//------------------------------// // Chapter 35, They are like me! // Story: An Unexpected Life // by alejin //------------------------------// Bright was trying to sleep peacefully during this beautiful night, but he kept waking up. He just wasn’t sleepy. Putting on his clothes, he decided to take a little stroll in the city, but not before getting a snack. He started on his way to the royal kitchens. On his way there, in a long grand hallway, he saw something move in the distance. A pony, maybe? It wouldn’t be so strange if not for the fact this pony had her whole body covered by a cape and hood. That and the fact she was kind of sneaking around. Despite trying to follow her, he lost her around a corner near Twilight’s room. He started to worry and was about enter to see if his friend was alright, but at that moment somepony started to come back out. He hid behind a column, and managed to see an evil smile behind the hood. He also noticed something was shining under her cape, as she slipped it into her saddlebag. It was... Twilight’s Element of Harmony?! “Oh no... TARTARUS NO!” Bright immediately abandoned his hiding spot and stood up the thief. “Stop right there! Hand over the Element of Magic and maybe you will keep your face intact!” The thief stopped in it’s tracks. Steel swore he saw the pony eyes widen through the hoods darkness. They were shone like emeralds in the night. Bright also widened his eyes. He had seen eyes like those somewhere before, but where? The thief’s mouth was opening and closing rigidly without speaking, as if it was looking a ghost. She slowly approached Bright. He didn’t move, somehow he was stunned...by those strangely familiar eyes. “Bright?” the hooded pony asked. “What? How do you…?” “You are alive...” “You know me…? Wait, wait! This isn’t the time for that! Give me Twilight’s Element!” The hooded pony came out of her trance as well. With her horn glowing,she teleported somewhere else, leaving behind her hood in her hasty teleport. Bright turned around and saw her only a few meters away, starting to run. He started to run after her. After a few minutes, the pony thought she had lost the human and slowed down. Before she could react properly, she felt a breeze next to her and the second later Bright was in front of her with his fist set to hit her. She tried to teleport again, but Bright was one step ahead and used his speed to get close to her and stunned her with a concentrated charge in his fingers before her magic could finish forming. She managed to teleport anyways, but not nearly as far as she had intended. Steel knew she would be stunned for some minutes, so he only had that time to find her. He had to act quickly! He searched many nearby rooms until he heard gasping behind a door he found locked. He blasted down the door. Inside was the unicorn in front of a strange mirror. She was lying on the floor, still shocked. She seemed about Twilight’s age, with yellow fur, a fiery mane, and emerald eyes. Her cutie mark was... a blazing sun? No... it was not possible. Bright approached to the unicorn slowly. “Sunset?” Still shocked, the little unicorn smiled. “It’s really you Bright... but how?” “What? How did you know I was supposed dead? And more importantly, why are you stealing Twilight’s Element?” “Bright... you don’t understand... Co- come with me. I know you will understand me... you were the only one who ever did.” “Sunset... I’m sorry. I don’t know what you are planning but I can’t let you escape. Bright, much to Sunset’s surprise, summoned his axe and cast an electrified field where the door used to be. He knew she would still be stunned for a couple minutes. He proceeded to go get the guards, but then he remembered he forgot to retrieve Twilight’s crown. Returning quickly, he saw Sunset... apparently trying to crawl towards the mirror with the crown in her mouth? “Sunset! What are you doing?” To his surprise, Sunset threw the crown into the mirror. It disappeared through it. Bright was shocked, even more so when felt his chest be impacted by a magical beam. When he opened his eyes, he saw Sunset looking at him with worried eyes. “I- I’m sorry. So- someday I will come back for you, my friend. My only true friend.” She closed his eyes with a spell and he caused him to faint. Two hours or so later, he woke up. Not losing any time, he jumped towards the mirror. What happened next was the strangest thing he had ever experienced. He saw a lot of shining colored lights and felt his body warp in strange ways before returning to normal. After some seconds, he finally felt his body land on solid ground. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in an odd place. He was outside, first of all, and there were trees and some strange houses. Behind him, there was a statue of a Pony... no it was a horse. And the base was glowing. Maybe the entrance he’d just crossed. It turned off a second later. He didn’t pay much attention to it and continued looking around. In front of him was some kind of school, visually similar the one his mother runs. There was no sign of life. Which made sense since it was the middle of the night. Obviously the ponies would be in their homes. There was no sign of Sunset. Maybe she managed to teleport away. He was beginning to power up to fly and have a better look when he was interrupted. “Hey! Young man! Are you ok? Don’t you know it’s dangerous to be out alone at this time of night?” The voice sounded like if it belonged to some kind of royal guard. Perfect, he could help him to find Sunset. Bright turned around to ask for his help... and found himself at a loss for words. In front of him was another human,but somehow he felt different. But still, he was a human! Words failed Bright. The human was dressed in blue, clearly a uniform of some sort, he knew that much. “Young man... did you hear me? Please don’t tell me you’re drunk…” he sighed in exasperation, “These boys today...” “What... no, I’m not drunk I swear!” Bright responded in a rush. The human approached him and looked him in the eye. He sniffed a little and smiled. “Well, your breath doesn’t smell like alcohol and you don’t seemed dizzy. Sorry if I scared you lad, but seriously, go home. As I said, it’s dangerous this time in the night. I can take you there if you want.” “Eh… no, I think I can get there. It’s not far away.” “Ok lad. Be careful, and don’t let me find you out this late again!” he said jovially. “Yes… yes sir.” The man nodded and got inside of some kind of weird chariot and went on his way, the chariot somehow moving under it’s own power without being pulled. Bright found himself alone again. Making sure no one was watching, he returned to the base of the statue where the portal was and leaned into it. He felt all those strange things again and found himself back in the room in the castle. He sat there in shocked silence for some minutes. Another human? Were there more? Did his Mom know about this? There were tons of questions, but they had to wait. The main problem took priority: Twilight’s crown. He left the room and hollered loud enough to wake the dead. “WAKE UP EVERYPONY! WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY!!” Remarkably quickly, all his nearby friends and family (as well as some nearby guards) joined Bright in the room. They all were sleepy and half-awake, but Celestia noticed which room they were in. A cold sweat ran down her back. Bright approached her. “Mom... we need to talk.” Celestia gave a worried smiled and said: “Ye-yes? What is it sweetie?” “For how long?” “What you mean? I don’t... ” “For how long?” “I’m sorry I really don’t kn...” “FOR HOW LONG!!!” Celestia looked at her sister or niece for help but they were as shocked as she was. Knowing she was cornered, she finally confessed. “Seven and half years... not terribly long after your foalnapping.” “Applejack... is she telling the truth?” Applejack slowly nodded, slowly. “Ah don’t know the context, but it feels honest to me.” That was all he needed to hear. “Why you didn’t tell me when I came back?” “...” “Fine! Never mind, if not for the fact we have urgent manners to deal with!” “What... what you mean sweetie?” “Firstly, don’t call me by cute names, at least for now. Second, Twilight, haven’t you realize you’re missing something?” “Uh? What do you mean Bright?” She asked, still only partially awake. “Tell me, where is your Element of Harmony?” “It’s right here!” Spike commented and showed Bright a crown. “That’s strange... Give it to me, please Spike?” Spike nodded and gave the crown to Bright. He turned it around, as if he was studying it. Everypony else present was confused, until some seconds later a smile crossed in his face. He easily crunched the crown between his hands and smashed it with an electrified fist. Everypony gasped and looked on in horror. “Bright! How could you!!” Rarity exclaimed. “Relax Rarity. Do you really think a true Element of Harmony is that fragile?” “I- Whatever you mean, darling?” “It’s true Rarity,”Twilight said through her shock “That was not my Element. Bright, how did you know?” “Follow me, I have an... interesting story to tell.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Soon after Bright had finishing telling them what happened to him, though he didn’t tell them anything about what he saw on the other side of the mirror. Everypony gasped and was very confused. Cadence explained that mirror was a portal to another world and how it will be closed in three days. Celestia’s sight never abandoned Bright, and he was staring at her too. He was pissed alright. Bright abandoned the room, but soon came back with a new outfit and a backpack laden with supplies. Celestia began to feel very cold. “Sweet- Bright what are you doing?” “Isn’t it obvious? I will go and get Twilight’s crown.” “What? NO NO NO! You don’t know what you will encounter there!” “You know very well what I will encounter there!” “Bright... Please, I can send some guards... or-” “No! I’m going alone and that’s final!! And don’t you dare try to stop me. You have no right, and you know that!” Everypony was shocked to hear the prince talking like that to his mother. Nopony dared to say anything, it was a family matter. Bright was about to enter the mirror when somepony finally spoke. “I’ll go too!” Twilight blurted out. “What!?” Everypony shouted. “She stole my Element, it’s my duty to get it back!” “Twilight! As far as I know, there are no ponies like you there, you will be in danger!” “No she won’t.” Celestia said. “What? What was that mother?” “Trust me... She will not be in danger in the other world due to her species.” “How you know that? “I just know.” “More secrets…” he grumbled under his breath, “Still, she can’t come. I alone am enough to deal with it. Sunset was my friend. Maybe I can convince her to come peacefully.” “And if you can’t?” “I´ll... improvise.” Bright was close to the portal when he felt himself floating back in a purple and gold aura. “Mom... Twilight! Let me go!” “No! I’m going too! It’s my element, my problem! Not yours!” “Twilight! Let me handle this, you don’t know anything about this world!” “And you do?” “... Yes.” “How... ohh, you already saw it?” “Yes, I have. Trust me, I’ll fit in very well.” “How can you say that, it’s not like it’s a world full of... oh...” “Yes Twilight... it is a world with humans in it.” Everyone gasped one more time. “Now you see Twilight? It’s dangerous for you, they may not be as accepting as you ponies were with one human.” “Don’t worry Twilight. You too Bright. She will be fine.” Celestia said calmly. “Mother, how can you say that. What part of a ‘human world’ didn’t you understand?” “Just trust me ok?” “Still, why does she have to come? I can do it alone!” “I know you could Bright, but I feel this is something she needs to do as well. Don’t you think so, Twilight?” Twilight was shocked to hear that from the princess. Celestia knew how she felt about being a new princess… about her insecurities? She was afraid, but still she nodded and joined Bright in front of the mirror. “Sigh... Ok, just stay by my side, alright Twilight? Twilight nodded. After saying farewell to his marefriend, he hugged Cadence and Luna but ignored Celestia completely. Celestia remained silent. Even thought she was heartbroken, she hoped that after this journey, her son would be a little more open to listening. Twilight and Bright entered the mirror, not noticing a little dragon following them.