What if you could change the story of a beautiful friendship ?
It was a day like any other. I dreamed of my place far away from the cruel real world in which I live. Everything is perfect , when suddenly something comes from a different world into my world . And I saw something I never saw outside the real world. A beautiful rainbow! But it seemed familiar, as if I had seen it somewhere before.
4 years. I have been living here for 4 years, partly. Over the day I am a simple salesman and help people to get what they want. I see them coming, I see them leaving. It's always the same procedure. But at night, when I sleep, I'm in another world...In my world. I'm in New York, Central Park Zoo. To be more precisely, in the universe of „Penguins from Madagascar"!
Of course, I'm not really there. You could call me a kind of „Dreamrunner" or „Sleepwalker" who can control every detail in his dream. All I have to do is to express a wish and it will come true. Besides, everytime I wake up I can remember everything from my last dream. I discovered this gift very early as a child to isolate myself from the terrible world in which I grew up. Things weren't going easy for me as a child and I had to endure many things. Growing up outside my parents' house…bullying at school…you name it. Anyone who has ever been through something like this could understand why I looked for a place where they couldn't hurt me.
You've probably never heard of the 'Marjanski' universe before, but that's perfectly understandable. It's the name of my dream world that I gave her over time. You will find the reasons for this in other stories which happened before the time of MLP. Let me briefly give you an insight into this wonderful world.
Of course the penguins Skipper, Private, Kowalski and Rico are living here, too. I love spending time with them. They make me laugh when I've had a sad day, and here I can do anything I can't do in the real world. I can replay whole episodes from the series with them and experience the adventures together. Of course, I'm only a little bigger than the penguins, but Kowalski is just as big as me. If I had the proportion of a real person, it would look pretty weird.
I have also made other adjustments to the dream world. I drive a very famous pony car from the 80s with a beautiful light blue paint job. I also some kind of plane, which is rather just a small spaceship. It is originally taken from a computer space game, the only thing that I modified was the speed. It is now much faster, that's why it's called „The Dashing Buzzard". And I also made two changes to New York. In Lower Manhattan, two majestic towers rise into the air, tragically ripped out of the real world. Just like a well-known cruise ship, which is always anchored at Pier 54. Just in case I would like to travel. I am the only human being in this world, but there is somebody I would like to mention anyway.
A charming Otter lady with the most beautiful name in the world: Marlene. She was the one who helped me the most in the past and saved me from the one or the other stupidity I wanted to commit. I owe her my life and I will always stay by her side.
You see, it is a wonderful world. And the special thing about it is that it is unique. But I never expected anything unique to happen in my world. And that is where this part of my story begins…
Chapter 1 - The Crossover
„To all employees: Have a nice evening," I heard over the shop's loudspeakers as I put the last goods on the shelves.
It was Saturday.
„And another week is over, time for the next one", my colleague laughed as we both left the market, and we made our way home.
I didn't lose any thoughts of the work. At that moment my thoughts were only with the next week. I was on holiday there. Several questions asked themselves: How will I spend my free time? Should I invite friends? Cycling? So many good ideas, but I only had one week.
When I left the shop I felt the last rays of sun in the sunset touching my face. The sun had almost set and yet I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin. The sun coloured the blue sky slightly reddish. It was a breathtaking play of colours. I could see the whole splendor of the sunset, because not a single cloud stood in the blue sky. It was like the feeling of freedom. I wish I could enjoy the sunset a few more minutes longer, but time was pressing. I still had to take the subway home and didn't want to be home too late.
The trip lasted a while and I sank more and more into my thoughts about what I could do on my vacation. When I arrived at my station and made my way to my home, it was already dark. The moon was shining bright, the stars sparkled. There was almost nobody left on the street, the whole city was quiet. I landed exhausted in the front door and put down my work things immediately. When I finally got home, I decided to turn on my PC to see what new emails were being sent to me, but it was just the usual spam. I wasn't planning on doing anything that evening, so I decided to turn off the PC and start the first night of my vacation with what everyone can do best: And just as I was sleeping in. And just as I was returning to my dream phase, my other world opened up in my sleep. Now I was really home again...and the sun was shining high in the sky.
„Hello, my dear. How are you today?" I greeted Marlene as I visited her in her enclosure.
„Oh fine, like always. You know, like every evening," she smiled at me.
I knew exactly what she meant. It has been many years since I discovered this connection to this world. A possibility to escape into my own world. Of course it sounds like I'm mentally ill or delusional now, but I've never brought it up before either. Not to any psychologist, not to any other person, not even to my own parents. Not even I knew how that could happen. At one evening many years ago I was suddenly here and from then on that happened every evening. Every time I slept, I was „sleepwalking" through my world. I noticed how I lost myself again in old thoughts and decided to distract myself a little and went to my spaceship to fly a few rounds over the city.
When I flew to the front part of the city, I went into hovering flight and looked at the blue sky. There was something special about it and it fascinated me to observe this phenomenon. On my skin I felt the warmth of the sun and I closed my eyes to enjoy the silence. But the silence was suddenly interrupted by quiet voices that I began to hear.
„I..." „How long have you know about this?" „I...I am so...so...sorry." „HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ABOUT THIS?"
I opened my eyes again and looked around. There was nobody here except me. It would be new to me that they were ghosts in my dream world. It sounded as if a child was arguing with a man. The man was very upset and the child sounded very disappointed. Something I have never heard before, at least not in this world. Fighting people were the order of the day on earth, but here? I had to find out what was going on here. I wished I knew where these voices came from.
When I expressed my wish, something caught my attention. A soft sound that became louder and louder until it became as loud as an airplane. It came from the direction of the twin towers. When I looked through between the towers, a bright white light shone followed by a blast wave that shook the whole spaceship. Then I recognized a rainbow-coloured circle that seemed to get bigger and bigger. Something flew directly towards me out of the middle of that circle. Thanks to my thrusters I was able to avoid the object immediately so that it didn't hit me. It was too fast to recognize what it was. It flew past me and drew a rainbow line behind it. Then it slowed down and finally landed on the upper viewing platform of the South Tower.
I couldn't understand what had just happened. When I could collect my thoughts again something I tried to find the object, which had appeared suddenly. So I flew slowly onto the observation deck of the South Tower. The creature didn't notice my presence at first when I landed. I opened the cockpit and slowly got out to not frighten the creature. It sat completely still at the edge of the skyscraper. I didn't even know what it was and yet I could hear it crying and sobbing. When I approached closer I could recognize the shape. It was a...little pony, with rainbow coloured mane and light blue fur.
I was completely overwhelmed with the situation, because I had no idea how I should deal with the situation. That was really a little blue pony. But here? In my own world? There was no physical, imaginable or extraterrestrial possibility how this could happen here…
„Hi there."
I waited, but she didn't react.
„Uh, what are you doing here," I continued.
„Daddy?"
I was confused. Did the pony just call me „Daddy"? I had to react somehow. So I kept trying to talk to her. I could tell by her voice that she was a mare even though I had never heard a mare talk before.
„No, but I'm a good friend. Who are you then?"
I sat down next to it, but it turned away from me. The pony seemed very agitated, so I tried to calm her down first.
„Look, I'm not going to hurt you, or something else in this world. You're safe here." She turned her head over to me and looked at me from top to bottom. Her eyes were filled with tears. Then she sniffed briefly and nodded to me. Thereby I could recognize her bright pink eyes.
„Oh...okay," she said shyly.
I was so relieved when she said that sentence. The first step was taken. But before I could ask any more questions, she started to look around.
„Where am I?" she asked me as a tear flowed down her nose.
„You are in New York. To be more precisely, in my New York, my world. How did you get here?"
She looked confused into the sky.
„I can't remember. I flew as fast as I could when I saw the truth. That is all".
„The truth?" I asked carefully.
She turned to me and her facial expression became more desperate.
„The truth that I'm just a fictional character from a children's TV show!"
I flinched when she yelled at me. She looked at me and noticed that her behavior scared me.
„Sorry I yelled at you." She turned away from me again.
I moved closer to her and put my arm around her back. I felt her wings folded like a bird. She was a Pegasus pony. I only knew such horses from Greek mythology, but why did she wonder that she was an imaginary figure? But I knew that I shouldn't confront her now. So I tried to figure out her problem.
„It's all right. Look, everything you see here is fictitious. How else could you visit my world? You are something special. You live in the real world and at the same time you can travel to the fictional world. This is something that has never existed before. Not even in my world." I smiled at her.
„Can you help me, please? I don't know what to do", she asked me.
I did not know how to help her. But I didn't want to leave her just like that. I had to find a solution.
„Of course I will help you. But what are you going to do? Where are you coming from?"
She began to tell me about her home. Everything she told me, about her world and her father, indicated that she came from the earth. That was unimaginable for me until now, but I had the proof sitting right next to me. I was glad that she had somehow landed in my world. So much could have happened to her on earth. If only another person had seen her, who knows what the consequences would have been.
I told her that I also came from the earth and she listened attentively to me how I got into this world. She was the first being I told this story to. It was a nice feeling to finally have someone to talk to about it. Besides, it gave me a little time to calm her down.
I really wanted to introduce her to the others. So she accompanied me as we flew down to Central Park Zoo.
When I arrived downstairs and climbed out of the cockpit, everyone was waiting for me. But I didn't see the blue pony anymore and the others also looked around confused. She was just next to me and now she was gone?
„You don't have to hide yourself. These are my friends." I shouted loudly.
Then the rainbow mane appeared behind my spaceship and she lifted her little head to look at us with her pink eyes. Then she slowly approached my friends with her head lowered. Marlene was the first who was walking towards her. I was totally nervous about how she would react, especially as Marlene was twice the size of the pony.
„Don't be afraid, little one. You are here among friends. What's your name then?"
The pony looked at her with big eyes and answered:
„Rainbow Dash...my name is Rainbow Dash."
„Nice to meet you, Rainbow Dash. My name is Marlene."
Marlene slowly leaned down to her and examined her appearance, the blue fur and the rainbow mane.
„Oh, I see where you got the name from. Your great mane told me," she said, slowly stroking her paw through her rainbow-coloured mane.
Rainbow Dash didn't seem to be afraid of it. When Marlene had broken the ice, everyone introduced themselves. It was such a beautiful picture to see two worlds united in that moment. But I had to remember that I had to bring her back.
„Marlene, Rainbow Dash needs our help. She's from the real world and she needs to get back home."
„From the real world? How is that possible?" Marlene looked at me helplessly.
Then Rainbow Dash told them what she had already told me. Everyone listened to her curiously, but I had to look at her constantly to understand how it was possible for her to come here. In the end, Kowalski was rubbing his head.
„So travel or transport to another place? That's a piece of cake for me, at least in this world. But how are we supposed to get them back into the real world?" he asked me in astonishment.
I didn't have the slightest idea either. I hoped Kowalski would know the answer, but he tried to think of a solution. Marlene made an irritating noise, so Kowalski looked at her. She pointed at me with a grin on her face. Kowalski looked back and forth a few times until he suddenly closed his eyes and rubbed his fin back and forth under his beak.
„So, you say she comes from the earth?" I nodded. „You also come from the earth..." I nodded again. „Well, maybe you could take her with you?"
What did he just say? Take a fictitious character with you into the real world? I've never thought about it before. I was the only one who could switch from my dream world to the real world. How would that work with someone else from my dreams? That didn't make sense.
„Maybe I can build a machine that will be able to take Rainbow Dash with you when you wake up.
„Kowalski, we are in my dream world! How is that supposed to work?" I wanted to know.
Marlene stood in front of me.
„Do you remember when you first arrived here? There must be a connection. If not you wouldn't be here." she said to me.
She had a good point, so I agreed.
„I trust you, Marlene. So, Kowalski, how long will it take for you to build that machine?"
„It could be ready by tomorrow. I already have a prototype for...personal experiments."
Kowalski held a picture of Doris the dolphin in his fin. Doris was one of Kowalski's former girlfriends and he was hoping to use a transport machine to find her current location and be with her again. I still thought it would be impossible to travel to the real world with it, but I didn't want to destroy hope.
„Did you hear that, Rainbow? You can go home again tomorrow. How does that sound?"
Rainbow began to radiate and jumped up and down with joy.
„I can go home? I can go home! That's incredible!" she shouted with enthusiasm.
„Well, Rainbow. It will take at least until tomorrow. What are we doing in the meanwhile?"
When she calmed down again, she looked at my spaceship.
„Is it fast?" she grinned.
„The fastest thing you can find in this world. I call it the 'Dashing Buzzard'.
When I said the word 'Dashing', her pink eyes began to shine.
„How about a little race? The loser shows the winner the city," she said confidently.
She was sure that I would lose, so I got involved in the game to change that.
„Challenge accepted. Where are we going?"
„We are flying down to the two big towers, go around them and fly the way back here."
So we got ready. I jumped into my buzzard while Kowalski retreated to his lab with the other penguins. Marlene watched us in joyful anticipation.
Normally I flew at half speed, but in this case I had to make an exception. Fortunately my ship had a few tricks up his sleeve to make sure I could at least win the first seconds for me. As my buzzard rose into the air, I noticed Rainbow knocking on my cockpit window as a short signal.
It became quiet, then I counted down…
3… 2… 1… GO!
I pushed the throttle forward to the maximum and ignited the boost. We started at the same time with a big bang from the start. I noticed how the shock wave made everything tremble behind us. It was a powerful feeling. Then I looked over to Rainbow for a moment. She was looking straight and concentrated. When we arrived at the twin towers, we turned around. I shortened the curve by flying between the towers, but she shot straight up into the air. I didn't know what she was up to, so I hurried and gave full thrust towards Central Park. When I looked over me from the cockpit, I recognized a rainbow that Rainbow Dash was pulling behind her. She was very fast, but I could still win the race. But suddenly there was this loud bang again and a huge circle of rainbow colours shone in the sky, just like I had already seen it. Then she raced at a speed that was impossible to beat. At this point the race was quickly decided. She had won.
I arrived ten seconds later and landed next to her.
„Rainbow Dash, that was great!" I cheered.
„Thank you. But your plane really deserves its name." she said, slightly exhausted.
Now I had lost the bet. I was supposed to show her the city. She asked me if I could carry her because she looked pretty tired. I mean, it must be pretty exhausting to compete against a spaceship. So I piggy-backed her, noticing how light she was. I really wanted to show her something special at Pier 54.
It had become evening by now and the sun was setting slowly as we arrived at the pier. It didn't take long before Rainbow Dash noticed the great R.M.S. Titanic. She looked at the ship with big eyes and awe.
„That's a huge boat!" she shouted.
I had to smile.
„Rainbow, this is a ship! They are always so huge." I laughed because I knew this scene from the Titanic movie.
„Hey, what's so funny about it?"
„Oh, it's nothing. That has something to do with the earth. Oh, earlier you called me Daddy, Rainbow. Why?"
„Because you spoke to me like he did. Those were the first words my dad said to me. And to be exact, you look a bit like him." she giggled.
That her father almost looked like me made him likeable. Probably we would understand each other well. But first Rainbow had to go back again. I tried to change the subject so as not to cause any grief in her.
„That's sweet, Rainbow. By the way, do you like to sing?"
„I have never really sung. Sometimes I whistle a little," she admitted.
„I think I just remembered a nice song that I happened to pick up randomly.
„Can I hear it?"
„Sure.
A true, true friend helps a friend in need A friend will be there to help you see A true, true friend helps a friend in need To see the light that shines from a true, true friend
„Hey. That sounds really nice. Can I sing it with you?" I asked.
„Of course, go ahead."
Then she started singing.
A true, true friend helps a friend in need A friend will be there to help you see A true, true friend helps a friend in need To see the light that shines from a true, true friend
„Impressive, Rainbow. You have a wonderful voice."
„You really liked it? Thank you."
„You're welcome."
She really had a beautiful voice. We spent the rest of the evening singing our ears full and telling jokes. She was also very good at that. Unfortunately I had to wake up sometime again and so I said goodbye with the promise to return at the next evening.
It was 5.30 o'clock, my training time. My alarm clock had torn me out of my dreams again. I was supposed to start my morning exercise now, but I couldn't stop thinking about this dream. Did that really happen or did I only dream it? Slowly I was worried if I would forget what was real and what was fictitious. The fact that I have moved out of my parents' home and lived alone since then didn't help very much in this case.
I just had to know who Rainbow Dash was. I tried my luck on the most popular search engines on the Internet and I found what I was looking for.
My search brought me to the series „My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic", which was a children's series for girls and Rainbow Dash was one of the ponies that appeared in it. It was strange to see pictures of her on the internet. Apparently the whole world knew who she was. But I not only found the pictures from the series, there were also many pictures that people drew themselves and many looked really good. However, no picture came close to the original, what I had run…or better flew…into, yesterday.
But even if I had found her now, I couldn't see anything at a glance that could help me with her problem. Did I perhaps have other clues than just her name? Those strange voices…one of them belonged to her. I tried to remember what she screamed before she appeared in my world.
„HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ABOUT THIS?"
It made me nervous to remember that moment again. It sounded like a pretty unpleasant situation. But I had no choice. Hopefully, I typed the one I heard with her name into the Internet search engine. I became nervous, as the search engine gave me one result. I couldn't believe I had found anything. But probably I was happy too early and it was something trivial. When I clicked on the link, I came across an incomplete story called „My Little Dashie" by an author named ROBCakeran53.
I tried my luck and took a look over the document until I found what I was looking for. These lines were only written today. I was overcome by a feeling of relief but also goose bumps when I read the passage. It was written exactly as I heard it. It was she who had actually screamed. Of course I didn't know in which context the whole thing was written. So I started to read the story
from the beginning...line by line...sentence by sentence. The story was so gripping that I didn't even notice how the first hours of my vacation day slowly went by…
In the evening I had the story as good as through. It was probably one of the most moving stories I had ever read. Tears flowed down my face as I came to the point where the story took a sad turn. Until then, it was a wonderful story about the little Pegasus foal Rainbow Dash from „My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic", found and raised by an unknown man who had the worst time of his life behind him. But the two got into a fight when Rainbow Dash found out that she was a fictional character from the children's TV show. Then she flew away. And here the story suddenly stopped. That wasn't what I expected.
Instead of finding answers to my questions, now more questions have opened up. Was that it? Did I end up in a dead end? Have I been searching for answers all this time just to end up in confusion now? The story had to go on. Nevertheless, I tried to sort out what I had already read. First I had not recognized the connection to what happened yesterday in my dream. Then only one thought shot through my head. Now everything was so clear, there was no doubt. And even if it was impossible, it still happened. Rainbow Dash landed in my dream world because I had wished for it.
After this eventful day I returned to my dream world and was back in Central Park. I couldn't see any of the penguins, Kowalski still didn't seem to be ready with his invention to solve Rainbow Dash's problem. So this time I decided to show Rainbow Dash the city in my car. She had probably never driven her dad car before. I think it would be fun for her to experience the adrenaline you get when you completely hit the gas pedal on these old pony cars. But that shouldn't be the case. Kowalski ran towards me and was overwhelmed that he had finished his invention. My only thought now was that she could go back to her father. I could have hesitated the time out, but I didn't want it. I just had to tell her, as hard as it was for me. I just saw her playing ball bounce with Marlene.
„Rainbow? The machine is ready. You can go home again." I shouted.
Her pupils became very big. She showed great enthusiasm and dropped the ball.
„Really? Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" she shouted and flew as fast as she could to Kowalski's lab.
It seemed easier for her than for me. She really had to love her father. But that was okay, after all I wasn't her dad. Maybe she would remember that I helped her. Or she would just forget me after some time with her dad. It would probably be like that, but I didn't want to change anything. She belongs to her daddy, not to me here. A few moments later we stood in front of the machine that Kowalski had developed.
This machine looked strange. It had two glass capsules with one bed inside each. But behind these chambers there was a strange apparatus shining like a white triangular cross. On the box surrounding the object, I could only see the warnings: „DISCONNECT CAPACITOR DRIVE BEFORE OPENING; SHIELD EYES FROM LIGHT".
Typically, Kowalski always had such a weakness for as many warning signs as possible. Recently he built a mirror with the inscription „OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE ONLY REFLECTIONS" to the Penguin emergency vehicle.
„So, if my calculations are correct, Rainbow Dash will land on Earth at 5:30 AM precisely, thanks to my machine, with a deviation of 5 meters from your position." he said.
I didn't know how it would work, but Rainbow Dash seemed completely convinced that it would work. She stood in front of the machine and took a firm look.
„I'm ready," she said.
„Me too," I agreed.
We both lay in one chamber and Kowalski closed the lid. Now there was no turning back. Either the machine is successful or...Rainbow Dash won't see her father again.
„Okay, let's go," Kowalski said and put a lever on that started the machine.
When I only saw a white light through the glass, I heard Kowalski calling:
„Now the moment has come to wish you something! Wish that Rainbow Dash could travel with you to Earth!
I closed my eyes and expressed the wish in my thoughts:
I wish that Rainbow Dash could travel to earth with me!
Then it became quiet. I opened my eyes and saw the blurred contours of my room. The clock next to my bed showed 5:30 and I was awake.
„Did it work?" I asked myself.
I looked around my room... Nothing…
Where was she? She was just next to me. Everything was going so well. Marlene and Kowalski promised me that it would work. So why wasn't she here?
Then I realized the situation again. It was just a dream. How could I have guessed that something like that would work? It just happened in my head, of course it had no influence on reality. But then I heard a knock from the balcony window.
I immediately checked where the sound was coming from. I opened the curtain to the balcony window and...saw her sitting there. She looked at me with big eyes.
I couldn't believe it. Rainbow Dash followed me into the real world. I saw her right in front of me. Her blue fur, rainbow mane and pink eyes. She looked so adorable that I had almost forgotten to open the door for her.
„Hi again, um... Would you mind letting me in?" she shouted through the window.
I opened the door for her and she entered my flat. Sure, it wasn't the biggest one, but it was enough for me. What an experience that was for me. Rainbow Dash was now really here in reality and ran through my apartment. But then I thought about it. From that moment on I had a strange sense of responsibility for her. I had to make sure that nothing would happen to her until she was reunited with her father again. Carefully I left my apartment with her to go on the street. I made sure no one saw us. When we were standing under the open sky, it was clear to me what will happen next.
„Are you sure you know the way from here?" I asked her.
„I have to fly south. There I can orient myself by the big mountains. There is a huge forest near my daddy's house. I often see it from above, so I'm sure I'll find it."
She seemed to be ready for her journey, there was no doubt about that. Sure, I didn't want to let go, but my heart told me that was the right decision.
„Well, I think it's time to say goodbye. It was a pleasure to meet you Rainbow Dash. I am sure you will have a happy time with your father."
Suddenly she hugged me.
„Thank you. I will never forget what you did for me. Take care."
A few tears ran down our faces. We met only three days before.
„Oh, no big deal," I replied embarrassedly.
Then she looked up at the sky and I knew she would fly away at any moment.
„Come on, you certainly don't want anyone to see you crying, Rainbow," I giggled.
She grinned at me as she spread her strong wings.
Then she flew into the sky as fast as she could. It only took a few seconds for her to disappear on the horizon. The only thing I could see was this mighty rainbow following her. I hoped no one else had noticed it. It was early in the morning, so there were not many people on the street.
I looked at the rainbow until it slowly faded. Then I started my day. I needed to do something, something to get my head free. So I took my bike and spent the day at the fresh air.
When I came home from my tour, I took a look at my computer and saw that it happened. „My Little Dashie" was continued.
I open my eyes from the sudden sound, and look to my left. I'm shocked at what I see before me, looking at me with teary eyes herself. Dashie, my little Dashie, covered in burrs and tree sap along her mane and tail, is standing a couple feet from me. She is wet, with both rain and tears. I hadn't heard her approach, then again being a Pegasus she was very quiet and light on her hooves.
I was so happy that she made it. Now I could dedicate myself to my life again, and now I still have many new things to experience in my dream world. I could hardly wait to be honest. This would be the best time of my life.
It's been 10 years now. At work I have developed professionally and can now take on managerial tasks. I am now working in administration. In the meantime my company has been set up in such a way that I can do the job comfortably from home on the computer. What actually only means to me: Relaxing, enjoy the peace and quiet...and also life as far as it was possible. In real life I'm actually more of a stay-at-home. I don't travel much. But when I go out, I try to make the whole day worth living for me. But even if a lot had happened in these 10 years, I remember of course every day my meeting with Rainbow Dash, and that was also an event, which I will not forget so fast.
I haven't heard from her since that day. The last thing I noticed all those years ago was that „My Little Dashie" was continued and I realized how important it was for Rainbow to be back with her dad again. Probably Rainbow didn't tell her dad about me or just forgot me after all this time. And I don't mean that sarcastically. It was important for me that both were together again. And now I'm lying here again in my dream world lazily on the green meadow and see the sun slowly setting again as I looked at the Twin Towers again.
„Do you think I'll see her again sometime, Marlene? Will we ever sit on that roof together again?" I asked.
„I don't know. But I can tell you one thing. Since she came into this world, we also feel something at the sight of the two towers. I don't know how, but somehow you have brought them to life.
„You said that beautifully, Marlene."
Suddenly I noticed how a magic ball formed in front of us. I could see six ponies standing in there, one of them was very big and seemed to wear a crown. As the magic ball dissolved, a lilac-coloured unicorn came running towards me and looked around in amazement.
„Here I had seen Rainbow. She was here, for sure!" she shouted to the big pony.
Her eyes immediately fell on me. I was also astonished why ponies with magic can now be transported into my dream world, but I did not want to be rude and greeted them and walked towards the purple unicorn.
„Stop, Human! Don't you dare to get closer to us." called the big unicorn behind her. The others immediately took cover behind her.
„Be calm, I don't want to do anything to you! What are you doing here?" I said slightly frightened.
„Princess Celestia, is it dangerous?" asked the purple unicorn.
„I'm not sure, Twilight..." the pony looked at me skeptically.
„I am not dangerous. You are safe here. This is not the earth, nobody will hurt you..."
Then they looked at Marlene, who still couldn't believe what was happening.
„All right, Human..." the princess said in a calmer voice „Where is she?"
I knew immediately who they were talking about.
„I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash isn't here."
„WHERE IS SHE?" she yelled at me, so I had to take a few steps back.
„You...you missed her...she hasn't been here for a very long time..."
„What have you done with her?" the princess said now angrier, her horn began to glow yellow. Then Marlene intervened.
„We don't have Rainbow Dash. She's back home on earth again."
„On...the...earth?" said the princess and her gaze froze. „...How dare you to..."
Now my patience was at the end. I couldn't hold myself back anymore.
„Tell me, what is your problem? What kind of royal stag do you think you are to..."
„Stop right there…" said the princess threateningly.
„No, now you shut your mouth, you stubborn git!" I shouted at her.
The princess and the ponies stopped bewildered, as did Marlene, who stared at me diagonally from the side. But I wanted to say this sentence to someone too gladly times.
„I don't know what your damn problem is, but we haven't done anything to you, but you come here and threaten us. Listen carefully, this is my dream world and if you want to stay I suggest that you tell us what you want from Rainbow Dash. Otherwise you can go right back to where you came from."
The princess thought about her next words as the purple unicorn slowly stepped forward.
„We're...sorry, we didn't mean to be rude, but it's urgent. We're looking for Rainbow Dash to bring her home again. When I set out to search for her with a spell, I saw this place. That's why we're here."
I crouched down to the purple unicorn.
„I thank you. Twilight was the name, right? Too bad you're not a princess. Otherwise Celestia could learn a lot from your behaviour." I grinned.
From Twilight's mouth came only a shameful giggle, which was very unpleasant for Celestia. But apparently she realized that I had no bad intentions, so her facial expression became more relaxed.
„Well...I think I have to apologize too. I just hadn't expected to meet a human being."
„What is so bad about the fact that I am a human being?"
The ponies also looked at Celestia questioningly.
„This is not the right time to explain that, but I am asking you to help us. How did Rainbow get to earth?"
„I am responsible for it. When Rainbow Dash appeared in my world, we were looking for a way to bring something from the dream world into the real world. After all, we had a solution..."
I went with them to the HQ of Penguins, where Kowalski showed his invention. The ponies looked at the penguins skeptically at first, but Twilight immediately showed an interest in the machine and examined it.
„That's very interesting! How does it work?"
Kowalski cleared his throat and began:
„Well, apparently it is possible to create an interuniversal connection by means of quantum corelation and terrestrial provenance. Thus Rainbow Dash was able to reach Earth."
The ponies stared at him in bewilderment. Only Twilight was fascinated by his words.
„But doesn't travelling at the same time create a chronology dilatation counter-reaction?"
„If the quantum corelation does not stop the chronology dilatation counter-reaction, I have integrated a metric variable to automatically adjust the destination of the composition if necessary. Fantastic, isn't it?" Kowalski said enthusiastically.
„Fantastic!" cheered Twilight.
„Uh yes, mister." said the orange pony, „But ah have a question: How does it work again?"
Giggling spread around in the group, but I already knew how the machine worked.
„Through me, the machine makes sure everyone in the other capsule gets into mine."
„But it only works in one direction, doesn't it?" Twilight said, „How do we get back? Besides, the machine is way too small for all of us."
Kowalski thought for a moment.
„It might be possible that..."
He brought out a stack of blueprints under the table.
„Why didn't I think of it earlier? I could have built my Chronotron right from the scratch! But it is possible..."
„Would you share your knowledge with the class, Kowalski?" I asked him.
„I could convert the machine into a portal to make a permanent connection. Oh I can hardly wait! Little unicorn, would you like to help me with my work?"
Twilight was very happy about the invitation and went straight to work. The other ponies watched the two with interest as they worked, but Celestia asked me to talk to them in private outside the laboratory. As we stood outside she turned away from me at first.
„It was wrong of me to think that you were a danger to me and my ponies. You know, there was a time when I lived among humans, but many of them were not friendly to me. It's nothing personal, I just wanted to protect my ponies".
„I understand that well, Celestia. In my life I have also met many people who have often brought me nothing good. And I can understand how concerned you are about Rainbow Dash's safety on earth. But I can tell you that she is with a good person who takes care of her."
„Thank you for your understanding. I hope we can find her soon."
We spent the whole day in the lab and the ponies talked to the penguins about all kinds of things, apparently both sides were interested in learning from each other. By now it was almost evening when Twilight and Kowalski were finished. I just hoped that my alarm clock wouldn't drag me out of my dream beforehand. When we looked at the machine again the two beds had disappeared and instead a large metal ring with a big sphere was hanging over the ground and was attached to three giant steel pedestals. The construction was largely made of wood, but it looked stable.
„Come on in. Just stand under the ring together and we can get started."
Twilight absolutely wanted to try out the machine right away, but the anticipation of the other ponies was limited. Celestia and I were the last to join them.
„Everybody ready? Then it's time to wake up!"
Kowalski pulled on a lever and in the next moment I saw black in front of my eyes. I tried to grab something around me and noticed that I was lying in my bed. I opened my eyes and looked around. It was very early in the morning. I looked around my room and looked at the balcony. Apparently it was a bit bigger than I thought. It was a tight fit, but Celestia and the ponies had arrived safely. I opened the balcony door and let her into my apartment.
„So this is your home. Interesting..." Celestia examined my apartment. I just couldn't tell from her look whether she was disappointed or surprised. Anyway, this seemed to be a new discovery for her.
„Okay, Twilight. Where is Rainbow Dash?"
Twilight murmured a few incomprehensible words in front of her and her eyes began to glow white. When they were already glaring white, she was startled for a moment and her eyes became clear again.
„I know where she is, we can get her."
„Can't I come with you?" I asked her.
„No, the teleportation spell doesn't work on humans. I'm afraid you have to wait here for our return. We'll meet here again when I let the sun go down."
„Celestia, here in the real world...the sun sets on its own." I said with a slight grin.
„Oh, that is...practical. I'll see you later."
I had a queasy feeling when they all disappeared. Celestia seemed to be in quite a hurry to bring Rainbow Dash back to Equestria. She didn't even ask me why Rainbow was on the earth in the first place. What was going to happen now? Would they take Rainbow Dash back to Equestria? What would her father say about that? But it was the right decision to help them. Rainbow Dash doesn't belong in this world and somehow I wished that someday this day would come. To be honest, I was glad that she would return now. So I spent the day outside my apartment to pass the time a bit until evening came. Admittedly, I was a bit queasy to look her in the eyes again after 10 years. But I think that Celestia was thinking the same at that moment. When I arrived home again, the sun had almost set. I entered the apartment and I waited until the ponies appeared in front of my eyes. They had Rainbow Dash with them, but she seemed to be unconscious. Before they went through the portal I yelled at Celestia.
„Hey, stop right there! What did you do to her?"
„I'm sorry." Celestia said and her horn began to shine in a bright yellow light.
Then my vision went black. I went unconscious and woke up again after a few minutes.
What happened? Why was I lying on my back? Did I fall for some reason? When my vision got clear I was horrified to find out that the portal had disappeared.
What should I do now? As soon as Celestia and the other ponies would come back, I would have no way to bring them home. They would be trapped on earth. I walked nervously back and forth for several hours in my apartment and wondered what I should do now. But the sun had long since set, where did they stay? The thought came to me that Celestia and the ponies already have at home. But then why was the portal closed? How was I supposed to know how the story ended?
The fan fiction, of course! How could I forget that? I remember I stopped reading it after Rainbow Dash's disappearance because I didn't have to worry about her anymore. When she arrived at her daddy's, I had no reason to read it any more. She was happy again, everything else was no longer important to me. I had to check immediately if something had happened. It was a long time ago that I continued reading „My Little Dashie".
I started at the place where she found her dad again. Everything went well...but...there was something. Celestia actually showed up with the ponies in the story. It was about Rainbow Dash going back to Equestria and...was it really written here? I read the line again. A mind spell removed all memories of Dashie about her dad. No, that could not be true. Her dad couldn't allow that...I couldn't allow that! I had to do something…
...Wait…
Wasn't it exactly what I hoped it would happen? So why did I feel guilty for it? She was home again and that was all it was about!
No.
I wanted her to go back home, but was that what she wanted? It didn't sound in the story as if she wanted to go back to Equestria. She couldn't even remember it. Maybe…she was already at home...with her daddy. And now I had destroyed everything by bringing her back to a world she doesn't even know anymore. What had I done? It broke my heart to think about it. I just wanted my little Dashie to be happy, but now...wait...did I just call her 'Dashie'?
Apparently I already felt myself like her father. But even if I wasn't him, I had to know if she was all right. And after the portal had closed, there was only the good old way to find out. I just wondered how it was possible for me to fall asleep in the next minutes, although I was totally excited. Shortly afterwards I found myself in my dream world again, but my alarm clock should not bother me this time. I woke up in Marlene's habitat where she was already waiting for me. She had tears in her eyes.
„Marlene! What happened" I asked.
„Thank God, you are alright! I was already worried that something had happened to you."
„What should have happened to me? Where are the ponies? What happened to the portal?"
„The ponies took it with them. Celestia said that the gate between this world and reality should never be opened again."
Probably Celestia had done it for a good reason to protect her ponies. But she shouldn't have ignored me.
„Wait...she has been here and has simply taken the portal with her? Who does this princess think she is? I mean, without the portal Dashie will never be able to go back to her dad again."
„Yes, but she is not from Earth. She means Celestia just as much as she does to her daddy."
„If Rainbow Dash meant so much to her, she wouldn't have erased her memories."
Marlene suddenly hooked in.
„Why should her memories be erased?"
„The story says that Celestia had erased her memories."
„Hm...it probably made it easier for Rainbow Dash to say goodbye to her father and live her former life in Equestria again," Marlene said.
„But...I have to do something about it. My Dashie wouldn't give up so easily either!"
„I'm afraid we can't interfere with the story just because we don't like the ending."
„What if you could change the story of a beautiful friendship? That it's not just a story about life and loss?" „You're right.
„You're right, but we don't even know where Equestria is and how do you get there."
„Ten years ago Twilight saw Rainbow Dash as she appeared in my world. The ponies couldn't travel directly to the real world, but needed our help. So if there was a way into my world for them, there is a way into theirs."
„I don't know..." she hesitated.
„Think of her father. At first he will be able to bear that she is no longer with him. But you know as well as I do that loneliness can cost a terrible price in the long run."
She looked at me and realized that I was talking about my past myself before I got to know her. Then she nodded to me without saying a word because her eyes told me: It's okay.
„Marlene, I'm flying to Equestria and there's nothing to stop me now!"
I ran as fast as I could to my Teladi Buzzard, on the way to Equestria. I didn't have to worry about the alarm clock this time, I had switched it off.
So I set off on my journey to Equestria. The only question was: How? How could I find my way to Equestria? Was it even possible to reach Equestria from here? Even if I owned a spaceship, I had never explored the outer edges of my dream world and for the first time I noticed how many stars were visible from my dream world. If I knew which one of them was Equestria. Kowalski didn't have a solution for that either, but he had at least built a device lately that could locate the portal as soon as I was close enough. He had originally built it for the case that he would be sucked into the portal and have to find it again. What a paranoia this penguin sometimes had! But at least that was a big help to me, even if I had to pick out now which planet I should fly to first. On the navigation map in my spaceship I recognized that the constellation of the stars was very similar to the real world. I simply started and picked out the brightest star. I could already exclude the sun and the polar star, so I picked out the second brightest one and set off. I switched on Kowalski's device, which would lead me to the origin of the signal with a nice beep. Luckily, due to my S.E.T.A, it didn't take long before I arrived at a star constellation where the signal became more and more sensitive. It led me to a planet that resembled my earth very much. As I slowly entered the atmosphere, my ship's stealth mode was switched on and switched the propulsion to the current of shield energy so that I would not be detected by anyone during my approach. After all, Celestia wasn't going to catch me in a corvette, even if it didn't carry any weapons
As I approached the surface of the planet, there were suddenly two signals for a short moment, but that other signal came somewhere from the frozen regions of the planet. Maybe it was just an anomaly. I flew over the part of the planet where it had already been night, so I flew slowly, but fortunately the moon was very bright here and I could see the landscape below me well. The landscape looked a bit strange. The signal led me over a large accumulation of clouds and I realized that many of these clouds were apparently buildings. On the search for the origin of the signal I flew over a huge orchard, where innumerable apple trees stood. The signal became stronger as I approached a larger city. I didn't want to risk being discovered, so I landed in a clearing in the middle of a forest.
I oriented myself to the direction where I had seen the houses, the signal became stronger. But I was not alone in this forest. Everywhere around me I saw ghostly shadows and shining eyes. These beings didn't come closer, maybe they did not know what I was and they were apparently
afraid of me. But luckily I found my way to the small town where all the ponies were sleeping in their houses.
The place looked nice, there was on a big place a house which was built like a huge pavilion. Further away I even saw a tree house...but not an ordinary one. Instead of a house on a tree, this house was the tree. And there was light inside. The signal became stronger the closer I came to the tree house. The door was closed, so I looked through the window. There was nobody inside. I tried to open the door, which went without a hitch. Apparently nobody here thought it was necessary to lock it. When I entered the room I saw a lot of books standing on shelves. The light was generated by fireflies buzzing around in a glass ball above the room. Apparently this was some kind of library or something. My eyes fell on another door that was on the side of one of those bookshelves. I opened the door and found a staircase leading to the basement of the tree house. It was also lit and I didn't need to go down the stairs far to discover the portal device standing in the middle of the room. I found it! But before I could take care of the portal device, I wanted to find Rainbow Dash. Now I at least knew where they were hiding it. But before I wanted to leave the tree house again, I heard several voices coming closer. So I hid behind the leaning basement door. I just hoped they weren't on their way to the portal device."
„Sigh, she makes it really difficult for us. Why is Dashie angry with us?" said the pink pony, which kept jumping up and down while it was going.
„Ah'd like to know that too. She's been behaving a bit strang'ly ever since. That's not the Rainbow Dash ah knew from b´fore." Noticed the orange pony.
„You have to understand what Rainbow Dash has been through. 15 years she was raised by this person, it was only 15 days here. We should not have done that. It is our fault that she is no longer the Rainbow Dash we know. I should never have tried that spell."
My feelings jumped galloping when I heard this sentence from Twilight Sparkle. Her name was the only one I could remember over the years. Like me, she thought of reuniting Rainbow Dash with her father.
„But as the student of Princess Celestia, I have to obey my mentor. She cares more about our safety than anything else. And if this world we went to is really dangerous, then I can understand her decision very well and we all should."
„Yes, but I still don't get one thing."
„What is it, Pinkie Pie?"
„Why is there a human being in your library?" said the pink pony, pointing to my hiding place.
I turned as white as chalk and froze in horror, just like the ponies who looked at me now. The white unicorn with the purple mane immediately had a screaming attack and withdrew with the others into a corner of the library.
„What? Who is there? Come out and show yourself!" Twilight yelled at me. Before I could answer, her horn began to glow in a bright purple light.
„I...I...", I stammered and slowly came out behind the door.
„How are you...wait, you're the person who helped us find Rainbow Dash, aren't you?" Twilight asked quietly.
„Yes, it's me."
"How did you get here? What are you doing here?" she asked.
But she could answer her question herself through the open cellar door.
"You are looking for the portal device, aren't you?"
"Forget the portal device! I'm here for Rainbow Dash! What did you do with her? What did you try to do to me?" I said in a high-pitched voice before Twilight took a deep breath.
"Wait, you remember everything? Oh, I'm so glad to see you! Rainbow Dash may be back home, but she was on Earth for 15 years, I don't know how that time difference came about, but you must help us, please," she stammered.
"Help you? How about sending her back to Earth to her father?"
"Ouh, I guess that's impossible. Rainbow Dash cannot be allowed to return to Earth. The Princess has given her orders. But there must be another way." Twilight said desperately.
"There is, Twilight," said a pony who had just entered the library.
„Princess Celestia?" Twilight said shocked.
„Well, some ponies voices are very hard to miss when they are scared of something," said the princess, smilingly looking at Rarity and Pinkie Pie.
When her gaze fell on me, Twilight immediately tried to prevent another escalation.
„Uh, that's the person who helped us to get Rainbow..."
„Thank you, Twilight. But I know who he is and the reason why he is here."
„Really? she asked astonished, but the princess just nodded.
I was amazed that Celestia was not angry to see me. She seemed relatively calm that I was standing in the middle of her world.
„Forgive me for asking, Princess. But why do you want to help me?" I asked carefully.
„I've been watching you since the day Rainbow Dash entered your world. However, I had felt something. I felt that you were not like the other humans I knew until now. You were so selfless and full of responsibility towards her, and as I found out later, also like the person who raised her. Her father, so to speak. Furthermore, through a...review of the past, I had the opportunity to recognize for myself that not all the people I have met so far have been bad.
„Yes, and he is absolutely all right. At first I thought he was just an alien from another universe who was evil, but then he turned out to be pretty friendly and sensitive. So, he's not a bad alien now, just a little cranky!" Pinkie Pie said hectically.
„You recognized that well, Pinkie Pie. I apologize for what I did to you back then. I had only done it to…
I fell into her word because I already knew the answer.
„...to protect your ponies, I know."
„No...no, that's not the whole truth. I also wanted to protect YOU."
I had not expected that answer.
„Me? What did you want to protect me from?"
"I wanted you to just forget about Rainbow Dash so you wouldn't have to worry about her anymore. Once I made sure you weren't damaged by the spell, I decided to take Rainbow Dash back to Equestria."
I could have been angry at Celestia at that moment, but I was glad that she told me the truth at that moment.
"Then why didn't the spell work?" I wanted to know.
Celestia turned to the purple coloured unicorn.
"Twilight, you did do the spell right, didn't you?"
She turned to Twilight and looked at her as if she knew she was keeping something from her.
"The spell only works if the being to whom the spell is being cast agrees."
"My loyal student, why didn't you tell me?
"I... I couldn't do it. I did not cast the oblivation spell..."
"I used a harmless paralysis spell instead, because the end effect was the same and it worked for real. I'm sorry, Princess Celestia. But taking Rainbow Dash's memories while there's a human being on Earth who gave her the last 15 years of his life is just not right."
"And why did you take the portal device?"
„Many years ago we also had a portal to another world. But for over thousands of years the portal has disappeared somehow..."
„And now you wanted to use our device to be able to enter your other world again?" I said angrily about that theft.
„We kinda knew that when we’re taking your invention with us, you want to get it back. And the smart penguin would somehow invent a device to search for the portal.” Twilight said with a smirk.
“And the fact that you’re now here means that the device works. With that we can find our own portal.”
Now I knew why the device first showed me two signals. But I wasn't sure whether I should just hand over the device to her after what they had done for me so far. So I hesitated.
"You could have just asked for help!" I still said, somewhat annoyed.
"The last human beings I dealt with were not necessarily trusting, but if I want to expect that from you, I should trust you too," she said to herself.
"If you give me this device, I will in return...bring Rainbow Dash's father from Earth to Equestria to live with her here."
We couldn't believe our ears. Did Princess Celestia just seriously say that?
"Normally, I would never agree to anything like this. I don't know how the other ponies would react. But in this case, I see the gravity of the situation. I see how Rainbow suffers from this separation and it's as much my responsibility to see that she's happy again."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's bring him in!" I shouted euphorically.
"Teleporting to this other world is only possible for us. As long as we possess this magic we can switch between worlds, but humans can't...normally they don't have a suitable flying object for that either," she said to me with a wink.
I blushed slightly, because apparently all my efforts to land unnoticed...Celestia had not remained hidden.
I think we have to use the portal again. But could you give us the device first?" Celestia asked.
I was still a bit sceptical but I decided to give her the tracking device.
"Thank you. It will make our search for the portal much easier. Then we can start," she said.
The ponies lost no time and set off to report the news to Rainbow Dash. As all the ponies left the library, Celestia looked at me seriously. Not angry, but a little worried. I knew she was hiding something from me.
"I don't want to hide anything from you. Once Rainbow Dash and her father agree to leave their old lives behind to live in Equestria, the spell will work."
"So you still want to go through with it," I said, disappointed.
I looked at her reproachfully, but she didn't seem to mean any harm.
"Please understand. It's the only way she can really continue her life where she left off last."
"And there's no other way?
"I'm afraid not...no."
I could see the desperation in her eyes, because at this point she would certainly have wished for another way.
"Will they remember anything?"
"He'll remember a Rainbow Dash that he kept his whole life with her parents. And she will remember him as a mentor in her childhood. But as for the memories of their time on Earth..."
I knew that spell affected her memories of me.
"I'm sorry, I would like to do more for you after all you've done for us. I can only offer you what I've done for her father from earth. You will keep the memories of her," she said.
I understood her discord, for at that moment I could not think of any other solution for Celestia either. But there was still one for me. When she was about to speak the protection spell and her horn touched my head, I stopped her.
"If she doesn't remember me, I have no use for those memories...especially if I can't see Rainbow Dash anymore. You're right, it would only cause pain," I said with a heavy heart.
Celestia's eyes began to water.
"If you wish it, I will grant your wish as soon as she is with the human here in Equestria. I will tell your friends about your great deed. I shall never forget it."
Then came a brief moment when we actually hugged. I realised how sorry Celestia was to have drawn people into this story. But I still could not understand how her opinion of people had suddenly changed. Anyway, afterwards we set off. The ponies were travelling with Celestia and Rainbow Dash, I carefully climbed into my spaceship and activated the jump drive back to my homeworld...Astrum.
When I arrived back in New York after a short time, I saw something sitting on the south tower of the Twin Towers. It was Rainbow Dash. Why wasn't she with the others? She seemed to be waiting for me. And I had a pretty good idea what she was about. After all, I was responsible for
her being taken away by her father. Without me she could have continued to live undiscovered on earth with her father.
How could I have been so careless? I will never forgive myself for that. She will be absolutely angry with me. But what else could I have done? I MUST help her, I just felt it. Well, I had to take what was coming. I just wish it had never come to that. She would yell at me, with tears in her eyes and would ask me, why I could have let something like that happen.
I slowly landed behind her and approached slowly. Since I was still flying disguised on electric drive, it was quite noiseless. Apparently she was absorbed in thoughts. I didn't know if it was a good idea to talk to her or if she needed more time for herself. I heard her sobbing loudly...it was seemingly unforgivable what I had done, even if it was the right thing to do. I assumed that she wouldn't exchange a single word with me. And if she did, she would scream loudly and I would have deserved all of it.
„D...Dashie? Is it you?" I asked carefully.
She put her ears up when she heard my voice. She slowly turned her head in my direction and focused me with her tear-filled pink eyes. Then she turned away from me again. Apparently she had recognized me immediately. So it only remained for me to say:
„I...am...so...sorry." „I...am...so...sorry."
What was that? Did she just apologize to me at the same time I did? I must have misunderstood something, so I tried to talk to her again.
„Dashie...I know you're…"
She slowly turned around to me again and looked past me.
„I am so sorry. I don't understand how that could happen. I should have been loyal…"
I was not prepared for that, I had to improvise and made reference to her statement.
„But Dashie, after everything that has happened, you are certainly still loyal to your dad, aren't you?"
„He's my dad, so loyalty comes first. But I don't mean him..."
I didn't know what she was talking about. Was there anything I missed? I was just expecting to get the anger of my life and now this? But then she told me the answer that explained everything.
„A long time ago I let a very good friend fall into oblivion because I was so overjoyed to be reunited with my dad. I never showed my gratitude for that." Dashie sobbed as she looked directly at my eyes.
„I never should have flown away from my dad, but I didn't want to confuse anything in your world either. I should have come back to you much sooner. That is what true friends do. I am so sorry..."
What a relief! She did not even intend to confront me. She was just looking for someone to confide in during this difficult time. Now that her dad was missing, I knew there was only me. I kept for myself that her appearance in my world caused Celestia and Twilight to find her. She would have blamed herself for that, but I had the feeling that she already knew about it. She also knew that she couldn't live on earth anymore. Then she looked at me.
„Can you forgive me?" she sobbed.
„Yes, Dashie, it is already good. I forgive you. I am so sorry for what happened..."
„It's okay," she said with a calming voice.
After that she slowly got up and sat down right next to me, without losing another word. She leaned her head against me and flapped her wing around my back. I wasn't cold, but this gesture of absolute trust warmed my heart deeply. I noticed immediately how she completely relaxed her body, leaning against me, as we looked together into the sunset.
„What Celestia had told me...that my father could live with me in Equestria...is that true?"
She looked at me with wide eyes, not so sad at all, a little more hopeful than before. I could understand why she asked me this question, she probably thought Celestia would try the spell again ... and she was right. But I didn't want to tell her at that moment.
„Yes, and I hope that I can help you."
Then she embraced me warmly.
„You already did…years ago...and I thank you for that." she said with a smile on her face.
„Hehe, all right. We shouldn't keep your father waiting now, don't you think?"
She agreed with me and after this short father-daughter moment we met at the Central Park Zoo to cross the portal together. Of course I had to take a different path into reality. Before I woke up, Marlene turned to me.
"This is your chance to change the history of a friendship. Finish the story and make the best of it, just like you wanted to." she said to me and winked at me.
Then I woke up and landed in my room, it was late in the afternoon. Kowalski had corrected the landing positions of the portal since the last time, so the ponies were now standing in my living room instead of squeezed together on my little balcony.
"Well, you remember where your father lives. How do we get there?" I asked.
"Get together!" Celestia said and her horn began to glow yellow. It was the first time I felt something like that. The magic flowed through my body and for a short moment I felt light as a feather. All around us it became brighter, until I could only see white around me. A shimmering sound sounded and the white mist disappeared again. I looked around me and saw a magnificent mountain landscape with a wonderful view into the valley. I was speechless at that moment and could only marvel at what had just happened. Although I had often gone to the mountains with my parents, this place was clearly something special: over the past years it had become the testimony of a miracle that I would never have thought possible.
"Welcome home," said Rainbow Dash after a few more minutes, pointing to a large single-family home that was quite remote from the other groups of houses.
I've never been in this area before. We had definitely landed somewhere further south. The architectural style, the mountains and the surroundings. I first enjoyed the first moment when we stood in the field in front of the house and I noticed the mountain air blowing through my hair in the evening breeze. It was a liberating feeling. Now I could understand why Rainbow had enjoyed it here so much. This place is ideal for a Pegasus Pony that had landed far away from its home world. Lots of wind for lift, a big landscape and few obstacles, except for the mountains. When we got used to the situation, we went around the house, went to the front door and knocked. But nobody opened the door. There were also no noises inside the house.
Dashie tried to find an open window somewhere in the time. She noticed something: the window to her old room was wide open. She flew into the house and searched every room. When she couldn't find anyone, she opened the front door for us from the inside.
So here it was, the house where Dashie was raised for over 15 years, by a human. in the middle of the real world. When I entered the living room, I immediately noticed the photo album on the table. It was still open. I sat down on the sofa and picked up the photo album. Then suddenly a handwritten letter fell into my hand, which I recognized immediately.
It was Dashie's farewell letter to her father. I already knew this letter from the story, but it was a whole different feeling to really hold the letter in my hands. I put it gently back into the pages.
I flipped through the previous pages and looked at the pictures one by one. Dashie and her father really had a good time together. Thereupon I got doubts. How would your father react to me? A second person who is also her „Daddy"? Maybe Marlene was right after all and I should stay out of this story. At that moment Dashie flew into my living room.
„The house is empty, I didn't find him. He's probably still in town, but he'd have to come home soon."
„Dashie? Can we talk to each other for a moment?" I asked her.
She gave me a disturbing look, as if she already knew what I was going to tell her. Then she flew over and sat down next to me on the sofa.
„Look. You still remember then how I helped you and how you could live your life again, remember?
„Yes, but what are you trying to tell me?" she looked at me confused.
„I think we have reached that point again. You know, when your daddy is with you again, I have to go back to my world. It is time for me to go again."
„No! You can't just go! You can't just go and leave me." she said and began to cry slowly.
„I have to, Dashie! How would your daddy react if there was someone next to him whom you also call daddy?
„Please don't go away! My dad is a very nice person! You will like him! You will both get along great!"
„I am sure of that. But I don't want to confuse your world any more, I don't belong here. My only goal was for you to be with your dad again."
Her tears came when I said that sentence.
„But I need you," she said to me in a tearful voice.
„He needs YOU, Dashie. That is the important thing at this moment. You will have a wonderful time with him."
Celestia had stood in the room and listened to everything. The tears also came to her.
„He's right, Rainbow Dash. I'll make sure you both live happily ever after in Equestria."
Rainbow Dash seemed to understand why I could not stay with her and tried to accept it. She didn't know anything about my deal with Celestia. I only hoped that her spell would work and that we could all continue our old lives. I wanted to give Rainbow Dash a moment for herself, so I went out the door. Suddenly I heard something behind me. Someone came out of the barn next to the house.
He was wearing a black hoodie, the hood pulled over his face. His hands were pressed into his trouser pockets. When I noticed that the person was walking right toward the house, I knew who the person was. Dashie's Daddy.
I ran into the house and told them that he would be right here. So we gathered in the living room and waited. Rainbow Dash wanted to surprise her father. He came to the door, unlocked it and entered the house. He might have noticed immediately that there was light in the living room.
„Hello? Is anyone there?" he asked shyly, not to attract too much attention.
Dashie noticed his voice immediately.
„Daddy?" She shouted from the living room over to him.
At first he didn't answer, but then I heard him purposefully running towards the living room. When he stood in the door, he stopped for a moment and put his hood down and stared stunned at her.
„D...Dashie?"
„Daddy!"
Now I could see that he wore a small beard and the hairstyle was slightly mixed, similar to Rainbow Dash...well, except for the beard.
Her father stood completely still when Dashie flew right into his arms.
„Oh God, Dashie! It really is you! How is that possible?" her father said with tears in his eyes.
„How is it possible that you have grown a beard so quickly? We were only gone for a few hours."
„Dashie, you had been gone for 10 days. I thought I'd never see you again."
Slowly I discovered how big the time difference was. But 10 days? Had I really slept that long? How was that possible? The calendar hanging in the room was telling the truth. It had really passed 10 days. That really occupied me a lot, but I could think about it some other time. Now it was important that she was with her father again. When I saw him, I noticed his resemblance to me. He had the same friendly facial expression as me, the same sympathetic smile, but looked a good ten to fifteen years older than me. He also sounded similar. If I hadn't been born as an only child, I would have thought he was my older twin brother.
His next glance fell on Princess Celestia and the other ponies.
„I...I can't tell you how..."
„Please wait with your thanks until you know the reason for our visit," Princess Celestia interrupted him. He came straight to the point.
„You... you will take her with you again, won't you?"
„I'm afraid so." she said.
„Well, if that's the way it should be. It is good to see that you are well. Oh, my little Dashie. I am so glad that I could see you again."
„Dad?"
„Yes, Dashie?"
„What would you give to live with me in Equestria?”
This question confused her father.
„But, Dashie...I would give anything to live with you."
„Is that true?
„Yes. I would give anything to live together with my little Dashie."
"Then we have good news for you. We found a way to take you to Equestria, but..."
"Yes?" Dashie's father interrupted Celestia because of his euphoria.
"...but you're gonna have to change for this. For you to live in Equestria, we have to turn you into a pony. But this procedure is difficult and you will lose your memories of your previous life."
"Wait, all his memories?" Rainbow Dash asked anxiously.
I stepped forward to her.
"Unfortunately, the same is true for you. Once you are back in Equestria, you will get your old life back. with all the memories you had until then."
She looked at me reproachfully at first, but she seemed to understand why it had to be done. Without her prior knowledge, she wouldn't get along in Equestria.
"That's the only condition for you to live with your father from Earth in Equestria," I added.
"That was your idea, wasn't it?" said her father, who turned to me.
I was a little skeptical at that moment whether her father really wanted me to interfere in the story.
"Yes, but I didn't want..."
"Thanks for helping us. "I know how much work it was for you to bring her back to me. Dashie told me."
I wondered why he hadn't written me into his story, but he must have had his reasons.
"You sure you want to leave Earth, Pop?"
"Yes, Dashie. I'm sure. Since you came into my life, there is nothing here that could offer me anything like that. Celestia? I'm taking my little Dashie and you to Equestria." he said confidently.
"If that is your wish, but first we must return to the portal," Celestia said.
This time Celestia let Twilight cast the spell. I could see how important it was to her that Twilight made progress. With Celestia as her teacher, she would become a mighty unicorn...perhaps even the most powerful unicorn of Equestria. I was convinced of that. Everyone was proud of Twilight when she managed to teleport 7 ponies and 2 humans.
When we were all standing in my living room, there was nothing left to say. Rainbow Dash would see her father again any moment on the other side of the portal and I wouldn't remember any of this anyway. I hugged her for one last time. I almost doubted that a spell existed that could break a connection as powerful as the one between us. But Celestia seemed very sure of herself. I looked deep into Dashie's pink eyes one last time and she disappeared through the portal with her friends. Apparently Twilight felt responsible for Rainbow Dash and wanted to cast the spell on her herself. So only Celestia, Rainbow's father and I were left behind.
"I thank you both on behalf of Equestria, but now it's time to say goodbye... to who you are now."
"Celestia, will it hurt?" I asked.
"No. You will lose consciousness for some time, but it is painless."
I wondered for a moment whether she had used this spell many times before in Equestria. But I didn't care about that at that moment, the important thing was that I was doing the right thing now. For me and for Dashie.
"Do you agree that you will have no memories of what happened?"
I nodded as he turned to me and hugged me.
"Thanks for doing all this for us," he said.
"I thank you for letting me have this experience at all. By the way, I never asked you your name. What is your name?"
"My name is Blaze."
I had never heard this name before, but the magic would make it insignificant. We both agreed to the spell, because it was the only way she could build the wall in my memories. Before my eyes it became light and I had the feeling of falling through a thousand doors before everything went dark.
I woke up in my room, it had already been noon. For some reason I had not set an alarm clock and what was even more strange: I was lying on the floor in the middle of the living room. Apparently I was so tired yesterday that I couldn't even make it to bed. Maybe Marlene could tell me later what was going on the last evening, because I couldn't remember it. But I did remember one thing: I had to go shopping and I biked to the nearest supermarket. When I finished and came out again, I noticed that something was lying on the ground in front of my bike. A blue spring. I was sure that it had not been there before. I thought it was too beautiful to leave in the dirt, so I picked it up, but when I picked it up it didn't feel like plastic, like those feathers on Indian hats or something. No, it was real!
