“Okay, man, we need to get back to work...”

“Alright. Don't worry, I'll be there soon...”

“Just get over here...”

The banter continued, two gamer friends playing a hack-and-slash RPG.

“Alright, finally! Come on, let's go!” the first voice said again.

“I'm ready. Lead the way, fearless leader... hehehe.”

“You're just jealous I'm the one with the... hehe... bitches. Hehehehe...”

“hehehe... I don't think dog summons count...”

“Whatever, you're still just jealous.”

They left the safety of the little port-camp and trekked into the wilderness.

In a place not so far away...

“Come on, we've been idle too long.” A deep voice rumbled toward his companion.

“I'm on my way... And stop acting so mystic! It's kind of annoying...” A slightly higher voice returned.

Walking across the bridge, the man had just grabbed his gear before heading out. As he came closer to the first, his friend's size really came into view. He was, for lack of a better term, a giant. He easily stood at nearly seven feet, head and neck over his own rough six. It fit him, however, his people being brothers of a kind to the Barbarians.

They both wore leather tunics, had an overall similar outfitting. The shorter one wore a thin leather belt, from which hung a small pack on his left hip. He also wore a wide leather baldric, which lay over his left shoulder. It held a slightly-smaller-than-average pack for simple gear they were taking with them into the wilderness.

On his waist, at the back, hung a small scabbard. It held a small dagger of a roughly four inch blade, along with a guard before the hilt. It was hung so that the hilt was to his left, ready for use.

His boots and his gloves were lightly plated with thin steel, and padded well. Etched In the steel were runic symbols, most likely enchanting them with a hidden strength. His hair was pulled back into a short ponytail , bangs cut short above his nearly-glowing light blue eyes. It fit his white, straight hair in a strange way. His Baldric was studded with three small sapphires that matched his eyes, one of the few things not colored a dark gray or black.

He was also somewhat pale, especially for one that seemed to spend so much time outside. Upon his face, only a few minor faded scars marred his appearance.

His larger companion wore much the same, a baldric over his left shoulder as his friend, also studded with three gems. This time, however, they were emeralds; the same green color as his eyes. Long black hair was tied back into a loose ponytail.

Also like his short companion, a larger, by comparison, pack lay on the baldric and rested on his lower back. Directly below the pack were two scabbards, hiding two similarly sized daggers. An unstrung bow and quiver lay across his back the other way, over his right shoulder.

Thinner gloves and less cumbersome boots -compared to his companion- for the most part completed his equipment, save for what was hidden In various pockets and satchels at his waist and outer thighs.

The gloves still had a single thin plate of steel on the back of the hand, also etched with runes. The boots had a small steel plate each on the shin and back of the leg, both etched with similar runes.

The larger of the two spoke to the smaller again, “So, Simon, what do you think we'll find today? So far it's been nothing of real value...”

The smaller one, now known as Simon, replied, “I'm not sure, Beary, but we'd better find something exciting to do soon. All of this monotonous searching has gotten us nowhere...”

The larger one, apparently 'Beary' only sighed, “I told you not to call me that... My name is Bet. Stupid little necromancers...”

Simon only chuckled at his friend's annoyance, “Whatever you say, Bear.”

Bet only muttered a curse in return, to Simon's elation.

In yet another world, still closer than one would think...

“Spike! Where did you put that book of weird spells we found? I just got an idea!” A lavender unicorn called to her assistant.

“Found it! But why do you need it? I thought you said it was just useless showy spells, Twilight.” Spike, the assistant, replied on his way down.

“Because according to this book here,” she motioned with her hoof towards a red book on a table next to her. “We can modify the Farsight spell and turn it into a scrying spell!”

Spike's face scrunched up in confusion, “Scrying?”

Twilight paused, before explaining it with smaller words. “It means that we can see different places or ponies that we've seen before! Maybe even see dreams!”

Spike deadpanned. “I don't see how this is amazing, Twilight...”

Twilight only grinned and took the book from his hands. “Just let me find the spell, and I'll show you!”

Back where our story began...

“..Hey, do you see that light? There, beside that stone... weird. Is it a glitch?”

“What light? I don't see any-- oh. Now I see it.”

“I don't think we should touch it... at all. Let's restart.”

“No! Come on! Maybe it's a secret stash of gear, or a portal to a new level or something!”

The other voice sighed, “ I know I'm going to regret this...”

In the second strange world...

“Hey, Simon! Come over here... I think you'll want to see this.” Bet said, motioning towards a swirling pool of energy.

Walking closer to get a better view, Simon stepped closer and crouched. He asked, “what do you suppose it is?”

“I'm not sure. Perhaps it would be best if we left it alone...” Bet said.

Simon only grinned. “Where's your sense of adventure?” He then reached forward and shoved his hand deep into the pool of energy. He was then pulled in, laughing the entire way.

Bet only sighed. “I know I'm going to regret this...” He then glanced into the pool, saw no sign of his friend... and jumped in.

Finally, back with Twilight and Spike...

Twilight's horn was glowing faintly, her eyes closed and face scrunched up in concentration. She had worked towards the spell for nearly a full minute now. 'Maybe I did it wrong? No! Of course not... I've read this three times!'

She held her concentration for a few more moments, before the spell fizzled out, her horn stopping it's glow. Spike voiced his disappointment, “All that buildup for nothing? You read it right, didn't you Twilight?”

Twilight looked a little hurt, in an effort to hide her disappointment and her embarrassment. “Of course I did... but... maybe the spell just doesn't work?”

Spike took a look at the book the spell was from. Near the bottom, it read: Results may vary; an outcome is not always guaranteed! Less experienced unicorns may require a focus or other artifact to complete the spell. Spike facepalmed and brought it to Twilight's attention, “Twi, I think you should read this here...”

Twilight blushed in embarrassment, “Maybe I did get worked up over nothing... Sorry, Spike.”

Her number-one assistant dismissed the apology, “It's nothing, Twi. We can all make mistakes. Don't let it get to you! Now, what do you say about... a spell to give a mustache! I've always wanted a mustache...”

Twilight chuckled at his enthusiasm, “Alright, but after one more. Then, we'll try yours. Let me find the spell...”

With Simon and Bet...

Both Bet and Simon were bored. They had been falling for about fifteen minutes with nothing but swirling lights around them. Simon, in fact, had almost fallen asleep. Bet tried to meditate; he wasn't very successful, his concentration breaking every few moments.

A few more minutes passed before Simon couldn't take it anymore. “COME ON! I want something to do! Something to destroy! Hell, I'd rather pet a kitten than fall like this any longer!”

Bet only sighed, both at his failed attempts and at Simon's whining. “I'm sure we'll be out of this soon enough... Just give it a bit longer. Things usually go wrong after you can't take it anymore...”

Simon's only answer was to cross his arms and grumble.

With our first two adventurers

“Okay, where the hell are we?”

“Not a clue! Let's keep going!”

“...fine. Let's go...”

“We're off to see th-”

“NO. Don't you DARE start singing that! I've got enough songs stuck in my head as it is! I don't need another one!”

“...spoilsport...”

Back to Bet and Simon...

Still trying to meditate... and still trying to ignore Simon's bored complaining, Bet had to admit... he was going to go insane if this kept up for more than a few minutes longer.

Fortunately - or rather, unfortunately, depending on your point of view - Bet was hit with a strong, searing pain in the back of his skull, slowly crawling forwards. He clenched his teeth at the pain, before uttering a growl that immediately got his friend's attention. A short curse and a few giggles later, Simon had a similar pain. Much to Bet's amusement. Which also immediately ended due to another sharp pain growing, and flooding his perception.

Both experienced strange senses, what... 'appeared' to be memories, flooding their thoughts. As they both writhed in pain, clutching their skulls, they were going through foreign memories at an astonishing rate. They however, all seemed to have a theme.

These were all the most infuriating moments of a person's life. Some force compacted hate, anger, anguish and fear into a twisted emotion, gathered every memory related to it, and shoved it straight into their conscious minds. It was akin to choking, only with just the pain. As moments extended into hours, into days, the pain dulled to a throb.

When it finally stopped, both Bet and Simon were exhausted. And furious. How could humans be so stupid? Why did that little-

The pain came back, twice as hard and twice as fast. More prepared for it, however, it dulled to the throb before the memories assaulted them again. This time, the theme was anything funny that could be found. Every hilarious memory whoever this person (or persons? It was hard to tell) had, came to their minds.

As soon as the memories stopped, the hours going by just as slow as before, both adventurers burst out in a ridiculous belly-laugh, nearly tearing their diaphragms from the force of it. After a few moments, it calmed down, only to double back and return, just as strong.

Simon managed to loose a small phrase, “Hehe, you know what's funnier than 24?”

Bet paused long enough to answer, before his laughter overtook him again. “I don't know, what?”

Simon replied with a childish grin, and said in the weirdest voice he could conjure at the moment, “Twenty-five.”

Both ridiculing parties burst into laughter again, amid the cries of “I don't get it! Hahaha!” and “hehehe, twenty-five...”

Then the pain began, again, their laughter thankfully stopping.

It followed much the same routine as it did both occurrences previous. The pain started in the back of the skull, crawled forward and dulled to a low throb, this time even faster.

Still falling, in their mind's eye they both saw what had to be the most gut-wrenching moments anyone could live through. Deaths of loved ones, sad stories, depressed outcomes, sad pictures... everything, almost simultaneously. No matter how hardened they were, they were forced to experience the emotions as they were parts of the memories.

As soon as the writhing and the memories stopped, both again had the same reaction. They bawled their eyes out, almost sobbing, doing what they could to hold it back. Bet was slightly more successful, having meditated a bit beforehand, but neither cared at the moment. It wasn't a time to be 'manly.'

Among the crying, utterances of “Dashie...” and “oh, Pinkie...” and more, could be heard... though neither fully understood the significance, lost within the sorrow.

To their great relief, the next wave of pain started only as a throb, and faded away almost instantly. They were barely conscious.

This final wave contained the memories of the most blissful, loving moments of these people's lives. The safe feeling of a mother's love, the pride of being strong like dad, even the proud moments of having siblings, cousins, and more.

After hours, days, of memories all at once, they felt at peace... fully content, happy, joyful... safe. Then all fell into darkness...

As they fell, still unconscious, their inner selves worked overtime to sort the information coming in. The pain no longer was there, the message just not being received. Memory after memory came in and experience after experience. It was nearly too much for the minds of the two to handle.

The memories slowed to a trickle, their minds catching up. However, the last thing that was expected was the entrance of another mind. Each of the two got a mind exceedingly similar to their own, though with different inhibitions and very different life experiences.

The 'voice of reason' of the first universe, the 'leader' had come to rest inside the mind of Bet, while his crazy companion had found itself home inside the skull of Simon.

The second set of minds sat in a strange state of half-rest, influencing the thoughts of their hosts but neither grabbing full control.

Then the fall ended. Next Chapter: Strange friends and new places Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 7 Minutes