Standard Disclaimer: I do not own MLP, nor am I in any way affiliated with the author of the story this fic is based upon.

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Chapter Fourteen

Miri shut down the video player on her phone and looked over to where her audience sat with a wide variety of expressions on their faces. They had just finished watching three episodes of the show. "So, um, what did you think?" She asked.

Twilight was slightly more positive. "Well okay, it's a little creepy. But there must be an answer right? We just need to figure it out is all."

"You're all overlooking the most important thing!" An exasperated Spike exclaimed.

Brian said "Spike might have a point in a way... You were looking for clues right? Isn't a big error like that sort of a clue?"

Nodding, Celestia agreed. "It could well be. Did the creators make a mistake regarding Spike's age, or did they know better and alter it on purpose?"

Luna yawned. " I wonder... There is a theory that certain individuals with latent psychic powers might be able to perceive events in other worlds..."

"No, but the power itself must exist on earth." Twilight argued. Otherwise, Rainbow Dash couldn't have flown fast enough to perform a rainboom, and the Princess couldn't have cast the return spell to bring us back home."

"So it could be a hidden thing." Brian mused, "Something they did without even knowing they were doing it."

Barely heard, a quiet voice asked "Excuse me, but I have a question. Um, if that's okay."

"Oh, well... It's just... If our whole world is just a story where they're from then how do we know if we're even real at all?"

"And one I doubt we have to worry about." Celestia said. " After all, I have been visiting earth for a very, very long time. Since long before this cartoon was made. So consider, how could I have gone to earth before the show's creation if we were simply a product of it?"

Celestia replied, "I would like to wait until the gate is ready in four days time before sending you home, rather than simply casting the spell. You are welcome to remain here in the interim if you wish. But, as most of the Bearers will need to return home to Ponyville until we are ready, you may accompany them if you prefer."

"There is no stinkin' way I'm coming here and not seeing Ponyville." Miri said, grinning widely.

"But wait..." Sara asked, "Won't the ponies in town freak out when they see us?"

"Naw. We get lots of travelers passing through from other races." Applejack said. "They'll just think y'all are some kind of hornless minotaurs."

"In any case," Celestia interrupted, "I will send word ahead, arranging rooms for you all at the Ponyville inn."

Luna said "Hopefully Pinkie Pie will be back on her own soon. Either way, though, Tia and I along with the Bearers will accompany you to earth to begin the search for answers to our questions."

"We've been teaching Cadance." Celestia answered. "She should be able to handle it for a short while... And of course with the gate we can return in an instant if needed."

The Bleed. Observing events closely, the entity now knew precisely when and where she could expect Celestia to arrive on earth. And Luna as well. This was almost too good to be true. "Finally, finally I'll be able to speak with them!" She enthused.

She shook her head. "We are still far from it all working out." The entity said. And then a thought occurred to her. "Wait. How are you here? You are still stuck there as well. Surely even you cannot be in two places at once."

"Am I? I mean everyplace in the universe is the same place if you do the math. One little particle sized place. So really, nothing is bigger than a particle."

The entity face hoofed. "I was an Oyarsa. I was there at the founding of creation, watched the nucleation from outside, cheered as the first stars ignited... And your logic makes my head spin..."

"Right. See you soon!" The second being faded away, leaving the entity alone once more.

Back in Equestria, five humans four ponies and a dragon were riding the rails on their way to Ponyville. It was, for the most part, a quiet trip. Well, except for Thomas' freak out when he first caught sight of Cloudsdale. As they rode along, Rainbow and Rarity filled in the humans who were not familiar with the show on what to expect.

"Ponyville, population fifteen thousand." Rarity said. "Mostly earth ponies, though the number of unicorns and pegasi is nothing to sneeze at."

"Batponies." Brian said. "Fifteen thousand... Bigger than it looked in the show."

Rainbow was nodding. "Yeah, I think maybe the show took the easy way and made it seem like a small town so they'd be able to draw it quicker. All the other towns and cities are bigger too."

"So much for all the fanfics that showed ponies shocked at earth's population since there were only a few thousand of you then." Miri said.

Rainbow answered "Yeah. And you can also forget pony harems and uncontrolled heat seasons."

"Trust me, you really don't want to know... Hey wait a minute!" Miri looked at Rainbow. "I get the show but how do you know about fanfics?"

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck and explained, "After I found out about the show, I got curious. Started watching some episodes, and well, I looked it up online too."

Earth. Pinkie Pie bounced her way down the dreary hallways of the underground base. She knew that she was going to be recaptured eventually. The script for chapter fifteen said so. Still, she had time, and something important to do first. "But that can wait. Somepony has got to do something about the terrible decorating in this place."

From down the curving hall, Pinkie heard the shouts of her pursuers. She nodded to herself. There was just enough time. She spun into a flurry of work, doing in mere seconds what should have taken hours or days. Finished, she examined the results and nodded in approval. Then, hearing the sound of soldiers drawing near, she bounced away down the hall. As she went, her thoughts turned to one of the cartoons she had seen in the motel room, and she sang:

"I'm Pinkie and my brain,
Yes Pinkie and my brain;
My schemes are ingenious,
But they call me insane;
Don't make me say this twice,
A party would be nice;
I'm Pinkie,
I'm Pinkie and my
Brain brain brain brain
Brain brain brain brain
Brain!!!”

"Before each day is done,
My plan will be unfurled;
By the setting of the sun,
I'll save another world;"

"I'm Pinkie and my brain,
Yes Pinkie and my brain;
My daily campaign,
No human can explain;
To prove my equine worth,
I'll jump from earth to earth;
I'm Pinkie,
I'm Pinkie and my
Brain brain brain brain
Brain brain brain brain
Brain brain brain brain-"

All through the base, personnel jumped as the word "NARF!" Echoed loudly through the halls...

"What the hell was that!?" General Carver demanded. He was leading Agent Helms and a squad of soldiers on a hunt for the escapee when the shouted “NARF!” echoed past them.

Secret agent and soldiers rushed forward, down the wide hallway. But when they rounded a bend, all of them came to a sudden stop, staring in surprise at the scene before them. Pinkie had managed to redecorate a hundred foot stretch of hall. The walls were painted bright pink, with butter yellow and sky blue highlights. Thousands of balloons clustered along the ceiling, and everything was covered in confetti and party streamers."

Carver sighed. This thing was really getting on his last nerve. "All right men, forward."

"Begging your pardon General sir, but is that safe? The alien could've put anything in those balloons."

"Never mind him sir." Another soldier said. "He's just been afraid of balloons since he watched 'Killer Klowns from Outer Space.'"

The first soldier was about to cuss his teammate when Pinkie appeared in the midst of the group and said "Killer clowns!? Ooh, what is with you humans? Clowns are funny not scary!"

Let it be noted that the troops reacted admirably, instantly moving to try to recapture their quarry. The fact that they failed should in no way be counted against them, considering the nature of what they were up against. Pinkie squeezed between the first two, still pondering scary clowns. "Then again, there was that Gacy guy..." She leapt over another's head. "...and the Joker..." Dodged a soldier with a net. "... Pennywise, Emmitt Kelly, Kefka Pallazo, Cirque du Soley..." A frown crossed Pinkie's face and she jumped up, getting right in General Carver's face and said "Wow. You guys are right. Clowns are scary." She jumped down and bounced away down the hall, soldiers in hot pursuit...

Back in Equestria, the train was just pulling into the Ponyville station. Brian gaped out the window, amazed to actually be here. "Wow..." He whispered.

"Well don't just sit there gawkin'." Applejack said. "Let's get y'all to the inn."

Rarity shook her head. "It's a bit late for that dear. The sun will be down within the hour. Better to wait for tomorrow."

"No, she's right Dashie. We should save any sightseeing for when it's light out." Brian said.

After leaving the train station, Rainbow led the way through town towards the inn. Given the size of Ponyville, it was a twenty minute walk. Near the end of the trip, they passed the town library, inside a tree just as in the cartoon, though a much larger tree, bigger than a giant sequoia in girth and nearly the height of a redwood. "This is my stop." Spike said as he opened the front door. "I'll see you all tomorrow morning... In fact, why don't we meet up here?"

The inn was two blocks further along the same street. As they stepped into the lobby, they were greeted by a large pegasus stallion with a blue coat and purple mane. "Welcome! You must be the guests the crown is paying for."

"Good, good. Well, I must say I get minotaurs two or three times a month, but you all are the first hornless ones I've ever seen."

Applejack chuckled at the fact that her guess on what townsponies would make of humans was right. "They ain't minotaurs Ramada, they're what'cha call humans."

"Like what miss Heartstrings is always going on about? Well I'll be... Always thought the poor dear was cracked in the head." Ramada stretched out his wings, then tucking them back away he said "Anyway, I expect you'd like to see your rooms. This way please..."

Dashie: Twenty Percent Cooler

by Kieva Lynn

Fourteen