I was just about to step through the door when the unmistakable belch and fwoosh of a letter being spat up by Spike caught our attentions, causing us to turn back to face Twilight who was already reading the scroll with a troubled expression on her face.

Wow, wasn't expecting a reply that fast, but I'm certainly not going to complain abou-

“What the hay did you write to her!?”

All of us jumped, surprised by Twilight's sudden outburst.

“I already said that-”

“That you couldn't tell me, yes I know, but whatever you said, was apparently the wrong thing, seeing as Princess Celestia has demanded that I detain you until she arrives!”

I paled, that was not what I had been expecting, but then again I suppose telling the ruling goddesses of a nation that I knew one of their deepest secrets probably wasn't the best idea.

At least it got their attention, so there was that.

“Detained!”

Rarity's yell pulled me out of my reverie as both she and Applejack backed away from me.

I held up my hands in a placating gesture, attempting to defuse the situation before it could escalate, “Hold on, I promise that I'm not doing anything wrong, and I'll tell you after I meet with the Princesses.”

Applejack shook her head, a look of uncertainty on her face, “How can it be nothin' bad if the Princess reacted like that?”

I sighed, “Look, I Pinkie Promise that there's nothing for you to worry about at this moment. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

That made all of the ponies and the one dragon in the room freeze up, finally Twilight broke the silence.

“How do you know that promise?”

I groaned and rubbed the bridge of my nose, I knew that someone would ask that if I did something like that, but I had no other choice if I wanted to keep them from panicking.

“It has to do with what I need to speak with the Princesses about, and like I said, I'll tell you what's going on once I have spoken to them, so can you please relax? I won't try to leave the library alright?”

All four of the others in the room looked at each other before they slowly nodded, though it didn't take long for Twilight to perk back up.

“Well, if you aren't leaving, then there's no reason not to start the questioning now!”

I let another groan escape my lips, this was not going to be fun.

“That's...horrible.”

I winced at Twilight's statement. I had just had the dubious honor of explaining what an atom bomb was, and how it had been used. Twilight had unsurprisingly been eager to learn about the sciences of Earth, and once I had mentioned nuclear technology she had latched on to the subject, apparently entranced by the idea of so much energy being expelled from objects as small as atoms. Unfortunately I didn't want to risk her becoming to enamored of the idea, and felt that I needed to impress upon her the dangers of technology like that.

“Horrible, but not unfamiliar. I hate to say it, but I'm not surprised, it's not like Equestrians don't have weapons just as devastating as what you described.”

I blinked, that wasn't what I had expected. “You have nukes?”

Twilight blinked right back at me before she shook her head, “No, but what we have might as well be a nuclear bomb like you described. We have mega-spells that depending on the kind of ponies involved can call down magical hellfire, send entire nations into decades of drought, or even cause the very earth to rise up against our enemies.”

I couldn't help but gape at Twilight, here she was explaining that a nation full of technicolor ponies had weapons that would make our bombs look tame when I had thought that ponies were as peaceful as you could get. Then again I suppose that as long as there were multiple groups of sapient beings on a world, there would be war, and war would escalate.

I guess war really doesn't change, even between dimensions.

“But wouldn't the Princesses make all of that unnecessary? I mean, didn't you say Celestia controls the sun? How could anyone fight against that?”

“They don't have to. I swore long ago not to get involved in any wars between the other races and my little ponies unless another immortal got involved, and as soon as my Sister returned, she swore the same vow at my insistence. Thankfully though there hasn't been a major war in centuries, and it has been a blessedly long time since either myself or any mega-spells had to be used in combat.”

Both Twilight and I jumped and turned to face the kitchen door where Princess Celestia was standing with Luna behind her.

I've got to say, the show didn't do either of them justice. Celestia's fur wasn't just white, it was radiant, though not harsh, and the shifting rainbow aurora of her mane and tail was absolutely mesmerizing as the colors flowed and blended together in a seemingly endless dance of life and light. The feathers on her wings seemed softer than the clouds, and her long spiraling horn would have made any ivory collector's heart stop.

However, Celestia paled in comparison to Luna. I won't lie, I've always been more of a night person, so I might have been a bit biased, but Luna was stunning. Her fur was a deep midnight blue that shimmered like silk, and her mane and tail looked like windows into the night sky in all it's glory. The rustling of her feathers seemed to carry whispers of all the secrets of the night while her horn reflected just enough light to highlight the curves of the midnight blue spirals as it rose gracefully from her head.

Twilight and I both jumped out of our seats and bowed to the Princesses, though I was the first one to speak.

“Your highnesses. It's truly an honor to meet you.”

By this point both Alicorns had entered the room, and this time it was Luna who spoke.

“Tis an honor to meet you as well, though we wish that it might have been on better terms.”

“As my sister said, we are honored as well to be hosting a member of a heretofore unknown species, although I hope you will forgive our order to have you detained, as I'm sure you realize what kind of...effect your news had on my sister and I.”

As I straightened back up I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, “Yeah, I probably could have found something less shocking to say, but I did need you to respond as quickly as you reasonably could.”

By this point Twilight was looking between us with barely restrained curiosity, but before she could speak up I caught her attention.

“Twilight, I need to talk with the Princesses alone. Please.”

Twilight looked nervous, but Celestia seemed to pick up on my desire for discretion. “Twilight, could you please give us some space to speak?”

Twilight looked like she wanted to protest, but instead she sighed, “I-yes Princess.”

“Twilight, could you please go get your friends? I plan on explaining everything to you all once I'm done, I just would like to speak with the Princesses first.”

Twilight shot me a glance, but nodded as she left, and the sound of the front door opening and closing let us know that she had gone on her way.

As I turned my gaze back to the Princesses I couldn't help but be startled at the sudden intensity hidden in their eyes. It was Luna who first broke the silence.

“Now that pleasantries are out of the way, pray tell us how you came by knowledge of our old foe, and how you know of his seal.”

I looked between the two alicorns as I tried to prepare myself for what I was about to say.

“First I have to ask that you both hear out everything I have to say without interrupting, it's a little... hard to believe.”

Celestia snorted, “I believe that you'll find that we are more open minded than you might think, however we will let you say your piece.”

I nodded and bit my lip, it was now or never.

“Alright. I'm going to assume that you already know that I'm not from this world, and if I'm right you also know that I'm a human, or at least Celestia knows. I'm actually from a planet called Earth, and I think that it actually exists in a different dimension than this one, mostly because, well, your world is part of our fiction.

“The events of your world, particularly in regards to the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, are portrayed in a television show, which means that those of us who watch it see and hear about the events told about during the show. Because of this I actually know quite a bit about Equestria, and of the struggles it's going to face, including Discord's release. I'll admit that there's also quite a bit that I don't know, as I only really watched a few episodes other than the ones that dealt with the truly major events, such as Discord's escape, and a couple of the movies. I also read a few of the comics that were created, but not many."

"Somehow I was transported here with these”, I showed them my rings, “which allow me to perform alchemy, which does not actually exist in my world, but is rather from another work of fiction.

“I was also given a book that contains everything I need to know about alchemy, and it had a note inside from an incredibly powerful being called Demon Earth, which as far as I'm aware is not actually as malevolent a being as it's name would suggest. I wanted to keep this secret until I was able to tell you two because I hoped that you could help ease any tense reactions from the element bearers at the idea of their lives being on show.”

I looked nervously at the sisters as they looked at each other, sharing the kind of look that only siblings could that carried entire conversations. Both of them turned back towards me and spoke at the same time.

“We have questions.”

I nodded, still nervous as to how they were going to take this news.

“Of course.”

“I'll start. Why did you tell us any of this at all?”

I blinked, that was certainly not what I had been expecting.

“Well, I thought it only right that you know. Secrets like that have a way of getting out eventually, and I'd much prefer it be on my own terms rather than at a time when it could possibly cause real harm.”

Celestia nodded at this as her sister spoke up with another question of her own.

“What is this alchemy you speak of? We know of a science that goes by such a name in this world, but We don't believe that that is what you speak of.”

“You would be right, it isn't. When you boil it down the type of alchemy I'm speaking of involves using energy to break down and re-construct matter at a molecular level in such a way that it accomplishes a specific goal, be it catalyzing certain natural processes, creating statues or weapons, or even altering the composition of the air to make it more flammable.”

“Would you be willing to teach such a skill to our subjects?”

I nodded, “Actually I've already agreed to teach Applebloom as I myself learn.”

Celestia blinked, “Applejacks little sister? Why would she be interested?”

“When she and her friends found me in the Everfree, they saw me make my first attempt at alchemy. Applebloom saw it and became interested for her own reasons, which I'm not willing to share.”

“That's reasonable I suppose, but how do you know she'll even be able to perform this alchemy?”

“I'm not, but I'm willing to let her try. I've also already talked to Applejack about this, and the dangers inherent in using alchemy, and she's given her approval as long as I allow her to sit in on her sister's lessons. I may have also agreed to teach Twilight in order to get her to let me send you a letter.”

Both Princesses gave me a deadpan look as I rubbed the back of my head. Eventually Celestia sighed.

“I suppose she would have found a way to learn what you know, or will know, eventually, better that she learn from you than try it on her own. I have only a few more questions. How did you know that you entered our world at a point in our timeline where Discord hadn't already been freed, how did you even know that this wasn't a similar but very different world? Most importantly however, how do you plan on using the knowledge that you have of our future?”

“Um... Honestly I didn't even think about this being a world that diverged enough to make my knowledge of your timeline useless, and as for Discord, I again just guessed. I suppose I must have just gotten lucky.

“As for what I plan to do, honestly I just plan to act as things happen for the most part. I don't actually know how much time passed between each event in your world as it was presented to us, so my trying to give you any kind of warning would be pointless, and honestly? My presence here has probably already irrevocably changed the path events will take. I do however have one request.”

The sisters glanced at each other, but eventually nodded.

“Speak, and if it is within reason we shall consider your plea.”

“Right, first I need to know, how close are Shining Armor and Princess Cadance?”

“Excuse me? Regardless of what you have told us you have no right to be asking about-”

“Please just tell me, it's important.”

“They are engaged to be wed.”

Celestia shot a look at Luna, who only shrugged in response.

“Sister he likely already knows that they would be wed eventually. We see no reason why such knowledge could not be shared.”

“Thank you Princess. Now as for my request, I need you to let me know if Princess Cadance begins acting... odd. Anything really out of character, and before you write away anything as nerves or the like, I want you to really think about whether she would act like you're seeing her act.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes, “Why?”

“I don't feel comfortable telling you just yet, as I want to avoid any unnecessary worry, but I promise that I have only the best intentions.”

“We will... keep that in mind, though now I believe my sister has a few more questions for you.”

“Indeed, we do have one other question for thee. You mentioned a demon-”

“Demon. Capital D.”

“Ah, yes. That actually answers our question.”

Luna turned to face Celestia, who looked like she was trying not to groan.

“Well dear sister, it seems that Gaia has again begun making wagers.”

“Unfortunately so.”

I blinked in surprise, “You know about the Demons?”

“Yes, though luckily for us Gaia has always been a bit odd compared to her peers. In all of our history never once has she ever done anything to endanger those of us who live under her care, and in fact has sometimes gone out of her way to make sure we survived some calamity or another. The Elements of Harmony were actually created through a series of events that began with one of her wagers. So while we don't know much about you, we do now know that you aren't likely a threat, and you certainly aren't some kind of envoy of your people that we need to be suspicious of.”

“Indeed. Now however, We believe that the Bearers have all arrived, so if that is all perhaps we should go meet them?”

“Actually, I have a question for you Princess Luna.”

Luna looked at me inquisitively, “Truly, and what pray tell might that be?”

“Why are you using the royal we? I mean, I get that you were... indisposed for the last millineum, but you're immortal, and the royal we is used to convey that a ruler speaks with all of the authority of their ancestors, so either of you ever using the royal we doesn't make any sense at all.”

I looked on in confusion as Celestia grimaced while Luna shot her a smug grin.

“You owe me twenty bits sister.”

I blinked, “What?”

“Before our banishment the royal we was used by my sister and myself to show that each of us spoke with the united authority of us both, though we would speak in the singular when we were truly speaking only for or of ourselves as individuals. However, after one thousand years of only my sister's rule, our ponies seem to have forgotten that fact. My sister believed that her student would be the first to call us out on our discrepancy, and I disagreed, and so we made a bet, a bet that I just won.”

Celestia just shook her head and turned as she opened the kitchen door, “Games aside, I believe that it's time we spoke with the elements.”

Luna followed her sister into the main room with a smug grin while I just shook my head and closed the door behind myself.

Applejack, Rarity and Twilight all looked like they were deep in thought as they considered what I had just told them, they had each raised some concerns, but both the Princesses and myself had assured them that everything was fine, and for the most part they had been satisfied. Pinkie... well she had actually said something about having to re-plan everything and bolted out of the library as soon as I finished talking.

My focus was currently on the other two ponies in the room, the only two I hadn't actually met yet.

The first one was a sky blue Pegasus with a trademark rainbow mane and tail, magenta eyes, and a tri-colored lighting bolt striking from a white cloud as her cutie mark.

“So...in your world, we're famous? That's actually pretty awesome, not as awesome as being a wonderbolt, but still. I bet that means you want my autograph huh?”

I smiled and shook my head, it seemed that Rainbow Dash had already decided that she was fine with me.

“Sugarcube, he just woke up in a world he thought didn't exist, Ah don't think that autographs are really on his mind right about now.”

“Aw come on Applejack, of course he wants one, just think of how much he'll be able to brag to his friends when he gets home!”

I winced at this, but before I could say anything Rainbow kept going.

“I bet even his family would be jealous, I mean can you imagine if he showed that to his brothers or sisters? Actually, do you even have siblings?”

“U-um Rainbow...”

“Well if you do I bet they'll be totally jealous. And even if you don't how many of parents in your world would be able to say that their kid hat met THE Rainbow Dash?”

“Darling, is that really the most important thing to focus on right now, autographs?”

“Really Rainbow, now isn't really the time, I'm sure that Aaron has plenty of other things to worry about.”

“Rainbow-”

“Indeed, there is much that must be done before any thoughts of signatures or souvenirs can be entertained.”

“My sister is right Ms. Dash, we need to focus right now.”

“Aw come on guys, he'd be the envy of his whole world! How could he not-”

“RAINBOW DASH!”

All of the ponies turned to the butter yellow pegasus with blue eyes and a long pink mane and tail that matched her cutie mark of three butterflies.

Without saying another word Fluttershy directed all of their attention towards me.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I was crying at that point. I'd been trying not to think about how my situation had separated me from my family, but Rainbow had seemed bound and determined to bring the issue forward, and I couldn't hold it in anymore.

“O-oh um, hey Aaron, what's wrong, why are you-”

“I can't go home!”

All of the ponies stepped back a bit at my shout, but I didn't particularly care at that moment.

“I can't go home, a-and I can't see my family a-any more, and I d-don't know if I'll ever get to see th-them again!”

Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity all rushed over to try and comfort me while Twilight and the Princesses looked at Rainbow.

“I-I didn't know, I mean, I'm sorry, I didn't think-”

“No, no it's a-alright Rainbow. I-you had no way to know, I had just, been trying not to think about it you know?”

I slowly pushed the ponies around me away as I forced myself to stop crying. There would be time to worry about this later, but now wasn't the time.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few moments that was eventually broken by Rarity.

“I hate to leave, but it really is getting quite late, and I need to close up the Boutique, so goodnight everyone.”

“Ah've got to go to, Granny'll be wondering wear Ah am if Ah stay to much longer.”

“I need to go feed the night critters.”

With that Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy all left the library, but not before Applejack shot me a look that said We're gonna talk whether you want to or not.

I sighed but nodded, I should have expected Applejack to be concerned with how much she valued her own family.

“U-um, look, I really am sorry about that.”

I looked down at Rainbow, who was nervously rubbing her foreleg and refusing to make eye contact.

“Really Rainbow...it's alright. I just hadn't quite come to terms with it yet, and honestly I still haven't but, I'll be ok. No hard feelings alright?”

Rainbow sighed and shot me a weak grin, “Alright.”

Suddenly her grin got a lot bigger as she jumped up and began hovering in the air, “Though I bet you can't wait to see me perform huh? Seeing it through some crystal illusion thingy can't be as awesome as seeing me perform in real life!”

I laughed, “You're right, I really can't wait, but I bet you need to go home as well right?”

“Oh, yeah I guess so, I've got a busy day of weather work tomorrow, so I guess I'll catch ya later.”

As Rainbow zipped out the door The princesses walked up to me and grabbed my attention.

“We've spoken with Twilight. For now we would like you to stay here as her guest, at least until you can find somewhere else to live. Also, we'd like you to continue to get to know the elements as your abilities and knowledge will no doubt help them in the future, though it seems you're already on your way to becoming friends with them.”

I nodded, “Right.”

“Well then, we must return, court waits for no mare after all, are you coming sister?”

“Right behind you Celestia, good night Twilight, Aaron.”

After the Princesses left I turned to Twilight, who had come to stand beside me.

“So where am I sleeping?”

Author's Note

I LIVE!

So, I know I made y'all wait, but this one is significantly longer than normal.

Anyway, that ends the arrival 'arc', next is the events leading up to the events of the crystal empire, after which...well what is a displaced story without some inter-dimensional baddies? Also, I am now open to doing displaced crossovers, so if you're interested in doing so, just message me, and as always please feel free to comment.