//------------------------------// // Seeing Double // Story: Adventures at Canterlot High // by MLP Fangirl //------------------------------// Both Twilights stood in front of the three-story house located in the more suburban part of Canterlot. Twilight looked at her princess counterpart with uncertainty, "Uh, are you sure it's a good idea to stay with me? We're not going to rip a hole in space, are we?" The Princess of Friendship laughed, "I'm pretty sure one would have formed already. Relax, Twilight. If your family is anything like my family, then we should have no reason to worry." "Or should we?" Equestrian Spike chirped from beside Princess Twilight's feet. Princess Twilight glared at her companion, using her foot to gently push him away. "No. We don't." Twilight sighed, "Well, I suppose. Come on. My dad works late, but my mom should be home. Unless, she's running some errands." They both walked up to the front of the house. Twilight reached into her pocket for the key and slid it into place, opening it. They both walked inside. Princess Twilight looked around the living space, marveling at how similar it looked to her own home, except for the television in the middle of the room. "I'm home!" Twilight yelled, setting her backpack down on the couch. "Be down in a sec, Twily." A male voice sounded from the second floor. Princess Twilight recognized the voice immediately, "Shining Armor?" Twilight nodded, taking her Spike from out of her bag. The pony-turned-human sat down on the sofa, bouncing slightly, "I can't help but feel at home here. Not surprising." Footsteps coming down the stairs alerted the two girls that Shining Armor was coming down. "Hey, Twily. How was - " He was unable to finish his sentence due to the fact that two Twilights were occupying the living room, as well as two Spikes. "I-I-I-I - " Both Twilights looked at each other then giggled. "Are you okay, Shining?" Twilight asked her brother, muffling her giggles with her mouth. Shining Armor blinked rapidly, mouth hanging open, "I knew I should've drank my coffee this morning." Princess Twilight chuckled, walking up to her stunned brother's counterpart, "Relax, Shining Armor, this isn't an illusion. What you are seeing is absolutely real." Her human counterpart walked up next to her, "It's true, BBBFF." He stepped back, running a hand through his hair, "How?" Once again, the two Twilight Sparkles exchanged glances. "Perhaps it'd be best if you explained to him, Princess. Even I'm not entirely sure of all the facts." Princess Twilight smiled, wrapping an arm around Shining Armor, "Sure. But, this might take awhile." ----- "You're a pony." Princess Twilight nodded, "Yes." "And you're a princess?" She nodded once again, "Yes." "So, there's an alternate world full of colorful ponies, and my sister happens to be a princess in that world?" The young princess laughed, "Yes, Shining Armor. I know it's a lot to take in, but it is true." Shining Armor sighed half-heartedly, "I'm having a hard time believing that." His younger sister shrugged, "So did I, at first. But, can you really question it when you're sitting in front of two Twilights?" He leaned back against the recliner, taking a deep breath. "No...I guess I can't." Equestrian Spike, who was sleeping next to Princess Twilight , peeked an eye open, "Not to mention the two talking dogs." "Yup, don't want to forget that, " added Canine Spike, scratching his ear with his hindpaw. Shining Armor sat up, rubbing his head, "Well, I guess I accept it. Kind of. So, every human in this world has a pony counterpart in yours?" Princess Twilight nodded again, "Correct." He rubbed the back of his neck, "So, what am I like back there?" Both Twilights looked at each other, wondering if that particular information should be given. Twilight looked at her counterpart then back at her brother, "Go ahead. Might finally make him do it." "Do what?" Princess Twilight giggled, "All right. Well, Shining Armor, you are the best big brother a pony - er, girl could have. When you finished school, you became a Royal Guard." Shining's eyes widened, "A guard for royalty?" Princess Twilight grinned, "Yup, for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." "Aren't they - " "Yes, Principal Celestia's and Vice-Principal Luna's counterparts. They are the rulers of Equestria." Shining Armor huffed, "Figures." "Anyway, after a few years of being in the Royal Guard, you eventually became the Captain of the Royal Guard." She looked pointedly at her counterpart sibling, a slight smile on her face. His mouth dropped, "Captain?! I became captain of the guard for royalty?!" Princess Twilight's smile widened, "Yes. There's more." "More? How much more can there be?" The Princess of Friendship smiled at him, "It gets better." Twilight giggled, "Much better, Big Brother." He raised a curious eyebrow but allowed the princess to continue. "So, fast forward to a couple years later. I receive an invitation to a royal wedding." His eye twitched, "You can't be serious." Princess Twilight winked at him, "I can and I am. My friends and I were invited to the wedding of..." She paused for dramatic effect. "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor." Shining looked down for a second, "Mi Amore Cadenza...wait. CADENCE?" The two Twilights looked at each other and giggled. "Yes, Shining. Do you know her?" Princess Twilight crossed her arms with an amused smirk on her face. Shining was silent for a long time, staring at nothing in particular. "I...married Cadence?" He received a nod from the young princess, "Yes, and became Prince Shining Armor, co-ruler of the Crystal Empire." Shining Armor raised an eyebrow, "The Crystal what?" Princess Twilight sighed tiredly, "Now, that's an entirely different story." Twilight smiled, "So, what do you say to that, BBBFF?" He sat back against his chair, "So, does this mean I can - " "Go for it." Both Twilights said in unison. A smile spread across Shining's face. He quickly stood up and ran upstairs. Once again, the two Twilights broke out in laughter. Princess Twilight wiped a tear from her eye, "Well, that went well." Twilight took off her glasses, wiping her face with her sleeve, "You can say that again. Something tells me I'm going to be gaining a sister-in-law in the near future." Just then, the front door opened, revealing Twilight Velvet, clad in a light blue overcoat, Without looking into the living room, she took off her coat and hung it on the rack near the door. "Hi, honey. How are you? I'm going to start dinner." She walked towards the kitchen without noticing a second daughter. "Green bean casserole sound good?" Twilight snorted, covering her mouth with her hand, "Sounds good, Mom." Twilight Velvet grabbed an apron from a hook in the kitchen. She tied it around herself and began opening different cupboards to select the ingredients. "Okay. That happened." Velvet heard her daughter's voice as she began to open a can of green beans. "Don't worry. She's bound to notice soon." Twilight's voice replied. She stopped short but decided it was nothing. "Well, if she's anything like my mother, she'll figure it out in no time." That made her stop again. She put the can down and walked back into the living room. "Twilight, what are you do - " Her eyes widened as she caught sight of another Twilight in the room. Her eyes bounced back and forth between the two girls. The bespectacled Twilight tapped her fingers together nervously, "H-hi, Mom." Twilight Velvet quickly ran back into the kitchen, trying to catch her breath. "I must be seeing things." Cautiously, Mrs. Sparkle turned back, peering slightly into the living room. Once again, two Twilights sat on the sofa together, and...was that another Spike? Being the logical and reasonable woman she was, Velvet took a deep breath and went back into the living room. She walked up in front of the couch, bearing a pleasant smile, "Twilight, honey, could you please explain why there is a second you in this house?" Twilight turned to her Equestrian counterpart with pleading eyes. The princess shrugged and sighed, "Well, I would, but then you won't get dinner on the table." Velvet raised a wary eyebrow, "What do you me - " At that moment, Night Light came through the front door. He took off his hat, shaking his head. He began to walk past the living room, "Evening, honey, Twilight, and Twilight. Velvet, it's past five, why don't I smell - " He stopped walking as he registered his last comment. His head swiveled around, his eyes fell upon two daughters. He rubbed his eyes then looked back at them, "Did I miss something?" ----- During dinner, Princess Twilight relayed all of the information that the Sparkle family needed to know. It took longer than expected, but eventually, they were all up to speed. Night Light took a sip of his soda, "So, my daughter's a pony princess in another world? I always knew she was special, and this proves it." Twilight blushed, "Dad." Velvet placed the last bit of casserole in her mouth. "And, our son is a prince married to a princess?" Princess Twilight nodded, resting her arm on the table, "Princess Cadence, no less." "So, Cadence is a princess in another world? Well, son, I think that makes her worthy enough." Night Light nudged Shining Armor with his elbow. "Yes, Shiny, I want grandchildren someday." Twilight Velvet began collecting the dirty dishes and headed into the kitchen. Shining Armor blushed, "One step at a time, Mom. I gotta ask her out first." Princess Twilight laughed, "Well, if you do get married, send me an invitation. I'd love to be there. Hopefully, this time Cadence won't be replaced by a Changeling." "A what?" She waved a hand, "Never mind." "So, Dad? Is it okay for her to stay over? She won't be here long." Twilight smiled hopefully at her father. He looked at his daughter then to the princess. He shrugged, walking over to Princess Twilight, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, what's one more Twilight going to do? Of course, she can stay." Both Twilights' faces broke out into huge grins. "Twilight, won't don't you show the princess to her room?" Velvet suggested from the kitchen as she closed up the dishwasher. "Sure thing, Mom. Come on, Princess." The two Twilights quickly ran upstairs, followed by their respective dogs. "So, Shining Armor, when do you plan on asking her?" Shining simply sighed. ----- After several hours of staying up, the girls finally went to sleep. Morning came around quickly. But, this happened in Equestria, too, so Princess Twilight was used to it. Clad in purple pajamas, she got out of the bed and stretched. She smelled something coming from the kitchen. She went downstairs, dressed in her usual clothes, and took a seat at the dining table. "Good morning." "Good morning, honey, " Velvet, who had been flipping pancakes, turned around to greet her daughter. "Oh! Princess Twilight. Sorry, I thought you were the other Twilight." The princess laughed, holding up a hand, "Don't be. I know it can be pretty confusing." Just then, Shining Armor came trudging down the stairs, "Morning, Mom. Twily." Princess Twilight giggled, "Good morning, Shining Armor." He blinked then chuckled, "Whoops. Different Twilight." The Princess of Friendship merely rolled her eyes. Just then, more footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Twilight came rushing in, holding her phone in her hand. "Princess, I got a voicemail from Sunset Shimmer. I think you should hear it." She handed the phone to her counterpart. Princess Twilight raised an eyebrow, taking the phone in her hand. Hey, Twilight. It's Sunset. Princess Twilight's staying with you, right? Well, when you get this, tell her that something's going on with the portal. I don't know what, and it's hard to explain. Tell her to meet me at the portal. You can come, too. Okay? Bye. Princess Twilight blinked, staring at the phone. "What was that about?" Velvet walked over to her. Princess Twilight handed the phone back to her counterpart then turned towards Twilight Velvet. "Sorry, but I'm afraid I have to skip breakfast. Something's going on with the portal." "The portal to Equestria?" Shining questioned. The princess nodded, quickly running upstairs to grab Spike. A few minutes later, she returned. "I have to go. Twilight, are you coming?" Twilight looked at the princess then back at her mother, "Can I?" Velvet placed her hands on her hips and sighed, "Well, all right. But, at least take a granola bar with you or something." Twilight nodded, running into the kitchen to grab a few. When she came back, Princess Twilight was already holding the door open. "Come on. If something's wrong with the portal, we need to fix it. I just hope that it's nothing serious."