-A World Outside Equestria-
/Chapter: Prologue /Author: lil-rainbow -
It was Applebuck Season in the magical land of Equestria. The energetic filly named Applejack was running up and down the streets of Ponyville in search of Twilight Sparkle. She almost tripped over a market stall as she ran into Sugarcube Corner.
"Twilight!" Applejack shouted panting as she saw Twilight buying a muffin from Mrs. Cake.
"Oh hi AJ. What's wrong?" asked Twilight.
"You need ta get everypony down to Sweet Apple Acres now! Big Macintosh has found something while buckin' apples in the orchard! Something magic n'all that!" It wasn't often that Applejack asked for help from somepony, but she and her family had no experience in the field of magic. Twilight, being a unicorn and living in a library, knew all about magic.
"Why do you need everypony there?"
"Ya seriously don't want ta be alone when ya see this, Twi."
"Erm... Now I'm a little worried..."
"You and the other ponies meet me at the gate outside of Sweet Apple Acres in half an hour. Ok?"
"...Ok..."
"Aww, no muffin then?" Spike complained.
Twilight ran to the pegasus Fluttershy's small house on the edge of the large Everfree Forest. Twilight found her tending to a rabbit in a field nearby.
"Now you be more careful when you're hopping around over there. I know it's very interesting, but-" Fluttershy was interrupted by Twilight shouting.
"Fluttershy! We need to talk now!" The animals panicked and were hopping, running and flying about it a worried frenzy.
"Oh Twilight, look what you've done!"
"Sorry, but this is urgent. Meet AJ at Sweet Apple Acres. She'll explain everything."
"But the animals..."
"They'll have to wait."
"Um... Er... Ok."
"I could look after the animals!" Spike exclaimed.
"Spike, you did a really bad job of it last time. You're coming with me."
"But..."
"Now."
Twilight then sped to the Café, stopping only to apologise to a small pony she knocked over while running. She found Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie sharing some hay fries.
"And then I did a loop de loop and BAM! All the clouds were gone before you could say 'Rainbow Dash is amazing'!" Rainbow Dash was telling Pinkie Pie some rather exaggerated stories of what she did last week on weather patrol.
"That was sooooo cool! Tell me another one!" said Pinkie Pie.
"Hey guys! Applejack wants us at Sweet Apple Acres in..." She checked her watch. "Ten minutes."
"What for?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Applejack will explain when you get there. Now go!"
"Oooooooooh this is sooo exciting! I wonder what it is? Maybe it's a surprise party! What do you think it is Rainbow Dash? Come on, tell me tell me!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"Pinkie, that's really going to annoy me..."
"Oh I only asked! PLEASE TELL ME!"
Rainbow Dash groaned.
"Come on Spike... What are you doing?" Spike looked up at Twilight. His mouth was stuffed with hay fries. Twilight rolled her eyes.
Rarity was making a shimmering dress ready for a customer's party. She was humming lightly to herself when Twilight burst through the boutique doors.
"What is the meaning of this Twilight?" Rarity shouted.
"Hi... Rarity..." Spike said as if he was in a trance.
"We need to get to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack wants us to see something." Twilight replied calmly.
Rarity sighed. "And what does that buffoon want?"
"She's seen something magical in the orchard and wants us to see it as well."
"Fine. I'll come. But this better not take too long, I need to finish this dress..."
All the ponies were gathered outside Sweet Apple Acres. There was excitment among the ponies as Twilight approached the group with Rarity.
"Alright y'all. Listen up..." Applejack stopped speaking for a second. "Rarity. I never expected YOU to come... Anyways, Big Macintosh has found some sort of magic portal thing. We don't know where in tarnations it leads to, or where it came from, but we wanna find out. Who's with me?"
All the ponies cheered half-heartedly except for Rarity and Fluttershy.
"What's wrong with you two?" Applejack asked, quite annoyed.
"Ugh! I'm not going in that muddy orchard! I might get my hooves dirty!" replied Rarity in disgust.
"What if it's, like, um, dangerous?" Fluttershy whispered.
"WILL YOU TWO STOP BEING CHICKENS AND GETTA MOVE ON?" shouted Applejack. Fluttershy trotted on with her head down, staying very quiet. Rarity, however was anything but quiet.
"Oh, my hooves! Can't these orchards be a little less... Muddy?" Rarity was complaining.
"No, trees need dirt to grow, duh!" Applejack replied in an annoyed way.
Rarity sighed and sobbed.
Applejack suddenly stopped.
"There it is!" she exclaimed.
"I've never seen anything like it..." said Twilight quietly. "I must take notes for Princess Celestia! Spike! Take a memo. Let's see... Large hole in a tree... Glowing white... Seems to have-" Spike stopped writing when his quill and parchment flew out of his hand and into the portal.
"What the?" Spike said, confused.
"Hah! I'll get them back for you, Spike!" Rainbow Dash shouted before flying into the air, doing a flip and zooming into the portal.
"Rainbow Dash, wait!" Twilight shouted. Everypony (and Spike) dove into the portal after her.
