A/N: Well, here is the next chapter. It's a bit short, but it's all good.

Just a heads up, I will taking a bit of a small hiatus from this story for now. I just have a lot in mind and a oneshot that I am working on called "The Myth of the Holy Sword" as it is related to Learning To Live but is about the Song of Order itself. Once I have done that and got a lot of stuff off of my mind, I will get back to this story in the next chapter.

Also, got more tickets to concerts. I'll be seeing Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance on his solo tour, along with Deep Purple (close to front row, baby!) and I might think of seeing Robert Plant, Slayer on the Mayhem Tour and Smashing Pumpkins. Slipknot and Lamb of God is maybe for me as I need to watch how I spend my money if I need to get a new guitar.

Alas, let us begin our review responses.

Raven 105: Starlight Glimmer in my story? Hmmm, I have something like that in mind for a later chapter, so prepare yourself BIG TIME. It's going to be big. Also don't worry about the Tirek idea as I forgive you. Brayden a prince? Well, I think it's more that if they get married then it's a yes.

jvs12: Thank you yet again.

billykilly: Expect some drama in a later chapter when Brayden comes back to Equestria.

There we go, enjoy the chapter!

P.S. I've already begun developing the ending for Learning To Live, but it is too far away to think about or even discuss. Don't worry, it will all be worth it in the end.

I open my eyes again after a nice night of sleep. It had been a week since I had done my first training session with the Song of Order and being rained on by the clouds. Completely unaware about the weather that day, Rarity came along and helped me get to the Carousel Boutique to talk with her. Sweetie Belle came back of course, so I was able to talk with her as well about how her day was and if she aced the test. Turns out that she did, but she still didn't get her cutie mark. Who saw that coming? I did of course, but I know she'll eventually find her special talent she hoped for nevertheless.

I get up and out, doing the usual and making my bed and getting into a change of pyjamas to clothes. I slip on my short-sleeved purple t-shirt and my jeans. Once all of that is done, I head towards my bedroom door and pull it open towards me.

Today I had quite a plan in mind. What kind of plan is it you might be asking yourself? Remember that mirror that Twilight managed to bring back to the castle? For my plan, I was finally going to go through the mirror into the alternate universe of Equestria in which they are very human-like. There was something inside that I really wanted to see… or well, a citizen of Equestria to see. I needed to make sure that she was doing okay, so my guess is that I'll be there for two days maximum before making my return back to Equestria, so it should be all good from there.

I make my way down the steps and from the railing's view; I can see Fluttershy there in the living room, giving her animal friends some breakfast. She bears a smile on her face and she does not notice me yet. She places some acorns onto the ground, letting the squirrels scatter over there and gather enough acorns to munch on.

"There you go," Fluttershy says to the group of these wonderful woodland animals. "I hope you enjoy your breakfast."

She turns around and sees me coming down the last of the steps. "Good morning Brayden," Fluttershy says, trotting over to me. I approach her as well, letting her left front hoof reach out and touch the top of my right hand. "Did you sleep well last night?"

I nod my head with the smile growing slightly on my face. "I slept quite well last night, thanks to Princess Luna who guards my dreams," I told her. "I trust that you slept well too."

"That I did," She says to me. "But my dream seemed very important. I don't know who it was in my dream, but it was rather mysterious."

"Who was it in your dream?" I had asked. I take her left front hoof that was touching my right hand and gently hold onto it.

"I'm- I'm not sure, but he was really just slightly taller than me." Fluttershy says, sounding a bit curious.

I kept my smile when she told me this. "Is it Discord?" I asked her, sounding bright about it. "If it was, I knew that something along that line is going to happen-"

"No Brayden, I don't think about him in that way." Fluttershy says to me, with a giggle. "I see him more like a friend."

"Let me guess…" I told her, with a pause in my voice for a few moments. "Big Macintosh?"

"No, sorry," Fluttershy says, knowing I had guessed wrong again. "I also view him more like a friend as well. Plus he wasn't that tall."

"Well, whoever was in that dream last night, you'll run into him eventually." I told her sounding happy and bright.

There was the sound of a ding in the kitchen that perked up Fluttershy's ears when she heard it. "Oh, breakfast for you is ready." She confirms, letting go of my hand and trotting towards the kitchen to receive my food.

I follow behind her into the kitchen, taking my seat at the table by the window. Outside the clear cottage window, I could see the foals and fillies galloping along to get to school. Today was a Friday, so that meant that there was going to be no school for the weekend according to them. That was fine, as I didn't go to school, but knew what to do around Ponyville. The weather outside looked clear today and there was not a single cloud in the sky to confirm a day with clouds after all.

I can hear Fluttershy's hooves trotting towards the table with my food and I turn towards my plate after she set it down in front of me. A smile lit up on my face. It was one of my favorite breakfast foods to have in the morning. On my plate were some warm buttered toast and some over-easy eggs on the side. A personal favorite dish of mine to have, just about every morning I've had this, but with a few others on different mornings that made an exception.

I hear Fluttershy's hooves trot around my chair to the other side of the table, taking her place next to me by the window. She does not have the same plate as me, but more rather a bowl filled with various mixed berries and crunchy nuts. I turn back towards my plate, taking a slice of buttered toast and taking a bite out of it.

As usual, the taste of it is wonderful, especially when it is homemade by itself alone which really stood out. The bread that was used and toasted was that from the smell I recognized in town, cooked fresh by the baker every morning to give to his customers. Personally, I haven't taken a visit to his bakery store, but I could tell that it was him that used the right necessary ingredients to shape the bread loaf and cook it in the oven.

"Do you have a bit of a plan today?" Fluttershy asks me.

I can feel her warm right front hoof on the top of my left hand. My head turned towards her. The rays of the sun shine and light up a small bit of Fluttershy's pink mane. A smile blooms upon my lips. "Yes," I said to her. "My plan today is that I will be gone for at least two days."

"Two days?" She asked me. "Are you going to visit the princesses in Canterlot?"

I shook my head. "No, but I wish I was," I say with a chuckle. "I'm really going to go through the magic mirror and visit there."

Fluttershy was taking a sip from her glass cup, but as soon as I had mentioned the mirror; she spits out a bit upon her own surprise. "WHAT?!" She yelped in a rather worried tone as if it sounded dangerous. "B-But you can't!"

"Why not?" I said, really confused to why she was starting to get worried about me now.

Fluttershy looked very careful when she began to speak. "It's- well, because Princess Twilight has made the mirror off-limits to anypony here from entering. Besides Spike, she's not allowing anypony whatsoever, not even you to enter the mirror. She fears that as soon as you enter the portal, you'll get confused about being back in the world she was visiting. She told us that she looked different and there was another me there!"

"Well, that's because that version of Equestria is human based, like I am. Sure I might not have the same skin color, but they'll surely understand." I explained briefly to her.

"How did you know all about that? Did you witness something like that when you were back on Earth, watching us on the moving pictures or whatever they call them?" Fluttershy asks, sounding a bit confused near the end.

"Yes, and by the way those moving pictures are called televisions," I said to her. "I just need to enter it-"

The window opens up and from the outdoors, that pink pony that I knew and pretty much everypony knew popped her head through the window. "Aaaaaaand, you want to meet up with a unicorn there by the name of Sunset Shimmer who you knew that stole Twilight's element of harmony when she still had it, and then eventually changed for the better to be good. Not to mention she's already friends there with an alternate version of me whom I've never met. Period." She spoke out.

"Pinkie, how did you open that window?" Fluttershy asked, with a rather confused but with a look that the conversation was interrupted abruptly before I could explain. "That window was closed."

"Oh silly!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed with a smile upon her bright face as usual every day. "Your window wasn't closed nor locked. It was a tiny bit open and you didn't notice it. I overheard you and Brayden's conversation about his trip into the magic mirror, so I decided to open it up so I could join you. I was on my way back from my small nature walk. Ponies need their exercise after all."

Fluttershy pauses for a moment and then clears her throat. "Me and Brayden were just beginning our day with some breakfast."

Pinkie poked her head through the window a little more to see what the both of us were eating. "Ooooh, you've got some nice eggs on that plate of yours Brayden." She tells me.

I pull my plate back a bit in case Pinkie has any funny ideas, but in a rather joking way as I have a smile upon my face. "Yes, these are eggs made straight from the frying pan. And they were made for me." I told her.

"Don't worry Pinkie," Fluttershy said to her. "I made two extra eggs in case anypony came by. Would you like to have them?"

"Sure!" Pinkie says, excited. She moves away from the window and bounces up and down towards Fluttershy's front door. I heard the sound of her front door opening and closing, and the sound of Pinkie's bouncing.

She comes right into the kitchen and takes her seat right over at the table across from me. Fluttershy gets up and out of her seat, trotting behind me and then right over to the extra plate sitting on the counter getting a fork and some extra warm buttered toast for her to have. After she has put them onto a plate, she trots over to the table, giving it to Pinkie.

Pinkie takes the fork and takes an egg from underneath. To avoid the spillage that would soon about leak from under the egg, she slipped that entire egg into her mouth and then there was a gulping sound. The egg she put inside her mouth was gone. On the other hoof, or hand- whatever, I'll just say hoof even though I have hands. I was completely surprised by how Pinkie did that.

"How did you do that Pinkie?" I had asked, sounding a little curious. "And by the way, be careful because you might get a tummy ache if you eat too fast."

She looks at me and smiles. "Oh, that's easy. I have a big stomach." She told me.

"Oh no wonder," I said. I side another bite of my eggs into my mouth, chewing it down and swallowing before I talked again. "You are Pinkie Pie after all."

I can hear Fluttershy take her seat right next to me. "And you are the most cheerful friend ever." She said with tone of honesty in her voice.

Most of breakfast time was fun from there forward on. The three of us just rather conversed about stuff that was happening in our lives or me just sharing a funny story that happened while I was back on Earth. Pinkie on the other hand shared about the first date that she had with Cheese Sandwich a few days back so I guess my words and suggestion to date him worked after all. Fluttershy discussed the usual, talking about the animals and often the plans of what she would do today. Today she was going to see her good friend Applejack to keep an eye on Winona, her dog.

After my plate was finished, I got up and out of the chair, took my plate to both wash and dry it. Fluttershy as usual told me that I didn't have to do it, but I insisted. After that was done, I figured that I should get ready for the entry through the magic portal so I went upstairs. I brush my teeth and would check to make sure that I didn't miss any spots on my teeth as it is essential to my teeth's health. I think I missed one, but it's probably my imagination. After, I slip on my white socks and black leather boots in the guest room.

I am heading down the stair steps now, and I can hear the sound of my boots tapping onto the wooden planks on my way down. Besides the sound of my boots, I can hear the trotting of both Pinkie and Fluttershy coming towards the stairwell on my way down. They come out from the kitchen and meet up with me when I was off of the last step down at the main floor of the cottage.

"Well, I'm guessing this is to wish me good luck?" I asked the both of them.

"Of course," Fluttershy says, trotting closer towards me. "We want to make sure that nothing bad will happen to you during your time in the mirror world." She moves her right front hoof and touches my left hand.

"Don't forget to tell us all about when you get the chance to!" Pinkie says. "When you return back, we'll even throw you a 'welcome back to Equestria' party to celebrate."

"Girls," I said with a smile. "I'm only going to be away for two days max. I'll be back right then. And don't you worry, I'll be sure to tell you all about it. I will miss you while I'm gone."

I can feel a thump from right behind my head. I knew that thump when I felt it, that somepony threw something small at my head. I turn my head around and look to see that usual bunny rabbit smaller than me just thumping his foot away for attention. Who else than Angel? "Of course I'll miss you too Angel." I said to him. I noticed the carrot on the ground that he threw at my head to get his attention, and now he was satisfied that I got to say bye to him until I came back.

Fluttershy takes her hoof off of my hand and I move closer towards her. Her hooves open up and I move my arms around her, sharing a gentle and friendly hug with her. Yes I was going to miss her, but not just her. I was going to miss the six of my friends and everypony else that I have befriended. Twilight, I would end up missing the most while I was away. After a few moments, both me and Fluttershy let go of the hug and I turn towards Pinkie.

Pinkie pounced towards me playfully, but I am luckily not knocked down onto the floor the first time I was able to hang out with her. That was because I was surprised that it ended up getting me on the floor, but I managed to place the both of my arms around my friend this time. Both me and the energetic mare I know share a friendly hug together. The hug lasts for a few moments like usual and then me and her let go of the hug.

I then bid the girls farewell for now until I got back. I head out of the cottage making sure the door is closed as per usual. I make my way down the small hill the cottage rests upon, crossing the stone bridge and then heading onto the trail towards the town of Ponyville.

The way to Ponyville was rather silent and relaxing. Today was a Saturday by the estimate, so there were no school for the colts and fillies today. I ended up seeing a few of them right outside just trotting around the town and talking among their friends. Most other ponies in town were shopping in town and chatting with one another.

I ended up seeing Granny Smith at the marketplace when I passed along building by building to get to the castle, so I couldn't stop by and say hello to her. Next time when I am visiting Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres or just talking with her outside the farm, I'll mention to Granny that I saw her that day.

I passed through most of the town by its marketplace, the square and even the suburbs. I even passed by the ruins of the Golden Oak Library which I know Twilight still probably misses so much. It was where her adventure began after all. I miss the library as well, but even after Tirek was sent back to Tartarus… I would eventually get used to the new castle in Ponyville really soon.

It doesn't take too long, but I eventually make it towards the golden steps of the large castle. I take my footsteps forward and head up and towards the door. I grab onto the handle on the right side of the large double doors and push it open.

The stairs themselves looked rather crystalline when I closed the door to the outside behind me and took my steps upward. All seemed a bit quiet in the castle stairway as I didn't hear Twilight nor Spike just yet. It figures because they were used to the library. These steps up the castle stairs were rather spiral and because I have only been here once, I can tell that when I was high enough to the 2nd floor, it looked rather tall in size on the inside just like how huge it was outside.

I can hear the sound of hooves trotting from out of a room on the second floor when I made my way to the top. I follow the sound of the hooves trotting along inside. That must be Twilight just trotting about the place into a room which I am guessing was the library she would be found in. It was also the location of where the portal would lay before me. I knew what to expect, so I walk down the hallway towards the library.

"Spike," I can hear her sweet voice acknowledge her dragon friend. "Quick, find me the book on the history of Manehattan. I'm curious to know about the treasures most find in the rivers there."

"Sure thing." I heard Spike say before there was the moving sound of his steps moving a bit.

At this point, I step into the library and take a look around me. There were so many books in the many rows that looked just like that scene in one movie that I remembered. It looked rather majestic and clean, plus well-organized as Twilight usually had it. I know her though, she's obsessed with books. This is one of these reasons why I just about love her.

Twilight lies there on a large red pillow, reading away at a small book. She doesn't seem to notice me coming in just yet. I walk up closer towards her on approach, to which she doesn't quite hear the sound of my boots on the crystal floor. I come up behind her and I just wait for the right moment. A few seconds pass, and she uses that magic of hers to flip the page of her book. I move the both of my arms and placed them both onto her shoulders.

She seemed only a bit surprised at first and turns her head towards me. She looked rather alarmed at first, but then upon seeing my face she gives a more relaxed look on her face. I can hear her let out a happy sigh from her mouth and puts down her book for a moment, turning towards me.

"Hello Brayden," She says to me. The both of her hooves move upward, taking the both of my hands. I open up my hands and allow her soft and gentle hooves to move onto them so I can hold hers. "I didn't suspect that you were coming in. You caught me by surprise."

"Sorry about that," I said to her with a chuckle. "I guess even the element of surprise works some of the time anyway."

"Don't worry, you don't have to apologize," She says to me. "I'm just guessing that you're here to have our next date together?"

I shook my head with a smile. "Not today Twilight," I said to her. "But I promise you that when I come back, I will definitely do that with you after that."

"Where are you going?" Twilight asked, sounding a bit curious. Her hooves rub gently at my own hands.

"Today," I said, before clearing my throat for a moment. "I am going to go through the mirror into the alternate Equestria."

"The mirror?" Twilight says with only a small bit of surprise in her words. "I appreciate you wanting to explore a little more, but why into the mirror? I've only been there in for at least two times by now. I might give a bit of a reaction if you were to head right in."

"Not entirely true, Twilight," I said with a smile. "Most of them there resemble to what I am as in human form… well, sort of. Well, actually yes but it is hard to explain."

Twilight moved closer to me. "It's okay," She says. "You don't have to explain. Judging by how you were in when you first arrived, I thought the same thing as well. It did remind me of what it was like for me the first time I was in the mirror world. Or as I call it 'Alternate Equestria' if you get what I mean."

I nod my head. "Yes, Twi. I do." I told her.

My right hand let go of her soft left front hoof and I gently move it to the back of her head, gently stroking her gentle mane. She looked rather calm in my presence whilst I was with her, even then I felt the exact same. But of course, I would still feel a bit worried and scared inside that she would eventually find out about Coco Pommel and what I had done. But it would best to keep that thought behind me… for now.

I got down on one knee, with nothing to surprise her with and my eyes were taking a look into those heavenly eyes of hers. The calm that she was giving off made her feel comfortable around me as per our relationship. Twilight's wings unfold and move around as in a wing-hug. The both of our heads move forward and eventually press gently to our foreheads while our eyes still gazed. My eyes close and I can feel her lips softly press onto my lips. She was kissing me. It made me feel happy inside and my heart skipped a few beats.

My eyes open when Twilight releases the kiss. Her head moved to the side of my face, gently nuzzling at my cheek. "Be safe while you're there," She whispers in my ear. "If you run into any trouble, Sunset will always be there to help you out."

"I will," I whisper back to her. "I promise that I will return safely."

As much as I remember Sunset Shimmer as the villain, I was surprised when I heard Twilight tell me that she'll help me out whenever I am in need. It all came to me now; Twilight had forgiven Sunset Shimmer after that ruckus with the crown and her turning into a demon version of herself that took control of the students by the negative energy that the crown gave off while she wore it and tried to take over Equestria. Even then, as though I thought her to be a great villain at the time, I wanted to see how much she had changed for the good side.

I heard Spike groan while both I and Twilight continued to gaze at each other. "That never happens with me and Rarity…" He quietly complains to himself while coming towards the both of us. He places the book about hidden Manehattan treasures onto the nearby table close to us.

Our gaze is interrupted by this and both I and Twilight turn our heads towards the table where Spike himself was standing there. The book itself was a hard cover and in the color of a worn dark green. Twilight lights up a smile. "Thank you Spike." She says to him.

"Also, why the complaining?" I ask him.

Spike only showed off a bit of jealousy as he knew that both Twilight and I began our relationship. "I'm just jealous on how you and Twilight began being special someponies while I'm still trying to win the heart of Rarity." He tells the both of us.

"That's because she is older than you," I said to her. Twilight nods in agreement. "I think you're still a bit too young, but if you still want to take a shot at winning the unicorn's heart: I'd say go for it."

"It's always never easy," Spike complains for a moment. "If only she could see."

"She kissed you on the cheek remember?" I told him, remembering the episode for a brief moment when he had become a gigantic dragon consumed by greed himself, but Rarity's words turned him back and she was struck by the words. But still, it all ended with him being in the friend zone yet again. "Don't worry, you'll win it eventually. Patience is the key to success after all."

Spike let out a silent huff. "That's what they all say…" He says before going back to sorting out some books on the many shelves in the library.

Twilight moves the both of her wings off from around me and turns towards the mirror at the end of the room. There it was, standing there before me, shining where the portal would be by its gazing reflection. The portal was still closed as per usual, but there were some sort of science technology that Twilight herself must have installed with a book that represents the sun on its cover still on top of the mirror portal.

"I'll open the portal for you." She says to me, trotting towards the technology by the side of the mirror.

I watch as she was doing all of that science that even I wouldn't know how to do it, but the magic from that book above the mirror connects with the power of the mirror. The portal's reflective glass is changed into the shades of violet and there seems to be a bit of a swirl from inside of the mirror. The portal looked open and ready for me to enter it at any time.

"Now remember, this portal closes on the fourth day, so you should be in some luck in getting back before it closes again," Twilight informed me as she trotted over towards me, taking my right hand with her left front hoof. "But please make it in time because once it closes, you'll be stuck there at least until the time for the thirty moons come again."

"I'll come back." I said to her, getting down on one knee again and moving the both of my arms around her gently.

Her wings open up again and move around me, bringing me close to her for a hug. The both of our cheeks are nuzzling each other during the small loving moment of our hug. I hugged her for a few moments and then let go, with me planting a small peck from my lips onto her cheek as I let go. She had a small blush on her soft cheeks.

I can feel something tap me on the shoulder. I turn my head to my left where the shoulder was being tapped. It was only Spike himself and he had a smile upon his face. "What about me?" He asks. "I've only been through the mirror twice now as a dog. So I guess it's the first time seeing a friend go through the mirror."

I opened up my arms and Spike comes towards me, sharing a friendly hug with me. He is one of those dragons that I trust big time whenever in need. Most dragons wouldn't listen to reason and would just try to be hostile towards me. Spike is nice though and I highly consider him to be as friendly as ever as he always was. After a few moments, me and Spike let go of the hug.

"I will miss you as well, Spike. I will be back though." I said to him with that honest tone in my voice.

I finally get back up onto my two feet and take a look at the mirror. The portal swirled before me, ready for me when I was ready. I walk towards the mirror, stepping up onto the crystal platform it rested upon a few feet from the portal.

I could feel the essence of magic flowing through the entrance of the portal and it was a warm feeling that it was giving away. No words could describe how powerful the mirror was at this moment. My hand reaches towards the portal and I manage to touch it partially, my finger had created a ripple in the portal as if it was like water. Knowing what to expect upon my entry through and beyond the mirror, I took my careful steps forward, taking a deep breath. I had gone right through and beyond the magic barrier and into the mirror.

I was flying through what seemed to be an infinite realm of a portal that was bestowed as the gateway connection. While I had that flying essence, it felt like I was falling straight into the eye of a raging cyclone with my body being torn around left and right.

I was struggling to maintain my speed while being dragged on forward towards the light at the bottom of the rainbow tunnel. I couldn't release it out and it felt almost as if I were paralyzed. The invisible non-feeling wind pushed me down and I kept twirling around in the sky, feeling the parts of my body and head beginning to stretch. It was like being close to the event horizon of a black hole, but ahead was more rather a white hole for it felt like I was outside of the atmosphere of a planet, though I could breathe just fine.

I struggle to move a bit of my fingers as I turn my head to the swirling colors of the rainbow and could see such images right outside that looked like space for a quick moment, but too far from the Earth for me to see. I witness such sights like the simulated passing of a comet illuminating ice and dust from its trail. The white hole began to grow closer towards me.

I could feel my hands and fingers begin to be back into my control once again. I was still stretching more, but it wasn't giving me any pain. I turn my head slightly to look behind me. On the opposite end from where I started through the gateway was the shining sun that represented the cutie mark of Princess Celestia. I turn my head back towards the white hole in front of me. I was just about to pass and I knew what to expect next while this felt like the speed of sound. I had five seconds to act quickly, so I just wait for the last 4 seconds and close my eyes. I had hit the event horizon of the white hole at the end of the gateway.

I felt a non-wet liquid for a split moment that was the end of the portal to the other alternative side of Equestria while my eyes were still closed. I could feel myself fly for a moment and then there was the rough impact that had been done as I had landed on some hard concrete. I felt myself skid for a few quick moments and then stop there.

The minute journey through the portal made me feel extremely tired from what happened. I kept my eyes closed because of this. I try to open my eyes for a brief moment. Besides my heartbeat, I could hear the sounds of some girls gasping in worry and the sound of running towards me. My sight fades to black for a moment.

I could hear a faint concerned voice. "Is he okay?" My eyes give back one more vision of someone's black and violet right boot before my eyes closed once again.

"He just came out of the portal to Equestria!" I could hear another voice say to one of them. I could feel my upper body start to get lifted up. And then, there was nothing, just quiet silence.

I had blacked out before I had even realized what was going on.