"David!" came a voice, a plaintive cry from elsewhere in the house.

A chime had sounded informing me of Mother's attempt to message me, but I'd missed it as things were happening. "You two be good." I hurried to my feet and power walked briskly out into the living room. "What's up?"

"Did you read my text?" my mother was laying on the couch, looking at me tiredly.

"No." On one level, I felt asking what was up had answered that question before it was asked, but it was a tradition... Not one I enjoyed, but a tradition none the less. "What's up?"

"Is there something we can do to help you hear the texts better?"

"Sorry. What's up?" It was a fine time to not have an expression. Fortunately for me, that was the default more often than not. Since I was there, and I could see a few dirty plates, I grabbed them and started them towards the kitchen.

"Are you running a game? Thank you."

"No, finished that a little bit ago." I returned, without the dishes. "What's up?"

"I'm tired. Not doing dinner today. Was something taken out for dinner?"

No, nothing had been taken out to thaw. "No."

"I'm just going to order something."

Internally, I sighed. It wasn't like we had money to eat out all the time, but she liked doing that anyway. Skipping dinner entirely felt like a better option, but arguing about it... "Sure. I'll have whatever you're having."

"If you could send me some money, I'd appreciate it."

I was barely keeping myself afloat, financially. If we could just work a little harder on such banal things, we could not spend money on it. A thousand irate thoughts came and fizzled. "Alright."

That wasn't a promise. "I should get back to things."

I moved with purpose back to my room, ignoring the mild aches of walking. Nobody had time for that. Debatably, not even I did.

I opened the door to be flashed in the face. "The heck?"

"Sorry," chimed the voice of Little Twilight. "We were playing."

"Apologies." Large Twilight closed the door with a kick of her hoof. "It was nice to have somepony around I could have a proper magic duel with."

I blinked the dancing shapes away from my vision, the result of being caught unaware by twin flares of magic bursting joyously across my room. The two beaming Twilights peered up at me with mixtures of pride and sheepishness at displaying their talents so openly.

"No harm done!" I assured, a good natured smile finding its way through lingering tension from that uncomfortable money moment with my mother. Hard for dour moods to stand up to such bright vibrancy for long.

"Glad to see you two getting along so well. Just maybe give a guy some warning next go before unleashing the magical light show, eh?" I winked playfully.

Little Twi fluttered up to me with an apologetic grin. "Next time we'll put a sock on the door...or whatever the human equivalent is."

I had to laugh at the mental image as I reached down to affectionately scritch her chin. Big Twi ambled over, a sheepish but eager look in her eyes. "Truly though, having a capable magical ally makes it feel a little less lonely being the only enchantress around."

My mirth softened to an understanding smile. I gave her shoulder a supportive pat "I imagine so...we plain old humans must seem so mundane by comparison. But anytime you want to liven things up sparkle-wise, feel free!"

My smile turned impish. "Just maybe give the resident muggle a heads up so I can watch from a safe distance."

Both ponies shared a giggle at the prospect. And with further chaos presumably on hold for the moment, my own lingering tensions began to drain away.

But a question pestered at me. "So... You have your magic going?"

Large Twilight sighed at that. "I never had no magic, but so much less than I used to."

Little Twilight inclined her head. "I was facing you with a hooficap? That does not make me feel confident..."

Large Twilight patted her smaller self gently. "It may be, in part, due to size. I have more magic, since there's more me to make the magic."

"Logical." Little Twilight fluttered up onto my shoulder. "So, as I was saying, how long are you keeping this a secret?"

I sank onto my chair. "What secret am I keeping?"

Little Twilight shook her hoof out in front of me. "The longer I'm aware, the more I remember. I've seen things, David. I know your habits." She leaned in, cloth brows wagging. "I've seen your browing history."

Large Twilight hopped up onto the desk. "I also saw that, but most of it didn't make any sense... You understand those words, Little Me?"

My face erupted in a sudden flush as Little Twi smugly alluded to witnessing embarrassing browsing trails from her shelf perch over the years. Even inanimate objects apparently knew more than they should in my small private space.

I coughed, giving the micro alicorn on my shoulder a half-hearted glare. "Yes well, a guy has...needs. And occasionally curiosities better left unsearched." I shrugged trying to play it casual while avoiding looking directly at either Twilight.

"Nothing weird or untoward I swear! Just...you know..." I waved a hand, keen for a quick change of subject. The browser history of the desktop shouldn't have had anything too strange, right? But how would one ask without making it even more strange?

Big Twi tilted her head, seeming more puzzled than judgmental. "I'm afraid I don't know about typical human male browsing habits. But I take it the concern is privacy?" At my quick nod she smiled reassuringly.

"Well, fear not! Us princesses know a thing or two about preserving confidentiality." She mimed sealing her lips as Little Twi followed suit with a giggle.

I had to chuckle at the gesture, my embarrassment already melting away in the face of their humor. "Glad to hear it, but it's not just about who you go sharing it with, but how it could color how you see me." I turned the chair into position and pulled up, ready to type and mouse waggle anew.

I had few too few tabs open. "The heck happened here?" I waggled a finger at the lack of tabs. "Did the browswer crash or something?"

Little Twilight hopped down onto my lap, sitting on one leg. "Having less tabs should let your computer operate faster."

Large Twilight nodded. "That's just logical. There's no way you could use so many tabs at the same time. We figured it would help you to clean up."

I laughed in a sort of chuckle as I mashed ctrl-shift-tab until my old tabs were summoned back from their digital graveyards. "Thank you both. That's really sweet of you two, but I want them there."

I grunted as my other leg also gained a Twilight, and I couldn't even be mad. I spent a moment petting the two Twilights, smiling and happy. Of all the horrible curses that could befall a person, an overabundance of Twilights felt pretty manageable. "Hey, did either of you find Discord?"

Both squeaked in alarm.

"Not that Discord." I pulled up the program and its various chat rooms. "This is where I speak to most of what is closest one could call to friends I have."

The Twilights leaned in with mirroring curiosity as the Discord app opened before them, chat channels flickering to life on the screen. Big Twi raised an inquisitive brow at the mentions of voice calls and instant roleplaying exchanges amidst streams of lively text banter.

"So strange symbols aside, I surmise this application serves a similar social function to our Ponyville square or Canterlot gardens?" She tapped a hoof on the desk. "A virtual gathering ground to converse and entertain each other?"

I nodded, scrolling through various chat logs featuring everything from writing discussions to gaming trash talk from online acquaintances. It was delightfully chaotic communication if nothing else.

"That's the gist of it - servers on topics folks enjoy where we can all connect and chat in one spot." I shrugged self-consciously. "I know it's not the same as in-person friendships, but hey, takes the edge off feeling isolated out here you know?"

Little Twi placed a consoling hoof over my wrist. "It seems quite friendly indeed. And a very smart system allowing conversations to flow freely!" She smiled up encouragingly. "I can see why a social scholar would appreciate such ready exchange of thoughts and ideas."

I flushed a bit at the praise even as I continued browsing animatedly. "Well, I dunno if I'm a scholar, but it does scratch that itch to chat about magical writing ideas without boring normal folks around me."

Big Twi smirked knowingly. "Oh I'm quite familiar with that sentiment too. Just be glad we arrived before you resorted to further inanimate conversationalists!"

I glanced over at the other dolls. They were all where I'd left them, and none of them were moving or talking. Phew. I started typing busily.

Large Twilight stepped off my leg onto the desk, watching the word appear. "I thought you typed earlier today."

"I saw that too." Little Twi smiled impishly. "But he does that sometimes. Some days it seems he just can't stop writing. I'm unsure if this is a great habit, or a worrying one."

Large Twilight curled a hoof to her chin. "It could be both... What are you working on?"

"I'm writing a story." I was quiet a moment before I swished my mouse over to start some background music and back to the typing. "This one's about Equestria, actually."

Both Twilights perked at that. "I doubt it's the one either of you are from, but close, from what I've gathered. This one's about a human that ends up there and gets into trouble." I paused a moment, but the next sentence found me quickly enough. "Don't worry, friendship saves her day in the end."

Large Twi claps at the summary of the plot. "Wonderful. But you aren't female."

"You are male." Little Twi nodded at this obvious fact. "Why are you writing about a female's adventure?"

I snorted gently at that. "You never write about things you aren't?"

Large Twi shook her head slowly. "To be honest... no. I write about things I can see and feel and have confident knowledge about." She tapped herself on her cloth chest. "I wouldn't write about a stallion's experience, not being one."

Little Twi bounced up next to her large twin. "I wouldn't write about being a human."

I paused in my writing. "Huh." He gently pet both of the curious alicorn plushes. "I love writing about things I have not and likely never will experience. I could tell you some theories I have on the idea."

Large Twi leaned up, wings spreading. "I'd love to hear them." But an idea struck her. "David!"

"Twilight?" I slowed the writing I had just restarted. "What's wrong?"

"You are the secret." She almost danced in place, bouncing from hoof to hoof. "You crazy alien genius. If you can see things that aren't there, you could be my path to home."

My fingers paused over the keys as I swiveled my chair to face the eager ponies, intrigued by the larger Twilight's enthused exclamations. Clearly an epiphany was dawning in those googly embroidered eyes.

"Alright, ya lost me," I admitted with a light chuckle. "How does my overactive imagination connect to getting you back to Equestria specifically?"

Big Twi practically vibrated with building excitement. "Don't you see? Your ability to vividly conceive of lives and scenarios utterly alien to your human experience could be the key!" She fluttered up to tap my forehead meaningfully.

"Somehow in your odd brain lies the capacity to link to other realms - it's why you create such elaborate fantasies, and how you could see me where others only view a doll." She grinned. "We just need to harness that innate magic."

I rubbed my head where she had touched, intrigued but puzzled. "So you think because I'm kinda odd and creative, I can what - somehow psychically connect to pony worlds?" At her eager nod I frowned thoughtfully.

Sure my writer's imagination was vivid, but tapping different dimensions? That seemed a stretch even factoring recent strangeness. Then again Twilight was the interdimensional expert...

I met her shining eyes - whatever link allowed me to glimpse her hidden self must be meaningful if she had such faith. I smiled and rolled up imaginary sleeves. Maybe creativity really could spark literal magic!

"Alright miss magician, what have you got in mind? This 'alien' is open to discovering if his weird wiring can help lead you Pony-ward!"

Author's Note

Sorry for the delay. I have a story getting daily updates on top of other updating stories. But still, we continue!

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