“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.