Humans II
Wow... sounds intense. I’ll be sure to help the girls tomorrow.
Thanks Flash. This is a huge emergency I’d like to smooth over as quickly as possible. I’ll be visiting tomorrow to collect the school records.
So... no time for a date then, I take it?
Sorry, Flash. Still, we’re on for that date in two weeks. Are you sure you have everything ready for then?
Almost. I have things cleared up. My parents are a little weirded out that I’m going to another dimension, but they trust me enough.
They know about everything?
They were chaperones at that dance. They know. Relax, they’re keeping quiet too. They are a little freaked out that I’m actually dating a magical princess from another dimension, but they’re open-minded.
They know we’re dating?
Yeah, and that was the almost part. They want to have you over for dinner before I go visit you.
What? They want to meet me? But that’s so soon! What if I don’t make a good impression on them?
You’ve faced down a she-demon and three sirens, and my parents intimidate you?
I only had to blast them with friendship magic!
Relax, they’ll love you. You’re a very likeable girl. They said you’re free to bring Spike and Starlight too.
Well... Starlight has been asking to come back there... why not?
Principal Celestia pulled the last sheet out of the copier and handed it to Sunset. “Remember, this is supposed to be confidential. But if both you and Princess Twilight think it’s important, I trust you.”
Sunset nodded. “I didn’t even consider this might spread to the others.”
“Have any of her other potentials shown any magic?”
Sunset shook her head. “Shining Armor and Sweetie Belle couldn’t do anything. Twilight and Fluttershy went to go test Vinyl while I came here. We figured if anyone was going to manifest after us, it would be them. They’ve hung out with us the most, after all.”
Celestia nodded. “Makes sense. I take it Shining Armor and Cadance were a little worried?”
“Not as much as Twilight is,” Sunset said, her voice becoming heavy. “Her nightmares were back in full force over the weekend.” She shook her head. “Uh, I probably shouldn’t be talking about that with you.”
“I won’t say a word,” Celestia promised. “But Dean Cadance is a friend of mine. I’m a little surprised I never made the connection with the two Twilight’s until the Friendship Games.”
Sunset looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“She said she had custody of Twilight after her parents died, but I thought the name was a coincidence. No one told me that the other world had counterparts. I had never seen her before that day in the music room.”
Sunset nodded. “Makes sense.”
“So... I feel I should ask. Is my counterpart a Unicorn, or...”
Sunset bit her lip, wondering if she should really lay this bombshell now. Eventually, she decided she had to. Better they be prepared.
“Both you and Luna are Alicorns, like Princess Twilight.”
Celestia blinked. “Come again?”
Sunset took a deep breath. “Alicorns are ponies with the powers of all three races. Nopony is born as one, they have to earn it by representing something Harmony finds important. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna control the Sun and the Moon, respectively.”
Celestia looked at her student in shock. “They... control...”
“Yes. The other Celestia raises and lowers the Sun, and the other Luna does the same to the Moon. Gravity plays no part in it.”
“...Your world is very strange.”
“Pot, kettle,” Sunset said. “Seriously, you have every computer in the world linked together, and most of the population is using it to whine about television. ‘Oh, we don’t like the newborn!’ Who cares!”
Celestia opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again. “Point. So, if nopony is born an Alicorn, what were the other versions of us born as?”
“I’m not sure. Princess Celestia was always tight-lipped when I asked her. But I think she’ll crack now that it’s important. Still, I wouldn’t count on getting Alicorn powers. Princess Twilight is one, but our Twilight had no wings when she ponied up.”
“I see. How long will it take Princess Twilight to look up everything?”
“She has a whole royal staff now, so not long.”
“Good. I’ll arrange an assembly, so to speak, where we can prepare the students and faculty if this is indeed a spreading problem. I trust you’ll get the information to me as soon as possible?”
“I will.”
As hard as Vinyl tried, the pencil in front of her wouldn’t lift. She turned back to Twilight and shook her head.
“I see... well, thank you, Vinyl. You will tell us if anything comes up, won’t you?”
The girl nodded before replacing her headphones. In moments she was bobbing her head up and down as she headed for the exit.
“Well, that was a bust,” Fluttershy said. “W-what should we be doing now?”
“Just wait, explore our own powers,” Twilight said. She lifted a glass in her hand and took a sip.
Flash, who had been watching a few feet away, spoke up. “So... Fluttershy, there’s no sign of wings coming in?”
“Oh, um, no. Why?”
“Princess Twilight said the other me was a Pegasus. If this is outside the seven of you, I’m due to sprout wings.”
“I guess the Princess thinks you’ll be one of the first?” Twilight asked.
He nodded. “Well... I have spent a bit around all of you.”
Twilight smiled. She had been mad at Rarity for making them partner up at that pool party, but in hindsight it had been what was needed. The awkwardness between them was gone, mostly.
“So... where’s Sunset? I wanted to have a word with her.”
“She went to go talk to Principal Celestia about this,” Fluttershy said.
“Cool. If you two don’t mind, I’m going to go find her.”
The two girls waved him off as he walked out of the library. He headed towards the principal’s office. He was halfway there when he ran into who he was searching for. Sunset was walking down the hallways, looking at a stack of sheets in her arms so intently she didn’t see Flash until he called out to her.
“Sunset, I’ve been looking for you.”
The girl actually smiled before what Flash said sunk in. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“No, I just needed to talk to you.”
Now Sunset looked scared. That was a look that was out of place on her before the Fall Formal, but became so common afterwards. “Wh-what is it?”
“I... I owe you an apology.”
Not Sunset’s look of fear was replaced with a look of incredulity. “You owe me an apology? How?”
Flash rubbed the back of his head. “After the Fall Formal... I didn’t help you at all when everyone was against you...”
“Whoa, whoa, you don’t owe me anything for that. Especially after what happened between us.”
Flash shook his head. “Twilight... the Princess Twilight... told us all to give you a second chance, and outside the Rainbooms, no one did. Sure, I didn’t bother you, but I never did anything to help.”
“I don’t blame you,” Sunset said. “I used you, Flash. You were nothing but another stepping stone to me.”
“And I should have been better. I really did like you, Sunset. You seemed so interested in my band and everything I did. You even learned guitar while we were dating”
“...That was just another thing I needed. I wanted to learn something that would help me master... these,” she held up a hand and wiggled her fingers.
Flash understood. He knew ponies didn’t have fingers. He remembered Sunset’s earlier lessons, when she barely played a chord right.
“You know, I still wanted to get back together until I met Twilight.”
Sunset perked up. “You.. did? But you dumped me.”
“I know. And I was always hoping you’d come begging to get back together. I wanted you to be that girl I thought you were... Well, you’re that girl now, but I’m with Twilight.”
Sunset looked at her shoes. “...I never loved you. Not even after Twilight put me on the right path. Oh sure, I regretted everything, but...”
“I understand. I wanted to make it clear there was no bad blood between us. We can be friends, right?”
Sunset looked at her ex. After a moment, she smiled. “I’d like that.”
The two had a quick embrace. They pulled apart quickly. Gossip still spread fast in this school, and the last thing they wanted is for word to get out that they were seeing each other again.
“I’m going to wait by the portal a bit, see if I can catch my Twilight for a few minutes.”
Sunset gave him a knowing smirk. “Just don’t get too frisky. She has important work here.”
Flash thought a moment. “It isn’t going to hurt your relationship with Twilight that we’re dating, right? I’m not sure what the code of conduct is for girls...”
“Even if I ever really liked you that way, we’ve been broken up for months and it’s my fault. You two go nuts.”
He gave her one last smile before she walked off.
Rarity and Applejack were somewhat relieved to be inside Canterlot High. At lunch they had mentioned a Crystal Prep student seemed to be following them. Twilight had not been in attendance due to a last-minute detail on her transfer. However, once school was over and they met in the music room, the last girl was filled in.
And she buried her head in her hands. “Don’t tell me: brown skin, orange hair, glasses, comb in his pocket?”
The pair blinked. It was Rarity that answered. “Why, yes.”
“Trenderhoof.”
“Who?”
“Trenderhoof. He’s absolutely in love with romance. Every month or two he picks up a new crush and starts trying to romance them. He’s annoying, but he’s harmless. And at least he can’t follow you here.”
Rarity beamed. “Well, I can hardly blame him for noticing such exquisite beauty,” she said, flicking her hair back. “I simply will have to let him down gently.”
“Yes, you do that,” Applejack said with an unamused expression. “Sunset, you said Princess Twi was gonna be here by now.”
“Well, Flash might be holding her up,” Sunset said with an evil look that got giggles from the others.
“We should probably tell her we know,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Let’s let her think she’s fooled us a bit longer,” Rarity said.
Twilight couldn’t help but laugh, even if they were talking about teasing another version of her. She scratched Spike behind the ear as he sat in her lap.
Not thirty seconds later, the Princess walked through the door. She had her palm open and was levitating three small pebbles above her palm, twirling them around in a circle.
“Princess!” they all exclaimed in unison, running up to hug her. She hugged them back, temporarily letting the stones fall into her palm.
As soon as they parted, the Princess cast her spell again. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner, girls. But I’m hoping you have some good news about all this?”
Sunset smiled. “You’re already taking advantage of it,” she smiled.
Twilight blushed. “I had to try it for myself. I never got to use my magic to its full extent in this world.” She flicked the stones in an arch so they floated over her another palm. “I’m not noticing any big difference other than having two magic appendages instead of just one.”
Smiling, Sunset started levitating a few pencils and some sheets of paper off a nearby table. She started writing her name on both simultaneously. “Like I never even lost my horn.”
The Princess grinned before turning to Rarity and Twilight. “What about you two?”
Rarity turned toward the table a concentrated. With a faint glow of magic, a single pencil lifted up.
“I can only do so much,” Rarity said, feeling a little embarrassed.
“Seems to be basic power level... like a foal just getting her magic. Maybe that’s how they’ll come in for everyone...”
Rainbow Dash blinked. “But... Twilight’s a natural! Not as good as Sunset, but...”
“That was foal level... for me,” the Princess said. At the incredulous looks, she went on. “The entire reason I was selected by the Princess for private tutoring is because I had a lot of raw magic power. I guess it crosses dimensions.”
Twilight shook at that. Sunset placed a comforting and on her shoulder.
Seeing her doppelganger’s discomfort, the Princess cringed a bit. After some debate, she went on. “That’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about when I meet your family tonight.”
Twilight looked at her. “Why?”
“It’s nothing bad,” she assured, “but if things are really going forward like I think they will, then some... extra training might be in order.”
Twilight actually started hugging herself.
“Now Twilight, remember what I said: magic isn’t something to be afraid of,” Sunset tried calming her.
“I know, I know,” she said, pulling away from Sunset.
“You shouldn’t be afraid of turning into Midnight Sparkle again! She’s not you!” Pinkie said.
“Everyone keeps... wait, Midnight Sparkle?”
Pinkie giggled. “That’s what they call you online,” she said, reaching into her hair and pulling out a tablet. She began touching the screen. “People love the footage! They make all kinds of art!”
“...What?”
“Look, see!” Pinkie said, shoving the tablet in her face.
Twilight looked at it.
In an instant she was sitting in the corner of the room, a dark cloud over her head.
The other just looked at her.
“Come on, Twilight,” the Princess said, taking the tablet. “How bad can it be?” She looked.
In an instant she was sitting in the corner of the room next to Twilight, a dark cloud over her head.
“Come on, Twilight... and Twilight,” Sunset said. “The Internet is filled with stuff like that. It’s not like you can stop it from happening, and you’ll never meet these people in real life. Once...”
“Hey, you’re in this one, Sunset!”
Sunset blinked. “...What?”
“Yeah, as Daydream Shimmer! Look, look what Twilight’s doing to you in this one!”
Sunset looked.
In an instant she was sitting in the corner of the room next to the two Twilights, a dark cloud over her head.
“Whoa,” Rainbow Dash said, trying not to look amused.
“Oh, you humans,” Spike said. “You take the most basic function for survival and make it taboo! It’s just what you do when you find a mate! If you’d quit being so averse to it...” He looked at the tablet.
In an instant he was sitting in the corner of the room next to Sunset and the two Twilights, a dark cloud over his head.
“...We better never let Shining Armor hear about this,” Applejack said.
After the girls and Spike had recovered and Rarity made promises to get their family lawyer on the case for unauthorized use of likeness after magic became public knowledge, Applejack tried deflecting the situation away from the unpleasant topic. “Any idea when the rest of us are gonna start gettin’ some fancy powers?”
“Well, it’s not like I have anything to compare this to,” the Princess said. “I guess it all matters on how fast magic is growing in this world, and how often you pony up.”
“Good, cause I can’t wait to get wings for good,” Rainbow Dash said. “After flying once, I’m wondering how I lived without it.”
“Oh, well, it would be nice, but I think I like the ground,” Fluttershy said.
“So there’s been no signs of any of the other powers from any of you?”
“Nope! And Sunset and Twilight are making us lift weights every day to see if we’re getting any stronger, and they asked Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to keep an eye on their back to see if wings start forming, and they have Rarity constantly lifting things and...”
“I think I get it,” Twilight said. “What about advanced forms of magic? All you’ve mentioned is telekinesis. Can you...”
At that, there was a crack of light. Everyone jumped as they realized that Sunset had disappeared. Before anyone could freak out, the Princess felt a tap on her shoulder. She whirled around to find her friend standing there, waving.
“Still got it.”
“You’re on fire!” Rainbow Dash said.
“Thanks.”
“No, really, your jacket is on fire!”
Sunset looked at her shoulder and saw the flame. Yelping, she quickly pulled it off and threw it to the ground, stamping it out. After that, she picked it up and looked at it, grimacing at the burn mark. “Okay, so maybe I’m a little out of practice.”
The Princess took the jacket and lit up her hand, causing the burn mark to fade.
Rarity blinked. “Clothing repair? You simply must teach me that one.”
“That’s why I’m here. I figure I’d give you and Twilight a quick lesson before I go to dinner. Do you still have that archery range set up? I think teaching you some basic combat magic might be a good idea.”
“Well, I suppose,” Rarity said. “And Sunset will be joining us.”
“If she likes. She’ll be getting plenty of practice this weekend.”
Sunset gave the Princess a look. “What?”
“Celestia’s cleared her schedule. She says it’s time you visit.”
Sunset tensed up. “Now? What... but...”
“Sunset, please. If the human world is going to discover magic, they’re going to discover ponies. Celestia needs to talk to you about them. You’ll be important in the negotiations, you’ve lived with them for years. She needs to know about them.”
“...That’s all she wants to see me for?”
“No. She also really misses you. But I thought I’d state the official business first.” She winked at her friend.
Sunset looked at her boots. “I... I don’t know...”
“Are you scared?” Fluttershy asked.
“N... yes,” she admitted.
“You shouldn’t. Remember, the Princess wants you to come be her student again. And with everything going on, you’ll have to see her again eventually.”
“I... okay. Okay, I’ll go.”
The Princess paused, then hugged her friend. “Things are going to be fine, Sunset. You’ll see.”
The sun was setting as Twilight and her Princess counterpart rode down the road to Twilight’s apartment. Going to Canterlot High and having a social life outside of school had finally been the push Twilight had needed to ask for a car. Shining Armor and Cadance had obliged, and after she had made it clear she valued practicality over style, she had gotten a used green sedan.
Starlight and the two Spikes sat in the back, Starlight looking out the window and marveling at everything she saw.
“Cool! Princess, do you think we could get these things in Equestria soon?”
“If relations between the two species works out, we probably will,” Princess Twilight promised. She looked at her counterpart. “It doesn’t look too hard to drive. I bet I can do it.”
“You don’t have a license.”
“I’ll use yours.”
“That’s illegal.”
“Is it? I am you, after all..”
“Stop it,” Twilight said flatly.
Starlight giggled. Dragon Spike rolled his eyes. “This is gonna be fun,” he muttered.
The two pulled into the parking lot and up to Twilight’s reserved space. The small group walked up to the door, the Princess having tucked Spike under her left arm and was holding Starlight’s hand with her right, making sure she stayed upright.
Twilight opened the door and proclaimed, “I’m home!”
Instantly Dog Spike wiggled out of his master’s grasp and darted toward his water bowl. Shining Armor just missed him. As he walked into the foyer, he stopped at the surrealness of seeing two Twilights.
“So... you’re the Princess?”
“That’s me,” Princess Twilight said, a bit awkwardly. She clutched Dragon Spike in her arms, who was shaking his head at his counterpart’s actions.
“Aww, look at you,” Cadance suddenly was in front of her. “See, Twiley, I told you you’d look cute with your hair down.”
“Cady...” Twilight whined.
Cadance just hugged the counterpart of the child she had cared for the last three years. “Oh it’s so nice to meet you!”
“Likewise,” the Princess said.
“And here’s the new Spike,” she said. “Are you really a dragon?”
Dragon Spike puffed out his chest. “Big and strong.”
“Small and cute,” The Princess corrected, pulling out a photograph from her pocket. “Here’s a picture.”
Dragon Spike’s eyes widened as he caught a glimpse and realized it was of when he had just hatched. “Twilight, why...”
“Because you just look so adorable in it, and I needed a picture of the real you,” the Princess answered, nuzzling her oldest charge.
“Aww, he looks so precious!” Cadance said, passing the photograph to her husband. “And what do we have here?” She went on, kneeling down to Starlight’s level. “You must be Starlight! Oh, you look adorable!”
“Um... thank you,” the girl said, half hiding behind her teacher. “Are you this world’s version of Aunt Cadance?”
“Looks like I am! So why don’t you give me a hug?”
Starlight broke away from the Princess and wrapped her arms around Cadance’s neck, while the older woman returned the hug.
“Wait... ‘Aunt Cadance’?” Shining Armor asked, turning to the Princess. “Twiley didn’t tell me you were a mother.”
The Princess blushed. “It’s not like that,” she explained. “I’m her teacher.”
Dragon Spike let out a scoff showing he didn’t believe it.
Cadance lifted the young girl up in her arms. “Well why don’t we get you to the kitchen? My cooking isn’t as good as palace food, I’m sure, but I’m pretty good.”
“Okay,” the girl said, smiling.
As Cadance carried the child off, Shining Armor looked the Princess over once more. “It’s kind of surreal... I’m surprised Cadance took it so well.”
“Well, from what I understand she actually saw... what happened,” the Princess said, casting a look at her alternate. “So, it’s good to know you’re still here. After I heard what happened to... the other version of my parents...”
“Are they really alive?” Shining Armor said, curious.
“Yes... and I visited them for a week after finding out what happened. I... don’t get to see them much with all my responsibilities.”
Shining Armor nodded, giving the Princess back her photo of Spike. “Well, dinner’s about ready, let’s get seated.”
“Where’s my seat?” Dragon Spike asked.
“You’re not eating on the floor with the other Spike?” Cadance asked.
“I’m. Not. An. Animal!” Dragon Spike said through clinched teeth, causing the other family to step back a bit.
“Oh, we’re all animals,” Dog Spike said. “Humans just act high and mighty because they have thumbs and vocal chords.”
“...Right. I’ll set up an extra seat. I think I can dig Twilight’s old booster seat out...”
In the end, Dog Spike ended up at the table too, munching dog food along with a biscuit or two while the rest of the family enjoyed a nice vegetarian lasagna.
The talk was dominated by the Princess at first, who answered questions about Equestria and herself, about Starlight Glimmer (a touchy subject since Twilight couldn’t tell them the full truth), and of the adventures she had had. It was here that the Princess thought of something.
“Your wedding, did it... go off without a hitch? No problems?”
That got the humans to look at her oddly.
“Well... we didn’t have a chance to have a proper ceremony,” Shining Armor explained.
The Princess blinked. “What? Why?”
“Well... we were engaged, and we were planning a big ceremony... then our parents died.”
“Oh... I...”
But Cadance picked up for her husband. “After he signed the paperwork to take custody of Twilight, I wanted an equal share in helping raise her. I wanted to be there for her as much as Shiny was. So we went down to the courthouse. We got married and I signed the custody papers on the same day.”
Twilight looked at her plate. While it had been a show of support for her, she always felt like she had robbed her guardians of their dream wedding.
“We’re planning to have a proper ceremony later,” Shining Armor said. “A little after Twiley graduates. Why? Did our counterparts have trouble?”
The Princess had a strange expression on her face, like she was dealing with conflicting emotions. “The ceremony went off fine. It was... a lot of what happened before that has me worried. Something I don’t think you’ll have to worry about, so why don’t we talk about something else?”
Seeing the Princess’s discomfort, Cadance quickly changed topics. “Do we have any children in Equestria?”
At this, the Princess smiled. “The other you just got pregnant.”
“Oh my gosh, really?” Cadance said.
The Princess smiled. “I’ll be an Aunt in about nine more months.”
“Oh my gosh, that means we’ll have a baby eventually! Oh, we were planning to have one once Twilight was grown up.”
Now Twilight pushed her food. Another thing she was preventing them from doing.
Cadance saw. Making a mental note to talk to her later, she changed the subject. “Are dragons common in Equestria?”
“Well... not among ponies,” Twilight said.
“I think I’m the only dragon who lives like a pony,” Dragon Spike said.
“That must be hard,” Cadance said.
“Not really. I lived in the palace with Twilight before getting to live in a nice quiet village with friendly ponies. I tried fitting in with dragons once, didn’t like it.”
“Aww. I bet you chase Fluttershy around too, don’t you?”
Dragon Spike blinked. “Fluttershy? No, it’s Rarity who’s the pretty one.”
“Rarity?” Dog Spike said. “But she covers herself in all that hair spray and makeup...”
“And it makes her even more beautiful.”
“Fluttershy doesn’t need any of that and she does just fine.”
“She could look prettier!”
“Could not!”
“Could too!”
Cadance gave a smile.The Princess gave the command to stop. Both Spikes glared at each other before returning to their meals.
“Where did Spike come from?” Twilight asked.
“I hatched him for my entrance exam to Princess Celestia’s school.”
Twilight blinked. “Wait... if hatching a dragon is part of an entrance exam, then why aren’t they more common?”
The Princess’s face darkened. “That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to all of you about.”
The table got quiet except for Dragon Spike, who kept eating, knowing full well what his caretaker’s announcement would be.
“The egg test wasn’t meant to be passed. Hatching a dragon egg is so hard most adult ponies can’t do it. I hatched Spike because I had a surge of magic so powerful that It also levitated the procters into the air and turned my parents into potted plants.”
They all gaped at her.
“Is... is that going to happen to me?” Twilight asked.
“I don’t know, but you’re already showing a natural aptitude with magic like I had as a filly. It wouldn’t surprise me.” She saw Twilight flinch, and quickly spoke again. “I wanted to propose something that might help.”
She turned back to the table, all eyes on her. “Because I had so much magic, Celestia had to teach me personally. I needed a lot of training to keep control. And if Twilight’s going to have the same power I had, so will she. So... Sunset told me summer vacation starts in a few weeks. When it does, I want Twilight to come to Equestria for proper training.”
That got some reactions.
“What? For the whole summer?” Shining Armor asked, a little surprised.
“Oh, but she’s just starting to come out of her shell,” Cadance said. “I was hoping she’d spend this summer really getting out there.”
“My castle is the same one with the portal here,” The Princess assured. “She could some visit at anytime, and you could visit her. Besides, training isn’t nearly as arduous as you’d think. It’s merely some proper guidance.”
“Well... if you think it would be... Twiley seems freaked out by the magic, are you sure...” Shining Armor began.
“I want to do it,” Twilight said.
That got looks.
“Twiley... are you sure...” Cadance said.
“I can’t lose control again. Not after...”
Shining Armor and Cadance were next to her so quickly the Princess almost didn’t see them.
“That wasn’t your fault, please don’t dump on yourself for that,” Shiny pleaded, hugging his sister.
“Twiley...” Cadance started.
“I want to go,” Twilight said, more resolve in her voice. “I need to learn how to control this.”
“She won’t be alone,” The Princess promised. “Rarity and Sunset will be coming periodically for training. So with the others, but they will just come to visit. And she’ll be spending plenty of time here as well.”
“Everyone’s getting training, it seems.” Cadance said.
Twilight nodded. “The first girls in this world to get magic? Yes. They’ll be important in what’s to come, whether they like it or not. Twilight’s in the middle of this no matter what. I’m hoping she’ll be prepared."
There was silence for a moment. Shining Armor and Cadance looked at each other, having a conversation without words.
“...Okay,” Shining Armor said at last. “If this is really what you want, Twiley, we’ll be supportive.”
“Excellent,” the Princess said. “I’ll start working out a lesson plan.”
The Princess finished the final lines of the storybook Cadance had lent her as Starlight fell asleep on the couch, Dragon Spike resting on top of her. She smiled, kissing the young girl on the forehead.
When she rose up, she found a very smug looking Cadance watching her.
“It’s not like that, huh?”
The Princess rolled her eyes. “You’re just like the Cadance of my world.”
“And the fact that both of us are saying this isn’t cluing you in on anything?”
The Princess looked at her charges, then back at Cadance. She led the older girl away until they were in the kitchen, then whispered in a hushed tone. “It wouldn’t be right.”
She told her where Starlight came from. By the end, her eyes were wide.
“Well, things just keep getting weirder,” she said.
“I took Starlight in out of desperation. Even when I showed her what her actions were causing, she refused to back off. I didn’t know what else to do. I was so desperate to stop her that I took the first plan that seemed practical.” The Princess slumped. “How can I say I’m her mother when me loving her had nothing to do with how I took her in?”
Cadance blinked. “Have you told anyone at home how you feel?”
The Princess looked at her. “I... no,” she said, realizing that herself. “I guess... everypony sees what I did as so clear cut, but...”
“Well, if my counterpart really is the Princess of Love, I know what she’d tell you: relationships change. I noticed Shiny because he was cute, I stayed with him because he’s sweet and brave. I babysat my Twilight just to be near him, and I love her, first as a sister, and now...” she trailed off. “Well, nevermind. You might have taken her in out of necessity, but that doesn’t mean what you feel for her now is any less real. Don’t tell me you don’t, the way you dote on her says enough.”
The Princess blinked. “I... well, that’s what everyone says...”
Cadance smiled. “Then what’s the problem?”
The Princess thought again. “I won’t ask her. If she wants me to be a mother, I’ll be her mother, but it’ll be her decision. I can’t ask her to be, not after she had to leave everything behind to be my student.”
Cadance looked disappointed at the answer, but smiled all the same.
Shining Armor came in to see his sister while Cadance was busy with the Princess. He hugged her tightly, then said “I’m very proud of what you’re doing.”
“You are?”
Shining Armor smiled. “Twiley, you’ve been researching something to help people. You’re willing to go through with this because you think it’s the right thing to do.”
“...I think? Do you not agree?”
Shining Armor stopped to gather his thoughts a moment. “I do, but not for the same reasons you think it is.”
“What?”
“Twiley, you’re not a monster, and using magic isn’t going to turn you into one. I think the fact that there’s a whole other world of magic users is proof of that. This is the right thing to do for the same reasons the Princess said. If everyone’s getting magic, someone is going to have to teach them how to use it.”
“But... why me? Why am I in the middle of all this?”
“Maybe because you’re the smartest person I know? Because you’re a little sweetheart who I don’t think has disobeyed us once? You’re going to do great things, Twilight, I always knew it.”
Twilight felt her face heat up.
“And Twilight? You haven’t cost us anything. Cadance and I could have afforded that wedding or that baby. We made the decision to put our focus on you. You didn’t take anything we didn’t give you. We haven’t sacrificed, we just put things on hold. Don’t you dare feel guilty because we love you and wanted the best for you.” Her brother pulled her into a hug. “If Mom and Dad were here, they’d be so proud.”
Twilight hugged him back, crying. It was minutes later that they broke apart.
“You get some sleep, Twi. I don’t want you two up all night.”
“I promise,” Twilight said as the Princess entered the room. She began placing her sleeping bag on the floor.
“Are you sure you don’t want the bed?” Twilight asked.
“I’m not so pampered I can’t sleep on the floor,” the Princess promised.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Shiny smiled. As he reached the door, he turned back to them with an evil grin. “I better not hear you’ve been taking Pinkie’s suggestion,” he said before closing the door, leaving both Twilights red in the face.
Miss Chrysalis walked down the hallway, flanked by her top researcher.
“So, we have no results from the test subjects?”
Dr. Starlight Glimmer shook her head. “Nothing. We’ve been unable to replicate what the girls around Canterlot High can do.”
“But the subjects...”
“I don’t think they have any magic. At least, not anymore.”
Chrysalis groaned. “The others are getting impatient. We need results fast. What about...”
A banging came from a door nearby. Through the window, Chrysalis could see the girl, if that’s what she was. She was a mess, bags under her eyes, her already frizzy hair even more a rat’s nest, and her hands were sore, red standing on yellow, from her constant protests.
“You bitch! You absolute bitch! Let me out! I swear I’m going to snap your neck! You hear me?”
Rolling her eyes, Dr. Starlight pressed a button on the control panel next to the door.
“I swear when I get out, I’ll...” her promises degraded into coughing as she backed away from the door.
“A little calming agent, but it’ll only keep her quiet for a while. I swear I wish you’d let me shut that girl up,” Dr. Starlight growled. “The blue one never gave me trouble, and the purple one broke in days, but that one...”
“I want them in good physical condition,” Chrysalis said. “Why does she look like such a mess?”
“Refuses to sleep or eat. We have to force-feed and drug her. She’s a stubborn one.”
“And she shows no signs of her past powers?”
“None. All testing proves negative. We need to get that girl’s device, or at least the blueprints. My research has hit a wall without it.”
“Leave that to me,” Chrysalis said. “I’m not letting this slip by me.”
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...wow. That last scene was dark. Almost dark enough to detract from the fanart scene.
...almost.
Three things though.
One, I'm pretty sure you're missing a line in the interchange between Flash and Princess Twi via the books.
Two,
Celestia
Three, why's the whole chapter italicized?
Hey there. Thanks greatly for getting the next chapter up. I really appreciate you going to the effort. As usual, excellent job on the exchanges, emotional content, humor, action and future chapter set-up in all the right places. I'll definitely be looking forward to more of this as soon as time and inspiration will allow.
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Fixed mistakes. I forgot to close out the italics.
Soul eater eh? so Starlight is our Medusa?
encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQe9Z5soOvJ4wmWeojsQcasNkPG849HQ3Gm-09jBUV9bHjS1zGzIA
Something that occurred to me a while back. If Sunset's had her apotheosis moment when she became Daydream Shimmer, and the Alicorn transformation is something that happens when certain criteria are met and not necessarily anything the Princesses have any say over...
What are the odds that Sunset walks back through that mirror, and discovers she has wings? Just how epic would the freak-out be?
Great update! I wonder if that fan art moment was a "take that" to any artists or pictures in particular? Sci-Twi, Sunset, and the other human counterparts going to Equestria sounds like it'll be fun, and I like the little moments with Flash and the others too, can't wait to see more of him. That ending got dark fast though. Evil human Starlight experimenting on the siren, and I don't want to imagine what might happen if she runs into her younger self.
What, no art of demon Sunset?
Nice to point it out the differences between the Dog and Dragon Spike in something as apparently simple as where they sit to eat.
Princess, I see your argument for not being Starlight's mother, weak as it is. What's your argument for not being Spike's mother?
That at the end, it was one of the sirens, right?
Some corrections:
And a recommendation/idea: Flash calling SciTwi "Sparkle". Why? Because the Princess should be "Twilight" for him (no disrespect to SciTwi, much like how the Rainbooms' relation with pony Twilight didn't change just because they are calling her "Princess" now)
YEEEES! SOUL EATER! Its funny how you made everyone watching a video seem just as depressing as a poem.
Ouch. So, Chryssie and human!Starlight are torturing the Sirens? Such a pity that, without their gemstones, they don't have even the smallest spark of magic in them!
Given the lack of broader instances of magic, I'm starting to think that all this is somehow associated with the Elements of Harmony. The Seven are empowered because the Elements act through them. Those who are originally ponies from Equestria might also have the potential to use magic but I don't think so; only element-bearers, it seems. That won't stop Chrissie and Starlight causing trouble if they build a duplicate of Twilight's device.
As for young Starlight...? I've got the feeling that she's going to end up being a pawn in this, but, as a result, she and Twilight are finally going to both accept the role that destiny has intended for them to play in the other's life.
Finally...? I wonder if this is going to end up with human!Starlight being reduced to an imbecile because Twilight has to magically erase her knowledge of how magic works in the human world (effectively lobotomising her in the process) and Chryssie is going to end up a weird statue of a screaming woman in a business pant-suit somewhere in Everfree County.
Wow... That last bit was kind of super dark. I'm... not really sure how I feel about that. I'll have to think on it. Torture might be where I have to draw the line and walk away.
Didn't finish the chapter-Don't care!
That part about people talking about Cadence and Shining's foal was hilarious to me!
Seriously though, it's so stupid that people are whining about a little cartoon foal.
EDIT: ...Dammit. That ending made me a bit ticked off...which is good in that I want to read more when the next chapter comes out.
I know I said it last time, but it bears repeating: I REALLY like the differences between the Spikes.
Nice mix of character development and cliffhanging, as usual.
Seeing the Spikes interact was gold, not to mention the fan art bit.
I haven't heard that much outcry about the latest additions to the show, but maybe I'm not paying enough attention. Or rather I'm paying only enough attention.
"Others" whom Chrysalis is concerned about pressure from... hmm, we've got the changelings, sirens, and Starlight already, so might we soon see human versions of Sombra, Tirek or Discord?
That was definitely a dark ending for that chapter. Poor Sonata...
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Not any particular artist, just rule 34 in general.
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First off, thank you for the corrections.
Second, Spike was with Twilight as a teenager, when she was too young to get she was a mother. Don't worry, Twilight and Spike's relationship will be explored.
Third, yes it was the Sirens.
Fourth, I've considered that, don't worry.
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It wasn't torture, really. The Sirens had just lost their powers, then immediately lost their freedom. The experiments are pretty much just shots and the occasional jolt to get them cooperating (Chrysalis wants them in good physical condition, remember?) It isn't pain (usually), as much as circumstances that are breaking the sirens.
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Hmm, maybe I should have made it "Oh, unrealistic villain reformation, who cares?"
And on the villains...Maaaybee...
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Just because physical pain isn't being inflicted on them doesn't mean they're not being tortured. Emotional pain works just as well, if not better. You just... you can't completely break someone's will without the process of doing so being described as torture.
Maybe it's not as bad as that scene made it seem, but that scene does imply some very, very dark things about what's being done to them and what kind of mental state the sirens will be in when they get out.
This chapter was so good it deserves another
reviewcomment stream of thought! Warning: the following text contains parts where Filraen though about events of the fanfic a bit too much and part of this were written half asleep (the other parts were written while fully asleep).Oh, this chapter comes with a high level of snark[1], excellent!
Or: I love hoy you have your priorities straight.
[1] even if in this instance it's mixed with terror of meeting boy/girl/colt/marefiend's parents.
And I doubt it's a dud, not after Celestia's answer to learning her and Luna's counterparts move the sun and moon in Equestria and the two Take That I founf in your chapter.
It feels weird having Principal Celestia saying "nopony". Oddly enough I finf ok seeing "no pony" in this case.
This, however, bothers me a fair bit, coming from Sunset. For me, when Sunset talks about "my/our Twilight" she's talking about Princess Twilight because both are ponies, the Princesss was who saved Sunset from herself and who got Celestia to forgive her (the last one may be exactly true, but for Sunset should be close enough to count). And no, I'm not shipping Sunset with Twilight, but I can't deny Sunset should feel closer to Princess Twilight than SciTwi.
I love how you have Applejack call pony Twilight "Princess Twi."
That's... a huge development. Meaning, not slowly accesing their innate magic (if it is that) but her full abilities at once.
One of the best details in the chapter was the nod to Sunset's magic skills: good enough (she
wasis Princess Celestia's student, so she can't be a slouch at magic) but she's a few years out of practice. Still, she managed a teleport flawlessly when she stole the crown back in the first movie so she can't be that rusty,I'm a bit worried SciTwi will get an inferiority complex towards Princess Twi (I like the sound of that!). So far the Princess has seemed perfect in comparison to the human Twilight, or at least that's how I can see it from SciTwi's point of view.
The dragon egg just underscores the perceived gap. After all when Twilight was set an impossible task up to see how she'd react to failure her reaction was do the impossible.
Rarity and Sunset being in Equestria for classes? Just try to keep Dash out of Equestria. If she's so interested in flying then either (a) will go to the place where she chas wings all the time if she still haven't gotten them or (b) human Dash will want to learn the Sonic Rainboom from pony Dash,
Something I didn't mention the first time it appeared: it may have been inspired by that fan comic, but making Starlight was a very elegant solution to what I disliked the most of the S5 finale: Starlight's redemption (she already rejected Twilight's friendship speech/offer once),
You know, I'm not sure why I take so much stock in how each character address each other but still is important for me,
6910443
There's a very easy and effective method of sorting these punks out. It's called "get a freakin' deagle and shoot them in the face."
So, this is straight up an anime now I guess? What with the storm clouds and all that?
And yes, Twi, keep things from Cady and Shiny. That's a great idea. Don't tell them a name that could save their lives later because the conversation might be vaguely complicated for ten minutes. Genius.
Great chapter!
One correction:
"some" should be "come".
6910443
I'm aware of that, I just wanted to make sure you understood what's going on.
6911317
Principal Celestia saying nopony was a mistake. Sunset referencing Princess Twilight as "our" Twilight was a choice be her in the context of the conversation.
those that were born ponies are getting full power. Rarity and SciTwi are slowly gaining them.
And Starlight's situation wasn't inspired by the fancomic: I came up with the idea at the same time, they just got it out first.
6911762
Actually, she didn't speak up for SciTwi's sake. Princess Twi and Sunset are going to tell her about the Wedding and Anon-a-Miss very soon as a lesson on how painful friendship can be. She's going to tell them off screen. Plus, given that Shiny and Cadance aren't important figures in this world, she has no reason to suspect their targets.
6912126
Thanks.
When did this happen?
Indeed.
Rule 34 my dear, rule 34...
This story is going great so far. I just have a few questions:
1. Who else knows the full story about Filly Starlight?
2. Does Starlight know about her psycopathic Retgoned self yet?
3. How did you come up with your version of The Cutie Remark ending?
4. When are the two 1500 follower one-shots directed at this series coming out?
5. You mentioned in the Q&A on your author page that if it was up to you, Twilight would've been an orphan. Did you make Sci-Twi's parents dead out of your beliefs, did you want to make the distinction between the Two Twi's clearer, did you want SciTwi's very small personal life outside Crystal Prep fleshed out more, or was it for another reason?
Sorry if the last one's pretty descriptive and kinda personal, but I'm just curious.
6914501
During the fanart scene.
6915950
1. The other Princesses, Shining Armor, and the Mane 6. Maybe Captain Flash, I haven't decided.
2. No
3. I heard the finale was going to involve time travel, and I heard it was going to involve Starlight becoming Twilight's student. It seemed weird she'd have a student the same age as her, so I was thinking that Starlight would get de-aged thanks to time magic. After the episode aired, I preferred my theory, so I altered it a bit since I didn't see how the time spell could misfire.
4. No set release date on those, but not until March at earliest.
5. I don't want any Human character to be the same as their Equestrian counterpart. So I changed dynamics (AJ's parents still being alive, Scootaloo being RD's real sister) as a start. Making Sci-Twi an orphan differentiated her from Princess Twi, gave more backstory for her being so withdrawn, and changed her dynamic with Shining Armor and Cadance (they're more parents than siblings now).
6917677
K. Thanks.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
THISSTORYISSOGOODWHYCANTIREADMOREOFITRIGHTNOOOOOOOOOW?!
ANYWAY.
i like this story, and how you redeemed starlight, but i can't help but think we're all missing something important...
what will happen to cinch
Is it bad that I want to know what these pictures of Midnight and Daydream are?
Somepony hasn't found fandoms yet.
Problem solved, and with mental scarring as a complimentary gift. Thank you, come again!
I just wanted to ask, has Twilight's dinner date with Flash's parents already taken place off-screen, or are we actually going to see it happen? It's just that something in this chapter (I'm not sure what) makes me think it should have happened by now.
And here I thought it was for looking up funny cat videos...
I find it funny that in this scene there are multiple ways to interpret this line,
6917677
Its a bit late, but you know what else would be a perfect addition towards these version of Chrysalis and Starlight's?
Sleeper . Agents.
I mean, they only appear after some magical incident blow up in CHS. One of them were canonically a secret agent of some sort, and the other were regarded as one of the weirdest pony by fans. They both display surprisingly large pool of skill during the Friendship Games shorts, and how come somebody with 3 of candy pieces as her mark be that bad at baking? Chrysalis and Starlight said they have been monitoring some stuff, so maybe they can use somekind of intel from inside the school to observe things without being suspicious. These two intel doesnt have to be teenagers, they can just be some very youthful lookin spy academy graduates..
7050130
Lyra and Sweetie Drops working for the Changeling mob???
Seems a little far-fetched.
you [y'all is a second person plural pronoun.]
be here
___________________
Needs end " marks.
__________________
hold
move underlined to after 'hug' (since it's the same speaker.)
____________________
___________________________
_________________________
I hated this with a passion in the show. After all Celestial Magic was a thing long before and after Celestia and Luna. While it may not be cannon that the books state that Tia and Luna were alicorns given the duties by Starswirl. It makes no sense that they weren't born Alicorns. And the show says implicitly "no recollection of any pony in Equestria being born an Alicorn", and they are pre-Equestria.
That and Flurry Heart popped out an Alicorn. So genetics can play a part (although more rare than winning the lottery three times in a row, then getting bit by a shark while being struck by lightning). And why'd harmony choose them, when by all accounts they haven't aged a day since Equestria's founding, and with the sun and moon only able to be raised by a team of unicorns. Two random ponies suddenly ascending to do that doesn't fit.
Nonetheless, your story. Just one of the quarrels I have with the show this season.
_____________________
Wait what!?
But SciTwi was an Alicorn (Albiet a corrupted one), and Sunset ascended as well. So ... what the frak!?
derpicdn.net/img/2015/9/27/989345/large.png
See Alicorn SciTwi.
Alicorn Both. [1:00 - 1:18 for Sunset's ascension to MagicGirl, Harmony Alicorn]
So where'd their Alicorn ascension go? And why'd they suddenly loose their wings, when they had it before magic started appearing? I mean it's not like the Alicorn Princesses became non-Alicorns when they gave up their magic. Or when Twilight had her Cutie Mark raped. They staid Alicorns.
____________
I'm actually a bit on the fence with this fic.
I'm glad you're at least making Twilight and Flash date a bit and learn about one another. After all there are tons of very major hurdles they need to cross. And I do mean major. But hopefully you'll get through that. Rainbow Dash and Big Mac ... feels wrong on every level. Mostly due to the facts previously stated when it was brought up originally. And I really hope you don't do Rarity and Trenderhoof ... it seems the shipping here is wrecking the story with how ponies are just tossed with others they have nothing in common with.
And I like the idea of SciTwi, Rares, and Sunset going to Equestria to get magic training.
But I don't like the fact that SciTwi, and Sunset ascended in cannon. Are Alicorns. Yet ... somehow, someway. Aren't? How that even work? I have technically a human and pony 3 -4 to go through and an interlude ... but seriously I hope you fix that bit of those two magically no longer being alicorns. And the shipping is ... well yeah, I'll read it but it feels all sorts of wrong with the pairings (heck I'd probably be the same with F/F shipping if it was just ponies being thrown at each other.)
7188183
As a Southerner, wrong. Y'all can be singular or plural.
Discussions of the future, and Chrysalis and Starlight. ... Wonder if the Starlights will meet up... And Starlight was a powerful mage, so she'll get magic as well?
Typos:
Spike's line of "dark cloud over her head."
"here" to "hear" for Shiny talking about Pinkie's suggestion
6910385 yeah I personally tend to stray away from stuff like 34 but whatever people like
FFS, what is WITH the dark cloud gag?
Are there actual dark-grey clouds hovering over their noggins? If so, then how is there one over Spike? Dog or dragon, he can't use magic (aside from draconic fire breath, that can be modified to allow instant communication between the sender and a recipient).
Come to think of it...only pegasi can manipulate the weather or clouds, and SciTwi and Sunset don't have pegasus magic. Not to mention that pegasus magic apparently hasn't migrated yet, so...what the hell's up with those clouds?
That's actually true - every single living creature evolved from something, including humans. Every single living creature needs food, water, shelter and reproduction, including humans.
Every single living creature has a scientific name, from the ancient language of Latin. Including humans (homo sapiens, or if you prefer, homo sapiens sapiens, since the Herto man has been unearthed), and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris or Canis familiaris).
We just like to think we're not animals because we've got superior brains and stuff - in other words, we're wilfully deluding ourselves.
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i think it has something to do with anime.....like the teardrop thing behind someones head when something strange happens or someone does something stupid but with the dark cloud im guessing it has to do with embarrassment to the point of horrifically embarrassment
6917677
are the dazzlings going to be in this more
i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/919/718/0dd.gif
7988229
Yup we do it all the time.
To be fair, she's usually tight-lipped in general.
Famous last words.
Reminds me of
Discord: 'Reaches for his dog whistle'
"Don't make me use this on you son."