//------------------------------// // ~ 03 ~ brb pasting TEL all over Cal Arts (The Red Parade) // Story: The Enchanted Computer: A RariTwi Exquisite Corpse // by SigmasonicX //------------------------------// “...My name’s Fiddlesticks, I live in Appleloosa. My brother’s the mayor. I… I play the fiddle at the Saltlick on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” The guard on the other side of the bars gave her a quizzical glance but continued to dutifully record this information on their notepad. “And this here is Lightnin’ Dust, she–” “Is the best flier Equestria has ever seen!” Lightning shouted from the cot on the other side of the room. “Washouts? Too good for the Wonderbolts? Best flier since Hurricane?! Ring any bells for you?” “Quiet!” shouted one of the other guards. Lightning rolled her eyes and turned over to face the wall. “We’ll verify this,” the first guard said apologetically before withdrawing from the cell. Fiddle slumped over on the bench, staring up at the ceiling. They had been right behind Pinkie Pie when she charged into the cave, and Fiddle had only caught a single glance at the strange machines inside before a bright light had engulfed them. She had caught the word “eQuestria” blinking in some digital monitors, but the next thing she knew both she and Lightning had fallen into a heap on the floor of the Royal Kitchen. A few guards had swiftly shown up to apprehend them and move them to the dungeons, where Fiddle was dismayed to find that none of Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, or Marble were there. “So where do you think we are?” Lightning asked, crossing her forelegs behind her head. Fiddle shrugged. “Canterlot? I mean, it sure looks like it.” “Nah. This isn’t Canterlot. Or the real one, anyways.” “How do you know?” “Have you seen those ponies out there? Looks nothing like what I saw last time I went to Canterlot.” Lightning swiped a strand of her mane from her face. “I mean, it looks like old Canterlot. Old old Canterlot, the kind they had in those paintings at that stupid museum you took us to.” “I thought you liked the art museum.” “I said the cushions were nice to nap on! Because it was boring!” Fiddle rolled her eyes, huffing. “Whatever. Look, we need to figure out what happened and where the others are.” Lightning rolled her eyes. “Why bother? I mean its their fault we’re in this stupid place to begin with.” “Lightnin’, when Princess Twilight asks for help–” “I still don’t think she’s the real one,” Lightning muttered. Fiddle sighed, trotting over to the cot and slapping her. “Ow!” “Knock it off, Dusty.” “Fine, fine.” Lightning rubbed her cheek, glaring at Fiddle. “All I’m saying is that I think this whole thing is some sort of weird simulation. I dunno why its set so far in the past or why it's so realistic though.” Fiddle shrugged. “Princess Twilight is quite strong with magic. I’m sure she’d know, if we could just find her.” The two were interrupted by hoofsteps rapidly approaching from down the hall. “These ponies are with you?” “Mm-hm!” The guard fumbled with their keys, unlocking the door and saluting the newcomer in the hall. “We’re terribly sorry about all this, your majesty! Please let us know if you need anything else, Princess.” Fiddle perked up as the door swung open. “Twilight?” Instead, a shy gray mare trotted over. “Wh… Marble?!” The very real Marble Pie smiled and waved. “Mm-hm!” Twilight had searched for what felt like hours, running down the streets of this strange simulated Canterlot. “Rarity! Rarity?” Her voice was hoarse from all the shouting, but she was no closer to finding any of her companions. Eventually, she skidded to a halt at the castle gates, where a chorus of yelling voices got her attention. “...and that’s when Cadance said, ‘Wow, I really can’t believe we came from the enchanted library all the way to the enchanted kingdom!’ And I was like, ‘Of course silly! Now we’re going to the enchanted carousel!’ Then I thought that was a little silly because–” “Pinkie!” Twilight grabbed her friend by the shoulders and spun her around. “Where are the others?” “Oh hi Twilight! Isn’t this place cool?” Twilight absentmindedly grabbed her necklace. “Pinkie, we need to leave,” she said urgently. “There’s chaos magic here. Where’s Rarity and the others?” Pinkie perked up. “Oooh, chaos magic! Rarity went into the castle to talk to the Princess!” “Excuse me,” one of the guards piped up. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you and your friend to leave now, you’re creating a disturbance.” Twilight gritted her teeth. “Princess? It must be him.” She widened her stance, hron glowing. “Pinkie, stay close to me.” “Hey! What are you doing? Stop!” As the guards began to move around them, Twilight began to focus a spell. As she cast it, however, a voice called out to her. “Twilight, wait!” She vaguely registered someone approaching from behind, but with a loud pop the gates disappeared from existence. The teleport had landed them outside the doors of the throne room. “Wheee! That was fun!” Pinkie cheered. “Ugh…” Twilight whirled around to find that another pony had been caught in her teleport: none other than the younger Cadance she had seen earlier. “C-Cadance?” “Twilight…” the other Princess shook her head to clear her thoughts. “What are you–” “Oh hey, Twilight! Your necklace!” Twilight looked down to see that her necklace was brimming with light now. She whirled to the doors that were now being pulled open, and without another word she charged into the throne room. “Princess Celestia, I… need…” She trailed off, freezing at the sight in front of her. Rarity was standing in front of the throne, engaged in a conversation with the alicorn seated at it. But the pony was not Princess Celestia but rather… “...Strawberry Sunrise?” Pinkie Pie gasped from the door. Strawberry looked up lazily at them, popping a strawberry in her mouth. “Oh. Hey.”