The Elements Journey

Chapters

The Better Prepared
What are those things?
Sharing Culture
The Return.

The Better Prepared

It was a crisp autumn night, the leafs on the trees outside had begun to turn a fiery red and yellow, and six pony friends were having themselves a delightful sleep over. The candles on the wall of the castles flickered softly in the evening lights as the six pony friends took turns telling ghost stories. Board games, drinks, snacks, and various other items littered the ground as they all sat upon blankets and pillows to avoid laying directly on the cold stone floor that made up the entire castle interior.

Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship, pinned her ears back as she listened to Rainbow Dash tell a particular story about a headless horse, told with more gore and detail then she usually puts into it when telling it to little fillies. After all her friends were older and hopefully able to handle more intense stories. Fluttershy being the exception of course, she had found herself a nice safe spot under Twilights wing. Hiding behind it and her own long flowing mane for safety. As Rainbow Dash nears the end of her story her words get softer and everypony has to perk their ears a bit to listen closer. "And they were never heard from.....AGAIN!" she screams out the last word, applejack found herself letting out a little eep, rarity shivering a little from the details of the story. Fluttershy had all but vanished across the room hiding behind the Cutie Mark Map.

Pinkie, it seems, was nearly unaffected. She was screaming and running around the room, but to everyone's surprise she was smiling and laughing the whole way. Apparently doing it more for fun rather than actually being scared it seems. "Oh my gosh Dashie, that was a great story, and how that headless horse cut off their heads even though he couldn't see was amazing!" Pinkie being her usual hyper active self pops up behind Fluttershy. "Don't you agree!"

Fluttershy darts across the room nearly frightened out of her skin and dives under Rainbow's wing shivering in fear. She thought she could handle all the stories but Rainbow had a way of putting emphasis on everything that made it sound just so frightening. She just squeaks in response to Pinkie shivering.

Twilight speaks up. "I think we may have had enough ghost stories for one night. I'm not sure some of us can take anymore. Maybe a different topic?" Twilight says perking her ears with a wide grin looking around the room.

Applejack rubs her chin and thinks a moment, everyone else seems to do the same, minus poor Fluttershy who was trying to swallow her heart back into her chest. Somewhere along the line it seems to have made it into her throat, metaphorically speaking. "Hey Ah got something thats been a buggin me for a few days now. iffin ya'll don't mind us bringing something up a little unsettlin." she says looking to them in turn.

Rarity, curious if the first to ask. "What ever do you mean Applejack Darling?" she says in her usually charming voice, as she gentle shakes her hair from her eyes a little bit.

The rest of the friends turn to Applejack and quiet down to listen. She speaks up after getting her words straight. "Have ya'll noticed, there has been more threats on Ponyville and Equestria lately then legs on a caterpillar." Her eyes watch her friends, they think and all seem to pay even more attention as they all seem to agree, even Fluttershy pokes her head out curiously. Her muzzle and eyes peaking from below Dash's wing. "What I figure, we need to do more than just sit around her and tell stories all the time. Having fun is great and all, but once and a while we need to be ready for the worst. As granny always said, if you see a storm blowin, you better get going."

Rainbow Dash puffs her chest out and smirks loudly. "I don't know what your talking about, together we are unbeatable. Everything that we have faced, we totally beat their sorry hides back to where ever they came from." she says proudly. she pats her chest with a hoof and looks tot hem all. "Besides, how can we lose with me on our team."

Pinkie chimes in hanging from something above, not seeming to wait her turn to speak up but saying whatever came to mind. "Yea, but almost all of those wins were total luck or just pure effort on our part, but hey we can always do it again right? I mean we have the rainbow power but totally don't know how to activate it again in a pinch, but I'm sure we can figure it out right before we need to." she gives a big grin and a squee!

Applejack lifts and eyebrow. "That's the point, we haven't even figured out our own magic yet and just barely understand this map business. Maybe we should, i don't know, prepare just in case something big comes along again? We barely made it through Tirek for corns sake!"

Rainbow's ego deflates as she can even see the truth of the matter. Her ears fold back and she looks away and down, she grabs a pillow and slides it under her head as she lays down defeated at that notion. "Ok yea, but what do we do? I mean like how would we prepare if we don't know what's coming?"

Twilight having been listening has already found herself a parchment and quill and has began to write down some notes. "Applejack your brilliant, if we prepare we may have less to worry about if something did happen!" she says excitedly.

Rainbow chimes in again raising her voice and extending her hooves upward. "But HOW?!"

Twilight shoots her an annoyed look. "By making plans, having special ways to deal with situations, like if we have fast enemies, the ponies who lead the charge would be you and applejack, if we have threats that can be talked down, Rarity and Fluttershy can be used to sweet talk them and maybe make them see what they did wrong." she says making more and more notes. "By learning each others strengths and developing plans based on those character traits we can increase our chance for success and lower our chance of collateral damage tot he surrounding town."

Pinkie bounces. "Ooo Ooo Twilight what could I do, huh huh huh? What am I good at?" she says happily wanting to be mentioned in the planning.

Twilight smiles proudly, prepared for her friends outburst. "With your pinkie sense we could have an easier time detecting danger."

Rainbow whisper to Applejack. "And if we want to annoy them to death we can just hand her over." she giggles as Applejack shoots her a curious look. Applejack thinks about it a moment and smirks a bit, it was well known Pinkie can be a little overboard at times, her friends knew how to handle her but someone else might actually surrender if they had to keep her hostage.

Applejack nods a bit. "Sounds like a great idea Twi, how about we get some sleep tonight first though, and start thinking about it in the morning, no point in wasting our breath when we are all plum tuckered out." she says with a yawn, and looks to every pony else. The yawn spreads like wildfire as it was already late in the night.

Early the next morning, Twilight Sparkle was wide awake and ready to get started, she seemed eager to get going as not only will this help in their plans to defend all of pony kind, but she will get to learn more about her friends and their abilities. This alone was enough to excite her. She had already been up for a couple hours making checklists and putting together tests and diagrams. She trots around her castle happily with her trademark grin on her face. She looks outside and sees the sun peaking above the towers in Canterlot, while she may be and early riser she knows they all stayed up late and didn't wish to force the excitement she felt on them, but it was late enough now. "Rise and shine girls!" she says cheerfully. In the time she was awake she did take the courtesy of making some quick breakfast for everypony. Serving it at the table in the dining room. "I've been up really early making breakfast and preparing everything for our big day today! I can't help it I'm so excited, the prospect of learning more about all of you, all my friends, was so overwhelming I couldn't stay asleep once the sun rose!"

Spike wearily strolls into the dining room and rubs his eyes. "Oh hey everypony, whats going on?" he says as he drags a little rarity plush behind him along with his blanket.

Rainbow speaks up with a mouth stuffed with food. "Mmmphharommmmdnosd." completely confident that everyone can understand her continues on with a mouth full. They did not of course and looked to each other with confused looks.

Applejack tosses her a glare cutting her off way before she was done. "Mind chewing your food and swallowin first sugar cube, maybe then we could be understandin ya." she shakes her head and facehoofs a little when rainbow slurps up her food and gulps it down nearly choking. She takes a big gulp of cider to clear her throat.

"I said, Twilight here is going to figure out how awesome we all are, well....heh....mainly me, and find out what we could do in case some evil horrific monster comes along and work up some totally awesome battle plans so we can beat them back to where they came!" she said pounding her chest proudly, confident in her abilities.

Rarity, slightly repulsed at the way rainbow eats, although she still dearly loves her friend speaks up next. "Yes Spikey Wikey, thats about the sum of it, you see we decided last night we wanted to be ready in case of more trouble." she politely sips on a cup of tea and smiles around the room. "I mean it only makes sense, I don't know about all of you but I would love to go home in one piece after dealing with some horrifying beast."

Spike blinks a bit. "Yea that does make sense, I mean I would hate if anything were to happen to any of you, your all my best friends in the whole world." he smiles to them. and looks seeing a plate of gems at the other end of the table. "Oh twilight you didn't forget me!" he leaps up and runs to the bowl and begins to shovel them.

Twilight smiles. "How could I ever forget my number one assistant?" she looks around as every pony finishes their meal. "While you were all asleep I've been setting up some equipment and papers, if we all work together we can get my paperwork done so we can get to planning, it shouldn't take but a few hours."

Rainbow coughs as she chokes on some of her food. "A few HOURS of paperwork?" she looks almost shocked. Rainbow may like books but filling out paperwork drove her nearly insane, she does enough of that when she goes to the clinics after a bad training accident. "Come on Twilight how can you expect us to do that?"

Twilight glares back. "I'm not asking you to do the paperwork, but you will be helping with the testing, physical tests and such. If I know what your all capable of at your best, then I can better plan out situations. This will also give us spots that we can improve upon to make our team better." she says clapping her hooves together smiling at the end. She turns her gaze to Fluttershy. "This may be hard for you, a little anyway, I got to ask you to show me the best of everything you can do, but remember your doing it for the animals too, we protect everything working together."

Fluttershy having been quite the whole time nods softly. "I don't mind, showing my friends what I can do is much much different then showing a group of ponies on stage something, your my friends and I know your not judging me." she smiles weakly, she was still a little nervous, but she believed she could do it.

After breakfast all the friends went out back of the castle, Twilight had used her magic to set up a variety of different tests and ability measuring tools. She also made sure to set them up out of sight of anyone besides them, making Fluttershy feel more comfortable showing what she could do. The tests ranged from speed and strength to magic and agility. It took the better part of the afternoon, as each pony did their best at every obstacle and every measuring device twilight could conceive. Twilight then broke out cups of water for everyone and spread them around and ran the tests herself with rarity and spike taking the notes instead of herself. Once she had finished the tests they all took a break while Twilight went to work.

Pinkie bounces around somehow still having energy while the rest of them laid panting a little in the cool grass in the shadow of the castle. "That was so much fun Twilight, I can't believe testing could be that much fun, it was unbelievable!" she says giggling and bouncing around humming a little tune to herself.

Twilight cocks an eyebrow at Pinke and pulls out her paperwork and makes one more small note. "Seemingly limitless endurance...."she finishes with a smirk to herself. After some time while they all rest and talk among themselves Twilight finally organizes the last few papers and clears her throat. "Ahem, Ok girls." they all perk up and move over in front of twilight to listen. "Alright, there are some obvious conclusions and some other things I was able to deduct from this." she says smiling, happy with her notes. "On the strength and speed end we have Applejack and Rainbow Dash Applejack being the stronger one and Rainbow being faster naturally because of flight, but in a grounded situation, your about both on par for speed. our agility on the ground is low and have more brute force."

Rainbow Speaks up. "Who needs agility when your running when you can fly like me!" she oofs with an elbow to her side.

Applejack says softly. "Shush rainbow."

Twilight clears her throat again and continues. "Agility end we have Rarity, due to her poise and grace she has an easier time on more complicated obstacles, Pinkie Pie seems to be more well rounded and due to her pinkie sense is able to avoid danger better, Flutter shy is average all around but her special talent with animals makes her invaluable, since she can call on more help for any situation, and myself I carry the heavy magic. but with knowing how strong, how fast and how magical we are i can now use this information to plan moves!" she hands out copies of everyone's results to everyone. Then uses an example. She casts a spell to make a small magical energy version of Tirek appear between them. "Something like.....Rarity and Pinkie could be in front of the group, dodging attacks and keeping him distracted. " they follow quit and move in front as the phony Tirek fires harmless beams of light, that they giggle at and playfully dodge with ease. "While Rainbow and Applejack Could either defend me while I'm casting a spell, or try and come in from the sides and restrain him." The two ponies join in the fun, mock tackling the light show acting like they are holding onto his hooves. "Fluttershy could use some birds as a distraction and then I could use my magic to bind him!!!" she then casts a spell towards him the energy and she didn't realize she cast a real spell, the energy shackles she shot towards it, spin around and flash violently, sending a shockwave in all directions. Twilight blacks out a moment and wakes up with her friends around her. "I'm sorry every pony I got too excited and cast a real spell, is everypony ok?" she asks.

Rarity smiles sweetly and moves in to help twilight up. "Twilight darling, we are all fine, we understand, we were getting a little swept up too, it was delightfully fun. Think nothing of it." she says. "Nothing went wrong, just a little accident."

Or so they thought. Deep in the bowels of tartarus, something went wrong, Twilight spell was a little too powerful. Something indeed was now amiss. A chain is heard falling to the ground, and a pair of yellow eyes glowed in the darkness and a raspy laugh can be heard.

It was nearly a week later when the group of friends had been putting their final touches on some of their new techniques and cooperative defenses they had been working so diligently towards completing. They all say in a circle after a hard days work and nodded to one another taking glasses of water and gulping them down, even Rarity as un-lady like as it was, was happy with herself having put in a hard days work, looking rather disheveled and dirty. One could not accuse her of not putting forth the effort. Not when her friends were at stake would she ever slack off. Even if it meant getting dirty. They were all talking among themselves as Spike was heard in the distance. "TWIIIIILIIIIIGHT!" he was running at them with a full head of steam a parchment rolled into a scroll in hand. He almost tripped over himself as he brought it to her, and quickly passed it over.

Twilight Sparkle took the scroll and unrolled it, the seal already haven been broken. She had told spike to read anything the princess sent and if it was important bring it to her. In giving these instructions she had never considered what she was reading to be one of those possible outcomes. "Tirek......is free.....his magic bonds have broken some how...." she thinks long and hard a moment.

Rainbow Dash blurts out. "How is that even possible, he was locked away with magic binds that were designed to hold only him, that's what the princess said, that it was a spell she personally crafted to ensure they stayed locked on him." she puts her hooves on her sides as she hovers above seemingly in shock.

Every pony looks to each other, Twilights mind raced with thoughts faster than everyone was talking. She perks up and rewinds what Rainbow just said in her mind. "Could it be?" she says. All of her friends turn to her and go silent. "Maybe, just maybe when I tried to cast those binds on that magically made Tirek, it interfered with the binds the princess made, perhaps we cast a similar spell." she rubs her head. "Oh dear, this is all my fault, what do we do now?"

Applejack speaks up after having read the scroll. "We do what we have to, we stop him, the princess said, most every pony is avoiding him so he's not getting near as strong as he was before. The letter says that everyone is running away and he's barely gotten maybe 10 or 15 ponies magic yet. Everyone knows what he looks like, so it's natural they are running away." she smiles with confidence. "We were able to stop him when he had all of the magic in Equestria, I think we can handle him with our new tactics now."

Pinkie Pie speaks up. "Oh oh I'll get my party cannons this will be so much fun!"

Rarity gives a proud smile. "He won't know what hit him."

Fluttershy cowers a little and looks around, she sighs. "I guess we have to, no one else knows how to handle him....I mean, we don't have much choice." she takes to the air and finds a passing bird talking to it, it nods and darts. "The birds will scout around, if they find him they will circle for us."

Twilight lights up at that. "Good thinking Fluttershy! We will be able to find him much faster that way and we can prepare ourselves for him while they locate where he is." she turns to everyone else. "Ok every pony get your things ready it's time to take Tirek down....again!" she folds her ears back realizing she had to say again..

As the friends gathered their things from their homes, one little bird begins to spread the word, from bird to bird, spreading it along the sky, the birds flock over the land and begin to pass the word along to other critters. Chipmunks and groundhogs all began keeping an eye out. It wasn't long until they had all of equestria teaming with little eyes trying to find one being out for magic and torment. It didn't take long for the little eyes to find and bring his location back to the ponies who were making their way out with supplies to deal with the evil being once more. The birds swirl around in circles where he was located, hiding in the forest plotting his next move. The friends look up and take note and begin setting up their gear they had specially made for such a circumstance, a forest fight near the edge with a tree line.

Twilight looks to them all and nods. "Remember the plan." a collective "RIGHT!" was the response, The friends scatter, Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie remain in plain view, Fluttershy and rainbow dash take flight and Applejack remains hidden in the brush.

Tirek pushes his way out of the trees, he wasn't much bigger then an adult alicorn yet. He snarls. "Princess Twilight, you found me I see, but no matter, your strength will make it much easier to take everyone else's."

Twilight smiles confidently. "Not this time Tirek, we are ready for you, we beat you once, we will do it again!" she bows her head and charges her horn building the magic within. She fires a magical beam of purple energy towards Tirek, he leaps to a side to avoid it. Fluttershy in the air takes notes that he decided to avoid rather then just take the blast. Applejack draws her legs back and from a pile of sizable stones bucks one hard towards Tirek, one strikes him in the head and he stumbles growling in pain.

Tirek Roars out. "Who dares strike me?!" he says banging his fists on the ground and turning to the bushes where the rocks came from. He begins to charge a beam of energy the orange glow building between his horns. Rainbow Dash swoops in as he is about to fire and lands a hard kick on his face and flies off, causing the beam to miss Applejack who was poised to jump but didn't have to. She smiles and moves away from the last pile and moves to another. Keeping low and quite til she gets there she kicks another causing Tirek another sharp blow of pain to the back of his head. About the same time a magical purple beam hits him in the flank and knocks him down. "Not bad princess!" he says as he pushes himself up. He grabs the two boulders and hurls them at the three in front of him in the open, Pinkie Pie runs towards Twilight along with Rarity and they scoop her up and move her side while she charges another spell, allowing her time to focus. Tirek Sees this and begins a hard charge towards them charging his energy. An orange ball gathering in his horn about the same time Twilights energy was building. She was preparing a teleportation spell to move them behind Tirek for another blow. The girls all swooped in knowing the signals and get around twilight. Unfortunately Tirek's magic was slightly faster than she could account for. The orange beam flies forward and strikes the teleportation bubble, the energy mixes, it grows rapidly and Tirek is blown away into a teleport bubble of his own, as the energy combination seems to be draining his energy into the spell, he withers to less then his weakest state before winking out of sight.

Twilights eyes begin to glow white and the girls are afraid to move as the bubble consumes them, she begins to hold her head as she tries to control what was happening, a brief glance sees Tirek's fate and as Twilight tries to regain control of the magic that wasn't supposed to mix, due to the conflicting energy her horn cracks as the spell finishes and they wink out of existence, leaving a scorch mark where they once stood.

What are those things?

Julie and her boyfriend Dave were taking the long way home from work that day as they were talking among themselves. Dave, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and blue jeans was laughing and carrying on about an irate customer he had to deal with while Julie was on break. Julie giggled to herself as she listened to him, in a dark blue T-shirt and some jean shorts on, it was a nice day outside. Birds flew by in pairs, the sun was brightly shining over head and the breeze was soft and a cooling contrast to the warm sun. They laughed and joked as they cut across a large open field with a shed in the back of the field near the trees entering the small wooded area. It was big enough to fit a standard living room and perhaps a little more space. No fixtures, no appliances, nothing special. It was just some old shed someone had built and stopped using. As they walked past it they both glanced around taking note of the area, they had passed it before so nothing was unusual, that was until.....A loud buzzing noise started to resonate in the air that stopped both of them in their tracks. The wind began to quicken as flashes of light seem to be emanating from no where at all, they both stop and duck behind some bushes not sure what to make of what was happening. They kept staring to where they thought they saw the light. After a moment it seems to die down and Dave looks at her speaking. "Well that was wei....." at that moment he was cut off by a blinding flash and the sound of a teleportation spell finishing which he had no idea what it was. In the middle of the field screams are heard as what looked like pastel colored Ponies appeared out of no where, the ground scorched where they arrived. Dave and Julie could hardly believe their eyes, they knew these ponies, but it couldn't be them could it? They stayed hidden and watched as Twilight Sparkle fell over unconscious and her friends rushed to her side. They all looked around, most of them felt down right terrified.

Applejack was the first to speak. "Where in Equestria are we?" she said, her eyes shifting from spot to spot trying to figure out where they ended up. "This place dun look right by any means."

Fluttershy was hidden between all of her friends but still holding onto Twilight. She was too scared to talk at all.

Rainbow Dash lifted off the ground and looked around a bit using her flight to give her an advantage. "This doesn't look like Equestria, or anyplace I know for that matter." she flies back down and hovers a few feet over head. "But there is some weird building over there lets go there till we can see what's going on."

Pinkie Pie was bouncing around the group. "Oh my gosh this place looks like so much fun. The flowers are different and smell so pretty, and look at the trees!"

Rarity calls out to Pinke. "Come on we need to get inside, we don't know what dangers are out here just waiting to get us." Pinkie pouts but listens and they all clamber inside after rarity fidgets with the door for a moment her aura covering the knob, she open's it and go inside. The group following right behind her.

Julie slowly tries to close her mouth before they both look at each other. "Did you just see what I saw?" Dave nods without looking away. Julie and Dave had both recently been new members of the Brony community and were more than shocked when the very beings they cherished randomly appeared in front of them both. They turn to each other in amazement.

Dave finally gets his brain to start working again after being thrown off the logic train to get ran over by impossibility. "I can't explain what I just saw, but I think they are in trouble. Maybe we can help?" he turns to her.

Julie blinks at him and scratches her head. "You think they will react normally to us? They just randomly appeared in our world, Twilight looks hurt, they all look scared and I'm sure Applejack could kick us to death if she wanted to, and you want to go say hi, us being humans who they have probably never seen before not knowing how they will react."

Dave thinks about it and nods. "Yea, besides what is the chance something like this would EVER happen again to anyone in the world, we have to try to help anyway." he looks to the shed. "If they meet anyone who doesn't understand them like we would, I fear what might actually happen."

Julie thinks on this a moment and nods. "You may be right, We can at least try..." she bites her lip nervously. Her gaze lifts to the shed and they both watch it a moment, motionless and not sure they should proceed, but their urge to help stronger than any other thought.

Dave is first to move out of the bush. he cautiously walks towards the shed and whispers to Julie. "Do you think we should knock or something else?" he asks, staying low to the ground.

Julie creeps along behind him. "I think we should get close enough to be heard, not so close as to scare them, and call out to them, lets....not let them know we know them, it might make things worse. I mean would you believe them if you appeared there not knowing where you are and they knew you?" she looks at him with a serious gaze. Her eyes riddled with concern.

Dave thought a moment, "That makes sense, we don't need them to think we are trapping them or something. Lets tell them later, we don't want to be dishonest." they nodded to each other and stopped a good distance away from the Shed. "Lets sit down and call out to them so they don't feel threatened." Julie nods to Dave again as they cross their legs as they sit down. "Good thing we both don't work tomorrow." he snickers a little. "I don't think I could go in anyway knowing the mane 6 were right here!" he beams almost fan boyish.

Julies give him a little swat. "I'll call out, maybe a girls voice will be easier to listen to." he nods to her and remains silent, although he wanted to be the one to make first contact, he understood her logic. Julie clears her throat and raises her voice. "Hello in there? Hi, I know you can hear me and we saw you arrive. Before you get worried we are sitting a ways out, we mean no harm, we also look very....different."

A rustling can be heard inside the shed and a loose board or two are moved slightly aside, eyes can be seen barely and colorful fur passing between the cracks. Whispering is heard as they don't seem to know what to do. Finally the voice of Rainbow Dash chimes up. "What do you want?" she says in a harsh tone.

Julie responds loudly. "We want to help, we saw your friend fall over, we were wondering if you need anything to help her out. Or maybe something you need?" she lifts her head waiting for an answer, the time passing as she waits. She looks to Dave and shrugs. "Hello?"

Applejack pipes up now. She seems more sure of herself then Rainbow. "Um, I reckon, iffin your offering, we could use some water, food.....and some blankets, our friend hasn't woken up yet.....but before that could you possibly tell us where in Equestria are we? and what....are you?" she asks, the last part her voice went from sure to uncertain, seemingly worried about the forms outside the shed.

Dave speaks up finally, his voice able to carry better with the masculine tone he has. "We can get you what you need and leave it by the door. As for where you are, your not in....Equestria was it?" he had to fake not knowing the name. "Your on earth, in a place called, Arizona, and we are called humans." he says. He waits for an answer, time ticks by as nothing seems to happen.

Inside the shed a variety of chatter goes back and forth.

Pinkie: Oh I'm so nervouscited!

Fluttershy: They don't even have a lot of fur

Rarity: Do you see what they are wearing

Rainbow: I say we take em down and pump em for info.

Pinkie: I wonder what Kind of snacks they have

Fluttershy: They seem nice to me

Rarity: And those tacky shoes....

Rainbow: They don't look too tough.

Applejack cocks an eyebrow and finally says loud enough for everyone including Julie and Dave to hear. "Enough! Alright here is what we are going to do, me and Rainbow will go out and try and talk to them, Rarity keep your magic ready and Fluttershy and Pinkie be ready to get Twilight out of here if things turn south, We need her to get back, so she has to stay safe. Now Rainbow don't say anything let me talk, we don't want to provoke a fight, but stay on guard in case they start one."

Rainbow sighs. "FINE!" she pouts and lands on her hooves and stands beside rainbow as rarity opens the door for them. Both Applejack and Rainbow trot out towards them head lowered slightly, the door closes behind them and they stay on guard slowly approaching them and now getting a better view, both Dave and Julie stand up and keep their appearances as not threatening as they can. Rainbow and Appplejack see them stand up and slow their pace a bit, they were taller than expected.

Applejack pins her ears back and gets a good look at the beings in front of her, they sort of look like spike, what with the standing on two legs, what look like claws but not sharp. No tail to speak of or scales, just clothes covering what looks like bare flesh with very little fuzz on one of them the other even less but a longer mane. "You said your, hu-mans?" she asked with a curious tone. Her eyebrow raising. "I don't think i've ever seen the like of you before." she's cautiously moves a bit closer, her tail flicking nervously behind her and with the lowering sunlight a sheen of nervous sweat can be seen on her orange coat. She eyes them a bit more and her emerald eyes stare up at them looking into theirs, she can sense the familiar feel of honesty and she begins to relax.

Rainbow was another story, she was walking around them sizing them up, scowling a bit and seeming to puff her chest out. "So what do you want huh? Are you a spy?" she snorts scuffing her hoof on the ground trying to seem intimidating.

Applejack puts a hoof in front of Rainbow. "Easy there sugar cube, I don't think these folks mean no harm, we popped in on them, and they know there is more of us yet they offered us supplies, Ah think they just wanna help." she tries to ease Rainbow back a bit more and turns to face the two. "Sorry about that she just gets riled up when she thinks we might be in danger." she smiles and pulls her hat off her head and nods. "I'm Applejack. That's Rainbow Dash, iffin your still offerin help, we would be mighty grateful, our friend isn't doing so well. We can introduce you to the others later, but if you have something we could use to help her the sooner the better."

Julie nods. "Dave your house is closer why don't you get the things they need, I'll stay here and make sure things are ok." she smiles to him and gives him a soft hug before nodding him away.

Dave smirks. "Of course, you would make me go." he nods as gathers his things and prepares for the rest of the walk home. He's suddenly stopped by a cyan mare with a rainbow mane hovering in his face.

Rainbow looks disapprovingly. "I'm coming too! I don't want you bringing back anything or anypony dangerous!" she pushes her nose to his almost knocking him back.

Dave blinks. "I'm not sure that would be a good idea." he says unsure how to explain himself.

Rainbow scoffs. "See they are up to something!"

Dave explains shakily. "No no, it's just we are more open minded than others of our kind. I'm not sure many others would take to your presence as we have. If you come you have to remain out of sight, it's safer...."

Rainbow and Applejack trade a look and the same words at the same time, "Safer?"

Dave sighs. "Please just trust me, you can come, just don't stay in sight, stay high in the air behind clouds, just don't be seen till we get there, I'll explain when we come back I promise."

Rainbow seems unsure but she nods reluctantly. "Fine, but if you try anything funny buddy and you'll pay!" she exclaims, with that they left, Rainbow flying high in the sky out of sight but keeping her eye on the one below, as they progress, Rainbow begins seeing things she had never seen before, wagons and carts that moved on their own, many others of these beings, buildings that looked like something they would find in Manehattan. weird boxes that glowed with pictures. She couldn't get a clear view from where she was but it was all amazing to her. She had never seen such wonders. They go on for what seems like hours to her but only a few minutes, he was walking, quickly but walking, this drove Rainbow insane waiting for this slow poke. Finally she can see him walking up to a building, he opens the door and holds it open, he looks around and gives her a signal when the cost is clear and she zooms inside. Rainbow seems surprised at all the items she is surrounded by. Nothing in here looked devious, but she couldn't make heads or tails of some things, it looked like a house but with devices she had never seen. She remains calm and tries not to touch anything as she explores and finds the Television. "What's this?"

Dave peeks his head in and looks. "Oh that's a TV, um.....do you have pictures where your from or movies?" he knew she did but he had to play dumb for now. She nodded softly to both and looked at it again "Ok it's like movies but in a box, smaller and portable, you can put this in any house and watch movies all day."

Rainbow perked up at the idea and gazed into it. "Can I see?" she nudges it with a hoof making it wiggle a bit.

Dave cringes a bit and places his hands on it to stabilize it. "Sure sure, just be careful, that cost me a lot of money." He reaches for a remote and points it at the set flicking it on, the sounds and sights come on and Rainbow jumps back slightly. She then stands entranced with the pictures. Eyes glued to the set in awe.

Rainbow Dash lifts her hooves to her face and squeals. "This is so AWESOME! Can we take it with us?" she says excitedly, forgetting she was supposed to keep an eye on him at this point, he didn't seem dangerous after all.

Dave comes through the door with a bag full of food and supplies. "I'm afraid not, it won't work out there, it needs power."

Rainbow Dash tilts her head in question. "Power? what do you mean. Like magic?"

Dave chuckles. "No no, Power....Electricity, well I guess you can call it magic but a special kind we make with big big buildings. It flows through big long lines and runs our machines. That shed your in isn't connected to any." he smiles warmly. "Anyway I have everything you asked for, shall we head back?"

Rainbow pouts as the TV is turned off. "Oh yea, right.....lets go." Rainbow waits for the Human. He looks out the door and eventually gives her the all clear and she darts off to the sky and follows behind him from above. They walk their way back which seems quicker than the trip as rainbow was trying to see what other wonders this world had. They reach the shed as Rainbow touches down.

Applejack and Julie are there to greet them. "Took you a while." Julie said. She helps him unload some supplies. By now the others were outside too besides Fluttershy who was watching from inside the shed with intense interest, they were new creatures, but she doesn't know what they are, but she wanted to meet them, but she was scared. her mind racing as she didn't know what to do.

"Yea well Rainbow here decided to watch a little TV while I gathered everything." he chuckled lightly. "Took me a minute to convince her to leave."

"Um....TV darling?" Rarity asked inquisitively. Her head cocked to one side with a perked ear.

Rainbow zooms in and takes over the conversation. "Yea it's a box with movies that play all day, you can just turn it on anywhere there is this stuff called....ele....elec.....what was it?"

Dave chimes in "Electricity." helping her finish the word.

Rarity grins at the idea. "Movie at home? what a simply divine idea."

Rainbow tones down her excitement. "Forget that for now though, how's Twilight?"

Pinkie appearing out of no where pops her head out of Daves backpack nearly scaring him out of his skin. "What's your names anyway." the pink party pony having not been around when Julie called Dave's name out, nor rarity for that matter.

Julie being first to talk while Dave recovers from S.P.A.S. [Sudden Pinkie Appearance Syndrome.] "His name is Dave and i'm Julie." she smiles to them and lays out some fruits and vegetables for them and lays the blankets they asked for down. Along with some bandages and anything else he seemed to think was needed.

The ponies gather everything up and begin heading to the shed. Julie and Dave close behind. The door opens as Fluttershy lets them all in and Rarity lights the room with her horn. Dave pulls out a LED light and hangs it up. "Save your strength I can handle this." Rarity questions him and watches as he turns on the little LED lamp with a click and the whole room is lit up, they stare in amazement a moment before turning their attention to Twilight. Fluttershy at this point had taken the bandages and began working on her while Applejack introduces them all.

"This here is Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, you know me and Rainbow, and there is our friend who got hurt, Twilight Sparkle. she took a beatin pretty bad to save us." Applejack lowered her head. "She was going to teleport us behind a bad guy we were dealin with and something went weird and we got sent here, seems she took the worst of it." She sulks a bit. "I don't know how we are gonna make it here, I dun know nothing about the kind of trees you have here, and your hay outside tastes awful, so I'm right thankful you brought us some food, but Twi here looks pretty bad, we might be stuck here a while."

Fluttershy looks up ay her friends and the others. "We can't keep Twilight in here it's not good for her, she needs a warm bed and some place safe to rest, otherwise I can't look out for her properly." she rubs some water along Twilights scrapes and cuts cleaning the wound, but the dark and dreary atmosphere making it difficult.

Dave and Julie look between each other. They nod softly as this shed wouldn't accommodate them at all. "Well you can stay with me until she is well. My house is a little small but your welcome to it." says Dave. "And Julie here can check on you too while I'm not home, most of the time we work different hours, but today we happened to be on the same shift." He peeks outside. "We should wait til night to move, that is if you would prefer to come or stay here is up to you."

Applejack looks at him. "Thank ye kindly but we wouldn't wanna impose."

Fluttershy finally speaks up, well more of a whisper up, but everyone is used to her quite tone so everyone goes silent to listen. "Um, Twilight can't stay here, she has cuts and bruises that would....only get.....worse.....um...if she....um had to stay......here *eep*" she spoke her voice getting softer as she neared the end.

"I have to agree darling, we have to take a chance, Poor twilight dear needs proper care, and we can't do that here." says the white unicorn.

Rainbow seems overjoyed, she wants to see more of that wonderful TV. "Yea Twilight needs the help, plus who knows what else may come along, you guys didn't see half the stuff I did, this guy seems harmless and his house is cool!"

Julie gets up and heads to the door. "Ok everyone, I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow, Dave let me know what happens, remember I have that meeting to go to in the morning so I'll check in about afternoonish."

Dave nods. "Ok then see you tomorrow." He looks to the ponies and back again. "Can you bring some food? I don't think I have enough." he smirks a little.

Rarity and the group pin their ears back seeming embarrassed. "No darling you don't have to go out of your way." she says resting a hoof on his leg.

Dave smiles. "No worries, I just haven't gone shopping yet, we are good."

Julie gives a thumbs up as she heads out. "Later Dave." what seems like a fan girl squeal can be heard as she runs off. Dave shakes his head wishing he could do the same.

Sharing Culture

After a few minutes of gathering up their things, and of course waiting for a little more light to fade, Dave leads them through back streets and between yards, weaving in and out of buildings, using rainbow dash above as a guide to avoid any other beings. Applejack carrying twilight on her back very carefully and the others around her keeping her supported. They all looked at the sights and scenes, getting distracted from time to time, seeing the light poles that turned on without any magic, the large automobiles. They not having a clue how any of this worked. Each time one of them fell a little behind someone had to get their attention, with careful movements they made it to Dave's home and he let them in the back door. He then closes it and turns on all the lights. "Let me go clear out the guest room, it's not much but your all welcome to it."

Applejack brings twilight with her along to the room. "I think twilight needs the guest room more then any of us. She needs the rest and peace and quiet to recover. We will make due anywhere else we can." The group nods in agreement as both Dave and Applejack enter the room and after a little shuffling Dave clears it out and frees up the spare bed. They gentle move Twilight onto the bed and leave the door partially open for Fluttershy to get in and help when she needs to, The wounds having been tended too before they left the shed so sleep right now was best. "Thank you again Dave, thank ye kindly, you are a very nice pony.....uh....yea..."

Dave speaks up and corrects her softly with a smile. "Person." he says with a soft nod of his head.

Applejack mimics the word. "Person....Ok, your a very nice person. Thank ya sugar cube." she says the rest of the group nodding softly and smiling in agreement.

Dave looks around. "Make yourself at home, my house is your house as long as you need it, just try not to wreck it ok?" he grins with a soft laugh.

Rarity speaks up again and puts a hoof on Dave's leg to get his attention. "Listen dear, I think I speak for all of us when I say we will do our best to not be a burden, we will clean our own messes and help you somehow so you don't have to pay to keep us fed while we stay here." she looks up at him with insistent eyes.

Applejack ahems. "Besides we need to get back as soon as possible and stop Tirek." she looks between them all and sighs. "Iffin we can get back that is."

Pinkie pie bounces around the room. "I don't think we gotta worry about him." she says pushing her nose into a jar to sniff it's contents. It was full of little hard candies. "JACKPOT!"

Applejack stops Pinkie. "It would be more polite to ask rather than take Pinkie, and what do you mean we don't have to worry about Tirek." her hoof covering Pinkie's mouth so she didn't just take the candy, pulling it back once she was sure Pinkie was going to be polite.

Pinkie looks to Dave with puppy dog eyes. He nods softly with a smile sitting in his chair and stretching his back listening to them, she speaks up again. "Right before we vanished I saw him, he was all withered up even more so then when we stopped him the first time, and back then he could barely take magic from one pony, so I don't think he will bother anyone for a while, and he vanished too right before we did."

Applejack blinks at Pinkie, "You saw this with your own eyes?"

Pinkie nods as she munches on the candy and almost shudders in pure bliss, she's never tasted this kind before, she drools wiping her mouth with a foreleg."MMmmmmMMm.....sooooo gooooood." she finishes the candy with applejack waiting for an answer. "Yea I saw him with my own two little twinkie pinkie eyes, Tirek is no problem right now." she zips from one item to another inspecting everything she hasn't seen before.

About this time, Dave felt a little pressure on his leg and saw two very big eyes on him, he was so enchanted by watching all the ponies he didn't realize Fluttershy had snuck up on him and was looking straight up at him, the moment he glanced down she ducked behind her mane and began to shy away. "You don't have to hide from me." he said with a soft tone. "Your in no danger here, none of you are, and if you want or need anything or just want to ask questions about stuff or talk, feel free. I'm an open book."

In the next room, a purple ear perked on a sleeping Twilight.

Fluttershy peeked out more from her mane and begins to lean forward. She noses a little at his hand meekly and takes it in her hooves very slowly, it was amazing how gentle she was, he could barely feel her touch yet she was able to move his hand around with ease, she was so entranced with his fingers at first, and then his arm, looking them over with her eyes, he sat there as her gaze met his again wanting reassurance. He nodded with a smile. The rest were looking too now, just curious about him, everything had happened so fast they didn't get a chance to see who or what was helping them. They all gazed around the room seeing the many objects he owned. Fluttershy was more into creatures than anything so he was her main focus, she ran a hoof over his arm, she poked gently at his foot and looked at his nose up close, so close he could feel her breath. "You are just so amazing." she said with a whisper. She then lays down on a rug and looks up at him a tiny smile crossing her lips.

About that time Rainbow Dash said out loud. "What the?!" and was in the fridge looking around. "Hey what's this red stuff in the freezer." she asked. Her eyes fixed on it.

Dave gets up. "Oh dear, yea that's right...I forgot." he says and walks over closing it. She seemed a little irritated. "Alright I'll answer but you all need to be calm when I tell you, I'm assuming this will upset you."

Applejack perks her ears alone with Rarity. Pinkie Still looking around with a big smile on her face, seems too carefree to notice what was going on, giving little things on tables a little push to see what they were, Fluttershy stayed on her rug and tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Dave leans on the fridge. "Do you have any carnivores in your world?" he crosses his arms and faces them keeping the most peaceful look on his face he can muster.

Rarity and the group back up as she says. "W...why do you ask that Darling? I mean yes of course we do, we tend to avoid them but why?"

Dave sighs. "In our world, Humans are Omnivores, we eat plants and animals to survive. Only certain kinds."

Rainbow Dash flies in front of the group and puts her hooves up. "You eat meat? If you lay one.....whatever that is on any of my friends I swear...."

Applejack pulls on her tail with her mouth and sighs. "Easy Rainbow, I don't think if he wanted to eat us he would tell us, we are in a different world, we gotta accept that's how things work here. Is that why you wanted us to hide? Others might eat us?" she gulped to him. Her eyes looking worried, not sure if she should even look outside now.

Dave shakes his head with a chuckle. "No no no, Talking ponies are not common place here, more likely someone would catch you and try and figure out what you were and where you came from, by finding out what's inside you." he points to a knife.

They all look at where he was looking and thought about it a moment, even pinkie was stopped dead in her tracks looking at it from across the room. They all gulped almost in sync. Rarity speaks up. "Well thank you darling for helping us avoid such a fate. You are too kind. Um, if it's not too much trouble could you point me at a shower, you do have those here right? I'm in desperate need for a cleaning of my coat, it's all sweaty and dirty." she says with a pouty face.

Dave nods. "Down the hall second door on the right, Left knob is hot right knob is cold, towels are under the sink." he smiles and goes back to his chair sitting down, he reaches for a remote, they all watch him not sure what it was, well rainbow did and she seemed overjoyed. he clicked it on and she immediately sat down next to Fluttershy watching it, they all turned to look, even Pinkie settling down. "Fair warning, they run these things called commercials in between the shows to try and make you buy things. Sometimes they show food, some of it cooked meat." They all look back at him in a bit of horror but nod. Eventually they all settle down after the long day and relax with Dave asking questions about different things they see on TV, foods, devices, he is more then happy to answer any questions. He talks with them long into the night, somewhere along the line Pinkie Pie ended up laying across his lap to get a better view of the television. He made a mental note to tell them the next day about the show and where he knows them from, he can't keep it from them forever considering they may be here a while.

In turn each one eventually takes a bath or shower, each one coming out seeming much more content and at ease once they are able to remove the days labor off them. Fluttershy makes her way in with Twilight and lays on the floor beside her after being handed some pillows to get comfortable with from Dave. Rainbow and Applejack fall begin to nod off on the couch, Rarity sit a while looking around and pouting, not sure where to crash for the evening. Dave thinks about this, she was more into luxury and soft pillows and such. He looks at Rainbow and Applejack and speaks softly. "Could you two hop off the couch a moment?" they look at him curiously.

Applejack tilts her head a moment but does as asked, Rainbow flaps her wings a bit and hovers mid air seemingly confused. "Uh sure." she says while they move out of the way.

Dave grins. "You'll understand in a moment." he pulls the pillows free and reaches into the couch and tugs on a bar, after a couple of heaves the inners begin to pull out and a bed unfolds before their eyes. He dusts off his hands after setting it up proper pulls the last of his spare blankets out. "There ya go."

Rainbow gapes. "Why don't we have those in Ponyville, sleepovers would be so much more fun!" she says and lands on the bed now big enough for at least four ponies.

Dave looks to Rarity. "You seemed to be looking for some suitable room, so I thought this would help." he smiles.

Rarity uses her magic to give him a gentle tug down to her and gives him a little peck on the cheek. "You are a gem!" she says she then moves over to the bed and makes herself comfortable. She perks her head and looks around. "Where is Pinkie Pie?" they all look about and seem a bit confused.

Dave is already heading to his own bed and yawns stretching his arms out wide. He scratches his side and flops on his bed. A few moments later a semi loud "What the?" and then a giggle can be heard in his room. "Found her."

Applejack makes her way to the door and peeks in. "Pinkie, let our friend have his rest, he's done a lot for us already we don't need to bother him while he sleeps."

Pinkie Pie pouts and looks down. "Okie Dokey Lokie....." she says sadly. Her ears pinned back as she hops off the edge of the bed.

Dave reaches a hand out. "It's ok I don't mind, I was just surprised, It's a king size bed, she can lay at the end if thats where she wants to sleep. It will give you three more room." he turns over pulling the blankets over himself. "Only if you promise to just goto sleep, I do need some rest."

Pinkie zips back to the end and pulls a single pillow under her and lays under a small section of blanket. She nods furiously and closes her eyes.

Applejack nods a bit but seems weary, she shrugs, and moves off. She meets with the other two in the bed after checking on Twi and Flutter, they were both sound to sleep. She cuddles into the spare bed and falls fast asleep.

Dave being an early riser gets up and begins making breakfast, he had to think about this one, ponies who eat no meat what so ever, so he prepares some garden salads. He lets Julie in when she arrives, greeting her at the door. "Hey there." he says quietly. Helping her with he groceries she brought over. "I called off from work, told them I had.....family in." he smirks and looks at them all.

Julie chuckles. "Same, well not the family part." she grins a little and looks at them as well. "I still can't believe this. I mean it's them."

Rainbow having been barely awake lifts her head. "Them?" she says her gaze meeting the two humans. "What do you mean?" she says trotting into the kitchen.

Dave freezes. "Oh dear, well I was going to tell you all after breakfast, can you hold your curiosity until we eat?" he asks and he looks over to the group starting to wake up from the chatter, they stretch out and groan feeling better after a full nights sleep.

Julie looks down feeling sorry for letting the words slip. "I'm sorry Dave, I didn't mean....."

Dave shakes his head. "it's ok, they have to know if they are going to know what's at stake while staying here."

Fluttershy comes in from the next room. "Know what?" she says curiously, a little braver this morning after getting some rest, her small bit of confidence returning now that the crazy happenings from the previous day behind them for now.

Dave sighs softly. "Ok, but you all must promise to let me completely explain before getting mad. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, we genuinely want to help."

The group nods in unison after a little back and forth looking. Dave then walks over to the TV and grabs the remote. Rarity being first to speak up. "I thought you were going to explain something darling." she tilts her head.

Dave nods. "I am, and it's almost time in about two minutes, then you will understand why I was so cautious about getting you inside, your.....well known in our world." he says with a chuckle, his hand reaches up and scratches the back of his head. "As for how what your about to see is possible, that I have no answer for, but somehow, someway someone made this." he unmutes the TV and everyone's attention turns hearing the music.

The television if filled with a familiar melody and singing. "Ahhh Ahhh Ahhh! My little pony!" All the ponies look on in awe, their gazes shooting back and forth and then back onto the screen, their looks seem to be mixed with confusion, anger, acceptance, humor. They don't seem to be able to know what to think.

A weak voice is heard as Twilight has finally awoken. She coughs a bit as she stumbles into the room. "Magic....."

"Twilight" the whole group calls out almost in complete harmony.

She almost falls over before Applejack rushes to her side, bracing Twilight with her side. "Our world is so magical, that maybe someone in this world, picked up on the unique energy and is able to imagine it, like Pinkie sense, she knows what's going on without knowing what's going on. perhaps, someone is on the same frequency in their mind and can just sense us." she says weakly. She smiles up at them. "Your a human, but you don't look like any of my Canterlot high friends. This must be someplace else, not a parallel world but another one all together." She, with the help of Applejack and Rainbow Dash moves into the next room and lays on the couch. She smiles weakly and looks at them all in turn. "I see your being taken well care of, I'm glad." She looks to Dave and Julie. "Thank you both for watching out for my friends."

Fluttershy rushes to her side with water, bandages and other supplies tending to the cuts and bruises she sustained. Twilight winces a little as her bandages are changed out. "You really shouldn't be out of bed Twilight. You need your rest."

Julie smiles almost teary eyed and begins passing out plates of food to everyone while the friends catch up swapping stories and such, sharing what happened at the end of the battle with Twilight. They seem to be settling down now after the initial shock. Julie speaks up. "It's great to have you all here, we are huge fans."

The six seemed to freeze at that. Rainbow speaking up. "I'm cool with people liking me, but considering this, that's a little odd, but thanks!" she says, not sure how to feel about this.

Applejack looks at the TV again. "So we are a television show for little kids, but why are you watching it?" she turns back to them.

Julie and Dave Gulp, time to explain the Bronies. Both of them sit down and have a long talk about how the brony culture began, what it means to them. How it has affected so many peoples lives and what's happening in it now. "Your lives, have positively impacted a lot of people here, your spreading friendship, dare I say, to millions." says Julie.

Twilight lifts her head to that, her ears perk up and tears come to her eyes, she brings a hoof to her cheek to gently lift the tear away. "That means so much to me. Thank you Dave, Thank you Julie for telling us this." She smiles softly and catches her reflection in the TV when it goes black a moment, her careful and analytical mind is able to pick up something wrong in her reflection. She looks around and sees a spoon, trying to pick it up with her magic she is met with a throbbing headache. She holds her head and then reaches for it fumbling with it with both hooves. She brings it to her face as the others cringe and wince waiting for her to figure it out. "My...my horn!" she cries out. "It's cracked?" she frowns.

Fluttershy speaks up. "I know horns heal, but how long does it take Twilight?" she asks, of course speaking up for her is a soft whisper for anyone else, but the moment Fluttershy spoke everyone went quiet to listen.

Twilight sighed. "A few weeks, at best." she looks between them and looks down. "I'm sorry everyone, had I thought Tirek was going to fire that blast so fast, I would have tried a different plan. I had no idea our combined magic would do this to us."

Rarity being the first to hush her. "Now twilight you got us out of that sticky mess and kept us all alive, hurting yourself in the process. Don't you worry about anything but getting better. Once you are healed up we will find a way back!" She smiled bravely and hugged her friend.

Twilight nods softly and sees the meal having been put out for her and leans in taking a few pieces of fruit eating it, she was very hungry having slept for almost a day and a half by now. She looks around the room while the others chewed, she noticed a few shelves closed off when everything else was on display, she tilts her head and stares at them a moment.

Dave notices her staring and grins. "I guess since you know about us and bronies now I don't have to hide these and creep you out." he gets up and moves over to the shelves and lifts the cover, revealing a line of small toys of the ponies themselves. "We get a little crazy with merchandise when it comes to you guys, it's our way of feeling connected. Of course that pales in comparison to this." he grins. They all have a hearty laugh and begin sharing stories and learning more about each other.

The Return.

In the coming days Julie makes a wonderful connection with Pinkie Pie and Rarity, learning from them how to bake and make dresses, in turn she brought home wonderful confections from different stores for all of them to try. Also bringing back fashion magazines for Rarity. Rainbow Dash and Applejack take up trying their hooves at the game consoles. a little tricky with hooves instead of hands but they managed to do quite well for themselves. Of course Twilight found the computer and began reading all sorts of knowledge from it becoming the most well read pony on human that could have ever been. She read anything she could, medical information, dating, fiction, non fiction, history. She was enthralled with a new supply of knowledge she never knew existed. Fluttershy had by this time found the discovery channels with animals and Animal planet on the TV, she had even made a few friends out back at night when she dared venture outside considering she needed to not be seen. They all took some time out in the back yard after Dave and Julie checked for nosey neighbors. They didn't want to keep them indoors but it was safer this way. At night Rainbow Dash would stretch her wings with some flybys and Applejack would run around the yard keeping her legs working. The rest talked and played. Julie had brought over some Chinese walls to put around the deck so they could venture out during the day a little and enjoy the warm sunlight without being seen. With everyone enjoying themselves time was slipping by as Twilight regained her strength and allowed her horn to heal. Each day was more progressive, she began to levitate small objects again after a couple of days. In a weeks time, she was casting small illumination spells.

Twilight one morning wakes up and takes a good look in the mirror and smiles brightly. She plants her hooves to either side and speaks softly. "Ok, let's do this." Her horn begins to glow brightly and she smiles wide, she closes her eyes and focuses, a little headache presents itself from the lack of use. She pushes through it and lowers her head, a moment later in the middle of everyone in the living room a bright purple flash takes everyone off guard, Fluttershy find herself hiding under pillows and everyone else is gaping at the sudden appearance. They all cheer when they see who it is and what just happened. "I've got my magic back!" she says happily. "Now we can all go home! As.....soon as I figure out how to do that...."

Everyone's excitement turns to dismay as soon as Twilight's tone shifts. Rarity ahems, "It's ok Darling, we knew it would take a while. You had to heal first before you even tried anything, we were prepared all along."

Pinkie bounces over and gives Twilight a hug. "Yea Twilight I mean as it is we are having lots of fun here already, what's a little more time!"

Twilight winces a bit and looks at them all. "Well the thing is, with all the reading I've been doing I have been occasionally thinking about how to get back, but there are no Equestrian magic books here and I'm not sure I know what to do. We may be stuck here...."

Rainbow turns her head. "Whoa whoa whoa, you mean we could be stuck here away from all our friends, families and loved ones forever?"

Fluttershy whimpers. "Oh...oh my, I really miss my home. I mean not to sound ungrateful to our hosts, you have both been very kind, but..."

Julie nods and leans down giving Fluttershy a hug, "We know, you don't belong here and you miss your homes. We wouldn't want to keep you here if you didn't have to stay. We want you all to be happy."

Twilight sighs and looks away moving into the bedroom and thinking to herself. She seems almost defeated as her friends seem worried and sad now. "I can't let them down, but what am I going to do?" She lays her head on her pillow and sobs softly into it.

Applejack makes her way into the bedroom and comes in laying a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Listen here Sugar cube, I know your sweating the fact we can't get home yet, but you'll figure it out. You always do, and.....if you don't well we still got each other. That's enough for me!"

Rainbow Dash and Rarity both nod and speak in unison. "Right!" Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie come in and gives twilight a hug, eventually they were all in one giant group hug. snuggling into each other.

Twilight looks at them all with tears in her eyes. "You don't hate me for trapping you here?"

Rainbow laughs a little. "Pfffft No, I mean there is so much cool stuff to explore, yea I'm going to miss my other friends, but we did it for a good cause, to protect them. If being stuck here means making sure they live to see another day, then so be it."

Rarity nods. "Well said Rainbow darling. While I'm sure they will miss us, and we will miss them, the fact knowing we saved them from a horrible fate makes it worthwhile!" she flicks her mane from her face with a smile.

Fluttershy smiles with a nods as well as Pinkie. Applejack smiles to them all and looks back to Twilight. "We are all here for you sugar cube, and we would never turn our backs on ya!"

Twilight smiles brightly. "Thank you girls."

At this time both Dave and Julie are at the doors crying softly in joy. "It's better then any episode!" Dave says in a sappy manner, they all turn to the two bronies and laugh a little. Dave blows his nose. "I'm glad we found you in that open field, it was the only one between here and the city, it's lucky you landed there."

Twilight's eyes go really wide and a hint of energy passes by them with the typical spark she gets when she had a brilliant idea. "It couldn't be that simple could it?" they all turn to her with perked ears.

Applejack replies with a simple, "Pardon?"

Twilight smiles. "I may have found a way back home, but we'll need to go to that field again after dark, can you help us?" she looks to Dave and Julie.

Julie nods. "Of course, we will take the day off and get you there tomorrow night!" she says almost excitedly.

Twilight nods. "Ok girls, pack your things just in case tonight, we may be going home!" she smiles brightly and gets to work with her idea.

The following day Twilight and the gang gather around and begin to make plans, with the help of their new friends they gather some cheap supplies from the junk yard nearby and begin building a device. it almost looks like a vacuum cleaner out of the cat in the hat book by the time they are complete. Dave rents a small truck and it's loaded into the back. They spend the day saying goodbyes in case everything works. Once evening came, Julie and Dave load into her car and the rented truck with all the ponies, minus Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy who stay overhead flying out of sight. After a short drive they pull up to the field and drive into a hidden set of bushes. The gang works together to bring the device to the center of the field where they appeared.

Twilight nods softly and smiles big. "We can't thank you enough for helping us. Without you who knows what would have happened to us." Dave and Julie lean down and give the group a big hug as they all come in for it.

Dave sniffs a little along with his friend. "We are going to miss you a lot." they both look really sad as Dave spoke.

Julie looks up. "Can we get a picture, for both of us, no one would ever believe us but it would be for us only anyway." she says as she wipes some tears away.

Twilight smiles and they all nod, their own eyes misty as they will miss their new friends as well. "Certainly, what button do you push i'll use my magic so you can be in it too!"

Dave shows her how to work the camera and they all move over into an open area. "Wish there was more....." before he could finish his words a bright light shines from Twilight's horn as she uses an illumination spell to light the immediate area for the camera. "Ok then."

Twilight smiles with a squee and hovers the camera, they all position themselves, a flash is seen after they all smile and more hugs shared. Dave asks her what the device does and she explains. "Basically, Equestrian magic has a tendency to absorb into surrounding things if no magic is present, My hope is, that this machine when I use my magic will draw out the energy from the area, and maybe combining it with my own magic like before, but with more control so I don't break my horn again, we can open the rift we made like last time to get here." They all Ohhh and nod and Julie and Dave stand a little further back just in case. Twilights horn lights up again as her purple aura seeps into the device she created, it begins to come to life, little whirling gears and pumps all turning on. She claps her hooves together as she can see little bits of magical energy being drawn towards the device and gathering in a small glass container attached to it. The energy was red and orange like Tireks magic and that seemed to be a good sign. After a few minutes the machine seems to get no more energy from the area. She flicks a lever on the device and the energy starts to pour towards a spout. "Ok gather around girls. Here we go!" Twilight readies her teleport spell again and the beam fires from the device towards her, the energies begin to mix and flashes of light split the night sky. She strains to contain the energy and focus it properly.

A voice is heard. "PRINCESS TWILIGHT, YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!" It was Tirek!

Dave and Julie heard it as well and stand up. "No, if she's stopped they could never get home..." Dave said.

Julie nods. "But what can we do? You saw how big he was on the show, if he appears we don't stand any chance."

Dave thinks. "She said he didn't get nearly as many ponies last time, lets hope he's still manageable."

Julie nods and turns to look at her car. "I got an idea, but I just finished paying for it..." she shakes her head. "Whatever it's for a good cause."

Dave looks to where she is looking and nods with a smirk. "Good thing I took out the extra insurance on the truck. But lets not do this too hard, we can't kill the guy."

Tirek appears and all the girls gasp, he was alicorn sized but still intimidating. "Where do you think your going, I've been trapped in between worlds for weeks, and your going to PAY!" The girls wanted to do something but were helpless, if they left the bubble they may never get home, but if they stayed they could get hurt, they had no options. No options until they heard a honking. Dave and Julie were driving into the field with their vehicles and circling Tirek now. "What trickery is this!" he begins firing beams at them but misses, the cars were too quick and a bit too big. he swipes a claw at one and scratches the paint and seems stunned at the metal body. The girls smile at their friends seeing they came to the aid of them once more. They all say Thank you very loudly, then twilight yells. "Knock him into the portal now!" they all seem stunned, but they realized Tirek didn't belong here any more than they did.

Dave drifted the back end of his truck around and drove straight at Tirek making him back up in fear. Dave slowed down so as not to seriously hurt the being too much and rammed him at about 15-20 miles an hour. He is thrown back at the Ponies feet and then a scorch mark left behind as the Ponies and Tirek vanish from sight. A small chunk of Earth missing where the teleportation spell was cast. Julie and Dave get out of their cars and move over to the spot where they were. "Good bye friends." Julie said, Dave nodded respectfully. "Lets go home..." Dave managed to choke out.

Dave and Julie had been relaxing at home watching the new episode of My Little Pony, they had found a new respect for the show, not that they didn't enjoy it before, but now they had more love for it than ever. They can't help but wonder sometimes if their friends made it back safely. As they are watching the latest episode it was a battle with Tirek and it seemed vaugely familiar, there was even a part where they all disappeared from the show with Spike and Celestia worried about their fate. Then in the next episode they were back from a teleportation and finishing their battle with Tirek. This made Julie and Dave sob in joy, they knew what this meant. Near the end they ponies look to the sky and say "Thank you to our new friends." only two very special Bronies knew what this meant.

Dave smiled happily. "They made it!" he hugs Julie softly and they look at each other, by now they have both realized they had feelings for each other and caught themselves blushing.

Julie nods softly hugging Dave back. The whole experience had brought them closer than ever before. They begin to lean into each other staring into each others eyes. The room was dark and the night sky outside was darker. They had recorded the episode to watch later since they both had to work. They always shared the episodes together now. They leaned in close lips a breath apart. They close their eyes 'KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK' well that was a mood buster, but wait, that was the back door. They blinked and got up, Julie hung back as Dave turns back looking at her shrugging. A giggle was heard outside. Those voices, familiar voices....

Both Dave and Julie seemed shocked as Julie ran up beside him as they opened the door, once they did they were greeted with 5 sets of very large and caring eyes. Up above a loud BOOM is heard and a rainbow trails across the sky in a ring pattern as Rainbow flies in. "Where's the TV." the rest trot in behind and grin.

Dave looks stunned. "But you were....how did.......why? HUH?"

Twilight smiles brightly. "Well, after doing the spell twice I was able to use my own alicorn magic to make the spell work without Tirek, so now we can come visit on occasion, we couldn't just leave our new friends completely could we?"

Julie and Dave tear up in joy, they all share a hug and the ponies and bronies go inside, the door closes as Julie and Dave share their first kiss with their friends. They all look wide eyed and Rarity pipes up. "Ah ha I knew it!" they giggle as the door closes behind them. The end.