“Am I going to end up here every time I drift off?” Twilight complained, she was at least in a physical body and sat on the island of earth and rock that drifted in the sound and colour.
“I’m afraid so little pony. This is our realm after all.” The voice was more musical than before, happier and thankfully less mysterious (She was privately sure that whoever it was speaking, they had been putting on the tones).
“Our realm?” Twilight sat comfortably on what appeared to be manifesting as grass over the grey earth.
“Yes, our realm. Yours and mine. Us. We.”
“I get it! Moon and stars!” Twilight groaned, whoever this voice was, they could sure be annoying. “So do I get to see you yet?”
“No sorry little pony. Not right now.” The voice had a hint of apology.
“Ah well,” Twilight could feel herself leaving. “I guess we’ll speak later?” As she withdrew she noticed the island had grown and was decorated with grass dotted with small purple flowers.
“Goodbye little pony.”
*
“Wakey wakey sleepy head! Aunty Pinkie has some cure-all cupcakes!” An excitable pink pony was jumping up and down beside the bed, defying physics, a plate and cupcake upon her back joined in with each jump.
“I’m older than you.” Twilight groaned, rubbing her head. She sat up to receive her guests and smiled gladly when Spike and Rainbow shot either side of her. Twilight lifted her wings to embrace all her friends. “Oh girls! I’m so glad you came.” She sniffled and hugged them tighter.
“Twilight, darling, we are glad you are so happy to see us but... we need to breath!” Rarity squeaked, pushing a little to get some air.
“Oh, sorry... New strength. Heh” Twilight blushed and released them all.
“Hooowee, that’s some grab y’got there Twi’” Applejack whistled, clearly impressed. “Ah can see that y’got some earth pony in there now.”
“And wings! That-is-so-COOL!” Rainbow squeed, her eyes shimmering. “I can so teach you how to fly!!” She did a flip. “THIS IS AWESOME!”
“So can I get turned into an Alicorn? Then I can have parties EVERYWHERE.” Pinkie nearly exploded. She began to draw one of her extreme breaths.
Twilight took one look at that and encased Pinkie in a bubble. “Are you ok Twilight?” Fluttershy came closer and looked carefully at her friend.
“I’m... I’m fine. I just spent an afternoon running for my life, created and cast the second most powerful spell I have ever attempted, sent myself somewhere unknown and unknowable and return with two extra limbs and magic I’ve never trained for...” Twilight’s eye twitched, everyone ran for cover.
“Darling... I think you’d better calm down.” Rarity said, taking refuge in the wardrobe. Mumbles of agreement came from a light fixture (Pinkie), under the bed (Spike), the other side of the door (Fluttershy) and from inside a large chest (Applejack).
“Yeah Twi’, I think she’s right.” Rainbow remained beside her, nestled under a wing. “I mean, you have all this extra power and stuff. You don’t wanna get all nuts about anything else we might end up in a crater instead of a mountain.”
Her hair began to unwind and spring into odd shapes. “It is a little hard to calm down... Not only have I single hoofedly altered the safe status quo Equestria has existed in for millennia, I created a massive magical explosion by accident! I have wings!!!” As her agitation grew and her wings fluffed awkwardly while her voice became higher pitched. Noticing the worry present on all her friends. Twilight made a snap decision.
Five ponies and a baby dragon found themselves in the royal spa, the other side of the palace to Twilight’s current residence. There was an almighty popping sound. “Quick! We have to get back to Twilight!” Spike shouted, hurrying ahead on his own two feet until Applejack scooped him up during her own gallop.
Outside there was panic and shouts from castle staff, guards and servants rushed hither and thither. Up in the sky the princesses flew. “We better get to the tower.” Applejack called, the girls nodded and as one galloped in the direction of their friend.
*
As they approached the tower something decidedly strange occurred, it seemed the tower was gone, replaced by Kumquats of all things. Pinkie had just begun a squeal of joy when the tower returned to its previous state.
“That didn’t look good.” Spike mumbled.
*
“Oh my, that was a large number of Kumquats dear.”
Twilight groaned, she was back in the shifting ridiculous place. Her head hurt and a hoof did indeed rub it, so at least she was once again physical instead of some kind of floating headache. There was grass beneath her hooves and peculiar pink flowers had sprouted too.
“Why Kumquats though?” The voice enquired once more.
“Pinkie had been reciting it recently, she does love such strange words.” Twilight muttered icily.
“It does feel pleasing on the tongue doesn’t it?” There was a disembodied chuckle.
“Shut up. If all you are going to do is tease I would prefer to sit in silence.” Twilight stretched out on the comfortable grass.
“Unless you have some answers for me?”
There was silence a moment. Twilight sighed, “So I’ll take that as a no?”
“Sorry, sorry... I was checking if this was the right moment. Lots of notes to look through.” The voice was less of a mystery, more distracted actually. If Twilight really thought about it, it sounded a little like her mother.
“Checking?” Twilight puzzled aloud.
“Never you mind,” It was certainly a similar reply to what her mother would have given. “Ah! Here, yes... I can tell you where you are. In a way. Did I already call this place Creation?”
“Yes, well more precisely you said that it was the “basic name” whatever that means.” Twilight sat up a little; her horn was feeling better now and the promise of answers was welcome.
“Well, yes... Creation is the basic name. But then Pony is your basic name.”
“I think things are a little more complex than that.” Twilight retorted. As they spoke more ground had gathered, it too sporting a healthy crop of grass.
“Indeed. You are unicorn pony for a start, well, alicorn pony... Right away more than simply “pony” anyway then we have your personal name: Twilight Sparkle. That is a name that to many ponies means many things. You have a title, Element of Magic. That holds even more information than all your other names yes? Yet Pony can still apply to you without being incorrect.”
“I’m a librarian.” She groused in reply. “I know a lot of words.”
“Ah, yes you do... Well, if you promise not to freak out too much...” The voice sounded nervous.
“I won’t promise anything. I just grew wings, I turned a tower into kumquats! Just tell me and then clean up afterwards!” Twilight thumped a hoof against the ground.
“Ok... I uh, better do this bit in the flesh, so to speak...” The voice ceased to be all surrounding and a physical form became. The pony was an Alicorn, a dusky purple with a waving mane in shades of indigo, purple, pink and a hint of black. Her cutie mark was a familiar purple star surrounded by sister stars in white, oddly the purple star also held and odd symbol. The Yin-yang but with a pentagon and golden apple instead of circles within. The alicorn coughed and ruffled her wings. “Hi, I’m Princess Eris... This, ah, this is our realm. Chaos.” She grinned nervously.
“What.”