On the fifth day, Mac was looking off the side of the airship towards the mountain while Twilight was keeping watch. He noticed that their airship had swerved back to the southeast, after mostly journeying northeast since they left. This was no surprise to him, however, as he imagined high-security prisoners like himself were usually kept out of the public eye.

“Pardon my ignorance.” He ventured after a while, still holding his nose with a hoof and looking at what he thought was a simple watch tower. “But when exactly are we going to reach this so-called citadel?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow, and smiled. “We’re already there.” She said, pointing off-deck. “Welcome, whoever you are, to the Golden City: Canterlot!”

Mac turned, and was instantly struck dumb by what he saw: they had just rounded to the north side of the mountain, and carved into the south was a great citadel. It was seemingly hewn from the mountainside itself, and shone with gold and marble. A great palace ran through the city, and rose what seemed to be miles above it: as though the city was molded around it. The barbican Mac saw from the west turned out to be the city’s main overlook. And the citadel‘s blue-and-deep blue banners shone from every tower; each bearing the signs of the sun and moon. It was the most beautiful work of architecture Mac had ever laid his eyes on.

Twilight studied his reaction: from his slackened jaw to his enlarged pupils that shone with liquid admiration. “It is strange to us that you so quickly agreed to this meeting.”

Mac, stirred from his trance, shook his head. “If I remember correctly, I’m the one who suggested it.” He said, giving her a cocky smirk.

“Nevertheless, it amuses us to think that there could be anypony who could be as good at impersonating Mac as you.”

Twilight looked over her shoulder, and smiled. "Myra? You're up early."

Myra smiled tiredly, yet only greeted Twilight with a nod as she walked up beside them. Mac raised a brow as she leaned on the rail, and shook her head somberly.

“Fact is, if you hadn’t denied saving my life, I might still have believed you were him.”

Mac felt a pang of guilt well into his throat as he looked between the two of them. It was so thick a feeling, in fact, that it felt like he had swallowed a log. Had he really caused this much pain to them? It only makes sense, now that he thought about it, but that didn't make it any easier for him to swallow: he never even wanted to hurt anyone, let alone scare the crap out of them.

He felt the lump in his throat turn to stone as it retreated back to his stomach: no use beating himself over the head now, not when he's already working to make it right.

“A rose of a different name smells the same.” Mac assured, thinking too hard to display any emotion beyond an assuring smile. “All will be clear in time.”

It was a few silent hours before the Albatross glided towards a large outcrop at the highest level of the city. Several other airships were crowded into the port, but the helmspony seemed to have no difficulty finding a dock. He maneuvered the pale hull over gentle as a feather, and set it perfectly in its place.

As they each walked off the ship, two Alicorns walked up to them with regal ceremony: both very tall and delicate. One was pearl-coated, with a thick, transparent, semi-prism mane flowing over her right eye. While the other was a dark blue, with hair like a shining midnight sky running like a mountain's mist beside her head.

The pearly one spoke first. “I’ve been notified of your… interesting find.”

To Mac, hearing her voice in person was like listening to the hymns of a gentle morning choir. He was startled from his thoughts, however, as she raised an eyebrow and leaned towards him: “He seems no different to me, though I expect you all know something I don’t.”

The other Princess laughed with a voice as soothing as the evening breeze: “I should expect they do, sister! They have had his company for days, while your observations lasted merely a second!”

“Pardon me, Princess Celestia,” Twilight interjected, “but should we not talk about this somewhere more-” she gestured to the throng of ponies walking back and forth around them, “- Secluded?”

“Right, forgive me.” Celestia nodded, raising her head back into the air. "It has been quite a while since we've dealt with an issue this... unique."

With that, a light flashed, and they all found themselves inside a grand marble chamber: with white pillars stretching up to a blue ceiling. A particular zebra came walking up from the side, carrying a tray of glasses in her teeth:

“About time our friends got here! The punch is getting warm, I fear. If anyone can eat a bite, I’ve cooked some of my Dandelion Delight.”

She placed the tray on a large table, and set out ten glasses.

"Zecora?" Twilight blinked. "What are you doing up here?"

The zebra smiled warmly: "The Princesses wished to speak to me about my work in the Everfree. But once we heard of your peculiar trial, they decided to first deal with the matter more vile.

“I decided to stay for the discussion most frightening, as I am sure to find it enlightening.” She added before taking the pitcher in her teeth.

“Does she really always talk like that?” Mac said, leaning towards Applejack.

“She sure does, almost all the time. Kind of amusing, ain’t it?”

Mac raised an eyebrow. “Yes… well, I—!” He leapt to the side as he switched his attention back to the table, only to find that Zecora was suddenly standing next to him.

“If it annoys you that I speak in rhyme, maybe I can cut it down to thirds of the time?” She chuckled, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Mac let out a dramatic gasp as he clutched his chest. “Good gracious, lady! You should wear a bell!”

Zecora smiled jokingly, and walked over to her seat.

“How does she do that?” Mac wondered aloud.

“No one knows for sure, sugarcube.” Applejack said with a grin, “Ever since we met her, she’s been a mysterious one.”

Once everyone had taken their seats, and the pleasantries were out of the way, Mac took it as his cue to speak:

“My friends, I am sorry to say I am not the pony you all know. And yet, I think it would be safe to say that I am him at the same time.” This caused many confused looks to be exchanged around the table, as even the Princesses lifted their brows.

“What dost thou mean?” Luna asked.

“I am about to tell you all a tale you will undoubtedly find strange. But, I assure you that each word I speak will be the truth.” Mac stated, trying to sound noble.

“Perhaps the imposter we wish to berate, we should instead accommodate?” Zecora suggested.

“Go ahead, then.” Celestia beckoned, curiosity dancing in her voice as she leaned back in her throne. “We have plenty of time.”

“We may not have as much time as you suppose, but I shall get to that later.” Mac said cautiously, before recounting the events of the day before he came to Equestria.

“… And that is as much as I know, your majesties.” He concluded.

The entire group exchanged looks of skepticism and confusion. Well, all except for Pinkie: she just nodded with a disinterested expression, toying with a bit of lint on the table.

Mac removed the device from his ear, clicked a small button on its side, and threw it into the middle of the table: “Go ahead, Orion.”

After a few seconds, and some worried looks from Pinkie Pie and Rarity, a voice once again crackled over the speaker. This time, however, it was loud enough for all to hear:

“Hello? Is it working?”

Luna smiled slightly at the sound of the voice.

“Loud and clear, buddy!” Mac smiled, before turning back to Celestia.

“Orion, here, was responsible for my discovery: he advised me on what to say when I couldn’t figure it out on my own, so I can assure you of his loyalty." Mac said, receiving several surprised gazes. "He, as well, will do his best to help us stop the creature in charge of this operation, before he can destroy any more lives.”

"Can someone fill me in on what's going on?" Orion asked.

Mac smacked himself on the forehead. “Right! Sorry: I just finished telling them all they need to know about the whole... erm... 'doppelganger' situation.”

“Very well,” Orion said, “we’ll need to go over the plan for defeating the Prophet, and quickly: he went in there yesterday.”

“Well, then we don't have much time at all. Not if he's making his move now.” Mac groaned.

"Forgive me for distracting from this... ominous banter," Luna interjected, "but who is this 'Prophet'?"

"I don't know any way to truly identify him, as I've never heard of him by any other name." Mac stated apologetically. "But he's hard to miss: big, bulky, black cloak with crimson detailing, not much else..."

He paused in thought as he remembered a few things. “However, I did catch a glimpse of his true self... not much, though. Lion’s paws where his fee- err... hooves should have been, and the head of a brown gator. Antlers of a kudu.”

Celestia’s eyes popped open at the description.

“Kietelethar?” She questioned sternly. “That vagabond devil hasn't hexed Equestria for thousands of years! I thought he had retreated to his homeland for good after Starswirl banished his Sirens."

“That night Patient was stabbed..." Myra spoke up. "I saw a hooded being that looked like Mac jumping out of a window. Could that have been him? Kietelethar, I mean?"

"No," Orion asserted through the speaker, "he only left his quarters yesterday."

"Oh, I was just wondering, because of the strange magic it held." Myra offered, shrinking slightly. "It jumped off their balcony and shot an arrow into the sky, it soared up about thirty feet and burst into a flaming glory!”

Now it was Luna’s turn to raise an eyebrow.

“A Spectral Arrow? Impossible! Those haven't been in use since before my sister and I rose to power!”

“What Myra speaks is the truth.” Mac assured, a concerned look on his face. "I remember that's what woke me up, even before I heard her scream."

“I didn’t say she was lying.” Luna said irritably. “I just find it amusing, Kietelethar knows we only use them in times of extreme peril nowadays. He would never use one- or allow any of his servants to use one –because of a simple… uh…”

She turned to Rainbow Dash cautiously, “… pardon the expression, my friend: run-in with some slight bloodshed.”

Rainbow nodded slowly, while Myra’s eyes widened. “You don’t suppose… it was really Mac?” She choked with horror.

Twilight reached a hand over and stroked the shocked mare beside her. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. And—“

“He stabbed Rainbow’s fa- landlord!” Myra cried, interrupting herself mid-sentence.

“Yeah, about that…” Said a voice that caused all to turn to the entrance. The auburn-maned Stallion was standing in the doorway, with the red-stained bandage still clinging to his side.

“Wood, what- ?” Rainbow cried, soaring over to him. “What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“Wood?” Mac asked.

“Wooden Steel,” Applejack replied, “he owns the place RD’s staying in while her home’s being checked for a Twittermite infestation.”

Mac nodded, despite him only being more confused.

“I was stowed away on the Albatross, with Captain’s help.” He shrugged. “But you're getting me off track here, if it wasn’t for that shadow’s call for help, I’d be dead. At least, that’s according to the doc.”

Myra looked up at him. “What?”

“What are you saying, Wood?” Luna asked.

Steel looked up at the ceiling, before taking a deep breath. “What I’m saying is this: before he disappeared, the shadow assured me that my family was alright. And when I asked him if he was going to leave me for dead, he replied with one thing...”

He turned his gaze back to the table and smiled warmly. “...'Of course not'.”

Applejack’s hoof flopped out from under her chin, and hit the table with a thud: her face looked like she just swallowed something too big for her throat. In reflex, she spat her drink out onto the table.

Spike groaned, and walked off to fetch a towel.

“That’s Mac’s signal!” Myra screeched, looking like she’d seen a ghost.

“Whoa, wait, my what?” Mac said, beckoning a glare from Rainbow Dash.

“Sorry," He raised a hoof apologetically, "still getting used to this.”

“He never said why, but Mac always told us that if he was ever in trouble, he would leave behind some form of those three very words.” Wood said with a smile. “The hunt is on!”

Mac stared at him in confusion. Seeing this, the stallion smiled.

“We are going after that monster. And this time: we’re going to get him!” He limped over to the table and sat down, gesturing for Rainbow to return to her seat.

“How can I help?” Mac, Wood, and Orion all said in unison.

Celestia  grinned. “Time will come for the hunt. My sister and I must think on this, but be assured we will give you all tasks in the morning. For now…” she and Luna stood, “I bid you all to enjoy the rest of today.”

They were about to depart when the younger paused, and turned her head.

“By the way, Mac.” Luna started, looking directly at the suddenly nervous Pegasus. “Your friend there: he wouldn’t happen to be Orion Winterguard, would he?”

“Yes... that’s him.” Mac stated slowly, unsure of how Luna knew his friend.

“Good, then we have a mutual colleague, indeed.” Luna added, taking her sister’s hoof. With that, the rulers of the land disappeared with a flash: leaving the group alone in the hall.

“Well, this certainly was an eventful day.” Twilight groaned dryly, stretching her wings.

"At least we got a few answers," Spike offered, "kind of..."

“What did they mean by ‘enjoy the rest of the day’?” Mac asked curiously.

“Well, I could guess that they want us to show you around. Since you’re new here and everything.” Pinkie said, bouncing at the idea of showing Mac all of the amusement parks.

“Oh I don’t think-”

“Yeah, maybe that’s a good idea.” Rainbow Dash offered, cutting Mac off before he could finish. He gave her a curious look.

She grinned bitterly. “Look, I may be loyal to a fault, and I may not completely trust you. But I’m willing to give you a chance to show us you’re one of the good guys before I…” she paused, pounding one hoof into the other threateningly, “… get the picture?”

Mac nodded soberly, rubbing his nose: which began to ache slightly from recalling the incident on the Albatross.

Myra gave a sympathetic laugh. “I’d mind her if I were you, she can get pretty fierce where the safety of her friends is concerned.”

Mac lifted his head. “Really? I couldn’t tell.”

Wooden Steel gave a grim smile. “You haven’t seen anything yet! There was one time… she… took on… a… oh.” he stopped himself when he saw the expression on Mac’s face: such an odd mixture of pride and mortal terror. Indeed the representation back home was appearing to be more accurate by the minute.

It wasn't long at all before they left to show the Stranger around the city, and Applejack smiled at the assurance she'd finally be able to do something for her friends. She'd always been one to wait for instruction, sure, but standing by without knowing who or what is planning this? No, no she was glad to finally get some answers.

It did strike her as odd, however, that this villain pieced in perfectly with almost each one they've dealt with before: big, scary, and somehow managing to be both clever and dumb. It seemed too clean a fit for her tastes. But then, she was far from having the full picture, so she'd just have to keep her mouth shut.

“So, what do you call yourselves?” The Stranger asked, stirring her from her own mind. She looked at him, only for him to avoid eye contact.

“I mean:  after you returned the Elements. Did you form, like, a club or something?

Applejack smiled, and gave him a confused look. “What do you mean?”

The Stranger rolled his eyes, yet seemed to understand her confusion. “Sorry, it’s just… you guys are pretty popular back in my world.”

Th farmer grinned knowingly. “Well, then, what do y'all call us?”

His face heated slightly as he hesitated. “Well… back home we call your group... well, never mind.” He concluded: staring at the ground with embarrassment.

Applejack looked back ahead at the path they were all taking. “Have it your way, Stranger. But o'er here, we're pretty much referred to as the Bearers. Ah bear Honesty.”

“I bear—“ Twilight started.

“I know what Aspects each of you bear, as well as which of you bear them. I just wanted to know if the name was the same as in our world…” Mac said, cutting her off. Twilight glared daggers at him for his interruption.

“Amazing…” Applejack smiled, shaking her head. “Absolutely amazing.”

After the small tour of the city was nearly done, Twilight decided it was time for them to stop by an amusement park. Though, Mac figured it was to keep Pinkie out of her ear for a few seconds. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a peculiar stallion staring him down.

“Who are you?” He asked, not entirely sure how to react.

The stallion winked at him and walked up. “That’s no way to greet an old friend, now is it?” He said in an all-too familiar voice.

Mac’s eyes widened, and his broad smile threatened to split his face in two as he ran forward and embraced the pony.

“Orion! How did you…? Why do you…?”

Orion held up a hand for silence: “First off: I sabotaged our equipment so that it would seem that your mic conked out, then I alerted the Prophet, and he sent me here after you. Second: I recalibrated the portal to take me here, into Canterlot, and I went in once I had cleared it of any bugs. And third: my looks can be attributed to the way I calibrated it. Some of the locals might not react too well to a giant Centaur walking around, seeing as how the last being they saw that looked like I do… well…” He finished, drifting off.

Mac was about to laugh at the joke when a flurry of black and white crashed to the ground beside them. The next instant, Zecora was standing right next to them: hood up, eyes glowing, and fanning her brown cloak out as she glared at Orion.

“Who are you, which dares to come near? This is a guarded stallion over here! Step aside and state your purpose, else you risk yourself to irk us!” She snarled, guarding Mac like a lost puppy. Mac rolled his eyes, and grabbed the zebra by the rings around her collar with a forehoof.

“Zecora, this is Orion.” He said, calmly lifting the surprisingly light pony and setting her aside, “I don’t believe you two have met?”

Zecora folded back her hood and glared at the black Pegasus.

“You did not alert us our ally was here, can you blame me for trying to interfere?” She snapped, before returning to her pleasant self. She extended a hoof: “Nice to meet you, Orion! I am glad we have another pair of hooves on our side.” She added with a smile.

Mac held up his wings. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on!” He demanded, waving his hooves in front of him. “Why wasn’t that a rhyme?”

The zebra grinned mischievously at him: “Did Nopony tell you of my tendancy to rhyme? I can only do so if I can think quick at the time.”

Mac slowly drew his hoof up to massage his brow. “Of course, why not?”

The others came walking up, ready for a fight. But when they saw Zecora shake hooves with the stranger, most of them undoubtedly guessed who he was.

“You must be Orion!" The white unicorn chirped as she introduced herself.  She offered a hoof, expecting Orion to shake it.

“Charmed, I’m sure.” Orion said in a cool tone: kissing her pearly hoof instead.

Spike rolled his eyes as Rarity blushed slightly.

“Well!” Rarity said, giggling like an schoolyard filly, and toying with her hair with her free hoof. “What a gentlecolt!”

Rarity left her hoof up long after Orion had let go, and eventually stared at it fixedly: the pink hue on her cheeks becoming increasingly obvious.

“Simmer down, girlie.” Applejack chuckled, holding her own hoof out for a shake. This time, expectations were met as the former Centaur took her hoof, and gave it a sturdy shake.

Twilight walked up, and instantly started scanning him with her odd light show.

“What in Tartarus?” Orion yelled, covering his eyes.

“Sorry!” She said in a squeaky voice. “I’m just curious-”

“Not now, Twi!” Rainbow scoffed. “We already know who he is, snoopy! So there’s no need to probe any deeper.”

Twilight hung her head sheepishly. “Sorry, Orion.”

Orion removed his hooves, and tried to focus on the swirling purple blob squirming tirelessly before him. “It’s alright, you just give me some warning before you do that again, okay?” He said calmly.

“Well, at least you got a similar greeting to mine.” Mac chuckled.

"Shut up."

Pinkie Pie bounced up to the blinded pony, grabbed the side of his arm, and spun him around like a top: startling everypony present.

“Pinkie, what the heck are you doing?!” Screeched Rainbow, rushing to their new ally’s side.

“Well, now if anypony wonders why he’s having trouble seeing, we can say he’s drunk!” Pinkie claimed happily. Just then, Orion chanced to walk into a streetlamp.

“Pardon me, sir!” He saluted, before stumbling into Mac. “Crud, I think I just ran into one of the Royal Guard!” He gasped, trying to stand up.

“Yup, that’ll work!” Applejack guffawed as Orion fumbled around.

“Glad I’m helping you all somehow.” Orion said sarcastically before hitting the lantern again, “Haven’t you ever heard of stepping two feet to the right?!” He screamed, playing up to the part.

By now everypony present was roaring with laughter, and Mac couldn't help but think it must have been a sight to anyone not in on the joke: a small crowd laughing at what looked like a drunken colt stumbling around, yelling at streetlamps and striking up conversation with concert posters.

After barely a quarter hour of tomfoolery, however, the novelty finally wore thin.

“Who wants to hit the carney?” Rainbow asked, doing a bad job of hiding her excitement. “I’d like to see if Clone Boy is as good at Bumper-Suits as Mac!”

“’Bumper-Suits’?" Mac questioned. "What’s that?”

“You wear padded armor, and pound each other for fun!” Rainbow said offhandedly.

“Why am I not surprised that you got into that sport?” Twilight sighed heavily.

“What?” the cyan mare scoffed. “Cadence suggested it after AJ and I ran into her at the last Roller Derby in Manehattan!”

Twilight looked confused. “Should... I be wondering what Cadence was doing at a Roller Derby?”

“That sounds doable!” Mac interjected with an eager smile.

“I’m in!” Pinkie squealed.

“I’ve just got to see this!” Orion laughed, picturing the upcoming scenario.

“Hey! Stop hitting so hard!” Mac panicked as the 'Pain-Bow' nearly knocked him over for the third time.

The game called Bumper-Suits was quite the intense activity, and the suits were well made: being crafted uniform for all three races of ponies. The goal of the game was essentially to knock other ponies over, with no actual scoring unless you turn it into a competition. Mac noted that it was basically Bumper-Cars, only entirely absent of the ‘car’ part.

“Stop being such an easy target, then!” Rainbow jeered playfully as her other opponent- a pink mare who decided to call herself 'Blood Sugar' -wobbled around like a guinea pig on roller skates. She was openly enjoying getting to thrash the person who she saw as responsible for her friend’s disappearance, and being quite clever about it, as Mac could easily admit: playing Bumper-Suits was a way to do it without getting into any trouble.

Plus, he was mostly enjoying it, himself...

*BAM!*

... mostly.

“Alright: no more Mr. Nice Guy!” Mac yelled at he regained balance.

Rainbow charged at him yet again: planning to ram him into the wall when he nimbly jumped aside, causing her to crash into the cushioned barrier instead. She turned around and was about to regain her feet when Mac brought his padded hoof down on her head like a hammer, she hit the ground with an intensified thud.

“How’s that for ‘easy target’?” He laughed. After a few seconds without a response, however, he quickly became concerned. Was he really that strong?

“Rainbow?” He asked, leaning down towards the motionless mare.

Suddenly: she grabbed Mac’s head and slammed it to the ground in front of her: “That’s for knocking me down!” she said before standing up and helping him to his feet. She then gave him a fierce upward jab to the stomach, causing him to fly backwards a few feet before he crashed into the ground.

“And that’s for taking it easy on me!” She yelled indignantly.

Mac stood and faced the infuriated mass of rubber that stood before him. “No more taking it easy? Alright then…” He slammed his hooves together in a loud, floppy clap, “… Let’s dance, hero!” he cried before charging right into the middle of the Pegasus’s form.

A sudden two-legged kick from another rubberized pony knocked Rainbow out of the way, causing Mac to miss his tackle, and then tumble across the arena into the gate.

“Y’all just got Apple-d!” Hooted the newcomer, standing back on her hind legs and moonwalking to the corner. "Apple Smash is back in business!"

“How… did I not see that coming?” Rainbow groaned, brushing herself off.

“Same way you didn’t see this.” offered a voice from behind. Rainbow looked straight ahead, her pupils shrinking into pinpricks.

“Oh, crap!” She squeaked before going for an unscheduled flight into the nearest wall.

Pinkie did a little victory dance where she was standing. “Finally!”

She was sent back to the corner by a hoof to her mask.

“Never close your eyes in this game, bud!” Applejack laughed.

After two hours of getting pounded tirelessly, yet retaining no more damage than being out of breath- Mac asked Twilight to remind him to compliment the designer of the padding- they decided to head back to the Palace, as it was starting to get dark out.

"Well, I certainly am glad we already know where we'll be staying..." Mac sighed in relief as the cold began to nibble at his hooves.

“Indeed," Orion seconded, "it would be nice to sleep in a palace for once.”

Rarity snickered. “Oh, come on! You don’t really expect me to believe that a gentleman expert in espionage like yourself has never rested in the lap of luxury?” She cooed, poking at him with her hoof.

“Nope, never needed to.” Orion shrugged.

“My, my, aren’t we rugged?” Rarity chortled, a schoolgirl blush slowly covering her muzzle.

“Rugged? I don’t know if I’d characterize myself like that.” Orion said with a shrug.

“Oh, brother..." Spike huffed, "here we go again.” Next Chapter: Chapter Seven: Acceptance at the Citadel. Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 57 Minutes