//-------------------------------------------------------// S p l i t s -by DerpySlurpy- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 World 1 Discovery //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 World 1 Discovery It was a warm, summer morning on Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack's deep slumber was interrupted by the shining light of day peaking from her window. She stretches her rested limbs and gives out a satisfied yawn of relief. She climbs out of bed and reaches for her hat on her nightstand. She places her hat on top of her un-brushed head full of blonde hay. She ready for a good, productive working day as she takes in the air of the new morning. She leaves her room and walks by Applebloom's room and Big Macintosh's room. She climbs down the stairs and notices Granny Smith sitting back in her rocking chair, mumbling in her sleep. Applejack walks leisurely into the kitchen and makes herself some leftover hot apple cider and some fresh toast. She looked out the kitchen window and admired the early morning sky and all it's radiance. She finishes her breakfast and walks outside to the barn with some crumbs clinging to her cheek. She was fired up and ready to seize the day. Applejack trots over towards Big Mac who was just about to enter the barn to pick up his trusty plow, so he could finish his plowing from yesterday. The fields for the new apple seedlings would arrive soon that week and Big Mac wanted to get an early start for his day. She tips her hat to Big Mac and he smiled as warm as that summer morning. She trots off to the side of her orchard where she had left off the other day. "Well, time to get buckin'!" she says in a happy yet determined manner. Applejack loved working on the farm, always have and always will. She takes great pride for Sweet Apple Acres and for every single apple in her orchard. Even the rotten apples that she has to throw away are still very pride-worthy to her. She loves all apples, but I think we get the picture already. She bucked quite a few trees by now, filling up the wooden buckets that rested by the trees overnight. She wipes a bead of sweat from her head from under her hat. "Hoo, wee! Today's gonna be a really hot one, I know it!" She continues to bucking more apple trees, until she comes across something, different. She looks down on the ground and notices an odd looking apple. The color was obscure as well as it's shape. Applejack takes a closer look at the deranged apple and looks up at the tree from which it was closest to. None of the other apples were deformed like this one, in fact this was the only apple that was lopsided and blue in her orchard. She's never seen anything like it, the only other unusually colored apple she's seen is a Zap Apple. This was no Zap Apple. She sets the strange apple on top of the pile of other apples in a bucket and sniffs it. It didn't even smell like an apple. She examined more with her nose and continued to identify a scent. Applejack scratches her head "Well, Ah'll be, it smells just like an orange, and uh...a smidgen of, uhmm... celery? A citrus-y, fresh-grown-out-of-the-ground celery." The strange apple was found next to an equally strange tree. Where the roots dug into the ground lies a gaping gashed hole, you'd think something as big as a pony lived in there. Applejack, curiously, peered inside the hole and saw nothing but sheer darkness. She rescues her head from the mysterious tree and looks back at the apple, "Maybe Twilight knows more 'bout this than me, looks awfully foreign to me, her books must have SOME kind of information." She puts the blue apple in a sack she finds in a nearby bucket and ties it around her waist. Applejack felt like she had no time to talk to Big Mac as she left Sweet Apple Acres. She feared her apple trees were sick and were producing stale fruits. The very thought of her apple trees getting sick, made herself sick. She gallops into Ponyville and darts straight for Twilight's Library. Applejack arrives at Twilight's and knocks on the door frantically. She could barely stand the wait before Twilight answers to her distressed knocking. Twilight Sparkle opens the door and greets Applejack a good morning. Twilight appeared to be deprived of sleep as usual. She had been up all night studying new spells to show Princess Celestia. She has taken her magic seriously, since she hasn't been writing to the princess lately. "Why good morning, Applejack!" Twilight says with a yawnful smile. "What brings you here?" "Twilight, Ah need yer help wit somethin'. It's really important!" "Well come on in. What is it you need help with? You know, I'm sure I got a book for whatever it is." "That's exactly why Ah'm here, ya see I found this strange apple, and I ain't seen anythin' like it. So I was wonderin' if you had any books on it." "Well, do you have the "strange apple" with you? What's so strange about it anyway?" "Yeah, hold on, lemme just..." Applejack opens the sack and pulls out the mysterious apple. "Ya see, ain't it weird?" Applejack sets the apple on Twilight's round table. "Hmmm..." Twilight uses her magic to levitate the apple closer to her vision. "I see what you mean." She turns it to all directions and closely inspects it. "And this isn't some rotten Zap Apple?" AJ shakes her head. "No it ain't, it ain't even Zap Apple season, it passed. And it ain't rotten neither, smells just fine to me, well not like a normal apple, but definitely not rotten and dying-like." Twilight sniffs the apple. "It smells like...lemony, or...orange in fact. A very earthy-pungent orange." She concludes. Applejack sighs,"Twilight, do ya'll have anythin' in yer books about this?" "Let me look around a bit. Once I find something, you should show me after where exactly you found this. And Applejack, don't worry, maybe it's a new breed of apple or a rare mutation. Nothing to get yourself worried over." She reassures. "Oh, thank you Twilight! Will it take long?" "Nope, finding things isn't a problem for me." She calls out loudly, "SPIKE!" Spike is awoken early from his morning nap and sluggishly moves downstairs to meet with the two grudgingly. "What is it Twilight, I'm still sleeping..." He says in a groggy apathetic tone. Twilight smiles to Spike and says, "Spike, I want you to find a book called 'Cuisines from around Equestria' or anything similar that I have about foreign food or things of that nature, you got that?" "But, Twilight..." Spike groans as he rubs his eye tiredly. "No 'buts'. Applejack and I are counting on you. Make us proud!", she smiles and walks toward the front door. Spike looks at her confused, "And where are you going?" Twilight turns to Spike and says, "We'll be right back Spike, Applejack and I have to do some investigating." She waves a hoof at Applejack to follow her. The two ponies arrive at Sweet Apple Acres to search for some answers. Applejack guides Twilight to the tree with the gashed hole. Twilight looks at the strange old tree. "This is where it came from right? This tree?" "Yeah, Ah think so anyway, it was already fallen when Ah found it though." Twilight makes mental notes, "I see, did you check inside the tree?" Applejack nods, "Ah can't see anythin' in there. Maybe you could use your magic to see in better, like a light?" Twilight smiles brightly,"You're right! Ok now, stand back. We don't know what's inside this tree, or what could come out of it." Applejack backs up a few steps to give Twilight Sparkle some room. Twilight lowers her head and magically lights her horn to see inside clearly. As soon as Twilight;s eyes begin to focus, Rainbow Dash swoops in and lands next to Applejack, curious as to why Twilight had her head in a tree. "So uh, what's going on? Did Spike get stuck in the tree or something?", Rainbow Dash asks. Twilight retrieves her head from the tree and turns around to look at Rainbow Dash. Twilight shakes her head. "No, Applejack found a rather peculiar apple next to this tree and so I'm investigating." She smiles proudly. Rainbow's face drops, "An apple? Seriously? If you're that bored we could go swimming or something, it's too hot to be putting your head in a stuffy old tree." Applejack turns to Rainbow Dash and shows her the blue apple. Rainbow Dash slightly impressed says, "Well, you are right about it being 'peculiar', but who cares, let's do something." Twilight annoyed, "If you don't want to help, Rainbow Dash, or even be slightly interested in this rare find, you can always leave, you know." Rainbow Dash trying to make up and excuse."I know, but you see, I uh..." She didn't want to admit that the blue apple mystery intrigued her. Applejack interrupts, "...got nothin' better to do?" Twilight and Applejack giggle at each other teasingly. Rainbow Dash enraged, "Oh yeah, well I could say the same thing to you!" "Alright Rainbow, calm down, it was just a joke." Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes at both of them. Twilight relights her horn and continues to search, "Now, where was I?" Twilight peered through the hole, instantly mesmerized. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Colors she had never seen before, objects, people, things, animals, and even other ponies that didn't seem 'real'. She stayed silent and in awe in some of these rare sights that have never been viewed by any pony eyes. Then, she saw something familiar heading towards her, she couldn't make out what it was but she felt like she knew it. Her eyes widened, she screamed and backed up out of the hole before the unknown object had made contact with her. "Hey everypony! What's up?" the unknown object said. Twilight rubs her eyes and looks up from what emerged from the tree hole. "Pinkie Pie?" "Pinkie Pie, how in the..?" Rainbow Dash suspiciously. "Pinkie, are you alright? How did you get in there?" Applejack turns to look at the tree. "Isn't it a little cramped in there?" Applejack asks confused. Pinkie Pie smiled a toothy grin and said, "Are you kidding? You can fit an elephant in there! Or five!" Twilight regained herself and said to everypony, "She's right, it looks like a small regular tree on the outside, but when you look inside there's so much space and yet, so much inside." Applejack scratches her head and looks at Rainbow Dash who was as equally confused. Applejack looked to Pinkie Pie and asked, "Well how in the hay do you fit in there? And ain't it dangerous?" "No, it's fun, you should try it." She smiles and giggles. Twilight asks Pinkie Pie, "Look, what is it exactly? How long have you known about this?" Pinkie Pie giggles and snorts, "I use it to go wherever I want to. Sometimes they're different places and sometimes they look the same and it feels like I didn't go anywhere but then I notice things that are...out of place." Rainbow Dash asked, "Well do you know if they're more of these, hole things?" As Rainbow Dash asked this Twilight was showing Applejack the huge spaciness within the tree and explaining the different things inside. "Well duh, where do you think I go once I enter this hole? Out of the same one? Well, sometimes yeah but, it's kinda unpredictable." Pinkie Pie said. "They're pretty much scattered all over Equestria, although very rarely somepony ever finds one. The only ponies that I know that have used this is me and.." Rainbow Dash interupts, "Yeah yeah, but why did you keep this a secret from us? What else are you hiding?" Rainbow narrows her eyes at Pinkie. Pinkie smiling, "'I'm not hiding anything, I just keep it as a secret." Rainbow Dash facehoofs and gives up. It was no use arguing with Pinkie. Pinkie Pie continues, "You see, you go into a different place in there, and it's usually rare to end up in the same place." "What do you mean Pinkie?" Twilight asks turning from the tree intrigued. "Well, you see how there's different worlds inside those little sphere things that let you see inside that specific world? Well, once you go in and try to find the original world where you came out from, it's usually really difficult, I mean there's just so many worlds with different variables and such." Applejack looks at Twilight, "Is it me, or does Pinkie Pie sound kinda smart?" "Or just being 'Pinkie Pie'." Rainbow Dash added. Applejack gives Pinkie Pie the strange apple. "Pinkie, do you know where this came from?" Pinkie Pie stares at it with widened eyes and the look of realization swamps her face, almost in absolute terror. "I don't know." Pinkie says then eliminating all traces of previous emotions, almost oblivious. "I don't really keep track of all the places I go to, it's unpredictable and new worlds are being made all the time." "Who makes these worlds? These 'different places'?" Twilight questions. Pinkie Pie says "Well I have an idea who, she's the only pony besides me to ever find these holes to the different places." Rainbow Dash, "Pinkie, we don't have time for jokes. If you're not going to give us any good information then I'll go into that transporter thing myself!, she says bravely. "Ok, go ahead it's really fun, sometimes I do a canon ball or a belly flop, don't worry it doesn't hurt, there's no water in there just pretty glittery, space stuff..." "Well, I'm going in head first!" Rainbow Dash declares as she zooms straight into the hole and disappears. To be continued... //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 World 1 Questions //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 World 1 Questions *Previously: "Who makes these worlds? These 'different places'?" Twilight questions. Pinkie Pie says "Well I have an idea who, she's the only pony besides me to ever find these holes to the different places." Rainbow Dash, "Pinkie, we don't have time for jokes. If you're not going to give us any good information then I'll go into that transporter thing myself!", she says bravely. "Ok, go ahead it's really fun, sometimes I do a canon ball or a belly flop, don't worry it doesn't hurt, there's no water in there just pretty glittery, space stuff..." "Well, I'm going in head first!" Rainbow Dash declares as she zooms straight into the hole and disappears. **Continues: Twilight hurries over to Pinkie Pie, "Is Rainbow Dash going to be alright? What happened to her? Tell me!" "Relax, Twilight." said Pinkie Pie coolly. "She's sleeping on a cloud right now, I think by your library house too. That's convenient." She giggles and snorts. Applejack and Twilight look at each other. They couldn't tell if she was telling the truth or just being, well, Pinkie Pie. They studied Pinkie's face for any signs of it being a joke. Finally Twilight asks, "How could you possibly know that? We just saw her disappear before our very eyes into that tree! Poof! Gone!" Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and smiled cheerfully. Pinkie bounced away in the direction of Twilight's house. Applejack was confused as ever and just followed Pinkie. Twilight followed soon after, contemplating about how this was even possible. It was unnerving to her. She kept walking and kept pondering hard about all of this. They finally arrive at Twilight's house, Pinkie Pie looks up at the sky and sees Rainbow Dash resting on a cloud overhead, like she predicted. Pinkie Pie screams in excitement, "There she is! I found Rainbow Dash! Hey, Rainbow wake up!" Her constant squealing woke Rainbow up. Rainbow Dash's head was throbbing in pain and only she could only seem to remember what she had dreamed of. She flies down to talk with the rest of them. "Oh...my head is killing me, I had the weirdest dream too." Rainbow rubs her head and feels her mane. "In my dream, everypony was blue, and I was a princess. No way I'll ever be a froo froo tutu princess." Twilight steps over to Rainbow, "That's some dream Rainbow, but don't you remember falling into the tree? Or rather, the tree's portal? How did you even manage to get out? What was it like inside?" Rainbow was overwhelmed with all these questions, she couldn't seem to think properly. "Listen all I remember is being a princess in some blue-pony-land." She grabs her head again,  "Ow, my head." Pinkie Pie interjects and says, "Princess Fidelity, oh yeah I've been in that world before." Rainbow Dash and Twilight say "What!?" simultaneously. Pinkie Pie says, "Rainbow Dash, in another time and in another place you were or are a princess. You're name in that place is Princess Fidelity and you serve the Kobaltians in Azurequestria. You're actually really nice there, you even let me host a party in your castle once." She squeals. Twilight asks, "Pinkie, you've been to that "place"? More importantly, if Rainbow Dash was there, how did she get back?" Pinkie thinks for a moment, "Hmmm, maybe it was because Rainbow Dash went in so fast that she went through the portal and out the other, in a flash." Applejack comes in and asks, "And in "a flash" that's how long exactly being inside a portal? It ain't sound like Rainbow was in there for "just a flash" according to her "dream". Pinkie Pie chuckles, "Of course not, going though a portal and being inside different worlds have different time lapses. Who knows, she may have been gone for an eternity and we wouldn't even know!" she continues chuckling. Twilight getting frustrated, "And how do you know all this Pinkie? Do the Princesses know any of this? Equestria could be in danger!" Pinkie scoffing playfully, "Well, yeah. Princess Celestia appointed me to be the guardian of the....multi something something." Twilight, "Multi-? You mean like, 'Multiverse'?" Pinkie, "Yeah that word! 'Multiverse', I don't know what it means, but all I do really is keep an eye on all the portals in Ponyville just in case of an emergency and makes sure nopony goes in them. You see, if a pony leaves this world or any world in the multiverse then that pony or object must be replaced with the same pony or object from a different place, or universe. In order to maintain the Megaverse, of course. It's a never ending rotation of ponies going in and out of portals so that everything is balanced. Everypony is unharmed and they may not even notice, most of the time ponies will get 'swapped' by another pony in their sleep. Like, if I went into a portal and left this world, another 'me' who was unconscious in another world fills in my existence for me. That's why some dreams are more weird than others, it's because you're in a different universe!" Everypony was trying really hard to follow with Pinkie Pie's explanation about the universe and the recycling of pony existences. Twilight heard nothing of what Pinkie explained grows profusely upset, "Why would Princess Celestia appoint you the Guardian of the Multiverse? Why would she even make you a guardian of anything! I'm her student after all. Doesn't she know that I've studied more into that, than you could have in a decade? You don't even own a book!" Pinkie unfazed and smiling, "For your information, Twilight, I own a thousand cook books! And, if you know so much about the Multi-whatever then why do you ask so many questions about it? And don't worry Twilight, I've been to another dimension where you're a princess too, so don't feel like you're left out. In fact, everypony is a Princess in another dimension somewhere!" She giggles and snorts. Twilight unnerved, "I still want to talk to Princess Celestia about this, this is, well, uncanny! I'm going to Canterlot tomorrow morning and resolving this whole "Guardian" position." A familiar voices pipes up, "Canterlot!? You're going without taking me first, how rude of you!" The ponies turn around and notice Rarity trotting up to them wearing a flashy pink hat with a gaudy ruby brooch. Rarity says excitedly, "Twilight, you said something about Canterlot, no? When are you leaving? Take me with you!" "Fine, why don't we all go and I'll talk to the Princess." Twilight says defeated. "But Pinkie how did you know Rainbow Dash would land on that cloud?" Pinkie Pie, "Because, Twilight, when she went into the portal there was another portal behind it that looked like a cloud next to a giant tree house. It was for a quick second, but I was pretty sure it was your house." Twilight, "Here we go again with this portal stuff. Oh yeah, the whole, "interchanging ponies to keep the universe balanced" nonsense." Pinkie Pie, "Well you asked, Twilight and it's not nonsense. It's science!" she says feeling smart. At that moment a grayish pony falls from the sky and lands on top of Rarity. The pony pegasus gets up, wobbles a bit and flies off crookedly like nothing had happened. Pinkie Pie shouts cheerfully at the pegasus flying away, "See ya later Derpy!" Rarity struggles to get up, "What on earth was that?! Why I never!" She gasps in horror. "Now my hat is all crumpled and dirty!" she wines. The ponies disregard Rarity's cries and hear frantic galloping in the distance. Twilight thought, "Oh great another recycled universe pony..." But in fact it was one of her friends. Twilight recognized her and greeted her, "Hello Fluttershy, what's the hurry?" "Oh Twilight, it's terrible. I can't find Angel Bunny anywhere! He's been missing since this morning, I think he ran away last night because I refused to make him an apple pie." Fluttershy notices the blue apple that Applejack is holding, "Applejack, what is that?" Rarity, out of curiosity, looks over Applejack's shoulder at the strange apple that she is holding. Rarity sneers, "Ugh, Applejack, why do you have such a disgusting thing, it looks rotten. Throw it away!" she demands. Applejack angered, "It ain't rotten, rotten apples are brown and dark green, this one is blue and purple! Rarity digresses, "It's still looks atrocious." Applejack slyly, "Yer right, purple is an 'atrocious' color, especially purple manes." Rarity shocked, "I never said purple was an ugly color! It's just not a natural color for apples, right Twilight? Purple is fabulous." Applejack rolling her eyes, "Uh huh, sure." Twilight steps in, "That's enough you two, we have to focus about going to Canterlot and talking to Celestia." All the ponies finally agree to that, especially Rarity. Spike comes out of the tree house when he hears all their giggling and their talks about Canterlot. He asks, "Why are you all going?" Pinkie Pie snatches the apple and shows Spike. Spike studies it and then realizes that he was supposed to find a book about it, but then fell asleep looking for one. "Oh yeah! The malfunctioned Zap Apple thing!" Spike remembered. Applejack facehoofs and explains the whole thing to Spike, Rarity, and Fluttershy that it's not a Zap Apple. Spike was dizzy from all the information and went back inside and fell asleep on a pile of open books. Fluttershy stomps her hoof and says in a soft aggressive voice, "Have you all forgotten about Angel? Shouldn't we at least find him before leaving town? Oh, I just want to make sure he's safe." Twilight hatched an idea on the spot, "Hey AJ? Would Winona be able to track down Angel, if she had a scent?" Applejack agrees with this idea and says, "Sure she can, if she could round up cattle she could easily find Fluttershy's little bunny friend!" The mane six head over to Fluttershy's cottage with Winona. "Ok girl, I want you to find Angel Bunny, here sniff this." Applejack hands Winona, Angel's bed. Winona sniffs it, barks and zooms off fast, strong on the scent. Winona tracks down the scent to Sweet Apple Acres and soon leads them to the tree where they found the blue apple. Suddenly Winona freezes and has a confused look on her face, as if she missed something. She perks her head, turns around and heads back to Fluttershy's cottage. "Winona, would ya make up yer mind? Where is Angel?," Applejack said. The ponies arrive back at the cottage. Fluttershy screams with excited as she scoops up Angel Bunny in her arms and nuzzles him. "Oh Angel, I was so worried and scared, are you alright? Where did you go?" she was relieved. "Oh Angel, I'll go ahead and make you that Apple Pie, you deserve it!" Blinded by pure happiness and joy she didn't notice that Angel was a bit different. Angel hugged Fluttershy back and smiled. Angel hopped off and tied a pink ribbon around his ears. Rainbow Dash looked at Angel, she was bewildered, but then broke out into laughter. Rarity got angry with Rainbow Dash and said, "There's nothing wrong in wanting to look fabulous." Rarity leans in toward Twilight Sparkle and whispers to her, "Did you know Angel Bunny was a girl, I didn't really notice myself." Twilight looks back at Angel. "Now that you mention it, Angel does seem more…feminine." Fluttershy wonders aloud, "Why are you whispering to each other? Angel why are you wearing a...oh." Fluttershy takes a good look at Angel. "Angel, you're a....girl!?", she shrieks. "This is not the same Angel!" Angel hops up on Fluttershy's shoulder and whispers in her ear. "Apparently the new Angel's name is Angelina Bunny." Fluttershy takes one more look at Angelina and faints. To be continued.. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 World 1 Multiple Outcomes //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 World 1 Multiple Outcomes *Previously: Rarity leans in toward Twilight Sparkle and whispers to her, "Did you know Angel Bunny was a girl, I didn't really notice myself." Twilight looks back at Angel. "Now that you mention it, Angel does seem more…feminine." Fluttershy wonders aloud, "Why are you whispering to each other? Angel why are you wearing a...oh." Fluttershy takes a good look at Angel. "Angel, you're a....girl!?", she shrieks. "This is not the same Angel!" Angel hops up on Fluttershy's shoulder and whispers in her ear. "Apparently the new Angel's name is Angelina Bunny." Fluttershy says out loud and takes one more look at Angelina and faints. *Continuing: Pinkie Pie realizing what had happened, "It looks like our Angel Bunny is an another 'place' like a different dimension. We got the female version of him." The ponies all looked at each other and Fluttershy regained consciousness and replies weakly, "Then why does the new Angel, I mean Angelina, remembers who I am and all of you." Pinkie Pie shrugged, 'It's because it IS Angel, but she's just from a different universe." Applejack interjected, "Wait, hold on now, Pinkie, you've been in and out of these here universes many times before, I'm guessin'. And yet, you still seem like the same Pinkie Pie and we all remember each other. Explain yerself." Pinkie Pie turned to Applejack, "I don't, I've been through so many worlds that most of them look the same to me and the multiverse makes everyone adapt to the new world that they're in and even gives them memories of them living there their whole life, until they find another world, that's what happened to me, but ever since Princess Celestia summoned me and appointed me as Guardian of the Multiverse in secrecy, I keep finding more and more holes and I somehow just remember that I'm the Guardian of the Multiverse.", she smiled. Twilight feeling smart asked, "So if there's so many worlds with different variants, isn't it possible that in another world you're not the guardian? Pinkie Pie stares for a moment and drops her jaw, "You know I haven't thought of that before…" Twilight "This is useless, we need to talk more with the Princess, only she has the answers we need." Rainbow Dash, "I still don't see what's so important about this whole egghead multiverse stuff?" Twilight thinking for a bit and finally replies, "Don't you see Rainbow, if we could go inside the multiverse, and found a way to travel freely, we could be able to travel to the perfect world with our perfect paradises and live the perfect life we never had." Rainbow Dash "I know where you're trying to get at. Me. Always wanting to be a Wonderbolt and all, but I don't need some hocus-pocus Dr. Whooves time traveling magic to do that for me, I'll become one by just by being me, by being the most awesome pony ever brought into existence." Rainbow Dash then shows off by flexing her arms smugly. Twilight sighs, "Well I'm going to ask Celestia some questions, if you want to come then follow me." Fluttershy holds Angelina Bunny in her arms in a motherly fashion, the absence of her once beloved bunny is gone and feels like he's been replaced with some other bunny she doesn't even know. The feeling that Angel might be alone "out there, somewhere" wherever "out there" is is nerve racking. All this uncertainty and fearing the unknown overtakes Fluttershy and she stands up and says tearfully, "I'm going with you Twilight. I need to find OUR Angel, who knows what has happened to him. I don't think I can wait until the next morning, I may not even be able sleep through this." A single tear falls from her face. Rainbow Dash angered by Fluttershy's assertiveness, "Fine, let's just ALL go, I guess." she rolls her eyes. Rarity butts in saying,"If we hurry we could make the 12 'o'clock train." Rarity remembers the train schedule when she traveled to different clients. Fluttershy holds Angelina Bunny close, and Angelina slowly falls asleep in Fluttershy's soft mane. And so all the ponies galloped to the train station, not even packing anything or sending a letter to the princess for a meeting in advance. The ponies all saw this strange phenomena as an emergency. Especially Twilight, who was nearly torn to pieces when she had found out that Pinkie was protecting the multiverse, and she undeniably doesn't want to believe it. The jealousy in Twilight was growing more and more sinister inside her, she fears that the Princess saw Twilight to be inferior to Pinkie. An unknown hate was manifesting within Twilight's heart. A hate that she had never known. The ponies reach the station and start talking among themselves in front of the ticket booth. Twilight secludes herself to an empty booth and begins having troubling thoughts. She thinks deeply to herself, "How can Pinkie have access to such an amazing thing? Why couldn't the Princess trust me enough? Pinkie Pie isn't even a student of hers. Or is she? The Princess doesn't trust me and now is hiding secrets from me?" she groans, and hits her head on the side of the ticket booth in frustration. The train came right on time and blew it's whistle. All the ponies boarded up on the train, except for Twilight who was still marinating in her troubling thoughts and hadn't noticed the train. Fluttershy, who was the first to board the train notices Twilight missing and looks outside the window. She lowers the window and calls for Twilight. "Twilight, the train!" Twilight regain focus and rushed to the train and joined everypony. Fluttershy pulls Twilight to the side, "Are you alright, what happened just now?" "Oh, don't worry Fluttershy I'm fine. I've just been thinking about.." she couldn't finish her sentence. Fluttershy says encouragingly, "Listen Twilight, a lot is going on right now. Angel is missing and the apple thing, all this talk about multiverses, its just...it's too much." "I know Fluttershy, you miss Angel, but you know there's more important matters than just your pet bunny." "What are you saying Twilight? You don't care about Angel?" "Fluttershy, have you not noticed that there's a topic far bigger than Angel? Than all of us, really!" Twilight was slowly losing her control. Applejack overhears the disturbance, "Ya'll better cool it. We're all confused and emotional right now, the sooner we get to Canterlot the better, and I don't wanna hear anymore fightin' on this trip, ya hear me?" Applejack seemed the most level-headed than the others. She wonders if that's normal that she's not too affected in any way like the rest. She disregards any negative thoughts and walks to her seat and blankly stares out the window trying to calm herself down. She presses her forehead onto the cold glass, which felt good to her. She thinks to herself, "And I've got to cool it too, everypony seems on edge, even Rainbow Dash is tense." She continues to stare and press her forehead against the refreshing window. She was right, Rainbow Dash seemed very tense. Rainbow Dash sat back in her seat, also staring out the window. She just didn't understand it all. Her frustration was cycling through her. Everypony seemed to understand, except for her. Most of the time she didn't know what to say about things or what the ponies were saying. Especially about Twilight. Rainbow thinks, "Just when I thought she couldn't get any more egg-headier. I have no idea what's going on, and I seriously think everypony has no idea too, they're just pretending to know, like Pinkie Pie. They're going into something they don't understand head-first-and-think-about-consequences-later." she sighs, "Kinda sounds a lot like me actually. I don't even care about all this pointless nonsense. It's just stupid." she becomes restless and closes her eyes to feel relaxed. Rarity was eyeing Applejack and Rainbow Dash who sit right across from each other. Rarity mutters to herself, "Hmph, I can't believe those two are getting so fired up about all this, they should be lucky we're even going to Canterlot and meeting royalty and maybe even going to the luxurious spas and going shopping and..." she shakes her head. The sunlight through the window was getting warm fast, she was afraid of sunburn. "I better close the curtains. Rarity looks around and unties the curtains, and closes them so that the sunlight would not survive. Then she remembered something. Before she met up with her friends they were talking about something. She thought hard trying to remember exactly. That's when she remembered the word "princess" and "canterlot" were used. "Uh huh...something about..." she remembered abruptly. "Rainbow Dash you're a Princess!?" she said out loud enough for everypony to hear. She even startled herself and covered her mouth with her hooves. All her friends looked at her. Rainbow Dash said coolly from across the seat. "Yeah I had a dream I was, but that's it." Rarity's interest was sparked, she wanted to know more about this dream. "Oh really? Please tell me more, were you beautiful and had loyal servants who catered to your every whim?" she bats her eyes hoping to hear of some more enchanted fairy tale she could lose herself in. Rainbow Dash uninterested said, "Everypony was blue and yeah I guess I would be considered froo froo for your standards." Rainbow Dash turned on her side facing the window to signal Rarity that she didn't want to talk anymore. Pinkie Pie who was sitting behind Rarity said, "I met her before, Princess Fidelity, I mean." Rarity turned around to face Pinkie Pie, "Princess Fidelity? Pinkie you met Rainbow Dash as a princess?" Pinkie smiled brightly, "Well sure, technically there's a universe where we're all princesses, I've only met Princess Fidelity and Princess Twilight Sparkle from those different universes." Twilight's ear twitched at the sound of 'Princess Twilight Sparkle'. She looked over at Pinkie who was sitting straight across from her. Twilight felt a little more calm and somewhat drowsy from the train ride. "Hey Pinkie, could you tell me more about me being a Princess?" she gives a weak smile. "Sure Twilight. In the universe where you're a princess, Princess Celestia gave you wings and made you into an alicorn. After that there was a big ceremony in celebration for you becoming one!" Twilight closed her eyes and smiled, "That would be something, huh? Being a princess and having wings, I wonder why Princess Celestia hasn't made me a princess in this universe?" Then she had a terrible thought. "Maybe she hasn't made me a princess because...she's saving it for somepony else, like," She gulped, "Pinkie Pie." She began to feel uneasy and felt somewhat betrayed by her mentor. Pinkie Pie continued, "Mhm, and after you became princess, Princess Celestia showed us one of her portals that she owns that would take you to another universe." Twilight looks up, "What really? She owns one and actually shows me?" Pinkie Pie, "Yeah, you even go through it." Twilight a bit unnerved, "I do? What happens to me?" Pinkie Pie, "After you went inside, I knew it was time for me to leave so Princess Celestia sent me back here." "So Princess Celestia can send ponies back to their own universe? Just like that?" "Yup." Pinkie Pie smiles big and innocent. "She's more powerful than we think." The train conductor announces through a microphone, "Next stop is Canterlot! Good sight seeing areas would be the Wonderbolt Show, Canterlot Shopping Square, and Princess Celestia's castle. Thank you for riding with us!" The train stops in front of the Canterlot train station. All of the ponies scurry out of the train car and huddle up for a plan. Twilight steps forward and says, "We need to speak with Celestia first. That is our main priority, then maybe after we can see a Wonderbolt show or go shopping if you all would like." The ponies agree and trot towards Celestia's castle. To be continued... //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4 World 1 Legends //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4 World 1 Legends *Previously: The train stops in front of the Canterlot train station. All of the ponies scurry out of the train car and huddle up for a plan. Twilight steps forward and says, "We need to speak with Celestia first. That is our main priority, then maybe after we can see a Wonderbolt show or go shopping if you all would like." The ponies agree and trot towards Celestia's castle. *Continuing: It was still a warm and sunny day in Equestria and the ponies trot up to Celestia's castle. The guards recognize Twilight and her friends and the drawbridge lowers as Twilight Sparkle gives the signal to do so. The ponies walk in to the castle's entrance. The castle was always magical to them, no matter how many times they saw it. The ponies had so many questions, but yet felt the day's reassurance that these questions would be answered and that everything would be alright. They enter the pearly white castle that bore gold and purple stripes alongside the towers. The castle itself is so majestic and massive that one could get vertigo from staring at it for so long. They finally enter from admiring the castle wall's beauty. Twilight then had a sudden burst of energy of excitement. She was going to see her teacher, her mentor, her inspiration; Princess Celestia, her idol. Twilight hadn't seen the Princess in over a few months now. Twilight rarely writes to the princess anymore, instead, she uses her time for studying spells and other forms of magic. She had been so study-crazy that she hadn't slept for a couple days, but the lack of sleep didn't stop her from having so much enthusiastic energy. She took in a deep satisfying breath of Canterlot's fresh air and said to the group, "I'm ready. I'm ready for what ever answers Celestia tell me." She gives a bright smile of relief and thought to herself, "No matter what happens, no matter what is said or done, nothing will ever change the fact that Pinkie Pie is my friend and that Princess Celestia is my teacher, and she knows what she's doing." Twilight was more cheery than Pinkie Pie actually. The others noticed the change in Twilight's mood and figured they should not be frightened anymore. There had been so much tension on the trip here, that they were almost relieved to act like themselves again and not worry about any arguments breaking out. Twilight galloped gleefully to Princess Celestia's courtyard, the others followed quickly behind, also having high spirits. Twilight leads the group up the reflective white stairs and into Princess Celestia's foyer. They reverently walk in lowering their heads in respect. Princess Celestia looks up from her paper work and sets it aside. The Princess walks up to them and bows in return. Celestia raises her head to talk, "And what brings you here Twilight and everypony?" Pinkie Pie chimes in, "Twilight wants to ask you some questions, your highness." Princess Celestia looks at Twilight, "What is it Twilight? Is everything alright?" Twilight smiles, "Yes Princess, everything is alright, but I just want you to tell me more about the Multiverse and we found this," Princess Celestia was shocked when she heard Twilight say Multiverse. The Princess stared intensely at Twilight, unnerving Twilight's concentration. It was completely silent for few moments, until Fluttershy shyly stepped forward and showed Celestia her bunny, Angelina. The Princess didn't quite understand her action, so Fluttershy spoke up, "You see Princess, Angel is my bunny and well, um, he went missing and we have this idea that Angel fell into a portal, of some sort, and was replaced with a female version of his former self." Princess Celestia lowered her eyes on the bunny, "I see. There is much I must tell you then. Follow me into the study, I have books that could help explain this to all of you." She turned slowly and sadly, she was full of grief. The Princess walked through these tall white shimmery doors, the ponies followed close behind her into a long hall. The cold, crisp air filled their lungs. No sunlight shone through the hall. It was completely dark except for some candles that were lit by each covered window. The window glass was cold, almost freezing to the touch. Everypony had chills running up their spine and goosebumps covering their bodies from head to hoof. Even the fearless Rainbow Dash was quite uncertain about this unknown, dark, and dreary hall. Nopony has ever been through this hall except for Princess Celestia, Pinkie Pie, and- "AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" a scream was heard from the group. Everypony nearly jumped out of their skins with their eyes widened. They nearly all had a heart attack. Fluttershy was nearly about to faint and is now hyperventilating. Celestia turns around sharply, her voice tense and red hot, "What is going on? This is not the place to play games! Who screamed?" Rarity whimpers, "I'm sorry Princess...A spider landed on my nose, it's so dusty and there's a nasty draft in here, could somepony open a window?" Celestia upset and annoyed with Rarity's whining, "I'm sorry, but I'll have you wait outside, this is very important and I don't need this nonsense." Rarity pleading, "Oh Princess, I'm the one who should be sorry, I must act lady-like, but failed." Celestia raises her horn as it glows an ominous golden glow around it, "Very well," she teleports Rarity into a locked room in the castle. "Then you will not fail me again." The other ponies looked at each other, and were scared senseless, but they knew that this was serious. Celestia turned around and began, "Now let's continue. You see each of these 6 doors holds up to 8 different multiverses. Within those Multiverses are smaller universes. We have been able to contain and maintain control of only 8 Universes and their billions of universes. It has taken many years, many many years, to even contain 1 Multiverse." Twilight interjects, "Um, excuse me but, who's "we"?" Celestia looks at Twilight and sighs, "This is very classified information Twilight, but I think it's time you knew," She looks at the remaining group, " all of you." She takes another deep sigh, "Starswirl and I have been collecting Multiverses. He first came up with the idea long ago, more than a thousand years ago." Twilight asks politely, "What about Princess Luna? Did she ever knew you worked with Starswirl?" "No, she did not and has not. During that time, when we were just starting out with this idea, she was corrupted by evil. It was and has been kept a secret from her. Starswirl was very gifted, I owe him everything. Without him we wouldn't know this much about the universe, or even other universes." "What happened to Starswirl?" Twilight asks. Celestia lowers her head and sadness swamps her face, "Ever since he discovered that Split, he's been missing. He hasn't returned after studying it. You see, a Split is when a new universe is being made within a Multiverse, sort of like what the "others" call a Worm Hole. Think of a Universe as a suitcase, within that suitcase there is a stack of parcels, each parcel is one Multiverse, each Multiverse is different in it's own way, like how if each parcel has something different written on each one. Well, first a worm hole is slowly manifested into existence, it's purpose at this point is to serve as a "tunnel" although very rarely does anypony ever return from a Split. The longer a Split exists, it becomes more of a vacuum than a tunnel and eventually flips itself inside-out and flattens itself from the pressure. Then it starts to rotate either clockwise or anti-clockwise, sort of like a galaxy, but much larger. Thus, creates a multiverse over time." Twilight, "I see, but Princess I was also wondering why, well...about Pinkie Pie." "What about her?" Twilight choking, "She claims to be a, Guardian?" "Ah yes, the Guardian of the Multiverse. All the multiverses in our universe at least. I'm sure there are other guardians protecting their own like us." "Yes ok, but why her?", she says persistently. Celestia asks, "Are you upset Twilight?" "No I just," Twilight takes a deep breath and releases, "I want to know why you chose her over me, your student and star pupil." Celestia sighs, "Twilight, you're not ready. Starswirl, even though was very intelligent and know more about astronomy than I, failed at what he loved doing." "I don't see how Starswirl affects me though, you see-" Celestia offended, "Starswirl affects everyone Twilight! Without him, all this wouldn't be possible!" she calmed herself and cleared her throat. "Starswirl became obsessed and soon engulfed himself in his studies. Nopony ever saw him, only on rare occasions he come out of the library. He made no effort to make friends or do anything else. He became a recluse, a hermit. It tore us apart." A tear fell from her eye as she began to choke on her words, the painful last memories she had of him were not pleasant. "One day as he inspected the heavens he saw the first Split ever recorded in Pony History. He wanted to go see it for himself, to closely study it, first-hoof." she wiped tears from her eyes, "I told him not to, I warned him. It was something he was not prepared for, he didn't know what he was getting into." Twilight lowered her head, grieving for Celestia's loss, "And so, you chose Pinkie Pie, because you knew that she wouldn't become compulsive. That she would just stay away from the things that didn't intrigue her, as curious as she gets sometimes. You trust her more, than you trust me." "That's not it Twilight, trust has nothing to do with it. I fear I might lose you the same way I lost Starswirl, you'd think I ever let myself live that down? Knowing that I put another innocent life at risk?" "I'm sorry Princess, I didn't see it that way, I just thought that-" "Well you have thought wrong, Twilight, I need you to focus more on your friends and your life than studying all day long. You know enough, more than the average citizen in Ponyville. For now, Pinkie Pie has done a wonderful job protecting us. You need to understand that and move on." Applejack then steps forward, "Excuse me your highness but Ah'd thought of showin' you somethin' that Ah found on my farm." Celestia calmly sighs, "Go ahead Applejack." Applejack reveals to Princess Celestia the blue apple. Celestia inspects and says, "Ah yes, this is a Elppa." The ponies jumped back a bit, they weren't expecting an immediate answer. Applejack bewildered, "Uh, pardon?" Celestia takes the Elppa, "This is an Elppa, it belongs to a Universe that I currently have here. Itanigami. This Elppa, is just as strange as the Universe it is found in. How did you get this by chance?" "Well uh, ya see yer highness, Ah found it next to one of em portals by my farm." "Hmm, really? Perhaps it was the Creator's doing." Twilight asks, "Creator? You mean to this Universe?" Celestia looks at Twilight as if she were a naive child, "No Twilight. To all the universes." Twilight asks again, "Do you know who the Creator is?" "Yes Twilight, I do and she is more powerful than I." Just as Celestia was about to tell everypony Luna's voice could be heard from a distance. "Sister! Oh sister where are you? It's nearly sunset, and you said you would watch me raise the moon today like you used to!" Celestia panics and says to Twilight and her friends, "Quickly we haven't had much time, I'll show you all of this later, Luna must not know about this place." Celestia uses a teleport spell on everypony and appear in the castle garden along with Rarity who was previously in an unknown locked room. Rarity seemed upset that she didn't get to see or know about the secrets that were told while she was gone. Rarity glares at them, "Hmph." "Oh sister there you are! And look, Twilight is here and has brought her friends along. Hello everypony." Luna bows and warmly smiles. "Is there a special reason why you are all here?" she asks. Twilight speaks up, looking nervous, "Ah yes, well, you see I haven't been writing letters to the Princess lately and well, I'd thought I'd pay her a visit to make things up." Her friends nod in agreement. "Oh, splendid. It is good to see you are all doing well." All of them say at once, "You too." Celestia nervously coughs, "So Luna, why don't you bless us with your beautiful moon this evening?" "Sure thing, sister. I hope you all will enjoy tonight's performance." Luna laughs and takes to the sky. All of them watch as the sun sets and Luna raising the full moon. Celestia turns to Pinkie Pie and whispers in her ear threateningly, "I need to talk to you about something important. I want you to meet me in the Transporter Hall tonight at midnight, we have some things to discuss." To be continued... //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5 World 1 Monster //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5 World 1 Monster *Previously: Celestia nervously coughs, "So Luna, why don't you bless us with your beautiful moon this evening?" "Sure thing, sister. I hope you all will enjoy tonight's performance." Luna laughs and takes to the sky. All of them watch as the sun sets and Luna raising the full moon. Celestia turns to Pinkie Pie and whispers in her ear threateningly, "I need to talk to you about something important. I want you to meet me in the Transporter Hall tonight at midnight, we have some things to discuss." *Continuing: Princess Celestia have given rooms to Twilight and her friends for the night, the princess wanted to talk with Pinkie Pie about urgent matters. Luna has brought forth the moon and all is well, so it seemed. It was midnight and everypony was in bed except for Princess Celestia and Pinkie Pie. Pinkie rose from her bed and quietly sneaks out of her room. Pinkie thought she heard grumbling in one of the other rooms. She puts her ears to the doors to find the grumbling noise, to make sure nopony is awake. She listens to Rainbow Dash's door, just loud snoring. Now Twilight's, sounds quiet enough. She puts her ear on Rarity's door and hears a mumbling of some sort. Pinkie tries to listen in more carefully. She hears muffled talking, she thinks she hears Rarity saying, "Stupid thing.....open......" Pinkie wonders what she might be talking about, she thinks to herself, "Is she trying to open a compact mirror maybe? A jar of pickles? A window?" She starts thinking into this too much and figures it is nothing. She sneaks off to meet Celestia in the Transporter Hall. Pinkie carefully enters the Hall without making much noise or creakiness in the doors or floors. She sees that Celestia is already there with her horn very dimly lit. Celestia looks up at Pinkie and sets down a book, "Pinkie Pie, thank you for coming here, we have urgent matters to attend to." Pinkie bows and loudly whispers, "What is it, your highness?" Celestia irked, "I was afraid of Twilight finding out who you were, The Guardian of the Multiverse. I knew she would act that way, especially when she is my closest student. We've all seen her behavior around you. She has trouble understanding your 'Pinkie Sense' and her emotions get the best of her. We've all seen the insanity that lies within her. She has caused numerous crises because she cannot control her actions. You on the other hand drove away the parasprites when Twilight couldn't do anything about it. You make friends everyday and keep my citizens happy and content. The other ponies don't question me when they are so happy being your friend. You make them obey me with your laughter, and that is where I am in debt to you. You deserve more publicity for your ability to keep the peace and protection in Ponyville." Celestia bows and shows Pinkie Pie the book she was reading. Pinkie Pie with the help of Celestia's light, read the title of the book, "Equestria Princess Coronation Ceremony" Pinkie looks up at Celestia with widened and moist eyes. "I can't do this, Twilight-" Celestia interjects, "Twilight doesn't deserve it. She needs to learn how to deal with social problems and herself. More ponies are finding out the universes, the multiverses. If things get out of hoof, many ponies will die. You understand right? Pinkie Pie, you need to do what is right for my subjects." Pinkie Pie was unsure of what to do. She knew that being a princess would keep people safe from themselves, but if she does, she could lose Twilight as a friend, and what would the others think? Would they think that Pinkie Pie did it for power? For greed She shook her head violently. "I'm sorry Princess Celestia, I can't do it. You're gonna have to find somepony else." Celestia's eyes grew fiery golden hot. She changed to a deeper, more sinister tone, "Pinkamena Diane Pie, if you do not do what I tell you, I will most severely punish you." Pinkie Pie grew angry, "Don't ever say my full name! Don't say that name which knows no happiness. How dare you!" she rushes for Celestia in an attempt to headbutt her, but Celestia was fast and froze her in her tracks with her paralyzing magic. Celestia levitates Pinkie to her eye-level. "Pinkamena, you traitor! Feel the pain of the many innocent lives you will put in danger if you're not princess." Celestia pummels Pinkie against the ground with her magic and applies great amounts of pressure onto Pinkie's body, squeezing her like a boa constrictor. Pinkie grunts and tries to break free, but to no avail. She is helpless. "Pinkie, aren't you going to scream to your friends? They would be able to save you I'm sure, if you can not even save yourself. If you all used the Elements of Harmony against me, that is." Pinkie struggles and struggles feeling the weight around her growing stronger, making it harder for her to breathe. Pinkie looks at Celestia helpless and groans, "I won't scream, my friends don't deserve to be tortured by you. You monster!" Celestia laughs and releases some weight, but still holding her down. "Pinkie, you and I both know who the real monster is." She gives a look to Pinkie that would jog Pinkie's memory of a horrible incident in another universe. "You remember that universe don't you? In that world?" The Princess laughs, "You make me sick." Celestia attempts to break Pinkie's right arm slowly. Pinkie screams softly enough to be heard by Celestia alone. "How could you have done that to your friend, Rainbow Dash, huh? Cannibal!" Celestia bends Pinkie's arm even more and starts to hear violent cracks of bone slowly shattering. Pinkie could feel the inside of her arm splintering off into little pieces and becomes nauseous. Pinkie cries out in defeat, "Alright! I'll do it! I'll be a princess and obey you! Please! Please stop!" Celestia releases her completely from her grip. Celestia bends over to her, "Good. 'You will obey me and protect my loyal citizens.' Say it!" she demands. Pinkie tries to hold her head up, and says, "I will obey-" Celestia interrupts sternly, "I, Pinkamena Diane Pie." Pinkie Pie looks at her with utter disgust. "Say it Pinkamena!" she growls and readies her horn with a fierce fiery glow. Pinkie Pie holding her head up and crying, "I, Pinkamena Diane Pie," she gulps, "will obey and protect your loyal citizens." Celestia, feeling powerful and triumphant stands over Pinkie Pie, "Good, very good." She nuzzles Pinkie and walks away. Just before Celestia leaves the room she says coldly, "Your Coronation is tomorrow, sooner the better. We can finally get this over with." She walks through the doors and leaves Pinkie Pie to cry alone in the pitch-black and cold room. Pinkie Pie drops her head and feels the rush of freezing cold going down her spine, "What have I done?" Tears start rolling faster down her face. At that moment she knew that Twilight would no longer be her friend. She would be alone. To be continued... //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 6 World 1 Secrets //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 6 World 1 Secrets *Previously: Just before Celestia leaves the room she says coldly, "Your Coronation is tomorrow, sooner the better. We can finally get this over with." She walks through the doors and leaves Pinkie Pie to cry alone in the pitch-black and cold room. Pinkie Pie drops her head and feels the rush of freezing cold going down her spine, "What have I done?" Tears start rolling faster down her face. At that moment she knew that Twilight would no longer be her friend. She would be alone. *Continuing: Later that same night, Rarity was up with a little project of her own. She had in her possession an eerie metal plated book with a harshly carved title at the top of the cover, "Yraid". She lightly dims her horn just enough where she can read it and no light can be seen under the door. She looks at it over thoroughly. She tries to open it, but with no luck. She tried using her magic, nothing. She tries prying it open with a hoof filer, still nothing. "Stupid thing, why won't you open!?", she hisses quietly at the mysterious book. "This is probably the ugliest book I have ever laid my hoofs on, it's so ghastly. I keep telling myself that there had better be a treasure map in here that will, hopefully, lead me to millions of gems. I mean look at this...thing, it's almost completely useless." She tosses the book to the side and turns over to snuggle in her luscious blanket. The book lands on top of one of her suitcases where it lifelessly waits to be opened again. Rarity closes her eyes, already forgetting about the book and peacefully glides into a dreamy sleep. She tosses and turns, trying to find the softest of comfortable spots in her cloud-like Canterlot bed. She soon gets comfortable and is now lost in a heavy dream. Twilight couldn't sleep at all. She stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours and heard nothing but crickets chirping and Rainbow Dash snoring in the other room. Her eyes were getting heavy but her mind was too full to sleep. She just kept thinking and thinking. "What if Princess Celestia doesn't want me as her student anymore? She pretty much trusts Pinkie Pie than any other pony, even over her sister." A tear falls from Twilight's heavy eyes. She never felt so cold. The air around her, her blankets, her pillows, were all cold. The only thing that felt warm to her were her fresh tears that trickled down her puffy cheeks. She sniffles and hides under her covers fearing that she would wake somepony up with her crying. Before Twilight knew it, she was fast asleep. She was in a shallow sleep and would wake up occasionally to what sounded like someponies 'rough-housing'. She tried to sleep but was awoken by a familiar voice that sounded like a frantic whisper. "Twilight Sparkle, please wake up. Twilight!" Twilight awoke with a sudden jump and began to focus her eyes on the pony before her. She rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes and saw Princess Luna standing by her bed. "Princess Luna, what is it? Did something happen?" Twilight says half-asleep. She sighs, "I'm not sure, I heard strange noises behind a wall in the castle. Nopony else seemed to notice it since I'm the only one up, and I also can not find my sister." "Wha..? What wall?' Princess Luna helps Twilight up to her hooves. Luna opens the door quietly and leads Twilight to the wall where she had heard the noises. They walk pass the other's rooms and go down a flight of stairs. There Luna turns to her right and faces a wall next to a lonely dresser. Twilight looks at Luna in a light panic, "Luna, I don't know what to say. We're not allowed in there we-" Princess Luna confused and interrupts, "In where? There's nothing but a blank wall and my sister's old dresser." "You mean you don't see two large towering white doors?" Princess Luna shakes her head, "What are you talking about?" Twilight ponders this for a few moments and then opens the doors to the Transporter Hall. She looks at Luna to see any reaction. Princess Luna still sees nothing. Twilight figured out what may have happened. "I think you were blinded by Celestia. Here, let me help you." Twilight's horn glows and creates two large pillowy orbs that engulfs Luna's eyes. The princess of the moon closes her eyes as the orbs create a stinging sensation that she could not believe. The magic orbs slowly disintegrate into Luna and she slowly opens her eyes and regains sight. There before her lie the towering doors that Twilight had spoken of earlier. Luna could not believe what she was seeing, for she had never seen such sights. Luna's eyes begin to water and looks at Twilight. "Did my sister hide this place from me?" Her eyes filled with more tears, but not letting one tear fall and said with an angry, devastated tone, "Did my sister hide this from me?!" She looks down releasing multiple droplets of tears and painfully whimpers to herself, "All this time..." She stood there, mesmerized for a long moment. Twilight's face has grown saddened and remained quiet with her, they stood there in silence, honoring the death of her sister's trust. After a long while Twilight suggests to Luna, "I will show you the things that were hidden from you and from all of us." Luna remains strong, but bitter, "Alright." They walk into the cold, dead hall. Luna uses her horn for a light source. They see the six doors that hold the eight universes. Luna looks around and sees scattered books and notes. Luna's voice cracks, "Twilight, what is this place?" Twilight reads an engraving above them, "It's called the 'Transporter Hall'. Within these six doors holds eights different universes." "I want to go into one." Luna turns to Twilight who had an equally agreeable expression on her face. "Let's go into this first door." The both of them open the door that has a crown carved into the center of the door. Twilight uses her magic to open it and sees only darkness. Luna follows, staying close to Twilight. The door closes behind them, making them jump. They turned to each other, or at least they think they do. It's so dark they can not even see their own hoof in front of their faces. Luna's horn glows dimly enough to fill the small shanty room with light. The first thing that catches their attention is a giant candle in the middle of the room. Twilight lights the large candle that is as big as her. The flame on the wick turns from the fiery orange to a calm yellow. A young, innocent voice echoes within the room. "Hello? Anything I can do to help?" Twilight and Luna look at each other surprised. Twilight speaks up, "Uh..hello. Where are you?" The voice answers in a happy manner, "I'm invisible. But don't worry I can see you." Luna scared says, "Show yourself, w-who are you?" "I can't show myself. I am currently in another world than yours. I can see you through my magic orb. If you had a magic orb too, then you'd be able to see me, silly. That's how it works." Twilight asks, "Where do you get these magic orbs?" "I make them." "Can we have one then?" "Umm, no." "And why not?" "I told you already, I'm in a different world." Twilight facehoofs herself and starts to get irritated with this silly, naive voice. Luna sees that Twilight is frustrated and starts to ask questions herself, "Voice, what shall we call you?" "Hmmm, you can call me anything." Luna asks, "What do ponies normally call you?" "Ponies call me Derpy." Luna thinks for a moment, "Derpy? Is it really you?" "Yeah that's what most ponies know me as. Wait, do I know you?" Twilight, "Derpy. I think I used to see you around Ponyville before." "Yeah maybe. I like to go everywhere though. I like to travel and see everypony, but for a while now I've been stuck in a different universe." Twilight wonders out loud, "The last time I saw Derpy was when she landed on Rarity by my house." Derpy overhears Twilight, "Oh yeah, sorry about that. I was too busy having fun with portals." The room glows a dimly colored yellow and then slowly inverts to blue and then black. The ceiling, floor, walls, and even the door are gone. Twilight and Princess Luna are now floating around in some black space. Derpy remembers, "Whoops I almost forgot something. Boop." Stars appear all around them. Bright twinkling beads of pure energy orbit around them in the empty void of space. Derpy says reassuringly, "Don't worry, this is not real space, it's more like a waiting room." Eight large bubbles appear before Luna and Twilight. Each of the eight bubbles hold a universe within them. "I color coordinate them so that I know which one is which, I learned that the hard way." Derpy sighs, but in good spirits. There were eight different colored bubbles floating around them in a circular motion. Their colors are Cyan, Pink, Purple, Yellow, White, Orange, Dark Blue, and Grey. The ponies look carefully at each one. Each had a universe with different galaxies and planets filled with sprinkles of tiny stars. Derpy chimed in, "Twilight you can use your magic to see inside that bubble. You can pick a bubble and try to see what that universe is all about. I see that you're in the 'Princess Room' so that means, in these universes you can see who is the next princess, Celestia appoints. There are different instances and events that lead up to different outcomes. Some universes, however are more closely related to ours than others, we're currently in the pink one." Twilight carefully holds the pink bubble in her hooves. Luna peers over to see what's inside this universe. The universe in this bubble shows a physical summary of what it holds, almost like looking into a crystal ball. The bubble shows Princess Celestia at a Princess Coronation. All the ponies in Equestria have gathered to witness an extraordinary day that may never happen again in pony history. Pinkie Pie walks down the aisle wearing a beautiful pink gown, a crown, and a couple of new things. A horn and a pair of wings. Twilight is taken back. Disturbed, "Pinkie Pie, a princess? How is this even possible?" Derpy speaks up, "Celestia has the power to turn any pony into an alicorn and inherit her royal blood." Luna sighs, "It's true, she had shown me this power before, but in a different instance, it wasn't a good instance, either." Twilight looks at Luna curiously, "Not a good instance? What do you mean?" Luna sadly sighs, "You see Twilight, Discord was not always what he appeared to be, he even changed his name to matched his appearance that we know today, I guess to help cope with his deformity. It was so long ago, I do not remember what he breed of pony he was or his name before his transformation. But I do remember that Celestia was very fond of him, he was a pupil of hers. They were the same age and Celestia had just taught herself the "Alicorn Transformation" spell. She planned on marrying him, but royalty can only marry royalty, you see. She thought she would change Discord into an Alicorn and everything would go accordingly. She was right, however, and she turned him into an Alicorn. They did get married, for a short while. But with Discord being king, he naturally had significantly more reigning power than Celestia who can only raise the sun then. Celestia became jealous of Discord's power and turned him into the polar opposite of an Alicorn. A Draconequus. Discord was tragically devastated, but more heart broken than anything and betrayed. After his transformation he never hurt Celestia, but instead only caused harmless chaos to her citizens. He knew that choas and disorganization is Celestia's pet peeve. He wanted wanted her attention, he loved her, but also wanted revenge. He was emotionally torn and conflicted. Celestia turned him into stone to only regain her power and hoped that all would forget. I just stood there and watched. Twilight looked blankly into space, "I have a feeling that Celestia sent you to the moon for a similar reason." Luna sadly nodded. Twilight remembers holding the pink bubble and sighs, "So this is the universe we live in, huh? Pinkie Pie as Princess, does that mean in this universe, Pinkie Pie will also become Princess Celestia's favorite?" Twilight chokes up, "Derpy, I want to leave this place. Take us back to the castle." Derpy sadly replies, "Ok, Twilight." The ceiling, floor, walls and door reappear and the stars fade away. The dusty old color returns and the bubbles pop and disappear. Luna wraps her arm around Twilight who was sobbing at this point, "Twilight," Luna says, "Everything is going to be alright. If Pinkie Pie is made princess than you could be her student instead, and maybe you can be made into a princess too by Pinkie." Twilight, weakly pushes Luna away, "It's not that I want to be Princess. I trusted Princess Celestia, I thought she chose me because of my talent. I thought...she thought I was special." Luna sighed, "I know how you feel Twilight." At that moment Twilight had remembered about how Luna felt. Luna was also betrayed and kept in the dark like her. "I'm sorry Luna, I forgot that you feel the same as I do about all this." "It's alright Twilight. I'll talk with my sister tomorrow." "No, Luna you can't! You were never supposed to know about all of this." "Twilight, there are things that I know that most ponies don't know about my sister. It's time to do something about it. She's been hiding secrets, controlling ponies for her own power greed, and destroys the ponies that get too close to her." Twilight, "How do you plan on stopping her?" Luna vengefully, "I'm going to end her once and for all." To be continued... //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 7 World 1 New Princess //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 7 World 1 New Princess *Previously: "Twilight, there are things that I know that most ponies don't know about my sister. It's time to do something about it. She's been hiding secrets, controlling ponies for her own power greed, and destroys the ponies that get too close to her." Twilight, "How do you plan on stopping her?" Luna vengefully, "I'm going to end her once and for all." *Continuing: The sun was slowly rising as Luna and Twilight were discussing their plan to rid Celestia. Luna and Twilight walk away from the Transporter Hall and into the castle's foyer. Pinkie Pie stood there, looking tired and ill. Twilight approaches Pinkie Pie. "What are you doing up so early, Pinkie?" Twilight concerned. Pinkie Pie looks at Twilight with saddened, dreary eyes, "I couldn't sleep. Why are you and Princess Luna awake?" "I couldn't sleep either and Luna doesn't sleep at night." Pinkie Pie looks through a stained glass mural, she can see the new light of a new morning approaching. Pinkie Pie observing, "It's almost morning, Twilight, why don't you sleep in for a while. Princess Celestia will understand." "Understand what Pinkie?" Luna nudges Twilight's shoulder. "Twilight, my sister is raising the sun, she's been awake longer than I thought." "What makes you say that, Luna?" "I usually have to wake up my sister. If I am not there to wake her up, there would be no balance. I have reason to believe that she stayed up all night." Pinkie Pie was uneasy. She started fidgeting with her hooves. Twilight walked over to Pinkie Pie closer, "Pinkie, why are you here all alone? Are you alright?" Pinkie nods and swallows her nervousness. A loud thud was heard outside the castle. "My sister is here." The three of them look at the stained glass and see that it's completely light outside. "Celestia will be here soon. Twilight, are you ready?" Pinkie's ears perked up, "Ready for what?" Twilight explains, "Well, Pinkie, I was talking to Princess Luna and, we believe that Princess Celestia is not quite what she appears to be. She's kept secrets from all of us. From her own sister. How can we possibly trust her?" Pinkie Pie acted naive, "What are you talking about? This is Princess Celestia we're talking about." "I know, but, I can't shake the feeling that she hasn't acted like herself ever since we got here." Pinkie Pie's stomach turned as the castle's doors open. Princess Celestia walks inside the room casually and meets the eyes of all three ponies. "Why, good morning Twilight, Luna. Today is a very, special day." Celestia says coolly. Twilight walks to Celestia cautiously, "What's happening today?" "Today, I am making Pinkie Pie an honorary Princess." Pinkie Pie and Twilight's heart sank. Princess Luna was also is great disbelief. Twilight finding it hard to speak says, "Princess, why? Why her of all ponies? Why-" Celestia interrupts, "Enough Twilight. This is a very special day for Equestria. For your friend, Pinkie Pie. You should be happy for your friend. She's very lucky, you know. Not every pony gets to experience this highest of honors." Twilight sheds a tear, Luna intervenes, "Sister, what are you doing? Stop this, you are not acting like yourself!" "Silence Luna, or I will have you banished as before, for your questioning of the eldest princess!" Celestia warned. Luna revolts, "I know you are keeping secrets from me, sister. Twilight has shown me the Transporter Hall and it's rooms!" Celestia laughs, "I knew it was only a matter of time before Twilight spilled the beans." "Why did you keep it from? And for how long!?" Luna aggravated. "You see Luna, when Starswirl and I became, close, we studied together in that Hall. That Hall became his final resting ground when he left me." Luna repeats, "Starswirl. Why does that name sound so familiar?" Celestia scoffs, "You didn't know him as well as I did. You were so young though, I don't expect you to remember his greatness. It was a little over a thousand years ago. Starswirl and I were supposed to get married, but he was just a unicorn at the time. I used my magic to change him into an alicorn so that the marriage would be official." Twilight gasps in horror, "Discord." Celestia's face warped, "That monster you call Discord, is not Starswirl. Starswirl was a great pony, a great, great pony. You could never understand the pain I went through when Starswirl was swallowed up by a Split in the universe!" Luna, "Sister, you derange yourself! Starswirl is Discord. Starswirl never left you! You left him and changed him for power!" Twilight thinking to herself, "That does explain why Discord knows magic and how he can bend time and space." The realization was too much for her. Discord, once her enemy, was only Starswirl, her hero is disguise. Celestia says again, "Discord is nothing but a beast that causes chaos and disharmony!" Luna defends Discord, "You made him that way! He now acts that way to get your attention! Sister, you've gone mad!" Celestia growls and lights her horn. A golden aura flickers dangerously around her horn, "Fine sister. If you and Twilight want to fight me, then go ahead. Let's do so." She aims her horn at Pinkie Pie. Twilight screams out, "No Celestia, not Pinkie-" Celestia uses her magic on Pinkie Pie. Pink and golden wisps of light surround Pinkie. Celestia yells in triumph, "Pinkamena is mine now!" She cackles. The golden lights fade away from Pinkie's body. She was blessedly cursed with a unicorn's horn and pegasus wings. Pinkie Pie stumbles over, the magic was too strong for her. She spreads her wings out messily on the floor, laying on her stomach. Pinkie Pie remained unconscious, with her mouth slightly agape. Twilight hurries to her fallen friend. She tries to hold up Pinkie and cries, "Pinkie Pie, wake up. Pinkie Pie!" Celestia stalks slowly over to Luna, "Well now, sister it seems Pinkie Pie will not be fighting alongside me, but I can not have you or Twilight interfere with my plans!" Her horn begins to glow again and aims in at Luna, "Farewell sister! I hope you learn this time not to cross me!" She fires a brightly yellow beam of magic towards Luna. Twilight, in that split second gets up and releases Pinkie Pie from her grasp. Twilight she uses a teleportation spell on herself to move in front of Luna and then uses the spell again on herself and Luna. Celestia looks around for the two ponies. Gone. Celestia had figured she had sent them both to the moon. She was becoming more sinister and arrogant. She walks over to Pinkie Pie and lifts her up with her magic. "I'll just put you to bed. We're pretty lucky that nopony woke up from their sleep. Goodnight, my new princess." She says darkly. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 8 World 1 New Monster //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 8 World 1 New Monster *Previously: Twilight she uses a teleportation spell on herself to move in front of Luna and then uses the spell again on herself and Luna. Celestia looks around for the two ponies. Gone. Celestia had figured she had sent them both to the moon. She was becoming more sinister and arrogant. She walks over to Pinkie Pie and lifts her up with her magic. "I'll just put you to bed. We're pretty lucky that nopony woke up from their sleep. Goodnight, my new princess." She says darkly. *Continuing: "Ugh my head," Pinkie Pie awakens a few hours after the transformation. "I had the most vivid dream." She says half asleep. She rubs her head and feels something protruding from her forehead. Her eyes widen and quickly runs into the bathroom. She looks at herself in the bathroom mirror and starts to breathe heavily. She was devastated. She turns to look at her sides and sees wings that have sprouted from her back. "It wasn't a dream after all then. I really am an alicorn, a princess." She sighs, "That means that Twilight and Luna are in danger. Celestia must have banished them to the moon!" She screams. Applejack wakes up and tries to follow the sound of where the screaming came from. She hurries into Pinkie Pie's room. "Pinkie Pie! Is everythin' alright? Pinkie Pie? Where are ya?" "I'm in the bathroom." she says quietly. "Is everythin' ok in there?" Applejack asked concerned. Pinkie Pie thought about whether or not to tell Applejack the truth. She knew that Applejack is her friend and that she is a trustworthy friend. She thinks for a while and opens the door a little bit. "Applejack, please come in, it's important." "Huh? Ya want me to come inside the bathroom with ya? Pinkie, what's going on?" "Just come in for a little bit, I need to show you something, but you can't scream, promise?" "Ah promise Pinkie." "You have to Pinkie Pie Promise you won't scream." AJ sighs, "Ah Pinkie Pie Promise not tuh scream. Now can I come in?" Pinkie Pie waves Applejack to come in from behind the door. Applejack worriedly walks in and shuts the door where Pinkie was hiding behind. Applejack met with Pinkie's eyes. She was speechless. She was in complete disbelief and awe. She finally spoke after she stopped staring at Pinkie's new horn and wings. Whispering loudly she says, "P-Pinkie Pie! Yer an alicorn! What happened? Does this make you a princess? Speak tuh me!" Pinkie sighs and decides to let the cat out of the bag, "Applejack, Princess Celestia made me a Princess just after she rose the sun, and now Twilight and Luna are gone." "Twilight and Luna are gone? What do ya mean Pinkie?" "Princess Celestia," she choked, "Princess Celestia banished them to the moon. I heard the screams and Celestia just before I was knocked out cold." "Why would Celetia do that!? Did Twilight and Luna do somethin' wrong? We have to talk to the Princess!" Pinkie Pie screamed, "No Applejack! No! We can't." "And why not?' Applejack said angrily, "These are our friends Pinkie! Ya gonna sit there and do nothin' while Twilight and Luna are banished?" Pinkie Pie's eyes grew watery, "There's nothing we can do. They're goners for sure." Applejack worried, "Pinkie Pie, listen to yerself, you're just not the same. Maybe being a princess has blinded you from what's really important: friendship." Pinkie Pie looked away and didn't say anything. "Pinkie, Ah need yer help. I can't do this alone without ya." Pinkie Pie threatened, "If you think you're going against Celestia and win, you're wrong." "Goin' against? Why would I go against the Princess?" Tears begin to flow from Pinkie's eyes, "I won't let you get banished too Applejack." "Pinkie Pie..." Applejack hugs Pinkie Pie who is now sobbing profusely. "Can we at least tell our friends?" Pinkie sniffs, "They have to Pinkie Pie Promise..." she continues balling before she could finish her sentence. "Don't worry, sugar cube, we'll work this all out together." Applejack leaves Pinkie Pie and begins to wake up everypony one by one. All the ponies gather outside of Pinkie's door. Applejack clears her throat and says to the group, "All right everypony, Pinkie Pie needs yer help. And you gotta...Pinkie Pie Promise...not to scream." Fluttershy says, "Scream? Oh goodness what kind trouble is she in?" Rainbow Dash adds, "And what are we waiting for? She's in trouble now isn't she?" Applejack to tries to explain, "Well you see, it's more of an emotional thing than a physical thing, no wait, it is physical but she ain't hurt or nothin'. Just promise to be quiet, that means you Rarity." Rarity offended, "Oh hush Applejack, I can be calm and mature. I mean I AM calm and mature." She haughtily laughs. Applejack opens Pinkie's door and sees her sitting on her bed. Applejack nods to Pinkie signaling her that they're coming in. Pinkie Pie nods back and braces herself. Her friends come in and see the drastic transformation that their friend Pinkie Pie had. "P-P-Pinkie Pie! Goodness gracious darling! What happened?" Rarity asked flabbergasted. "Oh, Pinkie, you're an alicorn! Oh my..." Fluttershy says amazed. "Pinkie Pie? A Princess? Ba ha ha ha!" Rainbow Dash exclaims. Pinkie Pie stood up from her bed with a serious look on her face. "Listen up everypony! Twilight and Luna are on the moon right now!" Rainbow Dash laughs again, "T-The moon? Ba ha ha ha!" "Rainbow Dash this is serious! Twilight and Luna-" Pinkie Pie tried saying but was interrupted. "Pssh, what are you trying to pull Pinkie? Twilight is probably with Princess Celestia talking about studying and magic and studying magic. They're not on the moon." Rainbow Dash says dignified. Pinkie Pie was growing furious. Applejack stepped in with a level-head. "Now Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie is sincere, why would she lie about Twilight being on the moon?" Rainbow laughs, "Uhm, because she's Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy and Rarity started to feel uneasy the more Rainbow Dash taunted Pinkie. Pinkie Pie's horn started to glow with a faint magenta aura. Rainbow Dash laughed harder, "Look, Pinkie Pie's trying to do magic! Leave magic to real alicorns and unicorns, Pinkie!" Pinkie's horn grew brighter and brighter. Rainbow Dash felt her limbs numbs and she couldn't move at all. She tried squirming around but failed to do so. Without under Pinkie Pie's control Rainbow Dash started to float and her arms, legs, and wings looks like they were being pulled by an invisible force. The force grew stronger the more angry Pinkie Pie got. The bones in Rainbow's wings were the first to be pulled out slowly from their sockets. Rainbow Dash shrieked in pain as the others watched in horror. Applejack got a hold of Pinkie's shoulder, "Pinkie Pie that's enough yer hurting her!" "Silence!", Pinkie ordered. "She will pay the price for laughing at me!" She flings Applejack out of the room, nearly hitting Fluttershy and Rarity. Applejack hit the other side of the wall hard and had the wind knocked out of her. Fluttershy grew sick to her stomach as she heard Rainbow's bones snapping and fled crying and gagging into her room. Rarity started to retch and heave uncontrollably and passed out in her vomit instantly. The sounds of Rainbow Dash's screams and crackling bones filled the room's air. "Please Pinkie, I'm sorry, please stop!" Rainbow Dash pleaded. Pinkie Pie ignored her and continued torturing her. Pinkie pulls both of Rainbow's wings out of their sockets and breaks them in half. She started to laugh, "Ha ha ha, look Rainbow Dash, you can't fly now! How does it feel like to be a pegasus that can't fly!?" She continues to laugh dementedly. Rainbow wailed ferociously and alerted Princess Celestia who was walking toward their rooms. "Pinkie Pie enough! I command you!" Yelled Celestia. She used her cease spell to null her magic for now. "Pinkie Pie what is the meaning of this?" Rainbow Dash falls from the air and lands on her back. The aching pain of her empty wing sockets is unbearable and starts to wail and scream. Celestia gathers Rainbow Dash in her magic and makes her float calmly. "Pinkie Pie, we need to have a little talk." She turns to Applejack, "Applejack help Rarity to her room and stay by her side. Don't forget about Fluttershy too." Applejack gets up slowly, "Yes, yer  highness." She bows and remembers to ask her, "Princess what happened to Twilight and Luna?" Celestia paused, turned and walked away. Pinkie Pie also said nothing and followed the Princess with Rainbow Dash.