"Are you sure this is where they'll be returning Pinkie?" Twilight asked incredulously. They were in the middle a random field in AJ's orchards. There were no discernible landmarks or any fluctuating magic that would mark it as special in any way shape or form. "It just seems so normal."
"You should know better than that Twilight!" Pinkie said. "Just because something doesn't look special at first doesn't mean it won't be. I mean look at yourself." Before Twilight could reply to Pinkie, she was surprised to find herself surrounded by a group of ponies who had not been there mere seconds ago. She pulled a Rarity and passed out on the spot, and was completely ignored by everypony present. Who had more pressing matters to attend to.
"Why do I have hooves!" Sorin raged as he saw his human vampiric persona altered so vastly, and into something so very far from any norm of which he was aware. "How do you deal with this Angel?" He confusedly looked around until he felt something thump him in the side.
"I'm down here Sorin." Said the bunny, causing Sorin to immediately forget his own predicament and fall on his side laughing at his second oldest friend. Meanwhile Pinkie was lying on her back laughing alongside, she didn't know why, but it was laughter and she was never one to pass up her element.
She suddenly noticed Fluttershy and gasped, rising up and hovering in the air. She swam over to an nearby apple tree while the group stared at her, all but Fluttershy, Luna, and Jace looking extremely confused. Reaching behind the tree, and out of their view she pulled out three even more confused ponies. Applejack appeared to be mid buck, Rainbow Dash was waking up from a nap, and Rarity still had her scissors raised to cut fabric. All three of them turned and yelled.
"Pinkie!" Pinkie Pie ignored them and motioned over to Fluttershy as she dove back down to the ground and trotted towards the yellow pegasus. Stopping only long enough to pull a bucket from her mane and toss the liquid contents on the still unconscious Twilight.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh." Twilight rocketed up, and looking around her left eye began twitching. "Ponies don't just appear out of nowhere like that. Teleportation is preceded by a surge of energy and a flash of light. YOU DON'T JUST APPEAR FROM NOTHING!" Her man began to fragment and unfurl as her mouth joined her eye in twitching. "Explain! Now!"
"I-I'm ve-very sorry about breaking the l-laws of physics Twilight. But - not to be rude or anything - doesn't Pinkie do it all t-the time?" Twilight was silent, completely unable to think up a response. Then she realized who had answered her.
"Fluttershy you're back!" She rushed over to join pinkie - who had at some unnoticed point begun hugging Fluttershy. Rarity quickly joined them as well.
"Oh darling we missed you so much. We're so very sorry for how we treated you, can you ever forgive us?" She began to cry into her yellow friend's fur.
"Please Fluttershy I haven't been able to stop thinking about that day." Twilight's eyes were blurred as she gazed into Fluttershy's. "The animals all missed you too, Spike's been caring for them while you were away."
"I was so totally shocked you know 'Shy. But now I get to throw us a getting back together party! And a new pony part for all your friends here." She gestured to our group as we maintained a respectful distance several feet away.
I smiled, seeing old friends reunite after a fight was always touching, even if the fight was a little bit bigger than normal. Still... the smile faded from my face. Rainbow Dash and Applejack had made no move towards them. Both were silently waiting and partially glaring at Fluttershy. Fluttershy noticed this and slowly extracted herself from her other friends to go talk to them. As they were about to open their mouths however, I forced them shut again with a muzzle of crystal.
"Myself and Luna were about to speak with Celestia on this matter. I think it would be beneficial to all of us if those two were to accompany us for this, before they say something they will later regret." Luna levitated the two struggling forms overhead as we walked a few feet to the side.
"While Pinkie's getting the parties set up would you be so kind as to show Sorin, Jace, and my family around Ponyville? I'll find a place for them to stay when I return." Fluttershy nodded in assent, and we were off.
OoOOoOOOoOOoQ
Celestia's eyelids fluttered as she fought with every single ounce of her being to not fall asleep and give a damn about Blueblood's newest concocted reason that Rarity's fashion trends should be banned. Just as a yawn was about to escape, four more ponies appeared behind him. Luna cleared her throat, causing Blueblood to turn angrily.
"How dare you interrupt my audience with the Princess!" He stopped and let he anger quickly wash away as he saw it was Luna. But she was not fooled in the slightest.
"There are two Princesses who rule this realm if you have not forgotten Blueblood." He paled slightly. "You can finish later we have an important matter with our sister."
"I fail to see how these peasants could be of more import than myself dear auntie." He sneered at me.
For reasons I wouldn't entirely understand for several long years, I found myself extremely irritated by him. So I did what any sensible planeswalker would do and encased him in crystal. Also letting the muzzles disappear from Rainbow and Applejack in that same instant. Luna set them down next to Celestia before we began.
"Fluttershy has returned dear sister. What decision have you arrived at?"
"I understand why you believe what you do Luna, but I cannot let her remain in our kingdom. Yes, You were forgiven for your transformation into Nightmare Moon. But you were purified by the elements of harmony, so you could never again harm anyone in such a way. Fluttershy has never gone through such a process."
"Plus she lied to us since we first met her." Applejack cut it. Rainbow nodded in agreement.
"Lying is not always a terrible thing, in fact in her case I believe she needed to lie for the truth to be shown." Everypony but Luna was confused as I continued. "She knew you would react this way if she revealed herself, and likely no one but Pinkie Pie would have even tried to be her friend if she had been open from the start. You would all have avoided her at ever turn. By lying about her past she let her true self shine through and was judged by as her true self, not the past mistakes of an immortal." I glared at the figure sitting upon the throne. "I imagine that if Celestia made her past fully known, you would have felt equally betrayed."
"As for my purification by the elements." Luna continued for me. "You seem to have forgotten one very important fact Celestia. For why would the elements be needed to purify one's soul if that same pony was already one of those elements herself... You can still sense the link between them sister, it has not been severed. She is still the element of kindness."
"The element bearers may change but the elements can't choose again until the current bearers are all gone! The connection remains, but they will not lend her their power." Celestia smirked at us as if her point proved everything, but it quickly turned to a frown. I was laughing, at both her and the ridiculousness of the situation.
"Celestia, you mean to tell me that after using the elements yourself, and holding them in your keep down the centuries that you still don't know what they are?" I shook my head and laughed again. "First let me set the record straight and call them by their true nature. Those are not the elements of harmony, they are a mere piece of the whole."
"What are you saying Gabriel? that there are more elements we do not know of?"
"Exactly. You posses the five elements necessary for friendship and order. You perceived them as more powerful and harmonious because The element of magic is always associated with them. It is separate actually. But by lending its power to the other five great things can be achieved." Everypony was stunned, but I continued onwards regardless. There was much they needed to know about their so called 'elements'. I could see that Celestia was still skeptical and it would take more to convince AJ and Rainbow, so we settled in for a long evening.
OoOOoOOOoOOoQ
Fluttershy trotted down Ponyville's market street, doing something that her friends found very unusual. She was leading the way.
"Here we have the library. This is where Twilight lives, and spends most of her time studying." Rika had taken to her very early on. She was the only one who knew them from the show, so she had been making Fluttershy feel more comfortable around them for the whole tour of the town. "Oh, would you mind terribly if we introduced everyone to Spike?"
"Of course not Fluttershy there isn't much more to see anyway so lets just call it a day. Follow me everypony." Twilight turned and opened led them inside the brightly lit library.
"Who is Spike, miss Twilight. One my world that is a name usually given to pets such as a family dog or lizard in some cases." Richard thought the name seemed slightly degrading.
"When you seem him I'm sure you'll understand why I chose that name after I hatched him." She chuckled at the slightly puzzled looks upon all but her friend's faces. "SPIKE! come on down, we have guests."
"No need to yell Twilight, you're the one always saying this is a library after all." He opened the door and started down the stairs. "You'd think the library would follow her own... Fluttershy!" The little dragon rushed down and hugged the yellow mare. "I'm glad you're back. That bear's been getting on my case every day, I've been feeding them but I can't speak with them like you can. I think they're worried about you though."
'Gasp'. She ran out the door, stopping long enough to wave apologetically to her friends, before taking off to her cottage. Angel jumped and followed quickly after her, regardless of her power, he was still her guardian. The other mares also made several excuses and followed them out the door. Leaving the Sorin, Jace, and Gabriel's family alone... with Twilight.
Before they knew it, she had corralled them onto a couch and surrounding chairs facing the fireplace. Glasses had sprung up on her snout and she was levitating a notepad and quill. Spike had ran into the kitchen, partially to make tea for the group but mostly to get out of Twilight's way.
"I have so many questions for you! You all come from planes I've never visited, who knows what knowledge and magic you have that we don't!" She was shaking with merriment and anticipation. "Lets start with official introductions, ahem. I am Twilight Sparkle, personal student of Princess Celestia, element of magic, and I suppose mother of spike as well." That was the first time she had really thought about their relationship in that manner, but it seemed to fit. She motioned for Them to go in a circle.
"My name is Sorin Markhov, I have resided amongst the planes for over two millennium. I originally received my immortality through vampirism, but upon becoming a planeswalker it was no longer necessary. Relatively recently all planeswalkers had that immortality taken from them and I am now forced to rely on vampirism once again." He continued on to explain his life and time spent with Fluttershy through the centuries, everything matching with Fluttershy's own tale. "Rest assured I will not feed upon any who have become friends with Fluttershy, and I will leave this world in peace." The group seemed reassured by his statement.
"I'm Julie, Gabriel's eldest sister." She seemed to be struggling to find the right words to express herself. "Gabriel wants us to move here with him... I don't know how to feel about that. But speaking as a writer he told me there was no true science-fiction genre in Equestria, is that true Twilight?"
"I admit I don't even know what that is, could you elaborate?"
"Perhaps another time, after the rest of us have said our piece." Jace interrupted a suddenly blushing twilight. "I am Jace Beleren, Planeswalker and multi-world renowned mind mage. I have devoted my entire life and existence to studying the magics of the universe, primarily for the benefit of myself and others, but also to provide a means to bring evil down... or to forcefully convert it to my side. Whichever is more appealing at the time." He tried to smile reasuringly, but it came out more as a creepy, 'I can get inside your mind and control your thoughts and there isn't a damned thing you can do about it' smile.
Feeling less sure about this excursion every minute the discussion continued Richard went next. "I am the Gabriel and these girl's father, Richard Arkanym. I have nothing left for me at home, and if my son and daughters are moving to another plane of existence then by the Fates, I'm going with them." He was as determined as ever.
"Hi I'm Rika. Its amazing to meet you Twilight! It was so awesome seeing you beat Nightmare moon, Discord, and King Sombra! Then after a bunch of hard work you even became an Alicorn Princess just like your mentor!" She gasped. "But it doesn't seem you've gotten there yet so does that mean I know your future, oh god! Did I just screw up the time line?" Pinkie walked out of the fire.
"Aaaaahhhhhhhh." Everypony but Rika fell back in their seats.
"Of course you haven't Rika, It was screwed up from the beginning! I made sure of that. Besides I'm sure Lauren made some of those stories anyway!"
"But does that mean some of that never happened? The poison joke, Trixie, Disocrd's conversion."
"Trixie... Trixie, oh she was that nice showmare that came through a year or so ago. She was awesome, a real great illusionist, made it look like an ursa minor was attacking the town." She paused to breath, but forgot and continued anyway. "Actually we managed to convince discord about a month back, hes been nice. Oooooooh he made all of the northern snow taste like strawberries! Its delicious, here try some!" She reached back into the fire place, her stretching limb seeming to disappear into the distance, then it was back with a hoof-full of pink tinged snow. She and Rika proceeded to have a snack, while the rest of the room remained gawking.
"You now what this calls for?" Pinkie suddenly exclaimed.
"A party!" Rika replied enthusiastically. Then to the increasing astonishment of everyone except her and Pinkie, she reached behind the couch and pulled out Pinkie's party cannon. Letting it off with a deafening bang.
Pinkie seemed to have tears in her eyes and seemed to be mumbling and sniffling beneath her breath. "They grow up so fast, I'm so proud" Twilight had had enough.
"What in the holy names of the stars is going on here! How do you know so much about us, and... Pinkie!"
"Well you see silly, they don't have magic in her home, so she remained dormant this whole time!" Pinkie picked her up and twirled her around. "She's a budding little ball of laughter if I ever saw one!"
"Ya Twilight its simple. I'm the pinkie pie of our world! But now I have access to magic, and an awesome friend to practice with!" Twilight seemed to have finally shut off everything. "Lets go grab the food from Sugarcube Corner!"
Pinkie laughed and skipped into the mirror, followed closely by Rika. Rika turned back around tough remembering Twilight's other question.
"Oh you're also a cartoon in our world. bye-bye!" The left the view of the frame.
Richard stood, jaw agape. "Rika?" he barely managed to squeak out. Julie came over and hugged him, while he tried to make some sense of the situation.
"Never in all my days have I ever seem anything like that. The two of them could tear about the universe and restructure it however they desired if they desired." Sorin looked - for the first time in many long years - like he was scared.
"I couldn't even sense the mana they pulled on, or how the spell was structured." Jace blinked, and let his thoughts overwhelm him. Everyone's musing was interrupted by Twilight.
"Just don't try to understand them, you'll only end up worse for it." She sighed and motioned them to follow her. "I"ll show you where to sleep, they should be back with the party supplies soon. I don't think I'll have the energy to show you to your rooms with two of them here."
And so the party raged long into the night, without sign of Gabriel or the others.
OoOOoOOOoOOoQ
Deep in the Everfree forest was a cave of which the residents of the local town were quite familiar. An ursa minor had attacked from inside its depths less than a year prior. Twilight had managed to calm it and settle it back beside its mother to resume its long rest.
The crystalline walls which once sparkled in the ursa's self generated starlight, were now dark, blackened, and scorched. Two large and small bear-like skulls rested rotting in a corner, some strips of flesh still clinging to the cooling bone. Blood spattered the floor, mixing with the fur and gore of the once majestic creatures.
Standing upon the reddening furry stars and sky, the being laughed. For the first time in a while it had sated its hunger. Now it lay amidst the carnage, the blood proving to be a fairly warm blanket - one it was used to in fact. For now it slept, preparing for the coming day and the revenge which would be wrought upon its enemy... and all he knew on this pitiful world.
So the ancient creature slept, scales rustling against the stone. Within its claws lay an orb of binding, and from within came a keening scream of misery and despair, as his prisoner sat down and continued to wait, wait for her lost friend to free her.