Thunderbass was usually a cool, calm, and collected dude. But not today. Thunderbass’s fingers went to his guitar as he, his band Thunderstruck, and the Strike Hearts sat in the science classroom. Thunderbass was not a fan of suspense.

“Thunderbass, chill bro,” his bandmate, Crimson Napalm, told him. “That’s a creepy tone.”

“It doesn’t help with the suspense,” Mystery Mint added. She was the lead singer and guitarist of the Strike Hearts, the duo-band Thunderstruck had collaborated with on their newest album, Above There Clouds.

In fact, that album was the reason the two bands were waiting in the science lab. Principal Celestia had agreed to review the songs and play the album that afternoon, if she found the songs appreciate. All the songs were, in Thunderbass’s opinion, but with a principal you can never be sure.

“Sorry,” Thunderbass apologized, setting his guitar down on a table. “Just nervous.”

“For no reason,” Cherry Crash, the Strike Hearts’ drummer, put in. “You know all our songs are awesome!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Thunderbass responded, adjusting his grey jacket. “I know, I know.”

“’Bass, do you need to go outside for a little bit?” Valhallen asked. “That always clears my head.”

“Good idea.” Thunderbass nodded at Val. “I’ll be right back!” Thunderbass dashed out of the room. He ran straight through the main foyer and pushed the doors of CHS open.

“Chill, dude,” Thunderbass muttered. “What the heck is wrong with you?” Thunderbass paced around the sidewalk for a few more moments.

“It’s just because your music is gonna be shown to your principals,” Thunderbass told himself. “Yeah, that’s it. Val was right, fresh air really does help you think!” Thunderbass shoved his hands into his pockets and began to whistle.

Might as well stay out her for another ten minutes, Thunderbass thought as he whistled. Nobody’s gonna miss me!

As he whistled and walked, the statue of a marble horse kept catching Thunderbass’s eye. He knew Flash Sentry’s “girlfriend” came from an alternate dimension. Flash also claimed it was right through the statue’s base. Thunderbass believed him, as a good friend would.

Now, he had an opportunity. Thunderbass could probably sneak across the portal and be back in five minutes.

“Becoming a pony would be really fun,” he decided, approaching the portal. “If I was a unicorn, I could cast a spell to make my guitar play by itself! If I was a pegasus, I could fly! Who doesn’t love flying? And if I became a regular pony… I’d still be a pony, right? Though in truth, I want to be a pegasus the most.” Thunderbass put his hand through the portal. It rippled. But instead of his hand, it showed a reflection of a blue hoof the same shade as his skin.

“Too cool,” he murmured. “Okay, here I go. One, two, three!” Thunderbass jumped into the portal.

In the vortex…
“Wooooooooooooah!” Thunderbass cried. He was surrounded by swirls of color. He spun around and around like he was being flushed by a toilet.

“Coooooooooooooool!” Thunderbass shouted as he felt his body being ripped to pieces. Not literally, but it felt close enough. It didn’t hurt that much. The problem was his back. That hurt.

Suddenly, Thunderbass was spat out of the DBW (Dimension Between Worlds).

Arrival in Equestria
“Ouch!” He cried as he jumped against something hard. Thunderbass opened his eyes, which he instinctively closed moments before. Thunderbass was inches away from a translucent crystal wall. He was lying on a translucent crystal floor.

“Check it out!” Thunderbass exclaimed. “I’m a pony in a crystal palace!

“Well,” he added, “it’s probably not a crystal palace, but who cares? Let’s take a look at me!” Thunderbass stared into the crystal. As a pony, he still has his spiky dark blue hair with the lighter streak running through it. His amber eyes were larger, but Thunderbass assumed it was a trait all ponies shared.

“Well, I’m definitely not a unicorn,” Thunderbass commented as he straightened up, obviously seeing the lack of horn on his forehead. What he sensed instead was a presence on his back. Thunderbass streaked his neck to see feathery wings attached where his shoulder blades should have been.

“Epic!” He exclaimed, carefully unfolding the new limbs. “I wonder if you can play guitar with these.” Thunderbass stared at himself in the mirror-like crystal walls. His wingspan was about twice the width of his body. Thunderbass wasn’t entirely sure of the correct labels of ponies’ anatomy.

“Heck, I’m surprised I even know what the word anatomy means!” Thunderbass exclaimed, giving his wings a practice flap. “Now, it can’t be too hard to learn how to fly, can it?” He flapped his wings again, then again, until they were beating continuously. Thunderbass steadily rose into the air, until he was nearly touching the ceiling.

“Awesome!” He exclaimed, extending his front hooves outward. Thunderbass pushed off the ceiling and was propelled downward. In a matter of seconds, Thunderbass was zipping all around the large room like a ball in one of those classic arcade games his younger sister loved.

“That was fun!” Thunderbass exclaimed when he finally touched down and folded his wings. Just then, another idea popped into his head.

“I wonder where I can find a guitar,” he commented. Thunderbass unfurled his new wings again and flapped them at just the right place so he was hovering inches above the floor. He proceeded to fly down the staircase at the other side of the room. It led to another floor of the palace castle house thingy. Thunderbass looked around, then flew down yet another flight of stairs that led to a set of large doors, which happened to be open. Thunderbass flew through them and was greeted by warm air, sunshine, and a large forest.

“This place is pretty cool!” He remarked. Thunderbass stopped flying and stood on the ground, admiring the scenery.

“Thunderbass! Thunderbass, is that you?” Thunderbass was suddenly aware of a figure trotting towards him on a dirt path.

“Uh, yeah?” He responded cautiously. As the figure came into view, Thunderbass could see it was a magenta mare with a reddish-purple mane. She looked a lot like a girl named Berry Punch Thunderbass knew at CHS.

“Thunderbass!” She exclaimed in delight, trotting straight up to him. “I could’ve sworn you were just at the train station on your way to Canterlot!”

“I was?” Thunderbass asked in surprise. “I mean, I was.” Berry Punch eyed him suspiciously.

“So, what are you doing here on such a big day?” She asked.

“What big day?” Thunderbass scratched his mane in confusion. Berry Punch rolled her eyes.

“Your new album is releasing today!” She walked him in the head. “Why aren’t you in Canterlot with the Strike Hearts and the rest of your band?”

My album! Thunderbass realized. I should be back at CHS soon!

“You know what?” Thunderbass asked. “I think you are drunk.” Berry Punch took an actual step back like she had been slapped.

“You know I don’t binge on cider like that!” She cried in shock and protest. “Take that back!”

“Yeah, you’re drunk,” Thunderbass continued. “You’re just hallucinating me.” Berry narrowed her eyes.

“Would a hallucination tell me it was hallucinating it?” She asked.

“You know what? I have no idea what you just said, and I gotta go, bye!” Before Berry could reply, Thunderbass was flapping his wings as fast as he could and zipping away into the castle where he had come from.

“THUNDERBASS!” Berry screamed after him. Thunderbass didn’t wait to listen.

“Canterlot High, here I come!” He cried, diving straight into the portal.

Back home
He almost immediately flew out the other side, landing with a ‘thud’ several feet away from the portal.

“I’m never talking to Berry Punch again,” he muttered, rubbing his head. “Cool experience, otherwise.” He jumped to his feet and ran up the stairs to the science lab.

“Did I miss anything?” He asked. Mystery, Cherry Crash, Crimson Napalm, and Vallhallen stared at him in surprise.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Mystery remarked. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Thunderbass replied, sitting down. He almost added, ‘I just had a bad encounter with Berry’ before he realized that sounded wrong.