"Well," Twilight said, "Princess Celestia says we've got a thaumic lock on your dimension, so as soon as the Elements of Harmony have a few hours to charge, we can get you home."
Star Power let out a long breath and nodded. "I'm sure the girls will appreciate that."
"Yeah," Twilight said, in an oddly subdued tone.
"Yeah," Star said, with roughly equal enthusiasm.
The whisper of the gears in the cuckoo clock on the wall was unnervingly unlike the cold mechanical ticking of Star Power's green-room clock.
"If," Twilight began after a few moments, as Star said "Not --"
Twilight coughed. Star cleared her throat.
"Go ahead," both chorused, followed by the synchronized slaps of a double facehoof. Both glanced up at each other, then burst into laughter, at first uneasy, then genuine.
"Whoo," Twilight said as the chuckles subsided. "If my life is really being dramatized, I really couldn't have asked for a better actress, huh?"
"... I'm just going to say yes, rather than let myself think about the existential implications."
Twilight crooked one eyebrow. "Are you still having issues with my conjecture that we're alternate-reality versions of each other?"
"Look, my brain is pretty full right now. Half an hour ago I would have said that this was flatly impossible."
Twilight nodded. "Whereas I haven't had that luxury in a while. Not after meeting Future Me and driving myself crazy with that warning from the self-stabilizing time loop."
Star smiled. "I remember that one. S-two, E-twenty, 'It's About Time.' I spent the better part of three days green-screening and talking to Post Production's hoof-puppets."
Twilight chuckled uneasily. "Yeah. That meeting got stuck in my head for months. It's so great to know that my most intensely awkward friendship lessons are being immortalized for future generations."
Star swung a forehoof, pointedly staring down at the ground. "Yyyyyeah. Uh, speaking of awkward, look, about that stupid princess request ..."
She was interrupted by the gentle touch of Twilight's hoof on her shoulder, and looked up to see the princess kindly smiling. "I promise, Star, there's nothing to be embarrassed about." The smile turned wry. "I see so much of myself in you. I know exactly how it feels to fanfilly like that. Did I ever tell you about the first time I met A.K. Yearling?"
Star felt heat rush to her cheeks, and tried to cover it with a giggle. "You and me both."
Twilight giggled back. "So, see, I know where you're coming from. I know exactly what's going through your mind, meeting an alternate version of yourself. And really, rationally, from an objective standpoint, considering how alike we really are, there shouldn't be anything to feel awkward about."
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
"... Yeah."
"Ex-act-ly."
Twilight's hoof was still lingering on her shoulder. Star glanced down at it.
"I mean, if I have to be honest, that kinda makes sense," Star allowed. "Maybe we are the same mare, in some weird, essential way."
"Yes," Twilight said. "That theory's prior probability does appear high."
Star glanced down at Twilight's hoof again. It hadn't moved.
Twilight's cheeks darkened, and she cleared her throat in a way that Star recognized all too well.
"So," Twilight said, "does your world have a Kinseed scale?"
Additional Author's Note:
The original story's author, GaPJaxie, adds:
"Not that it matters because I'm totally not gay! But I am a virgin if you're into that so you know ha ha ha maybe I'm just joking of course but seriously you're very attractive even if it would be weird. Ha ha."