Aria found herself wrapped in the middle of a group hug that included Celestia, Scootaloo, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Only Sunset stood apart. Noticing that her daughter hadn't joined the hug, Celestia looked at her questioningly.
"I was there when it happened," Sunset said by way of explanation, "Discord transported us to Equestria."
She paused when she noticed that both Scootaloo and Celestia were looking at her. Scootaloo's eyes were filled with wonder. Celestia's eyes burned with a fury that Sunset had only seen once before, worlds away.
"We told mom what happened," Aria said, "Sonata did die, but Sunset brought her back."
Celestia looked very angry, after several tense moments and several deep breaths, Celestia spoke.
"No more interdimensonal travel without letting Luna or myself know beforehand," Celestia said, "that includes you as well Scootaloo."
"We weren't trying to go to Equestria," Sunset replied, "Discord just took us. I guess that in his messed up mind he thought that he was helping."
"I can't wait to meet him." Celestia said with ice in her voice. Aria and Sunset shuddered at the thought of that meeting.
In another place in another world Discord looked up from his tea.
"I'll have to pay her a visit." Discord said.
"What was that," Fluttershy asked with a confused look.
"Nothing,"Discord answered, "just some pony in another dimension that I need to drop in on, I'm sure that El Capitan can wait."
"Who is El Capitan?" Fluttershy asked even more confused.
"Nobody important," Discord answered, "just a starship captain."
Gilda was leaning against the wall outside of the Canterlot High weight room. She wished that she could pull out a cigarette and smoke one, but her current location prevented her from satisfying her cravings. I'll see what Dusty is up to after this, Gilda thought, she's always ready for some fun. Gilda looked up when she heard the door to the weight room open and the person that she had been waiting for had walked past her.
"Hey Dumbbell," Gilda called after him, "got a second?"
"What do you want Griffin?" Dumbbell asked, they weren't friends, but they weren't enemies either, they just hung out with different people.
"How would you like to get back at Anon-A-Miss?" Gilda asked. She knew that Dumbbell hadn't been one of their victims, but his younger brother, Whiz Kid, had been. She could see fire in Dumbbell's eyes.
"What do you have in mind," Dumbbell said with a smile, "you want me to rough them up, is that it?"
"While I'm not opposed to that option," Gilda replied, "I'm thinking that something more psychological is in order."
"I'm not sure that I understand what you mean." Dumbbell said.
" I just want you to stand near where they like to hang out and look threatening," Gilda said, "I'm not asking you to hurt anyone."
"I'll think about it," Dumbbell said, "those girls' older sisters are scary."
"Okay," Gilda said as she turned to leave, "just remember what they did to your brother."
Luna had been laying on the couch with her head in Raven's lap watching the T.V. while Raven ran her fingers through her hair. Sonata sat on the floor and Adagio sat in an armchair petting the fat opossum that was curled up in her lap. All four of them looked up at Aria when she came in through the front door. They had each heard about the near riot in the park and had been relieved when they had learned that Aria and Scootaloo had made it safely to Celestia's house.
"Are you okay?" Luna asked, her voice full of concern.
"Never better," Aria answered as she handed her mother her credit card, "Scootaloo was a little shook up though."
"I had hoped that putting an end to Anon-A-Miss would end the discontent," Luna sighed, "so much for hopes and dreams."
"Don't worry mom," Sonata said, "you have us."
"You're right," Luna replied, "and you have no idea how proud I am of the three of you."
"If you all don't mind," Aria yawned, "I'm going to go take a hot shower and then go to bed."
"Good night," everyone said.
Aria loved the feeling of the hot water as it cascaded down her body if it hadn't been for the fact that she was so tired, she could have and would have stayed in the shower all night. However the events of the day had left her exhausted, and she could hear her bed calling her name. After climbing out of the shower and toweling herself dry Aria looked up at the mirror. Someone had written a single word in the fogged over glass. Aria was shocked and when she looked again the word was gone.
"What the hell," Aria said to herself, "am I going crazy?"