NEW MOON: EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Princess Twilight Sparkle stood alone in the room housing the mirror that served as a portal to another world.
It was a strange world, strange and yet exciting, with its own versions of her very best friends, as well as so many other ponies she knew and cared for.
It had been several weeks since her journey to that other world. She had told her friends about that world, and what she saw there, though she felt she had very little to tell because her time had been so brief, her attention focused on reclaiming her Element of Magic.
She still often thought of the girls in that world, the wonderous and strange things she had seen...and him, of course. Oh, certainly Equestria had its version of Flash Sentry, but...in her mind, that Flash Sentry was the "real" Flash Sentry.
She idly wondered if that world's version of herself had ever found her destiny. In the weeks since her departure, she had thought about something the other Pinkie Pie had said; it was clear to her that there was another her, another Twilight Sparkle, who existed in that world, who had not yet found those destined to be her best friends.
While she had been busy over the weeks since the Princess Summit, she felt compelled to make a trip back to the Crystal Empire, to stand here in this room.
"I really wish I could go back and visit," she said to the empty room. She trotted forward to stand directly before the mysterious magic mirror. She stared at her reflection, at the sparkling Element of Magic embedded into her crown. "If only I had more time to study that other world..."
Her reflection shimmered, rippled, and swirled. Suddenly, she was staring at the hornless, wingless, small-nosed being she had transformed into, who was smiling gently at her. "I'd like to see your world. It must be so magical and amazing!"
Twilight blinked. "Wait...what?"
The Twilight in the mirror waved at her. "So you're the other me. The Pony Princess."
Twilight reared, eyes wide in shock. "What the huh?"
The Twilight in the mirror giggled. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Twilight edged closer to the mirror, wary and alert, head low. "I'm just imagining things," she said primly. "I'm tired and I'm thinking too hard about the other world and I'm imagining this."
"No, you're not. I'm really here. It's nice to meet you, Twilight Sparkle. I'm...well...Twilight Sparkle."
Twilight keeled over.
"Uhh...Twilight? Me? Pony me? Helloooooo....?"
* * * * *
Cadance, Shining Armor, Luna, and Twilight stood in the mirror room the following day. The others had been skeptical when Twilight told them what she saw, and she herself thought it might have been her imagination.
But now, all four ponies believed that Twilight's experience from the night before was real, because the Twilight Sparkle of the other world now stood in the mirror's reflection, smiling at them.
"How...how is this possible?" Luna wondered. "The portal is closed. Even when it was open, communication between the worlds was not possible, only transit!"
"I'm not sure either," the other Twilight said. "But then, I didn't even believe in magic until I saw the videos some of the freshmen put up on EweTube."
"Videos?" Twilight asked. "Somepo—err, somebody recorded our fight with Sunset Shimmer?"
"They sure did."
"But I thought she hypnotized everyone!"
"Only the ones who were inside the school. The ones who caught it on camera were late to the dance."
Luna coughed. "Is there anypony on your side who might know more about magic?"
The other Twilight shook her head. "Nobody I can think of. Like I said, magic isn't even supposed to be real here."
"So...Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and the others...they told you about what happened? About me?"
The other Twilight laughed. "They sure did! I had a hard time believing there was another me. I thought they were crazy until they showed me pictures and videos of you. You even had the same dog as me!"
"I'm curious," Cadance interrupted. "How did you come to discover you could speak to our Twilight?"
"Well, I was just looking at the statue in front of the school the other day," the other Twilight began, "thinking about everything my new friends told me, and wondering what the world the other Twilight comes from is like. Then suddenly, I saw a weird room in the mirror! I thought I was just going nuts, but I decided to come back after school, and it was still there. Then, all of a sudden, I saw HER. She was talking to herself, so...I answered. Since she's me and I'm her. I think."
Cadance frowned. "You didn't attempt to cross the portal?"
"Actually, I did," the other Twilight said, shaking her head. "But I couldn't. When I put my hand on the portal, it's just...I can feel something strange, like it's liquid instead of solid, but I can't push through."
Twilight frowned, trotting up to the mirror. "Mind if I try something?" She reached up and placed her hoof against the mirror. The Element on her crown flared, bathing the mirror in a bright amethyst glow. The other Twilight raised her hand and placed it against her reflection's raised hoof. The others watching gasped as hand and hoof passed through the glass.
Twilight gasped. "I'm...I'm touching your hand!"
"And I feel your hoof!"
Twilight stepped away from the mirror; her Element went dark. The other Twilight pulled her hand out of the portal and let it fall to her side. "That was amazing!"
Luna rubbed her chin with her hoof. "Hmm. I believe I understand. It would appear the Element of Magic has become linked with the other world, enough that..."
"Enough that what?" Twilight asked.
"Enough that..." Luna frowned. "The six Elements combined might be able to force open the portal once again, even though scarcely two moons have passed since its last opening."
The other Twilight gasped. "Could you really do that? Would it be possible for me to visit your world? And bring my friends?"
Luna nodded. "IF I'm correct. But I should discuss this with my sister. She needs to know what is happening here. And...I do not believe she would so easily agree to such a reckless act..."
* * * * *
"It sounds like a WONDERFUL idea!" Celestia said.
"It does?" Cadance asked, raising a hoof and blinking.
"The opportunity to study a culture from a world parallel to our own, and to be studied in turn...I find it strangely compelling," Celestia said. "But...there could be a great risk involved. And...we would need to take great care not to upset the balance of our two worlds."
"You mean only one person can come to Equestria?" Twilight asked, disappointed.
"I was hoping my friends would be able to come," the other Twilight pouted.
Celestia raised a hoof to silence the Twilights. "I never said anything about only one visitor. What I meant to say is that each world should send an equal number of visitors to the other."
Twilight looked thoughtful. "So...if the other me wants to bring her friends, then I could go back over there with all of my friends!"
"Yes, indeed," Celestia said. "But before you get too excited...there would be a catch."
"What is it?" Twilight asked.
"You've already seen how dangerous the Element of Magic is to that other world," Celestia said. "Taking all six Elements of Harmony into the other world is absolutely out of the question."
"But sister...all six Elements would be necessary to open the portal," Luna pointed out.
Celestia nodded. "Twilight Sparkle and her friends would be able to open the portal long enough for the two groups to trade places. However," she said, "They would need to remove the Elements before leaving Equestria. They would not be able to open the portal from the other side, and I doubt it will remain open for a full three days."
"How long WOULD it stay open?" Twilight asked.
"With any luck? Long enough for everypony to make it across safely."
Twilight paled.
"BUT," Celestia said, "it would open again on its own in thirty moons." She fixed each Twilight with a serious, stern gaze. "If you truly wish to do this, everypony involved has to be absolutely clear on this: if you go through the portal, it will be thirty moons before you can return to your own world." She turned and cantered to the exit. "Think about this carefully," she advised.
After she left, the two Twilights looked at one another. Neither needed to say a word; both were thinking the same thing.
* * * * *
"Are you KIDDING?!"
Rainbow Dash dribbled a soccer ball on her knee, hands behind her head. A broad grin crossed her face.
The six girls had met up at Rarity's place; Twilight had explained to them the events of the past day, the sudden appearance of that other Twilight Sparkle in the portal, and the possibility that the six friends could visit another world.
"Whee! Road trip!" Pinkie Pie said, laughing. "It sounds like fun!"
"It...sounds dangerous," Fluttershy said, frowning. "But...then again, that other world has talking ponies, right?"
"I saw four of them standing around with the other Twilight," Twilight said. "Although they looked more like full-grown horses than ponies. All but one of them had horns AND wings. I couldn't help but think how unusual that is."
"Ah like horses," Applejack said.
"Oh, I love all kinds of animals," Fluttershy said. "I just don't know if all this going to another magic world thing is...well...safe."
"Well, I for one wouldn't mind getting to see that adorable little Spikey-Wikey again," Rarity said. "Oh, and the other Twilight, of course."
"Uh, Rarity?" Twilight said. "You won't actually be seeing her. I mean, not for very long. Once we're over there, she'll be over here, along with her friends—the pony versions of each of you."
"Oh, yes. Yes, of course."
"But still, a whole WORLD full of ponies..." Fluttershy said, somewhat dreamily.
"Yyyyyyeah, Fluttershy? When we go through the portal, we'll turn into ponies."
Fluttershy blinked. "We'll...we'll turn into ponies?" she squeaked.
Twilight nodded.
Fluttershy shot out of her seat in a blink. "WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?!" she yelled.
Everybody stared at her.
"So hold up," Applejack said. "We'll turn inta ponies...an' them ponies'll turn inta us?"
Twilight nodded. "Yes, exactly. And they'll take our places here, just like we'll take their places in Equestria."
"An' uh, just whut exactly're we supposeta do there?" Applejack asked.
"Well, I'm pretty sure our pony counterparts aren't too different from us," Twilight said. "I mean, except for the other Twilight being a magical princess. That's..."
"Hey, as long as pony me can handle all my teams and doesn't tank my grades, I'm all for it," Rainbow Dash said.
"Rainbow, dear? Your grades are already tanked," Rarity said.
"Yeah, toilet tanked!" Pinkie added, laughing.
"An' uh, just how long're we gonna be in that there pony world?" Applejack asked.
Twilight grimaced. "Thirty moons." The others stared blankly at her. She rolled her eyes. "About two and a half years."
Her friends' jaws dropped. "WHAT?!"
* * * * *
"Are you CRAZY?!" Rainbow Dash asked. "THIRTY MOONS?! Away from our homes and our lives and everything we love?"
"Ah don't feel right about leavin' th' farm for even one moon, let alone thirty," Applejack said, shaking her head. "Big Mac's already got too big a share'a th' work, Ah don't wanna put it ALL on him. An' then there's Apple Bloom..."
"Don't worry about it!" Twilight said. "Look...the other usses, the ones from that other world...they'll be coming here, taking over our lives. The other Applejack is a farmer just like you. She has the same brother and sister. You'll see them every day. She'll take over your chores on the farm. She'll miss HER Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom just as much as you'll miss yours, I'm sure, but neither of you will be all alone." She turned to Rarity. "There's a Sweetie Belle there too!" She smiled. "And guess what? Everybody in that world wears clothes ALL THE TIME. ALL. THE. TIME, Rarity!"
Rarity's eyes lit up. "ALL the time, you say? Hmm..."
Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash. "And you'll be just as awesome there as you are here, and the other Rainbow Dash is the captain of every single sports team! And Fluttershy! The other Fluttershy loves animals just as much as you! She even has her own Angel Bunny!"
"Oh? That's...nice."
Twilight looked around at her friends, ears drooping. "Don't you see? This could be the greatest adventure we've ever been on! We've done so many amazing things together...this is an opportunity to be the first ponies to study a completely different world and bring that knowledge back to Equestria!"
The others looked at one another, a silent communication passing around the group.
"Can we sleep on it?" Rarity asked. "Could you just give us a little time to think about it?"
* * * * *
"Of course," Twilight said, twiddling her thumbs and rubbing the toe of one shoe against the floor. "I mean, this is a big decision, and there's lots of planning to do before we can even make the trip, and that's assuming the other me can convince HER friends to go along with this. Without them, this can't even happen at all." She looked at her friends, worry in her eyes. "You guys...I know you want to go. You're the ones who told ME all about Pony Princess Twilight Sparkle."
In the corner, the one person who had said nothing so far chuckled. "Take it from me...you girls should definitely go. How could you not want to go someplace so magical?"
Rainbow Dash shot the seventh girl present a glare and a frown. "If it's so great, why'd you leave?"
"Dashie...don't," Pinkie pleaded softly.
Dash looked away. "Sorry, Sunset."
Sunset Shimmer sighed. "It's fine." She shrugged. "I was wrong to leave. If I could've gone back with the Princess, I would have, but...I don't think I belong there anymore. Especially not after, well..."
"After you tried to invade Equestria with an army of zombie teenagers after you turned yourself and those two mooks of yours into demons with a stolen Element of Magic?" Pinkie asked. Then, she covered her mouth with her hands. "Oops. Sorry!"
Sunset snorted. "So I'm a bad girl. I'm trying to do better."
"We're getting off track here," Twilight said. "Look...I don't want to force anyone to do anything they don't want to do. Just...think about it, okay?"
Applejack smiled. "Course we will, Twi."
* * * * *
"—so now they want to come over here but for them to come over here we have to go over there and it sounds like a lot of fun but I don't want to miss the twins growing up and I don't know if the other Pinkie can handle all the stuff I do here because she might not even know what it is I do do here, or even where I doo-doo here, and..." Pinkie trailed off. "What do you think, Mrs. Cake?"
Mrs. Cake smiled indulgently. "Pinkie, you're an adult. You can make your own decisions. If you want to go on this adventure of Twilight's, then by all means, go! We'll manage just fine."
"But you'll come to see me off if I go, right?"
"Of course. We'll be right there with you. And I promise we won't let anything happen back here without taking a picture for when you get back. And when you come back, we'll throw YOU a party!"
Pinkie squeaked. "A welcome-back-from-the-other-world party sounds like fun!" She frowned. "But...you do know how long I'll be gone for, right? I mean, it's like...it's like a REALLY LONG TIME! I mean, will you even still remember me after all that time?"
Mrs. Cake rolled her eyes. "Who could possibly forget you, Pinkie Pie? Not me, not even in three hundred moons."
* * * * *
"Sweetie Belle, I have something important to tell you."
Sweetie Belle climbed up onto her sister's plush bed, giving Rarity her full attention. "What's up?" she asked.
Rarity was busily organizing a rack of her designs. "My friends and I are going on a trip. We might be gone quite some time."
"Yeah, I heard something about that. But that other Rarity's coming here, right?"
"Well, yes. And she also has a Sweetie Belle of her own, so the two of you should be just like the two of us."
"Well, maybe not JUST like," Sweetie Belle said. "I don't think any other Rarity could take the place of MY sister, no matter how alike she is."
Rarity smiled. "But...you'll be okay with this, I hope?"
"Sure," Sweetie Belle said. "I kinda wish I could go along. It sounds like a great adventure."
"Yes, but you will have a more important job. You'll be helping the other me settle in and keep things running smoothly while I'm away. I'm certain the other Sweetie Belle is going to be doing the same for me."
Sweetie nodded. "You can count on me, big sis!"
* * * * *
"Now Angel, you need to really help the other Fluttershy out, because if she's anything like me, well...she'll need it."
The white rabbit saluted.
"That's my little guy! I'll miss you so very much."
* * * * *
"Ah just don't know..."
"You should TOTALLY go, big sis!"
"Eeyup!"
"But...won't y'all be needin' mah help here on th' farm?"
"There's an Applejack from that other world comin' here, right? If she's as much like you as Twilight says she is, then we don't got nothin' t' worry about!"
"Y'all go on now," Big Macintosh said, rubbing Applejack's hat in her face playfully. "We'll be just fine. Say howdy t' me for me."
* * * * *
"So yeah, I'm goin' to this whole other world for a while. But don't go thinkin' you can slack off and be lazy just because I'm gone! I want 120% from you every day! If I come back and find out you've gotten weak and lazy, I'll kick your butt!"
Tank blinked slowly, placidly up at Rainbow Dash.
* * * * *
Six mares stood before the mirror in the Crystal Palace, surrounded by the friends and loved ones they would be leaving behind. On the other side of the mirror, they could see their human counterparts bustling around on the great lawn of Canterlot High, though it was difficult to tell exactly what was happening there.
"Alright, listen up, everypony!" Twilight said. "Don't take anything from here in Equestria across with you. I know I asked you all to pack bags, but those aren't for you. They're for our counterparts. Everypony who's here to say goodbye and welcome our guests, you'll have to help them get used to having hooves and walking on all fours. If what I went through is any indication, it'll be a while before they really learn how to get around. The same goes for you all. Walking on two legs and having hands is NOT easy, trust me! The other usses have bags packed for all of us, too. Be sure to take excellent care of what you're borrowing from them!"
"We GET IT already, Twilight," Rainbow Dash groaned.
Shaking her head, Twilight stepped up to the mirror. "Are you ready?" she asked the other Twilight.
"Yes. We're ready."
Twilight nodded and looked back to her friends, who each sported their Element. Nodding in satisfaction, she opened her mind to the Elements of Harmony, gathering their power at the single, brilliant point of pure energy upon her head. A swirling shaft of rainbow light poured forth from the six mares, striking the mirror, which began to twist and warp...
A wide, kaleidoscopic tunnel opened up in the mirror room.
Without another word, six ponies moved toward the shimmering prismatic vortex, while six human girls approached from the opposite side. As they met in the middle, a bright, shining light emanated from them...
The roomful of ponies saw six human girls disappearing into the eye-burning light of the vortex, while six ponies set hoof in the Crystal Palace for the very first time.
Celestia looked around at the new arrivals and smiled warmly. "Welcome to Equestria, my little humans."
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