BOOM!

It was quick, loud, and almost so random she nearly dismissed it as not being real. Twilight's curtains were closed, she laid upon her bed, curled up into a comfortable position. She was muttering things in her sleep, small phrases of fantasies she often had such as "oh princess, it was nothing really. Of course i'll study the components of elemental manipulation for you. I'm not the best there is, you flatter me princess." She chuckled to herself as she continued to talk in her sleep, suddenly, her front door flung open, standing in the doorway was Spike.

"TWILIGHT!" he yelled, obvious panic in his voice.

Twilight then blinked a bit, yawning as she leaned up, she turned to look at Spike. He was downstairs, trying to catch his breath, claws on his knees as sweat poured from his forehead. Twilight took a few seconds to grasp just how exhausted he was as she raised a brow "what's wrong Spike?"

Spike looked at her, he was speechless, his body trembled as he shook his head, he wanted to talk but no words came out. After a brief moment of silence, some words finally managed to escape his mouth. Twilight simply continued to stare at him, confused "t-theres been some sort of explosion! It's chaotic! Lot's of ponies are hurt, the sky's suddenly changed color, and there's fire everywhere! We need help Twilight!"

Twilight looked at him as if he were lying, she laughed somewhat and shooed him with her hoof "uhuh Spike, okay, if you don't mind i'm going back to bed." Spike yelled at her, his voice was intimidating, loud, and honest "Twilight! Get down here now! We don't have time for this!" As she came to the realization he wasn't lying, this was no joke, her heart raced, she'd never seen Spike so angry, so scared. She immediately teleported out of her bed to the lower level in front of Spike. She nodded to him "alright let's go."

As they hurried outside, Twilight's eyes widened, no, she thought. This couldn't be real, it just couldn't, no amount of studying could prepare anypony for what she was seeing. It was as if the world had gone in slow motion, all other voices were blocked out except her own. She first gazed around Ponyville, around her she saw destroyed houses, homes covered in flame. She saw ponies she once knew, ones that she'd seen often going about their business during the day, some limp, broken, lifeless on the scorched ground. She saw others, crying, screaming, they were in grief from the disaster, some were shaking the bodies of their old friends while some were trying to get others to safety. Twilight then peered towards the sky, what was this? It was now a crimson red, as if something had caused some sort of reaction for it to become this way. The clouds were black as night, this, this wasn't natural. She could hear the sound of her rapid heartbeat, her heavy breaths. Suddenly she heard a voice, it wasn't her own, it sounded distant. "Twilight!.....Twilight!" it got louder and louder as it then erupted in her ear "TWILIGHT!" it was spike, he was still right next to her. He shook her "Twilight snap out of it! Comon!"

They hurried towards the center of Ponyville, as they arrived Twilight gasped, where the beautiful fountain once stood, was now a large, deep crater, radiating with smoke and sparks of arcane essence. There were no corpses inside thankfully, but Twilight understood the situation perfectly, whatever had happened, this was the ending point of a spell. This is where the explosion took place, whatever caused this, erupted here. She didn't have time to dwell upon all the other questions that filled her mind, as Spike called out to her "Twilight, over here!" Twilight's eyes widened as she saw not far from them, was Fluttershy. Tears were streaming down the gentle mares cheeks, patches of dirt and grime spotted her coat and mane. She was tending to Mrs.Cake, who was unconscious at the moment. Twilight lowered her frame, to look Fluttershy in her tear soaked eyes "Fluttershy! What happened?!" The mare was hesitant, she couldn't find the right words, she looked at Twilight with desperation, as if she sought some form of understanding "I...I..." her words trailed off. Twilight ran a hoof gently down her cheek "calm down Fluttershy, comon, think, what could of done this?" Fluttershy looked at her, Twilight could feel her trembling "I..I don't know, it was so fast...so...everything was fine then...a flash.." Twilight raised a brow "a flash?"

Fluttershy nodded in confirmation, slowly but surely. She continued "it, it came from the sky...it looked like, some strange firework, then...then.." she took in a deep breath "it came crashing down...like thunder." Twilight took a few steps back from Fluttershy, the gentle, kind mare suddenly burst into loud, violent sobs. Twilight stared at her, in shock, just what could have caused such a disaster? Who would do something so dreadful? Twilight herself wanted to cry, just like Fluttershy was doing, but she knew she had to stay focused, somepony had to. Twilight gulped "F-Fluttershy! Where are the others, are, are they okay?" she cringed at asking that question. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer, just the thought of losing one of them caused her heart to ache. Fluttershy shook her head "I...I don't know, I saw Rainbow fly off in the direction of Cloudsdale, I think she went to get some help. I don't know what happened to the others..." Twilight nodded to her, then nudged at Spike, signaling him to follow "you stay here Fluttershy! I'll go look for the others!" Fluttershy nodded as Twilight began her trot towards the deeper parts of town, Fluttershy called out to her "T-Twilight!" Twilight stopped, gazing back at her distraught friend. "W-When I blacked out...I thought...I thought I was hearing things, I still think I was...but" Twilight raised a brow at Fluttershy as she continued "I thought I heard...you and Pinkie...arguing.." Twilight blinked a bit, obviously baffled by what Fluttershy was saying "impossible Fluttershy, I wasn't here, anyway i'm going to go look for the others. You stay here and rest, and stay safe!" Fluttershy nodded, as she gazed at the ground, deep in thought.

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As they moved throughout the town, sweat was pouring off Twilight, the heat was growing more intense by the second. The spreading flames engulfing everything around them, surprisingly there was nopony in this part of town. She continued to trot, looking for any sign of others as she looked down to Spike "where is everypony Spi-" Spike yelled "Twilight watch out!" Suddenly Twilight crashed into Lyra. They both tumbled to the dirt as Lyra scurried to her hooves in a panic. Twilight climbed to hers as she raised a brow at Lyra who was obviously frightened "L-Lyra, you're okay! Where is-" Lyra grabbed Twilight, her eyes wide with horror as Twilight noticed some blood spattered on her aquamarine coat. Twilight shuddered as she looked Lyra in the eyes "Lyra?" Lyra trembled, shaking her head "get out of here Twilight! Pinkie has lost it! I, I don't know why but-, we need to run!" Suddenly there was a faint humming sound coming from down the pathway.

Twilight eyed the shadowy figure in the distance, slowly trotting down the path, humming a gentle toon. Twilight's eyes widened with a smile as she made out the figure in the distance to be pink, she yelled to her "PINKIE! HEY PINKIE! OVER HERE, YOU'RE ALRIGHT!" Lyra began shaking her again "no Twilight! She's not the same as she once was!" Twilight looked to Lyra as if she were the crazy one. She then glanced over at Pinkie, Twilight's eyes widened as she noticed Pinkie's changed features. The pink mare had a gentle, yet somehow sinister smile. Her eyes winced as she continued her approach from afar, she twirled a butcher knife, stained with blood in one hoof. But that wasn't what caught Twilight's attention the most, it was her mane, the once poofy, erratic mane Pinkie always had was no longer so. Her mane was straightened, neat, and of a darker shade. She also wore a necklace, with a blue gem in the center.

Twilight gasped "wait, an element of harmony?...Where did she.." Lyra screamed to Twilight "let's go!" Twilight kept her gaze on Pinkie, as Pinkie noticed it was Twilight staring at her she smiled. "Oh, well isn't this a surprise, Twilight will be quite disappointed I found you first." Twilight looked puzzled, in shock as Pinkie continued her approach, Twilight muttered "Pinkie what're you.." Lyra just grabbed Twilight and pushed her along "comon Twilight! GO!" Twilight at this point nodded, she'd followed Lyra, taking one last look at Pinkie who remained, smiling at the departing mare.

-

As they rushed down the pathway, Pinkie fading from sight, Spike yelled in frustration "what the hay is going on?!" Twilight was starting to become just as frustrated as she eyed Lyra, who was still overwhelmed by fear. "Lyra, what happened to Pinkie? Why was she acting so weird? And, w-why do you have blood on your coat, did she hurt you?" She uttered in a rushed manner. Lyra shook her head "t-this, this was from BonBon, she, she was hurt by falling debris." Tears streamed down Lyra's cheeks as she closed her eyes "she didn't make it." Twilight seemed speechless, as did Spike, they remained silent as Lyra spoke "Pinkie must be overwhelmed with grief, she, she's completely lost it it seems, she's too dangerous to be around!" Twilight recalled Pinkie's features, then nodded in agreement. "We have to get to the farmhouse, Applejack has been telling ponies to go there, it's not on fire and it's safe." Finally some good news, Applejack was alright and survivors were gathering at the farmhouse. They dashed as fast as they could, heading straight there.

-

As they made their way to the farmhouse, their expressions lit up as they saw her "Applejack!" Twilight yelled in excitement. Applejack was fine, she was guiding ponies into the farmhouse, she gazed over at Twilight, Lyra, and Spike with a smile, waving at them. She was dirty but overall had no fatal injuries, as they approached her she sighed heavily "I been tryin ta get everyone situated yall, how could this have happened, it was such a perfect day...this, this is just too tragic." Twilight winced her eyes in discomfort, it was tragic, and worst of all, it didn't sound like an accident to her. She looked at Applejack, still not able to get Pinkie out of her head "Applejack, did you run into Pinkie, we have to go get her, she seems really shaken up by all this." Applejack looked at Twilight in confusion "wha, what're you talkin about Twi, Pinkie's just fine, heck she's right here in the barn." Lyra's eyes widened as she began to tremble, Twilight gasped "W-What?!" Applejack called out "Hey Pinkie, get your big behind out here!" Suddenly busting out of the barn was a ecstatic Pinkie, she was bouncing with joy, her mane poofy as usual as she went beside Applejack "HERE I AM!"

Twilight, Lyra, and Spike looked at Pinkie absolutely puzzled as Twilight beckoned "P-Pinkie! What were you doing earlier? You made us worry with that weird display!" Pinkie blinked just as confused as they were "display? What are you talking about silly, I've been with Applejack the whole time." Lyra gritted her teeth in anger, annoyed by Pinkie's lies "this isn't a joke Pinkie, you really freaked us out!" Applejack cut in, raising a hoof "hey now yall, I can vouch for Pinkie, she has been helping me this whole time, you all must have confused her with somepony else." Twilight winced somewhat in thought "well that pony's mane was a bit peculiar, much different from Pinkie's." Spike sighed "guys we don't have time for this! We still gotta go out there and help the others, Fluttershy is still waiting for us by the crater!" Twilight nodded "okay, i'll go get Fluttershy! Applejack, I already know Rainbow went to Cloudsdale to get help but, has anypony seen Rarity?" Applejack suddenly looked highly worried, shaking her head "naw, now that you mention it, can't say I have."

Twilight nodded to them "alright well i'm going to go look for-"

"TWILIGHT SPARKLE!"

All their eyes snapped wide as descending from the skies was Princess Luna. This whole day was random, disastrous and overall confusing, now Princess Luna? Twilight's eyes widened as she gasped "P-Princess Luna! What're you doing here?" She spoke quickly, with haste, she was obviously in a hurry "come, I have orders to retrieve you and return to Canterlot! We have a very dire situation on our hands it seems!" Applejack looked to Luna with a worried expression "P-Princess, do you have any idea what the hay is going on?! Were all over the place here, we would really appreciate a little sense to why all this is happening." Luna winced at Applejack, obviously saddened by what she was about to say "I wish I could say my dear subject, but, we are under attack from all fronts, by an unknown enemy it seems! In Canterlot, countless ponies just began to attack, and wreak havoc on everything. Sister is helping defend the city, but she fears the worst, for why she requires Twilight Sparkle I have no idea. I shall send some of the guard to assist Ponyville, but it seems this is the only area not under siege." They all had trouble taking in the information, unknown enemy? Nonetheless Twilight nodded as Princess Luna used a teleportation spell, then they were gone.

As they disappeared Applejack nodded to the still grief stricken Lyra who proceeded into the barn. She then looked to Pinkie with a serious expression "Pinkie, i'm gonna go look for Rarity, you stay and handle the barn! Spike, you go help Fluttershy get over here, i'll go check up at the crater afterwords to make sure yall made it out alright!" Spike nodded as he then immediately began to run towards the direction of the crater. Pinkie saluted with a smile "you can count on me!" Applejack gave her a gentle smile "I know I can sugarcube, ya stay safe now ya hear?" Pinkie chuckled and nodded. Applejack then looked ahead, bolting off into the flame engulfed Ponyville.

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Rarity moved throughout the rubble, debris and thick smoke, panic written all over her features as she'd looked like she was searching for something, she yelled "SweetieBelle! Oh SweetieBelle!" Surrounding her were scorching planks of wood, broken and intersecting at numerous angles, she was likely in a collapsed house of some sort. Rarity's eyes began to swell with tears as she called out once more in desperation "SweetieBelle! Oh darling where are you?!" Suddenly, a sound of hope, somepony coughed, faintly but most definitely. Rarity repeated "SweetieBelle!?" A tiny voice beckoned from beneath some wood, trapped, wheezing "R-Rarity!" Rarity looked in the direction of the voice and gasped, it was SweetieBelle! She immediately made her way to the piled debris, her horn glowing vibrantly as she levitated it off her tiny sister. She then snatched SweetieBelle into her hooves, Rarity couldn't have seemed more concentrated. She was covered in ash, dirt, muck, but she didn't care, all she cared about was getting her sister to safety. As she dodged falling pieces of scorching wood left and right, she eventually made it out of the caved in structure. She gacked coughing heavily as she fell to the floor soon afterwords. SweetieBelle nudged her gently "R-Rarity! Are you okay?" Rarity smiled softly at her as she ran her hoof gently through SweetieBelle's mane "of course darling! Now, let's hurry and get you somewhere safe!"

Rarity staggered to her hooves as she and SweetieBelle began to make their way through the burning village.

-

Applejack continued to sprint through the burning town as if in total disregard for own wellbeing. As she made her way down the pathway, the world seemed hazy, the heat practically unbearable, she yelled, coughing "RARITY! WHERE ARE YA?!" She repeated, coughing still "R-Rarity! Anypony for that matter, is anypony out here still?!" Suddenly Applejack's eyes widened as she heard the faint sound of humming. Through the smoke, somepony was emerging, she winced at the concealed figure as it soon emerged from the thick haze. As she noticed who it was Applejack raised a brow, then stared angrily at the figure "Pinkie! I thought I told you to stay at the farm!" The pink mare just smirked at Applejack as Applejack soon began to look highly puzzled once again, this mare looked like Pinkie, but didn't at the same time. But Applejack was certain this definitely was still Pinkie. "Pinkie?"

The pink mare just twirled her butcher knife as Applejack eyed it cautiously, she then backed up somewhat, looking the mare in her eyes. "Who are you?" the words barely escaped her mouth. The pink mare gave a callous, humored laugh "an observer, for now." Applejack spoke once again, hesitantly, she felt like she was losing her mind, this was definitely Pinkie Pie but at the same time it wasn't, how could that be possible? Applejack gulped "w-what, w-why do you look like Pinkie, you some sort of changeling?" The pink mare smirked, shaking her head "a changeling? Oh no, much much worse than that. I guess you'll see that with time, when I decide to have a little more fun. For now, i'm just relishing in the chaos, the absolute sense of madness we're causing. It's such a cherished element, madness, you know." To this Applejack's eyes snapped wide, she snarled somewhat at the pink mare "You caused this!? Why I reckon i'll-" suddenly Applejack felt a slight sting cross her cheek and the sound of slicing air. Her pupils dilated as her body trembled, she could feel the warm red substance sliding down her face. She winced at the Pink mare, who simply kept her gaze on Applejack, her eyes halfway closed as if highly upset, but composed. Applejack noticed her butcher knife was gone, she glanced back, it was stabbed into the ground, fresh blood dripping off the serrated edge.

Her blood.

Applejack stared back at the mare, she was in shock, she'd never been attacked like that before.

The pink mare just continued to give her an intense look of discern. "I think we understand who's in charge now, don't we? I see even in this world, you still possess that bothersome vibe, how troublesome. I promised myself i'd save the fun for later, so, i'll let you off the hook just this once." Applejack couldn't help but feel a heavy sense of relief from the mare's words, the pink mare began to trot backwards into the smoke "take care Applejack, I do hope you survive the purge, i'd hate to lose you for myself......also, call me Diane." Her words trailed off as she disappeared into the smoke "until next time."

As the pink mare disappeared, Applejack simply stood there in shock for a brief moment before she heard her name called "Applejack!" Applejack's eyes widened as she glanced in the direction of the voice, Rarity! It was Rarity and SweetieBelle, coincidentally showing up right after that whole scenario. Applejack still looked as if she were lost in her own thoughts, I do hope you survive the purge, such words, a purge? Just the idea, was maddening. Rarity called to her once again "Applejack!" Applejack finally managed to regain her composure as she looked to Rarity. She nodded somewhat, managing to say "R-Rarity, i'm glad you're alright, let's get you to the barn, you and SweetieBelle." They sighed with relief as the fire raged on around them, Rarity gasped "the quicker the better!" They all nodded as they made their way to the farm, Applejack looked down, still not able to get the sickening thought out of her head the purge....

As they made it back to the barn, Applejack was also relieved to notice Spike and Fluttershy made it back okay. It looked like everypony was accounted for, besides the deceased. Spike looked to Applejack with a worried expression, approaching her "Applejack, your face? What happened?!" Applejack blinked a bit, remembering the large cut made by the pink mare. She shook her head "n-nothin! I fell, you got nothin ta worry about sugarcube." Spike shrugged as he helped Rarity and SweetieBelle get relaxed, Applejack peered at the floor for a bit, if only she believed her own words, would everything truly be fine?

Applejack winced her eyes, she couldn't help but think of ...Twilight

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As Twilight and Luna arrived in the Canterlot throne room, Princess Celestia was pacing back and forth nervously, frantically searching through scrolls for some sort of indication for why all this was happening. Outside the castle, the guards both lunar and celestial were holding off the invaders to the best of their ability. Luna and Twilight hurried over to Princess Celestia, yelling in unison "Sister!" "Princess!"

Celestia gazed at the two of them, she looked somewhat relieved and saddened at the same time "Dear Sister, Twilight my student, you've arrived!" Luna nodded as she looked up at Celestia "of course sister, what of your research! What have you figured out!?" Celestia sighed heavily, shaking her head "t-this is beyond me, an invasion of such magnitude and in such a short period of time shouldn't be possible." Luna and Twilight's expressions sunk as Celestia remained silent for a few seconds, after contemplating her ideas she set her gaze on Twilight, she winced somewhat. Celestia's eyes soon snapped wide as it looked like she came to a realization "unless...no...thats impossible" Suddenly both Luna and Celestia shot their gazes at the entrance to the throne room. Twilight looked at both of them curiously, why the sudden look of panic? The two princess's bodies trembled as they looked highly nervous, Twilight beckoned to know "Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! W-What's wrong, what is it?"

Luna gulped "do you feel it sister?"

Celestia nodded in confirmation "yes, but..who could possibly?.."

Luna shot her gaze towards Twilight "Twilight Sparkle, hide yourself! Make haste!"

Twilight raised a brow in confusion "w-what?"

Celestia looked to Twilight just as worried "do it my dearest student, you must hide yourself quickly!"

Twilight nodded before poofing behind the throne, in the next second the doors to the throne room burst open. Luna and Celestia's horns were glowing vibrantly as they gazed at the figure who'd just entered. Twilight peeked from behind the throne, and as they all came to realize who it was, their expressions sunk. Luna muttered "sister...what...what is this?" Celestia was silent, she couldn't find the right words, Luna's fear was confirmed when she heard those dreaded words "I..I don't know." Twilight's eyes were wide, she was shocked, puzzled, afraid, what were they staring at? Those words from Princess Celestia, she always knew what to do, she always had the answer yet this time, there was none.

The figure in the doorway had a pleased smile as she looked at the two Princess's standing side by side, overwhelmed with confusion.

"Well, this is interesting. Nightmare Moon survived in this world?"

Both Princess Luna and Celestia just kept their gazes on the target, the mysterious mare stepped forward, her identity revealed, as her violet coat gleamed in the crimson light. It was, Twilight? No scratch that, a duplicate, but, still, it didn't change the fact there was another Twilight standing in front of them. They couldn't comprehend it, nor could Twilight hiding behind the throne. The second Twilight merely smirked, as she continued her approach, she wore a purple pendant similar to the element of magic.

"Why so confused? It's me Princess, your cherished student,...Twilight Sparkle."

They remained silent as the second Twilight just continued.

"I've come to lift the burden from your shoulders sweet Princess, you see, this world is in need of a change, and I believe it's time for some new management."

She grinned.

"Don't you agree?"

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As Rainbow Dash was still flying through the sky towards Cloudsdale, she gazed around, the clouds emitted some form of dark energy and the crimson skies made the air from so high feel thick and heavy.

"Ah! What the heck!? This is the weirdest day ever!"

As she came to arrive at Cloudsdale, she gasped, fluttering in place as she looked at the beautiful cloud city consumed by the same black color that had taken over the other clouds. The city's structures were aflame, flickering with red sparks of arcane energy. "What the heck?"

"Why look who it is! Glad to see you finally made it!"

Rainbow's eyes widened, the voice came behind but it was impossibly familiar. She glanced back as she'd looked speechless, her mind in disarray now this...is just freaking weird...