When lunch break rolled around on Monday, Sunset and I met in the front lobby before making our way out into the courtyard of Canterlot High. It was a misty and slightly rainy day but we weren’t wearing our raincoats. For the first time in ages I was wearing a set of my crappy sweats just in case the portal decided to replace them again. Sunset was wearing her damaged leather jacket and a plain skirt and worn old shirt I had never seen before for the same reason. I was also wearing my bracers, reasoning that they might somehow be a part of me.

We hadn’t actually seen one another since Thanksgiving. I spent most of the weekend doing the winter preparations and also working on a Christmas surprise for my friends. Sunset told me she was working, although she never mentioned what her job was. After her nervousness about where she lived, I decided not to pry about where she was working until I could talk to her face to face. Now wasn’t the time either, since we were about to take the plunge into another world.

“Are you ready Sunset?” I asked as we faced the gently rippling surface of the statue.

“Not really,” she replied in a worried voice. “A part of me still worries that Twilight will have guards waiting to throw me in jail when we get there.”

“Yes I know, but I’m still scared. I haven’t been on that side of the portal for anything good since the day I left Equestria.”

“I won’t leave your side, no matter what happens,” I said, taking her hand. “We go together or not at all.”

She nodded and we walked towards the portal with raindrops running down our faces. Our hands were still linked as we made contact with the stone surface. There was a sensation of warmth as we took our final step as humans and then my senses dissolved into a kaleidoscope of wild colors. I felt like I was being stretched like taffy and yet I felt no pain. Time had no meaning in this place but before I had time to register what was happening, my eyes were blinded by a bright light.

I felt a floor under my feet, lost my balance and fell to the floor with a loud clop as my front hooves met some sort of stone floor. Even though I knew the transformation was coming, I felt disoriented by the sensation of having hooves instead of hands. Someone collided with me and I felt my wings flare wide as I tried to keep my balance. I blinked few times trying to clear the disorientation while looking for my companion. Then my sight cleared, leading me to freeze in place at the sight.

Staring back at me were the nervous aquamarine eyes of a unicorn covered in peach fur. Her eyes were much larger than human eyes but they were equally expressive. Her distinctive red and gold mane curled around a short horn and down to her withers. It was matched by an equally strikingly colored tail. Her hair did nothing to hide the slightly flattened ears which I immediately knew was a sign of fear. On her flank was a familiar cutie mark; the red and gold sun that belonged to my girlfriend. Her backpack had turned into a pair of saddlebags with her cutie mark emblazoned on it.

She's gorgeous.
In both worlds, no doubt about it.

I smiled and leaned down to nuzzle her cheek like I had seen Spark do to hear in the last dream we shared. “Hey there."

She had a small smile on her face now but she was still worried. She took a couple steps back and looked me over.

“Look at you!” she said quietly. “I knew you’d make a handsome pony, but I had no idea you’d be this tall. You're a giant!”

“Well, I'm tall as a human as well,” I replied, embarrassed. “I’m still shorter than Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. You look worried. Did you really think I would react badly to seeing you as a pony?”

Sunset nodded silently and I saw her ears flatten again. I spread my leathery wings, stretching out the surprisingly familiar appendages to their full length before folding them back up. I could feel a weight on my back which I confirmed was my own transformed backpack. I looked down at my legs and saw the lines of my scars in my fur. I bit back the anxiety about my exposed injuries and instead made another show of looking her over a second time, enjoying the growing blush on her face.

So apparently I don’t get to be in charge on this side of the portal either. Boo.
I’m sorry Spark. That's really weird.
Don’t sweat it. I can’t say I’m entirely surprised. At least I can still enjoy the view.

I smiled at her after finished my mock examination. “Well, I can say without reservations that you are equally beautiful as a pony my dear.”

She smiled properly this time and let out the breath she was holding. “Thank you, Silver.”

We both turned to find our friend and I felt my jaw drop. I knew he wasn’t a dog in this world, but seeing his true form was still a shock. He stood a bit over two feet tall on his hind legs with light purple scales on his back and light green on his chest. He had a line of green plates along his back and down his tail. His eyes were more reptilian than when he was a dog as well. He was standing there with his eyes crossed and his eyebrow raised.

“Sorry Spike,” I said sheepishly. “Dang, you look pretty awesome as a dragon. If this is your normal form, I can see why being a dog is so irritating.”

The irritation vanished off his face and he smiled, holding up a fist. “Thanks, bro. I appreciate it.”

I bumped his fist with my hoof and looked around the room. The place was almost organic with crystalline structures forming the pillars. The room looked like had once been a small library but it was now dominated by a complex apparatus centered on the mirror portal. There were cables, connecting a number of alien devices made of wood and metal that almost looked steampunk. Everything was glowing with a pinkish tinged light and up at the very top, I could see the counterpart of Sunset’s journal. There was a ladder leaning on the bookshelves and it looked like Spike would just barely be able to reach the journal from where it was sitting on the apparatus.

I was still gazing at the bizarre structure when my phone began to buzz in my saddlebags. I spread my wings in alarm and turned to open my backpack. I was about halfway there when I noticed my hooves again.

“Sunset, my phone is ringing,” I said while struggling to figure out how my hooves were supposed to work. “Could you help me get it out of my bag?”

Her eyes widened. “We're actually getting reception on this side of the portal? I didn't even consider that was a possibility! I left my phone and the book with Rarity!”

My bag was surrounded by a teal glow and an unseen force lifted the cover of my bags. A moment later my phone floated out and over to Sunset. Her horn was glowing with a similar aura to the one surrounding my phone as she examined it.

She looked at the number and laughed. “It's a text from Pinkie Pie,” she said. “It says to give Twilight big hugs for her. I'll just reply for . . . dang, you don't have a stylus, do you? Our hooves won't work and . . . are you listening to me Silver?”

I hadn't really been paying attention. My jaw was on the floor as I watched her use her magic. “That is so cool. Your magic aura is the same color as when you helped me overcome the effect Siren’s song the first time.”

“Well I’m glad you like it Silver,” Sunset replied, sending the phone over to me. “You’ll be seeing it a lot since I don’t have hands here and I need all the practice I can get. I guess I can't reply without a stylus so we'll have to pick something up for future trips.”

“Ummm, could you get the journal down Sunset?” Spike asked. “Twilight doesn’t want to leave the portal opened more than necessary just in case. It's a pain for me to get up there.”

The book floated out of the holder at the top of the apparatus wrapped in the same aura. It drifted through the air before falling into Spikes claws. At the same time, the full bars on the phone dissolved down to nothing.

“So now we know cell signals don't go through the closed portal,” I said. “That means a magic book is superior to modern technology for inter-dimensional communication.”

Sunset just laughed and nuzzled my cheek while floating the phone back into my saddlebags.

“Come on you two,” Spike said, rolling his eyes. “I’ll take you to where the others are.”

He led us out the door into a long barren hallway. Once we were outside it was easy to hear the sound of someone talking in the distance with my Thestral senses although I couldn't make out the words yet. As Sunset and I walked down the hall, I was struck by how barren and uninviting the place felt. Every door was identical, made out of a pale green stained glass. I bit my tongue since I wasn’t here to criticize the decor. As we walked further down the hall I finally recognized Pinkie’s voice.

“. . . thinking we'd found the right one, but she insisted I make even more to try. And more. And more and more and more and more! It was like she never wanted to—”

I was surprised to hear Fluttershy’s voice interrupt Pinkie. She spoke with unexpected confidence but it was still unmistakably her. It was surreal knowing our five friends from back in our world were here in spirit already.

“Exactly!” Pinkie continued. It sounded like she was chewing on something. “Eventually we ran out of time so we just went with every-berry-any-chip-surprise!”

She paused for a moment and I could just barely hear somebody whispering before Pinkie suddenly exclaimed. “Somepony's gonna get a very special pancake!”

“Up all night, huh?” Rainbow Dash said in her unmistakable voice. “Is that why she's so . . . Pinkie Pie, what is it now?!”

“I-I-I-donnnnn’t know! It’s going to be a doozy!” Pinkie said in an excited voice but strangely she sounded like she was holding a jackhammer.

At that moment, Spike reached another nondescript door and pushed it open, interrupting the conversation inside. Five ponies turned to stare at us, their eyes widening in complete surprise. The mirror images of our human friends back at Canterlot High were sitting around a large round table with stacks of pancakes piled up in front of them. Pinkie Pie’s expression was one of complete disbelief.

A pink blur suddenly had Sunset and me wrapped in a stranglehold of a hug. The speedy creature was babbling a mile a minute in an excited voice.

“I knew it! I knew it was going to be a doozy! I didn't see this coming, did you?! Twilight is going to be SOOOO happy to see you again! What are you doing here, how? Why?!”

Pinkie let go of us and stepped back. Rainbow Dash to fly right up in Sunset's face. Her expression was suspicious and slightly angry.

“What are you doing here?!” she demanded. “How did you open the portal?!”

Sunset cringed away from the aggressive Pegasus hovering in front of her. “I'm sorry for what I did. Please, I just want to help Twilight.”

“Cool it Rainbow Dash,” I said sternly, stepping in closer to Sunset. “She's been through quite enough and she has proven herself a reliable and trustworthy friend several times over As for how we got here; Spike asked us to come and activated the portal.”

Rainbow stared at me with surprise and crossed her hooves while still hovering. “Fine, but I've got my eye on you Shimmer.”

Sunset nodded silently while I just rolled my eyes at her aggressive behavior. Then we were all interrupted by a loud snore from Twilight. She was sitting in her chair with her back to the two of us with her head lolled back, dead asleep. Her mane was filled with sticks and she was caked with mud and leaves. I put my wing over Sunset and I could feel the tension in her back. I watched the reaction of the five ponies. Rainbow Dash continued to look skeptical about Sunset's presence while Pinkie Pie just grinned broadly. The others put on smiles but the seemed slightly forced in my opinion. I had seen honest smiles on nearly identical faces the night I started dating Sunset and these were not the same.

“What happened to Twilight?” I asked, trying to draw attention away from Sunset. “She looks like hell.”

Fluttershy didn't answer my question directly and instead looked to the other locals. “Has anypony else noticed that Twilight has been a little too helpful lately?” she asked. “She spent the whole afternoon yesterday helping clean my animal friends.”

“Now that you mention it, she was lendin' a hoof at Sweet Apple Acres the other day and stuck around 'til near midnight,” Applejack said. “Dug up fifty tree plantin' holes when all I needed was ten.”

“She spent an entire afternoon rearranging a single gem drawer at the boutique. An entire afternoon!”

“You think that's weird?” Rainbow Dash added as she flew back to her seat. “She raced me, like, a hundred times the other day. And lost every time! She just kept goin'! Best out of ten, best out of twenty, best out of a hundred! I mean, I know hanging out with me is awesome, but it was like she'd rather keep losing than—”

As everypony nodded their agreement Twilight let out another loud snore and collapsed face first onto her pile of pancakes. She sighed happily and wrapped her hooves around them. Sunset put a hoof over her mouth to suppress her amusement. I stared at the other five ponies in disbelief.

“Wait, was all this in the couple days since you got back from your trip?” I asked. “She came to visit us for Thanksgiving dinner almost right after you returned. Why would she do this to herself?”

“She's actin' like somepony who's avoidin' somethin',” Applejack said sternly. “Soon as she wakes up, we're gonna find out what.”

While Applejack was talking, Pinkie Pie gulped down an entire stack of pancakes all at once. I could only stare in disbelief at the feat of culinary carnage. Suddenly her face became confused. She coughed loudly and a perfectly clean spoon shot across the table, bounced off Fluttershy's head and stabbed upright into her plate of pancakes. We all stared at the spoon and I was feeling a bit like I had really fallen down the rabbit hole at that moment.

This Pinkie Pie is a bit more . . . Pinkie than ours.
That's one way to put it. What the heck is going on Spark?
Magic.
Sweet Luna. This could be the future our friend with access to more magic?
Eeyup!

Twilight sat bolt upright, startled by the noise with a pancake stuck on her horn. “Huh?! I'm pancake!” I saw her cheeks turn red. “I mean, awake . . .” She finished, her voice drifting off as she saw the concern on her friend’s faces. Sunset, Spike and I were standing behind her and slightly out of sight while her pony friends spoke to her. I held my hoof up to keep Sunset quiet until the opportune moment.

“Uh, Twilight? Is there somethin' you wanna tell us?” Applejack began gently.

Rarity got off her seat and walked over. A blue aura surrounded the pancake stuck to her horn. “You know how much we appreciate all you do for us -”

Rarity's train of thought was interrupted when Pinkie popped up from under the table and snatched the pancake right out of the levitation aura. I shook my head but grinned at her increasingly wild antics. Rarity cleared her throat and continued.

“ . . . and we simply adore having you around. . . but . . . we worry you might be. . . avoiding something else?”

When her friends nodded she sighed and her ears drooped even more. Her voice was sad as she slowly admitted what I was already suspecting thanks to our conversation at the sleepover. “I've been . . . the thing is . . . I know it's silly, but I . . . I've been avoiding . . . this place.”

“Why in Equestria would you want to avoid such a gorgeous castle?!” Rarity asked in a horrified voice.

Because Twilight lives in a cozy library, not a cold crystal cave.

“Yeah, this place has everything!” Pinkie said in an excited voice. “Big tall ceilings that make you feel tiny! Shiny new floors that are cold to the touch! And it even has loooong empty hallways!”

I stared at Pinkie while her voice echoed repeatedly through the empty castle. I shook my head at how lonely Twilight must be feeling in such a huge place.

“The castle is amazing. But it just . . .” Twilight trailed off and let out a long sad sigh.

“It doesn't feel like home,” I finished for her, breaking my silence. “I know exactly how you feel, Twilight.”

Twilight spun around on her chair and stared at us with wide surprised eyes. “Wha . . . Silver? Sunset?! How?!”

“Spike was worried about you,” Sunset said nervously. “He thought you might need some more help and he wanted this to be a surprise.”

“You did this Spike?” Twilight asked. When he nodded she smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Spike. It's good to see you both again. Silver . . .”

She drifted off and I saw her eyes darting over both Sunset and me as if she was drinking in every detail of our appearances. I blushed and looked at the floor while feeling terribly aware of the scars covering my body. I could feel my wings shifting nervously and my ears were twitching out of control. It wasn't like they were new to me, but having them constantly was a weird feeling and I knew I was telegraphing my emotions.

Like a bloody foal. Chill out Silver.
I can't! This is just making me nervous.

“Spike is truly a thoughtful gentle-drake,” Rarity said, smiling at Spike. “As for this castle Twilight, you simply need to decorate, darling! Make this space your own!”

“It's just so daunting!” Twilight exclaimed, turning her attention back to her friends. “Look how big this place is! I-I don't even know where to start!”

Rarity's horn glowed and the plate of pancakes moved backward just before Twilight flopped face first onto the table again. She was emotionally drained and I could see the signs of depression and anxiety edging in on here.

“You can start by letting us do it for you,” Rarity said. “We will make this the castle of your dreams while you go to the Ponyville spa for some much-needed rest and relaxation.”

Her voice became more serious as a mirror floated up to Twilight's face. “I'm saying this with love, but . . . have you looked in a mirror lately? I've never seen you look this . . . mmmm . . .”

Rarity was casting around for a polite word to say Twilight looked like hell warmed over but Fluttershy was on the ball again.

“Yes!” Rarity said in a relieved voice. “That is absolutely the word I was going to use!”

“Ooh, I guess I do need a little help,” Twilight said, her voice sounding more cheerful. “And so does my castle. And I just know you'll do a great job because nopony knows me better than you.”

“We'll make this place feel cozier than hot cider on a rainy day,” Applejack said cheerfully.

“There's gonna be cider?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in an excited voice. Applejack just glared at her briefly. “Uh, I mean, let's decorate!”

“Spikey?” Rarity said in a cheerful voice. “Could you be a dear and take Twilight to the spa?”

“Great idea!” Spike exclaimed. He had slipped up to the table and was munching on a few pancakes. “I've been meaning to get my claws done!”

“What can we do to help?” Sunset asked. “Silver doesn't exactly have much experience being a pony and I'm . . . well not sure what I can do given my circumstances.”

“I've got it!” Rarity exclaimed immediately. “Sunset, you go with Spike and Twilight to the spa right away. Can I borrow your coltfriend for a bit? I want a stallion's opinion on a few things and then we'll send him to join you.”

Sunset raised her eyebrow and looked at me. I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

“I don't see any problem with the request,” I said to her. “I'll catch up with you and Twilight later my dear.”

Sunset nodded and walked over to Twilight. I watched the two of them follow Spike out the door and waited until I couldn't hear them before turning to face Rarity and the other ponies.

I chuckled knowingly. “I can barely get by decorating my own house as a human. I've spent all of fifteen minutes in this world before today. This was a ploy to speak to me away from Sunset and Twilight, wasn't it?”

Rarity stared at me blankly. “Give up Rares, he's sharper than the average stallion,” Applejack said as a small smile appeared on her face.

“Thank you Applejack,” I said, nodding politely in her direction. “What do Twilight's best friends want to ask of this lowly human turned Thestral?”

“You can start by explaining why you're dating her!” Rainbow Dash said, flying up to me aggressively.

“Cool it Dash,” Applejack said sternly before grabbing her tail in her teeth and pulling her back.

Rainbow Dash's aggressive question sent a bolt of anxiety and guilt shooting through my heart. I almost blurted out that it was none of their business but I held my tongue in the face of five faces that were painfully familiar. I saw concern, worry, and frustration in their eyes. It was as clear as if I had spent the past two months with them instead of their human counterparts. There were obvious differences, but the similarities were disconcerting. I didn't really know what to do.

I sighed and sat down on the cold crystal floor facing them. I met their eyes one by one. “Right, so your real question is 'why aren't you dating Twilight', isn't it ladies?”

“We're jus' worried about Twilight,” said Applejack. “She had a lot of nice things to say about ya after both visits and it would be obvious to a blind mare that she fancied you. She spent quite a bit of time lookin' for your counterpart.”

“I just don't understand why you two didn't wind up together!” Rarity said in a dramatic voice. “When she went back to help the second time I was sure you'd be the dashing stallion to capture the heart of our dear princess! Why in Equestria didn’t you ask Twilight out?!”

I let out a bitter laugh and held up my front leg to show them the parallel scars on my front legs. “Sunset asked me out not the other way around and I would never have asked either of them myself. Why two brilliant and beautiful mares like them are interested in a damaged wreck like me is still beyond my understanding. How could I have said no when Sunset asked?! I didn’t even suspect Twilight might feel the same way.”

I put my hoof back down and stared at the floor. The purple crystal was absolutely flawless but it just seemed to pull the light in. There was no reflection from the shining floor.

“I only found out about Twilight's feelings by accident the day after. Sunset was actually considering breaking up with me when she found out about Twilight's feelings. We hadn't even been dating a full day and I almost lost my first girlfriend simply because she felt inferior to Princess Twilight. What would you have me do? Sunset is just as important to me as Twilight and she doesn't deserve your hostility.”

Rarity was the first to speak; her voice now heavy with guilt. “Silver, I didn't mean-”

“I know you didn't, Rarity,” I interrupted quickly in the gentlest voice I could muster. “You're all rightly worried about Twilight. I know she lost her home and everything in it before winding up with this castle. It is obvious she is stressed out, like the weight of the world is on her shoulders. Worse still, she told me about the scum trying to court her. Would I be any better if I left Sunset to try the same?”

I then shot an irritated look at Rainbow Dash. “I won't tolerate your attitude towards Sunset any longer, Rainbow Dash. She has suffered more than enough attacks, both physical and emotional. If you keep treating her in such an obnoxious manner we will be having words.”

“Oh yeah?” she challenged, crossing her forehooves while hovering in the air. “What makes you think you can take me on?”

“Look at my cutie mark and contemplate the answer to that question yourself,” I replied flatly, trying to disguise my growing fear and sorrow. I gestured at my flank with a forehoof and hoped the meaning of my mark was obvious to the ponies.

“Or if you really want an answer, ask Twilight what happened during our final confrontation with the Sirens,” I concluded. “As things stand, I'm dating Sunset and that's just the way it is.”

Silence reigned for a few moments. Rainbow Dash's brow was furrowed in thought but she looked worried. Everyone else just looked guilty. I just felt awful about being so terse and defensive towards Twilight's friends. I was seriously contemplating retreating to the portal before I screwed anything else up.

Suddenly I was being hugged by Pinkie again. “I'm sorry we made you sad, Silvy,” she said quietly.

“I'm not mad Pinkie so please don't worry about it,” I replied. “I think I'd better clear out so you can start your project. So where is this spa, Rarity?”

“It's right by town hall which is the large round building in the center of town,” Rarity said politely. “Just head to town hall and you won't be able to miss it! I’m sorry for what I said earlier.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “Twilight is honestly lucky to have caring friends like the five of you. I'll see you all later.”

With that, I turned and walked out into the corridor. At the end of the hall, I could see sunlight streaming through an open window. I burst into a full gallop and was out the window a moment later, soaring into the sunny blue sky. I was incredibly high above the ground but I wasn't concerned. I simply let the muscle memory built up by Spark take over and let myself glide away from the castle. One lazy turn later and I finally saw the incredible crystal edifice that was Twilight's Castle. It was enormous and looked like it had sprouted out of the ground.

I was beginning to understand why Twilight was feeling overwhelmed. I turned again and began a slow dive towards Ponyville. As Rarity had indicated, the Ponyville Town Hall was easy to spot since it was the second largest building in town. I wasn't in any rush as I executed a few small rolls and careful loops while I tried to clear my mind. I could feel the air rushing past as I twisted and turned in the air. Twilight's pony friends here were just worried and they obviously knew about her feelings.

I wonder if Twilight told them.
It wouldn't surprise me if they guessed. Our Rarity knew about Sunset's feelings.
Good point Silver. I don't know if we actually want to know.
Yeah. I could do without another interrogation.
Same. Hey, where is everyone?

I hadn't been paying attention as I finished my descent into the town square of Ponyville. The place was deathly quiet and empty. I felt a spike of worry as I looked around to try and find the spa or any signs of life. The market stalls looked like they had just been abandoned moments earlier. I twitched my ears and then I heard them . . .

“It has fangs, just like in the stories. How can it be out in daylight!?”
“They're even more dangerous than the stories say!”

“Protect the foals! Don’t let that thing steal them away.”
“No, it wants their blood! It’s a vampony. How could anything living possibly survive such injuries!”

“The horror, the horror.”
“Those wings are unnatural! It must use dark magic to fly."

“What's with those creepy eyes?”

“What is that horrible thing, mommy?”
“It’s looking at us! Don’t move dearest!”

I felt my ears flatten against my head to block out the whispers and for the first time, I cursed my Thestral hearing. I was having a horrible feeling of déjà vu as memories of my first months at Canterlot High threatened to flood back. The malicious whispers, the hatred, the rumors that had dogged my steps; I had just barely survived that but this was even worse. The excitement I had been feeling about visiting Equestria washed away in a heartbeat.

I spread my wings and took to the sky, quickly catching a thermal over the town square and spiraling upwards. I could see the three of them watching me before they walked towards a building that looked a bit like a pair of tents. I noticed several doors opening and colorful ponies poking their heads out. Several hooves pointed at me and they disappeared back inside. I sighed again and scanned around for a place to go rest.

This world’s Sweet Apple Acres was easy to spot even though the harvest was clearly finished in preparation for winter. The tidy rows of trees covered a vast area and I could just disappear into it for a while. A small river flowed along the border of the farm and would be an ideal place to relax. I flew away from town and landed under a willow tree at the edge of the farm. I flopped down on my stomach and closed my eyes to try and relax but the aching pit in my stomach just refused to go away.

It’s sad that this world with leaders as kind as the princesses would be this prejudiced.
It's probably the same in every world. We fear what we don't understand.
That doesn't make this any easier Spark.
I know Silver, it hurts.

I doubt it was more than an hour before I woke up, pulled from my slumber by whispers in the bush nearby. I didn’t move and just focused carefully on listening to the voices. I was worried I was going to be attacked but those concerns quickly dissipated when I recognized the speakers.

“Well, then what is he Scootaloo? He has those bat wings just like in the stories. Do you think he can control minds?”

“Ah dunno,” Applebloom’s familiar voice replied. “Ah’ hear he just flew into town, looked around and then left.”

“But what happened to him?” Scootaloo asked. “Those scars are kind of awesome.”

“If you three would like to come out here and ask questions instead of guessing, I wouldn’t mind some company,” I said quietly, not lifting my head. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

There was silence for a moment and then I heard a rustling noise in the bushes. I slowly lifted my head and looked in the direction of the sound. Three fillies came out of the bushes and I wasn’t surprised that their appearance was completely familiar, right down to the ribbon in Applebloom’s mane. The three of them were utterly adorable as pony fillies.

“Sorry we woke you, mister,” Sweetie Belle said, nervously scraping the ground with her hoof. “We were just curious.”

“No harm in asking questions,” I said, smiling gently. “My name is Silver Spark. You three would be Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, correct?”

“How did you know,” Scootaloo demanded, spreading her small wings aggressively. “Did you read our minds?”

I chuckled and smiled. “Nah, I can’t do that. I already know Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and the others friends. Your names came up in conversation. Come sit down. I promise I don’t bite, even if these teeth do look a bit threatening.”

It was a small lie about speaking with their sisters since it had actually happened with their counterparts in another world. Still, I hoped it would help break the ice and it seemed to work as the three of them visibly relaxed. They walked cautiously over to sit nearby but were well out of reach. I was far from offended by that choice and I was pleased to see they were being appropriately cautious around an unfamiliar pony.

“Yer name sounds familiar but ah've never seen you here in Ponyville,” Applebloom said thoughtfully. “Wait! You're from that mirror thingy Twilight and Spike went through! Ah' heard mah sister and her friends talking about it and how Twilight met a stallion named Silver Spark. How do you know mah sister if you're from another world? ”

I paused a moment, contemplating how to answer. “Yeah, that's right. I’m from another world.” I finally responded. “Your sisters and the princesses saved my life in the Crystal Empire about two months ago when I was sent through the portal near death. This is the first time I’ve been able to visit them here in Ponyville.”

“So what kind of pony are you then?” Scootaloo asked. “Is this what ponies look like from your world?”

“Not exactly,” I replied, laughing quietly. “Everpony transforms when they go through the portal to my world. Twilight turned into a human when she arrived in my world. Before you ask, humans are bipedal, furless and distantly related to apes. We have hands that are vaguely similar to Spike’s claws but more flexible. When I come to this world I transform into a Thestral pony.”

Their eyes widened at my answer but it was my last words that really sent them reeling. “Wait, you're really another kind of pony?!” Scootaloo said in a surprised voice. “I thought you were cursed or somethin'. The Crystal Ponies were surprising when they showed up out of nowhere but now you're telling me there are even more pony tribes? I’ve never heard anypony mention Thestrals before, not in books or school or anywhere.”

“I thought Luna's guards were just disguised Pegasi, like the daytime guards,” Sweetie Belle added. “One of them showed me the enchantment at the royal wedding. You look almost exactly like they did on Nightmare Night except without the armor! Was the Thestral city lost in time too?”

“No, apparently the native Thestrals are just extremely reclusive,” I replied as honestly as I could. “All I really know is what Princess Luna told me during our brief meeting the last time I was in this world. Based on the reaction I got in town, I’m guessing you haven’t seen many of them.”

“Yeah, only Luna’s guards that one time and in stories ‘bout vampire ponies. So why are you here then?” Applebloom asked in a curious voice.

“I owe Twilight my life several times over and she's a dear friend to me,” I replied honestly. “She’s feeling very sad lately, so Sunset and I came to help cheer her up. It barely begins to pay my debt but I have to start somewhere.”

“Is Sunset the unicorn we saw going to the spa with Twilight?” Sweetie Belle asked. “She's from the other world as well? Why aren’t you with them?”

“You're right on both counts, Sweetiebelle,” I said, the sadness bleeding through in spite of myself. “I was going to join them but the other residents of Ponyville decided to close everything down and hide when they saw me. There wasn't much point in hanging around an empty village and frightening everyone.”

“Ah’ can’t believe everypony is still being so awful to new ponies,” Applebloom said in an irritated voice. “They shoulda learned their lesson after Zecora.”

“It’s ok,” I said closing my eyes to blink away a tear. “I am frightening, even without the scars. If this is a normal reaction, then I'm beginning to see why other Thestrals are reclusive. I should probably just head back to Twilight’s castle.”

“NO!” Sweetie Belle shouted, jumping up to her hooves. “It's not ok! It's not! They didn’t even give you a chance! Everypony is being stupid and they should know better. Cutie Mark Crusaders, we need to fix this!”

Scootaloo and Applebloom nodded and they scrambled to their hooves. The looked at me expectantly while I sat there in the grass staring at their sudden leap to action.

“Come on Mister Spark,” Scootaloo said cheerfully. “We’ll walk with you to find Twilight and help introduce you to the town.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly, getting up to my hooves as well. “Thank you for looking past my appearance. Ponies in both worlds could learn a lot from you three. Oh and please just call me Silver.”

A small weight lifted from my shoulders at the unexpected kindness these three young ponies showed me. We began walking through the orchard and I marveled at the difference. The trees in the human world were trained to have their lowest branches easily reached and they were kept relatively short. There was also enough space between the rows for a tractor. These trees were much larger and taller than trees back in my world and the ponies were even shorter than humans.

“Applebloom, out of curiosity, how does your family even harvest these trees? They‘re huge!”

“No, we harvest them by hand using a ladder,” I replied. “Or by hoof, I suppose if the local term makes more sense. What is applebucking?”

“Ya just kick the tree with yer hooves like so,” she said, demonstrating by gently kicking a nearby tree with her hind legs. “But ya have to kick way harder. All the apples fall down into the baskets we put out and we haul 'em to the barn and market.”

I stared at her, for a moment thinking she was joking. “The apples don’t get bruised from falling like that?”

“Not if you do it proper like,” she said, furrowing her brow. “Granny says applebucking is just the culmination of a relationship. We take care of the trees and they provide for us. Bruised apples wouldn’t be very good. Applejack might be able to explain better.”

“Neat,” I said. “Sounds almost like magic. I think I might have to visit next harvest just to see.”

“So, what does your cutie mark mean Silver?” Sweetie Belle asked curiously. “It’s pretty fancy.”

“I didn’t have a cutie mark till my first trip to Equestria,” I replied. “Humans don’t get them, though we do tend to adopt emblems that are similar to cutie marks. Twilight's wound up part of her dress when she came through. I haven’t entirely figured mine out but the hammer is a blacksmith’s hammer which is a skill I learned from my father. The sword is almost certainly related to my martial arts training from my mother and godfather. The shield is the part I haven’t figured out yet.”

“You have more than one special talent!?” Scootaloo asked in a surprised voice. “Not fair when we haven’t even found ours yet! Is that a Thestral thing or a human thing?”

“You know, I’m not actually sure,” I said, suddenly laughing. “The two talents are related if you think about it. I have the skill necessary to craft, maintain and wield martial weapons.”

“That makes sense I suppose,” Scootaloo said in a calmer voice. “Do you make armor as well? Maybe that’s what the shield means.”

“Maybe,” I said in a dubious voice. “It’s not a bad idea but it doesn’t feel like the right answer. You know what I mean?”

“We do actually,” Sweetie Belle said sadly. “Some ponies laugh at us about all the different things we’ve tried to get our cutie marks. They keep telling us we give up on ideas too quickly, but all the different ideas we’ve come up with just don’t feel right.”

“Well don’t let those ponies keep you down,” I said. “You three will find your purpose, I know it.”

“We won’t!” Applebloom replied as we exited the orchard and started down the road towards town.

I pondered for a moment, remembering the lecture from Sunset about the different tribes. “Well, I’m not actually sure what with not normally being a pony. There are a few things I’ve deduced so far. I can see in the dark nearly as well as I can during the day. My hearing is sharper than human hearing but I haven’t had a chance to compare it to other ponies yet. Sunset also told me I probably use magic to fly just like Pegasus ponies.”

I considered talking about the dreamwalking, but I decided to keep it to myself considering what Twilight had told me. “Not that I’ve found so far but I haven’t spent much time as a pony yet. I’ll have to ask Princess Luna at some point.”

We finally reached the town and I saw several ponies running away in a panic. I saw the Crusaders shake their heads sadly. We walked through the barren streets of the town and it was hard to miss the whispers as we walked through town.

“It’s back! Sweet Celestia, it’s captured the crusaders!”
“Those poor fillies! They’re doomed.”

“Can you hear the other ponies whispering inside those buildings?” I asked Applebloom quietly.

“Well, it looks like Thestral hearing is significantly sharper than other ponies. Interesting,” I said thoughtfully even as the whispers spoke of fear and disgust.

We walked through town silently and I did my best to ignore the frightened whispering. I followed the Crusaders to a building that looked like a pair of fancy tents. Sweetie Belle walked up to the door and pushed it, but it was locked. I could hear a whimper of fear from the other side of the door.

“Oh come on!” she yelled at the door angrily. “I know you’ve got Princess Twilight in there; go tell her what’s going on and why you're hiding with the door locked!”

I heard the clopping of hooves fading away. I couldn't even make out what was being said. Suddenly, the building began to shake and I folded my ears down to try and dampen the shouting.

“WHAT!” Twilight screamed in the Royal Canterlot voice. “ARE YOU BUCKING KIDDING ME! LET THEM IN NOW!!!”

Two seconds later, the door opened, revealing a shaking, terrified pony with pink hair and a lavender coat.

“The princess will see you now,” the frightened pony said. “Please don’t hurt me, sir.”

I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of it. You’ve read way too many horror stories, miss . . .”

“Apology accepted ma’am,” I said, bowing politely. “These three fillies filled me in on how Thestral Ponies like me haven't been seen here.”

She nodded and gestured for me to walk into the neighboring room. Inside was a beautiful open spa room, with massage tables and a hot tub. Sunset and Twilight were sitting in the hot tub waiting with a worried expression on their faces.

“Oh my goodness, there you are Silver!” Twilight exclaimed. “Hello girls, I see you’ve met my friend. Where did you find him?”

“He was napping by the river at Sweet Apple Acres,” Applebloom responded. “We’ve got another Zecora situation on our hooves.”

“Oh for Celestia’s sake,” Twilight muttered. “They freak out about ponies that look a tiny bit different but don’t bat an eye at the arrival of an obligate carnivore. Gilda was way more intimidating than you and nopony flipped out like that when she showed up. I love Ponyville but sometimes I wonder how these ponies think. At least you three and your sisters have some sense.”

“Dahling please be gentle, we all know about zee Griffons!” said an unfamiliar pony in a strange accent. “Ponies with such unusual wings, eyes, and fangs are not so familiar except in zee horror stories.”

I turned around and found a pair of ponies that were identical except for the inversion of their mane and coat color. They were introduced as Aloe and Lotus, the proprietors of the Ponyville Day Spa. After a brief introduction, I sat down on the side of the hot tub between Sunset and Twilight. The Crusaders joined us, splashing their hooves in warm water.

“We’ll fix this,” Twilight said firmly. “All I need to do is talk to the other ponies and tell them you’re a friend. Then we can get some lunch and I can finally give you both a proper tour!”

I leaned in and kissed her cheek, her fur tickling my lips. It gave me a moment to think of an answer. For a brief moment, I considered lying but I knew that would only come back to bite me so I found a compromise. “She was curious about our relationship, that’s all. You know how Rarity is; the one here is similar in many ways.”

Sunset looked over at me with worry on her face. All she did was raise one eyebrow at me with a skeptical expression on her face. I nodded, hoping it would confirm that there was more but it wasn’t the time to talk about it. Then my heart fell when I heard Twilight's voice.

“They interrogated you about your relationship with Sunset and my feelings for you, didn’t they?” she said quietly. “I’m so sorry; I tried to keep it secret but Rarity knew somehow and blurted it out when I got back. I hoped they would leave you alone.”

“It’s not your fault Twilight,” I replied, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Rarity is frighteningly perceptive when she pays attention. They're all just worried about you.”

Sunset looked at Twilight and smiled. “You're lucky to have friends like them twice over Twilight.”

“I know,” Twilight replied, her sadness beginning to fade. “I have no doubt they'll be your friends too Sunset. They just haven't had the time with you that our friends at Canterlot High have.”

“Well Pinkie seems to like everypony,” Sunset replied. “Not that I'm complaining. She's a breath of fresh air in both worlds.”

Sunset looked surprised. “Why would you want to be friends with me? You don't know me.”

“You're friends with Twilight,” Applebloom said. “And with Silver who seems super nice for an alien. Are you an alien as well?”

Twilight shot me a look of irritation and I shrugged. “They figured it out as soon as I told them my name. If you're trying to keep the mirror a secret, you might want to talk to your friends about using more discretion when discussing me and Sunset.”

Twilight facehoofed and sighed. She clambered out of the pool and levitated a towel over to herself. “Well Silver, shall we go reassure the residents of Ponyville that you're not going to hurt them?”

Before Twilight could continue her thought, Spike started stammering. “Great! I mean, no! I mean, uh, I'm not . . . quite ready to go yet. Uh, why don't we get a massage before we go? I was really hoping to get, uh . . . this thingy!”

We looked at the poster Spike had just pointed at. “The extra-strength hot stone deep tissue massage?” I read out loud.

“Well I think I'd prefer a traditional massage myself,” Twilight said, glancing over at Sunset and me. What do you think you two? Do you want to have a massage before we go?”

“If they're up for treating their first Thestral customer, I'm in,” I said, finally beginning to feel better about everything. “I've never regretted getting a professional massage and I'm honestly overdue.”

There was a loud crash and a gigantic white pegasus smashed through the wall. He was a wall of muscle and I had seen his counterpart at school. I was just glad Bulk Biceps was incredibly kind, even if he was physically intimidating.

“YEAH! Let's do this little dragon,” he exclaimed, jumping over Spike's head and scooping him up between his muscular legs. He then stomped back off with Spike and smashed through another wall. Sunset and I stared at the destruction.

“I never realized how extreme pony personalities are when compared with their human counterparts,” Sunset whispered at me.

“Oh, I hate it when he does that,” Aloe sighed before smiling at the three of us. “Come with me. We shall take care of you.”

Twilight looked over at the Crusaders and levitated some coins out of her bag. “Why don’t you three go get something nice at Sugarcube Corner? Thank you for helping cheer Silver up.”

“Thank Twilight!” Applebloom said, walking out with her friends. “It was nice meetin’ ya both! Ah'll let you know when applebuck season is comin' Silver!”

Applebloom left as Aloe lead the three of us off to get what turned out to be the most fantastic massage I'd had in ages. How they attained such skill with hooves was a mystery I didn't think I'd ever solve. The one thing that did have me worried was Spike. He was incredibly nervous and it was obvious to me that something wasn’t going right at the castle.

After we finished our massages three of us were nice and relaxed but Spike was an absolute wreck. I wasn’t exactly sure what the special massage technique was supposed to accomplish, but it wasn’t relaxation. Fortunately, Twilight wasn’t in a rush as she introduced Sunset and me to ponies around town. We found out that day why she was the Princess of Friendship. Everypony was apologetic and warmed up incredibly quickly to both Sunset and me.

It was a surreal experience for Sunset and me. It turned out a large number of the people in Canterlot High and the local town had counterparts here. Sugarcube Corner was a bakery run by the Cake Family. Vinyl Scratch was trotting around town with her headphones on. Derpy Hooves was a mail mare. Bon Bon ran a chocolate shop. It went on and on with one familiar face after another, but I noticed one strange thing.

“Twilight, why do mares outnumber stallions almost four to one?” I asked. “Almost every male student from Canterlot High is missing from the local population even though nearly every single girl is represented here. It feels more than a bit odd.”

“Oh that’s simple,” Twilight said. “Most stallions from smaller towns do a tour or two in the guard when they come of age. Only a few with an appropriate special talent like my brother go on to the highest ranks. I’m not sure where the tradition came from but that’s why there are so few stallions here. Flash Sentry in this world is part of the Crystal Empire guard for example.”

“Actually, I figured it out from reading about horses in the other world Twilight,” Sunset said. “Wild stallions have an incredibly high mortality rate due to herd behavior. The lead stallion will drive out younger males and kill them if necessary to preserve his place. The ratio of a wild herd is comparable to what we see in towns like Ponyville. I think the military tradition evolved to provide an outlet for that aggression and actually gave our stallions a better survival rate since they’re not overwhelmed by pheromones during estrus.”

Sunset actually blushed at the question but proceeded to explain. “Ponies are only fertile two times of the year, unlike humans. We call the period Estrus. It’s similar to the human monthly cycle but a bit more intense. The pheromones released by mares in heat can create some embarrassing situations, especially for young stallions.”

I thought about it for a moment. “I suppose our sense of smell is better than humans. I tracked the sirens by the scent of their blood.”

They both stared at me. "Ummm, our sense of smell isn't quite that good," Twilight said.

"Right, so don’t visit during estrus season if I value my dignity is what I’m hearing," I replied.

“It’s not like that,” Twilight said, suddenly starting to giggle. “It’s just uncomfortable, not overwhelming. A pony would have to be pretty mindless to completely lose control during heat. Still, it probably would be better to avoid visiting since it can make us pretty grumpy. Maybe I should visit your world during the next season and see if I can get some relief.”

“It might work,” Sunset said. “I’ve only experience human biological cycles since I left Equestria. I should say that you might not enjoy the alternative.”

“Anyhow!” I said casting around to change the increasingly uncomfortable subject. “Why is this part of town suddenly feeling familiar to me, Twilight?”

Twilight looked around and her ears flattened down on her head. “Over there is where Spike and I used to live.”

A short distance away was the stump of a scorched tree. The remnant of a red doorway was set into the base of the stump. Twilight and Spike stopped and stared at while Sunset and I walked up next to her.

“I really miss this place,” Twilight said sadly. “We had so many wonderful memories here.”

“We did, didn’t we . . . ?” Spike responded in a wistful voice. Twilight pulled him into a big hug with her forehooves.

Hoping Sunset would understand what I was doing; I spread my wing and wrapped it around Twilight. It felt like the right thing to do. I was surprised and more than a bit relieved when Sunset leaned in against Twilight on the other side. She sighed as if she wasn’t sure whether she should be happy or sad while being held by the two of us.

“I’m just glad nopony was badly hurt or worse,” I said gently. “Princess Luna once told me that life has to go on even when we feel like we have lost everything. Your friends will always be here for you, Twilight.”

Twilight nodded silently, and I felt her shudder under my wing. Finally, Twilight looked down at Spike.

“I’ve got an idea. Why don't we have the girls add some things to make the castle feel more like your home as well?” She said in a more cheerful voice.

Spike suddenly looked incredibly nervous as he looked over Twilight shoulder. I followed his line of sight and saw Twilight’s friends peeking out from behind a building holding what looked like shovels. Rainbow Dash was making some crazy movements with her hooves. I realized she was asking us to delay Twilight. I glanced at Sunset who had also spotted them and saw a mischievous grin grow on her face.

“Twilight, can I borrow Spike for a bit?” Sunset said. “I should take care of a couple things while I’m here in Equestria and I could use his help. Why don’t you take Silver for a flight, clear your mind and maybe find out some more about Thestral flight? We can meet you at the town hall in an hour if that’s works.”

“Really!?” Twilight gasped, her wings twitching at the prospect of learning something new. “That sounds like so much fun. Come on Silver, let’s go!”

I looked at Sunset incredulously but she walked over and nuzzled me. “Don’t worry Silver. Just trust me and enjoy your visit with Twilight. Let me know how you two get along.”

She winked at me, then levitated Spike on to her back and walked off towards town. Twilight was already hovering and looking at me expectantly. I spread my wings and followed her up into the sky, climbing so we were side by side.

“Out of everything I’ve gained since the Fall Formal, the experience of flying ranks only a few points below our friends,” I said as we ascended towards the nearest clouds.

“I wasn’t sure about it at first,” Twilight said. “It’s been a challenge getting comfortable with flying but I’m improving. So, let’s start by finding out if you can interact with clouds.”

She stopped flapping her wings and dropped down on the cloud. I held my breath waiting for her to fall through, but instead, she landed on it and bounced like it was a trampoline. I hovered there staring at her standing on a puffball of water vapor.

“Ok, Sunset mentioned Pegasus ponies could control the weather,” I said in disbelief. “I never considered that would let them actually stand on clouds.”

Twilight giggled and gestured for me to land next to her. I hovered over the cloud and looked down at the total violation of every law of physics I knew and then landed. I felt a puffy soft surface under my hooves and gingerly settled down on the soft surface next to her. Twilight grinned at me.

“Cloudsdale is the main Pegasus city,” Twilight said. “It is built out of clouds and moves around as necessary.”

“It’s so fluffy,” I laughed, rolling over on my side in the clouds. “This feels incredible. Have I told you that Cloudsdale is a small town about two hours away from Canterlot in my world? Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash used to live there.”

“The parallels between our worlds just continue to surprise me,” Twilight said in an excited voice. “They’re both from Cloudsdale in this world as well. Let’s see if you can push it around next!”

Time for some more experiments.
I wonder what we’ll find out.

After some experimentation, we had our answers. Assuming I was an average Thestral, I could land on clouds and shape them on a very small scale but I couldn’t move or break them. We also discovered that I had strong control over the air around me and if I could harness that magic I would be able to augment my flight even further. Twilight described several interesting things Rainbow Dash did by manipulating the air around her such as creating a miniature tornado on the day they met.

Afterward, we settled down on another cloud to talk. This was the first time we’d really talked privately since the Fall Formal. We chatted about our friends and the crazy events in our lives over the past two months. She confided about the strain from losing her magic twice in the past month to Tirek and then Starlight Glimmer. This Starlight pony sounded like she would be trouble and I felt She even told me about her family and I was surprised to discover Shining Armor was her older brother and Cadance her sister in law.

“. . . I envy their relationship sometimes,” Twilight finished as her voice became sad. “They seem so happy together. I wish I could find somepony who wasn't just planning to use me.”

There was an uncomfortable silence and I looked over at her. She was avoiding my eyes as she poked her hoof into the cloud and fidgeted with the fluffy water vapor. “Twilight, I’m sorry things didn’t work out like you hoped between us,” I said apologetically.

“You’re still my friend and so is Sunset,” she replied calmly. “That’s more important to me right now.”

"I'm still sorry," I said. "Sunset and I both want to try and help you find somepony who will treat you right."

We both watched the sky again from our perch on the clouds. Twilight looked over at me with nervous eyes.

Her beautiful purple eyes were watching me and her expression was curious. I had found her attractive from the day I met her, but that wasn't unusual considering the appearance of the girls and ponies I called friends. Honestly, they were all stunning in their own way. I pondered my interactions with Twilight and came to a conclusion.

“You’re a wonderful friend and I do enjoy talking with you,” I replied. “We get along well so I'd have to say it is possible we could have worked as a couple. If you could tolerate me in the long term that is. I still have trouble believing you and Sunset are interested in me at all. You're both so brilliant compared to me and I keep expecting the other shoe to drop when she realizes I'm barely average.”

“Sunset was right, you do sell yourself short,” Twilight said gently. “You are a handsome stallion, you’re fun to talk with, you stand up for your friends without hesitation and you’re patient with my idiosyncrasies. You forgave Sunset when you had more right than anypony to hold a grudge. Even though you aren't a brilliant student, you still try and are willing to ask for help when you need it. You are a good pony by every standard I know.”

I smiled weakly at her. It was hard hearing myself describe in such glowing terms by Twilight considering the circumstances. “I'll try to keep that in mind. So, should we go find Sunset and Spike?”

“Sounds good to me.” she replied with sudden energy. “Race you to town hall!”

She took off and shot towards town before I could respond to her challenge. “HEY!” I shouted, jumping off the cloud and flying after her.

Finding a Place

by Battlecat

Chapter 30 - To Reflect