The mana crystal smashed into pieces on the floor, and Twilight's aura disappeared.
"You... you just destroyed an infinite number of universes..." said Starlight, gawking. "Wait, why are we still even here?"
"No, I didn't. I didn't destroy any universes. That's why we're still here. I knew what I was doing," said Twilight, pointing at the sign Spike had made. "I mean, there's a huge reminder not to murder countless universes standing right there."
"Obviously we're on the second level, but you still destroyed those universes, didn't you?"
"No. We had to be on the second level. The universes below us were all constant, remember? We never broke symmetry, so all those ponies were identical to us. Now they just continue existing as us."
Starlight Glimmer breathed a deep sigh. "Twilight, I can't believe you just did this. Flipping out over our relationship isn't worth taking risks with the entire universe!"
Twilight sat on the floor and began to sob. "I know... I'm, I'm sorry," she whimpered. "I wish I weren't so jealous. I went without friends for so long, I never expected anypony to want to be with me forever..."
Starlight walked over and knelt next to Twilight, giving her a hug. "No matter how important this e-Quine thing is, it's not more important than us. Okay?"
Twilight nodded and cried in Starlight's legs.
Three ponies and a dragon sat in the Castle of Friendship's library in front of a blank projection screen.
"So now what? Are we going to do it again?" asked Sunburst, nervously adjusting his seat. "We're stuck at the second layer permanently this time."
"Not necessarily," said Starlight Glimmer. "Copies of our universe will think they're at the second layer too. We could start this whole mess all over again."
"We need time to process what we've done and plan for the future first," said Twilight Sparkle. "I'd like you to take an extended vacation here in Ponyville for research purposes, Sunburst. And... also, so I can get to know you better." Twilight smiled wanly.
"I'd like that," said Sunburst. "I'll make arrangements."
"What should we do in the meantime?" said Starlight. "We need to make sure the top layer doesn't destroy us, because we're not symmetrical to them. This sign is a nice start, but I'd like to communicate with them."
"That would make sense if we ever make another series of universes," said Twilight. "Rather than try to cast spells into the universes we create, we can preserve symmetry with them by asking the layer above us to cast spells into our universe. That way we're safe if we ever destroy the mana crystal again."
"Oh, I know! Why don't I make a sign with whatever you want to tell them?" asked Spike. "Assuming they can read it if the print's small enough."
"They should be able to read anything we can read," said Sunburst.
"Spike, take a letter—or a sign, rather..." began Twilight.
PLEASE READ THIS, OUTER TWILIGHT SPARKLE
Hello! This is from the ponies in the universe you created. We would really like to keep existing, so after you're done using the e-Quine, maybe you could put it somewhere safe, like burying it beneath the Tree of Harmony?
But before you do that, it would be really useful to us if you could give us another gift like you did with the gold coins. We've put our heads together and come up with what we think will benefit Inner Equestria (that's what I'm calling the universes, Inner and Outer) the most without incurring any major costs to Outer Equestria. We'd really appreciate it.
If you need to communicate with us, you should be able to send a letter to Inner Spike if you cast the spell through the e-Quine.
Here is the suggested list of gifts...
"I know I told them I can get the gifts ready within the week, but we can probably handle it today," said Outer Twilight Sparkle.
"I wish there were a way to listen in on them talking," said Sunburst. "It'd certainly be more efficient than using signs."
"I can read lips," said Starlight Glimmer. The other ponies and Spike stared at her. "What? It's useful. I used it to spy on Twilight back when I was still evil."
"Let me rewind time until they're talking in the library, then..." said Sunburst, taking the reigns with the e-Quine.
"Sunburst!" said Twilight.
"I wouldn't mind if they overheard us in the library," said Spike. "It's probably fine."
Sunburst stopped time where Starlight took the scroll from Spike. "Let's start here," he suggested.
"Okay, here goes," said Starlight.
"You're all terrible," said Twilight, but leaned in as Starlight began speaking her own words.
"Okay, so she says... 'It's a message from Outer Twilight. I'll go ahead and read it.'"
"We know this part already," said Twilight.
"No, wait... 'I'll paraphrase a little. They're going to help us out with what we want sometime over the next week. They agree to bury the e-Quine under the Tree of Harmony. Oh, and they've decided to have an open relationship and try being intimate with Sunburst together.'"
Twilight's mouth dropped open. "Wait, what?! I didn't write any of that! Well, the thing about helping them over the week, but not the rest of it!"
Sunburst blushed like fire.
"Okay. I'm going to my room," said Spike, blushing himself. He sped out of the library.
"Starlight, you lied to me!" said Twilight.
"No I didn't, she did," she said, pointing at herself and grinning. Inner Starlight crumpled and destroyed the scroll with a spell.
"She's practically you in every way!"
"Twi, sweetie," said Starlight, walking over to Twilight and placing a hoof around her neck. "Look at Inner Twilight. Do you see how happy she looks?"
Twilight pursed her lips. "Yeah." Inner Twilight was smiling and pranced out of the library, followed by her marefriend, who paused to wink at the camera.
"I admit it. I would lie about another universe to make you that happy."
Twilight sighed. "I don't know why I'm jealous. I'm never getting rid of you no matter what I do, am I?"
Starlight grinned. "Not until there's a ring on this horn. And then, especially not."
Twilight paused in thought, then looked up with shimmering eyes. "Who knows. Maybe we're in another simulation too, and the universe could end at any moment. Life's too short as it is," she said. "And I suppose my bed is large enough for three ponies. For tonight, at least."
"Oh gosh," said Sunburst, eyes wide.
"I was hoping you'd say that," Starlight said to her marefriend, and then she kissed Twilight Sparkle right on the lips.