Twilight sat with the Earthlings in her room. All but Sparkle who went with Sunset and the other Equestrians. They all looked at her with a mixture of fear and sadness, with a dash of apprehension thrown in. She knew what they must be going through. She was going through it herself. It didn't matter how many times she had faced danger before; the same fear and self doubts still gripped her at the beginning of each one.

"Well," she said with a heavy sigh," I won't ask how you're all feeling because I know. You're scared. I am too. Really scared. And I faced threats like this before. You have too, to a lesser degree; but it never makes it any easier or less scary. I'm not going to talk to you, to give a big, rousing speech, I just want to hear how you are feeling and address your concerns as best I can."

Flash stepped forward first. "Princess Luna said we all weren't going to survive. How could she know that?"

All eyes fixated on Twilight. She could feel their fear crashing into her like a wave upon the shore. She bowed her head a litlle to avoid meeting their stares. "Alicorns have abilities far beyond all other ponies. Even as an ascended alicorn, I'm discovering new powers all the time. The princesses are natural born alicorns. They were born into there powers. One of which is prophecy. If they say it, it's true."

"So, some of us will die then?" Flash asked with a heavy heart.

"Listen, I can't expect you guys to put your lives on the line. You're young . . .," then Twilight stopped and looked around at all them in shocked realization. "You are young. All of you. You may look like my friends, but you're just children. My Pinkie is a party planner who also works in a bakery. My Rarity is a successful business mare. Applejack helps run her family farm, Fluttershy operates her own animal sanctuary; even Rainbow Dash is one her way to being a Wonder Colt, the elite flying group of the Equestrian Air Force.

"But you; you haven't graduated, moved out on your own, gone to college or taken a full time job. You have married or had children, none of that. I can't, I won't risk your lives. It's wrong. If . . ."

"No," said Flash in a commanding voice. "You're right, we are young, kids even. And we haven't done all those things yet. But how many have you done?"

"That's . . .," Twilight started but was cut right off again.

"Yes, it is important or relevant or whatever you were going to say. But even if it wasn't, I couldn't allow you to face this alone. Ever since I first saw you crawling around on the ground at school that first day and helped you up; the moment you took my hand, I felt something. I couldn't explain it then, I can barely explain it now. I, it just felt felt like you were something to me. Like a part of my life that had been missing but was always supposed to be there. Like it or not, no matter what may come, I'm staying with you."

Twilight looked at the fierce determination in his eyes. He meant this. More than that, she also felt his love for her. And she knew that she wanted him by her side. "But how could I go on if . . ." she started to say but stopped because tears were choking her.

"As you have already." he said with a smile. "And how could I go on if something happened to you and I wasn't there to at least try to stop it? This is a two way street you know."

Twilight was on the verge of a full cryfest. She couldn't believe he was that dedicated to her. Was he really willing to risk his life for her? Yes, yes he was. After such a short time? But hadn't she also felt the same when she first met him? And if she had though about him less, then it was only because she had more on her plate to deal with. But in the quiet moments, she missed him just as much.

Flash saw she was about to break and walked over to her and nuzzled her.

"Thank you," she whispered. "And I love you."

"I do too," he whispered back. They kissed then he stepped back.

Twilight composed herself and then went on. "Anyone else?" Twilight remembered these were humans so she used their terminology and not her own "any pony".

Chip was the next to step forward. "I have to admit, this goes against every known scientific principle I've ever known. I know different dimensions can have different physics, but still; this all seems impossible. But it's for that reason, I find it to be all the more fascinating!" He was almost giggling as he spoke. "I can't say I'm not afraid, but this is the opportunity of a life time. Who knows what avenues of research this could open up."

"And you aint worried about the whole 'not all of us will survive' thing?" Apple asked annoyed. Apple was terrified. More so than she would ever let on. Not just terrified for herself, but for her friends and Chip as well. How could he not be more scared?

"Oh immensely!" Chip exclaimed, somewhat surprised by Apple's question. "I don't want to die. I don't want you to die either. Or anyone. But, it's just, the possible breakthroughs that could be made, the potential benefits to mankind, that out weighs any fears I might have for personal safety."

Apple just looked at him skeptically. But she soon turned to Twilight. "So what about all them titles the others got? - 'Healer', 'Mystic', 'Warrior', 'Trickster', what do they stand for? And why don't I have a title?"

"I don't know." It was the only answer Twilight could give but even she wasn't happy with it. "All I can say is that, in my world, all of you, well the girls at least, represent one of the elements of Harmony. Rainbow is loyalty, Pinkie is laughter, Fluttershy kindness . . ."

"We know all that already Twilight." Apple said annoyed at being told something she already knew.

"You're right, heh, heh, sorry." Twilight was embarrassed. She did have the unfortunate ability to over explain. "But, those elements exist seperate from you guys. In fact, Celestia once weilded all the elements herself. But the titles must represent something fundamental to you, and just you."

"Sort of like I said," added Chip.

Apple glared at him for a moment, then turned back to Twilight. "But not me?" There was a rumble of disappointment in her voice.

"They boys don't have a title yet either," Twilight said, trying to comfort Apple.

"But they didn't stand with you against Sunset Shimmer or The Sirens or fought against human Twilight with Sunset. I did."

Twilight felt horrible and could only say, "I don't know Applejack. I'm sorry."

"What about our friends and family?" Rainbow piped in. "What about our parents, siblings, Soarin? Will they be ok?" Rainbow thought about what all might happen to Scootaloo, her parents, and Soarin and didn't want anything to blow back on them.

"I don't know. I don't have the gift of prophecy. But it is a possibility, I'm guessing. If whatever it is, is as big a threat as the Princesses say; then I'm sure it would have no problems going after our loved ones.

"As I said, I can't ask . . ."

"No. I'm the warrior. I have to stand with you. I'm just going to have to do a good job of looking after everybody."

"Fluttershy? Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"It doesn't matter if I want to face it or not," Fluttershy softly but firmly said, "it's coming either way. So I might as well stand and face it."

"And my place is by her side," Sandal said.

Rarity breathed deep and said, "Well you can't go into to battle without your healer can you? It just wouldn't be propper."

"Pinkie?"

"As long as I can have cupcakes, I'm all in!" she exclaimed.

Twilight looked at all of them. They were like lambs for the slaughter. Willing lambs. But as she looked at each and everyone, she couldn't help but be moved by their bravery. Child soldiers, doing what they could, willing to lay down their lives for the greater good. She couldn't help but be impressed.

Then she remembered - Applejack! Apple hadn't said anything. She looked and saw intense sadness and hesitation on her face. "Applejack?" she asked softly.

"Well, I reckon it don' matter what I am or aint. A girl's goota do what a girl's gotta do. I'm in Twilight."

**********************************************************************************

The party was hastely thrown together to say the least, but it still turned out well. The Earthlings mingled and talked with the Equestrians, making sure not to get too near their doubles. While what was said was still in everyone's mind, they pushed it aside as best they could and tried to have a good time.

Sunset talked to Celesatia most of the night as the two talked, caught up, and apologized for the mistakes they had both made. Celestia confided she always considered Sunset to be the daughter she never had. Sunset said she considered Celestia to be her second mother.

Twilight bobbed and weaved around the room, trying to put on a happy face. And to a point, she was happy. Flash was by her side, in Equestria. But she still felt a sense of forboding. Soon she also realized Sparkle was out on the balcony by herself. Taking the upmost caution, she excused herself and went out to join her.

"Hi," she said. Sparkled startled and apologized. Twilight just smiled and shook her head. "Hey, how often do you actually get to talk to yourself. Litterally!"

Sparkle smiled. "But I'm not you. And you're not me. Sunset said I have to stay here. For my own safety and you'd take my place. I don't like that. It feels weird. Like I'm not me. Like I'm interchangable, replacable. And I'm scared."

Twilight nodded. "I know what you mean. I knew you existed. You had to. But seeing you, there, with my other friends; it freaked me out. I can only imagine what it was like for you.

"And, if I'm honest, I don't like it either. I don't like the responsibility of always saving the world, any world, all worlds. I have my life here. I like my life here. I don't want to step into someone else's life. But . . "

"But it's for the greater good." Sparkle finished. She and Twilight looked into each others eyes and nodded. They both understood. "And I am kind of excited to be learning about magic. So it won't be all bad I guess. I'll miss Sunset though. She's my best friend."

Twilight nodded again. "She's like a sister to me as well. Which is good if we're to rule Equestria together someday. Ugh! I still can't believe that one."

"I guess that's one thing; once this is all over, I get to go back to being boring ,little, old me."

"Hey, you're not little! You're Twilight Sparkle. And Twilight in any dimension is not little. You got just as big a destiny as I do."

"I know; and that's what scares me."