Personies

The heroes fall through the mirror, back into the world of Equestria, landing on top of each other.

A collective groaning resounds in the room.

"I get the medic-ponies hang in there!" Luna starts running.

"Did everypony make it?"-Twilight counts the present live-forms.-2One, two…seven ponies and one dragon, puh that was close."

Luna comes back with a lot of medics carrying multiple barrows.

"Don´t worry we will take care of you guys," they putt the injured and exhausted group on the barrows and carry them out the room, into the infirmary.

Twilight lies in a comfortable bed, looking out of the nearby window, into a clear, sunny, blue sky.

*knock knock* Celestia walks in "Twilight Sparkle my faithful student; I am glad to see you are doing well."

"I´m sorry princes; I might be, just a bit worn out, but the others. Rainbow Dash got really hurt back there, I´d rather not think about what happened to Pinkie Pie. And Fluttershy is so sensitive these scenes probably will take their toll on her."

Celestia is just standing in front of her bed, listening to every word.

"Princess how are the others? Are they already awake?"

"Applejack and Rarity are doing great, both of them got away fairly easy considering what you all went through, as for Fluttershy she is sleeping safe and sound, Rainbow Dash is currently in the operation room, undergoing some minor surgery, but don´t worry the doctor said she will be fine. Spike and Hunk are already wide awake, Spike wanted to see you right away-" Celestia chuckles "-but you were asleep so he decided to go with Hunk for a walk."

"And what about Pinkie?"

"She is in a coma."

Twilight doesn´t know how to react to this news, she just falls silent.

"Do you like them to visit?"

She answeres with a scarcely audible, "No I would like some time alone."

Celestia gets the subtle hint winks at Twilight and walks out the door.

Meanwhile in the royal garden

"What is so bad about that?" Spike asks while sniffing the fresh air.

"I just want to wait for the right time; Promise me you won´t tell anypony ok?"

"If it means so much to you I promise."

"Thanks Spike" a gratefully smile comes across Hunks white muzzle.

"I have one more thing to ask of you, but first, let´s eat something!"

"Do you think they got rubies here?"

"Only one way to find out!"

Twilight gets up to check on the others, still wobbly on her legs. She goes to see Rarity and Applejack which share a room together.

"Hey girls, am I interrupting anything?"

2Oh Twilight come in we were just talking about how we showed those monsters what happens when you make us mad" Rarity says, sitting upright in her bed.

"You seem to bear this event quite well" Twilight notices.

"Ya know Twilight thinking about stuff like this to much just ain´t good for you." Applejack takes another bite from an apple.

Rarity continues. "Besides Hunk explained in the beginning that these are technically just Dream-creatures, so you can think of them as nothing more than a really vivid nightmare."

"You have a point, but anyways as soon as we are all up and ready I´m going to demand some answers; I want to know what is going on in this other world."

"Twilight you might wanna get some rest to, you gave really all you´ve got back there." Applejack gives her a concerned look.

"I think you´re right; I should take it a bit easier."

The next morning, Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Spike and Hunk are gathered in Celestia´s war room, sitting around a large table.

Celestia speaks up. "Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy will be absent from this meeting."

"Why does Fluttershy not come?" Twilight questions anxiously.

"She went home, she said all she needs now is some time with her animals."

"So then let us begin the meeting. I hoof over the word to Hunk, you may speak now."

"Thank you princess. We gathered here today so I may share my knowledge of the other world with you; I apologize that I didn´t do so earlier but there simply was not enough time, also I will answer all of your questions."

Twilight raises her hoof. "Actually, I have a lot of questions. Let me start at the beginning, why didn´t we all arrive at the same point, but instead got scattered across the whole village, when we entered?"

"It was my fault; I underestimated the power Pinkies other self had over that place, that’s also the reason why Luna couldn´t contact us."

Rarity asks next."Good that you mention it, what exactly is this “other self” thing and what does it mean?"

"As I mentioned in the beginning, the other world is shaped by thoughts and fears of everyone, but the actual other self obtains its form and power from the deepest desires of that person, it feeds on these feelings and obscures them to a form, that the person in question would never show to the world."

"It exists for all inhabitants of Equestria, but here comes the fact that you all are quite famous in play. The people have more thoughts about you then a stranger on the street and this adds up so much that the other world now tries to find its way into this one."

"Whow, whow, whow, hold on a second"-Rainbow Dash interferes-"are you telling me it’s bad to be known by many?" Having a confused and angry look on her face.

Hunk clears is throat, "Well of course that’s not the only factor, but in a way it´s good that you had to deal with this, think about what chance of survival a lesser pony, than the harbinger of harmony, would have."

"But now to the positive part about this, if my assumptions are correct, defeating ones other self and accepting it should grand you its powers, also known as ones Pony-persona or persony for short."

Twilight gives Hunk a strange glimpse, "first of all, that sounds stupid and furthermore what is so positive about a “persony” that it can justify to go into such a horrible world?!"

"My dear Twilight, you would have to go either way, in order to save Equestria, but this persony will help you in fights like this one against Pinkamena, also I said “if my assumptions are correct” so we have to wait until Pinkie Pie comes out of her coma to confirm my hypothesis."

"Oh and one more thing"-Hunk continues-" we should have some time now before the fog returns, we dealt a heavy blow to the corruption of the other world."

Everyone is lost in thoughts, thinking about the new acquired knowledge.

Celestia says, "If no one has any more questions; I declare this conference as over. You are dismissed."

Everybody stands up and begins to leave the room, as Hunk suddenly breaks the silence.

"Ahem, I don´t want to be pushy, but it could take some time until this mission can be labeled as a success, so I wanted to ask if I may be allowed to get to know you guys a bit better."

The ponies give him a leery look.

Aj, with one raised eyebrow "Yea, sure it might help to get known to each other, just come by when you want to talk."

Rarity gives Hunk a judgmental gaze, "But definitely not with this outfit of yours, when you want to be seen with me in public, this strange mask of yours has to go, also your cloak is not appropriate."

Hunk quavers, "Sure I will think of something."

And so they all leave the room.

Hunk goes to check on Pinkie Pie, as he opens the door to her room he is surprised to see Rainbow Dash, sitting beside her bed, with her still bandaged wings and chest.

"Rainbow, you wanted to check on her to; I see."

"Yes the others meant there´s nothing we can do, but still I think it will make her feel better if someone’s here for her when she wakes up."

"You really are a loyal friend Rainbow, by the way how do you feel? You don´t have to answer if you don´t want to."

"Thanks for asking, I am fine, just have to wait until my wounds are healed before I’m allowed to fly again. But to be honest I´m more worried about Pinkie, this other self of her said some really cruel and nasty things; I wonder what she did undergone to feel only a tiny bit of such things." Rainbow has tears dwelling in her eyes.

"I understand your pain, but we only will find out the truth, when Pinkies is willing to tell us. I will leave now… Rainbow?"- She turns to him," Yes?"- Hunk things for a moment "just… stay strong." With this he left.

Hunk strolls through the busy streets of Canterlot "I should get something to eat."

He goes to a restaurant and is surprised to see Rarity sitting there, he things for a moment if he should approach her, but then he remembers what she said "not with this kind of outfit." Or something like that.

"Thank god I always have my spare clothes with me." He turns into a nearby public toilet and changes his clothes, wich he is carrying under his cloak in a saddlebag.

"Hi Rarity how are you doing?"

Rarity looks up from her tea "Hunk is that you?" she looks upon a stallion with a white coat, a white short mane, glasses, red iris, a black suit with a red tie and , of course, a facemask covering his muzzle, but the most noticeably thing about seeing him without this cloak is the white horn on his head.

"So you are a unicorn." Rarity states with a noticeable disinterest in her voice.

"Well kinda." Hunk mutters

"At least you tried to look acceptable why don´t you have a seat."-Hunk sets himself on the chair opposite to Rarity across this round small coffee-table- "So what brings you to me? Is it my magnificent look?" Rarity chuckles.

"Not exactly, it was really more of a coincident, but if we are already sitting here together we could get to know each other."

"Yes it might indeed be for the best to know about a little bit about each other, so what do you want to know?"

"It´s more an observation than a question, but you were able to handle yourself pretty well against these monstrosities, I have to admit I am impressed."

"Do you think I´m just pretty looking? I´ve got much more talents and being able to handle myself in risky situations is one of them." "Now I have a question for you! Why are you always hiding your face?"

Hunk´s eyes look overwhelmed, "to be honest I don´t really know myself, I just feel awkward not doing so."

The two of them chatting some more until the sun dawns and both decide to get home.

Hunk has a room prepared for him in the castle.

The next morning Hunk is awoken by a loud banging on his door.

"Hunk are you up yet? Hurry Pinkie awoke!" Rainbow Dash´s voice penetrates through the door.

Hunk jumps out of the bed, puts on his suit and facemask and hurries to Pinkies room.

Upon arrival he sees Twilight, Rarity, Aj and of course Rainbow already gathered around Pinkies bed.

"I´m so happy to see you all visiting me; I really have the best friends in all of Equestria." Pinkie says in a happy tone.

"Ah Hunk, now that you are here we can get going with the business." Twilight seems impatient.

Aj interferes, "Don’t you think we should give her a break?"

Twilight doesn´t even notices Applejack´s comment.

Hunk feels uncertain, "Yes sure, so Pinkie is it alright to ask you what that other part of you meant?"

"Not that, I mean about her perso…"- Hunk puts his hoof other her mouth- "Everything at the proper time."

Pinkie looks confused, but still answers. "The truth is I wasn´t always the joyful party pony I am today. Once I was a depressed little filly on a rock farm, the sky was always grey, no sun, no happiness just rocks to roll over. My parents didn’t pay me the least of attention; I had no friends beside my sisters, one day I began to hurt animals,"- She begins to cry-" and it felt good, to see other things see suffer made me feel less… alone, less painful."

Pinkie cries so hard, she is unable to continue speaking.

"Happy now Twilight?!" Rarity says in an upset tone.

"No,"- Pinkie interrupts – " It´s all right, it feels good to share this with somepony else."

Pinkie forces a smile.

"Twilight can I talk to you for a moment? Outside." Hunk whispers to Twilight.

She simply nods, seemingly annoyed. Both of them leave the room in silence.

"Twilight my dear; I know you want to know as much as possible, but my theory about the personies can only be confirmed when we go back into the other world. I will talk with Pinkie about this when she has calmed down and I will immediately inform you about any new information, but until then I need you to be more sensitive about this issue."

She responds with a loud shout, even the others in Pinkies room can hear it. "You don´t have the right to boss me around! We nearly know nothing about you and you act up like you be the king of all in the universe!"

Hunk reacts huffy, " Well fine little miss princess; I´m going and will not talk to you until you calmed down and understand what’s at stake here!"

Hunk walks away and leaves behind a baffled Twilight.