The next day at school was just like yesterday, except I remembered where my classes were this time. When I walked into the cafeteria for lunch, I looked all around for Sunset Shimmer. I hoped to eat lunch with my new friend today, instead of by myself like yesterday. I couldn’t find her anywhere though, so I ended up eating by myself.
After school I walked down the stairs of CHS with all the other students. I strolled nonchalantly over to the horse statue. I touched the base of the statue, like yesterday it glowed a little. I glanced around to see if anyone was watching, no one was. I reached my arm into the base; it went completely through! Yes, this is indeed the portal into the pony land! I glanced around once more, then walked into the portal.
* * *
Unbeknownst to Florid Rainbow, Sunset Shimmer had seen her go through the portal to Equestria.
* * *
Going through the portal was really weird, I saw rainbows everywhere and I felt sick.
After a few minutes I landed on the other side of the portal with a thud. I looked around, I was sitting on wood, but the walls in the room were made of fine white marble. The room I had landed in was fairly empty, except for a mirror-which I figured out was the portal back home-a table, and a few books. I turned around to look at myself in the mirror. I gasped, then grinned. Not only was I a pegasus, I was also a unicorn! I wonder if there is a name for both together? Maybe a pegacorn? Or a unisus?
I spotted a door at the opposite end of the room. I started to trot over to it. Walking on four legs is easier than I thought, though of course, it definitely is different than what I’m used to. When I reached the door, I slowly turned the doorknob with my hoof. I opened the door just a crack and peeked outside. I was still in the building! The portal must be in a building to keep it safe and unharmful to any ponies, I wonder why CHS doesn't try to protect their portal better? I stepped outside the room, closing the door behind me. I trotted down a hallway, into another room, then to outside the building. The sun shone bright over lots of ponies going about their day and various buildings. I smiled. It seemed so peaceful here.
“Good afternoon, Princess Twilight!” Said a few ponies passing by me.
What did they mean ‘Princess Twilight’? Not really knowing what to say, I just smiled back at them and returned the greeting.
I trotted down the few stairs to the bottom of the building, then looked up at it. The building I had come out of was a beautiful purple castle with gems and jewels everywhere!
“Oh wow!” I exclaimed, beside myself with wonder. The castle was a truly stunning sight!
I strolled though Mane Street, taking in all the sights. I wandered into various shops; clothing stores to see what ponies wore, bakeries to see what food they made, furniture stores to see the furniture they made, and several other stores. It was fascinating to see everything ponies made.
After buying some lunch from a nice bakery, I trotted into Ponyville Park. I found a wooden bench in the shade and sat down.
Delicious! The food here in pony land tasted great too. I trotted over to a rubbish bin and dropped my rubbish in it. As I was turning to leave the park a pony appeared in front of me.
“You look awfully familiar. Do I know you?” A unicorn with a dark blue coat and black mane asked.
“Someone thought I was Princess Twilight. Is that what you mean?” I asked the pony.
“Someone?” The pony looked confused. After a moment she said, “Never mind.”
“What’s your name?” The pony asked, smiling.
“I’m Florid Rainbow.” I said.
For a moment I thought I saw an evil glint in the other pony’s eyes, but I couldn’t be certain because she was back to smiling just a split-second later.
“Nice to meet you, Florid Rainbow!” She said with forced kindness.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
I could see her cringe, her expression seemed to read, ‘you already know, so why are you asking?’. But of course I didn’t know who she was, I hadn’t been in the pony land for even a full day! She must have had me confused with a different pony, like the ponies earlier had.
Nonetheless she answered me anyway. “My name’s Crystal Clear.”
“It was nice meeting you, Crystal Clear! Maybe I’ll see you later.” I smiled.
Crystal Clear mumbled something under her breath.
“What did you say?” I asked.
“Nothing. See you later, Florid Rainbow.” Then Crystal Clear trotted away.
Hmm…I wonder why she was so unfriendly? All the other ponies I’ve met have been so kind. I guess not everyone in any land can be kind, I reasoned.
I left the park and trotted down Mane Street. I decided I would go back to the castle; if the portal was in there, then the owner of the house would know at least something about the portal. Maybe I could learn a few things about this pony land that I wouldn’t be able to find out just wandering around observing everything. I just hope they are home.
I knocked on the purple castle door with my hoof. A moment later the door was opened by a small purple and lime green dragon. This was the princess? I felt really confused.
“Are you here to see Princess Twilight?” The dragon asked.
Oh, never mind, he wasn’t the princess.
“Yes I am. Is Her Highness available for a quick visit?” I asked.
The dragon motioned for me to follow him inside. I followed him into what I assumed was the main room of the castle.
“Hey Twilight!” The dragon called. “You have a visitor.”
A pony, whom I assumed was Princess Twilight, was sitting in one of six chairs around a round table. She glanced up at me from the book she was reading, looking like she didn’t want to be disturbed. Once she saw me though she gasped.
“You’re an alicorn?!” She exclaimed in a high pitched voice, jumping out of her chair and trotting hurriedly over to me.
“A what?” I asked, startled.
Princess Twilight looked even more confused. She stared at me quizzically for several moments, then frowned.
“Where are you from?” She asked.
“Um…” What should I say? “The human world?” I assumed that was what the ponies called my land.
“That would make sense then, that you don’t know what an alicorn is. But it doesn’t explain why you are an alicorn, since you are a human.” Princess Twilight paced back and forth.
“Wait here. I’m going to send a letter to Princess Celestia.” Princess Twilight said. Then she trotted off into another room calling Spike, the dragon, to follow her.
I sat down in one of the chairs while I waited for Princess Twilight to come back.
Princess Twilight re-entered the main room a few minutes later.
“Princess Celestia should be here in a minute.” She said.
Princesses’ Twilight and Celestia and I sat in a sitting room in Princess Twilight’s castle.
“Florid Rainbow, I hope you take this well…You are not a human, you are a pony.”
I gasped, staring at Princess Celestia confused.
“Long ago, when you were only a few years old, you and your family lived happily and peacefully in Equestria. One unicorn was very jealous of you because you were born an alicorn. A pony becomes an alicorn by earning it or, occasionally if one or both of his/her parents is one. You are special Florid Rainbow, neither one of your parents nor your grandparents are alicorns.”
“What’s an alicorn?” I asked earnestly.
“An alicorn is a pony who is all three; unicorn, pegasus, and an earth pony.” Princess Twilight said.
“This unicorn,” Princess Celestia continued. “Tried for many years to become an alicorn, but she lacked one thing: friendship. She bullied other ponies and refused to make friends. You and her are about the same age and you went to the same magic school together. When she learned that you were born an alicorn, her jealousy grew. From then on, she did her best to make your life miserable and as she grew older so did her jealousy. By the time you were in second grade things were much worse; her silly pranks turned more harmful. Shortly there after, your family moved to the human land.”
“But why didn’t they tell us?” I asked.
“Your parents didn’t want to worry you and your older brother and younger sister. They were going to tell all of you after you moved to Canterlot. Though I see they didn’t have a chance to tell you before you came to Equestria.”
“Oh,” I hung my head. “I didn’t know that.”
“Why did my family and I have to leave Equestria? Why couldn’t you or Princess Twilight take care of this jealous unicorn?” I asked.
“Because Florid Rainbow,” Princess Celestia said. “We couldn’t have helped in this situation. Only you could, though at the time you were too young to know how to defend yourself. Her jealousy was so strong, it had to be dealt with at its source. You.”
Princess Celestia stood up and walked over to my chair.
“You are ready. That’s why your family moved to Canterlot.” She said.
“How did they know I was ready?” I asked.
“I sent a letter to them.” Princess Celestia replied.
“How?” I asked.
“That matters not. You must leave Twilight’s castle now, I’m certain you will be able to find the unicorn or perhaps she will find you.” Princess Celestia said.
“How do I find her?” I asked, feeling worried and slightly confused.
“You will know.” Was all Princess Celestia would say.