Our Inner Ponies 2: A Race Against Time

"Uh, are you sure passing out is natural for her?" I asked worriedly, referring to Miss Applejack who, after she'd been unmerged from Zaria, had immediately passed out after stating she felt "just dandy."

"Aw, don't worry Maya. AJ will be fine!" Pinkie assured me, patting my shoulder. "Nothing to worry a—ooh, pretty necklace! And look! You're face is wearing my Element! Neat!" Wow. She sure seemed chipper after being unmerged with me and nearly passing out herself.

"But don't worry. After a couple of night's sleep, she'll be back on her hooves in no time!" Pinkie added.

"I'm just glad I don't have that accent anymore," Zaria said. "It was annoyin'!"

"Oh wait, I think some of Applejack's voice is still stuck in your throat," I joked, pointing at Zaria's neck.

"Oh, shut up Maya!" Twilight cleared her throat, pretty uncomfortable with all the giggling.

"So, apparently, everything you said was true?" she asked.

"Of course. I wouldn't lie at a time like this," I answered plainly. "Though if something doesn't seem real at first, there's no point in stressin' over it, Twilight."

"I said something like that when I told her about my Pinkie Sense!" Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing on her hooves. Believe me, after Twilight had had some painful events happen to her, I knew one hundred percent.

"Well, are you girls ready to go home?" Princess Celestia asked, and Zaria and I nodded. We both got in a circle, but not before giving each and everyone (including our inner ponies since they were now comfortable around us) a great big hug. We had to pet Applejack due to her unconsciousness, but at least she knew she did a brave thing that day. And get this! When I hugged Pinkie Pie, she whispered, and I quote:

"Goodbye my inner human."

I swear that moment nearly made me burst into tears. Only four particular words made my heart do a backflip, made me hug Pinkie a second time, and made me whisper back,

"Goodbye my inner pony."

I really wished Zaria and I could stay in Ponyville forever, but that wouldn't be right--somehow. Getting back home had a new twist to it I might as well say. Instead of Celestia having to perform a spell, Zaria and I had to do it ourselves. (What, was Celestia getting lazy or something...?) We had to deeply visualize stepping through a portal and going back home. It wasn't easy for me since that whole Discord thing kept plaguing my mind, but we successfully opened a gateway to the human world.

"I'm really gonna miss ya'll. I mean you all!" Zaria said, which caused a bit of laughter.

"Yeah. Our lives won't ever be the same, huh?" I said sadly. "No epic adventures, no cool spells—"

"And no attacking," Rainbow chimed in. Hey, at least Pinkamena got a brief cameo! As did Psycho Twilight two years ago.

"Alright, bye everyone!" Zaria wrapped up. "Let's go before the portal breaks or something, Maya." I nodded. But before I took a step, Rainbow called my name.

"Yes?" I asked quickly.

"I just wanted to say...thanks for an awesome adventure today M," she replied, which made me grin and hug her once more.

"Anything else, Dash? Before I go?"

"Yeah. This." Without warning, I felt a small amount of pain in my lower jaw. That little piece of crap punched me!

"What the—"

"That's for making fun of me with that potion when you were Twilight," Rainbow stated.

"Wow, after two years you managed to successfully hold a grudge?" I questioned the Pegasus, who nodded proudly.

"Well played, my friend," I said, the pain fading away. "Now I'll have to find out how to get you back!"

"Maya, let's go!" Zaria urged me, tugging the sleeve of my shirt.

"Alright, alright!" I cried impatient. I gave Rainbow a smile. "Bye Dashie." Zaria and I finally made our way to the ever-waiting portal and stepped through it. I looked over my shoulder, right at my favorite pony.

"Bye my inner pony," I said in my best imitation of Andrea Libman's Pinkie Pie voice.

* * *

"I still can't believe this happened," Zaria went on as we walked side by side down the wavy green portal. "Two years later and we're stuck defending our world and risking our lives from Discord. As Applejack and Pinkie Pie using the Elements. How crazy is that?"

"Not crazy at all," I answered flatly, producing a small sigh. "I'm really gonna miss them."

"Me too," Zaria agreed, looking over her shoulder. I followed her gaze, hoping to spot a glimpse of our pony friends, but all we saw was green.

"Still Zaria," I began, turning to face her, "do you know what we had to do in order to save some stinkin' world?" Zaria giggled and nodded.

"Of course," she replied smoothly. "We just had a race against time. And Rainbow totally owned you in the face back there!" I laughed and bumped my friend lightly.

We then took off running toward the end of the portal, with a tint of our normal life greeting us with open arms. I gotta say: I was wrong. Dashie never broke my Pinkie Promise, I broke it myself. I was too stressed to see that was true (thanks a lot, Pinkamena! Arrgh!). And I'd nearly broken Cupcakes' fourth wall much earlier as well.

Yet aside from that, I actually did get to have fun. Getting to meet the ponies and Spike again; seeing a few popular side characters; getting a scrumptious cake inside my tummy; and experiencing the thrill of a lifetime: having an adventure! Zaria was 100% right! We definitely did have a race. A race against time.

THE END