Brenda's Big Adventure

-------------------- Michael's Point of View ---------------------

I woke up on Sunday and once again Brenda had not returned. I decided I was going to test a hypothesis. I took a shower and got dressed in some of my best civilian clothes. I decided to see if the car could take me to Ponyville and if I could get some answers from Twilight herself or Princess Celestia -- provided, of course, I made it to the right universe. I figured if I couldn't find her, at the very least I could check up on things. I had no idea how much magic energy it would take from the batteries to make the jump across the dimensional barrier separating Earth from Equestria, but I figured if nothing else, I could drive some distance to recharge the batteries, or better yet, get Twilight to use her magic to recharge them. I decided to get something to eat and drink before making the trip -- didn't want to be going there on an empty stomach. I decided to take a jacket and knit cap just in case the weather might be a little uncooperative in Ponyville.

"Good Morning, Michael! Where are we going today?" asked TS in her cheery voice.

"Ponyville, in front of Twilight's house, if I figure correctly," I said.

"Acquiring destination. Destination target acquired. Preparing to teleport, Golden Oaks Library, Ponyville, Equestria. I hope you are prepared, Michael," TS said rather flatly.

"I hope they're prepared for me. I also hope this is the correct universe I'm traveling to."

"With any luck, Michael, it should be the correct one." The car started glowing with a magenta colored aura, then everything flashed white for a split-second. I felt my body blink out of existence for that split-second then return as the car successfully made the jump to Ponyville. The car was facing the tree, the engine still running. I hadn't even put the car in gear and it made the jump. I could feel many pairs of eyes staring at this sight. Twilight came out the front door of her house to see what all the commotion was about.

"Magic battery level, 43 per cent," came TS's not-so-cheery voice.

"Twilight's here, maybe she can recharge them for you," I offered.

Twilight teleported onto the hood of the car. I turned off the ignition. "See you later, Michael," TS said as the car turned off. Twilight stared at me, her gaze never leaving mine. She appeared to be saying something, but I couldn't quite make it out. I exited the car to see what was going on. She backed away, slightly frightened by my size.

"Relax, Twilight, I'm not going to hurt you -- I'm just here to see if my wife has been here," I offered.

"What -- what -- what are you? What is this -- thing -- sitting in front of my house?"

"This is my automobile, Twilight, and it teleported me from my home world to this world."

She stood in stunned silence, mouth open. It took her a couple of minutes to regain some composure. "You -- this -- thing -- crossed a dimensional barrier?" I grinned at her confusion.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it? By the way, do you think you could do me a favor and recharge the magic batteries in the car? I drained about 57 per cent of their capacity with just the one jump -- recharging them will allow me to return to my home world."

"Magic batteries? Who are you? Where did you come from? How do you know my name? And why does this 'automobile' have MY cutie mark on it?"

"That's a bunch of questions there, Twilight. To keep it short, my name is Michael, I came from the planet Earth, the car has your cutie mark on it because about a week ago, I woke up in your body and imbued my car with magic, with one of the side effects being the subtle touches adorning the vehicle. The car has magic batteries allowing it to teleport as well as do various and sundry other things. If you choose not to recharge them for me, I will have to drive the car some distance in order to manually recharge those batteries."

"How does this thing work? And you still haven't told me how it is you know my name." She glared at me, but with a somewhat puzzled look on her face as well.

"It's a long story, one I don't feel like telling you right now. I am looking for a dark-skinned female human, a little shorter than me -- she is my wife, and I just wanted to know if you might have seen her. If not, perhaps you might be able to contact Princess Celestia for me -- oh wait, my car can do that. Give me a moment, please."

Twilight grew very excited and started asking so many questions so quickly I couldn't keep track of what she asked. I got back into the car and turned it on, rolling down the windows. Fortunately, the weather was very nice in Ponyville today, thank Celestia. I asked the car to contact the Princess. The car did so for me.

"Princess Celestia, I need to know something, and I apologize for my intrusion -- have you seen my wife?"

"To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking? I had no idea that this channel of communication existed!"

"Princess Celestia, my name is Michael Walker -- I am a human from a planet called Earth, and I have traveled across a dimensional barrier in search of my wife, who disappeared about 4 days ago or so."

"I have traced your location as that of Twilight's library -- I will be there shortly." the words had barely come out of the speakers when a flash of light and a golden POP signaled the arrival of the Princess. She appeared about five feet to my left. Her immediate reaction was one of great surprise at seeing me in the car. I rolled up the windows and turned off the car and exited it so I could greet the Princess properly.

"I was hoping you'd come, Princess. My car here is the device I used in order to travel across --"

"You do not have the right to address me as that, Michael."

"Begging your pardon, your Majesty,"

"You must return to your home world at once."

"Your Majesty, the car's magic batteries need recharging before I can make that return trip."

"Very well then, Michael, I shall do that for you now. You must immediately return to your home world after I have done this for you."

"What about my wife?"

"Does she look something like you?"

"She is dark-skinned, about four inches shorter than me -- her name's Brenda."

"She has not been here, Michael. I have recharged the magic batteries for you -- so please leave. NOW."

I bowed my head to the Princess, returning to the interior of my car, turning it on again.

"Magic battery level, 100 per cent. Good morning, Michael, where are we going today?"

"We are going home, TS, that's where. Thanks for your help, your Majesty -- please let me know if you see my wife."

"Princess Celestia is here?" came TS's cheery voice.

"She is very upset with me, TS -- we need to go now."

"Preparing to teleport, home, Earth." The car glowed magenta once again, and disappeared with a blinding flash of light, reappearing in the driveway in front of our house.

"That was rather fruitless," I muttered.

"Magic battery level, 44 per cent. Required driving distance for full recharge, 184 miles."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll get on it shortly."

---------------------------- Back in Ponyville ----------------

"What was that all about?" Twilight asked.

"So he's looking for his wife. I hope he does not return -- he will prove to be a bad influence, Twilight. You should not be so inquisitive in the affairs of humans -- I suggest you forget you even saw him or his device."

"There was so much I wanted to learn from him -- and how it was that his car had my cutie mark on it."

"Well, I suggest you not dwell on it any further, Twilight." The Princess then teleported back to the castle at that point.