//------------------------------// // Plans // Story: A Love For Madness // by ShadeJak //------------------------------// The next hour and twenty minutes went by like a breeze. I’d always enjoyed it, and Celestia seemed to as far as I could tell, though I knew that even years after it and its sequel came out the petty drama over it still existed. I guess you can’t please everyone. Needless to say, Alice had a blast cosplaying Rainbow Dash’s human counterpart from the movie at a few of the conventions, especially when it caused childish tantrums from the movie’s haters who considered themselves the “true” fans of the show. I couldn’t help but wonder how closely the movie followed what had actually happened. Was it actually Earth? Another reality? I looked over at Celestia to see what she’d have to say. “It would be great if that movie was true,” Celestia mused as the credits rolled. “We would have an easy way back... home.” “Yeah, but even if it were, we'd have no way of knowing where to look.” I answered, smirking as the human version of Derpy appeared dancing with a muffin. “The more anal fans can screw themselves. I love this movie...” Alice remarked, then turned and noticed Celestia, who appeared to be in deep thought. “Is everything alright?” she asked. “Sunset...” the other alicorn muttered softly. “Sunset?” I asked. “Do you think she means Sunset Shimmer?” Peachy asked, rubbing her chin with her hoof. “Technically she was her teacher after all.” “I figured so...” I leaned over to the other alicorn. “Aunt Celestia... do you remember her, now?” I asked. “Barely,” she answered, shaking her head. “All I can remember about her is very nebulous.” “I have the comic that explains her backstory,” Alice replied. “What do you remember of her?” “Only a little moment...” Celestia answered, looking away for a moment. Alice immediately got up, heading towards her room. “Let me go get the comic, it may help explain some things,” she explained. “Even if it would be truth, the portal might be to another Earth. I don't recall ever seeing an orange or blue human,” Peachy remarked, pausing as she noticed Celestia smirking, as though something had happened between them that would disprove that statement. “Nevermind, a purple one though that's out of the way. And seriously, somepony named Rainbow Dash would have gathered the attention of bronies everywhere.” “No doubt,” I replied. “Heck, all their names. But... Aunt Celestia... does any of this feel familiar to you?” Celestia frowned again. “I'm afraid it's too nebulous to say either way… which is weird in itself as all my other memories were clear as crystal.” “But does she feel familiar?” I asked. Celestia nodded slowly. “…She does.” “…then there's gotta be at least something in this movie that's true,” I replied as Alice returned with the comic. “Then Sunset Shimmer's as real as any of the rest of you,” she said. “How probable do you think it would be that the creators of MLP made the humans look that way so it fit more with the pony version?” Peachy asked. Alice gave a shrug. “Or just to prevent ethnicity butthurt,” she said, laying the comic down in front of Celestia. “Anyway, that's the comic that details Sunset Shimmer's history.” “Thanks Alice. I'll read it right away,” Celestia answered, using her magic to open the comic and she began to read. “I wonder what's real and what's not, then,” Alice mused. “If the movie IS somehow referencing a time where Twilight actually came to Earth... I mean if you all can end up here, now, then it could be possible, right?” Celestia began to look uneasy. “If it was truly here that the portal sent Twilight, then Luna should be able to easily find Shimmer.” “And if she does?” I asked. “She would know where the portal is, giving us time to properly plan or counterattack,” Celestia answered. That would make it easy to get back, in theory, provided… I realized then that given the time the movie came out, within the amount of time seasons four and five occurred there was a chance that… The portal could have opened again… “If she can remember…” I said quietly. “Why wouldn't she?” Celestia asked, confused. “If she never tried going back, but if she did...” I explained. The other alicorn’s eyes widened as she got my meaning. “Oh…” she looked downcast. “I would still need to find her... And the five humans who helped Twilight might still be alive.” “I guess there's a lot on your plate, then,” Alice said. “Yeah, there's gotta be someone who knows if this was all real, if there's a way back to Equestria from here,” I added. “Meanwhile... I have a few... unresolved matters of my own to worry about.” My kingdom… my daughter… Shining Armor… my parents, oh geez that was something I was worried about dealing with. Whether they accept me like this or reject me outright things won’t be the same, and I’m not sure which outcome would ultimately be easier to live with. “Yes, it is a lot.” Celestia answered, sighing. “Hey! How strong is Discord anyway?” Peachy asked suddenly. “I mean, he must have some kind of limits.” “If he's anything like the show, the answer is "extremely",” Alice replied flatly. “He tortured me with nightmares and hallucinations through an aspect, so he can be in several places at once. I wouldn't put it past the idea he can move in and out of Equestria and Earth whenever he wants. Then of course, he can warp reality on a fundamental level and twist ponies... and maybe other things' personalities to their polar opposite,” I explained, shuddering from the memories of what he’d put me through. “Through an aspect,” Celestia replied. Her statement confused me. “Huh?” I wasn’t really sure where she was getting at. “He only used aspects against us so far,” Celestia explained. “Discord is not stupid, he should have known that it wouldn't stop us for long.” “He can cover a lot more ground that way,” I replied. “The world's a big place after all. “Yet, after the Elements of Harmony, we are his biggest threats,” Celestia continued. “…Needs a way to keep us down, I guess,” I answered, still uneased. “Actually, Tia has a point,” Peachy said. “Why let possible threats recover while you could have struck them down while they are at their weakest? Maybe his influence on Earth would be limited.” “Yeah... case in point; me,” I muttered, causing Peachy to cringe a little at the implications. Celestia gave me a motherly nuzzle. “I'm afraid that he is keeping you alive on purpose,” she said with a sigh. “I don't think that it will be the last that you hear from him.” I didn’t want to think about what else he could have in store for me. The horrible nightmares I went through, knowing that Shining no longer remembered me, who knew what he’d done with Skyla or the Crystal Empire in my absence. Alice decided to speak up. “The sooner you and Luna can find Sunset Shimmer, the better, I think. From the looks of it she's the best chance you have at finding a way back. “Only if it is the same world,” Celestia replied. “And what if it is?” Alice asked. “Only one way to find out.” A smirk came on Celestia’s face. “Actually, if it is, then we have two more ponies would could know.” “And a dragon,” Peachy pointed out. “It would be cool to meet Spike!” “You mean Twilight?” I asked. Celestia’s smile remained as she nodded. “I wonder who the last pony could be,” she said rhetorically. It took me a moment to realize Twilight likely told Celestia everything soon after, being her student and all. “When you do find out anything, please let me know... there's a lot I need to get back to as well,” I explained, climbing down from the couch and stretching. “We will do that,” Celestia answered, gettng off the couch and stretching as well while Peachy just use the free space she now had on the sofa to curl up. “Does one of you have a computer with a mic that I could borrow?” the other alicorn asked. “I'd prefer to avoid having to deal with a grumpy Luna in my dreams.” “Right, mine should be in my bag I got back from the mental hospital,” I replied, walking over to where I’d left my messenger bag and nudging it open with my muzzle. Focusing, I used my magic to pull my laptop out, floating it over to Celestia. Peachy immediately started laughing. “Nopony would expect that laptop to belong to a cute pink pony princess,” she said. I sighed loudly as I looked over my black gaming laptop with the COBRA logo from GI-Joe printed over top of it. I suppose at this point it was rather comical when put next to me given my current and likely permanent state. “...Nopo—noBODY would have thought its owner would have turned into one,” I replied. “Celestia smiled at me reaction as she caught the laptop and its cord in her magic aura. “I wonder… do you have any preferences for pink now?” she asked, setting them down to connect them and start the computer up. I blushed heavily. “I... never tested that theory, I try not to but I can't help but find things...” I glanced over at Peachy. “…a lot cuter then before for some reason.” The filly immediately gave me puppy-dog eyes, prompting an involuntary and rather girlish giggle out of me. Why did they have to be so… adorable?! “You learn fast.” Alice said with a smirk, making a fist and bumping it against Peachy’s hoof. “Actually, I should probably contact her in the guest room,” Celestia said. “I'm too afraid to think what Peachy’s new found cuteness would do to her.” “Good point. She might get distracted,” I replied, smirking at the filly. “I know another alicorn who already is,” Celestia said with a wink at me as she floated the laptop and cords to the guest room, leaving me blushing in embarrassment. As soon as she was gone, Peachy approached me, staring up at me with those big round eyes. “You know, there is nothing wrong to liking girlish things now,” she said, smiling. “I-I think th-that got established when the show came out,” I remarked, stepping back nervously. Of course, the fact I now looked the epitome of girly things didn’t exactly help my case. The filly grinned mischievously at Alice. “I think she needs the talk too,” she told her. “You know, about embracing her girly side,” Peachy pondered her comments for a moment. “I wonder if adults can do puppy eyes too.” “I-I don't think we can,” I said, brushing back my mane nervously with my forehoof and wondering what sort of education Alice had given the young filly because she seemed different now, less ashamed about her current state for one thing. “…At least not as effectively.” Peachy giggled. “Could we talk about... filly stuff? Like makeup? I'd like to be ready for when I'll meet my sisters again,” she said. “I guess that can't hurt, though I don't know how it can be applied onto ponies,” Alice replied. “That wouldn't stop them from trying,” Peachy mumbled. “I take it they were in the I-wanna-be-a-pretty-princess phase?” Alice asked with a laugh. “I'm afraid so... meeting the princesses didn't help...” the filly replied. “Hm, wonder how they'd react to meeting this one,” Alice replied, winking at me and causing me to blush even more and Peachy to laugh again. “Have a pink gasp,” the filly said. I gave an eyeroll. “Aw, I'm not THAT big a deal compared to Celestia or Luna…” “Well, I'm afraid that the title of best foalsitter is already taken,” Peachy replied, presumably referring to her foalsitter I’d been told about. “I'm fine with that,” I said. “I'm already that for Twilight apparently.” “But I'm sure they would love your little dance,” she said with a knowing wink. “Ohhh no. I’m not doing that again!” I protested. What was I… she… thinking when that dance was devised… it was cute to watch but seemed rather silly to do. Peachy immediately began trotting in place. “Sunshine, sunshine…” “...Ladybugs.. awake...” I muttered in response, then facehoofed. “I sure hope I've gotten over all these... changes... if I run into Twilight and she remembers this.” No doubt she’d try to instigate it with me the moment she sees me should I ever run into her. “I'm sure she will,” Peachy replied. “I'd feel like such a dork if I have to do it though,” I said. “...as obscenely adorable as Twilight was as a filly…” My earlier observation seemed to be ringing true; I seemed to feel a stronger emotional sense to cute things now. “Silly Princess, you would just be yourself,” Peachy said with a smile. Clearly she was already in the process of practicing what she preached, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it’d make me happier if I did embrace this part of me a little more as best I could, especially with no apparent way of going back and there being so much I needed to return to. I didn’t have to love it, but maybe fight it a little less. “Oh, she will. Once I get what I planned done,” Alice remarked. “I still have a few things to work out... knowing that I'm a mother being one of them,” I said, blushing. “Oh right...” Peachy said, suddenly looking downcast and I realized I’d hit a sensitive spot as there was still no idea what could have happened to her pony parents. “Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry,” I pleaded, but the filly just looked back up at me with a small but sad smile. “It's ok,” she said with a sigh. “I wonder how my human parents are going to take it.” “Believe me, I'm wondering the same with mine,” I said. “…"Oh hi, Mom, Dad! I know I don't look it but I'm really your son! That's right, you have a daughter now and she's a magical pony princess!",” I said, rolling my eyes. “Hi mommy, daddy! You remember the son that you could count on to foalsit his little sisters? I'm afraid that he is now the youngest sister,” Peachy answered in mock-cheerfulness, making me laugh. “But! Don't worry, my sisters dresses also fit me,” she added, rolling her eyes. I suspected her sisters probably loved being this way, though not out of some idiot wish-fulfillment that’d make me question the sanity of someone older, but rather just because they were kids and much more innocent, thus probably not able to really perceive the severity of all this. I couldn’t help but envy that sort of blissful unawareness childhood had. “I can only imagine how it is when the three of you are together,” Alice said. “I prefer not to,” Peachy replied with a blush. “Think they'll be jealous you met me?” I asked. “Probably,” the filly replied, before suddenly perking up. “I know! Let spy on Tia!” “Sounds good, but how about we fix up this princess's mane first?” Alice asked. “No offense, Cadance, but you're still an amateur to that.” “I agree with Alice. I suppose she could teach both of us,” Peachy said. “I guess you're right,” I muttered, beginning to follow Alice as she lead us to her room, but an idea came and I stopped, turning to look back at the filly. “Want a ride? If you can fly up to my back you can ride,” I offered with a smile. Peachy sighed. “I'd prefer to practice first…” “Give it a try,” I said, smiling more gently. “I promise it'll be alright.” I gave Alice a wink then turned my attention back on the filly. “Fine...” Peachy stretched her wings and jumped in the air, hovering in place as her wings beat repeatedly. “Alright, now try to move towards me,” I instructed, ready to use my magic to catch her if she fell. “Just keep calm, don't strain yourself…” Peachy’s eyes widened in amazement. “Wait, I'm in the air?” she asked, overcome with childlike excitement. “Yes, you are!” I encouraged. “Yay!” the young filly cheered, attempting to fly towards me and land on my back. “Don't worry, I won't let you fall. You can make it,” I assured. “That was great!” Peachy said, landing softly. “…And weird. It was like it wasn't the first time I flew,” she mused. “You did great... and who knows, maybe the you from the past has flown before, so you might catch on to it a little quicker then you think,” I suggested, giving her a small, maternal nuzzle. “Maybe. I'll need to ask Breezy though. I recall that her Cutie Mark looks like the wind,” the filly replied as I resumed walking towards Alice’s room. “I suppose you could,” I said. That little moment felt odd, yet somehow… right. That whole time I felt like it was all something I’ve done with foals before. Was it from a part of… the old me? It all felt so natural to be that way with foals, to encourage them to do their best and dote on them. Princess Cadance was as loving as she was beautiful, and thinking about what I did there somehow felt very… heartwarming. “At any rate, hope you learn a thing or two from this,” Alice said, interrupting my train of thought. “I doubt I'll be able to keep doing your mane for you.” “Who knows, I might have to do my sisters' mane,” Peachy answered as we entered, approaching a large full-body mirror while Alice got out one of her brushes and sat next to me, getting to work on my mane. Moments passed and Alice managed to restyle it to the look Cadance wore in the show, and again I was caught off-guard by the results. “Soon as I have the chance, I'm gonna see if I can make that stuff the Cadance in the show wore. I mean, I have the crown and neckpiece from that one time I cosplayed the humanized version of her... dunno if they'll fit you though,” Alice said, looking me over and causing me to blush as I tried to imagine myself in Cadance’s regalia. “That, I want to see,” Peachy said. “I suppose we could find out. Assuming I still have them,” Alice replied, smirking as she went to her closet and went through a box sitting on a shelf. “Tia is unlikely to want to wear hers for a while,” the filly whispered into my ear. “Found 'em. Let's see how this looks,” Alice announced, returning with her cosplay jewelry. I closed my eyes and let her put them on for me. The necklace felt a little loose, but the crown-thingy… was it a crown? A hairpiece? I never really could tell… either way it seemed to fit just fine. As I reopened my eyes, I saw Peachy just staring at me. “What?” I asked. “Princess,” she answered. “I...” I turned and looked at my reflection and just froze in place… The conversation going on between Alice and Pinkie Peach just sort of faded out as I stared at myself. The regalia had been only minor additions but they had such an effect on how I looked. Princess Cadance wasn’t just beautiful… she was absolutely stunning! Her slender, curvaceous form was a work of art, her long and glamorous mane was soft as silk, her lovely purple eyes were like amethyst gems… it was a little strange, still… knowing the vision of royal beauty in the mirror was me… No wonder Shining Armor fell so hard for her. Then again he was quite the head-turner himself and I could recall, faintly for a moment, how badly I fell for him so long ago. My heart suddenly ached again, a part of me wishing he was here… to have back the times I couldn’t remember but felt myself longing for… “You still there Cadance?” Alice’s voice interrupted, becoming less and less distant as her hand suddenly appeared in front of my face. Shaking my head, I snapped back to reality and saw myself again. “My god, I'm...” “Gorgeous, sweetie. I get a resizing for the neck part, it'll look even more so. The shoes are out of the question, though. Sorry some things just can't be replicated,” she replied. I suppose I couldn’t be surprised. The metallic shoes the royal characters sometimes wore would have probably taken more measuring and better materials then Alice could probably afford. Still, with the rest on… “You look like a princess,” Peachy said, smiling and having climbed closer to get a better look at me. Finally breaking my attention from the mirror, I turned my head towards her, rubbing my chin with my forehoof thoughtfully. “Speaking of princesses, why don't we go check on the other two?” I asked, smiling deviously. Peachy bounced in excitement. “Good idea! I 'd love to try my new trick on Luna.” “I'd ask if I can record it, but I can't remember where my camera is,” Alice remarked. Shame, I’d have loved to immortalize Luna’s reaction if that weakness for foals was true. “Well, mustn't keep royalty waiting, must we?” I asked, smirking as I turned to leave the guest room, filly on my back.