Seven-Ten Split

”Fillies, foals, and gentlecolts, make some noise for Equestria’s greatest -and still only- stunt group; THE WASHOUTS!”

A blue-maned unicorn fiddled with a monstrous sound system, the still air vibrating with the shriek of an electric guitar. A wing of pegasi thundered through the overcast sky, blowing a hole in the clouds and bringing a shaft of sunlight down.

“It was really cool of Princess Twilight to let us spend Summer Break on this side of the mirror, and to get us tickets to this.”

Indigo Zap smiled as she jostled the smaller pegasus next to her, who was gaping skyward. The line of ponies broke apart, six beginning to corkscrew around the seventh in three staggered rings.

“Y… Yeah. From what uh, the other me said these guys are like a pony Nitro Circus.”

Both Rarities had also seen fit to outfit the visitors for clothing. The nudity taboo had been met with the difficulty of dressing with awkward hooves. Indigo had opted for a dark violet flannel, and Dash for a deep blue hooded tracksuit jacket.

Both former humans leaned forward, one to either side of their “chaperone”, the pony Rainbow Dash.

“So like, what are they doing?”

Their voices were so similar that it seemed like Dash had answered herself when the slightly larger Rainbow tipped her chin back and replied.

“A lot of things, actually. They're creating a differential… erm... “ Rainbow waved her hooves vaguely. “collecting a charge. Calling down a lightning strike.”

Bluish sparks danced along the lead pony, bouncing between her outstretched forelegs, arcing along her bodysuit and helmet. Dash and Zap shifted uncomfortably on the metal bleachers they sat upon, until Rainbow pointed out the tall rods circling the area.

“They're also creating a slip, ah… a gap in wind resistance.” Rainbow nudged her friends and put her hooves over her ears, mouthing a countdown. They followed suit, bracing for whatever was about to happen.

Even with muffled ears, the crack of the lightning was nearly deafening. The six ponies abruptly stopped their spin and sped off nearly at right angles, like a disposable sabot ejecting from a silver dart. Rainbow made motions with her hoof, indicating the differential being dumped onto the next ring as each pegasus pair broke off from the pack.

When the final pair wheeled off, the lone pegasus in the center was briefly surrounded by a blue-white corona, before tongues of lightning flicked out. Each rod was struck in turn, triggering a row of cannons to fire and causing the sound system to feedback shrilly.

The last bolt struck a silver ring set onto a dais dead-center of the arena, and a black-suited form skidded in all four hooves through the middle of it before adopting a trumphant pose. Her teammates alighted on either side as rockets exploded close in the air over them.

“That was…”

“FUCKING AWESOME!”

Rainbow shook her head as the lead pony hopped off the platform and started towards a loose collection of trailers at the edge of the arena, the others starting the next leg of their routine.

“Crazy nag rode the lightning. C’mon, I'll take you to go meet her.”

Zap stopped dead at the sound of her voice, like the strident tone was a dagger buried deep in her breast.

The pony was tall and well-built. Her helmet unlatched and was cast off to reveal a turquoise coat and a mane of tawny gold that stood slicked back and upright in a rakish style.

Just like Indigo’s.

“Glad you could make it, Dash. I'd hoofbump you, but I still got a bit of charge. Probably shock the hell outta you.”

The pony turned, whatever she was going to say next dying on her lips as her jaw hung slack. Two ponies locked eyes, staring into the face of a ghost.

Lightning Dust recovered first. Her broad wings whickered like fans of knives as she closed the distance. Rainbow stiffened as the larger pony shoved her, hovering over her. Her voice cracked.

“This is a low blow, even for you Dash. What the fuck. You could have had your changeling student pick any disguise to see the show and you pick HER?”

Dash carefully tucked one of her smaller hooves over one of Zap’s, noting the way the golden-coated pegasus was beginning to hyperventilate.

“N-no, Dusty… it's not like that. There's a mirror, a portal that Twilight's got. The… the place on the other side is… like here but different. She's the real deal.”

Lightning Dust landed, and she and Zap took a half-step towards one another. They both reached out gingerly, as if a distorted mirror lay between them and the other would shatter if touched.

“D-Diggy.”

“D-Dusty.”

The moment passed and both ponies raced together and threw forelegs around one another. Both Dashes suddenly felt awkward as they watched the toughest girls they knew break down into ugly sobs, faces hidden in the neck of the other and clinging like they'd be torn apart.

“Someone want to explain?” Dash furrowed her brow and pursed her lips.

Both ponies spoke at once, a waterlogged rush if babbled words choked by tears.

“She's”
“My”
“Big”
“Little”
“Sister!”