//------------------------------//
// II: Winter's Night 
// Story: My Little Pony: I'll See You on the Other Side 
// by Glow Stick 
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Chapter II: Winter’s Night

“I love you, too, mom.” 

That night, as I laid in my warm bed, I stared up at the ceiling with my eyes opened wide and affixed to a Wondercolts poster I put there. My mom’s old friend, Rainbow Dash, was once a Wondercolt. I had never seen anyone with more medals. For a time, I wanted to join a Canterlot High sports team, as well, but I was never good at athletic activities like that. Even though I had just begun my freshman year not long before, I gave up the idea of becoming a sports star, and instead decided to focus on a few clubs that interested me. However, after I found out about this other world that I could have been born into, my mind raced about all of the possibilities. I thought of dragons, flames, magical shields, Pegasi taking flight! I asked myself, what couldn’t happen in such a place?

I rested there, yet with eyes still wide open. My thin quilt was draped over most of my body, ending at my upper chest with both arms folded across outside. Through my window, headlights from travelling cars poured yellow light into my room. The beams distorted from the imperfect glass sprayed a colorful rainbow upon my white ceiling. With each new burst of light, the colors danced around in unison. All this did was add to my excitement. I wanted to see the wonders of this world. I wanted to see it all. It was almost as though I were there with these colors calling out to me.  

Yet, even though I felt so emancipated, my heart kept sinking lower and lower into my chest. For so long, it had only been the three of us. I felt so selfish for wanting to leave it. I finally managed to get some sleep after reassuring myself, two weeks. I would be there for only two weeks. I did not realize it until I awoke, but after I shut my eyes for two brief seconds to take in my excitement; I dozed off into a deep sleep. I was awakened by the sun’s light flooding my room. The bright rays of orange and white smacked against my closed eyes and forced me to get up and on with the day. 

All went as it normally would. I ate a rather disgusting homemade breakfast, took a shower, messed around with my sister, and wrote some in one of the various stories I had been working on since my early adolescence. I admit I never finished any of them. My mother, after returning from work, acted as though nothing had changed. We all had dinner together and watched some television. Hours passed and my excitement did not wane in the slightest. The sun crossed over the sky and made way for the rising moon. After what felt like an eternity, the day was over. The city lights prevented the beautiful stars from shining through, but no light anywhere was strong enough to block out the soothing glow of the moon. I soon retired to my bedroom, unsure of how I was feeling.  

When my former energy drained from my body, I began to doubt that she remembered our plan. I said nothing about it, and neither did she. It did not feel right to me to pester her about it. Suddenly, she knocked on my bedroom door. I was at my desk, trying my hardest to keep my head up high. Alarmed, I jerked my body around and watched as my mom entered my room with my sister at her side, holding hands. My heart jumped in its place. 

“Are you ready?” she asked me. Her eyes showed no signs of tears, nor was there a falter in her voice. I nodded my head, keeping my brows pressed down with my lips pulled into a slight frown. I was the one holding back the tears.   

“Then let’s go,” was her curt reply. “It’s getting late.”  

Without hesitation, I leapt from my seat, turned off my bedroom light, and shut my door as we all left. It was a cold night out, being late in the year. The icy air caressed my skin with frozen kisses, each breath I took was visible for all to see, and I could not prevent my arms and shoulders from their uncomfortable spasms. My coat did little to warm me, though I was not the only one of us three who was hindered by the weather. My younger sister shook more violently than I. To keep her warm until the car fully heated, I wrapped my arms around her as I sat in the back seat. 

With the only sounds being the car engine and whooshing from passing vehicles, we sped down our road and across town to the high school. There were few people outside and nearly every house light had been extinguished. Christmas decorations- lights, statues, blow-up dolls, and garlands adorned most of the houses and every street lamp. It was my favorite time of the year, but not because of the presents. No, I loved seeing the decorations in their full glory. When I left, our decorations were not yet placed, but every year we would set up a glorious fir tree and place upon it glass ornaments and candy canes of every color. Working on it together was worth a lack of presents, to me. 

I kept thinking about it as though I would miss it. Somewhere deep in my mind, I could not get this thought out of my head the whole while we made our way across the town. In the corner of my eye, I would see my mom look back in the mirror at me as I held my sister. I do not know why, but I pretended not to notice and looked away each time. Each time, I could see a silvery layer of tears gathering slowly upon her eyes. I never asked her about it, but it always felt to me that she could feel something off about everything as well. It was as though I were to never return. My stomach churned endlessly. 

She stopped the car at Canterlot High school, parking it along the side of the road. To our left was a vast courtyard before the school- a large brick building with many windows and golden decorations upon the domed central rotunda. The lit street lamps did not have the strength to fully brighten up the schoolyard, leaving the establishment bathed in a gray shadow. All that was clear was the stone statue of a horse standing on its hind legs, built upon a thick base in the middle of the yard, surrounded by a concrete walkway leading to the sidewalk and school entrance. 

Mom left the car running since my sister would remain inside, asleep. I gently left my place, keeping her head leaning against the seat. Mom and I stepped out into the cold and hugged tightly. When we parted, I shivered harshly from a sudden and fierce chill that swarmed the scene. Darkened clouds overhead cast their burdens upon us, emptying their icy glitter into the air. Glimmering in the light, the flurries pasted themselves to everything in sight. My hair, mom’s hair, our car, the grass, and the statue were all subject to this new invasion. 

Mom carried with her the book she used to contact Twilight the day before. She held it close to her chest and told me, “If you ever need to contact me, use the book Twilight has. And remember, you can always come back.” 

“Mom,” I began, “I plan to anyway.” 

She smiled and said, “I know. Please let me know how things go. I’ll miss you.” 

We hugged again, but briefly. When the snowfall grew more powerful, she pushed me away and said firmly, “You should probably go, now.” 

I had not noticed it at the time, but I looked around and affirmed her plan. I nodded confidently, smiling and keeping my eyes locked into hers. I backed away from her and approached the statue. Seeing nowhere else to go, I assumed this portal into Equestria was on it, somewhere. I did not have to wait long before my mom finally shouted, “It’s on the side closest to the school!” 

I felt around the statue until my hand reached through the stone surface of the statue effortlessly! My arm had vanished, and without looking back, I went through. I felt no pain, but I could feel my body changing and altering. I was blinded by intense lights as they danced all around me in a seemingly endless tube. My fingers had gone numb, as did my toes. My skeleton rearranged itself to support a horizontal spine, my neck thickened and lengthened, I grew a tail, my fingers and toes were replaced with hooves, and my pierced human ears pointed upward along the sides of my enlarged head. When the tunnel ended, I wobbly stood inside a library, balancing on two weakened hind legs.  

With a cry, I fell onto all fours. My knees trembled from my journey and my eyes still stung painfully from the shining lights that performed before a blind audience. I was there, a four-hooved pony in a library. Through several small and tinted windows, I could tell that it was night there, as well. I took baby steps away from the mirror that acted as the portal, along with the rudimentary contraption built into it. High above the mirror was a pedestal with a book placed within it. This book was the one my mom referred to me before I left- Twilight’s book. Unlike mom’s book, this one had a symbol of a sun on its front cover. 

I was engulfed by rows upon rows of books, thousands of books in every possible place inside this library. Purple and bluish crystals made up most of the walls, including the archways, pillars, stairs, and floors. Tapestries woven from fine materials hung from the stone walls between the crystal arches. Rugs equal in quality had been placed along the floors between tables and shelves of books. All was lit by ignited candles resting gently in gold and silver candelabras. 

My hooves clacked against the floor. I felt so unsure of each step, being unused to walking on four limbs. My new pony body made the learning process easier, however, as I was designed physically to do so. It was then that I noticed several changes to my senses. I could see more with my larger eyes, and I could pick up more sounds with my extended ears. My skin, blanketed constantly by a soft, orange fur, felt mostly warm despite the colder air inside the room. I even had an addition to my old body- a horn perched firmly upon my forehead. I was in absolute awe. 

After a few minutes of walking slowly from one shelf of books to another, I gained much more control of my footing. I raced over to one of the windows, hooves tapping against the crystal floor excessively. I pounded by fore hooves against the wall to each side of the window I approached and gazed out through the green-tinted glass. Alas, the sky beyond was far too dim to allow me to see anything. Yet, I could feel something just waiting eagerly for the day to come. I felt that if I stared long enough, I would see that of which I dreamt. Then, in the corner of my eye, I saw the largest and most illuminate moon in my entire life. 

The Equestrian moon hovered over the land, casting her ethereal light upon us, unfazed by the near coming of the next day. 

I was quickly interrupted from my moon watching by a pony I recognized from an old photograph. A purple pony with both a horn and set of feathered wings opened a door at the far end of the room with her magic, and entered calmly and collected with soft hoofsteps. Her mostly midnight-blue-yet-tri-colored-hair hung down the right side of her head and neck like a curtain, waving regally about even without any breeze. Her stature had increased since the picture was taken, as she stood much taller than I despite me being just barely younger then she during the time those pictures were taken. I backed from the window and crouched lower upon my forehooves, bowing. I wanted to show my respect. It was the first time I had to bow, ever.  

When she came up to me, she bent down and whispered into my ear, “You don’t have to do that.” Her voice was sweet, not quite delicate, and kindly. She used such soft language around everypony she met. She always smiled, said please or thank you, and acted like every other pony in the town. 

I nervously grinned, showing off my teeth with my brows bent inward. I chuckled and muttered, “I’m sorry.”

“So, you’re Sunset’s daughter, eh? What’s your name?” 

I told her, “Solar Shimmer, but most people call me Sol.” 

She smiled, “Welcome to Equestria, Sol.”

I smiled, but said nothing in return. I had a terrible catch in my throat. 

“Do you know what you’re here for?” she asked me.

I shook my head and said, “Not exactly, Princess Twilight.” 

“Twilight is fine, Sol. Your mother told me you wanted to see her home world. I can’t say I blame you.” 

“When she told me about this place, I didn’t really believe her until she showed me your picture.” 

With a grin, she replied, “I know that feeling, myself. Back when I first met your mother, I had to go after her into the world you’re used to. I know what it’s like.”

I did not say anything back, so she added, “Well, I’m going to make sure you see as much of Equestria as you can. How long do you plan on staying?”

I answered, “Two weeks.” 

“That should be plenty of time.”   

She turned her attention to the mirror. A peculiar purplish glow seemed to be running through the machinery. I thought it was odd that I had not noticed it earlier, but I blamed it on nerves and excitement. To add to the machinery, the book I saw before seemed to be powering it. Twilight, with her magic, picked up the book and carried it swiftly over to our location. As soon as the book was taken, the machine powered down, which most likely closed off the portal. I did not ask about it as I figured it was obvious. What else would all that machinery be doing? 

She slipped the book into a tan saddlebag strapped around her, and closed it tight. 

“It’s late,” she said. “Come with me.” 

I followed her out of the library and into a long, dark hallway. Like the library, everything was made from sparkling crystals or stone. It was pretty, sure, but I found the tapestries and paintings set up to be the most interesting aspect of the décor. Most of the tapestry banners hanging depicted ponies of all kinds, interacting with one another, or around certain landmarks. My favorite was a banner with a white Alicorn and a bluish Alicorn circling around a sun and crescent moon. The white Alicorn had a teal mane and tale. The other Alicorn’s mane and tail were dark purple in color, just barely darker than Twilight’s coat color. I later found out that this banner was the Equestrian flag, or a rendition of it.  

I was once again amazed when we entered the main chamber of what I would soon realize was Twilight Sparkle’s Castle- a rotunda of violet crystal, with six massive thrones arranged in a circle around a highly detailed circular map at the center of the room. Each throne had a cutie mark symbol high over the seat, one for each of Twilight’s friends and herself. Beside hers, which was marked by a large star, was a much smaller throne. Each throne, unlike the purple crystal everywhere else, was a light shade of pink. A few green windows let in some light, but most of the room was lit by the vast expanse above, where huge columns of crystal supported the stone walls holding the ceiling high, forming a fine point at the very top.  

I was so awestruck that I did not realize I stopped moving. I had never seen anything quite like it. Twilight cleared her throat, which took me out of my trancelike state. I shook my head, looked at her, and said, “I’m sorry!” My hooves pounded heavily against the floor as I hurried back to her side. 

“It’s fine! Really. I had the same reaction when it first appeared,” said she, calmly.  

Appeared? 

We pressed onward. I kept telling myself, expect strange things. Expect strange things. So, I expected strange things to happen with everything I saw. We walked outside of the castle. As in my home world, the Equestrian air was brutally cold with a sharp wind that tore away at my previous contentment. Being unclothed, I felt increasingly subject to the ferocity of the winter’s coming. My hair… mane… blew wildly in the wind. The chill stung at my eyes, causing them to water. I could hardly see, and although the Equestrian moon provided much more light then the Earth’s moon, all around us was nothing more than thick shadow. It was by Twilight’s magic glow that I was able to open my eyes and see where we were going. 

We wandered into a town seemingly in the middle of nowhere. In every direction I looked, I could see nothing but hills and mountains. The roads we walked on were mostly dirt, though a few near the center of town were made with small stones. Almost every house was timberframe, with straw thatched roofs and overhanging upper floors. The ones on the outskirts of town were more spread out, while those within the town itself were built close together. I saw few lights in the windows, but I could distinctly smell the wood burning fireplaces. 

I tried my best to get my bearings, but the flame-lit lamps were rather inefficient at lighting the streets properly. It could have just been me, though. I do not remember just how well I was paying attention. I was mostly trying to keep up with Twilight. We walked quickly through town, and eventually stopped near the center in front of an immense, hollowed-out oak tree. The small windows carved into the side of the tree glowed bright yellow, and smoke poured from a small chimney near the barren crown. 

She pulled the door open and let me enter first. I found myself standing inside a hollowed-out tree that had been turned into a library, albeit much smaller than the one inside the castle. It was warm inside and very comfortable. I could smell flowers, burning firewood, and books. There was a spiraling staircase going around the side of the wall leading to higher levels, with niches cut out all over for books and more books. I had been in Equestria for a good fifteen minutes, and I had already seen over one thousand books at least. 

“Home, sweet, home,” Twilight announced.