Dusk didn’t get much of a look after Twilight introduced her world to him, as she then teleported both Dusk and herself to the stone bridge spanning the small creek that ran close to the town.

“Hurry, Dusk!” she urged him as she stepped onto the bridge. “We must get to my castle before Celestia arrives!”

He peered at her for a moment, his stomach growling for food, yet he calmly stayed with this Twilight Sparkle, keeping his complaints to himself. He’d love to have something, anything to quell his stomach’s needs, yet her urgency took precedence. For now, anyway.

Crossing the bridge led them to the edge of this small town with a castle in it, and Twilight quickly began to trot in that direction. “That must be yours, I take it,” Dusk commented. “How in Faust’s name did you get a castle for yourself?”

She glanced to him with a sheepish grin. “My former library was destroyed by Lord Tirek when we fought,” she told him with a light chuckle. “The Tree—”

“Who is this Lord Tirek?” Dusk interrupted her. “I must be missing a lot of your tale.”

She stopped then and looked at him apologetically. “Oh! I’m sorry, Dusk,” she said with a sigh. “We have so much to talk about, you and I. We need to compare our life stories first, in order to see how much our universes are alike.”

Dusk shook his head. “Nowhere near, Lady Twilight,” he noted. “I didn’t have a castle, nor did my goddesses ever fight as yours did. No great and fabulous city. I never knew about this ‘Tree of Harmony’ shit, didn’t even know that it even existed!”

Her face blushed. “Please, Dusk, if you don’t mind, keep your language, um, less ‘colorful’, okay?”

He sighed. “Yeah, sure, Princess Twilight,” he said wanly. “I am too used to speaking in my universe. I am certainly not as cultured as you seem to be.”

She smiled at him warmly. “That’s okay, Dusk,” she told him. “I guess that, from what I am getting from you, you were raised differently than I was.”

“Yeah,” was all that he said, his eyes staring at the ground. “You could say that alright.”

“We will compare notes soon, Dusk,” she said and sighed. “Come, let us get to my castle now. I will give you something there for your growling stomach.” She chuckled again, then trotted off before Dusk could reply.

He looked up in time to see her tail swinging, and he had to lick his lips at what he glimpsed. He sprung quickly to once more walk astride her, yet he kept his stallion thoughts to himself. In time, he told himself.

Just as they passed by a functioning fountain with a few ponies with some foals sitting or standing about the fountain, Dusk had a very brief glance of a pink blur approaching. He thought sourly, Shit. He put on a fake smile as the blur stopped before him and his analogue double.

Twilight did pause then with reluctance as the excitable mare looked at Dusk with very wide eyes. “Hey, Twi! You didn’t go to the mirror pond, did ya? I’m seeing double!”

Twilight shook her head. “No Pinkie, I didn’t,” she responded. “This is Dusk, from far away.”

Pinkie swung her gaze to Dusk and began to take a deep breath. But Dusk put up a hoof to stop her. “I know you, Berry,” he quickly put in. “We don’t need that tornado of words you are preparing to unleash. I can answer things later, as Twilight and I do have other things to attend at this moment.”

Both mares stared at him, as did the dragon Spike. All three tried to ask on top of each other in a confused mass of words, until Dusk shook his head and sighed. “Look,” he said, and the others stopped then, peering at him.

He continued, choosing his words carefully. “I know about you, lady Pinkie. I have a friend back in my world much like you. His name was Bubble Berry. I am asking you to calm down before you explode with apoplexy, okay? I can talk with you soon, even answer your questions, if you like.” Looking at Twilight, he said further. “Is she one of your friends, these ‘elements’ you mention? I see that your friends may be alike to mine back in my universe, if that is true.”

Spike leaned down to whisper into Twilight’s ear, then quickly dismounted and trotted away, his short dragon tail stiffly held behind him.

Twilight looked at her friend and held a hoof up. “I’ll explain later, Pinkie, at my castle,” she said, then glanced to Dusk. “You have a friend like Pinkie?”

Dusk rolled his eyes. “Dear, yes,” he replied with a sigh of regret. “Every time I feel that the entire weight of Equineland was upon my withers, I could always get a laugh from Berry. He was always so damn funny, even in the darkness of the Downs.”

Pinkie glanced up in the sky. “Okie Doki, Loki! The Princess is coming, I see! I’m going to run now. See ya!” She gave Dusk a wink, then sped away in a cloud of dust.

Dusk sighed, then glanced to Twilight, only for her to stand. “I am sorry, Dusk.”

He shrugged as if it was not a big deal. “Berry is well, Berry. No need to apologize for your friend. I am used to Berry, even if now he is a mare.” He suppressed a lewd grin.

They resumed trotting along, and Dusk took note of the many stares he got while with Twilight. It was only a brief time before they reached her castle, yet before they could enter, a crowd of pony voices cried out with delight, making Twilight glance up.

“She’s here,” Twilight said with a sigh. “I’ll get you an apple to at least stop your stomach growls.” She teleported away, but quickly reappeared with a large red apple.

Dusk took the apple and swiftly ate it in seconds before he could hear the approach of a chariot. He then suddenly stiffened at the pony he saw, and it wasn’t the pair of armored pegasi pulling the chariot, but the regal pony riding it.

“No!” he cried, shaking his head. “No-no-no-no-no!” And he instantly fell onto his chest and again buried his head with his wings, causing Twilight to peer at him in confusion.

By this point, Celestia had already alit from her chariot and approached with a frown. “So, Twilight, where is this other like you?” she asked, only to spy a pony hiding behind feathers.

“I don’t know why he suddenly did that, Celestia,” Twilight said, squinting up to her mentor. “He did that when I met him, saying that I wanted to harm him.”

Celestia walked to Dusk and looked down at the quivering pony, instantly taking note of his alicorn wings and cutie mark. “Dear, I’m not going to harm you,” she gently told him.

Dusk did not reply, but continued to hide under his wings.

“Please, look at me, okay? I promise to not hurt you, colt,” she again said with a curious tilt of her head.

“You already have before,” came Dusk’s muffled answer from behind his wings. “Who do you think banished me here? I’m innocent of any crimes. I never expected to become an alicorn! I am simply a librarian!”

His words gave Celestia pause, as Twilight glanced to the growing crowd of ponies still a distance away. Behind her, the castle door opened, and Starlight peered out at Twilight and Celestia, before noticing Dusk. Starlight gave Twilight a curious frown.

The sun princess said, “Look at me,” in a firmer tone, nearly a commanding one, yet not in the “royal voice” type of command.

Dusk ceased his quivering and sighed heavily. He knew that he must face the one who sent him away from his mother and friends, and he slowly retracted his wings, then sat up reluctantly, tears streaming from his eyes. Yet he did not look to her but kept his eyes downcast.

A tug on his chin forced him to stare into her eyes then. He saw those hard violet eyes staring back, but she was smiling warmly at him, not coldly as Solaria had.

“What is your name, colt?” she asked.

He so wanted to look away, yet she held his gaze. “Dusk,” he hesitantly replied. “Dusk Shine.”

“Why do you fear me, Dusk Shine? Have I harmed you in any way?”

“No,” he said, now letting his eyes fall away. “N-not you in particular, but Solaria did.” He again held her in his gaze. “Solaria is my sun goddess. She looks exactly like you.”

“And why would she do that?”

“B-b-because I became an alicorn, and I was not allowed to, since I am a stallion.”

Celestia’s look darkened then. “Any pony who ascends to become an alicorn should be lauded and welcomed. Even praised. Especially a stallion.”

Dusk shook his head. “Solaria said the only mares were allowed to ascend,” he told her unhappily. “Is that like that here, that I am not to be an alicorn?”

She smiled at him. “Certainly not, Dusk Shine,” she replied with a chuckle. “You have as much right to it as Twilight does, or even Starlight Glimmer. I feel that we should talk about this somewhere else, as I am sure you must have an interesting tale to tell. Just explain to me how you ascended, Dusk Shine.”

He sighed heavily, his thoughts on that day when he ascended. “I was searching for a certain book in the library, where I found an old hoof-written book of spells. Glancing through the book, I discovered a spell that was left incomplete. I brought the book back to my place, and after studying the spell, I recited the spell, then spoke the final words that I composed at that moment to finish the spell. I am good at making spells, as I had been studying them for many years, and had some training before. After casting the spell, I then was wrapped in a golden light of such pure magic, and it took away all of my…feelings. I was encased in such joy and warmth. And when that light faded away, I discovered these wings on me.”

He looked into the princess’s eyes. “Am I going to prison for being an alicorn??”

Chuckling like a mother, Celesia placed a wing about Dusk and hugged him in a maternal manner. “No, dear,” she replied. “But perhaps you should spend time with me while I help you become adjusted to your new form. How well have you adapted to your alicorn magic? Is it difficult or easy?”

Dusk closed his eyes, sensing her willingness to be as his mother might have been if she hadn’t been a prostitute. “Some easy, some I had to think about,” he replied softly, enjoying this comfort by her. “I never did get a chance, however. Before I could become comfortable, I was captured, then thrown into prison and chained up for months by Solaria’s orders, where I was forced to wear a suppression ring. She eventually forced me out of my universe, saying I was a pretender for being an alicorn.”

Celestia sighed, feeling some of his pain. She could hear that he did hide some things behind his explanation, but enough to admit what had happened. It troubled her that her version in his universe could be cruel to this young mage, and she decided that she should help him recover and learn.

Glancing to Twilight, Celestia said, “I’ll take care of him, Twilight. I’ll send you a letter soon to update you when I feel he won’t disrupt your destiny. For now, Luna and I must consider this, and where he might fit in. It really is remarkable, how his cutie mark and what he told us seems to follow your own life.”

“He has spoken of me as a counterpart,” Twilight said with a slight frown. “And yet, there are gaps in his knowledge about the elements, but also he told me that you and Luna never fought, so his Luna never became Nightmare Moon.”

Celestia then looked thoughtful. “Interesting, Twilight,” she said. “Perhaps he isn’t a complete double to you, but a reflection from a world far different than Equestria. Well, we will learn more as Dusk becomes comfortable here.”

Dusk listened to the two alicorns talk while wearing a small grin. If he played his cards correctly, he might even find some place to rule as a god himself here. If not, well…

Celestia hugged him, then released Dusk, pulling her wing away. “Come along, Dusk Shine,” she said as she got to her hoofs. “I will take you to Canterlot, where you may rest and find ease, then tell us more about you and your universe.”

Dubious of his fate now, Dusk stood himself, only to shoot Twilight a look of betrayal, then turned away and followed Celestia. When she sat on the chariot’s seat, he gave her a questioning look. She patted the seat, inviting his to sit with her. Mounting the chariot, then sitting down beside the princess nervously, not too sure if he really should. He undid his saddlebags finally, dropping them on the floor before himself as the pegasi guards began to ascend, pulling the chariot along.

After several minutes during the flight, Celestia asked, “Are you hungry or thirsty? When we get to the palace, I will see your needs and room to stay in.”

Dusk never got a chance to reply, as a strangely wild figure popped into existence and floated by the chariot. Looking like a sinuous snake, with oddly different parts of several creatures and big yellow eyes, it smirked to Dusk. “Well, well,” it said smarmily. “And who do we have here?” lifting Dusk’s chin and leered at him. “A male Twilight, I presume?”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Discord,” she said, “this isn’t the time for your silliness.”

He shot a glance to her. “Oh, I heard about this one arriving here, and just had to investigate. Quite the curious version of Princess Twilight, I’d say. Don’t you agree?”

Dusk gave the creature a nasty frown and a snort. “Go away, Eris,” he growled darkly.

Discord peered at Dusk with surprise. “Who did you just call me, young alicorn?”

Dusk snorted with displeasure. “Oh, I know all about you, whatever you name yourself here. In my world, you are named Eris, the Empress of Chaos, and I have dealt with you many times, each time to send you packing. I don’t need your bullshit now, so leave, else I will use force to make you disappear.”

“Oh, so touchy, huh?” Discord mocked. “Yes, I do see the resemblance to Twilight Sparkle. And what are you going to do with him, huh, Celestia? Turn him into stone also?”

“Discord, that isn’t funny anymore,” she remarked disdainfully.

“Never was, my dear Princess,” he responded with a snarky chuckle, then looked back to Dusk, only to pull out his eyeballs and placed them in front of dusk. “I’ll be watching you, Stallion Twilight, whatever you are named.”

Dusk slammed Discord’s eye back to him. “I am Dusk Shine, dammit, and if I were you, I’d stay the fuck away from me, jackass!” He then fired a blast of magic at the draconequus. Discord instantly disappeared with a laugh echoing behind, his eyeballs last to disappear mockingly.

Celestia was gazing at Dusk with a slight blush to her white, pristine cheeks. “Well, you do speak colorfully, Dusk Shine,” she remarked lightly.

Dusk kept his gaze away. “Sorry, Princess,” he apologized. “I tend to talk still as if I were in the Downs yet.”

She blinked to him a few times, digesting his apology. “Tell me about this place you mentioned, Dusk,” she said.

But Dusk shook his head roughly. “Not a good place for ponies,” he observed with a heavy sigh. “I was born in Equus Downs, or the ‘Downs’ as us who lived there called it, and to put it succinctly, it was a hellhole. A ghetto, precisely. I grew up there, and that is all I will say.”

The chariot began to descend as she said, “I see that you had a difficult life, Dusk. I will not ask more, but perhaps you might wish to explain more in time. Just try to talk in better language, please?”

Dusk nodded as he was distracted by the elegance of the castle where they were landing, exactly at the front entrance. Oh, it was certainly grand, and he felt a pang of regret for the loss of his world. Brushing back tears, he quietly dismounted the chariot once it was on the ground.

As they approached the entrance, several maids and guards came out. Celestia quickly snapped orders, and then nodded to Dusk. “Follow this maid, Dusk. She will lead you to your rooms. In time, I will summon you, where we may talk again. We will see each other at dinner. Be good, Dusk, and relax. I am not going to punish you, nor imprison you. I promise.”

He sighed, still feeling down as he was now with the counterpart of his sun goddess. Just as if he was still being imprisoned in his world’s Castle Equus. Then he felt a slight touch, where he saw a mature pegasus maid looking at him with a tight smile.

“If young master will follow me,” she said, then turned to start walking to the castle. Dusk began following the maid, which he had to grin at her. Oh, she was quite pretty in her typical maid outfit and slender flanks. She was a darker yellow, almost a sunflower kind of yellow, her wings tucked tight to her sides. He in particular liked her orange mane and tail, both which were wrapped in a bun so smartly.

At the entrance, he spied a professional-looking earth pony mare of off-white and brown mane wearing a pair of glasses and holding what appeared to be a clipboard. She gave Dusk a glance of curiousness but turned away quickly and trailed after Celestia deeper into the castle proper.

Dusk stayed with the maid, who was carrying his saddlebags. After two flights of stairs, she led him to a door in a hallway that ended just after two more doors. He took note of just a single guard at the entry to this hallway, and none after.

She opened the door quickly. “Here is your rooms, young master,” the maid said. “You will be summoned for dinner, which will be precisely at five this afternoon. Enjoy your stay, sir.” She placed his bags inside the door, then turned and trotted away, as if she had other, more important duties to attend to.

Dusk entered the apartment, only to be surprised at the roomy comfort inside. The entire place was richly furnished, plus had multiple rooms throughout from he stood. The overall color scheme was a soothing blue, and he did begin to relax. Leaving his bags where they lay, he began a tour of the apartment. In the bedroom, he found a nice full bed primly made, but what did interest him was the glass double doors on one wall with curtains falling to the carpeted floor. Upon stepping to them and opening one door, he discovered a nice balcony. When he went to the edge, he saw the valley below.

That’s a drop of at least two thousand feet! He grinned. I could use this to launch myself and take up practicing flying! If only I still had Blitz aiding me…

He sighed and turned away, reentering the bedroom, where he saw then a unicorn maid peering at him, his bags held in her magic.

“Hello, sir,” she said, her amber eyes looking at him with curiosity. “I am Ruby. How may I help you? Do you require anything presently? Shall I place these somewhere?”

“You may set those on the bed for now,” he replied with a smile. “I will take care of those myself.” And he ogled the cute young mare, who was probably close to his age. She wore a coat of off-white, with a mane and tail of blue green. Her cutie mark was simple: a pair of red gems, long and slender.

“Very good sir,” and she promptly set his saddlebags on the bed, then looked at him again, as if awaiting further instructions.

He was about to simply dismiss the maid, but then he had a thought. “Tell me, lady Ruby,” he said with a raised eyebrow. “Do you have any cigarettes, or even know where I may find some? I really do need a smoke.”

She wrinkled her forehead in thought. “I do not smoke myself, sir, but I know of where I might get some for you,” she replied. “I know of another mare who does.”

Dusk smiled warmly to her. “If you please, lady Ruby,” he said. “I think that once I relax with a cigarette, I may take a bath afterward. I have been on a very long journey.”

She nodded. “Very good, sir. I will return soon.” She turned away and swiftly departed.

Dusk then continued his tour of his new home, which was nothing else more than a cushioned prison, one without bars. Oh, he discovered a small library of books on shelves, yet he only gave those a cursory glance. However, once he returned to the front room, he soon found a nice decanter bottle made of crystal and containing a dark fluid. Uncorking the top, he sniffed and discovered that it contained a fine wine. He took a glass from a nearby shelf and poured himself a bit of the wine. Replacing the top to the decanter, he took a sip of the wine, which tasted quite fruity and pleasant.

He sat on the couch in the front room and sighed, only to start thinking about his present situation here in this oddly rural universe. He could do so many things here, and if these ponies were rather lax about stuff regarding him, he may just find himself forming that which he had been before. At the very least, he might find some pony with power to employ Dusk as a mage…

Ruby returned with a pack of cigarettes, which she gave him. “Lily said that if you need more, she will get them for you, sir,” the maid said.

“I am without any funds, so tell her to keep a record, which I will repay when able,” Dusk told her as his eyes settled on the cute unicorn mare. “For now, that is all that I need from you, lady Ruby.”

He levitated a candle over, which he lit with a trail of magic, then used it to light his cigarette. He relaxed against the couch back, then began to think. Ruby soon placed a tray by him, wrinkling her nose, then left.

So many mares, he thought. A mare would be very nice to be with and sleep with him.

He sighed and smoked in silence.

Author's Note

My exposition may be lengthy, but the story will start betting...interesting in the next chapter. And you will see Dusk in a light unexpected, unless you've been reading between the lines...