Operation Northwest Passage

[Intermission: Universe 114.28]

Meanwhile, but also in the future-past alternate pocket universe but once again even...

Universe 114.28, by some miracle of strange casuality, was formed quite oddly. More specifically, it consisted almost entirely of a ranch house that always seemed to run out of what you needed just after you sent someone to go get more. It also sported a living room with a television capable of monitoring any universe at any time, and, more interestingly, an ingenious type of door that would have revolutionized science-fiction films of the Earth's 21st century.

It was also, by some strange law of physics, painted entirely in shades of blue.

After the discovery of 114.28 in the future-past on-observer counterspinward, [see Appendix 224-Beta for an introduction to multi-universe phrasing and tenses] the building and its surroundings were almost immediately appropriated by the Helios division for official use. The definition of "official use" for this universe has/had/shlerb been a point of contention throughout the division, especially once the general staff found/will find out that it was mainly being used by the higher-ups for especially kickin' cross-universe parties.

At this point in time, the universe was populated with an indeterminate amount of sentient life-forms, due to rounding errors on the author's behalf. However, "indeterminate" at this point can be assumed to be three.

Two of these were now seated in the curious living room, on a rather squishy cadet-blue couch. The average person's mind would boggle at the implications of having both in the same place at the same time, primarily because one was a generally normal Earth human and the other was a seven-foot-tall white alicorn. The additional spatial problem of how one was able to fit two large beings onto a relatively small couch without any violations of personal space would bring a tear of frustration to the eye of any physicist or interior designer. Due to the generally headwonky physics of Universe 114.28, though, both these feats were accomplished without any effort or protest. The occupants of said couch, therefore, could easily forget physics and focus on the television, which at this point showed a view of the events before this intermission from several different camera angles. Seeing the reactions of the populace to the human's arrival, the alicorn couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle.

"They truly didn't have any idea what you were, did they, Gim?"

The human in question grinned. "Those poor ponies had no idea. If only you had been there to see their faces!"

The princess of the sun leaned heavily against one of the couch's armrests. "You have no idea how much fun I have messing with my subjects. I might as well spend my days doing that!"

"Oh, I'm sure I would enjoy that, though I can't speak for the unlucky residents of Equestria."

"Wait, wait! Here's the good part!" Celestia flicked up the volume in time to hear Twilight nearly crushing Spike with a few short words. Both burst out laughing when they could see, in the background, everypony there backing a few steps away from the unicorn. They watched on, occasionally commenting on some strange action or turn of phrase, until Gim came out with:

"Man, I'm hungry. Is there any--"

As if on cue, a pocket door opened in an eye-twistingly strange action, revealing an even stranger figure behind. These days, no one bats an eye at such a draconequus walking about in most universe-hopping groups. The strange part was how the draconequus was shrunken down to fit in the building, and that he carried an overlarge bowl of popcorn with him.

"Here we go! Traditional movie night popcorn, brought especially to you by the magic of chaos! And the magic of microwaves." Discord, the creature in question, pushed the bowl into the center of the room, before falling into a cyan armchair and watching possibly the two hungriest creatures in any universe attack the bowl like a pair of sharks. As corn kernels flew about around him, he glanced at the television.

"Hang on, I've already seen this part!" Discord punched at the NEXT SCENE button.