Selene had a couple of gems in her magic grip and set them into the saddle bags Rarity made for her not long after she arrived. The Human Pinkie had already gone back to get her human friends while Twilight and I got ready to go. Pinkie had wanted to come but had promised to look after the Cake twins. Selene promised to take pictures for the group so they could at least see the other world. For herself, it was a chance to be human again -- Granted it would be a humanized version of this body but still the nostalgia alone would make it worth it. All set to go, she headed back down to the library and saw Twilight already there giving Spike a longwinded summary.
“I know you want to go Spike but this isn't a crisis like the last two times and I need somebody to take care of the castle duties while I'm away.” Spike didn't look fully convinced and Twilight put a hoof under his chin and raised his head to meet her eyes. She had that kind, motherly smile on. “Spike, if anything happens over there, I have Selene with me, and I can always send a message to you. Likewise, if something should happen here I would need you to let me know. I'm counting on my Number One Assistant for this task.” She saw the baby dragon puff up with pride.
“You can count on me Twi!” Twilight looked up and saw Selene.
“Hey, you ready?”
“Ready and willing. I made sure that Luna knows where I hid the cakes so she can give them to Celestia at her leisure. I also left enough pranks around to keep Dashie and Pinkie busy.” Twilight's mouth did its best fish impersonation for a minute before she could respond.
“So you didn't eat them all?” I frowned at Twilight.
“Twilight please, even I can't eat that many cakes. I only had one and Celestia will get them back.....eventually.” Twilight just shook her head at that.
“Well let's get going.” Twilight nodded and I followed her to the portal. Twilight stepped through and after a couple seconds She went through. She was surrounded by dazzling lights and felt really werid.
* * * * *
When Selene could open her eyes again she saw concrete under her. Then she saw black hands below her. She got up and after a couple of wobbles she stood tall and looked down at herself. The shoes were the velcro tennis she loved as tom but in the colors of her hoof shoes and bearing her cutie mark. She had black jeans with a purple shirt with her cutie mark again. She also felt a weight on her head. She reached and grabbed something and pulled in eye sight. It was purple hair. She felt the 'duh' in her head. Of course her mane would not remain ethereal. Resisting the urge to self-facepalm she looked to her right and saw what she guessed was Twilight getting hugged by six girls in their late teens. Nearly all of which looked a tad familiar.
“Hey girls, good to see you again.” She heard Twilight say as she greeted them.
“Likewise darling, I hope Pinkie didn't cause too much trouble?” Selene heard this Rarity ask.
“Nah, she did make it looked that I was trying another multiple Pinkies Prank on Twi.” Selene answered causing the girls to look in her direction.
“Girls, this is my newest friend Selene Light, Selene I think you can guess who's who?” Selene looked over the group and found it odd that the human counter part to her pony friends had the their skin color match the pony fur color. How did that even work?
“Hello girls, a pleasure to meet you. Hey Rarity, I assume you have got a mirror on you some where?”
“Oh course dear. A lady is always prepared.” The the human Rarity replied as she grabbed a little mirror and handed it to Selene. She flipped it opened and looked at her face. As expected it was female and black, a glossy black. That's gonna be weird. What really stood out was her eyes. The whites of her eyes were white again instead of the turquoise she had nearly the pass year to get use to. The other was that her pupils were not slitted anymore. She was looking into Luna's eyes like this. It was kinda freaky when she thought about it. Nothing hit home more that she was a copy of Luna then that. Mentally she shook off that thought and returned the mirror to Rarity.
“Thank you, Rarity. Well, shall we go somewhere to eat?” The nods went around and Selene and Twilight followed them but Selene did glance back and the building nearby. It was U shape with a dome at the bottom of the U with a prancing pony and a six point star. Certainly better looking then her old high school.
“Hurry up Selene!” She heard Pinkie pie yell out and she rush to join the human version of her friends and likely her new set of friends.
* * * * *
Of all the places Selene should have guessed, Sugar Cube Corner. With shakes and baked goods they found a large private table to sit down and talk.
“So Selene, what caused you to want to visit our world?” Rarity asked. Finishing a sip of her shake, Selene answers.
“Well I wanted to see what the human version of my friends would be like and this certainly puts me out of range of Celestia's revenge prank for the time being.”
“Revenge prank? Why would our principle want to revenge prank you?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Because I hid Princess Celestia's store of cakes before coming here. Only me and Luna know where they are.” Selene gave a cheeking grin.
“So Celestia has a thing for cakes?” Rainbow asked to which Selene nodded and bit down on a doughnut. Rainbow started rubbing her hands and had a wicked grin on. Selene believed that she opened a new prank attempt here, and she wasn't disturbed by it.
“I also couldn't pass up the chance to visit a world very much like my old home world before I became Selene.” The 'huh' looks the six girls had were priceless. She began telling them of her story for the next hour. When she had finished the six girls had the jaw drops but the story did not put Selene in the mood for the internal fist pump she usually had. She looked over to Sunset Shimmer, she had heard a bit about the self exiled Equestrian and saw a couple of the letters she wrote to Twilight so she knew her story as well. She reach over and touched Sunset's shoulder. “Both me and Princess Luna know how you feel. And that redemption does work.” Sunset smiled a bit at that to which Selene responded in kind.
“So you were a man before?” Applejack asked. Selene silently nodding. “That just ain't natural.”
“It's better than being dead and I would have never meant you or your pony counterparts.”
“So Selene, I was wondering if you can do me a favor?” Rarity asked as she played with her hair.
“What?” Selene asked cautiously.
“Well your appearance has inspired me and I would just love to make an outfit for you.” Fear shot through Selene. She'd been here before. Slowly getting up she responded.
“I don't think that will be necessary.” Selene looked to Twilight for help only to see her talking with Pinkie with that mischievous grin.
'Twilight, you're gonna get it later for this.'
“But I must insist dear. So many IIIIIDDDDDEEEAAAASSS!” At this point Selene was left with one option that she hoped had better results this time around. She ran for the door.
“NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT AGAIN!” As she moved through the door she swore she saw a light blue woman with night colored hair. She worried about that and the fact that pinkie is likely taking a pic of this. She had another Rarity to escape from.
* * * * * *
Twilight was still with the others laughing at the scene as Vice Principle Luna entered the store with a confused look on her face. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Twilight.
“Twilight Sparkle, can I assume you are responsible for what just happen?”
“Only in the fact I brought my latest friend with me from home and Rarity got inspiration.” Luna looked back the way she came and commented.
“She's doomed. Even I couldn't escape that girl's fashion drive. At least the dress she made me looked good. Now Twilight, what issue has brought you back?”
“Nothing this time. YOUR Pinkie came through the portal and we decided now would be a good time to visit. Besides, Selene was eager to see this world so we came through.” Luna looked at her with wide eyes for a minute before she manage to say....fearfully.
“You mean there's more than one Pinkie Pie?” Twilight nodded. And Pinkie Pie got in front of Twilight.
“Yeah she was just like me, but only a pony but then I was a pony to and TwilightlivesinacoolcastleandthatPinkieevenhadapartycannon....” Twilight saw Luna following her lead in tuning Pinkie out. Twilight knew the look of horror on her face well. It was the 'Dear Celestia, what was Equestria thinking' look. Before anything else could go further the doors opened again and a creepily familiar voice said.
“I'm telling you, Sunset we should head for that school now and get some readings before anything else.”
“Twilight you need food, I need food. The school is not....going....” Everyone paused as Twilight and company looked at the door to see...
Another Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer.