"Hi." Rainbow casually said, waving a hoof at Creme.
Creme stared at Rainbow with his mouth wide open, shocked by the sudden appearance of the pegasus pony in his apartment.
Creme suddenly lost his function to form proper sentences properly. "When did you...how did you...wha?"
"I just got here, actually." Rainbow said, brushing her mane with a hoof. Specks of dust could be seen floating away from her mane. "Nice place you got here." she added, looking around.
Creme slapped himself hard on the cheek. The throbbing pain he felt from his cheek proved to him that he was indeed not dreaming. That means, what he was seeing in front of him right now was 100% real. He gulped.
"Whoa, are you okay?" Rainbow asked, bewildered by Creme suddenly slapping himself. "Why the heck did you do that for?"
Calm down. Creme told himself, wiping away the cold sweat that had formed around his forehead. No need to panic. It's just a pony.
A talking pony. In his home.
What the hell was going on? In just three days, his life had just kept on getting weirder and weirder with each passing minute. First, he was gifted a magical mirror from a mysterious old lady. Then, he soon discovered that there was an alien world behind the mirror, with talking ponies. Then, a pony that he just met two days ago, was suddenly in his home. In the flesh.
Thing could not get any worse than this.
Oh wait. Creme thought. It already did.
He felt a headache coming. Creme groaned and sat back down on the couch, unable to cope with Rainbow's sudden appearance. He covered his eyes with his palm and took a few deep breaths.
Rainbow stared at Creme with a confused look on her face for a few more seconds longer before walking over towards him. She sat down on the floor next to the couch, looking around her surroundings.
"You're oddly calm." Creme said, making an opening with his fingers so he could look at her.
Rainbow shrugged at him. "Meh, I've been through worse." she told Creme, looking back at him. Creme's legs caught her eye, and she stared at them intently. "Are these...your legs?" she asked, prodding his right leg softly with her hoof.
"Yes."
"You only have two of 'em?"
"Yes."
"They are so...strange looking."
"You're the strange---wait, stop!" Creme cried out suddenly, standing up. "This isn't the time to be having a normal conversation right now! How on earth did you get here?!" he questioned Rainbow.
"It's a long story."
"Time is on our side."
Rainbow sighed, and took a deep breath before continuing. "The mirror was acting weird. I got curious. I jumped right in. The end."
"What part of long do you not understand?"
"Aw, come on, Creme. Give me a break will ya? I really don't feel like telling the whole thing." Rainbow said. She turned around and looked at the mirror. "Maybe Twilight can fill you in." she continued, jabbing a hoof in the direction of the mirror.
"Urgh." Creme reluctantly rose from his couch and approached the mirror, with Rainbow following closely beside him. She wasn't really tall, her height only reaching somewhere around Creme's stomach.
Are ponies supposed to be that small? Creme pondered, staring at Rainbow. He shrugged the thought away, and looked at the mirror.
Twilight's face greeted him, but for only a second. Unlike Rainbow, who was calm and cool. Twilight was freaking out. She was frantically running around the bathroom, talking to herself. A mess of books, quills and papers can be seen spread out all over the bathroom.
Twilight was quickly reading through every book her magic can grab a hold of. When Rainbow suddenly went through the mirror, she thought she had lost her. All the books she has brought with her told her nothing about how to deal with magical portals. She has never ever seen a magical portal before. Well, except for the mirror, of course. But seeing one now was a little too late.
"Oh no! Why didn't I bring any books that has information about magical portals?" She asked herself, flinging a book behind her and bringing another one over with her magic. "Do I even have any books about magical portals? Ooo...I wish Spike was here right now." she said, feeling frustrated with herself.
Twilight took a quick glance at the mirror, only to find herself looking back. There was no alien world. No human. No Rainbow.
"Please be okay, Rainbow."
Creme realized that Twilight hadn't noticed him. She was so busy looking through her books she didn't even considered looking back at the mirror twice.
"She's been at it for a few minutes now." Rainbow said, chuckling to herself. "I was about to call out to her when you came in."
Creme rolled his eyes at Rainbow. He looked back at the mirror.
"Twilight!"
Twilight dropped the book she was reading. She quickly turned around and felt a wave of relief wash over her when she saw Creme' face.
"Creme!" she exclaimed, galloping over to the mirror. "Is Rainbow there with you? Is she okay? Is she hurt?" she asked, looking worried, and scared.
"Hi, Twilight." Rainbow's face appeared beside Creme's. "Surprise!"
* * * * * *
Rainbow sat quietly on the floor, looking at the ground and drawing small circles with her hoof. Not a single word escaped her lips. Creme wanted to feel sorry for the cerulean pony, and maybe offer a few comforting words to her. But after seeing and hearing the scolding Rainbow received from Twilight, he thought it was best to stay out of it. At least for the moment.
"Good. Now that that's dealt with. Let's get back to more pressing matters."
Creme nodded. He wanted answers for his questions. "Can you tell me what happened?" he asked. "At least. The full version of it."
Twilight rubbed her chin. "I was woken up by Rainbow. And she told me about the mirror acting weird."
"What kind of weird?"
"Very."
Creme raised an eyebrow at Twilight. "I thought you guys are all about weird."
"That's rude, Creme. But...yes. We have seen a great deal of strange occurrences here, in Equestria. Just not in things regarding about magical-portals-that-leads-to-an-entirely-different-world kind of weird!" Twilight exclaimed. "This is pretty new to me."
"Anyway, when we approached the mirror. Instead of seeing our faces being reflected in the mirror, a portal took its place."
"A portal?"
Twilight nodded. "It was rather perplexing. All the books I brought with me here had nothing on about alien portals. Here in Equestria, portals are rare but they do exists. Though I have never actually seen one before." she hovered over a few books with her magic, flipping through the pages of one of them.
"However, from what I've remembered," Twilight continued. "Portals functions as a gateway, brining one object or pony from one portal to the other. But they are all linked to the same world. Not other celestial bodies. Meaning, that the portals that can be found in Equestria, all leads back to Equestria, just in another different location from the first portal one steps in through."
"Yeah, I could see why that makes sense."
"I don't get it." Rainbow said quietly, still looking at the ground. Her ears were standing straight though. She was paying close attention to everything Twilight was saying.
"Shush, Rainbow." Twilight snapped.
"Sorry." Rainbow whispered.
"Ahem. I was very curious at first. How did this mirror suddenly became a portal to another world? All we knew from the start was that the mirror showed another world. But for it to suddenly change..." Twilight voice trailed off.
Twilight shook her head. "I was about to do a close examination of the mirror, to better understand the situation before taking any further steps of action. When Rainbow suddenly flew pass me, and dove straight into the mirror itself."
"Don't you have any understanding of the word 'Dangerous'?" Creme asked Rainbow.
"Hey, dangerous is my middle name."
"I'll say."
"You could've been seriously hurt, Rainbow!" Twilight cried. "I almost had a heart attack!"
"Sorry, Twilight." Rainbow apologized, looking down. "I just dunno what came over me. I had the sudden urge to do it, you know?"
"No, I don't." Twilight huffed. "You could've died." she said sadly, tears welling up in her eyes. "What if I lost you?"
"Now look what you did." Creme told Rainbow. "You made the princess cry."
Rainbow stood up, rushing over to the mirror. "Please don't cry, Twilight!" she begged. "Look, I'm perfectly fine, see?" Rainbow bumped her hoof on her chest. "Alive and kicking." she grinned at Twilight.
Twilight dried her tears. Smiling back. "Don't do that ever again."
"I pinkie promise." Rainbow said, doing some weird gestures that Creme couldn't understand.
"Pinkie promise?" he asked out loud.
They both ignored him.
"Tell you what, Twilight. I'll come back right now." Rainbow stood herself in front of the mirror. "I'll be back in ten seconds flat."
She placed her head against the mirror and pushed. Nothing happened.
"What the---wait, let me try again."
Rainbow pushed with all her might, trying to get her head to go through the mirror.
The mirror didn't budge. Neither did Rainbow. She took a few steps back and stared at Creme. Then to Twilight. An awkward silence slowly filled the apartment.
"Oh, buck."
* * * * * *
"Now, calm down, Rainbow. I'm sure we can figure something out."
"Calm down---CALM DOWN?!" Rainbow yelled. "I'm stuck here, Twilight!"
"Well, if you haven't went in to the mirror in the first place, none of this would had happened!" Twilight shouted back.
"Ladies, please! Calm yourselves."
Rainbow began pacing around the room frantically. "I'm stuck, I'm really stuck, I'm gonna be stuck here forever!"
"No you won't, Rainbow. We just have to figure out a way to solve this." Twilight told Rainbow.
"And how are you gonna solve this exactly? You said so yourself you know nothing about alien portals!"
"W-well I'm p-pretty sure I can find the answer in one of my books."
"Or never find one!" Rainbow wailed. "I'm doomed!"
"Stop being so pessimistic!"
Creme watched silently as the two ponies continued arguing, their argument getting more and more off topic. All this yelling and screaming was going to get attention. Unwanted attention. And if the knocks do come raining down on his door, he was almost absolutely sure that he would have a hard time explaining to the people and the authorities on why he had a pony in his apartment. A talking one, mind you.
Creme forced his concentration on any possible solutions that could help Rainbow get back to Equestria. What was Twilight saying about the mirror again? Something about a portal forming?
Of course. Creme thought to himself, slapping his forehead. How can he be so blind? The answer was right there in front of him the entire time.
"Everybody, please! Calm down for a second!" Creme exclaimed suddenly, interrupting both Rainbow and Twilight from their squabbling. He stood himself in the middle of the mirror and Rainbow, blocking either side from seeing each other. He looked back at Twilight, who was staring at him with wide eyes.
"I think I've found a way on how to send Rainbow back." Creme told Twilight, much to her surprise.
* * * * * *
"You're joking."
"No I'm not."
"He isn't kidding, Rainbow."
"Are you serious? Are you both serious?"
Creme and Twilight nodded their heads together. "I believe this is the best option we have right now." Twilight said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "It all makes sense now. Why didn't I see it sooner?"
Rainbow groaned. "You want me to wait until the portal forms again?" she asked Twilight. "What if it never happens?"
"Then you will be stuck here forever." Creme said bluntly.
"That's not funny."
"Look, Rainbow. I know you're confused, and maybe a little scared. But we don't have any other choice. Waiting for the portal to reappear again is the only thing we could do right now."
Rainbow wanted to protest, but she knew Twilight was right. It was not like Rainbow had a better idea, anyway. And it kinda was her fault in the first place. Slowly, she nodded her head in defeat.
"Okay, Twilight. I'll wait."
"Thank you, Rainbow. In the meantime, Creme can take care of you."
Rainbow blushed a little. "I'm not a filly you know." she said, feeling embarrassed. "I can take care of myself."
"No, you're not a filly." Twilight said, smiling. "But you are currently staying at an alien world." she looked at Creme. "Creme, can I count on you to keep Rainbow safe? At least, until the portal comes back?"
Creme nodded. "And in the meantime, maybe you can find some other way to bring her back to your world."
"I'll try searching my library. But if things take a turn for the worse. I might need to consult my mentor."
After saying her goodbyes to Rainbow and Creme, Twilight packed her things and left the bathroom. The mirror showed Rainbow's bathroom for a few more seconds. Then, the image slowly turned to that of Rainbow and Creme, who were both staring at the mirror.
Rainbow sighed deeply, walking away from the mirror and sitting down on the floor next to the Creme's couch. "I can't believe this is happening."
"You think you're the only one having a hard time believing this?" Creme asked, sitting on the couch. "This is too much for me to handle right now."
"Well, you're the one who suggested waiting."
"It was the only clear solution."
They both sat in silence for a moment. Creme took out his phone to check the time. The time told him that it will be dinnertime in a few more hours. But Creme was getting very hungry, since the only bite of food he got was from the taco he shared with Sonata. He shifted his gaze to the kitchen counter, gazing hungrily at the take-away bag that the king had given him. The unfinished taco laid beside it.
Creme felt something poke him on the leg. He looked down and saw that Rainbow was the culprit. She was poking every inch of his right leg. Rainbow was probably fascinated by it. But it was pretty annoying.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Just curious." she replied, looking up at him. "You humans are just so very, very weird."
"I could say the same to you."
"I mean what is this?" she asked, standing up and ignoring Creme's previous remark. She pointed at his hand. "What are those things that are poking out?"
Creme's eyes followed where her hoof was pointing at. "They are called fingers."
"Fingers?"
"Yes, fingers." Creme said, wiggling his fingers at Rainbow.
Rainbow grabbed on to his hand, examining it closely. There was a light, warm heat radiating out from Rainbow's hooves. Her hooves felt strangely soft against his hand, contrary to what he had believed. It was rather...well, weird. But not uncomfortable.
Creme was suddenly filled with the urge to pet her. He wanted to feel more of the softness and warmth. Not only the softness from her hooves, but also from her fur. She just looked so...so...pettable?
Rainbow was rather close to him, now that she was standing up. Her head was only a few inches away from him.
Maybe...maybe I could...
She was too interested in his hand, and wasn't paying attention to anything else.
Creme lifted his free hand and gently touched one of Rainbow's ear, getting an immediate shocked reaction from her.
"H-hey! What are you doing?" she asked defensively, letting go of Creme's hand, and backing off.
"S-sorry. I just...sorry." Creme mumbled. Feeling a little ashamed by his sudden action and desire.
Rainbow glared at him, but her expression slowly softens. "You could've just ask me, you know. If you wanted to touch me."
That sentence is so wrong in so many different levels. Creme told himself mentally. His breathing was suddenly rapid, and sharp. Was he getting...excited?
Rainbow gave Creme a confused look, but shrugged it off. She stepped closer towards him. "I suppose it's only fair. What with me suddenly touching you and you suddenly wanting to touch me."
Please stop saying touch. Creme thought, trying his best to steady his breathing.
"So..." Rainbow picked up his hand with her front hooves. "Do you want to?"
Creme gawked at Rainbow. He felt himself blush for some reason. Why was he getting so excited? All he wanted to do was to feel Rainbow's fur. Nothing else. He was just feeling...curious! Yes...curious.
Just curious.
Rainbow was still holding his hand. Creme gulped.
"Yes."