//------------------------------// // Chapter 9, Change of Plans // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 7 -- monsters in the Grass // by shysage //------------------------------// Both Summers and Equestria Girls Pinkie Pie came back safely. And we had all quickly 'run home' to Equestria, and cried a while together with the Equestria ponies in the Portal room. We really did need that. After maybe two hours, we were all just visiting. Well, both Summers and both Fluttershys were all hugging together and crying softly still. This had been especially hard on them. Cel (Princess Celestia) and Lu (Princess Luna) landed on the Portal room balcony, and walked quickly in. Everypony bowed, of course, and Cel had them all quickly up. Cel, Lu, my Mare and I just cried together and hugged for a little while. This had become a family ordeal too, and we were just glad to be home, alive. Summer, even as a pony, still had a large, clearly visible bruise at the base of her neck where the monsters had hit her, hard. This was all very real and scary. "Dad, I don't even know what happened. I want you to write it all down for Lu and I... We want to know..." Cel said quietly. Choking back tears, I said "Cel, I will..." Cel and Lu had tears still in their eyes. "We're sorry, we both need to get back..." Cel said quietly. Lu gave mom (well Summer) and I another big hug, and it seemed they were gone, soon after they arrived. They were busy Princesses. "That was too short..." I said quietly to Summer, and she just nodded. Summer rejoined her Twin and the Fluttershys. Princess Twilight and her Twin were talking together with the Pinkie Pie and Rarity Twins, so I walked up and waited. Princess noticed, looked at me and said "Thank you for bringing my girls home safe." "Princess, I think it was as much Equestria Girls Pinkie Pie as it was my Twin and I. I have already been asked to record the account though, so you will find out. It was amazing" I said slowly. "Well, I'm looking forward to that" she replied. Still, Equestria Girls Pinkie Pie blushed. "It was epic!" she said this, then she laughed. "Yes, Pinkie, you were..." I replied. It was quiet for a minute. "Princess, I have a suggestion, if I may..." I said this awkwardly. "Of course..." She replied. "Princess, since you have a Castle now, you might consider moving the Portal there. I think this would make it much easier for the Equestria Girls to 'drop in' when they can or need" I said slowly and quietly. I could have explained more, but really did only want to make the suggestion. I knew Equestria would tell Princess what to do anyway. "Hmmm... Thank you." she replied after some thought. I bowed a little, then backed away. I didn't really want to intrude on their visiting. My Twin was with the Summers and Fluttershys, and that was fine. What I really wanted to do was curl up next to Summer and cry somewhere. I felt so spent. Besides, rescuing family again... That wasn't the Canterlot Recorder's job... But it had to be done. I walked over to the balcony, and sat down, gazing out across the Crystal Empire, trying not to think... It looked like late afternoon here in Equestria, and we had been in Equestria maybe 3 hours now. "Ok, everypony, please gather around, we need to talk" Princess Twilight said. She wasn't smiling. Well, she was trying to. This was quickly done. Everypony was sitting with their Twin, facing Princess. Well, I walked over next to my Mare and sat down. My Twin was already next to Equestria Girls Summer, who was sitting next to my Mare. "It is the middle of the week, and I understand that most of you cannot stay long today, is that correct?" Princess asked. Most of the Equestria Girls nodded, then frowned. They liked it here, and didn't really want to leave... Equestria Girls Summer Rain immediately burst into tears... "I... I can't... I just can't go back yet..." she sobbed. Amazing friends quickly gathered around her. Still, everyone realized their friend might need a break from her world. I just looked at my Mare and sighed. I didn't like that world either, but so clearly understood what Equestria Girls Summer felt. I nodded to my Mare. "Princess... My Stallion and I will go in our Twin's place" Summer said this slowly and quietly. It was a sacrifice we were both willing to make. I would stay at my 'cubical' again, while Summer stayed with Equestria Girls Fluttershy. And we would need to 'be careful' too. Princess sighed, but fully understood what was going on. "Ok, so while Equestria Girls Summer takes a breather here, their Twins and the rest of the Equestria Girls need to go back today. "Also, I understand school starts soon, so I am thinking that the weekend before school starts, we should all get together here for a few days. This should give all of us something to look forward to." Even so, Princess Twilight had tears in her eyes as she said this. She would miss her Twin too. "I'm sorry girls, I don't like it either, but I think that is the best we can do right now." Princess sighed again. "Ok well let's visit another hour maybe, then the Equestria Girls need to head back through." 'The girls' spent most of that time Soul-Linked, Twin with Twin and that was fine. Even though the visit was short, it was still an amazing privilege, and most everypony appreciated the time together. I explained to my Twin that he and Summer should just stay at our home, and take it easy. I mentioned that we usually ate breakfast on what we could find in the meadow to the East, and he was fine with that. My Twin explained to me where his cell phone and the charger were, in our 'cubical'. He also mentioned that Equestria Girls Fluttershy would take care of contacting the church about his absence. He was sure they would understand. They already knew Summer had been abducted. We didn't Soul Link; I didnt want him to see the turmoil I felt inside. I wanted him to take care of his mare. It was soon time for tearful hugging and good-byes. Equestria Girls Summer had tears in her eyes as she hugged my Mare and I. It was clear she really needed a break, and that was fine. As the last ones through, Summer and I tightly hugged Princess Twilight, then the rest of her amazing ponies, then we held hands, and returned to the Equestria Girls world together.