RING, and there’s the final bell! Jade leaped up, excitedly doing a flip midair. The students stopped their game and pushed their way out of the classroom. Only Rainbow Dash and Jade remained in the room.

“Gale and Lavender said they’d meet me by the lake.” Jade explained. “Do you know where that is?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “We can fly there in ten seconds flat.” In the blink of an eye, she zipped out of the room. Jade sighed and dashed after her. She struggled to keep up with Rainbow Dash even as she flew after her. Rainbow pushed the school doors open and soared even higher into the air. Jade groaned and chased after her. Rainbow stopped, hovering mid air and gazed back at her.

“You keeping up alright, Jade?” She asked. Jade flew to Rainbow’s side, gasping from exhaustion.

“I wasn’t exactly born with wings.” Jade pointed out. “So I’ve only been flying since Fluttershy taught me too. I can’t go that fast, especially in an enclosed space!”

“Heh heh,” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry, I’ll slow down. The lake’s not that far anyways.” She pointed down toward the ground. Jade turned to see a body of water down below. It looked much smaller than it probably was since she was so high. Jade glided through the air, slowly descending closer to the lake. As she got closer, Jade spotted a sea-green shape beside the lake. It was Gale! Wow. They got here quick! Folding her wings, Jade skidded to a halt in front of Gale.

“Hey Jade!” They greeted, extending one of their wings.

“Hey Gale.” Jade replied. She unfolded one of her wings, tapping it against Gale’s much bigger wing. “How’d you get here so fast?”

“My last class got out early.” Gale explained.

“Well, Jade.” Rainbow Dash cut in. “My Wonderbolt training session starts in a while. I’m gonna head there now. See you later.” She zipped off before Jade could even respond.

“Hey guys.” Another voice chimed. Jade and Gale turned to see Lavender. She was strolling toward them, with a basket on her back.

“Hey Lavender.” Jade greeted. “What’s in the basket?”

“Just some food.” Lavender answered. “I figured we could have a picnic after some swimming.” She put the basket down in the sand, propping it open and pulling out a rubber object. It was an uninflated pool floaty. Without warning, Gale jumped into the water, splashing water all over Jade. Then there was a flash around Gale. When it disappeared, Gale had fins, a tail, and a slender body made for swimming.

“Woah!” Jade gasped, rushing into the water. She quickly made her way into a deeper part of the water, where she had to doggy paddle to stay afloat. Meanwhile, Lavender sat nearby, blowing into her floaty. Gale leaped out of the water, doing a flip before landing with a huge splash.

“Hey Gale...can your pearl turn other creatures into sea ponies?” Jade asked.

“Sure.” Gale replied, grabbing Jade’s hoof. In a quick flash, Jade could feel her form stretch and morph. She could feel her back hooves merge into a tail. Her muzzle shrank and her front hooves shriveled into fins. The transformation only lasted a moment. Jade looked down at her fins with a cheer. Diving head first into the water, Jade flipped and soared freely through the water.

“This is amazing!” Jade cheered, flipping around in the water. She splashed back toward the surface with a cheer. Gale swam toward her side.

“Hey Lavender!” They called. “Wanna join us?” The purple pegasus had inflated her floaty and was trying to get it in the water.

“No.” Lavender replied. “I'm good.” She carefully laid down on her floaty and pushed it into the water with her back hooves. Lavender floated peacefully on the surface of the lake.

“Suit yourself.” Jade shrugged. She leaped out of the water, landing with a tame splash. She snaked her way through the water, brushing against the sand at the bottom of the lake. Gale was nearby, gliding through the water on her back. Their fins were tucked behind their head. Jade drifted toward them.

“Hey Gale, wanna race to the other side of the lake?” Jade challenged. Gale flipped over and smirked.

“Oh it's on!” Gale replied. The two sea ponies took off toward the opposite end of the lake. Jade was fast, but she stood no match against their opponent. Gale left Jade in the bubbles, swimming circles around her by the time she made it to the other side.

“Wow!” Jade gasped. “You're fast.”

Gale shrugged. “You're just new to this. Let's race back to the other side.” Jade nodded and raced after Gale. They broke through the waves, resulting in a scream. Jade looked over her shoulder to see Lavender! She was flailing around in the water. Gale looked back as well with a gasp. Jade rushed under Lavender, pushing her toward the surface with her back. Lavender wrapped her hooves around Jade's now unusually long neck.

“Thanks,” Lavender whispered. Jade nodded.

“I'm sorry!” Gale called, swimming closer to them. “I didn't realize where my tail was going I guess.”

“Apology accepted,” Lavender replied frantically. “Now please, take me back to the shore!” Jade nodded and zipped toward the sand. She had made it there in what felt like seconds, stopping as close to land as she could. Lavender let go of Jade and waded through the water a bit to get to land. “Thanks, Jade,” Lavender sighed. Jade nodded before splashing over to join Gale in the middle of the lake. Jade and Gale spent a while more swimming in the lake before Jade caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. Jade stopped and turned to see a house in the distance. Jade gasped and swam closer to the shore. That house looked exactly like her’s! It had brown walls, a blue roof, and two floors. Even the windows were in the same place. Could the pony versions of my parents live there? Suddenly, a figure emerged next to her from the water.

“What’s up Jade?” Gale asked. Jade pointed to the house with her fin.

“That house.” She replied. Gale gazed at the house curiously.

“Pretty sure that place is abandoned.” Lavender chimed in as she walked toward them. “We’ve never gotten a flower order from that place and Roseluck said she hasn’t seen the ponies who lived there in years.”

“The original owners probably moved and no one has bought the house again yet.” Gale suggested.

Jade reached out her fin. “Can you turn me back into a pony?” She asked. Gale nodded and grabbed Jade’s fin. In a flash, Jade and Gale returned to their usual forms. Jade waded out of the water and trotted through the sand.

“Where are you going?” Gale asked.

“To explore the abandoned house,” Jade explained.

“Ooh, maybe it’ll be haunted,” Gale replied grimly.

“I doubt it.” Lavender replied. “Ghosts aren’t real, and if there’s someone living haunting the place, someone would know by now.”

“Like Phantom of the Opera!” Jade exclaimed. Lavender and Gale stared at her bewildered. “Why is that movie not very well seen?! Ugh, nevermind. Let’s just go explore the house.” Lavender and Gale nodded and flew after her toward the house. Jade landed in front of the door, which opened with a creak when Jade tapped it. The three friends glanced through the open door. It was too dark to see anything inside.

“Where’s the lightswitch in here?” Gale asked. Lavender trotted inside, flicking something on the wall with her hoof. Immediately after, the entire house lit up. Jade and Gale trotted after Lavender. Every inch inside the house was covered in a blanket of dust. However, it didn’t seem to be decrepit in anyway. It was clear no one had been in this house for a very long time. Jade looked around. There were toy trains and plushes littering the floor and couch. Just like the ones she played with as a child.

“Jade.” Gale called. “You should come look at this.” Jade gazed at Gale, who was with Lavender by an empty fireplace. Jade fluttered toward them. Lavender pointed at the mantle. Jade turned and let out a gasp. The mantle was adorned with pictures of a family. The mare had yellow fur and a blue mane and the stallion had blue fur, a red mane, and a pair of glasses. The pony versions of my parents! Jade let out another gasp. On some of the pictures, there was a green foal with a red mane and blue eyes.

“Is that you?!” Lavender asked.

“Was this your home?” Gale added.

“Well...not exactly.” Jade took a deep breath before she turned to look at her new friends. She didn’t know what else she could say but the truth. “Remember when I said I’m not from around here?” Lavender and Gale nodded. “What I meant by that was…” Jade gulped nervously. “I’m from another dimension!” She blurted out. Gale and Lavender’s eyes widened.

“Wait...what?” Gale questioned. “Then how are you in this picture?”

“It’s a parallel dimension,” Jade explained, pointing at the picture. “This isn’t me, it’s my parallel in this dimension. I’m from the other one. In fact, I’m not even a pony. I’m a human. This is just how I look after I accidentally went through the portal.” Lavender and Gale stared at her with dazed looks.

“You’re from another dimension?” Gale questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, and I can prove it too!” Jade replied challengingly. “The broken portal is in Twilight’s castle.”

“I didn’t say I don’t believe you.” Gale clarified. “Though I do question the part about you not being a pony.”

“Yeah me too,” Lavender admitted. “You seem really well adjusted to being a pony.” Jade shrugged.

“I guess I’m just really good at adapting to change,” Jade responded. “I got used to being a sea pony pretty fast too.” Gale nodded in agreement.

“We should get out of here,” Lavender suggested. Jade and Gale nodded before following Lavender out of the house and back into town.

“So…” Jade spoke up as they walked. “We're still friends right?”

“Of course,” Lavender replied.

“You-you don't think I'm weird?” Jade asked.

“Oh, of course, you're weird.” Gale teased. “But so are we. I'm two species as well!”

“And I'm not used to Ponyville customs either,” Lavender added.

“Great!” Jade exclaimed. These were the first friends she had made on her own in this world or any world actually. She was grateful they wanted to stay her friends. “So, I was wondering...since the gala is this Saturday and I have an extra ticket, if either of you want to come with me?”

“Ooh sorry Jade.” Lavender replied. “I'm already going with my other friend, Cookie Dough.” Jade turned to Gale, whose expression seemed very conflicted.

“Well...I usually go home on weekends to see Terramar and Silverstream but I suppose I can make an exception for this.” Jade beamed ear to ear. Finally! She threw her hooves around Gale.

“Thanks Gale!” Jade gasped.

“No problem, pal.” Gale replied, backing out of the hug.

“I guess we're pretty lucky,” Lavender chimed in. “Getting to go to two parties in two days.” Gale nodded.

“Wait...what's the other party?” Jade asked.

“Your Welcome to Ponyville Party of course!” Gale replied. Jade was bewildered for a moment before it clicked.

“Pinkie Pie was serious about that?” Jade asked.

“Of course!” Lavender replied. “She's the official party planner in Ponyville. She takes parties very seriously.”

“She even convinced Head Mare Twilight to cancel classes for it!” Gale added.

“And this party is…?”

“Tomorrow.” Lavender chimed. Jade's eyes widened.

“Oh god.” She gasped. “Two parties back to back, how am I gonna survive?”

“You don't like parties?” Gale asked, though her tone was more curious than critical.

“I’ve never been to one,” Jade explained. “Well besides my birthday parties but that was just me and my parents. Anything more than that just sounds...overwhelming to go to alone....Two in a row sounds even worse, good lord..”

“Well, you won't be alone.” Lavender pointed out. “You'll have us.”

“Yeah.” Jade nodded. “That helps.” She pulled them in for another short group hug. Gazing up at the sun, Jade realized it was now sinking into the horizon. “Well, I should get back to the castle. See y'all later.”

“Bye!” Gale and Lavender replied, flying toward the school together. Jade smiled and trotted to Twilight's castle.

Dear Diary,
Today was my day to spend with Rainbow Dash though I really didn't spend much time with her. She made me her honorary student for the day, so I got to see what classes at the school of friendship are like. In short, it’s not like a normal school at all. I mean, I figured they would teach different subjects but Rainbow Dash’s class today was just playing Buckball. It was really fun though. I even made two friends. Gale the hippogriff, and Lavender the Pegasus. They were cool and the first friends I've ever made. I also told them where I'm really from, which was also a first. I wish I could tell my parents about my friends, or just see them. They aren't the best parents; they are overprotective and nagging at times but I still love them. At least I'll see them soon. I don't know if I wanna leave just yet though. I'm adjusting really well to life here and I enjoy it.

Author's Note

Not a very eventful chapter on the surface but I needed to develop my characters more. It will also be more meaningful later on.