//------------------------------// // The First Connection // Story: A Good Share of Worlds // by Sea Pony //------------------------------// Two days later I awoke in Ponyville's hospital. The bearers had told me everything that happened. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that my daughter had killed Grogar. I had half expected for it all to finish in a epic showdown between me and him but from what I heard he didn't even stood a chance against my daughter. Celestia was not really happy with the fact that I had been the one to disrupt the influence of the elements of harmony on Tambelon. But she understood why I did it. The fact that it was a pony out of this world that killed Grogar made a good percentage of pony more open to the idea of connecting to our world if it meant powerful ponies could come protecting them from time to time. After she heard everything that happened Golden Pie had forgiven me for how I treated Spooky but I suspect she's still somewaht angry at me. I can't blame her I still hate myself for what I did. How could I be such a coward to insult my own daughter just because I was afraid to face Grogar? Unfortunately we weren't able to save the founders they had been stuck into undead bodies for too long all we could do is free their souls so they could move in the afterlife. Today we would return to our own world. The vote was finishing in a few days but the empire didn't need us here anymore. We were presently in front of the Everfree Forest waiting for the portal between our world to open. The bearers was there to send us off. ''We had a lot of fun hanging with you Winter. I'm sorry you got caught up in all this Grogar's business.'' Twilight said. ''I have more to apologize for. I'm a Guardian I should have beaten that freak as soon as he popped up instead I helped him make Tambelon reappear.'' I replied. ''Hey don't put all the blame on yourself I would have done the same if one of my friends was in danger.'' Rainbow Dash said with a reassuring smile. Before anything else could be said a swirling hole appeared behind us. Out of it stepped a old Alicorn with a beard. ''Star Swirld the Bearded?!'' Twilight exclaimed. I was about to reply that he looked nothing like Star Swirl but then remembered that nopony saw the Elder Gods the same. Harmony chuckled. ''No I am not Star Swirl sorry to dissapoint you. My name is Harmony.'' ''Oh! Oh! You're that super ancient Grandpa Winter Song talked us about!'' ''Pinkie!'' I shouted in embarassment. I had mentioned to the girls that Harmony was like some sort of grandfather to me Pinkie of course took it literally. I saw a sort of weird glint in the eyes of Harmony at the mention of 'Grandpa'. ''So I'm curious.'' Twilight started. ''Winter said there was a lot of different worlds out there but how many exactly are we going to be connected to if the vote is positif?'' Harmony cleared his throat. ''Presently there twenty-six thousands three hundreds and fifty-six worlds connected to the Kira Branch if all the worlds who presently received the vote accept we will expand this number to twenty-six thousands three-hundred and eighty-one Twilight stood mouth agape at the huge number and I chuckled. Harmony then turned to me. ''If it's everything I think we should go Mrs. Fluttershy is eager to see her daughter and granddaughter.'' The Fluttershy of this world squeaked at the mention of her name. I rolled my eyes. It seem this version of Fluttershy can't wrap her head around the fact that another version of her could be married and have foals. I nodded my head. ''Let's go.'' With a final wave we stepped throught the portal. I was sure I would see them again in the future. - - - - - ''Oh my poor baby being away from home for so long!'' If you thought those words were directed at Spooky you were wrong they were directed at me as my mother tried to squeeze the air out of me. For a shy mare mom was sure strong when she missed somepony. ''I was okay mom. It's not like it was that much different from home... But I missed you too the other Fluttershy was just not the same.'' Then I looked at the other ponies that came to greet me there was dad of course. Meek Sky was there smilling happily she seemed to resist the urge to do what mom was presently doing. I resist the urge to roll my eyes the two of them are so alike sometime it's scary. Pinkie Pie had promise a 'Welcome back to Equestria party' before she dashed off to Sucarcube Corner. Applejack was busy with her chore. But my cousin Bolero Apple had come. He told me he finally got his powers under control. And even was able to use it to make the lands around the farm more fertile. Good for him. I don't know what the rest of my aunts were doing but they weren't here. Maybe I should be offended but we've been a little more distant than I would have like since my return from the deads so I can't exactly blame them. Fluttershy released me of her embrace when Harmony stepped closer to me. He presented me with a check. I looked at it and my eyes widden. ''I think you wrote more zeros than you meant to.'' I said in shock. Harmony chuckled. ''No it is the right number. You're working for the empire now Winter and your job is presently the most important of all. You deserve more than that after all the trouble you got with Grogar.'' On the check was a number I never thought would be something I earned in my life. Two Millions Bits. If I so desired I could probably stop working right here right now and live worry free for the next forty years. But I knew I couldn't quit and do nothing for so long I did enough of that in the afterlife I would go crazy. ''Also the empire arleady told me the next world you will visit but you won't go there before next year. Do you want to know right now?'' After a few seconds of reflexion I nodded excitedly. ''Okay the first world is another normal Equestria world. But here is the catch. This world was created very recently so the ponies in this world are still in the prehistoric era. This will be a test to see if we can unite with less advance civilisations or not.'' ''How am I even suppose to give a vote to a world as disoranised as this?'' Harmony waved a dismisif hoof. ''Don't worry about that. Me and the Empire will be the ones that handle that part. You just play your role as a judge of worlds and decide if they are ready to join us or not.'' I sighed. ''Fine.'' He make my job sound so simple but I swear it will turn sour at any moments mark my words. Bah it doesn't matter anyway this is something for future me to worry about. Meanwhile I can focus on spending qyality time with my family. - - - - - Out of the twenty five world who took the vote seventeen accepted. To nopony surprise the other Equestria was one of the worlds who accepted. It was probably a trial for all these new worlds to be integrated with all the others. But here back home life returned to normal. Or as normal as it can be in Ponyville. The leaf started to change colors and then one by one started to fall and then a small blanket of snow covered the land. Seven months had passed since the new worlds had been introduced. We had settled into our new life. I thought that I would go on a few funny adventures and that would be that. I thought that I would never have to relive something like the dark days of the Reaper invasion again. How wrong I was. Let me begin by the begining. Heart Warming was approaching. You would think we were excited our first Heart Warming since we came back to life. But to be honest the holiday was a little underwhelming compared to what we had in the Elysians Fields. Which is not surprising Clover was really a big fan of the holiday since it celebrated her biggest achievement. To found a country that would unite the three tribes of ponies. We decided to celebrate the holiday at my mother's house. Even Golden Pie mom decided to come. Soarin unsurprisingly decided to decline. It was during the time we decorated our Heart Warming Tree that it happened. It was subtle at first but Meek Sky began to twitch ever so often. Her coltfriend Leaf looked at her with concern. ''Meek are you alright?'' My sister seem to snap out of something at the sound of his voice. ''Y-yes I'm just tired I haven't slept much last night.'' We didn't think much of it and continued our work. Later that night the house was completely decorated for the holiday. Me, Golden Pie and Spooky Pranks were about to head home. We said a last goodbye to mom and headed to the door. That when it turned to the worse. Without any warning a explosion shook the house. From the new hole at the second floor emerged Meek Sky. But not the normal Meek Sky we all know and love. She had two long wings made of flames. Her eyes glowed with a orange color and a sadistic smile crossed her face and her mane and tail was on fire and waving in the air like two angry sea serpents. Without waiting a second I cast a water spell that completely drenched Meek Sky. But the fire in her mane and tail didn't disappeared. ''You won't get rid of me that easily this time Winter Song. I have waited a long time to finally gain control of this puny body and today is finally the day.'' ''Give me back my sister monster, or so help me.'' I said with a snarl. ''Or so what? You will kill me and hurt your sister in the process? I know you Winter you would do anything to protect your family even if it meant bringing the end of the world. But what do you do when the enemy is inside your family? Now that I have control I will burn this patethic pastel colored world and nothing will stop me. AHAHAHAHAH!'' I tried to catch up to her but Phoenix but she was too fast and left me in the dust. ''Why did something like this had to happen? So close to Heart Warming too.'' Fluttershy said sadly. ''I'm bringing her back.'' Leaf said determined. ''Not without me you don't.'' I replied. ''Where did she go? I thought somepony like Phoenix would start to burn everything in sight immediatly.'' Spooky Pranks said. Golden Pie was the one to respond. ''It seem we all underestimated Phoenix. Before this she simply took control a few seconds and did the most damage before she lost control. But now that she has full control it seem like she has a plan. And I think I know what it is.'' ''What is it?'' I asked. ''From the way she flew it seem she's heading to Griffonya if something from a world attack the Veil the empire will close the door leading to our world. She's planning to destroy this world with everyone in it.'' I gritted my teeth at that. ''You know I heard that humans have mythological monsters called demons. Beings made of pure evil that rule the underworld. I know that such being doesn't exist but Phoenix is awfully close to it and I will do everything to destroy this thing.'' I looked at Leaf and with a grim nod we flew in direction of Griffonya.