My Little Tactics

Chapter Forty Six: We aren’t in Equestria anymore Or Truth or Dare: Wildcard Style.

Tink tink tink the sound of the bell of the uniquely shaped building called out as the door opening caused it to alert those inside. “I am sorry but we are closed today for a private gathering. If you wish to book an appointment, please refer to the calendar outside as I am currently booked up for a good while.”

“It’s me Rarity.” The Lord of the Everfree called out after hearing her voice. “I was told we were meeting up here, that still true?”

Entering the main foyer the Prim and proper pony smiled and waved him over. “Ahh the human of the hour, come on in dear, we are just waiting for one more to join us and then we will be ready.”

As he entered the living area of the seemstress’ home he spotted Twilight already seated next to a white board, Fluttershy looking sternly at Angel bunny, Rainbow Dash looking bored and tapping her hind hoof waiting for things to start, Applejack munching on an apple, that just left the one missing as Pinkie Pie as Rarity took up a seat on her fainting couch. “Seems like we are all here, except for Pinkie.” Dustan said as he started to take a seat.

“Oh I am here.” Pinkie called out appearing from inside of Dustan’s t-shirt, at the neck causing him to shout in surprise and possibly with a few curse words as she leaped up when he fell backwards. “Oh silly Dusty, I am a mare, plus I came from a pony not a dog.”

The fashionista went over to check on the human, or rather what he was wearing. “Must you appear like that darling, stretching the neckline of a shirt like that can positively ruin it though it seems like this material can stretch pretty well, what is it made of Dustan. I assume this is some clothing from the human world you brought back with you?”

Grumbling a bit at the surprise and because Rarity seemed more worried about his clothing then him, he sighed and calmed down. “It’s an expression where I am from Pinkie, and yes Rarity, it’s from my world. I would have to check to see what it’s made of but likely it’s a cotton blend of some kind.”

“Good, now that we are all here. Girls-” Twilight called out and flipped the board around where it stated the same thing the unicorn spoke of. “Whose going to the human world.” Flipping back over, the board now had the six names and a small drawing of each pony as well as a list of pro’s and cons.

“Wasn’t the other side just-” Dash started to speak only for Pinkie to cover her mouth.

“Shh, it’s a Twilight thing.” As she said that though everyone in the room looked towards her. “What? You can say it’s a Pinkie thing but not a Twilight thing for when weird things happen for me but not her? Double standards much?”

“Besides how right Pinkie Pie is about that subject.” Twilight pulled out her little extendable pointer and smiled. “Who is going to the human world. There can only be two extra as Dustan and myself both have to go.” Her horn lit up and simply put a check mark by her name but the marker did move to the other side. “The reason for me is because in case things go wrong with the circle, which I need to once more modify on that side as well, I can help fix it.” Everyone nodded to that. “So two slots are taken two remain. I will go down the list in Alphabetical order and we can see who can go and who can’t. However, remember we will be remaining there for a week, and will need about three days before to get ready so have at least ten or more days on your schedule clear.” The pointer went and pointed to Applejack. “A for Applejack, you are first.”

“Ah would love to go.” Twilight heard that and started to mark down a positive response on the board but was stopped. “You didn’t let me finish sugarcube. Ah would love to go, but with it being spring, the orchard needs some extra TLC to give it that giddy up and go it needs for later. Takin’ off ten days is just a no can do for me partner.”

“Ahh that is too bad.” Putting a line through Applejack’s name they were down to four. “That would mean Fluttershy, you are F so you are next in our names.”

“Oh so soon?” She called out as Angel bunny was now atop of her head resting. “I am so sorry, I can’t go. You see with it being spring time there are all kinds of new little animal friends that have popped up and I have to help them out. I can’t take that time off. Someone has to think about them and take care of them.”

‘Did…did she just hold a grudge?’ He couldn’t help but think but then again what he was planning really had hurt her even if he had not meant for it to be that bad.

Once more the over organized over achiever crossed out a name. “Two down three to go. That means Pinkie, you are next as P comes before R.”

“Normally, having a fun time in another world would be like, right up there at the top of my list.” Pinkie started only for Twilight to face-hoof.

“I can sense a ‘but’ in there.” She groaned a bit.

Nodding quickly Pinkie smiled. “Oh wow you knew what I was going to say. Sometimes even I don’t know that, are you psychic Twilight? What am I thinking now?”

“Ah don’t think Twilight is psychic Pinkie, if she was then she would have known our answers and wouldn’t need this meeting right?” AJ’s logic was flawless to where even Pinkie couldn’t Pinkie her way around it.

“Right right. Hmm what was I saying?” The group call of Pinkie made her giggle and smile. “Right, its just after Estrus week there are a ton of possible new ponies that will need parties, plus not to mention congratulation parties, baby showers, there might be some weddings as herds form and more. I have so much planning to do, I just don’t have time.”

Nodding Twilight turned to the board and went to mark her off as well as everypony was looking at the unicorn Dustan noticed it. Pinkie looked at him and slightly looked away when he met her gaze. Her ears went back and her hoof rubbed against her chair, she was still a bit embarrassed about things and wasn’t ready for a trip like that with him. That was a shame too; he thought that would have been fun with her.

“Alright Rarity, you are next.” Twilight called out but got a bit of an interruption.

“Wait hold on.” Dash called out and pointed. “Both our names start with R, how come she gets to go first. Wouldn’t I get to go before because R A I versus R A R?”

“If you think about it that way you are right.” That got a triumphant ‘ha!’ to come from the speedster as Twilight smiled. “Except that isn’t how I organized it. You name is Rainbow Dash, or RD for your initials. Rarity’s initials are RB for Rarity Belle.”

Crossing her forelegs in front of her the pegasus puffed out her cheeks. “Right, I forgot about that.”

“It’s ok Darling. I don’t use my last name very often as just having the name Rarity is kind of a trademark as well.” She flipped her mane back as she said that, as if posing for a camera that couldn’t be seen, she looked towards Twilight. “I am free for those days and have no plans Twilight. I would love to go.”

Tilting his head he held up a hand. “But when I came in you called out you were busy for a while.”

She waved him off and smiled. “Oh Dustan, I was busy cause I am going to the human world, didn’t you hear?” He held up a finger to say something except he never got the chance. “I already knew about Applejack and Fluttershy’s commitments. Pinkie was a wild card admittedly that I didn’t plan on, but I figured it would be her and I.”

“Wait why not me?” Dash called out flapping from her seat and hovering over to Rarity. “Why didn’t you consider me?”

“Because dear of what you are doing.” That got a confused look from almost everyone except for Twilight.

“I don’t get it, why would her pouting stop her from going?” Pinkie asked only to have Dash turn on her and point.

“I am not pouting!” She then proceeded to do her best pouting not pouting expression to ever pout a non pout.

“She means flying Pinkie.” Again all in the room were confused except Twilight and Rarity. “Magic on Earth is much weaker then it is here. Harmonic magic like what unicorns use to use their spells, earth ponies for their connection to the world and strength, and for Pegasi their ability to manipulate weather and their ability to fly. All of these are a lot harder there.” Looking to the full spectrum pony she told her. “Flying on Earth would be like trying to fly here with a full body weighted suit on.”

Rainbow Dash puffed out her cheeks again and looked at them both. “Well the others can’t make it and there is a free slot so I am going.” While not the best reason, she was right.

“Guess that solves things then, though I don’t know why you needed me here for that Twilight.” Dustan told her as he pointed out the board. “Seems to me you had it pretty well taken care of.”

Nodding the unicorn smiled and tapped her pointer to him. “True, for that part, but now we are moving onto the other part. Now that we know who all is coming, we can plan a bit better on what to do while there as well as ask you any questions we want.”

Rarity held up a hoof and shook her head. “Now now Darling, we already talked about some things didn’t we? We were going to keep them a surprise, but now that we know who is coming with we have to tell Dash what we had planned.”

“Oh right, guess we didn’t need you here after all. Sorry about that.” She told him sounding apologetic and with a blush of embarrassment on her face.

“Alright then, Imma head out, take good care to pack up and such but don’t bring too much.” He’d point towards the purple maned posh pony. “Looking at you Rarity.”

As he was leaving he heard one of the girls called out. “Oh, we should have a slumber party before you three go.”

“Oh, we should a slumber party before you three go.” Pinkie suggested with a smile. She may not be able to go but doesn’t mean she couldn’t spend some time with her friends in another fun way.

The cow-pony gave a smile and gesture towards her that Pinkie knew meant, good idea. “That is a good idea sugarcube. We had not had one of those in, Ah don’t remember.”

“Plus it means we can ask you three questions or for souvenirs since we can’t go ourselves.” Spoke the timid one of the group. “Oh if that isn’t too much trouble I mean. Don’t go out of your way on my account.”

“Not at all Fluttershy, and it’s a good idea. How about it, are you girls free tomorrow? We can have it at the library.” Twi told her as she looked to everypony. Pinkie nodded knowing she was free as did Rarity having made time for all that anyways.

“Ah suppose, might lose a bit of time in the fields but nothing that Mac can’t handle.” The apple tamer speculated.

Rainbow Dash pumped out her hooves as if throwing a couple of punches. “I have to clear a few clouds tomorrow and find someone to cover my shifts for a week, but that night? Sure.”

“I am sure Harry can handle any issues for a night.” Pinkie almost missed her shy friends answer with how quiet it was.

Pinkie got up at that as it seems that was it for the meeting, though she did half want to stick around to listen to Rarity and Twilight’s plans as they shared them with Dashie, but she supposed she would hear all about it anyways. She had some plans of her own to start working on. It went against some mare codes but again they were needed. She knew just how to do it as well, a sleep over meant games, she had just the one in mind.

The day, or rather the night, of the sleep over came quickly. Pinkie showed up wearing pajama’s themed like a bunny rabbit complete with long floppy ears, which she knew Fluttershy would just love. She had her sleeping bag, and a saddle bag of items all carefully planned. Tonight would be different, but hopefully in a good way for the long run.

Knocking on the door it opened with Spike carrying his own bag. “Go ahead Pinkie, the only one missing besides you is Rarity, who always shows up-”

“-Fashionably late of course darling.” The mare in question said as she had her own sleeping bag as well as saddlebag of items with her. “That means we are all here, let’s go in and have a good night Spike. Oh and thank you again for agreeing to watch the boutique and Sweetie Belle for me while I am gone.”

She gave him a kiss to his forehead and Pinkie giggled a bit as she watched the dragon break the laws of physics as he floated off with hearts in his eyes. ‘Note to self, either try to see if Rarity is holding out for when he is older, or make her see reason not to lead him on. That isn’t fair.’

Shaking her head as that wasn’t in the plans for tonight, she joined Rarity heading inside. All the other girls were already inside and all were either laying out their bags in the center of the main floor or already grabbing snacks that were being laid out. Pulling a bowl out of her own pack she proceeded to pour a ton of candy and junk food out as she smiled.

“Oh nice, trust Pinkie to bring the good stuff!” Dashie called out as she went and grabbed a few sour gummy fruits.

With that Twilight came back with drinks for everyone as Pinkie took up the Lemonade that was served to her, one of her favorite drinks. “Alright girls, do we want to talk about the trip first or games?”

“We can do both!” Pinkie called out with a smile and pulled out a bunch of blank cards. “While we are talking about the trip we can write on these.” As she handed out the two sets of cards to each pony going around and around till they were all handed out, leaving each pony with three of each set she smiled.

On the back was a word for each set, one that was known to all pony kind. “Truth or Dare? I am in for that, but why the cards?”

“Indeed, I am just as confused as Rainbow Dash.” Rarity called out just after the speedster asked her question.

“It’s for what I like to call Truth or Dare: Wildcard Edition. You see we all write down a truth or dare depending on the card we are on, and once we fill them all out, we shuffle them all together, keeping the truths together and the dares together. We then set up in a circle but leave a space open where the cards rest and something to represent the Joker.” She pulled out a teddy bear at that. “As we spin the bottle to determine who goes next its played like normal. However if you land on the Joker, any truth or dare you call out is applied to everyone, including yourself. Then when it’s the Joker’s turn to spin the pony who it lands on chooses a dare or truth card.” Pulling out a bottle she gave it a pretend spin and landed it on the Joker bear. “If I called out truth and said tell us your age. Everypony here would need to call out their age in order. Then after that I would spin and if it landed on you Rarity you would draw a truth card or dare card.”

“That…sounds awesome!” Rainbow exclaimed as she rubbed her hooves together. “I have some nice questions to ask everyone and some really fun dares.”

Fluttershy clapped at this as well. “Oh it would be nice to have everypony answer a question instead of just one being forced to answer.”

“Ah’m in as well. Ah aint no yellowbelly.” Applejack called out and thrust her chest out confidently.

It seems like that was the plan so much so that everypony got quiet when writing down their suggestions. No one even thinking about asking questions for the trip coming in a couple of days or making requests. Once all the cards were filled out, they were put in front of the bear and shuffled into their respective piles.

“Since this is wildcard edition, wildcard goes first.” Pinkie called out as they all formed a circle leaving room for the bear properly. Pinkie gave the bottle a nice spin and around it went.

As the bottle landed on its target, said target eeped out. “Oh me first, I’m so nervous.” Shy whispered out as she reached towards the teddy. “Excuse me Mr. Bear I need a truth card.” As she turned the card over she read out loud. ‘Tell everyone the name of the first creature you gave a kiss to romantically’ as she read that she went red in the face. “Oh my!”

“Fluttershy, if you don’t want to answer you can take a dare card instead, but you have to do the dare.” Fluttershy heard Pinkie and bit her lip.

Her hoof reached out for a moment but drew back. “It was Big Mac I am sorry Applejack.”

The farm pony went wide eyed at that “Woah nelly, say that again.”

Pinkie Pie also didn’t know about this as she looked to the now red faced pegasus. “I umm, I was new to Ponyville at the time having just moved in to my cottage, I had just met Big Mac and didn’t even know he had a sister or sisters at the time. We got along and ended up going on a couple of dates and I may…maybe have kissed him.” Everypony was shocked to hear this none of them had known, even Rainbow Dash who was her best friend had her mouth opened in shock. “It didn’t last long as I was too timid to talk at all and he doesn’t like to talk and the silence was a bit too heavy. When we did talk it ended up being about different or random things and we found we were just a bit too different.”

The party pony coughed a bit having gotten way more then she thought out of that card, as it was one that she wrote. “Wow-wy, that was a doozy of an opener. Go ahead Fluttershy, spin.”

“Oh right.” She gave the bottle a spin but it barely made one rotation before landing on Pinkie herself. “Oh Pinkie, truth or dare?”

“Dare of course!” She bounced up on her little rabbit feet as she did so.

Thinking for a moment the caretaker of animals finally called out. “Hop like Angel bunny until it comes back to you or it lands on the Joker.”

Ponking was second nature to her so it was no trouble. “Okey doki Loki.” She turned around and used her tail to spin the bottle, but this is where she may have cheated just a tiny bit. It landed on the Joker Bear. “Oh nice, I am the first one with the Joker, but that means I have to stop hopping, sorry Fluttershy.”

She took it in stride though and smiled to her friend. “Oh it’s no problem.”

It took Pinkie a second to think of how to word her question but she got it. “Ok, its truth. Name something you did during this Estrus Season.” Pointing to Twilight at the head of the group Pinkie smiled. “You first Twilight, then Applejack, and so on clockwise till we get to the joker.”

Twilight as well as some others went red in the face but it was her that caught the loophole that she left, as suddenly the red vanished as she became thoughtful. “Hmm I read through a few books honestly.”

Pinkie was looking forward to seeing Applejack lie as she thought the face she made doing so was funny. “Beyond bucking some trees, I spent time with my shower head.” She was not prepared as she spit her lemonade out in shock. “What? It’s got this nice rotating head with a pulsing water setting that just is nice for that time.”

“Darling how can you say it so candidly, what a lady does in the privacy of her bathroom is her business.” The fashion mare said her face also bright red.

“What, it’s the truth and that was the question. Nothing to be ashamed at we all do it, just in different ways.” Rarity sputtered and looked away.

“Well I snuck to the castle and watched the shows that Dusty put on for everyone.” It was true it was one of the things she did, which was the loophole. She didn’t have to say everything, just something.

“PINKIE!” several ponies shouted.

“Oh please, you all know me, I almost always have super light times.” Again true but not the full truth. It didn’t answer the untold question that was there.

Clearly nearly everypony was now thinking dirty thoughts so now their minds went to that particular time. “Well um. My time this time wasn’t light so I may have stolen a small bit of a thunder head and spread it out in the bedding of my cloud home so that when I umm…well rubbed, it gave this nice shock.”

For once no pony spoke all metaphorically shocked, to silence. Rainbow Dash quickly grabbed herself a drink and sucked down a good large bit trying to stem the heat in her face. It didn’t work.

Fluttershy broke the silence with her soft voice clearly heard with the absence of sound. “My time was really light so I didn’t notice much of a difference this time. Plus taking care of my animal friends took my mind off things.” Everypony in the room went red in the face except Fluttershy though it didn’t last long as she looked her friends curiously for a moment before going red herself. “N-no I don’t mean like that, I meant you know feeding and caring.”

“Well if we are all going to be embarrassing ourselves like this.” Clearing her throat Rarity spoke. “I have this roll of Neighpon silk tucked away out of sight in my basement that is sinfully soft to the touch. Emphasis on the sin part as you can imagine.”

Pinkie’s question had been more explosive in results then she had anticipated having not even come close to what she thought. She shrugged out of the PJ’s as they were suddenly too hot and stuffy to remain on. Since she had landed on the Joker she had to spin for the next pony. The bottle landed on the prismatic pony herself. This one wasn’t tampered; Pinkie was looking forward to it.

“I will take a dare after that last one.” Reaching forward for a card she pulled it up. “Aw really?” Rolling her eyes she then read the card out loud. “Paint your hooves in your least favorite shade.” Looking over to Rarity she asked. “Mind helping me out here Rarity?”

“Sure thing, what is your least favorite color.” She asked as she pulled out a makeup kit with all the essentials.

Looking to Pinkie she chuckled. “Its pink. No offense Pinkie.”

That made the party pony of that color curious. “Why?”

“Simple, it’s not in a rainbow. Rainbooms, working with rainbows, rainbow in my mane, I have learned to enjoy all the colors out there, but pink isn’t in a rainbow. Then again neither are black or white but you see those colors everywhere normally.” Rainbow’s answer was honest and she could tell that her best friend meant nothing bad by it, plus it made sense to her.

“Hold on Rarity, let me spin and you can ugh, paint me.” Spin, spin, spin, the bottle went, until it landed on Mr. Bear himself as the joker got pulled up. “Alright, I know just what to say too, but first Rarity finish painting these plus we can use a small break right girls?” Everypony was nervous as it landed on the bear, after what happened last time and the answers given out. “Oh and girls, as a heads up, I am choosing truth so be prepared.”

Not a single face didn’t blanch at that.

Dustan Warner, Lord of the Everfree, one of the largest singly owned lands if not the largest looked out of his window. His little town was growing and growing, spread out past the original ruins of the castle now he liked to imagine that in its hay day this is what it looked like for the area. After all a castle like this wouldn’t be just by itself, a town would spring up out around it because ponies flocked to one another and to power. It was just the way of things. Did this mean he was successful? No, not yet. Looking over the town his worry had grown since the time at the library as now he knew an answer to an issue of his.

What had uprooted the plants that kept beasts away. Tirek, Tirek was the answer. Goblins didn’t know about them and wouldn’t figure it out as they were not the brightest bunch. Tirek had a decent amount of intelligence to him and to hide away from ponies for so long while he built up his strength would mean he was observant to keep from being caught. He would have definitely noticed the plants it would also explain the weirdly patterned hoof marks. See that is where the problem lay. At the moment he should be very vulnerable, not able to put up much of a fight and looking to feed off the magic of anything he could to build up his strength.

Beyond the plants though there hasn’t been any signs of him. Dustan didn’t want to increase patrols more than they already had for two reasons, both of which he hated. The first was he didn’t want to put his people in danger more so then they already were in their patrols, he also couldn’t warn them as it would require him to put out knowledge that he knew and he had some questions about his Discord knowledge that so far had not come back. The second problem came with how trained his guards were. If he sent them out with how weak Tirek was there is a chance they would just take him down. Tirek was a major event in the show and Dustan was trying to judge if it was worth the risk or not He half considered going out himself and taking care of the centaur.

No, he couldn’t, he would let this play out, plus he didn’t know where to look. Tirek was good at hiding after all. No, this was something that would have to play out even if Dustan didn’t want it to as he didn’t have a choice.

The girls all got back from getting more drinks, the bathroom, and or just taking a moment to both calm and prepare themselves. Rainbow Dash now had pink hooves as she looked at her friends with a grin similar to a cat who had just cornered a mouse. She knew, oh she knew, that she had her friends squirming and she was happy to see it.

As the girls sat Pinkie was the last to be seated as was worried about possibly spilling out what had happened with Dustan she gulped. “Ok girls, you ready?” As Dash asked that she got various mutterings of yes though reluctantly. “Since we are already about embarrassing each other this time around, the truth I want everypony to answer is this. When you had ‘private time’ to yourself, who or what did you think about during that?”

Everypony in the room went red down to their necks, and even though it was her question Rainbow Dash wasn’t immune to sporting some red on her face. All faces turned towards the first in the order, of which was shrinking down in her seat some. She opened and closed her mouth a few times to answer the question but couldn’t seem to do it.

“Hey Pinkie, if someone doesn’t answer a Joker Question what happens?” It was AJ who asked but it was a valid question.

‘Oh, I didn’t think about that. Hmm.’ Thought Pinkie though she didn’t show her mistake on her face she called out. “We um…we can’t. If it’s told to the Joker, since it applies to the owner as well, it’s something that everypony has to do.” Pinkie had naturally just assumed everyone would do it so had not considered that someone might not, which would harm her plans.

“It was Starswirl ok, there!” Twilight buried her head down on the ground under her hooves.

The chuckle that got from Dash was a bit evil as she followed that up with. “I didn’t know you wanted to be filled with knowledge that badly Twi.” Twilight wasn’t the only one to groan at that but she was the only one that buried her head under a pillow.

Applejack, like before, had no shame on this one. “Ah didn’t imagine any particular stallion, more a kind of faceless stand in. Somepony strong, large, enough to make me feel small, and packing.” She shivered a bit at that last bit, Pinkie was learning that when it came to things like this Applejack was likely the one most open about herself weirdly.

“That’s boring, I wanted specifics. Fine, your turn Pinkie.” Dash called out.

Now it was Pinkie’s turn as ponies were turning and expecting an answer and suddenly her face was on fire. She realized who it was that she last thought about, and given the circumstances who wouldn’t. Remembering who it was also called back every image and feeling of recent time.

“It…it was um…” Pinkie firmed herself up. “It was Dustan, him holding and petting you is nice, or so I would think.”

“Yeah I could see that.” Dashie called out as her blush came on strong. “I mean he is big, strong, so having him holding you like, yeah, I could see that.”

There it was, there was Pinkie’s opening, it came in the form of two spreading wings. “What about you Dashie? Who did you last think about while you had your electric bed?”

“Oh I um…kinda flip flopped between a few, Soarin was among them though.” She knew it, because she had urged her on a bit quicker then she wanted and in the midsts of thinking of things, her prepared answer was forgotten.

It was time to press except it didn’t come from her as another pony beat her to the punch. “Oh, I figure it would have been Dustan as well. You liked Pinkie’s answer so much and you like to hang around him.” It was Twilight who started it, but not her who finished.

“Not to mention darling you often absolutely go red in the face talking to him.” Rarity commented.

“Plus your wings, they are often getting stiff around him, or so I remember you complaining to me before.” Even Fluttershy went in on it.

Laughing a bit and giving a knowing look to Rainbow Dash Applejack joined in almost giving the finishing blow. “Plus there is that time I caught you napping in one of my apple trees and I woke you up cause I heard you mention his name.”

The finisher didn’t come from Pinkie though, even if she was ready, no it came from the last source she thought it would come from. “Look you girls are reading too much into it!” Dash called out to them. “Sure as I said he is big and strong. He cares not just for ponies but everyone. He wants to protect anyone he can and is willing to get hurt to do so.” It was almost a bit sad that she did this to Dash but she had set it up for this to happen. Said Pegasus’ voice was growing softer as she was looking down at the ground drawing patterns with her hooves. “If you need a friend he has your back, wouldn’t do anything to harm his friends. The way his fingers feel when he pets you and how secure he makes you feel when he holds you. How there are days when you don’t think about him at least once.”

“Dashie.” Pinkie’s voice seem to break the little place that her friend went to there.

Suddenly looking up at Pinkie and the rest the Pegasus’ wings shot fully out as her eyes went wide and her lip trembled a bit. “Oh.” There it was. There was the realization Pinkie had set up the truth or dare game for. “I like him don’t I?”

Truth or Dare: Wildcard Edition stopped there and then as the girls all went to comfort a friend who realized a truth that many of them already knew or suspected. For friendship and comradely, the sleepover was a success as was Pinkie’s plan, even if she felt bad for bending the Mare’s Code for going out of her way to help Dash realize her feelings. After all it hurt to not realize one’s feelings till they were too late and no pony wanted that.

“Order, you have everything taken care of for the week?” He asked his new secretary as the Zebra hybrid just smiled and gave him the pony equal of a thumbs up from his new desk. It literally had just arrived that morning and the stallion was very much excited and was fawning all over it. He definitely was a weird one but who was Dustan to judge.

The only thing he had told the swirl patterned pony was that he was going away on a trip for a week and wouldn’t be back. Order had been happy to hear that which at first confused the Lord of the Everfree, but when Order said it meant he was trusted to hold down the fort, it made more sense. Especially because it was true, Order was likely one of the friendliest ponies he knew and greeted everyone that passed him. The Zebra hybrid was still getting used to the use of everyone, anyone, and no one, but he was coming around to it liking the connotation behind it more than the exclusive everypony, anypony, no pony, versions.

Having grabbed his pack of items, a normal pack as he still wasn’t sure if his bag of holding would work properly or even be ok with a teleport like this, Dustan smiled and gave a bit of a whistle for a tune along the lines of follow the yellow brick road. He was the first to arrive at the Library judging by the fact that Spike was still there, little guy had to watch two places for a week, he didn’t feel envious of him. Spike wanted to see them off but part of the deal of taking care of the house meant taking care of Sweetie Belle as well, so he was just leaving the treebary to go cook her breakfast for school as well as pack her lunch. The little guy had it bad for Rarity for sure and this showed it.

Speaking of, Rarity was the second to show up seeming rather miffed that she wasn’t last to claim fashionably late, though she did correct that. “I always arrive fashionably on time. Sometimes ponies just think that it’s fashionably late and who am I to change their minds.”

Dustan only heard excuses but chuckled regardless. For the final passenger on this trip across the multiverse she showed up thirty minutes later and had all the cuteness to blush when making her excuse. To be fair it was a valid excuse.

“Sorry I am late, I may have been too excited to sleep thinking about things and overslept as a result.” He found it adorable; she was blushing out of embarrassment and couldn’t even look anyone in the eyes.

Twilight smiled as she waved everyone with her hoof. “Alright, down to the basement we go everyone. I have adjusted the circle quite a bit, inlaid some things and engravings and more. I adjusted it since Estrus Week even more and for now I can confidently say Dustan you and I using this won’t have any problems, might feel a bit tired but it will vanish quickly. Though I will have to do the same for the other side, it won’t be an issue.”

In the, rather clean, basement Dustan could see what she meant as she now had an area dedicated all its own to the circle and its research. Before Dustan had to squeeze in a bit with Twilight to fit, but this circle was quite a bit larger and should fit four no problem. Five would need to squeeze a bit, for six and seven, would be how well they could squeeze together. That wasn’t an issue this time, but he could see where Twilight wanted to go with it for sure.

“Ok, is everyone ready?” The registered Magister asked as she looks to everyone who was climbing up to stand on the teleport platform.

“Ready here.” Dustan said shifting his pack once more.

Rarity’s saddlebags as well as two other bags, wheeling bags like one would see people dragging in an airport, gave a nod. “All ready when you are Twilight.”

Rainbow Dash’s embarrassment vanished as she stood up on hind legs for a moment. “Not being able to fly is going to suck for sure, but being one of the first ponies to go to another world, aww yeah I am ready for that.” As she settled back down she smiled as her bags jingled. “I asked Fluttershy to take care of Tank for me so I don’t have to worry about that.”

Twilight started to light up her horn. “Ok, on the count of three hold your breath, I think it will help. One, Two, Three.”

Of course, someone had to say it, that someone being Dash. “Wait, on three or-”

The four of them vanished from the face of the world.

Earth, Patrick’s house, specifically a shed built around the original teleport pad. From the outside only a flash of light would happen as if someone took a picture, followed by a crash and the sound of groaning. Voices could be heard sounding groggy but the worst one sounded sick.

“Rainbow Dash I told you to hold your breath that it would help.” Twilight ‘s voice could be heard.

“Dustan Darling, I think your elbow is pressing into my back.” She told him gently though sounding pained.

Groaning himself and trying to work out what was where. “Actually that is my knee, my elbow is currently propping up one of Dash’s wings and the other is I think at Twilight’s neck? I can’t really see so I am not sure.”

“I think I am gonna be sick.” A very displeased Rainbow called out.

“I told you to hold your breath, now hold something else in!” Twilight called out slightly panicked.

“Nope, too late Urp!” What followed were the sounds of a very displeased pegasus stomach and the upset sounds of her friends.

Author's Note

Here we are, back at earth, this time with more then one pony. If I had a Pinkie Sense I would say shenanigans are about to happen.

Oh Oh, I have Pinkie Sense, I could tell you what happens if you-mmph

Clasping a hand over her mouth he looked at her with a bit of a glare. "No, No spoilers!"