‘Well he was such a sweet host.’ Pixel thought as she walked through the white abyss. After awhile, she found a white door and galloped through it. She opened the door with her hoof and the bright light shined before she is met with the hard rock flooring of this new world. But something felt different as she stepped onto the hard ground. Did it feel more harder than usual? She looked down to see she was standing on all fours as a human girl again.

“Wait, I’m a human again? How!? Oh, right, magic doors. Just as Discord said.” She said to herself. She got up on her feet to see she was barefoot but had clothes on. She saw that she was in her pajamas before she woke up to this whole mess, white and grey soft pajama pants and gray tank top that really makes her chest ‘pop’ out with a noticeable cleavage and black sports bra showing. She blushed a little that it was out in the open, even if no one was around to see. ‘That’s another good thing… I guess.’ She thought. She also felt something on her back, she tried to turn around to see what it was. A small glance and she saw it was the saddle only it was a backpack instead. ‘Weird magic.’

Lean decide to stop looking at herself and look at her surroundings. Lean saw that she was in what looked like a volcanic area. Maybe on a volcano itself, she wasn’t sure. It just looked like the aftermath of a volcanic eruption...after the lava hardened. She looked up to see gray clouds, or what she assumed was clouds and is most likely the ash from the eruption aftermath. She decided to go up the volcano. Why? Well, who wouldn’t? Also cause the bottom seemed a bit boring with grass n’ stuff.

After what felt like half an hour of climbing, Lean started feeling tired and even sweated a bit, which she rarely does. she stopped at the edge of the volcano top and took a breather. As she sat down, she felt as if she was sitting on wood. ‘That doesn’t feel right...’ She thought. She looked at where she was sitting, and she saw she was sitting on a wooden chest. “What’s a chest doing up here?” She asked out loud.

Soon she felt the ground shake a little, and what sounded like a gruff voice of somebody. ‘Oh crap! Am I someplace I’m not supposed to be? I gotta hide!’ She quickly got up and tried to find somewhere to hide, but all there was to hide was inside the chest. “Fun-size, don’t fail me now.” She opened the chest that had some gems and gold coins in it with some jewels and even a crown. The crown seemed like it would make it too small for Lean to fit in, so she quickly put it on and jumped into the chest, it closing on it’s own with a small ‘click’. ‘Crap! Please don’t tell me the chest locked itself?’ She thought as she felt the footsteps get closer. She peeped through the keyhole to see what was going on.

She could hear voices, but not much else. There were two of them, both female, though one was certainly younger while the other much older. Lean wasn’t able to distinguish what they were saying, unfortunately, but definitely was able to tell what they were doing when they picked up the chest. Fearing what could be the source of the voices, she kept her hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound.

The chest was carried for quite some distance, shaking a few times from either the carriers or earthquakes, she couldn’t tell which. For what seemed like hours, the chest was jostled from the walking until, finally, Lean felt her container set down on solid ground. Without the background noise of volcanic eruptions and quakes, she could only now make out what her captors were saying.

“Well, that was some adventure, wouldn’t you say?” a chipper, British voice responded from the elder one.

“Yeah, adventure,” the younger replied with sarcasm dripping from her voice. “What in the wide, wide world of Equestria was so important about this chest that we come to a planet of volcanos? Freaking volcanos!”

“Not quite sure, honestly,” the other spoke, never losing her chipperness. “I got a message on my psychic paper saying that there would be an important box here that we should pick up. And if it came in on the psychic paper, welllll it would just be rude to ignore it, now wouldn’t it?”

Lean heard the younger groan. “Honestly, I doubt there’s anything all that important in this box.” There was a loud thump to the box near her head, causing a quick squeak to come from her mouth.

“...did that box just squeak?”

The elder voice started to laugh a little. “Ooh hoo hoo, looks like we might have picked up more than a box.” There was a small silence. “Alrighty then, come on out. We know you’re in there, just come on out and there won’t be any trouble.”

Lean whimpered as she tried to open the chest from the inside. With little space, only small thumps were heard of her backpack hitting the top and it not opening. She wasn't sure whether to say she couldn't open it or that action was proof enough that she was trapped inside.

There was a light tapping on the top of the chest. “Uh, Guardian? I think it’s locked.”

“Locked?” Steps approached before another knocking came atop. “Oh… well, that’s unfortunate. Just hold on a moment, whoever you are. We’ll have you out before you can say ‘meep’.”

“Why would anyone say ‘meep’?”

“You’d be surprised the reasons people would say ‘meep’.”

Lean's sarcastic side kicked in and she let out a small 'meep', laughing a bit on the inside and a small smirk on the outside.

“Oh, a cheeky thing, eh? We might just get along, you and I.” A strange, yet familiar sound came from outside the box, a click coming from the lock not even a second later. “Alright, it’s unlocked. You can come out now.”

Lean quickly opened the chest and took a gulp of air before starting to cough at how dusty it was in the chest. "Thank god." She said out loud. 'And imagine my little brother in that chest. He's claustrophobic' She thought.

“Woah!” the younger voice called out, making Lean looked down to see a pink filly with a crazy purple swirl mane and tail. “Pop goes the human.”

The elder’s laugh directed Lean to notice the much older looking olive green pony with auburn hair. “Very clever, Screwy. Very clever.” She laughed a little more before looking at Lean. “Hello there. Nice to meet you, I’m the Guardian. And… you are?”

"Uhm...Lean?" She said awkwardly, unsure on how to really respond after all that. She stretched a little, not realizing that she was still in the chest with a crown atop of her head.

“Well, Leeeeean,” the Guardian said, stretching out the name as she strode around a large room that almost looked to be made of coral. “Welcome aboard the TARDIS. I’m the Guardian, as I said only a few moments ago, and that silly filly over there,” she gestured with her hoof to the waving filly, “is Screwball.”

“Hi Lean,” said pony cheered lightly.

"Wait...TARDIS? Why does that sound familiar?" Lean rubbed her chin a few seconds before she realized where it's from. 'Seriously? Doctor Who reference already?... sorta.' She thought. 'I wonder which Doctor she is...not that I know the official show too well.' She glanced at Guardian before looking down to see she was in the chest.

"Oh...didn't see I was still in the chest." Lean got out with a bit of trouble, mostly due to a pearl necklace stuck on her ankle and making her trip and fall to the floor, face first. After a few seconds of silence, she let out a muffled "...ow."

“Are you okay?” Lean looked up to see Screwball’s glasses covered eyes looking down on her. “That didn’t look like a lot of fun.”

“If you need to, dearie, there’s bandages in the floor panel behind you,” the Guardian said as she began flipping switches along the console in the center of the room.

"No, no. I'm good, just a small amount of pain and maybe a black and blue after this." Lean said, waving her hand as if it wasn't nothing, which it wasn't. The large crown soon went down her head and now lowered her glasses and covered Lean's eyes, her glasses on the edge of her nose. She stayed like that for awhile, looking as if Lean was frozen in place. She does that sometimes.

“So, Leeean,” the Guardian drew out again. “What’s a young human girl… nerdy girl most likely, doing on a volcanic planet, locked in a box? Hmm? Either something odd happened to you or you have some really strange hobbies.”

"I will agree on the strange hobbies, but that wasn't the reason. I just heard something coming and hid in the closest thing I could find. And the reason I was in that volcanic area is another story on its own." Lean answered, lifting the crown up off her nose and brought her glasses back on their natural spot on her nose. "Let's just say a Chaotic God was the cause of my sudden appearance." She added.

“My daddy?” Screwball asked.

“Alternate universes, Screwy,” the Guardian corrected. “It seems we have another multiversal traveler on our hooves. Now that’s just brilliant. But! The question is… how are you getting between these worlds, hmm?” She leaned on the console, looking directly at Lean. “Go on, tell us. We can help you.”

"Well, to be honest, the idea was based on a small animation collab where I came from, and now I have to find doors that are completely white to jump to other worlds and find my way home. The only way you could help is either you help me find the door to go to another random dimension, or you find a way to send me straight to my dimension. But I think the first one is most likely." Lean said, rubbing the back of her neck while looking down. At this point, she got tired of laying on the floor, and sat down instead, legs crossed.

“Hmm,” the mare mused, moving over to her console. “A door you say? Well isn’t that coincidental, considering a strange white door suddenly appeared on a planet a few weeks ago. The planet Chitin, to be exact.”

“Aaaand you know this… how?” Screwball asked.

“I do keep up on current events, you know. I monitor all newscasts within certain dimensions to make sure there’s nothing horrific going on. You don’t stay alive for as long as I have without a few little paranoidal tendencies.”

"So...where is this planet Chitin? Are we close to it?" She asked, wanting to look out the window...if she could find any first.

“Should only take us about five, ten minutes at most.” The Guardian looked up from the console, seeing Lean looking around, a smile growing on the mare’s face. She flipped one of the levers, causing the TARDIS’ front door to swing open wide.

Lean yelped in surprise and backed up quickly to the wall opposite of the open door, thinking that she’ll get sucked into space like all those space movies with the broken glass windows. When she didn’t feel the imaginative intense suction that she’d thought she would feel never come, she opened her eyes to see the door still open and the two ponies staring at her like she was crazy or weird. After a moment of awkward silence, she cleared her throat with a pink blush. “I meant to do that.” She lied, making her blush more.

“Of course you did, honey,” the Guardian chuckled. “Now go on, take a look,” the mare whispered with a knowing smile. “I promise you’ll love it.”

With a small nervous gulp, Lean slowly crawled to the open door, seeing a night sky. When she was at close as she would make herself to the open door, her eyes sparkled like the stars she saw all around her. She saw as some comets, shooting stars and planets a good distance away. Lean wanted to reach out, but she was worried that whatever was not making her get sucked into space might break.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” the Guardian’s voice came from right next to Lean. The girl was so enthralled she wasn’t even surprised, only nodding slowly. “Even after all these years, I still love the sight that the many universes can bring. See out there, that little cloud of space dust in the distance?” She was pointing to a small, green nebula far off in the distance.

“Uhm, yeah?” She nodded a little..

“Just beyond that… add a couple million light years, and you’re on Earth. Well an Earth. That little blue and green ball that humanity calls home. Such a small start for your species, yet they grew into something so vast and beautiful. All it took was time and effort, with a tad bit of luck for good measure.” The Guardian giggled a little. “Now come back in. Before we take off for Chitin, you look like you could use a nice bath and some food. How does that sound?”

Lean’s stomach growled at the mention of food. She blushed embarrassingly while hugging her small stomach. “I guess I could go for something to eat. But isn’t that asking for a lot from you?” She asked. “I don’t want to ask for more than what I’m already receiving.” She stood up and felt the floor on her feet again, it was a bit cold, but the cold that you crave for after a rather hot slumber.

The Guardian gave her small smile before leading her back into the main room. “Now don’t you be like that. You are our guest here and I’d like to open up my home to you. And I don’t wanna hear another peep about you not wanting help. Screwball will lead you to the bathroom while I get some cooking done.”

“Come on, Lean!” Screwball said as she took the human’s hand lightly in her mouth, dragging her towards one of the halls.

“And don’t be afraid to use the wardrobe room!” the Guardian called after the two. “Take whatever you like and get out of those rags!”

“Rags? These are my pajamas!” Lean called out, a bit angered that she labeled her uncle’s Christmas gift as rags. Soon they arrived at what looked like the bathroom...more like it was. She was then pushed into the bathroom by the filly and the door shut behind her.

“Don’t take too long!” Screwball called from the other side of the door. “Guardian’s cooking is amazing, so you don’t want it to get cold!” Her hoofsteps retreated away, leaving Lean to her thoughts.

“Well okay then.” She said out loud as she took off her backpack, placing it on the toilet. She started getting undressed and realized something. ‘Do I even have any other clothes?’

She opened the backpack after she took her tank top off, leaving her in her sports bra and pajama pants still on. She saw that it was completely black in it. “You gotta be kidding me. Just like Scott Pilgrim?” She asked out loud, reaching her hand in and feeling for anything that felt like clothes. She felt something and pulled out to see a gown that had a white top, light green skirt and a green bow on the collar of the shirt. She continues searching to find some yellowish-white long socks and pink boots. She also found a pair of circular glasses that went completely around her eyes “Seriously!?” Lean realized that now she was ripping off of another show just because of this.

Lean rolled her eyes as she resumed getting undressed and now she was ready to take a shower or bath. She saw that there was a bathtub instead of the usual shower like she was used to. She decided to go with this and turned the handle that had the letter “H” on it. The water went out the facet and as soon as it hit the white tub, some steam started forming. She placed a hand on the water, feeling that it was more hot than usual, just how she liked it. Awhile later, the tub was filled and she stopped the flow of hot water. She saw that there was a washcloth and bar of soap already set up. Taking her glasses off, she slowly went in the tub and just loved the heat. She took a look at the bar and saw that it was Dove soap. “Awesome. I never tried this bar before.” Lean said out loud as she wet it a little with the cloth and she started lathering the rag.

After a small time skip of bathing, getting dressed and secretly posing and acting like the character she was dressed as, Lean went out the bathroom with the backpack back on; her pajamas and normal glasses in the backpack. She fixed one of the straps on the backpack and something fell out of the slightly opened bag.

“Hmm?” She looked down to see a necklace with a clear gem dangling on the silver chain. She picked it up and looked through the clear gem to see different arrays of colors in it. “Neat.” Lean put it on and went back to finding the kitchen.

It took a little bit of wandering, being that she was in a dimension of infinite space and all, but she was able to find the kitchen without incident. Inside was surprisingly quaint, almost like a kitchen-dining room combo out of the eighties. Even had the same beige coloring. Screwball was setting the small, four seated table while the Guardian herself was at the cooktop stove, stirring a large pot. She noticed Lean walking in and smiled.

“Well don’t you look better? How do you feel, honey?”

“To be honest, refreshed, and a bit awkward.” She answered as she tried to find a good seat in the dining room.

“Oh come now, you’re a welcome guest. No need to feel out of place,” the Guardian waved off. “Now just have a seat. I hope you like spaghetti.”

"I think I'd be okay with that even with my dad being a pasta lover." She said as she sat down on a chair that felt just right.

“Glad to hear it!” The Guardian lifted up a plate in her magic, filling it with the red-sauced noodles before placing it on the table in front of Lean. “Eat up. And there’s plenty more so don’t be afraid to ask for seconds.”

"Uhm, small question. Where are the forks?" She asked as she saw there was no utensils on the table.

“Ooh, right, Screwball’s not used to utensils just yet. That’s entirely my fault, dearie.” She rifled through a nearby drawer before levitating a silver fork over to Lean. “Again, my oopsie.”

"It's fine. No need to somewhat apologize." She smiled a little as she took the fork from her aura, it disappearing when she grabbed it.

The Guardian levitated another plate over to Screwball who happily dug in face first. The elder mare just smiled as she sat down with her own plate and using magic to levitate small coils up to her mouth. Between bites, the Guardian looked to Lean, “So then Leeean, tell us a little about yourself. We’d like to know our new friend a little better.”

"Wait, we're friends? I thought I was only your guest..." Lean said, looking down at her food, gathering a rather large coil around the fork and she put it in her mouth.

“Do you not want us as friends?” Screwball asked after sucking down some noodles. She looked a little upset. “I want to be friends.”

"Th-that's not what I meant by that!" She said after she swallowed her noodles, feeling a bit nervous. "I just assumed that I was nothing but a guest to you. This is mainly how my parents treat guests..." She looked away.

A hoof patted her shoulder, making the girl see the Guardian giving her a soft smile. “Hey now, there’s no reason for you to feel out of place. We want you to feel welcome and at ease around us. I understand your shyness, believe it or not I used to be like that too. But we only want to help you. Just gives us a chance, huh?”

"A-alright. If you say so. Just still on edge with this whole 'finding white doors' thing yet. I'd never guess that I'd be caught in this out of everyone on my planet." She said. She placed another coil of spaghetti in her mouth.

“The universes work in mysterious ways, Lean. You just got lucky,” the Guardian said as she took another bite herself.

"I wouldn't say lucky, but I just somewhat started this awhile ago. Maybe I should give this game of his a chance." Lean said as she tasted the parmesan cheese mixed in the pasta. She liked it, but didn't show it that much.

“That’s what the Guardian has taught me,” Screwball said, licking some sauce from her plate. “You have to make lemonade out of the lemons of life! Maybe turn this game in your favor? If you start having fun with it, then it just becomes something for you to enjoy and might even take some away from your Discord.”

"I can see where you're going at, but I can't ignore that I'm stuck in this game for who knows how long. Away from my friends, family and home." She finished the last of the spaghetti and placed the bowl to the side with the fork in the empty bowl.

“Have you ever thought that maybe that’s his game?” the Guardian proposed.

"What do you mean by that?" Lean raised an eyebrow at the unicorn, not really getting what she was saying.

“Perhaps Discord is doing this because he knows you’ll miss your family. He’s hoping you’ll give up out of despair. That you’ll quit.” She looked directly at Lean. “And that’s precisely what you musn’t do. You have to stay strong, to persevere and keep going until the very end. You need to show that chaos spawn that you won’t be pushed around by him and that you can take anything he throws your way.”

'Except for anything that can physically kill me.' She thought. "Even if I wanted to quit, I can't. Either I proceed into the game or never find my way back. There is no give up button in this game." Lean looked away. "So...are we almost there? Not that I want to leave as soon as possible." She asked, then added.

“Oh, we’ve been in the planet’s orbit for some time now. I just preferred to make sure you had a nice hot meal in you before letting you continue your journey. You enjoyed it, of course?”

"Well it would be rude to lie and say I hated it." Lean joked. "It was wonderful, thank you." She smiled a little. "Where will we land on the planet?" She asked another question.

“The door’s being guarded near one the largest shrines. Thankfully, it’s near the capitol building of the central city. Little bit of begging and charming and we should be getting you to that door before it’s time for tea.”

"Central of what city exactly?" She raised an eyebrow.

“They call it,” the Guardian then proceeded to make a series of clicking sounds. “Roughly translated to ‘Land of the Queen’. It’s a nice city for a planet as young as this. They’ve just come into their renaissance actually. Should be a lot of fun! Now, up up everyone! Let’s go meet the locals!” The Guardian got up out of her chair, leaving the room, but not before levitating her plate into the sink. “Don’t dilly dally~!”

"Uhm..." Lean said as she got off the table and put her plate in the sink. 'I still don't know exactly where I'm being dropped off to, but since the door is on this planet, I must find it.' She thought, a determined look shown on her face a second before she followed the Guardian out the dining room.

Screwball ran past her, nearly toppling her over. “Race ya there, slowpoke!”

"H-hey! No fair! You almost knocked me down!" Lean shouted as she ran after the small filly.

The two raced through the hall, both entering the main room at the same time.

“I won!” Screwball cheered.

"Again, no fair. You have four legs while I have two." Lean said as she pouted like a little girl, it looking cute, but not as cute as any filly.

“Now, now, get along you two,” the Guardian laughed as she figured out the correct sequence to land the TARDIS. The whole room shook a little, staggering Lean only for a moment before everything settled. “Ah, we’ve arrived! Who’s ready for an alien world, hmm?”

"Alien how?" Lean asked, raising her hand a little. "I mean, in what way." She corrected herself.

“Hmm… you don’t have a problem with bugs, do you?” the Guardian asked as she stood by the closed door.

"Well, this is how I feel about bugs," She said before opening the backpack and literally going inside and zipping herself inside. The whole time saying "Nope" every step she took.

Screwball picked up the backpack and turned it upside down, shaking it violently until Lean fell out in a pile. “Come on, it’s just bugs. It can’t be that bad.”

"Bad? Bad!? I HATE bugs! Especially Spiders and Centipedes!" She said as she took the backpack and hugging it tightly, both arms and legs. In other world, the koala hug.

“Now Lean,” the Guardian scolded softly. “The Chitinites are a very intelligent species and it would be rude to simply hate them on appearance. Besides, you have to get that next door, right?”

"Humph. I hate it when other people are right." She looked away with an angered look. "And it's not my fault that a spider jumped in my eye and nearly blinded me with one eye thanks to the bite." She said.

“That’s not a bug,” the time mare pointed out. “A spider is an arachnid, completely different species. Now stop being such a speciest and come along. We’ve a got a door to find.”

"It doesn't matter! That traumatized me and now I don't like bugs. Not even crickets in a pet shop used for food." She crossed her arms.

The Guardian sighed softly. “I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me with no choice.”

"D-do what?" Lean started backing away with a hint of fear. 'What is she gonna do with me?' She thought.

Her horn lit with a golden aura that appeared around Lean as well, lifting her into the air. “Now come along, we have work to do,” the Guardian said as Lean started to float after her and Screwball to the outside world.

"No! I don't wanna!" She grabbed the door frame of the TARDIS and it stopped her from being levitated any further.

“Come on, Leanie!” Screwball whined. “We have to get you to that door and the only way is through the city! It’s gonna be fine!”

"No! I don't want to see a single bug eye not an antenna touching me to feel what I look like! Why can't we teleport or knock me out till we're there?" I shouted as I was starting to lose my grip.

“If you keep acting like this, I swear I will teleport you into the slums and leave you to rot,” the Guardian threatened.

Lean whimpered as she lost her grip and was now hugging her legs to keep herself sane. She was lifted out of the TARDIS and into the bright lights of the city. When her vision cleared, for mile around she could see different forms of bug ponies. There were some that looked like cockroaches, others that appeared to be related to beetles, and even a few that appeared to look like changelings roaming around. She could also notice that the city walls all looked like the walls of a beehive, being opened out to large cubbies or just a simple hexagonal pattern. But, try as she might, Lean couldn’t take her eyes away from the millions of insects buzzing and walking around her.

The Guardian took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Ahh, you smell that? Pure honey. Chitin is famous for making the best honey this side of the galaxy. One taste will make even the coldest of hearts melt.”

Lean was gripping her legs to the point where she might break them herself. She saw all these creatures that seemed related to bugs. The Changelings didn't really phase her, but the others did. She tried to drown out all the bug-like sounds some would make, but it was no use. 'Is this what hell feels like..?' She thought as she felt she would snap at any second.

“Now… how to get to the shrine?” the mare mused, looking around. “Oh, it’s been so many years, I don’t think I can remember how to get there.”

Lean felt as if she might cry in fear. She was too occupied in trying to keep her fear level low that she didn't see that some of the bug-like creatures look at her with curiosity, never seeing something like her before.

“Well, why don’t we just ask for directions?” Screwball suggested, running over to one of the ogling bugs. “Hi there! We’re trying to get to the local shrine. Can you show us how to get there?”

“Oh sure!” the big, gruff cockroach pony said in what could be called a New York accent. “See the big ol’ palace in the distance?” he asked, pointing at the large golden spire in the distance. “It’s just a few blocks north of there. But be careful, lotsa strange things been goin’ on around there. Best o’ luck, lil’ one.”

“Thanks!” Screwball said with a wave before relaying the information to the Guardian.

“Ah! That’s right, silly me.” She lightly tapped a hoof to the side of her head. “Well, let’s get going before we have to get a defibrillator for Leeeean.” The two took off in a trot, Lean following behind closely in her levitation field.

After awhile of keeping herself calm, she started to get a bit bored over floating right behind the two equines. “Uhm...Guardian?” Lean called out to the unicorn.

“Hmm? Yes, honey?”

“Can...can you let me go now?” She asked, looking everywhere but at the mare.

“Are you going to run off or have a panic attack if I do?”

“... No?”

“Are you asking me or telling me?”

“... I don’t know now.” She said a bit confused.

The Guardian giggled a little. “Well, when you figure it out, we can discuss me putting you down. Until then, you’ll stay right where you are.”

“But it’s so boring in a levitational grip...fine I guess I won’t run away…” Lean said as she crossed her arms. ‘Maybe I can make another dive into the backpack again.’ She thought.

“Alright, but any funny business and I’ll strap you to my back. Do you understand me, missy?” the Guardian said as if she was speaking to someone even younger than Screwball.

“Yes mom.” She said sarcastically.

The mare’s magic slowly set Lean back on the ground, leaving her as soon as her feet touched down. “Hmph, keep up that kind of attitude and I just might keep you.” The Guardian laughed to herself, making sure her two “children” were following close. “Now don’t wander off and don’t try to make any quick movements. It will really set off the locals.”

“Of course mother. I would never disobey you.” Lean was in her sarcastic mood and sometimes it would be hard for her to cut it out. She was acting like one of those sweet school girls that was raised in a catholic school. Lean should know, she was in one for awhile.

“Now now, none of that then. I’m only trying to make sure none of us get eaten.”

“Eaten?!” Screwball nearly shouted.

“Shh,” the Guardian encouraged, making sure no one was looking their way. “Yes. That’s how the law works around here. You break it, you get eaten. A strict system, yet rather fair… in their eyes anyway.”

“And you thought my reaction was too much. If I knew that beforehand, I would not be here.” She said as she tried to hide her ever growing fear as the grip on her backpack strap tightened.

“The Chitinians are a very nice people, you just have to respect their culture is all. And Lean, if you jump into the backpack, we’re leaving you here with the bugs.”

“If you leave me here and some bug-thing touches me, let’s just say that there won’t be anymore bugs… And I’m not joking about that.” Lean said as she pulled out a medal bat from the backpack, wielding it like a sword with two hands.

“They have laser technology, you know,” the Guardian smirked. “I admire the spunk, but you’re rather outmatched. Just stay close and try not to make any insulting comments or eye contact, alright? Then, hopefully, we can avoid any trouble altogether.”

“As long as my sarcasm doesn’t come along. I think I’ll be okay around that. But I still need something to keep me from freaking out.” She shivered a little.

“You want my stuffed animal?” Screwball asked. “Fluffy always keeps me from feeling scared.”

“Fluffy?” Lean raised an eyebrow at the filly.

She took off her cap, reaching into it and pulling out a stuffed griffon. “Fluffy! My dad gave it to me before he was put away. You can use him if you want to.”

“Are you sure you’d want me to have your plushie for awhile?” She asked.

“If it makes you feel better, I don’t mind. I do want him back though, so be careful with him.” She replaced the cap on her head before holding Fluffy out to Lean.

“You’re asking me to be careful? Please,” She waved her hand. “I’m so careful that it’s a bit difficult for me to crack an egg; making sure no shells get mixed in.” Lean smirked as she kneeled down and gently took the plushie from the earth filly’s hooves. When she stood up, she had the stuffed griffon in a small embrace.

“Yes, yes,” the Guardian interrupted dragging, the two a little with magic. “That’s all well and good, but we do have to keep up. We don’t know for sure if that door of yours has a time limit. For all we know it could disappear in minute and then appear on another planet half way across the universe. I, for one, would prefer to not have to chase a door.”

“Don’t jinx it!” Lean shouted a little, the small hug on the griffon toy being a little tighter.

“Calm down,” the Guardian soothed. “We’ll be there soon…” She was cut off as several Chitin guards, each one a different species all clad in pearly white armor, cut off their path. “...enough. Oh, well… this isn’t going to be good.”

‘I fucking told you.’ Lean thought as she was also thinking of many ways to whack these bug creatures.

“My apologies, ladies,” the lead one, a changeling wearing a several golden medals along his armor, spoke in a soft, deep voice. “But this area is restricted to only the highest authority. I cannot allow you to pass.”

“Oh, why didn’t you say so, my good man?” The Guardian chuckled a little, trying to keep herself from showing any nervousness. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her black billfold, showing the cardholder to the guard. “I’ve got clarification and permission to enter this site. Now, if you would please.”

“Hmm… this paper is blank,” the guard retorted.

“Uh oh,” Screwball muttered, the Guardian wishing she could vocalize the same feelings.

“I’m sorry, but you will all have to come with me for questioning.”

“But… but...” Lean groaned as she felt the door might move to a different planet by the time they arrived to where the door is located. She covered her eyes with her hands as the plushie was hanging on her arm… somewhat.

The Guardian took one look at Lean and knew what needed to be done. “Look, I apologize for the deception, but my friend here needs to reach that strange door in your shrine. It’s her only way to getting back home; to get back to her family. Please, just allow us through so we can help her.”

The guard captain took a look into the mare’s determined eyes before sighing. “I’m going to get in a lot of trouble for this. Stand down men, let them through.” Just as their eyes brightened, he continued, “If you’re lying to me, I’ll have you all eaten for dinner. Understood?”

“Understood,” the Guardian said with a slight bow. “And thank you, sir. You and your kind heart.”

He blushed a little. “Just go before I change my mind.”

They all took the hint and ran past the guards.

“That went a lot smoother than the other times,” Screwball pointed out.

“What do you mean by ‘Other times’?” Lean asked as she ran beside the small filly.

“We usually get captured or have to run with bullets and/or lasers flying over our head.”

“Now is not the time to reminisce,” the Guardian said, hoping that her companion’s words didn’t leave the wrong impression with Lean.

‘Good lordy lue that the door wasn’t in any of those planets.’ She thought as she kept on running, the plush still on her arm.

Up the stone steps the ran, not even bothering to notice the deepening blackness of the stones around them. Every few feet they passed the stones got darker and darker as the hurried deeper into the old shrine, not even knowing they were running over history. The farther they went, the less natural light they possessed as the pathway was slowly enveloped by a long-ago dug tunnel. The ancient walls were covered in markings, runes, and imagery of days long passed.

Lean was the first to see the ever darkening area around them and got a bit scared at the change. But she kept it to herself, knowing that she would have to go through harder and tougher things than changing environments to finish this game of Discord’s.

“Look!” Screwy exclaimed, getting the others’ attentions. Directly up ahead, in the center of a rune marked wall, was a pure white door. On both sides were a pair of massive statues that eerily reminded Lean of Queen Chrysalis.

“Good on you, Screwy!” the Guardian praised. “The door, right as I promised! And would you look at that; being guarded by Chrissie herself. That ol’ girl.”

“Are you serious?” Lean asked as she stared at the statues for awhile. ‘Why are there statues of queen Chrysalis? Is she the ruler of this planet or something?’ She thought as she walked up to the statue. At her regular height, it seemed as if the statue was real, she’ll be looming over her.

“She founded this world,” the Guardian said, admiring the stone changeling. “Thousands of years ago, she and her children crashed on this planet and made it their home. Killed the inhabitants, but that’s in the past really.”

“Is there even any documents on what the previous inhabitants were?” Lean simply asked.

“Oh yeah… just not to the public. Trade secret of the crown really… and me, but a lady doesn’t kiss and tell, after all.”

Lean let out a small growl, for all she knew, this would’ve been another fanfic world that was abandoned and Chrysalis could’ve came out of nowhere to invade it… maybe that’s what happens to cancelled fanfics: invaded and changed by something or someone else.

“Oh now now, it’s the way of life. Some things get conquered, others live on for millennia. Simple as that, life is a strange thing.”

“It doesn’t mean it’s a good thing,” Screwball said as she floated around the head of the statue. “She sounds mean.”

“Well, any conqueror can sound mean. Just depends on how you treat your own subjects I suppose. Quite the motherly figure, she was. Lovely mare; too bad things ended so badly between us. I might still have a warrant out on my head to this day, come to think of it.”

‘I guess things are better left unanswered. At least I found my ticket out of this world. Any longer and I think I might’ve tried to extinct the new inhabitants.’ Lean thought as she looked at the white door. There was a sudden pressure on her left arm, causing her to look down and see Screwball grabbing it.

“Do you have to leave?” she asked with big, sad eyes.

“I’m sorry Screwball, but I gotta go. I need to get back home, no matter how many doors I have to go through. I really wish I could stay, but my friends and family are most likely scared and confused on me being missing so suddenly.” Lean easily petted her mane, avoiding the small propeller hat she wore.

Screwball looked down sadly. “Okay,” she sniffled. “I understand. I’m gonna miss you.”

“Well, I’ll miss you too if I don’t meet with any other Screwballs.” She then gave the small filly a somewhat tight hug. Screwball hugged back, gripping just as tight… though also secretly took back her plushie. After a moment, they separated, leaving Lean to look at the Guardian.

“You’re leaving.” It was not a question.

“Mhm...” Lean nodded, feeling a bit awkward at how blunt she was about that.

Before she could react, the Guardian embraced Lean tightly. “I know it will be hard, but you just have to keep moving. Never lose sight of your goal, ok?”

Lean felt even more awkward at the sudden embrace. “Y-yeah… I know that. And I will miss you even after all this ends sooner or later.” She hugged the Guardian back, though, not as tight as before. “Let’s just hope that Discord won’t make me think this was all a dream or something...” She mumbled that last part. After some time, she broke the hug and just fixed herself up a bit, staying silent for awhile.

“Hold out your hand,” the Guardian requested. Lean did and she pressed something into it. Before Lean could look, “Ah ah ah, no peeking. Just a little gift. If you ever need a bit a quick knowledge or just someone to talk to, use that. As Rainbow has always boasted, ‘I never leave my friends hanging’.” The Guardian sighed, backing away to stand next to Screwball as they both watched Lean. “Be safe, honey. And good luck.”

“...thanks.” Lean smiled as she felt she was gonna cry any moment now. She knew that she would if she didn’t get going sooner or later. She instead placed the unknown item in the pocket of the summer dress she was wearing before turning around and going closer to the white door. She then gripped the white handle of the door and opened it, seeing the familiar white abyss through the door. “I...I won’t forget you two. And I hope that maybe we can meet again in the near future… Bye.” At that, she went through the door as the two ponies watched her walk farther away before the door closed on its own and disappeared out of existence and instead there was an old door that was already there before the white door was,

As Lean disappeared into the next world in her travels, the Guardian and Screwball turned around the head back for the TARDIS. It wasn’t long before Screwball asked the obvious, “So… what did you give her?”

The Guardian let out a light chuckle. “Just a little remembrance, Screwy. Nothing to worry about.” The filly looked at the time lord with narrowed eyes before sighing and relenting. Neither would ever know that at that moment, somewhere off in the vastness of the omniverse, Lean was looking at her new gift, gently caressing the sleek, black gem.

Author's Notes:

This is another chapter on fanfics-that-are-yet-to-be-created/published-on-this-site by DJSkywalker. Before we even started this, he needed my help with creating it and do we did this chapter together on Google Docs. It was fun and we tried to do the most we could at a certain time and this was 18 pages long in the site. I hope you enjoyed it and that more people may volunteer or accept the invite in making a chapter in this book.