My Little Pony: Alternian Multiverse Tournament
by Jonathan “KnightMysterio” Spires
Chapter 1: Recruitment Drive
(aka, the mostly Exposition Chapter)

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Canterlot Castle…
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“I’m sorry… you want us to what?” Princess Celestia asked. The tall alicorn of the sun frowned at the creature standing in front of her. He (Celestia assumed it was a he, at least) had specifically selected the Twilight Court, when Celestia, Luna, and heir to the throne Twilight Sparkle held a unified court for an hour before sunset, speaking with petitioners in order of priority.

(Nobles wanting frivolous things rarely got a chance to see the Twilight Court, the trio of rulers preferring to meet with citizens with actual needs, such as possible evictions.)

The creature standing before them was bipedal. According to Twilight Sparkle, the term for it was human, as it resembled the creatures across the mirror in the world Sunset Shimmer inhabited. Although the creature said it was from another dimension entirely.

“I would like you three, as well as some of your more combat-capable heroes, villains, and civilians, to participate in the greatest and most martial arts exhibition television series that has ever existed. You’ll be put up against the greatest warriors in the multiverse, and get a chance to challenge the greatest in existence!” said the creature, who identified himself as a security guard and wore a dark blue and black armored suit and helmet.

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight all traded concerned looks. “Your offer is… intriguing… but I don’t really think that such an event sounds appealing to participate in,” Luna said.

“I must agree,” Celestia said. “We are a peaceful people. And we have responsibilities aside from that. The sun and moon…”

The guard chuckled. “Okay, I’ll just come out and say it – Everyone who participates in the tournament gets a luxury apartment designed to their tastes.”

Luna frowned. “Well, that’s lovely, but-” she started, the guard holding up a hand to interrupt her.

“But the bedrooms? Are basically just portals back to your homeworld,” he said. “The doorway will lead right back to your bedroom in your homes.” He smiled. “It was meant to be a surprise, but we have authorization to use it as an incentive to get you to come.”

The three princesses traded looks. “That’s… hm…” Celestia said. “That is a bit more comforting, but still… You’re talking long term commitment. I don’t know if we can manage that.”

“If nothing else,” the guard said, “you’ll be able to spread the values of your nation to other worlds. Make friends with people and creatures you never would see otherwise.”

Twilight brightened at that, fluttering her wings. “I like making friends…” she said, looking thoughtful.

Luna and Celestia traded looks again, as if silently communicating with one another. After a few moments, they both looked at the security guard.

“You mentioned villains… Who did you have in mind?” Celestia asked.

“Well, Discord, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, and Tempest Shadow technically count towards that list, although they’re reformed… We’d also bring along Cozy Glow, Chrysalis, Tirek, Sombra, the Sirens, the actual Grogar, Cosmos…” the guard said.

“Out of the question,” Luna said, glaring. “We are NOT unleashing some of the most dangerous villains this land has ever seen on the world!”

“And do you really think they’d even agree to this when they could just go back to conquering Equestria?!” Celestia demanded.

“My friends and I put too much work in to defeat them,” Twilight said. “You’re NOT unleashing them on the world again!”

“If they refuse, or betray anyone on the way in, they’ll be relocked in their prisons,” the security guard said, smiling. “I have more than enough power on hand to contain them should they get… frisky.”

Celestia frowned. “Be that as it may, its still a tremendous risk,” she said.

“Your Highness, we’re inviting villains from other realities that make some of yours look like Pinkie Pie,” the security guard said, “and we have countermeasures in place for them as well.”

“Why?! Why invite so many destructive forces?!” Twilight asked, incredulous. “It makes no sense!”

“It makes perfect sense, and I have several reasons why,” the security guard said. “Number one, it means you know where they are at all times – on the island in my home’s pocket dimension. Number two, they’ll be in a position where you can goad them into using their skills constructively – training to defeat their rivals in fair combat. And finally, three – there’s a literal army of heroic beings to counter them. Including some that are planet-buster levels of powerful. And yes, we have ways to bring back destroyed planets, although obviously we’ll be taking measures to avoid that.”

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight just stared at the guard, their jaws dropped. “I… you will truly have that much power at your command?” Luna asked.

“We do,” the security guard said. “I promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” He smirked.

Twilight fluttered her wings a little, allowing a smile to cross her face. “Well… If you’re willing to go so far as to invoke a Pinkie Promise… How you know about it being a question for another day...” she said softly. “And it would be nice to learn about other worlds…”

Celestia bit her lip, worried, and whispered to Luna, who nodded in agreement. The sun princess then turned to the security guard and said, “We will agree to this plan only if you can convince all, and I do mean ALL of the others you wish to recruit for your ‘exhibition show,’ agree to it. Barring the villains.”

The security guard just smiled widely.

Celestia understood that smile immediately, and sighed, her head drooping. “...They’re all waiting outside the door, aren’t they?”

As if on cue, Discord kicked the doors to the throne room open, leading everyone in while playing a jazz trumpet, an invisible jazz band playing with him. Fluttershy, accompanied by Harry the bear, giggled at her friend’s antics, while Rainbow Dash hovered above everyone, Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Soarin in full Wonderbolts uniform hovering with her. Rarity held herself as regally as always, while Applejack tipped her hat to the princesses upon entering, Big Macintosh striding alongside her. Pinkie Pie skipped along merrily as usual, while Zecora chuckled at the party pony’s antics, a collapsible staff mounted on her back. Cheese Sandwich rode in on a tricycle, tooting a horn in time with the jazz music, while Octavia and Vinyl Scratch just trotted in casually, Octavia looking a little starstruck at meeting the princesses. Tempest Shadow walked with a stoic stride, while Starlight Glimmer and Trixie appeared in a flash of colorful magic before the princesses, Twilight rolling her eyes as Trixie struck a pose. Spike rode on Rarity’s back, waving to Twilight, while Sunset Shimmer walked in, smiling and nodding to Celestia, who smiled back, glad to see her errant student despite the unusual circumstances. Shining Armor and Cadance trotted in, Cadance carting her baby in a carrier, Maud Pie walking beside them and discussing the crystals of the Empire. Bon Bon and Lyra strode in, Bon Bon flashing Celestia an apologetic look while Lyra looked to be excited as Pinkie Pie. Iron Will, Captain Caleano, Gilda and Gabby the griffons, Thorax and Pharynx of the changelings, and Ember of the dragons trotted in next, the latter two smirking at one another. Star Swirl the Bearded, followed by the rest of the Pillars, strode in proudly. Derpy, the mailmare, floated in, accompanied by her friend Bulk Biceps, Derpy’s daughters trotting in as well, alongside the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Luna grimaced. “Please tell me the children aren’t coming as fighters,” she pleaded.

The security guard shook his head. “No, no no,” he said. “Just as support.”

Twilight got up from the throne and went over to everyone. “You… You all seriously agreed to this?”

“And why not?” Rockhoof said, cackling. “A warrior lives to seek new challenges!”

Fluttershy blushed. “Harry wanted to, and… well, when they told me that some of the fighters fought with pets, I couldn’t resist.”

Applejack chuckled. “Well… its a bit selfish, but that there feller said I’d be able to hock the family wares at m’own stand if I came and fought, so…” She smiled, shrugging.

“Fashions across space and time, darling!” Rarity said, grinning. “The potential for inspiration is just magnificent!”

“You know I’m not backing down from this,” Rainbow Dash said, clapping her hooves together.

“A chance to represent Equestria to all of existence? Of course we’d take the opportunity!” Spitfire said.

“Multiverse party!” Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich said, both of them throwing out streamers.

“We were never meant to be permanent fixtures in the Crystal Empire anyway, Auntie,” Cadance said. “The electoral government we’ve set up is functioning beautifully, especially since we’ve rooted out the last of Sombra’s followers. And we can come and go as we please through the ‘bedrooms,’ like the gentlestallion said.”

Derpy smiled. “I’m not actually fighting, but he asked me to come along as a mascot. Apparently I’m really popular!”

“A chance to learn is always welcome, my students,” Star Swirl said. “I do not know how well we’ll do in the fighting itself, but its worth it for the knowledge to be gained.” The other ponies gave various affirmative answers as well.

Celestia nodded. “And what of you?” she said to the non-ponies. “What stake have you in this?”

“Honestly it sounded like a lark,” Zecora said, chuckling. “More interesting than just sitting around in the park. And like Star Swirl said, to broaden my knowledge base, is just too good an opportunity to waste.”

“The amount of potential for chaos in all of this? Of course I was going to join in,” Discord said, chuckling. “Like stripey-butt said, its too good an opportunity.”

“Same reason,” Thorax said. “I want to make a good impression for changelings everywhere, including the multiverse for our world.”

“And I want to access the threats that might menace our people,” Pharynx said. “The guardsman told me about worlds where we only exist as fictional characters. And the number of crossover stories fans write that have our world being destroyed by some of these fighters bothers me.”

“Still unpleasant to think about, worlds where we exist only as stories…” Celestia muttered.

“Eh. It don’t bother me that much,” Ember said. “Me, I’m just looking for a chance to add to my hoard. Maybe see what other kinds of dragons are out there.”

“And… well… We just wanted to get out of Griffonstone,” Gabby said, smiling weakly as she gestured to herself and Gilda.

Gilda nodded, sighing. “My scones stand isn’t doing that well anyway,” she said. “I’m getting more pony customers than griffons, so…” She shrugged, Rainbow Dash giving her friend a hug.

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight all traded looks. “Well…” Celestia said. “It does fulfill the criteria I asked for…”

Luna nodded. “Then I suppose we are joining you as well,” she said, Twilight nodding in agreement.

The security guard smiled. “Excellent! All that’s left is offering the villains their roles.” He reached into his backpack and pulls out a large, rolled up cloth, one that was bigger in volume than the backpack itself. “If you’ll all gather around, please?”

“Wait, what are you doing?” Twilight asked, the other Element Bearers gathering around her.

“Contact circle,” the security guard said. “Basically, a way to contact the villains and make the offer without actually letting them out.”

“Oh,” Luna said. “I was…”

Celestia tapped the ground with a hoof, blushing in embarrassment. “We thought you were going to let them out to talk to them,” she said.

“I’m not stupid, your Highnesses,” the security guard said. He unrolled the cloth, revealing a magical circle drawn on it, with positions for each villain. He took out an altar with a spike on it from his backpack, setting it up in the center of the circle. “I know how much of a threat they can be. Which is why we’re making the offer via spiritual links.”

Tempest Shadow nodded. “Clever. And a good way to do it,” she said, the others nodding.

The guard bit his lip. “The problem is that to activate the contact circle, I need to do this…” He quickly took a deep breath… and slammed his hand down on the altar’s spike, biting his lip to hold back a grunt of pain. The gathered ponies winced as blood began to flow from the knife, spreading around the lines of the contact circle. “Ow…” the guard muttered, wincing.

“Blood magic?! Seriously?!” Twilight said. “That’s dangerous if not done properly!”

“I know what I’m doing,” the guard said calmly. The blood spread to each circle, and each villain appeared, most surrounded by chains.

One of them, a female draconequus with an almost feline head and a cobra’s hood, looked her chains over and smirked. “Kinky,” she said, snickering.

Discord sneered. Fluttershy frowned, and quietly asked, “Who is she?”

“My ex-marefriend,” Discord muttered, several of the gathered ponies look at him in shock. “She’s the spirit of madness and malice. We dated for a while, but she started murdering ponies in admittedly creative ways. As death is the ultimate order, I objected to that. We fought, I won, I sealed her in the stars.” He shrugged.

“You consider death to be order?” Fluttershy asked softly.

“In my entire existence, both before and after I have reformed, I have never taken a life,” Discord said, unable to meet Fluttershy’s eyes. “Take that as you will.”

The gathered ponies shifted uncomfortably as swirls of darkness appeared. In one, astral images of Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow appeared, glaring at the gathered ponies and heroes. From another, an astral image of Sombra formed, surrounded by dark crystals. From another, an astral image of Grogar emerged from the darkness, his eyes red and glaring. From another, astral images of the Sirens formed. Apparently they had been caught on the road, Adagio Dazzle visibly swerving to park their traveling vehicle, all three looking at the guard in irritation, then glaring at Star Swirl and his group in sheer rage. And finally, surrounded by star-shaped crystals, astral image of a twisted creature that looked like a cross between a cobra, a jungle cat, and scorpion appeared, the blood red and magenta creature smirking at Discord.

“Hello, lover,” the draconequus said.

“Hi Cossy,” Discord snarked. “Still crazy as ever?”

“Still crazy about you, despite your betrayal,” Cosmos said, blowing a kiss. “All because I decided to murder some of the toys who’s molecules you were twisting.”

“You interrupted my fun,” Discord said. “I wasn’t done with them yet!”

“Piffle. The toys can always make more of themselves,” Cosmos said. “But what’s this… I detect sickening goodness in your heart!” The female draconequus frowned. “Dissy… have you reformed?”

“Wait, Discord is good now?” Adagio said. “I thought that was just something Sparkle made up last time she visited this world!”

“Laaaame,” Aria Blaze said. “Bad enough we have to look at Star Swirl the Bearded’s ugly mug again…”

“Believe me,” Star Swirl muttered, “I am not fond of seeing you again either.”

“I dunno,” Flash Magnus said. “I always thought they had great singing voices. I mean, if it weren’t for the whole ‘causing fights and feeding off of the anger and misery’ thing…”

Sonata Dusk blew a raspberry. “Yeah, we don’t need to feed off of strife anymore, thanks to that rainbow enema Sunset and her friends force-fed us.”

“There’s a pleasant image,” Applejack said, she and Rainbow Dash chuckling.

Cosmos stroked her chin thoughtfully. “This won’t do,” she said. “Chaos should not be good.”

“The Magic of Friendship, and yes, it STILL feels weird to say that without a mocking tone of voice, is more powerful than you know, my dear,” Discord said. “And incidentally…” He pointed to Fluttershy. “Hurt this one in any way, shape, or form, and I will make you beg me to take your immortality away so you can die.” Fluttershy sighed, nuzzling into Discord, happy for the protectiveness, if not the violence.

“...You do realize that just turned me on, don’t you?” Cosmos said, licking her lips lustfully. Discord scowled.

“The disgusting fetishes of the chaos children aside,” Grogar rumbled, “and Discord, once I figure out how to resurrect myself, we WILL be having words about your impersonation of me…”

Discord grimaced, pantomiming tugging a shirt collar nervously and looking away.

“...what the chaos-bringer just said makes me think that Cosmos will be in a position to actually hurt her soon,” Grogar continued. “That we all will…”

Chrysalis nodded. “Indeed. That’s what I got from that too,” she said, the changeling queen watching with quiet curiosity. Her hatred for Twilight, Starlight, and all the other heroes burned at her soul. But the presence of so many powerhouses made her cautious, Tirek and Cozy remaining silent as well, the tiny pegasus sitting on Tirek’s shoulder.”

“Technically speaking,” the guard said, “You will be. I’m here to invite you all to the Alternian Multiverse Tournament, the greatest martial arts exhibition in the multiverse.”

“...Martial arts,” Tirek said. “You’ll have us fighting with warriors from other worlds.”

“Other realities, yes,” the guard said, smiling.

“...Any with magic?” Tirek said, smirking a little.

“Several!” the guard said. At Tirek’s eager grin, he added, “There are some caveats.”

“Of course,” Cozy muttered, the other villains making similar noises of annoyance.

The guard chuckled. “You will all be given your freedom, and in the case of some of you, your lives or your true forms back” he said, the Sirens looking interested at that, “but you will lack the ‘portal home’ bedroom in your luxury apartments that others will have. You’ll be expected to stay on the grounds of the Tournament island. Fighting is discouraged outside of the show arenas, although you are allowed to arrange for sparring matches if you get a guard like me to act as referee. You are not allowed to mess with the services staff, otherwise you will lose access to some of the more glamorous amenities provided to all fighters, such as the hot springs, massage services, personal room service, advanced training facilities, and the like.”

“Massage services?” Sombra asked, interested.

“Hot springs!!” Rarity cheered.

“Personal room service...” Trixie cooed.

“Are we going to a fighting exhibition or a spa?” Tempest Shadow asked.

“Yes,” the guard answered, grinning. “Basically, in exchange for fighting for us, we’ll be spoiling you all rotten.”

The villains definitely looked interested, while the heroes began to chatter more excitedly about going than they already were. The guard coughed, getting everyone’s attention. “The final caveat is this – You will be allowed to scheme and attempt to do harm to others. You can even team up with other villains, of which there will be many. However keep in mind that there will be a VAST amount of heroes there. As well as our own countermeasures should you become too dangerous.”

“...Annoying,” Tirek said. “But for a chance to spend time away from these two, I’ll take it.”

“Hnh. How many of these ‘heroes’ you mention operate off of the power of love?” Chrysalis asked.

“A lot,” the guard said, amused.

Chrysalis snorted. “If nothing else, I’ll get more variety in my diet,” she said. “I’m in.”

Cozy Glow gave her most innocent look. “Golly! I don’t know,” she said. “A little girl like me, fighting others? I-”

Celestia scowled. “You’re in your thirties, you’re just tiny and like to act cutesy,” the sun princess said with irritation.

Rainbow Dash snickered, she and the others having found out about this at Cozy’s initial trial. “Explains SO MUCH,” the guard said, chuckling.

Cozy pouted. “...Fine, but I want to chance to punch a sun-user in the face.”

“Deal,” the guard said.

Grogar stared at Discord a long moment, the draconequus becoming visibly uncomfortable and scooting an irritated Star Swirl and Rockhoof in front of him. After a long, uncomfortable moment, Grogar nodded. “Will I get my bell back?” he asked.

“Yes,” the guard said, alarming everyone by summoning the bell to his hand in a flash of light.

“Then I’m in,” Grogar said.

“As am I,” Sombra said. “I yearn to discover what souls I can bring to darkness outside of this realm of light.” The dark king chuckled.

Cosmos purred. “A chance to be with my Dissy again? No way I’m passing this up,” she said.

The Sirens all traded looks. After a long moment, Sonata said, “It’d be nice to have our old bodies back… I miss my fins…”

Adagio and Aria’s faces fell, both of them thinking that they missed their fins too. “...We’re in,” Adagio said. “We had a concert venue cancel on us anyway.”

“Good!” the guard said. “I should tell you now that you’ll all be riding in the same transport vehicle to get to AMT Island. If you try to attack anyone, the deal will be revoked and ALL the villains, including the ones who didn’t do anything wrong, will be sent back to where they came from. So be prepared to control your fellow baddies.”

Sombra smirked. “And who are you to stop us?”

The guard snapped his fingers, generating a rune. Almost immediately, the villains eyes glowed, and they began convulsing in pain, squirming around in agony and collapsing. After mere seconds of this, Luna and Celestia both shouted “ENOUGH!” The guard nodded and dispelled the rune, ignoring the alarmed looks of the heroes and the stunned looks of the villains.

“A rune of the Old Ones…” Adagio said softly.

“...Unpleasant,” Tirek muttered, the withered centaur looking worriedly at the guard.

“You just got interesting,” Cosmos said, grinning viciously.

“Who am I?” the guard said quietly. “I am one of many, all with the same abilities. I’m Security. I protect the island.”

There was a long, uncomfortable silence. The guard said. “Well, I just ruined my good first impression,” he said, shaking his head. “Anyway. I can transport us all right now on my airship to AMT Island. I just need to alter the invocation and make this a summoning circle.”

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight traded looks. “Give us some time to finish up some political matters,” Celestia said.

The guard nodded. “And as I promised, you’ll be able to come back in time to do your sun and moon movement duties,” he said. “My ship is parked in Ponyville Square, with a sign up saying my purpose for any onlookers.”

“Ponyville? Sounds podunk,” Aria snarked. “I thought that Canterlot was the center of things.”

“Ponyville is the home of me and my friends,” Twilight said defensively, the other Elements of Harmony gathering around her. “More happens there than you think.”

Pinkie Pie nodded, bouncing happily. “New adventures once a week!” she said. “Oh! Hey, will Deadpool be there?” She ignored the confused looks of the others.

“Yep!” the guard said, checking messages on a wrist device. “According to the person sent to the Marvel world, he’s asked about you too!”

“YAY!” Pinkie Pie said. “He remembered!” At the questioning looks of her friends, she said, “Long story. I’ll tell you after we meet him.”

The guard smiled. “Anyone else have any questions?”

Pharynx stepped forward, frowning. “Will death matches be allowed?” he said, several villains smirking while the other participants felt a chill of fear go through them.

“Yes,” the guard said without hesitation. “But both parties have to agree on it. An automatic rematch is guaranteed after a death match.”

“Wait,” Luna said. “Dead is dead. Why would there be a rematch for the loser of a death match?”

“Because we have supreme magitek that makes death a momentary inconvenience,” the guard said, shocking everyone.

“Very, very interesting,” Grogar said, chuckling.

“Anything else?” the guard asked. Aside from MANY wary looks, there was none. “Okay! Everyone’s free to go! Just be at my airship before we leave!”

The contact spell was dispelled, and the images of the villains disappeared. The Princesses decided to cancel the rest of the Twilight court, Twilight Sparkle herself going over to talk to her friends as the various participating ponies dispersed.

“You’re really going along with this?” she asked, nuzzling Spike.

“Why not?” Rainbow Dash said, grinning. “Sounds like fun. Even Spitfire thought so.”

“It sounds harmless enough,” Applejack said. “The guy explained security well enough. Plus there’s what I said about having a stand for m’family’s goods.”

“I’m honestly not much for fighting, darling,” Rarity said. “But the chance to see fashion from other worlds…” She shivered. “Too exciting!”

“The idea of meeting so many new people is… beyond scary,” Fluttershy said. “But want to try and do it. Plus some of the fighters will be bringing animals, and also the security guard told me about things called Pokémon that just sound absolutely adorable…”

Pinkie Pie, meta character that she was, giggled and kept silent. “I’m going for pretty much the same reason you are, Twilight. I love the idea of making friends! And the whole thing sounds like there’s SO much potential for parties! So many new birthdays to learn!”

“I’m most interested in the science and magic of these other worlds,” Starlight said, grinning. “It all sounds amazing!”

“And I heard from the guard that some of the fighters were DRAGONS, or had powers themed after dragons,” Spike said. “That sounds AWESOME!” He grinned widely. “I wanna see it!”

Twilight chuckled. “Well… I suppose we could give it a shot,” he said. “If it doesn’t work out for us, the guard never said we can’t back out.”

“There ya go, Twilight!” Applejack said. “Never hurts to try somethin’ new.”

Rainbow Dash poked Applejack. “Funny coming from you, considering what the Crusaders told me about some of your traditions,” she said, amused.

“And I stopped them when I learned they wasn’t necessary to keep the farm runnin’ anymore,” Applejack said defensively, not losing her smile. “So you just hush y’self, Crash.” Rainbow Dash cackled.

Twilight just smiled. Maybe this would be fun after all…

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Later…
Ponyville…
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The dropship that would carry the ponies and their allies to the home of the Alternian Multiverse Tournament sat in the middle of the town. The fighters chosen to represent Equestria to this new world all waited there for the guard to return with the last of their number.

A trumpet sound hailed the guard’s arrival. And trailing behind him, all of them smirking smugly, were the various villains. The Sirens swam through the air above everyone, humming a sinister tune. Cosmos’s footsteps turned the grass she touched into poisonous blades, which mercifully faded after a few moments. Sombra walked with his head held high, as did Chrysalis, their manner befitting their royal status. Tirek, back to a more muscular form, cracked his knuckles as he approached, Cozy Glow with him, the tiny pegasus resting on his shoulder with a smirk on her face. Grogar’s body seemed to absorb the light, everything a shade darker around him as he strode at the head of the pack next to the guard, his bell dinging softly.

The guard smiled pleasantly once he saw everyone. “Good, good, everyone’s here,” he said. “Inside the ship, please?”

“I do have some concerns about space,” Twilight said. “There are a lot of us here…”

“Its bigger on the inside,” the guard said, Twilight’s ears perking at the thought of new science to learn. Grogar seemed interested as well. The guard opened the door, and everypony peeked in. To their surprise, it truly was large enough on the inside to fit everyone, comfortable chairs set up for everyone to sit in, along with restrooms designed for each individual species, and a small buffet filled with snacks and drinks.

The guardsman smiled. “The trip will take about three days,” he said. “Everyone get comfy.” Celestia and Luna looked at each other, glad they’d thought to bring out the artifact to raise the sun and moon while they were away. Blueblood may be an entitled, lazy fop, but his loyalty and sense of duty to his aunties was total, and he’d not try to seize power while they were away.

As they settled in, Twilight and the mayor of Ponyville spoke with the gathered citizens one last time, promising them that they’d be back as soon as possible, and not to worry. (They were taking the biggest troublemakers anyway, she added as a joke, which got everypony laughing.) Once inside, the door shut behind her. Viewscreens appeared, showing the outside of the vehicle, ponies waving as it lifted up into the air.

“No real windows?” Starswirl asked.

“No air in the void between worlds,” the guard said. “The viewscreens accurately show what’s going on outside.” At the doubtful looks some of the unicorns gave him, the guard smiled, took off his helmet, revealing his boyish face, and said, “If you want, I can repeat what I just said under a truth spell.”

Deciding to take him at his word, everyone settled in to chat as they prepared for their trip, excitedly talking about what they might see. The villains all gathered in one corner of the ship, quietly muttering among themselves as they glared at the various heroes. Only Sonata seemed to make any effort to reach out, as she quickly realized the buffet included everything she needed to make tacos, the blue siren quickly striking up a conversation with Meadowbrook about the virtues of various forms of southern Equestrian cuisine, Sonata ignoring the looks Adagio and Aria gave her.

The guard, seeing that everything was calm for now, smiled. “If you’re interested, I can show you the cartoon and comics that the audience will know you from. You can watch various episodes of the cartoon, read the comics…”

There was a brief discussion among the various ponies and associates, all of them agreeing to watch. The guard smiled. “All righty then,” the guard said. “I will say this, Cosmos – you only appear in the comics. And from what I’ve heard during our conversations, they got a few details wrong.” Viewscreens popped up, showing lists of episodes and who was featured in them, as panels opened in the center pathway between the seats, slowly spinning racks of comics rising from the floor.

A moment was required to figure out how to activate the viewscreens, while some of the others claimed the comics to read, including Discord and Cosmos.

Neither draconequus liked what they saw. “...This CANNOT be me,” Discord said. “I was NEVER this much of a wimp.”

“Depends on who you ask,” Cosmos said, looking irritated. “But they are attributing a lot of what you did to me, here… And I don’t recognize some of these ‘royals’ who supposedly defeated me… especially since it was Discord who sealed me…”

“Different universes, different stories,” the guard said. He looked over everyone, watching as they all seemed to enjoy to various degrees the episodes. Hopefully, this would be an uneventful trip.

Things would definitely escalate when they actually got to the island…

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note

All characters copyrighted to their original owners. If you like what you see, please support me on Patreon or with a one-time Paypal donation. Every little bit helps keep a roof over my head and keeps me writing!