"Okay, does anyone else feel like this is awkward? Because this is so very awkward." Human Rarity sighed as she looked across the aisle of a government plane that was en-route to Quantico from Boston, carrying the Elements, the NCIS Team, Lance Corporal Grant, and Agent McKenna.

"For you or us?" her Equestrian counterpart replied. "Because if it's us, I would agree."

"At least now I know I'm not seeing double…" McGee rolled his eyes as he worked on his laptop. "Can you believe all of this is actually happening?"

"Honestly? Yes." Ziva replied, looking out the window. "I believe the expression is...first time for everything?"

"I'm sure that applies in this scenario, Agent David." Eric chimed in. "The Crossroads team members have been doing our best to keep the existence of Equestria a secret. I mean, imagine if we issued a public reveal that we discovered a town that was a parallel existence of a world of candy-colored ponies. Think about what would happen."

"I see your point." Ziva nodded. "What exactly is Crossroad doing?"

"Well, our ultimate goal is a formal first contact with the realm of Equestria by established UN Standards." Eric replied. "Still a long ways off from that, though. So far, the only real connection to Equestria we know about is the Portal in front of Canterlot High. We've been trying to make a functional copy of it, but let's just say what we know of Equestrian Magic and human-made tech isn't playing well together."

"I could help." said both Twilight Sparkles at the same time, making them flinch, then sigh at boh Rainbow Dashes calling out "Jinx!"

"We'd appreciate any assistance you can give us." Eric replied. "If I can get authorization, we'd love to have your input."

"At least when this whole case is resolved." Gibbs cut in, Eric nodding. "We've still got Sombra and possibly his human self to worry about."

"Right." Eric said as the plane began to bank for the descent into Virginia. "Cross-world fear-loving tyrant King first, job applications later."

====

As the NCIS team, Eric, Lance Corporal Grant, and both sets of guests arrived at NCIS HQ, they were slightly surprised to have Director Vance waiting to speak with both Gibbs and McKenna, leaving Grant and both sets of guests to their own devices in the main office area.

As Ziva, DiNozzo, and McGee would find out, keeping two sets of six identical teenagers, plus another, plus a lizard-dog hybrid in the middle of the office as inconspicuous as possible...was far easier said than done.

This also included keeping them occupied and out of the way. Luckily, both the Equestrian and Human Pinkie Pies had brought snacks, games, and somehow, a laptop that had access to Netflix, Steam, and various other entertainment services, which was quickly connected to the internet with McGee's help.

"Well, that worked out fine." Lance Corporal Grant smirked as the Equestrians and humans set up a game of Monopoly, set up for multiple teams of two. "Though, how did Pinkie manage to sneak a full bag of snacks and baked goods onto the plane without us noticing?"

"Dunno." McGee replied, quickly sneaking one of Pinkie's jumbo-sized cupcakes from the tray. As he was about to remove the wrapper, he smiled, snapped his fingers suddenly, and headed off towards the lower levels.

"Where's he going with that cupcake?" DiNozzo asked. Then, it clicked as to who he was delivering the pastry to.

"Well...I guess he's trying to redeem himself for the last time a cupcake was in the office." Ziva smirked. "Think he'll do it?"

"We'll see." DiNozzo replied as he sat back down. "Wanna bet on whether or not he succeeds?"

"Ten dollars he won't." Ziva smirked. "You?"

"Same." DiNozzo replied.

"Mind if I join in?" Grant smirked. "I'll bet fifteen you both lose."

"You're on." Ziva smirked. "What makes you think we'll lose?"

"You haven't tried one of those cupcakes yet. I have." Grant smiled. "Trust me. You're going down"

====

"Abby!" McGee called as he entered Abby Scuito's office and lab. "Got something for you?"

"Evidence?" Abby called back form her workroom.

"Nope."

"A ultra-large Caf-Pow?" she asked again.

"Even better." McGee smiled. As she came over and McGee presented the Cupcake, Abby's eyes sparkled at the sight of the tantalizingly made and expertly sprinked baked treat.

"Have I redeemed myself?" he asked. Abby took the cupcake as if holding a crystalline statue, and, giving him a slight glare, took a single bite. Her eyes then flashed in happiness.

The entire cupcake, the vanilla-flavored base of which was about the size of an orange, and the heaping amount of frosting on top of that, was entirely gone in about five seconds. Abby disposed of the wrapper with a flourish and smiled playfully at McGee.

"Redeemed." she nodded. "Where'd you get it?"

"Upstairs in the office. We've got plenty more of…"

Abby was already gone before McGee could finish his sentence. '

"...Them." he groaned. "Gibbs is going to kill me for this."

====

As McGee returned to the office, he saw an ecstatic Abby sampling more of Pinkie's treats, the number of which had somehow increased in the time he was gone, and Dinozzo and Ziva holding ten-dollar bills in their hands. They turned and looked at him expectantly, and McGee simply gave a thumbs-up.

DiNozzo sighed as he and Ziva handed the money to a triumphant Lance Corporal Thomas Grant, who pocketed the money with a smirk and a laugh.

"Did you seriously place bets on whether or not I'd redeem myself?" McGee asked dubiously.

"I'd be surprised if they didn't." said Gibbs as he head-slapped the two Agents with a smirk. "Back the wrong horse?"

"Yeah." DiNozzo replied. "You overheard?"

"We got out before Agent McGee left." Eric said as he came up. "Here's a word of advice. Never underestimate the power of baked goods."

"Especially baked goods like these." Grant smiled. "I swear, is it just me, or did she get more of them somehow?"

"Don't ask." Equestrian Twilight called out. "I tried to scientifically study Pinkie's Pinkie Sense once. It did not end well for me."

"Pinkie Sense?" DiNozzo said, shocked. "What is that, like the Spider-Sense, only for ponies?"

"Ooh! Left arm twitch and a shake! Watch your head!" the Equestrian Pinkie then called out.

"What?"

Gibbs then head-slapped DiNozzo once more. As he gave off a noise of exaggerated pain and sat down to resume working, Gibbs turned to McKenna.

"What can you show me about Equestria?" he asked. Eric pulled out his laptop from his duffel bag and powered it up while he and Gibbs took a seat to review the data.

One of my favorite moments in NCIS is when McGee steals a cupcake meant for Abby, and then receives three simultaneous headslaps. I thought he deserved a do-over for that.

Next time - Sombra reviews his plans, and the NCIS team receives assistance from the Crossroads Team...

Also...thus begins the Official Gibbs Head-slap counter, which will appear in every Author's Notes!

Current count - 9 Headslaps!