A Wacky Read

The library got crowded again, when the Humans came to observe the Magic Mirror as well as the aliens.
Rodney was up and about to take a look at it, but hesitated when he saw the smouldering skeleton sitting next to it. "Is there anything you need?", the skeleton asked from below.

McKay looked at it and thought about it. He walked away determinedly, "No."

"There's nothing to fear", he yelled after him and stood up, what made Rodney stop and turn around. "That's not true and you know it."

"Yes", Morty nodded, "It's more of a phrase than anything else." He walked up to him and reached out his hand. "My name is Doctor Mortanius Kältezorn."

"That sounds german."

"I have no idea what that means."

"Well", Rodney was about to shake his hand when he noticed the heat and twitched.

"Oh, yes", Morty apologised, "I'm sorry. I forgot."

"Or did he?!", Hati yelled from the background.

"You're a Doctor?", Rodney wondered. "Oh, I'm also a Doctor. I'm Doctor Rodney McKay."

"Mek'Kei? Sounds Brass'Ka."

"I have no idea what that means."

"So, then you are the Medicus of your Lance? But you carry no gear."

"A what of my what? Oh, no, I'm not that kind of Doctor." Morty's glowing eyes made him more than simply uncomfortable. "Would you please, maybe, if you wouldn't mind, not look at me. It's really disturbing. Pleasedontburnme."

"What kind of Doctor are you then?" Morty didn't bother looking away. Even more so, he slowly came closer.

"I, ehm", Rodney was missing the words and looked away, "Am a, well, a, one of those ... I'm a Physicist. I'm using math and all kinds of-"

"I know what a Physicist does. I might be missing my brain, but I'm not dumb."

Cam joined them and stood close to Morty. "Do we have a problem here?"

Jerkily and quickly Morty's skull turned up and over to Cam. Morty wasn't tall at all. All of the Humans were taller than him by at least a head. "I don't know. Do we? Your", Morty leaned to the side and looked past Cam at the Humans, "Lance looks run down. I don't trust you."

"My Lance doesn't trust you folks either. And what in tarnation is a Lance?"

"A Lance is a group of soldiers, usually four in number. That a Medic and a Sorcerer are added isn't unusual", Morty explained, while Hati still sat by the Mirror, bored. "You got a better name for your group?"

"We call them Teams. And who in your Lance is your Sorcerer, and who is your Medic?"

"I'm the Medic and the Sorcerer", Morty bragged, raised his hand and let a flame ignite around his bone fingers.

Cam's face became dead serious, "You should not do that. We do not respond very pleasantly to threats. Got it?"

"I don't fear death, why should I fear you?"

"Alright, that's good, good!", Hati stormed along, grabbed Morty at his arm and dragged him away from the Humans. "Everything is fine. FINE! No one gets burned. No one has to die today, alright?"

While he did that, Cam noticed that Hati might have used his right hand, which was armored from fingertips up to his shoulder, but must still have gotten too hot to handle. He did reach it into the flames after all.

After the moment cleared and Morty went his way to the Mirror, Cam walked up to Hati. He sounded concerned, "You alright? Your hand isn't burned or anything?"

"Oh, no, nothing like that."

"We do have medicine, even if it's not a lot."

"No, thanks." Hati knocked his knuckles onto the steel of his arm plate. "It's pretty thick. Didn't get hot or anything, really."

"He said my Lance looks run down.”

“Well, you do look fairly stressed, which I can understand, really. Your name was Mitchell, right?”

“Cam. Cam Mitchell."

"Hati", he smiled heartily, "From Beibergen."

"Sounds german."

Hati chuckled, "I have no idea what that means."

Cam looked away shortly, "There's really no good way to explain it."

"So", Hati asked, "Do you come here often?"

"No", Cam laughed and looked at his boots, "But this isn't exactly new to us."

Hati hooked his thumbs into his belt, "Do tell."

Sam didn't join them and their books but remained with the telescope. Vala wasn't into the books either and came back into the darkened room by the balcony. She sat down on the pillow next to Sam and looked up into the night sky. "I thought the telescope isn't good enough."

"It's not", Sam smiled, "Rodney was right, even if he went all out. But this one reminds me of the one I had a teenager."

"Ah", she understood, "You do it for fun."

They looked up, "They are pretty, aren't they?"

"Sure, but not if you look through there", she pointed at the telescope. "It's not more than a dot, isn't it?"

"Yes, some are. But some aren't. We don't know these stars, some of them might be planets that could be visible."

"And you'll try them all out tonight?"

"I couldn't. It's too many. But I can point out some that I think are pretty and then focus on those."

Vala smiled, "That's a good plan."

For a while they sat silently and gazed at the star lights, the shooting stars and the weird alien moon. "Y'know, this is how porn starts", Vala commented, "If only the boys could see us now."

"We can not possibly go through all these books, Daniel Jackson."

Teal'C, Daniel, Jack and Twilight were standing in front of the high shelves that were freakishly loaded with books.

"You don't have to", the Pony smiled. "I read most of them already. Just tell me what you're looking for and I can lead you to the right books."

They were sharing looks before Daniel explained, "We need to find out if there was a Stargate on this planet. Something about a gateway, a portal to other planets in your history, or a temple for weird snake gods."

"Hmm", Twilight had her hoof on her chin and was looking through the shelves, "I don't remember reading about any of that, but I guess we could start with history then. The Mirror is the only portal I know of."

Teal'C spoke up, "We do believe that there is a Stargate hidden here. It happened before that the wormhole was redirected to another address, even when the Stargate was not active. It does not usually redirect to mirrors, Twilight Sparkle."

Her horn glowed in pink magic, that wobbled around it. The light was transferred to a book that was pulled from the shelf and with that magical light framing, it floated in front of the Alicorn. "It's not an ordinary mirror, really", she claimed. "It's very old and very powerful. Nopony knows what it might be capable of."

Jack asked her in his tired, calm fashion, "How do you", while he typed in the air, "Y'know, tell the Mirror where to go?"

"The Mirror doesn't go anywhere."

"Anyone else wants to try?", he looked at Teal'C and Daniel.

"Where does the Mirror lead to? It's a gateway, isn't it?"

"Oh! Yeah, that", she chuckled. "Sorry. It usually leads to a Human world. But you know that better than I do, right? Isn't it your world?"

"What world?"

"It leads to Canterlot High. You must come from there, right?"

"You mentioned that name before. It sounds very similar to a name we know, maybe you heard of it, Camelot?"

She looked at his reflecting glasses, "No, it's Canterlot. Celestia has her castle there, and well, Luna too, of course. The Canterlot High in the Human world is more of a school."

Daniel broke it to her, "We are not from Canterlot High, and I doubt that it's our world. We met Humans all over the Universe. There's a lot of places it could be in."

She looked down hopelessly, browsed through the book in a hurry and sighed, "Oh." She closed the book harshly and reached it out to Daniel, "Then opening the Mirror will do you no good."

He took the book and the glow vanished. "I was trying to tell you. We need a Stargate."

Jack shrugged, "Or a spaceship. You don't happen to have one of those around?"

Twilight looked at him over her shoulder before she went ahead and dragged her helpless body to the next chair where she sat down and let go of her hopes.

Every action she could take, wouldn't bring them home. Whatever she did, didn't get them any solution.

Suddenly a spark ignited her brain. She cannot deal with that, not alone. She needed help.
She looked up with fire in her eyes, figuratively. She was ready for this!

"I don't know how to help you", she said determinedly. "But I know who might."

Daniel used the time to get a look at the book. It was a short ride since the lettering was a mess and did him no good. He faced the princess, "Who?"

"My friends! But", she looked at the moon above her, "That will have to wait."

Jack was thrilled, "Does that mean we get to see our beds now?"

Krator, Knom, Rook and Starlight stood as pack at the long end of the library and had their eyes on the mess their friends made. Krator had it out for Rex especially. He never trusted that Conjurer, he knew he was a murderer, an assassin and thief. If he wouldn't need his help, he would beat him up, or try to anyway. He knew he had some scheme up his sleeves when he walked down the library and Krator observed the magical light. His eyes were very good, much better than any of his friends’ eyes. Since he had wings, that went in his family, he had eyes to come with it, that were able to zoom into great distances and see in great detail.

Knom wasn't trying to do anything. He was silent and remained dormant until his fists and powers were needed. He was a soldier, a warrior, a fighter, a nightmare, but he was no researcher. Even if he read all the books and memorised every word of it, he couldn't tell anyone or put it into action. He had to wait and put his trust into the others.

Rook was fed and tired and ran out of jokes. He leaned on the shelves the same way Krator and Knom did, with crossed arms and a serious gaze upon the room. While he looked sleeping, he was hatching ideas about the Mirror and this Stargate the Humans were looking for. His mind was racing and playing through a world of scenarios.

He had a good idea how the Ring worked, and maybe the Mirror worked in a similar fashion. There was something to activate it, a key. The question remaining was simply, what was it?

For the Black Rings of the Fire God back home, the key was a blood sacrifice. They might wanna try that. Could be fun. Maybe Pony blood will do. What does Unicorn blood look like anyway?

For the Stargate, the key was the coordinates in the crystals. A number gets dialed in and has to obey. A very boring way of traveling, if you asked Rook. Riding a giant Rhinoceros beats that anytime.

But he saw no crystals for the Mirror. There was no system to dial. Or was there?

What about that book above it? The paperwork, the scrolls? What about that Unicorns? Unicorn blood? Was Rook still hungry?

"You know it", he said out of the blue.

"Know what?", Starlight asked beside him.

He looked down to her with his faceless gaze that was hidden behind his purple shades, "I need your blood."

With the shock on her face, Starlight vanished in a flash to reappear near Twilight in a similar flash of magical light.

"Oh, I get it", Krator said calmly. "For the gate. Like a Kreturer-Gate. That's clever."

"Thank you. You think it might work?"

"No. Freaking. Way. This is nothing near it. Did you look at it? It's a pink crystal mirror."

"Yeah, that's why I wanted to use Unicorn blood."

He shook his head, "I'm sure they won't allow it. Everything is pink, packed with hearts and flowers. It wouldn't surprise me if they didn't had any crime or violence in forever."

"Or!", Rook raised his index, "It's a disguise. Ever think 'bout that, ey?"

"I'm not buying it." They observed how the Ponies did conversation and how they both looked at Rook. Soon they walked over to him. "And here comes the Princess", Krator said. And they didn't look too happy.

Twilight flapped her wings to float on Rooks height, so she can look him in the eye! Kind of. "Did you threaten my friend here?"

"Depends. I was just asking for a donation."

"A blood donation?! Are you crazy?"

"Yes, yes I am."

Krator nodded.

"You stay away from her and everypony else, you got me?"

For a moment, Rook looked at her and didn't do anything. But then he took off his glasses and revealed his yellow bird eyes that stared into the yonder. Slowly they focussed on Twilight while he was standing up to face her. "Fuck you."

"Excuse me?!"

"No. Fuck you. You heard me."

"Dude", Krator applied to him, "Better not go on with this."

But he didn't stop, "You think you're helping us? You're not. You think this is our beer? It's not! Your Mirror made this and you don't know jack about it. What are you even good for? If you just stand in our way, well, don't! Kay?!"

Twilight didn't know what to say, but her face was turning red. Krator stepped in to separate them. "If you wanna kill'im right now, trust me, that's a common feeling in his presence. I know I've been there before. Every day, sweetheart."

Her furious eyes went down on the golden gauntlet of the Highpriest that was on her fluffy chest. Madly she pushed it away, turned and fluttered off.

When she was gone, Krator turned and pulled his metal fist through the face of the blue half-bird behind him. "That's for stepping out. We do not insult princesses, even when we're on alien planets, got that?"

"Didn't have to hit me though." Rook was leaning against the shelves again and rubbing his beak.

"You never learn otherwise", the priest said and Rook nodded, "Right. Maybe the hit was needed. Physical stimulation does remarkable things for the memory."

At once, Krator pulled him back up, very gently to show his love for the stupid thief and mad-bird. "Here", he laid his gauntlet onto his chin and let his magic flow. A cool mist dripped from his fingers and a thin layer of ice formed upon the swelling. "That should cool it. You know that I'm sorry."

"I know. Just doing your job. Thanks."

Ever since Jack heard his name out of the corner he was watching the Lizards and the Princess. Now, after observing the beating and love between them, he was certain, "Did you notice, they are all insane?"

Daniel and Teal'C nodded silently.

Twilight tried her best to calm down, but she was just too mad over this. Even Starlight could not bring her down. Her complaining was echoing through the library.

"But that's just one of many", Starlight yelled up to the flying Princess, "Do you let everyone down, because one stepped out of line?"

"I would very much like to, yes."

"That isn't very princessy, is it?" She looked down and put her hoof on her chin, "Or friendshippy?"

"That's not a word!"

"And that's not how to act! What did it even mean, what he said?"

"I have no idea, but I know it was rude!"

Starlight made use of her glow to grab her Princess and pull her down to the ground. She wouldn't look at her and cross her arms, but she was ready to listen.

"The sooner we help them, the sooner we get rid of them?", Starlight grinned. "Maybe push through it then?"

"Can't do anything for them before tomorrow", she mumbled.

"That's a great idea!" Glimmer let go of her and she dropped like a wet towel. "A good night sleep with set everything straight, you'll see."

"Fine." Twilight stood up, "But somepony needs to guard them, and I won't do it. Maybe the dungeon will do for the Lizards, what do you think?"

"Isn't that unfair?" Starlight lowered her brows, "The Humans get rooms in the castle and the aliens a cold stone floor?"

Twilight was walking off, "Maybe they'll like it."

"Wait, I didn't know the castle even had a dungeon!" Starlight was following her to the stranded.

When they arrived beyond the Mirror, the Lizards were all standing together in a circle and discussing their next step. Rex, Elisa and Hati had joined them just a moment ago to conspire.

The Humans were ganging up in a similar fashion, though they weren't all here.

"I'll bring you to your rooms now", Twilight addressed the Humans and while she was walking past them, she looked back at the Lizards, "And you wait here. Please."

Glimmer on the other hand did her best to keep her distance to them and to fake a smile, while she quickly trotted to the exit.

While the two purple Punicorns and the Humans were gone, the Lizards were ready and free to act. "What do you think she'll do to us?", Hati asked Rex.

"Why, how would I know? But nothing fun, I'm sure, not after his step-out."

"I'm not very sorry", Rook added.

"You never are."

"I heard something about a dungeon", Elisa informed them while her long ears were twitching still. "And a stone floor."

Krator was instantly mad and punched his fists together, "That traitors! They will pay. I'll rip the castle apart!"

"No need for that, your Grace", Rex assured the Highpriest. "Our best option is to take our temporary leave and come back tomorrow when no one is present."

"So, out of the castle then, right?", Hati suggested.

"Yes", Rex smiled, "And no." He pulled out his blue spellbook and opened a particular page. After he ripped out the sheet, he pushed it against the next plain wall he could find. The Runes did their job and worked their magic. With a cyan shaded glow they formed a round-framed door where the spot had been. Of course it was blue, and of course it was magic.

Rex took the handle and opened it for the others to behold.

It lead to a cozy room with fancy interior and a warm fire's flicker. The room was beyond time and out of this world, literally. "Please, enter."

One by one they went through. When Elisa went last, she stayed by Rex and whispered, "But what about the cosmos?"

"Why, don't worry, dear. This room has its very own source. It's independent. I made very sure of that."

She shrugged, not really knowing anything about this, and went in. After Rex took a final look back to make sure they weren't seen, he closed the door behind himself. Now it was sealed, only by him to be opened.

Rex was old and he learned to be careful, cautious even. He was far beyond paranoid and tried to be prepared for every event. His clothes were enchanted not only to withstand blades and bullets, but also to return to him, so he could resummon them. His book was similar. No one must ever or could ever read it but Rex, he made sure of that. He tried everything, did what had to be done, so in case of defeat or loss, he had options to come out on top in the end.

But this world, this was new. Nothing weakened him like this before.
Something was strange about this world, that stole his power away. He had to regain some of it to get back home, to get the others back home, somehow.
The magic here seemed to work differently from his own. It were two kinds of magic, something he'd never seen before.
He wondered how the Unicorns did it.

The rooms upstairs were comfortable, for Ponies. The beds were a bit small, especially for Teal'C. It didn't stop them from falling asleep though. They were in worse shapes before. This castle and this problem they had, it was a vacation compared to the war they had fought.
The Humans didn't waste any thoughts about never seeing their world ever again, or being lost. They were used to focus on the task at hand. The best shots they had where to find out where they were, by looking at the stars, and finding a hidden Gate. But the planet was big.

Jack knew it could take a while. But he was okay with it. He remembered the farm he used to have, the alien wife he left behind. He couldn't stay then, there was a war to win after all. But the war was over now. Maybe he could stay now. Maybe it wasn't too bad here. The others, however, he had to bring home. He just had to.

The next morning was right on time and sooner than expected. For soldiers no problem. A few hours were enough to go on. Not like they had any choice.

And even though some of them had rations in their uniforms, that they willingly shared with their Team, it was about time for a breakfast.

"Good morning!", the familiar voice of the Princess sounded from the door. With her was her young dragon assistant, holding a tray. He walked into the room and put it down on the small table in the middle.

The boys shared a room and the girls another. They both got their trays, plates and food, which in today’s case were waffles.

"I remembered Humans didn't exactly eat Daisies, so I made waffles. You do eat waffles, right?"

Rodney sat up first and grabbed his plate. Cautiously he smelled the waffles. "You didn't put any citrus- or lemon-like fruit in it, did you? I'm allergic to lemons."

"No", she assured, "It's just waffles. And butter."

"Did I hear butter?", Cam jumped up and went for the waffles. "Are those for us? You shouldn't have."

"Well, I can't let you starve. So, eat up. We got a train to catch."

And so they got ready, fed on the glorious royal waffles and went to the station bright and early. At least, that was the plan.

A group of tall Humans walking through Ponyville isn't exactly something one would care to explain.

"Are you sure about this?", Cam asked her after she told them her plan.

"I’m ready. I know I can do this", she took a few deep breaths and readied her horn.

The Humans were standing together closely by the wide gate of the castle, waiting for her spell to work. When they were hit by the pink ray, they were looking at their hands and each other, watching their bodies slowly disappear. The invisibility-spell didn't last forever, less so on multiple targets. So they had to hurry.

Twilight ran ahead down the road. The Humans were not visible, so they had to look out not to run into somepony. For better or worse, they made it to the station and entered the train to Canterlot.
The Princess asked the conductor for a wagon for herself, and because she was a Princess, it was granted to her. She couldn't risk the chance for somepony to bump into an invisible leg, or sit on some invisible lap.
She knew, that was how porn started.

The train clattered down the track, through forests and by the fields of Equestria.

"That's some nice train you got here, Princess."

"Thank you."

"The hearts and all, very nice."

Vala complained, "Isn't it a bit much?"

"I have no idea what you mean", Twilight ignored her. "Best to be quiet. We have the wagon for ourselves, but the conductor could be here any minute. And I cannot exactly be seen talking to myself. Again."

"Mitchell", Teal'C called him. "Come see this. Out the window."

He stepped to the open window and put his head out. Beyond the forests and the horizon lay a mountainside. And crowning the highest mountain, there was a white city sitting by the side of waterfalls and steep cliffs.
And the track was heading right for it.

"So, how are the Lizards?" Starlight stepped up to Spike, the dragon assistant.

"How would I know? I didn't see them yet."

"You mean, today."

"Ever." Spike was cleaning the trays and bringing them back to the kitchen. Starlight was following him.

"But didn't Twilight make you watch them tonight?"

"Hey, Twilight doesn't make me do things. I'm just trying to help. But no, I didn't find them, so I went back to my warm bed. It was calling my name."

Starlight shook her head in despair, "Oh, no. No-no-no-no, that can't be happening. They are gone!"

"Please", Spike arrived in the kitchen and put the trays in the sink. "They are huge Lizards and a burning skelton? It's not like they could hide in Ponyville."

"And what if they can?" With that, she got him worried too.

He dropped everything. "You search outside, I'll check the castle again. Come on!" He ran down the hallway and turned around the next corner.
Starlight took a deep breath, calmed herself and ran ahead. She had a lot of ground to cover, but she knew who she could ask for help.

Spike went to the last place he knew they were seen, to the library. But it was clearly empty. But when he turned around, he discovered a door he never seen before. It was round and in a darker shade of blue, untypically for the castle. Instinctively he knocked.

"Hello? Anypony home? Anyone?"

After a moment, the door cracked and opened slowly. Above the small purple dragon, Rex's head peeked through the gap.

"Oh my, another little purple thing. Do tell me, little one, does your kind come in other colours as well, hmm?"

"Who is it?", Krator yelled from beyond the door.

"Another purple one."

"The one from before?"

"Why, no, it's a new one."

"Let me see." The tall yellow Lizard ripped open the door and looked down at the puny little dragon. His wide, frog-like face was frowning and looked mad. "You look like a Brass'Ka!"

"I have no idea what that means."

"No, no. You're too small to be one of us. What do you call yourself?"

"I'm Spike. Spike the Dragon?"

"A Dragon? Hardly. What is it you want?"

"I know why he's here", Rex interrupted. "He was sent to watch over us, so we wouldn't run riot."

Krator snorted from disgust, "You couldn't stop us, please, don't make me laugh."

"Probably not. But why would you even want to run riot? There's no reason for it, right?"

"We're stuck on an alien planet crowded by hostile Pony-creatures and Unicorns. How is there no reason for a riot?"

"I can bring you breakfast."

Krator shrank his eyes, "Do you have beer?"

"We have cider."

Suddenly he grabbed the little dragon by his feet and reached him out. "Lead the way, little Spike." Driven by hunger and addiction he followed the pointing of his little hand.

The other adventurers were following. When Rex left the door last, it fell apart into sparks and dust that vanished with the wind. There was no trace left of their hiding spot.

They headed down the hallway. The way was familiar, as it lead to the kitchen. Only there Krator would let go of the Spike, so he'd serve him well. He carried together what he could, Cider at first, bread and fruits after.

Then he looked like he lost something. "I could have sworn there were a few waffles left." He looked at Rook, who had his face stuffed and huge cheeks. He shook his head and shrugged, but it was clear what happened here.

Once the aliens got served, Spike held on to his very own breakfast, a bowl of colourful gems.

"Why, what do you have there?", Rex smiled intrigued.

Spike sat down at the table and reached him a heart-shaped ruby. "Just gems. You don't happen to eat gems too, do you?"

Rex took the gem and looked at it. It went right into his black coat. "No", he said.

"Then", Spike hesitated, "Can I have it back?"

"No."

"Well", he looked down into his bowl, "That's not very nice."

"Nice is for weddings and funerals."

Hati suggested, "Better not push it. He seems alright. He can make waffles."

"And Cye'Da!", Krator raised his mug so hard, it spilled.

"I didn't make the cider, and I didn't make the waffle either. Twilight made the waffles. And Applejack made the cider. You should thank them. In fact, you should be nicer to them. They are trying everything they can to help you guys, and they don't have an easy time doing so. Trust me, it alway ends in tears."

"Trust me", Elisa told him, "I know. You're the only Dragon around here, aren't you? Kept small, under their hooves. Serving them. Away from your parents. I know that feeling."

Spike kept smiling, "But I never met my parents. Can't miss what I never had. And Twilight raised me. So, I didn't really miss out on anything."

By now, Rook managed to swallow all the dough and hammered his mug into the table board. A fountain jumped up and went everywhere, just not back into the mug. He raised it about all again at once. "To that! I d-r-r-r-r-ink!"

"Hossa!", Hati yelled and joined him. All together drank to that in the end.

"You guys are crazy", Spike smiled.

Hati bent over the table to tell him silently, "You're not the first to tell us that."

"And he won't be the last!", Elisa yelled. Due to her size and elvish condition, she didn't handle the alcohol well. Even one mug of Cider robbed her of her senses.

Spike had to ask, because it was serious, "Do you guys have a plan? What do you do next?"

"Well", Hati answered, "We need to get back home. If not, then we just stay here to rule the land."

"Yeah!", Krator yelled, "We'll conquer it for the glory of battle! And then rule the land of tiny horses!"

"That's a joke, right? Please don't do that."

Rex smiled wickedly, "Is it? Or maybe it is." He stood up, grabbed the little Dragon under his arms and set him down on the table before him. "Do tell, dear Spike, what do you know about the Unicorn-magic?"

It didn't exactly take a day's ride, but a few hours still passed until the train of hearts and invisible Humans stopped at Canterlot-Station, high on the mountain and deep within the heart of the city of white and gold.

The sight put the Humans into awe. Understandable. Not only was the city no comparison to the village they've seen, with muddy roads and timber houses. Canterlot was the capital of Equestria, and with that, probably the most important city on the planet. The stone streets, the white walls, the high towers, the city walls, the guards with their golden armor, the golden lanterns and the overwhelming number of Unicorns all were an unmistaken sign of wealth and importance.

"Is this a city, or a temple?", slipped over Cam's libs.

"Shh", the Princess shushed him, "Stay behind me, and no word. We need to get to the castle."

"You mean the big tower at the end of the stairs?"

"Yep, exactly that. Now, come, quick!"

She trotted on and the Humans did their best to remain behind her, but there were a lot more Ponies on the streets than in Ponyville and it wasn't long before the group was separated.

Carefully and ever so slowly, the last of the bunch, Rodney, Daniel and Vala, made their way to the stairs. They knew where they had to go and they were hoping, the spell wouldn't leave them hanging.

But something was obviously wrong. More of the colourful little horses swarmed the places and stairs. Something attracted them to a crowd.

In the center of the mob, Twilight tried to stay calm. She was the Princess, she was famous and popular. Too much even, if you asked her.

A pink bubble of pure willpower and strange horse magic kept the fans in check and away from her invisible guests. Cheers and greetings of love mixed into a noise, that made talking difficult.

Cam thought out loud, "Might be a good idea to use that Invisibility-Spell yourself."

"You know what? That's a great idea."

"What?"

Hardly said, it was done. She raised her horn above herself and when the sparkly dust covered her, she was vanishing into thin air. Shortly after a disappointed sigh from the crowd, a flash brought her and the Humans closer to the stairs and out of the clutter.

Confused the Ponies scattered and looked for the Princess, while others were returning to their businesses, sad and somewhat angry.

"Alright, is everyone here?"

"I'm here."

"Who is I? Is that Sam?"

"Is that Jack?"

"That's General O'Neill for you still."

"Sorry."

"Who is missing?"

"Now, that voice is Teal'C for sure."

"Can you keep it down? We're not up and away just yet."

"Sorry, Princess."

"Come, up the stairs." She went ahead, not knowing if the Humans were all complete. But the spell couldn't last forever and they had to make it
into the castle at least.

The great castle gates were tall and wide. They were also guarded. Slowly her magical glow opened a gap, so the Princess could slip through. Once the guards noticed the gap, they were already inside.

All of them but the three left behind. In a hurry they ran up the stairs and just when Daniel was grabbing onto the metal ring to pull open the gate, their cover was blown.

In the castle hallway, Twilight was sure they'd be save from here on out. If they were seen here with her, she could identify them as her guests. It wasn't the greatest of plans, but it was Twilight after all.

She took a breath and released the magic off their bodies. Instantly they returned visible and instantly it was clear, they weren't complete.
In panic, Twilight's eyes jumped between them and back to the gate. "No, no, oh no!", she ran to the gate and ripped it open with her pink glow.

Daniel fell right to her feet with a guard's spear hanging over him.

"What?", she looked at the guard, "Hey! What's the meaning of this?"

"Princess Twilight?!", the white Unicorn was shocked, "I ... we ... caught this trespasser."

"He's not. He's my guest. He belongs to me."

"But he's ...", he was looking back and forth between them, before he raised his spear off his chest again, "Very well."

While Rodney and Vala helped Daniel back on his feet, Cam and Teal'C closed the gates behind the Princess and shut out the guards. "That would be all", she smiled through the last gap before the clunk echoed through the plain walls.

Once the gates were sealed, Twilight turned around and was out of her mind. "How am I supposed to watch all of you by myself?"

"Especially when we're invisible", Vala joked and reached her hand high for a High-Five, but Jack beside her wouldn't comply. Only Teal'C next to her sealed this deal, emotionless as usual.

"I'm terribly sorry, Princess", Daniel apologised, "There were just too many horses to go on."

"No, it was my mistake. I'm not enough for this. I should have told my friends sooner. I just hope Spike was able to do, what I asked him to."

As ordered by the Princess, Spike was looking after the Lizards. Somehow he convinced them to follow him on a tour through Ponyville.
They were a strange sight to behold and who didn't stop and drop all to stare, fled scared of another villainous invasion. They didn't exactly try to blend in either.

While Elisa was trying to catch herself a young Unicorn she could cuddle to death, Rook and Krator were rampaging around the market stands, trying to get a sample of all the local foods.

Hati gave it up long ago, to try to restrain them. He stuck to Rex, Morty and the Dragon Spike, while they were taking their stroll between the timber frame houses.

Weirdly enough, no one had eyes on the young Knom, but they were sure, he'd show up again eventually.

Rex couldn't avoid noticing the magic around him. This world was imbedded in it, drunk from it and infested. But where did it come from? What was it made of? He wore his shades now not only to face Twilight, but to see anything really. Everything around him overloaded him with the treacherous glow of the ether.

The center of it was found, when Rex was looking up. There was the sun upon the world, shooting her power down to the planet.
Undoubtedly a strong source of this alien magic, but was it the cause as well?

He turned to Hati and pointed up, "Look at the sun, does it look natural to you?"

Hati just shrugged. He couldn't look directly at it, but he didn't see anything unusual, other than that it was indeed an alien sun. "It's a bit bigger than ours, isn't it?"

"Why, yes", Rex nodded, "That's right. But trust me, I cannot see how it works, or understand it just yet, but this celestial body is no mere sun. It's made from pure magic."

Hati didn't know that their sun back home wasn't magic, but apparently that was meant to be an unusual thing. "Don't suns get made by gods?"

"Why, yes. But they are fire and light, heat and soul, not magic, not this", Rex waved through the air around him, "This mess."

"What are you talkin'bout?", Spike asked him from below. "What mess? It's a beautiful day."

"Speak for yourself, little Dragon. And do tell, who is your god? Who made your sun?"

"Or your world for that matter?", Hati added.

"Or your species?", Morty added.

Spike wasn't sure what to do. He never heard of a sun or the world being made. "Ehrr, I don't know! Celestia raises the sun everyday, and Luna the moon every night. But they already been there long before they were born."

Hati stopped in front of Spike, "Wait, what? Did you just say, they raise the sun and the moon? Like, manually?"

"Manually? Nah, they use their fancy Alicorn magic for that trick. Actually Twilight had to do that job too for a day or so, but that's kind of a long story."

Hati's brows dropped deep into his face when he turned to Rex, "Alright, I think you're onto something. This doesn't seem right to me."

"Not like the sun and moon would move on their own."

Silently they looked to the Dragon and then at Morty who had a comment on his libs, figuratively. "No, they really should. That's just how the cosmos works."

"Well", Spike went on, "I don't know where you came from, but it differently works here."

For a moment they stayed behind, "No kidding, alright", before they rejoined him on the tour.

A few steps further down the road the tourists and their Dragon went around a corner onto one of the few wider places of Ponyville. In the middle of the place they saw a tall building, looking somewhat edible with a cupcake on top.

"Aww", Rook sighed, "You took me to the candy shop, nice. But I don't have no fifty cents." His swag from the market was an apple that half of already went down his throat.

Spike waved at the Ponies he found there and while smiling they began to come closer. Spike went ahead, so the Ponies wouldn't have to pass the crude Lizards and the skeleton. As soon as they got a better look at them, they became slower and more hesitant.

"There you are, Spike", Rarity greeted the Dragon, "Is this why you needed us?"

"I didn't ask for it, Twilight did. I mean, sure I need you Rarity. I mean, I need all of my friends!"

She chuckled a bit, "Now, dear, do you want to introduce us?"

Alongside the white Unicorn Rarity, that had long, purple and curly hair and blue eye shade on, stood an orange Pony with blond hair and a hat.

"Welcome to Ponyville, I guess? My name's Applejack. This is Rarity."

Behind them stood a yellow Pony with long pink hair that touched the floor and wings she didn't care for using much. "And this is Fluttershy", Applejack rushed the introduction.

"Hello", Fluttershy said silently and tried to smile. The tall Lizards made her a little anxious and she didn't even dare to look at the skeleton.

Rex did curtsey before them in his best behavior. "I am Rex of Karinthor. These are my friends, Hati of Beibergen ..."

"Hey there, y'all."

"... and Doctor Mortanius Kältezorn."

"Did you just describe me as a friend?"

"Honest mistake, Doctor, I assure you."

"And then there's Rook", Hati mentioned.

Rex nodded, "Of course." And Rook waved.

Elisa rushed off the market to Hati and the folks. Her arm was wrapped around a pink Pony's neck, that seemed pretty okay with being dragged around. "Look!", she yelled most happy. "I caught me a pink one!"

"Sure did!", the pink one replied. "Hi!", she waved at the others, "I'm Pinkie Pie. Did you meet Elisa yet?"

Rarity shook her head, "I most certainly did not." She took a step towards her and Elisa's big eyes grew even bigger. "You look somewhat different. You're not a Lizard, are you?"

"You are pretty", Elisa stared at her, what made the Unicorn smile and agree. "I like her."

"Where's the Highpriest?", Morty asked her.

Elisa pulled on the pink one because she started to slip off. "Around here somewhere. He challenged some Rainbow-dude to a race or something."
Fluttershy whispered, "Rainbow-dude?"

But Applejack understood and didn't look too happy, "Rainbow Dash."

Elisa shrugged. She usually didn't keep names anyway.

"What is she up to now? Challenging strangers to a race like it was the first idea?"

Rex assured, "I'd assume it wouldn't take long. Krator is a pretty fast traveler."

Suddenly a thunderstrike rolled over Ponyville and from afar one could see the streams in the high air. "Right on queue", Rex smiled.

Next to a rainbow dash familiar to the folks of Ponyville, there was a second dash in the sky, flaming in red and blue glimmers. Once they reached the marketplaces, they descended like meteors.
Their great winds washed over the town and their folks when the air pressure was released and the racers came to a halt on the pavement.

Laughing sounded from the cloud as the dust rolled over the group. "Ah-haha! I win. Again. As I always do."

"You suffer from ill judgement, Rainbow!", Krator yelled. A flap with his great wings freed everyone from the cloud and gave away the racers.

"Well", Rainbow was evading, "I wouldn't call it suffer."

Morty yelled, "Is it really that important, who won?!"

They both looked at him simultaneously, "Yeah!"

For a second the racers stared at each other in hot competition when Rex caught their attention with his deep, smooth voice, "How was your view, Priest?"

"It's Highpriest and you know it!"

Rex didn't flinch, "Well? Seen anything interesting?"

Krator stepped away from the black coated mage and looked for excuses. "I didn't exactly pay attention to the landscape."

And so Rex turned to the blue one with the colourful hair, "You, Rainbow?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you care to tell me about your land?"

"You mean, right now?" She turned to her friends in whispers, "Who are these guys?"

Applejack explained her, "This one is Rex, that one is Hati and Mortanius."

"Doctor Mortanius Kältezorn."

"Whatever. Plus Elisa and Highpriest?"

"Highpriest Krator of Anthera!", the tall Lizard yelled, "But Highpriest is enough."

"Twilight asked me to ask you to look after these guys until she's back from Canterlot", the little Dragon informed.

"Excuse me!", Rex sounded insulted, "We don't need maids to look after us."

"I agree", Mortanius nodded. "We're no children."

Applejack's brows went down, "Alright then. In that case we'll just make sure nopony gets hurt or scared of y'all."

The Lizards shared a short look and Hati shrugged, "It makes kinda sense."

"Very well then", Rex applied to the Ponies, "As you may. And now tell me more about this Celestia."

"The observatory should be down this next corridor", Twilight informed the Humans on their way through the castle of Canterlot. They nodded off every guard they met and remained silent for most of the way. No one wanted to cause any trouble or draw attention as long as they had a free pass as the Guests of the Princess.

Whenever Twilight spotted other guests or Ponies of greater importance, that she didn't feel like elaborating her trip here to, she cast a short term cloak of invisibility over herself and the Humans and waited near the wall until everything troublesome had passed.
That way they made it to the observatory without crashing into too many observers.

The door to the tower was opened a gap to answer the Princess's knock. "Hello, there", she smiled.

Behind the dark threshold, an elderly Unicorn guarded these halls. "Princess Twilight?", the old voice asked.

"Yes? May I use the observatory for a bit? Or are you busy?"

"I? No, I'm not busy." The gate opened further and it revealed a tall wizard with beard, hat and grey fur. "But I'm very glad you came by."

Twilight cheered, "Starswirl!", and they attempted a hug, but without arms it is never much of one, not by Human standards anyway. "I didn't know you were back in Canterlot."

"Yes, dear. I came here to study your books. Celestia gave me this room, since it was yours a while ago." He chuckled, "Now it is I that goes in your hoofsteps."

Finally he looked up and past his young teacher to spot the Humans. "Who are your friends?"

"Humans that came through the Mirror."

"Oh, I see", he nodded, "Is it malfunctioning again. I told Celestia to keep it hidden, but then again, it taught you a lot."

"You know about the Mirror?", Cam asked boldly.

"Why, yes. I made it."

"Then you're exactly the ... Unicorn we need to talk to. Can we come in?"

When they entered, they found a tall and wide tower hall, that had multiple floors on the walls but a round space in the middle that gave free view through the glassless window ahead, that was pierced by the gigantic telescope.

It was the first thing Rodney saw and he was in cautious awe. "Now this is what I call a telescope."

They were all scattering and looking around in curiosity. Sam went to the window and looked outside. It was quite the sight, a great overview over the white city of horses, but there was a problem. "It's still too bright outside. We won't see a thing. No clouds though, that's good."

"You think we can wait here to nightfall?", Jack asked Twilight.

"You won't have to. I know our time runs out, so I'll ask Luna if she might give us an early night."

Starswirl was confused, "An early night? What could possibly be that important?"

"You know the Mirror better than anyone. If it brought them here, it can bring them back, or lose its power and never activate again."

The grey one understood and nodded, "Yes. Then I'll tell Celestia."

"No!" Twilight smiled awkwardly, "I mean, I need you here to look after them."

"Oh!", he winked at her, "I understand. You go ahead."

She trotted outside, "I'll be back in a bit. Play nice." And so the Humans were left with the Unicorn most skilled in ancient magic.

Jack looked at Starswirl’s pointy, blue hat and his beard. "So, you're a wizard?"

"Yes."

"Didn't expect that."

"What did you expect then exactly?"

"Well", Jack shrugged, "Unicorns are one thing, but then a wizard? Fine. But a Unicorn-wizard? Isn’t that a bit much?"

"Said the Human in the parade uniform."

"Ouch. I don't get it."

Daniel tried, he had some experience with wizards after all. "We were on our way to a gala when we were transported here. The uniform is adequate for a man in his position."

"Help me out, I'm just an old Unicorn, but what were you trying to do with the telescope again? Isn't it the Mirror that needs fixing?"

Sam turned to him and showed him her little black box that was meant for Delta, "This case contains all the stars and constellations we know. I hope I can compare them to your sky and recognise some familiar. That way I could calculate where we are and maybe find a way back home, or find out why we got here in the first place."

"Constellations? I don't see how those would help you find your way."

Sam opened her case and showed it to him. In it was a little keyboard and a little screen that turned on to show white signs in a black void. On the side of a starmap the signs appeared that were visible on the Stargates.

"These are the coordinates we need to go to. We call them chevrons. They resemble constellations of stars. A pack of them form a sequence that leads to another Gate and another planet."

"Constellations of stars?" Starswirl looked at the drawings, "I've never seen or heard of constellations like these before."

"That is very much likely."

"No, you don't understand. It is Luna's task to make the constellations. Drawing a map of them and using them to navigate, more so through the cosmos even, wouldn't make a whole lot of sense."

"I don't understand", Sam raised a brow and Rodney was worried, as usual. "What do you mean, make?"

The wide pink gate opened with a silent creak. Twilight took a peek before she entered.
Princess Luna was usually asleep all day and only rose to bring the night.
Her room was big but darkened, filled with dark colours and shades of blue. A few steps from the door, there stood her wide Princess-sized bed, with a little hump under the sheets.

Twilight whispered, "Princess Luna?", and received a mumbling grunt. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Hmm?", the hump turned around and peeked out of the dark sheets. Twilight walked up to her and talked to the blue snout and horn, which was the only parts she could see. "Twilight, is that you? What is it?", the snout mumbled half drunk.

"I have to ask you for something. It's a bit of an emergency?"

"Keep talking, I'm listening."

"We have alien visitors that lost their way home and to see it they need to see the stars. Long story short, can you make it night early today?"

"Early?"

"Like, right now?"

The Princess pulled back the sheet from her head to reveal her messy yet magical hair and her blue fur. She looked up to Twilight with a furious gaze that froze her blood. Not only was this highly unusual and an abuse of power, she was also very tired. And you know what they say about tired Princesses.

"You want me to use my ancient magic to bring night early, so you and your friends can see the night sky?"

"Sort of? They are not my friends, they are lost travelers."

"And why can they not wait until tonight? It's already past noon, a few more hours won't hurt them."

"Well", Twilight looked to the side in an awkward smile, "They kinda came out of the Magic Mirror and there is always kind of a time thing attached. So if we're too late, they might never get a way back."

For a moment Luna stared at her and thought about it while Twilight's smile started to hurt. It hurt them both.

"Fine."

Twilight was already thrilled but had to stop once again when Luna added, "But! I cannot bring night while the sun is still up, and it is not mine to lower it."

"You don't mean ..."

"You have to talk to Celestia first." Luna turned around in her bed and pull the sheets back over her head. "Tell her I'm Okay with it, if she asks."

And so Twilight left to talk to another princess. But where Celestia might be at this hour was incredibly hard to tell, if you're anyone else but Twilight. She knew her everyday schedule by memory. It is Twilight after all.

She rushed through the castle once more, up the towers and stairs, down other towers and other stairs, through halls and by colourful windows she's seen plenty of.

She was lucky, considered her circumstances. Celestia had her throne-hall-audience-hour, which is basically a chance for bringing up requests towards the Princess.
When she entered the great throne hall, Celestia was upon her steps and talked to the next Pony in line. There was a queue that reached from the door to her steps and Twilight walked right past it.
It was a glorious sight that she was used to already though. The white stairs and the fountains on their sides didn't impress her this time. She was way too busy.

When Celestia saw her precious Twilight, she quickly finisher her business with the grey Pony in line, granted her muffin related request and excused herself for a minute. She stood up from her throne and walked a few steps towards her. Her smile was promising.

"Twilight! How great to see you here. You didn't come to save me from the Request-Day, did you?"

"Ehm, no", Twilight smiled awkwardly and Celestia already knew what that face meant. "Actually, I was here to make a request."

"Oh?", Celestia chuckled, "I guess a Princess doesn't wait in line."

"It's a bit of a hurry. I need you to lower the sun, right now. If you don't mind, of course."

"You want me to end the day early?"

"That would be nice."

"But Luna isn't up yet. Nopony would bring the night. And anyway, why would you ask for such a thing?"

"Luna is already Oh-kay with it, so she tells me. She only needs you to lower the sun before she can bring up the stars."

"Why, now, what is this about, Twilight?"

"Long story short! There's Humans in the observatory and they think they can find their way home by looking at the stars, and we're running out of
time because they came out of the Mirror and nopony knows when that way back is closing forever. So, what do you think about that?"

Celestia was shocked and hid her mouth behind her hoof and its golden horseshoe. "The Mirror, no", she whispered. "It's changing paths again?"

"Celestia, what's wrong?"

Suddenly she ran down the stairs and hurried through the hall. Everypony in the request-line was confused and shocked to see her stressed like
that.

Twilight tried to hide her worry behind a wide smile and told everypony, "Request time is over. Everypony can go home now. Please come again
tomorrow."

Celestia's secretary understood and even if she wasn't amused over the changes, she followed her example and lead everypony outside.

Twilight hurried to follow Celestia in the meantime. Her way lead her straight to the ancient library, where Twilight discovered that the secret passage behind the shelves was open. She knew this path, she used it before. Down these dark stairs, that were directly carved into the rock Canterlot rested on, lay one of the laboratories of Starswirl.

The torches in the caves were lit and here it was where Twilight found Celestia again. She stood in front of a wall grown from blue crystals. Her eyes stared into the flickering shine of the playful reflections.

Celestia let her head down, "It wasn't this Mirror, wasn't it?"

"No, I'm sorry. But, isn't this Mirror sealed for hundreds of years already?"

"When you told me that the Mirror would lead into another world, I was worried, but I was happy at the same time."

"Happy?"

"I was hoping to see my Sombra again. But that time seems to be over forever."

"Sombra? Why would you want to see him again?" Twilight came closer and looked up into Celestia’s sad face. She was even breaking a few tears. It rested heavily on her heart.

"A long time ago", Celestia told her, "This Mirror lead to many worlds. Starswirl was experimenting with it, but I snuck in when I could, to travel into one specific world myself. It was a world very much like our Equestria, but with the difference that everypony's heart was reversed. It was terrorized by an evil Celestia and Luna, that were hungry for power, and it was protected by a Sombra, with a heart bigger than anypony else's. But the Mirror had proven dangerous, it was tearing apart the frames between our worlds, leading to chaos. So I had to save us both, say my last Goodbye and seal this Mirror. None of Starswirl’s other mirrors lead into this world ever again. Even your pink one, that Sunset Shimmer found, only lead to so many places. One of them you know well."

"Canterlot High. But the Humans didn't come from there. They must be sent back where they belong, don't they?"

Celestia dared to smile and wiped the tears off her face. "Yes, yes they need to go back. They must be missed by whoever they left behind." She turned and walked towards the stairs. "Come, let's lower the sun to show them Luna's stars."

When the day sky was turning darker and the sun rapidly started to run down her path, the Humans in the Observatory were still on the argument about the made stars.

"Ah, here she comes now", Starswirl greeted the night sky. "Now, look. Luna is making the stars."

The Humans gathered around the big window by the telescope and looked amazed at the changing sky. Soon after it was dark, one star after another appeared on the black canvas, like someone spread glitter all over the place.

"It's pretty, isn't it? I taught her that. I think."

Rodney was angry at him and pointed at the sky, "What is that?!"

"Stars."

"Stars don't just appear!"

"Now", Sam said and went to the telescope, "Let's have a look at them, shall we?"

Soon after she took a look through it, Twilight came in and with her she brought the tall, white mare Celestia, who almost angrily looked down at the Humans.

They were in awe and even Starswirl was rather surprised to see her here. "Celestia, dear, you look well. You didn't have to come here, I have everything under control. See?"

"It's good to see you too, Starswirl, old friend. I didn't know you were here. I just came to have a look at the Humans myself."

Cam approached her, kept his distance though. "I'm Cam Mitchell, these are my ... Humans."

"I am a Jaffa."

"Yeah, anyway. How you're doing? And you are?"

Twilight came down the few steps to Cam, "This is Princess Celestia. She raises the sun."

"Oh, then we have to thank you for the early night. Thank you. That's very kind of you."

"I do what I can to help Twilight. I have no say over whom she helps."

Twilight smiled in her usual fashion. Her face must have hurt by now from smiling all day.

"Ouch", Daniel joked, "Sounds a bit harsh, doesn't it?"

"I'm sorry", Celestia looked frank but serious, "But we don't have the best of experiences with alien visitors, with Humans especially."

"You're saying you seen Humans before?"

"That was some time ago, but yes. I know your kind."

Cam defended his group, "We don't try to do anything here, really. We just need to go back. We have a job to do, y'know."

"And this job, it requires guns?"

Twilight wondered, "Guns?"

Immediately Cam put his hands on his pistols to cover them up. "Just for self-defense, you understand. We never know where the trip ends, alright?"

Celestia came down the steps and put herself face to face to Cam, who had to look up to her. Her great appearance was impressive and even more so threatening. "I will do what I must to protect my subjects. Don't think your guns will do you any good against my Magic."

"I promise you, we're harmless. We're friendly. We're just lost, is all."

"Oh, boy!", Twilight yelled, "Look there, stars! Amazing."

"But rather useless, if you ask me", Starswirl commented.

"Twilight!"

"Yes, Celestia?"

"Would you mind, if I took a look at the Mirror in your library?"

"Ehm, no! Of course not!" Other than it was occupied by a horde of alien Lizards that she didn't tell her about yet. What could go wrong?

"I'll leave the Humans to you then", Celestia finally said and went out.

Twilight almost turned blue before she remembered to breath. "Oh, boy! Ohhh," she grunted, "Nooo! She's gonna find the Lizards and then she's gonna kill them and then she's gonna kill me!"

"No, come on", Cam comforted her, "Would she really do that?"

Vala joked, "I think she would."

And Daniel agreed, "Oh, she totally would."

"Did you see that she was wearing a crown?", Jack asked them.

Ignored by everyone and ignoring everyone, Sam was busy on the scope. After she noted a few things down, she came to a conclusion.

"Those are not stars."

Everyone was listening to her and Twilight approached her, asking, "What do you mean, not stars?"

"Well, I don't know what they are but these lights are only about two miles above us."

Teal'C looked down to the little Alicorn, "What is wrong with your stars, Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

"Wrong? There's nothing wrong with the stars?! Luna made them all herself perfectly."

"As I told you before", Starswirl added.

Daniel was fascinated, "But what does that mean, made?"

"Well, she made them. With her magic. I actually know a few of those spells myself but I'd never steal away Luna's job. I mean, that would be rude."

"You'd probably also take a lot longer to do it." And the old stallion was probably right.

"So, to be clear", Daniel said, "Luna flew up there into the sky and made those stars herself?"

"Of course!", the Pone smiled, almost laughing in the end, "How else would we have stars?"

"Well then", they heard Rodney complain in his regular manner, "They're not real stars then, are they? What now?"

"You're gonna think of something", Mitchell told him, "Because that's what you always do."

"Excuse me", the Princess now complained, "What do you mean, they're not real stars? I saw them being made with my own eyes. Luna makes them anew every night. You can't just deny Luna's work?"

"Aww, Honey", Rodney pouted, "If they are made, then they are just lights. A star is a ball of gas that ignites under its own weight, forming nuclear fusion and DEADLY radiation." He yelled, "They are huge! And they float in a space that is unimaginably huger! And there's countless amounts of them in this space. With their billions of years old light, that we can see from our planet, we can make a map TO TAKE US HOME!"

Mitchell grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it, "Calm down, Rodney. It's not the Princess's fault." He looked at her and added, "I'm sorry. I apologize for my friend here. Again. He has no nerves. At all."

Twilight looked baffled. Should she believe his words? Could it be true, or just another form of reality? "It's okay", she smiled eventually, even though it was forced.

Rodney took a stroll and ran out the door. Jack nodded to send someone after him and Teal'C, Daniel and Vala followed him through the castle halls.

Cam stood by Sam and looked at her notes, that he didn't understand at all. "So, there's nothing usable here?"

"No. Those lights are not even outside the atmosphere. Those will do us no good."

Starswirl besides them mumbled, "That does sound familiar."

"Well, what now?"

Sam already had an idea. "We need a real star." She turned to Twilight, who looked troubled. "Is there a star that you can see by day?"

After a moment she knew what she meant. "Actually", Twilight nodded, "There is."

"How would that help?"

"If it was visible by day, that'd mean, that it wasn't made, but is natural. I have to take a look at an actual star, if you want any results from me."

Twilight went to the shelves in the corner of the hall and started looking for a specific scroll. When she had it, she unrolled it on the floor.
Everyone beheld the few dots and lines on the starmap of the Day Stars. It showed their paths and positions in the sky over the time of an Equestrian year. From there, Twilight was able to tell where this star might be today.

She set the scope into position, turned the wheels and adjusted the angle. When she looked through, she saw a bright star in the middle of the night sky's dazzling glimmer. "Here", she told Sam. "Have a look at this one."

Carter bent down to the scope and had a look. She adjusted the zoom and saw, that it wasn't a simple light, but a shape, which was promising. After a few minutes of calculations, she informed them, "It's real, alright. Looks like a galaxy far, far away."

Twilight never heard the word, "A galaxy, what’s that?"

"It's what we call huge clusters of stars and planets that are packed together. They are often very bright and visible on the sky."

"Wait a second, there's other planets in the sky?"

"Well", Sam nodded sideways, "More or less. Actually, yes. But a planet isn't emitting light, so it's not visible."

"Carter", Jack asked from a few steps away, "That's not by any chance the Milky Way, is it?"

She looked at it again to be sure, but, "No, it's not the right shape." She checked her little black box and looked up the galaxies known to the database. It were only a few thousand and she could filter them by type, so she did some guesswork and came to a conclusion quickly.

"This galaxy shouldn't exist."

"What do you mean by that, Carter?"

"Sir, the database has thousands of galaxies and millions of stars registered, it goes as far as we can look, as far as the Stargate System goes."

"And?"

"Well, there's just no way that the Stargate System could have brought us this far out, Sir."

"Are there no other galaxies to look at?", Cam asked.

Sam checked the map and Twilight helped her adjust the scope, "Only a few. I'll have a look."

Rodney was leaning on a low, white marble wall in a long corridor on the outside of the castle and looked up into the sky. The corridor had pillars every few steps that supported the roof and the rest of the castle above.

When Rodney noticed Daniel had joined him, he had already calmed down a bit. "It's fake. It's all fake. None of them are real."

"But they do look real."

"And pretty", Vala added and sat down on the little wall.

"I know this is not your everyday adventure", Daniel explained, "But it will work out in the end. Everyone is putting their trust in you."

"I can't do anything. There’s no tools, no computers, no Stargate. What am I supposed to do?"

"The Stargate brought us here, so there must be a reason for it. There has to be a Gate on this planet."

Rodney sighed, "Even if we find one, where would it bring us next?"

"Home."

He looked at Daniel, "Why do you think there's no stars in the sky. Why would they have to make them?"

"You mean, they don't have stars in the first place", Vala asked. "So, why make stars, right?"

"The only reason why the sky would be black, would be because space", he gasped, "Is empty." Suddenly he rushed back down the corridor on his way to the telescope. After sharing a few looks, the three companions followed him.

Rodney almost broke the door when he crashed into the observatory. He looked stressed but not mad and so Sam, Cam, Jack, who felt sleepy already, and the two Ponies paid attention to his idea.

"Sam! Sam-Sam-Sam!"

"Rodney?"

He stumbled down the steps, "I know it. I know why there's no stars. But you won't like it."

"Y'know, I found out something too, and all by myself." She showed him her notepad and he read it in panic.

"But that's-"

"Impossible?", she asked him.

Cam yelled, "We don't know the meaning of that word!"

Vala went over to Jack, "I'm gonna stand by the dumb people, thank you."

"Hey!"

"Sorry."

O'Neill leaned over to her, "You have any idea what they're talking about?"

"Do I ever?"

"There's a few actual stars on the sky. Three of those are galaxies that I never saw and one seems to be some massive Blue Giant. But there's nothing in between, nothing behind it."

"It's all gone!", Rodney yelled. "The stars, they died out. Burnt!"

Daniel wrinkled his forehead, "What would cause that?"

He looked at him with is wide, panicking eyes and said, "Time. Simply time."

"Carter? Care to fill me in?"

Vala cleared her throat, so Jack added, "Us. Fill us in, please?"

"We didn't just travel to another Planet, Sir. We traveled in time, into the future. So far even, that the universe expanded so vastly, that no other stars are visible, cause nothing is close enough. We're at the end of the universe."

"That means we're late for the Gala on Delta?", Jack asked.

"A little, Sir."

"Wait", Rodney mumbled, "That could mean, we're the last Humans."

"Well, I don't know", Cam joked, "We're a tough bunch."

Twilight tried to understand all of this. She listened to it all but had a hard time wrapping her head around it. "So, you're from the past?"
Sam smiled, "That's a bit of an understatement, but technically, yeah."

"So, then the Lizards could be from another time too", she concluded.

"Talking of which", Daniel wanted to know, "What are we going to do now?"

"Sam?"

Carter sighed and put some thought to it. "Even if we find a Stargate, I'd still need a sun eruption for us to travel back in time. And even then, we couldn't know how far we went."

While the Humans were arguing about their options, Twilight rubbed her chin in thought. "A time traveling spell, hmm?" She looked at Starswirl and he already deemed to know his future.