//------------------------------//
// 3 Twilight Gets on the Case 
// Story: Discord Between the Worlds 
// by Bronyxy 
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Sunset staggered away from the Crystal Mirror on her hindlegs, wobbling uncertainly as she became accustomed to her equine form once more. The room was deserted, but at least she knew where she was – the Castle of Friendship. She remembered when it had been in Canterlot and then moved to the Crystal Empire, but its most recent residence suited her best, especially as it was Twilight she needed to see.

Making for the door, she became more confident on four legs with each step until by the time she had reached out with her magic to the door handle she was comfortable in the body she had been born into. She knew this castle like a second home, and although its labyrinth of passages and corridors were a maze to all those who ventured into it for the first time, she found her way effortlessly to the Throne Room.

The doors were open, so there was no need for the formality of knocking, but she still did out of courtesy, whereupon four faces turned to see the new arrival. As soon as they saw who it was, they all rushed over to give big hugs to a friend they didn’t see often enough. It was a joyous moment, one for which she closed her eyes just to soak in the love she felt. Everypony was talking at once, and it was impossible to determine who was saying what, but it didn’t matter at all; she was just happy to bask in their friendship.

Twilight moved into a position in front of her where she could be seen clearly, wearing a slightly more serious expression.
“Great to see you again Sunset, but is there some problem? I mean, not that it’s not nice to see you, which it is, of course, but …”
Sunset smiled at the way Twilight had managed to tie herself up in knots in less than a minute of her arrival, but the smile quickly died on her muzzle. Just as quickly as the good mood had arrived, it tailed off as all around quietened down to await an answer that didn’t come, pointing to a darker purpose behind their friend’s unexpected visit.

“Want to tell us, Sugarcube?” she heard a familiar voice drawl by her side.
“When did you last see Discord?” asked Sunset.
There was a general head scratching, nopony being able to put a hoof on exactly when it might have been.
“A week ago, perhaps?” answered Twilight uncertainly.
“Well, he’s in the human world now.”

There was a loud gasp from everypony present.
“But …” stammered Twilight, “He doesn’t go into that world …”
“Didn’t Celestia tell you he wasn’t allowed” chimed in Rarity with her distinctive cultured voice.
“Yes, yes, you’re right” said Twilight looking down at the floor, vexed, then adding slowly, “It was in case he caused too much of a magical disturbance in a world that doesn’t have Equestrian magic.”
“Didn’t used to“ corrected Applejack.
“He says he got sucked through by the pull of a magical vortex caused by a rift in the portal …”

Further gasps all round.
“Oh my” whimpered Fluttershy, “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know” replied Sunset, “That’s why I’ve come to see you.”
“This is bad, this is very bad” chanted Twilight, as she began walking in circles, “This is very, very bad …. ”
“Uh, Twilight …” prompted Applejack gently, ”The mirror …?”
“Yes, yes, of course” agreed Twilight in a flash of revelation, “The Crystal Mirror; that’s where we’ll start! Follow me girls!”
The friends all exchanged knowing glances and trotted out happily behind the lilac Princess whom none would dare to call disorganised, but all would agree was sometimes a little prone to missing the obvious.

Twilight waited impatiently in the room where the Crystal Mirror was stored and stared disapprovingly at the door as it opened almost a full ten seconds after she herself had come in, the tardiness of her friends being something she clearly found inexcusable, but wisely decided not to express to them. She turned quickly and lit her horn, following through all the pipework and wiring, hoping to find something out of place.

Rarity wore a puzzled look on her face and tilted her head sideways as if hoping that something in her head would reconnect and the mystery before her would suddenly reveal itself, but it didn’t. In truth no pony other than Twilight really had any chance in understanding the complexity of the magical device before them.
“I don’t understand it!” she exclaimed, “There’s nothing wrong; it should all be working perfectly!”
“Ah know ah don’t understand how this thingummy works, but down on the farm we say that something is only as strong as its weakest link” stated Applejack, “So what’s the weakest part of this doohicky thing?”

Twilight stopped in her tracks and turned slowly towards the farm pony, her eyes transfixed in a faraway stare, “Yes, yes, what you say could well be right, Applejack. It could work alright on its own, in vacuo, so to speak, but what if …?”
Applejack’s ears pricked up, waiting to give more helpful advice, but the next question was directed instead to the perfectly groomed white unicorn next to her.

“Rarity, has there been any unexplained magical activity recently that I could have missed?”
“I don’t think so, darling” she replied, and then raised her forehoof to her chin to think for a moment, ”Nothing since the last Grand Galloping Gala? Don’t you recall when Discord invited that awful Smooze character? Your magic couldn’t stop it, and neither, if I remember, could Princess Celestia. Maybe there’s a connection between your Princess level magic not working and Discord …?”
“Yes, but wasn’t that up at Canterlot?” interrupted Applejack, ”The Crystal Mirror was here the whole time; now how in the hay would that work?”
“Simple!” declared Twilight, “The Crystal Mirror was originally kept in the Throne Room of Canterlot Castle and the portal is at Canterlot High School on the other side, right? So I think that the portal remains in the Throne Room, but the Crystal Mirror is just the door which is magically connected to it and will work wherever it’s moved to.”
“Like when I came through it into the Crystal Castle to steal your crown?” asked Sunset.
“Exactly” agreed Twilight, ”So when the Grand Galloping Gala was held at Canterlot Castle, it would have been magically right on top of the portal.”
“Right, so when you and Princess Celestia charged up the ooze with, what was it, three spells?” Rarity pieced together, ”The Smooze absorbed it and when he returned to normal he left the highly charged magic behind, but by now it had been converted into Smooze magic.”
“But Discord told me that he and the Smooze have been good friends for years” Fluttershy chipped in, “So maybe their magic is in some way linked?”
“Yes, and I’m guessing that now it’s reaching out to reconnect with other sources of Smooze magic, but because it’s on top of the portal, it’s somehow sending it through to the human world …” Twilight concluded.
“So if Discord or the Smooze is near the Throne Room in Canterlot Castle, the magical residue would draw them in, and the portal would suck them through?” reasoned Applejack.
“That’s what I’m thinking; and I’m willing to bet that Discord was up to something magical near the Throne Room when he was drawn through” grimaced Twilight, ”I think we’re on to something, but I’ll need to talk to him to get the final pieces to fit.”

Twilight turned to Sunset. “You and me?” she asked with a warm smile.
“Like old times” Sunset agreed, giving her friend a hug before stepping into the Crystal Mirror to a chorus of goodbyes and good luck from the friends they were leaving behind.