Twilight Sparkle didn't have to look hard to find Dusk Shine again. She found him in the back of the crowd, staring at the ponies with a strange look on his face. Conflicted, or perhaps longing. Twilight slowed her approach, then tried to see what Dusk was looking at. She saw Rainbow Dash in the crowd, dancing vigorously to the music, with Applejack shaking her head at Dash. Twilight looked over to Dash. "Hey, are you alright? You look..." She trailed off, not quite sure how to finish.
Dusk glanced at her, then switched back to his familiar smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Even if they're mares, it's been a long time since I've seen them. I'm not quite sure how I should introduce myself, especially since..." He waved at Twilight. "It might be a tad strange for the both of us to show up at once."
A long time since he saw his friends? "How long is 'a long time'?" Twilight wondered. It couldn't be too long unless Dusk got some kind of important job outside of Ponyville. Twilight blinked. Ponyville was her home now. The girls are her neighbors. She got so lost on that train of thought that she barely noticed Dusk walking into the crowd. "Dusk! Wait!"
Too late. Dusk walked up next to Applejack and tapped her on the shoulder. The farmpony turned around and smiled. "Twilight! Hey, sugarcuuueh?" Applejack stared at Dusk Shine, then glanced over at Twilight, then stared at Dusk. "What the hay?"
Dusk held out his hoof. "Hi! My name is Dusk Shine, I'm from another universe."
Applejack shook his hoof with a raised eyebrow. "Really? Huh." The mare lifted her hat and scratched her head. "I dunno if it's the lack of sleep, or just the fact that I've lived in Ponyville for most my life, but... I don't have anythin' to say to that."
They all awkwardly glanced at each other. Applejack flinched. "Where are my manners? I'm Applejack! I run the farm just outside of town."
Dusk gave a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Applejack. If your farm is anything like the Sweet Apple Acres from my home, I'll be sure to buy plenty of apples."
"Ah, thanks!" She blinked. "Wait, what?"
"Another universe! It's probably easy to see, but I'm Twilight's counterpart there. There's also a Ponyville, a Sweet Apple Acres, an Applejack." Dusk leaned towards AJ at this, causing the mare to look a bit surprised.
"Oh hey, Twilight! You came back!" Rainbow Dash had stopped her dancing long enough to notice the trio talking to each other, but stared at Dusk. "Who're you?"
"Dusk Shine, I'm from another universe!" Dusk replied automatically. He stuck out his hoof for the mare to shake.
Rainbow nodded. "Huh, cool. I'm Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in Equestria!" She took Dusk's hoof and looked him over. "So... can you dance, or are you as lame as Twilight?"
Twilight flushed and straightened up a little as Dusk chuckled. "Nah, I'm pretty much the same as her. I can dance when I've had a full eight hours of sleep!" Twilight hissed a little at Dusk. "Besides, we're the best kind of lame. The kind that helps you on tests and cheers at an embarrassing level for you!"
Rainbow chuckled. "Yeah. Anyways, it was nice meeting you, Dusk, but if you aren't going to dance, then you'd better get off the floor. I need all the room I can get!" Applejack coughed a little. "Eh, yeah. That probably goes for you as well, AJ." Dusk chuckled, then cleared off the floor with Applejack and Twilight.
Once they were off, Dusk rested a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Anyways, Twilight, don't you wanna introduce me to the rest of your friends?"
Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but Applejack beat her to it. "Hey, yeah, I can help with that. I've known the girls for a mite longer than Twilight, I'll be happy to show you around!" She muttered something else under her breath. "Pinkie's probably gonna take over after me, though."
Dusk nodded. "That sounds great! Lead the way."
They stepped up to the confections table, with no sign of Pinkie beyond the big cotton-candy tail sticking out from under the table, which Applejack tapped her hoof on. "Hey, Pinkie! This is Dusk Shine, he says he's from another universe. He showed up for..." She looked over. "Why exactly are you here?"
Dusk held his smile. "That's personal business, sorry."
Pinkie waited until Dusk was done talking to reveal herself. She shot up from under the table with a burst of confetti. Dusk hardly reacted. "Suprise! Twilight, you should have told me a stallion-you was coming to Ponyville! We could have had a Welcome to Ponyville party for him and Princess Luna!" She waved a hoof. "This will have to do for now!"
Pinkie reached under the table and revealed a very rapidly made banner, with the words 'Welcome to Ponyville, Dusk Shine' written in purple and blue paint.
Twilight stared at the bright banner for a moment, then scratched the back of her head. "Anyways Pinkie, Applejack and I are introducing Dusk to the girls! Have you seen Rarity and Fluttershy?"
Pinkie's mouth was released as her eyes widened. "You're introducing ponies to each other and you didn't get me first! GASP! TWILIGHT, DUSK, THE PARTY CAN WAIT LET'S MOVE!" She grabbed the hooves of Dusk and Twilight, then dashed out the door at speeds that would make Rainbow whistle.
Applejack was left standing there awkwardly. "Well, can't say I didn't expect it." She grabbed a cup of fruit punch and shuffled off to the side of the room.
On the way to where ever Pinkie was taking them, Twilight had the clarity to ask where they were going. "To Fluttershy's cottage! Fluttershy thought the party was too loud, so she went home, but I didn't want her to be alone when everypony else is partying together so I got Rarity to stay with her because she thought the party was too crazy!"
They stopped in front of the tiny cottage by the woods, taking a moment to appreciate the scenery. Twilight glanced over at Dusk who was, inexplicably, frowning. He was tense, she could see his hooves inconspicuously edging backward. Did he look almost... sad? "Dusk?"
Dusk snapped out of it and smiled once more. "It's a really nice place, isn't it?"
Pinkie nodded. "Yep! It reflects her nature-love like my mane reflects my... mane! Fluttershy likes animals and plants like I like parties and candy! Rarity is super nice too, and super generous! That's kinda obvious now, but it's true even without the Elements! She makes dresses!" Pinkie pronked up to the porch and poked the door.
They heard a faint 'come in' from inside, so Pinkie pressed the handle and opened the door enough to stick her head in. "Pinkie Pie, darling! What are you doing here, did the party end already?"
"No, but something amazing happened!" Pinkie pushed the door all the way open, revealing Twilight and Dusk side by side. "Twilight has a stallion version of her who came to town from another universe!"
Dusk waved at a very wide-eyed Rarity, who quickly figured out which of the twins was which. "How exciting! I see you share a very similar frame to Twilight... though that makes you a little bit skinny for a stallion, doesn't it, Mister..."
"Dusk Shine. It's nice to meet you, Rarity. Twilight and Pinkie wanted me to meet you and the other Elements." He gave Rarity a small bow, to which she blushed. "Not that I don't enjoy your company I must ask... where's Fluttershy?"
Rarity waved her hoof. "Oh, the dear went to bed. I'm sure you know by now, but it's been a rather exhausting day. Night. Whatever time it's supposed to be." They all chuckled.
Dusk let out a sigh. "Well, I won't wake her. I'll swing by another time, I'm actually going to be staying in Ponyville for a while."
"You are!?" Twilight practically shouted.
"You are!" Pinkie squealed.
"You are?" Rarity questioned.
Dusk was slightly taken aback by the chorus of answers. "Uh, yeah. I need a change of scenery; what better place to get away from the Canterlot air than Ponyville?"
"Well, that means that I'm going have to throw you a 'Thanks For Staying in Ponyville Temporarily' party! After your welcome party, of course!"
Dusk nodded. "I'm looking forward to it."