Switched

This cannot be real! I must be dreaming. I must. Luna slowly walked backwards in the hope to not catch the Ursa Minor's attention. Constellation Animals were rare, powerful and very dangerous. Their beauty only sugarcoated that. Although no pony would call the Minor pretty at the moment. Everypony could see that it was pissed off, seriously pissed off.

Rainbow Dash looked at the CMC and stammered: „How where you even able to lead that freaking thing into the town?“ Another roar made everypony shudder. The citizens ran out of their houses. Their loud screams and the panic seemed to catch the bear's attention. It slowly walked towards a house.

An Ursa Minor had the size of a small house. Therefore the animal was able to rise to its hindlegs and lay its massive paws on the roof. The bear roared and digged its teeth into the bricks. It jerked its head backwards and ripped a large hole in the celling. The Ursa Minor spat out the bricks and roared once more.

„If I could, I would now spent my tax money to fix my roof!“ Luna saw three figures, sprinting out of the building. The one, who had spoken, was a brown stallion with a long, rippling, curly mane. Is that Filthy Rich? Luna lifted her brow in surprise. The two lovley fillies, that were running beside him, had to be Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

They looked so different from the two bullies of her world. Their coats were clean and their faces friendly and helpful. Diamond was wearing her mane in a ponytail, while Silver had it open. Diamond called: „Somepony has to stop it.“

The bear now was rampaging on the market place. It threw over food cards and shattered glass windows of shops. Its massive snout was eating everything it could find. Fruits, bread, fish. It was moving like an undestroyable force, knocking over anything in its way.

Luna stared at the CMC and explained: „There is a reason, why nopony should disturb an Ursa Minor in its sleep. They usually hunt after they slept for a few months. If they are awaken before that period, they go crazy.“ She turned her head at the Malicious Six. „We have to do something.“

They stared at her, shocked and surprised. Rarity said: „Yes, getting out of the situation. That monster is so smelly and disgusting and rough.“ She whimpered and pressed her hoof against her forehead, before she fainted.

„I do not think this is the right moment to go to sleep“, mumbled Pinkie Pie.

Luna was shocked. They are not doing anything to help! How ungrateful can they be! She had never thought she would hate seeing the Mane Six. But their counterparts were nothing one could be proud off.

At that moment the bear tried to eat the apples. „Get off here, you beast!“ Granny Smith swang her stick and hit the animal at its cheek. I do not think, this was a good idea. Luna's coat bristled, when the Ursa turned its head around. It roared at the old mare. Granny shouted: „You do not get my apples!“

The bear lifted a paw and hit Granny on her chest. „Granny!“, shouted Applejack furiously. Everypone watched the skinny, green figure flying over the floor and landing near a door entrance. Big Macintosh cursed, probably „Nope!“ and ran to the old mare to help her on her hooves.

At that same moment Applejack was sprinting towards the Minor. She whirled around, rose to her frontlegs and slammed her hooves against the bear's paw. „That is for attacking my grandma, you dammit thing!“, she shouted. The animal looked down at the small, orange horse, which shouted at it.

„Not very smart, AJ!“, called Rainbow Dash. The Ursa Minor roared. Its breath flung off Applejack's hat and tousled her mane. The farmer narrowed her eyes. She seemed to think about starting another attack or running off. The large fangs and sharp claws took the decision away from her.

When the bear struck again, Applejack swirled around and sprinted towards the Malicious Six and Luna. We have to do something! The Malicious Six screamed and divided, forming a passage. Luna spread her wings and rose into the sky. The Ursa Minor fulminated past them like a wagon train.

„Twilight!“, called Luna, „Cast a spell to stop it!“

The purple unicorn blinked and looked up at the Alicorn. „I am suppose to do what?“, she asked shocked.

Luna shouted: „Use your magic! Your counterpart has been able to defeat an Ursa Minor before.“

Twilight flinched and ducked away. „I do not think, I can do this!“, she stammered.

„Just try“, begged Luna, „You can do it. I know you can.“ She bite her lips.

Twilight gulped. She then slammed her hooves in the ground and closed her eyes. The Alicorn could see how much the unicorn concentrated to canalize her magic inside her horn. Sweat ran down Twilight's forehead. Finally a few purple sparks flew off. The unicorn panted in exhaustion and shame. „Did I do it?“

„Help!“ Luna jerked her head around. Applejack had been pushed into a corner. Now the farmer rose to her frontlegs and kicked around viciously to keep the snapping snout away from her. She hit the bear at its chin. The Ursa Minor roared. It stood up on its two legs, lifted a massive arm and let its paw shot towards Applejack.

„No!“ Luna shot forwards. As she did so, her body seemed to disslove. Under her surprised and shocked glance flakes of red smoke curled over her legs and hips. Her body shapeshifted in the blinc of an eye. Suddenly she was a red smoky thing, which dashed forwards and pushed Applejack away, just as the Ursa Minor was about to strike. I didn't know, I could do that! Obviously she had gained the abilities of Princess Lunar. Now Luna thanked herself for having been Nightmare Moon in the past. She would have never been able to controll her smoke form without the experience from her alter ego.

The animal's claws digged itself into Luna's shoulders. The mare shouted in pain. Her body became the one of an Alicorn again. She was lifted from the ground and tossed accross the floor. Luna hit the ground with her shoulder and slided over it, overturning, before she laid on her side. Her head rang and her shoulder was pure fire.

Baring her teeth, Luna came to her hooves. Her mane was tousled and uncombed. The cloak she had been wearing was thorn at one side. Dirt stuck in her coat. There were several long lines on her left shoulder, crimson red and soaked with blood, dripping down. Okay. Enough of this game! Luna opened her wings partly and yelled to get the bear's attention.

The citizens, who had been hiding, were slowly peeking out of the windows and behind doors. Applejack panted in shock. She grabbed her hat and hide behind a bin. The Malicious Six stared at Luna as if she had gotten crazy.

The Alicorn ignored them. Her eyes, flashing with fury, were focussing on the bear. The Ursa Minor roared and slowly approached her. He seemed to realize, she was the greatest threat and needed to be taken out first. „Do your worst“, whispered Luna quietly.

She ducked down. Dust exploded around her as with a powerful slap of her wings she rose into the air. Luna flew higher and higher. She then glided over the winds, wings fully stretched. Her glance focussed on the bear. The animal had risen to its hindlegs and lifted its paws like a boxer, who was waiting for a strike.

Luna tilted her body downwards and rushed like a comet towards the bear. Her horn started to glow. Her eyes turned white and she showed her teeth. Braking in mid-air, only a few feeth away from the bear, Luna jerked her head backwards, before she unleashed an enormous, bright red beam. It hit the Ursa Minor straight in its chest.

A loud explosion shook the area and sheer red light blinded almost everypony and forced them to close their eyes. The bear roared as it was flung backwards. The animal crushed against a few stands, buring them under its massive body. Dizzy and grunting it tried to come to its feeth, but Luna would not allow that.

She was shooting through the air like an eagle. A blue bolt for anypony. Luna flew in a sharp edge around the bear, before she fired another beam at the back of its head, slamming it into the ground with its chin. The bear panted. Luna kept herself in the air with simple flaps of her wings. Adrenalin shot through her body, killing of fear and pain. She felt alive.

The bear turned around. It was a large being and its massive weight was its downfall. It was already exhausted and therefore not really fast. Luna decided to give the bear one last shot, so it had learned its lesson and never appeared again. Just as she was about to attack the Ursa Minor, another spell hit it.

This time the magic was golden. It did not hurt the Ursa like Luna's fire flashs had done. Instead it softly enwrapped itself around the animal...and put it to sleep? Eh? Confused Luna dashed down and landed on the floor. The Malicious Six gathered around her and the villagers came out to see their hero, who let the bear fall asleep.

It was a grey unicorn with a pretty crown on his head. He had a long, floating, black mane with darkblue strands and a charismatic, caring face. His horseshoes were blue and a long, elegant looking, purple cloak covered his back and shoulders. He looked familiar and different. Luna's maw dropped. This must be King Sombra!

Sombra stopped his sleeping spell. He looked at the citizens and asked: „Is anypony hurt?“

„No.“ Granny Smith approached him and her grim face seemed to brighten up just a bit. „Everypony is fine.“ Her eyes turned backwards as she glanced at Luna, who now felt the whole damage of her fight with a five pfound heavy bear. „We should mabye figure out, who made that thing appear in the first place.“

Luna's exhaustion was replaced by anger and shock. She pointed at her chest and called: „Are you saying, I brought that bear into the town?“

Granny shot her a sharp look. „Yes, I do. I bet, the Tyrannt Sun ordered it, Flying Beast!“

„Th'is a lie!“, declared Luna outraged and slammed her hoof on the floor, „We just saved thou, thou ungrateful whelp.“ The sudden movement cracked open the wounds on her shoulder and she hissed in pain.

Applejack called: „That is true. She just saved mah life.“

Then the farmer blinced. „Why actually?“ Luna felt the glances of the Malicious Six on her. „Why did yah do that?“, asked Applejack, „Yah could have died, while saving mah.“

The Alicorn explained: „That is what friends are for. You protect each other. You rely on each other in your time of need.“

Sombra approached them. „Lunar“, he said. There was so much in his glance. Sorrow, love, sadness, hate, anger.

„Sombra“, Luna merely said. She knew too little about their relationship to know, how Lunar acted around him by now. What did the King saw? The helper of a tyrannt? Or the pony, Lunar had once been?

„Did you really not let the Minor into the town?“, asked Sombra suspiciously. Luna opened her maw to say „No, I didn't. I am not insane.“, when loud, powerful flaps brought the attention of everypony into the air. Looking up, they spotted a figure, soaring over them like a death angle. The citizens backed away in fear and only a few showed their hate.

„Well, well, Sombra. And what are you doing here?“ Celestiar landed in front of Luna and smiled slyly. „Have you come to say, that you accepted my offer?“

Sombra snorted and barked: „No, I didn't. I am not here because of that matter. Did you know an Ursa Minor had attacked Ponyville?“

Celestiar closed her eyes and lifted an hoof. „Yes. I watched it from my window. It had been a rather amusing sight.“ Luna was not sure, if the evil princess had seen her as well. She could only hope, she had been too small to notice from that distance.

Sombra gasped and panted in shock. He shouted: „You let that thing come into the town and did not do anything against it! Are you crazy? The citizens could have been wounded or even killed.“

Celestiar responded sharply: „I do what I am doing. Besides my subjects are all fine. See?“ She waved an arm and pointed at the ponies, who stared at her, some fearful, some with eyes full of hate.

Sombra put his ears back. He responded: „Those ponies are not your subjects, Celestiar. You cannot continue this reign of terror. It will only collapse. Realse them!“

Celestiar opened her wings and her eyes were like pure fire. „Do you think you can come here and make demands on me? This is my reign, Sombra. You are the intruder here.“

Celestia put her head forwards, until her snout almost touched Sombra's. „So unless you have come to tell me that you have finally agreed to my offer, you should leave“, the white mare said and smirked slyly, „You brought this terror to your nation. You have made them outcasts and let them suffer. They have little food, less water and are fighting over everything.“ Her voice had become a sad, sorrowful chant over her lest sentence.

Sombra curled his lips angrily. Celestiar smiled and she walked up and down in a line in front of Ponyville's citizens. „Oh, but you know the conditions to buy your subjects free.“

Sombra bellowed: „There are no conditions!“ He turned around, about to leave. „We are finished here.“

Celestiar once again stepped into his path and chuckled darkly. Her eyes glittered as she eyed the King and then Luna like fruits, she could eat. „Oh no, Sombra“, responded the Solar Princess, „We have barely begun.“

The mare turned around. She eyed Luna's wound surprised, before she softly leaned against her. „Come, my younger sibling“, Celestiar said, „Let us return home.“ She slowly pushed the blue Alicorn in the direction of the Castle of the Royal Sisters. Luna turned her head back and looked at the Malicious Six, who responded her glance with the same worry and hopelessness, she felt.

In the Canterlot Castle, where Luna and Celestia live….
Celestia and Lunar had entered the throne room. It looked different from the one Lunar knew. Several stained glasses showed moments, that made her blink in surprise and confusion. In that world King Sombra had been defeated by the Royal Sisters just like Sir Discord. And who was that blackish mare with her weird helmet and armor?

The other side of the mirror. No longer her world. But a place, that was a twisted reality to her.

Lunar decided to ignore it the best she could. She was here because of a certain task. She had to prepare this Equestria for the time, when her sister would take it. Lunar had no attempt in leaving this castle or getting in contact with any other pony then Celestia.

The white Alicorn was explaining: „I think about holding the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot. We would start at nighttime. I would raise the sun and when the bright daylight is shining, you could raise the moon, until it is in front of my sun, before you softly make it pass away. A brief moment of darkness. I am sure, it will be a wonderful spectacle.“

Lunar nodded. „Yes“, she muttered, „A spectacle.“

It happened without any warning. All of the sudden a sharp pain exploded in her left shoulder. Lunar screamed as an invisible force lifted her into the air and flunged her against the wall. „Luna!“, called Celestia in shock and ran to her sister.

Ouch, my shoulder! What was that? Lunar grunted and blinked. She carefully peaked at her shoulder. Three large lines crossed her coat. Blood ran out of them. Celestia reached her. Her dawncoloured eyes widened as they laid on the wound. „What has happened, Luna?“, she asked and helped her 'sister' on her hooves.

„It is nothing“, Lunar grumbled and pushed herself free. She was hobbling towards the throne.

„Are you certain?“, asked Celestia and lifted a brow.

„Yes“, snarled the blue Alicorn. It was only missing that her counterpart's sister got worried because of that. „I am fine. Don't you worry your pretty head, sunflower.“

She left and Celestia stared after her. That is strange. Her eyes narrowed in concern and the white mare laid a hoof on her chin, thoughtfully. Those wounds appeared out of nowhere. They look like wounds from a fight. Luna could not possible say, she was alright. Not with such deep scratches in her shoulder. And did she just called her sister sunflower?

Celestia slowly walked through the castle, until she reached an almost empty room. A few shelves, full of old, dusty books. Tables, covered in parchment roles that were yellow from the lack of sunlight. Starswirl's old library.

In the middle of the room on the other side stood a large mirror. White crystals stuck in the purple frame. The glass was pale and shimmered. It seemed oddly grey. Celestia stepped towards the mirror. Her own reflection showed her worried and concerned face. Something was not right. Neither in her world, nor in the other.