> Dance of The Waters
>  by Mystic Sunrise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As she listened to her Canterlot High friends fill in on everything that had been going on recently, Princess Twilight's mouth dropped farther and farther. This was not what had been expecting. Not at all.

After that misadventure through time with Spike and Starlight Glimmer, something she was still trying to forget about if she was being honest, Twilight had been looking forward to a little peace and quiet around Ponyville.

Starlight was settling into living at the Friendship Castle rather well, and while the rest of Twilight's friends were still a little hesitant about her, they were more than happy to try and make friends with her.

Ponyville, meanwhile, while curious as to where Starlight had come from and her close connection to the town's resident princess, was more than happy to welcome her to the town with open hooves as the newest resident. They had no reason to think otherwise. 

A mood that had helped Starlight's own in a big way, and not even Twilight would argue with the effect the welcome Ponyville had given her had on Starlight's mood and demeanor.

It had only been in the last day or so that Twilight finally found her and Sunset's journal, and the backlog of messages Sunset had sent her, detailing all of the things that had been going on at the school. Quite a bit, as it turned out.

Once she realized that something was wrong, Twilight had dropped everything and had made a beeline for the World Mirror. Spike had been left to help fill Starlight in on what they did know and all of their adventures in the other world, and to tell the girls where she had gone.

Twilight had come through the portal expecting the worst. Only to find that there seemed to be no magical disasters going on, none of her friends were hurt or worse, and that Canterlot High was still in one piece at least.

And then had come the shock of meeting her native counterpart. As she had said, this was now the weirdest thing that had ever happened to her. Which was saying something about how her life had been since moving to Ponyville.

The silence after that little remark had been rather long and awkward. A part of Twilight had felt that, if she had ever met her counterpart, the universe might rip itself apart, or any number of things could happen.

Once it had become clear that nothing was going to happen, and that the universe would be fine, the entire group had let out a collective sigh of relief, and since there were no pressing issues in Equestria demanding her attention, the princess had decided to stay and enjoy the afternoon with the girls.

She would admit that she had missed them quite a bit since the Battle of the Bands. This was a perfect chance to make up for that. And she was curious to know what all had been going on recently since it was obvious there was quite a story to tell.

"... And after that, Twilight transferred to Canterlot High from Crystal Prep," Sunset finished as she took a sip of her drink. "I don't think everyone knows you two aren't the same. But we've all made her feel welcome here."

Sci Twi, as Pinkie Pie had been calling her, nodded, a small smile forming. "It's true. I never felt this welcome at Crystal Prep. The only friends I really had were Dean Cadance and Spike."

"It's true," Spike said from her side. "Even her brother got caught up in Cinch's load of bologna from what I hear."

Sci Twi shrank in on herself as tears began to form in her eyes. "I never wanted any of this to happen. I didn't think it could happen. But I was so caught up in wanting to learn more about the magic that I..." She sniffed.

Princess Twilight smiled as she pulled her counterpart into a hug, one that other she was more than happy to return. In a moment, the whole group had joined in on the group hug, and for once, Pinkie Pie didn't mind not being the one who started it.

They sat like that for a time, before separating. The hug had done Sci Twi a ton of good, but the girls could still see the haunted look in her eyes. None of them could really blame her.

Sunset finally broke the silence. "I've been helping Twilight with studying magic as much as we can. But there's only so much we can do in this world."

Princess Twilight nodded, as she sat down next to her counterpart. "Do you really want to learn more about magic?"

Sci Twi nodded. "There's just so much about it that I don't understand. And from what Sunset has told me, there's so much that could be done with it to help people."

"Or destroy the world when some military gets their hands on it," Rainbow Dash interjected. The girls gave her a look. "What? It's true. Does nobody read science fiction around here but me?"

Sci Twi nodded. "I almost beat them to it though." She shivered. "Midnight isn't gone. I can still feel her inside me. I don't want to become that again. I don't want to become her."

Princess Twilight frowned. Maybe it was because she was an alicorn, or maybe it was her connection to magic, but she could feel Midnight Sparkle herself, in her counterpart. It wasn't as much as other her felt more than likely, but the feeling was still there.

She was conflicted though. She wanted to help, she really did, but there was only so much she could do in this world. The safest idea was to bring her counterpart to Equestria and help her there. But there were several problems with that.

Twilight didn't doubt that her friends and fellow princesses would make Sci Twi feel welcome, and since the World Mirror was in her castle, as Princess Celestia had told her, she was free to do with it whatever she wanted.

The problem lay in what might happen if Sci Twi did go to Equestria with her, even for a short time. There was a risk that Midnight Sparkle might break free and do who knows what to the kingdom.

And of course, there was also the fact that Twilight would be taking her counterpart away from her family and friends. She would not do that. Not unless they all agreed she could anyway. There was one thing that might be able to help. But was she willing to take that risk? Her duty as a princess of Equestria versus her desire and duty as the Princess of Friendship. Her head said one thing.

But her heart was saying something else. To forget logic, and do the right thing for someone who desperately needed it. Who needed a friend. And in the end, Twilight followed her heart, as she always had. She sighed. "I might be able to help. There is something called the Dance of the Waters. It's supposed to help ponies in need, and it's only known to alicorns."

Sunset blinked, racking her brain trying to remember anything like that she had been taught. "Princess Celestia never told me about that. And she told me a lot before I ran away."

Twilight nodded. "I can't say why she didn't tell you Sunset. I'm surprised she didn't." She turned to look at Sci Twi, who was giving her a confused look. "I can do it with you. But we can't do it in this world. We would have to do it in Equestria."

Sci Twi blinked and then began to grin. But the princess held up a hand to hold off the comments. "Before you say anything, know that this won't be quick. This could take time. You'd be leaving your family and friends for a world you don't know much about."

That put a stop to Sci Twi's grin. "How long would it take?"

The princess shook her head and sighed. "I don't know. The Dance has only been used a few times, and they each took a different amount of time. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the only two to have ever done it."

That caused a moment of silence as the group digested this bit of information. Only Sunset seemed to get what was going on, but the rest of the girls were interested all the same.

Sci Twi pulled her legs close to her body, as her gaze became distant. "Do you need an answer now?"

Princess Twilight shook her head, smiling. "No. I don't have anything else going on in Equestria at the moment, and I haven't spent near enough time with you girls recently. It's time to change that."

That got smiles all around, as Pinkie pulled the group into another group hug.

***

Later that night, after confirming with Spike in Equestria that she was staying in the Human World for the night at least, Princess Twilight had decided to stay with Sunset for the duration of her visit.

Just before bed though, Sunset handed Twilight her phone, a huge smile on her face about something. Something she wouldn't say about what though, no matter how many times Twilight asked her.

Looking at the phone, a piece of technology that still took her breath away, Twilight found a simple message from who she guessed was Sci Twi.

"Tell the other me I'm in. I can't take this much longer. If the Dance of the Waters can help me, then I'll happily do it. Mom and dad already said I could."

***

While Canterlot High was closed for the weekend at the moment. Vice Principal Luna had given the Rainbooms permission to be on school grounds just this once, and that was it.

When Princess Twilight had explained to Principal Celestia the idea she had for her counterpart, Celestia had been somewhat hesitant, a fact that Twilight didn't blame her in the slightest, but this was really out of her hands.

She had grown quite used to the magical nonsense that had plagued Canterlot High since the last, fateful, Fall Formal, and she had come to trust Princess Twilight when it came to this sort of thing. Even if the princess in question was not always there.

Sunset Shimmer was also of great help. But Sunset was always quick to point out how out of date she was with the magic from Equestria. The Friendship Games had been a good example of that.

Even if Sunset had ended up saving everyone, and possibly their entire dimension as well. But there were whispers that some of what had happened could have been avoided if Sunset could've kept her temper in check.

Something that Sunset couldn't argue with.

That the princess's native counterpart had her parents' permission to go to Equestria also set her mind at ease. And since Princess Twilight had said she had no idea of how long this could last, Celestia had a simple solution.

"If what the two of you do lasts beyond this weekend," she had said, "I will hold Miss Sparkle's homework for as long as possible. I can't say what her family might say though."

And that was something that had Twilight's tail all tied up. If her family in this world was anything like the ponies she knew and loved, she would be lucky to come out of this in one piece if something happened to their daughter.

Of course, she didn't think anything bad would happen when she brought Sci Twi to Equestria. Them being so close together had already been shown not to risk destroying all of space and time.

For which she was very grateful, it must be said. She did not want to have to go through that again.

She had already messaged Spike that she would be coming back today and that she would be bringing a friend along with her. But she didn't say who she was bringing with her.

Twilight giggled as she imagined Spike's reaction to seeing two of her. The same went with Starlight now that she thought about it. How would she react to seeing two copies of the same pony?

Now that she thought about it though, Twilight wondered. What would her counterpart look like in Equestria? She had a good idea of looks, aside from her glasses and her hair done up differently, but what kind of pony would she be?

Earth pony, Pegasus, or unicorn? There was no real way to know for sure at the moment, and it was driving the princess crazy. There was also one other possibility, but Twilight didn't want to think about that unless there was no other choice.

That could wait for the moment though as she gave Sunset a look. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us Sunset? Princess Celestia has been asking about you ever since the Battle of the Bands."

Sunset nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. "I'm sure Twilight. She might have forgiven me, you and the girls might have forgiven me. But I fully haven't. It's nowhere near as bad as I used to be. But it's still there."

Twilight threw her hands up in exasperation. "You keep this up Sunset, and you won't come back until the heat death of the universe!"

Sunset just smirked, slipping back into her bad girl persona for a moment. "I might wait that long. You never know."

That got a chuckle out of the girls, as Twilight pouted. Any further talk was cut short as Sci Tw ran up, out of breath, and a full backpack on her back. "I'm here!" She wheezed. "Shinny slept in, so Cadance had to drive me."

Princess Twilight looked back past her to a car behind the statue. The woman in the front seat did, in fact, look like Cadance. They locked eyes for the moment, and Cadance smiled. One the princess was happy to return, as the car drove off.

Sunset though was giving Sci Twi's backpack a confused look. "Um, Twilight? Last I checked, you weren't moving to Equestria. Why do you need so many notebooks?"

Sci Twi gave her a very flat look. "For your information, I plan to document as much as I can while I'm there." She slumped slightly. "I just don't to go, do this Dance, and just come back."

Sunset and the princess shared a concerned look before Sunset placed a hand on her shoulder. "Twilight. This isn't just about science and magic, is it?"

Twilight shook her head. "I know I wasn't in the best mood at the time, but I remember what I saw during the Friendship Games. Equestria sounds like everything I ever dreamed of as a child." She sniffed. "If friendship really is magic, then I want to experience that. Not as a scientist or a student, but as someone who believes in it, who wants to know it and embrace it."

Sunset looked at Princess Twilight, who was smiling knowingly. It was all Sunset needed, as her own smile came back. "Well then. You're in better hooves than you'd ever be with me. Who better to learn the Magic of Friendship from than the Goddess of Friendship herself?"

That got a small smile out of Sci Twi at least, as the princess had a suspiciously sudden coughing fit. Sunset smirked knowingly as she squeezed Twilight's shoulder. "You'll be fine. You'll have friends over there, whether you know it or not. And I don't know anypony better to go with."

That alone raised Twilight's spirits as she lifted her head and smiled at Sunset. It did more good for her than Sunset would ever know. Not that she would ever tell her that of course. Not anytime soon anyway.

Sci Twi hadn't completely forgiven Sunset for her blow-up at her during the Friendship Games, and a part of her probably never would. They had made up of course, and Sunset had apologized. But even Twilight knew that could've been handled better than it had been.

Sunset herself wasn't any happier about how she had handled that situation either. She knew better than that. She had moved past that part of life she hoped. It seemed she hadn't fully let her bad girl self go.

Princess Twilight could see some of the internal struggles going on in both of them. She had some idea of what had happened, but it seemed it went deeper than she had thought. She hoped they could work it out.

She placed a hand on Sci Tw's shoulder, getting the girl's attention. The princess turned serious. "Are you sure about this? Once we step through the portal to Equestria, there's no turning back."

Just for a moment, Sci Twi almost said no and pulled out of the whole idea. But she quickly quashed those thoughts, as she nodded. "I mean it. I won't quit now."

The princess smiled, as she let go of her shoulder and walked over to the portal. "Then. I'll see you on the other side in Equestria." She placed a hand on the mirrored surface. Twilight watched in fascination as it fell through. For a second, she could see a purple hoof, instead of a hand.

The princess looked back once and grinned. "Watch that first step. It's a doozy," and was she gone through the portal.

Sci Twi walked up and stopped, looking back at the girls, who were all smiling and nodding. Sunset's grin was the biggest of the group. 

"Good luck," Sunset said.

Twilight smiled slightly as she placed a hand on the portal. "Thanks." And stepped through into the unknown.

***

When later asked what it felt like to travel between worlds, Sci Twi could only describe it as feeling like her body was being stretched and twisted the whole time, while a rainbow of colors flowed around her.

In any other time and place, she might have appreciated the spectacle of what she was seeing. She wouldn't deny that it was beautiful in its own way. But for the moment, she was trying to keep her stomach where it belonged.

At last, though, Sci Twi saw a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Her journey seemed to speed up as the light grew brighter. This could only be the exit to the other world, she thought.

Closing her eyes, she braced for whatever came at the end of this roller coaster ride.

***

In the Main Library of the Castle of Friendship, Spike rolled his eyes as Twilight kept on pacing in front of the World Mirror, as everypony who knew about it now called it. She had only been back for five minutes, and she was already panicking.

He sighed as he placed his comic down next to his seat. "Twilight, relax. She said she was coming. Just give her time."

Twilight rounded on him, a slightly crazy look in her eyes. "I can't relax Spike. What if she changed her mind? What if something happened to the portal? How do I explain that to mom and dad?!"

Spike pinched his nose. "Twilight, you need to calm down. The portal's fine. And why would she change her mind? She's you. You never back out of something you start."

Twilight did calm down a bit, but her worry was still evident. "That's just it Spike. We're not fully the same. I learned enough yesterday to see that. For all we have in common, we have more differences as well."

"Besides you're a pony and she isn't?" Spike replied.

Twilight giggled slightly. "Besides that. She reminds me a lot of how I used to be in Canterlot before we moved to Ponyville. And a lot of how Moondancer used to be before we helped her come out of her shell."

Spike winced a bit at that. He couldn't forget that little escapade even now. "Then she's coming to the right pony. Who better to help her than the Princess of Friendship? The girls already like her, right?"

Twilight nodded. "I think they accepted her at first than they did Sunset." She frowned, a niggling thought she'd had ever since the Battle of the Bands. "And that's another thing as well."

Spike raised a brow. "What is?

Before Twilight could answer though, the portal hummed to life. Twilight smiled as she turned to welcome her new guest. Let it never be said that Twilight Sparkle would not be a welcoming host.

Only to have something come flying out of the portal in a blur, crashing into her, and sending them both skidding across the crystal floor to land at the foot of a bookshelf in a heap.

Spike was worried for a moment but breathed a sigh of relief as he saw both ponies begin to move. "You okay Twilight?"

"I'm fine Spike," came the voice of Twilight Sparkle. But now there were two of them. Spike rolled his eyes at the thought. This just made his life way more complicated than it needed to be.

Princess Twilight was the first to open her eyes, and found her counterpart snout to snout with her, in what could be charitably be described as a very intimate position. Her counterpart also opened her eyes, and for a moment, neither of them spoke or moved

After a moment though, a roaring blush came to both of their faces, and with echoing embarrassed squeaks, pulled themselves off of each other, so that now Princess Twilight and Sci Twilight could get a good look at the other, trying to hide their embarrassment.

To the princess's encouragement, her other self looked almost identical to herself. Aside from her glasses and that her mane was done up differently, they could almost be said to be twin sisters.

And then the princess looked to her twin's side, and her mouth dropped at what she saw folded there, but another part of her brain wasn't too shocked to see what she did.

"What?" Sci Twi asked. Her counterpart only pointed to her sides. When she looked down, Twilight's mouth dropped in shock and awe at what she saw folded at her sides.

Wings. She had wings. And looking at her native self so did she. She also had a horn, and judging from the weight that sat just below her hairline, or was that mane line now, so did she.

"This is unexpected," Sci Twi thought aloud as she tried to see if her wings responded to her at all. They twitched, but that was it. "What am I? Is this normal?"

Spike sighed as he walked up to the pair. "You're an alicorn. Don't ask me what that all means though."

Sci Twi gave him a shocked look. "Spike? You're a dragon?"

Spike nodded proudly. "The one and only." He slumped slightly as a thought came to him. "Let me guess. I'm a dog over there?"

Sci Twi nodded, smiling fondly at the memories she had of him. "I've had you since you were a puppy. When you were old enough to be separated from your mother. You were my only friend for so long. " She giggled. "Oh, man. He's going to freak when I tell him about this."

Spike looked proud of himself, as Princess Twilight joined them. "Okay. This was not what I expected. Like, at all."

Sci Twi looked at her with concern. "Am I in trouble? Is this a bad thing? Please don't let this be a bad thing."

The princess shook her head, smiling. "No, no. You're not in trouble. I just didn't expect this. But it does raise some questions." Her gaze softened as her horn ignited in a flash of light. "But I'm glad you came."

From behind her floated what looked like a pearl necklace. With one smooth move, Princess Twilight slid it over Sci Twi's neck, so that it settled softly at the base.

Immediately Sci Twi could feel the warmth and power the necklace radiated. It seemed to all be directed at her as if it was made for her, and her alone. She touched it with a hoof. It felt so warm as well. "What is this?" She asked.

Princess Twilight's smile grew. "We're not really sure what it is. It was found on Mount Aris some years ago. It's off a much larger orb that was found in some ancient ruins on the island. The actual orb is kept in Canterlot. Every alicorn has one of their own small pieces."

She placed a hoof on her counterpart's necklace. "Princess Celestia sent this to me several weeks ago, saying it had broken off from the orb, and that it seemed to be waiting for somepony."

"But why me?" Sci Twi asked as she looked down at the necklace while fighting back a further blush from having the princess be this close to her.

Twilight shook her head. "I'm not sure honestly. But this is yours now, and you alone can only wear it. You would not be able to wear it if it wasn't meant for you." She floated another necklace to them and slipt it around her own neck. "Princess Luna said that these are a part of the Dance of the Waters. But she didn't say how or why."

Sci Twi looked up at the princess. "So. When do we do this Dance?"

The princess giggled. "Not right this moment if you're worried about it. It's late now, and I don't want to do this with you when you just got here. I have a room ready for you."

At that moment, Sci Twi suddenly felt how tired she was. Strange. It was morning back in her world. Why did she feel like this now? Maybe it had something to do with this being a new world.

Princess Twilight saw the look in her eyes and smiled. "Come on. I and Spike will show you your room. I've got some books laid out if you want to read. My room is just down the hall from yours if you need anything."

Not knowing what else to say, and still feeling a little overwhelmed by all that was happening to her, Sci Twi only nodded.

She didn't fall asleep for a long time after that.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a start, Twilight awoke with a startled cry, sweat pouring down her brow. After a moment, she came to her senses, but only just, as she looked around the room she had been given.

It wasn't much, to be honest. Just her bed, nightstand, and a bookshelf that had several books lined up along its shelves, several of which she had tried to read the night before. They were interesting to be sure, but Twilight had too much on her mind at the moment to care.

That same dream again had awoken her, but it was getting worse each and every time it felt like.

It started out the same as the Friendship Games finale had been. Right up until Sunset had offered Twilight her hand and her friendship. In reality, she had taken it, and been brought back to her senses.

But in the dream, she had rejected Sunset's offer and instead had. Had...

Twilight didn't want to think about what she had done to Sunset instead, and then to all of reality. All to get to Equestria in the end. But this time, something had changed. To what end, Twilight didn't know, but it felt right.

No one had ever opposed her before in the broken reality of the dream. But now someone did. Or rather, somepony. Princess Twilight had been the only one to stand against Midnight in the end.

But she didn't fight her. No. She had talked to her, tried to see what Midnight saw, and why she was doing what she was. There had been no accusation, no hatred, no spite. Just understanding, and in the end, that had been all that it had taken.

This wasn't what Sunset's own had been like though. As the princess had held her close, letting her tears fall at what she had done, and what she had become, Twilight felt loved. Protected. In a way that reminded her of how her mother had once comforted her when she was young.

But at the same time, it was different. This wasn't a familial love, nor even a love shared between friends. Heck, calling her and the princess friends in real life was a stretch she felt like, even though the two of them got along fine.

No. This felt like something else. Something that she had felt when she and Princess Twilight had been snout to snout the night before. Awkward though it may have been, she had felt comfortable being that close to the princess. Protected. Everything that the dream had been.

What it all meant, Twilight didn't know, as she reached and clumsily slid her glasses over her eyes, and slid out of bed. But she liked this feeling. Whatever it was. If she didn't know any better, she would have said she was developing a crush on her counterpart. But that couldn't be it.

Could it? She had always preferred girls to boys in that sense, and Twilight would be lying if she didn't find the princess beautiful in a way. But that couldn't be right. They'd just met and barely talked to one another up to now.

Any further thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Twilight. You up?" Spike asked from the other side.

Twilight shook her head to get her thoughts back in line. "Yeah, Spike. I'm up."

Spike's sigh could be heard from this side of the door. "Well, everypony else is up and down in the kitchen. I made my famous Welcome to Equestria! Pancakes if you're hungry?"

Twilight giggled at the thought of special pancakes. But they did sound good, as her stomach grumbled. "Pancakes sound good Spike. But I have no idea where the kitchen is around." 

Spike pushed the door open with a smile. "And that's why you have me. Come on! I'll give you the tour on the way down."

***

Breakfast at the Castle of Friendship was usually a quiet affair, unless the rest of the Mane 7, as Pinkie Pie had begun to call the group of friends, had all been invited over. Today was no different in most ways. But it had changed in a few.

Starlight Glimmer was still settling into living with Twilight and Spike, and the schedule her mentor ran by. Or lack thereof on some days. But she was growing used to it. The addition of Sci Twi, as Spike seemed to be calling her, was something new.

The fact that she was holding her fork in her mouth while trying to pick at the pancakes before her was enough to drive away the sleep from the unicorn. Whatever she was trying to do though, obviously wasn't working as Starlight, Spike, and Princess Twilight shared a concerned look.

Princess Twilight finally sighed and ignited her horn, holding Sci Twi's fork for her, and guiding her counterpart in finally getting food in her mouth. It was awkward, to say the least for both of them, but the contented smile on Sci Tw's face said the food was worth it.

Starlight finally had to ask. "So, you're world doesn't have magic at all?"

Sci Twi shook her head before swallowing. "Not until recently it seems. I only learned about it myself only several months ago. But it seems to have been around Canterlot High for some time before that."

Twilight winced slightly at the reminder. No one though paid it much mind. "So you want to study magic?" Starlight asked.

Sci Twi nodded, as her ears fell. "There's just so much about it that I want to learn about. But I nearly destroyed two worlds once in trying to learn more about it. I don't want to do that again," she sniffed.

Now Starlight winced, for she knew that feeling well herself. Not perfectly the same as her own. But her heart went out to the new alicorn.

Spike placed a claw on her shoulder. "Then you've come to the right place. And you've got the Princess of Friendship herself here to help." His smile grew as he looked around the table. "And you've got me and Starlight too."

Everypony nodded, as Sci Twi sniffed again, but she did smile as she looked at Spike. "Thanks, Spike. You always did know how to cheer me up."

Spike grinned. "That's what I'm here for!"

That got a chuckle out of everyone as they sat back to finish the meal. Sci Twi though poked at the necklace around her neck as she looked at the princess's own as well. "I still don't know how this is supposed to help me though."

Princess Twilight didn't respond for a moment, as she touched her own necklace. In truth, she didn't know how these could help either. But something told her that they would. What form that help would take she didn't know either.

And something told her that it was more important for both of them than either of them knew. "Then I think the sooner we find out, the better. I'm not much of a fan of waiting to find something out."

Sci Twi looked at her, an expectant look in her eyes. "You mean?"

Twilight nodded. "Meet me in the Main Hall in an hour, and then we will find out. Together."

Sci Twi was almost able to keep herself from squeeing like an over-excited filly. Almost.

***

"And that's what happened at the Friendship Games," Sci Twi finished explaining, as she and Starlight trotted down of the castle's many hallways, all of which looked the same.

Starlight shook her head in disbelief, and maybe just a little jealousy. "Wow. And all I did was destroy time for petty revenge. I think you've got me beat."

Twilight sighed as she looked at her hooves. "I don't know about that. It's not something I'm proud of." She looked at her necklace. "I don't even know why I'm here. I mean. Why me?"

Starlight smiled slightly. She knew that feeling well. "You're asking the wrong pony about that. But I doubt Princess Twilight isn't doing the right thing."

Sci Twi nodded, her mood improving slightly. "Maybe. But what is this thing even supposed to do? How is it supposed to help me? I don't understand."

"Then we will find out together," came Princess Twilight's voice, causing the two ponies to halt as they realized where they were. They had come to the Main Hall of the Friendship Castle. In front of the doors, the princess stood, looking almost relieved the two of them had come at all.

Twilight smiled as she walked forward and placed a hoof on her counterpart's shoulder. "I'm glad you came. We have all the time we need to find those answers, together. I cleared as much as time as I could."

Sci Twi's smile grew at the touch, even as her heartbeat wildly in her chest. She did have one question though, as she looked around. "Where's Spike?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Gem hunting with Rarity for the rest of the day." She looked at Starlight next. "You sure you'll be fine by yourself Starlight?"

Starlight rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. It's just for the afternoon. What kind of trouble could I get into?"

You could hear the crickets in the silence that followed. Even Sci Twi was giving Starlight a look.

"Oh. Don't answer that," Starlight added in a deadpan tone of voice.

Twilight giggled as she looked back at her counterpart. "Ready?"

Sci Twi nodded. "As I'll ever be."

Princess Twilight's horn ignited, and in a flash of teleportation, she and Sci Twi vanished from the hallway.

***

When Sci Tw could see again, and her stomach stopped doing flip flops, she found that she and the princess were no longer in the Friendship Castle, or even in Ponyville.

Before them, stretched the ocean, while around them, a sandy beach stretched away into the distance in both directions. Behind them, a lush tropical jungle went away deeper into what looked like an island, if Sci Twi had to guess.

"Where are we?" She finally asked as she looked around. What at first she thought were rocks soon turned out to be what looked like a road that the two of them were on. Looking behind her, she could just make out the ruins of houses and other structures, all overgrown and silent except for the breeze and the calls of birds and other animals.

Twilight looked around as well. She had never thought she would come here. "Mount Aris. For some reason, this is the only place the Dance of the Waters can be done."

Sci Twi blinked as she looked out across the ocean. It was a beautiful sight to be sure. Almost like home. "How did we get here? This doesn't seem like it is anywhere near Ponyville."

The princess nodded. "It's not. This isn't even in Equestria technically." Her smile grew. "And I teleported us."

Sci Twi blinked. She had a basic idea of what that meant for ponies. But it wasn't much. "But that would require a huge amount of magic for you to teleport us both. And especially this far."

Twilight nodded. "Indeed. But being an alicorn means more than wings and a title. My magic has increased quite a bit since I first moved to Ponyville. Unicorns in general don't learn to teleport, because it is so difficult. And it must be precise, so you don't end up in a place you don't want to be."

Sci Twi looked back at her wings. She could feel the massive amount of magic that resided inside her. It was almost like the Friendship Games all over again. But this time, it was comforting. Natural. Strange, but what did she know? "So how did you know to send us to this exact spot here? You need to have a very clear image of your destination in mind. Usually because you have visited that place before."

Twilight grinned. Her counterpart was a quick learner, but she was soon smiling sheepishly. "Honestly? I have no idea of how I knew exactly where to send us. I've never been to Mount Aris in my entire life."

Sci Twi rolled her eyes as she walked over to the nearest house and looked inside. Nothing but green and an occasional stone poked through. Whoever had lived here seemed to have had some wealth for the house was quite large. "What is all this? Who built it?"

The princess joined her, her expression was grim. "We don't know. When ponies first found the island, this was already here. The whole island is full of ruins. The waters around the island are full of ruins as well. Whoever, or whatever lived here, died out a long time before Equestria found this place."

Sci Twi looked around the house, or whatever it might have been, with renewed interest. Her gaze caught sight of a skull lying amongst the weeds, and quickly looked away. "Then where did the pearl come from?"

Twilight looked further inland, to the highest point of the island. Sci Twi soon followed her gaze. They could just make out an even grander set of ruins near the top of the mountain. "From up there. Our best guess is that it is where the ruler once lived. The pearl was found in what we assume was the Throne Room."

Sci Twi's ears drooped. This was not what she had been expecting when she had come here. She was interested of course, for she liked exploring new places. But it was sad that she could never meet those who lived here. Looking around at the other structures, they seemed to have been interesting. Maybe she and the princess could go exploring once they were done with the Dance.

Which reminded her of the whole reason they were here in the first place. "So now what?" She asked.

Twilight blinked, then smiled, as she left the ruined house behind and walked back to the beach, Sci Twi quick to follow her. The two of them walked out into the surf until it was belly high for both of them. 

The princess's smile slipped as she turned serious. "Now, before we begin. I have to ask you." She pulled Sci Twi close so that their muzzles were right next to each other. She leaned in close and whispered. "Do you trust me?"

Sci Twi hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she followed what her heart was saying. Laying her horn against the princess' own, and so that now both of their necklaces were touching, she whispered. "I trust you."

Twilight smiled, as she leaned into the embrace, and together, the princess and her counterpart let their minds go, letting their magic mingle, even as their necklaces glowed with power, a glow that soon covered them as well.

Knowing not why they did so, Twilight and Sci Twi allowed themselves to sink below the waves, not even feeling it as their bodies began to change into new forms.

After a moment, the changes ended, and the girls opened their eyes, taking in each other, and what had happened to them.

Sci Tw could see that Princess Twilight was still mostly a pony. But now her mane seemed to wave on its own in the current. Her wings had become translucent fins. But the biggest surprise was what had happened to her tail and back legs. They had fused together into a fishtail. She could be described as a pony mermaid if Sci Twi had to guess. Her necklace had vanished as well.

Princess Twilight was smiling at her, as she looked down at their bodies. Sci Twi followed her gaze and felt her mouth drop in shock as she saw what had happened to her own body.

She was a mermaid. Her legs had fused together into a navy blue tail, her fins the same colors as the princess. Her own wings had become translucent as well. Her upper body was human again, her breasts covered in a blue seashell bra. Her hair flowed behind her.

And it felt amazing. This wasn't like when she had first come to Equestria and had become a pony. This felt natural. Like her mermaid body had always been her natural body. Sci Twi giggled at the thought, as she looked at the princess, who was smiling. One that she couldn't help but return as well.

They were holding hands and hooves, but neither commented on it or tried to pull themself away. It felt right to be like this, and neither wanted it to be over at the moment.

And then Princess Twilight began to sing. Not with words, but a wordless tune. The song came naturally to her. As if she had known it her entire life. The song filled her, and she needed to share it with Sci Twi, the two of them dancing and swirling around each other

Sci Twi couldn't help but smile as widely as she could. She felt her troubles and worries melt away. Soon, she added her own voice to the song. A song that was beautiful in a way neither of them could describe and neither did they care to.

And so, they danced, their minds only on the girl before them, and for a time, the rest of the world no longer existed for Princess Twilight and Sci Twi. Only each other, and the song they shared.

***

For hours, Princess Twilight and Sci Twi just enjoyed the freedom of the open sea. Playing among the coral, swimming alongside huge schools of fish and other underwater creatures. It was something neither had ever thought would feel so good. 

Twilight had even shown her counterpart the underwater ruins she had mentioned back on the surface. They seemed to be in better shape than those on the island. But they were as empty and abandoned as those onshore.

Sci Twi's curiosity was on high alert as she picked through the ruins. Whatever had happened to those who had lived here, it didn't seem to have been violent or sudden. It just seemed like they had died out. But why? And what happened to them?

Twilight was thinking the same thing as she looked through what had been left behind by those who had lived here. The architecture was almost the same as those on Mount Aris but adapted for use underwater. Strange. Did the same builders make both?

But that didn't make any sense. She and Sci Tw could do this because their bodies had been adapted to allow them to breathe and live underwater as they did. Could the same be said for those who had once lived here?

It was something she made a note to ask the Explorer's Guild about. They knew the most about Mount Aris and what lay on and around it. But even their knowledge was limited. There was only so much that they could learn like this.

While she was looking at what was in front of her, Twilight was also paying attention to her counterpart. She had seemingly become far more relaxed than she had been ever since the two of them had met at Canterlot High. But only time would tell if it was true.

And then, of course, she had tried not to notice how beautiful Sci Twi had become in this form. Twilight had always been attracted to mares more than stallions, but this was something else altogether. 

They barely knew one another as is it was. And there was also the fact that they were basically alternate dimension copies of one another. That just made it weirder. But the feelings Twilight was feeling would not go away. And a growing part of her didn't want them to. 

What the princess didn't know was that Sci Twi was having the same conflict of feelings inside of her for her counterpart but in a slightly different manner.

Finally, as the sun began to sink below the horizon, Twilight and Sci Tw found themselves laying together on a rocky outcropping, looking at the waves above them. They both knew it was almost time to return to the surface and return home, but a part of them did not want to leave the beauty around them.

"Did the Dance help?" Twilight finally asked, looking at Sci Twi, who nodded happily.

"I haven't felt this good since before the Friendship Games." She sighed. "But I can still feel Midnight inside me. I'm still afraid of what could happen. I don't want to be like that ever again."

Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder. "That's why you have friends. They'll help you no matter what. Go to them if you need help." She smiled. "Ask Sunset to borrow her Cross Dimensional Journal if you need someone to talk to. I can't be there all the time."

Sci Twi placed a hand on the hoof on her shoulder, squeezing it. "Thank you. For all of this. I didn't know how much I needed this until now. I wish it could last forever."

Twilight nodded, as she looked at the surface above. "I do too. I needed this almost as much as you did probably. The mess with Starlight did more to me than I thought." She sighed as her ears drooped. "But we can't stay here forever. No matter how much we want to. I won't take you away from your family."

Sci Twi's smile dropped a little. She didn't want to leave her family any more than the princess did. But it felt like she had two families now. One in the Human World, and one in Equestria.

For a time, they just sat there, letting their tails float on their own. Both knew they needed to be heading back to Ponyville soon, but neither of them wanted this to end just yet.

Neither Princess Twilight nor Sci Twi seemed to notice as their tails began to intertwine with each other. When they did though, it brought a smile to both of their faces, though neither could say why.

Sci Twi looked over at the princess. In the fading light, she was even more beautiful than she had seemed in the light of day. She seemed to be glowing in the evening twilight. How appropriate, she thought.

Looking over at her counterpart, Princess Twilight was thinking the same thing. A part of her knew what she wanted to do, but she was too afraid to do it. To take that next step. What it could mean for them if she did.

Sci Twi too was afraid of taking that step. But at that moment, when their eyes locked together, something awoke inside of her. Maybe it was because she was still on the high from earlier. Maybe the saltwater was finally getting to her. She didn't know, and for once in her life, Sci Twi didn't care.

Wrapping her arms around her pony counterpart, she pulled the two of them close, until they lay belly to belly. Princess Twilight didn't protest, but she was surprised anyway. That was all it took.

Sci Twi leaned in and kissed the princess. Both of their wing fins flared at the intimate contact, but neither paid them any mind, far more interested in each other.

Princess Twilight's eyes widened in shock. Her body seemed to go limp in Sci Twi's hands. For a moment, the girl was sad and heartbroken at the reaction, afraid she had destroyed what they had.

And then Princess Twilight relaxed and let their lips lock together properly, even as she wrapped her hooves around Sci Twi's waist and held her close, their tails intertwining, as the two cemented their bond.

At that moment, both of them felt something new pass between them. Something new and wonderful. A feeling neither of them wanted to lose. And damn any who said otherwise.

After a time, they finally parted from the kiss, though they still held each other close. Princess Twilight had a serene smile on her lips, while 
Sci Twi's was rather goofier. But neither minded as they looked at each other.

Finally, Princess Twilight lay a hoof on Sci Twi's cheek, Sci Twi putting a hand on the hoof. "Let's go home," the princess finally said.

Sci Twi couldn't find a reason to say no. Together, they swam back to Mount Aris, and from there. Home.

***

Rainbow again looked at Sunset Shimmer with an annoyed sigh. "Are you sure she's coming?"

Sunset nodded. "Princess Twilight said that she's ready to come back. I guess their Dance of the Waters must have worked."

It was Monday. The school was about to start for the week, and the Rainbooms were waiting outside the still broken Wondercolt Statue. 

Princess Twilight had written to Sunset the night before that Sci Twi was due to come back this morning. So now, here the girls were, waiting for her.

"You don't think something's wrong do you?" Fluttershy asked, worried.

Sunset shook her head. "I hope not. The princess didn't say anything was wrong. But something might have happened and we just haven't heard about it yet."

Before the girls could worry more though, the portal glowed, and a moment later, Sci Twi came tumbling out. But instead of looking like her usual self, she looked better than ever. In fact, the best way to describe the grin on her face was dopey.

"Someone's in a good mood!" Pinkie Pie sing songed.

Twilight finally seemed to notice the girls around her. "Oh. Hi girls! Am I late for school?"

Rarity shook her head and handed Twilight her backpack, as the school bell rang. "Just in time darling. I must say you do look rather stunning. Do tell. What did we miss?"

Twilight giggled as she twirled a strand of her hair. "Oh, I don't know Rarity. I like my secrets. You'll have to wait for Lunch!"

Sunset crossed her arms in a huff. "Come on Twilight. Spill. What happened to you in Equestria?"

Twilight though just stuck her tongue out at her and all but skipped her way to the front entrance. "That's for me to know and you to find out Sunny!" And was gone.

The girls stood there in stunned silence for a moment before Sunset found her voice. "Did. Did she just sass me?"

"Eeyup," Applejack finally said as she tugged at her hat. "Guess whatever she and the princess did must've worked."

And that was that. At least until the girls all met again during Lunch Break.
> Aftermath
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lunch Break was something that every student at Canterlot High looked forward to. A chance to get away from class for a little while, and to catch up with friends they might not have seen all day.

For the Rainbooms, Canterlot High's resident magical girls and heroes, the same held true. Only a few of them had a class with one another, and none of them shared one class all at the same time. So this was always a perfect chance to catch up.

Today was more unusual than most. Not that Twilight Sparkle was there with them. That they had grown used to in the short time the new transfer student had been at the school.

The fact her eyes though seemed a million miles away was new. They didn't even seem to be in this universe anymore, and Sunset had a good idea of where they were seeing at the moment.

Rarity though caught a different look in Twilight's eyes, and she smiled knowingly. "Someone seems to be in love. Badly too."

Twilight came back to earth with a crash as she blushed and slid down into her seat. "Is it that obvious?"

The girls nodded. "So, who's the lucky boy?" Pinkie asked excitedly.

Twilight shook her head. "She's not a boy. Or a stallion actually."

That got the girls' attention, as they shared a look. Sunset though began to get an idea of who it might be, but for now, she didn't say. "Do we know her?" She asked.

Twilight nodded. "You know her. Rather well actually."

That was another clue for Sunset, and judging by the looks the rest of the girls were giving her, they seemed to have an idea as well. "Does it have anything to do with your trip to Equestria?" Fluttershy asked, putting a hand on Twilight's arm. "We won't judge you for it."

Twilight smiled as she nodded and looked at Fluttershy. "Thanks, Fluttershy. And it does have to do with me going to Equestria. And what I did there."

Here, she reached down her shirt and pulled out what looked like a necklace that had a piece of a pearl held in it. "Princess Twilight gave this to me when I first got there. She said it's mine, and after everything we did, everything this did. I'm more than happy to believe her."

Sunset was shocked, to say the least. She recognized the Pearl Necklace and knew what it meant for Twilight to have it, let alone wear it. But she had never expected to see it now, and a part of her was horrified to see it here. "You're an alicorn. They're the only kind of ponies who can wear that, let alone use it."

Twilight nodded. "It was a shock to everyone in Equestria as well. I mean, they took it rather well all things considered. But it was still a shock to everyone."

Sunset could well believe it, and that was one of her questions answered, but she still had a few. "And Princess Twilight let you bring it back here why? Isn't she afraid of what could happen if someone steals it? Not that most would. Some might though. Students are just that stupid."

Twilight gave her a look. "Why do you think I'm keeping it hidden? I don't know what it could do to anyone who might take it. I don't even know if I can use it here, let alone if someone else can. But I won't leave it in Equestria, and go back and forth if I ever want to use it."

The girls couldn't really argue with that, but they were becoming impatient. "So come on already!" Rainbow finally said, throwing her hands up in frustration. "What the heck did you do all weekend? And who's the lucky girl? Mare? Whatever."

Twilight giggled as she got a faraway look in her eyes. "Well..."





"... And by the time we returned to Ponyville, the necklace had returned," Twilight finished as her gaze seemed to come back to reality. Though she didn't seem to want to.

The girls meanwhile were in various states of shock, to say the least. Not that Twilight was into girls like that, but for the fact, she was now in a relationship with her pony counterpart. Something none of them had expected if they were being honest.

Rarity finally squealed in delight. "Oh, that is so romantic darling. A tropical island, and falling for the princess herself. What could be more romantic than that?"

Everyone rolled their eyes at that. "But why were you a mermaid? Does Equestria even have those?" Rainbow asked, looking at Sunset, who only shook her head.

"I mean. There used to be old sailor stories of what they called seaponies. But those haven't been told in a long time, and nopony really believed in them," Sunset replied. She too was curious as she looked at Twilight. "Mermaids though aren't a thing in Equestria. Humans have never existed there, so they can't."

Twilight nodded as she looked thoughtful. "I don't understand why I became one either. You could call what Twily became a seapony, I guess? We don't really know for sure. We didn't have anything else to call her."

"Twily?" Applejack asked with a knowing smirk, one that soon all the girls had as well.

Twilight clapped her hands over her mouth, mortified at what she had just said out loud, as she slid further down her chair, and a roaring blush came to her face.

"Ah! They already have pet names for each other!" Pinkie squeed as she pulled Twilight into a hug. "They grow up so fast!"

"Pinkie. I am older than you," Twilight grumbled, as the girls giggled.

Sunset, while as happy for Twilight and the princess as the rest of their friends, and not maybe a little jealous, saw a problem going forward for the two of them. And a petulant part of her was glad of it. "How are you two going to make this work? Cross-dimensional relationships are never easy. Just ask Flash."

Twilight nodded, as Pinkie let her go, looking thoughtful. "We are still trying to figure that out. I want to visit Equestria more often. Nopony has a problem with it, and I even have my own room in Ponyville now when I do visit."

She paused, as she suddenly remembered something Twily had said in the waters around Mount Aris on Saturday. "Um, that reminds me Sunset. Could I possibly use your journal too? If I can't always go to Equestria, I want to at least be able to write to them."

Sunset blinked in surprise but smiled. "I don't see why not." She smirked. "Just try to keep it PG, please? I still have to use it, and I really don't want to have to read some of the saucy details between you and the princess. Or I'll revoke both of your privileges of using it."

That got another blush out of the nerdy girl, as the rest of their friends laughed. "Couldn't you get your own though?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight nodded slightly. "Maybe. Princess Twilight was going to Canterlot today. She promised she would ask Princess Celestia either how to make one herself. Or if the princess could make us another one."

Sunset nodded, remembering how it had been for her own journal. "If anyone knows how to do it, it's Princess Celestia. I think you're both in good hooves. It might take some time though. Mine took Princess Celestia months to craft and construct. Very few ponies even know how to craft such magic. It's not exactly common for most ponies to have something like this."

Twilight smiled, even as the bell for the next class rang, and the Cafeteria rang with the sounds of students grumbling back to class. She wasn't too surprised at this. Magic was still new to her. But she could feel how intricate this kind of magic was.

There was one thing, however, she wanted to do as soon as possible. She needed a new swimsuit. Her old one just didn't seem up to snuff now. And there was a good reason for that. Oh sure, it still fit (she hoped), but it wasn't her anymore. Not after Saturday.

Ever since she had come back from Mount Aris, Twilight had felt different. Not just from her relationship with Princess Twilight. But something more. Deeper inside of herself. And she knew why. Her Mermaid form. Maybe she had been a one-off transformation she would never be able to do again. Twilight didn't know or care.

As soon as she was able to, she and her mother would go swimsuit shopping. She wanted something permanent that she could always remember her by. Kohl's or Macy's had to have something that would do that. If they didn't? She could always ask Rarity for help.

As she and the rest of their friends joined the throng, Twilight couldn't help but look to whatever the future might hold for all of them with a smile.