//------------------------------// // Return to Ayers Rock Pt1 // Story: Harmony Mouse // by ScarletRhine //------------------------------// Alex was glad Rarity was the fashionista she was, as she was wearing mouse sized explorer’s shorts as well as the rest of an explorist ensemble she made.  The group was riding in a jeep that Alex was able to buy with Flora’s help. Ashley was surprised to say the least when they found out as was everymouse else except for Flora and Ayumi. “I know you are an adventuress, darling.”  Rarity said. “But you never let on that you are rich.” Daring Do looked at the Rarity of this Earth and said, “She comes from an unbroken line of adventurers that’s been around for over 12000 years and spread over multiple realities and you never thought about it?” “Besides I’m rich and the most I’ve ever spent was on magic proofing the school and upgrading the lab.” Ayumi said “And most of my money comes from family as well.” Rarity looked a bit flustered and said, “I… I never thought about it.  It’s hard to wrap one’s mind around the idea a single family has been around for so long.” Alex sat on the dash as Ashley drove towards Howard’s Ayers Rock, she said, “Anymouse got one or more of the bottles of Flash Bee Honey?  Ayers Rock is surrounded by the new swamp in case anymouse forgot.” Ashley nodded, “Sure.  We need t’ be prepared for everything.  Right, Rarity?” “Quite right, Ashley” Rarity replied.  “On another subject, other that dreadful experience with breeding paralysis, how’re holding up, Alex?” “Honestly, I'm wondering about that too my young student.” Ayumi asked “You seem to be coping with it, but I have to wonder if I can help in some way?” “Figuring out how I can stay at human size without having to return to this size would help.” Alex said somberly.  “I feel that until my first heat ends in about twenty days, I’m going to have to stay close to somemouse in this group, or Hak Foo’'ll catch me and buck me until my belly is swelling. *SIGH*” Ayumi then hears Alex quietly mutter “I just hope I don’t have to get knocked up to be able stay at human size.” “I'll get my uncle Dirk Pitt to get his godfather on the search for any maritime references to Equissian Ships.  I might be able to finish the amulet if we can find some Equissian rope.” Daring  Do reached into her backpack and Said, “I always pack a coil of it.  You never know when it’ll come in handy.” After which she pulled a coil of rope out.  Alex let out a squeal of joy and hugged the equine adventurer the best she could at three inches. “You don’t mind if I pull out some string from one of the ends? The metal and gem work is done I just needed something strong that had mana inside it.” Ayumi said “Plus, I wanted uncle Dirk to meet Henry Jr.’s other heir. Besides Henry the third.” Meanwhile, elsewhere in the jeep, Micaela found the journal which told the story from Daring Do’s last book from Alex’s point of view.  Since she was bored, and from the label inside indicated it was going to be published, she decided to read it. Her eyes widened as she read the part where Daring Do was introduced.  When she read what Daring said to Alex, she pulled a wingboner and accidently smacked Pinkie and Rarity in the face with her wings. Both of them shouted, “RAINBOW, WHY’D YOU DO THAT?!?” This caused Daring Do to look and then say, “She didn’t do it intentionally. When excited pegasi’s wing muscles tighten and snap their wings, it is for a couple of different reasons. One is to quickly cool the body by increasing the surface area of said body. Two, this locks the wings in a glide state to keep the pegasus from falling out of the sky. And the last one is to spread their scent around though their wing oil. At least that’s what I can remember from sex ed at flight camp.” “Sorry.” Micaela said.  “I just read Alex’s side of the meeting between Daring Do and Alex.” Alex looked out the window of the Jeep Hummer before looking back the others. Her sensei was in the shotgun position  concentrating on the amulet, Ashley was driving, while Daring was in the center seat. Micaela was in the center of the back seat with Rarity  and Pinkie on either side. Twilight, Flora and the CMC were in the rear area. They were heading back to Ayre’s Rock, following a lead provided by none other than the Equestrian Princess of Friendship to find Meadowbrook's Satchel. Alex looked at her sensei and asked, “How do you sync memories, and can it happen naturally?”  She was rubbing her temple from a headache as well as a serious case of Déjà vu. As they grew closer to what Alex was mentally calling the  Everfree swamp, the anthro Scootaloo leaned on the seat and said to Micaela, “Why’re you so nervous around Daring Do big sis?” Michaela looked towards the pagasai  adventurer who was having a conversation with Alex who laughed at something she said. “I can’t understand why she seems to look at me with pride.”  She said. “But I don’t know except from the books about her and what Alex told everybody at the party.” “Maybe it’s because she’s the mom of the pony you.”  Scootaloo said with a grin. “It's true.” Daring Do said looking at her over her shoulder.  “I got caught in a breeding trap. Bow Hothoof rutted me to to free me.  Of course when I met him he was going by the adventuring name of Spectrum Flash.  I passed out when I came. When I woke I found him gone and a note. It told me he took RAINBOW in and the he was retiring from adventuring. I tracked him down and found out he married Windy Whistles and she had adopted Rainbow Dash.” Daring sighed. “She has done me proud.  Becoming a bearer of an element of harmony, being a member of a princess’s inner circle are the least of her accomplishments.” Ayumi had been musing over Alex's earlier question and asked, “Why do you ask?” Alex took a deep breath and replied, “Because of several dreams had in the past that felt too real to be dreams.” Ayumi motioned for Alex to continue. Alex took a deep breath and said, “I can remember three ‘dreams’ clearly at the moment.  One: I remember watching a male RAINBOW doing A Sonic Rainboom. The second, I remember looking up from a violet shoulder at a regal midnight blue alicorn with a night sky for a mane and telling me she was proud of me for befriending her sister’s student and being called her student.  And the third, and this one is hazy, me wandering in a labyrinth.” Pondering this for a moment, Ayumi finally reached a conclusion. “I know that not all of those happened in the same reality. If he were here, Maestro would probably call it ‘multiversal syncing.’ It hasn’t happened to many so far, but to know that you’ve experienced these dreams… maybe it’s starting to spread. Though the second is probably just the main timeline Luna contacting you about me. Selene has been trying to find her and Tia. She says they’re somewhere on Earth.” Alex thought a moment before saying, “I don’t think it was the prime equestria.   There wasn’t a thousand year period where Luna was banished to the moon in that world.” Alex watched the terrain move and change as they got closer to the new swamp.  As the swamp got closer, the ground got wetter. Alex frowned as they passed a row of drowned desert trees.  “Something’s wrong here.” She said in a worried tone. “The swamp shouldn’t be affecting the surrounding environment so fast.” Ashley looked at the downed trees while stopping the vehicle to avoid getting too close to the swamp.  “This ain’t natural, Ah’ll tell ya! Could it be Equestrian Magic leaking out all over this Earth?” Daring Do nodded before adding, “The Equestria-earth suffers from magic leaking from Equestria mostly from the gateway being forced open by the device Pinkie made.  This Earth has at least five natural gates that open up on their own. Possibly more.” Alex grew worried as she then said, “Add Doc Callaberalon’s using the Mirror of Laptrop Htrae to move freely between Earth and Equestria, plus Earth’s rising thaumic field may have caused a permanent gate to be accidentally created.” Twilight then put in, “Then Equestria’s magic would start leaking into this one and if the leak isn't plugged, Equestria’s magic would flow in at an increasing rate until both world’s magic has reached the same strength.” She turned to the others, and simplified. “In short, it would cause magical equilibrium.” Alex then said, “And that’s what causing the swamp to affect the environment as fast as it is.”  Alex rubbed her temple then added, “We better find that interdimensional breach soon, or there will be no way to close it.” Ayumi looked at her student and asked “Are you ok?  That looked like an early sync transfer.” “I don’t know.” Alex replied. They rode in silence, all the while growing closer to Ayers Rock and what the news media had dubbed Ayer’s Swamp.  They listened to the radio and learned that there was a travel advisory regarding travel to Ayer’s Swamp and Ayer’s Rock because of the flowers that cause Equestrian Swamp Fever and Flash Bees.  One piece of information lowered the spirits of everybody though. The news of an entomologist disappearing after he went into the swamp to study the flash bees. The only thing they found was his campsite with one of the new trees in the center and his journal. Alex face pawed at the news.  “You’d think a researcher would take the time to have the park rangers help him.”  Alex moaned. “That might be why we found that one ranger with swamp fever. He might have been with the guy; I think one of us should check it out. See if I'm right.” Ayumi said. Alex noticed what looked like a hastily built ranger station as they approached.  “We might get a chance looks like they built a station already, thought it looks like it was  in a hurry”