The Wrong Side of the Mirror

“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.