Universe 63

by CarmenColor


The Prince's Letter

When Twilight awoke, she was a little disoriented. She found herself in a library so similar to her own, yet she knew that they were not the same. A colt lay sleeping amongst a pile of books. Oh...she was still in the colt universe...

And her magic still felt so weak. It would be potentially disastrous for her to attempt to hop out of this universe. How was she supposed to get home now? Maybe she should try something, anything really. She hadn't used her magic since she got here. Focusing her magic, she levitated a book off Dusk Shine's face. He opened his eyes and looked at her. "W-what? what are you-?" he started.

Suddenly, a crackling sound started to emanate from Twilight's horn. With a sharp bang, she was tossed back against the wall. Dusk cried out in alarm. "Twilight!" He went to her side. "Twilight, what happened?" She looked at him dizzily.

"I...just...need a second..." she panted, putting a hoof to her forehead. After her breathing had calmed somewhat, she looked up at him again. "My magic's been tapped... I-...I can't do anything. I can't cast spells at all." Dusk Shine gasped.

"But...who would tap your magic?" he asked, "Who could tap your magic? Doesn't a pony tapping your magic have to be stronger than the pony being tapped?"

"Well, I was pretty magically drained, to be honest... Not to mention the sneezing thing... I suppose somepony could've tapped me in that time." Twilight rubbed her head gingerly.

"But who knew that you were here?" A shout from upstairs interrupted their train of thought. Twilight watched as a female version of Spike came running down the stairs. She stopped and looked at Twilight. "What is it Spines?" Oh, that was Spines.

"Who is-" she stared, "Oh, nevermind. Here." She held out a scroll to Dusk.

"A letter from the Prince!" He unrolled the scroll with his magic and read it aloud, "My faithful student, Dusk. I feel it necessary to inform you that a very powerful unicorn appeared in your vicinity today. I am unsure what its intentions are, but be warned that it could be dangerous. I have tapped this unicorn's magic to keep you safe..." He stopped reading and looked over at his guest, "Oh, Twilight! I am so sorry that this happened! We should go to Solaris ourselves and explain the situation."

"But, how will we go outside like this? We're too similar! Somepony will notice!"

"We could use a spell to make you look different. If anypony asks, you can be my special somepony." Dusk levitated a few books off the shelf, "I know I have a spell here somewhere..." Twilight started pulling off books with her hooves. "Ah! Here it is!" Dusk brushed some dust off the old book.

"HaaTCHMPH!"

"You're still at that? I thought that that only bothered you if you'd already been sneezing, " He eyed Twilight skeptically, "Are you getting sick?"

"No, I just...I jus-...I juh-...huh-...Haah-HaaaTCHMPH!!"

"Bless you."

"Heh, sorry. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep, so I went to do some reading...well...dusty books and such..." Twilight blushed at her colt self. Dusk sighed.

"Well anyway, here's a spell that will make you look different, but it can't change cutie marks. Hopefully that won't be a problem." Twilight looked it over and nodded.

"Alright, but you have to cast it on me. Any spell whatsoever that I cast is just gonna blow up in my face." Dusk nodded to Twilight. She smiled. "And nothing too flashy. I don't want to be too noticeable." Dusk nodded again.

"Naturally. Now, stand still." Twilight stood still as a statue. She knew how important it was to keep still when somepony else is casting spells like this one you. Of course, her nose either didn't know that, or didn't care. It started to itch about halfway through, but Twilight held it in until the spell was done. Once the last tendrils of Dusk's magic, really her own magic if you thought about it, had receded, she stopped holding them back.

"HaaaaaaaTCHMPH! HaaaaTCHMPH!! HaaaTCHOO!" Dusk jumped back in surprise at the onslaught of sneezes.

"Holy Solaris! I hope you don't do that while we're at the castle!" Twilight rubbed her nose and looked at him.

"Well, you know very well that I can't promise anything, but I'll try not to." She looked down at her hoof. Normally, it would be a light purple, but now it was a deep blue, almost black, but you could see the blue in it. She ran to the mirror. The pony that looked back had a silver shimmering mane. "Whoa."

"Do you mind if we say your name is Midnight Shimmer? At least until we're with Solaris."

"Yeah, I guess."

Dusk Shine and Midnight Shimmer, formerly Twilight Sparkle, left the library and headed for the train station. Everypony gawked at them. After all, since when did Dusk Shine hangout with mares? The gossip spread like wildfire all over Ponyville.