The following takes place between 3:00am and 4:00am

None of the ponies could get any sleep, even in their own homes. They met each other in the castle. Their experience with Jack and ESCT bothered them.

"None of you had any sleep?" Twilight asked.

Applejack rubbed her eyes. "Not a snooze. It's like something's preventing us from sleeping."

Rarity stared at her mirror, examining her eyes. "I'm getting wrinkles and bags!" She used her magic to remove them from her skin.

"Have any of you seen Jack?" wondered Rainbow Dash.

"He's probably do some investigating," suggested Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy seemed worried. Being the first equine to find a human, has developed feelings for him. She didn't what her friends will think if they knew. She's afraid to show express her feelings to them. "I think I should go and find him. If you… think it's a good idea."

Rainbow Dash showed optimism. "He can take care of himself. Even if he's in danger, he can get out of it."

Applejack became concerned. "There's something bothering us though. Don't you think Jack should rely on others instead of him saving Equestria?"

"What made you say that?" asked Twilight.

Rainbow Dash is on the same level. "I doubt any other pony can stop Sect. ESCT knows who they are and predict their every move."

"What I'm saying is that he should let them handle the situation. We should send him back to his world."

Spike, who just came back from the library, noticed something's wrong. He noticed Applejack's cutie mark, it's slowly changing. Instead of jumping in and exposing an imposter, he had to think another way.

"We can't," interrupted Twilight. "He's a reliable asset. He saved Princess Celestia, something ESCT hasn't tried."

"Are you questioning…"

"I'm not questioning, I'm addressing."

Tension is growing between them. Rarity and Rainbow Dash try to stop them. The arguments grew harsh and unstable. Fluttershy couldn't bear to watch her friends in a fight. She inhaled and exhaled pretty quickly. She felt a slight rage building up inside her. "Stop!"

All of the ponies and Spike stared at Fluttershy. "Look at what you're doing. You're arguing at a time all residents of Equestria are in dire need. Instead of trying to stop it, you just debate with no end. It's like were not friends anymore."

Fluttershy shed a waterfall of tears before running away. None of the other ponies bothered to go after her.

Spike saw Pinkie crawling on the ceiling. He thought it's just another one of her goofy antics. He was going to dismiss it until he saw what she carried. He breathed in and out while aiming. He had to have sufficient fire power to reach that high. After inhaling for a fifth time, he blew a long stream of fire. It cindered Pinkie back, causing her to fall.

She landed on the table near the thrones. Twilight saw smoke coming from behind. "Spike! Why did you burn Pinkie?"

"I don't know to tell you… Do you see Pinkie use that?" Spike showed her a weapon Pinkie was going to us.

"Hey, that's a hoof cannon," surprised Rainbow Dash.

Applejack snatched it, placed it on her foreleg, and aiming at them.

"This may come late for saying it: that's not Applejack," informed Spike.

He showed them the cutie mark changing. Rho's disguise faded away. His Greek letter replaced Applejack's cutie mark. Iota shrugged off his Pinkie Pie getup and joined his comrade. He made a hoof cannon appear with his magic.

"I got this!" Rainbow Dash charged forward before Rho and Iota fired a round each.

She felt blasts of pain on both of her wings. She crashed on the floor head first. Twilight and Rarity rushed over.

3:10am

It's unbearable for Fluttershy to see an argument. She retreated to her cottage. Her head tucked under her foreleg while lying on her bed. The animals watched her sob. Angel Bunny sat beside her.

Jack was heading to the castle. He carried the rock from the hoof cannon he opened. He wanted to see of the Mane 6 knew anything about it. He stopped after hearing Fluttershy crying. It could be his chance of asking her, hearing the sobs changed his objective. He couldn't let a pegasus cry all night.

He came inside to Fluttershy's bed. Angel Bunny tried all he can to help. When he saw Jack, he left to give him a try.

"Fluttershy?" Jack spoke in a soft voice.

She lifted her head after feeling Jack's hand touching her mane. Seeing Jack gave her relief. "Jack."

"Is something the matter?"

"Yes, my friends are arguing. I couldn't bear to watch. They're concerned about you than what's going on. I yelled at them and ran. I couldn't take it anymore. It's they're no longer friends."

She leaped and embraced Jack. He's suddenly reminded of when he looked after Kim, before his wife died. He's glad Fluttershy found him first when he stumbled in Equestria.

"Listen Fluttershy," Jack whispered. "Your friends are in a difficult spot. They're just can't decide on how they can deal with it. All they need is a more expansive perspective."

"Do you think so?" sobbed Fluttershy.

Jack looked at her with honesty in his eyes. He's unaware that he's grown closer to Fluttershy. Doesn't matter anyway, now he's focusing on trying to settle a feud. "I've seen this happen all the time. If you need help, let me know. You can tell me."

Fluttershy felt better. She didn't need to shed tears anymore. "Thank you."

"We should have a talk with them," Jack suggested.

Fluttershy agreed and they left the cottage. Angel Bunny wiped a tear from his eye. He's happy to see Jack lift her spirits.

3:15am

Once they arrived at the castle, they heard voices. They noticed more than five persons in the building. Jack pulled his gun and Fluttershy followed quietly behind. He made sure his footsteps aren't loud. The corridors can easily echo a single sound. The voices grew louder when they got closer.

He pushed the door open, eyeing on the commotion. He saw another pony enter the room. It's a changeling from Sect named Kappa. He backed away to avoid getting caught.

"We're going to need help," said Jack. "Fluttershy, go to Dark Spear and Brave Lance. Tell them tour friends are held hostage by Sect."

"Kappa? Why have you come?" Iota asked.

"Our leader sent me to survey." Kappa looked at Rainbow Dash. "A Wonderbolts wannabe. Not surprised you got in."

"How did you know?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We've been around for millennia. Longer than the alicorn sisters took the throne," Rho answered.

Kappa didn't mind the interruption. He already told Sect's history over and over, he sounded like a broken record.

"Why are you doing this to us? What have you done with Pinkie Pie and Applejack?" Twilight asked furiously.

"You're a nuisance to Sect. Splitting the six of you was a plan that should have gone flawlessly. Unfortunately, that dragon and some changeling's inability to disguise its flank mark properly,"

"Listen Kappa," Rho burst out. "It wouldn't be a bust if someone picked someone more… professional."

"We're all the same," said Iota.

"Yet we think differently Iota," reminded Kappa.

"Where are Pinkie Pie and Applejack?" Twilight repeated.

"They're safe. Even in their sleep, they're cooperative."

Spike saw Jack peeking through the door. He made a split second glance before the changelings noticed. Keeping them distracted before help can arrive is all he can do. He lowered his voice to call over Rarity.

"What is it Spike?" she whispered.

"Jack has arrived." Spike pointed towards the door. "You should probably check on him… and Fluttershy."

"I think it's best if you go."

Spike understood what she meant. He'll do anything for her. He sneaked to Jack peeking through the door, and closed it behind.

"Spike? How did you sneak past them?" Jack asked.

"I practically live in this castle. What I didn't tell any pony is I build my own secret passages. Every castle has to have them."

It didn't take long for ESCT ponies to arrive. One of them came to Jack. "What's the situation?"

"Three changelings, two armed; one pegasus down, both wings injured." Jack gave them details, acting like he's on the field.

Jack remained hidden while the ponies surrounded the castle, both interior and exterior. One of them, named Cutting Edges, stood near Jack. They waited until the ponies were in position. He spoke into his radio. "Do not enter until Jack does."

Jack looked at Fluttershy. He's risking her friends' lives. He opened the door all the way. He raised his voice, just as the ESCT crashed in, pointing their crossbows at the changelings.

"Drop them changelings!" Cutting Edges commanded.

Iota and Rho refused and aimed at them. Kappa lowered the weapons, he decided to talk. "We meet at last, this time with eye to eye contact."

The ESCT ponies were head-scratching. They met every changeling of Sect over the past millennium.

"I think he's referring to Jack," said Rainbow Dash.

"You know about him?" Twilight asked.

"Right down to his arrival," Kappa said in grim tone. "We at Sect had a great opportunity to dominate Equestria. That robbery at Sugarcube Corner was just a warmup. We serve a purpose: a new rule over Equestria. Our leader should be the rightful king. At least, when we're disposed and unneeded."

"What do you mean?" asked Rho.

"I suggested that we should perish after it's finished. It's not like he needs us later anyway."

Rho and Iota baffled at Kappa's statement. It's just a slip of the tongue. They each shot an arrow at Kappa. He only caught a glimpse before collapsed. They felt their bodies pierced by arrows.

Cutting Edge received a transmission. "They found Applejack and Pinkie Pie."

"Where?" Twilight asked.

"They're tied up in an underground cave outside Appleloosa."

Fluttershy came in, she looked at her friends, and not the corpses. She didn't want to see the sight. Twilight was about to apologise but Jack prevented her.

"It's not your fault. Sect wanted to break your friendship," said Jack. "They knew you're stronger when together and weaker when separated."

"Any word from Dark and Brave?" Rarity quickly corrected herself. "I mean Spear and Lance."

There was a small giggle from Rainbow Dash.

"They're going to find the crate Sect ordered," Jack told her.

3:33am

Once Brave Lance and Dark Spear entered the warehouse, they used the rock to find the crate. Each of the stones resembling the Elements of Harmony, slowly glowed when they got closer. The crate's vibration grew violent. They hid away the rock and the crate stopped moving.

Brave Lance hoof-kicked the padlock. Dark spear looked inside. "They found them."

Rocks glowing green, black, and purple surrounding a red horn.