//------------------------------//
// The Search Begins 
// Story: Geoverse: An Unfamiliar World 
// by GeodesicDragon 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER TWO


The Search Begins


It took Worthy, Dusk and I several minutes to calm Toby down after my major faux pas. Eventually we managed to get him settled, and he told us the shocking story of how he ended up in Equestria. Once he was finished Dusk, Worthy and I were on the verge of tears. I sent Dusk away to find Twilight and let Toby sit on my throne while we waited.

Sure enough, she soon came trotting into the throne room with Dusk at her side and Azure and Evening, our children, on her back. She approached me with a loving smile on her face, which quickly turned to shock and then confusion as she spotted Toby. He seemed really pleased to see her, but given how he said Twilight was his auntie where he came from that was hardly a surprise.

"Auntie Twilight?" he asked hesitantly. She cocked her head at me and mouthed 'is he talking to me?'. "It's me, Toby. Don't you remember me?"

"Dusk and Worthy found him outside the castle," I explained. "From what we've been able to gather... he's from an alternate universe, a version of Equestria where you, Dash, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie are Toby's aunties, and Fluttershy is his adoptive mother."

Twilight's eyes widened. "Adoptive mother?" she queried. "What happened to his real mother?"

At the mention of his real mother, Toby's eyes began to water. However, he managed to stop himself from crying again and straightened himself up on the throne, sniffling heavily while I told Twilight all that he had told me — and needless to say she was just as horrified as I was. She walked over to him, matching his smile for size, and laid a forehoof on his shoulder.

"I know this is probably very confusing for you," she said softly. "But I promise that we will find a way for you to return home, so you can be with your family again."

Toby nodded. "Thank you, Auntie Twi—" he cut himself off and sighed. "Thank you, Princess Twilight. I just... I just hope I don't cause you and Prince Geo any problems."

"You don't have to call us 'Prince' and 'Princess'," Twilight giggled. "And you won't cause us any problems. It is our duty to help ponies, or humans in this case, in need."

Toby smiled, before his attention was drawn to the two foals on Twilight's back. Azure and Evening were watching him curiously. Toby swallowed and waved politely.

"H-hello," he said. "Are they your foals, Twilight? I'm just wondering, because they both look a lot like you."

"They are indeed my foals," Twilight replied as she nuzzled them. "This is Azure Hopes, my son, and Evening Whisper, my daughter."

"Hi!" Azure and Evening said together.

"It's nice to meet you," Toby said. "My name is Toby. If you don't mind me asking, Twilight, who's their father? He must be a very proud stallion to have fathered such cute foals."

I walked over to Twilight, picking up and hugging both foals before placing them on a shoulder each. They squealed happily and wrapped their forehooves around my neck. "I wouldn't say I was a stallion," I chuckled. "But you're right in saying I'm proud of my children." A look of shock crossed Toby's face. "That's right, Toby, I'm their father. And Twilight here," I kissed her on the cheek, "is my wife. As you can no doubt see, my own time in Equestria has been quite eventful."

"Wow," Toby stuttered. "That's really nice. I have a fillyfriend back home, Silver Spoon, but I think marriage can wait for a while."

I bit my lip, not wanting to tell Toby what I really thought of Silver Spoon. Then again, the whole 'different Equestrias' thing probably had something to do with why she was so nice.

"I'm really happy for you," Toby trailed off. "So, um, what do we do now, if you don't mind me asking?"

Wow, he is definitely Fluttershy's son, I thought, before actually answering Toby's question. "Well first of all, we'll introduce you to the rest of our friends, including another human... as well as Celestia and Luna, who will hopefully help you get home."

"I'd like that a lot," Toby said. "I like it here, but I would really like to go home. Momma and my aunties must be worried about me."

"I'm sure they are," I replied solemnly. "Come on, let's get something to eat and then we'll take you to meet the others. Dusk and Worthy, you can come too, since you'll no doubt want to see Celestia and Luna, right?" Dusk and Worthy grinned and nodded. "Follow me, Toby, and you'll be all right."

He nodded and stood up before rushing over to me and standing behind my legs, taking in his surroundings with awe. I chuckled before leading my merry procession out of the throne room and in the direction of the delectable smells emanating from the kitchen.


***


"I'm sorry, Fluttershy!" Twilight pleaded. "I have no idea what happened to him!"

"I've looked everywhere," Spike added. "He's not in town."

"You have to know something, Twilight!" Fluttershy snapped. "Can you at least remember what spell you cast?"

Twilight scrunched her face up in thought for a moment before she gasped and lit her horn.

"Of course..." she muttered. "The last spell I cast was Teleportation but, given how this illness has been affecting my magic, the power of the spell was greatly increased. This means that Toby could be anywhere in Equestria!"

"He is somewhere in Equestria," a voice said with a chuckle. "Just not the Equestria you know."

Fluttershy, Spike and Twilight looked around in confusion before the couch they were sitting on suddenly sprouted legs and stood up, morphing into a familiar figure.

"Discord?" Fluttershy squeaked. "W-what are you doing here?"

"I went to visit you at home," Discord replied, "but that rabbit of yours told me you were here. I got here just in time to see Twilight's impromptu magic act."

"Do you know what happened to Toby?" Fluttershy pleaded. Discord nodded. "Please, I must know what happened to my precious boy!"

Discord raised a hand to calm her. "I assure you, Fluttershy, that Toby is quite safe. Twilight's spell had been amplified to such an extent, she was able to interfere with the very fabric of time and space. And given how chaotic that can be, it should hardly come as a shock to know that I felt it. Toby is indeed in Equestria... or, at least, an alternate version of it."

"An alternate version of Equestria?" Twilight looked dumbfounded. "So you mean to tell me I sent him to another universe?"

Discord nodded gleefully. "Indeed you did," he grinned. "Where exactly, I cannot say, but there will no doubt be alternate versions of you and your friends, living different lives and whatnot."

"And how can you just assume that Toby is safe?" Fluttershy demanded. "What if our alternate selves are evil?"

"Hardly," Discord scoffed. "This is a different version of Equestria. It will have had the same history as this one, but some things will be different. Your alternate selves will have made different decisions, and led different lives. But they will still be the same lovely bunch of ponies I have come to see as friends."

Fluttershy sighed in relief. "Be that as it may," she said, "we still need to find him. Can you help us?"

"It would be an honour, my dear," Discord bowed. "After all, I've come to admire Toby a great deal in the short time I've known him. He belongs here, of that I have no doubt."

"Thank you, Discord," Twilight dipped her head. "Spike, go and round up the rest of our friends and tell them what's happening. I'll inform Celestia and Luna."

Spike saluted and ran out of the library while Twilight began writing a couple of letters. As she worked, Fluttershy looked to the sky and let out a soft sigh.

"Don't worry, Toby," she whispered. "Momma's coming."