Dimensional Pain

The hurricane winds raged within the room ripping books from the shelves. Princess Twilight Sparkle struggled to remain in the air with the free flowing debris while Cratus and Safari held on to Duo’s tail for dear life. Spike found himself getting lifted into the air, the furious power of the wind strong enough to lift the baby dragon.

“Heeeelp!” Spike cried out as he circled around the room. He suddenly stopped in mid air, a light turquoise glow surrounded him as Starlight caught him within her magic. As she brought him down to her Spike looked at the mirror and the machinery that surrounded it, his eyes focusing on the journal that powered it, resting right above its opening.

“Get me to the journal!” He called down, pointing his claw at the mirror. Starlight struggled to remain on the ground as she looked from the baby dragon to the portal. Realization flashed across her face before giving him a nod of understanding. She levitated Spike towards the mirror just as two more bolts shot out.

Without thinking, Starlight released Spike from her magic to blast one of the bolts with Twilight doing the same. “Whooooooa! Not again!” Spike was blown around the room but thanks to Starlight, he was closer to the machinery. He was taken around the room before getting close enough to grab the top of the machine that rested the journal.

Safari looked up through half closed eyes, books battering against them. “What are you doing?” She shouted as Spike pulled himself towards the journal.

“Shutting the portal down!”

“WHAT!?” Both ponies screamed, Cratus positioning his body over Safari’s to shield her from the books. “What about Duo?”

“What will happen to him?” Safari asked, fearful of the answer.

“I don’t know!” Spike admitted as he inched his way closer to the journal. “But what choice do we have? If more of those portals open up, Equestria’s doomed!” With no compelling argument to offer, Safari barred her face into Cratus’ chest, crying. Cratus looked from Spike to Safari, memories of the time he spent training Duo with her, then to the portal. The three of them grew so close over the days that losing Duo was just too much to bare.

But when the fate of the country hangs in the balance…

Clutching his eyes in anger, the stallion looked back up to Spike with moist eyes and gave the baby dragon a nod of understanding before resting it on Safari’s head, holding her close.

Spike nodded back at the two with a sadness he could understand; having to return the phoenix chick was a difficult task for him. His resolve strengthened Spike pressed on until he placed his claw on the journal. His eyes scanned the room, spotting Twilight shielding herself from the hurricane driven books while intercepting more bolts as Starlight followed suit.

HIs eyes locked with Twilight, who nodded in acknowledgement at what must be done. Spike took a deep breath as his grip on the journal tightened and pulled. The journal remained within the pedestal forcing Spike to try again. Positioning himself onto the pedestal with the journal before him the baby dragon grasped both sides of the offending book, placed his hind claws on the pedestal, and pulled with all his dragon might.

Both the journal and Spike launched into the air, his effort propelling the two away from the mirror.

Straight towards the portal to the hurricane.

“AHHHHH!” Spike cried, still holding the journal.

“SPIKE!” The two horned ponies called out, the flying books impeding their ability to focus in him.

Suddenly, a rainbow streak burst through the door and caught Spike just in time.

“I like the enthusiasm, big guy…”

Spike opened his eyes at the sound of the familiar voice.

“…but flying is SO much easier with wings!” Rainbow Dash finished, flashing Spike her signature grin.

“Rainbow Dash! Where did you come from?” Spike asked as she carried him through the air towards a table, dodging books along the way.

“From town!” Applejack answered with a shout as she and the others ran into the room. The books battered at them forcing Rarity to levitate a table towards them for protection. “Ah portal opened up in town into ah river or somethin. It’s flooding the town!”

Cratus and Safari looked at the door to see the new ponies that had arrived, then at the portal. Despite the removal of the magic journal, the portal remained open. As Spike turned to see the others his gaze past over the mirror, realizing his idea failed. “Ah nuts.” Spike muttered to himself.

“What in Equestria is going on here, Spike?” Rarity inquired as Twilight and Starlight focused on the mirror.

“The Orthros from the Exchange is stuck inside the portal to Sunset’s world. He’s blocking the flow of magic and forcing it back to our world.” Spike quickly explained as he and Rainbow dove under another table.

“Ahh. How come the big doggy is allowed to go through the portal, but we’re not?” Pinkie asked with a pout.

“Now’s not the time, Pinkie!” Twilight shouted. “We need to get this under control now, before more portals open up!” Three bolts fired out the portal, their concussive blasts pushing books away to allow Twilight and Starlight to shoot them. “Rainbow! Can you do anything about this wind?”

“On it!” The multi coloured pegasus replied, shooting out from under the table and began to fly around the room in the opposite direction the winds were blowing.

“Rarity, help us with these bolts!”

“I will do my best, darling.” Rarity crawled out from under the table and joined Starlight. She explained to her how to cast the proper spell in time for another three bolts to launch form the mirror. Confident in her magic Rarity shot at one destroying it.

With a smile of satisfaction as Rainbow blurred past her, Twilight turned to the others. “The rest of you, help Cratus and Safari get the Orthros out of that mirror!”

“Ya’ll heard her, let’s give them ah hoof!” Applejack sprang from under the table with Pinkie and Fluttershy hot on her tail. Cratus and Safari had resumed pulling on Duo’s tail after realizing the portal remained open. Safari released her grip on Duo’s tail.

“I thought removing the journal would close the portal. Why is it still open?”

“Ah don’t rightly know.” Applejack answers when they arrived. “And frankly, ah don’t think it really…”

“I know how!” Pinkie proclaimed as she appeared between the two ponies. “The magic within the portal is so great that it became a self-sustaining wormhole, making the magic from the journal redundant. The excess magic seeps into Twilight’s machine, keeping it running which, intern, feeds back into the mirror, maintaining the magical energy necessary to keep the portal open!”

Every creature present was stunned to silence, despite the roaring wind.

Cratus blinked. “…did that pony just speak in some ancient tongue? Cause I didn’t understand a word she said.”

“That’s Pinkie dialect. You get use to it.” Fluttershy replied, having to raise her voice to just below shouting.

“Basically, the magic from the portal is keeping it open.” Spike said when he joined them, the magic journal still in his claws.

“Then why didn’t she say…” Safari began.

“It doesn’t matter!” Applejack shouted as a rainbow streaked over them. “What matters is gettin that there Orthros outta that mirror!” Applejack bit onto Duo’s tail and pulled, prompting the others to do the same, pulling to get the two headed beast out.

The books started to slowly descend to the floor as Rainbow picked up speed. The rainbow stream flew in a circle, changing her altitude throughout her flight. The hurricanes powerful wind, while still present, was not as impeding as before.

So long as she could keep it up.

Princess Twilight grew tired as she remained in the air. Allowing a moment to examine the room, Twilight couldn’t help but smile as her friends did what they could to help. Starlight and Rarity remained on guard, their eyes never leaving the direction the mirror was in. Rainbow, who was moving so fast she threatened to unleash a Sonic Rainboom inside her castle.

A shiver went down her spine at that thought.

Returning her sight to the mirror, she saw Spike doing his part in getting the two headed trouble maker out of the mess it started. The mirror shot more bolts and as the three magic users intercepted them again, Twilights thoughts went to wondering what Princess Celestia could be doing that prevented her from replying to her message.

Suddenly, the Alicorn had a thought.

“Spike, send a message to Sunset!” Spike looked up at Twilight as she spoke. “Tell her what’s going on over here and that we need help!”

“Got it!” Releasing his hold on Duo, Spike picked up the journal and quill and wrote down what was happening.

“Sunset, hurry!” The strength behind the dragons claw became so great Applejack began to sink into the ground, her feet digging deeper into the concrete.

Sunset Shimmer made her way to the dragons left head. His right head noticed, attempting to stop her as Pinkie’s explosive powers kept the beast distracted while Rainbow spewed insults.

“Come on, dragon! I’m a much more challenging catch then they are!” Meeting his eyes Rainbow flapped her wings hard, just avoid Duo’s flame breath. Missing the airborne girl the flames continued on towards the school building. It would have hit it had it not been for the diamond wall that appeared before it once again.

Rarity sank to her knees once her shield faded away. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” She muttered to herself.

Sunset reached Twilight as she struggled to pull the dragons left head down, sweat dripping from her face. The dragons angry glare shot daggers at the two girls as the purple glow kept it from doing anything else.

“Rrragh! He’s too strong! Grah! I can’t…”

“Yes you can, Twilight!” Sunset interrupted. “Your powerful enough to move mountains! You just have to believe it!”

The two friends shared a look. Twilights eyes harden with renewed vigour, poring everything she had into her magic field currently around the beasts left head. She struggled as the dragon fought against her when a thick block of diamond slammed onto his head, forcing it crashing into the ground.

Sunset and Twilight looked at the schools direction with shocked faces as Rarity had her arms out towards Duo.

“DO IT NOW, SUNSET!” Rarity screamed, her strength fading fast.

With a nod Sunset turned on the downed dragon head and charged, her arm extended out as she reached him. Placing her hand on the drakes snout Sunset Shimmer recognized her powers activation, allowing it to take her to the dragon’s memories.

Her minds eye gazed through a mist like swirl with a rainbow tint at two earth ponies talking with each other. The smaller one, a yellow mare with an orange mane, was dressed like Daring Do while the other, a grey stallion, had a red mark over one eye. But then the imaged split apart; as the left side remained on the two, the right side turned to see ponies entering a train with humongous waterfalls of rainbow falling just beyond. The left kept the two ponies in sight.

“…hoping you could train him. You are, after all, a catcher of ancient creatures, right?” The mare earth pony said.

“Well…I could. But Orthros’ take a long time and effort to train. I don’t think I could support the two of us.” The stallion said with uncertainty.

“Oh, believe me. I know all about that. So, here’s what I’m thinking, you move in with me until he’s trained. I’ll even provide food for the both of you.” The mare offered her hoof to the stallion. “What do you say to that, Cratus?”

The stallion, Cratus, looked from the mare to her then back to the mare before a smile appeared on his face. He extended his hoof and pressed it against the mares. “Teddie Safari, you’ve got yourself a trainer.”

The right side of the viewport returned to the two ponies when Teddie Safari started to jump with excitement before turning towards Sunset’s host.

“This is so exciting! Your gonna love Manehattan!”

“Have you decided on a name yet?” Cratus asked.

“Yes sir! I’m naming him…Duo!”

The viewport flashed; they were now in a grassy area with trees surrounding them. Nosies of a city reached Sunset’s host, Duo’s ears yet his attention was on the stallion as he gave commands while his hoof rose up then down.

“Now down, Duo. Down.” Her host's view of Cratus changed as he sank into the ground. “Good boy. Now up!” Duo rose up with the stallions hoof. The sound of hoof steps caught Duo’s attention, causing the viewport to split in half again. The right side showed Safari walking towards the two with a picnic basket on her back, smiling at them.

“Duo! Both sets on me!” The right view snapped back to Cratus. “Good boy. Now, paws up!” Suddenly, Sunset’s host rose so high they were looking down at Cratus and the just arrived Safari causing her to gasp.

“Wow! I knew he was tall, but now he’s humungous!”

“Yes. Fortunately, this is as big as he’s gonna get.” Turning to Safari, Cratus notices the basket. “Is it lunch already?”

“That’s right. Time to eat!” She proclaimed, taking the basket from her back and placing it on a picnic table.

Cratus smiled before looking at Duo, stamping his front hoof twice on the ground. Duo dropped down to his front paws and pranced towards him, obediently. When he arrived at the table Safari placed two food bowls before him full of dog food. Both bowls took over the viewport, but Duo was still able to hear the two earth ponies talking.

“That thing you did with your hoof. What did you do?” Safari asked as Sunset recognized the sound of food being unwrapped.

“It’s a non-verbal command for heel.” Cratus explains. The two chat as they came into view once Duo lifted his head to chew his food.

As he went for another bite, Duo saw the two ponies smile at one another while they looked longingly into each others eyes.

A flash and what appeared before Sunset was an argument. Cratus and Safari stood before Duo, shouting at each other with angry expressions on their faces.

“You can’t be serious? Duo is my Orthros and I won’t give him up for anything.” Safari shouted as her eyes began to leak tears. “I wanted you to train him so I could have an amazing pet…” She glares at Cratus. “…not so you can take him away from me!”

“Training Duo reminded me of why I caught him in the first place!” Cratus argued back. “Their the kind of creatures that can find even the most elusive beasts in all of Equestria. With Duo around, I could track down even…”

The argument between the two saddened Duo causing the two sides of the viewport to turn, revealing the faces of the Orthros. The left side looked up to a mutts face that had a long snot, pointed ears, and a brown spot over his right eye. The right side aimed his head down as a Saint Bernard looked up to meet each others eyes.

Both had sad looks.

Another flash and Sunset recognized the library of Twilight’s castle. The Orthros was sniffing around the room as Cratus and Safari spoke to Princess Twilight.

“And has he?” Twilight asked, her voice sounding a touch annoyed.

“Yes, he has. And has done an amazing job.” Safari whistles at the Orthros, causing him to look at her. “Duo! Come here, boy!” At once, he pranced to her, his duel panting evident of his joy. Sitting between her and Cratus, Safari lifts up a hoofed scratches Duo’s right head. “Good boy, Duo.”

“So…what’s the problem?” Twilight asked, drawing Duo’s attention. “And why come to me?” The corner of Duo’s vision showed Cratus stepping forward, causing his ears to flatten.

“I want Duo back!” The sound of his voice making Duo recall the last few days the two had spent arguing.

Safari stepped forward as well, leaving Duo just behind them. “Since you were the Princess that oversaw the last Exchange, we thought that you would have a better understanding of our situation.”

Backing away, the images of the three ponies disappeared and were replaced with the door they had entered through.

“And You traded him for a lamp! Plus, I’ve been supporting you while you trained him!” Safari’s voice faded away as Duo left the room. Both sides of the viewport looked at different parts of the crystalline hallway.

Then the Saint Bernard head’s nostrils flared and an image of a purple furred, green eared puppy flashed in the viewport, causing the right head to look down the same hall the first head looked.

A flash. This time, Sunset saw herself standing with her friends in front of Canterlot High, ponied up. The viewport’s two sides shake as his growls resonate throughout his mind. Images flash before Sunset’s view of the dragons two faces as his one free claw scraps away the earth. Amongst all the images as well as the attacks her friends inflicted, two remained the focus of the Orthros turned dragon.

The memories of Cratus and Safari.

The viewport vanished as the misty border that surround it closed, it’s cloudy rainbow substance the last thing she saw as Sunset returned from once she came. Removing her hand from the dragon’s snout Sunset looked him straight in the eyes, understanding passing between the two.

“You poor thing…”

As Sunset gazed at Duo’s lowered head, Rainbow dropped her guard at seeing someone flying towards them.

“Hey! It’s Fluttershy! She’s…” Suddenly the other head of the dragon swung at her, knocking Rainbow out of the sky and straight into the other head. Rarity and Twilight had turned their attention towards the approaching Fluttershy when Rainbow called out, lessening their hold on the lowered head. Once Rainbow had crashed into it, Duo snarled at the girls and tore his head free of his imprisonment knocking both Rainbow and Sunset to the ground before it.

“Grah! What’s goin on?!” Applejack called out as Duo’s claw pressed down against her. “What are ya’ll doing?”

Sunset rose to her feet along with Rainbow. She flew up to distract the left head as Pinkie continued to disorient the right head with her exploding sprinkles. Rarity and Twilight joined the perplexed Sunset.

“This dragon…he’s…” Sunset began until Applejack’s cry drew their attention.

“AH! Too…strong!” The claw began to force the farm girl to her knees as the concrete beneath her cracked.

“Applejack!” Both Twilight and Rarity called out before springing to action. Twilights hands glowed purple as her magic covered the claw forcing it off of her friend. However, Applejacks grip remained as she added her strength to Twilights magic. Rarity created diamond walls that acted as supports around Applejack, keeping the claws from enclosing around her friend.

“Thanks, girls! Preciate it!” Applejack flashed them a smile while sweat continued to pour down her face, despite the aid.

“It makes sense now. Why he has two heads!” Sunset said aloud, watching her friends keep the dragon at bay.

“What…does?” Twilight strained to ask, her focus on assisting Applejack.

“This ‘dragon’ is an Orthros! A two headed dog common in Equestria. His owner and trainer brought him to Princess Twilight to settle a dispute they have surrounding him.”

“That…gah…explains how he got…grrr…access to the portal.” Rarity struggled to maintain her diamond walls as she spoke. “But what could possible possess it…grah…to go through it?”

Sunset turned to look at her approaching friend, who held their purple furred, green eared little friend.

“He picked up Spike’s scent through the portal.”

Having parked her car a safe distance, Vinyl Scratch hid behind the wall of the school watching her friends face off against the dragon. Throughout the whole time she was there the DJ tried to think of a way to help but coming up with nothing. The sensible thing to do would be to call the police, but there was no way they could handle something like this. She even considered using her car like she had during the Battle of the Bands, but without their instruments she would only be in their way.

Frustrated, Vinyl slammed her fist into the wall. There has to be a way I can help them! But what? Suddenly, her headphone-less ears picked up a buzzing sound came from the pile of bags not to far from her. They belong to the Rainbooms, who had tossed them aside when the dragon appeared. Leaving her spot behind the wall Vinyl moved closer to them, noticing Sunsets bag was shaking along with the buzzing noise.

The shaking caused the bags flap to open, revealing her journal with a red and purple picture of a sun, similar to the one on Sunsets bag. The journal glowed as it buzzed, making the DJ’s eyes widen behind her shades. She hesitated for a moment before picking it up and opening it to the last page that had writing on it, reading it.

“Oh…my…” Fluttershy breathed as she flew closer to Canterlot High, her eyes widening at the site of the two headed dragon attacking her friends.

“You said it, Fluttershy.” Spike added in amazement.

“What could have caused him to try and come through the portal?”

“I have no idea. But if we don’t hurry, his gonna hurt our friends!” Spike reminded her, his voice full of fear.

“You’re right, Spike. We need to…Vinyl?” Fluttershy looked down at her DJ friend kneeling beside her friends bags, Sunsets journal in her hands.

“What is she doing so close to the dragon?” Spike asked in a panic.

Her features hardened, Fluttershy flew down and landed behind her blue haired friend as Spike jumped down from her arms.

“Vinyl! What are you doing here?” She asked, fear for her safety evident in her question. “It’s far to dangerous for you to be here.”

The two approached Vinyl as the sounds of her friends battling against the beast continued on. The DJ looked over her shoulder at the pink hair girl, the journal in her hands glowing as words appeared on the pages.

“Is that a message form Princess Twilight?” Fluttershy asked as Vinyl turned to face her. She nodded before handing her winged friend the journal, a sad frown on her face. Fluttershy took the journal and read what had been written as Spike kept his eyes on the battle just beyond them.

Her eyes widened as she gasped. “I have to show this to Sunset! Spike, stay with Vinyl!” With that she dashed towards her friends so fast Rainbow Dash would have been impressed, leaving Spike and Vinyl to watch and worry.

“Sunset!” Fluttershy called out before she landed, a rush of wind blew past her friends when she did. “Princess Twilight’s in danger!”

“What?” Sunset turned on Fluttershy. “How…?”

“Spike sent you a message.” The winged girl handed the journal to Sunset as she continued. “He says the dragon’s an…”

“Orthros, I know. I just looked into his mind.” Sunset flipped the pages to the one which had the latest message and read it aloud. “Sunset, this is Spike. Equestria is in danger of being destroyed by the portal to your world! An Orthros is stuck on your side and is blocking the magical flow, forcing the magic back towards us.” Her eyes widened at that. “It’s causing the mirror to shoot out magic bolts that open portals when they hit anything that isn’t crystal. We’re doing everything we can, but we need you girls to push him back. Please hurry! I don’t know how much longer we can hold out!”

Sunset Shimmer could no longer hear her friends struggle with the Orthros turned dragon. Her mind processed what she just read and clung to it as realization struck her like a buck to the face.

Her home world was on the verge of destruction.

“…Sunset? Sunset! Snap out of it!”

Fluttershy slapped Sunset.

Blinking Sunset looked at her friend who had covered her mouth with both hands, shocked at what she had just done.

“I’m so sorry, Sunset! You weren’t listening and I got worried and I didn’t know what else to do and…”

“It’s alright, Fluttershy.” Sunset said placing her hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder, interrupting her friends breakdown. “I needed that.” Sharing a smile with one another the two girls turn their gaze towards their friends, engaging Duo. Sunsets eyes drifted to the statue that held the dragon captive with new eyes, knowing the longer this drags out the more danger Equestria will endure.

“Fluttershy…” She said, her eyes fixed on the statue.

The yellowed hair girl faced Sunset at the sound of her name. “Yes?”

“…that dragon, the Orthros Duo, he’s scared and confused and needs our help.” Sunset turned to her kind friend. “You’re the only one who can help him.” She grabs both of Fluttershy’s hands, squeezing them between her own, pleading with her eyes. “Calm him down. Explain to him what happened and what he needs to do. Please.”

Fluttershy gazed into Sunset’s moist eyes, seeing the sadness and fear. She understood that Sunset chose to stay in this world with her and their friends, but there was no doubt that her love for Equestria was just as strong now as when she left. And now, with the knowledge that it could be destroyed at any moment…

Somehow, Fluttershy managed to convey her own sadness, fear, understanding, and pride for her pony turned human friend with a single smile and nod.

“I’ll do it, Sunset.” Her hands where released as she flew towards Duo, the site of Sunset’s grateful expression forever in her memories.

Duo had had enough of the flying girl and the explosive throwing girl. HIs left head glared at Rainbow as he sucked in a breath, mist flowing out the corners of his mouth. Recognizing it for what it was Rainbow hovered in the sky, ready to dodge.

“You wanna cool me down? I’d like to see you try!” She boasted with a grin.

With unexpected speed from a dragon Duo’s left head quickly aimed his icy breath straight at Pinkie.

Rainbow’s grin quickly became a frown.

“Pinkie! Incoming!”

The pink party planner threw more explosive sprinkles at the right head if the dragon when Rainbow called out her warning. Her eyes met with Duo’s left set of eyes as her right forearm started to burn.

“Ohhhh….poop.”

The dragon head roared his chilling blast at Pinkie. She leapt to the side, attempting the dodge it only for her feet to freeze over as the beam of ice continued past her, hitting the school.

She landed with a thud as a portion of the school face was covered in ice, including the party cannons used to surprise Spike.

“Th…..at’s……cooollddddd” Pinkie spoke threw chattering teeth, holding herself for warmth.

“Pinkie!” Rainbow shouted as she dashed toward her.

Unaware of Duo’s right head swinging towards her.

The impact of the hit set Rainbow crashing into Pinkie, the two of them sliding across the ground before settling in front of the school steps, unconscious.

“Rainbow! Pinkie!” Spike called out before both he and Vinyl ran to help them.

The two heads of Duo looked at the two girls and shorted with contempt. Free from distraction he turned both of his heads toward Applejack, growling with malicious intent at the girl beneath his claw.

The cowgirls eyes dilated in fear.

“Oh…buck…”

Adding more pressure behind his claw overpowered the girls combined efforts. The diamond supports began to crack as the two heads drew in breath, the purple glow surrounding his claw wavered as Applejack was forced to her knees.

“Applejack!” Sunset screamed out running towards her friend, having no idea how she could help but running all the same. She watched as the two heads lunged forward ready to unleash their chilling fury, only to stop short at the appearance of an unexpected appearance.

Fluttershy had flown between Applejack and the two dragon heads.

Her friends watched as Fluttershy stared down Duo’s two set’s of eyes. As she did, Duo’s claw eased off of Applejack enough for the three girls to notice. Without hesitation Twilight wrapped Applejack in her magic and pulled her out from under the claw, allowing it to slam into the ground with enough force to shake the area.

Pulling Applejack close, Twilight wrapped an arm around her exhausted friend while Sunset and Rarity joined them. Looking back towards the school Twilight saw that Vinyl and Spike were with Rainbow and Pinkie, letting her sigh in relief.

“You did great, Applejack. You held out like a champ.” Sunset reassured as she placed her hand on her farmer friends shoulder. Applejack gave a wave of acknowledgment as she fought to catch her breath.

“What of Rainbow and Pinkie?” Rarity asked as she turned her gaze towards her other downed friends.

“They should be fine. Spike and Vinyl are with them.”

The three girls exchange smiles of joy knowing everyone was alright before turning their sights on their kind, winged friend who continued to meet the fearsome glare of the beast trapped within the statue.

It’s all up to you now, Fluttershy. Sunset thought, knelt down behind Applejack with Rarity and Twilight beside her as they watched Fluttershy converse with Duo.