//------------------------------// // Chapter 48 // Story: Joe // by JMDARE //------------------------------// Joe tried to not yawn as Princess Celestia spoke. He knew it would be because he was tired rather than bored but now things were going so well with Rainbow Dash he had extra reason to want to avoid the risk of the Goddess of the Sun assuming the latter. Last night when they’d finally finished kissing and released each other Rainbow Dash had streaked back up over Fluttershy’s cottage to catch up with the others on their way to the library to meet Spike, where he was waiting with most of their luggage. After a few moments of sitting and smiling Joe had stood and checked for the birdseed bucket. It seemed more likely that had been an excuse to send him into that pleasant ambush, but there a small chance that it had been less planned and Rainbow Dash had simply taken advantage of the truth. The evening routine at Fluttershy’s cottage had seemed even more boring with that as a precursor and Joe had been glad his sleep had been dreamless until it was time to get out of the bed in the spare room, that he’d brought his own linens for, and deal with the midnight feed. That far things had been peaceful but he’d not long got back to sleep when he’d been woken by a scroll falling on his face in the early hours of the morning. Owlowiscious had seen the flash and arrive and drop and Joe thanked him for his ‘Hwhooo?’ of concern. As Joe got some light and read the scroll he was glad that Fluttershy had taken so much trouble with making sure he had Ponies to contact in an emergency. It seemed he had an early morning train to catch so Joe wrote a few notes, attached one to Winona’s collar and gave the rest to Owlowiscious and sent them to Sweet Apple Acres and Ponyville respectively. He was glad as he packed that the Crystal Empire was close enough for a round trip in one afternoon and evening, and that they had that early train for those that wanted to arrive early enough to spend the whole day there. A pleasant surprise was to see Big Macintosh as the note via Winona was only to inform him and Granny Smith that Joe wouldn’t be able to do any chores today rather than asking for help here. The Mares that arrived to take over the animal duties seemed to think the farm stallion’s presence an even more pleasant surprise and to have been well prepared. Almost as if they’d been expecting to have to come to an emergency rather than Joe managing, and he couldn’t blame them for that. Leaving Big Macintosh to their mercy Joe had jogged into Ponyville to make sure he was in plenty of time for the train and then tried to nap on it. The former had been more successful than the latter, comfortably catching the train but not catching much sleep. At the station for the Crystal Empire he’d been hustled through the streets to the Castle and down into this room, his bag being taken from and him being reassured it would be placed in a room. Now he was listening and trying not to yawn. To Princess Celestia’s disappointment a former student of hers called Sunset Shimmer had returned covertly as a thief rather than openly to seek guidance. Her talent and skill had proved sufficient for her to steal Twilight Sparkle’s Crown and Element of Magic. Although she had been discovered in the act of replacing it with a fake she had still escaped and passed through the mirror portal in this room. This led to the world in which Sunset Shimmer had been living and only opened every thirty moons. Joe wondered if it was his imagination or if Princess Celestia really had given him a look, as if to say ‘again’, when she told Twilight Sparkle she must retrieve her crown as without it the other Elements of Harmony had no power. More important was Princess Luna’s warning that the Element of Magic did not belong in that other world and would be used to bring harm to the inhabitants as they would defenceless against it. So it seemed that even if the Element of Magic could be recreated or the other Elements of Harmony empowered by another means there would be an obligation. Though there was the quandary of whether Princess Celestia had been so mistaken in her choice of student that Sunset Shimmer would use it for harm rather than good or whether Princess Luna was mistaken about the danger. “You understand the importance of your task?” Princess Celestia asked, finishing the briefing and ending Joe’s sleepy musing. “Of course,” replied Twilight Sparkle, trying to look confident. “Good, then you must go at once,” Princess Celestia nodded. “You and Joe.” “With respect, Your Majesty,” said Joe, deciding too much politeness was far better than too little, “why me?” “You may have some knowledge of this other world that will be useful.” “I might?” Joe asked, feeling rather surprised, then wondering if there had been a way home all along, but if this was to his world then there was a problem. He glanced at Twilight Sparkle. “If you mean what I think, Your Majesty, then…” “Do not worry Joe,” said Princess Celestia, managing a slight smile, “there will be no problem with the appearance of either you or Twilight.” Joe nodded, semi-bowed, as he considered if knowledge meant a human world and no problem meant… “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rainbow Dash said, dropping down in front of the mirror portal, “they’re going we’re going with them. Right Girls?” The others agreed unanimously and, from her expression, it seemed this extra support was as welcome to Twilight Sparkle as it was to Joe. He also had extra reason to welcome Rainbow Dash’s company since, as little as it mattered now, he did still have some curiosity this might answer. Unfortunately Princess Celestia’s response was to tell the others she could not let them go as it would upset the balance of the other world, and that havoc could prevent the recovery of the Crown. This made Joe even more puzzled why he could go but not their friends and, apparently, not at least a few of the Castle Guards. It seemed especially strange with how much it seemed Princess Celestia doubted Joe could be much help and that it would be more Twilight Sparkle’s task with whatever assistance Joe could provide rather than a joint effort. Given the obstacles and threats Twilight Sparkle had overcome Joe wasn’t sure he could take offense at that if he tried. Though he was tempted to try. More he was glad that he was trusted enough to help at all and that he might regain some of the favour he had lost. Princess Luna warned that on the third day when the moon reached its peak the gate would close for thirty moons again so they made their farewells. As Twilight Sparkle approached the mirror she seemed startled by the wobble and the light from it. She glanced to her mentor and Princess Celestia gave her a reassuring nod. Joe tried to add his own reassurance and smiled as he moved to stand next to her, having delayed a fraction to smile to Rainbow Dash and reluctantly decide the presence of Goddesses precluded goodbye kissing. “On three?” Joe suggested. “Three,” said Twilight Sparkle, jumping into the mirror portal at once. “Hmm,” Joe shrugged, stepping forward and following. Spike looked at this, looked around, and then with an expression of fear and determination sprinted for the mirror to plunge into it after them. == Twilight Sparkle woke up and gradually forced her eyes open. The swirling dizziness of passing through the conduit from the mirror portal to wherever she was now had not been unexpected. That she had passed out had been, as it had not seemed that bad. The first thing she saw was a ladybird or ladybug and as she looked around she saw a dog. A purple dog with strangely shaped green ears. The combination was very recognisable, especially when he spoke. “Er, Twilight?” “Spike?” Twilight Sparkle asked before the next thought occurred. “You’re not supposed to…” Then she couldn’t help but ask the question, as obvious as the answer was. “Spike, are you a dog?” “I… think so,” replied Spike. “But you’re a human…” “Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh…” Twilight Sparkle screeched as she looked at hands where her beautiful hooves had been. “Oh, thanks,” a second familiar voice interrupted, “it’s not that bad.” Twilight Sparkle looked and blinked at the speaker as he continued. “I wondered if one of us was going to have our form changed, and since I supposedly have knowledge had wondered if would be you to that.” He shook his head. “I hadn’t expected that we would both change…” “Joe?” Twilight Sparkle asked, peering at the slightly shaggy mongrel. Its fur was the same colour as Joe’s black hair and it was sitting enough with its left side to her that she could see scars running up that foreleg, though the ones on its side were less visible in the thicker fur of its body. “I can see why I got asked to help,” Joe continued, then he squinted at Twilight Sparkle, “and thinking of seeing your skin looks a strange colour, though that is probably because I have doggy eyes.” He gave a grin, tongue lolling slightly. “On the other hand, or paw, my hearing and sense of smell is amazing!” “Twilight,” prompted Spike as she kept staring at Joe, and then him, and then back at what she could see of herself. “You have to get it together.” “What does the rest of me look like?” Twilight asked. “Like you, only like Joe…” “Like me normally,” Joe corrected, “but feminine. Thankfully you gained clothes when I lost mine, and your panniers turned into a backpack.” Spike glanced at Joe, he could imagine how Rainbow Dash, or Applejack, or Rarity would have seized on that comment. Rainbow Dash and Rarity might have teased Joe about if he was actually thankful that they’d gained clothes while Applejack would probably have teased if Joe was glad Rainbow Dash had. But Twilight Sparkle seemed focussed on the task so it didn’t seem worth pointing this out to Joe. “Where are we?” asked Spike instead. “I don’t know,” Twilight Sparkle replied, giving the statue plinth a quick look, “but that must serve as the gateway back to Equestria.” “I think I can see humans, and a bus just went past,” added Joe. “Beyond that I don’t know either… though…” “Though?” Twilight Sparkle prompted, her turn to keep thoughts moving. “Though it doesn’t look foreign, if you know what I mean? If this was my world then I could make a guess at what countries we might be in…” “Is this your world?” “Looks more similar, so maybe this,” Joe pondered, looking at himself, “is to disguise me since I am a missing person…” He decided to not add the cynical comment that it would also prevent him deserting Twilight Sparkle if he had to return to Equestria to return to human. Princess Celestia didn’t think much of him but he didn’t think she thought that little of him either. “Still, any leads?” “I suggest we start searching the Castle first,” said Twilight Sparkle, being polite enough to phrase it as that rather than an order. “Twilight, I have worked at a Castle and I have studied Castles,” Joe commented, looking at the large building, “and that looks rather too modern and too lacking in walls and arrow slits and the like. Besides I was actually thinking of leash laws, keeping your dog on a lead.” “You want to be led around by your neck?” asked Spike. “Less painful than being prodded in various directions by a hoof I expect,” Joe winked. “Hang on…” He concentrated and took a breath. “Wharuff? * Can you understand this Spike? *” “Wharwhoo? * Yes, what are we saying? *” woofed Spike back. “It seems we can talk as dogs as well as being talking dogs,” Joe said, switching back to normal speech. “Which could be useful as dogs can’t speak like this, or could be worrying if this is my world and we find we can talk to other dogs the other way.” “Worrying?” asked Twilight Sparkle. “Thousands of years of having dogs and never figuring out they were that smart? Worrying,” Joe nodded, “especially when you start wondering if anything else can talk and your species is omnivorous.” “Yewwwwwww!” winced Twilight Sparkle. “Yeah, you’ll have to be careful and remember the vegetarian menu if we are here long enough you need to eat.” “Which if we chat much longer she might need to,” Spike commented. Twilight Sparkle nodded to this and tried to stand, wobbling rather so Joe moved across to sit up and brace himself so she could steady herself pushing down on the top of his head. She got to her feet, withdrew her hand, and after a few minor sways steadied. “I am glad you Ponies do so often go bipedal so you’re reasonably used to it,” Joe nodded, “even humans start by crawling and ‘baby’s first steps’ is a landmark for proud parents to boast about to all their friends.” “What about you?” asked Twilight Sparkle asked. “Having to remind myself to not try two legs, feeling weird as I could put my hands and feet on the ground like this as a human but would be a strain…” “How do humans crawl then?” Twilight Sparkle asked, again, and she took her first steps in her new shape. “Legs are long enough and arms are short enough that it’s hands and knees,” replied Joe, concentrating, “which I have to also try to avoid…” Spike trotted along happily as the other two struggled, Joe especially. Twilight Sparkle might be able to walk on two legs but it felt so much more natural to drop to all fours. Joe had the dual problem of walking on all fours rather than walking on two or crawling on four. But Dragons weren’t stupid enough to be limited. Walking on two legs as he normally did or on four as he sometimes did felt just as natural to Spike, so walking on four as a dog was no problem. A young looking man was walking in the opposite direction on the opposite pavement and, used to Ponyville friendliness, Twilight Sparkle gave him a nod and smile. This he returned in the same way as any young man would when it had come from a pretty girl in a fairly short skirt, but his dog was more interested in keeping going and, unlike Spike and Joe, was on a lead and was able to tug. As that pair got a little further away Joe looked up at Twilight Sparkle. “It could be my eyes, but that dog looked blue… is Spike the same purple and green as before?” “Yes, why?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “Well, you can dye a dog’s fur blue, or purple and green, but those aren’t natural colours,” explained Joe. “So, like the shape of Spike’s ears, it’s unexpected.” “What’s wrong with my ears?” Spike frowned. “Nothing,” replied Joe, “they just still look more Draconic than Doggy.” Then they reached their greatest obstacle thus far, a flight of at least several stairs. Twilight Sparkle looked them up and down. “At least there aren’t as many as in the Crystal Empire, but I had all four legs there…” After some more wobbling and clinging to the handrail and encouraging comments from Joe about how difficult humans had found making bipedal walking machines, and how difficult it was for those to then climb stairs, Twilight Sparkle made it up them. She knew Joe was trying to help but she’d have preferred him to shut up and let her concentrate. “Come on Spike, I do not want to be like this for longer than I have,” Twilight Sparkle muttered, then she realised the tone she’d said it in and looked down to her other side. “No offence Joe.” “None taken,” replied Joe, deciding to follow the fine example of the mules and asses in Ponyville. “Look on the bright side,” Spike winked, “you don’t have those pesky wings to worry about any more…” He faltered at the death glare this comment got from his ‘big sister’ and seemed relieved, as well as sympathetic, when she turned away and demonstrated the doors were not automatic by walking face first into one. Twilight Sparkle frowned at the door. Then looked and sounded briefly constipated as an expression of strain came to her face and a similar noise from her mouth. Joe was not sure what she was doing. “You can use your hand to open it…” “My magic,” Twilight Sparkle blinked, her eyes a little wider, “it isn’t working.” “Makes sense,” said Spike as Joe nodded to himself, he should have recognised she was trying to ‘push’ mentally, “you don’t exactly have your horn…” “What?” Twilight Sparkle almost screeched again, her hands coming up to her mane… her hair… and exploring her forehead. “We really need to find a mirror,” sighed Spike, “see for ourselves exactly what we look like.” “It would be nice to know what breed I am,” Joe agreed. “Breed?” chuckled Spike. “You look like a mutt.” “Sir,” Joe replied with mock hauteur, drawing himself up, “do not insult my ancestors.” Denied her magic, and reminded that if she had manipulating limbs she could use them to manipulate things, Twilight Sparkle opened the door with her hand and they entered the building. Joe looked around at this entrance hall and didn’t see any signs or a reception desk so it didn’t seem like a museum or government office or business place. It was familiar but from pictures or movies rather than personal experience. Meanwhile Twilight Sparkle’s eye was caught by a large pane of glass set into one wall. Moving across and looking through it she started to comment to Spike about if the trophies were more things Sunset Shimmer had stolen before her attention was drawn to her reflection. She’d thought it strange that Joe had said he’d be able to imagine ponyfolk as human and Spike saying she still looked like her, as well as like Joe, had been even stranger. But as one hand crept up to stroke her fingers against her cheek she thought she understood. It was hard to tell colours in the reflection of a simple pane of glass but her skin looked a paler purple than her fur normally was. Her hair was the same colour though, with the same streak, and cut in the same way across her forehead as her Mane had been. The shape of her head and so her face was human, and she only had a nose rather than a muzzle, but the way the human features fitted together did give the same impression. And her eyes were very close to being the same, a lot smaller than she was used to but the same colour and much the same shape. Joe wandered across, claws clicking on the floor, and looked at the trophies before, like Twilight Sparkle, his attention was drawn by his reflection. “Yep,” he commented, “I’m a mutt. I am a scion of many noble breeds, two of which actually might be the same one.” A bell rang and from being empty the entrance hall suddenly filled with what looked like human teenagers chatting and walking and jostling each other. Spike jumped up into Twilight Sparkle’s arms in surprise as Joe had a sudden fear and suspicion. Twilight Sparkle began edging along the wall to get out of the crowd and, trying to not get too close and trip her, Joe followed. Then there was a thump against his rear and a girl who looked in her very early teens suddenly staggered into Twilight Sparkle. She looked strangely like Diamond Tiara, and her friend like Silver Spoon, and her aggressive words made it seem the likeness was more that physical. “Can’t you keep your dog out of the way?” the teenager demanded, getting a nod and sniff from her sycophant. “Don’t you know there are no pets allowed on school grounds…” To Joe’s surprise more than anyone else’s, and before he could suppress the instinct, a deep growl rumbled up from his chest and he felt the fur of his hackles rise as he tensed. This interrupted the teenager’s rant but set her off on a new one as her attention fixed on him instead. “Eeeek! That huge mutt is growling at me! What if it bites me…” People were starting to turn and look so Joe took a breath and forced calm and relaxed into a comfortable doggy slouch. Then he tilted his head to one side to try to look quizzical and let his tongue loll and made himself pant a little. He wasn’t sure what he was doing with his ears as being able to move them so much was not something he’d had any practice with as a human but he hoped he had raised one ear a little and let the other one droop. From the expression on the faces of some of the other teenagers as the rant continued, even the one that looked like Silver Spoon, it seemed to Joe that he had achieved the desired effect. “Yeah, right,” one lad muttered, looking at what seemed the happiest dumbest friendliest dog he’d seen in a long time. Twilight Sparkle had continued her escape but turned to try to walk backwards, so she could keep an eye on Joe, rather than shuffle sideways. She knew this was something humans could do and even had Joe run backwards on her treadmill to compare the motion with his normal forward run. With Spike still in her arms, and her lack of practice, this proved more difficult than she had assumed and she lost her balance and thumped into a locker to slide down it and sit with an ‘oof’. Then a quite tall human male with spiky blue hair looked down at her in concern and offered her his hand as he asked if she was okay. After a moment of bafflement Twilight Sparkle realised what the gesture probably meant and took the hand in hers so he could help her up. Joe frowned, as best as a dog could, at this as he extricated himself from the crowd. They had a Crown to find and some local ‘stud’ latching onto the new girl could be a distraction. Discounting the hairstyle he was probably normally a touch taller than this fellow and, especially with the aid of the magic, he was old enough to have filled out and become more heavily built. So as a human he’d have been confident he could intimidate but as a dog he was wanting to seem harmless. Fortunately, although there seemed a worrying degree of instant chemistry, the lad seemed happy to just help Twilight Sparkle up rather than try to chat her up as well and the trio of ‘dogs’ and ‘human’ managed to find themselves a private spot to talk. “I think Joe was right outside,” Spike commented, “I don’t think this is a Castle.” “Yes, as that brat was saying, we seem to be in a school,” nodded Joe. “But not one in my country, as much as the children push the rules and customise them we use school uniforms…” He squinted at a few people. “Are some of them green, and blue? Wait, is Twilight purple rather than that being my doggy eyes?” “Yes, yes, and I am,” Twilight Sparkle confirmed. “I’m not as colour blind as I thought then,” mused Joe. He knew dogs could see some colour rather than just grey, but he’d not been sure how much or how colours would look to him. It had still felt like it was his ‘mistake’ what he thought Twilight’s skin tone looked like, but it hadn’t been a mistake at all. “And since humans on my world don’t come in those colours, like dogs don’t come in blue or purple, as well as not being in my country we are not on my world.” “So, what help can you be then?” Twilight Sparkle asked, realising an instant too late how that might be taken as rude rather than a simple request. “Possibly not as much as I thought,” admitted Joe, “not even as much as when I found I was a dog. I think cute doggy Spike might be okay wandering…” “Grrrrr,” Spike protested. “But,” continued Joe to Twilight Sparkle, “would you rather risk the extra attention of having a second dog with you or not? I might be able to warn or guide of some things.” “Well, Princess Celestia thought you could be of use…” Twilight Sparkle said, wincing as once more she said something that could be interpreted as rude. And she wasn’t sure herself if she meant it that way, so far other than warning her about the vegetarian menu Joe hadn’t been of use. It didn’t matter to her that they were not on his world, just that they were not on hers. They moved on and began looking around this school. As a trio of young teenagers rushed past them Joe wuffed to Spike about how the one that had tripped on him had looked like Diamond Tiara, but did those look like the Cutie Mark Crusaders? Spike waruffed back that they did and Joe decided this was definitely not his world with this many parallels to Equestria. There did seem one parallel to his own world though so as Twilight Sparkle approached a door Joe got in her way. “What…” Twilight Sparkle started to ask. There were too many people around to risk speaking so Joe whuffed softly and pawed at her skirt. Then he moved a few steps, looked at her and whuffed again, and when she followed he nodded his head at a different door. “Oh!” Twilight Sparkle said, noticing the human figure on the sign on this door had a skirt on. Like the one Joe had just pawed. Once Twilight Sparkle had visited the ladies loo, Joe remaining outside as it felt wrong to go in even if he was a dog, they continued to explore and Joe tilted his head and with another soft whuff turned towards what he’d heard. Soon all three of them could hear a loud complaining voice and after not too much extra time they could hear the far softer and more familiar voice replying to the complaints. They rounded the corner and found the fillies were not the only ones with parallels here as the pink hair, shy manner, and slightly jaundiced looking yellow of the skin were all quite recognisable. Twilight Sparkle stepped forward to intervene, gesturing Spike and Joe to retreat back around the corner as she had seen the attention dog growling could bring and even Spike was grumbling in his chest. A few sharp words with the bully and when she left, with threats, and Joe and Spike joined Twilight Sparkle they found that had been Sunset Shimmer. And as the local version of Fluttershy explained why she’d been so angry it became clear that it was the same Sunset Shimmer, probably reshaped by the same magic as had affected the trio, as had stolen the crown. This Fluttershy had been handing out leaflets for the local animal shelter near the statue when the Crown, bouncing away from the struggle on the other side of the portal, had come through and bounced off her head. Being a sensible girl she had immediately taken it to Principal Celestia so when Sunset Shimmer followed her prize she had found it gone. Joe wasn’t sure why when Sunset Shimmer had said it was hers Fluttershy had said it wasn’t hers yet or why Sunset Shimmer wouldn’t simply have reclaimed it from her Principal, but this did seem a simple matter of collecting it from the lost and found. As Fluttershy spoke she gave Spike a lot of attention. Joe rolled his eyes as he sat to one side. “Warwhuff wuff. * See, I said you were a cute doggy. *” “Graruff? * Is that the replacement for calling me short arse? *” “Whurwhurr. * I am still twice as tall as you, so I don’t need a replacement. *” “Oh, sometimes don’t you just feel like they are talking,” Fluttershy crooned, “and I didn’t mean to leave you out…” She reached into her backpack to give Joe a doggy treat, though she turned straight back to Spike and gave him one as well. “Wouldn’t you love to know what they are saying?” Joe’s eyes widened as he crunched the doggy treat and he realised how lucky they were this Fluttershy didn’t have the same understanding of animals as the one back in Equestria, though it seemed she had the same love of them. “Well, Spike normally just tells me…” Twilight Sparkle began, then she noticed Joe’s expression and interpreting it as a warning and remembering what he’d said about dogs not being able to speak she changed course. “Because they tend to learn ways to make things clear, even if they can’t talk.” “Oh I know,” nodded Fluttershy, “and it is good to have them with you, but you’ll have to be careful. There are no pets allowed on school grounds and although this little one would fit in your backpack, like I do with my friends…” She unzipped her backpack and Joe had to suppress a strong urge to bark as a cat jumped out almost within sniffing range. “I’m not sure what you could do with your other dog.” “Thanks,” Twilight Sparkle said as Fluttershy gathered her friends back into concealment. Then after giving directions to the Principal’s office this version of their friend hurried away and they had some privacy. So Joe and Spike could let Twilight Sparkle know exactly what they were saying by saying it. “That was strange,” commented Joe, then he looked at Twilight Sparkle. “Are you really this young?” “I’m not sure what you mean,” Twilight Sparkle admitted. “I’d thought you’d gone through this stage of education, and the next for a degree, and though you were still a student you were more like a post-grad student working on an advanced degree…” Joe stopped and shook his head. “Never mind.” “We’ve seen a lot of familiar faces,” commented Spike, more to the point, “so if there are also ones that look like our other friends that might be why they couldn’t come…” “It would have been strange for Fluttershy to meet Fluttershy,” Joe agreed. “Might be the balance Princess Celestia mentioned, though I think it would need to be two Pinkie Pies meeting for it to be havoc. Interesting that it is safe for you two and that the human looking Sunset Shimmer seems the same as the Pony.” “She, and we, might have parallels, but them be elsewhere on this world,” suggested Twilight Sparkle. “And, as you’re not from Equestria, if this world is parallel to it then there might not be a parallel of you here at all.” “Ah, sadly unique in two worlds rather than generic,” Joe sighed. “Still Fluttershy was right on both counts. Spike would fit in that backpack, so he can stay with you, and I definitely would not, so more of a risk. Good job Spike came.” “If I am going to see the head of this school then too much of a risk,” nodded Twilight Sparkle. “Agreed.” “So where will you go?” “I noticed some bushes near the main entrance, either side of the stairs,” Joe suggested. “I should be able to hide in them. I’ll say the left side.” “Right.” == Twilight Sparkle followed the directions and found Principal Celestia seemed as similarly physically to her mentor as the other human versions of Ponyfolk. That she was only the head of a school rather than a country did suggest she might not be a Goddess of the Sun though. Twilight Sparkle remembered Joe talking of the bizarre way things worked on his world and this world might be similar to his in that respect. As she spoke to this world’s Celestia, and saw the pictures on the wall of a triumphant Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle realised why Fluttershy had said the crown wasn’t Sunset Shimmer’s yet. It seemed that through good planning or yet another bizarre coincidence the crown that would be given at this school’s Fall Formal dance looked identical to the one created by the reshaping of the Element of Magic. That crown was the one Sunset Shimmer had left and was what Fluttershy had assumed the Element of Magic to be, hence ‘returning’ it to Principal Celestia. Trying to convince this Principal Celestia that the crown she had was a magical artefact from another world seemed impossible so instead Twilight Sparkle asked about the Fall Formal and how you would go about running for Princess of it. She did wonder though whether if they’d brought the crown that belonged here and Joe had not been turned into a dog if he’d have been able to at least convince this Celestia that they had each other’s. As identical as they looked there were differences in how they were made… Thanking Principal Celestia for her time, and ignoring how soon the door slammed behind her after being assured the Principal’s door was always open, Twilight Sparkle hurried away a short distance before she let herself giggle. Spike poked his head out of the backpack at this reassuringly normal sound. “Twilight?” “Sorry, I was just imagining if we had managed to swap the crowns back.” “I don’t get it.” “There would be Sunset Shimmer, she’s stolen the Element of Magic and lost it, she’s had to win the title to try to regain it…” “Oh!” Spike said, getting it. “And they give her the crown, she takes it, and she realises it’s the wrong one.” “Technically the right one,” smiled Twilight Sparkle, “as it is the one the people here intended her to gain.” “Is that why you didn’t ask for the crown back?” Spike asked. “Because they think yours is theirs?” “Can you imagine how insane the truth would sound?” “Yeah,” Spike agreed. “Though that still leaves you the problem of winning your Crown back…” Twilight Sparkle sighed and remembered the pictures of Sunset Shimmer’s previous victories, and how little she knew about this world. “There is that.” == Joe had managed to reach the safety of the bushes, thankfully the corridors were almost empty while classes were in session and he’d found a door that had been left propped open. Now to his disgust with himself he was brooding. Though it was something better thought through while he had the time. When they arrived he’d thought Twilight Sparkle had looked young, as well as faintly purple. If she was that age rather than an extra layer of disguise then she was younger than he thought. Unfortunately, with how smart she was, Joe realised she could even be this young and working on an advanced degree. There seemed argument and counter-arguments and the folk here simply being younger and at an earlier stage of their lives seemed the most likely. Or perhaps they were the same age and Ponies just matured faster, Joe knew humans had a very long adolescence. Or they were the same age and didn’t mature any faster but they just got on with things sooner. Whatever the truth it didn’t seem there were any concerns back in Equestria about whatever the age gap between him and Rainbow Dash was so it didn’t seem worth worrying about. But he’d nothing better to do so he supposed he might as well. Felt a reassuringly normal thing to worry about the first two words of ‘dirty old man’ rather than the last one. Though at the moment he might be an old dog. == If she was going to win Princess of the Fall Formal then she needed to know more than the bare minimum that it existed. Since Twilight Sparkle had only met one person here in a friendly manner… two including Principal Celestia or three including that handsome… Her thoughts skidded to a stop. ‘Handsome’? He was a human. But then again so was she now, so it seemed being the same shape as someone did give a different perspective. For a moment Twilight Sparkle considered Joe with this new perspective and decided that he didn’t have the same charm, but he was better than average thanks to all the magical assistance he’d been given with his physique. Actually, she admitted to herself as she looked around, with the self-confidence he’d gained or regained over the last few weeks added to the physical improvements he was quite a lot better than average compared with these students. Though still nowhere near as charming as the one who’d helped her up. “Er, Twilight,” Spike said quietly from her backpack into her ear. “Over there?” “Thanks Spike,” replied Twilight Sparkle. Before she had distracted herself she’d been thinking her only source of information would be this world’s Fluttershy and, as she and Sunset Shimmer had been arguing, it seemed fair to assume she’d be willing to contribute to Sunset Shimmer’s defeat. Trailing Fluttershy they entered the cafeteria and as Fluttershy selected different things from the counter Twilight Sparkle selected the same things. She remembered the warning from Joe but this Fluttershy had the same love of animals as the one she knew in Equestria so surely she was vegetarian? Twilight Sparkle blinked as an apple was placed on her tray and she recognised the counterpart to Granny Smith. Then she followed Fluttershy to a table and continued the conversation she’d struck up while they were getting their food. For a moment Twilight Sparkle’s neck tensed as she prepared to chomp down at the very tasty looking apple but then she thought of how much Joe used his hands. That pause was enough to let her notice how Fluttershy was holding an eating implement in one hand to transfer food from bowl to mouth, rather than bringing her mouth to the bowl. There were also a lot of ponies who’d use the magic on their hooves to pick up an apple, even if that risked dirt as they’d been walking on that same hoof. So using her hand that she had not been walking on for that same task seemed fair. Twilight Sparkle gripped the apple, lifted it, and took a bite. Then she nodded as this was better than she’d intended, much easier to angle an apple in your grip then try to angle your head around it, and it was interesting how much range of motion she had in her wrist and hand. Dismissing comparative biology for now Twilight Sparkle returned to learning more about the Fall Formal. She was not surprised when Fluttershy said Pinkie Pie was organising this ‘party’ but was very surprised when a warning followed rather than the two of them being friends. == It seemed like it was lunchtime from the position of the sun and from the feeling in his belly, especially since breakfast time had been spent trying to nap on a train on another world. Joe had been having a peaceful time of it, staying in the bush mostly and trying to look like someone owned him, rather than being a stray, when he wasn’t. But now he was wondering what to eat and realising he did have more doggy instincts than just ‘growl at rude person’. There was a flicker of grey and Joe’s eyes and head followed it, hindquarters tensing before his human intellect decided that was too far enough away to be able to reach and his human appetites declining to attempt that snack. It seemed there were problems with simply reclaiming the Crown so he might need to eat and the longer he stayed a dog and the hungrier he got… another flicker of grey and another tensing… the more tempting those Squirrels were looking. Joe settled his head on his paws, closed his eyes, and tried to ignore squirrels and mild hunger. == To Twilight Sparkle’s surprise when she found Pinkie Pie putting up decorations in the school Gym she was asked if she had a twin sister who lived in town and who had a dog just like Spike. It seemed the question of if there was a counterpart to her here had been answered. As expected from Fluttershy’s attitude when directing her here Pinkie Pie seemed to think equally little of her in return, though how Fluttershy could seem so similar and yet be described by any Pinkie Pie as a meanie was baffling. As she explained why she was there Pinkie Pie produced a clipboard with a sign-up sheet and Twilight Sparkle briefly froze. She didn’t have her magic so how would she grip a pen… oh, right. She had hands so she’d do it the same way as she had seen Joe jotting his notes on Zecora’s lists, and in the process find that he had the purest calligraphy compared with what she managed. But, as much as Pinkie Pie marvelled at how bad it was, it seemed to suffice. This world’s Applejack arrived with fizzy apple cider and more being carried by her Big Macintosh. After what she’d seen and some of the comments Joe had made it was a surprise to Twilight Sparkle that the latter didn’t look like he was suffering from a permanent case of sunburn and more resemble his Equestria counterpart. When Pinkie Pie mentioned Twilight Sparkle was running for Fall Formal Princess this produced a truly impressive spit take from Applejack and then warnings about how much backstabbing there would be if Twilight Sparkle ran. Then to Twilight Sparkle’s huge surprise after warning her of how bad Sunset Shimmer was Applejack emphasised this by saying about the only girl you could trust less was Rainbow Dash. She’d been able to understand how Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy might not have become friends as they were so dissimilar but finding the same was true of Applejack and Rainbow Dash was more of a shock. Unless, perhaps, one of their competitions had gone bad? The ones in Ponyville had come close to falling out over the Iron Pony contest and subsequent Running of the Leaves so there was that chance. == One of Joe’s ears twitched and then the other and then both at once. He’d been able to hear so much around him and had gained a deeper understanding of why having a dog to listen for trouble had been, and still was, such a priority for humans. But the downside was that he didn’t have the practice at ignoring irrelevant noises, and the problem was that this noise did not seem irrelevant to his instincts. It was faint but he thought he could hear a ball and now he had he couldn’t stop hearing it. Ignoring Squirrels and going back to sleep was hard enough without this extra distraction so Joe decided he wouldn’t be able to rest until he’d at least found out what sort of ball it was and what was going on. Taking a quick look around for anyone he’d not seen, and a quick instinctive sniff for any nearby threats, Joe slipped out from under the bush and began padding around the side of the main building to investigate. == It felt like someone was following her so to indulge the sense of melodramatics of whoever it was Twilight Sparkle turned into a short section of lockers. One had been left open and the light, however that was produced, in that dead end was flickering and dim. It was no surprise when she heard a familiar voice and found Sunset Shimmer had arrived. After facing the mockery of Discord the efforts of Princess Celestia’s former student failed to impress or intimidate Twilight Sparkle, but the longer this idiot spoke the more information she might let slip. Twilight Sparkle silently agreed when Sunset Shimmer said she should have known Princess Celestia would send her prize student. Then when Sunset Shimmer mocked that Twilight Sparkle didn’t know the first thing about this place but she already ruled it Twilight Sparkle wondered what sort of ruler would flee back through a portal and have nobody to keep watch on it against pursuit. Though, of course, that came back to it having been a surprise that when you invaded a castle and stole a magical artefact that was also a royal crown you should have known the owner of that crown would be sent after it. From what Sunset Shimmer said by asking Twilight Sparkle what happened when you brought an Element of Harmony into an alternate world and then mocking her that she didn’t know it did seem there was a wider and significant plan. Twilight Sparkle considered throwing a rock with a note wrapped around it back through the portal, since inanimate objects like the crown seemed to be able to pass through it alone, or indeed simply returning to Equestria to do some research and sleep there overnight. But now Sunset Shimmer had belatedly realised actions had at least the consequence of pursuit it seemed better to avoid the portal and avoid tempting her into attempting ambush or sabotage on return, especially if she would pass out again. Twilight Sparkle wondered if that was why Joe was here, a dog guarding this side of the portal might be less obvious and could keep watch from a greater distance with its nose and ears. But that consideration was interrupted as Sunset Shimmer wrapped up her villainous rant with the usual sort of threats, these being directed towards Spike and about how he and Twilight Sparkle would not want people to know they didn’t belong here. == Joe let out a joyous bark as he sprang forward again. It was fortunate that the doggy instincts and the desire to speak were so opposed or he wasn’t sure that he’d have avoided saying ‘ball!’. He did prefer Rugby to Association but he admitted that the lack of hands in his present form would hamper him more in playing the former. With a round ball he was managing and after dribbling it a short way against the top of his muzzle he flipped it up and then sprang to meet it with as much forehead as a dog skull provided. Ball coming down and Joe going up hit each other and he headed it back across the field to its owner, who seemed to be getting happier at sharing her practice now she knew this dog wasn’t going to bite or drool on her ball or on her. With a quick flick of her foot she trapped the incoming ball and did a few tricks before sending it into a blur and into the nearest goal. “Wuff!” said Joe in appreciation of the skill of this world’s Rainbow Dash. Though this had been surprising. He was watching a pretty girl performing feats of athletic excellence. One who had let him see his vision of what ‘his’ Rainbow Dash would look like as a human had been quite accurate, and the differences might be down to the possible difference in age. So even if the ball was a great distraction, and he was a dog at the moment, it had seemed like he should care more. That he should have at least wished for an instant that this had been ‘his’ Rainbow Dash and he’d been in his normal human form, rather than noting she was as pretty as he’d expected and then nothing else. == Princess Celestia had said that soon she would know more about this place than even she did, but Twilight Sparkle thought it would have been nice if her mentor had known enough to supply some of the local coins. She’d been about to kick a hole in the glass of one when ‘the great and powerful’ Trixie arrived, put a coin in the slot, and got herself some peanut butter crackers. It seemed she needed to do some research so Twilight Sparkle headed to the library. “Erm, Twilight,” Spike muttered from her backpack. “Before we get to answering questions that way perhaps we should talk to Joe?” “Why,” asked Twilight Sparkle, still annoyed at how close she had come to the mistake and of owing any version of Trixie any gratitude. “He didn’t bother to warn us what those glass fronted cabinets were.” “You know that’s unfair,” Spike replied, “he doesn’t know what it is that you don’t know, and you know that if you’d asked he’d have explained and probably added some anecdote or comment.” Twilight Sparkle sighed and then did the inhale and exhale that Princess Cadance had taught her. The annoyance left her and she nodded. It had made more sense to find out as much as she could and then discuss it with Joe, but she was falling back into old habits. Meeting the counterparts of her friends had reminded her the others were back in Equestria. So it had felt like it was just her and Spike in this world, like it had been in Canterlot, and there she’d have buried herself in the library until she understood the problem. But it wasn’t just her and Spike. Joe was here as well and, even if she’d have preferred Rarity and her skill with social occasions, she did have a friend here to help rather than ‘just’ her beloved number one assistant. She turned towards the front of the building and went out onto the main steps. There didn’t look to be anyone around so she looked down into the bush. “Joe,” Twilight Sparkle hissed, glancing around again. There was no response so she wondered if he’d meant the left side as you entered or the left side as you came out. “Joe!” “Hang on,” said Spike, climbing out of her backpack onto her shoulder. Twilight Sparkle reached up and popped him on the flat at the top of the stairs, and he trotted down the stairs and around. The bush rustled as he vanished into it and for a moment until he emerged and shook his head. Trotting back around and up he let Twilight Sparkle pick him up and put him where he could squirm back into her backpack before he stuck his head out and spoke again. “Smells like he was there, my sense of smell is better though I’m not sure it’s amazing…” “So that is the right bush,” Twilight Sparkle nodded, “and maybe Dragons have a better sense of smell than humans if being a dog is not so much improvement.” “Maybe, but his hearing doesn’t seem that bad normally and he also thought that was amazing now, and I’m not having any problem seeing colours.” “Right,” Twilight Sparkle nodded again, turning to re-enter the school. “So could be his ‘normal’ senses, or could be yours haven’t been affected as much.” This was interesting but the concern was the Fall Formal and to learn about this world and its history and customs. Unlike Joe when he arrived in Equestria and went through immigration she only had days and didn’t have the advantage of being able to take classes on that. It was only a mild surprise when they entered the library and Twilight Sparkle realised, in part from the floral skirt, that the teacher there was Cheerilee. She’d seen this human while looking through windows in doors but hadn’t paid much attention to her rather than the scene in general. A far greater surprise was the strange things on the central table. They had what looked like a picture frame and in front of that was a box with many tiny buttons, almost like… “Oh,” Twilight Sparkle breathed. It looked like a typewriter keyboard but divided into more parts. She glanced at one hand. Like their hands were divided into more parts than a hoof. Settling herself down she examined the frame and the suspected keyboard and as she did, and talked to herself a little, Cheerilee came over and began to get her started. Though the lesson was very brief as a very familiar tune came from the other side of the table and Twilight Sparkle realised these things could make music as well as pictures. The local Cutie Mark Crusaders were told they should only use these for school related manners and dashed off before Twilight Sparkle could give them the same advice as she had the Equestria versions about comedy. Then Twilight Sparkle set to work. She didn’t type much back in Equestria, but it could be simpler to hold the papers in your magic and type with your hooves rather than trying to move the typewriter keys with your magic as well. Though it was a good test to be able to do two such different things with your magic at the same time. Briefly she clenched her hands to the right size for Equestria keys and tried a few keystrokes before remembering what she’d thought about the keyboards and hands being divided into more parts. Remembering how Joe pointed at things Twilight Sparkle tried extending one finger on each hand and found that did work better. Then it worked better still as she thought about, what had Joe called those, her thumbs and realised that those were over the spacebar if she was prodding keys with those two fingers. It was still a relief, however, to take a break from this strange typing and get back to books that, thankfully, did seem the same here. Unfortunately so did Spike’s tendency to drop them and denied her first reaction to catch them with her magic Twilight Sparkle reverted to her second and picked one up with her mouth before she remembered avoiding that mistake in the cafeteria and the gym and hurriedly grabbed it with a hand instead. As students came in and out of the library she noticed them putting things on a white box and taking paper away that emerged from the side of it. Investigating this she dazzled herself and fell backwards, but when she returned she tried it with the lid down. Some light emerged from under the lid and a plain white piece of paper was dispensed, but this seemed too complex for a mere dispenser. Picking up that plain sheet Twilight Sparkle noticed the other had been marked in some way and, lifting and lowering the lid, tried putting that so the light would pass over it. Then she nodded as another sheet of paper came out and this one had been marked in the same way… “Er, Twilight,” Spike said, hesitantly. “Yes Spike?” “I’m glad you’re figuring things out, and Cheerilee might have objected to him, but er… Joe.” “What about him?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “We have been in here a while, and if you’d pointed at things and asked him he might have been able to tell you what they were.” “I’m not so sure Spike, you’ve seen his hut and how simply he lives. I think he’d be more baffled than we are.” “Maybe,” Spike said, looking dubious. “Still, we’ll look for him again once we’ve gone through these books and put them away.” == Joe blinked as he woke up. His mouth felt like… his mouth felt like it was full of dog teeth, and glancing down he saw a paw. So that much wasn’t a dream and he was in a bush on a different world to the one he’d been born on or the one he’d grown accustomed to. He’d played ball longer than he’d intended, especially since he’d not intended to play it at all, but it looked like the hour was getting late. Twilight Sparkle and Spike should have returned before now so it seemed he’d missed them while he was gone. It was a risk as there were still people around but as it had been his fault they’d missed him Joe decided to go inside and search. There seemed one obvious place to check, and where he knew you could lose track of time, so Joe decided to begin with the library. He thought he heard paired footsteps as he reached a corner so he paused for those to fade and nodded to himself as he got a whiff of fresh scent To his lack of surprise he found the other two surrounded by books and notes in an appallingly bad scrawl. They seemed to be alone so Joe risked speech. “I suppose having to use a hand rather than magic is a better excuse for bad handwriting than being more used to typing,” Joe said, by way of greeting, “though it has been suggested teaching cursive is a waste of time with how little people write longhand rather than use a computer.” Twilight Sparkle blinked and tried to ignore Spike’s look of victory. “You know what those are?” “Of course.” “Joe, do your people have magic?” asked Twilight Sparkle. “No, we have semi-conductors,” Joe said, looking puzzled. “Should be some books on the history of computing around here that could explain it better than me though, I’m a little vague on the gap between basic theory and how the ones I’ve used work.” He looked around. “Maybe this is why I’m a dog…” “Come again?” asked Spike. “Make it harder for me to seek out the nearest public library and try to memorise everything like Twilight has in Ponyville. Still, how has the day gone?” “We saw some glass fronted cabinets,” said Spike, testing Joe, “which you could put coins into to get things out of.” “You mean vending machines?” “How long have humans had those?” asked Spike, waiting for the explanation and anecdote. “Modern ones a century, century and a half… not sure,” Joe ‘explained’ before adding the anecdote. “Archaeologists and historians did find the first one was a couple of millennia ago, weight of the coin dispensed some water and, as they found an improved one also dispensed some soap, seems was for washing.” Spike looked at Twilight Sparkle who nodded. “You’ve made your point, Spike.” “Point?” Joe asked. “Never mind,” smiled Twilight Sparkle, looking and feeling rather embarrassed. If Princess Celestia had thought Joe had knowledge, and Spike was saying he thought Joe would know things, then she should trust them. It just didn’t fit with her image of Joe working Sweet Apple Acres or roaming the Everfree, spear in hand. Though maybe it did with the discussion of cosmology, even if he had been vague in places and just plain wrong by Equestria standards. Joe looked at her for a moment and then gave a dog shrug. “Looks like you have done a lot of research.” “Been working hard,” Twilight Sparkle agreed, “and we did check outside, and were going to again, so where were you?” “Doggy instincts, I was trying to nap and ignore the urge to chase Squirrels when I heard a ball and had to investigate.” Joe shook his head. “Seems either my mind has been altered or I was right to think it would be affected by my body.” “I still feel the same,” Twilight Sparkle frowned, ignoring the small voice that added ‘aside from thinking that handsome boy was handsome’. “Hmm,” nodded Joe. “Maybe humans are more similar to Equestria Ponies than dogs after all.” He decided to not add the thought that maybe Princess Celestia had thought it worth shielding her student against being affected by the change in form so she would not be distracted, but not worth shielding him. “But sorry I was away from the bush for so long.” “And sorry we didn’t check again sooner,” Twilight Sparkle replied, “but we got going and…” “I know, easily done. Pick up a book and suddenly it’s morning.” Twilight Sparkle looked embarrassed again. “I’m not being very nice to you, am I?” “How do you mean?” Joe asked. He’d have appreciated them checking again sooner but he’d done worse things. Though on reflection maybe he hadn’t… “You come along to help, and I leave you in a bush,” Twilight Sparkle smiled apologetically. “Well, you can’t give me credit for coming along, that was an order from Princess Celestia,” admitted Joe. “But apology accepted, and I hope you’ll accept mine in return for the concern I caused.” “Concern?” Twilight Sparkle blinked. Joe blinked back. He’d been thinking of how late he’d sometimes been when he lost track of time in a library, but the thought had occurred was that he was a dog. So there was a difference between them not checking on him sooner and him being that late getting to someone’s home or a pub. The people he was meeting would be safe and comfortable and, even if he’d his mobile phone switched off, it would take longer than that before they had to worry about him. But he’d expected some concern here that doggy him had been found and taken to the local pound or the animal shelter Fluttershy had mentioned. If nothing else it might have been difficult for an apparent high schooler to reclaim her dog when she had no contact details and no money to pay the fine. So discounting any concern for him personally there might have been concern for how that would affect their task. “Look, I know I am pretty self-sufficient,” Joe said, sounding weary, “I proved that in my months in a hut and proved it when I left rather than let you and Zecora take me to the Ponyville hospital, and I am glad neither of you came and bothered me about that decision. It would be nice sometimes though, now we have become friends, to think you had wondered if I was okay before deciding I was.” “We’d have been worried if you were missing in the Everfree, or somewhere dangerous…” began Spike. “Ah, right,” Joe interrupted. Realising this was not so much lack of concern as they were judging things by Equestria standards. “Well, you didn’t know what had happened to me, so you might have been worried,” he continued, not realising how dubious he sounded that they would. “And if I had been taken away by an animal control officer it would have been harder for you to get me back than if we were in Ponyville and you just had to visit Fluttershy’s cottage.” “Oh, sorry,” blushed Twilight Sparkle, noting his tone. “I hadn’t realised you’d be in more danger here, so I wasn’t worried as I didn’t know I should be.” “Hrm,” Joe growled, managing to not make it too literal, “I suppose that’s the sort of thing I’m supposed to be warning you of. But it could have been awkward, and worth concern, so I apologise even if none was felt. And I’ll also say that if I am not at the front doors I might be at the sports field or possibly outside the cafeteria doing some scavenging. Though Squirrel might be tastier than the last option there.” Spike noted that Joe’s temptation to chase Squirrels seemed to be for more than fun, but decided to not tease him as he also noted that Joe’s hackles had gone up a little along with the fur along the back of his neck. He remembered when Joe had thought he was lying to him about near the Diamond Dogs having been the only place for gems and knew his friend did have a temper, which the growl at this world’s Diamond Tiara might show was less under control. “Oh! Sorry again, here,” smiled Twilight Sparkle, reaching into her backpack for a literal doggy bag. When she tore the paper of the bag open to lay it flat on the library floor Joe gave it a dubious look. It was cold, it was congealed, and it looked as if it had been rather squashed. Probably by a purple dog arse. But as dubious as it looked it smelt wonderful to a doggy nose. “Thank you,” Joe said. An instant later and the food was gone and a comment that though he’d just broken his streak of vegetarianism at least it wasn’t his own kill hung on Joe’s lips. Then he thought and looked to Spike. “Aruoufffff… ru… aruff? * Does she know this is… was… meat? *” “Arrr! Rworffff! * No! She got the same things as Fluttershy! *” replied Spike. “Pardon?” Twilight Sparkle frowned. “Er…” said Joe, looking to her and back to Spike. “Twilight,” Spike began, “please don’t feel too ill, but…” “That was meat, wasn’t it?” sighed Twilight Sparkle. “Yes,” Joe nodded. “Okay, as long as you don’t tell me what from I should be able to keep it down,” nodded Twilight Sparkle, her skin attaining a faint tinge of green to add to the usual purple. “And I’ll be more careful tomorrow.” “Learned anything useful?” Joe asked, unable in his mood to stop himself from adding. “Other than Fluttershy here isn’t vegetarian?” “Urp,” said Twilight Sparkle. She gave Joe an unamused look and then began to explain. Joe nodded to the news of the comment about a twin sister with dog like Spike and that he and Twilight Sparkle might have counterparts here. He had to agree that they would have to work within the system with the logic Twilight Sparkle had followed, though he also had to admit that what he knew about high school politics was minimal. As Spike excused himself Joe explained that this wasn’t his country, or even a close parallel to it, and it had been long enough since he was at the equivalent stage of his education that he’d be a teacher here rather than a student. So his memory of even his country’s schools was not that fresh. Twilight Sparkle nodded to this as she realised why Joe had been asking if she was as young as she looked here, especially as Joe made a suggestion that her apparent age had been reduced and commented that he might be less obtrusive as a dog than a man of his age. If he was that old and thought she, and more importantly one of her friends, was older and closer in age to him then he might have some worries. As if he didn’t have enough worries already. Spike returned and they put the books away before following him upstairs to find he’d been busy making a dusty looking bed out of books in a secluded portion of the library. Joe had some doubts about this but it seemed better to remain in the library as it closed than try to smuggle mats from the Gym for extra comfort. There they looked at a yearbook and pictures of even younger looking counterparts of their friends. Spike seemed especially interested in the idea of another Rarity from the way his tail began wagging. Twilight Sparkle was just glad that she hadn’t voiced her thought about her being the difference in them making friends. It seemed from the picture they had become friends without her, though not maintained it. When she blamed Sunset Shimmer for this and Spike agreed Joe wondered what he was missing. They seemed to think she’d have good reason, other than being a dreadful brat, but… something about how the school was split into factions. Joe’s vague thoughts were interrupted as Spike pointed out that Sunset Shimmer wanted the crown for something even worse, so they had to worry about that and the competition rather than how these reminded them of their Ponyville friends. This led them to recount the threat and taunts of Sunset Shimmer’s rant. “You are doing very well,” Joe reassured Twilight Sparkle, abandoning the effort to figure out what he was missing, “I remember I didn’t meet anypony’s eye for weeks after I was brought to Equestria.” “You were worse than Fluttershy,” commented Spike. “You were standing out more,” Twilight Sparkle reassured Joe, appreciating the effort, “and it had been a surprise for you.” “Maybe so,” nodded Joe, hoping he’d not been sent here so Twilight Sparkle had a reminder of an example of what not to do, “but it shows your steel that you are keeping your chin up, meeting people, and even running as a pageant princess.” “And she didn’t freak out when she heard the Cutie Mark Crusaders here playing the same music,” Spike added, trying to keep the lighter mood going. “This seems a lot stranger for her than anything was for me,” nodded Joe again. “So many personal parallels.” “I wonder how tomorrow will go,” Twilight Sparkle said sleepily, lying back on her book bed. Spike hauled up the covers he’d found somewhere and then hopped up to settle near his ‘big sister’ while Joe settled down on the floor. There was a lot of reading he wanted to do but first he had to wait for the other two to fall asleep. Wait just a few moments longer. Not so easy to tell if they are asleep as with Rainbow Dash. So wait a few moments longer. A few moments. A few. A second variety of dog snores was added to the first and whatever noises a transformed Alicorn Pony Princess made.