EQG:SAO - Aincrad Asides
by Mindrop
First published
The side tales from the real world while the girls are trapped in SAO
With her protege, Sunset Shimmer, and her friends in the human world trapped in SAO, Princess Twilight Sparkle seeks a way to free them from the virtual prison. Even with magic on her side, it is not a simple task. Twilight Sparkle doesn't understand the cutting edge technology of the NerveGear, and if she does something wrong, she could kill her friends.
Princess Twilight Sparkle isn't the only one concerned. All of the students at CHS are affected. Flash Sentry, and Micro Chips want to do all they can to free their friends.
To make matters worse, all of the girls dove into SAO with their necklaces on, and with them trapped, there is no one with magic to protect the world around them.
Unlike EQG:SAO - Aincrad there will not be a posted schedule. These started as blog posts to answer questions from the readers. They also are only edited by me, and they did get some significant edits from the blog posts to make sure they are ready for chapters. The focus is still on the main story, so I know there will be errors, but nothing major. Also, I have no ending. Where I am in the Asides is where I am in the answer as to what is going on in the real world, so together we will see where it goes!
February 28 - 115 days trapped
Real world — February 28 - 115 days trapped inside SAO
Kikuoka Seijirou paid the taxicab driver and exited the cab. He adjusted his suit and walked into the hospital. Unlike Japan's hospitals, this one didn't require visitors to even sign in. It was incredibly insecure. The visiting hour times were also a joke that were easily circumvented.
However, he was in no need to circumvent them. This was a business trip and his second one to the location. Inside was 8 of the "lucky" international players of SAO. They were trapped just like everyone else.
Unlike the others, their access to care was different, which was a problem to Japan. It was footing the bill for their care, and the Japanese government required the absolute best for the victims. It wasn't just a ploy to smooth international relations.
It was Kikuoka Seijirou's job to monitor these 8 victims. Others in the Second Office, the virtual division, of the Ministry of Internal Affair's Telecommunications Bureau looked after the other international players. As part of the SAO Incident Victims Rescue Force, he had the pleasure of a cramped international plane flight to settle things face to face and get accurate updates.
When the game launched, it was international news. And the virtual kidnapping by Akihiko Kayaba was likewise international news. But not all of the international players had family that were aware of the situation. He had been given a list of names of players in the same city. It had been Kikuoka Seijirou's job to call the families and inform them of the situation at hand.
The first family he contacted was for the girl Applejack. He was pleased to learn that seven of the eight players in the city were good friends in the same high school. The news spread quickly to the other families and they successfully got the girls into the best medical center in the city. It was soon discovered that the 8th individual was believed to be with them in the game.
But upon his first visit, in early December, their care was deemed less than satisfactory by his superiors. Medical technology applied in Japan — specifically the special long care gel beds — were not being used. The availability of the beds was severely limited since they were a Japanese enterprise. After his report, his superiors bought and shipped 8 beds to the hospital for use by these patients. One of the long list of things he had to report on was the beds.
He walked into the first room on his list. It didn't require a pass card and the door was open, completely unsecured. But he understood that was how the patient care happened over here. The player's name was Bladescape, but her given name was Sunset Shimmer. The game logs they had access to had her on the 19th Floor, along with the rest of the players who were working to advance the game. That was about all they knew from the logs.
He stopped and adjusted his glasses. The room was occupied by more than Sunset Shimmer, and it wasn't staff or her Doctor, who he would be visiting soon enough. It was two women, both in pant suits. The taller one's pastel hair was quite long and she wore a sun broach. The other had dark hair and a crescent moon pin on her collar.
"Forgive me," Kikuoka said. "I was not anticipating any visitors. How are you two related to the patient?"
The two of them were taken aback by the question.
"I am Celestia and this is my sister Luna. We visit regularly. They are our students. You must be the man from the Japanese network group."
"Ah," Kikuoka said with a slight nod and a a slight smile on his lips. "And I am, but I work for the Ministry of Internal Affair's Telecommunications Bureau. They are the branch of the Japanese Government that oversees all telecommunications, and in this case, they are in charge of the care for the trapped players. Forgive my bluntness, but isn't it a school day?"
"Yes, it is," Celestia replied. "However, we actually are on a field trip of sorts. The girl's are well loved by all at Canterlot High School. Their friends can take field trips to make sure they know that their friends are near. You have to meet several criteria, like outstanding grades, and you can only come so often on school time, but it is a good way for the students to cope with the uncertainty of the situation."
"It is similar to the approach used by friends and families of those in a coma," Luna added. "We know it is not exactly the same, but we hope that somehow, maybe they can feel their friends love and care when they need it most."
"That is a... interesting approach," Kikuoka replied. "How many students are currently visiting with you?"
"Twenty," Luna stated. "That is the maximum number we allow to come on a trip. I should go check up on them."
Kikuoka stepped aside so Luna could pass and then he walked to the foot of the bed. It was one of the beds sent over. That checked one item off his to-do list.
"You really care about them," Kikuoka stated. "My understanding of the education system here is that it is rather hands off for teachers. Less investment into each student."
"I don't know how you do things in Japan, but the seven of them are a special group. My sister and I are their school principles, not direct teachers. Our relationships were different that way. But they were well loved by all in the school for some very good reasons. They impacted all of the student body in a positive light."
"I see," Kikuoka nodded. "They certainly seem to hold a special place in your heart. It is sad the number of students who are getting left behind. In Japan, while we offer cram schools, the structure is difficult to get back into if you fall out. For example, all students must take entrance and placement exams for high school, and we have a large number of middle school players who are now left behind, and in a few months their class will move on. And if they hit a year inside, they will not be ready or capable of passing the placement exams and placing into a high school."
Celestia nodded in understanding. "The school district is trying to solve how we will catch them up. They are so close to graduating, but even now, they couldn't make up what they have missed. They would have to repeat the grade. Classes like language credits, economics, and government are not easy to make up."
"Do any of them know Japanese?"
"None. We understand that much of the game is in English."
"Quite a bit is, but only written, and the players will be speaking Japanese. Yes, they all will be fluent, or mostly fluent, in English, as required by our school system, but the girls should have a firm grip on the Japanese Language by now. Perhaps that helps solve one problem for you."
"Oh, sorry," a new voice said.
Kikuoka turned to see a girl who looked exactly like one of the others under his watch, the girl named Twilight Sparkle, except she didn't wear glasses. And she was carrying a large book with plenty of papers. A small dog was by her side as well.
"You look like a twin of one of the students trapped," Kikuoka stated. "But she doesn't have a twin, let alone a sister."
She chuckled nervously. "We get that. A lot. I'm not from the same school. I know them from outside scholastic endeavors. My name is, Starlight. Yes. Starlight Glimmer."
Kikuoka raised his eyebrow as he stared at the girl. She certainly was hiding something, and she was not confident in her name. But he didn't have the resources he had in Japan to verify her identity. As far as he could tell, it didn't actually matter. She posed no immediate risk to the victims under his care.
"It is good to know that they are well looked after by friends and family," Kikuoka said to Celestia. "My supervisors will like hearing that."
"Have you gotten any closer to figuring out how to free the players?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
"No, we haven't," Kikuoka stated. "It seems Kayaba did effectively rig the entire game to have several dead man switches in the programming."
"Have you tried inserting a reflective shield?" Starlight immediately asked.
"You are working to free them, aren't you," Kikuoka said. It was a statement, not a question. Her nonverbal body language answered it for him. "And yes, we have. But we can't get a material thick enough to stop the burst fully. There isn't enough room in between the head and the NerveGear. The gear needs to be as tight as possible to make a solid connection. All our tests lead to at least partial brain damage. It is significant enough that the method was quickly dismissed. Plus, we can't guarantee that removing them mid game will not damage their minds after the time they have spent connected. And we can't tell how their neural networks are being rearranged either.
"At this point, all we can do is wait and watch their progress as they climb the Floors of Aincrad. We can at least see when they unlock a new Floor. However, they are beyond the highest level the Beta Testers got to. We have no idea what they are facing."
"How far are they?" She asked.
Kikuoka sighed. "I'm not allowed to say. In fact, I already said too much. The status of the players is confidential."
"They aren't very far then," she sighed, hugging her book tightly. Her dog put his paw on her leg for support. It was like it completely understood them.
Celestia spoke up. "I understand the need for discretion, but can you at least tell us if they are together?"
Kikuoka gave a slow nod. "From the intermittent location data the server provides us, all seven of the girls are together."
"And Poly Stitch?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
Kikuoka had no idea why she was concerned with the other victim, but her concern was evident. He decided to answer. "She is also with them."
Both women were relieved to hear that.
"Actually, since I have you both here, can I ask you some questions? My supervisors would love to get a better handle on the social situation here. They believe the support of friends and family is important for all. What you are doing will bring them great relief, but I still have some other questions."
"We will answer what we can," Celestia said.
"Sunset Shimmer has no known family, correct?"
"That is right," Celestia said. "She is living with her legal guardians. They found her, disoriented and confused. They have been fostering her. The hope is that her family could be tracked down, but our records had no data about her at all, or where she came from. Her fingerprints came up empty, but many kids are not fingerprinted. It is not required by law here. They had a facial recognition match, but the match was alive, safe and sound, and didn't live anywhere near where she was found. I understand that technology isn't perfect either."
"Interesting," Kikuoka replied. "Do her legal guardians visit?"
"They do. On most weekends from what I understand."
"The records we got are ambiguous about her age."
Celestia double checked that no others had joined them. "They gave an approximate age. And when she was tested for school, she fell into the age bracket. I believe you have her school records. That is the age and date they determined and set for legal purposes. She is an excellent student who made the academic transition well."
"Wait!" Starlight Glimmer exclaimed. She had been trying to quietly and subversively go about some form of testing while Kikuoka appeared to be busy talking to Celestia, but he was fully aware of his surroundings. "You mean you don't know how old she is? Is she aware of that?"
Celestia thought for a moment. "I don't know. I wasn't there when that was decided. I was only there for the academic testing. But she seems to believe they are correct."
"And most of the data for her age is based on knowledge testing?"
"She knew a lot despite her mental trauma. She suffered in history and written language, but that was all. They enrolled her in the grade she was at and she soon adapted and began excelling."
"So she could be 25, but being told she is 17?" Starlight Glimmer asked, getting oddly excited.
"I guess," Celestia replied. "She still will need either a GED or diploma. It was determined best that she attend school and have that structure in her life. But she never showed any signs of remembering who she was."
"Fascinating," Starlight Glimmer said to herself.
Kikuoka wanted to dig into who exactly the girl was. She was very odd, to say the least. And yet Celestia was oblivious to it all. And if it was a mental disability, he was certain she would have given him some indication. She was up to something, but nothing nefarious.
A teenage male stepped into the room. "Oh, I guess this room is full."
"Nonsense," Kikuoka said. He recognized the boy from a picture by her bed among the flower vases. "And you are?"
"Uh, Flash. Flash Sentry. And you?"
"Kikuoka Seijirou, from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"You came from Japan, to check up on Sunset Shimmer and the others?"
"It is part of my job," Kikuoka replied. "I didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. But I don't mind. You are one of the visiting students?"
"Yeah," he said, a bit quiet. "We used to date. Seeing her like this...well I know that she is bringing the same passion and fire she is known for in the real world into the game."
Flash Sentry stepped over and picked up the picture. "That is me, you already know the girls, these two are Snips and Snails, then we have Trixie, Lyra Heartstrings, Sweetie Drops, Micro Chips, Bulk Biceps, Sandalwood, Vinyl Scratch, and Octavia. It was a random photo taken at Camp Everfree for the yearbook, so we printed it, framed it, and brought it for support." Flash Sentry chuckled sadly. "Anything for support, no matter how dumb it may sound."
"You care," Kikuoka stated. "Quite a lot."
"Yeah," Flash Sentry replied with a bit of a blush. "But they...well, the whole school just isn't the same without them. They united us as Canterlot Wondercolts and made the whole school better. They make each of us want to be the best we can be. I don't even have a class with any of them this year, but just having them around the school is amazing and special."
"Well," Kikuoka started before pausing. "Well, we know they are together."
"Then the magic of friendship is with them," Flash Sentry said, excited. "I am sure they are make a good impact on the others around them and making friends."
"I believe they are from the limited data we receive," Kikuoka said. "I can't really discuss what we know, but I hope that news can help you all handle the situation a little more comfortably."
Kikuoka looked at Celestia. "However, I want to check in with the others before I meet with the doctors. Sunset Shimmer isn't the only one under my watch."
"Of course," Celestia smiled back. "It was a pleasure meeting you. It is comforting to know that someone is caring for them and keeping track. From where I am, we are helpless. At least you are where the situation is being taken care of. I am confident in your abilities to get all of the players free."
Kikuoka gave a short bow and departed to check in on the others. Each were in the same state, in the correct beds, surrounded by flowers, students, and the same picture from Camp Everfree. Poly Stitch was also being visited by the students, but she lacked the photo. Kikuoka met with the other students and talked with them. There was a strong theme about the girls. They were very good friends to each other and inspirational for the whole school. He wasn't sure exactly what they did to earn it, but it was earned.
The logistics of the beds and their care was all in order. The report from the doctors was exactly what they had been getting sent to them. It didn't surprise him at all, but he had a job to do and face to face time was always good. He wasn't sure when he would be here next, if he ever came again.
Still, he was here for five days by direction of his superiors. He would get the weekend off, allowing him to get out and see some of the city, but his focus would be on the victims under his care.
March 4 - 119 Days Trapped
Real world — March 4 - 119 days trapped inside SAO
Kikuoka sat in the visitor chair in Sunset Shimmer's room. For whatever reason, he was drawn to Sunset Shimmer the most. It was late, well outside visiting hours. He left to go back to Japan in the morning, but he couldn't tear himself away after his final check in earlier in the day. He just took up residence in the chair.
The footsteps coming down the hall were not a nurse's. They walked differently, more rushed. The footsteps came into the dark room. Kikuoka watched as the girl, Starlight Glimmer, walked in. She didn't see him sitting there. He almost said something, but then curiosity got the better of him.
She had the same book with her, but she also had an interesting contraption with her. She pulled a plug out and moved to attach it to either Sunset Shimmer or the NerveGear.
Kikuoka coughed and she jumped with a yelp. He didn't get up or even move. She had to settle down before she approached the end of the bed and stopped there.
"I can't let you do anything with them," Kikuoka stated. "As much as you might be helping them, we can't risk it. Trying to run diagnostics on them while diving isn't safe. We barely understand the science of virtual reality."
"Of course," she replied. "I understand. I just want to understand more of what they actually are. I don't even have a NerveGear rig to work on. They were recalled for destruction before I could get my, er, hands on one."
"And why should you have one?" Kikuoka asked. "You are a teenage girl, in school. You have no special skills or discernible reason to be given that authority."
He knew the statement hit a nerve. He had meant it to. She was back, and he wanted to know who she was. He was going to be leaving, and then she could do anything, so he wanted to make sure he could leave them here in relative safety.
"I," she stuttered.
"Let's start with your name," Kikuoka stated.
She blushed. Despite the dark room, it was clear that she was blushing and that she knew she was caught. It was up to her to make the next move.
"You wouldn't understand," she said. "It's not something I am sure you have the understanding or authority to know. Or that I can trust you."
It was a good retort. She threw his own accusation back in his face. She was smarter than most. She was special.
Kikuoka was certain they were not clones, although that was the most logical answer. Cloning technology wasn't that far yet. And that was ignoring the ethics of cloning. To be a clone of her age, it would be a feat that would not have happened silently.
He decided to play a card from his hand to gain her trust. "Miss, my name is Kikuoka Seijirou. I work for Japan's Ministry of Internal Affair, in their Telecommunications Bureau, Advanced Network Division, Second Office, which is otherwise known as the Virtual Division. In terms of authority, when it comes to the victims of SAO, I am almost at the top. I answer to a few direct people. My classification level is always 'need to know.' If I need to know, I get to know. And I don't spill secrets. That is, at this time, all I can state."
She moved over to stand beside him and then lean against the wall. Her voice was low to keep them from being overhead.
"How much do you know about quantum theory? The physics or mechanics of it."
"That is not a specialty of mine," Kikuoka replied. "I understand a good deal though. The bureau is working on quantum computing. I understand what is being done, but not necessarily how. I do understand the outcome and its implications."
"Well," she said, stalling out. "Well, my name is Twilight Sparkle. But, unlike you, I am not from here. The world I come from, we don't have this science and technology." She paused, taking in a deep breath. "We have magic. And I was hoping to bring something back to try and understand how it all works, and then circumvent the system."
"Magic?" Kikuoka said with a slow nod. "Interesting. Oddly it is comforting to know that you don't have the technology we do. I hate to admit it, but I can't help but believe your world is a threat to ours."
"We can't march an army through the portal," Twilight Sparkle clarified. "I can't even get a cell phone through the portal. It turns into a book! Or a notepad! And when I bring it back it turns into the phone again. No data lost.
"I can't get a WiFi signal through the portal either, but our magic has leaked over here in a few ways. It is difficult to explain and all incidents have been isolated to around the area here. The girl's are connected, minus Poly Stitch, to it."
"Their necklaces," Kikuoka said.
"Yes. But we don't know much about how it functions in this world. Although, it doesn't seem to be helping them at all. I'm not even sure how cognitive it is."
"You are a magician then?" Kikuoka asked.
"Yes," she said with a nod. "And a princess. I'm...well there are social and hierarchical structural differences between worlds that don't matter. What matters is that I am an important magician. And them being my friends doesn't help any either. It only makes me feel helpless."
"That is because you are," Kikuoka bluntly said. "Unless your magic can do something for all the players, you are. Let me reciprocate and explain what we know."
"Location and time stamp data we can access from the game tells us that they are all together, including Poly Stitch. Sunset Shimmer goes by the name of Bladescape. Applejack by the name of Backbreaker, Pinkie Pie by the name of AFCK, Fluttershy by the name of Doombunny, Rainbow Dash by the name of Thunderborne, Rarity by the name of Diemond with an E not an A, Poly Stitch by the name of Astro, and Twilight Sparkle by the name of Knightstar. That is knight as in the warrior, not the sky."
She giggled. "That sounds like something I would name myself."
Kikuoka smiled a bit. Her attitude was brightening his day. "We also know that about a month after, they picked up three other players: Kiefer, Lessa, and Joltron. The 11 of them have been given a tag of WCS. They are in a guild together. They also are working adamantly to clear the game.
"My point for telling you this is simple. If you free the 8 of them, they will leave 3 of their close comrades behind, stuck in the game. Any magic that may be here, unless it frees everyone, it will only make things worse. How do you explain to a world watching that 8 miraculously awoke, while over two thousand have died? How do you justify saving them, and leaving the friends they have made in the game stuck there? Will they be okay with that? I doubt it. Both because of how well loved they are by their fellow students, and knowing how hard they seem to be working to clear the game. It also is unsafe to eject players one by one, unless we know they are out of danger. If a party of 6 is fighting monsters, and suddenly one is ejected, that leaves 5 to fight. That may result in a death, or multiple deaths, because they lost the support of their battle buddy."
"I see," Twilight Sparkle replied solemnly. "I never thought about it that way."
"It is not your fault. You don't know how this stuff works, just like how I don't know how magic works. Unfortunately, that still leaves both of us in the position of being stuck, unable to do anything. And even if we could, your friends are a low priority. They are strong and although they face challenges and the reality of death everyday, we have younger kids of ages down to 11 stuck in there. They had parental permission to play that young. There are others, of varying ages, who are to afraid to leave the starting city, and some to even leave their room. They would be our priority."
"I understand," Twilight Sparkle said. "If there is a way with magic, there are others in worse condition and I would have to use it to free them first. That is the clear morality of the situation, something both our worlds share."
"We also don't know the mental state of these players," Kikuoka continued. "Pulling them out suddenly could cause mental health issues, even deteriorating their brain because we would be ripping it out of one reality and into this one, with a different body. We don't know if that will cause a problem or not.
"I don't want to discourage you, but I can't let you act without understanding what you are working with."
"I appreciate that," she replied, a slight smile on her lips. "It is good to know where they are and that they seem to be doing well. I will keep that in mind, and not speak of it. Those secrets are safe with me."
Kikuoka smiled back. "I will get you a NerveGear. I just need to know where to send it."
"Send it to Principle Celestia at Canterlot Highschool. I can pick it up there. I must admit, I am curious how it will transfer over as. The shock of being ejected was not something I had calculated for. Running them all through the portal isn't a guarantee. It could put them in a coma and worse off from it. At least now, I know they have a fighting chance to escape."
"Exactly how we are forced to see it as," Kikuoka replied. "And your secret is safe with me. I do trust that you will contact me if there is a solution."
"Of course. Just leave your contact information with us and I will."
Kikuoka pulled out a business card. "Here is all you need to contact me. Leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible. However, I am not always directly available. I have various jobs I do.
"Now, what can you tell me about this portal?"
She rolled her eyes, remembering what he had said earlier. "It is only open at certain times, with years in between openings. I have a way to artificially open it, but I can shut it down at a moment's notice. Plus, it is only big enough to send one individual through at a time. You can't invade us and we can't invade you."
"Are you certain it is another reality, and not another planet?" Kikuoka asked.
"I," she started, but then stopped and thought. "I don't know. But the fundamentals of both worlds seem too different to be as simple as different locations in a galaxy. We raise and lower our sun and moon on a daily schedule."
"That severely reduces that theory's likelihood," Kikuoka admitted. "I leave in 8 hours for my flight home. I believe that you are not a threat to them and their safety, or the safety of the other eight thousand players. None of what we spoke about will be reported to my superiors. I don't know when I will be back either. I am going to wait the rest of my time out here, in the hospital, watching over Sunset Shimmer. I have no idea why I am drawn to her over the others, but I am."
"I am going to go home," Twilight Sparkle said. "All the way. I look forward to getting the NerveGear. But for now, I will rest and think on what you have said."
“One final question,” Kikuoka asked. “Your fingerprints. Are they the same as Twilight Sparkles?”
“No,” She replied with a grin. “The implications of that are fascinating. But the short answer is that our fingerprints are quite different. I also don’t know a formula to convert ages. It appears that while the portal is in sync between worlds, the structures used to measure time are not. But all timing devices I have taken between worlds change to match the location. I haven’t had time to sort that out yet. I only just started that project the other day, when you arrived and I discovered the potential age discrepancy of Sunset Shimmer.”
“Thank you,” Kikuoka replied. “I would like to say I want to visit your world, but I am extremely busy taking care of this one. There just wouldn’t be the time with all I have going on. I do more than the task force. That is a, side job of sorts. Official side job.”
“I have responsibilities I have to do back home as well," Twilight Sparkle admitted. "Quite a lot since I am a princes. My trips here are disruptive, but I can’t avoid the responsibility I have to this world and to my friends. I have a way to instantly communicate between this world and mine, through a magical journal. I have given several out, so that they can write any changes or reports to me that I need to know. I will always be close by.”
"That is good to hear," Kikuoka replied with a smile.
She left and Kikuoka kept a quiet eye on Sunset Shimmer until he had to leave for the airport. They were in capable and loving hands, and it was comforting to know that.
The time came where Kikuoka had to leave, At this point, his world was defenseless and with Equestrian Magic on the loose, there was no telling what would happen. But with a magician of her power keeping a close eye to protect this world as well, he felt secure.
April 15 - 161 Days Trapped
April 15 - 161 days trapped in SAO
Twilight Sparkle looked at Canterlot Highschool as she came out of the portal. It was a school day, or supposed to be by her calendar, but classes were obviously still in session with how vacant and quiet the school was. The last time she was on this side of the portal had been when Kikuoka was visiting, which had been a while.
She looked down at her hand. In it was a cell phone. When she had come through the portal, it had changed back from the nice day planner into the device. The cheap cell phones turned into notepads, while this expensive, top of the line one, had turned into a very nice, leather bound, day planner. The transformations between technological objects were fascinating.
Twilight stopped focusing on the phone and headed into the school. It was open, but classes were clearly in session. She went to Principal Celestia's office and knocked on the door. She was told to come in.
"Hello, Princess Twilight," Principal Celestia smiled. "It has been a while since I saw you. I assume you are here for this." Principal Celestia pulled out a large box. "It was over-nighted for you, straight from Japan. It came three days after you left."
"Thank you," Twilight said, taking the box. "It has been a bit crazy, with running my own school on top of everything happening here with my friends. And speaking of that, I could use some assistance for the next stage of my investigation. I was hoping to get Flash Sentry and Micro Chips to help?"
"This is the final period of the day," Principal Celestia said. She hit the button for the loudspeaker. "Attention students. After school, would Micro Chips and Flash Sentry please report to my office. You are not in trouble. Again, that is after class. Have a good day students."
Principal Celestia smiled at Twilight, a coy sparkle in her eye. "So, tell me, what is it like running a school?"
Twilight chuckled nervously. "Well…
Flash Sentry found Micro Chips outside Principal Celestia's office.
"I uh, didn't want to go in without you," Micro Chips said nervously.
"No worries," Flash Sentry said as he knocked.
"Come in," Principal Celestia called from the other side.
They entered and Flash Sentry's heart lifted as he saw Twilight. He ran and embraced her.
"Hey Flash," Twilight said, hugging him back. "And Micro Chips, it is good to see you too."
"Likewise," Micro Chips replied.
"So, do you know how to free the others?" Flash excitedly asked.
"Not yet," Twilight stated.
"How long until you do?" Flash asked.
"Well, that is the thing," Twilight said, pausing. "Yes, I want to free them. And I am working as hard as I can to solve it. But morally, I can't pull them out."
"What do you mean?" Flash Sentry asked, stepping back in confusion. "But they are our friends."
"Yes, I know," Twilight replied. "But...well they are safe. From the little info the game logs give, we know they are fighting on the front lines. Sure, it is dangerous, but they are not alone. They are in a strong guild and the eight of them also met three new friends who are just as strong as they are.
"But off the front lines, not clearing the game, well there are kids inside. I'm not talking High schoolers and teenagers. Some of them, with parental permission, are as young as 11. They either went in with a family member, or solo. They are the priority. And then after them are the players with a compromised psyche. Some of them are so afraid, they hide all day long and barely live. And they are the lucky ones who didn't commit suicide.
"Plus, as it was explained to me, unless we know that all 11 of them are in a safe zone, we could kill them with an extraction. If we pull them while they are fighting, removing them one at a time weakens their safety. We could pull a critical member and their defensive line could fail, causing deaths.
"The safest way to remove them is in an all or nothing move, pulling out every single player at the same time. Unless we can establish a communication line. Unfortunately, I can't work on that in Equestria. Which is why I need you two.
"We need to find a way to get me an internet connection in Equestria."
"Wait, do you even have electricity?" Micro Chips asked.
"No," Twilight said. "But! I have the magical equivalent. I think. I took what I learned last time and applied it through magic. It should work. It is hard though, since the electronics I take through the portal covert as well. The laptop I took became an encyclopedia, with incredibly spotty entries."
"You read it?" Flash Sentry asked, shocked.
"Absolutely!" Twilight exclaimed. "Cover to cover, twice!"
"Why, if it was no use?"
"Because science!" Twilight exclaimed again. "Also, it was a very interesting test to see how the data transferred between realities."
"But books come over as books?" Micro Chips asked.
"Yes, because books exist in both dimensional planes of existence,” Twilight explained. “They are essentially the same thing in both realms, even if the content doesn't apply in both. The laptop went back to being a laptop with no complications! It even went back up to full battery power!"
Flash Sentry smiled at Twilight. "Alright, well, tell us how we can help."
"I need help with equipment and I'm still not great at these hands and no magic.” Twilight held up her hands and wiggled her fingers for effect. “So I need both working hands and your knowledge of these devices. I know I can't get a WiFi signal through the portal, but I was hoping that a Hardline might work."
"That will take some serious equipment," Micro Chips warned. "I don't know if I have what I need at home to assemble a converter."
"No worries," Twilight said, fishing around in her backpack. She pulled out a huge wad of cash. "I came prepared!"
Flash Sentry was left stuttering. Micro Chips was able to recover first. "How did you get all that?"
"Well, Equestria uses bits, but they don't transfer to your money. I had to triangulate the transformation matrix and account for the Laws of Material Transformation discovered by the Wizard Tam-"
"Uh," Micro Chips cautiously interrupted. "I won't be able to follow you. I don't know the first thing about magic. That is like me trying to explain to you the way a computer's operating system functions and binary code."
"Good point," Twilight admitted, blushing.
"Let's go get the stuff," Flash Sentry advised before they began to talk over his head.
Outside Flash Sentry and Micro Chips had Bulk Biceps and Sandalwood waiting for them.
"Hey guys," Flash Sentry said. "Sorry, but Princess Twilight needs us for a project, to help free our friends."
"Well, like, then, can we help too?" Sandalwood asked.
"I'm not sure how much help you will be, but I need plenty of hands, so sure," Twilight replied.
"Yeah!" Bulk Biceps exclaimed.
They headed to the electronics hardware store. Not an electronics store, but the store for all the computer bits and pieces. They had everything from basic chips, to wires, capacitors, as well as fully assembled products.
Twilight was overwhelmed with it all. She wanted to understand how it all worked, but that was why Micro Chips was there: to cut out the long learning curve.
Micro Chips was in heaven. He grabbed a cart and immediately headed to the wires. He had a bigger budget than he had ever had, and only the best would do for this project.
Flash Sentry, Bulk Biceps, and Sandalwood just stood by, waiting. They each could handle technology to varying degrees, but this was assembling the technology, which meant they knew little to nothing.
There was no time for Micro Chips to explain what he was getting to Twilight. She just had to wait and then pay. She got an odd look from the cashier, who knew Micro Chips, at the cash she had on hand. The sale was finalized and Twilight was almost out of that initial set. She had more in her backpack.
It took all of them to carry the bags. They headed to Micro Chips' house. The garage had been turned into the family's workplace. His dad was a software designer and his mother was in IT.
It didn't take Micro Chips long before he had a boxed unit together.
"This unit will take the WiFi from the school and convert it back to a hard line," Micro Chips stated. "A stable connection. Hence the antenna array. However, since we don't know how much electrical energy or it's magical equivalent will be on hand, I have enhanced it with a strong battery pack and anti-surge equipment. This tablet will help me direct everything the box does. It may include coding my own script to get it to work. I also have this set of basic components to see if we can get them to transfer over without them turning into something else, like cardboard."
"Sounds like a plan," Twilight smiled.
"We will need these devices to charge up, so why don't we go grab dinner," Micro Chips offered. "It's Friday, so we can work late and all weekend if we need to."
They agreed and the five of them headed out to a local pizza parlor. The adventure was just getting started for them. Twilight paid for dinner since she had all the extra cash. And it was a good way to show her appreciation to the others for their help and time.
They were back at the school as the night began to set. Bulk Biceps ran the extension cable from an outlet to the portal. Micro Chips plugged it into a dedicated surge protector and then added a power strip so they could charge their phones and such while they waited.
"Twilight, take the end of this cable with you," Micro Chips said after he plugged the other end into the unit he had built. "I need to know if the end of this Cat5 cable is the same on the other side. This is the hard line for the internet. There is 100 feet, which I hope is enough. I don't know the length of the portal itself."
"I haven't tried to map the distance," Twilight said. "I'm not even sure how to map an inter-dimensional portal between two points on different plains."
"It could be 0 or it could be thousands of miles," Micro Chips shrugged. "Either way, we get to test it with 100 feet.
Twilight took the cable and entered the portal. She came out the other side into her castle. Spike hadn't come with her this trip, but she had learned to quickly get out of the way in case something else came through.
"SURPRISE!" BOOM!
Twilight screamed as everypony popped out of hiding. She didn't mean to yank so hard on the cable in response. She had no idea why her friends were here, or why they were throwing a party for her.
But it was Pinkie Pie after all. She had asked yesterday if she was busy for a party for AJ, but Twilight had told her she had work to do that couldn't be put off. Her "no" obviously wasn't taken as a "no" by Pinkie Pie.
The portal glowed and sang behind Twilight. She looked back and a tan unicorn tumbled out of it. He landed hard on his face. His glasses bounced off his muzzle and slid to a stop by Twilight's hooves.
The portal continued to glow and an orange pegasus came through with blue hair. He was trying to stay on his hind hooves like he had walked through. It didn't end well and he slammed to the ground next to Micro Chips.
"Sorry," Micro Chips groaned. "I tripped on the cable when it was yanked into the portal. I was trying to keep it from being pulled out of the box, and fell into the portal."
"And I tried to grab him," a dazed Flash Sentry added. “I failed.”
"Um, but, where are my glasses?" Micro Chips asked, squinting to try and clarify his vision.
Twilight levitated them to him, slipping them onto his face. Normally she would have let him do it, but she doubted he could use his hooves and the horn.
"Hey, do I have wings?" Flash Sentry asked.
"Fascinating!" Micro Chips exclaimed as he looked at Flash.
"You have a horn!" Flash Sentry added enthusiastically.
Twilight groaned. "Focus, you two."
"Sorry," Flash Sentry said, trying to stand. He examined the fact that he was standing on all fours naturally, without his butt sticking in the air. "Wow, this is weird."
"It's not an easy adjustment," Twilight said. "That's part of the reason why you are supposed to stay on that side."
"Again, sorry about that," Micro Chips said. "I was trying to make sure you didn't rip everything through. I should have foreseen that outcome. And I understand the greater ramifications that this could have for us crossing dimensions. After all, you are a powerful entity here, and neither of us are in either worlds. But, one question. Why do I have a horn and he has wings?"
"Duh," Pinkie Pie said, butting in. "Cause he is a Pegasus and you are a Unicorn! And I'm an Earth Pony. So is Applejack here, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are Pegasi and Rarity and Twilight are Unicorns! Well Twilight was a unicorn but now she is an Alicorn."
Twilight sighed, exasperated. "Guys, as Pinkie just said, these are the pony versions of your friends. And the pony me. And you are looking at the difference in you between our worlds. I don't know why it chose you to be a Pegasus or Unicorn."
"Well our Flash Sentry is a Pegasus guard in the Crystal Empire,” Rarity added.
"Right," Twilight nodded, blushing a bit. "But that still doesn't answer the philosophical conundrum Micro Chips just pointed out. Why is Flash Sentry over here a Pegasus. We always say genetics and family history for why a pony is one of the three races, but knowing there are other dimensions that don't have a multi-species variable, how they split when they enter one is a puzzling quandary."
"Does any of that mean we can finally go visit their side?" Rainbow Dash whined.
"NO!" Twilight yelled. "I'm busy and none of you are even supposed to be here!"
"Sorry," Flash Sentry said.
"I'm not mad at you two," Twilight stated. "I'm mad at Pinkie Pie for tricking the others into a surprise party when she knew I was busy today! I told you yesterday I couldn't go to a surprise party for AJ because I had to work on this problem today."
"Well duh," Pinkie Pie said, rolling her eyes. "There never was a party for AJ. I was just making sure you would be here because the surprise party is for you! And boy were you surprised!"
"Pinkie!" Twilight growled.
"Darling, we will take her out with us," Rarity said. "We are truly sorry, and we should have seen through the transparency, but we haven't seen you in ages with the school and your own work trying to help the other side. It's a lot of stress on you. We wanted to help alleviate some of that."
"It is appreciated," Twilight said, flashing them a smile. "But I have some important work to do and it comes with some serious implications. I also am on a tight time schedule on their side of the portal. We will hang out soon."
They slipped out, leaving Twilight with just Flash Sentry and Micro Chips. Flash Sentry was afraid to take a step. Micro Chips was tapping on his horn as he sat on his flank.
"Since we are over here," Micro Chips started before pausing. "Well I can see and understand the implications and truth of the crossing between worlds and all it means, but I recall Unicorns have magic, and you said you had the magic equivalent of electricity worked out. Perhaps if I understood, I could better assist in the conversion from my side. We didn't know I would be a Unicorn, which is new data we should factor into the equation."
"Magic takes a long time to learn," Twilight stated. "I have spent my whole life learning it."
"Why do you have both wings and a horn?" Flash Sentry asked.
"Because I am a Princess," Twilight stated. She realized how little that made sense to the two of them. "I mean, I am an Alicorn. Becoming an Alicorn is a rare and special thing. I solved a magical spell problem that was causing major havoc. Princess Cadance, my Sister in Law, earned her horn by defeating an evil sorcerer and saving a whole village. Every Princess did something spectacular and special that aided the ponies not just around them, but in all of Equestria. And they gain wings and or a horn to become an Alicorn. There are four princesses in Equestria, and each rule over a different place or realm of our world."
"Princess Cadance?" Flash Sentry asked. "And you said Crystal Empire?"
"Right," Twilight said, putting together his question. "Yes, Dean Cadance from Crystal Prep would be the same person, or pony, as our Princess Cadance. Here, instead of being principals, Celestia and Luna are the oldest and wisest Princesses who rule over all of Equestria."
"That is a very big difference in power," Micro Chips stated. "Very intriguing."
"What's going on in here?" Starlight Glimmer asked as she came in through the door. "I saw a sad Pinkie Pie being dragged out of here by the tail by AJ." Starlight Glimmer stopped when she realized Twilight wasn't alone. "Oh, hi Micro Chips and Flash Sentry. You probably don't recognize me in my natural form."
"Yeah, Starlight," Flash Sentry said, still afraid to take a step. "I recognize your voice and you are vaguely familiar to your, uh, our side form. Mostly in the hair."
"Hair does transfer very well," Starlight Glimmer said with a nod.
"That still isn't a no," Micro Chips stated, going back to his original question.
"No to what?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
"I want to learn enough magic to help understand the conversion the portal does and hopefully be able to help out more. I know my side's technology, but I'm blind to how things work over here when it comes to calculating in that data. I accidentally fell into the portal, so now I can gain first hand knowledge on the topic."
"Right," Starlight chuckled. "Of course you became a Unicorn. You wouldn't make a good Pegasus or an Earth Pony. Twilight, let's teach him."
"But," Twilight stuttered. "If he gets a taste of real magic, it will alter his state of mind. It is best that he remains ignorant. Whenever I am over there I always feel like I am missing a huge part of who I am. You know. You were over there."
"Yeah," Starlight Glimmer snorted, rolling her eyes. "And I admit, I felt the same way. But we are low on options. I remember he was the best at tech over there. If anyone can handle the knowledge, he can."
"Uh, what do I do with my wings?" Flash Sentry asked.
"I expect Flash Sentry to hold up better," Starlight bluntly stated.
"Ugh," Twilight groaned. "Flash, you flap them. To fly. That is what your wings are for. And you can walk on clouds. Micro Chips, logic dictates that I should use this moment to teach you the foundation of magic, but the basics are things I learned at a very young age. Both Starlight and I are great magicians, most unicorns specialize is one area of magic, and it usually takes them a very long time to learn those basics."
"I'll handle it," Starlight said. "After all, I taught Trixie how to do more than make fireworks and gimmicks. I can teach him, easy."
"Fine," Twilight conceded. "I'll get Flash back to the other side so he can relax."
"There is a version of me that functions like this?" Flash Sentry asked.
"Very much so," Twilight said. "A royal guard and he is very good at flying. But like magic, it takes some getting used to. I would know, because when I got my wings, I was totally unprepared for it.”
The portal glowed and Bulk Biceps came through with what had to be Sandalwood holding on.
"Well this is strange," Twilight said to Starlight Glimmer. "Bulk Biceps is exactly the same, but Sandalwood is a Zebra!"
"Yeah," Starlight said, rolling her eyes with a sigh. "I did not see that coming at all. What is next, a dragon?"
"No one else was helping us," Twilight said to Starlight before addressing the newcomers. "But why are you two now over here!"
"I tried to stop him," Zebra Sandalwood said. "But, like, Bulk starting freaking out since Micro Chips accidentally fell into the portal, and then since Flash went in to get, and then you guys took so long, well he wanted to make sure you were okay, and assumed the worst had happened.
"But, dude, is being a Zebra bad?"
"No. They are just rare in these parts," Twilight explained. "I appreciate you concern-"
"Aww!” Bulk Biceps whined. “Why are my wings so small when my muscles are so big? Flash has big wings."
Twilight Sparkle groaned loudly. "I have no idea, but our Bulk Biceps has small wings too. Nothing you can do to solve it. You can still fly."
"Aww," Bulk Biceps sighed.
"It's okay, man," Sandalwood said, patting him on the shoulder. "You are exactly who you are supposed to be no matter what dimension you are in. It is your beautiful soul that matters, not what is on the outside."
"Starlight," Twilight said, focusing back on her. "If you are here, I assume the device is done?"
"No," Starlight Glimmer groaned. "Sunburst and Starswirl are arguing again about the physics of the portal and varying dimensions. Until they solve the issue," Starlight Glimmer chucked mischievously, "well you and I both know I am the muscle when it comes to the spell."
"Well that is convenient," Twilight sarcastically said. "Now I have no idea what to do."
"Should I go grab the others?" Starlight asked. "Maybe having them here for a short time isn't a bad thing? It wasn’t bad for me to visit their world.”
"Fine," Twilight sighed. "Go get them and we will see where the night takes us. Once you get them back. You can take Micro Chips to learn the basics of magic. I'll have the others show them around the castle and school, and help the pegasi to learn to fly.“
Starlight Glimmer teleported away in a flash of light, shocking the four newcomers.
Twilight continued with the work. "Micro Chips, how did the cable hold up?"
"Well, it's not a Cat5 cable anymore," Micro Chips said, examining it closely on the floor. He had no idea how to use his horn or hold it with his hoof. "But since it is still a cable, we may be in business. Let me hop over to check if the cable is still a Cat5 on the other side."
Micro Chips focused on the task at hand and went through the portal. Flash Sentry still hadn't moved or flapped his wings.
Micro Chips was back after a few minutes. "Everything is operating at peak efficiency and as it should! Now we just need to test this cable with a hook up of some kind."
"Hmm," Twilight said, thinking. "I'll have to dig a few things out of storage, but I have an idea from an old project or two of mine."
The door opened and the others came back in. Pinkie Pie was hopping with joy.
“New same friends!” Pinkie Pie squealed mid hop.
Twilight sparkle took charge before chaos ensued. “Micro Chips will go with Starlight and learn basic magic. The rest of you, take them on a tour of the castle and school and I will go work on some things we need done for our tests. Dash, teach Bulk Biceps and Flash Sentry to fly while you are at it. I don't have time to entertain.”
“You can count on us!” Dash exclaimed.
Twilight just rolled her eyes and teleported to her storage room. This was less than optimal, but they would make it work, somehow.