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To Boldly Ship Them

by Alesiopdv

Chapters

Chapter 1

The iron gates were engraved by the silhouettes of those fool enough to try to break them and now, one more figure was added to the silent guardians; a vicious insect like creature who feeds on the love of others now forever trapped on a scream of defeat.

“Boy howdy! That sure was heck of a ruckus!” Applejack said.

“Fracas.” Bubble Berry corrected him.

“It sure was an intense fight, guys; but now that Queen Chrysalis is defeated, the gates of Tartarus will remain sealed forever.” Dusk Shine said.

“Giving credit where credit is due, my friends; we have to thank Rainbow Blitz here for stopping that evildoer,” Elusive said.

“Nah, I know I'm awesome but the hero of the day is Scotch here!” and Rainbow Blitz grabbed his friend by the neck. “Had he not distracted the Queen with that weird stare of his, I wouldn't had the time to perform my Sonic Rainboom!”

“You rock Scotch, woo-hoo!” Berry chimed.

“It was nothing, guys...” the meek pegasus replied.

“Ah come on haystack, yah saved all of Equestria! Show a little more cheer like this YEEE-HAAAW!!”

“Applejack please, don't act like a wild horse.”

“Beggin ya pardon Lucy, ah think we’ all are wild horses...”

“I’m a wild horse!” Berry shouted.

“Enough, guys!” Like always Dusk Shine was the one pony who keep the group in order. “None of us could have do this alone. We are a group and we need to stick together.”  They all agreed on this. “And since the Changeling Queen here is not from our universe, we better pack our luggage for an interdimensional trip.”

“Don't worry Dusky, I always carry my Party Bazooka!” Rainbow Blitz didn't appreciate one bit that Berry stuck his face with confetti.

The rest of the Core Colts laughed as the pegasus chased the earth pony around. Dusk Shine rolled his eyes at his friend's antics and flared his horn creating the magic portal that lead to another Equestria.

*******

In the Royal Palace Gardens stood statues that represent the past of Equestria, symbols of Victory and Friendship; but also the frozen remains of defeated monsters such as the Goddess of Chaos, trapped with a perpetual smirk.

“So I guess that's what they call a stone-ing performance!” only Pinkie Pie laughed at Rainbow Dash terrible pun.

“Ah wouldn' make much jokes 'bout her, sugarcube. This was a really close one.” Applejack complained.

“Certainly, that Eris creature was incredibly obnoxious! The nerves she had turning Ponyville into her personal playground, ugh!” Rarity complained too.

“I'm just glad everything is over...” Fluttershy murmured.

“And you know what this call for....” Pinkie began.

“It calls for a meeting with Princess Celestia and Prince Solaris,” Twilight Sparkle interrupted her.

“Ohh...I was going to say a party.”

“There is no time to celebrate Pinkie. Eris broke the dimensional barriers to come to our Equestria. While we know that Discord is secured in place, who knows who or what else could have gone through the breach.”

“Oh come on Twi, we just saved Equestria like for the elevenest time! Can we relax a little?”

“Rainbow Dash, this is not the time to relax! We need to organize!”

“Calm down Twi, the second that Eris fella show her ugly face ah figured something was amiss, so ah asked Spike to send a letter to our compadres down the interdimensional gulf,” Applejack said, just as a flash of purple light appeared.

“Always the resourceful one, eh Applejack?” Rarity mocked her while the cowpony tiled her hat

.

Soon, six colt figures became solid.

“BERRY!!!”

“PIE!!!!”

The two pink ponies rushed to hug each other, both cyan pegasus greet each other with a sarcastic “Hey!”, the farmer ponies tilder their hats, the fashionistas bowed in salute, the animals caretakers nuzzled while the librarians shook hoofs.

“Hey, sis. We were having a few problems with interdimensional hoppers and we figured you may be having some of them too here in Equestria-2...”

“Hi, bro. Seems like great minds think alike but you made a mistake, YOU are Equestria-2, we are Equestria-1...”

Dusk Shine rolled his eyes and walked with her inside the palace. The entire group went along, each pony chatting with their counterpart on their favorite subject be it fashions, animals, parties or simply arguing who was the best flier.

******

“Woah...”

Even the guys were speechless on the presence of Princess Celestia when she displayed her full power. Usually the white alicorn was in a relaxed state, keeping her magic to a minimum, keeping the skies in one place; but the treat of the dimensional merging force her to employ her full magic power. Her mane flowing with the scorch of a thousand burning suns and her voice trapped in Canterlot volumes.

“GREETINGS MY LITTLE PONIES, I CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORIES AND I'M PROUD OF THE BINDS YOU FORGED.”

“Princess Celestia, do you have any idea what caused this villains to exchange universes?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE MATTER WITH PRINCE SOLARIS. WE BOTH CONCLUDE THAT A DISPLAY OF POWERFUL MAGIC IS TO BLAME BUT IT'S NATURE REMAINS A MYSTERY.”

“Including on which universe it originated?” Dusk Shine asked.

“I'M AFRAID SO. AND SINCE THE EXACT NATURE OF THIS THREAT IT'S UNKNOWN, SOLLY AND I...”

“Hehe Solly...” Rainbow Dash chuckled getting a kick from Rairty.

“HAVE DECIDED THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO KEEP BOTH SETS OF ELEMENTS SECURE IN ONE PLACE.”

The ponies right away took their necklaces and wristbands but Princess Celestia shook her head.

“YOU MISUNDERSTOOD ME. THE ELEMENTS WILL REMAIN IN YOUR POSSESSION, IT IS YOU WHO WILL BE SECLUDED IN ONE PLACE.”

“You mean the twelve of us in one cage?” Fluttershy's tongue slipped but instead of the death glare Twilight gave her, Princess Celestia responded with a giggle.

****

“But why can't we go in?”

“Princesses' orders! Now move!”

The tourist mare do as she was told, complaining all the while that she had never heard of any Princesses or that Ponyville was under quarantine. The protection spell devised by both Shining Armor and Gleaming Shield did its work perfectly, keeping the town separated from both universes, preventing any threat to come in...or anypony to come out.

The ponies inside didn't seem to mind that much, having extra ponies around was always welcoming even if a pair of crossed-eyed pegasi occasionally caused a thunderstorm to run free.

That night the pink bakers had decided to throw yet another “so-awesome-we-all-live-together-now!” party and everypony in town was invited inside the Golden Oaks library. Of course, that meant that two baby dragons had to cope with two insanely prepared ponies who spend the entire day running around trying to get every single item necessary for the party. Despite all this problems, the party was a success and both Spike and Spines were enjoying the company of the Crusaders now labeled the Cutie Mark Crusaders League of Equestria.

“...and that's how we did NOT get our barbers Cutie Marks!” Scooteroll finished his tale.

“Ah still think we could have done it! It was all those Shim Shams no-gooders fault!” Applebloom complained.

“Yeah, I wonder how they opened the dimensional barrier...” Spike wondered.

“Who cares? Once they took a look at Rainbow Dash they run away faster than a roadrunner!” Scootaloo said.

“Don'cha mean faster than a chicken?” Applebuck mocked her.

“Hey, leave her alone!” Sweepie Belle chastised him.

“Ah Sweeps, don' be like that!”

“Yeah, leave Applebuck alone!” Sweetie Belle punched him.

“Don' punch him!” Applebloom punched Sweetie.

“Cut it out, girls!” Scootaloo pushed Applebloom.

“You started it!” Scooteroll pushed Applebuck.

“Nuh huh!” Applebuck punched Sweepie.

And they they were stuck in an endless loop of arguing. The dragons decided this was a waste of time and moved to another side of the party.

Spines, of course, floated with hearts sprouting off her eyes to the side of Elusive but the alabaster stallion was busy fetching some drinks with his magic.

“Here's your drink, miss Twilight!” he chimed.

“Thank you, Elusive.”

“Thanks, Lucy!” and Bubble Berry basically gulped her drink. “You forgot to bring your drink, dummy!”

“Yes Berriswainer, that seems to be the case; and incidentally, I'm so glad you have decided to join our conversation.” Elusive growled but Berry merely beamed him a smile.

Twilight failed to notice Elusive’s painfully obvious irritation as he left to find another drink and continue to talk to Berry. “So Berry, how are things with Pinkie Pie? I bet living with her can be pretty unnerving after a while..”

“Nah, we are the best roommates! Last night we spend it playing shirotori! That girl is a dictionary!”

“Last night? You mean...you sleep together?” A small blush decorated Twilight's cheeks.

“Duh! But I get the upper bed because I'm taller!”

“Oh right, bunks. Wish I would have thought of that, the first night with Dusk Shine was a real mess...”

“Yeah, he kicks a lot when he's sleeping!”

“So you did had a sleepover! Dusk Shine never wants to tell me anything about it...” this comment made Twilight get lost on her thoughts about how different could boys sleepovers be. Unfortunately, the fact that she stopped to pay attention to Berry for more than a minute was enough of a pause for the pink pony to think the conversation was over and so he moved somewhere else.

“HIYA FLUTTERSHY!”

The yellow coated pegasus leaped into the air, a feat that even Rainbow would have been impressed with.

“Auh, why do I always scare you?”

“Oh you didn't scare me, Bubble Berry. You just...startled me.”

“But I don't want to startle you! I want to make you smile!”

“Well...I...”

“Give it a rest, haystack. Yah scaring the little missus!” male Applejack suddenly came to her rescue. Feeling defeated, Bubble Berry decided to move into the dance floor.

“Thank you Applejack...uuh I meant...well, how should I call you?”

“HAHAHAHA, Applejack is' just fine, missus! But if that' a bit confusing for yah , ah guess yah can go with Jack-o.”

“Jack-o?”

“That' how missus Pinkie calls me!”

Fluttershy smiled and nodded which male Applejack took as a sign the conversation was over and moved somewhere else.

“Umh Jack-o....would you...”

“Hello missus Rarity, may ah fetch yah with some beverage?”

The thick accent of the farmer made Rarity giggle but she gently declined her offer. “I'm afraid I already have a fine gentlecolt taking care of me, Applejack.”

This was the queue for Butterscotch to come in carrying two drinks on his wings. Rarity flashed a delightful smile at butter colored pony who looked a bit uncomfortable with the situation. Applejack merely nodded and moved away, passing by Spike who was obviously jealous.

“So, where was I? Oh yes, I said, Darling that's not a hat, that's a natural disaster that somehow landed in your head! Ohohoho!”

“U-huh.”

Butterscotch didn't listen to half of that, his eyes busy trying to keep up with Pinkie Pie who was busy bouncing around Rainbow Blitz.

“Hey, wanna play putting the tail on the pony? Or you wanna dance? Or you want more punch? Or you wanna dance? Ups, I already asked you that!”

“Shut up!” Rainbow Blitz yelled at her.

“Hey hey, don' yah treat mah friends like that! Remember that yah all guests on this place so yah better behave, yah got that?” Applejack chastised him like he was a little colt.

“Yeah...whatever.” Rainbow Blitz said trying to hide his embarrassment while Pinkie looked confused.

“Is everything alright?” Dusk Shine asked.

“Ah’ve got everything under control, Twil-ah mean Dusk! Sorry ah still get yah two confused!” Applejack apologize, blushing furiously.

“It's okay, I call Blitz Dashie sometimes.” he joked.

“Har har.” Blitz said but Pinkie thought he meant it and laughed really hard. “Shut up!”

“Well, I better check on the rest of the party have to make sure everything is according to the list!”

“Yah, take care-ah mean, good luck with that!” Applejack wished she could hide her entire head inside her hat.

In the other side of the room, Rainbow Dash was sitting on top of a bookshelf, looking away.

“Rainbow Dash! Get down from there!” Dusk Shine yelled.

“Leave me alone, Twi-boy.” she retorted without even looking down.

“But you're sitting on those books! Besides, that bookshelf is unstable. You could, you know, fall down...” Rainbow just pointed at her wings. “Fine! Don't ever tell I'm not concerned about you!”

Rainbow didn't pay attention to the complaints of the unicorn and kept watching away, looking at a white unicorn sighing as he finished his drink.

This whole spectacle was ignored by most of the party guest except for the League of Crusaders, who had stop fighting to keep a record of everything that was going on.

“So let me get this straight...” Applebloom said while looking at her notes. “Elusive is trying to woe Twilight who is pining for Berry who wants Fluttershy to notice him who gets nervous when around boy Applejack who is interested in Rarity who basically has Butterscotch tied to her horn but he would rather be with Pinkie Pie who is all head over hooves for Rainbow Blitz who clearly has a crush on mah sister who seems to get really dumb when around Dusk Shine who alway argues with Rainbow Dash who for some reason can't talk to Elusive.”

They all took a good look at the drawing that went full circle.

“Yah all know what this means...”

They all nodded.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SHIPPERS!! YEAH!!”

Chapter 2

“Why, darling, how strange to see you around here.”

Rarity's surprise was genuine. Rainbow Dash was not the kind of mare who would usually be found at the spa. Not that it mattered much to Aloe and Lotus, who quickly jumped to give her a hot towel or a hoof polish.

“I was just passing by… isn't that Elusive guy here with you? I thought he was fond of this kind of girly stuff…” Rainbow said, dismissing the spa ponies.

“I'm afraid Elusive prefers to spend his days in the gymnasium. Apparently it’s more appropriate for a colts tastes. Or so he says,” Rarity said.

“Well, he has to keep that rock body of his in shape!” Pinkie yelled while making some motions that made the normally prude Twilight scold her.

“But Applejack has a nice body to…” realizing what she had just said, Fluttershy quickly added. “Oh I meant the male Applejack!”

“Ah figured that out, sugarcube.”

“So, who do you girls think has the best body? I think it's Blitzie! He has that tough macho like flying swiftness! Kinda like Rainbow only as a boy well Rainbow kinda looks like a boy already but you know what I mean!”

Rainbow only reaction to this was to snort.

“Although I admit that the likes of Applejack, the male one darling; and Rainbow Blitz had bodies more obviously attractive, I prefer a more sooth approach. Atype of body that express gentleness and grace, very much like Butterscotch. No need to blush, dear” Rarity directed that last comment at Fluttershy.

“I get what you mean. I prefer a more slim kind of body. I found Bubble's physique to be more impressive that the other types, such as Applejack's or Blitz's.” Twilight Sparkle approached the matter with her usual logical-state-the-facts attitude.

“Hihihi, you call him Bubble?” Pinkie was basically grinning.

“Why yes, I mean, he calls me Sparkle. I figured I must return the favor.”

Applejack sighed, happy that all the “woooo” and whistles of the girls made the subject drop and spared her from having to confess she preferred a petite not fit for work kind of body just like Dusk Shine.

“Can't we just drop this entire talk? It's kinda weird to be talking basically about ourselves!” Rainbow Dash shouted but all she got was Pinkie laughing harder. “What's so funny?”

“I bet Rainbow Blitz is saying the exact same thing!”

“What?”

“It's okay! It happens to Berry and me all the time! We are always finishing…

*****

“…each other sentence!”

“That's just crazy…”

Rainbow Blitz dismissed Bubble Berry’s crazy claims while he nodded for Heavy and Weight, the earth pony twins who run the gym, to add more weight. The twins looked a bit concerned but the pegasus was venting some frustration through hard work and will not take no for an answer. Plus, he was one of their best customers so they decided to just obey.

“Actually Blitz, it happens to me a lot too. Usually I end up bumping into Twilight when we both want to reach the exact same book.” Dusk Shine said.

“Oh yes, I can't even count how many times I have same idea for an outfit as Rarity. It makes for a great work dynamic.” Elusive added.

“See?” but Rainbow Blitz just gave him a snort in response.

“So Scotch, ah noticed yah spend an awful lot of time with missus Rarity. Yah making the little dragon o' missus Twilight pretty mad!” Applejack said, trying to hide his own jealousy.

“Umh but I'm not actually interested on her. I mean, Rarity is really pretty and I get along very well with her but that's more because she is kind of a female Elusive so our relationship is similar. I umm... I'm actually more interested in Pinkie Pie.” And realizing what he had just said, Butterscotch quickly added. “Uh, don’t get any wrong impressions Berry…”

“Why would I? Pinkie is a really great girl! Just like Fluttershy! Hey, even their voices are similar…”

“That's curious.”

“What’s that, Dusk Shine?” Elusive asked.

“That both Berry and Butterscotch are interest in each others counterparts…”

“Hey, I'm not interested in Fluttershy! It's just that she’s the only one of the girls group that’s afraid of me! All the other girls get fine with me! Why can't she? She is always Oh Berry you startled me!” I don’t do that! Scotch have I ever startled you?”

“Umh, well when we first met I did find you a little bit noisy, Berry…” Butterscotch confessed.

“Maybe ya’ll are just scaring the little girl with all yer yappin’!” Applejack said.

“Scaring the little girl?!”

“Dusk Shine, when you mentioned how curious it was that they show interest in the girls, what was your intention?” Elusive had to ask.

“Well, I was thinking more of the implications. You know, since they are “technically” ourselves from a parallel universe the fact that we find them attractive could be a little…you know, weird.” Dusk Shine explained.

“How come?”

“Ugh. Because it is weird!” Rainbow Blitz shouted, throwing the weights away. “Think about it! It will be like me admitting that I find Applejack hot!”

“Yah find me hot?”

“Not you, mule! No offense.”

“None taken.” said the mule in the steam machine.

“I meant the female Applejack!”

“You like the other Applejack, Blitz?” Butterscotch asked.

“Yes! No! I don't know! This whole situation its turning really weird! It was easier when we just met once in a while but now that we all live together I just can’t take it!” Rainbow Blitz basically exploded.

“But why?” a confused Bubble Berry asked. “What has…”

*****

“…changed? I mean, the boys are the same, we are the same. Why is it different now?” a confused Pinkie Pie asked.

“Pinkie you have to admit that since the boys appeared things have changed. We learned new things about ourselves thanks to them, and now, we are discovering other things. Feelings, ideas, that maybe we will have never noticed if not for them.” Twilight Sparkle said, failing to keep eye contact with Pinkie Pie.

“Woah, I never… thought I made you that uncomfortable, Twilight.”

An awkward silence took over the saloon until Rarity decided to speak up. “Fluttershy, you know that I never saw you as anything more than a friend. A dearest one, I must add. But ever since Butterscotch appeared, well, I can't deny he is the stallion I have been waiting for my entire life and, while at first the implications were a bit disturbing, now I'm able to leave them behind and just admit how I feel.”

Fluttershy was touched by Rarity’s speech but managed to mutter a response. “Oh, thank you for your words Rarity. I also think of you as my dearest friend. The five of you are. But when it comes to the boys, I…I…”

Another awkward silence.

“So, what do we now?” Rainbow Dash asked but none of the other girls dared to speak.

“We tell them.”

They all turned over to face the blushing Applejack.

“We just come up front and say it.”

“You serious?” Rainbow have a hard time believing what she was hearing. Applejack wasn’t the romantic type after all.

“Look, ah know how yah all feel 'cause ah have been feeling the same. Ah've been lying to mahself, thinking that it was too weird to feel this way, that it was wrong but consarn it, no more of that! Am Ah the Element of Honesty or a mouse? Ah said we just grab them by the shoulders and just…

****

“…shout it!”

“You crazy?” Rainbow complained.

“The direct approach hasn't precisely worked for me, Applejack.” Elusive added.

“Umm...  I'm not sure it's a good idea…” Butterscotch said.

Even Berry seemed insecure.

“Count me out. After all, I don’t have any girl I’m interested in.” Dusk Shine lied, forgetting he was surround by his best friends who basically turned into a greek chorus.

“RAINBOW DASH!”

“What? How did you know?”

“You are not precisely the most discreet of stallions, my boy.” Elusive said.

“So, what ya all said?” Applejack reminded them of the plan at task. “This weekend we will all confess. At the same…”

****

“…time! Got it?”

None of the girls seemed too inclined but since they were out of options, they agreed.

After all, something had to be done.

*****

Prince Artemis raised a magic barrier but the tentacles of dark magic easily broke through it and attached to his limbs and neck, strangling him for a bit before tossing him to a wall. His helmet fell to the ground while his disheveled mane covered the blood on his forehead.

“Why won't you just simply surrender? That way you wouldn’t need to suffer anymore,” a obscure and mocking voice said.

“Treacherous fiend! Thou intend for us to surrender, leaving Equestria under thy vicious hoof?” Artemis gathered all the magic he was able to into one final beam. “We say thee nay!”

But even the full extent of his power was unable to defeat this powerful foe, who folded its wings to cover from the spell. To give credit to the Prince, he did managed to throw its helmet away.

“So, you choose death…”

And a beam of his opponents dark magic hit Artemis, rendering him unconscious.

“Fool! Maybe if you still had the powers of darkness you would have had an opportunity. But you lost them the second you accepted Dusk Shine and those pathetic ponies so called friendship! You gave up on true power and this is what you deserve!”

Before the dark pony could stomp its hoof on Artemis head, it was stopped by the powerful voice of Prince Solaris.

“That is enough, Nightmare Moon.”

The dark alicorn turned over to see the white stallion, his mane and beard glowing like the sun coming over to her. She kept her fangs exposed all the time, even when she leaned closer to muzzle him.

“No need to worry. I know you need him alive, my love. I was merely teaching him a lesson.”

“There will be plenty of time for that later. First, we have to deal with the Elements of Harmony.”

“As you wish, my King.”

And the honorable figure of Prince Solaris disappeared in a green flame, revealing the terrible appearance of the King of the Changelings.

Chapter 3

Inside Golden Oaks Library, two criminal minds plotted their greatest scheme ever.

“Muahahaha, we will have our revenge against those pesky ponies!!” Spike said, twirling his moustache.

“Indeed, my macabre companion! Together we will humiliate those rascals and snatch our beloved ones! Ohohohoho!” Spines laughed, waving her fan in what she considered a sophisticated manner.

“That Butterscotch is such a sleaze! Twilight told me he was just as kind as Fluttershy but she will never try to steal Rarity away from me! Well, unless those rumours I heard were right...”

“Ha! That's nothing compared to what that hideous Twilight Sparkle is doing! How dare she try to seduce my dear Elusive?” Spines almost fainted on that line.

“Hey, remember that is my sister you're talking about! Besides, I don't think she has even noticed that Elusive is pining for her.”

“My poor darling! He's just confused, I need to save him from the hooves of that seductive mistress and back into my comforting claws!” What a drama queen...

“Right!” Spike pull the Madame of Crime closer to him. “That's why we must work together! First, we make them forget about those intruders...”

“And then, we make them realize we are the right ponies umh dragons for them!”

“Exactly!” One evil laugh later. “So...any ideas?”

Obviously, the great criminal masterminds have not thought this far in advance. After a long moment of pondering, Spines finally said:

“What if we make them look ridiculous?”

“Ridiculous how?”

“You know, we glue a clown wig to their heads or something!”

“I don't know. I could never play a prank on Twilight, she would never forgive me and I'd feel bad if I play one on Butterscotch too...” Spike confessed

“Yeah, you're right...hey, what if we get them new couples!”

Spike seemed to like that idea.

“I've seen Twilight spending an awful lot of time in the farm. She says she is just visiting Applejack but I think she means the other Applejack...” She said. How could she wiggle her eyebrows when dragons have none?

“I have noticed that Butterscotch hangs out a lot with Rainbow Dash. There must be something there...”

“Then, it's settled! We will arrange blind dates for these four and if we do everything right...”

“When we do everything right!” he added.

“Yes! Twilight will fall for Applejack, my Applejack, and Butterscotch will be all clouds and rainbows for Rainbow Dash! Ohohohohoho!”

“Excellent! Muahahahahahaha!!”

*****

On the upper floor, Twilight Sparkle was doing her best to ignore the “evil laughs” from below. She had bigger problems to deal with. Namely, how she will tell Bubble Berry how she really feels?

Twilight was glad of the extra time. Applejack had insisted on doing it today but the girls managed to talk her down and take an extra week before “The Confession”, as Rarity calls it. Even Pinkie Pie was against the idea of coming right up to the guys. Guess despite all her eccentricities, she was a girl deep down.

Oh, Pinkie Pie. For a long time Twilight had admired her strange sense of logic, that allowed her to solve problems that Twilight´s structured mind could not. She had never seen her as anything more than a friend but, ever since she first lay eyes on Bubble Berry, that had changed. He is basically identical to Pinkie in every single aspect except for the most important. He is a boy, a perfect match for her. Twilight noticed all the signs, the heavy breathing, the accelerated pulse, the blush on her cheeks, it was obvious even to her that she was falling in love with Pinkie P- Bubble Berry! She was falling for Bubble Berry! She liked colts!

Did she?

Since she was little Twilight had felt this “admiration” for certain ponies, such as Cadence or the Princess. Some other ponies may call it “a crush” but that doesn't seem right. She once “admired” her big brother, for Faust sake! But maybe, just maybe, there was a tiny part of her that perhaps...

“Something is wrong, sis?”

Twilight almost teleported by accident.

“Woah, calm down!”

“Oh its just you, Dusk Shine. I was just brushing my mane, that's all.”

“Here. Let me do it.” And Dusk Shine magically grabbed the brush and started to tend Twilight's mane.

“Uh, what are you doing?”

“Remember that I grew up with a big sister. I used to do this for her all the time,” he explained in a deadpan manner. “What's so funny?”

“Oh, nothing  Actually I know what you mean, Shining Armor used to force to play with his army toys, I was always the griffons. What a meanie.”

“Twilight...”

“Yes, bro?”

“Have you ever umh dated somepony?”

Twilight tried to hide her embarrassment but it was useless. They were sitting in front of a mirror. “Umh no I haven't. W-why do you ask?”

“Well, the thing is... the guys have been teasing me a lot with that. Especially Rainbow Blitz and Elusive because they date like two mares per week. But it’s not like I was never interested, its just back then in Canterlot I was busy studying so...”

“I get it, bro. I had the exact same problem.”

“Right, I know! But now I have...ugh how do I say this? I...”

“Dusk Shine.” Twilight looked at the distressed reflection, trying to understand what was hurting him.

“Twilight, you think that friends can become more than friends?”

“You mean close friends becoming...lovers?”

“Yeah because I...I have for the last week...”

“You too?”

Almost. Almost there. Almost able to say what they truly feel. They shared a bond, a common mind, a common soul; they understand each other better than anypony could, And if they finally said it, all this confusion will disappear. Talking with each other they will come out with a solution, if they just said it...

“Dusk! Twilight! Letter! Prince! Solaris! Urgent! Read!”

“One at the time!” they yelled at the dragons, failing to realize they were doing the same thing.

Dusk Shine and Twilight grabbed their respective letter and read them. “Prince Solaris requests my presence in the palace. Something about some magical disturbances. I'm guessing Celestia is telling you the same thing.”

“No, actually... this letter is from Prince Solaris too.”

“He sent a letter to you?” Dusk Shine looked at Spines but the dragoness just shrugged and played with her fan some more.

******

“There you go, little friends.”

Like always, Angel pushed all the other animals aside to grab the food first, only to finch the second he heard the female bunny tapping the ground with her pawns behind him. Reluctantly, Angel agreed to share his food.

Butterscotch giggled at this scene. He still had to feed his own friends who, because they were bigger and mostly carnivores, had to be kept outside. Usually, Butterscotch will feed the larger animals and Fluttershys the small ones but the last couple days Fluttershy had been neglecting her duties, leaving Butterscotch to tend to all the animals in the cottage. Butterscotch wondered if something was bothering her but if she really was her exact copy, he had a pretty good idea of what it was.

The Confession. Applejack had insisted on doing it today but the guys managed to talk him out of it, gaining an extra week to gather some courage. Even Elusive, who was usually the ladies man of the group, was a bit reluctant about such a straightforward approach. Umh Elusive, they have been friends for years. Almost as long as with Rainbow Blitz; and despite all the jokes that were made at his expenses he never saw his friends as anything more than that. But now there was Rarity,. She was clearly interested in him and Butterscotch was too kind to tell her off. No, scratch that, he wasn't kind, he was just spineless. Solaris knows how many times Bliitz yelled at him for not talking back when somepony was pushing him but he simply lacked the courage to speak up. And there was also Pinkie Pie. Form the first second he laid eyes on her, Butterscotch couldn't get the pink baker out of his head, which raised some disturbing questions about how he saw his friend. Where all the rumours and jokes about him true? Was his interest on the girls just proof that he was actually thinking of the boys?

Butterscotch sighed. A tiny, almost miniscule sigh, but the animals were used to him so they recognized his distress. Angela gently patted his leg while Angel not so gently pushed him like saying  “come on”.

“Thanks, guys.”

The gentle sound of wings flapping indicated that Fluttershy had descended the stairs. Curiously, she was wearing her saddlebags.

“You're going anywhere, Fluttershy?”

“Oh yes, I'm going to Sweet Apple Acres to gather some apples for angel.” The bunny made a “gross” face but she decided to just ignore him. The second she opened the door, she was met by two loud little unicorns.

“Hi, Fluttershy!”

“Oh hi, Sweetie Belle and umh Silver Bell?”

“Sweepy.”

“What brings you here, kids?” Butterscocht asked the two crusaders.

Sweetie was the first to answer. “We came to have a tea party with you!”

That was strange, Butterscotch thought. Sweepy wasn't much fond of tea.

“Oh, I'm terrible sorry but I was just leaving to visit Applejack...” Fluttershy apologized.

“It's okay! We can spend the afternoon with Butterscotch!” Sweetie said as she basically barged in.

“In that case, I will escort you to the orchard, miss Fluttershy!” the little colt said, extending his hoof like his brother taught him too.

“Oh, what a gentlecolt!”

Butterscotch looked confused as his counterpart left, walking alongside the colt.

“So....” Sweetie asked, blinking a few times.

Was she flirting with him?

“...what do you want to do, Chime Belle?”

“Sweetie Belle!”

This was going to be a long afternoon.

*******

Prince Solaris rested on his throne, surrounded by pillars of light descending due to his sheer manliness. Truly he was the Sovereign of Flames.

“Greetings, Twilight Sparkle and Dusk Shine.”

They both bowed in respect but Dusk Shine wasted not a second in asking the question that was nagging both unicorns. “Prince, why did you sent a letter to Twilight too?”

“Relax, Dusk Shine. Don't let petty jealousy get the best of you, my most faithful student. It was merely a matter of convenience. Princess Celestia is unable to leave her chambers while she keeps both our suns in motion, so I'm assuming the most bureaucratic of chores.”

“Oh.” Dusk Shine did his best to ignore Twilight’s smug grin.

“Now listen well, wielders of the elements. While the cause for this dimensional disruption remains a mystery still, our best advisers had detected several surges of magical energy in the area surrounding Ponyville.”

“What types of surges, your majesty?”

“Powerful ones Twilight Sparkle. Since you are our most reliable students on magic matters, we order you to investigate this phenomenon.”

“As you wish, your majesty.” they both said.

“Twilight Sparkle, everything Celly has told me about you is true. You are incredibly talented and not to mention, quite attractive.”

“Thank you, your majesty.” Dusk Shine looked confused as Twilight blushed at the compliment.

“You are dismissed.”

They respectfully left the room but Dusk Shine couldn't help but ask Twilight if she had noticed if something seemed wrong with the Prince. Of course, the only answer he got was a flustered “no, of course not!”

Dusk Shine sighed, frustrated.

Twilight excused herself to the bathroom to “freshen up a little” leaving Dusk Shine in the hallways all alone. Something seemed wrong with this whole scenario but everytime he tried to pull the pieces together, Rainbow Dash´s face kept appearing. Furious, he removed her image from his head and walked just two steps before a hoof covered his mouth and he was dragged into a dark corner of the palace.

*****

Rainbow Blitz was soaring the sky at full speed, trying to escape from his problems. He couldn't stand being in the cloud house anymore. He and Rainbow Dash were terrible roommates, always throwing books at each other. Not to mention that he had something stuck on his chest but was unable to take it out. He was out to shout in frustration when he noticed a purple dot running through the fields.

“Stallion-Do-Good?”

Great, his friends were back to playing superhero just to humiliate him some more. Didn't he learn the lesson the first time? Well, maybe not. But that was no excuse! With a loud boom Rainbow Blitz landed in front of the masked pony.

“Okay, who is it this time? Dusk, Scotch? I'm guessing Berry cause you have no wing-hey,wait a minute, you’re a mare!”

Always the detective, Blitz just stood still as the mare did a somersault over his head.

“Woah.”

Recovering for the shock, Blitz trotted full speed trying to catch the mare but she was slippery like a snake. Every time he was about to catch her, she did some kind of circus trick, going so far as to kick him in the face.

“That's it!”

She was good, he give her that; but Rainbow Blitz didn't win the Best Flyer Competition by a lucky chance. Rainbow spread his wings in a straight line, gaining maximum speed and he soon cornered the masked pony against a tree.

“You're done, lady!”

The mare responded with a cloud of green smoke that took the form of a manticore. It took a second for Blitz to realize it was an illusion, a second the mare took to pull a staff of who-knows-where and start hitting him.

“Auh! Auh! Auh!”

Remembering he was a boy, Blitz grabbed the staff and broke it. The mare was about to pull the smoke again when Blitz had enough.

“Not again!”

He began to spin around her at tremendous speed, dissipating all the smoke and trapping her in one place.

“Now, what are you going to do?”

She responded by taking an ocarina out and began playing a tune that hurt Blitz's ears.

“You want to keep it sonic? Let's keep it sonic!”

Rainbow Blitz began to ascend, ready to pull his best move ever, the invincible Sonic Rain-

“BLITZIE!!!”

“Augh! Pinkie Pie, what are you doing here?”

“My hooves were itching!”

“What does that even mean?”

“It's my new signal for my beloved Blitz is in trouble!”

“What? Get off me, you crazy mar- you said beloved?”

“No, I didn't!”

Blitz looked at her with a blank expression but then remembered the other mare around. The masked pony looked at them with no expression.

“Mare-Do-Well?”

With another puff of smoke, Mare-Do-Well disappeared.

“Wai-auh!”

“No Blitzie, don't go!”

“Why? Who is she? Ugh, don't tell me! You and your friends decided to teach Dash a lesson by dressing like a superhero.”

“Yes we did, but later we thrown the costumes away. We gave them to Rarity and I think she destroyed them.”

If she was anything like Lucy I doubt it, Blitz thought.

“So who was that? Girl-Jack? Why did she attacked me?”

“No, that wasn't Applejack. Hey Blitzie...”

“What?”

“Didn't you notice anything strange about that mare?” Pinkie asked.

“Like what?”

“Like she was too tall.”

“I don't know! I just want to go to Sugarcube Corner for a snack! I need to relax....”

“Uh uh, can you take me there?! Please please please with cherry on top uh and sprinklers and chocolate chips and...”

“Okay okay hop on! Ugh, you're heavier than Berry you know that?”

“Hihi, you let Berry ride you a lot?”

“What? No! Shut up!”

“Hihihi, you're blushing!”

“Shut up!”

The mysterious masked pony watched from behind some trees as the pegasus and the earth pony disappeared into the clouds. Her mask reflected nothing but sheer determination.

*****

“Auh! What is the meaning of this?” Dusk Shine complained to his unknown kidnappers.

“Sorry for the rudeness but my guards had orders to bring you immediately.”

Dusk Shine looked up at the white stallion that was standing next to him.

“I know you...Sparkling Shield!”

“Shining Armor.”

“Meh, close enough.”

“Get up, Dusk Shine. We have plenty to talk about.”

Shining led Dusk Shine through a series of halls and turns until they reach a large room. There he saw a wall covered with pictures of several ponies, including his friend and their counterparts. Some he recognize, others he didn't (especially the mares) Some of the pictures have "x" over them, other questions marks and others just circles.

Finally, Shining led Dusk Shine to a cell where a rather infuriated unicorn was being held.

“Finally, some pony with obvious class! Good sir, if you will be so kind, the captain of the guard has gone completely crazy and locked me in this horrible cell. Please, go contact my aunt and ask for my immediate release!”

“...Who are you again?”

“Wh-bu-I'm Prince BlueBlood, you ignorant peasant! How could you not possibly know who I am?”

“Ungh, he's louder than Princess BlueBelle...”

“Even worse. Look.” And Shining Armor lighted his horn, sending a magic wave at the Prince who yelled in pain before melting in front of their eyes.

“GAH! A changeling!” Dusk Shine yelled.

“And I'm guessing it comes from your universe since its much larger than the ones we had,” Shining commented as the monster roared at them.

“What's happening in here? What is this changeling doing here? I thought you - well my sister - both of you! Have kicked them out of the kingdom!”

“That we did but it seems they have returned and even worse, they have been taking their time to slowly infiltrated both courts.”

“What do you mean?” but Dusk Shine already knew the answer.

“This is an invasion.”

Tie-In: Carrot Top waited

Carrot Top was a simple mare living a simple dream.

Work hard on her carrot farm and meet the stallion of her dreams. Little did she know said stallion will make her question if she shouldn't look for a mare instead.

When this whole “dimension-fusion-mumbo-jumbo” happened, Carrot Top remained unfazed. Despite being best friends with an unicorn, she was a pragmatic pony who only focused in hard work and being close to the earth, dismissing all those complex “magic-schmucks”. She kept working like she did everyday...until he showed up.

She also took the whole thing with the “male-counterparts” pretty well. His counterpart did not resemble her that much to begin with. He was a lemon farmer? What´s up with that? So they barely talked to each other. Carrot treated the new stallions the same way she treated the original ones, polite but not too interested (except for Big Mac of course, EVERY mare in town loved Big Mac no matter how quiet and cold he may look!)

At first, she thought it was her good friend Derpy and so she playfully spanked “her” in the flank. After all, they shared the same Cutie Mark! It was an honest mistake! It was when she heard “her” manly voice she realized the mistake she had made. This wasn't Derpy but “Boy-Derpy”.

His real name was actually Klutz Hooves and he was in pretty much every aspect, the same as Derpy. A gentle and clumsy mailpony who loved muffins. They even shared the same speech impediment. After years of being friends with Derpy, Carrot was used to some little chaos around her stand and, despite all the scolding and yelling, she loved Derpy very much and she knew Carrot never meant to insult her; but when it comes to this absent minded stallion...it was different. Carrot never yelled or even raised her voice, she just gently patted his bruises and told him to be more careful next time.

With time, Klutz began to visit the stand more often. He would detour from his route just to visit Carrot, just to talk and try to help at the stand, usually making a bigger mess. As days went by, Carrot began to actually wait for Klutz to show up. She even began to clean her mane and put some little make-up, just to hear his compliments.

It was then, one day that he arrived late, a day that she spent going through a whirlwind of emotions, being concerned about his absence, being offended that he didn't show up, being scared that he may be hurt, being relieved when he showed up and finally being so fill with happiness when she nuzzled him.

That´s when she realized that...

“...I´m in love with him!!!”

“....congrats?” Lyra said and went back to her hay juice, obviously not surprised at all.

“Oh, what I´m going to do Lyra? This is so confusing!”

“What´s so confusing? You like him and I bet he likes you too. Seems pretty simple to me.”

“But this whole he is like Derpy but not Derpy...it doesn´t confuses you that there is a male Bonbon?”

“I can pretty much tell the difference between them...”

“LYRA!” the blushing earth pony yelled, causing all the ponies in the restaurant to turn over. Carrot hide behind the table while Lyra laughed all the while.

“Celestia, you worry too much, girl. Look, to me it´s very simple, they're not the same pony. Sure, Bonbon and Babar are similar in some things, they both are always complaining about how we sit in a bench; but they have their differences. Besides, I don´t really need to worry, I´m not the one sharing a bed with him...”

“Could you please not say those kind of things so loud?” Carrot asked while trying to pull a Trixie and disappear.

“Jeez, this town is worse than Canterlot some times...” It was obvious the mint unicorn didn't care about other ponies opinions.

"You have any useful advice, Lyra?"

"I alreayd told you to stop worrying so much but, if you really want to clear your head, I suggest you go talk to Derpy directly and see how you feel about her and if you´re comfortable with dating her guy version"

"That´s the most sensible thing you´ve said all day. Thanks, I think I'll do just that." Carrot got up but before leaving she had one last question to ask. "So, does..."

"Harspy."

"Yeah. Is he...you mean, just like you?"

"Eeeyup. And pretty loud too."

Carrot trot away before anypony saw she was turning into a female Big Mac.

*****

Finding Derpy was so easy as following an unscheluded hurricane, just follow the path of destruction. The cross-eyed mare couldn't help but crash into a least half a dozen buildings before reaching the next post on her route.

"Derpy!"

One eye recognized Carrot and the pegasus rushed to hug her. "Carrot! Praise those eyes that see upon you!"

"Derpy, stop going to Twilight's library. I know you want to improve your speech but those fruffy books are not the way!"

"Hihi, the librarian boy is cute!"

"Yeeew Derpy, he is just a baby dragon!"

"Not him! Dusk Shine I meant!" Derpy pushed her and they both rolled down the mud for a while.

This playful banter was pretty much the norm for this two. In a sense, it resemble the playful rivalry Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared; instead of competing with each other, Carrot will be brutally honest and Derpy clueless at her comments. Funny that she gets to play the teaser when Lyra always gets the best of her.

Once they finished goofing around, Carrot asked "So...is he pretty? This Dusk Shine fella?"

"Yup! Hot looks he has!"

"He, guess you´re pretty alright with all these new guys in town..."

"Boys is boys, girl is girls!"

Carrot looked at her friend naive expression and sighed, obviously she had been working over nothing if Derpy was perfectly okay with all this scenario.

"Derpy, I have a question for you..."

Carrot explained the whole situation, starting from the day she met Klutz. It was hard to say if Derpy was actually listening, with her eyes slipping by like that. Once she finished her story, Carrot took a deep breath and looked at Derpy straight at her eyes, the best she could at least.

"So, any ideas?"

Derpy took a few moments to think and then pushed her lips against Carrot´s. She waved her arms in panic, trying to understand what was going on and the strange sensation of having a second tongue battling its way inside her mouth.

Finally, Derpy let her go and Carrot backed down. "Why the hay did you did that for?!"

"How did it feels?"

"I feel like I want to punch you in the face!"

"Yay! I figured it out!"

Carrot was feeling pretty stupid at the moment so she just said "What?"

"If you don´t like me kissing you then you don´t like me. As a marefriend, that is."

"That...makes sense?"

Amazing. Derpy had the solution all along. Carrot couldn't hold her happiness and hugged her friend, her earth pony strength almost breaking her back.

"Sorry."

"Not be. I happy for you. Now, set date!"

"What? Bu-but I haven't talked to him since the other day and and..."

"I talk to Klutz. We share room after all. Tomorrow you have date with him. Now, get dress form Rarity."

"Derpy, you know I can´t afford a dress from her!"

"I pay! I pay!" Derpy said while pushing her friend down the road, straight to Carousel Boutique.

****

The next morning, a cross-eyed stallion was slowly flying across town, doing his best to not hit any buildings. A really difficult task but he was determined not to ruin the nice suit Derpy got for him yesterday. She said that Carrot will be waiting for him at the bridge in the park and that they will have a great date. A romantic date. Ever since he met Carrot, that idea had been in Klutz´s head, to finally confesses how he feels. He had never felt this way before for any other pony, never felt this warm before. Her face always on his mind when he closed his eyes. All these new sensations, Klutz didn´t knew what they meant at first. Influtation? A crush?

But then he noticed it, that when he was around her, he no longer felt hungry or cold or scared, He only felt a gentle fire, giving him comfort and happiness. There was no doubt for Klutz. This was true love.

"AUH!"

The pain was unbearable, like a lighting coursing through his entire body. He blanked out and collapsed into the ground,  breaking a few branches as he crashed into a tree. Before Klutz could began to understand what was going on, two guards pegasus grabbed him by the arms and hold him tight.

"Stop right there, criminal scum!" said a female authoritative voice.

Klutz looked confused at Captain Gleaming Shield approaching him, trying and failing to keep his eyes focused.

"We have been searching you for months but we finally have caught you, scum! You will never again be a threat to Equestria!" And she fired a magic spell that removed the illusion from Klutz body, revealing the changeling for what he was.

"You are terminated..."

"N-no pl-please m-me no me not..."

He tried to explain, he tried to create words, something almost impossible for any changeling, they just repeat what they heard, they can´t create something new; but he did, he didn't just fed on Carrot love, he reciprocated, he creat new love, a love just for her. He loved her.

"I lo-lo-lov-"

Gleaming Shield didn't wait for him to finish his sentence. She fired another spell, turning the changeling into stone, forever trapping him in a terrified plea of mercy.

****

Carrot Top waited at the bridge.

He will arrive, she was sure. He was just late, just like the other day.

He will arrive and she will finally said those words and he will smile back and carry her into the sky.

He will arrive.

So Carrot Top waited at the bridge.

She waited until Celestia raised the sun again.

Chapter 4

"...and then some ninjas appeared and they were riding dinosaurs! So I took the Orb of Confusion to stop the flying narwhal and then..."

Rainbow Blitz just gave up. He tried at first to correct Pinkie story but when she reached the point of the zombie vikings, he simply gave up and focused on finishing his cupcake.

Bubble Berry kept nodding along, apparently believing every single crazy word that came from Pinkie´s mouth.

"Luckily, I was able to change back into a flying car and then took us to safety here in Sugarcube Corner!"

"Woah Pinkie Pie, you´re amazing! Isn't she, Blitzie?"

"Sure sure..."

Pinkie blushed a little, apparently not used to being praised by boys. "Oh, you guys!"

"No, really! Thank Solaris you were there, or else Blitzie would have been captured by those dinosaur riding ninjas!" Berry said while Blitz just snorted.

One of the two Mrs. Cake poked her head from out the kitchen. "Oh Pinkie Pie, could you help us in the kitchen?"

"Sure thing, Mrs. Cake number two! Boys..."

Now it was the time for the boys to blush a little as Pinkie decided to imitate Rarity and shake her tail a little when she passed by next to Blitz.

"Jeez..."

"Hey Blitzie, you do noticed that Pinkie is all over you, right?"

"Of course I noticed it!"

"Of course!"

"But that doesn´t mean I would do anything about it!" And he chewed the last of his cupcake.

"Why not? Pinkie is funny and pretty and really smart and a great baker and a great singer and really attractive! If she wasn't basically me, I would totally date her!"

"That´s the thing, she is basically you. That would be too weird."

"That´s why you´re not doing anything with Applejack?"

"Girl-Applejack?"

"...no."

"BERRY!"

"Yes yes, Girl-Applejack!" Berry calmed down his friend before he flied over the counter and punched him into next week. He did that once.

"Of course that´s the reason!"

"Of course!"

Ignoring Berry, Blitz continued. "Look, Girl-Applejack is really hot and I get along fine with her but, I won´t do anything stupid like ask her out. First, it would be really weird, like dating Boy-Applejack..."

"That didn't stop you to date Octavia or Junebug or Daisy or..."

"Yes but they´re not my close friends so it´s okay. And that´s the other thing. I´m best friends with Applejack..."

"GASP! I´m not your best friend, Blitzie?" Rainbow grabbed his mane and shake it before it could fell flat.

"No! We´re not doing that again! Of course you´re my best friend, Berry! But so is Applejack and the rest of the guys, that means you´re sorta like my family which means female relatives are out the picture. I´m not that big of a douche like Elusive to try to ask Macareina or Gleaming Shield."

"Guess it makes sense..." Berry admitted.

"Of course it does!"

Blitz was expecting Berry to copy him again but instead his friend was looking at the door with somewhat sad eyes.

"...but I still want to try it."

Rainbow Blitz decided to keep quiet and grab another cupcake.

******

"...and that´s how we did NOT get our Cutie Marks as art restorers"

Fluttershy giggled.

Fluttershy and Sweepy Bell had reached Sweet Apple Acres, all the journey there the pegasus gently listened to the little colt stories.

"Well, here we are. Safe and sound, just like I promised."

"Well, thank you kindly sir!" And she courteously bowed to him.

"Howdy! It´ weird to see yah around ´ere, Fluttershy! Oh and umh Silver Belle, am´ ah right?"

"Sweepy Bell, Mrs. Applejack!"

Fluttershy noticed how the colt blushed and stand straight upon seeing the farmer pony. This caused her to giggle some more.

"Sweepy was such a gentlecolt and escorted me all the way from my cottage," she explained.

"Atta boy!" And Applejack not so gently rubbed his mane. He didn´t mind. "And what bring yah to mah farm, Fluttershy?"

"Oh, I just came to see if I could help Granny Smith in the kitchen or something!"

"That´ so. Sweepy, ah tell yah to go play with Applebuck but he´ in town with Applebloom."

"What? Oh no no, don't worry Mrs. Applejack! I better hurry back, phase one is still incomplete!"

"Phase one?" Fluttershy asked but Sweepy just said "Nothing. nothing!" before running away.

"Cute little thing..."

"He´s adorable. Umh, why are you looking at me like that, Applejack?"

"Now sugarcube, yah a worst lier than me. Yah´re not here to help. Yah came to see mah inter-dimensional cousin, am´ ah right?"

Fluttershy tried to denied those claims but finally her embarrassment took over her entire body and she just gave up.

"...yes."

"Ha! Ah knew it! Really, an Apple? Didn'n know yah like the strong build type..."

"You...you think it´s weird? Like if...I´m hitting on you or something?"

"Why? Are yah?"

"APPLEJACK!"

"Hahaha! Calm down, girl! Ah´m just messing with yah!"

Fluttershy tried to act offended but just then male Applejack passed by, carrying some apples.

"...guess those wings of yah can´t lie either."

Now Fluttershy seemed hurt so Applejack gently placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"Hey, whatcha said if we get some apples and sit down?"

Fluttershy meekly nodded.

Once they were seated atop a log Fluttershy, who was just toying with her green apple, began:

"I never cared much for that kind of thing. Rarity is all the time talking about romance and dating. Remember that time Pinkie tried to set us in a Blind Date Game for Hearts and Hooves Day?"

"How can ah forget? She messed the papers so much ah end up paired with Big Mac..."

"The thing is, I was never the kind of pony who payed much attention to boys and dating. But when the other Applejack appeared...when I was little, I did used to dream about the perfect stallion. I always pictured him big and strong but also very gentle and dependable. That´s how Applejack is and well, I just started to picture us together, I guess..."

Applejack tilted her hat and said "Well, yah see? Ah´m different. Ah prefer a type of pony that´s reliable instead of dependable, if that makes any sense. Somepony that isn´ afraid of getting dirty but at the same thing, enjoys staying indoors and who places family first. He doesn´ need tah be strong and durable, just have a big heart. Somepony like that."

"Somepony like Dusk Shine?"

Now it was Applejack turn to blush and stutter. "Wh-wha-what...ah´m that obvious?"

"We kind of figured it out."

"...don´ ever tell Twilight."

"I don´t think she would find you strange."

"It´ not that. Ah bet if she finds out, she will start organizing our wedding. She´s a big fan of fancy romance."

"She is?"

"Don´ ever ask her to read you her romance novel..."

Fluttershy giggled again, a sound so kind and soft that made Applejack forget all her problems.

"Applejack, you think if I were a little more confident, I could ask the other Applejack out?"

"Ah´m sure he would like that. And you don´ need to be any more confident at all."

"I´ll like to be little more Confident Fluttershy, not Assertive Fluttershy, she was a really Mean Fluttershy. But maybe just a little more Go for it Fluttershy!"

Applejack just scratched her head, confused at so many Fluttershys

"Oh, and don´t worry Applejack. I´m sure Dusk Shine will also like if you tell him how you really feel. He´s a really nice pony after all... but maybe a tiny bit absent minded."

"Heh, thank yah sugarcube. Ah know he´s a nice pony..."

*****

"I said...NO!"

Eight guards were smashed against the wall, falling unconscious. The unicorn guards tried to stop Dusk Shine but he counter their spells, turning them into plants. The pegasus guard began to circle him, going so fast that Dusk Shine couldn't aim at them.

So he tried a different approach, casting an invisibility spell on him. The guards assumed he had teleported which gave him time to move at the cells and destroy the door of one that held a pony with sunflowers on his flank.

"Come!"

"Dusk Shine! I´m so glad to see you! They just dragged me here with no explanation!"

"I´ll explain everything later, now come!"

But the exit was blocked by a dozen members of the Royal Guard. Dusk Shine was willing to fight them but wasn't sure if he could protect the other pony too.

"Stop this, Dusk Shine." Shining Armor made his way through the guards.

"No, you stop this! How could you put Cherribomb in prison? He´s one of my best friends and just the kind teacher in Ponyville. He´s not a changeling spy!"

In response, Shining Armor shoot the earth pony, dispersing the spell that hide his true appearance.

"...no. Not you."

"Come, Dusk Shine, I´ve something else to show you. Guards, put that thing away."

In shock, Dusk Shine accompanied Shining Armor to another room. One filled with dozens of statues of changelings. Dusk Shine gave up counting after fifty.

"This are all the changelings we have captured so far. We've developed a spell that turn them into stone. The ones in the cells are for interrogation but so far it has been useless. They have completely assimilated their roles and once they change back, they can't talk."

"Why, why is this happe-where are the real ponies?"

"We don´t know. The changelings must have them captured in some sort of hive. We´re still looking for them. You see now, Dusk Shine, anypony could be a changeling in disguise. You can't trust nopony, nopony at all."

Dusk Shine then jumped in anger. "Then why are you telling me all this, instead of telling your sister? Why trust me?"

Shining didn't answer.

"Oh, I see. You can´t trust her either."

"I don´t trust you, Dusk Shine but, unlike Twiley, I can punch you in the face if you turn to be a traitor."

"Thanks." Their faces were inches from each other by this point.

"Look, Dusk Shine, the reason I'm telling you all this is because if you´re anything like my sister, you'll be smart enough to figure out what the changelings are planning. I can´t act directly against them, nor can your sister. This covert operation is so deep, that not even Princess Celestia is aware of it."

"Then who´s running all this?"

"...that´s classified."

Dusk Shine rolled his eyes.

"Look, you and my sister were giving orders by Solaris. Follow them, act like if everything was normal; in the meantime, we´ll continue to search for these changelings."

"Who is we?"

"We have ponies outside. Just trust us."

"Sure."

"Please. Trust me." Shining placed a hoof on Dusk shoulder. This reminded him of his sister.

"Okay."

Shining teleported Dusk into the hallway, giving him one final warming.

"Remember. Don´t trust anypony." And with that he disappeared in a white flash.

"There you are! I´ve been looking everywhere for you! You just disappeared!"

"Yeah, sorry Twilight. The castle is a bit different now."

"Tell me about it! I think I should get a map! I wonder if they're selling them on the city..."

Twilight walked down the stairs, happily ignorant but Dusk Shine was well aware of the truth.

****

"Look, here´s the deal. I know he´s kinda like Rarity or something like that, but I don´t see it. He´s a boy and Rarity is a girl, simple as that! Now, I know that he is also not exactly my type. You think that the coolest pony in town will date only the best candidates and a tailor doesn't seem that exciting. But, then again, I guess he makes cool suits and he knows a bunch of popular ponies like that Snap Shot fella and he´s kinda cool, just kinda. So the big question is not should I be interested on him but rather, how should I ask him out? You get what I´m saying?"

Heavy and Weight nodded as their added more weight.

"I could just go on front and say Hey Hot Stuff, wanna have fun? but that´s just tacky! I could try to play hard to get and wait for him to make the first move but so far, he has shown zero interest on me! I guess I could try to get more interested on his hobbies and all that but it´s soooo boring! You guys are listening, right?"

The entire gym nodded.

"So how should I play this? Calm and confident? Cute and shy? Or seductive and assertive? After all, it´s not like I could ask just any guy fi they want to go out with m-" before she could finish that sentence, all the ponies in the gym gave her flowers and diamond rings.

"Thanks, guys!" Rainbow took a bite of one of the bouquets.

Just then, a littled dragon walked inside the gym.

"Hey Spike, wanna puff those non existing muscles of yours?"

"Heh, HEY!" The entire gym celebrated Rainbow joke. "No! I´m here to tell you that Butterscotch was looking for you!"

"Flutterguy? What does he wants with me?"

"Hey, that joke was mine! Anyways, he wants your help with some training."

"He doesn't strike me as the sport type, Spike. Why would he ask my help?"

"Because...he feels a bit frustrated. Yes, that´s it! Back in his home dimension, he didn't care much but now he´s surrounded by girls, even fillies, who can fly better than him so that´s making him feel a bit e-man-ci-pated..."

"I don´t think that´s the word you're looking for, Spike..."

"Anyways! He asked me to ask you to come to the cottage!"

Rainbow didn't buy that story for a second, but she was bored and thought that helping that wimp could help cheer her up a little.

****

A little while after their talk, Fluttershy decided to really help on the farm, gathering the apples and such. Eventually Applejack decided to call it a break and went looking for her counterpart. She found him talking to a little dragon.

"Hey Spines! What bring yah here?"

"Hey cuz, good timing! Spines just came ´ere tah tell me that Missus Sparkle needed mah help on the library, something about moving a big shelf?" he said, looking at the dragon.

"Yeah! A really big big shelf. She can´t move it with her magic so she needs your help because you´re big and strong and...big!" Spines wasn't making much of a case but neither Applejack were the type to question a friend's plea.

"Well, ah´m off then. Sure, yah can handle all the work alone, cuz?"

"No worries. Ah have Fluttershy helping me and your sister too!"

"Actually, Macareina went into town earlier. She´s been kinda down lately..."

"Applejack! Let´s go!"

"Oh right. Jump into my back Spines, ah take you home! Hey cuz, why don´ ya ask Big Apple fer help?"

"His name is Big MacIntosh and yes, ah´ll ask him."

"Come on, we´re gonna be late! Go Spirit, go!" Spines insisted.

"....´cuse me?"

Spines just put on a sheepish grin as Applejack calmly marched to the library. Applejack chuckled and went looking for her brother.

*****

"Hey son, can yah help me with these haystacks here?"

"Piss off, old man."

"...guess not."

Ignoring Grandpa Smith, Big McIntosh entered the barn, only to be met by a strong kick on the back.

"Who in Tartarus name are yah?! Yah´re not Big Mac. He´ll never talk like that to an old pony, much less an Apple!"

"...that gave me away, little pony?"

"Before yah start to dance ah must warn yah, Big Mac and me have been sparring since foals and the score is me ninetynine...him zero."

"Big Mac" put on a horrible grin, one that not even Nightmare Moon would make and marched against Applejack. Surprisingly, she stood her ground, using her forehead to stop him. Once he stopped pushing, Applejack turned over to gave him a powerful kick that sent him straight against a wall.

"Now, where is mah br-AUGH!"

The blast of green magic burned Applejack back and her hat fell to the ground, crushed by a yellow hoof.

"Oh, I´m sorry Applejack. I was trying to be a  little more Confident Fluttershy but ended up just being Evil Fluttershy!"

And Fluttershy eyes glowed a sinister green, the only glow inside the dark barn.

Chapter 5

“I´m telling you! It was that Mare-do-whatever! Somepony was dressed as her!” Rainbow Blitz yelled.

“It´s true, Twilight! Blitzie wouldn't lie!” Pinkie Pie said.

Twilight however just dismissed the issue, rolling her eyes as she levitated a map, a compass, canteens and some other elements into her saddlebags. “Please, you two honestly want me to believe somepony is impersonating Mare-Do-Well and attacked you two outside of town? That´s just ridiculous.”

Rainbow Blitz growled. He had rushed to the library to tell them about the fight early but Twilight simply didn´t believe him and Dusk Shine wasn't paying attention.

“Gah, you can be a really blockhead. You know that, Dusk-Girl?”

Twilight made a “Hmph!” sound and turned her head, blushing offended.

“You must admit it does sounds a little suspicious. I don´t know how things turned in your universe but here, we came clear over the whole issue and the town decided the fame of Mare-Do-Well was good enough and asked us to get rid of the costumes. I doubt any pony from our town will take up the mantle, especially not to attack you,” Rarity said.

“But it was a mare!” Rainbow Blitz retorted.

“Yah mean yah got beat up by a girl, Blitz?” Male Applejack joked, causing Blitz to blush and growl.

“But Rarity, there was something wrong about that masked mare. My PInkie Sense warned me that Blitzy was in danger but I wasn´t able to tell who the pony behind the mask was. Like she had a fog or something around her,” Pinkie said and this perked Twilight´s attention.

“Maybe it was a mare from our dimension? Does your Berry Sense works with this world stallions, Berry?” Butterscotch asked.

“Mmmh, let´s see....I´m focusing on a male pony. Sparkling Armor...Sparkling Armor...Where are you?” Berry said, holding his head with his hooves and doing some weird sounds.

“His name is Shining Armor...” Twilight deadpanned.

“I don´t know and I don´t care from which dimension that mare came. I just think we should all look for her before she makes anymore troubles!” Rainbow Blitz said.

“You just want to fight her because she humiliated you,” Rainbow Dash snickered and bumped hooves with male Applejack, both happy with the reaction they caused on Blitz.

“I agree it´s quite a mystery, Rainbow Blitz. But right now we have more important matters to attend. Prince Solaris has entrusted us with an urgent mission. Dusk Shine, have you finished making preparations?” Twilight asked but Dusk Shine wasn't listening.

After all the revelations this morning, Dusk Shine wasn't able to focus. He was verging on paranoia, suspecting of his close friends and chastising himself at the same time for the mere idea. He wished he could talk to somepony about this but Shining Armor was right. He couldn't trust anyone.

“DUSK SHINE!”

Twilight slapped both of Dusk´s cheeks at the same time.

“Auh! Why did you do that?”

“Pay attention! We can´t get distracted! Remember what Prince Solaris said, this is a threat against all of Equestria and we're the only ones who can stop it!”

Dusk Shine caressed his cheeks, blush added to the red of the slap. He knew that Twilight was right but he couldn't help letting other thoughts occupy his head.

“Sorry I yelled at you but you have to remember how important this task is. And how we shouldn't let down Prince Solaris. He is...he is quite a remarkable regent. One with presence and authority. Your universe is very blessed to have him as regent.”

Twilight had her eyes closed during her entire speech and thus she missed the fact that all the other ponies were staring at her. When she opened them, she found a group of raised eyebrows and sour expression.

“Wha-what?”

The girls all piled over her, pushing Twilight into a corner.

“Twilight Sparkle, the nerves!” Rarity said.

“What? What did I do?”

“All that speech you gave us at the spa and now turns out you no longer like Berry and you´re pining for the Prince?” Rainbow Dash barked.

“Yeah Twi, that ain´t fair! You can´t change which boy you like that easy! In that case, I´m calling dibs on male Trixie!” Pinky shouted.

“Twilgiht, you gave me the strengh to confess and now you´re changing your mind? How can you be so inconsiderate?” Fluttershy asked.

“What? No! Tha-that´s not what I meant!”

Dusk Shine and the others just looked at the pile of girls and sighed. Boys were different and they wouldn't yell at Dusk Shine. Instead, they simply punched him in the shoulder. Even Butterscotch.

Meanwhile, Spines and Spike compared notes under the stairs.

“So now Twilight likes guy Celestia? That´s weird...” Spike whispered.

“You kidding? This is great! Now all we have to do is get that Princess of yours and get her together with Dusk Shine and...” Spines murmured.

“A-anyways, that´s not important right now! Prince Solaris gave us the location of two surges of unknown magic. I think the best idea is to split in two groups. You agree, Dusk?” Twilight said.

“Uh? Yeah, it´s a good idea.”

“Okay then, I believe a combination of talents and types is the best way to go. All of you guys have naturally more strength that us but we beat you at speed and dexterity...” Twilight said, causing Rainbow to grin at Blitz who blew a raspebrry at her. “I´m a little ashamed to say that physically I´m one of the weakest along with Fluttershy so we better go in a group with males. While Rainbow and Applejack can count as one male...hey, where´s Applejack?”

“Right ´ere.”

“I meant our Applejack.”

They suddenly realized that female Applejack was effectively missing from the group meeting.

“Hey, Fluttershy weren't you at the farm earlier?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Umh yes but I returned early umh Applejack said she had work to do...” Fluttershy quickly replied.

“You have chores to finish, AJ? Is that the case we can go without you two,” Dusk Shine asked his orange friend.

“Well, the farm is now twice as big but it ain´t that much work tah do, to be honest...” Applejack said, scratching his neck.

“But umh didn´t you two say that you have to reinforce the barn because umh bolts were rusted and umh the ceiling needs a fix?” Fluttershy asked.

“´cuse me?”

“Oh I didn´t meant to eavesdrop. I just happened to be walking near you two and heard that conversation. I didn´t meant to sneak on you even...even if I kinda wanted to. umh...” Fluttershy said, placing a hoof over Applejack´s own.

The others giggled at the scene while the guys made a quiet whisper, impressed that Fluttershy will be so bold in front of them. They all failed to notice Applejack's eyes glowing green as some strange magic possessed him.

“Ye-yes...bolts...barn needs repair...” Applejack said in a monotone voice.

“Well, in that case you better stay, AJ. Actually, that will work for the best, I agree with Twilight that our teams are unbalanced and it´s best if some of us stay in Ponyville. After all, there could be dangers hidden inside the town,” Dusk Shine said.

“Dangers? Whatever do you mean by that, Dusk Shine?” Elusive asked.

Dusk Shine bit his tongue, knowing he had said too much. “Uh you know how it is with this dimensional business. You never know what you can come across. Better safe than sorry.”

His improvised line actually worked and the others nodded, Dusk Shine sighing in relief.

“The-then can I stay? I really don't want to go on this mission...” Butterscotch asked, embarrassed to admit he was afraid.

“Don't worry Scotch, I´ll make you company,” Elsuive said, walking towards his friend.

“What´s the matter, Lucy? Getting cold hooves?” Dash joked, hoping somepony will jump to join her mocking. Nopony did and Dash gulped, she knew she had said something stupid. That always happened to her when around a pony she fancied, she acted dumb around him.

“Actually, I´m concerned too. My little brother and his new found friends have been doing a lot of crazy shenanigans in town. I´ll be more comfortable keeping an eye on them,” Elusive casually said, making Rainbow blush and turn her head, embarrassed.

“In that case Twilight, what do you said I take Blitz on my team? And aparrently Pinkie too..” Dusk Shine said, noticing how Pinkie was clinging to Rainbow Blitz´s arm.

Twilight scratched some names in a paper before answering, “That still makes us unbalanced. I´ll like to have a least one more guy on our team.”

“How about one girl less? I´ll go with Dusk Shine and his team,” Rarity said.

“I have no problems but, may I ask why?” Dusk Shine asked.

“Do you happen to know a spell to locate a source of magic?” Rarity asked and Dusk Shine shook his head. “Well, Twilight was kind enough to teach me one some time ago. Better than have you learn a new spell to have me assist you. Besides, you guys need a female presence around,” she flirty said, causing an insulted Pinkie to shout “Hey!”

As Rarity moved across the room, she passed next to Elusive and she whispered to him, “I noticed too. I´ll keep an eye on Dusk to know what´s is troubling him so.”

Elusive didn´t even nodded. When it come to his counterpart, they shared a special secret language, needing the minimum amount of words.

“Well then, how about you take Bubble Berry with you, Twilight?” Dusk Shine asked at the mare who was still scratching names.

“Wha-what? Take Berry where? Why would I take Bubble anywhere?” Twilight shouted, blushing.

“I meant the mission, Twilight,” Dusk Shine deadpanned and the other girls giggled a little.

“I suppose I can...you already have Rarity´s magic and Pinkie´s sense so I guess it´s only logical to have the same on my team, since we won´t have Applejack's strength to balance,” Twilight admitted, still blushing.

“Don't worry Twi, I got you covered, I´ll covered Applejack´s place, better having me around that any of the stinky boys,” Rainbow Dash joked, patting her back while the colts blew raspberries at her.

“What about it, Berry? You okay with being the only guy in a group fill with girls?” Dusk Shine asked.

“You kidding? That´s like any colt´s dream! Besides, I get to spend it with the mares in town!” Bubble Berry announced, grabbing Fluttershy and drawing her close to him.

Twilight made some final annotations, fighting against her blush. Dusk Shine sighed, still worried about the information he was hiding for his friends.

And Spines and Spike made some more plans, speculating on the possible romantic implications with all this new groups.

*****

It hurt.

Like the sting of a wasp or the bite of a snake.

Appleajck felt pain all over her body. She couldn't move but she felt like she was. Her body was moving forward even when she wasn´t moving her legs. It took her a while to realize she was in the back of somepony that was trotting at full speed.

She opened her eyes, struggling with the pain. The light was too dim to notice where she was, it seemed like a forest but she couldn't tell which one. She tried to look at the pony who was carrying her but all she saw was purple. She tried to smile, thinking it was either Twilight or Dusk Shine. The idea that it could be Dusk Shine made her blush a little and then she passed away, unable to cope with the pain.

The purple pony jumped over some rocks, landing on the other side of the stream. She looked around, her mask showing no emotion whatsoever. Once she was sure nothing was following them, the masked Mare-Do-Well secured Applejack on her back and trotted deeper into the Everfree Forest.

Chapter 6

“So, you don´t have a Windsome Falls in your universe?” Rarity asked, her tone coming more insulting than curious.

“We do but it´s called Windsome Cliff. And it´s a dangerous place to go, actually. Rainbow Blitz knows more about it,” Dusk Shine said, not putting down his map.

“Yeah, Scooterloo and his friends almost kill themselves trying to climb it,” Rainbow Blitz growled, and he did so because Pinkie Pie was glued to his neck, riding on his back while he flied.

“Hmph. Sometimes your reality makes absolutely no sense,” Rarity said, waving her mane away.

“Could you please just focus on locating the source of magic?” Dusk Shine said.

“As you wish. Say Dusk Shine…”

“Yes?”

“Since we are here, away from the others…” Rarity said, walking closer to Dusk Shine and keeping her voice low so Blitz and Pinkie wouldn´t hear her. “Care to tell me what´s in your mind?”

“What do you mean?”

“I´m asking about the reason you were so nervous back in the library.”

“I...I wasn´t nervous!” Dusk Shine said, blushing.

“Something was troubling you. Perhaps the others didn´t noticed it but a mare with such an attention to details like myself can tell. The looks, the stuttering, the…”

“Okay okay, I do like Rainbow Dash! Why is everypony so anxious to point that to me?” Dusk Shine almost yelled.

“Oh, so you like Rainbow Dash? That I didn´t noticed,” Rarity said, faking a smile, making Dusk Shine blush harder. “So Rainbow, uh? Honestly, I wouldn´t have guessed. I thought Fluttershy would be more of your type but, then again, our Twilight Sparkle also went with the less obvious choice.”

“She did? Who?” Dusk Shine asked, curious.

“She hasn't told you? You two don´t talk about this kind of stuff?”

“We usually don´t. I mean, we usually just talk about possible threats and what measures we should take and...stuff like that,” Dusk Shine said, playing with the map with his magic.

“Is that so? Elusive and I talk about these type of matters all the time. It´s common sense, being the same pony in essence we need to be open with one another.”

“Wish I could be that way with Twilight but right now…” Dusk Shine murmured, making Rarity lean closer in curiosity.

Above them, Pinkie and Blitz were watching the conversation, Pinkie´s grip in the stallion growing closer as she tried to hear what they were saying.

“Pinks...you´re kind of choking me…”

“But I wanna hear! What do you think those two are talking about?”

“I don´t know. Egghead stuff, I suppose. If Charity…”

“Rarity.”

“Whatever. If Girl-Lucy is anything like my friend, she will get along with Dusk. Unicorns have this thing. Must be the horns,” Blitz said, trying to dismiss the issue but Pinkie wasn´t ready to let go, in more than one sense.

“You won´t suppose Rarity is now starting to like Dusk Shine, right?”

“What? No. I mean, wasn´t she after Scotch? I kinda got that impression…”

“Yup, she say she liked him but if Twilight is now going after Prince Sunny…”

“Prince Sunny?” Blitz murmured.

“Then anypony could go after anypony! That´s not fair! Hey, you still like Applejack, right?”

“What? Hay no, we´re just friends! Why does everypony has to make that joke? Just because two guys are too competitive it doesn´t mean they´re hiding something!” Rainbow Blitz yelled.

“Woah, so you get those rumours too? I didn't thought guys got mistaken too…” Pinkie said.

“Just let it go,” Blitz growled and then realization hit him. “You meant your Applejack, right?”

“Yup!”

Rainbow Blitz took a look at Pinkie. Ever since the first time their universe met, Pinkie had always been a little sticky to him and with their forced time living together that increased. But now Pinkie was so casually talking about him liking another mare, it made him feel a little guilty, like he was hurting her somehow.

“He-hey Pinkie Pie, you know I find you really funny and all. I mean, you´re basically as funny as Berry but…”

Pinkie Interrupted him, hugging tighter. “It´s okay Blitzie. I know you like AJ and not me but that´s okay. I just want to see all my friends happy and that includes you and the rest of the boys and Spines too.”

Rainbow Blitz sighed. He really wished things will be as simple as the first time they met but things have changed. Things always change.

******

“But this ain´t fair, big bro!” Apple Buck protested as his brother carry him on his mouth. “We have a Crusaders meeting and we have to get some chairs and some crayons and some fireworks…” And Apple Buck covered his mouth, realizing what he just said.

Applejack deposited the colt in floor before speaking. “And that´s exactly why you and the others are staying ´ere for the rest of the day. Yah have been causing enough problems lately. Ah don´t know what crazy idea got into yer heads but right now, we have no time to deal with it.”

“It´s not a crazy idea! We´re just trying to help you guys with your love issues!”

“And what would a group of fillies and colts know about all that?” Applejack asked, blushing.

“Wel, ah know yah have the hots for Mrs. Rarity…” Apple Buck teased his brother which earned him a good punch on the head. “Auh!”

“Ah´m sitll yer big brother! Now, go sit in the corner with the others!”

Apple Buck complained all the way to the corner while Applejack readjusted his hat to try to hide his blsuhign face.

“Now then, what's gotten into these kids? Nor respect. Hye there, Scotch!”

“Hi Applejack, that wasn´t very nice,” he said, looking over to Apple Buck who was rubbing his head while talking to his friends.

“Ah didn´t hurt him, haystack. ´sides, he should know better than tease me.”

“I suppose. But I do feel kind of bad making them sit there. I feel like we´re grounding them,” Butterscotch said looking at the Crusaders. Sweetie Belle noticed and blushed, hiding behind Scootaloo.

“Well, it beats having them running around town causing troubles. Speaking of trouble, is everything safe at the library?”

“I left Spines with the other dragon. I think they can handle themselves just fine.”

“Yah sure? ´cause…” Applejack began but stop mid sentence. “Never mind, Scotch. Hey, buddy. Yah okay with Girl-Blitz?”

“You mean Rainbow Dash? Sure, I like her. Why do you ask?”

“Well, umh…” But before Applejack could finish his idea, they were interrupted by another pony.

“Hello there umh, Applejack and Buttercream, I think…”

“It´s Applejack and Butterscotch, ma´am. And yah are the Mayor of the girls´ Ponyville, ah´m ah right?” Applejack said, tilting his hat to the mare who blushed.

“Yes, I am. And speaking of Twilight and her group of frinds, I suppose you wouldn't know where they are right now?”

“They´re outside town handling a mission, ma´am.”

“Oh, I see. So I guess they won´t be back in a while,” she said, looking distressed.

“is everything alright?” Butterscotch asked.

“Well, I was handling the reports for the security measures since this umh lockdown began and I keep noticing a high number of times the barrier was lifted. I´m not sure if they all match the guards changing turns but it seems I´m not able to find my counterpart to compare notes. Actually, I can´t find my assistants either. I managed to steal your friend Elusive to help me handle some of the papers but…”

“Say no more, ma´am! Just tell us what we can do to help!”

“Oh, what a fine pair of gentlecolts!” she said, blushing again. “Just go talk to your friend Elusive and he will give you a list of all the outposts. Go check them out for me, yes?”

“Will do, ma´am!” Applejack said, tilting his hat again while Butterscotch nodded. “Well, seems we got ourselves busy. Better than just staying around sitting on our haunches, right Scotch?”

“Umh weren´t you supposed to be fixing the barn?”

“Uh? Why, mah sister fix it this morning. At least, ah think she did. Ah would ask her but ah haven't seen her in a while now…”

“Actually AJ, I just noticed that several ponies seem to be missing…” Butterscotch commented and they took a look at the Town Hall.

While it wasn´t always a crowded place since this whole business began, the building ahd been used to sort all legal business with the ponies of two different universes so there was at least a group of fifteen to twenty ponies any given day,. This day it was less than a dozen.

“Yeah, that´s...weird,” Applejack said.

******

Meanwhile, outside of the barrier but in the opposite side; Twilight was trying to lead her team. Trying being the key words since Bubble Berry kept getting in her way.

“Magic source! Magic source! I command thy to reveal, magic source!”

“Bubble, please. Could you please stop that? I´m trying to concentrate,” Twilight said from behind her map.

“No need for that, young mare! I, the great Berryswainer, will find that magic source with my powerful psychic powers!” Bubble Berry announced, putting on a cape and a turban and making all sort of ridiculous noises and poses.

“Hahahaha! Please, stop it! You´re killing me!” Rainbow Dash siad, rolling in the ground while laughing.

Despite her complaints, Twilight was also starting to crack and had to hid her face with the map. Bubble Berry took a look at them and smiled but his joy soon was lost when he noticed Fluttershy was the only one not smiling. She noticed him looking and looked around, confused before faking a  smile.

“Okay, I´ll stop,” Berry said, taking his turban off. “I just wanted to keep you girls happy. When I´m with the guys I usually don't need to cheer them up. Blitz alone can handle that…”

The girls noticed how distressed Berry was so Rainbow Dash stepped forward. “Yeah, Blitz can be really fun at times but you're funny all the times. Comes with being the Boy- Pinkie, I guess,” she said, punching him in the arm.

“You two really get along well,” Fluttershy commented.

“We-well, yeah, we do! Because Dashie here is like Blitz only she is a girl so is nothing like him but at the same time she is because they both have Rainbow manes and blue bodies or is it cyan?” Berry rambled, blushing and holding Rainbow Dash tight.

“Berry...stop it…”

Fluttershy just smiled at the scene while Twilight was looking a little angry.

“Enough playing. We need to find the source of magic,” she said, turning around and going back to her map, missing Rainbow pushing Berry away and taking flight. “Pince Solaris said that magic was dangerous and unknown. Who knows what could possibly do to our realities?”

“Yeah about that, Twi. hate to break it to you but this looks like a nice day,” Rainbow Dash said, looking around.

“I know, i can´t seem to find the source. Also, I´m not familiar with these woods,” she said, looking at the trees.

“Umh yeah, I think this is our part of the town,” Bubble berry said.

“FIgures. I need to make some calculations,” Twilight said, going back to her map.

“Ahhh! This whole parallel universe thing makes my head hurt! Wish we could go back to before this whole thing started!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“Dash!” Fluttershy chastised her and Twilight was also looking mad.

Realizing what her comment implied, Dash hurried to apologize. “Hey Berry, I didn´t meant like that! I mean this whole universes in danger thing sucks but meeting you guys was great and you´re great. I mean, not that I think you´re great like I want to date you great but still…”

Dahs was getting more desperate by the minute since Berry´s mane kept getting straighter and his face shadowing. Rainbow leaned closer, trying to get a look at his eyes.

“Surprise!” Berry yelled, his mane poofing back.

“Berry! That wasn´t funny! For a second there I thought you would go all crazy.talking-to.-buckets on me!” Rainbow dash yelled. trying to get up after being startled.

“Oh sorry, that wasn't my intention. I was just joking..:” Berry said, pleading to Rainbow who was hovering over him with a straight face. Berry leaned closer, trying to get a smile out of her.

“Surprise!”

Now it was Berry turned to fell over but he took it better, laughing out loud along with Rainbow.

“You're´great at this, Dash!”

“See? They really get along well,” Fluttershy commented.

“Yeah, I noticed,” Twilight murmured, turning away with an angry look.

Again she missed something important, Fluttershy´s evil grin that she failed to hide.

“I detected something! Twilight announced, her horn glowing. “That way!” she pointed and they all rushed over to where the magic lead them, a dark cave hidden behind some bushes.

“Here it is...the source…” Twilight whispered, using her horn to provide light.

“What is it? Some sort of cursed item?” Rainbow asked.

“Maybe an evil creature?” Fluttershy asked.

“A magical candy? What? It could be.”

Ignoring Berry, Twilight pointed her horn to the inside of the cave. “No, It´s...Princess Luna?”

And the wounded alicorn raised her head, recognizing the voice of the pony in front of her.

“Help me, Twilight Sparkle.”

Tie In Bold Feelings

“So Spike, how are things going?” Rainbow Dash asked while they were heading to the cottage than the two ponies with butterflies as a mark now shared.

“Pretty cool. I learned how to make nachos!”

“That´s cool but I was more talking about your love life…”

“Why, did Rarity said something?” Spike chirped, jumping over the pegasus.

“No,” she said pushing him. “I meant, have you mean anybody new that you kinda like?”

“I´m..not following you.”

Rainbow facehoofed, realizing that Spike was even more dense that she could ever be. “I´m talking about somebody close to you, that you may have an actual chance with?”

“Oh no, it´s true then! The boys teased me about it but I never believed it!”

“Believe what?”

“That Sweetie Belle has a crush on me! Oh this is terrible, how can I explain to Rarity that her little sister is hopelessly in love with me?”

Rainbow growled, exhausted of the little dragon who was even worse than she when it comes to love matters.

“Listen Spike,” she said, grabbing him and hovering above the road. “I´m not talking about Sweetie Belle! I´m talking a certain dragon who is very close to you as in, living in the same roof!”

“...oh, you mean Barb?”

“Who the hay is Barb?”

“Is short for Barbara. Is the nickname I gave Spines! Cute, right?”

“Doesn't make any sense…” Rainbow said, putting him down. “But yeah, I was talking about her.”

“Oh...ugh, gross! You mean if I like her like a girlfriend or anything? That´s gross!”

“How come? She´s a dragon and one close to your age too, seems like a good match to me.”

“But she is...me. I mean she is my counterpart or something like that, I didn´t quite get the explanation. But that would be really weird, imagine like if you start dating Rainbow Blitz, wouldn´t that be weird?”

“i guess so…” Rainbow Dash admitted, looking over town to the glowing barrier that shielded them from the merged Equestria. “Then again, I don´t think we´ll ever get the chance to find out.”

Spike looked at Rainbow confused and a little worried. She was always so full of energy, never showing any weakness, at least, not any that Spike had seen; but now she was looking with the saddest expression, like she was heartbroken but Spike couldn´t figure out why.

Just then, they saw Applejack, the male one that is; and Spines coming down the road.

“Well ello there, Mrs. Dash. Fancy metting you ´ere,” he said, tipping his hat.

“Heh, don´t call me that. Makes me think I´m all girly and stuff,” she said, coming down to the ground.

“Well, Granpa Smith raised me to allways be polite to mares since they´re scarce. ´sides, yah´re all girly and stuff, mrs,” he replied and she playfully punched him.

Spike took the chance to grab Spines and brought her down.

“What are you two doing here? You were supposed to be in your way to the library!” he whispered.

“I know but I got caught in the way helping Babar who´s friend wasn´t there to look after the stand in the market and then that mare who looks like Rosebud stopped us because her friends were also gone and she needed help. It seems like half the town is missing!”

Spike didn´t catch on that vital piece of information and continued with his complains. “Oh man, at this rate you´ll never get to the library before Twilight is back from Canterlot. Once she gets back she´s gonna lock herself on the lab again and not pay attention to Guy Applejack here!”

“Hey, this is harder that it seems! Applejack can´t say no to anypony who needs help!”

“Uh, reminds me of our Applejack…”

“And it's worse than you think! On the way to the farm I ran into Sweepy Bell and he said he left his girl counterpart with Butterscotch.”

“Oh great, just the filly I don´t want to see today!”

“How come?”

“She may have a little crush on me…”

“No way!”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked funny at the two whispering dragons.

“What you suppose they whispering ´bout?” he asked.

“Seems our little buddies here tried to trick us.”

“Uh, how so?” Applejack asked and Rainbow couldn´t believe it he was being sincere.

“What, haven't you figured out?” she asked and he denied with all honesty. “Come on, it´s obvious! What did she told you to come here?”

“She said that Mrs. Sparkle needed some help moving heavy furniture…”

“And you bought that? Don´t see you they´re trying to hook you up with her?”

“Really? Umh, that´s…” Applejack said, blushing a little and Rainbow snorted.

“Oh man, can´t believe you fell for that!”

“Well, ah just didn´t thoguht about it,” Applejack said, offended. “´sides, what could they possibly gain from that?”

“I don´t know. Maybe they think we´ll made better matches that way. Spike wasn´t very subtle leading me to meet Flutterguy.”

“Uh?”

“Sorry, I meant Buttersocht.”

“Oh him, well ah don´ think ya´ll make a good match fer him. Yah can be a bit forceful, Rainbow.”

“And what´s that supossed to mean?” Rainbow growled, hitting her nose against Applejack´s.

That farmer went mute, unable to reply to the bold pegasus and all he could think off was that she looked exactly like Rainbow Blitz when she acted that way. That thought made him blush since he didn´t wanted to think such a pretty mare resembled his best friend.

“Hey guys, there´s been a tiny change of plans,” Spike said while Spines made the gesture for him. “You see, Spines has told me that Buttersocht is a bit busy and Twilight is still on Canterlot so…”

“Guys, cut it out. We know what you two are up to,” Rainbow Dash said.

“You do?” Spines said, embarrassed

“Yeah and I don´t appreciate you trying to hook us up,” Rainbow said and both dragons played with their feets, obviously ashamed for what they did. “All this is because I have a thing for that Elusive guy, right?”

The three looked at Rainbow, surprised by her boldness.

“Well yeah, I mean, I had a crush on Elusive long before you showed up and now you girls are all day with them!” Spines complained.

Applejack took a look at Spike who was still playing with his feet. “Ah assume yah´re also are bothered because I fancy Mrs. Rarity then.”

“Look, I´m a man enough to handle the competition but I´m not going to lose Rarity to you, buddy!” he said, trying to look big enough but he barely reached half of the bulky stallion´s leg.

“Ah don´t think Mrs. Rarity will appreciate much being treated like a prize.”

“Same goes for the g´re youreypre not toys for you to keep Babr, they´re your friends,” Rainbow said.

“I know, I´m sorry…”

“Guess we let jealosy get the best of ours,” Spike said.

“It´s okay Spike. I remember having your age, sorta. Love can be complicated,” Rainbow said, huggin her friend with a wing.

Spike tugged Applejack from his yoke and asked. “You´re not going to tell Dusk Shine about this, right?”

“Let´s keep it our little secret,” he said, patting her head.

“Come on, let´s go home,” Rainbow said and she took flight but she soon stopped, alarmed by something that had been bothering since a little while.

They were in the outskirts of town, near the border of the Everfree Forest but even that far away from the Town Square, the magic barrier shouldn´t look so close and looming.

“Uh Mrs Dash, is it me or this barrier thinghy is getting smaller?”

The answer to that questions came from the barrier closing a few meters and taking down a tree on the way, sending a bird´s nest right to the ground. Rainbow rushed to catch it but another blur, one orange and blue got ahead, catching the falling birds in one swoop.

“Woah there little fellas, that was a close call!” the pegasus stallion said, descending to ground. He was a Royal Guard, judging by his uniform but neither pony or dragon had ever seen a Guard with that coat combination.

“Good moves,” Rainbow said, descending.

“Thank you! I mean, most thankful for your ocmpliment, ma´am!” he responded, saluting.

Rainbow rolled her eyes while the dragons hurried to meet the stallion. “That was so cool! What´s your name? You have a girlfriend?”

“Easy there, fellas! Name´s Flash Sentry and it´s nice to meet you too. And no, I don´t have a girlfriend.”

“One of yours?” Rainbow asked Applejack.

“Never seen the chap before. Maybe from your lot side of the barrier?”

Rainbow snorted at Applejack´s way of talking and shook her head.

“Hey you, what are you doing there?” Two female guards said, approaching them.

“Oh hey gals,” Flash said, trying to be friendly but the female guards were not into jokes. “Uh I just saved these little birds and then I was talking with these guys. Hey, the barrier came down a little, was that…”

“You know the orders. No contact with civilians. Meeting with Captain is now,” the guards said in unison.

“Uh I got to go. Take care of them, will you?” Flash said, handing Spike and Spines the bird´s nest.

Applejack and Rainbow looked at Flash following the female guards and crossing the barrier, feeling a little uneasy when the barrier flickered.

After that, none felt like going back to their houses so they stayed on a hill, the ponies watching the dragons play with the birds.

“They´re cute when they´re just being kids,” Applejack commented. He was laying on the grass and had left both his yoke and hat on the ground next to him.

“Yeah, when they´re not trying to play matchmaker,” Rainbow said and Applejack chuckled. Rainbow found the sound cute, similar to her Applejack´s but not quite the same. She smiled at this. “Hey Jacko…”

“Jacko?”

“You said that mares are scarce in your universe.”

“Well, compared to how many are on your side, ah think so…”

“Does that means that guys over there...you know, since they´re so few mares they rather…”

Applejack needed a second to catch what Rainbow meant and then blushed. “Oh well, ah think so, ah mean...well, ah heard a few guys in Ponyville they...their barn doors wing that way so to speak but mahself...ah mean…”

“Heh, I knew you´ll freak out. Relax Jacko, it´s not so strange. Back when I was at the Flight Academy a lot of mares were into that.”

“Does that means…” Applejack didn´t finished the question and Rainbow just looked at the sky, still looking sad. “Why are yah asking this, Rainbow?”

“I don´t know. I was thinking of something that Spike said, about how weird would be if I dated Rainbow Blitz. But truth is I don´t think it would be that weird. Can´t say the idea never crossed my mind. Ever felt that way over Applejack, my Applejack?”

“Ah just like to think of AJ as mah cousin. Makes things less complicated…” Applejack said, scratching his neck.

“See, I can´t think of Blitz that way. I´m too cool to be related to him!” Rainbow joked and Applejack chuckled again, making Rainbow smile once more.

She had been sitting on her haunches this whole time but now she leaned forward, she looked at the dragons playing around and then looked at Applejack. “You think it will be totally weird if we kiss?”

“Wha-what?”

“Oh come on, you never did it with Blitz?”

“A-a-ah…”

“I did it with Applejack once,” Rainbow admitted and the other Applejack blushed. “Hey, wasn´t like romantic or anything. Pinkie talked us into playing spin the bottle and well. Guess that were those rumours about us two began. Rarity must have slipped something in the spa.”

Applejack gulped, gathering the courage to say, “Wasn´t spin the bottle. It was a hoof wrestling contents and the loser got to be in the closet with the winner for seven minutes.”

“Woah, that´s way more that we ever did,” Rainbow said and Applejack blushed harder, almost resembling Big Mac by now.

“We just argued for five minutes.”

“And the last two?” Rainbow asked and Applejack kept blushing. “Sorry didn´t meant to make you feel bad.”

“It wasn´t that bad,” Applejack admitted.

Rainbow got up and streched her wings and limbs. “You know, it was a lot easier when it was just the six of us girls. Not that I don´t like you guys but things have been weird since we met you.”

“Ah know, ah like having meeting you but yeah, things have been weird,” Applejack said, also getting up.

“Good weird or just plain weird?”

“Good weird.”

And with both ponies leaned forward and shared a kiss. It was a strange feeling, not bad, not good, just strange. The whole minute it lasted all they could think off was that this how it felt to kiss the counterpart of said pony and maybe, just maybe, that meant it wasn´t so strange at all to feel something for their friends.

“Woah…”

Applejack and Rainbow turned to face the two awestruck dragons and got a little blush on their cheeks.

“You two just kissed…” Spines said.

“Do you know what this means?” Spike asked.

“It means we need to rewrite the entire chart!”

“Yes! Contact the Cutie Mark Crusaders, their plan is now completely ruined!”

“Our plan also needs rewriting!”

“Yes yes!”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack rolled their eyes, picked up their stuff and smiled at each other, not feeling the slight regret for what they just did.

“Come on, you two!” Rainbow yelled and the two dragons followed them.

Meanwhile, the two female guards leaded Flash Sentry to a clearing on the Everfree Forest, where they met with Captain Gleaming Shield. Flash didn´t know the mare very well, all he knew was the she was basically the same as Captain Shining Armor and Flash got very well with him. He also usually got well with mares but he was afraid of saying something that may offend the mare so he kept quiet, saluting her and standing still.

“Leave us,” the unicorn ordered the two guards and once they were alone she continued. “Flash Sentry, you have been appointed vice captain of Royal Guard, assigned to the Crystal Empire to ensure the safety of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor.”

“Yes ma´am but I was also ordered to leave my place to join the forces in Ponyville,” he explained, wondering why the captain needed a reminder,

“Indeed but you arrived too early.”

Flash was about to ask what that meant when another pony approached them, a pony that looked exactly like him, down to the gender.

“Hey, what´s this?”

“Like I said, you arrived too early,” Gleaming said and fired a green beam at Flash, leaving him unconscious.

The other Flash approached him and took the uniform for himself.

“You have your orders. Don´t fail,” Gleaming said and the pegasus saluted, a green glow appearing on his eyes.

Unbeknownst to them, a cloaked figure was watching the whole even. The masked pony waited until they left, Gleaming Shield carrying Flash Sentry away from the forest, and headed herself into the darkness, disappearing in the shadows of the Everfree.

Chapter 7

Applejack pushed a shelf back in place, letting go a big sigh since it was heavier than he expected. Luckily, he got a fresh apple juice, courtesty of the Mayor, who was still a bit flustered when around him. Applejack tilted his hat to the mare and then growled when he noticed his unicorn friend was surruonded by about five mares, who patiently watched him work in a banner.

"Lucy, ya think you´ll finish that anytime before the next Equestria Games?"

"Patient, my fear friend. You know good work needs time."

"Yah´ve been on the same ribbon for the past half hour..."

"Details matter, AJ. Don´t you remember we learned that after our visit to Applewood?" Elusive retorted.

"Yah mean that time yah crashed that copter-thingy into a mountain?" Applejack said and his friend blushed." Yah know, with that and the time Dusk gave yah wings, yah think you´ll learn than flying ain´t exactly yer thing..."

Eluvisve growled and that caused all the mares to glare at Applejack, who had no idea why they were mad at him, who was actually doing some work.

"Oh my goodness!"

"Relax Butterscotch, it´s not as bad as it looks," a bruised Dusk Shine said, levitating the paint bucket Butterscotch just dropped with his reaction.

"Woah Nelly, yah all look worse than a bunch of dogs and cats after a soccer match," Applejack said, looking at the battered state Dusk´s group was, but nopony understood his comment.

"Indeed, you look terrible. What in the world happned?" Elusive asked.

"We ran into...some troubles with a manticore," Dusk Shine said.

"And with some ninjas and robots sharks and flying monkeys..."

"NONE OF THAT HAPPENED!" Pinkie´s three companions shouted at her.

"So, ah take it yah never find the source of magic-thinghy?" Applejack asked.

"Whatever it was, we couldn´t located it. It was almost like it dissapeared as soon as we got close," Rarity said and then she give the biggest smile in the world when Butterscotch offered her a wet tissue.

"I don´t know what happened. It´s impossible that Prince Solaris would have sent us in a wild goose chase..." Dusk Shine said.

"Why not? Wild goose are the funniest, this one time..." Pinkie began but Blitz covered her mouth.

"Come on, Pinks. Let´s get you some cupcakes or something..."

"Mmhphms? Mmmhhhhiii!"

"Well, to be honest, we´ve been running into our own share of unexpicable problems," Elusive said. "Large groups of ponies have gone missing and even some buildings have...dissapeared."

"Just...dissapeared?" Dusk Shine said.

"Whole city blocks are unnacounted for. Almost like the merging of our universes is actually making them smaller," Elusive said.

"Wait, you don´t mean that the...the...the spa is gone?!" Rarity asked, pushing poor Butterscotch out of the way.

Elusive hung his head low while Rarity fainted.

"Wait, what about...the gym?" Rainbow Blitz asked and when Elusive hung his head again, he fainted too.

"That sounds troublesome but right now, I have other things to attend. I´ll go back to the library to see if Twilight´s group is back already," Dusk Shine said, passing over the fainted Rainbow while Pinkie tried to resucitate him but Applejack stopped her before she could get to mouth to mouth.

"Assuming there´s still a library left," Elusive said, angry at his friend´s attitude but it wasn´t like he could ask Rarity if she knew anything about it right now.

"Umh, has anypony seen the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Butterscotch asked.

******

Dusk Shine reached the library and found Spike and Spines in stools, facing the wall and with dunce hats on. He decided he had no time to ask what this was about. Just then, Twilight came downstairs.

"Oh you´re back. Good I have something to tell you," Twilight said, not even noticing her counterpart´s bruises.

Upstairs, Dusk Shine found Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash tending a wounded alicorn Princess.

"Umh Princess Selena, was it?"

"Princess Luna, Dusk. She´s Celestia´s sister, the counterpart to your Artemis," Twilight corrected him and Dusk blushed noticing how Rainbow was smirking. Seems like Blitz, she liked feeling smarter than him.

"Greetings, Twilight of another world," Luna said, wincing due to her severe injuries.

"We found Princess Luna in the forest, hiding in a cave," Twilight explained.

"Was she the source of magic?" Dusk Shine asked.

"Most likely, I´ve been sending signals for the past hours, calling for help. I was expecting the Royal Guard but I´m most glad that you found me isntead, Twilight," Luna said, nuzzling the unicorn who blushed.

Dusk Shine assumed that was just Twilight´s nature but, considering all the jokes the guys made after he and Prince Artemis spent Nightmare Night together, he wouldn´t be surprised if she went through the same issue.

"What happened to you, Princess?" he asked.

"I was victim of an attack by our most insiduous, the changelings!" Luna said.

"Looks like those guys never learn!" Rainbow said, hitting her hooves together.

"This time the treat doesn´come from our world, brave Rainbow. It was the work of the ruler of the kingdom that mirrors Chrysallis´, King Cocoon!"

"King Cocoon? But we defeated that guy. I personally blast him back to Tartarus!"

"After he offered you to become his disciple? Yeah, that happened here too," Twilight said.

"This time he has taken better precautions. His first step was taking control of my mind, forcing me back into the shape of Nightmare Moon and lashing an attack against my counterpart."

"Artemis? Is he okay?!" Dusk Shine asked in such a tone than the girls arched an eyebrow.

"Captured and detained, as many other important ponies than Cocoon forced me to confront. The last ones were Princess Cadence and her similar, knowing that their magic was the biggest threat to his plans. But before I defeated her, our lovely niece cast a spell that broke the King´s control on me. I couldn´t save her but I managed to escape albeit, not withouht taking some damage..." Luna said, falling down in the bed.

"I can´t believe this is happening..." Dusk Shine murmured.

"And it´s even worse, noble Dusk Shine. The King has found the perfect place to secure himself, adopting the guise of Prince Solaris," Luna said.

"What? No! That...that can´t be!"

"It´s awful. Can´t believe Solaris has been an enemy this whole time. But then, why would he sent us searching for the magic source? Unless he wanted us to find it..." Twilight began to ponder, failing to notice that Fluttershy´s eyes were glowing.

"No! He´s not an enemy! He couldn´t...there´s no way he has been captured! This is wrong! You´re all wrong!"

"Dusk Shine, calm down, buddy..."

"No! You, you´re the spies! Shining Armor was right! You´re all changeling spies!"

"Wait, what does my brother has to do with this?"

"Get away! Ge away from me!" a paranoid Dusk Shine shouted and he teleported outside but in his frantic state, he failed and fell down against a fruit stand.

"Dusk Shine, stop acting crazy!" Rainbow shouted but when she tried to give chase, Fluttershy rushed pass her. "Woah since when Flutters is so fast?"

Fluttershy chased after Dusk Shine who kept teleporting at random. Unknown to both, a pair of white eyes was watching the race. Finally, Fluttershy managed to tackle Dusk Shine and pinned him against a wall.

"No! Let me go! You´re one of them!" he shouted.

"Shut up! Stop panicking and anwser my questions!" she yelled.

"Why...why are you talking like this? You´re supossed to be shy and quiet, just like..."

"Not when my patience runs out! Now tell me, what was that about Shining Armor?"

"He...he told me about the invasion. Show me...that the changelings are replacing ponies all over Equestria but din´t know why. Now I know...King Cocoon he...he´s trying to..."

"Relax, Dusk Shine. You did well," Fluttershy said and let go of Dusk, while her eyes glowed green.

"This is all my fault...all my fault."

"Now now, don´t say that. Just calm down and forget all about it..."

"I´m sorry, I´m so sorry...Fluttershy," Dusk Shine said and Fluttershy stopped. "I´ve been acting like an idiot. Ever since our universes merged I´ve been treating you all like strangers when actually, you´re all my friends. I should have trusted you from the beginning. Thanks for listening, Fluttershy," and Dusk Shine smiled at her.

This caused Fluttershy to have a feeling that she never had before, something that never happened in all her years as a changeling soldier, she...doubted.

But before she could analyze those new feelings, a green smoke hit them and Fluttershy fell to the ground. Dusk Shine coughed and squinted through the fog to see a caped pony approach him.

"Hey, don´t I know you..."

The masked pony took off her mask, revealing a freckled smiling face.

"Howdy partner..."

Chapter 8

"Dusk Shine! Dusk!"

Dusk Shine growled and tried to get up. His head was still a bit dizzy and the sound seemed to come from very far away but it didn´t take long for him to recognize the figure rushing to his side. Dusk Shine got up and greeted Twilight Sparkle with a smile.

"Hey, parallel m-" Dusk´s attempt at witty banter was interrupted by a tender hug. "Hey, I´m...fine. Seriously."

"I was so worried. You ran out and I fear...well, I fear..."

"Hey, relax Twi, I´m fine."

Twilight took a second to catch her breath and noticed that Dusk Shine was smiling. "What?"

"Nothing. It´s just...this past couple of days we have been not exactly in the best terms. I just basically accused you of being a changeling spy a few minutes ago. Wait, is been a few minutes, right? Can´t remember how long I´ve been out..."

"Dusk Shine...you and FLuttershy have been gone for threee months now."

"WHAT?"

Twilight stick her tongue out and Dusk Shine sighed.

"Heheh, sorry for that. I couldn´t resist it. But you´re right on something, ever since this whole thing started I´ve been a little...distracted. Princess Luna opened my eyes to the whole situation. I don´t know exactly what my brother told you but if he decided to trust in you rather than me..."

Dusk put a hoof on Twilight shoulder, looking to comfort her. "Look, I have part of the fault. I should have trusted you from the get-go instead of being all sneaky. I´ll tell you the full true later but just so you know Twilight, the reason your brother handled me thsi responsibility, is because he couldn´t beare having to fight you should the need arise."

Twilight wiped a tear and said "Heh, he knows I could take him down..."

Twi and Dusk shared a laugh when the whole gang appeared.

"Hey you two, allright?" both Rainbows said, failing to notice their synchro.

"Yeah, guys, I´m just fin-"

Dusk got interrupted again, this time by Bubble Berry jumping over the still unconscious Fluttershy. "Fluttershy! Everypony I need 200cc of maple syrup! ASAP!"

"What kind of medical procedure is that?" Dusk Shine asked, while Twilight blushed a little.

"Uh...wha...what happened?" Fluttershy asked being greeted by a double comforting hug by the pink ponies. "Is...is everypony okay?"

"I´m fine, Fluttershy. Thanks for calming me down."

"Did I do that?"

"Yes, just right before I tried to escape again and you crashed against a tree."

"Classic Scotch," Rainbow Blitz said.

"Ya mean Flutters," Rainbow Dash corrected him.

"Whatever."

"Point is, now that Dusk Shine is back, we should really get back to the library and start making up a plan. It seems we have a second crisis on hoof, that could possibly be related to the first one," Twilight Sparkle said.

"Yeah, like if the universe mumbo-jumnbo wasn´t enough, now we have changeling spies!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Seriously, can´t this get any weirder?" Blitz added.

"Oh it could be! We could have actually encountered a time displaced versions of ourselves that met a terrying end at the hands of a Decepcticon special task force!" Bubble Berry said.

"Or we could be stranded in Earth searching for the missing piece to ressurect an ancient cybertronian weapon that could start a new war!" Pinkie Pie added.

"What in Eque-" Rainbow Dash began but Blitz took a hoof to her mouth.

"Forget it. When Berry starts rambling about the giant robots thing, he just won´t shut up."

"We better get moving," Dusk Shine said and the entire group retreated back to the Golden Oaks library, none of them noticing the cloaked figure watching them from behind some bushes.

*****

"So, let´s resume everything we know so far..." Twilight Sparkle said, levitating a pointer to a chalkboard, much to the frustation of the two speedsters pegasus.

"King Coocon, who is the boys´counterpart to our Changeling Queen, has switched places with Prince Solaris, basically taking control of our fused worlds. Presumaly, he took the opportunity to do so after the dimensional chaos produced by the team-up of both Discord and his coutnerpart..."

"And we were so busy fighting that Chrysa-Chrysi-whatever bug lady ta notice something was wrong!" Applejack, the male one, added.

"Is not your group fault, Applejack. We also got distracted..." Twilight Sparkle admitted, taking a small glance at Bubble Berry who was insisting on giving Fluttershy a drink, despite the mare declining every time. "While we were busy dealing with those foes and trying to do damage control of the fused Ponyvilles, we left the Royal Ponies open to an attack."

"Prince Artemis is currently being held hostage, along with several other important ponies like someone named Blueblood," Dusk Shine added, Rarity reacting accordingly to that name. "Cocoon tried to take over Princes Luna´s mind but she managed to be free."

"What about Celestia? Isn´t she in danger? Why are we wasting time talking instead of rescuing her?" Rainbow Dash said, getting very excited.

"At the moment, my sister is locked in keeping our skies together, using every ounce of ehr magic to protect our jointed lands. My guess is that Cocoon does not dare to attach her, risking breaking the connection and being forced back to his world," Princess Luna said.

"Wait, that can actually happen?" Blitz asked.

"Is a possibilty we have been discussin with Twilight," Dusk said.

"Our universes are being forced to occupy the same layer in the dimensional continuum but if we enough pressure in the energy paralleles are applied then..." Twilgight began with a long, complicated explanation that even Princess Luna was unable to follow.

Dusk Shine then stepped in, "Basically, there´s a chance to get our universes back to where they belong. Problem is that could suck us back to our respective places and also...well, also..."

"Also, that we will never be able to see each other again," Twilight finished.

"NO!" Both pink ponies yelled and the rest looked equally distressed, even the two small dragons who were eavesdropping.

"Neither of us want this to happen but as a final recourse, if we uh reset the universes..." Twilight said.

"Everypony and every creature suplanting one will be returned to its rightful place, ending this invasion effectively." Dusk Shine said.

"I must confess, in this short amount of time, I have grown accostumed to my counterpart. Artemis has been through a similar path as mine but his experiences have been different, becoming more involved with the ponies in his world, helping during some times like the first changeling invasion and so," Princess Luna said. "I expressed my envy of his involvement and he replied that my role of guiding filllies and colts when in doubt is something that she wished being able to do..."

There was a small moment of silence before Applejack spoke, "So the plan is to what? Raid the castle, take the Elements back from Celestia and cause this uh reset thingy?"

"We have a different plan. Cocoon doesn´t know that we are aware of his presence and that Luna has escaped his hooves..."Dusk Shine said.

"Therefore, we´re gonna play with his own rules. We´re gonna inflitrate the changeling ranks by letting ourselves be captured and taken to palace," Twilight finished.

"Sounds like a plan," Elusive said and Rarity agreed.

"Hey hold eggheads, when exactly did you two came out with this plan?" Blitz asked.

"Yeah, we´ve been kinda busy this past couple of days and you two have abrely spoke to one another," Rainbow added.

"We had a few minutes before the meeting and we managed to...connect," Twilight said and took Dusk´s hoof.

There was another silent moment.

"....OH I get it! Twi now likes Dusky!" Pinkie said, hitting her hooves when she figured it out.

"Hey, that´s not fair, Dusk! When did we agree going after our counteparts was fair game?" Berry added.

"Now that I think about it, it will certainly saves us some time in the courting process," Elusive pondered outloud.

"We already know almost everything about the other pony so it does seem rather convenient," Rarity added.

"Hey hey ya two can´t be serious!" Appleajck shouted.

"Falling for the very own prince? That´s something..." Luna murmured, blushing.

"Ewwwwwww!" both Rainbow said.

Butterscotch and FLuttershy just blushed.

"Wait, we could do that?" Spike asked Spines.

"You...you wanna do that?" Spines asked and they both blushed.

Both unicorns sighed and went back to the bedroom, deciding to ignore them. Still they felt a little bit of embarassment when they sat down facing each other, ready to do something that did required a certain level of intimacy.

"Good thing we haven´t told them what we´re gonna do," Twilight said.

"Eh, I figured they would make a big deal out of it," Dusk Shine said, shrugging. "In simple terms, mind bonding is a practical spell that will saves us valuable time when planning and sharing information."

"Yes but it does require two unicorns to completly trust one another," Twilight said. "Do we?"

"After all this, Twilight Sparkle. There´s no other pony I´ll trust," Dusk Shine and they both smiled.

"Really, not included a certain cute female guard. You know, the orange pegasus with the blue mane?" she said.

"Wha-what, are you talking about?"

"Come on, I have been in your head and seen some interesting thoughts..." she teased him and Dusk Shine sighed.

"Please, let´s just be done with this..."

"Heheh, okay. Just relax your mind and let me in..."

The ponies took a deep breath and let their magic beams interwine. After a few seconds, Twilight Sparkle was able to dive into Dusk Shine´s memory and see the one conversation that will turn the tide of this invasion.

*****

"Howdy, partner..."

Applejack took off her mask, revealing her face to Dusk Shine.

"Applejack? Why are you dressed as Stallion-do-Good? Wait, you girls don´t call him that, is..."

"We ´ave no time fer that. Listen Dusk, there´s a secret that ah have to share with you so listen closely..."

"....Applejack, if you want to whisper to my ear, you need to get closer to my face," Dusk Shine said, since he wasn´t able to hear anything.

"A-a-a-ah know that!" Aplejack yelled, blushing like a tomato.

Fighting against her embarassment, Applejack leaned forward, "Listen Dusk, as ya know, the changelings have taken the place of several ponies. What ya don´t know is that yer own sister has been replaced. In fact, Shining Armor has been played a fool and him telling you ´bout the whole business was nothing but a flim-flam..."

"What?" Dusk yelled but Applejack shushed him.

"Listen, the Changeling King is luring yah lot into a trap. He wants you all to go to palace and get captured."

"All this time...I was so worried of spies when I was turned into one..."

"And that´s not all, sugarcube," Applejack said and blew some green powder to the unconscious Fluttershy, revealing her true form as a changeling."

"What?"

"Ah´m afraid my friend was one of the first captured. Probably since before the big party we had. They have been replacing ponies all around, to keep the originals in palace, fer what, ah don´t know."

"Wait, Applejack, how do you know all this? How..."

"Zebra magic," Applejack said. "Mah buddy Zecora figured something was wrong with her zebra roommate and then found out ´bout the rest. She has a plan but we need your help. Changelings think ah was captured and are waiting for mah replacement. We got other plans but we need your help and Twilight´s..."

"Of course but, what exactly..."

"Ah need yah two to get captured and then make sure that our universes never connect again. That´s the only way to stop this Cocoon fella."

"But Applejack, that would mean..."

"To never see each other again..." Applejack said, putting back her cowl to hide her sadness.

****

The memory ended and the purple glow dissapeared from the library. Dusk and Twi took a deep breath and then looked at each other eyes. No longer needing any words, they shared a deep hug.

Tie in Crusading Shenanigans

Mayor Mare was at the verge of panic. Half her staff was gone and the other replaced by ponies that she didn´t knew or were the opposite gender, like the female version of her friend Time Turner who kept rambling about things about timey-wimey and spatial displacements and thinks like that. To be fair, regular Time Turner did that too but she just wasn´t in the right move to deal with that right now. Adding that there was a group of six excitable young ponies who were simply turning the Town Hall into a mess.  Their brothers and sisters were no longer around to keep an eye of them so mayor Mare did the one sensible thing, place them on her office.

"Now children, I just need to fix a few more things and then I think I could let you go to Sugarcube Corner, assuming is still there...uh, just wait me here," Mayor Mare said, closing the door along with a deep sigh. "And don´t touch anything!" she added and slammed the door.

Five minutes after they complety trashed the place, the Cutie Mark Crusaders All Star Team (as they decided to name themselves after going for the Cutie Mark Crusaders League and the Cutie Mark Crusaders Alliance) were lying in the ground and furniture, looking extremly bored.

"I´m boreeeeeeeed!!!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Me too. Sitting in this office doing nothing is the worst," Sweepy Bell added.

"What can we do? They told us to stay here," Scooterloo say, putting back together all the papers into the trash can. Scootaloo gave him a confused look, she didn´t tought her counterpart will be one of those ponies that listened to adults.

"While we´re here, we can take a look at our chart ´ere and see if we make any progress!" Apple Bloom suggest and asked her dimensional twin, Apple Buck, to take the chart out of his hat.

Said chart was nothing that some crude drawings of their family and friends with a lot of arrows connecting them.

"Mmmh, ah don´t see much progress ´ere..."

"Well, we tried to get Fluttershy and Applejack together but they barely spent an hour together," Scootaloo said. "At this rate, they never gonna get together."

"Uh, why do yah want mah sister to end up with Fluttershy?"

"The other Applejack, Apple Bloom."

"Ugh, sometimes this is so confusing. Doncha ever get confused?" she asked Apple Buck and he just shrugged.

"Anyways, point is that our plan to get at least those two together didn´t worked out. I don´t even get what went wrong, they were the most obvious pairing," Scootaloo said, adding a death glare to Sweepy.

"He-hey, why do you look at me like that? I didn´t say anything to her!" Sweepy replied blushing.

"Yeah, I bet you didn´t," Scootaloo said, pretty upset.

Sweepy was totally confused but his pegasus buddy comforted him with a pat on the back.

"Well, at least Sweetie did her part o´ the plan and kept Butterscocht on their cottage so he wouldn´t interfere, right Sweetie?" Apple Bloom said but the unicorn didn´t respond. She was lost in tought, looking through the window and sighing. "What´s up with her?"

"She´s been like that since she came back from the cootage," Scooterloo said.

"Heh, if ah didn´t know any better ah said she ended up falling over Mr. Flutterguy over there," Apple Bloom said and Sweepy looked away, trying to hide his blush.

Scootaloo noticed it and growled, "This whole thing is dumb anyways! They´re never gonna get together the way we wanted to and they´re gonna get sad they didn´t get the pony they wanted!"

"Yeah, ah was thinking mah sis wouldn´t make much of a match with Dust Shine..."

"Dusk Shine."

"That, thanks Scooter; but ah tought she might get along with Rainbow..."

"Blitz."

"Thanks but he spends all day with Pinkie. She hasn´t been a sec with this colt alone. Now that ah think ´bout it, has anypony seen my sis lately?"

"WHo cares? I thought getting Rainbow together with the Twilight-Boy was gonna be easy but then she goes around with Bubble Berry and the girls! Total disaster!" Scootaloo yelled.

"I don´t think Bubble was after any of them. He seems pretty focused on FLuttershy," Sweepy said.

"Yeah, like that´s gonna work. Bubble has better chances hooking up with Guy Rainbow," Scootaloo said.

"Wut? Why did ya say that?" Apple Bloom asked.

Scootaloo shrugged and said, "Don´t know. Figured since is pretty common for mares to hook up, colts do it like that in the other world."

"Uh? Where is it common?"

"Babs told me than in Manehattan is not a big deal. Even here in Ponyville there´s a couple mares who are like that..."

"Really? Ah haven´t noticed any..."

"Come on, you´re gonna tell me Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are just friends?"

"Scoots!" Apple Bloom yelled and they both laughed.

"Jeez, these girls. Is not that common in our side, right Scooter?" Sweepy asked.

"Uh, well...I think..."

"KYAAAAAA!!!" Sweetie´s scream make them all jumped to the roof, the two pegasus shared a little smile when they managed to flap to the ground instead of crashing down like the others. "I can´t take it anymore! Butterscotch is sooooooooooooo cute!"

"Ew, Sweetie, he´s like Fluttershy as a guy and way older than any of us," Scootaloo said."

"I don´t care! I need to see him at least one more time, just to admire those beautiful blue eyes and that gorgeous pink mane!"

"Sure, you´re not talking about Fluttershy?"

"´sides, ah think he and the others went off to Canterlot for a mission," Apple Bloom added.

"Nooooooo! I need to see him!"

Scootaloo sighed while Scooterloo decided offer some assistance," Actually, they could still be around. Before we went here, me and Buck were in the bathroom and we saw him and Elusive packing some...."

"So you know where he could be?!" Sweetie said, jumping down in exciment.

"..."

Before Apple Buck could answer, she grabbed him by the hood and ran away.

"Oh, those two are gonna cause a ruckus! Sweepy, we better go catch ´em," Apple Bloom said and ran off.

"Uh sure, we...can do that," Sweepy said, not really sure why she choosed him.

Scootaloo crossed her arms and growled some more while her counterpart sighed.

"Come on, boy me. We probably go get them before the Mayor decides to punish us all..."

******

"Ahh, Butterscotch is such a cutie! And nice and friendly and he takes care of all the pets. Even teh big scary ones, there was a family of coyotes that walked in during our tea party and he simply..."

Sweetie Belle had been going on like this for about half and hour. Apple Buck said nothing and kept walking behind her when he noticed a few ponies were marching into the Main Hall. They were all marching at the same rhythm, exactly the same rhythm.

"Come on, Apple Buck! Hurry up!"

Apple Buck hurried and catched up with her.

"I can´t wait to see him! Oh what Im gonna said? Is times like this that I wish I was my sister age and that I had her looks so I can finally get boys to look at me. Gotta tell you, Buck, I kinda envy that you live in a world where there´s more colts than mares. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo don´t get me. I think I´ve matured before them so they´re still stuck in the cooties phase but I..."

Apple Buck was hearing nothing of Sweetie´s sudden arrive to adolescence and kept noticing that ponies left their offices to march to the town hall, all the while turning the lights out, turning the Town Hall into a very scary place.

"...so I think even with the age difference we can work something out like being pen pals or something. Do they have mails in the other universe? I guess they do but, how could I get it to him? Is this the room?"

Apple Buck was distracted looking back but Sweetie assumed he meant yes and opened the door.

"Uh is so dark in here. Where´s the light switch?" Sweetie turned on the light, only to discover a room full of changelings, buzzing around. "Uh, I guess is the wrong room. Bye!"

Sweetie closed the door and took a second to register what happened. Then she opened it again and found a couple of townsponies.

"Phew. What a relief, for a second there I tought I saw something really scary. You too, Buck? Uh Buck? Why do you have that look on your face?"

******

Both pegasus were rolling on their scooters down the hallway, failing to notice the dim lights going off behind them.

"Where are those two? They always do this, ran off and leave me behind. Sometimes I think they do it on purpose," Scootaloo said but Scooterloo said nothing. "Boy, you sure make a good conversation partner. Ugh, you know, when I first met you I tought, cool! Somepony who finally gets me and you kinda did but now you´re all moody and boring. This sucks, everypony is acting weird."

Scootaloo stopped and rest her head on the scooter, no longer wanting to look around.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" Scooterloo asked.

"Sure, go ahead."

"You like Sweepy, right?"

"What? No! I mean, why do you care?"

Scootaloo wasn´t fooling anyone so she gave up.

"Okay, fine, I think he´s kinda...cute and I don´t like that he is fooling around over there with Apple Bloom but that´s it! Altought, I guess that´s kinda like admiting I like him..."

"And it doesn´t bother you that he´s kinda like Sweetie Belle?"

"Yew, don´t make think about that. I don´t wanna think about my friends like that...."

"So you´ll never like kiss a mare or something?"

"Oh my Celestia! Who told you? YES, Babs and me kissed but it wasn´t a I like you so much kiss, it was a stupid dare! Apple Bloom said that we were not brave enough and we kissed like for a minute, is not that big a deal!"

Scooterloo just waited for her to calm down from her rage attack.

"What I meant is, you were saying early that some mares end up together in here, right?"

"Yeah, there are a few but I was just joking about Diamond and Silver. That thing is grown up thing, I...I don´t wanna think about that yet. Why are you asking anyways?"

"It´s just...this morning I was at the gym and some guys were repeating something Blitz and the other guys were talking about. About if it isn´t kind of weird to like the girls because that could mean they like them cause they resemble them..." Scooterloo said, having a hard time trying to explain himself but Scootaloo got what he meant.

"Yeah, Sweetie told me some ponies at the spa heard something similar from the girls. See, this is why I don´t wanna talk about it. I don´t want to see my friends like that."

"Thing is...I think I do."

Scootaloo gave a good look at Scooterloo and then it hit her.

"Wait, you mean...YOU like Sweepy?"

"Not...him."

"Woah, I mean...well, there´s nothing wrong with that. Is just..."

"Is grown up stuff?"

"Yes," Scootaloo said and she fell, defeated on her scooter. "See, I hate this talk. About boys and growing up and seeing things different. Rainbow Dash once tried to give me THE TALK and it was so awkard. I think she doesn´t even fully get it."

"Hahaha!"

"Same thing happened with Blitz?"

"Not really. He actually took me and the boys to a restaurant with very pretty mares and then Applejack, Apple Buck´s brother, came in with the other guys and they were really mad at him," Scooterloo explained and they laughed about it.

"Hey Scooters, sorry for being so rude. I guess growing up is making me kind of a jerk."

"It´s okay. I have been very moody and sad lately, you know, trying to figure out if I just like Apple Buck or is that I just like colts more than mares."

"Hey, listen, whatever you decide to like, you got me covering your back, okay? No need to fell any sad about that," Scootaloo said, giving him a pat on the back.

That´s when they finally realized the lights were out once the darkness fell on them. A darkness that was cut by a dozen glowing green eyes.

*****

"Apple Bloom! I´m tired, can we stop a sec?"

"No! We need tah find those two. Ah´m sure the bathroom were this way, going right after that spots suplly closet that ah don´t recall being there in the Town Hall..."

"You mean the Town Hall that is actually two different buildings that got fused together by magic?"

Apple Bloom stopped to give Sweepy a death glare and then continued, "Yes, that one."

Sweepy sighed and kept going after her, regretting that he didn´t listened to Scooterloo in the first place and stayed put in the Mayor´s office.

"Hey Sweeps..."

"Yeah?" he said, wondering is that was his new nickname.

"Yah saw how Sweetie got after spending time with Butterscotch. Did that...did that happened with you, ya know, ´bout Fluttershy?"

"What? No! I mean..." Sweepy was blushing hard but since Apple Bloom was not facing him he got the courage to actually speak what was on his mind. "Okay, I think she´s very pretty and she was very nice to me but in the way here I started to think and Scooters, I mean your Scooters, I mean Scootaloo...she´s right, she´s older and basically ButterGirl, I don´t think I´m that attracted to her, I think..."

"So ya want try to date her cause she´s like Butterscotch, right?"

"Kinda, is more the fact that she´s waaaay older than me," Sweepy said.

"So if she was like our age, would you date her?"

Sweepy scracthed his head, trying to think of an answer. "Well, I HAVE seen a few fillies in town which I suposse are my classmates back there and well, they were pretty, maybe I could try dating one of th-"

Sweepy got interrupted cause Apple Bloom gave him a deep kiss.

"Ah´m sorry ah´m so sorry but ah just like yah very much and ah couldn´t resist it anymore and ah know is weird but ah so want us to date even if we live in different universes and stuff but ah really really wanna date yah!"

"..."

They got interrupted again, this time by the shriek coming towards them, followed by the other two pairings being chased by the changelings.

"Sweetie, why were you yelling?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Hey, why do you assume it was me?"

"Stop arguing and run!" Scootaloo said, adding a long shriek when a changeling almost grabbed her.

The Crusaders ran at full speed but they end running into a dead end, created by the fused buildings. Surrounded by the voracious creatures, the youn ponies joined in a group hug but Apple Buck stepped forward and faced the monsters.

"Buck?" the two boys asked.

Apple Buck took of his hat and a black horn appeared, glowing green. The changelings slowed down but then rushed forward, angry that one of them was defying them. Apple Buck gathered his magic and caused all the changelings to fall unconscious. When the lights came back, Apple Buck was replaced by a tiny changeling soldiers and all the other changelings were down.

"Apple...Buck?" Apple Bloom asked.

The small changeling shrugged, not knowing what to say, if he was even able to say something since most changeling mooks were mute.

Thanks to the quiet moment they were able to hear a sound coming from a nearby closet. They opened it and found Mayor Mare, shaking and holding a broken broom.

"Are yah okay, mayor?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I...I...I was with the other Mayor and he turned into...into..."

The kids looked behind her and found a changeling with his head inside a bucket.

"Seems like you have everything under control, Mayor," Sweepy said.

The Mayor smiled and the kids helped her get out, she was a bit afraid of the former Apple Buck but the kids reasurred her it was allright. So they say they were a bit uneasy as well. The changeling didn´t said a thing and wait for them to choose if they were still his friends despite the fact that he took the place of the real Apple Buck.

"So, I guess there´s only one question to make?" Scootaloo started and the others waited. "Is it Apple Buck you liked or the changeling posing as him that you liked, Scooters?"

Scooterloo and the changeling just blushed in response.

Chapter 9

Most ponies will describe Princess Celestia with hyperboles, majestic, glorious, radiant; but she herself prefered to be seen as a simple pony. One with a special position and an unique talent for magic but one that could still be relatable to anypony in the kingdom. That´s why she insisted on being secured in a special chamber as she channeled all the necesarry magic to keep the Elements of Harmony working to maintain the barrier over Canterlot and Ponyville. Seeing her like this, engulfed in flames and rainbow glow, Prince Solaris could see why she didn´t want the attention. Certianly, the word marvelous came to mind the second he saw her...

"You´re gazing at her again, brother," said a voice at his back, causing Solaris to startle.

"Artemis! Don´t play those games with me again...and I´m not gazing at her, simply...contemplating," Solaris explained but his brother wasn´t buying any of that. "Very well, maybe I was...a little entranced by her."

"I´ll say more than a little, dear brother. Ever since you met her, you had nothing but words of praise for Princess Celestia," Artemis said, admitting to himself that the view of the Princess at her full power was certainly breathtaking. "If I didn´t know you any better I´ll say you fell for her the second your gazes met."

Solaris let go a big sigh and to this brother´s surprise, nodded. "Perhaps I did, little brother. The weight of my responsabilites, of my long life-span, of the solitude of a milennia guarding the kingdom...that was a burden that I was never able to share with any other, until I met Celestia." Solaris looked at his brother and recognized that sting of guilt that came evident anytime the incident a thousand years ago was mentioned. "Don´t fret, Artemis. You know I don´t blame you at all for your past actions. That´s my point, speaking to Celestia about this issue, I found a kindred spirit who related to my pain and so a conecction was made."

"I suposse so. I have found also a common sould within Princess Luna. Seems she and I have indeed plenty of similarities..." Artemis noticed his brother smirking and blushed. "As if! My...my intentions to Princess Luna are far more platonic to yours with her sister!"

"If you say so, little brother..." Solaris said and then rustled Artemis´ mane a little. " I´m just teasing you, little brother! Besides, whatever my intentions to Celestia are..well, they just don´t matter."

"You haven´t told them," Artemis said. "Dusk Shine and his friends ignore it but you and Celestia have been at talks for a while and..."

"And closing the conecction to our words permantly is the best option. We cannot allow things like Eris meeting with her equally-dangerous counterpart again. I fear that this time will be the last one we´ll be together, no matter how much we´ll miss the friends we made."

The brothers took a look at Celestia, knowing that she was having similar concerns. Artemis nuzzled his brother and said "Whatever decision you made, I´ll stand by your side, brother."

"Thank you, Artemis."

Artemis retired, leaving his brother to his thoughts. Sadly, said contemplation meant that Solaris´ guard was down and he didn´t noticed the evil presence behind him before it was too late.

"So sweeet, you are indeed the loving big brother that the ponies sing about..."

Solaris turned around, ligthing his horn with the strengh of a small sun, revealing the gaze of a hulking, drooling changeling with a crown.

"Cocoon! But you were..."

"Gone? Certainly but not for good. After my...foreced retirement, courtesy of your star pupil, I spent a long time pulling some strings," Cocoon explained. "I told Eris about her counterpart and all the wonderful pranks they could pull together. I convinced my own counterpart to launch a cojoint attack to your realm...not that I cared to stay to see the obvious resolution."

"You...betrayed her?"

"Well, somebody had to take my place behind Tartarus door, right?" Cocoon said, laughing.

"In a way, is good to see that you would betray even yourself. A lesson to never extend a hoof in friendship to you, Cocoon", Solaris said.

"Speaking of friends, your little princess there seems pretty occupied. All that magic, she´s probably so concentrated that isn´t even hearing you shouting your rehearsed speech about friendship and all that mushy stuff."

"You stay away from her and all the otehr ponies!"

"Come on, Solly. You can do better, where´s the Canterlot voice?"

Solaris exploded like a blazing sun, jumping over Cocoon who, for a moment, feared for his own safety. Even so, he reacted fast enough, pulling a bag from his belt and tossing the content to Solari´s face. The prince coughed and fell, feeling numb almost inmediatly.

Cocoon took a second to realize he had won and then laughed, "Ha! Told you I was pulling some strings, poking around some places, stealing stuff. Celestia´s universe has a pretty talented wizard called Starswirl and he made quite a few funny tricks like this one. A sleeping powder, he discarded it cause it caused nightmares but I find it aprropiate for the ocassion, don´t you, Solly?"

The last thing Solaris saw was his own reflection, smirking as Cocoon took his appeareance.

****

The train to Canterlor seemed slower than usual. It actually was going right on schedule but since the group of ponies was headed to a mission that seemed like certain doomed, it was painfully slow.

"Okay, gonna say it...this place is bogus," Rainbow Blitz said. Next to him Applejack nodded, keeping his arms crossed.

Behind them, Berry and Pinkie pondered the situation. "Mmh, I don´t know, when we walked into a town of brainwashed ponies with the same Cutie Marks was pretty reckless too," Berry said.

"Wait, when did you did that?" Pinkie protested.

"Weird. Maybe we´re a little ahead of your in our universe. Have you and Rainbow already visited the griffon kingdom?"

"NO! Have you already lose your heads over candies and made weird jokes to Dusk Shine?"

"Please, make them stop..." Rainbow Dash asked and Blitz patted her back.

In the other side of the cart, Dusk Shine and Twilight Sparkle remained in silent. Fluttershy noticed that and was worried but for different reason that she let on, "They seemed very preoucuppied. You think they´re fine, Rarity?"

"They probably have too much in their heads right now, dear. If anything, I´m happy that they finally seem to have found something in common. Out of all our pairings, they seemed to be the ones who never could see each other as equals." As Rarity said that, a loud snore was heard. They turned their heads to find Elusive drooling and snoring, spread all over a seat like a lazy bum.

"Please, tell me, I´m nothing like that!" Rarity said and Fluttershy giggled.

As the group made their way to Canterlot, in the back chart, Princess Luna was sleeping or trying to. Her magic was still weak and her body was sore from her time on the forest, she knew she was no match for the evil being that had captured her sister and new friends but she was confident she had still one trick Coccon wasn´t counting on.

****

"Princess Luna, I´m so glad to see you fine and well!"

Prince Solaris seemed sincere, with his big beaming smile and open arms. The rest of the ponies had troubles trying to keep a straight face, particullary Applejack and Fluttershy due to their natures, needing a poke from the pegasi. Meanwhile, Elusive was still a bit sleepy, much to the displeasure of Rarity and both Pinkie and Berry seemed totally unaware they were on a secret mission judging by their smiles.

"When our guards reported you were missing, I grown concerned. I have no idea what happened to you!"

Princess Luna did her best to kept a straight face and answered," I sensed a powerful and concerning magic. With my sister occupied, I figured I needed to take matters in my own hooves."

"And I applaud your for that! But with all the concerns regarding our jointed universes, I wish you should have asked for help. I´m sure Artemis would have been delighted to join you."

Luna had to repress a growl at that. "I fear Artemis must be occupied with matters of his own. Haven´t seen of him for a while now."

"Yes, Prince Solaris. We were wondering about him too," Twilight Sparkle interrupted.

"Arty? Why, he´s just right here," Solaris said and, to a collective gasp, Artemis appeared looking the same as usual, quiet and reserved. "Haha, you two have so much in common! Hiding in the dark withouth saying a beep, such trouble makers!"

Artemis said nothing as his brother rustled him a bit, much to the confusion of the ponies. Ever suspicious, Rarity and Elusive looked at Princess Luna, wondering what was up. The only one smirking was Fluttershy, sure of her victory and her queen´s plan.

"You must be terribly tired, Princess Luna. Why don´t we all go to our chambers to rest? Dusk Shine, I trust you´re taking care of the matters at Ponyville, right?"

"Yes, your higness. We have a few clues as to what this strange magic could be. I actually brought Twilight here so we can both take a look at the Royal Library. The rest just kinda followed along," Dusk Shine and his friends groaned, not really playing along, just annoyed.

"Suit yourself. We´ll keep an eye on Celestia in the meantime," and with that Solaris retreated, along with both rulers of the night.

As they took the stairs down to the dungeons, Rainbow Dash and Blitz kept a conversation, hovering over the group.

"Okay, that was super creepy cause I know he´s an evil changeling impersonating him but he was also really charm and good looking, you get me?" Dash said.

"Yeah, Prince  Solaris has quite a presence, right? It must be the goatte, gvies him a rought air, was kinda thinking of adding one myself, what´ya think?" Blitz said, earning a laugh from Rainbow Dash. "He-hey, cut it out!"

"That was a scary deal, allright. I get yah have a plan there, Dusk?" Applejack asked.

"Don´t worry, Applejack. We do have a plan," Twilight reasurred him. "I just hope it works," she added, ruining that assurance.

"Umh, I´m the only one who´s wondering why we´re going down?" Fluttershy asked, trying to pry on some information.

"I´ll wonder why there´s isn´t a single tapestry in this whole place. I know there are the dungeons and all but still, a bit of decoration wouldn´t hurt. Your castle definetly needs some improvement," Elusive said.

"And what makes you think is our side of the castle? Maybe the lack of good taste comes from your side!" Rarity retorted.

"What? Where did that come from?"

"From your awful manners of sleep, I´ll said from the house you were raised..."

"How dare you?"

"I dare!"

"So much from being the closest of pairings," Rainbow Blitz said and Dash nodded.

Eventually, the stairs ended (not the banter between the fashionist unicorns) and they reached a dead end. Applejack was about to ask what was next, when Dusk Shine used his magic to pull a torch, revealing a secret passage. They walked a little more and finally reached a big chamber were too unicorns were waiting for them. Neither Shinign Armor nor Gleaming Shield looked too happy to see them.

"Here we are," Dusk Shine said.

"Dusk, I especifically asked you to keep my sister out of this! What happened?" Shining said.

"Get off Dusk Shine, big bro. If anything, you´re the one who owns us some explanation. Actually, you owe me some explaining!"

"Twily, I just..."

"Don´t you Twily me, mister!"

Dusk Shine approached his sister, expecting some yelling as well. "Relax, little bro. Unlike Shining, I´m happy all of you are up to date. We have much work to do."

Gleaming Shield ligthed her horn, revealing over two dozens cells around the room, all with changeling of various side and shapes, hissing at them.

"We´ve captured over a hundred changeling agents, posing as ponies from both universes. Of several races, ages, they seem to be trying to take over as many ponies as they can and they´re half way through it..."

"How awful..." Rarity said, grabbing Elusive´s hoof, their argument forgotten.

"And to think they were all our friends...but what happened to the ponies? Where are they?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah, where´s Applejack?" Rainbow Dash demanded to know. "I meant, girl Applejack..." she added when both pink ponies pointed at the male one.

"We have no idea where the captured ponies are. They must have some secret lair somewhere in the kingdom but with the ever chaning landscapes, is proving quite difficult to find it," Shining Armor said.

"So what´s the plan, Gleaming Boy, keep capturing changeling until we got them all?" Blitz asked, much to the displeasure of Shining over being called that.

"Yeah, you have any idea how many ponies are out there? And now with the alternate universe expansion is gonna take like twice the work!" Pinkie Pie said.

"I´m sorry, female Berry but so far we have no better option. We have to keep aphrending as many changeling agents as we can, least they end up inflitrating our group...like she did!"

And with that Gleaming Shield shot at Fluttershy, revealing her to be a changeling as well, much to the horror of everpony. What they all failed to see was that Fluttershy previously nodded to Gleaming while they were all distracted. As distracted as they were now, gasping and arguing, failing to notice the green glow in Gleamin´s eyes.

****

Princess Luna looked at the door, where the glow of her sister´s magic was so bright, it was peering throuhg the cracks. Luna was worried for her, posing such an easy target. In the other hoof, Cocoon had not intented to hurt her. Maybe he didn´t dared, considering Celestia´s magic was protecting the area surrounding the castle from all this universe alterations. Maybe he wasn´t able to hurt Celestia on this form or maybe he was just as cowardly as Luna guessed, keeping Celestia around as bargain. Either way, Luna was ready to take matters on her own, even if it was a risky movement for her.

"Luna, you seem distracted. I was asking you if Dusk Shine confided you with any information about the magic sources around Ponyville," Solaris said, sounding as sincere as ever.

"My apologies, I was...concerned about my sister," Luna admitted, figuring it was the best option. "I fear this much effort will be dangerous to her health."

"I understand you. I even offered to take her place but she said no..." Solaris said, his attention focused on the door now. "She seems to be the type of mare that takes matter in her own hooves, right?"

"As I am, fake regent!" Luna shouted and took advantage of the momentary distraction of Solaris to take the form of Nightmare Moon and launched a powerful spell that would put him to sleep, a special magic only she could handle. What she didn´t take into account was Artemis jumping in the middle, recieving the full spell.

Solaris seemed as surprised as Luna but, like before, once his victory seemed certain he started to laugh. Not the kind laughter of Solaris but the raspy, evil one of the Changeling King.

"Artemis! Why you coward, using him as a shield! Do you even have a limit to your cowardice?"

"Oh please, I didn´t told him to do that! I suposse I understimated his love for his big brother. Even brainwhased like that, once he saw Solaris in danger, or me in this case, he jumped right to protect him."  

"Such evilness...you know full well how much love she has for Solaris. And even when his body acted withouth thinking, you gloat because it benifts you?"

"Argh, I didn´t think there could be a pony even for melodramatic than Solaris and his brother but I was wrong...Yes, I´m gloating, I won! My agents have surely captured Dusk and his stupid friends by now. Your sister is unable to do anything to stop me and once I figure how to crack the Elements of Harmony, I´ll make our universes connection permanent, turning them into my new kingdom! And you, little princess, have used the last of your magic, haven´t you? You wasted your only change to defeat me and instead of being mad at Artemis for ruining it, you keep giving those speeches. Pathetic!"

"I may have used all my strength, evil one...but that doesn´t mean I´ll give up!" Luna shouted and gathered as little magic as she had to take her full regal form. Wasn´t the dark presence of Nightmare Moon but the shining form of the Princess of the Night.

Sadly, said form didn´t last long. A splitting headache attacked Luna and she felt to the ground, crying.

"You fool! Don´t you remember how easy it was for me to manipulate you the first time? Sure, you resisted all the way. Even your ego made you think I was going to be your loving servant," Cocoon said, remembering how annoying Nightmare Moon had been  as servant, even under his control. "Those pink alicorns may have free you from my control momentarily but now that I have you at close range, I can turn against your friends once more..."

Luna shouted, using all her strengh to avoid the gaze of those sick, glowing green eyes.

****

"Wait, Mrs. Fluttershy. But she...but I...but we...but..." Applejack was having a mental crisis over the whole thing while the rainbow ponies were ready to attack Fluttershy.

"All along? You were a changeling all along?" Blitz shouted.

"So what happened to Applejack? Did you capture her too? Where´s Fluttershy? Tell me!" Dash barked.

"Hey, you two! Cut it out!" Bubble Berry said, jumping in between then and the changeling.

"Oh great, now Berry is also brainwashed," Dash said.

"I´m not brainwashed, Dash!" Berry shouted, to the surprise of everyone, including the changeling. "What I´m saying is that she´s not responsible, she was only following order all around ever since she took Fluttershy face after that big party we had waaay early at the beginning of the story."

There was a small silence as they processed that.

"Wait, you knew? You have known she´s a changeling since then?!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

"Well duh, did nopony noticed how different Fluttershy has been acting since then? You guys are bad at foreshadowing, it was so obvious."

"No, it wasn´t!" they shouted.

"Mmh, in retrospect, I should have noticed too. I think I was too distracted, like there was something right in front of my face taking away my attention, know what I mean?" Pinkie Pie asked, her face buried on Rainbow Blitz´s who was holding her in the air.

"This is why I didn´t wanted you telling my sister about it! I was afraid some of her friends would have already being replaced!" Shining Armor shouted.

"Shining, I appreciate your concern but you should have been paying closer attention to your own friends!" Twilight Sparkle said, taking a shot at Gleaming Shield, revealing her to be a changeling.

"Oh come on, is there anyone else in this room who is a changeling?" Dash shouted. "Seriously, Rarity?"

"Sorry dear, when I´m nervious I act out of characther..." Rarity admitted, putting her hoof down.

"You idiots! You knew all along and yet you let yourselves into a trap?" the former Gleaming Shield asked.

"The trap is on you, changeling. You led us right into were you keep all the changelings in their cells," Dusk Shine said.

"Yes, the cells that I can open at will," the changeling said, using her magic to do just that.

All the ponies trembled, realizing they were surrounded by hissing monsters with sharp fangs. Before they could jump at them, however, a series of explosion hit them, filling the room with green smoke. The smoke was harmless to the ponies but soon put all the changelings to sleep, including the former Fluttershy who fell in Berry´s arms. From the smoke two figures appeared...

"Stallion-Do-Good?" Dash said.

"Mare-Do-Well?" Blitz said.

"This is your plan? Two masked ponies against an entire army?" the former Gleaming Shield said, fighting to keep awake.

"No, they simple are the backup," Dusk Shine admitted.

"Our real plan?" twilight Sparkle said and then the roof collapsed, as a tall, dark figure descended, roaring.

"WHERE IS HE?!"

Queen Chrysallis was not pleased.


Chapter 10

The changeling that suplanted Big McIntosh (whose real name was Rob) woke up on the edge of the Everfree Forest, confused and with a few bugs crawnling out of his mouth. He spit them and looked around, trying to remember how he got here.

"What was I doing? Oh yeah, I was taking that country pony back to the nest when uh..." The memories were painful to recall. Changeling soldiers by definition didn´t liked to think too much but the effect of the green mist that hit him made everything even more difficult. "Guess I lost her. Well, is not my problem really...that other changeling, the one who disguised as the chatterbox, that´s the one who should worry. I´m going back to town...getting a little hungry. Since this fella is considered good looking," he said, wondering why when he saw his reflection. "I could steal some smoochies from a few mares, hehe."

Pretty confident with himself, Rob the changeling, returned to Ponyville, humming a little song to himself.

"Oh..."

Said reaction came from seeing the town in a full-on war, with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Mayor Mare, leading everypony they could get to chase the changelings out.

"Don´t fall back, ponies! We will recover our town!" Mayor Mare yelled, holding her broom like it was a flaming sword.

"On the other hoof...those woods are kinda cozy, eeeyup, gonna go back there..."

******

The Mane Six have already faced Chrysallis in a couple of ocassions so they were familiar with the Changelign Queen lookign like a monster. That didn´t stop them from shaking a little, seeing as theyw ere surrounded by changelings who have infiltrated all of Canterlot and now there it was their very angry queen.

The boys in the other hand were a lot more vocal about it...

"We´re doomed! Doomed!" Elusive shouted.

"Boy, that´s a lot of tied knots we got ourselves into..." Applejack said.

"Crap," Rainbow Blitz said.

Butterscotch simply fainted.  

"TELL ME, WHERE IS THAT TWO-FACED CHEATING STILL A BIT HANDSOME KING?!"

As in queu, all the changelings that were loyal to her pointed upwards and Chrysallis rushed to the ceiling, shouting Cocoon´s name again.

"What are you doing, you idiots?" the changeling that used to be Gleaming Shield shouted. "Stop her!"

"Changelings, our queen needs us!" Fluttershy, well, the changeling that have been impersonating her, shouted.

The changelings started fighting one another, just adding more and more layers to the confusion.

"Okay okay, can somepony explain what´s going on?" Rainbow Dash shouted.

"Applejack, you did it!" Dusk Shine shouted and rushed to hug the mare dressed as the Mysterious Mare-do-Well.

"We simply gained more time, Rainbow. I mean, Rainbow Dash. The changelings are recovering very fast from the mist," Twilight Sparkle explained, adressing the masked colt. "We can´t rely on them fighting for too long. We need to hurry to the throne room and woke up Princess Celestia."

"Hold on, Twi. You´re not really explaining anything. Like, how did the changeling queen got here?"

"I bring her ´ere."

They turned around to find Applejack, coming out of the green mist, with a few bruises and a torn hat but otherwise just fine.

"Applejack!"

Dusk Shine realized he wasn´t hugging Applejack and let the masked mare go, who took the chance to take off her mask and reveal to be Zecora.

"Umh..."

"Allow me, Dusky. Awkardddd!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Speaking of awkards..." Rainbow Blitz said, directing their attention to Bubble Berry still shielding the changeling who returned to looking like Fluttershy.

"Yeah, we gotta deal with that but first, I wanna know where you were, AJ? You have been missing for like days! And how did you even find Chrysallis?" Dash demanded to know.

"Quite a story, RD. Yah´ll see, after ah have a talk with Dusk Shine, ah took a detour to the outside of the barrier where ah fought..."

"We don´t have time for this! Everypony, move!" Twilight Sparkle barked and they all left, leaving Applejack with her story unfinished.

"Good to have yah back, cuz," male Applejack said, patting her shoulder.

The ponies rushed upstairs, being lead by a limping Shining Armor. As they moved, Elusive asked "Going back to the original question. Dusk, Mrs. Sparkle, can somepony care to explain what we got ourselves into?"

"A tale of most dread, of our worlds both in edge of death..." Zecora began.

"of how in facing glowing eyes of eerie, we raise to challenge and sucedded..." Zicor continued.

"Please, can we get the prose version of the account?" Rarity solicited.

"Here´s the short version. When our universes met, both changeling royals met and decided to made a deal to swap universes and try to conquer both worlds.  Chrysallis wasn´t counting however in being defeated by your group and that Cocoon would instead of fighting us, kept on the shadows, tricking Discord and his counterpart to do the dirty word..." Twilight said.

"My guess is that your changeling was just as ready to betray Cocoon but he moved first," Dusk Shine added.

"His plan was to replace ponies slowly while keeping Princess Celestia on place, forcing the universes to stay together as he gathered an army," Twilight continued. "When Zeco-uh Zico-uh the male Zecora was replaced by a changeling, Zecora founded a powder that can repell them."

"She did the smart thing, They kept eye on the changelings, analyzing they very move. They soon realized that they infiltrated even the task force made to defeat them," Dusk Shine said, much to the annoyance of Shining Armor, who felt used.

"When the changelings captured, Zecora saved me and told me everything. We decided to split, while they come ´ere to rescue all the captured ponies, ah took the long way and brough back Queen Chrysallis from Tartarus, promising her the chance of getting revenge."

"You took a great risk doing that, darling," Rarity said.

"Ah shucks, was nothing," Applejack said, waiting for somepony to give her the queu to keep talking but nopony did, much to her annoyance. "Ah´m just glad ah got ´ere in time."

"And I´m glad to have you back! Come here, girlfriend!" Rainbow said, giving her a hug.

"Oh man..." Dusk Shine and Rainbow Blitz said un unison.

"But how did ya get captured to begin with?" Male Applejack, who was carrying the still unconscious Butterscotch, asked his counterpart.

"Well, regarding that..." Applejack said and they all stopped on their tracks and turned around to see the fake Fluttershy, still defended by Bubble Berry.

"Yeah, now we move into that, where´s Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash barked, backing down suprised when a totally serious Bubble Berry got in her way.

"Berriswainer, how can you possible defend this...this...this ruffian?" Elusive demanded to know.

"Don´t you realize what she has done?" Rarity added.

"Yeah dude, not cool", was Blitz´s contribution.

"Duh, I told you, guys. I´ve know about her from a few days!" Berry said, like they were arguing over spoiling the ending of a Daring Do book or something like that.

"Then, what gives?" Dash asked.

"I don´t know, is just...guys, girls, she´s just following orders. I mean, the changelings we know have to obey that mean, old king and I guess, the changelings like her have to obey a queen just as mean. I saw her trying to fit in, trying to be our friend these past couple of days. Sure, she was doing it to capture us and turns us into food for her species and has been brainwashing AJ all this time, but still, come on!"

Nopony was buying Berry´s (admittely weak) argument, except for one, Pinkie Pie.

"Bubble Bubble...do you like fakey Fluttershy?"

Even the changeling Fluttershy was surprised by that question.

"I do...kinda. It´s kinda confusing, I like the original Fluttershy but I also think the fake Fluttershy here is likeable, of course, that´s because she´s faking to be Fluttershy but..."

"I think that if the real Fluttershy was here, she would be really happy to see that you can be kind even to a meanie, face changing, Jacko brainwasher changeling; so will Scotchie if he was unconscious...." Pinkie Pie said and nuzzled Bubble Berry.

The rest had to admit that despite being odd and wacky, out of them ,they really understood and supported each other.

"I don´t regret what I did," Fake Fluttershy bluntly said. "I know that Queen Chrysallis isn´t the nicest of bosses but she´s still my queen. You are loyal to your regents and I´m gonna stay loyal to mine."

Obviously, both Applejacks, who have been victims of this changeling, were not too happy to hear that. They already were sent on not forgiving her but now they were also mad at her.

"We really don´t have time for this. Let´s hurry!" Twilight reminded them.

******

Upstairs, Princess Luna was starting to woke up. She felt the warm touch of her sister´s sun and smiled, happy to be greet with a warm breakfast and comfy blankets. It took her an extra second to realize she was lying on cold, hard floor and that her body was aching from recent wounds. When she opened her eyes, she saw her sisters trapped in her flaming form, surrounded by the Elements of Harmony.

"Ah, you´re awake," a creepy, smug voice said behind her. " You´ve proven to be quite a hard case, unlike that sleep heard over there."

With great effort, Luna got up, seeing Prince Artemis still unconscious on the floor while King Cocoon has discarded the disguise of Prince Solaris and was sitting ont he royal throne, smirking.

"They´re making quite a ruckus down there, they even woke up your sister," he said and Luna looked at an angry Celestia, trying to keep a grip on her magic. " Not that it matters now. She knows that even if she wanted to stop her magic, it would be a very bad idea. You see, my changelings haven´t been trading places with ponies just because I think they will be better replacementes. I mean, they are, after they are modelled after me," he said, taking a chance too look at himself in a mirror, much to Luna´s disgusts. "No, I have been placing my changelings to now there are more from my universe than yours! The balance between the two worlds is broken and if Celestia tries to separate them, tehre´s no way to tell who will end in which universe to compensate! She can´t risk sealing me cause she could the lose her little sister, forever!!"

Luna looked at Celestia which horror in her eyes but before any sister could react, Chrysallis bursted thorugh the floor, hissing and with burning eyes.

"YOU!"

"Hi, honey! I meant to pay you a visit at Tartarus but I just couldn´t stop reading these comic books. You know we don´t have Power Ponies in our world? How odd..."

Cocoon was still smirking when Chrysallis jumped over him.

****

Meanwhile, a few floors below, two guards (one female and one male) were standing in front of a sealed door when they noticed the commotion.

"There´s quite a ruckus there..." the female one said.

"You mean fracas," the male corrected her.

"Either way, I sure hope his majesty isn´t hurt...much."

"Think we should go and take a look?"

"Nah, we got specific orders to keep this door guarded at all times."

"Yeah but it´s not like these ponies are going nowhere. We could like skip for a few minutes and check..."

"If we do that, I rather we go to the kitchen. I´m starving."

"Yeah, me too..."

"Ehem."

The guards turned around to find the group lead by Twilight Sparkle and Dusk Shine and none looked very happy.

"...so, lunch break?"

"Lunch break!"

Once the guards dissapeared, the ponies opened the door releasing all the captured ponies. Twilight and Shinign rushed to help Cadence put on her hooves again. "Tahnk you, Twilight," she said. "We couldn´t stop the attack, they were too many. All I managed was to try and dispell the mind control spell on Princess Luna, did it work?"

"It did. Thanks to that we found a way to keep Cocoon distracted and come rescue you. Good work," Twilight said, embracing Cadence and took the chance to look at Dusk Shine hugging his brother-in-law and sister as well.

Rainbow Blitz helped FLuttershy to her hooves when Butterscotch at the sound of her voice (funny he didn´t with the changeling one).

"Fluttershy!"

"Oh Butterscotch! I was so scared!"

"Me too!"

"Thank goodness you´re here..." Fluttershy took a pause to notice her identical twin standing next to them but refusing to look at them. "Oh, is that how my mane looks like from behind?"

"I usually forgot that Fluttershy can be just as vain," Rarity said.

"You obviously have never seen Scotch trying to get mane conditioner," Elusive added.

"All I recall was a big pair of glowing green eyes!" Apple Buck said, after getting a hug by his big brother while Big McIntosh got one from his sister.

"Is everypony else in Ponyville okay?" Cherribomb, the male Cheerilee, asked.

"I´m sure they are, right now we have other problems," Dusk Shine said. "We have to hurry and separate the universes before it´s too late. Problem is that we need to be in an even number of ponies for each universe, according to the calculations we run with Twilight Sparkle last night; Cocoon´s changelings surpass Chrysallis´by six to one."

"What? That lying bastard! He said we´ll get equal numbers!" fake Fluttershy hissed, looking like her real self and scaring the actual Fluttershy and Butterscoctch.

"I bet he promised a lot of things," Twilight Sparkle said and approached her. "Listen uh Fluttershy, do you have a real name?"

"...tch, you can call me Zeb."

"I would have gone for a Diana," Pinkie Pie said.

"I was think more of a Kathleen," Bubble Berry added but everypony ignored them.

"Listen, we have a plan that can stop all this fight. We promise you your queen will be safe and returned to her rightful universe. But once we´re back in our respective worlds, we go back to the old deal, understood?"

Zeb pondered for a few seconds, her loyalty to her queen clashing with her common sense. She sighed, thinking on what she was going to tell Chrsyallis later and how bad she would react.

****

If it was gonna be anything like how she was reacting now, the answer is pretty bad.

"You betrayed me!" Chrysallis shouted, shooting magic at the same time.

"Oh please, you were also thinking on betraying me!" Cocoon retorted, creating a force field.

"Yes, but onyl after we conquered each other´s universe, you idiot!"

"My plan is better! Besides, you couldn´t even defeat Dust Shin and his lackeys!"

"You are one to talk? To scare to fight Twibrat Sparkle and her little friends?"

"Shut up!"

"You shut up!"

"They may be evil overlord fighting for conquest...but they seem more like an old married couple arguing," Princess Luna noted.

"Aye. Seems attraction to your other self is a trait common even among the wicked ones..."

"Artemis! Are you well?"

"I´ll live," Artemis said, needing help to get up. "Your spell was indeed powerful, it must have drained you of almost all your magic. You put yourself in grave danger by using it."

"I was prepared to do anything to save my sibling, as you will for yours, I´m  sure."

"Indeed."

"Awww, always looking up after me, Artie."

Artemis turned around with a beaming smile to see his big brother being carried in by both Rainbow ponies.

As they hugged, Twilight approached Princess Celestia. "Don´t worry, your majesty. We´re gonna put an end to all this."

"Twilight Sparkle, stop! If you separate the universe right now, the consequences will be disastrous!" Princess Luna shouted, sharing her sister´s concerned look.

"Don´t worry, Princess Luna. We have a plan."

"And you also...wait, what did she say?" Cocoon started paying attention to his surroudings and realize that the ponies have surrounded them.

"You´re done, Cocoon! We came to put an end to your plans!"

"Ha, as if! You think you uh five, six uhhh were there always so many of you?"

The ponies started growling and getting ready to fight, even the pink bakers stopped fooling around and got serious for a moment. Just then another wall came down, much to the displeasure of Solaris and Celestia and Gleaming Shield, the fake one, reappeared with her army of changelings.

"Don´t worry, your majesty. We got your back!"

"...haha! See Chrysallis, I have the superior numbers!"

"As if! Since my release, I´ve been contacting my changelings all over the kingdom and they have come to my rescue," Chrysallis gloated.

"You still don´t have enough soldiers, Chrysallis!"

"Oh yeah, counting the ones from the cells?" Rainbow Blitz said and an army of angry changelings came from another blast in the walls.

"I liked that paint," Solaris said in response to the wall being destroyed.

"So, seem we´re even in numbers but that means that if we get into a fight, we´ll like defeat each other..." Cocoon began.

"Yes, but looking at it another way, we finally have an army big enough to conquer both worlds!" Chrysallis finished.

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous," Elusive commented at the sight of the looming changeling armies.

"That would be the case..." Dusk Shine suddenly said.

"...if you two could tell your forces apart." Twilight Sparkle added at an order, the changeligns changed shape, turning into their real forms.

Both royals laughed hard at this.

"You fools! Of course we can tell them apart!" Cocoon said. "We have different colors, different body structures, different armors! This dashing fellow for example, is clearly one of my own," he said, grabbing a changeling in a supossedly friendly hug but he turned back into one of Chrysallis changelings.

"Sorry, not yours."

"Haha, you idiot! You can´t even tell your own soldiers!" Chrysallis said. "Clever move, Zit."

"My name is Zeb."

"Oh whatever. Come join your siblings!" she said, patting a changeling so hard in the back it changed from one of hers to one of Cocoon´s. "Uh?"

What followed was a frantic race with the two leaders trying to tell which soldiers was theirs but to no avail, they kept getting it wrong until they gave up.

"Ahhh! This is impossible!" Chrysallis shouted.

"I don´t know who is changeling and who isn´t!" Cocoon shouted, shaking Fluttershy up and down. Funniest thing when he put her down, it was Zeb after all.

"Well well, guess your little plan didn´t worked out as you expected...." Solaris said and he smiled at Celestia. " Guess now there´s no risk in separating the universe, is there?"

Celestia smirked and with a flash, she released the Elements of Harmony. The sudden magic burst hit the changelings and scaterred them away across both Equestrias. When the dust settled, only a few of them, including Zeb and the Gleaming Shield one, remained.

"Hey, we´re fine! I was kinda hoping to get fused together in some kind of weird pony amalgam!" Pinkie shouted.

"That would have been freaky! And also kinda cool!" Berry said.

"Right? Imagine me and Elusive combined, we´ll be like super fabulous!" Pinkie said, hugging Elusive who was actually considering the idea.

"And imagine if me and Applejack got together! I mean fused together, we´ll have the agility of an earth pony, for two!" Berry said, hugging female Applejack who also laughed at the idea.

"But, how come we didn´t got all scattered across the universes?" Rainbow Dash asked Celestia.

"I only released half of the magic, I still have enough control to keep the universes merged but not for long, I´m afraid."

"Then we best get back to Ponyville..." Twilight said and looked at Dusk Shine. "I think it´s time for some proper goodbyes."

*******

When they arrived to Ponyville, the skies were already glowing like the northern lights, first sign that the connection was weakening. Much to their surprise, they found the entire town devastated but the ponies victorious having captured all the changelings. Sweepie Bell and Scooterloo rushed to hug Apple Bluck.

"He´s here!"

"And is the real deal!"

"So how it was, were you scared?"

"Did they kept you in one of those gooey things? Did you slept the whole time?"

"A-ah´ll answer ya´ll but one question first...who is this fella?" Apple Buck asked, pointing at the small changeling in between the female Crusaders, who waved back at him.

Mayor Mare approached the royal, who bowed to her in sign of respect. "I´m so glad to see you back and well, your majesties," she said.

"You have done an splendid job protecting your town, Mayor," Princess Celestia said, smiling at her.

"Is that..my couch?" Senior Stallion, counterpart to the Mayor said, upon looking at the disaster at Town Hall and his moustacher twitched along with his eyes.

Mayor Mare patted him and said, "Come on, we have work to do," while behind them the fake and captured Big Mac was crying and the fake Gleaming Shield patted him in the head, very uncomfortable with the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Zeb have taken her form back and was sulking, wondering what was going to happen once she returned with the other changelings, when she noticed Fluttershy had approached her.

"What?"

"Uh I just wanted to say...well, that I don´t hate you or anything. I understand you were only doing what you were told and well, thanks for not really hurting my friends...."

"Will you all stop that? I like being a changeling! I like being evil and feeding on love and having fangs and scary..." Zeb got interrupted by a hug. "...you do realize this is like giving me a snack?"

"I am."

"And that you´ll feel dizzy in a few minutes?"

"Is worth it."

"Dusk Shine, you and your friends did a wonderful job. I´m sorry we couldn´t help you at anypoint but you lot rose to the challenge and sucedded. I thank you," Solaris said, taking a bow that Twilight and Dusk responded.

"I´m just happy to have you back...dude," Dusk Shine said and hugged Solaris.

Celestia smiled at this sight but soon realized the skies as well. "I´m afraid we´re running out of time. We better make haste of those goodbyes."

"Right! Fluttershy!" Bubble Berry shouted, taking Fluttershy out of her dizziness. "I really, really like you. So I need you to answers a serious question..."

"Uh...yes?"

"What do you prefer....coconut flavored cakes or cheese flavored cake?" Berry asked in a total serious face, producing both samples from behind his back.

"Uh...both?"

"Mmmh, they do take tasty together..."

"Altought to be complety honest, I don´t like cake that much. I prefer cookies."

"Well, then. We would´ve never worked together," Berry declared, throwing the food away. "That said, I still think you´re fabulous," he added, giving her a hug, that made her blush.

"Right then, Butterscotch, I think you and me together would have make a splendid couple...." Rarity said. "However, I´m not ready to share my lfie with a pony that uses even more exclusive hair product as mine so we must part ways!"

Butterscotch simply managed to nod at this.

"I still think you look dashing on a tuxedo, tough," Rarity added with a wink and he blushed.

Speaking of dashin, Rainbow Dash took air and moved to her own confession. "Let´s get this over with..."

Elusive took out a comb and got ready. "Here she comes! I have been aware of Mrs. Dash attention to me but alas, my heart belonged to Mrs. Sparkle but giving she seems not interested at all, I may as well give the girl a small chance before I break her heart..."

So distracted on his inner mologue, he failed to notice Dash moving to male Applejack. "Hey boy Jack, thanks a lot for our...talk. You relly set my head straight. This whole business with who likes who is too complicated. I think I´m gonna take me some time to figure it out, you get me?"

"Sure do, Mrs. Dash!" Applejack said, taking a second to look at Fluttershy and Zeb, who both blushed. "Guess there´s no need to hurry to the race. Mrs. Rarity," he said, adding a little salute with his hat that Rarity responded.

"You´re pretty cool too, boy Twi," Dash said, giving Dusk Shine a punch to the arm. He smiled in response.

Elusive sighed and shrugged, Pinkie Pie gave Butterscotch a smile and Berry gave Twilight a strong awkard hug.

"So Blitz, anything yah want to say?" Male Applejack said.

Blitz said nothing.

"It´s okay, partner. Ah already came to terms with all this," Female Applejack said, giving a smile to a blushing Dusk Shine.

"Come on, dude!" Bubble Berry said.

Blitz got redder and redder until he finally exploded. "FINE! Pinkie Pie, you are a fabulous gal and if we´re never going to see each other again, I don´t want any regrets!" and with that he gave her a long, strong kiss.

Everypony, even the royals, dropped their jaws at this.

When they finished, Pinkie Pie adjusted her mane and Blitz said "So that´s it...I guess."

"Oh you don´t think you´re gonna get out with just one kiss..." and Pinkie gave him a even deeper kiss.

"Woah, she is even more straight forward than Berry..." Dusk Shine commented. "Speaking of him, are you okay with him not really being interested in you?"

"I can handle it. I think Rainbow is right, maybe we were rushing things instead of giving us some time to think about how we really feel..." Twilight Sparkle said, taking a look around and seeing things like Carrot Top hugging a changeling and saying goodbye to him."...you agree?"

"Yeah, I suposse I do..."

"And don´t worry about your love life. Based on what I saw in your head, there´s an orange pegasus who just wont´quit," she said, with a wink.

"Stop teasing me. Besides, doesn´t that means there´s one for you too in your universe?"

"I don´t know, maybe."

Back in the other corner, Scootaloo put an arm around Scooterloo. "Hey, about what we talked before...I´m with Rainbow Dash here. I think we should give it sometime and try to figure out what we really feel, no matter what it is, kay?"

"Yeah, sounds good..."

Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle couldn´t decide to who she sould say goodbye, if Apple Buck or the changeling. "Which one do I choose?", she asked a blushing Apple Bloom.

"Don´t ask me!" she responded while an equally blushed Sweepie Bell hid his face.

"Well Celestia, guess this is a definitiv goodbye. I have to applaud your strength and diligence for staying in control for so long," Solaris said, trying to sound as regal as he could but Celestia wasn´t buying any of that.

"I like you too, Solly. In another time, in another place...but let´s be glad our friendship was reall all the same."

"Yeah, sounds nice," Solaris said, returning Celestia´s smile. "Artie, say goodbye to Princess Luna! Is time to go!"

Artemis and Luna shared a hug as did Spike and Spines below them.

"I´m gonna miss you so much!" Spike said.

"Me too! It´s like I finally found my twin sould!" Spines said.

"I know! It´s like we´re meant to each other!"

"You...you don´t mean..."

"I...."

There was a silent moment, glitter in the eyes as Spike and Spines hold their breaths and locked eyes...and then they got their scales pulled by magic.

"Cut it out, Romeo."

"You too, Dulcinea."

And with that, the ponies seperated in their respective groups, waving goodbyes to one another.

"This is definitive," Twilight Sparkle said. "I´m glad we met, Dusk Shine."

"Me too, Twilight Sparkle," he said. "We´re very different ponies to who we were when we first met..."

"...but our friendship remains the same."

They both reached their hooves, touching.

"Goodbye, me."

"Goodbye, me."

And with a final flash, they were gone. Twilight and her friends found they were still in Ponyville, only know it seemed like their regular one. They felt like they haven´t moved an inch, wondering if for the male ponies was the same case. They smiled and hugged, heading for Sugarcube Corner for some meal before getting back into fixing the town.

Twilight Sparkle took a moment to look at the sky and smile, knowing that her other half was doing the same.

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