It's a calm, cool fall night and Sunset Shimmer, Aria Blaze, and Sonata Dusk are sitting at a table in front of Pony Joe's Coffee and Donuttery (Aria pointed out many times that 'Donuttery' wasn't a word, but it fell on indifferent ears)
Aria sighed to herself "What is taking Cheesepuff so long?"
Sunset looked up from her book "We've only been waiting five minutes."
Aria glares "Your point?"
"That for an old sea hag, you sure are impatient." Sunset replies, dodging the punch Aria threw.
Sonata giggles "It's funny, because it's true."
Sunset grins "Are you getting slow in your old age Aria? Should I slow down so that you can see around your cataracts?"
Aria snorts "That's it! You're hamburger meat Shimmer!!"
A blur of yellow and orange steps between the two of them "Ladies! There's enough of me to go around! No need to come to blows."
Aria grins "You're right. With those monster thighs and your hirsute complexion, there's more than enough."
Adagio pauses "... I can't tell if you just insulted or complimented me. So thank you and go lick an electrical socket."
Sunset smirks "So! The gang's all here, how about we go and get some food because Sonata is starting to eat her shoes. Again."
Sonata looks up from her gnawing "It's life or death! And the shoes are expendable!!"
Adagio groans "Why did you get her that book on post-apocalyptic scenarios Aria?"
The purple siren shrugs "Why did you buy her steel-toed boots?"
Sunset claps her hands "Girls! We can argue about why the two of you aren't able to take care of a lady-child like Sonata later."
Both sirens roll their eyes and follow, entering the café.
"-And stay out!!" Pony Joe yells, throwing the sirens out onto the street.
Sonata frowns "He said he had bear claws! How I supposed to know that they aren't actual bear claws! He should get fined for liberal!"
"'Libel'. The word you're looking for is 'Libel'." Aria groans, dusting herself off.
Adagio moans in pain "But did you have to go at him with your nunchucks? Why do you even have nunchucks hidden in your pants anyways?"
"In case of Ninja emergencies. Or pizza contests."
Sunset walks out and sips her coffee "That's a new record for longest time it's taken for you three to get kicked out of a business."
Aria rolls her eyes "I swear we need to get her a shock collar, so that when she does something stupid, we just jolt her."
Adagio shakes her head "No, you'd wake her up in the morning with it, when she's eating or drinking, or when you're bored."
"That is all true." Aria replies, helping Sonata up "And my point still stands."
Sunset sighs "You three are a riot."
"I'm pretty sure you need a bunch of liberals or sports fans for a riot, Shimmy."
Adagio groans "Okay, I'll think about it. Anyways it's time for us to get home. See you later Sunset."
Sunset waves, passing her coffee to Aria "You need it more than I do."
Aria grins "You trying to endear yourself to me?"
Sunset shrugs "Maybe, or maybe Sonata's ran away again."
Aria turns and Sonata is gone "Mother- Gah! Sonata! Get your puny ass back here!"
Ruby closes her instrument case, tracing the bridge of her guitar with a finger "Until we sing again, Shining Frets."
The owner of the most upscale café in Crystal Hills claps "Well done Ms. Shimmer! Here's your pay."
Ruby takes the envelope and smiles "You really don't need to pay me Mr. Kettle."
He raises a hand in mock protest "I won't hear a word of it. Now go, it's time for the night guard to come in and he's a bit... odd."
Ruby nods "I know, Mr. Purple is kind of... odd."
"But he's also fought off a great number of burglars and would-be thieves. But he just... seems afraid of children. I won't ask, but I do wonder..."
Ruby waves to Mr. Kettle and exits, relishing the crisp fall air I love autumn...
She walks towards her apartment, a two storey flat in Crystal Hills.
Wonder what Sparky's up to? Probably trying to complete her dog translator. she chuckles to herself Poor Spike, I should get him a new rawhide bone or something.
Sunset Shimmer rubbed her hands together "I really need to get some gloves. It's colder than Rarity after Dash spilled soup on her cat. Heh, that was funny..."
The familiar scent of coffee emanating from a café attracted her attention "... I have some money, another coffee won't hurt."
Ruby sniffed the air and smiled "I suppose a little coffee will help me deal with Sparky's shenanigans, and it's kind of cold out..." she turned to open the door to the coffee shop when she bumped shoulders with someone "Oh! I'm sorry about... that..."
Sunset Shimmer looked at who she'd bumped into and her jaw dropped instantly.
It was herself.
Ruby's jaw dropped like her Döppelganger's "What- how is- what?!"
Sunset Shimmer took a slow step backwards, thoughts of coffee dashed from her mind Oh shit! Oh crap! Oh Horseapples! Oh... Oh Fuck!!
Ruby nearly dropped her guitar case and raised a shaky hand to point at Sunset "Y-you're me! But how?! I'm me! I mean- Gah! What the hell is going on here?!"
Sunset jolted from her counterpart's exclamation "I... Would you believe, I'm you from a different universe?"
Ruby's eye twitches, a quirk she'd picked up from Sparky "I... is that true?! This isn't some prank?!"
Sunset shook her head "No... I'm, well, Sunset Shimmer. So are you... right?"
Ruby nods uncertainly "Yeah... uh, is it odd that I feel like running away screaming at the top of my lungs?"
Sunset shrugs weakly "I... I have no idea, the only plan I had for this was try to avoid any... rips in space and time or something else cataclysmic."
"Yeah... I wish I had listened to Sparky's lectures on parallel universes."
Sunset's ears perk up "'Sparky'? As in, Twilight Sparkle?"
Ruby nods and groans "Please don't tell me there's a second Twilight Sparkle running around. I can barely deal with mine!"
"No, she's... back in my world."
She crosses her arms "And what or where or... whatever is your world, and why are you here in mine?"
"It's... a long story. And it's not all that... believable."
"I'm talking to myself in the flesh in front of a café. Trust me, there's nothing you- err... I could say that I wouldn't believe." Ruby replies, scratching her head "Ugh, personal pronouns are useless."
Sunset nods "Well... how about we get some coffee and... I don't know, find a bench so that I can tell you my... our... a life story.
Several hours later, Ruby closes her mouth, stunned "So... in your world, we're a magical, talking unicorn, the ex-student of a winged unicorn, an alicorn, who is the principal of CHS in my world and we ran away from that world through a magic portal to here, that is the statue at CHS. We became the queen bitch of the school, and then we went back, three years later, to steal a magical artefact that when we put it on turned us into a fiery haired she-demon bent on dimensional conquest, and the current student of the princess blasted us with a magical rainbow beam that changed us back into a girl, and then befriended the very girls who's lives we'd ruined for years. That about sum it up?"
Sunset nods "Pretty much. Like I said, it's not all that believable, and that was just the first time my Twilight came here."
Ruby's eyes knit in worry "Why didn't anyone report this in the news?! 'Giant she-demon seen terrorizing local high school. Video at eleven'?"
Sunset shrugs "I've been wondering that myself. I mean, I had to help fix the wall that I broke through, fill in the craters, and serve detention for a whole three weeks straight. Sure, I'm forgiven by most of the students and teachers, but how it never made the news boggles my mind."
"Maybe it's so unbelievable that if anyone reported it, they'd be called crazy?"
Sunset shrugs "Probably. So what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Any tales of heroism or massive stupidity?"
Ruby shakes her head "Nope, lived a pretty normal life so far. You said that was what happened the first time she came here, what else happened?"
Sunset sighs "Well, there were-" Sunset's satchel starts vibrating "Hold on, Princess calling."
Sunset opens the book and sits it between herself and... herself.
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
I'm coming over to spend some time with you at your house. Did you move the spare key to the loose brick in the side of the school building, or is it still in the false bottom to the wall lantern? Also, my Rainbow Dash wanted to know what team yours played for. I told her it was virtually every team they have, but she just patted my head and said 'Just write it down Twilight, she'll know what it means.' Is your Rainbow that vague? Anyways, I'm going into the portal after you answer.
-Twilight Sparkle
Ruby shivers "I'm afraid of your Twilight. I mean, what if she vaporizes me for being... you?"
Sunset rolls her eyes "Trust me, Twilight doesn't vaporize anyone. She might examine you, but that's about it. What would your Twilight do?"
Ruby bites her lip "Let's leave it at nothing legal. So, are you going to answer her?"
She nods and produces a pen from her pocket and her phone from the other "I need to ask Rainbow something..."
Ruby motions for her to turn on the speakerphone "*Click!*Yo! Bacon Bits! What's hangin'?!"
Sunset and Ruby roll their eyes "Rainb-"
"Dashie, who's on the phone?"
"Dude! Pinkie! Pick up the phone!"
"*Click!* Whaaaaaaaaaazzzuuuup?!"
"Whaaaaaaaaaazzzuuuup?!
Sunset growls "Pinkie! Rainbow! Stop that!"
Both girls giggle on their ends "Sorry Bacon Bits. Anyways, why have you chosen to consult Dash, the Great and Powerful?"
Ruby rolls her eyes, mouthing "These are your friends?"
Sunset nods sadly "Rainbow, I have a question from your pony self. She wants to know what team you play for. And apparently, she doesn't mean sports."
"I'm a left handed pitcher." Rainbow replies "Anything else?"
"No, thanks."
"Whaaaaaaaaaazzzuuuup?!!"
Sunset ends the call, sighing "Okay, I have no idea why they did that, but... anyways, I have a response to write."
Dear Princess Twilight,
There's a spare in both places, I just put one near the school in case you came by. I'm with... a new friend.
Sunset looks up "Do... you want to meet my Twilight?"
Ruby nods "Why not? I was just going to go and sleep when I got home."
She's going to be at my house with me, and she knows what is going on. Whatever you do when you see her, do not freak out. And to answer your Rainbow's question 'Left handed pitcher'. Whatever that means.
-Sunset Shimmer
Sunset closes the book and a flash of magenta magic signals that the message had been sent. "So... I guess I should take... you to my house?"
Ruby nods and brushes herself off "Might as well. Sparky's going to wonder where I am but... I can call her later."
The door to Sunset's flat opens, letting the slim figure of Twilight Sparkle enter "Hi Sunset!"
Sunset stands and waves to Twilight "Hi Twilight. Remember what I said about not freaking out?"
Twilight rolls her eyes "Yes, I remember. Honestly, I can't think of anypony who'd get me to freak out."
"Even me?" Sunset asks
"No, you've changed. Now who is this mystery guest? Flash? An alien? A demon?"
Sunset shakes her head and leads Twilight to the living room where Ruby sits looking through Sunset's photo album (A gift from Fluttershy.)
Twilight pauses and looks from one Sunset to the other as the gears in her head grind into disks "Wha...?"
Ruby looks up and jolts back a little "Sleipnir's horseshoes! Wow..." she stands slowly, rubbing a lock of Twilight's hair between her fingers "You weren't kidding about there being another Twilight. Though... mine has longer hair and wears glasses and a lab coat everywhere. Still, wow."
Sunset snaps her fingers in front of Twilight's face "Princess? Princeeeeeess? Equestria to Twilight."
Ruby smirks and walks to Sunset's kitchen "This works on mine."
She returns with a cup of water and moves in front of Twilight's eyes and slowly moves it above her head "If you don't stop, I'm going to pour it on you."
Twilight ducks with a squeak and moves away from Ruby, her eyes wide "Don't!"
Ruby sips the water and grins "Works wonders."
Sunset claps "Thanks... Ahem!" she pounds her chest "Princess Twilight Sparkle, this is Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer, Princess Twilight Sparkle."
Ruby extends her hand "I've heard so much about you from Sunset."
Twilight shakes Ruby's hand nervously, her eyes darting every which direction "N-nice to meet you."
Ruby shoves her hands into her pockets "So... what now?"
Sunset shrugs "I don't know, honestly I thought that Twilight would gasp and go on for a while about how we shouldn't be so close to each other."
Twilight blinks and gasps, jumping away from both Sunsets "This isn't good! How is the world not collapsing in on itself?! There's no good way this can end! I... I don't know what do in this situation!!"
Suddenly the door to Sunset's balcony opens and a windswept figure with a huge backpack steps inside, features obscured by a pair of goggles, face mask, and a thick coat "I may have the answers." the figure says in a familiar voice.
Ruby blanches "Sp-Sparky, is that you?! What- why in the world are you dressed like that?!"
Sparky removes her face mask and pulls the goggles off, leaving her glasses in place. She sheds the coat and under it is a stained white lab coat.
Something yips from inside the bag and Sparky opens it, loosing a disheveled purple puppy "Sorry about the turbulence Spike, walking up at a right angle was probably quite scary." she produces a remote studded with buttons and presses one, her boots seemingly transforming into orthopedic flats "Anyways, Sunset, take note, the repto-adhesion function to the TATS are working well beyond the expected parameters."
She looks up and cocks her head slightly, as does Spike "Why are you not taking a note? Honestly, if Spike didn't have trouble grasping shorthand, you'd be out of a job as my assistant."
Twilight shakes her head, and steps forward, standing in front of her double "Hi... I'm guessing you're-"
"Twilight Amaranth Sparkle. Professor at Crystal AUSSIE Affairs, chairwoman and founder of the illustrious Terra-obscura coalition, PhD. Etc."
Twilight bows "I am Princess Twilight Velvet Sparkle of Equestria. Magical scholar Experimus, founder of the oft requested FRAG. Nice to meet you."
Sparky looks Twilight over and grabs her breasts "... Satisfactory."
Ruby wrenches Sparky's hands from Twilight's chest, and Twilight flushes and stumbles backwards into Sunset's arms "You don't just go up and grope people Twilight!"
Sparky blinks "I am her. Therefore, I groped myself. Which is perfectly appropriate. If you feel left out, you can grope your double as well."
Spike looks from one Twilight to the other and whimpers in confusion.
Sparky removes Ruby's hands from her own and reaches into Ruby's coat and produces a small notebook "I had told you five point five minutes ago for you to take note of the success of the repto-adhesion function. You are not near a menstruation cycle, inebriated, or otherwise impaired, yet you still have yet to comply with one of the terms of your apprenticeship. If you continue to fail to meet my requirements, I'm afraid I'll have to rescind your scholarships, housing tickets, and all recommendations; past and future. This is not a personal punishment, you are just violating the terms that we agreed upon eighteen years, one hundred and thirty six days and six point 33 repeating, hours ago."
Ruby rubs her head, groaning "Professor Sparkle, that 'Contract' was a promise we made when we were seven years old. You typed it up with your mother's typewriter and made me sign it in triplicate and you somehow were a certified notary clerk. I'm not your assistant, I'm the only person that isn't related to you that you haven't completely driven away with your personality alone."
"They were not suitable candidates for the sheer reason that they were intellectually inferior to you and our personalities are complementary, so anyone else with even a different personality would greatly hinder my progress. And the contract is legally binding until one of us perishes or becomes otherwise unable to assist the other. You signed it and I outlined the terms when you did." Sparky replies flatly.
Sunset coughs "So, can I get you any-"
Sparky shakes her head "No, I can't spare the attention span for the intellectual inferior of my assistant and myself. I will simply attain any information I need pertaining to your physique when I need to. Now if you will please make the Princess and Sunset some tea, that would be appreciated."
Sunset's eye twitches "Did you just insinuate that I am not as intelligent as myself?! For all you know, my intelligence could be far superior to yours!"
"You reacted violently and reacted with pride rather than reason,and while Sunset is incapable of starting a hormonal and chemical inhibition regiment like myself, she doesn't react with blind rage and indignation. Now please, if you aren't going to-" Ruby puts a hand over Sparky's mouth "Shut it or I swear by all that is chaotic I will preform an anesthetic free mastectomy!"
Sparky removes ruby's hand "I already did so to myself four weeks and three days ago."
Ruby shivers "And preformed taxidermy on your breasts and made a chest pillow out of them... ugh."
Twilight cocks her head "What's that?"
"The removal of 'Chest Teats', a preventive measure against certain cancers." Sunset replies.
"Oh. Why should that matter? I know that for humans they're signs of fertility but I've found them an annoyance."
Sparky nods "I agree, as are hormones not governing general health."
Ruby groans "Fine, just... shut up Twilight. You're being a know-it-all pest."
Sparky pauses and turns to Ruby "... That is a distressing thing to say Sunset. I am surprised to witness so base a reaction from you. You must be assimilating less than ideal habits and vernacular from your inferior double. I am escorting you home to undergo re-education to reduce the corruption you've undergone before it becomes a part of your long-term memory." she turns to Twilight and nods "Princess Twilight Sparkle, I shall send a letter through the portal as to when we may converse about the discrepancies between our universes in a sterile environment." she then turns to Sunset "You have been a great catalyst in starting a new project in inter-dimensional studies. Of course, if I require any information pertaining to your ability to adapt to our world, I will send for you via courier or an electronic memo. Thank you for everything you have done, I truly mean it. I hope that, if I haven't 'Alienated' you, we might become colleagues someday. Farewell." she pulls a whistle from her pocket and blows it and Ruby tries to grab it but falls limp halfway and Sparky grabs her, hoisting her over her shoulder like a sack of flour "Spike. Follow."
Spike yips and drags the backpack with him and Sparky opens the door, nodding once more to Sunset and Twilight before leaving.
Twilight blinks several times and her legs fall out from under her, a blush spreading across her cheeks. She carefully places her hands on her chest like her double had and bites her lip "I... I think I'm in love..."
Sunset sighs and pulls out her phone "Rainbow? Do you still have those unopened discount beers? Yeah, I'm coming over."
Sunset rubs her head, wincing in pain "Ugh, why did Pinkie have to have Vodka? Ow..."
Someone taps her shoulder "Whaaaat?"
Twilight rolls her eyes "Here, I always carry a bottle of hangover cure whenever I travel."
Sunset sips it and her pain fades "Why?"
"Rainbow and Applejack tend to get drunk wherever we go and I got tired of their groaning."
Sunset nods "Yeah, that sounds about right. Have you figured out why the world isn't ending because we met ourselves?"
Twilight nods and produces a file of papers "I called in some help from somepony I REALLY hate, but is also the foremost authority on inter-dimensional phenomena among other things. He said that the reason why nothing cataclysmic happened was because it's a fixed point in time and you meeting yourself was inevitable. If not yesterday then the next day or maybe a whole decade from now. And because we aren't from a different point in their timeline and vice versa."
Sunset sighs "Okay... does 'Sparky' bother you?"
Twilight shakes her head "She reminds me of when I first came to Ponyville. I'm sure she's just shy."
Sparky tweaked a knob on a large contraption "Sunset? Have you purged those hazardous ideas you accidentally assimilated earlier?"
Ruby rubs her eyes sleepily "If you're asking if I forgot about how much of a jerk you were to the other me, then no, I haven't."
"Splendid." she replies, obviously not listening "Now, I took the liberty of adding the observation of the Repto-adhesion function of the TATS, which you neglected to do several times."
Ruby blinks and picks up the notebook, flipping to the pages recently written on "... Why? I thought you said you didn't have time to write this stuff down."
"I am your 'Friend'" she raises her hand for air quotes "And doing important things that a 'Friend' cannot is something a 'Friend' should do." she turns around, her eyes closed "That's what you said to me three point eight hours ago."
"That's when I used the cattle prod to get you to go to bed. I don't care if you have a way to work and still sleep, you need to rest your mind and not just your body." I'll never get used to her carrying a conversation when she's asleep.
"But so much time is wasted while sleeping! Which is why I read and work whilst I partake in the social requirements of taking in nutritional necessities." she replies, opening her eyes.
Ruby rubs her head "Eating is not social, it's important. Besides, when was the last time you had some natural vitamins?"
"Two years, twenty weeks, six days and two point three eight hours ago. And it is currently after the winter solstice and therefore there is a very slim chance of any radiation based vitamins." Sparky replies flatly, turning back to her work.
"You mean sunlight?"
"Affirmative." she replies "And I believe I have stumbled upon a way to stabilize the electromagnetic interference present in the higher charges of the resonance probe. I require a tetragonal lattice of Ytterbium-rich Gadolinite 1.5 Micrometers in radius at the cross section and 3.5 Micrometers from top to bottom. There's appropriate funds on the table for you to retrieve such an object from the shop whom I called to have it made. And there is also your day's wage as well, so I implore you to purchase yourself something you will enjoy, preferably something that your dimensional equivalent might describe as 'Cute' or 'Pretty'. And if you do happen to run into my dimensional equivalent, give her our address, I am without any prior engagements for the remainder of the twenty-three point five hour cycle. And I find your current attire to be pleasing to my aesthetic senses. And I do not find problem with your current scent, on a related note."
Ruby blushes "Awww... that was almost a real compliment." she leans down and kisses Sparky on the cheek "You're getting better."
After Ruby leaves she rubs her cheek "Why do I react to her affectionate actions? I must not have enough Serotonin in my blood... Spike! Where did I place the Sertraline precipitates?"
Spike rolls his eyes and walks from his bed to the medicine cabinet. hopping up the ladder, he removes a bottle from within and sets it next to his mistress' chair and barks.
Sparky leans down and takes the bottle, producing a treat from her pocket and gives it to the diminutive puppy "Thank you Spike."
Spike barks again and Sparky pauses "I do not have affectionate feelings towards Sunset."
Spike rolls his eyes and pantomimes a kiss.
"She was more than likely wearing a pheromone-based perfume that caused an unfavorable reaction with my non-medicated hind-brain."
He points to her cheeks.
"I am flushed because of the temperature of the room, nothing more." Sparky replies, rolling her eyes.
Spike snorts and drags a notepad out from behind Sparky's desk and writes a message on it before retiring to his bed.
Sparky reads the message and rolls her eyes "I do not."
You want her. You want her to hold you and pet your fur body.
Ruby rubs her eyes again, yawning "Where's that shop?"
She sips her coffee The GPS says that it should be around- she pauses and reads a large, colorful sign in front of her.
Holder's Boulder's Boulders.
Super dee-duper rock farmers
She checks her phone and shrugs, entering the store.
A tall, well-endowed woman looks up from a small pebble next to a pile of crumbs "Hello."
Ruby waves "Hi, I was sent here to pick up a lattice of Ytterbium ordered by Professor Twilight Sparkle?"
The tall woman pauses and with swiftness belying Ruby's first impressions yanks her forward "Hello Sunset Shimmer."
Ruby shivers "H-how do you know my name?"
"We've met several times. I'll go get the lattice." she slowly trundles to a back room.
Ruby rubs her arm where the woman had grabbed her "Ow... I'd remember if I'd met a woman like that..."
The woman returns, a dark brown crystal in her hands "It's already been paid for. Have a nice day Sunset."
Ruby nods hesitantly and dashes out of the store.
Maud cocks her head slightly "Was it something I said? What do you think Boulder?"
Boulder sits on the glass display case and Maud nods "You're right, I smiled too much."
Ruby sighs, sitting in a park "I guess that woman knew the other Sunset... I guess I'll have to ask who she is when I see her again."
A pale blue hand taps her shoulder "Hi..."
Ruby turns and sitting next to her is a thin blue girl with a ponytail, red-magenta eyes sparkling with happiness "Hello?"
The girl clears her throat "I'm Sonata Dusk, I know your... twinsie."
"Twinsie"? "Sunset Shimmer. How do you know her?"
Sonata blushes slightly "She... kind of stopped my friends and I from taking over the world with mind control... It's good now, we're practically powerless now."
Sunset crosses her arms in thought "Sirens, right?"
She nods "Yup!"
Ruby extends her hand in a handshake "Nice to meet you. Where are the others if you don't mind me asking?"
Sonata eagerly shakes her hand "Dagi's at the grocery store and Aria's at a gun show. I'm kind of on my own right now."
"Huh, do you think you could tell me if you know a tall, muscular grey woman with the personality of a-"
"Maud Pie. She's Pinkie Pie's oldest sister, and she's just... unique."
Ruby nods "I know about Pinkie Pie, but is everyone in her family 'Unique'?"
Sonata taps her chin in thought "Pretty much just her and Pinkie."
"If you say so..."
"Something the matter?"
Ruby nods "It's just... before last night, the most surreal thing to ever happen to me was when Twilight was arguing with a number of professional scientists when she was twelve."
Sonata hums in thought "And you're questioning everything you've ever known."
Ruby looks up in surprise "Y-yeah..."
"You're starting to feel like you can't handle the sudden turn your life's taken. I can relate, for realsies. I felt the same when I first came to Earth after being banished by that wizard. But I had my friends with me, and I'm guessing that your friend is a bit closed off, right?"
Ruby nods "Yeah... it's like she knew what was going to happen before it did. And she's a complete and utter mad genius with no regard to the feelings of others most of the time."
Sonata drapes an arm over Ruby's shoulders, hugging her "Hey, It'll be alright. If you're anything like the Sunset I know, you'll figure out a way to survive and learn an important lesson in the process. Just don't get so caught up in the details of things outside your control and what could go wrong. Focus on the friendships you have and your friends will help you in ways you can't fathom. I may have learned that lesson a thousand years after I came here, but that doesn't have to be the same for you."
Ruby notices water droplets on her hands and wipes her face "Th-thank you Sonata... you're... a good person."
Sonata shrugs her free shoulder and hugs Ruby again "I'm nothing special. Let me give you my number in case you ever feel lost, m'kay?"
Ruby nods and passes her phone to Sonata who hands hers over "... This is a lot of key chains."
"What can I say, I like cellphone charms and fobs." Sonata says, typing in her number.
Sunset sighs into her coffee "Twilight, will you stop trying to follow the other Sunset?"
Twilight lowers her binoculars "Why?! I need to know where the other Twilight lives!"
"That doesn't mean we can't just walk up to her and ask."
Twilight pauses and puts her binoculars into her bag "Fine. I'll stay here and observe."
Sunset rolls her eyes and grabs Twilight by the back of her shirt and drags her behind her "Come on Dr. All Good."
Sonata waves to Sunset and Twilight "Hi girls!"
"Hi Sonata." Sunset greets "Good morning Sunset."
"Hello. So... what's new?"
"Nothing much, how's your Twilight treating you?"
"Nicely, she even attempted to compliment me today."
Sunset cocks her head "Is that not something she does?"
Ruby shrugs "It's more like something she rarely does unless she's had time to formulate one. I swear she's like a machine."
Twilight nods "Sounds like me before I made friends. What about Spike?"
"Spike's more like her assistant than I am, he doesn't talk back too much and I was the one who bought him a few years ago to try and liven up our apartment."
"Why not just make new friends?" Sonata asks, texting.
"Are you kidding? I think the only reason she keeps being my friend is because she wrote up a legally binding contract when we were seven making us 'Best Friends until we depart this realm forever'. Her syntax, not mine. She wanted to make it so that if she dies, I put her brain in a jar and build her a new body. She actually wrote that."
Twilight nods "I had my Spike promise to do that. Of course, the contract was destroyed with the rest of the Golden Oaks library..."
Ruby groans "Let me guess, Tirek?"
Sunset and Twilight blink several times in shock "Y-yeah... how did you know?"
"Rival scientist in the study of energy transmission. He tried to destroy all of our research on it in our old apartment building. We barely got Professor Owlowicious out alive if I hadn't teleported in and got him. Anyways, he got arrested after Sparky and I beat him with our long-range, wave motion device. Also stripped him of all of his geo-electric accoutrements and siphoning devices."
Sunset frowns "So... he was siphoning off the Earth's magnetic poles? That's... impressive."
"That's what I thought too. Until he used it to tear our house apart piece by peace before incinerating it. We got a housing grant after taking him down but we lost a lot of research in the process."
Twilight nods "Sounds like what Equestria's Tirek did. Incinerated my home and the Ponyville library... My friends unlocked the inner power of the elements of harmony and restored the magic.. and I got a castle out of it too..."
Ruby snickers "Yeah, the Crystal Hills complex is huge. But anyways, I have to get back to Sparky. See you girls later."
Sonata and Sunset wave but Twilight stands "Could you give me the address to your lab? Just in case I need to speak to either of you?"
Ruby nods, writing down the address on the back of a scrap of paper "I'm sure that Sparky will want to speak to you."
Sunset blinks several times and walks over to Ruby, and leans to her ear, covering her mouth with her hands "You're in love with Sparky, aren't you?"
Ruby blushes and bites her lower lip, blushing "Is it that obvious?"
Sunset smiles weakly "Maybe it is to me because I'm you. Just keep being her friend and maybe drop hints every so often, Twilights tend to be a bit dense."
Sonata looks around, shrugs, and leaves the park, hands stuffed into her pockets "Another good deed, another bit of goodness in the world."
Twilight watches Sonata leave and decides that there were more pressing concerns, like what Sunset and Ruby were talking about.
"Sunset... er... Sunsets... what are you talking about? Is it science?"
Sunset rolls her eyes "See? Science all the time. Just keep at it and let her figure it out herself so she doesn't feel like you've led her into something. Brainiac-types like them need to find the answer themselves."
Ruby nods and hugs Sunset "Thanks... are you-"
"Not a snowball's chance in Tartarus. I prefer... girls who aren't liable to rush to conclusions."
Twilight pouts and tromps over to them "What are you two talking about?!"
"Human girl things." Sunset replies and Twilight shivers "Ewww... never mind."
Ruby raises an eyebrow Okay then... "I need to get back, she'll probably be wondering where I am if she isn't already tracking me down."
Sunset nods and Ruby pulls a remote from her pocket and presses a series of buttons and her shoes change into a snowboard "She may be crazy, but these TATS are the best thing yet."
I want a pair... Sunset thinks to herself, jealous.
Another button push, the board-shoes glow and hum and Sunset's jaw drops "That's so not fair!"
Ruby smirks and hovers several feet off the ground "Yup, hoverboard mode. Take that Marty McFly." she shoots off, swerving around trees and ducking in and out of alleys before flying off into the sky.
Twilight cocks her head in confusion "Who's Marty McFly?"
Sunset groans "Pop culture. It's Pop culture." she pulls out her phone and takes several pictures "I'm posting this to Mystable..."
Halfway to Pinkie Pie's house, Rainbow Dash starts furiously texting Sunset.
Sp33D573R_20%: Wht th hek shimr?!
Sp33D573R_20%: Whr U gt hvrbrd?!
Sp33D573R_20%: NOT COOL. Gv me yr hvrbrd nao!!
Sunset rolls her eyes and passes her phone to Twilight "Tell me if you can read this."
Twilight reads it and re-reads it and scratches her head "'Not Cool'? That's the only thing I can read. Is it a cipher?"
"Of sorts. 'Why don't you take the time to type like a civilized person and not a hirsute troglodyte?'"
Twilight snickers "That's mean, what if she understands it?"
Sunset grins "I know she won't."
Sp33D573R_20%: Who are you calling a hairy suit?!
Sp33D573R_20%: Doesn't matter. Where did you get a hoverboard and why isn't it in my hands right now? I'm serious Bacon-head, if you're holding out on me, I'm going to noogie you so hard that you can eat your hair for breakfast.
Sunset scowls "Why does everyone think my hair looks like bacon?"
"Hello girls~" someone whispers into both of their ears huskily, slender arms wrapping around their waists.
Sunset nearly drops her phone "Adagio! Stop doing that!!"
Twilight whips her head and finds her mouth full of orange and yellow curls "Ppbth!! Bleh! Adagio?! Why are you grabbing my teats?!"
Adagio turns to Twilight and stares at her before erupting into laughter "Oh man... 'Teats'? You crack me up Sparkle. Anyways, I'm grabbing you two to see if you two are still growing any."
Sunset wriggles her way out of Adagio's grasp, dragging Twilight with her "Adagio, you're a pervert."
The yellow siren shrugs and crosses her arms under her bust, leaning forwards slightly "What can I say? I'm too much woman so I need to flaunt what I got. Unlike Pancake Sparkle and Sunny Side Up."
Twilight scratches her head in confusion "What? pancakes?"
Sunset sighs "She's saying you're flat as a pancake and my breasts are like eggs... why is everyone always comparing me to breakfast food?!"
Adagio sashays to them and smiles seductively "Well, maybe you just get a healthy morning rise and shine from everyone? Or you taste so good..." she takes a long sniff of Sunset's shoulder, earning a shiver from Sunset "... But are so...baaa~aaad**?"
Twilight blushes slightly "Uhm... Sunset, do you want me to use that spray you gave me?"
Sunset sighs and pushes Adagio's face away with her hands "No Twilight, Adagio's just being herself."
Adagio tilts her hips up one side and rests a hand on them "Guilty as charged~"
"And it just so happens she's a pervert." Sunset mutters.
Adagio smirks "Well, I've had my fun, but there's one thing I have to ask, have you two seen Sonata? She left to go home after I went shopping and she isn't there."
"We saw her at the park a few minutes ago but not since then." Twilight replies.
Adagio nods and pulls out her phone "Yeah, she was at the park but left. Yeah, she's here..." she puts a hand over the speaker and looks Sunset up and down "Grey-purple pea coat, patterned cotton blouse, dark denim jeans, pointed boots, Puggs I think, knee socks, copper wire brassiere, silk boxers, and violet wool gloves. Uh-huh, yeah, got it." she ends the call "Aria says 'Hi' and that there's a spring-loaded knife in both of your shoes. Click your heels."
Sunset groans and clicks her heels, two blades extending from the toes of her boots "How does she manage to get my clothes weaponized?"
Twilight cocks her head "Why did-"
"Aria has a huge crush on me..." Sunset groans, clicking her heels again to retract the blades "She's a weapon-fanatic and she's turned my whole apartment into an apocalypse shelter. I'm still finding caches of guns and explosives in there... I swear if she wasn't my friend..."
Adagio smirks "She still does that? When we were in Equestria, she'd steal any weapons she could from shipwrecks and hide them everywhere. I, of course, gathered money and treasure... and good, strapping stallions, of course." she chuckles "And Sonata just liked the food."
Twilight nods "Sounds about right. Wait, did you sink the ships, or just loot them?"
"A bit of both Sparkle. Anyways, I have to go find Sonata. Maybe if we put some guacamole on a piece of bread and dangle it from a fishing line..."
Sunset sighs "I swear, those three are more neurotic than Pinkie Pie on a good day."
Twilight shrugs and points to the bland house on the hill "Shall we?"
Twilight gasps for air, having been subject to Pinkie's hugs "You need to do more anaerobic exercise Twilight." Sunset says, slightly flush from a similar hug.
Twilight grasps her knees, her breathing ragged "How... is it... that you... can crush my chest in two dimensions?"
Pinkie giggles, lifting Twilight's head before...
Kissing her.
"!?!?" Twilight screeches, her face alighting.
Pinkie inhales a long breath from her nose and blows into Twilight's mouth, the air escaping from Twilight's ears and nose.
Pinkie releases her lip-suction and smiles at both of the stunned Equestrians "Rarity said I was full of hot air, so I thought that I could do CPR with the best of them!"
Twilight coughs, spitting out a wad of gum.
Sunset pales and covers her mouth, scrambling to the bathroom.
Twilight brushes off the gum and tosses it into a trashcan, pulling another one from her pocket "You ruined my experiment! I was trying to solve at what rate gum loses its flavor!"
Pinkie shrugs and leads Twilight to her room but pauses and jumps back, the door to her room flying open as Rainbow Dash sails through the air "Totally worth it! Ow!" she crashes into Maud who doesn't budge an inch "You shouldn't fly inside the house."
Rainbow rubs her neck "Owwww... even your boobs are hard as rock. Seriously, are you an earth spirit? A golem? Mud person? A humanquelus?"
"'Homunculus?'" Sunset asks, leaving the bathroom
"Yeah, one of those. Hey, did they have those in Equestria?"
Sunset makes a "So-so" sign with her hand "Golems were mostly used to excavate after rock or mudslides. Sometimes they were used as battering rams in war but they aren't that common when I was a filly. I've seen one in my life, but the "Emeth" was rusted and it was covered with plants, more like a hill than animated clay."
Maud brushes off her dress and grabs Sunset's wrist "... You aren't the Sunset from earlier."
"What? Wait, you met the other Sunset?"
Pinkie gasps and reaches into her hair, pulling out a cricket bat "I'll go get her!"
Sunset grabs Pinkie's wrist "No, no kidnapping an innocent woman."
Pinkie shrugs and shoves the bat back into her hair.
Maud nods "Yes, she came in to get something for Twilight Sparkle."
"Oh, that explains what was in that bag she had. You didn't... do anything to her, did you?"
Maud blinks, and her brow furrows a tenth of a centimeter "I grabbed her wrist thinking she was you. I'll apologize the next time I meet her."
Again the grey woman walks away, leaving Rainbow and Sunset bewildered "I swear, if she isn't a golem or a robot, I'm going to be pissed."
"Huh, so I don't need to go find myself an underground bunker to live in until the end of space and time comes?" Rainbow asks.
Sunset nods "So long as we don't travel through time or something, we're safe."
Pinkie raises her hand "Does that mean that we can see our pony selves now?!"
Twilight shakes her head "No, there's a balance between both of our worlds, I'm pretty sure that it can only handle Sunset and I right now."
Pinkie crosses her arms "That's not fair..."
Applejack rolls her eyes and scratches her head "Ah just can't believe that y'all's human selves're adults."
Sunset shakes her head "I think that they're actually graduates, you know, skipping grades."
Rainbow grins "I skipped a grade once."
Rarity rubs the bridge of her nose "No, you were held back a grade. You only got to the same grade as us because you broke into the school at night and changed your transcripts."
"See? I skipped!"
Rarity sighs and falls back into a large, plush pile of pillows "There is no reasoning with her..."
Sunset blinks "When did you do that?"
"When I transferred from Cloudsdale elementary. It was a breeze."
Fluttershy sighs "She made me help..."
"Well you were hall monitor, you had a key."
Twilight rolls her eyes "And let me guess, you broke into a hospital once in a skintight latex suit?"
Rainbow grins "Oh yeah... I remember that time, Pinks and I weren't too good at the sneaking, but it was worth it."
"That and it was an excuse to wear practically nothing!" Pinkie chirps, having somehow shed all but her panties and bra.
Twilight groans "I just realized... two of my five best friends are completely nuts..."
Rarity and Sunset hug her "Welcome to our world, Darling."
Rainbow pats Fluttershy's shoulder "Sorry about that Flutters, looks like you're lumped with Pinkie."
Fluttershy shakes her head "I... I think she meant you and Pinkie."
Rainbow pauses and nods "Sounds about right. So! Sunset, did you have a breast comparison with the other Sunset?"
Sunset coughs into her hand and pounds her chest "Wh-what?!"
Rainbow rolls her eyes "You know, did you two compare bra sizes, finger lengths, height, who has the sexier hips, you know, scientific data and junk."
Twilight sighs "The other Twilight groped me, comparing me to herself, but that's about it."
Rainbow grins "Oh? And did you grope her back? Spill the beans Princess!!"
Applejack sighs and backhands Rainbow "Down mutt."
Rainbow rolls her eyes "I'm not a dog, Applejack."
"You're as horny as one, so that's what ya are."
"You know... my Applejack usually ties Rainbow up to stop her from doing stupid things. Ever tried that?"
Applejack taps her chin in thought "Ya know, ah haven't. Pinkie, rope."
Pinkie reaches into her closet and pulls out a rope "Here ya gosies!"
Rainbow's pupils shrink "Nonononono... don't-"
Appleajck's hands are a flurry of movement, cutting Rainbow off and in a few seconds Rainbow is tied and gagged, her knees to her chin and heels under her butt "Mmmmph!!"
Rarity smiles "Applejack! I never knew that you could do rope so well!"
"Of course, ya ain't ever seen me at cattle ropin' or raisin' walls?"
Rarity blushes "W-well, I'd thought that you'd.. resent me for assuming based on a stereotype..."
Applejack shrugs "Ain't offended none."
Sunset pokes Rainbow's cheek "Rarity... how about you take this as an opportunity to make Rainbow pretty?"
Rarity's eyes twinkle "I'll do just that!! Fluttershy, darling, will you give me a hand?"
Maud lowers the fire extinguisher, the burnt remains of Rarity's make-up kit smoldering on the floor "... Limestone owes me twenty dollars..."
Rarity weeps into Twilight's shoulder "Whhhyy!?!?! They were so chic!!!"
Twilight awkwardly hugs her weeping friend as Fluttershy applies salves to Rainbow's burns.
"That wasn't very nice Dashie" Pinkie scolds, arms crossed.
"She tied me up and made me her make-up doll. I got pissed and used my lighter to burn the ropes, how was I supposed to know that the perfume she'd been using was flammable?!"
"Basic chemistry?" Sunset asks, trimming the burnt ends of her hair "Ugh, I am glad I don't use product..."
"Thank you Maud. You've saved us from... ourselves, again." Fluttershy whispered.
The taller woman nods "It's what I do."
Rarity sniffles "Has... has anyone noticed that, in a certain light, Maud looks... attractive?"
Pinkie snorts "My sister has to beat the guys and girls off with a petrified pole."
"You mean 'Beat them off with a stick'." Twilight corrects.
Pinkie shakes her head "No, she has a petrified branch to beat people off with. It came from the petrified log she dug up."
"That doesn't surprise me." Rarity says.
Rainbow winces again "Okay, anyone besides me hurt? Because I could use some fresh air." without waiting for an answer, Rainbow runs out of Pinkie room and Fluttershy sighs, closing her first-aid kit "She's always in a rush."
Twilight chuckles "No matter where they're from, Dashes are always running around."
Ruby sets the lattice next to Sparky "I got the stone."
Sparky nods "Thank you, now then..." she takes the lattice and sets it into a wand with wires coming out of it "This should solve the problem of the kinetic recoil..." the tucks the wires into the wand carefully, and screws the panel closed "This is going to work within the parameters according to my simulations."
"So that's to phase through solid matter, right?" Ruby asks, petting Spike.
"No, but that is an invention for another day. This will act like a universal remote with any type of machinery or interface."
Ruby smirks "So... a sonic screwdriver?"
Sparky blinks "I don't understand the pop culture reference you're making."
"It's- never mind, fire away Doctor."
Twilight points the wand at a stereo and presses a button for a second and the stereo comes to life, orchestra music issuing from the speakers "This is a success on machinery, now onto interfaces." she reaches under her desk and retrieves a laptop with several stickers on it "Hey! Put my laptop down!" Ruby demands.
"This is password protected by the tritos megastar software, right?"
Ruby nods "Yes, but what does-"
Sparky opens the laptop and powers it up "I shall now attempt to access the interface and bypass all of the security."
Ruby leaps and grabs the laptop, removing the hard drive "I don't want to lose everything. Now you can try."
Sparky nods and levels the wand at Ruby's computer. Several flashing images appear and disappear before the laptop makes a clicking noise and Ruby's wallpaper appears, several icons going up and down the screen "Success. Sunset, take-"
"'Take note', I know. So it works as expected, that's good, right?"
"That is a success." Sparky replies, setting the wand onto her desk before walking over to Sunset "What did you purchase aside from the lattice?"
"Nothing, I didn't go anywhere else but the park." Ruby replies, setting Spike aside to lay down "Do you ever think about making more friends, Twilight?"
"No, I have your contractual friendship and Spike's non-conditional affections. What else would I need?"
Ruby groans "That's the problem people have with you Twilight; You have no tact or much of a personality."
"I have an abundance of personality, it's just very subtle." Sparky replies, sitting next to Ruby.
"Don't try to make a joke, Twilight, it rarely works."
"Noted." she replies.
Spike barks and Sparky nods "I suppose it is time for me to go to speak with The Professor. I'll be back in an indefinite amount of time."
Ruby sighs, petting Spike's head "We need more friends."
