A Pony by Any Other Name

"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!"