After The Song: Equestria Rockby BioQuillFictionChaptersPrologue: Childhood FantasyDreaming RealityA FriendGrounded DiplomacySecond Day of SchoolPrologue: Childhood FantasyMotherhood is hard no matter how one goes about it. Even when there’s two mothers looking after a child the work is tiring. Adagio Dazzle and Sunset Shimmer learned that lesson the hard way. Years ago the two started off as bitter enemies, both from a world of magic and power. Sunset encountered Adagio again some years later after their first battle and defeated her a second time. This time however, she learned her rival was not a heartless, ruthless, siren. No, Adagio Dazzle was a heartbroken, fragile, broken pony that did bad things that just kept getting worse. For thousands of years she used dark magic to suppress her guilt of her past deeds. When her source of dark magic was taken she, to the surprise of all, was taken in by the one she tried to hurt the most. Adagio healed, after over a thousand years, she was healed, but the scars were still there, rooted deep within her mind. Even after all her sins she was given forgiven, and given the only thing she ever wanted in life, a child. Dazzling Sun, her and Sunset Shimmer’s son. Adagio wasn’t able to conceive a child, so she asked Sunset for an egg. As one would expect, Dazzling Sun was born looking very much like Sunset Shimmer, except, his hair was Adagio’s, exact match in color and pattern. This caught the mothers by surprise, until a mutual friend from Equestria claimed responsibility. Potions are magic too. Ever since their son’s birth the two mothers have never been happier. And they tell him stories, stories of Equestria. But they keep them as that, stories. “And once Nightmare Moon was defeated, and turned back into princess Luna, the Elements of Harmony celebrated, with the goddess of the sun and moon finally working together to move the sun and moon across Equestria’s sky. Harmony was returned to the land, but that was just the first journey of many.” As Sunset Shimmer closed the book, which bore a familiar yellow sun, she was met by a pair of small eyes poking out under bed sheets. Dazzling Sun looked like his mother Sunset in many ways, they had the same skin color, the same eyes, but his hair was all Adagio, including its volume. His hair almost towered over the headboard of his bed. “Mama, how can anyone be as nerdy as Twilight?” Sunset held back a witty retort, he’d been spending too much time with his cousin Silver Dust. “Because she studied hard and gave all her work everything her all. I studied hard and gave all my work my all. Is mommy nerdy?” “Nu-uh, you’re cool smart. Twilight is dork smart.” Definitely need to ask Aria to watch what Silver Dust tells Dazz. “Thank you baby. But remember, just because someone’s a little nerdy doesn’t make it right to call them that.” “I know, auntie Sonata gave Silver Dust and I a lessch… a lessker…” “A lecture sweetheart?” “Yeah.” Three years old and it’s so cute when he can’t pronounce his words right. I wish he can always stay like this. Even though I do need to help him get over that, don’t want him going to school with improper speech. Sunset thought. Motherhood had changed her for the better, and very few dared mess with Dazz. Even though they were broken, the dark magic of the pendants is still attached to Adagio. When she was pregnant, Adagio had an anger mood swing where her skin turned to scales and both eyes went red. Thankfully a gallon of chocolate ice cream made her happy before anything bad happened. Same went for Sunset, Discord the janitor pushed one button too many and she she-demoned up. It was the first time he quit without a grand event. “So how’s your reading and writing been going?” “Mama Adagio say’s I’m doing good, but when I write it doesn’t look like how she writes.” “Everyone has unique handwriting Dazz. You just need to develop your own, readable, style. Everyone has trouble at first.” “Even you?” “Especially me.” Compared to how Twilight writes as a human, I’m a child and she’s John Hancock, At Least, before I got it down. “Wow, so if I work hard and be a nerd like you I can be good at writing?” Sunset snickered. Childhood innocence was truly a wonderful thing. “Yes Dazz, be a nerd like me and you can do anything you try to be.” “There’s never enough nerds for a family.” Sunset and Dazz looked over at the bedroom entrance and there stood the orange and yellow haired mother of mothers, Adagio. “Mama!” Dazz ran out of his bed, surprising Sunset with his speed, and grabbed his mother into the strongest hug his three year old body could conjure. “You’re home!” Adagio happily replied with a slightly stronger hug. “I know baby. Work has been horrible. Too many seniors keep turning in their books late and it all piles up. That and your mama Sunset won’t let mama me have a co-worker in the library.” “I’ve talked to the district! They keep claiming the recession is to blame but their just stingy!” “They’re s...ss…. Stinky?” Dazzling Sun asked with a look of confusion only a three year old can pull off. Adagio laughed. “Yeah, mama Sunset’s bosses are stinky.” “Yes, that’s about right.” Sunset added. Not bothering to correct Dazzling’s error. “Sunset, can you wait for me in the kitchen? I’ll finish tucking in Dazz.” “Sure thing.” Sunset made her way out of the room and Adagio lifted Dazz up and placed him into bed, covered him with his sheets, and kissed him on the forehead. “Did mama Sunset tell you another story about Equestria?” “Yeah. My favorite character has the same name as auntie Pinkie Pie.” “Well, it’s an old story so we did use names that most likely aren't the original ones.” There it was, a sting, a sharp pain that a mother feels when she lies to her child. Events had happened before Dazzling Sun’s birth that lead the whole town to decide to leave any stories about Equestria were to remain just that, stories. “How old is it?” “Not sure exactly. It's been told for a long time and sometimes people forget things or details get mixed up and lost.” “Awww. Good night mommy.” Adagio gave a soft, warm smile to Dazzling sun as she picked up Sunset Shimmer’s book. “Sweet dreams honey.” “Love you.” “Love you too Dazz.” As Adagio dropped to the couch, she felt a cold, wet metal touch the side of her face. “Lemon Ice Tea.” Sunset spoke. Adagio took the canned drink and took several large gulps. “I hate the end of the school year. They stress the staff about as much as the seniors.” “Yeah, I had several students in my office today crying cause they were on the edge of pass or fail.” “That’s sad. I’m glad highschool didn’t exist when I was a teenager.” “You’re one of the few people on this world that can say that and have it actually true.” “I’m the source off all the old people jokes.” Adagio and Sunset gave a small laugh. “In all seriousness though, anyone uses me in an old people joke, 100 percent true.” “It’s okay Adagio, I know I married a cougar.” Forcing herself to swallow what would have been a spit take, A painful gulp came from Adagio, followed by a coughing fit. After a minute, Adagio gave Sunset a spiteful glare. “Oh my god you’re right. I’m the queen of all cougars!” Sunset burst into laughter. Adagio followed, then silenced Sunset with a breathtaking kiss. After several seconds she moved away to let Sunset breath. “At least I found a nice puppy.” “Well, this ‘puppy’ is wondering what Twilight sent through the portal after the ‘Queen of Cougars’ got off work.” Adagio sat next to Sunset. Her expression had changed to a saddened one. “The sample we sent her came back positive. Dazz has dark magic in him from both of us. The letter said it was small though, he’d have to go through a traumatic experience for it to manifest in any way.” Tears streamed down Adagio’s cheeks. “I hate this. Our mistakes could affect our son’s life. He shouldn’t suffer, he’s innocent.” Sunset grabbed Adagio, letting her soak her shirt in tears. “It’s like you said, he has to be traumatised for anything to show up. We just need to make sure he never has an experience like that.” “How? One day we won’t be able to parent him anymore. He’ll be an adult and we both know life can be cruel.” “Then we make sure to raise him right so he can avoid that. We made bad choices, and I’d sooner re-attempt multidimensional take over than see our son make a horrible choice.” “Yeah. Think we can pull it off?” “We’ve got friends, family, and each other. If that’s not enough to raise one child right then we messed up big time.” “Think he’ll be able to sing? After the pendants broke my voice was shot but he’s both our son, might have gotten your singing voice.” “Maybe, if he does I hope he doesn’t ask me to be his manager. I had enough of that for a lifetime.” “Name one band or singer with their mother as their manager.” “True enough. I wonder how awkward it will be for him having both his mothers working at the high school he’ll be going to when it comes to that.” “We do what any parents would do in our eventual position, we embarrass him the way only mothers can.” “Sounds good.” Dreaming RealityFourteen, last month I turned fourteen and realized how much I’d changed in my life. Most people, like myself, look at a mirror to see the changes that happened over the course of a summer vacation. My normally huge orange hair was cut so it only looked like a small afro, my skin was darker orange that resembled one of my mothers. I had my favorite shirt on with it’s custom design, a sun with a music note filling in the center. I had grown taller over the summer, that much I noticed while looking into the mirror. They say the older you get the faster time goes, they’re right. Just two months ago I was in middle school and now I’m going to be a highschool freshmen. This is a perfectly justifiable reason to be nervous, but there's one other issue… Knock, knock, knock. “Come on honey, it’s your first day at high school and your mother and I need to get to work early. We wanna give you a tour of the place!” My mother, Adagio, said from the other side of the bathroom door. That’s also my second concern. My mom, Adagio, is the librarian, and my other mom, Sunset Shimmer, is the principal. The principal! Anything I do she’ll know! “In a minute mom.” There has got to be a way to deal with this. I love my mothers, honestly, but no child wants their parents at school and for the other students to find out. I took a deep breath. Well, not like I had much of a social life anyway. I opened the door and was blinded by a camera flash. “So handsome.” My mother, Sunset, said. “Mom, it’s the first day of high school, not graduation or anything like that.” “Still, your mothers are old and pictures will help us remember as the years go by.” “You two aren’t that old, there’s no grey hairs visible.” “Aww, fourteen and can’t even give a good fake comment. You’re still a baby.” Mama Adagio said. “I’m fourteen.” “And you’ll always be our baby. Now get to the car, your mom and I will be there soon. Oh, and stay away from the statue in front of the school, it’s… being cleaned and the chemicals sting.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” I said as I headed towards the door. Canterlot high school, been here since before my parents were born. Just about all of my family went here at one time or another. It never changed, at least that’s what my moms said when they went here. Overall it looks like any typical highschool, except for the Wonder Colt statue in front. Mama Sunset said no one’s really sure when that was built but it’s become almost a landmark for the school. My moms always used to be nervous when they’d take me to work with them and I’d play around on it. I liked to pretend I was a cowboy riding off for adventure. “Alright Dazz, you can wait either with your mother Adagio in the library or have a look around. Classes start in two hours, don’t be late, you’ll make your mama’s look bad.” Mama Sunset said. “Alright mom, I’ll have a look around. Might see something I missed the last hundred times I was here.” As mama Sunset and Adagio went into the school my eyes fell upon the statue, I know mom said it was being cleaned and probably had some strong chemicals on it, but at least once more, while there’s literally no one around for at least an hour or more. For old times sake, and not just because I’m a big kid. As I stood in front of the statue, something felt… off. I can’t describe it, but the reflective surface on the statue’s base just seems different for some reason. Ah, whatever, probably just nerves. I grabbed the top of the statue's base and set a foot onto the base for support, only for my foot to go right through it. “What the!?” I yelled as my grip on the base’s top slipped and I fell into the statue base. Everything became a dizzy, spinning, rainbow vortex. “WHAT KIND OF CLEANING PRODUCTS DO THIS!?” I yelled as my vision began to go black. Ouch. My everything was sore. Must have hit my head, my body doesn’t feel right. Are my eyes closed? Everything seems dark. I blinked a few times and the darkness didn’t leave. Nope, it’s just dark. Wait, it was morning when I… The statue.... There’s no way I fell into it, is there? No, no. Maybe I just fell off of the statue and hit my head, now I’m dreaming… Why is my dream dark though…. I wonder… “Light.” I spoke. Nothing happened for a few moments. Well, it’s not one of those dreams, so what kinda dream is this? I tried to stand up, only to fall flat on my face. Damn what’s wrong with my arms, feels like I don’t even have any fingers. My legs don’t feel right either. What kind of concussion induced dream is this? ”This is the only room we haven't searched yet.” ”I still say the alarm’s on the fritz again.” Muffled voices? “Hello?” ”Someone’s in here!” A loud bang and a sudden burst of blinding light happened simultaneously, the noise didn’t bother me but the light did. “Shit, that’s bright!” “What are you doing here?! How did you get in here!?” One of the voices, now clear, yelled. “I woke up here!” I yelled back. My eyes started to adjust to the light. Even for a dream, what I saw was weird. In front of me were two… ponies? One had a horn on it’s head and the other looked like any other horse. They both had blue coats and wore white armor. “The fuck?” “He might have been teleporting in his sleep sir, it’s normal for colts his age.” The pony without a horn said. “True, must be really good at magic to teleport in here. Where are you from kid?” “... Canterlot city?” I replied. “You teleported all the way from Canterlot!?” The one with the horn spoke. “Must be from Celestia’s school then.” The other pony replied. “We’ll let you slid but you have to talk with Princess Twilight first.” Princess Twilight? Wait, that name’s from those stories my moms used to tell me. Right, every character was a pony. I hit my head so hard I’m dreaming about stories I haven’t thought about in years. Pretty realistic dream, hope I wake up before either of my moms find me. “Alright but I… need some help walking.” “Sure, teleporting from that far away must have exhausted you.” The horned pony spoke. As they helped me up, I noticed how reflective the floor was, I saw myself as a pony, My crazy hair was somehow bigger than it was before this... dream, my skin was covered in a light orange coat. My head looked weird with a horn sticking out through my hair… or is it a mane? I looked funny, If it wasn’t for the oddly extreme realism of this dream I’d be having a bit more fun with all of this. A FriendPrincess Twilight’s throne room was beyond words. In the stories my mothers told me, it was mostly described as magic crystals that sparkled even in darkness, that was an understatement. It even had the six thrones for all of the elements of harmony. Damn, my brain kept all this in my head somewhere? My moms were right, I am a big kid. Princess Twilight herself seemed the be slightly preoccupied with papers though, she gave, seemingly timed, glances at me before looking back at whatever was on those papers. “Are you a student at Celestia’s school?” She asked, looking at the papers. “Uhh, no?” I reply confused. Celestia’s school? I knew the principal before my mom was named Celestia but… Right, dream. Still hope I wake up from this before anyone comes to school and sees me. “To teleport this distance, even if it was a surge, is impressive. You might want to enroll. The guards told me you were from canterlot, strange that a unicorn isn’t enrolled. Being born a unicorn practically grants enrollment form birth. You in Secondary school then?” “Yes? Today is actually supposed to be my first day.” “Secondary school started a month ago, you home schooled?” She looked up from her papers, looking slightly confused. “Yes?” I feel like I’m lying, but this is a dream so is it bad? Also, A month ago? Glad reality school doesn’t start that early. “That makes sense as to why you’re not in Celestia’s school then. Do you know how to get home from the train station?” She asked, eyes falling back onto the papers. “No, I’ve never been to the train station.” That’s half true. Given dream logic… Actually, save for movies and books I’ve never seen a train in real life. But the half true part was that I don’t even know where the train station is in reality. I only know a few places. “Hmm.” She noised as she wrote something down on the paper she was reading. “I don’t think it will be too hard to find your parents, who are most likely worried about you, I’ll just need a photo to send the the royal guard in Canterlot and they can do a search of all homeschooled students in secondary school. Now, what’s your name?” “Oh, Dazzling Sun.” “Alright then, until we find your parents I’ll have one of the guards escort you around the castle or Ponyville. Since this if your first time away from home this can be a good learning and social experience for you.” “Great.” I say dryly. “I’d handle this more personally, but I’m behind on paperwork. I hope your parents are found. We should have word in an hour or so. Till then, Trodeal will be the guard looking out for you for the time being.” I looked over and the guard pony without a horn nodded. So that’s his name. Who thought up that name? “Thank you.” “It’s my duty… also, you have not been formal in the slightest since seeing me. I like that.” “It’s most likely because I’m more confused now than I have been since I was an annoying two year old.” She chuckled. “To be young and curious. Enjoy Ponyville Dazzling Sun, and do visit again.” As me and my guard were leaving I heard the princess say one more thing. “Why is his name familiar?” * * * “So this is your first time in the outside world kid?” Trodeal asked me. “I've never seen buildings this… colorful before.” I replied. Looking around, the town and the ponies look like a color wheel threw up on them. “Yeah. Ponyville's population is majority mare so expect lots of pink. So who are your parents?” “My mothers, one is a school principal and the other is the school librarian.” “Oh, you have two mothers. Bet they never let you get away with anything as a foal.” “You can say that again. Closest thing I had to a father figure was my Uncle Flash, and he’s always off seas somewhere.” “Which mom was he related to?” “Neither. He’s just been a friend of my mothers since High, er, Secondary school.” I correct myself, remembering some of what princess Twilight said. “He used to date my mother Sunset but he broke it off.” “So one of your mothers swings both ways.” Trodeal says in a tone that rubbed me wrong. “You know that armor of yours doesn’t protect what’s between your hind legs.” “Relax kid, I’m just teasin. Besides, only one mare was meant for me and she passed a long time ago.” “I’m sorry to hear that.” “She left me one thing though. A little filly, has her mane, attitude, and stubbornness.” “You’re a father?” “Yes, and I’ll remind you you’re not wearing armor.” “Two mothers, remember? I’d be insulting them if I was anything less than a gentleman.” “They raised you right. I find it funny that your parents work in a school and your homeschooled.” “Y… yeah. Odd. They’re just protective. Where are we going exactly?” “My daughter works as a singer at a local dinner theater, or whatever it’s called. You are gonna sit at a table, enjoy the music, and eat whatever thirty bits will buy you. And from the prices on food there, you can make it stretch all day.” “And what are you gonna do?” “Say hi to my little girl and then go fill out the paperwork your case is building up. And I’ll be checking in every so often so don’t wonder off and get lost.” “Alright.” The ‘dinner theater’ Trodeal’s daughter works at was actually a club. Not A Nightclub, it was called. Weird name honestly, but it could be weirder. Trodeal sat me at a table in the middle of the dining area, a good view of the stage. A waiter gave me a menu before I even sat down. The crowd was fair, but they barely filled the tables. Trodeal left and the lights dimmed. The curtains on stage opened and a mare was on stage, next to her was an electric keyboard. Her coat color was the same as Trodeal’s, a dark leaf green, but her mane and tail was a curly Lapis Lazuli color. She had wings too. She pressed a button on the keyboard and music started to play. It had a good beat, but it was coming from the keyboard's built in speaker, so the quality was… less than what it deserved. My attention turned to the mare when she tapped the mic in front of her and started singing. In this place, this town, I’ve called my home. Lies a secret, magic, it’s very old. Just outside, through the trees of the Everfree. The Elements of Harmony. Laughter, Kindness, Honesty, Generosity and Loyalty. Kept together with Magic, the ties that bond our hearts. We live in peace thanks to these six brave souls. Equestria’s strength comes from within our hearts Rivaled only by cruel destiny. The rulers of the moon and sun dance across our stars. So close yet so very far. Even if everything turns dark, we still have the Spark. In this town, this place I’ve called my home. I would have clapped if I had hands, a few other ponies here smacked their hooves together, making a clap like sound. She took a bow, which looked weird to me since she was a pony, and got off the stage. “May I take your order sir?” I looked over and saw another pony, mare, with a yellow mane and orange coat. “Oh, uh. What do you recommend?” “We have a delicious hay burger and grass fries,” Nope, bad brain. Why the horse jokes with food? “We also have a fruit salad served with a glass of tea.” “I’ll have that then.” “Alright sir. Also since you look new here I’m inclined to tell you about the pay upfront rule.” “Too many people left without paying?” I ask. “Yeah, I know the rule sucks but the manager won't argue about it.” “It’s alright. So how much?” “Six bits.” That is cheap. I count out six of the gold coins Trodeal said we're bits. I found it funny how they were small gold coins. They had simple designs. A horse shoe on one side and a leaf on the other. “Thank you.” She said once the money was paid and left to the kitchen. I sat at my table, just waiting for my food or the next show to start. “So you’re the lost little colt?” I looked up and Trodeal’s daughter was sitting next to me. When did she get here?! “Parent’s baby you to death city colt?” I decided to be a smart ass. “Goo, goo ga ga.” I said, making her burst into laughter. “Wow, and I thought my dad was bad.” “Least he lets you work. My moms don’t want me out too long so I’m not aloud to get a part time job.” “Now that sucks. I mean, we’re fourteen, right?” I nod in reply. “We’re legal adults damn it!” Fourteen is considered being an adult here? Now that’s just my brain being weird. When is this hyper-realistic dream gonna be over anyway? “Why do parents have to be so overprotective?” “Cause they care. If they didn’t, we might not be here right now.” She looked surprised by my statement. “You a philosopher or something?” “Nope, my mother Sunset was just very smart and I was taught from a young age.” “She must have some I.Q. So what’s your name?” “Dazzling Sun. You?” “Hope Spring. So how’d you get your cutie mark?” “My what?” “Oh come on, what kind of school teachers are your parents if you don’t even know what a cutie mark is?” “Ones the Principal and the other is the Librarian.” “That’s not any better. Did they raise you in the Everfree or something?” “No, and even if I knew what a cutie mark was I couldn’t tell you how I got it.” “A cutie mark are the images on your flank stupid.” Hope pointed at the image on my body that I failed to notice. It was the design from my favorite hoodie. It was slapped on my, quite literal, horse ass like a tattoo. “It shows what you’re best at. So, what are you best at?” Crap. How to make up an excuse for this. I don’t want my dream world to either call me crazy or crash around me at the mention of reality, even though that might also wake me up I’d rather not risk turning this place into hell. “I guess I can sing alright. I took after my mother Sunset on that even though it was my other mother Adagio who birthed me.” “Did they use a Potion of Family?” “That sounds made up.” “It’s a potion that came out like fifteen or so years ago. If two mares, your mothers, drink it, half each, if one isn’t already pregnant it will make whoever finished the bottle pregnant with a child that is both the drinkers child, genetically. If they are pregnant when drinking it the same effect applies, but similarities are less noticeable for the parent who’s not pregnant with the child. Usually, genetics are random at times.” That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard. How is my sub-consciousness even able to come up with this? “Does it work with two males?” Let's see how far this can go. “Yes, two stallions drink most of the potion and a surrogate mother finishes the rest and the baby is born related to both males.” Okay… “Is it magic or…?” “Yes. It was actually made by Princess Twilight and the zebra shamen Zecora. Supposedly, it was made for some friends of the Princess but that was never confirmed.” “Odd.” “Magic is as magic does. And by that I mean it does whatever the heck it wants. So…” “So what?” “You said you could sing. I want to hear you.” “But I haven’t sung in public before! I’d be a total wreck!” “So, everypony goes through that. Can’t get over it if you don’t face it.” Hope said as she pushed me off my seat. “Make up a song if you have to. The club does have open mic option. How else do you think I got this job?” “Fine. If I bite it up there you owe me.” “Whatever.” I walked up on stage. All the ponies in the restaurant looked at me, mostly with a confused expression, save for Hope, who was wearing a devilish smile. I am gonna wipe that smile off of her. I quickly sorted through memories for lyrical inspiration and my talk about my Uncle Flash with Trodeal was the first thing to come to mind. Flash loved it in the Air Force. Little tribute song it is. I cleared my throat and began singing. ”In the end, it is just you and I. My wings and I up in the endless sky. Even with the peace, we know what’s truth. Darkness lives, and it will run when I fly! Through the fire and the wind, I will fight for those I love! Even when I am burnt to dust, I will fly til the sun has set! Nevermore will I fear! Darkness will fall with me here, Crashing down to earth. I only wish I could, fly with the stars once more before I die.” I didn’t realize I closed my eyes while I sang. I opened them and everyone in the room had their jaws on the floor, even Hope. “I, uh. That was a tribute to my uncle.” I say shakily while getting off stage. Suddenly, despite the low numbers, a roar of yells and applause come from the small audience. Oh God help me. And I thought having my parents at school was gonna be bad, I feel embarrassed hearing them applaud like that. Call me weird, but I don’t like hearing others speak or do anything highly of me. I feel ashamed for it for some reason. I suddenly fell face first to the floor as someone hit me in the back of the head. “Damn it! I thought you would choke. Where you learn to sing like that?!” Hope’s loud voice rang into my ears. I got back up, rubbing my head. “Just always could. No one ever taught me.” “And that song! That was a tribute to your uncle?” “Yeah. He loved to fly and even loved it more at night.” “So that part at the end, he…” “Strong winds when he was flying over seas. They… only found his flight helmet.” “I’m sorry.” “It’s alright, I was little when It happened. My mothers actually gave his helmet to someone else who they thought should have it. They never said who, but If they thought they should have it then they must have meant a lot to him.” “I… sorry for putting you up there like that. On the bright side I think you impressed everyone in the club here. Got some pipes, for a stallion.” “Thanks, I think that song would be better with music in the background though.” “I still got ten or so minutes on my break, maybe I can use my keyboard to help put something together.” “Sure, I got time to kill.” The beginning of the school year was the start of a new leaf for all high school students. New teachers, new classes, new schedule. For Sunset Shimmer, it was the start of paperwork. Near endless paperwork. She felt like Adagio at the end of the school year. Many students were still being enrolled and some were transferring. “UGH! Now I know how Twilight felt after Celestia gave her royal duties.” This year, the school had more students than ever before. Shattering previous records. Knock. Knock. Knock. “Is the principal in?” Adagio’s voice spoke through the door. And it was music to Sunset’s ears. “Come on in.” She replied, smiling as her wife entered. “I wanted to ask if you’ve seen Dazz. He didn’t visit me in the library and I couldn’t find him around campus.” “He probably ran off to Sugar Cube Corner. You know how much he loves those breakfast muffins.” “But without telling us?” Adagio was a wreck with concern. To this Sunset merely rolled her eyes. Smiled. And gave Adagio a light hug. “He’s fourteen Dagi. We can’t mother him forever.” “I just wish we could.” “I think that’s a mental problem when they do that Adagio.” Adagio frowned at that pun and pushed Sunset away, who was giving a sly smile. “Oh har har Sunset. But I’m just worried. I can’t help it.” “Look, if he ran off to Sugar Cube Corner then he was seen by the surveillance cameras. I’ll just rewind the footage and if he did leave campus we’ll call him to come back soon. There’s still an hour before classes start anyway.” Sunset sat down at her desk, Adagio hovering just behind her. With a few clicks on the computer a window popped up, showing a black and white video with Sunset, Adagio, and Dazzling Sun in front of the school. Then, after Adagio and Sunset walked out of view Dazzling Sun walked over to the wonder colt statue, look around, and attempted to climb it. “Oh no!” Both mothers said as they saw their son place a foot at the base, only for his lower half to fall into the base, the rest of his body soon followed as he lost his grip and, in a flash of light, disappeared into the statue base. Falling through the portal to Equestria. “Nononononononononnonoononononononononononononononnono!” Adagio panicked. “He’s in Equestria! I knew I should have had the janitor put a fence around that damn statue!” Sunset was awe struck. Though Twilight no longer opened the portal manually, it still opened like it used to. Today was the first of the three days it would be open for, which is why they warned Dazz not to go near it. “Adagio.” Sunset said, catching her wife's attention. “We are about to do something so stupid.” Adagio gulped. “W...we’re going after him? But can’t you just use your journal?” “I can’t anymore. All the pages are full, and you can't erase anything in them cause the magic to communicate only works with ink! What was Celestia thinking when she made that?” Sunset grabbed Adagio by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. “I know neither of us has been in Equestria for years, but for our son, we can swallow our fear. And when we get back we are going to ground him til he’s eighteen.” Adagio bit her finger. “Alright. The mirror should still be in Twilight’s castle so at least we can ask her for help.” “Alright then. We should be back in less than half an hour if I tell Twilight we have a time limit.” “Adagio and Sunset through the looking glass then.” Grounded DiplomacyHope Spring and I sat at the booth, writing music. I’m not one for instruments, so I worked on lyrics. Hope however was fluent in note writing. The entire time we’ve been working she’s been writing in music notes. For a dream, she is pretty impressive. “I’ll never understand how to read those things.” I say. “Took me a good four months before I finally got it down. I had a good teacher though.” “Nice. Sorry I can’t be make lyrics for some of the other songs you got here. I guess I’ll have to hear them some time.” “It’s alright, your lyrics have been helping me make some new music ideas. Your taste in music is very… random though.” “I hear a song and if I like it, I like it. No matter the genre. Some bands I like more of their music than others, but most of the music I have I don’t even know who made it.” “Ha, wow. You might just be the biggest oddball I’ve ever met, and when you live in ponyville that’s saying something.” “From what you’ve told me it seems almost like that’s an honor.” “You freak.” “Did I ever claim to be normal?” “Fair enough.” “So what do you think we should call this one?” “From the lyrics, I say we should call it, Foalhood Wonderland.” “I like that. Especially given- OUCH!” I yelled as a sudden, hard, yet familiar pinch grabbed my ear and dragged me across the floor. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!” It finally stopped. Whatever that was dragged me to the front door of the restaurant. I looked up and saw what I can only describe as pony versions of my mothers… Wait a minute? “Moms?” “Dazz,” Momma Sunset spoke. That’s her voice! “We told you to keep away from the statue. So why did you disobey your mothers?” I gulped. I haven’t heard her speak in that tone of voice much, but I fear it more than death. “I uh… uh…” “Leave him alone.” Hope’s voice cut in. “He’s a full grown stallion. Mothers or not, he has to live his life!” “Look filly, Dazz maybe an adult in Equestria, but he’s from Earth.” Hope looked rather shocked at that, I just was just confused. “He’s still a minor there, so but out of my parenting!” “Sunset!” I looked up and saw Princess Twilight. “I know you’re mad, but that’s no reason to yell at somepony!” “He disobeyed us Twilight, and he’s breaking your law right now. I knew we should have walled up the portal.” “Wait,” Hope cut in again. “You and your spouse,” Mamma Adagio is here!? I looked around a bit and saw mamma Adagio’s hair sticking out behind mamma Sunset. Whenever I was lost in a store I just looked for her hair. “You both are from Equestria, right? You’re Sunset Shimmer and Adagio Dazzle.” “Yeah, so?” “Then what law is being broken here. From what Equestrian law states, parents who are born in Equestria that have a child out of the Kingdom also have their foals made legal citizens of Equestria by law. And since Earth has similar laws, Dazz is a citizen of both Equestria and Earth.” I have never been more confused in my life. Is this even a dream, that ear pinch mamma Sunset… somehow, felt way too real. Speaking of mamma Sunset her jaw was practically on the floor in shock. I haven't seen her this surprised since she got a twenty dollar raise from the district. “Mind if I ask a question.” I spoke, getting everyone's attention. “What the actual heck is going on right now?” I ask as I get up. It’s tricky when you’re on all fours. “First I wake up in what looks like a five year old girl’s imagination threw up, no offense, then I realise everything here is like those stories you used to tell me when I was little, now I’m confused as all hell. Am I dreaming or am I awake and all this is real?” “It’s real Dazzling Sun.” Princess Twilight spoke. “You don’t know-” “I wanna hear it from my mothers.” I walked up to them. Both of them looked scared… of me… “Mamma Adagio, mamma Sunset, is this all real?” They both looked at eachother for a bit, that mental communication thing couples have when they really know each other. “Dazz” Mamma Adagio finally spoke. “This is all real, all those stories we told you are true. Earth and Equestria are parallel worlds.” I took a deep breath. “Alright then… so how grounded am I?” “Wait, we just confirmed all those childhood stories true for you, and that’s your first response?” Mamma Adagio said. “Like you weren’t gonna punish me after this anyway.” “Sunset, Twilight, Can we talk?” mamma Adagio asked. Mamma Sunset and Twilight nodded confusingly then all three walked into the restaurant I was, I’m gonna guess, magically, dragged out of. “You’re… taking this rather well Dazz?” Hope said. Right, almost forgot she’s still here. “Believe me, when I get home I’m gonna hop in bed and not wake up till my alarm rings. Maybe hit Sugarcube Corner and drink milkshakes til I act drunk.” Hope chuckled at that. “In all seriousness though, I was expecting my first day at school to be dull and rather uneventful. I just hope my parents don’t actually start homeschooling me because of this.” “Same, I really want to see you again. You’re a good friend.” “You’re my only friend.” “... Wait, really!?” “Yeah. Having both parents work in the school system, and being a social outcast makes having friends hard. Hey, when my mom said I was from Earth, you looked surprised, what do you know about Earth?” “Well, about sixteen years ago, Equestria and our parallel world Earth started some… small negotiations. Mostly it was just with the town the other end of the portal opened in. It was going well. Earth was always in need of materials and crop, and Equestria was obsessed with Earth's Tech, and anime.” I tried with all my strength not to laugh at that last part. “Everything was going really well, until, well, Ponyville. A horde of demons from Tartarus broke out, and some made it through the portal. Since they fed on fear, just being there gave them strength. They caused some major damage to that town on Earth. Then your worlds government got involved and to keep Equestria safe, it was decided to shut the portal down… for good. Save for the fact it opens every thirty moons on it’s own. Least that’s what they teach you in secondary school.” “I guess Earth’s government isn’t totally trustworthy anyway.” “Not just that. A thousand or so years ago, when Princess Luna was banished to the moon, without the Elements of Harmony to defend us, we started banishing monsters to other worlds… Including your mother Adagio, and two others.” Now my jaw was on the floor. “But, mamma Adagio isn’t a monster. She looks like any other pony here. And back home she’s the most gentle person you’d ever meet!” “I can see that she is, now! But before… She almost caused Equestria to crumble underneath itself.” I felt hurt. I know my mother damnit! Yet the people here say she’s a monster!? “I want to hear her say what’s true and what’s not!” “Dazz! I’m not calling your mom a monster, but she did do bad things a long time ago. A looooonnnnnnggggggg time ago.” “She’s only in her forties.” “Dazz, remember when I said over a thousand years ago Equestria was banishing villains to Earth?” I nodded. “She’s a siren, she is over a thousand years old.” “...” ERROR. ERROR. Dazzling Sun.exe has stopped functioning. “That’s impossible! Does she look over a thousand years old to you!?” “Dark magic does more than just corrupt the user, how do you think creatures like monsters and demons live so long?” “... I am sooooo having a talk with my moms when we get home.” * * * My moms said I am allowed to go back and forth between Equestria and Earth, but they’d tell me the conditions later, after school. My first day of highschool and I paid absolutely no attention to any of the classes. I just kept thinking about what my mothers were going to tell me about this… world hopping, and I kept thinking of questions to ask them. It’s not like the first day of school actually teaches you stuff, it’s mostly what to expect from your classes and getting used to the new environment. Finally the time came for school to let out, and the car ride home was quiet. My family hasn't been this quiet since uncle Flash died. We got home, the apartment my mother Sunset has owned/rented since her highschool days. It’s the perfect size for a family of two parents and one child. We all sat in the living room. Mamma Adagio and I on the couch and mamma Sunset on the reclining chair aunt Sonata gave her when I was ten. We all just sat there for some time. Looking at each other. “... So,” I say, breaking the silence. “What’s the verdict?” “Well,” Mamma Sunset spoke. “You are allowed to go to Equestria, so long as you come back before nine, set your phone to remind you of this Dazz. You are also getting this.” Mamma Sunset pulled out an odd, thick, cloth bound book. It had the image of the Wondercolts statue burned onto it. “This, is a very special book. That friend of yours in Equestria, Hope Spring, Twilight gave her one similar to this. I had something like this a long time ago. This book is magic, it will allow you two to talk to one another. Just write out what you want to say on the pages and a copy of the sentence will appear in her book in Equestria.” “And it works?” “Yes, This was actually meant for you. Then… events happened.” “The demons?” Mamma Sunset looked surprised. “How did you?” “Hope told me a few things.” “I see. Yes, fear demons attacked Earth. A few people even… died… Anyway, this book also acts like a key for the portal when it’s not open on it’s own. Just have this with you when you want to enter Equestria and exit and the portal will open.” Mom gave me the book, my initials were sewed into the cover. “Don’t lose it, Dazz. Promise me.” “I promise. Anything else?” “Yes, Hope is going to act as your… overseer whenever you’re in Equestria. That’s why she has the other book.” “Alright… I actually have a few questions for you both.” “What is it Dazz?” Mamma Adagio said. “... Is is true?” “What?” “Hope said Equestria used to banish… monsters here… were you-” I stopped mid sentence when I looked at mamma Adagio, she was facing the floor and tears were dripping down like a leaking pipe. “Mom…” “D… Dazz… I…. It’s true. Your aunts… Sonata, Aria and I… we did horrible things. Me more than the both of them put together…” “It was the pendants Adagio, not you.” Mamma Sunset said. Pendants? “But I WAS in control when I… When I…” Mamma Adagio broke, mamma Sunset and I grabbed her into a hug. She was like a wolf howling. Loud, sad cries with a river of tears to follow. I felt like shit. I made her remember those horrible things. This though, her crying… a monster doesn’t regret like this. They don’t regret period. We were like this for a few hours. Mamma Adagio eventually settled down. “Sorry-” “No, mom. I’m sorry. I made you remember those things you regret doing.” “Dazz, the reason we are so overprotective of you is because our mistakes have carried over to you.” I was confused again, mamma Sunset noticed this. “Dazz,” She said. “Your mother and I both used dark magic, that doesn't ever truly leave you after It's 'gone’, it's always there, forever. When you were five, we had Twilight test you to see if any dark magic was in you. The results were positive. If you get angry enough, sad enough, go through something horrible, it will awaken. It's why we did everything to keep you happy after Flash died.” “So that's why you broke the bank taking me to every amusement park from here to Florida?” “Yeah.” Mamma Adagio said. “Twilight actually helped us with that. Gold is one of the few things that goes through the portal without changing. Is there anything else?” “There is one. If mamma Adagio is over a thousand years old, is that why your nickname for her is Queen Cougar?” Mamma Sunset blushed cherry red while mamma Adagio laughed loud enough to break glass. “D, Dazz!” “Yes Dazz, that's actually why.” Mamma Adagio admitted. “It's also why my nickname for her is Little Pup.” Thud. Mamma Sunset hit the floor. “You two are EVIL!” Mamma Adagio and I just laughed. “And you're grounded for three months.” “What!? … Okay, fair enough. I'm going to bed. Night Mamma Adagio, night… Little Pup.” “GO TO YOUR ROOM!!” Yeah, that probably got me another week at least. Totally worth it though! Second Day of SchoolThe Second day of school. The day some classes start giving notes, most others still let you adjust. I had a hard time focusing. I kept thinking about the end of school, to get to go back to Equestria. I wasn’t entirely sure why I was, but something about being in Equestria just felt… calming. I looked up to the clock. Ten Fifteen. Nearly the middle of the day, I need to start focusing. “And so class.” The teacher said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “As of today, it will be known that every friday will be a testing day, a practice test will be given every wednesday, as homework, and turned in thursday. Notebooks will be turned into me before the test begins, and yes I will be grading you on your notes. They will be graded on organization, clarity, and every new set of notes must be titled and dated or points will be deducted. “Now, I know what you all are thinking, and no I have not lost my mind and I am not the worst teacher ever, this is for your benefit. I’ve had students pass my classes by the bare minimum because they took good notes. I will give you every opportunity to pass my class, it’s up to you if you wish to take advantage of it. I don’t want to hear any ‘But Mr. Grade Point…’, simply put, you are all only four years from becoming legal adults, so you’ll have to start acting like adults. You all didn’t get put in my Advanced Mathematics class for being lazy. I expect the best from you class.” The bell rang and we all left. I haven’t let my journal out of my sight since last night. Hope wrote to me before school started, asking me when I’d be over. I haven’t been able to reply yet, plus by now she’s at work and busy. I’m not actually going to Equestria til an hour or so after school ends, so nobody will see me and I can get all my homework done. Yes, second day of school and I already have homework. Next class was History, maybe I can sneak a message to- “Ack.” I said as I was suddenly thrown against the hallway wall. “Well if it isn’t the golden boy of the school.” Fuck this asshole. “Been a while Dazz.” I looked towards the source of the voice. Guild. Neon green, purple haired jack has been messing with me since we were kids. “Thought you got sent to juvy?” I say. I noticed he was wearing a blue jeans jacket over his shirt, that’s new from the last time I saw him. “Judge looked over the files and since there’s was no solid evidence of my involvement in the graffiti I got off scot free.” He grabbed me by the arm. “So what’s my good pal been up to?” “Stuff a neanderthal like you can’t understand.” I ducked down as Guild’s fist swung at me. His fist hit the wall, taking advantage of his shock, and obvious pain, I bolted. “You prick!” He always falls for that trick. Every. Single. Time. My moms know about him and they are the only ones he’s actually afraid of. Why that is is beyond me. Then again, given the light upon their darker pasts I think they might have done something to him. “You're a dead man!” He yelled at me as I jumped down the staircase to the cafeteria and ran into the kitchen. I hid behind one of the giant ovens in the kitchen. The kitchen door burst open. “Come on out Dazz, we both know I’ll find you eventually.” His footsteps were way on the other side of the room. “Just make this easy and- Gah!” THUD. “Now, what did I tell y’all about messing with your cousin like that, Apple Guild?” Aunt Applejack’s voice sounded, cueing me to reveal myself. She had Guild face planted on the floor, sitting on his back. Oh yeah, I didn’t mention that Guild is my cousin. Applejack’s brother Big Mac and my aunt Aria got married not long after my moms did. Guild and I were born a month apart. “It’s like you enjoy spending your weekends and free time after school doing extra chores around the orchard. Oh, hi Dazz.” “Thanks aunt Applejack.” “What’s family for if not help’n? I’ll be sure to tell his mom, dad, and big sis about this one.” Applejack got close to Guild’s ear. And yelled. “Ya darn idjit! You barely got out of doing juvie time and ya pull a stunt like this! You’re an Apple! WE AIN”T CRIMINALS! Dazz, you scoot along now, alright.” “Thanks Aunty.” I walked out of there with a smile on my face. Ever since aunt AJ decided to work other jobs after aunt Applebloom took over Sweet Apple Acres and made it a mass production farm, my time dealing with my ass of a cousin has been sooooo easy. “I SAID CALL ME GUILD AUNT-” Wack! “GAH!” Soooooo much easier. The rest of the day was rather uneventful. Other than seeing Guild working with aunt Applejack serving lunch, hairnet with an apron to match. Gotta say, he sure can make a good milkshake. I made sure he was gone when school let out, thank you aunt AJ for being handy with a lasso. I’m just finishing up my homework in the library now, my mom Adagio looking up at me from the computer every so often. “So,” She said. “Applejack told me about Apple Guild.” “Why do you think I ran to the cafeteria?” I say, smiling. Mom just chuckled. “I swear, I think he’s the first bad apple in the Apple Family.” “I think you might be right about that.” “Maybe we should have gotten him tested too.” “Say what?” I say, all attention on my work now gone. “Remember when we told you about how you have dark magic in you that might affect you under circumstances?” I nodded. “Well, when Aria was having Apple Guild, we figured we didn’t need to test him with how Silver Dust turned out, we did test Sonata’s kids and they were clean. I’m just glad we decided to keep Equestria a secret from him.” “Good idea. God know’s what he could do with magic.” “Oh, don’t worry. He’s not a unicorn.” “Wait, what? How do you know that?” “Aria in Equestria is a Pegasus, Big Mac’s counterpart over there is an earth pony. Both their families are pure blooded of their respective races. He can only be an Earth Pony or a Pegasus.” “So I took after mamma Sunset in the race department?” “Yes, it’s also why you’re so smart. Unicorns, and this is fact, not a stereotype, are known for being above average in intelligence, save the few… two percent that sometimes come out… less than average.” “Oh. So what about The Pegasus or Earth Ponies?” “Pegasus, they tend to be thinner and smaller than other ponies. Lets them be faster and much more aerodynamic when flying. Earth ponies are much stronger than others, even if they don’t look it.” “Like aunt AJ?” “Exactly.” “Huh. Good to know.” Looking back at my homework, I was glad to see only one problem was left… except for the fact that I’m not that good at history. What was Columbus’s three ship called? Crap… Well, least I’m in the library… I wonder. “Mom?” “Yes?” “You’re… over a thousand years old, right?” “Yes, why? Thinking of how many candles for my birthday cake?” “Ha. No, um… how many events in history did you… live through?” “Regrettably Aria, Sonata and I did cause some major historical events, but when we first got banished here the year was, well, today people call it six hundred BC.” I looked at her in complete shock. My mom’s HOW OLD!? “Dark magic has very few benefits Dazz. Never aging is one of them.” “Alright… First off that’s a lot of candles, secondly, did you know Christopher Columbus?” “Psst. That smug bastard owed me money and never payed me back. Back then Aria, Sonata and I managed to acquire a large wealth and lived among royals. Besides the crown paying the journey, several royals paid him in either supplies or gold. Gave that S-O-B thousands.” “Why didn’t he pay you back?” “His family got into some court issues that lasted generations. Man we had money back then… I actually wonder if any of my stashes are still around?” “Stashes?” “We knew we’d outlive everyone around us, meaning we’d have to move away for at least a hundred years, before returning there, and we’d still be moving during that century. So we never needed to beg, or steal, we hid gold and other valuables before we’d move. Among other things we figured be worth something after so long. Back then we only needed to sing a little, cause a ruckus somewhere and feed off the negativity. But we had to keep an appearance as normal, we’de dig up enough to keep us my til we got jobs, then collect a few more things over the years to bury with the rest of the stash in that area.” “Wow, speaking of Christopher Columbus, what were the names of his ships?” “The Nina, The Pinta and The Santa Maria. Why?” I quickly jotted down the names under the question. Shoved my things into my bag and got up and hugged my mom. “Thaksmombebacksoon!” I said, rather blurted, then ran for the portal. I stopped just in front of it before running in. I placed a hand through it and it went in. Good, does work. And jumped in. I flew out of the other end of the portal, almost slamming into the wall in front of me. Trodeal was there waiting for me. “Took your time alien boy.” “Har, har. What are you doing here?” “I was reassigned to keep watch her til you came through. Hope’s at work, but she’s getting off around now so you better hoof it. And remember, treat her right or I’ll break your legs.” “We're just friends dude.”
Prologue: Childhood FantasyMotherhood is hard no matter how one goes about it. Even when there’s two mothers looking after a child the work is tiring. Adagio Dazzle and Sunset Shimmer learned that lesson the hard way. Years ago the two started off as bitter enemies, both from a world of magic and power. Sunset encountered Adagio again some years later after their first battle and defeated her a second time. This time however, she learned her rival was not a heartless, ruthless, siren. No, Adagio Dazzle was a heartbroken, fragile, broken pony that did bad things that just kept getting worse. For thousands of years she used dark magic to suppress her guilt of her past deeds. When her source of dark magic was taken she, to the surprise of all, was taken in by the one she tried to hurt the most. Adagio healed, after over a thousand years, she was healed, but the scars were still there, rooted deep within her mind. Even after all her sins she was given forgiven, and given the only thing she ever wanted in life, a child. Dazzling Sun, her and Sunset Shimmer’s son. Adagio wasn’t able to conceive a child, so she asked Sunset for an egg. As one would expect, Dazzling Sun was born looking very much like Sunset Shimmer, except, his hair was Adagio’s, exact match in color and pattern. This caught the mothers by surprise, until a mutual friend from Equestria claimed responsibility. Potions are magic too. Ever since their son’s birth the two mothers have never been happier. And they tell him stories, stories of Equestria. But they keep them as that, stories. “And once Nightmare Moon was defeated, and turned back into princess Luna, the Elements of Harmony celebrated, with the goddess of the sun and moon finally working together to move the sun and moon across Equestria’s sky. Harmony was returned to the land, but that was just the first journey of many.” As Sunset Shimmer closed the book, which bore a familiar yellow sun, she was met by a pair of small eyes poking out under bed sheets. Dazzling Sun looked like his mother Sunset in many ways, they had the same skin color, the same eyes, but his hair was all Adagio, including its volume. His hair almost towered over the headboard of his bed. “Mama, how can anyone be as nerdy as Twilight?” Sunset held back a witty retort, he’d been spending too much time with his cousin Silver Dust. “Because she studied hard and gave all her work everything her all. I studied hard and gave all my work my all. Is mommy nerdy?” “Nu-uh, you’re cool smart. Twilight is dork smart.” Definitely need to ask Aria to watch what Silver Dust tells Dazz. “Thank you baby. But remember, just because someone’s a little nerdy doesn’t make it right to call them that.” “I know, auntie Sonata gave Silver Dust and I a lessch… a lessker…” “A lecture sweetheart?” “Yeah.” Three years old and it’s so cute when he can’t pronounce his words right. I wish he can always stay like this. Even though I do need to help him get over that, don’t want him going to school with improper speech. Sunset thought. Motherhood had changed her for the better, and very few dared mess with Dazz. Even though they were broken, the dark magic of the pendants is still attached to Adagio. When she was pregnant, Adagio had an anger mood swing where her skin turned to scales and both eyes went red. Thankfully a gallon of chocolate ice cream made her happy before anything bad happened. Same went for Sunset, Discord the janitor pushed one button too many and she she-demoned up. It was the first time he quit without a grand event. “So how’s your reading and writing been going?” “Mama Adagio say’s I’m doing good, but when I write it doesn’t look like how she writes.” “Everyone has unique handwriting Dazz. You just need to develop your own, readable, style. Everyone has trouble at first.” “Even you?” “Especially me.” Compared to how Twilight writes as a human, I’m a child and she’s John Hancock, At Least, before I got it down. “Wow, so if I work hard and be a nerd like you I can be good at writing?” Sunset snickered. Childhood innocence was truly a wonderful thing. “Yes Dazz, be a nerd like me and you can do anything you try to be.” “There’s never enough nerds for a family.” Sunset and Dazz looked over at the bedroom entrance and there stood the orange and yellow haired mother of mothers, Adagio. “Mama!” Dazz ran out of his bed, surprising Sunset with his speed, and grabbed his mother into the strongest hug his three year old body could conjure. “You’re home!” Adagio happily replied with a slightly stronger hug. “I know baby. Work has been horrible. Too many seniors keep turning in their books late and it all piles up. That and your mama Sunset won’t let mama me have a co-worker in the library.” “I’ve talked to the district! They keep claiming the recession is to blame but their just stingy!” “They’re s...ss…. Stinky?” Dazzling Sun asked with a look of confusion only a three year old can pull off. Adagio laughed. “Yeah, mama Sunset’s bosses are stinky.” “Yes, that’s about right.” Sunset added. Not bothering to correct Dazzling’s error. “Sunset, can you wait for me in the kitchen? I’ll finish tucking in Dazz.” “Sure thing.” Sunset made her way out of the room and Adagio lifted Dazz up and placed him into bed, covered him with his sheets, and kissed him on the forehead. “Did mama Sunset tell you another story about Equestria?” “Yeah. My favorite character has the same name as auntie Pinkie Pie.” “Well, it’s an old story so we did use names that most likely aren't the original ones.” There it was, a sting, a sharp pain that a mother feels when she lies to her child. Events had happened before Dazzling Sun’s birth that lead the whole town to decide to leave any stories about Equestria were to remain just that, stories. “How old is it?” “Not sure exactly. It's been told for a long time and sometimes people forget things or details get mixed up and lost.” “Awww. Good night mommy.” Adagio gave a soft, warm smile to Dazzling sun as she picked up Sunset Shimmer’s book. “Sweet dreams honey.” “Love you.” “Love you too Dazz.” As Adagio dropped to the couch, she felt a cold, wet metal touch the side of her face. “Lemon Ice Tea.” Sunset spoke. Adagio took the canned drink and took several large gulps. “I hate the end of the school year. They stress the staff about as much as the seniors.” “Yeah, I had several students in my office today crying cause they were on the edge of pass or fail.” “That’s sad. I’m glad highschool didn’t exist when I was a teenager.” “You’re one of the few people on this world that can say that and have it actually true.” “I’m the source off all the old people jokes.” Adagio and Sunset gave a small laugh. “In all seriousness though, anyone uses me in an old people joke, 100 percent true.” “It’s okay Adagio, I know I married a cougar.” Forcing herself to swallow what would have been a spit take, A painful gulp came from Adagio, followed by a coughing fit. After a minute, Adagio gave Sunset a spiteful glare. “Oh my god you’re right. I’m the queen of all cougars!” Sunset burst into laughter. Adagio followed, then silenced Sunset with a breathtaking kiss. After several seconds she moved away to let Sunset breath. “At least I found a nice puppy.” “Well, this ‘puppy’ is wondering what Twilight sent through the portal after the ‘Queen of Cougars’ got off work.” Adagio sat next to Sunset. Her expression had changed to a saddened one. “The sample we sent her came back positive. Dazz has dark magic in him from both of us. The letter said it was small though, he’d have to go through a traumatic experience for it to manifest in any way.” Tears streamed down Adagio’s cheeks. “I hate this. Our mistakes could affect our son’s life. He shouldn’t suffer, he’s innocent.” Sunset grabbed Adagio, letting her soak her shirt in tears. “It’s like you said, he has to be traumatised for anything to show up. We just need to make sure he never has an experience like that.” “How? One day we won’t be able to parent him anymore. He’ll be an adult and we both know life can be cruel.” “Then we make sure to raise him right so he can avoid that. We made bad choices, and I’d sooner re-attempt multidimensional take over than see our son make a horrible choice.” “Yeah. Think we can pull it off?” “We’ve got friends, family, and each other. If that’s not enough to raise one child right then we messed up big time.” “Think he’ll be able to sing? After the pendants broke my voice was shot but he’s both our son, might have gotten your singing voice.” “Maybe, if he does I hope he doesn’t ask me to be his manager. I had enough of that for a lifetime.” “Name one band or singer with their mother as their manager.” “True enough. I wonder how awkward it will be for him having both his mothers working at the high school he’ll be going to when it comes to that.” “We do what any parents would do in our eventual position, we embarrass him the way only mothers can.” “Sounds good.”
Dreaming RealityFourteen, last month I turned fourteen and realized how much I’d changed in my life. Most people, like myself, look at a mirror to see the changes that happened over the course of a summer vacation. My normally huge orange hair was cut so it only looked like a small afro, my skin was darker orange that resembled one of my mothers. I had my favorite shirt on with it’s custom design, a sun with a music note filling in the center. I had grown taller over the summer, that much I noticed while looking into the mirror. They say the older you get the faster time goes, they’re right. Just two months ago I was in middle school and now I’m going to be a highschool freshmen. This is a perfectly justifiable reason to be nervous, but there's one other issue… Knock, knock, knock. “Come on honey, it’s your first day at high school and your mother and I need to get to work early. We wanna give you a tour of the place!” My mother, Adagio, said from the other side of the bathroom door. That’s also my second concern. My mom, Adagio, is the librarian, and my other mom, Sunset Shimmer, is the principal. The principal! Anything I do she’ll know! “In a minute mom.” There has got to be a way to deal with this. I love my mothers, honestly, but no child wants their parents at school and for the other students to find out. I took a deep breath. Well, not like I had much of a social life anyway. I opened the door and was blinded by a camera flash. “So handsome.” My mother, Sunset, said. “Mom, it’s the first day of high school, not graduation or anything like that.” “Still, your mothers are old and pictures will help us remember as the years go by.” “You two aren’t that old, there’s no grey hairs visible.” “Aww, fourteen and can’t even give a good fake comment. You’re still a baby.” Mama Adagio said. “I’m fourteen.” “And you’ll always be our baby. Now get to the car, your mom and I will be there soon. Oh, and stay away from the statue in front of the school, it’s… being cleaned and the chemicals sting.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” I said as I headed towards the door. Canterlot high school, been here since before my parents were born. Just about all of my family went here at one time or another. It never changed, at least that’s what my moms said when they went here. Overall it looks like any typical highschool, except for the Wonder Colt statue in front. Mama Sunset said no one’s really sure when that was built but it’s become almost a landmark for the school. My moms always used to be nervous when they’d take me to work with them and I’d play around on it. I liked to pretend I was a cowboy riding off for adventure. “Alright Dazz, you can wait either with your mother Adagio in the library or have a look around. Classes start in two hours, don’t be late, you’ll make your mama’s look bad.” Mama Sunset said. “Alright mom, I’ll have a look around. Might see something I missed the last hundred times I was here.” As mama Sunset and Adagio went into the school my eyes fell upon the statue, I know mom said it was being cleaned and probably had some strong chemicals on it, but at least once more, while there’s literally no one around for at least an hour or more. For old times sake, and not just because I’m a big kid. As I stood in front of the statue, something felt… off. I can’t describe it, but the reflective surface on the statue’s base just seems different for some reason. Ah, whatever, probably just nerves. I grabbed the top of the statue's base and set a foot onto the base for support, only for my foot to go right through it. “What the!?” I yelled as my grip on the base’s top slipped and I fell into the statue base. Everything became a dizzy, spinning, rainbow vortex. “WHAT KIND OF CLEANING PRODUCTS DO THIS!?” I yelled as my vision began to go black. Ouch. My everything was sore. Must have hit my head, my body doesn’t feel right. Are my eyes closed? Everything seems dark. I blinked a few times and the darkness didn’t leave. Nope, it’s just dark. Wait, it was morning when I… The statue.... There’s no way I fell into it, is there? No, no. Maybe I just fell off of the statue and hit my head, now I’m dreaming… Why is my dream dark though…. I wonder… “Light.” I spoke. Nothing happened for a few moments. Well, it’s not one of those dreams, so what kinda dream is this? I tried to stand up, only to fall flat on my face. Damn what’s wrong with my arms, feels like I don’t even have any fingers. My legs don’t feel right either. What kind of concussion induced dream is this? ”This is the only room we haven't searched yet.” ”I still say the alarm’s on the fritz again.” Muffled voices? “Hello?” ”Someone’s in here!” A loud bang and a sudden burst of blinding light happened simultaneously, the noise didn’t bother me but the light did. “Shit, that’s bright!” “What are you doing here?! How did you get in here!?” One of the voices, now clear, yelled. “I woke up here!” I yelled back. My eyes started to adjust to the light. Even for a dream, what I saw was weird. In front of me were two… ponies? One had a horn on it’s head and the other looked like any other horse. They both had blue coats and wore white armor. “The fuck?” “He might have been teleporting in his sleep sir, it’s normal for colts his age.” The pony without a horn said. “True, must be really good at magic to teleport in here. Where are you from kid?” “... Canterlot city?” I replied. “You teleported all the way from Canterlot!?” The one with the horn spoke. “Must be from Celestia’s school then.” The other pony replied. “We’ll let you slid but you have to talk with Princess Twilight first.” Princess Twilight? Wait, that name’s from those stories my moms used to tell me. Right, every character was a pony. I hit my head so hard I’m dreaming about stories I haven’t thought about in years. Pretty realistic dream, hope I wake up before either of my moms find me. “Alright but I… need some help walking.” “Sure, teleporting from that far away must have exhausted you.” The horned pony spoke. As they helped me up, I noticed how reflective the floor was, I saw myself as a pony, My crazy hair was somehow bigger than it was before this... dream, my skin was covered in a light orange coat. My head looked weird with a horn sticking out through my hair… or is it a mane? I looked funny, If it wasn’t for the oddly extreme realism of this dream I’d be having a bit more fun with all of this.
A FriendPrincess Twilight’s throne room was beyond words. In the stories my mothers told me, it was mostly described as magic crystals that sparkled even in darkness, that was an understatement. It even had the six thrones for all of the elements of harmony. Damn, my brain kept all this in my head somewhere? My moms were right, I am a big kid. Princess Twilight herself seemed the be slightly preoccupied with papers though, she gave, seemingly timed, glances at me before looking back at whatever was on those papers. “Are you a student at Celestia’s school?” She asked, looking at the papers. “Uhh, no?” I reply confused. Celestia’s school? I knew the principal before my mom was named Celestia but… Right, dream. Still hope I wake up from this before anyone comes to school and sees me. “To teleport this distance, even if it was a surge, is impressive. You might want to enroll. The guards told me you were from canterlot, strange that a unicorn isn’t enrolled. Being born a unicorn practically grants enrollment form birth. You in Secondary school then?” “Yes? Today is actually supposed to be my first day.” “Secondary school started a month ago, you home schooled?” She looked up from her papers, looking slightly confused. “Yes?” I feel like I’m lying, but this is a dream so is it bad? Also, A month ago? Glad reality school doesn’t start that early. “That makes sense as to why you’re not in Celestia’s school then. Do you know how to get home from the train station?” She asked, eyes falling back onto the papers. “No, I’ve never been to the train station.” That’s half true. Given dream logic… Actually, save for movies and books I’ve never seen a train in real life. But the half true part was that I don’t even know where the train station is in reality. I only know a few places. “Hmm.” She noised as she wrote something down on the paper she was reading. “I don’t think it will be too hard to find your parents, who are most likely worried about you, I’ll just need a photo to send the the royal guard in Canterlot and they can do a search of all homeschooled students in secondary school. Now, what’s your name?” “Oh, Dazzling Sun.” “Alright then, until we find your parents I’ll have one of the guards escort you around the castle or Ponyville. Since this if your first time away from home this can be a good learning and social experience for you.” “Great.” I say dryly. “I’d handle this more personally, but I’m behind on paperwork. I hope your parents are found. We should have word in an hour or so. Till then, Trodeal will be the guard looking out for you for the time being.” I looked over and the guard pony without a horn nodded. So that’s his name. Who thought up that name? “Thank you.” “It’s my duty… also, you have not been formal in the slightest since seeing me. I like that.” “It’s most likely because I’m more confused now than I have been since I was an annoying two year old.” She chuckled. “To be young and curious. Enjoy Ponyville Dazzling Sun, and do visit again.” As me and my guard were leaving I heard the princess say one more thing. “Why is his name familiar?” * * * “So this is your first time in the outside world kid?” Trodeal asked me. “I've never seen buildings this… colorful before.” I replied. Looking around, the town and the ponies look like a color wheel threw up on them. “Yeah. Ponyville's population is majority mare so expect lots of pink. So who are your parents?” “My mothers, one is a school principal and the other is the school librarian.” “Oh, you have two mothers. Bet they never let you get away with anything as a foal.” “You can say that again. Closest thing I had to a father figure was my Uncle Flash, and he’s always off seas somewhere.” “Which mom was he related to?” “Neither. He’s just been a friend of my mothers since High, er, Secondary school.” I correct myself, remembering some of what princess Twilight said. “He used to date my mother Sunset but he broke it off.” “So one of your mothers swings both ways.” Trodeal says in a tone that rubbed me wrong. “You know that armor of yours doesn’t protect what’s between your hind legs.” “Relax kid, I’m just teasin. Besides, only one mare was meant for me and she passed a long time ago.” “I’m sorry to hear that.” “She left me one thing though. A little filly, has her mane, attitude, and stubbornness.” “You’re a father?” “Yes, and I’ll remind you you’re not wearing armor.” “Two mothers, remember? I’d be insulting them if I was anything less than a gentleman.” “They raised you right. I find it funny that your parents work in a school and your homeschooled.” “Y… yeah. Odd. They’re just protective. Where are we going exactly?” “My daughter works as a singer at a local dinner theater, or whatever it’s called. You are gonna sit at a table, enjoy the music, and eat whatever thirty bits will buy you. And from the prices on food there, you can make it stretch all day.” “And what are you gonna do?” “Say hi to my little girl and then go fill out the paperwork your case is building up. And I’ll be checking in every so often so don’t wonder off and get lost.” “Alright.” The ‘dinner theater’ Trodeal’s daughter works at was actually a club. Not A Nightclub, it was called. Weird name honestly, but it could be weirder. Trodeal sat me at a table in the middle of the dining area, a good view of the stage. A waiter gave me a menu before I even sat down. The crowd was fair, but they barely filled the tables. Trodeal left and the lights dimmed. The curtains on stage opened and a mare was on stage, next to her was an electric keyboard. Her coat color was the same as Trodeal’s, a dark leaf green, but her mane and tail was a curly Lapis Lazuli color. She had wings too. She pressed a button on the keyboard and music started to play. It had a good beat, but it was coming from the keyboard's built in speaker, so the quality was… less than what it deserved. My attention turned to the mare when she tapped the mic in front of her and started singing. In this place, this town, I’ve called my home. Lies a secret, magic, it’s very old. Just outside, through the trees of the Everfree. The Elements of Harmony. Laughter, Kindness, Honesty, Generosity and Loyalty. Kept together with Magic, the ties that bond our hearts. We live in peace thanks to these six brave souls. Equestria’s strength comes from within our hearts Rivaled only by cruel destiny. The rulers of the moon and sun dance across our stars. So close yet so very far. Even if everything turns dark, we still have the Spark. In this town, this place I’ve called my home. I would have clapped if I had hands, a few other ponies here smacked their hooves together, making a clap like sound. She took a bow, which looked weird to me since she was a pony, and got off the stage. “May I take your order sir?” I looked over and saw another pony, mare, with a yellow mane and orange coat. “Oh, uh. What do you recommend?” “We have a delicious hay burger and grass fries,” Nope, bad brain. Why the horse jokes with food? “We also have a fruit salad served with a glass of tea.” “I’ll have that then.” “Alright sir. Also since you look new here I’m inclined to tell you about the pay upfront rule.” “Too many people left without paying?” I ask. “Yeah, I know the rule sucks but the manager won't argue about it.” “It’s alright. So how much?” “Six bits.” That is cheap. I count out six of the gold coins Trodeal said we're bits. I found it funny how they were small gold coins. They had simple designs. A horse shoe on one side and a leaf on the other. “Thank you.” She said once the money was paid and left to the kitchen. I sat at my table, just waiting for my food or the next show to start. “So you’re the lost little colt?” I looked up and Trodeal’s daughter was sitting next to me. When did she get here?! “Parent’s baby you to death city colt?” I decided to be a smart ass. “Goo, goo ga ga.” I said, making her burst into laughter. “Wow, and I thought my dad was bad.” “Least he lets you work. My moms don’t want me out too long so I’m not aloud to get a part time job.” “Now that sucks. I mean, we’re fourteen, right?” I nod in reply. “We’re legal adults damn it!” Fourteen is considered being an adult here? Now that’s just my brain being weird. When is this hyper-realistic dream gonna be over anyway? “Why do parents have to be so overprotective?” “Cause they care. If they didn’t, we might not be here right now.” She looked surprised by my statement. “You a philosopher or something?” “Nope, my mother Sunset was just very smart and I was taught from a young age.” “She must have some I.Q. So what’s your name?” “Dazzling Sun. You?” “Hope Spring. So how’d you get your cutie mark?” “My what?” “Oh come on, what kind of school teachers are your parents if you don’t even know what a cutie mark is?” “Ones the Principal and the other is the Librarian.” “That’s not any better. Did they raise you in the Everfree or something?” “No, and even if I knew what a cutie mark was I couldn’t tell you how I got it.” “A cutie mark are the images on your flank stupid.” Hope pointed at the image on my body that I failed to notice. It was the design from my favorite hoodie. It was slapped on my, quite literal, horse ass like a tattoo. “It shows what you’re best at. So, what are you best at?” Crap. How to make up an excuse for this. I don’t want my dream world to either call me crazy or crash around me at the mention of reality, even though that might also wake me up I’d rather not risk turning this place into hell. “I guess I can sing alright. I took after my mother Sunset on that even though it was my other mother Adagio who birthed me.” “Did they use a Potion of Family?” “That sounds made up.” “It’s a potion that came out like fifteen or so years ago. If two mares, your mothers, drink it, half each, if one isn’t already pregnant it will make whoever finished the bottle pregnant with a child that is both the drinkers child, genetically. If they are pregnant when drinking it the same effect applies, but similarities are less noticeable for the parent who’s not pregnant with the child. Usually, genetics are random at times.” That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard. How is my sub-consciousness even able to come up with this? “Does it work with two males?” Let's see how far this can go. “Yes, two stallions drink most of the potion and a surrogate mother finishes the rest and the baby is born related to both males.” Okay… “Is it magic or…?” “Yes. It was actually made by Princess Twilight and the zebra shamen Zecora. Supposedly, it was made for some friends of the Princess but that was never confirmed.” “Odd.” “Magic is as magic does. And by that I mean it does whatever the heck it wants. So…” “So what?” “You said you could sing. I want to hear you.” “But I haven’t sung in public before! I’d be a total wreck!” “So, everypony goes through that. Can’t get over it if you don’t face it.” Hope said as she pushed me off my seat. “Make up a song if you have to. The club does have open mic option. How else do you think I got this job?” “Fine. If I bite it up there you owe me.” “Whatever.” I walked up on stage. All the ponies in the restaurant looked at me, mostly with a confused expression, save for Hope, who was wearing a devilish smile. I am gonna wipe that smile off of her. I quickly sorted through memories for lyrical inspiration and my talk about my Uncle Flash with Trodeal was the first thing to come to mind. Flash loved it in the Air Force. Little tribute song it is. I cleared my throat and began singing. ”In the end, it is just you and I. My wings and I up in the endless sky. Even with the peace, we know what’s truth. Darkness lives, and it will run when I fly! Through the fire and the wind, I will fight for those I love! Even when I am burnt to dust, I will fly til the sun has set! Nevermore will I fear! Darkness will fall with me here, Crashing down to earth. I only wish I could, fly with the stars once more before I die.” I didn’t realize I closed my eyes while I sang. I opened them and everyone in the room had their jaws on the floor, even Hope. “I, uh. That was a tribute to my uncle.” I say shakily while getting off stage. Suddenly, despite the low numbers, a roar of yells and applause come from the small audience. Oh God help me. And I thought having my parents at school was gonna be bad, I feel embarrassed hearing them applaud like that. Call me weird, but I don’t like hearing others speak or do anything highly of me. I feel ashamed for it for some reason. I suddenly fell face first to the floor as someone hit me in the back of the head. “Damn it! I thought you would choke. Where you learn to sing like that?!” Hope’s loud voice rang into my ears. I got back up, rubbing my head. “Just always could. No one ever taught me.” “And that song! That was a tribute to your uncle?” “Yeah. He loved to fly and even loved it more at night.” “So that part at the end, he…” “Strong winds when he was flying over seas. They… only found his flight helmet.” “I’m sorry.” “It’s alright, I was little when It happened. My mothers actually gave his helmet to someone else who they thought should have it. They never said who, but If they thought they should have it then they must have meant a lot to him.” “I… sorry for putting you up there like that. On the bright side I think you impressed everyone in the club here. Got some pipes, for a stallion.” “Thanks, I think that song would be better with music in the background though.” “I still got ten or so minutes on my break, maybe I can use my keyboard to help put something together.” “Sure, I got time to kill.” The beginning of the school year was the start of a new leaf for all high school students. New teachers, new classes, new schedule. For Sunset Shimmer, it was the start of paperwork. Near endless paperwork. She felt like Adagio at the end of the school year. Many students were still being enrolled and some were transferring. “UGH! Now I know how Twilight felt after Celestia gave her royal duties.” This year, the school had more students than ever before. Shattering previous records. Knock. Knock. Knock. “Is the principal in?” Adagio’s voice spoke through the door. And it was music to Sunset’s ears. “Come on in.” She replied, smiling as her wife entered. “I wanted to ask if you’ve seen Dazz. He didn’t visit me in the library and I couldn’t find him around campus.” “He probably ran off to Sugar Cube Corner. You know how much he loves those breakfast muffins.” “But without telling us?” Adagio was a wreck with concern. To this Sunset merely rolled her eyes. Smiled. And gave Adagio a light hug. “He’s fourteen Dagi. We can’t mother him forever.” “I just wish we could.” “I think that’s a mental problem when they do that Adagio.” Adagio frowned at that pun and pushed Sunset away, who was giving a sly smile. “Oh har har Sunset. But I’m just worried. I can’t help it.” “Look, if he ran off to Sugar Cube Corner then he was seen by the surveillance cameras. I’ll just rewind the footage and if he did leave campus we’ll call him to come back soon. There’s still an hour before classes start anyway.” Sunset sat down at her desk, Adagio hovering just behind her. With a few clicks on the computer a window popped up, showing a black and white video with Sunset, Adagio, and Dazzling Sun in front of the school. Then, after Adagio and Sunset walked out of view Dazzling Sun walked over to the wonder colt statue, look around, and attempted to climb it. “Oh no!” Both mothers said as they saw their son place a foot at the base, only for his lower half to fall into the base, the rest of his body soon followed as he lost his grip and, in a flash of light, disappeared into the statue base. Falling through the portal to Equestria. “Nononononononononnonoononononononononononononononnono!” Adagio panicked. “He’s in Equestria! I knew I should have had the janitor put a fence around that damn statue!” Sunset was awe struck. Though Twilight no longer opened the portal manually, it still opened like it used to. Today was the first of the three days it would be open for, which is why they warned Dazz not to go near it. “Adagio.” Sunset said, catching her wife's attention. “We are about to do something so stupid.” Adagio gulped. “W...we’re going after him? But can’t you just use your journal?” “I can’t anymore. All the pages are full, and you can't erase anything in them cause the magic to communicate only works with ink! What was Celestia thinking when she made that?” Sunset grabbed Adagio by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. “I know neither of us has been in Equestria for years, but for our son, we can swallow our fear. And when we get back we are going to ground him til he’s eighteen.” Adagio bit her finger. “Alright. The mirror should still be in Twilight’s castle so at least we can ask her for help.” “Alright then. We should be back in less than half an hour if I tell Twilight we have a time limit.” “Adagio and Sunset through the looking glass then.”
Grounded DiplomacyHope Spring and I sat at the booth, writing music. I’m not one for instruments, so I worked on lyrics. Hope however was fluent in note writing. The entire time we’ve been working she’s been writing in music notes. For a dream, she is pretty impressive. “I’ll never understand how to read those things.” I say. “Took me a good four months before I finally got it down. I had a good teacher though.” “Nice. Sorry I can’t be make lyrics for some of the other songs you got here. I guess I’ll have to hear them some time.” “It’s alright, your lyrics have been helping me make some new music ideas. Your taste in music is very… random though.” “I hear a song and if I like it, I like it. No matter the genre. Some bands I like more of their music than others, but most of the music I have I don’t even know who made it.” “Ha, wow. You might just be the biggest oddball I’ve ever met, and when you live in ponyville that’s saying something.” “From what you’ve told me it seems almost like that’s an honor.” “You freak.” “Did I ever claim to be normal?” “Fair enough.” “So what do you think we should call this one?” “From the lyrics, I say we should call it, Foalhood Wonderland.” “I like that. Especially given- OUCH!” I yelled as a sudden, hard, yet familiar pinch grabbed my ear and dragged me across the floor. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!” It finally stopped. Whatever that was dragged me to the front door of the restaurant. I looked up and saw what I can only describe as pony versions of my mothers… Wait a minute? “Moms?” “Dazz,” Momma Sunset spoke. That’s her voice! “We told you to keep away from the statue. So why did you disobey your mothers?” I gulped. I haven’t heard her speak in that tone of voice much, but I fear it more than death. “I uh… uh…” “Leave him alone.” Hope’s voice cut in. “He’s a full grown stallion. Mothers or not, he has to live his life!” “Look filly, Dazz maybe an adult in Equestria, but he’s from Earth.” Hope looked rather shocked at that, I just was just confused. “He’s still a minor there, so but out of my parenting!” “Sunset!” I looked up and saw Princess Twilight. “I know you’re mad, but that’s no reason to yell at somepony!” “He disobeyed us Twilight, and he’s breaking your law right now. I knew we should have walled up the portal.” “Wait,” Hope cut in again. “You and your spouse,” Mamma Adagio is here!? I looked around a bit and saw mamma Adagio’s hair sticking out behind mamma Sunset. Whenever I was lost in a store I just looked for her hair. “You both are from Equestria, right? You’re Sunset Shimmer and Adagio Dazzle.” “Yeah, so?” “Then what law is being broken here. From what Equestrian law states, parents who are born in Equestria that have a child out of the Kingdom also have their foals made legal citizens of Equestria by law. And since Earth has similar laws, Dazz is a citizen of both Equestria and Earth.” I have never been more confused in my life. Is this even a dream, that ear pinch mamma Sunset… somehow, felt way too real. Speaking of mamma Sunset her jaw was practically on the floor in shock. I haven't seen her this surprised since she got a twenty dollar raise from the district. “Mind if I ask a question.” I spoke, getting everyone's attention. “What the actual heck is going on right now?” I ask as I get up. It’s tricky when you’re on all fours. “First I wake up in what looks like a five year old girl’s imagination threw up, no offense, then I realise everything here is like those stories you used to tell me when I was little, now I’m confused as all hell. Am I dreaming or am I awake and all this is real?” “It’s real Dazzling Sun.” Princess Twilight spoke. “You don’t know-” “I wanna hear it from my mothers.” I walked up to them. Both of them looked scared… of me… “Mamma Adagio, mamma Sunset, is this all real?” They both looked at eachother for a bit, that mental communication thing couples have when they really know each other. “Dazz” Mamma Adagio finally spoke. “This is all real, all those stories we told you are true. Earth and Equestria are parallel worlds.” I took a deep breath. “Alright then… so how grounded am I?” “Wait, we just confirmed all those childhood stories true for you, and that’s your first response?” Mamma Adagio said. “Like you weren’t gonna punish me after this anyway.” “Sunset, Twilight, Can we talk?” mamma Adagio asked. Mamma Sunset and Twilight nodded confusingly then all three walked into the restaurant I was, I’m gonna guess, magically, dragged out of. “You’re… taking this rather well Dazz?” Hope said. Right, almost forgot she’s still here. “Believe me, when I get home I’m gonna hop in bed and not wake up till my alarm rings. Maybe hit Sugarcube Corner and drink milkshakes til I act drunk.” Hope chuckled at that. “In all seriousness though, I was expecting my first day at school to be dull and rather uneventful. I just hope my parents don’t actually start homeschooling me because of this.” “Same, I really want to see you again. You’re a good friend.” “You’re my only friend.” “... Wait, really!?” “Yeah. Having both parents work in the school system, and being a social outcast makes having friends hard. Hey, when my mom said I was from Earth, you looked surprised, what do you know about Earth?” “Well, about sixteen years ago, Equestria and our parallel world Earth started some… small negotiations. Mostly it was just with the town the other end of the portal opened in. It was going well. Earth was always in need of materials and crop, and Equestria was obsessed with Earth's Tech, and anime.” I tried with all my strength not to laugh at that last part. “Everything was going really well, until, well, Ponyville. A horde of demons from Tartarus broke out, and some made it through the portal. Since they fed on fear, just being there gave them strength. They caused some major damage to that town on Earth. Then your worlds government got involved and to keep Equestria safe, it was decided to shut the portal down… for good. Save for the fact it opens every thirty moons on it’s own. Least that’s what they teach you in secondary school.” “I guess Earth’s government isn’t totally trustworthy anyway.” “Not just that. A thousand or so years ago, when Princess Luna was banished to the moon, without the Elements of Harmony to defend us, we started banishing monsters to other worlds… Including your mother Adagio, and two others.” Now my jaw was on the floor. “But, mamma Adagio isn’t a monster. She looks like any other pony here. And back home she’s the most gentle person you’d ever meet!” “I can see that she is, now! But before… She almost caused Equestria to crumble underneath itself.” I felt hurt. I know my mother damnit! Yet the people here say she’s a monster!? “I want to hear her say what’s true and what’s not!” “Dazz! I’m not calling your mom a monster, but she did do bad things a long time ago. A looooonnnnnnggggggg time ago.” “She’s only in her forties.” “Dazz, remember when I said over a thousand years ago Equestria was banishing villains to Earth?” I nodded. “She’s a siren, she is over a thousand years old.” “...” ERROR. ERROR. Dazzling Sun.exe has stopped functioning. “That’s impossible! Does she look over a thousand years old to you!?” “Dark magic does more than just corrupt the user, how do you think creatures like monsters and demons live so long?” “... I am sooooo having a talk with my moms when we get home.” * * * My moms said I am allowed to go back and forth between Equestria and Earth, but they’d tell me the conditions later, after school. My first day of highschool and I paid absolutely no attention to any of the classes. I just kept thinking about what my mothers were going to tell me about this… world hopping, and I kept thinking of questions to ask them. It’s not like the first day of school actually teaches you stuff, it’s mostly what to expect from your classes and getting used to the new environment. Finally the time came for school to let out, and the car ride home was quiet. My family hasn't been this quiet since uncle Flash died. We got home, the apartment my mother Sunset has owned/rented since her highschool days. It’s the perfect size for a family of two parents and one child. We all sat in the living room. Mamma Adagio and I on the couch and mamma Sunset on the reclining chair aunt Sonata gave her when I was ten. We all just sat there for some time. Looking at each other. “... So,” I say, breaking the silence. “What’s the verdict?” “Well,” Mamma Sunset spoke. “You are allowed to go to Equestria, so long as you come back before nine, set your phone to remind you of this Dazz. You are also getting this.” Mamma Sunset pulled out an odd, thick, cloth bound book. It had the image of the Wondercolts statue burned onto it. “This, is a very special book. That friend of yours in Equestria, Hope Spring, Twilight gave her one similar to this. I had something like this a long time ago. This book is magic, it will allow you two to talk to one another. Just write out what you want to say on the pages and a copy of the sentence will appear in her book in Equestria.” “And it works?” “Yes, This was actually meant for you. Then… events happened.” “The demons?” Mamma Sunset looked surprised. “How did you?” “Hope told me a few things.” “I see. Yes, fear demons attacked Earth. A few people even… died… Anyway, this book also acts like a key for the portal when it’s not open on it’s own. Just have this with you when you want to enter Equestria and exit and the portal will open.” Mom gave me the book, my initials were sewed into the cover. “Don’t lose it, Dazz. Promise me.” “I promise. Anything else?” “Yes, Hope is going to act as your… overseer whenever you’re in Equestria. That’s why she has the other book.” “Alright… I actually have a few questions for you both.” “What is it Dazz?” Mamma Adagio said. “... Is is true?” “What?” “Hope said Equestria used to banish… monsters here… were you-” I stopped mid sentence when I looked at mamma Adagio, she was facing the floor and tears were dripping down like a leaking pipe. “Mom…” “D… Dazz… I…. It’s true. Your aunts… Sonata, Aria and I… we did horrible things. Me more than the both of them put together…” “It was the pendants Adagio, not you.” Mamma Sunset said. Pendants? “But I WAS in control when I… When I…” Mamma Adagio broke, mamma Sunset and I grabbed her into a hug. She was like a wolf howling. Loud, sad cries with a river of tears to follow. I felt like shit. I made her remember those horrible things. This though, her crying… a monster doesn’t regret like this. They don’t regret period. We were like this for a few hours. Mamma Adagio eventually settled down. “Sorry-” “No, mom. I’m sorry. I made you remember those things you regret doing.” “Dazz, the reason we are so overprotective of you is because our mistakes have carried over to you.” I was confused again, mamma Sunset noticed this. “Dazz,” She said. “Your mother and I both used dark magic, that doesn't ever truly leave you after It's 'gone’, it's always there, forever. When you were five, we had Twilight test you to see if any dark magic was in you. The results were positive. If you get angry enough, sad enough, go through something horrible, it will awaken. It's why we did everything to keep you happy after Flash died.” “So that's why you broke the bank taking me to every amusement park from here to Florida?” “Yeah.” Mamma Adagio said. “Twilight actually helped us with that. Gold is one of the few things that goes through the portal without changing. Is there anything else?” “There is one. If mamma Adagio is over a thousand years old, is that why your nickname for her is Queen Cougar?” Mamma Sunset blushed cherry red while mamma Adagio laughed loud enough to break glass. “D, Dazz!” “Yes Dazz, that's actually why.” Mamma Adagio admitted. “It's also why my nickname for her is Little Pup.” Thud. Mamma Sunset hit the floor. “You two are EVIL!” Mamma Adagio and I just laughed. “And you're grounded for three months.” “What!? … Okay, fair enough. I'm going to bed. Night Mamma Adagio, night… Little Pup.” “GO TO YOUR ROOM!!” Yeah, that probably got me another week at least. Totally worth it though!
Second Day of SchoolThe Second day of school. The day some classes start giving notes, most others still let you adjust. I had a hard time focusing. I kept thinking about the end of school, to get to go back to Equestria. I wasn’t entirely sure why I was, but something about being in Equestria just felt… calming. I looked up to the clock. Ten Fifteen. Nearly the middle of the day, I need to start focusing. “And so class.” The teacher said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “As of today, it will be known that every friday will be a testing day, a practice test will be given every wednesday, as homework, and turned in thursday. Notebooks will be turned into me before the test begins, and yes I will be grading you on your notes. They will be graded on organization, clarity, and every new set of notes must be titled and dated or points will be deducted. “Now, I know what you all are thinking, and no I have not lost my mind and I am not the worst teacher ever, this is for your benefit. I’ve had students pass my classes by the bare minimum because they took good notes. I will give you every opportunity to pass my class, it’s up to you if you wish to take advantage of it. I don’t want to hear any ‘But Mr. Grade Point…’, simply put, you are all only four years from becoming legal adults, so you’ll have to start acting like adults. You all didn’t get put in my Advanced Mathematics class for being lazy. I expect the best from you class.” The bell rang and we all left. I haven’t let my journal out of my sight since last night. Hope wrote to me before school started, asking me when I’d be over. I haven’t been able to reply yet, plus by now she’s at work and busy. I’m not actually going to Equestria til an hour or so after school ends, so nobody will see me and I can get all my homework done. Yes, second day of school and I already have homework. Next class was History, maybe I can sneak a message to- “Ack.” I said as I was suddenly thrown against the hallway wall. “Well if it isn’t the golden boy of the school.” Fuck this asshole. “Been a while Dazz.” I looked towards the source of the voice. Guild. Neon green, purple haired jack has been messing with me since we were kids. “Thought you got sent to juvy?” I say. I noticed he was wearing a blue jeans jacket over his shirt, that’s new from the last time I saw him. “Judge looked over the files and since there’s was no solid evidence of my involvement in the graffiti I got off scot free.” He grabbed me by the arm. “So what’s my good pal been up to?” “Stuff a neanderthal like you can’t understand.” I ducked down as Guild’s fist swung at me. His fist hit the wall, taking advantage of his shock, and obvious pain, I bolted. “You prick!” He always falls for that trick. Every. Single. Time. My moms know about him and they are the only ones he’s actually afraid of. Why that is is beyond me. Then again, given the light upon their darker pasts I think they might have done something to him. “You're a dead man!” He yelled at me as I jumped down the staircase to the cafeteria and ran into the kitchen. I hid behind one of the giant ovens in the kitchen. The kitchen door burst open. “Come on out Dazz, we both know I’ll find you eventually.” His footsteps were way on the other side of the room. “Just make this easy and- Gah!” THUD. “Now, what did I tell y’all about messing with your cousin like that, Apple Guild?” Aunt Applejack’s voice sounded, cueing me to reveal myself. She had Guild face planted on the floor, sitting on his back. Oh yeah, I didn’t mention that Guild is my cousin. Applejack’s brother Big Mac and my aunt Aria got married not long after my moms did. Guild and I were born a month apart. “It’s like you enjoy spending your weekends and free time after school doing extra chores around the orchard. Oh, hi Dazz.” “Thanks aunt Applejack.” “What’s family for if not help’n? I’ll be sure to tell his mom, dad, and big sis about this one.” Applejack got close to Guild’s ear. And yelled. “Ya darn idjit! You barely got out of doing juvie time and ya pull a stunt like this! You’re an Apple! WE AIN”T CRIMINALS! Dazz, you scoot along now, alright.” “Thanks Aunty.” I walked out of there with a smile on my face. Ever since aunt AJ decided to work other jobs after aunt Applebloom took over Sweet Apple Acres and made it a mass production farm, my time dealing with my ass of a cousin has been sooooo easy. “I SAID CALL ME GUILD AUNT-” Wack! “GAH!” Soooooo much easier. The rest of the day was rather uneventful. Other than seeing Guild working with aunt Applejack serving lunch, hairnet with an apron to match. Gotta say, he sure can make a good milkshake. I made sure he was gone when school let out, thank you aunt AJ for being handy with a lasso. I’m just finishing up my homework in the library now, my mom Adagio looking up at me from the computer every so often. “So,” She said. “Applejack told me about Apple Guild.” “Why do you think I ran to the cafeteria?” I say, smiling. Mom just chuckled. “I swear, I think he’s the first bad apple in the Apple Family.” “I think you might be right about that.” “Maybe we should have gotten him tested too.” “Say what?” I say, all attention on my work now gone. “Remember when we told you about how you have dark magic in you that might affect you under circumstances?” I nodded. “Well, when Aria was having Apple Guild, we figured we didn’t need to test him with how Silver Dust turned out, we did test Sonata’s kids and they were clean. I’m just glad we decided to keep Equestria a secret from him.” “Good idea. God know’s what he could do with magic.” “Oh, don’t worry. He’s not a unicorn.” “Wait, what? How do you know that?” “Aria in Equestria is a Pegasus, Big Mac’s counterpart over there is an earth pony. Both their families are pure blooded of their respective races. He can only be an Earth Pony or a Pegasus.” “So I took after mamma Sunset in the race department?” “Yes, it’s also why you’re so smart. Unicorns, and this is fact, not a stereotype, are known for being above average in intelligence, save the few… two percent that sometimes come out… less than average.” “Oh. So what about The Pegasus or Earth Ponies?” “Pegasus, they tend to be thinner and smaller than other ponies. Lets them be faster and much more aerodynamic when flying. Earth ponies are much stronger than others, even if they don’t look it.” “Like aunt AJ?” “Exactly.” “Huh. Good to know.” Looking back at my homework, I was glad to see only one problem was left… except for the fact that I’m not that good at history. What was Columbus’s three ship called? Crap… Well, least I’m in the library… I wonder. “Mom?” “Yes?” “You’re… over a thousand years old, right?” “Yes, why? Thinking of how many candles for my birthday cake?” “Ha. No, um… how many events in history did you… live through?” “Regrettably Aria, Sonata and I did cause some major historical events, but when we first got banished here the year was, well, today people call it six hundred BC.” I looked at her in complete shock. My mom’s HOW OLD!? “Dark magic has very few benefits Dazz. Never aging is one of them.” “Alright… First off that’s a lot of candles, secondly, did you know Christopher Columbus?” “Psst. That smug bastard owed me money and never payed me back. Back then Aria, Sonata and I managed to acquire a large wealth and lived among royals. Besides the crown paying the journey, several royals paid him in either supplies or gold. Gave that S-O-B thousands.” “Why didn’t he pay you back?” “His family got into some court issues that lasted generations. Man we had money back then… I actually wonder if any of my stashes are still around?” “Stashes?” “We knew we’d outlive everyone around us, meaning we’d have to move away for at least a hundred years, before returning there, and we’d still be moving during that century. So we never needed to beg, or steal, we hid gold and other valuables before we’d move. Among other things we figured be worth something after so long. Back then we only needed to sing a little, cause a ruckus somewhere and feed off the negativity. But we had to keep an appearance as normal, we’de dig up enough to keep us my til we got jobs, then collect a few more things over the years to bury with the rest of the stash in that area.” “Wow, speaking of Christopher Columbus, what were the names of his ships?” “The Nina, The Pinta and The Santa Maria. Why?” I quickly jotted down the names under the question. Shoved my things into my bag and got up and hugged my mom. “Thaksmombebacksoon!” I said, rather blurted, then ran for the portal. I stopped just in front of it before running in. I placed a hand through it and it went in. Good, does work. And jumped in. I flew out of the other end of the portal, almost slamming into the wall in front of me. Trodeal was there waiting for me. “Took your time alien boy.” “Har, har. What are you doing here?” “I was reassigned to keep watch her til you came through. Hope’s at work, but she’s getting off around now so you better hoof it. And remember, treat her right or I’ll break your legs.” “We're just friends dude.”
