//------------------------------// // Chapter II // Story: Equestria Girls: Open Arms // by AizakkuHorooee //------------------------------// “Twilight!  I’m home!” I call to Twilight Sparkle after arriving home from my first day of school.  However, it doesn’t sound like Twilight is anywhere close to me in the castle, if at all.  Searching thoroughly, she doesn’t seem to be anywhere.  As I finally look to the throne room, I see her: the Princess of Friendship herself.  She turns to face me. “Ah!  Aita!  I thought I heard you.  How was your first day in School?” “I liked it,” I reply with a smile. Twilight nods. “That’s good.” She seems a little busy with… a book?  Journal?  What is it? “Hey Twilight, what’s that?  I know it’s a book, but-“ “Oh this?” Twilight asks, floating the book into the air.  “It’s a communication journal.  How do I explain this?  Has your old family ever had any long-distance friends?” Hm, I think I see where she’s going with this. “Probably.  We’d use electronic mail for something like that, or if we were stuck at home.” “Well, Aita, this journal achieves the same goal, only with a friend an entire world away.” Suddenly, the two of us hear a thud. “What was that?” I ask. “I think I know, but maybe you should-” Before Twilight could finish, I teleport to where the thud happened.  Suddenly, in front of the library table is a unicorn laying on her front and groaning.  How’d she get here?  Next to her is my DS, which I put back on top of the mirror. “Ooh, why’s it smell in here?” the unicorn faintly notes- waaaait a minute.  Why does she look familiar?  “Okay, seriously, the castle isn’t supposed to- huh?” I wave at her when I see she has spotted me. “Aw, a juvenile changeling!  Are you Aita?  I heard Twilight had someone staying with her.” I nod with a smile. “Well, yeah.  Are you Sunset Shimmer?” “Wait; how did you know me?” “Long story,” I say. “What sounded like plastic dropping when I came in here?” I float the DS back into the air and opening it to show Sunset. “That would be this, an old device of mine with two screens.  Hopefully, it should still work after a fall like that.” Sunset shakes her head to get her bearings while I press the power button.  Sure enough, it works.  “I never knew you liked gaming.  Was that from your old family?  Equestria isn’t exactly known for its technology.” Aita?  Aita… Twilight calls, opening the door afterward.  “There you are.  I see you’ve met Sunset already.” I nod. Sunset Shimmer attempts to get up, only like a human would, before falling back down.  I hold in a giggle as she gets up again, this time like a pony normally does. “Whoa.  That feels a little weird after all this time.  Hey, Twilight.  How come Aita knew my name?” “Well, Sunset, he actually comes from a world that has documented Equestria and its past.  It started a few years ago when I first came to Ponyville.” Sunset Shimmer winces.  “Eugh… that doesn’t sit right.” “Well, good thing that’s off limits though,” I add.  “No one’s ever going to pop into Equestria after what happened last Hearth’s Warming.” “So, Sunset, do you plan on staying long?” “Actually, Twilight, my friends are assembling a cookout.” “Oh.  Well Aita,” Twilight asks, turning to me. “wanna go with Sunset Shimmer for a while?” I nod.  “Why not?  Sounds like it should be a lot of fun.” “A little warning though, Aita.  It’s gonna feel funny going through the portal.” “I can imagine that after seeing you come here.” Sunset Shimmer nods, then goes through the mirror. “You know what to do, Aita.  Good luck out there, okay?” “Okay,” I say.  “Thanks.” I take a hop skip and a jump into the mirror and go through some flashy highway. “WhoawaaawAAA!”  PING!  As soon as the flashing stops, I’m met with a small sting on my back legs.  Somehow they feel longer, and for that matter, all of them.  Looking around, I seem to be wearing small shorts, socks, sneakers, and a relatively loose t-shirt. “Aita!  You okay?  I know you just went through the mirror, but you seem like you just got stung by a bee!” “I think I-” I start before I roll over and see roughed up human-shape legs. “Here, we’ll get you to a family restroom and clean you up.” When I see Sunset again, she’s become human too, mostly going off the hands she has on her now.  I wonder: do I have those too?  I do, and they’re curled up.  That’s gonna feel weird getting used to. “So, we’re both human now, huh Sunset?” “Exactly,” she answers. In what looks like a nurse’s office, there is a bathroom both Sunset and I can enter.  She grabs some wetted paper towels and wipes up my legs.  After that, I wash my newly found hands and prepare to leave. Before I go, a lookalike of one of the ponies in Ponyville pads my legs out to make sure they’re clean. “Thanks for your help, Sunset,” the nurse says.  “Not every day does somebody get scrapes like those.” “No sweat; it’s what I do.  So, ready to head out Aita?” I nod. “Then we have a cookout to attend.” So, Sunset and I head out of the nurse’s office.  When Sunset looks at her phone though, she’s shocked at what time it is. “It’s almost lunchtime!  Come on, Aita!  We have to hurry!” You guys need a ride? asks a voice from behind.  Looking behind in the hall reveals that voice to come from Flash Sentry. “Well, Aita?  You know who he is if you know me, right?” I nod.  “Flash Sentry.” “Not every day a new student knows his way around the school at day one, but that sounds great.  Saves us the energy.  Come on Sunset, where are you headed?” “To the park.  Twilight and the rest are having a cookout.” “Say no more, Sunset,” Flash Sentry replies. “I’ll be there before lunchtime.” And with that, Flash Sentry leads us to his sports car.  You know, maybe I could use some lunch myself.