The Shimmering Truth

Chapters

What REALLY happened. (prologue)
The three Pinkies
Clarification
Changing realities?
A reckless decision
To Ponyville!

What REALLY happened. (prologue)

Note: This chapter/prolgue won't go into very much detail, as the show already has.

If you wish, you can skip this chapter and you wont miss anything.

The day started out perfect! Pinkie Pie bound through Ponyville, merrily giggling for no reason whatsoever! The leaves were green, the birds were chirping, YUP! Perfect. She said hello to an oak as she passed it, giving it a big hug! Pinkie giggled some more and started towards Twilight's library with a prank in mind. Rainbow Dash was too busy cloud busting, so she would have to do this one on her own. Silly Dashie.

Twilight's place was empty! "Hmm.. I wonder where she could be." Pinkie said to herself. "Uh oh..." She said suddenly. "What if something happened? What if she turned into an orange! Nooo I have to help her!" Pinkie Pie then realized that she was jumping to conclusions, and giggled. "That's just silly. I wonder what it would be like, having a friend who is part orange?" Pinkie pondered while she walked, in search of Twilight.

Seeing Lyra down the road, Pinkie came up with a plan. She snuck up on the minty green mare... and pounced! Pinkie have her a surprise hug, then waved, and started walking again, leaving lyra stunned. "Wha..?"

Pinkie saw Twilight playing with her food in the distance. She couldn't blame her, she played with her food all the time! Pinkie was glad that Twilight finally decided that it was fun! Pinkie wanted to hug her too! Forgetting her prank, she walked near the lavender unicorn, and snuck even closer. Once within a short distance, she started running, and gave her a giant warm hug! Surprised, Twi's spell misfired, and turned a bird into an... ORANGE!! Pinkie marveled at it, and immediately assumed Twilight would willingly do the same to her.

Then the day became... not so prefect. Pinkie regretted every moment of it. It was all her fault. The Mirror Pool, the clones, everything she tried today, all amounted to chaos. A disaster that had Pinkie doubting even her own identity!

"Who am I?" Pinkie asked herself sorrowfully. " What have I done? I didn't mean for any of this bad stuff to happen! I just wish I could be me... And just me. Being an us isn't fun at all! Not even a little! Not even... A four hundred a fifty-seventh of a little!"

Pinkie was in a dilemna. She poked at the ground in hopes of answering some questions, but the more she thought about the situation, the more confused she became.

Spike came up to Pinkie and asked in a sly matter, "So lemme guess.. You're the real Pinkie Pie?"

"Heck if I know!" She responded glumly. "Could be any one of us if you ask me. And if I said I was the real Pinkie, you wouldn't even believe me anyway!" She got up, and started waking off. "So just leave me alone. I've got some important poking the ground with my hoof to do." A twinge of bitterness slid into her her voice.

She turned back however. She had a great idea! Pinkie explained it to Twilight, and became happy for a moment. Only a moment. The crushing feeling followed, with evermore uncertainty. This was a huge problem! Pinkie could lose all her friends! All because of a stupid mistake.

Rainbow Dash dragged Pinkie inside. What was this? Twilight and Spike were up front, with a curtain. Pinkie saw that they had gathered all the other Pinkies into one room and somehow had them sitting still. She had underestimated AppleJack's rounding-up skills. Or was it herd-gathering? In this case, pony-packing? That didn't matter, she would ask Rarity later.

Twilight started explaining the test. Her test! Watching paint dry? She had done that before. Long story.

She had to complete this, no matter what. She looked out over the imposters, and growled. Each one a mirror image of herself. "Imposters" She though. "I am the real me, and that's final!" With a sudden burst of confidence, she glared at the paint. Then, the test started.

Sitting on the cold hard floor, Pinkie stared relentlessly at the paint. With every waking moment, her mind screamed for her to look away, and that this wasn't fun at all! No. Pinkie was determined to not look away. Looking away would mean loosing her friends! Everypony and everything she cherished, gone. That was more than enough motivation to keep staring.

After what seemed like hours, she entered some form of trance. Pinkie's mind went blank. The rare occurrence only lasted for a short time however. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a different Pinkie with a disfigured face!

Snapping out of her daze, Pinkie looked over to the mare next to her. Momentarily forgetting the situation at hand, she observed the other Pinkie's antics. She had to admit, it was funny. Then she remembered what she was supposed to be doing...

Pinkie looked up suddenly to see a spell flashing towards her. WHAT!? It was just an accident! What had she done? Another Pinkie turned her face into a... A whatever that was, and she, acting on instinct, looked over! This couldn't be happening! She wanted to scream, but was cut off by an aura of magic.

As Twilight's spell surrounded her, Pinkie Pie could feel her body start to tingle, and drift from the ground. In a moment, it was over and something much worst than tingling started: Ripping! Pinkie fought to keep consciousness, she fealt her body start to expand. Oh no. NO! The edges of her vision went black, and the edges of her body threatened to burst! Time seemed to slow to a stop when she started popping. Pinkie was feeling pain she had never been able to fathom! As tears started bursting from her eyes, she expanded to well over twice a pony's size, she lost her grip on consciousness, and imploded.

Pinkie's soul, and body, nothing more than mist, drifted off into the wind towards the Mirror Pool. The essence of her being swirled around, and locked itself in. She was trapped. Trapped in an abomination of nature. Then her fate was sealed, just as her friends sealed the entrance, and left her behind...

The three Pinkies

Pinkie Pie fealt like she was going to throw up. Or... Down? Not even throw either, more of a nudge, or slash. Splash... She had a faint memory of what happened, but couldn't focus. She stood up, or down, UGH! This place was giving her a headache!

Pinkie could feel... She couldn't tell. She couldn't feel, yet she could. It was almost as if she was stepping on... The lack of something to step on? However, it was hard. This made her headache even worst. Instead of smelling nothing, she could smell the actual lack of smells! "So this is what it's like to smell nothing. I thought the air, and nothing, would smell different, but they don't!" She thought to herself.

Attempting to get up, Pinkie noticed she fealt something under her. What? She looked down at the floor, and she started back at herself. Where her hooves were, the other Pinkie had hers below them. She looked at her reflection and giggled. What? Was this what the mirror pool did? Another me? What is she doing here?

Her reflection didn't giggle back. "What do you find so funny?" Pinkie thought. Wait... Pinkie hadn't thought it! The other Pinkie was glaring at her, as if expecting an answer. Pinkie tried to say something, but was cut off. Wait.. No she wasn't! She couldn't make any noise!

Pinkie distinctly remembered Twilight saying that noise was moving air, or something like that, and Pinkie laughed and corrected, "That's the wind, silly!"

The other Pinkie watched her ponder, but became restless. Who was this mare? Why did she have to be stuck with HER, out of all her other reflections? "Hey! What's wrong!" She said, starting to loose her temper.

Pinkie was confused. She looked up, and saw another pony, looking up at a mirror image of herself. Was that.. Nightmare Moon? She gazed up, and noticed Nightmare arguing with herself, and heard something, but she couldn't quite make it out. Their mouths weren't moving though. Wait what? This place is really confusing!

"PINKIE PIE LOOK AT ME!!"

Pinkie was startled, as her reflection yelled at her. Looking down again, she tried to mouth 'i can't talk'.

"Your acting as if you've never seen a complex before. Didn't they train you!?"

Pinkie started dumfounded at the other Pinkie, who rolled her eyes.

"Apparently I have to be stuck with the only mare to ever be clueless about the most common of things."

Pinkie's headache grew. How could she be thinking these things without... Thinking Them? Was the mare below her thinking the thoughts? Could she also read her mind??

Seething with rage, Pinkie gave an icy stare at her newfound companion, but then she understood. This was all a prank! "Ha. Ha. Very funny Pinkie. I have to admit that scared me, but we're not supposed to be making jokes! This is serious! Don't you realize what's at stake here? We need to work together and get out of this complex and into the safe zone!"

Pinkie gave the other Pinkie a confused stare. What was this mare taking.. Er... Thinking, about? Would it be taking? Can you talk without a mouth? Can you think without a thought? That one had her pondering.

"SNAP OUT OF IT! YOU DONT WANT TO END UP IN VOID DO YOU!?" What if she did want to? Uh oh. She was stuck with a suicidal reflection. Great. Just great.

Pinkie decided to try something. Attempting to think as clearly and loudly as she could, she said... Thought, "Can you hear... I mean... Do you know what I'm thinking?"

Pinkie rolled her eyes. Her reflection insisted on joking around. Didn't she realize they both could lose their lives!!? "Yes." She said bluntly. "I can hear you. Now can you please stop joking, and actually take this seriously?"

"Take what seriously? Is this called talking? Is it possible to talk without... Well... Talking?"

Pinkie wanted to facehoof. Doing so would get them thrown into void however. Later, in a safe area, she would have herself reversed, and show this mare a thing or too. "Look, I'm going to assume that your not joking, and nobody taught you anything more than how to speak, and even faltered on that. What we are in, is a complex. When two reflections venture out of a safe zone for whatever reason, they must have their gravity reversed, and will... Should, work together to get past the complex. Understand?"

This Pinkie was funny. Giggling, Pinkie decided to play along. "Okie dokie lokie! Whats a safe zone, and where is one? Why is there no ground? Are you the ground? What's it like being a floor? Does it hurt?" After showering her with questions, Pinkie fealt a twinge of guilt. Had she hurt this pony? Wouldn't she feel it if she hurt herself, or did this not count? "Im soooo sorry if I hurt you! Here, I'll get off of you."

"STOP!"

There was a horrified look on the other Pinkie's face, as she attempted to put her hoof where Pinkie's was going. Then something happened... Or didn't happen rather. There was no floor! Her hoof went through what she presumed to be glass or something see through, but nothing was there!

"ARE YOU CRAZY!!??" Pinkie frantically balanced her reflection. She really was suicidal. Either that, or incredibly stupid. "Don't move please? I am your floor. You are my floor. It doesn't hurt, IT IS OK. This is what were supposed to be doing." Minus the part where her reflection disregards everything important. Continuing, she said, "You obviously have no training in this, so I'll let you lead. The nearest safe zone.. Er.. The nearest non-pony floor, Pinkie, is over there." She then pointed her hoof towards a distant shape. "How about we get there, then I can explain to you everything you want. Just..."

Her serious expression faltered, and she almost started crying. A single tear fell, and hit her reflection. "Just please, don't fall. Don't jump, run, or lie down. With your left hoof, take a normal step. I will do the same, to balance you. Trust me, Ive been waking complexes my entire life."

Pinkie started at herself, seeing a look of genuine fear. This wasn't a joke? Oh no. This is bad. How will I get home to the girls? How will I make it to land? I've never walked on somepony else's hooves before! Pinkie started hyperventilating. Herself, the other Pinkie, then gave her a reassuring, yet scared smile.

"If you hear, or see anyone screaming, or if they're rocking or..." She took a deep breath "..falling, don't look. Ignore them. Its best for you not to know what happens when somepony looses their balance. It's worst than death, I can promise you, and you do not want to watch it happen." Sobbing, Pinkie finished explaining, and hoped to god that her reflection understood.

Pinkie gave a slight nod. It was all she could muster. Being told so much, she could hardly take it. What would happen if she tripped? What if she forgot, and started jumping up and down? No. Becoming more serious then she ever had before, she nodded. "I understand. I will walk straight and steady, no matter what."

Then, Pinkie put her hoof forward, and started waking. Step after step, the Pinkies became more nervous, yet fealt safer. Pinkie was starting to get used to this and developed a simple routine:

Left hoof, wait for other Pinkie's right hoof.

Right hoof, wait for other Pinkie's left hoof,

Repeat.

She was getting used to this, and smiled. "This wasn't as hard as I thought at all!"

"Don't get too confident. Ap.. Apple..." She held back another sob. Taking a deep breath, she went on. "AppleJack fell like that. They were getting too confident, and started trotting."

Pinkie was horrified. AppleJack was gone? But... No. The farm mare would never be so reckless. This Pinkie had to be mistaken.

Pinkie was snapped out of her thinking however, when she heard a shrill scream! She forgot Pinkie's advice and looked up. Nightmare Moon was falling!... And flying? One of her was screaming as she fell DOWN, and the other also screeching, fell... UP. This place was officially weird.

Pinkie saw that her reflection looked up, for a moment, but then looked down. 'She doesn't get it', she thought. 'Luckily'. The truth of the matter was, if anypony fell, they would keep falling, forever. They would starve to death, go mad, all while they kept falling. After death, their corpsss continued to fall. There was a theory amongst some ponys, that there was a bottom, and a top, and when your body landed on one of them, you were resurrected. An afterlife, if you will.

Pinkie mourned the loss of another pony, until she realized exactly WHO was falling...

Nightmare Moon...

The immortal...

An eternity of falling....

Maybe someday she would reach the theoretical bottom? For her sake, Pinkie hoped there was. An eternity of boredome, hunger, thirst, insanity, bad emotions and guilt, nopony deserved that, even if they committed the most terrible deed. This is truly a sad day. I envy my reflection for her blissful unawareness of what the world is, and what it does to unsuspecting ponies.

While they were walking, Pinkie was thinking. Was the other Pinkie really herself? It didn't seem like it. She was way too serious, and never seemed to be happy. That wasn't like her at all. She had to be sympathetic though, living with your death, just a slip away, would be a toll on anypony.

She was also wondering about Nightmare Moon. What was she doing here? Didn't she turn back into Luna? Or.. Were they two different ponies? Does that mean Nightmare... Died? Why was she here?

Even if she had been Nightmare Moon, Pinkie still fealt sad. She had never fully grasped the concept of death, as it has never happened regarding somepony she knew before. Now that she was beginning to understand, she couldn't imagine anything worst than death, besides being hurt, then dieing. Pinkie shook her head, causing a glance from the other Pinkie. She didn't want to dwell on a subject like that.

How were her friends? Did they realize she was missing by now? Were they looking for her, trying to find her? Surely none of her clones would pass the test, and be able to pose as her... Right?

Pinkie's eyes teared up, and a frown slipped on her face. She missed her friends, and she hoped with all her heart, that they knew, and missed her back.

Sadly, they did not.

Pinkie Pie bound the streets of Ponyville, trying out every treat and drink she could fit in her stomach. Back home, she was only allowed rations, and they rarely tasted better than their own hooves. She was overjoyed to be finally free from that horrible dimension, and wanted to have as much fun as, possible!

This new world fealt very strange however. Only one direction of gravity?!? The research team would freak out if they found this place! To never be afraid of a faulty safe zone barrier, was a dream come true. Unless of course this world's barrier was the supposed atmosphere. She would have to research this place better sometime.

Sound. What a wonderful thing. Pinkie found that she couldn't read other's minds anymore, but they had a unique way of communicating. The ponies here moved their mouths to make words, and made sound come out by breathing out. It was a wonderfull way to communicate!

Air. Breathing. So hard to keep up! The ponies had to expand their lungs, and gather air. A strange concept indeed. Sometimes, Pinkie forgot to breath, and started getting light headed, which was the only reason she noticed, and started breathing again.

This was all a distraction however. Pinkie had a plan. The citizens of Ponyville would get suspicious no doubt, if she didn't act however the old Pinkie acted. She had to find a way around that. An idea she had, was that she could trick the ponies into believing that she had developed amnesia. That way she could learn about Equestria's culture and ponies.

There was still a personality issue however. How would she act... Happy? Her excitement in this new world would be sufficient for now, but then what? Pinkie knew that after years of training for mail duties, she had all but lost her smile. It was very awkward to attempt. Her mouth just wasn't made for that. She still practiced though. It she was going to take over the other Pinkie's life, she would have to learn to smile.

Clarification

Pinkie Pie was bored. Beyond bored. Walking for seemingly hours, was NOT FUN, at all. Yet, things got interesting when they arrived...

Teeming with excitement, Pinkie Pie stared at some sort of thin metal plate, spanning across the entrance to an enormous, whatever-it-was-made-out-of sphere! "Now what?" She asked the other Pinkie.

She didn't know how. What a surprise. With a sigh, the native Pinkie said bluntly, "Walk onto it. Ill meet you there soon."

Pinkie grinned sheepishly. They approached the metal plate, and pinkie stepped on it. Simply put, her face also stepped on it. Getting up and better onto the plate, Pinkie rubbed her nose. She wasn't used to walking normal. After recovering from her trip, Pinkie Pie started galloping around, jumping, singing, and having all the fun that she could, in an effort to make up for her earlier boredome.

Pinkie, the other Pinkie, gazed at the sight. This mare was strange. Deciding to end the show, she glared at Pinkie. "Stop."

"Why? It's so funnn!!" Pinkie punctuated this with a giant leap into the air.

The other Pinkie rolled her eyes. Snatching a hoof, Pinkie more or less dragged her reflection into this safe zone's entrance.

Passing two similar looking guards, the Pinkies entered the sphere. Pinkie gazed across it in awe. It was a town! It looked just like a normal town in Equestria surprisingly. "Ooooooh my gosh! When I get back, I'm going to tell Twilight all about this! She would probably make the funnest faces at this world's... What was that word? Psychics? No... Physics? That sounds wrong. Anyway, WHOO HOO!!" Pinkie danced and stomped her hooves.

Wait... This filly knew where she was from? That surprised her. She hadn't expected the pink ball of energy to remember how to eat. "So, where are you from?" She inquired, hoping for a real answer.

"Ponyville! How about you?"

That name... It seemed familiar but she couldn't remember. "I'm from the Estates."

"Where's that?"

"It's where they handle scientific matters. The main scientific organization, more so known as the research team, have their headquarters there."

Pinkie, gave her a confused look. "Is it a big lab?"

"Sort of. They deal with barriers, duplication machines, the rare dimensional problem, and pretty much anything else related to science."

"Barriers? Duplication machines? Dimensional problems?"

This Pinkie Pie was unbearable! Deciding she couldn't get around it, she gave in. "Plain and simple, barriers hold cities together. If it breaks, the city falls. You see the orb around this city? That, is a barrier."

Pinkie looked up again and saw the stuff surrounding the city that she saw before. So THAT'S what that was! A barrier! It looked like glass, but it had a slight green tint to it. It was probably magic.

"Duplication machines, duplicate things. It creates a mirror image of an object, then brings it into existence. You shouldn't worry yourself about it. They would never let the likes of you near one."

"Dimensional problems, I'm not quite sure about. What I've been told is this: Sometimes, portals form between dimensions. It is up to the research team to close those portals before they cause any problems. Usually nothing too severe happens."

This seemed strange to Pinkie. "What are other dimensions like? Is this a new dimension? Is Equestria a dimension?

This didn't sit well with Pinkie. Her reflection was acting strange. She became suspicious. "Where is Equestria?"

Pinkie thought for a moment, then remembered the play her and her friends had put on in Canterlot. Before Equestria was founded, there was... Oh yeah! Pinkie didn't remember exactly, but had a general idea. "It's next to some cold, windy places."

Cold? WIND!? Pinkie suddenly realized where Ponyville was. It all made sense! Equestria was a dimension she had read about, and it had air! In that dimension, things could freeze and melt, and evaporate with a thing called heat. Here, things stayed the way they were. Water was water. Ice didn't exist. She had also read about some things heat could make. Bombs, and fire, which were both used for bad deeds.

Pinkie backed away from the dimensional trespasser whom she had thought was her reflection. "Your... Your a monster!" She spat out!

Pinkie gasped. What had she done? She had never been so mean to herself before! "I am not!" She defended.

"Oh but you are. I know your violent ways! Get away from me, you sick, sick brute!"

This had to be a misunderstanding! The other Pinkie galloped off, and the Equestrian Pinkie followed. She ran to the edge of the platform, and asked the guard there for something. He nodded, and other Pinkie got in some type of elevator.

Pinkie Pie approached the guard, who put his weapon across the entrance to the elevator. "Let me go there too!"

"Can't do ma'am. I have orders to stop you."

What was wrong with this guard!? "Let me in the elevator!" Pinkie yelled at the guard.

He gave her a puzzled look. "The elevator is that way ma'am." He pointed his hoof to a similar looking machine, that went down instead of this one's up.

Pinkie shook her head. "Whatever this is, I need to use it!"

The guard lost some control over his temper. "You leave now or I call for back up, to take you away. Got it?" He started down at Pinkie, who cowered under his icy gaze.

"O... Okay. I'll go now." Pinkie started sadly waking off towards the elevator. She might as well see and explore this place while she could.

Pinkie Pie got Twilight to let her use the library for research. Minus a few hundred details. She said she wanted to know a little about Equestria. A little was a huge understatement, but Twilight took the bait with only a few suspicious glances. Then, she hit the books.

This Pinkie Pie was a reflection of the other one back in the Estates. She was a spy dubbed by the research team. Her job was to explore any unknown dimensions, and report back her findings. Mostly she was supposed to focus on finding out about the portal that had opened between the two worlds.

Pinkie had other plans however. She was sick and tired of being the research team's pawn. Always sent into any dimension, not knowing anything about it. She had to admit, it was entertaining, but never the less dangerous.

Equestrian physics were weird. It seemed it was much harder to balance. Unlike home, where you could walk on another ponies' hooves without needing any other sort of balance. Pinkie had a feeling that if she tried that here, she would topple into the other pony and fall.

It showed that she wasn't used to Equestria's gravity also. Everywhere she attempted to go, she was crashing into things and tripping. She was used to having 2 opposite directions of gravity. The one you weren't in, slightly pulled on you, helping you keep your balance.

There were no reflection ponies in this place. She thought she saw one earlier, but it disappeared after she passed a store window. It was probably just her imagination. She couldn't help but feel the slightest bit lonely. There was nopony like her in this would, she was... Unique. Such a word was rare in her world, and never meant actually one of a kind. It mostly refereed to a pair of reflections, not a single pony.

Then there was the food. Pinkie realized she shouldn't be dwelling on this topic, as there was gourmet food back home, it was just extremely expensive. These ponies had an advantage however, air. It seemed to be able to help crops grow much better. Her dimension hadn't had air since...

She shook her head. No, she shouldn't be distracting herself like this. She had research to do.

Pinkie Pie got in the metallic elevator. She pressed the down button, and suddenly she was falling faster than any elevator she had ever seen! It made a whirring noise as it descended. The carpet seemed to be metal. Little metallic fibers stuck out of it. Not much else was out of the ordinary. The 3 walls were just metal plates, but the 4'th wall looked like a... Screen?

The elevator stopped, and a door opened to reveal what might have passed for a normal town back in Equestria. Except, there weren't any happy ponies strolling down the streets! They looked... Sad. Pinkie frowned. Why was this town so depressed?

Pinkie walked to a store with a picture of a cow on it. Something was wrong however... It didn't have a nose! She walked in the store, and a bell chimed. The cashier was to the left, with rows of food lining the shelves to the right. All the food looked old, and gross.

Pinkie went up to the counter and asked, "Why doesn't that cow outside have a nose? Did you glue it? Why?

The cashier gave her a hateful look. "Tell your friends that this joke isn't funny. I'm sick of those kids annoying me at work.

"What kids?"

"You know the Barley brothers? Always making pranks? You've never... Wait.... GET OUT OF MY SHOP I'M BUSY, and don't play dumb!"

"Okay, fine. Sheesh." That was weird.

Passing a row of houses, Pinkie came to another shop. She didn't see it, but this one read "Tavern". Walking in, she noticed 4 ponies bantering about something to the back of the shop, 2 were at a long table having a drink, and a unicorn was behind the counter counting bits. She also noticed another pony sleeping at a booth. Hm. Walking over to the bar tender, she asked, "can I get a drink?"

The pony smirked. "This isn't your average tea filly, it's got more of a kick then straight poison!"

What? What did he mean? "I just want a drink, not a kick. Why would you be kicking anypony? Poison can't kick, can it?

The bar tender burst into copious amounts of laughter. After he calmed down, he grabbed a glass and filled it with a brown liquid, handing it over to Pinkie. "Here filly, have one. On the house!" He shared an evil grin with a pegasus who had picked up on the conversation.

Pinkie grabbed the glass with her hooves, and not having had a drink in a while, took a rather large swig.

"Pinkie Pie, are you still reading?" Twilight walked in on Pinkie, practically buried in books. "You look tired. You should get some sleep."

Pinkie looked up from her book. "Let me just finish this chapter!"

"Come on Pinkie, you'll just start another one." Twilight was seriously concerned. Pinkie Pie of all ponies, reading for 6 hours straight, about what she would call, 'Boring history'? Something had to be going on, and Twilight had to find out. For the sake of her friend, she was going to help her through this.

Pinkie rolled her eyes, then closed the book and got up, tiptoeing past the other books strewn across the library's floor. Getting to the door, she said "Okay Twilight. Thank you for letting me use your books."

That reaction was unexpected, but, Twilight nodded. "Good night Pinkie, sweet dreams."

Pinkie Pie went out the door, and was greeted by the cool night air. She had to admit, temperature was cool. She feared extreme heat however, and hoped she would never come across that.

This was the time to start her 'amnesia' plan. It was a simple plan, convince all the ponies that the mirror pool had lasting effects, and she had developed amnesia, along with a personality change. She wouldn't need to learn to smile after all.

Turning back, Pinkie inquired, "Where do I live again?

Twilight gasped. "You don't remember?"

"No..." Pinkie murmured, a fake expression of embarrassment and confusion crossing her face.

That did it. There was definitely something wrong with Pinkie. Twilight smiled comfortingly, followed by, "You live at Sugarcube Corner, I'll walk you there." Later, she would take Pinkie to the doctors, but for now, she needed rest.

Pinkie felt a jolt go through her body. The bar tender raised an eyebrow at her. "Impressive" he said.

Pinkie's eyes dilated, and she toppled over.

"I take that back. Still brave however."

Pinkie blinked. Her vision was blurry, and everything was muffled. It felt like she was laying on pins.

As soon as she regained her grasp on reality, it was immediately torn away, as she realized she was still in the mirror dimension. She knew this, because the hospital room she was in, had no lighting, which seemed to be trending. She could see perfectly however. Hm.

Pinkie glanced over to her left, to see a strange machine and a window, looking out over a park where foals could play while they waited for their parents. To her right, was a door, and some shelves stocked with official looking papers and magazines. She couldn't read any of the titles, as the magazines have been messily strewn about.

After a few moments of staring silently, she couldn't help it anymore. She started humming to break the silence. She knew better than to move. If she had broken her leg or something, that would be hazardous.

Why was her leg broken though? It didn't hurt. Was it actually broken? She took the chance, and sat up. Nothing hurt, no broken bones, nothing! So why was she in the hospital? All she remembered was taking a drink of this nice pony's apple juice, then it feat like her whole body was being electrocuted. No burn marks. Huh.

She heard the door open, and another pony walk in. It was an earth pony stallion, with light red eyes, a red/dark tan coat, and a light brown main, with really dark brown streaks, that looked close to black. He awkwardly looked at a clipboard that was in his mouth, then set it on one of the shelves.

"Miss... Pinkie Pie, I presume? I'm here to check on you."

He looked at her questioningly. Pinkie was still in a slight daze from when she woke up. She snapped out of it, and nodded. "Mmhm! Who are you? Why am I here What's wrong with me?"

The nurse smirked. "I am Terran Asher. You ingested a large amount of alcohol, and passed out. When the ambulance came, you were breathing heavily and had both hooves over your eyes, even while unconscious. There shouldn't be any lasting effects, only a severe dizziness when you stand up. This should go away in about one or two hours, then your free to go!" He said cheerily.

Pinkie sighed. "What can I do?"

"Well," he said, motioning to the shelf by the door, "You could read any one of those. There's not much selection I admit, but some are pretty interesting."

Pinkie felt embarrassed. She had already forgotten about those. "Alright. Thank you!"

Terran left, leaving Pinkie alone in the room. She looked over at the shelf, and sat up on the hospital's white sheets. She grabbed one of the magazines and flipped to a random page:

"The Research Team has developed a new oxygen shot that lasts for 12 years! Order yours today!"

Just an ad. Pinkie wondered though, what was an oxygen shot? Finding an actual article, she continued reading:

"A shocking new story had been recovered about the great loss! After piecing the priceless pages together, scientists discovered that it was a journal! One specific page stood out."

The article had a picture of a old page, with numbers that looked like dates, and scribbled writing, which read:

"457-25(211)

Today we mourn over the loss of our captain. He was sent into the electric dimension, only to find out that none of his rubber worked! Everything in that dimension became conductors, even former insulators were electrocuted!

459-25(211)

The shields around this wretched dimension's portal are falling! Ponies who got too close would be in for a shock, literally. We are just hoping the electric fields don't tamper with our machinery."

This last entry seemed to be written out in quite a hurry:

"461-25(211)

The shields have been destroyed! arcs of electricity are exploding from the dimensional portal! Mom and dad I love you and wish you the best. I'm going in. I'm going to attempt to close the portal. Goodbye."

Pinkie stared at the page for a minute, then went back to the article below the journal entries.

"This log of events was found in the wreckage of an old scientific faculty. A brave pony died trying to save us, and it was not in vain. After his death lives his legend. However, the portal did not close without difficulties. The research team speculated that heat existed in the electric dimension. He activated an experimental "bomb" inside. normally, nothing would happen, but in that dimension, the bomb heated up, and caused a great force to be unleashed, destroying the portal... And him. Scientists call this an explosion."

Pinkie thought for a moment. No heat? She had just thought these ponies had great air conditioning, but then she realized she had never felt cold since she got here either. Strange. She continued reading:

"The 'explosion' caused enormous amounts of electricity to be released, frying all of our electrical equipment. With the safe zone barriers malfunctioning, all the air, and all the ponies currently outside, were sucked into the void. Ever since then, scientists have been developing oxygen shots. Your body would be injected with concentrated oxygen, but in a way that was regulated, and slowly released over large amounts of time."

So THAT'S what an oxygen shot was! Pinkie realized something, and reread a certain paragraph. No air!? Then she remembered not seeing a sun, or any lights since she got here! No light either!!?! Things were starting to make less and less sense.

Pinkie jumped off the bed over to the window. Outside, it looked perfectly normal! How could that be?

Pinkie's pondering was interrupted by the world spinning around her, and she lost her balance. She lay on the rippling floor, about ready to throw up. OR DOWN! NOTHING HERE MADE ANY SENSE!!

Terran came galloping in, and nearly broke the door down, and in bewilderment, saw Pinkie on the floor. He hurriedly helped her onto the bed. "What happened!?" He asked frantically

Pinkie, still drunk with dizziness, looked up at him and smiled. Then giggled and blushed. He was cute!

She didn't know he was a shape shifter! His face contorted in impossible ways. "Are you a magician?" She asked merrily, yet oblivious.

"What?" Terran asked. "No I'm not a magician. I wish I was, but are you alright?"

Terran hadn't been working here for long, and some of the more experienced staff warned him not to get too attached to a patient, as there was a possibility that they could die, and he would have to deal with the heartache. Despite this, he was still a little worried. Terran... Liked.. this pony.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" He looked down at the groggy Pinkie Pie, who slowly seemed to be regaining her sanity. She nodded, sending a sigh of relief through Terran.

"I'm glad." He smiled at her, marveling at how adorable she... "Work first Ter." He mumbled, chastising himself. Looking down, Pinkie had a tear rolling down her check.

"What's the matter?" He asked, now worried again.

She looked down, and sniffed. She didn't want this pony to run off too. She missed her friends, and didn't want to lose any new ones.

He looked down at her. "Please tell me?" He asked, becoming more serious.

"You'll hate me, and I don't want to lose anymore friends." Pinkie said slightly depressed.

Wha? "I won't hate you, I promise. How did you lose your friends?"

"Pinkie promise?" She looked up at him pleadingly.

"Um... Yeah Pinkie, I promise."

"I guess that counts..." Taking a deep breath, she started explaining. Rather quickly actually.

Terran was surprised, but he listened intently, trying to understand what she was saying.

"And that's how I got here!" Pinkie sighed, finally finished reciting the events.

Terran was stunned. She was from Equestria!? The alleged hidden dimension!?? She would prove valuable in the search to find the portal! He was sympathetic too. "Its okay, I'll help you find your way home." The others would kill him if they heard that!

She smiled gratefully, and relieved. "So you don't think I'm a monster?"

"Of course not! It's just a myth that heated dimensions utilize it in hurtful ways. A myth that I don't believe."

Pinkie sighed, even more relieved. "Thank you. Thank you for not running away."

He decided not to ask.

"Can you help me?" Pinkie asked, "I have a headache. Your dimension is confusing."

He smiled again. "Sure Pinkie. What do you want to know?"

"How can we see, and hear? Why can't we smell? Why don't cows have noses? What is a void, and why do ponies walk across it? How do they walk? How do they balance? Why is the food so bad? Why is there so much metal everywhere?"

Taking a deep breath, Terran started. "I studied your dimension for a little bit, so I'll try to help, but I don't know everything. Us ponies are... Was it psychics? Whatever your dimension called them. Our eyes don't really see, it's our mind that sees. It doesn't need light. This is the same with sound. We don't need ears, or air to hear. We still have ears and eyes, because our bodies dont realize they're useless. Mind over matter eh?"

"We can't smell, because of the lack of air. Our brains don't consider smell very important, so we can't. Cows, along with some other animals, have been genetically altered, to produce more milk, and other things. No nose is just a side effect."

"The void, is pretty much infinite nothingness. We used to have technology beyond what he have now, but the Fulgar dimension changed that. It was a place filled with electricity. It fried all our equipment. Included, was our teleporters. They rarely short out, and teleport two reflections somewhere random. Sometimes, they are teleported into a complex, which is pretty much another word for the void, except inside a complex, an invisible energy field generates between two reflections. This is what they walk on, well not really. They walk on each other, but it's the energy that propells them forward. Sometimes highly trained ponies enter complexes to deliver mail."

"As you might not have noticed," he leaned sideways. "It is very easy to keep your balance. There are 2 gravitational fields here. Well, 2 planes of existence, but it is mostly just referred to as gravity. In Equestria, it would probably be referred to as a mirror effect of some sort. You can switch between gravity, which is why cities have an upside down counterpart. The field you're not in however, still slightly effects you, pulling you up a little, which allows for great balancing acts."

"Our economy is suffering after our equipment shut down, so most of the food you find will be C-grade rations. Machines were made to promote plant growth, but they were also wiped. The metal, has just been recycled, as fixing everything that was broken would take longer than just remaking then from old plans. You stumbled upon our dimension during a depression.

He smiled warmly, and Pinkie seemed to be attempting to figure this all out. "Thanks!" She said, eyes drooping. "I'm tired. Can I sleep?"

He snickered. "Of course you can. If you think of any more questions, you can ask me in the morning." [Hint hint, readers.]

"Good night." Terran said, turning.

"Good night Terran." Pinkie murmured, already half asleep.

He shut the door and smiled. She really was adorable. Then he quickly reminded himself, work comes first.

Changing realities?

Pinkie Pie yawned and hung her hoof idly off the bench she was laying on. She was at a park, back in Ponyville. She yawned, and her hoof lightly dipped in a puddle.

"Wow. Some dream that was! I'm just glad I'm home." Pinkie said to herself, stretching. She got up and decided to find Twilight, to tell her about the dream. Pinkie got up, and stepped off the bench, trotting towards the library.

"Hey!"

Pinkie turned around. What? Who was that? "Huh?"

"Yeah, Pinkie! Hi!"

Pinkie was confused, and looked around her. There was nopony around her, besides a distracted Berry Punch. She was probably drunk again. She really needed to stop.

Pinkie dismissed the voice as just her imagination, as she did have a rather big one. She turned back towards the library, when she heard it again!

"Hellllooooo?"

Ok there was no mistaking it. She turned around again, slightly intrigued. "Where are you?"

"Down here!"

Pinkie looked down, to see... Nopony. A bench, a tree, and the puddle her hoof had dipped into earlier. She saw something though... It was her reflection! Wait. No, the angle was way off.

Pinkie stood over the puddle, eyeing her reflection. She stuck her tongue out, and the puddle stuck it's tongue out too. She then made a silly face, which was again copied by her reflection. She leaned in close, smiling, as her reflection leaned back, and brought up a hoof.

What? The reflection suddenly pushed forward, striking Pinkie on the muzzle. Pinkie fell, rubbing her mouth, and scooted back in horror as her reflection jumped effortlessly out of the puddle!

Pinkie immediately got up, and struck a defensive stance. The other Pinkie smirked, stepping forward.

"Hi Pinkie." The living reflection sneered, and she stepped even closer. Pinkie whimpered and backed up, suddenly bumping into a wall! That hadn't been there earlier!

Twilight suddenly appeared next to the impostor, and spat at Pinkie, yelling, "You were never our friend! Discord was right. We just needed a good laugh!" Twilight punctuated this by galloping forward, and slamming Pinkie into the now brick wall.

Before she could react, Rainbow Dash descended on Pinkie Pie, snatching her up.

"Ouch!" Pinkie sputtered, half crying now. "Thank you Rainbow, Twilight hu... Hur..." Pinkie broke down in sobs. She held onto Rainbow, who was still flying. She hugged her tighter, as fresh new tears sprung from her eyes.

Pinkie looked up at Dash, who was grinning. "Your welcome!" Rainbow said. Then, Dash hugged Pinkie, and let go.

Distracted by the sudden hug, Pinkie had loosened her grip on Rainbow. She was now flailing, and plummeting to the ground! Pinkie looked up in shock, and began to scream.

Almost instantly, her scream was cut short by all the air exciting her lungs. This caused her scream to get louder from all the air screeching out at a time. Pinkie felt her voice box break. No more talking. No more singing.

Pinkie lay in a heap, as her 5 friends surrounded her, making insult after insult.

"Useless!"

"Klutz!"

"Annoying!"

Rarity spat on Pinkie, then took her hoof, and slammed it down on Pinkie's ribs. They shattered. The pieces embedded themselves into her lungs. Her friends laughed at her wheezing on the ground, and took turns kicking her, shattering more than just her body. As she lay mangled, Twilight and the others stepped back. Maybe this would be the end of her torture?

Pinkie groaned, and attempted to sit up, but couldn't. She couldn't speak either. No limbs left attached, and no tears left un-cried. She saw the other Pinkie come back, and mutter a horrible phrase.

"NOPONY LIKES YOU! NOPONY WANTS YOU IN THEIR LIFE! PINKIE, YOUR BETTER OFF DEAD."

Pinkie sat there helplessly, as a wave of green flame engulfed her body, searing what was left of it.

"Pinkie Pie wake up!" Terran yelled as he shook her, causing the bed to sway. He then stopped, and jumped onto her bed, and started bouncing on it! The screeching from the metal springs made a horrific noise, as if he was jumping on banshees!

Pinkie awoke with a jolt, and started screaming and flailing. She breathed rapidly (and uselessly) as she tried to regain grip on what was real and what was dream. Then her screaming turned into laughter and squeals of joy as she bounced on the bed.

"This is fun! She said in between laughs.

Terran quickly got off of her bed and apologized. "I'm sorry Pinkie, I was trying to wake you up."

"Don't be sorry, silly! Sleep-screaming isn't fun at all! You woke me up from a nightmare! Thank you sooo much Terran!" Pinkie's grin went wider as she sprung up, jumped off her bed, and gave Terran a huge hug! He was surprised, but gladly hugged back.

Pinkie felt better. This stallion was really sweet. She knew that had to be a dream. Cheering up almost instantly, she smiled at Terran.

Pinkie broke the hug, lightly brushing her cheek against Terran's neck as she stood back, feeling his soft coat. She blushed. Then a look of surprise washed her face.

"What?" Terran asked, confused.

"I'm not dizzy!" Pinkie exclaimed, looking down at herself, then jumping for joy.

This filly was really fun to be around! Terran decided it wouldn't hurt to be just a little attached to her, because she was all better, and he doubted the universe would allow anything to happen to such an wonderful pony. "Yup! You're all better, and can.. Leave..."

The reality of what he just said, hit him moments later. She could, and would, leave. Looking down at the floor he sighed. Well, it was good knowing her.

"Really! Can I go now? I wanna be outside in the fresh a... The warm su... You ponies are really missing out." Pinkie mused, looking a bit apprehensive.

Oh no. She wanted to leave! He had thought she liked him back but... Ugh. Maybe not. With a sigh, and a cringe, Terran said "Sure. Come to the waiting room and I'll check you out."

Pinkie hopped down the halls, already knowing which way to go somehow. Terran didn't notice though. He lagged behind her with his head slightly down. Maybe he could visit her sometime? No, she would probably get frustrated with him.

Pinkie loudly opened the door to the waiting room and burst in, earning a few curious and/or irritated stares. Taken aback, the nurse at the desk asked, "May I help you?"

"Yup!" Pinkie said merrily. "Terran is checking me out!"

The nurse glanced over at Terran, with his head slightly lowered, looking at Pinkie. She smirked.

Terran noticed her expression and scowled. "I'm checking her out from the hospital, Clair." He emphasized 'from the hospital', and rolled his eyes.

The nurse, Claira, snickered, and playfully teased Terran just a bit more. "That too I guess, you naughty boy."

Pinkie shifted her hooves, glancing back at Terran. "Ummm can I be checked out yet?"

"Your being checked out filly!" The nurse said playfully. Pinkie giggled. The nurse decided to spare Terran further embarrassment and regained her air of professionalism. She picked a few papers out of a file labeled "Pinkemina Diann Pie", and slid it over to Terran. "Here, sign these."

Terran was struggling not to turn around. Some ponies who were in the waiting room laughed, and whistled. With an inferno on his checks, he took the pen laying on the counter in his mouth, and looked down at the papers. Just a few legal documents. He signed the first one, then the third, but hesitated on the second. In a nutshell, this one was making sure Pinkie was okay to be released from the hospital. He had to sign it. He couldn't let his own selfish attractions get the better of him. He somberly wrote his name, then gave all three back to Claira. "Here."

She took them and put them back in the folder. "That's all. Bye Pinkie, stay well!" She waved at Pinkie, and when Terran sadly looked away, she winked at Pinkie.

Pinkie smiled, exciting the hospital. "Bye Clair, and bye Terran!" She walked out the door, hearing a feint "Bye" come from the broken hearted stallion.

He watched her leave, and sighed. "Oh well, that's life I guess." He thought.

Pinkie walked casually down the stairs, but when she got passed the window that looked into the waiting room, she immediately flattened herself against the wall, and waited for a few moments. Looking back in the window, she saw Terran leave the waiting room.

Pinkie walked back up the stairs and silently opened the door, careful not to alert Ter. She stepped in, and went to the counter, where Clair was sitting, pleased to see her.

"Where does he live" Pinkie asked quietly, and with a blush.

"Ooh creepy. Just kidding. Here." She jotted down a few numbers, and gave a piece of paper to Pinkie.

"Thanks!"

Winking, the nurse waived again. Pinkie winked back, and left. Immediately she started planning. Terran Asher was in for a surprise.

Brushing her teeth was always an important thing to do. Twilight refused to skip it this morning, even with Spike begging her to leave. "Come on Twilight! Let's go to Sugarcube Corner!"

The little dragon was ecstatic about a visit to his favorite store. He was practically dragging Twilight away from the sink.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Give me a second!"

Spike huffed, then tromped down the stairs. "Girls take forever to get ready." Spike picked up some books that had been strewn across the floor, and replaced them on the shelves. "I mean, for someone with OCD, you would think she would at least take care of her books!"

Spike paced across the floor for a moment.Then another moment. Then another moment. That was too many moments. "TWILIIIIIGHT!!"

"ALRIGHT SPIKE I'M COMING!"

Twilight groaned, then put back her toothbrush. He needed to learn some patience. Walking out of the bathroom and down the stairs, Twilight motioned towards Spike.

"Finally!" He said, happily opening the door. Twilight followed him out, and they set out for Sugarcube Corner.

"Hey Pinkie!" Spike waved at the pink mare sitting at one of Sugarcube Corner's tables.

"Hi Spike."

Spike wasn't expecting that. She was usually bouncing of the walls. Sometimes even literally! He walked over, and gave her a questioning gaze. "So what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Pinkie said blandly. She was just sat at the table, enjoying a cupcake. She stared at the back wall, seemingly bored.

Twilight got worried and cut into the conversation. "Pinkie, you've been acting strange lately. I'm worried and I think you should visit the doctor. I don't have any idea as to what is wrong, but frankly I miss the old you. Do you want to go now or later?"

Pinkie looked up and smiled. "I'll go now."

"Great!" Twilight said.

"NOOOOO!" Spike raced for the counter, and quickly ordered a few doughnuts. He waited impatiently, then licked his lips as Mr.Cake handed him a brown paper bag with 3 doughnuts. "Here girls!"

Spike handed each pony a doughnut, each covered with lots of sparkles, and Pinkie's with pink frosting.

"Thank you Spike."

He turned to Twilight and was about to say 'you're welcome', when Twilight cut his statement short with, "Thanks Spike! I was getting a little hungry." Wait.. Pinkie had... She really was acting weird.

Spike decided not to think about it, and took a bow. Twilight giggled, but Pinkie just looked on. Strange.

Twilight lead Pinkie and Spike towards the hospital. She had a strange feeling, almost as if this wasn't Pinkie Pie. She just assumed it was a side effect of the mirror pool. Hopefully it was only temporary.

They arrived at the hospital, where a reddish stallion greeted them, and helped then find a room. Later, a doctor came in and started poking and prodding Pinkie Pie, doing various tests.

They left the doctors and started back home. The doctor said that the results would be in tomorrow. Twilight hoped for the best, but deep down, secretly prepared for the worst.

A reckless decision

Terran lay on his couch, mulling over some paperwork for the hospital. Most of it concerned financing and legal things. Despite the importance that he focus, Terran still couldn't resist letting his mind wander back to that joyous pink mare. She was just so adorable and fun! Pinkie had made him smile, which was rare in the days of this depression.

The senior medics were right. Never get too attached to a patient. They could die, yes, but they would eventually leave no matter what. Terran slammed a hoof down on the table and almost yelled at himself for his stupidity. He looked glumly looked down at his boring, stupid documents. Sighing, he decided to finish them. The hospital would be at his door in no time if he was late to return them.

Somepony must have been at his door though, because Terran heard a light shuffling on the other side. Probably just a salespony. It came to no surprise when they knocked. He sighed, and just ignored it. Too many ponies bothered him about buying this, or giving opinions on that. He was attempting to build a reputation for never being home.

The knock came again, a little louder this time. Terran could care less as he continued with his paperwork. He was almost done with the financing for a specific patient, when the door almost burst. What the hell!? Terran glared at the door that had a pony very frantically knocking.. No... Pounding on the frame. What was so urgent!!? Terran set his papers down on the table next to his couch, and walked through the hallway, to the front door.

Terran pressed his ear against the door, attempting to listen to anything on the other side. He heard a huff, then cringed as a loud chicken sound blasted from the door. Who the absolute hell was this pony?! Terran, frustrated and bewildered, grabbed the handle, and turned it.... He did so at almost the worst moment possible.

As, soon as the doorknob was turned, the pony knocked again. Like I said before, more like attempted to smash instead of knock. The door blew open, sending Terran flying into the back wall. He looked up dizzily, and his view was enveloped in pink.

"SURPRISE!!!"

It was almost as if a Sonic Rainboom went off in his skull! Pinkie must have a really great understanding of telepathy... Either that, or she didn't quite understand the concept of quiet. Or at least normal. Either way, Terran was knocked unconscious.

Back in Ponyville, Twilight was impatiently pacing back and forth, waiting for the hospital staff to unlock their doors. Every few minutes she checked to see if anypony was there. About a half hour after coming here, she peered in again and saw somepony coming towards the door. Finally! She pressed her face against the window and waved at the pony inside. They waved back, and unlocked the door.

Twilight burst in and ran to the front desk where a pony sat. She seemed really tired. "Nurse! What are Pinkie Pie's results?" Twilight said frantically.

The pony at the counter went into a different room, and brought out the doctor that had examined Pinkie. She nodded, and walked over to Twilight. "Pinkie Pie is fine. It is probably just a side effect of the mirror pool incident. Don't worry Twilight."

As soon as she was done explaining, Twilight burst through the doors again, galloping towards Sugarcube Corner. She ran as fast as she could, happily shouting "Pinkie's okay!" To random ponies she saw. Most didn't understand, but they still smiled towards Twilight to be polite.

Once she found Pinkie, she also took the news well... Very well actually. She jumped up and shouted "It worked!"

Twilight took this in stride. Pinkie must be already regaining some of her usual randomness!

Terran Asher watched as colorful fireworks crowded his vision. The static in his head was putting him in a trance. He suddenly felt very dizzy. He giggled, this felt cool.

Aww who turned off the fireworks? The static was starting to go away also. Terran only saw darkness now, and he wasn't sure what he heard. He sat there for a moment, head still spinning. He thought he saw a feint red, and when he focused on it... slowly he regained his vision, and hearing. Terran perked up and glanced over to his left at a very worried Pinkie Pie.

"Oooh are you ok? I didn't mean to make you feint! I was just trying to surprise you and testing out the head-talking-thingy but I must have done it too loud. I'm really reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally sorry Terran! Can you please forgive me?"

Pinkie was pouting now, and looking at Terran with sad, pleading eyes. He smiled at her, and said, "It's alright Pinkie. I was really surprised!" He chucked after the last part. Surprised was an understatement.

Pinkie 'surprised' him once more by giving him an enormous hug. It dragged on for a bit longer than expected, but Pinkie eventually let go. Terran was blushing, and if Pinkie weren't already pink, he guessed she would be too.

Pinkie sighed. "I miss all my other friends. Thank you for being so nice Terran."

Terran thought for a moment. He wouldn't allow his selfishness to get in the way of Pinkie's friends. He really didn't care about keeping his job. In these days, nothing fun ever happened. Work, eat, sleep, repeat. Looking at Pinkie, who was on the verge of tears, he made a decision. Life is meant to be lived, not lived through.

There are some things ponies say, that you can never take back. Sometimes they are in vein, to comfort a foal, but Terran was sure of these words. He took Pinkie's head, and said these life changing words: "I'll help you get back home Pinkie."

Pinkie instantly hugged Terran again, a huge smile on her face.

"Thank you so much! Hey, do you want to come with to Ponyville? It's really cool, and you can meet Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack, Spike, Owloicious, Gummy-"

Pinkie was cut off by Terran putting a hoof over her mouth. He chuckled. "Yes Pinkie, I'll come with."

To Ponyville!

"Okay. So, how do we get home?" Pinkie asked, a lit more serious than usual.

Technically Terran was already home, but still, he hadn't thought that part through."Ummm how did you get here again?"

"Oh, it started when Twilight was trying to turn me into an oran-"

"No Pinkie, I mean what sent you here, and how?"

"It was the mirror pool, you recite a phrase and a copy of you comes out."

"Interesting. Magic?"

"Yup!"

"That makes a lot of sense, that's probably why nopony has found it yet. The physics of my dimension allow for a pony, or item, to be duplicated. The new pony has no memory however, and mostly a personality centralized around the original's main trait. That isn't true about all copies though. Those which are naturally born, not through a duplicator, have close to five other twins who were born at the same time, and have the same looks. Personalities usually do not match up however." He explained.

Realizing he was off track, Terran went on. "Anyway, do you remember where you were when you first entered this dimension?"

"Yep! Me and... me were in... Void?"

"Okay, do you remember which entrance you used to the safe zone?"

"The one closest to the shop."

"The shop?"

"The one with the cow that didn't have a nose, and had a bunch of food."

"Chastey's!" So far this was going much better then he had thought. If this pace was maintained, they would be in Ponyville in no time. "It's just about a mile from here, let's go!"

"Okay!"

The entrance was more than a mile away, but that didn't stop them. When Terran and Pinkie arrived, they trotted past a few guards and onto the metal plate. Pinkie extended a hoof out towards nowhere in particular.

"what?"

"We came from over there." Pinkie said, still pointing.

"Hmm." This was going to be tough. Terran knew exactly how they would jump dimensions, it was common knowledge, but getting the required materials there would be difficult if it was very far out.

The idea was simple; use a whip out in Void, not on Pinkie of course, and it will create energy. Why? The crack of a whip is actually the tip breaking the sound barrier. The energy created by the whip, when used in places where the dimensional barrier is fragile, will create a temporary rift which will allow me and Pinkie to teleport to her dimension.

The whole concept was not new to our dimension. Being a mirror dimension with physics like these, other dimensions interacted rather easily to ours. It was an ongoing problem for the research team.

I make this sound way to easy. No, it requires more than a whip. We both have to be wearing full barding in case we teleport somewhere dangerous. Next, was a device called DFARD, or Dimensional Field Absorption and Regulation Device. Put into simple terms, it is a magical container that holds... Well, I honestly don't know what it holds. Some call it dark matter, some say it's some sort of force that holds everything together. Whatever it is, it definitely isn't a physical thing, as the device itself looks just like a crystal ball. It takes a team of about ten unicorns and seven hours to produce just one. I'm not even going to attempt to explain the magic behind the containment.

What a DFARD does is regulate the forces of two open dimensions. So since Ponyville has only one gravitational field, our two separate ones would reap havoc, creating what was close to a rumored atomic bomb every 2 centimeters. Please don't ask how we found out.

Oh, and I forgot to add food to the list. Just in case there isn't any nearby.

Finding barding and a DFARD was easy enough. With the giant explosion of electricity from the incident, security was suffering. The entrances and public crime had been covered first. So far, you could still find a DFARD in abandoned research faculties.

It was time. Terran quickly took the special elevator used to switch a pony between gravity fields and walked across the metal plate. He extended a hoof a little past the edge. "Step on my hoof carefully Pinky." On the other side, she hesitantly did as told. "Okay, have you ever marched?"

"Yep," Pinkie said. "I learned in band class."

"Good. Now remember: Left, right, left, right, left, right. Keep the same rhythm, and we'll be okay."

Pinkie stepped Terran's hoof, and he shifted some weight over and put his other hoof out. Two down, two to go. The third had to be done carefully, but they managed. Last hoof, and they were standing on each other's hooves. Pinkie took a step forward, and started marching.

Have you ever walked for about 3 miles with heavy barding and nothing to stand on but another pony's hooves while knowing that if you stop to rest, you will probably die? It isn't pleasant.

"Were finally" Terran paused to take a breath. "Here. I can tell by the" another breath "DFARD. It's becoming lighter. It's because" yet another breath "it reacts like that to" gasp "the weak spots."

"Are you ready Pinkie?" Terran looked down at her. What? She didn't seem tired one bit!

"I'm rrrrrready!"

Terran, still panting for breath, and Pinkie, practically vibrating from excitement, were both ready to teleport into another dimension. For Pinkie, an exiting and unbelievable event. To Terran, an event that was laughably common compared to Equestrian standards. Terran reached a hoof on his back, careful to take out the whip, and balancing on Pinkie at the same time. He counted down from three, and lashed it out.