A Pony by Any Other Nameby Tennis Match FanChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 1Drama Letter tucked the pieces of parchment into her saddlebag as she rushed down the dusty road. She was on her way to play practice at the Ponyville Theater, and for some reason, Drama Letter has slept in for longer than usual. "I hope Fair Sophisticata and Fair Golden Hazel will forgive my tardiness," she murmured to herself as the theater came into view. Drama Letter quickened her pace, eager to show off the final additions to the script for the play she and her drama friends were producing. Drama Letter pushed open the doors and galloped straight up to the stage. "Sophisticata, I ask for your forgiveness, as my absence is most unusual," Drama Letter gasped, out of breath from her run. Sophisticata, a mint green unicorn with a brown mane tied up in a neat bun, smiled a little bit. "Don't beat yourself up, Drama Letter," she responded, "but we have!" "Draaaaaaaama Letterrrrrrrrrrr!" The third member of their group, Golden Hazel, swooped down from the ceiling to join the girls. "I'm soooo glad your finally here! Me and Sophisticata-" "Sophisticata and I," Sophisticata corrected her, but Golden Hazel paid no attention. "-we were waiting for you but it's alright now and we can get down to business because I looove to work on plays! And this play will be the best play in the whole world!" As Golden Hazel chattered, Drama Letter's eyes followed her poofy orange mane, bouncing with every word Golden Hazel said. "I, too, enjoy theatre," Drama Letter responded cheerfully, pulling out the script. Sophisticata immediately grabbed it in her orange magic aura and silently began to read. Drama Letter and Golden Hazel watched her scan the pages. Drama Letter had finished a short play about a mare who felt unlucky because everywhere she went, vases were accidentally dropped on her head. It turned out that her friend had enchanted the vases to pop up anywhere she went, but the enchantment went wrong and the vases landed on her head instead! In the end, the mare is friend broke the enchantment and they ate cake to celebrate. Drama Letter smiled as she recapped the play in her mind. "Very nice," Sophisticata commented, glancing up at Drama Letter as she neared the end of the script. "I'm going to be the main character, right?" Golden Hazel asked, excitedly flapping her wings. "'All the world's a stage,'" Drama Letter quoted. "Oh! Uh, does thou not always play the lead role?" Golden Hazel giggled. "Yeah!" She responded. Drama Letter grinned. "Uh, Drama Letter, can I talk to you for a moment?" Sophisticata asked quietly. "You may," Drama Letter said. "We'll be right back," Sophisticata told Golden Hazel, who simply nodded. "What does thou wish to speak to me about?" Drama Letter asked as Sophisticata led her to the stage wings. Sophisticata hesitated, then held up the script. "Golden Hazel is a brilliant actor, don't get me wrong, but I was wondering if I could play the main character this time," Sophisticata explained. "Then who shall Fair Golden Hazel act as?" Drama Letter asked. "Does it not make more sense to cast Golden Hazel as the main part?" Sophisticata thought for a moment, then sighed. "It's not worth the change, you're right," she admitted, lowering the parchment. "Golden Hazel will be Flowery Danger." "Yes, but is there anything else I can accommodate you with?" Drama Letter asked as they returned to Golden Hazel. "I should not want any of my wonderful friends unhappy." "It's fine," Sophisticata insisted. "Hey." Golden Hazel stood right in front of them, and Drama Letter almost bumped into her. She and Sophisticata turned their attention to the sandy-gold pegasus. Her expression was hard, like a timberwolf that had just cornered prey. "What is it, Golden Hazel?" Sophisticata asked. "You guys are wasting time," Golden Hazel trumped. "Keeping secrets from your lead performer when we could be practicing!" Drama Letter exchanged a glance with Sophisticata. Golden Hazel's mood could change in an instant. Fitting she's a pegasus, Drama Letter mused, because she's as unpredictable as weather in the Everfree! "Hazy, calm down," Sophisticata told her. "Please, Fair Golden Hazel," Drama Letter added. Golden Hazel crossed her arms over her chest. "I QUIT!" She yelled, so loudly Drama Letter thought the ponies in Manehattan could hear them. Golden Hazel flapped her wings and took off for the exit. "Wait!" Sophisticata called, putting a hoof out as if to stop Golden Hazel. "We need thou to continue practice!" Drama Letter added. Sophisticata jumped off the stage, and Drama Letter followed. "Berry Punch, stop Golden Hazel!" Sophisticata yelled, waving her hooves frantically. Drama Letter watched as she dashed out the door. She was now left alone, standing at the exit to the theater. "I suppose that extra running now serves no useful purpose," she sighed. Drama Letter cantered back to the stage to collect the pages of her script. Sophisticata had strewn them on the stage after rushing after Golden Hazel. After packing up her saddlebags, Drama Letter stopped by the bulletin board, which held notices for events such as book clubs, poetry readings, and acting classes for fillies and colts. One flier in particular, a pale grey one, caught Drama Letter's eye. "'Poetry Reading by Indigo Wreath Tomorrow,'" she read, knowing that "tomorrow" meant "today", "'at Golden Oaks Library. Come from 7 until noon, with breaks every half hour. Twilight Sparkle and Bon Bon will be serving biscuits.' "Well," Drama Letter decided, "It seems that in place of play practice, I shall be listening to Indigo Wreath's lovely poetry for a short while." Chapter 2Drama Letter knew the library wasn't too far from the Theater, even though she didn't go often. "Actually," Drama Letter corrected herself, "No location is ever too far in a quaint town such as Ponyville." Drama Letter broke into a trot. "I wonder what the subject of Sir Indigo's prose shall be," Drama Letter mused. "His poetry, I am aware, is always filled with beauty and description, yet he does not speak of it often." Drama Letter had only heard Indigo Wreath perform for the public once or twice. She had gotten a private show once. Indigo Wreath had a smooth voice and his poetry was full of detailed descriptions of the world, but Drama Letter felt his works lacked depth and hidden meaning in them. If Indigo said the flowers smelled sweet, that was exactly what he meant. The flowers weren't a metaphor for love or life or anything. "Hi Drama Letter!" A bubblegum pink Earth Pony popped out of a nearby bush, interrupting Drama Letter's train of thought. "Pinkie Pie!" Drama Letter took a step backwards instinctively. "Where, pray tell, was the necessity in that surprise?" "I have to tell you something super!" Pinkie Pie replied, bouncing around Drama Letter in excitement. "Something super exciting and unusual will happen to you today!" Pinkie Pie leaned in and opened her eyes wide. "My Pinkie Sense tingled right as I looked at you! It went like this!" Pinkie Pie stopped talking to demonstrate the Pinkie Sense to Drama Letter. Her poofy hair shook as Pinkie imitated the typical Pinkie Sense spasm. "Something very big is going to happen!" Pinkie stopped shaking and leaned in closer so that she and Drama Letter were muzzle to muzzle. "I thank you, Fair Pinkie Pie," Drama Letter responded after a moment. "I will sure to be mindful of the big event you speak of." "No problem!" Pinkie resumed bouncing. "I gotta go now! See ya!" "I bid you farewell!" Drama Letter smiled as she resumed trotting. Drama Letter believed in Pinkie's Pinkie Sense- who didn't? But surely the "Big Event" was going to happen at the library- or would it? "Perhaps Indigo shall recite poetry with depth," she joked to herself. As she chuckled, Drama Letter glanced up. She exclaimed, "Ah! I have arrived!" The front door was open, so Drama Letter trotted right in. The lights were dimmed, and a group of ponies was seated around a grey stallion with a berry purple mane. Drama Letter took a seat at the back of the crowd to listen. "I see the light reflecting off the dew," Indigo Wreath recited in a wondrous tone. "A prism of color, created from that light! From the water springs forth spring itself!" The crowd clapped as Indigo Wreath finished his poem. Drama Letter clapped along, genuinely liking the bit of poetry she had heard. But he should have implied something, like the rainbow representing different personality traits, perhaps, Drama Letter thought as the clapping slowed and somepony turned the lights on. Nah, it doesn't matter. Indigo is fine the way he is. "Hello, Drama Letter!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, coming up to Drama Letter. "So nice to see you! I was talking to Sophisticata the other day, and she said you were having play practice today. Is it over already?" "Fair Golden Hazel had one of her mood swings," Drama Letter explained. "I had no other plans, so I thought I would stop by to listen for a little while." Twilight nodded. "Well, now that you're here, I've been meaning to show you some of the play manuscripts I found in this library last week!" Twilight held up a biscuit in her pink aura. "Here, take a biscuit while I go get them." She placed the biscuit in Drama Letter's hoof and dashed off to another section of the library. Drama Letter took a bite of the biscuit and fell instantly in love. The biscuit was soft and chewy, like the raw cookie dough she liked to eat as a filly. It was still warm, which meant it was fresh from the oven. "Divine!" She exclaimed as she munched. Drama Letter leaned against the wall. She heard a sharp click and fell backwards. "Holy hay!" Drama Letter gasped as a small compartment opened up behind her. She peered inside. There was a little piece of parchment right there. Drama Letter picked it up. "'Multiverse reverse, flip the script, identical portal,'" she read. "I wonder: what they are supposed to indicate?" Suddenly, spirals of green and pink light flew up around her. The parchment was forgotten as the light swirled around Drama Letter. "Drama Letter!" Twilight, being apparently the only pony who had noticed the phenomenon, rushed over with scrolls in her hooves. "What happened?" Drama Letter watched the lights dissipate almost as suddenly as they had appeared. "I seem to have found a compartment that activated those lights," Drama Letter remarked, completely forgetting the parchment paper that lay on the ground beside her hoof. She gazed around the room, still a bit shocked. Twilight narrowed her eyes and stared at the wall. "This place is full of secret compartments and that stuff," Twilight responded. "Even I haven't seen all of them, so watch your step." Twilight leaned in closer and added in a whisper, "If you ask me, the pony that built this place was crazy!" Twilight twirled her hoof next to her head. "Anyway, do you want these manuscripts checked out before Indigo Wreath starts again?" Drama Letter's mind was still on the spirals, so she simply nodded. After Twilight quickly checked the scrolls out, Drama Letter tucked them into her saddlebag. "Fair Twilight Sparkle, may I request more of these delicious biscuits?" Drama Letter asked. Twilight's face lit up in delight. "You like them? I made them! I've been experimenting with new recipes, but nopony was really eating them today!" Twilight produced an entire jar of biscuits and gently set it on Drama Letter's back. "Thank you!" "The pleasure is mine!" Drama Letter responded. "I am ready to continue!" Indigo Wreath called out. "I will see you soon, Fair Twilight," Drama Letter whispered as Indigo began to recite. "Though I shall stick around a while longer." "Bye!" Twilight waved, and then she tip-toed back to the front of the group. Drama Letter nommed on a cookie as Indigo recited some more poetry. Eventually, Drama Letter decided to head back home, so she took one last glance at the library, then snuck out the door. Chapter 3Drama Letter pushed her red door open and immediately dumped her saddlebags on the floor. The half-empty biscuit jar went on the floor next to them in a more gentle manner. "Now, what activity shall I partake in now?" Drama Letter asked herself. "Who's there?" A cautious voice broke into her thoughts. Drama Letter froze. Somepony was in her house! 'What?' Drama Letter thought wildly. Her heart raced. She felt dizzy with fear. Drama Letter put a hoof out to steady herself. "Lyrock? Are you pranking me again?" The voice asked another question. It sounded more amused than cautious. Drama Letter swallowed. She decided to respond this time. "I am Drama Letter, and thou art trespassing in my dwelling," She replied. She took several steps forward, but not too many so she couldn't see who was invading. "Out, dunghill!" Drama Letter tilted her head. She peeked into the next room. What Drama Letter saw almost gave her a heart attack. "Who the hay are you?" She cried, completely dropping her usual manner of speech. Standing in the middle of Drama Letter's parlor was an Earth Pony mare. But she wasn't just any Earth Pony. This mare had a rosy pink coat. Her cropped mane was bright green with light green highlights. Her eyes were orbs of dark pink wonder. A black treble clef adorned her flank. To put it simply, this mare was identical to Drama Letter in every way- save for a few small details. Her tail was spikier, for one thing, and she had a red beret on her head. Drama Letter only wore hers on special occasions. "Funny cosplay, Lyrock." The mare giggled. "You forgot my beret, though! Gotta have my beret!" "I don't know who Lyrock is! What are you doing in my house? Who are you?!" At Drama Letter's frantic questioning, the mare stopped giggling and frowned. "Wait a minute..." She trailed off, and Drama Letter watched her gaze slide and refocus on a book shelf. The mare grabbed a book of the shelf in an instant, like she was Fili-Second from the Power Pony comics. "My Sister the Vampony? I've never touched that series in my life!" She threw the book back on the shelf. "Hey!" Drama Letter began to protest, but the mare brushed past her and dashed outside. Drama Letter scrambled after the newcomer. "I don't live in Ponyville!" The mare yelled in shock. She quickly shut the door, and Drama Letter noticed a panicked gleam in her eye. "Who are you?" "I already stated my name is Drama Letter," Drama Letter replied in a calmer voice. "And by what name is though called?" "W-watermelody," the mare answered promptly, though there was a quiver in her voice. "What is this? Some alternate dimension?" "Perhaps that is a correct theory." Drama Letter realized Pinkie Pie had been right. This was turning out to be no ordinary day! And the lights at the library. Could this be connected? Before she could delve into the theory further, Drama Letter refocused her attention on Watermelody, who was looking around. "It doesn't look that different," she remarked. "I mean, aside for some minor details, like being in Ponyville and the neatness in this room, we're the same pony living in the same house!" "I agree," Drama Letter replied, stepping up beside Drama Letter. "But it shall be best for us to see Fair Twilight Sparkle in concern to your return home." At the mention of Twilight, Watermelody perked up. "Oh, you know her, too?" Watermelody exclaimed. "Sweet! Let's go see her!" "Wait!" Drama Letter held up a hoof in protest. "Does though not think it shall arouse public suspicion if we go out? The both of us- together?" "Good point," Watermelody admitted. "Lucky you and I are cosplay masters!" She held up her hoof for a high-hoof, but Drama Letter did not comply. "What is this 'colsplay' you speak of?" She questioned. Watermelody frowned. She lowered her hoof. "I guess this universe is kinda different after all," she remarked. "Anyways, cosplay is like dress up! Come on! I bet you have extra Halloween- er, Nightmare Night costumes upstairs!" Without further warning, Watermelody raced upstairs, leaving Drama Letter to scramble after her. Watermelody knew exactly where to go to get to the closet. Drama Letter caught up to her just as Watermelody threw open the doors of her oak closet. "I went as Juliet last year!" Drama Letter volunteered as Watermelody peered through her closet. "You mean from Romeo and Juliet?" Watermelody asked curiously. "There's no horse pun for that? Um, never mind. Anyway, I could use that!" Watermelody took her beret off and replaced it with Juliet's curly blue mane. "Perfect! I think we're good to go!" Drama Letter studied Watermelody's simple costume. She looked off, somehow- perhaps because she was Drama Letter from an alternate dimension. Of course that would be unnerving, Drama Letter thought to herself. "We should hurry," she said aloud as they returned downstairs. As an afterthought, she added, "Then again, it is peculiar for a pony from another universe to show up in one's house! Perhaps you should stay awhile!" Drama Letter meant it as a joke, and the pair laughed. Drama Letter opened up the door, and she and Watermelody stepped into the morning sunlight. Luckily, not to many ponies were milling about. "This is cool!" Watermelody remarked. "I've never been to Ponyville before!" Drama Letter smiled as she observed Watermelody's curious expression. "Ponyville 'tis a wonderful place!" She responded. Chapter 4As Drama Letter and Watermelody walked, Watermelody began to pepper Drama Letter with questions. "So, where do you hang out with your friends? Why do you talk funny? Don't you wear a beret? Do you celebrate Earth Day? Have you ever flown in Cherry Berry's hot air balloon? I have, it was fun, but I was actually-" "Woah!" Drama Letter smiled as she held up a hoof to indicate Stop. "I request thou to slow thy speech! "I enjoy producing plays, attending picnics, and converse with my companions. I do wear a beret like yours on occasion, and I am not aware of your 'Earth Day'. Finally, I have never requested a flight from Fair Cherry Berry." Drama Letter paused for a breath. "Does thou wish to ask any other questions?" Watermelody's attention, however, was not on her. "Hi, Flower Child!" Watermelody yelled to a pale Pegasus mare with wavy turquoise hair. She stopped walking and turned to look at them. She cocked her head to the side, as if to ask Drama Letter, 'Is she talking to me?' "Uh," Drama Letter murmured, unsure of what to say. "Fair Watermelody, her name is not Flower Child. Her name is instead Paisley." "Oh." A blush crept over Watermelody's face before she frowned. To Paisley, she called, "Never mind! I mistook you for somepony else!" Paisley smiled and nodded like she knew exactly how Watermelody was feeling. "This universe has way different names," Watermelody remarked, tugging on her wig so it fit over her mane better. Drama Letter laughed. "Did thou think we would be the only ones to have differing names?" She asked. Watermelody rolled her eyes. "I guess not," she responded. "Anyway, how much farther 'till Twilight's house?" "About 3 more- oh no!" Drama Letter smacked her hoof against her forehead. "I art a crusty botch of nature!" "I'm not sure you're supposed to use 'art' that way, but never mind. What is it?" A concerned Watermelody asked. "Twilight is hosting a poetry reading," Drama Letter explained, "that shall not he concluded for hours. I have forgotten all about it! 'My words fly up; my thoughts remain below!'" "Please don't say stuff I have no clue about." Watermelody giggled. "That's it? Don't sweat it, I'm sure Twilight will be understanding enough!" Drama Letter saw the truth in Watermelody's statement. "Perhaps you are right," she conceded. "Fair Twilight Sparkle is a just and understanding citizen. Let us hurry, so that we may resolve this mess faster!" "Totally!" Watermelody responded as she and Drama Letter sped up from a trot to a canter. "I don't think I could last another hour in this strange world!" Despite wanting Watermelody safe in her own universe, Drama Letter couldn't help feeling a twinge of annoyance Watermelody was so quick to leave. She's probably missing her friends, Drama Letter reasoned with herself. I'm going to assume she's as loyal as I am. Soon, the duo found themselves right in front of Golden Oaks Library. "This is pretty modest," Watermelody remarked, looking the place up and down. "I was expecting something more... majestic." "Fair Twilight has always resided here," Drama Letter answered. "Oh. Well, I wonder if she lives like this at home. I've never actually been to her house before!" It took Drama Letter a second to realize "home" meant "other dimension." "Maybe," she responded simply. She quietly opened the door. Indigo Wreath was still reciting his poetry to an enthralled audience. "Come on!" Drama Letter whispered to Watermelody. They crept around the fringe of the crowd and over to Twilight, who was sitting near the front. "Fair Twilight, I need to speak with thou about a most urgent matter!" Drama Letter whispered to her unicorn friend. Twilight looked up, surprise evident on her face. "We can go upstairs," she responded without question. Motioning for Watermelody to follow, Drama Letter followed Twilight upstairs. She had never been to that part of the house before. From what Drama Letter could tell in the dim light, it was a rather small room table the top of the tree, with a desk and several cupboards. Twilight flipped a switch, and a lamp next to the window flickered to life. "What can I do for you, Drama Letter?" She asked amiably. "Did you- oh! You brought a friend!" Twilight apparently had just noticed Watermelody. "What's your name?" "My name is Watermelody, and let me say it is an honor to meet you, your majesty," Watermelody responded. Drama Letter tried not to roll her eyes as Watermelody closed her eyes and dropped to her hooves in a bow. Twilight shot a questioning look to Drama Letter. "Fair Watermelody," Drama Letter began right as Watermelody peeked open one eye. Before Drama Letter could get an farther, Watermelody gasped in horror." "Twilight Sparkle! You're not an alicorn!" She exclaimed, leaping to her hooves in shock. "You're not a princess!" Twilight giggled. "I've never been an alicorn princess in my entire life!" She responded. "It's a prestigious title, one I admire, but I'm content being a normal unicorn, researching magic and being myself. Whatever gave you the notion I had wings?" Watermelody's mouth opened and closed, still in disbelief. Her eyelid twitched. Drama Letter sighed. In one swift move, she knocked the wig off Watermelody's head. It was Twilight's turn to gasp. "But- why- how?!" She stammered, "I mean, you're- you're identical!" "Fair Watermelody was transported to my house from an alternate dimension Drama Letter explained. "A fairly shocking event, to say the least." Twilight nodded, eyes wide with wonder. "That's fascinating," she marveled. "I mean, I've been on a journey to another dimension myself, but never met my counterpart!" As she spoke, Watermelody seemed to grab a hold of herself. She shook her head wildly, as if to clear her mind. "This a nice universe," she commented with some force. "Now, could you please get me back home where things are normal?" Chapter 5Twilight nodded. "I know how upsetting it can be to be separated from your friends, Dra- Watermelody," she corrected herself. "I'm sure we'll have you out of her in a jiffy." "Oh, thank Celestia!" Watermelody exclaimed. She added, "That is, Celestia is the princess here, right?" "Correct," Drama Letter confirmed as Twilight answered, "Right." They locked gazes and suddenly laughed. "Right. Can we start doing whatever it is we're going to do now?" Watermelody asked impatiently. "Of course. I'll need to do some research on the subject. If Watermelody didn't come through a tangible portal- uh, a definite portal, like you step through it," Twilight hastily explained, noticing Drama Letter's and Watermelody's twin expressions of confusion. "Anyway, if she popped up here from an indefinite portal, I'll need to find a spell to send her back." "A teleportation spell?" Watermelody suggested eagerly. "In theory, I suppose a modified version could work," Twilight answered. "Come on, let's go downstairs." Twilight led them back to the main level, where Indigo Wreath was still reciting his poetry. "Excuse me!" Twilight cleared her throat. Immediately, everypony in the room had their eyes fixated on her. "I'm really sorry, everypony- especially you, Indigo -but an emergency has come up, and I need to do some research in the library. I'm afraid this means you have to leave." "But he was just getting to the good part!" Lyra Heartstrings shouted. "Hush, Lyra," her friend Bon Bon muttered, embarrassed. "It's true!" Lyra protested. Drama Letter watched, amused, as Bon Bon stuck a hoof in Lyra's mouth like a cork in a bottle. "Thanks for the time, Twilight," Indigo told her. "It was fun while it lasted." One by one, the ponies began to leave the library. Most went without complaint, but someponies grumbled about the interruption. Understandably, Drama Letter thought. She wouldn't want to be dragged away from a good poetry reading because somepony needed to do research! Finally, almost everypony was gone. The only two ponies remaining were two of Drama Letter's best friends. "What's wrong, Drama Letter?" Cherry Crash asked, flapping her wings twice before folding them against her side. She and Mystery Mint stood in the center of the room, staring curiously at Twilight and Drama Letter. "I'm afraid that's not-" Twilight began, but Drama Letter cut her off. "'Tis alright, Fair Twilight Sparkle. They should be included!" She said to Mystery and Cherry Crash, "Girls, something unexpected has happened?" "You're not pregnant, are you?" Mystery asked, staring anxiously at Drama Letter with wide cerise eyes. "Not that that would be a bad thing, but that always happens in fiction! But don't worry, I'm here to support you, no matter what happens!" Mystery smiled kindly. Cherry Crash just laughed. "Your face, Drama Letter!" She exclaimed. Drama Letter's mouth was agape, her eyes widened in shock at Mystery's theory. "Are you Lyrock?" Watermelody broke in, emerging from the shadows she had apparently been concealed in. Cherry Crash took to the air. "Who, me? No- wait, who are you? Did you get cloned, Drama Letter?" "So this is your unexpected event," Mystery commented. To Watermelody, she said, "Hi! I'm Mystery Mint! Who are you?" "I'm Watermelody," Watermelody answered. "I'm from an alternate universe!" "Wow! That's unexpected!" Mystery trotted up to Watermelody and Drama Letter. "Nice to meet you! So, uh, is there a Mystery Mint in your world?" "Yeah, she's one of my best friends!" Watermelody responded. "That's amazing! How long are you staying in Ponyville?" "That's what I came to Twilight for. I want to go home as soon as I can!" Watermelody responded. Drama Letter coughed, but nopony noticed. "Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Cherry Crash cut in. "Hold on. If your name isn't Lyrock than what is it?" Watermelody brushed the question aside with a question of her own. A confused expression appeared on Cherry Crash's face. "It's Cherry Crash, but why- oh. Some ponies in your universe have different names here? Drama Letter and Watermelody? Cherry Crash and Lyrock?" "Yeah!" Watermelody answered. "You got it!" "Sorry to interrupt," Twilight interrupted with an impatient tone, "but I really need to get to my research if Watermelody wants to return home anytime soon." "Right, Twilight. We'll be out in a minute." Mystery smiled at Drama Letter. "So, are we gonna hang around here all day?" "I am not sure," Drama Letter answered. Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Fair Watermelody, would you be interested in a tour of Ponyville?" "Hey, that's a great idea!" Cherry Crash exclaimed as Twilight herded them out of the library. "I'm not sure-" Watermelody began, but Mystery cut her off. "I'd understand if you don't want to, but it would be so exciting!" Mystery encouraged her. Watermelody's gaze fell to each mare in the room. When she locked stairs with Drama Letter, Drama Letter knew Watermelody didn't want to go. Still, she couldn't think of anything better to do while they waited for Twilight. "Fair Watermelody," Drama Letter spoke with an encouraging smile, "please accept this offer. There is nothing better to do whilst we wait." "Oh, alright!" Watermelody relented. "I'll go!" Chapter 6"So, Watermelody, what's the Mystery Mint from your world like?" Mystery asked as soon as Twilight swung the library door shut. "Well," Watermelody responded (a bit hesitantly, Drama Letter noticed), "she really enthusiastic about everything, and she wears a pink leopard print scarf." "Leopards are really cute!" Mystery added. "I remember when Fluttershy brought that baby leopard to Ponyville!" "After she found it while on a safari down South!" Cherry Crash continued. "I have never known her to bring around such an exotic creature such as this!" Drama Letter added. Sneaking a glance at Watermelody, she noticed the look of annoyance and boredom on her double's face. "Has thou ever seen a leopard?" Drama Letter questioned her. "Yeah, I went to the zoo once," Watermelody responded, trying to muster enthusiasm and failing. "Sorry," Mystery apologized. "That was off topic. Anything else about your Mystery?" "Well, she's going out with Flower Child- that's Paisley in your universe," Watermelody answered. "I think relationships are the same here, am I right?" Drama Letter glanced at Mystery, knowing what the answer would be. Her blue unicorn friend was turning pink. "Um, well," she began, "it's just that, oh dear, um- I don't really, uh-" "She's interested in stallions, not mares," Cherry Crash finished blatantly. Everypony stared at her in shock. "Cherry!" Drama Letter hissed. "That was very insulting and rude, and thou should apologize immediately." "No offense, Watermelody," Mystery finished lamely. "None taken." Watermelody sighed and stared up into the crystal clear skies. "What troubles you, Fair Watermelody?" Drama Letter asked. "Homesickness?" Watermelody nodded. "I was hoping she'd have something else in common with my universe," Watermelody admitted, "but-" "Sorry to interrupt, Watermelody," Cherry Crash interrupted, not looking sorry at all. She flew high into the sky. Drama Letter, Mystery, and Watermelody shielded their eyes to get a good look at her. "But difference isn't a bad thing!" Cherry continued, swooping back down. Now where was the point in that show? Drama Letter asked herself. Effect? Cherry Crash kept going. "Our Mystery here can do great stuff! Show her your weather magic, Mystery!" "I'd really-" Watermelody began. "Fair Cherry Cr-" Drama Letter started. "I think-" Mystery tried to speak, but Cherry cut them all off. "No 'if's, 'and's, or 'but's!" She cried. The foal-like spirit inside Drama Letter roared with laughter at buts. A giggle escaped her, and Drama Letter was pleasantly surprised that Watermelody giggled as well. "Oh, please." Cherry Crash rolled her eyes, but Drama Letter could see she wasn't truly annoyed. "Mystery, just do your thing!" "Alright," Mystery agreed with a slight hesitation. "Watch this, Watermelody!" Her horn lit up in a series glow. Drama Letter, Watermelody, and Cherry Crash watched as Mystery closed her eyes in concentration. Her magic formed into a current, arching back towards the ground. A mini tornado formed in the glow of Mystery's magic. When Mystery opened her eyes, the glow dissipated. All the remained was the tornado, spinning harmlessly in front of them. "Isn't it amazing?" Cherry Crash gushed. "They really provide an extra effect to our shows! What do you think, Watermelody?" Drama Letter turned to hear Watermelody's reply, but her double seemed shocked by the display. Her thin, round irises reminded Drama Letter of a solar eclipse. Watermelody's mouth formed a tiny o shape. "Fair Watermelody?" Drama Letter began cautiously, "are-" "She could never do that," Watermelody cut her off in almost a whisper. Drama Letter and Mystery exchanged nervous glances. "Watermelody, I'm sor-" Mystery began. "No!" Watermelody's eyes suddenly snapped shut. "This is too different! It's wrong!" "What?" Mystery asked, taken aback. "She cannot process the differences between her world and ours," Drama Letter summarized, "Fair Watermelody, I assure you Fair Twilight will have you home so-" "I need it to be a perfect world now!" Watermelody cried in retaliation. Somepony needs to let others finish their sentences. Drama Letter couldn't help being irritated every time Watermelody cut one of them off. Watermelody was looking around like a prisoner searching for an escape. In an instant Drama Letter knew what she was going to do. "Fair Watermelody, please don't-" Drama Letter cut herself off as Watermelody galloped away. "Wait!" Drama Letter began to chase Watermelody, but Mystery grabbed onto Drama Letter's shoulder. "Hold on. You shouldn't chase her," Mystery pointed out, "because you'll scare her." "Perfectionist much?" Cherry Crash remarked. "Fair Watermelody is not accustomed to the differences between her and us. She cannot cope," Drama Letter responded. "Argh, dunghill! I could see that she was not comfortable here, and yet I did nothing to prevent this outburst!" "Hey, Drama Letter, don't take it out on yourself. I'm sure this would've happened anyhow." Mystery's voice was calm and soothing as she put a comforting hoof on Drama Letter's shoulder. "Right now, we have to find her so we can help her get back home!" Drama Letter smiled at Mystery, grateful for the encouragement. "Truly, your words speak wisdom," Drama Letter told her "Where shall we begin our search?" "Can I just say one thing before we do?" Cherry Crash asked, coming up to stand beside Drama Letter. "Of course!" Drama Letter answered. Cherry Crash nodded. Then she threw her hooves up in the air. "What the hay was she thinking?!" She cried in exasperation. "'Oh, I'm trapped in a world I hate, so I'll just run off and delay my return home!'" "You aren't helping, Cherry Crash," Mystery told her, obviously annoyed. "There's nothing wrong with Watermelody." "Fair Watermelody panicked," Drama Letter added. "Are you not aware of the 'fight or flight' instinct?" "Yeah, yeah," Cherry Crash replied impatiently. "When in danger instinct tells you fight it off or run away. I went to school, you know! "You know what else?" Cherry Crash added before Drama Letter could elaborate on the subject, "forget I even mentioned it. Let's find Watermelody!" "Agreed. As I had asked before thou interrupted, 'Where shall begin our search?'" "Drama Letter! Cherry Crash! The most obvious answer just came to me!" Mystery responded excitedly. "We start with an air search!" Chapter 7Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 8Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter 1Drama Letter tucked the pieces of parchment into her saddlebag as she rushed down the dusty road. She was on her way to play practice at the Ponyville Theater, and for some reason, Drama Letter has slept in for longer than usual. "I hope Fair Sophisticata and Fair Golden Hazel will forgive my tardiness," she murmured to herself as the theater came into view. Drama Letter quickened her pace, eager to show off the final additions to the script for the play she and her drama friends were producing. Drama Letter pushed open the doors and galloped straight up to the stage. "Sophisticata, I ask for your forgiveness, as my absence is most unusual," Drama Letter gasped, out of breath from her run. Sophisticata, a mint green unicorn with a brown mane tied up in a neat bun, smiled a little bit. "Don't beat yourself up, Drama Letter," she responded, "but we have!" "Draaaaaaaama Letterrrrrrrrrrr!" The third member of their group, Golden Hazel, swooped down from the ceiling to join the girls. "I'm soooo glad your finally here! Me and Sophisticata-" "Sophisticata and I," Sophisticata corrected her, but Golden Hazel paid no attention. "-we were waiting for you but it's alright now and we can get down to business because I looove to work on plays! And this play will be the best play in the whole world!" As Golden Hazel chattered, Drama Letter's eyes followed her poofy orange mane, bouncing with every word Golden Hazel said. "I, too, enjoy theatre," Drama Letter responded cheerfully, pulling out the script. Sophisticata immediately grabbed it in her orange magic aura and silently began to read. Drama Letter and Golden Hazel watched her scan the pages. Drama Letter had finished a short play about a mare who felt unlucky because everywhere she went, vases were accidentally dropped on her head. It turned out that her friend had enchanted the vases to pop up anywhere she went, but the enchantment went wrong and the vases landed on her head instead! In the end, the mare is friend broke the enchantment and they ate cake to celebrate. Drama Letter smiled as she recapped the play in her mind. "Very nice," Sophisticata commented, glancing up at Drama Letter as she neared the end of the script. "I'm going to be the main character, right?" Golden Hazel asked, excitedly flapping her wings. "'All the world's a stage,'" Drama Letter quoted. "Oh! Uh, does thou not always play the lead role?" Golden Hazel giggled. "Yeah!" She responded. Drama Letter grinned. "Uh, Drama Letter, can I talk to you for a moment?" Sophisticata asked quietly. "You may," Drama Letter said. "We'll be right back," Sophisticata told Golden Hazel, who simply nodded. "What does thou wish to speak to me about?" Drama Letter asked as Sophisticata led her to the stage wings. Sophisticata hesitated, then held up the script. "Golden Hazel is a brilliant actor, don't get me wrong, but I was wondering if I could play the main character this time," Sophisticata explained. "Then who shall Fair Golden Hazel act as?" Drama Letter asked. "Does it not make more sense to cast Golden Hazel as the main part?" Sophisticata thought for a moment, then sighed. "It's not worth the change, you're right," she admitted, lowering the parchment. "Golden Hazel will be Flowery Danger." "Yes, but is there anything else I can accommodate you with?" Drama Letter asked as they returned to Golden Hazel. "I should not want any of my wonderful friends unhappy." "It's fine," Sophisticata insisted. "Hey." Golden Hazel stood right in front of them, and Drama Letter almost bumped into her. She and Sophisticata turned their attention to the sandy-gold pegasus. Her expression was hard, like a timberwolf that had just cornered prey. "What is it, Golden Hazel?" Sophisticata asked. "You guys are wasting time," Golden Hazel trumped. "Keeping secrets from your lead performer when we could be practicing!" Drama Letter exchanged a glance with Sophisticata. Golden Hazel's mood could change in an instant. Fitting she's a pegasus, Drama Letter mused, because she's as unpredictable as weather in the Everfree! "Hazy, calm down," Sophisticata told her. "Please, Fair Golden Hazel," Drama Letter added. Golden Hazel crossed her arms over her chest. "I QUIT!" She yelled, so loudly Drama Letter thought the ponies in Manehattan could hear them. Golden Hazel flapped her wings and took off for the exit. "Wait!" Sophisticata called, putting a hoof out as if to stop Golden Hazel. "We need thou to continue practice!" Drama Letter added. Sophisticata jumped off the stage, and Drama Letter followed. "Berry Punch, stop Golden Hazel!" Sophisticata yelled, waving her hooves frantically. Drama Letter watched as she dashed out the door. She was now left alone, standing at the exit to the theater. "I suppose that extra running now serves no useful purpose," she sighed. Drama Letter cantered back to the stage to collect the pages of her script. Sophisticata had strewn them on the stage after rushing after Golden Hazel. After packing up her saddlebags, Drama Letter stopped by the bulletin board, which held notices for events such as book clubs, poetry readings, and acting classes for fillies and colts. One flier in particular, a pale grey one, caught Drama Letter's eye. "'Poetry Reading by Indigo Wreath Tomorrow,'" she read, knowing that "tomorrow" meant "today", "'at Golden Oaks Library. Come from 7 until noon, with breaks every half hour. Twilight Sparkle and Bon Bon will be serving biscuits.' "Well," Drama Letter decided, "It seems that in place of play practice, I shall be listening to Indigo Wreath's lovely poetry for a short while."
Chapter 2Drama Letter knew the library wasn't too far from the Theater, even though she didn't go often. "Actually," Drama Letter corrected herself, "No location is ever too far in a quaint town such as Ponyville." Drama Letter broke into a trot. "I wonder what the subject of Sir Indigo's prose shall be," Drama Letter mused. "His poetry, I am aware, is always filled with beauty and description, yet he does not speak of it often." Drama Letter had only heard Indigo Wreath perform for the public once or twice. She had gotten a private show once. Indigo Wreath had a smooth voice and his poetry was full of detailed descriptions of the world, but Drama Letter felt his works lacked depth and hidden meaning in them. If Indigo said the flowers smelled sweet, that was exactly what he meant. The flowers weren't a metaphor for love or life or anything. "Hi Drama Letter!" A bubblegum pink Earth Pony popped out of a nearby bush, interrupting Drama Letter's train of thought. "Pinkie Pie!" Drama Letter took a step backwards instinctively. "Where, pray tell, was the necessity in that surprise?" "I have to tell you something super!" Pinkie Pie replied, bouncing around Drama Letter in excitement. "Something super exciting and unusual will happen to you today!" Pinkie Pie leaned in and opened her eyes wide. "My Pinkie Sense tingled right as I looked at you! It went like this!" Pinkie Pie stopped talking to demonstrate the Pinkie Sense to Drama Letter. Her poofy hair shook as Pinkie imitated the typical Pinkie Sense spasm. "Something very big is going to happen!" Pinkie stopped shaking and leaned in closer so that she and Drama Letter were muzzle to muzzle. "I thank you, Fair Pinkie Pie," Drama Letter responded after a moment. "I will sure to be mindful of the big event you speak of." "No problem!" Pinkie resumed bouncing. "I gotta go now! See ya!" "I bid you farewell!" Drama Letter smiled as she resumed trotting. Drama Letter believed in Pinkie's Pinkie Sense- who didn't? But surely the "Big Event" was going to happen at the library- or would it? "Perhaps Indigo shall recite poetry with depth," she joked to herself. As she chuckled, Drama Letter glanced up. She exclaimed, "Ah! I have arrived!" The front door was open, so Drama Letter trotted right in. The lights were dimmed, and a group of ponies was seated around a grey stallion with a berry purple mane. Drama Letter took a seat at the back of the crowd to listen. "I see the light reflecting off the dew," Indigo Wreath recited in a wondrous tone. "A prism of color, created from that light! From the water springs forth spring itself!" The crowd clapped as Indigo Wreath finished his poem. Drama Letter clapped along, genuinely liking the bit of poetry she had heard. But he should have implied something, like the rainbow representing different personality traits, perhaps, Drama Letter thought as the clapping slowed and somepony turned the lights on. Nah, it doesn't matter. Indigo is fine the way he is. "Hello, Drama Letter!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, coming up to Drama Letter. "So nice to see you! I was talking to Sophisticata the other day, and she said you were having play practice today. Is it over already?" "Fair Golden Hazel had one of her mood swings," Drama Letter explained. "I had no other plans, so I thought I would stop by to listen for a little while." Twilight nodded. "Well, now that you're here, I've been meaning to show you some of the play manuscripts I found in this library last week!" Twilight held up a biscuit in her pink aura. "Here, take a biscuit while I go get them." She placed the biscuit in Drama Letter's hoof and dashed off to another section of the library. Drama Letter took a bite of the biscuit and fell instantly in love. The biscuit was soft and chewy, like the raw cookie dough she liked to eat as a filly. It was still warm, which meant it was fresh from the oven. "Divine!" She exclaimed as she munched. Drama Letter leaned against the wall. She heard a sharp click and fell backwards. "Holy hay!" Drama Letter gasped as a small compartment opened up behind her. She peered inside. There was a little piece of parchment right there. Drama Letter picked it up. "'Multiverse reverse, flip the script, identical portal,'" she read. "I wonder: what they are supposed to indicate?" Suddenly, spirals of green and pink light flew up around her. The parchment was forgotten as the light swirled around Drama Letter. "Drama Letter!" Twilight, being apparently the only pony who had noticed the phenomenon, rushed over with scrolls in her hooves. "What happened?" Drama Letter watched the lights dissipate almost as suddenly as they had appeared. "I seem to have found a compartment that activated those lights," Drama Letter remarked, completely forgetting the parchment paper that lay on the ground beside her hoof. She gazed around the room, still a bit shocked. Twilight narrowed her eyes and stared at the wall. "This place is full of secret compartments and that stuff," Twilight responded. "Even I haven't seen all of them, so watch your step." Twilight leaned in closer and added in a whisper, "If you ask me, the pony that built this place was crazy!" Twilight twirled her hoof next to her head. "Anyway, do you want these manuscripts checked out before Indigo Wreath starts again?" Drama Letter's mind was still on the spirals, so she simply nodded. After Twilight quickly checked the scrolls out, Drama Letter tucked them into her saddlebag. "Fair Twilight Sparkle, may I request more of these delicious biscuits?" Drama Letter asked. Twilight's face lit up in delight. "You like them? I made them! I've been experimenting with new recipes, but nopony was really eating them today!" Twilight produced an entire jar of biscuits and gently set it on Drama Letter's back. "Thank you!" "The pleasure is mine!" Drama Letter responded. "I am ready to continue!" Indigo Wreath called out. "I will see you soon, Fair Twilight," Drama Letter whispered as Indigo began to recite. "Though I shall stick around a while longer." "Bye!" Twilight waved, and then she tip-toed back to the front of the group. Drama Letter nommed on a cookie as Indigo recited some more poetry. Eventually, Drama Letter decided to head back home, so she took one last glance at the library, then snuck out the door.
Chapter 3Drama Letter pushed her red door open and immediately dumped her saddlebags on the floor. The half-empty biscuit jar went on the floor next to them in a more gentle manner. "Now, what activity shall I partake in now?" Drama Letter asked herself. "Who's there?" A cautious voice broke into her thoughts. Drama Letter froze. Somepony was in her house! 'What?' Drama Letter thought wildly. Her heart raced. She felt dizzy with fear. Drama Letter put a hoof out to steady herself. "Lyrock? Are you pranking me again?" The voice asked another question. It sounded more amused than cautious. Drama Letter swallowed. She decided to respond this time. "I am Drama Letter, and thou art trespassing in my dwelling," She replied. She took several steps forward, but not too many so she couldn't see who was invading. "Out, dunghill!" Drama Letter tilted her head. She peeked into the next room. What Drama Letter saw almost gave her a heart attack. "Who the hay are you?" She cried, completely dropping her usual manner of speech. Standing in the middle of Drama Letter's parlor was an Earth Pony mare. But she wasn't just any Earth Pony. This mare had a rosy pink coat. Her cropped mane was bright green with light green highlights. Her eyes were orbs of dark pink wonder. A black treble clef adorned her flank. To put it simply, this mare was identical to Drama Letter in every way- save for a few small details. Her tail was spikier, for one thing, and she had a red beret on her head. Drama Letter only wore hers on special occasions. "Funny cosplay, Lyrock." The mare giggled. "You forgot my beret, though! Gotta have my beret!" "I don't know who Lyrock is! What are you doing in my house? Who are you?!" At Drama Letter's frantic questioning, the mare stopped giggling and frowned. "Wait a minute..." She trailed off, and Drama Letter watched her gaze slide and refocus on a book shelf. The mare grabbed a book of the shelf in an instant, like she was Fili-Second from the Power Pony comics. "My Sister the Vampony? I've never touched that series in my life!" She threw the book back on the shelf. "Hey!" Drama Letter began to protest, but the mare brushed past her and dashed outside. Drama Letter scrambled after the newcomer. "I don't live in Ponyville!" The mare yelled in shock. She quickly shut the door, and Drama Letter noticed a panicked gleam in her eye. "Who are you?" "I already stated my name is Drama Letter," Drama Letter replied in a calmer voice. "And by what name is though called?" "W-watermelody," the mare answered promptly, though there was a quiver in her voice. "What is this? Some alternate dimension?" "Perhaps that is a correct theory." Drama Letter realized Pinkie Pie had been right. This was turning out to be no ordinary day! And the lights at the library. Could this be connected? Before she could delve into the theory further, Drama Letter refocused her attention on Watermelody, who was looking around. "It doesn't look that different," she remarked. "I mean, aside for some minor details, like being in Ponyville and the neatness in this room, we're the same pony living in the same house!" "I agree," Drama Letter replied, stepping up beside Drama Letter. "But it shall be best for us to see Fair Twilight Sparkle in concern to your return home." At the mention of Twilight, Watermelody perked up. "Oh, you know her, too?" Watermelody exclaimed. "Sweet! Let's go see her!" "Wait!" Drama Letter held up a hoof in protest. "Does though not think it shall arouse public suspicion if we go out? The both of us- together?" "Good point," Watermelody admitted. "Lucky you and I are cosplay masters!" She held up her hoof for a high-hoof, but Drama Letter did not comply. "What is this 'colsplay' you speak of?" She questioned. Watermelody frowned. She lowered her hoof. "I guess this universe is kinda different after all," she remarked. "Anyways, cosplay is like dress up! Come on! I bet you have extra Halloween- er, Nightmare Night costumes upstairs!" Without further warning, Watermelody raced upstairs, leaving Drama Letter to scramble after her. Watermelody knew exactly where to go to get to the closet. Drama Letter caught up to her just as Watermelody threw open the doors of her oak closet. "I went as Juliet last year!" Drama Letter volunteered as Watermelody peered through her closet. "You mean from Romeo and Juliet?" Watermelody asked curiously. "There's no horse pun for that? Um, never mind. Anyway, I could use that!" Watermelody took her beret off and replaced it with Juliet's curly blue mane. "Perfect! I think we're good to go!" Drama Letter studied Watermelody's simple costume. She looked off, somehow- perhaps because she was Drama Letter from an alternate dimension. Of course that would be unnerving, Drama Letter thought to herself. "We should hurry," she said aloud as they returned downstairs. As an afterthought, she added, "Then again, it is peculiar for a pony from another universe to show up in one's house! Perhaps you should stay awhile!" Drama Letter meant it as a joke, and the pair laughed. Drama Letter opened up the door, and she and Watermelody stepped into the morning sunlight. Luckily, not to many ponies were milling about. "This is cool!" Watermelody remarked. "I've never been to Ponyville before!" Drama Letter smiled as she observed Watermelody's curious expression. "Ponyville 'tis a wonderful place!" She responded.
Chapter 4As Drama Letter and Watermelody walked, Watermelody began to pepper Drama Letter with questions. "So, where do you hang out with your friends? Why do you talk funny? Don't you wear a beret? Do you celebrate Earth Day? Have you ever flown in Cherry Berry's hot air balloon? I have, it was fun, but I was actually-" "Woah!" Drama Letter smiled as she held up a hoof to indicate Stop. "I request thou to slow thy speech! "I enjoy producing plays, attending picnics, and converse with my companions. I do wear a beret like yours on occasion, and I am not aware of your 'Earth Day'. Finally, I have never requested a flight from Fair Cherry Berry." Drama Letter paused for a breath. "Does thou wish to ask any other questions?" Watermelody's attention, however, was not on her. "Hi, Flower Child!" Watermelody yelled to a pale Pegasus mare with wavy turquoise hair. She stopped walking and turned to look at them. She cocked her head to the side, as if to ask Drama Letter, 'Is she talking to me?' "Uh," Drama Letter murmured, unsure of what to say. "Fair Watermelody, her name is not Flower Child. Her name is instead Paisley." "Oh." A blush crept over Watermelody's face before she frowned. To Paisley, she called, "Never mind! I mistook you for somepony else!" Paisley smiled and nodded like she knew exactly how Watermelody was feeling. "This universe has way different names," Watermelody remarked, tugging on her wig so it fit over her mane better. Drama Letter laughed. "Did thou think we would be the only ones to have differing names?" She asked. Watermelody rolled her eyes. "I guess not," she responded. "Anyway, how much farther 'till Twilight's house?" "About 3 more- oh no!" Drama Letter smacked her hoof against her forehead. "I art a crusty botch of nature!" "I'm not sure you're supposed to use 'art' that way, but never mind. What is it?" A concerned Watermelody asked. "Twilight is hosting a poetry reading," Drama Letter explained, "that shall not he concluded for hours. I have forgotten all about it! 'My words fly up; my thoughts remain below!'" "Please don't say stuff I have no clue about." Watermelody giggled. "That's it? Don't sweat it, I'm sure Twilight will be understanding enough!" Drama Letter saw the truth in Watermelody's statement. "Perhaps you are right," she conceded. "Fair Twilight Sparkle is a just and understanding citizen. Let us hurry, so that we may resolve this mess faster!" "Totally!" Watermelody responded as she and Drama Letter sped up from a trot to a canter. "I don't think I could last another hour in this strange world!" Despite wanting Watermelody safe in her own universe, Drama Letter couldn't help feeling a twinge of annoyance Watermelody was so quick to leave. She's probably missing her friends, Drama Letter reasoned with herself. I'm going to assume she's as loyal as I am. Soon, the duo found themselves right in front of Golden Oaks Library. "This is pretty modest," Watermelody remarked, looking the place up and down. "I was expecting something more... majestic." "Fair Twilight has always resided here," Drama Letter answered. "Oh. Well, I wonder if she lives like this at home. I've never actually been to her house before!" It took Drama Letter a second to realize "home" meant "other dimension." "Maybe," she responded simply. She quietly opened the door. Indigo Wreath was still reciting his poetry to an enthralled audience. "Come on!" Drama Letter whispered to Watermelody. They crept around the fringe of the crowd and over to Twilight, who was sitting near the front. "Fair Twilight, I need to speak with thou about a most urgent matter!" Drama Letter whispered to her unicorn friend. Twilight looked up, surprise evident on her face. "We can go upstairs," she responded without question. Motioning for Watermelody to follow, Drama Letter followed Twilight upstairs. She had never been to that part of the house before. From what Drama Letter could tell in the dim light, it was a rather small room table the top of the tree, with a desk and several cupboards. Twilight flipped a switch, and a lamp next to the window flickered to life. "What can I do for you, Drama Letter?" She asked amiably. "Did you- oh! You brought a friend!" Twilight apparently had just noticed Watermelody. "What's your name?" "My name is Watermelody, and let me say it is an honor to meet you, your majesty," Watermelody responded. Drama Letter tried not to roll her eyes as Watermelody closed her eyes and dropped to her hooves in a bow. Twilight shot a questioning look to Drama Letter. "Fair Watermelody," Drama Letter began right as Watermelody peeked open one eye. Before Drama Letter could get an farther, Watermelody gasped in horror." "Twilight Sparkle! You're not an alicorn!" She exclaimed, leaping to her hooves in shock. "You're not a princess!" Twilight giggled. "I've never been an alicorn princess in my entire life!" She responded. "It's a prestigious title, one I admire, but I'm content being a normal unicorn, researching magic and being myself. Whatever gave you the notion I had wings?" Watermelody's mouth opened and closed, still in disbelief. Her eyelid twitched. Drama Letter sighed. In one swift move, she knocked the wig off Watermelody's head. It was Twilight's turn to gasp. "But- why- how?!" She stammered, "I mean, you're- you're identical!" "Fair Watermelody was transported to my house from an alternate dimension Drama Letter explained. "A fairly shocking event, to say the least." Twilight nodded, eyes wide with wonder. "That's fascinating," she marveled. "I mean, I've been on a journey to another dimension myself, but never met my counterpart!" As she spoke, Watermelody seemed to grab a hold of herself. She shook her head wildly, as if to clear her mind. "This a nice universe," she commented with some force. "Now, could you please get me back home where things are normal?"
Chapter 5Twilight nodded. "I know how upsetting it can be to be separated from your friends, Dra- Watermelody," she corrected herself. "I'm sure we'll have you out of her in a jiffy." "Oh, thank Celestia!" Watermelody exclaimed. She added, "That is, Celestia is the princess here, right?" "Correct," Drama Letter confirmed as Twilight answered, "Right." They locked gazes and suddenly laughed. "Right. Can we start doing whatever it is we're going to do now?" Watermelody asked impatiently. "Of course. I'll need to do some research on the subject. If Watermelody didn't come through a tangible portal- uh, a definite portal, like you step through it," Twilight hastily explained, noticing Drama Letter's and Watermelody's twin expressions of confusion. "Anyway, if she popped up here from an indefinite portal, I'll need to find a spell to send her back." "A teleportation spell?" Watermelody suggested eagerly. "In theory, I suppose a modified version could work," Twilight answered. "Come on, let's go downstairs." Twilight led them back to the main level, where Indigo Wreath was still reciting his poetry. "Excuse me!" Twilight cleared her throat. Immediately, everypony in the room had their eyes fixated on her. "I'm really sorry, everypony- especially you, Indigo -but an emergency has come up, and I need to do some research in the library. I'm afraid this means you have to leave." "But he was just getting to the good part!" Lyra Heartstrings shouted. "Hush, Lyra," her friend Bon Bon muttered, embarrassed. "It's true!" Lyra protested. Drama Letter watched, amused, as Bon Bon stuck a hoof in Lyra's mouth like a cork in a bottle. "Thanks for the time, Twilight," Indigo told her. "It was fun while it lasted." One by one, the ponies began to leave the library. Most went without complaint, but someponies grumbled about the interruption. Understandably, Drama Letter thought. She wouldn't want to be dragged away from a good poetry reading because somepony needed to do research! Finally, almost everypony was gone. The only two ponies remaining were two of Drama Letter's best friends. "What's wrong, Drama Letter?" Cherry Crash asked, flapping her wings twice before folding them against her side. She and Mystery Mint stood in the center of the room, staring curiously at Twilight and Drama Letter. "I'm afraid that's not-" Twilight began, but Drama Letter cut her off. "'Tis alright, Fair Twilight Sparkle. They should be included!" She said to Mystery and Cherry Crash, "Girls, something unexpected has happened?" "You're not pregnant, are you?" Mystery asked, staring anxiously at Drama Letter with wide cerise eyes. "Not that that would be a bad thing, but that always happens in fiction! But don't worry, I'm here to support you, no matter what happens!" Mystery smiled kindly. Cherry Crash just laughed. "Your face, Drama Letter!" She exclaimed. Drama Letter's mouth was agape, her eyes widened in shock at Mystery's theory. "Are you Lyrock?" Watermelody broke in, emerging from the shadows she had apparently been concealed in. Cherry Crash took to the air. "Who, me? No- wait, who are you? Did you get cloned, Drama Letter?" "So this is your unexpected event," Mystery commented. To Watermelody, she said, "Hi! I'm Mystery Mint! Who are you?" "I'm Watermelody," Watermelody answered. "I'm from an alternate universe!" "Wow! That's unexpected!" Mystery trotted up to Watermelody and Drama Letter. "Nice to meet you! So, uh, is there a Mystery Mint in your world?" "Yeah, she's one of my best friends!" Watermelody responded. "That's amazing! How long are you staying in Ponyville?" "That's what I came to Twilight for. I want to go home as soon as I can!" Watermelody responded. Drama Letter coughed, but nopony noticed. "Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Cherry Crash cut in. "Hold on. If your name isn't Lyrock than what is it?" Watermelody brushed the question aside with a question of her own. A confused expression appeared on Cherry Crash's face. "It's Cherry Crash, but why- oh. Some ponies in your universe have different names here? Drama Letter and Watermelody? Cherry Crash and Lyrock?" "Yeah!" Watermelody answered. "You got it!" "Sorry to interrupt," Twilight interrupted with an impatient tone, "but I really need to get to my research if Watermelody wants to return home anytime soon." "Right, Twilight. We'll be out in a minute." Mystery smiled at Drama Letter. "So, are we gonna hang around here all day?" "I am not sure," Drama Letter answered. Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Fair Watermelody, would you be interested in a tour of Ponyville?" "Hey, that's a great idea!" Cherry Crash exclaimed as Twilight herded them out of the library. "I'm not sure-" Watermelody began, but Mystery cut her off. "I'd understand if you don't want to, but it would be so exciting!" Mystery encouraged her. Watermelody's gaze fell to each mare in the room. When she locked stairs with Drama Letter, Drama Letter knew Watermelody didn't want to go. Still, she couldn't think of anything better to do while they waited for Twilight. "Fair Watermelody," Drama Letter spoke with an encouraging smile, "please accept this offer. There is nothing better to do whilst we wait." "Oh, alright!" Watermelody relented. "I'll go!"
Chapter 6"So, Watermelody, what's the Mystery Mint from your world like?" Mystery asked as soon as Twilight swung the library door shut. "Well," Watermelody responded (a bit hesitantly, Drama Letter noticed), "she really enthusiastic about everything, and she wears a pink leopard print scarf." "Leopards are really cute!" Mystery added. "I remember when Fluttershy brought that baby leopard to Ponyville!" "After she found it while on a safari down South!" Cherry Crash continued. "I have never known her to bring around such an exotic creature such as this!" Drama Letter added. Sneaking a glance at Watermelody, she noticed the look of annoyance and boredom on her double's face. "Has thou ever seen a leopard?" Drama Letter questioned her. "Yeah, I went to the zoo once," Watermelody responded, trying to muster enthusiasm and failing. "Sorry," Mystery apologized. "That was off topic. Anything else about your Mystery?" "Well, she's going out with Flower Child- that's Paisley in your universe," Watermelody answered. "I think relationships are the same here, am I right?" Drama Letter glanced at Mystery, knowing what the answer would be. Her blue unicorn friend was turning pink. "Um, well," she began, "it's just that, oh dear, um- I don't really, uh-" "She's interested in stallions, not mares," Cherry Crash finished blatantly. Everypony stared at her in shock. "Cherry!" Drama Letter hissed. "That was very insulting and rude, and thou should apologize immediately." "No offense, Watermelody," Mystery finished lamely. "None taken." Watermelody sighed and stared up into the crystal clear skies. "What troubles you, Fair Watermelody?" Drama Letter asked. "Homesickness?" Watermelody nodded. "I was hoping she'd have something else in common with my universe," Watermelody admitted, "but-" "Sorry to interrupt, Watermelody," Cherry Crash interrupted, not looking sorry at all. She flew high into the sky. Drama Letter, Mystery, and Watermelody shielded their eyes to get a good look at her. "But difference isn't a bad thing!" Cherry continued, swooping back down. Now where was the point in that show? Drama Letter asked herself. Effect? Cherry Crash kept going. "Our Mystery here can do great stuff! Show her your weather magic, Mystery!" "I'd really-" Watermelody began. "Fair Cherry Cr-" Drama Letter started. "I think-" Mystery tried to speak, but Cherry cut them all off. "No 'if's, 'and's, or 'but's!" She cried. The foal-like spirit inside Drama Letter roared with laughter at buts. A giggle escaped her, and Drama Letter was pleasantly surprised that Watermelody giggled as well. "Oh, please." Cherry Crash rolled her eyes, but Drama Letter could see she wasn't truly annoyed. "Mystery, just do your thing!" "Alright," Mystery agreed with a slight hesitation. "Watch this, Watermelody!" Her horn lit up in a series glow. Drama Letter, Watermelody, and Cherry Crash watched as Mystery closed her eyes in concentration. Her magic formed into a current, arching back towards the ground. A mini tornado formed in the glow of Mystery's magic. When Mystery opened her eyes, the glow dissipated. All the remained was the tornado, spinning harmlessly in front of them. "Isn't it amazing?" Cherry Crash gushed. "They really provide an extra effect to our shows! What do you think, Watermelody?" Drama Letter turned to hear Watermelody's reply, but her double seemed shocked by the display. Her thin, round irises reminded Drama Letter of a solar eclipse. Watermelody's mouth formed a tiny o shape. "Fair Watermelody?" Drama Letter began cautiously, "are-" "She could never do that," Watermelody cut her off in almost a whisper. Drama Letter and Mystery exchanged nervous glances. "Watermelody, I'm sor-" Mystery began. "No!" Watermelody's eyes suddenly snapped shut. "This is too different! It's wrong!" "What?" Mystery asked, taken aback. "She cannot process the differences between her world and ours," Drama Letter summarized, "Fair Watermelody, I assure you Fair Twilight will have you home so-" "I need it to be a perfect world now!" Watermelody cried in retaliation. Somepony needs to let others finish their sentences. Drama Letter couldn't help being irritated every time Watermelody cut one of them off. Watermelody was looking around like a prisoner searching for an escape. In an instant Drama Letter knew what she was going to do. "Fair Watermelody, please don't-" Drama Letter cut herself off as Watermelody galloped away. "Wait!" Drama Letter began to chase Watermelody, but Mystery grabbed onto Drama Letter's shoulder. "Hold on. You shouldn't chase her," Mystery pointed out, "because you'll scare her." "Perfectionist much?" Cherry Crash remarked. "Fair Watermelody is not accustomed to the differences between her and us. She cannot cope," Drama Letter responded. "Argh, dunghill! I could see that she was not comfortable here, and yet I did nothing to prevent this outburst!" "Hey, Drama Letter, don't take it out on yourself. I'm sure this would've happened anyhow." Mystery's voice was calm and soothing as she put a comforting hoof on Drama Letter's shoulder. "Right now, we have to find her so we can help her get back home!" Drama Letter smiled at Mystery, grateful for the encouragement. "Truly, your words speak wisdom," Drama Letter told her "Where shall we begin our search?" "Can I just say one thing before we do?" Cherry Crash asked, coming up to stand beside Drama Letter. "Of course!" Drama Letter answered. Cherry Crash nodded. Then she threw her hooves up in the air. "What the hay was she thinking?!" She cried in exasperation. "'Oh, I'm trapped in a world I hate, so I'll just run off and delay my return home!'" "You aren't helping, Cherry Crash," Mystery told her, obviously annoyed. "There's nothing wrong with Watermelody." "Fair Watermelody panicked," Drama Letter added. "Are you not aware of the 'fight or flight' instinct?" "Yeah, yeah," Cherry Crash replied impatiently. "When in danger instinct tells you fight it off or run away. I went to school, you know! "You know what else?" Cherry Crash added before Drama Letter could elaborate on the subject, "forget I even mentioned it. Let's find Watermelody!" "Agreed. As I had asked before thou interrupted, 'Where shall begin our search?'" "Drama Letter! Cherry Crash! The most obvious answer just came to me!" Mystery responded excitedly. "We start with an air search!"
