Becoming Human

Chapters

Becoming Human
Missing
Adapt
Luna
Mirror Images
Discord
Return of Celestia

Becoming Human

Becoming Human

It had been a long week for Twilight, and an even longer two weeks ever since her coronation. Waking up on this particular day in the Canterlot Palace, was something she didn’t want to do, despite her diligence that didn’t mean there were days when Twilight just wanted to do nothing else than just sleep in her own comfortable bed. This was not meant to be however, she had to get up, and she had to attend to her duties of becoming a new Princess and Alicorn, not to mention she didn’t have everything figured out in that aspect either.

So with a slight groan as she woke up, still trying to become fully awake. Perhaps it was due to this fact, of her lack of coherence, she failed to recognize her direct change of setting, leaving her to fall flat onto her face while trying to get out of bed. Did I just fall off my bed and onto my face? Twilight asked herself with another tired groan Why does everything feel flatter... She wondered while pushing herself up, crawling forward in order to get her legs off of the bed, due to the fact of them being tangled around the blankets.

She was beginning to wake up a little faster, now noticing the oddities around her, or to be more specific, her own body. What is wrong with my legs... She paused a moment at that thought briefly. Legs... not hooves? Why would I think legs... Also my arms and hands seem to be slimmer and longer, and my fingers... wait a tick, hands... arm... elbows... fingers?

Twilight’s eyes shot wide open, as she sat straight up on instinct, instead of standing up as she normally would. Looking down at her hands while she blinked several times. “No, no, no, this isn’t right... wait horn, do I still have my horn?” She brought her hands up to her face feeling a flatter face, the face of something that wasn’t an equine.

She felt her entire face in slight panic trying to find out if anything else was missing. “No horns... mirror, I need a mirror,” she said, suddenly feeling the shift in her body mass and weight. Especially on her back, as her new wings also had shifted in weight as well. Twilight had never been particularly vain, she did however have this undying need to figure out things beyond her understanding or knowledge, and when said things pertained to her well... wouldn’t you want to see what’s happened to you?

Despite her own typical tendencies in falling into modes of unreasonable panic, or moments of brief insanity, and of course the occasional flare up here and there, this was not the time to be losing her mind, though that wasn’t to say it wasn’t awfully tempting to do so. Freaking out would solve nothing, even if her mind entered into a realm of chaos that Discord would love swimming in. She needed to go about this as calmly as she could, which meant to analyze and research everything that had happened to her.

Unfortunately this meant she needed to get to a mirror. It also meant walking, with a set of limbs she’s never used before. So needless to say, balance at this particular moment in time, wasn’t Twilights best foray. Nonetheless in her new body, she couldn’t help but stumble and crash into things, much like a baby learning how to walk.

This did not bode her well, as she soon found that she got injured more easily now. Which, at these painful moments, only made her want to yell strange obscenities. Before finally reaching the cupboard that held the mirror, more or less intact. Just when she thought, the worst was over. Only too once again crash, as her body continued to adapt to her new form.

That is to say crash head first into the cupboard with a loud THUD which caused tears to swell up in her eyes as she held her head. “Sweet Celestia oooowww…” As she fought back her tears, she brought her other hand up to the top of the cupboard as her fingers gripped the edges slightly, which allowed Twilight to pull herself up to look in the mirror.

Upon her looking into the mirror, she found her entire face and structure to be completely different. How odd… She thought to herself as she brought her hand up to her face feeling it. Smooth… no fur except on the top of my head, but I suppose that’s to be normal no matter what the form. A slight pause Wait no, that’s hair, not fur… She let out a slight sigh, as she furrowed her brow.

I can’t see myself very clearly… she frowned slightly, looking around, This place has a larger mirror somewhere… now where was it again? Twilight couldn’t make a full assessment of what she was just yet, even though she was beginning to have suspicions. After looking around her entire room, her eyes finally met their mark.

While she appeared to be calm, the truth of the matter was she was barely in control of herself. Ok deep breaths, don’t freak out, don’t freak out… you just need to see how the rest of your body looks. After all it can’t be that bad… can it? Twilight asked herself as she went toward the mirror.

One glance into the larger mirror, almost caused Twilight to break down, before she turned herself around quickly. Ok, deep breath Twilight, you can do this. She told herself as she inhaled as much air as she could before exhaling, repeating the process several times before she managed to calm herself down. At least that’s what she had thought, before a twitch appeared on her face.

Ok, keep it together Twilight, sure you’ve become… entirely different, but it’s not like you haven’t faced stranger… right? She told herself as she found herself beginning to pace. I say that, but nothing like this has ever happened in Equestria, I mean not even Discord altered our bodies. She continued to pace as she chewed her lips slightly. And then there’s this fact of walking on two legs instead of four, and… and… She paused for a moment. And it seems walking on two legs has become natural… huh… convenient.

Alright keep it together Twilight, all you need to do is, turn around and study yourself… Turning around, yeah easier said than done as her body seemed to fight what her mind wanted, it to do. That was if it truly was something she wanted to do… Ok deep breaths Twilight, just relax, and view it as a new problem. She told herself as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and from there summoned up her courage as she turned around to look at herself more closely.

Now that she could see her entire body, she realized just how naked she was, staring at herself a long while, before instinctively pulling her wings around her so as to cover herself up. She felt her face heat up as it turn red in the mirror. “Strange, I shouldn’t be embarrassed about this . . . should I?”

This was all rather strange to her, despite that however, she did have a fairly healthy physique she noticed. Get it together Twilight this is just a new body and you’re alone in the room, it will get you nowhere if you freeze up like this. After all examining the working of this new body is the first step to figuring out what else you can do. She reprimanded herself.

The legs, arms, hands, and fingers, were all quite easy to figure out, as she practiced the movement of each as well as the use for hands and fingers. Octavia, Lyra, Vinyl, and other musicians are going to be quite happy about this I believe. Twilight began as she had already opened up a new notebook, she had many of them but this one would eventually be titled Workings of the Human Anatomy. Mostly due to, I believe the delicate and adverse intricate abilities in their movements, that should allow them to play their instruments more effectively.

Whether or not there is same type of effect for others, is yet to be seen, I however, can say that is a lot more fun writing with my hand. Though it did take me a little while to get the hang of it… but it’s going to be nicer doing it this way than with the mouth, or with magic for that matter.

Twilight placed the pen down slightly as she looked back up at herself in the mirror. Deciding to risk it eventually, she ran her hands across her skin first her head, down to her neck, shoulders, followed by the arms. From there she went onto the thighs and the legs. Lastly she decided to now focus on the center of her body as she ran her hands across it, causing her to gasp and moan in certain places, not to mention shiver the occasional time.

Clearing her throat and her thoughts back into the analytical, logical side of her mind, she went back to her notes. It would seem upon examining further… that our bodies as they are now, are simply more sensitive… especially in erm . . . Three or four particular areas, not a bad sensitivity mind you. Twilight let out a slight wistful sigh before getting back to writing in the notes. It did feel rather good after all, just a bit strange, and a little frightening at first, this is after all a new body that we are dealing with. It now falls on me to focus on the last part of the physical examination, which are the wings.

With that Twilight looked back at herself, as she opened up her wings, as a slight movement and sound of wind coursed through the room. She turned the tips of them any which way she could, though they only could do flexible forward motions and not backwards. Nothing really changed there, though she did discover that they could now wrap around her entire body quite nicely.

Lastly she went onto touching the tips edges and feathers, which at first caused her to shiver, then shake and at one point she let out something of a mix between a squeal and a moan. Before collapsing on the ground shaking in what she recognized as bliss, once it was over, she managed to pull herself up barely. Breathing slightly heavily she wrote once again. I have discovered that my wings in particular, can’t say anything about the others, but my wings, seem to now be hypersensitive to physical touch that is beyond air. I can only say that, I feel slightly dirty about this, but also know should anyone discover this, I would but fall into their clutches… and that is a little frightening.

Twilight took a deep breath, calming herself down, before entering a new entry simply known as magic. It is here now that I have discovered the workings of my body that I must now find if magic is available to us in this form. Sure we may be able to live without it, but it would still be sad for us all if it just disappeared. Not wanting to cause too much collateral damage, Twilight moved to the center of the room before closing her eyes and focusing, mainly on magic. It was at this point Twilight felt herself in the center of unlimited raw energy waiting to be harvested and used.

A simple tap into this wellspring of energy, caused Twilights body to levitate, and shine like a bright star before bursting out in all different directions. Twilight found herself on her hands and knees after she had collapsed, laughing, nearing the state of hysteria.

“What… what was that?” She asked herself still in a slight daze. “So much energy… so much power, I could do so much with that kind of magical energy at my disposal.” She let out an unnerving laugh. “One could even become-” A flash of Sombra appeared in her mind. “-Corrupt…” She finished quietly.

Calming herself down once again, she turned the page in her notes and began writing once again. My writing is slowly getting better I find, likely an after effect as well, but that isn’t the purpose of this entry. I haven’t quite yet gotten a grasp on handling magic in this form, and tests have proven to be… inconclusive thus far. Perhaps if I had something to concentrate on, I could handle it better, which makes me believe that the horns for unicorns are a type of filter as it was. Now that this has come to mind I wonder if…

The first thing Twilight decided to focus on was telekinesis, looking toward a book, she began to channel the energy through a pathway. There were many places she could send it, but at the moment she decided to use her eyes, which in turn started to glow as magical energy started to seep out of them like smoke. It was a success as the book levitated off from the shelf toward her. Taking the book, she cut off the connection to the magic allowing her eyes go back to normal.

I believe. Twilight began to write after the experiment. That my theory on needing a filter is correct, if it is not directed through a certain pathway and channels, it simply becomes overpowering. She once again set the pen down, letting out a yawn she began to wonder how her friends were faring and if they too had also been affected.

In her friends quarters, Pinkie pie was the first to wake up, and the first to notice the change. Applejack would be up shortly herself, as both her and Pinkies job required them to be up early. In a typical day it would go between Pinkie Pie and Applejack to be the first two to be up, followed by Fluttershy who would be woken up by the animals, then it would fall upon either Rarity or Twilight as the next two who would wake up, and lastly but not surprisingly Rainbow Dash who would always sleep the latest.

This was however, not what one could call a normal day, as Pinkie Pie took it upon herself to wake everyone up. “Hey everyone wake up! Oh right you might want to watch your step too, and it might be a good idea not to scream either… or you know… freak out. Freaking out is definitely not something you want to do right now… or maybe it is, hmmm…” She said while ending up with a contemplative look on her face at the end.

“Pinkie Pie what in the hay are you goin’ on about?” Applejack asked as she opened her eyes looking at Pinkie Pie. She blinked several times noticing the change in Pinkie Pie. “What in the sweet name of Celestia happened t’ you?”

Pinkie giggled slightly. “Why the same thing that happened to you silly.”

“What do ya mean the same thing that happened t’ me?” Applejack asked as she sat up. It was then reality came crashing down on Applejack, “no… no way no how this is happening, this is just a bad dream… yeah that’s it a bad dream…”

Pinkie thought for a moment, as she tapped her cheek three times with her finger, “Nope, it’s not a dream, but if it helps I could pinch you? Besides how would you even know to dream about, this… in the first place? Have you seen this figure somewhere before? I’d think it would be kind of strange if you had, unless you’ve been talking to Lyra…” Pinkie peered closer at Applejack. “Have you been talking to Lyra?”

Applejack blinked. “Uh… no I haven’t been speaking to Lyra sold her some apples though...” Which wasn’t saying much, considering that Applejack had likely sold apples to everyone in Ponyville. “This is really happening isn’t it? An’ ya wouldn’ happen t’ know what caused this to happen would ya?”

“No clue!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed a little more cheerfully than she should have.

“Ah didn’t think so, worth a shot though,” Applejack said with a sigh.

“Yuppers, oh you’re going to want to try and walk, but don’t worry you’ll likely fall the first few times. Not to worry the floor will catch you…” Pinkie said pulling Applejack up before she had anytime to protest.

“Whoa nelly.” Was all Applejack managed to say as she immediately began to stumble, and then of course promptly fall thereafter. “Pinkie!” was naturally the next thing that came out of her mouth.

“Whaaaaat? You needed to get up!” Pinkie Pie said obliviously innocently.

“Ya coulda warned me!” Applejack said as she began to pick herself up off the ground before beginning to wobble, and trying to balance herself on two feet.

“I did!” Pinkie paused, tilting her head slightly. “I think…”

“What on earth are you ladies going on about?” Rarity finally asked when she opened up her eyes, upon seeing the change in everyone's bodies she simply said. “Oh… dear.” Then promptly fainted.

“No ya didn’t besides ya coulda helped me a little more…” Applejack paused as she noticed Rarity faint. “On second thought, maybe ya should go an’ bring her back t’ her senses.”

“Hey what about me?!” Rainbow Dash asked, “I need help too!” She said as she found herself collide with the ceiling, and then promptly going randomly around the room. “I get up, my entire balance is off, and now my wings aren’t doing what I want!” Noticing the oncoming collision with Applejack she winced slightly before yelling. “AJ watch out!”

“Huh what?” Applejack didn’t have time to react, before she noticed Rainbow Dash on a straight colliding course toward her. “Oh fiddlesticks.” Was all she managed to utter before Dash collided into her with a resounding thud.

The crash caused both of them to become delightfully tangled with each other. Luckily they weren’t too badly injured, though the position they were in would remind one of a game of twister gone awry. After the appropriate groan and moan of slight pain, they both recovered enough to try and untangle themselves. Which was a feat of it’s own, seeing as how both of them were new to these new selves of theirs.

“Ah hahaha…” Dash laughed slightly embarrassed. “Well… this is…”

“Awkward?” Applejack finished for her.

Pinkie in the meantime had managed to find some of Rarities more… potent smelling salts. Of which she held up to Rarity's nose to help her recover from her fainting spell. Stirring a bit Rarity started regain consciousness before beginning to open her eyes rubbing them slightly.

“My word, I just had the strangest dream… or was it a nightmare? Anyway…” she blinked a few times, coming to fully now looking at Pinkie, before looking toward the others. “And none of that was a dream was it? Lovely… well I guess it can’t be helped now can it?” The question was more rhetoric than anything else, as she stood up. “A Lady must remain poised no matter what may happen to her,” she said before finding herself falling over.

“Careful!” Pinkie Pie tried to warn her, but she was too late.

Finding herself on the floor Rarity let out a small, "Hmph," followed by, “this is most certainly unbecoming of a Lady! And the floors cold, and I think I hurt myself.” She whined slightly, before her eyes caught the tangled forms of Applejack and RD once again. “By the way what happened to them?”

“Oh they had a biiiiig crash and totally got themselves into a tangled mess!” Pinkie exclaimed in that same, hyperactive slightly airheaded self of hers, “I should probably go and help them now too…” With that, she was at their side before Rarity could blink.

Looking them over, and ignoring their protests Pinkie Pie began to untangle Rainbow Dash and Applejack, “Hmmm lets see… this leg goes here, and this wing over there…” she began as she moved the appropriate body parts, “and this arm goes here, and that leg over that arm and… done!” she said jumping up after moving the last tangled body part.

“Ah swear… ifn’ ya spread a single word about this Ah’ll-” Applejack began once she was back up standing, a little traumatized by the entire situation.

“Hey I’m not too thrilled about this either, I won’t spread a single word,” Dash said cutting AJ off before she could continue, still feeling a little awkward about what had just happened herself.

“Ahem… While we can all agree, to… never speak of what was done and witnessed ever again.” Rarity coughed a bit, “I can’t help but notice that Fluttershy isn’t out of bed yet…”

“I bet she’s just hiding, she would in this kind of situation,” Dash said as she began to experiment once again with her wings.

A soft “Eep.” Came from Fluttershys bed as she curled up under the covers even more, “This isn’t happening, I’m not some strange unknown creature, and, and, I’m staying in here until it’s all over.”

“Oh come on it’s not that bad! No one is going to judge you or anything,” Dash said as she rolled her eyes. She then paused a moment or two thinking upon this. “Well maybe it is, I dunno… but we still won’t judge you.”

“No, I’m not coming out it’s too embarrassing, especially… especially these!” Fluttershy said with a slight whimper

“Fluttershy dear, whatever is the matter? Besides of course, us all being changed into something different.” Rarity asked gently, as she tried to figure out how to get up and walk.

“They’re… they’re… so big!” Fluttershy whimpered.

“What’s so big?” Rainbow Dash asked impatiently, as she hovered over to Flutterhshys bed. Noticing something, she looked down at herself, “Ha! It’s working! I can use my wings again! Yes!”

“Well... um…” There was a fidget under the blankets.

“Oh for the love of… we don’t have time for this! If we had to deal with our strange bodies then so do you, even if we have to help you with it!” And with that being said, Dash pulled the blanket off of Fluttershy revealing her form.

Another soft “eep” was heard as Fluttershy instinctively tried to hide her form.

It was at that moment when realization dawned on Rainbow Dash as she looked at Fluttershy, “Eh?” Then looked at the others one by one, “eh?” And finally down at herself, “EH?! Oh come on this isn’t fair! Why am I the smallest?!”

“Is that really the most important thing to be focusin’ on right now?” Applejack asked with an arched eyebrow.

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment, “I guess not… but it’s still unfair I mean why am I the smallest?”

“It’s ok Dashie, it doesn’t matter if you’re big or small it makes no difference on who you are. After all, we’ll all love you anyway,” Pinkie Pie said as she was currently having fun jiggling her breasts, before further going onto random acrobatic feats.

“Easy for you to say, yours are just as big as Applejacks.” Rainbow Dash retorted. “Also how-”

She was going to ask how Pinkie Pie was able to do all she did, before Pinkie pie cut her off by saying. “I dunno, I guess instinct? I just follow the movement of my body.”

Which of course didn’t explain anything, but could one really be surprised by this considering who it was? It did make a certain amount of sense, but the methods were still a mystery. From here, much like Twilight had, they all began to find themselves adapting to their new form rather quickly. Some could say that it took the same amount of time it took for Twilight to figure it all out herself, others could say longer, and some could say shorter, but none of that really mattered.

Eventually Rarity figured out how to use magic as her fingers glowed and started to gather her materials for the clothes, as what some could call small magical threads extended from her fingertips to those items. It wasn’t long before she had her sewing machines set up, clothes floating through the air with the use of the movement of one hand, and thread with the use of the other.

“Are ya really sure this is the best time to be making clothes?” Applejack asked as she looked toward Rarity.

Rarity looked over at Applejack and simply chuckled, “Why Applejack, this is exactly the right time to be making clothes. After all we simply can’t be going out there like this, it’s cold, and simply undignified, to be seen naked just as we are.”

“You know we were naked as Ponies right?” Rainbow Dash asked in a slight sarcastic tone of voice.

“Oh but that was different, we had fur, which mostly covered us, imagine yourselves without fur and only skin, and that’s what we are at the moment.” Rarity motioned her hand slightly, “besides I’ve always been particular toward clothes, as you all know, and this of course gives me a chance to do something different with them.”

“Oh! Oh! Does different mean making clothes that fit our current bodies?” Pinkie Pie asked as she appeared beside Rarity.

“Yes that is exactly what it means Pinkie Pie, now if you all don’t mind holding still while I get your new measurements,” Rarity replied as she brought out five measuring tapes, one to of course be used on herself as well.

“Aw man. I have to wear clothes now?” Dash complained slightly, “That is so not cool.”

“Now Rainbow Dash, you should know better than that, you’ve worn them before after all.” Rarity slightly reprimanded, as she took Dashes measurements as well as everyone else in the room.

“Yeah but those were special events, not something I did every day.” Dash rolled her eyes slightly.

“Well if you’ll just give me a moment, I will show you just how, cool as you say, clothes can be.” Rarity held up a hand stopping the rest from talking, “Yes I still know what you all prefer, for Applejack, something practical and not too girly, for Dash, something ‘cool and awesome,’ ” Making air quotation marks on Dashes part before continuing on.

“For Pinkie Pie, something fun and energetic, and for Fluttershy, something modest.” Rarity finished, “I only hope Twilight will be a little easier to deal with,” She said with a slight sigh.

“We’re not givin’ ya that much of a hard time, are we?” Applejack asked.

“No of course not Applejack, you just all complain about what kind of clothes you want me to make for you. Yes I get that you’re not entirely use to it, but now I feel it’s going to be a necessary, everyday thing, whether you like it or not,” Rarity replied as she finally finished up everyones clothes.

“There are of course, many questions’ about… our delicate situation of course, and heaven forbid anything… to happen during this moment that may startle us. The point is we need to figure out how and why this has happened, which means as always to go to Twilight first,” Rarity said as she handed everyone their clothes to put on, “Hopefully she’ll know what’s happened to us.”

It was at this moment Spike entered into their rooms, blinking several times as he did so. He had left early in the morning to get something to eat at his favorite donut shop before returning, deciding to check up on Rarity first before going back to Twilight as he normally would have. Perhaps it would have been best if he had done just that. For what followed, was a scream and Spike suddenly finding himself, tied up, hung upside down, and blindfolded, quicker than he could think.

“Did it ever occur to you to knock first maybe?” Dash asked

Spike wiggled a bit, “Hey what happened? Why am I tied up? And what happened to you guys?” He asked trying to get himself loose.

“That’s simply none of your business,” Applejack replied with a slight hmph.

“Spike really, so rude, you should know better than to just walk into a Ladies room,” Rarity said as she finished putting on her clothes, “Come on Ladies, we simply must find Twilight, and get some answers.”

“Hey what about me? Aren’t you going to let me down?” Spike asked in a worried voice.

“Sorry Spike, we’ll be back after we’ve talked to Twilight, perhaps this will teach you to knock first in the future,” Rarity said as she left the room with the rest of the girls.

“For whatever, I did. I’m sorry!... Girls?... Girls?” There was no reply. They were already gone.

“Are ya sure it’s ok to leave him hangin’ like that?” Applejack asked as she looked back where they came from.

“Oh I’m sure he’ll be fine, an hour or so won’t kill him, if we’re even gone that long,” Rarity said as she continued to walk the halls toward Twilights room.

“Well if’n ya say so,” Applejack said as she walked along with them.

When they had finally reached Twilights room, it had been turned into a room of chaos, with books everywhere, and Twilight frantically writing down notes. It was at moments like these when no matter how many times you softly called her, she’d be too distracted to notice them.

Well that was until they all yelled in unison, save for the ever reserved Fluttershy. “TWILIGHT!”

The yell startled Twilight as she jumped, “Y...Yes?” She turned toward the door noticing her friends, “oh it’s just you girls, don’t startle me like that.” She said as she took in everyones figure.

From first look Rainbow Dash seemed to be the most petite of the group, which explained her small outburst in the other room earlier. Though not the shortest, slightly tanned as well and, of course her rainbow hair stayed the same, even in this form, all of theirs did as Twilight came to notice rather quickly.

Twilights eyes went to Applejack next, who was the most well tanned of the group, likely due to how much she worked under the sun Twilight could only guess. At little more toned than Rainbow Dash, with bigger thighs, and breasts about the same size as Pinkie Pies. Dash while athletic didn’t have the abs on her stomach like Applejack did.

Pinkie Pie, who had her typical cheerful grin on her face, was a little hard to ignore, with her bouncing around the room inspecting Twilights work, as Twilight noticed she was slightly more well endowed, and for being a pastry chef, in better shape than Twilight would have guessed, almost athletic from the looks of things. Not to mention that Applejack and she had the second largest breasts of the group following after Fluttershy.

Eventually Twilights eyes fell upon Rarity, who seemed to be the palest of the group, and holding the most grace in this new form compared to the others. It made sense really, after all Rarity without that grace, simply wasn’t Rarity. She seemed to have more of Twilights own build, as Twilight came to notice, save for being the second smallest in chest size but certainly not flat.

Lastly Fluttershy who had the biggest chest size of the group, along with being the second palest with about as fair a skin as Rarity... How was that even possible? Oh yes Rarity and Fluttershy got together weekly for their regular foray Twilight reminded herself.

The time it took her to analyze how everyone looked, was about the same reaction time for the others to not notice, except maybe Rarity who was eying her back due to her attention to the smallest details. Which didn’t take her long as Rarity noticed that size wise Twilight fell third into the category of height and breast size. As well as despite what others may think, Twilight looked fit, despite constantly being called an egghead. Unlike the others however, Twilight was completely nude.

“Well maybe if you had heard us the first few times, we wouldn’t have needed to yell,” Rainbow Dash said, “though it’s nice to know we’re not the only ones.” Rainbow Dash went over and hugged her.

This ended up surprising Twilight, she didn’t see Rainbow Dash as a, touchy feely type of girl, and while it was nice it did cause her to blush a little.

Noticing this Rainbow Dash smirked and whispered into her ear, “The things I could do with you.” Which, only caused Twilights face to turn a deeper shade of red.

“Dash, what did ya say to Twilight?” Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously, as she next approached Twilight.

“Oh nothing,” Dash said innocently as she stepped away from hugging Twilight.

“Don’t worry ‘bout Dash, she’s jus’ teasin’ ya,” Applejack said as she came up and hugged her as well, in a typical southern way.

This only caused Twilight to gasp sharply, either Applejack somehow got stronger, or then this was what the regular strength of her hug was in this form, “Applejack… can’t… breath,” Twilight managed to gasp out.

Applejack laughed apologetically, as she released Twilight from her iron hug, “Sorry ‘bout that Twi, didn’ know Ah was that strong.”

“It’s alright Applejack, there’s a lot to our bodies we don’t understand yet.” Twilight said, and was about to continue before she was interrupted.

“Oh are we doing hugs now? I love giving hugs!” Pinkie Pie shouted in glee before she lunged toward Twilight.

“Pinkie wait, hold on just a-” Twilight found herself promptly glomped as she was tackled to the floor, “-moment,” she said after it was all said and done.

“Now ladies, if we are done, teasing, squeezing, and tackling our dear friend and Princess here. If you could but give her some room to think, I’m sure she would appreciate it,” Rarity spoke up as she saw Twilight get frisked, some subtle others not so subtle from three different sides.

“Oh whoopsie” Pinkie said with a slight laugh, before she got up in a slight bounce but still hyper “Hey Twilight! Twilight!” Pinkie bounced up and down with excitement, “These...” pointing to her breasts “Bounce! And... AND!” she started to do perfect cartwheels across the room, “Isn’t this AWESOME?!”

“Um… right… that’s… great Pinkie.” Twilight looked at Pinkie slightly bewildered before turning back to the others pointing to Pinkie. “Any of you care to explain?”

“It’s Pinkie Pie, do you really need to ask?” Rainbow Dash asked back with an arched eyebrow and crossed arms.

“No, I don’t suppose I do,” Twilight said with a sigh, “since you’re all like this, I can assume that everyone else is as well yes?” Everyone... not everypony? Twilight asked herself, “No don’t answer, that was a rhetorical question,” she said as she picked herself up off the ground

“Even if ya say that, Spikes still spike,” Applejack responded in her typical southern accent.

“So Spike’s still a dragon, which means whatever this is only affected us ponies? No don’t answer that either, just was thinking out loud.” So much was going through Twilight’s mind before she realized that they were all dressed. “Wait... you’re all dressed…” She turned her eyes toward Rarity. “Your work Rarity I presume?”

Rarity gave one of her ever so feminine chuckles “Oh but of course Twilight, who else would get us all dressed so fast?”

Twilight continued to look at Rarity before she conceded a sigh. “Touche, shouldn’t surprise me, I suppose. The clothing seems to match them all as per usual,” Twilight said with a slight shiver, before she started levitating items up off the ground.

“Of course they match darling, I wouldn’t be good at my job if they didn’t after all. Besides heading out cold and naked is simply undignified for a lady, so I set up to make them their clothes, well that was once I figured out how my magic now worked.” Rarity said as she began to go through her fabric while eying Twilight. “Mind you it took me a little while, but eventually I figured it out. In either case once that was all done, we decided to head over here… and speaking of clothes my dear you are in dire need of them yourself.”

Twilight upon seeing all the measuring tapes, and fabric, for some inexplicable reason found herself tense up and her wings wrap around her. “I’m uh… a little sensitive… still surely you don’t,” she let out a slight cough, “need to, use all that… do you?”

Rarity frowned slightly as she saw Twilight unintentionally resisting. “Now Twilight lets be reasonable. These measuring tapes will allow me to accurately measure you. I could just eyeball it I suppose, but then they won’t fit you exactly… you know that right?”

Twilight shifted slightly, “Well… yes, but still, I don’t know how I feel about getting fondled by tape in some of my most sensitive areas…”

Rarity sighed, of course this was bound to happen, due to all the unwarranted touching and frisking she had just received. Though why they had decided to go so far she could understand. Twilight was rather attractive in this form… just like in her previous one, most of the girls were but still. Or was it their personalities that caused them to go so far?

She was thinking too much on it, Rarity decided before shaking off the thoughts and snapping her fingers. “Applejack, Rainbow Dash, would you be so kind to hold Twilight in place while I take her measurements? Squirming isn’t exactly going to allow me to take them accurately.”

“Oh, are you kidding? It will be our pleasure!” Rainbow Dash said with a slight grin as she took one side of Twilight, as Applejack took the other.

“Now Twilight, t’ain’t nothin’ t’ be scared of, we’re all women here.” Applejack said trying to sooth her.

“Now Twilight if you could be so kind to open up your wings, lovely as they are, though I could get Dash to open them for you if you can’t.” Rarity said with her back turned to Twilight as she went through some fabric, the other reason was to hide her devious smirk. “After all, I’m sure she would know all the intricate ways of doing so.”

Twilights wings suddenly burst open, causing Dash and Applejack to duck so they didn’t get smacked in the face. “Ok, fine, point made.” The last thing she wanted was for Dash to find all her weak spots at the moment. She didn’t think Dash would ever let her live it down if had allowed her to do so.

“Well that was fast.” Dash said with a mischievous smirk. “A pity though, I would have loved to find out what makes your wings tick.”

“You’d like that wouldn’t you,” Twilight muttered slightly

“I would.” Dash whispered into her ear teasing her as Twilight blushed, before bursting out laughing. “Oh man Twi. You are so easy.”

“Ladies…” Rarity said sternly before turning around levitating the measuring tape toward Twilight. “Thank you.” She said once they stopped talking, as she began to take Twilights measurements.

Twilight shuddered when the tape touched her naked skin, for two reasons, the first one was feeling cold tape on her skin, the other, were the sensitive places it touched, thankfully with Applejack, and Dash there it wasn’t too bad.

Rarity once she got all the information she needed. “Alright you can let her go ladies. I’ve got the accurate measurements.” She said as she began to work on Twilights clothes. “I do hope you’ll be fine with a dress Twilight, after all you’ve been fine with them before.”

“Anything as long as it will cover me up.” Twilight said as she shifted once Dash and Applejack had let go of her.

“Excellent” Rarity said happily “Unfortunately, I’ve had... more trouble with some other people... huh that word... sounds rather strange on my tongue... Anyways, Rainbow Dash insisted on something sporty, so I reluctantly made her shorts and a sports T-Shirt.”

Rainbow Dash grinned “Isn’t it awesome?” Showing it off after letting go of Twilight It seemed that room at the back of her shirt had been left for her wings to fit through.

“Yes quite... ” Rarity responded, before continuing.”Applejack of course refused to wear anything ladylike, it’s just like her you know, but continuing on I gave her some jeans, and of course a cotton button up shirt, boots of course were a must, and her hat needed to be modified of course, but now she looks like a good ole fashion cowgirl.”

“She’s somethin’ ain’t she?” Applejack smirked after letting go of Twilight as well. “Still amazes me on how quickly she comes up with these designs.”

“Well it is only natural since it’s my talent after all.” Rarity agreed “But anyway, Pinkie Pies was relatively alright by my standards, she wanted a pink skirt and a matching shirt, that would look like fun to wear at a party, and so I did.”

“It’s the bestest!” Pinkie Pie shouted with glee, jumping up and down in the same said glee before doing a flying flop onto the bed with a long, “wheeeeeeeee” Following her as she did so, only causing the bed itself to bounce as well.

“Um... right” Twilight said still not sure, on how she should have responded to that.

Rarity smiled as she continued to work on Twilight's dress “I’m glad you like it Pinkie,” Rarity replied before continuing her story. “Fluttershy wanted hers to be modest so I made her a nice long sleeve shirt to go along with her adorable yellow dress. Isn’t she just a darling?”

Fluttershy blushed slightly as she shifted her toes slightly “It’s very nice, thank you very much, Rarity” She said quietly as usual.

“You’re quite welcome, Fluttershy” Rarity was almost done with Twilight’s dress by this point. “I of course made myself this fabulous light violet dress, made out of silk, and I found these absolutely gorgeous golden bracelets with gems inside them to go with it as well. As Fabulous as my dress is, your dress will simply have to surpass it, you are a princess now after all.”

“Um... a simple dress would be... fine?” Twilight asked slightly sheepishly

“Oh no, no, no, I’m afraid that won’t do, besides I’m almost done,” Rarity paused a moment. “Scratch that, I am done,” she held up a beautiful Royal Purple dress to Twilight which held a star in the center amongst a few sapphire stars near the end of her dress to give it an extra sparkle, “Isn’t it lovely?”

Twilight looked at it for a long while, a little stunned by it and how beautiful it was. “It’s very lovely.”

“Wonderful, now lets get this on you, not to worry your wings won’t feel constrained in it.” Rarity said as she began to help Twilight into her new dress, once that was done Rarity picked up a necklace, “we’re not done yet.” Before putting the necklace around Twilight, which was in the shape of a star with wings coming out of it, all gold, and in the center of the star a purple diamond. After that Rarity took her hands and put on a gold bracelet on each hand.

“Um Rarity... isn’t this a bit much?” Twilight asked, as she shifted a bit.

“Not at all,” Rarity said brushing Twilights objections off. Once she was done, Twilight for the first time looked just like royalty, except she was missing her Element of Magic Tiara, which would only be the last piece. “After all” She muttered slightly, “it’s almost next to impossible to convince you to wear something so glamorous, even though you’re a Princess now.”

“Right well…” Twilight coughed awkwardly, “now that I’m all dressed, I must say, on how surprised on how well and calmly you’re all taking your new bodies.”

“Oh that... um...” Rainbow Dash stalled, the truth was they weren’t all calm about it.

Applejack shifted a bit, looking away nervously. Trying to figure out how to voice their concerns.

Rarity coughed simply and pretended to busy herself with something else.

“Well um…” Was all Fluttershy managed before wishing she had something she could use to hide her face, so that her discomfort wasn’t shown.

“Oh! Oh! Me! Me! Me!” Pinkie yelled, “I got this” Coming closer to Twilight, as everyone else instinctively began to plug their ears.

Twilight was kind of confused by this, “Why are you all...”

And then it happened as Pinkie took a deep breath before shouting at the top of her lungs, extremely close to Twilights ears, “What’s going one, why are we in these strange bodies, are we Humans now? How are we adapting so easily? How are we going to go about our lives now, and HOW ARE WE GOING TO TURN BACK INTO PONIES?!” The last bit several octaves louder than the rest.

All of that left Twilight in what may be considered shell shock as she just sat there with a blank expression on her face, and her hair pushed over to the other side due to Pinkies yelling before it came back down. She just sat there for a few moments, trying to get her hearing back, and when she finally did, “Well that was... a mouthful... ” Now understanding why everyone else had plugged their ears.

Once she regained her composure she began to speak again, “Well before you all decided to enter, that is what I was looking into, well that and how to fully utilize my magic, and body, but in either case…” The books began to be put back into their proper places, “I haven’t been able to find anything on this level of magic, or effect in my own records which means, we will have to check the Royal Library, as well as the Archives if we hope to find out anything.”

Twilight paused for a moment, why wasn’t Spike here? Te normally came far before this time of day to help her out. “Before that though... where’s Spike?”

“Oh him?” Rainbow Dash said. “Well, he’s... kinda tied up... literally.”

Twilight arched an eyebrow toward Dash “Right... well then first we’ll go and retrieve Spike, as I’m sure he’s been tied up long enough... and then we’ll go straight to Princess Celestia, and then to the Royal Library, followed by the Archives.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Applejack responded finally “Shall we go then? Considerin’ ya know where yer goin’ better ‘en the rest of us we’ll let ya take th’ lead.”

Twilight nodded, as she got up putting on the shoes rarity had made for her before heading out of her room with the rest of the girls in tow.

Author's Note

So yeah here's my human pony story, as it were. A few things I will have Pinkie break the fourth wall here and there, so if any of you have ideas as to where and how she should break the wall send them my way. Secondly I probably butchered Applejacks southern accent, of which I apologize and if anyone can give me corrections should this be the case do let me know. Thirdly, even though they've turned into humans I'm still trying to hit their personalities as close to the character as I possibly can, if I have screwed that up as well, don't hesitate to correct me and I shall surely do that.

So yeah this has been edited rather majorly... as old readers will come to notice, as for you new readers well sorry you couldn't read the old version it was... inadequate, so hopefully you'll enjoy the newer version...

Further more, I am looking for proof readers and editors who may be interested in checking out my stuff before I post it, and of course editing it and all of that, you of course will be credited for helping me in my Authors notes for each up coming chapter or edits of a chapter. Yet another thing, I will be actually making songs appear, in this story, well to be more precise lyrics because I'm not a singer, but I'm sure I could throw down a decent poem/lyric that I can get the Ponies to sing starting off with Pinkie Pie.

I also don't have a cover for this, so... if anyone's up for that, I'd be delighted to see it as I also can't draw for the life of me. Last but not least, should you desire to do anything with this you are welcome to, just remember to send it to me so that I can ogle what you've done.

One last thing... Holy crap this took me longer than I wanted, but it's done and now I can hopefully get the next chapters edited and up more quickly.

Missing

Rainbow Dash had been mulling over something ever since the girls had left twilights room, thinking about it for a while before she decided to speak up. “Hey... I got a question… actually… I have a lot of questions”

“Hmmm what is it?” Twilight asked, as they walked towards the room Spike was being kept

“Well first… what are we exactly? Pinkie said something about us being Humans or something… but… what the hay is a human?” Dash asked

Twilight blinked several times. “Uh well… what we are now… I mean our physical appearance that is…”

“Yeah yeah, I got that.” Dash said impatiently waving her hand slightly a few times as if brushing it away. “But what does that mean?” She asked.

“Um.. that is…” Twilight began.

“I mean what is so important about us becoming… this?” Dash asked cutting Twilight off before she could respond.

Twilight was becoming slightly distressed, not because of the questions themselves. No she enjoyed questions, more importantly she enjoyed the personal thrill she got of answering questions she knew the answers to. This unfortunately was not one of those moments, to make matters worse, the questions were coming out of Rainbow Dash. Who was the last person she expected to be getting such questions from.

This lead to her giving the response she always hated. “I… I don’t know, I really don’t, I was hoping the Princesses could tell us something about it, or even to find out something in the royal Library, but at this point of time I can only make fabricated guesses at best.”

“Beg ya pardon for cutting in, but it’s not gonna affect our abilities will it? Ah mean Ah know all the unicorns can still use their magic… but what about the rest of us?” Applejack interjected

“Well considering the strength of your hug, and Pinkies ability to adapt beyond normal measures, I would say it’s safe to assume that no I don’t think it will affect your abilities to much…” Twlight said before pausing, as she tilted her head ever so slightly. “I think.”

“Ya think?! Ya mean ya ain’t sure?” Applejack asked suddenly alarmed, along with everyone else.

“Of course I’m not sure! Do you think I like this situation anymore than the rest of you girls do? All I can do is make theoretical conjectures based on brief knowledge of everyone's abilities in this form.” Twilight had risen her voice a few octaves, bordering on snapping due to all the sudden pressure of the situation.

“Twilight darling, do calm down. We all understand that we are having a rough time, and that we shouldn’t put too much pressure on you until you find out more.” Rarity spoke up as she placed a gentle hand on Twilights shoulders, before looking at the others. “Right girls?”

The rest of them conceded in this, nodding in agreement, some of them even vocalising it. That however, did not stop Dash from asking her next question. Was it important? Well it was important to her, at least she thought it was.

“Alright I won’t press it beyond this… but I gotta know, why are mine smaller?” Dash finally asked the one question she was dying to know the answers to. Why? Who could really say, but it likely dealt with her always needing to compare and be better than the others.

“Oh not this again.” Applejack groaned slightly.

“What exactly are you talking about?” Twilight returned the question with another, as her eyebrow arched slightly.

“I mean these” Rainbow Dash huffed up what were now her breasts. “I mean why are mine the smallest? Especially when.” She then grabbed Fluttershys

Fluttershy let out a small “eep” as soon as Rainbow Dash grabbed her breasts, wanting to duck away in embarrassment.

“Hers are so big?!” Rainbow Dash continued.

Twilight began to twitch slightly then. “Really? We’re going to talk about your issues on your new body and size now? Especially when there are more important things at stake? Like oh I don’t know maybe finding out why this happened maybe? Or… OR I dunno finding out more about what we are?” Twilight let out a sigh after calming herself down. “Besides if you keep that up you’re going to make Fluttershy feel insecure.”

“Her insecure?!” Dash cried out letting go of Fluttershy and pointing to herself rather dramatically. “What about me?”

“It’s okay Dashie you don’t need to be as big as everyone else.” Pinkie replied then skipping closer to Dash giving her a hug, simply because she could.

“And just why not?” Dash asked rather incredulously.

Twilight rubbed her eyes with her thumb and index finger, now used to ner new digits. “First of all this isn’t a competition Dash, and secondly, you’ve never worried about your size when were were ponies.”

“Well duh.” Dash said, as she pushing Pinkie Pie away so she could escape from her hug. “We were the same size then practically, I had no reason to care, or even think about it for that matter.”

“Dash, darling, there’s nothing wrong with being the way you look, why would you even care?” Rarity asked

“Well of course I would care.” Dash said as she rolled her eyes. “It’s like I’m a... a...” She paused trying to think of the right word.

Applejack however spoke up before she could. “Like a late bloomer?”

“Yeah that!” Dash said rather too quickly, before pausing to think about it. “Wait... hey!”

Applejack chuckled a bit. “Don’t sweat the small stuff, R.D, besides Ah reckon that yer figure will allow ya t’ move faster.”

“You really think so?” She asked hopefully.

Applejack thought about it for a bit, before looking towards Twilight. “Ah’m not sure, Twi?”

Twilight sighed yet again, she found herself doing that all too often as of late. “Yes in a sense it will let you move faster, but due to your knowledge of aerodynamics, you should know this. That and it shouldn’t put as much pressure on you while you’re flying through the air. Beyond that there are many theories I could go into but… ugh we don’t have the time for this.” Twilight groaned

“Oh… right… forgot about that.” Dash said laughing sheepishly.

When they arrived at the room the other girls had been staying, Twilight found Spike hanging upside down wrapped around with rope, along with a blindfold covering his eyes. Twilight raised an eyebrow as she looked at the others slightly. “A little extreme don’t you think?”

Spike when he heard Twilights voice, perked right up. “Twilight, is that you? I swear I didn’t do anything wrong or bad!”

“I’m sure you didn’t, Spike.” Twilight reassured him before looking at the other girls waiting for an explanation.

“It was his fault, he didn’t knock, he just… entered and we kinda freaked you know?” Rainbow Dash said rubbing the back of her neck.

“And well what did ya expect we’d do? We were naked, an’ strangely self aware about this fact.” Applejack protested.

“Not to mention that he caught us by surprise, which wouldn’t have made this situation as such… if he hadn’t… caught us by surprise that is.” Rarity continued

“Right. Not that I don’t understand the feeling, because I went through the same thing, but I’m sure you can cut him down now.” Twilight sighed yet again. I really need to stop doing that.

Applejack went and undid the rope letting spike down taking off his blindfold. When the blindfold was taken off, Spike looked at the rest of the group with his eyes widening. “I think I said this before, but what happened to you all? If it wasn’t for your hair and voices I’m not sure I’d be able to recognize you.”

“It’s... a long story, Spike, and a bit of a mystery, one we’re trying to uncover.” Twilight said, before giving him a reassuring pat.

“Ooooh mysteries, I love mysteries!” Pinkie yelled out suddenly “Hey remember that one time on the train when we had to bring all kinds of desserts to Canterlot?”

“Yes, Pinkie, we were all there.” Twilight said while kneeling down and checking up on Spike “Well it looks like you girls were right, Spikes still a dragon, so that means that my theory is correct on it only effecting us ponies.” Before she stood back up again.

“Hey, hey do you think I can play detective again?” Pinkie asked getting a little more excited.

“Uh I think the situation is a little more serious than for you to play detective, Pinkie.” Twilight said looking towards Pinkie. “Besides there’s no crime to solve, or any concrete clues to go on anyways.”

“Oh ok... well why don’t we ask the people on the internet? Maybe they’ll know.” Pinkie stated.

“People...” Dash started

“On the Internet?” Applejack finished “And what in tarnation is an Internet?”

“Oh you know, it’s that place where all the people are reading this.” Pinkie said in a matter of factly tone of voice.

“Reading what dear?” Rarity asked with an eyebrow raised

“Oh! But you know what would be even better? A party!” Pinkie continued, changing the subject before, once again, anything could be answered.

“Pinkie... that’s your suggestion for a lot of things...” Twilight paused to think about it. “But it might actually be a good idea this time.”

“Well duh, my parties are always a good idea, that’s the whole point silly!” Pinkie said giggling a bit.

“Now wait just a minute!” Dash protested a bit. “What was Pinkie talking about earlier?”

“Dash... Ah think ya should already know not t’ mind pinkie bein’ pinkie, even if’n we have no idea what she’s talkin about.” Applejack said, knowing that Pinkie wouldn’t likely be going back on that subject anytime soon.

“Quite right, girls.” Twilight concurred. “Now I think it’s best if we go to see the Princesses and see if they can tell us anything about this.”

“Hey yeah, if anypony will know what’s happening to you guys it will be the Princesses!” Spike said, suddenly more enthusiastically of seeing them back to how they had been before.

“That’s right, Spike, which is why we’re going there.” Twilight said as she began to head towards the Throne room with the girls in tow.

“Um... um... Twilight, um... do.. do you think we’ll ever become ponies again? Oh I don’t know if I can communicate with animals in this form, and they all need me so...” Fluttershy finally spoke up, timidly as always.

“I don’t know, Fluttershy, that’s something we’ll have to find out. As for our talents, I don’t think that’s the issue here, like I was saying earlier.” Twilight assured her as they continued to walk.

“Oh I certainly hope so...” Fluttershy said rather wistfully.

“Chin up, Fluttershy, this’ll be figured out faster than you can say lickity split.” Applejack spoke up then, also assuring her.

It had taken them a good five to ten minutes, before they had finally reached the throne room. When they did Twilight noticed as did everyone else that the guards were there... but not the Princesses. How very odd... why isn’t Celestia here? Or Luna for that matter... isn’t this a matter of great importance?

Rainbow Dash spoke up before anyone else did. “Hey... why isn’t Celestia here?”

“That’s what I’d like to know too Dash...” Twilight said as she continued to look around.

“This is rather unlike Celestia not to be here.” Rarity continued.

“Yes it is rather... unlike them...” Twilight said slowly as she nodded

“Oh! Oh! Maybe they’re playing hide and seek!” Pinkie said as she began to look under the carpet, and behind the throne room “Ooooh they’re good.”

“I don’t think they’re playing hide and seek Pinkie...” Twilight said, as she began to notice that all the Guards were dressed in their armor. At least the Princesses were prepared for this... but why aren’t they here? Wait… how were they prepared for this? Did they know that this would happen and didn’t think it was wise to inform us?! Twilight asked herself before stepping up to one of the guards with a troubled expression both due to the thoughts in her mind, and the fact that the Princesses weren’t here.

“Hello.” Twilight said as she managed to bring herself to smile, as much as she could anyways.

All the guards looked slightly nervous, but none so much as the one Twilight had just stepped up to. “Oh, uh... Greetings your Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle. What can I do for you?” The Guard said as he saluted, while some sweat trickled down.

Twilight sighed inwardly at the long title, and hoped that one day they would just shorten it to Princess Twilight Sparkle if anything, or even Princess Twilight would be fine. “Relax, no need to be so nervous... yet. I must ask however, Where are Princess Celestia and Luna?”

The Guard gulped “They’re um....”

Twilight blinked, tilting her head to the side slightly. “Yes? They’re what?”

The Guard seemed to be sweating a little, and the other guards suddenly turned more nervous as well. “They’re...” He cleared his throat. “Missing.”

“WHAT?!” Everyone yelled in unison which only caused the guards to flinch.

When the outburst died down. “Ooooh, I think someone should go and restrain Twilight...” Pinkie said suddenly.

“What? why would we go and restrain Twilight?” Dash asked rather confused.

No one had made a move towards Twilight, she looked oh so calm with a slight smile. A smile which, could send shivers down to your bones if you knew the meaning of it. In an instant, Twilight had grabbed the guards collar, and pulled him closer to her. “What... do you mean... by... they’re... missing?” Her hair beginning to flair, her voice ice cold as she asked him slowly and carefully.

“Sweet jumpin’ junipers.” Applejack said as she and Dash, rushed towards Twilight yanking her away from the guard.

“That’s why I told you to restrain her.” Pinkie called out in a slight sing songy type of tone.

Twilight was heaving as Dash and Applejack kept holding her. “The Princesses... cannot... be... MISSING!” Her hair flaring up even more into fire, before quickly calming back down.

“Twi, ya might wanna calm down.” Applejack said rather worried.

Twilight could have given Applejack what for, but she knew Applejack was right. So with the technique Princess Cadance had taught her, she calmed down or she thought she did. “Yes, you’re right, Applejack.” Twilight said, before twitching and relapsing again “No, this is not a moment to stay calm! The Princesses are missing, they may have known this was going to happen, and then they just decide to disappear?!”

“This cannot be happening, what with us not knowing what we are fully, the guards who don’t know where the princesses are, and are basically just around for decoration really. I mean how many times have they saved Equestria huh? NONE! That’s how many, and the only one of them who’s ever put up any kind of fight or defense IS MY BROTHER!” Twilight started to hyperventilate.

The worst of it was when she started to become hysterical on top of starting to hyperventilate, while her two friends held her. “I mean it’s not like the Princesses couldn’t have left some kind of note or anything.” She continued as tears started to pour down her eyes. “Is that to much to ask? But noooo, they had to leave the guards here all alone with no clue what to do besides stand still and wait for their return. I mean what else are they going to do?”

“And now we have no idea of if we’ll ever find out what we are, nor do we know where the Princesses are, and… and… I can’t take this, it’s too much!” Twilight cried as her legs gave out from under her and she collapsed onto her knees despite Rainbow Dash and Applejack holding her.

“I never asked for this you know? I just wanted a normal life, or as normal as I could get it, I never wanted us to turn into this either, but it happened, and all chances of normal have gone out the window. Yeah I get I would have had to deal with duties of a princess here and there, but that wouldn’t have been so bad, because Celestia would have taught me. But she’s gone, and now I can’t help but worry about what’s happened to them, and then I have the entire pressure of running a kingdom if they never return.”

Twilight looked at her friends with a pained expression, her cheeks wet with her tears. “Girls… what am I going to do? What am I suppose to do?”

Applejack pulled her into a hug. “Oh Twi, you’ll figure it all out, ya always do, an’ you’ll have us all t’ help ya out.”

Rainbow Dash grinned brightly. “Yeah none of us will leave you hanging Twilight, we’re your friends, you can count on us.”

Suddenly Twilight felt herself being twirled around in a tight hug by Pinkie Pie who some how had managed to pluck her away from the other two. “Yeah! So there’s no need to be such a frowny face, we’ll always be there for you.” Pinkie then drew her close so that they saw eye to eye. “Alwwaaaaaaaaaayyyysss.” Before placing her down.

Twilight smiled at all this, finding herself now calm. “Thank you girls, I am so lucky I have friends like you all.”

“Oh but of course Twilight dear, it’s what friends are for after all. I mean who would we be if we didn’t help out when you needed us the most?” Rarity replied walking oh so gracefully towards Twilight. Before managing to pull a cloth from a bag she had managed to make, and began wiping Twilights face from residue tears.

“After all, you always help us with our problems, so… so it’s only fair we help out too.” Fluttershy said speaking up.

Once Rarity had finished making Twilight more presentable again, she turned to the guards. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I lost my temper… It was rather… unbecoming of me, even if I was… highly stressed, forgive me?”

The guard who had recovered, coughed slightly, and nodded. “It’s... alright, really, your apology is accepted.”

“Excellent, now... perhaps you can tell me, why... the two most powerful beings of Equestria... are missing. As I was saying earlier.” Twilight despite having her friends bring her back to normal levels of calm, she still wasn’t happy, and her voice showed it.

“I... I don’t know... All I know, is that we were told that they were going to search for something. Then they just... disappeared.” The Guard said, feeling nervous and uncomfortable by being looked at with such intensity.

“Typical, the two Princesses, one of which my mentor. Who would know what is going on... are who knows where...” Another realization dawned on Twilight. She took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Which means, that I really do have to figure out what is going on, but that I have to pick up on all other duties.” She sighed. “I hate it when my breakdowns are justified…”

“Twi, you have yer friends, and we’ll help ya out anyway we can. Like we said before we’re here for ya.” Applejack put her hand on Twilights shoulder.

“Yeah! There’s no way we’re letting you go about this alone!” Dash agreed

“Yeah, there’s no way I’ll let one of my bestests friends struggle alone!.” Pinkie hugged Twilight from the side.

“Darling, there is no way we can let you do this by yourself, it would be unbecoming of us to do so.” Rarity agreed with the others coming closer to Twilight.

“That’s right Twilight, we as your friends will always be there for you when you need it.” Fluttershy said softly “And right now, we all know, is the time you need us the most.” She also went closer.

“Yeah Twilight, you have all your friends here to support you. Even though you’re a Princess now, doesn’t mean that we won’t be there for you, or let you do everything alone.” Spike said after everyone.

“Yes you’re right... you all are...” Twilight began to cry slightly then, not out of sadness, but of joy. “Because I truly do have the most wonderful friends in the world.” She pulled them all into a group hug, before finally pulling away. This was the second time she found herself crying today, and strongly hoped it wouldn’t develop into a habit.

Wiping some of her tears away, again... turned towards the guard once again. “I believe people will be gathering to the courtyard for an explanation. Within the next few hours I believe... So when that happens come call me, in the meantime we’ll be in the Royal Library.” She paused. “Ah… they may also be freaking out so… keep an eye out for that as well… we wouldn’t want anything chaotic to happen now would we?”

“Yes, your Highness! Of course your Highness!” The guard said now in full salute, now no longer nervous and looking more relieved, as were all the others.

“Come on, girls, we have some research to do. Spike, you too.” Twilight turned around before heading out the throne room and towards the royal library.

It took them another good five to ten minutes, for them to reach the library. As they entered Twilight looked around, sighing to herself. “I’ve been here so many times, and I still haven’t had a chance to look over every book.”

She thought for a bit going over the different wings of the library. “I think we should start with Myths, Mysteries, Folklore, and History.”

Rainbow groaned “That many? It’s going to take us forever!” she protested.

“Not necessarily, Dash. We just need to look for certain keywords.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “Like I said, it’s gonna take us forever”

“We’re going to split up and look, Rainbow Dash, which will make this go faster, I agree we don’t have all day to spend in here. So with that being said, You’re going to look over the myth section of the Library over there.” Twilight said pointing Dash to that area of the Library.

“Might as well get this over with.” Dash said, avoiding piles of books to get to the area “Geez, whoever stacks these books does a lousy job of it.” She muttered on her way before she paused… “Wait what keyword?”

“Human… I think, I mean I don’t know if there’s anything else that’s been said to have this appearance…” Twilight answered, though not thoroughly sure.

Twilight then, turned to Applejack. “Applejack ,you’re going to look over folklore.” Directing her to where they were.

“Sure as sugah, ah’ll try my best t’ find somethin’ fer ya.” Applejack said before heading off.

“Pinkie Pie, since you like Mysteries, you can look over the mystery section.” Twilight directed her as well, like she did with the others as she muttered. “Maybe you’ll also learn something from it.”

“Okie Dokie Loki.” Pinkie said before skipping over to that area of the Library.

“Fluttershy, you’re going to help Dash look for something in the Myths area.”

“Oh, um... okay.” Fluttershy said as she went to follow Dash in the direction she had gone.

“Rarity, you’ll be helping me out in the History area as it’s the biggest.” Twilight turned to spike “And Spike, since you know this place almost as well as I do, you can go help Applejack.”

“But dear, what about Pinkie pie?” Rarity asked noticing that Pinkie was the only one searching alone.

“Oh her? Knowing Pinkies luck, I don’t think she’ll need any help.” Twilight waved it off lightly, before going towards the History section with Rarity.

“Oh my... where do we start first?” Rarity said as she saw how huge their section was.

Twilight groaned slightly as well, she knew it as big, but she didn’t have time for this. Letting out another sigh yet again. “I think the oldest would be the best place to start.”

It had been a while, and even though Pinkie, somehow had managed to notice something on humans, which ended up being only a description of them. There was nothing else to be found. No matter how much they all looked there was nothing.

“Arg! This is so infuriating, where in the sweet embrace of the sun are the rest of the books?!” Twilight almost yelled out in frustration. “There should be more on this subject, these books can’t just be missing!” She took in a deep breath, as she found herself begin to twitch slightly.

“Yeah well why aren’t we finding anything?” Dash asked bluntly

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Twilight said finally, with a sigh as she furrowed her eyebrow. “They can’t just have gone missing… there’s more I know it… but where?”

“Have you check the records of people/ponies checking out books that you can look at?” Pinkie asked

“Well..” Twilight paused thinking on this, “No… no I haven’t, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to look…” She said as she went to check the book that held the item and check out the names. “But I don’t think it…” She froze as she stopped on a page, at least now she knew why all the books on humans had gone missing. “Lyyyrrrraaaaa.” She said with gritted teeth.

To make matters worse, they were all late, several months late in fact. Which was another thing that started to make Twilights eyes to twitch. Though thinking about it, she would likely be the only one to look at such books… that was until now. But still… Twilight frowned, “Pinkie.” She finally said.

“Yes?” Pinkie asked as she appeared in front of Twilight.

“I’m sending you off to go and fetch Lyra.” Twilight said simply

“Hey what about me?” Dash asked. “I’m the fastest flyer here, shouldn’t I go and get her?”

“While this is true I do have another task for you, I need you to bring me… Zecora, and if you can find her… and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Trixie as well.” Twilight said before she paused. “Actually I’ll leave her down to the both of you, so which ever one of you finds her first.”

“Um Twilight…” Rarity began as she walked up to them with some books in her hand relating to fashion. “Not to question your motives on anything… but considering what she’s put us through… why Trixie?”

“Well, to begin with, now that I’ve had adequate time to think about everything, the first time we came across her, we kinda were the ones who provoked her. As a showpony, it would make sense to say that boasting is a bit of requirement in their career, otherwise, showponies would never draw in any audiences. She didn’t came to Ponyville to cause any trouble, she was just there to perform...” Twilight said with a pause before she continued.

“The second time was due to the amulet, as I’m sure you all recall, but then what drove her to do such a thing in the first place, hmmm?” Twilight asked, as everyone looked slightly guilty, before she continued. “If you recall, she did help me at the end, so she’s not bad, maybe a little misguided, and even prideful, but I believe she has a good heart, so let’s give her a chance this time.”

“But, to answer your question, Rarity, there might be a good chance her resourcefulness and knowledge of Equestria from her travels could help us. After all, she did find a very rare artifact, dangerous that it was. She might be useful in our search. Besides, we are going to need all the help that we can get.”

“Besides how hard could she be to find?” Dash asked.

“Considering that she could be anywhere? I would suggest getting Zecora first before looking for her.” Twilight said. “Which means, I would suggest leaving now, since you might have to bring yourself into overdrive… also a good time to test your new body in flight.”

“Oh… right…” Dash said before she went to open a window in the library that was big enough to jump out of, before she flew off.

Pinkie on the other hand, had some how managed to disappear while Twilight was talking to Dash. Not that it mattered much, it would only be around half an hour later before she returned with Lyra. In the meantime however, Twilights annoyance over the tardiness of the books was beginning to escalate.

“Twilight, dear, no one has noticed they were missing until now.” Rarity spoke up in concern as the others came to join them.

Twilight looked at Rarity trying to give off a natural smile. “Are you talking the books or the Princesses?”

“Why the books of course dear, you’ve already expressed your concerns about the Princesses.” Rarity replied.

“Yeah you’re right… you’re right… I shouldn’t let it get to me…” Twilight paused for a moment, before placing the sign out sheet down. “But it does get to me.” She said in frustration. “There are proper procedures that should be followed, protocols that shouldn’t be broken, I mean did the Librarian not notice or anything? Books if taken out should be brought back on time, no matter if anyone reads them or not.”

“Um… Twilight?” Fluttershy spoke off softly as she looked at the book that held the sign out papers in them.

Twilight took a deep breath and turned to Fluttershy. “Yes Fluttershy?” She asked as calmly as she could.

“I think you are the Librarian…” Fluttershy said even softer now.

Twilight blinked. “Wait..What?! I’m What? That can’t possibly be…” She grabbed the book. “True…” She trailed off, as she saw her name written as the official caretaker of the books. “How did I miss this?” She mumbled slightly to herself.

On the top of the pages, it had read. Twilight Sparkle Official Overseer and Caretaker of the Royal Canterlot Library Under Instruction by Princess Celestia. A slight twitch from Twilight. “Oh come on! I can’t have been the only official librarian!” She bursted out before looking back at the book. “Can I?”

“Why didn’t the Princess find someone else to fill the role of Librarian before she sent me to Ponyville?” Twilight continued, as she began to pace, going into one of her rants. “I mean it’s not like I was the only one who read the books after all, Or the only one with access to this Library right?” She frowned “Does this mean I have to go and track down everyone who hasn’t returned a book? Or for that matter check to see who hasn’t returned one, besides Lyra that is…”

“Twi, Ah don’ think that’s exactly what ya should be focusin’ on” Applejack spoke up.

Twilight took a deep breath before turning to Applejack. “Yes of course you’re right Applejack, we have bigger problems to be facing… but still… maybe I should just… check all the names… while we’re waiting… so that I can… make… sure.” She said as she was about to go through the entire list.

“Twilight, not to put a damper on your new found personal crisis dear, but… I think it’s time.” Rarity spoke up before Twilight could go too far.

“Time for what?” Twilight asked as she looked up at Rarity.

“Well for one darling, I mean that.” Rarity gestured to the Guard who simply coughed.

“Oh…” Twilight let out a blush and a sheepish laugh. “Right… I guess it really is time huh…”

“Yes I am afraid so your Highness, you… erm… requested we come and get you once the people had gathered…” The Guard replied.

Twilight rubbed her temple a bit before giving a slight wave. “Well lets get this over with then.” She said as she gestured for the guard to lead her. Twilight followed him up to the platform where she stepped out onto the platform.

There was a vast number of people there, though it really shouldn’t have been a surprise as most of them were worried and confused, and had come there for questions. Finally Twilight decided to speak up.

Author's Note

Right there we go. The second chapter is up, I figured screw it, I'll just go with whats in my head. Yes I do realize there are several questions, like why their mentality is changing, and why they feel the need to be covered, and I will try to have that one explained in oh... lets see... the next chapter is Adapt... so in the one that will come after it titled Luna.

As for what they're searching for, It will also be explained sort of. Any questions on Discord, not to worry he will be appearing huzzah.

Now for any of your questions on Pinkie Pie all I can say is... it's Pinkie Pie, don't question it. Also yes she will be doing something 4th wall breaking here and there.

Next chapter.. might take a little longer, simply due to the fact that I actually need to think up a song for Pinkie Pie to sing that is like Pinkie Pie. Of course I will accept any help in this matter if you think of something faster than I do.

I will of course be trying to answer as many of the questions as I can when they go further in depth on finding out why this is happening to themselves. As well as why do they suddenly feel they need clothes to wear.

Adapt

Taking a breath as Twilight looked over the platform toward the gathered people below. Who like she had predicted, were either panicking slightly, or fidgeting, and some of them only worrying. What amazed Twilight was the very fact that they had managed to make it all here, though perhaps it wasn’t that amazing. After all if Twilight and her friends adapted quickly why couldn’t they have? That however, didn’t stop them from wondering what was going on, or even if they could still do what they knew.

Twilight then decided to speak, as she found her voice speaking with pristine clearness. The likes which could send pleasant shivers, down a person's spine, “People of Canterlot,” No that didn’t sound right, there were definitely more than just citizens of Canterlot here today.

“Nay belay that... Citizens of Equestria,” Yes that sounded much better, Twilight mentally nodded to herself, “All of us Ponies have gone through a change, into what I have been able to determine to be known as simply Humans.”

Yes... Humans, sadly I do not yet have… adequate information on what has caused this transformation, Or.. what a human truly is, but it is being looked into. Now for the other news...” Twilight sighed inwardly to herself, trying to figure out how to put this all delicately, “Celestia and Luna, are... away.”

Murmuring and a loud outcry came from the citizens only growing louder.

“Now this...” Twilight tried to continue

She was cut off by all the questions and murmurings and general sudden panic, along with the worried looks on their faces.

“If you can just-”

It only continued. Questions like, “Why isn’t Princess Celestia here,” and “Where did they go?”

Continuing with more drastic ones such as, “We’re all doomed, I tell you! DOOMED!” which was causing more problems than it was fixing.

“But we’re not doomed, I mean we still have Princess Twilight here, she’s helped us before,” Said another.

“That is true she has helped defeat the enemies here several times before,” Yet another spoke up.

“But that still doesn’t tell us why this happened to us,” As another spoke up.

“Yeah but she said they were looking into it did she?” So another said as the murmurings and the questions got loud, and became more rapid.

“Yeah but what the hay are we? I mean I know she said Hu-man… but what does that mean?” Said another.

“Well I’m sure she’ll tell us… once she finds out… right?” Another spoke up with some uncertainty.

Twilight sighed inwardly, what was it that Luna had told Twilight? As her mind went back to around a week ago, listening to Luna teach her, “To use the Royal Canterlot Voice, you must remember that it does not come from the throat.”

“So where does it come from?” Twilight had asked. Both Luna and Celestia had been teaching her different aspects of becoming a Princess. Luna at this point was teaching Twilight how to use her voice.

“It comes from thine gut, and lungs,” Luna had replied.

“But how do you put so much force into it?” Twilight had asked, trying to take down notes so she could remember it all.

“Why it is instinctual for Us to have such a force. It requires control over your yell however, Twilight Sparkle. Now enough lecture, let us show you how to use it.” Luna then began to show her the breathing techniques before continuing on. For it was in the breath that it started, ending with the manipulation of sound waves.

Twilight opened her eyes, ending the flash back. Going through the steps Luna had taught her she took a breath and then. “QUIET!” She boomed causing the crowd to go silent from the sudden shock of the voice and volume.

“Thank you,” Twilight said as her voice adjusted to the normal volume. Well normal enough to be able to speak to a rather large crowd that was.

“I know you are all worried, likely confused, and would like to know where the Princesses have gone. For some of you it may even seem like the end of the world, but I must ask you... to believe in me, to put your trust in me. I realize you were all seeking the guidance of Princess Celestia, or even Princess Luna.

They are however, not here. That leaves me to take their place in the time being, until they come back. I truly believe, that they are off doing something of great importance, likely something due to what has happened to us. If that is the case, then that means whatever has happened to us is serious.

So once again I ask you to put your trust in me. I know I am new, I know I am inexperienced in being a Princess, but I believe they would not have left me here, had they believed I couldn’t take charge. So if nothing else put your trust in Princess Celestia, who has put her trust in me for believing I can take charge.

With that being said, there are simply too many changes for me to keep track of all of it at once. There is however, something I know we can all do, that we all have done before many times before. Often times this has happened after some kind of disaster, and I’m not even sure if what has happened to us can be considered such.

That is adapt, yes adapt, we have done it before, and we will do it again. We do not know how to completely handle our new physical forms yet. This however, does not mean we don’t have everything we’ve always had otherwise. I will not be doing this alone, I have my friends with me, most of you should know them, as they are tied in with the elements of harmony.

I will be sending my friends out to help you, in a short period of time, just be patient until then as we get everything settled and figured out.” Twilight ended before turning around back into the castle.

“Well dear, I think that went rather well,” Rarity said as they walked back inside

“Mighty fine if Ah say so myself, ya handled it rather well out there Twi,” Applejack spoke up in return, trying to cheer up her friend.

“Oh I hope so…” Twilight said slightly worried. That was until she shook herself off of it. “Well hopefully Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie are back soon… I don’t know how long I can keep them waiting out there…” She then groaned “And I didn’t even give them any instructions in what they should be doing, I just told them to wait, and learn to adapt… But do they know how to adapt? Maybe I should go out there again and…”

A hand stopped her before she could go any further. “Twilight, darling, everything will be fine, don’t worry so much about it, besides I’m sure they’ll be able to wait for a little bit.”

“Yeah… I suppose you’re right… but still…” Twilight furrowed her brow. “I can’t help but feel that..” She paused. “Wait… do you guys hear that?”

“Hear what?” Applejack asked arching an eyebrow.

“Music…” Twilight finished, completely forgetting what she was going to say.

The music became even louder, as Twilight went to the window, along with Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and spike. The tune of the music had Pinkie Pie written all over it, and soon enough they saw her coming through the crowd with Lyra in tow, playing her Lyre. As for where the rest of the music came from, well that was anyones guess, Pinkie seemed to be able to summon it up on a whim, and no one knew exactly how.

When Twilight had finished speaking, and left, the crowd wasn’t entirely sure of what their reaction should have been precisely after Twilight had finished speaking to them. So while some applauded and cheered, others were confused, and others began to question and murmur again. That was until they heard the sound of music begin to play, added in with a harp, and soon singing itself followed.

“I never thought this day would come, it did
but there’s no to fear because we’re both here
and even though you feel a bit strange
as your body’s been rearranged

But I think I’ve got to say
that it’s going to be more fun this way
with fingers on our hands and toes on our feet
using them to play and dance down this street”

Lyra sang, as she played her lyre following along with the music. The lyre she played had it’s own effect, or rather the person playing it did. Lyra stepped out with Pinkie Pie strumming the lyre with that jaunty tune that was being played. Her lyre glowed a pale blue as slight musical notes could be seen coming out from it. The main effect was to ease the people into their new bodies.

Pinkie Pie was next as she helped people while she danced, bringing them into the moment, moving from person to person. Sometimes she would lean on one, other times she would wrap her arms around a person, before swinging onto the next. Each time, bringing joy into their faces, along with a good deal of ease.

“So pick yourself up off the ground
don’t look so down
cause I’d hate to see you frown
when we can all turn this around.

if you’re still wondering what you are
you don’t have to look so far
Princess Twilight was right, no need to fight
cause we’re all.”

Pinkie Pie sang completing the second half of the verse, before both her and Lyra went into the chorus. Pinkie of course continued to bounce from one person to the next. Cheering them all up like the Element of laughter should, but in all reality it should have really been called joy.

“Human lalalala human
that’s right we’ve become human
yes human lalalala human
we’ve now become humans (x2)

So come along with me
and you’ll see
that you’ve never felt so free
and that’s how it should be. (x4)”

Sky Blue notes began to fly in rhythm through the air, as each note hit and fixed the clothes and jewels around the people. As it soon became abundantly clear to Twilight as she watched the scene from a window. Lyra was using a restoration spell through her music.

An interesting use of music for restoration... Twilight thought to herself as she continued to watch, as she moved along with the others. I should find out how it’s done later... Even though I’m not fully knowledgeable in music.

“There’s no need to worry
over all the things, that have been done
just remember there’s still a sun
so for the moment lets just have fun.

No reason to be sad
you should be a little glad
for this isn’t so bad
that we’ve been turned into.”

Lyra continued to sing the next verse, as her fingers intricately played the lyre. Now those who once were ponies, started to regain their composure and balance. Even though it was a worrying situation, the music and song helped take some of that way. Along with Pinkie Pie with Lyra helping them out the best that they could. The song itself went back into it’s chorus.

“Human lalalala human
that’s right we’ve become human
yes human lalalala human
we’ve now become humans (x2)

Yes come along with me
and you’ll see
that you’ve never felt so free
and that is how it should be. (x4)”

Pinkie and Lyra sang the chorus this time. As Pinkie went and wiped some of the tears from crying children. As she sang the last part to the song.

“And even if we don’t know why
there’s no need for us to cry
all we need to do is try
and you will reach the sky.”

The music died down, and those outside with Pinkie pie who could, along with Lyra. Continued to help those who needed help in adapting. From the looks of it it seemed like the entire city of Canterlot needed help. Despite the boundless energy Pinkie Pie had, she eventually returned with Lyra to Twilight. This only happened, once several others got into the hang of things and began to help others.

“Out of curiosity... is there a musician you don’t know?” Twilight asked, trying to momentarily take her mind off the task at hand.

“I dunno.” Pinkie shrugged. “I mean I tend to meet a lot of them when I begin to sing.”

Twilight blinked at this. “Right… well in either case, I can see you found Lyra, and managed to pull a phenomenal performance on your way here too.”

Lyra laughed slightly. “Ahaha, think nothing of it, it was my pleasure, I mean especially with now being a human, playing the lyre has never been so much fun!”

“We are thankful still,” Twilight said politely, “and while you’ve seemed to calm them down for the time being with your playing, along with Pinkie… there is… a more pressing matter as to why I summoned you here… particularly a… certain set of books you have failed to return.”

“Oh those books…” Lyra said as she let out a slightly nervous laugh. “Well… They were just there you know, and I was so curious, I decided to check the records to make sure if anyone else was reading them… no one else was so… I decided to take them, I mean no one else was using them, I was planning on returning them… but there was no Librarian to return them to… so I just kinda kept them seeing as how no one would miss them.”

Twilight sighed before she rubbed her temples. “Which will not be a mistake we will be repeating.” Before she looked at Lyra. “Besides those books are… increasingly important to us now… so I would hope that you brought them yes?”

Lyra blinked, before coming back to reality. “Oh yeah, yeah totally I have them here with me… inside my… bag…” She went to reach it before she noticed it was missing. “Um…” Before looking up at Twilight slightly embarrassed.

No one had made notice of Pinkie Pies silent disappearance, even though the presence of the hyperactive pink pony with suspected ADHD, would normally be glaringly obvious. Yet some how, in some inexplicable way, she had managed to vanish (It would be… best if you didn’t question it), and the only thing that made them aware of this fact… was when Pinkie returned. It was always hard to ignore Pinkie whenever she returned from wherever, perhaps this was simply due to her overwhelming presence or then doing something so shocking or surprising, that it was hard to not notice her.

This time would be no different as she zipped up to them, as if she had moved in a speed that could rival Rainbow Dash. Holding up a bag, seemingly full of books, as she proclaimed. “Fooooouuunnnndddd it!”

While this startled some of the group, not to mention giving them a slight jump. They all reacted to it quite differently, Fluttershy to begin with had jumped the most letting out a soft “eep.” As for the others, save for Lyra, seemed to be taking it in stride.

Applejack had simply turned to Rarity and asked quietly, “did ya notice her disappear at all?”

Rarity ended up shaking her head as elegantly as possible. “I can’t say I did darling.”

Twilight had simply arched her eyebrows slightly as she looked at Pinkie. “Found what?”

“The books duuuuh!” Pinkie replied in her normal typical style.

Lyra blinked a few times, along with opening and closing her mouth as she tried to bring out the right words… which she couldn’t find. Finally she decided to shake it off and held up her hands slightly. “Wait, wait, wait… Ok I know I’m a little… eccentric, but how did she know to get my books let alone where to find them? Not only that but when did she do it?”

“Lyra some word of advice when it comes to Pinkie Pie, I know you’ve likely heard the stories about her… trust me they’re all true. With that being said, no matter how strange things may get, just let it go, and your brain won’t hurt so much,” Twilight said with a slight smirk.

Lyra arched an eyebrow at Twilight. “I take it you’ve got personal experience on that matter?”

This caused Twilight to twitch slightly as she recalled the memories. “Don’t get me started.” Before turning back to Pinkie Pie. “Though Lyra did bring up a valid question, how did you know the books were missing?”

“Well duh!” Pinkie began. “Lyra didn’t have her bag with her, and if she didn’t have her bag with her, then she didn’t have the books on her either, and not having the books with her would have made you both upset, and I didn’t want you all to be upset, so then I decided to go and pick up the bag where Lyra left it, so that neither of you would be mad, sad or upset, so I zipped out of here and returned in a Pinkie moment once I had gotten the bag with all the books in it.”

Twilight could never understand how Pinkie was able to continue on, without so much as a pause. “Well thank you for noticing and retrieving them,” Twilight said finally as she took the the books out of the bag. Blinking a few times as she paused and looked at Pinkie. “Wait, what’s a Pinkie moment?”

Pinkie thought about this for perhaps less than a single second, before replying enthusiastically. “It’s kind of like your teleportation,” Pinkie held up her hands, “except without the poof!” She finished before pretending to appear somewhere else. “But is it really a poof? Or is it more of a pop?” Pinkie Pies eyes widened as she started to jump up and down while clapping her hands. “It’s a snap, crackle, pop! SNAP, CRACKLE POP!” yet another pause, “Why am I suddenly thinking of cereal?”

Twilight couldn’t help but blink several times before she cleared her throat. “Um… good to know? Anyways moving along now that, that’s out of the way.” Magic seemed to flow through her body, a little more naturally now than it had before, as she picked up the books with her telekinesis. “Lyra, have you memorized these books?” She asked idly as her eyes continued to scan the pages.

“Well yeah,” Lyra said as she scratched the back of her head.

“To what extent?” Twilight then asked, as she continued to read from one book to the other as fast as she could.

“Well uh… I kinda had them for a while so… pretty extensively?” Lyra replied, “I even did some of the crazy things mentioned in the book…” She continued as she let out a slightly nervous laugh.

“I see...” Twilight said slowly as her mind went into overdrive, thinking of all she needed to do. This was why she used a checklist... Right a checklist, she needed to make a checklist. “SPIKE!” She yelled out as she continued to go through the books.

Spike immediately, came rushing out when he heard Twilight call him. “Yes, Twilight?”

“I need you to get me parchment, several quills, and ink.” Twilight said giving him a list of items to retrieve.

“Right away Twilight.” Spike said as he rushed away to gather the items she had requested.

As she continued to look through the books, she began to walk, before letting out a sigh. “I wonder if Rainbow Dash found them yet…” Twilight asked herself changing the subject ever so slightly.

Waving that line of thought away, she then lowered the books to look at Lyra. “Since you’ve studied then far more than anyone else, can you give us some insight? There’s only so much I can read and gather in one day, versus a person who’s been researching them for longer.”

“Uh well, do you want the long version, or the short version?” Lyra asked with a slightly arched eyebrow.

“I don’t think we have time for a long version, so a short one will do for now,” Twilight answered as she began skimming through the books again.

Lyra looked thoughtful for a moment, as she tilted her head, before she finally began. “Well they’re rather strange, and it’s not just their penchant for violence either.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow at this, before glancing back at the books she continued to levitate. “Penchant for violence? what do you mean?”

Lyra Heartstrings couldn’t help but shift slightly uncomfortably. “Well, if there’s one thing these books wanted to get down it was their wars, and… they had a lot of them, three of which were world wide.”

Twilight blinked, “Does this mean we’ll become violent too?”

Another slight shift. “I don’t think… so? I mean sure they had a lot of wars, but those wars also helped advance their technology… and it was usually during and after when that technology moved the furthest.” A sigh escaped from Lyras mouth. “It’s normally been when challenges arose, which inspired the technological advancements, mind you there were advancements during… relative calm times as well.”

“But most of these advancements happened when there were times of… strife?” Twilight asked slightly bewildered.

“That’s how it seems to be, but I think the person who wrote these books only focused slightly on their history, and more on their sciences, and even personality.” Lyra said as she slightly waved her hands in a circle.

“While I’d be highly interested in whatever sciences are available in the books, right now personality is what we need to look at.” Twilight said with a slight sigh and a shake of her head. “If only to calm down… everyone else.”

“Yeah well, that is what makes them strange, they’re a hateful people, with discord sown into their hearts. Well… ok not all of them, but the way the scholar was writing it certainly seemed like there were more of them than the good ones.” Lyra explained while scratching the back of her head.

“So… being human is… a negative thing?” Twilight asked slowly with an eyebrow arched up.

Lyra shook her head. “No that’s the thing, inherently, they should be good, except… when bad people get in the way or gain power, then bad things start to happen.” Lyra furrowed her brow trying to think. “It’s… it’s hard to explain, there really isn’t that much information on their personalities after all.”

Twilight couldn’t help but smile a little, and nod to this. “I think I understand your frustration, I had the same type of difficulty when it came to Pinkie Pies, Pinkie Sense.”

Lyra blinked, then tilted her head slightly confused. “Pinkies what?”

“My Pinkie Sense silly!” Pinkie said as she appeared next to Lyra suddenly. “It allows me to detect various circumstances due to actions that happen in my body.” Pinkie paused, gave a slight squirm. “Huh… so that’s what my twitchy tail became now…” Before pushing Lyra slightly away.

Lyra barely had time to blink, before she was pushed away from some rubble that happen to fall from the ceiling. Even then she looked at the rubble with a stunned expression, after she had managed to not make herself fall when Pinkie pushed her. “Wha… but…where… how… what?” Was all she could manage to utter in her daze.

Twilight arched an eyebrow before looking up at the ceiling where the rubble fell. “That’s strange… The Palace is normally in pristine condition… this shouldn’t have happened…”

“Oh that was all Rainbow Dash.” Pinkie said cheerfully.

Twilight quickly turned to Pinkie Pie, “Rainbow Dash is back? Why then isn’t she here, and what does that have to do with rubble falling from the ceiling?”

“That’s because she got stopped,” Pinkie replied

Twilight blinked, “She got stopped? What stopped her?”

Without missing a beat Pinkie let out a slight giggle. “The roof of course.”

Twilight lifted up a finger as she was about to speak, before deciding against it and placing it down. “So I should probably-”

“-Yup,’ Pinkie said before Twilight was able to continue her sentence.

“Right… excuse me for a moment girls,” Twilight said before going to a window, opening it and jumping out.

It didn’t take Twilight long to spot Rainbow Dash as she flew up towards the roof, though the sight slightly alarmed her. Besides the small crater that Dash had left through the crash, it was the state her wings were in, along with her right arm. Wincing slightly at the sight, Twilight lightly landed beside Rainbow Dash.

Despite Dash groaning in pain, she was doing rather well in not screaming out. As far as she was aware she’d never been in this much pain before. Yeah she had broken her wings before, yeah she’d broken a hoof before doing all her crazy stunts, and yes she probably had ended up in the hospital more times than the rest of her friends. None of that however, compared to the excruciating pain she was feeling right now.

Dash finally managed to look up, cringing as she did so. “Twi… Twilight?” She managed to ask through the pain, though the way her voice sounded made the pain she was in all the more evident.

Twilight shook her head and sighed in concern before kneeling down beside Dash. “Oh Dash what did you do to yourself?”

“I-” Dash winced as she tried to bring out the words, words that were currently providing to be difficult for her to speak. “Entered… into the sonic… rainboom.” Another gasp as she tried to finish. “Too late, and then… the next thing I knew I… crashed.” Tears were finally starting to form in her eyes, no longer able to hold them back. “It… hurts… so much…”

“I know Dash, I know.” Twilight said softly as her eyes and hands began to glow. “The pain however, will be temporary.”

Dash’s eyes widened a bit, well as much as they could with what she was dealing with.
“You’re… you’re going to heal me?” Asking in almost disbelief.

“Oh don’t sound so skeptical Dash, of course I’m going to heal you, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t? And before you ask me why I haven’t before, there is a difference between self inflicted injuries and injuries beyond your control.” Twilight continued as a magical glow engulfed Rainbow Dash.

The best way for Dash to explain it, was as if a blanket of warmth engulfed her entire body. There was no pain, there was no screaming, there was no twitching. It was strange, she could feel her body mending inside but it was gentle, even doctors weren’t able to produce that kind of effect unicorn or not. During this time she found herself looking at Twilight with slight wonder. Yeah she had seen her produce some destructive spells that could level a city, seeing as how it had been done before just about, yeah she’d seen her produce some amazing things with her magic… but this? This was different.

Gentle… Dash blinked again when she found she could. Twilights magic was hardly ever gentle, even when she teleported if you weren’t expecting it you’d come out of it a little dizzy and sometimes chard. Needless to say, this line of thinking sent Rainbow Dashes thoughts into overdrive, as she searched through her memories, just to double check. The only things she could think of was when Twilight was using her magic to lift something, even the Ursa Minor, but other than that? Rainbow Dash couldn’t think of anything that would explain this current phenomenon.

When Twilight finished casting the healing spell, Dash couldn’t help but look at her bewildered. “Where…” Rainbow Dash began, “Did you learn how to do that?”

“Where did I learn how to do what?” Twilight asked at first before coming to the conclusion. “Oh you mean the healing spell? I picked up some books and started taking some lessons, after all you never know when one might need the knowledge, Princess Celestia has been sending some helpful notes on the art as well.”

“Is that why I didn’t feel any pain even slightly?” Dash asked as she began to pick herself up off the outer roof of the Canterlot Palace.

“Oh good, it did work as intended.” Twilight exclaimed happily.

Rainbow Dash blinked… very slowly, before holding up a hand. “Wait you mean you didn’t know it was going to work?” Asking this as she opened her eyes from the blink and looking straight into Twilights.

Twilight shook her head. “Oh no, I knew it was going to work, I just didn’t know how well it was going to work, especially since it would be the first time I’ve used it in this body, and I’m not exactly sure how my magic fully works yet in this form.”

Dash blinked twice, rapidly, staring at Twilight, in slight disbelief on what she was hearing. “So in other words… you experimented with a new set of skills… to heal me?”

Twilight tilted her head slightly thinking on this. “Yes, I think that sums it all up rather nicely, I mean I had the basic formula, and the theory, all it came down to was putting it to use in this new form.”

Dash was going to say something else, but only settled on. “Right…” In a tone that could be described as someone giving up. “Well at least it worked…”

Deciding to ignore that comment, Twilight moved on. “Due to the fact that you managed to injure yourself moving at such a high velocity, I’m going to assume that you couldn’t get who I asked for?”

“Yeah about that.” Dash began as she scratched the back of her head. “So I went to see Zecora first, found out I had some trouble landing.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” Twilight muttered slightly sarcastically, low enough for Dash not to hear.

Not hearing a word Twilight said, Dash merely continued with what she was saying. “When I finally found her, she said something like, ‘what you say is true, but I cannot come with you, for Ponville needs my help too.’ or something like that…” Dash finished.

“Well that explains Zecora, but what about Trixie?” Twilight asked once Rainbow Dash had finished talking.

“Yeah about her, I found her in Manehatten and when I asked, her response was something akin to ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie must take example from Twilight and help all those in need.’” Dash said while imitating Trxie.

This only caused Twilight to giggle slightly. “I see,” before pausing and looking at Dash slightly amused. “Wait, did you just say akin?”

Dash blinked a few times. “Yeah, What about it?”

A slight smirk appeared on Twilights face. “Glad to see that all those Daring Do books are increasing your vocabulary.”

Rainbow Dash blinked before frowning slightly. “And what’s that suppose to mean?”

“Oh nothing.” Twilight replied innocently. “Just that it’s good to see the little egghead in you, as you put it.”

“Thanks…” A pause or two before Dash caught on. “Wait... HEY!”

Another giggle escaped from Twilights mouth. “You’re not the only one who can tease you know, come on, lets go join the others now that you’re better.”

Dash begrudgingly gave in, before letting out a sigh. “Fine, fine.” as she flew down with Twilight. “So what happened while I was away anyways?”

“You mean besides Pinkie Pie and Lyra singing, calming down the general populous, before finally coming in with the books I was looking for, and then proceeding to hear Lyra’s thoughts on the matter as we went through some light research?” Twilight asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Well, that answered that question.” Rainbow Dash finally replied with a slight roll of her eyes, as well as a smirk on her face. “Anything else?”

Twilight thought about this as she tilted her head. “Well… I was going to ask one last question before we moved on…” She finally said as they landed on the balcony, before walking back into the hallways of the castle.

“Foooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuund her!” Was the cheerful call of a curly now pony tailed, for some strange reason, pink haired girl, everyone knew and loved. Otherwise known as Pinkie Pie. Who as it happened, descended upon Twilight, and Dash with a hug from above.

Startled, both Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle tried to scream out before, thud. It was already too late as both of them crashed to the floor with Pinkie Pie still managing to keep hugging them, despite this fact.

“Ugh Pinkie.” Dash groaned as she picked herself up along with Twilight, after Pinkie Pie had finished hugging them. “Where did you come from?”

“Why up there silly!” Pinkie said happily while pointing to the roof.

This only caused Rainbow Dash to hold up a finger momentarily, before putting it down again. “Right… forget I asked.”

“Right well…” Twilight Sparkle began as she subconsciously brushed herself off. “While that was eventful… I think we really should get back to the group now.”

“No need for that Twi.” Applejack stated as she came up with the remainder of the main six, including Lyra. “We all followed Pinkie Pie here.”

“Well that certainly makes things easier for me at least.” Twilight finally decided to say, once her mind had processed everything. Small tale tell signs of Twilight starting to panic once again were already starting to set in, as she continued. “Before… we get into more pressing matters as it were… Lyra, will becoming human affect our personalities?”

Lyra had been thinking of the multiple ways of telling Bon Bon “I told you so,” before Twilight called her name. At which point she gave a slight jump and turned her head towards Twilight Sparkle, or was it Princess Twilight Sparkle now? “Huh? Oh uh… well nothing I’ve read suggested that it would affect our personalities… so besides our physical changes, there’s nothing that says our personalities will change as well…”

Twilight couldn’t help but let out a relieved sigh. “Well that’s a relief, it’s one less thing to worry about, and it means we can get started on the other pressing matters.”

“Twi… are ya alright?” Applejack suddenly decided to ask as she watched her friend subconsciously pace.

Twilight blinked and tilted her head slightly confused by the question as she looked at Applejack. “What? Oh… oh yeah, yeah I’m alright… why do you ask?”

“Well it’s just that… how should Ah put this…” Applejack pondered.

Before Applejack could continue Rarity finished the sentence for her. “Dear, you’re pacing.”

“What?” Twilight stopped before realizing that she had indeed been subconsciously pacing. “Oh… No… no, I’m fine… really.”

Applejack arched an eyebrow at this, before crossing her arms. “Are ya sure?”

She was waved off with a slight hand gesture, as Twilight tried to pass it off. “Oh yeah, nothing a little checklist… won’t fix I’m sure… speaking of checklists… Spike!”

“How does a checklist solve anything?” Lyra said quietly as she looked slightly confused at what was going on.

“You don’t know Twilight that well do you?” Dash asked her, as she stood closest to Lyra for the moment than anyone else.

“I suppose not…” Lyra finally said after thinking about it, before frowning, and then speaking up. “Twilight you don’t look so well.”

Twilight groaned at this. “I keep telling you all I’m fine! I mean I just need to get my thoughts in order and I’ll be fine, now where’s Spike… it can’t take him that long to get the checklist can it?”

“We’re almost on a completely different hallway darling it may take a while.” Rarity answered before frowning herself at a certain comment. “What exactly do you mean by “you’ll be fine” dear? Are you implying that you are not in fact, fine?” She then went on to ask.

“Arrrgh! Of course I’m fine… be fine… am… fine? I don’t know!” She began to flare up in a panic once again. “I mean it’s not like I have to figure out how to help the people now that we’re all changed, or the fact that I need to find out how this all happened to us all still, and then of course what about the buildings do they need to be changed, and if they need to be changed how are we going to change them? Lets not even get started on the clothes, and the food, and… and…” And she was gone, the last thing she heard was her friends calling out her name.

Author's Note

Holy crap this edit took me forever... like a friggen year forever T_T but it's done, and I can move on, as you can see much exposition, and of course a change in the song, along with several other things, such as Lyra taking up a bigger role in this chapter for obvious reasons. I've even added the style of which Pinkie is singing, even though the actual song is in French but I think it fits.

Now that this... pain of a chapter is done... finally... I can move on, and hopefully the edits will come around far more faster now, than before... sheesh this was... painful... Especially since I quite literally changed the second half of this story instead of just... editing certain parts... anyways... hopefully you'll come to view this as a better improvement than what it had been before.

Luna

Author's Note

Right... so a few things first, I deleted these chapters for a reason... the first being the major changes I was making to them, the second being the new chapters coming after some of them, two in Specific will be Mirror Images which is the next chapter, and Chrysalis which will be coming after the next three chapters which in order are... Mirror Images, Discord, Return of Celestia, and then Chrysalis, then Starswirl... so look forward to these... hopefully for the better changes. As for the third reason? To let you guys know that I've either finished my major edits, and of course the addition of new chapters.

If you're a current reader and haven't read the previous edited chapters now would be a good time to do so. Finally... Luna and Twilight... is it wrong that I ship these two? I can't help myself, even when there's no initial romance in the story o.o ... Anyways I hope you all enjoy and like the direction I am now taking all of this.

Luna

When Twilight came to everything was so peaceful, so calm and serene. She found herself looking up at the most beautiful night sky she had ever seen. It took a moment for Twilight to recollect her thoughts, before she realized that she had been standing staring upwards... how odd.

Though it was the scenery that caught her attention, she had never seen the night be so beautiful before. The trees had a purple and green hue to their leaves; the water shone a light blue, while the sky embraced it’s darker colors. Going back to the water Twilight took a double take, it was perfectly still, unnaturally so, almost as if you were looking straight into a liquid mirror of perfect clarity. There was also that waterfall… she hadn’t noticed the waterfall before, but now that she had it seemed like the water was going up instead of down...

The Stars shone brighter than any other moment, alongside the moon. Which only caused the rest of the place to have it’s own natural glow, with little light specks that looked like giant glowing balls. Twilights eyes then looked towards the water as she began to walk towards it. When she looked in she saw herself as an Alicorn and not as a human.

It only took a touch of her face before she realized it wasn’t real. Even though it showed what she thought was her real self. “This has got to be a dream...” Twilight said to herself still looking into the still lake.

“That is because it is a dream dearest Twilight.” Luna said walking towards her. “You are in my realm after all. This place is known as the Moonlight Garden”

Twilight perked up when she heard Lunas voice, turning around to face her. “Luna! I am so glad to see you.”

Luna smiled a bit. “I am glad to see you as well Twilight Sparkle.”

It was then that Twilight noticed, that Luna was dressed in the most astounding thing she had ever seen.The beauty of the night sky itself seemed to dress her. The dress almost seemed to flow, scratch that it did flow, like something out of the everfree forest. As it wrapped around the scenery like some kind of transparent silk dress.

As Twilight took this all in the only thing she could manage to say was “Beautiful...” Before putting her hand over her mouth quickly. “I mean the dress.. not, I mean...”

Luna smiled at this before she held up her hand silencing Twilight. “We are glad you like our dress, Twilight Sparkle, if it was indeed just the dress.” She teased before continuing “Come. There is much we must talk of, along with your questions.”

“Of… of course it was the…” Twilight took in Lunas form, the subtle curves, the slightly revealing chest… the shapely form of her… beautiful night like wings... “dress…” she gulped, before shaking her thoughts away, as a slight blush appeared on her face. “Why does everyone keep teasing me like this.” She mumbled slightly.

Luna’s grin only grew as she watched Twilight. “Because you make it so easy.” She said before chuckling slightly.

This only caused Twilight to sigh, before she decided to change the topic… or rather get back on topic. “When are you and Celestia returning?” She finally asked Luna as they began to walk.

As they walked in the Moonlight Garden, Luna paused almost as if she was thinking back to something. “My sister, shall be coming back, within a few days. I however, must stay longer.”

“Why?” Twilight asked curiously

“...That shall be answered by my sister.” Luna said

Twilight nodded slowly, before thinking some more. “Why are we like this? Surely you and Celestia would know.”

Luna looked at Twilight for a long while before giving a small smile. “I’m afraid we don’t have all the answers to that, but we have… some ideas.”

“Ideas? What kind of Ideas? What have you two found out?” Twilight then asked feeling hopeful finally.

Luna frowned slightly as she looked off into the distance. “There are two things Twilight, the first we don’t know for sure, and the second is… it may not be our place to tell.”

“I don’t get it…” Twilight finally said confused. “Why wouldn’t it be your place to tell?”

Looking back at Twilight Luna placed a hand on her shoulder. “Because certain… circumstances have arisen, that have…” She thought. “Prevented us from doing so. Enough of this, you will find out more in due time, but for now we must focus on you…”

Twilight frowned at not being able to get the answers she so desperately wanted, before Luna’s comment had caused her to raise an eyebrow at it before turning to look at Luna. “Huh? What do you mean.”

“Your magic Twilight Sparkle, have you used it?” Luna asked as she turned towards the right of the Garden.

Magic? of course she had used her magic… what kind of question was that? Twilight was needless to say becoming more confused… and a little more concerned, hesitantly she answered. “I… have yes… why?”

“Has anything happened?” Luna asked as she waved her hand as a path opened in the garden, as a path opened up on the lake that looked almost like the milky way.

“I... I’m not sure I understand.” Twilight calmly walked beside Luna instead of behind her, almost as if they were equals in some way.

Frowning once again, Luna tried to think of how to explain this. “How much of Sombra do you remember? As in the history behind him? The reason I bring this up, is because it is vital that it happens to no one else.”

Twilight ended up thinking about this. “Well as the story goes he was corrupted by the crystals, but that’s not really what ended up corrupting him I think… It was that certain realization and influx of-” Twilight stopped for a moment. “Magic…” Then she looked down, specifically at her hands. “Oh… I think I understand now.”

“Currently the way you use your magic Twilight, is like trying an experiment in broken glass bottles or surfaces, you can contain most of it, and even produce accurate enough results, however, it still leaks, do you understand what I’m saying Twilight?” Luna asked as she continued, before stepping onto the milky way water path.

“I see...” Twilight said quietly to herself. “How… how did you know? I mean you weren’t there… when... ” She sighed. “When it happened…”

“That’s one thing you’ll come to learn from us Alicorns Twilight… if we can indeed be seen as Alicorns anymore, is that we have certain connections to what we focus on, and with others we are able to see what magic is around them, you I’m afraid, are leaking out tremendous amounts of magic, causing… multiple issues.” Luna said as she seemed to step onto a milky way path.

“How… how do I contain this?” Twilight asked as she followed after Luna. “I mean is it the stress? Is it because of the changes? Or do I just not know how to control it accurately in this form?”

The milky way path, seemed to ripple like water as Luna walked on it, before she answered Twilights question. “It’s more your changes Twilight, in the body that is, you don’t fully know how to send magic through it, and in turn, keep magic in it. The first is to begin to focus inwardly on yourself, to embrace the flow and control it, instead of going along with it.”

Twilight nodded as she listened to this, that was until a thought entered her head, which caused her to giggle slightly. “You’re beginning to sound like Celestia when she taught me.”

Luna seemed almost amused by that. “We may be different in size and shape, but we are still similar ages. Just because I was imprisoned on the moon doesn’t mean I was in constant Limbo. Perhaps one day I will show you the language of the stars, and what they reveal.”

“That... that would be nice” Twilight smiled slightly while looking towards the ground... water... thing. “So... how am I suppose to gain better control?”

“Normally?” Luna asked more rhetorically than anything else, before she continued on. “It would take months of meditation, but we don’t have months, we hardly even have a few hours, and while Celestia may have some difficulty with this and would rather teach you herself, we don’t have the time for that.”

Twilight Sparkle gazed at Luna somewhat perplexed. “I’m not sure I follow.”

A slight sigh escaped Luna as she looked at Twilight. “Think Twilight, how much time passes in reality vs what happens in a dream?”

This question caused Twilight to tap her chin a few times as she thought about it. “Well it depends on the dream, but theoretically years could… pass, whereas only a few hours have passed in reality…”

“Precisely.” Luna nodded in approval. “That is why you’re here.” She continued as she reached an area of falling stars which she proceeded to open like a curtain. “Since we cannot do this in real time, we must do it here, in your dreams.”

“So… how exactly are we… am I suppose to do this?” Twilight then asked as she stepped through with Luna.

“That is why I am here, to show you.” Luna said as they finally reached the other side, stepping onto solid ground once more.

“I see...” Twilight looked around some more. “Um, where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere... more suitable for thine training.” Luna replied

“More suitable?” Twilight asked

“That… that I’ll leave as a surprise, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna replied once again.

Twilight twitched at that. “No offence princess, but you guys up and just... left the kingdom with no word, you’re barely telling me anything as it is, and now you just want me to go along with you to wherever it is you’re taking me? Do you know how much stress I’ve been in? Not to mention the panic the nation is in?”

Twilight took a breath. “Not to mention the fact that you both just kinda, disappeared making me have to deal with it all. I’m not entirely sure I can handle anymore ‘surprises’ as it were.”

Luna smiled sadly at Twilight. “You are right, and me and my Sister are truly sorry for putting you in such a position. But know this, we would not have put you in that position, if we did not think you couldn’t handle it for a few days. As for where we’re going, somewhere to relax your soul and mind, I will tell you nothing else save that, but I do promise that it will be a nice surprise.”

Calming herself down slightly, Twilight then decided to ask another question. “There’s one thing I don’t understand… there was a few times when I felt… naked in the nude… I mean embarrassed about that fact I mean. Is that a side effect of our new bodies?”

Luna frowned as she thought about that. “That, is something you shall have to approach Discord about...”

“Discord?!” Twilight nearly shrieked. “You mean he’s behind that?”

Luna let out a slight snort. “Partially… just because he’s so called ‘reformed’ doesn’t mean he isn’t still mischievous, but know this, he hardly ever does anything without an underlying purpose.”

All this caused Twilight Sparkle to massage her forehead with her thumb and forefinger, as she closed an eye, inhaled, and then exhaled before continuing after she opened her eyes. “So, he did this for his own amusement, but also for a purpose? What kind of purpose!?” Twilight nearly shrieked.

“Calm yourself Twilight Sparkle, and yes, more or less that is the case.” Luna replied, before stopping in a clearing. “As to what purpose, I cannot say, I am after all not the Lord of Chaos.” She then gave a slight smirk. “Just a Queen of Dreams and Nightmares.”

A few more breathing exercises, before Twilight let everything go. “Alright.” She conceded finally, “Fine… fine, I’ll put this all behind me, I mean it’s not like it’s of great importance or anything… no, no… don’t think like that, Discord gives the two rulers of Equestria a hard time as well, just something I’ll do when I wake up, yeah that’s it…” Twilight paused as she looked around. “Wait… we stopped… why did we stop?”

Luna had an amused expression as she watched Twilight rant about Discord, before sitting down in the middle of the meadows, bringing herself into a relaxed position. “Because we’re here.”

Twilight looked around where Luna had brought her, realizing just how beautiful it was. They were located close to a water stream, which a beautiful waterfall looked as if it simply glided into it. The flowers were amazing, different types of different colors full of violet blue, reds, magenta, yellows. All of them mixing in harmony. The other thing Twilight felt was wind... could you even feel wind in a dream?

Blue small glowing orbs seem to fill the place, calmly hovering there without a care in the world. Twilight immediately recognized them, with some level of excitement. “Are... are these Will O the Wisps?”

Luna nodded smiling. “Yes they are.”

Twilight found herself spinning in the clearing, with her arms out laughing as she did so. She finally collapsed onto the ground, the soft cool ground. “Your dream realm is quite powerful Luna, also I can’t understand why no one couldn’t see the beauty in this...”

“I thank you Twilight Sparkle. Also neither could I, which reluctantly turned me into Nightmare Moon, until you rescued me from that accursed fate.” Luna said with a sad smile, as she took in the beauty of her own creation.

Twilight frowned slightly at Luna’s comment. “Luna… that wasn’t entirely your fault… there were many reasons behind it…”

“Regardless of that, it still remains that I lost sight of who I once was… and…” She looked down at the ground. “Who I could have been.”

Twilight placed a hand on Lunas left shoulder. “Luna…” She said softly but was stopped.

“We are not here to talk about my past.” Luna said as she brought up a hand to squeeze Twilights to reassure her. “We are here to help you.”

Twilight eventually let go of Luna’s shoulder before smiling softly. “You’re right. So… what now?”

“Now?” Luna began as she looked up at Twilight Sparkle. “Now you drink of my water.” She said as she gestured to the stream.

Twilight looked over towards the most beautiful stream she had ever seen in her life. “Okay, then what?” She asked as she went to the stream to drink.

“You come and sit across from me.” Luna stated simply as she waited for Twilight to finish drinking.

Twilight had never tasted water quite like this, as she kneeled down to drink from the water with her hands. It was different… sweeter slightly, that is sweeter than a fresh stream of water from a mountain. It also had some kind of… Twilight blinked she wasn’t sure what it was, but it made her entire body feel like it was tingling with energy. Once she was done she went over to Luna and sat down where she was instructed to. “Luna about your water it-”

She was cut off with a finger to her lips silencing her. As Luna produced a glowing orb which she handed over to Twilight. “One day Twilight Sparkle, I will tell you all about it, but that day is not today, for now take and hold this while closing your eyes.”

Taking the Orb obediently, Twilight closed her eyes as she held it. “Now what?”

“You will be going to a different area eventually, but before you’re sent there, there are a few important things I need to warn you about, for I will not be there with you.” Luna replied.

“What do you mean going there by myself? Why can’t you come? Where am I going Luna?” Twilight then asked as her mind started to begin whirling with thoughts.

“Because it’s something you need to encounter on your own, as to where you’re going, I can’t rightly say, for it is different for each and every person as to where they arrive.” Luna stated as she answered Twilights questions before continuing on. “However, this I can tell you, you will meet your reflections, one will give you the understanding… the other will corrupt you.”

“How will I know which one is which? What will happen if I choose the wrong one?” Twilight then asked.

“Oh you will know, everyone always knows, as to what will happen if you choose the wrong one…” Lunas voice suddenly got cold and dark. “You will become corrupt like King Sombra, the Elements of Harmony will no longer work with you, but against you, and you will most assuredly be put down.”

A shiver went through Twilights spine as she heard this, gulping slightly. “S… so…” a nervous cough. “H… How do I get… there?”

“Relax, clear your mind, and focus on the Orb which you hold, and you will be taken there.” Luna replied. “And Twilight? Heed my warning.”

“I will” Twilight Sparkle said, as she began to clear her mind, focusing on the warm energy of the Orb, eventually feeling herself being warped to a different area, to where everything felt different. Opening her eyes she found herself in a throne room, made entirely of Moonstone and Marble, which glistened off the reflections of the light. Only then to realize she herself was sitting on a silver and gold throne, with a red satin cushion.

Before her she saw two images of herself, one which was the Alicorn she once was, and the other a darker version of her current self, with a wicked grin upon her face. Both of which were bowing humbly before her, or in the case of one, mock humility. Both eventually rising, and both with two different tones of voices speaking out at the same time.

Their words were only three, which were, as it was said, spoken in unison. “Greetings your majesty.”

Mirror Images

There is a certain strangeness, when one looks at two different sides of oneself. Yet that was the situation Twilight Sparkle found herself in when looking upon them. Furthermore, when you hear them talk to you, and in turn you find yourself talking to them. There were no words, to adequately describe what one was going through in such a situation.

Now what one must understand, is that Twilight was no stranger to talking to herself. After all she did it quite often, whether it be fretting over something, or working on some experiment she may be running. A strange trait for an introvert to be sure, but even introverts have extroverted tendencies. You are however, alone when you do that, and not face to face with well… yourself, though there was that one time…

“Um… Hello.” Was the only thing Twilight was capable of saying, or thinking of at the moment, her mind was too busy racing through all the possibilities for her to be able to say anything else, besides it was rude not to respond back.

“My… my…” Her darker human counterpart began, with a slight grin on her face. “It seems someone is rather confused.” A slight laugh or chuckle as it were. “Well then, lets fix that shall we? You may call me Daybreak Glimmer, and if you haven’t guessed, I’m your better half.”

“Don’t listen to her your highness, she only wants to distort your image as to what is.” The Alicorn replied.

Daybreak scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Me? It’s you who-”

“Quiet!” Alicorn Twilight replied before she muzzled Daybreaks mouth before she could continue. “It’s really quite simple, all you have to do is choose one of us.”

“So I just have to pick one of you? That’s it?” Twilight asked still trying to make sense of what was going on.

“That is the idea yes.” Alicorn Twilight answered nodding her head.

“Well that’s easy then… all I’d have to do is pick you.” Twilight said as she breathed a relieved sigh.

“Ahahahaha… No I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” Daybreak suddenly spoke up as she broke free from the muzzle.

Twilight frowned at this as she narrowed her eyes. “And just why is it not that simple?”

“Because one of us has what you need, and you can’t just pick one of us, without knowing which one of us holds that which you oh so desperately need.” Daybreak smirked once again.

“Annoying as it must seems, what… she says is true, unfortunately. The answers though lay in the past and what you once were, that is simply all I can tell you.” Twilights Alicorn version replied with a calm cool voice.

“In the past?! Why I should roast you where you stand!” Daybreak nearly shrieked. “Especially with that whole putting a muzzle on my instance.”

The Alicorn huffed. “It shut you up didn’t it?”

Twilight blinked as she watched these two begin to argue. Neither of them were like her… not even her Alicorn form, both acted on things she either wish she could have said, or at points done. Perhaps this wasn’t going to be as easy as Luna mentioned, which only caused Twilight to frown at it all. It also meant she had to make her choice very carefully from this point on. The first step was to stop the two of them who were ready to charge up magical attacks at each other.

“QUIET!” Twilight shouted with a slight twitch.

At that moment the magic died down, and once again in a rather eerie unison. “By your will, your majesty.” It was beginning to creep Twilight out.

Slightly rubbing the temple of her forehead with her finger, Twilight let out a sigh before gently looking at the two versions of herself. “So how do I go about this then? How do I choose?”

“Well it’s simple, if you want power you pick me.” Daybreak said.

“Don’t listen to her, she’ll corrupt your mind.” The Alicorn then stated.

“Me? I will corrupt her mind?! Hardly, though I wonder what one could say about you.” Daybreak retorted towards the Alicorn.

The Alicorn ignored Daybreak as she continued. “I have all your previous knowledge, I am what you need in order to become whole, all you have to do is accept this truth, and that’s how you will choose.”

Twilight blinked as she tilted her head. “I just have to come to acceptance?”

“That is more or less the case yes.” The Alicorn agreed.

“Ah but if you accept her, you won’t have the full truth, just a truth you want to be lulled into.” Daybreak Glimmer then replied.

Letting out a sigh Twilight looked towards Daybreak then. “What truth is this?”
“That you need me, that you want power, you crave power.” Daybreak Glimmer responded while glaring at the Alicorn.

“Why would I want power? I have power.” Twilight replied as if Daybreak was speaking nonsense.

“Do you? Do you really? Have the power to save your friends? Have the power to not go corrupt? To have the power over your emotions and know that Celestia has not always been there for you or trusted you? To have the power to accept that neither have your friends always been there for you? To have the power to deny your very teacher when she makes a flawed decision?” Daybreak then asked looking at Twilight Sparkle with a raised eyebrow.

“That’s… that’s not true…” Twilight said clearly shaken, trying to deny what was told to her.

“Yes that’s right Twilight, those are merely half truths, she’s trying to deceive you, Celestia while she may not be perfect has always been there for you, written to you, supported you, there is nothing she’s ever done wrong, or made you do that you’ve regretted. The same goes for your friends, they’ve always been there for you, supported you, fought with and for you.” The Alicorn replied. “Never once have you ever had to do anything on your own, not when you came to finally have friends after so long.”

Twilight began to slowly nod towards what her Alicorn side was beginning to say. “Yes… that’s… that’s right…”

Daybreak ended up frowning at this, before she spoke up once again as she began naming specific moments off. “Chrysalis, Discord, The Tickets, Your momentary insanity, Sombra, do I need to go on?”

Those were memories Twilight didn’t like dwelling on, sure everything worked out in the end, but at certain parts… she was alone… not believed, abandoned by all she loved and held dear. The moment with Chrysalis particularly stung. To think that her friends, her mentor, all of which knew her very deeply, decided to turn their backs on her. That moment with Celestia, was even worse… it was like something had been ripped out of her, never to be put back in since that time.

It gripped her like the plague, and the other times weren’t sunshine and rainbows either. Sure it had all worked out in the end… once she solved the problem, in some way or another. For a Princess of Magic, or Friendship as it were, there certainly were numerous times she wished she had her friends. How many times had she been broken? Two maybe three? Or was it more? Daybreaks words certainly had bite to them, that was for sure.

“It all worked out in the end thought right?” The Alicorn asked more rhetorically than anything else, snapping Twilight out of her rather depressing thoughts. “This is why you should ignore her, she reminds you of pain and turmoil. Forget all of that, in me is the knowledge you desire, how do I know? Because I am you.”

Was this what this was then? A choice between knowledge and power? That begged the question then what knowledge? A question she wouldn’t have to ask for Daybreak would soon answer it for her. She may be a bit harsh, a little more wounding, not to mention… a little strong in personality, but she seemed to be looking out for her good… right?

“Knowledge?” Daybreak Glimmer scoffed, “What knowledge? All you possess is what happened before this point, not what is or what comes after, I’m what she really needs.”

“And I’m what she wishes she could return to!” The Alicorn countered.

“Why? What point is there in returning to the past? For what reason? Past, Present, and Future as well, I am and will always be what she wishes she could be and have.” Daybreak then said.

In normal circumstances there would be four choices for Twilight, however, due to what Luna had told her, she only had two, choose one, or the other, no acceptions… or at least that’s how she had made it sound. Twilight had to think, just what was it that was holding her back? What was she more afraid of? To not be able to go back into what she once was? Or the power that filled her very own body?

The two sides of her bickering certainly didn’t help, not when Twilight was trying to think… but then was this how she always argued about something? Or with herself? No those were more ramblings right? Was the issue acceptance then? Was there something she wasn’t accepting? If there was, which there most certainly was, the question then was what? What was she not accepting, or able to accept?

That was it then wasn’t it? It was fear, fear of herself. Always scared on making the wrong choice, doing the wrong thing, not being able to control herself. Sure her past mistakes and journeys had helped her grow, but she was always struggling, always feeling that as soon as she did the wrong thing all her friends would leave her… that Celestia would leave her. Just like… Just like she almost did during her brothers wedding.

“I… I understand now.” Twilight said after staying silent for a while.

This caused her alter egos to look at her, then at each other, before looking back at Twilight. “Just what do you understand?” The Alicorn then asked.

“I know who to choose, I was so… unsure, so afraid, but everything is clear to me now, it’s like I was trying to tell myself the entire time.” Twilight Sparkle answered as she looked at the two of them.

Daybreak narrowed her eyes slightly. “You’ve found the answer then?”

“I have.” Twilight nodded confidently.

“And?” The Alicorn asked wanting Twilight to continue.

Looking at one of them, Twilight smiled, it was a gentle smile, an accepting one. “It’s you, it’s always been you, I don’t know why I tried to lie to myself, to tell myself it was all untrue. I’ve just been through so much that I was just afraid, and I didn’t want to face that. I know now that I was just bottling it all up, struggling so much to just… not let go.”

With those words being said, one faded into nothingness, while the other faded into Twilight, who she was meant to be. Everything changed then, as Twilight found herself back in Lunas Dream Garden. Luna of course had been waiting for Twilights return and smiled as Twilight hugged her, with some tears in her eyes.

“So? Were you able to figure it all out?” Princess Luna asked with slight concern as she held Twilight, not that she didn’t believe in her, but she had to make sure after all.

Twilight laughed hearing that question, and gave Luna a tight squeeze. “Yeah I picked the right one, though it was a lot harder than you said it was going to be.”

Luna looking over Twilight for a while as they hugged each other, realized something. “Ah, so I see it wasn’t the normal test then.”

Twilight blinked before withdrawing from Princess Luna looking a little confused. “What.. what do you mean?”

“I mean there was a lot more to all of this than you realize… I wish I could explain it to you Twilight, but what ever happened there, has begun to change you for the better.” Frowning at her own explanation Luna tried to figure out how to give Twilight a more satisfying answer. “It’s gone past just affecting you, but it has also affected your element… does that make more sense?”

Tilting her head to the side as Twilight tried to place it all together. “A… little? Not entirely though…”

“A funny thing happens when you’re able to embrace something that you consider to be a darkness, or fear.” Luna began.

“What’s that?” Twilight asked now curious… also wanting to be back in Lunas arms… they were surprisingly warm… oh there she went blushing.

“You grow stronger, much stronger than you had been before.” Luna said with a smile, not to mention a slight chuckle at Twilights actions. “So, who did you choose?”

Smiling as Twilight Sparkle thought of all that had happened. “I chose…”

Author's Note

Yay for cliffhangers, sure the chapter's a little shorter than the rest, but I had some trouble figuring out how I wanted to do things. I mean a lot of the times you'll have characters meet their other selves, and usually there would be a fight, but I had decided to not go that direction, and have it instead one of temptation in a sense. Anyways hopefully you enjoyed this segment, and I think I mentioned before that I was doing all this alone, if not, I have now.

Discord

Hello my dear readers, it is I! Discord, who has found it delightful to take over this next segment without the scholars or scribes looking! I don’t see why I should be excluded from doing so, after all this part, stars the one and only me after all, so it’s only reasonable that I should be the one to edit and change things the way I see fit. What’s that? You didn’t know, that I knew this existed? Of course I knew, besides why would I ignore something that has my name in nice big bold letters?

Now lets see where was this left off… Twilight was sent to the dream realm, yadda, yadda, yadda. Dealt with herself, so on and so forth… returned to Luna… Well it certainly would look like my entrance is going to come later… Hmmmm, ah yes here we are, and now my dear viewers, or shall I say readers? Listeners maybe? Which ever the case I present to you the continuation of the story.

Twilight was smiling at Luna, (how sweet, those two should really get a room or something.) “I chose Daybreak, well that is I chose me…” Twilight frowned a bit. “I mean that’s what that version of myself called herself… anyways it wasn’t as easy as you said it was going to be.”

Luna raised an eyebrow at this. “Did I ever say it was going to be easy? I believe I only said that you’ll know which one to chose.”

“It took a while you know… I never wanted to admit she was right, I never wanted to admit… to admit that I had those desires…” Twilight frowned as she thought about this before finally sighing. “You know I’ve never really been one to desire more power, or if I did I never really dwelt on it, so to see that hidden side of myself…” Twilight trailed off.

“The funny thing about power Twilight Sparkle, and take this from someone who personally knows. Is that it’s always there, no matter what you do, think, or feel, that basic desire for power is always there. I once thought as you did, I thought it was perfectly ok to live within my Sister's shadow, that it was ok to not be as loved as she was. Regardless what the tales may tell, I wanted acknowledgement, I wanted power.” A slight smile crossed Princess Lunas lips.

(Dear readers, this current moment is brought to you by Princess Luna, the Princess who could. Yours truly, Discord.)

The scenery began to change as Princess Luna finally stood up. “In a sense I admire your resolve, and willingness to accept even the hardest of things in yourself. It was after all what I could not do, instead because of my unwillingness to accept what was a part of me, it festered and boiled over. You Twilight Sparkle, were able to accept who you are now, and that will come to help you. Enough on all this, you have done well, and Discord has been insistent on your return for quite sometime.”

Twilight couldn’t help but wonder how much regret and guilt that Luna constantly had to fight through, she wanted to reach out to comfort her, but didn’t know how. It was however, Luna’s last comment that snapped Twilight Sparkle out of it. “Wait Discord? What do you mean he’s been insistent on my return?”

A slight smirk appeared on Luna’s face. “It appears, you have worried your friends enough for Discord to take… notice.”

(Oh I’ll get Luna back for this.)

Twilight looked thoroughly confused now. “Wait, wait, wait, what does my friends concern for me have to do with Discord?”

A slight chuckle. “Well you see, despite his chaotic exterior and penchant for mischief, deep inside he’s like a big living teddy bear, that would hate to see anything bad happen to his so called ‘friends’ so of course he’d ask me to return you on the behalf of your friends.” Luna said while holding back a mischievous grin.

(Oh I’ll definitely be getting her back for this one, how dare she make me seem all sappy!)

Ever so slowly, and with a longer than normal pause, Twilight Sparkle finally responded not quite exactly sure what was going on. “I… see?” Before finally letting out a slight sigh, and a small smile towards Luna. “You know if you ever need someone to talk to… I’ll there for you right?”

Luna smiled before placing her hand on Twilights shoulder. “I know Twilight Sparkle, I know, but for now I must send you back, we’ll be seeing each other soon enough.” With that being said, everything vanished, including Princess Luna.

When Twilight finally came to, the first thing she saw was Discord… in a dress. Blinking several times before she finally decided to rub her eyes, if only to make sure what she was seeing wasn’t a dream. “Discord… why are you wearing one of Rarity’s dresses?” She asked once she was sure it wasn’t all a dream.

“What no hello? No good to see you? No hug or greeting at all? Why Twilight, I’m hurt, truly, I thought friends were suppose to be all nice and chummy with each other, isn’t that so?” He replied with his usual… mannerisms, as he went to pinch Twilights cheek, before popping back to his upside down chair, upon which he sat on the bottom, now rightside up part of the chair. “Besides, I thought this dress would make me feel pretty, don’t you think this dress makes me look pretty?”

A slight twitch or two upon Twilights left eye, before she did her breathing exercise. “Oh fine. Hello Discord, how are you, I trust you’ve been doing well? Nice to see that you’ve also become a human, even though I have no idea how you managed that. Now perhaps you can tell me why you’re in Rarity’s dress, and why none of my friends are here.” It took everything in her almost to say it all politely, without grating on her teeth as she did so.

“Why it’s good to see you too Twilight Sparkle, I’ve been doing great, thanks for asking, I was beginning to be worried you know, I mean you never call, you never write, you never visit.” Discord replied oh so cheerfully. “As to how I became a human, well you see I have this habit of tasting magic, and when everything was changing all of a sudden and without warning, it was absolutely beautiful, and I just had to taste it.”

Before Discord could continue onto anything else, Twilight held up a hand. “Wait, you can taste magic? What does magic even taste like? Also I don’t know where you live so I can’t even do any of those things” She answered with another automatic twitch.

“Depends on the magic my dear Twilight, in this case it was spicy sweet with some fizz and sparkles. Now as I was saying, the reason I’m wearing this dress, besides feeling pretty, was merely due to your friends outburst when you disappeared and I couldn’t help myself.”

“I disappeared? What do you mean I disappeared?” Twilight asked in startlement.

“What you didn’t know?” Discord chuckled slightly. “Of course you didn’t, after all you hardly know anything about Princess Luna…”

Narrowing her eyes slightly. “What are you talking about?” Twilight asked, with a slight irritation in her voice.

“Luna took you to her own personal dreamscape, one moment you collapsed, the next moment, poof you were gone.” He replied with a dramatic hand act that demonstrated disappearing. “Oh you should have seen their faces, it was absolutely priceless.”

“So it wasn’t a dream?” Twilight asked clearly a little more confused now.

“Well Yes and No, but that’s something you’ll have to ask Princess Luna about now isn’t it?” Discord replied with a smirk. “Now where was I… Oh yes! Your friends, the look on their faces when I appeared in your place, it was delightful.” Discord chuckled slightly. “Of course they all decided that I was the cause of this, as if I would sort to such petty tricks, making you disappear… oh please, there are more interesting things I could have done, like breaking out into a musical number and sending you to fetch a flower.”

Twilight arched her eyebrow at this. “A… Flower?”

“Yes well… perhaps in a different lifetime.” Discord coughed slightly before he continued. “I of course, as the… good friend, that I am, isn’t that right Twilight? Decided to assure them that no harm had come to you, after all, you were with a Princess, how could any harm come to you hmmm?”

“Riiiiight, but what does any of this have to do with you wearing a dress?” Twilight asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Really Twilight, you can be such a stick in the mud sometimes, even Celestia knows how to have more fun than you. Besides I thought you were suppose to be the observant one, it’s not like I didn’t give you a big enough clue.” Discord said with a slight pout.

“I’m not here to entertain you Discord, so excuse me for a lack of response to your sudden choice of clothing.” Twilight replied with a little more sarcasm than previously.

“Oh but that’s where you’re wrong, it just presents a new challenge for me to become entertained. A shame really, Rarity practically fainted when she saw it, alas Celestia intervened and I went to get you, after all we’re all just one big family.” Discord grinned as he watched Twilights eyes widen.

Finding out this information, Twilights voice raised several octaves as she nearly shouted. “Celestia’s back?! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Discords clothes began to change into something that revealed a deranged nobleman, as he merely shook his finger. “Despite what you think Twilight, I know you, had I told you, you would have gone straight to her all while not bothering to listen to some crucial information that I have… conveniently failed to mention to anyone else.” He grinned, as he rested on a strange looking staff while watching Twilight, becoming amused once again.

Narrowing her eyes at Discord. “And just what information would this be?” Twilight asked with slight annoyance.

“Out in the badlands, where nothing ever grows, a forest appeared, from where? This one knows.” Discord smirked. “I believe it would be in your best interest to travel to said new found forest, I hear the residents within have valuable knowledge, and skills unique to this… situation.”

“And that would be what exactly?” Twilight asked as she sighed.

“Now, if I told you all the answers you wouldn’t learn anything now would you?” He replied as he waved his hand in the air as a small vortex began to appear.

“Does that mean you also know what caused all this?” Twilight asked curiously

“Ah, I was wondering how long it would take you to ask that question.” As the vortex kept growing, Discord chuckled slightly as the portal opened up. “Yes I know, and yes I have already answered this inevitable question, but only in my way.”

“Wait, when did you give me the answer?” Twilight asked as the portal began to swallow her.

The last thing she heard was Discords amused voice saying “That’s for me to know, and you to figure out, it wouldn’t be entertaining any other way. Oh and say hello to Celestia for me, we really should get a cup of tea together, I happen to know this fantastic place right in the middle of the woods.”

Before Twilight could say anything she had disappeared into the portal that Discord created, finding herself in the middle of the castle hallways. “What did he mean he already gave the answers? Arrrgh he can be so infuriating, no… no, don’t let it get to you, one thing at a time Twilight. The important thing is that Celestia is back.”

Blinking several times, it finally fully registered to her the implications of Celestias return. “That’s right Celestia’s back! I should head towards the throne room that’s the most likely place she’d be… or would it be the kitchen? No, no… throne room, definitely the throne room.” Walking was to slow, running was too tiring, the best option? Teleportation (What were you expecting anything else? It’s Twilight after all.)

Using what she had learned from Luna… and herself, magical energy began to swirl lightly around her, starting first at her legs before moving up her body in a spiral like motion. Finally in a flash she was gone from where she had been, leaving behind less of a scorch mark than she had ever made before. Arriving in the throne room, as expected her friends were waiting for her, along with Princess Celestia.

Immediately after she had teleported in, her friends shouted “Twilight!” in unison, before they all went to hug her… for the third time today… or was it the second? Whichever it was, it wasn’t important, what was important was that Twilight was okay.

Hugging them back, “Hello girls, I’m alright, sorry for worrying you all.” Once the assurances were done and said, she withdrew from the hug before heading towards Celestia. Upon Reaching Celestia, Twilight embraced her as she began to cry slightly. “I was so worried, so afraid, had I not known you weren’t alive I don’t know what I would have done. I missed you and your guidance so much.”

“I know Twilight, I know.” Celestia said softly in her motherly like voice as she held Twilight, simply holding her there for a while, allowing Twilight to withdraw when she was ready. After all, Celestia knew better than perhaps anyone else. That Twilight would do her best to keep her emotions in check, and work through things logically until a time presented itself where she could finally break down. Princess Celestia happened to provide that moment of time more often than not, and almost always when no one else was around.

Once Twilight was fully assured that Celestia truly was back, she recovered quickly enough before finally withdrawing. “It’s good to see you again Celestia.” Twilight smiled finally.

“It’s good to see you as well Twilight Sparkle, I’m sure you’ve been told many interesting things. I would love to hear about it at some point. At the moment, there are more pressing matters to be addressed, if you’ll all follow me.” Celestia responded as she began to lead them out of the throne room, and into her private chambers.

Author's Note

Ok so this took me a little longer than I had expected. In either case it's up now, and the references, all those references, a rhetorical cookie for anyone who can guess all of them. Soon the chapter I've been looking forward to so badly will be written and up, and then I'll see how many minds I can blow during that time. Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to more.

Return of Celestia

As they walked Twilight couldn’t help but notice the change in Celestia’s appearance, now that she had more time… relatively, to take note of such things. The most obvious, as it had been with Luna, was the dress and hair. Once again as with Luna, the dress seemed to blend into the light of the day, all while revealing nothing, and if looked upon to closely, much like the sun, one could blind themselves. It was certainly a sight to behold, as if it gave off it’s own light, then there was Princess Celestias hair, Twilight had never really thought of it too much prior to the changes. Yet now that she was, her mentors hair reminded her of different hours of the day, starting from sunrise, and going into sunset.

Then of course there was Celestias bust size, which made Twilight turn red once or twice as she observed her mentor and idol practically. Cut it out Twilight, you shouldn’t be having such thoughts about your teacher, it’s improper! It was good to know her hormones were still in effect, if only in a different fashion, which was cause for a good deal of irritation. It neither helped the way Celestia was walking… with the graceful yet sensual sway of her hips, and movement of the fluid motion of her legs. The only thing that would make this worse, would be…

“Hey Twilight, you’re looking a little red there, you feeling alright?” Came Rainbow Dashes mischievous question, as she held a grin upon her face.

And there it was. Of course it had to be Dash, who else would it have been? “I’m perfectly fine Dash.” Came Twilights sharp reply as she sent a glare towards Dash.

“Whoa testy aren’t we? I’m just making sure so you don’t faint again.” Rainbow Dash replied with a teasing emphasis on faint.

“I can assure you that won’t happen again, I was simply mentally overwhelmed the first time.” Twilight replied just as sharply as she had the first time. Now if only Celestia doesn’t decide to join in…

Even if one had been looking at Princess Celestia, they would not have noticed her sly smirk hidden within her gentle smile. Of course like clockwork. “Why Twilight Sparkle, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the feelings you have towards me currently. In fact I think I should be honored that you would have such thoughts about me, it tells me that I look just as young now as I did a thousand years ago.” Came her response

Of course she did. Came Twilights mental groan. This was not going to end well… for herself, it was probably going to be a great source of entertainment for the others however, especially since Princess Celestia had decided to join in on the fun. Why wouldn’t she though? After all, ever since Twilight was young, she had known Celestia enjoyed jokes and pranks, it was one of her ways of unwinding from inconsequential problems of the bickerings between the other nobles. In some ways, she wasn’t surprised that Celestia had decided to join in, and was frankly half suspecting she would, even though she had hoped that her mentor wouldn’t.

“It’s alright Twilight, there’s nothing wrong with being hot for teacher.” Pinkie Pie said rather cheerfully if not slightly mischievously as she also joined in.

“Pinkie! I am not hot for teacher!” Twilight responded perhaps a little too quickly, which then caused her eyes to widen and clasp her hands over her mouth. Oh no… please no… please, please no…

“Why Twilight, you never told us you had a crush on Princess Celestia.” Rarity spoke up, while retaining her ladylike tone of voice.

“Rarity!” Twilight half whined before she was again cut off, this time by Applejack.

“Why heck sugah cube, there’s nothin’ wrong with likin’ someone, even if she was yer teacher.” Was Applejacks reply.

Et Tu Applejack. Twilight responded in her mind as she glared at both her and Rarity. Looking to see if Fluttershy had something to say as well, only to be relieved that the only thing she was doing was looking away, and by the time she looked back to where Celestia was, or in this case had been. Her entire mind went into full alert as the only thing on repeat was a steady line of no, no, no, no, no.

That was when she froze as Celestias hands gentle rested on each of Twilights shoulders, and her breasts pressing ever so nicely upon Twilights back. Immediately causing Twilight to go still. “Why Twilight Sparkle, I’m hurt. Have the years truly put such a distance between us?” Celestia asked as her hand began to move down Twilights side. “Or have you forgotten the skinship we used to share?”

“Th… that was a long time ago.” Twilight mumbled slightly as she continued for force herself to stay still… or at least try to.

“Hmmm is that so?” Celestia whispered into her ear mischievously. “Because if I recall correctly, you should be sensitive right around here.” She finished as magic pulsed between the fingers that happened to be touching the left side of Twilights waste, giving it a slight press. Then just like that, if smoke could appear from Twilights head it would have, before she finally fainted for the second time today.

Catching Twilight within her gentle arms, Celestia turned to look at Twilight Sparkles friends. “Too much?”

When Twilight came to again, she found herself resting against something soft, and a gentle hand stroking her hair softly. Shifting a bit as she opened her eyes, blinking a few times as she looked around a little before looking up. “Celestia?”

“Yes Twilight?” Celestia responded as she continued to look down at Twilight Sparkle, smiling that gentle smile she generally always had on her face.

Having been in Celestia’s room many a time, that was not a question she need ask. “Where are my friends?” She asked instead, not really moving from her spot on Celestias lap, if only due to the fact that resting against Celestia was like resting on a hazy lazy sunny Sunday afternoon.

“I sent them to get ready while we speak in private, they will be briefed later on so no need to worry.” Celestia replied calmly.

Finally deciding to sit up, and stretch a bit, before looking at Princess Celestia. “I wasn’t worried I was curious.” Twilight replied.

Celestia nodded slightly at that, with a small smile. “As always. Continuing on, I suppose you were wondering where my sister and I have been.”

“A bit of an understatement there, it was more than just wondering, but yes I would like to know why you and your sister decided to leave me alone with a bunch of panicking people with no idea of where to begin or do.” Twilight answered with a slight huff.

Placing a gentle hand on Twilights shoulder as Celestia looked into her eyes. “Twilight, I would never place anything on you that I think you couldn’t handle, I knew you would be able to perform the task even though my sister and I would be gone.”

Sighing slightly. “I just wish I was told you and Luna had to leave... what was so important that both of you had to leave?” Twilight asked as she looked at her idol.

“The fate of Equestria and all that is around it.” Celestia responded in all seriousness as she began her tale.

Flashback

It all began when I was awoken by my sister Luna as she swung open my chamber doors in a mad panic. Her form had completely changed by this time, and so had mine. This was initially the reason why she was rattled I had thought, but then I later found there was so much more to it than that.

“Sister get thine self up from thine bed... ack back to the old tongue...” Luna berated herself what was it they said again now that had more effect? Oh yeah... “WAKE UP!!!”

I woke up with a start noticing immediately that her body had changed. In order to lead properly, a ruler must learn quickly, especially a divine ruler such as us, with something that we could only describe as celestial knowledge and age which helps us. “What is it Luna? Besides the obvious that is.” I had asked.

“I have felt a rift in the fabric of this universe Sister, I know not what it will bring.” Luna replied in a worried tone of voice.

“A rift you say? how many portals are there?” Celestia suddenly became more serious.

“... There are 6 my sister...” Luna answered looking off into the distance. “There may even be more still if we do not act...’”

I got out of bed, as my body formed clothing around it, my sister had done likewise, as we felt the new shift in temperature around us. “Then we better get started, Twilight is an early riser, so that only leaves us with three or so hours.”

“I do not think you’ll be able to make it back in time Sister mine... they’re too far apart from each other, even Discord has felt this disturbance as well, yet even so he makes no move to do anything...” Luna spoke with a sense of urgency.

“He may simply be observing to see what will come of all this...” I replied remaining calm about it all, yet still worried. “But it’s best we begin then.”

End Flashback

“Portals? Portals to where?” Twilight Sparkle asked as Celestia finished her story.

“Different realities, times, and dimensions, where the most dangerous of beings dwell. We had no time but to immediately close them all.” Celestia replied as she recounted the moments.

Blinking a few times before Twilight spoke again as she thought on it all. “So they’re all closed then? Equestria is safe for the time being?”

This time Celestia sighed. “All save for one, when we came to the last portal we were stopped.”

Stopped? Who would stop Celestia and Luna from closing a portal? Was there anyone even powerful enough in Equestria to be able to do so? Clearing her throat, Twilight finally asked through her slight shock that someone would be bold enough to stop the two divine sisters. “Who… stopped you?”

“Starswirl the Bearded.” Celestia replied calmly.

This day was giving Twilight too many shocks than she was comfortable with, and this one nearly sent her over the edge… again. Placing a hand on her head as she looked down with a baffled expression, before looking back at Celestia rather confused. “Starswirl… THE Starswirl the Bearded?”

“The very same.” Celestia nodded as she replied.

Twilight finally stood up as she began to pace. “Why? Why would Starswirl stop you? It doesn’t make any sense… he was Equestria’s grand mage, and guardian back in the day, why in the world would he prevent the both of you from closing that portal to his time? What fathomable reason could there possibly be?”

“That is something you’ll have to ask him.” Celestia replied once again as she watched Twilight begin to pace.

Stopping, and turning rapidly around to face Celestia with a surprised look on her face. “You mean he came through the portal?!”

“Mmmmm not quite.” Celestia began as she tilted her head thoughtfully. “It’s more he spoke through the portal to us.”

“First Discord tells me I need to go to the badlands to gather potential help, and now I find out that Starswirl the Bearded… The Starswirl the Bearded is keeping open a portal open just to talk to me? Just what in the world is going on?” Twilight asked rather bewildered by it all.

Celestia blinked once and only once, and very slowly once she had heard the news. “Discord asked you to go to the badlands?”

Sighing Twilight nodded slightly irritated. “Yes, he said a new found forest had appeared which I should… investigate.”

Pursing her lips slightly as Celestia thought about this for a while, before finally responding. “It may very well in your best interest if you heeded Discords words in this.”

Twilight looked at Celestia in slight disbelief. “Really? You want me to listen to Discord, and go to a supposed forest that he said just happened to appear in the Badlands?”

“Twilight… I do not think Discord has any reason to deceive you with this information… I know he can be rather… untrusting, but there is always a method to his madness.” Celestia replied calmly once again as she looked back at Twilight, with an unwavering gaze.

Rubbing her eyelids, before finally responding when she had stopped. “Fine… I’ll go and look for this… forest, but then what? What do I do after I… do whatever it is I need to do there?”

“You’ll meet your friends as well as my Sister Luna at the remaining portal, while I stay here, and take over from what you have started in helping the people of Canterlot and beyond.” Celestia replied. “Which is why the coordinates to the remaining portal will be given to you now.” She finished as she waved her hand, bringing up a slightly transparent map of Equestria with a spiral in the form of a drawn portal rested within it.

“Really? That’s where the last portal is? Between the Ghastly Gorge and the Everfree?” Twilight replied as she sighed. “Why would it be there? You know what? No, nevermind, I’m sure I’ll find out once I get there.”

“That you will, the trickier part I suspect however, is finding that forest within the badlands.” Celestia responded as the map faded away.

“How hard can that be? It’s the badlands after all, it’s not like anything really grows there.” Came Twilights slightly sarcastic reply.

Princess Celestia arched a slight eyebrow at that before she finally answered. “The badlands are larger than you think Twilight, lets hope you don’t have to travel to far into them before you find the forest.”

Letting out a breath. “I know, and I’m sorry, it’s just… it’s been a rather long day already, and it’s not even evening yet, or the twilight hour for that matter. Which means I probably shouldn’t be wasting more time than I have.” Twilight said as she went towards the window in Princess Celestias chambers.

“I understand Twilight, a lot has truly happened today, none of which is appearing to slow down anytime soon.” Celestia replied with a gentle smile. “And yes it would be wise for you to be on your way.”

Opening the full sized window, Twilight looked back at Celestia. “I’m glad you’re back, and no harm came to you… I really am, I missed you dearly when you were gone.”

“I understand Twilight, I missed you too, now go.” Celestia replied, as she urged Twilight to get started.

Nodding at her Twilight stepped onto the windows edge before finally jumping out, and flying off into the distance. Eventually ending up at the border of the Badlands, she paused hovering for a moment, looking this way and that. All as she tried to logically figure out where a forest may randomly appear. Then again this was by Discords comment… so was logic something she should be relying on? In either case, hovering around and doing nothing wasn’t going to get her anywhere, so in the end she decided to continue to flying down the center.

She didn’t know how many hours she had been flying, but she finally noticed something… odd, in the distance. Bringing herself closer, as she landed on the ground, perhaps more gracefully than she ever had before. She found herself in front of a forest, not just any forest either, it was as if it shifted between this reality and next. There were also those shimmering lights, and silver outlines, everything about it felt… strange, even though it was also the most beautiful forest she had ever seen. As everyone knows, beauty can be deadly, and whatever lied within it, Twilight had no idea if it would be friend or foe. Regardless there was only one direction she could go from here, and that was forward. Which is exactly what she did as her feet stepped into the forest, before she finally disappeared into it’s thickness.

Author's Note

My... my... my... I do wonder what strange things Twilight will encounter in the forest. No I don't I already know Bwahahaha. Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to the next chapter, I know I've certainly been looking forward to writing it for a few months now, and I am finally here yay.