The training the trio of escaped test subjects went through was short and to the point. Since Lucy and Sam already knew their own abilities, they needed to help Vincent figure his out. Sam was the most qualified of the three there to do so, seeing as he actually remembered the outside world and other Pokemon.

The first ability they decided to focus on was one every Psychic should know: the ability to link with the mind of another, so that verbal speech was unnecessary. It would help them get by in this new land, for sure. Especially if it was populated entirely by little off-color Ponyta and Rapidashes that couldn't understand pokespeak.

"Okay, trying something different now."

With that, Vincent closed his eyes and extended his right hand towards Lucy. After a moment, the hand lit up with an eerie blue blow, which then faded.

Testing, testing. Can you hear me Lucy?

The little Riolu nodded her head at the voice in her head that sounded a lot like Vincent. "Yup! I can hear you! I think it worked!"

Vincent opened his eyes and smiled, then staggered and clutched his head. "Oww...I could...I could see through your eyes as well, and the feedback loop...not as bad as my headaches, but not pleasing either."

Sam blinked before chuckling at the psychic fox's predicament. "So you had no problem forming a bond with her, until you opened your eyes and realized the depth of it? Simple solution then. Just don't open your eyes!"

Vincent sighed but acquiesced, closing his eyes before frowning. "Now what, genius? I can't see her to target her and form the bond!"

Sam hummed at that before picking the little psychic type up and placing him on one of his shoulders. "How about this? Think you could form a bond with me?"

The transformed human stiffened at that before shaking his head. "I think it'd be a bad idea. Psychic is weak to Bug, you know. It'd probably snap instantly."

Lucy stepped in with a simple, childlike idea. "Silly! Just use him for a moment to find me, then use that to aim for me! It doesn't need to last long, just long enough!"

The Abra shrugged before placing his left hand on the neck of the bipedal bug he was currently sitting on. Another glow emanated from his hand, covered the Scyther's head, then vanished before reappearing around the Riolu sitting just a small ways away. The Riolu giggled at the sensation. "That tickles, Vincy!"

I...I think I've got it working. I can maintain a small communications bond with all of you, that seems to have no strain. I can only use Lucy's eyes, though. Your type makes it impossible for longer than a second, Sam. And I think so long as I have a communications bond with Lucy, I can use her eyes at any time, so long as I keep mine closed...I'm probably going to end up napping if I remain immobile and keep my eyes closed, though. If I open them, the feedback loops will come crashing down around me.

Sam whistled, impressed with the rapid development of Vincent's skills. "Not bad." Seized by a sudden burst of mischief, the Scyther picked the Abra off of his shoulder and put the psychic fox atop his head like a hat. "Now, my new hat, we must go forth and conquer this town!"

I don't like the sound of this! How are you planning on doing this, Sam? Are you going to abuse my abilities that I don't really have a handle on? I can't even do that other thing you said all Abra can do yet!

"Don't worry, Vincent. We'll only need Teleport if things go very bad. Lucy has a handle on our coins, which should get us in the door. I only hope they haven't heard of psychics yet, otherwise we'll be laughed out with less than we went in with."

You've explained nothing, Sam!

"Have you heard of blackjack?"

How do you know about blackjack?

It was a thing I read about once, when I wandered into a pokecenter before your father caught me, Sam mused back. The book said that there were once a wide variety of games that humans would bet money on, before they realized that Psychic-types could help their trainers cheat.

Which is what we're doing now.

To survive, yes. What does that Ponyt- sorry, pony, have?

Lucy, look at him for a moment?...A five and a ten.

The trio had located a suitably shabby-looking Casino, and with ample display of cute eyes from Lucy, sharp edges from Sam, and a bit of telepathic trickery on Vincent's part, they had bluffed their way in past the doormare and to a blackjack table. Vincent had begun to passively absorb knowledge from the ponies around him, which is how he'd learned more about the land they were in.

Apparently, this was Equestria, home to the Sun and Moon alicorns on high, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. There were normal Earth ponies, Pegasus ponies, and Unicorn ponies. Pegasi could fly and manipulate weather, Unicorns could use 'magic', and Earth ponies were very tough indeed. All of them eventually earned a 'cutie mark' that told the pony what they would be best and happiest doing. Vincent would have rolled his eyes at the thought if they'd been open. Sounded a bit like predestination, which he never believed in. After all, if it was destined for him to remain in his father's cage, then there would have been no point to all the escape attempts.

Getting back on track, this particular city was known as Los Pegasus, and if there was something you wanted, then there was a pony who knew where to find it, or a pony that knew how to find that pony. Vincent felt sick to his stomach just skimming the minds that Lucy had glanced at, and none of them were the 'dealers' themselves. He didn't even want to think about what he'd see if his father were somehow in front of him now...

But the most important thing is that aside from a few quick glances around themselves at the sensation of unseen eyes watching their every move, these ponies hadn't even heard of Pokemon, much lest Psychic types. Which meant that their minds were open books to even Vincent's budding abilities. A fact Sam was abusing as the young Psychic kept feeding information into their communication links.

They'd only come in with twenty 'bits,' but that pile had grown rapidly to something kith and kin to a small fortune. Of course, the Scyther was careful: he threw a hand for roughly every one he took, but only small amounts. The pile in front of the betting bug kept growing. In this round, it was down to him and the dealer, who was even now hesitating, but eventually nodded and took a card.

Seven. The pegasus groaned and tossed the cards onto the table, leaving a grinning Scyther and a small fortune of bits, which were rapidly scooped up. Vincent projected Sam's 'voice' so that all nearby would have the illusion of hearing it, rather than just Pokespeak. 'A good game, ponies! But I think that's as far as I'll push my luck today. Anyone have a cart or large bag I could use to carry this all in?'

One was angrily thrust at the bipedal bug, who rapidly took the hint that he was no longer welcome here. The coins were shoved into the sack post-haste, and the three pokemon made their way to the door. They'd almost made it out with all their winnings as well, but it was not to be. Two unicorns, one red with a blue mane, the other blue with a red mane, stepped out from the shadows and barred the way.

"You're gonna stay here until the management says you can leave," the red one said. Vincent only now noticed they had golden eyes, the pair of them.

"Yeah, and management says you can leave when that bag is a lot lighter, and not before," the blue one rejoined.

Sam growled and passed the bag on to Lucy before raising his arm-blades. The message was clear: you want it, come take it. A fight seemed sure to erupt, but then something happened.

Vincent felt more than saw the large something clap Sam on the shoulder, and everyone turned to look at who it was. A large, bipedal blue Tauros? No, a quick link revealed that it was a minotaur, and Vincent would have gotten a name as well, if not for the fact that it soon became unnecessary. No need to ask when it's being shouted at you, after all.

"Iron Will says this one and his friends go freely. Or does Iron Will need to remind Corporal and Punishment exactly what he can do?"