The world seemed frozen as Octavia and the drunken stallion beheld Laura. But it wasn't the girl they were focused on.

It was the metallic claws sticking out of her hands, shining in the moonlight.

As for Laura, a flood of memories washed over her mind when she felt the sensation of her claws cutting through her skin when she unsheathed them. Though not everything came back.

What she did remember was her childhood, or lack thereof, and the hell it was. Xander Rice's treatment of her, the kindness from her mother and sensei, her loss of them, her escape, finding the man who's DNA she was cloned from, and some of her adventures afterward.

She now remembered why she couldn't entirely say she had a father and brother, along with the drama from the situation.

Unfortunately, she couldn't recall any other things, including the most recent events that landed her in this reality.

Fortunately though, she did remember being the best in a certain skill set, like her "father." And assholes like this stallion were usually the first to learn of this.

"What the hell?!" the stallion exclaimed in confusion as he stumbled back slightly, the moonlight allowing him to see the claws and what bore them.

Laura bared her teeth and growled at the stallion.

"Leave."

She wouldn't kill him. Most like him weren't worth it, and it wouldn't be in her best interest to kill a local of a world she just entered. Plus, you could do a lot to someone without killing them. She was trained to remember such things during her time in the facility.

"No hairless ape.....cat thing is gonna boss me around!"

The stallion lowered his head and charged forward to head-butt Laura. The alcohol was clearly still impairing his ability to think rationally. Laura maintained her stance, letting the stallion get closer and closer.

As soon as he was in reach, Laura jerked a knee up, hitting the stallion in the chin hard, stopping him in his run. As he stumbled back in a daze, she pulled her right arm to the left and swung it right, slashing the stallion's cheek. Right after the slash, she sheathed her left claws and punched the stallion in the same side she had made the cut, sending him to the wall.

All three moves only took a few seconds.

The stallion groaned as he got up, only to be sent back down when he received a kick to the head. He then found himself slammed against the wall, a hand on his throat and Laura looking down at him furiously, her other hand drawn back with her claws out.

"Leave" she growled, her eyes boring into his fear filled ones.

"As a stallion."

Suddenly a SNIKT was heard and the stallion felt something tracing up his leg.

"Or a mare."

His eyes went wide as he released a small whimper.

"Stallion! Stallion!"

And with that, Laura retracted her foot claw and threw the stallion aside. He quickly scrambled to his hooves and ran out of the alley.

Laura spit at the ground in disgust after the stallion had left. And then it occurred to her that her new acquaintance was still there.

She turned around and saw Octavia standing there, her eyes wide and mouth open in shock.

Laura noticed where exactly Octavia was looking and followed her gaze. She realized she was looking at her claws and looked back up, slightly worried, quickly sheathing them.

"L-Laura..." Octavia said in confusion "What....What are-? Were those metal-?"

"Octy!"

Laura and Octavia looked to see Vinyl running toward them, unaware she had arrived in time to see Laura attack the stallion.

"Get away from her!"

Laura turned to face the incoming unicorn and steeled herself for another confrontation. Octavia rushed forward only to be held back by Laura.

"Vinyl wait!"

Laura growled, ready to deliver another blow, only to become startled when Vinyl disappeared in a flash of purple. She suddenly found herself forced forward as she heard Octavia exclaim in surprise.

She spun around to see that the unicorn was now between her and Octavia, facing her down, staring daggers through her purple glasses.

So unicorns could teleport.

Teleport.

That word resonated in Laura's mind. It had something to do with how she came to be here, but that was all she could discern. She filed it away and focused on her new opponent.

"Don't you dare touch my marefriend....whatever you are!"

Marefriend? So then she and Octavia were a couple?

A quick look at the unicorn's appearance made her skeptical of that.

"Vinyl, stop! Laura won't hurt me! Or you! At least I hope not..."

"Of course she will! You saw what she did to- What did you say?"

"I said she won't hurt-"

"No, you said.....Laura. You know her?"

"Yes. Well, sort of. I just met her. And I know she won't hurt me because she just saved me from that disgusting drunk before he could take advantage of me."

The last statement made Vinyl look at Octavia in shock and anger. She then turned back to regard Laura and raised her head, relaxing her stance. Laura also relaxed after a moment, sensing that there would be no danger.

Vinyl used her magic to raise her glasses above her eyes. "You....saved Octavia?"

Laura gave her a nod in response.

The unicorn looked back to her marefriend, who looked at her with a smile before also nodding. She looked back to Laura for a moment with softness in her eyes.

"Thank you" she said genuinely.

"Yes, thank you Laura" Octavia said right after.

Something went off in Laura's mind and she looked to the side, seeing Octavia's thrown case. She rushed to it and righted it before starting to open it.

"My cello!" Octavia exclaimed "I had completely forgotten in all the commotion!"

Laura saw no clear damage once she got the case open but looked to Octavia, silently asking for her input. Octavia quickly joined her and began inspecting her instrument.

Thankfully there appeared to be no damage sustained, the cello only having shifted a slight bit and the bow having slipped off one of its knobs, which was easily fixed.

"It's okay" Octavia assured, mostly to herself, before turning to Laura and placing a hoof on her shoulder "Thank you for checking on it."

Octavia closed the case and placed it on her back again before turning to Vinyl, who was watching Laura a little unsurely.

"Vinyl" Octavia said as she stepped to Vinyl and placed a hoof on her "She needs our help."

"No kidding" Vinyl replied before Octavia could continue "We're gonna have to sneak her out of the city and fast. I'm sure that jackass would run right to the cops, who'll probably arrest her right after looking at her. What is she anyway?"

"She's a human, and my goodness you're right. If the police get a hold of her, she'd probably end up in some lab under observation right away. We should play it safe. We need to get to the train station back to Ponyville, quickly."

"Human? Like Lyra's always ranting about before Bon Bon shoves her hoof in her mouth? Cool."

"Mutant."

Octavia and Vinyl turned to Laura in confusion, the latter hearing her speak for the first time.

"Mutant?"

"Even cooler."

"Is that why you have those-? We'll talk about it later" Octavia said with an exasperated head gesture "Just follow us Laura. Oh but it would be problematic if you're seen with us."

"I think she's got that covered babe."

Octavia looked to Vinyl and saw that she was looking up. She followed her gaze to see Laura was climbing the fire escape of one of the buildings. When she reached the top of the railing, she popped her claws and dug them into the wall, using them to help her climb the remaining distance to the roof.

Laura disappeared for a quick second before her upper half popped up from the roof, looking down at the pair. She looked left, right, and back down, conveying that they lead the way.

"Oh. Very well then."

"We should hoof it. The train's gonna get there and leave without us if we don't."

"Indeed. Let's be off then."

The two mares broke into a quick gallop with Laura following them, running and jumping across the rooftops. During the journey, with her memories mostly restored, a thought came to Laura.

Kitty and Jubilee would probably love to be in a place like this, with so many "adorable" ponies. Her father......probably not.

The trio made it to the station right before the train arrived, but they were faced with a new dilemma.

"Crap. We can't really get her a ticket with so many ponies around" Vinyl said from their hiding spot. Laura had joined them in the shadows of the station.

"Blast, you're right. How are we supposed to get her to Ponyville now?"

Laura watched the train as the ponies began boarding it and noticed none were going to the last two cars. She pointed to said cars.

"Go" she said before beginning to retreat to the back of the station.

"Wait, you don't expect us to leave you here, do you?"

Laura shook her head. "I'll get on. Go."

"Wha-?"

"She's a mutant Octy, I'm sure she can handle it" Vinyl said before hurrying Octavia along.

The pair made it to the line of boarding ponies, giving the conductor their pre-paid tickets. Octavia chewed her lip nervously, looking back a few times to the station, unable to see Laura.

The young mutant had actually climbed up to the roof from the back, and was waiting as the ponies boarded. She kept an eye on her new friend and her marefriend as they moved through the cars, eventually finding a seat, but in the penultimate car before the two empty ones.

She shook her head while looking up, but deciding she would deal with it soon enough. The conductor closed the door and called out to the front. The train's whistle sounded, the signal for Laura to get ready.

She stepped back until she reached the end of the roof. She stood there with her legs tensed as the train started to move, waiting for it to pick up some speed.

Once the train was about to start really moving, she charged forward and began a quick run to the other side of the roof. Once she reached the end, she placed a foot on the edge and pushed with just enough force.

"I still don't see her Vinyl" Octavia said worriedly as she peered out the window again.

"Octy, you gotta relax" Vinyl attempted to soothe her "Whatever she's gonna do, I'm sure it'll work."

"Well I just wish she could've told us whatever it was she was plan-"

THUD

Octavia and Vinyl slowly looked up to where the noise had originated from. They became worried as the other ponies surely noticed.

"Darn owls" a unicorn stallion said, quelling their worry "That's the fifth time I've heard one. Must be some mice or rats on the roof attracting them."

Octavia and Vinyl meanwhile continued to look up at the ceiling.

"No. She didn't just..."

"I'm starting to like this chick more and more."

"This isn't funny Vinyl!" Octavia hissed quietly "She could fall off and seriously hurt herself. Can't you....go up there maybe? Teleport out and teleport in with her?"

"And risk that rushing wind messing up my hair?"

The look Octavia gave her screamed an indignant "Really?" as she looked at her marefriend's mane.

"Hey, this is an intentional mess. And also, you want me to risk my life like her? I thought you cared about me" she said, her last statement jokingly sad.

"I meant a quick flash out and in. Not like I wanted you to stay out there for long.

"We can't just leave her out there."

"Well I'm not that fast babe" Vinyl said regretfully "I'd have to be up there for at least half a minute, maybe a little less. She can hang on with those spikes of hers, which I don't have. I'd probably slip off immediately."

"I suppose you're right. I just wish we could do something."

"I'm sure she'll be fine. Gonna freeze her flank off though. Good thing she has that jacket."

Octavia hummed thoughtfully, settling in besides Vinyl.

A few minutes later, there was a tap on the window. The pair turned to see Laura's upside down head looking at them, her hair blowing in the wind. She was using all her claws to hang on to the train.

"Oh!" Octavia exclaimed, not expecting what she had seen, which caught the attention of the other passengers. Octavia turned to look at them with wide eyes, realizing what she had done. When she turned back, Laura was gone.

"Um...thought I saw a bat through the window" she announced nervously "Couldn't really tell with the dark."

"Might've been another of those blasted owls" the same unicorn from before said.

"Sorry if I alarmed anyone" Octavia apologized, receiving a few scattered acknowledgements.

After everypony went back to themselves, another tap came from the window. This time Octavia looked, ready to see Laura, who had been watching from the top at an angle so as not to be seen.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack" Octavia hissed at the girl behind the glass.

"Pretty sure she can't hear you babe."

Vinyl recieved a glare in return, though she was right. And while Laura was well versed in how to read lips, that was restricted to human lips. Though she could make out a small amount, and surmised the nature of Octavia's remark.

Through pointing and hand motions, Laura conveyed to them to head to the empty cars to let her in. Vinyl's nod was all she needed as confirmation to get back on the roof to head to the back, much to Octavia's annoyance.

"That was a pretty big bat. And wierd looking too."

"Oh hush" Octavia said to Vinyl's teasing.

"Well! We feel like stretching our legs" Octavia announced as she and Vinyl stood up, attempting to seem normal "So, we're going to have a quick walk to the through the back cars, where we won't disturb anypony!"

"Babe. You gotta chill" Vinyl said in a deadpan voice "Nopony's even paying attention."

"Well, here we go!"

"And you say I embarrass you."

Octavia ignored Vinyl's remark as they made their way to the empty cars. They heard Laura's footsteps as they passed through and could hear the thump of her jumping to the last car. Unfortunately they came to a problem.

"The door to the last car is locked" Octavia said, which Laura managed to hear. She poked her head out from the top of the last car to look down at the pair.

"Crap. Think she should stay in the first one?"

"Too risky" Laura said from above them "Easy fix."

Laura leaned down to check the first empty car before jumping down to the car connection. She then turned to the locked door and popped one claw.

"That looks a bit too large to pick a lock" Octavia noted, only for Laura to slide the claw up the gap of the door, cutting the lock.

"That works" Vinyl said.

"And now, not only have you stowed away and damaged train property, we're now accessories to stowing away and damaging train property."

"Pretty sure that's not a thing. Besides, nopony's gonna know."

Octavia set aside her complaints as her, Vinyl and Laura made their way into the car, closing the door behind them.

Laura took a deep breath as she lightly rubbed her hands.

"Do you want us to get you a blanket?"

"I'm fine" Laura said with a raised hand of reassurance. She then laid down in a seat and curled up.

"Should we come and get you when the train stops?"

Laura shook her head. "I'll get off."

"Alright, if you're sure" Vinyl said, starting to make her way back.

Octavia remained for a few seconds, staring at Laura, who reiterated she'd be fine. Octavia relented and left to catch up with Vinyl.

Laura managed to get some sleep in the half hour it took for the train to reach Ponyville. She awoke at the sound of the whistle, quickly remembering where she was.

She crept out of the car and climbed to the top, hanging on with her claws again. Once the train slowed down, she kept herself flat to avoid being seem, and watched for Octavia and Vinyl.

Octavia placed her case on her back after getting it from the top compartment. She and Vinyl stayed behind at the station while everypony else left, keeping an eye out for Laura, Octavia clearly more so.

Once the train started to move again and nopony was left, she leaped from the train onto the roof of the station. She dropped down from the relatively harmless height to the side of the building, the sound of which alerted her new friends to her presence.

"How did you get here?" Octavia asked, which Laura replied to by pointing up "Of course. Like the first time."

"Everypony should be in bed by now" Vinyl said "You won't have to stick to the shadows much."

"Unfortunately it's a bit too late to visit Princess Twilight. You'll have to stay at our home for the night. I hope you don't mind."

Laura shook her head and followed the mares into town.

She noticed but didn't comment on how their house was split down the middle, each getting their own side modeled in their fashion. It reminded her of a scenario in one of those cheesy sitcoms her friends would occasionally convince her to watch.

"You're free to sleep in Vinyl's old room. She sort of moved into mine since we started dating."

"Yeah. Mi casa, su casa Laura."

"Muchas gracias Vinyl. Te lo agradezco mucho.

"Second language" Laura said to their looks of surprise.

She was given a few spare, rather loose fitting pajamas after being shown to the room.

In the musician's shared bedroom, Octavia exhaled and commented on the crazy night they'd had.

"Yeah, and you know we can make it...a little crazier" Vinyl said before beginning to place kisses on Octavia's neck.

"In your dreams, Vinyl" Octavia replied, lightly pushing her marefriend away.

"Yeah, like half the time. What's your point?"

"It's been a stressful night, a lot happened and I'm tired. I'll make it up to you another time."

"Okay, fine" Vinyl relented with no hint of resentment.

"Thank you" the couple heard through the wall, causing Octavia's cheeks to heat up and Vinyl to snicker.

Laura also released a small laugh upon hearing Vinyl's. She settled into the bed she was provided and closed her eyes. She hoped, as she drifted off to sleep, that this Princess Twilight could help her, and that her remaining memories could return to her soon.

She fell asleep content, not complaining about the friends she had made and the kindness they had shown her.

She could do without the colorful DJ posters lining the walls though.

Author's Note

Scrapped: In the alley, Laura was gonna point to Vinyl, wondering if she could help since she had magic. Octavia would tell her no and that they'd be going to Twilight.