Care and Love, Always

Chapters

Worlds and Questions
It's Natural. It just has to be.
This Is How We Live
Further Research Is Required
It's Time To Become Serious
What If You Could Speak To Yourself? Part I
What If You Could Speak To Yourself? Part II
To Know, Despite The World(s)

Worlds and Questions

The mirror world had seemed an anomaly in the beginning. Nothing felt the same. Upon Twilight Sparkle's first arrival, the magic of friendship had seemingly all but fallen. Her closest friends- those who should have been her closest friends- were all readily turned against one another. Her physiology was absurd. The "human" customs and societal traditions were confusing. And Twilight preferred not to think about "humanity"'s violent tendencies.

But now, things were almost normal. With the help of her friends and the newly discovered other worldly power of friendship, relative peace was periodically maintained in both worlds. With this new-found peace, Princess Twilight Sparkle found that she would, on occasion, be able to spare some of her time in order to visit the human world, simply for kicks. Her circle of human friends, which now included the redeemed Sunset Shimmer, as well as herself, was always excited to see her, and the Princess reciprocated.

It was uncanny, really. Aside from physiological physical appearances, Twilight's human friends were almost exact parallels of her pony friends. Their voices, mannerisms, life stories: all conspicuously correspondent and curiously independent-or dependent, as Twilight still was uncertain.

Stepping-or rather, landing-out on the distal end of the multidimensional portal, the formerly purple alicorn princess took a pleased note of the fact that she was finally becoming accustomed to the inertial feeling of disorientation that accompanied each and every trip to the human world. However, whereas her only visits up to that point were concerned with battling the forces of evil magic, this trip was entirely for purposes of socialization. Only earlier in the previous day had Sunset Shimmer sent a written request for a visit. Apparently, the time of year had come to winter in her friend's world. As Twilight Sparkle had been preparing to travel, she was able to come to the conclusion that the time of year was synchronous between the 2 parallel realms. And it appeared that her friends were eager to introduce her to the human holiday season.

The Princess could immediately see what was in front of her. Her vision was probably the least jumbled of her senses by this point. The Party Animal and the Farm girl were yet again trying their hands at cards. A look of discontent on Applejack's face could probably only mean that it was going much the same way it had the last time, while Pinkie Pie only expressed a smug grin.They were situated on a ledge in front of Canterlot High's main entrance, both cross-legged.

The fashionista and Sunset Shimmer had apparently engaged themselves in scrutinizing a new aesthetic fashion design. In truth, it seemed that Rarity had simply pulled Sunset into a discussion that most likely would not have occurred otherwise, but sometimes that was Rarity for you, ever the designer. They sat on the small set of stairs leading up to Canterlot High's front door. Sunset could have been leaning against the rail, but was instead leaning forward, too engaged in the conversation. Rarity was of course, nearly fully focused on the designs.

Lastly, the Princess of Friendship took note of the Athlete and the Caregiver. Although it did not strike any cord at first, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked happy and completely at peace. They were both situated on the same small set of stairs. Rainbow Dash leaned against the rail leading up to the door, with a single arm wrapped around her closest and oldest friend, while Fluttershy was content to lean into her lover's shoulder. Although Twilight could not tell simply by looking, the two had been through enough emotional testing and confirmation to feel entirely at ease with one-another. Their new-found relationship was just one piece of news that wait for the Equestrian Twilight.

The only absent body was Equestrian Twilight's human counterpart.

Taking a brief moment to dust herself off, and to take in the familiar surroundings, Twilight Sparkle relished at how normal her appearances in the mirror realm were becoming. Yet, this never stopped her friends from greeting her with a rather excited "Twilight!", all at once. She quickly regained her full senses, enough so that she could address her friends.

"Ugggh...", the recently transformed Twilight muttered, again pleased that the disorientation and confusion were ameliorated with each successful trip. "I'm baa-ack!", she stated coyly. Regardless of the ease or normality of the actual travel, her intrusions into a world that was not her own were still going to take some getting over.

"Hey!", called Rainbow Dash, in her usual extroverted manner. "What kept you, Twi?! I almost thought I would have to go in there and get you myself!" Much like her equine counterpart, this world's Rainbow Dash didn't exactly have an affinity for patience.

"Actually, I was talking to the other you, Rainbow. The conversation took longer than I'd expected, so I just rushed straight to the castle. But still, sorry about the wait." It was true, she had been having a conversation with her world's Rainbow Dash. She didn't mention it, but it had looked like Ponyville's Rainbow Dash was distressed about something, although there was no admission to any kind of problem. "So, anyways, aside from waiting for me, how have you all been? Where is...um... me?"

The small circle of humans all found humor in their friend's difficulty with the question. "They can laugh if they like, but it's so strange talking about yourself in third person, in every sense of the term", thought Twilight. "I mean I am thinking about myself, aren't I?" Such thoughts had been plaguing Twilight thoughts for quite some time. Were the counterparts really technically the same as one-another? The implications of this question were expansive.

As the giggles quickly died, Sunset decided to actually answer her question. "It's alright, Twilight. You're actually back in the city right now. I think you've got some family issues to take care of."

"Family issues?", Twilight thought to herself. If they were exact parallels, then familial issues were more than a little concerning. "Oh. Alright then."

"As for me Darling, I have been preparing myself for the upcoming holiday season. Winter is a time for both ugly and tasteful sweater-wear, and it is such fun to keep warm with physically appealing sweaters and jackets in the cold. Couple the warmth of the design with the naturally jolly sentiments of the season, and it makes for nothing short of a heavenly time of year!", exclaimed Rarity. It was easy to tell she was excited, as they all likely were. If this was anything like Hearth's Warming, then it was truly a momentous holiday season.

"Hehehe", chuckled the cowgirl. "Ah'm pretty much in the same boat. The family's always busy in the winter, on account of the increased demand for baked goods. We've got to have our products out and ready!" Makes sense. In Equestria, the apples were always Ponyville's defacto, primary source for culinary agriculture.

"I've been planning on throwing the bestest Christmas Party any of us has ever seen! I mean I know you've never been here for one of our Christmases but that makes it all the more special right? You get to see all the lights the snow the dark cold skies and the kids and feel all of jolliness and the warmth and feel everything great about winter and oh my gosh this is so exciting! You'll be able to make it right!?", exclaimed the party animal. On the average day, Pinkie is pretty excited, but now the universe has gone and given her a reason. "RIGHT?! I mean, how could you not?!"

"Well Pinkie, I'm going to try not to make any pinkie promises, but if the timetables align properly, then sure, I'd love to spend a "Christmas" with you all!", returned the princess. She didn't know exactly if Hearth's Warming and Christmas were concurrent. If so, then she would have seasonal responsibilities of her own, back in Equestria. Surely, the party animal understood that, didn't she? She probably did.

"Okie dokie Loki!", replied pinkie, armed with the impression that one of her smartest friends may very well experience her first human Christmas soon.

"I've been helping. With everything. Everywhere. Literally." Something about Sunset's tone of voice just rocked Twilight with the urge to break into laughter, and prompted the princess to attempt to suppress a goofy smile. For now, at least. "Because, between all of the hours involved in sewing, looking over designs, hauling crates, and handling party supply logistics, I think I've pretty much become an expert in all things holiday." It was always somewhat comforting to have someone near Twilight's level of competence, minus the physical activity, around for her friends. Not that her friends are incompetent, they're just generally... less well-rounded than Sunset Shimmer seemed to be.

Although Fluttershy had been sure to remind herself that today was going to be easy, she found herself unable to eradicate the smallest remnants of anxiety. They'd always known this moment was coming, but why did it have to be this hard? Why couldn't she just be brave, like Rainbow Dash? As Twilight stood, asking their various friends of their holiday plans, the shy girl couldn't help but just shake and tense up at the thought of how she might react to the coming news. She buried her face deeper into her Dashie's neck, trying in vain to hide from the impending disaster.

Rainbow could feel her girlfriend's nerve, feel her body tense up against her, and feel the shy girl's noticeable tremble. In a way, it was adorable. Otherwise, Dash hated seeing Fluttershy sad, or unhappy. She herself just couldn't feel joy if the love of her life was down. Using a single arm, Rainbow Dash gently tightened her grip around her oldest friend- her best friend in every sense of the word- her love, and pulled her even closer into the embrace, and rested her chin on the head of that glorious pink hair. At the moment, Rainbow wasn't concerned with how exposed or open they were.

As Fluttershy felt the comforting arm around her tighten its grip ever so lovingly, she involuntarily let out a slight, relieved sigh, calming enough to be something along the lines of being content to wait for her friends to turn to her, while at the same time enjoying Dashie's snuggle.

Eventually though, after several more minutes, the attention did come down to the two of them, as Sunset's discussion faded into close.

As she noticed 5 pairs of eyes descend upon them, Fluttershy's first instinct was to feel nervous, and to shy away. But the support of the girl next to her enabled her to, at the least, look up straight.

"So, what about you guys? What's been going on with you?", inquired the Equestrian. She had yet to recognize anything peculiar about Rainbow Dash's embrace.

Oh-Well you see, Twilight, R-Rainbow Dash and I have, u-uhm...", she trailed. She did still worry about what her cultured, regal friend would have to say. Rainbow Dash had promised that she would let her to make the announcement, in hopes of simply practicing public proclamation.

Having been able to predict that things would happen this way, Rainbow Dash resigned to stroking her girlfriend's hair. She wasn't really worried about Twilight's response. She just wanted to support Fluttershy in any way that she could. Fluttershy looked to her with an inquisitive eye. The athlete gave a gentle squeeze of the head as a sign to continue.

"You and Rainbow Dash...", the Princess purposely trailed with a smile. The situation was giving the Equestrian a pleasant sense of déjà vu.

"R-Rainbow Dash and I are... in a relationship. As in, dating", she declared, followed by a soft squeak. Rainbow Dash only gave a nervous smile, and resumed stroking the pink ocean.

Initially, the Princess's mind was blank. Tabula Rasa. "Really now?", she cumulatively thought to herself. "Really now?", she spoke aloud, quite loudly. She hadn't meant for those words to be spoken aloud.

At the sounding of Twilight's tone, the Caregiver's nerve partially rebounded. It wasn't a full blown panic, but she was now more concerned of just what their royal friend thought. Panic was warded off by her Rainbow's arm. "Yes", Fluttershy confirmed, in what could be considered a whisper.

Despite what she knew as the response her friends wanted to hear, Twilight found herself unable to give it. She was to be momentarily lost in her thoughts. "Rainbow Dash... and Fluttershy... together? Just what does this mean? Just what is time? What is will? What is fate? Why is this happening?", she pondered, to herself this time.

Twilight had yet to give a response. She simply stood, poker-faced, silently. To Fluttershy, this was not comforting, as was evident to all by her visible frown. Sensing the building tension where it was supposed to dissolve, Sunset Shimmer gave her sibling disciple a nudge. "Twilight?"

Shaking her head and steeling herself, Twilight Sparkle snapped out of it, remembering that she needed to say something. "Hm? Oh, uh, that's ... wonderful!" She tried her best to make it sound like she was nothing but happy for them, but the couple could still feel the uncertainty. "You two actually have REALLY good chemistry!"

Rainbow Dash wasn't having any of that fake reaction. Their pony friend may be the Princess of Friendship, and the Element of Magic, and on par only with Sunset the other Twilight in terms of smartness, but she was not the Element of Honesty, nor a very good liar. If Twilight was going to look down on them for their relationship, then Rainbow Dash wanted her to admit it. "Twilight, come on", said Rainbow Dash sternly. Some may look at such thoughts as hypocritical of the athlete, but hey, she wasn't the Element of Honesty either. She knew her loyalties. At least, now she does.

I'm sorry, I-", Twilight got out, before being once again impeded by a lack of words. She was just a little bit too preoccupied with her thoughts. Meanwhile, her friends continued to reflect a collective countenance of unease.

Sunset Shimmer could feel such disease, and attempted to lead her sibling disciple in her normally coherent trains of thought and speech. "You..."

I...uhm... ugh.", she sighed. She shook her head again, slightly harder this time, attempting to dispel some of the immediate atmosphere. "Look- don't take all of this the wrong way. It's great if you both are happy with one another, it really is, and I have no problem with the relationship in and of itself. It's just that I'm having just a little bit of trouble trying to understand". She was hoping those words came out as was intended.

Rainbow Dash supposed that was a start. It didn't sound like Twilight absolutely disapproved, but The Athlete was still unsure of whether or not to be at least a little offended. And so she gently brought her arm in closer still, around her girlfriend's shoulder. "What's so hard about it to understand? We're together. I like her, and she likes me. What about Flash Sentry? It wasn't off that he was a human, and that your were a pony princess? Hey, to each her own I guess, but that would be some pretty extreme stuff you're into, Twi.".

At the implications, the Princess could do little else aside from blush. Intensely. She didn't think things were THAT serious with Flash Sentry. She hadn't even seen him since she met her human counterpart. "N-No, it's not like that! Here's the thing, Rainbow. I'm glad if you two are happy together, but have you ever considered how your actions might affect your counterparts in Equestria? Or how their action might affect you? Haven't any of you ever considered whether or not your destinies are intertwined, whether or not you're destined to follow the same paths, and same timetables?" For the first time, Twilight was making these inquiries of someone else.

Although they were all silent at first, Twilight quickly noticed the new frown on Sunset Shimmer. It was almost as if she looked upset. Rainbow Dash only counter-questioned her royal friend.

"Twi, It's not like I've never thought about the other me, but what do I do? We've lived all of our lives without even knowing that your world existed! Besides, I'm sure the other me is almost just as awesome as me. Almost.

"i know, I know, it's just that this is something I've been thinking about quite a bit lately, and I can't seem to find a suitable answer. Therefore, it's rather difficult to determine whether or not love like yours is justified-". She was too late to stop herself. Immediately, Twilight realized that "justified" was the wrong word to use.

Alright, now Rainbow was kind of offended. At this point, although she was trying to keep her tone under control in consideration of the shy girl still in her arm, it was getting harder to do that. "Justified?! And what, Twilight, makes you think-"

"Alright, alright, alright. Let's just settle down.", Sunset Shimmer directed. This was neither the time nor the place for heated discussion. "Listen, Twilight, I know what you're thinking. I went through the same thing. In fact, I came here from Equestria at first, and I was the reason the girls were all estranged when you got here. I went and I stole your crown. I even tried to kill you all!". They all winced at the memory. "But do you think that these girls would have continued to be friends If I'd never come here? Do you think the other you would still go to Crystal Prep? Celestia, We've never even so much as heard of the other me! But this isn't the time." To everyone, this all seemed to come out of nowhere. Sunset Shimmer, meanwhile, was starting to think maybe she'd gone just a bit overboard.

Rainbow Dash relaxed next to Fluttershy yet again. All of a sudden, neither one of them felt all that tense. Rather, they were rather calm. The Athlete let out a sigh. "Sure thing guys, whatever." She then received a light jab in the side from the girl next to her. "S-sorry, I guess...", she struggled.

Despise the fact that Twilight's pondering was not at ease, she knew her friends were right.

"Sure thing, it's all fine, hehe. I apologize", admitted the Princess. And now they found that something more would need to be said, or the situation would turn awkward.

"So, Twilight, are you staying for the Holiday Season, or are you coming and going?", asked Sunset. Nobody has said it' but they all knew it would be ideal if Twilight were to spend a couple of nights in the human world. Then she would experience everything.

"You know what, Sunset Shimmer, I suppose I will. If Hearth's Warming isn't going to be a problem, then I'd love to!"

"Alright! Now that's what I'm talking about!", Rainbow yelled. This should make for an interesting week.

"Wonderful Darling! Oh, there's so much to possibly do, where shall we start?!", Rarity offered.

"well, actually, before we do anything, I should probably go back to the castle and get some things, right? I mean, I've never experienced a holiday with you all."

"Sure thing, Sugar cube. Go on and get whatever it is you might need! We'll all meet you all here in about an hour.", Applejack suggested. Things were looking better.

As Twilight stepped back out through the portal, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but crack a smile. If things went the way she was planning ,the this might prove to be the best Christmas ever. She nuzzled her head up against Fluttershy's, putting her face in the pink hair, as their multidimensional friend briefly returned to her own realm.

Twilight was pretty sure she was ready. Although things were better, she couldn't shake the anxiety about her logical dilemma. As she went about the castle, preparing to return to the human world, she naturally transitioned into a song. It just so happened that she was alone, but she sang passionately, nonetheless.

"I've been through all these thoughts before,
I've been in and out of both these doors.
There's little in this world that I can't comprehend.
In most ways it's objective, a definitive explanation.
Yet now i find that it may not be so simple.

I know there's more that's out there,
Discoveries that must be crowned.
I know there's more that's out there, Another rule that's not been found.

These worlds are full of beings,
But still they cannot see. They know only of themselves,
Absolutely lacking synergy.

But maybe it's better off unsolved.
Need I find what I'm looking for,
If there's no simple method?

Yet I know there's more that's out there,
Something to solve this conundrum.
I know there's more that's out there,
To set the two worlds in Tandem.

There's only so much the world makes clear,
And I'm not saying that it's unfair.
But I know there's more that's out there,
Lest the helplessness of Rare.

Beyond these worlds, beyond these thoughts.
There's so much to find, so much to have wrought.

There's something out there, mocking me,
A sort of solution that I just cannot see.

Because I know there's more that's out there,
Another truth, another find.
And I know there's more that's out there,
A stringent product of my mind."

As she stepped through the portal for the third or fourth time that day, she found herself hoping that her friends could alleviate some of this anxiety, and that "Christmas" was truly a wonderful time.

Author's Note

A lot of the time, I'm running hypothetical story plots in my head. This is the beginning of one of such plots.

If this sucks in any way, shape, form, or fashion, I'd like you to tell me how. This is my first time writing a real fanfiction.

It's Natural. It just has to be.

Rainbow Dash was finding herself in a rather exhausted, yet content, mood as she left her friend's large, crystal castle. Twilight was smart, smarter than the Athlete herself was, at least. Rainbow Dash had been hoping that her friend could help with a problem, but apparently the Princess of friendship was taking a hiatus from her time as an actual princess. Whatever. It's all cool.

Touching down in the middle of a lush, green field, the cyan mare took in the sight, the sound, and the sensation. Although a month ago she might not have taken the time for such things, lately she'd learned from her mare friend that being calm could be nice. Taking a a brief look around, Rainbow Dash spotted her favorite pony closer to the edge of the clearing, with a beaming smile spilled across her face, happiness and warmth almost literally dripping out of her very expression. That would always be a sight for sore eyes.

"Hey, Shy", greeted Rainbow Dash, with a gentle yet firm nuzzle. She really was always happy to see Fluttershy. Their relationship had grown, exponentially, in size over recent time. And they both loved every moment of it. "How'd it go?"

"Oh, Rainbow Dash,it went very well. It took quite some time, but I think, with a few more days of work, it could be made into something really special!"

"Huh, well that's awesome", commented the daredevil, as they both settled comfortably against a set of trees. Having had quite a bit of practice up to this point, the couple settled into their regular positions together, in a somewhat lazy snuggle. They lay mostly side-by-side, Fluttershy burying her face in her Dashie's neck, with a blue forehoove hung around her torso. "But... I guess that also means you're going to be taking breaks every now and then, right?", Rainbow asked knowingly.

"Of course, I wouldn't dream of missing out on naps together". They lay in such a position in silence, wishing they could do nothing aside from hold each other tight for all eternity, for what felt like a small eternity. Eventually though, it was the demure Pegasus who broke the quiet.

"Oh. And uhm... Dashie?"

"Yeah, Flutters?"

"You said you were going to stop by Twilight's castle?", she asked with a resurgence of curiosity.

"Yep, sure did. Did you need something?", she inquired with detectable concern. Rainbow Dash was hoping she hadn't forgotten something. It wouldn't be the first time.

"N-no, nothing like that. I was actually just wondering, was Twilight home?". Rainbow Dash loved to be reminded of how adorable Fluttershy was, not that she could ever forget. The shy pony's reserved attitude brought an inadvertent smile to the cyan mare's face, as she summoned her words.

"Well... it looks like Twilight is gonna be out a few days, Shy. She said she was going to that other world for a bit. She would have gotten us together to tell us, but I'm pretty sure she was in a hurry just now. I walked in just as she was about to start singing."

"Singing? Oh my. I hope it's nothing too serious."

"Nah, she'll be good, I'm sure. If it was something huge, she definitely would have told us first."

"I certainly hope so", Fluttershy commented, as she let her head fall back down onto her lover's chest. Rainbow Dash responded by bringing her forehooves to cradle the head of glorious pink hair.

They lay like that, for yet another several minutes, before the quiet Pegasus broke the silence once again, with obvious sleepiness in her voice. To Rainbow Dash, it sounded as if she were drowsing off even as she spoke.

"Rainbow?"

"Hmm?", she replied, with her own submission to the realm of dreams imminent.

"Do you ever think about the other me, and the other you?", asked one sleepy mare.

"The other us?". The daredevil found it funny that her marefriend would ask of such a thing. On several occasions, the rainbow pegasus had found herself thinking of their other-worldly counterparts. From what Twilight had told them, the Rainbow Dash counterpart sounded pretty awesome. Not quite as awesome as everypony's truly, but still pretty awesome.

"Mhmm".

"Maybe once or twice. Why? Something on your mind, pretty filly?" Although it sometimes wrought cringe upon Rainbow Dash's soul to use sappy pet phrases, she was making progress.

"Just... thinking", she mumbled. This was such a peaceful afternoon. It almost felt too good to be real. "How do you think we are on the other side, Dashie? What do you think we're really like? Do you think we're together in the other world?". By this point, Flutttershy had simply resigned to allowing her eyes to stay closed. Any moment, sleep would probably claim her mind. When it did, it would most likely be several hours before it was reclaimed. In the embrace of her lover, however, she was OK with that.

Rainbow Dash took only a brief moment to ponder, and to recollect her own thoughts. This was also not the first time she's thought about their "human" counterparts. "I sure hope so, Shy. Otherwise, the other me is probably being pretty dense. She'd be missing out on one of the most awesome things ever!"

"The cuddling?"

"No, I mean you. The fact that we cuddle like this is just a huge bonus."

This response compelled Fluttershy to reward her love with a sweet, passionate kiss. Like so many of the affectionate osculations the two had shared, it was indeed passionate, conforming to Daredevil's need for force and speed, yet simultaneously gentle, and calculated, reserved, to account for the Caretaker's affinity for calm, and peace. They held the touch for several seconds, resigning before the need for air could force them apart.

Fluttershy could feel nothing at the moment apart from pure bliss. For the moment, there was absolutely nothing wrong, and nothing to stress. For the moment, it was only her with her Rainbow. The feelings of peace and happiness within were so very prominent, so very intense, that she felt they could almost bring her back from the brink of dreamland.But sleepy cuddles were one of the best types of cuddles. She gazed into infinite pools of cerise, while Rainbow Dash allowed herself to be lost in an endless expanse of cyan.Their relationship was to the point- having been subtly fostered over the years of enduring struggles and common history- that they could simply look into one another's eyes, and be happy.

After several more moments, Rainbow Dash brought her marefriend's head back down to rest, and they remained still. Such is how they spent the next 5 minutes, before they were together inducted and moved, through the realm of dreams. For several consecutive hours, they dreamed of being happy with the pony for whom they wanted only Care and Love, Always.

"So, shopping it is, then?", clarified the Farm Girl, and the Athlete, simultaneously. Although neither one was big on shopping in the slightest, the Fashionista did have a point. The blouse and skirt were not going to cut it for the winter for their extra-dimensional friend. . This was going to be a major pain for some of them.

Rarity, however, looked genuinely confused. "Why, of course, dears. Was there really ever any question? One shan't think that holiday traditions should be so nebulous.".

" Ah 'spose not, whatever that means. Guess I really should have expected it would happen like this. Alright then, come on ya'll, let's get this over with.", pleaded Applejack. She would rather not drag this out anymore than she had to. She had enough trouble Christmas shopping for gifts. Clothes? Definitely not her cup of tea.

Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, simply hung her arm around Fluttershy's shoulder. In the recent couple of weeks, their friends had found that, as opposed to before, it was now extraordinarily difficult to find one without the other. It was as if it were almost impossible to separate them. Apparently, it worked as it was. Fluttershy attended Rainbow's games and practices, which was nothing out of the ordinary, and Rainbow found some time to spare at the animal shelter, which was a bit more of a radical change.

"Sure, fine. Let's get going. This should be a nice 5 hours of hell", the Athlete half-seriously complained. With that, the 7 of them began to depart.

It was at this moment that Fluttershy remembered she needed to speak up. "Oh, I'm sorry girls, I'm afraid I won't be able to go with you to the mall today", the Caretaker spoke in her typical, soft voice. This caught Rainbow Dash by surprise.

"You won't, Flutters?", she asked with a small modicum of concern. Fluttershy responded by nuzzling Rainbow's neck momentarily, and shaking her head sadly.

The girls all turned their attention to the shy one of the group.

"Is there a problem, Fluttershy? I'm sure the shopping could wait, if you'd like some help.", offered the Princess of Friendship. This wasn't her world. She was the guest. Therefore, she found it appropriate to stand back, and let her friends attempt to throw together a schedule, even if their-as in they, minus Sunset- relative lack of organizational compulsion was killing her on the inside.

"N-no, it's fine, really. I just forgot that there was something I need to finish at the shelter today."

"GIRLS! Would you all be so generous as to WALK FASTER, PLEASE!", exclaimed the Fashionista. In her excitement, she had accelerated far ahead of the rest of the group.

"Yeah, uh, Ah think Ms. Prissy is wantin' to call for us", commented Applejack. However, she only stood in place.

"Hey why don't you guys go ahead and go with her royal highness to the mall. I'll catch up with you.". Rainbow Dash figured she could just catch up to them after having a moment with the girl she'd spent a vast majority of the past 2 weeks with.

The other girls were hesitant. On one hand, there was Fluttershy. On the other was Rarity.

"It's alright girls. If I finish early, maybe we could...uhm... meet up again. I-if that wouldn't be too much trouble."

"You're absolutely certain?", asked Twilight in confirmation.

"Yes, Certainly."

"Well, alright then. Hopefully we'll catch up with you soon. Later, until then, Fluttershy", Twilight fared as she rushed to catch up to the Fashionista. The others wisely decided to follow her example.

Once they were alone, Fluttershy felt a momentary nerve in her chest. They stood in silence for a short time. Was Rainbow Dash upset with her over her not being able to go to the mall? The Caretaker wouldn't think that Rainbow was so... stringent. She knew her well enough to know otherwise, but the nerve was coming from somewhere. "I'm sorry, Dashie", she said quietly, and remorsefully. "I'm sorry we can't walk to the mall together, with our friends.".

Hey, it's alright shy. I mean- it sucks, but sometimes this is just the way it's gonna be, I guess. After all, we've pretty much always been together for the past couple of weeks. Just don't worry about it, OK?". Although Rainbow Dash was somewhat disappointed, she didn't want to make her girlfriend feel pressured to submit. "Oh, hey! We're still spending Christmas together, right?"

"Of course! There's nothing that I would want more!". Rarity may have been a small bit of a busy body, but she was right about the season. Having a love around this time of year would truly make it magical.

Rainbow Dash smiled. "Love you, Fluttershy."

"I love you too, Rainbow Dash."

With that confirmation, the two girls bid good bye with a lingering kiss, and went their separate ways for what seemed like the first time in forever.

Continuing to put distance between them, the Athlete thought it was as if she could literally feel the separation. Despite this misfortune though, she was still the Element of Loyalty. However small the trespass may seem, Rainbow Dash therefore felt she had a responsibility to catch up with her other friends. They may not think much of it if there were only 5 of them at the mall, but the Element of Loyalty took her title seriously.

As she exited Canterlot High School, and the shy caretaker continued to occupy her thoughts, the Rainbow haired extrovert felt the rest of her mind go blank. The mall was the destination. But other than that, there just wasn't much to think. Not urgently, at least. She was just walking. Then something hit her, hard. Suddenly, and without warning, there was a violent sensation in the encephalon. It felt as if there was a vibration inside of her head. Simultaneously, her vision began to go grey. These symptoms persisted for less than half a minute, and receded almost as suddenly as they'd emerged. It was a couple of seconds before words could be formulated. "Ugh. Darn, what the hell was that?", she groaned. Trying to shrug off the absurd physical discomfort she had just experienced, Rainbow Dash continued walking.

As time went on, however, and the symptoms went away completely, a feeling of calm returned, and eventually, self- reflections of radicalness. Sure, it sucked that Fluttershy couldn't be there with her, but it wasn't about to get the prismatic menace down, not for long.

With some mental pep talk, she was feeling better, much to her own surprise. She had no idea exactly what was going on right now with her mind, but it didn't matter. In Rainbow Dash's head, metals started playing, and the world started moving faster. She, however, was outside of it. She could watch and act as she wished, with this new, out-of-nowhere felling of rejuvenation.

In this bout of calm and motion, a rhythm began to assemble itself within Loyalty's domain, and manifested in the form of song. All the thoughts and recent reflections manifested as words and expressions, and composed a song that the Element of Loyalty sung aloud freely, proudly proclaiming the strings of her relationship. If someone heard her, then whatever. Didn't really matter.

"Despite the limits that you’re breaking,
My love is yours for the taking.
My love is
Just waiting,
To turn your tears to roses.

Despite the limits that you’re breaking,
My love is yours for the taking.
My love is
Just waiting,
To turn your tears to roses.

I will be the one that’s gonna hold you,
I will be the one that you run to.
My love is
A covering, and endless rainbow.

No, you’ll never be alone,
When darkness comes I’ll light the
sky with color,
See the rainbow in the Dark.
No, you’ll never be alone,
When darkness comes you know
I’m never far
See the Rainbow in the dark!

You felt so shy and lonely,
You stood there nervous and coyly.
My love is
Just waiting,
To clothe you in rainbow roses.

I will be the one that’s gonna find you,
I will be the one that will protect you.
My love is
A covering, and endless rainbow."

With the mall in view by the time she finished, Rainbow Dash reminded herself. "Man, I am awesome!".

Author's Note

I'm going to be honest with you guys. I kind of feel like I just absolutely bombed the end of this chapter.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=omuYo49_SOQ
In case you're curious what I based those lyrics off of

This Is How We Live

"Uggghhh", moaned Rainbow Dash. She. Was. Bored. She sat on a chair in the mall's premier department store. Everywhere she looked, she saw clothing on racks, and consumerist patrons willing to try them. "I'm sooooooo boooored!", she complained to nobody in particular. She had tried nearly every way possible to alleviate her boredom. She'd taken some buttons from the plastic bags attached to some of the outfits, only to be scolded by the fashionista. She'd resorted to fooling with the long metal hook that someone had just left out in the open, only to be scolded by the fashionista.

"Honestly, Rainbow Dash. Try to take a page from Fluttershy's book, and behave with just a little bit more patience, if you'd be so kind. You're acting like a child!"

Although the athlete had mixed feelings about being compared to her girlfriend in such a manner, she'd let it slide. This time. "Hey, I'm plenty kind! Besides, how much longer is this going to take?!"

"Darling, I'm afraid you simply cannot rush aesthetic perfection. But, if you really are so inclined, please, feel free to leave. I'm sure you'd rather be out and about, doing who knows what".

Rainbow Dash half seriously considered the motion for a moment, before dismissing it. Partially because of her pride, she figured she would stay. Aside from pride, Rainbow Dash did realize that, without sports practice, a ball to kick, or Fluttershy to talk to, she actually had nothing better to go to.

"Eh, nah. Sorry Rare, but you're not getting rid of me that easily!", she declared. "Although, I do think it would help everybody here if we could speed this process up, just a bit."

With this, the fashionista could only pinch her nasal septum and sigh. Sometimes, how Fluttershy could deal with Rainbow Dash so proficiently was beyond her. "Rainbow Dash, dear, how is it that Fluttershy is able to control you with such ease? With the simplest and quietest of pleas, Fluttershy could most definitely have you pacified and satisfied. Frankly, it is indeed sort of a wonder. How does she do it?"

This clearly does not resonate well with the athlete. "Control?! Rarity please, nobody controls me. I'm just too aweosme to be confined in a cage! I, uh, just kind of like to make Fluttershy happy!", she exclaimed with the beginning of a blush evident.

"Hehehe", chuckled the Farm girl. "Gotta say, Dash. She does have a point. If there's anybody who can bring you to your senses, it's probably Fluttershy".

These points mildly shocked the athlete. She wasn't being controlled. She just knew how to act well. They don't even know what they're talking about, Rainbow Dash thought to herself. "Whatever, you guys just don't understand".

"Uh-huh. Whatever you say", Applejack replied jokingly.

Abruptly, the regal member of the group was feeling the need to interrupt the playful argument. Playful teasing is fine, but for crying out loud, she was rather uncomfortable at the moment."Hmmph. R-Rarity, are we almost done here?"

In the discussion, the Fashionista had lost her focus. She took a moment to return her attention over to her princess friend, who was, for the moment, in the process of modeling several different outfits, an uneasy look her face. Sure, she may have looked a bit uncomfortable, but such is the price to pay for proper fashion.

"Oh! My apologies, Twilight. You'll be joyed to know that we are nearly finished here. I need only to find a scarf that properly complements your complexion, and shade.... And, it may be wise to ensure that no unexpected "pony ups" will ruin your attire. Although, that could also be handled back at the boutique..."

"UUUGGGGHHHH", groaned Rainbow Dash, again. "I was right, this really is going to be five hours of hell".

Despite Rainbow Dash's renewed impatience, Rarity paid no mind this time around.

"Well, at least we'll all be here together. You have to suffer waiting, and Rarity has to suffer your complaints. Sounds like a fair trade, if you ask me", offered Sunset Shimmer.

"Amen", the Farm girl found herself agreeing.

"Hey. Buddy.". Rainbow Dash stuck a single hand up at their bacon-haired friend. She cupped her hand, and brought her thumb to rest in between the middle and ring fingers.

"Ha, do you even know what that means, Rainbow?"

Although she could have taken the time to explain the several different meanings of the gesture to her friend, the athlete simply raised her other hand, in much the same gesture.

"Right. Ok, then.", Sunset Shimmer resigned, before reciprocating the hand gesture.

"Listen, all I'm saying is that it wouldn't kill the owner to put in an arcade. "

"And have all the riff raff just permeating, loitering, and taking up valuable space? No thank you dear, that sounds downright dreadful.", countered Rarity, taking a sip from her newly acquired Caramel Brulée Latte.

"I don't know, Rarity. Considering the mall is literally a 15 minute walk away from one of the city's biggest highschools, it might actually make sense to invest in an arcade." Sunset Shimmer wasn't keen on the argument one way or the other, but logic dictates alignment. Not for the first time that week, Sunset was finding that she wished for more coffee-free options at the premier drink shop. Sugar Cube Corner was great, but a bit of variety never killed anybody.

As the group of girls stepped out of the mall and into the chill of the air that surrounded the city, and as the conversation deteriorated, they relished in the comfort of a hot drink. It had already started to feel like Christmas. For most of them, at least.

"Well, Twilight, how does that feel? Is that not far more fitting, and far more desirable, than that old skirt and blouse? It should suit the winter weather quite well, if I may say so myself. Now, with that, all that is left is to fashion custom scarves for you all! Then, and only then, will it be a complete winter wardrobe!"

"It... fits well, actually. Just as good as anything the other you would have picked, assuming she hadn't gone and made it herself."

"Oh, yes. Terribly sorry about that, Darling. Up to this point in time, I'd been unable to find much spare time, what with the holiday preparation and all", the fashionista replied apologetically.

"No no, it's fine. I understand completely", Twilight assured.

"Rarity, you don't have to go through that trouble with the scarves, by the way", inserted the Farm girl. "Really, you don't."

"I know!", exclaimed the fashionista, with much excitement.

As they all edged ever closer to the edge of the mall property, the Farm Girl caught an interesting sight in her peripheral vision, a sight that brought back memories of a time not long ago. Memories that revolved around a couple that she knew quite well. "Hey, Dash!", she called.

"Hmm?"

Applejack gave her a hand motion that clearly meant "come here".

Thinking nothing of the request, Rainbow Dash complied. She figured she'd humor her country friend. "What is it, AJ?".

"Go ahead and take a looksie over in that there direction, Dash, by the door, and tell me what ya see".

"By the door?", the athlete clarified, taking a quick, thorough look. There wasn't much to see, in all honesty. From the sidewalk, she could see the entrance to the cinema, she could see the food court, and she could see a fountain. "I'm... not sure. Uhh... AJ? Just what am i supposed to be looking at, exactly?"

"Ya see that there group of girls standing near the fountain? Chatten' the day away like there's no tomorrow?"

Rainbow Dash could see them.

"Yeah, ok, sure. I see them, but what about them? Is there something I'm missing here?"

"You and I both know how you were before you started datin' Fluttershy. Ah may have avoided you like the plague for a while, but in a school like Canterlot High, we were bound to cross paths every now and then. Ah distinctly remember that you were a lady's girl. Always flirtin' and always ooglin the pretty girls. Ain't that right, Rainbow Dash?

At the recollections, the athlete developed the bare beginnings of a blush, as her cheeks warmed. "S-so what? None of that matters anymore. Fluttershy and I are happy together!"

"Settle your horses, Rainbow. Trust me, it's obvious that the two of ya are happy together. But still. Ah'm willing to bet that ooglin' a good lookin' girl every now and then wouldn't hurt none, right?

The athlete didn't like the the sound of this conversation. Something felt... wrong. Was Applejack serious, or was she just testing her loyalty?

" 'Cause one of them girls has got a nice pair of legs, and a real pretty face, if I may say myself. Don't ya'll agree?"

The farm girl nodded in the direction of the girls in question. The girl was dressed for the winter season, but was modest about it. A light sweater draped over a majority of her form, but left her thighs open for scrutiny. The tight skirt and short top were both clearly provocative, and would have made for one hell of an attractive setup. Would have, if Rainbow Dash had turned her head to look.

"Ah don't think you were even looking, Rainbow Dash."

"I probably wasn't. And I don't need to."

"You sure about that?."

"Uh, yeah. Pretty sure."

"Pretty sure of the fact that you don't feel the urge to turn and oogle that girl's body?", the Farm girl pressed for the last time.

Suddenly feeling a considerable weight on her shoulders, Rainbow Dash let out a tired sigh. She wasn't frustrated, just tired, all of a sudden. "I love Fluttershy, and according to Twilight, I'm the "element of loyalty". That would feel too much like a betrayal. I'm not going to betray Flutters like that." The athlete really wasn't sure that was technically a betrayal, but it would feel like one all the same.

For a fraction of a minute, the two girls stood, facing each other eye-to-eye. Applejack was concentrating, trying to find any fault or doubt in her friend's eyes or words. In that fraction of a minute, neither was willing to yield. Rainbow Dash stared with what appeared to be resolve and devotion, while Applejack with cautious inquisition.

Satisfied that the athlete was good to go, the farm girl did finally, after what felt like an hour, relent. "Hmph. Alright then, Dash. I was just testin' you.", she confessed, as she turned to continue walking.

Seeing that Applejack was going to simply move on, Rainbow Dash seized her attention, wishing to understand exactly why they had just had that stare-down. "Hey! What even was that?! What reason could you possibly have had to think that you had to test me, after two weeks?!"

"I was also just pushin' your buttons!", she admittedly yelled back.

Pushing her buttons? "Why you...", Rainbow Dash thought's lingered, as she continued walking behind her group of friends. The thought to look back didn't even occur to her.

Rainbow Dash awoke in a very warm haze. As her eyes slowly fluttered open, the grogginess that naturally accompanied an awakening was slow in moving. Her muscles felt tight, yet buzzed. They themselves were asleep. That meant that standing up would suck. When her eyes fully opened, however, any annoyance or dissatisfaction that may have been present were abolished. Rather, the daredevil resigned herself to the fate. she would wake up like this every time, if she could.

Fluttershy still lay there with her, the caretaker's head still resting on rainbow Dash's chest. Fluttershy barely snored, instead signifying her sleep with rhythmic breathing. She was a beautiful sight. Rainbow wasn't sure if it was creepy that she liked to watch her marefriend sleep, but right now, as they lay still in their earlier embrace, she was still happy.

Should I wake her up?, she thought to herself. If she were to wake her marefriend, Fluttershy wouldn't be upset. They'd most likely just keep lying here until one of them conjured the motivation to break the embrace.

...

Nah. I'll just let her sleep. While laying there, awake, Rainbow Dash resigned to stroking her marefriend's mane, and allowed her thoughts to roam free. She thought of the increased workload- not tremendous, but generous- the elements of harmony would each have in Twilight's absence, Her and Fluttershy's first kiss, their human counterparts, and of the future. She thought of what would happen if she and Fluttershy were to visit the mirror world, together. It would be like, 3.5x more awesome.

In her contemplation, the Daredevil nearly failed to notice the love of her life stir. Nearly.

"MMmhm", the cream-likened pegasus mumbled.

Ever the prankster, Rainbow Dash was struck by an idea. A pleasant, potentially awesome, idea. While she would never do anything to hurt or seriously embarrass Fluttershy, this idea of hers was completely harmless.

As Fluttershy was stirring, Rainbow Dash checked to ensure that she was waking, and proceeded to attempt to feign sleep.

"R-Rainbow..."

It sounded more like the caretaker was simply stating her name, than asking for her presence. For a couple of seconds, they both lay still, neither attempting any further movement. There was only the light wind, and the low temperatures, warded off by their romantic embrace.

Eventually though, Rainbow Dash felt Fluttershy lift her head from the cyan chest. Following a moment more of silence, the shy mare began softly stroking her love's chin with a hoof. Although Rainbow Dash would never admit it, it took a considerable amount of effort to remain frozen in space, to avoid squirming under her marefriend's touch. She'd never expected the tables to be turned like this, to have Fluttershy subjecting her to sensual touches, while having to remain visibly inert. But hey, she'd roll with it.

The only sound was of the caretaker's enraptured sigh. Nowhere in her expression was there a hint of frustration or annoyance. Only joyful observation, only serving to feed the daredevil's ego. Seeing that her lovae wass going to sleep through her chin strokes, Fluttershy resolved to change tactics. She positioned her head directly over her love's rainbow mane, bringing them what would be eye-to-eye. The luxurious, pink mane fell around them like a curtain half-closed. In a simple, yet loving gesture, the demure of the two gently nuzzled her marefriend's face.

Holy Celestia, thought Rainbow Dash. Now this? This was just too much. The daredevil, in all of her playfulness and will, could not help but show a grin on her face, revealing her awakening to her love.

Upon seeing that the athlete had awoken, Fluttershy ceased her motions, and looked into Rainbow's eyes, with a smile.

"Aww, why'd you stop?", Rainbow dash asked, half-seriously.

Author's Note

I have been trying to write this chapter for 3 weeks now. You know what kept stopping me? Time. I never have enough of it.

Further Research Is Required

Despite the fact that she was now the Princess of Friendship, and despite the fact that she was a bit less of a social train wreck, Twilight Sparkle had always been a bit of an introvert. She was the type of pony that reveled in immersing one's self in intense study. Sure, friendship was a powerful thing, and it had helped save all of Equestria from total, utter destruction on more than one occasion, but logic and objective study could solve most problems. In such an occasion that knowledge could not solve the problem, it could be used to find the solution

Twilight's stomach growled. She'd been in this world for 4 days. It was December 24th local time, and it had been a day since she'd eaten. Apparently this human body of hers was more prone to insatiable pangs of hunger than was her equine form. At least in Equestria, she could distract herself with magic. In this world, however, her friends were determined to see to it that she did not shut away from the spirit of the holiday through intense study. Unless it was the study of gift exchange, or anthropic social protocol.

"Here! Try this!", the party animal shouted, before taking the liberty to attempt to shove an entire cranberry bliss bar down her Equestrian friend's throat.

The princess had very little choice, other than to respond with a fit of violent coughing, and hoarse vocals, as the digestive system tried desperately to reject the foreign matter.

"Pinkamina Diane Pie!", scolded the fashionista. "What on earth do you think you're doing?! Are you trying to kill her?!"

"Hehehehe", lightly giggled the party animal. "Oh, Rarity. Don't be silly. If I was trying to do that, I'd have used something huge!"

"Well, Pinkie, given that the "human" esophagus only averages between 2 centimeters and 3 centimeters in width, and that I'd estimate that bar was somewhere between 3 and 5 centimeters, *cough*, that was relatively close."

"Should I try again?!"

"MS. PIE!"

"Wat?!"

Thus was how Twilight Sparkle's morning transpired, as laughs were had, anxiety was suppressed, and logic was thrown to the wind. Despite the interpersonal occurrences, the Princess's mind often would stray from its intended setting, only to return to the mystery surrounding her friends.

Though perhaps "mystery" was a strong word. Theories and sound explanations were easy to come by. Evidence and grounds, however, required investigation. Although her friends had prevented any real research thus far, perhaps tonight's Christmas party could afford her an opportunity. It was a joy, after all, to discover the analogy between Christmas and Hearth's warming. It was even more so to discover that her friends celebrated the winter holiday much the same way the Princess would, back in Equestria.

"Twilight! Earth to Twilight!"

"Pan-duh- um, W-what?", asked the Princess, having been disturbed in a state of blackout. Apparently, Rainbow Dash had been calling her name.

"Did you catch any of that?", she asked with playful accusation.

"Well... you see... no. I'm sorry, what was that?"

The rest of the group had already dispersed, to prepare for the approaching party, leaving only Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Sunset Shimmer.

"Oh, it was just that the Christmas party is expected to begin later tonight", offered the caretaker meekly, not surprisingly with an arm wrapped around one of the athlete's.

"At around 7:30, to be exact", clarified Sunset. "If you'd like, you could stay with me, until it's time to head over to Pinkie's."

"Shy and I are gonna spend some time at the animal shelter before we start getting ready, If you guys are interested. But it's cool either way. Right, shy?", as Rainbow Dash attempted to organize a mental schedule.

"Of course. With Rainbow Dash there, things are certainly easier. But we could always use more volunteers. Not that I'm pressuring you to go, though. I just didn't want you to think that I wouldn't appreciate your help..."

Rainbow Dash only joined their hands, interlacing their fingers, in response to her girlfriend's adorable demeanor.

Sunset Shimmer didn't mind helping at the shelter, but unfortunately, she'd already fallen behind in her holiday pursuits. "That sounds fine, really, it does... but, how about... the day after Christmas? I've actually still got some last minute shopping to do", she admitted, rubbing the back of her head guiltily.

Fluttershy had no quarrel with this. "That's fine, we understand. And what about Twilight?"

"It would probably be better for Twilight to go with me, seeing as how she still has a lot to learn about the world. I'm really sorry, you two. The day after Christmas, I swear."

The couple only smiled. "It's all cool, Sunset. Catch you guys later, then", concluded the athlete.

"Certainly. We'll see you both at Pinkie Pie's house", concluded the caretaker.

With the day somewhat set out in front of them, the 2 pairs parted ways for the time-being. Twilight Sparkle allowed herself a moment's contemplation, as she was led by her fellow Equine through a miniature concrete jungle.

"They seem more in sync than ever. It's been said that opposites attract, but even in Equestria, their differences often breed conflict, which would be followed by resolution. But there is no conflict here. Their interactions are such that they are analogous to a unified core, composed of two harmonious parts. Is this the result of love? If this is the case, then could I expect a similar development in their Equestrian counterparts? If so, that brings about another mystery altogether.

Thus is the train of though that entertained the princess for a number of hours, up to the point when she could conduct real research. There was no experimentation involved. Therefore, the use of a living subject was warranted.

The date is December 24th, the week preceding Hearth's Warming. Ponyville, as well as the entirety of Equestria, joyously had already begun final preparations for the holiday. The pegasi graciously concluded their part of the weather cycle, and allowed the snow to fall, watching, as the white sheets covered the land. Temperatures dropped, and Earth Ponies and Unicorns alike responded appropriately- earth ponies with their stores, and unicorns with their influence in the bureaucracy.

Although Hearth's Warming was a time for joyous exultation for the entire country, Ponyville in particular was rather chill. That is not too say its residents were lethargic. In fact, the opposite was true. Ponies and lifeforms of nearly all breeds readied for the cozy, harmonious huddles in front of humming fires, attempted to complete their last minute shopping for their social gift exchanges, and prepared ingredients for signature holiday dishes in anticipation of Hearth's warming day.

The chill in Ponyville came not only from the cold-which was expertly implemented by mistress flyer and weather pony-, but from the knowledge that they were certain to have many more. All of the catastrophe and drama apparently went some way to instill in the locals a sense of pride, and calm.

In particular, Rainbow Dash was content with the way the holiday season was progressing. Mostly. "You're not sure? She'll be back to help with the Town's Hearth's Warming planning, right?", she inquired of a familiar baby dragon. After guiltily realizing she hadn't seen spike since before Twilight left, she'd decided to pay a short visit.

"I'm sure she will, Rainbow Dash. She wouldn't just leave Ponyville hanging. All the message said was that she'll be in the other world for like, another 2 or 3 days, but for Twilight, that leaves plenty of time for scheduling! Come on now".

She supposed may be the dragon had a point. She could probably wait, Twilight wouldn't miss Hearth's Warming. Not as a princess. Otherwise, the Element of Loyalty was prepared to venture into the other world to retrieve Twilight herself. "Yeah, you're probably right. I guess I should just go and get ready for next week, huh?"

"If you knew what was good for you, then that would probably be a good idea. Where's Fluttershy, though? I figured you guys would be spending all of the holiday season together".

"Yeah, we pretty much are. I was just wrapping up the weather today. We should be good and frosty through the rest of the season, and it looks pretty freakin' sweet. Awesome Hearth's Warming weather, courtesy of yours truly".

The dragon could only roll his eyes. "Yeah, alright. Well, Rainbow, if you could excuse me, I need to make sure this place is ready for Twilight's return. She left the library in a mess", he declared, as he went to retrieve his trusty broom.

"Whatever. Catch ya later", gave Rainbow Dash in departure.

She flew out of the castle in her unique Rainbow blur, leaving an almost tangible, chromatic trail. She flew high into the Ponyville night sky, admiring her work and her town. She and her marefriend may have come from Cloudsdale, but many of the subjects of her Loyalty reside in Ponyville. In particular, the ones that had been able to save the country, several times over.

Already, the plains of and surrounding Ponyvillle were blanketed in covers of white. The frozen landscape almost seemed poetic. The daredevil admired the view. The snow seemingly absorbed Luna's moonlight , and took on a deep, midnight blue-ish tint. The lake may have been frozen, but the ice was not aesthetically deterred. The ice reflected the moonlight, barely apparent that the water was frozen solid. The mirrored rays of light were ice-crystal clear, and offered little resistance to the wind, made mercilessly chilling by the fallen temperatures. Only when she experienced a violent shiver did the Daredevil remember the severity of the weather. It may be a cozy time of year, but sooner or later in the night, the snow would force her to find shelter, if she didn't find it of her own initiative.

In the distance, Rainbow Dash could spot the home of the pony she cared most for. Unless she was up to moving her cloudhouse to the ground, Rainbow Dash would have to find an alternative. Thankfully, she could see a likely option.

Within the minute, she's at her marefriend's door step, knocking on the door.

"Coming!", the caretaker calls from the inside. Opening the door, she greets her Rainbow with a warm smile that Rainbow Dash swore could melt ice.

"Hey, Shy", the daredevil greets, returning the smile.

"Rainbow!"

They meet in a tight hug, and remain embracing for a number of seconds. Rainbow Dash is happy. Fluttershy's touch is warm.

"Y-you're freezing, Rainbow.", the caretaker points out, after a moment's hesitation

Putting a hoof to her coat, Rainbow dash realized her marefriend was right. She hadn't even noticed how cold her coat felt to the touch. "Must have been out there longer than I'd thought."

With a bout of guilt on the daredevil's part, they both slowly resign from the embrace. "Oh, sorry...Shy. I hadn't even noticed".

"Oh, it's no problem, Dashie. But you and the weather team did to such a great job with the weather. You should come in before you catch a cold, if you haven't already", she advised with such kindness and care in her tone. The love and concern were clear.

Still with a smile plastered on her face, Rainbow Dash was allowed inside by her love. "Thanks, Shy", she expressed with a gentle nuzzle.

"Hehehehe", the shy mare giggled. "Oh, Dashie. You're still cold. Come on, I have a fire going in the living room.

"Fires? You know how to start fires?"

"Mmhmm. I may never have been the same outdoors type as you, but I was always comfortable working outside".

"Touché", conceded the bold mare, as both cuddled together in front of a humming fire.

Rainbow Dash let out a yawn.

"Tired?", inquired the caretker.

"A bit. It was a long day, preparing the weather for the rest of the season. But I think I'm starting to feel better already", she teased with a wink, earning a blush from her marefriend.

Fluttershy rested on her Rainbow's chest, relishing in the newfound, conjoined peace.

"It's almost Hearth's Warming, Rainbow. What would you like?"

"If I could have anything?"

"Mmhmm"

Inching their muzzles closer together yet, Rainbow Dash didn't hesitate in her response. "Honestly, Shy, I'll be happy as long as you're with me. As long as I have your company, and as long as we still love one another, it's going to be pretty hard for me to want even more". She touched a cyan hoof to the shy mare's cheek, and caressed her beautiful face.

Cuddled in front of a warm fire, they met in a loving kiss- one out of many. After a moment, the shy pegasus conjured the will to brush her partner's lips with her tongue, coyly requesting to advance their embrace. The cyan mare joyously agreed. And so the next half hour went, as their tongues and lips engaged not in a battle, but in a conversation that went beyond words. After what was realistically half an hour, the conversation finally ceased, oxygen deprivation proving their most apathetic of enemies.

"Love you, Fluttershy", muttered Rainbow Dash, as her physical and emotional activity longed to catch up with her, and she began to tire.

"I love you too, Rainbow Dash", muttered Fluttershy, as she enjoyed the cuddle with her marefriend in the Hearth's Warming atmosphere. And it wasn't even really Hearth's Warming yet. But it may as well have been.

Author's Note

Happy Hearth's Warming Eve/ Merry Christmas, you crazy animals! :rainbowwild: :heart: :yay:

It's Time To Become Serious

All was quiet. Or, more accurately, mostly quiet. Twilight Sparkle lay awake, savoring the memories she had just created with her wonderful group of human companions.

The Christmas party had proved to be all that it had been hyped up to be. There was a feast, there were gift exchanges, there was incredible warmth, and there was a peaceful, jolly feeling that could have surely melted away even the most austere sources of stress. It had been a most wonderful time for all those involved. Though, despite the fun and the holiday cheer, sleep would remain a relentless adversary. One by one, each girl's consciousness was claimed, and repressed, by the seemingly malevolent world of dreams, until there were but two.

Looking around the room, through the formidable darkness- the darkness that was not unlike that of an old enemy -the Princess of Friendship, having temporarily forgotten her anxiety for the duration of the party, realized that there was little to no cause for dissatisfaction. The party had gotten her to loosen her shoulders. All of the stresses of royal duties, compounded by the recently fruitless personal exploits, were temporarily washed away, and Twilight Sparkle was acting purely human. That is to say- the complications of her home world were forgotten, and everything that so excessively estranged the possibility of a peaceful, typical life, was purged from her immediate focus.

The party animal had passed out under the tree in the corner of the living room, having unwillingly resigned to giving the world a break from her own, special blend of madness. Strange as it were to see the girl's form so...docile, it was easy to tell that few others would be caught sleeping in such a position. She lay face down, breathing normally, a stocking on each hand, as if they were just another pair of mittens, her hair adorned with various sorts of candy.

The farm girl had passed out up against the side of a recliner chair, her signature hat hanging over her face, shielding her countenance from the outside observer. Her arms were loosely crossed, her breathing louder than normal. Not quite a snore, but more likened to heavy breathing. In her lap rested a small pile of torn wrapping paper, which had yet to be discarded.

Not surprisingly, the Fashionista had insisted on a proper retirement from the land of the conscious. Beauty in the eye of the beholder? Preposterous! She lay sleeping deeply, having chosen to occupy the guest bed. The acquisition of beauty rest supersedes the typical longevity of reckless holiday celebration. Unbeknownst to all but Rainbow Dash, the girl had almost been the subject of a cruelly convenient, almost obligatory prank in her sleep.

As if by design, the Athlete ended up resting her head in her girlfriend's lap. Rainbow Dash lied down straight across the sofa, her head coming to rest in Fluttershy's lap. Periodically, the athlete would give off a moderately loud snore, as if to send a signal. The caretaker was hardly bothered. Rather, she appeared almost enthralled, albeit jaded.

Fluttershy, therefore, sat awake, with a face of delightful contentedness. She simply sat, stroking her love's nearly wild, rainbow hair. While parties were hardly in the caretaker's comfort zone, all was well if she was surrounded by those she could trust, and side-by-side with the one she loved. Not to mention the fact that it was Christmas. If anything, she could look forward to the coming evening alone with Rainbow Dash, soon.

And finally, there was Sunset Shimmer. Twilight oscillated her head,- a feat that, from her position, took a bit of effort- searching for her like-minded, fiery friend, only to come up short. "Sunset had fallen asleep with the rest of them, hadn't she?", she tried to remember. The redeemed student of magic almost certainly had, although she was nowhere in plain sight. But it was a hardly a matter of concern. The princess simply convinced herself that Sunset Shimmer would reappear at some later point in time.

Twilight lay on the floor in a sleeping bag, arms raised and joined behind the head, attempting to conjure the motivation to stand. Sure, everybody could probably appreciate more rest and lethargy, but now, wishing she could refrain from any sort of work, the princess was almost resting vicariously, through the influence of Rainbow Dash. And to make matters worse, the holiday party had virtually ended, and her new-found peace would likely soon fade, without the distraction. Most of her friends were asleep, leaving the princess (mostly) alone, with her thoughts.

"A true, true friend...". Really, Twilight thought herself to be quite lucky to have been practically assigned the life she'd been given, literally by Celestia herself. Did that mean Celestia was just that wise, that the princess of the sun truly knew what was best, or that the universe was just that random, or ordered?

"From one to another, another to one...". Parallel identities, analogous environments, delayed occurrences. From one world to another. From one couple to another, from one Princess to another- herself.

"It all comes down, to just one simple fact... Yeah, I wish that were true". That fact remained, rather, that Twilight's tangential quandary had certainly been getting the best of her. Or perhaps the worst?

In her pondering and momentary physical peace, the girl failed to notice the movements of the only other living soul in the building . Had she been any more alert, she might have been able to detect the sounds of soft footsteps, moving closer.

"Holy tartarus, all of this thinking", she noted to herself. "I swear to Celestia, this is going to bug me forever. Unless...". Twilight had begun to recall an earlier idea. At the time of its conception, the idea had seemed over the top, and possibly a bit reckless. Such an idea was dangerous, and violated her better judgement, as well as the judgment of her mentor, being that the consequences were beyond her imagination. But, as its potential sequential repercussions and nuances were more closely scrutinized, the more it appealed to the forefront of the girl's mind, partially out of curiosity, and partially out of impatient anxiety. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, correct?

In the dull darkness of the night, the princess of friendship was ignorant of the momentary state of affairs in her home world. Although it was unlikely that Equestria would have faced its demise in the couple of days she'd been gone, it was not impossible, given its history. Here though, things were stable. In the human world, if there were not rampant magical forces from Equestria hell-bent on taking over, the human race seemed unconcerned with the possibility of wide-spread calamity. Twilight had learned a bit about human wars. She'd read of some of the atrocious things humans were capable of. But the fall of an entire country? It seemed difficult to imagine that such atrocities could ever befall the region of Canterlot High. If humanity could survive its self,then surely it could survive a few visitors?

"Twilight?", a voice quietly called out of the dark. The voice initially went unheard.

"Buck the possibility of consequences. Well, not buck them, but render them as improbable, whatever they may be."

"T-twilight", the voice tried again. She would need to speak loud enough to be heard, but not so loud that she woke the others.

"-and I would make three. Spike technically counts as one, I would imagine. So that would be pitting three against two. Not too ludicrous a gap. Bu then there's Sunset Shimmer. She would make it four against three, although she's been a constant all this time...", the princess continued thinking to herself.

"Twilight", the voice tried yet again, with an attempt to increase the volume.

"It might actually work. There shouldn't be an excessive need for oratory..."

"Twilight!", she exclaimed, in a hushed, shouted, whisper.

Having not previously realized that she was not purely alone with her thoughts, the princess of friendship turn her attention to her friend. "Fluttershy?", she whispers. "Hello. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes, I suppose. There are no problems, It's just that I wanted to speak with you for a bit".

"Oh? Well, certainly, anything for a friend. Take a seat". Twilight patted the floor space next to them.

"Thank you, Twilight"

For a moment, Twilight could not help but wonder what compelled her shy friend to leave her special someone to have a conversation. From what could be made out in the dark, it appeared that Rainbow Dash was still sleeping aggressively on the couch.

Barely a moment passed before the princess attempted to kick start the as of yet known topic of discussion, reminding herself that they would both need to speak in whispers. Not that that would be a problem for Fluttershy. The shy girl virtually spoke in whispers.

"So, Fluttershy. What goes on? I mean, we've had the time to catch up on your recent life, but was there something specific you wanted to discuss?"

The caretaker had not intended to jump straight into the heart of the conversation. She was struck by the dialogue's head-start on her fortitude, but only for a moment. "I, um, really wanted to ask you some questions, is all"

"Really? Well, sure thing, just ask away"

"OK. Um, T-twilight", the shy girl began, with some nerve in her voice. "I was just wondering, if you could tell me about Rainbow Dash".

"About Rainbow Dash?"

"Y-yes"

The princess found herself unable to contain a hushed giggle. "Sorry, Fluttershy, but I think you could most likely tell me more about Rainbow Dash than I could tell you. Such as-", she got out, before surprisingly being cut off.

"No! Twilight!", Fluttershy interrupted. She hated being impolite, but she really didn't want to have to answer intimate questions about Rainbow Dash. "I mean, I was wondering if you could tell me about the Rainbow Dash in Equestria!"

"oh... Apologies."

"From what you've told us all, we know that our counterparts have the same personalities, talents, and social statuses, but what about their histories? Are... are Rainbow and I somewhat close in your world?"

"oh. OH. Sorry, Fluttershy, I see what you're getting at now.

"Thank you"

The princess took a brief moment to recollect. She'd never quite investigated her friends' lives in great detail. Every now and then they all shared stories, and they all knew about the day their cutie marks were acquired, but outside of those instances? She may not know enough to truly satisfy her shy friend's curiosity. And if that proved to be the case... then, well, at least the princess's earlier idea would have even more justification.

"hmm. I'm going to be honest with you, Fluttershy. There's a lot I don't know about your Equestrian histories. I know some scattered bits, and all of our friend's know what happened the day we got our cutie marks, but I just don't think I've ever dissected your lives in detail".

"I'm sorry, but wait. Cutie marks? The symbols on your waists?"

"Flanks, yes"

"They signify a special talent?"

"If we're speaking academically, then yes. A cutie mark is meant to represent a pony's special talent and skill, and is essential in defining who they are."

"So, can a pony change? And I'm sorry, but what happened when you all got your cutie marks?"

Twilight Sparkle was fully prepared to embark on a whispered lecture on every facet of cutie marks and cutie mark magic, when she stopped herself, mouth half open. Remembering everything she and her friends had endured over the past couple years,the princess began choosing her words more carefully. "look, Fluttershy. Cutie marks are a whole other collective ordeal. You think the parallel worlds and characters are complicated? Complicated doesn't fully explain the properties of cutie marks. So, let's leave that as it is, OK?"

The caretaker could only trust her friend, and nod in understanding.

"And, as for that day? Let's see... I can only tell you what I know, but I'll do my best." And so the Princess began to recount their tale, a tale that had been recounted more than once. It was personal history. To an extent, it was national Equestrian history. She told of Rainbow Dash's selfless defense of Fluttershy's honor.

"She...defended me? From the bullies?", clarified the caretaker, bringing her gaze to rest on the sleeping form of the girl she loved.

"Yes, she did. I didn't witness it the first time it happened, but I did get the chance to watch the race it self. She didn't even hesitate".

"You did? But Twilight, how is that possible?"

Oh how little they all knew. "Do you remember when I mentioned that time travel loop I got stuck in?"

Fluttershy nodded her head in confirmation, vaguely recalling the mention of a time travel loop when her regal friend first met her own human counterpart.

"That. Let's just leave it at that. Honestly, time travel is another topic she we could just spend days here, discussing".

"Oh, OK", Fluttershy nodded. She saw little need to dive straight into a magical phenomenon that she had close to absolutely no understanding of.

"Thank you", she princess appreciated, as memories of hopeless battles, hopeless futures, and separation momentarily returned.

"Would you happen to know the names of the bullies she defended me from?"

"I...think so. I know for sure one of them was called hoops. But then there were two others. Dumb-bell, and Score? Or were their names dumblescore and Bell? Something along those lines, I'm sure. Do those names ring any bells, no pun intended?", inquired the princess, desperately trying to accurately recollect the bullies' names.

"H-hoops, and Dumb-bell? Oh my", stated Fluttershy, as unpleasant memories began to resurface. Old, unpleasant memories, of the times before she'd met her childhood best friend.

Twilight, though, moved on with her tale, telling of the conclusion of the race, and telling of Fluttershy's acquaintance with nature, along with Rainbow Dash's affinity for victory, and competition. "I think that's the vast majority of it. After the race, we all went on living our lives, until some of our friends would re-converge in Ponyville, our home. Although I would assume that you and Rainbow Dash remained in Cloudsdale for some time, first".

"I see. So, Rainbow Dash and I are just best friends in your world, then?" Although the room was dark and their voices hushed, it was hardly a challenge to tell that Fluttershy was the least bit upset, her head hanging, looking ahead to the base of the sofa.

A grin crept its way across Twilight's face, as she knew that the coming truth would be good news for the shy girl. "Actually, that's the funny thing. You, and Rainbow Dash, in Equestria? You two initiated a romantic relationship, about a month ago"

Although she could not make any sounds in fear of waking the others, Fluttershy did lift her head, and look to her friend, with inquisitive eyes. "You... never told us that, Twilight". For her part, the caretaker appeared slightly surprised.

"I know. Until now, the information did not need to be presented as such".

"But then,why were you so on the fence when you found out Rainbow and I were together here?"

Twilight let out a sigh. She'd tried explaining this to them, once. "You're taking it the wrong way, Fluttershy. I think you all were", she attempted to state with as much innocence and understanding as possible. She did not seek to offend any of her friends. "It wasn't about the very fact that you're together. It's about the flow of time and events, it's about the freedoms of choice, and destiny, it's about fate.

Fluttershy gave a nod, to show that she was following.

"Do me a favor, Fluttershy. Imagine this. Rainbow Dash dies tomorrow".

Immediately, the caretaker's eyes dilated, eyebrows raised in horror.

"N-no! Never mind, that was a terrible example!", the princess attempted to rectify her own muttering. "OK, change of plans. Imagine...", Twilight trailed, trying to conjure a scenario that would fit her purposes without frightening the caretaker. "Imagine Rarity is forced to close Carousel Boutique"

"Oh, that would be terrible", Fluttershy offered, her fear replaced by concern.

"Yes, it would be. Now, imagine. If the Rarity in this world were forced to close Carousel Boutique, how would we define the probability that the Rarity from my world would be forced to close her Carousel Boutique? From what you've all told me, our personal histories, plights, joys, and opportunities are almost wholly parallel to those of our counterparts".

Taking a moment to consider a response, Fluttershy had to cede credit. The childhood stories of the Equestrian Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were remarkably similar to the human stories. The caretaker could remember her elementary school, her first day anxiety, and the day that someone had finally decided to stand up to her against her class's troublemakers. "I... don't know", she finally admitted.

"Exactly. These things are unclear. We don't know exactly how our own worlds work, relative to one-another".

In the dull darkness of the winter night, a third figure began to stir, this one freshly from the the realm of dreams, having been awoken by a spacious discomfort.

"I suppose that is true", muttered Fluttershy.

And just like that, the conversation finally descended back into chilling silence. Both girls had a lot to consider, their inquisitions far from over. After several uncontested moments of silence, though, Fluttershy offered an official close to the night.

"Well, Twilight, I think we should probably get some rest. the Sun will be up in a few hours, and it'll be Christmas day. A lot happens on Christmas day". With a nod, the caretaker steeled herself to stand, and to return to the couch,in order to snuggle closely, up against her love for the remainder of the night. Until she felt a pull on her arm.

In the dull darkness, there could be heard an audible inhalation of air, the signal of a waking body, attempting to readjust its slowed circulation, and lowered blood pressure in order to fit into the realm of the conscious. Both girls dismissed the sound, believing it to have come from a heavy sleeper.

"Fluttershy, wait", requested the princess. In her mind. this was a perfect opportunity to bring up her idea. Her shy friend may be hesitant at first, but the experience would prove rich to them both. The experience would assist the princess in overcoming a recent struggle, and would provide a very new horizon for Fluttershy. The only foreseeable challenge was getting the shy girl to agree. Surely, though, Twilight reasoned, it would pique the caretaker's curiosity.

"Hm? Yes, Twilight?", Fluttershy allowed.

"Fluttershy, you've got to hear me out on this. It may sound concerning, or even wrong, at first, but I'm sure you'll come to love it eventually, alright? I have an idea. I think there's something we should try"

And suddenly, Fluttershy was feeling nervous, again. What idea could be this concerning?

Meanwhile, the third conscious soul in the room, having heard a vast majority of the dialogue that had just transpired, was now very much alert, and listening.

"S-something we should try? Like what?", nervously asked the bearer of kindness. Whatever this idea was, she couldn't help but question whether or not she would be of any help in getting useful results.

"Well, I know you and Rainbow Dash share something special, and that you both love one-another. I know that you know a great deal about each other, and that you two have a bond closer than with any of our other friends. But how would you like to know, how would you like to discover, more?

"More? How?", asked the caretaker. Right now, the atmosphere was feeling very tense.

For the third conscious soul, there were few thoughts. What thoughts were had invariably revolved around sentiments of disapproval, and of near rage. But with a great deal of effort, they held their tongue. For the moment.

"Well, I'm just going to come right out with it, Fluttershy".

Both Fluttershy and the third soul listened intently, one nervous and anxious, the other resenting, and angry.

I want you... I want you both, Fluttershy, you and Rainbow Dash, to come with me next time. I want you both to visit Equestria.

Author's Note

This chapter took me far too long.

If this story/chapter sucks in any way, shape, form, or fashion, please, tell me.

What If You Could Speak To Yourself? Part I

"This might be the last chance to back out. You're both still sure about this?", inquired the Princess of Friendship.

The past twenty four hours had gone by quickly. The excitement, and uncertainty, of inter-dimensional travel descended upon kindness and loyalty. Initially, there was a loss for words. Being offered the chance to travel to another world, and to meet an alternative version of yourself? Even if you'd previously imagined it, would such a decision really be so easy?To take the plunge off of the reality you knew so well, and dive headfirst into what may as well have been a separate existence? Not such a simple action, when the possibility is presented straight to your face.

"I... uh... yeah, I guess I'd say so. Right, Shy?" The athlete was excited. She'd tasted Equestrian magic. Such power manifested itself within her with wings. In these moments, she could feel the speed; she could feel the power, and all of the confined potential energy. It was almost surreal. She could only imagine what her counterpart was capable of, with full access.

"Oh, I s-suppose so. I mean, it does sound exciting to be able to meet us. I just hope they're friendly, really". Although there was far more to consider than friendliness, friendliness was a concern.

"Friendly? Flutters, please. If anything, the most you have to worry about is not scaring yourself to bits".

"Well, we do have to try to be friendly. A-and we wouldn't want to scare us, even if they did feel like other people. That just wouldn't be very nice".

"Other ponies, you mean".

"Yes, that too".

The princess only chuckled. "Trust me, you two really have nothing to worry about. Rainbow Dash is sufficiently the bravest pony I know, and Fluttershy by far the kindest. Frankly, I'll be more surprised if you are even able to tell the Equestrian counterpart apart from the Human"

"... You know, Twi- that actually gives me one hell of an awesome idea for a prank. Or two". Suddenly, being a multidimensional traveler afforded the athlete with a plethora of new opportunities.

"Rainbow Dash, please. I think Princess Twilight and I would both appreciate it if you'd not harass the innocent ponies of Equestria. Celestia knows one of you is enough of a chore", Sunset yelled, jokingly, as she and the rest of the group approached the statue portal.

"Baconator, please. I think you and I both know that the rest of our counterparts are far from innocent". Rainbow Dash nodded to the farm girl and the fashionista, both with a mischievous grin.

"Is that right?", applejack hounded. "Why, If mah counterpart is anythin' like me, Ah reckon she could have ya hog tied and bound, faster than ya'll could spit".

"Assuming, you know, that she isn't into that sort of thing", sunset bantered. She took note of the athlete's light blush.

"Oh, I must say darling. I always did imagine Rainbow Dash as the type to occasionally indulge in some moderate bondage". The athlete and caretaker both blushed at the thoughts.

"Assuming that Rainbow Dash bears a significant degree of similarity to Indigo Zap, it would be logical to think that Rainbow Dash would be open to most anything, at least once". Abruptly, all girls present turned their attention to the human Twilight Sparkle- Princess Twilight's counterpart.

"Twilight!", Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy exclaimed, simultaneously.

The native Twilight Sparkle courteously nodded to them both. A month ago, she would have simply brushed the enthusiasm off. She was pleased by her own progress. It was, after all, owed to these girls that she was in a better place.

Rainbow Dash seized the moment."Guess what, SciTwi?"

"SciTwi?", questioned the princess. It was an interesting nickname.

"Yeah. Wouldn't it get confusing if we just had Two "twilight"s? This is way cooler, trust me".

SciTwi was getting quite the surreal feeling from this conversation. "Yes, Rainbow Dash?"

The athlete adorned another grin, this one out of goofy excitement. "Fluttershy and I are going to Equestria! Remember when you came to Canterlot High, and started sucking up all the magical energy, and eventually went mad with power and tried to tear the world apart?"

"After turning into a power-crazed, magic-craving she-demon hell bent on destroying the world?", the party animal added.

While SciTwi could but blush and avert her eyes, Sunset Shimmer found a refreshing sense of Déjà vu'.

"Oh, but uh, no offense".

The athlete shot a look to their fiery haired friend, to find a look crossed between amusement and discontent. Sunset Shimmer was struck, wondering if she should be offended by the theft of her "thing".

"None...taken".

"Well, Shy and I are actually going to the other world. We're gonna face all of that magic at its source!", she said with enthusiasm

"Really?" She shot a look to her equine counterpart, to be met with a positive nod. "I... don't suppose I could... you know...?" She really hoped she wouldn't have to finish that thought.

Princess Twilight giggled in response. Just like her, to seek out such an immense research opportunity. She was still learning and studying the human world. Now her counterpart wants to research and study Equestria? Talk about going full circle. "As fascinating as that would be, you probably shouldn't. It's one thing to have two Fluttershys, and another to have two Rainbow Dashes, but two have two princess Twilights? Maybe another time, when you're ready, after you've learned a bit more about friendship." The princess shivered internally, still becoming accustomed to the concept of conversing with one's self in the absence of psychological dysfunction.

"Jeez, Twilight. First Sunset Shimmer, and now you've got yourself as a student? That's deliciously meta of you." The athlete was having fun with it all.

"Ha ha ha", the princess replied, sarcastically. She turned to the bearers of kindness and loyalty. "Are you both ready?"

"I was born ready".

"R-ready".

"Well then, let's get going. There's bound to be a plethora of questions when we get to the other side". With that, the trio turned their backs, prepared to cross the threshold into a realm beyond imagining. Before the threshold was crossed, however, they could hear the voices behind them.

"Oh, dears, do try to remember to bring back a piece of Equestrian fabric! Think of the aesthetic wonders that could be reaped with such multidimensional inspiration!"

"If ya'll wouldn't mind, I wouldn't mind bein' brought an apple from Sweet Apple Acres. It'd be mighty kind".

"If you happen to see princess Celestia, don't be fooled by her size. She's one of the most lenient rulers you'll ever meet".

"Surely, an actual book from another dimension would be invaluable to my studies, not to mention to the pool of culture that we have here"

"Can you bring back a party?!"

Then, came the full weight of the portal. The athlete and the caregiver were, for the first time, struck by the sense of disorientation and imbalance that the princess was quickly becoming immune to.

The world was spinning. It couldn't decide if it wanted to look up, down, or simply stare straight ahead. Rainbow Dash felt light headed, as if she were floating in hot air. Hopefully, that wasn't what flying felt like. She attempted to strain her ears, to try to listen. Much to her surprise, it came easily. Her senses of hearing were sharper, maybe. With her eyes closed, all she could smell was... detergent? No, it was a sweet smell. Sweet, but clean. And then... books? She slowly opened her eyes,to be met with a plane of color. Mostly she saw blue, but it was blurred, as her eyes refocused themselves.

"Ugh, did she ask us to bring back a party?", the daredevil said out loud.

She attempted to stand, and immediately felt something... off. She couldn't stand. At least, not fully? She couldn't quite tell. It felt like she was standing, and not standing at the same time. It felt weird. Then there were the hands. They didn't feel very different, but she was unable to stretch her limbs like she normally would. Everything felt compact.

"Believe me. If anyone in the universe can figure out how to transport a party, it's probably Pinkie Pie. Although, I'm pretty sure she's done it before".

Twilight's experienced voice was a welcome sound as the daredevil's eyes came into focus, staring straight ahead. As her vision was reaffirmed, she saw books. Shelves of books. A room of books. A library? Figures, for an egghead like Twilight.

"Hey, Shy? You alright?", Rainbow called, looking around the room. What caught her sight literally made her jump, forgetting her new anatomy. Which in turn made her fall back on her bottom. Or at least, what felt like it. "Whoa", was all that her brain could immediately muster. The alicorn's wings looked larger, compared to the rest of her smaller pony body. At least, it seemed that way, imagining a human with wings.

Before the daredevil stood, on all fours, The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, in all of her alicorn glory, wings spread. Were it not for the purple coat, Rainbow Dash might have been hesitant to identify her regal friend. "...Twilight?"

Knowing what was on the cyan pegasus' mind, the princess smirked. "Yes, Rainbow Dash. This is me. In my standard form, anyway. How do you feel?"

"How do I feel? I feel like I just woke up. My body feels all... tingly".

"Ah. Don't worry, that's just the orthostatic hypotension. It'll wear off within a minute or two.

"The what now?"

"Nevermind. How do your wings feel?"

"Wings?!" In the moment, the daredevil had forgotten the objects of her excitement.

"We really need to get you a mirror".

The princess directed the mare to a shelf on the far side of the room, which contained, in addition to a number of books, a mirror and a picture frame.

After making her way to the mirror, Rainbow Dash looked at every angle of her new body. It was sleek, and appeared well-toned. For the first time, she gazed upon her cyan wings, in all of the pegasus glory. They were awesome.

"Hey, Twilight? How fast can I go with these things?", she asked ambitiously.

"How fast? Please. Rainbow Dash is the fastest pony in Equestria".

With a hyped ego, the daredevil prepared to take off, to let out a burst of her highest possible speed, without the slightest hesitation or delay. She was at the pinnacle of her potential. She was just about to take off, before she felt a strong presence wrap itself around both her wings.

"No, Rainbow Dash!", the princess playfully scolded. "I have enough trouble with you breaking and entering as it is. To be frank, I don't need you making another mess, not to mention another injury. Let's do this outside, instead. You'll have much more room, and a far larger range of motion. I'm sure your eager to see just what kind of awesome you're capable of.

Just then, they both heard a soft whimper from the other side of the room, signaling Shy's arrival to Equestria. Rainbow had initially been too distracted by her own introduction to Equestria to notice.

As the athlete turned her head to meet her girlfriend, the picture frame caught her eye, and her attention. The picture encased by the glass appeared to depict six ponies, all varying shades and styles. She studied the picture for but a moment before something struck her as odd. Her eyes turned to the mirror, then to the picture. To the mirror, and to the picture once again. It was obvious. The ponies in the pictures- she was one of them. Rainbow Dash was in this picture, it had to be Rainbow Dash. She was in this picture. And.. Twilight. And there was a pony with pink hair, hair that looked all too similar to a certain party animal's, all too easily given away by the unmistakable menace of a poof. And then there was a pony with a stetson. That human hat, combined with that blond hair? Had to be Applejack. Can't not be Applejack. After a few moments more of studying the photo, Rainbow Dash had a pretty good idea of exactly what- or, rather, whom- she was looking at. This was a picture of the six of them. And a small lizard thing. The picture captured their friendship just as it might in the other world.

In her fascination, the rainbow mare was torn abruptly back to the tangible realm of consciousness by a soft voice. "Uggh. T-twilight? Dashie?"

Turing her head, Rainbow Dash allowed her gaze to meet the source of the familiar voice. Even across worlds the figure was unmistakable. For several moments, cerise eyes rested upon the figure. A yellow pony, with long, pink hair, almost like a wave. Intact pegasus wings, just like the athlete's own. Those light blue eyes. For what was probably the second time in a span of ten minutes, there were no immediate words. She only watched Fluttershy's every move from a distance, as the shy pegasus recollected her bearings.

"Fluttershy! You're conscious! Tell me, how do you feel? Any general sense of malaise?", inquired the princess.

The shy mare recovered relatively quickly. Her eyes opened, taking in the sight in her immediate vision, before scanning the room, looking for familiarity, and locked eye contact with Princess Twilight sparkle. "O-oh my".

"Ha. That's about what I expected. I'll trust you're feeling alright, then?"

Fluttershy continued staring for a moment longer, taking in the sight. Princess Twilight Sparkle. A pony. With wings, and a horn. "Yes, I'm... fine.

The princess of friendship sported a humorous grin. There was just something so funny about the situation. It reminded her of the Fluttershy she'd met several years ago, when a studious unicorn first arrived in Ponyville. Memories. "Great!", the princess exclaimed, examining her shy friend's wings. "Now; W'll want to get you both acquainted with flying, first. When I first arrived in your world, it was awkward trying to walk. Try moving, flying, walking".

Both of us. Dashie!

The caretaker turned her head quickly, thinking of finding anything closely resembling a rainbow head of hair. It was a short search. As soon as she caught the gaze of a blue pony with wings- like herself-, and with rainbow hair, their eyes locked.

For several moments, the two inducted mares studied one another's form, searching one another's eyes for the light they both knew all to well. Even across worlds, Fluttershy stared into pools of cerise, and saw the same loyalty and love she'd grown to love, while Rainbow Dash lost herself in orbs of cyan, immediately recognizing the same, undeniable kindness and care.They spent these moments observing their forms, before clumsily closing the gap in between them, to the beckoning of curiosity.

"Wow", muttered the daredevil, in an attempt to loosen the mood. She looked back to the picture for a moment, and then back to Fluttershy. "You know, shy? Even in another world, you still somehow manage to be the most adorable of all our friends", she said with a grin.

The shy mare giggled, and lightly blushed, delighted at talking to her girlfriend in another form. "Oh Dashie. You're just as cool here as you are there". In an attempt at intimacy, the two attempt to join hands, only to meet with resistance. The most they could do was bump hooves. It's harder to join hooves than to join hands.

"Wow. That... sucks. Guess I never really thought about not having hands".

"Ha. Well, I suppose your variable anatomy could prove bothersome. Now, what are you going to do? You're in my world now. That means no hands, only hooves". The princess of Friendship was genuinely intrigued.

The athlete pondered. It was a classic thought; Humans had hands. With hands, humans could do a lot of things that ponies could not could not. Then, how do they get by? She flexed her front arms, or legs, and then her wings. They were extensions of her pegasus self, and moved like arms. Suddenly, she had an idea. She nonchalantly hung a wing over the demure pegasus' back, almost like a human would wrap an arm around a shoulder.

The caretaker found it to be a rather nice feeling.

"Don't worry, Twi. Mission accomplished". Rainbow Dash drove the point home, further, by flexing the opposite wing, just for show. She was going to get used to this pretty quickly.

No surprise there. Not even 15 minutes in that body, and she's showing off . "Touché, Rainbow Dash. Touché." She was met only with a sustained smirk.

"Yeah, So, Twi...". The athlete was still as eager as ever to reach her full aerobatic potential. "You said something about goin' outside? I really want to put these babies to work." Even now, the unoccupied wing was itching for speed, flapping arbitrarily.

"Hmph. Eager, are we?" What happened to all that patience you supposedly had, Rainbow? You know, the patience that ran corollary to your plentiful kindness?", the princess teased. She knew all too well of Rainbow's impatience. Meanwhile, the representative of kindness payed the rainbow mare an inquisitive look.

"That, Twilight Sparkle, is where you are sorrily mistaken". It was time to fire back, in self defense. "I said I could be kind. I never said I was patient. As it is, my kindness leaves a lot to be desired. I will not allow you to make such accusations of my character!". By this point, the daredevil was just being playful.

"Really, now? I must admit, I would agree with most of that. Emphasis on most, Ms. Dash".

"Oh, but I don't know about that, girls", Fluttershy chipped in. "I think you can be really sweet when you want to, Dashie. I know you like being sweet when w're alone together..." , she teased, as she nuzzled her girlfriend's neck.

"S-shy...??" There was now a moderate blush on the cyan mare's face.

The Princess of Friendship, however, had to repress an amused giggle.

Rainbow Dash put her head down, in attempt to save herself some embarrassment. Fluttershy, however, was not fully ready to cease. Instead, she continued nuzzling the back of the cyan neck, along with the rainbow mane.

With a smile, Twilight allowed this to continue for a brief period. "Alright, Fluttershy. I think she's had enough grief for now. What say you both we take this outside? I'll tell you about the legendary sonic rainboom", she said, with an emphasis on rainboom.

Immediately, at the sound of her own intellectual creation, the cyan mare diverted her eyes upward, to meet the princess's. "Rainboom? As in the Rainbooms?

Knew that would get her attention. "Well, not quite. The sonic rainboom is, well... you could say that it's a trick, a maneuver. In your world, you enjoy sports as a pastime, Rainbow Dash. In my world, you enjoy performing, creating, and practicing new flying tricks, and stunts. You're quite the daredevil, actually". Twilight knowingly was feeding the Rainbow mare's ego, but it was OK. She wanted to see this happen.

"Just like yours truly, Twi. How does that sound, Shy? You mind if I try out some tricks?"

"J-just be careful, please".

Rainbow Dash grinned. "You got it, careful".

"Careful, huh? I only wish that the other you were more careful".

Before any of them realized it, they'd been walking and talking, and had already made it to the castle's front door. On the other side of the door existed Equestria, the land of ponies, friendship, and magic. It was a whole new world, in every possible sense of the phrase.

The princess paused, momentarily, before opening the gate to the other side. "Oh! Before we go outside, there's one last thing. There are a couple things you both should probably know about being in Equestria. Specifically, Ponyville".

"Go ahead and lay 'em on us, Twi. We're ready for anything".

"We'll do our best, not to upset the locals". Both the yellow and cyan mare, being so close to the Equestrian domain, were anxious to see it.

It was enough of a signal for the princess to continue.

"Alright, first thing's first, I suppose. This is Ponyville that we're about to enter. You've both lived here for several years, longer than I have. The ponies here are very friendly, and will more than likely say hi to you. We're all- the six of us, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity- virtually famous, as a consequence of having saved the world several times over. This means that pretty much everybody here knows you. Do you understand?

"Loud and Clear".

"We understand".

"You understand? Good. But that's not all". The princess of friendship steeled herself, trying to find an appropriate balance of comfort and discomfort in her explanation. "Look- I know you've both encountered Equestrian magic before. You helped defeat Sunset Shimmer at the Fall Formal, the sirens at the Battle of the Bands, and even the other Twilight, during the Friendship games. But in its own way, despite the prevalence of friendship, harmony, and magic, Equestria can be a very... volatile place".

"It'll probably be OK though, right Twilight? I mean, demons and sirens? I don't think you can get much more freaky than those".

The alicorn only looked at the rainbow mare with a blank expression. She had to remind herself that these things didn't exist in the human world. "N-no, Rainbow Dash. There are things far worse than teenage sirens. Far worse than Sunset Shimmer, or rogue magic. Teenage demons? Please. You haven't seen a real demon yet". Memories started reeling once more. Memories of an eternal night, wrought by the Alicorn of the Moon. Memories of a world at war, ravaged by the spirit of darkness. Memories of a broken Equestria, terrorized by the theft of love. Memories of a world thrown into discord by the spirit of chaos. And memories of an Equestria without magic, left to the mercy of a dark lord. "I'm not expecting anything to happen, but, then again, I don't think we ever are. The chances you two will get caught up in some magical crisis? Not very high. The possibility? The possibility exists. Do you understand? Are you both OK with that? If anything comes up while you're here, I'll just send you back through the portal. Alright?"

At first, neither human said anything. They contemplated the words of the Princess of Friendship. To face a demon, in and of itself, was surreal. To face worse? That just sounds dangerous, and terrifying. Or so thought Fluttershy. "Oh my.... We understand, yes".

Rainbow Dash wasn't one to be intimidated, and if she was, she would likely never admit it, but she couldn't quite shake a slight feeling of tension. "Yeah, no problem. We got ya".

The princess took a moment to soak everything in. That was that, then. "Alright. Good? Good? Everything's fine. Come on, you two". She opened the large door to the outside.

Author's Note

There's going to be a lot more to this chapter, which is why this is Part I. I was not about to publish a 10,000 word chapter all at once

What If You Could Speak To Yourself? Part II

The door to the outside opened, allowing indiscriminate access to the frost and atmosphere, abound. Contrary to what the newcomers may have been expecting, the air was cold, and the horizon clouded. Instead of lush, green patches, there were fields of brilliant white, and snow covered the rooftops of the local village with seemingly unnatural symmetry. Yet, the colors remained vibrant, cool as they were. The scene had an overall look of calm to it. It seemed hardly the place that would suffer the misfortunes of monster attacks, or apocalypse scenarios.

They descended from the floor of the castle, down the firm length of the tree's trunk. On solid, natural ground Rainbow and Shy met in true contact with the equine realm. Soft and cold to the touch, the land itself expressed a sort of welcoming feeling, seeming as if it were in anticipation of their arrival. Upon touching the Equestrian soil, harmoniously with the snow the two were intrigued to discover that the physical feel of the ground that they walked on bore little difference in tangible sensation. It felt, comfortingly, like any other soil. Or at least, any other soil covered in precipitation. Just as well, the new equine anatomy yielded the ability to hover above the ground if they so wished. It did not therefore immediately occur to any of the three that they would all need to reconfigure their appearances, lest they be made to endure Equestria's winter.

"Whoa. I'll be honest, Twi. The way you and Sunset compared your world to ours, it sounded a lot warmer". The athlete was not so much disappointed, as deceived, invariably by herself.

"Well, it is winter. In your world, you celebrate Christmas. Here, we celebrate something called Hearth's Warming, which, if I'm still able to properly tell time, is in about five days". It was a mystery to all, however, just what those days may contain.

"Touché. I guess I also hadn't considered the fact that it might be winter here".

"You know, as long as I've known you, Rainbow, you've never quite been the type to think things through. No offense, though", she said with a smirk.

The rainbow human mare shot her a look of suspicion, but relented before long.

"Uhm, Twilight?", inserted the caretaker. Fluttershy was beginning to feel her equine body at work, fighting hard, in an attempt to maintain homeostasis. So far, the autonomic effort manifested as a slight shiver, serving to mask the formidable, internal battle of attrition, in the interests of balance.

"Hm? Yes, Fluttershy?"

"S-should we be wearing winter clothes? Is that something ponies do? Do ponies even wear clothes?" Initially, Fluttershy had felt exposed by the lack of clothing.

The princess of friendship allowed a small chuckle to escape its orifice. "That's actually a funny question, Fluttershy. You should have seen us last winter. You'd have loved to see all six of us ponies garbed in winter dress. But for now, I suppose we should indeed be dressed more appropriately, for the weather".

With that, the princess lit her horn, and charged, with an upward thrust of the muzzle. Suddenly, both the caretaker and the athlete had their vision obscured, by a flash of purple light. Oddly enough, there was no actual feeling to it;it was just light. The purple pulse enveloped the mares' faces. And it barely lasted a second. Although the luminescence itself provided little to no sensation, there was some change after it dissipated. There was something different, the caretaker noted. Somehow, she felt heavier. She looked down to find that she was now garbed in clothes. Boom, just like that. Magic.

"Hm. Convenient", muttered the athlete. She and the caretaker took a moment to examine one another. Fluttershy's outfit was vastly simple. She donned a nearly minimalist purple sweater- a complement to her long, luxurious mane. Simple, but fitting. It suited her. Rainbow Dash was just a bit more variable. She sported a section of the obligatory color spectrum. Her hat rose a fair distance, and her scarf and shoes matched what hair was visible, conforming to patterns of chilled red, yellow, and orange, in true Rainbow Dash fashion.

They both turned to their alicorn guide, who was a bit more accessorized. She lacked a torso, but made use of a pair of high quality ear-muffs.

"Everybody cozy?", the princess inquired. Fluttershy, though, couldn't help but think that she may be more comfortable with a blue arm, or wing, to keep her cozy. "Alright? Alright then. Are you ready to begin, Rainbow Dash?"

The athlete did not hesitate. Rather, she wished to jump straight into the realm of aerial acrobatics. "Born ready, Twi. How should I start?

The princess almost giggled. "Start? Why, it's simple, Rainbow. Simply fly as fast as you possibly can. Fly in any which direction. Truly get a feel for your new form". She turned to the more demure of the two humans. "Might not be a bad idea for you too, Fluttershy. I mean- I know, you're not as big on flying. Believe me, the you from my world has... history with flight. But still. This must be somewhat new to you".

"O-oh, it's fine, Twilight". As if to meekly make a point, the caretaker took to hovering above ground, gracefully. "I have no problem with this level of flight. Rainbow is just in a different league". Her statement almost sounded like it had pride to it.

"Well, there is some truth to that statement, I suppose".

As if on cue, the daredevil shot off, like a rocket. Both mares in attendance turned, to pay the daredevil some recognition. The rainbow mare's flight left a signature trail of rainbow in its wake, ever the distinction. To the alicorn princess, such a feature was routine- this was the Rainbow Dash she knew. To the caretaker, however, this was a spectacle. She'd only ever gotten glimpses in the episodic "pony up". But this? This was perpetual, for the Equestrian Rainbow.

Attempting to be heard over the speed and pressure of the frosted atmosphere, the princess called out. "Rainbow Dash! Go as high up as you feel comfortable! When you have a decent altitude, come back down with as much speed as you can possibly muster! But do not hit the ground! You need to pull off a change in direction at the last second!"

At this, the caretaker took on a face of concern. "That sounds... dangerous, Twilight. Is this sort of thing really safe to be doing?"

But Rainbow Dash was, at the moment, above danger. This was so much more than what she'd felt at the Friendship Games. She remembered it like it was yesterday. She'd circumvented the motocross course, with speed she rarely experienced. To and fro, with a rainbow trail, unparalleled. But now she had few constraints. The athlete, heeding her friend's words, took to the sky, altitude climbing with every passing second. Her eyes and teeth clenched initially, but relented, and slowed to a stop as the optimal height quickly approached. After a brief period of time, she looked down for the first time since she'd taken off. And her breath itself almost stopped. It was just looking so surreal.

The view was breathtaking. Many thousands of feet below, the expanse of Equestria presented itself in all of its frozen majesty. The temperature momentarily forgotten, the daredevil took a moment to soak up the image. It was something she might never see, for as long as she returned to the human world. Even without the knowledge that the equine Rainbow Dash had played a considerable part in crafting the weather, it was something the locals should take pride in. After-all, the fields of white and frozen lakes were interesting sights.

Having been momentarily entrenched in the admiration of the view, the bearer of loyalty was further surprised when, after several moments, she was nearly hit by a purple bolt. "What the-", she muttered, as another shot lanced by.

"Are you sure, Twilight?"

"I'm fairly certain. She really should have begun her descent, by now".

"Maybe she's... getting ready?"

"Well, that could be a possibility, I guess", she said, firing yet another bolt into the atmosphere.

The purple bolt just barely missed the cyan mare. It seemed the princess was still waiting. "Alright, alright, I get it. Jeez. And you're patient?".

With that, Rainbow Dash dove, using her wings in conjunction with gravity to conjure every little bit of speed she was capable of. Before long, she could feel the air start to wrap around her, and could swear she was hearing paper tearing. Although she would never admit it, she could feel the pressure rising, and the resistance climbing. It was an awesome feeling, the likes of which had not been previously known.

"Aha! There she is!", the princess exclaimed, a hoof pointed in the rainbow mare's general-and rapidly changing- direction. The entire flight, the prismatic trail was perpetually bound to its mistress, as would be all of its derivatives.

"But what is she doing, exactly?" Fluttershy knew that the objective was a "sonic rainboom". While it certainly sounded like Rainbow Dash, it was still an unknown.

"She, Fluttershy, is about to perform the supposedly legendary sonic rainboom. It's something of a legend among the pegasus ponies of Equestria, and Rainbow is the only one to have ever done it. In all honesty, that's another coincidence to add to the endless list. I'm not sure precisely how your band relates to the maneuver, but it must".

"What does it look like?" The caretaker was trying with a degree of focus to picture something so rare in her mind.

"If I had to describe it simply and briefly?", Twilight asked, as her breath was visible in the frigid air. "Like an explosion".

This did not quite sit well with the shy mare, as was signified by the tightening of the muscles under the canary coat.

"Technically though, it is an explosion. I just hope she remembers to pull up before she hits the ground". Hearing those words, Fluttershy's slightly concerned gaze went unnoticed.

And then it happened.

To a human, to see a sonic rainboom might seem like the fore-coming of the apocalypse. Quite abruptly, there is a massive boom, ringing out across the land, radiating concentric conics from the organic epicenter. The radii spread out among the Equestrian domain with an air of brilliance. Its progenitor was made with a rainbow trail deeper and more intense than ever before. Thus, one could only imagine the caretaker's intrigue upon seeing such a wonder. However, she could not shake a lingering sense of familiarity, as though she'd seen this before. But there was no way. She couldn't have seen this before. Or, technically...

"Ha. That, Fluttershy, is a sonic rainboom!" For a moment, they both tracked the athlete and daredevil, as her way was made about the circumference of the village, several times over. With a final loop, eventually, the seemingly perpetual prismatic path came to an end, as its traveler touched down upon the solid ground.

The ground did little to curb the high of the endorphins. "Whoa! Did you guys SEE that? People must have been able to see that for miles!", she exclaimed, regaining her bearings on land. "I mean, that was just awesome! And I'm the only one who can do that?!"

The princess rolled her eyes. "Yes, Rainbow Dash, they probably saw that from Canterlot. And yes, before you came along, the sonic rainbow was thought to be but a legend". The stroking of the ego induced a grin that would surely rival the most majestic of facial expressions.

"That looked incredible, Dashie! It was beautiful", the shy human complimented. "Although, it did look kind of familiar, like I was getting a sense of déjà vu. Are you sure you've never done that before?"

"What?" Rainbow Dash still managed to retain a degree of excitement in her voice, despite the hint of confusion. "Trust me, Shy. I'm pretty sure I've never been compelled to go that fast. I mean, I know I'm awesome, but that's something else". The princess subtly rolled her eyes, while the caretaker suppressed a giggle.

In this, however, the princess was amused. "I'd actually like to see what that would look like, performed by a human, with both considerable height and slender builds. Such a maneuver just might reveal more about the synergy between humans and ponies, and about their potential similarities in genetic makeup, despite the fact that -due to the fact that we hail from different worlds- one would never expect us to share evolutionary commonalities. Just imagine- being able to extrapolate genetic homogenieties across dimensions", she spoke, with anticipation.

The brief soliloquy was made just so, as the new arrivals had more or or less failed to follow the train of thought. Thus, they all stood, in silence, for some moments. "Ugh...Never mind".

Reluctantly, not yet willing to come down from her new high, the athlete decided to change the subject. Maybe they could get to something less scientific. "Yeah... so, anyways... what happens now, Twi? What's our next order of business?"

"Well, in all truth, Rainbow, there is a reason I brought you both here". The alicorn's countenance took on a slight change, reflecting a bit more uncertainty. "I wanted you to reflect, and to learn".

"A-and how, exactly, should we do that? I'm sure Dashie and I can make the most of our time here".

Still with the most subversive, yet abiding slights, Twilight nodded. "If you say so". After-all, what could go wrong in Equestria? Indeed, everything would be just fine. "Regardless, come with me, you two. We've got a number of encounters to get through, today". The princess took the initiative to lead the new ponies further toward the edge of the place called Ponyville. It was true- there were ponies to see, places to be, dilemmas that needed to be silenced and buried. Had any of the three been any more alert, however, they may have noticed a faint whistling sound, emanating from the atmosphere.

"What exactly do you mean, by "encounter"?"

"To encounter. To convene, unexpectedly and/or casually,in the interest of-..."

"Yeaahhh, NOPE. Not going there. I know what an encounter is, thanks". The whistling sound grew somewhat louder.

"Any time, friend". Rainbow Dash was trying to decode whether or not the alicorn was serious. At least, as far as the banter was concerned.

"Girls? Do you both hear that? That sound?", Fluttershy interjected. The whistling would appear to be harmless, insidious though it were.

"Hm?" They all took pause, and listened, carefully.

"What is that?" The mares begin to scrutinize their surroundings.

"It sort of sounds like it's coming from-", Rainbow got out, before the impact. Abruptly, the athlete felt the impact of what was surely a flying boulder. The sizable mass struck her directly in the back, pinning her to the ground, and conjuring a conical plane, of dust, snow, and natural debris where she'd stood

The spout of dust and debris erupted from the tender soil, momentarily obscuring the vision of all outsiders. The princess's mane was blown exuberantly back, the force of the impact almost maliciously extant to trespass against her. The shy mare was not so much touched by the resultant ecstatic winds, but forced to shield her eyes, defensively, against the foreign materials, and against the amplified cold.

"Dashie!", she called.

As the miniature mushroom cloud began to dissipate, the two bystanders could very nearly make out the conspicuous outline of a pony. A pony with a disfigured head, but a pony, nonetheless. The sight of the peculiar hole in the ground was accompanied by a disgruntled, drawn out "ouch".

The Princess and the Caretaker leaned over the gaping hole in the land, expecting to find some semblance of their friend's atmospheric assailant. What they found, however, was not a meteor, nor a comet, nor a falling boulder, nor any of the more plausible explanations. Rather, it was more accurate that it had actually found them.

Out of the modest hole in the frozen ground sprung a familiar face. The face bore a hardy smile, seemingly unaffected by the apparent plummet from Equestria's skies. To any being familiar with the pony though, such a feat was hardly a surprise. Pinkie Pie only bounced off some exiguous amounts of precipitation from her coat, ever with a spring behind each step. As the Universe would have it, her tendencies were only exacerbated by the upcoming winter holiday.

"HEY, girls!", she exclaimed, a bit loudly. Looking down, into the recently carved excavation, the party animal greeted the object of her shenanigans. "Hey, Dashie!"

Pinkie Pie took a step back, allowing the rainbow human some room, to return to the surface. Rainbow Dash reached out of the hole with a single hoof first, pulling herself upward. As she shook the snow and debris off her coat, her countenance was one of inquisition.

"You're lucky, Pinkie- that really didn't hurt as much as it probably should have", she said with a grunt.

"Oh, but are you sure you're ok, Rainbow? That looked like a really nasty... fall?" Rainbow Dash was never off-put by her girlfriend's concern.

"Yeah, Shy. I actually think I'm good. In fact, even though it stings a bit, it's not some unbelievable, excruciating pain", she noted with amusement, examining her body for any persistent damage.

Twilight giggled. "That's the kind of thing you need to expect, when you share a world with Pinkie Pie". She nodded to the party animal, who, in turn, only sustained the hardy smile.

"Hmph", Rainbow scoffed. "You must be forgetting, Twi. We do have a Pinkie of our own. She even comes with party canons, and everything! Even if she won't tell us where she got them".

"Not to get off topic, and no offense to your world's Pinkie, but can your Pinkie survive a fall like that? Can your Pinkie Pie conjure miscellaneous objects out of supposed hammerspace?" Evident by the princess's tone of voice, this was not banter, nor necessarily pride. This was genuine curiosity.

Rainbow shook her head. "You'd be surprised, Twi. You'd think that in our world, a human wouldn't be able to stand on a ceiling. And I've never seen Pinkie try to fall from a distance that high, but i know it'd kill me".

"If it's OK with you all, let's try to prevent that, please"

With a chuckle, the athlete closed some of the distance between her girlfriend and herself. "Don't worry, Shy. I won't go jumping off any cliffs. At least, not without wings.

"Thank you".

Lost to the moment, the three multidimensional travelers had almost forgotten their spectator. At the close of the exchange, the three turned their attention back to they pink mare. She stood, relentlessly radiating an ever personally exultant presence, almost to the point of wringing disease, with the incessant smile.

Fluttershy took this momentary reprieve to look at who was apparently this world's Pinkie Pie. Deep pink skin, that smile, the menacing poof of hair, and the balloon symbolism. To anybody who was familiar, the pony's identity was unequivocal.

Pinkie Pie, however, had not been informed of the newcomers, who would grace Ponyville with their collective presence.

"I-I suppose we should tell you what's going on Pinkie-", the shy human began.

"Oh, oh, wait! Lemme guess!"

Twilight did not allow such a freedom. "No, you let me guess", the princess interjected with energy. "You have a hunch?"

A mischievous grin was the only response that was to be given, and the only response which was needed. The party animal licked her lips, in anticipation of the wall of dialogue ahead. And then she spoke.

The four mares traveled along a dirt path, most of them trotting with ease, and simplicity. For the most part, there appeared to be little need for anxiety, or for worry. Hearth's Warming was quickly approaching, and Equestria was harboring its first multidimensional visitors. The party-crazed mare questioned the harmonic analogs, intently, her excitement never visibly fading. The visitors relished in the new experience. They had once been in the position of the inquisitor, curiously probing, for information of the world unknown. While the questioning proceeded, the host to the newcomers ran brief simulations, in the recesses of her mind.

Was it expected that some great crises would befall Equestria in the next 12 hours? Certainly not. But as a host, one would tend to feel some pressure, from time and time. It was analogous to hosting a party- a magical, fantastic, literally out-of-this world party, but a party, regardless. As a host, one would desire for things to go smoothly. Somewhere in her mentality, the princess also faced the lack of a resolution to her logical dilemma, but suppressed her vocalization of it. She'd been reluctant to share it.

"Wait a minute", the athlete caught, impeding the group's movements. For several moments, she'd thought that the path looked strangely familiar. "This looks like... the path to Sweet Apple Acres?" It was a dead give away, though, once she'd noticed the farm house not too far ahead.

Twilight nodded, approvingly. "Indeed, Rainbow, it is. Sweet Apple Homestead is our first stop".

"Why is that, Twilight? If you don't mind me asking, of course". The caretaker tried to remember that these were her friends. Only, with somewhat different memories, and with a significantly different culture.

"Why, isn't it obvious?" The two humans listened, awaiting the palpable answer "Applejack asked for an apple, didn't she?"

Rainbow Dash, with a groan and a thud, fell to the ground.

"Oh", was all Fluttershy had to offer.

"Don't get me wrong, Twi. I have no problem with Applejack. But don't do that. And for the love of harmony- let me do the joking", she said, returning to her hooves. Some day, Dash resolved, Twilight would pay for her teasing. Likely in discomfort, and in reciprocal teasing. The poor girl must have lost sight of who she'd been messing with. "Seriously. You're not allowed to joke anymore, ever".

The princess raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to think that the creative burden that falls on the interpersonal banter that you often participate in is something that can be learned, Rainbow. Don't you agree?"

"Maybe. Just maybe. And that's if you're learning it from me".

"Dashie, won't you play nicely with our friends? I'm sure you could teach them a lot, so long as nobody's feelings get hurt". When motivated by playfulness, Fluttershy's voice was often imbued with a subtle air of innocent inquiry. The cuteness, Rainbow had found, could very well be lethal in the beginnings of an argument.

"Eh. Sorry, Shy. All's fair in love and war. And Trust me, we've both got the love part down". With this, the bold human shot a look, and raised her eyebrows at her girlfriend.

"Oh my", was all she could say in return, with a blush.

"But anyway-", Dash attempted to get back to the question. "Really, what does bring us to Sweet Apple Acres?"

Pinkie Pie allowed her mouth to fall agape, intent on giving an undoubtedly wise answer, when she was interrupted, by a violent series of somatic contractions, all in short order. To a newcomer, it would strongly appear that the crazed party pony was experiencing the misfortune of a seizure. It sure would have looked like that. Visibly, the party animal endured a heavy ear flop, followed by swift flutter of the eyes, finally followed by a savage twitch of the knee, almost appearing to buckle under her rose body.

"Umm... Are you OK, Pinkie Pie?", the Caretaker inquired, as the sequence repeated itself. The violence of the autonomic convulsions appeared to escalate, moderately.

The athlete laughed. "Come on Shy, this is Pinkie we're talking about, even if she is a pony. She's fine, I'm sure".

The party animal, though, had a sense, of sorts, for what was to come. "Oh boy, this one's gonna be goooooood", she trailed with dramatic duration.

These apparently spontaneous, physical grievances were not lost on the princess, as she quickly compiled the sparse data. "An ear flop, then an eye flutter, then a knee twitch. That usually means 'look out for opening doors'", she warned.

The human couple stood briefly, processing the statement. Before long, both pairs of eyes squinted, in cognition, only to open wide, in realization. They shared a glance with one-another, as if asking for confirmation, that their thoughts were the same. Before any words could be spoken however, a loud 'boom' was heard some short ways ahead of them. It was not the sort of boom that foretold destruction, or ruin. Rather, it was an episodic boom- one that told of mild inconvenience, and of lightened misfortune.

Fluttershy saw it first. At first, it looked like it simply appeared in the background- an inconspicuous acrobatic deviant, a plane of dark brown, against a field of warm green, and hazel. It had no reason to be of any suspicion. Before she'd realized it was going to be coming right for them, at the speed of sound, however.

For just a second too long, the moment had been somewhat lost. Sure, the best thing to do might have been to get out of the way, but the shy human had not the time to process. She only stood, as the flying projectile appeared to become larger, spontaneously. In the barely ample window of time, Fluttershy braced herself for an impact, braced herself for a direct, head-on collision with the object. It was sure to leave a sting. Expectations dulled pain though, right?

Just before the object was able to make impact with the human's body, the caretaker felt another presence wrap itself around her. She felt another body up against her back, a pair of wings wrapping itself around her front, partially obscuring her vision. Rainbow Dash had always been fast. Both were standing on their back legs. She could feel the wings in front of her clench, in anticipation. And then the large entity struck, and sent them both back, reeling.

Fluttershy received the lesser of the shock impact from the large tree they had been bound to hit, instead colliding with the pegasus at her back, who in turn took the brunt of the force from the tree's coarse trunk. And although the cyan wings were momentarily compressed against her canary head, they did go some way to dulling the pain. All that was felt amounted to a warm, rough, collision, with flat, simultaneously blunt surface. It was akin to a violent, sustained vibration. The shy human could only guess how her partner had fared. They were pinned by the large wooden aggressor to the organic post, shortly, before gravity blessed them with reprieve.

The mares both allowed themselves to slide to the ground after the collision. For the moment, they were content to allow the surprise and immediate sting to dissipate. Until the time that they collected the motivation to question what had just hit them, the pair only attempted to regain lost bearings. today was, so far, looking to be quite a day.

To Know, Despite The World(s)

Princess Twilight Sparkle approached the precipice of the expansive piece of land- in company of the two travelers .Such was one of few, of Equestria's interior. While the majority of the land of harmony was defined by fields, towns, and sporadic mountains, there existed a peculiar formation in close proximity to Canterlot- The Capital. This time of year, the formation was known to have been befallen upon by a potent darkness- a darkness that afforded its occupants an abiding sense of peace. It was not malignant; It was unlike that which was known by so many, that which was only associated with the tyrant of darkness himself. This darkness was resultant of the Equestrian cycle of seasons. The moon, in all of its glory, was at its utmost distance from the land, and at its brightest. The antithesis was born of a near perfect angle, relative to the sun. Whether or not this was the Princess of the Night's intent was uncertain, but irrelevant. For Twilight's purposes, the circumstances surrounding the formation's creation were extraneous. Its existence was purely a matter of chance.

Rather, all that mattered was what she would find. More accurately, only who she would find was relevant. It had taken some investigation, but Twilight had tracked them here. It was not surprising; It was not perplexing. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash- the ones who had been born here, in Equestria- had come here to spend time together, alone. It made sense- the atmosphere was sufficiently romantic, there was relative quiet, the moon provided just enough of a gleam to allow an almost fictional shade of light upon the land, and the temperature was low enough that shared body heat was reasonable. Whatever Twilight's goal had been, the climax was approaching.

"They're... here?", the the human Rainbow asked, as a gust of wind rushed by. Having spent so many years in a human body, she couldn't help but think that the wind should be chilling her to the bone. Instead, twas only a mild inconvenience.

The princess did not respond immediately. Her thoughts were inexorably, though lightly, bound. To what these thoughts were bound though was uncertain.

"I... think so. If I know Rainbow Dash, then she wouldn't be holding anything back".

As they neared, ever closer to a spacious cliff at the very edge of the frosty expanse, two figures could increasingly be observed. True to the alicorn's expectations, two ponies sat, side by side, embraced in the relatively low temperature. The moment was approaching. The group did not stop in their progression; They neared closer.

Once, at last, the proximity was sufficient, the Princess extended her hoof to the side, to signal her companions to stop.

"Look. There, near the edge. Can you see them?"

"The couple focused their eyes straight ahead, honing in on their alternative, material apparitions. Muscles were stiff, and throats were dry. But how would you feel, if you were to meet yourself?

"I-I see them, yes", was all that the caretaker found within herself. "What should we do? We wouldn't want to scare them..."

"I mean, should we just go up, and try to talk to them?" Rainbow Dash, of course, favored the direct approach to most every situation. "Or do you want to go up there, first, Twi?"

Twilight pondered the possibility, briefly. She could establish the occasion, after-all. She could introduce her friends to themselves. She could create an observational set of circumstances. But she wouldn't. Today, Twilight Sparkle would resign to the naturalistic research methodology.

The princess turned, to face her multidimensional associates with a neutral countenance. after looking them both over and to the eyes, she bolted, with an upward thrust of the muzzle, and was enveloped in a silent field, of mulberry luminescence, prompting the two humans in attendance to step back.

The cylindrical form of the magical aura pulsed, as if itself alive, casting a deep, lavender shade unto the dark white ground at their hooves. The sight persisted for a number of moments, before the aura collapsed in on itself with a rippling sparkle, fortissimo.

Dash and Shy averted their eyes, primal human instinct dictating action. When no malignant forces or harmful after-effects were encountered with time, they returned their gaze, only to find their guide missing.

"Twi?"

The visitors were caught off guard by the absence of their regal friend. A quick scan of the immediate vicinity failed to yield a sign of the princess's presence. Two pairs of eyes scrutinized the snow and all of its surrounding subjects- the mountain in the background, the earlier field, leading to the precipice, and the precipice itself. Twilight was not to be seen.

"Do you think she teleported?", Fluttershy offered.

"Maybe, but where?"

Both girls turned their heads once more, this time, finally coming to rest their eyes upon the not excessively distant figures of two mares, resting on the edge of the even landscape.

One of the mares' ears twitched, having been abruptly disturbed by the raucous ripple of magic. The pony turned her head from the vast expanse of ocean that lie beyond the edge, in order to find the source of the sound. The gaze caused the girls to freeze in their places, irreverent of the light snowfall.

The canary mare locked her stare on the two newcomers for but a moment too long, attracting the attention of her bold lover. Both mares began to stare back at the girls, unable to make out any crucial characteristics of the intruders, who'd interrupted their precious time together.

The indigenous rainbow mare reluctantly released her hold on the mare in her hooves, and appeared to stand slowly, poised for an interrogation. At this moment, the girls stepped back, once more.

The daredevil spoke loudly, but calmly. "Who's there?", she called with restraint in her voice.

Although two figures were certainly visible, Rainbow Dash received no response. The girls were at an initial loss for words, caught like animals in headlights.

The athlete, for one, was finding it difficult to find appropriate devices of speech. The voice that had just called for her, out loud, was her own. She'd heard of it, before. It's another thing, entirely though, to hear such a thing directly, in person.

The semi-standoff did not persist, as the daredevil took two steps forward.

"Who's there?", she repeated. At this repetition, the Equestrian caretaker rose, slowly, to stand beside her marefriend.

Allowing a passing moment of silence, both couples simply looked on, at the hazy figures. The human pair looked on with stupefaction, not sure how to proceed. The equine pair did so with defense, having been unexpectedly interrupted by these mysterious ponies.

Making a bold move, the athlete took a step forward of her own, closer to the objects of amusement. Her outline however, was visible, even at her distance, in the light snow. This did not sit well with her counterpart.

The daredevil registered the movement, and did not lag in action. She stepped in front of the demure pegasus, defensively, attempting to discern a challenge, or intent.

"Stop! I'm going to ask you one more time". She spread her wings in a belligerent display. "Who. Is. There?!"

In the peculiar darkness of the night, nobody would blame Rainbow Dash for being suspicious. Their location was somewhat isolated. The probability that someone would find them there, incidentally, by chance? Not high. The distant moon casted deep shadows, and the time of year dragged the temperature lower, as time passed.

Neither the athlete nor the animal rescuer responded initially. They just didn't know what to say. The rescuer wracked her brain, trying to think of something to say, something to do, or anything. She also searched her recent memories. How was it that Twilight had reacted to her human counterpart?

Growing impatient with the uncertainty, the daredevil began to turn, and to motion to her marefriend to take flight. They would not stand here, only to be advanced upon by two strange ponies in such a potent nightlight. With another look at the unclear figures, the caretaker calmly agreed without much protest, and spread her own wings in preparation for departure.

"W-wait!", the rescuer called, in her characteristic, soft voice.

Upon barely hearing the voice, the equine Dash turned to her love, mistaking the origin of the call. Instead of giving a correction, Fluttershy, adorning a face struck by confusion, stepped back, and nodded her head in the direction of the two figures.

The rescuer, despite knowing not what to say, called out again.

"Don't leave... yet".

The daredevil did a double take, turning her head from the demure pegasus at her side to the hazy figure ahead. Having resigned to a patient uncertainty, Rainbow Dash resumed her protective position. Things seemed off, to say the least.

But things had been delayed long enough. On the other side of the cold shadows, the athlete nuzzled her girlfriend, and exchanged a knowing nod. If things were going to end well, then now was the time to reveal themselves, regardless of whether or not they had been abruptly dropped into such an almost vicarious situation.

The human couple, as close as can be without being in a full-fledged embrace, resumed walking forward. With each step, theri equine counterparts became progressively visible, and the feeling of having looked into a mirror became unnerving.

Cerise orbs scrutinized cerise orbs, as cyan pools investigated cyan pools. Each human (or mare) simply looked on, with stupefaction, examining their counterpart. By now, the sensation of having looked into a mirror was impossibly ingrained. It would be difficult to register the reflective presence as a separate entity.

It took an uncertain amount of time- seconds, minutes?- for either party to muster the mental faculties for the appropriate words. But the time did come when the daredevil broke the cold silence.

"...Now this... is weird".

"Couldn't have said it better myself", the athlete replied, slowly.

The caretaker addressed what appeared to be her doppelganger. "Y-You're...me? And I'm you?"

The rescuer affirmed, with a gentle nod. As if to confirm that the other mare was indeed substantial, Fluttershy reached out with a single hoof, and the other followed suit. The resultant hoof-bump felt like dipping your hooves into a multidimensional portal.

As the subtle explorations continued between both sets of counterparts, the air temporarily stood still and cold, and the world(s) remained intact, albeit shrouded in mystery.

The animal rescuer, however, intrigued and mystified as she was, was also anxious to be told a story, for the first time in many years.

She cleared her throat, as if to politely interrupt. "I know we've only just met, and that you must have a lot of questions- as do we...", she began. Her words, and voice, drew the attention of all organisms present. "but I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind, if I could ask you a question?"

The caretaker raised her eyebrow, slightly, very much interested, while the daredevil released a giggle.

"Sure thing, Flutters". As the daredevil spoke the name, her eyes darted between her lover and the canary mare's counterpart. "Ask us anything. What's up?"

"I'm sorry, but could you please tell us-". She motioned in between herself and the athlete. "-about your childhood? I'd like to know what your lives have been like. How you met, the trials you've faced, how you've overcome your... challenges", she trailed, quietly, having felt like she'd spoken too much too soon.

Still with a grin and with a chuckle, the daredevil nodded, for confirmation from her marefriend, before speaking. "Hm. Somethings never change. You don't need to apologize". The animal rescuer raised her head somewhat, at the not so dramatic reprieve. "And, as for us? Trading stories sounds awesome! But... I have a feeling it'll take a while.", she said, sitting back down, on the cold, cushioned ground. She was joined by most of the mares in attendance.

"Let me start off by saying this- Flutters and I have always cared for one-another. We've pretty much always shared a special bond", she started.

As tales were told, and stories exchanged, and details compared, realizations were drawn, and conclusions were settled. Although there was still much for both sets of lovers to explore, all that mattered was the sentiment. It was certain that, if anything, there was a constant sustenance of Care and Love, Always ingrained in their relationships, despite the World(s) and the surrounding mysteries.

Author's Note

I'd say that these last two chapters were the most prone to mistakes and flawed writing. If this story, or any parts of it, suck(s) in any way, shape, form, or fashion, please tell me.

Also, feel free to express any questions, comments, concerns, insults, or death threats.