//------------------------------// // The Message // Story: Twins Across Universes // by Nolongerposting //------------------------------// I'm jolted awake by a loud crash that sounded like it came from somewhere outside the library. Wiping my eyes, I sit up in my bed, wondering if I had imagined the noise. Another crash encourages me to get up and check it out. Rounding the last step of the staircase I see nothing out of the ordinary. Letting out a sigh I blame the noises on somepony outside, turning around I'm about ready to return to my bed when the door is practically torn off its hinges as a stallion barges in. He looks completely awful and not just by Rarity's standards. His coat is so filthy I can barely make out that his coat is supposed to be some shade of purple. A pair of darkly tinted shades set crookedly on his face but still his mane is worse. It's half burnt and completely matted. He spots me immediately and runs straight over to me. "I'm so glad that you're awake! It would have taken more time if I had had to have woken you. Listen to me, I haven't got much time but I have a very important message for you." By now I had recognized his voice and was worried enough to interrupt him. "Dusk Shine! What in both of our Equestria's are you doing here? What is going on over there? Why-" Dusk interrupts me by sticking his hoof in my mouth and he then lifts his shades using his other hoof. His eyes widen as he takes a good look at me for the first time. "This is not good! It's nice seeing you again Twilight but I really needed to talk to myself..." He then looks around worriedly, biting his lip, obviously trying to make a decision. "Okay I have a message but it was meant for me, not you. But I'm running out of time so I'm going to tell it to you so that you can relay it myself. This is very important. Do you promise that you'll tell me." I nod my head. "I promise." "Bubble Berry Promise?" "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." I recite the promise to Dusk, doing to movements along with it, careful to close my eye before placing my hoof over my eye. Dusk nods approvingly. "Alright. So I'm from the future where all of Equestria is in ruins. Both Lord Solaris and Lord Artemis have fallen and I haven't heard anything from Prince Caden or Gleaming Shield. I've lost contact with the other elements; I however believe this can all be averted. The only way I know of is to Save Jubilant, Save Equestria." I know that he probably would have said more if he hadn't started glowing. "I'm sorry that you have to deliver this message but I'm forever in you debt for doing so. And remember; Save Jubilant, Save Equestria." "I Pinkie Promised. I'm not going to let you down." As soon as I said this he disappeared in a brilliant flash of light. For a few seconds I stand there not doing anything. After they pass I shake my head, clearing my brain. That's when it hit me. Dusk Shine probably just got an unexpected from a very stressed me and is in the same situation that I'm. Immediately I start heading back towards my bedroom. I wasn't planning on going back to bed, that was probably the thing farthest away from thoughts right now. Right now I'm set on contacting Dusk to deliver the message I Pinkie Promised to give to him even how grave the message was. I just really hoped that I was wrong and that he hadn't also gotten the wrong message. By my bed side was a mirror, one that Princess Celestia gave me to allow me to keep in contact with Dusk and the others on his side of things. Concentrating I power up my horn, tuning it to the frequency that connected our two worlds. The image in the mirror flickered from mine to one almost identical to mine. As the image comes into focus I can't but smile, even if it is a little creepy to see yourself as a stallion. The stallion in the mirror smiles back. "Hey, uh, Twilight. I just had a very distressed visitor. They left a message for you." I let out a sigh and the smile on his face disappears. "Same here Dusk." "It wouldn't happen to have been a party loving pony, who can't find a party, would it?" Dusk smiles weakly as I just shake my head and the smile disappears again. "Didn't think so. So what's your message?" "Well mine was from yourself, from some point in the future. You didn't really mention when. You just said that Equestria was in ruins, Lord Solaris and Lord Artemis had fallen and that you hadn't heard anything from Prince Caden or Gleaming Shield. You also said that you lost contact the other elements. You said that you believed that it could be averted if you saved Jubilant. Save Jubilant, Save Equestria were your exact words... Your message?" "From a future you, Celestia and Luna down, Cadence and Shining Armor are a nota, the elements, unheard from. So pretty much the same except you had to save Cheerful. Save Cheerful, Save Equestria." I let out a sigh and silence fell between us only to be broken a few seconds later by me. "I was really wishing that this was a dream but I don't believe it is. So now what? I'd guess that we'd head off and look for Jubilant and Cheerful." In the mirror my counterpart simply nods his head. "Do you have any leads on Jubilant and Cheerful? Are they ponies, new elements, I have no clue." "Unfortunately neither do I. Of course if I get any plausible leads I'll tell you right away. Simply because of the nature of the relationship between our universes." "And if I get anything I'll tell you too. My only concern is whether I should bring in the others or not." "That's what I was thinking about too... I think we should tell them, who knows, maybe one of them knows something about Jubilant or Cheerful." I nod in agreement to what Dusk was saying. Suddenly a thud came from both behind me and behind Dusk. Smiling we say in unison. "Sounds like two baby dragons fell out of their beds." I smile wider and start to laugh a little bit. "That's still weird, no matter how many times it happens. I'll talk to you later. Bye Dusk." I wave at him and really wish that I could give him a hug right now. "See ya Sis." I smile one last time and then the connection breaks up. Letting out a sigh I turn around and pick Spike up off the floor from where he fell out of his bed. I roll my eyes as I realize that he's still asleep. Returning him to his bed, he yawns and turns over, dragging his covers over him as he does so. I can't help but yawn too and I decide that telling the others could wait until the morning.