One week later, outside Manehattan Day Spa
Rarity shut off the car as she stepped out with Fluttershy behind her. Twilight stepped out of the back, fumbling with the harness that was the seat belt. The two humans gave quiet chuckles as Twilight finally slipped free and shut the door. "A spa?" she asked as she looked up at the sign.
Fluttershy nodded. "We thought that we could help you relax a little bit more since that night at the park," she said. "Besides, this place is simply fantastic."
"I agree, and it is too bad that poor Spikey-wikey couldn't come with us," Rarity complained.
Twilight chuckled nervously. "Well he was a bit occupied with things back at home. I'm sure the next time we all go out, he will be with us," she said.
In reality, Spike was left at Applejack's farm due while Sunset stayed home for an extra few hours of sleep. That and the fact that Twilight's week home alone allowed her to research the human body thoroughly. Twilight smiled as the two friends led her into the front lobby.
The room itself was a mashup of eggshell white floors and lavender walls. Potted plants and magazine racks littered the lobby as well as a television set hanging on the wall. Apart from the TV, there was also a running waterfall accompanied by a small assortment of fish. Immediately once Twilight entered the room, the sound of running water relaxed every muscle in her body.
As Rarity went to go check in at the desk, Twilight kneeled at the waterfall. Her weary reflection shone in the crystal clear water. The bags under her eyes developed as she and Sunset stayed up late the past week trying to figure out the magical man's secret identity.
Fluttershy kneeled next to Twilight. "You okay?"
Twilight nodded as she gave a yawn. "I just haven't had a good sleep the last few nights. I know this might help me but why didn't Sunset come with us?"
Fluttershy shrugged. "It was her decision so we mustn't question it," she said.
The princess of friendship nodded in agreement. "Okay girls, we're going to be a few minutes. Apparently some guy they hired just frightened the 2 O'clock."
"YYEEAHHH!!" a male voice screamed.
"OH GOD NO!"
The girls all eyed the door. The receptionist chuckled nervously as she pushed her chair back. "Aloe, who put him in charge of massages?"
"It wasn't myself nor my sister if that is what you're insinuating," a voice replied.
The receptionist sighed. "Excuse me girls." Then she got up to the sound of the male voice trying to calm the customer.
Rarity eyed the TV on the wall. "Make it a few more minutes," she advised.
Fluttershy sat quietly next to Rarity while Twilight continued to study the waterfall. The fish in the pond took little notice of her as they continued to dance around each other. Experimentally, the Equestrian princess touched the running water and instantly retracted.
Rarity, who was in deep in the magazine, peered over to watch her Equestrian friend. She smiled as she nudged Fluttershy to do the same. At some point, they realized, their dear friend Sunset Shimmer was in the same predicament.
Twilight submerged her hand under the falls, allowing the crisp cold water to dance on her skin. "These hands are so much more sensitive than hooves," she muttered.
Fluttershy cracked a smile. Twilight wiggled her fingers under the water, unfortunately that's when it happened. Losing control for a single moment, lavender light danced around her fingertips. The light bubbled under the surface of the water before bursting, sending cold water all over the lobby. The princess shrieked as the water flew all over.
Fluttershy dove out of the way as the water crashed on her friend. Rarity's serenity in the magazine was shattered as she remained still. Her mascara started to drip as the magazine turned into a wet wad of paper.
The secretary returned to her seat to be met by a wet Rarity with wide eyes. "IS THE 2 O'CLOCK FINISHED YET?!"
A moment later, the girls were escorted to the Jacuzzi. Stripping down to the respectable garments, the girls stepped inside the warm bath as Aloe set their clothes on a rack nearby. Rarity's clothes, however, were taken to the laundry to be properly washed. "We are so sorry ladies of that...peculiar incident. We've been meaning to replace that fountain for a while now," Aloe said sheepishly.
Rarity took in a deep breath, allowing the steam to calm her nerves. "It is perfectly alright, Miss Aloe. Accidents do happen on occasion," she said.
Fluttershy nodded in agreement. "Are you sure you won't let us pay for at least allowing you to dry her clothes?"
The spa maid waved it off. "Trust me, with the rowdy patrons coming and going, we allow our laundry facilities to remain free. Think nothing of it Miss Shy."
The junior vet smiled. Without another word, she left with the clothes in her arms. Shutting the door behind her, the three girls were left to the sound of the bubbling water beneath them.
A moment of silence passed between the girls. Finally, Twilight spoke. "Uhh, sorry Rarity about that," she squeaked.
"Darling, we have the ability to 'Pony Up' and we have met our share of ruffians and their zero tolerance toward the well pressed couture. What I am concerned about, however, is how a simple fountain in the corner of the room turned into a torrent of ice cold water," she spoke.
"I agree. Normally the most we could do before was pony up. We never could channel magic like what you just did," Fluttershy said.
Twilight simply held up her hands. "I-all I was doing was running my hands under the waterfall when it just exploded. I can't explain what happened without first knowing the complete data Sunset uncovered regarding magic in this world," she said.
"Sunset did say that we expressed the true aspect of each of us and that caused us to pony up," Fluttershy said. "Sunset did that for the other Twilight when she went evil."
Rarity nodded. "And her? They both could do magic without a problem but not us."
Twilight shrugged. "Sunset doesn't represent an existing Element in Equestria. There are only six Elements and you all express those just as well as my friends back home. As for the other me, she absorbed the magic of the portal and used it against the portal. The two forces, equal and opposite, canceled each other out and created a rift in the explosion. When Equestria was suddenly bombarded with more magic than on this side, the cracks formed and our worlds were pressed against each other. How both Sunset and the other me managed to harness magic is beyond me."
"Darling, she almost represented yours," Rarity said.
Again, Twilight had no answer. "Sunset probably has a connection to my Element because she wore mine at the Fall Formal. Other than that, I don't have a clue."
The girls nodded before allowing the room to fall into silence once again. Twilight raised her hands out of the water to study them. There was nothing different about them, except for the fact they were getting pruny. She wiggled her fingers, hoping something would happen, or better, the process repeat itself.
The two humans studied their friend as she waved her hands like a maniac. Close up, her hands were simply hands and nothing special. She flicked her hands out toward the girls, both of whom had submerged themselves in a panic. Still, nothing.
Rarity slowly broke the surface. "Darling, I don't think that..."
"No, I got this. I think it had something to do with the stimulation the waterfall had on my hands. I need something to...I don't know, awaken them? I need something soothing," she said. She scanned the room around her to find anything she could use. Given her current predicament, she didn't want to resort to giving up and trying later. Several minutes passed before she gave up.
After a few moments, Rarity shook her head as she stretched. "Darling, if I may ask you a personal question?"
"Go on ahead," Twilight responded.
Fluttershy and Rarity locked eyes, almost debating among themselves telepathically. Finally, Fluttershy shrugged. "Do you...er this is odd. Do you have a relationship with Sunset?"
Silence filled the room. "Of course. I mean, we help each other out in understanding this world as well as work together regarding the prospects of friendship as a source of magic. Why do you ask?"
Fluttershy remained silent. "Um, well darling, that wasn't what I meant," she said.
Twilight tilted her head. "Do you have a uhh...well. Do you have a relationship with Sunset? Not an academic relationship I mean," Rarity elaborated.
The gears finally turned in the right direction in Twilight's mind. Her face reddened as she found herself stammering. "I-uh I ~hehe~ I don't know what you're talking about. Wh-why would we have anything el-else besides an academic relationship?"
Rarity stayed silent. The spa door opened as Aloe walked in with three towels in her hands. "Put these on and proceed to the mud room. My sister and her attendants will be with you shortly," she said.
The girls thanked Aloe as they covered themselves up. Fully wrapped in freshly dried towels, the trio made their way to the other room where Lotus set up several stone tubs filled with mud. Rarity sighed happily as she made a bee-line for the middle tub. Twilight and Fluttershy shrugged as they took the remaining tubs around Rarity.
Stepping into the mud, Twilight felt bliss. The mud was warmed to the point where her muscles relaxed as she burrowed under the mud. The attendant behind her then proceeded to give her a shoulder massage. Peering over, Rarity and Fluttershy were getting the same treatment.
After a while, Rarity spoke again. "Darling, if anything, I ask because I've seen how Sunset looks at the book whenever she gets a message. She hides the book from us, sometimes keeping it on her at all times. We only ask because we care about her," she said.
Twilight pondered her words, well tried to. The massage was turning her mind into putty. "We-well I will tell you thi ~ooh that feels good~: you don't have to worry about Sunset and I. We ~Aah that feels wonderful~ we have a professional partnership that is comprised of information and relativeness since we didn't know each other when we went to school together."
Fluttershy, who was lost in her bliss, cracked open an eye. "We do talk a lot and swap stories about our times between worlds, and we have the occasional luncheon. Mostly, we're two mares who had no chance to know each other before, and since we both cl ~Is that a knot?~ you know, connect, we can understand each other."
Rarity nodded. "Darling, same-sex relationships aren't frowned upon here," Rarity said.
"I'm not talking about taboo, Rarity," Twilight burst out. "It-Its just that we haven't considered relationships, and her with school and me with Equestria, there is hardly time now. I have a former villain and time traveler as a student, Princess Celestia has me at her beck and call because of border disputes between us and Stallionsgrad, I'm about to be an aunt and I got a small amount of time before a falling star hits Equestria. A relationship, Rarity, is a little bit of a reach for me."
Twilight's attendant eyed Lotus with a puzzled look. The spa maid only shrugged as she continued with Rarity. "Um Twilight," Fluttershy spoke up. "We are only protective about Suns-"
"I get the protectiveness, but what are you protecting her from? Me? We have a solid relationship based on academic curiosity and social inquiries between our own worlds. She hasn't been in Equestria for years so I record what changed and what hasn't while she gives me details about this world and what it used to be," Twilight said.
A moment of silence passed before Twilight's eyes widened. "This is about those inside jokes you girls have about her, isn't it?"
Rarity nearly burst out of the mud. "What? Nonononononono it isn't that. We-ell, on a small degree perhaps but we have meant no harm to her," she stammered.
"I knew it!" Twilight burst out. "It isn't just about relationships, its about the lack of relationships that she has had since Brad!"
"Twilight, no!" Fluttershy retorted. "We're just...it's something that has come up before. Sunset hasn't been in a relationship in a long time, but when she speaks to you, she's happy. She forgets about that old part of herself and even continues to say her past prevents her from having a relationship."
Everyone in the room stared at her in amazement, including the spa attendants. Feeling everyone's eyes on her, Fluttershy sank into the mud, preventing her own attendant from continuing the massage. "Um, wow darling, I never thought about saying it like that," Rarity said.
Twilight nodded. "Look, I've never thought about relationships. By the love of Celestia, I haven't considered a relationship with her as well. If anything were to happen, it must happen in time. Jumping into a relationship when both parties aren't ready could lead to challenges." The princess of friendship shook her head. "I sound like Cadence now."
Everyone in the room were now listening to Twilight. "Relationships are greater levels of friendships, and yes Princess Cadence and I are experts in that field, but if I were to seek a relationship, even with Sunset, it would have to wait."
Rarity's eyes widened. Lotus had stopped her massage to focus on the princess, and learning she had stopped, she doubled her efforts. Fluttershy rose from the mud and continued the massage.
A few more minutes passed before the attendants left the room, allowing the girls to soak in the mud. Twilight shifted in the mud, and for the first time since they arrived, Rarity noticed the bags under her eyes. "Darling, are you okay?"
"Honestly? I'm too tired." Twilight rubbed her neck. "Sunset and I have been up late this past week looking for the name of the guy we ran into, but we still have no idea who he is or why he's here. A creature who can use hypnosis, curse objects and banished into this world cannot have just popped up out of nowhere."
"Darling, I don't mean to sound so...sour, but why is our world your world's prison?" Rarity asked.
Twilight blushed. "We-well when it comes to that, I uh, I don't have an idea. I certainly would not call this place a prison. Maaybe it had something to do with this world not having magic in the past," she said.
"Twilight, um, doesn't your world have...places like jails?" Fluttershy asked timidly.
Twilight readjusted herself underneath. "Well there is one prison, but that's a little extreme," she said.
"Extreme darling? What prison in a world of magic is considered extreme?"
Twilight fidgeted with her hands. "Tartarus."
Silence fell. The air in the room grew cold as the word escaped Twilight's lips. The fashionista chuckled nervously. "E-excuse me Twilight, I'm afraid I must've misunderstood you. For a moment, I thought you said..."
"Tartarus, the maximum supersecurity prison in the center of Equis? Or the same Tartarus that houses gods and demigods and mortals and even some monsters whom all have committed horrible crimes against nature and deemed too dangerous to the Afterlife?" Twilight asked.
Fluttershy sank into the mud. "Bu-but wh-hy would your world have th-that awful place?"
Twilight shrugged. "Equestria isn't all sunshine and rainbows, Fluttershy."
"Darling, in the entire time we've known you, that's exactly what we thought when you kept talking about Equestria," Rarity pointed out. "For the love of the Sun, we even thought that a world such as yours never met evil."
Twilight laughed. "Oh trust me Rarity, the stories I tell you girls are 100% real. We seen evil in many forms over the last 1000 years alone with Nightmare Moon and Tirek. That was just the last millennium; I have no idea what happened before Tirek first attacked," she said.
Rarity sat up in the mud. "Darling, what about history books?"
The princess of Friendship rolled her eyes. "For some reason, they only go back to the first Hearths Warming which was over a thousand years ago. Nopony knows what happened before the Great Blizzard. It-it's like there's this big bl-" Twilight froze.
Rarity and Fluttershy eyed the princess carefully. "That's it. We don't have a record of this kind of magic nor who possess it the most because his records pre-date Celestia. The only reason why he is here now instead of dead is because he's been immortal, and you can only be immortal if you are either: A) an alicorn or B) banished to Tartarus! He's an escapee!"
In the excitement, Twilight jumped out of the mud bath, blinding Rarity with the earthy substance while Fluttershy got an unexpected surprise from Twilight's bare rear. Her eyes widened and immediately she dove under the mud. Twilight realized the draft and immediately sat down with a deep red blush spread across her face.
Rarity wiped away the mud. "Umm, darling that is more worrying than not knowing," she said.
Fluttershy blurbled in response underneath. "Fluttershy is right, I thought you said supersecurity. How could he have escaped?" Rarity asked.
The gears in Twilight's head had already formulated the response. "A few years ago, before I arrived to Ponyville for the first time, there was a breakout. A lot of high security prisoners managed to escape and caused chaos around the area. Princess Celestia immediately responded in full force, but only a hoof-ful of prisoners were returned. So many disappeared and she spent months on investigating the cause. I think this guy escaped at the same time as Tirek."
"A-a breakout?"
"Well, when you think about it: the time of the incident was during the time when the mirror may've been open OR the massive breakout somehow managed to create a ripple effect on the surrounding area and cracked both of our dimensions. If the latter theory is correct, then the escape and Nightmare Moon's return couldn't be just prophecy alone," Twilight said. She fidgeted around in the mud, searching frantically for a towel or something to cover herself. "Umm, I need Sunset's journal."
Rarity and Fluttershy eyed each other. Without saying a word, both girls raised their hands over their eyes.
Those were the longest ten minutes of their lives.
"Tartarus? Twilight, that's a bit of a stretch, even for you," Sunset said.
The girls had all returned to Sunset's apartment as quickly as Twilight teleported before. Applejack had dropped Spike off and since then stayed while Rainbow and Pinkie were busy doing...something. Sunset, who had gotten over the fact she woke up to a naked Twilight landing on her bed earlier that afternoon, called for the human Twilight to join them.
Sci-Twi adjusted her glasses. "Tartarus? Your world hosts Tartarus?"
"Well, its supposedly the center of our world and everything where criminals too dangerous for reformation or too powerful for capital punishment go. To say somepony escaped is seriously impossible," Sunset said.
"Darling, that is now 40 times you've said 'somepony' this year alone," Rarity said.
Sunset facepalmed. "Anyway, why would you think that Tartarus is the place?"
"Because of the breakout a few years ago," Twilight responded.
Twilight began writing a letter in the book to the princesses on the other side of the portal. "The breakout?"
"Several hundred monsters escaped Tartarus a few years ago, and if my theory is correct, the destruction of the Gates caused a split in the skin of Equestria, allowing them to venture into this world. This guy could be an escapee," Twilight said.
"Ah ah, could," Sunset pointed out.
Applejack sat on the couch and turned on the TV. "Now ah know why ah don't ask," she muttered.
"It's pretty easy considering its a far-fetched theory to begin with. If the Gates were burst open like Twilight said, then we should've felt the effect in this world too," Sunset said.
Fluttershy tightened her hands. "Uh...um."
"What is it Fluttershy?" Rarity asked.
"Remember a few years ago when you helped me at the clinic? All the animals were going crazy," she said.
"An them freaky thunderstorms?" Applejack pitched in.
"And don't forget those freak hurricanes in the Caribbean," Sci-Twi said. "This Tartarus seems like it can cause great astronomical disturbances in this world, and since animals react to natural disasters, it is possible they're connected."
The girls all stayed silent. "Looks like it's that," Applejack muttered.
Twilight nodded in agreement. The magic journal began vibrating, spooking the human Twilight. Flipping through the pages, Twilight found the princess's response:
Dear Twilight,
Regarding your theory surrounding Tartarus, I've managed to draft the two documents you have requested. The first is the official transcript detailing the prisoners sealed in Tartarus pre-dating Princess Platinum's reign. The second document is a list of prisoners that were unaccounted for when the Gates were breached four years ago.
I pray your theory is wrong Twilight. If it is indeed an escaped criminal, then humanity may sit on the edge of destruction. Take caution and Godspeed.
-Princess Celestia and Princess Luna
As Twilight skimmed the two documents, Sunset began pacing the room.
Prisoner name: Medusa
Species: Gorgon
Magical abilities: Turning mortals to stone
Captured: 476 B.C.
Monarch: King Cosmos
"No, not her," Sci-Twi muttered.
Prisoner name: Hypnos
Species: unknown
Magical abilities: unknown
Captured: 1087 B.C.
Monarch: King Cosmos
"Sounds like him," Sunset said.
"He's not on the escapee list," Fluttershy said as she peered over Twilight's shoulder.
The princess of friendship blew a hair from her face.
Prisoner name: Tangled Minds
Species: Equine, Unicorn
Magical abilities: Mind control and cursing objects
Captured: 721 B.C.
Monarch: King Cosmos
Fluttershy screeched. "BINGO!"
The girls all jumped. Spike came in from Sunset's room with dreamy eyes. "H-hey what's going on?" he asked.
"Tangled Minds was imprisoned in Tartarus in the 700s B.C. and was unaccounted for when Tirek escaped. It's a perfect fit," Twilight said.
"Uhh, girls?"
Sci-Twi chuckled nervously. "S-so we're up against a-an old guy?"
"Girls?"
"He hypnotized an entire army against King Cosmos and nearly killed him, at least according to the report," Twilight said.
"GIRLS!"
Everyone turned to Applejack. She motioned to the TV where the press watched a limo drive through White Tail City. By tomorrow, President Platinum will arrive in Canterlot City where she will meet the American president to discuss the terms regarding the upcoming G20 Convention, the reporter announced.
As the footage played, President Platinum was seen standing at a podium criticizing world leaders regarding global warming. As the footage played, a man was seen standing next to the president. A man Applejack immediately recognized.
"Tangled Minds?" Applejack asked.
The girls all nodded. Sunset eyed Princess Twilight, who had turned pale. "This just got a lot more complicated," she said.
Sunset smiled. "We need a plan...and a press badge. Luckily, I have both."