Group Precipitation

by FanOfMostEverything

Change in Position, by FoME

"Hey, Sunset?"

Sunset looked up from her lunch to see an unusually thoughtful Rainbow Dash. "Yeah?"

"Aside from the Crusaders and Vice Principal Luna, do you have anyone else doing the whole 'keep the world stable' thing?"

"A few." After a moment, Sunset gave a laugh. "Huh. Funny thing is, most of them either go to CHS or work here."

This got the attention of their other friends. "Example?" said Applejack.

"Well..."

---

The old man scowled and adjusted the bulging bag on his shoulders. Countless accessories and articles of clothing poked out, many of them recognizable as coming from some intellectual property or another. The man himself was almost aggressively nondescript, with a face that normally imprinted itself in the mind without bothering with the eyes, a physical meme that imposed a sense of trust upon the viewer. To see him was to question nothing and accept anything, especially free samples.

Normally.

"This is insane!" he cried. "The convention starts in an hour!"

The woman standing between him and his next destination glowered at him. "Yes," she said, disdain dripping from every syllable, "and I have yet to see you produce any proof that your alleged vendor's booth is waiting for you there."

"That's part of the magic!"

"I'm sure."

"I cannot believe this. I have been to countless worlds, and none of them has ever put me through... through customs!"

Ms. Harshwhinny sneered. "That, Mister the Merchant, is because those other worlds do not exhibit the standard of professionalism that we enjoy in this one. Now, are you to tell me why you're actually coming to this universe, or am I going to have to get my supervisor?" She jerked a thumb at the orange-glowing hypersphere behind her.

In the silence, a grey-skinned girl breezed by, waving. "Hi, Ms. Harshwhinny!"

Harshwhinny permitted herself a nod. "Hello, Ditzy."

"Why aren't you stopping her?"

"She is a native of this universe with special dispensation to come and go. You? Are not."

The Merchant turned away and spat, "Wasn't worth the trouble anyway."

Harshwhinny watched him go. "Good riddance."

Author's Note:

And now I can say I've written a Displaced story.

Comments

[Light Striker]

Yes. So very much yes.

[mastermenthe]

YES.

A DISPLACED STORY BY MY FAVORITE WRITER

MY LIFE IS COMPLETE

[Menelaus Redz]

Best displaced story I've ever read!

[Hopeful_Ink_Hoof]

That's hilariously brilliant.

[Themaskedferret]

You've written a Good displaced story even.

[conholeo]

Best displaced fiction I have ever read.
Also only one I finished

[Scygnus]

Mrs. Harshwhinny running interdimensional customs? I suspect even the Great Old Ones would decide to manifest somewhere else if it means going through her. Except Yog-Sothoth maybe- what little I know of Lovecraftian mythos seems to indicate it gets off on that kind of thing.

[Blue_Paladin42]

7889258
Oh dear god that is a ship fic in waiting.

[michaelb958]

Why can't I favourite/upvote again.

[Mare Imbrium]

I wish FiMfiction had a Ms. Harshwhinny.

[QueenMoriarty]

Thank you.

[Bugsydor]

Well it's not PoSiE, but I guess it'll do.

I would live to see you do a spin-off with Harshwhinney: Cosmic Customs Agent, though.

[cyberlord4444]

http://www.fimfiction.net/group/205425/displaced/thread/300866/the-merchant-gets-owned
I don't think I need to say more.

[Crescent Glaive]

Just because of this, have a like!

[Titan Commander Sebaste]

Okay, I'm teetering on outright laughing or being downright insulted at the Displaced being made fun of... Meh, what the heck.

[Thought Prism]

Really, man? Really? I started writing my version of this premise weeks ago, only as a well-planned out action thriller with multiple new characters and painstakingly choreographed fight scenes. Meanwhile, you probably threw this together in like 15 minutes and get like twice as much praise immediately. Not that it's unearned, of course.

*sigh* The life of an unpopular author is a difficult one.

[FanOfMostEverything]

7891930
For what it's worth, that's on my Read Later list now.

[Dusk Star Shine]

PERFECT, no Merchant in the convention, then no new displaced to be sent out to other Equestria's.

[Ultra-the-HedgeToaster]

"Wasn't worth the trouble anyway."

Yes. After all, the humans could've just walked right back through the portal.

[Aurora Dimmet]

7889576

... Has it been done yet? Because seriously.