"Ouch!! Don't do that," I scolded Kyle.

"Hey! That's not very nice you know!" he barked in defense.

"I'm on Kyle's side. Sorry Em," Jan said.

I had invited my friends over after school for some odd reason. That was a mistake. Letting them hear what I was writing in my diary was a bigger one.

Jan sat at my desk, and I on my bed; Kyle too. Everyone's a critic, aren't they?

"Well it isn't nice!" Kyle whined.

"Aw zip it. I'm thinking," I ordered, continuing to write in my diary.

"So, Em. You really believe it happened?" Jan asked.

"Go to my top drawer, open it, and look for a medallion with the same crystal leaf on it as my necklace, the one I'm wearing now. Look on the back," I sighed.

I could hear her rifling through my things. "And what's this Emily? Love letters? Shucks. Just an old progress report."

Glancing back at her, I saw her eyeing the progress report. "Oh, you didn't do that good in science last year, did you. . ." she remarked.

"Will you cut that out?!? It's from third quarter, and I got an overall 'A' that semester anyway! You have no business looking at that!" I yelled, snatching the paper from her.

"Yrow. Take a chill pill Em. I was just making a joke," she said, looking through the drawer. She pulled out the medallion, inspecting it carefully. "I don't see anything strange on the front," she mumbles after awhile. Turning it over, she gasped. "Oh my gosh. . . You didn't make this, did you?!?!? Was it one of your cousins?"

Why does that sound familiar? I glared at her, and grabbed the medallion from Jan's hands. I then slumped back on my bed, Jan plunking herself back in the chair.

"Possessive, ain't she?"

"I'll say," Kyle agreed, sliding onto the floor.

Oh sure, take her side Kyle! We've only been friends since kindergarten!

We all sat in silence. Would they ever say something?

"So it wasreal, I guess. I can't deny what I see. But I don't understand. . . I thought the whole thing was fictional. . ." Jan said aloud.

Sitting up, I saw that Kyle had a puzzled expression on his face. "Kyle? Kyle, what's wrong?"

He gazed up into my eyes, and shook his head slowly. "I still don't believe it. Another two or three months can go by, and I won't believe you then either. Your nuts. Both of you!" He sighed. "I suppose the next thing we hear about is you traveling to your precious Star Wars galaxy and become, oh I don't know. . . Princess Leia? Or Jaina. Or what's-her-name that's marrying Luke."

That set me over the edge. "I thought you promised you'd stop that! And besides, I'd rather be Callista, not that ex bounty hunter or whatever Mara Jade. Callista's nicer." Oops. That was when I was in "Ponyland," and Kyle was back here, in good old Idaho. Let's see if he picks up on it. . .

After that he looks even more confused. "I never said anything like that. Sure, maybe I said something, but I didn't promise anything. You got your wires crossed somewhere. Somewhere, in that great expanse of broken synapses and faulty brain cells, there's a problem. . ."

"All right that's it!" I screamed. "Out! I've had enough! I don't care if you're my boyfriend, I want you out! You too Jannie-girl. OUT! Out, out, big pains. Life is nothing but a bunch of annoyances anymore! Three friends bickering about something I'd like to forget! It is a tale, told by a teenager, wishing for privacy, until she is annoyed no more. And then you -" I shouted, on the verge of busting a gasket, pointing at Kyle, " - insult my intelligence! The cardinal rule about me: Do NOT insult Emily's intelligence! Or reap the whirlwind! It's harvest time now!"

Kyle was horrified. Jan, stupefied.

"OUT!" I cried one final time.

Kyle got up, and man he didn't look very happy. Uh oh.

"I guess I'll be seeing you in class Emily. But that's it. No more going out, no more parties, nothing. You've been messed up ever since your fall. So the is au revoir to you. Hasta la vista. Adios. Sianara. Al-riv-uh-dare-chie. Good luck, good bye."

I felt my jaw drop open in shock. Me and my big mouth!

"Wait," I managed squeak out. "No, Kyle, I'm sorry. . ."

"It's a little late for that now Em," Jan remarked sarcastically.

"Put a sock in it!" Kyle screeched at her. Yikes! I had never heard his voice get that high!

Looking back at me, I saw the smallest trace of tears forming in his eyes. No. . .

Still frozen in shock, my - friends? - left me. No. . . Don't go. . . Come back. . . come back!

The door shut, and I heard the front door slam, open again, and shut softer. At least Mom and Dad weren't home. But, they were gone. My friends were gone.

Flopping back on my pillow, I started to sob. Oh Pristina. . . help me. What brought that about, and why? Where's help when you need it? Certainly not here. If only I could somehow make those guys believe me. . .

Silence may be golden, silence may be heavy, silence may be deafening. Right then I would have said it's all of the above. Stupid stupid stupid big mouth!

It's not gonna help yourself one bit feeling guilty about yourself, my conscience seemed to say.

If you could talk to consciences, and have them really talk back to you, I would have told mine to shut up. The stuffed animals, Ponies, and any other inanimate object that resembles anything in my room, too.

Staring at the medallion, I saw a small crack in the side of the raised silver half circle. What? Wait a minute! That's where the crack that opened up the locket part of it was, right?

I gently slipped my thumbnail into the crack. . .

My heart pounded like it would fly out of my chest. Should I? I shouldn't. Should I? I shouldn't. Should I? I shouldn't. Pick one Em for cryin' out loud!

Too late. My thumbnail slid into the crack all the way, separating the two pieces. . .

A brilliant flash of light blinded me.

Something alive came from the medallion. Oh. . . great.

I blinked a few times, and wincing, I looked up.

The Rainbow of Light, and of course this just had to be real, hovered above my head.
~*~
~*~

I am going insane. . . I am going insane. . . I am really going insane. . .

My heart thumped faster and faster. I don't think it can get any faster than this. . . Can hearts explode? Uh-oh. . . EEK!!!!!

I hold out the medallion to the Rainbow. It instantly sucks itself back into the medallion. Just like before.

This is getting scary.

"Ho boy. This is heavy. . . Oh! Kyle! Jan! They'll believe me now!" I gasp. I grab my cordless off of the headboard, well, try to. It falls to the floor with a soft thump. My hands reach blindly for it, then I grab it and turn it on, hitting speed dial three. My phone has four speed dials: Dad's work, Mom's work, Kyle, and nine eleven.

Ring. . . Ring. . . Ring. . . Pick up! Ring. . . Pick up now! Ring. . .

"Hi you've reached the Morone residence. We're obviously not home at the moment, so - OW!
Mark! Oh, ah, sorry, please leave a message at the beep," Kyle's recorded voice said. Beep!

DOH! Great. . . not home yet. . . I guess I'll have to leave a message. . .

"Hey wait! Don't hang up! We're here! Uh, I'm here, anyway. This is Kyle speaking. Hello? Hello? If this is a prank . . ." Kyle warned.

Better make it short and sweet, he probably doesn't want to talk to me. . . Who would? I'd been a brat. "It's me," I state flatly. "I have proof. Hard proof. Is Jan there?"

"No!" Jan shouts in the background.

Ha-ha! That's Jan for ya.

"Blasted speaker phone! I'll get Mark when he gets home for leaving that on! Err!" he yelled. "I thought I told you I was through with you."

"Well listen! Get over here! If you still don't believe me after this, then go ahead and tell the whole Lake Cheridan community that Emily Parker thinks she had an adventure in Ponyland for all I care! Just come now! It's important, or I wouldn't call, because I know you have a bad attitude when your mad!" I barked, hanging up. They can come if they want. If they don't, then I'll just go get them!
~*~

"All right Parker. Where's your proof?" Kyle asked harshly.

"Yeah! Show us now or we go!" Jan exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest. Her classic, not original, but classic sign of defiance.

I stood up. "Okay. Fine. But not here. Upstairs. That's where my proof is."

Opening the door, I look over my shoulder. "Come on. I ain't gonna wait around all day." Who cares about perfect English? Not me!

Kyle set his jaw, and reluctantly came forward. Jan followed meekly behind. Trudging up the stairs, I heard Kyle mutter something unintelligible. But, I don't think I would have enjoyed hearing it anyway.

Reaching my bedroom, I picked up the medallion.

"Oh come on Emily! You already showed us that!" Kyle said angrily. "You know what? I'm sick of this!"

"Will you please just sit down and be quiet for a minute? That's all I ask!" I muttered.

They sat down. "Thank you. Now, shortly after you two left in a huff - which I admit I went over the edge - I found this," I explain, showing them the crack.

Kyle shrugged, looking annoyed. "So? It's a crack. Poor workmanship. Now can we go?"

At that point I gave him the Look. "Okay, okay, okay. I get the point. I'll shaddup now."

I continued on. Taking a deep breath, I said, "Okay guys. Trust me. Whatever happens, don't flip out too much, okay?"

I popped the locket part open. The Rainbow sprang out, shining and glittering like a jewel.

Jan screamed. "Ah!!! Help me! Get it away! Get it away from me!!"

Kyle ducked as the Rainbow whizzed past his head. "Dang it! Low clearance! What the heck is that thing?!?! Whatever it is, put it back Em! Put it back!"

I just had to grin then. Now they'll believe me! Holding out the medallion, the Rainbow came back, and I snapped it shut.

Neither of them spoke. Jan was still cowering on the floor.

"Believe me now?" I said, breaking the silence.

Jan peered out from behind her fingers. "It's uh, safe now Kyle. I think you have a little bit of explaining to do Em. . ."

Kyle looked bewildered. "She? Explain? What's there to explain anymore? Practically nothing. Except where that rainbow came from."

My grin becamed a smile. "That's the Rainbow of Light guys. My little adventure did happen."

"So we believe you. Now what? What are you gonna do with it now?" Kyle asked quietly.

Ooh, this is gonna be good! "I'll tell ya what we're gonna do. We're going to go visit some friends of mine."
~*~

"Oh yeah. Oh yeah. She really means that," Kyle reassured her. "Oh yeah. . . Just how do you think we're exactly gonna pull this off Emily?!?!"

Shoot. That one I hadn't figured out yet in my master plan. Actually, I didn't have a master plan. "Well, um. . . The Rainbow will take us there, I hope. . ."

"You hope? Hope isn't exactly the right word here. There's will, and there's won't. Yes or no. And how would a rainbow get us to, uh. . .wherever it is it would take us? Just because I may be a believer now doesn't mean that I'll believe everything!"

"You must think things are only true in fairy tales then," I said sarcastically. Gee, Kyle. You saw the movie. How did the witches get dumped into the volcano? Did Tinkerbell sprinkle fairy dust on them and tell them to think happy thoughts?!?! No!

"This ain't a song by the Monkeys!" Kyle yelled incredulously.

"Okay, okay. So it should work. I got a plan," I said. I might have a plan. . .

Jan's face was blank. Apparently she didn't have faith. Oh well, she would. "Outside everyone!"

Kyle paced back and forth in front of my old playhouse. Jan sat twirling in the tire swing. So what were we waiting for? Me to get a clue and finally open the thing. I was a bit chicken, I'll admit that. Okay, really chicken. Really really really REALLY chicken. Emphasis on really.Really? I would have never guessed!

"Will you just get it over with? Nobody will see," Kyle said, bored. "Jan! You ready?"

"As I ready will be ever!" Jan said, falling out of the tire swing. Prognosis: Traumatic Over-Swinging Disability. Messes up your speech, not to mention your balance.

Kyle pulled her up by her arm. "Kyle ow hurt it did!"

"Aw, cut it out with the dizziness disability. You're too old to pull pranks like that," he said with a grunt.

"Joke no it wasn't," she said, swaying. And that time obviously faking it.

Pulling the medallion from my pocket, I released the Rainbow. It popped out, and hovered above us.
"Take us to Ponyland," I commanded.

Nothing happened. "Please?" The Rainbow stayed hovering above us. No! I have to prove to these guys that it all happened! That it's all very real!

The Rainbow swooped down towards us, and wraped itself around me, Kyle, and Jan. Kyle seemed to have fainted. Jan was stifling a scream. And, unfortunate for me, I am just a tad bit afraid of heights. Don't look down! Whatever you do, don't look down Emily!!!

I feel like I'm flying! Heh heh heh. . . We were lifted higher, higher, higher. . . I could see my school, Lakeside Junior High . . Lake Cheridan, which was NOT named after Cher. . . Is that Boise?!?! Eek! Blast it Emily! You looked down! Why did you do that?!?

My head was then literally in the clouds. Thick, cold vapor surrounded me, making it hard to breathe. Does this rainbow have any clue whatsoever where its going?!? Does it have any clue that air pressure and humans do not mix at this altitude?!?! AH!!!!

The clouds parted. PHEW! Above me, a sea of white. Below me, a sea of blue-green, and I saw Ponyland. Whoa, it's an island? Wait. A small continent? Hel-lo. Major size distortions going on here!

I saw the desert first getting larger and larger. Are we going towards Crystal Castle? The Rainbow lurched to the east - west? - okay, my right. Dream Castle. Why there? I didn't want to go to Dream Castle! I needed to go to Crystal Castle! To see Tiffy and Pristina and say "I told you so" to Primrose! I grinned evilly. Oh yeah! THAT will be fun!

"Rainbow! Woo hoo! Wrong direction! Take Emily and friends to Crystal Castle! Where the High Queen presides! Not Majesty! Tiffany! Hello?" I yelled. I couldn't even hear myself over the wind resistance.

It ignored me.

Looking over at my friends. Kyle was still unconscious looking. Jan was covering her eyes. Scaredy-cat Stockman!

Zeroing in on Dream Castle, the Rainbow started to slow down. "Kyle! Kyle Morone! All right, Moron! Wake up! We're here!"

Kyle's eyes immediately snapped open. That faker! He had had his eyes closed! Kyle doesn't like being called "Moron," either. Should have known, really. He'll make a good actor someday. . . should join the drama club. . .

The Rainbow set us down in front of the drawbridge of Dream Castle. Fumbling around in my pocket, I pulled out the medallion, and holding it out, the Rainbow sucksed itself back in. How does it bloody do that? I giggled at that thought.

"You can open your eyes now Jan. We're all now officially having delusions of grandeur," Kyle said, elbowing her.

I frowned. He still doesn't believe me. . . ?

Would he ever?
~*~
~*~

We turned to find a huge pink creature with green scales standing behind us. Spike!

"AIYEE!!!!! Hide me!" Jan squealed.

"Keep your cool, Jan! It's just a dragon!" I said scowling. Wait. That didn't sound right.

"Just a dragon?" Kyle whispered hoarsely.

Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said it that way. . . A dragon is a big deal - a dragon!! Please! When you've been through what I've been through, a dragon doesn't seem all that weird anymore.

Spike appeared to be puzzled. "How do you know my name? I don't know you. . . Hey, wait! I recognize you!" he exclaimed, pointing to Kyle.

"Me?" Kyle asked in disbelief.

"Him?! Why him!" Jan cried. She wouldn't understand.

"Yes, but you're smaller. Isn't your name. . . Ayren? Yes! Prince Ayren!" Spike said gleefully.

"Oh my, oh my!" Jan yelped.

Oh, great. Just perfect. That would be the cue for all mayhem to break loose.

Kyle looked to me with pleading eyes for an explanation, which I didn't have.

You're the one who was here first! I mouthed.

He frowned, and mouthed. . . I couldn't understand.

What?

He pulled me by my sleeve closer. "I'm sorry! But I really don't know, Emily! I believe you now! I believe everything. But what's going on? I. . . I don't understand!" he whispered in my ear.

Oh, great. I believes me, now. This really could not get any worse. . .

I knew then that I'd better step in and clear the confusion. "I'm afraid you have your humans crossed Spike. My name is Emily Parker. These are my friends, Kyle Morone and Jan Stockman," I explained.

Spike still seemed to be confused. Oh well, he'd understand. . . sooner or later.

Kyle, seeming to catch on a bit to everything, cleared his throat. "Uh, he would like to see Her Highness, Queen Majesty. Could you please take us to her?" he asked.

Well that's just peachy! I thought Kyle didn't like Ponies and only watched the TV series because we made him. Er. . . I think this just got somehow worse.

Spike's expression brightened. "Of course! I'll have Firefly take you there. Firefly!" he called.

"I'd appreciate an explaination of why the sudden interest," I grumbled at Kyle.

"Perhaps later, when I'm in a better mood," Kyle quipped.

A pink Pegasus with electric blue hair flew up to greet us. Firefly. "Hello visitors! Yes, Spike?"

"Please take them to see Majesty, Firefly," Spike told her.

Firefly smiled. "Okay! Follow me guys!"

She ducked into the castle. I started forward, but my friends didn't. "Come on!"

Kyle shrugged, and pulled Jan by her arm along with him.

"I can walk fine on my own, buster!" she yelped.

"Didn't seem that way to me," he growled.

We arrived inside a courtyard, and I could see straight up into the sky. Dimly lit arched pathways branched off from the courtyard in all directions, and a sunken garden lay in the middle. Firefly veered off to the right, around the garden, and down a passageway directly across from the entrance. Tapestries covered the walls of the hall we entered, probably leading to the Throne Room.

"Do you suppose she's taking us deep into the bowels of the castle do dispose of us?" Kyle whispered.

"Sh!" I elbowed him. He grunted softly, and Firefly stopped. Turning around to face us, I quickly pasted a smile on my face. She shook her head, and started forward again. Phew!

Firefly stopped not too far ahead of us at a doorway. "There you go! You can't get lost on your way back, so bye!" With that, she trotted past us back down the hall.

Walking through, I found myself in a brightly lit pink room. Sunlight streamed in from windows in front of me. Blue banners hung from the ceiling, and at the end of the long room a white Unicorn with blue hair sat primly on a pink throne. I think I'm going to gag if I see any more things that are pink! Who decorated this place? Barbie?!?

"Welcome! We don't usually have human visitors here! Make yourselves comfortable!" Majesty said happily, motioning to the left of us.

Looking towards the wall, I saw three chairs leaning there. Were those there before? I pulled a chair up anyway, and Kyle and Jan followed suit.

"May I ask you your names?" Majesty asked.

My friends and I exchange glances. "Why should she ask? She's Queen!" I mumbled to myself.

"I'm not telling her mine!" Jan whispered.

"You brought us here!" Kyle said angrily, softly but angrily.

Turning back to Majesty, I decided to speak for the group. "My name's Emily Parker. And these are my friends Kyle Morone and Jan Stockman. We're. . . um, here to return something."

Majesty's expression was blank. I wouldn't blame her for being a bit confused. "May I ask what the item it is you're returning?"

Why so formal? Oh yeah. She's a queen. She has to be formal. "The Rainbow of Light, Your Highness."

Majesty was dumbstruck. Her eyes opened wider, wider, and soon they appeared as if they would bulge out of their sockets. "Oh my goodness gracious me! Then you must be. . . Princess Crystal Rainbow! And you! Prince Ayren! I remember hearing about you two! I do! Oh my, oh my!" Majesty cried.

Geez, don't have a coronary Majesty. . .

"There goes another one, saying I'm some guy named Aaron," Kyle muttered, shaking his head.

"We can explain!" Jan sputtered. She then whispered sidelong to us, "Can you two explain this?"

I gave Jan the Look.

"I'll zip it."

Good girl. . . Back to Majesty. "So, you've heard about us? The strange, messed up kids from Idaho?"

"Not in so many words. . . But yes. Queen Tiffany told me about you two. I do not know anything about your dark skinned friend here though. . ." she answered vaguely.

"Hey! I'm proud of being part Cherokee part English part Irish part black! So what? I'm a census representative's nightmare. Darker skin is nice. Especially if you get sunburned! Except I don't really like that 'Native American' or 'African American' politically correctness crap. . . All men are created equal. . ." Jan fumed. "Oh, sorry. Please excuse the language."

Majesty didn't seem to take any notice. "Tiffany is looking for you two. She wishes to recognize you for what you did for us. The witches of the Volcano of Gloom were certainly reformed by your act. Now they help us. You wouldn't recognize them at all. . ."

I perked up a bit at that. I didn't think the whole idea would work, really. Well, do you think that letting loose a Rainbow of Light in a contained area occupied by three witches would do a completel one-eighty on them? Sounds just a bit ridiculous to me.

"We would like to see Her Majesty High Queen Tiffany also. Could you please take us to Crystal Castle?" Kyle asks. It sounded like he knew more than he let on.

"I'd be happy to oblige."

Kyle turned to me. "See? You're not the only one who can handle this."

Yeah, well this is starting to go south, too. . .
~*~
~*~

"What?!?" Jan yelled. "Emily, you never said a thing about Unicorns hopping about every which where!!"

Ooh, Stockman. . . I am this close to doing something drastic. . . "Jan, calm down. You're not gonna die or disappear for eternity. It will last only a few seconds. . ." I said, attempting to make her feel better. Let it work! Work, darn it, work!

"Oh, all right. . ." she sighed.

"I assure you this is perfectly safe," Majesty said.

We crammed together next to Majesty. Neither of my friends looked like "happy campers."

I started to tingle all over. Sure, I'd felt it once already, but was still so strange! Like your whole body had fallen asleep! Oooh! Twilight Zone!

The room started to fade from view, and my whole vision began to cloud over. I couldn't feel anything, only the tingling.

My vision started to clear. . . only to be blinded by bright sunlight reflecting off some large object. We had arrived at Crystal Castle.

Rubbing my eyes, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Kyle.

"Cool castle. You never said it was really made of crystal," he said.

"I thought you'd be smart enough to get the gist that it was," I grumbled. Sometimes, Kyle is naturally slow. Then he can just be a plain dimwit.

I turned to Majesty. "Thank you, Majesty. I beleive I - " paused to look at Kyle, who was giving me some strange look - "we, can take it from here now."

Majesty smiled, and disappeared.

Jan was staring up at the castle, gaping at its immense size. "Lookit the size of that thing. . . It's bigger than Cinderella's in Disneyworld!" she gasped.

"Warning: Do not look directly at the castle!" Kyle said with a chuckle. He smiled, but I can tell it's forced. Oh, man. . . Why did I have to lose it like I did. . . Because I'm an immature adolescent who has a attitude problem? I think not!

"Come on!" I reached out to pull Jan by the arm, but decided against it. She'd had enough yanks and tugs for one day.

Opening the enormous wood doors and ducking into the cool corridor, my eyes slowly adjusted to the dim lighting. Why do castles have to be so dark?

Our steps echoed on the marble floor. Just as we neared the Throne Room, I heard someone coming down the staircase. A familiar green Pegasus appeared.

"Pristina!" I yelled, forgetting that HQT is probably not very far away. . .

Pristina seemed to be startled to see us. "Crystal Rainbow? Ayren? My goodness! It's been several months since you two were here, hasn't it? What happened, and where were you?" She paused. "Why do you two look like children?"

"Cuz we are kids," Jan states drearily. "And their names are Emily and Kyle, not Crystal Rainbow and Aaron or whatever."

Pristina looked suffieciently shocked.

I elbowed her. So she'd had a bit too much of that too today. Well too bad, she deserved it, because she knew what happened. "Jan, this is Pristina! And besides, it's pronounced Ayren, not 'Aaron.' Air plus ren. Ayren."

She rolled her eyes. What's so confusing? It's not like I've explained it for you a million times! Oops, I think Ijust self incriminated myself. . .

"Like I said, whatever. It's all too confusing for me," she sighed.

"Yes, it is confusing! And I demand an explanation!"
~*~
~*~

"Ah!! It's Tiffany! Run!" Jan yelped. She grabbed my hand and started to pull me towards the exit. "Come on, Em! We gotta make like a banana and split!"

My eyes darted from Tiff to Jan, and back again. "No Jan, no. We have to talk to Tiffany. She deserves an explanation."

The whole time Kyle stood around, appearing as if he felt out of place. Maybe he did. Heck, I did!

"Well?" Tiffany barked, after a moment of silence. "Are you two going to explain this whole mess or not?!?"

"Yrow," Jan hisses.

Kyle and I both give her the Look. "Jan, don't piss off the queen; she means business," Kyle whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

"Oh my!" Pristina gasped. "Such strong language!"

"You'll be hearing much stronger than that if Emily doesn't explain all this soon to Her Worship," Kyle muttered.

"You know, you could be thrown in the dungeon!" Tiffy growled.

"Or replaced," Jan said with a sarcastic grin. "Can we stop this bickering? It's not like it's gonna do us a hill of beans of good." She frowned. "Why a hill of beans? That sounds so stupid."

Though it was really not the right time, I had to agree. Neither does "white on rice." Question marks and slammers!!

"Good point Jan. Fighting gets us no where," I said calmly, looking at Tiffy.

"Oh now she says that," Kyle murmured, hanging his head, stubbing his toe on the floor. "Like it will do any good now. . ."

No one spoke. I just hate it when that happens!

Kyle looked back up. "Look, Queen Tiffany or whoever, to start out I'd like to say that I only know what Em's told me, which ain't much, and I don't understand half of it. But I do know that Emily here wants to return the Rainbow of Light to all you guys, however she got it in the first place. And I am not Kyle, I am Ayren."

Jan and I looked at him quite freakishly. Didn't he realize what he just said?!?! Oh man! I bet he feels like a real doofus now! Ha!

He eyed us, trying to understand the message we were sending him. "What? What'd I say?"

Jan and I giggled, and I started to laugh, hard. Tears formed in my eyes, and my stomach started to hurt. A lot. Kyle was having an identity crisis! Ha ha! I love it!

Kyle slapped his forehead. He must have gotten it. . . Finally! "Doh! I get it. I meant I'm Kyle, not Ayren. And forgive my manners, I'm not used to being in front of royalty," he admitted.

Tiffany looked stunned. Well well well, Kyle astonished the Queen!!

"Well, I - I - I -" Tiffy stuttered.

"Well? What?" Jan says coyly, grinning evilly.

"Don't push it, Janis," I muttered, purposely using her real name.

Tiffy wore a slight pouting expression. "All right, you win. You actually have a good explanation why you're here this time. Now explain to me why you were last time. Primrose told me all about you, Crystal - I mean Emily! She didn't believe you at all, though. Thought you were as crazy as Ayren, I mean Kyle? Oh, this is very confusing. . ."

For once since our argument, Kyle smiled. A real, true, bright, happy, genuine bona fide lopsided grin. Just like Kyle. Uh-oh, don't embarrass yourself too much! You don't want Tiffany to know too much about your real self! Oh! I could kill myself! Laugh it up fuzzball, laugh it up! I may be just grinning on the outside, but I'm about to die laughing on the inside!

"Don't feel too bad about it, queenie. None of us really understands any of this anyway," he said.

Well, I suppose you could say worse. Then again. . .
~*~
~*~

Smirk? Smirk?

I had only seen that look once before, then. The same look he got when we were at the movies. . . when we were watching The Mask of Zorro. . .He put his arm around me. . . It was cold in there! And the air conditioning was on! It's always cold in movie theaters!

All right, changing the subject back to the important one!

"So um. . . Guys? You still here?"

Kyle frowned, smirked, frowned. . .

"Pick one and keep it, all right?!?! You're givin' me the willies!" I whispered, walking past him towards Tiffany.

Just about to open my mouth, I heard hooves on the steps, and a gasp.

I turned, just in time to see Primrose nearly pass out on the landing. Ah ha ha ha!

I smiled wickedly. Ooh, revenge is mine, Primrose, revenge is mine. . . "Hello Primrose! So nice of you to drop by! Won't you join in on our little chat?"

Oh yeah, oh yeah! HA! Told you so Primrose! HA! Oh, priceless Look, priceless. . . What a perfect Kodak moment that was!

"Ah. . ." Primrose stammered.

"Was that a good idea?" Pristina whispered to me.

"But of course it was. Em told me how much of a pain Primrose was," Jan answered for me.

"Is that the dragon-pony, Em?" Kyle asked with a laugh.

"Watch it, she might blow her cork!" Jan hissed with a small giggle.

Primrose stuttered until she was red in the face, then blue, then purple. . . Oh man! I think she's gonna blow!

"Uh, see you later, Your Highnesses, we better get out of here before Primrose blows a gasket!" I cried, shoving my way past Kyle and Jan. Air, air, I need air!

"OW!!!!" I yelped as I open the heavy door. Bright light, bright light! Where were my sunglasses when I needed them! My cool ones! Or the ones that make me look like a bug or an alien! I didn't care if they were purple and said "Barney" on them, I still wouldn't care! Just gimme a pair of shades!

Rushing into the sunlight, I heard feet and hooves run after me. And a THUD!!!!!

"OW!!!!"

I winced. That was probably Kyle, slamming into the door. Ouch!

The door slowly opened, and Kyle staggered out of the castle, as if he was about to keel over and die. Die, Kyle, die! Get it over with and drop dead! You won't get an Academy Award from me! Well, um, maybe he's really hurt. . . ?

"Man! That must have hurt! I heard that all the way out here!" I yelled.

"You and everyone else in the immediate area," he groaned. Poor, poor pathetic Kyle. He's always either being a comedian, a smart aleck, or a pain. . . Er, in pain, too.

"Great Kyle, I think you dented that thing," Jan commented, trying to shield her eyes from the sun.

"If he really did, he has to replace it," Tiffany said with a wink.

Wow! The Queen had a sense of humor! A weak one, but still! I could see the headlines: Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Ponyland Queen actually has sense of humor!

"That was a good idea, Emily, a good idea. It's best to let Princess Primrose fume in solitude," Pristina sayid with a giggle. "I don't think anyone wants to be around her when she's really mad."

And I thought I was the only smart aleck of the bunch when I was here. . . "Well, thank you, Pristina. That is high praise."

"Now what do we do?" Kyle asked, squinting, probably wanting sunglasses, too. And maybe if these Ponies knew what shades were, they would too. . . Wait! Shady! They do know what sunglasses are!

"I guess whatever you want. Wait, argh! Excuse me, I've never dealt with this sort of situation before, you know," Tiffany said irritably. "I suppose we better find a new Keeper, then."

"Why not the old one? Lickity Split?" I asked.

Tiffany sighed thoughtfully. "What do you think, Pristina?" she asked.

"Me? Oh, well, I think Emily has a good idea," Pristina answered, flustered.

Jan crossed her arms. That stubborn defiant Jannie-girl! "If you ask me, I'd just like to get it all over with," she said with a huff.

"Jan!" both me and Kyle yelled at her. I think Jan had a bit of an attitude that day. . . And it was not my fault!

Tiffany and Pristina are startled.

"Why?" I asked, trying to stay calm.

"So we can go sightseeing, of course," Jan sayid matter-of-factly.

"Oh, now you lighten up!' Kyle said angrily with a sneer.

What? Huh? What? Moving too fast, moving too fast. . .

"So?" Jan asked.

Oh. . . fine. I shrugged. Might as well. This should be fun!
~*~
~*~

Kyle shrugged, and looked at Jan. Jan shrugged, and looked at me. Why does this remind me of the Three Stooges? O-kay. . . I already did, so okay! "That would be great Pristina! But can three kids fit on one Pegasus?"

Pristina frowned, as if she were deep in thought. Well, that's not the look I'd have. I'd have a look that says, "oh darn, now what?!?!"

"Houston we have a problem!" Kyle cried, bursting into laughter. Acting very strange he was, very strange indeed.

Jan and I gave him the Look. Wondered how many times I'd given him that today. . . Only once?!?! Shoot. I'd given the Look to Jan more than Kyle! No wonder she was in a bad mood! Or maybe she was mad at me for dragging her into this. . .

Tiffany and Pristina exchange glances of uncertainty. "I can't leave the castle," Tiffany said. "Just walk around the paradise. I'm sure there's enough things to see here."

"Sounds good to me," Jan mumbled.

"I agree with Jan," Kyle said, and sniffed. "What's that smell?"

"The flowers," Pristina, Tiffany, and I answered in unison.

We followed the path aimlessly in silence. Somebody say something, please. . .

"So Pristina, how long has this place been here?" Kyle asked. Thank you, Kyle.

"Since Rainbow Year 2," Pristina answered proudly.

"And what Rainbow Year is this, it now being 1998 A.D. for us?" Jan asked, ducking out of the way of a tree branch.

The forest was getting denser, and darker. Where was the desert? Where was the end? It was clearly obvious that the Ponies seldom came all the way out there.

Pristina halted. "I. . . don't know. No one does. After Firefly sought out help and ended up finding Megan, I guess we've gone mainly by human time. It has long been forgotten as to what Rainbow Year this could be," she answered sadly. "Someone must know, but we do not know whom."

She looked around. "It appears that we've reached a. . . dead end, as far as the path goes."

Looking down at my feet, I noticed that the scraggily path had disappeared. Oh, no. How long had we been off the path?

"Houston I think we have a really, really, really bad problem now!" Kyle yelped.

"Kyle, calm down! Everything will be okay," I commanded. But I was not really the poster child for calm either at the moment. . .

"Oh dear, oh dear!" Pristina fretted. "Maybe I should fly back to the castle for help!"

I shook my head. "No, it's best that we stay together. Now, we came from behind us. So if we just turn straight around and head back we should be fine."

Looking into the throng of trees, I gulped, and thought again. "Uh, maybe I was wrong about that. Where's a compass when you need one?!?"

Kyle's eyes darted up from their resting place on a root. "Compass? Compass? How would that help? I think a computer with a Global Positioning System would be better right about now!" he said, starting to become hysterical.

"How would we get a satellite to find us?" Jan asked nervously.

Oh darn, oh darn, oh darn! I rubbed my eyes, and started to think. I'm in accelerated math, and do problem solving questions in a snap. But I don't really think that "You are in Ponyland, and have lost the path in the dense forest of the Royal Paradise. What do you do? What do you do?" would be on a test! Think Emily Jo Parker! Think! Let's go E.J., let's go! Then again, I don't do logical thinking that well on weekends. . .

Jan started biting her fingernails. Something she does only when she's about to flip out. Like when we went to this haunted house for Halloween. . . That was so good! Nearly wet her pants. . . "I think we're in trouble Em," Jan said, her voice shaky.

Aw, great. Now all of them were hysterical. Better do something! "Okay, how about if I go, and come back? If I'm not back in ten minutes, start calling my name, and I'll be able to get back here."

"But you just said it would be best to stay together!" Kyle sputtered.

"Yeah Emily! Stop being a hypocrite!" Jan whined.

I gave them both the Look, and no one said a word. No sounds came from the forest. Not even a bird, a cricket, or a fly. I couldn't even smell the strong flowery scent anymore.

"I know! We should all go together! That way if we get even more lost, we'll be lost together!" Pristina said enthusiastically.

She was trying to help, but somehow I think we all could tell it didn't come out right.
~*~
~*~

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I felt around desparately for anything of use. Medallion. . . a quarter. . . a dime. . . last night's dance ticket. . . chapstick. . . lint, but of course there would be lint in there. . . house key. . . a Jolly Rancher. . .

I could guess I was not going to find anything. Not anything useful. Unless there was a payphone around that I could call nine eleven with. . .

"Well, then I guess we better head back guys," I said monotonously. "Come on, let's go."

I turned, and began our wandering way back to the castle. Pausing, I heard no footsteps. Doing a quick about-face, I found that my friends - humans and Pony alike - were just standing around. I say this calls for motivation!

Stalking up to Kyle, I said, "Stop skulking. If the other guys on the track and football team could see you now, they'd be laughing so hard they'd bust a gasket. So are you gonna be a wuss, or are you actually gonna do something about it?"

Next, Jannie-girl. "You! The one who's part Cherokee part English part Irish part black! Get a clue! We're in the middle of nowhere, and you're standing around doing nothing! Where's your sense of adventure? The exciting thrill of danger that you love? Am I mistaken, but isn't that why you whirl and twirl on the tire swings until you're ready to puke your insides out? Or why you take wild rides on huge roller coasters like the Corkscrew at Silverwood? Go leaping off of skinny ropes into the lake? So what if we're lost! We'll find our way, cuz we're Idahodians, and that's that!"

Wow, I'm on a roll! "And as for you," I cried, pointing at Pristina. . .

"I think. . . we get. . . the point," Kyle said behind me.

I whirled around to face him. There was that stupid smirk again! "Kyle? I'm glad that you're finally starting to not be such a stick in the mud, but do me a favor. Cut it out with the smirk!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

He jumped back, clapping his hands to his ears. I bet he really gets the point now!

"So who's with me?" I asked.

Jan and Kyle raised their hands. Pristina reared and lifted a hoof.

"All right, now that's more like it," I said, turning back to the forest.

I looked at my Minnie watch. Twelve-thirty. I would have to remember that. We started back at twelve-thirty.

We wandered around aimlessly, dragging our feet and hooves through the dust. For an oasis in the middle of the desert, this forest seemed very out of place. Why did it seem that we were going in a circle? Maybe I'm paranoid. I hope that's it.

After a while, I checked my watch again. One. Oh whoopee whoopee coyote poopie.

The trees weren't so dense now. . . Maybe we were getting closer. Wait. What's that noise?

"Hey guys. Listen," I whispered.

"What?" Jan asked loudly.

"Sh!"

A. . . rushing noise. A river!

"It's a river!" I yelled.

A light turned on in Pristina's mind. "It's the Crystal! We can follow it all the way back to the castle!"

"Great!" I cried, running towards the sound.

I tripped over a root, but Kyle caught my arm before I could fall. "Careful. If you break something, I don't wanna have to get you back to your place and explain it all to your parents," he warned cautiously.

"Oh, I'll be fine!" I argued. Sunlight streamed through the trees, casting golden rays of light everywhere. I could see something sparkling.

The river! The river! My heart thudded in time with my steps. At that pace I should have been on the track team!

Never had I been so excited to see water. . . Except that one day it got up to a hundred degrees and it took an awful long time to walk to the lake. . .

Bursting with excitement, I came to a clearing. Gosh, this river certainly is loud. . .

Blinded by sunlight, I looked down to see. . .

That to my left is a waterfall, and the river far below me.

I can't stop! My feet skidded on the rocky outcropping, but not in time to stop. . .

I screamed, and suddenly nothing was beneath my feet. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. . .

"Emily! Nooo!" I heard Kyle wail.

Kyle. . . Jan. . . Kyle. . .

No. . . No, I don't wanna die. . .

I plummetted straight down, and inky blackness surrounded me.
~*~
~*~

There was no light. Only darkness, and a loud, annoying rushing sound filled my ears.

A harsh sob made me realize that I was not dead. I was laying on the riverbank. What the. . .

I felt someone's arms around me, checking my pulse? No, holding me. Tightly.

Kyle. It was Kyle. But how did he get down here, and why don't I hurt? Other than my back. . .

"She's okay. She's gonna be okay, at least I hope so," came Kyle's voice, barely audible over the sound of the waterfall. "Nice catch, Pristina."

"Don't say things like that, Moron!" Jan sobbed.

So that's what happened! Pristina caught me! Should have known, she's a Pegasus. Why did Kyle sound so sarcastic? And why am I wet?!?! This overload was hurting my brain. . .

I wanted to open my eyes. I wanted my friends know I was okay. I wanted to tell them loud and clear that I wasn't going to die, that I'd be just fine. But nothing wanted to work!

"I better go. You stay with Emily, your friend will go with me," Pristina said. "I'll be back with help soon."

Wait. Who's going and who's staying? I think I'll take a wild guess at that, and will probably be right.

Kyle didn't budge. Ding! Ding! Ding! Congratulations! You've won! Now what are you gonna do? I'm gonna go to Disneyland! Annnk, wrong answer. Go home!

"Hang on Emily. Hang on. If not for you, then. . ." Kyle paused to take a breath. . . "Then do it for me."

Now what do you suppose he's gonna blabber? Hmm, let's see. . . Don't embarrass yourself Kyle. . . Dang I wish I could blink or do something to make him cut the mushy stuff! What a sap. . . Kyle, back! NOW!

"I can't. . . I can't imagine going to school, or celebrating a birthday or Christmas or New Year, or going to the dance, or just doing anything, without you. You've been my friend since kindergarten. And even then you practically hated my guts." He laughed weakly. "I guess you always will now. I've been a jerk, but hey, you lost it and flipped out too."

Why you little. . .

"But then again no one's perfect!"

Good boy, the thought of slapping you silly as soon as possible crossed my mind. . .  or tell you to go say "hi!" to the one armed wampa from Empire Strikes Back.

But, I had been a jerk. I owed both Kyle and Jan an apology.

I tried to concentrate. Eyes. . . this is the brain! Open! Open says-a-me! Open says-a-me! No wait! Use good English. Open says I. . . Open says I! NOW! I'M GETTING IMPATIENT HERE!

My eyelids fluttered open. Ouch! Major light adjustment problem here!

Blinking a few times, my vision focused, but crossed once I got Kyle's close-up. Yikes.

What to say, what to say, other than "I want air!?!?"

"Um, Jolly Rancher?" I squeaked out, shoving my hand in my pocket. "Your favorite. Fire."

Now he gives me the Look. "Now's not the time. Em, you gave me a scare. . ."

Whoa, dizziness closing in. . .

"Em? Emily, now don't do that again. . ."
~*~

Where's here, again?

I opened my eyes, and saw a white ceiling. The heck?

I sat up. I was on my bed. I was in my room! Oh no, no no no no no! Don't tell me I was dreaming!

Glancing at my stereo, I saw that it was two. I hadn't been dreaming.

Sitting on my stereo was a folded note and the medallion. For some odd reason, I checked for my necklace. Still there.

Standing up, I reached over and grabbed the note, dragging the medallion along. "To Emily and Emily Only," I read aloud. In Kyle's handwriting.

I think I'll sit down.

I gently unfolded the note. . .
 

"Dear Emily,

    I'm sorry I won't be there when you wake up. I got tired waiting around. But, I bet you'll wake up as soon as I leave (it is 1:52 right now). After you blacked out, well wait. Lemme start at the beginning.
    Pristina acted quickly, as soon as she saw you slip she took off, and caught you right before you could hit the rocks. But then she lost her balance, and tumbled into the river. That would be why you're slightly damp all over. That scared me. Pristina dragged you out, and for a sec I thought you were dead. Pristina brought us down there, and Jan was a wreck.
    Pristina took Jan back to the castle, and got help. Ten minutes later she came back with Tiffany. We decided to take you home immediately, and that you should be the Keeper. Don't ask why. I think a Pony should keep it, but you are the real Keeper I suppose, no matter how messed up this whole deal is. I can't explain it. I won't try.
    So I'm sorry that we got in that big fight. Nobody's perfect. But, now I guess I'm glad it did happen.
~*~

Classic Kyle. Yup, classic Kyle. Sort of.

Folding it back up, I noticed another message.

"P.S.S. - Call me later!

P.S.S.ESSES - Hit the PLAY button on your stereo! (Tape Deck A)"

I reread it. Huh?

I grabbed my remote from my headboard, turned on the stereo, and hit PLAY as I was instructed to.

The music started. "If You Believe?" The new song by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey? Yup, it was. Why the heck would Kyle want me to hear that? Think, think, think. I'm not dumb. I could figure it out. It was very obvious. He was really truly admitting that I was right.

There were too many unanswered questions. "Why me as the Keeper? It would be almost impossible for me to do that. And why so much mystery surrounding the note, Kyle? Why do you want me to call you? Huh? Why am I talking to myself? Why is there a why?"

The stereo was silent. Oops, song's over. Suddenly another song started. Huh? Kyle! You don't make any sense! Neither does this tape!

"I Am Your Angel?!?!?" By Celine Dion and R. Kelly? The hey?!?! Kyle. . . You've gone a bit over the edge I think. . .

It all sunk in. He was really sorry. I was really sorry. He wanted to talk to me because. . . he wants to try it again? That was probably it. That is it.

"Great. . . some pair we'll make. A dreamer who takes trips to a fantasy world and a hopeless romantic. Ha!" I laughed weakly.

A dreamer. I suppose that's what I am. Hey, if Lickity can do the job of being Keeper, I guess a dreamer can do just as good of a job. She's one herself, I gather.

Putting down the note, I picked up the cordless. I had a phone call to make.