//------------------------------// // Preparations and Teleportations // Story: Re-Arranged // by ThatHandsomeDevil //------------------------------// The steam rising from my cup of tea was distorting the plain sepia-toned wall of my living room. It had been freshly brewed after the strange events leading up to me sitting on the couch (with Vanessa next to me) had unfolded. Through this distortion, etchings of pastel ponies frantically zipping about against their light brown background were being engraved by my mind into the wall. I was zoning out and I knew it, and yet I was too absorbed in everything that was happening to me to care about that. It took Celestia, laying on the loveseat that sat at an angle from the couch I occupied, clearing her throat to even slightly blur the lines on the mental projections. I shook my head slightly and looked to Vanessa, sitting next to me. She had calmed down considerably since she assaulted me while I was still in bed, and was now sneaking less-than-unnoticeable looks at Tia every 30 seconds or so. It was this that finally let Celestia break the silence. “Perhaps I have simply not been adequately briefed on the practices of humans, but, in the place I am from, staring is considered rude.” She said with carefully measured chagrin. Vanessa choked on nothing, her eyes reverting back to a more stationary position as she swallowed. I was considering getting a knife from the kitchen to see if you really could cut through tension, since the air had to at least be 65% composed of it by now. “Alright, guys. As fun as it is to await the inevitable moment when you two try to see what each other’s insides look like, we’re running out of time. We need to help your people in Equestria, Tia.” Hearing that made Tia snap to attention, looking at me with an expression of fear. “Why, what’s happened there?” I sighed, looking into my tea. “Your sister went mad with power, and reverted into a monstrous form that threatens to shroud all of Equestria in eternal night. One of her subjects transported me to their world in my dreams, which was why I was out for so long. She cast a spell that would help teach you how to take us back to Equestria.” “Well, what are we waiting for?” She said, on the edge of panic, jumping off the couch and galloping over to me. “Well, I don’t... quite remember it. Twilight said that once I woke up I’d remember it in about two hours. “So how long do we have?” I checked the clock hanging in the kitchen. “About... an hour and 15 minutes.” Oh God why... Tia and Vanessa in the same room.... As if on cue, Tia said almost derisively “Oh, wonderful. Perhaps I can... catch up with your beautiful girlfriend.”. * * * After an hour of the most passive-aggressive conversation I’d ever witnessed, I was starting to feel something stir in my head. As though something was trying to force itself from one part of my brain to another. It was an indescribable sensation, not entirely unpleasant, but still unnerving. “Something’s... happening....” I said, not moving from my spot, continuing to look straight ahead. “Are you alright?” Tia and Vanessa both asked at the same time, Tia leaving her spot on the loveseat and Vanessa placing a reassuring hand on my arm. “Yeah... I mean, I’m not in pain or anything. The room isn’t spinning, it just feels like there’s something forcing its way through my brain...” “It must be the spell coming to surface so that you can remember.” Tia said. After a few more moments, I felt the slithering cease, and then something like it attaching to me, at the front. I felt an energy more powerful than any adrenaline rush course through my body, lifting me in the air. I saw a purple aura surround my body, as my eyes glazed over with white. Somewhere far off, a voice echoed out past my head and into my world. One I recognized from earlier. "Hello, my Princess. It is an honor to speak with you.” Tia pointed her hoof at herself uncertainly. “Are you... referring to me?” “Indeed I am. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I was born after you had already been banished, but I’ve read extensively about you. And Luna spoke of you all the time. From closer to my body, I heard Vanessa say “Wait, I recognize that voice from Teen Tita-” “I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Twilight suddenly cut in, hastily clearing her throat and returning to Celestia. “Princess, we need you here. Things have not been the same since you were banished. I wish I had more time to explain, but it is imperative we bring you over to the other side.” I’m coming with you... My own voice rang out, as if projected my thoughts. “Are you sure about that, David? I know you’ve been here once before, but my calculations were wrong. It’s been a month since you left. So much has changed, you would not think you were returning to the same place.” That doesn’t matter to me. I have to watch over Tia. Plus... I hesitated for just a moment, wondering if it was even in my best interest to speak my feelings about the subject at hand. … I don’t know if I’m ready to be away from her just yet. “I... I understand, David. I must ask that when I’m finished communicating with the princess that you pack what you need, and prepare for a long journey. Don’t worry about food or drink; we can provide that.” “Miss Sparkle, was it? I have a suggestion.” Tia trotted up to me, placing her long ivory horn on my head. It glowed with magical energy, and she spoke again: “Transfer yourself into my own mind, that way we may discuss these matters while David prepares.” All at once I felt the presence that had been shifting through my brain begin to drain out like a plug had been pulled. One last bit of advice echoed through my mind before the presence was gone entirely: You might wanna dress warmly. And then my vision returned, and I was set back down. I looked down, seeing Celestia sitting on her back hooves, her front hooves supporting her in front. She seemed lost in thought, and her eyes glowed with an ethereal energy. Vanessa had been surprisingly quiet through what she’d seen unfold, and I was starting to get suspicious. I placed a hand on her shoulder and faced her. She looked to me, lines of worry already formed on her face. “I know this is probably a lot to take in, and really suddenly too, but... you know I have to go, don’t you?” She sighed and looked away from me and back at Tia. “I... I guess I do. But... magic? Bubblegum colored talking ponies? It doesn’t make any sense, David.” “Here, talk with me while I get some clothes together.” I said, beckoning her back to my room. As we made our way down the hallway, I responded to her previous statement. “I know it doesn’t make any sense. Even though I’ve been dealing with it for 15 years it doesn’t fully make sense to me, either. It’s not something you can ever fully accept. You just kinda realize that it’s there and you’re obviously not going to do anything about it, and you live with it, I suppose...” Suitcase. Sweater. Pants. Long Johns “That’s all I can do with Tia. She’s caught a cake in midair, lifted full sized dressers like I would a feather, set my pants on fire, filled a tub with water... and that’s when she couldn’t control it! Another sweater. Boots. Thermal socks. Long sleeved shirt. “She set your pants on fire?” Gloves. Hat. Scarf. “Mhmm. I don’t know what the extent of her power is, but if she’s royalty and Twilight is just a regular unicorn who can pull people out of their own dreams, who knows what Tia can do?” “Well, Twilight seems to think that she can pull people between dimensions.” Vanessa responded, leaning against the wall by the door. “Speaking of that, you know that I don’t want to come with you, right?” With a zip of my suitcase, I looked over to her. “I know. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t want to either...” She sighed, in the kind of way a parent does when they wonder what they’re going to do with their free-spirited child. She pulled me to her and wrapped me in a hug. “I know how much she means to you.” she said quietly to me, resting her head on me. “And I know that it doesn’t mean I don’t mean anything to you, but... It’s more important you be there with her than you be here with me.” I smiled even though I knew she couldn’t see, and rested my head against hers. “I’m glad you understand.” I replied, lifting her chin so I could press my lips against hers. After all, who knew when I’d get to again? She didn’t put up any resistance, and I enjoyed my last few moments with her. From down the hallway, I heard Tia’s voice call out David! It’s time to go!! I grabbed my suitcase and hefted it through the doorway, Vanessa close behind. I returned to the living room, Tia sitting the same spot we’d left her in. “You know how to get us there?” “Most certainly.” “Tia... I did have one more question before we go.” “Hmm?” “Is there any way that I can keep in contact with Vanessa when I’m in Equestria? Any way that she can see what we see or at least talk to us?” Celestia seemed to grimace for a fraction of a moment before her expression returned to neutral, and she spoke. “Twilight says that I can develop a connection with her fairly easily that she can use to see what I see and communicate with me in my mind.” Sweet merciful Lord. “You... you mean she’d be speaking through you... not me?” “Hey, I don’t make the rules, because believe me, they’d be changed if I did.” she said in a huff. “Can you do it anyhow? For me?” I pleaded, wanting some way for Vanessa to know I would be alright. “Very well... but I can’t be held responsible for what gets said.” She replied. She made her way over to Vanessa, holding her horn high. “If you’d be so kind as to place your forehead against my horn.” She said, Vanessa following her instructions. A glow came from her horn, and a thin stream made its way from her horn and into Vanessa’s head, and after a moment, made its way back out. “It is done. She’ll be able to communicate with us through me and see what I se-... Yes Vanessa, I know the coffee table looks different from this height. Kindly filter your thoughts.” I’m already questioning how worthwhile this is going to be... * * * Tia stood next to me, looking up at me with those big purple eyes, just like the first night she’d met me. She gave me an uneasy smile and closed her eyes, her horn sending out a burst of magic that enveloped us in a bubble of soft white. “Ready to go?” She asked, her voice shaky. “As I’ll ever be, I suppose.” I responded. The magic began to swirl around us faster and faster, building up like a mighty hurricane, and as I looked to Tia I could tell she was afraid. I reached down and grabbed one of her hooves, gripping it firmly. She looked up to me one final time, and with a final flash of light from her horn, we were gone from my living room. * * * Traveling between worlds doesn’t feel like anything in the real world. It doesn’t feel like falling or tugging or pulling. It doesn’t even feel like I think it should: Drifting, in a vast ocean of multiverses so layered and expansive my mind cannot even begin to fabricate a fraction of every one that exists. It feels like nothing. Nothing moves, nothing breathes, nothing is making noise, or there for you to see, or even touch. It’d give a man some time to think, if it lasted just a little longer. But then we were spontaneously somewhere far from home, crumpled on the ground, our appendages still firmly gripping one another’s. Twilight was right. If I hadn’t known any better, I’d think we’d landed somewhere completely different. In fact, for a moment I wondered if Tia’s magic had failed. But, it hadn’t. This was Equestria... Blankets of snow covered everything. Every inch of earth was dusted with white flakes, a bitter, chilling wind blowing even more flakes down from the heavens. The darkness of the night was cut off by a single patch of clouds that had been eliminated to make way for a large and beautiful moon, made even whiter against the wintry backdrop. Perhaps what stuck out the most, however, were the many wide holes that were dug into the ground that shone a faint light. They were scattered everywhere in the snow, brown paint splotches on an otherwise unstained canvas. A shape slowly emerged from one of them, pulling themselves out and making their way over to us. I could tell from the mane-cut that it was Twilight Sparkle. For a moment, a small head with several spines stuck out after the pony, taking a quick look around before ducking back down. “What has become of my beloved home...” Tia said, dumbstruck, as she squeezed my hand ever tighter with her hoof. As Twilight neared us, I began to make out her clothing. A dark brown coat covered most of her torso, the hood revealing the inside made of a rough and darkened fur that I would find myself experiencing much closer up soon enough. Finally she made her way to the pile Tia and I had landed in when we arrived. Her breath coming out in a fog, she eyed the pair of us. “Welcome to Equestria.”