As everyone pulls their quills out of their lockers one of the recruits speaks up. “So, are these things really magic?” The guy has a rough grip on the back of the feather and is waving it around.

“Yes.” the scientist answers. “Also, please be careful with your quills. If you lose or break your quill you're responsible for getting your letters back here without one.”

“What does that mean?” one of the others asks.

“I think it means we have to throw our letters back through the portal manually. Wherever in Equestria that is.” I say, still examining my writing implement and its case.

“Anon is right.” the woman agrees. “If you can’t use your Quill, you have to travel back to Canterlot Castle and throw your letter through the rift.'' After she’s finished talking, the sound of wood cladding with concrete rings out through the large room.

“Did you just say the rift is in Canterlot Castle?” Marie asks, her quill box sitting on the ground at her feet.

“Yes. is there a problem?”

“Uh, yeah.” Marie affirms. “Listen lady, I don’t know if y-”

“Alice.” the woman cuts Marie off.

“What?”

“My name is Alice.” Alice reiterates.

“Okay, Alice. I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but meeting the princesses is kind of a big deal! A big deal you guys, didn’t prepare us for!”

“Really? I thought all of you were informed of that.”

“We were.” Marco chimes in. “But Marie is the newest here, besides Annie over there.” Marco points over at me. “She’s only been here for about two weeks, I guess it never came up since she got here.”

“Wait, you all knew this?” Marie asks, glancing around the room. Everyone just kind of nods or shrugs. “I’m, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that.” Marie apologizes, bowing to Alice.

“Don’t worry about it.” Alice says dismissively. “Oh, I almost forgot the most important part. If you all look in the bottom of your quill box, there will be a small piece of paper. The paper will have your designated area that you will be living in, while you’re in Equestria.”

As everyone looks at their papers a few gasps, sighs, and disappointed grunts can be heard. Curious, I open my box and glance at my note. I’m overcome with a wave of panic and excitement as I read the note. Written in big bold letters is, “Ponyville”.

“Now, who wants to get to the fun part?” Alice asks, interrupting my thoughts, which I am actually grateful for.

“Yeah.” Everyone calls out, excited for what comes next. Alice waves her hand at a big glass window on the wall behind the lockers, presumably an observation deck. After a minute the General walks through another door at the back of the room with a few other scientists. .

“Are we ready to commence with the jump?” he asks, walking over to Alice as the scientists flock to the machines around the portal.

“Yes I think we are. As most of you have probably noticed, we’ve moved all your clothing back into these lockers. Please take all your bags and step up onto that platform over there.” Alice points over at a large metal platform with four large metal wires that seem to be there to lift it up to the rift.

We all grab our bags and head over to the lift, accompanied by Alice and the ‘Warden’. “Everything ready to go?” the General asks one of the random scientists.

“Yes sir.” he answers. “The lift is ready to ascend and the rift is stable. If you all want to leave now, there should be no problems.”

“Alright, bring us up.” The General commands, shortly after the platform beneath us starts rising. “Now who here is ready to enter a new world and start a new life!?”

A series of “Yeah”s and “let's go”s follow the General's question. As the platform rises the rift begins to move less and less. The rift goes from being a writhing mass of energy, to a slow, pulsating, contained portal, ready to take us to our new land for the next five years.

“Is this really happening?” one of the random recruits asks.

“Yep, the time is finally here.” Alice answers, motioning all of us to move up towards the rift. “I want all of you to take turns jumping through the rift, after one person jumps in, wait about a minute before the next person goes. Now, who wants to go first?”

“I’ll go.” A big guy with a full beard and mustache says walking up to the rift.

“Alright, hop on through.” Alice commands. The guy takes a big leap into the portal, and disappears. “Okay, who's next?”

* * *

After about fifteen minutes, Marco finally jumps through the portal. “Alright that makes fourteen.” Alice says, jotting something down on her clip board. “Alright Mr. Filler, looks like it’s your turn. Kind of fitting don’t you think?”

“What do you mean?” I ask, picking my duffle bags up off the flour.

“You were the last recruit we found, and now you’re going to be last to enter Equestria. I don’t know why, but I thought you would actually volunteer to go first.”

“Na, these people have been waiting a long time to get out of here. Trust me, they deserve to be the first to experience Equestria.”

“Well, I think your minute is up, good luck Anon.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll write to you every month.”

“Ha,ha, very funny. Just make sure not to miss an update.”

“Well it was nice meeting you, even if just briefly. You as well, General.” I walk over and shake the man’s hand. “Well, see you guys in five years.” I walk up to the rift and step though in one motion. As I walk through the rift and step my foot into the new world my senses are overwhelmed and I become disoriented. My spine prickled and my head throbbed. The others seemed fine as they stood around and marveled at the blinding white interior of Canterlot Castle.

Even without having magic, I can sense energy flowing within the walls and floor. My best guess as to what that feeling might be, is that it’s the magic that keeps the rift stable on this side. Me and the others are in a large circular white room with a high ceiling and a single door. “Anyone want to go first?” Marie asks.

“I’ll go.'' The big guy who went through the portal first calls out. He walks over and flings the door open. As it fling open two ponies in golden armor spin around and point spears at the man. “Hey, hey, hey, friendly.”

“Oh, you must be the diplomats the princesses have been waiting for, for quite some time now.” one of the guards observes. “Take them to their majesties for introductions.”

Author's Note

A/N
hey just wanted to thank everyone who's read what I have so far. I going to try to update AT LEAST once a week, but I'll update more frequently if I can.