When we stepped out of the portal again, we were in Ponyville. Ponyville… kinda weird, not going to lie. This specific instance of Ponyville was odd because of the giant, fucking tree-castle on the outskirts of town, standing high and out of the way of everything. It was made of crystals, and besides that was a weird looking school thing. Sunset and I stared at the sight for a while and said. “So if I’m reading this right, that castle…” I looked around and said. “Didn’t Fruit say we’d end up in Golden Oaks Library so that we can be in immediate contact with Prime Twilight Sparkle?” I asked as Sunset looked around.

“Source, we’re standing in the library. It’s just been blown up.” Sunset looked around and stepped out of the door of the burnt up library…

“WHAT THE FUCK!?” I yelped when I came nose to nose with fucking Pinkie Pie. “What the-”

“Oh, hey, you’re that alicorn that helped out when we were in the Mirror world, dealing with evil Celestia and Luna. Oh my gosh, it’s Sunset Shimmer too! Are you his marefriend? That would be really super weird because he’s married to Princess Celestia and you're, like, supposed to be in another dimension learning about friendship right now! Are you the same Sunset Shimmer? By the way, I haven’t been able to give you two a welcome to Ponyville party, or a welcome to this side of the universe party where everything is correct! So can I throw that party for you two?” Pinkie asked while bouncing up and down.

Sunset, who wasn’t used to Pinkie’s shit slowly said. “Did you even breathe?” As she tried to process the energetic fluffball that is Pinkie.

I just sighed and said. “Sure, we’ll attend that party. When is it-”

“Oh, it started five minutes ago. Everypony’s there and I heard you were going to end up in Equestria because of a twitchy left leg and a tail swish and an eye twitch along with an eyelid twitch! Come on, everypony is expecting you!”

I… what the hell? I shared a look with Sunset who looked about as baffled as I felt, before sighing. “So, Sugar Cube Corner?” I asked.

Pinkie shook her head. “No, we’re celebrating outside the School of Friendship. It’s right next to that big, super cool castle that you two were staring at from inside the remains of the Golden Oaks Library!” She then made a mad dash in the direction of the giant castle she was talking about.

My head hurts.

As we started heading towards the castle, I watched the differences in this Ponyville in comparison to my timeline’s Ponyville. Ignoring the giant castle, there was a giant building next to it that looked like a school sitting next to a lake with beautiful waterfalls cascading around the entrance. There were extra houses, Ponyville was just a bit bigger in this timeline than the Ponyville I know back home… Lyra and Bon Bon are wearing wedding bands. Big Mac has a marefriend that isn’t my Mum, and everypony just looked a little older. I had hid my wings, or I would have if that spell wasn’t malfunctioning either. I groaned in displeasure at not being able to keep my wings hidden for everypony walking up to the castle, or the few ponies that didn’t head to a Pinkie Party, to gawk at.

“Son of a bitch,” I groaned. “I’m just a unicorn with a brand new pair of wings.”

“Watch the Language, Dad,” Sunset teased. ‘I mean, it’s not everyday that there is an alicorn, a male at that, walking around town, is it?”

“Sunset, I dunno if you noticed, but I loathe being the center of attention. You know that, right? I’m just some guy at the end of the day that happens to have wings and a horn.”

“...You humble son of a bitch.”

“That’s rude, you just insulted my Ma,” I punched her shoulder lightly. “Treat her with some respect and just call me a bitch.”

“...Fine, you’re adopted-”

“That’s just plain rude.” I nudged Sunset Shimmer and said. “So, big castle,” as we got to the steps. “Looking forward to a Pinkie Party? Or Princess Twilight Sparkle?”

“Oh yeah, definitely.” Sunset said as we walked up the steps. We knocked on the door and was greeted by Spike… who’s got wings. “Uh… Hey little-”

“Sunset Shimmer?” Spike asked. “What the heck are you doing here? How did you get out of the castle without anypony knowing? The Crystal Mirror’s right next to the throne room and…”

“You’re thinking of somepony else,” Sunset nudged me. “I’m not from this ‘universe’ if you will. I’m here with this idiot.”

“Oh… What the heck? An alicorn!? Sunset, I know you’re pulling a fast one on me, being from another universe… but who the heck is that?” Spike pointed a claw at me and I rolled my eyes.

“Spike… weren’t you there a noticeably depressed alicorn showed up after your adventures in that other mirror with the evil princesses? Yeah, that’s me, the depressed alicorn.” I sighed and said. “This is Sunset Shimmer, neither of us are local to this timeline in any way, shape, or form. We’re mostly here because my stupid ass wanted to visit Prime Equestria and then Composite Equestria with the help of a friend of mine.”

“Oh.” Spike nodded. “Well, come on in, the party’s been started and Pinkie said there were two special guests… she didn’t say who though.” He then narrowed his eyes and Sunset and said. “I’m watching you, in case this is some elaborate prank.” Before turning around to walk into the castle. Sunset rolled her eyes and I followed her in soon afterwards. Hopefully the party is going to at least be somewhat fun.

“Quit following behind me to watch my flanks sway, Dad,” Sunset whispered.

“Sunset, that’s perverted and fucking weird. What the hell?” I watched as Sunset’s smirk turned into one of mild concern when she noticed I didn’t like her joke. “You’re technically my daughter, and I don’t see you that way. You’re beautiful, but you ain’t my wife, and to be frank…” I shook my head. “Don’t make jokes like that, alright? They’re really not in good taste in my opinion.”

“Sorry about that,” Sunset chuckled. “I… Forgot that your mind isn’t exactly accustomed to how ponies view romance. A joke like that would’ve been normal with adopted family members if you were a normal pony.”

“Yeah, I appreciate the attempt of you lightening the mood, but I ain’t checking out my fucking daughter, Sunny.” I said.

“I know.” She nudged me with her elbow and asks. “So you've been here before? What’s it like?” Sunset asked.

“Eh, not sure. I was busy trying not to kill myself and I was only here for a whole day and the better part of a morning.”

“...Source, that’s not a good thing to… You really need therapy, Source. As much as I hate you for literally sleeping with my Mom, I don’t actually hate you.” Sunset nuzzled my cheek and said. “And I'm not sure if I should be concerned that you said that so nonchalantly, or that you had those thoughts at all, and kept them buried.”

“Eh, what doesn’t kill you makes you ugly,” I shrugged. Pinkie broke out of a side door and made us both jump.

“C’mon you silly fillies! The party's in this room!”

When we stepped into the ballroom, or the room where the party was being held… Holy shit this place is huge. It wasn’t really much of a ballroom, and more like a proper throne room for Twilight. It was a giant, cavernous room with purple walls, painted in a way that seemed reminiscent of a more natural landscape. With various shades of purple marking out a tree, the hills around us. Towards the back of the room was a throne that remained unoccupied, probably because it was Twilight’s throne, and if my Twilight is anything to go by, this Twilight would probably hate sitting on a throne all day.

The room was full of ponies, snacks and drinks were set off to the side. Foals weaved through legs and under ponies as they played, there was a dedicated dance floor with a disco ball. A banner that stretched across the whole room, from one pillar to another, had words telling us just what the party was for. It was for… ‘Welcome to Ponyville, Prince Source Code!’ That’s what the party was for. It… was neat. I could see twilight and her friends littered across the sea of ponies, happily chatting with guests, or each other in the case of Rainbow Dash and AppleJack.

Princess Cadance and Shining Armor were chatting with Bon Bon and Lyra, with their kid, I think the kid’s name was Flurry, could be wrong, but I could also be right. Princess Celestia was here, talking to a yellow stallion who looked a little scruffy, but the two of them seemed to get along. Princess Luna was sitting with Rarity, talking about something probably random and probably a whole lot of nothing as well.

The room fell silent as me and Sunset walked in, everypony was staring at us. I took a long, deep breath, and sighed. Princess Celestia was the first to step forward and asked. “Sunset Shimmer… Is that you?”

“I am Sunset Shimmer, Celestia, but probably not the one you are familiar with.” Sunset waved a hoof. “I belong to this moron’s timeline, universe, I suppose.”

“...I see,” Celestia nodded to me. “...Who are you, exactly? My apologies, I don’t believe we met.”

“Huh,” I hummed. We’re not in Prime Equestria? Because last time I was, with my Celly, Celestia remembered who I was. This Celestia tilted her head and leaned her head to the side and gasped. “So, I’m Source, Source Code, Prince Source, whatever you wanna call me. Just call me Source, as that’s way simpler than calling me by title or anything like that.”

“A male alicorn?” Celestia asked, looking me up and down as the stallion she had been talking to, around his neck was… a little necklace with a crystal shaped into the shape of the sun. it was colored to look like a sun as well. It hung gently just above his chest. The pony in question was… just an earth pony. I could make a pretty solid guess that this guy had a bit more of a connection with Celestia than I would’ve initially thought. His eyes slowly went and traced down his frame until I watched as his gaze landed on my wings.

“Oh, what in the name of my wife?” The stallion said.

“And… son of a bitch.” I shook my head and said. I leaned over to Sunset and asked. “Think we should just teleport out of here and go home? Fruit done fucked up and sent us to the wrong timeline because he beats that machine harder than… well, harder than he beats himself.”

“I think you wouldn’t even be able to teleport very far, Source,” Sunset sighed.

“So,” The yellow stallion approached, his brown mane and tail complimented his yellow coat pretty nicely. His green eyes stared into mine as he got closer. ‘You’re an alicorn? And… you're who Pinkie kept referring to as Prince Source Code, right?” I studied his eyes for a moment longer, studied his ears, and there wasn’t a hint of suspicion that I could see immediately. In fact, he looked rather friendly. “I’m Baked Bean, or just Bean if you want to keep things simple, nice to meet ya!” He stuck his hoof out. I couldn’t help but shake his hoof. “So, where are you from? Pinkie said you weren’t from Equestria.”

“Just call me Source, please. I’m technically from Equestria, but not really. Not this Equestria at least. Where I’m from, I’m…” I stopped and started thinking about how to phrase this. “I’m somewhat close to my Equestria’s Princess Celestia. I can see you’re rather close with this Equestria’s Princess, judging by that necklace of yours.”

“Oh yeah! I’m married to Celly, she’s the best thing to ever happen to me.” Bean smiled, a fond little smile that showed he meant every damn word.

I glanced at Celestia then said. “I can imagine. She’s quite the delightful mare, if I do say so myself.” I stretched and pulled out my wedding ring. “You know, I’m speaking from experience, you know?” I asked.

“...Oh, I see,” Bean chuckled and said. “You and I are probably the luckiest stallions across the… various Equestrias that apparently exist then.” He then glanced at my wings again and asked. “So, she married you because… of those?”

“Oh, no. I got these because… uh, I experienced a timeline where Celestia wasn’t such a lovely mare and I had to fight her, and every other princess that Equestria has to offer.” I shivered slightly. “Uh, yeah, hate my wings, hate myself a little. Not a fan of… you know, why or how I became an alicorn. Yeah no, I started off as one of my Celly’s personal students, made a few advancements in magic, somehow was found attractive by my Celly, and then before I knew it, we’re dating, and somehow I’m standing at the altar, getting married. Life’s quit the wild ride, if I do say so myself.”

Bean chuckled and said. “Tell me… about it. Wait, what do you mean by… fighting another Celestia?”

“Uh…” I shuttered. “Let’s just not go in that direction tonight. I’ve… uh, done some things that shouldn’t be delved into during a party like this. Let’s just say I found… creative ways to survive the encounter, aye?” I asked.

“...Okay then,” Bean patted my back and said. “You know, if you ever want to talk, I’m here for you, I can probably handle whatever’s weighing on your mind. From one Stallion of the Morn to another, you shouldn’t have to bear that alone,” he then gently nudged me forward and said. “C’mon, let me introduce you to my wife,” I nodded and followed along. Sunset was quickly swooped up by Twilight Sparkle who started talking to her like she was an old friend.

“So,” I said as I followed him over to his wife. “You accepted the fact that me and Sunset Shimmer aren’t from this… universe pretty quickly.”

“Eh, you learn to accept a lot of things when you’ve nearly had your brain melted by a changeling queen, you learn to just accept things. Plus, you smell like Celly, just not the exact same Celly.”

As Bean had walked me over to his wife, said wife looked down at me with some curiosity, and some genuine… diplomatic-stuff. “Hello, Mr. Code,” Princess Celestia greeted me with her fake, princessy smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Sup,” I waved. “Gotta say, it’s not everyday I hear your voice greet me like how my wife greets ponies she’s trying to be cordial with.” I tilted my head and asked her. “So, how’d you two meet?” I asked. “Because… I’ve a feeling you and Bean have met each other in a very different way from how I met my Celestia.”

“Your Celestia?” Princess Celestia tilted her head and said. “Oh, I see, Sunset Shimmer said she wasn’t from ‘this’ Equestria and you were accompanying her… so I suppose that would make sense.” She and Bean looked at each other fondly before she asked her husband if he wanted to start with his side of the story.

“Well…” Bean got ready for a long, winded explanation and I did too… “So anyways, I laid in a sunflower patch and booped noses with Celly. We were married, oh… I’d say a week or two later. It turned out my wife, in her early days as a ruler, had a law stating that the first stallion to boop Celestia or Luna on the nose is to marry either princess depending on who they booped. I booped Celestia, and I was the first stallion to do so, so we were married.” I stared blankly at Bean before looking up at his wife and back at bean.

“That has to be the most fucking random law I’ve ever heard. I don’t want to even understand why such a law exists, but I’m going to assume that somepony was being creepy to Celestia and Luna at some point.” I shrugged. “I’unno. It seems you two are happily getting along so I’m gonna-”

“Those aren’t words, Mr. Code,” Celestia said with a serious glint in her eyes. “‘I’unno and ‘gonna’ aren’t words. I believe you meant ‘I don’t know’ and ‘going to.’” I blinked a few times. “And before I continue, must you use such vulgar language? You must be an intelligent stallion, surely you could use more proper words than the word ‘fucking,’ don’t you agree?” I opened my mouth and slowly closed it. What the actual fuck did this Celestia just fucking do?

“Oh,” Bean started snickering. “Watch out, my wife is in teacher mode. Nothing but proper Equish must be used around her, Source.”

“I can tell,” I chuckled. “I, uh, forgot about that. My wife’s a lot more lenient with my language,” I chuckled a bit. “So I’m just… gonna go in the opposite direction-”

“Going,” Celestia corrected.

“Okay, nazi,” I said.

“...What’s that?” She asked.

“You’re a horse.”

“That’s rather rude,” Celestia pointed out.

“Damn, no racial slur in return?” I tilted my head with a cheeky grin. “Meh, at least I know that you’re definitely not my Celly then. You have a respectable stallion and not some idiotic husband that fell in a freak, magical accident.” I waved a hoof around and said. “Good luck with your future continued marriage.” I waved and found myself caught in some magic. “...Wha?”

“Usually ponies walk to me rather than away from me.” Celestia gave me a stern look. “You don’t just say something like that and expect to walk away… You speak rather poorly of yourself, though you claim to be married to another version of myself. Surely you have some redeeming qualities.”

“Yeah dude,” Bean nudged me. “Surely you’re not too bad.”

“Eh, I’m probably not. I’d rather be hard on myself and wanna change for the better, than to be complacent and wither away because of it.” I shrugged. “I know my way of thinking and my motivation isn’t healthy, but at the end of the day, it’s the end of the day. And by the end of the day, I know I love my wife, I love my family, and I’ll be damned if anything gets in the way of that, even myself.” I lit my horn and said. “By the way, you’re talking to a magical dummy. I’m right behind you." With that, my magical dummy poofed into a sparkly cloud of magic… as Celestia turned around with a raised eyebrow. Bean was just… impressed.

“Fucking hell,” I grumbled while rubbing my horn. “Doing that shit hurts; can’t wait to make another magic system because my stupid body decided to become more magical.”

“...What is ‘hell?’” Celestia asked. “And did you say another magic system? You’ve made one before?”

“Nah, you’re hearing things.”

“I don’t think my wife is hearing things. She can pay pretty good attention to what ponies are saying while focusing on other things. So I think it’s safe to assume that she heard you right the first time. You’re no chump when it comes to your unicorn abilities are you?”

“I’m… above average. I can only really get far based on the fact that I’ve made a magic system for me, which is going haywire due to how magic interacts with a pony’s age, as in I’m slightly stronger with magic and thus my magic system has no clue what the buck it’s doing when I use it.” I waved a hoof as I explained. “If I took any other alicorn head on, I think I’d lose pretty quickly. Compared to Celestia, Luna, or Twilight, I’m not naturally gifted.”

Celestia chuckled and said. “I believe you are being rather hard on yourself. Developing your own way of using magic is rather difficult.”

“...Would it hurt to say I’ve made three magic systems?” I asked.

That made Celestia pause. “...What?” She looked me in the eyes and said. “And you say you’re not talented?”

“Gifted,” I corrected. “Had to do a lot just to be able to contend with everypony else. I’m talented, not because I’m gifted, but because I worked my ass off in order to get to where I’m at.”

“I see…” Celestia nodded. Bean just looked impressed. Both of them shared a look and started looking behind me.

…

I could feel my diagnostic spell pick something up from behind me. “Twilight Sparkle is behind me, isn’t she?”

They both nodded. I am fucked.

After about forty minutes of nonstop questions that I answered, Twilight eventually decided to let off of me, and start hanging out with Celestia. Bean had went and gone somewhere else, so that left me and Sunset Shimmer sitting together off to the side, we were watching the dance floor, where ponies who actually had hoofwork dance. I actually saw Bean off, dancing with Celestia while Chrysalis and one of their guards were watching. For some reason,

“So,” Sunset started. “How was talking with Princess Celestia and Prince Baked Bean?” She asked.

“This world’s Celestia’s a grammar nazi,” I hummed. “Kinda like how Celly is, but Celly’s a lot more lenient with me because she knows that I can barely speak english.”

“That can’t be the only thing you picked up-”

“Oh, no, I picked up that I have horrible chemistry with Celestia’s husband. It’s nothing against him, Bean’s a good pony, but… you know, he is literally married to Celestia. I’m married to Celly. It turns out two stallions married to the same mare probably aren’t meant to get along,” I waved a hoof in a circle. “Uh… mostly because I realize how much better Bean is as a husband is to Celestia. I’m… still not even sure how I managed to marry Celestia or keep her attention for so damn long-”

“Source, you really need to work on your self-esteem. Mom loves you, you treat her well. Ain’t that enough sometimes?” Sunset asked.

“It should be, but I want to be better for Celly-”

“Source,” Sunset nuzzled me. “Sometimes all you can be is what you are right now. You’re an alicorn; you have plenty of time to grow into the pony you want to be. Right now, just be happy with being the Stallion of the Sun, but at home!” Sunset said with a grin.

“If you bring that title up again, I am going to… not do anything because I can’t really do anything to you right now.” I glared at her. “And ‘at home’? Didya have to phrase it like that?”

“Yes,” Sunset smirked. “I can’t be overly sappy with you, or you’ll start thinking that I love you.”

“God dammit, Sunset; I’m your adoptive Dad, can’t you-”

“Nope!”

Well, fuck you too, Sunset.

We both decided to watch the party go on for a while until it was time for us to head home for dinner.

That was until Bean walked over and sat beside me. His wife was smiling over at us with a hopeful smile. “You know, you and Sunset haven’t really done much today, why not join me and Celly on the dance floor?”

“...Nah.” me and Sunset shook our heads, looked at each other and blinked. I motioned for Sunset to speak for the two of us.

“Source sucks at dancing, and I’ve not been a pony again for long enough to know how to dance as a pony either.” Sunny smacked me in the back of the head. “Plus, we got to go home for dinner… in about thirty minutes. Neither of us wanna deal with our Celestia if we miss dinner,” she said with a shake of her head. “And I don’t want to deal with Source’s Mom if we miss out on dinner and I bring home her son in several pieces.”

Way to go Sunset, Bean bought that. No he didn’t, but he nodded, and went back into the crowd and quickly rejoined his Celestia while me and Sunset walked out of the party to head home.

Author's Note

so got permission to use bean in some capacity. i probably wrote him horribly, but i did it. anyways, i also had permission to write a sidestory where Bean and Source share Celestia. if anyone beats me to it, you have my full permission to use Source and the idea; i just think it would be funny to see somebody competent at writing turn bean and source into celestia's bro-harem or whatever.