"Your name is Twilight, too? This can't be a coincidence."
"Who's saying this? Hello? Is anypony there?"
"With the power of the Chaos Emeralds, the Crystal Empire, no, all of Equestria is mine!"
"Who are you? What are these 'Chaos Emeralds'? What's going on? I demand an answer!"
"Never fear, Princess Twilight of Friendship," spoke a voice familiar to the younger alicorn's ears, "for I can reveal the meaning behind these perplexing images."
"Oh thank goodness, it's you, Princess Luna," Twilight replied, a hint of relief in her voice. "I'd like to know what's going on here."
"I would too, alas, I do not have the answers you seek. Just know that when the time comes, all will be revealed at the Crystal Empire."
"Wait," called Twilight and Luna dissipated from existence. "What do you mean? What do I do? Who do I talk to?"
It was a normal day in Ponyville, the first since Lord Tirek was banished back to Tartarus. Princess Twilight and the others were traversing the town square, helping the citizens rebuild. Most ponies were waiting for Twilight to assign to them their usual routines, except that the alicorn was not all there, especially since what had happened the previous night.
"Twilight, you feelin' okay?" queried Applejack.
"I'm fine," replied the alicorn, stifling another yawn. "I couldn't sleep at all last night. I had a weird dream last night, and I have no idea what it meant. To make it worse, Princess Luna said she didn't know either, just that 'when the time comes, all will be revealed at the Crystal Empire'."
"I wouldn't worry about it too much, Twilight," said Spike, "It's probably nothing. Hey, I've got an idea: after were done here and anywhere else that needs our help, how about we go to the beach? I hear Los Caballos is beautiful this time of year."
"I don't really see the reason why we're here," said Hoyden. The light gray Earth Pony, along with his wife Sundance were at Los Caballos beach foal-sitting the Manehattan Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Because," replied Sundance, "this will be a perfect chance for us to practice for when our foal will arrive."
"Oh, yeah. Hey, girls, how are you holding up?"
"We're doin' fine," replied Babs Seed, "'cept Moon Flash and Checker Flag can't decide where ta put our sand castle."
"How about over there?" asked a familiar voice.
"Cousin Applejack!"
Applejack, along with Nyx, Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Spike, Fluttershy and Princess Twilight had just arrived at the beach.
"Princess Twilight!" exclaimed Sundance. "What manner of royal business brings you to Los Caballos?"
"None whatsoever," replied Twilight. "I'm just here to relax with my friends and…."
"Excuse me," called out an unknown voice. "Can you help me out?"
"Sure," replied Fluttershy, "what can we help you with?"
The figure who had asked for the Mane Six's help was what looked a bipedal blue hedgehog wearing red sneakers and white gloves. With him was a female figure that looked like a female brown-furred, red headed lion cub.
"Well, we're looking for someone named Twilight."
"Present," said Twilight.
"Your name is Twilight, too? This can't be a coincidence."
"Wait, who are you exactly?" asked Rarity.
"Oh, right, let me explain. My name is Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog and this is Afia; we're looking for someone with the same first name as your friend."
"Well, what do they look like?" Sundance inquired. "Maybe we could help you find them."
"Thanks," said Afia. "The Twilight we're looking for is a cat girl around eight years old and a little taller as your lizard friend."
"For your information," an indignant Spike told Sonic, "I am a dragoni], not a lizard. There is a difference, you know."
This is weird, thought Twilight. This is happening just like my dreams. Could it be more than just a dream? "Sundance, can you and Spike make sure Babs and the others get to Ponyville safely? We've got some work to do."
[hr]
"…And that was the second time I got my head stuck in that tree," related Checker Flag. "Fortunately, somepony was there so see if I was okay and…"
"Yo, I hate to interrupt," said Babs, pointing towards Ponyville, "but d'you see what I see?"
Babs and the others were in Ponyville, headed to Sweet Apple Acres to place the Manehattan Crusaders under the care of Granny Smith and Big Macintosh, when they couldn't believe what they saw: there, in the middle of town was Megan Richards their freind from Earth., escorting an orange-haired cat girl and what looked like a brown, teddy bear like creature.
"Yeah," replied Spike, "I see it too. Hey, Megan!"
"Spike?" replied Megan, recognizing her dragon friend. "It [i]is[/i] you!"
"Oh, that's right," said Spike. "Megan, I'd like you to meet Hoyden, Sundance, Nyx and the Cutie Mark Crusaders: Babs Seed, Moon Flash and Checker Flag."
"Oh? They're not like the Cutie Mark Crusaders here in Ponyville," Megan remarked.
"That's because we're the Manehattan branch," said Babs. "Who's the feline?"
"Hello," greeted the cat girl. "My name is Twilight Katswell, and this is my pet, Pooky. Say 'hello', Pooky."
"Teddiursa!" greeted the bear creature.
"Wait," realized Sundance. "Did you say your name was Twilight?"
"Yes I did," replied the cat girl to the Earth Pony. "Why do you ask?"
"Because friends of yours was looking for you and I think they might be at the Everfree Forest."
To Be Continued…
Next Time: More visitors from another world join our heroes for the adventure of a lifetime. Find out who they are in Mysterious Meeting, Part Two. Don't miss it!