The night had passed without them being discovered and Twilight Sparkle had made a quick trip to and from the nearest ladies loo to freshen up a little. They had agreed that if Sunset Shimmer knew Joe was here then she’d have made some sort of threat to or taunt about him. Joe had commented that even if she did know he was here she’d probably be expecting him as he normally looked so it was unlikely she’d connect him and a black dog being seen. It was not clear what advantage there’d be in Joe being kept a surprise but now Twilight Sparkle knew there was a danger in Joe being in the bushes and they had found the library was a good place to lair she had ‘suggested’ he remained here.
It had been quite a productive morning as students came in and out and Twilight Sparkle tried to not make it too obvious that she was only working in the library rather than attending classes. Fortunately nobody challenged her as she made her quick trips down into the main part of the library to snag a book and retreat to where her number one assistant and number three temporary assistant could help. Joe had managed to make a few useful suggestions and the list of talking points Twilight Sparkle was working on had grown to quite impressive lengths. He and Spike drilled her on these and made sure they included cultural references, though Joe had to suppress a wince. Something about humans exchanging catchphrases triggered a memory he couldn’t quite get back and he had the feeling it was part of one of the dreams Princess Luna had examined.
All this work done it was nearly lunchtime and Twilight Sparkle’s chance to put some of this into practice. Joe agreed to stay in the library as he could not be any help with this part of things, and was quite pleased at this as he’d not managed to get his reading done the previous night.
Unfortunately as Twilight Sparkle emerged into the hall with Spike, and before she could say anything, they noticed how people were looking at her funny. Beginning to doubt her own plan Twilight Sparkle continued down the hall towards the cafeteria until she was suddenly dragged into a side room and Spike got to finally see what this world’s Rarity looked like at the same age as the others. Ignoring Twilight Sparkle’s protests Rarity quickly checked her measurements and then swept a disguise onto her before attending to the far more important matter, as far as he was concerned, of calling Spike adorable.
That had more effect on him than the disguise had on Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy when they arrived and recognised Twilight Sparkle immediately. A little sniping by Rarity at Pinkie Pie about her not appreciating her efforts later and the girls realised that Twilight Sparkle had no idea why people had been looking at her strangely. So with Pinkie Pie’s laptop they showed her and she saw all the mistakes she’d made in the library yesterday had been recorded and edited together for everyone in the school to see.
==
Joe had a problem. He was sure he could pull a book down but he didn’t want to damage them with his teeth and claws or with the drop onto the floor, and was worried the thud might draw attention. Spike managing to get all those books together and arrange them into a bed had been a surprise to him last night but as Joe struggled with his lack of hands it was becoming a mystery. This was so frustrating the computers on the lower floor were becoming tempting. His eyes were not so good for seeing the colours on the screens and he wasn’t sure if he could type with paws but he was beginning to feel like trying.
Sitting up a little Joe tried tapping his forepaws down in a test. It felt like if he angled them right then he could catch a key with just one claw and only catch that key. He’d be reassured by memories of Skippy the Kangaroo and all the things he’d done with his paws if he’d not seen a documentary about that series and not known it was a taxidermied Kangaroo arm rather than a well trained Kangaroo and the benefit of many takes.
Returning to all fours, which was feeling more natural, Joe padded across to look down at the computers. While classes were in session some students might be sent here for study sessions… maybe… he really was not sure. There had been a few in and out at least. But would it be safer or more dangerous at lunchtime to venture down onto the main floor? None would be being sent here but some students might prefer to spend lunchtime here in peace and quiet. With a nod to himself Joe decided that with his doggy sense of hearing he’d be able to hear anyone coming.
And he still remembered how sceptical Twilight Sparkle had looked while he was talking about Tanks and if this world had a particular heavy metal band and video for one song he could show her. Though maybe that would not be so wise, it was a rather triumphant song and possibly a good example of something he’d share with ‘his’ Rainbow Dash rather than anypony else. And he wasn’t even sure he’d share it with her, lines like ‘rivers of blood in our treads’ might make her wince like she had in their chat about humans versus Griffons.
==
Spike retreated into Twilight Sparkle’s backpack as the arguing went on. It had seemed to be going well as these versions of their friends rallied around Twilight Sparkle, but then Fluttershy had accused Pinkie Pie of not taking anything seriously and Rarity had added that Pinkie Pie was no better than Fluttershy. Now Applejack had joined the bickering from the teacher’s table she was sitting on and they were arguing how Rainbow Dash had promised the softball team would make an appearance at a bake sale, and had made Applejack a liar when none showed. Applejack hadn’t taken kindly to that and wasn’t taking kindly to the suggestion that this wasn’t different than the problems the others had with each other.
Twilight Sparkle sat in the middle of all this and asked them to stop. Seeing a chance to be helpful and make more room in the backpack for him to keep hiding Spike passed up the yearbook with the sort of manual dexterity of his paw that Joe had found he lacked. Twilight Sparkle showed them the picture of them as friends and suggested it was Sunset Shimmer that had separated them. To her, and Spike’s surprise, Rarity immediately scorned this as a ‘nice theory’ and Fluttershy said it was Pinkie Pie that had ruined a silent auction for an animal shelter with fireworks and noisemakers.
This brought an immediate protest from Pinkie Pie and as they talked they began wondering who had sent a text saying Fluttershy wanted a big party. Or who was e-mailing Rarity to say Pinkie Pie had plenty of volunteers, only for Rarity to take that as scornful rejection when she found Pinkie Pie was having to do everything herself. Applejack then wondered if this could be why Rainbow Dash hadn’t shown up, and sheepishly admitted she’d never asked her as she’d stopped talking to her after that.
==
Cheerilee turned her head as she got close enough to the library to faintly hear some music coming from it. She’d chided the girls yesterday for watching their own song so, even if it was lunchtime, she could hardly treat whoever this was differently. Especially since heavy metal was even less appropriate for a school library. Wanting to catch the culprit in the act Cheerilee crept forward and eased the library door open, drawing in a breath to tell the student off. Then she saw a dog, and it was nodding along to something, and it was singing… with words… Cheerilee released her breath in a gasp and the dog looked at her with a remarkably guilty expression.
As she watched, and approached, the dog turned back to the screen and donked at the mouse with one paw to send the cursor to the upper right of the screen and then tapped that paw down, carefully hitting with one claw on the button, to click the mouse and close the window. Silence returned to the library as the dog turned towards her again. They stared at each other for a moment.
“Err…” Joe said, he’d decided against the one song but after the talk with the Cutie Mark Crusaders in Ponyville he’d been unable to resist another. He might never be an ace, he didn’t want to shoot five things down, but he might be considered in exile. “You are hallucinating.”
Cheerilee blinked at him.
“Yes,” Joe continued, giving a nod, “working far too hard obviously, after all there is no such thing as a talking dog. Especially not one that can use a computer, so… ah… my warning about overwork given I shall now return to… erm… the realm of the imagination from whence I came... Farewell!”
With that he jumped down from the chair and buggered off with all due speed. There were too many students towards the front doors so he turned away from those, and then turned again, trying to keep his speed low and casual and forcing a benign doggy grin. Another turn and another and he was heading the right way after going the wrong way at first. And ahead of him the doors were open and he could hear… involuntarily his steps sped up.
==
Applejack had decided that if something strange had been going on with the others it would be best to swallow her pride and talk to Rainbow Dash. But better still to have some moral support so the others had gone with her to the sports field. When they said that was where Rainbow Dash could almost invariably be found this gave Twilight Sparkle a horrible suspicion. Then as they came into sight she saw she had been correct. Rainbow Dash kicked the ball, it streaked towards the small goal, and a black mutt acting as goalkeeper dove to one side and managed to deflect it with his forepaws.
“Joe!” Twilight Sparkle screeched.
“Aruff? * What? *” asked Joe. That reaction seemed a bit extreme, he’d said one place he might be was here, so how she’d react when he admitted why he’d had to leave the library barely bore thinking about.
“This totally awesome dog is yours?” Rainbow Dash called, jogging over to where the ball had stopped and flipping it up with one flick of her foot to catch it and cradle it in her arm. Then as she started to approach Twilight Sparkle and the others, Joe padding behind her, she paused and frowned at Applejack. “What is she doing here?”
“Ah, we need ta talk…” replied Applejack, moving to meet her.
Joe continued past them as they started to talk and seeing that Twilight Sparkle was glaring at him he tried puppy eyes. Those having little effect he just went and sat next to Spike, who was a better friend anyway… even when not inexplicably angry. Or maybe not completely inexplicably, as much as Twilight Sparkle was allowed to go and talk to the counterparts of all their friends perhaps she thought he was not allowed to play football against the counterpart of his marefriend. Joe tried to focus on the positive that Twilight Sparkle was concerned for Rainbow Dash, perhaps both versions, but it was hard to not feel insulted at this apparent mistrust.
“Arufff… rrr? * Heard a ball... again? *” Spike asked.
“Arrryurp… rhurrr… rhowlrrrrr. * Got seen by the local Cheerilee... bluffed I was a hallucination... she caught me using one of the computers. *”
“Arraarrr! * Whoa! *”
“Gru, rummrumm? * Though, I thought you were going to focus on votes rather than helping these five? *” Joe asked.
“Rumrum. * Been some trouble. *,” nodded Spike.
“Arufrrr, Rurafrr… * It’s good to see them together, and this might be better anyway… *”
“Rhurur? * Better? *” Spike asked.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash hugged as they finished talking, then they returned. Applejack explained that someone had told Rainbow Dash the bake sale was on a different day and so when she showed up with the entire softball team she’d thought Applejack had cancelled on her. Looking at Twilight Sparkle a challenging light came into Rainbow Dash’s eyes and she said she’d help out if Twilight Sparkle won a game of 1-on-1, the first to five goals. This challenge reluctantly accepted it went almost at once to three-nil in Rainbow Dash’s favour. A goal at once, another when Twilight Sparkle ducked, and a third when she dropped the ball at Twilight Sparkle’s feet for a kick off, and then took it and flicked it up behind her own body over both their heads into the goal.
“Arrror… rrroowwwrrrrr! * I don’t think I could beat this Rainbow Dash if I was human… heck I don't think I could beat her if I was human with all the magic and she was human without! *” Joe commented, after seeing this, as he watched Twilight Sparkle making her way down the field.
“Grrerrr! * Have faith in Twilight! *” said Spike, almost snarling back.
“Rarrrfffff! * I do! *” Joe replied, not very truthfully. Despite the stakes, and that this was not ‘his’ Rainbow Dash, the glares from Twilight Sparkle had eased him towards rooting against her.
With casual ease Rainbow Dash took the ball and scored to make it four-nil.
“Rarroww. * Okay. *” Spike sighed.
They watched as with far greater determination than skill or speed Twilight Sparkle began the run towards Rainbow Dash’s goal again. For a moment it seemed as if Rainbow Dash was having mercy and allowing her opponent at least one goal. But when Twilight Sparkle miskicked the ball and it dribbled to Rainbow Dash’s feet as she stood on her own goal line she gave it her own kick to score the fifth and final goal along the full length of the field. Twilight Sparkle didn’t seem to think it worth moving after that.
“Rrr… hhmmmrrr? * Hmm, maybe we should have faith? *” Joe commented.
“Rarr? * What? *”
They trotted across to join the others where Twilight Sparkle had collapsed. Proving that even in this world she was more Generous than Honest it was Rarity who was the first to speak as they looked down at her and she fought for breath.
“I really thought you were going to pull it off in the end,” Rarity reassured her.
“So, what’s the plan?” asked Rainbow Dash. “How can I help you be Princess rather than Sunset Shimmer?”
“But I lost…” Twilight Sparkle protested.
“Aruff! * Aha! *” said Spike, understanding Joe’s comment.
“Of course you lost, I’m awesome,” Rainbow Dash replied, stating what seemed the simple truth to her, “but I’m not going to help just anybody beat Sunset Shimmer, the Fall Formal Princess has to have heart and determination, you proved that you got them both. And an awesome dog.”
“Two awesome dogs,” said Rarity, correcting Rainbow Dash and fussing Spike. “Isn’t he just adorable?”
“Ruff… * Yes… *” Joe nodded, as deadpan as a dog could be.
Twilight Sparkle managed to raise her head enough to give Joe another look and he bestowed another burst of puppy eyes on her. Then he turned his head and loped to near the steps to begin sniffing around. Making an immense sacrifice, as he was halfway through a head rub, Spike trotted away from Rarity to join Joe as he continued to sniff.
“Rrrr? * Joe? *”
“Grrarrr rarhrumm rrrrrarr… * I thought I heard something, and something smells fresh, and the same as outside the library doors yesterday… *” Joe replied before giving an impressive sneeze. “Rroorrrrffff… * But I have no idea how to track... *”
The others had joined them so Rainbow Dash decided to ask a question that had been bothering her since the day before. “So how did he get his scars?”
“Er…” Twilight Sparkle said, wondering what story would fit a dog on this world, and deciding on the truth. “He was straying in the woods and he got attacked by a really big cat?”
“Ah, poor puppy,” said Rainbow Dash, ruffling the top of Joe’s head. “But he’s still good at soccer.”
“F…ruff,” Joe started to reply, choking slightly as he had to cut off the automatic urge to ‘correct’ and say ‘Football’.
==
They had talked a little while longer at the sports field, and arranged to meet up to go to the local Coffee Shop after school, before lunchtime ended and the afternoon lessons began. Twilight Sparkle had decided to leave talking to Joe about Rainbow Dash until other things were settled and suggested they returned to the library, as that had worked all morning. Which made it even more embarrassing for Joe to explain why he’d had to leave the library as after all Twilight Sparkle’s success he’d got himself spotted almost at once.
Twilight Sparkle had given him a truly withering look and told him he’d better not return there for a while. They parted and Joe decided that although he didn’t know what she and Spike were going to eat he was going to seek his own food today. He circled the building to approach the area outside the kitchens to sit and considered the bins and bags. As hungry as he was, and as much as his doggy nose found the scents appealing, it seemed unfair to make too much mess.
Then something whizzed towards him, and jumping and turning he saw an old lady with her hair in a bun in the door of the kitchen. It was hard to tell with doggy eyes but he had the impression her skin was green and with the clue of the hairstyle he suspected this was the counterpart of Granny Smith. Glancing at the projectile he saw it was still slightly warm sausage and he felt a considerable quantity of drool begin to form. But as doggy as it would be to pounce and devour and look for more he decided he was not that much of a dog, yet.
Remembering how Ponies bowed Joe emulated this, and his good hearing caught a slight ‘my my’ of delight from Granny Smith at this apparently well-trained dog. Then Joe neatly snagged the sausage in his jaws and trotted off to find somewhere nice and private to savour it and further deny the instinct to devour, though that became harder the further he carried food in his mouth.
==
The afternoon had passed for Twilight Sparkle and Spike in the library, the other girls in their lessons, and Joe back under a bush asleep. Twilight Sparkle had sounded quite annoyed when she realised Rarity was quite so keen to see Spike again, and even more annoyed when Rainbow Dash asked where ‘the awesome dog was’. Joe had emerged from his bush on cue and they had made their way to the coffee shop.
There they found the counterparts were not limited to those that attended or worked at the school, plus those of Twilight Sparkle and Spike, as if that was not Mr and Mrs Cake then it was a fine impression of them. Joe did wonder where this version Pinkie Pie lived. She seemed a bit young to have moved away from home, but if the Cakes were related to the Pies or friends of the family then this was a convenient place to live and she could work a few hours after school or at weekends.
Spike and Joe had taken the chance for a little privacy to ‘talk’ and settled down beside the end of the sofa, at the opposite end to Rainbow Dash and the same end as Rarity. Though, to Joe at least, that they were between the sofa and the counter and out of sight was more important than the latter. Joe nodded to Spike as his friend explained how they had come to be at the sports field.
“Grrurrr, rrrm, * That might explain the fresh scent outside the library, and mean the same scent at the sports field could be trouble, *” Joe mused, “rrrrrm, arrahhrrrrr, rrrrrr * though if Twilight’s counterpart sees the video, and wonders who this identical person is, that could also be trouble. *”
“Rarrrr? * How would she see it? *” asked Spike.
“Grrurrrurrm. * If this works the same way as on my world then it is a worldwide network of computers. *”
“Yipe! * Yipe! *” Spike exclaimed. “Awwowowow… arrwwaarrrrrrr. * And Twilight was upset enough to think everyone in the school had seen it… though not as upset as she seems that you were playing ball with Rainbow Dash here. *”
“Grrfffffrr, * Not like I was humping her leg, *” snorted Joe.
“Arrwwr? * What? *”
“Grrumrrumm * You really aren’t getting the doggy instincts are you, *” said Joe, shaking his head a little, “Grumrumgrrrfffffr * aside from the growl and that could have been Draconic. *”
“Where is that darling little dog?” Rarity complained.
Instantly Spike trotted around the corner and into the offered lap. Joe sat up a little to look around the same corner and then retreated.
“Rgrrmmrrr, * Sure, he can sit on a lap, *” Joe commented to himself with an eyeroll. “Rarahrrrrr * But I can’t play ball. *”
Joe settled his chin on his forepaw then, as he heard a familiar voice, he raised his head and shook it at the interplay before settling back again. He listened as Rarity warned Twilight Sparkle that this ‘Flash Sentry’ was Sunset Shimmer’s ex-boyfriend and Fluttershy added the comment that she couldn’t believe Sunset Shimmer hadn’t done anything awful to him. Showing good sense Flash Sentry gave the group of pretty girls, and it seemed Twilight Sparkle in particular, a Fonzie smile before he continued on his way.
This seemed mildly puzzling to Joe. This fellow did seem nice, rather than it being, well, all flash and no substance, but to be Sunset Shimmer’s ex-boyfriend meant he’d had to consider her as girlfriend material at least for a short time. But he didn’t much care about the puzzle, though Twilight Sparkle was looking worried as she commented that maybe she was waiting until she could do something really awful.
The Applejack here proved to have the same ability to corral a discussion as her Equestria counterpart had with everything else as well. Getting them back to business she pointed out the dance was tomorrow night and although they had done their best during the afternoon to tell people otherwise it would need something special to balance out that video. Most people only knew Twilight Sparkle from the video, so they needed to show them differently.
Joe started to think but found himself distracted whether there was a Winona here, as customary as it would be he didn’t want to risk having his rear sniffed and have to return the favour. It would be embarrassing in itself and give Twilight Sparkle more excuse for death glares.
Rarity screamed and stood “I’ve got it!”
Joe sat up to look at her as Spike plopped to the sofa beside her. Everyone else was also looking and a blush came to Rarity’s cheeks as she continued and said it might seem preposterous and moved to her bag. From this she removed some horse ears and tails and as she spoke of how they’d all worn those as a sign of unity and of school spirit Joe nodded to himself. That had been the idea hovering the previous night about why Twilight Sparkle and Spike might have thought it worth Sunset Shimmer taking the time to split these counterparts of their friends.
It had come more into focus when he’d seen them together again at the sports field and had belatedly connected what he’d been told of the school being split into factions with the fact that this group of friends represented every faction. Twilight Sparkle and Spike had shown fine insight in recognising this at once and realising that these five becoming friends again would cross the barriers between the different cliques. Rarity finished handing out the false ears, all but Rainbow Dash managing a smile, as she spoke of how Sunset Shimmer had divided them and Twilight Sparkle had united them.
As unneeded as it seemed Joe sat up and gave a “Wuff” of support and assent before the group headed back towards the school and the Gym.
==
It had been impressive over the last few hours how fast Twilight Sparkle learned the words and choreography to let her perform with the others and how fast they managed to get back into sync with each other after the time they had been split. Joe had watched with interest and had then fallen asleep once it seemed things were going well. He was not so much older than them that he’d not notice they were pretty, though old enough that he’d think almost at once ‘a bit young’, but he’d realised he was feeling the same lack of desire rather than appreciation. Although there was perhaps a twinge more appreciation of Rainbow Dash than the others it was making him miss ‘his’ Rainbow Dash rather than desire this one.
As much work as they had done this morning Joe wondered if he’d have been of more use at Fluttershy’s cottage. And as much fun as it had been playing ball with this world’s Rainbow Dash he’d rather be doing the tourist thing with his own. Similarities in personality notwithstanding they were not the same person and, if nothing else, he’d at least settled some doubts about how much he cared what shape was wrapped around his sweetheart’s soul.
Thankfully after they had seen the others off the corridors were deserted enough that they could reach the library. To their relief the book bed had not been disturbed so it did seem it would be safe to spend another night here. Joe remembered the sausage and decided to ask, though all he’d be able to do was sympathise as he doubted he’d be able to hunt and doubted even more that offer would be acceptable to Twilight Sparkle.
“I got thrown a sausage,” Joe admitted, “I hope you two managed to find something to eat.”
“Applejack saw us in the library…” began Spike.
“Which is better than Cheerilee seeing you,” Twilight Sparkle grumbled.
“For which I have apologised,” nodded Joe.
“…and when she checked and found we had missed lunch she went and got us a packed lunch,” Spike finished, “and made it vegetarian.”
“Excellent news,” nodded Joe, again. “As I think it was the local Granny Smith that provided the sausage that means the Apple family have fed us all.”
“What about tomorrow?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“You and Spike split the lunch, I’ll find something,” suggested Joe, “though I might test doggy-digestion rather than risk presuming on Granny Smith twice.”
“Okay,” Twilight Sparkle nodded.
Silence fell in the library and Joe considered whether dogs should sleep as much as he was doing. It hadn’t seemed in Equestria that Winona was that inclined and it didn’t look like the others were going to go to sleep yet, so it might be rude to just nap again.
“I thought your plan was a good one Twilight,” Joe said, head on paws and trying to make conversation, “but it had occurred at the footie field that these parallels of our friends were from each faction.”
“Yes,” Twilight Sparkle replied, trying to not sound dubious that it had occurred to Joe.
“You mentioned it might be better just before the 1-on-1,” nodded Spike, catching his ‘big sister’s’ tone.
Twilight Sparkle inhaled and exhaled. She was annoyed with Joe about this and annoyed with him about being seen with Cheerilee. It did seem he was continuing to make mistakes that added almost as many problems as he solved or averted.
“At the ‘footie field’,” Twilight Sparkle said, detonating the conversational landmine Joe had stepped on, “where we found you with Rainbow Dash.”
“This Rainbow Dash thinks I am a pretty awesome dog,” nodded Joe, “but I think Dash is an awesome Pony.” Then he winked to Spike. “And I’m not the one sitting on laps.”
“But you are the one who asked about shape changing magic,” Twilight Sparkle pointed out, her annoyance increasing as it seemed Joe wasn’t taking this seriously, “and you’ve said you’re old enough to be a teacher here...”
“A rather young teacher, not long out of training,” interrupted Joe, his tone hardening as his head and hackles rose, “but are you asking if I’d be tempted to stay here if I was human and young enough to be a student?”
“Er,” Twilight Sparkle said, not sure if it was better now Joe was taking it seriously. “Maybe.”
“Which is pretty damned insulting,” replied Joe, his lip curling slightly back from one fang. “That you think I’d treat them both that way. Abandon Dash and treat this Rainbow Dash as a substitute rather than someone worthy in their own right.”
“Okay,” Twilight Sparkle nodded, unsure whether Joe had a worse temper as a dog or if he was just less practiced at hiding his feelings, “that wasn’t really what I meant, it’s just you asked about the magic and…”
“And you care enough about Dash that you want to be sure,” sighed Joe, not a sad sigh, more just the release of breath before a strike. Seeming to realise how he was sounding Joe closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, his lip uncurling and his hackles flattening. When he opened his eyes again they looked calmer. “Especially after the conversation we on magic had eleven days ago,” he continued in more his normal tones, “though when we had that conversation I still had doubts as it had only been three days since Dash first kissed me, rather than a full fortnight.”
Not sure if she wanted to continue this conversation, but taking some heart from the fact that… as usual… Joe seemed to be assuming the best motives of her Twilight Sparkle decided to ask. “Are you saying you have no doubts now?”
“I am saying that I care enough about Dash that I’d rather be a Pony in Equestria with her than a human with Rainbow Dash here,” Joe replied bluntly, “even though we have proved with the ‘doggy instincts’ that I’d stop being entirely me in the former case. So I’d rather be a human in Equestria until and unless that becomes unfair on Dash.”
“But is it fair on Rainbow, if you can’t… well… without magic.”
“Hah!” Joe almost literally barked, realising Twilight Sparkle hadn’t noticed how much things had progressed. “That magic might still be fun with Dash, though it’s got to the point where it would be for variety rather than necessity…”
“It… has?” blinked Twilight Sparkle.
“Alright. It’s not quite got to that point, or not been put to the test at least.”
“Oh!” Twilight Sparkle blushed.
“Thank you though.”
“What for?”
“Meeting this counterpart had answered a few more qualms of mine,” Joe admitted, “but thinking about how I’d have reacted… say ten days ago, the day after our conversation on the magic has let me realise how much my feelings have grown for Dash. Ten days ago I’d have still missed Dash, but I might have convinced myself it was better to end it, or been scared enough to flee rather than struggle against the problem.” He gave Twilight Sparkle a flat look. “Though even then I’d have been insulted at the suggestion I’d use the Rainbow Dash here as a substitute…”
Something told Twilight Sparkle that whether it was the effects of being a dog, the stress of this situation, or how much busier the last three weeks had been for Joe than the months before she was close to losing one friend, even as she reunited five others. And she did value Joe for his own sake as well as because of his friendships with her friends in Equestria.
“I said I didn’t mean it that way,” protested Twilight Sparkle. “I’ve been worried how much my feelings are for these girls and how much because they are the counterparts of our friends.”
“Which is a fair concern,” Joe admitted, “but I think we can tell the difference.”
“Still friends?” asked Twilight Sparkle a little hesitantly.
“Of course,” Joe reassured her. “If we weren’t friends my reaction would be more pithy rather than answering your questions.”
“Maybe we should all get some sleep?” suggested Spike, noticing the lingering tension.
“Or change topics at least,” Joe said, as he thought of a possible revenge that was not beyond friendship. “I am wondering how old the Ponyfolk are, we’ve seen the local versions of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and I had the idea the ones in Equestria were about as old as Spike…”
“Right?” said Spike.
Joe wasn’t sure if that was a ‘correct’ or a ‘go on’, but he went on. “So, since you were hatched the day Twilight got her Cutie Mark and Ponyfolk get their Cutie Marks about the same age that would seem to make Twilight, and the others, about twice the age of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”
“That makes sense, as far as you know,” Spike nodded, relieved they seemed to be talking about something less fraught.
“Letting me argue myself into a corner?” asked Joe, tilting his head and giving a doggy smile.
“Maybe,” Spike admitted.
“Does this matter?” asked Twilight Sparkle, annoying Spike as she derailed the conversation. “It does seem the ages here are all shifted around, and there’s no real relevance to the ages of people back in Equestria.”
Joe took a breath and then nodded to her. “You’re right, as usual, best to concentrate on getting the crown.”
“It is interesting what is parallel and what is not,” Twilight Sparkle smiled, “but, as Spike suggested, we should sleep since the crown is our concern.”
Joe nodded again, though the last part of that sentence tested his control. She’d warned him about Rainbow Dash so the thought had occurred to warn her about Flash Sentry. If he took the Cutie Mark Crusaders as being the same age or equivalent in both worlds, as it seemed, then Rarity being about twice her sister’s age would fit better with her having her own boutique. But here Twilight Sparkle looked more like half again as old as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, rather than double, and looked the same age as Flash Sentry.
So Joe had considered pointing this out. The ages might all be shifted around but Twilight Sparkle’s true age had not changed and so that was relevant to the age of Flash Sentry here. But this ‘warning’ would serve nothing but the revenge. All it would do was possibly spoil her final day and tinge the memories she’d of this fellow. And, as annoyed as Joe was, he was reconsidering if that would not be beyond friendship.
“To return your relationship advice,” Joe said, settling for a slight tease, “I thought your concern was how nice a smile that Flash Sentry fellow had.”
“Er… he’s…”
“Congratulations, he seems nice,” Joe nodded. “And to have better taste in smiling at you than he did in being Sunset Shimmer’s boyfriend.”
“Thanks,” replied Twilight Sparkle, with a slight blush.
“Rreerrr? * Why are you congratulating her? *” asked Spike. “Areuff. * We are leaving here tomorrow. *”
“Rhruff… rararra, aarrff * Yes… so I’m not going to spoil it, let her have the time. *”
“Arururhhh? * Is it kinder to not remind her though? *”
“Rffrrfffff, * I don’t know, *” Joe admitted, “arrurrrffrr, rrggrrrrrff. * seems she’d regret pulling back, seems she’d regret if something developed because she didn’t pull back. *”
“Mmrrr, rahafff, * True, and I don't know either, *” nodded Spike.
“What are you two talking about?” Twilight Sparkle asked, looking between them.
“Your love life of course,” winked Joe. “In excruciating and quite perverse detail. Quite surprised at some of what Spike has said.”
“Oh, very funny,” Twilight Sparkle smiled. “You don’t have to tell me then.”
“Actually it was Spike’s love life…”
“I said you don’t have to tell me.”
“Okay.”