I have a feeling we're not in Arillia anymore
Pierce felt strange, and not the same kind of strange that he normally feels after casting a spell. It almost felt like he was in an entirely different body. Why couldn’t he feel his wings anymore?
He blinked open his eyes and stared at the clear blue sky, only small tufts of cloud here and there. Hadn’t the sky been completely clear a moment ago? A cool breeze swept over him, tugging lightly at his hair...hair? I lifted his forelegs into view and stared wide eyed at what he saw. Instead of scales he was covered in short, black fur, and instead of claws he had hooves like a horse. He heard a groan beside him and turned his head to look. He couldn’t help laughing at what he saw.
“Red?” he asked between laughter, “Is that you?”
His brother looked like a scarlet furred pegasus with a gold mane and tail. When Red opened his eyes he stared a Pierce with shock and a bit of horror, then he took a look at himself and the horror in his eyes intensified.
“What did you do?” he asked.
Pierce took a look around, they definitely weren’t in Arillia anymore, “I don’t know.”
Red stood up and paced, starting to look irritated, “How do you not know?”
“I just don’t, I must’ve done the spell wrong or something.”
Red glared, “I thought you knew what you were doing?”
“I thought so too.”
Red looked around, “There has to be some way to fix this, do you still have mom’s spellbook?”
Pierce glanced around but didn’t see anything, “No, apparently not.”
His brother glared at him again, then pointed to a path not far away, “Maybe if we follow the path we can find some help?”
Pierce nodded his agreement, he would be more annoyed if he weren’t so fascinated.
“We should be careful,” Red said, “We don’t know anything about this place.”
Pierce followed his brother silently, wondering how something as simple as a strength spell could backfire so massively. Then he thought about everyone who would be worried about them, their friends and family. Citrus and Jordan had been there when he cast the spell, were they here too? He was about the bring it up when Red stopped.
“There’s a town up ahead.” he said, craning his neck.
Pierce walked a few steps forward and craned his own neck, struggling to see over the next hill. Curse his small size. He jumped up and managed to catch a glimpse of the town. It was small and the buildings had thatched roofs.
“I’ll try to get a closer look.” Red said, “We should avoid being noticed until we know what’s considered normal here.”
Pierce raised a brow, “A bright red pegasus is less noticeable than a black pony?”
“You’re not a pony, you’re a unicorn.” Red replied seriously, “I’ve been trained in stealth, you’re just a mage.”
Pierce rolled his eyes, “How hard can it be?” then he had an idea, “Besides, I could use a concealment spell.”
Red let out a snort, “I don’t trust your magic right now.”
Pierce tried to form a spell but something was wrong, the magic felt strange and refused to work properly, he let out a sigh, “Fair enough.”
He watched his brother head toward the town but as soon as Red vanished beyond the next hill Pierce started to follow. Just because he was older didn’t mean Red could tell him what to do. He was just coming up the kill when he heard a high pitched voice up ahead, and once on top of the hill he could see a pink pony with a mane like cotton candy talking to his brother, who looked confused.
“Hello!” Pierce called as he trotted down the hill.
“Oh, hi!” the pink pony replied excitedly, bouncing up and down like a rubber ball, “I’m Pinkie Pie, what’s your name?”
Pierce blinked in surprise at the pony’s high energy, “Piercing Gaze.”
“Hi there Piercy!” she exclaimed, then asked, “Can I call you Piercy?”
“No.” Pierce replied, casting Red and alarmed look.
“Then what can I call you?”
“Pierce.”
“We’ll be the bestest of friends!” she said, suddenly hugging him.
He flushed and gently pushed her away, not sure how to feel about the whole situation.
“We need to be on our way.” Red said.
“Where are you going?” she asked, “I can show you the way!”
“No.” Red said just as Pierce said, “The library.”
Pinkie tapped her chin, “I’ve never been to ‘no’ before, but I can show you to my friend Twilight’s library!”
“Does your friend’s library have books about magic?” Pierce asked.
“Of course!” Pinkie replied.
“Thank you Miss Pie.”
Pinkie Pie giggled, “Just Pinkie is fine.”
They followed Pinkie into town, only half listening to her as she pointed to buildings and said what it was or who lived there. Red shot Pierce a glare, but he ignored it, looking around in wonder at the strange world they’d found themselves in.
“What’s this place called?” he asked.
“It’s called Ponyville silly.” she replied.
“We’re in a world of pastel ponies…” Red said, “Great.”
Pierce chuckled, “I have a feeling we’re not in Arillia anymore.”
Red glared again, “Exactly.”
Pinkie stopped at the doors to a crystalline palace. It was an eyesore compared to the rustic little town, why the heck would they put the bright, shiny, monstrosity here of all places? It was totally out of place.
The pink pony knocked on the doors and and purple unicorn with wings answered, “Hi Pinkie! Who’s this?”
“I’m Pierce, and this is my brother Red.” Pierce introduced, “Pinkie said we could take a look at your library?”
“Of course.” the pony replied, “Since the golden oak library was destroyed the one in the castle has been for public use.”
“How was it destroyed?” Pierce asked.
The pony sighed, “It got blown up in my battle with Tirek.”
Pierce and Red exchanged a bewildered look.
“Who?”
The ponies gave them a strange look and the purple one said, “You don’t know who Tirek is?”
“Should we?” Red asked wearily.
“You know.” Pinkie said, “The big centaur guy who ate everyone’s magic?”
“Right, him.” Red replied, pretending to understand, “We didn't know his name.”
“Oh, I’m Twilight by the way,” the purple pony introduced, “Though I’m sure you already knew that, seeing as I’m a princess and all.” she wiggled her wings a little as if that was supposed to mean something to them.
“Of course.” Red replied, “It’s an honor to meet you princess.”
He smiled and laughed, “Oh don’t be silly, I’m just a pony like everyone else.”
She stopped momentarily to open a door with her magic, her horn glowing with a magenta aura, the same color as the stripe in her dark blue mane.
“Welcome to my library.” she said as they entered.
Pierce stared around in wonder, it was much larger than his mother’s collection of books and scrolls. How much of it was related to magic?
“Looking for anything specific?” Twilight asked.
“Not sure.” Pierce replied, “I think I’ll just look around and see what I find.”
“If you need anything I’ll be over there.” she replied, pointing to a study area surrounded by stacks of books.
Pierce wasn’t sure where to start so he went to the nearest bookcase, it was as good a place as any. He browsed the titles, occasionally taking a book and making a small stack.
After looking at a few bookcases and selecting the most interesting titles he moved the stacks to an empty desk and started leafing through them, having a bit of trouble at first because he wasn’t sure how to turn the pages with his hoof. Red soon joined him.
“I can’t find anything on inter-dimensional travel.” Pierce muttered after a while, “Quite a few interesting spells, but nothing we need.”
“Look at this one I found.” Red said, pushing the book he’d been reading over.
It was about the different pony races and this particular passage was talking about Alicorns.
“Good to know.” Pierce replied and then went back to searching.
He wasn’t sure exactly how long they were reading for but eventually he shoved the last book off the table and let out a groan right before repeatedly hitting his head on the table.
“There has to be something.” Red said.
“What if I can’t get us home?” Pierce fretted, “What if I never see North again?”
It was then that Pierce realized he still had the silver chain around his neck, on it was a white dragon scale. The only thing he had left of her now.
“We’ll find a way.” Red reassured, “We have to.”
They looked up at the sound of the library doors opening and Pinkie trotted in with a tray of refreshments.
“Thought you might want some snacks while you study.” she said.
Princess Twilight looked up from her own book and levitated a glass of lemonade to herself, “Speaking of studying, are you two finding everything okay?”
Pierce opened his mouth to speak but Red put a hoof over it and replied, “Yes, thanks for asking.”
Red grabbed a glass for each of them and ignored the look Pierce gave him.
“She could help us.” Pierce said after Pinkie left.
Red shook his head, “How would you react if someone told you they needed help getting to another dimension?”
“No idea.” Pierce replied, “Besides, knowing our present situation it definitely wouldn’t seem so impossible.”
Red was looking curiously at the lemonade, “What is this stuff anyway?”
“Lemonade, it’s basically lemon juice with sugar and water added to it.” Pierce replied.
“How do you know this stuff?”
Pierce raised a brow, “While you were off fighting in the war, mom turned me into a human and sent me to the city, remember?”
“I forget that you were too weak to fight back then.” Red replied before taking a sip, “Being a runt and all.”
“We’re getting off topic.” Pierce grumbled, “I don’t care what you think, I’m telling the princess.”
He stood and started to make his way toward Twilight but was tackled.
“Oh no you don’t!” Red replied.
Pierce squirmed but Red had always been and always would be bigger and stronger, he would have to find another way out. He bit Red’s shoulder and managed to escape when Red’s grip slackened, but they ended up wrestling on the ground again.
“Let go of me.” Pierce demanded, trying to push Red away.
“Only when you agree not to-” Red was cut off by someone clearing their throat and they looked up to see the Princess watching them.
Pierce shoved Red away and stood up.
“What are you two doing?” Twilight asked.
“We need your help.” Pierce replied.
“Do not.” Red said, putting a hoof over his mouth.
Pierce slapped Red hoof away and continued, “We need a spell for interdimensional travel.”
“Why?” Twilight asked.
“Don’t say it.” Red said threateningly.
“We’re not from here-”
Red tried to pin him down again, “Seriously Pierce, this is a bad idea.”
Twilight’s horn glowed and Red was trapped in a bubble, she gave them an apologetic smile, “Please continue.”
“We’re from another world.” Pierce said, “I was trying to do a spell but it backfired and we found ourselves right outside ponyville. We’re not even ponies.”
Twilight looked extremely curious, “Are you humans?”
Pierce shook his head, “No, we’re dragons.”
“Strange.” she said, “You don’t act anything like the dragons here in Equestria.”
“What are Equestrian dragons like?” Pierce asked.
“Mean, greedy, not friendly at all…” she said, “Well, except for a few, including my assistant Spike.”
“You have a dragon for an assistant? Where is he?”
“Right now he’s helping my friend Rarity, but he should be back soon.”
“Wait.” Red said, “If there are dragons in Equestria, why are we ponies?”
Pierce shrugged, “No idea, I’m not even sure how we got here, or how to use my magic here.”
Twilight seemed to realize Red was still trapped in a bubble and let him go, “I’ve traveled to other dimensions a few times, but as far as I know it takes a special kind of mirror and special set of circumstances. The portals only open up at certain times, or specific moon cycles, or the alignment of the stars...there are too many variables to know for sure when or how to access your world, plus I don’t have a magic mirror, nor do I know the spells to make one...there are a lot of things going against us.”
“Is there anyone who can help?” Red asked.
“Princess Celestia might be able to.” Twilight replied, “I’ll get all my friends and we can head to canterlot.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” Pierce agreed.
