Eq Renaissance Part 24 (Ed)

    “Well,” asked the mare to the woman, “are we ready?”  She was referring to the inevitable descent down the stairs, and the encounter with the people, and the ponies, gathered below.
    “I think so,” Twilight, the human, replied to her equine counterpart.  The pair of them had met when Fluttershy had brought the humans over under the cover of darkness.  As expected, Twilight the Unicorn had been quite excited until they got her calmed down.  Since then she had asked a million questions.  She didn’t always like the answers.  Twilight the Human had asked many herself.
    Both were ready to go down the stairs to talk to the others.  Neither of them made a move towards the door.  There was a pause.  “I still can’t believe we shouldn’t be contacting her,” the pony said, referring to her Princess Celestia.
    “I think you’ll just have to trust me on that,” the human said.  “At least for now.  I mean, I’m practically you, right?  I don’t really mean to play that card, but I don’t know how else to say it.”
    “Yeah, I suppose,” the pony replied.  “But I’ve pretty much always trusted Celestia even more than I’ve trusted myself.”
    The human managed a weak smile.  “OK, I know what you mean.  That’s the way it was for me too, for a very long time.”
    The pony considered this.  “Yeah,” she thought.  “But not recently.  Not the last few months.”
    The human looked back into the pony’s eyes, then slowly shook her head.  No, no the pony hadn’t felt the same about Celestia as she once had.  There was a strange distance growing in their relationship, but she hadn’t really understood why.  This human was saying she was going to go through the same thing.  Twilight, the pony, had never told anybody about that before.  Maybe this human really was her in another form after all.
    “Celestia will do anything to protect Equestria,” the human said.
    “Yes, of course I know,” the pony said.
    “Luna’s laid a cunning trap.  She turned Celestia against Zecora in our own world.  Now we’re strangers in a strange land.  Invaders.  I’m sure the Luna here can turn Celestia against us, at least us humans if not you too.”
    “I still can’t believe she returned to evil,” the pony said, speaking of Luna.
    “It happened.  There are only five of us now, thanks to her.”
    “Maybe our Luna is different.  Maybe our Luna has stayed reformed.”
    “Maybe, but I don’t want to have to take that risk.”
    “We’ve saved Equestria three times over,” the pony said.  “I would have hoped that Celestia would trust us completely by now.”
    “Three times?” Twilight asked.
    “Nightmare Moon.  Discord.  The Changeling plot,” Twilight answered.
    “Discord,” the human repeated, “that’s the creature in the garden?”
    “You weren’t able to turn him back into stone?” the pony asked.  “How much damage has he caused?”
    “There’s no such creature in the garden,” the human answered.  “In our world, I guess he was never imprisoned in the first place.  Or he doesn’t even exist.”
    “Oh,” Twilight, the pony, said, thinking.  “Well, that’s a significant break in symmetry, isn’t it?  Our worlds must be rather different.  Perhaps we can trust Celestia after all.  My Celestia, I mean.”
    “I wouldn’t count on it,” the human said.  “Just look at us.”
    Twilight’s heart sank.  Her human counterpart was right.  This was an issue they had been aware of from the start, but had been carefully skirting around.  “Does... does it hurt?” the pony asked.
    Twilight looked down at the stump where her arm used to be.  “Not any more,” she sighed.  “It’s getting better.”
    “Does it itch?” the pony asked.  “I read somewhere that, you know, it can itch.  Even if it’s gone.  I... don’t mean to pry.  That probably came off really rude.”
    “It does,” the human said.  “Sometimes in different places, but usually just below the knuckles.”  She used her one remaining hand to scratch at the empty space where she imagined her missing hand would be.  Sometimes pretending to scratch it made the itching go away.  “How about you?  Does it hurt?  Does it itch?”
    “Oh, it itches terribly,” the pony said.  “But that’s different.  I’m healing.”  She lifted her hoof up to her face.  She gently touched the patch that was covering her left eye.  Sometimes, when she was distracted, she could even forget the patch was there.  “The worst part is I’m not supposed to scratch it.”  She looked at her counterpart and felt again as if she had just stuck her hoof in her mouth.  Her counterpart’s arm would never heal, it would never grow back.  The itching of a wounded eye was small potatoes compared to an amputated limb.  “The doctor says I’ll be able to take off the patch in a few weeks.  I guess I turned out luckier than you, but... that brings up the issue of symmetry again.  I’m not hurt as badly as you.  Maybe things on this side are... milder.  They’re less bad than things on your side?  Maybe, even if our Luna is plotting something bad, it won’t be as bad as what happened over there.”
    “Maybe,” the human said.  She was a little slow to get up onto her feet.  “But I think for now we should stick to our plan.  Caution is the better part of valor.”
    “Agreed,” the pony said, heading for the door.  “Still, there’s one thing that’s really gnawing at me.  Celestia knew you came through the mirror.  She’s captured Big Macintosh.  Maybe she thinks you’re a threat to Equestria.  Maybe she doesn’t.  But what I don’t understand is... why hasn’t she said anything to me about it?  She hasn’t contacted me at all.  Why?”
    Twilight, the human, didn’t have an answer.
    “Well, let’s get this over with,” the pony said, opening the door.  She would ponder it again later.
    They descended the stairs together.  The others were waiting for them.  The Twilights had hoped that while they were discussing matters in the loft, that the others would begin to relax and intermingle.  That didn’t happen.  The group was divided by species across the library’s lobby.  Both groups were silent.  On one side were the humans.  Fluttershy was absent, but Zecora was here.  On the other side of the room were the ponies, including Fluttershy.  Zecora, the zebra, wasn’t here.  Spike had been sent to fetch her and bring her back.  They were still on their way.  Neither of the Big Macintoshs were present.  The human had been captured and imprisoned, the other hadn’t been told yet that anything was going on.
    Twilight, the human, told the entire group the entire story, going all the way back to the affair she had with Zecora, and the strange dream.  She glossed over the part with the unicorn horn.  She still had much to think about that, now that she realized that the horn was a very, very real thing.  Twilight spoke of the mirror.  About how her friends had come into the mirror to follow her.  She spoke of how it was all a part of Luna’s plot to remove the Elements of Harmony from her world, and usurp the power of her sister.  She spoke of the death of Fluttershy.
    Twilight left out the moment she shared with Big Mac.  That was between her and Big Mac - her human Big Mac - always.  She described the time in the labyrinth, and how the ghost of Fluttershy had led them through.  She brought up the escape from the palace, and how their Big Mac had stayed behind, allowing himself to be captured so that the others could escape.  Finally she told them of how they approached Fluttershy the Pegasus, who brought them here to this library.
    Once done, Twilight the Unicorn took over the talk.  Big Macintosh was likely captured, she reminded them, and probably held in the palace.  Somehow they would have to get him out.  Neither Twilight had a plan on how to accomplish that, yet they both agreed that they couldn’t just approach Celestia on the matter.  The ultimate goal, Twilight told them, was to return the humans through the mirror and render whatever assistance they could to defeat the human Luna, while keeping an eye on the alicorn in this world.  Again, neither Twilight was sure of how to accomplish this.
    It was likely that Celestia was looking for the humans.  For now there was little for them to do  but lay low.  One of their number had already been captured.  It was possible more could be captured, so Twilight said it would be best if the humans split up.  Each pony would be responsible for their counterpart.  The ponies were always a close-knit group that trusted each other to the end, it seemed only logical to Twilight that the same might go for the counterparts.
    Her plan was met with silence.  Neither the humans nor the ponies seemed to like anything about this.
    It was Dash, the pegasus, that finally spoke up.  “I don’t trust her!” She stuck a hoof out at the rainbow-haired human.  “She’s a changeling!”
    “Rainbow Dash, you numbskull,” a pony spoke up.  “She ain’t no Changeling.  If she were a Changeling, she’d look just like you.  Ah admit, the hair’s the same fancy colors but...”
    “It’s doing a bad job!” Dash defended her accusation.  “It didn’t even grow any wings.  There’s no way this thing can be me from another world.  It can’t even fly, and I’m all about flying!”
    “Who can’t fly?!” Dash, the human, had enough of this.  “You calling me a liar?  And you want to talk about looks?  Look at you!  You’re a horse with wings!”
    “Who you calling a horse, you monkey?!” Dash, the pony, shot back.
    “I must say,” the white unicorn spoke up.  “I’ve never seen a human before, so I know nothing about their fashions.  But that outfit is certainly appealing.” She nodded towards her counterpart.  “If I were a human, I’m sure I’d dress just like that.  Perhaps spruced up a bit, of course, but you’ve been through so much.”
    “Oh, thank you, you’re so precious,” Rarity the Human replied.  “I’ve never known a pony’s mane could look so lovely.”  They both blushed.
    “Hey you,” Pinkie the Pony called out to her human.  “When we get back to my place, you wanna party?”  The human only gave a thumbs-up and clucked her tongue twice.  “Yeah, that’s me alright,” the pony said.
    Applejack, the pony, stepped forward.  The voices were silenced as they listened to the hooves slowly clopping against the library floor.  All this time there had been an invisible wall between them, separating them both mentally and physically.  Now one of the ponies was finally approaching their human counterpart.  Applejack was only inches in front of Applejack before she finally looked up into her face.  They both had deep green eyes.
    “So, uh,” the pony spoke first.  “Yer Big McIntosh is in trouble again, right?”
    The human tried to smile.  “Eyup,” was all she could manage.
    “Is yer big brother as big and thick-headed as my big brother?”
    Her smile came easily this time and she nodded.
    “Well then don’t worry none,” she comforted her human self.  “I’m sure he’s waiting for us, patient as ever for us to come get him.  You know how he is.”  The human took that to heart.
    “Hey,” the pony went on.  “Does that mean there’s a little human Apple Bloom you left at home waiting for you to get back?”
    “Yeah,” the human replied.  “Couldn’t bring her along, and I’m anxious to get back again.  Lord knows what kind of trouble she’s managed to get into.  Seems all she wants to do is grow up too fast, and all I want her to do is stay little.”
    “Eyup, mine’s the same way.  Her and those friends a hers.”
    “Oh my gosh, I hadn’t even thought about your Apple Bloom.  She must just a little... filly.  Oh I bet she’s just so cute.”
    “Yup, we must share the same soul.  I was just thinking on how cute your Apple Bloom must be. I’ve never seen a filly human before, but I bet they’re sweet.  I guess she wouldn’t be a filly.  What do they call baby monkeys anyway?”
    “Babies,” both Twilights answered simultaneously.  Everybody in the library had been listening to the AJs raptly.  Now the Twilights felt awkward for interrupting.
    “Ah,” AJ the pony said.  “Well, I guess you can meet my Apple Bloom,” she told her human.  “And uh, you’ve still got Granny with you?  Back at home I mean?”
    “Oh, yes,” the human said.  “She’s getting awfully old now.  I don’t know how many years she has left, but I’m cherishing every single one.   She’s just so full of wisdom.  I don’t know how I’d do without her.”
    “Same here, same here,” the pony agreed.  “And uh... well... I don’t know how to ask this.”  The pony realized she had been idly scraping a front hoof on the library’s floor.  She stopped and set her foot down firmly.  Then she looked up at the human AJ’s eyes.  “Mom and Dad?”
    AJ looked down at the pony.  She slowly shook her head.
    “Oh,” the pony said.  “I guess...  I guess I understand.  It was just that Twilight was talking about symmetry, n’ how sometimes it’s the same and sometimes different.  N’ I was kinda hoping... well, anyway...”
    AJ, the pony, turned back around to her friends.  “Well, anyway... we gotta help these guys.  I don’t know how but dang it we’re gonna do it.”
    There was a brief moment when everybody started talking at once.  It was quickly quieted by the sound of the back door being unlocked and opened.  The library had been closed up tight for the day so that they could have this meeting.  Some had completely forgotten that Spike had gone out.
    “Twilight, we’re back!” Spike called from the back room.  He entered, Zecora the Zebra following closely behind.  The crowd parted for her, perhaps having more respect for the mystical side of her after listening to the story.  She walked directly over to the woman of the same name, feeling none of the reluctance the others had felt.
    “The little dragon told me much,” the zebra spoke.  “Such strange things have occurred.  I believe I’ve learned much, the rest I have inferred.  We’ll get you back to that mirror which you have come through, but until then I’m not sure what’s best to do with you.”
    “I’m to go back to the forest with you,” Zecora the Human said.  “In fact, it’s what I think I should have done from the beginning.  Celestia fears my presence alone.  With us together I have no idea what she might do.  The forest is the only safe place for us to stay.”
    “You’re welcome to stay, you’re not quite a stranger.  But you fear the Princess.  Is there so much danger?”
    “Danger?” the woman asked, surprised.  “Of course.  Of course.  She’s already murdered my Golden Delicious.  She’s attacked me.  There’s no telling what she may do to you or the others.”
    The zebra was taken back.  “I wish I was quicker to arrive, you see, my Golden Delicious is still alive!”
    It was Zecora’s strangled scream of surprise and joy and heartbreak that broke the ice in the rest of the room.  It erupted into a cacophony.  Human Dash told Pony Dash that her wings couldn’t possibly provide the thrust-to-weight ratio to get her hooves of the ground, let alone fly.  The pony told the human that shows just how much monkeys know about flying.  Human AJ scolded Pony Dash for being rude.  Pony AJ scolded Human Dash for being rude.  Then they both started scolding each other for not minding their own business.  Rarity the Unicorn commented to her human that it was unfortunate that her otherwise lovely mane had to share a head with those two small wrinkly round ears.  The human pointed out the two very large “bald” spots on either side of the pony’s mane, much to the chagrin of the pony.  The Twilights launched into a discussion of what the Golden Delicious business might mean for symmetry between the two worlds.  The Pinkies mostly made faces at each other.
    They didn’t hear Fluttershy explaining to them how she didn’t have anybody to come home and stay with her, so she had room if they would like to come over and visit anyway, if that was alright with them.	They also didn’t notice Spike, who while he wasn’t talking, started to develop a cough.  It started as a tickle in the back of his throat, grew into some rib-shaking bellows, and ended with a new scroll and a flare of green flame.
    Spike didn’t usually read the letters he received for Twilight.  This  time though Twilight was busy with... Twilight, so he opened it up to see if it was important.  He wished he hadn’t.  He wasn’t sure what it would mean, but he didn’t think Twilight would like it.

    My Dearest Twilight,

    I don’t want you to be upset, but I fear I must tell you that I believe that Equestria is in danger.  Within my collection of magical artifacts beneath the palace, there is a magical mirror, a portal to another world.  It has not opened in thousands of years, but now creatures have come through.  I do not know what these creatures are, or where they have gone, or even what they intend, but I, and you, have to prepare for the worst.
    The creatures are ape-like in appearance, except they can walk and run easily on two hind legs.  They’re mostly hairless, except for a mane on top of their heads.  My guards got a good look at one of them before he managed to escape.  He stands about six and a half feet tall, but only weighs two hundred and fifty pounds or so.  He may be accompanied by several females, who are slightly smaller.
    If you see any of these creatures, inform me immediately.  Teleport to Canterlot directly if you have to.  Don’t try to talk with them.  Don’t try to reason with them.  They may even try to trick you as the Changelings did.   I fear they are very dangerous.  Simply alert me to their presence and location, and I will deal with them directly.
    I hope none of this will become an issue.  I have no reason to believe they are even headed in the direction of Ponyville, although the Everfree Forest has a way of attracting such monsters.  You’re a very capable student, and I’m sure you’ll do the right thing if you encounter them.
    Remember, don’t speak with them, but come here immediately.  Run, if you have to.  I trust you completely.

    Yours,
    HRH, Princess Celestia