An Otherworldly Adventure

At the train station in Ponyville the towns local candy maker, Bonbon, was sitting on a nearby bench and just patiently waiting for the train to arrive. Today the candy maker was waiting for her housemate, Lyra Heartstrings, to arrive and return from her week long overdue vacation with her family. And it was really overdo! The unicorn has been so busy as of late, with auditions for musicals she was scouted for, and being part of small bands and performances, and fancy parties that need calm and quite music. Then there was the Grand Galloping Gala, which ended in disaster, but Lyra still performed to the best of abilities. But that wasn’t all of it. Lyra has also helped at Bonbon’s candy store, wither it was working the register, helping with shipments of supplies, or even making candies.

The unicorn has been doing nothing but work for the past few months, and rarely gets a chance to visit her parents in Canterlot due to their own hepatic schedules. So Bonbon was happy when Lyra won the raffle to a paid vacation to Baltimare at a luxury hotel.

The distant ‘screech’ of the trains whistle caused the mare to look up, and saw the train rolling down the tracks, coming towards the station. The cream coated earth pony slid off her spot on the bench, stood up and waited for the train to come to a stop. And once it did, the mare watched as the car doors opened, and ponies to trot out, and trot in. after looking through small crowd of ponies Bonbon found her friend. Lyra was just casually strolling out of her train car, saddlebags, and a new pack perched on back, and book held in her golden magical aura.

“Lyra!” Bonbon said as she approached the mare, who looked away from her book and gave the candy maker a big smile.

“Bonbon!” the unicorn pranced over to earth pony, and two of them nuzzled up to each other as they greeted each other.

“So how was your vacation with your parents?” Bonbon asked as the two broke their hug, and started to trot towards town.

“It was amazing! Baltimare is such a lovely city, mom especially loved this play we managed to score tickets to.”

As the two continued to trot into the town, Lyra regaled Bonbon with her time in Baltimare with her parents. And the candy pony listened intently. She did wished she could’ve gone with Lyra and her parents, but she withheld her desire to also go on this little trip, and just listened to what her friend has experienced. And from all the praise, and details that the unicorn was giving her, Lyra seemed to have a great time. But as the pair walked and talked, Bonbon’s attention was switching between Lyra and the book that is subtly waved around, whenever the unicorn’s magic fluxed.

The book was fairly old looking. It’s covering a very dull and withered red color, and its binding has definitely seen better days. Ever since Bonbon and Lyra started living together, she noticed that Lyra has a collection of books that look similar to the she’s currently holding, all worn out and looking as if they were ready to be thrown away. And yet, Bonbon has noticed that Lyra always keep them in the best condition she could have them in, and is never seen with her muzzle buried in one while she relaxes around the house. Now Bonbon has always wondered what those books the unicorn reads contained, as Lyra always seemed so fascinated by the contents of those books, oppose to whenever the unicorn reads anything other than her own personal collection.

“So Bonbon how was your week without me? anything interesting happen in Ponyville while I was gone?” Lyra said to the candy mare, re-focusing the ponies attention on the pony next to her, instead of the floating book.

“Actually yes, a few things have happened while you were gone.”

“Really? What happened.”

“Well this one night a few days ago, this weird lightshow just, appeared out of nowhere.” Bonbon said and immediately getting Lyra’s full attention.

“All of these golden glowing orbs were just, flying across the sky.”

“Wait! So you saw those to?” Lyra’s remark caused Bonbon to look at the unicorn with astonishment.

“So you saw them as well?”

“Yes.” Lyra said as she carefully stuffed the book into her saddlebags, and then started to rummage around the pack on the back with her magic, before something was pulled out.

“My dad took a picture at those weird lights. Look!” Lyra showed her friend the picture, and true to her word, Bonbon can see the lights soaring through the night air. Or at least blurred pictures, but they were definitely the same lights that occurred over Ponyville.

“Does any pony know what those lights were?” Lyra asked as she stuffed the picture back into her pack.

“So far no pony knows where they came from.” Bonbon replied. “And those light weren’t the only thing that happened in town.”

“What else happened?” Lyra asked, her curiosity peaked after hearing about the lights.

“A few days after those lights showed, Rainbow and a strange creature came falling out the sky, and crashing into Sugarcube Corner!”

“What kind of creature did Rainbow get into a fight with?” Lyra asker her friend.

“I…honestly don’t know. no pony who wasn’t at Sugarcube Corner does, but supposedly its big, was wearing some really tattered clothes—” as Bonbon started to talk about the creature, she saw her friend’s face shift, as if she just remembered something.

“Hey Bonbon, do you mind if we head on over to Sugarcube Corner really quick? I wanna ask the Cakes what the creature looks like.”

“Uh, sure? We can do that.”

The moment that Bonbon even said, sure, Lyra was already galloping down the street towards the Market Square. Quickly following after her friend, Bonbon chased after Lyra as she was genuinely confused, and intrigued on why Lyra seems so, excited. After darting through the crowd of ponies in the market, Bonbon and Lyra were on the homestretch towards the bakery, and the moment that it came in sight Lyra picked up speed. The two mare’s skidded to stop as they closed in the door, just barely not crashing into Derpy as she took off with a basket of muffins in her mouth. The pair apologized to the wall-eyed mare, who just giggled, forgave the both of them, and hoofed each one a muffin before flying off. after the near crashed happened, the two mares entered the shop and the unicorn immediately trotted up to the front counter, where Miss. Cake was standing.

“Hello Lyra, how was your vacation to Baltimare?” the plump blue mare asked the unicorn.

“It was great. But Miss. Cake, I need to ask you something!”

“Oh? And what’s that?” the blue earth pony asked as she gave the mint green unicorn a puzzled looked, which was shared by the creamed coated candy maker. Lyra dug through her saddle bag, pulling out the book she was holding earlier, while asking Miss. Cake a question.

“Bonbon told me that Rainbow Dash came crashing through your roof, with a strange creature?” the pudgy mare nodded as she sighed out.

“Yes she did. And those holes were certainly not easy to fix up, or cheap.” Miss. Cake bemoaned. That’s when Bonbon and Miss. Cake watched Lyra flip through the book she held, before holding it up to the baker.

“Did the creature that crashed through your roof look like, this?!” As Lyra presented the book to the motherly mare, Bonbon tipped-hoofed around her friend, and craned her neck to get a look at what Lyra was asking. The picture that she was assuming Lyra was talking about, depicted of a tall, rather lean built looking creature, standing upright, and wearing very dashing gentle stallion’s clothing.

“Well cinnamon sugar on toast! That is what the creature looked like, minus this style of clothing, and the mustache, but it’s a nearly identical match.” Miss. Cake replied which caused Lyra to snap the book shut, and start muttering to herself, and even trot about in a circle, all in a rather excitable fashion.

“Um, Lyra? Are you, okay?” Bonbon asked hesitantly, not really sure how to act or process what’s going on with her housemate. But instead of answering the cany maker, the unicorn snapped out of her little train of rambling, and looked squarely at Miss. Cake. who flinched at the sudden stare down.

“Miss. Cake do you know where the creature is?”

“Well, huh, last I’ve heard it was at the hospital. But—” Miss. Cake said as she tapped her chin as a thought seemed to have come across her mind. “From rumors going about, especially from those of the hospital staff that come in to get treats, I think it was taken to Canterlot by princess Celestia.”

“Thank you Miss. Cake!”

Almost instantly as if she used a teleportation spell, Lyra vanished out of the bakery with surprising speed. She left so fast that Bonbon was surprised that her friend could hustle that fast. Bidding the confectioner goodbye, Bonbon chased after her friend, who was more than half-way down the street, but thanks to her earth pony strength and speed she was able to catch up with Lyra. Who looked as if she had won the raffle to the paid vacation all over again.

“Lyra what’s going on? Why are you so hyped up on this creature?” Bonbon asked her friend, feeling a little worried, more so out of being out of a loop that Lyra was clearly in.

“I’ll tell you later Bonbon, but first I need to go to Canterlot.”

“Canterlot!” Bonbon echoed while also nearly tripping over her own hooves. “Why do you need to go there?”

“If the princess indeed took this creature to Canterlot, then that’s where I’ll find it.”

Lyra all but increased her speed, and raced through the market, and back towards the station. Even if she doesn’t know why her friend is acting up like this, Bonbon was greatly concerned for her friend. But also, she was genuinely curious about what is going on, and why her friend seemed so dead set on finding this creature. At least this time she will be on a mini-adventure with her friend, and discovering, whatever it is that Lyra is hoping to find.

~~Canterlot~~

A painful groan left Adam’s mouth as he started to stir, his chest throbbing and aching with such pain, it was as if he was struck by a wrecking ball. Aside from his groaning, and the creaks he could hear from his own ribs, the young man heard various knickers, whines, and even loud snorts going about. And as he opened his eyes he was greeted with a familiar sight, the roof of a hospital, and being laid out on a bed. the veritable equine noises stopped before the sound of hooves started clicking against the ground, and when the young man turned his head to look who was coming towards him, he saw Celestia quickly trotting up to him with a extremely worried look etched onto her face. there were a few other ponies in the room aside the princess, including the dark blue alicorn that attacked him.

“Adam! Are you alright?!” the worried looking princess asked as she stood by the bedside, blocking Adam’s view of the other ponies.

Adam tried to say something, but it felt like his voice was caught in his throat. So instead, he gestured to his throat that something was wrong. The princess then turned to look behind her, and gave a few whinnies and a snort, before stepping to the side and allowing one of the smaller white unicorns to trot up to the bed. the mare then ignited her horn, and produced a faint light and slowly swept it across Adam’s body, and when it reached his chest the light stopped. The pony then developed a very deep pondering expression, before turning to look up to the princess, where she knickered and clicked her tongue, and the princess developed and even greater worried look. That’s when Adam felt like he was trouble breathing, and started to gasp for air, but seemed unable to do so. But then a warm sensation quickly wafted over him, easing his tension and growing fear, then with one loud gasp Adam was able to finally get a breath a fresh air. Which was followed by a series of coughs.

“Adam can you breath properly now!” Celestia quickly asked.

“Y-yeah.” Adam staggered as he tried to steady his breathing. “I…I think I c-can breath now.” The unicorn again swept her light spell over Adam, stopping at his chest, and developing the same deep concentrated look. Before easing to a more relaxed expression. The mare then spoke to Celestia who developed a small smile.

“Doctor Hindsight says your chest cavity is no longer compacted, thanks to the healing spell I just used.”

“Oh, good, then I won’t suffocate then.” Adam half-hardly joked.

“I swear, I’ll never understand how you humans can act like this, even when you are in such a state.” Celestia said as she shook her head. Adam chuckled as he imagined the other humans giving her the same, or close enough, response if they were in the same state he was in. but his little moment of sarcastic mirth ended when he saw the blue alicorn come close to the bed.

“Oh no! you missy—” Adam growled as he pointed at the mare, who looked startled at the sudden gesture. “You stay the fuck away from me! you nearly caved in my chest, so you go back to your little corner over there! go on, get!”

The mare didn’t budge from her position and just looked confused, that is until Celestia turned to her and spoke in equine to her, which caused the other winged unicorn to look greatly ashamed. She then looked at Adam and started to speak, but Adam just waved a hand.

“Nah-uh, I don’t care what you’re going to try and say missy, you could’ve blown a hole through me.”

“Adam I know what she did was greatly uncalled for, and I’ve already scolded her, greatly, for that.” Celestia said as she glanced over to the smaller alicorn, who just looked to the side with a guilty look on her face. “She wants to make amends and apologize probably for what she has done.” Adam tried to find, or think of something to say, but the still aching throb in his chest, and through out his entire body, stopped him from arguing.

“Fine! I’ll let it slide, BUT just this ONCE! If she tries something like that again—”

“I understand Adam, and thank you.” Celestia said graciously to the young man as she bowed her head, before turning towards the other alicorn and again speaking in equine. The blue mare looked over to Adam, and gave a small smile and a thankful look, while also whinnying quietly.

“Now Adam I must leave you as I have to get back to my duties, but don’t worry doctor Hindsight and her assistant will be here to continue healing you. but first.”

Celestia then started to generate magic around her horn, before a sphere of magic with what looked like rings of letter started to swarm around it, formed near the tip of the alicorn’s horn. The alicorn then gently tapped the sphere with her horn, causing the sphere to float over to Adam. The sensation of the sphere encapsulating around his head caused a rather itchy, yet also pleasing sensation that pulsed around his head, even causing his nose to twitch, and nearly having him sneeze. Once the sphere was placed around the young man’s head, it started to disappear till it looked like it wasn’t even there.

“Ugh Celestia, what did you just do?” Adam asked as he looked at the mare with a confused look. Not noticing that the other ponies in the room were also having the same confused, yet baffled looks they have on their faces.

“I placed a translation matrix enchantment on you Adam, now will be able to understand Ponish, and any pony will be understand English.” Celestia explained to Adam as the magic around her horn dimmed out.

“I should’ve done this sooner, but I was more focused on your treatment, and ensure that you were okay with your situation that it slipped my mind.”

“Well, that could’ve been handy earlier.” Adam joked as he rested back into his bed. “At least I can avoid more misunderstandings that end up with me in the hospital.”

Celestia agreed as she bid the young man a goodbye for now, and gestured to the smaller alicorn to follow her. who did so after glancing over to Adam. Once the two alicorns left the room, the doctor, who was a little nervous now that the alicorns weren’t in the room was a little skittish. But a few comforting remarks from Adam, and the unicorn calmed her own rattled nerves, and continued with Adam’s treatment.

~~Unknown~~

In some part of the city of Canterlot, in a dark alleyway, a figure was skulking through the shadows. The figure continued to move about the shadows of the building, staying out of the line of sight of the main street.

Eventually the shadowy being reached the edge of the city that was directly out front of the castle, and as their eyes scanned the area to ensure that no pony was looking, the figure quickly darted to the walls of the castle, and followed it to the southern end of the structure. Where a door down a short flight of stairs stood, with a sign saying “Catacombs” above its entrance. The figure then entered the catacombs, and started to venture through its corridors, mapping out every nook, cranny, and pathway. After spending an hour or so within the catacombs, the figure found a large cavern down in the old crystal mines of the city, one that was covered in crystals.

“This place should do for a make-shift cage.” The figure muttered to herself as her eyes scanned the cavern.

“But the real question is, how am I going to be able to switch places with that little snooty princess?” the figure then left the cavern and started to trot about the mines, making her way back into the catacombs, and back to the surface. “The preparations for the wedding will be taking place soon, if I don’t find a way to capture Cadence, and take her place, then this plan of mine would be for not.”

The figure continued to trot about through the dank underground network, before eventually returning to the surface. Arching up just a little bit of her head, the figure scanned the area, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. the individual of her desire, the focal point of her entire plan was just trotting about a few feet from her position.

“Looks like Shinning Armor is going to be late again.” Cadence said to herself as she gives a small sigh.

“Well, with the preparations, and getting everything set up, I can’t blame him.” the figure quickly developed a devilish smile before their body was engulfed in sparks of green fire, and their form had changed to that of the Royal Guards captain. Stepping up from the catacombs entrance the disguised induvial trotted up to Cadence, who upon seeing the figure smiled widely.

“Shinning! It’s about time you showed up, I thought I’d be waiting for an hour.” The pink alicorn mused as she nuzzled up to the disguised figure, who nuzzled back.”

“Yeah sorry about that Cadence, but don’t worry…” the stallion said as a smirk graced his muzzle, and his eyes flashed green for a brief moment. “I’m all yours for the rest of the day.”