Very different beneath the surface

Chapters

There is something...
A sunny, summer, saturday
Did I wake you?
Time to get out
We will not hesitate to kill...
You know the drill
She's the reason we're here
That's a good point
Somepony was left behind
Time to rest
A restless night for most
Surprises all around
No sleep tonight
Dashie’s story
Time to fly!
What do you think it is?
It means nothing to me
The begining of the end
Big brother
but there was something more
The first casualty
The battle
For Flutt
Goodbye Spike
She's too powerful!
The older brothers stood tall
NOW!
Bye
Escape
All hell breaks loose

There is something...

“You’re kidding me right?! You honestly think Soarin’ could beat Spitfire? Pfffft!” Rainbow burst out in laughter at Twilights comment.
“I’m sorry Rainbow, but he really could. He has a greater wingspan, stronger muscles, not to mention he’s older and more experienced.” She smiled to herself, thinking she’d given a rather decent argument against the Rainbow pony.
“Yeeeaahhhhh, but he’s as dumb as a post! He’s got no creativity, he just follows the choreography down to a ‘T,’ Spitfire on the other hand! Ohhh my gosh! She could fly circles around him, she’s smaller, more streamline, and she’s more creative than the rest of the Wonderbolt’s combined!”

The two approached the entrance to Sugar Cube Corner without even a falter in their argument. As the small wooden door swung open they were greeted by the smell of freshly baked treats, and the sight of their other friends waiting for them at a table in the corner. “Guys!” Rainbow shouted out to the group as they approached. “Who’d win in a flying contest, Soarin’ or Spitfire?”

The four remaning friends looked to one another, silently deciding what each of the others was going to day. They eventually looked back up at the blue and magenta ponies, and all said in unison. “SPITFIRE!” Twilights face fell in surprise! Rainbow bit her lip to stop herself from releasing another burst of laughter at the sudden change in expression on her friends face.

“C-come one Twilight.” she choked slightly. “Let’s g-g-get you something to eat.” The meal wasn’t exactly long, but it was definitely enjoyable! Pinkie decided to do her impression of a clown, shockingly the transformation wasn’t that much different from the original! Rarity described her new project, a beautiful dress for the renowned Fancy Pants’s wife Fleur de Lis. Applejack told a hilarious story about the crusaders latest decision to become story writers.

“So far, they’ve got about half a page of words, and are covered with ink from head to hoof!” She finished to raucous applause and laughter from the girls. Fluttershy made them coo when she opened the window beside the table and called for her new friend, a stunningly cute little black and white kitten. The animal soon took a shining to Rainbow who -though flattered- slowly pushed the cutesy wootsey thing away from her and back to the other Pegasus.

Finally the meal ended with a small anecdote from Twilight, who had heard from princess Celestia that a magical power seemed to be growing slowly in Equestria, and though it was foreign to the world, it was also oddly familiar. “Rarity, you should be able to sense it too! Apparently every magical pony in Equestria should be able to sense it.” The platinum fashionista frowned and looked up at the sky through the open window.

“Now that you mention it darling, there is something...odd, that faint whining sound!” Twilight frowned at her fellow unicorn.
“Whining sound? I was talking about that tangy taste in the back of your mouth...” Applejack laughed,
“Y’all sure Twilight just didn’t a bad cupcake or summ’in?” Yet again they all laughed...except for Twilight and Rarity.

Now that they concentrated, it did feel strange, and yet, it felt as though they knew where to place the sensation. The two looked at one another, was this good? Or bad?

A sunny, summer, saturday

The group headed for the centre of town. It was one o’clock on a sunny, summer Saturday afternoon, they could do practically anything in this blissful weather.
“Anypony up for a race?” Asked Dash in a challenging tone, daring anyone to take her up on the offer.
“I reckon I could oblige you there darlin’” Smirked Applejack. The two squared up to each other.
“Wanna make it interesting?” Rainbow’s pink eyes flashed deviously.
“What did yah have in mind?” replied the orange country pony.
“Next cider season, you don’t serve anypony, until I get the first sip!”
“Sounds fare, and if I win you have to”-

“Girls honestly, do you really want to run around in this heat? You’ll sweat!” Protested Rarity, shocked at the very idea of perspiration.
“And what’s wrong with sweatin’” The farm pony asked edgily. She above all others knew how touchy Rarity could be about hard work. Always sweating the little thing!
“What’s wrong with it?! It’s disgusting! It makes ones main clumpy and unappealing, the coat loses it sheen and just looks absolutely dreadful!”

“You mean you never sweat?” Asked Rainbow Dash, Twilight saw the glint of devilish delight in her eyes. What was she about to say? If she knew dash, it would be funny, but also it was risking upsetting Rarity hugely.
“Of course not Rainbow dear! A true lady does not...” She shuddered, “Sweat.” Rainbow leaned in to Applejack’s ear and told her in a loud stage whisper.
“That’s not what I heard from Spike!” Applejack, Pinkie and Rainbow all burst out laughing. While Fluttershy and Twilight frowned disapprovingly at the rainbow coloured Pegasus now rolling on the floor.

Rarity simply blushed scarlet. She smiled embarrassedly trying not to laugh at what even she thought had been a rather funny comment. When the three hysterical ponies’ laughter had finally died down, Rarity flicked her mane back, regaining her composure. She smiled at Rainbow, and stated simply “Well I don’t think there was a need for THAT, Rainbow dear.”
“Eeeeehhhh, I thought It was pretty good!” The cocky Pegasus winked at her white and purple friend to show she meant nothing by her words.

They all continued on, letting their coats soak in the gorgeous summer sun’s rays! Twilight couldn’t help but think, if Princess Celestia hadn’t sent her to Ponyville, none of this would be happening, at least not for her. Maybe not even for any of the girls around her. Yes they had known each other, but their quest against Nightmare Moon had been what made them all friends. Would any of them even speak to each other properly if it hadn’t been for that?

Though they hadn’t planned on going there, they reached Fluttershy’s cottage. So the six friends headed out round the back, some collapsed onto their haunches to bask in the glow of the sun. Others went over to investigate the chickens. Rainbow Dash was one of the former, she lay on her back her wings outstretched across the soft grass, and her forelegs behind her head propping herself up to look down the garden.

Her vision was suddenly obscured however, by a big black tail. The cat that Fluttershy had shown them was obviously living here. Because now it sat just above rainbows face, gently sniffing her vibrant mane. “Uuurrrggghhh. Fluttershy!” The yellow Pegasus turned from the coop and looked back towards the house. When she saw the problem, she let out a soft “awww” As she skimmed through the air and picked up the small creature in her hooves hugging it as well as taking it away from the unimpressed Rainbow Dash.

“Don’t worry little guy, Rainbow just isn’t the kind of pony who like little cutie pies like you!” Fluttershy said sweetly as she placed the cat on the upper bedroom window ledge. “Go on, you’ve had a long day, you’re only little you know.” The cat tilted its head at the yellow and pink flying pony for a moment. Then almost as though it understood, it turned and hopped into the cottage.

Back on the ground, most of the ponies were having fun. Applejack had decided to corral the chickens into a corner, then letting them run free, just to catch them all again. Pinkie Pie had decided to try and have a staring contest with one of the creatures; a very disgruntled looking owl, who had obviously been woken up by the loud laughter of the girls. It was difficult to tell who was winning. The pink pony’s tongue was sticking out in concentration, while the owl simply looked back with a “What are you doing?” look on its face.

However, just outside of the busy centre of the garden Rarity was scrunching her eyes up, shaking her head slightly. Now that her attention had been brought the annoying whining, she couldn’t drown it out. It irritated her beyond all reason, if it persisted for too long it was bound to give her a headache.

Twilight watched her friend in silence; she regretted mentioning the magic growing now. Because now Rarity was going to suffer like Twilight had since she had read Celestia’s letter. The terrible taste in her mouth never seemed to go away; in fact, it seemed to have gotten worse over the last two days. Did that mean the power was growing even more? Or was it just the Twilight noticing it more and more?

Either way, even if behind the terrible taste, there was something familiar. It still felt...wrong. Maybe the princess was right to be unsure what to think of this magic that was growing. What if it wasn’t...good?

What if it meant harm?

Did I wake you?

“Rairity my dear, well done on yet another stunningly beautiful dress! Fleur is going to love it!” Fancy Pants held the dress out in his magical aura, allowing it to flow in the breeze from the open window. Its gold and silver embroidery glistened in the light from each light in the room. Rarity sighed with relief at his approval.

“Thank you Fancy Pants! I’m so glad you like it! It really wasn’t easy to make.” She smiled and winked at the monocle wearing unicorn. “You and your wife have very expensive tastes.” The two of them laughed, Fancy began to fold the dress and replace it into the open box at his hooves.
“A small price to pay to be renowned and comfortable, wouldn’t you say miss Rarity.” The female unicorn rubbed the back of her neck nervously.
“Well sir, I’d have no idea about anything like that.”

“Oh hush dear; you’re starting to make a rather big impression in the world of fashion. Designing for the top musicians, creating your own line for Hoity Toity, and now a dress for the wife of one of the most well known stallions in Canterlotte. Don’t worry my dear you going to......”

Though the stallion’s mouth moved, Rarity couldn’t hear what he was saying. A high pitched squealing whining was beginning to emanate through the air, and it drowned out all other sound. The birds nestling in the trees outside, the soft hum of the sewing machine behind her. They all were drowned out by that terribly high pitched squeal.

Fancy Pants seamed unperturbed by the noise. He continued to speak happily, though the other member of the convocation was deaf to his every word. “I’m sorry, excuse me?” Rarity asked despairingly. Fancy Pants frowned; his mouth formed one single word. Rarity couldn’t tell what it was. “Come again?” He repeated the word, still nothing.

The noise began to grow louder and louder. It felt terrible, like white hot needles were slowly piercing Rarity’s eardrums. She scrunched her eyes shut, trying to fight against the pain. It was becoming unbearable; she fell to the floor clutching her head in her hooves. She opened her mouth in a gut wrenching scream, but it went completely unheard by the platinum pony. Her lungs seemed to empty out all their air, pushing the silent primal yell out into the open. The pain was unimaginable, her skull felt ready to burst!

She stopped for a moment, taking a huge intake of breath. She rocketed up into a sitting position. The covers fell around her as she panted for air. A worried Spike sat next to her holding her shoulders, had he shaken her awake? How had he known she was having a nightmare?

“Rarity, calm down! Sweetheart it’s ok; It was just a bad dream!” She looked around frantically, dazed and disorientated. Her eyes finally met Spike’s big green ones, and her worries seemed to melt away in his gaze. She slumped into his embrace; every muscle in her body ached painfully. Her panting began to subside as she regained her breath. Spike simply sat there stroking the pony’s mane soothingly as he held her.

Over the past two years, he had matured quickly. One day he had begun to grow unexpectedly, and he simply continued to get taller and taller, until his height rivalled that of a stallion. Twilight had thought for a time, that it meant the baby dragon had begun hording a small treasure to himself. After all, that was how Dragons grew. But none of them had ever found the hidden trove. The dragon simply seemed to have become a young adult. Dragons, such strange creatures!

Now the dragon and the fashion designer were an item, and had been for some time now. One of Dash’s many names for the two were “Beauty and the beast.” But she never let on as to whom which of them was which. But appearances didn’t matter. Not when you love somepony, or some dragon in this case. What mattered was moments like this, waking to find a comforting ear and hug only inches away if they were needed.

“I-I’m sorry Spikey. D-did I...wake you up?” The large dragon chuckled and swept the falling mane out of Rarity’s eyes.
“Yeah, kinda. You were screaming pretty loudly. I don’t think even I could miss that!” Rarity laughed, but out of discomfort more than anything. The dream hadn’t been that terrible, but the familiarity of what had happened was all too real! That noise from earlier today, it had intruded her mind and pierced the veil of her dreams. If she hadn’t decided before, she certainly had now! Whatever was happening to create this strange magic it surely was not something friendly!

Wait. Where was the magic? That whining, it seemed to have vanished! Spike opened his mouth to speak, and received a gentle hoof pressed against his lips to stop him. Rarity concentrated. Nothing. Not a sound, or was that...

It was still there, now that her attention had been brought to it, it screamed back into existence! Immediately picking up from where the dream left off, the whining drowned out all other sounds and began to drill into the small pony’s ears once again.

She let out another scream, loud and shrill. She keeled over, off the side the bed and onto the floor below. Spike scrambled off as fast as he could to go and help her. “Rarity! Rar!! C’mon sweetheart, there isn’t anything happening! What’s the matter?!” all the time Rarity still screamed that unnatural shrill scream. She clung to her ears, pulling at them viciously, trying to tear them from her very skull.

Spike lunged forward, taking hold of both of her hooves to stop her from hurting herself. Her clung tightly, holding her close to him. He was terrified! The pony continued to scream in pain, clinging to her other half tightly. She looked up into his face, tears of pain and anguish rained down from her eyes. as she began to beg.

“Spike! Please, please make it stop!” Spike was panicking now.
“Make what stop baby?” the pony didn’t seem to hear him. She simply continued to cry, mixing with dwindling screams to create a terrible wail.
“Please... Please make it stop! I-it hurts, Celestia this hurts! Please! PLEASE!” She creamed the last word at the dragon, which spurred the frozen dragon into action. He let go of her, and headed for the door.
“I’ll go get Twilight! I’ll be right bac”-
“Where are you going!” Rarity screamed, clinging to her ears again, with her lack of hearing, Spike retreat must have seemed as though he were abandoning her. Spike froze, stuck in the middle of the room, between the door and his beloved.

The terrified butterflies in the dragons stomach squirmed... then something more, and burning feeling; Warm and familiar. He looked down to his stomach, where he saw a green glow seem to emanate from beneath his scales. The glow travelled fast, from the stomach up to the chest, the glow intensified. The glow entered the interior of the dragon’s mouth, forcing out a giant ball of gas from his stomach, along with a huge plume of green fire.

The fire faded away within seconds of being released from his mouth, leaving nothing burnt, and only a small roll of parchment hovering in the air before him. A letter? NOW!? It could wait, he decided to take Rarity with him to the library, who cared if she woke up the sleeping town, she needed help!

The dragon took a step towards the pony who was still writhing on the floor terribly. But before he could even approach her, she reached out a hoof towards the scroll still hanging in the air! “CHECK IT!” She screamed! “CHECK IT NOW SPIKE!” Out of sheer terror, Spike did as he was asked. He took the scroll and read it quickly. His stomach seemed to twist into a huge knot. The Princess obviously didn’t know he was no longer living at the library. The letter was addressed to Twilight.

He threw it to the ground, and took hold of Rarity in his arms. He scooped her up and took her through the bedroom door, past a terrified looking Sweetie Belle who had come to investigate.
“Sis?” She asked worriedly. Spike tore down the stairs and shouted back to the little filly.
“Sweetie! Don’t go outside! Stay inside, we’ll be back, just promise me that if you hear anything get into the basement! PROMISE ME!” The confused filly let out a terrified ‘Ok’ but the dragon had already burst through the boutique doors and headed off into the night.

The filly glanced into the room, the sheets of the bed were now strewn across the floor, and a single piece of paper lay on the floor. She hadn’t been told about the magic, so she couldn’t notice it. Spike should have told her not to enter their room as well! The filly moved towards the letter, it had been scribbled hastily, it looked important. Her brain told her not to read it, ‘It’s private’ it screamed, but a little devious voice whispered inside her mind. ‘Go on! Do it! They left it there; they’ll never know you were there!’

She headed the devious whisper. She moved in to the room and tilted her head to read the hastily written note. As she read it her face became confused, frowning as the words passed right over her head. What did this silly thing even mean? Was this why Rarity was screaming?

"Twilight!
It’s skyrocketing! It’s all gathering around Ponyville! It seems to be something dangerous! It’s driving all the unicorns insane! Nothing should be that powerful except for Luna and me!
Please Twilight, get out! STAY SAFE AND GET OUT OF PONYVILLE!
If for some reason you can’t, just find a safe haven and wait for it to pass, but please don’t stay outside for long!”

Time to get out

“Twilight?!” Spike kicked open the door, the screaming Rarity still clung tight to his chest. “Twilight?!?! You still here?” he jogged up the stairs to the purple unicorn’s room, looking around as he rushed up the rough wooden steps. He burst into the room, “Twilight?” Even Rarity seemed to grow slightly silent in the empty room.

For a moment there was silence, and then a slight movement from behind the bed proved that the unicorn was home. A hoof flung into the air and slammed desperately onto the mattress, it peeled away back to the ground along with a disgruntled moan from behind the shadows. The hoof dragged the sheets over and onto the ground behind.

Spike struggled with the still writhing Rarity, she clung to her ears tightly now crying silently. Spike was terrified, unsure of what to do or say, Twilight was obviously awake but something wasn’t right. “Uhhh...Twi? Rarity needs some he”-
“Uuuurrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!” the noise came from under the sheets that now covered the slumping pony.
“Twilight?” Spike edged around the side of the mattress and tugged at the sheet with his foot, pulling it off the unicorns head.

She looked rough; she looked up into the dragon’s eyes with obvious pain and discomfort. She opened her mouth, but whatever words she planned to say were lost by the sudden torrent of sick that exploded from her mouth. It fell to the floor and added to the pool that was fast spreading around her. The sheet had covered it, so Spike hadn’t seen it. Chunks of her stomachs contents were stuck in the unicorns clumped and now sticky fur. Patches were discoloured with brown blotches were the horrible liquid had splashed back onto her. She looked terrible!

When she finally recovered, she looked up again, whipping her mouth with the back of her foreleg she looked at the platinum pony in her assistant’s arms, still shuddering and clinging to her ears. She stuttered for a moment before finally speaking through the rancid taste in her mouth. “T-the...the taste! It’s worse than ever before! It’s making me...” Her colour suddenly turned a horrible shade of green, her eyes half closed as she gulped for a moment, hoping the sensation would pass.

It did, but not without a bile filled burp intruding the pony’s mouth and causing her cheeks to puff out uncomfortably. The smart unicorn looked at her two friends, seeing Rarity clinging to her ears crying in pain, she realised what this all meant. NOT GOOD!

She stood suddenly, looking to her dragon friend. She been to talk fast, trying to say everything before another spew of bile escaped her stomach. “Spike, there’s some kind of magic that’s interfering with unicorns that look out for it! It’s getting worse so I need you to look after me and Rarity, I don’t know how long it’s going to be but”-

“Celestia just tried to contact you through me!” The princess’s words now finally made sense; ‘It’ was the magic. This meant that the magic was focusing over Ponnyville! Oh no! “Twilight, she wants us to get out, now! We’ve gotta go!” He ran over to his adopted sister, scooped her under his arm, and ran down the steps, either pony clenched tightly to his chest. Twilight shouted out in protest for a moment, but soon grew silent in her combat against her queasiness as she bounced up and down in the dragon’s grip.

As he emerged out into the night he looked around, what should he do? Head out now with Rarity and Twilight? Or find the others? A rumble began to sound out in the distance; Spike looked up to the sky, trying to discern a sign of thunder but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

He jumped suddenly as the sky was illuminated for an instant in a flash of intense light. Oh geez! This was getting bad! Even the dragon, who had no magical ability could now sense the magic in the air, it crackled like electricity all around him. It invaded his panting mouth and snapped and crackled on his wet tongue as it hung out to the side slightly.

They possibly had a few minutes to get out now! A few minutes meant that the choice had now been made for him, time to get out and hope the others would have the sense to do the same or stay inside. Sweetie would have the sense to go into the basement if these flashes continued; she’d stay and wait for them to return.

She’d be fine when the guards came to protect the town.(Surely Celestia would send some!) Whatever was happening, the armoured soldiers of Equestria could keep it under control. Right now, Spike needed to get the girls to safety. He took another step forwards, which was met with yet another flash of light. He began running towards the Everfree Forest. That would be dangerous, but it would mean magic couldn’t follow them; magic didn’t seem to exist in that kind of form in-between the dark trunks of the trees.

In the cold silence of the night, all that could be heard were the pained whisperings of the two ponies under the thick arms of the dragon, mixed with the sounds of his lumbering footsteps as he fast approached the dark tree line. The magic was still thick in the air, and it seemed to be intensifying even further as visible sparks now seemed to be emanating from his mouth as the magic mixed with moisture of his hot breath. However, through the silence, the dragon was slowly able to make out the sounds of hooves travelling towards him fast.

The dragon turned defensively, just in time to find all the girls approaching him. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were all following a determined looking Applejack and Big Macintosh. The Dragon stopped his advance towards the trees, waiting for the group of friends to catch up.

“Spike?! What the hay is goin’ on!” Applejack asked, her face showed how worried she truly was. As the dragon looked, he could see that even though they had no magical talent, all of the ponies could sense that something wasn’t right anymore. Spike opened his mouth to explain, but that was when Rarity gave out a particularly violent kick with her hind legs. She let out fresh screams and clung to her head with new found vigour.

Everypony watched as the dragon lay Twilight down to the ground gently then focused on Rarity. Yet again he held her close, soothing her and trying to calm her. But nothing worked, whatever the unicorn could hear was obviously tearing her apart. At that point Applejack advanced to help, just as Twilight let out another heaving retch, releasing even more bile onto the floor. She began to convulse fitfully, she fell into the puddle she had just made and began to writhe.

“TWILIGHT!” The girls all yelled out, they all rushed out to help their collapsing friend. Leaving Big Macintosh to stand alone in the dark. They all crowded around her trying to understand what was wrong, how they could help. They were all so panicked and rushed, none of them heard it, a new sound of rumbling. Like a fast moving wind tearing through the air. Neither did they hear Big Mac, who looked up into the dark sky and saw something. “Up there!”

The girls still scrabbled around their friend trying to help. Big Macintosh cleared his throat and said it again louder than before. “UP THERE!” Still no one noticed his quiet words. Rarity flipped onto her back, she knew what was coming and on the other side of the wall of ponies, Twilight did the same. Behind their terrible symptoms, they could feel something new. A presence, it was rite above them; it was... right...
“UP THERE!” The two unicorns shouted out at the same time as the red stallion a few feet away.

The group all looked into the sky, to see a twinkle in the sky. It was fast growing brighter than any of the other stars in the black canvas. And as it grew in magnitude, it also grew in size and shape. It was something reaching near sonic rain-boom speeds. It pushed constant amounts of air out of its way as it streamed towards the town, therefore making the terrible rumbling from above like thunder. It let off large discharges of light, which were the flashes that all could see.

Suddenly, as fast as they had come, the two unicorns’ symptoms began to fade away. The whining noise in Rarity’s ears mixed with the growing rumble of the approaching object, and as it melded, it began to fade into nothing. The taste in Twilight’s mouth seemed to ooze down her throat and into her stomach where it seemed to dissolve into nothing. The two looked on as the object approached, now as normal as any other pony. Twilight’s mind span a hundred different arguments around in her head, did this mean that the object meant no harm anymore? No that made no sense why would it’s arrival suddenly change its reason for being here? Had these symptoms been of a sickness and this magical object was some form of cure sent by Celestia? NO! She wouldn’t have asked for them to get out of Ponyville if that were the case.

Her mind suddenly settled on the only explanation left to them, she watched as the object as it screeched towards the town. These symptoms must have been the effects of overdosing! A term she had only heard in her studies, a particularly dusty old book had explained how when a huge excess of magic is exposed to magical ponies, be they Alicorn’s or Unicorns. The ponies would gain unique symptoms where they would experience pain, as the new foreign magic seeped into the ponies body and was fought off by their own magic.

This meant, the magical build up was over; this object had used unbelievable amounts of power to get here. Now that it had arrived, it had spent it all up, so when it finally arrived, its magic faded and left no trace, meaning the symptoms also vanished from her and her friend. She got shakily to her hooves. She may no longer be suffering from overdose. But it had still taken a lot out of her. She swayed for a moment, but was propped up by a speedy Applejack.

The object came screaming faster and faster down to the ground, it wasn’t that big, but it would still kill anypony who was hit by it. Applejack looked from the object, to the direction it was headed, to where it should land. The group were in the clearing between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. A large expanse of grass spread out before them, and luckily this seemed to be where the object was headed.

But somepony was stood directly in the objects path. Big Mac! “MAC! MOVE!” The stallion was frozen in shock, he had realized it was headed for him, and he had frozen solid terrified by the sight. “MAC! Darn it! Move your tail!” Still nothing. The object was almost there, everypony could feel the heat from it as it passed over them! Only a few seconds! Applejack let out another scream, “MAC! MAAAAAACCC!” though she was the only pony in the group shouting, there seemed to be another voice, higher pitched. Screaming the same name out. Mac heard it, he heard the higher voice and the voice of his sister, and the oddness of the phenomenon was enough to shake him from his frozen state.

The stallion dived away, just in time, as the object smashed into the ground where his hooves had just stood upon mere milliseconds before. The impact let out a giant boom, followed by a shockwave of air that pushed everypony down to the ground hard. Dust billowed from the ground, and smoke seemed to sizzle as it escaped the now huge crater that had been a grassy field mere moments ago.

With fear each pony got to their feet, slowly making their way towards the crater, towards the sounds of weeping that they could now hear. A high pitched voice had begun to cry out that name again. “Mac!... Mac why!?!” The group all looked to each other terrified at the strangeness of the whole situation. With trepidation, Twilight opened her puke lined mouth.

And called out.

We will not hesitate to kill...

“Ummm, hello? Are...are you ok down there?” Twilight called shakily into the crater below them. Immediately, the sniffing and sobbing stopped. The tension could be cut with a knife, as everypony around the gaping hole in the ground waited to see what would emerge.

Twilight strained her ears to hear anything at all from the smoking hole. Surely enough she heard hushed whispers from within. Certain words floated along the breeze and reached her ears, which chilled her very soul. ‘Hostiles?’ ‘deffensive measures.’

She looked around at her friends, she opened her mouth to tell them to get away quickly, but before a single word could pass her lips hoofsteps began to approach her across the scorched earth. Through the smoke and dust, a large mangled figure could be seen making its way towards the magenta unicorn. She took a step backwards, her horn began to glow slightly in preparation for an attack. If she needed to get out she could teleport everypony here to the library. To safety.

As it came closer, the silouhette became clearer. It wasn’t one figure, but a tight group of ponies. Each (by the looks of the positioning of their hooves) had their back to the others, ensuring there was no spot the group couldn’t see in the dusty darkness.

The leading pony stopped just short of the end of the wall of smoke and dust. Twilight could almost see her, or at least she judged the pony as a she, her body was smaller and more slender than any stallion or buck she had ever seen. The figure seemed to turn its head to another one of the group, and with an unbelievably familiar voice, it issued an order.

“Back off! We’re not here to fight! If you attack, we will not hesitate to kill...” There was a stunned silence from everypony around the crater. Twilight looked to the closest pony to her (Rainbow dash) and exchanged worried looks. The Blue coated pony swallowed hard, and with the bobbing of her throat her face grew stern. She nodded back at Twilight, then looked to each of her friends in tern, giving them the signal not to go near them. When everypony complied with Rainbow’s silent order, she took one step forward, and yelled loud and hard.

“We don’t want to fight either! Now calm the heck down and come out!”
“Dash! Shut the hell up ok!” The sudden outburst came from within the dust cloud. The head pony seemed to be looking at another member of her party now. The pony’s head bobbed up suddenly in protest.
“But it wasn’t me Pinkie!” Pinkie? Twilight’s ears rang with the single name echoing through her mind. She looked at the pink pony far over to her left, she stood there still, just as confused as the others (If not looking a little less serious and more with childhood curiosity gleaming in her eyes)

“Of course it was yo”-
“Actually, she’s telling the truth, she didn’t say a word!” Said a horse but confident voice.
“I heard her voice!” Cried out the leader of the still unseen group angrily. Yet another voice joined the argument from within the smoke. This one was shy and timid, and it sent Twilight’s skin trembling with shivers.
“Actually... you heard their voice.” A forehoof seemed to gesture towards them, waving away the thinning smoke and flashing a glimpse of purple fur. Twilight knew that voice... better than anyone. But...how...? She looked at all her friends, all of whom had grown silent and unsure; they all stared horrified into the smoke. Had they recognised the voice as well? Or any of the others? It seemed like it judging by the look of sheer terror and confusion plastered on each of their faces.

“That’s it I’ve had it! Twilight, clear the smoke, now!” Twilight looked around to all of her friends to see who had spoken, this was all so confusing. But each mare simply looked back at her with the look of confusion that she was probably wearing too. She looked over to Applejack, who was pawing over her brother, ensuring her was ok. Her efforts were for nothing however, as the stallion simply brushed her aside, got to his hooves and moved the closest to the figure, ready to stop the group if they meant harm.

She looked to Dash, who shrugged with a “Can’t do any harm” look on her face. The purple unicorn turned back, making her horn glow and palpitate with magic as she prepared to move the dark cloud. All she could do was stare however, as the cloud was parted by the same purple hue of magic that belonged to her. How could that be happening? She relaxed her body completely, allowing the magic to dissipate from her horn, just to ensure it wasn’t her, and surely enough...

The dust cleared, leaving five ponies standing in a fast expanding clearing. Each one of them looked back at a member of the group that surrounded the hole in the ground. Twilight stared in disbelief, as did everypony else. The leader, was a pink pony, female, her mane was a slightly darker shade then her coat, it was long and straight. The long strands nearly reached just below her shoulders and then suddenly stopped. Her eyes gleamed with menace, as they darted from pony to pony, analysing them. A single scar lay beneath her left eye, a vibrant red scratch that stood out noticeably against her pink fur.

To her left, stood a yellow coated Pegasus, her mane was pink, her eyes were a beautiful teal, but they were etched with prominent red blood vessels. Had she been the one who was crying? It didn’t seem like it, besides the leader, she looked to be the strongest and most hardened of the entire group. Yet, there seemed to be some kind of sadness looming in her eyes as she looked around.

An orange coated pony stood by her side, her long blonde hair hung raggedly across her face clumped and messy. She looked out with a similar sadness, but yet she seemed to still be dry eyed. She looked out, staring straight at Applejack, who stared straight back at her in complete disbelief.

A blue coated Pegasy, her mane was cut so that a long flap of straight mane covered her right eye. Her tail jutted out and ended jaggedly. She huddled up to the backs of her companions, she almost seemed afraid. She stared back from behind her fringe, ready to dive for cover at a moment’s notice.

And finally next to her, the one who completed the circle. The Unicorn’s mane was long, a dark shade of purple, with a lighter shade that ran down as a streak through her fringe. Her horn glowed slightly, but even as Twilight watched; its light began to stutter and fade. This pony looked straight into Twilight’s eyes, staring at the pony that looked just like her.

Twilight and her friends stood in awe, looking at the group of five ponies before them. Each one-though seeming slightly different- looked just like a member of the group of friends. A scarred Pinkie Pie, an angry looking Fluttershy, a bedraggled and weary Applejack, a terrified looking Rainbow Dash.

The final pony, the one that matched Twilight’s appearance down to every last detail, closed her eyes. She breathed a sigh of what seemed to be relief, and her legs began to shake under her own weight. With no warning at all, and to the horror of all ponies around her, she collapsed to the dirt covered floor beneath her. Her mouth stayed shut, very little air seemed to escape or intrude her lungs. Her companions swarmed around her. Each one of them watched, in stunned silence, by their counterparts around the crater.

You know the drill

“Twilight?!” Called out the other Fluttershy, she glided over to her friend and laid an ear near her friend’s mouth. She paused for a moment, and then pulled her head back up. She addressed the Pinkie Pie lookalike, who had not yet let her eyes wander from the group of ponies that surrounded her and her companions. “Pinkie! She’s not breathing again!”

The pink scarred pony spoke coldly, locking eyes with the original Twilight. “You know the drill, she’s overdosed, so just keep her warm and clear the airway, she’ll be up soon.” The yellow pony’s face grew frustrated; she stood quickly and shouted at her apparent leader. Twilight was shocked to see that face –the one usually so calm and peaceful- loo so outraged.
“Do you see any blankets?!?! How the hell am I supposed to keep her warm?”

Maybe it was out of her kind heart, or possibly because she couldn’t stand to see a face that looked so identical to hers suffer any harm, but Twilight cleared her throat. The tightly knit group’s heads unanimously swivelled to face her. The sight disturbed her, but she continued regardless. “Umm, my library isn’t far, if you could get your Twi- Your friend there, I have plenty of blankets and a fire, she could recover a lot easily from there...” She began to cower under the stare of the superior looking pink pony who headed the group. Her sentence trailed off and ended in a small and terrified whimper. “If...you... want...”

Silence rang out around the crater, Twilight tried to read the leaders expression but there was not a sign of her thoughts on her face. The pink pony breathed deeply, her chest filling out as it filled with air. Then with the quickness of a gunshot, she shouted to her small group, issuing orders to each of them. “YOU HEARD THE MARE! Fluttershy, you take Twilights head, Applejack you take her legs, Dash...” her eyes rested on the slightly cowering rainbow pony. She sighed begrudgingly, and began to walk away towards the town. “Just, come along I guess.” The small cowering pony nodded obediently and trotted after the indifferent pink pony. Rainbow dash watched in astonishment as the pony that looked almost identical to her acted like...like... Fluttershy! A cold shiver ran up her spine at the sight, and as she looked around, she saw all her friends seemed to be experiencing the same sensation.

The loud leader’s voice called out, already halfway to town, followed by her company who slowly carried the unconscious Twilight twin with them. “HEY! LIBRARIAN, YOU GONNA SHOW US THE WAY OR WHAT?!” Twilight jumped into action suddenly pulled from her engrossed thoughts. She cantered after the group, zipping passed a shocked looking Rarity as she did so. The platinum pony understood her friend’s intentions, she wanted to help that fallen unicorn as best she could. But yet... Her ears seemed to ring with the echoing of the high pitched squeal that had only moments ago, nearly pushed her to the brink of insanity. Nothing that made that kind of terrible entrance could be anything good. Surely.

She shook the thoughts from her mind, turning to her friends who still stood stock still in shock, she called out to them. “Come on everypony! I think we need to find out what’s going on!” Each member of the remaining group nodded in agreement before heading in the same direction as the strange doppelgangers.

........................... not chapter change

The library was quiet, tranquil and calm. The light of a single lamp illuminated the many golden trimmed spines of Twilights vast collection of books. Each one was a literary glimpse into another world, either of fantasy, or of fact. A single quill lay upon the writing desk in the corner, slowly twitching in the breeze from the window left ajar.

The tranquillity only lasted for a second, before the front door burst open, the quill was sent soaring into the air, and out the window into the cold night. A frazzled looking Twilight bolted in. She was followed by the other Pinkie, who cast a disapproving eye over the surrounding room before moving aside and letting the other Applejack and Fluttershy enter. They found it quite difficult; they grunted and breathed heavily at the difficulty of lugging the unconscious unicorn through the door and into the large open living room.

Twilight used her magic to move the sofa, surrounding it with her purple hue and spinning it around to face the door. “Here, put her down here I’ll get some blankets.” Without pause, she then rushed to the guest room on the bottom floor, flinging open the drawers she rummaged around until she found it. A particularly thick, discoloured blanket, it was brown and blotchy in patches, looking slightly burnt, but yet it still held the most warmth!

She darted back in, covering her double with the sheet and tucking her in tightly. The rest of her friends now entered the house, all of them hesitantly looking at the group of ponies with as much scrutiny as they had when they first arrived. “Spike?” Twilight asked quickly. The dragons head popped up above the rest of the little group of mares.
“Yeah?”
“Could you please light the fire for me?”

“Uhh...” The dragon looked back at the group of strangers again, the pink one locked gases with him. There was obvious dislike seeping from every pour of her body, and the hate unsettled the dragon slightly. “Umm, sure...” He stooped over the dry logs in the mantle and gave a soft blow onto them, a small trickle of green fire escaped his lips and was instantly absorbed by the dry wood, seconds later a roaring green fire crackled, spreading warmth to each pony in the room.

Finally, Twilight used her magic to adjust the sofa to face the fireplace. The purple pony under the covers remained still for a moment, every pony seemed to hold their breath in expectation. The light distorted her features, illuminating many marks and scratches across her visible flesh. The sight scared Twilight, but she remained still. She didn’t understand why, only moments ago she was nearly choking on her own vomit because of what was presumably this unicorn’s magic! But amazingly she felt as though this pony meant no harm.

Still no movement, the pony lay still under the covers and glow of the fire. The pony that looked like dash whimpered slightly, she tried to lean against her pink friend for support. With a cold and emotionless shrug, the pink pony pushed her away once more and continued to watch her motionless ally.

Sudenly, there was movement from under the covers. It seemed that the purple ponies hind legs were twitching. With a gasp, her eyes flung open wide, and the pony gulped down torrents of air. The group of strangers all let out a sigh of relief, which was even mimicked by their ponnyville doubles.

The pink pony came to her friends side, she knelt by the sofa and waited for the purple ponies breath to subside. “Twilight. It’s ok, you overdosed again but it’s ok. We’re in the other world, you did it!” She reached out and shook the unicorns shoulder in a congratulatory fashion. The sudden showing of emotion threw Rainbow dash and Rarity completely off guard. The two of them had pegged the leader as a cold and uncaring excuse for a mare, and yet suddenly, here she was showing a warmth and kindness they hadn’t expected.

“S-s-s-so, we’re...safe?” Shuddered the shaking unicorn, as she gazed up into those big blue eyes. The pink piny nodded in response and the purple unicorn let out a soft neigh of joy. She closed her eyes, laying her head on the soft cushions of the sofa comfortably. Her voice was beginning to trail off due to exhaustion. But still it was loud enough for all to hear. “Permission to sleep ma’am.” The hardened leader smiled serenely.
“Permission granted, god knows you’ve earned it!” her companions all let out a soft murmur of agreement as they all nodded and watched the exchange between earth pony and unicorn.

Twilight’s lookalike smiled, and snuggled into the sofa, sighing in comfort and happiness and quickly fell into a deep exhausted sleep. For a moment all that could be heard was her deep breathing, and then the scarred earth pony stood and sighed tiredly. She looked up to the real Twilight and her friends who where now gathered in the centre of the room
.
“Well,” She began, looking each member of the group in the eye. “I guess you going to want to know what’s going on?”

She's the reason we're here

“Inter-dimensional travel? That’s the story you’re going with?” Asked an incredulous Rainbow Dash, now seated on one of the smaller sofas next to her counterpart. The far more timid looking copy, grimaced at her loud voice and shifted her weight away from the shouting Pegasus.
“Well I’m terribly sorry! I didn’t realise we’d need PROOF!” shouted the indignant pink pony leader. Her scar seemed to shimmer in the flickering light of the fire as she glared at the rainbow Pegasus. She then turned her head to look at the real Pinkie Pie, who was stood on the sofa her forehooves supporting her weight on the armrest as she leaned towards her copy, staring unblinkingly at the tough looking mare.

“Do you mind?”
“Mind what?” Asked the intrigued earth pony.
“Giving me room to breathe maybe?” sarcasm seethed from every syllable that escaped her mouth as she stared at the happy looking Pinkie Pie. Said pony then jumped from her seat and landed softly in front of the rough copy of herself. She extended her foreleg and flicked at the pony’s mane. It lifted with the hoof, and then fell limply back in line with the rest of the straight mane.
“So what’s up with your mane?” She asked, obviously referring to its difference to hers, if not a little too bluntly.

The scarred pony looked at the huge explosion of pink atop the party pony’s head. She closed her eyes and snorted in laughter. When they opened again she spoke calmly coolly. “Nothing’s wrong with my mane, I think if you look around, yours is the odd one out sweetheart.” Pinkie looked around at the other ponies in the room, all with reasonably straight manes. She then looked up at her own with a frown growing on her face. Her lower lips stuck out slightly as she realised what her counterpart was saying. She was the weird one, her hair was a huge mess of curls and flicks, while everpony else’s was straight and normal.

With her eyes glistening slightly, she slumped back into her seat on the sofa and grew terribly quiet. Rarity chirped in quickly, not wanting her friends thoughts to linger on the strangers thoughts. “I do believe that we’ve gone slightly off topic! So you’re saying you’re from another universe?”
“Yup!” Answered the scraggly looking Applejack copy, who stood next to her ponytailed counterpart near the sofa where the sleeping Twilight lay.

“And, your Twilight... she was the one who brought you here?” Continued the platinum pony. There was a unanimous nod of agreement from every visiting pony. “Well that’s quite an unbelievable thing for a Unicorn to do! You were giving me and our Twilight quite a large amount of grief with that power of yours.” The counter fluttershy scoffed loudly and flung her head away from facing the fashionista. The real fluttershy cowered slightly at her counterpart’s brash actions, the two were the perfect reflection of the other two Pegasy across the room from them.

“Got a problem?” Asked an annoyed looking Rainbow Dash, she was addressing the angry looking yellow Pegasus. Who now looked back at her, arched an eyebrow at her then stood up from the sofa.
“And if I do?” Rainbow mirrored the movement off her own sofa. The two began to walk towards one another, neither giving an inch of ground to the other as they advanced. When the two met in the centre of the room, the yellow pony smirked and added in a whisper. “Wimp!” Immediately Rainbow Dash exploded into a yell of protest.
“Who are you calling a whimp! I’m not like your little friend over there!” She gestured wildly at the alternate Rainbow Dash, who –Like the real fluttershy- was cowering in her seat, trying to let the cushions suck her away from the loud yelling.

“HEY! Don’t talk about Dash like that!” The angry yellow Pegasus exclaimed, “Only I get to say things like that! She’s my friend, YOU!” She jabbed the rainbow pony in the chest with a hard hoof. “Don’t even know her!” Dash puffed herself up and squared up to the Pegasus.
“Then don’t act like that when Rarity talks!” The yellow Pegasus stared straight back at the rainbow pony both didn’t falter, each trying to stare the other down with little success.

At this point, the heads of both groups intervened. Twilight trotted over and placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder pulling her back with difficulty. “Rainbow, c’mon let’s just try to be nice ok?” she implored her friend as she was slowly able to get her to back away. The scarred Pinkie Pie double’s approach was far less gentle. She moved quickly and pressed her face up against the yellow Pegasus’s, through gritted teeth, all could hear her growling order to the yellow mare.
“Back down Fluttershy! Don’t go starting a fight!”

For a moment it seemed like the yellow pony wanted to hit her leader, but soon enough she let an indifferent “Hmph!” and returned to her seat, allowing herself to fall back into the sofa, making the other end (Which still seated the real Fluttershy) bounce slightly. Both the yellow mares looked at each other. The copy raised an eyebrow at her. The look was enough to scare Fluttershy, with a panicked squeal she ducked off of the settee and bolted behind Rarity hiding herself behind her arching flamboyant tail.

The pink mare sighed in annoyance yet again, she looked to Twilight. “Sorry about her, she’s a bit...temperamental when it comes to strangers.” She looked over her shoulder and shouted the next part for the Pegasus to also hear. “Even when we are guests in their home, and they’re caring for our friend!” She looked back at Twilight, and gave a smile, or at least half an attempt at a smile before she gave it up as a bad job.

“So?” She asked, planting her haunches on the soft rug beneath her. “Any questions?” Pinkie opened her mouth to speak, but her copy cut across her. “That aren’t about my mane?” the other pink pony deflated for a moment, then suddenly exploded with excitement yet again. “Or my scar?” That put a stop to Pinkie’s excited gibbering.

Silence rang out once more, the scarred Pinkie looked from face to face. “Oh come on! You’re telling me none you want to ask me about anything? Why we’re here? How we got here? Anything?” Twilight cleared her throat, attracting the stares of everypony in the room. She looked at the pony with the scar for a moment then spoke.

“Well? How DID you get here? That’s probably a good place to start, and then you go on to the why. I think it would put other ponies...” She glanced at the glowering Rainbow Dash, still not breaking eye contact with the yellow Pegasus across the room from her, ad to Rarity who was slightly positioned behind the dragon, who was ready to jump in to defend his friends. “At ease.” The magenta unicorn finished.

“Well,” The Pinkie double began. “We lived in a land called Celestia and we”-
“An entire kingdom called Celestia?” Asked Twilight cheerily, smiling at the recurrence of her teachers name in the other dimension. The pony frowned at her happy face, obviously unsure why she was smiling.
“Yeeeaah... Well it’s named after the empress. Celestia.”
“Empress?” Twilight was slightly confused.
“Eeyup!” Said the raggedy Applejack who slumped onto her haunches sounding unbelievably like Big Macintosh. Who stood slightly away from the group, listening but with his eyes focused on something else. The other Fluttershy, not once had she even looked at him, she knew he was there, but why was she avoiding his gaze?

“Good ol’ empress Celestia! A.K.A Queen bitch!” Twilight gawked at the country pony in astonishment, she looked up and her jaw dropped. Every visiting pony was nodding their heads in agreement! When nopony continued, Rarity cleared her throat.
“As eloquent as your little name for her is, please could we simply continue your story.” She looked up at the dragon, who at the comment about Celestia had grown rigid, his claws balled into fists as he watched them all agree with their treasonous friend. “Before some people get...agitated from waiting too long!” added Rarity, quickly placing a calming hoof on the dragons back and stroking it gently.

The pinkie pie double frowned at everypony, she knew she had struck a nerve in a lot of the local ponies, what had she said? “Well, like AJ said, Celestia wasn’t exactly a kind and just ruler.” Before anypony could say anything, the darker Fluttershy growled and spat out a single word, she almost looked in Big Mac’s direction but she realised and quickly changed course to glare at a potted plant in the corner as though it had just insulted her. The single word made the room seem as icy cold as the death that followed it.
“Murderer!” Even the real Fluttershy peaked out from her hiding spot behind Rarity at the unbelievable word she heard her own voice spew out.

The real Applejack spoke up for the first time that night. She’d had enough! Being rude was one thing, aggressive was another! But nopony was going to besmirch Celestia’s name as long as she was there!
“Now hold on right now! You can’t just go around bad mouthin’ you ruler like that, it just aint right!” Her double looked up at her coldly and asked a question that seemed to glue the country pony’s tongue to the roof of her mouth.
“Even if that ‘ruler’ ordered the death of your parents?” Silence.

“Or slaughtered the entire class of flight school for failure?” The quiet voice issued from the pony hiding behind a long rainbow fringe. At her dark words, Rainbow Dash looked down at the curled up little pony, her expression one of complete incredulity!

“Or locked you away for life in a cell that you had to fight your way out of?” Asked the pink pony leader. She reached up and tapped the scar under her eye with her hoof. Applejack was speechless, she looked from one stranger to the other, unable to form a coherent thought. Her double chuckled darkly at her expression. Resuming her staring contest with the floor she muttered quietly.
“Like I said, Queen Bitch!”

The leader began again, her voice a lot lower and darker now that the atmosphere had descended into this dark and sickening topic. “We come from the kingdom of Celestia. We got out of our own situations, found each other, and then realised the only way to survive was to escape.” The real Pinkie’s hair was quivering, suddenly on the verge of flattening at the words of her double. Who now looked whimsically towards the sleeping unicorn on the sofa.

“She’s the reason we’re here.” A small smile crept onto her lips. “Not only because she did the spell... but she knew where to find it.” She stayed silent for a moment, then her voice grew quiet. “After everything they did to her, what they turned her into was actually what got us out of that hellhole.” She shook her head, realising she was daydreaming, and then looked back up at the gathered ponies. “Well, that’s it really. Or at least all I’m willing to tell you.”

That's a good point

“Ummmm...” Rarity began, feeling silly to ask, and yet she needed to know. “If you are all copies”- the group of new ponies all seemed to wince at the word she had used. She rushed to correct it. “I mean, if you are all... umm... other versions of us, then may I ask where the alternate Rarity is?” The leader looked around and frowned at the other Fluttershy, who shrugged and gave a “I have no idea” kind of look. The pink scarred pony turned back to the fashionista.
“Sorry, never heard that name before in my life.” There was silence as the words sank in. Twilight looked at her fellow unicorn, completely incredulous at the idea of this other version of themselves, all living life... without their own Rarity.

Rarity seemed to be frozen in surprise, the dragon stood next to her leant down and rubbed her back. The contact seemed to pull her from her reverie and she looked up into the dragon’s big green eyes and half grinned sheepishly up at him. She let out a small “Oh... I see.” And the subject was dropped by all.

Now there was yet another silence, but this one lasted longer than any before it. Each pony kept their thoughts to themselves. Ocationaly Rainbow would send a poisonous glare at the other Fluttershy, who would all but happily send one straight back. Next to her, the timid other Rainbow simply looked to the ground, trying to keep out of sight, she reached up and brushed a strand of her main back into place over her eye.

Fluttershy looked at the sad looking Pegasus, she looked so similar to what Fluttershy had been like when she had started flight camp. Terrified of everypony being upset or annoyed at her, she would lock herself away as much as possible, and try to simply wait it out until her next lesson. But this poor creature sounded as though she had been brought up in a world where there had been no possible place to escape to. A world where all that fear and insecurity was always there, all around you.

Maybe it was her identical appearance to her best friend, but Fluttershy suddenly felt the need to comfort this sad little Pegasus. Slowly she walked out from behind Rarity’s tail and came out into the glow of the fire. “Ummm... Rainbow Dash?” Both the Pegasy looked up at her voice.
“Yeah Fluttershy?” Asked her friend, the other simply looked crestfallen at her realisation it had not been one of her companions who had spoken her name. She looked back to the ground and flicked her hair back into place once again.

“Umm, I’m sorry Rainbow... but I was speaking to... the other Rainbow Dash.” The long fringed pony looked up, only one of her pink eyes visible. They stared at the yellow pony in surprise. Fluttershy smiled warmly at her, trying to make her smile. She knew Rainbow had a wonderful smile, all she wanted was to see it on this other ponies face.

The blue coated Pegasus’s lip quivered for a moment, twitching at the corners, threatening movement. Fluttershy heal her eye contact with the other quiet winged creature, filling her with the infectious smile. Finally, the blue Pegasus’s mouth broke into a small timid smile, her lips parted slightly, and hinted at the shining glimmer of white teeth. There we are, she knew the pony’s smile would be nice.

“You know what!?” The loud voice bellowed through the room, immediately breaking the warm atmosphere between the two ponies. The other Rainbow Dash quickly looked back to the ground, ensuring that she couldn’t do anything to enrage who was speaking. It was the other Applejack, she had a puzzled look on her face and was rubbing her chin with her right hoof in thought. “That just got me wonderin’ what do we call each other?”

The other Fluttershy rolled her eyes, letting a small sigh of exasperation escape her lips. “We call each other our names Applejack, what else would we call ourselves?” The orange pony shook her head, her yellow strands of mane flailing around with the jagged movements of her head.
“Naaahh, I mean... well, there’s two of each of us.” She glanced at the white unicorn and the dragon, “Well most of us anyways, so how do we know which ones any of us is talkin’ ‘bout?” Twilight frowned for a moment, realising their dilemma.
“That’s a good point.” She mused, trying to think.

“I say we stick with our normal names, and just don’t talk TO or ABOUT the other ones.” Huffed the yellow Pegasus still seated on the sofa.
“That’s fine by me!” Agreed Rainbow dash on the other side of the room. Rarity sighed, at the immature actions of the two Pegasy and finally decided to intervene.
“Well, I’m sorry but we all know we aren’t going to be able to let that happen now are we? It would seem that you two are too similar to speak politely to one another, so maybe you should just sit and stay quiet.” The two Pegasy huffed and crossed there forelegs in annoyance, but remained in silence.

“Thank you.” Said the other Pinkie who rolled her eyes over her companion. “But Applejack has a point, how are we supposed to be able to speak with each other if we’re always thinking their talking to the other us?” The real Pinkie seemed to bounce with happiness for the first time since her doppelganger had put her down. She smiled around at everypony, showing of those big pearly whites as she giggled with excitement.
“Well, it’s easy! We just call the new ponies by their nicknames!”

Everypony stared. Each ones mouth hung open at the actually reasonable idea that had escaped the random pink pony’s mouth. Twilight was the first to recover from the shock. “Uhh, that’s a... a really good idea Pinkie!”
“Thankies!” She beamed at her magenta friend, who ignored the latest new addition to Pinkie’s vocabulary. She turned to the visiting ponies.
“So? What do you all like to be called by your friends?”

Each of the visiting ponies looked to each other, frowning slightly as they did. The other Dash bit her lip as she looked up to the unicorn, who smiled at her and urged her with a kind “Yes?”
“Oh, umm... well... my parents used to call me... D-Dashie.” Pinkie exploded!
“REALLY!?!? That’s what I call Dashie! I call her Dashie ‘cos it’s a cute name and it’s also short for Dash, well actually Dash is shorter than Dashie, but I really think that Dashie sounds better, then again”-
“Uhh Pinkie, I think we get it.” interrupted Twilight, she looked to real Rainbow Dash. “Do you mind if we called her Dashie? Seeing as it could still cause some confusion on your part.” The Rainbow pony shrugged.

“Ehhh, no worries, you all call me the same usual thing, it’s just Pinkie who calls me that, so it won’t be that hard.” Twilight smiled at her friends cooperation.
“Well then,” She walked up to the pony on the sofa, “Hello ‘Dashie’ I’m Twilight Sparkle, it’s wonderful to finally be introduced to you.” She held out a hoof, the newly dubbed Dashie looked at it for a moment. She seemed to quake slightly, her eyes glinted in fear as the slightest whimper escaped her lips as she recoiled from the outstretched hoof.

“She only wants to shake your hoof Dashie!” Sighed the pink scarred pony rolling her eyes at the Pegasus’s –at what was in her view- cowardice. Dashie looked over to her leader, and then back at Twilight, who’s hoof still hung there waiting to be greeted. The unicorn smiled.
“Hey, it’s ok. I don’t want to hurt you. You’ll be safe here.” Dashie returned the smile sheepishly, she lifted her hoof and placed it above Twilight’s, they shook for a moment. When Twilight finally retracted her hoof, Dashie did the same. However, for the first time that night, her smile remained. It twinkled discreetly in the corner of her mouth, hidden by her position on the sofa on which she sat.
“
So... Ummm, what do...you like to be called?” Asked Fluttershy, she began to move across the room towards her counterpart, finally showing some courage smiling at her fellow yellow Pegasus. “I like to be called Fluttershy, but I suppose if that’s what you like to be called, I could find something else.”
“Good, ‘cos I’m not changing what everpony calls me all because of you!” The Pegasus didn’t even have the decency to look Fluttershy in the eye.

“O-oh, ok.” Fluttershy grew quiet and looked to the ground. For what seemed like the thousandth time, the Pinkie Pie double prepared to yell at her yellow companion. But before she could even utter a single word, Big Macintosh finally spoke up.

“Excuse me!” Though he didn’t speak often, his voice right now was strong and demanded everypony’s respect and attention. The other Fluttershy’s head snapped towards him, her anger immediately breaking into surprise and shock. “Now I have no idea what your problem is missy! But you’re still a guest here, an’ I think you’ve been takin’ a few too many liberties with your words! You need to calm down. I don’t know what could have possibly happened to turn this beautiful young thing!” He gestured gently to the quiet Fluttershy who now stood in the centre of the library; she smiled up at the compliment from the large red stallion. “Into this bitter nightmare! But you need to show some darn respect!” finished Big Mac, his eyes stayed locked on the now shocked face of the usually frustrated Pegasus.

“I... uhh-It’s just...I...” The Pegasus spluttered out. Mac couldn’t understand her attitude, one moment she was yelling at everypony in the room, but the second he spoke up, she began to act just like the normal Fluttershy would. Was she afraid of him? No. As he looked into her eyes, he could swear he saw something else. Something just behind those teal eyes was screaming out for him to see it, but what was it.
“Look, it’s late, I think we’re all a bit too tired to really be trying to talk to one another. We can’t get off on the right foot after everything we’ve all been through. Maybe we should just all go and rest.” It was the other Pinkie who had spoken up. She looked around and smiled with difficulty, trying to adopt some of the happy nature of her counterpart. (poorly)

“Yeah.” Agreed Twilight. She did a quick head count of the new ponies, and her face fell. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think the library has enough room for all of you, I’ll gladly let some of you stay, but I just don’t think there’s enough room.” Twilight seemed flustered, but soon her friends came to the rescue.
“Hey, I don’t mind letting Dashie-WOW that feels weird!- ummm yeah, if she wants to she can stay at my place for the night she can.” Dash looked back at the curled up copy and smiled, inside her head Dashie was completely blown away, everypony here was... just so nice! And they were always trying to smile!
“I don’t mind! I’ll stay with Rainbow Dash!” She piped up quickly, speaking the loudest that any of them had heard yet.

“Heheh, well it looks like she’s all set!” Hollered Applejack with a haughty laugh. She then looked down to the still seated version of herself. “So scraggily! You up for staying at the farm with me ‘till tomorrow?” The wild haired Applejack shook her head, pulling herself out of whatever thoughts had engrossed her mind. She looked up to the tamer looking orange pony and smiled.

“Does a tree need bucking?!” she asked enthusiastically. She bounced up from the ground. “Oh, and call me AJ, nice and easy, as long as you don’t mind?” She asked the hospitable country pony, who shook her head and smiled.
Pinkie bounced off of the sofa and jumped towards her own double, she streaked towards the scarred pony, who clenched her eyes shut waiting for the impact that never came. She dared to peak out of her unscathed eye and was greeted by the sight of another blue starring straight back at her. Opening her other eye she examined what had happened, Pinkie had skidded to a halt a mere centimetre away from away from the other mare’s face. She leant on her forelegs, letting her rump and hind legs float in the air comically.

The other Pinkie felt awkward, she didn’t like people in her personal bubble, so why was this pony so completely different to the point where she had to be close to every damn living thing in the room? She didn’t back away, her whole life had taught her to never back down, but she also couldn’t move forward either due to this pony. “Yes?” she asked awkwardly.

Pinkie beamed and bounced away a couple of feet and began to jump on the spot like a bouncy ball. “Woohooo! She said yes!” Everypony stared. Rainbow Dash suppressed a laugh at her friends randomness, pushing her hoof to her lips to quell any sound that may escape. Even Dashie beside her smiled meekly at the funny scene.
“No, no WAIT! I didn’t say yes to anything!” Protested the pony in the centre of the room, who was now free to move once again. She took a determined step forward, obviously growing tired of Pinkie’s randomness.

“Actually...” Pinkie began, her voice distorted by her every bounce that sent a shudder through her body. “You said ‘Yes’ just then! So you did say yes!”
“Ok then! I didn’t agree to anything like you seem to think I did!” fumed the other pink pony. Pinkie froze... mid-jump.
“Oh...” To all the local ponies it was nothing to be surprised about, she always did things that bordered on the impossible, so this was nothing new. But to the new visiting ponies, it was the most unbelievable thing they’d seen. An earth pony able to defy gravity without the help of her friend’s magic. All anger was wiped from the other pink pony’s face, replaced as her mouth made a single “O” in shock.
Pinkie floated to the ground, suddenly very sad looking. “I ... thought...”
“Yeah?”
“I thought, you would like to stay at Sugar Cube Corner, seeing as everypony else has a guest, I was hoping you’d like to stay at”-

“I NEVER SAID I WAS STAYING WITH HER!” Protested the other Fluttershy gesturing furiously at the other yellow pegasus, her temper rising once again! This time Big Mac had no time to respond before the other Pinkie did. Within a flash, the pink pony seemed to vanish and reappear in front of her yellow colleague with the blink of an eye. She stared straight into the other Fluttershy’s eyes, who stared straight back at her defiantly.

“I’m getting sick of this attitude Flutt!” The leader growled. “I know you’re upset. Hell, if anything I know JUST how you feel, but you need to stow it! We now have places to stay until Twilight recovers.” She jabbed the yellow chest of the Pegasus before her. “Show some damn appreciation!” the two stood there for a moment, locked in a fiery stare down. Finally the Pegasus looked to the ground, grumbling a quiet “Sorry” to no one in particular.

“Look, is there some place I can talk to her for a minute. You know...” The scarred pony asked Twilight, looking to the depressed Pinkie Pie who had now sunk to her knees in sadness. “Alone.” She finished. Twilight showed them to the spare room from which she had gotten the blanket, she showed them in and closed the door behind them. She turned to Pinkie and put on a smile.

“Don’t worry Pinkie I’m sure she is just...” The door behind her creaked open once again, everyone turned to see the long straight mane’d pony poke her head put around the side.
“And yes Pinkie, if you don’t mind, I’d love to stay with you at ...Sugar... Cube... whatever.” She smiled then retracted her head to speak to her version of Fluttershy alone.

“Eeeeeeehh!” Squealed Pinkie excitedly! She seemed to inflate slightly as she giggled with happiness at the fact she had a guest for the night.
“Jeez, that pony has some attitude!” Huffed Rainbow Dash.
“Funny...” Jibed Rarity, “She seemed to act a surprisingly similar way to you Dash dear.”
“Well...yeah, but it works on me don’t you think?” Rainbow shrugged, bringing a few smirks to the surrounding ponies lips. “Besides,” She added growing serious. “I’m not that bad... am I?” She frowned with a slight sense of worry.

“Nah, you’re not Rainbow.” Applejack consoled her. “Summit’s got that girl’s goat real bad!” There was a murmur of agreement from the local ponies, but amongst the noises, a small voice was heard. Dashie had cleared her throat. She seemed to be ready to talk for the first time that night, maybe with the loud Fluttershy in the other room, she finally felt able to speak. No. That wasn’t it. The Pegasus began to speak; amazingly, she began to defend the angry yellow Pegasus!

Somepony was left behind

“Umm, please don’t be too angry with Fluttershy... she’s been through a lot.” Dashie obviously wasn’t very confident in what she was saying, her voice trailed away into nothing quickly under the many watchful eyes of the ponies around her.

“What do you mean Dashie?” Asked Twilight, she craved to know how the Pegasus was so different from the Fluttershy they all knew and loved. The rainbow mane’d Pegasus bleated with nerves, and quickly curled back into her shell, letting her fringe fall over most of her face once again. However, the only other inter-dimensional pony in the room came to her rescue.

“We didn’t quite get here with everyone we had meant to.” AJ said sadly, she looked at her hooves and scuffed them against the polished wooden floor.
“Yeah...” Murmured Dashie from the sofa. She nuzzled her muzzle into her foreleg, leaving only her uncovered pink eye visible for all to see. It seemed to brim with small beads of tears. “Someone decided to stay behind and... Fluttershy didn’t want to go without him...”

Big Macintosh knew it! The way she had refused to make eye contact with him, the way she had changed her attitude the second her had confronted her. “Who was it?” He asked the little Pegasus. He needed to know for sure.
“Oh... ummm...well...”
“You know it was you Mac.” Confirmed AJ from across the room. Mac looked at her to see her eyes filled with tears as well. “In our world, Mac was one of the ones who helped us get into the castle library. He helped hold of the guards, he did everything he could to keep me... and Fluttershy safe.” She took a deep breath and whipped her nose on the back of her hoof before continuing with obvious difficulty.

Mac wanted to stop her, to see the face of his sister so miserable tore him apart inside even if it wasn't really her, but yet AJ continued without pause nor falter. “When Twilight finally got the spell she was looking for and opened our way here, Mac decided the last thing he could do to keep her... to keep all of us safe, was to stay behind and fight off the gua-rds.” Her voice cracked as she gave into the tears. She looked to the ground and cried, the tears splashing to the floor in quick succession.

Applejack laid a hoof on the shoulder of her weeping double, now she knew what Rainbow had meant by this being weird! To feel the fur of her own body on somepony else was the strangest sensation she had ever felt. But that didn’t matter right now, all that mattered was comforting this poor pony.

Dashie picked up where AJ left off, she spoke in a monotone obviously distancing herself from what she was saying in an attempt to keep away the pain. “Fluttershy went after him, she was begging him to go with her, she didn’t want to live without him. She loved him, they had been together through everything over the last year, and now it was finally over.” She looked up at the group surrounding her. Her eye meat Mac’s, almost as though she blamed him for what his copy had done. “But Mac wanted to stay.” She finished coldly. Rainbow looked down at the pony beside her on the sofa, incredulous to hear how terrible these ponies journey’s had been. She wanted to comfort her lookalike, and yet, though tears hung over her eyelids ready to fall. None ever followed and pushed them off. She seemed to be frozen in a state of misery and indifference, and it unsettled Rainbow too much to offer a shoulder to cry on.

Twilight looked around the room to see that almost every eye in the room was bleary with tears. Rarity-who fell to pieces at the slightest sad story- was holding on to spike as silent tears began to trace down her cheeks. The dragon seemed to be holding it together, barely, his shoulders seemed to shiver from some unknown cold as he listened to the horrible words that came from both the alternate ponies’ mouths. Fluttershy seemed to be distraught, she had fallen to the floor and lay there her eyes brimming with tears as she listened to the story of her other self.

Applejack was trying to fight away the pearly invaders, but one single straggler got away, and ran down her left check and pooled in the corner of her mouth. Twilight herself felt the burning in the corner of her eyes that threatened her to cry herself. She sniffed hard, trying to fight off the sadness with the mental discipline she had taught herself over so many years.

AJ whimpered for a moment. “He-he...” She looked up and into the green eyes of Big Macintosh once again. “He told me to look after her. And I said I would! But... she just seems so damn angry now! She was never that calm, but never like this!” Fluttershy stood shakily, she approached the weeping AJ and put her forelegs around her neck and squeezed caringly. AJ’s eyes were visible over the Pegasus’s shoulder, they simply grew round and amazed at the unprovoked sign of kindness.

For a long time nopony said a word. Then Fluttershy broke the embrace and stood back. “W-were you the one? Back when you first got here, we heard somepony crying.” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah! It’s what made me call out to you guys!” agreed Twilight. AJ shook her head, she couldn’t talk, her voice had given out.
“It was Fluttershy...” Whispered Dashie. “She was crying, but the second she heard ponies around us she went back into fighting mode.” Dash couldn’t believe it.
“You mean she switched from THAT kind of misery to... that?” She waved a hoof at the empty sofa the Pegasus had been sitting on. Dashie merely nodded as she stared at a knot in the plank of flooring at the base of the sofa.

“Mmmaybe I should get out of here before she comes back, keep everything as peaceful as possible?” Asked Big Mac, he looked primarily to his sister. She frowned, unsure of what to say. “Maybe, if you don’ mind that is. Do you?”
“Nnope.”
“Ok, well I’ll see yah back home then bro. We won’t be much longer I don’ think.” Big Mac headed for the door. He nodded in thanks to Twilight, as he always did whenever he did when he left somepony’s house, and pushed open the wooden door to the house and left.

As the door was opened, so was the entrance to the spare room. The two alternate ponies came out and rejoined the group. The suddenly calm looking other Fluttershy looked around, knowing somepony had left. She looked to the front door just in time to see an orange tail whip out of sight and into the dark of the outside. The door came to a close, and sensation like a pin pricking her pressed against her chest. It wasn’t painful enough to register on her face, but she felt it. She felt the heartache.

Time to rest

The usually angry Pegasus came to the centre of the room, and addressing the floor, she began to speak miserably. “I’m sorry for my attitude, it was out of line, and uncalled for. I’m sorry if I insulted you...” She seemed to struggle for a moment with a word. “F-Fluttershy. I don’t want to impose, but could you please allow me to stay with you for the night.” She stopped, but was quickly prompted by an over the top cough from the other Pinkie Pie. The yellow pony looked angrily at the scarred eye before continuing begrudgingly. “And... Just call me Flutt. I... yeah...” She finished, leaving the gathering silent again.

Fluttershy approached her slowly, no one stopped her, no one even breathed. Flutt looked up to see her approaching, she frowned and back away slightly, unsure what she was doing. Fluttershy stopped at the sight of her double’s retreat. She stopped and tilted her head to one side and smiled at her. “You wouldn’t be imposing at all! I’d be happy to let you stay.” And with that, the tension in the room vanished letting everypony relax.

From the sofa, Dashie let out a stifled yawn that didn’t go unnoticed. Rarity fought the urge to stretch her mouth as well, and addressed the group. “Well I do think that’s enough excitement for one night don’t you?” Twilight nodded and looked down at her own copy still fast asleep on the sofa.
“Yeah, I think it’s best if we got some rest. She’ll be fine with me I promise, should we say we meat up at the cafe for breakfast?” The other ponies nodded with warm smiles of agreement. Even the alternate ones seemed to like the idea! How long must it have been since they’d had a real meal? Twilight didn’t even dare guess. She simply said “Ok then, well I’ll see you all tomorrow then!”

With that, each couple left slowly. First the Applejack’s left, both nodding to Twilight just as Big Mac had, they looked to each other as they did so, and suppressed fits of laughter at their mirror like actions. Twilight smirked, and watched as the two Rainbow coloured Pegasy were the next to leave. Though Rainbow flew slowly through the air Dashie simply walked across the room and out through the door. She wasn’t sure, but Twilight could swear she heard a meek and quiet “Thank you” pass from the sad walking Pegasus. Rainbow looked down from above, a little confused as to why her other self wasn’t flying like she was. The two left and Rainbow shouted a quick “Bye Guys!” before they headed off for Rainbow Dash’s cloud house.

Fluttershy and Flutt left next. The new pony didn’t say a word as she left the library, but quiet old Fluttershy stopped by the door. “Thank you Twilight, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She looked after the fast disappearing copy of herself. “Actually, I think you may see me sooner...she’s a bit... scary!” Twilight couldn’t help but giggle.
“Fluttershy, she’s fine, she’s just been through a lot. I’m sure if you talk to her, you’ll find out you have tones in common with her!”
“You really think so?” The Pegasus asked nervously.
“Well yeah!” Smiled the purple unicorn. “She is YOU after all!” Fluttershy smiled, filled with new found confidence. She turned and trotted to catch up with the other yellow pony.

And now for the Pinkie’s. The real Pinkie was having a fast one sided convocation with the other as they passed Twilight and headed for the door. “Oh and I can show you the bakery! All the ovens, the fire’s, the trays, the cups, the plates, the pans, the bowels, the bags, the- BYE TWILIGHT!-The cupcakes, the layer cakes, the brownies, the cookies. What do you think...” She gasped and froze on the spot staring at her doppelganger, who starred in astonishment with her apparent lack of need for breathing. “I STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT TO CALL YOU!” She squeaked! “Maaaayyyybe, Pinkie? Oh hehe that’s me... Pinko? Pinkeye? Pink”-

“Let’s... just go with that, just call me Pink. Sound good?” Asked the scarred pony. Pinkie resumed her walk towards the door.
“No it doesn’t sound good, it sounds GREAT! Pink, pink, pink, pinkie pink, pink pinkie, pinkedy pinkie pinkie pink...” The random party pony continued on and on as she left the house and headed for the bakery in the distance. Pink stopped just shy of the threshold and looked back at her sleeping friend, she then looked to Twilight, and smiled.
“Thank you, for helping us. We... let’s just say we’re not quite used to this amount of kindness, so... yeah...” She was unsure how to finish, so she left it. She took one last glance at their sleeping saviour. The one who had gotten them out of hell, though she addressed the real Twilight she didn’t look away from the sleeping one. “She likes to be called Twi, when she wakes up... just call her that. She won’t mind.

She gave a nod and left the library, leaving only the two Twilight’s, Spike and Rarity. Almost on the instant they were alone, Rarity began to speak.
“Twilight dear, you know I would never question your judgement, but why did you bring them here?!” She looked frantic. “I had no chance t stop you when she fainted,” she gestured to the covered unicorn. “and now you’ve let them stay with our friends?! Forgive me dear, but I find it quite... unsettling.” Her brow was creased into a frown.

Twilight shrugged, “They seem nice enough to me Rarity.”
“Yes dear, they SEEM nice, but are you forgetting what they did to us when they got here?!” Rarity could almost hear the high pitched squeal again. Spike placed a consoling hand on her back trying to calm her down.
“Rarity, this is silly, they haven’t tried to hurt any of us. So don’t judge them yet, let’s get to know them before we jump to conclusions huh?” He begged soothingly. Rarity sighed with obvious exhaustion.
“I-I’m sorry Twilight, I... I guess I’m just tired after everything that’s happened.” At her words Twilight felt the dark hands of drowsiness grab her suddenly sapping her of all strength. She teetered for a moment, and then regained her balance.

“I understand Rarity, I’m just the same!” The magenta unicorn looked down at her filthy coat; still matted with sick and bile and grimaced with disgust. The two guests stood for a moment, then with a little nudge from the dragon, Rarity made her way to the door. “Goodnight Twilight.” They both called, before shutting the door behind them and allowed Twilight to clean herself up before retiring for the night.

The two made their way through the town slowly, the tiredness from being disturbed from their sleep and everything that had followed had finally caught up with them. They passed the houses that lined the street to Rarity’s boutique, and as they came to the home stretch, Rarity rested her head on Spike’s arm as they walked. She nuzzled into his warm scales, taking a deep breath filled with his scent. The smell melted away all her anxiety, all her worries about the others.

Surely they hadn’t meant to cause Rarity and Twilight any pain! They had almost lost one of their own, so it surely wasn’t planned. Rarity was just worrying for nothing. They reached the front door, which Spike opened clumsily. The two made their way in, and without pause they made their way back upstairs towards their room.

They reached the landing, and Spike paused. Rarity looked at him questioningly. “I’ll be there in a sec’ I’ll just go check on Sweetie Belle.” Rarity smiled appreciatively and headed for their room, leaving the dragon to head in the opposite direction.

The house was silent, not a sound escaped the walls or doors. Not even the sound of Sweetie Belles deep breathing could be heard as Spike approached her room. Her door was open, which was odd! She always had it closed and used a nightlight when she slept. He leant forward leaning into the room and peering around. The floorboards beneath his scaly foot creaked loudly against the silence of the house. He could see the bed, its sheets where scrunched at the bottom of the mattress leaving the rest bare. Sweetie Belle wasn’t in her room.

Before Spike could even think, an earth shattering, soul crushing scream emitted from his and Rarity’s room. “SPIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!” It was Rarity, without a moment’s thought her turned around and tore through the hallway, his clawed feet slipping on the polished floor as her did. He grabbed hold of the door frame to their room, and swung himself in as quick as possible. Only to stop dead, and stare dumbstruck at the sight before him.

Sweetie Belle was lying unconscious on the floor; dried blood clung to her face. She lay in a pool of congealing blood surrounding her head, her nose had been bleeding. A LOT! Now Rarity knelt above her, cradling her sister’s head delicately. “Sweetie?... Sweetie wake up please!” Slowly, the small crusader stirred in her sister’s arms. She opened her eyes groggily and stared up at her worried sibling.

“Sis...” She groaned, “I don’t feel so good! I could... smell something...like burning... and then I...” her voice faded into silence once again as she fell back into darkness, her breathing harsh and distorted by her clogged up nose.
“How did she...?!?!” Asked Rarity furiously. “She didn’t know about it! Surely she couldn’t have overdosed without...” her gaze fell upon the unfurled roll of parchment on the floor a few feet away.

She turned horrified, gazing up at Spike who still stood dumbstruck in the hallway. “You left it here?” She whispered, rage seethed through every letter that escaped her mouth. Spike just wished she would yell, it would be a thousand times better than this quiet fury that burned in his beloved’s eyes. “You left it here, in plain view for Sweetie to find?”
“I-I...” Spike spluttered, unable to think straight. He still couldn’t think straight, he had left the letter on the floor; he had left the door open. He had pretty much invited Sweetie Belle to read it after he’d rushed out with her sister.

This was his fault, the filly had bled profusely, lost consciousness, and very probably almost died... because of him.

Rarity seemed to come to the exact same conclusion as Spike. “Get out.” She muttered, returning her attention to her little sister.
“Rarity... I”-
“GET OUT!” She screamed, her head snapped towards him and glared him down. Immediately he obeyed and fled from the house and into the night. Leaving Rarity to tend to her weak little sister alone.

Spike wandered through the quiet town. Enveloped by his guilt and disgust. How could he have rushed out so carelessly? Sweetie must have been terrified by what was happening before he had left for Twilight’s house. How could he be so stupid?! The site of the dried blood swam across his vision yet again; he shuddered in disgust with himself. That had all been his fault!

His heart was heavy with regret, it gave a terrible pang as he remembered Rarity’s distorted scream, her furious face. Her last words rang out through his skull, making his insides squirm and writhe. A solitary tear ran down the dragon’s cheek, he reached up and swatted it away, trying to keep a hold of himself as he trudged into the shadows that surrounded the outskirts of the town. Slowly Spike made his way from the town, into the out skirting fields devoid of all light under the cloudy night sky.

A restless night for most

“Well, Macintosh went ahead of us, so hopefully he’s told the rest of the family what’s goin’ on. Means we got one less thin’ to do I suppose!” Laughed Applejack, as she led AJ down the winding country lane towards the farm that was quickly looming out of the night. AJ nodded, but something was amiss in her movements.

“You a’right there sugar cube?” Applejack asked the silent pony. The double simply stared at her feet as they stepped one after the other.
“Umm, it’s summit you just said, the REST of the family.” Applejack frowned.
“Yeah, what about it?” AJ looked up at straight into Applejacks identical eyes.
“Who is the REST of your family?” Applejack wasn’t sure to laugh or gasp in surprise. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips as the two continued past the front gate of the farm land.

“Now you’re just pullin’ mah tale, aint’yah!” AJ looked back at applejack and shook her head. Not a single hint of a joke was shown on her face. Applejack immediately stopped laughing, realising how serious this double of herself was.
“Well.” She began delicately. “There’s Granny Smith?” The name didn’t seem to mean anything to the otherworldly pony. “Big Macintosh, as you know,” AJ nodded. “And of course there’s Apple Bloom!” She smiled at her other self.

“Apple Bloom?” Applejack stopped dead in shock. Her mouth hung open as she stared at the other pony slightly ahead of her. AJ gazed back confused, “I’m sorry, is she important here?” Apple jack’s jaw nearly pulled out of place from hanging so low. She stuttered and stumbled over her words as she tried to reason with the other pony.
“S-She’s your- I mean my- I mean OUR baby sister!” Now it was AJ’s turn to look surprised. She stared back incredulously at the neater version of herself.
“S-S-sister?” She asked astonished.

“Yeah! Little Apple Bloom! She has a red mane and a yellow coat? Maybe you called her something else in your world?” AJ shook her head again.
“It’s always just been me and Mac.” She bit her lip at the thought of her brother, still in that horrible place she had finally escaped from. “It...had been anyway.”

Applejack and her double continued up the sloping path towards the farmhouse. The Stetson wearing pony glanced at the ragged looking creature beside her. “So why d’you think you never had a little sister like me?” She asked. They reached the porch of the house, AJ sighed and stopped just before they reached the door. Applejack waited patiently for her response.
“I don’ need to think Applejack, I know. The reason I don’t have a sister like you...” She looked straight into her double’s matching green eyes. “Is because Empress Celestia ordered my parents to be killed when I six months old.”

.........................................

“You won’t get anythin’ outta me!”
“Come now sweet heart, surely we can be reasonable, after all I believe I’m being quite accommodating, all things considered.”
“Loosen these chains and I’ll really show you how grateful I am!” Macintosh lay chained in place on a wrack. Somewhere in the dark that shrouded the room lay some unseen and malevolent entity, taunting him from the safety of the shadows.
“Come now, we know that if I did that, you’d try something...” A face leered out from behind the wrack just behind Mac’s ear. “Treasonous.” The elegant lips whispered.

“It aint treason if it’s what EVERYPONY wants!” shouted Mac as he pulled at his bindings. The face grew serious, its lips turned from a grin to a scowl.
“You are implying that my subjects detest my reign on the thrown. Now that IS treason!” the long horn in the centre of her head began to glow with a misty energy. The same energy began to twist the levers on each corner of the wrack, pulling Mac’s limbs hard. He let out a loud scream of pain, but quickly got a hold of himself, trying not to give her the satisfaction. He clenched his teeth tight and panted through them in rasping breaths.

Specks of spit flew from his mouth and spattered the floor as the stallion grunted in pain until the turning bolts stopped. “Now, dear, I detest doing that so”-
“Then why are you doing it yourself? Surely you could get one of those lackeys outside to do it instead.” The red stallion jerked his head in the direction of the door he had been dragged through hours before. “That’s right!” He shouted, into the shadows ahead of him, hoping he was addressing the being’s general direction. “Because you’re a violent, heartless, soulless, evil BITCH!”

Macintosh clenched his teeth waiting for the chains to pull harder, but they never grew any more tort. There was silence throughout the chamber, a terrible, screaming silence. “Draig, take which ever hoof you wish.” Pain screamed into life in Mac’s right hoof and he cried out in shock! He stared down to see a tail, purple, scaly and huge, retracting from view.

Every nerve in his right leg felt as though it had exploded. He looked down to see his hoof, shattered into at least four segments. Chips of the bone like material fell and spread across the floor beneath him, as blood slowly began to drip from the cracks in his flesh and pool around the base of the wrack. “You hurt my feelings there sweetheart.” Cackled the voice from behind the veil of shadows. The laugh echoed horribly, spreading across the room until it bombarded Macintosh from every direction.

Eventually the monstrous laugh died into unrelenting silence once more. When the voice spoke again, all humour had been dropped. The voice was now cold and demanding. “What spell did they use?!”
“What?” Asked Macintosh, shocked by the strange question.
“What spell?! Don’t play dumb, I know you hid it! WHAT SPELL!?!?” The figure now loomed out of the dark, gliding like a wraith. She came face to face with Macintosh, their noses only an inch apart from one another.

Mac chuckled, the laugh slowly grew into an unbelievable guffaw, he threw his head back letting the sound wring out around the room. The magical glow grew again, silencing Mac as it twisted the bolts again, stretching his legs to their fullest extent. “Am I missing a joke here?” The figure asked. Mac couldn’t help but chuckle again.
“Well, you’re obviously missing something, but it aint a joke! My apologies your majesty...” He spat on the pure white face in front of him. The glob landed just below the dark red eye that loomed ahead of him “I aint hidden anything! Which means, you’ve lost your only chance of finding them!”

The bolts twisted again silently, without any witty comment from the figure before him. The red eyes simply stared back at his green ones with silent fury. Mac gritted his teeth again, grunting at the pain as he felt his left foreleg begin to burn white hot in pain. With an agonising crack, the foreleg displaced itself from his shoulder. He screamed, unable to bare the pain through his shoulder and the building pain in his broken back hoof now being pulled at a horrible angle by the chains still binding it.

“That’s right Macintosh,” The figure smiled. “Scream! Scream like the pathetic creature you are! Scream. Scream! SCREAM!” Celestia’s eye’s burned with rage as Macintosh’s pain climaxed, bones cracked, blood spurted from his broken hoof-

-“MAC!” Flutt bolted upright. Her skin was on fire, sweat poured down her face as she frantically fumbled out of the bed and rushed to the window. She swung it open and gasped for the welcoming fresh air. Her heart threatened to burst from her chest with its relentless pounding against her ribs. She panted and gasped for a few more moments before she regained her composure.

Flutt looked up into the sky filled with its many shining stars, replaying the dream over in her head. The terror began to set it. As Flutt gazed into the sanguine sky, she realised what her dream was telling her. Mac, HER MAC, was in trouble. She shuddered at the memory of the crunch of Mac’s bones under the scaly tail, and the cracking of his limbs set into the torture wrack. Quickly growing queasy at the thoughts.

“Uhhh... F-Flutt? A-are you alright?” Asked a timid voice from behind the Pegasus. Flutt whirled round, ready to attack any unfriendly face that approached. But it was only Fluttershy. Her eyes were bleary and only half open, Flutt had obviously woken her with her shout as she woke up. Flutt opened her mouth, ready with a sarcastic response, but she bit back at the last second.

She cleared her head, and addressed the hospitable Pegasus as politely as she could. “Yeah...Fluttershy.” She still wasn’t too fond of calling the other Pegasus her own name, but she dealt with it. “I’m sorry. I’ll keep it down.” She turned back to the window and looked out on the night once again.

“You know...” Fluttershy began, coming up beside Flutt to gaze out of the window beside her. “I know what I look like just before I cry.”
“So?” The other Pegasus asked dubiously.
“So, that should mean I’m able to tell when you’re about to cry too.” Fluttershy turned and faced her copy, who starred stubbornly at the sky refusing to look into her identical teal eyes.

“Is it your version of Big Macintosh?” Flutt was surprised, she turned to the usual timid Pegasus who stood beside her, her head slightly tilted to one side, a look of worry on her face. Flutt closed her eyes, and laughed bitterly.
“Rainbow Dash...” She muttered to herself. She looked back up. “I’m guessing ‘Dashie’ told you about who we left behind then?” Fluttershy nodded. “Well, yeah. We left him behind, and just now I...” Flutt stopped herself. ‘What the hell am I doing?’ she thought to herself. ‘I don’t know her at all, and I’m about to tell her anything she wants?’ Flutt tore herself away from the window and flung herself back onto the guest bed she had been sleeping on before. “Never mind.” She finished lamely.

Fluttershy watched the back of the lying Pegasus rise and fall with each breath. She sighed, feeling terrible that she couldn’t help the pony that looked so miserable. “Ok.” Fluttershy said quietly, heading towards her room once again. “If you need to talk I”-
“I don’t!” Flutt cut across her, leaving the cottage in silence accept for the light breathing of the animals in the other rooms as they slept.

“O...k...” Fluttershy returned to her room. Flutt lay there, she wriggled further into the soft covers to keep warm. She glared at the wall she faced.
“Go talk to Pink if you wanna talk about leaving people behind.” She grumbled to no one at all. She closed her eyes hard and buried her face into her pillow. “Because I don’t want to!” Then she lay in a grumpy silence, as she waited to fall back to sleep.

Surprises all around

“C’mon! I don’t have all night!” Dash hung in the air by her front door, gazing down to the grassy ground below. Dashie stood below, gazing up at the grand and –even in the shadow of night- vibrant home.
“It’s beautiful!” She breathed, gazing at the rainbow water fall, the almost Greek looking columns and pillars. Rainbow Dash sighed.
“Yeah, glad you like it; I’ll give you the grand tour in a minute. Just get up here already!”

Dashie said nothing, she gazed up at the house. Then she looked to her wings tucked in to her sides. For a moment she seemed lost in thought, but she quickly shook her head, clenched her eyes and pulled her head away defiantly. Letting out a small squeal of fear as she did so.

Rainbow watched her copy down on the ground, unsure of what the problem was. But this had been bugging her the whole time she’d seen this other Rainbow mane’d Pegasus. Rainbow swooped down to the ground just ahead of the fearful mare. “What’s the problem?” She asked simply. Dashie didn’t look up, she flicked her mane slightly to adjust her fringe, then continued to gaze at the ground silently.

“You haven’t flown once since you got here.” Rainbow commented. Dashie dared a quick glimpse at the other Pegasus from behind the strands of multicoloured hair. Rainbow could see that her eyes were glistening. “Hey, c’mon! I didn’t mean it in any kind of bad way, it just confused me is all!” the proud Pegasus explained quickly, not wanting the shy copy to cry.

Dashie still looked back at Rainbow, her brow furrowed slightly to show her puzzlement at the other’s words. “It’s just.” Rainbow continued, feeling awkward she rubbed the back of her neck with her forehoof absentmindedly. “If you’re a... double of me, surely you love flying, so why...don’t... you?” She trailed off quietly.

Dashie moved her head, revealing her uncovered eye better. She looked at Rainbow, she gave a forced half smile with no happiness behind it. “Well, I guess we’ve found something that makes us different.” She said coldly, “I hate flying.”

...........................................................

Pinkie trudged down the stairs dozily, she yawned and rubbed her eyes, searching for the noise that had woke her up. At first her bleary eyes didn’t find anything unusual, but as she stared into the gloom she saw the front door was open, it banged slightly against its frame in the night breeze. Pinkie crossed the room, confused, she was sure she locked this door, or at least closed it!

As she took hold of the wooden panel and prepared to pull it to a close, she noticed a pony sat on the steps leading to it. She frowned for a moment. “Pink?” The figure stirred, she glanced over her shoulder at the call of her newly adopted name. Her eyes looked sad, but her face gave nothing away as always.

She glanced at the open door, “Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t realise I’d made such a racket getting out. I’ll keep it down.” She turned back and gazed up at the stars again, almost mystified. Pinkie stood there for a moment. ‘What a strange pony.’ She thought. Then shrugged thinking how Pink most likely thought the same of her. With a smile, and a quickly fading drowsiness, she moved past the other pink pony, and flopped onto the damp due covered blades of grass.

She breathed deeply taking in the scent of the moisture, and the slight taste of baking that always hung in the air around the sweet shop. Gazing up into the many pinpricks of light Pinkie sighed happily. “There amazing huh? It’s so much better on a clearer night though.”
“Yeah, I guess they are pretty amazing.” Pink agreed quietly.

“So, what’s the plan after tonight then huh?” Pinkie asked, tilting her head up to see the other pink pony.
“No idea really.” She said morosely, “I guess the five of us will decide tomorrow.” She gave a half smile at pinkie, then returned to her star gazing. Pinkie was confused however,
“Five? But there are only four of you.” Pink looked back at her, just as confused for a moment. Then with a wash of realisation, she quickly corrected herself.
“Oh... yeah, that’s what I meant. Sorry.”

Pink looked furtively back at Pinkie, trying to avoid eye contact while checking if was still watching. Pinkie stood, unusually serious. “Why did you say five pink?”
“Look! It was a slip of the tongue ok?!” Pink shouted unbelievably loudly.
“Hey, hey, hey! I was only asking, I didn’t mean to upset you and send you into one of your... mood ...swings.” An unbelievable idea crept into Pinkies mind as she lay there.

Pink was angry, but then she’d be amazingly kind to somepony, then she’d flip out at the slightest thing. Pinkie was had experienced this before with another female pony. Mrs. Cake had been this way for a few months before she gave birth to her twins. Maybe that’s why Pink’s mood swings seemed so familiar. Pinkie licked her lips, considering whether to ask the preposterous question or not. What was the harm?

Pink was frowning at her, trying to understand what was going on behind the furrowed brow and the tongue sticking out from between her lips. Did the random party pony know? Unknowingly Pink adjusted her position on the steps, placing a foreleg in front of her stomach protectively. By the time she realised what she had done, it was too late.

Pinkie realised what the movemenbt meant, she was protecting something, something hidden from plain sight and mind to anypony she had come with. Any pony she had even spoken to sinse coming here.

With a long and comical gasp filled with complete shock, Pinkie stared at her copy from another world. Pink closed her eyes, dreading the question she knew was about to come. She breathed deeply and braised herself. Behind her cool eyelids she could see nothing but black, she could hear subtle movements ahead of her which were all that proved Pinkie was there. Waiting.

As she lay in her own self made darkness, a face seemed to swim across her vision. Using her mind to create an image on the blank canvas of her eyelids. It was blurry, but as Pinkie took a deep breath, and pink prepared for her secret to be blown, the face grew clearer. “Pink...” Pinkie began. The face grew clearer, deep red eyes nestled in eyes of an even deeper yellow, set in a face of dark gray fur. His white eyebrows cocked in a joking expression, his long fang jutting out beneath his wide grin. “Are you pregnant?”

No sleep tonight

Pinkie watched her other self, waiting for her to speak. Pink was still sitting there with her eyes clenched shut. Slowly, her lips parted and she spoke softly. “Four months...” she whispered, “Four whole months I’ve kept this a secret, and you!” She opened her eyes and stared down the pink party pony. “You figured it out in one night!” she sighed in defeat.

“Oh,” Pinkie said, unusually speechless for a change. “I guess... seeing as you’re me I could figure it out easier?” She offered the solution with a half smile. But Pink didn’t smile back, she glared at the happy pony, her insides filling with fire and rage.
“Stop saying that.” She ordered quietly. Pinkie noticed the atmosphere had changed in an instant, she stood up from the dew covered grass unsure of what to expect.

Stop saying what?” The party pony asked cautiously.
“That I’m you, that we are the same.”
“B-but... we are, aren’t we? We’re both Pinkie Pie’s right?” Pink now stood, rising above pinkie on the steps she stood on.
“That’s where it stops. There’s nothing else about us that even resembles the other!”
“B-but...” Pinkie stammered, slightly scared.
“You need proof!? Fine!” Pink jumped down from the porch and squared up to Pinkie. She lifted a hoof and flicked Pinkie’s curly and bouncy mane. “Is your mane anything like mine?”

Pinkie hesitated for a moment, then her face dropped, she looked to the ground and muttered miserably. “No.”
“Exactly!” Pink yelled angrily. She turned to one side to display her flank, bare and unmarked. “Do we both have a damn cutiemark?”
“No.”
“Exactly! Do you have this!?!” Pink flung a hoof up to point at her scar beneath her deep blue eye.
“No.” Pink was shouting at the top of her lungs now.
“Exactly, are you carrying a child?!”
“No.” Pinkie looked completely morose now her eyes filled with tears from the angry pony’s shouting, and yet Pink continued regardless.
“Exactly, so does that sound as though we are anything alike?”
“...no.”

“Exactly...” Pink calmed down. “Don’t say that we’re the same, because everytime you do, you remind me how different my life could have been. You’re happy, carefree, and surrounded by friends and loved ones. And I had to...” She opened her mouth to continue, and then seemed to bite back on her own words.

Pinkie looked up for the first time, through all the misery and tears; she still tried to understand the pink screaming pony. “And you had to... what?” Pink looked back at her for a moment, and sighed.
“And I had to live without any of that.” She ended lamely.
“No, that’s not what you were going say. You had to what?” Pinkie gulped down her misery and stood straight and proud. Pink stared back at the random pink pony. Slowly her eyes glistened in the moonlight.

“W-why do you want to know?” She whispered, obviously confused by Pinkie’s wonderful curiosity and kindness. Pink had never experienced this kind of interaction with another pony before, it wasn’t normal in her world. In her world you looked out for yourself, and you kept to yourself, you didn’t ask this many questions of somepony.

Pinkie looked back for a moment in silence, then she smiled back sadly. “Because I want to help.” Pink felt her stomach clench, this pony didn’t even know her! How could she be so nice to someone who could have meant her and her friends harm? How could she have let Pink stay in her house without question? Why did she delude herself into thinking somepony would think this to be normal behaviour? All these questions rushed through Pink’s mind in an instant, but still the image of his face remained clear above all other thoughts.

“Help?” The scarred pony whispered, her head dropping to face the floor. “You can’t help. Nopony can help me. I’ve... got to keep fighting... on my own... for him... for...” She laid a hoof below her and stroked her stomach. Though so far into her pregnancy, she showed no signs of carrying a child. Yet another weird thing to blame on the god of chaos, probably. Through all her dark thoughts and feelings, Pink felt a hoof rest on her shoulder. She glanced up to see the happier her staring back.

“Fight for who?” She asked softly, truly curious and trying to understand. Pink had never had this much attention shown to her, except by him, except by...
“My husband.” Pink whispered miserably, tears filling her eyes as she looked pleadingly back at Pinkie, who’s eyebrows raised in surprise but soon came back down as she focused on calming the other dimensional pony.

“Why didn’t he come with you Pink? Did he... you know...” The pony obviously couldn’t bring herself to say the word, so she leant back on her haunches and with a grimace she traced her forehoof over her quivering throat.
“NO!” Pink roared suddenly! “NO NO NO NOOO! He’s not! He...” Her voice broke, she choked on her own sentence and dropped to her knees as all her fears flooded over her, finally breaking past the emotional wall she had erected. The dew splashed up in the air and spattered her ragged coat.

“But that’s good!” Pinkie rushed, trying to resolve the situation she had just created, she smiled and fell to her belly, keeping close to the ground, her nose mere inches from that of Pink who sobbed into the blades of grass beneath her. “He’s not, so that means he’s ok right?”
“You don’t know anything!” Pink’s face shot up and glared at Pinkie. “Just because the last time I saw him was alive, doesn’t mean he still is now! And if by some miracle he is alive, he’s not ‘ok!’ He’s going to be her prisoner! She’ll torture him! She’ll drag it out as long as she can until her breaks, and when he does, she’ll know where we are... Then... she’ll follow us.” Her angry expression melted yet again into a face of a mare who had lost everything.

“Can you even imagine?” She asked of the pony before her. “Wishing the one you loved was dead, just so that you and your child would be safe?” Pinkie frowned, thinking hard. After a moment’s silence she shook her head slowly.
“No, no I don’t think I can.” Another moment of silence and then. “You must be so strong, to be able to deal with all that, and lead your friends to safety like you did.”

Pink was surprised by the sudden compliment. She lay there for a moment then gave a miserable smile, as she tried to build up the damn to hold back her emotions once again. “Thanks Pinkie.” She stood up, and faced the bakery. She glanced quickly back at the pink pony. “I guess I should go to bed huh? You too.” She looked back at the front door. “It’s been... a long day.” She began making her way to the bakery.

“Noooooo! Wait up!” Called Pinkie, who sprang to her feet and chased after her. “You still haven’t told me who your hunky bubby is yet!” She giggled as she caught up to the pregnant pony. Pink chuckled at her comment. Then took a deep breath.
“Well to be honest, not many ponies would think he’s ‘hunky’ except for me I guess.” She laughed as the door closed behind them, and they were washed with the warmth of Sugar Cube Corner’s interior.

Dashie’s story

“PATHETIC! EVERY ONE OF YOU WERE PATHETIC OUT THERE!” the instructor was red in the face from the strength of his screaming. The group of filly Pegasy all trembled beneath his hateful glare. “I TOLD YOU THE EMPRESS WAS COMING TO SEE HOW WE WERE PROGRESSING! AND WHAT DID YOU DO?” He the himself up against the small grey filly at the front of the group, she scrunched her yellow eyes tight and tried to pull away from the furious stallion. “YOU FLY WORSE THAN A BIRD WITH TWO BROKEN WINGS! HOW DARE YOU MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME!”

The gray pony toppled backwards due to the force of the shout, she fell to the floor and screamed as she knew what this meant. Her little eyes opened wide in fear as she began to scream in sheer terror. Her lazy yellow eye snapped into its correct place as they met those of the flight instructor. His rage subsided, and his furious sneer was replaced by a wicked grin. “Falling out of line are we Hooves?”

The filly squealed in fear, she flipped onto her knees and began to plead with the stallion Pegasus. “No, no, no, no! I promise I wasn’t! I just fell because of your yelling at me! I promise sir!”
“YELLING AT YOU?!” The large male hollered at the small filly. “That wasn’t yelling you little shit eyed freak! THIS IS YELLING!” He screamed, sending the little gray filly’s ears screaming in pain, but she dared no waver, she knew she was too close to the worst punishment possible already. Just take it and maybe he’ll show mercy... for the first time.

“Hooves, you stepped out of line, without my concent. Now what has that meant for any little filly before you?” Little Derpy quivered in fear, her jaw froze as she realised what was coming, she couldn’t answer. “Well?” The red stallion commanded of the small mare. “Fine! Let’s ask the only damned flyer who passed this test shall we?” He straightened up and looked over the heads of the congregated class of flyers.

There, in the centre of the group, slouched a small cyan filly, hiding behind a larger colt. “Crash! Ass! FRONT AND CENTRE NOW!” Dashie immediately obeyed, she hung from her wings sadly as they fluttered over to the side of the furious drill sergeant. She opened her mouth and addressed a small twisting coil of cloud at her hooves.
“Yes sir?”
“Maybe you can tell this retarded little piece of filth! What happens if a filly steps out of line?” He demanded of the small rainbow filly.

Dash looked up ahead of her, Derpy looked back, her eyes brimming with tears and fear. She silently pleaded with Dashie not to say it. But she knew if she didn’t speak, or if she gave the wrong answer, Dashie would also be punished.

“Insubordination.” Dashie began, addressing those sad yellow eyes in front of her one of which focused on her, while the other stared at the ground. Dashie took a deep breath, her little lungs filled with misery as she prepared to say the dreaded words. “Is punishable by death.” Her head dropped as she gave the little filly her death sentence.

Dashie heard the little filly’s screams begin anew. She grovelled at the sergeant’s feat. “Please! No! I didn’t mean to! I-I-I... Please!” The red collar around her neck began to tighten, The filly spluttered for a moment, then pleaded again, her voice far more desperate and yet far less loud. “Please! I’m not the only one who failed! I’ll do better I erck”- The collar tightened again, cutting off the gray pony’s airway.

Dashie didn’t look up. She didn’t need to, she had seen it a hundred times before. She heard the frantic movement of the filly’s hoof scrabbling at her neck, trying to free her from the suffocation. Dashie could almost picture her terrified face, her neck’s skin beginning to strain under the tort band.

A few more terrible moments later, and the movements stopped. For a moment, Dashie was tempted to look up but before she could the result was shown to her. Derpy fell, landing only inches from Dashie’s hooves. Her innocent little face frozen in a look of utter mortal terror. Her hooves stayed at her throat for a moment more, before falling limp beside her lifeless body.

One hoof brushed the side Of Dashie’s left forehoof. She shuddered, and fought her every urge to jump away from the corpse, determined not to suffer the same fate. Ahead of her, she heard the group take a deep intake of breath, each one filled with shock and fear. Dashie didn’t understand, they all saw this kind of treatment of flyers every day so why do they sound so surprised. The answer soon came to her, as she heard a voice cold and careless float to her ears on the Cloudsdale breeze.

“Failure, and punishment. These are the most important lessons you can be taught at your age.” The voice was different from the angry male stallion’s. This voice seethed with venom even when speaking in such a bored and matter of fact tone. Dashie looked up to see a slim figured alicorn sail into view from behind her. The creature landed beside the small cyan pony and towered over the gathering of small young flyers.

“If one fails, and isn’t punished for it, then one would become complacent, and begin to doubt if their actions had consequences. Isn’t that right young ones.” The gathering all nodded slowly, entranced by fear and amazement as the empress addressed them all. “Good.” She purred malevolently. “Your drill sergeant has taught you well if you understand that rule at such a young age.” She now turned to the red Stallion.

“I don’t bother to keep up to date with today’s standards, but if memory serves.” She looked down at the small quivering pony between the two adults, who stared back up with sheer terror in her little pink eyes. Her lips curled into a hideous smile. “MOST of these fliers here failed to meet our high standards. Am I correct?” The stallion gulped in fear.
“...Eeeyyes your grace! They all failed here except for this one.” He kicked Dashie’s side roughly causing her to nearly topple over. She clung to the cloud floor for her life, regaining her balance in time before she fell out of place.

“I see.” The empress cooed softly. She turned to face the assembly of younglings head on. “You all know the price of failure, as you have all just proven to me. So will all understand why this must be done.” There was a deadly silence all around, as each filly and colt stared at the terribly beautiful alicorn. Her horn glowed subtly, releasing soft beams of light which wormed their way towards the children.

Dashie stared in horror, as the lights touched each of the little filly’s collars. Which then began to tighten. Then the lights moved on to the colts, who had realised what was happening and were rearing in fear, as they kicked out at the magic with their forelegs. Dashie watched as the graceful lights coiled around her fellow youngling’s legs without falter and touched their collars. Commanding them to squeeze the life out of the failed flyers.

After so much screaming, so much writhing in pain and fear, the silence that followed was sickening. Dashie gazed over the many different corpses with her mouth agape in sheer disbelief. As the hollow breeze spread a chill up the cyan filly’s spine, the terrible ruler spoke.

“Remember this little one. If you remember the price of failure, then you will never allow yourself to risk paying it. Do you understand.” Dashie looked up to the empress, who stared out at the field of carnage before her with a sycophantic smile on her lips. Dashie nodded in terror, unable to bring words for risk of throwing up. Her stomach was churning and flipping inside her as she wrestled with the fact; she was the only one left alive.

Dashie brought her story to a close as she gazed up at the still flying Rainbow Dash. Said pony now fluttered the last few feet back to the ground as she stared at the sad little cyan mare. Dashie flicked her mane, making it fall over her eye once again. Rainbow noticed that she did that a lot, even Fluttershy didn’t hide behind her mane this much, then again judging by what she had just heard; Fluttershy had never experienced anything as terrible as this little pony.

Dashie glanced up fleetingly; obviously uncomfortable with recounting what happened to her. “They soon took of my collar for passing, I flew away as soon as they did, and I never looked back.” She sniffed loudly, slumping to her haunches. “I found Fluttersh- ‘Flut’ just after that, and she looked after me she cared for me. So we hid, and we eventually found Pink and the others and... well... here I am.” Dash’s jaw hung open, she was speechless at everything she was hearing.

“I...uhhh... I...” Dashie ignored the garbled attempts from her more confident copy, and continued. “I HATE flying! My flying killed that class!” Dash exploded in protest.
“Woh, woh, woh, woh! That’s not what it sounds like to me! It sounds to me as if your flying SAVED YOU!” She smiled at the small mare trying to cheer her up with little success. Rainbows face –and feelings- sagged as she saw how much little Dashie was hurting.

“Yeah, saved ME” The Pegasus spat. “If I’d failed, maybe she would have shown mercy, maybe she would have... done... s-s-something!” She spluttered, getting worked up and then wobbling off balance as she flung her head around in anger. Dashie fell into a sad heap on the floor. She didn’t cry, but she stared up at Dash with sad and misty eyes that begged to be helped. “Don’t you think that’s enough reason to hate flying?” She pleaded grievously.

Dash bit her lower lip. She wracked her brain to think of something that she could do. Suddenly, inspiration struck like a lightning bolt! She was sure this would work! With new found gusto and energy she sprang into action. “C’mon!” She said cheerfully, she leant down and lifted the sad mare off the ground with her muzzle. “It’s not too far a walk, I’d say we could make it there by sunrise.” Rainbow said cryptically. Dashie frowned after the fast exiting cyan Pegasus.
“But what about sleep?” She squeaked.
“Naaahhh, I’m sure you can go one night without sleep! I need to show you the good side of flying! I’m gonna make you love it as much as I do!” She turned back with an beaming smile towards the pony. “Even if it kills me!”

Time to fly!

The two ponies stood before Ghastly Gorge, a jagged slash through the ground that spanned across the ground and over to the horizon. As they had travelled across town, the sun had begun to rise, bringing its warmth with it. The two Pegasus now stood in its light, soaking in the beautiful rays of the new morn.

“RIGHT!” Shouted Rainbow out of the blue, causing little Dashie to jump in alarm. “If there’s anywhere you can realise how fun flying is, it’s here!" She flung a hoof out to the chasm; Dashie stared unblinkingly, were those thorns she could see at the bottom? And that looked like a rockslide! Dashie shook from head to hoof, she let out a small squee of fear and quickly coiled herself into a ball.

Rainbow turned back to the little pony on the ledge; now shaking like a leaf. She grimaced, this would have sent her heart a fire with passion if someone had brought her here. She fsrowned as she watched the sad little version of herself. Had she actually made herself hate flying so much that she couldn’t even stand the thought of it? The images of Dashie’s story began to flash back through Rainbows mind. She shuddered, feeling sick. Maybe there shouldn't be too much to blame on the little cyan copy, she was Rainbow after all. If she had lived the same life, Rainbowd have to have come out the same way. Right?

Dash realised this, along with a newfound sense of pity and concern for little Dashie. She glided back down beside the little creature, and fell to her haunches. She placed a consoling hoof on her new friend, “Hey, hey, heeeyyy.” She whispered as she tried to calm down the pony’s shaking. For a while it didn’t work, the pony remained shrivelled up tight inside her protective ball.

Dash continued to speak to her, whispering soft words of kindness. “It’s ok, I thought this would go a lot differently, I’m sorry. Hey, please don’t be scared. I’m here so you don’t need to worry about falling or anything like that. How ‘bout you give us a smile huh?” the confident Pegasus encouraged happily. Slowly, Dashie looked up.

She gazed up at her other self, looking at how sincere she was in her apology and how needlessly kind she was being. Dashie’s lip curled in the corners, but Rainbow would have none of it. “C’mon, I know you’ve got a better smile than that!” She laughed. The laughter seeped into the little Pegasus, who’s lips curled tighter, glimpsing her pearly white teeth. She flicked her head, making the strip of mane that covered her eye flop away, showing both her radiant pink eyes. “Now that’s it!” Rainbow smiled wildly.

“If you guys say one more sweet little word, I think I’m gonna blow chunks!” shouted a loud and confident voice from the direction of Ponyville. The two whipped around to see who was approaching.

The speaker was a yellow Pegasus, flying lazily towards the gorge. Dashie bounced up happily, she bounded over to her friend. “FLUTT!” She came over to the Pegasus who was now landing a few feet away. When she reached her friend she froze, unsure of what to do. Her forelegs were spread as though about to fling themselves over her friend in a hug, but they still stayed rooted to the ground. All the confidence that had leapt up inside her at the sight of her other inter-dimensional ally, now seeped away. “Ummm... hi...Flutt...” She mumbled quietly, her fringe slowly falling back in to place.

“Hey Dash.” Flutt smiled at her fellow Pegasus, who now opened her mouth unsurely.
“Uhh... Flutt, I think you’re supposed to call me DashIE.” She mentioned slowly, her voice quickly trailing away. Flutt’s face
seemed to harden slightly. Rainbow a few feet away clenched her teeth tight. She didn’t like this ponies attitude! AT ALL!

“Dashie, it is then.” Flutt began to move towards the gorge. The little Dashie quickly followed suite, tripping over her hooves slightly to keep up with her friend.
“I-I-I’m sorry Flutt, but that’s what we all decided last night.” Pleaded Dashie, trying to lessen the stern expression of her friend.
“Hey,” She turned around and smiled at her friend, she lay a warm hoof under her friends chin. Switching yet again from angry to kind in a split second. “I’m not mad, so don’t worry. Ok?” Dashie nodded vigorously, a smile quickly spreading across her lips once again.

As the two now approached Rainbow, the local pegasus couldn’t help but let a small nagging voice in her mind whisper “There’s two of them, and only one of you now!” but she shook the horrible thought from her mind quickly. When she next looked up, she gazed straight into the crystal like eyes of her best friends double.

“Why’d you bring Dashie here?” She demanded. Her expression wasn’t angry, but one of concern. Rainbow was slightly taken aback by the use of emotion from the mare, who as far as she had seen; showed barely anything more than anger all the time, now two caring gestures in under a minute!
“Uhhh, I wanted to show her how to fly.” Rainbow reasoned. Flutt’s eyes flashed with anger. Rainbow shifted her hooves, adopting a stronger stance in case the yellow Pegasus attacked.
“She CAN fly.” Flutt growled.
“Yeah, but She doesn’t want to, I brought her here to see if she wanted to try!” Piped up Rainbow. The two Pegasus’s heads were mere inches apart now, neither backed down, and neither broke eye contact.

“Why do you want her to fly?” Asked Flutt. Rainbow was taken aback by the seemingly obvious question.
“Well, because it’s awesome! And I wanted her to experience how awesome it was.”
“Don’t go trying to turn Dashie into you!” Snapped Flutt. “Just because we look like you ponies doesn’t mean we ARE you! Our decisions and attitudes are all we’ve got now, seeing as you’ve even taken our names!”

“F-Flutt... please...” Pleaded Dashie in a quiet squeak of a voice. But neither of the arguing Pegasus took heed of her words.
“We didn’t TAKE your names! We helped figure out what to call you FOR NOW while we try to HELP you!”
“Who said we ever wanted your help?”
“Well tough! You’ve got it! We’ll talk at breakfast when we meet up with all your friends who WE have taken in for the night!”
“P-p-please... stop fighting.” Whispered the little cyan mare.

“Then what? Huh? You’ll throw us out, make us go find somewhere else to stay?”
“How the hay am I supposed to know? That’s why we’re meeting up in a few hours! To figure this out! TO HELP!”
“P-please... I”- her sentence was cut short by a warm hoof on her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder to see another sunshine yellow Pegasus standing there. She wasn’t sure how, but Dashie felt... safer with this mare in the picture.

“Ahhem!” Fluttershy coughed, the arguing Pegasy turned at the sound of the clearing throat. Rainbow deflated slightly in her anger, she calmed.
“Oh hey Fluttershy. Wassup?”
“Oh, nothing really, Flutt was having trouble sleeping, she said she needed to fly around to calm herself down...” She looked around at the gorge that spread open before the group of four ponies. “So I brought her here.” Rainbow looked back at Flutt in surprise.

“Y-you? You fly?” She garbled in a look of astonishment that froze her jaw in place. Flutt looked at the rainbow Pegasus with an impudent smirk. Then shrugged.
“Raised away from the empress and her lap dogs, so I got pretty good practise at my own pace.” Explained the far more arrogant yellow Pegasus.
“Hmmm...” Dash’s eyes glinted with devilish delight. “I think I have an idea.”
“Just one?” Asked Flutt sarcastically, as she returned the look of sheer joy that now was spread over Rainbow’s face. Rainbow opened her mouth to retort, but catching a stern glance from her friend standing over Dashie, she held it back.

“I think we’ve got a way to settle our differences now. Don’t you?” Rainbow asked.
“I don’t think so, you’re still going to hate me when I whup your ass!” cackled Flutt as she charged for the ledge of the chasm. Dash only just realised what had happened in time. She tore after the other Pegasus, only just catching up in time to dive off of the edge at the same time as her newfound rival.

Dashie stared in horror as her oldest and her newest friend dived off of the ledge and plummeted into the dark abyss below. “No wait!” She shouted as she saw the last plumes of yellow and blue feathers vanish from site. She reached out, ready to follow them, but with a small nudge from the standing Fluttershy, Dashie stopped.

She looked up at the yellow Pegasus beside her, her smile grew wide as she looked down at the copy of her best friend. “Just wait.” She said mysteriously. Dashie gazed back at the ledge for a moment, then she felt it. She heard it. She even saw the little stones at her feet begin to jitter and jump at her hooves.

Realising what this all meant, she gazed at the gaping hole in the ground, as the deep rumbling from underhoof began to build to a tumultuous climax. With an explosion unlike anything she’d ever heard, Dashie was sent tumbling backwards along with the smiling Fluttershy. They flipped in the air, pushing their hooves to the ground to halt their short flight backwards.

Dashie looked up just in time to see Rainbow and Flutt exploded over the chasm and soar into the sky, the noise and shockwave had obviously come from the sheer combined force they were building up as they flew, punching tonnes of air out of their path every second they spent in the air. With stars in her eyes Dashie stared as her two friends rocketed up to the heavens.

The wind was amazing! Rainbow felt alive! This is why flying is awesome! She pounded her wings hard and fast as she glanced over to her opponent. Flutt was staring straight back at her with an eyebrow arched in surprise. The face disappeared quickly however as she shrugged, then focused on climbing higher. Dash followed suit.

They were nearly touching the clouds now, Dash leant back letting her body arch. Her stomach brushed the damp and cool underbelly of the cumulous above. She laid her head back and closed her eyes, in these moments, you felt as though there was no gravity at all, as though you were just... floating. Her head began to tip to the ground, and as it did, the wind in her ears began to pick up. Her eyes snapped open once again, she focused on a spot at the deepest point of the gorge. She flipped in the air, levelling herself, making her stomach face the fast approaching ground below.

She glanced to her side yet again, nothing. She looked to the other, there was no sign of Flutt. Dash focused on her target spot yet again, smirking to herself. ‘Whup my ass? HA! So much for that”- a streak of yellow and pink shot past her, staring in disbelief Rainbow watched as Flutt passed her, and began meeting her speed just below her. She was flying on her back so she could look up at the Rainbow mane’d opponent.

Flutt gave a little shake of her hoof in a sarcastic wave, then righted herself, and rocketed towards the ground. Dash shook her head! ‘It’s not over yet! Time to fly for real!’ she thought as she plummeted back to Equestria.

What do you think it is?

Fluttershy came over and nestled softly on the ground near Dashie, she gazed up at Rainbow and Flutt with a bemused smile on her face. “uuhhh...” said a small timid voice behind her. She looked to Dashie who was gazing at her in confusion. “H-how did you know they would be ok when they jumped?” She asked. Fluttershy smiled and patted the ground beside her, inviting the quiet cyan pony to sit with her.

“Well you see; I knew Rainbow would make it, and if Rainbow made it she would help your friend if she couldn’t.” Dashie padded over to her side and sat down. “But.” Fluttershy continued, Dashie glanced in her direction quickly to listen. “Your Fluttershy is a much better flier than me, so I guessed she’d have no problem making that dive.” She beamed at Dashie, who smiled back.

“H-hey, don’t worry, your Rainbow Dash is a thousand times a better flyer than me any day!” Dashie reassured the yellow and pink Pegasus. The two then sat in silence, watching the two flying Pegasy battle it out in the sky’s.

After a particularly large loop-de-loop by Rainbow, which received a sharp intake of breath from both the grounded ponies. Dashie let out a small giggle. Fluttershy tilted her head at the ponies behaviour –A laugh, seemed unusual for her,- she smiled at how blissful the small chuckle was. “What is it Dashie?” She asked.

Dashie flicked her fringe out of her eye, she gave another small laugh as she thought deeper on her idea. “You know... It’s funny,” Flutt now imitated Rainbows loop and then sped away leaving the rainbow mare to catch up. “Flutt’s more like Rainbow Dash and...” She bit her lip, stopping before she made a fool of herself. With a warm smile Fluttershy finished her thought for her. “And you’re a lot more like me?”

The two ponies hopped up quickly, shaking their heads and speaking quickly.
“I mean I’m a lot like you!”
“I didn’t mean to insult you!”
The two quickly finished in unison with a perfectly identical “I-I’m sorry.” Both of them nervous and apprehensive, they glanced around awkwardly. But soon enough pink met teal as they caught each other’s eyes. The two began to giggle at their matching attitudes. Then the giggle grew to a chortle, and then to a full out laugh, until eventually they lay there on the floor laughing their hearts out.

The two eventually calmed down and stayed lay on their back looking at the sky. It was calm and tranquil. For a moment, out of the blue that spanned her vision Dashie’s eyes were blocked by a large fury creature! “Eeeek!” She squealed, she bounced to her hooves and bolted behind Fluttershy. Who looked up in tender concern, she looked from where the now cowering Dashie hid in her protective ball, to where she had been lying.

“Aaaaawwww, hello again my friend!” Fluttershy cooed as she got up of the ground and flew over to the creature sat licking it paw. Fluttershy picked him up and slowly made her way back to Dashie, “I’m sorry, but that’s not who you think it is.” She said sternly, placing the kitten on the ground between her and Dashie.

Dashie peaked out from behind her forehooves, catching a glimpse of the little creature. At the sight of her eye peaking around her hoof, the kitten tilted its head to one side and looked at the filly. “Meeeww.”
“I’m sorry Dashie, this kitten’s been quite partial to Rainbow lately and I think she thinks you’re”- She was cut off by the blur of rainbow that sped towards the kitten. She stared as the dust settled, unsure of what to expect. The yellow pony coughed hard as the dust quickly invaded her lungs, causing her to close her eyes.

Through her loud splutter’s, she was sure she could hear something, she opened her eyes and peered through the airborne debris. She spotted a lump on the floor, as she watched, she saw it move, casing the dust to dissipate around it. “Uhhh, Dashie?” She asked cautiously. Suddenly the shape bound into the air, and through the dark cloud causing the last remnants to fade away.

“He’s sooooooo cuuuute!” Dashie squealed, holding the kitten tight to her face. The animal seemed to like this new mare. It gave her and appreciative lick on the cheek and then curled up tightly in Dashie’s forelegs. Fluttershy was slightly astonished.
“W-Well I guess that he likes you too!” She pushed through her surprise and beamed as she cantered up to the new friends with joy in her heart and a spring in her step.

“She really isn’t like Rainbow, she IS a lot like me!” Fluttershy thought as she leant in and tickled the now purring kitten under the chin. The two sat back down and began to play with the little friend, content as could be while Rainbow and Flutt flew over head.

...........................................................

They were now powering through the gorge at full speed, no more showing off, no more proving she was better than this “Rainbow Dash!” Flutt was going to win this! She didn’t know how, there was no target or goal here. She just needed to prove herself, and that would be it.

A large bramble of thorns tried to ensnare her as he glided dangerously close to the ground, it caught ever so slightly at her mane, but besides that she was fine. She looked around for her other racing pony. But she couldn’t find her as she carried on through the vast trench. Suddenly she heard a low whistle from above, she looked up to see Rainbow copying her previous taunt. She had one-upped the yellow mare however.

Rainbow lay on her back, flapping lazily, just as Flutt had done. However, Rainbow’s forehooves were spread behind her head, propping it up like a pillow as she didn’t even look where she was going.

That’s it! Time to prove to this mare that she isn’t so amaz-

What was that? Flutt stopped dead in the air, catapulting the speeding Rainbow far ahead. But Flutt hung there, staring at a small opening in the cliff wall just by the chasm floor. Had she imagined it? Flutt slowly descended, touching down softly on the gravely ground. no pebbles were kicked out of place when she stood there, she looked down to see the small stones had been pushed deep into the ground as countless steps over them had indented them into the dirt below.

Flutt glanced back up at the hole in the cliff face. For a moment the opening was simply blackness, then as she shifted her weight to her left foot, moving her head slightly to one side, the sunlight cascading into the chasm caught something from within. A glint of something. Gold?

This wasn’t what Flutt had seen, but it didn’t bode well. From behind she heard Rainbow fast approaching. And yet Flutt didn’t look away, she glared into the cave waiting for another glimpse of it. That tail, purple, just like the one from her nightmare about Mac!

“Jeez, giving up already?” Rainbow called sarcastically, panting herself. “I could keep on going like this for...” She gulped down a large bubble of air, “ever!” She landed just behind the cautious yellow Pegasus. “C’mon Flutt! I was actually kind of having fun with you back there!” She encouraged, but when the yellow pony gave no answer she grew quiet.

Rainbow came in line with the stationary Flutt, and stared into the dark cavern ahead. “I-It’s just a cave Flutt.” Rainbow tried to explain, but Flutt flung a hoof to Rainbow’s lips, silencing her.
“Then what’s that?” She asked. Rainbow listened, and surely, there was something. A clinking and jingling sound, along with a low rasping breathe every few minutes. Rainbow pushed Flutt’s hoof away from her face.

“What do you think it is?” The cyan Pegasus inquired, never taking her eyes off of the opening.
“A dragon.” Flutt enclosed quietly.
“So close to Ponnyville? You sure?”
“What does being near Ponnyville have to do with it?”
“Well, they don’t tend to nest so close by really, the last time one did, me and the girls got rid of it.” Though she was explaining, Rainbow couldn’t help convey a tone of pride in her story. Flutt ignored the boasting Pegasus and focused on the matter at hand.

“I saw gold in there.” Flutt said, her voice getting lower with each word she spoke.
“GOLD! YOU SERIOUS?!” Shouted Rainbow excitedly. Flutt Swung a hoof out, dragging Rainbow in close. Their noses pushed against each other’s as Flutt let out an angry and frustrated. “Shut...up!” for once Dash listened, simply due to the seriousness that emanated from the pink and yellow pony, all rivalry had vanished from her now, she was simply focused on this one thing here and now.

Flutt released Dash, and the two fell low to the ground. Flutt began to approach the cave; she needed to see the creature. That tail was unmistakable! Even if it was the dragon from this dimension, Flutt would pay anything to see it suffer after what it did to Macintosh, for what it did to her Mac!

Rainbow followed silently, sticking to her role as the element of loyalty, she didn’t leave this pony behind on her own. The two approached the cave entrance from the left side. They pushed up to the wall, and waited a moment. The movement was far more obvious now, the creature was pacing by the sound of it. the steps grew fainter for a moment, and then they would grow louder once again, and then fade once more.
‘
It’s agitated...’ Thought Flutt. ‘Not as much as it will be!” Said a little voice in the back of her head. She turned to rainbow, mouthing her order. “On the count of three!” Rainbow nodded silently. Flutt took a deep breath, looking Dash in the eyes. “One.” She mouthed. She could see Rainbow grit her teeth behind her closed mouth, her jaw becoming wider and firmer.

“Two...” The two of them coiled their muscles ready... “Three!” She broke eye contact and flung herself into the entrance quickly followed by Rainbow. For a glimmering second she saw a small pile of gold and gems piled in the centre of the small cavern, she glimpsed the colour purple, but before she could focus on it. The raging fire in the bracketed torch set in the wall, was snuffed out. Leaving the two in total darkness, with the sounds of a heavily breathing creature growing all around them.

It means nothing to me

“Out!” The single word echoed through the cavern distorting it and making it surround the two ponies. The two gulped; suddenly a lot of their bravery had vanished along with the light. It’s easier to be brave when you see what you’re facing! “I said OUT!” The shout of the final word rang throughout the cavern and attacked the two’s ears.

Flutt took a confident step forward, further out of the beam of light that came from the entrance. The breathing stopped for a moment, as though the being was holding its breath. When it resumed it was shaky, not with fear, but with anger. “I see.” It stated softly, the anger obvious in every syllable. “You’re one of the... Other ponies” Flutt gulped again.

“Y-you know about us... already?” She asked of the voice, her hatred of the creature giving into sheer terror at how it could know her so soon after her arrival the night before.
“Kind of hard to miss.” The voiced said, its words dripping with venom. Dash came in closer to the cave, focusing on the centre of the floor, to where she knew the hoard of gold and jewels had been. It wasn’t out of greed, but of curiosity, she had a nagging suspicion she couldn’t bear to go unanswered.

“I said GET OUT!” the voice protested to Rainbows intrusion! She passed an astonished looking Flutt, incredulous at the cyan Pegasus’s guts! As her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, she could see more clearly, she couldn’t see the inhabitant of the cave, but just ahead of her was his treasure trove. A TROVE wouldn’t be the best word for it; it was more like a mound of mismatched objects. The gold Flutt had seen was a small pile of bits.

“Flutt!” She whispered, trying not to let her voice carry through the echoing chamber. Flutt cantered over carefully, and pulled her ear in close. “Look at its treasure, it’s tiny! This dragon’s a push over! Easy!” Flutt nodded, new found courage brimming up inside her at the news. She moved onto the small pile of objects and addressed the cavern, and wherever it’s lodger lay.
“I want you to leave! A dragon so close to the town is dangerous! Especially you!” She ordered, her last statement was filled with spite as she heard –in her mind- Mac’s bones crunching under the creatures tail.

“Especially me? If anyone should leave it should be you! You and your stupid friends!” The voice lost some of its menace, it squeaked with surprise and made Rainbow’s mind whirl with thoughts. Was this...?
“Why should we leave? We’re not doing anything wrong! But I’ve seen what you can do! You’d hurt anypony the second they got near!” The voice gave a small chuckle, Rainbow could swear it was coming from over head, she looked up and scanned the rough rocky surface.
“First: You’re doing a lot more harm than you realised! Did you know that every unicorn in Equestria was screaming in pain because of you? When you arrived you sent them off the deep end!” Flutt frowned, she looked to her new flying friend, to ensure the creature was lying.

Rainbow grimaced and gave a sad nod to the yellow Pegasus. Her heart panged hard with guilt. She turned back to address the cavern again. “I-I didn’t realise!”
“No! You didn’t, you were too busy focusing on your own unicorn weren’t you!” The voice yelled. Flutt didn’t understand, how could he know about Twi? The voice gave her no time to reply, before continuing its tirade. “Second: You’ve already caused problems in the town, far more than you realised, and you haven’t even been here a day!”

The torch no reignited with an emerald green flame, though so high up, the two Pegasy felt it’s warmth immediately. The small illumination showed the entire cavern to be no more than a small pod. The echoing had come from many little tunnels and holes in the walls that led away from the main chamber. But still they saw no creature. Flutt grew nervous, as did Rainbow’s-but her nerves were FOR the creature, the one she now realised she knew!- From behind them, in front of the entrance, there came a sound of a heavy landing of feet.

The two whirled around, to see the dragon. Tall, slim, he had no wings, and was purple scaled all over except for his underbelly which was a very pale green. His head was topped with two dark green plumes that were his ears. His eyes were just how Rainbow knew they would be, a dark emerald green to match his fire, but behind the green, were blotches of red. He bags under his eyes and he looked like he hadn’t slept all night! Rainbow stared in disbelief at who stood before her, as did Flutt as she recognised the dragon from the night before. The cyan Pegasus’s mouth opened, her lips trembled as she asked, “S-S-Spike?”

The dragon stood there, watching the two with pure rage burning behind his bloodshot eyes. Rainbow took a tentative step forward, unsure whether it was wise to try and speak to the unusually antisocial dragon. “Spike?” she whispered. “W-what are you doing here?” Spike ignored his friend and stared down the yellow Pegasus behind her.

“I said get out!” he growled to the yellow mare. She took a tentative step back, worried of what would happen if she disobeyed. She tried to establish her dominance over the dragon, but failed as her voice squeaked with the tell-tale signs of fear.
“What’s your problem? You were fine yesterday with us!” Spike didn’t break eye contact, he took a step forward towards her, but was blocked by the sudden appearance of Rainbow who stood against the dragon blocking his path.

“Rainbow, get out of the way...” His brow quivered between anger and misery.
“No! Not if you’re gonna try and hurt Flutt!” She claimed defiantly. She glanced at the mound of items on the floor. “So this is where you stashed it?” She asked trying to change the subject. The dragon’s face fell into sorrow.
“Please Rainbow, move, she needs to get out of here!”
“Why? What’s wrong with her being in here?” Rainbow asked guardedly. Flutt watched in silence as the two friends fought over her.
“Not leave HERE.” Spike whispered pointing at the ground of his cave. “She needs to LEAVE! Leave Equestria, go somewhere far away from us all!” He gestured furiously to the opening in the cave wall. “Her and her friends.” He added furiously.

Rainbow was shocked by the furious words that escaped the usually kind dragon’s lips. “W-Why do you want them gone?” she stammered. The dragon’s eyes drifted away from her friend, and found those of the Fluttershy copy.
“There nothing but trouble.” Flutt felt her heart take a little blow at the cruel words; she had given into the kindness of this world, thinking no one was capable of such words. Now she hurt as she heard the kind of words she associated with the kingdom of Celestia.

“Spike!” Rainbow tried to protest, but before she could continue, Spike cut across her with livid venom seeping through each word he spat out.
“You didn’t have to carry Rarity out of your home screaming! You didn’t find Twilight lieing in a pool of vomit! You didn’t have to figure out what to do! O chose between leaving your friends behind or risking your loved one’s lives!” He shook with rage as he ranted. Never once did he look away from the pony from the other world.

Flutt felt cold, her skin ran with chills with every word she heard. Had their arrival done all that. She took a step towards the dragon. “Why did your Twilight help us then, if we did all that?” She wasn’t accusing him of lying-why would he- she just needed to understand why after all they had caused, these ponies still helped them in the way that they did.

“BECAUSE!” The dragon exploded, trying to take a step towards the yellow Pegasus, but blocked by his friend. He looked down at her in frustration, and then back to Flutt. “Because Twilight’s too good to turn down someone who needs help! She can’t sand to see someone hurting, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID TO HER!” he screamed. His green eyes filled with tears as he looked at the Pegasus beseechingly.

“Leave! Please, just go! You hurt Twilight, you hurt Rarity. You hurt Sweetie Belle”-
“What’s wrong with Sweetie Belle?” Asked Rainbow suddenly concerned. Spike looked to her, he was too close to her, he must look like a monster to her right now! Spike took some steps back, allowing him to seem less monstrous.

The princess sent a letter for Twilight last night. Before they!” He sot a menacing glance at Flutt, “Got here, telling her to get out of Ponyville before something terrible happened, I took Rarity with me to find Twi. I...” He bit his lip hard, his eyes filled with new found tears, as his face turned into one of pure guilt. “I left the letter where Sweetie could find it.” He scrunched his eyes as the sight of Sweetie Belle lying in her own blood invaded his mind. He shuddered.

Rainbow saw it was causing her friend too much pain to continue. She nodded understandingly, then spoke quietly to the distraught dragon. “Why aren’t you there now then? Looking after her?” The dragon’s shoulders sagged at the question. All rage gone, her traipsed away into the corner of the cave. He slumped against the wall, and slid painfully down to the ground. the purple heap on the floor shuddered as he let out a horrible sob.

Flutt stared at the creature. Only a few moments ago, she had been ready to kill the dragon. Now she saw a broken being, crying through all his heartbreak. How could she have thought this thing to be dangerous? If anything, she and her friends were the dangerous ones! Their arrival had torn apart families, hurt ponies, they were the monsters by the sound of it!

Spike shuddered, “Rar- ... she... I...” He mumbled, unable to speak the words out loud. All he could was repeat what he had said before, in a monstrous monotone that told all to the rainbow mare. “I left the letter where Sweetie could find it. She got hurt...” The dragon gave into the tears, he threw his face into his claws and sobbed. Rainbow looked on in astonishment, Rarity, after all her and Spike had been through. She looked at the small horde the dragon had collected, only after he had begun to grow after he collected these items had Rarity seen him in any other way than a child. Spike had thrown his youth away for her, and the white pony had just...
“She threw you out.” Rainbow spoke in a shocked voice that simply labelled the facts, not a single shred of emotion lay behind the words as she looked at the balling dragon.

“Just... go!” Spike choked. He pulled his face away from his hands, staring at them with hatred. “I shouldn’t have ever been near ponies anyway!” He spat, more to himself then the two intruders. “I’m a dragon! We don’t fall in love! We don’t get to live as little babies! We should be left alone... feared... like the monsters we are.” His voice faded into quiet self loathing. The dragon wrapped his arms around his shoulders, hugging himself quietly as he kept his back to the two Pegasy.

“Spike, you’re not a monster! Don’t you even dare say that!” Protested Rainbow. She looked to Flutt for support, “Isn’t that right?” Rainbow pleaded. Flutt gazed at the dragon, all she could focus on was that tail. The tail she had seen in her dream, the tail that had tortured Mac! Her thoughts must have registered on her face, because as Spike looked over his shoulder at her silence, he gave a satisfied grunt.
“See! She sees me for what I am.” Flutt’s face fell into dismay as she realised what her thoughts had done. She opened her mouth to protest against this kind hearted dragon, but before she could, the large lizard screamed at them.

He didn’t even turn to them, he screamed it at the wall ahead of him, unable to bring himself to look at his friend Rainbow in this state. “JUST GO! LEAVE ME ALONE!” Rainbow was stunned, she couldn’t think of what to say. She could only gape at the distraught dragon. After what seemed like a century, Spike heard the words he was waiting for.

“Ok Spike, we’re going.” He sighed with relief as he heard the two Pegasy leave. a thought suddenly exploded into his head, he turned and screamed at the backs of the exiting ponies. “IF YOU TELL ANYONE I’M HERE I’LL ROAST THEM AND LEAVE! UNDERSTAND!” He took their silence as a yes.

Outside, the two Pegasy looked to the rising sun over the gorges lip. “It’s probably about time we got to breakfast I think.” Muttered Rainbow, heading up the rocky cliff face, a look of complete deflated misery spread across her face. Flutt watched as she saw the Pegasus adopt the same attitude as her world’s Rainbow Dash. She sighed, and made her way to follow the slowly ascending pony, but as she pushed off from the ground. She heard a whisper.

She turned to the cave entrance to see two green eyes leering out at her. “Leave!” He whispered.
“I am.” Flutt said dejectedly, she tried to look away but was stopped by the dragon’s words. “I mean leave town! When you get to the cafe, take your friends and just go, before you make any more problems.” Flutt stared at the eyes for a moment.
“We really didn’t mean to hurt anyone dragon.”
“I have a name!” The reptile growled. His teeth glinted in the invading light as he smiled horribly. “Which is more than can be said for you huh? ‘FLUTT’” Flutt stared at him for a moment. Then without another word, she left for the top of the cliff.

The dragon turned back into his cave, he looked around the lonely cavern and sighed at the words he had spoken in the heat of the moment. He meant everyone of them, but if only he had spoken them better, maybe then Rainbow would have sided with him, gotten the others to get rid of these ‘Invaders!’ he unclenched his fist, he was surprised Rainbow hadn’t spotted it, but it was better she hadn’t.

He took the crumpled paper, and flattened it out, and by the light of the fire in the bracket, he read it one final time.
“Dearest Twilight.
Due to emergency measures, I haven’t been able to contact you over the past night. My advisors assure me that something fell onto Ponyville last night. While investigators ensured it was safe for me to travel, I have mounted a force ready to combat whatever it was, Last night’s magic was not something good, so now I head out for Ponnyville.
Do not worry Twilight, whatever has come to Equestria, we will eliminate it, and ensure that my subjects are protected!
I hope you’re still safe my student.
Princess Celestia.

Spike smiled, “Whatever has come to Equestria, we will eliminate it.” Just what he needed to see! He walked over to the torch, tossing the letter into its embers. It coiled and turned black in seconds, then it crumbled away. Spike went over to his hoard; he took up a large gemstone. He stared into its blue murky depths, gazing at his reflection. The reflection seemed to gaze back at him, it opened it’s mouth and scolded the dragon, speaking in the voice of the Spike long gone, the one who first came to Ponyville, the child.

“What are you doing? You didn’t warn them!” Spike stared back at the stone, he shrugged.
“They ruined everything, they shouldn’t even be here.” He countered.
“So they deserve to die?” asked the reflection.
“It means nothing to me.” With that, he took a bite out of the stone, grinding the delicious gem with his fangs, the dragon made his way to the wall, he slumped against it. The dragon took a deep breath, he released it shakily. He clenched his eyes as the tears returned once again. “Nothing means anything to me now!” And with that he waved his tail in the direction of the torch, the breeze was enough to extinguish the fire. Leaving the dragon, the child that sacrificed growing up, the monster all alone in his cave.

The begining of the end

“Hey... Twi? It’s time to wake up.” Twilight was nudging the still sleeping pony, the sun had risen and with it so had the studious unicorn. She had gone around tending to the house, taking out the garbage, cleaning the few dishes left in the sink, and then she had concluded with tidying the library after its large gathering the night before. Through all the movements, scraping chairs, the fluffing of pillows, and moving of tables. Twi slept on under her sheet on the sofa.

Now Twilight stood over her, nudging the copy of herself gently to wake her. For a moment her efforts went un-noticed, but soon the sleeping purple unicorn awoke. “Good morning.” Smiled Twilight as the sleeping unicorn came to. “How are you feeling?” Twi sat up and nodded smiling happily, she reached up blearily and rubbed her eyes.

A second later, the little unicorn was reeling back in fear from the other purple unicorn. “AAAHHH! What the hell?!” She tried to move further back, but was stopped by the back of the sofa. “You’re...” Her face melted into sudden realisation, her muscles relaxed and she breathed deeply. “Other dimension... right... need to remember that!”

Twilight giggled slightly at her other self, she was enjoying this greatly, this was so interesting! She couldn’t wait to talk to this other Twilight and learn all she had to teach! However, the two’s stomachs made other plans.

Both their guts grumbled at their lack of sustenance. “Well, I guess I’m hungry I suppose!” They both said in chorus, they froze and looked at one another. Then giggled, both leaning into their left hoof as they did so. They stopped again. “Ok this is weird!” They both exclaimed. Then proceeded to fall around laughing. Soon afterwards, the two headed out for ‘Clover field Cafe’ and their long awaited breakfast.

.......................................................................

The two Twilight’s arrived at the cafe to find a pink pony sat at the table outside the cafe, taking advantage of the warm summer sun! “Pinkie! I love what you’ve done with your mane!” Exclaimed Twi happily as they approached the back of the curly mane’d pony. The pony now swivelled around on her chair to greet the two identical unicorns.

“Uhhhh thanks Twilight! but it’s no different to usual!” cried the pony with joy as she smiled at the first of the two. She then frowned as she looked at the other. “Uhh... wait... don’t tell me...” The random pony began to massage her temples as she stared at the two, trying to find some spiritual answer of which was her Twilight ad which was the new visitor.

“Oh.” Twi looked at the pony’s face with surprise at the lack of a scar. She looked to Twilight, who nodded and explained. “This is our Pinkie. We decided to create less confusion we’d call your friends ‘Pink, Flutt, AJ and Dashie.’” Twi let out an understanding “aaahhhhh.” Then proceeded to take a seat opposite the pink pony.
“Where is... ‘Pink’ then?” Twi asked perplexed, searching around for her leader.
“Oh she’s in the bathroom... feeling a little woozy.” She whispered in a voice that was anything but discrete.
“Oh,” Twi frowned, “I see.”

After a few moments, the three mare’s heard a familiar yell. “Morning kid!” Pink came out from inside the cafe and tapped Twi happily on the shoulder. She hopped onto the chair next to her friend, dividing the table into half, one side with the local ponies, and the other with the visitors. “Feeling good? Overdose didn’t knock too much out of you did it?” Pink asked jokingly as she nudged her friend jokingly. Twi shook her head.

“That’s something that’s bothered me!” Twilight began, addressing the other purple unicorn. “Now I understand why me and Rarity would overdose from your magic...but how did you? It only happens when you feel overwhelming amounts of foreign magic.” She looked at the other unicorn questioningly.

Twi coughed and rubbed her neck. “Well...” She looked at Pink, “Did you tell them about... Celestia...everything?” Pink nodded.
“Fleetingly.”
“Well, Empress Celestia decided long ago that anypony with power would be trained to better equip her armies, so Pegasy were taken at birth and put into training camps...” She bit her lip, “And she did the same with us unicorns.” Twi’s eye’s flashed with fear as she remembered those dark conditions. Rough beds, scratchy blankets, cold food, growling excersise, torture to create survival instincts intuned with a unicorns magic. All of it she had suffered, again, and again, and again.

Twi shuddered horribly. “I don’t want to talk about what they did, but basically what they turned me into is a creature with power that doesn’t feel like my own.” Twilight latched on to the others train of thought.
“Ahh, and so now when you use large amounts of your magic, your body doesn’t recognise it? causing an overdose?” Twi nodded. Then silence fell on the group after the sombre topic.

The silence persisted until a thick Tennessee accent called out to them. “Mornin’ ladies!” the group turned to see Applejack approaching, her tell tale hat showing her to be the local pony. At first she seemed alone, but was soon followed by AJ. She looked like a completely different pony! She had cleaned her coat, and brushed her mane. The end effect had made the pony look far more cultured than her scraggily rats nest had before.

“Wow! AJ! You clean up quick!” Hollered Pink a joking fashion. AJ tipped her head politely to the leader, and seated herself next to them. Even before either of the Applejacks had spoken a word, the group caught the glimpse of the final four making their way to the cafe through the town centre.

Pink waved the four of them over, but Twilight noticed something. It was hard to tell which was the real FLuttershy, but the short tailed, long fringed Dashie was obvious, meaning the short mane’d Rainbow, with the long tail was her friend. She looked upset, she trudged her way to the group looking at her hooves as she walked. As did one of the Fluttershy’s. When the group arrived before the gathering, they all smiled, two of the smiles seemed very forced in Twilights view.

“Well, seeing as we’ve already decided on seatin’ arrangements, how ‘bout the other ponies go over thar, and the local ponies sit over here.” Suggested Applejack to the final four. They obliged silently. Taking their places.

“Dashie...” Frowned Pink. “What’s that?” She asked, referring to the fury creature resting on the cyan Pegasus’s back who she now took off gently and placed beside her on her seat.
“Oh! This is my new friend!” She lifted the small kitten up and placed him on the table. The creature stood on the small table for a moment, staring up at the large ponies around him. The cat quickly turned away, trotting back towards to Dashie in slight fear.

The cyan Pegasus took hold of her friend and hugged him tightly. When she looked back up she seemed unsure of what to say. “Well, you see... I was thinking about calling him...” She looked to Fluttershy, who nodded to her, encouraging the shy Pegasus to keep going. Dashie gulped nervously, then continued. “Mac...” She looked to AJ, “You know... so that something about him is here with us.”

AJ stared for a moment, and then with a beam of happiness, she reached over and scratched the little kitten behind the ears. The small creature purred with please, pushing his head up into the orange pony’s hoof silently asking for more. “Well I think that’s a fine idea Dashie!” She said happily, gazing at the new addition to the group.

Twilight glanced up at Flutt trying to scan her reaction to this animal being called the name of her beloved Macintosh. But as she watched the unusually quiet yellow Pegasus, she saw that her mind was elsewhere she stared at a notch in the wooden table as though it were the most fascinating notch in the world. What was wrong with her? This was nothing like the Flutt that Twilight had caught a glimpse of the night before. Rainbow seemed distracted too! The real Rainbow! She had sat down and immediately slammed her head onto the table before her and had yet to look up.

Clover Field arrived and took their orders. Mostly a range of water and sandwiches were requested by all the ponies who all received astonished looks from the blue earth pony as he stared at the group of doubles seated at his table. “So...” Twilight opened happily, looking to each pony in turn. “What do you think we should do about this?” She gestured at each doubled pony in turn, and then froze. “Wait a second... We’re missing somepony.” She frowned and turned to her friends. “Where’s Rarity?”

Applejack also frowned at the question “Come to think of it... I haven’t seen her since last night... anypony else seen her?” She asked the group, who all shook their heads. Rainbow raised her head with a concerned look on her face, Twilight notice her exchange a nervous glance with Flutt. What was going on?

“Maybe she thought seeing as there’s no other her she didn’t need to come?” She proposed, but Applejacl closed down her idea with a shake of her head.
“That aint like Rarity, it isn’t very lady like to miss a meeting with friends.” She looked up at Twilight worriedly, “Something might have happened...” She suggested darkly. Twilight nodded.
“That may explain why Spike isn’t here either.” She concluded.

As Rainbow took a deep unsettled breath, the group heard a familiar voice call out to them. “Hello girls! Sorry I’m late!” there trotted Rarity, as radiant as ever, and clearly unharmed. The local ponies all breathed a sigh of relief besides Rainbow who quickly resumed her staring competition with the table with a resounding THUD as her head meat wood!

“Hey there sleeping beauty!” Called Applejack as her friend took a seat next to her. “Not very “Lady like” oversleeping is it?” She poked the platinum pony jokingly who only sniffed slightly at the comment.
“For your information Applejack, I was tending to Sweetie Belle.” Applejack’s joking demeanour disappeared in an instant.
“She a’right?”
“Yes” confirmed the fashionista, gazing back at the other ponies across the table. “She was just a little... under the weather that’s all.” Flutt couldn’t even look her in the eye. Knowing what she and her friends had done to this pony’s family made her sick to her very core. Not only her sisters physical pain, but the mental anguish the unicorn must have gone through tending to her, and for the loss of that poor dragon in the gorge.

“Well I’m sorry to hear that Rarity.” Sympathised Twilight sadly. “Maybe we could go visit her after we’re done here?”The group nodded, even the doubles, who seemed to be too grim faced to not think they may have some little factor in the little Filly’s problems.
“Thank you Twilight, everyone! But first, I think it’s best we decide what to do with our new friends.” She gave a large smile to Pink, who repaid it in full. Now here, and with all the stress from running and hiding her secret from everypony, she felt... lighter, almost... bouncy!

“I think we should leave.” Muttered Flutt to the shock of the group. Rainbow tilted her head up until she rested on her chin and gazed at the Pegasus, unsurprised by her suggestion.
“Leave?” Asked Twi, “Have you been out flying looking for a new place for us to settle down?” She smiled to Twilight, “After all, it’s going to probably cause some problems if we stay here where there’s already a... group of us here.” Twi giggled at the comment, she herself was finding it hard to word the situation, how on earth was she going to write about this to Princess Celestia.

“I didn’t mean leave town...” Flutt answered miserably, still staring at the notch in the table. “Leave HERE Equestria, get a boat and find something new out there.”
“Honestly Flutt if you don’t stow away this bullshit grudge against everypony here I swear...” Pink left the threat open, her temper quickly flaring.
“It’s nothing like that!” Flutt snapped. She grew quieter once again. “I think it’s just for the best.”

Twilight had had enough! She opened her mouth to call Flutt on her odd behaviour, and Rainbow too! She took a breath and spoke in a voice that was completely dwarfed by the sudden explosion of air being pushed aside.

Overhead, a line of five stallion Pegasy had flown over the cafe and soared to a halt in the town centre, they were soon bolstered by another line of five, who mimicked the previous group and took formation. Twilight realised what this could mean if she didn’t explain the situation to the visiting ponies.

Surely enough, Pink’s teeth had already begun to grind at the site of the royal guard. Both Dashie and Twi stared in horror at the site of the formation of guards. Flutt, amazingly seemed tranquil, more so than ever before. She stood and began to head towards the group of armour clad ponies.

“Flutt!” Cried Pink angrily. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“It’s alright.” Murmured the yellow Pegasus in an almost dream like state. She turned to gaze at her friends and the local ponies. Her eye’s seemed dead and cold, her breathing was deep and calm. Behind the determined expression all could see a hint of misery and sadness. “They deserve to be here.” She looked Rainbow Dash in the eye, knowing how the cyan Pegasus was the only pony who knew what she was about to say meant.

“They need to stop the monsters.”

Big brother

Pink stared in utter disbelief at her friend, standing between them and the quickly growing imperial force ahead of them. She opened her mouth to ask what the hell was going on, but was cut off by a huge metal object soaring over head.

Twilight recognised it instantly. Vastly similar to the one used by her to get to and from Canterlotte, the carriage soared overhead, pulled by two strong palace guards. Though not made of gold, the small vehicle looked just as regal as it came to touch down on the ground in front of the large group of soldiers.

“Report?” Called the passenger of the carriage as he stepped off of the carriage, his silver armour glinted in the sunlight as he glanced around at the seemingly normal looking town. His horn glowed gently, and his helmet was surrounded by the same deep purple hew as it was slowly taken off and placed under his outstretched foreleg.

“All seems normal sir!” Barked a single soldier closest to the captain. His dark blue mane rippled in the soft summer breeze as Shining Armour took in the surroundings. His search was stopped dead however, as he heard a familiar voice.

“Big Brother!” The stallion Pegasus whirled around in search of his sister Twilight. He saw her, running from a cafe just at the side of the clearing. She looked happy to see him!
“Twily!” He called out in relief his heart feeling a thousand times lighter seeing her alive and well, he rushed to meet her and pulled her into a strong and loving hug. “Thank goodness you’re alright!” He pulled himself away from his sister and looked at her sternly. “What are you doing outside? Didn’t Princess Celestia warn you it was dangerous?”

Twilight blushed for a moment as she looked up at the captain backed by his many warriors. “Well, you see big brother... It’s all ok, it’s not dangerous anymore. In fact, besides last night, there never HAS been any danger!” She smiled at her brother, who looked back at her sceptically.
“I’m sorry Twilight, but I’m under orders. I’m not going to able to just take your word for it.”
“But I’m your sister!” Twilight cried astonished at the stallion’s words.
“Yes, but it’s not just me coming. The princess will be here any minute as well! She’s coming to ensure everypony is safe to stay in Ponnyville after that serge last night!” The rest of the group of friends approached the two conversing unicorns, and far behind them slowly followed the new visiting ponies. Each of them -besides the calm faced Flutt- looking out for an attack from the guards (which in their world were the evil pawns of the empress)

Shining Armour frowned suddenly, still only focusing on his sister meaning the odd phenomenon just ahead of him was still unnoticed. “The princess sent word first thing this morning! We were terrified when you didn’t respond, we thought whatever had come here last night had... had...” He couldn’t even finish the dark thought. But just beyond the group of friends, there came a cold voice that finished it for them.

“What? Killed her? Killed everypony here? Massacred them all? Please, stop me if I get it right!” Pink stood only a few feet away, the group between her and the captain parted clearing the way for either to approach the other. Both of the ponies stood in place however.
“P-Pinkie?” Armour asked confusedly as he stared at the pony before him. “What happened to you eye? It looks... wait...” He glanced to his left, and surely enough, there stood the smiling pink fluffy mane’d party pony he knew. His head snapped back to Pink, his frown turning from one of confusion to one of anger.

As the group of other worldly ponies came to a halt beside their leader, Shining armour let out a low growl of hatred. He lowered himself closer to the ground, ready to charge. Without a single command, his battalion of guards sprung into action, each rushing up to surround the group before them. Soon they were encircled by the guards. “Twilight...” The captain whispered. “Stay back, don’t try to help, this time we’re ready for them.”

“This time?” Pinkie let out loudly, almost braking the tense atmosphere completely. “How could there have been another time, if this is this time, you must mean there was another time, and this is there first time here, so there couldn’t have been another time!” The surrounding friends all nodded in agreement. Twilight looked up beseechingly at her brother, silently begging him to listen to Pinkie’s words.

Shining armour frowned as he looked at the group, then back at the group his stallions surrounded. His eyes wandered over each individual, one had a cat! The other looked bored! The pink one with the scar wasn’t even trying to look like Pinkie! And that one! He spotted the one posing as Twilight, He saw it’s horn and it all became clear.

He stood straight, whispered a quick command to the soldier by his left side, and began to move into the circle. Twilight and her friends tried to follow, but where blocked by the stallion who had been ordered to halt the group while Armour spoke to the others.

“Who is in charge here?!” He yelled angrily at the group of ponies. Pink, without falter or doubt stood forward to show she wasn’t afraid.
“I guess that would be me.” She said icily.
“Hmmm.” Armour raised a surprised eyebrow. “I’m surprised she isn’t the leader!” He pointed at Twi hatefully as he circled the group slowly. “After all, she’s the one posing as my sister, and my sister is the equal of a leader for her friends.” He came full circle and stopped in front of Pink. He leant down into the pink ponies face, she did the same to the stallion, challenging him all the more. “But wouldn’t know about friends now would you...” He looked the pony up and down slowly, finally he looked her in the eye as he spat out the final word. “Changeling!”

Pink didn’t look confused, she just stared straight back into Armours deep cerulean eyes defiantly. “I think you have us confused with somepony else big boy.” She said.
“Don’t even try it! Don’t even try to make me think you’re not one of those monsters!” He pulled away, walking back around the group in the opposite direction than before. “If you’re the leader, then have your unicorn release my sister and her friends!”

Twilight realised what her brother must be thinking, she jumped, trying to catch a glimpse of him from behind the broad shouldered guard in front. “Please! Big brother! They’re not changelings, and we’re not under any kind of spell!” Armour glanced over to his sister, he gave out a long sigh of frustration. He turned back to Pink once again.

“Well? Let her go! And the others!” Pink just stared back at him, but AJ soon made her voice heard.
“Ya’know, you should listen to your sister! We ain’t no changely... whatever’s! We’re just ponies.” She looked around at the surrounding armoured guards cautiously, “And If you were kind enough to tell yer boys to back off a little, I’m sure we could talk this out.”
“Now we know that’s never going to happen.” Said armour, striding away. “Even if by some miracle you’re not changelings. We are under orders to ascertain the situation, and quell it before it causes a single pony any more harm! You already nearly killed every unicorn in the kingdom with that little entrance of yours!” He whirled round in a heated fury.

“We- we didn’t mean to Armour.” Stammered Twi helplessly beside Pink. Twilight’s mind went haywire with thoughts, did Twi have a brother back in her world? She obviously did by the look on her face, so was he still alive? Had he died like so many had seemed to in their twisted world?
“Don’t call me that!” Armour said angrily. “Only my family call me that!” Twi’s face fell into misery.

Dashie looked terrified, she clung to little Mac for all her life. Even the cat looked terrified at all the staring faces, so it curled up closer and cowered beneath her foreleg. But even through her fear, she was able to give a terrified squeak of protest. “We don’t mean to hurt p-ponies! W-we just want to be safe! So we came here...” Shining Armour’s expression faltered for a moment at the honesty seeping through cyan mare’s words. He gave a short cough, unsure of what to say.

One of the guards (a Unicorn) Stood forward, his how was emitting a faint glimmer at its tip. Twilight recognised the symptoms of a messaging spell as wave upon wave of light pulsed down into the guards scull from his horn. “Captain Armour sir! The princess is inbound! One minute!” Armour gave a curt nod and the guard stood back in formation.

The captain looked back at the group before him, the two Pegasy, the two earth pony and the single unicorn. “Whatever you are...” He said shortly. “The princess will decide what’s best.” Twilight saw each of the pony’s faces fall, into terror as they heard the name that Armour shouted to his squad. “Take formation! Ensure the prisoner’s do not escape! Princess Celestia is coming!”

but there was something more

Surely enough, the sky was quickly full of the sight of the princess approaching on her golden carriage. It was set down besides armour’s silver one, its passenger departed slowly, looking to the surrounded group of mares with a frown.

She slowly approached receiving a sweeping bow from the fast growing crowd of on looking local ponies. Her mane flowed freely on the breeze, but it was different than usual. The strands of transcendent hair seemed to droop slightly, as though her magic was struggling to keep it aloft.

Before the goddess could even speak a word, she was besieged by the group of friends. “Princess! Please don’t hurt them!” Cried Twilight.
“They aint changelings!” continued Applejack.
“They don’t mean us the slightest bit of harm!” affirmed Rarity!
“Please help them!” Squeaked Fluttershy.
“This isn’t fair they’re trying to escape harm and now WE’RE their new biggest threat!” shouted an annoyed Rainbow. Their loud protests were brought to a halt by a raised golden hoof from the princess.

Silently, she smiled down at her little subjects. She opened her mouth and spoke softly. “I am overjoyed that you are all safe and unharmed my little ponies! We feared the worst had happened when you didn’t reply to my letters!” Twilight frowned, letters? What letters? She shook her head and let the comment slide as the princess passed them and approached the group of doubles surrounded by the guard.

The wall of stallions parted to allow her entry. The radiant princess continued until she stood beside her captain of the guard. “If Twilight and her friends believe you are not changelings, I am willing to believe them.” Armour tried to protest but was cut down by Celestias powerful gaze. He grew silent and still once more, leaving the princess to continue. “However.” She gazed at the cold and silent Pink. “It does not subtract from the fact you have already caused problems for Equestria.” She gazed up at the sky thoughtfully, almost as though sniffing the air. She grew stern and looked back at the group of other worldly ponies. “What are you doing here?

The group looked at a loss for words, but to the astonishment of every watching pony, the yellow Pegasus, the one who throughout the entire event had shown nothing but an expression of calmness and acceptance. “Celestia!” She said loudly for all to hear. “You know what we have done here.” She glanced at her friends, and her eyes glistened with remorse for what she was about to say. Her heart was heavy, but she couldn’t allow herself, or her friends to destroy any more lives! The dragon was alone because of them! The filly was in pain because of them! After all she’d gone through over the past day after losing Mac, she couldn’t permit herself to go unpunished for doing the same to others.

Rainbow Dash exploded in protest, realising what her new friend was about to do! It could only be deduced from someone who had been there, in the gorge with her as the dragon explained everything, and filled the yellow mare’s mind with doubt! “FLUTT!” She screamed, trying to fly over the guards, but was brought to a halt by the magic of two guards! She was dragged roughly to the ground, to the sheer fury of the princess.

“Release Rainbow at once!” The alicorn demanded, the guards obeyed without question. Dash got back to her hooves shakily, her muscles wobbling from the sudden contact with the ground. Her friends tried to comfort her, but she pushed them away angrily. She needed to stop Flutt, who had watched the events silently unfold before her. For one final time, her teal eyes met Rainbows pink ones, and the cyan pony knew she wouldn’t be able to stop her.

So with a sinking feeling that felt like a pit opening up beneath her hooves, Rainbow stood silently as Flutt addressed the princess. The yellow pony stood just ahead of her ally’s who all now looked to her in hope of salvation. “Your majesty...” She began. “We came here by the use of a spell, this spell overdosed every unicorn in your kingdom as we broke our way through the wall between our world and yours. Since here, we have harmed a small filly by the name of Sweetie Belle, and have destroyed a family!” She glanced at Rarity, whose hoof flew to her mouth in shock as she realised what the Pegasus was saying. (In her own way, she was apologising)

“FLUTTERSHY! YOU CRAZY BINT! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” Pink yelled furiously -forgetting the use of her alias- as her ally condemned them all. She would continue, but the princess cut across the Pink pony’s tirade.
“Is what your friend is saying true?” She addressed the pink scarred leader. The pony froze mid breath, gazing at the piercing eyes of the ruler of the kingdom. Flutt destroyed any chance they had, no matter how slim. She had stated only the facts, no lies, and no embellishments, it would do nothing for the group to lie now.

So with a newfound loathing for her yellow comrade, she sighed slowly, straightened herself braced her heart for the noises she knew would come from her three friends behind her. “Yes...your majesty.” Dashie squeed in fear, curling up into her tight little ball, holding on to little Mac for dear life as she waited for tendrils of light to choke the life from her. Twilight gasped, her horn immediately starting to glow in fear of an attack from the guards. Applejack sniffed hard, as she gazed at yet another possible fight on their hands, so much fighting, she thought they had escaped all this!

“Guards!” Shining Armour called out. And without any further command, the circle of stallions began to approach the group, cornering them even more. Twilight screamed to her mentor, “Please! Princess! They didn’t mean to! Flutt doesn’t know what she’s... It’s not what you think! The magic they used is gone! They’re not hurting anypony else!” unseen by the purple unicorn, Rarity’s ear twitched, it flattened to her head for a moment, and then sprung back up. The white unicorn batted it absentmindedly as she stared at the downfall of their new friends. Applejack noticed the odd behaviour and frowned at Rarity who raised a questioning eyebrow to the country pony as a response.

Celestia raised a hoof to halt the advance of the guard. She gazed back at her pupil sorrowfully. “Dearest Twilight. I’m so sorry that you haven’t realised this, but yes. The power has dissipated from these ponies entry to ‘our world’ as they say. But haven’t you noticed anything odd?” Twilight looked around, she couldn’t see anything. She caught a glimpse of her brother; her swayed slightly on the spot, shook his head to recuperate and stood strong again. Twilight frowned; did Armour have something wrong with him?

She glanced around at the unicorns within the ranks of the soldiers. Each seemed to be drained slightly, it was to be expected, from so much going on over the last twenty-four she was surprised that they didn’t look any worse! But there was something more...
“Twilight?” whimpered Rarity, Twilight paid no head as she saw a guard Blink hard and then open his eyes wide open, his left lid was twitching angrily, was his eye hurting? Another unicorn’s nose flared suddenly, he sneezed loudly and staggered back a few steps. What was going on?

“T-Twilight...” Rarity squeaked quietly.
“Rarity, you ok darling’?” Asked Applejack, who saw the pale faced pony was beginning to teeter around. The white unicorn’s ears were now pushed hard against her head; one of her eyes was clamped shut as though trying to shut something out.
“Eh- I- ow! It’s...” She looked at Twilight beseechingly. Twilight’s mouth dropped. She stared back at Celestia.

The goddess looked down at her favourite pupil, her horn began to glow with a pure gold gleam, the gleam shot into the air, then exploded, as the sparkling remnants of the spell fell to the ground, so did a small sheet of magic Twilight recognised as a shield spell. The princess began to speak as the bubble began to seal away the squad of soldiers, Twilight and her friends, and the other worldly ponies.

“One of the reasons we are here is because. After the last explosion of magical power vanished, a new one has been growing; it’s far greater, and far stronger than the previous one.” She looked to the visiting ponies. “This is why we thought you were a danger to us; you’ve brought something with you, following in your wake.” Pink’s mouth gaped as she realised what it must mean.

“No.” She whispered, Dashie quivered with newfound fear, Flutt’s eyes grew even darker, as her mouth coiled into the old angry snarl that everypony was used to.
“It can’t be!” AJ moaned, it wasn’t over.

“This barrier will protect you as best as possible, but I promise you, you will still sense whatever’s coming here. It’s too close to protect you fully.” Celestia closed her eyes, concentrating on the shield spell. Slowly Twilight made her way to her brother, who held her tight. Surely enough, Rarity took hold of her ears, beginning to shudder and squeak in pain. She slumped to floor. Just as Twilight felt the taste return to her mouth once again.

Outside of the bubble of golden woven magic. Sparks began to emit from the town centre, Ponies quickly ran to their houses –unable to reach the bubble of protection in time. The sparks grew in magnitude quickly, making the space from where they came from seem dark and distorted.

Everypony stared at the spot of the anomaly, silent and waiting. Twilight’s taste buds exploded in pain, she bit back the urge to throw up. Rarity began to scream in pain as the wining noise screamed into her ears. Twi began to teeter slightly on the spot, threatening to lose consciousness again. Suddenly, with an explosion to rival that of a sonic rain-boom; the spot in the clearing burst, the air seemed to tear as though it were simply a painted canopy. And out from its swirling depths, stepped a single, white, silver coated hoof.

The end had truly begun.

The first casualty

From behind the magical shield they saw it all, they heard it all, they felt it all! Far beyond the feeling of Pink and her friend’s arrival, the magical energy that tore this hole is space was something strong, powerful, and dark. Twilight’s throat flared up, Armour saw her face go green and barely had time to jump away before he was hit by a jet of vomit from his sister’s mouth. As he landed back on his hooves however, his head gave a giant pang and he swayed for a moment before toppling to the ground.

AJ took a firm hold of Twi, ensuring she didn’t fall. Rarity clung to her ears still screaming. But all of it was less severe than the night before. Celestia was right, though they would feel the effects; they were no way near as bad as before. Amidst the panic, the tall slender figure stepped out from the newly forged doorway. She watched the unicorns all writhing in pain and suppressed a girlish giggle at the site, what a wonderful welcome for her!

With a calm sigh she allowed her horn to glow profusely with an aura of purple light, the same light surrounded the tear between world’s and sealed it in a bubble similar to that of the golden one before the figure. As soon as the barrier was complete, each symptom in every unicorn vanished without a trace. Twilight and her friends all stumbled to their feet to gaze at the figure before them.

Princess Celestia lowered her own barrier, to allow a better view to the slender alicorn. She looked the same as the princess, except –like Pink and her friends- for some minor details. Instead of the golden armouring that clad the princess, Empress Celestia wore armour of a blue tinted silver, the reflection of which shone back to her face creating a dark and twisted glow about her face. Her horn seemed longer than the princess’s. But the largest difference came, when the calm ruler of the other world opened her eyes for the first time.

They were a deep shade of blood red, not the beautiful magenta colour the local ponies had come to expect. The empress scanned her surroundings lazily, taking in the faces of every creature before her. “Thank you.” Her voice was cool and ominous, Twilight could almost hear another voice speaking simultaneously, a deep and demonic tone repeating every word past the Empress’s lips.

Princess Celestia approached the silver clad ruler. “Who are you?” She demanded. The dark Empress cackled madly at the question, behind her, beneath the barricade it seemed like the world beyond flashed with lightning.
“Oh come now! Surely I’m not that dim-witted in this world? If I am this isn’t going to be any fun at all!” she gazed past the princess and towards the group headed by Pink. “Well, well, well.” She purred. “Tia, you really have done me a favour.” She said sycophantically as she approached the line of soldiers separating her from her prey.

“Excuse me, but My name is not ‘Tia’ to you! I am princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria.” The empress stopped suddenly, staring into space dreamily.
“Hmmm.” She laughed softly. “Equestria... Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while!” She then snapped from her reverie. “Princess?!?” she stared at Princess Celestia astonished. “A PRINCESS? Honestly? With all the regal terms in all creation, you went with princess.” The golden plated alicorn looked back coldly, so the empress shrugged and continued.

“I said thank you because you made my job a lot easier for me. Instead of running around after these little pests, you’ve trapped them for me to take back to where they belong without a fight.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that!” Whispered Flutt, with a voice that carried across the silent town square. The empress’s eyes focused on Flutt.
“I’m sorry, Pegasus! But what was that?” She emphasised the name of Flutt’s race as though it were an insult, and that only made Flutt more angry.
“I said I wouldn’t bet on us going without a fight.”
“Oh I see.” The silver plated Alicorn scoffed. “And here I thought you were actually going to say something relevant and not make idle threats.” She rolled her eyes, but froze mid gesture. He eyes dropped back to the Pegasus slowly, glinting with sudden malice.

“Now I know you!” She said, approaching the group. “Fluttershy I presume?” Flutt gulped slightly in surprise, her expression faltering only for a second before it became hard as stone once again.
“Not what I tend to go by these days, but close enough. Your ex-el-en-cy.” She emphasised each syllable slowly and deliberately, trying to bring out some kind of reaction from the Empress of her world.

Empress simply chuckled, closing her eyes for a moment in mirth, then she opened them again and stared down the little Pegasus. “Big Macintosh has a message for you.” Flutt’s stomach clenched suddenly. “Then again, I’m only guessing, I only got your name between his senseless babbling as her... burned!” Flutt exploded! She flung herself at the Empress aiming for her red eyes as her heart shattered at the confirmation of the loss of her beloved Macintosh!

The Empress disposed of Flutt easily enough, as the pony soared towards the alicorn’s face, Celestia’s horn glowed momentarily, this time a flash of dark blue. The magic consumed Flutt mid-jump. Holding her in the air.

Flutt looked into the eyes of the empress, and saw her demise. She turned her head up, with one final scream she shouted to Rainbow Dash, her newest friend. “RAINBO”- She was cut short with a terrible SNAP as the magic applied pressure to the Pegasus’s neck until it snapped. Immediately Flutt went limp; her face frozen in that look of permanent fear. The mare she had called yelled out to looked horrified, as each of the local ponies stumbled as though the attack had hurt them themselves. Each felt cold as they watched in frozen shock and horror.

Flutt’s mane hung sadly, as did her limbs and head as she hovered by the cloud of magic. With a short and curt “Hmmph.” The empress twitched her head, and flung the lifeless pony back towards her friends.
Flutt collapsed like a rag doll, rolling and landing with her legs sprawled out awkwardly. Dashie’s eyes peaked out from behind her mane and her foreleg, looking into the now misted over eyes of her fellow other worldly Pegasus. Dashie screamed, scurrying away, sending little Macintosh running in fear. The cyan mare stumbled back clumsily and fell into Pink, who propped her up. The pink mare’s eyes were frosted with the threat of tears as she stared at her dead friend.

“Now that’s the first casualty!” Laughed Empress Celestia as she cackled, preparing her magic for a second attack on the group before her. Her horn glowed that colour of purple once again, ready to strike the ponies before her. “You come with me now girls, you’ll come back to our world, and pay for leaving it, and the”- The empress was cut short by the sudden hulking mass of the princess that blocked her site.

The princess’s eyes seemed to burn with a fury none of them had seen before in their lives. “H-h-how dare you.” She whispered lividly. Looking up in moderate surprise, the Empress’s horn ceased to glow as she straightened up before her other self. “How dare you!” Repeated princess Celestia.
“What?” Asked the Empress, obviously bored with the seriousness of the princess in front of her, then her eyes found the slumped body of Flutt on the ground. “Oh!” She gasped with realisation, “Yes, that. Well she made and attempt on my life, and that’s a crime punishable by death.

Suddenly, Rainbow burst into the gathering of guards; she flew straight over them and sped towards her motionless friend. “FLUTT!” She screamed as she fell to the ground beside her, slowly lifting her head up. The yellow Pegasus didn’t respond, her face was frozen in one final look of terror; her eyes frozen in fear. But there was no life in them, no sparkle of thought or consciousness. Rainbow bit back tears as she knelt by her dead friend. She looked up to the group before her, now only four left, the group looked more terrified and vulnerable than ever!

“We have to help them!” Rainbow screamed at Twilight, who nodded in agreement with her friend, as did all the other’s. They pushed their way past the guards, all of whom now focused on the two alicorn’s staring each other down. As the group approached their other selves, the Empress giggled with that same childish laugh.

“Come now! You should be happy, she ended nice and quickly, if she’d been brought back home the punishment would have been far worse.” She stared at the motionless mare, her lips curled into a terrible smile. “She gets off easily, sad to say her boyfriend didn’t suffer the same mercy!”
“That’s enough!” Bellowed the princess, stopping the other ponies screaming at the empress. AJ’s teeth looked like they were about to shatter from how much she was grinding them, and Twi held her shoulder tightly, stopping her country friend from charging like the unfortunate Flutt had done.

“You dare threaten your own subjects! They are the ones who give you power, and you dare to take one of their lives so needlessly?” Yelled the princess, trying to fathom her other self’s actions. The empress raised a mocking eyebrow. She moved away from the princess, and further into the circle of guards. She came to halt before the group of doubles before her. She looked past the furious Twilight and stubborn faced Rainbow, and looked at Twi. “Do you care to explain to that simpleton behind me as to why she is completely wrong unicorn? You all know the story I believe.”

Twi gulped, and breathed shakily as she stared into the dark red eyes of the monster of legend in her world. “She... she once needed loyalty. But that was only fleeting.
For she would gain their power, once their heart stopped beating.
Their magic great and their life strong.
Their force is added to the throng.
For she is queen, empress and lord
and she wields the power of the unicorn hoard.” The empress twitched her hooves to the chant, conducting some unseen orchestra. When the magenta pony finished and shivered in fear, the alicorn turned to her other self and smiled.

“That rhyme is referring to the royal family, as you probably know.” Princess Celestia’s eyes were wide in horror. She replayed the death of the little yellow unicorn. The magic that had been used was... not the colour of her own magical power, but that of Luna’s.
“You... monster.” She whispered in terror. “You killed her...your own sister, to gain her power... and before...” She looked to the shield covering the gap in space. The hew was yet another colour, that of her nephew. “Blueblood” She whispered. “You monster!”

“A monster? Moi? Oh no, I’m not a monster...” With an explosion of light, the empress disappeared with a teleporting spell. Everypony searched for her, it was Armour who spotted her, standing just beside the rip between the worlds. He pointed her out, and every head snapped in her direction. “Now this...” The empress cooed, as she pried open a hole in the shield big enough for a pony to fit through. From within the world of darkness and lightning something began to stir. “Is a monster.” She finished as a purple scaled claw pried its way through the doorway and into the new world. The gap in the shield expanded around it as it made its way through, watching everypony with a large green eye.

The battle

The stallion stood tall, his black armour glinting in the gleam of the battle that he so often craved for. This battle was a piss poor excuse of a challenge though! The soldiers were week, and any strong opponents seemed to have been taken. On the outskirts of the battle field his mistress’s dragon Draig had been taken by another dragon! Now that would have been fun fighting a new dragon, being able to take his scaly coat as a trophy for when he returned to the kingdom of Celestia!

The refugee’s would have been the next choice of a decent fight, yet they had seemed to have vanished from sight! So now the unicorn commander was forced too wander the battle field dealing with any small fry that tried to challenge him. They never lasted long, e few spell and a good thrust or two was all they had in them before they tired. Before this stallion ploughed his glistening sharpened horn through their chest.

He had fought his way into the centre of the fight, looking for any white unicorn guard that could pose a decent enough challenge. He had heard a scream from not too far away, he looked up to see one of his own Pegasy plummeting to the earth, a discharge of magical energy glowing around him as he fell. A moment later he saw another guard fly through the sky, thrown by some unseen enemy. Interesting...

After fighting his way through a line of battling white and black soldiers, he saw him... or them in this case. The stallion gave a ecstatic grin at the sight, not only was he facing the legendary draconequus of chaos, but he was also standing behind a stallion unicorn, far different from the rest of the soldiers surrounding them. The stallion spotted a captains badge embedded on the haunch of his armour. With a determined smile, commander Shining Armour stepped forward challenging the stallion who was an exact copy of him. Finally a challenge!

............................

Shining Armour stared at the stallion just ahead of him and Discord, the exact copy of the captain gave a menacing smile and shouted over the racket of the battle around them. “Shining Armour! This is a great day! A chance to fight myself! FINALLY! A challenge!” And with that, without even a seconds warning, the black armoured soldier charged, his horn tilted down towards Shining armours chest. In an instant of battle analysis that Armour had studied for years, her spotted the sharpened horn of his opponent, spiked into a deadly point that was fast approaching the silver chest of the captain of the guard.

Using all his strength, Shining Armour dived aside. He felt the breeze as the other stallion passed, he thought he was safe, but in that instant the attacker turned on the spot, stopping instantly. He reared back, slamming hiss forehooves into Armour’s back slamming him straight onto the dirt floor beneath them. The impact sent the captain toppling to the floor instantly. “Is that it?!” Cried the black armoured unicorn in angry disbelief. “Is that all the Shining Armour of this world has to offer?” Shining Armour pushed, trying to get back on his hooves, but his back flared up, with a scream of pain, the captain fell back to the floor weekly.

Through a haze of red pain, Shining Armour looked up at the unicorn above him. He had the same face, and yet her look nothing like the other. Scars riddled his face, making a giant crisscrossing maze of marks across his muzzle. His eyes were those of a stallion who’d lived a life of somepony far older; they were dark, angry and bitter. The towering stallion snarled, raising a strong forehoof above the captains face without another word. Shining Armour looked around, searching for his ally from a few moments ago, where was Discord? He searched for the site of an alligator leg between the countless forehooves of the guards surrounding them. There!

The stallion gazed up, scanning up the body, to the face of the draconequus. Discord looked back, a faint smile on his face, with a wink from those red eyes, Armour heard the chimera’s voice inside his mind, as loud as though the lord of chaos was lying beside the captain. “Like I said, this is going to be interesting, Interfering would take away all the fun, don’t end the show now captain.” With that the voice vanished and the draconequus charged back into the fight.

The commanders hoof came soaring down inches from Armour’s face. The hoof made contact with the ground, as Armour rolled away to the screaming protests of his back. He gritted his teeth, fighting through the pain and bouncing back to his hooves. The two stood there staring each other down, each waiting for the other to make their move.

.............................

“My dear? Yours or mine?” Asked the chimera with a dry chuckle, addressing his bouncing wife as group of guards approached the battling couple.
“Throw me!” Commanded Pink, the chimera obeyed immediately taking hold of her left foreleg and hind leg he pulled her up and began to spin on the spot. “WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO!” Cried the blood drunk Pony as she was released and bowled down a group of five black guards at once.

“Pfft!” Laughed Pink as she bounced up and bounded away to the next group of enemies. Discord watched her gently, a slight grimace on his lips, his eyes travelled to the stomach of his wife, the womb that was carrying his and her child. If Pink died... No, keep fighting that’s the whole point of luring Celestia to this world, ‘We have a chance here! We can do this!’

.............................

“How should I kill them Tia?” Cackled the empress as her horn clashed against that of the princess. a shower of silver sparks exploded into life around the grinding horns. Celestia glared back at the copy of her, it was like looking into a funhouse mirror, familiar, but wrong beyond repair! With the princess’s silence, Empress Celestia laughed once again madly. “Maybe I should burn them alive? Or do you think I’ve done that enough already with that Macinstosh?” Princess Celestia pushed hard, grinding her horn to the very base of the empress’s.

Realising the threat, the empress abandoned her smile until she had levelled out her side of the dual, making their horns push each others at around the mid way point down the shaft. The sneer slowly crept back to her lips as she looked into the hateful eyes of the princess. “Should I make it quick?” she began to force the princess back. “Should I just snap their pretty little necks?” Her horn began to reach the princesses skull. “Maybe I should just over dose them. Yes it’ll only work on the unicorns, but I don’t mind. I’d like to see that purple one squirm!”
“NOOOOOOO!” Cried the princess, struggling to push back against the strong enemy, Twilight! She needed to protect her student! The stink of the empress’s dark magic filled Celestia’s nostrils, it smelt rancid and decaying.

Still fighting to push back against the dominating empress, Celestia’s eyes darted about, analysing the battle. Yes some ponies –the pink double and Shining Armour mostly- were holding their own against the empress’s dark forces, but her own white guards seemed to be dwindling in force. This wouldn’t last much longer! Equestria was losing!

..........................

“How dare you try and touch my Rarity!” Screamed Spike as he twisted around Drag’s hulking body, the local dragon’s slim figure made him quick and agile. Which is what he needed against the huge mass that was the other dragon. Using his snake like figure, he intertwined himself around the dragon’s arms, using his tail told hold the left while his body just beneath his own arms twisted around the right arm. The large dragon let loose a angry roar, and with a flex of his rippling muscles, he broke the grip on his left hand.

Draig now pulled his right arm down, dragging the slim dragon off of his back and back into sight. With an angry growl, he bore his teeth, pushing his nose against the smaller dragons. “Heh, oops!” Laughed Spike nervously. Draig opened his mouth, the smell of smoke that his breath emitted hinted at what was coming. Spike saw the tell tale signs, the green glow emitting from behind the scales on the dragon’s scales as it travelled up towards his throat.

The gaping mouth before him gave the dragon an idea, “Let’s see if this works!” The smaller dragon bellowed before taking a quick breath, his smaller lungs filled quicker, and with a large belch Spike shot a small ball of emerald fire into the gaping mouth of Draig, who immediately dropped the dragon, spluttering and backing away in discomfort, his own fireball dying suddenly with his lack of concentration.

Spike landed squarely on his feet, he stood for a moment, regaining his sense of direction, before dropping to all fours and charging speedily after the retreating Draig. The speedy dragon made a mental note, fire + dragon’s insides=not so fireproof!
..........................

“So? Biggest threat?” Asked Rainbow, peeking around the corner of the cafe, looking for the strongest enemy within the fight raging on ahead of them. The answer was unanimous, “Celestia!” Rainbow nodded, “Yeah, I guessed!” she turned to her friends “Well? You think we can use the elements?”
“Elements? You mean like fire and stuff?” Asked a confused and scared Dashie as she imagined them burning the enemy forces, she could almost smell the burning flesh, she’d smelt it before, on the funeral pyre’s of Cloudsdale, she shook in fear as she backed away from Dash nervously.

Twilight took over. “The elements of harmony are our best hope! But we don’t have them...” She looked worriedly to Applejack and Pinkie, who both returned the same crestfallen look.
“B-but...” Began Fluttershy, the group all snapped towards her. The yellow Pegasus squeaked slightly in surprise, the shock forced her to blurt out the best news Twilight had heard all day. “We didn’t need to HAVE them when we faced Nightmare Moon, they just came to us!” Her friends beamed with realisation of how right Fluttershy was.

“I’m guessing that means we have a plan now?” Asked Twi, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.
“Eeyup.” Said a deep voice from behind the group. The friends all turned to the sight of Big Macintosh.
“Big brother!” Cried the two Applejacks in unison. AJ bit her lip at her mistake. Then shook her head, now wasn’t the time for sentimentality.
“How’d you know we needed some help bro?” Asked Applejack, Big Mac raised an eyebrow.
“With all that noise, I couldn’t help hear it! I brought some people to help.” With a whistle, a hidden group of ponies in a bush nearby emerged.

Two Pegasy and a unicorn quickly approached the group. Rainbow’s eyes widened with surprise. “Cloudchaser? Flitt? What the hay are you doing here?” The two aqua mane’d pony’s gave a nervous smile to the group.
“Well, we were in the town centre when they came.” Flitt mumbled, looking to the raging battle just ahead.
“We ran, but then we wanted to come back and help. Macintosh was headed this way, so we tagged along.” Finished Cloudchaser, her spiked mane seemed to droop slightly in fear at the sudden sound of a screaming stallion from the battle.

“I know you!” Shouted Twi, staring at the unicorn wearing dark tinted glasses. “You... you were at the camp, I saw you...” The magenta pony shuddered at the memory and turned away. Twilight gazed at the unicorn for a moment, trying to place the face.
“You’re...” She began as the pony used her crystal blue magic to take away her shades to reveal her almighty red eyes. Dashie squeaked at the similarity of the unicorn and the empress’s eyes. With a blur she shot away, hiding in a trembling heap behind AJ. “Vinyl.” Realised Twilight. The music playing unicorn nodded; her face direly serious. “The DJ?!” She asked of Big Macintosh, who simply shrugged.

The stallion nodded to the two Pegasy, “They told me what had happened, I was just happy to get whatever help that was bein’ offered.” He turned to his sister, “You alright darlin’?” The country mare nodded happily to her brother, her spirit’s lifted greatly at the red stallion’s presence. “Good.” Smiled Big Mac before turning to the rest of the girls. “So, the plan?”

“We need to get to her!” explained Twilight, pointing to the empress in plain sight fighting the princess, who was struggling to hold the dark queen back. “The elements of harmony are our only hope! But we need to get to her first.” The magenta pony’s face fell. “I don’t see how we can though, this isn’t my kind of thing, I can’t see a way around the fighting...” a silence spanned across the group for a moment, then, very slowly... Dashie stood up.

“Umm... we know what to do.” She looked to Twi and AJ, “We’ve had to fight... for most of our lives, and I guess this is the best time to use what we’ve got.” AJ gave her cyan friend and encouraging nod. The Pegasus gulped, glancing to Fluttershy for only an instant before breathing out a shaky breath. “Ok... AJ?” The pony stood to attention ready to obey. “You’re pretty strong, so is...” She looked up at the towering stallion near her. The mare couldn’t bring herself to say the name ‘Big Macintosh’ so she just nodded to him.

“So if you two went ahead of the rest and pushed, we could make a hole big enough for the others to get through.”
“Sound like a plan if ever I heard one!” Encouraged the hatless country pony as she went and stood beside the stallion that looked so much like her brother. “You ok with that?” She asked of the stallion who nodded simply, not sure what to say to this copy of his sister.
“What about us?” Asked Cloudchaser, Dashie turned to them, her eyes seemed to fill with terror at what she planned to say.
“You two come with me, we can destract any straggling guards, so that they don’t focus on the others.” Cloudchaser wished she hadn’t asked, she looked to her friend, and the two gave a large gulp of fear.

“Twi?” Asked Dashie, her magenta friend came close to listen intently. “Do you think you and...” She looked over to the red eyed pony. “Vinyl?” She asked, the DJ gave a firm nod and a smile. “Well, do you think you could focus on helping that dragon?” Rarity gave a faint noise of worry at the mention of Spike, but kept quiet. She knew she was needed elsewhere; at least someone would help him.
“I’m cool with that.” Said the blue and white unicorn, coming over to stand beside Twi; ready to start.

The group stood there, unsure of what else to say. Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak to Dashie, but her nerves took hold and left her speechless. Rainbow puffed out her chest, preparing for what was to come, ignoring the growing weight of dread lodged in her stomach, she spoke quietly. “For Flutt.”
“For Flutt.” The group echoed. And with that they were off!

Twi and Vinyl cantered towards the warring dragon’s determined to save the slim Spike from the powerful Draig. As they rushed away into the fray, their horns began to glow in preparation for their battle. “A’ight!” Hollered AJ coming to the front of the pack of ponies closely followed by the red stallion in toe. “We all ready to make a break for it?” Twilight gave a nervous nod that was mimicked by all her friends, all of them with the same sickening nerves sinking into their stomachs.

“Dashie?” Asked the orange pony. The Pegasus looked terrified, yet determined. Inside the cyan pegasus's mind a switch had clicked in place, perhaps it was losing Flutt, or maybe the coutnless deaths happening around her life had finally made her realise. No more running! No more crying!
NO.
MORE.
FEAR!

Rainbow couldn’t help stare as the copy of herself who began to stand tall and proud and slowly began to unfurl her wings. Rainbow could only think of how simalar she now looked to herself. Dashie gave a quick flick of her head, tossing her fringe away from her eye. This wasn't the Dashie that had arrived in Equestria, Twilight could see it, as could the astonished Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus felt so happy to see the shy pegasus come out of her shell.

“You ready?” AJ asked of her cyan friend. The last traces of terror seemed to finally vanish as the quills of Dashie's wings twitched in the breeze for the first time in years.
“Cloudchaser. Flitt.” Dashie whispered. The Pegasy mares looked to the determined rainbow pony, her pink eyes set in the direction of three black Pegasus guards floating over the crowd of fighting stallions.

“Let’s fly!”

For Flutt

Dashie bolted into the sky, closely followed by Cloudchaser and Flitt. The speed of the little Cyan Pegasus was phenomenal even after all these years! The three flyers set their sights on the three dark guards who hung in the sky like vultures. Dashie’s sped past them catching their attention, then the two following mare’s slower speed showed the guards they were locals. The three dark Pegasy followed, pulling away from the main battle to pursue the fleeing three.

“Right!” Called AJ as she began to move towards the battle, “We’ll punch a hole, and you gals get your tails movin’ when we do!” and with no further communication. The group silently moved out. A black soldier, clad in the silver armour of the kingdom of Celestia was stood on the side lines, looking for any enemies, the squad of white guards had dwindled down until only the strongest survived. The main assaulting force was no focused on these last survivors, leaving many of the dark furred guards to search the bodies of the fallen to ensure they were dead.

The guard never saw them, he only heard the thunderous hoofsteps of a large group of ponies before he felt something hard and solid collide with the back of his head, just below the lining of his helmet. The guard went down immediately without a fight as the girls and Big Macintosh rushed over him and into the main body of the battle.

Big Mac flexed his left hoof stiffly after the contact with the guards hard head as they rushed on. “You ok?” Asked the hatless AJ who rushed alongside him, forming the point of the attacking force. The red stallion looked behind as he ran, locking gazes with his Stetson wearing little sister behind him. The orange pony gave him an encouraging yet nervous smile, silently saying all that needed to be said. The stallion smiled back and looked ahead as they reached the wall of warring bodies.
“Eeeyup!” He yelled as her brought his forehooves down on an unsuspecting enemy’s back.

..........................

“Yeeeaaarrggghhh!” The black armoured commander thrust his horn hard, skimming Shining Armours cheek by centimetres. The captain countered with a point blank range blast of energy from his horn. The shot hit the commander squarely in the face. The shot sent him reeling backwards, skidding several feet across the floor. When he stood, a singed red mark was left on his face. With smoke still rising from the injury, the commander charged again without hesitation, a mad gleam in his eyes at the prospect of a challenge.

“Finally!” The black clad unicorn screamed, as his horn clashed against Armours with a hail of sparks as the result. “A challenge!” Another smash, and another shower of sparks. “All I’ve ever wanted!” SMASH “IS!” SMASH “A CHALLENGE!” With each clash of their horns, the dark Shining Armour grew more frantic, more excited and more vicious with his swings of his sharpened horn. Finally on his final word, he brought his horn down and smashed his lighter double’s horn away and brought it inches to his skull.

The captain moved fast in his moment of desperation, resorting to a dirty move, he kicked his buckling hind leg out, smashing it into the other stallions foreleg. With a cry of anguish, the black armoured stallion fell to the side in pain. Through his injuries and aching bones, the captain brought himself back up. His back screamed in agony, as did the muscles of his neck from swinging his head with such force. The captain stood panting, desperately trying to pull some air into his frantic lungs.

“Hehehehh.” The other Shining Armour stood once again, tenderly testing his foreleg after his fight. With a yell of pain he pulled his leg back up as it made contact with the ground. “Besides basic training, I’ve never had a broken bone in my life!” Laughed the black armoured warrior. He threw his head back and screamed with ecstasy and laughter, “This is wonderful! Finally! I thought chasing down those little bitches would be boring, but this!” His head snapped back to stare at Shining Armour “This is what I’ve waited for, this is what I’ve lived for all my life!”

Armour couldn’t help himself, he had to know. “How?” He asked, taking a step towards his enemy. “HOW?” He repeated, loud enough to top the noise of the dwindling battle. “How could you be like this? What could have possibly happened, to turn me...” He stared at the stallion before him, looking at the countless scars, the manic smile and the twisted gleam that lay behind his eyes. “Into you?” the captain finished.

From behind, Armour heard a commotion, different from the usual screams of battle, it sounded like a push, a final push by some unknown group as they charged in. The captain took his eyes off the commander, and looked behind. He saw several of the black stallion soldiers of the empress fall beneath the hooves of the huge Big Macintosh, and another few fall to what seemed to be Applejack. As the two fighters punched a gap into the wall of soldiers, Armour saw her.

His little sister, Twilight was running, through the countless enemies, and towards the other side of the battle field. Her determined frown told the stallion that his little sister had a plan, forgetting himself, and forgetting his situation, Armour smiled at the sight of his sister. His mistake was costly. In the moment of his opponent’s distraction, the other Shining Armour had approached slowly. He lunged for the local Armour’s throat.

Shining Armour turned back just in time to see a sharpened horn tip soaring for his neck. He let out a cry of fear as he stared into those maddened eyes, unable to move from shock.

.........................

The cry chilled Twilight to the bone, her ears pricked up immediately and her hooves grinded to a halt. She searched frantically through the battling bodies to find the source of the scream, she knew it far too well, and the noise seemed to crush her very soul.

“Twilight Come on!” Shouted Rainbow who now zipped past her through the air towards the battling Celestia’s.
“Big brother...” Twilight whispered in fear. Searching frantically still unable to find him.
“What’s wrong Twilight?” Asked Pinkie who had caught up with the unicorn.
“Sh-Shining Armour...I heard...” There! A gap in the fighting showed Twilight what was happening. A unicorn soldier, clad all in black was standing over her brothers struggling body. The enemy’s sharpened horn was mere millimetres from the flesh of Armour’s throat, but her big brother was fighting valiantly, using all his strength he was pushing the hulking body of his assailant away with his forehooves as he lay on his back.

Twilight took a step towards him, but was met by a large red furred hoof. She looked up into a pair of big green eyes. “Go on, keep goin’ I’ll go help.” Twilight looked back to her struggling brother, yes Big Mac would be the logical choice to help Armour, but this was Twilight’s brother! Logic had nothing to do with this.
“Twilight! Darling! Whats keeping you?” Asked a panicked Rarity. Twilight glanced over her shoulder to see her friends slowly being penned in by a group of black and silver soldiers. Twilight looked back to Mac.
“Go.” He said, and charged after the two battling unicorns, leaving Twilight with only one choice.
With worry in her heart, Twilight reared back, then charged forward Using her magic as best she could, she created a small bubble around herself. The strength of the barrier, and the speed of her canter combined to create a bowling ball effect, which knocked the silver clag warriors down and cleared the way for the friends to make the last push to empress Celestia.

.................................

Spike flew through the air, screaming as he did so. With a loud crash, he landed harshly in a bush outside one of the houses on the outskirts of town. Spike had lured Draig out here for a reason, that way if the brute used fire again, there was less chance of it causing as much chaos for the ponies he knew were hiding within the many thatched houses. However, his pursuit of the slim dragon had made Draig furious. So now the savage brute was flinging the smaller dragon around like a rag doll.

“DRAGON!” Cried a familiar voice. So shocked were the two reptiles at the sound of another voice, they stopped and gazed at the approaching unicorns. Spike recognised one as the DJ Vinyl Scratch, and the other was one of the Twilights, but he wasn’t sure which one. “Dragon...” Repeated the magenta pony, showing she didn’t know his name. Twi.

“We’re here to help.”Spike opened his mouth to speak, but in the corner of his eye he saw the hulking Draig charge.
“MOVE!” He cried as he pushed the two unicorns away, throwing himself in the line of fire. Draig sent him soaring through the air, and with an agonising crack, ploughed into the side of the house. Spike fell to the floor hard and skidded to the hooves of the two unicorns he had saved.
“You alright?” Asked Vinyl as she helped Spike to his feet.
“Yeah I’m- Eeeaarrrgh!” The dragon collapsed to his knees clutching his stomach. With a gut wrenching cough, he spewed out a mouthful of blood onto the gleaming grass.

“You’re hurt!” Cried Twi in worry. She rushed to help the dragon up, but was pushed aside as the dragon pulled himself to his feet.
“I’m fine.” He said, wincing as he did. “I need... to keep going! I almost have him!” He took a step forward and teetered for a moment, Vinyl and Twi grabbed him and held him steady.
“You’re on the ropes man! You’ve got nothing left!” Protested Vinyl, trying to convince the local dragon to stop.
“NO!” He yelled, pushing back towards the cloud of smoke and dust that was the house that had stood there only moments ago. “I NEED TO... TO... MAKE... AMENDS!” He staggered on, back to the growing growl as Draig came to.

“For what?!?” Cried Twi, running in front of the dragon and blocking his path. “What’s so important that you need to keep fighting until you die?” The dragon looked surprised.
“B-But you come from a place where...”
“Yeah! A place where nearly everyone dies for no reason! I don’t want to this place be the same!” Cried Twi heartbrokenly. Tears threatened to fall from her beautiful violet eyes, they were just like Twilight’s.

“B-but I...I told...Flutter-Flutt to...” The dragon seemed lost. Twi frowned, blinking back the tears.
“What? You told Flutt what?” The dragon seemed to bite back some tears of his own.
“I told her to leave, that you all ruined everything. That... that it was your fault...” Twi’s eyes grew wide with surprise, this was the first being in this world that she had met who hadn’t been downright hospitable to her and her friends, and yet here he was fighting a losing battle to protect them.
“Make amends...” She whispered. The dragon nodded.
“You were running, you were scared, and because of my own mistakes, I caused problems that I then blamed on all of you.” The tears of disgust began to fall from his eyes now. “A-and now Flutt’s... dead... I saw her body as I was fighting... I... I never said...” He stood tall, suddenly focusing on a spot just over Twi’s head. “I need to do this... to make amends.”

The dragon began to move, he walked around Twi and continued towards the demolished wall of the house. From inside a series of grunts and roars proved Draig was back to his angry self and was ready for round two. Not that Spike had really won round one. “Let us help man!” Shouted Vinyl, catching up to the dragon as he made his way back.
“How could you?” Asked Spike coldly. “I’m probably gonna die here, or at least get injured beyond repair. So if I can’t beat him, a dragon! What can you two unicorns do?”
“Well we have magic!” Suggested Twi, “Have you seen any kind of weakness? Anything we could exploit.” Spike stopped, realisation taking over, his stomach began to feel warm at the idea.

“I’ve got it!”

..............................

“Chaser! Behind you!” Screamed Dashie over the rushing wind. Cloudchaser glanced behind to see two of the three guards gaining fast.
“What do I do?” Asked the spiky mane’d Pegasus, rounding around in a sharp circle, hoping to gain some distance, to little effect. Dashie glanced over at Flitt, who had the other guard on her tail, literally, the black Pegasus was centimetres away from grabbing the slower mare’s tail with his teeth. ‘Ok then’ said a little voice inside Dashie’s head, it sounded so much like Flutt. ‘These scumbags whant to fly? We’ll make them fly!’

Dashie arched into the sky, allowing her two fellow flyers and their pursuers to pass beneath her. Dashie bent her back, looping completely until her stomach was parallel to the floor once again. Flutt would have been proud. Now pursuing the group of Pegasy, Dashie aimed for the one behind Flitt. The dark stallion’s teeth were nearly on Flitt now. Dashie soared slightly higher than the two, then pointing her body like a bullet, she streamed into the large dark Pegasus and pushed him several feet down in the air. Still on his back, Dashie took hold of his wings, stopping him from changing their direction, using her own to keep them in the air; she tilted him towards the lower pursuit beneath them. with a burst of speed and a hard kick of her hind legs, Dashie sent her prisoner flying straight into his two comrades, resulting in a giant painful heap on the ground.

The other two Pegasy stopped and backtracked to Dashie. “WOW!” Shouted Flitt in amazement.
“That was amazing! Even Rainbow Dash probably couldn’t do that!” Dashie frowned at the compliment. Inside her head, the voice like Flutt’s gave a small and encouraging cheer. ‘THAT’S MY GIRL!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Dashie turned back towards the town centre. “C’mon! We need to keep the others safe!” And with that the three headed back for town.

.......................

“Who’s the little cunt you were looking at there huh?” Laughed the manic Black Armour. His smile fast turning in to a snarl. On the outside he was ecstatic, but inside his mind he was terrified. No matter what he did, this bastard could stop him and counter. He had wanted a challenge, not to meet his match! So now he set out to defeat the stallion in a different way, distract him, and then the battle was over! “She’s pretty! Maybe I’ll ask the empress not to flay her when we win. Or at least not that face, that’s all I need anyway!”

“NO!” Cried Shining Armour, sickened at the insidious mocking of the stallion above him. That was his sister! Even in his world, Twily would be his sister! So how dare he say such disgusting, sickening and repulsive things! Armour realised his stray thoughts had lost him all the ground he had fought to gain, the other stallion’s horn was now just grazing his throat. Any second now, Armour would feel it puncture his flesh and then it would all be over. The last thing he would see was this insane stallion’s horrible smile, the last he would was his spit spewing onto Armours face in his frenzied gasps of breath through his gritted teeth, not the loving touch of his sister, or of his wife back in Canterlotte.

With a blur of red, the stallion was thrown from above Shining Armour with a startled yell. Armour bolted to his hooves to find the enemy crumpled on the ground with the stallion Big Macintosh stood above him. Though crippled from the brutal impact of the large work pony, the black clad stallion gave out a forced and pained laugh. “Not got it in you to beat me yourself? Gotta bring in the prick who I hunted down back in my world huh?” He tried to stand again, “Not...” His forelegs buckled. “Strong enough?” He gasped as his muzzled crumpled against the dirt floor.

“You sicken me.” Armour said, turning away from the vicious double.
“DON’T TURN YOU BACK ON ME!” The dark stallion screamed! “I didn’t come all this way to be beaten by a lame ass prick that can’t even finish a fight!”
“Finish it?!” Armour screamed, turning back and charging towards the other shining Armour hatefully. Thrusting his horn between the eyes of the floored stallion so he could see the tip and how perilously close it was to his face. “Should I finish it now? Blast you away with no chance of survival? Should I stoop to your disgusting level?” Armour screamed angrily.

The black clad unicorn was speechless. “SHOULD I?!” Armour asked again, expecting the coward to back down.
“Maybe you should.” And with that, the stallion spat at the captain. The specks of saliva spattered his muzzle, and boiled his blood. “If you don’t. I will! And then I’ll kill your men, and your friends. And then finally I’ll skull fuck that purple whore of yours!” With a cry of rage, Shining Armour lost it. With a blast of purple light that erupted from the tip of his horn, the two were engulfed from sight.
“NO!” Cried Big Mac, too late to stop the unicorn captain.

When the light lessened, and the scene came back into focus, Shining Armour could be seen, panting over the smoking body of his double, a facial expression of both fury and agony etched across every inch of his muzzle. His eyes were filled with tears of disbelief and self hate. How could he have just done that? Even after all he had said and done?

“The commander!” Cried a nearby black stallion. Turning onto the two standing local stallions. Big Mac pushed up against Shining Armour, preparing to cover his back from any attacker, as more and more of the black guards saw one of their strongest had fallen. “You ok?” The red earth pony asked of the unicorn captain.
“I-I- I can’t believe I...” Armour stuttered out bleakly. Staring at the body at his feet.
“I’m sorry partner but we got bigger apple’s to fry!” Macintosh said as the swarm of guards began to approach.

.....................

Lying on the floor, with his body failing, and his flesh singed and burning was the commander of the army’s of the kingdom Celestia. He gazed up through almost what seemed like a tinted and fogged glass. He saw the shapes of the two that had defeated him slowly back away followed by far darker shapes. What terrible creatures those dark warriors seemed like now.

Was it his proximity to the shades of death that opened his eyes? Or was it simply that he now saw them for what they were by some divine joke? Only when he lay there broken and dying would he see them for what they are.

How had this come to be? How had he failed? ‘Again.’ The word rang through his mind. Had this been the first time? No, there was something else. He had failed someone before, but who. In his last moments, he searched with all his power for a name, but none came, so he looked for a face. Delving into the archives of his mind, he searched restlessly, knowing that time was not on his side, he needed to know! To know now, or to forever lay in torment. Who had he failed.

A dark day, the clouds are tinted with a Hugh of red as lightening forks across the sky. The stench of burning wood and hay fill his nostrils. Two unicorns lie before his hooves. There blood drenches his hooves as he stands by his parent’s bodies. Had he failed them? No. They weren’t the ones. The memories continue, and the young stallion runs to a small shack. The safe house, surely it’s safe? No, it burns like all the other houses!

She’s in there! She must be in there! He dives in, ploughing through the burning planks that collapse around him. They scratch and burn his face, but he continues on. Only when he’s in the centre of the demolished shack does he hear it. “BIG BROTHER!” He barges through the flimsy wall, and the small house collapses behind him. He bights through the burning pain, and the stinging smoke in his nostrils and searches with tear filled eyes. He spots her.

A magenta unicorn filly. Carried away in a cage, along with six other small unicorns. One with a long shimmering purple mane and filthy white coat, she sits next to the magenta filly and puts a hoof on her shoulder. “NO!” he screams, running after the leaving cage. He trips on something, falling in a heap of pain to the scorched ground below. When he looks up again, he sees her small terror filled eyes vanish over the ridge of the hill.

Hoofsteps behind him. He turns. Looking into the eyes of the empress. They gleam in the glow of the embers all around, the smoke rises and combines with the substance of her mane and tail, making them larger and more dense. She’s a monster, a terrible reaper of death a destruction. She bends down. Lowering her horn to his temple. “A lot of spirit, we’ll need to break that first! Then, maybe you’ll be of use to me.” Her tip glows, as she places it to his temple.

He gasps, staring up at the blue sky above him now. Blue, he like the sky being blue, red was too angry, to dark, blue was...nice. The black armoured stallion gave a few more rasping breaths. Knowing now, his greatest failure. His failure to protect her, his failure to stick to his parents ideals and becoming some blood drunk monster. His failure, to his sister. “Twily...” He rasps, drawing in one last breath. How could he let himself forget her, his sister, his reason for life, his one...and...only... His eyes freeze over, and his mind fades leaving only and empty husk on the battle scortched earth.

Goodbye Spike

“Come on! You big coward!” Twi cried at the large Draig, praying down on the terrified Vinyl Scratch. When the dragon glared at her then turned back to the DJ, who squealed in fear, Twi screamed! “HEY!” She sent a large potted plant flying at the dragon, the resulting smash of pottery on his skull infuriated the large dragon and sent him raging towards the purple pony.

Twi stood strong. Waiting for the large creature to get closer. With a snarl, the dragon’s mouth swung open, his green eyes filled with fiery rage. Still Twi stood, waiting. The dragon began to pass a large house, set just ahead of the purple unicorn. Still Twi stood, waiting. With a roar, Draig opened his mouth even wider, ecstatic at the easy meal he was about to receive. “NOW!” Shouted the unicorn.

Spike lunged from the roof of the house, soaring down towards the large beast. He landed perfectly, slamming into the creatures thick head. Draig stumbled, and Twi jumped aside as the two creatures toppled to the ground. Spike kept on wrestling with the struggling beast, trying to keep ahold of his mighty head to stop it from biting off one of his hands. “Grab it!” the dragon yelled. Immediately snapping into action, Vinyl and Twi followed the plan they and Spike had devised moments ago. Using all the magic they could muster, they held the large dragon’s limbs tight to his body with a mixture of purple and blue tinted magic.

Spike hopped off and came full circle, stopping be the eye that stared up at the sky on the side of the beasts head. “You tried to hurt Rarity!” Exclaimed the slim dragon. “You tried to hurt Twilight! All of my friends! You almost killed me! You almost killed them!” He pointed at Twi and Vinyl furiously, trying to make this hulking monster see the light. “I should end you! Just end you, here and now!” He dropped to his knees beside the monsters head. “But.” He continued miserably. “I’m not a murderer like you.”

Spike looked to Twi and Vinyl, both of whom already had beads of sweat trickling from their brows at detaining such a hulking creature. With sorrow in his eyes, he whispered. “Let him go.” Twi stared in shock. This wasn’t the plan! The plan had been to capture the beast so Spike could finish it. It was a good plan! The best chance any of them –or anypony in the kingdom of Celestia- had ever had at destroying the empress’s disastrous pet once and for all. Now, when he needed to be cold and objective, this slim dragon; their only hope at success, had grown a conscience?

Spike waited, and when neither unicorn responded, he shouted. “I said let him go!” Vinyl jumped in surprise, her magic breaking instantly. Beneath Spike, Draig groaned happily at the release of his hind legs. He relaxed and sighed with relief, but then looked down to his arms. He gave a grunt, wordlessly asking the dragon above him to be released.

Spike nodded slowly at Draig, he looked back up at Twi. “Trust me, he won’t hurt you.” Twi hesitated for a moment, and then, against her better judgement, she let the cloud of magenta magic around the large dragon’s arms die away. Draig grunted, pulling himself to his feet. Spike stood as his other dragon did so. Giving the large lizard a miserable smile, Spike asked “Are you going to leave now?” Draig nodded slowly and began to turn. For a moment, he seemed earnest. But with the speed and treachery of the devil, the large dragon swiped Spike away, causing yet another mouth full of blood to spew out from the battered dragon's mouth. The vicious creature then charged on Twi and Vinyl who had now come together.

Twi screamed, unable to bring her magic up to protect her in time. The two unicorns shrank away in fear from the approaching creature, but they needn’t have worried. Before Draig made it halfway to the two girls. A slim snakelike creature slithered up his back and reached around to his bottom jaw. Wrenching it open roughly, Spike gave a deep breath, hesitated for only a moment...and -with the misery only one can experience from killing when knowing it could all be avoided- breathed a giant green plume of scortching fire into the monsters gaping mouth and throat.

Immediately Draig fell to his knees. Making some gurgled noise close to a scream as his lungs filled with the almost liquid like feeling of the flames. He screamed and rithed in tortured pain, biting down so hard a tooht in his jaw cracked and splintered into his gums and jaw. But terribly, like a monster from a movie, it wasn’t enough. The monster began to get back to his feet, trying to reach the waiting unicorns who watched on in horror as the screaming beast aproached. Spike didn’t hesitate this time, he now knew that this creature wouldn't stop, he was beyond all reasoning and help. So he took in another lungful of emerald flame, and hurled it down the monsters throat. This time the large monster stayed on it's feet, as the scales of it's belly glowed as the fire tore apart his insides, the monster let out a terrible, primal scream that shook the very ground. The yell lasted for what seemed like a century, with Spike still clinging tightly to the shoulders of this seemingly unstoppable beast.

The scream lasted until finally, with a horrible noise almost like sizzling meat over an open fire, the large dragon became silent as his vocal chords snapped and melted in his throat. With his insides melting away with the stink of cooking flesh; Draig collapsed to the floor, throwing Spike from his shoulders with his momentum. The ground thundered at the impact of the beasts deathfall dust exploded from the ground and coated the still beast. Spike tumbled and rolled several feet before coming to a halt just ahead of his two unicorn allies. He gave a horrible cough, spitting out mouthfulls of dried blood as he clutched his ribs painfully.Twi and Vinyl rushed to help the injured dragon, both terrified for his wel being after such a long and horrible ordeal.

..........................

Empress Celestia’s resolve faltered, her strength that had been pushing the princess back up to this point seemed to dwindle away, though still posing a very prominent threat, Princess Celestia was sure she could push her back to an even footing now.

With their eyes so close, Princess could see something behind her opponent’s red ones. Was it fear? Why was she afraid? Finally gaining the upper hand in the dual of horns by pushing the empress a few feet back, Celestia took a quick glance around. Since her last look into the battle everything had changed.

Whereas her subjects had been in a losing battle, falling to the overwhelming horde of the other world; the surviving few were now fending off their attackers. It broke Celestia’s heart to see such devastation and destruction, so many lives just thrown away without warrant or need. As the princess scanned the field of battle, she saw her captain still fighting strong, fighting alongside a new entry into the battle that she recognised as the farm pony Big Macintosh! She was glad to see that friendship and co-operation was still thriving even within this dark setting.

She saw him, fighting with no malice in his eyes, he simply swept away the enemy like a great ocean, taking tens of enemies at the same time single handed. Discord truly was a force to be reckoned with, but to see him fighting on the side of Equestria filled Celestia’s heart with hope, he was by far their strongest here today, and he was showing it in every movement he made.

Finally her pale pink eyes returned to the red ones of the empress. “Your forces are failing.” The princess reasoned with her other self. “It’s not long now until you are the only one left! Stop this now and go back to your home!” The empress looked around trying to find some weakness she could still exploit, she found none.

“What has you so scared?” Asked the princess, now only holding back her opponent in the name of self defence. The empress’s eyes snapped back to her opponent’s.
“The only one who should be scared is you! When I Get Draig to- When my commander”- The empress looked lost. Celestia realised what was wrong with the ruler of the other world. she could sense her side was losing, and she could also sense that two of her strongest pawns were now lost.
The tables had turned, now if only they could defeat this evil empress once and for all. Equestria was beginning to fight back, and were now beginning to win!

..........................

When Spike finally struggled to his feet with the aid of the shoulders of his friends and gazed at the creature before him, he saw that Draig was dead. Smoke billowed out from the dead creatures gaping maw as the fire raged inside his stomach and lungs, burning him from the inside out. The creature's thick scales would act like an oven, cooking his insides for hours before finally the fire would either die out or burn intesnly enough to destroy the thick slivers that covered the creature.

Spike turned away bitterly, not wishing to look at his monstrous handy work. “I-I’m sorry you had to do that big guy!” Comforted, Vinyl. Spike stopped at the unicorns words. His face was gaunt and horrified by what he had done. He looked at Twi, who looked on in misery at what she and her friends had brought to this world.

“I-I... I had to give him a chance!” Spike explained, the magenta pony wasn’t sure who he was trying to explain himself to, her or himself. “He... He was me! I had to see if he’d leave.” Twi looked on, speaking in a whisper.
“You knew he wouldn’t though... didn’t you?” The dragon nodded bitterly. And then, with his legs shaking uncontrollably, he broke down to the floor and gave in to tears, cupping his hands to his face as he wept over what he had done. He had killed! How could he ever look anypony he loved again, knowing they knew he had finally done it!

He had finally given in to the monster he was, he had finally given in and become a vicious... monstrous...murderous...Dragon. Long gone was the Spike who had run around Ponyville happily as a child, the one who would almost be sick at the very mention of violence. That dragon in the gemstone... that was the only place he resided now, that and in some corner of Spike’s mind, taken over by the instincts of a stone cold killing machine! Could that little kind creature ever be a part of who he was now! He had taken a life! That of one of his own kind! How could he ever go back?

‘Rarity’ he thought; the face of his beloved swimming into view against his dark purple palms, her brilliant white coat was almost blinding, like some sort of angel. His angel, his only salvation if there was such a thing! The only one he could listen to, the only pony in the world who had a chance at making any of this seem ok. ‘Forgive me Rarity! Please... forgive me!’

She's too powerful!

“Come on! We’re almost there!” cried Rainbow Dash, slamming her hind legs into the face of a poor black furred soldier. There was only a thin line of dark warriors, between the girls and the battling Celestia’s. There was no way through however. Their battle through the centre of the conflict had tired the girls to the point of collapse.

Twilight’s horn still glowed, but it’s light was sputtering and fading with each passing second, her magic couldn’t last much longer. Rarity was in the exact same state, her horn screamed in protest in its constant use, her usually radiant mane was matted and clinging to her face with sweat. Rainbow, Applejack, and AJ were mostly the ones still fighting. They used every ounce of their athletic stamina to summon strength to push back the Celestial horde.

Pinkie and Fluttershy hung back, keeping the rear of the group safe. The pink mare was obviously distracted, she kept looking into the battle before her, searching for Pink, dyeing to know if she was safe or not. Fluttershy was simply shivering in fear, backing away from the many dark warriors as they passed with a soft and fearful squee.

“Rainbow! We can’t make it! Fall back!” Shouted Twilight helplessly as her horn finally gave out and her mystical purple cloud vanished from sight.
“NO! We can make it!” The cyan Pegasy protested furiously, refusing to back down from the evil creatures. She’d never back down! This was for Flutt! Rainbow wouldn’t stop until she saw the empress pay!

“Rainbow!” Yelled Applejack heatedly, tiredly batting away a pouncing Pegasy. “She’s right! We almost got there, but if we get through we’re gonna tire ourselves out too much t’ help!” The rainbow pony roared in frustration, she gave a vicious kick but her temper lost her focus. Her target ducked under her legs and then drove his thick earth pony skull into her side. She fell painfully to the ground with a yell of agony.

“Rainbow!” Cried Fluttershy, reaching out for her friend as though she could pull her away from such a distance. The cyan Pegasus looked up, staring into the dark eyes of the soldier towering above her. She looked to her friends, seeing each of them was trapped, Twi and Rarity were being cut off by a line of soldiers, cordoning them off from the rest of the group. Pinkie was squaring up to a reasonably sized guard, and Flutt was cowering behind the pink mare unable to reach her grounded fellow Pegasus.

The silver coated hoof rose above her skull, Rainbow tried to move but her side flared up in protest, her legs seized up and froze, leaving her completely open to the coming pain. She scrunched her eyes shut waiting for the contact, her it comes!

A blur of pink and brown shot into the clearing, bowling over the attacking stallion and saving Dash. Without pause, the two fighters charged at the guards approaching the unicorns. Discord silently grabbed his wife by the hoof, and threw her hard at the enemy. The pink pony kicked her back legs as she flew through the air and hit the group, adding to the impact and crushing the stallion’s helmet into his face.

Without even the slightest falter, the draconequus rushed at the final guard -the one baring down on Pinkie- while his wife saved the unicorns. The sly demon almost glided along the battle field as if on skates. He took hold of the stallion’s foreleg, and swung it up to his chest height. He then proceeded to waltz with the terrified guard. Pinkie –in spite of the situation, in spite of the battle raging around her- proceeded to giggle at the amazingly random sight. The giggle grew to a climax and the pink mare fell to the floor in merriment as the draconequus forced the stallion to spin like a ballerina before letting him go and causing him to zip away like a spinning top.

The chimera smiled at the laughing pony, slowly making his way to her. He reached down offering a paw to help her up. “I always have loved that laugh.” He said as the pony got to her feet with his aid. Pinkie tried to speak as her laugh died down.
“ Hehe. But you’ve never heard me laugh! I bet Pink’s is different.” Pinkie glanced back to the fighting mare who was now ushering Twilight and Rarity towards their target now her pray had been dealt with.
“Oh she does.” confirmed the chimera. “But I’ve always loved your laugh too dear Pinkie.” The pink bouncy haired mare looked up into those big red eyes and swore she recognized something behind them. Perhaps a hint of the idea of chocolate rain and cotton candy clouds?

“Many bodies, across many worlds, but only one mind, one consciousness.” Said the chimera cryptically. With a devious little wink that left the pink mare gasping in realisation. The chimera picked up the mare and rushed to reunite her with her friends who now made the final push for the princess and empress’s duel. Pinkie sat in his arms, looking up at the draconequus. He was the same discord? Or at least, a Discord with this world’s discord’s memories? ‘How... SUPER FANTABULOUS! THIS MEANS THIS WORLDS DISCORD IS NICE!’ Thought the mare happily as she was dropped back to the ground, reunited with her friends as they squared up to that final line of guards that stood between them and the Celestias.

...................................

“What are you going to do?” asked the princess beseechingly; trying to make her other self see that her force was failing. “You have nothing left now! You can see as well as I. You’re losing. Stand down!”
“NEVER!” screamed the silver coated empress, her eyes growing wide in maddening rage. “I’m never going to back down! You, and your ridiculous peaceful approach shit! I’m never backing down!” She pushed hard against the princess’s horn once again in one final desperate attempt of an assault. Those dark red eyes glinted as she stared into the soft pink of the princess’s.

“I know your full of it! Because I used to be like you! Then I realised: Fear, terror, punishment! All this is what it takes to become a true ruler! Not some dainty little princess! To become a monarch! AN EMPRESS! You must be prepared to do anything! ANYTHING!” She screamed madly. The princess tried to fight against the growing strength of the empress, but was easily being pushed back as the silver clad alicorn’s rage fuelled her strength and resolve.
“Then...” The princess struggled. “I-I’d rather never to be a monarch... to do what you have done would make me a monster! I’d rather die!”

The red eyes glinted manically at those words. “So be it!” Purred the empress. And then a single stone, a deep purple gem set in her breastplate began to shimmer and sheen. The same hew of purple seemed to glint in the corner of the whites of the empress’s eyes as her horn began to glow intensely with a strong magic yet to be seen. The princess gaped at the sight as she recognised the gem and magic.

“Them too?” The kind hearted alicorn asked in horror.
“Be prepared...to do anything.” The empress echoed her previous words, just as her horn scrapped down against her opponents. And with the contact to the princess’s skull, and explosion of magical energy sent her sliding across the ground in pain. Capitalising on her successful attack, the empress took to the skies and followed her quarry as she slid against the floor. As the princess’s painful grinding began to slow. The empress dived, aiming for her prey’s legs. She landed with a devastating slam on to the vulnerable princess.

“You’d rather die?” Asked the empress rhetorically as she raised her horn and gathered her magic for her final attack. “That I can do!” Just to the right of the battling alicorns there came a crash as the wall of black furred guards that protected their empress collapsed before a single being. Both their attentions stolen, the two Celestia’s looked on in awe. The empress’s face fell into rage as she saw the sight before her.

Discord stooped, surrounded by smoke and dust as it rose in shadowy tendrils into the sky. The fallen soldiers lay strewn across the grown like chess pieces at the feet of the chaotic lord. Behind him lay two of the fugitives the pink one (Discord’s wife) and the orange pony. Along with the fugitives stood their doubles and their friends, all of whom stood resolutely, staring at the silver armoured empress. From above, she heard the sound of a flying Pegasus, she looked up in horror to see her. The Rainbow mare, the one who had fled her camps so long ago, the only Pegasy of an entire generation to show promise.

The mare slowed to a hovering halt above the group of fighters. As she slowly decended and came to a soft landing beside a shaking terrified looking yellow Pegasus, Discord rose from his kneeling position, gazed up at the empress with a sarcastic smile draped over his face as always. “Knock knock!” He purred hatefully.

The empress’s horn had lost its glow of magic, meaning she was completely distracted. Taking advantage of the situation princess Celestia pushed her aching body to its limit and found enough purchase on the empress’s position on top of her to throw her aside and jump to her hooves. As the empress tumbled to the ground, the princess ran to her subjects! “RUN! TWILIGHT, RUN!”
“What?” Asked the magenta unicorn unsure of what was going on. She watched as her beloved teacher rushed to them.
“She’s too powerful, she has my power, Luna’s and my nephew’s, she’s too strong!”

“But we got the elements of harmony!” Cheered Applejack, trying to encourage their mighty ruler, while till keeping an eye on the empress, who had now gotten to her hooves lazily, and was swaggering towards them playfully.
“Oh you do?!” cried the empress, with a cackle of mad laughter. “Go ahead Tia! Discord? Aren’t either of you going to tell them?”
“Tell us what?” Asked Pink of her husband. Who sighed and gazed at the empress’s breast plate. The single purple gem began to glow, and around it, based in a pentagon, were five lumps of sliver. These now begin to melt away to reveal something beneath the surface. The chimera began to explain as the colours of red, pink, blue and orange began to gleam from behind the corroding bodice.

“She has...” The five gems began to shine as the last drops of melted silver fell and burnt the grass beneath the evil empress, sealing every Equestrian pony's doom with their arrival “...the elements of harmony of our world.” Discord finished miserably, as the empress began to cackle, in sickening, maddening, victory!

The older brothers stood tall

Empress Celestia threw her head back in triumph, screaming her pleasure at the now terrified faces of the ponies before her. “Nawww, I’m sorry! Did you think you had a chance before?” She cackled, looking straight into Twilights dark purple eyes, searching for the signs of misery and defeat. “Well, I’m sorry to put an end to your sorry little fantasies! But today has grown tiresome for me, so now I will end this little feud and be done with it!”

The gems on her chest began to shine brightly, their light casting an eerie glow and shadow over the empress’s face as her light began to rival that of the sun that shone above them in the sky. With the rumbling sounds of thunder clouds began to rush and form overhead. As the sun’s light began to dim from under the massing clouds, flashes of lightening forked over the sky.

Fluttershy was terrified, she had been terrified from the moment the fighting had begun, she hated violence and the sight of so much pain had made her quake in fear, for her friends and for her own life. But now, with the huge display of demon like power from the empress, the yellow Pegasus gave a squeal and turned to run. The group were only able to notice her escape as they heard her hooves shrinking further away.

“Fluttershy!” cried Twilight and Dashie in unison, both astonished at her flight from the confrontation.
“Hmmm. I could have sworn I’d already killed you!” the empress sighed over the rumble of thunder. Her horn began to glow, with the colour of each gem in her breastplate. The cloud of magical energy looked similar to both rulers’ manes. But even with its wonderful array of colours its intent made it seem darker than any evil magic could ever do.

Fluttershy only got a few feet away before she felt her hooves come away from the soft ground. She glanced down in time to see her legs surrounded in the empress’s shroud of magic as it pulled her back towards the waiting monster. Remembering what had happened to her other self in this situation, she abandoned her usual quiet demeanour and let out an earth shattering scream. Her limbs flailed helplessly and her wings tried to pull herself higher into the air, but all of it did nothing as she slowly floated back towards the group. “NO! NO PLEASE! SOMEPONY PLEASE HELP! HELP ME! HELP MEEEE!” Her scream broke into terrified sobs as her eyes exploded with tears of terror.

Both Rainbow and Dashie prepped their wings, ready to sail off and save their friend. They wouldn’t let the quiet mare suffer the same fate as Flutt. As both of their hooves left the ground, a blur of pure white fur shot past them towards the suspended mare. For a moment they thought it was the empress, denying them their victory of saving their friend, but as Twilight glanced back she saw the empress stood there. She looked furious now.

She took a determined step forward as she watched the other alicorn rush to her subject’s side. The princess scooped the Pegasus out of the air and held her tightly to her chest. Severing the magic stream that was holding the young mare as she did so, with her softly glowing horn. “NO!” Screamed the empress. Stamping to the ground angrily. “If your subjects wish to fight, let them fight! If they wish to flee, let me deal with them accordingly! A ruler let’s her subjects do as they please, and damn to the consequences!”

Twilight stood before the empress, her eyes filled with anger at her attempt to hurt her timid yellow friend. She widened her stance, and her horn began to glow bright. The empress sensed the newfound magic, and immediately her snarl was replaced by a sarcastic smirk. “So, you wish to fight? Finally a pony with guts.” Her eyes glinted. “Let’s see what they look like!” Her horn began to glow, but before any spell could be cast yet another interruption brought a halt to the empress’s blood lust.

Discord had slid in-between the two with his back to the empress, and his face towards Twilight. “Don’t be stupid!” He hissed to the magenta pony.
“I-I don’t understand.” Murmured the unicorn as her horn began to dim. “Didn’t you want us to fight?” for a second the chimera stuck his tongue out and made a noise like “Duuuuhhhh” then quickly grew serious.

“Yes you need to fight! But you can’t just go rushing in there! If she could be beat by brute force alone, I’d have never sent the girls here in the first place!” Pink, Dashie, and the other girls came behind the magenta pony listening to the chimera. Celestia came also, carrying a terrified shivering Fluttershy. “I sent them here because here, we have a new set of elements that she doesn’t have, she isn’t using hers the way they were meant. Without creating harmony, their power is wasted! We have two powerful magic casters instead of one and we have our own Celestia to fight beside us.” He glanced up at the alicorn, “That is if you’re willing to be near me again without throwing up or anything of that sort.” The princess cleared her throat and placed Fluttershy next to Pinkie who took hold of her quaking and fearful friend.

“Our issues are for another time Disc.” The local ponies all glanced at the princess, they’d never heard her say his name in that way before.
“Oh, how I look forward to hearing you calling me that when this world’s body breaks out!” The chimera chuckled. With her being the only one who understood his words, the chimera gave Pinkie a small wink to which she gave a small smile in response. “So, we have a pretty equal force to her if we... wait a second... Where’s Twilight?” He looked around, searching for his version of the magenta unicorn.

“She went to help fight off the dragon with Spike.” Rarity said coldly. Applejack looked at her, her lower lip was jutting out and her stare was resolute. She was obviously worried for her other half, last they had all seen of him, the dragon had zipped off fighting an enemy he was very likely to lose to. But the platinum unicorn was fighting not to let her worry get the better of her.

“I’M STILL HERE!” came a shrill scream from behind the Draconequus. The empress looked furious at the ignorance she was being shown, she was a force to be reckoned with! She was the most powerful being in all the universes, she would not be ignored like this! “Scheming and dreams won’t save you! So why don’t you bow at my hooves right now and save me the trouble of gutting you all!” her hysterical tone was beginning to creep back into her voice, far more audible over the quickly dying sounds of the battle beyond.

Fluttershy and Twilight glanced behind to check on the fighting. The once enormous forces of both the rulers where now barely more than a baker’s dozen. Most of the surviving fighters had black fur, and sported the silver armour of the empress. While most of the body’s that were strewn across the floor were the white and gold stallions of the princess’s guard. Twilight couldn’t see either her brother or Applejacks, all she could hope was that they were of the few surviving fighters who were holding back that wall of the last few invaders!

“Yes, yes, we know your there Celestia, we’ll be with you shortly. No point killing us without giving us a chance to fight!” Discord waved a hand drolly, sounding bored with her temper. The empress was taken aback by the lack of fear in his voice, so they had a plan? This should be most entertaining! Both the pink ponies couldn’t help but smother a laugh at his attitude. If it weren’t for the scar, you wouldn’t be able to tell one from the other! “Right, I was hoping we could rely on Twilight’s power as well, it’s the strongest here.” His gaze fell to the local purple unicorn. “No offense.” He disclaimed absentmindedly.

Discord turned to Dashie, “Well, someone’s gotten braver since I last saw them.” Dashie gave a curt nod, though even as she was trying to look impressive, she couldn’t help a little blush from reddening her cheeks at the praise. “Feel like getting a bit braver?” Disc asked mysteriously. The Pegasus leant in closer to listen. “I need to get up in the air and find Twilight, if you can’t see her, start looking for the dragon he”-
“T’aint no need for that!” cried AJ as she caught a glimpse of three figures making their way through the dust cloud that now surrounded most of the town square.

The group all turned and watched for the figure to come into their sight properly, even the empress stared, but whereas the groups face’s broke into joy at the sight of very slim and slender figure walking towards them supported by what seemed like two smaller ponies, her face blanched in realisation that what she had felt was true. Draig was gone!

“Well,” chortled the draconequus. “That’s lucky!” slowly, the dust parted and gave way to the purple and green dragon. He looked rough, he was battered bruised, and many of his scales had been brutally pulled out, but he was at least alive. Twilight took a step towards the approached trio.
“Spike!”
“Spike!” cried another voice to her left. She glanced and saw Rarity, leaning on her forehooves itching to run to him. Now the only surviving party member who knew what the unicorn had done to the dragon; Rainbow gave a small smile in spite of their situation. That reaction. It proved beyond a doubt that Rarity still loved him.

The wonderful atmosphere that broke out at the sight of the surviving dragon and his two unicorn allies was quickly quelled, as the empress let out a shriek of hatred at the victorious dragon and sent a single bolt of fiery energy streaming towards the killer of her greatest weapon. The hope and joy that was so abundant a second ago, shattered into horror as the group stared at the bolt travelling towards the three.

Twilight reached out with her hoof. “NO!” Spike saw the projectile, and without thought for himself, grabbed the two unicorns at his sides under their forelegs. With one final heave, using his final reserves of energy, he flung the two out of the way and into safety. He clenched his eyes shut as the heat of the bolt began to hit him as it approached. He threw his arms up in front of his face in a vain attempt of self defence.

The bolt scorched the ground at the dragon’s feet; it was only a second away. Then a force, small but fast, hit the dragon in the side, and sent him tumbling to the side. He felt the bolt pass; it singed the balls of his feet and scorched the tip of his tail, as he and his unknown saviour tumbled out of danger. The two rolled continuously for a few seconds before finally they came to a halt with Spike landing on his back and grunting in pain from his aching body.

The pained dragon looked up, to be met by a mass of dark purple curls. Slowly the figure rose it’s head, with a shaky smile she whispered the words that were just what the miserable dragon needed to hear. “I’m not losing you again Spikey!” said a panting and overjoyed Rarity, as she beamed down at her beloved boyfriend from atop his chest. The dragon burst into a beaming smile, and grabbed the unicorn tight to himself. Her fur felt amazing against his battered and bruised body. So soft, so warm, so familiar!

In his state of self-doubt and hatred, he needed something to calm his racing mind and heart. The embrace of the beautiful mare of his dreams did just that. The two didn’t lay there for long, as the empress sent another blast towards them, her rage in the loss of her dragon obvious in her forgetting the other, larger –more threatening group- and complete focus on the dragon. The two stood quickly and dodged the speedy bolt, which struck an nearby building, it caught alight quickly, and the screams of a mother and child could be heard from within.

Twi and Vinyl sprouted from the bushes they had been flung into, they moved to help the inhabitants of the house but were too late. Derpy shot out of the window, carrying her baby Ditzy in her forelegs as she rushed away in fear, the two of them crying hard. Luckily the gray Pegasus wasn’t burnt; she had gotten out well before the fire had spread across the house!

Without halt, knowing the owner of the house was safe, the four of them quickly rejoined the group. The empress screamed, releasing a barrage of bolts towards them, the four easily dodged the furious alicorn’s insane and sporadic shots as they made it to their friends. Before another bolt could be flung. The Princess quickly encased them in her golden bubble of protection, allowing the four to quickly catch their breath. From within the bubble they could hear the enraged witch’s blasts slamming against the exterior of the shield.

The contacts sounded like jelly wobbling, Pinkie thought. Her stomach began to rumble at the thought of the delicious treat, so she quickly gave it a punishing tap before focusing on the chimera who had begun to speak quickly, knowing the shield couldn’t last long against the increased power of the empress. Already, the princess’s face was strained with holding the shield against such powerful attacks.

“Ok, we need to do this now! Everyone, get into your doubles.” When everypony looked at him confused he gave a sigh and shouted. “DID I STUTTER?!” immediately the ponies did as they were told. Fluttershy stood in the middle of the rushing groups, looking lost and frightened.
“B-but...but I... but she...” she felt a consoling hoof on her shoulder, she turned to see Dashie, smiling encouragingly at her while stood beside Dash who gave her the same warm smile peering behind her twins shoulder.

“We’ve got you!” The two cyan ponies said in unison to their yellow friend. Fluttershy smiled and nodded happily, ready to help as best she could! The two pink ponies stood together, both their manes looking practically identical making it almost impossible to discern one from the other. The Applejacks stood beside each other, both stern and serious as they stood ready to fight. AJ glanced up at the Stetson on her copy’s head.
“Hmm.” She said thoughtfully,
“Whut?” Applejack asked curiously.
“Just thinkin’.” the mare said thoughtfully. “Maybe I should get one o’ those! It does suite me!” She laughed, as did Applejack. The mare reached up, took off the hat and plopped it onto her double’s instead.
“Take it, I got plen’y!” AJ beamed, looking up crossed eyed at the hat now nestled snugly on her head.

The Twilight twins stood at the front of the group closest to discord. Both were nervous, and gave identical furtive looks towards the other and then back to the empress. Who still ceaselessly assaulted their protection with spell after spell. Finally, with no copy to stand by, Rarity took a hold of Spikes hand in her hoof. Now she had him back, she was never letting him go again! Disc stood tall, looking at the group of unlikely friends. “Well, I guess this is the best we’ve got.” He turned to the princess. “Are you ready dear Celestia?” He gave a flirtive wink to the alicorn that Pink noticed, but let slide...for now.

The princess was too busy with her spell to pay attention to the chimera’s silly jokes, so she ignored them. “Right then!” The chimera cried, wheeling around the face the empress. “This is our one chance, we go at her with the element’s and all the magic we’ve got, hold back and it’s all over got it?” He glanced over his shoulder at the group, they all gave shaky nods, knowing what was about to come. “A distraction’s on it’s way, when she stops firing, Celestia will lower the barrier, and then you all let loose with all the...” The chimera rolled his eyes, incredulous he had to say the word. “Friendship, you’ve got!”

“A distraction?” questioned Applejack. Even as she spoke she noticed the sudden quiet. No more spell’s were striking the barrier.
“What? What is it?!” asked Twilight. The draconequus smiled and looked at the local orange pony and the magenta unicorns.
“Well I suppose you could say, your brother’s are pretty good with their hooves.” He tilted his head behind them. The two mares spun around, their jaws dropped with relief and excitement.

There, standing flank to flank and staring straight back at the incredulous empress Celestia. Two stallions stood tall. The final black furred guard began to keel over before the two, revealing their full bodies. One was a unicorn, his face was bruised and cut up, but no real damage seemed to have taken place. His armour was chinked in several places where he had received a strong hoof to the chest or side. The leather straps they hung on looked tattered, one threatened to snap completely off.

The other proud figure was an earth pony. His bright red fur was clumped with perspiration, the occasional scrape crossed his flesh, but he looked generally unharmed. His mouth still held his usual stem of wheat; nothing would ever part him from it by the looks of it. his nostrils were wide as they shot steaming spews of breath out as he recovered from the fight of his life.

Together, the older brothers stood ready. Knowing what they had to do. Discord had told Armour through his mind. And with the single yell, the chimera pointed. “NOW!” He screamed. So, without falter, Big Macintosh and Shining Armour charged towards the shocked empress.

NOW!

The others could only watch, still held back by the princess’s barrier. They watched Big Macintosh quickly gain the lead as the two charged at the empress. Being the less run down of the two, Mac obviously had more energy left in his reserves. He was clearly using them now as he barrelled for the dark ruler.

“You dare approach me?!” she screamed, as her horn began to emit the red glow of the ruby of loyalty. “I should burn you alive! Just like the other one!” She flung her horn towards the approaching stallion furiously; the point seemed to cut through the air, tearing through reality itself. The tear began to become a solid mass as it sped towards the approaching Macintosh.

....

“Mac!” Applejack cried, reaching out for her brother in a vain attempt to stop him as he shot past.
“Hold!” Discord yelled over his shoulder at her.
“But he’s gonna get hurt!” Applejack retorted angrily, taking a step towards him.
“AJ! Hold her still; we’ve only got one chance!” Disc shouted, the other pony reluctantly did as she was told. Applejack tried to push her away, but the other ponies grip was too strong.

....

As Mac charged, he didn’t even bother to avoid the mass of magic approaching him; he simply lowered his head and continued running. Surely enough, his faith paid off. As a large bolt of purple magic shot out from behind him and ploughed into the dark empress’s magic. Though not strong enough to neutralise it, the magic was enough to change the twisted attack’s trajectory.

As the blast shot away, and obliterated Derpy’s now blazing house with a single ear splitting explosion, the empress stared behind the stallion. There Shining Armour stood, his horn glowing softly against the darkening thunderous skies. Him? He was able to dislodge one of her attacks? How was it possible? He looked as though he was ready to collapse at any moment!

As the empress stared in disbelief, she lost focus on the prominent danger. Macintosh threw himself with all his might at the empress. His head connected hard with her jaw, as his shoulder dug deap into her chest just beneath her breastplate. With the wind knocked out of the unsuspecting empress, she collapsed to the ground with Big Mac on top of her.

....

“NOW!” Discord yelled, seizing the moment of distraction he had waited for. As commanded, Princess Celestia dropped the barrier, and the group spread out quickly. From left to right stood: Rainbow, Dashie, Fluttershy, Applejack, AJ, Twi, Twilight, Pinkie, Pink, Rarity and spike. Celestia stood beside Discord, just behind the group.

Immediately the local ponies clenched their eyes shut, envisioning their friends and how much they meant to on another! Slowly, lights began to shimmer around them, little dots of miniscule magic began to gather around the group. Twi gasped at the sight, and tried to back away, terrified that this would cause another overdose. “It is alright little one!” cooed a soft voice from behind her.

Twi turned to see the princess smiling at her, “If anything is safe, it is the elements, you need not fear.” Twi nodded, turning back to face the empress. The empress screamed, as she threw the huge Big Macintosh to the side, finally regaining the upper hand. Macintosh skidded into a nearby tree, the force he was thrown at, brought on by the empress’s unnatural power caused the trunk to snap.

Applejack stared in horror, all thought of friendship disappearing from her mind. “Big brother! NO!” but with a flash of light, brought on by that explosion of sibling love. The magic around her collided against her neck and shone intensely before fading into the form of a single golden necklace.
“That’s one!” Discord shouted happily, turning to Shining Armour. “By us some more time!” He ordered, but already the captain had shot off to save his ally. ‘Time to repay the favour!’ he thought, gritting his teeth against his aching limbs.

“Armour no!” Twilight cried. Her heart shattered at the sight of him heading off against their enemy. She needed the elements, now! To save Armour! Twilight’s head spun from friend to friend, checking on the progress of their elements. A lot of them were nearly complete; Applejack’s was the only ready one though. Twilight glanced up at her own sparks of friendship, they were nowhere near forming, she needed the others first! Only with the full elements of harmony, could they access the final one of magic!

....

Armour sent a bolt at the empress who was in the process of standing. She caught a glimpse of the spell, and with no time to deflect it, she rolled away allowing it to pass by easily. Armour staggered slightly in his slightly slower approach than Mac’s. The empress cackled.”LOOK AT YOU! You can barely even stand! You can’t even lift that horn of yours again can you?!” She stared at his damaged body, his many crack and scratches on his armour. “I suppose I should be grateful that my commander did something right at least before he died!”

Amour’s knees buckled, he fell to the floor hard, only just keeping himself from passing out. Holding his body up as high as he could with his forelegs, he saw the empress’s silver hooves dance into view. “Shall I make it quick? Please tell me what you’d prefer, I’m open to suggestions.” The wicked ruler giggled hideously. Slowly, armours highlighted mane glimmered under the light of a single bolt of lightning that streaked across the dark sky above. Beneath the thunder the empress heard something.

Suddenly his head snapped up to reveal the noise to be the captain’s laugh. His horn glinted as it fired a bolt of purple wild fire into the face of the empress. With a shocked screech, she reeled away, only just clearing the magical flames in time. “I think...” Armour said hoarsely getting shakily back to his hooves. His legs wobbled threateningly, suggesting he’d fall yet again. “Or I’d PREFER...” He corrected, as he looked into the empress’s red eyes. “If you were going to kill me, just shut up and do it! Don’t play around when you have a chance!” He jumped into an offensive stance ready to attack again. “Because you’re not going to get another one now!”

....

Pinkie’s necklace had now formed, as had Fluttershy’s with the help of her new friend Dashie besides her encouraging her on. As Twilight watched her platinum friend, she saw her dragon assistant lean over her, smile and kiss Rarity on the cheek, whispering something under his breath. Whatever the words were, they were what Rairity needed to hear! With a flash of light, her necklace formed, leaving only Rainbow Dash left.

The white sparks danced around the cyan Pegasus’s neck but refused to inch that last inch closer to form her element. Her eyes were clenched shut as she concentrated. ‘Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack! Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack! Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack!’ she kept thinking their names and faces over and over again. Her friends needed her, they needed her to be there, to be loyal, to be ready to help them without the slightest hint of doubt.

And yet there was doubt in her heart.

How could she be there for them all? She had failed to remain loyal as soon as this empress had arrived! She killed Flutt! Rainbow’s newest friend, and she had the Pegasus had done nothing to save her! What kind of loyalty was that? If she was really the element of loyalty, she would have shot in there and saved her friend without fear or falter! Dash’s eyes peeped open as she gazed at the empress before them, distracted by Twilight’s brother. How were they meant to fight against this powerful enemy? How were they ever going to have a chance at victory?

“Oh come on!” An echoing voice cried out scornfully. “You can’t be chickening out can you?” Rainbow’s eyes opened fully, she looked to her right. The yellow pony Pegasus was looking back at her, as was every other pony as they waited for her to summon her element. But Fluttershy’s mouth was curled into a smile, not a sneer. Her eyes were kind, not sarcastic, and yet Rainbow was sure it had been her to speak.

“Wrong one there pal!” The voice laughed, it echoed loudly though there were no walls for the sound to bounce off of. More importantly, it seemed none of the others had heard it. They all just carried on staring at her expectantly. A soft pat on her left shoulder revealed somepony to be behind her.

Her head snapped around to see who it was, and her heart soared for a moment, but then fell as she noticed the smaller details. Her sparkling coat, her nearly transparent body, her unbelievably shining eyes, they all told Rainbow that while she could see her, Flutt couldn’t be there for real.

“Are you gonna keep staring, or are you going to finish this?” The stubborn faced ghost said flatly.
“B-but... I... I didn’t...” Rainbow stuttered in sorrow, her eyes misting for the first time that day. She had filled the sudden gap left by her death with fighting, the moment she had felt it, Rainbow tried to fill it with anything, just to postpone this. This misery, this guilt!

“B-b-b-b-but NOTHING!” Flutt mimicked angrily. “You think you’re to blame? I tried to throw myself at the bitch without a plan or a chance!” Flutt’s form seemed to ripple as if merely a reflection in water as she shouted. “You have a chance!” She said simply, her anger fading slightly, replaced with a small smile. “I’m fine Rainbow, end this! End this once and for all! Send this bitch packing, and then we’re even! If you feel as if you’ve got some kind of debt, consider it paid...” Flutt took a step towards her. “If you end this now!”

Rainbow’s mouth hung open, speechless. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing, Flutt! Here, with her!
“Rainbow!” shouted Twilight from behind in a terrified tone. Dash glanced back and saw them all, her friends, waiting for her. Twilight’s tiara hadn’t formed yet... Darn it! She needed Dash! She needed her element to complete the five and bring on the sixth!
“Right!” Rainbow shouted, her face growing strong again. She gave a small smile as she took a deep breath, her friends smiled at the sight of their beloved Rainbow returning to her old self.

With a glance at the ghostly Flutt who still stood by her, Rainbow said slowly. “This ends now!” and with a flash a brilliant white light, the beads of magic slammed into each other in an explosion of magic. When the light cleared, the ruby encrusted necklace lay on her neck. She smiled down at it, and it twinkled back at her.

Almost as though it had been waiting for the final one to appear, Twilight’s elemental magic exploded into life, forming the golden tiara almost instantly as soon as Rainbow’s final element had come into view. Twilight’s pupils exploded from a purple and black mix, to a single shade of dazzling white. They began to shine as the power taken from each element flowed into her own and was channelled into her receptors in her brain.

In these moments of power, Twilight felt like a god. The power to do anything, to save, to create, to destroy... to defeat anything! Unlike the previous times, where Twilight’s magic had lifted her and her friends into the air as she couldn’t control the power, she was now able to keep them all planted on the ground. She was getting used to this power of the elements and each time found it easier to control and manipulate.

As Twilight gathered her magic for one final attack, Discord stood tall. He looked to Celestia. “You know...” He said, catching the alicorn’s attention. “It was nice... fighting beside you, being beside you again after so long.” Celestia’s brow furrowed.
“Can you... are the same... do you know everything that happened here?” Discord simply nodded.
“Same mind, throughout each reality, to create the perfect chaos, one needs to break all the rules. Even those thought unbreakable by reality.” He winked, I always knew there was a reason I stopped you from leaving!”

Without another word to the fair alicorn, Discord turned to face the empress, still unaware of what was happening.

....

“You think you can challenge me?” The dark empress laughed at the captain of the guard. “You think you stand a chance at defeating something a thousand earth ponies have failed to do before you?” Armour only laughed, his eyes glinted knowing he had done his job. She had been distracted.
“Oh no. Not me...” He jerked his head to his right, “Them!” The empress’s eyes fixed on the group of ponies, those tiny insignificant ponies. Only now they seemed more powerful than anything she had ever seen.

Her vision scanned each one; the local’s were drawing on the elements! Fine then, she would use her own to face them! She then registered the purple unicorn not of this world; her horn was beginning to shine brighter than any other creature’s she had seen before. W-was she... was she about to offload that amount of magic? That was impossible! No little unicorn should be able to do that!

She saw the dragon, leaning hard against one of the female creatures. His eyes seemed to shine with hatred. As she watched, he took in a deep lungful of air, his chest expanding wide as he did. She saw the flickers of light as he lit the contents, ready to fire at her. And finally she saw herself, or more accurately, her other self. Standing ready beside the chimera who’s hand was raised, his fingers lit by the light of some unholy green flame he summoned with his magic. The princess’s horn began to glow white hot. Ready to fire.
‘
This is too much!’ a voice inside her head screamed in fear. ‘I can’t stop all that!’ not even with all I’ve acquired!” She unfurled her wings ready to fly away; she’d head for the rupture and escape, no fugitives were worth this! “Fire!” The chimera screamed, and in response the entire artillery of magic the group had summoned was shot at once, bombarding the empress as she soared into the sky. The green fire of Discord’s magic encased her wings making them freeze in place. The empress fell back to the ground in a heap, through bloodshot and horrified eyes. She watched as the purple unicorns spell streaked towards her.

The wave of pure energy didn’t knock her back, but simply passed over her. The sensation was excruciating! The empress let out a shriek of pain as the magic burned at her skin. Or was that the dragon’s fire? She hadn’t seen him expelled it, but through the haze of magic and fire, the empress could see he was panting for breath, no longer holding in the dreaded fire.

The waves of attacks ceased suddenly, leaving a broken alicorn in their place. Her fur smoked as it slowly burned with the green hew of the dragon’s fire. Her eyes seemed to burn in their sockets after such a barrage of attacks. As she knelt there, unable to move without each muscle screaming in protest, the breastplate that clung to her body, snapped. The element’s gems fell to the floor and scattered across the dirt floor. The empress reached for them, if she could catch them she could still put up a fight before they-

Too late.

As her eyes darted to the group, scanning how much time she had, she saw she had none. The local purple unicorn’s eye’s shine was now rivalling that of the sun behind the clouds. They all looked so strong, so powerful, how? How could they be stronger? They hadn’t even released the elements yet! That first wave was merely the fighters who had none of their own! If that was the first wave, then what this one be like?

....

Twilight reached out and took hold of Twi’s hoof. The other unicorn looked at her in awe, unable to believe it was her eyes behind that veil of white. Applejack took AJ’s, who was simply looking at the one who had taken her brother from her with contempt. Rarity held Spike even closer as her eyes and the others’ began to gleam with the same brightness as Twilight’s. The Pinkie twins clung to each other’s hooves. Pink smiled at the one who had caused her friends so much grief and torment. Glad to see her go. Dashie took Fluttershy’s hoof softly and smiled to her, who even with so much power flowing through her looked terrified still.

And Rainbow looked to her right; the ghost of Flutt gave an approving smile, as she began to fade away, her light diminished by that of the elements. Rainbow tried to call out to her, but the power flowing through her seemed to glue her jaw in place. Rainbow reached out, but her hoof simply passed through her friend’s body as though through water. Flutt smiled and shook her head exasperatedly. “You couldn’t honestly have thought I was really here did you?” the yellow mare smiled.

With that she began to flap her wings. At the same time, from Twilight’s tiara exploded the usual rainbow of the element’s colours. The stream of magical energy shot into the air, following the image of the yellow mare soaring into the storm cloud filled sky. Flutt reached the cloud line just as the rainbow met her flank. The rainbow seemed to repel the dark stormy sky, expelling the dark clouds outwards as the elements summoned the light of the equestrian sun back into the world. And with that light covering her entire body in one last glimmering moment of flight and warmth, the ghostly Flutt dissipated into the air.

“No...” The empress muttered, seeing the rainbow curl in the air high above, angling itself towards the empress. “No!” She shouted as it came ever closer, she tried to stand, but her muscles wouldn’t respond after the magical bombardment she had received only moments before. The rainbow surged to her feet. It seemed to bounce back into the air, and began to revolve around the empress.

And just like every foe the friends had met before them, a tornado of blurred vibrant colours grew to engulf the empress. He reared her head back, just glancing over the lip of the swirling mass, to see the bringers of her downfall, those damned ponies! The local and visiting copies of each other, all stood watching.

Pain shot through her horn as she fell the magic of harmony attack it. with a final ear splitting screech she let out one final “NOOOOOOOOO!” as the colours coiled tightly around her slowly trapping her, until nothing but the magic was touching her deplorable body. The burning sensation she had felt previously began to return as her yell morphed from words, to simple blood curdling shrieks. The light of the elements wielders’ eyes all built to an astounding climax, until their light blotted out all other sight from the surrounding landscape.

Armour, who had rushed to help Big Macintosh out from under the tree, held his hoof to his eyes, unable to look upon such brilliance. Big Mac –unable to move his hooves- clenched his eyes shut, though that did barely anything, as the light fought to seep in through his lids.

Twilight called off the assault. Giving the usual command -as always- that the elements had done their job. As the element of magic commanded, the necklaces of the other ponies melted into the light that surrounding them. As they faded away, so did the light of their joint magic. Leaving the scene before them, clear for all to see.

Bye

Dust, far more than any that had been summoned by the raging battle, billowed into the sky. The group of unlikely victors all stood hidden, staring at the sight before them. From around them, came the sound of opening doors and windows. Slowly, now that the tumultuous fanfare of clashing metal had died, the residents of Ponnyville who had hid in the depths of their homes came out to inspect the scene.

“*GAG* Twilight! *Splutter* Can you sort this damn dust out?”coughed a rough throated Pink who was slowly being engulfed by a plume of dust just beside her. Neither knew which she was speaking to, so the two Twilight’s -just able to see each other as they stood beside the other- closed their eyes. Their horns glowed with an identical sheen, and a subtle gust of wind began to flow through the air. It picked up the dust and dirt and scattered it higher into the air.

Finally everypony could see them.

Three creatures lay on the ground. The grass beneath them was black and scorched with the might of the element’s magic. Empress Celestia was among them. Like when they had battled Nightmare Moon, her armour lay scattered and broken. They smoked slightly, as they slowly seemed to dissolve away. Discord scanned across the creature’s body quickly, taking in the twitching limbs and rising chest. She was still alive, fair enough. The elements weren’t meant to kill, only disarm.

By the looks of it, they had done just that. The empress’s long sharpened horn lay shattered before her resting head. A jagged and sharp stump lay just above her crooked silver crown, leaving the rest of the deadly weapon scattered across the floor. The chimera walked forward, picking up the longest piece of the horn, which was surprisingly the pointed tip.

Turning back, the chimera smiled at the group, then his eyes focused on his wife, her mane still as bouncy and full as it had been in the battle. Of course! She had no reason to be sad now, it was over! As his smile emphasised his single fang, he lifted the horn and slotted it up into the other corner of his mouth. The sight was quite hilarious.

The now vampiric looking chimera stretched his arms out and limply hobbled towards his wife like a horror monster. He let out a small croaking moan, which received a large laugh from many of the group. Even Princess Celestia managed a small smile! Satisfied with his joke, Discord spat out the horn and darted to his wife, scooping her up into his arms, and soaring into the sky with her. He twirled like a top as he laughed happily with his wife and they embraced.

Everypony was looking at the two, a sense of closure growing in the pit of their stomachs, it was finished. They’d won! Everypony smiled at the two lovers soaring through the sky, all accept for Fluttershy. The yellow mare began to move towards the figures on the ground, nopony had seemed to recognise, nor care about the two figures lying unconscious on each side of the queen.

“Isn’t this amazing Flutter”- Dashie cried happily, turning to hug her friend, only to find her missing. For a moment she panicked, “FLUTTERSHY!?!” Immediately, the group snapped to attention at Dashie’s yelp. They turned back to the ground in time to see the caring yellow mare drop slowly to her knees and stroke the almost liquid mane of the blue pony at her knees.

A second later, the local ponies gasped with realisation. With concern in their hearts, they rushed to the side of the unconscious Alicorn. “What?” AJ asked, left behind along with Dashie and Twi. “Who is it?” she asked in confusion.
“It’s Princess Luna.” Two voices said in unison. The three first looked to their left to see Princess Celestia staring at the scene, then to the sky to see Discord descending slowly with Pink in his arms.
“That’s Princess Luna?” Twi asked in amazement as she watched the dark mane of the elegant dark creature flow on an unseen breeze, almost like smoke. “Celestia’s sister?”

“And co-founder of the rebellion.” Discord added, letting Pink hop back to the ground. “She’s the one who came for my help in the first place.” Pink frowned.
“You mean you didn’t start it?” the chimera chuckled.
“No my dear I didn’t, or at least not the first one. After she was caught, I instigated the next hundred rebellions. But no, noooo if it hadn’t been for her I’d have probably watched the chaos unfold happily. She can be...” Disc smiled slightly, “Oddly persuasive when the time calls for it.”

As the group watched, Rarity and Spike turned away from the unconscious princess and moved towards the other pony, out cold on the grass. He wore a tattered tuxedo, white and what must have been dazzling at a time, but it was now torn and dishevelled.
“And him?” Dashie asked.
“You don’t know?” Pink asked coldly, her eyes glinting with anger at the now dethroned empress. “He’s the latest royal victim of her Excellency! Blue Blood, her nephew.” The group all stared at Pink, unable to believe the depths of their tyrannical ruler’s evil. Then slowly, they came over to check on the suffering group.

“How is he?” Spike coughed agonizingly as Rarity glanced over the royal stallion’s unconscious body.
“Not good.” Rarity grimaced. She pointed out several large gashes in his back; the slashes in the material were stained with a terrible amount of thick congealed blood.
“I believe I can help there my dear dragon and darling, do back away won’t you?” Disc bellowed from behind the couple, who jumped in terror at the voice they still weren’t quite used to hearing again.

They did as asked, and the chimera bent over the suffering stallion. Only a few feet away, Princess Celestia cleared the way to the unconscious Luna and did the same. Both using a similar magic, a small ball of golden light appeared from the Chimera’s paw, and the alicorn’s horn. As the group watched, the balls began to expand until they spread out over the entirety of the two bodies’ wounds.

As Twilight watched, her jaw dropped at the immense power her teacher possessed. As the golden ball of magic began to pulsate and glow, the wounds under the it’s warmth began to sew themselves shut again. The bruises settled, and torn fur began to grow back. This was amazing, Twilight had thought she was progressing before this entire adventure had started, but in truth, there was still so much about magic she had never even seen! Let alone studied.

Soon enough, the wounded mare and stallion stirred. Luna was the first to wake, he eyes blearily opened to meet Celestia’s only a few inches away. Luna smiled blissfully for a moment, then recognising the face; she scurried away, reeling back in fear.

“Be still!” the princess cooed gently. Smiling at the fearful dark princess, showing her she meant no harm. Slowly, the princess of the night lowered her defensive hooves and looked at the alicorn before her.
“T-Tia?” she croaked, she sounded like she hadn’t used her voice for years. Celestia gave a sad smile, and shook her head. Slowly she turned her gaze to the rasping defeated creature beside the dark princess.
“There is your sister.” The princess muttered, Applejack who stood only a few feet away was sure she could detect a tone she had never heard from the princess before, was it hate? Was that even possible for the goddess?

Whilst the princess proceeded to explain all that had happened, along with the two Twilight’s beside her. Discord gave a weary smile, the fight, magic and now this revival spell had all taken their toll on the tired immortal. There had once been a time where he had adored chaos, but after living through this for so many centuries, the chimera was simply too tired.

Blue Blood opened his eyes, and stared into the gleaming purple eyes of Rarity. Slowly, his lips twitched into a smile. “I...” He whispered, causing the pony and dragon to lean in and listen. “I...Must be in heaven...” He wheezed, gazing up at the dazzling pony. “I am looking upon an angel!” He smiled dreamily. Spike bit his lip, he understood that the stallion must be delirious from whatever had been done to him, but he still didn’t like the flamboyant compliment to his beloved Rarity. Rarity gave a wry smile.

“I suppose he’ll recover if he’s able to try and shmooze me like that.” With that she stood and embraced Spike hard. This caught the dragon off guard, and his tired muscles refuse to hold them up. Soon enough they were both lying on the ground, the platinum pony draping her hooves over the dragon’s scaly chest. “I’m never letting go of you again!” she sobbed, tears of joy breaking out from her eyes.

Slowly, Spike’s surprise faded, and he gently brought his hands up to the love of his life’s mane and ran his fingers through it. Only when he caught a glimpse of the blood encrusted on his claws did he stop. Staring at the shining tips his mind replayed what he had done. He could suddenly feel Draig’s jaw giving in and falling wide open, he could still smell the burning flesh. He could still remember what the monster inside him had done!

Rarity could tell he was distracted, without a word she shot up from his chest to his face and kissed him forcefully. Yet again, the dragon’s surprise faded to comfort. And this time, he didn’t falter in his happy thoughts.

..........

Blueblood was up and moving now. With his scars and wounds healed he could easily move (If not a little stiffly) so he made his way to his aunt. Luna gave out a wail of relief at the sight of the stallion. She outstretched her forelegs and the stallion quickly ran over and embraced her.

..........

Applejack realised with a plummeting feeling in her stomach, ‘BIG MAC!’ She turned to bolt over to the collapsed tree, but was meat by the sudden obstruction of red fur, and the sudden stench of sweat and apples filling her nostrils. Applejack backed up slightly, gazing up at her big brother. As the two smiled down at each other, the mare’s eyes brimmed with tears. Suddenly she jumped and clung to his neck holding on for dear life as she wept with tears of relief.

..........

“Princess!” the ragged looking Shining Armour saluted, wincing as his shoulder screamed at him in pain. Celestia turned to him, smiled at his devotion even in this moment. With a slow shake of her elegant head, she gestured to the agitated looking Twilight; who was staring at her brothers many war wounds with concern.
“I say we can forget about everything else for now captain.” The princess said serenely. With a relieved smile, the captain relaxed. And in one movement, spun around and swept his sister up into a tight hug. Twilight laughed as he hind legs soared through the air as her brother spun around holding her.

..........

"So what now!?” Pinkie asked excitedly of her now nearly identical twin. Pink gave a small smile, and then glanced down at her stomach. Carefully she reached up and ran a hoof gently across it, a look of deep thought on her face.
“I want to have my baby, back home.”
“Huh?!” Pinkie asked her mouth falling open in disappointment. “Can’t you have it here? I could be auntie Pinkie!” She seemed to inflate at the idea, but Pink gave a gentle chuckle.

“I’m Pinkie remember? Wouldn’t be a little confusing for the little guy?”
“Nuh-uh! We could...” Pinkie’s idea stopped dead, she couldn’t think of what to say for the first time in a long time! Slowly she realised what was being said to her by the leader of the other ponies. “You’re leaving?” her lips pouted slightly, trembling as was her mane as it threatened to fall.

“NOW STOP RIGHT THERE!” Pink demanded, catching Pinkie off guard stopping the tears she knew were close at hand. “Don’t you DARE feel bad about us going! It’s because of you and your friends that we can!” Pink took hold of Pinkies cheeks softly, making her identical blue eyes meet her own. “I came here, with soldiers... I came here to find a world that could keep my troops safe...” She beamed at Pinkie, her eyes now brimming with tears for her own.

“We have it now, back where we came from. With her gone...” She gestured at the empress, still unconscious and wheezing nearby, now under stern covalence by Discord and Celestia. “We can clean up the world; If we can go and make it even a fraction of what this place is like...” She squeezed slightly as she made her point. “Then that’s where I want this child to be!”

Pinkie’s eyes finally gave in, letting the tears fall freely. Through her sharp intakes of breath as she sobbed she asked weekly. “Will-we-see each-other-again?!” Pink bit her lip, unsure of what to say. But soon enough, her salvation came in the form of her husband.

Discord shouted across the group to gather. So, slowly, and painfully in many cases, the group all made their way to him beside the portal that the empress had created. Around it, the bubble of magic she had made was beginning to ripple violently. When everypony arrived, he began to speak fast.

“When I altered her spell, I added a little bit of power for just this situation. With no horn she can’t hold this thing up any longer. With my magic, I kept it up so I could explain.”
“Explain? Explain what?” Twi asked, she had thought this was all over! That they could live their lives peacefully now!
“This is a doorway, a corridor to our own world. Unlike when you all arrived, you used a burst of magic, making you almost like a bullet shot from one world to the other; this is more like a tunnel. A tunnel that cannot be closed.

Immediately Celestia’s eyes widened. “You mean, that all the foreign magic from their world...”
“Yes.” Disc nodded. “If it doesn’t close, when the barrier drops, there’s nothing to stop all of its magic from flowing out into this world, overdosing every unicorn in Equestria.”
“WHAT?!” The group of ponies all yelled in horror.
“B-but. I thought it was only the empress’s magic that was doing that!” Dashie squeaked, her voice fast losing all its newfound confidence from the past few hours.

“It is.” Said a strong female voice from behind them. They turned to see Luna, her horn glowing faintly as she made her way towards them. Behind her, her magic dragged the forehooves of her unconscious sister through the air. Even further back stood Prince Blue Blood, using the same spell on the empress’s hind legs. The two carried her through the air as they approached the gathering around the portal. Taking a slow breath, her head still spinning from her long imprisonment, Luna picked up where the chimera had left off.

“This world is in harmony, ours is in chaos. Hence all the magic within our two worlds are opposite, when the magic fades, and our world’s magic invades, it will clash with your own. This is why it only affects unicorns.” She looked to the chimera. “Am I right?” Discord gave a curt nod.

Pinkie dashed forward, looking up at Discord, he big blue eyes still brimming with tears. “So that means when you guys clear things up you can come back with no worries right?” Disc looked at the small pink pony and sighed. He crouched down to his knee and looked her straight in the eye.
“Yes...but... chaos is hard to erase... It could take years to balance out our world again, even centuries!” Pinkie’s eyes increased in their flow of tears.
“Y-y-you mean...”
“We’re not gonna be able to come back...” Dashie moaned sadly, her own eyes filling with tears as she looked at Fluttershy.

“Yah mean, never?” AJ asked the draconequus, who simply nodded sadly. “Well then I’ll stay here!” The country pony protested.
“You can’t.” Disc protested, his eyes flashing with worry as he glanced at the ever fading barrier.
“Why?” The orange pony asked stubbornly.
“The door won’t close without us all on our respective sides!” He snapped angrily. “For once in your stubborn life Applejack! LISTEN TO ME!” In his frustration, he forgot the assigned nicknames for each of the ponies of his own world.

AJ glanced over at the real Applejack. In her eyes, she was the real one, the one who had lived a full happy life with no worries, the life filled with fun with her brother. A life that would have made the pony so much different than the world filled with hate and conflict. She wanted to stay.

“Is there no other way?” Twi asked miserably, turning to Twilight, giving a silent goodbye with her eyes.
“I’m afraid not.” sighed Celestia, who had now come to stand century beside the portal. “Everything from their world must return... including...” He voice died as her eyes wandered to the small yellow corpse on the other side of the clearing. Without hesitation, Rainbow –who was unusually morose- spoke up.
“I’ll get her!” Pink took a step forward towards the cyan Pegasus, trying to tell her it was ok, that she didn’t need to, but the pony had already set off in a fast paced canter to the motionless mare.

Once she arrived, she slowly and carefully pulled the forehoof of her friend over her shoulder. Then stooping low to the ground, she buried herself beneath the now cold pony’s stomach. She stood up from beneath Flutt, forcing the yellow mare’s head to fall on her left flank, and her haunches to droop over her right. Then, slowly making sure her precious cargo wouldn’t fall, Rainbow made her way back.

It was strange, knowing that only hours ago, this mare was alive and flying better than the rainbow Pegasus herself. Now she was gone, with a simple wave of a hoof, her entire life had been stolen from her. It was strange.

Rainbow arrived just in time to find Luna and Blue Blood carrying the empress through the now fracturing bubble. The fact the three royals could pass through it proved how little power was left within the force field. As they stepped into the world of darkness that lay beyond, Luna turned back and smiled at them all. Her lips moved, yet no sound seemed to escape the force field surrounding the rift. And with those unknown words, she left their sight.

“Well, let’s get going...” Discord said, his usually cold demeanour cracking slightly as he sighed and passed the boundary of the bubble. With a quick smile to Celestia who stood close by, he turned one leg in one world, and one in the other, holding out his lion paw for his wife. Pink began to make her way there. This time Pinkie stayed where she was, she simply sat there, her eyes the size if dinnerplates as they filled with tears.

Dashie came over to Rainbow, dipping her head low to allow the local pony to pass their deceased friend over to her. Rainbow’s eyes began to frost over to, and once Flutt had passed from her possession she fell to the ground beside Pinkie and cried with her. Dashie turned to Fluttershy. Her confidence had ebbed away with the prospect of leaving, she couldn’t find many words. But out of the mist of her worried mind, she thought of five that seemed most important to her. All else needn’t be said.

“Please...look after Little Mac...” Fluttershy took a deep breath, trying her best not to weep like her two friends close by.
“Of course. I’ll go find him, and give him a nice home!” The words came easily to her, and the two smiled at her lack of hesitation.
“Bye Fluttershy.” Dashie moped, as she turned and made her way to the gateway.
“Bye bye Dashie.” Fluttershy whimpered, silent tears ebbing down her cheeks.

“So I guess this is goodbye.” Twi mumbled, feeling a little awkward, she hadn’t had the time to relate to her double like the rest had; she had been asleep most of her time here. But still, she felt a panging pain in her chest as she said her goodbyes.
“I guess...” Twilight pouted, “I like having another me around.”
“Me too!” Twi laughed, and the two shared one final happy moment. As their moment laughter died, the saw each had tears of silent sadness in their eyes. Quickly they gave each other a tight hug.

“I guess, I betta get goin’” AJ grumbled, without another word she turned her back on her hatless double and Big Macintosh.
“Hey AJ!” the mare turned back at the sound of someone calling her, though her face was set in stone, her eyes truly showed how she would miss this wonderful peaceful place. It was Big Mac who had called to her. “Your brother would’a been proud o’ yah!” AJ froze in her approach to the gate, staring at the two siblings looking back sadly. Without a word, AJ rushed back to the two and flung a hoof around each’s neck and gave a quick embrace. Then turned and rushed back to her own world.

The country pony overtook Dashie as she made her way to the gate, though time was short, the Pegasus wanted to stay here as long as possible. AJ jumped through the portal and vanished from view, just as Pink and Twi reached the waiting chimera. Both the earth pony and the Pegasus looked back one last time before making their way to their own world.

The group, all with tears in their eyes, watched as their newest friends made their way home. Pink reached for discord’s hand and as her ears were about to pass the barrier of the spell, a shout rang out from behind them.
“WAIT!” Dashie and Pink turned, though he hadn’t heard the cry, Discord looked up to see what they were looking at.

Slowly, pushing Rarity gently aside, Spike stumbled forward. He winced and grimaced as his cuts opened in protest, and his ribs creaked horribly. He was sure at least three were broken! Yet the dragon gritted through the pain, grinding his teeth as he took a few fragile steps to the staring pair. Rarity whimpered at the sight, she tried to run to him. But an unfurled pure white wing stopped her in her tracks. She glanced up into the glowing face of the princess. “Let him do this, then he is yours for as long as you wish.” The fashionista blushed slightly at the princess’s words, but stayed still.

Dashie watched as the dragon made his way to her. She hadn’t even spoken to him before, so she had no clue why he was making his way towards her. Though still scared, she turned back to face the limping creature as he approached. “I...never got the chance!” He murmured as he came close to the Pegasus. “To say... I...was wrong!” finally, his exhaustion got the better of him and he fell to his knees. Yet again Rarity’s heart panged to go to him, yet she stood firm waiting to hear what he was saying, she had no clue what he was talking about!

Not content with how far he’d come, Spike began to crawl forward, not until he reached Dashie did he stop. Slowly he reached up, Dashie could see the shadows of fatigue deep in his eyes as her pink stared into his emerald green. Slowly the dragon took hold of the back of the pony’s head and pulled her close. Her cyan ears twitched as she waited to hear what he wished to say.

“I’m sorry!” He whispered. Dashie opened her mouth to protest, he hadn’t done anything! But as her gaze fell on him, she saw he was speaking to the lifeless Flutt on her back. “I’m so...SORRY!” He repeated, clenching his eyes against his bitter tears. “I didn’t get to say it before...before... I was wrong! You weren’t to blame! In my own anger, I hated and blamed. When all the while, the blame rested with me!” Spike looked up into Dashie’s eyes, which had yet again begun to fill with tears. This time for the beauty of this moment, that this dragon, who barely knew them felt he needed to say this!

“I’m sorry!” He said to the Pegasus, who nodded weakly. Spike then glanced at pinkie over her shoulder. “Please...forgive me!” Pink stared back, her face showing nothing but surprise at the dragon’s caring words. Maybe there was hope for dragons after all! Pink gave a solid nod. And with that she entered the portal.

Dashie, unable to stand the misery of leaving another moment, turned and bolted for the portal. She jumped, and as she soared over the threshold of the portal. The barrier shattered like golden glass, Discord gave one final wink to them all, before his two horns glowed, and the tear he gazed through began to seal itself. The last thing the group saw of the other world was a twinkling red eye gleaming back at them as the gateway closed forever.

In the silence left behind, all that could be heard were the saddened breaths of the remaining ponies. Rarity now rushed to Spikes side, checking that the now collapsed dragon was ok. Shining Armour turned to the battlefield preparing to deal with the bodies. Only to find the black stallions fading into nothing, all that remained as their surfaces bubbled away was their silver armour.

Even more, the white stallions had already been mostly moved. He glanced to the side to see two Pegasy and a dark blue mane’d pony moving the troopers’ body to the side of the road. Suddenly feeling he wasn’t alone, he glanced to his right to see Big Macintosh stood beside him. “We got some work to do I think.” He said, before moving towards the closest body and moving it in the most dignified way possible. Leaving Armour to catch up.

“Twilight, I believe that it would be best if you and Applejack go and find your other friend, the one who flew outside when her house was set alight?” Twilight realised who she meant. Immediately the unicorn and country pony headed for the most likely place she would be. (Sugar Cube Corner)Only leaving the three still slightly crying ponies left beside the now simple open space of the town centre. Celestia gave a small sigh of her own sorrow. “This will need to be explained in full, I must return to Canterlot to record these events my little ponies. I’m sorry.” With that she turned away heading for an open space to head off.

“NONONOOOOO!” Pinkie cried, bolting out from under the sniffling Rainbow and Fluttershy, and running straight to the princess. “I want to come with you!” Celestia frowned at the odd request.
“Whatever for?”
“I want to talk to you about possibly helping someone out.”
“Someone?” Celestia’s frown deepened in confusion.
“Yeah, you see, their Discord has all the memories of our... Well he is the same one as... I’ll explain on the way. But please, we need to go now!”
“Why?” Celestia asked, not understanding the rush.
“He’s nice! He’s not mean, he’s really nice. He’s the only one who’s the same everywhere, and he helped us! That means he’s not as bad as you think, he’s all frozen up and that’s not fair!” with that Pinkie was off, cantering towards the train station as fast as she could, leaving the bewildered Celestia to follow slowly.

Now only Rainbow and Fluttershy remained. The two sniffed hard, and shook their heads trying to calm down. Finally after a moment, they gained control of their emotions once more. They stood there in silence, gazing at each other. Then, meakly, Fluttershy let out a whisper. “I’m going to miss them Rainbow!” Rainbow nodded, still with tears in her. (Though less severe as before) She reached out and held her friend tightly.

“Me too Fluttershy...Me too!”

Escape

“PINKIE! They’re coming!”
“You think I don’t know that Dash?! Twilight! Where’s that spell?!”
“I’m looking, I’m looking! It must be here somewhere! I know I saw it in this section!”
“AJ, Big MAC, KEEP THEM OFF OF US!”
“Gotcha!”
“Eeyup!”
“Where the hell is Fluttershy?!”
“I’m here jeez! Look around before you start shouting your mouth off Pinkie!”
“Get your ass over here damnit!”
“Little busy here! Urrrrgh!!! GET AWAY FROM THEM YOU MINDLESS SCUM BAG!”
"Some one help her over there! We've gotta cover Twilight!

“I found it! “Inter-dimensional transport,” everypony get over here now!”
“You heard her! Get over here! Twilight, open it up quickly. We’ve got only one shot at this!”
“Gotcha!”
....................

“Right, now everypony get in quick! We are out of here mare’s and gentlecolts! Twi, check off everyone!”
“Got it! Right, Pinkie, there’s Rainbow, Fluttershy... Where’s Applejack and Big Mac?”
“We’re here darlin’! Sorted out those guards, I’d say it bought us a few seconds at best! So let’s get the hay outta here!”

“Fantastic! Let’s pull out the streamers and have a party! Shut up and get in! You too Twilight!”
“Uhhhh, you sure that thing’s safe? Looks plen’y unnatural to me!”
“It’s a door to another dimension; It’s not going to look ‘natural!’ Get in!”
“Wait! Where’s Big Mac?! Mac! C’mon, we’re getting out of here!”
“Nnope, no can do!”

“What are you talkin’ about? C’mon bro! Now!”
“Nnope, I go, and no one can stop them from following, get going now!”
“Mac! Don’t do this! Please!”
“Fluttershy! Get back in here now, Twilight can you hold it any longer?”
“Not for long, if we’re going it needs to be now! She needs to get back in to the light now!”
“You heard her Fluttershy! Get your ass back in here now!”

“NO! Mac! Please, come with us! We can be safe, together!”
“...I know, ensuring your being safe is worth staying here though.”
“Please, come with me! Don’t stay here!”
“FLUTTERSHY! NOW! Mac, if your staying, can you get back to the throne room?”
“Eeyup.”
“Fine then, if you find him... If he’s still... tell Disc...”
“Eeyup, I know.”
“Thanks.”
“No Mac, don’t go back! Please!”
“Get going missy! Applejack, take care of her!”
“You got it big bro!”
“NO! MAC, DON- OOOFF!”

“Sorry darling’. Good luck girls!”
“MAC! NO! MAAC! MAAAAAAAAAAAC!”
“Hold tight girls! This is gonna hurt!”
“GO BACK! NOOOOOOOO!!!!! MAAAAAAAAAC!”

All hell breaks loose

The dragon was not as big as the usual dragons, but it was still big! It stood tall over every pony in the town. Immediately, Shining Armour barked an order and the guards prepared a line of defence against the creature that simply stared at them. Waiting.

“Say hello to my dear little Draig. We found his egg in the forests while hunting for some escaped unicorns from the camps.” Empress Celestia’s eyes fell on Twi for a moment, the little magenta pony shivered again. Pink took a step forward, trying to throw herself before the creature and her friends. But at the site of the pink leader, the silver clad alicorn laughed madly. Pink waited for her to finish without a word.

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to be rude, but when I heard about the strong and capable Pinkamena Dianne Pie I expected something more...” She examined the pony from a distance. “Well... MORE!” She laughed dryly again. Pink glared back, not giving an inch to –what in her eyes seemed like- the devil.
“How do you know me?” She asked coldly.
“Oh! I don’t!” Laughed the Empress, as she reached into the hole as though something waited for her to grab on the other side. Her manic laughing expression vanished as she pulled a heap of fur, scales and horns from her world. “But he does.” She growled as she flung the heap towards the pony.

Pink stared in disbelief at the slowly breathing creature just ahead. She began to hurry towards it, but was stopped by a cautious hoof of the princess. “Stop! You don’t know who it is! He’s dangerous!” Pink swiped the princess’s hoof away glaring at her.
“I do know who he is! And he’s saved me a thousand times!” She looked back and continued to rush to the creatures side, her face falling into dismay. “Disc!” She cried as she fell beside the wheezing draconequus.

Twilight stared in disbelief at the scene a few feet away, as did Fluttershy, Rainbow, Applejack and Rarity (Who still kept a wary eye on the familiar looking dragon who stood by the empress patiently) Pinkie and the other world’s ponies however, watched with a warm smile threatening to take over their faces. Dashie arched her head slightly, trying to see if Discord was still breathing as did the pink pony just ahead of her, Applejack perked her ears to try and listen, and Twi moved forwards to stand by her other self.

“He’s helped us escape her clutches a hundred times.” She whispered to Twilight who carried on looking, becoming more confused by this other world by the minute.
“But why?” Twilight breathed in disbelief, “He’s the god of chaos, he’d want to see the world under her rule right? He’s evil!” Twi shook her head understandably.
“He’s the only one who’s been successful in fighting back, making some chaos by creating rebellion after rebellion against Celestia’s rule. He doesn’t want evil to rain, he wants chaos, and the best way to get it is to fight her at every turn. ” Twi gazed at the Draconequus, she heard him wheezing something, as did every other pony, but none of them could discern what he was saying.

All except for one pony.

Pink knelt beside her beloved husband, and for the first time. She cried, her eyes filled with tears at the state the Chimera was is. His horns had been battered and chipped, his fur coat was torn and burnt in places. But whilst crying for his suffering, Pink also cried with joy, he was alive!

Slowly, the Draconequus reached up and placed his warm paw to Pink’s stomach. He stroked it slowly and sighed with discomfort. “You...and the baby... alright?” he struggled to say, Pink nodded scrunching her eyes trying to staunch the tears. Discord chuckled. “Shhh. Pinkie my dear...Just a scratch or two... Feels new to be so pummelled...Feels good...” His head rolled to one side, gazing at the empress who still stood by the tear between Equestria and Celestia. “Change is good!” He muttered, hoping the Empress heard him.

The sudden anger flaring in her eyes proved she had, her reaction only brought laughter to the Chimera’s lips. “I-I tried Pinkie.” He whispered. “I tried to hide the spell so she couldn’t follow.” His eyes glazed over slightly as he visualised everything that had brought him here. “She had Macintosh, she thought he’d know where it was, when he didn’t tell her she...” His face grew dark. Pink bit her lip hard, her breath came out in short bursts as she tried to tell Discord everything.
“She took Fluttershy. She’s...” Discord took hold of pinks face softly with his talon’ed eagle hand, he cooed softly.
“Shhh, shh, shh, It’s alright my dear. At least she’s with Macintosh now.” He rubbed his thumb gingerly over her scar. “I remember when I gave you this.” He said with warmth in his voice, Pink’s lips burst into a sad smile as she stifled a laugh at his words.

“ ‘Excuse me miss, I can’t help but noticed you blades a little dull!’ you said!” Pink smiled.
“ ‘you can’t cut with it like that. Let me make it REALLY blunt and then you’ll do just fine.’” Continued Discord. “You couldn’t understand how when there was no point, how it could still cut anything.”
“So It must have been a trick! You had to prove to me that it wasn’t by doing something you wouldn’t expect me to ask of you.” Pink smiled, she reached up and lay a hoof over her husband’s eagle hand, holding it to her face.
“So you told me to cut you with it! Thinking I’d fall apart and explain the trick.”
“But you didn’t.” Pink finished warmly.

“Enough of the pleasantries!” Shouted the empress. Cutting the lovers reunion short. “Consider that your last rites!” She turned to the other Celestia coldly. “You interfered with the disciplining of my subjects why?” The princess stared in disbelief.
“Discipline? That was nothing short of murder!” The empress shrugged.
“There both the same in my eyes.”
“Well they are not in mine!” Shouted the princess, rearing backwards, kicking forehooves out before her in anger! “And I will not let you harm another soul here today!” The empresses face soured in anger.
“LET me? You won’t LET me?” She laughed, the barrier opened once again. Her eyes seemed to glow slowly, and from within the world of Celestia, there came the sound of marching hooves.

“I would have killed them and been on my way!” Cackled the silver clad empress. “But now I think this will make a nice little place for me to live! This could be my summer getaway!” A dark hoof stepped out from the portal, clad in similar silver armour similar to the empress’s. One after another, the squad of guard poured out from within the dark realm and into Equestria. Soon the force rivalled that of the princess and Shining Armour’s squadrons.

Silence rang out over the town centre, everypony waiting for the coming storm. The empress’s lips curled into a maniacal grin. “Kill them!” The black furred guards charged against the princess’s white furred ones, like a living game of chess! Immediately, Shining Armour took control of his men.
“CHARGE!” The responding clash of armour against armour was deafening! Punctuated by the shouts and cries of the soldiers, Twilight and her friends listened to the terrible cacophony of battle.

Just behind the line of battle on the princess’s side, lay Pink and Discord. Over the deafening roar of the battle close by, Pink could barely hear her weak husbands whisper. She leant in close tilting her ears to his mouth. “T-The portal...Is it closed?” Pink turned and stared through the clashing white and black stallions, she could just see the empress stood with her dragon, the portal lay between the two. Her heart fell at the site of the gaping hole in space.

“No Disc, it’s still open...” She said crest fallen. Twilight and the other ponies now approached their friend and her husband, weary of any possible stallion that may break away from the battle and come after them. Applejack stood ready, as did Twi, AJ and Rainbow Dash. Even Rarity stood firm in case of attack, but Fluttershy and Dashie quaked in fear at the terrible display of violence before them.

Twilight was joined by Pinkie as they knelt beside the week willed Chimera, just in time to hear him whisper to his sorrowful wife. “The shield...Celestia’s shield... is it closed?” Twilight looked for the bubble, and surely enough it still hung there.
“Yes it’s closed at the moment. Why?” Asked the magenta unicorn.
“HAHAHAHAAAAAA!” The Draconequus exploded in laughter, every aspect of pain vanishing in an instant!

He soared into the sky, well above the warring stallions. Empress Celestia stared in disbelief at the laughing creature, and her heart filled with undying rage! “HOW?!” She cried out in horror.
“Come now dear! You didn’t think I’d go down that easily did you?” The chimera laughed, floating back to the ground. He placed a lion paw on his wife’s straight haired mane affectionately. “I just needed the free ride to Pinkie and the others.” His eyes travelled to the corpse of the yellow Pegasus nearby, Twilight was amazed to see misery on the face of the chimera she had come to despise over the years. “I just wish I’d gotten back sooner.” Muttered the draconequus.

He took a deep breath then with a pop, he vanished from site. The non-fighting ponies searched for the mischievous trickster, the empress was the one to find him. Stood by the bubble of magic surrounding the tear between worlds, with a devilish wink the draconequus released a long heated breath over the bubble. The breath sent a ripple across its surface the empress cried out in shock, she lowered her head and pointing her horn to the chimera, a pulse of dark blue magic travelled from the base of the horn to the tip, then exploded forth as a bolt of energy.

She was too late, Discord vanished once again and reappeared beside his wife once more. Giving a melodramatic bow, he extended a talon’ed hand to his pink spouse. “Shall we my dear?” He asked.
“With pleasure!” Replied Pink taking his hand. Her mane twitched for a moment, and then with the shock of all the local ponies, it exploded into the puffy mess that they associated with Pinkie. Then the husband and wife threw themselves into the fray, taking a group of black guards singlehandedly.

The empress was caressing her precious magical bubble, her face distorted in horrified realisation. “I can’t open the shield! He tampered with it! DRAIG! DESTROY HIS PRETTY LITTLE FRIENDS!” The dragon obeyed immediately, dropping to all fours and charging through the crowd of fighting stallions.
“GIRLS! RUN!” Cried an ethereal voice as princess Celestia fell from above, blocking the path between the dragon and her beloved subjects. Similarly to the empress, her horn glowed at the base as it prepared to fire a magical blast at the fast approaching giant lizard.

“Oh no! I can’t let you off that easily!” Screeched a descending empress, with their attention diverted to the dragon, none of them had noticed the empress fast approaching her double. With a terrible crash, the empress smashed into the princess and sent her soaring away. “Enjoy your little play date girls!” Cackled the other Celestia as she pursued the fallen princess, clearing the way for the dragon once again.

Dashie squealed in fear, as did Fluttershy, their eyes wide and glistening with terror. The Applejacks threw themselves in front of their friends, ready to beat the beast away. The three unicorns horns exploded into life, Two purple and one blue. But before any could strike the creature, a blur of blue and rainbow bolted past them as Rainbow raced to the creature, revenge in her heart for her fallen friend Flutt. Before anypony could call out to her to stop, the rainbow mare collided with the snout of the dragon, not being much bigger from the local dragon, the collision caused the creature to topple to its side in pain!

The cyan pony laughed in triumph! She posed for her moment of victory her forehooves on her hips winking at her friends. “He’s not so tou”- A huge plume of fire shot at the Pegasus, cutting off her bragging mid sentence. “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!” She screamed as she zoomed away from the inferno pursuing her. The dragon then righted itself, snuffing smoke from its nostrils angrily. Its green plumes either side of its head twitched at the beautiful sounds of battle around it.

The green eyes of the beast met the azure of Rarity’s and in that instant she recognised the creature. “S-Spike?!” The approaching creature focused on her, picking up speed as it focused on the platinum pony! “Girls! It’s the other Spike!” Applejack looked back in horror.
“Well? What do we do Twilight? Do we fight it or try not to hurt’m?” Twilight was lost, she had recognised the creature in the same instant as Rarity and had frozen unsure what to do.
“We fight it! It aint the same ‘Spike’ that you know!” Called AJ, still stood firm against the approaching dragon. “He’s going for Rarity!” She cried out as the dragon made a b-line for the unicorn. Twi and Twilight used their magic, pulling at the creatures tail, trying to slow it’s advance, but it made no effect, the creature was too strong!

The creature reached the group, it stood on its hind legs preparing to swipe at the platinum unicorn. “NOOOOOOOO! NOT RARITY!” Screamed a deep voice from their side. Before they could look to who was shouting, a purple blur slammed into the dragon, pulling him down to the ground! The group stared as they saw another dragon wrestling with the giant ‘Draig.’

“SPIKE!” Cried Rarity in relief at the sight of her beloved dragon. She took a step towards her beloved but was stopped by two orange forehooves. Both the Applejacks were stationary. “That aint the best thing to go interfering with Rarity!” Suggested Applejack, keeping a weary eye on the tussling dragons.

“But...” Stammered Rarity, she looked horrified, she was tormented between protecting her friends and helping Spike. Salvation came in the form of Rainbow Dash who swooped in from the chaos and grabbed Rarity by the hip hoisting her into the sky and over to the cover behind the cafe. “Rainbow! What are you doing? Put me down this instant.” The Pegasus did as commanded, and let the unicorn fall back to ground below.

“Wait here!” the Pegasus demanded, before bolting back towards the group of friends. A few seconds later she came holding Dashie and Flutttershy (With difficulty) Followed by the Applejack and Twilight doubles. “Everyone ok?” Asked Rainbow quickly. The group all gave cautious nods, still on the lookout for any possible attackers. Rarity immediately voiced her protest.
“Spike isn’t! Did you see the size of that brute? He’ll tear my little Spike to pieces!”
“Trust me Rarity, Spike has a heck of a better chance than we do if we don’t come up with a plan.”
.................
Back on the battle field, chaos reigned! Hoof struck against hoof, head against head, and thousands of spells shot out in a variety of densities and colours. The smell of both perspiration and blood hung heavy in the air as each stallion battled on regardless. Deep in the centre of the feud, stood Shining armour. He fought a group of three large dark unicorn guards. The first thrust hard with his horn, barely missing Armour’s neck as he strafed to the side just in time. The second pursued in the same fashion, armour ducked his head low and charged forward, bowling the stallion over his shoulder and onto the ground below.

The third unicorn tried to send a bolt of energy at the captain while he was distracted by the other two, little did the black unicorn realise the shadow of a slim and twisted figure behind him. Armour was pushing with all of his might against the guard; their horns were locked in a deadly tussle. Each time Armour parried an attack and thrust his way towards the enemy, he would jump aside. They were very well trained. The captains hoof snagged on an unconscious body beneath him, he stumbled and that was all the enemy needed. He charged at full pace towards the vulnerable stallion, he came so close that Shining Armour could see the demented whites of the unicorns eyes. This was it!

The unicorn was there in one moment, and gone with a blur of motion. Armour stared in disbelief at his fortune. He got to his feet; looking to his left he saw his attacker and one of his ally’s in an unconscious heap on the floor. The captain then looked to his right. There stood Discord. The two stared at each other for a moment, the battle seemed to dim down for a moment as they locked gazes.

The distracted draconequus didn’t notice the large Pegasus soaring towards his right shoulder. With mere inches to spare, the Captain of the guard sent a blast that knocked the black guard out of the sky. “You owe me one!” Laughed the Captain. Without falter the draconequus silently charged the captain, with fear in his heart, the male unicorn tried to back away, but it was too late. The chimera of chaos reached him in seconds. Towering above Armour, the draconequus sent a fist flying down to the captain. Armour closed his eyes in anticipation for the coming pain. But it never came.

Through the din of the battle, the captain heard a chuckle from above him. He opened his eyes to see Discords mismatched red ones mere inches away. They glinted with glee as he straightened up, bringing his fist with him, holding the head of a black guard who had clearly snuck up on the captain. The guard was screaming in fear, his legs flailed comically as he hung by his helmet, clutched in the lion paw of the chimera. With an idle toss of the guard into the racket of the ensuing chaos behind him, Discord chuckled. “Not anymore!”

The two paladins of battle laughed in unison, unbelievably calm with all that was going on around them. Then. Even over the roar of clashing ponies. They heard a solid, firm, powerful hoofstep crash to the ground behind the captain of the guard. Both the unicorn and chimera looked in interest. Armour’s mouth dropped in astonishment, the chimera looked from one to the other. “Well, this should be interesting!”