Fortunately, Spike can cook. Otherwise, the four mares living in the castle would be screwed.
While Spike was in the kitchen making pancakes, the two Twilights, Sunset, and Starlight were all talking magic. Mostly for Human Twilight’s sake.
“Ugh, I’m so out of practice.” Sunset complained.
“Don’t worry, I’m not really good at anything complex, either.” Starlight attempted to comfort.
“Says the mare that almost beat the Alicorn Element of Magic in a straight up fight.” Sunset fired back. “Princess, how did she manage to beat you? Without any formal training?”
“Well, it wasn’t exactly straight up.” Princess Twilight replied. “Remember, I had to protect Filly Rainbow Dash from being stopped, protect myself, since if I lost, she could stop Rainbow, try to stop Starlight here, which is difficult since she has a ton of magical potential, and not make it so flashy that Rainbow would stop flying to see the fight that was going on. Starlight, however, just had to go on the offense, either stopping me, or stopping Rainbow. Hardly a fair fight.”
“So, you’re telling me you haven’t sparred since?” Sunset asks in disbelief.
“Oh, we have, but Twilight’s always holding back. Which is why I’m glad you’re here. Somepony who’s good at magic, but also just a unicorn and not an alicorn with nearly unlimited magical potential.” Starlight answers.
Human Twilight, not really knowing a thing about magic (other than too much is a bad thing), leans over to her counterpart, and says, “Could you teach me about magic? I’m completely lost here.”
“No problem, Twilight.” The Princess replies. “So, what’s been going on over there, Sunset?”
“Well, after the Friendship games, school settled down. Twilight had transferred, but nothing really changed. Until we went to Camp Everfree. There was another magical mishap while we were there. The camp director, Gloriosa Daisy, found some magical geodes, and using their power, tried to save her camp by keeping us all there. Unfortunately for her, those geodes were all connected to us. Using these newfound magical powers, we stopped her. After the fight, the geodes turned into necklaces, which we all have kept ever since.”
“That sounds fun.” Twilight says sarcastically. “About as fun as being captured by changelings.”
“Pancakes are done!” Spike called out. Immediately, four ponies teleported into the kitchen, grabbed some pancakes, and teleported away again. “Should I make more?”
The only answer he got was the sound of food being eaten really quickly. “I’ll take that as a yes. Ugh.” Spike then began to go through the process of making pancakes all over again.
Out in the dining room, all conversation had ceased. Not that anypony could hear over the sound of eating. Five minutes later, after all four of them ate their pancakes, Princess Twilight asked Sunset a question that probably should have been asked a long time ago.
“Where’s your counterpart, Sunset?”
Sunset gave a massive spit take of orange juice, then replied, “From what I can remember, she was going to some prestigious private high school out of state. At least, that’s what principal Celestia said when I asked. Turns out, she went to Canterlot middle school, but instead of going to High, she went somewhere that would challenge her. So, for the record, I haven’t met her yet.”
“Have you met somepony like me yet?” Starlight asked.
“No, not yet. But, given just how my luck is, when we get back, we’ll have to deal with someone like you harnessing magic that they shouldn’t have. It seems like a common theme.”
The four sat there for a second, before Human Twilight piped in. “C’mon, girls. Let’s not worry about what will happen when we go back. This is our time to relax.”
“I agree, me. I’ll teach me over here how to use magic, while the two of you” Twilight points a hoof at Sunset and Starlight “can go see the town, and get to know each other, since the two of you are the least introduced.”
“Deal.” Sunset and Starlight said at the same time.
Princess Twilight then snickers. “I think the two of you will get along, as Rarity would put it, famously.”
“More pancakes!” Four flashes, then four more flashes, and each mare has more pancakes.
“We’ll split up after we finish breakfast, agreed?” Three nods. “Good.”
Sunset and Starlight were walking through town at a leisurely pace, not going to any place in particular. Sunset is soaking it all in. “Dang, this seems like a good place to live. I’m kinda jealous.”
“Don’t worry, this town has had its fair share of calamities. I was almost one of them.” Starlight replies.
“Really? One, stop beating yourself up. It isn’t healthy. Two, how much has happened here?”
“Well, since Twilight moved here, there has been Nightmare Moon’s return, Discord, and Tirek that have come to Ponyville, and a Changeling invasion and the return of the Crystal Empire. Needless to say, there have been several world ending incedents, and almost every week, something odd happens here. Ponyville has been the center of weird for the last few years. The ponies here are immune to it now.”
Sunset felt her jaw go slack. “H-how? How much can one town have happen?”
“Clearly, a ton.”
Shit. Now I’m not sure I want to stick around here for long. “Okay…so, anywhere in particular you want to show me?”
“Sure. Let’s go to Sugarcube Corner. There oughta be something crazy going on. The two Pinkie’s should really be monitored at all times.” Starlight then leads Sunset to the (surprisingly edible-looking) building in the middle of a plaza.
“Why’s it called Sugarcube Corner if it is in the middle of a plaza?” Sunset asks.
Starlight shrugs. “Ask the Cakes. That’s your best hope for an answer.”
The two unicorns walked into the building to find a Pinkie running the register. “Hey, Sunset! What’cha doin’?”
“Hey, Pinkie. Starlight’s showing me around town. Just wanted to see how it was going here. Are you…my Pinkie, or Starlight’s Pinkie?”
“I have no idea!”
“Me neither!”
The second voice came from the kitchen.
Sunset looks at Starlight. Then proceeds to trot back into the kitchen. “Pinkie, are you messing with me?”
“Nope!”
“Then what happens when one of you has to go back?!”
“Don’t worry, Shimmy. You can tell us apart by which one drinks coffee. The one from the other side drinks coffee, the one from here doesn’t. Any other time, we’re interchangeable! Make sense?”
Dear sweet Celestia, please smite me now. “Sort of? Kinda? Not really? I dunno.”
Starlight then pops in. “Sunset, I don’t know how well you know Pinkie, but she won’t do anything over the top just for the sake of a prank. Don’t worry.” Sunset sighed in relief. “But, Pinkie, what happened to the Cakes? Where are they?”
“I think they’re going to the doctor’s, to see how Pound and Pumpkin are doing. Don’t worry, they’ve already learned about this. We blamed Twilight.”
Starlight nods. “Atta girl. Just make sure you don’t break the fabric of the universe of something like that. Oh! Could we get two scones? One blueberry and one…”
“…strawberry.” Sunset finished.
“Okie Dokie Lokie!” Both Pinkies reply. “Now, get outta the kitchen! A baker’s gotta have her secrets!”
Before either unicorn knew exactly what was going on, they found themselves at a table in front of the bakery. It took the two of them a full five minutes to recover from what can only be called “Pinkie doing stuff”, and by then, the scones had come out.
Those poor scones didn’t stand a chance.
The two unicorns then went towards Carousel Boutique, about an hour before it opened, to see how the Raritys were doing. Sunset knocked on the door, and hear a distant “Come in, darling!”
Upon opening the door, the two mares saw a mess. All of Pony Rarity’s clothes were shoved into a corner, and the two white mares (dammit that sounded racist) were busy looking over drawings. Some of ponies and some of humans. All with different designs of clothes. Fabric was thrown all over the place, and Opal (Rarity’s cat) was hiding under a pile of light blue fabric.
The two ponies walking in just stood there in shock. One Rarity lifted her head. “Hello, Starlight, Sunset! Would you mind helping us? We appear to have a bit of a problem.”
Not suspecting anything malicious, the two walked over towards the twins. Then, there was a whirlwind of fabric and needles. Before the two of them could form any response, there were standing in a couple of nearly exactly alike dresses.
“You see, girls, we made these dresses for the two of you, but we can’t decide whether we should have the orange go with Sunset, to highlight her coat, or on Starlight, to contrast with her coat. We tried drawing it out, but the pictures didn’t really do you justice. So we needed you two to show up. Now, what do the two of you think?”
Both Sunset and Starlight said “uhhhhhhhhhhhhh…no clue.”
The two Raritys sighed. “We figured as much. Nonetheless, we will determine it ourselves. Now, would the two of you please turn around? Give us a turn, let us see.”
While the two of them were turning, Sunset asked the two fashionistas, “Why are our dresses nearly completely alike, and with the only differences being our coat colors?”
Two white faces turn red, then both Raritys sputter. “Well darlings-“
“You see-“
“The two of you-“
“Are so similar-“
“That the inspiration-“
“Led to similar-“
“Dresses.”
Starlight just facehooves. “So, you made our dresses alike, simply because we are alike?” The two fashionistas nod. “Are the two of you trying to hook us up?”
“OK NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT WHY WOULD WE DO THAT DON’T BE SILLY STARLIGHT WE WOULD NEVER TRY SOMETHING LIKE THAT!” The two accused mares yelled really fast, in a tone that said “liar”.
A Fluttershy stuck her head in the window and said “Yes, they are. They were talking about it all last night.”
“Thank you, Fluttershy.” Starlight said in an unnervingly even tone. “Now, Rarity, what were you saying?”
Human Rarity took the stage. “Well, darlings, the two of us couldn’t help but notice just how similar the two of you are. Beyond the whole “Former villain defeated by Twilight” thing. Your mannerisms are so similar. You both use the same amount of snark, sarcasm, and deadpan. You both have very similar Cutie Marks, and your likes and dislikes are extremely similar. At least from what Rarity here told me about you, Starlight. Pretty much to a T. If it wasn’t for the fact that Sunset is a native Equestrian, I would say the two of you are counterparts much like me and me here.”
Pony Rarity, meanwhile, looked at Fluttershy and said, “How did you know what we were talking about?”
The Fluttershy managed to mumble “We followed you home” before eeping and flying away as fast as she could go.
The two mares being hooked up looked at each other. Then began to compare. “Favorite fruit?”
“Apple. Favorite sport?”
“Hoofball. Favorite bedtime story as a foal?”
“Mare in the Moon. Favorite dessert?”
“Anything made by Pinkie Pie.”
The two went back and forth. The two Raritys, sensing they shouldn’t interrupt the bonding moment (after all, they wanted this to happen) decided to continue working on the dresses. Finally, the Starlight asked the final question.
“Favorite mare?”
“You.”
“Ditto.”
The two of them realized that they were being watched. Human Rarity then said “Now kiss!”
Both Starlight and Sunset blushed. “Erm, sorry, but this seems a bit quick. I mean, we just met face to face for the first time yesterday.”
Pony Rarity then announces a deal. “We won’t let you leave unless you kiss. Now Kiss!”
“And how exactly to you plan to stop the two of us, one of us having defeated Twilight, and the other a former student of Celestia?”
“Simple. We brought the Twilights in for backup. They’re outside right now, waiting for either of you to make an escape attempt.”
“FUCK YOU, RARITY!” Both Sunset and Starlight shouted. Then Sunset pecked Starlight on the cheek.
“Erm, no offense, girls, but that was pretty terrible. Kiss on the lips, and HOLD IT THERE!”
Both Sunset and Starlight groaned. Then they faced each other, and did a full on kiss, just like the Raritys wanted.
On the outside, the two of them looked like they were enjoying it. On the inside, however, one thought was going between the two minds.
Rarity, you had better sleep with one eye open from now on. I’m not afraid of going back to my bad girl ways.
As the two mares left the building, they immediately saw the Twilights standing there, smirking at each other. The next second, the two Twilights were shielding themselves from the two angry mares assaulting them.
“WHAT THE FUCK, TWILIGHT?! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?!” Both yelled at the purple alicorns.
“C’mon, you two. This seems a little over the top.” Human Twilight attempted to appease the two mares.
Starlight and Sunset then stop their assault for a second. “Really?! We were just forced to kiss! We were literally held captive until we kissed. I’ve still got her toothpaste flavor in my mouth! Don’t play innocent on me, Princess!” Starlight yelled.
Princess Twilight then said her piece. A very short piece. “Did you two not like it?”
Their response was two incredibly powerful beams of energy, one light blue, and one emerald green. When the smoke cleared, the two non-look-alike mares had teleported away.
In one of the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres, two mares flashed into existence. Both then screamed in frustration.
After five straight minutes of venting anger, the two finally calmed down. They then began plotting how to deal with the others when they went back to town. After a while, it went to small talk. Soon after that, Sunset asked Starlight a question. “Was it really that bad?”
“In and of itself, no. The circumstances were terrible. Why do you ask?”
“Maybe they have a point. We are literally the only pairing that isn’t exact copies. And besides, it’s just been a day. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you.”
Starlight ponders the options. “I guess. I mean, it’s not like we have to stay a couple if it goes downhill. But do we admit defeat?”
“Absolutely not. This will be an ‘under-cover’ thing. The last thing we need is the Twilights and Raritys gloating like Rainbow would.”
“Speaking of Rainbow, where are they?”
“If your Rainbow Dash is anything like mine, the two of them are busy competing against each other, even though my Rainbow isn’t used to being a pony.” Sunset offered as an explanation.
“And we have.”
Both unicorns jumped up in surprise, then looked upwards. The two rainbow maned pegasi were sitting on a cloud, a few hundred feet up.
“Turns out that we are almost exactly the same. Now, me here, being native, is a bit faster, but physically, we’re identical.”
Pony Rainbow then waves. “C’mon, Starlight. Get up here.”
Sunset looked at Starlight funnily. “How do you plan to get up there?”
Starlight then levitates herself. “Simple. I’ll cheat.”
As Starlight begins floating up towards them, Sunset then flares her horn up. Soon, Sunset is rising (errrrrrrrrrr…) into the air with them.
The key difference is Sunset is flying using some flaming wings.
Pretty cool, right?
The other three mares look at her. Sunset shrugs. “Fire is kinda my thing. I modeled these wings off of a phoenix. You can stop gaping. And before you ask, Dash, I can’t really fly fast.”
Starlight then asks, “Where’s AJ? Oops, AJs?”
“I think the two of them were working on the farm. Seriously, even while she’s on vacation, AJ can’t stop working.” Pony Rainbow asks.
“Hey, Starlight!” said Sunset.
“Yeah?”
“Remember how Rarity was saying we are basically identical?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, what if we got an illusion done, so we looked like each other, and see how long it would take before somepony spotted the difference.”
“Sounds fun! And sounds like great revenge on Rarity.”
The two Rainbows grin evilly. “We can keep a secret. Don’t worry. I can get you something by tomorrow.”
“Sure. As long as you get it legally.” Starlight says with a hint of concern in her voice.
“Don’t worry. Nothing illegal. Just pulling a favor. Tonight, sleep with your windows open. We’ll deliver the goods tonight. Tomorrow morning, you’ll have a top quality illusion. With an instruction manual.” Pony Rainbow says.
All four mares then begin to laugh maniacally.