//------------------------------// // Ch. 1 - ...Where are we even going? // Story: Bad Company in Human Horsey-Land // by Symphony //------------------------------// The recently coronated Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia walked side-by-side along one of the many halls in the Crystal Castle. The smaller alicorn's mind was analyzing every single thing that could easily go wrong in her latest task. ”But... If I'm going to a world nopony has ever been in... How will I know how to act? What would I do if I would become injured?” Twilight's ears fell back. Princess Celestia placed a comforting hoof on her fellow princess' shoulder. Twilight looked up at the magenta eyes of her teacher. ”Twilight, I said that nopony could come with you. I have arranged a guide for you, someone who knows the ways of the creatures you will meet.” Celestia stopped in front of a door and waited for Twilight to join her. When the smaller pony was beside her, Celestia opened the door. ”Yo, Sunbutt! The food in this place is craptacular!” A male voice called from the room and a plate flew through the open door, breaking against the wall and splattering the contents on it. The color in Twilight's face drained and her pupils became barely visible pinpricks. ”Please... No, not him... Anyone but him!” Twilight started panicking. Princess Celestia ignored her pleas. ”Of course it's terrible Jay. I was the one who requested that you would be sent something to eat, after all...” Celestia smirked. ”I should've known...” The human shook his head as he slung a backpack over his shoulder. ”Ready to go, or are we waiting for Twilight's brain to recompose?” Jay asked as he leaned toward the wall with his hands in his pockets. ”Just give her a moment and she'll be fine.” Celestia replied. She turned to the human with a serious look. ”Now Jay, it's important that you do not allow her to fail in her task. The fate of Equestria depends on it.” ”Sure, whatever. Let's just get on with it already.” He answered with a shrug. ”It's not like I have anything better to do anyway.” ”Yes, it's not like you have a job or anything.” Celestia said nonchalantly as she levitated the still stiff Twilight Sparkle beside her. Jay turned to Celestia and jabbed a finger in her direction. ”It's not my fault that you ponies are racist enough to never offer me any jobs!” Jay countered. ”We're not racist, we just prefer to have all jobs done without issues. And I have a hard time believing that you would do something without complaining like a little filly about it.” Celestia smirked. Jay stared at her with a neutral expression, then slowly lifted his right hand with only his middle finger raised. ”Just let me have my own crazy conspirational theories to myself, you can keep all your pesky logical answers. It's funnier and way more interesting that way.” Jay replied. Princess Celestia chuckled and opened a door and walked inside the room. Jay followed. The room was sparsely furnitured, with only a mirror in the middle of the room and a red carpet leading the way to the mirror. Beside the mirror stood the princess of the night, Luna and Princess Cadence. Spike stood beside them, nervously twiddling his claws. Twilight Sparkle looked at the mirror, then to Celestia. ”Is that the portal?” Twilight asked her mentor, who nodded. ”What is Spike doing here..? I thought this was a top secret thing." ”Spike wanted to say goodbye, and he refused to stay outside with the others.” Princess Cadence said, glancing at the dragon who crossed his arms. ”Hooray, I'm important!” Jay hollered and waved his arms. The ponies rolled their eyes and ignored the human. ”It is.” Princess Luna answered Twilight. ”This is an ancient mirror with a spell on it which allows it to have a constant uplink to the dimensional leylines. But every 30 moons, it's disabled and is forced to be recharged. Once it its fully charged like now, it is open for a total amount of three days.” Luna said, glancing to the younger princess. ”I hope you are ready for this task, Twilight Sparkle and Jay the Human.” ”I trust that both of you realize the importance of your task. As if you fail, both our world and the world you're heading to will perish.” Celestia said in a grave tone. ”So, do you understand your task? ”Yes, Princess.” Twilight answered with a smile. ”Nope.” Jay stated. The ponies stared at him, and Princess Cadence eventually facehoofed. ”Just... Just go into the portal already...” Luna muttered. ”And remember, three da-” ”Don't give a shit, I'm pumped, let's do this before I see something else that makes me focus on that instead.” Jay said, jumping on one spot and stretching his arms. ”CHAAAAAAARGE!” He ran toward the mirror, and jumped when he was close to it with his arms stretched forward. ”Oh God, that's painful!” His voice echoed. Twilight took a deep breath, then bit her lip and ran into the portal after him. Spike glanced at the portal, then to the princesses, then back at the portal. Before anypony could react, Spike bolted toward the portal and jumped inside behind her. THEME SONG