I Hate Trains and I Hate Thieves
I sat at the window seat of the train looking at all the trees and bushes fly past us. I sighed a little, not really having anything to do right now. Maybe I could flag down a food cart, eat some cake or something, I don't know. I took a deep sigh, and it did not go unnoticed.
"Visk, what's wrong?" Twilight asked, showing a little concern. I looked at her and smiled, I was going to say I was fine but then Pinkie busted in.
"I bet he's feeling real sad cause he always took train back in home town of New York or something and he's also feeling a little down because he still has no way getting back home!" She said with the chipper smile. We all looked at her before I sighed again.
"No Pinkie, I'm just bored.... And I was born in California thank you very much." I said a small scowl on my face. "On anything day I would hop on my phone, dick around on the internet, but nope, I'm stuck with no phone and no means of entertainment." I sulked and slid down in my seat. "So... Maybe a little down sure, but... For the most part I'm happy here with a few... Incidents aside it all. But hey, can't take some good without some bad right?" I said with an uneasy smile. For the last couple of months, I lived with Twilight and the others. I spent the night at their places at least twice a month. I got accustomed to their living conditions too, Dash normally listens to loud rock music up until about 8 or 9 at night, Twilight has a study hour, an experiment period, which last 3 or 4 hours depending on the experiment, and she has a hibernation state as she calls it. At least that's what the list said.
Rarity is very posh, takes criticism well, and even indulges herself into some ice cream every now and then. Applejack and her kin always made me feel welcome, even said I could use some of the dead trees as a form of practice.
Fluttershy, her animals, and myself. As it turned out we were more alike than what we originally thought, I was as shy as was, and I apparently picked up my grandfathers' ability of animal magnetism. Every cat, dog, mouse, and even her spiteful little rabbit, all came to me and just sat there. I would pet one and the others got jealous and it eventually ended with me laying down and them crawling on me. Needless to say it was very cute and very tiring. Pinkie... I don't know what to think. While she would be very hyper and random at times or just not making sense, once we were in the solidarity of her room, she was... Calm and relaxed, like she just flipped a switch. Her hair went straight, and she opened up a small cabinet where I saw a picture of an elderly mare, wearing bifocals and had her hair up in a fancy bun. not unlike Pinkie's mother. She lit an incense and clopped her hooves twice before she sunk her head down. That's when I realized that she was doing what the Japanese did with their loved ones after they died. She was praying. I asked and she said her Granny Pie died while she was still young. A few months before she was ready to leave the farm, Cloudy and Igneous got a telegram from the hospital. She said she had never seen her mother and father cry the way they did when they found out. I just put a hand on Pinkie's shoulder and kneeled with her. Pinkie on the outside is completely random, unpredictable, and generally weird, but when alone from the outside world, she shows another side not many see, one that I was thankful for seeing for myself.
I looked outside again and saw that the trees and bushes had turned in to snow, and I realized we were at out destination: The Crystal Empire. A Life Tree, the biggest one known, it was a magnificent sight to behold. I got a little carried away because I heard Twilight calling for me. To be honest, I've never been to the Empire before today, so I wanted to see what it had in store. The Empire itself was amazing, edible crystals and rock candies the likes I haven't seen in quite sometime. I met some locals, a few of which had heard of my stories, and that was... different. Some feared me, others worshiped me, and some just plainly didn't know. I don't blame them though they did have their memories wiped once before. I heard Twilight and this time Rainbow too call me over to the Heart, I couldn't keep them waiting.
I ran up to them, my heavy boots making a resounding thump as I hit the crystalline ground. "Sorry, just taking in the sights." I said rubbing the back of my head. "So, what's the plan for today Sparkles?" I asked not really knowing why Twilight called us in the first place. Rainbow agreed with me, as did Applejack. Rarity only scoffed.
"Please, like she needs a reason to come and visit her Sister-in-law every now and then," She said with the flare of her mane as... some sort of emphasis. I never understood that motion, maybe I could ask Luna or Cadence. As we made our way into the trumpeters made the anthem of royalty walking into the room, and another guard introduced us.
"Introducing: Princess Twilight Sparkle and company!" He annouced and Twilight ran over to Cadence and the other princesses, giving them all big hugs.
"Cadence! Celestia! Luna! It's good to see everypony again!" As they they all greeted eachother I started to walk around, taking in the sights again. I realized that I haven't really been out all that much. I began to wander away from the group and go down the halls, and I began opening doors at random, but one room in particular caught my attention, mostly because it was being guarded.
"I wish to enter, good pony." I said nicely he only snorted and remained firm. "OK then, the King of Silent Hill wishes to enter this room, little pony." This made his pupils pinpricks and his whole body tense, and to add insult, I conjured my jagged crown made from Barbed wires, and pieces of metal scraps. He only nodded and stepped away letting me instant access and thanked him kindly, giving him some bits. Inside I saw some... different things. I saw pictures and artifacts, all seeming like they were from here but not from here. I saw two different pictures of the same place, Mt. Celest at spring time, and then at fall. Only the castles were...different. In spring the castle looked the same as it did, golds, purples and whites adoring the outside. However in fall, the castle now took a darker tone, with silvers, cool blues, and blacks adoring its sides. As if Luna and Celestia were given turns to have the castle. However I began to... see some differences too, besides the castles. Castle One or the 'Celestia' themed castle, was as I said still the same, however the 'Luna' themed one was more sinister looking, spikes lined the edges of the roofs, there was an actual observatory, and the sun banners had been all but mothballed. I was confused at first until I heard hoofsteps coming my way, and I to see the guard walking towards me.
"You're accomidations have been made, your Highness. Please follow me." He said leaving at a quick trot. Just how long was I in there? Longer than I thought apparently because it was already night time! Holy crap, I spent that long looking at pictures play Spot the Difference? I really need some sleep! I can't help but here a small sound and look behind me, noticing the door open sightly. Lightly jogging to it, I closed it and caught up with the guard where I was now standing in the biggest room I had ever seen. I plopped down on the bed, a queen size or 'Alicorn Size' as they say, and lay down. I let out a sigh of relief now realizing how tired I was to begin with. I went underneath the blankets and began to happily doze off, until Twilight began screaming.
"My crown! She's stolen my crown! Stop you thief! Stop!" I opened my door to see a cloaked pony and Twilight running down the hall along with her friends. I followed behind and was soon catching up to Twilight as well, where she teleported in front of the cloaked pony. "Stop right--" She was yelling before she was cut off by her the cloak flapping off her face. The pony in question was a goldenrod yellow with a fiery mane and tail with her cutie mark a blazing sun. My eyes went wide for a split second as she smirked and ran towards the blocked off room. Twilight tackled her and the crown was bouncing off the walls before it hit the mirror. Now I thought the mirror would break, but instead it flew right inside of it. My very first thought was 'Oh no' for several reasons. One, like the portals we all used, this one was always active it seemed, and two ANYTHING could go in or out. Nothing good can come from that. I wasn't too focused on the words being exchanged, only the pony now going through the mirror. I picked up Twilight and looked at her in the eyes.
"Go get Celestia. Now!"
Revelations Among Other Things
To say that I was stunned at seeing a pony go through that portal would be an understatement. To say I was livid when said portal was home to a human version of Equestria, would be an understatement too.
"You mean to tell me you had portal to THAT place open this whole time?! Do you know what kinds of horrid creatures can come out of that thing? There are monsters WORSE than Pyramid Head, I should know; I've seen the movies, played the games. Celestia what were you thinking about keeping a portal to LIMBO open?!" Now, for those of you who do not know, we Displaced call the emptiness in between our universes many things. The Void, Hammerspace, Limbo, The Nothingness, I've even heard some call it just that: "The Emptiness". However, me being the kinda-sorta emissary of all things Trans-Dimensional in my universe, knowing a portal has been practically open for 500 years really brings things too my perspective. Case in point: The 1000 year old portal mirror standing in front of us.
"Starswirl couldn't have known that keep the portal open was dangerous, I'm sure if he did--"
"He and you would be gallivanting about in the Human world, you think I don't have eyes and ears Celly?" While it's true I was locked in stone for the better part of a 1000 years, I still had my minions and followers relay information to me. Celestia blushed red, whether with anger or embarrassment, it didn't matter. I sighed heavily. "Look Celestia, where or rather when did Ol' Bells for Brains get that kinda of magic? It had to be from someone who was a Displaced, whether it was me, or someone before I don't know, but I need to know."
She had a calm look on her face before she too sighed. "We saw you use a portal to go through other places. Star Swirl and I thought we could copy the magic you used, since it wasn't your magic to begin with." This made my ears prick, but I let her continue. "The Mirror worlds are just that, mirrors; parallels to other Equestrias that seem like ours but they are not. Star Swirl and I destroyed the mirror we thought was most dangerous had it been kept open." She said sagely.
"And which mirror was that?"
"...I'd rather not say. It is twisted place, nothing more needs to be said." She said in a very somber tone. She looked away from too, as if she were hiding something. Or maybe someone. I'll ask later though, we still have business to do. All of us, the Mane 6, Celly, Luna, Cadence, and Spike and myself were all standing by the Mirror that Sunset Shimmer, that was her name according to Celestia, had jumped though.
Luna and Celestia had been keeping hidden underneath a vault directly under the throne in Canterlot, and decided to give to Cadence as a way to test her responsibility. Either that, or it was a wedding gift, I don't remember. Anyways, according to The Moon here, it is only open for three days, every thirty moons. For those who can't do math, that's 2 and half years. So it's basically a mission where failure is not an option unless you want to be stranded for-fucking-ever. Great job, Jingles, you did good. Anyways back to the task at hand.
"Twilight," I said looking down at her. This place is extremely foreign, and I mean no exaggeration when I say that. If you need help, just call for me. Chances are I wont go through looking like Pyramid Head, but rather my real self.* So I'll be with you every step of the way. Alright?" I asked and she nodded as Celestia put saddle bags on her. Herself and I were about to step through when Rainbow stopped us.
"Woah, woah, woah! If you're going with her so are we!"
"Sorry Rainbow, you can't." I said pushing her aside. "The balance between worlds are delicate; letting Twilight through is bad enough, because Sunset is there already, I don't know about you but suddenly finding a twin of yourself would really put my head in for a spin. You could, big emphasis on could, kill your counter-part and/or erase the memories of that were close friends with her." They all had gotten concerned looks. "Like I said high risk here."
"I'm afraid Visk is right," Celestia said, "Sunset Shimmer being there is dangerous enough, but having all of you there at the same time would make things extremely stressful for whoever is on the other side. This must be done by Twilight and Visk alone." She said looking back at us. I nodded and Twilight gulped and slowly trotted over. She put her hoof to the Mirror and looked back at her friends one last time before walking in. Before I walked in I looked at Spike who had a nervous sweat and picked him up.
"Spike, are you scared for Twilight." Nod. "You want to come with?" Nod nod. "Good!" I proclaimed and football chucked him into the Mirror before striking a pose. "TImE To SPliT SOmE HEaDs!" I ran head first into the portal and the first thing I noticed was I was being stretched. A far cry from our portals, but I suppose pony magic and such. The kaleidoscope of colors made me feel ill for a moment before everything went black. I opened my eyes slowly at first, and stretched my limbs, only to here Twilight scream to the heavens. Thankfully she shut herself up.
"Oi, shush up will you? It's not the like first time you transformed." I said grumbling to myself. It felt like my head got hit with a hammer...a lot. She scoffed and looked me.
"Well look whose all weak now Mr. Fear and Terror. You got a scraggly beard that looks Rarity's cat after a bath!" She shot back and turned to her.
"It does not!" ..... "Lemme see..." I looked back at the mirror and ran fingers through it and in the process pulled my head down too. Knots, the worst enemy of the beards. "Fuck, need to get some brushes or combs or something." I looked at the rest of myself in the mirror, seeing the consistencies. Blonde-Brown hair, beard with traces of Red in it, eyebrows bushy as FUCK, everything was fine. Except for the eyes. I'm pretty sure eyes are not supposed to be red. "Now why is that? Why are you red...?" I said to myself looking at my eyes in my reflection. Granted I think red eyes are cool, if a little cliched, but I know for a fact that some ponies were born with red eyes, kinda like Vinyl, only hers were more maroon than red. Mine were supposed to be hazel, or green, not red... Wait...
"Twilight come here." I said still looking at my reflection.
"Yes?" She said. I turned to look at her and noticed she wasn't there. "Down here." I looked down and I flushed with embarrassment. I quickly realized we would get weird stares if she continued to stay at ~~crouch height~~ waist level, I grabbed her and quickly picked her up. She wobbled at first then balanced herself out.
"Rule number 1 about humans: What you did, that all fours things? That stays in the bedroom if catch my drift. Second, how unnatural is it for somepony to born with red eyes. I mean like a vermilion, a deep one."
She blushed for little bit before pondering my question. "I'd say about 1 in every 5000 ponies. Red eyes are said to have descended from a child of Sombra, Lumen, I think his name was. Why do you ask?" As she said this, she looked me in the eye and she took a step back. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it... It was just impulse, I'M SORRY!"
"Twilight! Twilight snap out of it!" I said shaking her back and forth, but she was just sobbing as if something terrible had happened. Thinking it was me I turned and shut my eyes. Her sobs slowed down, and I heard swallow thickly. I turned back around, with my eyes still covered. "Better?"
"Y-yes... Spike you still there?" She said Spike gave a concerned look at his sister. He was a doggo now, which was a little weird, but whatever. She turned away long enough for me to uncover my eyes, and she stuffed him in the backpack.
......
Backpack? My eyes widened as I turned and just I did, that horrid sound came from the building sitting in front of us.
BBBRRRRRIIIIIIIING!!!
"AW HELL!"
Author's Note
*When I say this, I mean he wasn't in the PH form during the whole fiasco, he is still in human form here.
