To say that I was stunned at seeing a pony go through that portal would be an understatement. To say I was livid when said portal was home to a human version of Equestria, would be an understatement too.
"You mean to tell me you had portal to THAT place open this whole time?! Do you know what kinds of horrid creatures can come out of that thing? There are monsters WORSE than Pyramid Head, I should know; I've seen the movies, played the games. Celestia what were you thinking about keeping a portal to LIMBO open?!" Now, for those of you who do not know, we Displaced call the emptiness in between our universes many things. The Void, Hammerspace, Limbo, The Nothingness, I've even heard some call it just that: "The Emptiness". However, me being the kinda-sorta emissary of all things Trans-Dimensional in my universe, knowing a portal has been practically open for 500 years really brings things too my perspective. Case in point: The 1000 year old portal mirror standing in front of us.
"Starswirl couldn't have known that keep the portal open was dangerous, I'm sure if he did--"
"He and you would be gallivanting about in the Human world, you think I don't have eyes and ears Celly?" While it's true I was locked in stone for the better part of a 1000 years, I still had my minions and followers relay information to me. Celestia blushed red, whether with anger or embarrassment, it didn't matter. I sighed heavily. "Look Celestia, where or rather when did Ol' Bells for Brains get that kinda of magic? It had to be from someone who was a Displaced, whether it was me, or someone before I don't know, but I need to know."
She had a calm look on her face before she too sighed. "We saw you use a portal to go through other places. Star Swirl and I thought we could copy the magic you used, since it wasn't your magic to begin with." This made my ears prick, but I let her continue. "The Mirror worlds are just that, mirrors; parallels to other Equestrias that seem like ours but they are not. Star Swirl and I destroyed the mirror we thought was most dangerous had it been kept open." She said sagely.
"And which mirror was that?"
"...I'd rather not say. It is twisted place, nothing more needs to be said." She said in a very somber tone. She looked away from too, as if she were hiding something. Or maybe someone. I'll ask later though, we still have business to do. All of us, the Mane 6, Celly, Luna, Cadence, and Spike and myself were all standing by the Mirror that Sunset Shimmer, that was her name according to Celestia, had jumped though.
Luna and Celestia had been keeping hidden underneath a vault directly under the throne in Canterlot, and decided to give to Cadence as a way to test her responsibility. Either that, or it was a wedding gift, I don't remember. Anyways, according to The Moon here, it is only open for three days, every thirty moons. For those who can't do math, that's 2 and half years. So it's basically a mission where failure is not an option unless you want to be stranded for-fucking-ever. Great job, Jingles, you did good. Anyways back to the task at hand.
"Twilight," I said looking down at her. This place is extremely foreign, and I mean no exaggeration when I say that. If you need help, just call for me. Chances are I wont go through looking like Pyramid Head, but rather my real self.* So I'll be with you every step of the way. Alright?" I asked and she nodded as Celestia put saddle bags on her. Herself and I were about to step through when Rainbow stopped us.
"Woah, woah, woah! If you're going with her so are we!"
"Sorry Rainbow, you can't." I said pushing her aside. "The balance between worlds are delicate; letting Twilight through is bad enough, because Sunset is there already, I don't know about you but suddenly finding a twin of yourself would really put my head in for a spin. You could, big emphasis on could, kill your counter-part and/or erase the memories of that were close friends with her." They all had gotten concerned looks. "Like I said high risk here."
"I'm afraid Visk is right," Celestia said, "Sunset Shimmer being there is dangerous enough, but having all of you there at the same time would make things extremely stressful for whoever is on the other side. This must be done by Twilight and Visk alone." She said looking back at us. I nodded and Twilight gulped and slowly trotted over. She put her hoof to the Mirror and looked back at her friends one last time before walking in. Before I walked in I looked at Spike who had a nervous sweat and picked him up.
"Spike, are you scared for Twilight." Nod. "You want to come with?" Nod nod. "Good!" I proclaimed and football chucked him into the Mirror before striking a pose. "TImE To SPliT SOmE HEaDs!" I ran head first into the portal and the first thing I noticed was I was being stretched. A far cry from our portals, but I suppose pony magic and such. The kaleidoscope of colors made me feel ill for a moment before everything went black. I opened my eyes slowly at first, and stretched my limbs, only to here Twilight scream to the heavens. Thankfully she shut herself up.
"Oi, shush up will you? It's not the like first time you transformed." I said grumbling to myself. It felt like my head got hit with a hammer...a lot. She scoffed and looked me.
"Well look whose all weak now Mr. Fear and Terror. You got a scraggly beard that looks Rarity's cat after a bath!" She shot back and turned to her.
"It does not!" ..... "Lemme see..." I looked back at the mirror and ran fingers through it and in the process pulled my head down too. Knots, the worst enemy of the beards. "Fuck, need to get some brushes or combs or something." I looked at the rest of myself in the mirror, seeing the consistencies. Blonde-Brown hair, beard with traces of Red in it, eyebrows bushy as FUCK, everything was fine. Except for the eyes. I'm pretty sure eyes are not supposed to be red. "Now why is that? Why are you red...?" I said to myself looking at my eyes in my reflection. Granted I think red eyes are cool, if a little cliched, but I know for a fact that some ponies were born with red eyes, kinda like Vinyl, only hers were more maroon than red. Mine were supposed to be hazel, or green, not red... Wait...
"Twilight come here." I said still looking at my reflection.
"Yes?" She said. I turned to look at her and noticed she wasn't there. "Down here." I looked down and I flushed with embarrassment. I quickly realized we would get weird stares if she continued to stay at crouch height waist level, I grabbed her and quickly picked her up. She wobbled at first then balanced herself out.
"Rule number 1 about humans: What you did, that all fours things? That stays in the bedroom if catch my drift. Second, how unnatural is it for somepony to born with red eyes. I mean like a vermilion, a deep one."
She blushed for little bit before pondering my question. "I'd say about 1 in every 5000 ponies. Red eyes are said to have descended from a child of Sombra, Lumen, I think his name was. Why do you ask?" As she said this, she looked me in the eye and she took a step back. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it... It was just impulse, I'M SORRY!"
"Twilight! Twilight snap out of it!" I said shaking her back and forth, but she was just sobbing as if something terrible had happened. Thinking it was me I turned and shut my eyes. Her sobs slowed down, and I heard swallow thickly. I turned back around, with my eyes still covered. "Better?"
"Y-yes... Spike you still there?" She said Spike gave a concerned look at his sister. He was a doggo now, which was a little weird, but whatever. She turned away long enough for me to uncover my eyes, and she stuffed him in the backpack.
......
Backpack? My eyes widened as I turned and just I did, that horrid sound came from the building sitting in front of us.
BBBRRRRRIIIIIIIING!!!
"AW HELL!"