I was sitting in my living room, watching World’s Dumbest, with Chrysi snuggled up next to me, when the front door opened.

“Ember!? Where are you!? The real one!” I heard Corey shout.

*Oh, they’re back.*

“Be right there!” I shouted back. I got up from the couch, Chrysi decided to stay latched to me even as we walked towards where I heard Corey.

He, along with Britt and the other me, where standing in the doorway. They looked disheveled, tired, and angry. I looked towards my double and he shook his head.

Without any verbal cues, I canceled the spell that allows him to, like, exist, and his memories became mine.

“Ooooh. That sucks. I thought Saddle Arabia would’ve been a nice vacation spot.” I said once my brain processed the new information.

“Yeah, and apparently they got the same rules like on Earth. Except that guys are oppressed.”

“Yeah. You’d think there wouldn’t be stuff like that here.” The couple nodded.

“Yeah… Uh, who’s this anyway?” Corey asked while pointed a finger at Chrysi.

“Dude, it’s Chrysi. The changeling.” I said.

“Oooooooh.” Both Corey and Britt said.

“So… why does she look like that now? And why is she holding onto you like that?” Britt asked. I looked to Chrysi, and she nodded, answering my unasked question.

“Well. Me are Chrysi are in a relationship.” I answered.

“Woah, really? Nice!” Corey held up his hand and high-fived me.

“Thanks.” I said. I took a quick glance at my girlfriend, and saw that she had a nice, cute little blush. Good, she took that as a compliment.

“Uuuh...” Britt said. “Am I the only one getting uncomfortable from the fact that she’s naked?” She then asked.

“Oh! Let me fix that.” Chrysi said. Grey fire erupted around her, then quickly died off revealing the bug-anthro wearing a simple outfit; a deep purple shirt and a pair of jeans. She didn’t bother to put on some shoes. Really, how would shoes go on digitigrade feet?

Anyway, with the elephant in the room dealt with. Corey and Brittany decided to head home after a few words between the four of us about going out on a double date. Of course Britt had to suggest that, and then Chrysi thought it was a great idea.... Women...

“So you’re not afraid of going out in public without a disguise?” I asked.

“No, not really. If anypony asks, we can just say I’m from your world.” She replied.

“Wow, alright then.” I said. “I date it is later tonight then.”

“Ready Chrysi?” I asked.

“Mmhm!” She said from upstairs. I heard her walk down and into the living room where I was waiting. She was wearing a very nice, simple red dress.It hugged her curves in all the right ways too. B, e, a... utiful. “Let’s go!” I chuckle and get off the couch while straightening out my suit.

I hold out my arm chivalrously, and she holds onto it. With that, we make our way to our preset destination.

...

We got to the restaurant; The Prancing Filly. One pony told Britt this would be a great place to got out on a date in Ponyville.

The only I could think about was that this place better have more than just hay-based food.

“Shouldn't they already be here?” I asked.

“Yes. They’re already inside.” Came her response.

“... How do you know?”

“I can sense them in there.” I nodded.

“Alright.” We walked into the establishment, not getting many looks, and the maitre d' greeted us. Huh, it’s laid out a lot like a Golden Corral I used to got to. There was an empty queue line away from the main dining area.

“Welcome to The Prancing Filly.Table for two?” He asked in a french accent.

*I wonder if that accent’s real…*

“No, we’re here with Corey and Brittany.” Chrysi.

“Ah, right this way then.” He said. He lead us through the main dining area, and towards the back of the place. It possessed a more private atmosphere, I guess it’s perfect for this double date. There were other tables with ponies, but they were keeping conversation volumes to a murmur. Something I prayed for back on Earth.

“Here we are, a waiter will be with you shortly.” The head-waiter pony said.

“Thank you.” Chrysi said, I nodded gratefully while we took our seats.

“Nice place.” I added.

“I told you, you would like it.” Britt said. A little smirk playing on her lips.

“Same can’t be said for the food. Haven’t tried any of it yet.” I smirked back. “But I swear to god, if the only thing they serve here are hay-based food...”

“Oh, they don’t. Well, at least, not a lot. They have a gryphon chef here.” I raised both brows in surprise.

“Really?” Both Corey and Britt nodded. “Alright, I like this place even more now.” I said. Just then a waitress comes to our table, she was a light pink unicorn with teal hair that was tied up into a bun. A professional, but friendly, expression on her face while she carries four menus by her side in a yellow aura.

“Hi! I’ll be your waitress for the evening.” She said in a cheery tone. “What will you four have to drink?”

I took a quick glance at the available drinks, and nearly instantly spotted the hard Apple Cider.

“I’ll have some of your hard Apple Cider.” I was the first to order a drink.

“I’ll have some of that too.” Corey said. The waitress pulled out a quill and a, I shit you not, notepad. And started scribbling onto it.

“... And I will have a glass of Prench wine.” Britt said. Chrysi ordered the same thing. It was kind of weird we the guys and girls got the exact same drinks. But, eh, I digress.

“Great! I will be right back with your drinks.” The waitress said before walking off.

“Did anyone else notice the chairs and tables are just our height?” Corey asked when the pony waitress was out of earshot. And as we picked up the menus and started browsing.

“Yeah, kinda odd. Don’t you think?” I asked Chrysi. I saw that they cooked fresh Fish and Calamarey, directly imported from the Marditerranean Sea (horse puns, am I right?). I also thought that, since gryphons are a part of Greek Mythology on Earth, Greek food must be the same thing here.

“They must have some larger customers here.” She shrugged. The rest of us nodded in mutual agreement.

“Here we go!” The waitress said when she came back, a tray with glass cups and mugs of cider and wine in her telekinetic hold. “Cider for the stallions,” Said beverages floated towards our parts of the table. “and the finest Prench Wine for the mares!” The last two glasses float over to the girls. “Are you four ready to order?” I nodded. And saw in my peripheral that the others weren’t ready.

“Yes, well, I am at least. I’ll have the Fish and Clalmarey.” I said. The same pad and quill appeared and the quill scribbled onto the pad.

“... Aaaand there. Anything else sir?” She asked, I shook my head.

“No, thank you.” She nodded happily.

“Uuuuuh… Oh! I’ll have the Grilled Meat please.” Corey asked.

“And the… Taramarelata for me please.” Britt said. And Chrysi ordered… I think ‘Coltmades’ is the correct pronunciation, with a side of olives. Weird. But, meh. She’s a changeling. They can pretty much eat any kind of organic matter.

“So, what have you two been up to? You know, before the 'vacation'.” I asked.

“Not much, actually.” Britt answered. “Before we were kidnapped, we would just spend most of the day working.”

“Really?” They nodded. “Huh, well then. My life’s been wild compared to you two.”

“Besides you saving us?” Corey asked, and I nodded. “Well? You gonna tell us?” I nodded again.

“Yeah, you heard of the changelings working with Twilight right?” All three of them nodded. Though, Chrysi had an expression a mix between fear and… something like a knowing look.

“Well, a while back I got to meet their queen.” Britt and Corey reared their heads back in surprised. While Chrysi adopts a worried look.

“Really? How were you able to meet a changeling queen?”

“It wasn't all that difficult.” I said. “I ran into a few of her kids when I was in the Everfree.” I saw Chrysi starting to look around nervously when I said that. “After that. They came by my house looking for another changeling. Apparently one of their own ran off and they were looking for them.”

… Chrysi is going to have a lot questions for me when we get home.

“That’s interesting and all, but how did you meet the queen?” An impatient woman dog anthro asked.

“I’m getting there. So, after them coming by my house. I met them again back in the Everfree when I was doing some stuff with Zecora, the zebra you’ve seen every once in awhile, and they actually took me too their queen. They said something about their Queen having some kind of interest in me when I asked why.”

“So, they took me to their queen. And get this; she legitimately just wanted to get to know me since she has only heard about our kind from her mother.”

“What!?” They, along with Chrysi, shouted. I glared at them while they realized what they just did.

“Ehehe… Sorry. What?” Britt said.

“Yeah, I’m not kidding. Their queen really told me there are stories her mother told her about us. Us. Now, she didn’t tell me much. But she did tell me that humans were around on this fucking planet at one point.” I paused to look at their shocked faces. “What the fuck. Right?”

“No shit dude. That explains a lot.”

“It does! Doesn’t it?” A little too much enthusiasm went into that. “But,” I continued after I took a calming breath. “that also begs to question; how the hell were humans here at any point?”

“Dude, I got no idea. But… fuuuuuuck.” Corey said. “We were on this fucking planet at some point… But, what happened to us then? If that queen’s right. What happened to the humans here?”

“I don’t know, actually.” I shrugged. “She didn’t tell me that. She didn’t even believe her mother when she told her stories about humans. Until she met me, that is.” I said. “Now… I’m pretty sure us being here kind of proves that.”

“‘Kinda’?”

“Yeah, think about it; we came from a different planet. If humans were here, and there are stories of our kind being around centuries ago…” It was at that point I came to a startling realization. Well, more of a wild thought, but still. The ponies here have technology reminiscent to human tech. Creatures from ancient, different cultural myths exist here. Magic exists here. And as far as I’m concerned, Equestria is run by a diarchy, an actual governmental system we have used in the past.

~Ember, I have been around for a long time. And I know for a fact that what you are thinking cannot be possible.~ Ruby stated.

*Oh yeah? And how would you know? You’ve barely been conscious through your whole existence.* I retorted.

“... Yeah, anyway, it makes you think, huh?” I said.

~But that still does not mean that an entire race can just disappear like that! The princesses can’t even begin to fathom a feat as great as that!~

*They can move the sun and the fucking moon. And Celestia has done both for a thousand years. What’s keeping her and Luna from ruling the whole world for any matter?* I mentally retorted.

“Yes, yes it does...” Britt trailed off.

~They have not done such a thing like that because they do not wish to do so! They already have their own country to manage!~

*You still didn’t answer my question! What the fuck is keeping those two horse cunts from ruling the goddamn world!?*

“Huh, how did we… live here, in the first place?” Corey asked. “And the ponies have some similar tech as us. So how..?” His words fell on deaf ears.

~I did answer your stupid question! They have their hooves full running this goddess-forsaken country!~

*They can hire ponies to help them rule the fucking country! What’s stopping them from conquering the entire planet!? What’s stopping them from coming to my world and turn every human into a pony!?*

~Because they posses fucking morals!~ Ruby bellowed. ~They view world domination as a nearly evil act! Don’t you remember when they defeated that tyrant Sombra!?~

*Fuck off Ruby. I know what you're doing. You’re making me feel evil.*

~No donkey dung Sherclop Pones! You’re campaigning to rule your world yourself!~

*But I’m not doing for personal gain shit-head! I'n not evening trying to rule my world! I want to make my world a better place!*

~Oh stop hiding behind that ridiculous and stupid excuse! You know you really want your world in your hands! You want to own it, and you know it!~

*No I don’t you retard! Have you ever paid attention when I was actually planning all that shit out!? I’m running shit behind the scenes!* I didn’t immediately hear a response from Ruby. But eventually, the gem responded.

~... What?~ Ruby asked.

*If you ever paid attention to any of my planning, which you clearly didn’t, you would’ve seen that I want to not be known to the general public when it comes to changing the world for the better. I know this sounds cliche to you, but this is something I really am working towards anonymously. I don’t care about the notoriety I would get if I did go public. I already have a pile of fucking gold back home. That’s all anyone could ever want in terms of wealth. I just want the place I grew up to become a better place... Gah, even that sounds cliche.* Ruby went silent.

“Ember! Hey! Dude, you alright?”

“Whahuh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Just thinking.”

“Oh, you have a lot to think about huh?”

“Yeah,” I glance at Chrysi with a knowing smirk. “I kinda do.” Chrysi glared at me a little, but otherwise stayed silent on the unspoken subject.

The four of us continued talking about miscellaneous things; how are days have been, other things we’ve been up to. Things like that, it was actually very nice to catch up with them.

~... Ember?~ Ruby said when we were leaving The Prancing Filly.

*What?* I asked a little curtly.

~I want to apologize…~

*Oh yeah? For what?* I asked sarcastically.

~For assuming you wanted to rule the world you come from.~ Ruby meekly answered.

*Oh! Well apology accepted then!*

~R-really?~

*Of course not you idiot.* My tone went from casual to condescending. *After what you said to me, I’m still pissed.*

~Oh, I see…~ Ruby said, then fell silent again.

Pfff. To think this spirit’s been around for centuries. Ruby sure as hell doesn’t seem to have the experience of a century-old talking gem.

Because, when does a person in their position accuse their -basically their host- that they’re some power-hungry tyrant?

“Ember?” I look down to my left, Chrysi called me.

“Yeah?”

“Uh… how long have you known this? About that Queen in the Everfree?” She queried warily. As if she was expecting a ‘bad’ answer, or something.

“Chrysi...” I sighed. “You just pretty much confirmed Mirage is your mom.” I deadpanned.

“What!?” She shrieked, jumping away from me in shock. “What made you think that!?” I let a sigh drift past my lips.

“Chrysi, you’ve been acting all skittish ever since I mentioned Queen Mirage. And, come on, a while after I got my own house a few changelings came by and asked if I’ve seen one of their own around. At that point it was obvious Mirage’s your mother.” I said. “Unless I’m wrong?” I asked, and she let out a heavy sigh.

“No… you’re right. She is my mom...” Her figure slumped a little. “Just... please don’t take me back to her!” She then pleaded.

“Don’t worry about that.” I hold out my hand in a placating way. “I’m not one to impose on your happiness. If you want to be with me, so be it.” Chrysi beamed at that. “But,” The smile died. “you can at least go and talk to your mom. She seemed like a good person every time I spoke with her.”

“But you don’t know her like I do!” She blurted. “She didn’t keep you in a prison cell of a room most your life!”

“Granted, I don’t know her personally.” I nodded. “But, have you ever thought about why she did that in the first place?”

“Uh… No..?” She half answered, half questioned.

“Ok. Then think about it through your mother’s perspective. And let me guess; you tried leaving before, haven’t you?” She didn’t answer, verbally at least. “Look, I won’t talk about it if you don’t want to. But, give it some thought. Especially the part about the ponies.” I held out my arm as a chival gesture. “I’ll ask you what you think when we get home. So until then, really think about the things you mother did for you from her perspective. And actually give it some thought. Can you do that? For me at least?” She stayed quiet for a bit, eventually latching onto my arm again before she answered.

“Alright...” She grumbled. “But no promises.”

“Oh, I know.” I smirked playfully. “Believe me, I know.”