Kayl had a dream during his sleep, though it was unsettling. There were bright lights above him and he was stricken down and immobile. There were waterfalls falling around him and he was surrounded in a red pool. And in the distance, there was another of those horse creatures like twilight, but she was dark, and shrouded in shadows.
He woke to knocking at his door. Instinctively he looked for some clothes to put on, but realized soon that creatures of this world had no need of such things, oddly enough. He walked in somber over to the door, expecting to see a conductor informing him that he had missed his stop.
Instead, Twilight stood there with a sorrowful look. The first thing she did was apologize for earlier. Kayl shook his head and explained that he was not himself, the pun of which was lost on him but made Twilight smile. Twilight wanted to show Kayl the ride into Canterlot.
Kayl went to Twilight's room, where the window faced out away from the hills. As Kayl stuck his head out he was caught off guard by the scenery. The mountain sides rock face shot up into the sky as the rolling hills stretched for miles around. Here, there, and anon there were houses placed like ranches across the barren hills of the region, as Kayl turned towards the north where train was leading he saw the great city of Canterlot, placed upon the side of the mountain, built remarkably in the structure of some mix of Arabian and European architecture.
“So that's Canterlot I take it?”
Twilight gave a pleasant hum, “Yes, that is where I was born. It is the capital of all Equestria and the home of Princess Celestia. Don't worry, I'm sure your own world has large cities like this right?”
Kayl pulled his head back in and smiled at Twilight, “Not really, the kind of architecture here doesn't look like anything that I've seen. But I suppose my world would probably look wondrous to someone else if they saw it too.”
As the train came into the station of Canterlot, many winged horses wearing bridles and assorted armor pieces lined the walls and walked the train platform. Twilight led Kayl off the train and into the city. The inner city was filled with horses, mainly unicorns that were dressed in attire not unlike the social elite of 1920s England. Parasols, tuxedos, and bags of things bought from merchants reminded Kayl of visiting Venice Beach in California.
“So Kayl, I'm going to need to ask you for a favor...”
Kayl had heard the line many times before, but now it felt a bit smug.
“This is what friends truly mean to Twilight eh? Alright, I'll play along...” He thought to himself.
“Kayl, Do you think you would let me take you to a nice place for lunch before we visit Celestia? There's this one place I want to go and I know you probably want to see Celestia really soon but I'm also really hungry and aren't you hungry too but I could understand if you're not but I really want to go but I don't want to be rude and it won't be too far...”
Kayl put up his hoof and stopped Twilight short.
“I think lunch would be a good idea. Thank you for everything Twilight.”
Kayl smiled and nodded. Twilight bounded off down the road and Kayl tried to keep up. Kayl didn't think Twilight understood the meaning of favors either. He was hungry, after an exceptionally long and restless train ride with only a couple of pancakes to sate him he felt like taking in something a bit more filling.
But what interested him more was the reaction of the town. Many of the folk were bowing to Twilight as she passed, some even bowed to Kayl but they seemed more shocked to see him than delighted. Twilight had said that she was a princess, and that they were going to see another princess. How many of these relations were there?
Twilight eventually led Kayl to a restaurant called “Trotters”. There was a line outside, but when Twilight and Kayl arrived, people stepped aside happily and allowed Twilight and her guest to enter. They were seated in no time and Kayl felt almost spoiled in their treatment.
“Does this always happen Twilight Sparkle?”
Twilight giggled, “Please, you can just call me Twilight. Also, it's only started happening in the past year. It's kind of a part of being an alicorn princess. It's kind of hard to get used to. You noticed they were treating you the same way right?”
“Yes,” replied Kayl, “But I don't understand, I'm not royalty. How exactly does that work?”
Twilight gave another hum of thought, giving light to her thoughtful nature. Clearly she was always careful to choose her words wisely, which Kayl thought was admirable.
“Well, you have to understand I'm not sure what you have to compare to in your world. I'm not that knowledgeable of your world's politics. I guess you could think of me as a kind of celebrity. Wait.”
Twilight shook her head, “I really would rather not be thought of as a celebrity. I mean, I'm a librarian, not royalty. The thing I'm trying to say is I haven't always been an alicorn, I became an alicorn about a year ago, and it's been a kind of roller coaster ever since. Wait, you have roller coasters in your world right?”
Kayl nodded, but he was more confused than anything, “Yes, but what do you mean? Is that why it's so rare to see an alicorn?”
Twilight nodded, “Yes, in fact most of us aren't really sure how an alicorn comes to be. For me I became an alicorn after I discovered a higher level of magic. So now I have responsibilities to lead people, it's kind of overwhelming really.”
“So, a sort of destined monarchy...but who develops the economy? Who makes the tax code? Who sets the budget? Who argues pensions and retirement and medicare?”
Twilight shook her head, “I'm not even sure what half of those things are. If you mean how we take care of our laws? I suppose all of the communities and cities have their own law enforcement to stop people from causing trouble. We have a society based on harmony, so most ponies just want to get along. There aren't really any taxes, but we do pool money together to help take care of the poor and elderly.”
Kayl, who didn't consider himself political in anyway, thought this kind of socialist madness would never had been sold back home.
“So there are no elections?”
Twilight nodded her head, “Well Ponyville has a mayor, and we have had elections, but no one really runs against her. Mayor Mare organizes community events and everyone helps out. You know, when I visited your world, I had to go through one of these election type things. It was really stressful, I don't think any pony here would want to have one of them.”
Just as Kayl was about to ask about this, another pony appeared wearing an apron and suit. Speaking with a thick french accent.
“Your Highness, I must say Trotters is delighted to have you with us, but we are also equally abuzz about your guest. She, or he, is a real alicorn yes?”
Twilight smiled and nodded, “I guess he is. But he's a visitor from another land. Would you mind getting us two cups of tea. Also, two salads and...” Twilight turned to Kayl, “Kayl is it alright if I make a suggestion for food?”
Kayl nodded, he didn't know what to say really. He had walked into some form of soviet communist socialism society with ponies.
“Right,” Twilight returned her attention to the waiter, “Right, than can we have the share plate of five cheese and tomato ravioli?”
The waiter nodded and whisked away, returning shortly with two cups of hot steaming tea.
“Kayl, I know this might all be unsettling for you. I can't imagine the kind of life you had before coming here. I got to thinking that in your world status plays a big role, and perhaps I wasn't sympathetic enough to that. I hope you can understand that for both of us we have a lot of learning to do.”
Kayl couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
“Twilight, when did you...” But he stopped short.
Just as he began to speak he saw Twilight's horn glow. In unison the cup below her began to glow, and floated up to her lips as she carefully took a drink. She looked at Kayl with a smile on her face.
“Twilight, what is that that you're doing?”
Twilight's eyes lit up and laughed, “Oh that's right, this must seem crazy! Well it's magic. Every unicorn with a unicorn's horn has some amount of magic, usually having to do with their special talent. You have a horn too you know, I guess you don't know how to use it?”
Kayl wasn't sure how to think about that. But he looked down at his own cup of tea, wondering how he was going to drink it too. After a moment it came to him that he had no idea how to do what Twilight did. Apparently his special talent was not moving cups of tea.
“No, but this world I think is far stranger than I thought. If talking horses wasn't strange enough.” Kayl shook his head and gave a stern look to Twilight.
“Hold on...I'm getting side tracked at every turn that I try to bring this up. You said you visited my world? What do you mean? When did you visit? I think our world would have known if a talking winged unicorn had arrived and started making cups of tea float around. It would have been in the news, or at the least in some NSA document.”
Twilight laughed for a moment before nodding, “I'm sorry, it was a bizarre experience for me too! I'll be happy to answer any question you have about it. Well, actually, I think it might be connected to your problem too!”
Kayl perked up at this. “Finally,” he thought. “Now we're getting some where in all of this insanity.”
Twilight began to tell the tale of her tiara, a tool of the elements of harmony (a topic which she glanced over sadly). She explained that a former pupil of Princess Celestia, Sunset Shimmer, had stolen the tiara and taken it through a magic mirror to another world.
It was the mention of the mirror that interested Kayl more than anything else. Of course, you and I would almost certainly know this story by now. If you haven't, I do not wish to spoil things for you, but I fear they must be spoiled. But, Twilight did explain how she was tasked to enter the world alone to retrieve the tiara.
“And when I appeared on the other side of the mirror, after flying into a bright shining light, I arrived looking like a human. With hands, and a nose, and not a tail, wings, or horn to be seen. I have to say my first day in your world wasn't easy either.
But to make a long story short, I had to take part in a pageant to become princess of the fall formal at Canterlot High. Of course, the dance ended in a succubus attacking the school and enslaving the people before I and a group of other girls who were a lot like my friends here in Equestria bonded together and formed the elements of harmony to take her down. But um...that's a long, long story.”
Kayl shook his head, “No...I'm pretty sure I've never heard of any placed called Canterlot high, and I'm pretty sure I've never heard of a succubus attacking a school and enslaving everyone. Also, I'm pretty sure if that had happened in my world, it would have been too big to keep under wraps. Are you sure it was my world?”
Twilight thought for a moment, “Well gosh, I hadn't even considered that yet. But I suppose that's what we'll have to find out won't we? I'm sure together, all of us can help you find a way back home!”
Kayl looked down at his cup of tea, it was quickly becoming cold and he wanted to drink it. So, lacking any other way he simply bent his head down and lapped at the tiny cup. It was humiliating, but he was far below humility at this point. But a thought occurred to him.
“Did you say, 'all of us' Twilight? Don't you mean just you and me?”
Twilight shook her head and smiled brightly, “Of course not! I wouldn't let my new friend have to get by with just my help alone! All my friends and I will help you figure this all out! That's what friends do Kayl!”
There was a moment of silence, and it was uneasy. The last time this point had been made, Kayl had made the mistake of offending Twilight by questioning her motives or understanding of friendship. To Kayl's surprise, he found this friendship that Twilight kept speaking of rather legitimate. Her face was tense, waiting to see if there was going to be a repeat of the morning's insult.
Kayl took a deep breath, and then sighed, “You're really going to hammer this friendship thing home to me aren't you?”
Twilight took a deep breath and nodded. She clearly knew she was pushing boundaries, but her insistence and convictions were clearly not going to be breached.
Kayl saw something in Twilight he had never seen in another human being. It was a spark of something he had felt when he was younger. People wanting to help others for no reason but to help them. Friendship without goals or fortune. Cooperation without revenue progress. Everything he had ever felt told him this was foolish.
Still, he was in absolute need. If it had been the other way around, he would never have agreed. He didn't believe in this kind of selfless philosophy, it didn't work in his world. But he was in a new land where society was formed for a very different means.
“Alright Twilight, I'll gladly accept any help you and your friends can give me. Still, I don't know what you're expecting of me in return. But for what it's worth, I'll consider you a friend as well as I understand the phrase.”
Twilight smiled brightly, “That will work for now then.”
They happily finished the rest of their lunch. Kayl shared stories of his work in business. He explained what politicians were, and what a lawsuit was. Many things that you and I would take for granted were complex and confusing to Twilight. Kayl began to understand Twilight more, seeing that at least in this world where magic was such a key part, a different kind of political structure free of strife was possible. For the time at least, he envied this new land and the peace that it had found.
After lunch, Twilight took Kayl on a tour of the town, showing the school where she went to learn magic, the parks where she used to hang out and read, and the many places she avoided because she was too busy studying. Finally, she and Kayl arrived at the castle gates where their goal awaited them. A meeting with this fabled Princess Celestia.
“Now don't worry, the Princess is a really nice pony. She's incredibly humble, and I know she'll help you in any way she can as well.”
Kayl tried to relax, but even he knew that he was meeting the supreme ruler of all citizens of this land. He had never met presidents or kings in his own world, and he was taken aback by the realization that the first true royalty that he was going to meet was going to be a winged horse with a magic horn.
“Goodness, it’s going to be past dinner time by the time we finally get to Ponyville. I really appreciate you letting me see the city a bit before getting here, Kayl. I know it might not seem like much, but this place really does mean the world to me.”
Kayl, who was still half distracted in thought robotically replied, “Don’t mention it. It’s no problem.”
And so it was as they finally entered the grand hall of the castle that there upon her throne surrounded by heavily armed guards stood a mighty sight, Princess Celestia. There could be no mistaking it this time.
She was tall, a giant amongst the others in comparison. Her wings were unfurled and stretched out like a coat of winter apart from her. Her mane and tail sparkled like the evening sea, just as her bridle and tiara did, and they flowed like the river from her. She was of milk white fur, and had Kayl seen this creature in his own world, he would have been floored by its grace.
It wasn't only her stature that was off setting. The creature had a presence amongst her that made Kayl speechless. He was not enamored by her, not in any romantic way. Rather he feared her, as a child fears a parent. Here, where ponies were among their own kind, she was truly godlike.
She was smiling, and her eyes were looking brightly down at her two guests, though Kayl saw that hidden behind the eyes was so much history. He was instantly humbled by her, and wondered how Twilight could have thought that this Princess could be considered humble. Perhaps if a god were to come down as a man in this form, that would be a humble step.
And then, Kayl had to wrestle with the idea that what he was seeing might very well be a god of this world. With that, he became quite shaken.
“My dear Twilight, student and princess. I had received a letter from spike this morning, hastily written saying that you were coming with another princess. Spike sadly couldn’t give me anymore information than that, as it seemed you were already on your way to meet me.”
As Twilight approached the throne, the guards along the hall saluted her. Kayl began to truly feel that he was in a place where he didn’t belong.
“I apologize Princess Celestia. I didn’t want to waste any time. As you can see, the one I brought wasn’t a princess. This is Kayl, and although he might not look like it, he’s actually a human.”
Celestia’s smile brightened as she walked down the steps from her throne to meet them. In his world, if Kayl had introduced people to someone who was in fact a winged unicorn from another world, they would have been thrown in prison. Celestia either had very little concern about the comings and goings of other worldly creatures, or she was far more knowing than she was letting on.
“A male alicorn. What a rare sight. Kayl, please step forward and let me get a good look at you.”
Kayl was powerless, his legs moved and his wings unfurled themselves. He wasn’t being bewitched, but after all of his troubling thoughts and stress he had very little concern with preserving his sense of masculinity against a creature that very well could have banished him to the moon (a feat that you and I would certainly know she was capable of).
“My name is Kayl Jayden. Yes, I’m a human. I come from the planet Earth of the Milky Way Galaxy. I don’t know how I’ve become the creature I am, or how I have arrived here. But I assure you I am in no way special like yourself.”
With that, Celestia’s look changed. At first her eyes widened. Not in insult, but as if someone simply committed a social flub. But then she began to laugh and shake her head.
“My dear Kayl, first I welcome you to Canterlot, and Equestria as well. You are my honored guest here, and I wish you well. I will admit that this is my first time to meet someone from your world. Do not be so quick to judge yourself poorly. All peoples, ponies, and creatures are special in my eyes. And you especially, are incredibly special.
Being an Alicorn is no small feat for pony kind. The fact that you have received such blessings and talents speaks volumes about who you are in your own world. Of course, I am sorry if that is not how you see it yourself. Twilight, I’m sure, would attest to the struggles of adapting to another world.”
Twilight gave an exasperated groan and laughed, “Oh yes, I would definitely attest to that! Just getting used to only two legs was troubling enough!”
Kayl tried not to laugh, but he found the expression on Twilight’s face to be ridiculous. He cracked a smile and shook his head to Celestia.
The entire situation, everyone’s behavior, this world and its social structure, the ideas and foundations of friendship and harmony were so very different from Kayl’s view of the world. All at once he found himself feeling very amused and yet quite annoyed at the same time.
“You’re far too kind, thank you. I hope that I don’t sound rude however, as I say that you are right about one thing. I do not wish to remain this way. It was not my wish to come here, and unfortunately I have a great deal of responsibilities to uphold in my own world.
Twilight has told me that you might be able to help explain how I got here. She also says that all of her friends would be willing to help me. Me, who they hadn't even met.
She can't speak for so many so quickly I think. Her hospitality to me has been overwhelming, but I’m afraid it might be wasted on one like me. Where you all speak of friendship, I see only extortion.
And even now, I find myself more at your mercy then at your leisure. There's no use in such a thing as friendship. And while I find I can't refuse your help, I'd rather not be pandered to. I just have no time for friendship, your highness...”
His words had fallen from him with out care. He was honest, brutally so, and it garnered quite a number of stares from everyone in the room. Kayl had insulted this idea of friendship again, and as he stood frozen in the center of the hall he did not know what to say, and was unsure if what he had done was a crime.
Unbeknownst to him, Twilight had exchanged views with Celestia. In her wisdom and skill, the ruler of equestrian could easily divert attention between the two just as easily as if she was showing it equally to both. Kayl however, was still wracked with fear. Finally, Celestia spoke.
“It would seem that you have come here Kayl, for perhaps some greater purpose than what you initially thought. However, I’m afraid that Twilight’s belief that I will be able to send you back to where you came is unfortunately untrue.”
Twilight lunged forward, “What do you mean Princess?”
"Unfortunately Twilight" began Celestia, "since you have passed through the mirror to the human world. The mirror has been destroyed.”