The devices connected and they were finally on their way back home, with the helmets to fix the issue being in the wrong bodies well in hand. They had just managed to get the message through for Discord to open the rift. What they had waiting for them was a host of headaches, only made worse when Twilight and Pinkie exchanged memories, and thankfully personalities in the process, with their counterparts. Things got really uncomfortable when everyone at their home universe saw Chrysalis was along for the ride, and in what looked like a stripper parody of a secretary’s outfit, then things got really weird when the visiting Spike used a spell to share pieces of what it was like to grow up a dragon with their Spike; apparently he used Twilight’s magic research back in his home reality to act as the foundation for his own magical studies.

Twilight was livid when she found out her counterpart bought a cruise liner for the sole purpose of pleasing Spike, Pinkie had a similar reaction when she learned of what her counterpart had been up to regarding supplies and outfits. Discord just laughed at the whole scenario, he was apparently getting a great deal of amusement out of the entire affair, much to the chagrin of all the princesses. Twilight was not looking forward to discussing here experiences with everypony, especially her brother. Before all that though, she had some business to attend to.

Turning to her alternate as they were readying to leave for a bit, Twilight said, “YOU BOUGHT a CRUISELINER?!?!? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?”

“What exactly is that? I’ve heard of that,” inquired Pinkie's alternate, not quite cathing on to what was going on, or willfully ignorant of it all, it was still another version of Pinkie.

“This massive boat that’s made really extravagant with places for those on it to enjoy all sorts of activities and luxuries,” said Twilight’s alternate excitedly.

Twilight facepalmed before saying, “A bit of an oversimplification, but that is a decent enough summary,” Twilight then launched into a detailed summary of what defines cruiseliners while also throwing in what makes a luxury airship different from a basic airship.

Chrysalis, and the alternate Twilight, unsurprisingly, were taking detailed notes on Twilight’s exposition. Which was followed by the alternate Spike making a statement of making those both happen after he gets home.

*********************************************************

“...and that is why we don’t waste our resources so frivolously. Honestly, it’s a miracle my reputation is as intact as it is, even if Spike and Starlight were both running damage control. It seems I am going to have to do a few more changes to the system to guard against this sort of thing again. Thankfully, your attempts to purchase an airship were halted before things got to the same point as the cruise ship.” Twilight had been on a rant about responsibilities and what is deemed ‘acceptable’ in her home dimension almost as soon as her mind was once again where it needed to be. Pinkie had actually been assisting Twilight on that, mostly because some of the stuff her alternate had ended up doing in their absence.

Pinkie had been mostly amused by her alternate’s antics, until she found out said alternate had purchased a considerable amount of land with construction plans just a short way out on the edge of Ponyville proper. Needless to say, her amusement died out pretty quickly, mostly because, in her words, that was “party material finances” she would never get back. Ironically it was both Twilights and the alternate Pinkie that pointed out what having that space would mean for her party planning business.

After Twilight’s Twi-rant, has her friends were prone to call it, the Alternate Spike and the others from the alternate world left, hopefully, to enact the Omega Protocols and dismantle the beacon once they had the portal closed. Twilight, after making sure everyone was present, Twilight took things to the castle and gave a detailed account of her experiences on the other side, Pinkie adding everything she encountered. Most of their friends and present family were suitably turned off by what they heard about things, aside from Rainbow Dash making some comments about wanting to have a Colosseum to have all the bouts she wanted to with willing competitors. To save them all from that madness, for a short time at least, Twilight said they’d discuss that with the appropriate experts at a later date.

“...but now, I need to go and arrange for psychological counseling for Pinkie and myself,” said Twilight as she finished things up, “once everything has been arranged we will get back to our duties as needed.”

“We understand,” said Luna, “your experiences were far outside the realms of our understanding, both my sister and myself, but we will always be here should you require assistance or advice. I would be more than honored to assist you in locating your best options in this endeavor, let us hope that things don’t get too awkward.”

“I’m with you on that,” said Pinkie, “I’ve had enough confusing mind stuff for quite a while. It’ll be difficult picking up our normal lives after everything we’ve been through, and we might even have some relapses, those usually aren’t very fun.”

Author's Note

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