“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.”