Twilight opened her eyes slowly and gasped in awe. They were standing where her castle was... Or at least where it would have been if it was still here. They were back in Ponyville, no doubt about it. But instead of the bright blue sky, the sky was red with dark purple swirls scattered throughout. The moon was blood red and the sun was blue, both up at the same time. Stars in the sky were black and few in numbers. Twilight looked away from the sky and at the town. It certainly wasn't abandoned, but almost nopony was outside, and the ones that were out were dragging their hooves and hanging their heads in sadness, but creepy smiles plastered on their faces. The buildings were all the same color, but darker shades, a couple buildings looked destroyed forcefully. Twilight took a couple steps back and stuttered. "I-I don't understand. Why is everything so... Dark..?"
"Twilight you're gonna wanna see this!" Twilight turned at the sound of Applejack's voice and ran to her and the mirror. "Look!" AJ put her hoof on the mirror and pushed. "The portal is closed!"
Twilight felt her heart pound. There was something wrong about this place and now they were trapped here. Pinkie Pie made a whining sound, and Twilight was so unused to hearing something like that from Pinkie that she jumped in shock. She turned wondering what was wrong then covered her mouth, seeing what made Pinkie whine. Sugarcube Corner was torn apart, and the parts that weren't looked like they'd been burned. It was as if it was set on fire and most of it collapsed. Twilight put a hoof on Pinkies shoulder. "I... I suddenly don't wanna party anymore..." Pinkie sniffled.
Rainbow Dash suddenly landed next to Twilight, Fluttershy not far behind. The usually quiet pony was sobbing and Rainbow Dash had a hoof around her. "Guys, something is really messed up here. Applejacks farm is in ruins and the sign says 'Sweet Orange Orchards!' And Fluttershy's cottage is... It's filled with animal bones..."
Twilight felt her heart twist and went to say something but heard a familiar cry. She turned her head to see Rarity outside of what used to be her boutique. It was as if it had been sliced in half, and everything inside was smashed, the clothes in shreds.
Twilight looked around at her friends, all of them clearly in emotional pain, and took a deep breath, teleporting them all around her. "Guys, I know this is all a lot to take in, but this isn't out home! The castle isn't here and the sun isn't blue back home. The farms sign should be evidence enough that this isn't where we come from. It's another world. Back home, everything is still fine."
This seemed to calm her friends a bit and Twilight felt a rush of relief. "Alright Everypony, this alternate world seems very dark and strange so I think we should lay low."
"Indeed you should!" Twilight squeaked in surprise and turned around to see who spoke. There stood a familiar gray pegasus with crossed eyes. Except her hair and eyes were not golden, but orange, and she wore glasses, making her crossed eyes look a little bigger. Her cutie mark were three lightbulbs.
Rainbow Dash looked confused. "Derpy? Is that you?"
Derpy frowned. "Derpy? Is that my name where you come from? How fascinating. But yes AND no. I am not Derpy. More accurately I'm this worlds counterpart to your mistaken mare. My name is Smarty Hooves. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances, but you need to hide immediately. Follow me."
Rainbow Dash flew in front of her with an accusing expression. "You can't be serious! How in Celestia's name do we know that this isn't a trap?" Smarty flinched as soon as the name 'Celestia' was spoken but kept her composure. "Would you rather stay here and get attacked, arrested, or killed?"
"Arrested?! What in the Sam hill for?!" Sputtered Applejack.
Fluttershy's eyes widened. "K-killed?!"
Twilight felt her alarm rising but tried to hide it for her friends. "I say we follow her. She's the only lead we've got."
Rarity nodded. "Yes, the faster we figure things out the better. I want to go home."
Pinkie smiled wide. "Yeah, then we can have a huge par-tay!"
Twilight noticed something in Pinkies eyes. It seemed Twi wasn't the only one trying to hide how she felt. Smarty straightened her glasses. "The longer you're out in the open, the more danger you're in. Now come along."
The girls silently followed the alternate mare they knew. When they reached their destination, Twilight felt a tear go down her cheek. It seemed there was one good thing about this place. "Golden Oak Library?"
Smarty nodded. "Yes. I'm the owner, actually." She opened the door and stepped aside. "Come in, wipe your hooves."
Twilight's heart twisted a little as she looked around inside. It was exactly as she remembered it. "It's so beautiful..."
Smarty smiled a bit. "Why, thank you! I try to keep it well maintained despite the state the rest of Equestria is in. This place is special to me and-" she stopped noticing the emotion in Twilights face. "Oh dear. Is something wrong?"
Fluttershy spoke quietly but just loud enough for Smarty to hear. "When she moved to our Ponyville, she lived in this library. There was a battle and we saved Equestria, but the library was destroyed in the fight. It really hurt her."
Smarty's eyes softened a bit as she looked at Twilight. "That must have been very hard. I'd say to stick around and enjoy the familiarity, but unfortunately we have no time for pleasantries. You six are in grave danger."
Twilight looked even more confused than before. "But why? What's going on? Why would we be in trouble?"
Smarty sighed. "If I overheard you correctly, then I am at the conclusion that you're from an alternative world or reality where Equestria is in a much better state of being. While I'm happy a world as such exists, if I'm recognizing you as the ponies I think you are, you're in deep peril."
Applejack adjusted her hat, frowning. "Why? Is the 'us' that live here important?"
Smarty looked a little uncomfortable. "To make a long story short, yes, that is the case. And if you are found by the tyrants of this world, you'll either be thrown into prison with only enough food not to die, be tortured, or just be destroyed on the spot."
Rarity shuddered. "This is very, er... Helpful information. But it doesn't provide much insight to this world. Where are the other us? Who are these tyrants you spoke of? Why is the fashion here so horrible?"
Smarty Hooves raised an eyebrow at the last question but ignored it. "Listen, I'd love to give you the answers, but I'm not a huge part of these things other than giving shelter to those who wander, needing help. I think the Defenders would better explain this all."
Fluttershy tilted her head. "The Defenders? Who are they?"
Smarty chuckled a little. "The most amazing ponies I've ever met, that's who. They defend as many ponies as they can from our rulers. And even though they're a small group, they're doing their best to stand up."
Rainbow Dash elbowed Pinkie. "Ha, who does that sound like to you?"
Twilight looked thoughtful. "And where can we find these... Defenders?"
Smarty tapped the side of her glasses, thinking. "If I remember correctly... Then the last I heard, they were sneaking around Canterlot, surveying the area and trying to find a way in. But I wouldn't suggest going there unless you're extremely quiet. So I wouldn't bring the pink one."
Pinkie Pie, who was about to fire a party cannon that she seemed to pull from nowhere, stopped dead and chuckled, trying to hide the cannon behind her. "Hey, I just wanted to liven things up!"
Twilight laughed a little at Pinkie, but it didn'tlast. She looked back at Smarty. "Alright, I hate to do this, but until we know more, we should only take the quietest of us to Canterlot. Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, you two stay here."
Rainbow Dash looked annoyed. "Hey! I'm sooooo not loud!" She then realized she'd shouted and looked more annoyed. "Ugh, fine."
Twilight looked at Rarity. "You keep an eye on them while we're gone." Rarity nodded and Twi turned to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, I know how you get scared sometimes, but the more silent we are, the better. Are you okay to come with?"
Fluttershy gulped and took a deep breath. "I... I think so, yes. Anything to leave this place."
Twilight looked to Applejack. "Applejack will you-?" Before she could finish, Applejack drew an invisible 'X' over her mouth with her hoof, giving a wink. Twilight nodded, and looked out the window. For the first time, she saw the Canterlot of this world in the distance. The colorful castle and buildings now black, grey, and red with dark clouds above the city. "Good. Alright Everypony. Let's go to Canterlot."