Mirror Mishaps (ATTN: Tacobob & Dunnie)

[tacobob]

 

 

Fire Walker watched as the be-goggled mare gamboled about the library. She didn't want to say anything, but there wasn't really anything here that was really that special. A few 1st editions, and some very basic spell-books. They were all library-bound, which made them slightly better than what you find at a book-store. There were some books higher up that had really fancy looking bookends, but they were just old copies of Knickerless Knickleby or Rarnaby Budge. There was a new and special edition of 'The Amazing Adventures of Captain Gladys Stoutpamphlet and her Intrepid Spaniel Stig Amongst the Giant Pygmies of Beckles'. But everything was safe. Bevel was not going to find an anything of interest. Powerful magic books were kept locked away, either in Canterlot's well guarded libraries or impossible to sneak into pocket worlds. Fire Walker had the privilege of visiting one during her meeting with Princess Twilight. They had recently learned the hard way that a powerful book could easily overwhelm even the more competent unicorns.

 

"That would not be fair to the writer or publisher.", the officer responded, "That's why we have libraries. Like a book, take it home for a few weeks, but if you really like it, that's when book-stores come in.". Then you can read a chapter and toss it the corner. Fire  had a really bad habit of buying a book, getting bored with it, and then adding it to the ever-growing library in Fillydelphia. And also her personal library in her room at the castle. And also the guest-room at her parents house. And the vacation house in Las Pegasus. She had freaking books all over Equestria. Not to mention the ones 'borrowed' by Zelda, Docket and Presteza.

 

"I'm pretty sure the table only works for Princess Twilight and her companions. Maybe Spike...", she trailed off. Crickey! Bevel could move quick for such a little pony. "Well, unless you have any further questions, we'll move on to the next room.."

[Dunder]

"Oh! Really?" Dunnie returned the embrace with a nuzzle into Bevel's cheek. "Well, I know I'm pretty cool. And of course, my ideas wouldn't matter if you weren't here to make it a reality." And of course, the fuzzy little Fancy pony was fun to be around!

 

"Oh, Fire, don't be so doom and gloom about it." She insisted, then trotted up next to the guard. "These books could be bound and distributed to libraries and stuff. Isn't that the point of writing? To spread the knowledge around?" I mean, why would one write a book if they didn't want it to be read, seemed silly to the mare. "Or authors could make copies themselves, you know? It's a good idea." She insisted.

 

She looked over to Bevel, not surprised the pony had zoomed across the room as silent as a ghost. She looked back to Fire, frowning a bit, disappointment, "Aw, really?" Her wings and ears drooped some, apparently this tour was bound to be mundane. "Oh, well. That would have been exciting. But if that's how it's meant to be... Oh! Have you met them all? Standing intimidating while protecting the Elements of Harmony?" She grinned to Fire.

 

"Next room? I'm ready. This table is just a table when you get past the lights. Or maybe you could play a game on it." It was a map after all. What was that friendship ruining game? Actually that probably wasn't a good idea in this palace. The mare looked back over to the Fancy brown mare, "Bevel! We're moving onto the next room!" She called out, "You don't have to come along, but don't be bummed if you miss something cooool."

[Pretzelparty]

 

 

Bevel was still inspecting the room when Fire called out to her and Dunnie. Disappointing as it was, there wasn't very much there to inspect and if Fire was right, the only time something interesting might happen would be when all six of Equestria's heroes were here. The fluffy maned mare gave a subtle huff and hopped to her hooves, "I'm coming!" She said with a peppy smile. Once she cleared the door, Bevel walked up along with her two friends. All the while she was still looking at the crystalline corridors they traveled through, "So, where are we headed next?"

 

[tacobob]

 

"That's why there are publishers. They're the ones who handle all the boring stuff. Making copies, selling copies, sending copies.". Library books were different than book store books. Library books were put together stronger as they were meant to be read more than a few times. Her mother spent time between updating the R.E.A. manuals and writing her cute little romance adventure stories...However with other species joining the ranks of Equestria's military might, her books needed some major rewrites. Thankfully the higher rankers gave her a team for these updates.

 

The mare let out a chuckle, "They try not to use the table for anything other than the map.", she glanced over at the helpful little bit of magic. "One of Cutie Mark Crusaders...I forgot her name..The unicorn...Freaked out when she decided she would enjoy a book and a cookie. The table turned on, and she freaked out and fell backwards on her chair. Nearly choked on her cookie."

 

Yep! It was time to move on. "You two will like this room.", the mare pushed open the door and lead the pair into what she called the 'Media' room. Some comfortable chairs,  a film projector and a screen. Fire Walker had a fun little documentary on the history of the castle that she needed to test out.  Bevel and Dunnie would be a perfect pair to test this on. As the clever unicorn would be very good at judging its storyline and logic, while Dunnie would be the best at gauging the whole entertaining factor. She wouldn't say anything, but the moment the movie got dull, she would simply snooze away. No need for a hoof up or down, when this mare was sleeping, that movie wasn't meant for peeping.

 

"Mister Spike did a great job at narr....oh."

 

There was a rather large mirror standing in her way. "What is this doing here?", she gasped. And what mirror was this? It was clearly magical, but there were more than a few magic mirrors in the hidden storage. There was one that showed your greatest desires. One that showed an version of its viewer from another world. One that showed the 'fairest one of them all'. One that can be used to spy on somepony, and one that could allow you to travel to another world. Which one is this?

 

"Um. I need to go find Princess Twilight...This shouldn't be here..", there was a hint of fear in her voice. They kept some really powerful magical items hidden away here. And not just in the broom closet or second half-bath, but in another dimension. "Let's go back the way we came...I can use the thing to alert her.. I know she's not that far away..I er...oh!", she let out a yelp as a what appeared to be a magical hand appeared from the mirror and pulled the poor officer in.

 

She vanished without a sound!

 

 

 

 

[Dunder]

"Yeah, there are publishers. But then anypony could be their own publisher, then! Extra convenience. Libraries can still be around, it'll just be easier to spread the information." Dunnie resisted the urge to suggest that each libraries could be connected by pipes. Then the whole apparatus could be a 'series of tubes.' She thought of it as they continued onto the next room.

 

She listened to Fire explain the filly who nearly choked on a cookie. "Yes, that's a good reason to not have food at that table." She shivered at the thought, "Did you help her? Or were you not around?" Of course, no assumption that Fire would stand idly by. "Also the cutie mark crusaders? I thought they were all earth ponies." Dunnie already had her cutie mark and didn't spend much time in Ponyville.

 

When they entered the room, Dunnie's eyes went wide, "Whoooaaah!" She said as Fire opened the door "So cool! A mirror!" She said with a big grin, "Though does this count as a room? I think it's a storage closet."

 

Though, When Fire seemed alerted by what she found on the other side of the door, Dunnie's wing fluffed up and she looked to the strange piece of furniture. "W-what?" She asked, looking up at it. "How'd it get here, then?" Suddenly, the thought crossed her mind that the mirror moved on its own. Fire knew what it was, and it seemed very important. Possibly magical in this already magical place. Fire seemed wary of this discovery, and Dunnie was trusting of her crimson friend's judgement! "Alright, let's go." She turned to the side, away from the mirror and toward they way they came. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Fire's red coat suddenly disappear after letting out a sound of surprise.

 

Instantly, Dunnie whipped back around to where the guard once was! "Fire?!" She called out, "FIRE?!" A part of Dunnie's brain suddenly unlocked. The overwhelming urge to make sure that Fire, her comrade in arms, was alright. Just like in their adventuring days.

"Stay here, Bevel, unless I call for help." Dunnie's face suddenly became very serious, sharpening into a scowl as she prepared for facing any danger that may have snatched up Fire. The pegasus slid up to the mirror, checking left to right to up for any hidden creature that could have Fire hostage.

 

However, while checking her corners, Dunnie made the error of assuming that the mirror was a solid surface. As she leaned against the mirror, to continue her path of checking the room, she was suddenly finding herself falling into the mirror!

"Agh! Bevel!" Dunnie held a hoof out, but physics weren't on her side and her wings were useless to save her as her back slipped through the silver surface. That was the last thing she said before her whole body fell through.

[Pretzelparty]

 

Bevel Followed along behind the pair as Dunnie and Fire went down the halls onto the next room. The Fuzzy headed inventor "Ooo"ing and "Ahh" ing as she went.  The further they went in, the more Bevel's eyes darted about as if trying to memorize the very architecture. She was only really snapped out of her inspection by confused and concerned words of her and Dunnie's guide. The prench mare poked her head out from behind Dunnie and Fire to get a look at the weird mirror. From fire's tone it didn't seem like this thing was supposed to be here: Spooky.  Seemed that this room was going to have to wait as they sought out the princess, Just as Bevel turned away she heard a loud yelp and in a blur of red it looked as Fire was just sucked into the mirror!

 

"Mon Dieu!" Bevel blurted out in shock before moving closer to the mirror and pulling out some strange device from her fuzzy mane, "What on Equestria happened?!" Dunnie was just as shocked as she was it seemed, But Bev's culinary companion was a bit more knowledgeable about this sort of strangeness. The inventor stood in place as instructed, waiting for any word to intervene. 

Bevel galloped towards Dunnie's outstretched hoof moments before her entire being was pulled into the mirror, "Dunnie!" Bevel held her instrument out for a moment to get what reading she could from the artifact, but nothing she got made sense. She looked around and called out down the empty hall for help, but the only answer was an echo. She hissed out a sigh, puffed out her chest and charged into the mirror, her body swiftly engulfed in the surface like quicksilver.

 

 

[tacobob]

 

"Well then.", Fire Walker spoke to a audience of one. Normally when one went into a mirror, there was a good deal more broken glass and a horrible headache that would going on right about now. But she felt alright. That was until she realized she was standing on her back legs. She fought the urge to get back onto her hooves as she realized she had none. This all seemed natural.

 

She glanced at ten little red fingers that she had attached to thin....Fur-less arms? She had talons like a dragon or griffon, but they ended with tiny little claws that probably couldn't cut butter. But what about the rest of her body? As she glanced down, she caught sight of the fact that she was now wearing clothing, she had next to no fur on her body and there were two large objects in her clothing that were blocking her view. As she started to push away the clothing, an "AHEM" voice could be heard. There was what she wanted to call a monkey, but she appeared to be similar to her own new form. Except she had light aquamarine skin and a scruffy nest of cyan hair with a white streak. She also wore clothing. She held up her arms in a look of confusion.

 

"I dropped something in there...Miss Mindyourownbusiness!", she growled. The odd monkey girl rolled up her eyes and walked on. What the heck was going on? This world she was now in felt so different, but somewhat familiar. With Miss Busy-Body out of her way, she could continue to check out her new form. She was wearing an military officer uniform. Well, one in training. She also figured out what was blocking her view. She was a mammal. All mammals had these, but they only came out when she was had foals. And they usually don't belong up here. Was this Discord's doing? She hadn't seen him in a while, but she knew he had a custom prank waiting for her. And turning her and anypony around into hairless monkeys sounded like something he would do.

 

Ooop! Not hairless! She had a head of hair on the top of her oddly shaped head. Some things never change!

 

She paused to look at the statue. It was a horse. Something her pal Zelda would make, but something was going on at the base....Magic?

 

[Dunder]

Dunnie felt she was being pulled through a whirlpool. Eyes closed and mouth shut as she drifted, but only for a moment. As soon as she had been sucked in, she was spat out onto the hard ground. Though, this was not the cold castle tile floor, it was a lot more rough. But Dunnie, sprawled out on the floor, didn't notice this right away. She was still out for blood!

 

She was still looking for whatever snatched up Fire, and the first unfamiliar thing she was was standing tall like a dragon. Dunnie scrambled to her feet, not realizing how strange that was as her mind was focused on getting the upper hand on this unknown mirror creature as it was turned around.

 

But her surprise attack halted as she saw that braid of rust red hair and heard that familiar voice. Dunnie's gaze softened instantly, "Fire...?" She asked softly.

 

As her tunnel vision lessened, she saw the cyan haired creature that Fire was shouting at, "Was that the monster that took you?!" She was ready for a fight again, body squaring up as she prepared to take a step toward her quarry.

[Pretzelparty]

Bevel was flung through what felt like like a whirlwind of magical energies. She was determined to keep her eyes open and try to whip out a device from her mane and get a few readings, but as not seconds after she charged into the mirror she felt her momentum return and she was sent stumbling forward on what seemed to be solid ground.Surprisingly, she met the ground with only two legs and it felt entirely natural. Bevel stumbled forward further and held out her arms as if steadying herself, The inventor wobbling in place as she got her barings and looked over herself.  Her eyes widened as she saw how she was... standing! (though she needed to lean forward a little to get a better look past the strenge swells on her chest. On only two hoov-wait, these weren't hooves. She could feel them so much more acutely than with her her hooves... She had a similar feeling in her foreleg--wait those weren't hooves either!

"C'est incroyable!" She gasped in wonder as she wiggled these weird feeler things where her hooves would be, "A full body transfiguration and some sort of advanced Teleportation?! This could be revolutionar-- Oh right. Dunnie and Fire." She couldn't let the spark of inspiration sweep her off her newly acquired feet, not when she still needed to figure out where her friends were.  Looking around she saw some creatures with colors very similar to Dunnie and Fire. Bevel would move to approach the pair... only to fall flat on her face as the different way of moving began to feel a bit less intuitive. 

She pulled herself up and brushed some dirt from her face, "Oof... Not the best way to start an adventure..."

 

The scenery was familiar, yet different... She noticed more of these strangely shaped creatures walking around in the distance, dressed in a lot more clothing than ponies normally wore. They looked a little bit like those ape things that she saw in some of those explorer magazines, but they had so much less hair on them. Maybe that was why they had clothes on?

 

[tacobob]

 

 

"Oh dear." Fire Walker groaned. She was not the only pony who was transformed. "We've been transformed into these weird monkey creatures." They weren't really monkeys, but that was as close of a creature she could consider.  "As part of my job, I have used portals before, but not to an actual other world. It was either quick transportation or a very secure pocket-verse. This is all different. I can only assume the magic in the portal reverted us into the dominant species to keep things from going south."

 

Oh Oh. Dunnie knew Fire for a few years and knew she would break into a round of unnecessary exposition when she was scared or very worried.

 

"Monster? I was grabbed by a hand, but it did not feel like flesh and blood, but it was like being zapped over and over again with static shock. Which I hate.", Wind Walker enjoyed herself just a little too much one day when they visited the Fillydelphia Art Museum last year. It had nylon rugs and the filly would run her hooves through the rug and zap her big sister. Hmmph.

 

"We just need to alert Miss Bevel so she does not enter the portal. We could still go back if she remains on the other side.", as she made her way towards the base of the statue, thee last thing she wanted to see appeared before her eyes. More teleporty magic.

 

"oh poopie.", she groaned. They were probably stuck here for the moment.

 

That's what you get for doing all the unnecessary exposition!

 

[Dunder]

Dunnie's face was serious as she listened intently. Fire knew more about this than her, certainly, so anything she had to say was of value and Dunnie always trusted her ol' crimson coated comrade. She nodded along, listening and absorbing every word intently.

 

"Or we could be the pony equivalent of this world!" She stated with confidence, finger sticking up in the air to punctuate her point. "There could be dragons or griffons about, we should keep our eyes out still." She only kept her voice down a little, more concerned immediately with sorting out what was going on.

 

"Grabbed by a zappy hand?" Dunnie asked, "Well, what if that monster had those hands? Could be a spell." She lowered her voice some, eyeing the aquamarine woman. Though, she seemed docile now. Could it be an effect of the mirror? Curious.

 

"Oh! Bevel!" She turned around and spotted Bevel who just fell over on the ground. At least she looked like Bevel, the same way that Fire looked like Fire. And the fall seemed to be at least somewhat cushioned.

 

With the urgency of dealing with a threat waning somewhat, Dunnie relaxed some. After turning to help Bevel, Dunnie leaned forward, arms outstretched toward the ground to resume her normal pony stance, which she was unaware she had departed from. When she hit the ground, she immediately flopped onto her side, "Ow! What in the---?" She looked to where her forelegs should be, "Agh! What are these?!" She shouted then suspiciously did not start to ascend into the air.

 

"What?" She looked to her back as best she could, rolling over as she struggled to. "My wings are gone!" Half in disbelief and half in panic. Her head snapped to Fire, "Your wings are gone too!" Then down to Bevel, "And your horn! What is up with this?!" She instantly crossed her arms over her eyes, rolling onto her back, utterly defeated.

 

Of course, her shouting was not conducive to staying incognito and Dunnie's upset state was drawing a lot of curious gazes.

[Pretzelparty]

 

Bevel was simply inspecting the area further while Fire and Dunnie talked over things. There weren't any people with wings flying in the air... there were some things up in the sky but they sure didn't look human. There didn't seem to be much of a magical presence here: Not that bevel could use a spell to sense it. It was more that things somehow seemed a bit drabber in this world. 

She did eventually realize something weird as Dunnie began to truly take notice of all their changes. Bevel approached and pat the chef's shoulder, "Maybe we should find someplace less exposed to figure out ze situation?"

[tacobob]

 

 

 

Something Dunnie said made Fire Walker's eyes grow a little larger. "Oooh! That reminds me of something!", the not-pony rubbed two of her fingers together and made what sounded like a snap. "Hmm. Weird.". This new ability caused a little pause for the former mare.

 

"Spike....Er...Princess Twilight's little dragon-boy...I remember him mentioning that he had been turned into a dog..I assumed he just got caught in one of the Purple One's magically 'whoopsies', which I've been a target of more than once.", She had been turned into a little filly  a few years ago and spent a Hearth's Warming Eve as a crystal pony thanks to the Ruler Of All Equestria's occasional magical accidents.

 

"Maybe he and others visited this world? He could have turned into a dog. I can assume other races would turn into mundane versions of themselves here..And my wings?", she placed a hand on her back. It was all back! No wings! "No wings or horns, but just these dumb things.", she slapped her chest with her free hand. "I don't get the idea of these..Why are they so big?", she noticed a few people give her an odd look as she interacted with her bosom. "And those other monkey creatures give me an 'eye' when I touch them.", Fire Walker whispered. "So freaking weird."

 

She poked herself a few times before a very loud

 

 

Could be heard. Before their eyes, stood the largest of the strange creatures they had seen so far. It was an rather fit older male with dark skin, and dark hair with grey sprinkles that was cut in a military 'high and cut' style. This fellow was dressed in military clothing. Both Fire and Dunnie knew, this was the former Pegasus' father, Brass Hat.

 

"Daddy?", Fire could only squeak out.

 

Brass Hat could not help but be confused, "What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be in.....Oh!", he noticed the two others that were with his 'daughter'.

 

He glanced down at Dunnie, "You must be Miss Blixen. Dunder had mentioned he had a little sister. Shame the thing with your big brother didn't work out with my little Fireball. Guy could swing a good sword and an even better spatula.", he shook his head in sorrow, "Now my sweet angel is dating some fancy boy from the big city! Oh woe."

 

Bevel was the last one he noticed, "And you...Miss Bevel..I though....", like his daughter before, an idea popped up in his rather large head. "I get it! You three are to here to investigate the school! The weird goings-on and what people are saying Demons! Ha! Guess Ol' Pommel found something you would be perfect for!"

 

Fire Walker could only grown and wish she could die of embarrassment.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dunder]

Dunnie flinched a bit as Bevel approached and touched her shoulder, throwing her out of her panicked stupor. "Y-yes, you're right." She lowered her voice and started throwing her gaze left and right, looking for anywhere that could provide sufficient cover from the growing number of eyes on the trio.

 

Inevitably though, she would be distracted by the red ex-mare or more specifically her hands. The red fingers pushed against each other, slipped, and made a snap reminiscent of pine wood cracking under pressure. "What...in Tartarus?" Dunnie was appalled, confused, and a little scared by what Fire just did. "Maybe...we have magic afterall." Her tone was thoughtful as she scratched her scalp under her still pony-esque fluffy hairdo.

 

"Also a dragon got turned into a dog?" She raised an eyebrow. Her hand came to her chin as she pondered. "What would a dog be turned into, then? And could a dog from here be turned into a dragon? Do the dragons here talk and smart enough to-- Hey! Stop doing that!" She said after Fire smacked her extended chest bits. Dunnie motioned her hand at them "Those could be important! We don't know wha--" she paused as she looked down to Fire's. "What the...? Why are yours bigger than mine?" Dunnie looked over to Bevel, scrutinizing for a moment, "Bevel's too?!" She put her hands to the side of her head in disbelief, though her distress about this would be cut short.

 

Another sensation took over, her hairs on the back of her neck standing up. A bead of sweat formed on her brow and slid down her face as she turned slowly to see the source of the familiar voice. Brass Hat!

 

Immediately Dunnie turned and stood at attention. Looking goofy in her sweater vest and pleated plaid skirt. As he approached, Dunnie's eyes got bigger as she locked on, staring up at the man. Somehow, this cursed world made him even more intimidating!

 

"Oh, er..." Her face flushed red and her stance dropped immediately after being addressed, "Yes, Blixem! It's...er...with an 'm' at the end, sir." She corrected in an apologetic tone. And as he continued about how this world's Dunder had broken up with this world's Fire. She took a sharp inhale, then held it short as the sadness welled up in her gut. "Y-yeah..." Her tone dropped and gaze turned away to the ground, "He was pretty torn up about it, locked himself up in his room, cried a lot." Her hand came up to her arm, soothing herself as she spoke.

 

"But, yes!" Some vigor coming back to her as she looked to the man "I'm--er, he's the best sword....wielder in all of Equestria! And makes the best hayburgers out there, without a doubt!"

 

"Demons?" Her brows furrowed into a determined look, "Yes! We're here to check it out!" Her arms came out akimbo, one for Bevel and Fire each as she pulled them both into an embrace, her face becoming partially obscured by Bevel's particularly fluffy hairdo.  "Bevel's super smart with her inventions and science, and Fire's got the grit and know-how to take on any situation!"

[Pretzelparty]

 

 

Judging by the various looks they were getting, Bevel was starting to get concerned. That wasn't to say she wasn't curious about the lengths of their abrupt transfiguration too, but there was a time and a place for examination and in the middle of a busy... schoolyard wasn't it. Luckily, Bevel was saved from having to drag her friends to some alleyway and figure out what was going on by a loud and authoritative voice. That voice belonged to someone important enough that both Dunnie and Fire straightened out to address him. She could only barely make out the squeaked response from Fire, but it gave her all that she needed to know: this was her dad! or at least a version of him. 

"Absolutely fascinating..." She muttered to herself before taking a parade stance for the military man, "Uhh... Oui~" She gave a hesitant little nod before finding her confidence. If there was another Bevel in this dimension, solving this interdimensional conundrum would be a peace of cake with double the brainpower of one of the world's brightest minds. 

 

Demonic phenomena though? That was a bit new for Bevel to tackle. The only demons she'd heard of was that Tirek guy/thing/being that attacked Equestria a while ago. If there was one here it would be quite a thing to get a look at...
 

 

 

 

 

 

[tacobob]

 

 

 

“Blixem. Right.", the large military man was already in the process of filling out three 'Canterlot High School' Guest I.D badges. He quickly tore up the 'Blixen' card and wrote up one with the proper name. "Here you go girls.", he handed over the cards. "And Equestria and Hayburgers? Guess I don't understand your young lingo.", he chuckled, "As for demons, It's probably the usual. Some teen-aged hooligan gets his dirty mitts on some Bambalachacha, Smoochy Woochy Poochy or Square Dancing Tickets and soon everyone is seeing demons!", he chuckled a bit more. Fire groaned even more.

 

His smile vanished as 'Blixem' described the aftermath of Dunder breaking up with his daughter. "Sorry to hear that. Normally I would have introduced a mother of all whooping's to the guy who broke my little girl's heart, but your brother is a  good kid." The pair could hear Fire Walker let out a sigh.

 

"Just show this cards to the Principal Celestia. She's in the office on the left when you enter. She should have all the information you need. If you have any questions that she can't answer, just call me on your phone.", he made his way over to Fire Walker and gave her a awkward public-dad-hug before heading off to a strange looking wagon with a top. There were no ponies in front of it? How did it work?". The odd wagon made a loud noise before taking off down the road.

 

The red haired officer finally spoke, "Wow, poor Princess Celestia. She went from a powerful royal ruler to running a high-school...Wow.", she laughed, "Also, what's a phone?"

[Dunder]

 

'Blixem' had to resist the urge to reach out with her teeth or a wing and instead reached out a hand gingerly. In her hand she examined it, twisting and flipping it with an equally inquisitive and confused look on her face.

 

"Y-yeah! 'Young lingo.'" She scratched the back of her neck. He complained about her choice of words, and yet he rattled off a series of noises that Dunnie wasn't able to distinguish. Must be some of this world's strange slang. "Yes, you bet your beard we'll get those hooligans their...uh... square dancing tickets." Uncertain words, but she punctuated with a confident wink and a sheepish grin. If she weren't so scared to get out of her stance, she would have slapped him on the shoulder lightly.

 

When Brass Hat mentioned taking out his frustrations on Dunder, 'Blixem's' face turned a shade more pale. She gave a wide, uneasy grin, "Heh, what can I say? I understand your feelings." She looked up at him with her big eyes, a couple beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

 

Fortunately, he was soon off of her. He walked over, gave Fire some odd instructions, and a hug as well. As the imposing man left, Dunnie wiped the sweat with a sleeve and took a deep breathe. "By Celestia's mane, I'm too young to have a heart attack!" As she calmed herself down, she got to thinking about what the conversation yielded for them. "Yes, it seems Celestia has been reduced to the principal of a higschool. Could Equestria, too, be reduced to just this highschool?" She looked at the purple and brown edifice, covered by many windows. Not unlike the schools they were used to. "If Celestia is here, perhaps she knows about the mirror and send us back. Or maybe, there is a Discord here who can also help us." She took a deep breathe, then hunched over in exhaustion. "This is getting to be so much."

 

"Phone... 'sound' or 'voice.' I have no idea what it does, and I expect we won't have to know if Celestia can help us." Dunnie faced the school, puffing up her chest with confidence. "Either way. Let's go." She wanted answers. And with a determined walk, she took a shaky step forward on her new legs. Swinging her arms and taking long strikes, she was off towards the front door!

[Pretzelparty]

 

As Fire's father's odd noisy carriage pulled off, the frizzy haired scientist could be seen standing at the path as it drove away. Her lungs pushed out a series of harsh coughs as the faint smoke of exhaust carried over her and then dissipated. "Such amazing advancements... *cough* there's so many amazing constructs in this world!" Bevel was practically drooling over the various other metallic carriages that made their way down the road, "Can you imagine what life would be like back home with things like this?" 

Making her way back over to her friends she did a small spin in place as she took in her surroundings with an excited twinkle in her eye. Already she was trying to figure how another portal might be replicated. If anything she needed to get at least a couple books from this plain of existence. That needed to wait, though. Demons and all that. 

 

Seeing Both Dunnie and Fire looking like they had a better idea of where to go, Bevel just followed their lead. As they made their way to the front door it was hard not to notice some of the lingering weird looks they were getting. Thankfully they seemed to be diminishing slowly as the rest of the student body returned to their own business and gossip.

 

[tacobob]

 

As Brass Hat took off via his odd, horseless carriage, Fire Walker could not help but repeat what he had just said, “Bambalachacha, Smoochy Woochy Poochy or Square Dancing Tickets?” Somehow her odd father was even odder in this world. She imagine monkey versions of both her dad and Colonel Pommel as they had to watch the mandatory R.E.A 'Hey Kids! Drugs Are bad, M'Kay'?' film-strip at the base. Every year in high-school she had to watch that, along with a SPECIAL MEETING from an old action star named 'Crack Stuntem' who wanted to warn the school of the dangers of the wacky weed or Smoochy Woochy.  Which took place in the gymnasium. Once a year.

 

"Well, as long as she doesn't want to refer to her as our 'Princi-pal. Like the real one who I believe still runs the high-school in Canterlot. Guy is like over a hundred years old. ", she grunted. She could only assume he croaked and Celestia took over after she retired from ruling the land. Was Twilight the princess here? "Discord? Help us?", she chuckled as she pictured the odd draconequus as he 'helped' them. Probably turning them ducks. Or geese. He had to be silly.

 

She smiled as the inventor took in her surrounding areas,probably trying to figure out how things worked so she could take them home with her. "I have a feeling the lack of common magic.", she was not sure if there was any magic in this world. "Made the inhabits turn to gadgets to get their thing done.". Two legs were not better than four and the lack of wings. So much walking needed to be done.

 

She lead the pair towards the door, "Considering my last adventures, I seriously doubt this one's gonna end by asking a version of Celestia. But we can at least ask.", she glanced down at the doors. Normally one would simply push a hoof against the wood and walla! Both doors were metal with glass in the middle. Thankfully doors worked the same way here and in moments, they were a long hallway.

 

"First time I've been sent to the Principal's office for something good..", she whispered.

[Dunder]

Dunnie pondered the thought. Would Discord really be unwilling to actually help them? What if the discords from these two worlds met regularly and just never spilled the beans about another world. It could make sense for the chaotic noodle. "Well, if the Discord of this world talks to the Discord of our world, then surely we'll be alright." Dunnie explained then puffed her chest with confidence, "Discord and I are buddies since I'm a good enough sport with his silly games. Mostly since they're..usually fun." Like ogres and oubliettes. Fun of adventuring without the threat of getting actually stabbed.

 

"How many adventures have you been on where you've had the opportunity to talk to Celestia?" Dunnie asked as they entered the building. Oooooh, cool air! "Their magic is weird, but at least they have temperature control too." Dunnie said with a grin as she scanned the surroundings. Definitely seemed like a school. At least, the big fancy schools she never attended. "Also what are you getting sent to the principal's office for?" she teased in a friendly manner, "Eating your salad not with your salad fork?"

And after some instructions following, they were at the door to the office. "Excellent! Now just to head on insi--" the fuzzy haired girl tried to explain as she pushed on the door's unlocking contraption. Instead, Dunnie walked into the door with a light 'thud.' "What in the--?!" She exclaimed after regaining her awareness. She struggled against the door, pushing, pulling, trying to twist the pushing contraption in every which way with no prevail.

"Locked?!" She peeked through the little window, eyes scanning the dimly lit room and catching no one inside. "The room is empty...?" She backed off and scratched her chin. "Bevel! Blast 'er open!" She shouted with conviction and pointed at the not-yet-blasted thing. They needed answers, darnit!

[Pretzelparty]

 

Bevel couldn't help but giggle at the exchange between Dunnie and Fire. Sadly, she couldn't think of much to contribute. In Talonopolis she had often worked to be a model student despite the culture (and species) clash she often had to go through. Keeping out of the principal's office was on the top of her priorities back then, Though now with the pep back in her step she couldn't help but think such feelings were silly. It was almost as silly as seeing Dunnie walk into the door with a thud. The inventor let out an undignified snort in an attempt to stifle her reflexive laugh. It became harder to restrain as her friend began what seemed to be a one woman assault on the entryway in her attempts to get the door open. 

"Er, I think blasting might be a bit much." She walked up to the door and looked at the knob, "They had things like this in Talonopolis. Behold!" Bevel puffed out her chest and extended her arm, spreading out those weird things on the end: The digits. Then grasped the knob and turned, producing a clicking sound before pushing the door in and leaving the way open for her friends. 

She spread out her arms and grinned, "Ta-da!"

[tacobob]

 

“While I was still rather annoyed at him over having nasty old spoiled chocolate milk dumped on me right before a shift..”, the former Pegasus whispered as they walked down the hall. “I’ve decided it would be wise not to be friendly with a guy who could literally do anything to you, anywhere and anytime. He kind of still scares me, thankfully it appears Lady Fluttershy has kept him from going all ‘King Discord’ on us all."

 

Celestia? She glanced over at the strange sight that was her former colt-friend. What was so bizarre moments ago, the officer was quickly finding somewhat appealing. Dunnie’s hopelessly long legs, hairless face along with those incredibly long stockings. It must have taken her ages to put those on...But did she? Whatever magic that transported them into this weird world made sure they were fully dressed, which was nice. And these creatures they were had such tiny little mouths and noses. The eyes were about the same. "I had spoken to her a few times during my stay in Canterlot. Now I take my orders from Princess Twilight now...But even in Canterlot, it was rarely anything official.."

 

Her former favorite fuzzy brown pony had another question.

 

“Before I joined the R.E.A, I was a horrible little pony.”, she kept her voice down low. “Rude and a bit of a bully. I even had my mane cut short during my sophomore year...It looked horrible, but it was easy to maintain.” Her eyes trailed the doors. It was weird. The letters were different, but she could read them as if they were Equestrian. “I got into all kinds of fights, and while I made sure my grades were good, but not nerd-good, I was rather rude to my teachers...”, she sighed, “Wish I could could go back and change all that. Be a good girl. Not be such a jerk to my parents.  Maybe even Wind Walker being born fixed me as well, as I usually had to watch her..”

 

Fire Walker watched as he old friend tried to open the door. “Er...I think...You position your hand, like a cup and reach around the knob...I think.”

 

Thankfully nobody was here to watch this, and being the smart sort, Bevel was able to get them through the puzzle-door. Things were easy when you were as clever as Bevel was.

 

However the room they entered was also empty. “Weird.”, Fire whispered, forgetting they could talk normal for the moment. She did notice one thing. An small box rested on desk with an odd version of the R.E.A logo. It was locked. “Oh. These. Keys..”, she had felt a few keys hit her thigh when she first entered the odd world. There were a few keys that hung from her belt. One of them fit just right. She opened the box and found another key, an map of the school and note. It read. “GO TO THE BASEMENT.”. It was written in red ink.

 

“Guess we have our first orders.”, she grasped the key and held I up.

 

[Dunder]

Dunnie blushed, realizing she should have remembered how to use a doorknob. But she did! It was just she didn't remember or know how to use these hands. If only she had been born a griffon... And had seen Fire with short hair. She looked to the other previous pegasus. Maybe not in her pony form, but in this form a short haircut could be pulled off easier. With the thinner neck, straighter stature. No long hair drifting down and distracting from... Dunnie shook her head and looked away.

 

"I did that! I grabbed the knob, but I'm just not used to..." She reached a hand up, flexing her hands to a grip a couple of times to practice the motion. She then wrapped the arm around Bevel, pulling her close with aggressive appreciation and a wide grin. "This is why we got you! You're so smart, Bevel."

 

She led Bevel in with an arm around her into the empty room, looking around. Her grasp on the shorter woman slowly loosening until she was looking around completely. "You know, I should talk to Wind again, too. I miss the little fluffball of fun and energy." She whispered to match the tone as Fire went forward to examine the desk and the box atop it.

 

Dunnie's attention was grabbed as the keys jiggled gently, breaking the silence of the room. Dunnie rubbed her chin thoughtfully and started patting herself down through her clothes until she felt something out of place.  She pulled her jacket open and reached into a breast pocket, pulling out a rather thin, shiny metallic device with another material embedded along two sides of it. As if she suddenly recalled a distant memory, she pushed a switch on one side and on the other a matching metal blade swung out and locked into place.

 

Her hand came up to examine it a bit better in the light. The whole knife was shiny silver in color, except white grips on both sides with a golden design of a sun inlaid in each. "Hmm...this could be useful." She grinned, "Glad I thought to check my pockets." She gave a mischievous and satisfied smile. She looked to Fire who held up the key.

 

"First orders?" Dunnie unlocked the blade and put the knife back into a safe configuration. She walked over and examined the key, then the red note and map in the box. She picked up the map and examined it for a moment, "Seems fate is finally smiling on us! Quickly, let's go to the basement before we miss something." She looked at the map, turning to face the door, then re-oriented the map a few times in her hands. "This way! We should be able to get the basement with a left, then right, then left turn." She pointed at each. A path that would stick to the edge of the building.