Celesita making an appearance. Yes, that definitely factored in!
Add in that with my suggestion for her ability, she would almost never get the chance to go 'god mode' but maybe once in the whole story while also giving her a consistent and reasonable weakness... well, I rather like the idea! That her 'god mode' may also drive her insane would be an interesting little turn as well, since it would Only happen when she is in a near apocalyptic scenario anyway...
6092863
Yeah, when I said 'the rest of it, not so much' I was referring to the rest of what dragonjek said about them openly identifying as pokemon thieves and such, not the rest of their motto. Sorry if my statement was ambiguous, but a good dissection of their motto from Celly's PoV on your part, so well done!
Hmm. This is actually pretty good!
Looking forward to more for sure!
6091793 *Plays skyrim music*