I felt Kuri gently nuzzling into my back as we rode. That lovable girl... man. I'd known them for years as my downstairs neighbor. We'd always got along well enough, and now there we were, husband and wife. A part of me still wondered how she was alright with it all, but she was. She loved me, that much she made clear. She loved... making love to me too, but she seemed just as happy being near me, fussing over me, or generally being everything I imagined a really loyal boyfriend should be. She had eyes for no other, and she was alright with that.

Being held in her arms, her pony arms, I felt safe and secure, and I drifted off.

Only to find myself somewhere new. I rolled up to my hooves and looked around. I was in a garden? The night sky was above, but all the stars looked different. And the moon! The huge moon. It was gorgeous, but it wasn't the one I grew up with.

The garden had the smell of dew and gentle floral fragrances that teased gently at me as I wandered the hedges that made it up. I heard a soft gap and turned quickly to see a little horse, as small as the colt that was a part of our group. This one was a female, I think. She looked up at me with her huge eyes full of wonder. "H-hello, ma'am. What are you princess of?"

I glanced back at my new wings as they fluttered a little at being thought about. "I don't know yet." I turned back to the little orange unicorn and offered a hoof. "Could you tell me where I am? I seem to have gotten lost."

She smiled brightly. "Sure! This is Canterlot Gardens, your majesty. I'm Sunrise. I love this place. Isn't it nice?"

I nodded slowly and took in a deep breath. It was a nice place. I couldn't argue that. "Yes, it is lovely, but I wasn't here a moment ago."

She tilted her head a little, then clopped her forehooves together. "You must have been called!"

"Called?"

She nodded quickly. "By one of the royal sisters."

A large figure stepped out from behind the small pony. "She speaks correctly." I could feel her power. She was a princess that knew her place and wielded it gracefully. How did I know that? She had dark purple fur across most of her body, but her mane and tail were something else. Possessed by the very night sky itself, they were woven with darkness, tinged with blue, and stars that shone brightly as she gazed at me. "You are welcome here, please, be at ease."

The small pony wheeled around to see who was speaking over her. "Princess Luna!" She dived to bow before her. "So good to see you, your highness."

"Rise, and thank you for finding my guest." Luna reached out and set a hoof on the pony's shoulder. "We would ask for some privacy. The things we discuss are of sensitive nature."

The small pony nodded quickly. "Of course, Princess Luna." She turned back to me. "Princess Luna is really nice. Um, see you later?" She moved to trot off as I nodded lightly, and she was quickly gone around a hedge.

I turned my attention back to the larger princess. Luna was it? "Good evening, Luna."

Luna nodded. "And good eve to you as well...?"

"Aiko."

"Yes, Aiko. A lovely name. You have been charged by destiny itself to serve as a guide to your people in this difficult time. Do you understand?"

I pointed a hoof at myself even as my eyes wandered across the garden. "I know I'm a princess. I know I can feel... things. I don't understand it all."

Luna reached out a hoof and raised my chin lightly to look at her directly. "Exactly why I have called you here. We're trying as hard as we can to undo the damage we have caused... You are the only link I have to your world. Where are you, and how are things there?"

I suddenly felt light, like I was being pulled away. Luna noticed, somehow. "You have to go. I'll call you again. Be strong, and be good to your fellow ponies. They're cou--"

I was awake suddenly. We were slowing down as we came to a fence that went along the perimeter of a shopping plaza. I didn't get the idea the fence had always been there, before things started to go crazy. Kuri gently shook me. "Are you awake?"

"Hmm? Yes, I'm awake." I saw the others were sliding down off of our ride. "Sorry to keep you waiting, but I saw something! It was amazing! There was a whole... I think it was a world."

Kuri had been ready to slide off, but aborted it as I began describing my dream. "We should tell Pinkie. Maybe it's familiar to her."

A good idea! "She's from there, I think. From what she said." I frowned with thought and looked for our pink companion. She was already edging along the fence, looking like she was trying to be sneaky. She was still a pink pony in front of a chain link fence. There was no way anyone couldn't see her from either side if they were looking at all. I didn't understand her at times, but she was a good person.

Kuri leaned in and kissed my cheek. "Need any help getting down, hon?"

I warmed a little, especially when Ground gave a little giggle beneath us. How much attention was she paying? No matter. I was going to kiss my boyfriend whether she was there or not. I leaned in and Kuri leaned forward without prompting, and we enjoyed a moment before I slid down to join the others. My wings caught the air on the way down and I partially glided down. I'd have to practice with those wing things, but gliding proved easy enough if I kept them nice and stiff and let them do their thing. It was like a built in parachute, really.

Kuri landed beside me and I gave him a nuzzle before moving to where I saw Hiro and that new girl standing. She was an odd one. Mostly human, with ears and a tail that wouldn't look out of place on Pinkie Pie. She also wielded a shotgun with trained ease. I'd never met a hunter before, but she carried that thing around like it was her infant. A very deadly infant. "What's the situation?"

Hiro looked over to me. "Ah, you're awake. You faded out on the way and we let you get your rest."

I spread my wings, an act that only hurt a little bit. "I told you I'm fine now."

Hiro nodded. "I didn't mean to imply you're not. Pinkie's scouting, and we're keeping an eye on her. She's a very talented person, but she can get into trouble with the best of them."

Yuka snorted softly. "It's catchy. So, Hiro mentioned you were some kind of special horse?"

I glanced back at my wings as they folded up tight. "Well, yes... I was just a unicorn, until the wings grew in. Pinkie insists that makes me a princess, and most everyone else seems to agree with the idea." That reminded me of the dream. "Even dreams."

Hiro raised a brow. "Let's focus on the task at hand."

Kuri shuffled a little. "Hoof..."

"Come again?"

Kuri lifted a hoof from the ground towards Hiro. "Hoof. We don't have hands."

Yuka wriggled a few fingers at Kuri. "Well, I do. Are we done arguing about figures of speech? I don--"

I tuned her out at a sudden sensation. It was like a ripple from my ears all the way down to my tail. I felt a soft urge to chase after Pinkie, to pin her down and capture her.

Hiro and Kuri turned sharply to Pinkie. Did they feel it too?

Hiro let out a hiss, fire licking out around his teeth. He wasn't chasing her, but he wasn't doing anything else.

Yuka raised a brow. "You all alright?"

That's when I saw it. A huge mob of about fifteen horses were charging towards Pinkie. Some of them weren't even visible. I could feel two of them burrowing through the ground. When had I gained that ability? They were chasing her, and they would catch her. Hiro and Kuri were frozen. They had resisted the order, but they weren't moving against it either.

I was under no such limit and screamed out to Pinkie, "Look out! To your left!" Pinkie spun and squeaked loud enough for us to hear her from afar before she burst into a running gallop.

Yuka made a soft 'tsk' of a sound as she dropped to a knee and raised her gun into position.

"Hold, please." I turned to the stampeding riot and took a slow breath. I had calmed down Ground. It should... maybe? I had to believe it would, and in myself. "Stop!"

Some of them looked towards me, others got confused. One pony burst from the ground and tackled Pinkie, only for them to roll around. She kicked off the pony and scrambled away easily. One on one, Pinkie seemed able to handle another basic pony. A sudden ripple ran through me as a new urge rose. Get me. But it wasn't a capture message. Whatever was sending them wanted me gotten rid of, permanently.

Hiro scratched at the ground, digging huge trenches. "Where's it coming from?"

Kuri was taking it worse, tears coming from his eyes. Poor boy. Of course he didn't want to hurt me. But there was no time to console him with that mob moving for me.

"Can I shoot them now, your highness?" She sounded a little bitter about it. At least she didn't have her gun aimed at me. Maybe she wasn't horse enough to be influenced?

I tried to focus on them, to turn them back like the unseen controller was doing. They weren't using words, maybe that worked better? My attempts were brought to a sudden halt as the ground beside me exploded into concrete and pavement. Ground had just brought down a hoof inches away from me. "S-sorry... I..." Oh god, she was going to crush me!

"Ground! Remember who you are. You're an engineer, not a horse to be ordered around. Please!" I backed away from her slowly. She could still squish me like an insect if she wanted. I could run, but she could run me down. "Don't do this!"

Ground licked over her lips as she slowly stalked me. "Not... horse... Eng... neer..." She suddenly hopped forward and grabbed me by a leg as I scrambled away. She flipped me up and I could feel the joint crying in pain before I was airborne, sailing a moment before she snapped me right up from the air into her huge mouth.

It smelled... about as bad as the inside of a horse's mouth should smell. Her tongue was wet and flat and pressing against me. She shoved me against the left side of her mouth with a powerful flex of it, but she wasn't chewing me, or swallowing. Was I dead, or spared? I didn't know, and I was afraid to even make a sound, lest my uncertain fate become all too set in stone with the barest movement of the giant pony.

I could dimly hear conversation coming from outside, and a new ripple came. New orders. Come home. Home was inside the shopping area we were trying to get to. The space I was in, Ground's mouth, was still except for the slight flexes of her tongue, and the warm rush of air. She was breathing through her nose, but that didn't stop air from rushing past in either direction. I suppose I should have been grateful. It gave me something to avoid asphyxiating as I trembled in terror.

The space tilted and lowered, then I was suddenly spat out, sent to the ground before all the others.

Pinkie made a face. "Ick, need a tissue?" I have no idea where she was hiding a handkerchief, but she had one, little as it was compared to the mess I was currently sporting.

Kuri reached for it and began wiping me down carefully. "Are you alright, Aiko? When I saw her gobble you up, I almost died on the spot."

Yuka snorted. "I almost made her die."

Ground recoiled away from where she had been leaning close. "Fake. Make... ponies leave."

I nodded stiffly. "You... You did good." I was wet and stinky and a little violated, but I was alive and mostly intact thanks to her quick thinking. I doubted the crowd would have had more mercy if they got their hooves on me.

Hiro shook her head. "We can't approach like this. Having most of us out of the fight, or even turning against each other, won't do."

Taking the opportunity to have a look around, it seemed we'd pulled away from the target a few blocks. "I think I need to be more of a princess."

Yuka looked perplexed. "Well you aren't looking very 'princess' like, with the mess you're in."

With a frown, I waved her off. "Not like that. I need to give commands better, to understand it all better." I closed my eyes and just... felt. I tried to clear my head despite the ache in my left fore shoulder and the drying crud.

I could feel something, a few somethings. Each of the horses around me, my friends, they were a little ping. I tried to get in 'close' enough, to figure out which ping was which. Ground was easiest. She was large and distinct. I whispered to the dot, in my head, to place me, carefully, on her head.

Ground snorted loudly. "Again! Do... again."

I opened my eyes. "That time it was me. What did you feel?"

Ground tilted her head. "Felt... different." She reached and gently picked me up in her teeth, grabbing me at the scruff and setting me on her back. It wasn't the top of her head, but close enough?

I smiled, deciding it was good enough. I looked to Hiro, thinking at him, ~Can you hear me?~

Hiro blinked. "Was that you?"

I clopped my hooves with building joy. "It was. Did you hear what I said?"

He shrugged softly. "Sounded like you wanted me to hear."

Hmm, almost... I turned my eyes to Kuri. ~Hello, my husband. Are we tied more securely?"

Kuri smiled up at me on my mount. "We are, my love. If it is a command from you, I would gladly follow it."

Yuka shook her head. "I don't get it, but can you use it to make the horses not charge at us?"

I waved at Kuri. "Go and take Pinkie, Yuka and Hiro and go about a block away. Let's see if it's just as strong over distance."

Off they went, leaving me with Homer and Ground. I felt safe enough, mounted on Ground. While we waited, I turned my eyes to Homer. "How did you feel during that? You were quiet."

Homer pointed at me. "You are my friend, alpha bitch. Your word goes. Strange word, no go."

A dog's logic, but a valid one. It had been long enough, so I felt out. Homer and Ground were right there beside me. I could feel other presences. One was even close, but I didn't feel any anger or hostility from them. They were just there, perhaps curious? No time for them. I pulled out, reaching further. The individual dots began to bleed together, but one felt different. I pressed against it, and it pressed back. Kuri. I was certain of it.

I thought to it, but tried to keep it at the same level as my other command. ~Come back, and bring a nice, rectangular, brick with you.~

I opened my eyes to find Ground looking over her shoulder at me. She smiled when our eyes met. "Did it work?"

I smiled a little back at her. I didn't envy her. She was strong, very strong, but to be trapped like that? "I think so. We have to wait and see."

Pinkie suddenly slipped around me. "Here's that brick you wanted! Why did you need a brick, anyway? I coulda got some candy or maybe another towel or something, but you want a brick? I get a brick!"

I blinked softly at her. "Where did you come from?"

She tilted her head, then pointed down the street. "That was you, wasn't it? It sounded like you."

A frown fell over my features. "I was trying to reach Kuri, not you, Pinkie. I mean, yes, I did ask for that."

"Here ya go!" She held it out to me, red and rectangular and hard. A brick...

I put a hoof over my face, then carefully picked it up with my magic and tossed it away. "Thank you, Pinkie, but why did you get the message? You never seemed to get princess messages before."

She shrugged. "I never said that exactly. You're a friend, and you asked nicely. Why wouldn't I get my friend a brick?"

I smiled despite myself. "Thank you. That was very kind. Where are the others?"

She pointed back down the street. "They should still be there."

I closed my eyes and reached out. There! That had to be him. I mean, he was practically ready to kiss me even as an impression. Feeling him after Pinkie, I wondered again how I'd confused the two. Maybe Pinkie just had a strong presence? ~Kuri, love, bring the others back. Pinkie is here.~

Pinkie strode forward and sat on Ground's head. "That was quick thinking back there! I wouldn't have thought of that! Pretend eating Aiko? Genius!" They began to talk, and I smiled. They got along well, and it was nice to see. I can't say I entirely approved of the plan, but it did work. "What, stupid? You? No way!"

I brought my focus back on them as they talked. Ground was looking up at Pinkie from below. "Feel... Talk slow. Talk stupid."

Pinkie stroked over Ground's head. "Forget that a moment. What's going on in that big, amazing head of yours? Are you thinking smart thoughts, or stupid thoughts?"

Ground rolled her eyes. "How... My... thought... Is..." She trembled with exertion and rubbed a hoof along the ground. "Thought is thought."

Pinkie nodded a little. "I guess that's true. Maybe some pop quizzes, that you can answer without talking?"

The others returned, unharmed thankfully. Kuri waved up at me. "Hello! I heard that. It was like you were across a room, but clear enough."

Yuka shrugged. "Are we done testing out whatever you're testing?"

"Actually, there is one more thing I want to try." I focused on Yuka specifically, staring at her and trying to make her put her gun down a moment.

She just quietly stared back at me before she shrugged. "What?"

That hadn't worked... I shook my head at her. "Just trying something."

Yuka rolled her shoulders as she turned away. "You're not my princess. I'm not a horse."

Hiro tilted his head towards Yuka. "This reminds me. What ammunition are you using?"

Yuka fished out a shell and offered it to Hiro, who leaned in for a better look. "Birdshot?"

She shrugged. "Bird's what I hunted. It works on people and horses just fine, depending on how well you aim it, and closer is better, as usual."

Hiro nodded. "I see. I admit, I'm a little relieved to know you're not using larger buckshot or slugs."

Pinkie leaned over the edge of Ground's head, using one of her ears for support. "What're those?"

Yuka snorted softly. "It's the kind of bullet. Birdshot has the smallest pellets, but spreads the most after a while. Good for taking out birds, even a few at a time. Buckshot is standard, and slugs are just big bullets, no spread, one bullet, max penetration."

I was no hunter, but I knew that much, at least. Pinkie was from a whole other world though, where they didn't have guns. Speaking of which. "Pinkie, do you know a horse named Luna?"

Pinkie was suddenly right up in my face. Her nose was touching my nose. "How do you know about Princess Luna?!"

Besides the fact that she'd mentioned her once before? "I saw her, in a dream. She spoke to me."

Pinkie suddenly threw up her hooves in a spray of confetti. "Awesome! Did she say anything super important?"

I considered that a moment even as I tried to put half an inch between us. "She said we'd talk more, and that I was a princess, and that she was trying to fix things."

Pinkie pouted a little. "Oh. Well that's still good. Listen to her, she's a good pony, alright?" She hopped right down, sliding to the ground.

Ground turned to look at me. "Do you have a plan?"

I did, and nodded. "This time, we draw their minions away first. The further away we can pull them, the quieter the other one will be, then we can calm them down, or beat them up. Either way, they won't be a unified mob, and we have the talent to come out on top."

Pinkie leaned over my shoulder. "I know you're a better princess than whoever they are!" Hadn't she just jumped down? How did she do that...? "We believe in you!"

No time to try to explain Pinkie. We had a mission, and I wasn't going to fail at my first task of being a princess.

I licked over my lips before I nodded. "Ground, take me in a slow circle about two blocks away from the plaza, then come back here. We should have company behind us."

She took off without delay, bringing me and Pinkie along for the ride.

Author's Notes:

Aiko, you're not supposed to be the star! Get back in the background, you so-called princess. I'm onto you, trying to steal Pinkie's spotlight.

Hmmph!

What happens next?
1: She's able to outdistance her competitor.
2: Not quite far enough, but relative power's another thing, and it becomes a fierce tug of war between minds.
3: The enemy is smarter than they appear, and the horde doesn't follow Aiko past a block.
4: What's that in the sky?
5: While they circled, they spotted something else worth scavenging and get distracted.