You know, I was prepared for a lot of things when the Doom Bell rang. Existential despair, yes. Turning into a horse? Not so much.

[The young mare whose face appears on the scroll is new and anyone familiar with European accents will notice a heavy Irish brogue to her voice.]

I feel like I've stepped right into one of Theo's Heterodyne stories. [She sighs before focusing her attention on the scroll and speaking more directly. One of her ears flicks.] Ah, hello. I'm Sleipnir O'Hara and first and foremost, I'd like to ask if anypony has met a Theopholous DuMedd, a Gilgamesh Wulfenbach or an Agatha Heterodyne?

And secondly, is there anywhere I could get a stiff drink? I feel like I need it. [She pauses, ginger-colored tail swishing gently behind her.] Actually, that could solve my Theo problem if he's even here.

...This message has been a long time coming. I should've made it sooner, but I was so caught up in my own problems, I didn't take enough time to realize that I'm not the only one with problems...and I'm sorry for that. Now that I've had the time to think things through, I've decided that I want to be more open with myself, not only for my sake, but hopefully for others.

(She sighs. A part of her doesn't want to go through this, but she's forcing herself to anyway.)

My name is Twilight Sparkle. While I'm a natural unicorn, I'm not the native Twilight to this Equestria; my true origins lie in a town known as Mayfield. For those who don't know, Mayfield was a virtual construct meant to house various individuals from any and all points in space and time. Everyone brought there was stripped of their abilities, forms and anything else that separated them from being "normal" and forced to live together as families. For now, I'll spare the details, but know that it was far from the happy place it pretended to be. Despite the numerous tortures we endured, the hardest one to endure was accepting that the entire town was simply a simulation in a computer...and all of us in it were digital clones of who we represent. They told us that despite our survival, we could never return home; that we would all vanish out of existence once the server ran out of power.

I don't know how or why it happened, but several Mayfield survivors, myself included, woke up here in Equestria...my other home of origin.

For the past two months, I've been struggling to figure out why my home doesn't feel like home, why I feel so inferior to the other Twilight and to a certain degree, why I don't want to be here. I might not have found all of the answers I'm looking for yet, but I remembered something I want to share with not just fellow Mayfield survivors, but anyone listening to me, whether you're a native or an outsider. Despite the horrors that town inflicted on us, it taught us one incredibly crucial fact: no matter what life throws at us, we're all family. We were brought there together, we lived together, we fought together and we survived together. Even when we were told our lives would be cut dramatically short, we all faced the end together. It might not have been what we wanted, but the fact that we all stood side by side and made sure each of us kept going made it all feel as if everything would be alright.

So after two months of feeling I don't belong anywhere, I've realized that I belong to both Equestria and Mayfield, that across both worlds, I have family in each of them. I know this will sound selfish, but after spending time getting reacquainted with my Equestrian family, I want to catch up with my Mayfield family. Even if we haven't had any interaction back then, being here now means we should stick together, just like we all did back then. We Mayfielders went through things others might never understand, so instead of trying to overcome it alone, I want to overcome it with you and help you all across, as well. It's what we've done since the very beginning; it's worked for us every time so far and I think it'll work here, too.

Even though not everyone came from Mayfield, I don't see why I can't extend the same offer to you. While we may group together with those who share our origins, I propose we also group together as one...because no matter where we came from, we're all here now. Whether we want to go back home or start new lives here, we're all moving forward, so why not move on side by side? We were brought here together, we're living together, we'll fight together and in the end, we'll survive together.

[On the scroll appears the face of a young colt with small golden glasses and truly obnoxiously large ears. He's new -- at least, you probably haven't seen him before -- but unlike most newponies he doesn't look confused or annoyed. If anything, he looks pleased.]

I didn't know the Doom Bell did that! Existential despair I was prepared for, but an entire transdimensional shift including severe changes to my own physical makeup was quite beyond what I was expecting. I shouldn't be surprised, though, I told myself when all this started, Theopholous DuMedd, you're in a Heterodyne story, chances are your brain will wind up in a squirrel before it's over. I think I like this far better than a squirrel, though.

[He flicks and swivels his ears, seemingly delighted by the fact that they move.]

And think what a story this will make when I get back.

Presumably that's a possibility.

[His expression lapses into a small frown for a moment, and then he hitches a smile back on.]

I think I may need a drink, though. You know, to settle my newly equine nerves. Is there a bar or inn and if so would one of you be so kind as to direct me to it?

[The scroll opens with a special sparkle as a pure white pony with a flawless purple mane is seen, batting her eyelashes at the viewers]

There's no time for introductions right now since we have very important business to attend to, my dear foreign ponies. I heard from a little bird that there are ponies out there who are having gala related problems and I would like to take it upon myself to help you poor creatures while there's still time.

Come to my boutique and I'll whip something up for you. Think if it as a "welcome to ponyville and have fun at the gala" present.

As for my dear, dear friends...I may have already finished some dresses for you girls.

[visual]

[On the other side of the scroll there's a red-brown pegasus with a conspicuously gold mane and an even more conspicuous back-left bronze leg, looking rather disgruntled. Still, this is something he needs to do.]

My name is Gilgamesh, and I'm looking for a blacksmith or someone similar. My false leg is making it very hard to fly straight, so I'm looking to get proper weights for my other legs to act as balance, otherwise I run the risk of becoming permanently lopsided. I... need some help.

[He looks reluctant as he says it; this is the sort of thing he should be able to himself. Still... no thumbs, and no access to his lab. This is the best he can do under the circumstances.]

I also don't really know how to pay you, since I haven't managed to secure a proper job and thus regular income. I'm happy to trade labor for product.

[When the scroll comes to life, it will show a concerned stallion, pawing at the ground.]

What ho, all! Sorry to be a bother, but I was wondering if anypony knows what it means if you can't catch hold of somepony via these fine little whatsits. There's this fellow, Jay, who's been staying with us on Vantas' farm, but he seems to have disappeared. I mean, I'm not about to go chasing down every fellow who finds an itch to go wandering, but it's been a day or more. There was also another chap I'm having trouble finding. A red fellow with a tiger on his flank by the name of Jan. And then there was another fellow, a very upstanding-looking gent with a rose on the hindquarters going by Tamaki Suou.

All three of them were humans before they were ponies.

[He pauses to ponder.]

Well... Jan might also have been a tiger. I wasn't very clear on the specifics, what with it all being byunbyun due to the zowazowa. Honestly, the cove could do to be a bit more precise about these things. Which does remind me: Are the rest of you actually speaking English? Jan said he wasn't when I mentioned it to him. He said I sounded like I was speaking Japanese, which is a marvelous notion, if utterly mad.

Right, but to the point. Has anypony else noticed their new chums buzzing off for parts unknown sans magical whatsity scroll?

[Sometime after the ponies wake up, scrolls and quills suddenly start raining from the sky. Don't worry, its not the ponypocalypse, its just a squadron of flying white ponies dropping them from above.

Once everyone receives one, the scrolls suddenly glow and come to life, its surface revealing the visage of a large white alicorn with rainbow hair and a golden crown, sitting on a large, velvet-upholstered throne. She has a calm, reassuring, regal smile on her face as she speaks, though those who know her better can see the light of worry and concern in her eyes.]

Good afternoon, newponies! I am Princess Celestia.

I've heard of your arrival in Ponyville and of some of the more interesting stories that have come from it. We're...not certain how this phenomenon has occurred, but we here at the royal castle will put our efforts into solving this mystery, and I hope you will help us out as we wish to help you out!

Rest assured, no harm will come to you. Nor, as some of you have worried, are we holding you against your will. On the contrary, you're free to move about Equestria as you please, be it through Ponyville, Los Pegasus or anywhere in between. I only request that you use the scrolls we have provided you to check in from time to time, so that we know where you might be when we figure out the solution to this current situation.

If you have any questions, you are free to ask them of me. If I am not available - and, I will admit, there are times when I can be quite busy - there are many other ponies willing to help you, including the other princesses of Equestria. We are all in this together, after all.

[And then she smiles a little more. Its a much more relaxed smile. The concern is still there, of course.]

But, in the meantime, I'd also like to get to know all of you! I always like to meet new people, after all. I hear we even have a dragon?