This chapter is a soft edit with some grammar and spelling corrections. A final edit is pending review and will be uploaded when finalized. I apologize in advance for any errors that were not corrected.

The morning came with the warmth of the brilliance of the springs early sunrise. Becky began to stir along the couch. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the light coming in through the windows at first. Quickly the room came into focus. Chris was the first person she saw, still asleep in the chair he was in the night before.

She sat up and stretched, a small moan made its way out as the morning grog settled in. The two empty mattresses caught her attention. She didn't remember them being there the night before. She looked around the room for the others. Kelly was still on the love seat sleeping, her face loosely shielded from the light with her arm.

Becky sat up and surveyed the rest of the room. All of the events of yesterday being reviewed in her mind, like her brain itself was struggling to determine if the memories were real or not. Deep in her thoughts, Sniff came back into the kitchen through the garage entrance.

"Oh, hey. Rise and shine, Party Girl," Sniff greeted her with a warm smile. "You get enough sleep?"

Becky turned her eyes back to the window. Clear blue skies and lots of greenery in the view.

"No," Sniff interjected into her silent question. "-it wasn't a dream. Your pony pals are real." He placed a bowl in the sink and dunked it in soapy water. His hands worked their way over the dish. The faint noises of the dishwater splashing about as he washed the bowl took over what would have been the usual noises from the suburbian area the house used to be in.

"Come on. We got a big day ahead of us. Lots of shit to do."

Becky slowly came to her feet. She had thought about asking if it really wasn't some dream, the ponies and the new world they were taken to, but the memories were too real to question. She moved past the doubt and accepted it.

"Plans for what?" She asked with a voice in desperate need of hydration.

Sniff had pulled out a cup with clean water and poured it over the bowl to rinse it. "Well, breakfast for starters. Them Apples are hell'a good cooks."

Becky walked up far enough to rest against the countertop. "... I gotta pee."

Sniff was on top of things. He turned his head from side to side, looking for a place to put the bowl. "Yeah, about that." His tone a mix of warning and confidence. "So, no running water still. We're stuck using a bucket in the bathroom for the time being."

"Awe, man. That's gross," Becky whined.

Sniff pulled a small towel and spread it out next to the sink, laying the bowl down on it. "Lumberman said the same thing," Sniff smirked. "-but when it's either that or popping a squat in the monster-filled forest, a bucket of shit in the house doesn't sound all that bad."

Becky sighed. The idea of using a bucket disgusted her, but a night full of liquor and soup... hell, she was lucky she hadn't already pissed herself. She made her way to the bathroom that was just passed the kitchen and the stairway. She opened the door to a redneck scene if she'd ever seen on. A lit scented candle on the sink, a five-gallon paint bucket with its lid on, and the toilet seat next to it placed next to the empty decommissioned toilet. She braced herself and closed the door.

Sniff started making his way to the living room. He came up next to Chris in the chair to wake him. "Hey, Chris. Bro. Time to get up, man." He got no answer.

"Dude, you got horse girls to entertain," He joked.

Chris sort of snorted and mumbled noises that could almost be confused for words. If he started to wake up, he had clearly given up on that and was already back asleep.

Now, far be it for Sniff not to fuck with Chris if given a chance. Sniff took a step back just behind the reclined chair and steadied his foot on the release lever. "Catapult!" he yelled as he kicked down the release, erecting the back of the chair up and the leg rests down.

Chris woke up to the sensation of rising up out of his seat. He swallowed a gulp of air as his body was thrust upright, his whole body suddenly tensing up and grasping the arms of the chair to catch himself. He sat there motionless in a hunched over position trying to gather his wits about him.

"I'm up..." Perhaps after some coffee, he'd have something wittier to say.

Sniff gave Chris a pat on the back. "Come on, man. The Apples brought us breakfast. Go say hi and grab a bowl."

Kelly had woken up at the sound of the springs and gears from the chairs release. All four of her extremities extended while she took in a deep breath. After a good stretch, she rolled to her side and faced the two. "Did you say that those cute little ponies made us breakfast?" A smile beamed with anticipation of seeing those cute little fillies again.

Sniff started walking backwards to the garage. "Nnnnnnnnnnnnope," he replied, really drawing out his answer.

"They got school today, but I'll give you one guess who it is."

Before he rounded the corner of the doorway, he puckered up and blew her a kiss. "Clean yourself up first, bed head," Sniff said, trying to get a rise out of her.

"Becky should be just about done with the bathroom," he added, knowing he was too far away to get a proper reply from her.

Kelly buried her face with her hands. "Gawd damn it..." she groaned lowly.

Now, far be it for Chris not to fuck with Kelly if given a chance. He prepped himself and mocked a gesture of one with an intent to be helpful. "He means it's Big Mac who brought the breakfa-"

"Big Mac, yeah-no shit Sherlock!" Kelly snapped.

Without breaking character, Chris went on. "Well, it's just that he blew you a kiss as a hint because last night you gave Big Mac a kiss, and you both really seemed to hit it off."

Kelly shot up and started throwing all the pillows in reach at Chris's face. "You're just jealous because you're the only one not hitting it off with any of your waifu's, Brony Boy!"

Becky emerged back into the kitchen to find Chris and Kelly lobbing the little couch pillows back and forth at each other. Unphased by the exchange, she greeted them. "Morning, guys."

The war of pillows came to an end, and Chris responded as only he could. "Oh, good. You're done. I need to use the bathroom before Kelly takes it over and pretties up for Big Mac." Chris darted past Becky, narrowly missing a hail-marry pillow toss from Kelly.

Becky watched Chris speed his way down to the bathroom, quickly opening it and closing the door behind him. She turned back to Kelly, who was readjusting her braw and shirt. "Soooo, are you and Big Mac a thing now or is this the new everyday fuckery I should be expecting from now on?"

"How the fuck do I use the toilet?!" Chris shouted from the bathroom.

Kelly quietly laughed to herself, then stood up for another stretch. "Erm... I'd say more just our everyday fuckery. I got five good guys to run through before I take a swing at what Ponytown has to offer."

"Is there water in the bucket I can use to make it flush?!" Chris shouted from the bathroom again, followed by a moment of silence. "Awe gross! Are we camping indoors now?!" shouted a confused Chris.

Becky shot Kelly that look that questioned her prior comment.

Kelly tried not to laugh too hard. "Okay, four good guys to go through."

They shared another good laughed as they escorted each other out through the garage.

"Save Chris for just in case the studs don't put out or don't last in the sack," Becky joked.

"Ha! Yeah. There you go, girl." Kelly added a bounce in her step. "Now you're thinking straight, hunny."

"I'm just gonna use the bucket, guys!" Chris hollered to no one.

Outside the garage seemed to be the gathering spot of the day. There were five of the lawn chairs set up, all facing the interior of the garage. Benny was sitting in the first chair farthest to the left, working on a bowl of what looked to be oatmeal, but smelt like a hot buttery apple fritter. But it was from the Apple family, so why wouldn't it have something apple to it? A running gag of 'apple whatever' besides, it smelt pretty damn good.

In the center seat sat an opened picnic basket. Inside lay a traditional red and white striped plaid colored cloth that nestled a heavy-looking iron pot, the source of the succulent scent.

Cerb was sitting in the lawn chair farthest to the right. He was holding an ax in his lap with one hand, and running a file down its blade with the other. His eyes rose up to greet the two ladies.

"Morning, girls," he said calmly while nodding his head in a gesture to direct their attention behind him where Lumberman's truck was parked.

The hood of the truck was opened and facing away from them. Sniff stood a few steps away, holding some shop towels. He looked up and just grinned the biggest shit-eating grin he could. Then, with perfect timing, the upper half of a very red horse with an orangish-blond head of hair leaned into view. Big Mac spotted the girls and a goofy smile instantly took over his face.

"Hello," and "Good morning," the two girls both greeted Big Mac warmly. Kelly sounded quieter and a little shy with her greeting.

Big Mac just hummed back to them. His thoughts coming out only as harmonics.

Lumberman leaned into view, watching the girls as they walked up and stopped to inspect the basket and Big Mac off in his own little world. He intentionally kept doing double-takes from the girls to Big Mac's goofy face. The girls giggled at the sight, grabbing the attention of Benny and Cerb.

Benny and Cerb grinned at the puppy love expression Big Mac didn't know he wasn't hiding. Cerb jokingly waved to the stud, though it went unnoticed. Sniff silently ran through a series of crude gestures behind the stud. He mocking imitated Kelly jerking off a massive invisible horse cock, rubbing a breast while finger banging herself, then grabbing the cock and going down on it. The tongue pressing out from the inside of the cheek was the icing on the cake, or at least it was until he mocked the facial, technically that was more of the icing.

Thinking he had done enough double-takes, and finally seeing just what Sniff had been doing behind Big Mac's back, Lumberman took the next step. He shouted over the engine compartment, "Hey Kelly, you probably didn't hear it. But Big Mac over here said Good Morning," and nudged Big Mac in the neck with his elbow.

Big Mac finally came back to reality, he could tell too much time had passed by; since he was last to be aware of what was going on. "Ah? YEP!" He responded as nervous as any horse could get.

"I had a hankering for some oats. Well, oatmeal-I mean. Not that I don't eat just oats, but if you boil them first and add some apples and some other-" Poor Big Mac was sloshing out nothing but word soup.

"Dude!" Cerb hollered out, stopping the nervous rambling of the big red horse. "Would you calm your goofy ass down and sit with us?"

Big Mac fell speechless. He didn't know how to respond after making a total fool of himself and having Cerb yelling at him.

Cerb didn't look like he was mad. He was smiling, kind of. Maybe he wasn't reading the situation right. He probably overstayed his welcome. No, he was flirting way too hard and must have upset the males. They must be protecting her, Big Mac thought. "Oh, I'm sorry I was just-uh," he stammered out, sounding obviously uncomfortable.

Big Mac started to back away from the truck. He was going to head home and bury his foolish head in work. Some day this had turned out to be.

"Justin!" Kelly raised her voice and took everyone's attention. "Don't be so rude like that. You're gonna scare him away."

Kelly set her empty bowl down in a chair. "Can't believe you," she scolded Cerb as she walked past him and slapped his shoulder.

With a look of determination, she made a beeline to the awestruck horse. She drew closer, no loss of conviction, despite the studs overwhelming look of nervous terror and the bullets he was sweating. She grabbed ahold of his large harness, wedging her fingers between its frame and Big Mac's neck.

She gave a demanding tug, "You. Come here," she instructed and guided him to the half-circle of chairs. "Now, you went through all the trouble to make us a nice breakfast like this. We insist that you join us. Right, Cerb?"

Cerb shrugged confusedly. "That's what I said. I told him to-"

"Goofy ass?" Kelly preemptively corrected him. "And you got loud for no reason."

Cerb struggled to hold his ground. "Awe come on, he was-"

Kelly cut Cerb off again. "He was excited to tell us about how much work he put into this. And you know what?" Kelly turned and stared into Big Mac's frightened eyes. She softened her expression and ran her fingers along his jawline. "It was sweet."

Big Mac mentally creamed his non-existent pants.

Kelly caught Sniff in the corner of her eye, bouncing up and down and twirling a rag over his head like a lasso, perfectly recreating a cowboy riding a horse. Only he had a huge open-faced smile that was just as excited as a kid opening gifts on Christmas.

She glared daggers that would have stopped anyone else in the group. Sniff had just enough immunity to turn slowly in his prance and ride his invisible horse out of sight behind the truck.

Lumberman stayed his course behind the truck, but he made the motion pointing to his eyes, and then to her. Letting her know that he was watching her and what she was doing, but Kelly gave no mind to his gesture.

Becky stood idly by, not sure what to expect anymore. There was a lot of different ways this could end up going. A pleasant meal with a cartoon stallion, her friend passed out on the floor, or maybe Kelly would start swapping spit with a horse. A makeout session would be the next logical step in the progression of things. Not that she thought any of her friends would consider that. Then again, this place was making everyone act strange, and Kelly was always horny.

Becky stood with her thoughts waiting for the next shoe to drop, but with no recourse for any outcome, she raised two empty bowls in her hands. "Oatmeal, please."

Behind the truck, out of sight and out of earshot, Sniff was starting to regret his incredible cowboy showmanship. "Oh, fuck me. Probably shouldn't have done that rodeo," he sighed as he rubbed his still aching legs.

Lumberman nabbed the shop towel from Sniff's hand. "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes." He gave no sympathy and went back to examining the oil dipstick.

Seeing it was still within the needed levels, he wiped it clean with the rag and guided it back in. Satisfied, he moved onto hand inspecting the tightness of the spark plugs. "So, I must not have been paying attention at the time. But why isn't his sister here? Or any of the others from last night?"

Sniff stood up straight again. "I dunno. He said she was summoned for a friendship problem and had to go to Twilights or some bullshit. I don't even think he knows."

He leaned back enough to see Kelly dishing out some of the oatmeal into the bowls Becky was holding. Big Mac stood there looking like how Sniff would if he won the lottery, and was also a big red talking pony.

"Pretty sure he didn't care, either." He leaned forward again. "What do I need to look out for?"

Lumberman by this time had moved on to inspecting the belts. "I dunno? Kelly never really hits hard enough to leave a mark. And the Big Mac guy seems like he's pretty chill." He grunted, testing the tension of the belts.

Sniff lowered his voice and leaned in, but made it clear he was being serious. "No, man..." - He looked around to make sure the others weren't close enough to hear. "I mean, if that shit starts messing with my head and has me doing or saying shit, I don't want to."

Lumberman's hands stopped moving, and he gave his focus to Sniff. He could see Sniff was motioning his eyes to Kelly and the others. "I'm pretty sure Kelly is just being Kelly. If that's what you're worried about." He stood up straight, taking the piss out of Sniff's covert worrying over Kelly.

"You have trouble moving." Lumberman went on to say. "The words in your head pump out your mouth like liquid shit out your ass after a night of bad Mexican food."

He started to roughly rub the grime off his hands with another shop towel. "You don't want to deal with it. You want to hold it in because you know how bad it's gonna be when it comes out. But you can't hold it in, and it just starts coming out. Then there's this moment where you feel relieved because you think you got it out..." - he paused as he finished cleaning his hands and tossed the rag on the front bumper. "-but there's still more."

Lumberman reached up and closed the hood. "You're not done until it's done."

He turned his attention to everyone else sitting in front of the garage, bringing Sniff's attention along with it. "Kelly, though... Kelly is just being Kelly."

They both watched as Big Mac sat down in the lawn chair that strained under his weight and mass. Everyone there was getting along, even Chris had come out to join the group.

Kelly took a seat in a lawn chair next to the fawning stallion, brushing her hand down from his shoulder to his center back.

"Kelly's fine, man. She's in control. She knows exactly what she's doing... and that's why I'm watching her," Lumberman finished explaining.

Just as Big Mac had partially informed the others, Applejack had left to Twilights. Although, it was, in fact, a meeting to share information, and come up with the best strategies for helping their new stranded guest.

All Big Mac heard was "Dang nab it Big Mac, how do you burn oatmeal when it's still in the water? [something something] bad example for Apple Bloome. [something something] don’t forget the butter if yer’ gonna make it right. [something something inaudible scream] you burnt three pots [something] Granny is going to tan your hid for sure [something something] need to meet back with Twilight at the castle [all further audio lost due to taste testing the oatmeal].

As for the meeting itself, Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie were the last to make it to the table. All the others were there, though some a bit worse for wear.

Applejack was chugging water. Rainbow Dash was slumped over asleep on the table. Rarity seemed to be fairing well, though she was lost in a journal of hers where she was sketching on one page and taking notes on the other. Fluttershy had drifted off to la-la land. Pinkie… Pinkie was playing with four miniature toy replicas of what appeared to be Cerb, Benny, Chris, and Becky.

Twilight initiated the meeting. “Thank you all for showing up this morning. I know you all must have had plans for today, but being here shows me… that…” Twilight had none of the attention of the fellow elements.

Trixie also noticed the lack of focus from the group. She aggressively walked past the princess, apparently having some sort of plan to motivate the others.

“Twilight, if I may?” She continued walking to the table, either assuming or just not caring what Twilight’s response was going to be.

At the edge of the table, she stopped and reached into her cloak. A bit of fidgeting revealed a small red cloth satchel with a yellow exclamation point on it. She pulled on the string that had it tied closed and tossed it to the center of the table. The mouth of the bag eased itself open and Trixie backed off, rising a hoof and usher Twilight and Starlight back away as well.

“Umm, Trixie? What is that going-“ Twilight started to speak, but Trixie started to answer before the obvious question could be asked.

“Princess, believe me. You always have to know your audience, so you know how to play to them. But deep down, every audience is just a bunch fillies with short attention spans,” Trixie answered smugly. “And you can get their attention with bright lights, pretty colors, and loud noises.”

Starlight tried to envision what could cover all of those traits. “You mean like fireworks?”

Just outside the castle, what few ponies were moving through that part of town, were startled by the burst of lights, screams, and crackles of fireworks that escaped through the open windows of the castle. It was seven seconds of wonder hidden behind those royal walls, ending with the one final screaming firework whining down and stopping with a pop.

The townsfolk went back to life as usual. They asked no questions and expected no answers. The smell of smoke and burning sulfur would fade soon enough, and they were content with that.

Back inside the castle, however, all the ponies who were seated at the table were clutching each other and fighting off heart attacks. Except for Pinkie Pie. She was dancing on the table wearing a welders mask, blacksmith gloves, and waving glow sticks. DJ Pon3 wub noises being beatboxed under the mask as Pinkie performed a one pon rave party. She held a pose on only her front left leg as the last spark petered out. Her welders mask fell off on its own.

“Well, that didn’t last very long. Oh well.” Defying gravity, she shrugged upside down in midair, dropping the glow sticks to the ceiling, and walking herself through the air back into her seat.

“Good morning, everypony,” Trixie greeted the now awake and attentive group. She again approached the table, Starlight and Twilight following behind and letting her take the lead for the moment.

“Trixie is also glad that you could free your busy schedules of apples, naps, dresses, sugar, and trying not to be heard, or whatever it is you all do, to join this important meeting.”

“Now hold on, my life is more than just apples.” Applejack protested.

“Yeah! I work the weather here and still train to be a Wonderbolt, thank you very much.” Rainbow Dash huffed.

“Dresses are only a part of my product line. Not that you know much about fashion.” Rarity turned up her nose.

“I love sugar!” Pinkie knew who she was.

If Fluttershy said something, it wasn’t loud enough to be heard.

“Stop your bickering! All of you!” Twilight silenced the room. “We need to get all of you caught up on what we know about the humans. We have some more information than we did yesterday from when meeting up with them. Unfortunately-“ Twilight’s tone gave away that whatever she was going to say next was going to be grossly understating her point. “-the new information, if accurate… only raises more questions.”

Rainbow Dash groaned and slumped back deep in her seat. “Oh come on. How ridiculously overcomplicated of a problem are we looking at?”

“This doesn’t have anything to do with their funny drinks, does it?” Applejack asked before pouring herself another glass of water.

“Are we going to need matching outfits for this?” Rarity's question kind of proving Trixie right.

“Are we still talking about sugar?!" Pinkie screamed, probably not even knowing that the conversation had moved on.

If Fluttershy said something, it wasn’t loud enough to be heard.

Twilight walked her way around the table, finally taking her seat. “I don’t have any answers for your questions.” She took a sharp turn to address Pinkie directly. “Except yours, Pinkie. No, we are still not, nor were we talking about sugar, to begin with.”

“But Trixie said-“

“No!”

“But sugar Twi-“

“No, Pinkie!”

“Twi-“

A small stream of water splashed Pinkie in the face, making her flinch and abandon her battery of questions to fend off the cold streams flying through the air.

“Ah! Hey! Quit it!” She pleaded before she literally hissed at Starlight.

Starlight rounded the table to the other side across from where Pinkie was seated. A spray bottle full of water floated down on the table in front of her, wrapped in her aura. She turned to Trixie, the most apologetic smile a pony could muster. “Sorry, she tends to go on and on like this unless somepony takes drastic measures.”

“It’s gonna take a lot more than just a water bottle to stop this sugar powered pony!” Pinkie shouted before jumping on the table and poised her self like a cat ready to strike, tail waving high in the air.

Starlight floated the water bottle up again, ready to challenge Pinkie’s determination if it came down to that.

“How do any of you ever get anything done on a day to day basis, let alone manage to save Equestria?!” Trixie shouted in frustration.

Pinkie dropped the feline persona and laid on the table nonchalantly. “Well, be beat you, didn’t we?”

“Okay now, I think we need to tone it back just a tad.” Starlight said, trying to calm the two.

All eyes were on Trixie, a prideful and self-indulgent response was expected, but she was too far past that at this point. After last nights dream, she wanted this taken care of as fast and as efficiently as possible.

“You’re right, Pinkie.” She said, to much of the surprise of everypony there. “You all beat me. Not once, but twice, and I don’t care to know all the other times you stopped whatever or whoever else.”

Pinkie slide back into her chair, donning a pair of reading glasses and an accountant visor. “Well, after Nightmare Moon, we have also taken on-“

Trixie slammed her hooves on the table and shouted, “I don't care because none of them have ever tried to destroy the entire world and kill everypony on it!"

That certainly killed the mood.

Applejack was the first to respond, offering an honest enough answer. “Well, yeah. What pony would?”

Trixie turned and started to walk around the table. “I don’t know, but there is some pony out there that does know. She tried to find me in my dreams last night, but for some reason, she can’t see me or hear me. She wanted to tell me, but it found her too fast.”

“Oooo. Ominous dream story.” Pinkie recited in a spooky campfire voice.

Rainbow Dash puffed up. “Yeah. Could you be a bit more specific on who or what is going to try to destroy all of Equestria?”

“Surely no one would want to destroy all of Equestria,” Fluttershy claimed. “I mean, there would be nothing to gain from destroying us.”

Rarity nodded in agreement. “Fluttershy does make a good point. We have a very rich kingdom, an abundance of natural resources, and probably some of the most advanced teachings of science, magic, and fashion of all the other kingdoms.”

“Plus! That would be really super mean!” Pinkie yelled into the debate.

“It’s. Not. After. Equestria.” Trixie aggressively clarified. “The Twilight Doppel in my dreams said-“

“A Twilight doppel!” Shouted all the ponies that were new to the story.

“You mean like a doppelganger?” Asked Rarity.

You sure you don't mean it was a changeling?” Applejack offered as a different option.

Starlight stepped in, seeing Trixie’s aggravation starting to reach its limits in dealing with her friends. “From what Trixie told us earlier, it wasn’t a changeling. It had the appearance of Twilight, but this one had a body like that of a Crystal Pony, or perhaps something that happens to look like a Crystal Pony.”

“Could it be a future version of Twilight?” Applejack pointed to Twilight. “You haven’t been messing around with none of those time spells again, have ya?”

Twilight frowned. “I don’t think that’s the case here. Other parts of Trixie’s dream makes it seem like whatever contact her in the dream was something not of this world, either.”

The room was a gasp. Even Starlight was surprised by this.

“You didn’t say that before, what makes you think that now?” Starlight asked, feeling like she was left out.

Twilight pulled back. “It came to me after thinking about all the different visions and versions of ponies and humans she saw in her dream. Then how the doppel described her problems.”

She stood and opened her seat. “Trixie, could you please tell everypony else here the same story you told Starlight and me this morning?”

Trixie looked a bit shocked. She had been so agitated by all of them earlier that she was just about ready to walk out. Now she was being offered the seat of a princess to explain the concerns from her dream. "I... okay," Trixie stated rather meekly before she made her way to the seat.

She sat down, still surprised that she was given this seat and that all the ponies were now silent and attentive, waiting for her story. Except for Pinkie Pie, she was silent and attentive but munching on a large bag of popcorn that Trixie hadn't noticed before.

She told herself to ignore it. It's Pinkie after all. "I'm going to tell you all everything." She took a deep breath, preparing herself for another uncomfortable trip down this fresh bruise of a memory. "It started like any other dream I would normally have."

Trixie would go on to retell her story. The stage show she was performing, the sights and sounds, how strange it was that she could actually feel things in a dream. Without realizing it, she had really started getting into her storytelling. Her voice would rise and fall, changing the inflection as she described the scenes with more and more detail. She went on to describe the silent lightning that turned to crystal and how it defied all forms of logic. Then, the real threat from the nightmare. The horrific mass of darkness.

"BOOM!" Trixie shouted, finally getting to where the crystal lightning had exploded.

Everypony jumped in their seats. Fluttershy leaped from her own chair into Rarity's lap and clung to her tightly, her teeth chattering in her frightened state. Even Twilight and Starlight had jumped, and they were already told about what had happened. Although, they did not hear it with this much detail or such emotion.

"I was tossed like a rag doll. Nearly thrown off the stage itself. And before I knew just what had happened or even opened my eyes. I felt this..." - she gritted her teeth. "this... horrible pain. I thought I felt it everywhere. Stabbing into my body. I screamed like I had never screamed before. Just screamed and yelled because of how much it hurt. "

"Wha-what was it?" Fluttershy peeped through with her chattering teeth and her wings she hid behind.

"Did the explosion burn you?" Rainbow Dash asked, half terrified and half excited. She was drawn into the story like it was an exciting version of a Daring Do book.

"No, but being burned by magic would have been a far better fate for Trixie," Trixie said, pulling her cloak over everything from her muzzle on down.

"I opened my eyes, not knowing what to expect."

All the ponies leaned in closer.

"It was the crystals from the explosion. Like shards of glass and crystal daggers, they had pierced through my legs and face. I was bleeding everywhere." Trixie exclaimed in dramatic fashion.

The ponies hearing this for the first time all had extream reactions to these gory details. Applejack turned as white as a ghost. Rainbow Dash ducked below the table's edge and hid behind her forelegs and wings much like Fluttershy would do. Fluttershy and Rarity both fainted, falling out of the chair in different directions. Pinkie Pie covered her mouth with her front hooves, trying not to vomit. Her cheeks where a pale-colored green that grew darker and darker, until they rapidly expand with the vomit she was trying to hold back. She swallowed it back down, which wasn't a good choice. She could feel it fighting its way back up.

"Everypony move!" Pinkie yelled before making a mad dash to the bathroom.

Rainbow Dash slowly made her way up from below the table. "Hey, knock it off! Don't go scaring somepony with something like that."

"Rainbow, I really don't think Trixie is making any of this up." Twilight regretfully informed Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy and Rarity were now waking up, and Pinkie was walking back into the room on uneasy legs.

"I don't think either of us would have believed her either, had it not been for the fact that both of us actually saw Trixie was bleeding yesterday." Starlight explained.

"What?" Pinkie Pie felt her stomach churn. She couldn't hold it and ran straight for the nearest open window. May Celestia have mercy on whatever poor soul may have been beyond that window in Pinkie's range.

Fluttershy fainted again, Rarity barely catching her in time.

Twilight expanded upon the findings. "It's true. Apparently the blast from yesterday that started all this was also strong enough to cause bleeding somewhere up in Trixie's nasal passages. She had to be treated by Nurse Redheart."

Starlight added on for more clarification. "And it would make sense that if the crystal from her dream could injure her enough to cause bleeding, it stands to believe that the same kind of crystal from yesterday could do the same thing."

Rarity didn't understand that last part. "Hold on, now. Are you saying there was one of those lightning crystals yesterday here in Equestria?"

Fluttershy started to wake up. "Oh my. I don't know how much more of this I can take."

The others looked at Rarity. They had forgotten that those two had missed Trixie's explanation about the spell she cast that seemed to have brought the humans to Equestria.

Applejack took another sip of water. "Ugh, Trixie. You might want to take a break from this story to fill them in on yer... other... story."

Trixie sighed. "Yes. I suppose they should hear what all of you have already."

She sat down, not happy to tell this story over again. "Okay, so the short version of this is that Princess Twilight was kind enough to donate some magic books for me to study. I used them to make a spell to open a portal to transport me, and all of my magic show items to wherever my best fans would be."

She paused for a moment, she hated admitting that she made such a big mistake. "But the spell I cast didn't work like intended. Apparently, Trixie doesn't have much love outside of Ponyville." - Her expression changed to something more serious. "So I changed the spell and made it look deeper and farther for those that were passionate, loving, and dedicated."

Another short pause. "I was looking for fans, but instead the humans were brought here." She turned away with a huff like a spoiled child.

Rarity and Fluttershy couldn't believe this.

Rarity was the first to say something about it. "So you're responsible for bringing them here?"

Fluttershy sat up in alarm. "Do you know how to get them back home?" She actually sounded a bit sad saying that.

Trixie glared at the two. "First of all, I didn't know my spell would reach out across a different dimension when I intended it to take me to Las Pegasus. Secondly, I don't know how to send them back. And last of all, I think the Twilight Doppel played a role in all of this."

Everypony reacted as one would expect. A flurry of questions and accusations rose from the group at Trixie. Trixie figured something like this would happen if she tried to shift the blame.

"Quiet!" She hollered. "If you all would like to know what I'm talking about, then please be quite, and let me finish telling you about the rest of the dream."

They all sat back down in their seats.

"Trixie, please continue," Twilight instructed.

Trixie recomposed herself. "Yes."

She did her best to describe every vision of every different pony and human that came into view. The more she focused on what she saw, the more details she realized hadn't noticed before. Small things like scars or different styles their hair or manes were in. She even mentioned that one of the illusions of herself talking to the doppel used the human word "fucking," even though she herself didn't know it's meaning. The story continued all the way through the one way interaction with the doppel and everything she, or it had told her.

"And then I was alone," Trixie explained.

"And you think this Twilight Doppelganger had something to do with the humans arriving?" Rarity asked.

"Well, think about it," Trixie exclaimed. "Who else would know they're here? Who else would know they're called humans?"

Three of the ponies started to look a bit uneasy in their seats.

"Well," Rarity sounded embarrassed. "I may have sent Sweetie Belle out with a care package for them. So, she knows." - She smiled, trying to look innocent.

Rainbow Dash nervously rubbed the back of her head. "I saw Sweetie Belle heading out with the care package, and thought I'd send Scootaloo with some books for the humans. So, Scoots knows, too."

Applejack owned up as well. "Well, I wanted to thank them for sharing their drinks like they did for the toast-"

"There was toast?!" Pinkie exclaimed. "You mean?"

She jumped and spread out across the table, knocking over her popcorn and Applejacks glass of water, getting close enough to grab Applejack's face. "There was a toast? Like the kind at parties?!"

Applejack's face soured, and she shoved Pinkie Pie off back to her side of the table. "Can it, Pinkie. It was just a few drinks and an apology from the misunderstanding earlier that day."

She turned her attention back to Trixie. "Like I was saying though. I guess I had too much of that stuff they had, and so I sent my brother Big Mac out their way with some soup for dinner. Apparently, Apple Bloome joined along. So, both of them know about the humans."

"Okay," Trixie said, leaning in closer to the table. "So three fillies and an apple farmer know. But can any of them take the form of a crystal alicorn princess and go dream walking into my dreams with exploding crystal lighting that can stab me?"

She looked upon the table of ponies who had no reply. "Didn't think so. Now, to finish the dream for all of you."

Rainbow Dash stood up straighter. "Wait? There's even more?"

Trixie lowered the brim of her hat. "Oh, Rainbow. The best... and worst has yet to come." She drew all of their attention in again.

The room was full of suspense as she described the scene for them. The bolt of lightning that struck behind her. The fear of being stuck like a pin cushion again. Then came the darkness that attached to her.

The way she explained it was like watching the autopsy of a horror movie. Telling them about the coldness and how it felt made them shiver. Describing how it moved made them shutter. Recreating how it dug into her and broke her body made them scream.

They, however, seemed to struggle with understanding just how, or even why she removed her own hoof. She only could describe it as something she didn't even think about. That she just reacted without considering the consequences. That, at that point in time, the most important thing was getting it off of her.

She then explained the magic she used to defeat the mass of darkness while defending the bolt. They all seemed skeptical about that, since the only time before she had been seen using such an attack, it was against an Ursa Minor. The Ursa reportedly being unphased because of how weak of an attack it was.

Trixie started to draw the dark clouds over their heads in the room and asked if they wanted her to show how much better she had gotten at it. A unanimous response of "no" was their answer.

"So, I kicked and bucked my way out, only to find that I was in a bed upstairs," Trixie completed her story. "And so, with that out of the way, I bid you all farewell and best of luck. I'm counting on all of you to make Equestria proud and keep me safe." She dismounted the chair and started walking off to the exit.

"So you're just running away?" Rainbow Dash snapped as Trixie crossed past her.

Trixie stopped and turned around to address Rainbow, to address all of them. "Running away? You can bet every last shiny bit you got that I'm running away from this. You're all the heroes, not me. I do magic on stage and make ponies forget their worries and smile for an hour. You rush into danger and make sure ponies aren't cast into eternal night, menaced by chaos, or stop whatever next tyrant that wants to enslave us."

"You talked yourself up pretty big in your dreams." Rainbow fired back.

Trixie laughed, "Oh, really?" She snarled. "I blew off my own hoof trying to escape! I wasn't bragging! I was desperate!"

"And what about your 'How about you come a little close so I can you show you a magic trick?' little stunt?" Rainbow mocked, pointing a hoof in Trixie's face.

Trixie slapped Rainbow's hoof away. "I started trying to perfect that spell five years ago after I first tried it on the Ursa Minor those two bumbling buffoons lured back here. After two years, I still couldn't pull it off, so I used the Alicorn Amulet instead to try and beat Twilight. I've only just recently gotten strong enough to cast it like that. And I can only do it twice! As far as unicorns go, I'm weak! Why do you think I do stage magic!" She started tearing up, it was a rhetorical question she didn't expect an answer for.

"When I first thought that my portal spell worked, I thought I was onto something. Then I realized that all I did was help ruin seven lives, some of them even fans from another world. Now..." Trixie's anger gave way to what she was really feeling. "Now, I am just scared out of my mind."

"Trixie," Starlight lovingly called out and moved up to try and calm her friend. "-you have every right to be scared."

"You think I don't know that!" Trixie protested. "I've had a Rosen Bridge smashed in front of me that collapsed a portal connecting at least two or three other dimensions that blew up in my face. Stabbed repeatedly by lighting from another world. And now I'm being hunted by a dream walking alicorn and a... a... I don't even know what that black stuff is, but it's going to kill me if it finds me again!"

Twilight tried her best to offer some support. "Well, most of that was just in the dream. It wasn't real. We don't even-"

"No! It wasn't all just a dream!" Trixie screamed. "I felt it. I felt all of it! I, still feel it!!" she huffed. "Ever since I woke after that spell went wrong. I feel different. I-I-I hurt more. The bruises and the aches, they don't stop hurting. The hot and colds are more extream. My whole body is more sensitive to everything I feel. And even the dream. I felt all of that pain. I still can feel it in me, Twilight. I take a single step, and I swear I can feel the tiny shards of crystal cutting into me, or the pieces of my broken hoof splitting open again."

Trixie looked upon all of them with pleading eyes. "I don't care what you all think of Trixie. You can all say or think whatever you want, but I am not staying anywhere near the only place I know the lighting, the darkness, or the Twilight double knows where to find me."

"If that's what you wish, you can go," Twilight said, giving her blessing.

"What?" Seemingly all the ponies protested.

"Trixie told us everything she knows. She even agreed to leave behind her book of spells she used to create the portal, as well as giving back the other ones I gave her." Twilight explained, trying to rationalize her decision.

"She's been through more than enough already. And if what she says is true, then this is a job for the Elements of Harmony."

Twilight walked through the others to Trixie's side. "We'll do everything we can to get you back on the road again, Trixie."

She turned to the others. "Everypony else, this is all we can do about the threat for now. So, in the meantime, while we're gone, see what ideas you can come up with to help our human friends. We can head back out to check in on them this afternoon. Okay?"

The other ponies nodded and quietly agreed.

Twilight looked to Trixie with some hesitation and regret. "Come on. Let's get you out there, again."

There, with a glow of her horn and a flash of light, Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie teleported out of the castle out as close as they could the wagon.

Celestia was finally returning to her royal duties after sleeping in longer than usual. The consequences of counseling a troubled pupil sent off on her own and experiencing the growing pains that come with independence. She was escorted down to the throne room with her royal guards, eager to relieve her sister of the daily tasks and return to her regular schedule.

Entering the throne room, Luna greeted her sister with a mischievous smile. She found it funny to see her sister thrown off balance from dealing with Twilight's antics. "Good morning, sister. Did the night find you well, or do you prefer me raising the sun for you from now on?"

"My, aren't we rather chipper this morning? I told you a bit of sun would do you some good to brighten your mood." Celestia countered.

"Sunlight to brighten my mood? Oh, Tia. Where do you come up with such crazy ideas? No. I was just glad to have a night off from tending to the dreams of others." Luna joked as she rubbed her hoof over the soft padding of the throne. "One could be could easily become spoiled spending so much of their time up here."

Celestia walked up and took over her throne again, pulling Luna in for a tender embrace as they exchanged places. "No, having you back and taking over my duties so I can take care of personal matters will spoil me, though."

Luna playfully laughed off her comment, though she really did appreciate it. "Come now. We could spend all day exchanging pleasantries and never agree on who is more in debt to the other. Now, let me to bed and mind the throne, would you."

Celestia sighed in content. "Very well, sister. Get your sleep. The ponies of Equestria will be glad to have their dreams watched over again tonight," She said with a smile, letting her sister go.

Luna was just about to the door leading out of the throne room when she remembered a message coming in from the early hours of the morning. She turned back at the cusp of the doorway. "Oh, yes. Twilight had sent you a letter just past the start of the new day. I imagine it to be an apology for keeping you so long in Ponyville. I left it up there for you." - She yawned. "Enjoy your day, Tia." She chirped cheerfully and exited the throne room.

Luna was near her room, ready to sleep off the long watch over the kingdom she had held. What should have been silence outside of her room was replaced with a flurry of hooves running about on the stone floor and armor clanging together from the armed guards. She looked about for any sign of distress.

Down the hall she saw guards pairing off, going from room to room. They were searching for something, an intruder, perhaps?

"You there!" Luna shouted down the hall. "What is the meaning of this?"

A captain of the guard broke ranks and ran to brief the princess. Trumpets sounded off the alarm as he made his way to her, revealing that it was an intruder they were searching for.

The captain slid to a halt, rendering a proper salute. "Princess Luna, Princess Celestia has decreed that all spaces of the Castle be searched for intruders and to ensure no magical items have been removed from their designated locations."

Luna needed more information. "Who exactly were you told to search for? And what items might they have gone after?"

Before the guard could answer, Luna, spotted her sister galloping down an adjacent hallway. "Pay me no mind. Continue with your search," She ordered and took off after her sister.

Celestia was running towards the guest quarters. It seemed like she had sent the guards to look everywhere except the place she was most afraid the threat would be.

Luna quickly caught up to Celestia. "Sister!" Whatever is the matter? Has someone snuck into the castle? Might we be in danger?"

"Luna! I fear some pony I failed to stop years ago may have returned, and her hunger for power could bring about great destruction!" Celestia yelled to her sister as they made their way past the guest quarters and making a few short turns until coming to a broad set of double doors at the end of the hall.

Celestia forced open the doors to a mostly empty room.

The two stood still at the doorway, surveying the room. The room was dusty and poorly lit, not a place often visited, or so it would seem. The walls were covered with some rather unspectacular pictures. A glass-covered showcase held some vases, and ordinary looking covered pots. Some small trinkets lay about the room, but nothing that seemed of any significant value or held magic powers of any sort. Except for one item that stood out amongst all the other artifacts in the room.

Celestia slowly walked up to the item. It was a tall looking mirror set upon two small round pedestals. Horseshoes were embedded to its bottom pillar. The face of the frame of the mirror held beautiful jewels, and its edges were embroidered with well-crafted metal rods that were bent in designs that curved in on themselves.

"Sister... why is this here?" Luna recognized the mirror. "And why is it-"

"Broken?" Celestia said with regret. "I moved it here to remind myself of another student I failed years before you returned. Not long before I took Twilight under my wing, I lost the other to greed and the temptation that led her through this mirror."

Celestia used her magic to lift one of the shards of the broken mirror that still lay unkept on the floor. "I had not noticed it was broken until some time after Tirek had been defeated. I thought that she might have returned then, but that was not the case. I fear I may have truly lost her forever."

Luna examined the ancient mirror. "But if you fear she has been lost to us, what made you think she might have returned now?"

"Twilight's letter," Celestia said, lowering the shard back to the floor. "There is no mistaking what she has written, and the timing is too close for it to be simply a coincidence."

Celestia brought the letter back up from being tucked under her wing. She held it up for Luna to read. "I will call off the search, for now, dear sister." Celestia released the letter to Luna's grasp and started to exit the room with her head lowered in shame.

"Sister, wait," Luna called back after looking over the letter. "What are we going to do about this? I may have been out of touch with our subjects for a thousand years, but I don't think Equestria is ready for something like this."

Celestia stopped in the hallway and raised her head with a newfound sense of determination. "Get yourself some sleep, Luna. I will make the proper preparations and depart back to Ponyville once you are rested and summon Princess Cadence to take over my duties will I attend to this personally. If humans are in fact in Equestria, I need to know what their intentions are and if Sunset Shimmer is in any way involved in this."

Luna looked again to the short-worded letter.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am writing you to inform you of a recent development here in Ponyville. Through some means of magic, of which I have yet to understand, seven creatures who call themselves humans have appeared and seem to be stranded. I am not entirely sure what to make of them. They seem friendly enough once you get to know them, but they also seem to be deeply troubled and struggling with issues that will require our utmost attention if we are to hope for a healthy relationship with them.

Also, I am deeply concerned about the means of their arrival, as Trixie was injured with a wound that defies all my scientific understanding of pony biology. It appears to be linked to the magic released with the humans' arrival.

This all poses some very interesting challenges for me as the Princess of Friendship, but as your loyal student, I swear to give it my very best and show them the true meaning of friendship and make you proud.

Your faithful student,

Princess Twilight Sparkle