All are at home, as they should be. However, the powers shown off by the Elements has caused their loved ones to be curious.
Applejack sits at a table for a family dinner with her family. Apple Bloom glances over at her during a long moment of silence.
Applejack meets her sister’s eyes, and the innocent curiosity within them digs into Applejack’s soul.
Many people know many things about Captain America. One thing people would never call him is a liar, or one to hold secrets.
Applejack looks at the rest of the family, as they eat. The sense of unease is in the air, and it’s obviously quieter than it should be.
Granny Smith notices Applejack’s internal battle, “Jackie, is something the matter?”
Applejack looks in her eyes, and sees the concern any grandparent would give.
A few miles away, the Time Stone starts to glow brightly. Applejack’s eyes start to glow green as her mind connects with the original mind. Instantly, she knows all of the people at the table, and cares about them a lot more. Now, a voice tells her to tell the truth, no matter the consequences.
She breaks, “There’s something I need to tell you. All of you.”
Granny Smith nods, “I knew there was something.”
Apple Bloom smiles, “Is this about what happened with the bug ponies? And Rarity?”
Applejack nods, “Yes, it does have to do with that.” She looks at the rest of the family as they all put down their utensils. She shakes her head, “To tell the truth, I am not Applejack.”
They all react differently. Big Mac gets ready to get out of his chair, Granny Smith nods, and Apple Bloom shakes her head, “What do you mean? Of course you are you, just look at yourself.”
Granny Smith looks over at Apple Bloom, and signals Big Mac to stand down, “She’s telling the truth. Have you not noticed how different she’s been acting and speaking? Please, continue.”
Applejack nods, “My name is Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America. I am one of the members of the protectors of Earth known as the Avengers. A group of extraordinary individuals put into a team. Me and five others were accidentally put into the bodies of six ponies. Twilight Sparkle’s body was taken by Doctor Steven Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme. Fluttershy’s body is Peter Parker, Spider Man. Rarity’s is Bruce Banner, and his second personality known as Hulk. Rainbow Dash is Thor, God of Thunder. And Pinkie Pie is Loki, God of Trickery.”
Granny Smith nods as she speaks, “Where is Applejack, Rogers?”
Applejack smiles, “She is perfectly fine, I can assure you that much. Her mind has been trapped in the Time Stone, but she has just started to be able to communicate to me. I now have all of her memories as well.”
Granny Smith smiles, “And how did this happen?”
Applejack loses her smile, “We were fighting one by the name of Thanos, who wanted to collect six powerful artifacts known as Infinity Stones and destroy half the universe in a single snap. At the same time on this world, Discord the Spirit of Chaos was released and dodged the Element’s blast. He planned to send the Element’s back in time, and put them into our bodies on Earth. Both snapped at the same time, and their wishes combined into one. Time was turned back, and we were placed into the bodies of the Elements as they were thrown into the Stones themselves.”
Granny Smith listens closely, “So, Applejack is in the future?”
Applejack shrugs, “Kinda. She was in the future, but the snaps turned back time. Applejack is in the present, but she has memories of the future. With the exception of new events that are occurring.”
———
Rarity takes a sip of coffee after explaining everything to Sweetie Belle, “So, future Rarity was thrown to the past, and is currently talking to you. And the whole event with the changelings did not happen for her?” Rarity nods, and Sweetie continues, “So, she lost against Discord, and now someone new is coming along that is apparently Discord’s brother and is more powerful than the one who beat a team of superheroes working together?
Rairty takes another sip, and nods, “From what Friten has told us, yes.”
Sweetie Belle takes a sip of her own coffee, “Well, I have a solution. More than one solutions that can all work together.”
Rarity puts down her cup, “Yes?”
Sweetie smiles, “Well, your powers combined with Rarity’s grace make you at least two times better than before. If the others all manage to learn from their other minds, then they will also be greater. A team of six of you can, all together, be worth one Thanos.”
Rarity slowly nods, “Okay, that is true. But he is beyond Thanos, apparently.”
Sweetie Belle nods, “Yes, that is where other solutions come in. Perhaps you could combine the powers of those Stones and the Elements together into a stronger weapon to take out Ordirus!”
Rarity smiles, “You know, I like your thinking. The only problem is to keep him occupied long enough to use them.”
Sweetie Belle knocks her hoof on the table, “Third solution, that’s where it comes in. The math is simple for this one. More heroes means more to fight against him!”
Rairty loses her smile, “What are you saying?”
Sweetie Belle looks at her with wide eyes, “You need a second Hulk. One Hulk can take out a single changeling King after reaching a new level of rage, yes, but that is not enough. A second Hulk is the power of two changeling Kings.” Sweetie Belle smiles, “The math proves itself. Two rooks are better than one. Two Hulks are better than one.” She takes a sip of her coffee, and looks Rairty in the eyes, “I want to become the second Hulk.”
Rarity immediately shakes her head, “No! You do not know what the Hulk does to you!” Her veins start to glow green, and she quickly calms down, “You become a monster. People fear you, you fear you. Because at any moment, a monster can come out and crush everything.”
Sweetie Belle waits in the second of silence, and shakes her head, “You are wrong. Look at yourself, Rarity, you are not a monster! Hulk is not a monster.”
Rarity flinches at that last line, “He crushed a head in between his fingers.”
Sweetie Belle continues on, “To protect somepony he loved. To protect me from death! Anypony else would do the exact same in Hulk’s situation! Think of it from his perspective, think of what he really is. I saw him up there, Banner. He was gentle around me. He took off a gag with his giant fists, and didn’t cause a single ounce of pain. He only attacked the King and changelings because they tried to harm me. He protected me, as any royal guard would.” Sweetie Belle smiles, “If Hulk is a monster, then I want to have a monster in me as well.”
Rarity looks into her eyes, “You do not know.”
Sweetie Belle looks right back, “Then allow me to know. You can either stand beside me as we fight Ordirus in Hulk forms, or watch helplessly as he kills me. If he wants to destroy the universe, then he must be stopped. I am part of the universe as well, remember? So I can either stand up with the power to possibly stop him, or die curled up next to you as we doom the universe.”
Rarity pauses, and looks down.
Sweetie Belle smiles, “I accept the burden, Banner, Rairty. I know you want to protect me, but I have to protect myself as well. Call it foalish, but I want to be one of the heroes.”
Rarity thinks for a minute, then looking up, “We need a lot of gamma radiation.”
———
Spike looks at Twilight, “So, do you have any sort of side-kick?”
She shakes her head, “No, this isn’t a comic book. The only one I fight beside is my friend, Wong.”
Spike smiles, “Well, maybe I could be your side-kick?”
Twilight looks over at him, “Yeah, no.”
Spike pouts, “Come on, think about it. Doctor Strange and Mister Spike, dynamic duo!”
Twilight laughs, “Oh, that sounds like a fanfiction from somebody that doesn’t know anything about me.”
Spike smiles, “You need more people to beat Ordirus.”
Twilight looks over at him, “And why should I choose you?”
Spike nods, “I can breathe fire. And I have hands.”
Twilight narrows her eyes, “Hmm... it all depends on if you can do magic or not.”
Spike smiles, “Is that a yes?”
Twilight looks away, “That was a maybe disguised to sound like a yes. If you want to learn, then come on, let’s teach.”
———
Fluttershy listens to Angel chittering, “You know, that is not that bad of an idea. But radioactive spiders don’t just appear everywhere.”
She listens once more, “In the Everfree? Well, I can’t deny you are correct. Okay, yes, we can see if they have any radioactive spiders.”
———
Rainbow and Scootaloo hang in her house. Rainbow looks at Scootaloo, “You want to learn how to become a God of Thunder? I was fine with letting you stay at my house and adopting you, but I actually can’t teach you that. In order to do so, you must pick up my weapon, and only those who are worthy can.”
Scootaloo hops up, and walks over to Stormbreaker, “Just pick this axe up?”
Rainbow nods, “Yes. But don’t be mad when you can’t, even Captain America-“
Scootaloo picks up the axe, and smiles, “Hey, it’s not even that heavy.”
Rainbow looks at her in awe, her jaw dropped. She quickly recovers, “Welcome to being God of Thunder.”
———
Pinkie Pie sits across from Gummy, “So, Gummy, you want to be the apprentice to the God of Trickery? Well, tell me, what do you bring to the table that makes you worthy?”
Gummy stands there, looking Pinkie right in the eye. His tongue slips out, and he licks his eye.
Pinkie smiles, “You’re accepted.”