Horse World Problems
Princess Twilight frowned as she examined the portal in ways only an alicorn could. Magical information streamed into her brain, resolving itself into visual and auditory impulses, rhythmic patterns of color and touch that circled the edges of her mind in an ethereal dance.
The mirror and its various intricate magics had certain patterns that were familiar to her. Every time she'd experimented with it, calibrated it, traveled through it, she'd felt the pulsing kaleidoscope of transportative and transfigurative magic Starswirl had woven into it, as well as Celestia's magic bound to the journal and her own magic bound to the wedge that opened the door. Then, too, were the lingering threads of magic from the Elements of Harmony, remnants of her adventures with Sunset Shimmer and, later, the Dazzlings.
But there was something new in the flow of magic from the portal, and it was certainly not something she'd felt from her side.
And that set off alarm bells in her head.
Because she recognized one of the new patterns of magic, and it absolutely had no business showing up on the Canterlot High side of the portal.
*Why am I sensing the Cutie Map here? And what's this other magic it's been bound to? For that matter, who could bind another type of magic to the Map, let alone without me knowing?*
Mind whirling, she teleported back into the school and glided through the corridors, thankful they were empty—even with her invisibility spell in place, the wind her wings stirred up in the hallway would have been noticed.
* * * * *
"So three incompetent leaders squabbling because they were biased against the other types of ponies nearly destroyed themselves and their entire kingdoms, and three underlings with calmer heads literally saved your entire race by becoming friends?" Tirek asked.
"Pretty much," Sunset said. "At least, that's how the story goes. There's probably a lot more to it than the old story goes, but the Windigoes absolutely existed, and hatred and conflict make them stronger." She frowned thoughtfully. "Actually, that makes me wonder if Windigoes and Sirens are somehow related. Maybe Princess Twilight can research that back in Equestria when—"
Princess Twilight abruptly faded into view, startling her counterpart. "Sunset, we've got a problem. I think. I'm not sure. It doesn't make any sense." She started pacing. "I don't know what it means, how it happened, or why, but I think I've found the problem with the portal. I just...I don't know what..." She shook her head. "It's not possible. It doesn't make any sense."
"Whoa, Twilight," Sunset said soothingly. "Slow down. What doesn't make sense?"
"The Cutie Map's magic is all over the portal, but it's on this side," Princess Twilight said. "And there's this other spell bound to the Map's magic, and something about it seems familiar but I can't place it, and—"
"Cutie Map?" Sunset and Twilight both asked. Tirek let out a derisive snort.
Princess Twilight halted, blinking. "Oh! I never told you about the Cutie Map, did I?" she asked.
Sunset shook her head. "I don't think so," she said.
"Sorry," Princess Twilight said. "I thought for sure I did, I mean I meant to, it set us off on that whole mess with Starlight Glimmer and it's a major part of my new role in Equestria, I—"
"Twilight? Babbling," Sunset cut off brusquely.
"Sorry," Princess Twilight repeated sheepishly. She took a deep breath, placing a hoof to her chest and extending it straight out. Once she finished exhaling, she sat down. "My castle has this magical map of Equestria," she explained. "None of us really understand how it works, not even Princess Celestia, but it..." She gestured vaguely with a hoof. "It detects friendship problems happening across Equestria, sometimes even outside Equestria, and it summons me and my friends to go in and solve them."
Twilight frowned. "Friendship problems? What does that even mean?"
"That seems like a patently absurd application of powerful magic," Tirek said.
Princess Twilight shot him a dirty look. "The magic of friendship is the most powerful magic in Equestria. In this world as well. Friendship can overcome any adversity."
"And make giant rainbow lasers that blow holes in the front of the school," Sunset added.
Twilight tilted her head. "Friendship...is magic?" She adjusted her glasses. "Sorry, I'm not sure I can wrap my mind around that."
Princess Twilight groaned. "Anyway," she said irritably, "when the Cutie Map finds a friendship problem, it decides which ponies are best equipped to deal with it, and then it makes our Cutie Marks glow to let us know we're needed. The Map itself shows our Cutie Marks hovering over wherever it is we need to go, and..." She shrugged. "Whoever gets summoned goes."
Sunset frowned. "Makes your Cutie Marks glow? How's that even work?"
"Believe me, we've tried figuring it out. I've given up. I just know it happens. And when we've solved the problem, our Cutie Marks glow again to let us know. It's...a weird sensation."
Twilight held up a hand. "Umm...question. What's a Cutie Mark?"
Princess Twilight opened her mouth to explain, but Sunset put a hand on her flank, turned her side to face the two humans, and pointed at the starburst on her hindquarters. "This is a Cutie Mark," she said.
Princess Twilight yelped and jumped straight in the air, blushing. "Sunset!" she cried.
"Sorry," Sunset said with a smirk.
Princess Twilight rolled her eyes. "It's a magical symbol that appears on a pony's flank when they discover their special talent, the thing that makes them unique," she explained. "Some ponies are only six or seven years old when they get their Cutie Mark, some take longer. I know a trio of fillies who just got theirs and they're almost thirteen." She giggled. "They're late bloomers, but they have a really special talent, so it sorta makes sense."
"Say, for example, your special talent is party planning," Sunset jumped in. "Your Cutie Mark might be balloons or a birthday cake. Or if your talent's related to farming, it might be a certain fruit or vegetable."
"And it just...appears, on its own?" Tirek asked. "And it's there forever?"
"That's right," Princess Twilight said, nodding. "Earning your Cutie Mark is pretty much the single biggest event in a young pony's life."
"So this Cutie Map...it pages you by making your butt glow?" Twilight asked. "This is...this is just weird."
"I'm with her on that one," Sunset said, shuddering. "That sounds like it'd be really freaky."
"It takes some getting used to," Princess Twilight admitted. "Actually, just a few weeks ago it sent Applejack and Rarity to Manehattan to help an old friend save a neighborhood theater revival." She grimaced. "The day we first found out it existed, the Map sent all six of us to the edge of Equestria where we found this little village nopony knew existed. It was founded by Starlight Glimmer, and she...well, I told you before what she did."
Sunset grimaced. "Yeah."
"What did she do?" Twilight asked.
"Starlight Glimmer tried to create her own twisted version of harmony by stealing the Cutie Marks of an entire village of ponies," Princess Twilight said. "I still don't know how she managed to do it, but whatever magic she used, it ripped the Cutie Marks right off our flanks. Everypony whose Cutie Mark she stole lost their special talent...lost all their inherent magic." Her ears folded down. "But that's not all. She was also brainwashing them." She shuddered. "That whole experience was one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen."
"Wow, that sounds terrible," Twilight said.
"I can't even wrap my mind around a spell that could steal Cutie Marks," Sunset said with a shiver. "That isn't just evil, that's sick."
"Anyway, we exposed her as a fraud and got all the stolen Cutie Marks back, but she escaped," Princess Twilight said. "The villagers decided to stay in that little town and get to know each other all over again."
"And what became of this Starlight Glimmer?" Tirek asked.
Princess Twilight shrugged. "No idea," she said. "Anyway, I've spent a lot of my spare time researching the Map to try to figure out how it works and why it works, but..." She shook her head. "The Tree of Harmony created it, so it's one of those things we're probably not really meant to understand."
"And now you've found the Map's magic on this side of the portal?" Sunset asked.
"Yeah, and that doesn't make sense," Princess Twilight said. "In any case, I have a feeling that's part of the problem."
* * * * *
The day had only gotten colder.
By the time Beck and DD were done with a day's hard work and had collected their pay, a thick layer of snow had built up. Beck shivered and buried her hands in her sleeves, hugging herself for warmth. "The hell's up with this snow?" she hissed between chattering teeth.
DD frowned. "It wasn't supposed to get this cold today," he said. He glanced at the sky. "I think we've got time before it gets too dark to get back. Let's stop by the kitchen for a pick-me-up."
Beck shrugged. "Sure. Maybe Belle'll be nice and give us a nip."
Ten minutes' trudge through snow found the weary, cold duo at the southside soup kitchen. There were quite a few homeless people sitting around, drinking hot coffee and soup and generally getting out of the cold. Making their way through the crowd, they got in line. It was several minutes before they were served by a pink-skinned woman with long, curly purple hair and bright purple eyes. She smiled in recognition as they approached. "Hey Beck, hey DD," she said. "Got some nice hot soup and coffee for you. I'll be passing out some fresh bread in a few minutes too."
"Sounds good," Beck said. "Wouldn't happen to have—"
"Sorry, I don't," Belle said. "Ran out an hour ago and I was giving it away with an eyedropper even then." She smiled apologetically. "Everybody wants to warm up in this awful weather."
As Belle filled bowls and cups for them, DD asked, "What is going on with this weather, anyway?"
Belle shook her head. "The weather people don't seem to know. It's got everybody stumped." She frowned, then leaned close and whispered, "And it's been getting weird out on the streets today. I've been keeping an eye on the news in between rushes. People are going nuts. There's been a rash of assaults today. On social media, I'm hearing about all kinds of people just getting angry and violent, people who usually aren't all that mean or anything!"
Beck's brow furrowed. "Yeah, we saw some of that on our way to work this morning," she said. "Car wreck, the guys that hit each other damn near tried to kill each other. And us."
"Now that you mention it, some of the guys at the site were a little testy today," DD said thoughtfully.
Belle sighed. "If I didn't know better, I'd say this weather and people getting mean are related. But...that's crazy, right?"
Beck laughed. "Well, being cold does make people cranky." She took her soup and her coffee. "Appreciate the news, Belle. And the soup."
Belle smiled. "You know, if you ever want a good job and a place to live, I can probably help."
Beck sighed. "I appreciate it, but...you know it's not that simple for me."
Belle's shoulders sagged. "I'm sorry," she said. "It must be awful, not even knowing who you are. You don't deserve this life..."
Beck's eyes clouded. "Sometimes, I feel like maybe this is where I'm meant to be..."
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Windigos? in Canterlot high?
where are you going with this?
The whole thing with the "harmony" magic and the entirety of the Cutie Marks wouldn't get my hackles up so much if it didn't have such deep and concentrated vibes of order along the lines of Stalin or Hitler's wet dreams.
Ah well, looking forward to see how this works out
Hmm. I love the idea of unique alicorn sensoria, and the ending's nicely ominous, but most of this chapter was just getting some characters up to speed on what the audience already knows. Still, looking forward to more. A lot of questions looking for answers in here.
7900889 Technically they're in Vanhoover.
OMG Is that Sugar Belle?
So basically, in this alternate reality, Starlight overcharge the portal with the magic of the Cutie map.
Though if I understand correctly she didn't went through it. So did she rip a hole in the fabric of reality to come in the EQG verse or did she built another portal?
Also did she brought the Windigoes with her or were they really been flush by Starswirl through the portal.
DANGIT Starswirl! Stop dumping baddies in other worlds!
hum I am vary interested and some how I feel the author is teasing us with the clues.
a very good chapter.
7901012 My guess is neither.
Wendigos aren't specifically a creature, but a parasite that feeds on conflict. They've always existed on both sides of the portal, but the magic of the human side was so weak, they could do little more than encourage ethnic strife. But with the presence of magic flowing in thanks to the portal, they've gotten stronger.
In return, the magic of the Tree of Harmony is trying to send magical "antibodies" to the human world, which is why Twilight detected the magic of the Cutie Map on the human side, and why Twilight is still a pony.
7901030 Where else would i put all the trash
7900977 yes they are but more than likely they sill be going towards Canterlot high...its like ponyville...weird capital of the world magnet of all things powerfull
7900906
Or the Cutie Map bossing around Twilight ( a goddamn Princess) and her friends.
"I must to this, even if it makes me miserable, 'cause is what my Cutie Mark is telling me." Yeah, not creepy at all.
Seriously, am I the only one who has ever thought the Tree of Harmony is in fact an Eldritch Abomination which lures people into servitude in exchange of magical abilities ( like the ones in Zetsuen no Tempest)?
7901012 All will be revealed, but you're missing something important. Think about it. Carefully.
7901008 Yep, that's Sugar Belle. So now you KNOW who DD is.
7901138
Forgive me for not being entirely up to date on the franchise, but who's 'Sugar Belle'?
My guess is Starlight.
Friendship is literally magic in Equestria.
No you're not.
Right, pre Season 5 finale, gotcha.
Not quite.
7901191
The deep blue pegasus with the white mane in Starlight's village, sounds a bit like Rainbow Dash.
7901191
7901230
No, Sugar Belle was the unicorn baker in Starlight's old Village who, without her cutie mark, could only make disgusting muffins. The dark blue pegasus was Night Glider.
7901191 One of the four ponies (along with Night Glider, Double Diamond and Party Favor) from Starlight's village who helped Twilight and the others. She was the first to be interested when she saw the Mane Six's friendship overcoming their differences.
Until next time...
Anon e Mouse Jr.
That seems to answer one major question with the problem with the portal. The Cutie Map is causing the portal to mess up the human world. That makes me think. I might be completely wrong, but my guess is that the Starlight Glimmer we see in the human world is the one from Equestria, and by crossing over to the human world she somehow disrupted the portal with the Cutie Map's magic. We'll have to wait and see how accurate that guess is though.
I am going to guess the issue is One Part Starlight, one part Windigo
7901246
Ah. Now, I remember her. Thanks.
7901315 Glad I could help.
Until next time...
Anon e Mouse Jr.
7901138
...did something cause the magic geode by Camp Everfree to become overcharged and generate its own Map? Is that what's going on?
7901475 I'm not going to answer any questions about what's going on. You'll have to wait and see. Feel free to formulate your own theories and wait to see.
7901117 That is an interesting theory, but anything that the Elements were involved in before the discovery of the Tree was world-threatening, so there wasn't really a choice in the matter whether or not they had to use the Elements, and after the Tree was discovered, there was a world-threatening magic-stealing centaur, Glimmer's Town, and various minor friendship problems across the world, all of which helped others when they were solved.
So if the Tree is an Eldritch Abomination that gives ponies power in exchange for servitude, at least it is for the benefit of others.
And if the Tree was enslaving all of Equestria, I'll bet Discord will be there to fight it (he is the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony, after all).
7901086 Just recycle your baddies so someone else gets a shot at them! It worked with Nightmare Moon, Tirek and Discord!
Hurr durr, a force of order and goodness can't possibly exist unless it's secretly evil and trying to control you.
And here is another reason to hate the Cutie Map.
Oh.
OH.
OH!
OH!!!
OH!!!
OH!!!!
OH NO!!!
7902034 I don't know anypony who like this thing
Are you trying to combine the Friendship Games and Legend of Everfree in one story? Awesome!
7901138 Speculating that it's this universe's Starlight Glimmer. I mean, the Camp is clearly our town - Belle -> Sugar, DD -> obvious. Beck is throwing me for a loop on what that's short for, but oh well.
7901117 I go with demon artifact myself considering that it enforces order
7902132 Not exactly. More like Friendship games and the season 5 finale.
7902035 SOMEBODY figured it out.
7902154 Yyyyeah you're a little off the mark on the Camp being Our Town. Just because some of the analogues are living in Vanhoover and at least one of them is homeless. And I'm amazed more people haven't figured out who Beck is by now. I wasn't exactly subtle.
7901117 yuck. Frankly, I would love to have a bit of an instinctive boost on something I liked and was passionate about
Plus, you know the spell altered memories as well, so they were probably confused as hell why they were having difficulties with things they thought they should be able to do
Well, somebody had to say it.
I could join in on the rabid speculating on where this is all heading like everybody else...but admittedly I don't really have any solid theories of my own, and I'd rather wait and be surprised anyway.
7902097
*timidly raises hand* ...I'm okay with the cutie map. It's not a wholly perfect storytelling mechanic, no, but it serves its purpose well, and it's served as an excellent means to justify more exploring of the rest of the world Equestria, which has been sorely needed for awhile, and I'm all for that.
Sugar Belle and Double Diamond are those to, but as for Beck...
I wonder, is Beck a reference to the fact that Sunset's VA is Rebecca Shoichet? Could this be the 'native' EqG!Sunset
7902378 It's pretty obvious Beck is the other Sunset Shimmer.
7902217 Order and Harmony are two different things.
Order: do this or else!
Harmony: diplomacy
*Pokes head and upper body into the universe and points at Princess Twilight* Neither could she.
Except for in rare freak occurrences, like when they disappeared when your counterpart stole our magic, or when my student, Starlight Glimmer, stole my and my friends cutie marks and special talents and replaced them with equal signs and mediocrity back when she was still a villain.
7902277
My problem with the map is not its role as a plot device to send the Six on adventure, but Twilight 's submissive attitude toward it.
The map should be a tool, and nothing more. Something to help Twilight with her duties as Princess of Friendship...and yet we see the Six acting like the nuke worshipping mutants from the Planet of the Apes: "the Map has spoken. We must obey!" or "I would love to visit that place, but I'll remain here because the Map only called for you two. Who I am to question Its will? "
All glory to Ikea the Almighty!
7902265 Sometimes I miss details. Like her hair color, which yea, was self-evident from there.
7902689
I'll give you that one. If they want Twilight to stay behind for whatever reason, they should at least come up with a better reason for it other than "the map didn't say I could come." So? Take a day or two and go with the explore while the others work on the friendship problem.
But then again, in the case of Twilight, I wonder if Twilight wouldn't be able to stop herself from meddling in the friendship problem anyway, and there IS a reason why the cutie map selects the ponies to go over the others. An unplanned third (or more) might just over-complicate things.
I guess it's a case I can see why they chose to do it that way, they just haven't given a refined enough of an explanation for it to meet satisfaction yet.
Ooh, the plot thickens, although this line did confuse me a bit:
So, is Twilight referring to the tree, or someone else when she says that they aren't meant to understand?
7903381 I don't see how you could possibly be confused by that line. It's clear what she's saying. (How could she be saying the Tree isn't meant to understand? It's a tree...and it created the thing she's talking about...)
7903656
I'm sorry, I was unclear.
What I meant was to ask who means for them to remain ignorant? Twilight said that they weren't "meant to understand", and if that's true, then who is the person who "means" that? There has to be someone who actually intends her ignorance if someone means for them not to understand.
7903779
You're confusing yourself by assuming there's an intent. That's not what she means AT ALL. She's saying it's like Pinkie Sense, or how the Elements of Harmony work in the first place. It's something you can't really explain, so you just have to accept that it is what it is and leave it at that.
7903901
Okay, I see. So the claim that "they weren't meant to understand" was just shorthand for "I don't understand, and need to find some way to justify that fact."
7903969 No, it means "some things you just have to accept on faith". You know, the lesson she learned in the Pinkie Sense episode?
7903997
Believing something exists, and accepting that you can't comprehend it are two entirely different concepts. The point of the episode "Feeling Pinkie Keen" was to convince viewers that there are some things that definitely exist, even if they are outside the metaphoric box of your internal reality. It wasn't at all about accepting your ignorance of how such a thing functioned. If everyone did that, then no knowledge could ever have been learned about anything, and technology, in any form, could not exist.
7904024 Yeah you completely missed the point of that episode. But if that's the way your view of the world functions, it isn't going to change and I won't waste time trying to explain to you why you're wrong. Let's leave it at you completely failed to understand that episode OR what Twilight said in this chapter and leave it there.