Sharing Beat Up Stories

by Graglithan The Greater


Mirror Management

After their classes had ended for the day, Sunset told the girls what her plan was. Most of them were apprehensive, but agreed to at least talk about it later, and left it to their friend to sort out the remaining details. So when Sunset spent most of her Saturday at home writing with Twilight in her journal, they weren’t surprised. It was late that afternoon when they saw Sunset again, meeting at their usual hangout of Sugarcube Corner Cafe.

“Hey girls!” the fiery-haired girl sat at their usual booth, pulling up a chair from another table to sit at the end. They all had their choices of drink or deserts, ranging from simple milkshakes to Pinkie’s sugar-nuke cupcakes.

As the pink girl devoured the confection that only she could stomach, she waved back to her friend. “Hi, Sunset!” Pinkie giggled as she propped her knees against the edge of the table. “So, did you and Twilight figure out what we’re going to do?”

Nodding, Sunset put the journal on the table for all to see. “We’ve got a good idea of what to do. We came up with a few possible ways to do this. We meet our counterparts by the portal and have the meeting in the soccer field.” Rainbow pouted a bit and grumbled at the thought, making some of her friends frown in concern. “We could also cross over ourselves, and have the meeting in Twilight’s castle, or make it a case by case basis with me monitoring on this side, and Twilight on the other.”

Applejack pursed her lips as she thought it over. “If it’s all the same with you sugarcube? Ah think I’d like to talk with my counterpart over here. There may be horses on my farm, but Ah don’t think Ah’m ever gonna be ready to have hooves myself. Also helps that Ah got the day off, thanks ta Mac if’n we’re doing this tomorrow.”

Chuckling, Sunset nodded. “That’s fair. Being on all fours would probably take some time to adjust to.” She paused long enough to shrug. “Not for me, since I’m from there and all, but you know what I mean.” She hummed for a moment and leaned back. “Then again... it wasn’t too hard for me or Twilight to learn how to walk here, so maybe not? I’ll have to look into that.”

Rainbow tapped her chin as she rested her elbows on the table. “I never did get a good look at how pony me looked when she showed up. After hearing about how all of yours looked, I want to see her on this side. Maybe get an explanation for all the belts.”

Rarity shuddered at the mention, now that she wasn’t too focused on her own issues to hear it. Just what was with all those belts? The thought of how gaudy they looked when she heard of the outfit that Rainbow’s counterpart wore still made her feel uneasy. “I’m honestly afraid of that. I have a feeling it was positively atrocious. I’d feel better not seeing that.”

“Well, then I guess you pick the opposite of what Rainbow does?” Sunset shrugged.

The soccer star shrugged sat up. “Well, I want to see how the other me looks. To determine awesomeness and all that. I’ll go for here.”

Rarity nodded and smiled. “Then I guess I’ll be the first of our group to see what Sunset’s world is like.”

If any of them had been paying attention, they would have seen Pinkie snickering.

Instead, their attention was more focused on Fluttershy as she sat there with the most conflicted look on her face possible for the shy girl. On the one hand, she wanted to finally see how Sunset and her friends looked as ponies back in her friend’s homeworld now that the thought was in her head. She was entirely confident that from what Sunset had told them before about the different kinds of ponies there, that the fire-toned ex-pony would be the most adorable unicorn she would ever see if she got the chance.

On the other, there was still the matter of the possibly looming chaos god that her counterpart had apparently befriended, and was potentially able to send out like some sort of overpowered and overprotective attack dog.

The poor girl rested her head in her hands and stared at her milkshake. “I’m not sure how to feel about this. What if it isn’t such a good idea in the end?”

Pinkie gave Fluttershy a few surprisingly gentle pats on the back and nodded. “Oh don’t worry Fluttershy! I’m sure all of our pony-selves had enough time to calm down. Either way, whatever you girls pick is fine with me!”

Seeing the apprehension still on her friend’s face, Sunset smiled and put her hand out, placing it on Fluttershy’s in a totally-not-romantic way. “Fluttershy, you don’t have to worry about Discord coming over from the other side. Apparently, he took a vacation when he learned that their world’s Fluttershy actually broke the law.” Sunset frowned as she leaned to the side for a moment to reread some stuff from the journal. “Something about wondering if he actually managed to corrupt her and finding penance for making her do something out of character?”

The timid girl looked at Sunset curiously, parting her bangs with her free hand. “Really?”

Despite the small heart attack, the fire-haired girl was experiencing from the sight, she nodded as softly as she could. “Really.”

“Um, then if it’s alright with you, can I go over there with Rarity?” She blushed and scuffed her shoe against the tile, looking even more adorable, and Sunset was most certainly not blushing she swears!

Taking a look at the clock was both the fairy haired girl’s saving grace and moment of terror, as she jumped a bit in her seat. “Shoot! I’m going to be late for work!”

Applejack waved a hand and smiled. “Well go on then. Don’t let us keep ya.” The rest of the group all started to get up after Sunset. “Sides, ah should probably be headed back to the mall, so Ah'm not in the same boat.”

Packing away her journal, Sunset gave them all a quick nod. “I’ll let Twilight know how the meeting went. See you at school tomorrow morning?” With some quick hugs and farewells, the group departed, each headed their separate ways. On her walk to work, Sunset took a moment to write down how the meeting went, before doubling her speed to make up for lost time.


Meanwhile, in Ponyville, Twilight was having a similar conversation. All of her friends were seated around the Cutie Map, looks of worry as to why their friend had called them here. Their concern was only enhanced when they saw the map wasn’t blinking, despite Twilight calling it a Friendship Emergency.

Thankfully, the princess herself entered the room shortly after they did and joined them at the table, journal floating behind her. “Girls, I have something to tell you.” She placed the journal on the table and had a worried frown on her face. “I learned sometime yesterday that apparently your trip across the mirror last week had some lasting effects on your counterparts.”

Applejack winced as she adjusted her hat. “That there other me ain’t getting blamed for anything is she?”

Twilight shook her head and sighed. “I can’t really go into details, but I can say that they’ve been having a hard time because of it all.” A smile replaced her frown from earlier as she nodded. “However, Sunset and I have been working on something to help at least ease the discomforts they’re feeling.”

Rainbow sat up with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah?”

Nodding, the princess continued. “Sunset’s working on the details on their end, but sometime tomorrow, we’re all going to meet up with your counterparts and have a small get-together and talk things out between each other. Whether it’s on their side or ours, is going to be up to them.”

Fluttershy looked at the table worriedly, before turning to her friend. “Are you sure this, um... is a good idea? What if the other me doesn’t want to talk with me?”

“Sunset’s talking with them about it as we speak.” Twilight gave her friend a pat on the shoulder. “If they’re not up for it, we’re not forcing any of them. The same goes for all of you.” The lavender mare’s ears folded back as she frowned a bit inside her smile. “If you’re not willing to go through with this, I won’t force you.”

“Are you kidding?” Rainbow put her hooves on the table and looked at her friend incredulously. “I’m all for going over there! I was a complete bonehead last time and didn’t realize how much I needed to hold back. Other me deserves an apology at the least, if not an explanation.”

“Ah agree.” Applejack nodded resolutely. “Ah made a rotten apple outta myself when ah was over there. Sure, ah thought ah was in the right, but that doesn’t excuse what ah did.” She blushed a bit and rubbed the back of her head. “Sides... if’n it turns out she’s getting the blame for it, it’d only be right if ah went over to ease some of it off of her. Wouldn’t be very honest of me if Ah didn’t.”

Rarity adjusted her mane slightly as she nodded with a smile. “I do want to take a moment to apologize to my counterpart as well. Maybe while we’re there, we can bounce ideas off each other! Imagine, an entire fashion line inspired by another world entirely!” She let out a giddy laugh, much to the exasperation of the group at large. “What? A mare can dream.”

Twilight rolled her eyes before turning to the last two of the group. “And you two? What are your thoughts?”

Fluttershy looked apprehensive but nodded after a moment. “S-She deserves an apology.”

Pinkie bounced in her seat and threw confetti into the air. “Yay! I can throw a mirror-meet-and-greet party! Oh, what flavor should the cake be? Do they like the same flavors as we do if they’re another species? What kind of party should it be? A big one? Small one? I can’t decide!” The group laughed at Pinkie’s antics, just as the journal started to buzz.

The princess took notice and quickly opened it to read what Sunset had sent her. “Well girls, I’ve gotten back from Sunset. It looks like most of them are all for the meeting, though some have their doubts.” This got a small wince from the mares gathered. “But, they’ve all agreed to meet up tomorrow morning at the statue and have a small get together.” Twilight frowned a bit as she looked at each of her friends. “I expect all who are willing to go through will be on their best behavior?”

Rainbow rubbed the back of her head, looking anywhere but The lavender alicorn. “Eh, kinda deserved that. But yeah, I’ll behave.”

“Good.” Twilight had a small smirk on her face before her smile softened. “Again, I’m not forcing anypony. I know you’ve all got lives of your own and I'm not exactly being fair to any of you by asking you to drop whatever you have planned at a moments notice.”

“Well, then a few of us might be a bit late, ah suppose.” Applejack got up from her seat and nodded. “Ah’ll be spending the morning doing my share of the farm work, so Ah might be able to come over sometime around noon. No promises though.”

“I’ll be sure to let Sunset know so she can tell your counterpart.” Twilight nodded, looking to the rest of the group. “Anypony else?”

Pinkie was actually the one to raise her hoof next. “I’m babysitting for the Cakes tomorrow, but I’ll be over to throw the party after I’m done!”

The butterscotch mare was the next to speak up. “I, um, I might be needing to give Beary his monthly chiropractic exam tomorrow.”

Her pink friend raised an eyebrow in thought. “Didn’t you give him one yesterday?”

The caretaker deadpanned for a moment before sighing dejectedly into her mane. “Oh, right. Um... my mistake.”

The Wonderbolt in the room noticed it more than the others and frowned a bit at her longtime friend. “C’mon Fluttershy, we really screwed up here. We can’t really chicken out right now. It wouldn’t be right.”

Twilight shook her head and smiled as softly as she could at her soft-spoken friend. “We can spread these meetings out to be more than just tomorrow. Sunset and your counterpart--”

“No.” Fluttershy interrupted before taking a breath and calming herself. “Rainbow’s right, and I... I need to do this.” She blushed a bit and steeled her nerves. “I’ll be over as soon as I can.”

Twilight gave her a nod before they all started to get up from the table. “Alright, I’ll be sure to see if Sunset has any more information on her end, and get a better schedule set up.”

“Alright, we’ll see ya later Twilight.” Applejack and the others gave their friend a quick hug before the group started to leave. The princess couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as she could hear Fluttershy trying to keep herself motivated.

With her friends filing out of the room, Twilight took the journal and started to write, only to see Sunset sending her a message.

Hey, Twilight. Just got done talking with the girls over here. We got lucky that Applejack and Rarity both have the day off, and Pinkie never works on Sundays thanks to the Sugarcube Cafe being closed. As for who goes where Applejack and Rainbow both wanted to meet with theirs over here. Rarity and Fluttershy wanted to see theirs on your side. Pinkie wasn’t very decisive, so I guess that one will be up in the air for now. Sound good with you?

Twilight smirked for a moment, imagining how two Rarities would turn out for Spike. Little drake’s going to lose his mind. Bringing her quill to the paper, she began her response.

“That’s good to hear! Our Fluttershy was a little apprehensive of going back over, so it might actually help to have them meet over here. Our world might distract your world’s Fluttershy long enough to get them near each other. Though your Applejack and Pinkie might have a bit of a wait, since on this side Applejack’s got some farm work to do before she comes over, and Pinkie’s babysitting. Everypony else is all set as far as I know.”

Sounds good. I’ll be sure to let the girls know. It’ll at least make it so that Applejack doesn’t have to rush to get here, though I’m pretty sure she’ll still show up early. Hope she doesn’t go crazy listening to two Rainbow Dashes.

The lavender alicorn had to pause for a moment as the thought settled in. “Oh my goodness, that really is a horrifying thought. Why didn’t I think of that until now?”

Well in your defense, we were pretty busy focusing on other problems.

Giggling a bit, Twilight shook her head and blushed. “True. So, I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

I’ll send a message as soon as we’re ready. See you tomorrow!

The journal went silent, and Twilight couldn’t help but feel a mixture of anticipation and worry about how tomorrow would go.