We're just lost in your world!by Phoenix KittenChaptersPrologue 2- Sister, it's a bit early for evening...Chapter 1- It's like we took a step back in time...Chapter 2-Canterlot is the other way!Chapter 3- Ponies get lost okay, so do dragons!Chapter 4- Well that could have gone better...Prologue- Aren't you nervous?Prologue 2- Sister, it's a bit early for evening..."Mmm.. say again sister? We were sound asleep." Luna mumbled as she sat up and looked at Celestia, who was standing by the window to her room and looking out in concern. "Never mind sister, I thought you were still a little out of time, but if you were asleep, then why is the sky over Ponyville pink again?" the older alicorn wondered aloud. "Pink, sister?" Luna got up and sluggishly trotted over to look out the window with her sister. "By the stars... we are most vexed." "Indeed sister, we are indeed." Celestia nodded. "And you say this is the second time this day such an event has passed?" Luna asked past her own midnight blue hoof. The alabaster alicorn nodded once more. "I was alerted to the event during court, but passed it off as you still readjusting to your schedule after a millennia, but if it is not you..." "Sister, perhaps thou should alert the bearers." Luna glanced at her sister after brushing her mane out of the way. "I was hoping not have to involve them so soon sister, but this is a manner that bears investigation." Celestia nodded, turning to face the guards who had escorted her. "Fetch Captain Sentry and his wife, have them alert the bearers, they have something that needs to be investigated." Chapter 1- It's like we took a step back in time...Twilight landed softly in the clearing, furling her wings and glancing about as the portal closed behind her. "Spike! Spiiiiike!" "Twilight?" A nearby bush rustled as Spike crawled out. "Twilight! Oh thank Celestia it's you!" He sprinted over and hugged her foreleg. "Thank goodness you're alright Spike." The mare breathed out, rubbing the dragon's back soothingly. "You can teleport us home right? I had to hide to avoid some guard ponies, I'd like to get out of here before they come back..." he glanced around, fear evident in his eyes. Twilight shook her head. "I don't think my magic is strong enough to teleport between dimensions Spike. But if we can find a mirror portal here..." "We can head to Sunset's world and home from there! Great thinking Twilight." the dragon smiled, clambering up onto Twilight's back, before his smile fell away. "But.. where is the mirror portal?" "I.. have no idea Spike... we're just going to have to find it." The alicorn looked over her shoulder at the dragon. "And... if there isn't one?" "Then... then we look for a different way Spike.. We found our way into this world.. we'll find our way out." Twilight smiled reassuringly. "Okay... yeah. yeah okay. If any duo can find their way out of another world, it's us. We've had practice after all." He chuckled. "Exactly!" Twilight nuzzled Spike's belly gently. "I believe you said something about guard ponies, which way did they come from?" "Ummm... over that way I think." He pointed to Twilight's left. "They were grumbling about something.... I think they mentioned something about Zecora and the Everfree forest." Twilight blinked. "Everfree forest... then we're near Ponyville... if they came from the east, then ..this is where my castle is supposed to be." "Wait.. then if the castle isn't here, were we sent to another world or just back in time?" Spike wondered aloud. "Either way, we probably want to find a way to disguise ourselves." "That's not a bad idea Spike. I should probably hide my wings until we know what we're dealing with." She glanced back at her cutie marks. "I should alter them too, but I've seen so many ponies with the same cutie mark... perhaps I'll just hide the largest star." "Your mane too. It is fairly unique." Spike pointed out. "I think that can wait the five minutes until we're in town and I can find a barber shop." She grumbled. "A dye job shouldn't take too long, and if I can get one that washes out in water that means I can just take a bath when we get home. I'll see if they have anything that matches the blue, I really don't want to have a full pink mane..." "Careful, you know what saying stuff like that leads to." Spike chided her. "Oh Spike, there's no basis, magical or scientific, that supports the phrase 'don't tempt fate.', it's not a sentient force." she chuckled, her horn lighting up with an amethyst aura, which slowly enveloped her wings. "That's what you said about Pinkie Sense, and remember what happened with that." Twilight chuckled sheepishly. "Only to well, only to well.. sort of. I think I'm still missing bits of my memory from that anvil." "Well you remembered your brother and Cadence, and rekindled your friendship with Moondancer and the others, so it is coming back." Spike reassured her, scratching behind her ears gently. "Spike, what have I told you about that?" she chuckled. "You know I'm ticklish there." "S'why I'm being gentle." He nodded. "Also, I didn't want you having another meltdown over that." "Thank you Spike." she smiled as her wings finished shrinking. "Okay... they should be small enough now that they're unnoticeable." She turned to face the direction Spike indicated earlier. "Let's do some recon." "It's... it's like we've taken a step back in time." Spike gawked from behind a solid blue mane. "Like a year ago... but there's something else bothering me." Twilight's brow furrowed. "Spike, do you recognise this street?" "I think so.. this is the market right? I can see all of the stalls... except Sweet Apple Acres, and that looks like Carousel Boutique at the end of the street, but it's closed down." He scratched the back of his head. "Right... I checked a calendar too, it's the same day still, so we've stumbled into another alternate timeline." She looked about. "Ugh..." "Something else bothering you?" "Yeah.. but I just can't put my hoof on it. It's a really subtle difference." She snorted in annoyance. "That's going to bug me until I figure it out." "It can't be that big a deal if you can't notice it immediately." Spike shrugged. "Oh Spike.. I thought I taught you better than that." Twilight chuckled as she continued to trot down the street, brushing past other ponies. "It's not the big differences that you have to worry about usually, it's the small ones, like for instance..." Whatever Twilight was about to say was drowned out by the sound of blaring trumpets and shuffling hooves, as everypony crowded onto the side of the street. "Hey!" a pegasus pony yelled at the pair. "Get off the street, that's the Path of Radiance! That means there are vips being escorted through town!" "Oh. right. the PoR. Princess Celestia's escort tune." Twilight nodded as she blinked beside the pegasus. "Bwuh... neat trick. So you know the tune but forgot what it was for?" the mare asked. "It's been a while since I last heard it." She admitted. "But it's something you get used to in Canterlot." "Oh, a Canterlot native huh?" She glanced at her cutie mark. "Astronomer. Makes sense you'd be out here, Ponyburg has the clearest skies in all of Equestria." "Ponyburg? I thought this place was called Ponyville." Spike blinked. The mare chuckled. "Used to be, that was before the bearers all moved to Canterlot after Luna's return. Figured a Canterlot scholar would know that." "We spend a lot of time on the move, studying constellations in various areas around Equestria." Twilight rubbed the back of her head. "Ah, explains that then. But yeah, Town shrunk a bit after they all packed up and left, so we're more of a burg now." "Actually, you could have left the name the same. Burg and Ville are interchangeable suffixes, so either one would have been correct." Twilight nodded. "Eh, Take that to Mayor Vanilla Rose, she's the one who approved the change." "Well if there's no real difference in meaning, why bother?" Spike asked. "Yeah, see, the whelp gets it." the mare nodded. "Anyway, wonder who the vip's are. Hopefully the bearers, they might be able to figure out the cause of the weird pink skies earlier." "Weird pink skies." Twilight parroted, looking at Spike who nodded. "Say, you're an astronomer, what do you think caused that, the guards reckon it's that Zebra in the forest mixing her potions." "Well.. Alchemy of any sorts wouldn't be able to affect the sky like that. So I can rule out anything she was doing." Twilight nodded "But I'd have to have seen the events happen to have a better clue. As it is, we just arrived in town about ten minutes ago." "Just after the second one ended then." The mare shrugged. "What's yer name anyway." "Oh... well.. I'll give mine if you give yours first." she chuckled. "Fair enough. Name's Marney, Marney Gale, I'm the sister of one of the bearers, and the top mane stylist in town. My brother gave me his place after he moved to Canterlot with the others. Heh. Sweet thing my brother is, big ol' softie, loves animals." "Fluttershy?" Spike whispered to Twilight. Marney's ears flicked. "Hey, that's what my parents said they were gonna name him if he was a mare, his name's Butterscotch." "Butterscotch... well that's certainly a sweet name." Twilight remarked. "But I thought the bearers were all mares." Marney raised an eyebrow at the other mare. "Filly, you have been travelling a long time haven't you? There's three mares and three stallions. Elusive, Bubble Berry and Butterscotch are the stallions, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Princess Sunset Shimmer are the mares." Twilight and Spike looked at each other, both mouthing the words 'Princess Sunset Shimmer?'. "Heh, yeah, a fourth alicorn princess, I know right. Well the escort is just down the road, so I'm sure you'll catch a glimpse of her." Marney smirked. "It's been a while since I saw my bro too, so that'll be nice." When silence answered her Marney just shrugged. "Bit overwhelming yeah, but you get used to it." As the escort drew closer, Marney nudged Twilight and nodded up a bit, directing her eyes to the winged figure standing proudly on top of a carriage. "There she is, the princess of friendship herself. A bit prideful and rough for my liking, but she's got charisma, and is a natural leader." Again, silence. "Still a bit shocked eh? To be expected." Marney chuckled before rearing up and cupping her forelegs around her muzzle. "HEY BRO! SCOTCHY!" A rather slender and effeminate looking, canary yellow pegasus stallion poke his head out the side of the carriage before flying out the door. "Oh. Oh! Marney! It's good to see you!" he scooped the mare into a hug. "How have you been, is my old house treating you well?" Marney returned the hug and chuckled. "Heh. I'm doing fine, and yeah, it has. Look at you though, you've really come out of your shell." Twilight tuned the siblings out though as she studied the other ponies in the carriage. She spotted Rainbow Dash and Applejack easily enough, they hadn't changed much, though Dash had a pair of goggles around her neck, and Applejack was wearing a white stetson instead of her brown one. Sunset had the same tempered resolved look to her that Twilight had seen at the end of the Battle of the bands. Then there was Bubble Berry and Elusive. Bubble Berry wasn't that different from Pinkie Pie, being just.. a stallion version of her, but he seemed calmer, more controlled as opposed to the unstoppable ball of energy that was Pinkie, but Elusive... "Hey uh.. Twilight, are you okay?" Spike asked. Twilight didn't really hear him, Elusive was gorgeous, he still radiated the same elegance and poshness that Rarity did, but again, it was controlled, reigned in, more mature. His mane wasn't the long, flowing curls that Rarity had, but a short, stylish wave, similar to Fancy Pants, just with a little more length. His fur was sparklingly white, literally, he was so well groomed that he seemed to shine and sparkle, like he was made of crystal. His eyes.. and that's when Twilight realised that he was looking at her. He flashed a gentle smile her way, and she felt her cheeks warm and her heart skip a beat. "Spike." She half whispered. "Yeah Twilight?" "I think I know how you felt the first time you saw Rarity now." "What are you... seriously?" Spike sighed. "Well this won't end well." Chapter 2-Canterlot is the other way!"So Marney, who's your new friend?" Butterscotch asked as he flew above the group, a little black bunny perched on his back. "I uh.. dunno actually, our introductions got interrupted by your arrival, but I heard her dragon call her Twilight or something..." Marney chuckled, following the unicorn mare on hoof. "That's a dragon? It's so tiny." "Hey, I have a name you know!" Spike grumbled. "It's Spike, and I'm around the same age as you guys." "Now now Spike, you are still a baby dragon, remember? You're barely 2 years old in dragon years." Twilight chided as she trotted after the carriage. Spike grumbled unintelligibly and pouted. "Old enough to breathe fire." "She has a Canterlot accent.. but it's slightly off." Butterscotch blinked as he landed, trotting alongside his sister. "She is from Canterlot, but she's a travelling astronomer, mapping constellations and stuff." Marney nodded. "Said she hasn't been home in a while so it's probably muddled her accent a bit." "Can that happen?" "It can actually, if you stay somewhere that isn't your home, you start to unconsciously speak with the same inflections and accent as those around you, so you can end up with an accent that is a combination of two different ones." Twilight nodded. "Also I have an Old Canterlot accent, not a new one, I lived close to the palace." "Oh,so you must have been nobility then!" Butter smiled. "Sunset will be glad to meet you then, Twilight." "I don't think she's too interested in meeting the princess, bro." Marney chuckled. "Huh?" Marney smirked. "You didn't notice her staring at Elusive?" "Oh that poor mare..." Butter sighed. "No no, here's the best part right? He actually looked back and smiled at her." Butter blinked. "He.. smiled at her? He didn't turn up his nose? Wow..." "Wait? Is Elusive that snobby?" Spike asked. "Snobby.. no, he just has high standards, and he's good friends with princess Bluebelle, the two of them constantly have suitors fawning over them so they tend to put on this air of coldness to drive ponies away, for him to actually smile at your mom there..." Both Spike and Twilight blushed at that. "Uh.. about that actually..." Spike began. "It's nice to hear somepony well versed about dragon familial traditions." Twilight finished. "Oh yes, the Canterlot libraries are stocked with information about dragons, so I know all about how the one who hatches a dragon egg is officially recognised as their parent." Butterscotch smiled. "But how did you come across an egg to hatch?" "Actually, it was part of my admission into Celestia's school for gifted unicorns... but I was told later that apparently the test wasn't to hatch the egg, just to show off creativity and control, I just warmed his egg with a high heat spell and he hatched." Twilight smiled. "My parents looked after him for me since I was only a filly then." "Oh, so that would make you more like brother and sister then." Marney added. "Yeah, that's more accurate." Spike nodded. "Butterscotch was technically correct but..." Twilight nodded. "Oh. I know, assumptions make an ass out of you and me." Butter paused before turning to look behind him. "No offence." "None taken." A passing donkey responded. "...I swear this place conspires to prove me wrong." Twilight sighed. "So.. Twilight, are part of the house of Star?" Butter asked. "Wait what?" Spike blinked. "Princess Luna's personal retainers are Twilight Velvet and Crescent Light, their son is Prince Shining Armour of the Crystal Empire." Butter nodded. "I thought the house of Star was renowned for the powerful Mares in it's lineage." Twilight responded. "Well.. yeah, but something about a miscarriage during their second pregnancy... I dunno, very personal, I only know that because I was visiting Luna with Sunset one evening to talk and overheard her talking to her retainers before we knocked." Butter rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Twilight and Spike just looked at each other. "I see... well, no. I'm not related to Star House at all, it's just a coincidence that I share the name of the current matriarch." Twilight nodded. "Weirder coincidences are abound I guess." Butter nodded. "Don't we know like.. five different ponies with that hourglass cutie mark?" Marney asked. "Three. Minuette, Colgate annnd... what was his name again?" Butterscotch blinked. "Time Turner I think." Marney tilt her head. "Oh. About time you slowpokes caught up." A raspy voice sounded ahead. "We had to stop the carriage and wait for your slow flanks." "Oh. Rainbow Dash... she doesn't change, no matter what world we visit." Twilight muttered. "Heh." Spike just smirked. "Now Dash, just cause Butter there got a bit excited to see his sister don't mean you can ridicule him none." "Especially not when he brought some rather gorgeous company with him." Elusive smiled as he blinked out of the carriage and trotted over to Twilight. "Wait what? Elusive, showing interest in a mare? What kind of bizarro world did we stumble into without us noticing?" Dash blinked. "The best one." Twilight mumbled. "My my my... she's even more gorgeous up close. Hmm.. though I do see signs of a rushed dye job in her mane and tail." Elusive noted as he eyed her critically. "Oh.. th-that'll wash out with water..." Twilight blushed. "I can quickly summon a rain cloud to wash it out if you'd like.. and I can dry myself in an instant..." "Ugh.. gag... Twilight, you're worse than I am." Spike rolled his eyes. "Oh ho... quite a bag of tricks there. Hmm.. you seem quite honestly flustered by my presence, unlike the typical throng that only want to hear me whisper sweet nothings in their ears." Elusive smiled warmly, which made Twilight's face even redder. "Spike.. stay here, I need to go.. cool my face..." She muttered, levitating the dragon off her back and cantering off behind a bush. "with a raincloud, or waterfall... or stream..." Dash watched her wander off into the forest. "Hey uh.. she knows it's dangerous in there, what with that Zebra right?" "Zecora's not dangerous." Spike crossed his arms. "She's actually the nicest creature in the forest." "Zewhat now?" Dash blinked. "Wait, ya mean you two know that Zebra in the forest?" Applejack trotted over. Spike blinked and looked at all of them as they stared at him. "Oh... crap baskets..." Chapter 3- Ponies get lost okay, so do dragons!"Bwaaah!" Twilight gasped as she shook her head, the dye dripping out of her mane and onto the dirt. "Well that was 10 bits wasted." She muttered as she shook herself like a dog, the dye from her tail flowing down the stream. "At least I know I don't have to wear it anymore. Wish I could leave these things at full size too though." She sighed before preening her wings gently. "I beg pardon, miss Twilight." Elusive's voice sounded from behind a cluster of trees. "My apologies, but we held a small vote and it was decided that I should follow you, just to make sure you stay safe." "Eeep! Oww...." She winced as she bit down on her wing. "O-oh... that's okay.. I know my way around the forest pretty well." she chuckled sheepishly. "Yes, Spike mentioned that was the case, that this.. 'Zecora' pony, helped you two find your way to Ponyburg when you got lost looking for a good stargazing point." Elusive.. nodded? Twilight guessed at his actions as she couldn't see him. "Errm.. are you all right? I didn't surprise you and cause you to hurt yourself did I?" "O-oh no, not at all... just... pulling a knot in my mane without a brush..." she winced. "come on..stupid horn... work." she muttered as she tried to shrink her wings again. "I'd be glad to assist with your mane if you don't mind." Elusive nodded as he trotted into view, before blinking at the still dripping mare with her wings standing up on end, and giving an impressed whistle. "Well. I may have to amend what I said about you earlier, without that dye you are quite frankly, how does the term go? 'Drop dead gorgeous' I believe." He smirked. "Oh.. but what are these? Wings? And a horn?" "O-oh... umm... a-about that.. umm... crap baskets.." Twilight cursed. "Oh, you say that too?" "Whuh?" She blinked. "Spike said it after he let slip that you knew the zebra in the forest." Elusive chuckled. "O-oh.. right... I'm going to have to scold him for that." She frowned. "But these wings..." Elusive reached out and brushed a hoof against one, causing Twilight to blush and retract it. "No no no... please don't touch them." She whispered. "My word.. they're real.. are you.. another princess?" He gaped. "O-oh... umm..." Twilight glanced from side to side. 'Oh... what would the girls do in this situation...Applejack would tell the truth.. but that might get me into trouble here... Pinkie, no, I can't pass these off as fake now... Rainbow's bravado would just land me in more trouble... I'm already stuttering like Fluttershy...' "W-well.. a mare is entitled to her secrets isn't she?" She smiled sheepishly. 'Oh.. if he's anything like Rarity.. please let that work!' "Ah, but of course, if you don't feel comfortable answering, then I shan't push the issue." Elusive smiled. "And you needn't worry. I won't tell anypony else. You have my word as a gentlecolt." 'Oh... oh thank you Celestia...' Twilight let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding. Chapter 4- Well that could have gone better..."Are you all seriously defending her? She's the one who tried to steal my crown!" Sunset growled. "Sunset.. darlin', it ain't nowhere near the time you went into the mirror, and ain't it back in the Crystal Empire still? Even if she did somehow get out of the portal early, she'd be stranded without a passport." Applejack frowned. "Applejack's quite right dear, if you're going to throw accusations around, at least make sure they're factually reasonable." Elusive nodded. "Besides just because you never met her in this world, doesn't mean she doesn't exist here." "Nah nah.. I'm with Sunset on this one, this is way too precise to just be contrived coincidence." Dash folded her forelegs in mid air. "Even if she isn't from the human world, how do we know she's not a changeling still loyal to King Thorax huh? One of those weird mind reader ones he's sent after us a few times." "King Thorax?" Twilight repeated, glancing at Spike. If he was affected by the news that Thorax was evil in this world, he hid it well. "Yuppers, King Thorax is a right old meanie, though you wouldn't know it by just meeting him, he's so nice and pleasant and charming." Bubble cantered around the group, a small bounce to his trot. "Honestly, if he dialled things back and actually wanted to listen to us, he'd be a nice guy, but he's a bit of an extremist." "Bubs, why are you telling them about Thorax, they might be changelings!" Dash frowned. "Come on Butter, you agree with me and Sunset right?" "Actually Dash.. I don't think she's a bad guy, or a changeling at all. The only pony who even knows anything about what Twilight Sparkle looked like is Sunset... and they wouldn't be able to form a good disguise just based on those memories..." Butterscotch responded meekly. "I agree with Butterscotch dear, having been victim of one of Thorax's dastardly drones, the one that copied Sweetie needed to read the minds of everypony she knew." Elusive nodded. "Which kind of splits us evenly down the middle now doesn't it?" "Not quite, while ah don't think we should be jumpin' to conclusions like Sunset, nor bein' biased like lover colt over here." Applejack gestured to Elusive. "Ah can't deny she hasn't done anythin' to earn our trust or suspicion yet. If it pleases both groups, Berry and ah can keep an eye on her while she's with us." Sunset opened her muzzle, glaring at Twilight, when Elusive spoke over her. "I agree to that." "Yeah, I'm down, if I trust anyponies opinion on newcomers, it's AJ's." Dash nodded. "I don't like the idea of keeping her under watch like that.. b-but if it helps Sunset and Dash, then I guess it can't be helped..." Butterscotch muttered. "I don't mind being a watchpony." Berry nodded, already wearing an officers cap and holding a torch in his mane. Sunset grumbled and sighed heavily. "Fine.. fine. I'm outvoted. But if we wake up at the hotel and find our elements are missing and they're gone, I call the first punch." She turned on her hooves and took off into the air. "But she stays here, with the guards and carriage, until we get back from investigating. Now follow me." She ordered. The other element bearers followed their leader off into the clearing. "She does realise that leaving us alone with the guard isn't the smartest thing she could do, right?" Spike droned. "Spike.. really?" Twilight chided. "Relax ma'am. We're Day guards, not the Flame guards. We answer to Celestia's code first, Luna's second, Cadenza's third, and Sunset's forth." The lead guard responded gruffly. "Oh, I know, the Day guard code strictly forbids the harming of ponies and other creatures, except in self defence, defence of others, or as a last resort." Twilight nodded. "I believe that's in the rule book given to new cadets too... chapter eight, subsection twelve, paragraph twenty three, sentences four through seventeen." The guards looked at each other. "Is she correct?" The lead guard snapped his head towards the others. "If you don't know the answer to that, then you have some memorising to do back at the barracks when we return, lieutenant." "Sir yes sir!" the eight guards all snapped a salute. "We will brush up on the code sir!" "Damn right you will." he grunted. "But to answer your question lieutenant, she is one hundred percent correct. Right down to where it starts and ends." Spike glanced at Twilight as she smirked. "Well.. I guess somethings are universal." Prologue- Aren't you nervous?"Of course I'm nervous!" Twilight snapped as she adjusted her saddlebags. "I'm about to head through a portal to an unknown world full of who knows what, to rescue my dragon!" She huffed as she shook herself about to make sure they were set in place. "and I gave you two tasks to complete when I pass through the portal." Starlight reared back in surprise. "R-right... sorry." The alicorn sighed. "No no.. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped like that. I'm just..." "Worried, right? It's okay." Starlight smiled at her. "But I know you'll save him, I also know nothing will stand in your way at getting home once you have him." "Right right." Twilight breathed and looked at the portal, worry painted across her muzzle. Starlight's chuckling drew her attention and gaze. "Something funny?" "Not funny, just amusing. The way you're worrying, you're like a parent whose foal is missing. If you were a dragon yourself, I've no doubt you'd have adopted him as your own by now." The pale pink mare nodded. Twilight thought for a second. "Maybe.. probably." She shook her head. "Not really important right now though. I've got to go rescue him. Just remember..." "I know. Wait for two minutes then reconnect the original power source, you'll find a way to the other world then come back that way, and if anypony asks, you and Spike are conducting a very delicate and time consuming experiment." The alicorn mare nodded before taking a deep breath. "Okay... see you soon Starlight." She gave her student a brief hug before throwing herself through the portal. Starlight watched the surface ripple for a few minutes before swapping the power supplies as she was told and trotting to the library to resume her usual studies.
Prologue 2- Sister, it's a bit early for evening..."Mmm.. say again sister? We were sound asleep." Luna mumbled as she sat up and looked at Celestia, who was standing by the window to her room and looking out in concern. "Never mind sister, I thought you were still a little out of time, but if you were asleep, then why is the sky over Ponyville pink again?" the older alicorn wondered aloud. "Pink, sister?" Luna got up and sluggishly trotted over to look out the window with her sister. "By the stars... we are most vexed." "Indeed sister, we are indeed." Celestia nodded. "And you say this is the second time this day such an event has passed?" Luna asked past her own midnight blue hoof. The alabaster alicorn nodded once more. "I was alerted to the event during court, but passed it off as you still readjusting to your schedule after a millennia, but if it is not you..." "Sister, perhaps thou should alert the bearers." Luna glanced at her sister after brushing her mane out of the way. "I was hoping not have to involve them so soon sister, but this is a manner that bears investigation." Celestia nodded, turning to face the guards who had escorted her. "Fetch Captain Sentry and his wife, have them alert the bearers, they have something that needs to be investigated."
Chapter 1- It's like we took a step back in time...Twilight landed softly in the clearing, furling her wings and glancing about as the portal closed behind her. "Spike! Spiiiiike!" "Twilight?" A nearby bush rustled as Spike crawled out. "Twilight! Oh thank Celestia it's you!" He sprinted over and hugged her foreleg. "Thank goodness you're alright Spike." The mare breathed out, rubbing the dragon's back soothingly. "You can teleport us home right? I had to hide to avoid some guard ponies, I'd like to get out of here before they come back..." he glanced around, fear evident in his eyes. Twilight shook her head. "I don't think my magic is strong enough to teleport between dimensions Spike. But if we can find a mirror portal here..." "We can head to Sunset's world and home from there! Great thinking Twilight." the dragon smiled, clambering up onto Twilight's back, before his smile fell away. "But.. where is the mirror portal?" "I.. have no idea Spike... we're just going to have to find it." The alicorn looked over her shoulder at the dragon. "And... if there isn't one?" "Then... then we look for a different way Spike.. We found our way into this world.. we'll find our way out." Twilight smiled reassuringly. "Okay... yeah. yeah okay. If any duo can find their way out of another world, it's us. We've had practice after all." He chuckled. "Exactly!" Twilight nuzzled Spike's belly gently. "I believe you said something about guard ponies, which way did they come from?" "Ummm... over that way I think." He pointed to Twilight's left. "They were grumbling about something.... I think they mentioned something about Zecora and the Everfree forest." Twilight blinked. "Everfree forest... then we're near Ponyville... if they came from the east, then ..this is where my castle is supposed to be." "Wait.. then if the castle isn't here, were we sent to another world or just back in time?" Spike wondered aloud. "Either way, we probably want to find a way to disguise ourselves." "That's not a bad idea Spike. I should probably hide my wings until we know what we're dealing with." She glanced back at her cutie marks. "I should alter them too, but I've seen so many ponies with the same cutie mark... perhaps I'll just hide the largest star." "Your mane too. It is fairly unique." Spike pointed out. "I think that can wait the five minutes until we're in town and I can find a barber shop." She grumbled. "A dye job shouldn't take too long, and if I can get one that washes out in water that means I can just take a bath when we get home. I'll see if they have anything that matches the blue, I really don't want to have a full pink mane..." "Careful, you know what saying stuff like that leads to." Spike chided her. "Oh Spike, there's no basis, magical or scientific, that supports the phrase 'don't tempt fate.', it's not a sentient force." she chuckled, her horn lighting up with an amethyst aura, which slowly enveloped her wings. "That's what you said about Pinkie Sense, and remember what happened with that." Twilight chuckled sheepishly. "Only to well, only to well.. sort of. I think I'm still missing bits of my memory from that anvil." "Well you remembered your brother and Cadence, and rekindled your friendship with Moondancer and the others, so it is coming back." Spike reassured her, scratching behind her ears gently. "Spike, what have I told you about that?" she chuckled. "You know I'm ticklish there." "S'why I'm being gentle." He nodded. "Also, I didn't want you having another meltdown over that." "Thank you Spike." she smiled as her wings finished shrinking. "Okay... they should be small enough now that they're unnoticeable." She turned to face the direction Spike indicated earlier. "Let's do some recon." "It's... it's like we've taken a step back in time." Spike gawked from behind a solid blue mane. "Like a year ago... but there's something else bothering me." Twilight's brow furrowed. "Spike, do you recognise this street?" "I think so.. this is the market right? I can see all of the stalls... except Sweet Apple Acres, and that looks like Carousel Boutique at the end of the street, but it's closed down." He scratched the back of his head. "Right... I checked a calendar too, it's the same day still, so we've stumbled into another alternate timeline." She looked about. "Ugh..." "Something else bothering you?" "Yeah.. but I just can't put my hoof on it. It's a really subtle difference." She snorted in annoyance. "That's going to bug me until I figure it out." "It can't be that big a deal if you can't notice it immediately." Spike shrugged. "Oh Spike.. I thought I taught you better than that." Twilight chuckled as she continued to trot down the street, brushing past other ponies. "It's not the big differences that you have to worry about usually, it's the small ones, like for instance..." Whatever Twilight was about to say was drowned out by the sound of blaring trumpets and shuffling hooves, as everypony crowded onto the side of the street. "Hey!" a pegasus pony yelled at the pair. "Get off the street, that's the Path of Radiance! That means there are vips being escorted through town!" "Oh. right. the PoR. Princess Celestia's escort tune." Twilight nodded as she blinked beside the pegasus. "Bwuh... neat trick. So you know the tune but forgot what it was for?" the mare asked. "It's been a while since I last heard it." She admitted. "But it's something you get used to in Canterlot." "Oh, a Canterlot native huh?" She glanced at her cutie mark. "Astronomer. Makes sense you'd be out here, Ponyburg has the clearest skies in all of Equestria." "Ponyburg? I thought this place was called Ponyville." Spike blinked. The mare chuckled. "Used to be, that was before the bearers all moved to Canterlot after Luna's return. Figured a Canterlot scholar would know that." "We spend a lot of time on the move, studying constellations in various areas around Equestria." Twilight rubbed the back of her head. "Ah, explains that then. But yeah, Town shrunk a bit after they all packed up and left, so we're more of a burg now." "Actually, you could have left the name the same. Burg and Ville are interchangeable suffixes, so either one would have been correct." Twilight nodded. "Eh, Take that to Mayor Vanilla Rose, she's the one who approved the change." "Well if there's no real difference in meaning, why bother?" Spike asked. "Yeah, see, the whelp gets it." the mare nodded. "Anyway, wonder who the vip's are. Hopefully the bearers, they might be able to figure out the cause of the weird pink skies earlier." "Weird pink skies." Twilight parroted, looking at Spike who nodded. "Say, you're an astronomer, what do you think caused that, the guards reckon it's that Zebra in the forest mixing her potions." "Well.. Alchemy of any sorts wouldn't be able to affect the sky like that. So I can rule out anything she was doing." Twilight nodded "But I'd have to have seen the events happen to have a better clue. As it is, we just arrived in town about ten minutes ago." "Just after the second one ended then." The mare shrugged. "What's yer name anyway." "Oh... well.. I'll give mine if you give yours first." she chuckled. "Fair enough. Name's Marney, Marney Gale, I'm the sister of one of the bearers, and the top mane stylist in town. My brother gave me his place after he moved to Canterlot with the others. Heh. Sweet thing my brother is, big ol' softie, loves animals." "Fluttershy?" Spike whispered to Twilight. Marney's ears flicked. "Hey, that's what my parents said they were gonna name him if he was a mare, his name's Butterscotch." "Butterscotch... well that's certainly a sweet name." Twilight remarked. "But I thought the bearers were all mares." Marney raised an eyebrow at the other mare. "Filly, you have been travelling a long time haven't you? There's three mares and three stallions. Elusive, Bubble Berry and Butterscotch are the stallions, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Princess Sunset Shimmer are the mares." Twilight and Spike looked at each other, both mouthing the words 'Princess Sunset Shimmer?'. "Heh, yeah, a fourth alicorn princess, I know right. Well the escort is just down the road, so I'm sure you'll catch a glimpse of her." Marney smirked. "It's been a while since I saw my bro too, so that'll be nice." When silence answered her Marney just shrugged. "Bit overwhelming yeah, but you get used to it." As the escort drew closer, Marney nudged Twilight and nodded up a bit, directing her eyes to the winged figure standing proudly on top of a carriage. "There she is, the princess of friendship herself. A bit prideful and rough for my liking, but she's got charisma, and is a natural leader." Again, silence. "Still a bit shocked eh? To be expected." Marney chuckled before rearing up and cupping her forelegs around her muzzle. "HEY BRO! SCOTCHY!" A rather slender and effeminate looking, canary yellow pegasus stallion poke his head out the side of the carriage before flying out the door. "Oh. Oh! Marney! It's good to see you!" he scooped the mare into a hug. "How have you been, is my old house treating you well?" Marney returned the hug and chuckled. "Heh. I'm doing fine, and yeah, it has. Look at you though, you've really come out of your shell." Twilight tuned the siblings out though as she studied the other ponies in the carriage. She spotted Rainbow Dash and Applejack easily enough, they hadn't changed much, though Dash had a pair of goggles around her neck, and Applejack was wearing a white stetson instead of her brown one. Sunset had the same tempered resolved look to her that Twilight had seen at the end of the Battle of the bands. Then there was Bubble Berry and Elusive. Bubble Berry wasn't that different from Pinkie Pie, being just.. a stallion version of her, but he seemed calmer, more controlled as opposed to the unstoppable ball of energy that was Pinkie, but Elusive... "Hey uh.. Twilight, are you okay?" Spike asked. Twilight didn't really hear him, Elusive was gorgeous, he still radiated the same elegance and poshness that Rarity did, but again, it was controlled, reigned in, more mature. His mane wasn't the long, flowing curls that Rarity had, but a short, stylish wave, similar to Fancy Pants, just with a little more length. His fur was sparklingly white, literally, he was so well groomed that he seemed to shine and sparkle, like he was made of crystal. His eyes.. and that's when Twilight realised that he was looking at her. He flashed a gentle smile her way, and she felt her cheeks warm and her heart skip a beat. "Spike." She half whispered. "Yeah Twilight?" "I think I know how you felt the first time you saw Rarity now." "What are you... seriously?" Spike sighed. "Well this won't end well."
Chapter 2-Canterlot is the other way!"So Marney, who's your new friend?" Butterscotch asked as he flew above the group, a little black bunny perched on his back. "I uh.. dunno actually, our introductions got interrupted by your arrival, but I heard her dragon call her Twilight or something..." Marney chuckled, following the unicorn mare on hoof. "That's a dragon? It's so tiny." "Hey, I have a name you know!" Spike grumbled. "It's Spike, and I'm around the same age as you guys." "Now now Spike, you are still a baby dragon, remember? You're barely 2 years old in dragon years." Twilight chided as she trotted after the carriage. Spike grumbled unintelligibly and pouted. "Old enough to breathe fire." "She has a Canterlot accent.. but it's slightly off." Butterscotch blinked as he landed, trotting alongside his sister. "She is from Canterlot, but she's a travelling astronomer, mapping constellations and stuff." Marney nodded. "Said she hasn't been home in a while so it's probably muddled her accent a bit." "Can that happen?" "It can actually, if you stay somewhere that isn't your home, you start to unconsciously speak with the same inflections and accent as those around you, so you can end up with an accent that is a combination of two different ones." Twilight nodded. "Also I have an Old Canterlot accent, not a new one, I lived close to the palace." "Oh,so you must have been nobility then!" Butter smiled. "Sunset will be glad to meet you then, Twilight." "I don't think she's too interested in meeting the princess, bro." Marney chuckled. "Huh?" Marney smirked. "You didn't notice her staring at Elusive?" "Oh that poor mare..." Butter sighed. "No no, here's the best part right? He actually looked back and smiled at her." Butter blinked. "He.. smiled at her? He didn't turn up his nose? Wow..." "Wait? Is Elusive that snobby?" Spike asked. "Snobby.. no, he just has high standards, and he's good friends with princess Bluebelle, the two of them constantly have suitors fawning over them so they tend to put on this air of coldness to drive ponies away, for him to actually smile at your mom there..." Both Spike and Twilight blushed at that. "Uh.. about that actually..." Spike began. "It's nice to hear somepony well versed about dragon familial traditions." Twilight finished. "Oh yes, the Canterlot libraries are stocked with information about dragons, so I know all about how the one who hatches a dragon egg is officially recognised as their parent." Butterscotch smiled. "But how did you come across an egg to hatch?" "Actually, it was part of my admission into Celestia's school for gifted unicorns... but I was told later that apparently the test wasn't to hatch the egg, just to show off creativity and control, I just warmed his egg with a high heat spell and he hatched." Twilight smiled. "My parents looked after him for me since I was only a filly then." "Oh, so that would make you more like brother and sister then." Marney added. "Yeah, that's more accurate." Spike nodded. "Butterscotch was technically correct but..." Twilight nodded. "Oh. I know, assumptions make an ass out of you and me." Butter paused before turning to look behind him. "No offence." "None taken." A passing donkey responded. "...I swear this place conspires to prove me wrong." Twilight sighed. "So.. Twilight, are part of the house of Star?" Butter asked. "Wait what?" Spike blinked. "Princess Luna's personal retainers are Twilight Velvet and Crescent Light, their son is Prince Shining Armour of the Crystal Empire." Butter nodded. "I thought the house of Star was renowned for the powerful Mares in it's lineage." Twilight responded. "Well.. yeah, but something about a miscarriage during their second pregnancy... I dunno, very personal, I only know that because I was visiting Luna with Sunset one evening to talk and overheard her talking to her retainers before we knocked." Butter rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Twilight and Spike just looked at each other. "I see... well, no. I'm not related to Star House at all, it's just a coincidence that I share the name of the current matriarch." Twilight nodded. "Weirder coincidences are abound I guess." Butter nodded. "Don't we know like.. five different ponies with that hourglass cutie mark?" Marney asked. "Three. Minuette, Colgate annnd... what was his name again?" Butterscotch blinked. "Time Turner I think." Marney tilt her head. "Oh. About time you slowpokes caught up." A raspy voice sounded ahead. "We had to stop the carriage and wait for your slow flanks." "Oh. Rainbow Dash... she doesn't change, no matter what world we visit." Twilight muttered. "Heh." Spike just smirked. "Now Dash, just cause Butter there got a bit excited to see his sister don't mean you can ridicule him none." "Especially not when he brought some rather gorgeous company with him." Elusive smiled as he blinked out of the carriage and trotted over to Twilight. "Wait what? Elusive, showing interest in a mare? What kind of bizarro world did we stumble into without us noticing?" Dash blinked. "The best one." Twilight mumbled. "My my my... she's even more gorgeous up close. Hmm.. though I do see signs of a rushed dye job in her mane and tail." Elusive noted as he eyed her critically. "Oh.. th-that'll wash out with water..." Twilight blushed. "I can quickly summon a rain cloud to wash it out if you'd like.. and I can dry myself in an instant..." "Ugh.. gag... Twilight, you're worse than I am." Spike rolled his eyes. "Oh ho... quite a bag of tricks there. Hmm.. you seem quite honestly flustered by my presence, unlike the typical throng that only want to hear me whisper sweet nothings in their ears." Elusive smiled warmly, which made Twilight's face even redder. "Spike.. stay here, I need to go.. cool my face..." She muttered, levitating the dragon off her back and cantering off behind a bush. "with a raincloud, or waterfall... or stream..." Dash watched her wander off into the forest. "Hey uh.. she knows it's dangerous in there, what with that Zebra right?" "Zecora's not dangerous." Spike crossed his arms. "She's actually the nicest creature in the forest." "Zewhat now?" Dash blinked. "Wait, ya mean you two know that Zebra in the forest?" Applejack trotted over. Spike blinked and looked at all of them as they stared at him. "Oh... crap baskets..."
Chapter 3- Ponies get lost okay, so do dragons!"Bwaaah!" Twilight gasped as she shook her head, the dye dripping out of her mane and onto the dirt. "Well that was 10 bits wasted." She muttered as she shook herself like a dog, the dye from her tail flowing down the stream. "At least I know I don't have to wear it anymore. Wish I could leave these things at full size too though." She sighed before preening her wings gently. "I beg pardon, miss Twilight." Elusive's voice sounded from behind a cluster of trees. "My apologies, but we held a small vote and it was decided that I should follow you, just to make sure you stay safe." "Eeep! Oww...." She winced as she bit down on her wing. "O-oh... that's okay.. I know my way around the forest pretty well." she chuckled sheepishly. "Yes, Spike mentioned that was the case, that this.. 'Zecora' pony, helped you two find your way to Ponyburg when you got lost looking for a good stargazing point." Elusive.. nodded? Twilight guessed at his actions as she couldn't see him. "Errm.. are you all right? I didn't surprise you and cause you to hurt yourself did I?" "O-oh no, not at all... just... pulling a knot in my mane without a brush..." she winced. "come on..stupid horn... work." she muttered as she tried to shrink her wings again. "I'd be glad to assist with your mane if you don't mind." Elusive nodded as he trotted into view, before blinking at the still dripping mare with her wings standing up on end, and giving an impressed whistle. "Well. I may have to amend what I said about you earlier, without that dye you are quite frankly, how does the term go? 'Drop dead gorgeous' I believe." He smirked. "Oh.. but what are these? Wings? And a horn?" "O-oh... umm... a-about that.. umm... crap baskets.." Twilight cursed. "Oh, you say that too?" "Whuh?" She blinked. "Spike said it after he let slip that you knew the zebra in the forest." Elusive chuckled. "O-oh.. right... I'm going to have to scold him for that." She frowned. "But these wings..." Elusive reached out and brushed a hoof against one, causing Twilight to blush and retract it. "No no no... please don't touch them." She whispered. "My word.. they're real.. are you.. another princess?" He gaped. "O-oh... umm..." Twilight glanced from side to side. 'Oh... what would the girls do in this situation...Applejack would tell the truth.. but that might get me into trouble here... Pinkie, no, I can't pass these off as fake now... Rainbow's bravado would just land me in more trouble... I'm already stuttering like Fluttershy...' "W-well.. a mare is entitled to her secrets isn't she?" She smiled sheepishly. 'Oh.. if he's anything like Rarity.. please let that work!' "Ah, but of course, if you don't feel comfortable answering, then I shan't push the issue." Elusive smiled. "And you needn't worry. I won't tell anypony else. You have my word as a gentlecolt." 'Oh... oh thank you Celestia...' Twilight let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding.
Chapter 4- Well that could have gone better..."Are you all seriously defending her? She's the one who tried to steal my crown!" Sunset growled. "Sunset.. darlin', it ain't nowhere near the time you went into the mirror, and ain't it back in the Crystal Empire still? Even if she did somehow get out of the portal early, she'd be stranded without a passport." Applejack frowned. "Applejack's quite right dear, if you're going to throw accusations around, at least make sure they're factually reasonable." Elusive nodded. "Besides just because you never met her in this world, doesn't mean she doesn't exist here." "Nah nah.. I'm with Sunset on this one, this is way too precise to just be contrived coincidence." Dash folded her forelegs in mid air. "Even if she isn't from the human world, how do we know she's not a changeling still loyal to King Thorax huh? One of those weird mind reader ones he's sent after us a few times." "King Thorax?" Twilight repeated, glancing at Spike. If he was affected by the news that Thorax was evil in this world, he hid it well. "Yuppers, King Thorax is a right old meanie, though you wouldn't know it by just meeting him, he's so nice and pleasant and charming." Bubble cantered around the group, a small bounce to his trot. "Honestly, if he dialled things back and actually wanted to listen to us, he'd be a nice guy, but he's a bit of an extremist." "Bubs, why are you telling them about Thorax, they might be changelings!" Dash frowned. "Come on Butter, you agree with me and Sunset right?" "Actually Dash.. I don't think she's a bad guy, or a changeling at all. The only pony who even knows anything about what Twilight Sparkle looked like is Sunset... and they wouldn't be able to form a good disguise just based on those memories..." Butterscotch responded meekly. "I agree with Butterscotch dear, having been victim of one of Thorax's dastardly drones, the one that copied Sweetie needed to read the minds of everypony she knew." Elusive nodded. "Which kind of splits us evenly down the middle now doesn't it?" "Not quite, while ah don't think we should be jumpin' to conclusions like Sunset, nor bein' biased like lover colt over here." Applejack gestured to Elusive. "Ah can't deny she hasn't done anythin' to earn our trust or suspicion yet. If it pleases both groups, Berry and ah can keep an eye on her while she's with us." Sunset opened her muzzle, glaring at Twilight, when Elusive spoke over her. "I agree to that." "Yeah, I'm down, if I trust anyponies opinion on newcomers, it's AJ's." Dash nodded. "I don't like the idea of keeping her under watch like that.. b-but if it helps Sunset and Dash, then I guess it can't be helped..." Butterscotch muttered. "I don't mind being a watchpony." Berry nodded, already wearing an officers cap and holding a torch in his mane. Sunset grumbled and sighed heavily. "Fine.. fine. I'm outvoted. But if we wake up at the hotel and find our elements are missing and they're gone, I call the first punch." She turned on her hooves and took off into the air. "But she stays here, with the guards and carriage, until we get back from investigating. Now follow me." She ordered. The other element bearers followed their leader off into the clearing. "She does realise that leaving us alone with the guard isn't the smartest thing she could do, right?" Spike droned. "Spike.. really?" Twilight chided. "Relax ma'am. We're Day guards, not the Flame guards. We answer to Celestia's code first, Luna's second, Cadenza's third, and Sunset's forth." The lead guard responded gruffly. "Oh, I know, the Day guard code strictly forbids the harming of ponies and other creatures, except in self defence, defence of others, or as a last resort." Twilight nodded. "I believe that's in the rule book given to new cadets too... chapter eight, subsection twelve, paragraph twenty three, sentences four through seventeen." The guards looked at each other. "Is she correct?" The lead guard snapped his head towards the others. "If you don't know the answer to that, then you have some memorising to do back at the barracks when we return, lieutenant." "Sir yes sir!" the eight guards all snapped a salute. "We will brush up on the code sir!" "Damn right you will." he grunted. "But to answer your question lieutenant, she is one hundred percent correct. Right down to where it starts and ends." Spike glanced at Twilight as she smirked. "Well.. I guess somethings are universal."
Prologue- Aren't you nervous?"Of course I'm nervous!" Twilight snapped as she adjusted her saddlebags. "I'm about to head through a portal to an unknown world full of who knows what, to rescue my dragon!" She huffed as she shook herself about to make sure they were set in place. "and I gave you two tasks to complete when I pass through the portal." Starlight reared back in surprise. "R-right... sorry." The alicorn sighed. "No no.. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped like that. I'm just..." "Worried, right? It's okay." Starlight smiled at her. "But I know you'll save him, I also know nothing will stand in your way at getting home once you have him." "Right right." Twilight breathed and looked at the portal, worry painted across her muzzle. Starlight's chuckling drew her attention and gaze. "Something funny?" "Not funny, just amusing. The way you're worrying, you're like a parent whose foal is missing. If you were a dragon yourself, I've no doubt you'd have adopted him as your own by now." The pale pink mare nodded. Twilight thought for a second. "Maybe.. probably." She shook her head. "Not really important right now though. I've got to go rescue him. Just remember..." "I know. Wait for two minutes then reconnect the original power source, you'll find a way to the other world then come back that way, and if anypony asks, you and Spike are conducting a very delicate and time consuming experiment." The alicorn mare nodded before taking a deep breath. "Okay... see you soon Starlight." She gave her student a brief hug before throwing herself through the portal. Starlight watched the surface ripple for a few minutes before swapping the power supplies as she was told and trotting to the library to resume her usual studies.
