//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - Calm before the storm // Story: My Little Dashie: Help from another universe // by BlazeGriff1n //------------------------------// Chapter 3 - Calm before the storm It's been 10 years now. At work I have developed professionally and can now take on managerial tasks. I am now working in administration. In the meantime my company has been set up in such a way that I can do the job comfortably from home on the computer. What actually only means to me: Relaxing, enjoy the peace and quiet...and also life as far as it was possible. In real life I'm actually more of a stay-at-home. I don't travel much. But when I go out, I try to make the whole day worth living for me. But even if a lot had happened in these 10 years, I remember of course every day my meeting with Rainbow Dash, and that was also an event, which I will not forget so fast. I haven't heard from her since that day. The last thing I noticed all those years ago was that „My Little Dashie" was continued and I realized how important it was for Rainbow to be back with her dad again. Probably Rainbow didn't tell her dad about me or just forgot me after all this time. And I don't mean that sarcastically. It was important for me that both were together again. And now I'm lying here again in my dream world lazily on the green meadow and see the sun slowly setting again as I looked at the Twin Towers again. „Do you think I'll see her again sometime, Marlene? Will we ever sit on that roof together again?" I asked. „I don't know. But I can tell you one thing. Since she came into this world, we also feel something at the sight of the two towers. I don't know how, but somehow you have brought them to life. „You said that beautifully, Marlene." Suddenly I noticed how a magic ball formed in front of us. I could see six ponies standing in there, one of them was very big and seemed to wear a crown. As the magic ball dissolved, a lilac-coloured unicorn came running towards me and looked around in amazement. „Here I had seen Rainbow. She was here, for sure!" she shouted to the big pony. Her eyes immediately fell on me. I was also astonished why ponies with magic can now be transported into my dream world, but I did not want to be rude and greeted them and walked towards the purple unicorn. „Stop, Human! Don't you dare to get closer to us." called the big unicorn behind her. The others immediately took cover behind her. „Be calm, I don't want to do anything to you! What are you doing here?" I said slightly frightened. „Princess Celestia, is it dangerous?" asked the purple unicorn. „I'm not sure, Twilight..." the pony looked at me skeptically. „I am not dangerous. You are safe here. This is not the earth, nobody will hurt you..." Then they looked at Marlene, who still couldn't believe what was happening. „All right, Human..." the princess said in a calmer voice „Where is she?" I knew immediately who they were talking about. „I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash isn't here." „WHERE IS SHE?" she yelled at me, so I had to take a few steps back. „You...you missed her...she hasn't been here for a very long time..." „What have you done with her?" the princess said now angrier, her horn began to glow yellow. Then Marlene intervened. „We don't have Rainbow Dash. She's back home on earth again." „On...the...earth?" said the princess and her gaze froze. „...How dare you to..." Now my patience was at the end. I couldn't hold myself back anymore. „Tell me, what is your problem? What kind of royal stag do you think you are to..." „Stop right there…" said the princess threateningly. „No, now you shut your mouth, you stubborn git!" I shouted at her. The princess and the ponies stopped bewildered, as did Marlene, who stared at me diagonally from the side. But I wanted to say this sentence to someone too gladly times. „I don't know what your damn problem is, but we haven't done anything to you, but you come here and threaten us. Listen carefully, this is my dream world and if you want to stay I suggest that you tell us what you want from Rainbow Dash. Otherwise you can go right back to where you came from." The princess thought about her next words as the purple unicorn slowly stepped forward. „We're...sorry, we didn't mean to be rude, but it's urgent. We're looking for Rainbow Dash to bring her home again. When I set out to search for her with a spell, I saw this place. That's why we're here." I crouched down to the purple unicorn. „I thank you. Twilight was the name, right? Too bad you're not a princess. Otherwise Celestia could learn a lot from your behaviour." I grinned. From Twilight's mouth came only a shameful giggle, which was very unpleasant for Celestia. But apparently she realized that I had no bad intentions, so her facial expression became more relaxed. „Well...I think I have to apologize too. I just hadn't expected to meet a human being." „What is so bad about the fact that I am a human being?" The ponies also looked at Celestia questioningly. „This is not the right time to explain that, but I am asking you to help us. How did Rainbow get to earth?" „I am responsible for it. When Rainbow Dash appeared in my world, we were looking for a way to bring something from the dream world into the real world. After all, we had a solution..." I went with them to the HQ of Penguins, where Kowalski showed his invention. The ponies looked at the penguins skeptically at first, but Twilight immediately showed an interest in the machine and examined it. „That's very interesting! How does it work?" Kowalski cleared his throat and began: „Well, apparently it is possible to create an interuniversal connection by means of quantum corelation and terrestrial provenance. Thus Rainbow Dash was able to reach Earth." The ponies stared at him in bewilderment. Only Twilight was fascinated by his words. „But doesn't travelling at the same time create a chronology dilatation counter-reaction?" „If the quantum corelation does not stop the chronology dilatation counter-reaction, I have integrated a metric variable to automatically adjust the destination of the composition if necessary. Fantastic, isn't it?" Kowalski said enthusiastically. „Fantastic!" cheered Twilight. „Uh yes, mister." said the orange pony, „But ah have a question: How does it work again?" Giggling spread around in the group, but I already knew how the machine worked. „Through me, the machine makes sure everyone in the other capsule gets into mine." „But it only works in one direction, doesn't it?" Twilight said, „How do we get back? Besides, the machine is way too small for all of us." Kowalski thought for a moment. „It might be possible that..." He brought out a stack of blueprints under the table. „Why didn't I think of it earlier? I could have built my Chronotron right from the scratch! But it is possible..." „Would you share your knowledge with the class, Kowalski?" I asked him. „I could convert the machine into a portal to make a permanent connection. Oh I can hardly wait! Little unicorn, would you like to help me with my work?" Twilight was very happy about the invitation and went straight to work. The other ponies watched the two with interest as they worked, but Celestia asked me to talk to them in private outside the laboratory. As we stood outside she turned away from me at first. „It was wrong of me to think that you were a danger to me and my ponies. You know, there was a time when I lived among humans, but many of them were not friendly to me. It's nothing personal, I just wanted to protect my ponies". „I understand that well, Celestia. In my life I have also met many people who have often brought me nothing good. And I can understand how concerned you are about Rainbow Dash's safety on earth. But I can tell you that she is with a good person who takes care of her." „Thank you for your understanding. I hope we can find her soon." We spent the whole day in the lab and the ponies talked to the penguins about all kinds of things, apparently both sides were interested in learning from each other. By now it was almost evening when Twilight and Kowalski were finished. I just hoped that my alarm clock wouldn't drag me out of my dream beforehand. When we looked at the machine again the two beds had disappeared and instead a large metal ring with a big sphere was hanging over the ground and was attached to three giant steel pedestals. The construction was largely made of wood, but it looked stable. „Come on in. Just stand under the ring together and we can get started." Twilight absolutely wanted to try out the machine right away, but the anticipation of the other ponies was limited. Celestia and I were the last to join them. „Everybody ready? Then it's time to wake up!" Kowalski pulled on a lever and in the next moment I saw black in front of my eyes. I tried to grab something around me and noticed that I was lying in my bed. I opened my eyes and looked around. It was very early in the morning. I looked around my room and looked at the balcony. Apparently it was a bit bigger than I thought. It was a tight fit, but Celestia and the ponies had arrived safely. I opened the balcony door and let her into my apartment. „So this is your home. Interesting..." Celestia examined my apartment. I just couldn't tell from her look whether she was disappointed or surprised. Anyway, this seemed to be a new discovery for her. „Okay, Twilight. Where is Rainbow Dash?" Twilight murmured a few incomprehensible words in front of her and her eyes began to glow white. When they were already glaring white, she was startled for a moment and her eyes became clear again. „I know where she is, we can get her." „Can't I come with you?" I asked her. „No, the teleportation spell doesn't work on humans. I'm afraid you have to wait here for our return. We'll meet here again when I let the sun go down." „Celestia, here in the real world...the sun sets on its own." I said with a slight grin. „Oh, that is...practical. I'll see you later." I had a queasy feeling when they all disappeared. Celestia seemed to be in quite a hurry to bring Rainbow Dash back to Equestria. She didn't even ask me why Rainbow was on the earth in the first place. What was going to happen now? Would they take Rainbow Dash back to Equestria? What would her father say about that? But it was the right decision to help them. Rainbow Dash doesn't belong in this world and somehow I wished that someday this day would come. To be honest, I was glad that she would return now. So I spent the day outside my apartment to pass the time a bit until evening came. Admittedly, I was a bit queasy to look her in the eyes again after 10 years. But I think that Celestia was thinking the same at that moment. When I arrived home again, the sun had almost set. I entered the apartment and I waited until the ponies appeared in front of my eyes. They had Rainbow Dash with them, but she seemed to be unconscious. Before they went through the portal I yelled at Celestia. „Hey, stop right there! What did you do to her?" „I'm sorry." Celestia said and her horn began to shine in a bright yellow light. Then my vision went black. I went unconscious and woke up again after a few minutes. What happened? Why was I lying on my back? Did I fall for some reason? When my vision got clear I was horrified to find out that the portal had disappeared. What should I do now? As soon as Celestia and the other ponies would come back, I would have no way to bring them home. They would be trapped on earth. I walked nervously back and forth for several hours in my apartment and wondered what I should do now. But the sun had long since set, where did they stay? The thought came to me that Celestia and the ponies already have at home. But then why was the portal closed? How was I supposed to know how the story ended? The fan fiction, of course! How could I forget that? I remember I stopped reading it after Rainbow Dash's disappearance because I didn't have to worry about her anymore. When she arrived at her daddy's, I had no reason to read it any more. She was happy again, everything else was no longer important to me. I had to check immediately if something had happened. It was a long time ago that I continued reading „My Little Dashie". I started at the place where she found her dad again. Everything went well...but...there was something. Celestia actually showed up with the ponies in the story. It was about Rainbow Dash going back to Equestria and...was it really written here? I read the line again. A mind spell removed all memories of Dashie about her dad. No, that could not be true. Her dad couldn't allow that...I couldn't allow that! I had to do something… ...Wait… Wasn't it exactly what I hoped it would happen? So why did I feel guilty for it? She was home again and that was all it was about! No. I wanted her to go back home, but was that what she wanted? It didn't sound in the story as if she wanted to go back to Equestria. She couldn't even remember it. Maybe…she was already at home...with her daddy. And now I had destroyed everything by bringing her back to a world she doesn't even know anymore. What had I done? It broke my heart to think about it. I just wanted my little Dashie to be happy, but now...wait...did I just call her 'Dashie'? Apparently I already felt myself like her father. But even if I wasn't him, I had to know if she was all right. And after the portal had closed, there was only the good old way to find out. I just wondered how it was possible for me to fall asleep in the next minutes, although I was totally excited. Shortly afterwards I found myself in my dream world again, but my alarm clock should not bother me this time. I woke up in Marlene's habitat where she was already waiting for me. She had tears in her eyes. „Marlene! What happened" I asked. „Thank God, you are alright! I was already worried that something had happened to you." „What should have happened to me? Where are the ponies? What happened to the portal?" „The ponies took it with them. Celestia said that the gate between this world and reality should never be opened again." Probably Celestia had done it for a good reason to protect her ponies. But she shouldn't have ignored me. „Wait...she has been here and has simply taken the portal with her? Who does this princess think she is? I mean, without the portal Dashie will never be able to go back to her dad again." „Yes, but she is not from Earth. She means Celestia just as much as she does to her daddy." „If Rainbow Dash meant so much to her, she wouldn't have erased her memories." Marlene suddenly hooked in. „Why should her memories be erased?" „The story says that Celestia had erased her memories." „Hm...it probably made it easier for Rainbow Dash to say goodbye to her father and live her former life in Equestria again," Marlene said. „But...I have to do something about it. My Dashie wouldn't give up so easily either!" „I'm afraid we can't interfere with the story just because we don't like the ending." „What if you could change the story of a beautiful friendship? That it's not just a story about life and loss?" „You're right. „You're right, but we don't even know where Equestria is and how do you get there." „Ten years ago Twilight saw Rainbow Dash as she appeared in my world. The ponies couldn't travel directly to the real world, but needed our help. So if there was a way into my world for them, there is a way into theirs." „I don't know..." she hesitated. „Think of her father. At first he will be able to bear that she is no longer with him. But you know as well as I do that loneliness can cost a terrible price in the long run." She looked at me and realized that I was talking about my past myself before I got to know her. Then she nodded to me without saying a word because her eyes told me: It's okay. „Marlene, I'm flying to Equestria and there's nothing to stop me now!"