I opened the doors to the van and allowed Trixie, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Diane and Rainbow Dash to sit in the furthest back bench seat. This being Pinkie's first ride in such a vehicle, she started bouncing up and down on the seat. I admonished her to please stop. The two Twilights, Rarity and Fluttershy sat in the middle bench. Truthfully, trying to get everypony to get in the van was much like herding cats -- Applejack was perhaps the most reluctant to enter, but this Trixie helped smooth things by explaining how she had ridden in the vehicle earlier. Both Twilights also assuaged the fears of the others in similar fashion. It took nearly ten minutes to get everypony situated in the vehicle. Princess Celestia was given the honor of riding shotgun, though Trixie complained bitterly about not being able to sit in that seat.
"Trixie wants to know why she can't sit in the front seat," she whined.
"Because Princess Celestia has seniority and since this vehicle belongs to me, I get to determine seating arrangements. Be thankful we don't leave you behind, Trixie -- you should be honored we're allowing you to travel with us," I said. Princess Celestia smiled and Trixie pouted again.
"Will we get to ride in it while it's moving again?" asked the other Twilight. "That was fun!" This Twilight scowled at her.
"Maybe some time in the future -- we're going to do a stationary teleport to my home on the human world of Earth. Don't get curious about the place, we're only going to be there for a couple of minutes. We will group teleport from there to the alternate universe the other Twilight and Diane come from," I stated. I turned on the van and instructed TS to transport us to my home on Earth.
The van glowed a bright magenta and everything went white for a second before the vehicle reappeared in the driveway of my house. It was mid-morning, still Sunday, the day after my birthday. I think Brenda might have been waiting for my return, because when we all exited the vehicle (a task that took nearly five minutes itself) she came out the front door. She was immediately shocked to see all of us in the front yard, her mouth open wide but no words coming out. The ponies who had never seen a human before gawked at her, their expressions matching hers.
"Okay, everypony, form a circle. We're going to the other Ponyville!" I shouted. Brenda continued to stand dumbfounded as the amulet I wore glowed a bright blue, the aura around all of us also glowing bright blue as were my eyes. Everything went white again for a second and we rematerialized in front of the Library in the other universe.
It was dark out, cold, windy, raining. The wind was blowing from the East at a sustained 20 miles per hour, occasionally gusting higher. The rain had a cold bite to it, coming down in sheets. Everypony got soaked, except for the Sun Goddess, who seemed immune to the brutal weather and Trixie, who pulled her hood over her head and tightened her cloak around her. The combination of wind, rain, and cold made it feel like a late October day, the darkness making it quite difficult to see. The light I could see was coming from inside the Library, so I knocked on the door.
"What is going on here?" Trixie asked in exasperation. "Okay, all of you! Come inside! We can discuss these matters once everypony's dried off," she said, opening the door for everypony to enter, the regal white Alicorn the last one to do so.
"You told me you were only going to be gone for about four hours. You were gone for two days!" the other Trixie exclaimed in exasperation. She glowered at me, practically growling in my face, her muzzle pushed up against mine.
"Well, Trixie, certain circumstances prevented a timely return. Please forgive me?" I asked almost half-heartedly. The other Twilight saved me, though.
"Trixie! I'm sorry for taking so long, but I had such a wonderful time in that other universe! I have so much to tell you!" exclaimed a very excited Twilight. This Twilight was baffled by Trixie's nearly matching cutie mark and stared at it.
"Twilight, we can talk about that later. The other Twilight, would you mind not staring at my flank?"
"Oh, sorry, Trixie, I couldn't help but notice your cutie mark. I am puzzled by it's appearance," she said, her cheeks turning a light rouge. "I wonder how you got a cutie mark similar to mine."
"That's a story for another -- what ... what's ... SHE ... doing here!?!" Trixie exclaimed as she saw the Sun Goddess enter. Her face showed a mix of shock, surprise and fear.
"Trixie, there is no need to fear me. I am the Regent of the Sun in my realm and I can assure you that my little ponies are here to help you banish the evil presence who rules your realm," she stated calmly.
"NO! NO! NO! You CAN'T be HER! We banished you! How can you come here like this?"
"Please remain calm, Trixie. You have been hypnotized by Nightmare Moon." Everypony was standing around the room in a large circle, watching this spectacle with keen interest. This Trixie seemed somewhat amused by her counterpart's fear of the Alicorn. Suddenly, a purple mist started swirling around the room, ushering in the arrival of said Dark Princess.
"So, you came back, Michael -- and you brought that beast with you as well!" Nightmare scowled at Celestia. "I have ways of dealing with you and I will make the rest of your life as miserable as --"
"THOU SHALT STAY THY TONGUE!!" Celestia commanded using her Royal Canterlot Voice. Her face showed deep anger at being referred to as a beast -- she would have none of it.
"I shall not," the dark princess chuckled. "You were banished once before, I can make it so once again!"
"Perhaps you underestimate me, dear sister. I made the necessary preparations and took precautions before arriving here. There is much to discuss." Diane, the other Trixie and other Twilight gasped at this mention. They exchanged nervous glances, wondering how the Nightmare could be a sister to the white Alicorn.
"There is nothing to discuss! This realm is MINE! Return whence you came, lest you force my hoof!" Nightmare declared, baring her teeth. Her face showed extreme rage, a truly frightening visage. Her eyes glowed deeply and I had to avert my gaze from them, lest I become hypnotized.
"Elements! Take your positions and banish Nightmare!" Celestia commanded with authority. I moved to a position between this Twilight and the other Trixie. This Trixie, who had pulled her hood back, stood behind me.
"That's not going to work," she chuckled. Her amused expression turned to shock when she saw all six ponies with their respective elements. "Curse me for my lack of foresight!" she shouted. The Element Bearers encircled Nightmare Moon, their respective diadems glowing with magic. A rainbow-hued vortex surrounded the dark princess and whirled around her, enveloping her in the Harmonic Magic. She screamed in rage as the magic swirled around her. A moment later, the dark princess was transformed into a transparent crystal statue.
"Why did that happen?" asked this Twilight, the glow from her tiara slowly fading away. The other Trixie was wearing her tiara, the diadem matching Twilight's except for its deep blue hue. Diane wore a chest plate with a blue lightning bolt on it. My blue amulet was also glowing and I was surprised to find myself wearing the gold barding and hoofguards the other Element Bearers were wearing and that the amulet had become part of my chest plate. I sensed something on my head.
"I believe extra elements have an unusual effect upon the one they're used against," the Sun Goddess mused. I was amazed to see the sun return, the rain stopping abruptly and another bright white flash of light. "Michael, I am pleased to see the changes which have occurred to you."
"You knew this was going to happen to me, didn't you, your Majesty? That's why you gave me this specific amulet, isn't it? I suppose that's also why you initially discouraged me from seeking your assistance, so I could strengthen my friendships with Twilight and the others. If this is the case, I would like to thank you for helping me in this fashion."
Celestia simply smiled calmly, her smile widening ever so slightly. She nodded her head.
"Trixie wants to know where she can get such armor! It looks amazing!"
I heard stifled giggles at this.
"Free at last! Thank you all so deeply, I have finally been freed! It has been far too long!" announced another Celestia. "I see the Dark Princess has been transformed," she mused. "A most unusual sculpture, I must say." Noticing her counterpart, she expressed some surprise. "You are me? Where did you come from?"
This Celestia smiled warmly. "Yes, my dear counterpart, I am indeed you. I have traveled from another universe, courtesy of Michael Walker (she pointed at me) who assisted us in our travels."
"Why do you look like Trixie?" asked the other Celestia.
"Your Majesty, I voluntarily made that choice, partially because my vehicle was able to transform me," I said. "I was pleasantly surprised that I could choose to be Trixie."
"Michael, I would appreciate it if in future you would assume a unique form for yourself as a pony -- there are three Trixies here, and frankly, the concept is difficult to comprehend. Was it not Pinkie Pie who gave you the advice of being your own pony? She speaks wisdom, advice I would strongly recommend you take to heart," this Celestia stated, giving me a serious look.
"Your Majesty, I will do so before my next return to Ponyville. I believe I shall take the form of a unicorn stallion."
The other Celestia gave me a very puzzled look. "You mean to tell me you are a male inside the body of a mare?"
"Yes, your Majesty. Originally, I am a male human from a human homeworld called Earth."
"I would like to know about your homeworld, Michael. Perhaps you may tell me more later on. Trixie, Twilight, my faithful students -- it is a pleasure to see you both once again," the other Celestia smiled. "So you are Twilight and Trixie from another universe as well? Rarity? Diane? There is so much to catch up on! We must have discussions of everything!"
"Trixie is confused. Two Princess Celestias?"
"Trixie? You refer to yourself in third person?" the other Celestia asked quizzically. The other Trixie chuckled.
"Trixie has always talked like this -- she wishes to be regarded as important and worthy of respect," she stated proudly. Quite a bit of snickering came from Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash.
"Your Majesty, much has happened here in your absence," the other Twilight said through her voice box. "Michael here provided me with this device so I could talk once again. It was Nightmare Moon who silenced me and killed Rarity."
"But I see Rarity here before my eyes!"
"Do you not see the fact that she is a unicorn and our Rarity was an earth pony? And her cutie mark is different, as well," said the other Trixie.
"Ah, this is true. My apologies, Rarity, I am sorry I could not be here to prevent the evil of Nightmare Moon from pervading this land," the other Celestia stated with some sadness.
"Your Majesty, I have heard the stories regarding my counterpart here. It saddens me to hear such falsehoods being spread, but I am relieved to know the truth. I would like to meet Rainbow, who I have heard runs the boutique," Rarity mused.
"We must return to our Ponyville, Rarity. I believe we have accomplished our mission here and any further delay may tempt fate to intervene in some other way. Celestia, I must say it was a pleasure to meet you. Perhaps in future we may meet again, however it is time for us to return to our universe."
"Very well then, Celestia. My opinion concurs with yours with regard to our meeting. I look forward to a possible future engagement, one where we may take time to exchange more pleasantries. Farewell to all of you and take care of yourselves."
Those of us from our Ponyville gathered around our Alicorn for the trip back home. We dispensed with the trip back to Earth as Celestia had a lock on her sister's magic signature, so she was easily able to perform a cross-dimensional universe jump for us. We were enveloped in her golden aura and teleported to the Royal Throne Room.