> Trixie Lulamoon, the Multiversal Explorer! > by Gol D Colt > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Alright then, Miss Lulamoon. One last check up before you are ready for your first debriefing from Princess Twilight Sparkle,” said a grey unicorn stallion in a lab coat. “Trixie doesn't need anymore check ups. She was training for two whole years already. Trixie is ready,” huffed the azure unicorn mare while rolling her eyes. Trixie Lulamoon, once a showmare, decided that it paid better to work under Princess Twilight's newest project than desperately trying to bring viewers back to see her now disgraced shows. And after finding out what this project was about in her long and difficult training, she decided that she would prefer sleeping in the streets. The doctor meanwhile looked at Trixie with a deadpan expression. “Miss Lulamoon, multiversal travelling can be very hazardous to your health. You might end up in a third world Equestria where healthcare is very difficult. Or worse, you might also find yourself in a nuclear wasteland where it can cause radioactive poisoning in your body. Even just travelling can cause health hazards in the form of hyper-distance teleport stress. These health checks could prevent you from these hazards.” Trixie winced with every hazard the doctor mentioned and relented. “Fine, you win. Trixie will let you check her health,” Trixie huffed impatiently. The doctor nodded and proceeded on checking the wards surrounding Trixie and the device giving her the wards. Nodding and smiling with satisfaction, the doctor started to explain. “Now listen carefully and remember this, Miss Lulamoon. This ward-giving device is built to withstand contagious and fatal diseases, radiation and multiversal travelling stress, but the ward can get damaged every time they happen. Once the ward gets less than fifteen percent, the device will automatically send you back here. Do you understand?” Trixie looked bored and was busy making tiny illusions of herself fighting and defeating a dragon. When hearing the doctor's cough, she immediately dispelled her little illusion and looked at the unamused doctor with what Trixie hoped would be an innocent smile. “Er... you were saying?” The doctor stared unamused. “I asked if you have understood what I told you about the ward-giving device I gave you.” “I’m sorry, doctor. But everypony mollycoddled Trixie too much in these last two years. Trixie can manage to take care of herself, thank you very much. Trixie doesn’t need more warnings, she learned about the dangers during training,” she replied cockily. The doctor looked at her disbelievingly. “Miss Lulamoon, it is very important that you should understand everything I am telling you. This is your own health we are talking about! Surely after two consecutive years of training you should have known the importance of us medical experts helping you to prevent multiversal hazards,” scolded the doctor. Trixie looked insulted at the doctor’s scolding. “Of course Trixie knows the importance! She just doesn’t feel it necessary to keep treating her like a delicate foal.” The doctor looked dejected at his patient’s stubborn pride and his left forehoof found itself stuck on his face. “How can this total nitwit get qualified to work in this project?” he muttered miserably and got to repeat his explanation, while he also made absolutely sure that the azure imbecile in front of him was paying complete attention. *** Further up the crystal palace of the ruler of the newly independent Principality of Everfree Valley, was a laboratory. Inside the laboratory was full of advanced technology consisting of computers that could scan and read alternate universes, keep track of the multiversal explorer’s health and whereabouts and let the staff speak to the explorer, a multiversal teleport pad, tools needed for multiversal exploration, and the staff including multiverse scientists, mages from the Order of Starswirl and of course Princess Twilight Sparkle herself. The project took five consecutive years to complete and the staff, especially Twilight, were eager to start. All that was missing now was their explorer. Twilight trotted impatiently around the laboratory while waiting for their azure explorer. “Come on, Twilight. You have to be patient. Trixie will arrive soon, I know it,” assured a gangly dragon wearing a lab coat. Twilight looked at her now taller dragon assistant and spoke her mind. “I know, Spike. But we worked on this project for five whole years and we are at the point of starting it and we need Trixie to be here before we start it. I told her to be here at noon, it is already thirty past noon and yet she’s still not here! She. Is. Late!” Twilight said frustratingly. Spike opened his mouth to continue reassuring his sister figure when the door opened to let in a proud azure unicorn mare and a grey unicorn stallion. Trixie Lulamoon walked inside very slowly while the doctor behind her had his forehoof pressing his face in embarrassment. Spike was snickering while Twilight rolled her eyes on the display and said, “Okay, Trixie. You can stop walking in slow motion now.” Trixie looked dejected at that. “Aww, but Trixie wanted to give a dramatic entrance,” she whined. The doctor gave an exasperated sigh and looked at Twilight. “Your Highness, excuse me for being disrespectful and blunt, but can you please tell me how could that imbecile be qualified for this highly dangerous and advanced project?” Spike turned to Twilight. “Doctor Prescription has a point there, Twilight. How could Trixie be qualified for this project?” he pointedly asked. Twilight looked back at the conversation two years ago. *** Two years ago… “Erm… Trixie, are you even qualified to work with us in this project?” asked Twilight with her eyebrow raised. In front of her was Trixie Lulamoon, disgraced showmare and explorer hopeful. She also looked like she slept on the streets for weeks. Despite her unkempt appearance, she sniffed proudly and said, “Yes, Trixie is sure that she is qualified for this job. Trixie will prove it with this certificate.” Trixie gave Twilight her old looking certificate and Twilight took it. While Twilight was reading Trixie’s certificate, her eyes grew wide with surprise. “Trixie… I didn’t know that you took Master’s Degree on Magic! You don’t look it!” exclaimed Twilight. She checked the certificate for any forgery and fallacies, but found none. She put the certificate aside and looked at the smug look on the azure unicorn’s face. “Well, I guess you got the job now. Congratulations, Trixie. Now, tomorrow you may start your two year training. Good luck!” *** Present day… Twilight turned to Prescription and Spike and told them, “I can assure you, she is definitely qualified. I wouldn’t let anypony who are unqualified work with us in this project.” She turned to focus on Trixie, “Alright Trixie, now it is time for your debriefing before we start our Multiversal Exploration Project. What you need to know is that all universes are different. There can be worlds where we might not be ponies, we might be stallions instead of mares, Equestria might have never been founded, or you might even be married with lots and lots of foals.” Twilight snickered at Trixie’s repulsed look at the possibility of her bearing many foals and continued on her briefing, “The point is that you might gain some mental instability during multiversal exploration due to seeing so many changes. That is why every time you finish your exploration on a particular universe, you need to return here for your psychological check ups. The multiverse can be a scary place and can cause psychological breakdowns after too many explorations. While exploring an alternate universe, I want you to write down all the notes about that particular universe. And last but not least, always follow our orders! If we tell you to return immediately, do it. No questions asked. Our words will be final. Any questions?” Trixie thought for a moment before asking, “Trixie has one, how will Trixie communicate with you?” Twilight gestured at one of the computers. “Using this communicator, we might be able to communicate with you. We will also be using this computer to track your injected chip so we will know your status and where to find you. Any more questions?” At Trixie’s head shaking, Twilight clapped her hooves and started talking excitedly. “Okay then! Let’s get started!” Twilight led Trixie to the teleport pad with the members of the Order of Starswirl and started handing her more devices. “Now this device will let you speak to us. If we decide to communicate with you, you will hear this tone,” Twilight explained. She gestured at Spike to start calling Trixie’s device and Spike responded with a thumbs-up. He started operating the communicator and Trixie’s device started to give short repeated beeps. At Twilight’s gesture, Spike deactivated the call. “This device will also let you hop universes. You can use it to travel back in this lab. Now, if you are sure that you are ready, you may climb up this pad,” Twilight told Trixie. Trixie obliged. With Twilight’s nod, the unicorns from the Order started up their magic and pointed it towards the teleport pad. Twilight told Trixie her final words before Trixie started her exploration, “And remember, you will arrive at a random parallel universe, so your first universe might turn out to have large differences to our universe.” Immediately after Trixie’s nod of understanding, she disappeared to infinity and beyond. > Chapter 1: Blueblooded Herd > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the countryside hill near the peaceful village of Ponyville, a bright blue spark appeared. The spark grew into a blinding flash and in its place was Trixie. Trixie looked around her, felt herself and sniffed the air. Everything seemed normal. She looked downhill towards Ponyville and saw that the famous crystal tree palace of Everfree Valley was still in place. Was she really in a parallel universe? She turned on her communicator and started speaking through it. “This is Lulamoon to Princess Twilight. Everything seems normal here. Nothing seems to be different to our world. Over.” Twilight's face appeared on the communicator's little screen and said, “Well Trixie, only one way to find out. Start exploring. Over and out.” Twilight's face disappeared and Trixie found she is on her own now. “Well Trixie, you heard the princess. Guess Trixie should go there then,” Trixie said to herself. She walked down the hill and moved towards Ponyville. Nothing seemed quite out of the ordinary in the village, except that maybe it was a bit smaller than her universe's Ponyville. Okay, a lot smaller. Trixie had noticed that Ponyville in this universe was not a bustling city like back home. Which means that the Everfree Valley had not become independent from Equestria. Okay, so difference number one is that Ponyville is not a city here and that Everfree Valley might not be an independent country, thought Trixie. As she kept walking towards the village square, she bumped towards a blue coated Earth pony filly with red mane and tail. The filly seemed to be no older than ten and when Trixie looked at her, she saw that she looked like one of the Principality's Knights of Friendship and Harmony. She forgot what her name was but she decided that it would come to her. Meanwhile, the filly looked at Trixie with wide eyes, then gave a wide grin and started shaking Trixie's hoof with surprising strength for a filly. Earth pony. Go figure, Trixie thought. The filly started to talk very rapidly. “Hello! My name is Princess Blueberry Pie! Welcome to Ponyville!” the filly shouted excitedly. Trixie took her sore hoof back and rubbed it. Suddenly, a thought came at Trixie and said, “You're a princess?” Blueberry Pie nodded rapidly and said, “Yes, ma'am! My mama is Princess Pinkie Pie and my father is Prince Vladimir Blueblood! I am sure they would love to meet a new pony in town!” Trixie blanched. “Prince Blueblood married with Pinkie Pie?” she asked disbelievingly. I thought he already married Princess Twilight! Even Sparkle's pregnancy is public knowledge! she thought. The filly nodded again. “Ahuh! Along with my other herd mothers, Princesses Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle! We are one big royal family!” said Blueberry excitedly. Trixie gave a repulsed look. A herd of one stallion and six mares?! That's very sick! Good thing I'm not interested in any relationship, she thought grimly. She looked at Blueberry to see her looking back at Trixie. “Can you show me where your mothers and father live?” she asked the filly. Blueberry Pie smiled widely and jumped towards the palace while beckoning her to follow. Trixie obliged. *** Inside one of the bedrooms in the palace was dim lighting. All the curtains were closed and most of the dim light came from the few lit candles in the room. On the bed there were a few soft moans and marely giggles. The stench of hormones was thick inside. And the participants of nature's most pleasurable performance were talking to each other. “Oh Bluey. We had real fun here, didn't we?” spoke a lavender mare. A white coated blond stallion looked back at her and smiled. “Yes, my dear Twilight. We did. Although it did not have as much speed as Pinkamena's and Rainbow's or as wild as Applejack's and Rarity's,” Blueblood replied. He found himself kissing a pillow that Twilight whacked him with. “You really do love to compare having sex between all your wives, don't you?” Twilight scolded with a mock hurt voice. Blueblood removed the pillow from his face and looked at one of his wives with hungry, almost predatory eyes. “Then let us make it more pleasurable,” he replied with a mock growl and pounced on Twilight. Twilight yelped and laughed at her husband's tackle when a knock sounded on their door. “Mother, father. Blueberry came with a stranger with her. She said she want's you all to see her,” came a filly's voice. Blueblood and Twilight stopped at what they were doing and positioned themselves in a more dignified way. “Okay, Twila. You can go wait with your sisters, brothers and your other mothers. We will be there shortly,” called Blueblood. When they were sure that one of their daughters left, they got up and went towards Twilight's personal bathroom to get cleaned after their recent ‘Spring Fun’. After they washed themselves, they left the bedroom and walked towards the the Friendship Round Table chamber. What they saw was none other than Trixie Lulamoon. Twilight was confused to see the azure unicorn showmare standing there in front of her and the rest her herd. “Trixie, I thought yesterday you went on a week long tour in Cavallia. Why did you come back in Equestria so soon?” Twilight asked. “Yeah, you said that you will bring us souvenirs! How come I'm not seeing a miniature Leaning Tower of Ponysa? Or a Roaman helmet? Or one of their wines or olive oil or something else Cavallian?” asked Pinkie Pie furiously. Trixie looked at them and gulped. Okay, Trixie. This is where your training starts to come to practice. Deep breaths and explain calmly, thought Trixie. She took a deep calming breath and started to explain, “Well, you see, your... erm... highnesses?” At the herd's confused nods, Trixie continued, “Okay. You see, your highnesses, I am not your Trixie of this universe.” That sounded much better in my head than spoken, she thought grimly. The royal herd looked more confused at Trixie's pathetic explanation. “What do ya mean ‘not our Trixie of this universe’? What in tarnation are ya talkin' about?” asked Applejack. The others their heads in agreement and Trixie had to repeatedly knock her head to think of how she could explain to them better. Come on, Beatrix. You are the Great and Powerful Trixie for Harmony's sake! You can do better than this! Think, Trixie. Think think think! she thought. And she finally thought of something to prove. Turning on her communicator, she said, “Lulamoon to Princess Twilight. Do you copy? Over.” The herd, especially Twilight, were startled when they saw Twilight's face appearing on the communicator's screen and said, “I copy, Trixie. Do you have something of report? Over.” Trixie gave a smug grin when she saw the surprised faces of the royal herd. “Oh, Trixie has something, alright. Apparently, you and your five other friends all married to Prince Blueblood. Also, your principality is still a part of Equestria in this universe. Over,” Trixie said. The Twilight in the screen looked shocked at Trixie's description of the universe. “Bluey is even married with the rest of my friends? But... a stallion marrying more than three mares is illegal! How could he have married all six of us?!” Twilight exclaimed and Spike appeared next to her to calm her down. “Over,” Twilight finally said. Trixie shrugged. “Only one way to find out, your highness. Over and out,” she said and turned off the communicator. She looked at the staring ponies and turned on the stallion of the herd. “So, how did you manage to marry all six mares? Is it legal here to marry more than three mares?” Blueblood shook his head and said, “Before I begin answering your questions, what in the name of my aunt and grandmother was that?!” Trixie smugly showed him her communicator. “This is a product of the Principality of Everfree Valley's very advanced technology. It let's me speak to the princess back in my universe. Oh and that pony on the screen was Twilight Sparkle, by the way. Just not your Twilight Sparkle. Now, how about answering Trixie's questions?” Trixie replied. Blueblood scowled at Trixie's very disrespectful attitude, but with the looks from his wives he swallowed some of his pride and answered Trixie's questions. “For your last question, no it is still not legal for a stallion marrying more than three wives in a herd. And answering your first question, I married six mares because my grandmother told me to,” he told Trixie reluctantly. Trixie briefly imagined an aged mare version of the prince telling her grandson to marry six young mares. She shook her head to rid herself of bizarre thoughts and asked, “Your grandmother told you to marry six mares? Does she have enough power to do so?” Blueblood looked shocked at Trixie’s question. “If she could move the moon every dusk and dawn, then she has the power to make me marry as many mares as she likes,” he answered with a frown. Trixie was confused at Blueblood’s reasoning. ‘If she could move the moon every dusk and dawn’, he said? Who could be that pony that could do such— Oh dear Celestia, no! “Y-you don’t mean to tell me that… your grandmother is Princess Luna?!” Trixie exclaimed. The prince chuckled at Trixie’s shock, happy that the table had turned for once. “Not exactly immediately my grandmother, but she is directly my great-great-great-et cetera grandmother. And yes, she still has an old mentality of how ‘stallions should be the foal bringers of their herd as it is their only role on this world’ as she told me,” Blueblood explained. Trixie felt very uncomfortable on Luna’s antiquated herd mentality and decided that she saw and heard enough differences in this universe for now. “How about we stop this conversation and have a little party your daughter Blueberry Pie wanted to do for Trixie?” Blueberry beamed. “Yeah, let’s do it! Come on, Mama! Let us make a party!” the filly shouted excitedly. Pinkie joyfully agreed and they proceeded on planning Trixie’s ‘Welcome Trixie from another Universe! Hope you have a nice day!’ party. *** Mission Log #1. The universe that I have explored looks the same as the ‘home universe’. The only differences I have seen are that Ponyville is not a bustling city like back home, which means that Everfree Valley is not an independent principality ruled by Princess Twilight Sparkle in this universe. Other differences include the Knights of Friendship and Harmony are all married to Prince Blueblood, and they have a large herd. Before said prince and the native Twilight Sparkle came to the Round Table chamber, one of their foals, Twila I think her name was, said that her parents are doing something called ‘Spring Fun’ in their bedroom. I do not know if she knew what it meant, but when I thought about it, I stopped. No, I do not want to imagine what they were doing in their room. There were other less noticeable differences, such as Ponyville's mayor Ivory Scrolls had been ennobled as Baroness of Everfree Valley and Princess Celestia had gotten herself a foal named Solaris five years ago. The native Rarity mentioned that there was a grand nationwide feast during Solaris' day of birth. Internationally, nothing changed much, except that recently Hreinnland swallowed up half of Gryphonia when they were at war three years ago. I guess enmity between the cervids and the griffons hasn't changed between universes. Overall, I can say that my first exploration went well. Lulamoon out. *** Home Universe… Twilight looked up from Trixie's first mission log to address her multiversal explorer. Twilight smiled. “Well! Your first exploration went very smoothly and your psychiatrists had found no instabilities in your mental health. I am pleased to tell you that this project is a success,” said Twilight happily. Trixie raised her muzzle smugly at Twilight's compliment. “See? I told you that Trixie can handle this,” she replied cockily. Twilight sighed. “Trixie, you were very lucky that you have gotten yourself in a very safe universe. The next ones might not be easier. Just think of it like a videogame, the more universes you go, the more likely you will find yourself in a universe where it is difficult to survive.” “Trixie knows, your highness. And Trixie assures you that she is well aware of dangerous universes that Trixie may end up in,” Trixie reassured. Twilight still looked a little worried. “I hope you do. Now rest, Trixie. Tomorrow, you will continue your exploration to another universe.” > Chapter 2: Academy of Magic > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a peaceful and starry night in the cold snowy grounds near Auraria Academy of Magic. The place was dimly lit by the various lamps scattered throughout the castle grounds, along with the pale glow of the moon and the colourful light from the Aurora Borealis. The coniferous forest next the grounds was as dark and quiet as any forests during the night, the quiet broken only with the sounds of owls hooting. But the real attraction of the place was the castle itself. Built by a reindeer jarl centuries ago as a second home, it was a grand castle full of towers and turrets, pointy gothic-styled windows filled every wall of the castle in which showed life inside with warm light glowing from inside the castle. This grand castle, was none other than Auraria Academy of Magic, the greatest school of magic in history. And it was on the pathway to that castle that a bright spark appeared, and Trixie Lulamoon the Multiversal Explorer appeared in the spark's place. Trixie suddenly shivered due to the cold surrounding her. Quickly, she conjured her robe and wore it. Trixie felt warm just after she wrapped her robe around her. Good thing I had that cloak enchanted to keep me warm during the cold when I was travelling, Trixie thought, feeling relieved at the warmth coming from her cloak. She looked around her, noticing the frosty environment of her surroundings. When Trixie looked in front of her, she saw the magnificent castle. Intimidated at first by the castle's size she was, but decided to steel herself and walked determinedly to the castle. Surely the ruler of this place can't be as intimidating, Trixie thought and she felt calmer afterwards. As she walked, Trixie marveled at the beautiful sky above, the colours from the Northern Lights giving her ideas for her illusions. Her eyebrow raised in surprise when she could see no guards guarding the front door of the castle. She shrugged and pushed the doors with all her strength. Trixie frowned at that and tried pushing the doors again, but they wouldn't budge. Trixie growled and tried to kick them open. That only resulted in sharp pain on both her hind hooves. Gritting her teeth and nose flaring in fury, Trixie pounded the door. “Why can't you open, you stupid door!” she yelled furiously. Trixie searched the floor for anything that looked heavy to throw at the door. Eyeing a rock the size of her head, she smiled maniacally and levitated the rock. Once she started aiming to throw, the door suddenly opened, revealing an aged griffon hen. Trixie had to force herself to stop before she threw her rock at the griffon by accident. The griffon raised her eyebrow at the sheepish unicorn, who was currently putting the rock down and kicking it away. “Heh, sorry about that. Trixie wasn't going to throw a rock at you, she was trying to throw it at the door,” Trixie said. The griffon looked skeptical, the square rimmed glasses she wore making her look like a disappointed headmistress. “I see,” she said in a slight Equestrian Highlands accent, “Whatever were your intentions, the headmistress will still speak with you. Follow me.” Trixie followed the griffon past the doors and jumped when the doors shut themselves without the aid of anypony, or griffon. Trixie looked around her. The entrance hall was stunning. A large hall with many doors, a large staircase, reindeer suits of armour and banners depicting various crests such as a black sword-wielding griffon, a tree with a horse-shoe above it, a unicorn horn with three stars surrounding it, a winged cloud, a zebra art depicting the sun, a black horn with gossamer wings, and a reindeer head. The griffon coughed, reminding Trixie that she had to follow her to wherever the griffon is taking her. They walked for a few minutes, climbing long staircases up to five floors and Trixie getting startled from a suit of armour turning its head at her, until they reached an ornate door with a label saying that it led to the headmistress’ office. “You should wait in the the office now. The headmistress will be in there shortly,” the griffon said and she left Trixie alone in front of the office door. Feeling like a school filly in trouble, she opened the door and entered the office. The office inside was far more interesting than what she thought it would be like. It was a large room full of trinkets and devices that seemed to work on their own, many portraits of past headmasters and mistresses covered the walls inside. She noticed there were more portraits depicting reindeers than other races. A beep sounded under her cloak and Trixie got her communicator out. After pressing the button, an image of Princess Twilight appeared on the screen. “Trixie, is everything okay on your end? You didn’t speak with us. Over,” Twilight said with a concerned frown. Trixie waved her off, while giving the princess a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Princess. Trixie is only waiting in a headmistress’ office in some large school. Is all. Over” Twilight, though, looked far from reassured. “Headmistress off– Trixie, you do realise this means that you are in big trouble! Over.” “Pfft, come on. What would she do to Trixie? Trixie is not her student. Over,” Trixie said. Twilight looked worried and looked at her explorer with firm eyes. “I hope that you’re right. Now I expect you to get out of this situation as trouble free as possible. Otherwise, there will be problems in the future. Over and out,” Twilight said sternly and her face disappeared from the little screen. Trixie put the communicator back under her cloak and waited a while longer. She heard the office door open and turned around to see a lavender alicorn with a striped dark blue mane. Trixie was astonished to see Twilight Sparkle in a headmistress’ office, though she doesn’t look like the Twilight Sparkle she knows. She was physically larger than her universe’s Twilight, her mane and tail were ethereal and flowing, she did not wear any regalia and she wore a half moon rimmed glasses. And she didn’t look happy. In fact, she looked out right furious. “So, my deputy came by to tell me that a certain intruder entered the school grounds with no legal permission and decided it would be fun to try to vandalise the castle. And that certain intruder was none other than a blue unicorn with a silvery mane wearing a purple cloak. What do you have to say for yourself?” Twilight scornfully told Trixie. Trixie was taken aback on how intimidated she was feeling right now. “Uhh…” she lamely replied, but the headmistress had none of it. “One hundred and five years as headmistress of Auraria Academy of Magic and there was never any trespassing and attempted vandalism on this highly prestigious school until now. I am sorry to tell you this, but I have no choice but to transport you back to whichever country you came from and let your authorities punish you,” Twilight said angrily. Trixie thought of something quickly to avoid being punished in this universe’s version of Equestria. “Wait! Trixie was here by–” “Hold on,” Twilight interrupted, “The way you are speaking right now reminds of a certain mare, but she passed on more than a century ago. And you cannot be her descendant as all of them are students of this school. Who are you and why are you here?” Trixie was peeved at Twilight’s interruption but she explained nonetheless. “As Trixie was saying, Trixie was here by accident and she did not attempt any sort of vandalism on purpose. Well, okay, it was on purpose. But it was only to try to open that very stubborn front door!” she quickly added when she saw Twilight’s disapproving frown. “You only had to knock the door so a school staff member will open it for you as it will remain closed to anyone outside at night. But that doesn’t explain how you got here,” Twilight said. Trixie took a deep breath and sighed. “Okay, this is where it all starts to feel weird. Just don’t laugh.” Trixie explained that she was from another universe and she was a Multiversal Explorer working for Princess Twilight Sparkle of Everfree Valley and that she was travelling through multiple parallel and alternate universes and taking notes on the world of every different universes. She also explained about her home universe, mentioning that the region surrounding Ponyville and the Everfree Forest became an independent principality ruled by Princess Twilight Sparkle and her Knights of Friendship and Harmony. As she finished her explanation, she watched Twilight’s face for any reaction. Her reaction was not what Trixie expected. “Oh Celestia, is this really true?! A real, honest to Celestia multiversal travelling?! Oh, I always wanted to study different universes! How many did you explore?” Twilight asked Trixie excitedly with a slight squeal. Trixie strongly reminded herself that even though this was a more than a century old Twilight Sparkle, she was still a Twilight Sparkle. “Apart from this universe, just one. And it had Prince Blueblood having a herd with you and your circle of friends,” Trixie said. Twilight looked thoughtful. “Hmm, interesting. Although I did marry Bluey and had a foal with him, thinking that there is a universe where he, my first friends and I are a herd makes me think of how today, a century and a half later, would look like,” she said. Then she looked excited again, “Oh, if only we could discover at least a multiverse viewing spell, this would surely revolutionise magic! Multiversal magic was only accessible by Starswirl the Bearded himself!” Trixie nodded and gave off a large yawn. “Aaaaaauuuugh! That’s strange. It was only afternoon when Trixie arrived in this universe. She shouldn’t be sleepy,” she grumbled tiredly. Twilight looked at her clock on the wall. It read nine past twenty in the evening. “Well, it could be the effects of a different universe time on your biological clock, so that means you could never get any jet lag while multiversing. Tell you what, how about I show you a room you could stay for the night. Then tomorrow, I will show you around the school and tell you everything of my past hundred years,” Twilight offered. Trixie thought about it and nodded, as she felt like some spirit sprinkled sand on her eyes. Twilight walked past her, opened her office door and beckoned Trixie to follow her. They walked for a few minutes and stopped in front of a long disused looking door. Twilight opened the door, revealing an unoccupied office. She beckoned Trixie to follow her again and they reached another door inside the empty office. Twilight opened it and it revealed a small bedroom. “This is where you will stay for a night. It is not much, but I hope you will still be comfortable here. I will see you in the morning. Good night,” Twilight said and she closed the door. Trixie cast a warming spell inside the room and she took off her cloak. She levitated her communicator and turned it on. “Lulamoon to Princess Twilight. Trixie is feeling very sleepy right now and the headmistress offered her a room to sleep for a night. Over,” she spoke to the communicator. Her universe’s Twilight’s face appeared on the little screen of the communicator. “Feeling sleepy already? It has barely been more than an hour!” Twilight said to Trixie surprisedly. “The headmistress said something about the alternate universe’s daytime pattern affecting my biological clock, or something,” Trixie mumbled sleepily. Twilight looked thoughtful at that. “Hmm, that is something new. Though we have to be careful. With the multiverse’s daytime patterns affecting your biological clock that easily, it could be very dangerous,” Twilight said. Trixie yawned. “We’ll continue talking tomorrow. Trixie needs her... her... Aaaaauuuugh.... sleep now.” Twilight nodded. “Of course. Good night, Trixie,” she said with a smile and the communicator turned off. Trixie yawned again and climbed on her temporary bed. She dozed off and dreamed she was a travelling showmare again. That brought a smile and a tear on the Multiversal Explorer. *** The next day arrived with the sun rising above the horizon, although too low to be considered adequate for Trixie to awake. That didn’t stop Headmistress Twilight Sparkle to shake her awake. Trixie tried to push Twilight’s firm hoof away, mumbling what sounded like ‘five more minutes’ while turning her sleeping body in a more comfortable and warming position. Twilight frowned at that and decided to use a more effective waking up method. Her horn lit up and cooled a spot of air to condensation level. The spot she chose condensed into a cool ball of water moved it above Trixie’s head and let go. She bit her tongue to force herself not to laugh at Trixie’s startled jump and spluttering from the water falling on her. She scowled at the headmistress and grumbled, “Trixie sees that your joking character has not diminished after a hundred years.” Trixie looked at the bedside window and groaned. “It’s too early for Trixie to awake.” Twilight shook her head. “It is not early, Trixie. It is actually half past nine in the morning. The sun is very low here because this place has a tundra climate,” she explained. “You should start getting ready now. After your breakfast, I will give you a tour around the school.” The headmistress left Trixie alone in her temporary room while Trixie started to call upon her world. “Lulamoon to Princess Sparkle. Do you copy?” Trixie said to the communicator. The communicator took a while to respond. Trixie waited and whistled a bit for a minute until the communicator’s screen finally turned on. On the screen was a very sleepy looking Princess Twilight. “Trixie, it is two o'clock in the morning, you just woke me up and I was in the middle of a very nice dream about a seven-star book beach resort. What do you want this time?” Twilight grumbled very grouchily. Trixie scrunched her muzzle to stop herself from laughing at Twilight’s expense. “Sucks to be you, Princess,” she teased. Twilight gave her a look that told Trixie that she could and might give her a fate worse than death if she dares continue to tease. “The headmistress is going to give me a tour of the castle and tells me about her world.” Twilight yawned and said, “That’s fine, Trixie. Do whatever you will. And please, do not call me for the next four hours or so unless in the case of real emergencies. Goodbye.” The communicator screen turned off and Trixie is left alone again. *** After taking her breakfast, Trixie followed the headmistress out of the Great Hall and started showing her around the castle. Trixie noticed that the school’s teachers and students are racially mixed. They first stopped at a classroom on the first floor. The class had older looking students attempting to carve runes on books, giving them life of their own. There were three books which started to bite the students and the reindeer teacher in a frenzy. “This is the Enchantments class,” said Twilight as the teacher finally managed to disenchant the troublemaking books, “the students here learn how to make magic runes on everyday objects such as books, brooms, wooden boards, clothing, et cetera to give them more properties or to enhance them.” “So, it is like how Trixie’s cloak is enchanted to keep her warm at all times?” Trixie asked. “Yes, except that yours is unicorn enchantment. They work the same as enchantments with reindeer runes, but are weaker and more temporary than them. You usually recharge your enchantment after some time, don’t you?” asked the headmistress. Trixie felt a little miffed at Twilight’s suggestion that her enchantment was inferior. “Yes, Trixie recharges her enchantment every month,” she grumbled. Twilight proudly replied, “The rune enchantments are usually permanent. This school tries to teach students of all race every kind of magic which before was unavailable to them. Come on, let us go outside in the school grounds. There is another class that I like you to see.” Outside, they walked inside the nearby coniferous forest and reached a stone circle in a forest clearing where a robed Earth pony mare was teaching a class about Earth magic. “Is that a druidess?” Trixie whispered. Twilight nodded. “This is Harmony Bloom, a very respected priestess of a very ancient Earth pony religion and a master in Earth Magic. She teaches students of all race, be they unicorn, pegasus, Earth pony, zebra, changeling, griffon or reindeer, on how to create and use Earth Magic. Oh, look. She is about to show a pegasus how to use the magic,” she said and pointed at the class. Harmony Bloom showed the pegasus filly a small marked patch on the ground, she held the filly’s hoof over the patch, she whispered things to the filly, the filly nodded, closed her eyes in concentration and the spot her little hoof was touching glowed a faint green colour. The pegasus filly opened her eyes with a start, moved her hoof away and saw that a tropical looking flower bloomed on the marked spot. Trixie was astonished. “That flower shouldn’t have grown in this climate!” she exclaimed. Twilight giggled at Trixie’s astonishment. “That is the beauty of Earth Magic, everything can even grow in harsh conditions, provided you give it enough Earth Magic of course. Now come along, we have a tour to continue.” *** After their tour, Trixie and Headmistress Twilight stopped in the headmistress’ office. Trixie slumped on the pillow provided, tired of today’s events. If there was one thing that she had learned in this tour, it was that every kind of magic can be learned by anypony such as a unicorn learning Earth Magic, albeit less effective than if cast by an Earth pony and vice versa. Twilight sat on her pillow behind her desk and looked at Trixie bemusedly. “Trixie would like to go home now,” Trixie groaned tiredly. Twilight stood up. “Hold on for a moment, I will give you some gifts that you might find useful in your adventures,” she told Trixie and went upstairs to her room. After a few minutes, Twilight went back downstairs with many thick looking books levitated next to her. Trixie groaned at the sight of so many books. “Oh, cheer up, Trixie. These books are all about the magics that Auraria teaches and they could help you on your adventures. Or even your everyday life,” the headmistress said. Trixie looked at the heavy pile of books as if they had insulted her at some point. “Aren’t there the Beginners’ Guide for all of them?” she asked. Twilight’s brow was raised. “These are the Beginners’ Guide. And the Intermediate. And the Advanced. And you also have the Masters’ level books,” she replied deadpanned. Trixie gapped at her, shook her head and decided that they were all going to be given to Princess Twilight as souvenirs. Trixie gave a farewell salute to Headmistress Twilight, pressed the ‘return home’ code on the world-hopping device and she and the books disappeared with a flash. Twilight kept staring at the spot where Trixie was. She stood up and walked to the office window. The sun was just above the horizon by the time their tour ended, even if it was only three o’clock in the afternoon. The headmistress looked at the sunlit horizon and muttered under her breath, “Multiversal travelling. Now that is a magic I would love to study and try one day.”