A third knock at the door finally broke Luna’s concentration as she looked up from the book propped up in front of her, and saw the majestic pure white form of her sister enter the room wearing a concerned look on her face.
“Luna” she asked, “Are you alright?”
“Yes, Sister” replied the midnight blue Princess, ”Would you care to join me?”
“Not at this precise moment, no. You are aware that the moon should have set half an hour ago … ?”
“Oh ... !” she stood up quickly, looking disorientated, “Oh … we must attend our duties immediately! Thou shouldst have alerted me sooner …”
Celestia smiled. Her sister had been accepted and reintegrated into Equestrian society years ago now, but in times of stress, she still reverted to the olde Canterlot tongue.
Luna fairly sprinted out of the private study room where she had been working for the last few hours, totally oblivious to the passage of time. Celestia fell in behind her as they worked their way along unfamiliar corridors within the Castle of Friendship to find the nearest balcony from where they could usher in the new day.
“So, Luna” enquired Celestia, “It is most unlike you to miss moonset. What has got you so distracted?”
Luna turned to face her sister as the sun began to turn the sky a dusky shade of orange, half an hour late.
“I …” she searched for the words. Then they all flooded out, whether Celestia was ready or not.
“When Sunset Shimmer went back last night …”
“Yes …?”
“I cast an invisibility spell and followed her!”
“Luna!” gasped her sister, “You didn’t? Especially after what you said about upsetting the balance of their world!”
“Yes, but I stayed invisible, so no harm done. Besides I did not venture close to their Royal castle, so there was no chance I would meet my other self. Instead I followed Sunset Shimmer into a magic emporium that trades under the name of All Nite Liquor Store …”
“Luna … no!”
“As I watched, she approached the wizard behind the altar and gave him an offering of bits and in return received a mystical packet that had Potato Chips written on it, and a metal can she identified as soda.”
“What made you think this was a magic emporium?”
“Well, I was so excited with what I had seen in this world, that I looked around at what other wonders this emporium held and ventured into a section identified as over 21 only” she bubbled enthusiastically, “This had been clearly set aside for the more qualified patrons, and must therefore, I reasoned, contain more advanced magic. In there were shelves lined with countless bottles of potions, many bearing names which must belong to the wizards who brewed them, names such as Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, Jim Beam …”
“Luna, you really should be careful with potions you do not understand …”
“You are right, Sister. Fortunately there was a user guide to these potions on the altar, entitled Drinking Games. It is a text I have borrowed and have been studying with great interest. It appears that the magic within these potions is at its most powerful when taken in company rather than alone, and as such akin to Princess Twilight’s Friendship Magic. Thus Sister, I was hoping we could experiment in line with the directions in the text?"
“Luna – how much did you bring back?”
“About a dozen bottles and the text” she replied matter-of-factly.
“Luna – that is theft!”
“No Sister, I made sure to leave something of equivalent value, so there is no harm done.”
Celestia relaxed visibly.
“So Sister, shall I summon the other Princesses so we may all experience the magic of the human world’s potions?”
“Yes, why not ask if they are free and would care to join us?”
Luna trotted off happily while Celestia took the opportunity to preview the enigmatically titled handbook.
A short while later, Celestia heard her sister bubbling with excitement from the other end of the passageway as she escorted the lilac and pink sisters-in-law to their impromptu potion sampling session. The echoing hoofsteps stopped outside the door that waited temptingly ajar and Luna was first through, Celestia peering up at her sagely from over the pages of the book.
“I’m glad you could all make the time to join in and evaluate the magic potions from the human world” she announced as they all filed in, Twilight shutting the door behind them, “I confess I was unaware that they even had magic, but Luna has excelled herself by bringing back some distillations from their most renowned luminaries.”
Cadence and Twilight gasped at the revelation and took in the sight of the coloured bottles surrounded by an array of shot glasses, in the midst of which burned a candle as an offering to the spirits.
“As with magic in our own world, it appears that the magic is rendered more powerful by the accompaniment of certain incantations” concluded Luna, “Would you not agree, Sister?”
“Yes, I have been studying the prescribed text in your absence and have established a somewhat random sequence of words to unlock the magic within the potions. Perhaps it is the thoughts conjured by the words rather than any specific qualities contained within the actual words themselves?”
“My conclusions mirror your own, Sister. However, I propose we follow the instructions to the letter lest we deliver some unexpected consequence.”
“And I’ll write everything down” gushed Twilight, conjuring up a scroll and quill pen.
“Very well” said Celestia, “Which to try first?”
Cadence and Twilight watched expectantly as Luna pondered over her decision, floating a forehoof above each to enhance her ability to receive any magical residue that may be attached to it. Her face a picture of the deepest concentration as she moved her attention from one to the next, her focus finally falling on a bottle containing a rich amber coloured liquid.
“This one, I think” she deliberated cautiously, “Yes, we shall try this one first.”
Gently, she uncorked the bottle and levitated it, decanting the potion into four shot glasses. Twilight read the inscription and marvelled at what Wild Turkey Rare Breed could mean, her mind racing as she read a smaller label stating 116.8 proof. This number seemed odd to her and she quickly dismissed it as being a measure of temperature, but instead more likely a percentage. Since she was used to Equestrian mathematics where 100% could not be exceeded, she concluded that this must be a measure of the potion’s magical content above any maximum known to ponykind. She gasped inwardly as her mind wrestled with the mathematical incongruity of the concept and the awesome power that had to be contained within the bottle.
“I think perhaps we will require more than just four for the spell to work” interjected Celestia, “The text implies that multiple doses will be required for each spell caster.”
“Very well, Sister” replied Luna sagely, “I bow to the research you have done.”
With that she decanted half the bottle into waiting glasses as Celestia directed the Princesses into a circle.
“That should get us started” she commented, propping the book open at the appropriate page.
“As you have been studying the text, would you care to lead, Sister?”
“Thank you, Luna” she replied, “As we are dealing with unknown magic, we should start by meditating and treat all their incantations with the deepest sincerity, even if they do not make immediate sense to us. We will be following what is stated in the text, so therefore it must represent the pinnacle of their understanding, and as such we shall treat it with the deference it is due."
There were solemn nods of agreement all round.
She levitated the cork and held it close to the candle’s flame until there was a whiff of singed wood and placed it down reverently, Twilight looking on mystified. Once all Princesses were sufficiently relaxed and ready to focus, Celestia allocated each a number, starting with herself as ‘1’ and proceeding clockwise to her sister, her niece and finally her protégée at number ‘4’.
“This spell is entitled Ibble Dibble” she stated, looking down respectfully at the text and then proceeded to read the rules out loud. Once she had finished and confirmed that everypony had understood, she commenced the 'spell'; “I am the spotted cow with no spots number 1, and I call the cow with no spots number 2."
“I am the spotted cow with no spots number 2” said Luna, looking deeply into Cadence’s eyes, “And I call the cow with no spots number 4."
“I am the spotted cow …” began Cadence.
“Hey, I’m number 4!” interjected Twilight.
“Quite so” agreed Luna sagely, “Drink the potion.”
The others all watched expectantly as Cadence tentatively sipped the liquid. Her tongue and her mouth felt like they had been set on fire and she coughed, gasping for air and waving a forehoof in front of her.
“Are you OK, Cadence?” asked Twilight, concerned.
Tears ran down Cadence’s muzzle as she nodded her head.
“I believe it has to be downed in one” observed Celestia.
“Ooooh, quick!” urged Twilight, “Or the magic might not work!”
Cadence fumbled for the glass and downed the contents quickly, a feeling like molten lava burning down her throat. She banged her forehooves on the ground in front of her as the burning sensation faded and then felt a pleasant warmth spread over her.
“Cadence” directed Celestia, “The cork.”
“What do I do with it?” she asked huskily in a voice that took everypony present by surprise. It was the kind of voice that Celestia imagined she would usually have saved for quiet moments with Shining Armor, and one which Twilight neither recognised nor fully understood.
“You rub the blackened end onto your muzzle and make a spot” instructed Celestia, “Apparently.”
Luna nodded her agreement.
“But, my fur ...” she protested weakly, ”My beautiful fur …”
Celestia just stared at her niece and watched her resolve crumble as she reluctantly picked up the cork and made a rich black circle on her muzzle. Twilight looked at her aghast, while Luna suppressed a giggle. In response, Cadence shot her a deadly look as if to say, “I’ll get you for that!”
Cadence gave a little shudder as the pleasant warm feeling spread around her body and then resumed play. She stared mesmerisingly into Luna’s eyes and recited, "I am the spotted cow with one spot number 3, and I call the cow with no spots number 4.”
To her utter disappointment, Luna stayed silent as Twilight gave the appropriate response. Her disappointment was palpable, and Luna couldn’t help a smug grin form on her muzzle.
"I am the spotted cow with no spots number 4, and I call the cow with one spot number 3” replied Twilight.
Cadence stuck her tongue out at Luna for the trick she had just played, but was interrupted by Celestia.
“Um, Cadence …” she said, “You missed your cue. You have to take another shot.”
“Oh, what? Now just wait a minute …!” she protested, but all eyes were on her. Again.
“Oh, very well” she conceded huffily and took another drink, downing it in one and feeling a renewed jolt of warmth running through her.
“The cork …” prompted Luna as Cadence coughed and waved her forehooves about like a broken windmill.
“Yes, yes, yes …” she chided, picking it up and giving her muzzle another black spot.
"I am the spotted cow with one spot number 3, and I call the cow with no spots number 1.”
“Um, Cadence” came Celestia’s voice again, “You have two spots now, not one.”
All the others concurred.
“Oh”, she said resignedly, “I see. It’s me again, isn’t it?”
The others all nodded in unison.
This time she barely flinched as she threw the amber potion straight down her throat and daubed herself with another cork mark.
“Right” she said, suppressing the desire to giggle, “Right. I am the shpotted cow with three shpots number 3, and I call the cow with no shpots number 1.”
Luna and Twilight stared askance at Cadence, whose voice had become not just husky but also unexpectedly slurred.
"I am the spotted cow with no spots number 1, and I call the cow with no spots number 2” responded Celestia.
"I am the spotted cow with no spots number 2” said Luna staring right back at her sister, “and I call the cow with three spots number 3.”
“Ha!” exclaimed Cadence, getting wise to Luna’s tricks, “I am the shpotted cow with three shpots number 3 and I call the cow with no shpots number 2.”
Luna raised an eyebrow and mischievously looked the Princess of Love in the eyes once more, “I am the spotted cow with no spots number 2 and I call the cow with no spots number 4.”
“Twilight …” hissed Celestia.
“One moment please, Princess” she replied, finishing jotting down some notes, “How can I help?”
“Twilight, Luna nominated you” advised Celestia, staring across at her sister like a bucket full of retribution would be making its way over to her very shortly.
“Oh, OK” agreed Twilight cheerfully, picking up a shot glass.
“Twilight, I shuggesht you knock it back quickly” slurred Cadence.
Twilight did as she was bidden and made a “yek!” sound, sticking her tongue out as she tried to rub the taste off with her forehooves. Once the unfamiliar taste subsided, then she too felt shivers run down her as an unexpected warmth flowed through her body and smiled at Cadence who smiled back in a slightly disengaged way.
There was a brief flurry with her quill, then Twilight took the cork, held it by the candle flame and rubbed a sooty circle onto her muzzle.
Celestia looked at her imploringly and everypony could see this could only mean she was out for revenge on her sister, who, in fairness, looked more than equal to the task.
"OK, I am the spotted cow with one spot number 4, and I call the cow with no spots number 1.”
A victorious leer tugged at the corner of Celestia’s mouth as she waded in to do battle with her sister …
Some time later, and by now onto their third bottle, a very sooty faced white alicorn watched as Luna downed yet another shot and applied the tenth sooty spot to her muzzle, declaring herself to be the winner and the spell successfully cast. She and Luna had been shown to have by far the stronger constitutions, as Ibble Dibble had degenerated into a two horse race between the two sisters.
“Very well Luna” she said, noticing that when she turned her head, it took a second or two before the scenery caught up, “I believe we can progress on to another spell now.”
“Oh goody …!” shouted Twilight with an enthusiasm that was disturbing, followed by clapping her forehooves together rather too loudly. Cadence stared wide-eyed at the ridiculous spectacle and rolled onto her back snorting between fits of laughter.
Twilight drew a quick sketch on her parchment and levitated it in front of her sister-in-law. When Cadence turned her head, wide eyed to look, she saw a giant smiley face looking back at her. She shrieked, then put her forehooves to her mouth, and somewhere under the soot on her face, blushed fiercely before breaking down into another fit of uncontrollable giggles.
Luna looked at Cadence then at Celestia and raised an eyebrow with a look that seemed to question whether another spell using the magic human potions was a wise idea.
“To make things a little simpler, for those of us having problems concentrating” began Celestia, “I have chosen a two pony spell based on a checkers board. Luna and I will play, then one of you will challenge the winner.”
Some nods and other less recognisable head movements followed her announcement as a checkers board levitated itself from a cupboard and landed between them, expanding in size just enough to accommodate the improvised playing pieces. Luna began half-filling each shot glass, and as the bottle ran out, she chose another from the dwindling stock before her. She reached over and picked up a bottle of Glenmorangie, completing her task of half filling all 24 playing pieces. Celestia ran briefly over the rules, but nopony seemed really to be listening. She sighed; this would be carnage.
Cadence looked up briefly and tilted her head onto one side, trying to focus enough to pronounce the name on the bottle, “Glen orange … morrridge … Marjorie …”
Twilight tried to suppress a giggle but failed, and let rip another raucous laugh that sounded like it had been borrowed from a stallion twice her size; somepony like Bulk Biceps.
“Very well” sighed Celestia, “Shall we proceed?”
Luna snorted competitively in response, and gave an assertive nod.
The two sisters meditated in preparation for the next spellcasting while the other two, Celestia appreciated, probably didn’t need to do too much to empty their minds right now.
The game started and Luna quickly took one of her sister’s pieces, forcing her to take the shot. Next, she lost one of hers, and so their fortunes ebbed and flowed until Luna managed to get one of her pieces to the king line and snorted in triumph. She filled the victorious shot glass to the top and the game continued until Celestia was beaten.
“Your forfeit, Sister” Luna noted, her voice dispassionate, but an unmistakable glint of victory in her eyes.
“Very well” replied her sister, who then picked up each piece remaining on the board, and knocked them back, one after the other. After she had got past six, she slowed and began playing for time, breathing more heavily as the effects of too much, too quickly, started to make her feel decidedly uncomfortable. She continued, but much more slowly, pacing herself more carefully until only two more double shots remained, Luna watching her like a hawk.
She needed more time, but knew she didn’t have it. The room was starting to spin, and her tummy was beginning to protest too. Quickly she downed both remaining shots, tendered her apologies and went to lay down.
“Next?” offered Luna.
“Can we play as a team?” ventured Cadence while Twilight nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Bring it on” thought Luna, setting up the board again.
Celestia awoke to the feel of a gentle rocking motion on her shoulders.
“Your Majesty!” a voice filtered through the hazy blur which was all that was left to think with once her mind had decided it was no longer needed.
She grunted.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
Another grunt. Whatever magic had been contained in those potions was certainly potent.
“Your Majesty, are you able to lower the sun?”
She cursed under her breath and tried to get up, but for some reason, it took a lot more effort than usual.
“We were testing magic potions from another world …” she offered in her defence.
“Oh, thank goodness” said the voice, “We were so worried to find all of the Princesses unconscious; we thought you may have been attacked.”
“No, do not concern yourself on that score. The magic was just a little stronger than we had anticipated.”
She stumbled towards the doors that led out onto the balcony while the guards set about rousing the other Princesses.
She struggled with the catches on the doors until a guard came to her assistance and then she staggered out into the late afternoon sun.
Why did the sun have to be so bright?
She had never really considered it before, but for some reason it was awfully bright today and it hurt her eyes. Her head hurt too, so did her tummy. In fact, everything hurt and she felt increasingly unsteady.
Fearing imminent collapse, she took the decision to lay down before she toppled over and completed the task with all the delicacy of a bag of groceries splitting open, but despite the lack of style, she certainly felt more stable closer to the ground. “Good thinking, Celestia” she told herself, “I wonder why you never thought of this before? Perhaps it is enlightenment brought about by the human magic?” Then she set about the business of lowering the sun, which today, today of all days, seemed to be mocking her.
Meanwhile, Luna waited just inside the doors until the brightness of the sun had sunk below the horizon. She wasn’t a sun pony at the best of times, and this was definitely not the best of times.
Once all that remained of the sun was an orange glow in the sky, Luna ventured out carefully and lay down beside her sister.
“Some magic” said Celestia in wonderment, “I have for the first time worked out that if I am lying on the ground, I am less likely to fall down. I had never achieved the clarity of mind to appreciate that before.”
Luna made a noise that was not impolite, but sufficient to convey her agreement without the necessity of forming difficult words.
The moon showed itself over the horizon and all was well with Equestria. Celestia allowed herself to relax a little; night time may have been a little later starting, but at least everything was back to normal now.
“Tell me Luna” she said conversationally, “What did you leave as exchange for those wonderous magic potions?”
“I had to think hard what I could do to facilitate a fair exchange” considered Luna, “And suddenly I remembered those adorable round flying pets…”
“Not the parasprites?” gasped Celestia, suddenly shaking off her malaise.
“Is that what they are called? Anyway I remember all of our subjects being smitten with them and so transported a number of these dear creatures equivalent to the weight of the potions …”
“Luna, that must have been hundreds...”
“Yes, yes it did take a long time to source sufficient numbers, but I am sure the wizard will consider them appropriate recompense.”
“No Luna, we must stop this! They breed fast and wreak havoc in their wake!”
“But what shall I give as replacement?” asked Luna, disappointed that her sister was not sharing her enthusiasm.
“You think on it and meet me down at the crystal mirror as soon as you can. We have a disaster to avert!”
Luna felt that her sister had overreacted, and as the white mare strutted off imperiously, she turned her head and trotted back to her own room to ponder a more suitable payment.
“Luna, where have you been?” demanded Celestia, when Luna finally joined her, ”I’ve been waiting for ages!”
“I had an idea, and had to action it. Since we are not at Canterlot and it is daytime, it took a bit longer.”
“A bit …?” Celestia asked, incredulous.
“Yes” replied Luna breezily, “Anyway, I am prepared now.”
“Let’s get on with it, shall we?” asked Celestia, sounding exasperated, ”It’s for the best we remove magical items before we travel - I don’t want to risk repeating the problems from when Sunset Shimmer took Twilight’s crown through the portal last time.”
Once they had removed their crowns, livery collars and hoof guards, Celestia led the way to the mirror and tentatively probed its iridescent surface with a forehoof before deciding to take the plunge and walking in.
Immediately she was enveloped as two different realities swirled all around her in a bright flowing stream of rainbow colours. So as she wasn’t left behind, Luna took a run at the mirror and followed swiftly into the shimmering portal, closely behind her sister’s disappearing white rump.
In no time at all, Celestia had crossed the void between worlds and she emerged into the early evening outside Canterlot High School. Remembering what Twilight had told her that the inhabitants of this world walked upright on their hindlegs, she rose up to her full human height and paused to take in her first view of this new world. She looked around in amazement; everything was different, yet curiously similar. Her initial view was dominated by a large red building, which must have been the school that Sunset had spoken of.
Suddenly, she felt herself rammed from behind and was bowled over as Luna spilled out of the portal and careened straight into her rump.
“Sister, forgive me!” she stammered, as both knelt on the path surveying each other in human form.
“Luna, you’re wearing clothes …”
“So are you, Sister” replied Luna surprised, “But I am uncertain as to whether it is your colour choices or the bright lights that are making me flinch the most.”
“Ha! I don’t suppose you’ve bothered to take a look at your own outfit …?”
“Very well, Sister” acknowledged Luna solemnly, casting an eye over her own clothes, “We shall speak of this no more.”
“Perhaps it would be a mercy to both of us if we were to become invisible now. Luna would you do the honours please?”
Luna screwed her eyes shut and focused hard, but nothing happened.
“Luna” asked her sister tentatively, “How did you do this last time?”
There was no answer.
“Luna, tell me you didn’t bring magic with you last time you came through …”
“Well” she began, “Twilight’s crown was transported through the portal and the only damage caused was whilst it was in the hooves …”
“Hands” corrected Celestia.
“… hands of those with villainous intent.”
“You wore your crown didn’t you?”
“Yes, Sister” she replied, hanging her head, ”Thou sounded so confident, I thought thou might be able to produce the spell thineself …”
“Even alicorn magic doesn't work in this world" Celestia noted, "See, neither of us has a horn, so we will have to work through a magical artefact of some kind. Like you did when you came here last time. So now we either go back to pick up our crowns and risk further damage to the magical balance of this world, or we proceed without magic. I vote the latter.”
“Yes, Sister” replied Luna obediently.
Luna directed them over the road, which was a lot busier with traffic than she remembered from her previous visit, and up to the All Nite Liquor Store. As Celestia made to push the door open, she heard a cheerful voice behind her. On looking round surprised, she saw a man in a blue uniform that she did not recognise, but who seemed to know her.
“Good evening Principal Celestia, Vice-Principal Luna. Celebrating the end of a busy day I see” he joked, offering a conspiratorial wink.
“Yes” replied Celestia, caught like a rabbit in headlights, “The proprietor is an alumni, and I consider it a duty not to exclude him …”
“Hey, no need to make up excuses; I’m sure the kids can even get to you after a while” he shot back, “And remember, drink sensibly.”
Celestia could feel she was the butt of some kind of joke that she didn’t fully understand and choked back some embarrassed comment about having over a thousand years of experience with magical potions. Fortunately, her words were lost in the breeze as the man gave a cheery wave and returned with a chuckle to his vehicle which was adorned with the word mail on the side.
“Well!” snorted Luna, “Such overfamiliarity is quite unbecoming.”
“It would appear that he has a role within the mail service. We know from our world that dragon mail involves a lot of magic, so possibly he is a wizard of some kind” replied Celestia, ”It’s probably best not to anger those who control the magic in this world, and ‘go with the flow’ as Sunset Shimmer says.”
Luna shelved her indignation and nodded sagely in agreement, following Celestia as she pushed the door open, triggering a bell on a spring to tinkle cheerfully.
Inside, the air was thick with the ominous sound of gentle buzzing.
“Hello?” called Celestia, hoping to attract the attention of the proprietor, but there was no response. In fact, he had run away last night and booked into rehab, swearing never to drink or do drugs ever again as soon as he had seen bottles floating in mid-air and the store was suddenly invaded with weird buzzy things the like of which he had never seen before, nor wanted to ever again.
“Luna, we must work fast” prompted Celestia with an unmistakeable hint of urgency in her voice, “They will reach a point at which they get hungry and will eat anything, and I mean literally anything.”
“What, these sweet little things?” asked Luna, holding out her hand for one to land on.
A small blue coloured creature the shape of a ball with sparkly green eyes touched down gently on her hand and fluttered its wings, looking up at her adoringly. Luna stared into its eyes and almost melted in delight.
“You really don’t know what they can do, do you?” confirmed Celestia, “Tell me Luna, how did you get them in here in the first place?”
Her sister looked a little sheepish.
“You used your magic again, didn’t you?”
Luna looked towards Celestia, but somehow couldn’t quite raise her eyes far enough to meet her sister’s.
“We’re never going to accomplish this without some help” despaired Celestia, “I can’t believe I’m even suggesting this, but you’d better go back through the portal and get whatever magic you need to round these all up. If you still think they’re cute when we’ve finished, I’ll let you play with them back in Equestria. Now go, and be quick!”
Luna slipped out through the door, leaving her sister behind and made her way to the statue. There were a few pockets of people milling about, some of whom greeted her by the name Vice-Principal Luna. She waited near the statue until she was satisfied she was unobserved, then reached out with her hand and watched as it rippled the surface of the portal between worlds, then walked through into the swirling kaleidoscope that carried her back to Equestria.
She emerged back in the Castle of Friendship, standing on her hind legs and lowered herself gracefully back down to a pose more traditionally accepted by ponykind. At least she didn’t have those ridiculous clothes now …
Luna looked around for her crown, her livery collar, anything, but they were not there!
She ran out into the corridor, almost bowling over Starlight Glimmer, stopping just short of collision, but definitely well within her personal space. In fact if Starlight hadn’t pulled her head sharply backwards, she would have had her muzzle flattened by Luna’s as she tried to stop in time and didn’t.
“We are sorry” blurted Luna, “But hast thou seen our crown, livery collar and hoof guards and those belonging to our Sister?”
“Wow, you’re stressed” commented Starlight, “You’re talking in olde Equestrian again …”
“We are aware of our failings, but there is an emergency that demands our immediate attention!”
“Can I help?”
“Yes, we desire our magical items …”
“I can go ask Twilight if she knows anything …”
“Other than that?”
Luna paused for a moment, then replied, ”Dost thou have a magic artefact such as a wand to hoof?”
“Yes” she said, pulling her wand from her mane.”
“Canst thou use it to immobilise, shrink and recover parasprites?”
Starlight was open-mouthed.
Then Luna added “Please?”
“OK, I guess so …”
“Thou art coming with me!” stated Luna, allowing no latitude for dissent, and dragging her towards the store room with the mirror in.
“… But I’ll need some magical container to keep them in. I could ask Twilight …”
“No. Trust me. No” replied Luna remembering the condition of the lilac Princess last time she had seen her.
“I guess I could enchant a regular box …”
“Brilliant!” exclaimed Luna, dragging her back once more.
“Why is your muzzle all sooty?”
“Long story. You are coming with me into the human world.”
“But, I thought we weren’t allowed to take magical objects through the mirror …”
“A temporary amnesty is hereby granted with immediate effect!”
Starlight had no time to pose any more of the dozens of questions that were all fighting to be asked at once, before being pushed through the shimmering vortex of the mirror with Luna close behind.
Barely had Starlight emerged from the portal before Luna followed through and bounced off her flank. Starlight remained transfixed by the strange new world she found herself in, the questions that had seemed so urgent only a few seconds before, now pushed roughly aside as a lot more questions she could never have thought of previously all jostled for priority.
“Come, you are expected to stand on your hindlegs” Luna demonstrated, getting up, “Like this.”
Starlight balanced precariously and managed to stand up with Luna’s help. No sooner had she begun to master this problematic new balancing act, than she was being dragged by the hand across the road to the All Nite Liquor Store.
“Wow, I’ve got so many questions …” she panted.
“Later” replied Luna, “But first we need your help.”
They entered the shop, hearing the same buzzing as before, only this time it seemed to have taken on a more sinister quality.
“Oh, Luna” greeted Celestia, ”Thank goodness you’re back!”
“Hello Princess” said Starlight.
“Luna, why did you bring Starlight Glimmer into this world?”
“She has her wand and is ready to help.”
“Starlight” began Celestia, “Please would you ...”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it” she replied and waved her wand, watching it glow as the aura built up and then lit up the inside of the shop with a shock of light blue magic.
The parasprites froze in mid-air, startled looks on their faces.
“OK. I’ve got them, but I need a sealed box or a bag to put them in.”
“How about one of these?” prompted Celestia, pointing to a row of cardboard boxes behind the counter full of different flavour potato chips.
“That’ll do. Empty one out and we’ll use that.”
Luna was nearest, and quickly ran round the counter picking one up and shaking out the contents onto the floor.
“Ready” she confirmed, holding it with the open end towards Starlight.
“Good, we’ll also need some tape or something to cover the hole up. It doesn’t need to be much; the spell will make it strong enough to hold them, just so long as there’s no holes.
“On it” replied Celestia, starting her search.
Starlight returned her attention to her wand and drew the transfixed parasprites down into the box, shrinking them down as she loaded them in. Once she had double checked that none had been left behind, she turned her attention back to the box and saw Celestia waiting with a roll of duct tape.
“OK Princess, seal it up - that’s the last of them.”
While Celestia taped the box up, Luna took out a pouch and left it on the counter, then all three headed for the door.
There were a number of odd looks from passers-by as the Principal and Vice-Principal of Canterlot High School with sooty faces carried a softly glowing box of potato chips across the road. In fact it looked so unusual, that those few people they saw took a couple of steps backward rather than ask questions they may not want to hear the answers to.
As soon as they were back in Equestria, they escorted their box of parasprites to a secure magical holding area and set off in different directions about trying to find the Royal crowns. Everywhere they went, nopony they spoke to knew anything. With every failed enquiry, their hearts sank with the horrible feeling that somepony must have come through the portal and taken them, like Sunset Shimmer had done when she had stolen Twilight’s crown.
“Oh hi, Princess” said Spike to Luna as he strolled along the corridor carrying armfuls of very familiar regal attire, “You left these in a store room, so I thought I’d give them a clean and polish for you. They’ve come up really well - what do you think?”
“Oh Spike!” said Luna picking him up and hugging him warmly, “We thought we had lost them!”
“Nah. I’ve been just aching for a chance to give them a good clean. You’ll look even more special now, Princess.”
She leaned in and gave the baby dragon a big heartfelt kiss but didn’t see his cheeks flush bright pink because of the tears of delight in her own eyes.
Later, the friends and the Princesses all met up for dinner, or in Luna’s case breakfast. They kicked around all the strange events that had befallen them over the last day to a series of gasps and hoots of laughter.
“So tell me, Luna” asked Celestia, “What did you decide on leaving in place of the parasprites?”
“Well Sister, as I am the Mistress of the Night, I decided to leave something that reflected my own personal thanks.”
Everypony round the table was intrigued, and even Celestia looked at her inquisitively as speculation ran rife.
“As you know, I paint the night sky and I just so happen to have some rather rare and unusual artefacts, so I left one for him.”
“What was it exactly?” asked Celestia, concern rising inside her once again.
“Oh, a beautiful bright red meteorite. As he is clearly a wizard of high repute, it would be relatively easy for him to store it and then place it in the sky when he requires it for a special event.”
Silence erupted around the table.
“Luna, you left a meteorite in that shop?”
“Yes. It was in a small pouch. The containment field that keeps it small will last for a good few hours before it expands back to its normal size. We know he has to be a talented wizard, and containment spells are not demanding, so as soon as he gets back he’ll take care of it; there is really nothing to worry about.”
Just then, Sunset Shimmer came galloping in to the castle’s dining room.
“Princess Celestia!” she gasped, “You’re not going to believe this, but a meteorite has just landed near the school. Looks like it hit a store on the other side of the road …”
“Luna” said Celestia sternly, getting up from the table, “A word, if you please …”
