What Do You Mean, We Can't Go Back?

     While all the commotion was going on, I looked up to see a chariot being pulled by a couple of white-coated pegasi wearing gold armor.  A regal-looking pony was standing in this chariot, which was brought to a stop not far from us.  I recognized her immediately, but Brenda was somewhat more taken aback.  She knew who this tall white pony was, but the name escaped her.  The Alicorn trotted up to us slowly.

     "So, you two must be the new arrivals," she said softly, a small smile on her face.

     I bowed before her.  "Your Majesty, if you may recall, I am Michael Walker and this is my wife Brenda," I stated reverently.

     "No, Michael Walker, I have not seen you before -- we do not take too kindly to humans in our world.  I have certain memories of humans who were rather troublesome in the past."

     "I visited an alternate universe a few months back and met you there.  Since this seems to be another universe, you are unfamiliar with me and my wife -- I promise you no trouble, your Majesty," I offered.

     "Michael, who is this?" Brenda asked, giving a quizzical glance at me.  Before I could answer, the Solar Princess answered her question.

     "I am Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria," she replied warmly.

     "Your Majesty, I was wondering if it might be possible for you to send us back to our home world -- I was wanting to visit Ponyville once again, but not exactly on a permanent basis."

     "How did you two get here?"

     "Pinkie Pie pulled me through a portal and Brenda followed me," I stated.  The pink earth pony nodded her head vigorously, giving a big toothy grin before disappearing again.

     "I do not sense a portal nearby -- where exactly was it?"

      I looked around and saw a camera on the ground.  "I believe that camera has the answer, your Majesty," I replied.  "I think we came through that."

      The Princess examined the camera with her magic.  "It appears that it may have been a one-way portal, Michael.  It may have been your way here, but it cannot be your way back.  I sense nothing on the other side of this device."

      "What, does that mean we're stuck here?" Brenda asked fearfully as she grabbed hold of my right arm, squeezing it tightly.  Beads of sweat started forming on her head as her worry became evident.

      "My magic allows me to create portals to other worlds, however it may not be the world you came from.  I am rather reluctant to send you to a world other than your own.  I may have to do some research in order to find the world you came from before I can send you back.  Considering the number of possibilities, that process may take a very long time."

      "How long do you think it will take?  Depending on how much time it takes, we might very well not have jobs to return to -- we might lose our house and car," I stated glumly.  "I'm gonna miss that car."

      "Wait -- you had -- a CAR?!" Lyra asked incredulously, though a big grin crept across her face.  'I KNEW it!"  I chuckled at her question.

     "Yeah, that's right, Lyra, we had a car -- we go practically everywhere in it.  If we can't go back to our home world, we're going to lose it along with our house.  The prospect of losing both our house and our car depresses me," I stated rather glumly.

     "Perhaps I might be able to help," the Solar Princess offered, still smiling warmly.  "What does your car look like?"

     "Can you read my mind?  I have it pictured," I replied.  The Alicorn lit her horn again and wrapped her aura around my head.  I felt her presence intruding into my mind, but it lingered only a very short while.  She then wrapped her aura around a rather large boulder and transformed it into a copy of my vehicle.  My jaw dropped when I saw this happen.  "Princess Celestia!  I can't believe you did that!" I exclaimed in astonishment.  Brenda was left speechless as well.

     "Just a small demonstration of what I'm capable of doing," she chuckled softly.  Lyra trotted up to it and around it, inspecting it very closely as did Twilight.

     "I have a keyfob in my pocket, let me check this out -- but are there any roads to drive it on around here?  It's pretty much useless like that -- and what about a house?  Where are we going to live?" I asked.  "What are Brenda and I supposed to do here now that we can't go back?  We don't have jobs here, we don't have money here --"

     "I will make arrangements for you two, Michael.  Twilight, do you have a guest room for them?  Can you give them temporary quarters until I can arrange for their housing?" the Princess asked her student.

     "Yes, Princess, I will help Spike clear out the guest room in the Library for them.  Michael, Brenda, I am very curious to know more about you two!  I want to know everything about this car of yours as well!  You can stay in my guest room until your house is ready."

     "Thank you for your generosity, Twilight.  Your Majesty, thank you too for your gift," I stated, smiling at the Alicorn.  I took my keyfob out of my pocket and tested it on the car.  Amazingly enough, pushing buttons on the keyfob worked on the car.  The horn sounded as I hit the power lock, causing many of the ponies to jump unexpectedly.  Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow.

     "Does this device normally do that when you press a certain button on that trinket you hold?" she asked, giving me a very quizzical look.

     "Yes, Princess, it does -- and if I hit the panic button, it sounds the horn repeatedly, like so," I demonstrated, pushing the red button on the fob causing the horn to blare several times before pushing the button again causing the noise to stop.

     "Michael, please don't do that again, unless it's an emergency -- when you pushed that red button, it caused me to suffer a slight headache," the Alicorn admonished.

     "My apologies, your Majesty.  I had no idea it served that purpose as well -- I suppose the car summons you when I push the panic button.  You have my word I shall only push it if there's an actual emergency."

     "Mike, I'm hungry," Brenda complained.  "And I need a smoke."

     "I can make arrangements for you regarding your hunger as well.  A smoke?" asked the Alicorn.  "What do you smoke?"

     "Newport longs," Brenda replied flatly.

      "Mentholated cigarettes," I explained, answering the Princess' puzzled expression.  She frowned when I said that.

     "We do not encourage that activity -- it pollutes the air and causes certain diseases," the Alicorn stated flatly before examining Brenda with her magic.  "Brenda, it appears you have developed certain cancers within your body -- there are certain ailments you suffer -- please give me a moment to heal you, perhaps that may alleviate your craving."

      Brenda was quite impressed as she noticed that most of her nagging health problems seemed to melt away as the Alicorn extinguished her aura around my wife.  It was at this moment I made a request of the Princess.

     "Your Majesty, I am quite impressed by your ability to heal -- perhaps you might be able to help me with my health problems as well, as I am nearly as old as my wife.  If there is anything you might request of me as repayment, I will be happy to oblige you with your needs," I offered.  She smiled at my request, then mused thoughtfully for a moment before wrapping me with her magic aura.  I could feel aches and pains disappear, my teeth mending, my vision improving and my breathing become easier.  The ringing in my ears stopped, allowing me to hear clearly for the first time in years.  I bowed before the Alicorn, thanking her profusely for her work, eliciting a broad smile from her.

      "Michael, when the time comes, I shall call in this favor from you.  Until then, enjoy yourself at the party Pinkie is going to throw for you two.  You will have your fill of food and drink there.  I shall see you soon," she stated as she returned to her chariot.  We waved a farewell to her as she was carried back to her castle.

      "Um, if you don't mind my asking, how old are you two exactly?" asked Twilight.

      "Forty-nine," we responded simultaneously, eliciting light laughter from some of the ponies still milling about.  It appeared that they wanted to satisfy their curiosity as well.  I turned to Brenda and said, "Jinx!" causing her to groan audibly.

      "Mike, when are you going to grow up?" Brenda asked in exasperation.

      "I've been wondering that all my life, Brenda -- the answer is probably never," I chuckled.  Pinkie Pie returned at this point.

      "Hey, you two, the party's ready!  Come on!" she chirped excitedly, pulling me by my left arm.  Brenda giggled a little and followed us.

       "Um, help?" I half-said, half-asked.