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!!”