//------------------------------// // Two Weeks In Ponyville // Story: Dimension Jumper // by redtau //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle woke up to her alarm and growled at it. She had fallen asleep researching last night, as she had every night since Nightmare Night. Someone, probably one of her new guests, had carried her upstairs, tucked her in, and wound the damn alarm clock. Grumbling, she pulled herself out of bed and downstairs. The library was a mess, as was usual whenever she was in research mode. Piles of books, notes, and charts were scattered around the library floor as Twilight groggily dodged her way into the kitchen. Spike was busy making pancakes. Machina, in robo-pony form, was sitting and plugged in where the coffee pot usually sat. D, looking like a cross between a pony, a deer, and a living shadow, was flipping through the newspaper. "Morning Twilight," D said, turning the pages. "Sleep well?" "Well enough," she said with a touch of annoyance. Coffee was a terrible addiction and she had been without for two days in a row now. Machina unfolded herself from where she sat and went to work mixing something up on the counter. Spike came over and put a tall stack of pancakes in front of Twilight and sat to eat his own gem encrusted short stack nearby. There were dark rings under the young dragon's eyes from late nights, probably mirroring her own. She cut the first bite free from her pancakes and pulled the bottle of syrup over using her magic. Machina came over and set two glasses in front of Twilight. The first was only filled with ice. The second was about a third full of what looked like thick cream and the remainder of the glass was slowly filling up with a dark familiar liquid dripping down from a strange metal tin on top of the glass. Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Wait for the coffee to finish in the first one," Machina said, pointing a shiny metal hoof at the glass slowly filling with coffee. "Then stir the hot coffee and cream together, pour it over the ice, and drink slowly." Twilight followed the instructions, watching the mixture of coffee become a light tan. She sipped carefully and her eyes went wide. The cool liquid was milky, sweet, and very strong. "What is this??" "Cafe Sua Da," Machina said. "A kind of coffee from the home world of Sarah Jordan. She has told me the drink is very good, but unhealthy to drink too often." Twilight felt like her teeth were vibrating slightly. There was so much sugar and caffeine in just a single sip. For the briefest of moments, Twilight contemplated giving a large glass of this to Pinkie and then pointing her at any ARCO assailant and letting her go. The idea quickly left her mind and the drink was mentally added to an extensive list of things not to give Pinkie Pie. "So, quick review of what we know," Twilight said. "First, an ARCO jumper has limited time to obtain an anchor once they land in another world." "Correct," Machina nodded. "It has to do with how well integrated they are into a world. The standard week long conversion gives a jumper about a month. The quick version gives only 24 hours." "OK," Twilight continued. "Second, using power from the companions can reduce that time." "But we have no clue how the additional power from a charged anchor will affect that time limit," D pointed out. "Third," Twilight said, pushing the nasty uncertainty from her mind. "Once an anchor is given or coerced, the jumper's time in a world is not limited. This seems like the largest obstacle in keeping any jumper out. They could beg for bits in Canterlot and have an anchor inside of an hour." Twilight sipped more cold coffee. "Is that all we know?" "You are dealing with certainties," Machina said. "Defined limits. Generally a jumper is bound to a technological and a biological companion to aid in incorporating with the locals. When we left ARCO there were over five hundered different kinds of companions a jumper could be paired with. Assuming the jumper is offensive and high powered that still leaves hundreds of permutations for companion combination." "It is hard to plan when you don't know what you might face," D pointed out. "It's like planing a tea party for Discord," Spike moaned. "They might not be hostile though, right?" Twilight asked with hope. D and Machina looked at each other. "There is a chance," Machina said slowly, "There could be a very good reason why, knowing that Sarah is here-" "Which they would if they talked to Lyra and Bon Bon at all," D commented. "Right, knowing Sarah is here they haven't sent another quick jumper." "Or long jumper." "Or unmaned retreval pod." "Or comunication probe." "Or-" "ALRIGHT I GET IT!" Twilight shouted. "But there still might be a chance, right?" She sighed. "Princess Luna and Princess Celestia want us to keep this as much under wraps as possible. If things go well we can talk to other ponies. If things go bad, hopefully the Equestrian Guard and the Elements of Harmony can take care of it." "Is that really what we've worked out for a plan after three days?" Spike asked disappointed. "Go say hi and if they are mean we hit them with the Equestrian Guard and the Elements?" "It was your idea to use the Elements," Machina pointed out to the little drake. "That was a joke!" Spike said. "If they only have a day to get an anchor, can't we just not give it to them?" "There was a reason," Twilight said, rubbing sleep from her eye. "But it was late-" "We don't know where they are going to pop up," D said. "So we might have to relocate a huge population center in a hurry." "There are also numerous companions or companion combinations that could reach the moon with the power a two week anchor might provide," Machina's toneless voice seemed depressed. Twilight drank slowly but deeply from the strong coffee. "I think we need a break." "A break might be a good idea," Machina said. "We can check on the other bearers and see how they are doing. Maybe they can suggest something." "You really think so?" Twilight asked. Much of what they were doing seemed almost out of her ability to grasp, and for the first time she doubted that her friends could give meaningful aid. "Look, I know we've said this before," D said, putting the paper down. "But Sarah was more than just a host for us. Each of us is brilliant in our own way but it takes someone creative to really utilize us." Twilight shrugged. Honestly it couldn't hurt. Maybe, time permitting, they could even make it out to the castle to talk to Sarah. "Well, I always think that new creatures should be given the benefit of the doubt," Fluttershy said, tending carefully to a small clutch of eggs under the watchful gaze of two concerned looking snakes. "If met by strangers, there is always a chance for confusion and hostility, but if they are met by ponies they know, things can go much smoother." Twilight nodded. There wasn't really much hope for the diplomatic route, but Machina and D certainly had more in common with whatever was coming than anypony else. It was strange enough being around these two and seeing how the world reacted to them. Machina, for instance, looked completely out of place surrounded by squirrels, birds, raccoon and other animals. Even she wasn't sure why they all flocked to her, though she guessed her shiny skin made her peculiar enough to approach. D on the other hand had been forced into a corner by a bear and a bunny rabbit. His bestial, predatory nature was apparently not welcome among so many prey species. "What do you two think?" Twilight asked. "Want to make first contact?" "Considering we are not entirely fond of ARCO, we may not be the best envoys for peaceful relations," Machina said. "We are more likely to survive first contact if things go south though," D put in, dodging around the bear. "We might even be able to get a signal of where the ARCO person is headed and how dangerous they are." "As it stands, D and I are the only ones capable of detecting a dimensional breach, and my range is limited," Machina stood up slowly, allowing the animals to safely move away. "We can build a stronger sensor array, but it will drain my power slightly." Twilight considered for a moment. "Do it. The more advanced the warning the better our odds." Angel looked up at the dark thing sitting in his house. It had come in with the shiny one and the purple one to talk with Kindness. Whatever they were saying was worrying Kindness. She had tried to hide it from the others like her, but she had not hidden it from him. These things weren't scaring her, but something related to these things were. Angel didn't like it when Kindness worried, and he knew the others didn't like it either. One of the birds, a bit of a loudmouth, chirped about getting help. But what help could they get? The large bear was here, and it didn't seem to really worry the dark thing. Who else was there to call? A couple of days later the Ponyville Library had a gleaming metal spire affixed to the tallest branch, with various small spires and metal bowls attached at seemingly random angles. Twilight smiled at the job well done while Machina finished tuning the antennas. "We are set. If a dimensional breach occurs anywhere within one hundred thousand miles, we will know." "Yo, egghead!" Rainbow Dash called, dropping from the sky. "Why is there a metal spike on my favorite napping branch?" "Rainbow Dash, you know darn well why!" Twilight huffed. While the others had offered assistance in planning, Rainbow had spent most of the week in intense training. She was pushing her speed and agility to the limits in preparation for whatever was coming. "I know you and these two are working on some super genius strategy, but that doesn't explain the new addition to your home." "It's a detection array," D said. "So we know where the next dimension jump will come from." "OK, then what?" "If they are hostile, we will respond with the equestrian military and Elements of Harmony," Twilight said. "They aren't all leaving from Canterlot, are they?" Rainbow Dash asked. "What happens if the baddie drops on the far side of Equestria?" "You have a better suggestion?" Machina asked. "When we have to wrangle wild weather coming off the Everfree, the weather team splits into watch groups." Rainbow Dash drew a crude oval in the dirt and placed pebbles around the outside. "We usually only get one or two big storms, but having everyone spread out means one group can signal the others with a lightning bolt and slow the storm while the rest move to respond." Rainbow drew a big cloud near one of the pebbles and moved the rest of the pebbles to surround the cloud. "I'm sure Princess Celestia has plans already in place," Twilight said. "Still, I guess a letter to her wouldn't hurt." "Yeah," Rainbow said, then brightened up. "Hey! Since the Elements are so important, we should get a group here that can defend us if needed and transport us quickly to where we have to go!" "That seems like a sound plan," D said, nodding. "Right!" Rainbow agreed. "And who is better and faster than the WONDERBOLTS!?!" Twilight grinned awkwardly. "I'll ask, Rainbow, but don't hold out hope. We are trying not to worry everyone with massed troop movements and the Wonderbolts are kind of high profile." "If the Wonderbolts are coming, I need to be at the top of my game!" Grinning like an idiot, Rainbow launched herself into the air. She banked towards a pair of pegasi cleaning up the mid-morning clouds. This was going to be a big important event, and she needed something to really wow the Wonderbolts. More than just flying. Maybe she could get the weather ponies to lend a hoof too. "What do you mean she isn't here?" Twilight asked. "Just what I said," Red responded, burshing her claws together to remove some of the dirt. "Nobody knows where she went but she's gone. Gryphons moved into her tower a few nights after Nightmare Night. Changelings took the court, minotaurs the ballroom and we got our tunnels." Around the courtyard a myriad of creatures were working to repair the massive hole the Ursa had smashed in the outer wall. "Nobody has seen her since you took those two," she waved a paw and D and Machina, who were eyeing the construction around them. "Uuggghhhh!" Twilight groaned. "She promised not to wander off!" "Actually," Machina said, "She only commented that the obligations of others would prevent them from looking after her. It is possible that Nightmare woke up." "With Nightmare's level of illusion and power she could be hiding anywhere," D added. "It's not like we have some special Sarah detection ability." "Are you sure?" Twilight asked. "I don't want her movements to give false positives for the next ARCO jumper." "No," Machina assured her, "Sarah moving about will not be a problem." "Another jumper?" Red asked. "Are they going to kidnap more ponies? You all didn't give us much information when you left after Nightmare Night." "We suspect the next group may be more of a conquering force," Machina said. She produced a small metal device. "This alarm will sound if a jump occurs within my scanning range." "So what should we do if the alarm does sound?" Thomas asked. D looked them square in the eyes. "Hide." Rarity grinned sheepishly at D and Machina from her massage table at the spa. Next to her both Aloe and Lotus were working to get the knots out of Twilight's back. "Darling, you really have been working too hard. You need a break." "Can't rest. Must plan," Twilight managed between groans and the two earth ponies turned the sore spots on her back into painful relief. "Yes, but you don't have to do it all by yourself. We can help," Rarity reminded her. "I still need to pay your, um, new friend back for that book on cultures and fashion." The fashionista turned to the strange pair. "Are you sure I cannot create a suit or dress or anything for you?" "No, thank you," Machina said. "I appreciate such efforts, but such garments would not prove very efficient for me." "I'd offer your friend," Rarity said, waving a hoof at D, "but I've no idea how to make anything to accommodate his fluid form." "Don't worry about it," D said, waving the offer off. Already he had submitted to a number of experiments regarding his strange form, including a brief massage. When Aloe had tried to rub his back and found the flesh only semi-substantial and in a constantly shifting state she instantly volunteered to help her sister with Twilight, instead. "Isn't there anything I can do? Some aid I can provide?" Rarity really did want to help. "Not unless you can learn a shield spell against weapons powered by souls," Twilight groaned. "I have tried to inform Twilight many times that this is highly unlikely," Machina said. "Energy weapons, though flashy, are not efficient to form and fire. Any attack is likely to come in blade and claw, at least at first." "And the Equestrian Guard are already prepared for that," Twilight replied while D silently bobbed his head as if mimicking her. Obviously this was not the first time they had had this conversation. Rarity nodded, then got a glance at the clock and put her hoof to her mouth in shock. "Oh dear, is that really the time? I have to get going." She waved as she got up and placed a hefty bag of bits on the counter before trotting back to her shop. There was a small sign on the door which politely informed any callers that the boutique was closed until further notice and all orders were suspended until then. The inside of the boutique, hidden by heavy curtains, was a display of cluttered creativeness and study that would have rivaled Twilight on some days. Smashed melons and stained fabric were piled in one corner next to a dulled axe bearing the Apple Family mark. In another corner sat a respectable stack of brown paper packages, each a completed order. For the first time in as long as she could remember, Rarity did not have orders pending. Everything was finished. She looked over her notes, nodded again, and drew out a clean piece of paper. Hoity Toity, Enclosed you will find the most novel little book about fashions that are, quite literally, out of this world. I think an important new Element in the next fashion wave will be layers. Check the dog eared pages for reference. Your friend, Rarity Belle Rarity folded the note and placed it into the book Machina had given her, next to a dog eared entry titled "Gambeson." The book was quickly wrapped, tied, addressed, and marked for express delivery before being dropped in the mail box. Turning to the pony forms and the yards and yards of linen and stuffing, she took a deep fortifying breath and got to work. Applejack watched carefully as the mechanical menace and the daemonic monster tore up the stubborn old apple tree by the roots, glancing now and then at Twilight. "Ya sure they ain't gonna go on a rampage?" Twilight sighed with exasperation. "They are fine Applejack, they just needed to let out some stress and this was a productive way to do it." "Ah, gotcha," Applejack said. She watched in silence for a few moments. "How bad is it, Twi?" "How bad is what?" "Element of Honesty, remember? It's hard ta hide a secret that big." Twilight hung her head. "We've managed to coordinate with the Equestrian Guard and we have a number of ponies working on potential weapons or strategies, but all in all it's not good. AJ, we have faced more bad situations than any pony else, save some of the guard and the Princesses, and I don't like our odds. The longer we wait, the worse it gets." Applejack nodded. "Ah figured. Granny Smith said she could feel it in her bones, like a storm comin'. Big Mac's been nervous, keeps misplacin' things like the wood axe we just got back from Rarity , or his crossbow." She looked at the ground and kicked the dirt. "Twi Ah, Ah know we were supposed ta keep it a secret. Not scare anypony or anythin', but Ah can't just leave my family vulnerable like that." "Applejack," Twilight said, worried a panic would start. "You didn't-" "Ah didn't say anythin' specific," Applejack countered. "Just wrote a few letters to my family telling 'em it might be a good idea ta go ta ground for a lil' while. They'll keep their heads down, but they won't panic anyone." The farm pony let out a chuckle. "Heck, some of 'em might surprise you. A cousin got warned like that before a drout hit, his stores fed the whole town for two months!" Twilight nodded, reassured. They were as ready as they were going to be. Twist, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle stood at the podium in the clubhouse and looked at the fillies and colts gathered in the fading light of the setting sun. Bloom pounded her hoof to get everypony's attention. "Ya'll are here cuz we noticed our parents gettin' awful spooked about somethin'," she said. "Cuz your sister and her friends are acting all weird," Silver Spoon snipped. "We are used to friendship problems and monster attacks, but right now they are just escorting those monsters around town. I know Twilight vouched for them but those two are just creepy." "The shiny one doesn't even have a face!" Pipsqueek said. "How can she see me with no face? How can she speak to me? The other one has that scary skull mask on all the time." "I don't think it's a mask," Button Mash said. "Those two don't really worry me though. What worries me is the way the Elements of Harmony keep preparing for something. Everypony is used to Twilight over planning but now all six of them act like they are planning an epic dungeon raid." Every colt and filly gave Button an odd look, as though he had just grown a second head that was speaking Prench. Dinky coughed to bring attention to her. "My mom's been working really hard delivering letters from them to everyone. Packages to Canterlot. Boxes to Appleoosa. Heck, your sister," Dinky pointed at Apple Bloom, "just sent out so many letters mom had to make six trips from the farm house to central processing!" "Your sister came into my pop's sofa store and bought all the upholstery fabric!" Snips said, pointing a hoof at Sweetie Belle. "Even the plaid! He's freaking out." "All our parents are freaking out!" Snails added. "Ah KNOW!" Apple Bloom yelled back. "It's worryin' us too, but worryin' ain't never solved nothin'. We've gotta do somethin'." "You blank flanks have an actual plan then?" Diamond Tiara asked with a snide remark. "Diamond, did you just come to make fun of us?" Scootaloo asked, "Or did you come to help cuz your worried about your daddy?" Diamond bit her lip and looked down, slightly ashamed. "We're all worried," Sweetie Belle said. "My sister has even finished all of her work orders. ALL. OF. THEM." She felt the other little fillies and colts were not suitably impressed by this for some reason. "We have to agree to all work together." There was some murmuring before everypony nodded in agreement. "So then bla- Bloom," Diamond said. "What is the plan." "First we need somepony in charge who can keep track of everypony's job and keep them on task," Sweetie Bell said. "That's you Diamond." "ME?!" Diamond Tiara cried out in shock. The shock was echoed by several in the room. "You kept track of our crusading, the actions of every other pony in class, news around town, and never forgot your homework," Sweetie Belle said. "You're even tutoring Silver Spoon from what my sister says. If anypony can keep track of all of us, it's going to be you." "As for what we are doing," Scootaloo said with a grin while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell carefully laid the complex and deadly device from their saddlebags on the floor. Several of the closest ponies backed up. "We are going to be answering the age old question 'what happens if we make this REALLLY big?'" Twilight felt like she was in the middle of the strangest and most wonderful dream. The whole of Ponyville was done up in streamers and balloons. Punch bowls, trays of sandwiches and sweets, and piles of small party gifts were set out on tables scattered around town. The town square was a massive dance party with scattered speakers playing the kind of songs that had everypony moving to a beat. "What is all of this?" Twilight asked. Machina tapped her on her shoulder and pointed to a large banner tied to town hall PINKIE PIE'S EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE PARTY Twilight looked at the banner for a moment, trying to parse the words, before looking around. "If this is a Pinkie Pie Party, then where is Pinkie Pie?" Machina sat for a moment and then pointed down the street. "Pinkamina Diane Pie is located approximately seven hundred and thirty five paces in this direction." Twilight boggled for a moment. "How can you know that? Can you track everypony?" "No," Machina said. "But she causes unexplainable anomalies in my long range sensors. I have not investigated under the advisement you gave me of 'that is just Pinkie being Pinkie,' though this seems an inadequate explanation. I can locate her by tracking the anomalies." Twilight nodded and galloped off in the direction Machina indicated and quickly found herself outside Sugar Cube Corner. Inside, a worried Mr. and Mrs. Cake pointed her to the kitchen. Counters and carts were piled high with cake, cookies, candy and treats. Two ovens were glowing softly, filling the air with the scent of freshly baking cakes. Pinkie Pie was crying in the corner. "Pinkie!" Twilight called out, rushing over to her. "Pinkie, what is it? What's wrong?" "Twi- *hic* Twilight I- I can't, I don't," She held up a long long list in her hooves, much of it tear stained. Twilight glanced down and saw only a fraction of the list. Dinky, April 13th, Cutesienaria Moon Flower and Bright Glory, April 25th, Wedding anniversary Ditzy Doo and Time Turner, May 14th, 5th dating anniversary Sweetie Belle, May 14th, "learned not to skydive" party Ditzy Doo and Time Turner, May 15th, 3rd dating anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Cake, May 18th, Wedding anniversary "Pinkie, what is this?" Twilight asked. "I wanted- I didn't want to miss-" she started crying harder. "Everyone is worried Twilight! Everyone is scared! Applejack is worried and Rarity and Fluttershy and even Rainbow Dash. And when they are worried their friends and family get worried. But when you worry ALL of Ponyville worries! You and Machina and D act like this might be really bad. Like, Discord, Nightmare Moon, Sombra team up bad!! And I had all these parties I had planned and I might not get to throw them because I- I might- or even worse THEY might- and I- I can't- I just-" Pinkie broke down completely, her hair falling so flat it seemed almost two dimensional. And then something was wrapped around her. Something warm and soft and purple was hugging her so tightly. "I know, Pinkie. Believe me, I know," Twilight said, her voice hitching slightly as she fought back tears. "But I've been holding back that fear, just like you taught me on the first night we met. I've been giggling at the ghastly this whole time Pinkie, but it can be tiring to laugh all the time. Sometimes you just need somepony else to be there." Pinkie wiped her eyes and looked up at Twilight. "T-Twilight, I think- I just." "Come on Pinkie," Twilight said, pulling the baker to her hooves. "I think you need some hot chocolate and some quiet time with your friends. Let's go up to your room and I'll go get everypony." "B-b-but th-the treats..." "D and Machina can put them out," Twilight said, nodding to the two and receiving a nod in return. Each lifted as much food as they could handle. "They need to get a little more good will exposure around town anyway. Come one, I think you need some rest." Sugar Cube Corner was unusually quiet, despite how packed it was. The kitchen door hadn't closed when Twilght went in, and everypony could hear what was said. The patrons all quietly filed out, making no conversation save to finish purchases. Many were clearly worried, but more than a few had the kind of look that spoke of planning. The Cakes, having heard it all, watched their patrons depart and then turned to each other. With a nod Mrs. Cake turned and went into the cellar, grabbing several bags of special flour that had a dozen notes pinned to it telling Pinkie not to touch. Mr. Cake went to the register and shifted it three hooves to the right. In the open cubby hole was a book he pulled out and dusted off. The worn cover had a pony skull and crossbones, and the hoof penned words "Combat Cooking 101" They had some baking to do. Twilight jumped back from the kitchen table, managing to save her oatmeal as the table was flipped. Machina had stood up so fast she hopped a little. "CONTACT!" She said. D dropped his breakfast and righted the table. Twilight floated two dozen open scrolls over along with several quills and a pot of ink. "DIMENSIONAL BREACH WITHIN INITIAL SCAN RANGE. WHITE TAIL WOODS. CONTACT ESTIMATED WITHIN TWENTY MINUTES." Twilight nodded, the information being magically scratched onto the scrolls. D had moved into the living room, shifting his form into something more humanoid. He flexed his claws and rolled his shoulders. "SPIKE!" Twilight called, the little dragon already running down the stairs. "Scrolls are done. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, local guard, and Wonderbolts first." The dragon nodded and began to roll up the scrolls, incinerating each in dragon fire as soon as they were ready. Machina had joined D, shifting her form into the kimono wrapped humanoid she had been so long ago. Her metal fingers pushed a button hastily mounted to the wall and alarms began to sound. Twilight winced. "I wish we had tested that. They can probably hear it all the way out at Castle Nightmare." "I certainly hope so," D said. "Some of those dogs and griffons were alright. They can take shelter." "Who knows, maybe Sarah can even hear it." Machina said, "Wherever she is."