Celestia eagerly awaited Twilight's arrival. She sat on her throne and went about royal business as usual. She was only able to keep half her attention on the royal tasks she had to do, though. As much as she was worried about this new Austin, she had to admit she was just as curious about him. Maybe she was a bit too hard on Luna about him. She sighed and put away the stack of paperwork that required her royal seal. They would get done later. Eventually. Just in time, too as Twilight Sparkle walked into the throne room at that point.
“Twilight! I am glad to see you. And you brought Applejack and Rainbow Dash as well. Good. Where are the others? Why did they not come with you?”
“Oh, they have other things to do.” Twilight said with a smile. She really hoped Celestia couldn't tell if she was lying or not. Technically, it was the truth. Just not all of it.
“Very well. Come with me. All of you.”
Celestia got off her throne and started down a side corridor. The other three followed close behind her. Twilight moved up to walk right beside her. For a moment she didn't say anything. Neither did Celestia, even though she clearly saw Twilight there.
“So. . . . Your letter said something about Luna. Is she alright?”
“Yes, Twilight. Luna is just fine. In fact, I have not seen her this happy in a very long time. She is smiling more and seems more joyful.”
Applejack scratched her head slightly as she walked. “Eh, pardon me, Princess, but that don't sound like much of a problem to me.”
“Normally I would agree, Applejack, but it is the reason behind this behavior that worries me.”
“What is the reason behind it, Celestia?” Twilight still felt a little strange every time she called Celestia by just her name. This was her former mentor. Twilight was her student. Celestia didn't notice Twilight's plight as she opened the doors to her chambers. Celestia motioned with a hoof at the center of the room. “That would be the reason.”
At the center of the room was Luna. She was smiling, and laughing, and even rolling around a bit. Beside her on the floor was a being. Another being just like the one they found back in Ponyville.
“Are you kidding me?!” Rainbow Dash was the first one to speak out. Twilight and Applejack were still stuck in shock. “There is another one? How many of these damn things are going to pop up?”
“Another one? Twilight, what does she mean?”
Twilight glowed with embarrassment. “Oh, well. You see. We kinda found another one like him back in Ponyville. He fell from the sky in a ball of fire. He didn't know how he got here, though.”
“His story is the same. He crashed into Luna's room and remembers nothing of how he came to be in Equestria. Interesting.”
“Were there any ponies hurt?”
“A few guards got some cuts and bruises, but that was all. A few others came when they heard the commotion. They have been ordered to never speak of what they saw.”
Celestia stood there, deep in thought. Twilight just stared at the second of the creatures to fall from the sky. He looked just like Tessla, relatively speaking. Same body type, around the same height, but different enough in many areas to make them both two separate and distinct individuals. As Twilight thought on it some more her mind rolled back to something Celestia had said just a moment before.
“Wait a second!” She shocked herself out of her own thoughts and shocked everypony else with her sudden outburst. “Celestia, you said he crashed into Luna's room. Why is she so happy and smiley if he crashed into her room? That makes no sense.”
“It would seem that in the moments before it happened Luna wished upon a falling star.” Celestia explained to them. Twilight still didn't understand what she was talking about. She was never a pony who put much stock in those silly superstitions. Celestia, knowing Twilight's need for logic that made sense, went of with her explanation. “You see, Twilight, Luna wished for a friend. Just moments later she had a strange being crashing into her room like a falling star.”
“And she believes that her wish came true and that he is her friend,” Twilight finished connecting all the dots. “That actually makes some sort of sense.”
“TWILIGHT!!”
Twilight was taken by surprise when the sudden shout overwhelmed her ears. She could almost feel her brain bouncing around the inside of her skull. Luna bounced over and lifted Twilight up in a big hug. Twilight just stay limp in her hooves with her head still hurting. Then she noticed the other two. “And friends!”
Luna moved past Twilight to Applejack. She tried to back away, but found only the wall behind her. She looked up to see Luna looming over her with a smile she would swear was more than just happy and playful. Even with all her strength Applejack couldn't match that of an Alicorn Princess. Luna reached out and wrapped herself around Applejack's body. She squeezed just slightly, but it was enough to send Applejack to the floor when Luna finally released her. Then she moved on to the last of the three.
Rainbow Dash watched as Luna nearly popped Twilight's head like a balloon and almost squeezed the life out of Applejack. That was not going to happen to her. No way. She turned tail and bolted in the other direction. She didn't make it far when she felt a small tug in her tail. Luna grasped the end of her tail with her magic and was slowly pulling Rainbow Dash towards her. Dash was digging at the floor in a desperate attempt to get free. It was no use. She found herself wrapped in a double hug. Not only were Luna's hooves around her, but her wings were also there.
“Luna, you might want to put her down. I think she's turning blue.”
Luna released her grip and held Rainbow Dash out in front of her. She was dazed and felt kinda violated. Luna looked at her and laughed a little. Then she dropped her. Thankfully, Dash had a soft landing. That landing just so happened to be Applejack's ass, but it was better than the floor.
“I get it. Rainbow Dash is already blue. 'Turning blue' is a joke. Ahahahahah! You are funny.”
Luna lost herself to laughter. Austin walked over to Twilight and Rainbow Dash and the now bruised Applejack. “Sorry about that. She did the same thing to me earlier.”
Twilight sighed and started talking with Austin. He introduced himself and went on to affirm Twilight's suspicions. It was more or less the same story Tessla gave her earlier. Ponies were stories. He was a fan. A big fan. The two of them talked for a bit as Celestia and Luna spoke off to the side.
Twilight was getting mixed feeling about this one. This Austin. He was not like Tessla. He was a little less of a smartass, for one. He was polite and respectful. He was not giving off the same fanboy vibe that she was expecting. She actually thought that maybe she was going to like this one. Twilight shook the thought from her head soon after it came in. No way. These things were just too weird.
“So, Twilight. What's his story?” Rainbow Dash had climbed off Applejack's ass and walked over to Twilight. Applejack herself was still getting up.
“Same as Tessla's, unfortunately. There are no answers here, Dash.”
“There may be one.” Dash dashed up to Austin and darted up to hover right in front of his face. She was eye to eye with him. “So, buddy. How do we know you're telling the truth?”
“I swear by Applejack's Element of Honesty: The words I speak are the truth.”
A noticeable and quite audible groan could be heard coming from Applejack. She raised a hoof and lifted herself up off the floor. “Why do y'all keep saying that 'bout my honesty?”
“Think about, Applejack. It makes sense.” Austin shifted his weight between his feet before speaking to Applejack again. “You are the bearer of the Element of Honesty. You are the most honest pony around. Swearing by you, and/or your honesty signifies that I am showing the same honesty. I mean no disrespect.”
Applejack was still processing the things Austin said. It was going to take her a moment. Not that she was slow or anything. It was just that Austin had a really bad habit of talking really fast. Especially when he got excited. Applejack's brain was still catching up and going through everything he said. Not all ponies had the same trouble, though.
“That actually makes a lot of sense.” Twilight and Celestia both agreed aloud. They traded a look between them before turning their eyes back to Applejack. “Do you understand?”
“Notta bit.”
“It just means that he is telling the truth. He just explained in such a logical manner that I understood more than you. I really don't think he meant anything by it.” Twilight's smile worked well in dismissing Applejack's worries. She was still a little confused on the whole thing, but she trusted Twilight's judgment in this situation. Now that that was all said and done they were able to move onto the next matter at hoof. It was actually Austin that brought it up.
“So, there is another one like me, isn't there?”
Everypony present turned to look at him. Now he was leaning against the wall. All the princess's traded a few glances. Rainbow Dash and Applejack just stayed back. Better to let the royalty handle this than get involved themselves.
Eventually, Twilight stepped forward to talk. “How did you know that?”
“First off, you weren't surprised to see me. A strange thing that has never been in Equestria before. Secondly, you weren't surprised to hear about ponies being stories where I come from. And lastly, Applejack said so.”
All eyes turned to Applejack. At once, her usual calm demeanor changed. She got a worried look in her eye and her cheeks turned to a rosy red color that almost matched Big Mac's. She was trying to avoid the issue by thinking of when she said that there was another one like Austin. She couldn't think of anything.
“You said, 'Why do y'all keep saying that 'bout my honesty?' earlier.” Austin chimed in. Applejack looked up at him. She remembered what she said and it took no more than a second longer for her to realize it.
“Y'all. It means more than one,” She groaned. “Sorry, Twi. I didn't mean to spill the secret like that.”
“That's okay, AJ. It really wasn't a secret. But we are going to keep this between us. For now, at least.”
“Yes, but I would like to meet this other one,” Celestia stated.
“How about we all go to Twilight's castle?” Austin threw the suggestion out there. They all took a moment to think it over. Luna walked back over and stood next to her new friend. Austin didn't mind.
It was a better acceptance than he thought he was going to get. It definitely could have been worse. What amazed him was just how big these ponies were. Well, some of them. Twilight and the girls only stood at around four feet in height, where as Luna was just barely taller than him at six feet even. Celestia was even taller, and that worried him a little. He was going to make it a point to never piss either of them off, ever.
A few minutes of discussion later and it was decided. They would go to Twilight's castle. Twilight left with the girls she came with. They headed back and were supposed to get everything together. Twilight was actually dreading the upcoming ordeal. Pinkie was going to go nuts. Even more so than she usually did.
Austin stayed close to Luna's side, not the had any real choice in the matter. Luna was not letting him go anywhere else. They waited for an hour before leaving themselves. Celestia used the time to prepare the castle for her departure. She would be leaving on an unexpected, and rather unofficial business. Whether it was official or not was yet to be determined actually. It could be big, or it could not be. Who knows?
Luna was barely staying still as the hour mark was drawing closer and closer. Every time she stopped to sit still she shook like a small earthquake was raging somewhere deep inside her. It looked like the very act of sitting still was going to hurt her and she had to keep moving to avoid it. Eventually, Celestia just gave in and told Luna to go on ahead of her. She would be there in a few moments. Luna smiled as happily as she could. She walked back over and stood as close to Austin as she could get without leaping into his arms.
Once at his side, Luna's horn flared up with magical power. They were enveloped by the glow of Luna's magic. Austin could feel the magic flowing around him. Next came a bright flash that forced him to cover his eyes. He felt a great sensation deep in his chest and abdomen. When he opened his eyes he found himself with Luna, as he was expecting. He also saw that he was no longer in the Royal Canterlot Castle, but in Twilight's castle. Her throne room to be exact.
Austin could no longer stand. He dropped to one knee before Luna could catch him. He stayed there for a moment as Luna and others ran up to him. He looked up to see Pinkie standing by him. The smile on her face told him she was planning something. That worried him a bit, but he shrugged it off. Whatever it was he could handle it. Maybe.
Fluttershy was also there. She was standing closer that any of them, save Luna. She had a worried look on her face and it looked genuine. It always with her. Austin smiled to let her know he was okay and she smiled back. When he looked again he saw that Pinkie had vanished from the room. He did see Rainbow Dash a little ways off, though.
She glided over to him with one thrust of her wings and landed next to Fluttershy. She didn't say anything. She just stood there next to Fluttershy, as if to guard and protect her from a foreign threat. Only one of those words could be used for Austin.
“What are you looking at? Huh, buddy?” Dash caught Austin sneaking in a few sidelong glances at her every few minutes. Her eyes narrowed and she got into an attack position.
Austin responded with a look of his own. It wasn't really menacing, or threatening. It was just a stare. A dead stare right into the eyes of Rainbow Dash. His face was blank and could not be read. Dash growled at him. It was clear that Dash was getting more and more annoyed with him. She rushed him and only stopped about a foot from his face.
“Why won't you answer me?!”
Austin kept up his blank stare. She was staring back into his eyes. He held her gaze for a solid minute. Neither of them moved. Neither of the wanted to budge and possible be seen as weak for backing down. Then Austin made his move. His stare with Dash kept her eyes so focused on his she never saw it coming.
Before she could react, Austin had reached out. His arm sprang from his side. It cut its way up and through the tension to reach Dash's face. His arm only stopped mere inches from Dash's nose. His hand was curled up into a fist, but not for long. When his hand stopped moving his fist uncurled. With one finger he reached out and drove Dash crazy.
“Boop.” He said amidst the silence.
For a very short while after that Dash did nothing but stare at her nose as best she could. She was in a state of shock. She couldn't believe he just did that. She just stood there in stunned silence. Her eyes were wide and her mouth stuck in that just barely open surprised look. And there she stayed.
Fluttershy and Luna both were trying their damndest to not roll over and laugh their hearts out. Luna was having much better luck than Fluttershy was. She had already hit the floor and one wing was already up as small snickers escaped her. Three solid minutes later and nopony had moved. It was about time something happened. Right?
After those solid three minutes were up it was just too hard. Two ponies erupted. One, and Alicorn Princess who ruled the night. The other, a shy Pegasus who loved animals. But just then, they were both just two ponies who barreled out laughter and giggles. Hooves were in the air, manes were in a mess. A few feathers even flew threw the air. And yet still, Rainbow Dash didn't move. Then the doors to the room burst open to the sound of party poppers and balloons. Streamers streamed in. Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity walked in with the pink party pony responsible for it all. They took one look around and knew something was wrong.
“What in the hay happened here?” Applejack spoke the same question that they were all thinking.
Pinkie Pie looking about the room and saw the state the ponies were in. She rushed back out, only to come back in a second later. Literally a second. She really moved fast. Anyway, it was different this time as she was now wearing a doctor coat. You know, the long white ones. She ran up to Dash and did a few things.
Pinkie poked her in the side a few times. She got no response. She moved to the other side and lifted her wing up and stretched it out. She took one of Dash's own feathers and tickled her. Again, no response. Pinkie moved to look into Dash's face. She took one glance and automatically knew what happened.
“Interesting,” Pinkie whispered to herself before moving on.
Pinkie moved onto the next closest pony. That being Fluttershy. She was on her back giggling and occasionally snorting. Every time she snorted she sent herself into another giggle fit and that made her snort even more. Pinkie had to duck as she walked up to her yellow friend. Her wing nearly took her head off. Pinkie was able to get close to her, though and did a few things.
She stood next to Fluttershy, who seemed to be calming down a bit. Pinkie examined her all over until she stopped and focused on one spot. Pinkie took a hoof and gently nuzzled it against this spot before moving just a little bit. Fluttershy was sent into another fit of roaring laughter. Pinkie stopped and smiled. She had finally discovered Fluttershy's tickle spot. After that she was done and moved on to Luna.
“Don't you dare,” Luna got out in between a few laughs.
Luna was also on her back and was about to be pounced on. Pinkie leered over her like a hunter who just caught the prey it was after. Pinkie lifted a hoof up only to find herself staring at Twilight's face.
“Stay away from Luna, Pinkie.”
“Aww, Twilight. Do you know how much fun we could have if we knew where he tickle spot was. Oh, it would be so awesome! But, at least I found Fluttershy's. That will have to do.”
The others just stared at Pinkie for a moment. It was that same stare of disbelief that always had the same message. “Is she being serious right now?”
After the stare moment was done, Applejack finally spoke up. “Pinkie, didya find out what happened while you was hunting for tickle spots or not?”
“Oh, right. Give me a sec.”
Pinkie rushed back over to Rainbow Dash. She did a few doctorly things like take her temperature, and open her mouth and eyes a few times. Then she reared back with a mighty gasp. She walked back over to Twilight with an official pace. She took some glasses out of one of the coat pockets and put them on, just to take them off again.
“Princess, I'm afraid it's worse than I feared. You see, Rainbow Dash., she has been booped.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.
Pinkie sighed heavily at Twilight's lack of knowledge. She ditched the doctor getup and looked at Twilight. Then she held out a hoof and booped her. Twilight shrank back and wrinkled her nose a bit.
“Pinkie, why did you do that?”
“That was a boop.”
“Oh. Well, who booped Rainbow Dash?”
“I dunno.”
Pinkie ran over to Fluttershy, but she was too far gone. She moved on to Luna and stopped. She then went on to do her impression of Rarity. “Luna, deary, do you happen to know who it was that planted the boop onto poor Rainbow Dash?”
“That was me.” Austin emerged from the shadows of the far wall. Luna jumped back up to her hooves as he approached. She was still giggling a bit, but it was slowing. It was sure to stop soon. Just as Austin reached Luna, even more ponies entered the room.
Rarity walked into the room with Tessla at her side. She was smiling and talking. She looked like she was having a good time. Tessla was also smiling. And he had some new clothes. He was now wearing blue pants. Not dark blue, but light blue either. It was a nice color in the middle. A purple shirt covered his top half. Just for kicks Rarity wove a yellow letter 'T' into the design. The points of the top line that crossed the 'T' reached out to each of his shoulders. To go with all that, Tessla was also sporting a pony tail. Rarity had generously given him a band to use for his hair.
“Well, it you two seem to be getting along.” Twilight smiled at the fact that everyone was getting along now.
“Yes, it would seem we are,” Rarity glanced back at Tessla before returning to Twilight. “You see, Tessla here has a greatly creative mind when it comes to colors And the purple and yellow shirt really becomes him, don't you think?”
“I'm glad you two are getting along so well.” Twilight's smile faded a bit as she talked with Rarity “Because now there is another one. Right over there.” Twilight widened her smile as far as she could, even if it was fake.
Rarity just stared at her for a moment. Then her smile also faded. It was replaced with a look of shock and confusion. “Um, what?”
“Austin?!”
Everypony in the room turned to look at Tessla. He was staring over in Luna's direction. Luna stared back at him, but it was her strange friend that stepped forward.
“Tessla?!”
The two of them crossed the space between them in just a few steps each. Austin offered a arm out. Tessla gripped it so that each of them had a hand on the others forearm. They then leaned in shoulder to shoulder and gave one another a few pats on the back. They released each other from their greeting and Austin was the first to speak.
“Tessla, my friend. It is good to see you.”
“Yeah, you too. Can you believe this? We're in Equestria, man.”
“Yeah, I know. I crashed right into Luna's room apparently. That's what I'm told anyway. My memory isn't all there.”
“Yeah, same here. I crashed a little ways outside of Ponyville. That's all I know.”
The ponies just stood back and watched the encounter. The two of them talked back and forth for a few moments more. Rarity now realized what Twilight meant when she said there was another one. Twilight thought she would have been more upset about it, but she actually seemed kinda excited. So did Pinkie, but who didn't see that coming? Luna came to stand by Twilight and brag about how her friend could be friends with Twilight's Tessla.
“He is not mine.” Was all Twilight had to say about that.
Just then the moment was broken up by a loud noise. It was a mix between a belch and something burning. A flash of green light later and Spike came running up to Twilight with a letter. Two guesses who its from.
Twilight took the letter from Spike without a word and read it quickly. She had to read it twice to make sure she was getting it all. The others, ponies and non ponies all, looked at her with anticipation.
“It would seem that Princess Celestia will not be joining us today. There is an urgent matter in the Crystal Empire that requires her immediate attention.” Twilight announced. “Also, Shining Armor and Cadance say hi to everypony.”
“Let me guess, she wants us to come help too.” All eyes turned to Rainbow Dash. She was now unstuck from her state of shock. Pinkie popped up beside her and gave her a squeeze.
“Rainbow Dash, yer not stuck anymore!” Applejack proclaimed.
“Yeah, I got that much. What happened?”
“I booped you.” Austin admitted what he had done.
Tessla just stared at him in disbelief. “You booped Rainbow Dash.”
“Yep. I sure did.”
“Why?”
“HEY!” Dash interrupted them. She hovered in the air above where was just standing. She flew over to them both and gave them the nastiest, deadliest glare she could come up with. “What the hell is a boop?”
Just as she asked it Dash was yanked down to the floor. With her head spinning Dash could see Pinkie standing over her. Pinkie reached out with a hoof and helped Dash up. Once she was on all fours again Pinkie reached out with her other hoof and booped Dash on the nose.
“That's a boop, silly,” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully.
Dash said nothing. She just flew off to sulk in a corner behind Twilight.
“Well, now that that's done we should go.” Twilight said with hopes that they would be leaving, but when was it ever that easy?
“What about them?” Fluttershy asked in regards to Tessla, Austin, and Luna. Yes, Luna as well.
Rarity raced up to Austin and her horn flashed. A rack of clothes appeared before them and Rarity gazed up at Austin. Her eyes were not normal. She was sizing him up, seeing him with different things on already. It was kinda creepy, to be honest.
Austin knelt down to speak with Rarity before she did anything. They talked back and forth for a few moments. The others were too far away to hear exactly what they were saying. Austin was speaking quietly and Rarity was whispering in turn. It seemed to some kind of negotiation. They both came to an agreement and Rarity's horn lit up once again.
The magic power flowed through her and Austin stood back a bit. Clothes from the rack flew off and surrounded Austin. A flash of light later and he stood there with new clothes on. He now wore dark blue jeans and a crimson shirt to go with it. A collared button shirt of black was over that. The sleeves were rolled up. Austin seemed pleased with it, but Rarity not so much.
“I just feel that needs something. . . more, but I can't put a hoof on it.”
“Yes, Rarity. I know exactly what you mean. This is simple compared to the beautiful masterpieces of fashion that you are used to creating. But there can be elegance in simplicity. A lady of class such as yourself surely must know this.”
“Yes, yes! Not everything needs to big and flashy to also be elegant and beautiful. This gives me so many ideas!” Rarity was lost then to the ideas of her own mind. She melted onto the floor as the ideas flooded into her mind.
“Heh, smooth talker.” Applejack joked with Twilight.
“Well, he most certainly has a way with words.” Twilight smiled and it was finally to leave. It was decided that everypony was going to come along for this trip. All of them.
Celestia and Cadance were waiting for them. Taking a train would take to long. There were two princess's there now, so they decided to teleport again. Luna stood by both Austin and Tessla. By them stood Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Twilight would be taking Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and there was no pony else. Good. They both flooded the room with magical energy as they readied their spells. Seconds later and they were all no longer in Twilight's throne room. They were in the Crystal Empire. They were in the Crystal Palace. And they were not alone.