Ponyville came into view, and everypony was nervous about what was coming.

Sure to his word Discord had set up a stage and everypony was gathered, several other carriages were lined up with ponies exiting.

“HI PONYVILLE!” Twinkle called.

“Git back in here,” Zap said tugging Twinkle back into the carriage “Ah’d like to keep as low a profile as ah can until ah have no choice,” Zap said.

“Aw,” Twinkle sighed.

“Well speak of the Tirek! Here they come!” Discord waved at the carriage as it landed.

“It feels as though we are on a movie set,” Charity said nervously.

“Just follow my lead,” Spike said.

The carriage landed and Iron Pike detached and ran off.

“Hey! Where are you going Pike?” Shield called.

“Another break!” Pike said as he vanished into a building.

“Honestly what is wrong with that stallion?” Shield wondered.

Discord waited for the merged three and Spike to get behind the curtain.

A second Discord appeared to them.

“Alright girls, showtime!” Discord said.

“I-I don’t think I can go out in front of a crowd, I’m not properly dressed!” Charity panicked.

“Heh, seems you got Rarities need to look fantastic and Fluttershy’s shyness, come to think of it though you all are wearing hand-me-downs from the late Twilight Sparkle, and they barely fit,” Discord noted.

“Yeah?” Zap asked.

“Welp! Luckily Rarity gave me a few lessons, here goes nothing!” Discord snapped his finger.

Immediate embarrassment, at least he and Spike were the only observers.

Three bare mares.

“AGH!” Spike turned away blushing madly.

“Ah!” Charity covered herself blushing madly.

“Discord!” Zap yelled also covering herself and blushing

“Eh, what’s the big deal?” Twinkle shrugged.

“Seriously?!” Zap looked at the mare incredulously.

“Relax, now for the makeover!” Discord snapped his finger and the three glowed and were suddenly clothed in much more fitting clothes.

Charity was wearing a white shirt with her boutique's logo on it and a pretty blue skirt a ribbon was also present in her mane.

Zap Apple was wearing brown western attire, with the mid-riff open revealing her muscular abdomen, holes in the back for her wings and her stetson still on her head with a pair of flight goggles resting on them.

And Twinkle was in a blue and white striped shirt with purple pants.

“Oooh! Nice outfit!” Twinkle cheered.

“Ah gotta admit, not a bad look,” Zap said looking herself over.

“Thank you Discord,” Charity said with a smile.

"Don't think ah'll forget what just happened though," Zap warned.

“Alright girls, now get a move on it,” Discord said as they walked towards the stage.

“And with that not-at-all dragged-out announcement out of the way, I would like to present to you, Ponyvilles newest inhabitants,” Discord then gestured to the right and the three girls walked onto the stage, the townsfolk were murmuring to eachother as they saw the three new mares.

“H-Hello,” Charity said.

“HIII!” Twinkle cheered.

“Howdy,” Zap said.

“Alright, now for a bit of background in a very nutshelled fashion, These three are the result of a permanent fusion between the elements of harmony, treat them like you would other ponies,” Discord casually said.

“Hey! We were gonna tell them that!” Zap scolded.

“It’s fine Zap,” Charity said.

The crowd murmured some more as they looked upon what has become of their heroes before Discord continued, “And now a word from them,” Discord teleported to the side and Zap walked up to the stand.

“Hello… what ya heard is true, through a means we ain’t gonna say, we’ve been merged from the elements of harmony, Ah used to be Applejack and Rainbow Dash,” Zap said.

“And I was Twilight and Pinkie!” Twinkle followed up.

“Fluttershy and Rarity,” Charity meekly added.

A pony with a mic for a cutie mark stood. “How is this possible?” He asked curiously.

“We ain’t gonna tell in the hopes history doesn’t repeat itself,” Zap said.

“Is the one who is merged with Pinkie going to still be working in Sugarcube Corner? My son’s birthday is next week so…” another pony asked.

“Ah don’t see how that’s-” Zap was cut off by Twinkle shoving her aside.

“Yep! Just because I’m merged with Twilight doesn’t mean this party pony is retiring from partying!” Twinkle said.

“Twinkle!” Zap exclaimed.

“What about the Boutique? Or Fluttershy’s animal services, or the farm, or-” Zap cut off the pony asking.

“We’re workin' on it!” She said, “Now, we’ve had a long day, so any more questions will have to go through Discord,” Zap said before dragging Twinkle off despite the crowd clearly wanting more questions answered.

“Wheeee!” Twinkle cheered as she was dragged.

“Uhm… thank you all for coming!” Charity said before scurrying after her friends, Spike ran across the stage to keep close.

As they left the stage Mayor Mare was waiting off to the side.

"Pardon Mrs…" Mayor Mare said trying to inquire about their names.

"Zap Apple, Charity and Twinkle" Zap Apple said pointing to each name bearer.

"Before you go I must inquire about the future of Ponyvilles job circle, as the elements played some crucial roles in Ponyville." The mayor said.

Zap glanced back at the crowd.

“Can we do this elsewhere?” Zap asked.

“We can,” Mayor Mare gestured for them to follow, the three mares and one dragon followed her until they entered the mayor's building.

Upon entry into her office, the three mares sat While Spike stood back.

“Very well, now that it’s quieter I wish to clear some things up before you return to your lives… well new lives.” Mayor Mare said.

“What things if you don’t mind me asking?” Charity asked.

“Well you can imagine you three will be the talk of the town for a while

“Yup! I imagine we’ll be getting really popular with the press,” Twinkle said.

“Is there any danger of what happened to you all, happening to other ponies,” Mayor asked seriously.

“The object that created us is safely at Canterlot as far as we know,” Charity said.

“What about your jobs? I will imagine it will be difficult balancing both,” Mayor Mare said.

“...It will, we’ll work on how we’re gonna do that,” Zap said.

“All I’m saying is I have a dreadful feeling something bad is coming,” Mayor Mare said.

“What kind of bad?” Twinkle asked.

“I’m not sure, but you with you three here, I feel better about it,” Mayor Mare said sitting down.

“I’ll help out, adjustment is going to take time but I’m sure we’ll figure it out,” Spike said.

“Very well, there are documents to do and paperwork to file regarding all this, not to mention we have to alter some identity info to properly accommodate you three,” Mayor said.

“Alright, then we’d best do so tomorrow, we’re a bit tired from the trip, and need time to rearrange our living arrangements,” Charity requested.

“Very well, then have a fine afternoon,” Mayor Mare said.

“Thank ya,” Zap said as they left the room.

“Bye!” Twinkle called.

The fake Pike sat down in a bathroom and returned to normal, he removed his hood revealing a grey unicorn with violet eyes.

“I found it, this would have been easier if that pink pony hadn’t stolen it first, but now that I have what I need, Equestia will become the greatest nation once more,” He said as he opened the box.

In the box was a glowing portal.

Reaching in he pulled out a jade stone.

"Now, let's get to work," he then put the jade onto the mirror.

"Renovabitur et concedat potestatem." The mirror dissolved into glowing motes of magic which then flowed into his horn.

He then lit his horn and phased through the wall with the box in hand.

"Now, to test it," the stallion looked to see a raven on a branch and a squirrel climbing up that same tree.

With an extension of his hands, he fired out two green energy tendrils that snagged the bird and squirrel and pulled them to himself, and then he placed them against each other and a flash occurred.

And suddenly a winged squirrel with a beak appeared before him, it gave a chittering squawk and then it flew off

"Success," he smirked and walked off pulling out a list. "Let's make Equestria great again, now, who to start with?..."

Zap Apple, Charity, Twinkle, and Spike exited the Mayor's building and they found the crowd had dispersed.

“Thank goodness, ah was expecting more paparazzi,” Zap said.

“Or another barrage of annoying questions,” Spike said.

“Yes, I agree,” Charity said before turning to Twinkle. “Could I have your assistance at the Boutique? I need assistance getting everything together,” Charity asked.

“Sure!” Twinkle said before turning to Spike “Think you can get the castle in order Spikey?” Twinkle asked.

“No worries Twili…Twinkle, sorry,” Spike said.

“It’s cool!” She winked.

“Then ah’ll get on back to the farm,” Zap said.

“Give your family my regards,” Charity waved her off as she and Twinkle headed off to the Carousel Boutique and Spike headed back towards the castle.

“Ah will,” Zap took off into the air and flew back towards the acres.

The Boutique was quiet as they entered.

“Sweetie Belle must be asleep,” Charity said as she entered.

“Yup!” Twinkle said.

“Shh!” Charity looked up the stairs and didn’t see her.

“Why are you worried about Sweetie Belle?” Twinkle said.

“I-...I don’t want her to see me cry,” Charity said as she spun and hugged Twinkle surprising her, not expecting her to be crying out of nowhere, but seeing her friend in distress Twinkle immediately hugged back and rubbed her mane.

“Huh? Charity? Why are you crying?” Twinkle asked sounding concerned.

“I’m so jumbled and confused about so many things!” She cried “I tried to interact with Mac back in Canterlot multiple times, but he kept his distance. Does he not love me like he loved Fluttershy? And the Boutique, do I abandon it and my dream to be the best fashionista? Or do I go with my dream of opening an animal sanctuary? Are they my dreams? Or am I just mimicking them from the ponies I’m made of?” She sobbed.

“Why didn’t you want to say any of this in front of Zap Apple?” Twinkle asked.

“She has her own problems, I don’t want to burden anypony, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore…” Charity said tearfully.

“You're the sweetest pony in existence Charity, but you don’t need to suffer in silence so nopony else gets burdened, I’ll always be there,” Twinkle said firmly.

“Promise?” Charity asked.

“With a big ole cherry on top,” Twinkle hugged her.

“Thank you…” She muttered thank you over and over.

Zap Apple landed at home but before she could enter she saw Big Mac punching something.

“Mac?” Zap said approaching and she saw he was punching a tree, and worst his knuckles were bleeding. “MAC!” Zap dashed over there and shoved him away from the tree he was venting on.

“Zap?” Mac said in surprise before getting up and turning to walk away but Zap grabbed his shoulder.

“Don’t yall walk away, not until ah know why you nearly lamed yer own hands,” Zap demanded.

“...” Mac stood there, not saying anything.

“Ah ain’t letting go until you talk,” Zap said.

“Stop…” Mac said.

“Huh?” Zap said.

“You sound almost like her, Applejack…” Mac said.

“Ah see,” Zap said not even mad he was still on this.

“Yer sure there ain’t a way to fix this?” Mac asked.

“There ain’t, ah know when a pony lies, and Celestia wasn’t,” Zap said.

“Then she’s really gone… ah failed.” Big Mac said.

“Failed?” Zap asked.

“Ah promised Ma and Pa that ah would protect AJ on their deathbeds… now she’s gone, if only ah had been there,” Big Mac said before receiving a thwack on the head.

“Huh?” Mac spun to see Zap Apple looking at him with an upset look.

“Ya didn’t lose her, she’s here! With me ya galoot!” Zap said.

“No she ain’t! She-” Mac said before Zap closed in on him.

“Listen here, ah’m not a faker, so what if AJ ain’t a hundred percent here, she’s here ain't she? Sure she’s a green pegasus now but she’s still an Apple though and through, don’t forget, don’t go treating me like ah’m some apparition of yer sister, otherwise yer your definitely failing her!” Zap barked.

“...” Mac looked down and he turned away, Zap was about to berate him again but he spoke before she could.

“Ah’m sorry… yer right, ah jest miss her is all,” Mac said.

“That’s right,” Zap said. “But that ain’t the only thing eating you is it?” Zap perceived.

“...Ah miss Fluttershy… mah marefriend…” Mac said as some tears went down his face.

Zap walked up to him and hugged him.

“Ah wanted to approach her during the brunch at Canterlot, but every time ah look at her, she’s not the same mare, but ah can’t just turn mah back on her, what do ah do sis?” Mac asked.

“Don't, that’s all ah can say,” Zap said.

Author's Note

Short chapter today but this clears up some things.

Who is our mystery pony, what are his plans now that he has the power of the Merge Mirror?

Can Big Mac overcome the fact that Applejack can't return to how she was?

A bigger better story building is on the way, but the next chapter will take the focus on a different usually not seen pony.