Between Magic and Science

Being in a completely different universe didn’t seem that odd to Twilight, but she still had so many questions to ask. Nexus explained to her how their country was split into eight separate regions, and how Tanktown was at the center of all of them. When Twilight asked about the tank, Nexus told her about the Raiders, and how day-to-day life was dangerous without protection.

“So... You have to... hurt... other people, don’t you?’ She asked, looking a bit depressed by what she had said.

“They dedicated themselves to destruction and war, what else can we do?” Nexus knew what she was about to say next, he could tell by the look on her face.

“But, that makes you no better than they are, you take their lives, too.”

“I wish we could just all be friends, but it just doesn’t work that way,” Nexus noticed the upset expression on Twilight’s face had turned to one of concern, “Look, I don’t know how things are back in your world, but we’re just trying to get by. I know it can be a bit shocking if things are peaceful in your world, but you’ll have to accept it.”

Twilight didn’t know what to say. Conflict wasn't something she had agreed with, but yet she had never been exposed to them too much in Equestria. Sure, there was war, but Princess Celestia had kept peace for so long. Nopony ever lost their lives there...

“I just...” Twilight began, looking down, “Your world is so different than mine... There’s hardly ever war like this there... There hasn't been for thousands of years...”

“I want to get you back there, too,” Nexus replied, coming closer to her and pushing her chin up. He looked her in the eyes, her... purple eyes? That was odd, but he did have a friend with golden eyes, so he guess it was normal where she was from, “It’s just, I don’t know how to yet. You’re probably going to be here for a while, and I don’t want Raiders or something else hurting you.”

Pride and Powerjack were just listening. They were in Pride’s office in the Forge with Twilight and Nexus, and business was slow today.

“I... don’t know how to feel about that,” Twilight hesitantly replied.

“It’s okay, you should take some time to think about it. Are there any other questions about this world that I could answer?”

“Yes, but I think I should tell you a bit about where I’m from first...” Twilight began after Nexus nodded, and sat down on Pride’s workbench, and motioned for him to join her. Twilight took the gesture and laid down on the bench, much like a pony would. She was met with blank expressions from all of them. Nexus smirked.

“That’s how ponies sit in your world, isn’t it?”

The rest of that evening, Twilight had told Nexus what Equestria was like, the Princesses, and day to day life. She also mentioned that she had recently became a Princess herself, at which Nexus seemed to be confused. He let her continue on anyway, though. He had to believe what he was hearing, because he had no knowledge of the universes outside his original one, and this one. Twilight talked about her best friends, daring Rainbow Dash, gentle Fluttershy, fun-loving Pinkie Pie, hard working Applejack and fashionista Rarity. She also mentioned a dragon, Spike.

“Wait,” Nexus said, holding up a hand, “You live with a dragon?”

“Well, he’s a baby dragon, but still, yes.”

“Isn’t he going to grow into an adult dragon someday?”

“I guess so, but dragon years are different than pony years. They take much longer to mature.”

Nexus accepted this and let her continue. She said more things about the other species after that, things like other dragons, griffins, that all lived separately from ponies. Earth ponies, as he would soon learn them to be called, did live with other types of ponies, which were unicorns and pegasi. Apparently, in Twilight’s world, the sun and moon were controlled by the Princesses Luna and Celestia, and the weather controlled by pegasi.

“What about your technology?” Nexus asked, “Have you discovered electricity?”

“Well, yes... but it’s impractical for most ponies, since we’ve had magic for so long. Is that what all of your technology is based off of?”

“Yes, mostly. However, I won’t lie, there is magic in this world, it’s just not controllable like it is in your world.”

“There is some magic in my world that isn’t completely understood, like the Elements of Harmony.”

Nexus stared at her for a moment. Elements of.... Harmony? That couldn’t be a coinsidence.

“Harmony?” He asked. Powerjack and Peaceful Pride had left already, probably tending to customers in the shop.

“Yes, the Elements of Harmony are powerful artifacts in my world that have saved Equestria several times over. I am the bearer of one of them, Magic.”

“Umm...” She sounded like she wasn’t lying. That sounded way too much like the Elements of Heroism, powerful artifacts that he had used to save his world.

“Are you okay?”

“That’s... wow... I can’t believe...” Nexus couldn’t form any words. He was trying to say something. Twilight just watched him stuttering. Nexus realized what he was doing, and stopped himself.

Nexus sighed, “In my world, there’s something similar to what you described. They’re called the Elements of Heroism, and I’ve saved this world with them as well. It can’t be a coincidence, can it?”

“Heroism? I guess it makes sense that every world would have powerful items in it to protect it...”

“But the thing is,” Nexus continued, “Is that they’re not actual artifacts, they’re... my friends.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are eight Elements of Heroism in this world. Each one is represented by my eight best friends. Honour, Courage, Strength, Trust, Justice, Ability, Support, and Generosity,” Nexus explained, “We all had to use them to defeat an evil spirit called Nightmare, and his brainwashed minion Anarchy, who now goes by his original name, Orbital Order.”

“Generosity is one of the Elements of Harmony as well, this isn’t a coincidence. The evil spirit, Nightmare, was that all it’s name was?” Twilight wanted to know just how similar the events that took place in this world were to hers.

“Yeah, I think so. Just Nightmare. Why do you ask?”

“I originally used the Elements of Harmony with my friends to defeat Nightmare Moon, who was really Princess Luna. There wasn’t a Conduit needed, it just happened. She was driven by rage and fear, and lost all control of her body. Harmony restored her control.”

“Right, you said she was banished to the moon for that?”

Twilight nodded. How Luna had even survived on the moon, Nexus didn’t know, but he guessed that an immortal goddess wouldn’t have to breathe.

“Right. Hold on, you said there was only eight elements? Where do you fit in?”

“I’m the Conduit. I’d supposed you have a Conduit in your world, right?”

This confused Twilight. “A... what?”

“Let me explain,” Nexus began, “The Elements of Heroism needs a Conduit, or someone to manipulate it’s energy. I’m apparently that Conduit.” She went on to tell him about the space station Waypoint, and how Anarchy wanted to use the technology on it to lock the moon’s rotation around the planet, making that one night that Nightmare could come through in his physical form last forever. He then told her how he and his friends fought Anarchy, and how Anarchy had killed Nexus.

“Wait... He killed you? How are you...”

“The energy from my friends weren’t enough to beat Anarchy and Nightmare separately. All of their energy got transferred into my dead body, bringing me back to life. Once I had defeated Nightmare, Anarchy had helped us escape, no longer being under Nightmare’s control. My friends... they didn’t survive the destruction of the space station, but I was able to revive them by giving them back the the energy from their respective Element.”

I took a moment for this to sink in with Twilight.

“Wow, that’s quite the story,” she said, “Where’s Anarchy now?”

“He’s working as the Queen of Raingear’s personal assistant. Repaying the world he had tried to destroy, I guess. We call him Orbital Order, though, because he’s not really Anarchy now that Nightmare is gone.”

“I know what you mean,” Twilight recalled the events with Princess Luna one particular Nightmare Night.

“We’ve talked enough for tonight. Let me take you to my place, you can stay there with us for a while,” Nexus said.

“Really? You would... wait, who else is there?”

“My roommate, Burning Star, and my friend Trax Dash, but he’s out of town right now.”

“Well, thank you.”

Nexus opened the door to the office and found Peaceful Pride sitting on a chair behind the glass counter, polishing a handgun. He smiled when he saw Nexus and Twilight.

“Hello, you two were chatting for quite some time,” Pride set the gun down, “Powerjack mentioned that were supposed to get the others to come and pick you up... very sorry about that, but I got worried and insisted we come right away.”

“It’s fine,” Nexus assured him, he was just glad that he got a ride out of there, “Where is Powerjack, anyway?”

“He went home, he also brought Burning Star’s bike back to her. I could give you a ride, if you like,” Pride stood up, gesturing to his tank parked in the street outside.

“Thanks, I think I’d like that. What about you, Twi?”

Twi. It was a nickname her friends called her back home.... but only her friends. Did these people really consider her a friend? Even though it was different, this world was almost identical to hers on the friendliness level. Sure, not everyone in this world was so friendly like Nexus and his group, but it was nice to have friends.

“Yes, thank you.”