//------------------------------// // The End of the Beginning // Story: Across the Dimensional Divide // by StrawberryGamer //------------------------------// After the pizza was finished, Star and I basically sat around and waited for whatever pony that was going to escort us to the party. Eventually the door finally opened, and a blue pegasus mare dressed in a maid uniform stepped in. “Oh, Sunny? When did you get here?” She asked. “I thought you were on a mission.” I stared blankly at the maid for a moment. “Um… Who are you, how do you know me, and what do you mean? What mission?” I asked. All she did was wink at me. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Now come on, I was told to escort you to the party, so come on.” She said, turning around and trotting down the hall, leaving Star and I to hurry and catch up. When we did, she was humming a tune that I recognized from Halo. “Hey, where’d you learn that tune?” I couldn’t help but ask. “From you, of course.” She replied. “Are you having memory issues, or are you not my Sunny?” “Probably not your Sunny. Wait, there are other Sunnys?” Then again, I really should have seen that coming. I’ve crossed through a few different dimensions now. I would probably run into myself if it continued. I wonder how that would work. Would the universe collapse or would nothing happen? Not something I wanna find out firsthoof. The maid confirmed my suspicions. “Sure, there are a bunch. Most of them end up similarly though. Light powers, metal wing, super cool adventurers. You don’t have the wing, but do you have the light?” I held up a hoof to stop her. “Woah, hold on. Back the truck up here. What do you mean?” “Light magic. The ability to control and solidify light. You saying you don’t have it?” I shook my head. “I’ve been a pony for a few days. If I had that sort of superpower, I would have found out.” Another thought came to my mind. “Unless… That serum…” The maid shrugged. “Possibly. I can’t say for sure. So if you’re not my Sunny, or even a pony, where are you from? Another dimension? Did Calcutta send you here?” She really likes spewing questions at me, doesn’t she? Wait, what was that she said? That name sounds familiar… Oh right, that other me from before mentioned it! “You’re familiar with Calcutta?” I asked. The maid nodded. “Yup. So you are with them?” She asked back. I filled her in on the exchange I had with the other me. “Ah yes, you were in contact with one of their agents. My Sunny is an agent as well.” I chuckled. “Small multiverse then, huh? Anyway, what’s your name? I can’t keep referring to you as the maid in my head.” The maid paused. “Oh, I’m sorry. How terribly rude of me. I forgot you don’t know me. I’m Moongleam. Nice to meet you.” She said. I nodded. “Nice to meet you too. I’m gonna forget your name in an hour.” I said. Star giggled behind me. “By the way, why is your organization called Calcutta anyway? And what does it do?” The maid Moongleam seemed happy to answer. “It’s an old name, gone through many translations over the millennia. Its original name and meaning has been lost to time, but at least it has a name. Though rumors have been going around about changing it again to Elysium. I like Calcutta though. It has a unique charm to it.” I deadpanned. “You talk a lot. You know that, right?” Star and Moongleam giggled. “Oh, just passing the time. Look, here we are.” We stopped. Ahead of us was a giant silver decorated door leading into the ballroom. I could hear the music and chatter on the other side. Moongleam pushed open the doors and let Star and I enter the room. “Have fun you two.” She said, closing the doors. I took my time, looking around the room while Star went right for the buffet table. There were a lot of ponies in the ballroom. Most of them were unicorns, but there were a few pegasi and earth ponies among them, us included. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. The entire room was sparely decorated, but the decorations that were there were quite fancy. A couple nobles looked my way, then went back to talking with each other. I slowly started walking along the outside of the ballroom, looking for somepony I recognized. I smiled as I noticed the stage in the back, where a group of musicians were playing some classical music I didn’t recognize. Though, I did recognize a couple ponies on the stage, one of them being Octavia. I approached the stage and gave her a wave. She looked at me and nodded, but did not stop playing. So I just sat by the stage and listened to the music, having nothing better to do. After a few minutes, they stopped playing. Octavia set her cello down and addressed the rest of the group. “Alright, take five everypony.” She instructed. The others nodded and left the stage for the buffet table. Octavia walked over to me. “It’s nice to see you again. Did you enjoy our performance?” She asked. I nodded. “That was very nice. Was that one of your own compositions?” Octavia shook her head. “Not that one. I do have a couple, but they were made for a… different audience.” She said nervously. “Nonetheless, I’m glad you liked it.” Octavia and I spent a few minutes talking about her music. I asked her about why she chose the cello, and she told me she uses a variety of instruments, but the cello is her favorite because it’s what she grew up with. She also told me about how her roommate would often practice with her and even assisted her in composing a duet. I made a mental note to visit her and hear this duet next chance I got, assuming I ever got a chance. When Octavia’s bandmates, or orchestra-mates, something like that, returned, Octavia joined them on the stage. They were about to start playing again when Prince Blueblood stepped up on the stage. “Attention everypony. I would just like to say thank you for attending this little soiree I put together. I do hope you enjoy yourselves, and that you forgive me for all I’ve done in the past.” He announced. His little speech was met with scattered applause from some of the nobles in the room. He stepped down from the stage, allowing Octavia and the others to start playing again, but then he noticed me. All the nopes in the world couldn’t describe how I felt when he laid his eyes on me. His eyes seemed to scan me, they way he was looking. I turned around and began to walk away, looking for Star, but then he started talking to me. “Excuse me Miss. I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. I certainly didn’t invite you.” I stopped and sighed, turning back to face him. I could smell his cologne. Very fragrant, almost overpoweringly so. And yet, oddly nice. “Oh, I’m with the princesses. I’m a foreign ambassador.” I lied. Well, half-lied. The first part was true, but I’m nowhere near ambassador level. I’m not even a tourist! His demeanor seemed to change. He relaxed and smiled at me. “Oh, well my apologies. Where are you visiting from?” He asked. I debated making something up, but I decided fuckit either way. “I’m from America. Ever heard of it?” I dunno, maybe it exists here in one form or another. To my relief he nodded. “Ah yes, Amareica. I heard auntie wanted to do some negotiations with them. Such a small, but powerful pegasus-ruled nation would benefit greatly from some unicorn oversight, don’t you agree?” He took my leg and kissed my hoof. “I’m sure you’ll put in a good word for me, won’t you?” I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as he did this, but I fought it off. “W-we’ll see…” I managed to say. “Nothing’s set in stone yet.” Blueblood chuckled at that. “Yes, of course.” He paused, giving me another look over. “Perhaps if you accompany me to my chambers after the party, I can sweeten the deal for you. My treat.” Oh, now I know he’s trying to seduce me. Sorry buster, but I’m no woman. I like my chicken fried, if you catch my drift. I shook my head. “Sorry, but Princess Twilight has sweetened the deal plenty already.” I said. Blue blood looked almost shocked, before bursting out laughing. “Oh, is that so? I didn’t know she worked that way. Or maybe it’s just me.” He was probably about to try and seduce me further, if a large blue shape hadn’t stepped into view. “Oh, aunt Luna. I didn’t expect to see you here.” The princess looked at Blueblood with a disdainful expression. “Ah yes. I came to speak to our esteemed guest, and I find you trying to flirt with her. Some habits die hard, don’t they?” She questioned. Blueblood suddenly looked much more nervous around Luna. “I-I, well... I was just trying to make the dear ambassador feel more welcome. You know, show her the best Equestria has to offer. I’m sure I have plenty of things Princess Twilight doesn’t.” Luna’s expression darkened and he raised a hoof. “Alright. I do apologize for my behavior. I guess I still have some ways to go.” He turned back to me. “I hope you’ll forgive my actions.” I smiled and nodded. “Well at least you’re trying to learn. I’ve tried teaching my brother, but the poor kid is so spoiled he’s practically beyond redemption. He’s stolen stuff from me and taken it to school with him. He took a knife from me. A knife! I swear... “ I looked at them and just saw confusion on their faces. “Oh dear, I tangented again. I’m sorry. I do that a lot.” I chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of my head. I need to keep my tangents to myself. Luna’s expression softened. “Yes, well then. Sunshine, I’d like to speak with you in private.” She said. I gave a nod and bid Blueblood farewell, following Luna out of the ballroom and into the hallway. “I finished taking a look at the syringe. Honestly, I can’t find anything dangerous about it, but I still don’t know what will happen if you inject it.” I looked down the hallway to see if Moongleam was anywhere near. She wasn’t. “Well Luna, I met somepony on the way here to seemed to know me quite well. She gave me an idea of what that serum might do.” I told her of my exchange with the odd maid. Luna looked quite stunned. “You mean to say that one of my maids has been from another world all this time? That’s… unexpected.” She said when I finished. “And you think the serum might give you some kind of light based magic?” I nodded. “It’s entirely plausible, based on what I was told about the alternate mes and the serum.” “Interesting… My sister controls the path of the sun across our sky, but she does not control the light it emits. Or at least, if she did she hasn’t told me. She tends to like her secrets, after all.” Luna paused for a moment. “Do you want the syringe back now?” “Well…” I thought for a moment. It really couldn’t hurt to at least have it. I mean, it would make me feel a bit safer. “Sure, I think it’ll be better if I held onto it until I decide to use it, if at all.” Luna gave me a satchel bag. I opened it to see the serum inside. “Just be careful. I’m sure having that much power accidentally injected into you would be quite painful.” She warned. I stood up and nodded at Luna. “Yes, of course. Thanks a lot, Princess.” I said. I turned to go. “Could you tell Star I’m gonna turn in early? I wanna get this dress off and get to bed. Big day tomorrow. Gonna play tourist in Canterlot.” Luna nodded. “Of course. I bid you pleasant dreams, Sunshine.” She said, and left into the ballroom. I started down the hall, and aside from the occasional guard, it was quiet. I like the quiet. After how hectic these past few days had been, I found the quiet moments to be a special gift. Of course, those moments usually came right before shit hit the fan, so I was weary. I came to the stairs leading up to the guest room when I heard someone call out my name. I turned around to see two familiar ponies galloping towards me. “Charcoal? Ceru?” I asked. What the fuck were they doing here? “What the fuck are you two doing here? And what’s with the construction gear?” Ceru scooped me up in a hug, which I hesitantly returned. “We’ve been looking all over Canterlot for you! I’m so glad you’re alright.” She said. Charcoal merely smiled and adjusted her glasses. “We jumped in after you and ended up in Canterlot. We were on our way to Ponyville to look for you there, but we saw you come in here.” She explained. “Nice dress, by the way. Very pretty.” “Thanks, I guess… But I didn’t really want it. It was kinda forced on me.” I said. “If I could get some assistance in taking it off, that would be lovely. Also get my mane back to its scruffiness. I don’t know how people cope with hair blocking their vision, but I’m lucky I haven’t had any issues with that.” “Awww, but you look so adorable.” Ceru cooed into my ear. “I could just eat you up.” ...Riiiiight… She’s gone cuckoo. Charcoal, any help here? Charcoal moved to my side and undid the zipper on my back, letting me take the dress off. I folded it up and put it in the satchel, taking the syringe out. “You still have that?” Charcoal asked. I nodded. “I do, and I feel more comfortable actually using it now. It’ll still hurt, but it’s no more dangerous than that.” I explained. I took the ribbons out of my mane and tail, and gave myself a little shake to remove the styling done on them. “There. Much better.” I tucked the syringe behind my ear, where it for some reason stayed perfectly still. Charcoal took a blueprint out of her saddlebag. “You two go on ahead. I’ve got something I want to show the princesses. I’ll probably get arrested if I don’t anyway.” She said. “Alright. Princess Luna went into the ballroom. Careful, there are a lot of nobles in there.” I said, pointing down the hall towards the way I came from. My black pegasus friend nodded and trotted off in that direction. Ceru, meanwhile, joined me to the guest suite. “Wow, nice place. I’ve stayed in the castle before, but never in one of these suites. Very fancy.” “Yeah,” I agreed, “I’m just glad things have calmed down, and I don’t have to worry about Twibutt or Celestalin trying to make me conform.” I heard a knock on the door and figured that was Star coming back from the party. Opening the door revealed a completely different sight, however. Yellow-orange fur, a glowing horn, spread out wings, and angry teal eyes. “Well shit, Celestia sent an alicorn after me, didn’t she?” I had my question answered when I felt that now familiar feeling of magic against me, forcing me back into the table behind me. I really hope that snapping sound was the table leg and not my leg. I felt a burning feeling in my left foreleg, but I can feel it, so it isn’t broken. Okay, that is really burning now. Ow. Owowow. I looked down to the leg and found the now empty syringe stuck into my leg, surrounded by a teal glow. Weeeeeellllll shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Well played, alicorn… I pulled the syringe from my leg and tossed it aside, trying to stand up even though I was in quite a bit of pain. “Come on, bitch… Is that the best you got?” The alicorn responded by charging towards me, but she was caught in the side from an angry Ceru. “No! Not again! You will not take Sunny away this time!” She roared, punching the alicorn multiple times with those oddly glowing hooves of hers. Even though Ceru kept me from getting tackled, my body started hurting more as the burning sensation spread up my leg and into my chest. I clutched my chest and fell over as I suddenly found it hard to breathe. “C-ceru… Help…” I wheezed as the world started getting fuzzy. I did my best to pull myself up, but it felt like I was on fire. Luna said the serum was safe, but maybe the power in it was just too much for my still somewhat fresh body? Was I going to die here, unable to handle the pure magic coursing through me? All I know for certain is that pain fucking hurts. I heard Ceru call out to me, but the burning enveloped me completely and the last thing I saw before I blacked out was Ceru’s worried expression as the alicorn beat her aside. Well, it was fun while it lasted… Princess Luna walked along the halls of Canterlot Castle, alongside Star Streak and the newcomer Charcoal Embers, who claimed she was one of Sunny’s friends. Luna had seen the blueprint Charcoal had showed her and was quite impressed. “I had no idea something like that could be made. A building that could theoretically hold any plant that we have, while simulating its natural environment? Your world astounds me with its knowledge.” She complimented. Charcoal chuckled lightly. “Well it’s not from my world. It’s from the human one. I stumbled across these blueprints on the job, and with a few tweaks, figured out how we can substitute human technology for pony magic.” The mare explained. The three were nearing the guest suite then they heard crying from inside. “Oh dear, I hope they didn’t argue…” Charcoal said as she approached the door. When she entered, she and the others were shocked to find the room a mess. The table in the middle was destroyed, various other furnishings had varying degrees of damage, and Ceruline was crying in the bed. Charcoal rushed right over to her side. “What happened? Where is Sunshine?” Ceru looked over at Charcoal, her eyes red from tears. “S-some… alicorn came and… and took S-sunny away… Through a portal…” Suddenly, everyone in the room was shocked to see a portal open in the room, and drop a familiar yellow pegasus. She was still unconscious, and Luna levitated her to the bed and set her down. Ceru totally forgot about her earlier sadness and hugged the returning Sunshine, but when she did the mare’s eyes shot open and shoved her away. “Hey! I didn’t ask for a… wake-up… call…” She started looking around, seemingly in a panic. “H-hey, where am I? Who are you ponies!?” She demanded. Her eyes caught onto Princess Luna, and she seemed to fly into a bigger panic. “You… You’re supposed to be dead!” Starry Night did not have a pleasant ride to California. Between Rain’s constant tourist stops and Vinyl’s music, she was barely able to get a moment’s peace for the two days she’s been on the road with them. Pinkie Pie and Twilight had joined them for a time, but after they had a talk the previous night, they just vanished. It wasn’t until they came to Fresno, California that Starry finally saw light at the end of the very dark tunnel. And not dark in the way she liked. They called ahead to make sure Blueberry knew they were coming, and they wanted her expertise for something. She had been reluctant at first, but quickly opened up to the idea of opening gateways into more alternate dimensions. So she was going to have things more or less ready by the time they got there. Blueberry had also provided instructions to her home. The RV turned into the cul-de-sac where Blueberry lived, finding her rather blue house rather easily. The whole house was very bright shade of blue. Even her windows were blue. Vinyl chuckled beside her. “All we need is a blue Corvette and this scene is perfect.” Starry failed to see what Vinyl had meant by that comment, but there were more important things to worry about. They had to get Sunshine back so she could get home. While Starry felt a little sad that she chose to want to go home rather than help stop Celestia’s threat, she understood the reasoning why. She wasn’t from this world. She wasn’t a fighter. The scuffle in the pizza restaurant taught her that much. But she was the centerpiece of this little rebellion, the key pony that they could all rally behind for support. She was as true as a friend as could be, and Starry respected that, despite all that’s happened. Pain parked the RV on the driveway and everyone stepped out. Starry led the others to the front door and rung the doorbell. Soon, a bright blue unicorn mare opened the door. “Oh, great, you’re here! Come in, come in! Everything’s just about ready!” She looked very excited to have the company she did. Or maybe she was just glad to have company at all. Inside the house were loads of eccentric statuettes of all kinds. It kinda creeped Vinyl out a little. “So… what exactly do you have for us that’s going to get Sunny back?” She asked. Blueberry immediately did a 180 and faced Vinyl. “That’s a very good question Miss Scratch. The answer will require a piece of her DNA. Preferably hair.” She replied. “You see, I’m going to lock on to her, and only her, DNA signature across the multiverse, and then I’m going to open a portal to the spot Sunny’s in. From there, it’s a simple grab and go. Easy peasy.” Starry nodded. “I dunno if we have the hair, but we can look in the RV. I’m sure there’s something you can use.” She said. Starry turned around to leave, but a pounding on the door stopped her. “This is the Equestrian Royal Guard!” Bellowed a voice from outside. “You are all under arrest for treason against Equestria. Come out or we’ll come in!” “Damnit, they must have been listening to our call!” Vinyl swore. Rain and Blueberry looked panicked, and unsure what to do. “Does anyone have an escape plan?” “I got one…” Vinyl muttered under her breath. “I didn’t want to do this...” She pulled a small black box from her mane. “I was really hoping I could save this for the victory party, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.” The voice from outside sounded more agitated. “You have five seconds!” He shouted. Starry looked at Vinyl inquisitively. “Vinyl, what is that?” “Four…” “Just a little pet project I’ve been working on.” “Three…” “And just what does it do?” “Two…” “Just stand back, everypony…” “One...” “I’ve got this.” Then everything erupted into chaos.