Crossing Over the Arcane Hiatus

Chapter 10: A Fictional Truth

Oh man, how the hell am I going to do this?

I asked myself that question countless times since I got back from the party. It was late in the evening and I was sitting on my bed in the library contemplating what to do. The Mane Six would be gathering here any minute now for my ‘announcement’ and I still had no idea how I was going to say their world wasn’t exactly real. Well it is, since I’m living in it right now. Maybe I could show them an episode of the show? I had the whole first season on my laptop after all. It could probably do a lot of the explaining for me, or at least provide evidence that I wasn’t crazy.

Let me piece everything together: so I’m in Equestria, a fictional yet real country with fictional yet real characters in a fictional yet real world. Alternate universe, maybe? Although they were just theory on Earth there was no concrete evidence debunking them either. So if there are alternate universes, does that prove the Multiverse theory? I crossed between one and landed in this one, so I guess so. I never really paid attention to astronomy. I’d love to look into the subject more on my laptop but there is no possible way for me to get a Wi-Fi connection. Maybe Twilight had books on the matter? Last time I checked there were only ones about the constellations and nearby star systems. Maybe I’m in the same universe, but a different galaxy? The chances of one world making a cartoon show about another planet’s civilization down the last detail without the two never coming into contact is incomprehensible. Is the government hiding something? Well, it always is, but did they leak the info to Hasbro so they could make a cartoon show? No, I’m just overthinking things again.

Still, I could just be in a coma. That would explain everything.

The first ones to come to the library were Rarity and Fluttershy; they both wanted to get here before the sun completely set. Twilight used her magic to turn a small chair into a circular table that now resided in the middle of the room, and I sat down on the floor at one end with my laptop sitting open on the table. I didn’t know she could turn one object into another like that. The table was maybe eight feet in diameter and made of the same wood as the chair was. Rarity and Twilight were making small talk at the opposite end and I saw Fluttershy looking over at me puzzled.

“What is that?” She pointed to the laptop.

“A computer.”

“Oh… Like your phone?”

“Yeah, except it’s bigger and can do more things.”

“Oh.” Fluttershy walked up and sat next to me inspecting the laptop. She started fiddling with the screen and accidently closed it.

“Oh my!” I-I’m so s-sorry!” She started to tear up.

D’aww…

“It’s perfectly fine, you didn’t break it. It’s supposed to do that.” I opened and closed it repeatedly to show her it was still in one piece and she took a deep sigh of relief.

“So how long is this supposed to take?” Rarity asked, “I should be catching up on my beauty sleep, and I have a lot of orders to complete.”

“I can’t imagine it taking more than an hour, Rarity.” I told her. Rarity just pouted and threw her head down on the table with a loud bang.

“Oww…” She moaned. Fluttershy got up and sat down next to her stroking her back right when there was another knock on the door. Twilight got up to answer it and returned with Applejack and Pinkie Pie, who sat down next to Rarity and Fluttershy respectively.

“So exactly what is it ya want to show us?” Applejack turned to me and I opened the laptop back up trying to hide behind the screen.

“Not yet Applejack,” Twilight said, “We’re still waiting for Rainbow Dash.”

“Then ah guess we’ll be here all night.” Applejack moaned and set her head down on the table too.

“Oh what IS that?” Pinkie Pie jumped up onto the wooden surface and leaned over me to look at the screen.

“It looks like that other rectangle thingy but it’s bigger and has another rectangle thingy with rectangle buttons all over it!” She excitingly smashed her hoof down on the keyboard. “What’d that do?”

“Nothing. And if you keep doing that you could break it,” I pulled the laptop away and her ears went flat.

“Oh. Sorry!” She cautiously stepped back and jumped backwards off the table, landing behind Twilight and startling Fluttershy.

“So where is Dashie? I thought she’d get here before we did.”

“Really?” Applejack brought her back up sternly staring at Pinkie Pie who slowly backed away and behind Fluttershy.

“Sorry I’m late!” Rainbow Dash burst through the door and ran up to the table, skidding to a stop and slamming into Applejack.

“Sorry I’m late!” She repeated. “I got caught up doing something… important…”

“Sleepin’?” Applejack scoffed. “We should all be doin’ that right now after that party.”

“Sorry girls,” Twilight began, “but Chris said it was really important, so I thought it couldn’t wait. And now that we’re all here, we can begin!” Twilight brought out that black book again and set down on the table.

“Hey wait, where’s Spike?” Pinkie Pie spoke out.

“Out gathering gemstones.” Twilight answered, “I don’t think Chris would want him here for this anyway.”

“Alright, now do begin.” Rarity said bringing her head up. The whole room now looked at me, and I slid out from behind the monitor. I took a deep breath and sat up.

“Might as well get this over with. I’m not quite sure where to begin, so I might as well say it;” I started off. By their blank faces, I'd say so far so good.

“You’re world isn’t… mine is…” I hesitated, a cold sweat running down my neck. “Erm…”

“Dang it Chris, spit it out!” Applejack got up but quickly sat back down, hiding her face shamefully under her hat. “Sorry…”

“Come on Chris, just say it. It can’t be that bad.” Twilight tried covering for her friend.

“Alright, here it is. Your world isn’t exactly 'real'.”

The room fell into an awkward silence. There were numerous glances between each other from all of us with some form of nonverbal communication. Twilight had that black book open in front of her and went to write what I said down, but decided against it and lowered the quill. A few more seconds of silence passed before Rainbow Dash busted out laughing.

“Not real? I’m pretty sure I’m real.” She brought a hoof up and pounded on her chest. “I’m pretty sure you’re real too. And so is Applejack and all of us. This floor too.” She stomped her hoof back down on the floor.

“Chris, you called us all down for this?”

“Wait a second, let me rephrase that.” I cleared my throat and started again, “You’re world is real, but in my world it exists as a cartoon show, or rather it's fictional.”

I should have expected them all to start laughing. Even Fluttershy tried to hide back a smile but couldn’t. Twilight and Fluttershy tried to calm themselves and the others fell to the floor. Applejack got back up and threw herself down on the table.

“Ya really expect us to believe that? That yer not of this world and ours is fake?”

“Wait, what’s a cartoon?” Pinkie Pie immediately stopped laughing and stood back up. Rarity and Rainbow Dash took a bit longer, but they calmed down too eventually.

“A cartoon is basically the same thing as a comic, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight told her. Pinkie Pie took a minute to absorb this and put it into context, only to fall over laughing again.

“You sure you’re not a wee bit tipsy still, Chris?” Rainbow Dash sarcastically spoke.

“No, I’m being serious. I can prove it.” I was about to open up an episode on my laptop but Rarity interrupted,

“Then prove it. Tell us something about ourselves that we wouldn’t have told you.”

“Alright, I can do that too...” I moved the computer aside and cleared my throat again.

“Pinkie Pie, you once thought all your friends abandoned you causing you to have a bit of a meltdown. Twilight has a toy doll named Smarty Pants and Rarity has a crush on Prince Blueblood. Applejack, you can be a bit too prideful at times and end up only hurting yourself. Fluttershy, you once went into an extreme fit of rage at the Grand Galloping Gala. And Rainbow Dash had successfully pulled off a sonic rainboom only twice in her life, once when she was a filly and more recently at a competition in Cloudsdale. Also, you six are the physical representations of the Elements of Harmony; Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty, Magic, Honesty, and Generosity.”

The room went quiet and stayed quiet for a while. There were many exchanges between the mares, before Twilight spoke up.

“Alright, so you know some things about us. It doesn’t prove anything. Somepony could’ve told you all that.”

“That’s why I have the show on my computer. I’d like to show you all an episode to prove myself.” I started up the first episode and turned the laptop around so they could all see, and I moved over to their side of the table to watch as well.

”Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land..."

“Alright, so ya got some fancy movin’ pictures.”

“Shh…”

”My Little Pony, My Little Pony, ahh ahh ahh ahhh…"

(My Little Pony)

"I used to wonder what friendship could be"

(My Little Pony)

"Until you all shared its magic with me...”

Twilight looked repulsed. “Was that… me? My voice…?”

The others were more in confusion if anything. Rarity looked at me and I shrugged. As the introduction rolled, they more so became horrified or repulsed as to what they were seeing. Personally I don’t blame them; I don’t like the intro either.

”…There you are, Twilight. Moondancer is having a little get-together in the west side castle courtyard. You wanna come?”

“Oh, sorry girls. I got a lot of studying to catch up on.”

“Does that pony do anything but study?...”

Twilight blushed and sunk back a bit muttering something under her breath. Fluttershy looked down and tried to comfort her, but her attention was quickly drawn back to the screen.

”…Soup’s on everypony! Now why don’t ah introduce y’all to the Apple family?”

“Thanks, but I really need to hurry…”

No real change in their facial expressions, but Applejack stifled a laugh behind her frozen glare. They were all wide-eyed and sat in stony silence. Applejack lifted up a leg during the part where she introduces her family, looked at her hoof and poked Rainbow Dash.

“…Hm… There’s supposed to me a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds.”

“Well, she’s not doing a very good job, is she?”

*crash*

“Uh, excuse me. Let me help you… Oops…”

Twilight grunted and Rainbow Dash blushed sheepishly trying to hold back a smile. Oddly she laughed and fell to the floor in unison with her onscreen self.

”…Oh, you mean my mane? Well, it’s a long story. I’m just here to check on the decorations and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Out of my hair? What about your hair?...”

“That’s… me.” Rarity looked down and mumbled something before bringing her head back up.

”…Oh my. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten your birds. I’m just here to check up on the music and it’s sounding beautiful. I’m Twilight Sparkle. What’s your name?”

“Um… I’m Fluttershy.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?...”

Fluttershy, embarrassed, sunk down hiding under the table. Twilight looked at her, sighed and went back to watching the show. Fluttershy brought herself back up a few minutes later.

Surprise! Hi. I’m Pinkie Pie and I threw this party just for you. Were you surprised, were you, were you? Huh huh huh?”

“Very surprised. Libraries are supposed to be quiet.”

Pinkie Pie giggled and playfully leaned on Twilight. “Ah, that was a fun party.” She whispered in Twilight’s ear.

“…This can’t be good.”

“Remain calm, everypony. There must be a reasonable explanation.”

“Ooh! Ooh! I love guessing games. Is she hiding?...”

Pinkie Pie looked around and Applejack shot her a confused look. Pinkie Pie shrugged and motioned for her to be quiet.

“…Does my crown no longer count, now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?”

“I did, and I know who you are. You’re the Mare in the Moon. Nightmare Moon.

“Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I’m here.

“You’re here to… to…”

“Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!...”

The credits just finished. The room was so dead quiet you could hear everyone’s individual heartbeats; some pumping faster than others. Twilight still had the book open and she looked down to it, closing it; she hadn’t written anything. The six of them, still wide-eyed (I don’t think they blinked once watching that) slowly turned their heads to face me. I was sitting off to the side and stared back at them with the greatest poker face I could manage. I slowly slid over to my laptop and closed it.

“And that’s just one episode. There’s a whole season and a second one was supposed to air soon.”

They still haven’t broken eye contact yet. Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie patted themselves on the chest one after the other to make sure they were in fact solid. Applejack was the first to break the silence,

“So…” she began.

“We’re… not real?” Fluttershy finished her sentence.

“No, you’re real! I’m real, I’m here talking to you guys, you’re talking to me. Living, breathing…”

Twilight slipped out of her trance and looked at the closed laptop.

“So… in your world, we’re just characters in this cartoon show… but our world is real…” the gears were grinding in her head and the words tumbled out of her mouth. “…How many episodes are there?”

“Twenty-six."

They seem to be taking this better than I could’ve hoped for.

“And you watch this why?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Uh… about that… the show has a… unique… fanbase,” I began, “While the show was probably intended for little kids no older then twelve, it has actually gotten very popular with those up to the age of forty… most of them male…”

None of them took that news well. Fluttershy was, well, flustered. Rarity looked disgusted and to Pinkie Pie what I said seemed to have gone in one ear and out the other. Twilight and Applejack were still processing the information and Rainbow Dash looked absolutely horrified.

“You mean…” the pegasus tried to say, “there are guys twice your age, who watch US go about our daily lives!?”

“Yeah, but there’s no harm by it! They love the show, they love you guys, they love the… plot… a lot of them just think it is a really awesome and funny show! That’s why…” I cut myself off. I don’t think they wanted me to go into any more detail.

“These… fans…” Rarity hesitated, “What are they like? What do they… do?”

Oh god I don’t know how to say.

“It’s… really complex. There are some… fan made fictional stories about a lot of the ponies here in Equestria, and not all of them are that pleasant. I can tell you later if you want.”

“Don’t worry,” Twilight reopened the book, “we have all night.”

Two hours later I had finished explaining everything I knew about Bronies, fan fictions, the community, fan art, haters, and the development team behind the show. They wanted to see more of the show, so I let it play for them and they watched the next few episodes. Spike returned in the midst of it but avoided us all and went to bed. The whole time Twilight was burning through the book writing down everything I said previously furiously trying to catch up.

Episode five just finished (the one with Gilda) and it was decided they had enough and needed to get to sleep. After all they hadn’t slept well last night either and it was just after midnight now.

“That sure is an eye opener.” Rarity said. “Goodnight everypony. I guess we’ll see each other again tomorrow then?”

“Yeah, but ah need some sleep. Why don’t we meet up here again after lunch?”

“I’m fine with that, you girls head off. I’m going to bed soon too.”

“Hey Pinkie Pie, sorry Gilda treated you like that. If I had known I would have stopped her sooner.”

“Don’t take it personally Dashie.” The pink mare yawned. ”You’re not responsible for the actions of others.”

“Okay, well… uh… good night everypony, and Chris.”

The door closed and they were gone, leaving me and Twilight alone the library.

“AGH!” I don’t know why I screamed or why I smashed my head against the table. I hit it so hard it shook and turned back into the tiny chair it was before with my laptop landing neatly in my lap.

“So Chris,” Twilight shifted towards me, “That was… interesting. So my world exists as this cartoon show in yours, and there's only one explanation I can think of. Although that is just a theory, it does kind of make sense. The scientists back in Canterlot would know more about this stuff than I do.”

She pondered, looking up to ceiling in deep thought. Her gaze slowly lowered the open book in front of her she had almost completely burned through. “I should get this book to those scholars immediately!”

“Well, it is getting late.” I protested. “Why don’t you deliver it tomorrow? Or do you have a spell that can transport books?”

“I have spells that can teleport myself, although I can’t use it over great distances. Spike usually sends my letters to Princess Celestia, but he’s ever sent a whole book before. I’m not even sure if it would survive!”

“Then I guess you’ll have to deliver it yourself.”

“Yeah, I guess so. So are you going to bed then?”

“Yeah. I’m getting tired. Good night.”

Everything went better than expected, I guess. I’m not hated, I don’t think, and there were no violent uprisings either so I’ll call it a win. Tomorrow should be interesting.