//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Portal Gem and the Cyclone // Story: My Little Wizard of Oz // by BlueBioWolf //------------------------------// One evening in Equestria, Sunset Shimmer had finished her experiments for the day and elected to read from her collection of human world literature. “Let’s see,” she said to no one in particular. “Snow White? No. Sleeping Beauty? No. Tom Sawyer? No. Ah, here’s one that sounds good right now. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” She used her magic to levite the book off of the shelf and walked towards a chair she could relax in as she read. She’d read at least two chapters when her friends made their way to her. “Hi, Sunset,” Twilight smiled. Sunset removed her attention from the book to acknowledge her friends in the interest of politeness. “Hi, everybody,” she said, unable to resist channeling Dr. Nick Riviera. “Whatcha doin’, huh?” Pinkie asked, channeling a bit of Isabella Garcia-Shapiro. “Well, with my experiments for the day done,” Sunset answered. “I decided to read from my collection of human world literature. I chose one of my favorites, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. One of the oldest isekai stories ever.” “Ee-seh-kai,” Rainbow repeated. “What did you say that was again?” “It means ‘another world,’” Sunset explains. “Among the first is the legend of Urashima Taro. I’m quite fond of the genre for obvious reasons.” “That’s true,” Rarity said. “With how long you lived in the human realm, you practically lived an isekai.” “This particular one was written in the country I took residence in back in that world,” Sunset said. “It was over 100 years old when I went there.” “Intriguing,” Twilight said. “What’s it about?” “It’s about a little girl named Dorothy Gale,” Sunset said. “She lived with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and dog, Toto, on a farm in Kansas.” “Sounds like somethin’ that’s right up mah alley,” Applejack smiled. “Is that where you lived?” Trixie asked innocently. “No,” Sunset said, levitating a map of the United States. She unrolled it and used her magic to make a blinking highlight of Massachusetts. “I lived here in Canterlot City, Massachusetts.” She then used her magic to make a blinking highlight of Kansas. “Kansas is over here in the midwest.” “Ah, I see,” Trixie said, nodding. “One day,” Sunset said. “A cyclone happens and carries Dorothy and Toto away in the farmhouse.” The ponies and Spike gasped at this. Sunset could see their shock. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Both survive just fine. They end up in a far off country behind the moon and beyond the rain called the Land of Oz.” “Oh, wow,” Starlight said. “Now, I was kind of in a reverse of Dorothy’s situation,” Sunset said. “That’s true,” Spike said. “You came from a magical world and went into a mundane one while Dorothy came from a mundane world and went into a magical one.” “Plus, my going to a different world was a conscious choice on my part,” Sunset said. “Dorothy was sent to another world through circumstances beyond her control.” “That’s true,” Fluttershy said. “Either way,” Sunset said. “Dorothy and I end up going back to our respective homeworlds.” “That should be evident,” Rainbow said. “You’re right here. But, how does Dorothy get back?” “How about I read it and we find out?” Sunset suggested. “That’s a great idea,” Twilight smiled. “Hang on a second,” Sunset said before she bathed her body in her moderate amaranth magic aura. Upon her body materialized a blue and white gingham dress, blue socks, and silver slippers. Her mane was also divided into twin ponytails, fastened with blue ribbons. Once the materialization was complete, Sunset canceled her aura. “Ah~!” Rarity gasped happily. “What a darling ensemble.” “I’ve dressed myself in an attire resembling Dorothy’s in the book,” Sunset said. He then revealed the silver slippers. “Complete with Silver Shoes.” “Love when a costume is accurate detail-wise,” Twilight said. “Down to the molecular detail,” Sunset said before tapping the silver shoes against the floor. They made metallic clinks with each tap. “Real silver, there.” “Won’t they be hard ta walk in?” Applejack asked. “Ordinarily, yes,” Sunset said. “But, due to being magic shoes in a magic realm, they’re flexible, comfortable, and easy to move in. Plus, the socks also help with the comfort levels. They can never wear out and are accustomed to alter their size by shrinking or stretching to perfectly fit the current owner at the time they wear them.” “Ah, that’s good,” Applejack said with a nod. Sunset got into her seat and turned to the first chapter’s beginning page. She cleared her throat. “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” she read. “By L. Frank Baum with pictures by W. W. Denslow. Chapter 1: The Cyclone.” The friends sat around comfortably to listen to the book Sunset read. “Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife,” Sunset read. “Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles. There were four walls, a floor, and a roof, which made one room and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds. Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner and Dorothy a little bed in another corner. There was no garret at all and no cellar--except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path. It was reached by a trap door in the middle of the floor, from which a ladder led down into the small, dark hole.” These words painted a detailed picture in her friends’ collective imaginations. Sounds like a miserable life, Rainbow said internally. “When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray prairie on every side,” Sunset continued. “Not a tree nor a house broke the broad sweep of flat country that reached to the edge of the sky in all directions. The sun had baked the plowed land into a gray mass with little cracks running through it. Even the grass was not green, for the sun had burned the tops of the long blades until they were the same gray color to be seen everywhere. Once the house had been painted, but, the sun blistered the paint and the rains washed it away and now the house was as dull and gray as everything else.” Sounds like Hope Hollow before we helped out, Pinkie thought internally. “When Aunt Em came there to live she was a young, pretty wife,” Sunset continued. “The sun and wind had changed her, too. They had taken the sparkle from her eyes and left them a sober gray. They had taken the red from her cheeks and lips and they were gray also. She was thin and gaunt and never smiled now. When Dorothy, who was an orphan, first came to her, Aunt Em had been so startled by the child's laughter that she would scream and press her hand upon her heart whenever Dorothy's merry voice reached her ears and she still looked at the little girl with wonder that she could find anything to laugh at.” It’s nice to know that they have some way of staying sane, Spike thought internally. “Uncle Henry never laughed,” Sunset read. “He worked hard from morning till night and did not know what joy was. He was gray also from his long beard to his rough boots and he looked stern and solemn and rarely spoke.” It’s good that he works hard, Applejack thought internally. But, he should allow himself ta laugh every once in a while. “It was Toto that made Dorothy laugh and saved her from growing as gray as her other surroundings,” Sunset read on. “Toto was not gray. He was a little black dog with long silky hair and small black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny, wee nose. Toto played all day long and Dorothy played with him and loved him dearly.” That sounds so adorable, Fluttershy said internally with a delighted look on her face. Before Sunset had a chance to read further, a lightning bolt flew in through an open window, breaking her concentration, and struck a gem Sunset had on her workbench. The gem began levitating on its own as it pulsed and glowed ominously. “What was that?” Starlight asked. “My bad,” called the familiar voice of Derpy Hooves from outside. “Derpy…” Rainbow said to herself, rolling her eyes. She then noticed the gem floating on its own. “Hey, how come that gem is floating?” Sunset looked at it in fear. “That’s one of the Portal Gems I’ve been working on today!” she exclaimed. “That lightning bolt must’ve overloaded it!” “Portal Gem?!” Rarity exclaimed. “Not to critique how you spend your time and efforts, but, why would you work on something like this?!” “Unless that gem’s stabilized, that’s the least of our problems,” Sunset said as the gem started crackling with electricity. “It’s about to explode!” “What do we do?!” Fluttershy said, panicking. Suddenly, the gem made a beeline for Sunset’s book and merged with it. For a few seconds, the book glowed and pulsed like the gem did before it started to emit a swirling vortex. “What’s happening?” Twilight gasped. “You may find out sooner than you’d like!” Sunset said before the vortex started sucking her into the book. It then proceeded to do the same for the others. After they were all sucked in, the book closed and fell upon the floor. Soon, the ponies and Spike landed on a dusty patch of land. Though, their normally bright colors were replaced with grayscale colors. “This is giving me some Discord flashbacks,” Spike said. “With everything being so gray,” Twilight said. “We must be inside of the book!” “We all figgered that out, Twi,” Applejack said. “But, how’d it happen?” Starlight asked. “The Portal Gem stabilized itself by merging with the book,” Sunset said. “A safety feature I gave them.” “Well,” Trixie said. “This is all fine and dandy, but, how about we try and get out of here now?” “I’m afraid it’ll be a bit complicated,” Sunset said gravely. “If a Portal Gem merges with a book and someone goes into said book, the only way to get out of the book is to go through the events of the book to the end.” “I see,” Spike said. “So, kind of like when we went through the Power Ponies comic in a way, only more direct.” “Starlight and I weren’t there for that,” Trixie said. “And unlike that comic,” Sunset said. “None of us are taking the place of characters in this book, so, everyone will see us as we are.” “I see,” Fluttershy said. “So, where do we start?” Sunset looked ahead and saw Uncle Henry’s farm. “Looks like the cyclone hasn’t struck yet.” “So,” Rainbow said. “That must be where we’re starting. Let’s go.” They made their way to the farm and saw a little human girl playing with a little black dog. The little girl had slightly more vibrant colors than the world around her. “Ooh,” Pinkie squeaked. “That must be Dorothy.” The little girl heard Pinkie’s voice and turned her head in its direction. She saw the Equestria residents standing a short distance away from her. “Oh!” Dorothy said. “Magical horses and a dragon?” “Well,” Sunset said. “Looks like that cat’s out of the bag.” “I’ve seen a bit about you from picture books,” Dorothy said. “You’re much cuter in person.” She then looked at Spike. “Though, I thought dragons would be bigger. This one’s no bigger than I am.” “I’m still young,” Spike said. “I’m 19 ½ now.” “Ah, I see,” Dorothy nodded. “Are you all just passing by?” “You could say that,” Sunset said. “Though, we’re in a bit of a fix.” “Is there anything I can do to help?” Dorothy asked. “Well, if you can provide us with shelter,” Sunset said. “We’ll repay you for the trouble.” “How?” Starlight whispered to Sunset. “We can work on the farm to earn our keep,” Sunset whispered back. “We can do that,” Applejack whispered. “I can ask my Uncle Henry,” Dorothy offered. “He lives on that farm over there.” “If it’s not too much trouble anyway,” Sunset said. “Oh, I beg your pardon,” Dorothy said. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. I’m Dorothy Gale.” “Aww, what a polite little girl,” Rarity cooed. “I am Rarity and these are Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Starlight Glimmer, Spike, Trixie Lulamoon, and Twilight Sparkle.” “Where do you all come from?” Dorothy asked. “We’re from a place you’ve never heard of and are unlikely to go to at any point in your life,” Sunset said. “A place called Equestria.” “Oh, that must sound like a wonderful place,” Dorothy smiled. Toto barked happily. “Oh, it is,” Pinkie said. “Over there, there’s magic in the air we breathe, the ground we walk, and even the things we eat.” “Wow~” Dorothy said. “That sounds like a place I could only dream of going to.” Soon, they reached the farm and saw Uncle Henry toiling. He looked and saw them. “What are those queer creatures?” he asked. “Hey, watch who you’re calling queer,” Rainbow said indignantly. “I swing both ways!” “He meant queer as in strange, Rainbow,” Rarity clarified. “Does queer have another meaning in Equestria?” Dorothy asked. “It’s a term with a romantic fondness towards someone of the same gender,” Twilight explained. “My Aunt Em says it’s sinful to be like that,” Dorothy said. “Well, in Equestria, we’re not as narrow-minded,” Sunset said. “In our culture, which gender you’re interested in doesn’t define who you are.” “I see,” Dorothy said. She was still new to learning about different things, so she decided to be more polite towards her guests. “That’s all well and good,” Uncle Henry said. “But, it doesn’t answer my question.” “Oh, right, sorry,” Applejack said. “We’re ponies n’ Spike’s a dragon.” “We’re looking for shelter,” Sunset said. “We promise to work hard to earn our keep.” “We do have a pretty good harvest this year,” Uncle Henry said. “But, there is always more work that needs to be done. Perhaps you can help.” “And what can we expect in terms of payment?” Rarity asked. “You’ll be paid in meals,” Uncle Henry said. “Only people can use money. It’s of no use to you.” He must have no idea of what we’re really like, Spike thought internally. He kept the thought to himself to make sure no one got into trouble. Uncle Henry studied Spike carefully. “Hmm,” he said. “I can’t see much use for a dragon.” “How about if I keep your furnace lit?” Spike asked. Uncle Henry stroked his beard thoughtfully. “I’ll consider it.” He then opened Spike’s mouth to see fangs in front and flat teeth in the back. “With those fangs, I reckon you must be a meat eater.” Spike removed the hands from his mouth. “I eat meat occasionally, but, I’m open for eating anything else,” he said. “Except for green beans. Those things are nasty.” Dorothy couldn't help but giggle a bit. “Um, out of curiosity,” Spike said. “Do you happen to have any gems stored?” “Gems?” Uncle Henry asked. “We don’t got much use for them.” “I didn’t think so,” Spike sighed. “What would Spike want with gems?” Dorothy asked. “He eats them,” Twilight said. “I didn’t know dragons could do that,” Dorothy said. “Knowledge of dragons was in short supply in Equestria for quite a while,” Rarity said. “Though, their appetites for gems was rather common knowledge.” “Though, I can’t eat diamonds,” Spike said. “I tried that once and broke my teeth.” “Oh dear,” Dorothy said. “That must have hurt something awful.” “It sure did,” Spike said. A few days later, the ponies were working hard helping out on the farm. Spike, having only been kept around to help with lighting the stove when needed, was sitting lonely and bored. “It really is quiet around here,” Spike said dismally. Dorothy noticed that Spike seemed sad and lonely. “I’ve come to give you some company, Spike,” Dorothy said. She sat next to him. “I’m much too young to be put to work.” “It’s good that I’m helping,” Spike said. “But, it’s not the most exciting thing. Aunt Em won’t let me sweep, mop, or help with the dishes. Says it’s women’s work.” “Well,” Dorothy said. “Maybe you can use some free time and we can play together?” “What kind of games do—” Spike suddenly stopped as his eyes fixed to the sky. “Uh, does the sky look grayer than usual?” Dorothy looked out the windows and she gasped. “A twister’s a-coming!” The ponies and Uncle Henry saw it, too. “Everybody run for shelter!” Sunset shouted. "There's a cyclone coming, Em," Uncle Henry called to his wife. "I'll go look after the stock." Then he ran toward the sheds where the cows and horses were kept. The ponies made their way to the farmhouse as Aunt Em dropped her work and came to the door. One glance told her of the danger close at hand. “Dorothy!” Aunt Em called. “Come into the cyclone cellar with us!” The ponies made it inside just as Toto jumped out of Dorothy's arms and hid under the bed and the girl started to get him. Aunt Em, badly frightened, threw open the trap door in the floor and climbed down the ladder into the small, dark hole. Dorothy caught Toto at last and started to follow her aunt. When she was halfway across the room, there came a great shriek from the wind and the house shook so hard that she lost her footing and sat down suddenly upon the floor. Spike and the ponies were knocked off balance as well. Rarity grabbed Spike and held him close. “Hold on tight, Spike!” Rarity shouted, her voice elevated against the fierce winds as a strange thing happened. The house whirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air. They all felt as if they were going up in a balloon. “Whoa~!” they collectively exclaimed as the north and south winds met where the house stood and made it the exact center of the cyclone. In the middle of a cyclone the air is generally still, but, the great pressure of the wind on every side of the house raised it up higher and higher, until it was at the very top of the cyclone. And there it remained and was carried miles and miles away as easily as you could carry a feather. It was very dark and the wind howled horribly around them, but, Dorothy found she was riding quite easily. After the first few whirls around and one other time when the house tipped badly, she felt as if she were being rocked gently, like a baby in a cradle. “Does anyone else feel strangely relaxed right now?” Fluttershy asked. “Yeah,” Spike said. “And not just because Rarity’s holding me.” Toto did not like it. He ran about the room, now here, now there, barking loudly, but, Dorothy sat quite still on the floor and waited to see what would happen. Once Toto got too near the open trap door and fell in. “Toto, NO!” Dorothy cried. She began to tear up, thinking she’d lost Toto. “You haven’t lost him yet, Dorothy,” Sunset said, reassuringly. “But, he fell!” Dorothy said sadly. “Take a look at the trap door and guess again,” Sunset said. Dorothy did so and, to her surprise, she saw one of his ears sticking up through the hole. She gasped happily and she reached in to pull him by that same ear out of the trap door. “How did Toto not fall further?” she asked. “The same air pressure that’s keeping this house aloft,” Sunset explained. Dorothy was one to admit that it was a bit of information to take in, but, she was still so glad that Toto was okay that she felt better. “Perhaps it would be a good idea,” Dorothy said. “To close the trap door to keep this from happening again.” She closed the trap door. “I’ll weigh it down,” Pinkie offered before sitting upon the trap door. “Thanks, Pinkie,” Rainbow said. Hour after hour passed away and slowly Dorothy got over her fright. With Spike and the ponies, it was hard for her to feel lonely, though, the wind shrieked so loudly all about her that she nearly became deaf. Sunset lit up her horn and used her magic to close all the windows, muffling the noise. Twilight helped to make sure Dorothy’s hearing was okay. “Are you okay, Dorothy?” she asked. “Yes, thank you,” Dorothy said. “I was wondering if we would be dashed to pieces when the house fell again.” Applejack thought of this and she carefully began to stomp on the ground, looking for any weak points. “Ah don’t think we got anythin’ ta worry ‘bout fer a while,” she said. “This house is purty sturdy fer how old it is.” “Yeah,” Rainbow said. “It made it to the top of the cyclone okay.” “So,” Sunset said comfortingly. “We should be alright, Dorothy.” After Dorothy listened to their words, she stopped worrying and resolved to wait calmly and see what the future would bring. At last she crawled over the swaying floor to her bed, lay down upon it, and Toto followed and lay down beside her. In spite of the swaying of the house and the muffled wailing of the wind, Dorothy soon closed her eyes and fell fast asleep. Spike and the ponies watched over her. Spike looked out a window and saw that it was nighttime. “I think Dorothy has the right idea,” he said. “Let’s get some shut-eye.” “We can use Aunt Em and Uncle Henry’s bed,” Sunset said. “They won’t be using it.” “I’m certain we can wash their bedding a bit later on,” Rarity said. “I’ve read this book a few times before,” Sunset said. “This house won’t be going back to Kansas any time soon.” “Which means we won’t be going back any time soon, either,” Twilight added. Spike and the ponies climbed into the bed with Spike being embraced by Twilight and Rarity. So, they slept peacefully.