This is an original story that takes place in a anthro, Rule 63 (flipped gender) version of Equestria. It features original characters and, of course, MLP characters.

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At mid-day, Shimmer stopped her performance, put all the coin she had earned in a coin purse on her belt, which, to Aerith’s surprise, didn’t seem to get any fuller, and the two girls, made their way down the midway of the fair and into Ponyville proper. Aerith lead them to the eatery that she had mentioned. Once they had arrived at Caramel’s Sweet Treats, they sat down at a double table outside, wanting to enjoy the warm weather. They both rested their staffs against the wall, and waited to be served.

Aerith looked Shimmer up and down. “So, um, I’ve been meaning to ask, you and your brother, Gust aren’t originally from Equestria, are you?”

Shimmer shook her head no. “We aren’t. We’re from another world called Erdrea (Air-dree-ah). And, to tell the truth, we weren’t brother and sister until we came to Equestria.”

“You…” Aerith began to ask, but stopped as a beige female pony, with a blonde mane, walked up to them.

“Howdy. I’m Caramel. What can I get for you ladies?” The tall pony asked kindly.

Shimmer smiled at the friendly pony and looked at the menu on the table. “This sample platter looks good.” She looked at Aerith. “What do you think, Aerith? It’s big enough to share.”

Aerith nodded. “Oh. Yes. And, um, two apple ciders to go with it, please.”

Sweet smiled wrote down their order and left.

“So, um, you came from another world, and, you and Gust aren’t actually brother and sister?” Aerith repeated in a confused tone.

“His parents and my parents were rulers of neighboring nations.” Shimmer explained. “Two weeks after Gust was born, we were invited to what should have been the Royal celebration of him becoming the first born and first Prince of his Father’s line.” She sighed. “No one ever expected a full-on Demon Evasion.”

Aerith gasped. “How bad was it?”

“Bad. Very bad...” Shimmer explained. “My mother, De Poet, after I told her what happened, searched our world for any survivors. She didn't find anyone. Within a single night, hundreds of thousands of demons invaded, and wiped it clean. No life remains. Not even animals or vegetation.”

Aerith teared up. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Shimmer.”

Shimmer reached out and touched the back of Aerith’s left hand with her right. “Thanks, Aerith.” She sighed deeply. “It feels good talking to someone about this. Almost, therapeutic.”

“So, um,” Aerith said, blushing hard. She sniffed the air around Shimmer. She could sense a small amount of... love. “You were a Princess? And Gust was a prince?”

“Once upon a time.” Shimmer nodded. “Not anymore. Can’t really be a princess without a world to rule, right?”

“Would you mind if I called you Princess?” Aerith asked with a coy smile. “Not for nothing, but your gold dyed Freedom looks like a crown. And, well, you’re certainly as beautiful as the Princesses I read about.”

Shimmer’s cheeks burned as the turned crimson. Aerith certainly knew how to lay the charm on thick. She nodded, unable able to form the words for a few seconds. “Ah… yes? Yes. You may call me Princess.”

Aerith leaned towards Shimmer, and Shimmer, guessing what was coming, leaned towards the mare, half closing her eyes as they moved closer to each-other, their lips a mere inch away. Aerith could feel the love pouring off of the blue cat. It was VERY filling. Not LOVE love, but definitely Philia type love (Affectionate love based on shared interests, respect, and companionship. Aerith was nearly drunk with it.

“LOOK!” A pony shouted suddenly.

Aerith and Shimmer pulled apart and looked at the pony. So did everyone else in the immediate vicinity.

The pony, who turned out to be Radiance, was pointing up at the sky. Everyone looked to where the fashion pony was pointing.

There was a collective gasp as what could only be described as a shooting star, or a small meteor, came falling from the sky towards Ponyville.

Shimmer immediately sprung into action, and grabbed her staff. She ran over to Radiance and pointed it to the sky. Her eyes and the end of her staff lit up pink, as she tried to use a gravity spell to slow the meteor down.

It slowed some, but not enough for it to land safely.

“Let me help you.” Radiance said as he touched her shoulder and added his magic to hers.

Aerith had also touched Shimmer's shoulder, adding her magic to the Druid. Thee meteor slowed some more.

“It’s still not working!” Shimmer gasped, trying with all her might.

With a POP! All three Princes, Eventide, Celestial and Lunar appeared next to Shimmer.

“We can’t slow it down.” Celestial said. “However, we can redirect it. Send it to the lake.”

“Right!” Shimmer nodded.

Together, Shimmer, Aerith, Radiance, and the Princes used their magic to redirect the meteor towards the lake. The meteor moved to the left of where it was falling, and moved out of sight of the ponies and Shimmer. After a few moments, a large column water, about a hundred feet high, erupted from behind the trees surrounding town.

Shimmer ebbed her magic, and fell to her knees, using her staff to support herself. She panted heavily and looked at Aerith and Radiance. “That was tough...”

Aerith was panting as well, but was managing to remain upright. “You did most of the work, but yeah. That was tough.”

Celestial looked at Lunar. “Very odd for a shooting star to actual come into the atmosphere.”

Lunar nodded. “Indeed. It's also odd that it made it past the magical barrier that deflects heavenly bodies.”

Eventide looked towards the lake. “I should send a team-”

“No need, Prince.” De Poet said suddenly, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. “I can go investigate the meteor. Along with Gust. He's part otter, and can hold his breath for a long time.”

“That sounds like a reasonable plan, De Poet.” Eventide smiled warmly. “Thank you.”

De Poet walked over to Shimmer, and helped her stand up. “Are you alright, Kitten?”

The blue cat nodded as her legs wobbled a little. “I'll be okay, Mama. I just need some food.”

Aerith moved and hugged/supported Shimmer around her waist. “I'll help her back to Sweet's Treats.”

De Poet quirked her eyebrow as she smiled. “Thank you, Aerith. I'll leave her in your capable hands.”

Shimmer blushed as Aerith helped her back to their table.

“Princes, with your permission, I take my leave.” She bowed to the three princes, turned, and left.

She walked back to her camp, and approached Gust, Twig, Lily and Dusk as they sat around the fire eating a veggie stew.

The four stopped talking as the Rom Matriarch approached them.

“Hey Mama.” Gust smiled. “Is Shimmer okay?”

De Poet blinked. “You... felt her magic?”

Gust nodded. “Yeah.”He tapped his ears. “They were really twitching.”

De Poet narrowed her eyes. Gust always had the ability to sense when someone was using magic, but he was never able to tell who was using the magic. She suspected that Twig, whom was a magically powerful being herself, was enhancing his ability via their special bond they had.

“Shimmer is okay. She had help from Radiance, a new friend, and the three princes.” De Poet answered. “However, I need your help.”
Gust perked up. “You do?”

De Poet giggled. “Yes. That meteor landed in the middle of the lake. I would like you to come with me, and swim to the bottom of the lake and investigate it.”

Gust sprung up and nodded excitedly. “Of course!”

Lily gasped. “Wait, Mother. The lake is really deep. I'll go with you to help monitor him.”

Gleaming looked around at the group. “I can swim, as well. Deep diving is part of my combat training. I know an air bubble spell. I can help him as well.”

Gust looked at her. “I can actually hold my breath for a long time.” He looked at Lily. “What was my best time?”

Lily smirked. “20 minutes. But, you're still injured, so don't push it.”

Gleaming blinked at how long Gust could hold his breath. “Well, um, just for safety, why don't you use my air spell? It's good for an hour, and that way, we don't have to rush our investigation.”

De Poet spoke up, “Good idea, Gleaming.”

Dusk looked at his family. “Well, if you're all going, I might as well go. Besides, the meteor might have some rare metal, I could use it for my forge.”

Gust looked down at Twig as the bun-bun scratched his leg. He smiled at her, and picked her up cradling her in his arms. “She wants to come too.”

De Poet smiled at her family. “Okay. Let's go.”

She and her Rom walked out of their camp and headed to the lake. Once they arrived at the edge of the 3 acre lake, Gust set Twig down on the ground, and then pulled off his shirt, boots, and pants, leaving only his underpants on.

Gleaming blushed as she looked at him. “Um...”

“I always swim without clothing. My fur is hydrophobic. Doesn't get wet.” Gust explained as he waded into the shallows. He looked back at Gleaming. “Are you coming?”

Gleaming, blushing heavily, pulled her dress off and handed it to De Poet, leaving her in her bra and underwear. Her horn lit up as she cast the air bubble spell around hers and Gust's head. “So, the lake at it's deepest, is 50 feet.” She waded into the shallows next to Gust. “Most likely, the meteor is somewhere near the middle.”

“Don't dive down until you reach the middle.” De Poet said. “I only want you to spot the meteor. Don't touch it, or try to pull it up. Once we know where it is, come back and tell us. Lily and I can pull it out.” She cautioned the young ones. “Okay?”

“Yes, Mama.” Gust nodded.

“Of course, De Poet.” Gleaming agreed.

Gust and Gleaming walked out until the water hit their chests. They then started swimming towards the middle of the lake. After 5 minutes of swimming, Gust and Gleaming nodded, and dove down into the depths.

“Whoa.” Gust said as the air bubble kept the water away from his head, like an upside down fish bowl. It also seemed to speak underwater as well. “This spell is great.”

“It can be useful for swimming,” Gust admitted. “It can be really useful for exploring areas that have been affected my magical overdose.” She looked below them. “But come, my Dearest, we have a task to complete.”

Gust nodded, and together, the two lovers swam deeper, easily swimming down to the deepest part of the lake at 50 feet. Since the light of the sun couldn't go that far, Gust used his night vision that was inherent to his cat side. Gleaming summoned magic to her horn, using it as a glorified flashlight. After a few minutes of swimming around and searching, Gust pointed off 50 feet to Gleaming's right.

“Look.” He said, spotting a blurry object.

Gleaming looked to where he was pointing, and spotted the blurry object as well.

“Remember, Gust. No touching.” Gleaming reminded him.

“Right.” Gust said as they swam over the meteor.

As they got closer, they got a better look at it. Gleaming increased the light of her horn so they could see it even better.

“What the?” Gust gasped as he looked at the meteor.

It looked like a chunk of raw amber, and had to be at least 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. It seemed to be made a slick, very smooth, almost friction-less metal. It was diamond shaped, with a transparent window type lid.

“No wonder Shimmer and the princes couldn't stop it.” Gleaming said as they swam up to the ship, keeping a safe distance of 3 feet. “It's so slick... and appears to have magic absorbing properties. They had no choice but to redirect it.”

“Yeah. If they had tried to stop it for much longer, it would have drained all of them.” Gust agreed. He squinted his eyes as he spotted something inside under the lid . “Look, Gleaming. There's... something inside it.”

Gleaming looked closer at the ship. There was indeed something inside. A large... blurry shape. Almost as there was someone inside it, on their back.

“That... can't be a... person, could it?” Gleaming said in disbelief.

“Can you scan... them?” Gust asked. “See if they're... alive?”

Gleaming nodded. “I can try...” She sent out a tendril of magic, being careful and mindful of the ship. The tendril found the edge of the windowl, and pushed inside to the “being” within. “They're alive-”

The ship started beeping. The lid of the ship popped open, and a geyser of bubbles rose up out of it. Gust gasped as the being inside was now exposed to the water and started to float to the surface, clearly unconscious judging by the dead-man float position they were in. He quickly swam behind them put his hands under their armpits, and swam quickly up to the surface, using his powerful tail to help him.

Gleaming was stunned are just how fast he was, taking a second to think that he had been holding back his full speed when they swam together. However, she put that aside as she swam up to the surface after Gust. She broke the surface, and looked around for him and... the mysterious being.