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The Author Jumps Worlds (MLP)	By : Haunter_Rayne Category: +M through R > My Little Pony Views: 14327 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own MLP or any named characters/creatures/settings. All story is for parody entertainment purposes only, not for profit

Chapter List
- 27
- 28
- 29
**Author's Note** Hello everyone, I appreciate all of you who are still with me this far into the story. I hope my readers can forgive the dark turn the story took in my last chapter.
Now there are several ponies who need to finish their travels. Rayne and Applejack will have the longest trip to make. Starlight tries catch up to Rarity. Twilight and the remaining elements of harmony have to face the Crystal Empire without all of their friends present.

Author Jumps Worlds (MLP)
Chapter 28 - Far From Home

“RARITY! STOP!!!” Two ponies raced across the open yellow field south of the Everfree Forest. The pale gray mare in front ran forward, breathing hard and not even responding to the one chasing after her. Several places behind the heliotrope pony screamed against the wind, “PLEASE! I want to help you! But you've got to STOP!” While running she looked up into the sky. The faint outlines of winged reptiles had long since disappeared from view. But what really had Starlight worried were the trail end of whispers that she could hear in Rarity's wake.
“I… can make it…. He's not gone…. I can… still see him… I can… make it!”

“RARITY! Spike has been gone from view for a LONG TIME! I can get you there faster! Please calm down!” Starlight was panting and had sweat running down her brow. She could not think of a time where she had ever run like this before. But she knew that however she felt, Rarity had to be having it worse. “Rarity please, don't force me to MAKE you stop!” She pleaded as she contemplated using magic. However just then the other mare finally looked back. Starlight was shocked seeing the state of Rarity's face. Her eyes were wide and looked dry. Her mouth was hanging open as she gave raspy, haggard breaths. “OH NO!” Starlight gasped and immediate teleported ahead. “I'm sorry…” She said before before shooting off a spell.

Rarity suddenly froze in place like a statue and Starlight managed to levitate her before she went tumbling forward and hurting herself. “No! Let me go!” She cried but she was breathing so hard that it barely sounded like her at all.

“Ssshhhh, Shhhh please!” Starlight said soothingly to her. “Rarity you need to calm down. Please just rest for a moment. You've run yourself ragged. If you keep this up your heart will explode. How will Spike feel once we save him if he finds out that you died needlessly?” She urged, stroking Rarity's mane to calm her.

“Yes but… I mean, I just... “ But she was so panicked she didn't even know what she was trying to say. She stopped struggling and took a deep breath to slow her heartbeat. She knew her friend was right and she fought to calm down as her emotions began to overwhelm her. “... Starlight?” Rarity whimpered. “What are we going to do?” As Starlight dropped the spell Rarity broke down over her friends shoulder as she started sobbing.

“Oh Rarity… no pony deserves this kind of sadness. Don't worry, the first step is just getting to him. We'll work it out once we get there. I promise that I will use my magic to speed things up but first we need to take care of you. You look awful Rarity, you're totally worn out. You ran all the way passed Rambling Rock Ridge and halfway to Dodge City. I'm going to need you at your best when we face the dragons so we need to find some water so you don't pass out on me. Okay?” There was no response from the purple maned mare but Starlight could tell from the look in her eyes that she understood.

A short while later the two of them were stopped along the river bank that lead passed Hayseed Swamps and right to Horseshoe Bay. Starlight had laid Rarity half in and half out of the water to cool her down. Meanwhile Starlight was standing in the water giving herself a rinse off to cool her aching muscles from having to chase Rarity so far. “Don't worry! This short break will help refresh us and we'll get to the Dragon Lands that much faster! I promise!” She called out after rising her mane. Rarity just raised a hoof in acknowledgment as she drank from the water to rehydrate herself. But what Rarity didn't hear was when Starlight mumbled, “... Once I figure out how to get us across the sea to the Dragon Lands that is.”

But to her surprise she heard a stallion call out from behind her with the thickest country accent she had ever heard. “Well, I never. Here I am just riding down the river and reverend what should I find? A pair of pretty ladies such as yourselves bathin’ here in the water. Must be my lucky day!” He definitely had a goofy grin on his face. That was when Starlight realized she was standing there with her arms up into her mane while dripping wet. Knowing that the pose could be misconstrued as slightly erotic she suddenly blushed and dipped down under the water. “Aww now don't let ol’ Hayseed frighten you away. Say, you pretty ladies aren't a couple of siren's are you?”

Starlight blushed a little more because the country pony was laying his flirtations on her pretty thick. “No, not sirens. Just a pair of unicorns. But…” She paused seeing that the earth pony was standing on a wooden raft. It wasn't the most attractive vessel but it had a little rudder and he was pushing himself along with a long paddle. Thinking fast she shouted out, “But maybe you can help us?! My friend, she's sick!” Starlight shouted. Rarity looked up confused but then without wasting another second she pretended to collapse onto the ground unconscious. “I haven't the time to explain but we need to get down this river to Horseshoe Bay so we can book passage across the sea. Can you help us?” She then gave her best pleading eyes.

“Is that a fact?” Hayseed looked to her a little dumbstruck for a moment but then he quickly changed his tone when he glanced at her friend. “Wha?! Well of all the places… Is that Rarity?! I would know that fancy mane anywhere!”

“Oh no… I'm just so ill… I couldn't possibly have the energy to reunite with anypony right now…” She mumbled, feigning exhausted even though she was now feeling quite better.

Quickly the stallion spoke up in urgency. “Oh well if it is for my friend Rarity then I would do just about anything to help! She's ill you say? Then you climb on up here and use yer magic horn to lift her aboard!”

“Oh my…” Rarity gasped in surprise as she suddenly floated up from the river without even being asked.

“Thank you, Hayseed was it? You're too kind.” Starlight said as he helped her onto the raft. She levitated Rarity down behind her as she could tell her friend was trying to avoid a reunion.

“Alright now you ladies hold on!” Hayseed said. Starlight chuckled not expecting a raft to be able to move too quickly. But she almost fell off of it as Hayseed began remarkably paddling them down the river.

As soon as she regained her bearings she felt a slight tug to her tail. Looking down she saw Rarity wearing a solemn expression and she laid down to sit with her friend. “Starlight, I want to apologize for making you chase me halfway across Equestria. I let panic take over me and if you hadn't stopped me I might never have made it to Spike at all. You probably just saved my life… from me bringing myself to a very foolish end. I want you to know how grateful I am to you for that.”

Starlight scoffed and raised a hoof tenderly. “Oh Rarity, it's alright. I totally understand why you were so freaked out.” However she was starting to seem distracted as she scratched at her ear while speaking. “You were scared for Spike, we all are. I just… couldn't let you… hurt yourself… before…”

“Uh Starlight, dear. Are you alright?” She asked seeing the other unicorn banging her head sideways now. “Oh, OH!” Rarity shouted in surprise as she suddenly saw what looked like a long tongue slide out of Starlight's ear.

A tiny Discord walked out of Starlight's head as if he were on a red carpet. He looked agitated and snapped his fingers. A scroll suddenly dropped onto the raft in front of them before the little Discord walked back into Starlight's head with the tongue snapping back into her ear as well. “OH EWWWW!!!” Starlight screamed as she threw herself to the floor of the raft and began writhing in disgust from having her ear canal licked inside out. “Discord that was disgusting!” She shrieked and gave a shiver feeling a bit violated. But then suddenly she thought of something and shouted out, “Wait! Come back! Teleport us to the Dragon Lands! Discord?!”

All of a sudden she felt a tapping on her shoulder as Hayseed Turnip Truck looked to her concerned. “Uh, are you alright miss? I'd watch out about talking to yerself in front of Rarity. She's a real big-time fancy pants dressmaker but she might think you're a little crazy.” Then he turned back to steering the speeding raft downstream.

Starlight frowned but caught Rarity snickering when she turned back. However the fashionista just picked up the scroll that Discard had left and Starlight snatched it up still rubbing her ear. “Alright, let's see what had to be so disgustingly delivered through my ear….” Now reading aloud for Rarity to hear she said, “Dearest Starlight Glimmer, I Discord, Master of Chaos and Disharmony, was very offended to learn that you had run out on our day together. After waiting for you to return to the castle I had to hear from towns ponies that you… Okay... yadda yadda… Wow, he was really upset… Ah, here. ...However I suppose that saving my Ogres and Oubliettes partner is a worthwhile pursuit, so I wish you luck. But since nobody asked, do not expect me to help.” Starlight drowned as Discord seemed to have just wanted to get back at her for running off.

But then Rarity seemed to point at the scroll. “Um look behind, there appears to be a second page darling.”

Flipping the scroll over she realized Rarity had been correct. “Okay, let's see what this one says.” She said, seeing that this letter was not personally addressed to her. “Hello dearest friends. I Discord, your humble Draconequus, bring you news of changes to the Friendship Table. Moments ago…”

- Outside the Train Station for the Crystal Empire -

“Moments ago Applejack’s cutie mark was displayed shining over Tartarus, no doubt signifying a successful Friendship Mission.” Twilight read as Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy followed closely along. They all noticed that Twilight's cutie mark had started flashing just moments before they found a two inch tall Discord waiting for them at the train station. He was dressed in a mail carrier outfit and disappeared quickly after handing over the scroll that Twilight was now reading. “Curiously though, Twilight Sparkle’s cutie mark is now displaying on the Friendship Table by itself. Rarity's mark is no longer accompanying it.” Twilight paused now as she had to turn the page over to read the rest of Discord's message.

Pinkie Pie bounced on her hooves saying, “Hey, do you think it's because the map knows that right now Rarity is in the complete opposite end of Equestria and there is no way she could possibly get here in time for the friendship problem?!”

Fluttershy spoke up next saying, “Well I am relieved to hear that Applejack completed her mission so quickly. It must have been just awful having to go into Tartarus with all those scary creatures of who knows what kind.” She actually began to shake having accidentally frightened herself.

But Rainbow Dash then rushed over and hugged her tight. “I wouldn't worry about it too much. A.J. is tough and I knew that she could handle whatever is down there. I'm not surprised at all that she finished her mission so fast. In fact, I think she just set the record for the fastest… friendship mission… ever! Hey Twilight, does it say anything else about what they had to do in Discord's letter?”

Now all eyes were on Twilight as she was pouring over the second page. But when she looked up she didn't sound very confident. “No, it seems that the rest of the letter is about me. I've been called by the Cutie Map but according to this my cutie mark is moving. Discord wrote that it keeps shifting back and forth from the Frozen North to the Crystal Palace.”

There was a stunned silence from the group before Fluttershy asked, “So, what does that mean?”

Rainbow Dash looked like she was about to say something but Pinkie jumped up in front of her shouting, “Ooh, ooh! I know!” She gave an excited bounce as she made her prediction in her unique Deadpony fashion. “It means that we have two targets to solve this friendship problem and the targets are moving!” She smiled wide feeling proud of herself because she was super confident in being right.

“Ugh, so how do you find a friendship problem between two ponies who aren't even in the same place as each other?!” Dash now complained.

Twilight now stepped forward to lead her friends up the road. “I don't know Rainbow. In the past finding the problem has never been the hard part. Usually it's easy to spot two ponies who are arguing together. But this problem is going to be more tricky.” They all nodded in response to her. But as they approached the outskirts to town Twilight said, “But this does give us one lead though. We should be able to start at the palace and work our way outward from there.”

The small group of friends walked into the city but it didn't take long before they quickly saw the problem for themselves. Even from far off they could see a bright swirling light and as they approached, there seemed to be a humming sound which grew louder and louder. They looked around seeing Crystal Ponies going about their day but most of them crowded closer to the city outskirts. The closer they got to the city center the more scarce other ponies seemed to be.

“Uh, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked while flying along behind them. “Is it just me or do all of the Crystal Ponies look especially… ‘crystally’ today?” She said, pointing out the fact that the citizens of the empire were very transparent and shimmering.

Twilight looked around noticing that Dash was correct. She also noted that everypony seemed to be in a good mood, aside from a few worried expressions here and there. “Uh, excuse me. Could you maybe tell us what is going on?” She asked to a couple who had been sitting together.

The female of the pair gave a soft laugh and gestured toward the castle. “It's of no cause for alarm. We're just having a bit of excitement around here for a couple days. It seems the Crystal Heart went on overdrive after there was some sort of magical explosion.” Despite her words she kept a jovial tone while speaking.

Now the stallion she was with chimed in, also with a merry attitude. “Oh it sounds dire but it's all quite harmless really. Most ponies are just avoiding the city center because the Crystal Heart is being a bit… loud.”

“And bright.” The mare added in. Now they showed the concerned glances to each other that Twilight had noticed around. “Oh, don't worry. Why don't you go have a look at it up close? It's still a lovely thing to go see.” She said encouragingly. Then the couple returned their attention to one another as the entourage from Ponyville made their way towards the castle.

As they got close it was Fluttershy who asked, “Um… does anypony else think that we've seen the Crystal Heart look like this before?” The prized relic of the empire was in its usual place below the castle for all to see. But it was now spinning so fast that a magical whirl could be heard from it. Furthermore it continually flashed a brilliant white light which left a blueish shimmer in its wake. All four of the girls gasped in surprise as the magic of the heart temporarily transformed them into Crystal Ponies.

“You're right Fluttershy. This is just like when we were here for Flurry Heart’s Crystalling Ceremony a couple years ago.” Twilight said, amazed by the magical conundrum before her.

Pinkie Pie spoke up saying, “Yeah but back then it was just the one flash. This is like… Whoo whoo crazy! Like the heart doesn't want to finish!”

“So it's stuck?” Rainbow Dash asked as she took a step back and realized she went back to normal. Pinkie Pie saw this and gasped, becoming immediately distracted.

Twilight wanted to stay to run a few tests on the heart but she knew that they had a meeting to attend first. “Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this. But first let's make our way upstairs because the other princesses are waiting.”

“...Ha!...Ha Ha!... Ha…!” Suddenly Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were halted by the sound of laughter behind them. “Look everypony!” Pinkie yelled as she hoped forward and back from the range of the Crystal Heart. “I'm an Earth Pony! Now I'm a Crystal Pony! And now I'm an Earth Pony again!” She cheered, sounding so amused with herself.

“Whoa!” Rainbow Dash chuckled and leapt into the air to try it a few times for herself but while flying. But she didn't manage to move more than a few feet before Twilight clamped down on her tail and pulled the pegasus back with her teeth.

“Come on you two. There will be plenty of downtime for playing around later. We need to get going.”

Now the other three fell in line as Twilight led the way into the castle. But half way up the stairs Pinkie whispered to Dash, “Betcha later that I can hop in and out of crystal form a hundred times before you can!”

“Oh, you're on!” Dash laughed and they clapped hooves together excitedly.

Later on once they reached the throne room they were met with a very warm reception. “Twilight!” Celestia happily called as soon as they had walked into the room. The purple alicorn ran over to her mentor and Celestia was happy to place a hoof round her, hugging her pupil tightly. “I am so very glad to see you. You haven't visited since the re-opening of your Friendship School. Which, by the way, I have heard is going very well since you started managing it yourself. I am so very proud of you.”

Twilight couldn't help but blush at Celestia’s praise. “Thank you, Princess! You don't know how much that means to me.”

“Twily!” Another voice called, drawing her attention away. There she saw Shining Armor standing with Cadence next to him. Flurry Heart was there as well, holding onto Shining's horn.

Instantly Twilight and Cadence leapt forward repeating together, “Sunshine sunshine ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two giggled together but then realized that others in the room were laughing as well. Looking over her shoulder Twilight caught sight that Celestia had been in the same kneeling position as if she were repeating the little dance herself.

“Oh, hehe. Excuse me Twilight. It's just, I have seen the two of you do that rhyme together so many times now and I always thought that it looked like fun. So I decided to give it a try…” However all eyes just stared at her with a bit of surprise. Now Celestia grimaced as she felt she had caused an awkward situation. “Yes well, it is probably something that is left done between sisters.” Celestia couldn't help but give a slight glance toward Luna who was always standing in the room.

The princess of the night just glowered saying, “Oh no, dear sister. Don't you even think about it.”

Just then Rainbow Dash cracked up laughing, “Hahaha could you imagine Princess Luna dancing skipping and singing about ladybugs? Haha, I know I can't. Hey, maybe if Nightmare Moon ever comes back we could defeat her by challenging her to a game of hopscotch! Hahaha!”

Twilight smacked her hoof to her forehead at Dash’s ability to laugh at the most inappropriate moments. “Rainbow! Don't you think that is a bit unkind to Luna?!” She growled out between her teeth.

“Oh no, it is quite alright Twilight.” Luna said. “Maybe Rainbow Dash is just saying that she would like to dream of nothing but children's games for the rest of the week?” She smirked as she saw the pegasus drop to the ground and sit quietly.

“No ma'am.” She whimpered, feeling actually frightened by that light threat.

“Ahem, excuse me.” Fluttershy softly whispered out. “I know everypony is glad that we are together again. But what are we going to do about the Crystal Empire?” She asked, wondering if Cadence or the others already had a plan.

Shining Armor stepped up now as Flurry Heart flew over giggling to play with Twilight. “Yes, we are prepared to discuss what's to be done about the current predicament.”

Cadence spoke up next saying, “Please, take a moment to rest after your journey. We can all meet in the conference room in one hour.”

Twilight was allowing herself to become distracted shouting, “Whoo hoo! One whole hour getting me to the Best Aunt EVER!” Already she was levitating over toys for the two of them to play with.

However Rainbow gave a gulp and asked, “We can ‘all’ meet in the conference room?”

Celestia walked over to her smiling and said, “Why yes, of course. I assume the rest of your group are out somewhere enjoying the Crystal Empire? Will one hour not be enough time to go and gather them?”

Now Pinkie Pie seemed to get nervous as well. “Ah, ha. Yeah… the rest of our group… ummm…”

Cadence shook it off thinking it was her imagination and excitedly asked, “Oh yes, when do I get to congratulate the happy couple?! Are they off having a date together in the Crystal Empire?” She sounded genuinely happy at first but then her tone changed to sounding desperate. “I'm right, right? … Um, Twilight?”

Suddenly Luna looked around and asked very seriously. “Where is Applejack? Why is she not here? I thought that all of the elements of harmony were called upon.”

Now all eyes were on Twilight for answers and she slowly set Flurry Heart down. “Uh yeah, maybe best aunt ever but right now certainly not the best princess.” She sulked, wishing she had concentrated more on what to say before she had gotten here.

Celestia now stood in front of the others but spoke softly and with concern. “Twilight, why do you and all of your friends seem upset? Where are the others?”

“They're… not here.” Twilight said and suddenly all the others looked quite shocked. “Thinking about it now, we might not even be able to afford to rest for that hour. There is something that I must tell you all. Something terrible has happened…”

Cadence, being the official host of their venue, suddenly looked very serious and turned to her husband. “Shining Armor, please take Flurry Heart to the sitter and join us in the conference room. Everyone else, please follow me to where we can all sit down and talk about what has happened.” They nodded and began to shuffle out of the room.

- About Ten Minutes Later -

Sitting around a table there were four princesses, three other elements of harmony, Shining Armor and two castle guard standing by the door. Cadence spoke up first saying, “Alright, now that we are here please tell us what you need to. The matters of the Crystal Empire can wait.”

Twilight's ears fell sadly as she said, “Well that's just the thing. I think it might all be related.”

Shining Armor placed his hoof on the table and asked his sister directly, “Give us the highlights of what has happened. We can go over the details after we are all aware of the situation.”

Twilight gulped and tried to keep a brave face. “Princess Luna, you asked about Applejack. She had been called away on a friendship mission and should already be on her way back by now. But the real problem is with Spike. He… has been taken.” She announced, speaking with a heavy heart. “And as for Rarity, she went chasing off after him with the help of Starlight.”

Then everypony else in the room who was not from Ponyville shouted, “TAKEN?!”

**Author's Ending Note** Hello everyone. Deadpony strikes again, haha! But there is something important that I want to point out about Discord's message. The fact that Twilight's cutie mark is now pointing to the Frozen North ‘AND’ the Crystal Palace is going to be a reference to the MLP comic books. I have decided to add content from the comics to my story and this will be the first instance of it.
You will NOT need to read the comics to understand my story. This is my own AU and it stands on its own. But on the other hand, my story will give spoilers to the comics for content that isn't in the show. Keep in mind that I will only pull from the comics for reference material but the plot of my story will go in a very different direction than anything in the comics.
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The Author Jumps Worlds (MLP)