Switched

It was unusually warm. The heat choked the air and made it vibrate. It laid itself heavily on Luna's cloak and made her wings hung down. She and the Malicious Six had decided to meet at Fluttershy's cottage for breakfast. Luna mostly had urged on this meeting to share, what she had found out. Her friends, if one could call them like that, had decided to get along with that, because they had nothing better to do. And maybe, just maybe, because they felt a little bit of empathy.

Fluttershy's cottage looked a lot like the small house, in which her light counterpart lived. A small, round house that reminded one from the air of the shell of a tortoise. Green leaves grew over the roof, forming a soft hump. However, as Luna approached the house she sensed something. Compared to the cheerfulness that surrounded Fluttershy's house, this Fluttershy's had a deadly silence and anxiety in it. As if the animals that might live there feared to make a sound.

“Ehm, Fluttershy?” Luna lifted a hoof and knocked with it against the wood.

Through the door she heard a sharp shriek and whimper together with the angry call: “Who is a nice bunny? Yes, you are a nice bunny. You love mummy Fluttershy so much that you stay in your cage and do not try to bite her. AM I RIGHT?!?”

Luna backed away and put her ears back. One of her hooves was lifted like someone who wanted to turn around and leave. Okay. Why am I surprised now? I mean, she has been mean to me. But animals… Still really confused, Luna watched Fluttershy open the door and smile at her. “Oh, you are already there. Come inside, Luna. Don't be shy.”

Luna carefully followed the yellow pegasus in her living room. It would look rather comfortable, if it were not for the many cages that gave the place a creepy atmosphere. They stood on the floor, on shelves, hang from the celling. Sad animal eyes looked at Luna through iron bars. She tried to ignore them. Even Angle Bunny, who jumped up and down and formed small fists.

Fluttershy sat down on the couch. “The others will come soon”, she said, “Make yourself at home.”

Luna slowly took her place in a chair. Rubbing her front leg, she asked: “Do you have any idea, why it is so disgustingly warm?”

“Sure”, responded Fluttershy, “It is another draught. Probably somepony pissed of the Tyrant’s Sun and now she let it feel every single pony around.”

Luna blinked at Fluttershy's calmness. A draught was a serious condition. But the way the pegasus said that, it seemed like a draught was no big surprise here. I never thought about Celestia's powers in that way. She is using the sun to dry out the land. No wonder everypony dislikes her.

Rarity and Rainbow Dash were the next to enter Fluttershy's cottage.

The white unicorn complained: “Another draught! Seriously this temperature is so tiring and exhausting. My fur will be covered in dust for months and my mane will get stringy. My hooves will have cracks.”

Fluttershy groaned and Rainbow Dash responded: “Seriously, Rarity. This is not the first time, we have something like this. And you turn it into a big deal every time!”

Rarity responded: “Pah. You have no idea of natural beauty. All you can think of is cider and your stomach.”

Rainbow Dash hold her belly and grumbled: “Not true.” However, she immediately denied her words by asking: “Where is Applejack? I thought, she brought breakfast.”

“She will.” Pinkamena shuffled into the cottage and dropped herself on the carpet like a rag doll. “Just give her some time.”

“Let me guess”, mocked Fluttershy, “You were too lame and sad to move fast.”

A pair of green eyes looked at her and Pinkamena whimpered: “Oh, quit it, Fluttershy.”

Luna watched the group thoughtfully. She had sometimes read the friendship reports of Twilight, but she was amazed what dynamics laid in here. There was no real friendship, yet still they had a louse connection with one another. Just by the way they responded to one another. It did not looked like a real fight, but more like an usual routine. Making mocking comments about the other one and unnerving one another. Still they never seemed to go too far.

Finally Twilight and Applejack came inside. “Breakfast!”, shouted Rainbow Dash as she laid eyes on the filled saddle backs of the cheater. Her tongue hang out her maw. “At last!” Applejack threw off her backs and opened them. She pulled out several metallic objects, a knife and a loaf of bread.

Luna just stared at the metallic cylinders. “What are these?”, she asked, levitating one and eyeing it. The Malicious Six gasped in surprise and started to laugh.

Applejack responded: “Don't tell mah, yah never saw a can before, Princess Luna?”

“Ehm, no”, responded Luna, “What is it for?”

“Ah'll show yah.” Applejack took out her knife and started to cut open the top of the can.

While doing so, she explained: “Mah family has a monopoly for apples. We are incredible rich, because we know how to preserve food. That is important in this world as we often have draughts.” She opened the can and revealed the orange jelly in it. “Apple sauce”, Applejack grumbled and ripped the bread apart. Everyone took a piece and started to dip it into the jelly to eat it.

The jelly tasted ridiculously sweet and fruity. Luna almost coughed. Her throat got soar from the stuff and she was sure she would get a stomach ache from the stuff later. Still it seemed to be a pretty good meal as everypony ate as much as possible. Luna remembered the luxurious food she had eaten in the castle. Apparently for the folk this was one of the only food sources. No wonder, Applejack's family got so rich. The conditions simply allowed it.

When they finished, Luna told them about the diary entrance she had found. The Malicious Six gathered around her and listened.

Rainbow Dash grumbled: “Sounds like cryptical bullshit to me. How does this help us?”

“I don't know”, admitted Luna and dropped her head.

Rarity asked: “Who could have been the pony, that caught Sombra's hearth? I bet, she was really pretty and lovely.”

“Well”, Fluttershy responded sharply, “The Tyrant’s Sun probably thought differently.”

Luna sighted and shook her head. We have some valid information, but I still feel like I am as smart as where I have started. Her glance drifted around and she spotted a newspaper, laying on the floor. “Can I have a look at this?”, asked Luna and stood up.

Fluttershy sat down on one of her cages. “I see no reason, why you shouldn't.”

The navy blue Princess trotted towards the newspaper. Picking it up she flipped through the pages carelessly and stopped. The newspaper was not the newest one, but a print from almost twenty years before. And one of the articles showed the image of Sombra, dancing with a white mare with dawn coloured eyes and a multicoloured mane.

Luna stared at the image. Her eyes widened. Oh, a fool! Her jaw dropped. Luna recognised the mare at once. Jerking her head around, she called: “Guys, I have a crazy idea!”

“Crazy?”, responded everyone and Twilight said: “A word with which one could call your state of mind stupid.”

Luna ignored the comment and levitated the newspaper. “Look at this!” She thrust the article in their directions.

“Is this Celestiar?”, asked Pinkamena. “Since when is she dancing with Sombra?”

Luna shook her head. “That is Celestia, but not the one with a R in her name.” She jumped down from the sofa. “That is not your Celestiar, that is my Celestia.”

Suddenly it felt like the last few events needed all her intention again. Luna slowly paced up and down and muttered loudly to herself: “Why didn't I, foolish me, asked myself how Celestiar knew about my world? She had not seen it before. But she saw somebody from my world, my sister!”

She slowly turned around. “And what did her diary entrance said? He and his pretty lady friend will learn how bad the sun can be. They sowed the hate and I harvest the price. Powers, they will not be able to withstand. I will bring them hell on earth! I will ruin their lifes and take everything from them. They both will pay! I only claim justice and I will take it. More then they can deal with. The photo must have been taken during this garden festival!”

Luna rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Celestiar stated it herself. She was in love with Sombra. And when he started to date my sister, she got jealous as hell.” “Love and jealousy!”

“Great”, Twilight responded coldly, “Great analysis. We've got her motive. So, what is she trying to do?”

Luna responded: “I am not finished yet. All the clues in my dreams. My original nightmare. The mare without a face. This has been Celestiar! And Fluttershy, do you remember, when I disturbed your cult meeting? I talked Starlight Glimmer after that. And she had such meaningful words.” “I could not really understand, what the stranger said, but his voice sounded so heavy with meaning. It was as if he tried to persuade Mayor Mare of something.”

Luna leaned her head against the wall. With closed eyes she explained: “This cult is not lead by a crazy mare. Remember the main phrase you call, Fluttershy? Help us to reach another side. This could simply be regarded as heaven. But what if Celestiar was behind this? Reaching another side. She is not referring to heaven.” Her eyes widened in terror as the full realization and conclusion hit her. “She is referring to my world! She want to conquer my world!”

The sky looked bad. Sickly green clouds pressed themselves against the glass. The wind howled and the window creaked. Celestiar felt her sun in her back. She eyed the sky's change with a pleased expression on her face. Smirking to herself she whispered: “The time is right.”