The group laid in individual beds in a housing area of the castle, none were asleep, they simply lay there in their beds lost in their thoughts.

“How will Sweetie Belle react?... Or mother and father? Or my… other mother and father and Zephyr…” Charity thought.

“Will mah family still accept me? How can ah be a wonderbolt if ah’m busy taking care of the farm?” Zap thought.

“All on my birthday of all days… was yesterday my birthday? My new birthday? Or is Pinkie’s birthday my birthday…. Should I throw a party to help keep their memory alive?... My memory?.... I don’t know anymore…” Twinkle thought.

“Should I be the one to break it to Shining that he’s got a new sister?” Spike sullenly thought.

Eventually, they couldn’t stave off sleep anymore and they fell asleep.

Zap Apple dreamt of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, she watched them being pulled into the Merge Mirror and her emerging from it.

Then standing before her was the Apple Family and Rainbow’s family.

“Please, it’s not my fault!” Zap cried.

“GIVE ME MAH SISTER BACK!” Apple Bloom shouted

“Ah refuse ta let anypony take Applejack’s place!” Granny said.

“Ah’ll never accept you,” Big Mac said.

“We want our Dashie back!” Bow yelled.

“Your not our daughter! You’ll never be our daughter!” Windy yelled.

“NOOOO!” Zap sobbed as she knelt.

Suddenly the taunting visions vanished and Luna appeared.

“So… you are the merged form of Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Zap Apple I believe?” Luna asked.

“H-how’d ya know?” Zap asked.

“I heard from my sister, so from what I can tell, your having this nightmare because you blame yourself for existing that Applejack and Rainbow no longer exist, and you fear that your families will not accept you,” Luna said.

“It aint just that… Ah’ve been a farm pony in one half of mah life, and on the other Ah’ve been a pegasus with tha goal ta be a Wonderbolt… How do I choose? There’s so many problems, how do I solve them?...” Zap quieted near the end.

“You need to tackle communicating with your family first, get that hurdle out of the way and then you can focus on your objectives Ms. Zap" Luna assured.

"What if they reject me?" Zap asked.

"You won't know until you try," Luna said.

"Ah…Ah suppose yer right," Zap said.

“The Apple family value family above all other things, if they know that deep down you are genuine about continuing on for Applejack, then they will accept you,” Luna assured.

“And mah… other parents?” Zap asked.

“They loved Rainbow as her biggest fans, I’m sure they won’t abandon you as well,” Luna said.

Zap hugged her and nodded.

“Yer right, ah can’t give up on ‘em,” Zap said.

"Very well, I must go now there are other nightmares I must correct," Luna said.

"Ok," Zap said.

Charity knelt on a two-way road one side had her hut when she was Fluttershy, her animals were waving at her from there. And the other had her Boutique, Sweetie Belle was patiently waiting for her there.

"I cannot give up my animal friends… but I cannot give up on the Carousel Boutique either… what do I do?" Charity wondered.

"Find a middle ground," Luna said

"How?" Charity asked without glancing at Luna.

"By clearing the air with your loved ones, perhaps you'll find the solution then," Luna comforted.

"I'll try, but in the end, I fear I will lose too much either way," Charity said.

"I trust in you, you have a gentle and generous heart, you can find a way to keep both," Luna assured.

“Most nobles would balk at keeping so many non-exotic pets in a boutique of all places…” Charity said.

“Their haughty opinions do not matter, only yours do,” Luna said.

“I would not resent them, I cannot resent anypony or anything, it wasn’t the nature of my other halves,” Charity said.

“All the more proof you are more of a noble than they will ever be,” Luna said before vanishing, leaving Charity to stir around in her thoughts.

"It's all your fault!" The voices of her family, friends, and former selves chanted from all around Twinkle who was curled up and crying.

"I'm sorry, forgive me," she sobbed.

The apparitions were wiped away by Luna as she descended from above.

"The Pinkie side of you remembers, and regrets," Luna observed.

"It's all my fault…" Twinkle said.

"You couldn't have known the true nature of the merge mirror, it's not your fault," Luna said.

"But if Pinkie A.K.A me, had never retrieved it from the castle of two sisters, this never would have happened…" Twinkle said

"You can't blame yourself for not knowing ahead of time what you were bringing back from there," Luna said hugging her.

"What if Spike can't accept me as Twinkle what if he just wants Twilight back?" Twinkle asked.

"I cannot doubt that he wants Twilight back, but he may have to accept that that's impossible. He'll come to accept you, as will your families, do not worry," Luna said.

"Th-thank you," Twinkle sobbed.

Spike relived Twilight's last moments as herself over and over.

"TWILIGHT!" Spike cried watching his sister screaming his name as she got pulled into the magical field.

Suddenly the image vanished before Luna.

"I sense you miss your sister," Luna told Spike, Spike was surprised but he quickly looked depressed.

"I do… Luna, I want to accept her but whenever I look at her… I don't see Twilight, I see a pony who looks like her," Spike muttered.

"She may not be one hundred percent Twilight anymore, but she's still your sister, nothing, not even the merge mirror can change that, I am afraid you must come to terms with that,” Luna said.

“But this was so sudden! Twilight hatched me, raised me, and now you tell me she’s never going to be the same again, how can I just move on? What am I going to tell Shining Armor? Cadance? Or Mom and Dad?” Spike asked.

“The truth, they need the truth, the sooner the easier, like it or not, the problem is irreversible, they’ll handle it better if they hear it from you, rather than hearing it from someone else.” Luna assured.

“...Your right…” Spike said.

“Think of how Twinkle feels, she must be worried nopony will accept her for what she is now, you must be there for her,” Luna told him.

“...Alright,” Spike nodded.

“Have a good rest,” Luna said before vanishing.

Spike woke to see the room was empty.

“Must already be in the breakfast hall,” Spike sighed before getting out of bed, and changing out of his PJ’s.

Charity suddenly came in, wearing a big towel around her body and mane “Hello Spike, I just slipped into the bathroom for a-” Charity gasped seeing Spike… without his pants…

“Huh?” Spike said before eeping and diving behind the bed while Charity whirled blushing madly.

“U-uh, S-s-sorry! I didn’t realize you were-” Charity sputtered.

“I-it’s alright! Sorry for not going elsewhere to change!” Spike stuttered.

Hidden elsewhere having set this encounter up were Twinkle and Zap, who snickered and high fived.

After that incident, the group made their way to the breakfast hall.

Spike was blushing madly at what happened.

He always loved Rarity, she was like the most beautiful pony he’s ever seen… Charity is starting to challenge that thought.

It’s not just her supermodel figure, she has Rarity’s generous and giving nature mixed with Fluttershy’s gentle and loving nature. There’s something about her that makes him calm yet excited, is he technically cheating on Rarity by falling for her?... not that they were ever dating beforehand…

Charity admittedly found herself having similar thoughts about Spike. The side of her that was Rarity always thought of Spike as cute but not old enough to be boyfriend material, at least until he got older, he really sprouted like a weed… in a good way of course. The part of her as Fluttershy was always curious and loving to Spike like anypony else, although she seems to have considered Spike to be potential boyfriend material at some point.

What she was feeling towards him was different now, it seems Fluttershy’s and Rarity’s feelings have merged and become stronger… it can’t work though… Fluttershy had a boyfriend before this incident, Big Mac, it would result in a heartbreak if she ever left him… she can’t break hearts, her nature is repulsed by the thought… so how can she tell him? Could she? Should she?

Zap chuckled with Twinkle.

“Mission accomplished,” Twinkle whispered to Zap.

“Eeyup,” Zap Apple agreed “Ya seem less depressed than yesterday,” Zap said.

“...Yeah… I figured Luna was right, and I shouldn’t dwell, what’s done is done, we gotta move forward and continue studying as well as throwing parties,” Twinkle shrugged.

“So Luna talked to ya too? Yeah, she told me before anything, ah gotta clear things up with mah family… both of them…” Zap said.

“Yeah, Twilight and Pinkie wouldn’t want me to wallow in despair like a wallow willy worry mc wartenson, but fight on, for the future,” Twinkle said.

“Well said, cept fer that wallow part…” Zap said.

Eventually the group arrived at the dining hall and both Celestia and Luna were there.

“Good morning my little ponies,” Celestia said.

“Mornin princesses,” Zap tilted her stetson.

“MORNING CELESTIA, MORNING LUNA!” Twinkle exclaimed.

“Yes, good morning princesses,” Charity gave a courteous bow.

“Good morning,” Spike said.

“Come sit, I had your breakfast’s prepped and conversation is to be had,” Celestia said.

“Yay!” Twinkle ducked out of view and popped back up at her seat, where there was a big stack of chocolate pancakes.

“Woot! My favorite!” She began digging in.

Zap flew over to her seat while Charity trotted over and politely sat.

“I can see your all in better spirits than yesterday.” Celestia said.

“Thanks ta Luna,” Zap said

“It twas nothing Appleja…er…Zap Apple,” Luna corrected herself.

“Now that your all here, I would like to let you know of what will happen before you all go home.” Celestia said.

“Onf ift!” Twinkle said, her mouth full of pancakes, before she brought out a checklist and summoned a quill by pulling it out of her mane.

“All I was going to say was I wish to meet you all in the courtyard for examinations,” Celestia said.

“Examinations?” Spike said

“Yes, we have to figure out what new powers have emerged, and if the elements still work, given that the bearers have been reduced to three, if not then we’ll have to find more bearers,” Celestia said.

“Make’s sense,” Zap commented eating a pancake quickly, “by the way, does this castle got any training equipment ah can borrow? Ah am composed of two athletic ponies and don’t want ta go flabby,” Zap asked.

“We do, we’ll see if we have any spares,” Luna said.

“Eat up then, meet me in the courtyard afterward,” Celestia said, taking her leave.

“Ok!” everypony and dragon said.

After their meal everypony got ready to leave.

“If you don’t mind me saying you two ate quite alot,” Charity mentioned, gesturing to the stack of plates by their seats as opposed to Charity's modest amount.

“Athletes metabolism,” Zap said.

“I’m part Pinkie Pie remember?” Twinkle said with a raised brow.

“...Point has been taken…” Charity said with a shrug.

“Alright girls, follow me, I know the way to the courtyard,” Spike said.

“No need!” Twinkle flared her horn.

“Twilig-Twinkle what are you doing?” Spike said.

“The fast way,” Twinkle said before teleporting the group.

They reappeared on a hill outside of Canterlot.

“Huh?” The group looked around.

“Ah think you took us a little far,” Zap said.

“Odd, that was a normal teleport,” Twinkle lit her horn and teleported them again and they were now on the other side of Canterlot.

“Whoa!” Spike yelped as he was standing next to a steep cliff.

“Twinkle!” Zap scolded.

“I got this!” Twinkle flared her horn and suddenly they were above Canterlot and falling.

“AAAAHHH!” Spike yelled as they fell.

“Ah got ya!” Zap flew down and easily scooped Spike up, and Twinkle kept herself aloft with her wings.

“Oops again!” Twinkle giggled.

“Uh, where’s Charity?” Zap asked.

“Oh no…” Twinkle said before looking down and not seeing her.

“Oh crap! I forgot to grab her!” Twinkle panicked.

“Yer kidding me! She can’t be dead!” Zap exclaimed.

“Do not worry yourselves friends,” The spun to see Charity fluttering though the air with a pair of butterfly wings.

“How did…” Zap muttered.

“I am not sure,” Charity said glancing back at the wings.

Suddenly they were teleported again and were in the courtyard.

“Twinkle!” Zap said not realising where they were.

“That one wasn’t me!” Twinkle defended.

“It was us,” Luna said catching their attention.

“We saw you above Canterlot so we decided to help,” Celestia said.

“Oh… sorry then Twinkle,” Zap said.

“It’s fine,” Twinkle replied.

“What was that back there?” Charity asked.

“You were discovering the extent of your new powers,” Celestia said.

“New powers?” Zap said.

“Yes, it was mentioned earlier that the merged ponies would gain new and stronger power through their fusion,” Celestia said.

“Like Potara earrings?” Twinkle asked.

“What?” Celestia said not familiar with that term.

“Oh yeah, wrong series…” Twinkle ushered for her to continue.

“Well… in a sense a pony is made much stronger through the fusion, you three were strong before so I’ll admit I am curious to see how far you’ve advanced,” Celestia said.

“So ah’m stronger than before?” Zap questioned.

“Much, yes, let us begin with some tests, it is best you become used to your new power rather than risk accidents,” Celestia said.

“I’d say that makes sense,” Spike said sitting off to the side.

“Mrs. Zap Apple, if you would like to start?” Celestia asked.

“Gladly,” Zap said, stepping forward and cracking her knuckles.

Celestia used her magic to conjure a tree with apples on the branches.

“Kick it,” Celestia said.

“Like ah always did as Applejack?” Zap asked.

“Yes,” Celestia nodded.

“Alright, not sure what’ll happen differently,” Zap said before doing her usual spinning roundhouse kick to shake the fruit off the tree.

What happened instead… she split the tree in half at the side and sent wood chunks flying everywhere as the tree fell.

“WHOA!” Spike said in surprise.

“Huh?!” Zap exclaimed.

“Impressive, your physical strength is well beyond that of a normal earth pony,” Celestia noted that down on a piece of paper.

“Nice kick! I’d hate to be on receiving end of that!” Twinkle said.

“Ah… ah wasn’t even using mah full strength,” Zap said in awe of her strength.

“Next is your speed, Mrs. Rainbow Dash was known for her speed, so show us if that has been enhanced too,” Celestia asked.

“Ah think ah already did, ah flew from Ponyville to Canterlot in under seven minutes, a new record in mah books,” Zap said.

“Impressive, regardless, do not hit full speed close to the ground or near any homes, the rainboom was strong enough, I cannot imagine how strong it is now.” Celestia cautioned.

“Noted.” Zap agreed, a little hesitant to admit she did so earlier.

Suddenly a magic bolt lanced at Zap who noticed and she sidestepped in an instant.

“The hay?!” Zap exclaimed.

“Reflexes are superb,” Luna said, noting that down.

“Ya’ll trying to incapacitate me?” Zap said curtly.

“It was a minor sting charm, no more painful than a bee sting,” Luna defended.

“It is part of the training to test reaction with harmless spells,” Celestia pointed out.

“Still,” Zap said dusting herself off.

“Alright, now that you know your strength speed and reaction it is best you hone them, to avoid injury to other ponies,” Celestia said.

“Ok,” Zap said.

“Next up is Charity,” Celestia gestured for her to come over and she did.

“Yes Princess?” Charity asked with a kind smile.

“We need to see what is different about you, we noticed you were flying back when you were all above Canterlot,” Celestia pointed out.

“Indeed I was,”

“Could you tell us how you manifested wings?” Celestia asked.

“I… Was falling and then I thought hard about a spell that could grant me flight, then suddenly I was flying…” Charity said.

“Interesting, does this mean you can manifest your thoughts?” Luna asked.

“I’m not sure,” Charity said.

“Try, imagine something simple… a quill, imagine a quill,” Luna offered.

“Ok,” Charity shut her eyes and concentrated and suddenly her horn lit and a transparent quill appeared in her hand.

“Huh?” She said surprised about it.

“Fascinating, your mind is capable of creating magical constructs through subconscious thought,” Luna reasoned.

“How’d you figure that?” Spike asked.

“We’ve seen it before, but it is a rare gift,” Luna said noting this down.

“There is something else we’d like to examine, your calming nature,” Celestia said.

“Calming nature?” Twinkle parroted.

“Yes, I noticed it too, whenever she spoke I felt my stresses and frustrations melt, your voice and presence must have an ambient calming capability.

“Fluttershy always did have that maternal aura about her,” Spike reasoned.

“Interesting,” Charity said.

“Be smart with this power Charity, in the wrong hands it could be dangerous,” Celestia cautioned.

“Oh, I would never abuse it, I am not a pony who is comfortable with the thought of manipulation,” Charity blushed.

“Considering you are both of the elements of Kindness and Generosity, we have nothing to worry about you turning manipulative,” Luna said.

“I hope,” Charity murmured.

“Finally, Twinkle, my student, come forth,” Celestia said.

“Yay!” Twinkle said before hopping into a bush and reappearing in front of them, wearing an army helmet.

“Ready chief!” she saluted.

Celestia should have found herself amused, but the sight of Twinkle brought some sadness to her, remembering Twilight.

Luna elbowed her.

“Oh! Um,” Celestia cleared her throat “Very well, I think it is obvious what was enhanced.” Celestia said as Luna trotted out of view.

“What?” Twinkle asked.

“Your magic is so powerful now, you accidentally teleported miles away from Canterlot without even trying,” Celestia said.

“How’d ya know?” Zap asked.

“I am thousands of years old Zap Apple, I have plenty of experience in sensing magic surges, and yet this one was so powerful yet so effortless,” Celestia said turning to Twinkle.

“This is unexpected but I would say once you tame that potential it could even surpass me,” Celestia said.

“Surpass you?” Twinkle said sounding surprised.

“Indeed, Luna now!” Celestia shouted suddenly.

Luna fired out a dozen sting charms but in the course of two seconds, something happened, one-second Twinkle's tail twitched and the next Twinkle's horn lit and several well-placed circular barriers materialized stopping each of the charms without missing one.

“Impressive,” Luna muttered.

“Can ya stop with the charm?” Zap sighed.

“It seems that not only have your magic but your Pinkie sense have enhanced and even merged. Your magic reacts to your Pinkie sense,” Celestia pointed out.

“Yeppers! It was weird but it’s as if I formed a magical synergy with my instincts which created a six-sense boundary allowing me to allocate magical wavelengths and their intentions, thus my Pinkie sense, or as I would like to call it now Twinkle sense reacts and auto activates my magic if it senses danger of any kind-” Twinkle took a deep breath and continued “-aimed at my person, right?” She finished.

“That is a good way of putting it,” Celestia chuckled.

“She has Twilight’s genius and power and Pinkie’s unpredictability and zany behavior leveled to a new extent… I cannot say how relieved we are that she is on our side…” Luna said, imagining a scenario where she isn’t.

“You can say that again,” Spike said sharing the dreadful vision.

“Last test, we need to see if the elements work still, and for that we have a volunteer,” Celestia said before turning to a statue and saying “You can come out now,” Celestia said

“Huh?” everypony saw a statue of a knight pony get off its pedestal and walk over to them.

“AAAH! LIVING STATUE!” Twinkle exclaimed.

“No, it’s me,” Discord said teasingly as the statue transformed into him. “You should really make it quicker with the tests, a bird pooped on my shoulder,” Discord said snapping his fingers and cleaning his shoulder.

“Discord?! When did ya’ll get here?” Zap said.

“Mostly just the tests, and before you ask I can’t fix you girls, believe it or not the mirrors were designed to counter my magic, back when I was a threat to Equestria,” Discord said.

“Discord?” Charity asked as she walked up to him.

“Hello my dear Charity…” Discord said, his mood turning sad.

“This isn’t how I wanted you to find out…” Charity said hugging him.

“It’s alright dear, as long as Fluttershy is part of you I accept you as my friend, I’ll just need an adjustment period, that’s all,” Discord said.

“Thank you for understanding,” Charity sniffled.

“Alright then, shall we get onto the element test?” Discord said creating a giant dart board and teleporting himself onto it.

“Wait… you don’t mean-!” Charity said in horror.

“Do not worry Charity, I volunteered,” Discord said.

“I won’t do it! Not to Discord,” Charity said inadvertently using her stare, the princesses actually gasped as they looked into those eyes and Spike yelped in fright falling off his chair.

“Oops!” Discord snapped his fingers and put blindfolds over Celestia and Luna’s eyes.

Charity snapped out of it “Huh? Princesses?” Charity questioned.

They were shaking a little and pulled off the blindfolds,

“It was as though Tartarus itself was staring at us…” Luna said with an edge in her voice.

“I-it… seems something else got enhanced as well with you Charity,” Celestia said taking a few deep breaths.

“I’m sorry… but I mean it when I said I’m not using the elements on Discord,”

“Come now dear, I appreciate your kindness and concern but at the most, it will petrify me, then Celestia will break me out,” Discord assured.

“But… Discord…” Charity pleaded.

“I promise you Charity, it will be alright,” Discord said.

“...Ok… but if something goes wrong and you get hurt,” Charity said.

“Not to worry, now hop to it,” Discord said resting his head back.

“Ok…” Charity said joining the others.

“Here,” Celestia levitated a box to them and they opened it to find the elements.

They each put on the elements corresponding to their two elements and they waited for the signal.

“Alright girls, let it rip!” Discord said.

“Ok!”

“Ok!”

“Ok…”

They concentrated and the Rainbow Power was powering up and their eyes glowed before they floated into the air and then the rainbow power launched forward at Discord.

“Wait a second… CRAPBASKETS!” Discord teleported away and at the same moment the rainbow power blasted through the target board and struck the ground nearby burning a hole in it.

“GIRLS STOP!” Celestia cried.

“Huh?!” the three cried as they cut off the power surge and looked to see a mile-deep hole was burned into the ground by the rainbow power.

“DISCORD!” Charity cried.

“I’m alright!” Discord called and they turned to see him back against the wall, panting.

“Discord?” Zap questioned.

“I was wrong, very wrong, if that had hit me it would have straight up vaporized me,” Discord said making his way over to the group.

“Are you alright, where are you hurt!?” Charity ran up to Discord.

“I’m fine dear, I dodged right in time,” Discord said.

“This is what I was worried about!” Charity snapped at the Princesses.

“This was unforeseen to us as well, we’ve never seen the rainbow power go haywire like that,” Celestia defended.

“I think it’s best you not blast anypony with that, not until you figure it out,” Discord suggested.

“Agreed,” Spike said walking up to the group.

“Then that concludes our training for now, report to me if you find any new updates,” Celestia asked.

“With your permission, I'll head into Ponyville and spread the word, it’d be best if the general public’s panic settles early,” Discord suggested.

“Sounds like a plan,” Charity nodded.

“Got it, what now?” Zap asked.

“Now… it’s time you meet with your families…” Celestia said with dread.

Author's Note

Training has been done and now we know. The Mane Three are powerhouses!

As you can probably tell this story is my first attempt without an editor to see how well I do, constructive criticism is welcome.

How do you think I am doing?

Next up, the Mane Three's families find out what they've gone and done to themselves.