The makeshift portal chamber in Canterlot Castle was abuzz with excitement as the fillies grilled their transfigured friends about the alien world from which the three had come. Celestia smiled as all thoughts about the Grand Galloping Gala had been swept away by the spirit of adventure. She projected a subtle golden aura as her magic kept the former humans from being overwhelmed by the fillies' enthusiasm. Once the questions had slowed to a trickle, Aetherdal took charge.
"Listen, everypony! I know you're all excited about the trip, but we have to treat this as an expedition."
Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Give me a jacket and a pith helmet. If Daring Do can do it, so can I."
Frowning, Aetherdal replied, "This is real life. If you mess this up, at best, you'd be miserable."
"I can rough it," replied Rainbow.
With concern, Solomon said, "At worst, we'd all be dead."
Aetherdal walked to the chalkboard and started writing. "This column lists the supplies and equipment we need." He walked to the other edge of the board and continued. "This column has the personal items you should bring."
Angel walked to the board. "That's fine for the muggle part of things, but we want to enter the wizarding world." With that, she started the third column.
Twilight carefully scrutinized Angel's work. "I understand most of the things for practical magic, but what is a piece of magical power?"
Solomon groaned. "You're doing it again, Angel." Turning to the fillies, he said, "What she really means is a focus or a channel for magic. We're all magical beings, so long hair or a feather would work. In my world, if you match the right wood with the right focus, you can bring out a witch's or wizard's full magical potential."
Applejack said, "That's all fine an' dandy, but where are we gonna get all this stuff? You said we had to leave soon, and all Ah have is what Ah packed."
"She's right, darling," said Rarity. "All the store are closed for the . . . . Oh, my word! The Grand Galloping Gala! We're missing the Grand Galloping Gala!"
Timidly, Fluttershy said, "Um, Rarity, there's always next year."
"Yepperooni!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie. "This is going to be the best trip ever, right, guys?"
Twilight deadpanned, "The colts have left the room." Her statement was punctuated by the sound of the latch clicking shut.
Smiling, Celestia said, "Go pack your things. I'll have the royal quartermaster supply everything else.
A unicorn father opened the door to the modest townhouse. Fanfare from two trumpets caught him in the ears as the heralds played. A black-maned unicorn mare said, "That's enough!" The heralds looked at her and pouted. She rolled her eyes at them before reading from a scroll. "Nightlight and Twilight Velvet, I am Princess Celestia's representative, Raven Inkwell. You are hereby summoned to an audience with Princess Celestia."
A unicorn mare came to the door. "Who is it, dear?"
The stallion turned to the tapping on his shoulder. "WHAT DID YOU SAY? I CAN'T HEAR YOU."
Raven said, "Are you Twilight Velvet?" The other mare nodded. Raven continued, "You and Nightlight have been summoned to an audience with Princess Celestia."
"Oh, my!" exclaimed Twilight. "When are we supposed to see her."
"Now." With that, the heralds hustled the two to a waiting carriage.
Nightlight and Twilight Velvet entered the makeshift portal chamber. They frowned when they saw their daughter chatting excitedly with two colts and several fillies. They could see the stack of transit cases next to the children. Reflexively, they knelt when they saw Princess Celestia.
The princess smiled. "Please rise. Tell me, did Raven brief you on the situation?"
"She did," replied the elder Twilight. "What did she mean by another world? Aren't you even the least bit concerned about them sending them into the unknown by themselves?"
"It's hardly unknown," replied the princess. "We have experienced guides for their chaperones. It will be just like boarding school."
Nightlight said, "I understand how much it means for Equestria to access a new type of magic, magic that anypony can do, but they are our children. If they're in a different world, how will they be able to communicate with them? From what Raven told us, where they're going, we cannot follow."
Celestia handed the pair a stack of books. Each had a different cutie mark emblazoned on the cover. She said, "These are linked journals. Whatever is entered in one appears in the other "
The book with stars on the cover buzzed. The elder Twilight opened it and read. "Hi, Mom!" She then looked over and found her daughter waving at her. The mare turned back to Celestia. "I still don't like it. This could be the last time we see our daughter. How can you expect us to risk our own flesh and blood?
A fireball announced the arrival of a large red bird. Celestia said, "I have someone dear to me who will watch over them. Philomena?" The phoenix nodded. "You understand that you are to protect all these colts and fillies." The bird nodded. Turning to the parents, Celestia said, "Philomena will teleport everyone back here if they get into trouble."
The parents sighed. Nightlight said, "Are you girls sure you want to do this?" The response was overwhelming.
The elder Twilight said, "I guess that's settled."
Smiling, Celestia said, "I'm glad you agree. I hereby appoint you as my liaisons to notify the other parents.
Aetherdal carefully aligned the crystals that had been set at strategic locations on the portal's frame. As moonlight streamed through from a light pipe, the array came to life. Instead of a wall, a cabin in a forest clearing appeared in the portal.
Solomon exclaimed, "That's my old man cave! We're in the right spot."
Aetherdal said, "I'll go first." He pushed through three of the cases before following them into the forest a. He then stuck his head back through the portal and said, "Come on through! Everything's fine if a bit drafty." After he moved back into the forest, the rest of the children followed as they turned to wave to the adults. They could see the adults wave back before the portal shrank down before disappearing completely.
Rainbow Dash said, "What gives? I thought we were going to a big city."
Solomon replied, "You need time to get acclimated. We thought it'd be best if you got used to being human before we saw other people.
Twilight said, "Why do I feel so cold?"
Angel replied, "We're all human now. Let me explain what that entails."
While Angel briefed the fillies, Solomon led Aetherdal to the cabin. With Angel's makeshift wand, he said, "Accio pants." He handed the pair of dungarees that appeared to Aetherdal before repeating the spell. As he put on his purloined clothing, Solomon said, "It's not my size, but I was feeling a bit too cheeky."
"How did you end up with this place?" asked Aetherdal.
Solomon replied, "I used to make a living catching magical beasts on commission."
"I thought you were a barista."
"That was my day job. This was where the real money came from."
Aetherdal grabbed the wand. "Accio shoes." A pair of old flip-flops appeared.
Solomon snatched the wand back. "Watch a master. Accio shoes." This time, a pair of hiking boots appeared.
A roar caught their attention. The girls looked irate. Aetherdal asked, "Run?"
Solomon replied, "Run!"
The two bolted into the cabin and barricaded the door. As they braced against repeated blows, Aetherdal said, "What is going on!"
From outside the cabin, Angel replied, "Give me the wand, and I'll explain."
Solomon shrugged and slid the wand under the door.
Several spells later, the girls calmed down. Angel said, "It's safe to come out now."
Cautiously, Aetherdal opened the door. Rainbow Dash forced her way in, closely followed by Fluttershy. The rest of the girls entered at a more leisurely pace. As the two mobbed Solomon, Aetherdal asked, "What happened?"
Angel replied, "I might have explained the concept of modesty."
With tears in her eyes, Twilight walked up to Aetherdal and said, "Do I really mean that little to you?"
Horrified, Aetherdal replied, "You mean everything to me."
"Then why did you have all of us come through like that? Angel said that was only if you wanted . . . "
Aetherdal replied, "They didn't have human clothing. This was the best we could do. Do you forgive me?"
Twilight dried her eyes. "It's not your fault."
Meanwhile, Solomon disentangled himself. "You two are special to me, but it's too soon for that. Besides, we have to make dinner."
Aetherdal replied, "You mean I have to make dinner. I've seen you burn water. What do we have to eat?"
"I should still have pork chops and cabbage in the larder. The preservation spells should have kept them fresh."
Fluttershy asked, "What are pork chops?"
"They're pieces from a pig."
While the girl turned green, Angel said, "There's something distinctly not kosher about that."
Aetherdal's culinary mastery, when combined with new-found human sensibilities, quickly persuaded all of the former ponies, except for Fluttershy, to try the meat. She steadfastly stayed with cabbage while the others unleashed their inner carnivores.
After a hearty dinner, the others went to bed. It had been an extremely long day. Aetherdal and Solomon stayed up to clean. Solomon said, "We really should join them. They have a hard day of training ahead of them."
"What kind of training do you mean? We only have one wand."
"For starters, they need to learn to read English. I'll train them while you and Angel go into town for supplies and provisions."
Aetherdal yawned. "I hope Angel cast the expansion spell. I hate to say this, but your cabin is a bit small for all of us."
The two walked to the first bedroom door and opened it. There, they found Fluttershy sleeping on the bed accompanied by woodland creatures.
Aetherdal said, "Should I be more worried about seven little guys or a poisoned apple?"
A preternaturally beautiful face scowled as she observed the bedroom through a scrying mirror. Turning away, she snarled, "Huntsman! Bring me their hearts!"