//------------------------------//
// How is Your Mane Doing That? 
// Story: Hello From The Other Side 
// by FoxMcCloud7921 
//------------------------------//

	Celestia thought with all the movies that Luna had made her watch with her that dealt with portals, wormholes, or what have you that it would be as easy as going in one place and coming out another. It certainly wasn’t anything like it was in the movies.
Instead, Celestia felt as if she was falling down a well, which in every right is pretty scary. Not only that, but she felt something change inside her. Her bone structure, her DNA perhaps. Of course, the sensation was only momentary as she passed through an area of blinding light and next thing she knew, she had fallen onto a rather smooth surface.
She felt slightly dizzy as she heard a voice call out to her. Then she recognized it as her sister’s. “Tia, are you alright?” Celestia opened her eyes and at first she thought maybe she was seeing things but there was a blue muzzled face in front of her with short ears and bright eyes…her sister’s eyes.
“Luna…” She took a moment to register everything. “…You’re a pony now.”
Luna suddenly grinned and squealed with delight, something Celestia hadn’t heard from her in a long time. “I know! I look adorable right!? And look at this mane! Is it not fabulous!?” Indeed, her…mane didn’t look like a typical mane at all, but instead it had…wait was she seeing the cosmos in there? “And these wings! Twilight Sparkle was right all along!”
Celestia tried to get up, and then realized as she looked down that she too no longer had hands but two front hooves. “This is…interesting…I’m surprised I’m not freaking out.”
“Because you look marvelous sister,” Luna beamed. “Take a peek for yourself.”
Celestia looked behind and saw that there was a mirror, presumably the mirror that brought them here. She looked into the reflection and saw she too was now a pony, a rather large one with a horn and wings…what did Sunset call them? Alicorns? “…How is my mane doing that?”
“I suppose it must be Equestrian magic,” Luna guessed. “But now that I think about it…where are we exactly?”
Suddenly, the door on the other side of the room opened and a smaller pony with a purple body and matching mane peeked inside and upon seeing the two ponies rushed inside. She too had a horn and wings. “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna!” the mare asked. “What are you doing here?”
Celestia and Luna glanced at one another before Celestia leaned over to her sister and whispered, “I think that’s Twilight. This world’s Twilight.”
“Ah…” Luna whispered back. “So…how should we play this?”
“Just act normal…” Celestia then looked up to Twilight and beamed. “Hello…Twilight. We certainly didn’t mean to surprise you.”
“Oh no it’s fine it’s just-” She then paused as she looked at the two curiously. “Wait…how come you didn’t use the front door?” She then glanced behind her towards the mirror and then gasped as it all clicked together. “Wait a minute…are you-?”
“W-Wait!” Luna said as she backed away slowly. “Please don’t be upset, we were just curious and-”
“Upset?” Twilight asked. Her face then broke out into a grin. “Are you kidding, this is wonderful!” The young princess went up and hugged both of them. “I can’t believe you two are here! Sunset didn’t say anything about you two coming at all!”
“Well, Luna was apparently bored and came up with the idea of coming over here,” Celestia said simply. She then looked around the room. “This is…interesting architecture.”
“Oh! Yes, this is actually my castle,” Twilight said, blushing slightly. “Tada…!”
“Very impressive,” Luna noted. “Again, I hope you don’t mind. Since you’ve come to our world we figured it couldn’t hurt if we came to learn a little bit of yours.”
“I’d be honored,” Twilight said as she bowed. She then paused and giggled. “Sorry…kind of a habit since you both share such a resemblance to both-” She then gasped and this time she looked worried. “Wait, no this isn’t good at all!”
The two sisters glanced again at one another. “I beg your pardon?” Celestia asked.
“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are up in Canterlot…” Twilight started pacing. “But if anypony sees you here they’re going to start talking and everyone will get confused and think-” She then stopped in her tracks. “No, this won’t do. I’ll have to-”
Suddenly there was a knock on the door which almost made Twilight. “Twilight?” Another unicorn poked her head inside and her eyes widened as she saw the three ponies. “Oh! Princess Celestia and Luna, I didn’t realize you two were here.”
“Oh Starlight!” Twilight said rather loudly. “Yes um…yeah these two wanted to surprise me because um…” She glanced at the two ponies for help.
“Because…we wanted to celebrate Twilight’s birthday,” Celestia said. “You know, a whole…royal thing.”
“But…her birthday isn’t for another month?” Starlight glanced at Twilight with a confused look. “Right?”
“W-Well we may be…very busy next month,” Luna added. “Plus we need to discuss…discussions about…pony-related stuff.”
“Yep!” Twilight said with a forced grin. “It’s kind of top secret though so…”
Starlight looked at the three alicorns and her eyes narrowed slightly. “You three are hiding something…”
“Are we?” Luna said darkly. Funny how Luna could make the temperature in the room drop…and apparently there was a storm brewing outside.
“…Well okay then, I’ll just leave you three to it then,” Starlight said as she left the room.
Twilight sighed with relief. “That’s Starlight Glimmer, my former student,” she explained.
“Former student?” Celestia then smiled. “I see you’ve been busy lately.”
“Oh you have no idea,” Twilight replied. “But Sunset tells me things too. I heard camp was fun.”
“It was…interesting,” Luna said. “Well except that we ended up rebuilding that dock about five times…”
“Anyway…” Celestia rolled her eyes. “You were having a moment before?”
“Oh!” Twilight started fidgeting again. “Yes, I need to get a letter out and have the princesses here. I mean, if you’re okay with meeting your counterparts.”
“Actually, I think we’d be most interested,” Celestia said with an amused look. “Do we really look alike?”
“Absolutely…well except for the crown and royal gear,” Twilight said. “But don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be just as excited to meet you. Be right back, need to get that letter out!” She then rushed out of the room.
It was quiet for a few moments as the two sisters looked around the room. “You know…this place almost reminds me of Crystal Prep,” Luna said. “But look at the walls…I know these ponies have special talents but this doesn’t look man…er…pony-made.”
“Knowing this world, it probably just built itself,” Celestia chuckled slightly.
“Now that’s just ridiculous.”



Twilight was currently in her study, trying to keep her quill still as she wrote her letter. “This is the first time anyone’s ever come to this world from the other side!” she thought gleefully. “It would be nice if Sunset were to come back as well.” She then refocused on her letter.

Dear Princesses Celestia and Luna,

I know this letter is rather short notice but something amazing has just happened! I believe I told you about your human counterparts right? Well, as fate would have it, they just showed up in my castle. Don’t worry though, they just wanted to visit I promise.
Anyway, I know this is a lot to ask but perhaps you two could come visit real quick and speak to them? They’ve shown an interest in meeting you and I would consider this an opportunity to understand one another much better. I hope to hear from you two soon!

Sincerely,
Princess Twilight

Twilight then rolled up the parchment and almost skipped out of the room. “Oh Spike!”



Meanwhile in Canterlot, Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne drinking some hot tea and looking quite bored. What was going to be a busy day suddenly turned into a free day: the Duke and Duchess of Trottingham had postponed their meeting with the princesses due to a family member suddenly becoming sick and once again Prince Rutherford sent in a last second letter about postponing their trade summit with Canterlot. He didn’t specify, only saying in the letter, “DEAR PRINCESS, VERY BUSY. WILL MEET LATER. SORRY, PRINCE RUTHERFORD”. Celestia always favored free days but the question was where she was going to go.
“A day at the spa sounds wonderful,” she thought. “But there’s always so many ponies there and I just want my alone time…” Well, she could kick everyone out…but that was more Luna’s thing than hers.
Speaking of which, her sister had just entered the throne room, a similar expression on her face. “Something wrong sister?” Celestia asked.
“Tia, I want you to be honest with me…am I really that strict?” Luna asked.
“That…would depend on who you ask,” Celestia replied. “What happened?”
“Oh, I was just with the Lunar Guard…don’t get me wrong they’re very loyal and follow every order to a T,” Luna said, sighing slightly. “But those poor ponies give me the thousand yard stare and they go so stiff I’m worried they’re not getting enough blood to the head.”
Celestia smiled slightly. “They want to impress you, dear sister, because they’re aware you’re…um…very ‘old school’.”
Luna snorted. “I’ve done better with becoming more…what’s the word? Mainstream? Yes. I know I ask a lot but…I’m not sure how I can compromise without losing their respect.”
“Just be open with them Luna…if they’re as loyal as you say, they’ll listen,” Celestia smiled. Suddenly, a green flame floated into the castle and upon reaching Celestia’s throne, transformed into a letter. “Hm…a letter from Twilight I see.” She then opened it and read through it. Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh my…”
“What is it?” Luna asked, looking slightly concerned.
“You’ll want to read this; it’s addressed to you as well.” Luna took the letter and read through it herself, soon having the same expression.
“Well this is…most surprising,” Luna said. “What shall we do?”
“This is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Celestia pondered. She then shrugged. “I’ve got nothing better to do. You?”
“Nope. Let us pay our friends a visit then.”
Celestia then got herself some parchment, a quill, and ink and began writing back.

Dear Princess Twilight,

This is most interesting news. Of course we’ll come and say hello. I suppose you probably don’t want us to use the front entrance. Very well, we’ll be there right away. Let this letter be a two-minute warning.

Sincerely,

Princesses Celestia and Luna

“Two minutes?” Luna asked as Celestia sent off the letter. “Sister, are you trying to kill the poor mare?”
Celestia smirked slightly. “Twilight will learn eventually that once you’re a princess, you’re fair game to all sorts of shenanigans…”
Luna stared at her sister with slight concern. "And they say I was the evil one!