A Shadow of Myself

Phobia didn't like adventuring, not in the slightest. There had been a brief period when she was much younger when adventure would have held appeal. That had been before she had been raped. People, seeking favor, would tell her how brave she was and how much of a survivor she was. Survivor, heh, what a word. It was the perfect word for her– she survived. She survived day-to-day, hiding away, cowering whenever anyone suddenly moved towards her. Was living in constant irrational fear living? A brave person would live, they would overcome what happened to them, but she survived, hiding in her corner.

Now, middle-aged, she was out of her corner and having an adventure. She hated it.

"Phobia, Cadence wants us to scout the area. Are you up for a short flight?"

She turned and looked at Josie. The other mare was less than three years younger than her, but looking at her, you'd have thought Josie was young enough to be Phobia's daughter. Her daughters might look older to some.

"What you're asking is whether I can fly well enough to scout," Phobia replied.

Josie raised an eyebrow at her. "Can you? I mean, no offense, but you are in poor shape. If I had to pick between you or Rebecca for who is in better shape, I might pick Rebecca. She at least has some muscle hidden under those flabs."

"She has made herself more of a sumo than a simple ball of fat in the past few years," Phobia conceded. "Having a heart attack was the best thing that ever happened to her health. It made her take exercise seriously, even if it didn't curb her appetite. Don't worry, I might not be the fastest or most agile, but I won't embarrass myself."

"Sorry," Josie said. "I would have suggested Sapphire join me instead, but she can't see too well in this gloom. This needs our eyes, not her speed. I don't mean any disrespect."

Phobia got to her hooves and sighed. "Don't worry about whether you disrespect me or not. I'm no longer a Dreamwarden. I'll do my best not to be our biggest liability."

"You're no liability, don't try to pretend you are. I'm guessing you took the time to download, or whatever you do, everything that might be useful about other worlds to your brain before you left Earth," Josie said with a smirk. "All my time with Rebecca has taught me that Dreamwardens don't go into things unprepared. She's no bumbling idiot, and neither are you. You came here with knowledge. I won't ask what, but I know you will be as much help as everyone else, maybe more."

Phobia frowned. Josie wasn't wrong in her guess about her taking some knowledge from the dream realm before leaving for Equestria. Still, it was questionable how useful any of that information might be. It was countless ages out of date. She was pretty confident she knew the origin of this world and its originator, but even if she was right, it could serve no purpose beyond academic interest.

She spread her wings and gestured in one direction. "I'll fly that way and do a circle around the spire. You can scout further out to make sure we don't have any incoming company. If I spot anything, I'll head directly back."

Josie looked skeptical, which was a little aggravating. Was she so old and sheltered that ponies that once feared her questioned whether she could so much as fly? Adventures were miserable, but she was here, and she wouldn't spend her time hiding in a corner.

"Miss Charlotte!"

Charlotte nearly fell over when Empathy collided with her legs but retained her balance. She smiled and touched his head.

"Good to see you again," she said, smiling.

Sunset walked by them and gave them a sidelong look as she did. "Oh, the elephant is still alive. I suppose that's good."

Empathy grinned at her. "Miss Sunset Blessing Unicorn Pony! You're here! The other intuits will be so happy to see you!"

Sunset looked back. "Say what now?"

The Autobots didn't get to greet them before all the inuits came hurrying towards them and encircled Sunset. They came to a halt and just stared.

The unicorn glanced around. "What's going on? Why am I getting looks of worship from these things? It's bad enough from ponies, but I've never done anything involving these creatures other than decimating the bear population. I'd rather not be idolized for bloodshed."

Optimus Prime stepped forward. "They believe that you bring their servitude to an end by transforming them into humans or ponies. There have been no humans to serve, but they are still bound to them. While I am unsure if changing what they are is the right path, I understand their wishes."

Sunset gaped at him. "O-Optimus P-P-Prime?!"

Blanche came and sat beside Charlotte. "Fangirl," she muttered. "Hey, Earth to Sunset! Focus!"

Charlotte's other self shook her head. "Sorry. You're right. I'm being a fan." She looked at the intuits. "I don't know enough about your resonance to perform such a spell now. I also think you need to take more time to consider whether you'd be happy with such a choice."

"Not to mention we might need them to help get the humans on track," Blanche said.

Tempest crossed her arms. "Their relation to others should not determine their future."

Rainbow hurried over. "You can help them; you helped Starlight and me!"

Heavyheart, who seemed the de facto spokesperson for the intuits in this, stepped forward. "We shall not rush you, but some of us are very committed to changing. Charlotte spoke of you, and she said you have this power. I say with a heavy heart that the humans of this world are a lost cause. It is we who should inherit the Earth, but we can never properly do that while tied to them."

Blanche snorted. "Maybe you shouldn't ask her for help. I ended up with a pouch like a kangaroo. I'm a pony!"

"Kirins have pouches," Tempest informed her.

Blanche whipped her head around to look at Tempest. "What?!"

"Kirins have pouches," Tempest repeated. "They are the least pony-like of all the ponies, hence the opposition of many ponies to accepting them as such. One of the key differences in their tribe is they don't give live birth. They lay eggs, like a dragon, and can breed with dragons and ponies both while still producing viable offspring. They carry their egg around in their pouch after laying it and then continue to primarily keep their foal in there for months after it hatches, only taking it out for a few minutes at a time in the first few weeks. I believe this helps them keep their young safe and protect their environment from their foal surging. Unicorns supposedly had this trait in the past but lost it after breeding extensively with earth ponies. I doubt the preacher would know this. The current talismans were designed by Princess Cadence, who would know."

Blanche gaped. "I lay eggs?! Am I even a mammal?" This was also news to Charlotte, though she knew little about Equestrian species. It just wasn't something they taught in most public schools.

"You have mammary glands in your pouch, so yes," Tempest said dryly. She then looked at the intuits. "If you are wondering, Princess Cadence wasn't keeping information from you. She wouldn't know transformation magic off the top of her head. That's something she would need to be following instructions for. She doesn't know how to change you."

Heavyheart bowed her head. "Thank you for letting us know. We understand that it must be complex, and few would understand how to do it from memory. We have heard that Sunset Blessing is such a person who knows it from memory."

Sunset growled. "I'll consider your request. This isn't what I'm here for." She looked at Optimus Prime. "Greetings. I am Sunset Blessing. The human over there is Tempest Shadow, Phobia's former bodyguard. The odd-looking pony with the scales is Blanche Laurent. The rainbow-maned pegasus is Rainbow Brite, and the horse with the rainbow mane is Starlight. They are visitors from yet another universe. You already know Charlotte. We are here to retrieve the rest of the scout team. I was told they have gone off to some shrine or something. Can you assist us?"

"I understand your concern for them and your desire to get them home safely. However, they have agreed to aid us in our struggle against Megatron and Dark Heart. We will not force you into any action, but your arrival gives us even more opportunities. Your skills in transbiological transmutation were not the only thing young Charlotte informed us about. She also informed us of your prowess as a warrior. Your aid would be a massive boon to our cause," Optimus Prime replied.

Sunset looked away. "I'm no hero, just the defender of my family. You would lament ever asking for my assistance. If the rest of the scouting party is determined to help you, I won't stop them, but my goals remain the same, keeping them alive and getting them home safely. Tell me where to find them, and once they know they have a way home, they can decide whether they fight your war or leave."

Optimus Prime nodded. "That is agreeable. You must be tired after your journey. You can rest and refresh yourselves here. The trip they are on is not expected to be dangerous. It may also be futile and short since the guardians of that place may well reject their entry. If that happens, they will be returning soon."

"You do need rest," Charlotte reminded her other self. "You didn't sleep enough, and I doubt what you got was good riding on Starlight's back."

"I'm a perfectly smooth ride!" Starlight protested. "Rainbow, back me up!"

Rainbow looked away. "Um…you weren't exactly trying to be gentle with her, but she did sleep through it. I'm sure it wasn't too bad."

"We all need food, rest, and time to assess," Blanche said. "They've got an alicorn, Josie, and Sapphire Sky. I'd bet on any of those three against what you can do if they get in a fight with a giant robot. Adding the rest of us to that equation isn't going to tip the scales much with whatever they're up to. We need to rest and get our bearings instead of charging off."

Sunset grimaced. "Perhaps you are right. While speaking with Optimus Prime would be a fantasy made true, I am exhausted. You and Tempest are capable leaders and administrators. I know you can handle negotiation and planning while I rest. I'm more of a highly destructive weapon to be pointed at our enemies. I might be the most famous of us, but I have said others should always make the big decisions instead of me. As the head bodyguard and administrator to The Marshmallow, you are the ranking authority figure among us, at least until we are reunited with the princess. You should be the one making plans for our next move and furthering our diplomatic relations with this world."

Blanche held her head high. "Most reasonable thing I have heard you say. Go get some rest. We've got this."

Heavyheart gestured at Sunset. "Let us show you your accommodations. They are humble but better than the outside."

"Just you will do. You're Empathy's sibling, correct? Both he and Charlotte spoke of you. You seem to have a more level head than many of your comrades," Sunset said tiredly. "I prefer not to be swarmed by others. I want as much privacy as possible so that I can sleep with no distractions."

Charlotte frowned. If Sunset was looking for who wouldn't fawn over her, Heavyheart might be the worst option. The little hippo had been downright fanatic since she learned about transformation magic and seemed to draw all the others into her plans for throwing off their figurative chains. If Dark Heart or the Decepticons were to offer them a way out of serving humans, Charlotte suspected that Heavyheart would sell out the Autobots in a second. Fortunately, Dark Heart and the Decepticons didn't have transformation magic and didn't know how disgruntled some of the intuits were; otherwise, they'd jump at offering them a deal. Charlotte trusted Empathy, and a few other intuits, but she did not trust Heavyheart and her followers. She understood their self-interest and could sympathize with it, but she also suspected it made their loyalty tenuous at best.

The tiny hippo gestured for Sunset to follow. "I will happily guide you somewhere private. There are some side caves that are used only for storage that are rarely entered. You should be able to sleep soundly with no disturbances."

"That would be lovely," Sunset said, following the hippo away.

"Tempest and I will speak with Optimus and the other leaders here. The rest of you can rest and accept the intuits' and Autobots' hospitality," Blanche instructed. "Don't abuse it by eating all the intuits' food! We have our own!"

Rainbow came up so close to Charlotte that she brushed against her, and Charlotte turned her head slightly to hide her sudden blush at the thrill of it. She wasn't even a pony right now; it shouldn't affect her that much.

Rainbow didn't notice because she was focused on Empathy. "You must be Charlotte's elephant friend she spoke about! I've been very eager to meet you. She told me how loyal and kind you are."

Empathy positively beamed at the praise. "Very happy to meet you too, Miss Colorful-Pegasus Pony-Who-Is-Charlotte's-Friend!"

Rainbow giggled. "Just call me Rainbow. Can you show us around?"

"Yes! Follow me!" Empathy said eagerly.

Charlotte paused briefly before following to watch Sunset's tail retreating into a nearby passage. The way Sunset conceded authority so quickly to Blanche after how bossy she'd previously had been towards Blanche struck her as odd. Whenever Sunset did anything weird, it usually meant Sunset was up to something. The unicorn had even started the introduction as if she were in charge, but something had changed her mind. What was Sunset up to?

"Hey, are you coming?" Rainbow called back to her after Rainbow and Empathy had walked several paces away.

Charlotte gave the passage Sunset had gone through one last look. Maybe her other self really was just that tired and wanted to hoist responsibility on someone else so she could rest. Still, something felt very off. There was nothing the unicorn could get up to right now, though, so it was a problem for later.

"Coming," she said and hurried after her two best friends.