Twilight Sparkle pointed the spectrometer at Fluttershy.

"Ready?" she asked.

"As I can be, I guess," Fluttershy replied, bracing herself. Her fingers gripped the sides of her skirt, but should stood up straight and did not look away. That was one of the more admirable traits of Fluttershy: she may have been shy and easily startled at times, but when it came down to it, she would not look away or back down.

With a nod, Twilight Sparkle hit the button. The spectrometer activated, drawing the magic energy of Kindness from Fluttershy.

As soon as it ended, Applejack and Rainbow Dash rushed forward, catching a hold of the girl and keeping her from falling. The two then helped her into a sitting position, where she was provided by Pinkie Pie with juice and a cookie.

With that, all five of them had been drained of their sympathetic harmony magic. It had been collected and was stored, waiting for Twilight to release it.

Twilight Sparkle stared at the device in her hand, memories of the last time she used it passing through her mind. She had gone mad with power, disregarded the lives of those around her, and began tearing holes in the fabric of reality between her world and Equestria.

The shaking grew worse.

She had told her friends it was the best way, and she had meant it, but what if she was wrong?

Her heart pounded in her ears.

Reality was being torn around her, and would she fix it, or make it worse? What would happen if she gave in? If there were two of them ripping the universe apart?

Twilight suddenly realized that the shaking was not her, nor was the pounding simply in her ears.

A massive gust of wind knocked her off her feet and out of her thoughts.

"IS THAT A DRAGON!?" Rainbow Dash shouted.

Twilight rolled over and looked up to to find...

"Yep," Applejack called out. "That's a dragon alright."

Rarity was up and grabbing a hold of Twilight's arm, pulling her to her feet.

"Darling, wha--"

The dragon roared, spewing out a plume of flame.

"DO IT NOW!" Rarity screeched, eyes wide as she grabbed and shook Twilight.

Grabbing a hold of the other girl's arms, Twilight gently freed herself from the death grip and took a step away.

"Okay," she said calmly. "Stand back. Just in case."

Once all the other girls and moved back and created a wide space for her, Twilight took a deep breath and braced herself. She then lifted the spectrometer high above her head, and threw it down at her feet as hard as she could.

There was the sound of glass shattering as white light poured out, engulfing Twilight's body. As she was consumed by it, Twilight could not help but notice how it felt different from the previous time. When she had become Midnight Sparkle, it felt like the magic had forced its way into her: a parasite that bit and clawed its way into her body and took over, driving her darkest desires and thirst for knowledge to the forefront. It did not take over her mind completely, but it did affect how she thought.

This time, it was soft, gentle, a caress across her skin. Almost motherly. She could feel it wrapping around her, like a comforting hug, followed by a kiss on her forehead.

The ball of light grew smaller and smaller, absorbing into the transformed Twilight Sparkle. She spread her massive wings wide out, the tips shifting from purple to blue, back to purple, and to red. A dress of rainbows covered her body, glowing with magical light. Her hair had grown longer, running down to her ankles, with a streak of pastel yellow on one side of the pink streak, and a lime green one on the other. A horn of crystalline light rose from her forehead, glowing white at the tip.

Twilight opened her eyes: eyes that glowed white before shifting into a rainbow of colors, and finally returning to their normal deep purple color. She lifted her hands, palms out. The six pointed rosy starburst the represented her in at least two worlds appeared in front of them, glowing with raw energy before unleashing it.

The dual beams of magic punched the dragon in face, causing it to step back. The blasts continued on, pressing against the massive creature and slowly pushing it back, back, through the portal from which it had come.

It actually took more effort than Twilight had been expecting. It was also a strange sensation. Like Twilight was straining every muscle in her body, but doing so with muscles that did not physically exist. Would she be able to feel it later? Like an ache from over-exertion?

The lapse in focus for scientific curiosity caused her attack to weaken. The dragon jerked forward, and Twilight felt herself being pushed backwards.

A pair of hands grabbed a hold of her, stopping her from moving backward. Then came more and more, bracing her in place.

"It's okay, sugar cube," Applejack's voice said from behind her. "We've got ya."

Twilight could not look back, but she knew they were right. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all behind her. And they all had her back.

Before Pinkie could say "obvious symbolism," Twilight returned her attention to the dragon, and pushed out more. Five additional symbols formed around the starburst, unleashing their own beams of energy. The new beams spun around the older one, creating two swirling rainbows of light. These stronger blasts quickly pushed the dragon back through its portal, with the rift quickly being sealed after.

"What are you doing?" Dark Angel Sunset called out.

As much as she would have liked to have the others with her, this was something that Rainbow Powered Twilight Sparkle would have to do on her own. Stepping away from them, she floated up into the air, her wings spread as wide as they could reach, but not needing to flap. A trail of rainbow light trailed behind her. Her hands continued to point outward, unleashing beams which sealed the rifts around them, and occasionally pushed one of the new arrivals back through it.

"I'm doing for you what a friend did for me," Rainbow Twilight stated. "I'm helping to keep you from doing something that you'll regret."

"Regret? Regret?" Dark Angel Sunset let out a throaty huff, rolling her eyes. "I have power like no other." She motioned around her. "I have entire worlds of knowledge and magic at my fingertips. I can access them with a single movement of my hand." She made a slashing motion, creating a new portal. "What do I have to regret?"

Twilight's magic reached out and caught a heavy armor battle-mech that was likely piloted by a Sunset Shimmer, and sent it back through, quickly re-sealing the rift.

"I understand that feeling," Twilight replied. "I've been there too." She floated closer. "But believe me, it's not worth it. You're going to hurt a lot of people."

Dark Angel Sunset crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.

"So?"

"Sunset," Twilight said softly, her voice almost a whisper, "can you honestly tell me that there is nothing in this world you care about? That there is nothing you will miss if its destroyed?"

Sunset froze, shifting in mid-air as she looked away from Twilight. The smoke around one eye vanished as her gaze turned distance. Her arms wrapped around her, hugging her tight as she drifted toward the ground.

"...This isn't my world..." she said, a single voice -- her normal voice -- barely above a whisper.

"No," Twilight admitted. "It's not." She held out a hand. "But we can get you back to your world. I'm willing to bet that our counterparts are there, and more than willing to be your friend when you meet."

Sunset shifted, tilting to the side. Her gaze drifted down to Twilight's outstretched hand. A tear formed from the corner of her normal looking eye, glittering with rainbow light as it ran down her cheek. Her own hand reached slowly stretched out, reaching for the offered one.

Then stopped.

"I can fix this," she said softly.

"I can fix this," she repeated louder, pulling away.

"Sunset?" Twilight called out.

"I can fix this!"

Angel Sunset threw out a hand, wrapping magic around Twilight, gently setting her down with her friends. Releasing her grip on Twilight, Sunset reached out again.

The magic staff flew up into the air, taking Adagio Dazzle with it before she let go.

"Ow," Adagio grumbled as she hit the ground butt first.

Staff in hand, Angel Sunset Shimmer flew down and toward the magic box. A golden glow engulfed her, a small star in the night. Eyes closed, Sunset gripped the staff with both hands, pointed the top toward the box, and thrust it forward.

All the energy shot forward, pouring directly into the open door of the box.

Sunset poured more and more of her power into it. Teeth gritted and eyes closed, she kept at it. Her hair dropped back to around her shoulders, the glow fading from it and returning it to its typical red and yellow. The wings on her back grew smaller and smaller, shrinking back into her shoulders. Her clothes turned back to her Crystal Prep uniform.

The last of the energy drained away, leaving Crystal Prep Sunset holding a staff with a faded amber gemstone in the shape of the sun at the tip. Her hair fell across her face and around her glasses. Her chest rose and fell as she panted.

Golden light exploded from the magic box. It spread out and out and out, further and further, covering the parking lot, the school, the entire town. Any rift it touched vanished. The clouds in the sky were blown away as the light spread, covering everything it touched with a soft, golden glow.

The light then imploded, moving across the city once more as it was pulled inwards, back towards the box.

It did not return alone. Every Sunset Shimmer was pulled in as well. From wherever they were, they were brought to the school, the box sucking them in as they vanished in a flash of light. Regardless of size, shape, or abilities.

With the last one pulled in, the box pulled shut.

The world was so silent, it was like there was no air for sound to even be able to travel through. Twilight's form shifted, the rainbow magic vanishing from her as she reverted back to normal, dressed in her regular clothes. Looking around, she caught sight of her five friends and fellow magic wielders, The Dazzlings, Trixie, and Flash. They all looked around, the area so much emptier now.

The silence was broken by a creaking sound, getting everyone's attention. They watched as the door to the magic box opened.

Sunset Shimmer stepped out, still dressed in her red leotard, fishnets, and heels. She stumbled slightly as she walked out, her green eyes blinking as she looked around. She turned to look at her friends.

"Did I miss something?"

Instead of getting an answer, Sunset Shimmer found herself being hugged by seven other girls.