Hold me in your arms

“Princess Twilight it’s good to see you again,” Sunset said as they embraced.

“Good to see you Sunset, where is he this is urgent,” Twilight said as she broke the hug.

“He should be at his house, when I left last night with Rarity after he choked her, he passed out from drinking and should be laying in the same spot clinging to the bottle of whiskey,” Sunset said, “what’s this about his name in Equestria though?”

As the two girls walked across the street Twilight explained all she knew and handed Sunset a picture. Stopping in the middle of the street frozen in place Sunset looked back up at Twilight.

“No.”

“No to what Sunset?”

“This, picture you found where did you get it in the Canterlot Archive?”

“The war records wing, if my timeline I have been working on is correct then that was commissioned around a year before Discord. There was an account of one battle where a single Pegasus stormed an enemy fort and slaughtered every single guard, soldier, colt, stallion, filly, and mare in his path just to get the upper hand that ultimately turned the tide of war to the point when the enemy surrendered,” Twilight said as she walked back to Sunset.

“Look at the picture I took last night when I was over at Milo’s house, he was playing a song and then this happened,” Sunset said in a shaky voice holding her phone up to Twilight, the photo she held up on the screen was a pair of black purple-ish wings extended outward from the young man’s back as he hunched over his guitar with closed eyes.

“Impossible, unless he’s from Equestria or has any connection to equestrian magic this is impossible.” Twilight muttered to herself, “Sunset, you said that he’s still probably passed out at his place right?”

“Yeah, what are you planning Twilight?” Sunset questioned with a look of uncertainty

“Lets go talk to him and explain who I am and where you come from,” Twilight said as she made a beeline towards the house across the street.

***

I woke up on the couch not feeling the effects of last night’s drinking at all which was weird for me, normally I’d be puking my guts out by now and begging for death but today wasn’t that type of day. I don’t remember much of what happened last night or why I am laying on the couch but Something felt off, there was an unusual pressure in the air.

I get up and make my way to the kitchen to splash some cold water on my face, “fuck only four hours of sleep,” I say to myself as the cold water dripped down through the coarse hair on my face, “time to get to it then.”

I strip out of my boxers and put on the clothes from yesterday that were in the laundry basket in the wash room, I lace up the sneakers and head to the front door. Opening it and stepping out into the porch the cool morning air hits me and I shiver some. Putting the headphones I had left in my pocket into my ears, I pick a playlist from my phone and start my morning run.

***

*knock* *knock* *knock*

Twilight and Sunset stand on the porch of the home waiting at the front door, another series of knocks, nothing happened.

“Well I’m not surprised he’s still passed out, he drank about a half a bottle of whiskey in one sitting,” Sunset said as she looked at Twilight.

“No you’re exaggerating no one could drink half a bottle of alcohol in one sitting and still be alive,” Twilight says to Sunset with disbelief.

“It’s true l, I saw him down half the bottle over the course of an hour while I sat with Rarity on his couch,” She said in a tone that made Twilight question how this person can function every day.

Sunset tried the handle and it gave no resistance as the door opened, “lets see if he’s here,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Sunset don’t just barge into someone’s house like this,” Twilight scolds her in a hushed tone fearing someone might overhear her.

The two girls walk into the empty house expecting to see a drunken Milo Blackwood on the couch or in the bathroom somewhere, instead there was no one. Sunset rushed up the stairs taking two steps at a time she flung open the door to his room and it was empty except the guitars on the wall or in the stands with a notebook and pen laying on stool next to them.

“Milo, get out here!” Sunset yells while walking back down the stairs.

She sees Twilight looking at the jewelry box which had a letter opened with a picture propped up on a bottle of whiskey that was a quarter empty.

“What’s this?” Mumbling under her breath Twilight picks the photo up and looks at it closely, “so, this is the other Sunset Shimmer, where is she though.”

***

I round the corner to my street the sweat in my eyes blurring my vision, I sprint down the street to my house for the last leg of my morning run. Up the driveway and the stairs on the front porch I burst through door letting it slam behind me as I take the first few steps in my home.

“What the fuck Milo!” Sunset yells as I enter the kitchen out of breath and covered in sweat.

“Oh…..hey Sunset, hey…..Twilight, sorry was out on a morning run didn’t mean to scare you or anything,” I say between heavy breaths as I walk to the cabinets and pull out a glass, turning around to get to the sink to fill it up.

“Sunset, can you come here please I found something interesting in this photo,” Twilight said with a raised voice.

“Wait, what the fuck are you two doing in here, who let you in?” I ask as I look between the two girls now beside one another looking at the photo that I left propped up on by the whiskey bottle in my room.

“That’s not important, quiet. Sunset look at this necklace. It looks like the one I found in the archives, we’ll something similar to it anyways.” Twilight said, trying to quiet me from asking any more questions.

“Oh he’s wearing that right now, never takes it off,” Sunset remarks as she looks at me.

“Then depending on what it looks like that might be a problem.” The concerned tone in Twilight’s voice as she spoke didn’t make me feel better.

“What do you mean by that, and what are you two doing here anyways?!” I exclaim with a ragged breath.

“I want to see it, can you show me this?” Twilight said as she walked over to me and shoved the picture in my face, she paused as she saw the scar on my neck.

“What. Oh you noticed already didn’t you,” I say with a bout of calm coming over my voice and a wash of sadness over my face.

“I need to examine you more thoroughly, so strip for me,” Twilight orders.

“What the fuck?”

“Please, I’m doing some research on a pony from my world that shares your last name “Blackwood” and I’d appreciate it if you could strip for me so I can find the similarities between you and your suspected counterpart; so strip,” twilight said with a huff placing her hands on her hips.

“Fine, fine. If the pretty nerd asks me to strip, I’ll strip, sit in the chair and get some singles ready.” I say to Twilight, Sunset gave a small chuckle from the look Twilight gave as I inched closer to her.

“Sunset I don’t think he understood what I meant by strip,” she said in a worried tone.

“No he understands what you meant, he’s taking it in a whole different direction though,” Sunset replies with a small chuckle, “Milo, I think she’s had enough, don’t scar the princess.”

“What, I can’t have some fun here?” I say as I move my body to an imaginary beat while slowly taking my shirt off, flexing my pecs as I stare into Twilight’s eyes that were as big as dinner plates, her blush growing rapidly on her face that she looked like a tomato. “Come on hav– wait, did you say princess as in her, the adorkable nerd?”

“Yes, but you better sit down for this,” Sunset said.

I put my shirt on, standing in the kitchen/dining room just staring at both girls with confusion, “wait, wait, wait, explain.” I say while pacing back and forth, trying to piece together what’s going on, so there’s This world’s Twilight and there’s Princess Twilight, so where’s this world’s Twilight?” I ask, trying not to think too much about how much of a mind fuck this is, “I though Twilight is off galavanting on some college credit course or something.”

“Yea Twilight is off doing something sciencey for college credits or something like that, this is Princess Twilight Sparkle from Equestria the counterpart to this world’s Twilight or however you want to look at it,” Sunset explains while motioning to Twilight

“Makes sense, and you’re Britt’s counterpart, which something doesn’t add up here. So I’m guessing names are somewhat universal between the two dimensions correct?” I ask the both of them, “also what would you like to be called, Princess Twilight or just Twilight?”

“Oh Twilight is fine, but to answer your question; yes names here and on my side of this dimension do share vast similarities if not the exact same names which begs the question, why was Sunset’s counterpart called Britt rather than Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight asked.

“Well when I met her in grade school everyone called her Sunny, but she said that she wanted to be called Brittany, her actual name, so I called her that every day till she passed the summer going into freshman year.” I explain to Twilight. “Sunset looks a lot like her except she didn’t have red in her hair, natural or dyed.”

“So where is the necklace she’s wearing in this photo? Because there is an ancient magical artifact in my world that has immense magical power, now I know that there are some of those here in this world but they are few and far between.” Twilight hands me a hand drawn photo of the item as she explained what these magical objects were.

I zoned out a bit as the ringing in my ears became louder, I thought about what I should have for breakfast when Twilight reaches for my neck. I grab her hand, “don’t,” I tell her softly, “if you want to see my scars then just ask.”

Taking off my shirt again I let it drop at my feet and spread my arms out, “how did you, I’ve never seen any one with scars like this; not in my world or anywhere for that matter,” Twilight said with a gasp.

“The big one on my chest was an accident from working with my dad and the one on my neck was from a failed suicide attempt.” The irritation in my voice coming through as I re told a shortened version of what happened.

I let my arms drop to my sides and bend down to get my shirt, walking into the kitchen I take two skillets out from the floor cabinets and set them on the stovetop, walk over to the fridge and pull out a carton of eggs, a package of bacon, some butter, and the bag of hash browns. My mind wonders back to a happy memory as the ringing in my ears swells to a dull whistle.

******

The sound of sizzling filled the air the relative silence was disturbed by Britt’s soft foot falls on the hardwood behind me and the scent of her perfume as she wrapped me in a warm hug from behind.

“Morning my love, I didn’t know you were up,” Britt whispered in my ear.

A smile crept on my lips as I set the wood spatula down on the counter and turned the burner down on the stove, I turned around to face her and gently kissed the woman beside me wrapping my arms around her waist as I lean in.

“I woke up early for a morning run, I got back a while ago and decided to make us breakfast,” I whispered back.

“Thank you, I think today is a lazy day so… let’s just stay in bed together,” Britt says to me as she lays her head on my chest while lightly planting kisses on my shirt.

“How about you put on some music and I’ll have this breakfast ready for you my love,” I ask her as I kiss her one more time.

She hugs me tight for a second then let’s go and walks out of the kitchen towards the stereo in the living room searching for her favorite record in the rack. Taking her time while stealing glances my way as she gives me that look which melts my heart every time I see it, after getting everything set up she places the needle down on the vinyl and the music softly fills the room.

Dancing across the room back towards me while swaying her hips to the slow rhythm of the music, she takes my arm and tries to pull me away from cooking breakfast to dance with her. How could I say no, taking her hand in mine I let her lead me to the living room of her home.

“If I didn’t know better my dear it would seem that you are trying to seduce me right now,” I tell her, my hand in hers as we danced.

“Milo.”

“Yes Britt?”

“I love you so much, let’s get married after high school and start a family.”

“I’d love that.”

I wrap my arms around the woman I love and hold her close till the song ends. “I think breakfast is ready,” I whisper in her ear.

I get two plates down and set them next to the stove, I lay a bed of hash browns down then eggs and bacon crossed over one another in the shape of an X, I hand her the plate and start to fix mine in the same way.

******

”Milo”

”Milo are you listening to me?”

”why’s he spaced out like that?”

”Milo, did you even hear what I said?”

“Because I’m still in love with you, I want to see you dance again. Because I’m still in love with you, on this harvest moon,” I sing softly to myself as a tear rolls down my cheek.

“Milo, are you okay?” Sunset asks softly as she places a hand on my shoulder, with look of concern in her eyes and worry on her face.

“I–I’m fine my love, I just zoned out a bit. Breakfast is ready, grab a plate and take a seat at the table,” I say as I grab a few plates from the cabinet and set them down on the counter next to me. Laying down the hash browns then the eggs and bacon crossed over in the shape of an X.

The girls take each take a plate confused as they look at each other, I take out some silverware from the drawer and hand them both a knife and fork. I make my plate and head to the table setting the plate of food down I fold the letter and place the photo on top in the jewelry box gently closing the lid and moving it to the side.

The ringing in my ears finally dies down and I look at the girls who sit on either side of me, they are staring intently, closely watching my every move as I get up again to get some salsa and hot sauce from the fridge.

“Milo, are you okay?” Twilight asks as I walk back to my seat.

“Yea I’m fine, why do you ask?” Replying to the question, as I scoop out a little bit of salsa and pour a generous amount of hot sauce over my eggs.

“I ask because you spaced out and tears started rolling down your face,” Twilight said in a soft tone trying to understand what happened.

“My mind drifted back to a simpler time when all I had to worry about was school and my future with Britt,” I quietly tell Twilight, “it’s funny really, after the first year when we started dating each other I got in this fight when some punk tried to take her rings. I beat him so badly that he was in hospital for three months, I was only 14 and I beat this grown man half to death; afterwards Britt called me The Black Berserker and said that I have the ancient magic of the old berserker warriors.”

I take a few bites of my food and look over at Twilight, “the next full moon she took me out into the woods behind her house and held a ritual, see Britt was skilled in what she called Seider, a type of magic that let the user see the future and shape it. She explained that she was shaping both our futures to be together in this life and the next after we die, that was the first ritual she did, the second one was for me to control my berserker rage as she called it; blood was drawn by a ceremonial knife that she is buried with, and the last ritual she did was for her, a fertility ritual to Freyja.”

“Sunset I’m going to tell him,” Twilight said, the worry in her voice growing, “where to start. When Sunset asked me to look into your last name she was concerned when she saw you beat a kid at lunch. So I did some digging and found something in the Archives of Canterlot on my side of this dimension. There was an ancient warrior that went by the name of The Black Berserker, the most brutal warrior in pony history although very few records exist of this pony there was one account of him slaughtering an enemy fort, there were no survivors and he killed every single pony inside, the only name I could find was his last name, Blackwood. The records say that he disappeared before the reign of discord over two thousand years ago and hasn’t been seen since.”

“And you think this has something to do with me because of my last name?” I question.

“It’s possible, but I won’t know for sure unless we take you to Equestria.” Sunset chimed in, “Princess Luna and Princess Celestia are worried about what might happen to this world if you are this pony.”

“Hold up, so you want me to go on a magical field trip to her world to see if I am this pony from an ancient war?” I say with curiosity through a mouth full of food.

“Yes, we’ll only be gone a week and you’ll be brought before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to see if you actually are the pony in question,” Twilight said after she took a bite of her food in front of her.

“This is good Milo, really good,” Sunset compliments as she takes another bite of food.

“Thank you, years of practice,” I reply, finishing the small pile of food I had left.

Nothing else was said as the girls ate letting me think about the offer that was just laid on the table. Happy little moans and clattering of forks on plates were all I needed to hear to enjoy the morning with the two intruders.

After the plates were stacked in the sink and the kitchen cleaned up from breakfast I open the jewelry box and take the half finished joint out from last night.

“Oh no you’re not,” Sunset tries to reach for the joint between my lips.

“Oh yes I am, I’m going to enjoy the rest of this reefer and then go write some music for the day!” I tell Sunset as I hold her head in place with my palm on her forehead, her arms flailing as she tries to reach for the joint in my mouth.

“What’s that between your lips, also why is Sunset trying to grab it?” Twilight inquired as she looks between the both of us.

“Well this here is a magical little thing that relaxes you very well, better than anything I’ve ever had,” I tell Twilight with a smirk.

“Don’t listen to him Twi, last time I had some something weird happened,” Sunset warned Twilight.

“Oh you mean that, I thought that was a drunken dream I had, but anyways stop being a heel just because you had a bad experience,” I say to Sunset mockingly.

“It wasn’t a bad experience, I’ve smiled up before but I haven’t had something happen like what happened last night!” She exclaims as she gets a far away look in her eyes.

“What happened last night aside from Milo snapping.” Twilight asked Sunset with peaked curiosity.

“Last night I came over to see if he was okay and we ended up on the back patio, smoked the first half of that joint and when we came inside I felt something take over my body but I was still seeing and hearing everything but I wasn’t in control of my body.” Sunset explained to Twilight, who looked puzzled, “Twi, no I know that look, we are not doing this again because weird things happened last night that I don’t want to relive.”

“Oh this is a good time to experiment, I want you to run through the events leading up to when Sunset didn’t have control over her body,” Twilight beamed hoping she would get to do some experiment.

I walk towards the stairs to get my guitar and notebook from my bedroom. Coming down the stairs with guitar in hand and harmonica around my neck and notebook in the other hand, I slip past Sunset to go out to the patio opening the sliding door. I take Britt’s lighter and light up the joint between my lips.

I strum out some lonesome slow melody as I take a slow drag on the joint.

Think I’ll roll a number to take me back to the old days, a happier time when I held you in my arms when it was just you and me.

I sing out the first line of the song I have in my head, I stop for a bit to write down the lyrics and chords I used, blowing the smoke out of my nose I place it under the strings behind the nut of the guitar. I move the harmonica up to my lips and secure the cradle in place as I blow a few notes and start strumming the same chords again.

Think I’ll roll a number to take me back to the old days, a happier time when I held you in my arms just you and me. This buzz I’m gettin from the smoke I burn washes over me, wondering if I’m to far gone for love again. Without you here I feel like I’m trapped with no way out, a prisoner without a key.

I softly blow the overlying melody on the harmonica, I didn’t hear Twilight and Sunset open the slider to the patio.

“I wonder if it will happen again,” Sunset said to Twilight in a soft voice.

It was a lazy day when you asked me to stay, I held you in my arms as we danced together under the rising moon.
I still see your face when I close my eyes remembering your touch as we made love that night.

“Why are his songs depressing?” Twilight said to Sunset trying to wrap her head around the lyrics.

“Are you just going to stand there whispering amongst yourselves?” I ask, a little anger in my voice.

“Well have you made up your mind about coming to Equestria with us,” Twilight says to me.

“Yea, I’ll go just to humor you both,” I tell them as I gently set my guitar down on the chair next to me.