Through the Portal

Through the Portal: The Realization

Written by Afterburn

“Two weeks?” Rarity asked, surprised. “But you were only gone for no more than five minutes.”

Twilight thought for a second and replied, “I believe that time moves faster in this dimension than in ours.”

“Hold on a sec’,” Applejack interjected. “You’re tellin’ me that we’re in another dimension? Is that why we look like this?” She motioned at her now human body.

“Exactly,” Twilight answered.

“Now, Twilight darling, can you explain to me what this... Look is?” Rarity asked.

“Of course. But Princess Celestia can explain it better.”

“Princess Celestia is here?” Rarity and Applejack asked in unison.

“Well, not exactly. When I got to this apartment, that’s what this place is called, I stumbled in here, and found a note on that counter over there.” She pointed at a small kitchen counter on the opposite side of the room. “In that note... You know what, let me read it to you.”

With that, Twilight walked briskly into a bedroom and came back out with a sheet of folded stationery. She opened it, revealing the Canterlot crest stamped on the top right corner. Twilight cleared her throat and began reading.

“Dear Elements of Harmony,

This letter will be a short one. I can’t imagine the questions you might have, at this moment. Don’t be afraid, you are safe. I can’t explain the specific details, but you are in an another dimension. In this dimension, the sentient beings are known as humans, or people. You are no longer in Equestria, you are on the planet known as Earth. The country you are in is called The United States of America. The city and state you are in is New York City, New York. The only advice I can give to you at this time is to educate yourself in the ways of the humans. Know their culture, their mannerisms, and their way of thinking. Only this will help you on your journey back to Equestria. If I could give you any other advice, it would be to find a person you can trust with your secret. They will be your guide in this world. This is all I can tell you at this time. Good luck my little humans.

Sincerely,

P. C.”

With that, Twilight looked up from the letter, examining her friend’s expressions.

Applejack opened and closed her mouth a few times in deep thought, then forced out, “H-how does she know?” Rarity seemed to be wondering the same question.

Twilight merely shrugged. “I’m not sure. All I know is, we need to do what this letter says to do. I’ve already gotten a job.” She smiled.

“Lemme guess, you’re a librarian,” Applejack stated flatly.

“How did you know?” Twilight jokingly asked.

“Oh, just a feelin’.” Applejack smiled.

“Have you found somepony you can tell our secret to?” Rarity asked.

“Uhm... Well, the people in this city aren’t exactly nice.” She said the word “people” with a little uncertainty, like she was just trying it out for the first time. “So, no, I haven’t found someone yet. But I never stop searching. I’ve made a few friends at the library. There are some regulars that come by that make some conversation with me.”

“That’s a good start,” Rarity said happily.

“Now, how do ya’ll get around on those strange legs of yours?” Applejack asked.

Twilight looked down at her legs. “Oh, you get used to them. It took me four hours to even stand up straight.” She walked over to her friends sitting on the leather couch. “Here, let me help you.” She firmly grasped Rarity’s hand and helped her to her feet. She wobbled a bit.

“This is so very strange...” Rarity stated throwing her free arm out for balance.

Applejack watched intently, slightly amused at her friend’s awkwardness. Rarity was always graceful and light on her hooves back in Equestria, a huge contrast to what she was now.

Twilight placed her hands on Rarity’s hips in an attempt to steady her, only to have Rarity fall flat on her butt.

“Dear Celestia, that hurts!” She complained rubbing her backside gingerly. Applejack snorted back laughter, only to receive an irritated glare from her clumsy friend. “And you’re not helping at all.”

“Oh, lighten up there sugarcube. You’ll get the hang of it eventually. Now, it’s my turn.” Applejack placed a hand on the arm of the couch to steady herself, and slowly rose to her feet. She swayed for a bit, but when she finally straightened out she removed her hand from the furniture. Twilight clapped in admiration.

“Wow Applejack, you’re a natural!” She smiled then helped Rarity off the floor. “Now all you have to do, is walk.”

“Now hold on there. I ain’t gonna make leaps and bounds just yet,” Applejack said nervously.

“It’s easy Applejack, just put one foot in front of the other.”

Applejack bit her lip and carefully slid her left foot in front of her right, then did the same with the right foot.

“You’re doing great!” Twilight applauded. “Now, lift your feet up when you think you’re ready.”

Applejack shuffled around the room slowly at first, but then picked up speed. Rarity watched in wonder at the task.

“I want to try again! I can get it this time!” She announced.

It took the pair two hours to walk comfortably. Rarity developed a more feminine walk, using her hips to help propel her forward. Applejack’s walk was slightly feminine, but had a longer gait and less hip-swing, resembling Twilight’s walk. After walking for a bit longer, Rarity looked down at her hands.

“Goodness me, how do you use these things?” She asked, perplexed.

Twilight smiled, “Those are called hands. Each little protrusion is called a finger, and the big one on the end is called a thumb. Believe it or not, it’s easier to grab things with hands rather than hooves. Watch.” She grasped the door handle on a bedroom door and turned it with ease. She looked over her shoulder inviting her friends to try it out. Applejack tried, then Rarity.

“You’re right, Twilight! It is easier,” Applejack agreed. Rarity nodded, getting used to the feeling. Then another thought struck her.

“How do we write?” She wondered aloud.

“Oh, that’s a difficult one. Even I still have a problem with it, and I’ve been working on it for two weeks!” Twilight admitted.

Just as Applejack was going to speak, three screams emanated from the hallway in unison, stopping the trio in their tracks.

“They’re here!” The three said together with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Ryan walked down the terminal of the John F. Kennedy International Airport towards the baggage claim. He felt a bit claustrophobic in the large crowd that walked around him. He was never the social butterfly his sister was. His friends in high school were all he talked to now. Ryan stood around six feet tall, and had a slender build. The black hair atop his head was closely cropped for easy management. He had some dark stubble on his face that he kept scratching. I should’ve shaved this morning. He kept telling himself.

It was close to evening and the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. Ryan had never been in New York, let alone in the winter. Just to be safe, he brought his heaviest jacket and all of his long sleeve shirts. His sister had paid for him to come visit her for a week. She had just graduated from college and was recently hired by a pharmaceutical company.

In his mind, Ryan couldn’t ever amount to his sister. He had spent his high school years in la la land writing and drawing. He considered going to art school, but turned away from the idea because of discrepancies with his father. Mike wasn’t even his real dad. Even though he said he was, Ryan knew in his heart that he wasn’t.

Tia, his sister, was his fraternal twin. They had always been close. They looked out for each other since they were in diapers. He hadn’t seen her since she moved to New York and went to medical school four years ago. Now was a great time to catch up with her for a week.

Ryan was bumped out of deep thought when the short man in front of him stopped abruptly.

“I’m sorry, sir,” He apologized to the man who simply nodded and turned around.

Ryan strained his eyes looking for his sister, she didn’t exactly say that she was going to meet him at the airport, but she did mention that she would arrange a ride for him. But he looked around just in case.

He spotted a dumpy looking old man with a caddy hat and wool jacket holding a small piece of poster board that read “King.” He waved at the old man who looked up and spotted him. Ryan pointed at the baggage claim conveyor belt that was now covered in suitcases of all sizes and shapes. The man nodded and waited for him to retrieve his bag. Ryan grabbed his suitcase and walked over to him.

“Hey, you must be Ryan. How’s it goin’?” The man spoke in a stereotypical New York accent.

Ryan laughed in his head. “I’m doing fine. You know my sister?”

“Yeah. She’s one of my regulars. She asked me to pick you up.”

“Alright! Where are we headed?”

“She told me Times Square. She wanted you to see the city at night.”

Ryan smiled and followed the man out to his Crown Victoria taxicab. The evening air was brisk, but enjoyable. It was nothing like Texas winters, where the moist cold air seeped into your clothing. He placed his luggage into the trunk and sat down in the back. His nose wrinkled a bit. It smelled like pastrami. The cabbie chuckled at his expression.

“Sorry about the smell, I just had dinner in here.” He held up a paper take-out bag from the Golden Ox.

The cabbie waded into the light evening traffic, and looked at Ryan though his rear-view mirror. “The name’s Willie,” He said.

Ryan looked back from the window. “Nice to meet you Willie. How long have you known my sister?”

“Oh, I’d say about four years. She’s been using me since she got into that fancy shmancy med school.”

Ryan smiled at the man’s figure of speech. He sounds just like Archie Bunker. “That’s cool.”

“If you don’t mind me askin’, why are you out here?”

“Tia paid for me to fly out and visit. We needed some catching up and phone calls weren’t doing it for us.”

Willie nodded in understanding. “So, are you two step-siblings, or somethin’?”

Ryan shook his head. Most people thought that because he and his sister looked nothing alike. She had bright red hair and a fair complexion. He had black hair and olive skin. “No, we’re twins.”

“Huh,” Willie grunted.

“Yeah, that’s what everyone says.” Ryan smiled inviting Willie to ask more questions.

Willie just drove on. The rest of the ride was spent in silence, but Ryan had no problem with that. He would rather watch the passing view. The city never seemed to end. Everywhere Ryan looked, he saw lights blazing on the sides of buildings. Not even Dallas looks this big... He thought. When Willie stopped, the taxi was parked in front of a Starbucks. Ryan smiled, he loved Starbucks, and his sister knew that very well.

Twilight stood proudly in front of her now fully humanized friends. Well... For the most part. Two nights had passed since the rest of the group showed up. They all sat on the big leather sofa, watching Twilight think.

Fluttershy had long thick strawberry-blonde hair that hung all in front of her face, hiding her soft features. She constantly was shifting it behind her ears. Her button nose was placed in the middle of rosy cheeks, and her bright child-like eyes glimmered in the incandescent lights of the living room.

Rainbow Dash sat back and picked at her nails absent-mindedly. Her face was pixie-like with an upturned nose and slightly slanted eyes, giving her an Egyptian royalty look. She had tan skin and jet black hair which broke into the color spectrum in the right lighting, resembling her mane back in Equestria.

Pinkie Pie had a baby face crowned with bright red hair in loose curls. Her skin had a red hue like she had a constant blush. Her eyes were bright and curious, following everything that moved. They all sat in their pajamas, looking at Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight intently.

“Alright,” Twilight began, “You girls have been cooped up in here for two days learning about the humans. You can all walk well.”

She said the word well with less confidence. Pinkie and picked up walking like she’d been doing it her whole life, but Fluttershy was a complete klutz. She stepped over her feet every time she took a step. Rainbow Dash who was just getting used to it, walked like a caveman. Rarity grimaced every time she lumbered past her.

“So,” Twilight continued, “I’m going to take us all out to dinner tonight!”

The group’s eyes lit up.

“Alright!” Rainbow Dash jumped out of her seat and threw a fist into the air. “I can’t stand being stuck in this place. Freedom!” Her voice cracked when she yelled Freedom.

“That sounds... Great,” Fluttershy timidly agreed. She was a bit nervous meeting new people.

Rarity smiled wide. “Finally! I can dress up for something! I should start right now!” She rushed off towards her room. Clothes began flying out into the hallway as she searched for a suitable outfit.

Applejack patted her uncovered head. “I don’t suppose y’all can’t find me a hat, do you?” She looked over at Twilight expectantly.

“Of course! I know all the nearby shops. We’ll get you a good one.” Twilight smiled.

“Thank you kindly, Twi. So, what do humans usually eat? You know, besides those ramen noodles and apple juice.”

“Believe it or not, humans eat animals,” Twilight whispered with disgust. Applejack’s eyes opened wide.

“Why, who would ever do such a thing?” AJ asked, surprised.

“I don’t understand it either. But if we’re going to really fit in, we have to try meat tonight. There’s this restaurant in the middle of the city with the brightest lights. I figure we should try it out, because everypo-,” she paused, “everyone goes there, it seems.”

“What’s this place called?” Pinkie Pie piped up. She had been noticeably quiet after the transformation. Maybe she was as nervous as Fluttershy was about meeting humans.

“Uhm... I think it’s called McDonalds. It’s the flashiest place out there, so I figure it’s the best,” Twilight explained. “The Princess gave me an amount of the human currency to buy groceries and occasional food along with the letter.”

“How much is it?” Applejack asked.

“Five-thousand dollars. But I don’t know if it’ll be enough for this place.”