> Vámonos, Equestrian Exploradora!
>  by Autum Breeze
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
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Vámonos, Equestrian Exploradora... IWant Outta This!



 



Prologue



 



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I walk passed the memorial statue and stop by the bus stop, sling my bag off my back and put it and my shopping bags down by my feet and stretch.

Man, that was a good day. I glance down at my shopping bags, specifically the ones holding my new Pokéball Plus to go with the Nintendo Switch and Pokémon Shield currently in my backpack.

Despite being hesitant to buy the new console due to its steep price and the rumors the game is actually bad, the game literally being the only reason I’d have to buy the Switch, I’ve given in a bought them.

Of course, yesterday being Black Friday certainly helped push that decision, since the Switch and game were far less expensive that day than they would be any other day.

Of course, I still ended paying more since, even at its cheapest; the Pokéball Plus was another $59, which did not please me considering it had already cost me over $300 for the Switch and game, not to mention $29.95 for the Switch Membership.

I sigh. I’m honestly starting to wonder if it’s all worth it.

One things for sure, I’m not buying the Let’s Go games to get the special G-Max Pikachu and Eevee in game. I’ll just get copies on loan from my local library. I shouldn’t need to play more than a few seconds, a couple minutes tops, of the games for the save data to count, right?

Opening my bag, I pull out my Switch and turn it on, intending to see if I can at least send Mew in without needing the internet to connect first.

“Hand over that Switch and whatever else you have of value and you won’t get hurt.”

I’m pulled from my inner thoughts and turn to see some guy in a black hood and pants standing there.

I glance around, realizing no one is walking close by, so likely haven’t noticed this.

“Are you serious?” I ask, annoyed.

I literally was finally able to relax for the first time since I heard about the Black Friday sales. All week I’d been anxious, going back and forth in my head whether or not to finally get the Switch and Shield since they’d be so cheap compared to normal, to the point it was driving me crazy.

Then, once I get them, I learn I need to buy more stuff just to use the online features AND that if I wanted Mew at all, I’d need to buy the Pokéball Plus, since there would be no Mystery Gift of it, at least not for a while, and I’d wanted Mew right from the beginning of the game, so I’d been running around the City and going by bus after bus, searching every gaming store I knew and regularly frequented just to see who had the better deals, all the while worried I’d be too late and they’d be sold out.

And now, finally, when I have everything at long last and thought I could actually relax, this asshole just walks up to me and expects me to let him mug me, bringing all my negativity back in full force? Is he fucking serious!

He nods. “If you don’t want to get hurt, you’ll do as I say.”

I look him over. The hoodie isn’t very big and hugs his body pretty well, as do his pants. It doesn’t look like he’s concealing a weapon, as they’d show up pretty well, but, then again, I could be wrong.

“I’d really advise against that,” I say calmly, though am unable to hide my annoyance from my tone. I’m really not in the best mood for this.

“No, I’d advise you not to resist and just had over that Switch and anything else you have of value,” he says and I feel a small glimmer of vindictive joy at the annoyance now in his tone. “You don’t know what I can do to you and you don’t wanna know.”

My annoyance turns into an outright glare. “Okay. How about no?!”

His mouth twitches. Clearly he thought this would go faster, assuming that, just because I’m a Pokémon fan, I must be a pushover and would cower at the first signs of danger.

Bad news for him, as, when I’m angered, I become a hard ass that made my parents so worried, they pulled me out of my first high school and put me in a better one because they were scared, if pushed too far, I’d actually put someone in the hospital or worse.

And he already caught me on a day where I was in a bad mood.

I indicate around us, specifically the stores and cafes across the street and the cars that were starting to drive passed now the traffic lights were green.

“You really didn’t think this through too well, huh?” I say sternly. “You do understand the number of witnesses that will see what you’re doing, right? All I have to do is get their attention and it’s all over for you.”

He snorts. “Please. Do you know how long it would take for the police to get through the traffic to get here specifically?”

Well, yeah. Target’s not too far off and one of several of the police stations here in the city is less than a five minute walk. Does this guy not understand basic geography?

Besides, just because it would take the police time doesn’t mean certain witnesses wouldn’t hurry over to try and help me. He really doesn’t get it, does he?

Looking him over, he seems pretty normal. He doesn’t seem like he’s a homeless guy trying to steal some spare cash, just some asshole who thought he could take advantage of someone he assumed was a helpless otaku.

“So, what’s it gonna be?” he asks, reaching into his hoodie’s side pocket, clearly thinking my wearing glasses means my eyesight isn’t good enough to tell there’s nothing actually in there. “You gonna give me your stuff, or do I have to hurt you first?”

“I have a better idea,” I say, leaning down, putting my Switch back instead my bag and reaching into it, “how about I don’t AND YOU FUCK OFF!”

I yank upwards, swinging a 1.25L bottle of Pepsi I’d bought, holding its top end in my hands while using the rest like a blunt weapon.

Sure, water or any liquid doesn’t sound like it would be all that painful if it hits you, and you’d be right. Unless there’s a lot of pressure behind it, liquid hitting you isn’t a big deal; it just splashes you and gets you wet. No biggie.

But, when a liquid is held in a casing and that casing is slammed into you with enough force, believe me, it hurts. Learned that the hard way when a two litre bottle had fallen off a shelf and hit me in the head. I’d almost blacked out.

The guy quickly backs away as I swing the bottle like a manic.

“You picked the wrong guy to fucking mess with, asshole!” I rush him, ready to beat the living tar of the guy, who’s face shows he’s realized how much he screwed up. He probably thinks I’m a psycho. 

However, just as I lunge forward, intent on giving this guy a lesson and beating his won’t soon forget, my shoe catches on a piece of the pavement jutting out and I feel myself falling.

I blink, before feeling confused. Why am I still falling? I feel like I should’ve hit the ground by now and this guy should’ve been all over me.

I blink again as I realize… the guy’s gone. In fact, everywhere is gone.

Looking around, everything is blue… cartoonish blue— and why is the wind blowing so strongly against my face?

Glancing down, my eyes widen in panic and I scream, my voice far higher pitch than I know it should be.

I’m hundreds, if not thousands of feet in the air and I’m falling, fast.

The ground is far off, but it’s coming closer pretty damn fast.

“Ayúdenme!” I scream, before my face goes blank. The heck? Did I just shout “Help me” in Spanish. The fuck would I do that?

Suddenly, I feel a heat in my pocket and reach down, taking note my shorts have changed from khaki shorts to simple brown ones and… my skin is tanned?

I shake my head. I can worry about skin care later. I need to figure out what to do before I go splat! 

In my pocket I feel my hand wrap around an uneven shape. Pulling it out… I blink in confusion. It’s a pink crystal? This is making less sense by the second.

“Help!” I scream, holding my arms up as if it will somehow save me as the ground is mere second away from embracing me.

I brace myself, shutting my eyes, hoping it will be quick.

I wait… and wait… um… shouldn’t I have gone splat by now?

Slowly opening my eyes, I see my face is mere inches from the ground… but I’m not meeting said ground.

A warmth in my me makes me glance up at my hand. The crystal is glowing.

I blink, glancing around. I seem to be out in some kind of meadow… though I don’t know where I am aside from in some cartoon world.

I look to the pink crystal, feeling like it’s why I stopped falling.  and smile, heaving a deep sigh. “Phew. Muchas gracias, cristal…” I frown. Okay, this is getting weird. “Um, can you put me down?”

Without warning, I drop, being able to catch myself by putting my free out to stop my face meeting the ground.

I stand up, finally able to take a moment to think… before my face blanks. I feel… different. Namely there is something missing down below and I’m kinda panicking that it’s just gone.

“Okay. Okay. Calma. Calma… I’d be able to be calm a lot easier if I’d stop fucking speaking Spanish without warning!” I yell, grabbing my head and wringing my hair.

I take a few deep breathes, trying to think. Okay. So, some guy tries to mug me, I trip… and suddenly I’m a girl, Hispanic I’m guessing and falling through a cartoon sky.

“I… don’t suppose you can tell me where I am?” I ask, holding the crystal in both hands.

It glows, an image appearing before that… causes more confusion. It looks like a bird’s eye view of me going out wider, but all I see are meadow, meadow and more meadow.

I sigh, before frowning, putting my hand to my throat. “Well, can you show me what I look like at least? I need to check something.”

That something being I think I recognize my voice now and the brown shorts, pink shirt and orangey-brown shoes with frilly yellow socks are definitely a giveaway, but I need to be 100% sure here.

The crystal glows and a mirror appear on the ground, giving me a view of myself. “Gracias,” I say, before wincing and move over, looking into my reflection.

The face that looks back is not my own, but that of Dora Marquez from Dora the Explorer. That definitely explains the voice, as it seems to be the more current voice for Dora.

I step back, taking a shuddering breath.

“Okay,” I say slowly. “That explains the random Spanish. It does not, however, explain how it happened or where in the bloody world I am, but it isn’t either Dora’s world.” By that I mean I’m not in the ordinary Dora the Explorer world, Dora’s Explorer Girls’ world or Dora and Friends’ world.

I sigh, looking to my back and am  surprised to not see Backpack there.

I cock an eyebrow. “Huh. Was honestly expecting to see Backpack here. Damn. I was kinda hoping she’d be there so we could ask Map directions.”

Glancing around, I sigh, before noticing there’s a cord around the crystal, like if I was going to wear it. “Wait. This is the Wishing Crystal. But, didn’t Dora give that away during her Birthday Adventure? And shouldn’t my voice be the one from back then, not the current one?”

I put a hand to my head. This is too much to take in all at once. I need rest before I can really think properly.

Putting the crystal around my neck, I blink, before frowning. “I wish I was back home and normal again?”

Nothing.

I sigh. “Well, it was worth a try. And it’s not like I’ll learn anything just standing around here.  Vámonos, I guess.”

I start to walk, before something slams into me, knocking me back.

I fall to the ground, bracing myself with my arms.

Pushing myself up, I look back to see… Starlight Glimmer.

Okay. Starlight means I’m in Equestria. That opens a whole other can of worms of questions, but I can at least work with that. 

“Sorry,” Starlight says, holding out a hoof… before raising an eyebrow. “Um, what in Equestria are you?”

“No estoy segura,” I shake my head.

She just stares back at me. “Huh?”

I shaky my head, lifting my hand to take her offered hoof, before I freeze in place. Starlight’s mane.

Season five mane. Season five mane! My eyes are wide with panic. This is Starlight from before the season five finale. Shit. Not good. Not good at all.

“What’s wrong?” Starlight takes a step back, my expression clearly worrying her and she looks behind herself, maybe thinking I see something.

I run. I don’t say anything. I just launch myself up and run in the opposite direction.

I dunno why I’m in Equestria, I’m currently in the body of a either seven or eight year old and I doubt I can defend myself against pre-season five finale Starlight unless I actually knew how to use this crystal.

“Huh? Hey, wait a second!” her voice calls from behind me.

Not a chance, Glim Glam. Sure, I like your character nowadays, but that’s not the current you.

There’s a flash and I skid to a halt as Starlight is now in front of me.

She looks to me with concern and a slight bit of annoyance. “Hey. It’s rude to just run off on somepony like that. What’s wrong? I can tell something’s scared you… whatever you are.”

I gotta get outta here. I gotta get outta here!

Suddenly, I feel a warmth around my neck that’s spreads throughout my body and there’s a blinding flash.

Blinking, as stop running as I try to get my eyes to readjust… only to be met by the eyes of none other than Twilight Sparkle, who is standing by a book shelf in what is clearly her castle, a book she must have been about the to put on the shelf hovering in place.

I grin sheepishly, shrugging. “Um… Hola?”
> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 1



 



 



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We both remain still, eyes locked on each other, one in uncertainty, the other in confused bewilderment.

“I… you… how did you get in here?” the equine gives a quick look around, as if expecting to see some way a human just randomly appeared in her library… which as guess the human part is more she’d be focusing on, since her concepts of a human coming to Equestria would be through the portal, changing form upon entering…

I blink, quickly glancing around for the mirror and spot it… but it’s technically closer to Twilight, so I’ve no chance of escaping this confusion through there.

“I… um…” I say, grinning nervously, before standing straight and giving a small wave. “Hola. Soy dora. I don’t know how I’m here, so… Eso ayuda?” I blink, before shaking my head. “Does that help? Does that help, is what I meant to say!”

The Princess of Friendship just cocks an eyebrow at me, looking me over for several moments, before her eyes lock onto the crystal around my neck. “Where did you get that crystal?” 

I glance down at it. “Honest answer?” I shrug, shaking my head. “No sé.”

She keeps her eyebrow raised. “Obviously you’re not from this world,” she glances at the mirror, “though clearly not from Sunset’s, either, or you would not look like that.”

“Yeah,” I hold up my hands, looking at them, “that bit has me confused too.”

She walks over, studying me. “Fascinating. I’ve never been able to study a human in Equestria before. The portal won’t let it happen. But that crystal…”

I take the crystal in my hands. “It’s supposed to be the Wishing Crystal.”

She looks confused. “Supposed to be?”

I sigh, letting it drop back onto my chest. “It’s a long story… or not, I guess, depending on how you look at it, but…” I sigh, slumping. “Solo quiero ir a casa.”

She rubs her chin. “Then, you come from Stirrupain, but don’t know how you got from there to here.”

I open my mouth to answer, before my brain catches what she said. Stirrupain? Is that seriously what Spain is called here in the MLP world? Ugh. The horse puns sometimes.

“No,” I shake my head. “I’m not even from your world. I…” I rub my head, frowning, “honestly don’t know how I got here. I tripped in my world and then I’m just suddenly like this and in your world. It doesn’t make any sense. No tiene sentido en absoluto.”

She continues to rub her chin. “Well, that crystal is clearly a powerful magical artefact. If we can figure out how you got it, we might get some answers…” She grins sheepishly. “Oh, I wish I could just stop and drop everything and research this, but I can’t.”

I blink, looking at her in surprise. Twilight, not dropping something to do research? Am I talking to a Changeling?

“Who are you and what have you done with Twilight Sparkle?” I ask, giving her a disbelieving look.

She sighs. “If not for the Friendship Festival next week, I would try to help you, Dora.”

I shake my head. “Oh, no. Mi nombre no es realmente Dora. That’s just who I’ve been turned into. My real name is lch-bh-ba.” I blink. “Uh… let me try that again. My name is lch-bh-ba.”

My eyes go wide with panic, something that does not go unnoticed by Twilight.

“Dora, what’s wrong?” she asks, reaching out a hoof to put on my shoulder.

I whirl around, hands on my head. “I can’t say my real name! No puedo decir mi nombre! No puedo decir mi nombre!”

How? Why? Why can’t I say my own name?!

Wait a minute.

I blink, before screaming, “Cuál es mi nombre?!”

“DORA!”

I wince, my ear none too happy to be in such close range to the Canterlot Voice. Turning back around, I see Twilight giving me a firm, but gentle expression.

She walks over, putting a hoof on my shoulder. “I understand that you’re worried. I can’t say entirely what about, as I’m not as fluent in Stirrupain as I probably should be, considering I’m a princess and you keep slipping into that. However, I promise, once the festival is over, I will do everything I can to help you figure this all out. But, I can’t do that if you don’t talk to me. Deal?”

I stare her, feeling like I might go into another panic attack as I start remembering I can’t remember my own name, but I take a deep breath and let it out, before looking to her and nodding. “Ok Crepúsculo.”

She gives me an odd look. “Are you doing that intentionally, now you know I can’t fully understand it, or…?”

I blink, before shaking my head, waving my hands. “Oh, no. I swear, I don’t control that. Simplemente sucede al azar.” I blink again, then roll my eyes. “How ironic that happens as I’m saying “It just happens randomly”.”

“Okay, Twilight,” another voice calls and I realize we both forgot Twilight isn’t the only one who lives in this castle. “I found those books you wanted. They were in storage and…”

The purple dragon pauses in the doorway of the library, three brown books held in his arms as he looks at the two of us, specifically me.

He looks from me to Twilight and back, before cocking an eyebrow. “Somepony wanna explain how a human from Sunset’s world is here and still human?”

“Lo intentaré…” I sigh. “But I dunno how much it’ll help.”






 



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“Quite interesting,” Rarity says as she walks around me, making me feel very self-conscious.

Twilight, after we’d done our best to explain things to Spike, had snuck me over here to Rarity’s. She’d teleported us close to the boutique to avoid the preying eyes of ponies, but had asked before coming inside.

Twilight nods. “If not for the fact the princesses really need my help with the festival, I could probably figure things out and get Dora home. But, since it will have to wait, she’ll need some other clothes for her time here in Equestria. Can you help her, Rarity?”

“Hmm,” the fashionista says, standing in place and eyeing me up and down, causing me to look away. “I don’t normally do too many designs for anthropomorphic creatures aside from Spike, but…” She nods, smiling. “Yes. Yes, I think I can make her something wonderful.”

Twilight nods. “Good. Then, can you please watch her for the rest of the day. I need to finish up in my library before heading for Canterlot.”

Rarity nods. “Of course, darling. I’m certain Coco and Sassy Saddles can handle things until I get there. We do have several weeks, after all.”

I blink, that finally catching up to me. Starlight hasn’t been reformed yet, but the Friendship Festival from the movie is happening in two weeks?

Unless somehow the events of the finale and the next two seasons are gonna happen within that time, that’s not matching the timeline I know at all… though, thinking about it like that, it will explain why the Storm King’s forces could so easily take Canterlot. With the no reformed Starlight, no alliance with the Changeling Kingdom and no Pillars free from limbo to make it confusing how easily Canterlot was conquered, it makes more sense.

Still, I look to Twilight and Spike as they turn to leave. “Espere!”

The two pause, glancing back at me. They likely didn’t understand me, but at least it still has the intended effect.

“Um, Twilight, about this Friendship Festival,” I say, fiddling with my fingers.

She blinks, before smiling. “Don’t worry, Dora. You’re more than welcome to come too.”

“Oh, no, it’s not that,” I look up, holding up my hands. “I can’t…” I have to focus so I don’t’ start speaking Spanish here, “will you have lots of security around? Like, the Royal Guards will be there?”

Spike cocks an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t they?”

I look away. “Um… no reason. Just… checking.”

Twilight watches me for a moment, before smiling warmly. “Don’t worry, Dora. As long as you’re in our world, you are a guest. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

With that, the two exit, leaving me alone with Rarity.

“Now,” Rarity levitates a measuring tape over and starts getting my numbers. “How old exactly are you?”

“Um… I think I’m eight?” I say. “Well, this isn’t my real body, so I don’t know my physical age anymore,” I reply to the raised eyebrow.

“Hmm,” Rarity does a few more measurements. “Yes. Yes, I think I have an idea.”

“Rarity!” a voice calls and we both turn as Sweetie Belle comes down the stairs. “I’m off to meet the Crusaders for…”

She pauses at the bottom of the stairs, looking at the two of us.

I’m looking back, specifically at the Cutie Mark adorning her flank.

So, I’m not far enough into season five that the finale’s events have happened, but I am far enough in that the CMC already have their Cutie Marks?

Then again, I just found out the movie’s events are happening in two weeks, even though we’re not passed season five. I can’t trust anything about the timeline right now without looking into things.

“Who… what’re you?” Sweetie Belle asks, very perplexed.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity chides, causing as both to wilt. Why the heck I’m I acting like I’m being told off? The fuck? “That’s very rude. This is Dora. She’s here for some new clothes.”

“Oh. Okay.” She looks apologetically at me. “Sorry.”

I blink, shaking my head, smiling. “No hay problema, Sweetie Belle. It’s okay,” I add to her confused look.

“Well, I gotta go. It was nice meeting you, Miss Dora,” she calls, hurrying out the door.

I frown, folding my arms. “Miss? I’m probably only a little younger than she is thanks to this body.”

Rarity giggles. “Shall we move on?”

I nod, moving to follow her.

“By the way, Dora,” she says as several rolls of fabric levitate over in her magic, “that is quite the lovely bracelet.”

I glance down at my left wrist at the bracelet there. Makes sense I’d have Dora’s bracelet when I’m wearing her other… Wait a minute. “Esta no es la pulsera correcta!”

“Pardon?” Rarity looks puzzled, if a little concerned.

“This isn’t the right bracelet!” I say, holding up my wrist for her to see. “The beads are supposed to be yellow and the charm is meant to be a flower, not silver beads with a… mermaid charm?”

I blink. Wait. No… no way.

“Is something wrong, Dora?” Rarity seems uncertain.

I nod, frowning down at the bracelet. “Let me try something.” I hold my arm up in the arm. “Transform!” Nothing happens. I blink, shaking my head. “Transformar-se!”

At once, the bracelet glows and I’m lifted into the air, to which Rarity gasps.

I hairband made of yellow beads with a star at the end appear in my hair. Sparkles of magic flow down my body and over my legs, them and my shorts vanishing as they change into a green mermaid’s tail, with yellow frilly fins where my waist meets the tail and large red fins at the end of my tail.

I’m gently lowered down onto the floor.

Rarity just stares, mouth agape. “I… but you… WAAAAH?!” She says in a very un-Rarity like manner.

I can’t help giggling at her reaction, before looking down at my new tail, flicking it a few times. This feels very odd… but not in a bad way.

Shaking my head, I hold the bracelet up again. “Transformar-se!”

The same happens, only this time in reverse and I land back on the floor on my feet.

“Well, that clears that up,” I say, holding my wrist out to examine the bracelet. “Dunno why, but the Mermaid Necklace got turned into a bracelet. Guess I’ll figure out why later.”

This does mean I might be able to set a few things in motion that will prevent the Storm King from invading Canterlot. Maybe some good can come out of this mess after all.

“Well, you can explain yourself while we work,” Rarity says, ushering me back over to her work station. “Time we got you some new attire.”
> Chapter 2
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Chapter 2



 



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“I’m telling you, it’s been pretty hectic in the Crystal Empire with the plans for the Friendship Festival happening in Canterlot,” Shining Armour said as he walked alongside Fluttershy and Applejack. “Cadance has been so busy, I’ve been having to take on more of the responsibilities.”

“It’s a shame ya just missed Twilight by half an hour,” Applejack said, shaking her head. “Guessin’ this was the first break ya’ve had?”

“In a week? Yes,” Shining nodded, seeming a little dejected, but smiling none the less. “Of course, I do wish Cadance would take it easy.”

The farm mare chuckled. “Who’s the one havin’ the foal again? Shinin’, Cadance will be fine. It’s only been three months. There’s still eight ta go. She ain’t even showin’ yet.”

“I know, I know,” the stallion shook his head, sighing. “I guess I’m just worried. I mean, do you think I’m going to be a good father? Like, in all honesty?”

“I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful father, Shining Armour,” Fluttershy encouraged as they reach Carousel Boutique and she knocked.

“Come in~” Rarity called in a sing-song voice.

The three entered, glancing around to see Rarity wasn’t in the main room.

“Rarity?” Applejack called as she glanced around, an eyebrow raised.

“Just a minute,” came the unicorn’s reply from the other room. “Oh, darling, stop blushing. You look adorable.”

“I… I agree with you,” an uncertain voice none of them recognized said. “I’m just not sure how I feel about that.”

“Nonsense, darling. You look wonderful,” Rarity said reassuringly, her voice getting louder as the sound of hooftsteps started towards them.

Shining Armour cocked an eyebrow, before whispering to Applejack. “Is it just me, or do I only hear six sets of hoofsteps?”

Applejack frowned. He was right. If Rarity were serving another pony, they’d be hearing the sound of eight hooves trotting against the floor, but they could only hear six. Was Rarity serving a creature that only walked on two legs?

The questions were answered when Rarity stepped out through the door to her back room, before turning back and ushering her customer out to join them.

They definitely were not what any of them were expecting.

It was a female, that they could at least tell, but so much else didn’t add up.

She stood on two legs, but her face was flat and she had no fur. Her skin was a tanned colour, her eyes were brown, while her mane was dark brown.

She was wearing a dark-pink dress with light-pink frills down the bottom over a white shirt. On her feet she wore purple flat shoes.

Applejack noticed around her neck she was a pink crystal on a blue ribbon-cord and, on her wrist, there was a small bracelet with silver beads and an odd creature with a fish tail.

The moment she caught sight of the three ponies her face went bright red and she bent her head down.

“Oh, now, don’t be shy,” Rarity said soothingly to the girl. “These are just my friends I was telling you about earlier. Oh. And Twilight’s brother too. Well, this is quite the nice surprise, Shining Armour. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Well, honestly, I came to see Twily, but missed her,” the stallion grinned sheepishly. He then looked to the odd creature standing next to Rarity, who looked like she was doing everything she could to just disappear without moving. “So, who’s this young mare? Urm, I mean… I don’t know what she is, so don’t know what a female of her kind is called,” he whispered to the other white unicorn.

Rarity gave a light chuckle. “Oh, yes. Well, her speices aren’t normally in Equestria, so I’m not surprised. Go on,” she nudged the girl a little with a hoof. “Introduce yourself.”

The creature stepped forward at the nudge and remained silent for several moments, before gulping. “Hola. Soy dora.”








 



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Damn it, I feel so weird. Rarity and I have just spent what I would guess was two or three hours with her making outfits for me to try on and then having me do a little modelling for her to see how well they look.

She says I look adorable in all of them and, the scary thing is, not only do I agree with her… I feel happy about it.

Like, I feel weird wearing these dresses and what not, but it also feels… normal. Kinda like how I felt when I changed into a mermaid when testing the bracelet. It feels different… but not bad.

But while I could reason with myself about the mermaid thing, this just feels like I shouldn’t feel this way.

I’m not actually Dora, for crying out loud, so why must I feel okay in her body all fancied up? It’s disturbing a thought process and I’m not sure I wanna know where it’s going.

And now I’ve got Applejack, Fluttershy and even Shining Armour seeing me like this.

After standing in this new dress Rarity made me, with the stallion and two mares staring curiously at me for what feels like hours, I finally pluck up the courage and speak, saying the first thing that comes to mind.

“Hola. Soy dora.”

Seriously, brain? Are you just fucking with me because you find it fun?

“Well, howdy there, Miss Dora,” Applejack says happily, stepping forward and tipping her head. “It’s a pleasure t’ meet ya. So, what brings ya t’ Ponyville.”

I glance down briefly at the Wishing Crystal, but don’t say anything.

Rarity decides to explain for me and, by the end of her telling of my story, I find myself being smothered by a butter-yellow Pegasus as we sit at Rarity’s dining room table… and I’m not sure if I’m not happy for the smothering.

“So, Twily wasn’t able to find out what sent this poor girl here?” Shining asks, looking to Rarity, who shakes her head.

“The timing couldn’t have been worse. If not for the Friendship Festival, she’d have been happy to drop everything to help Dora here.”

I sigh, managing to extract myself from the comfiness that is Fluttershy, despite my body’s protests to leaving the warmth. “I just found myself in your world. No idea how. That alone would be hard enough to deal with, but…” I lift a hand, looking down at it. “As Dora, an eight year old little girl. Mucho más estresante.”

“She really does just randomly do that, huh?” Applejack glances at Rarity, who nods.

“She says it’s something to do with how her body works… and I honestly believe her. Dora seems genuinely annoyed whenever she’s trying to say something, then slips into Equespanol, since she then has to repeat herself, making sure to speak Ponish.”

I glance at Rarity, deadpan. The pony puns just keep getting more groan inducing, it seems.

“So, will you be bringing Dora to the Friendship Festival?” Fluttershy asks, looking to Rarity.

She nods firmly. “Well, of course I am. It would be highly rude, and frankly cruel, to not bring her along to join in with what’s happened to her.”

“Wish I could go myself,” Shining sighs. “But, the royal duties of a prince come first. Being a royal delegate can be dull, but it’s needed since Equestria and Yakyakistan have made a new alliance, we’re going to have to keep things simple for a bit.”

I blink. Wait a minute. Shining’s Prince of the Crystal Empire. That could work. And anything to keep me from worrying about why I ended up here, as Dora and don’t mind dressing up while in her body.

“Wait. Shining Armour, could you help me with something?” I ask, standing up.

That causes Fluttershy to pull back as all four give me odd looks.

“Uh, no offense t’ Shinin’, but what makes ya think he’ll be able to help ya figure out how t’ get home any better than Twilight could?” Applejack gives me a puzzled eyebrow.

“I… well, no, I meant… ” Suddenly, inspiration strikes. “Necesitamos invitar a los hipogrifos!”

Confused looks are all I receive.

I deadpan. Thanks for the bad timing on the Spanish there, brain. Yeesh.

“We need to invite the hippogriffs,” I repeat myself, being sure to make sure I speak English this time.

“Told you,” Rarity says, before looking confused again. “Wait, the who?”

Shining looks puzzled. “Hippogriffs? Are their kind even still around? I thought they went extinct before the Empire disappeared.”

I inwardly cringe. Damn. Either Shining had a more sheltered life in Canterlot than the show suggested, or Celestia is really dropping the ball on keeping interspecies relations open…

My inward cringe turns into inward deadpan. I’ve seen seasons eight and nine. I know damn well Celestia dropped the ball on interspecies relations, since it was Twilight and the other who had to clean that mess up. Party Pooped, anyone?

“How do you know the hippogriffs are even still around, Dora?” Fluttershy asks, looking quite puzzled. “If you only came to our world a few hours ago, you couldn’t know about a species even we didn’t know about. And what are we inviting them to?”

Again, Celestia, you dropped the ball, big time. “The Friendship Festival.”

Wait. Shit! Yeah, how do I explain that? I just let slip I know a species in their world apparently even they didn’t know still exists until now. How do I just wave that off? It’s not like I’ve a magic crystal that just…

I blink, glancing down at my neck and have to resist smacking myself on the head for being so dumb. Just hope the crystal will play along.

“My Wishing Crystal,” I hold it up in both hands. “It can show you things. Like the hippogriffs… I wish,” I mutter, subtly crossing my fingers.

Thankfully, luck seems to be on my side as the crystal glows, before an image of the Sea Ponies appears within its surface.

“Uh, I don’t mean to make you feel bad, Dora, but those aren’t hippogriffs,” Shining points at the image as several little ones spin by in a school. “I… don’t even know what those are.”

“Esos son ponis marinos. Those are Sea Ponies,” I say after realizing I spoke Spanish again. “The hippogriffs have a magic pearl that lets them change into aquatic versions of their species.” Huh. That’s an odd coincidence, now that I think about it.

“So… how’re we supposed to invite them?” Applejack looks to me sceptically. “None o’ us can exactly breathe underwater.”

“Oh. Now I see,” Rarity nods, before frowning. “Well, since Twilight put you in my care until she returns, I’m going with you, Dora.”

“Would somepony mind explainin’?” Applejack looks very annoyed.

“On the way,” I call, running past them and out the door. “Vámonos!”

“Vámo-what now?” Applejack calls after me.

Okay, I’m really jumping the gun here. Some part of my brain is probably trying to tell me I should wait first, but the sooner I’m in a less odd feeling situation the better.

Plus, I’m going to be here when the Storm King invades. The fear of what that could lead to probably isn’t helping my rationale.

Half an hour later, Shining Armour, Applejack and Rarity are sitting with me on the train... where I’m once again trying to make myself as small as possible.

“I guess I also got Dora’s habit of jumping into adventure without really thinking it through too well,” I mutter, trying to ignore the odd glances I’m occasionally getting.

“Don’t worry,” Rarity says reassuringly. “We’ll be at the docks in a few minutes.”

“So, we’re rentin’ a boat, Ah’m assumin’?” Applejack asks, looking between the two of us. “Still don’t explain how we’re gonna get down to an underwater city.”

“Dora has that covered, Applejack,” Rarity says, winking to me, which gives me at least a little smile.

“I hope so,” Shining Armour looks out the window. “I can understand why she’d want me along. As prince of the Crystal Empire, I can act as a diplomat and ease any tension. When was the last time Equestria interacted with the… do I call them the hippogriffs or the Sea Ponies?”

I say nothing, keeping quiet. Where the heck is all that enthusiasm I had back at the boutique? It’s like I’m literally shifting between the oblivious excitement of a child to the full awareness and anxiety that comes with it adult.

Are my mind and Dora’s brain at war for emotional dominance or something?

Actually, scratch that. I don’t want to know. That’s an even more alarming thought than just being stared at by ponies.

“Shouldn’t that monkey be on a leash or something?”

We all look up, glancing around in confusion before we see a stallion has stopped by us.

I blink. For a second, I thought it was Thunderlane, before realizing he’s an Earth Pony. His coat is the same as is the mane, if a little more electric-blue.

His Cutie Mark is two pairs of beamed musical notes, one pair golden, the pair other blue. 

It takes a moment before I realize he’s looking at me and the monkey comments catches up, causing me to glare. “Hey! I’m not monkey!”

He looks shocked. “It talks?”

“It?” my glare darkens. “It? I have a gender, ya know, Estúpido semental!” Even if I’m the wrong one right now.

“Excuse me?!” he puffs out his chest.

“Oh, real macho,” I snort. “Standing up to an eight year old little girl!  Tipo duro y grande!”

“Uh, Dora?” Applejack asks, but I don’t hear her.

“Tienes idea del día que tuve?!” I stand up, fists clenched at my sides. “Primero, pierdo un día entero corriendo. Entonces, termino en Equestria en el cuerpo de una niña pequeña de dibujos animados! Starlight casi me atrapa cuando todavía es Pony Hitler.”

He’s giving me an odd look.

“Luego descubro que tengo que esperar a que llegue el Festival de la Amistad!” I walk up to him and pock him in the chest.

“Uh…” he says, taking a step back.

“Sin mencionar que el Rey Tormenta invade dentro de dos semanas!” I say, my face starting to feel warm for some reason, but I pay it no mind. “Solo soy una niña pequeña. Tengo que poner a los Ponis Marinos de nuestro lado antes de la invasión para no morir!”

Silence follows as I realize I’d started shouting.

Glancing around, I realize everypony is staring at me within mixed expressions of confusion and concern.

“Dora?”

I feel a hoof on my shoulder and look back to see Rarity look at me with worry.

Blinking, I slowly come back down to, well, Equestria and realize I’d spoken completely in Spanish. That and… I reach a hand up to my face, feeling a wetness.

I’m… I’m crying.

Looking around, I see several mother’s with their foals, giving me sad looks that mother’s get. The one’s when they know something, even if you don’t.

I blink, going back over what I said, before I feel tears starting anew and fall to my knees, sobbing, Rarity quickly getting down and putting her forelegs around me.

What… what is wrong with me?

Why did I just start shouting like that? Why did I slip into nothing but Spanish? And why can’t I stop crying?

Rarity just holds me, rubbing my back as I cry into her shoulder, not knowing what’s going on anymore.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 3



 



 



___________________________________________________________






“Well, that probably could’ve gone better,” Shining Armour says as we walk off the train, the three ponies looking uncertainly at me, while I’m keeping my head down, hugging myself.

We walk through the small village, myself trying to ignore ponies who halt in place and stare as we go by.

“And just what do you think you’re doing?”

The raspy voice makes us stop to look up as a very familiar cyan coat and rainbow mane whiz into view, before landing in front of us.

Rainbow Dash blinks in confusion when she notices me. “Wait. So my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me?” She walks over, looking at me from every angle, just furthering my anxiety right now.

“What’s it to ya?” Applejack demands, though I can tell she’s not got her heart in it, not knowing herself.

Dash turns around, smirking at the farm mare. “Cuz, whatever it is, I want in.”

Rarity looks to me. “Are you okay with that, Dora?”

I just nod. I mean, looking at it logically, it probably is the best idea… as long as we keep Dash’s ego in check.

“Ya know, whatever this is, if’n ya wanna wait til ya feel more up to it, nopony’d judge ya fer it,” Applejack says, clearly trying to make me feel better, though it’s clear Rainbow doesn’t like the idea of being allowed to join in something, only for it to be postponed.

I think about that, but only for a second. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, hold it in for several seconds, before letting it out.

The four look to me, unsure what I’m doing.

After a few moments, I open my eyes, my expression firm. “I can’t let my feelings stop me right now. Tengo que hacer esto!”

I start walking again, my steps firm, hearing AJ asking, “The hay was that last part?”. The others don’t answer, quickly follow after me, leaving Dash to stay in the dark and grumbling as she follows as well. Within minutes we’re at the docks and I walking down to the very edge.

“Ah… don’t see a boat,” Applejack remarks, glancing around the currently empty dock.

“I… gotta go with Applejack on this one,” Shining Armour nods, turning his head from one area of the dock to the next. “How’re we supposed to get to the Sea Ponies without a boat?”

“And we need a boat because…?” Dash waits for an answer.

I look to Rarity and hold out a hand.

“Is… Does it work that way?” she asks, cocking an eyebrow as she looks at my offer appendage. “Are you able to share it?”

I nod. “Dora could with Boots, so I’m certain I can too.”

“How in the hay can anything be shared with a pair of boots?” Dash asks, no clue what we’re talking about.

Rarity just nods, taking my hand, before offering her other hoof to Shining Armour, who hesitates, before accepting and offering his to Dash, who looks annoyed at not getting answers, but shrugs and takes his hoof, before offering hers to Applejack.

The farm mare gives us all a very perplexed look.

“What’s the matter?” Dash smirks. “If you’re too scared, you don’t have to.”

That hits a nerve, Applejack glaring, before roughly grabbing Dash’s offered hoof.

I hold up my arm in the air. “Transformar-se!”

“Transformar—WHAA?!” Dash starts, only to be cut off. 

The bracelet glows, the glow quickly spreading around the five of us and lifting us into the air. I watch, not paying attention to my own transformation beyond the fact my dress shrinks into a shirt as the three mares change into Sea Ponies, but my focus is more on Shining Armour.

He doesn’t honestly look all that different. Just think a larger, less round version of Sweetie Belle when she became a Sea Pony and you’ve a pretty good idea what I’m looking at.

We all drop into the water. At once, Applejack and Shining start flipping out.

“What in the hay?!” Applejack spins around frantically.

“I — But — HUH?!” Shining looks like his brain is shutting down, unable to process the experiences his body’s senses are registering.

“These fins are divine!” Rarity swoons, looking at her new Sea Pony body

“Awesome!” Dash laughs, spinning in place, before looking to me, an eyebrow raised. “How did you do that?”

The other two look to me with faces that ask the same question, but with far less jovial a tone.

I hold up my wrist, indicating to the bracelet. “This bracelet was given to Dora by Mariana la sirena. Mariana the mermaid,” I add at the Pegasus’ raised eyebrow. “It allows me to change myself and others into mermaid, or at least aquatic versions of their own species and back again at will.”

“She speaks in the third person like Trixie?” Dash asks, looking to Rarity, who shakes her head.

I look down at the Wishing Crystal, holding it in my hands. Are you going to help us find the way? I don’t know what direction to go and we don’t have Map to let us know.

The crystal glimmers, before a beam shoots out, heading off towards a single direction.

“We’ll explain on the way,” I say, turning and starting to swim off. “Vámonos. Nosotras solo tenemos unas pocas semanas.”

Dash just looks blankly at Rarity. “What did she mean?”

“Like she said, we’ll explain on the way,” the unicorn replies, swimming off, adding, “Though I could use a little more clarity, myself.”

Dash looks to Applejack and grins. “Race ya!”

The orange mare’s worried look vanishes, replaced with a determined one. “Yer on!”

The two hurry after us, with Shining Armour reluctantly bringing up the rear, trying to get used to his new body.








 



___________________________________________________________










“That’s… different,” Dash admits.

We’ve been swimming for I’d estimate two hours. We’ve covered a lot of ground, erm, ocean in that time. The light that shot from the crystal is still visible, so I know we’re going the right way, but otherwise, I’m completely unsure where we are.

“Indeed,” Rarity nods and I can see from my peripheral version that she’s looking to me. “I’m not sure why you’re so anxious to get to the Sea Ponies, Dora, but I’m guessing you have your reasons. Did the crystal tell you something?”

“Podrías decirlo,” I murmur, glancing down at the gem against my neck.

Rainbow gives me an odd look, as if she understood me, but says nothing as we continue through the water.

“Hey,” Applejack says in confusion and we glance back. “Did ya’ll hear that?”

We slow down, before stopping, floating in the water, listening.

Suddenly, I hear it. A scratching sound, as if leafs were shuffling. But that doesn’t make sense. Unless…

“Por favor no me digas que él también está aquí,” I groan, rubbing between my eyes.

“Huh?” the others ask.

I ignore them, quickly looking around, before I spot a rock not too far off. There’s seaweed on it that… doesn’t look right.

“Everypony,” I say, looking around, “turn your backs until I say so.” 

The ponies look at me with confusion, but do so, myself included.

I wait three seconds before hearing the sound again.

“Ahora!” I yell, whirling around, the others following suit.

The rock with the seaweed is closer.

“Uh, did that thing move?” Dash asks, glancing around to make sure she isn’t crazy.

I nod, not amused. “Él está aquí!” Great. He is here. “I know you’re there, Swiper!”

The others’ “Huh?” is answered when the seaweed breaks away, revealing a fox wearing a blue mask and gloves, with a bubble of air around his head.

Dash and Applejack deadpan. “Why is that fox wearing a mask?”

I don’t answer, watching as he starts swimming towards us, trying to figure out what he’s going to try swiping from us. It’s Swiper, what else would he do?

I blink, before I clicks and I glance down at the Wishing Crystal.

“He’s going to try and swipe the Wishing Crystal!” I say, grabbing it in both hands. “If he takes it, we’ll never find the Sea Ponies!”

“Then let’s stop him,” Dash punches one hoof into the other.

I nod, before deadpanning. “And I know the only way… dumb as it is.”

“What do you mean?” Shining asks.

I growl-sigh. “Just do as I do.” I hold out my hand. “Swiper, no swiping! Swiper, no swiping!”

The four look at me as if I’ve gone mad… and I’m honestly starting to wonder if they’re not wrong.

“Come on!” I say, looking to them. “Say it with me.” And I’m so going to make Swiper sorry later for making me actually talk like Dora in the show.

The others look hesitant, before shrugging and hold out a hoof, joining my chant. “Swiper, no swiping! Swiper, no swiping! Swiper, no swiping!

Swiper freezes in place, his fingers inches from the crystal, before his expression sags and he snaps his fingers. “Aw, man!”

And with that, he swims off… leaving the others very confused.

“That… worked?” Dash asks, clearly not believing it.

“It… Ah guess?” AJ sounds just as bewildered.

“Better not to think too hard about it,” I growl, turning and continuing to swim. “Te dará dolor de cabeza. Trust me.”

I better not have to do that too often, or I swear…


 



 



___________________________________________________________








“I gotta admit, the ocean is quiet nice,” Shining says as we continue swimming in the direction of the light from the crystal.

“Indeed. So much inspiration!” Rarity says eagerly, before pouting. “And me without my sketchbook… again.”

“So, exactly how much longer do you think til we get to these Sea Ponies?” Dash asks, swimming up next to me.

I look down at the crystal, but get no reaction and shake my head. “No puedo decir.”

Dash frowns at me. “No puedes o no quieres?”

I literally halt in place, causing an unsuspecting Applejack to collide with me.

Shaking myself, I look to Dash, wide eyed. “Tu hablas español?!”

She gives me an odd look. “No, but I speak a bit of our world’s version. Not too much, but enough.”

Suddenly I am very thankfully I never mentioned the Storm King’s invasion since Dash joined us.

“You can understand her when she speaks that gibberish?” Applejack asks the Pegasus, stunned and annoyed.

Dash shrugs. “Like I said, a little. Enough to know what she’s saying when she says small stuff. The longer sentences? Nup. Totally lost.”

“Well, at least Dora won’t have to repeat herself all the time now,” Rarity says encouragingly.

“Yeah, but…” I stop, holding up a hand. “Ustedes escuchan eso?”

“Yeah, I hear it too,” Dash nods.

“What’re —?” Applejack starts, but Dash and I hush her.

We all float, listening.

Quickly, the others notice it too.

Singing. Familiar singing.

Princess Skystar! Yes! Finally!

I indicate for the others to follow and we swim for about half a minute, before I push behind a rock, looking out from behind it.

Skystar is swimming back and forth, none the wiser to her sudden audience.

“So, what do we do?” Shining asks. “Do we go talk to her or follow her to the other Sea Ponies?”

I frown, thinking. “Well, if we get found out following her, it wouldn’t exactly look good. So, I guess we should try talking to her. It’s Skystar, the princess of the Sea Ponies, so she’d understand. Vámonos.”

I move to swim away… but I’m not moving forward.

What the…?

I look back to the other to ask why I’m not moving, only to see they’re just staring at me, expectant looks on their faces.

Huh?

I blink. Wait. They’re not looking at me. Glancing in the same sirection I see… you.

I stare at you, before I deadpan. “Oh, por el amor de Dios! De Verdad?!”

I choose to ignore you and try swimming... yet, somehow, I remain in place, as if I can't move beyond this point of reality. I try harder and harder. I scream out to Skystar to get her attention.

But it’s in vein. I’m stuck.

Growling, I rub my temples and glare at you.

“Yeah, I don’t like this either. La mierda! And, no,” I point at you “I am not explaining that! And you better not have been looking at me while Rarity was dressing me up or else!” God, the thought of that opens so many uncomfrotable ideas.

I just have to hope this means I’m actually IN the MLP show, since that means you normally can’t see me unless it was shown during an episode.

I do find a little amusement, wondering how bewildered the MLP and Nickelodeon staff must be, seeing Dora suddenly popping up in MLP. Just hope it doesn't cause too many problems for the MLP staff. They dealt with enough shit as the final seasons rolled out.

Still, aside from now, I just hope the only time you can see me is during the episdoes and now. If not... I honest do not want to think about what you can and cannot see.

I growl, flailing around, before folding my arms and indicating to Skystar.

“Well, you heard the stupid question. Should we follow Skystar, or go talk to her? Your call. Sigue o Llamada?”
> Chapter 4 (Follow)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4



 



___________________________________________________________






“Sigue,” I nod, the others looking unsure, but agreeing.

We wait until Skystar swims off, before following her from behind, being sure to keep our distance.

I frown down at the crystal. It’s light has gone. Either I’m doing something wrong, or it was leading us to Skystar this whole time and she’s meant to lead us to Seaquestria herself.

We follow her for three minutes, before a yell from behind makes us whirl around.

Shining’s doing battle with… General Sea Spray?!

The two are rolling around in the water, Shining keeping Sea Spray’s spear at bay.

“Oh dear,” I look to see what Rarity’s talking about, only to yelp when a spear is held inches from my throat.

At least seven more Sea Pony guards are floating in front of us, before slowly surrounding us from all sides.

“You intruders will come with us!” one them, a male with bright yellow scales and a mane of yellow and green says firmly.

“This… could’ve gone better,” Dash says nervously.

I gulp again. “Sí.”






___________________________________________________________






“Don’t we get a lawyer, or something?!” Dash yells, banging on the coral bars of our cell.

It’s been about three hours since we were caught and thrown in these cells.

The cells themselves are big enough for three to walk a few steps around it all at once, so it isn’t cramped. The floors are bright silver, with the bars being purple mixed with swirls of pink.

Rarity, Dash and I are in one, while AJ and Shining are in the one next to us.

“So much for diplomacy,” Shining sighs.

I sigh too, sitting on the edge of my seaweed-rock bed, dejected. Great. Because of whatever caused me to come here as Dora also making me have to talk to people who shouldn’t exist, instead of getting Equestria allies early, I got us thrown in jail.

I look up, trying to see whomever it was before, but they’re nowhere in sight. Considering this was what their choice led to, I honestly hope that doesn’t happen again.

“This is bogus!” Dash swim over, glaring at the crystal around my neck. “I thought you said that thing was going to lead us to the Sea Ponies, not get us arrested by them.”

“Don’t blame Dora,” Rarity says defensively, putting a foreleg around my shoulder. “She didn’t mean for this to happen. If anything, we’re the ones who wanted to follow that Sea Pony instead of talk to her, like Dora suggested.”

I glance at her, confusion mixing with my dejected feelings. Is that how they remember it? Wasn’t I the one who said what the one who chose what we’d do?

I look down again, pulling my tail up like my knees and burying my face in it, wrapping my arms around it.

“Uh… hey. I… I didn’t mean it like that, kid. Lo siento,” Dash is clearly trying, but, let’s be honest. Who else is there to blame for this other than me?

“Que es mi culpa,” I say, my voice muffled by my tail.

“Hey, I said I didn’t mean it like that!” Dash says firmly and I feel a hoof on my arm. “It’s not your fault.”

“Isn’t it?” I ask, looking up at her. “I’m the one who said we should bring Shining Armour to the Sea Ponies. If not for me, you four would still be in Ponyville, getting ready for the Friendship Festival, instead of being stuck in here in jail with me, thousands of miles underwater.”

“Well, they didn’t take your bracelet away,” Dash points to my arm. “You could just change us back. They can’t keep ponies and a human who can’t breathe underwater prisoner underwater, right?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s a bright idea,” Applejack says sarcastically from her and Shining’s cell. “Make it so we can’t breathe underwater, while still thousands of miles underwater, with no way for us to escape beforehoof. Perfect plan, Dash.”

The Pegasus blinks, going over it, before blanching. “Oh… yeah. Never mind.”

Rarity looks to me, her expression soft and comforting. “Dora?”

I sniff, putting my head back on my tail. “Now I’ll never get home. I’m gonna spend the rest of my life in jail underwater in another world, with my family having no idea where I am.”

I can’t hold it back. I start crying, the fact I can’t feel my tears due to being underwater making me cry even harder.

I feel Rarity put her hooves around me and I lean into her, sobbing.

This isn’t fair. Why did this have to happen? What in my life did I do to deserve this?

Rarity holds me close, making calming shushing noises. “It’ll be okay. We’ll figure something out.”

“I… I’ll never see mi familia again,” I sob.

“Well… this isn’t quite what I was expecting from the creatures I was told were stalking my daughter.”

We all look up as someone comes into view. Her tall frame, her purple eyes and mane grabbing my attention immediately.

“Reina novo!” I gasp, still held in Rarity’s forelimbs.

The Sea Pony gives me a raised eyebrow, before looking to the mare holding me tightly, glaring daggers at her, then Dash, who’s expression is firm, but not like the unicorn’s.

“Normally, stalkers of royalty have ill intent,” Novo swims forward and turning, ending up in front of Shining and AJ’s cell. “When caught, they unintentionally show their true motives when they think no one is around.”

“Like?” AJ snorts, clearly not caring that she’s in the presence of royalty when said royalty has locked us up. Though the glance my way suggests she might be thinking of me like she would if Apple Bloom were in my position, unable to ever see her family again.

When it comes to AJ, you don’t mess with family.

“They mutter about how to escape,” Novo says cooly. “Talk about which of them made the mistake. Start blaming each other. How they can rework their plans so they can still carry out their intended plan.”

“And what of us?” She glances back to Rarity and myself and I feel the mare’s grip tighten on me.

It’s probably just because I’m so emotionally screwed up right now, but I find it comforting and let myself sink a little into her embrace.

“Rarely do I see or hear such a sadness, though,” Novo’s tone sounds genuinely confused and worried. I glance over my shoulder to see she’s floating in front of our cell now, her eyes on me. “What are you, young one? You seem to be of the sea, but I have never heard of your kind before.” She glances at the others. “And you seem of the sea too, yet I have never seen your kind before.”

“Her name is Dora!” Rarity says firmly. “And all she wanted was to talk with your people.”

Queen Novo raises an eyebrow. “And why did she want that?”

“She wanted to invite your people to our kingdom’s Friendship Festival!” Dash growls. “Though, with how you’ve treated us, I don’t see why in Equestria she’d want you around to begin with. Friends don’t lock each other up in prison cells!”

“And they certainly don’t lock up children, keeping them away from their families forever!” Rarity add, her tone very cold.

The queen blinks. “Equestria? You come from Equestria?”

“Where else did ya think?” AJ snorts.

She looks to us in confusion. “But… how? How can you come from Equestria if you are of the sea?”

“Dora has this magic bracelet given to her by a friend!” Dash says and I notice my bracelet is just visible from the angle I’m being held by Rarity. “It let us turn into these forms so we could find you.” Dash snorts. “Guess she shouldn’t have wasted her time.”

The queen looks stunned. “There’s another magic artifact that can change one into sea life?” Then her eyes narrow. “So, first you abandon us is our time of need, then you send in scouts to take us out?! Are you working for the Storm King now?!”

That manages to pull me from my funk.

Uh oh. I think we’re getting into spoiler territory here… but since it’s Novo saying it, I can’t really give a reason to stop her without blowing the fact I know what she’s talking about and it’s implications.

“The only king we know is King Sombra and he’s long gone!” Dash says firmly.

“Don’t play dumb with me!” Novo snarls, looking from one pony to the other… am I being ignored because I’m a child and she’s now assuming I’m a captive or something? “We sent word asking for help long ago and you never responded! Now you come here in a small group, stalk my daughter and just happen to have an item like The Pearl?!”

“Pearl?” Dash and AJ share a confused look.

Damnit. Novo, shut up before you say too much!

“We didn’t even know your kind existed anymore!” Shining says firmly, swimming up to the bars of his cage. “When would we have gotten word from you regarding anything?”

“I had one of my guards sent with word of The Storm King’s attack on our home all the way back in Spring!” Novo says as if that explains everything. “When, at first, he didn’t come back, we thought maybe he’d gotten word to you.” She grits her teeth. “Now I see you held him captive and forced him to tell you about The Pearl so you could make you own!”

“Spring?” Dash asks, before her face blanks. “Wait. As in… last Spring?”

I blink, quickly going over the episodes between now and the start of the show… before I cringe. Oh… that would explain a lot.

“Shinin’?” Applejack slowly looks to him. “Wasn’t yer weddin’ in…?”

“Spring?” Shining say uncertainly. “Yeah.”

This just seems to anger Queen Novo further. “You ignored our pleas for help because of a wedding?!”

“No, no!” I pull out of Rarity’s grip and swim up to the bars, waving my hands. “No es así. The wedding itself isn’t why they didn’t answer your pleas, Su Alteza. The invasion of Canterlot was.”

That causes Novo to pause, though it could be because she’s directing her anger at the ponies and therefore is treating me as the child I physically am. “What do you mean? Did the Storm King invade you after all and you escaped, pequeño?”

I blink. Wait. Novo speaks Spanish?

I shake my head. Questions for another time. Defusing this situation should be my top priority.

“Canterlot was invaded by creatures called Changelings, beings able to change their appearance,” I explain, getting confused looks from all but Rarity. Thank God she’d talked a little about the wedding, so she isn’t suspicious how I know this and also thankful for my unintentional word choice so we don’t have to worry about us being mistaken for Changelings. “During the weeks leading up to Prince Shining Armour’s wedding and, subsequently, the Changeling’s invasion, Canterlot was under heavy guard.”

That causes Novo’s eyebrows to furrow. “So, you held my guard in custody under the guise he was one of these Changelings?”

I shake my head. “Sadly, Canterlot had already been infiltrated. Their queen and several of her drones had already gotten in and she had taken on the appearance of Shining’s bride. It wasn’t found out until the day of the wedding, and even then, only because his sister knew the mare he was supposed to be marrying too well to not notice something was off.”

Novo thinks for a moment, before looking confused. “But how does that stop Equestria from getting our pleas for help?”

“If I may, Your Highness?” Shining says, causing our attention to turn to him. “What with the fact Queen Chrysalis had already infiltrated Canterlot with several of her drones, some who’d even taken on the forms of our guards, I wouldn’t be surprised if the guard you sent was stopped by the fake guards and they’d taken him.”

I blink, before blanching. Oh… God. Does that mean that poor hippogriff is still in a Changeling Pod in the Changeling Kingdom right now and won’t be freed until…?

I hold my hand over my mouth. I think I’m gonna be sick.

“She probably planned to go after yer kind once she took over our home,” Applejack says, putting the pieces together.

“So… you didn’t come… because you didn’t know we’d asked for help?” a new voice causes us all to look beyond the queen, who glances back herself, as Skystar swims in. She becomes sheepish as her mother looks sternly at her. “I was listening the whole time.”

“Por favor, su alteza,” I ask, attention being drawn to me, “we only came to invite you to the Friendship Festival. Equestria has no idea your home was invaded.”

Telling the truth without having to admit it. Thank you, creative thinking.

“You weren’t stalking my daughter to for ill reasons, were you?” Novo looks around at us all as we shake our heads. She frowns, forelegs folded. “I shall have to think about this.”

“Mother, please,” Skystar swims in front of her mother, blocking her off. “Does that pequeño seem like she’s lying?”

Novo pauses, glancing back our way.

I use the fact I look like Dora to my advantage, giving her the most pleading, innocent look I can.

She remains silent for several minutes, before sighing and nods. “Fine. I’ll have the guards let them go.”

Skystar cheers while we sigh with relief.

That was too close.

The next day, we leave Seaquestria, with twenty Sea Pony guards and Princess Skystar… though I don’t remember her mother saying she’d be coming with us.

“Did your mother say you could come with us, Princesa?” I ask as we swim beyond the boundaries of her kingdom and out into open waters.

She looks away, not saying anything.

Whelp. That part of the movie’s still gonna happen, it seems.

I cock an eyebrow, glancing up in thought. I wonder what would’ve happened if that someone had chosen for us to talk to Skystar instead of follow her.

“You don’t gotta worry, kid,” a voice says from next to me and I glance to see… a Sea Pony Screwball? The fuck?

She winks. “I fixed it so you won’t have to worry about those choices again. You’re all good. Have fun at the festival. Adiós.”

And she’s just… gone.

Um… what?
> Chapter 4 (Call)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4



 



___________________________________________________________






“Llamada,” I nod. “Good choice.” I look to the others.

“Who’s going to call to her?” Shining asks. “I mean, we’re not like her. She’ll be able to tell we’re not her kind right away and that could scare her off.”

I roll my eyes. “Shining eres gruesa. You know that?”

The stallion just stares at me, while Dash snickers. “Uh… no?”

“Espera aquí,” I roll my eyes again, swimming towards the princess and calling out, “Hola, soy Dora!”

At once, Skystar whirls around, looking left and right, before she spots me swimming towards her.

At first, it looks like she will swim off in fright, before her eyes light up and she rushes towards me… my gut dropping us I realize my mistake.

“Oh my sea stars, you are adorable!” she practically yells, grabbing me and spinning me around, making me dizzy. “What are you? I’ve never seen you before. Where’d you come from? Are there more of you? How many? Are they all as cute as you are? Did your people get attacked by The Storm King too? Oh, I hope not. Your kind must be adorable! What’s your name? How old are you? Would you like to be friends?”

“Soy… Dora?” I say groggily, the world spinning too much for me to really think.

“Um… hello there?” I feel my body no longer being spun around and I can make out the blurry shapes of the others. Was that Rarity talking? I don’t know. I’m trying not to lose my lunch.

A gasp comes from the one holding me and she lets me go. “Wow. I’ve never seen Sea Ponies like you before! Where’d you all come from? Where’d this pequeño come from? Is she with you? What happened to her kind? What happened to yours? I wanna know everything!”

“Why do Ah feel like Ah’m talking to another Pinkie Pie?’ Applejack mutters to Shining as I shake my head, finding I’d been swimming in their direction without knowing it due to having no sense of direction thanks to the spin cycle the princess just put me through.

“I’m Prince Shining Armour of the Crystal Empire,” Shining says, swimming forward. “I came here with my friends…”

He glances to me, as if asking something, before it clicks and I quickly whisper, “Princess Skystar. She has a mother.”

“Princess Skystar,” he continues without missing a beat, “to speak with your mother about inviting some of your people to our Friendship Festival in two weeks’ time.”

Skystar blinks, before her eyes light up. “Seriously?! Oh, mom will be thrilled! Come on!”

She swims off, leaving us all trying to recover, before we realize she’s getting farther away and hurry after her.

“So, how’d you come here?” Skystar asks as we catch up, looking confused. “I didn’t think Equestrian ponies had moved to live in the ocean too or even had the means of doing so.”

“Es una larga historia,” I sigh, shaking my head.

She smiles at me. “That’s okay. I don’t mind long stories. You can tell me on the way.”

I blink. “You speak Spanish? Erm, Stirrupainish?”

She nods. “Si. Hacemos.”

I cock an eyebrow at her. “Nosotras? You mean, all Sea Ponies speak it?”

She nods again. “This is going to be so much fun!”

It’s certainly going to be interesting. That’s for sure.

We meet up with several Sea Pony guards, including General Sea Spray, about three minutes later, Skystar quickly explaining we’re friends and that we have a message for the queen.

The guards seem suspicious, but agree, escorting us and the princess back to Seaquestria.

As we pass through, many Sea Ponies stop what they’re doing to watch us go. The little ones are especially interested in me and I wave to them as we pass, smiling.

It’s not long before we’re in the throne room.

“The princess has returned, Your Highness,” Sea Spray says as we all enter, said queen sitting on her throne, looking rather bored, just like in the movie.

Skystar makes a beeline for the throne. “Mother, look what I found!”

Queen Novo sighs. “Is it another shell?”

Skystar titters. “Mm-mm.”

Novo groans, sitting up. “Because I am telling you if it is another shell, I am—” she stops when she sees us, her eyes moving specifically to our tails and lingering on me. “I… what?” is her only response.

“Probablemente tengas muchas preguntas, Reina Novo,” I say, her eyes locking onto me due to my speakining Spanish. Thank you for the tidbit, Skystar. “But, first and foremost, our prince has something to say.”

I look to Shining and it takes a moment before it clicks. He is royalty, after all.

Well, technically, I guess I am too, since Dora did become a True Princess back in Dora’s Fairytale Adventure, but that’s not important right now.

Shining swims forward. “Your Majesty, as prince of the Crystal Empire, I wish to offer an invitation to you or any of your people of your choosing to come to our Friendship Festival.”

The reaction we get is not what I would’ve expected… though, thinking on it… I should’ve seen this coming.

The queen blinks. “The Crystal Empire? As in, the Crystal Empire of Equestria? You come from Equestria?”

“Yes?” Shining says uncertainly.

She looks to us in confusion. “But… how? How can you come from Equestria if you are of the sea?”

“I have this magic bracelet, Su Alteza,” I hold up my wrist to show the item in question. “It was a gift from a good friend. It gives me power similar to your Pearl, allowing me to turn into a mermaid and any holding my hand when I transform into aquatic versions of themselves.”

The queen looks stunned. “There’s another magic artefact that can change one into sea life?” Then her eyes narrow. “So, first you abandon us is our time of need, then you send in scouts to take us out?! Are you working for the Storm King now?!”

Um… wait, what?

I blink. Uh oh. I think we’re getting into spoiler territory here… but since it’s Novo saying it, I can’t really give a reason to stop her without blowing the fact I know what she’s talking about and it’s implications.

“The only king we know is King Sombra and he’s long gone!” Dash says looking confused.

“Don’t play dumb with me!” Novo snarls, looking from one pony to the other… am I being ignored because I’m a child and she’s now assuming I’m a captive or something? “We sent word asking for help long ago and you never responded! Now you come here in a small group, trick my daughter into leading you here and just happen to have an item like The Pearl?!”

“Pearl?” Dash and AJ share a confused look.

Damnit. Novo, shut up before you say too much!

“No no n-no! M-M-Mom, please!” Skystar swims in front of her mother. “It is so not like that! They only know about The Pearl because I told them about it on the way here.

“I’m afraid there seems to have been a miscommunication, Your Majesty,” Shining say. “When would we have gotten word from you regarding anything?”

“I had one of my guards sent with word of The Storm King’s attack on our home all the way back in Spring!” Novo says as if that explains everything. “When, at first, he didn’t come back, we thought maybe he’d gotten word to you.” She grits her teeth. “Now I see you held him captive and forced him to tell you about The Pearl so you could make you own and then pretended not to know too fool my daughter!”

Oh, this is spiralling out of control way too quickly.

“Spring?” Dash asks, before her face blanks. “Wait. As in… last Spring?”

I blink, quickly going over the episodes between now and the start of the show… before I cringe. Oh… that would explain a lot.

“Shinin’?” Applejack slowly looks to him. “Wasn’t yer weddin’ in…?”

“Spring?” Shining say uncertainly. “Yeah.”

This just seems to anger Queen Novo further. “You ignored our pleas for help because of a wedding?! Is your kingdom more important than ours? Is that what you’re saying? That our kingdom being invaded isn’t as important as your prince getting married.”

“No, no!” I swim forward, waving my hands. “No es así. The wedding itself isn’t why they didn’t answer your pleas, Su Alteza. The invasion of Canterlot was.”

That causes Novo to pause, though it could be because she’s directing her anger at the ponies and therefore is treating me as the child I physically am. “What do you mean? Did the Storm King invade you after all and you escaped, pequeño?”

Skystar is also now looking worried.

I shake my head. “Not The Storm King, no. Canterlot was invaded by creatures called Changelings, beings able to change their appearance,” I explain, getting confused looks from all but Rarity. Thank God she’d talked a little about the wedding, so she isn’t suspicious how I know this and also thankful for my unintentional word choice so we don’t have to worry about us being mistaken for Changelings. “During the weeks leading up to Prince Shining Armour’s wedding and, subsequently, the Changeling’s invasion, Canterlot was under heavy guard.”

That causes Novo’s eyebrows to furrow. “So, you held my guard in custody under the guise he was one of these Changelings?”

I shake my head. “Sadly, Canterlot had already been infiltrated. Their queen and several of her drones had already gotten in and she had taken on the appearance of Shining’s bride. It wasn’t found out until the day of the wedding, and even then, only because his sister knew the mare he was supposed to be marrying too well to not notice something was off.”

Novo thinks for a moment, before looking confused. “But how does that stop Equestria from getting our pleas for help?”

“If I may, Your Highness?” Shining says, causing our attention to turn back to him. “What with the fact Queen Chrysalis had already infiltrated Canterlot with several of her drones, some who’d even taken on the forms of our guards, I wouldn’t be surprised if the guard you sent was stopped by the fake guards and they’d taken him.”

I blink, before blanching. Oh… God. Does that mean that poor hippogriff is still in a Changeling Pod in the Changeling Kingdom right now and won’t be freed until…?

I hold my hand over my mouth. I think I’m gonna be sick.

“She probably planned to go after yer kind once she took over our home,” Applejack says, putting the pieces together.

“So… you didn’t come… because you didn’t know we’d asked for help to begin with?” Novo’s eyes are wide with shock and horror. “We’ve been forced to hide all this time… and you never even knew?”

“Por favor, su alteza,” I ask, attention being drawn to me, “we only came to invite you to the Friendship Festival. Equestria has no idea your home was invaded.”

Telling the truth without having to admit it. Thank you, creative thinking.

She remains silent for several minutes, before sighing and nods. “Very well. We will use this invitation to reconnect with your rulers. My daughter shall go as my envoy.” She looks to her daughter. “Be safe.”

Skystar cheers, hugging her mother. “I promise, I won’t let you down, mother.”

The next day, we leave Seaquestria, with twenty Sea Pony guards and Princess Skystar.

As we leave, I cock an eyebrow, glancing up in thought. I wonder what would’ve happened if that someone had chosen for us to follow Skystar instead of talk to her.

“You don’t gotta worry, kid,” a voice says from next to me and I glance to see… a Sea Pony Screwball? The fuck?

She winks. “I fixed it so you won’t have to worry about those choices again. You’re all good. Have fun at the festival. Adiós.”

And she’s just… gone.

Um… what?
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 5



 



___________________________________________________________






“Did… did I do the right thing?” I ask as we get off the train in Ponyville, myself trying to breath normally again after the crushing “goodbye” hug Skystar gave me when we mentioned we wouldn’t be joining her and Shining in Canterlot until later.

Applejack glances at me, confused. “What’re you talkin’ about, Sugarcube? If not fer you, we’d never have known the Hippogriff’s city had been attack by this Storm King or that he likely might come to Equestria one day.”

I glance down, rubbing my arm. Yeah… but I’ve drastically altered the timeline. I mean, it was already not the timeline I knew because the movie isn’t meant to happen until after season seven, but still…

“It’s nothing you need to worry about, Dora,” Rarity says reassuringly, nuzzling my face, it taking me by surprise causing me to giggle. You try not giggling when an equine suddenly nuzzles you without warning. I bloody dare ya.

“Besides, now I can test myself against a combined pony and griffon species,” Dash grins, rubbing her hooves together. “They gotta be fast. If I can get faster than them, there’s no way I won’t get into the Wonderbolts for real!”

I can’t help rolling my eyes in sync with Rarity and AJ at that.

“So, now what?” Dash moves ahead to face me, flying backwards.

I blink. “Qué?”

Dash folds her forelegs. “You’re an explorer now, right? What’re you planning on next?” Suddenly, her eyes light up. “You could go on an adventure with Daring Do! Oh, man. That would be so awesome!”

“Here we go,” AJ groan.

Dash whirls around, her foreleg out in a heroic pose. “Two great explorers, traveling Equestria, finding the greatest treasures and protecting them from the likes of the evil Ahuizotl!”

I stop, blinking, before my eyes widen. Oh my god! I totally forgot about Ahuizotl!

I inwardly sigh. So much for resting.

“Dora is not just going off on some wild adventure to mess with that beast!” Rarity says firmly. “Honestly, Rainbow Dash, she literally just got back from helping us reunite Equestria with a long lost ally. I highly doubt she wishes to go off and— Dora, where’re you going?!”

I’ve whirled around and I’m heading back into the train station. If I can find Daring before her next adventure, I can solve so many problems. Will mean less books, but better that than Daring unintentionally making Ahuizotl and the other Guardian Creatures’ jobs harder.

I’m just about to reach the ticket pony, when I feel myself lift into the air, held by a blue magical aura.

I blink, before yelping, moving my hands down to keep my dress from exposing my underwear.

A clearing of a throat makes me turn my head to see Rarity looking up at me, a very disapproving frown on her face.

“Care to explain where you are going, pequeño?”

That actually makes me pause. I did not expect Rarity to use the Spanish word for Little One and it actually makes me feel guilty because…

Wait. What the fuck do I have to feel guilty about?

She just looks up at me, an expected eyebrow raised.

“I… um…” How do I actually explain this one? If I outright say Ahuizotl is a good guy right now, I’ll sound like a loony to the three of them. They’ve met Ahuizotl in what they think was him doing something villainous. And it’s not like I can just grab the Truth Talisman of Tonatiuh to prove I’m telling the truth.

“You are coming back to the boutique, mujer joven,” Rarity says in a tone she’s used on Sweetie Belle many times in the show, though I’m guessing the Spanish was taught to her by Dash or one of the hippogriffs during the ride back when I wasn’t paying attention. “Your name may mean explorer, but you are not going off on another adventure so soon after this one. You are going to at least wait until after the festival. Am I understood?”

I can’t look away. Somehow that stern glare and tone have my attention locked on Rarity. Is this something about Dora’s respecting authority or something? Or is this because of my physical age and it’s messing with my willingness to disobey someone technically older than me? Damnit all!

“Am. I. Understood?” Rarity repeats.

I stare at her for several long moments, before eventually lowering my head. “Si.”

Rarity’s expression softens and she lowers me back to the ground, releasing her magical grip on me. “Good. Now, come. We best set up your room.”

I blink, frowning in confusion. “Qué?”

“Well, you are going to be here for at least another two weeks,” she says simply as we all walk back out of the station, several ponies staring at us after the little scene we’d created. “It wouldn’t be right to not give you a comfortable room and bed to sleep in during your stay.”

“Well, I’ll catch up later,” Dash says, saluting. “Gotta speak with the Weather Team in Canterlot so we can arrange for the best weather during the festival. Hasta luego!”

With that, she flies off.

The girls look puzzled, so I translate.

“Huh. She never said bye that way afore,” Applejack says, before smirking at me. “I wonder why she did this time.”

I roll my eyes.

“Come, Dora,” Rarity says in a sing-song tone. “We’ve work to do.”

I sigh, waving to Applejack. “Adios, AJ. Deséame suerte.”

“Uh… yeah?” the farm mare replies in confusion, waving. “Sure. Deséame su-whatever.”

I inwardly facepalm.

Several hours later we’re standing in a spare room Rarity was using for storage, now converted into a temporary bedroom. Though, Rarity being Rarity, she clearly wasn’t thinking about the “temporary” part.

The room is big enough for a closet, a pair of draws, a small bed and a bedside table.

The room’s walls are light-purple, like the rest of the boutique, if a little more faded than the other rooms. The bed is covered in a red silver cover, with two blue pillows. The curtains are cherry red mixed with a hint of lavender.

It doesn’t sound like much… but this is Rarity we’re talking about, so it looks like a five star hotel.

“You really don’t have to go this far, Rarity,” I say, looking to her after getting a full look at the room. “I’m likely literally going to be here two, three weeks. A month tops.”

“Nonsense, Dora,” Rarity chides, smiling. “I would be remiss if I didn’t give you a proper room to sleep in. Besides, now I’ll have this room ready in case I have any other unexpected house guests.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if I just lived in Twilight’s castle until I go home?” I ask honestly. “You know, mas espacio?”

“It might,” Rarity admit, nodding. “But… Twilight’s not going to be back in Ponyville until after the festival and I will not have a young filly living on her own up in the big castle for two whole weeks.”

I sigh. Guess there’s no dissuading her. Her mind’s set and I’m clearly not going to be changing it.

“Now, there’s still a few hours before dinner,” Rarity says, glancing at the clock she’d set up on my bedside table. “Why don’t you go out and play with some of the other foals.”

I look at her, deadpan. “Rarity, solo me veo como una niña pequeña. I’m not actually one.”

“Either way, I doubt you’ll want to hang around here while I’m doing my sewing, darling,” she says, waving my explanation away, though I don’t know if that’s because she disagrees with me or didn’t actually understand the first part. “Go on. Oh, and, if you see Sweetie Belle, make sure to bring her back too.”

I frown, grumbling as I walk off. Seems that mindset of Sweetie Belle still being little from Forever Filly is already there.

I walk out of the boutique, continuing for several minutes before I pause and look around, realizing I hadn’t been paying attention.

I seem to be in the park. Okay. Guess I can use my memory of the geography of the town from the show to figure my way back later. Just would’ve been nice to mentally prep myself for it.

“Hey. It’s you again.”

I turn around to see Sweetie Belle walking towards me, flanked by her fellow crusaders.

“Hola, soy Dora,” I say without thinking as I wave, before facepalming. Damnit. That’s a tick I’ve got now, isn’t it?

“Hola, soy Scootaloo,” Scootaloo says cheerfully, catching me by surprise as much as her friends.

“What in the hay are ya’ll sayin’?” Apple Bloom looks from her friend to me.

“She was saying hello,” Scootaloo explains simply. “I was just replying in kind.” She blinks, seeing the confused looks of her friends. “What? Didn’t either of you learn Stirrupainish?”

I blink, before snapping my fingers. “Oh, right. Tus padres son exploradoras. Of course they’d have learned it and taught it too you.”

The orange pegsus nods, rubbing a hoof against her chest smugly. “Si. Y lo digo bastante bien, lo diría.”

“Bastante bien, de hecho,” I nod, folding my arms, impressed, before blinking and frowning in confusion. What right to I have to congratulate Scootaloo on speaking Spanish well. I don’t even get a say in how well I understand it now, so I don’t exactly have room to talk.

“Would the two o’ ya’ll stop speaking gobbledigook and start speaking Ponish?!” Apple Bloom yells suddenly and we both blink, looking to her.

There’s silence for a moments, before Scootaloo and I burst into laughter.

After a while, we calm down and apologize… then apologize again in English because we did it first in Spanish.

“So, you’re from Stirrupain?” Scootaloo asks excitedly.

I shake my head. “Not really. It’s… a long story.” I have to pause to make sure I don’t slip into Spanish again.

“We got time,” Apple Bloom says flatly.

I frown, folding my arms. “Wish I could believe that,” I pout.

That causes the trio to look at each other in confusion.

“What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asks.

I sigh, sitting down on the grass. “Twilight’s put me with your sister until she can send me home and Rarity just forbid me from going off to see Daring Do.”

“Daring Do?” the trio ask, Scootaloo with more excitement than the other two.

I nod. “I’ve important information I need to tell her. It’s seriously important, bad I don’t know where she is and now Rarity’s not letting me going anywhere until the Friendship Festival is over.”

“Well, that ain’t fair,” Apple Bloom frowns. “Rarity, mah sister an’ her friends go t’ Darin’s a lot. They don’t need permission.”

“Sure wish we could all go. We could help you out and I bet it would be a lot of fun,” Scootaloo says.

I’m about the answer, when a warmth around my neck makes me pause. Glancing down, I see the Wishing Crystal is glowing, an image of Daring Do visible on its surface.

“Whoa. What’s that?” Sweetie asks, her eyes alight. “It’s so pretty.”

“It’s the Wishing Crystal and…” I trail off, my eyes wide with panic. Scootaloo just made a wish and…

The light from the crystal spreads out, surrounding the three of us.

“Wh-what’s going on?” Sweetie’s awe of the crystal has immedietly been replaced with fear.

I glare down at the crystal. “Seriously? Deseo ir a casa y no haces nada, pero este deseo estás dispuesto a conceder?!”

The crystal flashes, the world becoming nothing but white.
> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 6



 



___________________________________________________________






The trio and Dora all cried out as the light faded and they dropped, slamming down into grass.

“Ow,” Sweetie Belle groaned. That had not been fun.

“The hay jus’ happened?” Apple Bloom’s asked, wincing.

Looking around, she noticed Dora pushing herself up, a hand on her head as she shook it, likely to clear things, before she opened her eyes, blinking, her face blank.

Sweetie Belle had a good idea why. Dora was not wearing what she was before.

Whereas moments ago she’d been wearing a lovely dress clearly made by Rarity, she now was wearing a brown khaki shirt, khaki shorts and work boots and white socks, the crystal that had glowed resting outside the shirt against her chest. Atop her head was a pith helmet, like what Scootaloo says Daring Do wears.

“What the hay?” Scootaloo asked, shocked.

“Why’re we wearin’ these clothes?”

At Apple Bloom’s question, Sweetie looked over to her fellow Crusaders to see they, and now that she looked down at herself, she, were wearing the same, minus the shoes, socks and shorts. They even had their own pith helmets.

What was going on?

Dora blinked, before glaring down… at the crystal? “Maldito pedazo de mierda sin valor! Por qué en el amplio mundo de Equestria concediste el deseo de Scootaloo y nos enviaste aquí, cuando no concederías el mío para ir a casa?! Estúpido, maldito pedazo de mierda de cuarzo!”

Sweetie felt very confused. “Is she… angry at that crystal around her neck?” Apple Bloom asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“What’s she even saying?” Sweetie Belle asked, turning to Scootaloo, who’s expression is anxious.

“Uh… I’d rather not repeat it,” the Pegasus muttered as Dora stopped yelling.




 



___________________________________________________________








I take a deep breath, rubbing my temples. “Calma. Calma.”

Noticing the quiet, I glanced back at the Crusaders to see them staring at me… Scootaloo’s expression reminding me she knows Spanish, so… likely understood every word I just yelled at the crystal. Whoops.

“Um, where are we?” Sweetie Belle asks, indicating around us. “How’d we get here? And why are we wearing these outfits?!”

I blink, before scratching my head. How to word this without sounding crazy or making it sound like Scootaloo or myself are to blame.

Suddenly, a rustling of leafs makes me whirl around, the Crusaders quickly hiding behind me.

I can’t help deadpanning at that. I’m younger than they are, physically. What good is hiding behind me going to do? I’m just a weak little girl right now. They’re more equipped to defend us than I am.

The rustling gets louder, the bushes in front of us moving, before a little white kitty cat wearing a blue bow jumps out.

“Aw,” Sweetie Belle coos, moving to get out from behind me, before I throw an arm out.

“What?” Sweetie Belle gives me a very puzzled look. “It’s just a little white kitty.”

“That’s not just any little white kitty,” I say wearily, eyeing it. “That’s Ahuizotl’s cat.”

At once, Scootaloo tenses, while Apple Bloom blinks in bewilderment and Sweetie Belle looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “A big bad guy has a cute little kitty cat for a pet?”

“It’s a much more common trope than you’d think,” I say, before shaking my head. “Besides, he’s not a b—”

“Lead the master over here!” the cat calls behind it in a very deep voice that reminds me of the guy who voice’s Bulk Head from Tranformers PRIME.

My expression blanks. One, because that is not the voice I would’ve associated with such a small cat and two, DID THAT CAT JUST FUCKING TALK?!

More rustling sounds are heard as the bushes are pushed apart, a jaguar, tiger, leopard and a lynx stepping out.

“Um, before you eat us,” I ask, getting worried whimpers from the Crusaders, “CÓMO HIZO EL JODIDO ESO GATO HABLÓ?!”

At once, the five felines pause, their expressions showing absolute confusion.

“Espere,” the cat says in that very distractingly low voice, “Qué quieres decir, mono extraño y sin pelo?”

“There. That, right there!” I say, pointing at the cat. “You just talked! I heard you! You just asked What do you mean, strange, hairless monkey? in Span—, erm, Equespañol!” I blink, before deadpanning. “Hey! I’m not a monkey!”

“Uh, is she talking to those cats?” Apple Bloom asks, sounding confused.

I glance back at her, confused myself. “Um, yeah. I know only Scootaloo speaks... Equespañol,” that pun is going to be the death of me, I swear, “but you do hear them talking, right? They’re right there in front of you!”

The trio look to each other, before looking back to me with the same puzzled look.

“Um, all we hear are cat noises and you making them,” Scootaloo says.

I blink. Huh? They don’t hear them? And what does she mean I’m making cat noises? Aren’t I speaking…?

I blink again, before wanting to slap myself in the face.

Of course! Dora is Diego’s cousin and his family have the ability to talk to any animal, not just those unique ones from Dora’s world who talk, act and live more like humans than animals without any real explanation.

Sure, at first it had seemed Dora didn’t have that ability because she needed Diego to translate sometimes, but after Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure, where she turned seven, there were several times she talked with the reoccurring character Baby Jaguar, who she at first never understood.

After that, it became canon that Dora can talk to animals too and, because I’m Dora from after her Big Birthday Adventure (despite still having the Wishing Crystal, for some unknown reason), that means I can talk to animals too… though I apparently do it unconsciously, like how I slip into Spanish without meaning to.

“Ninguna criatura aparte de nuestro maestro nos ha entendido,” the Jaguar says in a feminine voice.

“Um, could you guys please speak Ponish?” I ask uncertainly. “I dunno, hearing you speaking Equespañol is just kinda weird for me right now… which is saying something considering the fact I’m even understanding you at all is weirding me out enough as it is.”

At that, the lynx frowns at me. “And why should we give you that certousy?”

“You ask in the language she requested,” the tiger slaps a paw to her face. “Dude, what is the point in demanding us if you’re not going to do it by doing it?”

“Hey, shut up!” the lynx yells back at her.

I just watch as the argument unfolds… not sure what’s going on.

“Are they… arguing with each other?” Scootaloo asks, coming up next to me.

I nod slowly. “Sí… though I don’t get why. The matter in question is so trivial.”

“This happens more than you’d think,” the cat deadpans, before blinking and growling. “You two, stop quarrelling like newborn kittens! We’ve a job to do, remember?!”

The two felines stop their shouting match, before blinking, wilt, then get firm and join the others in a line up as they move to surround us.

“Wouldn’t Dora speaking their language make them friendlier?” Sweetie Belle asks worriedly as we all stand back to back, moving in circles along with the cats as they prowl around us.

“Those outfits are like Daring Do’s,” the lynx says, hissing, causing Apple Bloom to yelp.

“And if you work with that thief, then you are our master’s enemies too!” the leopard snarls.

“Uh, Espere. Solo espera bien?” I say, holding up my hands. “There’s been a serious misunderstanding here, I swear.”

“Please tell me you’re reasoning with them so they won’t eat us?” Sweetie Belle asks, her voice quivering.

A loud crashing sound causes us to look up along with the cats as the hulking form of a creature unlike any other in Equestria steps out from the trees.

The moment he lays eyes on us, he snarls. “So, it isn’t just those blasted Wild Bunch Gang are around. Daring Do has sent more thieves to take the treasures!”

“Ain’t him callin’ us thieves kinda the pot callin’ the kettle black?” Apple Bloom whispers.

“And why did he say that like Daring Do works with the Wild Bunch Gang?” Scootaloo whispers. “She’s always trying to stop them from stealing relics, not help them.”

“I am done tolerating these transgressions!” Ahuizotl snarls, lifting a cat whistle to his lips. “Younglings or not, if you are aiding Daring Do, you are an enemy to all the —”

“Por favor, espera, criatura guardian!” I cry, holding my hands up defensively.

He pauses, the whistle inches from his lips. He blinks. “Tú ... hablas el idioma de la jungle? Sabes que soy una criatura guardian?”

I nod frantically. “Sí, I do!” Oh, thank God. I have never been so thankful for my slipping into Spanish unintentionally. “I swear, Mr. Ahuizotl, there has been a huge misunderstanding.”

He narrows his eyes curiously. “And what misunderstanding is that, exactly, strange hairless monkey?”

My right eye twitches. “I. Am not. A MONKEY!”

The yell makes him flinch, clearly not expecting me to be so angry.

“Urm, my apologies. I do not know what you are, so assumed, since you look similar to…”

“Bueno, no lo estoy!” I snap, folding my arms and glaring at him.

There’s silence for several moments, no one seeming to know how to respond.

After I calm down, I sigh, rubbing between my eyes, before looking up firmly at the Guardian Creature. “Ahuizotl, were you aware Daring has no idea you’re protecting the relics?”

He blinks, before snarling. “Do you honestly expect me to believe that?! Do you know how many relics she and her accomplices have stolen from mine and the Sphinx’s temples?! You honestly expect me to believe they don’t know what they’re doing?!”

I give him an annoyed sympathetic look. “Ahu, ponies are dumb. They don’t think that far when it comes to other creatures.”

“Hey!” the CMC say angrily.

I glance back at them. “It’s true, isn’t it? What do you guys think of griffons?”

“They’re nasty!” Sweetie Belle says firmly.

“They’re mean!” Apple Bloom says.

“They’re jerks!” Scootaloo almost shouts.

“How many griffons have you girls met?” I ask, an eyebrow raised.

They open their mouths to answer, before blinking as they look to each other. “Um…”

“I’m guessing you never even talked to the team of hatchlings from Griffonstone at the Flag Carrying Competition, did you?” I ask, even though I know the answer.

“Well…” they all rub a front hoof in circles on the ground.

“So, aside from Gilda, whom has turned over a new leaf since then, you’ve never actually interacted with any other griffon, have you?” I ask. “That being the case, how can you know they’re all horrible?”

The trio don’t answer, just continuing making circles in the dirt.

I nod. “And it’s not just you fillies. A lot of adult ponies have the same mentality. Frankly, the sooner Twilight gets Neighsay to pull that stick out of his ass the better,” I mutter.

“So… getting back on track?” Ahuizotl asks, seeming a tiny bit annoyed the focus shifted like it did.

“Right. Sorry,” I turn back around to face him. “Well, like I said, ponies are dumb when it comes to other species. So, is it hard to believe Daring hasn’t thought you might be a guardian, not a criminal yourself?”

“How could she think I am the criminal when she’s the one always destroying my temples?!” he demands, aghast.

I sigh, rubbing my neck. “Well, using a more recent event with the Rings of Destiny, you never specified to Daring what the eight hundred years of unrelenting sweltering heat meant, did you?” And I have a good idea what it really meant.

He blinks, before frowning in confusion. “How could she not know? Did she not notice the sparseness of animals in the jungle at the time?! I’ve barely managed to get the population up thanks to her and those other ponies interrupting the ceremony! The other Guardian Creatures weren’t happy having to lend their own similar artefacts to help, since it reduced the numbers in their areas.”

“Um, what are the both of you babbling about?” Scootaloo looks beyond confused.

“I’ll explain when you’re older,” I smirk back at them, before returning my focus to Ahuizotl. “No, she didn’t. And you never bothered to try explaining it to her.” I deadpan. “I mean, really, all those times you had her bound down and trapped and you never thought once to see if she actually understood the situation?”

He opens his mouth, before pausing, blinking as he thinks it over, before he slaps his face with his tail hand. “You know, thinking out it, that might have cleared things up a lot.” Then he frowns. “But what about her accomplices?”

“Daring doesn’t work with Caballeron, Stawlwart Stallion and the Wild Bunch Gang!” Scootaloo says angrily, maybe not fully understanding, but at least going the right direction anyway. “They’re her enemies! She’s always tried to stop them from stealing stuff, not worked with them on it.”

“And, because she thought you were the bad guy, the same applies there,” I add, folding my arms.

Ahuizotl thinks for a few moments, probably going over every encounter he’s had with Daring over the years, before blinking and slaps himself in the face again.

“Wow, that… that really does explain a lot,” he gives an exasperated sigh. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this sooner.”

“So, next time you encounter Daring, maybe, instead of just gloating after catching her, you’ll try and explain yourself?” I ask, giving him a cocky smile.

He gives me a wry smile back. “Fine, fine. I guess I only have myself to blame on that one.” He sighs, looking very exhausted. “This is going to take a while, isn’t it?”

I shrug. “Probablemente.”

“Uh… excuse me?” we both look to Sweetie Belle, who has a frown on her face. “So, is he a good guy or a bad guy? Because my sister trusts you, Dora and I’m very confused. I thought he was a monster!”

Ahuizotl folds his arms, sighing. “I get that a lot.”

I nod. “Yeah. Daring’s been a wee bit mistaken. He’s a good guy, Sweetie, trust me… even if some of his actions were over the top,” I add, giving him a disapproving eyebrow raise.

“In my defence, I thought they were greedy intruders out to steal dangerous ancient artefacts,” he holds up a hand.

“Explain to Caballeron that and he’ll stop being one,” I say, before looking up uncertainly. “Stalwart Stallion and The Wild Bunch Gang, however…”

He nods. “I will try to keep that in mind.”

I rub my chin. “If I’m right, Caballeron will eventually go after the Diamond of Lapis Lux in a few years, so if you don’t encounter him sooner, you can make him understand then.”

“Okay, so, Daring Do’s greatest enemy is actually a good guy?” Scootaloo asks, before shrugging. “Okay, but, what do we do now? How’re we going to get back to Ponyville?” She glances around. “My parents may be explorers and could find their way easy, but I’ve no clue where we are.”

Ahuizotl blinks, before bowing. “Well, since you have helped me to understand the truth and given me an idea how to better protect the temples I guard, I would be more than happy to lead you to an area where you can get transport home.”

Apple Bloom looks to me. “Can’t we just use that crystal o’ yers, Dora?” she asks.

“Well, Scootaloo wished you guys could help me clear things up for Daring,” I say, taking the crystal in one hand while rubbing my chin with the other. “It might work. Scootaloo?”

She nods. “I wish we could all go back home.”

We wait… and wait. Nothing happens.

“Does this thing need a tune up, or something?” I frown down at the crystal.

“Where… did you get that?” the shock and awe in Ahuizotl’s voice makes us all look to see him and his cats staring at the Wishing Crystal in absolute shock.

“I… don’t know, really,” I say honestly, holding it in both hands now. “I just was suddenly wearing it several days ago. No explanation how, it was just there.”

“Wait. You know what this crystal is?” Apple Bloom asks, stunned.

He nods. “That crystal is an ancient relic long thought lost even before my time as a Guardian Creature. Legend said it would go to one from beyond this world whom would not be them self and could speak the language of the animals.” He looks to me, then his cats, who nod. “It would seem… the legend was true.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” I let go of the crystal, holding up my hands. “I’m part of some prophecy regarding this crystal?” I give a very unconvinced smile. “You’re kidding, right? I wasn’t even supposed to be in this world, let alone in this form? How am I part of a legend that I can’t even be in my own body for?”

He nods slowly. “It would seem so.”

There’s a pause, before I give a very snarky laugh. “Uh, no. sorry. Not this niña. I’m not even staying in this world for very long. Once the Friendship Festival’s over, I’m getting my original body back and going home, end of story.”

“Very well,” Ahuizotl says in a tone that tells me he doesn’t believe that for a second as he turns around. “Vamos chicas. I shall lead you home.”

He starts walking and we hurry after him, myself frowning.

Ahuizotl can’t be right. I’m not some chosen one from a prophecy. And what kind of chosen one would that be, anyway? This is the Wishing Crystal. It freaking comes from a world where its sole purpose is to grant the simplest of wishes on a daily basis. Hardly something worth seeing as legendary.
> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 7



 



___________________________________________________________






“So… how long do you think til we find a way to get home?” Sweetie Belle asks as we make our way through the jungle as I push up a branch for her to pass.

I glance at Ahuizotl. “We are heading to a clearing where we shall rest for the night.”

“We’re not going home today?!”Sweetie Belle’s jaw drops as she looks incredulously at the Guardian Creature.

He merely points to the sky. “It was already late when we met. Even I cannot get through the jungle from where we are before nightfall. No es possible.” 

“It’s not possible,” I translate, before nodding. “Makes sense. Rarity sent me to get Sweetie Belle for dinner.”

“And then my wish got us here,” Scootaloo rubs her neck, smiling sheepishly. “Lo siento, cruzados. Sorry, Crusaders,” she adds at the raised eyebrows.

I shake my head. “No es tu culpa, Scootaloo. I had no idea the Wishing Crystal would even activate. It’s not worked exactly as I expected since I first got here, so it doing what it normally would do took me by surprise as much as anyone.”

“None o’ us coulda seen this comin’,” Apple Bloom agrees, before grinning. “Besides, without yer wish, Scoots, we never woulda learned Ahuizotl’s actually a good guy.”

We go silent for a while, eventually reaching a small clearing.

Ahuizotl’s cats fan out, getting leafs and branches to help me and Apple Bloom built a temporary cover. It’s not perfect, but it’ll at least keep us dry if it rains.

The cats also come back with fruits for us to eat, along with prey they themselves will be eating.

“Rarity’s got to be so worried about me,” Sweetie Belle says as we start on the papaya Ahuizotl peeled and cut for us, having headed everything out on leaf plates.

“Applejack too,” Apple Bloom admits.

“And my aunts,” Scootaloo nods.

“I wish we could just talk to them,” Sweetie Belle says glumly, picking at her makeshift fruit salad. “Just to let them know we’re safe, ya know?”

I’m about to answer, when I feel a warmth around my neck and glance down, the Wishing Crystal glowing.

I frown. What, does it only respond to other creatures’ wishes and not mine? That’s a bit of a cop out, if true.

Everyone else turns as the crystal glows, three images appearing in it, one being a worried looking Rarity, the other Apple Bloom’s family and the other Scootaloo’s aunts.

“Rarity?!” Sweetie cries out happily.

All the ponies look up, glancing around in confusion, before looking at us.

“What in Equestria?” Lofty gasps.

“SWEETIE BELLE?!” Rarity hurries forward, her face pressed against the crystal surface. “Where are you?! Where’s Dora? Is she with you? Where are the both of you?!”

“That’s… a long story,” Apple Bloom says uncertainly.

“Wait a minute,” Applejack blinks, before I realize she’s spotted Ahuizotl behind us, looking at the crystal in fascination, a frown of puzzled recognition on his face. “Apple Bloom, watch out! Ahuizotl’s behind you!”

Scootaloo glances back, before waving her hooves. “No, no, no, Applejack, you don’t understand. Ahuizotl’s a good guy. He’s this thing called a Guardian Creature and everything’s been a huge misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?!” Rarity says fiercely. “So when that beast trapped Daring Do in that fortress to drown while being eaten alive by piranhas and unleash eight hundred years of unrelenting sweating heat was a misunderstanding?”

“Estrus,” I say flatly, folding my arms as I look down at the crystal.

“I… erm, what about it?” Rarity asks, a slight blush forming, the change of topic not being what she’d expected at all.

I cock an eyebrow. “Eight hundred years of heat, Rarity?”

There’s a pause as all six ponies in the crystal frown in confusion, before their expressions slowly morph to understanding, then uncomfortable as they all blush severely.

“I… oh,” Applejack covers her face with her Stetson.

I nod. “Eeyup. So, can we lay off the whole Ahuizotl is a monstrous evil beast thing and move on? Bueno?”

The adults all nod, now not fully looking into the crystal out of shear embarrassment.

“What’s Estrus?” Apple Bloom whispers to Scootaloo.

The Pegasus just shrugs. “How should I know?”

The yellow filly cocks an eyebrow. “Ain’t it Stirrupainish or whatever?”

She shake hers head. “Never heard that word before. If it’s Equespañol, I’ve never heard of it.”

“Anyway,” I say, trying to steer the conversation away from a topic the Crusaders shouldn’t be learning until Miss Cheerilee starts teaching it, which shouldn’t be took long off, really, considering the Crusaders’ ages, “back to the whole where we are matter?”

Rarity blinks, before her eyes widen. “That’s right! If you’re with Ahuizotl then you’re in the jungle!”

“How in Equestria did the lot of you end up there?” Lofty asks, before point. “And who’s the odd bald monkey?”

I glare. “I’m not a monkey! And the name’s Dora!”

“Oh,” Lofty blinks, seeming to understand how offended I am being called a monkey and, being married to the sister of an explorer, probably thinks she broke some taboo from my culture or something. “I… I’m sorry, Miss Dora.”

“Está bien,” I pout. “It’s fine!” I repeat more forcefully to the confused looks of the others who don’t speak the language. Guessing Lofty picked it up from her wife and niece or both.

“Anyway, like Rarity asked, how did you end up in the jungle with Ahuizotl?” Big Mac asks.

Scootlaoo and I look away sheepishly. “It was kinda both our fault.”

We glance at each other, before laughing a little.

“See, I have this item called the Wishing Crystal,” I explain to the ponies. “It hasn’t worked quite like it normally does, but it’s main purpose, as the name suggests, is to grant wishes.”

“And I accidently made a wish without realizing it that sent us here,” Scootaloo says, rubbing her neck.

“And we tried, but wishin’ ourselves back didn’ work,” Apple Bloom answers the obvious question.

“So, Señor Ahuizotl offered to take us to the train station, but it’s so late we won’t get there before nightfall,” I continue. 

“Well, I don’t like it,” Holiday says, frowning, “but I guess it can’t be helped.” She points, I’m assuming, at Ahuizotl. “You’d better take good care of my niece and her friends. If anything happens to them…”

“You have my word as a Guardian Creature, miss, I will do everything in my power to keep these young ones safe and ensure their safe return to your all,” he says firmly, holding up a hand.

She stares up at him sternly for several moments, before slowly nodding. “Okay. I’ll trust your word.”

“Ah’m gonna hold ya to that, Ahui… okay, Ah still can’t say yer name right,” Applejack says, the firmness in her tone losing some of the impact from her flubbing the name. “But if’n mah sister is hurt in any way…”

“She will be safe. You have my word,” Ahuizotl says, though I notice a slight tremor in his voice. He likely realizes just how serious Applejack is and senses she isn’t just saying that, but that she’d really be able to hurt him.

“Fine,” Rarity huffs, before glaring, I get the feeling, at both Sweetie Belle and myself. “But you’re both in big trouble once you get back!”

“What did I do?” Sweetie and I ask in unison, though I do so in Spanish.

She just huffs, turning her head away.

“Well… Ah guess this is g’night then,” Applejack says, rubbing her neck. “Sleep well, Apple Bloom and we’ll see ya tomorrow, okay?”

“Keep safe, slugger,” Lofty says, smiling at Scootaloo.

“Be safe,” Rarity huffs a bit less firmly.

The crystal stops glowing and the all fade away, it’s surface blank once more.

“Well, at least they know where we are now,” Apple Bloom says.

We finish eating, before settling down for the night. Well, the Crusaders do, anyway. I don’t feel quite as tired yet, so they settle into a huddle without me, Ahuizotl’s cats joining them and snuggling up, causing the three to giggle.

As the Crusaders fall to sleep, I look up at the stars in silence, the only other sounds being those of the jungle’s nightlife.

“Are you going to tell them soon, Princesa?” 

I start, glancing to my left as Ahuizotl comes over and sits down next to me, looking up into the sky.

I return my gaze to the star. “How did you know?”

“Princesses have a unique smell,” I notice him tap his nose in my peripheral vision. “I did not notice it at first due to your scent being so different from other creatures, it overwhelmed that smell.”

“Princesses have a scent in this world?” I ask, before groaning. “Well, there goes any chances of princesses hiding in secret, should the need arise.”

“Hmm? Oh, no, you misunderstand,” he shakes his head, drawing my attention and I turn to look at him. “I am not talking about just any princess. If that were true, the scent would be overpowering throughout the world. I mean True Princesses.”

I cock an eyebrow. “So, I’m the only one then?”

He shakes his head. “No. But you are one of the few. Those I know with the scent are the Royal Sisters of Equestria… though I have not personally met with them for many a century now… though, now I think about it, one of those ponies during the debacle with the Ring of Destiny had the scent.”

“That would be Twilight Sparkle,” I say, before glancing up. “So, aside from me, only Alicorns carry the scent? Can just anyone identify us with it?”

He shakes his head again. “No, Princesa. I can smell it because I am a Guardian Creature. Only specific beings should be able to smell the scent of a princess.”

I wrap my arms around my legs. Still, if that’s true, it does make me stand out even more now and I’m not sure I like that.

“Do… does no one else know?” Ahuizotl asks.

I remain silent for a moment. “No. No one but me in this world knows Dora became a True Princess long ago.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “You speak as if you are not you.”

I glance at him. “You said it in the legend, didn’t you?” I point to the crystal around my neck. “You said this would go to one from beyond this world who would not be them self and could speak the language of the animals. I may not believe in some legend, but Dora still isn’t who I used to be and she does speak the language of animals.”

“You became another being?” he looks worried. “Then… what happened to this Dora?”

I shake my head. “Nothing. She’s just a fictional character from my world. She doesn’t actually exist. She’s not real. Why she was part of a legend in another world is beyond me.”

We stay silent for a while, just staring up at the stars and listening to the sounds of the jungle.

After a while, I can’t stop a yawn that comes and I rub my eyes. “Guess I’ll go to sleep too. I am only eight now, after all.”

He nods. “I shall keep watch.”

I stand, before I stumble as I feel a wave of magic pass over me, the crystal flashing briefly.

“What… what in the world was that?” I ask, standing up, a hand to my head as I look around.

“I… do not know,” Ahuizotl says, looking around with narrowed eyes. “I have never sensed that kind of magic before… but it was strong. For it to be that easy to sense, it had to be quite powerful indeed.”

We remain still for some time, waiting, listening.

Nothing seems to have changed... but the reason for that magical wave can’t have been normal.

“Rest, Princesa,” Ahuizotl says after some time. “I shall protect you and your friends.”

I nod, not sure, but move over to the pile of sleeping bodies and nestle down with them. The jaguar shifts in its sleep, moving into a postion that will keep me warmer.

I give a small smile, before closing my eyes, sleep coming, while not right away, in time.






 



___________________________________________________________








“Ya know, the jungles pretty nice in the mornin’,” Apple Bloom remarks as we walk down a path, following Ahuizotl.

I can’t help sighing, smelling the morning air. Rainforest or jungle, the mornings are very beautiful and calming.

“Buenos dias exploradoras.” I glance around and notice a macaw smiling down as we pass.

I wave back. “Buenos días señor guacamayo”

“You’re making animal noises again,” Sweetie Belle says from behind me, her tone sounding like she’s telling me off, so I turn my head back and just stick my tongue out at her.

“Ah don’t see a problem with it,” Apple Bloom shrugs. “Fluttershy talks t’ animals all the time.”

“Yeah, but she just talks to them. She doesn’t talk to them by making animal noises at them,” Sweetie Belle remarks. “Well, most of the time,” she adds, I’m guessing because her friends were giving her a look.

“It should only be an hour or so’s journey,” Ahuizotl says reassuringly. “All we need is to get through this part of the jungle and then—”

He stops and I know why. His cats have halted in place ahead of us, their backs hunched. They sense or smell something.

“What is it?” I ask.

“There are ponies ahead,” the lynx says, growling.

“Ponies ahead?” I repeat, cocking an eyebrow.

“This far in the jungle?” Scootaloo asks, glancing to her fellow Crusaders in confusion.

Before anyone can answer, there’s a loud explosion and a red light appears far ahead, followed by two distant screams.

“We have to go help them!” Scootaloo looks to Ahuizotl.

“I wish we could, little Pegasus,” he says, shaking his head, “but that direction leads to a wide river that would take hours to get across, unless—”

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” I say uncertainly, the glow of the crystal spreading out and surrounding us.

When it fades where standing a little away from a small burning fire, though what else we see takes a few moments for my brain to actually catch up on.

An Earth Pony it takes me a moment to realize matches the colours of that guy playing the role of Stalwart Stallion in Equestria Girls Movie Magic, but more so because of the mare he’s holding threateningly while Daring Do and another pony watch on in angry worry.

The other stallion… looks like an adult male Apple Bloom with an apple with a star inside for a Cutie Mark. The mare Stalwart is holding… is light-orange with a darker orange mane and a Cutie Mark of a jar of butter.

“Wha… wha…?” Apple Bloom says beside me, her mouth agape.

I’m staring too, my brain struggling to process what I’m seeing.

That’s… that’s Pear Butter, Apple Bloom’s mother! And the stallion by Daring is Bright Macintosh, her father!

I… but… WHAT?!

Apple Bloom’s parents are alive? HOW? And why’re they here with Daring Do? WHAT?!

“Now, Daring Do,” Stalwart says… apparently not having noticed the three fillies, five cats, human and Guardian Creature that have just materialized right by them, “you and this stallion will lead me to where you’ve taken the Sword of Altoriosa and you monkeys will hand back the sceptre, or this mare shall never see the her next sunrise!”

I blink as I realize he’s not just holding Pear Butter, he’s got a knife to her throat. Holy fuck!

Wait. Monkeys?

“Bobos! Bobos!”

I deadpan. “Tienes que estar bromeando.”

Swinging in the branches a little above Daring Do and Bright Macinstosh are a pair of brown capuchin monkeys who are annoyingly familiar. Between them, they’re holding the sceptre I remember from Movie Magic.

“Freeze, Bobos!” Daring says sternly.

The two freeze in place, before their expression sag. “Whoops. Sorry.” Then they seem to realize how much danger Pear Butter is in a look to the staff.

“Do we give it back?” the one on the right asks.

Daring shakes her head, before she groans, rolling her eyes as she looks back at her enemy. “Why are you so obsessed with the sword of Altoriosa and its sister relics? It’s like that’s all you think about.”

“Those relics are mine by right!” he growls, bringing the knife closer. “Now, do as I say or—”

“Leave mah mother alone!”

“What in the— pah!” the stallion named Stallion begins, only for his words to turn into a pained gasp as Apple Bloom charges forward, whirls around and bucks him right in the crown jewels.

He lets go of Pear Butter, keeling to the ground, pulling himself into a ball as he gasps for air.

“What the?” Daring turns, noticing us. “Ahuizotl?” her eyes fall on me, then the crystal around my neck. “A human? And… that crystal… Where did you get it?!”

I’m not going to question how Daring could know what a human is. Considering her line of work, I’d be more surprised if she didn’t know what a human is.

“Ma!” Apple Bloom lunges into her mother who’s just getting up, causing the two to tumble back down to the ground.

The mare stares at the filly for a few moments, before her eyes widen. “Apple Bloom? Mah little Apple Bloom?”

“Eeyup,” Apple Bloom sobs happily, nuzzling into the mare’s fur.

There’s a moment of pause, before the mare returns to hug, tears falling from her own eyes, the two shortly being joined by the stallion, who’s shedding tears too.

“Wait. I thought Apple Bloom’s parents were dead, aren’t they?” Scootlaoo looks to Sweetie Belle, who shakes her head, just as stunned.

“Why are you here, Ahuizotl?” I look to my right to see Daring watching her arch nemesis with narrowed eyes. “Why’re these fillies with you? And why is a human with you?”

“Si puedo, señorita Do?” I ask, my use of Spanish drawing her attention.

“Dora?” a pair of voices asks, before repeating in delight, “Dora!”

I’m suddenly glomped by the Bobos, both seeming very happy to see me.

“Where’s Diego?”

“What is this place?”

“What’s a Sword of Altor-whatever?”

I spend the next couple minutes briefly explaining what I can, giving Apple Bloom time to reunite with her parents and introduce the other Crusaders to them.

The Bobos seem a small bit disappointed that I’m not actually the Dora they know, but they seem to get over it, especially when Ahuizotl congratulates them on keeping the scepter away from Stallion.

Once I’m done, Daring has quite the shocked expression.

“Wow. After hearing the explanation and looking back on it all…” she rubs her neck, looking to the Guardian Creature, “I guess it does make more sense now. I’m so sorry, Ahuizotl. I had no idea.”

“Yes, well, you could’ve bothered to do a bit more research into the temples,” he says, before sighing. “Then again, I too could’ve tried to better make you understand instead of jumping to the conclusion you were just another thief like the rest and then never bothering to try again.”

“This’ll certainly change things between us,” she smirks, folding her forelegs. “Dunno how this’ll affect my home life either, but I guess I’ll find a way to make it work.”

Nodding, I move over to the downed stallion and glare at him. He dared to threaten Pear Butter’s life?

I kick him. He deserves what Apple Bloom did.

I turn to introduce myself to the Apples, before I feel something grab my right leg and I’m yanked back, falling face first to the ground, my pith helmet flying off and rolling away.

“Dora!” the Crusaders and Bobos cry as I feel a weight on my back and a knife brought to my throat, my right arm being pulled back.

“Nopony move!” Stalwart snarls, his voice a little higher pitched and raspier than before, but none the less threatening. “One wrong move and this freak of an ape gets it.”

Well, at least he didn’t call me a monkey. Humans are technically apes, so I can’t feel too insulted by that.

The knife against my neck and threat to my life, however? Yeah, that’s not something I’m so comfortable with.

“Stallion, don’t you dare harm a hair on that child’s head!” Ahuizotl warns, snarling, his cats hissing.

“Let’s not be hasty,” Daring says, her eyes fixed on the stallion.

“I’m done waiting, Daring Do! And don’t you ponies try anything either!” he says quickly and I notice Bright Mac bitting his lip, his posture saying he was about to charge. “Any of you so much as moves an inch and she loses an eye!”

Damnit. What am I supposed to do now? In this position, there’s no way out. If only there were something I could do that’s so unexpected it would stun Stallion.

“Well, Daring?” Stallion asks warningly, shifting his grip on my arm, making me wince as he pulls it back further, my bracelet pressing against his…

I blink. My bracelet? My bracelet!

“Fine then,” Stallion says when no one does anything. He leans down a little, sneering at me. “Any final words, Ape?”

I turn my head slightly, smirking at him. “Just one.”

He chuckles, his tone mocking. “Oh, really? What?”

I grin. “Transformar-se!”

At once, my bracelet glows, its magic expanding around us.

Starlwart’s cry of alarm shows he definitely didn’t see this coming. Within seconds we’ve both transformed.

My mermaid form is no different from before aside from my Khaki Shirt shrinking a little and losing its sleeves.

Starwart kinda looks like Shining did as a Sea Pony, only lankier.

The change in his hooves was so shocking the knife slips from his grip, him not used to holding things with flipper-hooves.

I use his distraction and lack of understanding to spin us around so that I’m on top of him (think how Nala always pinned Simba in The Lion King), before rolling away.

“Dora?!” the Crusaders and Bobos hurry over.

“Está bien,” I say reassuringly, before changing back.

“Is he going to be alright?” Pear Butter asks as she and her husband join us, the cats surrounding the floundering Sea Pony.

I nod. “I’ll change him back. Sea Ponies can last a few hours out of water, so a few minutes like that should be fine. Hey, no!” I add as the jaguar licks her lips.

“Pero él amenazó tu vida, princesa!” she says firmly, then pouts. “And he smells so tasty now.”

“No comer los ponis!” I say firmly, noticing the odd looks from the others. “Better you not know,” I shake my head.

Apple Bloom introduces me to her parents and we start talking.




 



___________________________________________________________








Ahuizotl smiled as the human child started chatting and laughing with the other ponies and monkeys.

He glanced down to his now former nemesis… and noticed she was staring stunned at the human.

“Daring Do?” he asked, puzzled. “What is wrong?”

“She… she turned into a creature of the sea,” Daring say, her voice… concerned?

“She surprised me with that, too, I will admit,” he said, looking to the group. “I had sensed something magical about her bracelet, but had never imagined it was a gift from the ocean.” He looks back. “Why does this worry you, Do?”

“She… she can’t be,” Daring shook her head slowly, taking a step back. “It… it was just nonsense. He couldn’t have known…”

Now Ahuizotl was concerned. “Daring Do, is there something you know about that Princesa?”

Daring eyes widened and she glanced at him. “No. She’s not a princess! … Is she? Please tell me you’re joking, Ahuizotl?!”

He hesitated. Daring seemed… scared? What did she have to be scared of?

“How could it be true?” Daring looked down at the ground. “She… she can’t be the one. She… that prophecy can’t have meant her!”

“You know the legend of how the crystal would go to one from beyond this world whom would not be them self and could speak the language of the animals?” he asked, an eyebrow raised.

Daring looked to him, frowning in confusion. “What? No, I’m not talking about that legend. I’m talking about that crazy griffon’s prophecy about my d —”

Daring’s eyes widened and she stopped herself, looking away.

Ahuizotl just looked at her quizzically.

“Let’s… let’s just get them home,” she said, before turning away. “I’ll take Stallion to the authorities… once she changes him back.”
> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 8



 



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“So, how exactly are you… here?” I ask the Apple parents.

We’re on the train heading back from the jungle towards Ponyville. The Bobos are going to stay in the jungle, Ahuizotl’s even offered them jobs keeping an eye out for Daring Do’s remaining enemies/thieves.

Daring was … oddly distant before we left. After I changed Stallion back into a pony, she took him away, refusing to talk to anyone except Ahuizotl.

I caught her looking at me once or twice… with a look I don’t understand. To quote John Hurt’s Doctor, “I’m trying to think of a better word than dread”.

“Well, t’ be honest… we don’ know what happened,” Bright Mac shrugs as his way cuddles their daughter. “We tried to discuss it with Miss Do, but it didn’t clear anything up.”

“Best we can remember, we were feeling kinda ill, were trudging through the forest and then found outlives there, late at night, Miss Daring camped not too far away,” his wife says, shaking her head. “We didn’t know what happened… but somehow, time moved on around us.” She looks down at her daughter. “You were just a foal last time I saw you and look at you now. So big and you even have yer Cutie Mark.” A tear slides down her cheek. “We missed so much.”

“Dora, estás bien?” Scootaloo asks as I hold me head.

I nod, a frown creasing my brow. “Yeah, I… I just… I dunno. I feel like I know something here, what they’re talking about, but I can’t remember what or why.”

“Well, whatever the case, we’re back now,” Bright Mac says, pulling his wife and child into a hug. “That’s all the matters. Whatever we missed, we’ll make up fer it fr’m here on out.”

“Grand Pear’s gonna be so happy t’ see ya!” Apple Bloom says cheerfully.

My head shoots up and I stare at her as her parents look down in surprise.

“Pa came back?” Pear Butter says, her eyes wide.

I’m staring wide eyed too… but for entirely different reasons.

Grand Pear has already come back to Ponyville and made up with his family? The events of Perfect Pair have already been and gone?

But… but how? That’s season seven. We’re still not even out of season five.

I’ve accepted that the movie’s happening out of sync from what I know, but at least it makes sense and I can rationalize why that would be. The Perfect Pair happening out of order though?

I… but… HOW?!

“I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad we helped Aunt Daring defeat Stawwart Stallion and help her learn Ahuizotl’s actually a good guy!” Scootaloo says to Sweetie Belle, grinning.

“Si,” I nod. “That will be quite…” I stop, my brain catching up with the rest of what she said. “Wait! WHAT?! Aunt Daring?!”

Scootaloo nods casually. “Yeah. She’s Mom’s sister.”

I blink, my brain putting Mane Goodall and Daring side by side, before my eyes widen.

That… that makes WAY TO MUCH SENSE!

They’re both pegasi, both share similar colour palates AND both are explorers.

I… but...




 



___________________________________________________________








Sweetie Belle smiled as she watched her friend chatting happily with her long lost parents. She’d never seen Apple Bloom so happy, not even when they’d gotten their Cutie Marks.

“Next stop, Ponyville!” a stallion’s voice called down the cart.

Sweetie blinked, before looking to the human, only to become worried. Very worried.

Dora was just sitting there, her eyes staring, unblinking, a smile her face and head tilted slightly to the side.

Gulping, she slid off her chair and slowly inched over and sat down next to the biped.

“Um… Dora,” she asked with a slight quiver in her voice, “are you okay?”

“Oh, estoy bien,” the girl replied, her tone somehow cheerful and monotone at the same time, unnerving the filly further. “Mi cerebro se está reiniciando para encajar en un conocimiento previamente desconocido que redefine mi comprensión de los árboles genealógicos de ponis y son ramificaciones serias de lo que pensé que sabía todo este tiempo.

“O…kay?” the filly said slowly, further unnerved despite not actually knowing what Dora just said.

She glanced back at the others, none of whom had noticed Dora seemingly having become like a doll.

What the hay had happened in the last couple moments that could’ve done that? All Scootaloo said was she was related to Daring Do. It’s not like anything insane had just happened.

She glanced back to Dora, but she was still just staring blankly with that disturbing smile.

She gulped. She was going to be living with this girl for the next couple weeks? Seriously?

Maybe she should see if her parents would let her back out of staying at Rarity’s and live with them again. It had to be safer, right?

The train started to slow down, so Sweetie stood up on her seat and looked out the window— only to yelp and duck down upon what she saw on the platform. Or, rather, who.










 



___________________________________________________________








Scootaloo is related to Daring Do! Scootaloo is related to Daring Do! Scootaloo is related to Daring Do! 

It sounds insane, like some random headcanon someone would come up with, but… the more and more I go over it in my head, the more and more it makes sense!

How did none of us ever notice this!

That means, Scootaloo idolized the mare who idolizes her own aunt all this time! This… this is so insane, I just… How am I supposed to react to this?!

A loud eeping sound yanks me from the downward spiral my brain was heading through and I shake my head, turning to Sweetie Belle… who’s next to me?

When did she come over to sit next to me? And why’s she suddenly ducked down onto the seat and curled into a ball as if trying to hide from something?

Turning and stretching up to look out the window, I suddenly understand as my breath catches in my throat upon my eyes meeting the disapproving glare of a certain alabaster mare.

Before I can react beyond my stomach filling with dread, however, I suddenly feel a warmth surround my right ear, before it’s yanked painfully, pulling me towards the door.

“Ow, ow, ow! Rarity!” Sweetie whines as the two of us are pulled off the train, dragged by our ears.

“Ow, ow, ow! Eso duele!” I whimper, my eyes watering from the pain. My parents had only pulled my ear one or twice in my early childhood, so I’d forgotten just how damn painful it was.

“We are going home, now!” the mare says firmly, turning and trotting off with a huff.

We both whine and I want to just dig a hole and die as ponies stare at us, the clear mothers in the crowd giving us a look that says they think we’ve misbehaved and deserve whatever punishment is coming our way.

For crying out loud, I was over twenty years old less than seventy-two hours ago. I should not be getting subjected to this!

We dragged, by ear the whole way, back to Carousel Boutique, myself and Sweetie both begging Rarity to at least let go of our ears. I’m honestly starting to worry she’ll accidentally rip mine clean off at this point.

After what feels like hours, though was probably only a few minutes, we arrive at the boutique and Rarity drags us in.

It’s only now, once we’re inside and the door is closed behind us, she drops her magical hold on our ears.

At once, I’m rubbing my ear, Sweetie Belle mirroring me as Rarity gives the both of us a very disapproving look.

“I cannot believe you two,” she scolds us and I find myself wincing for some God only knows reason. “Do either of you realize how worried you made me? You should both just count your lucky stars that it turns out Daring Do’s arch enemy was not actually that! You both could’ve been in serious danger!”

Sweetie Belle and I glanced at each other, silently agreeing we shouldn’t mention the whole “Stalwart Stallion holding a knife to my neck and threatening to stab out one of my eyes” thing.

Rarity looks us both over, before pointing to her right. I follow her direction… and see a mannequin with the dress she’d given me and three small ponequins that are naked.

I blink, not quite following… before I glance down at mine and Sweetie’s explorer attire… and wilt. Oh.

“Care to explain why those three outfits for fillies and the one you are wearing are not there?” the mare asks me firmly.

There’s a flash from the Wishing Crystal and magical swirls surround both myself and Sweetie Belle, her outfit and mine vanishing, the latter being replaced by my dress, the explorer outfits, plus I’m assuming Apple Bloom and Scootaloo’s, appearing on their holders too.

“No estas ayudando!” I hiss through gritted teeth at the rock around my neck.

Rarity points up the stairs. “To your rooms, both of you!”

“But it’s not even late afternoon!” Sweetie says firmly.

Rarity’s eyes narrow. “To. Your. Rooms!” She thrusts her hoof at the stairs. “Now!”

We both wilt, hurrying up the stairs.

“And you’d better have eaten on the train because you can forget about supper tonight!” Rarity’s voice calls after us.

As we reach the top, Opalescence is sitting on the railing a little away from us, giving us both a disapproving look.

“Normally it’s not my place,” he glares, “but you both made Mistress very unhappy.”

“Oh, zip it, cat!” I snap, glaring back. “It’s not like we planned that adventure or anything!”

He pauses, staring in blank shock.

At his reaction, Sweetie glances at me. “You talking to my sister’s cat now?”

I blink, before remembering how I apparently start making animal noises once I start speaking to animals. I nod.

Sweetie deadpans. “Do I wanna know what he’s saying?”

I shake my head.

“Whoa, whoa. Wait a second. You understand me?” Opal walks over, his eyes wide. “Only that Fluttershy pony has ever understood me. How’re you able to?”

“I don’t hear little feet and hooves heading for their rooms!” Rarity voice calls warningly from down below.

Sweetie and I glance at each other before hightail it, going our separate ways to get to our rooms.






 



___________________________________________________________






I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, looking out the window.

I’m wearing a pink nightgown that has short sleeves. It’s top half is light-pink, with the lower part being a darker shade, one from the many outfits Rarity made for me and made me model for her before Shining and the others had arrived, leading to the whole Sea Pony adventure.

I’m holding the Wishing Crystal in my hands, just staring down at it.

It’s only really just hitting me now… I’m not going home for possibly weeks. I’m going to be stuck, like this, in Equestria and have no means of letting my family know what’s going on.

They must be so worried. Once they realize I didn’t go home, since they can’t contact me anymore, they’ll come over and learn I didn’t get home, if they haven’t already.

They must be so worried about me right now, not knowing where I am and having no way of finding me.

It’s not like the Australian Police Force have a means of scanning interdimensional space to find lost people turned into little girls from a cartoon that ended up in a parallel dimension based on another cartoon.

I thought about asking Discord for help, but even wishing on the crystal didn’t give me a chance there. It didn’t react and he didn’t appear in response to his being called.

I even tried just gushing about how amazing a character he is, going over the top, in the hopes his ego would be stroked enough to come.

No such luck.

A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts.

“Adelante,” I call, not bothering to even turn around.

I hear the door open and the sound of hooves trotting on the floor.

I don’t even look up as Rarity comes to my side.

“Everything okay?”

I shake my head.

There’s silence for a moment, before Rarity sighs and sits on the bed, putting a hoof on my shoulder.

“I know you’re not really a child, Dora, so you don’t like me treating you like one this way, but you are going to be living under my roof until we can get you home,” she says in that tone adults do when they’re trying to be kind while also trying to remain firm to make you understand. “I can’t have you just running off on adventures without letting me know, and especially after I’ve told you not too.”

There’s silence for a few seconds, before I feel something furry brush up against my other arm and I glance to it to see Opal there, rubbing against me, looking to me with concern.

“Sweetie has explained further about the situation,” Rarity continues, sounding a tiny bit uncertain. “As have Apple Bloom’s… parents. Sweet Celestia, it’s weird even saying that after all this time.”

I don’t answer, just petting Opal with my other hand as he pushing against me, both to get affection as well as give it.

Rarity clears her throat. “Anyway, they informed me about things more clearly than you and the Crusaders did last night, so, I’m willing to let it go this time. But, in the future, I expect you to respect my authority on this, okay?”

I give a small nod.

I see Rarity out the corner of my eye. “Okay, Darling. Try to get some rest.” She pulls me into a hug, which I don’t have the energy to resist. “I know this is hard for you, Darling, but it will be okay. You’ll see. I’m certain Twilight will have you back home in no time. Goodnight.”

“Buenas noches, Rarity,” I say quietly.

She slides off the bed and heads out, closing the door behind her.

I slowly get into bed, settling into the covers.

Opal walks over and snuggling next to me.

“Goodnight… Dora, isn’t it?” he says.

I give a small nod.

I close my eyes, hoping for sleep to take me soon.

I just want to go home.
> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 9



 



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Something shifts against me, stirring me from sleep.

I remain still, my barely awake mind confused by the sensations I’m feeling, before my brain catches up with me and I remember everything that’s happened so far.

Right. I’m Dora the Explorer and in Equestria.

I take notice of what shifted against me and had woken me up, resisting that it’s just Opulence. He’s snuggled against my frame.

I remain where I am, not even bothering to open my eyes. I don’t know what the time is, nor do I really care. I was never much of a morning person, anyway and after all the adventuring I did over the last forty-eight hours, I think I have the right to not get up right away.

Having no concept of the time, when I hear a knock on the door to my room, I jump, my movement startling Opal and making him get defensive, before relaxing.

“Lo siento, Opal,” I sigh, rubbing my eyes half-heartedly.

“Dora,” Sweetie Belle’s voice calls from the other side of the door, “Rarity says it’s time to get up. She’s got breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen.”

“Gracias, Sweetie,” I call, blinking as my eyes adjusting.

The brightness tells me it isn’t too late in the morning. Though, that guess could be wrong, since I’m pretty sure it’s early or late spring here right now, meaning daylight savings time should either have started or will start soon and trying to judge time by how bright things are during those times is pretty inaccurate.

Sighing, I slide out of bed, Opal hopping down too and I leave the room, making my way cautiously downstairs as the sound of a door closing can be heard.

“Rarity?” I call uncertainly.

“In the kitchen, darling,” is the reply.

Walking in, I find Rarity setting down a bowl, glass bottle of milk and bowl of generic looking cereal.

“Good morning,” she says as I come in, failing to stifle a yawn, Opal following at my heels.

“Buenos días,” I say through the yawn, moving over and sitting at the table.

“Have a good night’s sleep?” Rarity asks, clearly trying to make conversation.

“Mmhm,” I nod, pouring the cereal and milk into the bowl and half-heartedly eating.

Opal meows and Rarity pours him a saucer of milk, which he starts drinking.

“Dónde está Sweetie Belle?” I ask, between spoonfuls.

I translate upon seeing the raised eyebrow. “Oh, school, darling. It’s Monday, after all. New school week, and all.”

I nod. Guess that makes sense. Guess I was lucky I didn’t accidentally have yesterday’s adventure today.

“Now, Dora,” Rarity says in a serious tone I recognize from whenever I was going to be told how something has to or very likely is going to happen, “we need to talk about what’s going to happen while you’re here. You’re not planning on staying long after the Friendship Festival after all, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prepare for the time you will be here, especially since we don’t know exactly how long that will be after the festival itself.”

I nod.

“That being the case, the festival is less than two weeks away, so I’m going to be doing a lot of work,” she continues. “But, for today at least, I’d like you to stay here in the boutique with me or at least within the confines of Ponyville, understood? After all, if I’m in here and then Canterlot for the rest of the next week, it wouldn’t do for you if you get cornered because of your unique appearance.”

I blink, before a certain mint-green unicorn springs to mind and I blanch. “Oh, sí. Salir por mi cuenta definitivamente no es algo que deba hacer todavía.”

She blinks at me for a few moments. “Well, I heard sí in that and you tend to use that for yes, so I’m assuming you agreed. So,” she gets up, “once you’ve finished breakfast, get dressed and we’ll get started on the designs for the last touches of the festival.”

A few minutes later, I’m sitting on a small table, hands pressed to the edges as I rock my feet back and forth, watching Rarity do her thing.

I’m wearing a different pink dress from before. This one is light-pink and sleeveless, with a pale nimbus (Rarity’s words, not mine) ribbon wrapped around the waist, with similar colours on around the edges of the dress and a pair of pink thongs, which I’ve been somewhat amusing myself with by sliding and slipping them on and off my feet without having to touch them.

“So, how long will this be?” I ask after waiting two whole hours. I kept an eye on the clock too, so it wasn’t just my boredom making things seem to be taking longer.

During the time, Rarity had gotten several ponies who took boxes of stuff visiting the store, her saying they were going to Canterlot.

The only reason I hadn’t been completely bored was because I was able to talk with Opal, Rarity having only given me odd looks for the first few minutes, likely confused why I was meowing and whatever she was hearing when I talked cat.

Rarity pauses in levitating some silk, frowning at it, before nodding. “Now.”

“So, we’re going into town now?” I ask, feeling excited to finally be getting out. Being couped up in the boutique all day was not my idea of fun.

Rarity nods, before frowning and shaking her head. “Town? Oh, no, Daring. We’re going to get things ready for Canterlot.”

I pause, two feet away from the door and slowly turn around, not sure if I misheard that? “Llegar de nuevo?”

“The festival is less than two weeks away, after all,” Rarity says, either somehow understanding what I said, guessed it, or not actually having noticed my question at all. “I agreed to care for you, so I will help you settle in first, but, at most, we will have to leave within the next two to three days. I don’t feel right leaving it all to Coco and Sassy for that long. Granted, I’m sure others from the fashion industry will arrive soon, but I wish to get started as soon as possible.”

I feel the hand of worry that had just clenched my heart lessen its grip at least a little, breathing a sigh of relief.

Phew. For a second there, I thought Rarity meant we’d be going to Canterlot right now. I at least want to get a bit more familiar with the town I’ll be living in for the next couple weeks before jumping into exploring the damn capital.

Sure, you’d think after exploring a freaking jungle and having a damn knife put to my throat, Canterlot should sound like a breeze, but I think it’s a matter of the mind.

I knew jack about the jungle, but was able to settle quickly into a rhythm thanks to Dora’s natural instincts exploring rainforests and being able to find common ground with Ahuizotl and that helped to distract me a lot.

But Canterlot? I know that place from the show far better and the atmosphere one is likely to experience there, especially at this point in Equestria’s timeline. Not to mention, at least in the jungle, I didn’t have to worry about the animals judging me for my appearance as my merely speaking their language seemed to make them trust me.

Canterlot ponies? I know damn well how they act even to ponies who simply aren’t from Canterlot itself and even worse to non-ponies, so I can easily picture the worse scenarios for a human walking into Canterlot and running into an upper crust pony… possibly even Upper Crust herself.

Then again, doesn’t she mellow out towards the end of the series? Though, how long between season two and season nine it was before she became a at least nicer than before pony is unknown.

Sure, I’m technically about the size of an adult ponies, so I shouldn’t have to worry about them trying to intimidate me with size, I would just have to make sure they don’t realize I’m only physically eight and not around their ages, but their superiority complexes could easily become enough to make me anxious.

I’m dealing with an eight year old’s emotions as well as my own after all. Those two waring mindsets can always end the worst way at the most inopportune times.

“Coming, Dora?”

Rarity’s voice pulls me from my inner thoughts and I realize she’s walked passed me and is standing in the doorway, looking back. 

I shake my head, before hurrying after her. “Ya voy!”








 



___________________________________________________________










“I… kinda wish I was wearing something else,” I mumble as we’re walking towards Sugar Cube Corner.

As I’d expected, everypony is staring at me. I can’t say I blame them, as I doubt any of them have seen a human before.

Most likely they’re all under the impression I’m some kind of hairless monkey they never heard of before, but the fact I’m talking and wearing clothes tells them I’m not a pet, but a member of some kind of society outside pony culture.

I mean, they wouldn’t be wrong, technically, but… yeah.

“Nonsense, darling,” Rarity whispers reassuring as she trots next to me. “Spike got a few odd looks during his first few… well, I guess hours,” she becomes sheepish. “I guess the situations are a bit different, since he’d come during the final hours before the Summer Sun Celebration, so everypony was too excited about that to focus on his being a dragon, but… I’m not helping, am I?”

I deadpan. “No.”

We enter the confectionary shaped establishment. A few ponies are in here, but not too many… however, lady luck must hate me as I immediately spot a pony I had wanted to avoid, rooting me in place.

She’s sitting with Bon Bon in a booth towards the back, thankfully with her back to me.

However, even if Lyra Heartstrings can’t see me, her marefriend/future wife does.

She glanced our way as the bell jingled upon our entering and her eyes are wide, with a look of recognition I have to wonder be it because of having met humans in her secret agent days or because her marefriend has talked so much about my kind.

Now, why would Bon Bon seeing me instead of Lyra fill me with as much dread as the mint-green mare herself?

Bon Bon may be the one looking at me, but Lyra is looking at Bon Bon… and has noticed the expression on the candy mare’s face.

Lyra slowly starts turning to me, Rarity completely oblivious of the extreme danger we are now in as she continues towards the counter.

The unicorn’s head turns, her eyes scanning the area to see what could have caused such a reaction from her Bonnie. At first, it looks for one beyond hopeful moment that she passed over me… before her eyes shoot back in my direction and remain fixed.

We both stare back at each other, big brown eyes meeting just as large golden ones, as her mouth hangs open, her shocked, myself absolutely pissing myself with fear.

After a few seconds of staring at me in shock, Lyra’s mouth slowly starts sliding upwards into a grin so big and happy even Pinkie Pie wouldn’t be able to pull it off, her eyes sparkling like the night sky.

That look, despite its happy emotions, fills me with absolute terror.

“HU—!” she starts to yell, leaping forward, before Bon Bon’s hoof flies quickly to her neck, her movements quick and something clearly like a secret agent.

Lyra’s eyes go misty and her expression blank, before she flops to the floor, unconscious.

All heads turn to the couple, Bon Bon heavily blushing. “Ah, ha ha. I did warn here against the rum cake. She really is a lightweight when it comes to that stuff.”

She scoops up the unconscious mare, plops her on her back and starts heading out, giving me a quick look as she passes me,

“Gracias,” I whisper back to her, more grateful than I think I’ve ever felt in my whole life.

“De nada,” she says back, trotting out the door, Lyra groaning.

I blink, before shaking my head. Bon Bon knows Spanish too. Okay. Noted. Then again, since she used to be a secret agent, knowing multiple languages makes a good amount of sense.

You wouldn’t exactly be a very useful secret agent if you could literally only speak one language and had to do an assignment that required stealth in a place when you couldn’t speak any other damn language.

“Dora?” I blink as I realize Rarity is staring at me and I hurry over, only to feel almost as much fear as when I saw Lyra.

Pinkie Pie is on the other side of the counter and she’s smiling at me.

Yeah, that shouldn’t scare me. Pinkie’s one of the friendliest ponies in the whole freaking show, but that’s also the reason to fear her.

“That makes so much more sense!” Pinkie chirps, grinning at me. “Welcome to Ponyville, Dora the Explorer.”

At once, my face blanks. She knows. Of course she fucking knows. She’s fucking Pinkie Pie. Of course she saw beyond the fourth wall to the origin of my current form!

Rarity looks to the pink mare in confusion. “What makes so much more sense now, darling?”

“Twitchy tail, ear twirl, sleepy nose, dry tongue, blinking eyelids,” Pinkie says matter-of-factly.

Rarity just stares at her. “Um… come again?”

I don’t need any further explanation. Pinkie Sense. Exactly what that combo told her I don’t know and it’s probably safer for my mental sanity if it remains that way.

“So, how’re things on your end, Rarity?” the pink pony asks, changing the subject on a dime. “Mr. and Mrs Cake are already in Canterlot, so I’m looking after the shop and the twins. I hope Cheese and them can get along well enough.”

As if on cue, giggling comes from behind me and I whirl around to see a pair of foals with beady eyes smiling up at me, their heads cocked to the side in fascination.

“Hola. Soy Dora,” I say, leaning down to their level, finding myself unable to stop a small smile coming to my lips. How can you not smile when a baby comes up to you?

I mean, technically, I think they’re toddlers now, since at least two Hearth’s Warming episodes happened since their intro episode Baby Cakes and they’re not wearing diapers anymore… but they don’t look any older, so they’re still babies in my eyes.

The two blink up at me, before smiling and babbling, reaching up.

I can’t help giving a small laugh and pick up Pumpkin Cake, Pound immediately buzzing up to eye level.

Pumpkin looks up into my eyes, her smile so innocent, before she starts nuzzling into my chest.

I can’t help smiling more and close my eyes, holding her closer.

Suddenly, loud “Aww”s from all around me make my eyes shoot open and I realize everypony is staring at us, smiling.

At once, that comforting feeling is replaced with nerves.

Thankfully, Rarity seems to have anticipated this reaction as she quickly leads me, myself stilling carrying the little unicorn, to a booth and we sit down, Pound landing in the empty space next to me, his face still that innocent smile.

“You seem good with foals,” Rarity remarks as she sits down, watching as Pound clambers onto my lap to join his sister and the two snuggle into me.

My nerves ease a tiny fraction and I gave a small smile, sifting my hand through their manes. “I’ve had five younger siblings… though I think it’s more Dora’s ease around her own brother and sister here.”

Rarity blinks, her expression turning to shock, before sadness. “You have a brother and sister?”

I shake my head. “Two sisters, three brothers. All younger than me… well, they used to be younger than me, anyway.” I see my reflection in the Wishing Crystal. “Ahora soy la mas … unless Twilight can also give me my old body back.”

Rarity smiles sadly at me. “It will be okay, Dora. I’m sure Twilight can find a way. And, if she can’t, we can ask the other princesses to help. I’m sure they’d be more than willing to help get you home.”

I look to her and smile. I really hope you’re right, Rarity. I really, really do.

We spend the next couple minutes just sitting in the booth, myself playing with the twins, glad to finally be feeling a least a bit normal again.

When we get up to leave, Pinkie has to actually pry the foals off of me with a crowbar (it’s Pinkie Pie, don’t question it, I’m not) and I can’t help wanting to stay as we leave.

I still don’t know if it’s Dora’s instincts for her own siblings (not helped by the fact her siblings are twin brother and sister, just like the Cake twins) or memories of my own brothers and sisters from when they were that age, but I just wanted to stay and look after them.

Maybe my mind’s just trying to distract me from my current reality with something at least a bit familiar to me.

Rarity and I spend the rest of the afternoon running errands around town. Not much, just fabrics for her future outfits, parchment and quills for drawing her future designs and groceries.

Rainbow meets up with us at one point and chats for a bit, but not for long, much to my disappointment.

By the time the day is over, I’ve met with a few other ponies, though none I really recognize, so likely background ponies.

We do meet up with Derpy at one point. She was very kind to me and gave me a muffin, saying it would help me feel better.

It did, if a little.

I go to sleep that night, my mind a buzz with excitement and worry about the movie events coming up, but the warmth from Opal at my side helps ease me off to slumber land.
> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 10



 



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I yawn as I walk out of my room and head downstairs. Upon entering the kitchen, I see Sweetie Belle.

However, the moment she sees me, she moves to leave.

“Espera, para,” I say, moving to block her path. “Sweetie, why do you keep avoiding me?”

It’s been a couples days since our little jungle adventure. Rarity’s planning on heading for Canterlot today, meaning the movie’s events are just over a week away.

However, that’s not what has my attention right now.

Ever since that day, it’s become clear to me that Sweetie Belle has been doing everything she can to avoid being near me.

She didn’t even stay here at Rarity til last night. The Crusaders had conveniently decided to have several sleepovers at each other’s houses, so she’d been away every night.

Now, I wouldn’t have thought that odd, expect every time Rarity and I encountered her over those days, while her fellow Crusaders, especially Scootaloo, had bene happy to chat, Sweetie had always had some excuse as to why she had to go, more often than not telling the other two she’d meet up with them later.

Sweetie stops in place, looking at me with… worry.

“Sweetie Belle, what is going on?!” I demand, making sure to not slip into Spanish so I don’t have to translate and so my determination to get an answer as fully emphasized. “Why do you not want to be around me?”

Sweetie glances around, as if trying to find an exit.

I frown. “Sweetie, don’t make me use this,” I nod down to the Wishing Crystal around my neck. “Don’t make me wish for you to tell me. I don’t want to force you.”

I do realize that’s a bit contradictive, as I’m technically doing just that, but I mean I don’t want to magically force her… not that I’m even sure the Wishing Crystal would grant that wish, one, because of how spotty it has been with what wishes it will and will not grant, but two, because I don’t think it would grant a wish that would be distressful to another living being like that.

There’s silence between us as we stand there, myself between her and the doorway, arms outstretched, her glancing around for any away of out of it.

“Enough.”

We both go rigid at that stern tone and look behind me to see Rarity standing there, giving us both a disapproving look.

I quickly move away from the doorway, wilting a little as the alabaster unicorn walks through, glancing between the two of us.

“Dora,” I wince as I’m the first addressed, “you should have just asked me about this. And Sweetie Belle,” her sisters wilts just as much, “this has gone on long enough. Dora has only been with us a few days and done everything she can to be friends with you. I will not tolerate you ignoring and avoiding her like this any further.”

Wait, Rarity had noticed it too? Then again, she does have a very keen eye (when the writers are not making her completely inept, anyway), so why wouldn’t she have noticed.

Sweetie glances between her sister and me. After several minutes of silence and Rarity’s staring, she speaks.

“You didn’t see her on the train, Rarity!” she points at me… and now I’m confused. The train? The one that brought us back to Ponyville? What about me on the train? “It was creepy. She was smiling as if she was… I dunno what! It was just really, really creepy!”

Rarity glances at me, but I just shrug and shake my head. I don’t know what she’s talking about any more than her own big sister.

“When exactly did this happen on the train?” Rarity asks, an eyebrow raised. “If Dora herself doesn’t know, how can she explain?”

Sweetie blinks, looking confused, before glaring at me. “How can you not know?! You said…” she growls. “I don’t know what you meant, but you said… How did it go again?!”

She stomps her hoof on the ground, grinding her teth.

I glance at Rarity, feeling even more confused. Even Opal, who’s now joined us, is glancing from the filly to myself in bewilderment.

“You said… Mi cerebro… se está rein… iciando para…encajar en un… conoci… miento previ… amente desc… onocido que… redefine mi comprensión de… los árboles… gene… alóg… icos de ponis y son ramificaciones… serias de lo que pensé que… sabía todo este tiempo,” Sweetie says slowly, her strained face showing she struggling to remember and pronounce the words she’s saying.

I go over her words, before blinking. “Well, yeah, my brain was rebooting because learning Scootaloo and Daring Do are actually related changed my whole understanding of her family tree and what that actually means regarding everything I knew about said ponies.” I rub the back of my neck. “I dunno what about that freaked you out and I apologize if it did, but it was such a shock to my system. It changed everything I thought I knew about Scootaloo, so it was a lot to take in at once.”

Sweetie blinks. “Wait. That’s what made you act that way? You were surprised Scootaloo is related to Daring Do?”

“Well, yeah,” I shrug. “I mean, I knew her parents were explorers, but I’d never have thought Mane Goodall and Daring Do were related. I mean, I see it now, easily, but the idea hadn’t ever occurred to me til Scootaloo dropped it on me so suddenly and it overloaded me as to how that sounded insane, but also made so much sense.”

“In which case, if you’re holding Dora’s shocked reaction against her like that, might I remind you of a certain filly who had a similar reaction when she thought a griffon had gotten a Cutie Mark?” Rarity asks.

Sweetie blinks before severely blushing… my eyes have whirled onto Rarity.

Wait, what?! The events of The Fault in Our Cutie Marks has already happened?! But… but that’s late season six and we’re not even out of season five.

I just…

I slump against the wall, a hand on my head. The amounts of episode events happening out of the sequence they should is going to do my head in.

I need the movie events to start and go away so I can get home before my brain explodes from early episode event overload.

“Dora? Dora!”

I’m yanked from my inner trainwreck and shake my head, blinking, before I see Rarity looking to me as she stands next to her sister.

“Sweetie Belle, do you have something you want to say to Dora?” the older sister asks, nudging the filly.

Sweetie Belle looks down, clearly looking uncomfortable. “I’m… I’m sorry have I’ve acted, Dora.” She sighs, looking away. “Rarity’s right. Considering everything, I shouldn’t have treated you that why. I should’ve asked what was wrong instead of trying to ignore you and assuming the worst. Can you forgive me?”

I blink for several moments, glancing between the two.

Finally, what she said actually process and I blink, shaking my head and nodding, leading to the younger of the sisters to give me a confused look.

“Está bien, Sweetie. Te perdono. I said it’s okay and I forgive you,” I have to translate when I see the confused look grow.

Sweetie blinks, before smiling.

“Good,” Rarity says firmly, looking between the two of us. “Now that that’s settled, come along, you two. We the train to Canterlot leaves soon.”

“Wait, we’re both going?” we ask in unison, before glancing at each other.

Rarity nods. “Indeed. Since Sweetie can’t stay with mother and father til after the festival, she’ll need to come with me, same as you, Dora. Come now.”

Sweetie and I glance at each, before both looking down at my sleepwear.

“Can I at least get dressed first?”

Rarity pauses, glancing back at me, before blinking and blushes. “Oh, um, yes. My apologies, Dora.”




 



___________________________________________________________










“How did a day feel like a year?!” Sweetie groans as we walk out of the hotel room.

“It wasn’t even a day. It was half,” I say, arms folded, slightly anxious.

When we’d arrived in Canterlot, it had been mid-afternoon. Rarity had gotten Sweetie and myself to settle into the room at the Golden Horseshoe Hotel.

It’s a pretty fancy place, a bit fancy than I like, to be honest, not that we really saw much.

The two of us had actually been rather tired by the time we arrived, so we’d just stayed in the room, barely even got a glimpse of the hotel itself.

Thankfully, this had also meant very few ponies had gotten to see me, and those that had hadn’t seen me long enough for a good look. Gave me time to really prep myself for when Canterlot gets its first look at me.

I’m wearing light-blue jeans and a yellow t-shirt underneath a pink, long-sleeve jacket, pink sneakers and a violet hairband with a flower jewel like the one on Dora’s normal bracelet.

Hey, if I’m going out into Canterlot, I’m gonna look good doing it.

We walk passed the concierge, him only giving me a raised eyebrow as we pass.

We follow the directions on a small map Rarity left us until we reach a stage, the one I recognize from the movie as where Songbird Serenade is going to be performing.

As we get near, I can see Coco Pommel and Sassy Saddles speaking with Rarity, who’s levitating a large sheet of paper and pointing to various parts of it.

“Oh, my! What a style!”

Sweetie and I freeze in place as a stallion is just suddenly in front of it. I blink, before I realize I recognize the dark-bluish grey unicorn before us.

It’s Fashion Plate of Cosmare Magazine… and he’s looking at me.

Uh oh.

He quickly moves around me, paying close attention to my clothes. “The blending of the colours, the fitting, the tone it’s speaks. Oh, you, madam, look amazing. To whom am I speaking?” he take my hand, seeming only slightly confused when he notices my fingers, before kissing it like a gentlemen.

Despite how polite that is technically, alarm bells are going off in my head like crazy.

“I-I-I-I’m Dora and I’m only eight!” I blurt frantically as I put my hands up.

At once, his expression goes from exuberant to puzzled, then confused, uncertain, to shock and worry.

“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! I mean, I assumed from your size, I— I didn’t mean— Oh, Sweet Celestia, what must you be thinking of me?!”

Our little… meeting, I guess is the best word to use her, seem to grab Rarity and the other two’s attention and they come over.

“Is something the matter, Fashion?” the alabaster unicorn asks, concerned.

At once, the stallion looks to her, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. “Please, Rarity, I swear I didn’t realize this was the child you were talking about. I saw her attire and assumed she was older because of her size, completely forgetting what you’d mentioned earlier and I completely gave her the wrong impression! Please, forgive me!”

He pretty much throws himself at her hooves.

Rarity is just blinking in confusion, before she glances at the two of us for an explanation.

Sweetie and I both blush, looking away… not really sure what to say.

After a few moments, Rarity smiles gently, nodding and leans down, helping the stallion back up. “Nothing to forgive, Fashion. It was a simple mistake. No harm done.”

His whole body deflates from relief, as Rarity moves forward and turns to Sassy and Coco. “Sassy Saddles, Coco Pommel, you’ve already met my sister, Sweetie Belle.”

“Hi,” Sweetie blushes a little, waving.

“And this is the girl I was telling you about,” she continues, indicating to me. “Meet Dora the Explorer.”

I deadpan at her. Did you really have to introduce me with the full title, Rarity?

The other two mares look to me, before smiling.

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Dora,” Sassy says energetically. “Rarity has told us much about you. That attire is quite fitting.”

“It does suit you very well,” Coco says, before blushing. “Though, I’m sure you’d look cuter in a dress.”

I puff out my cheeks, looking away. You’re not wrong but… come on, Coco.

“Now,” Rarity says, levitating her sheet of paper back up, “I hope you don’t mind Dora, but we could use your hands to aid us with a bit of the work here.”

I shrug. I’m not fussed about getting a bit hands on with stuff.

Before we can do anything, however, a loud yell comes from somewhere nearby.

“Get that beast!” a snooty voice I don’t recognize, but am easily able to identify as one of the elite of Canterlot yells.

Without even thinking, I start running.

I round a corner to see five Earth Ponies and three pegasi chasing after something. I don’t see it right away because it’s hidden in the shadow, before something bright red catches my eye. A very familiar red!

“Boots?” I cry.

The shape they’re chasing after stops in the shadows, glancing around, before turning its head in my direction.

“Boots, over here!” I yell, waving.

This, of course, also grabs the attention of the ponies chasing the shape and, upon seeing me, their eyes widen.

“What kind of a hairless ape is that?!” one shouts.

“Dora?” the shocked voice of a character I know says, before, with joy in its tone, it repeats, “DORA!”

Quickly the shape moves through the shadows, leaping and swinging along the banners and polls of the Canterlot buildings, before coming into the light to reveal the light-blue, red wellies wearing monkey that is Dora’s best friend, Boots.

He quickly swing and leaps around, before launching from a particular poll and colliding with me.

“Dora!” he cries in a mixture of joy, relief and worry. “I found you! I found you!” He looks up at me with confusion and worry. “Dora, where are we? What is this place? How’d we get here? Where is everyone? Why do these ponies act like a monkey talking is weird? What…? Dora, what’s wrong?”

I stare down at the little monkey looking up at me for guidance… my heart breaking. Boots thinks I’m his Dora. He doesn’t know he’s in a world Dora normally could never have gotten to and, frankly, I’m not even sure she did.

Sure, the Bobos and Swiper seem to be here… but I don’t think anyone else but them, Boots and my body are from his world, not even his parents are here.

He’s all alone and has seen who he thinks is his best friend.

The fact he sounds like the second version of him only makes it more heartbreaking.

“Dora, do you know this… talking monkey?” Rarity’s voice asks from somewhere behind me, but I’m not paying attention.

I slowly put my arms around the monkey and hold him close, trying and failing to hide the pain from my face, but making sure he can’t see it.

The Doctor was right. A hug is just a way to hide your face.

“I’m sorry, Boots,” I say, hating the sadness and hurt I hear in my voice, knowing what it will do. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“Dora, what… why are you hugging me like this?” Boots asks, first confused, before a little hurt enters his voice as he seems to start to catch on. “Wh-why do you sound so sad? Why does your hug… feel sad? I… Dora, I don’t like it.” His voice breaks. “Don’t… don’t be sad. Why… where are you sad?”

I just hold him as he starts to shudder, before he starts sobbing, myself unable to stop the tears flowing from my own eyes.

This is so cruel. Why did this have to happen to Boots? He’s not even seven. He doesn’t deserve this.

We just stay that way, the elite ponies from before even having stopped, sensing the situation.

Everypony just stays where they are, watching as I hold the sobbing monkey, my tears falling to the ground to join his.
> Chapter 11
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Chapter 11



 



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I hold Boots close as the little monkey shudders against me.

I honestly don’t know how long we remain like that, it could’ve just been a few minutes, maybe hours. I honestly couldn’t say.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

The loud, snooty, angry voice cuts through the air and I lift my head to see several if the ponies who’d been chasing after Boots quickly part to let another pony pass… and I find myself blinking in confusion for a second.

It’s a unicorn stallion… who looks an awful lot like Professor Flintheart from the A Hearth’s Warming Tale episode and story. The only difference is the colouring.

His coat is dark-brown and his lanky mane and tail are dark-green. His eyes are dark-blue. I can’t tell what his Cutie Mark is though, because, like Flintheart, he’s wearing a long black cloak that covers it.

Is he a descendant of Flintheart? Who would’ve wanted to marry a stallion like that, let alone further his bloodline?

Not only that, but his voice sounds like that of Frieza from the Dragonball Z Resurrection F movie.

I’d honestly worried for a second Frieza was in Equestria for whatever reason. Glad I was wrong on that.

He looks down at me as I hold Boots and, at once, his face turns into a scowl. “Why are these monkeys still free?”

At once, I feel Boots stiffen against me and my eyes narrow at the Flintheart lookalike. Did he do something to Boots? I know he wouldn’t have stiffened at being called a monkey, so it must be the voice that made that happen.

This guy did something to Boots that makes Boots scared of him. That means I don’t like him.

And what does he mean by “Still free”?

“Firm Stance,” another stallion’s voice, one I annoyingly recognize, within the crowd says, before a white Earth Pony stallion with an orangey-pink and white mane, wearing a blue steps out, flanked by three Pegasus Royally Guards. “Where is my monkey? I’m paying you good money for…” he trails off upon seeing me and Boots, though it might be my glare giving him pause of confusion.

Svengallop. Why is he here?

Wait. Paid good money for his monkey? Svengallop bought Boots?!

“Were you holding out on me?” the Earth Pony looks to the Flintheart lookalike named Firm Stance. “You had two monkeys that can talk? Though, why you shaved the female mostly bald I do question.”

“They can talk,” Stance smirks. “Unless you want to pay more money, I’m hardly going to give you both. And I never shaved her. She came like that.”

“Nopony is buying Boots!” I say firmly, gripping him tighter.

Svengallop just gives me an uncaring look. “I think you’ll find, monkey, that I already have. That monkey is my property, so release him back to me now.” Then under his breath he mutters, but still loud enough I can hear, “if the Countess refuses to do as told, I’ll make due with a talking monkey.”

I’ll file away the fact this suggests The Mane Attraction has already happened away for later. It’s not important right now.

“Boots doesn’t belong to anyone!” I growl. “He’s no one property! And neither am I. We have rights.”

Both stallions just laugh. 

“Last time I checked, animals don’t have rights,” Firm Stance says.  “A funny attempt at an argument there, monkey.”

I glare. “Animals? Unless it’s escaped your notice, unicornio y Pony Tierra, ponies are animals. Every living creature in this world is an animal in some shape or form.”

Svengallop looks furious. “What did you just dare to call me, you damn monkey?!”

I roll my eyes. Why am I not surprise he doesn’t know Equestrian Spanish? Probably doesn’t even know it’s a language, the narrowed minded, self-centred git.

Stance just raises an eyebrow at me. “Seems your previous owner has been trying to teach you like a pony.” He chuckles. “How amusing.” He frowns, looking back to the guards from before, who haven’t moved. “You there, are you deaf? We told you to grab those monkeys.”

“I won’t let you lay a hoof on Boots,” I tighten my grip around said monkey. “He’s not yours and neither of you have the right to treat him like you own him. Whatever you did, apologize, right now!”

Stance cocks his head slightly to the side. “Do to him?”

“As soon as he heard your voice, Boots stiffened,” I snarl. “He’s scared of you and the only reason I could think that is you did something to him! What did you do and apologize for it!”

He laughs. “Do? I merely put him in a cage, like one would any animal.”

“H-he said he was going to sell me,” Boots whispers against me.

“Yeah,” I nod. “I heard. He wants to sell both of us now.”

Boots shakes his head against my body. “When I was outside the city a few days ago, he found me and captured me. He put me in a cage, saying he was going to sell me.”

“You see?” Stance says, indicating Boots hadn’t whispered quietly enough not to be heard. “He is my property to sell as I wish and have. And, if you are his monkey friend, so are you. I will sell you if I wish.”

“You will do no such thing!” Rarity says firmly, stepping up next to me. “Dora is in my care and I’ll make you sorry if harm even a single hair on her head!”

This seem to confuse Stance. “What? In your care? Madam, if you are going to own such a pet, I recommend you put it on a leash and teach it to behave—”

“Pet?!” Rarity exclaims, before snarling. “Pet?! Dora is not my pet, you narrowed minded brute! She is a brave, kind child whom has been entrusted to me to look after until such a time as she can go home and I will not stand for you treating her as if she is property in any manner!”

“Indeed!” a voice I recognize but was not expecting says as Jet Set, of all ponies, steps out from the crowd, glaring daggers at Stance and Svengallop.

I can’t help but glance from Jet Set to the other two stallions. This is different. Maybe Jet Set and Upper Crust have already turned over a new leaf.

“Jet Set?” Rarity asks, her expression and tone sceptical. Okay, maybe not yet? Being in this mixed up timeline is very confusing. 

The grey stallion looks to Rarity and nods. “Greetings, Miss Rarity. It has been a while since our last encounter.”

“Frankly, not long enough, if you ask me,” Rarity mutters.

Yep. She’s still sore about their last meeting. I feel it better not to poke that hornets’ nest right now.

“You’ll have to excuse me, Jet Set, I must have misheard you, yes?” Stance says, giving a mocking smile to the stallion, “It almost sounded like an upstanding stallion like yourself was standing up for these… creatures.”

I’m starting to wonder if this Stance guy and Chancellor Neighsay are related.

“You didn’t mishear, Stance,” the surprises keep on coming as Upper Crust steps out from the crowd, coming over and standing on my other side, so now I’m flanked back both her and Rarity. “After encountering Miss Rarity, my husband and I have been taking a good hard look at ourselves and, after learning a pony we mocked was actually Princess Twilight Sparkle herself, we realized judging others by their appearance alone is wrong.”

“Now we judge others by their character,” Jet Set says, moving to stand between the stallions and myself. “And, frankly, I see a better character in that bald monkey than I do you.”

“No soy un mono! I’m not a monkey!” I repeat when a confused glance is given from all around. “I’m a human.”

“Hoo-man?” Svengallop says, before laughing. “Such a stupid sounding name. You’re right, Stance. I don’t want to pay more, but this one would make a great comedy act.”

I shake it off and return to glaring at the stallions. “We’re not for sale! And Boots and I are not going anywhere until after the Festival de la amistad!”

“Nor will she be leaving until after the Friendship Festival and on her own terms!” Rarity says firmly.

I deadpan. I literally just said that, Rarity. Yes, I said Friendship Festival in Spanish by accident, but I’m pretty sure it was obvious to all what I meant.

“The festival?!” Stance looks aghast. “You’re not seriously telling me those… creatures are coming to the festival?!”

“And why not?” I demand. “Last I checked, the Friendship Festival isn’t exclusive to ponies. Any creature, big, small, short, tall can be friends and have every right to go to the festival. Friendship isn’t exclusive to ponies!”

Stance gives me a cold look. “It should be.”

“Care to repeat that?”

The new voice causes all to turn around as a group of hippogriffs are marching towards us, Princess Skystar among them.

“Princess Skystar! Great to see you again!”

Boots screams, leaping up onto my head, causing me to fall over as Ponyville’s premiere party pony is just there behind us and hurries over to greet the hippogriff princess and… wait. Since when did Pinkie meet Skystar when the movie’s events haven’t even…?

I blink as I lay flat on my stomach, Boots atop me, before shaking my head. You know what? No. I am not questioning Pinkie Pie.

I get Boots to scoot off me and I get up, dusting myself off us Pinkie and Skystar hug each other happily.

“Since when were Pinkie and the hippogriff princess acquainted?” Rarity whispers to me.

I shake my head. “I don’t know, and I don’t wanna know.”

Rarity opens her mouth to say something, then seems to think it over and closes it, clearly deciding I’m right to not question that.

“Well, sir?” a hippogriff I recognize as General Sea Spray says, looking firmly at Firm Stance. “If you have something to say about non ponies, especially those of royalty, now would be the time.”

Stance looks from the hippogriff General, to myself as Boots stands behind me, holding onto my arm, to the guards, before snorting and walking off.

Svengallop looks from the retreating form of Stance to us. “Wait. So I’m not getting my talking monkeys?!”

I shake my head, Rarity speaking for me. “Not now, not ever, Svengallop. Now, leave, before I have you arrested for attempted foalnapping and enslavement.”

He looks for a moment like he’s going to blow a fuse, before he huffs and hurries off, shouting, “Hold it, Stance! If I’m not getting what I paid for, I want my money back! Do you hear me?!”

Boots and I both sigh in relief, before he grabs onto my arm again, looking up at me. “Dora, what’s going on around here? Where is here? I’m so confused.”

I glance at Rarity, before sighing, pulling myself out of his grip and placing my hands on his shoulders. “You know, Boots. I know you do. You’re not in your world… and I’m…” I sigh again. “I’m not your Dora.”

“But… but you have to be Dora!” Boots says anxiously. “If you’re not Dora, who are you?”

I pull back, shaking my head. “I do and don’t know, Boots. I know I am a Dora… just not your Dora.”

The monkey just gives me a very confused look. “Huh?”

I sigh, folding my arms and thinking for a moment. “Boots, you know there are other worlds, right? You’ve been to several of them, Fairytale Land, the Crystal Kingdom, Wonderland, Wizzle World...”

“Yeah,” Boots nods, though seems a mixture of confused and annoyed. “So?”

“Well, I’m a Dora from a different world,” I say, kneeling down a bit. “There’s more than one Dora out there, after all.” 

Boots blinks, shocked. “There are?”

I nod. “There’s a world where Dora lived her whole life in the jungle, but then had to move to the city before she, Diego and her new friends saved a lost city called Parapata. Then there’s a nothing where she moved to the city before she turned ten. Your Dora is likely still back in your world.” At least that’s what I tell myself so I don’t have confront the horrifying idea that who or whatever turned me into Dora didn’t just shove me inside her own body, erasing Dora herself from existence.

“Parapa… wha?” Boots scratches his head, frowning. “So… you’re Dora… but not my Dora?”

I nod. “Si lo tienes. I’m a different Dora.” I hope.

Boots folds his arms. “So… how do I get back to my Dora?”

I blink, before glancing down at the Wishing Crystal and smile, taking his hand and placing it on the crystal. “Make a wish, Boots.”

His eyes widen. “You have the Wishing Crystal?” He looks at me with worry. “You gotta return that to Wishing Wizzle, fast.”

“No hay problema, Boots,” I shake my head. “Once I’ve figured everything out, I’ll make sure the crystal is returned to its rightful owner. For now, let’s get you home.”

He looks unsure, but smiles and nods, placing his hand on the crystal.

“I wish I could go back with my family,” he says.

There’s a long pause.

“Is… something meant to have happened?” Upper Crust whispers to Rarity.

Boots opens his eyes and looks around, before becoming worried. “Dora, it didn’t work. The Wishing Crystal didn’t send me home.”

“Maybe if we both wish and specifically say we want you to go back home?” I try to reassure him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

He nods and we both touch the crystal.

“I wish I was back home,” Boots says.

“I wish Boots was back home,” I say at the same time.

The crystal doesn’t even flicker.

“Everyone,” I call out, looking around at the crowd. “I think we need your help.”

I mean, that’s how Dora and Boots got back home from Wizzle World, by everyone wishing them there. Maybe it’ll work this time?

The ponies and hippogriffs look confused, before all nodding.

Boots wishes again, with all of us saying “I wish Boots back home”.

We try for at least half a minute, before we all just give up, myself glaring down at the crystal.

“I’m… I’m not going home?” Boots asks, his voice quivering.

I shake my head and pull him into a small hug, making sure to look him in the eye. “We’ll find a way, Boots. I need to get home too and the crystal won’t grant that wish either. You’re not alone. For some reason, there are wishes it will grant and those it won’t.”

“I… don’t understand what you’re talking about, exactly,” Jet Set says, coming over. “But, if I may, you say that crystal grants certain wishes and not others?”

I nod, before holding the crystal tightly. “And it won’t work if anyone else is wearing it. Only me. And… I need to have given permission for a wish. Stolen wishes don’t count.” Okay, I’ve no idea if that’s true, but I gotta make sure anyone in the crowd listening doesn’t go getting any ideas about stealing it.

“Well, which wishes won’t it grant?” he asks.

“Aside from the “going home” wishes,” his wife interjects.

“Thank you, dear,” he says kindly.

Okay, seeing these two being kind is actually kinda weird.

I shake my head, thinking over the wishes that have been granted since I got to this world. “Well… while I never said I wish, when I first got to this world I was scared and wanted to get away from where I’d appeared and I found myself suddenly in Princess Twilight’s castle, so I guess that’s one wish. Then there were two wishes said near me that didn’t get granted, one about the princess wanting to drop everything so she could help me with something and then Prince Shining Armour wishing he could join in with the festival.”

“Dora wished we could see the hippogriffs in her crystal and it showed us them,” Rarity says, thinking. “We had no idea they even existed until the crystal showed them to us, only Dora seemed to know about them.”

“And my friend, Scootaloo, she wished we could go with Dora to help her with… an adventure in the jungle,” Sweetie stops herself from revealing Daring Do is real as she joins in. “It took us there, but wouldn’t send us back. We had to take the train back home once the adventure was done.”

“Any others?” Upper Crust is looking very interested now.

“Aside from the wish to tell our families goodnight and let them know where we were while in the jungle and to help Apple Bloom’s parent when they were in danger… not really,” Sweetie thinks, rubbing her chin.

Jet Set frowns, rubbing his chin too. “So… the only wishes it wouldn’t grant… are ones you could accomplish on your own?”

I blink, mulling that over, before my eyes widen. “Wow. You’re right. Every time the crystal’s granted a wish, it was something we couldn’t just do on our own. I couldn’t get to the jungle from Ponyville at the time, so it let me and the Crusaders do it.”

“We couldn’t talk to our families any other way, so it let us,” Sweetie gasps. “It didn’t let us wish ourselves back home from the forest because we could do that by train.”

“So… the only wishes it grants are those you can’t make happen yourself?” Boots asks, scratching his chin, before his face lights up. “Does that mean we can go home on our own?” He’s looking at me.

I blink, thinking it over. “Maybe. It… would make sense, considering the evidence.” Though I feel more like we’re grasping at straws here. There’s could be countless reasons the crystal wouldn’t grant those wishes.

“And, I’m sure, since she offered to help Dora get home, once the festival is over, Twilight will do has best to help you go home, too… Boots, was it?” Rarity says, smiling at the monkey.

“Ooh, ooh, ah, ah!” Boots cheers jumping up and down, before hugging me. He blinks, then looks down, uncertainly. “Um, Dora?”

“Yes, Boots?” I smile.

“I… I know you’re not my Dora, but… do you think we can still be friends?”

I pull him into another hug, this time a gentle one. “Of course, Boots. I’d be happy to be your friend.”
> Chapter 12
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 12



 



___________________________________________________________








“I’m really looking forward to this Friendship Festival!” Boots cheers as we walk together towards Rarity and the stage.

I smile, nodding.

True, I want to go home soon, but it’s hard to not be excited for the festival.

It’s been two days since I met Boots and saved him from Svengallop and that Firm Stance guy.

At first, I decided to stay in the hotel room with him, since he was a little anxious about going around Canterlot (understandable, with how he was treated), though, yesterday he was brave enough to come out as we watched Rarity and other ponies setting up for the festival.

The Wonderbolts and the Apple Family arrived that day and had gone about getting ready.

I had hesitated about introducing Boots to Applejack, what with her “Ya’ll tell me if that ever happens, ya hear?” line from The Washouts regarding if Apple Bloom ever started liking bananas more than apples.

I mean, Boots is a monkey, so I knew she’d take that into consideration… but still.

Thankfully, it had gone over well, though that might’ve been because Pear Butter and Bright Mac were there too, so were able to keep their daughter’s… I don’t think I’d call it ego, but something, in check.

Apple Bloom had been shocked when Boots started talking, though I’m guessing that’s mostly because she’d gotten so used to the idea of me being able to understand animals while she couldn’t, that when he first starting talking, her jaw had dropped to a level that would make Pinkie Pie proud. Then again, the two are related, so Apple Bloom having a few Pie traits isn’t too odd an idea.

Today, I’m wearing Dora’s normal outfit. I just didn’t feel like dressing up or anything. Plus, I think it’ll help Boots feel more at ease. Not that I plan on wearing this outfit all the time.

“So, it’s decided then,” Sapphire Shores is saying as she and another pony I can’t see are standing with Rarity, a list levitated by the unicorn. “Songbird will start out the festival, then Rara, myself and Star Song will end the song performances.”

I blink. Star Song? As in, G3 Star Song? Well, the G4 version of her, but… You get my point.

“Yes. That’s a good idea,” says a voice that causes me to halt in place because it is not Star Song from G3.

“Dora?” Boots asks, noticing I’m not following anymore and glancing back. “What is it?”

“Shakira?!” I gasp.

Our little conversation gets the attention of the ponies who move… though who I see does not look like what her voice would suggest. For one, she’s not a pony.

Along with Rara and Sapphire Shores, there’s, to my surprise, a hippogriff standing there. The majority of her feathers are either a very deep-blue or black, with a tiny tuft of blueish-white feathers near where her wings connect to her shoulder blades and a tuft on her chest that looks just normal chestnut coloured. Her head beak and claws are a grey colour.

However, a defining trait, one that draws your attention is her mane. It and her tail are brownish-blonde, the former being very long, reaching below her chestnut fluff and styled in a way that looks very similar to the hairstyle of the women I thought I heard.

“Dora,” Rarity says, delight, before turning to the Hippogriff. “This is the girl I was telling you about, Star. Dora, this is Star Song. Star, this is Dora and the monkey is Boots.”

The Hippogriff looks to me with big brown eyes and smiles. “Hola Dora. Hola Boots. Encantado de conocerte.”

I glance to Boots, then the Hippogriff. “Tu hablas Equespañol?”

She nods. “Si. Muy bien, de hecho. I am Coltumbian, after all.”

I cock my head. “Why’d you stop speaking Equespañol?” Then I blink. “Wait. Coltumbian? But… Okay, I’m confused. Señorita Star, you’re a hippogriff. Haven’t you all been living under the ocean since last spring? Princess Skystar said she’d never seen Equestrian Sea Ponies before and, if you’re from Coltumbia, wouldn’t you have needed family there?”

She nods, her expression saddening a little. “Si. Mi padre era un Pegaso, que conoció a mi madre mientras estaba de vacaciones.” She blushes, shaking her head. “They became close and, having no family of his own left in Columbia, moved to Mt. Aris to be with my mother a few months before I was hatched. He…” She stops, closing her as and taking a breath. “He was among those who did not make it to Seaquestria when the Storm King attacked our home.”

My hand flies to my mouth, while the mares are looking shocked.

“You… you never mentioned that,” Rara says, her expression sober.

“I’m so sorry, Señorita Star,” I hurry forward, taking her right claw and holding it. “I… I didn’t mean to make you remember something so sad. Lo prometo.”

She shakes her head, gently taking back her claw and wiping away a few tears that had started to leak from her eyes. “No te preocupes, Dora. It’s okay. You did nothing wrong.”

“So… why did you stop speaking Equespañol earlier?” I ask, trying to get back onto a lighter topic and realizing the question hadn’t been answered before.

She chuckles. “I noticed your friend looking confused.”

I glance at Boots to see he does indeed have a very confused look on his face mixed with the sadness brought on from the previous topic and find myself giggling along with the ponies and hippogriff.

“You’ll be performing at the festival?” I ask once we’ve settled down.

“Si,” Star Song smiles, before frowning slightly. “Though I’m not quite sure which song to end my set with.”

I blink, before smiling. “Tengo una idea!”

Star Song leans down and I whisper into her ear. She blinks, before leaning back, smiling and nods. “Oh, esa es una idea maravillosa, Dora.”

“What’s marvellous? What’s marvellous?” Boots asks excitedly, jumping up and down as he looks between the two of us.

Star Song looks to the happy monkey, smiling. “So he knows some Equespañol then.”

Boots nods. “Si. Dora taught me. Well, I mean…”

He looks to me and I nod. I understand. It’s a bit hard to explain without going into all the details.

“Well, I’m afraid I’m going to be a bit busy today, Dora,” Rarity says, looking to me. “I don’t suppose there’s something you could do while you and Boots wait?”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind getting a better look around Canterlot before the big day,” I say, looking around, glancing down when Boots takes me hand. “Plus, I want Boots to see the better side of ponies. He deserves that after what happened before.”

“True,” Rarity nods, before frowning. “Though, I certainly can’t take you.”

“Ah’d be happy to,” the three of us turn as Pear Butter comes over, smiling warmly. “Sorry, but Ah couldn’t help overhearin’. If’n it’ll help, Ah’d be glad to watch over the two young’ns fer the day.”

“That would be wonderful,” Rarity says, nodding. “Thank you, Pear Butter. Please make sure they’re back before dark, though.”

The Earth mare nods, smiling at us and indicating to follow.

“Dora, who’s that?” Boots tugs on my arm.

I smile down at him as we move to follow. “That’s Pear Butter, Applejack’s mother.”

Boots looks back at the pony as we catch up and walk alongside her. “She seems nice. I like her.”

I can’t help but giggle, before waving to Rarity and Terrain Meoldy. “Adios, Star Song. Te veo en el festival.”

“Adios, Dora,” she calls, waving back.








 



___________________________________________________________










“Dowa!” I barely have time to turn around before I’m bowled over by a pair of fuzzy projectiles and fall to the ground, Pound and Pumpkin laughing happily as the cuddle into me.

“Hola, Pound y Pumpkin,” I smile, cuddling them back.

“Oh, goodness. Sorry about that, Dora,” I look up as Mrs Cake walks towards me, a sheepish smile on her face. “They’ve missed you so much, I guess you were more interesting than the fountain.”

Glancing around quickly, I indeed notice a circular fountain towards the centre of the square.

It’s here. Today’s the day of the Friendship Festival, aka, the movie’s day to start its events… and I’m more anxious than an ibex surrounded by a pack of hyenas.

Everything seems to have gone okay, the hippogriffs were accepted by the majority of the Equestrian populace, security is good with guards uncover as just simple festival attendees around all of Canterlot (plus a few of the hippogriff guards to aid in the illusion) and so far, all seems to be going as well as one could hope with the knowledge of the upcoming invasion that only I actually know is coming because I can’t say anything without opening a can of worms that should not be opened.

I haven’t even told Boots about the Storm King’s advance fleet. I want him to enjoy the festival and I know he won’t if he’s aware of what’s coming.

I just have to hope everything I’ve done has helped enough to prevent Canterlot suffering the exact same fate as it did in the movie.

I even had made sure to ask Fluttershy if she was going to invite Discord to the festival. Granted, she doesn’t need to invite him, he’s more than welcome to come, but just putting the idea in her head to make sure he is well aware of the festival put my mind at a lot of ease.

I mean, if Discord’s at the festival, it’s pretty much like I needn’t have gone to so much trouble, but still.

Having the Cake twins surprise me like this helps a lot to ease my worries.

“Aw,” Boots says, smiling at the babies, before looking to the blue mare. “Are these your baby ponies, miss?”

“Mrs, dearie,” she corrects him politely, before chuckling. “And, yes, they are.”

“They’re so cute!” Boots chirps, leaning down to the foals.

They turn to look at him, before smiling wide and tackling him.

“Seems they like Boots too,” I chuckle as I get up, dusting myself off.

I’m wearing the dress I’d worn the day Rarity and I went around Ponyville after my adventure with Daring Do. Not my choice, Rarity had insisted.

“Dónde está el Señor Cake? Um, where’s Mr. Cake?” I blush as I repeat in English, before looking around again.

Mrs Cake smiles warmly. “Oh, he’s busy helping the Apple Family set up the food. He and Bright Mac were good friends after Carrot and I got married. I’m guessing the two are trying to make up for lost time.”

I nod. Makes sense. Back when she was Chiffon Swirl, Mrs Cake and Pear Butter had been good friends, so I’s only natural that, once she’d gotten married to Carrot Cake, Bright Mac and him would’ve met and become good friends too.

“Wait a minute! I know you!”

I suddenly go ridge. Whirling around, I see none other than Starlight Glimmer walking towards me.

I glance around quickly. Why is nopony reacting to her presence? How did she get past the guards?

She’s still season 5 Starlight, so surely Twilight warned Celestia and Luna about —?

I stop, deadpanning. What am I talking about? Starlight was able to sneak into Celestia’s Personal School during the finale with nopony batting an eye, Twilight being the only one to actually notice her among the other ponies. Of course she hasn’t bothered to tell the other princesses about her yet.

“Well, that’s at least a different reaction from before,” Starlight’s voice pulls me from my thoughts and I see her giving me a very confused look. “So… mind explaining why you just vanished when we met all those weeks ago?”

“Primero, qué estás haciendo aquí, en Canterlot?” I point, my expression firm, before I snarl, throwing my arms in the air. “What’re you doing in Canterlot?!”

I am really starting to get sick of having to repeat myself to ponies who don’t speak Equespañol and Season 5 Starlight being here with the movie’s events less than half an hour away is not helping with that frustration.

She frowns. “Well, it is a festival for all of Equestria, isn’t it?”

“You’re still aiming for revenge on Twilight for rightfully stopping you from holding your village hostage!” I point out, causing Mrs Cake and Boots to gasp.

At once, her eyes widen and she snarls. “Rightfully?! My village was a sanctuary of equality, where nopony’s Cutie Mark allowed them to feel superior!” She looks up wistfully just like in the finale. Wait, am I unintentionally derailing that before it happens? Is that good or bad? “It was a special place,” then she looks back at me and glares, “but then Princess Twilight and her friends took it away!”

“Oh, dame un descanso!” I snap. For crying out loud, she’s in the middle of Canterlot during a Friendship Festival! How can she not see the problem with her current mindset about friendship?

Starlight looks confused.

“Nopony’s Cutie Mark allowed them to feel superior? Says the pony who had the authority to force anypony even a hair out of line to be punished!” I point at her. “Let me ask you, who accepted being a part of your village before you took their Cutie Mark away?”

Starlight frowns at the change of topic, before getting a smug look. “Easy. There was…” she blinks, her frown becoming confused as she looks down. “Wait. Gimme a second. I’m sure I can remember. Oh, yes, he… no, wait, he didn’t have his mark when he made his choice. Oh, but she… no. No, she didn’t have hers before she chose either. But then there was… no… no, he didn’t chose to stay until after I’d taken his mark…”

“Bien? Estoy esperando. I’m waiting,” I repeat in English.

Starlight doesn’t answer, her frown becoming deeper and more anxious with each passing second.

“Dora, what’s going on?” Boots asks as Mrs Cake holds her foals. “Who is that unicorn and why are you so angry at her?”

I blink, before realizing that was something I had neglected to inform the monkey on and Mrs Cake is likely just as in the dark on the matter. “Her name is Starlight Glimmer. She made a village where she took away everypony’s Cutie Marks to make them equal under the idea that was the only way to have true friendship… failing to realize all she was doing was imprisoning ponies against their wills,” I finish as Starlight looks up, her eyes wide. “Well?”

“Nopony,” she whisper, almost sobs, her voice hoarse. “Not one pony in my village accepted being a part of it before I took away their Cutie Mark. I took it away and forced them to live there first. That… that’s not choosing to stay…”

“It’s being forced to stay,” I nod, arms folded. “Starlight, Twilight and the others don’t know about Sunburst,” her eyes widen further at the mention of her foalhood friend’s name, “and you didn’t lose Sunburst because you two weren’t equal.” I shake my head. “Your parents were just too stupid to realize not keeping you both in contact was a bad idea.”

“But, but Twilight and the others…” she starts feebly, it clear even she isn’t believing whatever it is she’s trying to say.

I shake my head again. “They weren’t in your village because they wanted to take anything away from you, Starlight. They were there to save your village… from you.”

“I… I made nopony equal,” Starlight stammers, flopping down on her rump, her expression hollow. “I did the opposite. I took away what made them equal. I… I don’t understand. How could I…?”

I sigh, my expression softening. I walk over and put a hand on her shoulder. “Listen, I’ll help you explain things to Twilight and the others after the festival.” I give a sly smile. “Plus, unless he’s gotten lost in studying a spell of some kind, Sunburst should be somewhere in this crowd. If not, I can take you to him later.”

She looks to me, stunned. “But… why? You were so scared of me when we first met and looked like you hated me now. Why would you help me at all?”

I shake my head. “I don’t hate you, Starlight Glimmer.” The H.S I Hate Starlight sunk back about half way during the season 6 premiere. “But I do know what you were planning and how driven you can be when you fix your mind on something.” I blink, before giggling. “Ember was right. You and Twilight are a lot alike.”

She gives me a very confused look.

I shake my head. “Anyway, the point is, you don’t have to take revenge. That’s not the right path. True me, I’ve seen what that can do.” And you do not need to know why, Starlight.

She just looks more confused.

“Hi, Starlight!” a familiar high-pitched voice shouts as a pink blur shoots past us, making us jump. Before it zips by again calling, “Enjoy the festival!”

“Was… was that…?” Starlight looks to me with confusion.

I nod, smirking. “Pinkie. Better not to question that.”

Doing a quick memory scan of the movie’s early events, I’m guessing Pinkie is chasing, or being pulled along by, the deflating Discord balloon she tried to make.

“But, if she knows I’m here, wouldn’t Princess Twilight?!” Starlight starts showing the obvious signs of a Starlight Panic Attack, so I put a hand on her shoulder again, shaking my head.

“Pinkie is Pinkie. She usually knows when others are around before anyone else. Plus, I doubt she’s telling Twilight when… yep. It’s starting.” To her confused look, I point up, where a massive amount of clouds just burst, followed by a smaller one bursting seconds after.

We Got This Together has started, so Pinkie is way more occupied helping Twilight feel calmer about the festival.

Eventually, we get pulled into the music number too, shortly after we pass by Trixie doing a fireworks show, though I noticed Starlight is way too occupied before we actually get roped into the song to notice Trixie.

Guess their first meeting is still gonna happen the way it did in the show.

The music number ends just like in the movie, with Pinkie firing her Easy Bake Confetti Cake Cannon and the end results burying Twilight.

Starlight just stands next to me, her face blank. “With friends like that, I don’t think she’ll be around long enough for me to take revenge.”

I giggle, before a thunderclap makes me stiffen and I whirl around to see dark storm clouds approaching Canterlot and gulp.

This does not go unnoticed by Boots or Starlight.

“Dora?” the monkey takes my hand. “Is… is something wrong?”

“Kinda?” I say slowly, an anxious smile spreading on my face. “We’re about to have a visit from Fizzlepop Berrytwist.”

Starlight blinks. “Huh? Fizzle? She’s here?”

I blink, before whirling on the unicorn. “You know her?!” Um, how?!

“It’s been a long time since I was home,” she shrugs. “Though, she left Sire’s Hollow about a year before Sunburst.” She looks to me. “What’s she been up to? She never told anypony where she was going.”

I just stand there, my right eye twitching. Starlight and Tempest both lived in Sire’s Hollow and this could’ve been prevented?! Are she fucking shitting me?!

The dark dirigible emerges from the clouds, moving closer and coming down to land, breaking several spires in the process.

The ramp falls down, squashing a pink balloon animal.

“Brian! No!” Party Favour yells in anguish, 

Starlight glances quickly at him, then me, whispering fiercely, “I didn’t know Party Favour was going to be here too!”

“Tenemos mayores problemas en este momento, Starlight!” I hiss back, my tone causing her to startle.

We wait as Grubber comes down the ramp, sets up his megaphone and does his speech, ending by introducing Tempest.

“Is that a unicorn?” Boots whispers, cocking his head.

“I… think so,” Starlight says, looking uncertain. “Is that Fizzlepop? What happened to her horn?”

Seconds later, Celestia, Luna and Cadance land in front of all the gathered ponies, the former addressing the unicorn. “Tempest, is it? How may we help you?”

Tempest smiles. “Oh, I’m so glad you asked. How about we start with,” her expression darkens, “you’re complete and total surrender?”

“Don’t both those words mean the same thing?” Boots asks, confused.

I nod, noticing Twilight stepping forward and saying her bit.

“Oh, goodie. All four princesses,” Tempest says and she starts walking down the ramp. “Here’s the deal, ladies, I need your magic. Give it up nicely please, or we make it difficult, for everyone.”

“And why should we cower before you?” Luna asks sternly and, out of the corner of my eye, I notice the undercover guards moving into position. “There’s one of you and hundreds of us!”

Tempest chuckles. “I was hoping you’d choose difficult.”

As she speaks, the Storm King’s soldiers into the doorway of the balloon as more balloons start to appear out from the dark clouds. 

I feel my body tense, my hand reaching up to the Wishing Crystal. Please let this work?!

The Storm King’s soldiers start dropping from the balloons.

“Now!” Celestia yells, thrusting a foreleg out.

At once, the the Royal and hippogriff guards undercover rush out, meeting the soldiers, taking them by surprise.

The fighting begins, with civilian ponies running in terror while the guards defend.

Tempest seems frozen where she stands, clearly not having expected a fight at all. Seems she underestimated her own kind.

Not that I’m able to enjoy the humour of it, as I’m ducking and dodging around in the ground, avoiding both getting trampled by the ponies running, but any of the soldiers who notice me and try to grab me.

“Dora!”

My eyes widen and I whirl around to see Boots running from a soldier.

Looking around frantically, a glint of light hits my eyes and I glance down at my wrist to see my mermaid bracelet.

I blink, before I frown.

I run towards the soldier chasing Boots, my smaller frame allowing me to move much faster than the bulky… whatever species the Storm Kings army is made of.

Using a nearby plank of wood, I jump up, landing atop the soldier’s shoulders.

He cries out in confusion and starts moving around frantically, trying to get me off, and reaching up to grab me. 

“Transformar-se!” I yell, holding up my wrist as best I can while still holding on.

My wrist glows with light as I’m transformed into a mermaid, the magic leaking down and transforming the soldier too.

His legs changed to something else, he flops down, myself falling off and rolling, shouting out the word again and righting myself in a kneeling position.

I blink at what I see. He’s turned into what kinda looks like a Red-Lipped Batfish (I would question why I know what the heck that even is when I’ve never even heard of the species, but I’ll save that for a safer time), only blackish-blue.

A deep injured cry from behind makes me look over my shoulder to see Starlight is blasting away another soldier who’d been just behind me.

“How did you do that?!” she asks, wide eyed.

“Te lo explicaré más tarde.I’ll explain later!” I repeat quickly, rolling to avoid another soldier, whom Starlight blasts right in the face. “For now, we gotta keep the princesses safe!”

“The princesses?” Starlight seems confused and annoyed. “They’re the princesses. Why would they need us to keep them safe?”

“Sister, the stories I could tell you,” I shake my head, remembering all the events of the previous four seasons and beyond.

Telling Boots to stay with Starlight and the latter to keep him safe, I rush off towards Tempest’s balloon, dodging, leaping and sliding under any of the Storm King’s Troups that I come across, each time shouting “Transformar-se!” before leaping off, pushing away or sliding under them and repeating it to stay in human form, leaving them a Red-Lipped Batfish.

I finally break through the throng of fighting to see Tempest has just leapt into the air and thrown one of the green orbs that turns those caught in the smoke from them into stone, Cadance’s shield already up, but I’m fully aware it will only hold for a few seconds.

I grab the Wishing Crystal and hold it tightly in both hands. Please work! Please work. Please work! “I wish the four Alicorns were by my side!” I yell quickly.

The crystal’s glow shines brightly through my hands.

Just as the orb gets through Cadance’s barrier, right as it shatters on contact with Cadance, the four Alicorns glow with a white light and vanish.

“What?!” Tempest’s eyes widen as she lands, looking around frantically, before her eyes stop in my direction.

Twilight, Cadance, Celestia and Luna are all now standing by my side.

“Wait, how did —?” Cadance begins, glancing around in confusion.

“No hay tiempo!” I yell, turning to Cadance and Twilight in turn as Tempest starts running, myself fully aware she has at least three more of those orbs. “Cadance, get ready to put up another barrier! Twilight, levitate over a piece of one of the broken beams, keeping it behind us and, on my signal, drop the beam and teleport us behind Tempest!”

If Twilight or her sister-in-law are confused by my order/request, they don’t show it, only nodding, lighting their horns.

Tempest does a slid, turning kick, sending another orb in our direction.

Cadance puts up her barrier like before and I wait three seconds, before yelling “Ahora!”

Twilight teleports us just as the orb passes through the barrier.

When the world stops being purple, we’re behind Tempest, who looks shocked for the split second I let her, before I lunge forward, grabbing her around the neck.

We tumble for several moments, before I finally get a moment to breathe and shout, “Transformar-se!”

At once, we’re both engulfed in a stream of a magical light, Tempest seeming to sense the spell, tossing me off, but too late. She’s already caught in the transformation.

I roll for a few moments, being stopped when I hit something with my back, looking up to see Celestia.

Glancing back towards where Tempest is, it’s to show her flopping around on the ground, a Sea Pony.

“Luna, search her!” Celestia shouts as she moves a little away and I change back.

Her sister nods, horn glowing, Tempest being surrounded by said glow and two more orbs being pulled from small pockets sides.

“No!” the unicorn Sea Pony yells, flopping about in an in vain attempt to grab the orbs, before glaring at me. “What have you done to me? How did you do it?”

“You’re not the only one with magic, Fizzlepop,” I say, dusting myself off, the mention of her real name causing the unicorn’s eyes to widen. “Did you really think taking over Canterlot would be that easy? You do know someone tried and technically failed, to invade it less than a year ago, don’t you?”

Tempest looks around, only to see my words are more than just that. Thanks to a combination of the Royal Guards, hippogriffs, Wonderbolts, Starlight, my having turned a good number of the Storm King’s Troupes into Red-Lipped Batfish and Mane 6 working together, the invasion is winding down very fast, with Canterlot on the winning side.

Tempest looks back at the five of us.

“You should’ve known you couldn’t win against five princesses!” Boots voice calls as he and Starlight are hurrying over.

“Starlight?!” Twilight cries in panic.

“Está bien… I mean, it’s okay, Twilight,” I say quickly, moving in front of the unicorn, holding up my hands. “I can explain and… is something wrong, princesas?” I ask, noticing Celestia and Luna giving Boots confused frowns.

“Why did you say five princesses, little monkey?” Luna asks.

“That’s easy,” he says casually. “Dora’s a princess too.” 

I got ridged as all five ponies look to me.

Boots blinks, looking around in confusion. “Didn’t anypony know that?”

Crap.
> Chapter 13
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 13



 



___________________________________________________________








“You’ve been a princess, this whole time?!” Twilight yells.

It’s only been an hour since the failed invasion of Canterlot and I’m currently standing in the throne room, where Celestia and Luna are looking down at me from their thrones, Twilight and Cadance either side of them, Twilight on Celestia’s left and Cadance on Luna’s right.

The rest of the Mane 6 and Princess Skystar are here too, all of them gathered behind me.

Boots is the only one staying close, standing by my right, holding my arm. Though, whether that’s for my comfort or his own, I can’t tell.

The festival has been put on hold until it can be confirmed safe to return to it. Knowing the movie’s events… it won’t be for a while.

I’m standing with my hands at my side, my head down.

I’m doing my best not to meet anyone’s gaze, especially Rarity’s. I don’t want to know what’s in her eyes right now… though I’m not entirely sure why I care, since I won’t be here for long and it’s not like I did anything wrong.

“How did you not know prior to this, Luna?” Cadance looks to the night Alicorn. “Surely Dora dreamed about her being a princess at some point.”

No, thankfully. Still, of the dreams I have had, I certainly don’t think I ever noticed Luna in them.

Luna just shakes her head, her eyes on the Wishing Crystal around my neck. “Her dreams are shielded. That crystal’s power prevents me from intruding on her dreams.”

“Why did you lie about being a princess?” Cadance asks, concerned.

“Well, technically, I didn’t lie,” I say quietly. “I just… didn’t tell anyone I was a princess.”

“A lie of omission is a lie none the less,” Luna says sternly.

“Do you realize the danger you put yourself in today, Princess Dora?” Celestia asks firmly, though I find myself wincing more at the use of the title than her tone. “You are a foreign member of royalty, whom is under our care until you can return home. If you were injured because we did not know of your position, how would your kingdom have reacted? You could have led us into a war.”

“Actually, Dora doesn’t have a kingdom,” Boots interjects, before hiding more behind my arm when all eyes turn to him.

“Wait, what?” Spike asks, cocking his head in confusion.

I put my free hand on Boots’, comforting him. I think it’s better he explain rather than I… though that is a lot of pressure to put on the little guy.

He looks up at me and I give as best a comforting smile as I can.

He gulps, before stepping out a bit, still holding onto my arm, and looks up to the Alicorns. “W-well, back home, Dora and I visited a place called Fairytale Land.”

“It’s a land where all fairytales are real,” I respond to the confused looks… though, thinking that over and knowing just how messed up some fairytales are, them being real there… is actually a disturbing thought if you focus on it too long.

“W-well, while we were there, this mean witch cast a spell on me, putting me to sleep,” Boots continues.

“What’s so bad about that?” Dash asks, looking confused.

“I couldn’t wake up on my own,” Boots answers, seeming to gain a bit of confidence. “The only way I’d wake up was if a True Princess gave me a hug, but there were none in Fairytale Land, because, even though many had tried to pass the tests to become one, it’s very hard and no one had completed the tests to become one in a really long time. So Dora had to complete the test to become a True Princess herself so she could wake me up.”

“I… don’t quite understand,” Celestia frowns. “You became a princess by… wait.” Her eyes widen. “Did you just say a True Princess?”

Boots nods.

She, Luna and Cadance share a glance, while Twilight’s now staring at me with wide eyes that remind me uncomfortably of Lesson Zero… and that right eye twitching is not helping matters.

“If you are a True Princess, Dora, that changes things even more,” Luna says firmly once she and the other two Alicorns break eye contact.

“Why wouldn’t you tell us you were a princess?!” Rarity’s loud shrill shout makes Boots and I wince, before we all turn and… my worries are doubled as the alabaster unicorn is now giving me the same look Twilight is. “I scolded and grounded royalty?!”

“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want anyone to know, okay?!” I yell, shutting my eyes, my fists clenched at my sides.

There’s a long silence, one where, even with my eyes shut, I know even Boots is looking at me in shock.

“You… didn’t want anyone to know?” Cadance’s voice says, sounding at least calmer than her sister-in-law and said purple pony’s friend. “Why?”

“Because I’m not supposed to be!” This is too much. An hour of this has frayed my nerves, not at all helped by the fact everyone is staring at me and my knowing Boots needs support too. “I wasn’t a princess before I got here! Was just an average person. I don’t know why I became a princess. I’m not Boots’ Dora. She completed the tests. She proved she deserves to be a True Princess. I just got slapped with the title because of reasons I still don’t know.”

Silence is my answer.

I open my eyes, glaring, trying to ignore the tears blurring my vision slightly.

“I’m not important right now! I want to go home, but now Boots needs my help! He’s stuck in Equestria too and I need to find a way for him to go home! On top of that,” I trust my left arm outward, “my being a princess or not is not what’s important right now!”

“I hate to step out of place as a guest,” Princess Skystar steps forward, “but she has a point. While we cannot know when the Storm King will arrive, sending an advance guard means he is not too far away.”

“What’s your point?” Applejack asks, before blushing and using her hat to cover her face. “Urm, yer Majesty.”

“The point, Miss Applejack,” Sea Spray answers instead, stepping up next to his princess, “is our guards encountered the Storm King’s forces back when he tried to invade our home. His army is quite large and has likely only grown in size since back then.”

“Gracias, Princesa Skystar, General Sea Spray,” I nod, before looking back to the Alicorn quartet. “My being a True Princess is irrelevant right now, with the Storm King on the way. He has the Staff of Sacanus. If we’re not careful, he can use it to drain your magic.”

Rainbow Dash scoffs. “Pfft. So what? Tirek tried the same thing and, even with Discord’s help, he failed. What chance does this Storm King have?”

“Might I remind you Tirek was in a weakened state at first and it took him ages to gain enough magic to be a threat?” I cock an eyebrow at the Pegasus. “The Storm King, however, does not have that disadvantage.”

“She speaks true,” Luna says, rubbing her chin. “Unlike Tirek, this Storm King is in his prime and has a magical artefact to do the draining of magic, so does not need to rely on his own power.”

“I know it wasn’t right for me to not tell about my being a princess,” I look to the Alicorns, “but is your kingdom’s safety not more important than a member of any royalty being hidden among you subjects?”

“If you were just a normal princess, yes, Dora,” Celestia says, her voice and expression still stern. “However, if you indeed are a True Princes, you are in just as much danger as we are.”

I blink. “Esperar lo?”

Cadance blinks in confusion. “Wait. Dora, do you not understand what being a True Princess means?”

“Well, actually… no?” I scratch my head with a finger in uncertainty.

The four Alicorns look at each other again, before all nodding.

Celestia clears her throat. “Princess Dora —” I really wished she’d just say Dora, “—until the threat of the Storm King has passed, you will remain by Princess Twilight’s side and be guarded at all times.”

“Huh?” Boots and I say together.

“Dora, being a True Princess means more than just having a crown and being a member of royalty,” Cadance begins.

“Actually, Dora doesn’t have a crown.” Boots points out.

He’s not wrong. When Dora became a True Princess, she only gained one of those long pointy hats maidens wore in mid-evil times. Heck, the only times Dora wore a crown that I know of was back when she gained a tiara after the Wishing Crystal gave her an outfit the same as the Snow Princess, back when she first got the crystal, but didn’t know it was the Wishing Crystal and, by the end of the episode, she didn’t even have the tiara.

If this was Boots’ way of trying to make everyone not worry about me though, it seems to have failed, because that just causing Luna and Celestia to tense.

What in the world do they know about True Princesses that I don’t? What significance do they have in Equestria?

Damnit. I knew I should’ve asked Ahuizotl more about it back in the jungle. The fact he knew I was one should’ve been the hint that there’s more to this than Dora’s show led on.

Celestia just looks to Twilight and nods.

The youngest of the Alicorns doesn’t seem comforted by this, only made more anxious if the look she gives me is any indicator.

“Ah just wish we knew when this Storm King wasa comin’,” Applejack says worriedly.

Oh, Applejack. Please tell me you did not just say wish.

But, sadly, you can guess exactly what happens.

The crystal starts glowing, before it fires a beam up at the huge mosaic of stars above the throne.

We all watch, frozen in place as it glows, before shifting, the image changing to show the Storm King yelling at several of his soldiers.

“Why isn’t Tempest responding?! Don’t any of you know how to work that blasted thing? I know I don’t understand how the spell works, but I know this isn’t my fault!”

The soldiers cower as he waves the staff around violently, before one of them seems to notice us and points, saying something intelligible.

The Storm King pauses, the staff held in the air and turns around.

His face goes blank. “What the…? What’s going on? What is this?”

“The Storm King, I presume?” Celestia says, walking into a better position to address him directly.

“Yeah,” he folds his arms. “Who wants to know?”

“I am Princess Celestia of Equestria,” she says firmly, standing tall. “You’re unprovoked attack on our subjects has failed, but will also not be tolerated.”

“You have no right to take our lands,” Luna says, standing next to her sister. “Your actions will not be ignored.”

He looks at them, seeming puzzled, before chuckling. “Yeah, that’s very cute.” He frowns, glancing around the room through the window. “Tempest? Joke’s no longer amusing. Report.”

“She cannot,” Luna says coolly. “Tempest Shadow has failed you, Storm King. The invasion of Canterlot was ended. Your plans to take our magic with the Staff of Sacanus will not succeed.”

The Storm King looks to the staff. “Wait. That’s what this twig is? It can do that?”

I facepalm. Damnit, Luna. I know you’re not as socially savvy as the other princesses, but really?!

Even the Princess of the Night seems to realize her blunder as she blushes heavily, while Celestia gives her a none too pleased look.

“Regardless, as my sister stated, you will not succeed,” the Solar Princess looks to the window. “If you come to our lands expecting us to cower to you, Storm King, you are sorely mistaken. Come to our lands to steal our magic and we will not take it lightly.”

The Storm King yawns, a hand over his mouth. “Yeah, yeah. Nice speech and all.” He grins. “See you soon.”

The window closes, returning to the mosaic.

“Well, great. Now he’s definitely coming,” I say, slapping my forehead again. “As if things weren’t hard enough for me right now.”

“How long do you think it will be before he arrives, sister?” Luna asks.

“I’d say less than three days.” All eyes turn to me and I fold my arms. “Well, you just gave him pretty good reason to get here quickly. I doubt he’s gonna take his time when he knows the first invasion failed, even if he doesn’t take you all seriously.”

“Very well,” Celestia looks to Skystar. “I don’t suppose we could get word to your mother to send reinforcements, Your Highness?”

The hippogriff shakes her head. “No, Your Majesty. It would take too long just to send the word, let alone return. That’s even provided Mother could be convinced to let any more guards leave.”

Celestia nods. “Very well then,” she looks around at all gathered, “prepare yourselves, my little ponies. We brace for battle.”




 



___________________________________________________________










“I still can’t believe you hid the fact you’re a princess all this time!” Scootaloo states as we stand on a balcony looking out over Canterlot.

I’m wearing a long-sleeve yellow dress shirt, with a creamy-yellow patch on the chest, blueish-purple pants and white shoes.

It’s been a day since the failed invasion. Since that day, Sea Spray has been helping to make sure the Royal Guard are ready for when the Storm King’s army arrives.

Frankly, while I know they did well against the first invasion, the Royal Guard had the element of surprise at the time. I mean, this is the Royal Guard we’re talking about, the same guard who later on get their asses handed to them by a freaking child. An Alicorn child, but a child none the less.

Plus, since we’re still technically in season 5, Flash Magnus hasn’t been training the guard. They got marginally better under his command, though not by much, given season 9.

So… yeah, unless the princesses or Mane 6 can pull a deus ex machina out of their asses (and with the Elements only recently returned to the tree, that seems highly unlikely), this isn’t going to be as easy as I’d hoped… and I hadn’t exactly had a lot of hope at the beginning when I first learned I was here before the movie’s events but before even season 6.

This would be so much easier if the Changelings were already reformed and on Equestria’s side.

Then again, if Discord would bloody show up, maybe I could relax.

Yeah, despite always complaining about how it took ages before he’d normally get invited to stuff, even after I ensured Fluttershy let him know about the Festival, that draconequus still hasn’t even shown up.

I’ve even tried taunting him and he still hasn’t shown his face.

I mean, you’d think Fluttershy being in danger from an invasion would make him get off his mismatched ass and do something, but, so far, not even a hint of anything chaotic.

I even wished for him to show up, but the crystal didn’t even glow.

“Storm clouds! Storm clouds!” Boots yells, pulling me from my thoughts and I look to the horizon where he’s pointing.

Indeed, storm clouds have formed in the distance and are quickly moving towards Canterlot.

A loud trumpeting of a flugelhorn rings out and movement starts all over.

I run inside, Scootaloo and Boots at my heels. Twilight is speaking to a guard at the door and nods, turning to look at us.

She and Rarity have both been taking it in turns to watch over me. Twilight wasn’t exactly pleased I’d let her unintentionally shaft a princess in need of help for the festival, so she wasn’t letting me out of her sight.

“Now, do you remember the plan?” she asks, looking between the three of us, though specifically myself and Boots.

I nod, though I make sure my expression shows I’m none too happy about it. “Boots and I will remain up here, out of harm’s way, while you, the other princesses, your friends and the guards, both ponies and hippogriffs, handle the Storm King and his forces.”

She nods back. “Correct. I will send you both home,” she looks between Boots and myself, “but, that will have to wait until the Storm King is dealt with. Your safety is my responsibility until the threat is over. I won’t risk your lives.”

I fold my arms, looking away.

“Your Highness,” Twilight turns, addressing the guard who just spoke and nods. 

“Yes. Let’s go.” She gives me a stern looks. “Stay put, Dora.”

I just glare.

We wait until they’re gone before running back to the edge of the balcony and look out.

We watch as the Storm King’s clouds reach the edge of Canterlot’s upper level, twenty ominous dirigibles emerging from the clouds, the biggest one landing first.

The ramp falls and the Storm King walks out confidently, though I notice he’s not holding the staff.

He doesn’t even bat an eye at the ponies and hippogriffs gathered, swords, spears and any other weapon Equestria had been revealed to have throughout the series, drawn and pointed at him.

Starlight is among them too, her horn glowing threateningly.

Twilight took some convincing, not helped by the whole revelation of my being a True Princess thing, but she acknowledged that, for the moment, Starlight’s magical expertise was a needed tool to defend Equestria right now.

The princesses stand in front of the guards, their expressions firm.

“I wish we knew what they were saying,” Boots whispers as the Storm King starts moving animatedly.

I don’t even glance down as the Wishing Crystal glows, before we’re able to hear the voices down below as if we’re right down there with them.

“… and all, but I think the fun and games are over now, don’t you?” the Storm King says smugly.

“This isn’t a game, Storm King,” Celestia says sternly. “Equestria is not your kingdom and our magic is not yours to use however you want.”

He laughs as if Celestia told a genuinely funny joke. “You’re cute, you know that, Pegacornicuses.” I can feel the princesses’ glares even though I can’t actually see them. “But you know what? I don’t,” his face turns into a snarl, “like cute!” He startles flailing around. “I never did like cute! Doesn’t really go with my whole "big bad powerful magic guy" thing, does it?”

“He’s an… odd guy, isn’t he?” Boots asks, seeming confused.

I nod. “Yeah. He does kinda seem to suffer from a bit of a bipolar personality.”

“Now,” he looks firmly at the princesses, “hand over the magic, or things stop being cute. Got it?”

Celestia just stands taller. “Equestria will never surrender.”

The Storm King folds his arms, an annoyed and bored expression on his face. He shrugs. “Fine.” He looks back into the ship. “Monkeys! Bring out my staff already!”

I blink, glancing to Scoots and Boots in confusion. Moneky?

Looking back, my eyes widen as four monkeys indeed walk out of the ship, metal collars around their necks, chains binding their hands to said collars… but I know these monkeys. Two of them, at least.

“Mom?! Dad?! Big Sisters!” the little monkey cries, his eyes wide.

Before I can even comprehend what Boots’ saying “big sisters” implies, he leaps over the balcony, hopping down quickly using outcrops from the castle.

“No, Boots!” I yell, quickly following after him, only realizing what I’m doing seconds after and have to rely on my body’s muscle memory to slide and swing around to get to the ground without breaking my bones.

Landing, I see the Storm King’s army charging out from their balloons, meeting the Equestrian one. They’re more than double Equestria’s forces.

Hurrying forward, I dodge and slide my way through the Equestrian side, doing my best to keep an eye on Boots as he literally is clambering over everyone’s heads to get to his family.

The Storm King takes notice of the little monkey, as does his family.

“Boots, run!” the four yell.

The princesses glance back and their eyes widen at the sight of Boots.

He gets to the front, standing before The Storm King and points at him, glaring. “You’re a big meanie! Let my family go!”

The Storm King just laughs. “And here I thought there was no more humour here.”

I almost stumble in horror as he swiftly grabs Boots and tosses him to one of his soldiers, who collars him instantly.

“Another slave,” The Storm King chuckles as I make it to the front, ignoring the shocked horror of the Alicorns as I rush past them. “Good. He can make sure my pork feast is ready for after this conquest is finished.”

I’m stopped by Sea Spray, who holds a foreleg in front of me.

“Birds! Cat!” he yells back to the ship, grinning as he takes the staff from Boots’ family. “Take the monkeys back down and prepare those pigs you were pretending were pirates.”

At his words, to my shock, Captain Celaeno and her crew and Capper, all dressed in ragged versions of the Storm King uniforms her crew were wearing when the Mane 6 first meet them in the movie, step out of the ship, collars and chains like those on Boots’ family worn by them too.

However, I’ve stopped struggling against Sea Spray for a reason other than seeing them all chained and clearly enslaved.

Pigs they were pretending were pirates? No. No, he cannot mean what I think he means.

“What did you mean?” I yell, causing him to look in my direction.

He blinks, seeming puzzled by my appearance, but only mildly interested. “You’ll have to elaborate there, little bald satyr?” He rubs his chin, leaning forward to get a better look at me. “What’re you even doing here, by the way?”

“What did you mean by those pigs Captain Celaeno and her crew were pretending were pirates?!” I ignore his question.

He cocks an eyebrow. “Captain?” He seems to think about it, before shaking his head. “Eh, whatever. As for your question, when I captured these pathetic birds,” he uses the staff to indicate to Celaeno and her crew as they and Capper reach Boots and his family, them all looking depressed and hopeless, “they had a bunch of pigs with them.”

Please just stop there. If you say what I think you’re gonna say…

He shrugs. “Dunno why, but they’d dressed them up like pirates. Don’t care why, either. But, they were all dressed like pirates.” He sneers. “They went against my orders. So, I’m eating their pigs, while they can go hungry.”

Boots has stopped squirming, trying to get his collar off, staring with wide eyes at the Storm King, as am I, my mouth wide with absolute horror.

“You’re planning on eating the Pirate Piggies?!” I yell, hands over my mouth.

He nods, seeming confused. “So? They’re food. Why would this shock you?”

I think I’m gonna be sick.

He’s planning on eating the Pirate Piggies. Eat them!

I stare for a few more seconds, before I feel my blood boil and snarl. “What is wrong with you?!”

He just looks annoyed now. “Wrong? I dunno what you mean, little satyr. Nothing’s wrong.”  He looks to the princesses, nonchalantly. “Okay, bored now. Can we get this over with?”

“We are not surrendering!” Celestia snarls. “Release Dora’s friends at once, Storm King!”

He blinks, before looking from me to those in collars and chains, before a sinister sneers forms.

“Do these slaves mean something to you?” He holds the staff in both hands. “How about a trade then? Tempest and your magic, as promised, in exchange for their lives.”

I stop moving again, before looking to Celestia.

That… how is Celestia supposed to make that kind of decision?

He frowns. “Nothing? Seriously?” He looks around at the crowd, getting annoyed. “All that yelling and talk for nothing.”

I look to Boots, who is looking back at me in fear. I don’t know what to do. The Storm King’s army is clearly at least twice the size of the army we’ve gathered. We can’t just force a victory here.

The Storm King grits his teeth. “Someone better deliver the punchline,” he lifts his staff and my eyes widen as I realize too late what’s about to happen as I scan the ramp he’s standing on, Boots’ family, Celaeno and the revelation of the Pirate Piggies having kept my attention, “because this has gotta be a joke!”

He slams down his staff and at once, magic runs along intricate lines that then spread out from the ship and all over Canterlot.

Before I can yell out a warning, I feel Sea Spray wrap his forelimbs around me and I’m lifted into the air.

Twilight and the other princess are frozen in place, crying out as their magic gets drained.

“No!” I yell, reaching out, trying to get to them.

“Princess Dora, you must stop!” Sea Spray says, holding on tightly as I struggle against him.

“No!” I yell, bitting his leg, causing him to yelp and let go.

I fall down, my eyes narrowed as I land on the ground by the four princesses just as they drop to the ground, their magic gone.

“Nice!” the Storm King grins as I take Twilight by the neck and try to lift her up. “Let’s get this storm started. Ooh, that’s good. I should trademark that.”

“Dora…” Rarity’s weak voice says and I look behind me, only for my eyes to widen in horror.

She too is lying on the ground, as is the entire pony side of the Equestrian army. Aside from the hippogriffs, a select few pegasi (including Dash and Fluttershy) and Spike, everyone is on the ground, groaning weakly.

He didn’t just drain the princesses’ magic. He drained the magic from every pony who’d been bound to the ground!

“Give it back!” I yell, turning to him. “Give back their magic, right now!”

He looks to me, smirking. “I’m the King, I never share. I take what I want.”

“Without their magic, Celestia and Luna can’t move the sun and moon!” I growl. “The day and night cycle will be destroyed.”

He sneers. “I don’t care. Even if the sun won’t shine,” he twiddles the staff, “I want the magic from the ponies to be mine. All mine!”

He fires a blast of magic at me.

I raise my arms to shield myself. I hear the blast explode against something, but don’t feel it.

Opening my eyes, I blink in confusion at the white magical barrier shining in front of me.

“Huh?” The Storm King and I say in unison.

“Dora!” Boots cries from where he and his family are being held prisoner. “The crystal! Look at the crystal!”

Glancing down, I’m taken aback when I see the Wishing Crystal is glowing brightly.

I’m not given a chance to even ponder this, however, as the glow of the crystal spreads out, covering me in a bright light. When the light fades, I glance down to see I’m wearing the dress Dora was back when she became a True Princess.

What?

I look myself over for several moments, before glancing down at the crystal. It flashes, Boots and Scootaloo somehow standing next to me, looking very confused and, though I’ve no clue how, I know exactly what I need to do. I don’t know how I know, but I know.

I indicate around to everyone around me and find myself singing.

Equestria’s magic is for everyone

Everyone, Boots and Scootaloo sing backup, as if knowing what to do.

For sky and water, trees and sun

I glance around at everybody and point at the Storm King.

The greedy king just won't play fair

The Storm King sneers, aiming his staff at me and fires a blast of magic.

To get the magic back sing

Share, share, share.

As I speak, my hands glow with rainbow light along with the Wishing Crystal, a beam shooting from my hands and meeting the Storm King’s stopping it in its place.

“It’s mine!” he yells angrily.

Share, share, share Boots, Scootaloo and I sing, my beam growing a little stronger.

“No, mine!” he snarls and I stumble back as his beam gets stronger, pushing mine til his is almost touching my hands.

He’s just too strong. Whatever it is I know I’m doing, it’s not enough. I can’t do this on my own.

I blink, looking at the rainbow energy coming from my hands.

Of course. I can’t do this on my own, because I’m not meant to.

I look behind me, as do Boots and Scoots as everyone is staring at me in tired awe.

“We need your help to sing share with us,” I say, looking around at them all, “So we can get all the magic back from the king.”

They all look confused, before seeming to understand and nod.

I turn around, a confident smirk on my face and a quick nod to Boots’ family and the rest of those enslaved by the Storm King. “Everybody sing, one, two, three!”

Share, share, share

As I sing, my beam grows stronger, pushing forward until the beams are even.

“Mine, mine, mine!” The Storm King yells, hopping up and down angrily like a toddler through a tantrum.

Share, share, share everyone sings, my beam growing even stronger, pushing the Storm King’s back til it’s almost reached him.

“Sing it louder!” I call out happily!

Share, share, share!

At the last share, my beam shines brighter than ever, before it consumes the Storm King.

The energy spreads out, flowing over the entire city.

I feel like I’m being surrounded by the warmest hug ever.

When the light fades away, I look around to see everypony getting up, their magic not only restored, but looking better than ever.

“What was that?” Scootaloo asks, shaking her head.

I turn to look down to her, before I blink. I’m… eyelevel with Scootaloo.

I blink again, before gasping. “Scootaloo, estás volando!"

Scootaloo looks confused, before a look of shock comes over her, followed by her flopping to the ground in a heap.

She tries again… but is barely staying off the ground.

She sighs. “Guess it was a fluke.” She scuffs at the ground.

I lean down, putting a hand on her shoulder, shaking my head. “Estoy segura de que no era. Si Bulk Biceps puede volar con sus pequeñas alas, tú también puedes, Scoots. Solo tomará tiempo. Tal vez esa ola mágica te estaba animando.”

She frowns, thinking for a few moments, before nodding. “De acuerdo, Dora. Supongo que tienes un punto.”

“Mom! Dad! Big Sisters!” Boots calls out happily and we turn to see him hurrying towards his family, all of whom look healthy now and free of their bindings and they all group hug.

I can’t help smiling as watch them hugging, laughing and crying… before I look down, my heart falling.

“Dora?” Rarity’s voice causes Scootaloo and myself to turn as the alabaster mare and her sister come towards us through the crowd.

“It’s nothing,” I say, looking away and quickly wiping away the forming tears so no one sees them.

“Hold him down!” Luna’s voice calls out sternly.

Looking back towards the ship, it’s to see Royal and hippogriff guards pinning down the Storm King, Luna levitating one of those green orbs.

Celaeno, her crew and Capper are coming back out of the Storm King’s ship, leading a group of four ragged-looking pigs out.

“Pirate Piggies!” I call out happily, rushing forward.

“Dora?” the four say in shock, before I pull them all into a tight hug.

I can’t believe how happy I am to see them. I never thought I could feel so happy seeing the Pirate Piggies, but, after hearing the Storm King say he was going to eat them, I can’t help feeling overjoyed at seeing them.

Seriously, that guy is more fucked up than the movie or comics ever let on.

“Thanks for the save, little satyr,” Captain Celaeno says, giving me a thumbs up.

I shake my head. “I’m no satyr.”

She frowns in confusion. “But… then Storm King addressed you as”

“The Storm King wouldn’t know a human if they beat him by singing a song,” I say, before blinking and giggle. “Which kinda just happened.”

“So… it is true then.”

I’m pulled from my overwhelming joy of seeing the Pirate Piggies safe and turn to see Twilight looking at me.

I blink, wondering what it is she’s looking at… before I glance down and remember I’m dressed in Dora’s True Princess dress.

“Oh…” I say, looking down. “Um… yeah.”
> Chapter 14
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 14



 



___________________________________________________________








“Well?” Twilight is giving me a very stern look as she taps a hoof.

I let go of the Pirate Piggies and turn to face her, rubbing my right elbow nervously, not meeting her gaze, not paying attention to anything else around us.

“Um… yeah,” I finally say after what feels like hours, though was probably only a few minutes. “I… well… I can’t exactly explain, but… um… well…”

I have literally no idea what I’m supposed to say here. I barely understand what’s going on, so it’s not like I can give a good explanation for any of this.

“Your Highness,” a male voice from behind says loud enough for me to hear, even though I’m not paying attention. “All the remaining forces within the Storm King’s main ship have been captured and arrested.”

“Good work, General,” Luna’s voice says. “Were there any other prisoners aboard?”

“Dora! Dora!” the three crew members of the Pirate Piggies say, their captain remaining silent as they tug on my dress.

“Qué es?” I ask distractedly, glancing back to them, wincing at the harsh glare Twilight gives me upon what must look like ignoring her.

“Well, we think there is at least one, Your Highness,” the guard is saying as I glance between Twilight and the Piggies, wondering who I should focus on. “Though we’re unclear where they are or what they’re saying. We think it’s the same language as the hippogriffs, so we might need them to clarify what’s being said. The prisoner could be telling us where they are, but we don’t know where they’re saying they are. We’ve searched the whole ship and found no living creature.”

I frown, turning around. “The hippogriffs are busy securing the remains of the Storm King’s forces. But, I speak their language.”

“You are in enough trouble as it is, little lady,” Twilight’s voice makes me wince and I glance over my shoulder at her. “Not only did you put yourself in danger, again, despite being told to stay safe,” she indicates to my dress, “but you still need to explain this.”

“You speak true, Princess Twilight,” Luna says, though I sense I but coming. “But —” thank you “—if not for her quick thinking, Princess Dora would be enslaved by the Storm King and we would’ve been without any of our magic to defend ourselves. Besides,” she gives a sly smile, “I seem to remember a young mare whom went against the wishes of others and ended up saving myself from a nightmare.”

Twilight opens her mouth to argue, before closing it and grumbling under her breath.

Luna looks to me. “Are you sure, Dora? It could be a trap the Storm King left for intruders, someone understanding the language being the key to them falling into said trap.”

I nod. “Estoy segura. I’m sure,” I repeat to the confused look from the guard. Flash Magnus, you cannot get here to whip these guys into shape soon enough.

I follow the guard and Luna into the Storm King’s ship and he starts leading us towards what I’m guessing is the personal quarters.

As we move further down the hall, a faint sound, like a voice, starts reaching my ears. I can’t make out the words at first, but the further down we go, the clearer they become until I can hear the words quite clearly.

“Ayúdenme! Ayúdenme!”

At once, I freeze in place, my eyes going wide.

“Dora?” Luna notices my reaction. “Dora, what is it? What is the voice saying?”

I know that voice. It’s her original voice, from the earliest episodes, but I know that voice.

“Backpack!” I yell, running down the hall, startling the two ponies.

“Dora?” Backpack’s voice calls. “Dora, in here! I’m in here!”

I take a turn in the corridor and run, calling out to Backpack over and over, with her replying back so I can follow her voice.

After a few minutes of scrambling down several wrong turns, with Luna and the guard in pursuit, calling for me to slow down and explain, I finally find the room where Backpack’s voice is loudest and rush in.

At once, I realize I’m in what must be a cargo hold. There are spears and other supplies in large groups scattered around, giving the impression they were intended to be used recently, most like to enforce dominance and keep Canterlot enslaved after the Storm King conquered it.

However, I pay them no mind, turning my head every which way, looking for any sign of bright purple.

“Dora, por aquí! Aquí!”

I turn at the sound of the voice to see a purple backpack with big eyes and a mouth hanging unceremoniously from a hook on the wall.

“Backpack!” I yell, hurrying forward, climbing up a box and reaching out, pulling her down and then hugging her tightly.

Who’d have thought I could be so happy seeing her? I’m even happier to see her than I was the Pirate Piggies.

“I’m so glad you found us!” Backpack says and I realize she’s lightly sobbing. “The Storm King found us and used us to find places to conquer and store all his weapons and things he stole. It was awful! I’m just so happy you found us!”

She starts sobbing harder and I rub her gently, before something she said catches up with me. “Wait, us? Do you mean the Pirate Piggies and Boots’ family?”

She shakes her… well, she shakes herself as if she were shaking her head, since Backpack is kind of her head and whole body all at once.

She doesn’t get to answer though as another voice from the next room calls out. It’s muffled a bit, but I can easily make out another voice from the earlier episodes of Dora’s show.

“Dora? Dora, is that you? Backpack, please tell me I’m not hearing things!”

“Map?!” I call, leaping down from the box, startling the ponies as they finally reach inside and I rush past them to another door, slamming my shoulder into it.

The door yields and I stumble in before getting my footing.

Glancing around, I frown. This looks like a strategy room, with a table in the centre with figures clearly representing the Storm King’s army and his enemies, charts and other things I don’t’ fully understand.

But, I don’t see Map anywhere.

Granted I see a map, opened out and pinned to the wall, a map showing all of Equestria and the lands before reaching to Mt. Aris and the Changeling Kingdom, but I don’t see Map himself.

“Map!” Backpack says and I glance down at her in my arms to see she’s looking at the same opened map I just passed my gaze over. “It’s okay. It’s really Dora!”

To my surprise, the map on the wall flutters a bit, before the muffled voice talks again. “Dora? Dora, is that really you? Please, tell me I’m not dreaming again?”

I shake myself. “You’re not dreaming, Map.” I put Backpack down on the table and hurry over to the wall, climbing up on a chair to reach the opened map and pull the pins from the top and bottom right corners away.

The map, no longer held in place, falls back a bit and I see the eyes and mouth on the other side that indicate this is indeed Map.

His eyes widen and a smile spreads to his lips upon seeing me. “Dora! It really is you!” he cheers as I pull out the other pins, catching him and letting him roll up. “You have no idea how much we’ve missed you!”

I blink, before reality finally catches up with me, no longer distracted by the shock of finding them both and my expression saddens. “Well, kinda.”

He blinks, looking worriedly at me. “What do you mean, Dora?”

I sigh, hopping down from the chair as a now very irritated looking Luna and guard come in, while I walk over to Backpack and put him in his pouch. “It’s a long story, Map. One I’d rather tell you both when we’re not on this ship.”

“Si estoy de acuerdo,” Backpack nods as I pick her up and slip her over my back. “The sooner we’re out of here, the better.”

“Princess Dora, would you please explain what is going on?!” Luna barely stops from going into the Royal Canterlot Voice. 

“Outside, Luna,” I say solemnly, my tone causing her annoyance to immediately fade, replaced with concern. “I’ll explain outside the ship. This… I can’t explain it here. This ship has too many bad memories for my friends.”

We head back out of the ship and I see Boots hugging his family.

When he see me, his eyes light up, telling me he notices the purple straps around my shoulders and can tell what they mean.

He hurries over, making monkey noises excitedly. “Dora! Dora, you found Backpack and Map?”

“Boots?” the two say in shock and happiness.

“They… they don’t know yet, Boots,’ I say simply.

At once, his overly eager domineer changes, becoming more subdued and understanding. “Oh.”

“What don’t we know?” Backpack asks.

I sigh. “It’s a long story.” I blink as I notice Capper and Rarity talking, the former having apparently made him his signature clothing from the movie in the time it took for me to go into the ship and come back with Map and Backpack. “Though, I’m not the only one who has some explaining they need to do.”

“I think I can answer those questions,” I turn as Captain Celaeno, now dressed in most of her main movie attire, minus the hat, walks over, her crew and the Pirate Piggies beside her.

“That’s good,” I say, looking to the pink animals. “Because that’s also something I wanna know. Pirate Piggies, how did you end up with Captain Celaeno’s crew? What’s Capper doing with you guys? What could you possibly have done to make the Storm King decide you’d defied his orders?”

Seriously, since Twilight and the others never left Canterlot to get to Mount Aris, they never went into Klugetown and encountered Capper, so never had to make an escape when Tempest found them, ending up on Celaeno’s ship and Dash helping them get their groove back.

Celaeno looks down to the piggies and smiles, shaking her head. “See, a couple months back, we’d been doing as we already had since the Storm King took over the lands we called home.”

“Hauling Storm King Merchandise,” I whisper to Boots and the princess, though that doesn’t stop their confused looks.

“Well, one day, we were making our deliveries when we heard a commotion,” First Mate Mullet, the one with the eyepatch and rooster-like hair do says. “We went down into the brig and found these four scattered around, beyond confused.”

“We didn’t know how we’d gotten there,” Pirate Pig says, shaking his head. “One minute, we’re sailing our ship on the open seas, the next second, we’re on Captain Celaeno’s ship.”

“With our own ship nowhere in sight,” the girl Pirate Piggie says, shaking her head.

“Now, normally, we’d follow the rules of the book and have just tossed them overboard,” Celaeno shrugs, before looking sheepish as I glare at her.

Yeah, I always thought that was fucked up. If a sky pirate finds a stowaway, throw them overboard… meaning plummeting to their death. That better have just been a Storm King rule and not their own.

Celaeno clears her throat. “Anyway, Pirate Pig here,” yeah, they’re the Pirate Piggies, yet their captain is called Pirate Pig instead of Captain Pig, I never got the point of that, “knew pirate code and called parlay.” 

“We talked and quickly established we weren’t stowaways, since we didn’t know how we’d gotten on the ship at all,” Pirate… you know what? I’m gonna just refer to him as Captain Pig, or this is going to get too confusing.

“We decided we’d let them off at the nearest port… until we realized how naïve they were,” Boyle explains, shaking his head. “We knew if we let them go on their way, they’d be dead within a few hours at best.”

“That doesn’t explain Capper, though,” I fold my arms. “I can guess you eventually got noticed and when you refused to give the Pirate Piggies away, that was what the Storm King considered going against his orders… but where does Capper fit into this?”

“I can answer that, Dora,” we turn as Boots’ father comes over. “Like the Pirate Piggies, we didn’t know how we ended up in this world.”

“We just suddenly found ourselves in some place called Klugetown… where the locals were very unpleasant,” his mother says, coming alongside her husband.

“Capper…” Mr. Monkey sighs. “Well, at first, he didn’t give us the best impression.”

“Let me guess,” I deadpan, said cat looking sheepish as he and Rarity come over, “he made sure to get any unpleasant people to leave you alone, gave you the idea he would help you find Boots and then tried to sell you to a naked mole rat named Verko?”

They glance at each other, before nodding, their expressions shocked. “How did you know?”

“Lucky guess,” I say dryly, giving Capper a look that makes him scratch his neck nervously. “So, how did that lead to you all being enslaved by the Storm King?”

Capper surprises me by answering. “Well, and I am none too proud of myself, I can asure you, little princess, Verko took a little while to arrive and… a few Storm King Troupers found us, demanding to know what the monkey family were doing in my house. Verko arrived soon after and there was a… miscommunication.”

“That Verko turned tail and ran,” Mrs Monkey says, shaking her head. “Then, we were arrested for not having signed forms that requested our enslaved by the Storm King himself.”

“Wait,” I cock an eyebrow. “So… the Storm King made it so… you had to ask permission to be enslaved? He actually thought others would willingly want to be enslaved?”

“Technically, it only applies to those not in countries he’s conquering at the time.” Capper clarifies, playing with his fingers. “If you’re in the country as he’s conquering, you’re automatically counted as enslaved.”

I massage my forehead. “Sorry I asked.”

“The five of us ended up on the Storm King’s ship since the miscommunication confused him. He was more focused on what I now see was invading this place,” Capper indicates to the city around us.

“Well, I apologize for everything you had to go through under the Storm King’s rule,” Princess Celestia says, coming over. “I assure you, we will make sure to fix the wrongs he committed. However, before that,” she looks around at the mess caused by the recent invasion, “we have some work to do here. Plus, I believe my little ponies would like to finish the Friendship Festival before anything else halts it again.”

I glance to Boots and smirk. “Sure. Come on, everyone. Let’s clean up!”




 



___________________________________________________________












“You… literally make no sense, whatever you are,” Tempest says as she and I walk alongside each other. I’m wearing the jacket and jeans combo from several days ago.

After Boots and I had sung the Clean Up song from Dora Saves the Mermaids, only applying this to cleaning up the mess left by the Storm King’s forces and setting everything for the festival back up, I’d had to talk with the princesses.

Of course, there wasn’t much to talk about. Sure, they now knew I was a True Princess, but I couldn’t explain any of that to them because I don’t know what that means in this world.

And, as in the show, the princesses were aggravatingly paradoxical about the situation.

Despite having made it quite clear my being a True Princess means something big that I shouldn’t be left in the dark about if I don’t know anything… they left me in the dark about it.

They dodged any questions about the importance of True Princesses and what it means for me while I’m here. They also refused to explain how they know about True Princesses or what they want from me because I am one.

All they did was make it clear I’m not to take any unnecessary risks (yeah, in Equestria, you’re more likely to not take them BY taking them, so good luck with that) and that I was to remain in Rarity’s care until we can figure out how to send Boots and the others back to Dora’s world and send me back to mine in my original body.

Map and Backpack had been a bit hesitant after they learned I wasn’t their Dora, but, thanks to Boots, they came around and agreed that, while I’m not their Dora, we can still be friends.

After all that was said and done and the festival was back underway at long last, I’d gone down to where Tempest and all the Storm King’s forces I’d turned into Red-Lipped Batfish were being kept, on behalf of the princesses, more specifically Twilight.

It was quite obvious, thanks to what I remember of how Tempest talked to Twilight in the movie’s original events after capturing her, that if Twilight was the one who tried to reason with Tempest right first, it wouldn’t go well.

Tempest clearly hated how easy it seemed for Twilight, as it was for all those whom are jealous of the purple pony throughout the series, having no idea just how much Twilight had struggled through to get where she is and will be in the future.

Now, a strange creature she’s never known about til the invasion failed? That we can use against Tempest’s anger and cause her to stop and think for a bit, as well as consider how not easy it had really been for Twilight.

I’m wearing the same outfit Dora wore at the end of Dora Rocks, that being purple pants that stop just above my ankles, a pinkish-purple shirt with three purple stars, pink diamonds in a ring around the next, with a frilly purple bottom that makes it look like I’m wearing a skirt when I’m not, pink and white sneaker over crew-cut yellow socks and a violet hairband with a tiny yellow ribbon-like jewel.

“I’m a human, Tempest,” I say, putting my hands behind my head. “Aside from myself, they don’t exist in this world. Though there is the other world where they do.”

She cocks an eyebrow at me. “Then why don’t you just go live there? You’d be among your own kind instead of an outcast.” Her face saddens and she lowers her head. “Like me. A unicorn who can’t even use her magic anymore.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t be where you are now.” She gives me a very puzzled look. “Do you really think the Storm King would’ve kept a useless unicorn around, especially when he hates cute things?”

She blushes. “I-I-I’m not cute!”

I snort. “Please, Tempest. It takes a lot for anypony to not be cute. There’s even evil ponies who look so cute you half convince yourself they can’t be evil,” I’ll deal with you, Cozy Glow, when you get here, “so I don’t wanna here any of that “I’m not cute” from you, got it? And, as I was saying, you’re not unable to use magic. You think you’re the first unicorn to break their horn?”

She blinks, looking genuinely shocked. “I’m not?”

I shake my head. Thank you, Where the Apple Lies. Granted, I have no idea the stallion’s name, what happened to him after the fact and his horn was in better condition than Tempest’s, but I know he exists at least, and that helps me here.

“Who are the others?”

I blank for a second. Crap. Was hoping she wouldn’t ask. Oh well. In for a penny, in for a pound as the Brits say.

“I don’t know his name,” I start slowly, “but Applejack told her sister, Apple Bloom, about a time she, their granny and her older brother had all been in the hospital and, while going through the halls, had passed an orange stallion who’s horn was broken.”

She frowns. “Only one?”

“To be fair, I've only been in this world for a little over two weeks now and it’s not like I’m doing a history project on unicorns with broken horns for school or anything,” I point out. “However, regardless of how many unicorns throughout history have had broken horns, we know yours still works.”

Tempest glances up at her horn. “No, it… wait.” She blinks, I’m guessing remembering all the times she’s used her horn. “But… but I can only cast raw magically energy. I can’t actually perform spells.”

“You didn’t have the right teacher,” I say as we get outside. I know damn well she was helping with the Shield Spell during the finale. That takes spell casting ability, regardless of whether she was just lending her magic to the spell or not.

It’s late evening now, so a lot of ponies and other guests are milling around or watching the performances. Songbird started shortly before I went in to get Tempest.

She’s still about half way through the song Rainbow. Strangely, unlike in the movie, she started with a pony version of Titanium. I mean, Sia did do a cover of that, so I guess it makes sense, but… it was still weird.

Tempest looks up at the stage, before looking away, it not escaping my notice that Twilight is looking in our direction.

I stand with Tempest as she looks up at the sky.

A few moments later, I hear the sound of faint hoofsteps as Twilight no doubt lands behind us.

“It is a pretty nice party, huh?” I ask, giving the illusion that I haven’t noticed the princess yet.

“Well, that’s one thing that never changes around here,” Tempest says quietly, before seeming to notice Twilgiht too. “The party.”

Twilight steps forward. “Well, I hope you’ll stay. More friends are definitely merrier.”

Tempest sighs, glancing up at her head. “But, um... my horn.”

“You know,” Tempest and I turn around so we’re facing the purple princess, “your horn is pretty powerful, just like the pony it belongs to.”

I nudge Tempest in the shoulder. “Told ya.”

The unicorn looks down, still seeming unsure.

“You’re horn may be broken, Tempest,” Twilight says, putting of hoof on the taller mare’s shoulder, “but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still work. I’d be more than willing to help you learn how to properly cast spells again.”

“Okay, okay!” Tempest says a little flustered as I nudge her again. She looks to Twilight, before looking down and smiling. “I… guess I can do some things. I can even show you, if you like?”

Twilight nods, giving an encouraging smile.

Tempest walks back over to where we’d been, charges her horn and fires of the stream of magic that turns into a cascade of fireworks.

“Nice touch, Tempest!” Pinkie says, actually making me jump despite knowing she would be there.

“She’s right,” Twilight says, giving Tempest an encouraging smile. “It is a nice touch. And I know you will be even better.”

Tempest nods. “I’d like that. Thank you, Princess.”

“You can just call me Twilight, Tempest,” said princess chuckles.

“Well, actually, that’s not my real name,” Tempest blushes.

Pinkie leaps in front of her, dancing up and down on her hooves excitedly. “Oooh! What is it?!”

“It’s been a while, Fizzlepop Berrytwist.”

At once, Tempest’s face blanks and her head darts back and forth, until her eyes fall on the purple-pink mark approaching us.

Pinkie Pie gasps, looking between the approaching unicorn and the one with te broken horn. “Is that really your name?”

Tempest nods distractedly.

“Okay! That is the most awesome name ever!” Pinkie cheers, leaping into the air.

“St-Starlight Glimmer?” Tempest asks as the unicorn in question reaches us.

Starlight nods. “Been a while.” She frowns. “Why didn’t you tell anypony where you were going after you left Sire’s Hollow? Do you know how worried everypony was? And I come to learn you left to join and evil monkey-thing that wanted to take away all our magic?”

“Says the pony who tried to make everypony the same by replacing their cutie marks with equal signs,” Spike mutters loudly.

Starlight blushes, looking away.

Tempest just stares at the other unicorn in disbelief. “Wait. You did what? I know you were gifted with magic as a foal but… how in Equestria could you do that? And did it because I lost my horn. You’ve still got yours, so, what could’ve possessed you to do that?”

“Something we can mostly blame on the stupidity of her and Sunburst’s parents,” I say, massaging my temples.

Tempest glances between Starlight and myself, clearly needing some clarification.






 



___________________________________________________________










I watch from where I’m sitting with Boots and his family as Star Song sings her songs.

It’s been an eventful couple hours, what with Starlight and Tempest being from the same towns and having only met each other for the first time in years and just hanging out with everypony.

One surprise I hadn’t expected at all was when I ran into A.K. Yearling in the crowd. She had been speaking with Rarity about… something. 

I dunno what, but I think it had something to do with me, because, the moment she’d noticed me she hastily ended the conversation and rushed into the crowd.

I’d asked Rarity what they’d been talking about and she told me Daring was just checking in to see how I was doing since our adventure.

Bit odd. Don’t see why Daring would care about how I’m doing. It’s not like we’re important to each other or anything.

Of course, that wasn’t all that had to happen. Somehow, the Storm King broke out of where he was being held captive until the princesses could go and take him to serve his sentence in Tartarus and, upon breaking out, had come after me.

He’d gotten a hold of the petrifying orb Luna had taken from him, clearly intending to get me with it.

The universe apparently really doesn’t like him, though, since Tempest saved me the same way she did Twilight and the others in the movie: getting in the way of the orb and being close enough to the Storm King before the spell took full effect, thus pulling him into it and turning him to stone too... and him smashing to pieces on the ground below.

This had definitely solidified to everyone else that Tempest was a changed pony now.

After a little time, everyone had settled down and resumed the festival.

Now, we’re nearing the end and I’ve butterflies in my stomach.

“You’ll be great, Dora,” Boots says, patting my knee reassuringly, Backpack and Map agreeing with him.

“Thank you all so much for coming to the Friendship Festival,” Star Song says after finishing her latest song. “Muchas gracias a todos por venir al Festival de la Amistad.”

The crowd cheers.

“To finish up tonight’s festivities, I’d like to sing a song a very special new friend taught me,” she continues, looking out around at the crowd. “And I’d very much love for her to sing it with me.” Her eyes meet mine and she waves. “Dora, would you like to come up on the stage?”

At once, all heads turn in my direction.

I wince, before the crowd starting cheering, chanting “Sing, sing, sing!”

I sigh, looking to Boots with a nervous smile. “I guess we don’t really have a choice, do we?”

He laughs, nodding. He’d already agreed to come up with me earlier. He’d actually been the one to convince me not to chicken out.

Sure, before, I’d humoured the idea, but after the battle with the Storm King and then he’s counter attack, my nerves had gone up, not at all helped by the fact I’d turned into a True Princess right in front of everyone here.

Granted, I don’t think most of them connected the dots, but that doesn’t stop my nerves all the same.

Taking a deep breath, I lead Boots up to the stage, Star Song giving me an encouraging smile and handing me the microphone, while a stagehand gives her a headset.

“Ready, Dora?” she asks.

I look to Boots as I hold the mic in two hands. He nods, smiling and I nod back, taking a deep breath, then letting it out.

“As I’ll ever be.”

Star Song nods, before looking to her band and nods to them, the guitarist starting it off.





“You and I, we’re one of a kind.

Each other special in body and mind.

Take my hand and together we’ll shine.

Things are much better when we do them together.

We can help each other if we work together.

Everything’s better when we do them all as one.”

I nod, lifting the mic to my mouth as we sing together.

We’re singing the song from Dora’s Explorer Girls Our First Concert, Todos Juntos with Boots, Backpack and Map providing the backup vocals before fully joining in towards the end.

By the end of it, I’m feeling very energized, smiling and laughing along with Boots and the others.

The moment the song ends, we all take a deep bow, the crowd roaring and cheering.

“Gracias, señorita Star Song,” I say as the crowd cheers.

She smiles back. “De nada, Dora. It was my pleasure.”

I look out at the crowd, then up at the stars, unable to keep the smile from my face.
> Chapter 15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 15



 



___________________________________________________________








“Hasta luego, Rarity!” I call as I slide down the railing of the stairs, land and head for the door.

“Be back in time for tea, Dora,” Rarity’s voice calls from her sewing room.

I step outside and stretch my arms into the sky, closing my eyes as I smell the afternoon air. I’m wearing the same as the last day of the friendship Festival.

It’s been about two weeks since said festival. Since that time, some of season 5 has played out… though it’s felt weird.

I mean, being present for the events feels weird enough, but with the knowledge that the movie has been and gone, it felt really off-putting when Cadance and Shining announced she was pregnant with Flurry Heart. Still, at least that means Flurry’s developing embryo wasn’t harmed by her mother’s magic being ripped from her.

Of course, it was also infuriating, since, despite that episode’s events coming after What about Discord?, that episode has not happened.

With Discord’s lack of appearing during the movie’s events despite my making sure he was fully aware of the festival, the time he comes to Ponyville for a full three days during Twilight’s book-sort-cation was my best chance at getting to meet with him and have him send me home.

And if you’re wondering why I’m still counting on Discord instead of Twilight, it’s because she’s taken Tempest and Starlight on as her pupils, like she does for Starlight after the finale that now won’t be happening.

Well, technically, only Starlight is her pupil. She is teaching Tempest too, but not the same way. In fact, she and Starlight are teaching Tempest together and only in helping her learn how to cast spells with her broken horn.

I know it would actually be pretty bloody rude of me to expect Twilight to start what could take months of research to figure out how to send me home while leaving Starlight and Tempest to wait until after I’m gone.

Patience is a virtue, after all and, besides, with the Storm King dealt with and the only big problem coming up now being when Flurry shatters the Crystal Heart, which itself won’t even be for another ten months, I’m not too worried about how long I’ll have to wait.

Twilight has assured me she will make sure I’m sent back the very moment I left. I can see Starlight helping her with that, especially since she has those Time Travel Capes to use as well.

Starlight is certain Twilight can combine one of the capes with a few specific other spells to send me back to the point before I arrived in Equestria to begin with.

I just hope leaving one of the capes with her wasn’t a bad idea. After all, unlike a Time Travel Spell, any numbnut can use those travel capes, even by accident.

Plus, unless the cape goes back to Dora’s world the moment I leave Equestria and return to earth, I’ll have to be sure to keep the cape a secret for all time. I can think of a few certain people who could really screw up Earth’s timeline if they went back in time.

“Hi, Dora!” a cheery voice calls as I feel something, or rather some monkey, land on my back.

“Hi, Boots,” I smile back at him.

Boots and his family have settled surprisingly well into life in Ponyville.

I’d learned his sisters’ names that day of the festival… and I’m still not sure whether to laugh or deadpan.

Keeping with the ascetic of naming their children after each child’s favourite item of clothing, for whatever reason, Mr. and Mrs Monkey had called their two daughters Pi-Bow and Ye-Bow, because one likes wearing a pink bow in her hair and the other a yellow bow.

Groan at that if you want. I sure did.

“So, you’re family just got back?” I ask as Boots hops off my back, saying hi to Map and Backpack.

Since Boots’ father was an architect back in their world, he’d gotten a job with the Equestrian Building Society. He’d had been in Canterlot to help with the building of several restaurants on what I figure out from his word choice were on Restaurant Row, one of the restaurants being The Tasty Treat from Spice Up Your Life and his family had been there for a small holiday and to equate themselves with the area.

“I bet The Tasty Treat was the only restaurant your dad had any fun designing and building,” I say as we walk through Ponyville.

Boots folds his arms, nodding, frowning in confusion. “Why was it the only one that wanted something different? All the others wanted the exact same thing.”

I roll my eyes. “Honestly, Boots? Pier pressure. One uptight pony who has a strong reputation but a really weird idea of what good food and dinning is like tries to make anyone who does something she doesn’t like feel like they won’t be successful otherwise.”

Boots looks shocked. “What? That’s not fair. That’s mean! Not everyone likes the same thing! Just because she likes food one way doesn’t mean everyone else should too!”

I nod. “Boots you are less than half her age, but show you are far wiser.”

We get to Twilight’s castle and I knock several times.

True, Twilight hasn’t been able to help me with figuring out how to get home and I’ve decided to wait til she can, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still have business in her castle.

After all, since Twilight has to divide her time between Tempest and Starlight, I’ve been helping out one when the other is with the purple princess.

Though, when it comes to Starlight, I’m mainly just trying to make her work up the courage to go to the Crystal Empire and confront Sunburst.

Sure, I could wait til Flurry is actually born for that, but that’s at least ten months away and I’ll be damned if only going to just let Starlight procrastinate her reuniting with Sunburst for that long.

Though I’m kinda on my own there. The Wishing Crystal will not grant any wish, no matter if Boots or I make it, which relates to Starlight meeting up with Sunburst.

Is it trying to tell me the way they meet has to be like in The Crystalling?

Whatever the case, I haven’t given up. I haven’t actually told her Sunburst is in the Empire itself, so I just need to find a way to convince her to come to the Empire with me and lead her to his house and let things play out as they will.

I didn’t get a chance to come yesterday though. Rarity had insisted on making me a new dress (despite my many protests) and it took the whole freaking day!

How does it take you a whole damn day to make one God damn dress?! How?!

The door opens to reveal Spike.

“Hola, Spike,” I smile as he steps back to let us in. “Where’s Twilight?”

For some reason, he doesn’t answer. He just leads me to the room with the map of Equestria… and the room if full of books, charts and others things.

“She’s off solving a Friendship Problem with Fluttershy,” he shrugs, closing the door and leading us towards the library. “They left yesterday afternoon. There’s no telling when she’ll be back.”

We enter the library to find both Starlight and Tempest there, the latter with a book open in front of her, her horn closing as she levitates a flower.

“Good, Tempest,” Starlight says. “You’re levitation control is getting much better.” She then notices us as we walk in and waves. “Hi, Dora. Hi, Boots.”

“Hola, Starlight. Hola, Tempest,” I smile back.

Starlight returns to looking to Tempest, it being too obvious she’s well aware I intend to again try and get her to speak with Sunburst.

Rolling my eyes and shaking my head, I look around the library… before pausing as my eyes fall on the mirror to the Equestria Girls world. Or, more specifically, one component of the portal.

The journal is glowing and vibrating.

“Dora?” Spike seems to have noticed my change in demeanour. “What’s up?”

His question draws the two unicorns’ attention to me as I quickly make my way over to the shelf and, after climbing up on a chair, pull down the journal, which Spike seems to only just now notice is glowing, opening it and reading aloud.

“Hey, Twilight. Haven’t heard back from you yet. I guess you must be pretty busy with your role as princess. But I could really use your advice right now.

You see, I’ve been given the job of keeping magic under control here at CHS, even though I still haven’t quite wrapped my head around it. And now after seeing Rainbow Dash pony up the way she did, it makes me think her magic might be... changing.

Everyone is looking to me to figure things out and I really don’t wanna let them down. But I’m not sure I have enough experience with friendship magic to solve this.”

Starlight and Tempest are looking at me in confusion, the former asking, “Uh, what do you mean? How exactly would Rainbow Dash Pony Up? Um… Dora?”

Her change to a worried tone is likely because my eyes have widened.

The events of Friendship Games are happening, but how much, I literally cannot tell. The journal will always vibrate and glow until it is answered and there’s no telling how long ago that was.

“When did this start glowing and vibrating?” I ask the two unicorns, indicating to the now closed book in one hand.

They shrug. 

“I dunno,” Tempest says. “Since a little before Twilight and Fluttershy left yesterday.

I stare at them, my right eye twitching.

“Sunset Shimmer needs our help!” I look to Spike, before blinking. Wait, if Spike went into the EQG world right now, there’d be two Spikes. As if that wouldn’t be confusing.

Spike looks worried. “Why? What’s going on?”

I open my mouth to answer, before my eyes widen and I return the journal to the top of the mirror, climb back down and reach out to the portal… but my hand touches the cold surface.

“What in Equestria?” Spike hurries over, running his claws over the surface of the mirror. “But, the journal’s there,” he glance up at the book. “How come the portal isn’t opening?!”

“Portal?” the unicorns ask, sounding in more confused.

“Oh no,” I whisper. Sci-Twi’s already drained the portal’s magic. If that’s the case, there’s no way we can get in through the mirror.

“If Sunset needs help, how’re we supposed to get to her when the portal’s closed?” Spike looks to me.

I frown, rubbing my chin. “Well, there is technically another portal and it’s always open, since it’s a natural forming one… but it’s somewhere in either the edges of the Everfree Forest or Whitetail Woods and I have no idea which and it comes out in that world on a deserted island, miles from CHS.”

“Um, could somepony please explain what you’re both babbling on about?” Tempest asks, seeming annoyed, I’m guessing since she and Starlight were kind of shut out of the conversation. “What in Equestria in CHS?”

“Even if you’re right about another portal, this one comes out closest to Sunset,” Spike says to me, pointing to the mirror. “Twilight might know how to reopen the portal,” he puts his hands on his head, “but there’s no telling how long it’ll be before she comes back!”

“What’re we gonna do?! What’re we gonna do?!” Boots cries out, hands on his head… though I think he’s only worried because I’m worried. I haven’t told him a thing about the Equestria Girls world, so he wouldn’t know about it or be worried for those there.

Spike growls, kicking the base of the mirror. “I wish the portal would just open for a moment so we can go through!”

I blink, before my gut drops. Please tell me Spike didn’t just say what I think he just said.

Sadly, the glowing of my crystal means he did.

Before any of us can react, a beam of rainbow energy shoots from the crystal, slamming into the surface of the mirror.

At once, our reflections are replaced by a swirling two-toned purple vortex.

We’re barely even given enough time to register this, however, before a wind starts pulling from within the vortex, sucking us towards it.

I grab the edge of the nearest table, holding onto Spike’s claw as the wind continues to try pulling us in. Starlight and Tempest are clinging to their own table for dear life, no clue what’s going on.

A scream from Boots causes me to look behind me to see him being lift into the air and yanked towards the portal.

“Boots!” I yell, reaching out my free hand, before blinking as I realize my mistake, followed by Spike and I screaming as we’re pulled into the portal as well.




 



___________________________________________________________








The three of us scream as we’re hurled out from the portal, the world of EQG coming into focus within seconds, before we tumble along the ground, rolling, before finally stopping.

“Owie,” Boots’ voice groans. With my face down on the concrete ground, I can’t see him. “What happened?”

Spike grunts, sounding like he’s shaking his head, before he gasps. “What? Neither of you changed?”

Pushing myself up, I glance around, my vision a little bit blury, before the green and purple dog comes into focus.

Glancing down at myself and then over to a whitish-blue blob with a hint of red that is clearly Boots, I confirm that, while Spike changed, Boots and I remained exactly the same.

Boots pushes himself up on his hands and knees, before blinking in confusion at Spike. “Spike? Since when did you turn into a dog?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “It’s a long story, Boots. Right now—”

“If both teams are ready?” a loud, very familiar voice says.

My eyes widen and I quickly look around, only to realize where and when we are.

We’re outside the front of CHS, everyone is gathered for the final round of the Friendship Games… and Sci-Twi is walking towards the centre of the area, holding her device, singing her part of Unleash the Magic along with the rest of Crystal Prep singing their chorus of those very words.

Fear racing through me as I realize what’s about to happen, I raise my hands to my face and yell at the top of my lungs, my voice filled with panic, “Twilight, ESPERA!”

At once, the glasses-wearing girl halts in place, her finger inches from the button of her device and glances around quickly in confusion.

Her sudden change in demeanour is enough to grab everyone’s attention, especially her school’s, who’ve abruptly stopped singing and are looking around in confusion too, likely wondering just what could’ve stopped Sci-Twi from doing what they think they needed her to in order to win the games.

Sci-Twi keeps looking around, before her head turns in my direction and her eyes going wide… much to my confusion.

“Dora the Explorer?! Boots?! And… is that another Spike?!”

That gets everyone’s attention and all heads turn in our direction, met with confusion, shock and probably a bunch of other emotions.

I’m not paying full attention though, as I’ve slumped down, relief flooding my body. We were literally seconds away from the magical flash in Sci-Twi’s eyes that would’ve indicated the birth of Midnight Sparkle as a separate consciousness within her.

I am wondering how in the world she knows me by title though. I’d probably be worried if I wasn’t so relieved.

Suddenly, my ears prick up at a scratching sound and my eyes widen. I turn my head this way and that, before they land on the Princess of Friendship’s double as she takes a step towards me.

Behind her. That bush! It has orange fox ears!

“Swiper!” I yell, standing up quickly, Boots’ eyes widening as he realizes what has me worried.

My cry, however, just causes confusion as Sci-Twi paused. “Swipe her? What’re you talking about?”

Said fox pops out from the bush, nobody noticing him as all eyes are on the three of us.

“Swiper, no—” Boots and I yell quickly, holding out a hand, but not quick enough as he leaps forward, grabbing the locket, much to Sci-Twi’s surprise and lands in front of her.

He holds it above his head. “You’re too late!” he laughs and pull back his arm and throws it towards a bush. “You’ll never find it—”

He’s cut off by the magical explosion that comes from the bush, the shockwave sending us all flying back, Boots, Equestria’s Spike and myself slamming into the now closed portal.

When I look up, my eyes widen in horror.

Instead of Midnight Sparkle being a problem, a massive Venus flytrap-like plant has sprung up from the bush, long tendrils extending out from its lower region.

“Oh… man,” Swiper says, his voice sounding lower as he coughs and I glance to him to see him rubbing his throat. I’ll be having words with that stupid fox later.

“Everybody, run!” Vice Principal Luna yells into the microphone.

“Would someone please tell me what in the world just happened?!” I get up as Rainbow Dash and the rest hurry over, though not paying attention to me.

“That’s not important now,” Sunset says, glancing back at us. “I don’t know who you are, little girl, but do you know something?”

I nod. “Explicaré más tarde. I’ll explain later!” I repeat in a yell to the confused looks from all but Dash, Sunset and Sci-Twi, the latter of whom apparently got thrown not too far from the portal. “Right now, we need to stop that… thing!”

“How do we do that?” Dash asks, glancing from it back to me. “We don’t have our magic anymore!”

I frown, standing up. “But I do!”

To their confused looks, I run, rushing past them, ignoring their sudden cries. I’m expecting the crystal to glow and turn me into a True Princess again… only I realize too late that it’s not and get slapped hard in the face by a tendril.

I feel myself slam into something that makes a grunting sound. Looking up to see behind me, I see Sci-Twi, her face pulled back in a pained grimace.

“I’m sorry!” she whispers, wrapping her arms around me. “This is my fault!”

“Juega el juego de la culpa más tarde!” I say firmly, squirming out of her grip and turning to look at them all, bitting my bottom lip.

Okay. This is a problem. I can’t turn into a True Princess again for some reason and, since we don’t have the locket, we can’t restore the others’ magic.

“Twilight, we don’t blame you,” Sunset says, putting a hand on the other girl’s shoulder. Wait, when’d she come over to us? “Right now, we need your help.”

“Why?” the purple girl sniffles, wiping tears from her eyes as her dog comes over… Equestria’s Spike staying by Boots, giving his doppelganger a very perplex expression. “What could I do? I don’t have any talent. Look what I’ve caused,” she indicates to the plant… which is wilding thrashing its tendrils around, breaking holes to Equestria just like Midnight Sparkle did in the movie. “I took your magic and caused all this!”

Sunset shakes her head and holds out a hand. “Come on, Twilight. We need your help.”

Sci-Twi just stares at her in confusion. “But… I stole your magic. You should hate me. Why would you want my help or to help me?”

Sunset smiles. “Because that’s what friends do, Twilight.”

She just looks at Sunset with more confusion. “Friends? But… I’ve never had any friends before. Why would you want me for a friend?”

“Well, you do now,” Dash smirks, pointing a thumb at herself. “And why wouldn’t we wanna be friends with you?”

“Because I stole your magic!” Sci-Twi repeats firmly. Hmm, seems that’s gonna be the guilt on her now, instead of Midnight. “Why would you want to be friends with me after I stole your magic?!”

Applejack just chuckles. “Aw, Sugarcube, we know ya didn’t do that on purpose. Besides, you may have taken our Equestrian Magic, Twilight…”

“But there’s a magic far more powerful than that,” Rarity tosses her hair back with a flourish.

Sci-Twi glances around at the girls, then looks back to Sunset’s outstretched hand and, hesitantly, takes it, asking, “What kind of magic?”

I can’t help rolling my eyes as I realize what is coming. I’m glad for it, don’t get me wrong, but… GOD even the show was never that cheesy.

“The magic… of friendship!” the group say in unison, putting their hands out atop on Sunset and Sci-Twi’s.

At once, there’s a flash from the point of contact that spreads out around the group, them each taking on their coloured hew of their element, even Sci-Twi with her lavender one, much to her shock and confusion.

The magic swirls around the group as they rise into their, before it flashes brightly. When it fades, it reveals them all Ponied Up, even Sci-Twi, who has her Alicorn wings.

Sunset looks around at the girls and the nod, turning to face the giant plant, each with a hand outstretched, though Sci-Twi looks like she’s just following the example.

At once, the rainbow energy of the Elements surges around them all in a spiral, before flying in an arch towards the plant. It slams into it and the plant screams, before shrinking quickly until it falls into a small gap in the world near it that leads into the Everfree.

The moment it passes through, there’s a shockwave of rainbow light from the girls that passes over everything, closing the cracks and stopping the world from shattering.

The girls all slowly float down, the glow of the Elements fading, though they remain Ponied Up.

Now that the danger has passed, Sci-Twi’s eyes widen in confused horror as she raises her hands to her pony ears and glances at her back. “My ears! What happened to them?! And why do I have wings?!”

“Don’t worry,” Sunset puts a hand on the once again panicking girl’s shoulder. “They’ll go back to normal soon.”

Seemingly relieved to learn she hadn’t been permanently altered from a human into some kind of pony-human hybrid, Sci-Twi looks around, before her eyes fall back on me and she points frantically.

“Okay, magic or not, how is Dora the Explorer here?!”

And… suddenly, I remember how she seemed to recognize me and called me by title before all the craziness started.

“Um, I’m more curious how you know that’s who I am,” I say, folding my arms. I quickly glance at Boots and notice he’s playing with this world’s Spike, so might not be paying attention. Considering whatever I’m about to hear, that might be for the best.

“Well… you are a fictional character from a children’s educational show from a few years back,” Rainbow Dash answers instead.

I just stand there, blinking. “Um… can you please explain to me how you know that?!”

Yeah, I told Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow and Shining Armour in Equestria that, but how do they know about it?

Sunset cocks an eyebrow at me, before looking uncomfortable. “Um… did you know you were a fictional character?”

The irony in that statement is not lost on me, trust me. I shake my head. “Of course I do. But how do you know that?”

Rainbow Dash takes out her phone and fiddles with it for a bit, before turning it so I can see the screen… and my jaw drops.

It’s a YouTube (or whatever the EQG name for it is, I’m more focused on the video playing than the name of the site) video… of a clip from Dora Save The Crystal Kingdom.

“Wait. You guys have the show in your world?” I ask, looking around at the all. I am so confused.

Sci-Twi nods uncertainly. “Si. Así aprendí Equespañol cuando era más joven, antes de ingresar a Crystal Prep.” 

“We’re from a TV show?”

At once, my blood goes cold and I slowly turn to see Boots standing next to me, Sci-Twi’s Spike held in his arms.

There’s a long pause, where the others seem to pick up how worried I am Boots heard us.

“Well, here, I guess,” Sunset says quickly. “I mean, maybe you come from a world where that cartoon is real. Hay, maybe it being fictional here is its way of leaking into our world. Parallel dimensions, and all that.” She laughs nervously, the others joining in.

Boots clearly is not buying it though.

I sigh, leaning a little down to his eyes level and putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Boots. I know not telling you wasn’t right, but…”

“Oh, I already know that,” Boots shrugs casually, letting Spike drop so he can run to his master.

There’s another long pause.

“You… you KNOW?!” I stare at him, my mouth agape. WHAT?!

Boots just gives me an odd look. “Dora, we’ve been to lots of worlds inside video games, story books and TV shows and nobody in them had a problem with it. Why are you so worried? You never were before.”

I just stand there, my eye twitching again, far more eratically.

All this time? All this time Boots knew he was from a fictional TV show?! I’ve been worrying myself crazy about how he and his family would react for fucking nothing?! ARE YOU SHITTING ME?!

“Principal Celestia,” an angry voice pulls me from my mental implosion and causes us to look towards the entrance, where Cinch is stomping up to the addressed woman, “on behalf of Crystal Prep, I demand that you forfeit the Friendship Games! Clearly, CHS has had unfair advantage for quite some time! And it’s certainly obvious that your students have been using magic for their own benefit!

“Is she serious?” Dash asks, looking around at us, to which I deadpan.

“Pathetically, yes,” I answer.

Principal Celestia just gives Cinch a very smug look. “I’d like to think that saving the world benefits us all.”

“Also, how is some giant plant that sprang out of nowhere and attacked our students as much as your own in any way an unfair advantage for us?” Vice Principal Luna points out.

“At least they didn’t manipulate Twilight into releasing all the stolen magic, causing a giant man-eating plant monster to appear that tried to rip the world apart as it attempted to get home just to win a game,” Sugarcoat says bluntly, glaring at her principal.

There’s a paiuse.

“Wow!” Pinkie Pie says, looking stunned. “That’s a lot to take in when you say it all at once.”

Principal Cinch just glares at the both of them. “That’s ridiculous!”

This world’s Spike, now being held in his owners arms, saying, “Nope, that’s pretty much what happened.”

Cinch only now seems to have noticed how there are two Spikes and I think it’s startling her more than just this world’s Spike talking did in the movie.

“Actually,” Sour Sweet says, well, sweetly, “we’re all to blame.” Her expression and tone sour. “Mostly it was her.”

Principal Cinch looks from us to the other adults. “Obviously my students have been infected with your magic, but I plan on taking all of this up with the school board!”

Principal Celestia smirks. “Good. I’m sure they would be very interested in hearing all about the magical students with wings.”

Vice Principal Luna snickers. “Oh, and the portals to different dimensions opened by a giant man-eating plant.”

“And don’t forget to tell them about the two talking dogs fox and monkey,” Dean Cadance giggles.

“Because that would never ruin your reputation,” Sci-Twi’s Spike says.

Cinch looks angrily around at all of us, seeming to relax no one is going to back her up on this. Just when she looks like she’s about to burst into a fit of rage, she stops, adjusts her top and walks away.

Principal Celestia steps forward. “Well, I know these Friendship Games haven’t been what any of us expected, but given what we’ve all just been through, I think it’s fair to declare us all winners.”

Unlike in the movie, however, no one cheers.

I glance around, a bit surprised confused as the girls all look amongst themselves, before nodding to myself and stepping forward.

“Disculpe, director,” I say and she looks to me, only now seeming to realize I’m here. “But, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

She blinks, bending down, her hands on her knees… and for the life of me, with legs as long as those, I don’t know how she’s doing that. “What do you mean, little one?”

“Well, no offense, Principal Celestia,” Sunny Flare says, stepping forward, “but, win or lose, we at Crystal Prep wanna finish this for real.”

The rest of the Cystal Prep students voice their agreements.

“Same here,” Sunset says firmly, the rest of CHS joining her. “We want to see who will win this, fair and square.”

The three adults looks to each other, surprised, before smiling and nodding.

“Then, tomorrow morning, we’ll have the final match to see which school wins,” Celestia says.

“Though, if I could make a suggestion regarding these games?” I ask, holding up a hand… before blushing and taking it down again. Good grief, I looked like a 3rd grader trying to get their teachers attention.

They look to me and indicate for me to continue.

I fold my arms. Time to see if something I wrote in a fanfic I’d started before all this insanity in my life can be applied to real life. “Well, regardless of how well things go here, there’s a slim chance this could happen again, the rivalry, I mean. These are meant to be the Friendship Games, yet it took a giant carnivous plant brought to this world by stolen magic to truly pull the schools together. So, after this year, might I recommend the games be cancelled and re-purposed into a Festival de la amistad? A Friendship Festival,” I repeat to the confused looks from all around.

“Like, a gathering where both schools will come together to prepare food, games and entertainment?” Sunset asks.

I nod. “Si. It would certainly help keep the bonds of friendship between the schools more so than a sports competition.”

Celestia rubs her chin in thought. “An interesting idea... um, what is your name?”

“She’s Dora and I’m Boots,” the moneky cheers, before indicating to the purple dog who came with us. “And this is Spike.”

“But… this is Spike,” Sci-Twi says, indicating down to the dog in her arms. “How can there be two of him?”

That just causes all of CHS to giggle.

“We’ll explain later,” Sunset says, putting a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“So, what do we do now?” Our Spike asks, glancing around. “Since we stopped that plant monster, do we just go home?”

“Um…” I say, glancing to the base of the Wondercolts statue… that got destroyed. Geez, in the movie or a world based on the movie, that statue just cannot catch a break, can it? “I’m… not so sure if the portal is open right now.”

“Huh?” the girls all say, sounding confused.

“But, everyone’s got their magic back, don’t they?” Sci-Twi looks worried... showing early warning signs of an incoming Twilighting. “Wh-why wouldn’t the portal have reopened?!”

“I’d guess because Starlight Glimmer and Tempest Shadow are freaking out so much they knocked the journal off the portal,” Our Spike sighs, seeming to catch onto my thought process.

“They’re right,” Boots voice calls casually and we all glance around to see he’s by the portal, his hand on the smooth rock surface, but not phasing into it. “The portal’s still closed.”

“But, how’re you going to get back to Equestria if the portal’s closed?” Sunset looks down at me, concerned.

I shrug. “Well, I’m pretty sure, if not by tomorrow, in a few days, our favourite nerdy princess will come rushing through. We can wait til then.”

“Worse comes to worse, we’ll just try and find that other natural portal you were talking about before we got here, Dora,” the dragon turned puppy says, shrugging.

There’s a moment of silence.

“There’s another and natural portal to Equestria from here?!” Sunset’s eyes are wide and she grabs me by the shoulders. “Where is it?! How come we’ve never known about it til now?!”

“Chill, Shimmer,” I hold up my hands. “It’s on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. I highly doubt it would’ve been of any use to you during recent events.”

She blinks, slowly letting go and pulling away. “Oh. Um… okay then?”

Well, this is certainly going to be an interesting couple days… either that or an interesting couple of hours. No telling when Twilight will come back and hurry through the portal in a panic.

“I just wish we had some kind of evidence to use against Principal Cinch for her blackmailing you with your future education into joining the games, Twilight,” Sci-Twi’s Spike says.

I blink, finding myself smirking a little as my Wishing Crystal glows.

Everyone glances towards it.

“Um, what just happened?” Dash asks, glancing from the crystal to everyone else.

“You needn’t worry about evidence against Cinch… Spike,” we all turn as Dean Cadance steps towards us, seeming only a little off put by the fact she’s addressing her sister-in-law’s dog… and I’m only just now realizing the bump in her belly. Crap, she’s already preggers with Flurry too.

“Why wouldn’t he need to worry?” Indigo Zap looks very confused.

Dean Cadance giggles. “I’ve had my concerns with the way Cinch runs our school and how she acts like her reputation is all that matters. So, a few days ago, I used the excuse that I had to take some files to her office while she was out to place some hidden microphones in the room, in places she’d never think to look. I’ve the recordings on my computer back home.”

“Wait. So, you’ve proof she wanted to ruin CHS’ reputation?” Sci-Twi asks.

This causes shock to everyone else, especially the Crystal Prep students.

“She what?!” Sunset looks like she’s about to go find Cinch and beat the living shit out of her… and, if not for Applejack standing so close, I think she very well might.

Dean Cadance sighs sadly. “Yes. My husband and I were there, though I don’t think he realized just how bad it was.”

“So, you’ve proof Principal Cinch not only blackmailed Twilgiht with making sure whether or not Twilight would have a future… but also her desire to ruin another school just because she didn’t want them to have a good reputation?” Dash asks, before shaking her head. “That lady is messed up.”

I nod, though I’m doing my best to hide a slightly vindictive smirk. Serves you right, Cinch, you bitch.

Now I can spend the next couple days here in the assurance Cinch will be fired, just like Dance Magic suggested.