Beyond Infinity

Luna closed her eyes, and began to envision the home of Twilight Sparkle. After a moment, she began to feel the effects of gravity once more, and she opened her eyes to see Twilight, Celestia, Spike, Cheerilee, and two young fillies, who Luna remembered later on were Scootaloo's school friends Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

"What did you find?" asked Twilight.

Luna looked around the room. "Scootaloo is fine." Everyone let out a visible sigh of relief. "She is staying with a human man, someone that I believe can be trusted. She appears to be in relatively good shape disregarding the circumstances. However..." Luna looked around once more. "I must ask that everypony leave the room, except for my sister. I must ask her about something, and I do not believe anypony else would understand the question. I shall invite you all back in when we have come to a conclusion." Celestia gave her sister a slight look, while everyone else shared a quick glance.

"But we..." started Applebloom.

"No." said Twilight firmly.

"We aren't going to be of much help at this point. Let's let the princesses be by themselves for a moment." added Cheerilee.

"That ain't fair!" exclaimed Applebloom. "Scootaloo is our friend and you got ta talk to her but we didn't even get to tell her we missed her!" The filly looked to be close to tears by the end of her outburst. "Scootaloo is our friend! We miss her! I just want to help get her back..." Applebloom started to cry. Sweetie Belle gave her a big hug, and added "Scootaloo stands up for us. Before we met Applebloom, she was my only friend. I was always picked on, always bullied. Scootaloo has stood up for both of us so many times, and now we don't have that anymore..." It was Sweetie Belle's turn to wipe away a tear. "Can't you understand that? We want to help! We want our friend back!"

Twilight looked at the fillies with a sad look in her eye. "Girls, I..." she was, however, silenced by a look from each of the Princesses. "If her friends wish to stay, they may." said Celestia simply.

"T-thank you, Celestia." said Applebloom.

"We'll try not to get in your way." added Sweetie Belle.

Luna smiled. "I am sure that will not be the case." She turned back to Celestia. "Now, dear sister. I believe I may have figured out what is going on."

"What exactly did you want to ask me about?" asked Celestia.

Luna looked her sister dead in the eyes. "Do you remember the story of Metropolis?"

Celestia gasped. "You mean...with the Miracle and the Sleeper?"

"Yes."

Twilight looked from Luna, to Celestia, and back to Luna, very much confused. "The miracle? The Sleeper? Metropolis?"

"I thought that was merely a legend. A story. A fable." said Celestia breathlessly. "I had no idea something like this could occur in this manner. I don't recall this ever going beyond the world of dreams."

Luna said "That's because, for a while, it didn't. Do remember the other day when I was testing this spell?" Celestia nodded. "When I had done this, I had...met someone. At first, I did not want to believe it, and I shrugged it off as mere coincidence. But this...someone...had pleaded with me. When he had explained who he was, I was stunned. It was improbable, nay, impossible. But it was true. Together, he and I had helped reunite Scootaloo with the human man. It was during this experience that the possibility of the Metropolis story came up in my mind. Not necessarily because of who it was, but because I was beginning to imagine the impossible as real." The night princess gestured towards Cheerilee, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom. "As they told you themselves, Scootaloo hasn't been herself. That's because her moods and emotions have been in sync with the man she is staying with. It could also be the opposite of that; her emotions may have even influenced and amplified his own. When I was there now, they often followed the exact same strain of thought, even including what they said. At first I believed it to be a coincidence, but it kept happening. Their stories lined up far too well.  After these experiences, I believe it seals the deal."

"But what is the...Metropolis story?" asked Spike. "I've never heard of it, and I've lived in libraries all my life."

"I haven't either." added Cheerilee.

Celestia cleared her throat, then began. "Some time ago, somepony was being haunted in his dreams by a mare. He did not understand why. He didn't understand who the mare was, and it was driving him insane. He had a son. He had a wife. Why was he dreaming about another mare?"

Luna continued the story. "He decided to visit somepony to help him with his struggles. He desperately wanted to find out who the mare was." Here, Luna took a deep breath. "He eventually discovered that...he and the mare were of the same mind and soul. They were one being. That is what we believe is happening with Scootaloo and who she is currently with."

This revelation was met with dropped jaws across the room.

Cheerilee broke the silence first. "But...how...how does that work?"

Luna surprised everyone by shrugging. "We are not sure. As previously mentioned...this isn't something many people are aware of, let alone knowledgeable about. In the first instance, the mare died about 70 years before her image began to plague the stallion's mind. It is believed that her memories began to infect his thoughts, which began to drive him mad, because he had no idea where the memories had come from. In this instance, with Scootaloo, it seems that, instead of their memories, it is their feelings and emotions that play off one another."

"So if Scootaloo was feelin' sad...whoever she's with would be sad too?" asked Applebloom. Celestia nodded.

"And if he was happy...Scootaloo would be too!" added Sweetie Belle.

Celestia smiled. "You're getting it."

Luna chimed in. "This would also explain why Scootaloo was sent there, of all places, as opposed to any other number of places in the universe. It is possible that their spirits were drawn towards one another by magics even we can barely comprehend."

At this, Twilight's eyes widened. "What do you mean by that? Surely of all ponies, you two would know about all kinds of magic."

Celestia said "We are aware of them but we aren't necessarily thoroughly educated on the topics."

Luna added "Because of the power of magic as a whole, and the diversity in which it can manifest itself, it is not possible to know and understand all kinds of magic. Even during my...confinement...I was unable to fully understand this type of magic, or else I would have recognized the situation immediately."

"With these types of situations, among others, we learn about the details involved as the situation unfolds. As my sister pointed out, it is simply not within our abilities to know and understand all of the magics in the universe. It is during times like these that we are reminded of just how vast and powerful the world around us is, and it can be humbling to remember that we are but mere specks in the grand scheme. We learn as we go, and record the facts so that somepony out there will remember history and hopefully avoid its repetition." finished Celestia.

There was a short pause, before Cheerilee burst out "Ok, but how do we get Scootaloo back? That's what this is all about, isn't it?"

"Yeah! Why couldn't you bring her back?" asked Sweetie Belle desperately.

"Sweetie Belle! Be polite, these are the Princesses we're talking to right now." Twilight scolded.

"It's alright," said Celestia softly. "They are concerned for their friend, and I would expect nothing less from you and the other elements of harmony if one of you were in Scootaloo's place right now." She turned her gaze towards Luna, who hastily cleared her throat.

"In the original story of Metropolis, the mare led the stallion to a realization, that he need not fear the future. I do not believe that Scootaloo needs to lead this man to that same exact realization, but it was the revelation itself that freed her spirit. It gave the man in the original story peace of mind to continue on with his life. If Scootaloo were to lead the present man to that state, maybe, just maybe, it would allow Scootaloo to return. I can monitor the situation and guide her home once her spirit his free, but I cannot yet take her away. It is beyond my power to bring objects from one universe to another. As you can see with Scootaloo, she is stuck and unable to return. When I went to visit, my physical body remained, although my astral body, the image that they saw, was able to communicate with them."

"But we don't know anything about this man! What could Scootaloo teach him that he himself couldn't learn on his own?" exclaimed Cheerilee.

"Unfortunately, that's the other part of the problem." said Luna. "Now, I should remind you all that these are merely theories, and I cannot prove their truth until evidence is provided for me to believe it as such, but this is what I have to go on. It is not enough for Scootaloo to merely provide clarity and peace of mind for the man. It must come about over a natural sequence of events, meaning I cannot guide Scootaloo at all. I cannot even tell her that this is her task. I cannot tell this man that Scootaloo must do this for him. They must learn on their own, and when the time comes, I will be watching, and I will be there to guide her home."

There was yet another stunned silence.

"So...there's not much of anything we can do then?" said Apple Bloom sadly.

Luna shook her head. Celestia said, "Although we cannot do anything for Scootaloo now, your love and support will always be desired. When we get Scootaloo back, we need to welcome her with open arms and much enthusiasm, so that she knows she was missed. That is all we can do, and I believe you girls are most certainly up to the task."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "We'll do our best! Whatever we can do to help Scootaloo, we'll do it!"

"Crusaders stick together!" added Apple Bloom.

Twilight and Cheerilee smiled. "You girls are the best friends that Scootaloo could ask for." said Cheerilee proudly. "You really do care for her. But for now, it's best that you both get some rest. I promise to let you know what's going on first thing in the morning."

"Ooookayyyy." said the fillies in unison.

"And because of the situation, I will allow you both to turn in your homework a little later than usual because of the circumstances." added Cheerilee. "I will meet with Scootaloo when she returns as well, and tell her the same thing. I don't think it's fair of me to expect that from you when you're both so preoccupied."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared a look of shock, and said "Really?!? Thanks Ms. Cheerilee!"

"It's no problem at all girls." said the teacher with a smile. "So get some rest, my little ponies. I'll see you in the morning."

"Shall I call Rarity and Applejack to take you both home?" asked Twilight.

Before either of them could respond, Celestia interrupted. "Actually, I was wondering if you would mind taking them home yourself, Twilight, and bring Spike along with you."

Everyone in the room turned and looked at the sun princess with a confused look. "Um, sure." said Twilight hesitantly.

"We'll take care of it, Princesses!" said Spike, adding a salute.

Twilight giggled. "As 'admirable' as your form was on the salute Spike, it didn't hide that yawn of yours very well." Spike looked sheepish, and Sweetie Belle giggled. "Off to bed with you, mister. It's been a long couple of days for you, sending letters rapidly across Equestria. You need your rest."

"But Twilight!" started Spike, but was quickly silenced by a look from the lavender pony. "Alright fine, you win this one, Twilight. I guess I am a little tired. Goodnight everypony."

"Goodnight Spike!" said everypony in unison.

As Spike slowly trudged upstairs, Twilight, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle waved goodbye and began to walk home. "I wonder why they didn't ask Ms. Cheerilee to take us home." wondered Sweetie Belle aloud. "I mean, it is YOUR house, Twilight."

"Actually, I was thinking the same thing, Sweetie Belle." said Twilight. "There must be a reason, but I guess the princesses' business isn't our business."

Back at the library, Cheerilee turned to the Princesses. "Well...it has been nice to see you both here in Ponyville, although of course I wish the circumstances were better."

"We as well." said Luna. "As nice as it is to meet our subjects face to face, when the pleasure is marred by the crisis at hand it makes one realize how little you know those around you."

Celestia nodded in agreement. "I'm sorry I haven't visited Ponyville more often, and I will make a note that I should do so more often. There always seems to be something going on in this small little town."

Cheerilee chuckled. "I suppose so."

"Ms. Cheerilee, before you go, may I ask you something?" said Luna.

Cheerilee replied "Of course! What can I help you with?"

Luna and Celestia shared a look, then turned back to the school teacher. "We'd like to know a little more about Scootaloo."