The Wrong Side of the Mirror

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four

Chapter One

“No Entry!” The sign on the door to a chamber in Twilight’s castle was unambiguous, and therefor all to inviting. Also, Rainbow Dash knew she was an exception. She had a throne in this castle and therefor a key to every door. Normal ponies shouldn’t know about the magical mirror stored there, the mirror that Twilight had crossed twice to visit the human world. But she already knew about it, and she was no normal pony, so there was no reason why she shouldn’t see it. Just one look, she thought. It isn’t like I want to go through there.

Rainbow walked in front of the mirror, slowly putting her right forehoof against its surface. She actually could stretch it through and pull it back. Why not? The thoughts would not go out of her mind. Nopony would ever know. It would only be for one minute. I’ve been turned into a breezie once. Would be interesting to know how it feels to be a human. Running on two hooves. No, on two feet, that’s how they call it. Having fingers. And all the parts Twilight didn’t even describe.

Another thing came to her mind. Humans eat meat. Always wanted to try some since Gilda told me that griffons sometimes eat that. But I can’t digest it as a pony. I once asked Twilight to transform me into a griffon, but she refused. So it’s only her own fault if I have to take things into my own hooves. Maybe it would be longer than for a minute, but I’ll be back before anypony misses me here. And if I’m not mistaken, everypony, no wait, everyone should be inside the school at that moment. They won’t see me step out of the portal.

No, you shouldn’t, said a different voice in her head. Twilight had her reasons why she said nopony should go there. You know what happened at the universe with good King Sombra when ponies started switching between this universe and ours. It almost got destroyed as they were getting to similar and that caused paradoxes. Get realistic. You’re no filly anymore. You don’t have to try out everything. It might be dangerous. Twilight will find out.

I like danger. And even if she finds out, hey, I’ve saved Equestria how many times? That should earn me some privileges. As you said, I’m no filly anymore. I can do what I want.

“To Tartarus with it, I’ll do it.” The last words where spoken aloud. She made sure neither Spike nor Twilight were near, closed the door behind her, hold her breath and slowly stepped through the mirror.

Rainbow Dash looked around her as she stepped out of the other end of the portal. The school in front of her was much bigger than she had expected, and the town surrounding it, too. I thought Manehattan was overpopulated. And this is supposed to be a small town in this world? But there was one thing that surprised her even more than the school and the town. She was not alone. A blue skinned girl (Was she a girl? She was the first human she saw, she couldn’t be sure.) with rainbow colored hair was standing near the portal. Rainbow Dash looked down at herself. She looked exactly like that girl. It had to be her human counterpart. And she had obviously seen her.

“What the…” both of them asked at the same time. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, skipping classes.” The human Rainbow Dash was the first one who comprehended the situation. “Didn’t want a history lessen to be my last one before spring break. Boooring. And I’ve only skipped once before this semester, won’t be in serious trouble until the third time. But the real question is, why are you here? Twilight sent you? Any trouble over there?” She pointed at the portal.

“Nah. Everything’s okay. Just wanted to have a look around this world. See how it is to be a human. Didn’t expect to run into you, though, but nice to meet you. Well, me, it’s nice talking to myself.”

“A credit to dementia.” The human Rainbow Dash knew the song her pony counterpart was referencing. “No, the rest of the lyrics don’t fit here at all. Unless of course I’m getting schizophrenic and just imagine you. But you look pretty real to me. Well, I can show you around town if you want. Shouldn’t stay at campus while skipping anyway.” She led her away from the school. “So, you’re the Rainbow Dash Twilight spoke about? The best flier in Equestria?”

“Sure am.” She jumped in the air, and landed on her back. “Ouch!”

Her human counterpart helped her up again. “What was that supposed to be?”

“That was supposed to be a double back flip.” She rubbed the street dirt of her clothes. “While using my wings to keep me in the air. Stupid. I know I can’t fly here, but if you’re used to employ your wings for like everything you quickly forget you even have them. Or not have them in this case. That’s what I get for trying to show off. And you’re the other Rainbow Dash, best guitarist and soccer player of this world?”

“Best of this school, certainly. In this town, maybe. In the world? Give me a few years, and I’ll be it. Gotta keep realistic there.” She laughed. “So, how is it like to fly?”

“It just feels great. Unlimited freedom.” The pony Rainbow Dash waved her arms like wings. “But hard to describe to somepony who never did it before. Try explaining a blind man how the color green looks like. That might be as difficult as explaining how it is to fly with your head over the clouds.”

“Can imagine that. Gotta find out myself some day.” Her human version took a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket. “That’s some bad habit in our world,” she explained. “Not very healthy, but…”

“I know what cigs are. They exist in Equestria, too.” She gave the pack a closer look. Lucky Strike Red, the same brand she had used to smoke.

“Didn’t expect that. Cute little ponies with cigarettes in their mouthes… But you sure look like you want one.” Human Rainbow opened the pack and took out the last two cigarettes in it. She held one of it in the direction of her pony self while dropping the empty pack on the street.

Pony Rainbow Dash felt her hands shaking and heart beating, as always when she had the opportunity to smoke again. Her physical withdrawals were finally gone, but the addiction was still deep in her head, bringing back the temptation every time. I only quit because of Scootaloo. And she’s not around. She would never know. One single cigarette would not do any harm.

“I’d want one like nothing else. But gotta keep strong. Quit two weeks ago.” She raised her hand in a rejecting pose. A promise was a promise, she had to keep it.

“Yeah, probably better.” The human Rainbow Dash lit one of her cigarettes and put the other one behind her ear. “I should quit one day, too. They ain’t do me any good. But with spring break coming up, and then the finals, this isn’t the right moment.” She looked at her other self, then at her own body. “You know, we do really do look like each other. Even more alike then twins. I’m pretty sure no one could tell us apart.”

“You think? Twilight is pretty clever. I think she would figure it out which of us is which.”

“I bet ya she couldn’t. Let’s just find out. I’ll go to Equestria and you stay here. Just for this afternoon. I don’t think she’ll realize I’m not you. I’ll just finish my tour for you here and show you where my friends live, so that you aren’t completely lost.” She took a drag from her cigarette. “Twilight told enough about Ponyville that I’m sure I’ll find around there.”

“I don’t know if we should do that…” We shouldn’t mess around with other world, she thought. I met my other self right when I came here. She was directly at the portal. That’s too much for a coincidence. This is already one of the paradoxes, like in Sombra’s world.

“What, why not? Are you afraid?” Her human version blew a cloud of smoke at her.

Pony-Dash shook her head. “No, of course not. It’s just…”

“Well, then it’s settled. I’ll go over to Equestria and you’ll stay here. Gonna be fun.”

“Let’s make sure we though of everything,” said Human Rainbow Dash after they had finished their tour across town. “You know where our friends life. You’ll meet them at the school exit when classes end in a few minutes. I showed you how to use a cell phone. I gave you all my stuff. And I’m just smoking my last cigarette, so I’ll survive some time over there without one. Looks like we’re ready to go.”

“I still don’t think this is such a good idea. This could go horrible wrong. Maybe I’ll just go back.” She hold the school bag of her other self in her direction, hoping she would take it.

“Sorry, to late to back out of it now. See you in two hours.” Human Rainbow Dash punched her counterpart softly against the arm and ran off to the statue containing the portal to Equestria. On her way, she took one last drag from her cigarette and dropped it on the ground. The other Rainbow Dash tried to follow her. She was fast, but not used to having two legs, so she could only see her other self blowing a raspberry at her while jumping backwards through the portal.

Well, we can’t both go. I’m just worrying to much. It’ll turn out fine. In two hours she’ll be back and I’ll go home. She felt the urge to pick up the half smoked cigarette her human counterpart had dropped and finish it, but changed her mind and just stepped it out.

Chapter Two

“Argh!” Jumping backwards through a portal would have been one of Rainbow Dash’s easiest exercises, even without knowing what was on the other side. But doing so while transforming into a pegasus pony midjump was something new. Am I bleeding? She tried to hold the part of her head she had hit against the door frame while falling out of the portal. “Argh!” she screamed again. Instead of softly holding her head with her hand, she had rammed her forehoof against the wound. Now I’m definitely bleeding.

Rainbow tried to get on her hooves. They slid away a few times, but her dexterity hadn’t left her, so she figured it out quickly. The only door out of the room was the next problem. How to pull a door handle without hands? First she tried pushing it down with her chin. It worked, but she couldn’t apply any backward momentum to pull the door open that way. Finally she decided just to bite in it and pull it with her teeth.

Is that the normal way how ponies handle items? Just take them with their mouthes? Seems a bit gross. I have no idea how many ponies had that in their mouthes before me. She spit out. Sharing a glass or a cigarette with someone else had never been a problem to her, but only with people she knew.

Okay, time to find my way out of here. Rainbow looked around. A corridor opened in two directions. At her right side, it led to a balcony. She stretched her wings. Better not, she thought as she got there. It are at least twelve feet. Don’t want my first attempt of flying be my last one if I don’t get it right. So she went in the other direction until she found a staircase and followed it down.

After wandering around some more minutes through what had to be Twilight Sparkle’s castle she found a big hall with six thrones in it. One of them was occupied by a lavender colored winged unicorn, a smaller chair right next to it by a tiny dragon. Spike and Twilight, most likely, Rainbow thought. They look similar enough. Twilight was dictating a letter to Spike.

“Good, you can send that off to he mayor of Fillydelphia. Hi, Rainbow. What are you doing here?”

“Nothing special,” she replied. “Just having a look around.”

“Rainbow, are you hurt.” Twilight gave Rainbow’s head a worried look “I think there’s blood on the back of your head.”

“Just a… little stunt went wrong while… flying. Nothing serious.” The second part wasn’t even a lie, she was hardly feeling it any more.

“As always,” Twilight sighed. “See you this afternoon. And try not to break any more body parts until then.”

“Can’t make any promises.” Rainbow laughed and walked through the main door which she hoped would lead out of the castle.

“Something is wrong with Rainbow,” said Spike. “Look at how she’s walking. As if she had never been on hooves before. Do you think she has a concussion? Or is she drunk?”

Twilight shook her head. “She didn’t smell of alcohol. And it isn’t cider season. She would not be drunk such early. Or at all, as she promised me to help me with some of the letters later. She likes to drink from time to time, but she’s not an alcoholic. But, on the other hoof, the wound really did not look too serious. She’s been walking straight after worse. Don’t know what’s up with her. But she would have said something if it was serious, so nothing to worry about.”

“One more thing,” said Spike. “If she hit something while flying, how did she hurt the back of her head? Well, maybe she was trying to fly backwards. Where that all letters before lunch? My claw is hurting and I’m starving.”

“Just one more to Princess Celestia. And it will be a short one. Only five letters and one number. ‘Rook d4.’ If I haven’t missed anything, that might save my bishop.”

“Don’t tell me you’re still playing chess with her.” Spike looked at her. “Have you ever won a game?”

“Of course not, Spike. Don’t be ridiculous. She has a few thousand years more experience than me. But three times so far, I got a draw.”

“Okay. Just imagine I am a plane. Starting against the wind. Stretching out the wings. Running as fast as I can. And then just lift off and start flapping.” Rainbow Dash looked around to make sure nopony was watching. She had selected a soft, barren field for her first attempt to fly. Even if she might crash, it would not hurt to much. “Well, time to give it a try.” She ran off, flapped her wings as hard as she could, and actually got some air under her hooves.

“I did it! I did it! Too bad I don’t have an audience.” She tried maneuvering left and right and quickly got the hang out of it. “Not as difficult as I had imaged,” she said to herself. “Well, I’m just good. And it does feel great! Yuhah! But how do I land?”

She was flying way too fast and high to just hit the ground. However, she saw a lake not a mile away. Water is soft if you hit it the right way, she thought. And horses can swim. The water is clear and at least 20 feet deep. I’ve been jumping of the 10 meters diving platform before, I should be able to pull that off.

She did, but breaking through the water hurt. After losing her orientation for some moments she spotted the surface and came back out of the water, gasping for air. Better not try that again. Not without asking Rainbow how to land. She slowly swam to shore and lay on the grass to relax and dry in the sun. Not gonna get up form here for at last fifteen minutes.

After a few minutes she changed her mind. Flying was awesome, she would not let one little setback stop her. She would figure out how to land. In the worst case, it would be another water landing.

It didn’t take her long to slow herself enough while flying to make a safe landing. Flying was exhausting, but learning it felt rewarding. It also distracted her from the evergrowing need for a cigarette.

After over an hour of flight training Rainbow Dash was smiling brightly. She was feeling great. Her knees were scratched from failed landings, her wings were hurting from over exercising, the wound at her head was feeling worse again, and she was dying for a cigarette, but she didn’t care. She had been flying, and that was worth any pain imaginable. “I have to do that again. But I can’t leave my other self hanging. I’ll have to get back.”

She walked back to Twilight’s castle and entered the throne room. As she didn’t know the castle’s layout and didn’t want to try a landing of such a small space as the balcony of the castle she had to backtrack the way she came out. But Twilight and Spike were still, or maybe again, in the throne room.

“Hi again,” Twilight said. “You’re a bit early for helping me with my sport and flying related letters. Haven’t sorted them out yet. By the way, I’ve seen you flying earlier. What was up with you? You looked like you never did that before.”

An excuse, please, let me find an excuse. “Well, it’s just, you know, I’m actually good at flying, but, well, as a good flier I sometimes, well, have to train the newbies. So I was practicing flying like they would. I’ll just go to the toilet for a minute and let you sort that letters. Maybe I should have gone before I came here.” She left the room through the door leading to way to the mirror.

“I really think there is something wrong with Rainbow, Spike. If she wanted to train newbies, she would take it slow and not do her usual tricks, but she wouldn’t deliberately make mistakes like holding her wings wrong. And the shortest way to the toilet was the other direction. Do you think her head wound is worse than it seems, or is it something else? She sounded a bit like she was making half of this up. But why should she?”

“Okay, time to go home. Other Rainbow Dash, here I come.” Rainbow Dash took a running jump against the mirror, and bounced off. “Ouch!” She pushed herself against the mirror. She hammered against it with her forhooves. Nothing worked. “Stupid thing. Open! Open! Must be broken. Well, I’ll do the same thing to you like when my computer doesn’t work. Power off and on again.”

Rainbow Dash removed the magical book from Twilight’s apparatus powering the mirror portal. A few seconds later, she put it in again. Nothing happened. The mirror was still closed. “Dammit! Well, at that point I’d call customer service. Which would be Twilight in this case. How should I explain that to her without letting her know we switched placed. You’re a really stupid mirror. And why do I talk to you like you could understand me?”

Chapter Three

Rainbow Dash picked up the cigarette butt her human self had dropped and she had stepped out. “Shouldn’t have done that,” she said to herself. “Just one little smoke. Nopony would have ever known, and it would have calmed me down. But to late for that now. And probably for the better that way. I don’t actually want to smoke any more. Also, I’ve promised Scootaloo.” She dropped the butt again. Shouldn’t it be getting easier to resist the temptation after some time. Why do I want one more and more?

“Hi Dashie!” Rainbow heard Pinkie Pie’s voice calling her. As she looked in that direction, she saw her friends leaving the school building, walking in her direction. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were easy to identify, looking similar to their pony counterparts she knew, the last one had to be Sunset Shimmer. “Haven’t seen you in history lessons today.”

“’Course not. Didn’t want a history lessen to be my last one before spring break. Boooring. And I’ve only skipped once before this semester, won’t be in serious trouble until the third time.” She just repeated what her human self had said to her so that her friends would not get suspicious.

“Totally can understand that.” Applejack smiled at her. “Almost fell asleep. Next time just tell us, we’ll skip with you.”

“That really isn’t funny,” complained Sunset. “They sure won’t throw you out after saving this school twice, but you’re here to learn something, not to skip or sleep through classes.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I won’t inherit Sweet Apple Acres Co-op until I graduated. But why do I need to know about some stupid people that lived two thousand years ago for that? Now let’s talk about something more interesting. We got one week off, time to celebrate that.”

“And combine that with getting something to eat,” suggested Rarity. “There’s a new hamburger restaurant not far from here, and it’s supposed to be really good. Not that cheap stuff you get at Burger King or McDonald’s. I’ll invite you all. Are you in?”

“As long as there is meat to eat, I’ll be in for anything,” agreed Rainbow, licking her lips. “I’m starving. Lead the way.”

“You sure were right when you said this wouldn’t be the cheap stuff like elsewhere.” Applejack frowned as she saw the prices on the menu. “I don’t know if I can afford any of this.”

Rarity patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve invited you, I’ll pay the bill.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll take the largest cheeseburger they have with extra fries and a coke.”

“Same for me.” Rainbow Dash didn’t know what the differences between the hamburgers would be, so copying Applejack’s order seemed to be the reasonable thing. She was feeling slightly guilty as an animal had to die for that, but the anticipation of trying something new made that up. And that animal is already dead, she told herself, not eating it would not make it alive again.

Rainbow’s mouth was watering from the smell of the burgers. She took hers in her hand and bit out a large part of it. Yes, it tasted as great as it smelled.

“You look like you never ate a hamburger before.” Sunset Shimmer looked at Rainbow Dash as she was slowly chewing on her meat patty.

“Of course I have,” lied Rainbow Dash, her mouth still full of food. “Just looks like I’ve forgotten how good they taste.” She took a sip for that strange, black, sweet, sparkling drink name Coca-Cola and ate another bite of her burger. I should come here more often.

“I’ll be outside for a short smoke,” announced Applejack after they had finished eating. “Wanna come with me?”

“Sure.” Sunset took a filter cigarillo out of her pocket. “You too, Rainbow?”

Smoking. Well, of course it had to come to this sooner or later. For a moment she just wanted to say yes and have a cigarette with her friends. The temptation was greater than ever, especially as her human version still smoked and her friends would expect her to do it. “Nah, I’m trying to smoke less. Gotta get better at running.” Yes, she thought, that was a good excuse. Smoking less never works for long, so her friends would not wonder when my other self still smokes as much as before.

She was intrigued by the fact that Sunset smoked. Applejack did it in her world, too. It was common around farmers, and loosing her parents at early age surely didn’t help either. But Sunset didn’t look like the person to pick that up. Well, she probably had her reasons.

After they had finished smoking and Rarity had payed the bill Sunset spoke up. “Finals are coming two months after the holidays, and if you don’t want Ds everywhere, we should better make good use of the week off. What do you say, want to come over to me for some studding?”

“Seriously, Sunset?” complained Applejack. “This is our last holiday before we graduate, and you want to do some boring learning?”

“As much as I hate to say it, she kind of is right,” said Rarity. “Those are the most important tests of our lives, we have do do something for them.”

Applejack sighed. “Yeah, unfortunately. Work first, fun later. I’ll be there, but I still don’t like it.”

“Just go ahead,” said Rainbow Dash. “I forgot something at school. Gotta fetch that first.” It was time to go home to her world and leave the studding to her human self.

“Sure, we’ll wait for you,” said Sunset. “But don’t dawdle.”

“I never dawdle.” Rainbow ran off towards the high school. As she reached the portal to her world, she took a look at the clock of her cell phone. It had almost been two hours since her other self left and she was nowhere in sight, so Rainbow decided to go ahead and get her back. She stepped against the portal, and bounced off.

Rainbow tried again. She hammered her fists against the surface, she kicked it, finally she gave up. “I need Twilight’s help. Only she knows how to open the portal. And the only way to reach her is Sunset’s book. Now how do I ask her for that book without making it sound too suspicious? And what would I give for a cigarette right now!”

As Rainbow Dash reached the throne room of the castle, Twilight wasn’t there alone with Spike any more, but accompanied by four other ponies. Rainbow gave them a quick look. They look similar enough to her friends to be their pony counterparts. “Hi there,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

“Same as you, Rainbow,” replied Twilight. “Helping my with my letters. Ever since I became the Princess of Friendship, I’m getting way too much mail from ponies all around Equestria asking for help with their friendship problems. Spike already takes care of the trivial questions, answering them with something like ‘Talk it out with your friend and find a solution or compromise,’ just in more fancy words, but that still leaves too much for me while still doing my other duties.

“So Rarity agreed to take care of those about clothing and high society, Applejack answers those about family and farming, Pinkie Pie those about parties and pastry, Fluttershy those involving pets or other animals, and you those about flying and sports. But don’t you already know that, Rainbow?”

“Yes, sure. Somehow forgot.”

“Rainbow Dash, what’s wrong with you?” Twilight looked at her friend “You’ve been acting strange all day.”

“I, well, I don’t know if I can tell you.” Rainbow looked away from Twilight.

“Of course you can.” Twilight put down her letters. “How should I help all those ponies if I can’t help one of my closest friends. Just say what happened, and we will find a solution.”

“Well, let’s just say, I might have done something very stupid. And it might not only be a problem for me, but also for someone else.” Rainbow’s eyes filled with tears.

“Rainbow,” said Twilight, “whatever you might have done, we surely can forgive you. You’re one of the best friends we can have. You helped to defeat Nightmare Moon. You chose us over you old friend Gilda. You saved Rarity’s life at the young flier competition. You helped us beat Discord and Chrysalis. The last one twice. When Rarity’s turned into Nightmare Rarity, you stopped at nothing to bring her back. You were willing to give up your chances of fulfilling your life’s dream of becoming a Wonderbolt to stay loyal to us. You risked your life and broke about every bone in your body destroying that gremlin cloud threatening Ponyville. And last but not least, you took an important part in opening that chest, beating Tirek and getting me this shiny new castle. So just tell us what happened and we will work it out together. Nopony will be mad at you.”

“Twilight, I have never done any of that. I’m not even your Rainbow Dash. Okay, have to tell you the truth. Me and your Rainbow Dash though it would be a good idea to switch places. Well, mostly me, she actually wanted to stop me in the end, but I didn’t listen. It was supposed to be just for one afternoon to see if anybody finds out. But when I wanted to go back, the mirror was closed. Looks like I’m stuck here.” She looked down at the floor.

“First, it’s ‘Your Rainbow Dash and I’, not ‘Me and your Rainbow Dash,’” Twilight corrected her, “and second: Don’t you know that you shouldn’t mess around with interdimensional portals? Those things are dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. Now you see what happened. And the other Rainbow Dash is trapped on the other side? I just hope I can fix whatever damage you did.” There was some anger in her voice for the first moments, but it quickly changed to helpfulness.

“I’m sorry,” said Rainbow Dash. “Should have thought about that before. But you can fix that, Twilight, can you?”

“As I said, I hope I can. First I have to figure out what is wrong with it. This mirror is a thousand years old, and even I don’t completely understand the magic in it. But I’m sure I’ll figure something out. And don’t worry. You may have done something stupid, but you could not have seen that coming. It’s not your fault.” She gave Rainbow a smile.

“You’re not mad at me?”

“Of course not. You might not have done all the things I mentioned before, but you helped me reform Sunset. And when we were up against the Dazzlings, yes, at first you where a bit of a jerk, but you realized what you had to do in time and saved the day. You may not be our Rainbow Dash, but you’re still a good friend to me.”

“Thanks. Glad to hear that. By the way, does anyone have a cigarette for me. Haven’t smoked since I came here ’cause your Rainbow said she stopped two weeks ago, so I really need one now.”

“Sure.” Applejack produced a pack of Gauloises Blue from under her hat. She took one in her mouth, then tossed the pack to Rainbow. “Keep the pack. I think Twilight might take some time reopening the portal.”

“Hey, no smoking in the throne room,” Twilight warned them. “You can go to the smokers guest room, or my private smoking room. Or just outside. And for the rest of you, looks like we won’t come to answering letters today. I got a mirror to fix.”

“We could still get some done without you,” objected Rarity. “Good luck with that mirror. And don’t worry, Rainbow. Twilight will solve this. She always does.”

“And Rainbow,” said Pinkie Pie, “next time you do something like this, take me with you. Visiting another world without anypony knowing sounds like fun. Well, maybe without that being trapped there part.”

“Sure thing, Pinkie. But now I do need this cig. You’re coming, AJ?”

Chapter Four

Rainbow Dash slowly walked to Sunset’s flat to give her some time to think of some excuse why she needed to contact Twilight, but she found none. So she just knocked at Sunset’s front door, waiting for someone to open it.

“Hi again,” Applejack said, letting her in. “You got what you wanted at school?”

“Not exactly. Have to go there again later.” Rainbow took a look around in Sunset’s home. She and her friends were sitting at the living room table with some books and notebooks. “Sunset, you still got that book to make contact with Twilight? I gotta write her something.”

“What do you want from her?” Sunset asked.

“Nothing special. Just some… private… things.”

“Sure.” She stood up and went to her bedroom to get it. When she returned her face was worried. “The book. It doesn’t work any more. It is no longer connected to its counterpart in Equestria.”

“No! No!” screamed Rainbow. “The book doesn’t work. The portal is closed. Why in Tartarus did that have to happen right now?”

“I’m sure Twilight will find out and reopen it soon. She’ll realize as soon as she wants to write something to me.” Sunset tried to calm her down. “Don’t worry. It’s not like there is some real problem here and we would need Twilight’s help right now. Unless… Rainbow, are you the Rainbow Dash Twilight spoke about and not our Rainbow Dash?”

“Yes,” confessed Rainbow. “How did you figure out?”

“Well, I’m not blind. First, you apparently never ate meat before. I didn’t think much of it at the burger shop, but then you just knocked at my door, as if you didn’t know I had a doorbell. And just now you said ‘Why in Tartarus.’ If you were a human you would have said ‘Why in hell.’ Also, you keep talking about the portal. I’ve been a pony before, too, I know the signs from first hand. Or hoof, in that case. But still, whatever the problem with the portal is, I’m sure Twilight will figure it out and fix it. You’ll be back home in no time.”

“But what if she doesn’t? What if the portal itself is broken. What if I’m stuck here forever?”

“Then we will figure something out to bring you home,” said Rarity. “We are your friends, so we will help you whatever come. We might not know you, but we are friends to someone just like you, so that makes us your friends, too.”

“Thanks. Was a stupid idea to switch places with your Rainbow Dash. That reminds me, now she is most likely stuck over there, and she has not the slightest idea of how it is to be a pony. I hope she’s not in trouble.”

At that moment, a tiny voice in Rainbow’s head saw its chance. It had been weakening her for two weeks, now it was time to strike. You really got some problems here, Rainbow. But don’t be sad, there is a simple solution. Just smoke one cigarette, and all your troubles and worries will be gone. You will be able to think straight again and find a way out of here. Just one single cigarette can’t harm you. You only quit because of Scootaloo, and she is not even here. Why do you put yourself under so much stress, if there is an easy way to relief it.

Rainbow had heard that voice many times before, and so far, she had been able to resist it. But now her limits were reached. The voice of her addiction had won this round. She knew it was wrong, but couldn’t do anything against it. “AJ, can I get a cig from you,” she asked her friend. “I really need one now.”

“Sure.” Applejack took two cigarettes out of her pack, gave one to Rainbow and lit the other one herself. Sunset followed their example and lit up a cigarillo, then she passed her lighter to Rainbow, who lit her cigarette and finally got some smoke in her lungs again.

Fluttershy opened a window. She never dared to complain, but second hand smoke always gave her a headache.

“And I’ll get us some beer,” suggested Sunset. “I don’t think any of us will still learn anything for school today. But you better tell us what exactly has happened.”

After Rainbow had finished her cigarette, she realized the voice had been lying. She still saw no way to get back. All her troubles and worries were still there and she was feeling worse then before. Telling the whole truth about what had happened to her friends was much more relieving.

Rainbow Dash followed Applejack to a small room in Twilight’s castle labeled with “Private. No Entry. (Except Best Friends.)” It contained a small writing desk with a crystal ashtray and a pipe made of briar wood as well as two candles. Next to it stood a shelf with some bottle of wine and a few wine glasses. Some light was shining in through a small open window.

Applejack lit one of the candles with a match and both ponies lit their cigarettes in the candle. “Much better,” said Rainbow as she felt the nicotine flowing through her body. “Just how do you hold a cigarette without hands.”

“Well, unicorns usually levitate them and pegasi can take them between their wing feathers. But be careful not to burn yourself. Earth ponies like me just keep them in their mouthes all the time.”

“I think I’ll stick to the earth pony way until I got a better control over my wings,” said Rainbow around her cigarette and drew at it again.

“You know, Rainbow, it’s kind of a stage feeling being together with you. Somehow I know you since years, but on the other hoof I just met you a few minutes ago. What do you think? Shall we open one of Twilight’s wine bottles and you tell me how it is to be a human while I tell you all about being a pony?”

“Sure thing,” replied Rainbow. “There’s a lot to tell.”

Twilight Sparkle’s horn was aching. She had spent the last hours working on the mirror and Sunset’s book. None of those items were meant to be combined with the other and she had just jury rigged them together, so analyzing the magic connecting them was difficult. So much for getting some of my paperwork done today, she thought. It was already dark and she was getting tired, but she needed something get the magical research off her mind before going to bed. A nice pipe and a glass of good wine would be the right thing.

As Twilight arrived at her private smoking room, she saw that Applejack and Rainbow Dash where still there and sat down next to them. “I though you went here just for one cigarette, but that was over three hours ago.”

“Yes,” said Applejack, “but then we started talking about our worlds. How different and still the same they are. Did you know that both Rainbow Dashs have the same birthday, but our one is four years older than her. I hope you don’t mind we opened one of your wine bottles.” She pointed at the bottle of rosé and two glasses in front of them.

“Of course not. And I kind of figured out that your ages are different, otherwise they, or you, wouldn’t be in high school anymore.” Twilight packed her pipe and lit it with a fire spell while simultaneously levitating another glass out of her cupboard, filling it with wine.

“I’ve been checking the mirror and I’m sorry that I have to say this, but it is bad.” She took a deep drag from her pipe, enjoining the sweet bitter taste of the smoke on her tongue before inhaling it into her lungs. “The book should have had enough magical energy to allow ponies form our world to go there or humans to come here for centuries, but switching up two ponies at the same time unseated the balance between the two universes. It depleted the book within an hour, so the portal shut down.”

She drew at her pipe again and drank a sip of wine. “While I could recharge my book, Sunset’s book uses the same amount of energy, so that one is empty, too. And as Sunset has no horn in her current state, she can’t recharge hers.”

“So does that mean you can’t bring me home?” asked Rainbow. “And it’s all my fault?”

“Well, I just started to research that. Maybe I’ll find a way to recharge Sunset’s book from here, or make a new pair of books and somehow teleport one to the other side.” She took took another draw from her pipe and blew a smoke ring out of the window. “I haven’t given up yet. I will write a letter to Cadance and Celestia and they surely will send me every literature they have about the mirror. I’ll figure something out to fix this mess. It’s just, it will definitely take some time.”

“By the way, Twilight,” said Rainbow, “I didn’t know that you smoke. You didn’t when you visited our world.”

“I really don’t smoke very much,” she said and drank one more sip of wine. “Only one pipe after a very stressful day to relax and calm me down. Not every day, maybe once a week. Or sometimes a good cigar for special occasions. But I left my pipe here both times I visited you. Also, I try to keep my smoking a little bit under the hoof, only my friends know about that. I’m a princess after all, I have to set a good example to others. So don’t tell anypony.”

“’Course not. But there is a lot I gotta tell you. How it came to this and all that stuff that happened in my world.”

“Sure, Rainbow. I need to know exactly what you and the other you did before the portal closed. But every little detail could be important, so we shouldn’t have this talk now while we are both half asleep. How about you come back here next morning?”

“Yeah, that’s probably better. It’s getting late and I’m up since 5am in the morning.” Rainbow emptied her wine glass. “Good night, Twilight, and thanks for all your help. I’m relay getting tired, better go in my bed. Wherever that is.”

“I’ll show you,” said Applejack. “I just hope you know how to use those wings, you won’t get there on hoof.”

Rainbow Dash woke up from her sleep. It had only been a nightmare. She was no human, she was not trapped in a different world. She was lying in her bed, safe back in Equestria. Rainbow wanted to move her mane out of her face with her forehoof, but instead of a hoof, she saw a hand with fingers. It hadn’t been a nightmare, it all had happened.

But being in a different world wasn’t even what troubled her most. She had smoked, despite promising Scootaloo never to do that again. It was only one cigarette, she thought, I’m trapped in a different world and this was a special situation. It didn’t count. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not lie to herself. It did count. She had broken her promise, and there was no way to change that. All she could do was to make sure it didn’t happen again.

She stood up and wanted to leave her room, but turned back in the last second as she remembered that humans usually wore clothes. Getting dressed took her some time as she was not used to her current body, and having fingers did not make it any easier. How could humans coordinate ten of them at the same time? She had to ask Sunset how she got used to fingers.

She heard a female voice calling for her. “Rainbow, are you up? Breakfast is on the table!”

“Yes, mom. I’m coming.” At last she hoped it was her mom. She hadn’t heard that voice for over a decade now and wasn’t sure. However, her assumption turned out right when she came downstairs. Two humans sat at a table, with one free chair left for her. One was an indigo-skinned woman with pink hair, the other a man with a pale blue skin and gray hair that still had some touch of rainbow colors. Her father did not have a gray mane yet the last time Rainbow saw him, but except of that the two looked similar to the ponies she once had known as her parents in Cloudsdale.

The scrambled eggs and bacon on the table smelled delicious, especially as she had never eaten something like that before. Maybe it wasn’t such bad being trapped in the human world, she really liked the taste of meat. “Good morning mom, dad.” She sat down and started eating.

“Want some more?” her mother asked after Rainbow Dash had finished her plate. “You look hungry today.”

“Sure,” she said as her mother passed over her still half full plate. “Thanks.”

“Was late yesterday, wasn’t it?” her father said. “Didn’t even hear you coming.”

“Yeah, was with my friends,” Rainbow said, quickly finishing the second plate of her breakfast. “Kind of forgot the time. By the way, I’ll be with them all day again. Won’t come for lunch. Bye mom, bye dad.”

“Okay,” her dad said. “Have fun. It are your holidays, after all, so you can stay out as long as you want.”

My parents are really nice here, she thought. Well, my human self obviously never dropped out of school, so that terrible quarrel never happened.

Before going to Sunset’s house, Rainbow took a detour via the high school and kicked a stone against the portal. But as it bounced off, she know it was still closed and went over to Sunset.

“Hi there, Sunset. Any news from Twilight? Does the book work again?” Rainbow asked as she opened her door.

“Sorry. Still nothing. By the way, our friends should come here soon to study for the finals. And I think you should do that, too. Just in case we don’t find a way to send you back soon, you’ll have to take that tests.”

Rainbow frowned as Sunset mentioned the finals again. “Study for some tests? You know, the last test I’ve taken was my entry exam into the Wonderbolts reserve, and that was about a topic I liked. I haven’t done anything for school since dropping out of flight school a decade ago, and it’s not like I did much for it before. Most of my schoolwork consisted of copying other ponies homework. I always hated learning. Well, at least I’ll be together with some friends.”

“I can help you with it, if you need it,” suggest Sunset. As her other friends arrived, Sunset took as much time as she could to help Rainbow, even neglecting what she had to learn herself, but Rainbow was way behind the others on all topics and hardly felt any progress. Also, she had cramps in her hand, as she was not used to hold a pen in it.

As Applejack laid down her pen and took out her cigarettes, Rainbow dropped her pen, too, and gave her a look. “Want one?” Applejack asked.

“Well, kind of yes, but actually no.” She resisted her inner voice telling her how much easier she could learn after a cigarette. “I wasn’t quite truthful when I said was smoking less. Actually, I quit two weeks ago. Was a stupid idea to ask for one yesterday, quitting once was hard enough. Don’t wanna have to go through that again. But as I realized I’m stuck here, I panicked and needed one.”

“I think most people in your situation would. But Rainbow Dash as an ex-smoker. Well, that’s hard to imagine. You smoked even more than me.” Applejack lit her cigarette and blew a cloud of smoke in the air. “I just hope you don’t mind if we still do it.” She pointed at herself and Sunset.

“Sure not,” Rainbow said. “Quitting smoking didn’t turn me into one of those crazy anti-smokers. And some second hoof smoke might help against my cravings.” She took a deep breath of the smoke Applejack exhaled.

“Well, I mind,” whispered Fluttershy. “Cigarette smoke always gives me migraines. It would be really nice if you could please do it outside.” But she was talking way to quietly, so no one heard her. Well, she thought, probably better that way. Rarity likes to smoke a cigarette or a even cigar herself for special occasions and Pinkie never seems to mind that smoke either, so I’m the only one. They would hate me if I made them go outside.