//------------------------------// // Friendship: The Game (If I have to suffer, you're going to suffer with me!) // Story: Letters from an Irritated Princess // by Tired Old Man //------------------------------// Dear Twilight, Today started off fine. Just another typical afternoon watching Sunny play in the garden, singing with the birds and the like. Luna’s been busy with Moony caring for her dragons--who would have thought a lightheaded version of herself was just what those creatures needed when those Crusaders aren’t around? At the very least, I’m finding less scorch marks in the castle, and the smell of smoke isn’t as pungent these days. Then something happened that I thought you might be aware about. Small and massive tears in the skyline opened up into some other world. I initially thought this was Discord’s handiwork ever since he tore open such a hole back at the Gala, but apparently Fluttershy expressly forbade him from ever opening wormholes since that night. Much to my surprise, he’s actually abiding by this ban. I think… he might be fully whipped by now. But at the same time, he’s Discord. The second he becomes predictable is the moment I start a pastry-free diet. And both of us know how unlikely those choices are… …Wait, would that make it more likely to happen if he and I think it won’t? He wouldn’t take that as a challenge, would he? Maybe… I just won’t tell him about this proposition. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt me. Anyway, he didn’t make the portals, and that was quite bothersome. But before I could even figure out what was really going on with the portals, they closed. Zipped up and vanished with nary a trace they were ever there. Well, almost completely gone. Later this afternoon, I discovered something intriguing. One of these rips happened right in my bathroom. Now, normally I’d consider the odds astronomical that said portal would just so happen to lead to another bathroom that curiously mirrored my own in some notable aspects: the choice of rose shampoo, a similar array of beauty products on the countertop, the rubber ducky perfectly positioned in the bathtub. All of it felt unquestionably familiar… And then proof positive of said familiarity came in through the door on their end. She looked at me; I looked at her. We stood there speechless, for a time… and then words began to trickle out. “You look like me if I was a bipedal cookie monster,” I started. “And you look like me if I was a quadrupedal cake chomper,” she shot right back. “Well met! Do you know Granny Smith?” “She’s one of my best friends!” “How about her granddaughter?” “You mean Skipjack?” “Ooh, that’s a good one! I’ll call her that next time!” “Hey, you can’t do that! What am I supposed to call mine?” “Applestack.” “...We’re going to be friends.” “Best friends.” I’d keep going on, but let’s just say I think I’m going to keep this portal open for a little while. Don’t worry--I’ll keep a very close eye on it as time passes. If I think things will get out of control, I won’t hesitate to close it myself. In the meantime, should you hear of other occurrences where any stray tears still remain after this incident that lasted so shortly I can’t even give it a proper title, you might want to look into them. I’ve instructed Cadance to handle any within her vicinity, and I’m doing the same for those near me. ‘Tis important for princesses to keep each other in the loop these days, so handle your tears accordingly. Wishing you well, Princess Celestia …Wait, I can’t just leave this portal wide open for Sunny to see. I know her. The first thing she’ll do is jump right through it without the slightest hesitation! But how to hide it… hrm, if I were Sunny, how would I be easily fooled? I can’t just hide this behind a curtain with a “closed for repairs” sign… …Or can I?