~twilight~
Twilight woke up and got ready for her daily tasks, anything to keep herself busy. a few decades have passed since her second visit to her friends lot, and she made it a point to visit them twice a year now. Luna had insisted on keeping her company during her free time. "spike! time to get up, we have work to do" Twilight said as she tried waking him up. She waved an emerald under his nose, getting his immediate attention. "huh? I-I m up I m up!" spike said.
Once he had enthusiastically munched on the treat they headed for breakfast, then the throne room for daily royal duties. The day dragged on for Twilight, liking organization as much as she did-she was not a fan of paperwork after seeing it for so many years. Soon it was lunch time and they chose to join Princess Luna and Celestia in Canterlot.
~Jim~
'looks like the biggest threat is gone' thought Jim as he made his way to the library at the tree castle. After watching the sentient life forms, He noticed they appeared inherently peaceful. Jim didn't feel like taking his chances though and kept a low profile. He wasn't comfortable in a new world yet, and could only conclude he was the only human in the new land.
he thought it strange for a public library to be in a castle. he had been in this strange land a week or so, and waited till that dragon had left to risk attention. He made his way to the library, and began his search for anything that would explain things for him. what this place was, how he got here, and if there was a way back or not.
Jim found a book titled Equestrian history, which he had hoped would answer at least a few of his questions. He had just finished the tale of nightmare moon when he felt a strange tugging sensation. he was somehow in a large open room with what seemed to be a throne with what the book called an Alicorn sitting upon it. A mare by the looks of her. He looked about for the closest exit, when he suddenly realized he could not move.
Jim looked to the pony adorning the throne in front of him, noticing a strange glow surrounding its horn, what struck his curiosity was the book she wore around her neck. Jim hoped the books he read were right, and that the pony binding him was peaceful. his thoughts were cut short as a woman s voice brought him back to reality.
~Twilight~
Twilight arrived back at her castle later than she had intended, her meeting having to do with an obscene magic surge near the Everfree last week. After which she stayed to watch Luna raise her moon for a bit. Twilight noticed the door was cracked at ground floor. Thinking one of the towns ponies was looking for a book, she entered thinking a young filly or colt had forgotten to close the door as young ones often tend to do. She stopped short when she instead saw a human browsing the library. Not wanting to cause a panic and alert the few guards she had around, she froze him like she had her friends in the princesses old castle. Twilight then teleported him to the throne room for a private discussion.
"I will be back in a minute. please have a seat, I have opted not to cause a panic among my guards. The door just so you know is locked". Twilight said as she unfroze him and headed to her room. She ditched her royal accessories on her dresser, keeping the book however. No matter how many decades pass, she still preferred to go without unless it was needed. After readying herself for her 'guest', she headed back to her throne room ready for a grasp of the situation.
"so...do you have a name sir"? Twilight asked trying to show he had no reason to panic. She saw him eye her as he responded. "Jim, and you are"? He put the book down as he tensed a little, as if readying himself to run. "hello Jim, my name is twilight sparkle. I have a few questions I would like to ask before I show you to the guest room" that gained her a look of confusion. "no reason to put you in the streets, so far" She explained.
"Ok...but can I ask one first" he said still confused. "Of course Jim, what is it" She replied curious what he wanted to know.
"is it true your race is...inherently peaceful"? Twilight tilted her head slightly to the left ' interesting question' she thought " yes its true, why do you ask" Jim replied " I ve been thinking it strange how cheery the townsfolk were after watching them for a while. wanted to make sure though" Twilight was more than curious what that meant, but had an idea. She noticed he had relaxed slightly at her answer. 'good' she thought, glad to have made progress.
"now for a question of my own, what is a human doing in Equestria-and sorry if its rude but should I be worried" she asked, as she saw him look at her with a curiousness in his eyes. " how does a pony princess from another world know what I am? and worried about what" Jim asked concerned.
Twilight chuckled lightly at that "...don t worry, I've been to a human world once before. should I be worried you are dangerous to my subjects" She replied with a smile. She knew full well he was a different human than she was used to. " you have? does that mean I can get home? wait...a danger? no...I m not the dangerous kind" he asked hopefully, understanding her concern. Twilight wasn't happy with this, she knew he could not get home. "I m sorry, but you cannot go home. it would be impossible" Twilight poked the ground with her right hoof slightly at this.
"why not, you've been there right" he asked confused and a little in panic. Twilight had made a visual to demonstrate her point. using her magic, several spheres joined in a circle appeared contained within a giant bubble. a few feet away was another giant bubble, with more smaller spheres in a joined circle. What caught Jims eye was that there were many circles of spheres in each giant bubble.
Twilight felt bad, but continued on and explained. "I fear you may come from an alternate universe, not a parallel one. even worse, we don't know what level universe it is. a level 1 universe is hard enough to reach, I m sorry. the human world I visited, was a mirror world of Equestria" Jim looked beaten, clearly not excited from the news.
"why don't you rest in the guest room till dinner, I am sure you need time to think" Twilight showed Jim to his room, which was across from twilights room. "if you would like, I can bring dinner to you for today" She offered, seeing how down he seemed. "I don t get it, why would a princess treat me this way" He asked confused.
Twilight chuckled to herself as she pointed out the bathroom to him. "just call me twilight please, I may be a princess but I don t like formalities too much. it's still awkward even among the subjects" She blushed lightly at being called princess by the towns ponies. "and you've been princess how long" Jim asked thinking she may be new to the role. "nearly a century and a half now" Twilight said with a smirk as she left.
Jim lay in bed, thinking about what Twilight said. He could no longer go home, and he still did not understand why she wanted to be friends. 'She barely knows me' he thought. it wasn't long till he fell asleep, the bed far more comfortable than camping near town.
3 hours later
*knock knock*
Jim awoke to twilight knocking on his door, and noticed a blanket he had not pulled over himself. He saw Twilight walk in with a tray of food floating next to her. "sorry if I woke you, but I m having dinner early" She stated laying the tray on the bedside table with her magic. "did you come in earlier? I don't think I covered up before falling asleep" Jim asked curiously. Twilight had the slightest hint of a blush on her cheeks. "yes actually, I had come to ask what you wanted for dinner. Sorry, but I know how easy humans can get sick in the elements when asleep" she was avoiding eye contact.
"you do" he asked. "well...I had a thin cover when I was in the human world, still a little cold" Twilight explained.
" I ve been meaning to ask, were you still a pony in that world"? Jim asked, Twilight making it sound as if she was human. Twilight looked at him as if he was standing on his head. "of course not, I was human. the mirror I went through somehow changed me and spike. he became a dog" she giggled at the memory but quickly stifled it when he just raised an eyebrow. "spike was smaller back then..." she said as an afterthought.
"so...what is for dinner" Jim asked curious what she had made without knowing his favorites. "well...I know humans are omnivores, but for today you will have to settle for just eggs" Jim smiled a little at that, thankful for more than leftovers from-what was I called? 'sugarcube corner'? " that's fine...better than the pastries I ve been living off this week" Twilight didn't like the sound of that, but before she could say anything he was already destroying the food much like Rainbow would have.
scrambled eggs with spices and cheese mixed in, veggie eggrolls and some rice seasoned with a little salt and various diced vegetables. .
"I ll...leave you for a few minutes" she awkwardly chuckled a little as she backed out of the room. 'how hungry is he...sheet' she thought being reminded of pinkie and her silly antics. Jim noticed the slight drop in enthusiasm as twilight backed out of the room, but let it go deciding it better he not pry. after finishing his meal, he went to bed, stripping to his boxers, and enjoying the comfy bed. Jim couldn't help but wonder why Twilight seemed so distant, him being a new person not counting.