(Mis)taken Identity

by MythrilMoth


Invasion!

Starlight filtered into a library made of colorful crystal. The only other source of light in the room was the softly glowing portal and the steady shimmer of magic feeding from the journal.

The portal's glow intensified as it spat out five ponies, clad in black catsuits and safety goggles, who tumbled across the floor and crashed into a wooden table.

"Ow!"

"Oh my goodness..."

"Whoa, that was a heck of a trip..."

Rarity let out a piercing scream. "AAAAAAHHHHHHH!! I'M A HORSE!!"

"Uhh...we're all horses, Rarity," Rainbow Dash said.

"Ponies," Fluttershy corrected softly.

"But...but...hooves...no...it's too much!" Rarity darted for the portal...only to run right into Applejack, who stood so solid and unyielding that Rarity bounced off and rolled right into Pinkie, who was sent careening into a bookshelf. A hailstorm of books buried her.

"Simmer down, Rarity," Applejack said. "We all wanted t' see Equestria, right?"

"Well...yes..."

"When Twi comes t' see us, she turns inta one of us, right?"

"This is true..."

"And she has to give up all her awesome pony magic to be a teenager in our world," Rainbow said.

"That's...I hadn't considered that..."

"So if Twilight can make that big a sacrifice to see us, Ah think we can handle havin' hooves an' what-not fer a little bit."

Rarity sighed. "Oh, very well." She frowned down at her spandex-clad hooves. "It's just...I'm not sure how to..."

"Oh, it's easy!" Pinkie said, digging herself out of the pile of books. She bounced around on her hooves. "You just do this!" She did a cartwheel. "And this." She bounced up and down on her rear legs, waving her front hooves in the air. "And thiiiis..."

"Umm...aren't we making...an awful lot of noise...?"

The room was suddenly flooded with light.

Two royal purple unicorn stallions in dark silver armor walked in, horns glowing. "Alright, what's the—INTRUDERS!"

"Eep!"

"Whoa."

"Waaaait!"

The unicorns' horns flared, and the five humans-turned-ponies found themselves bound in magical fetters and floating through the air.

"Wake the princess," one of the unicorns said to the other. "I'll carry them to the throne room."

The second stallion saluted and marched away briskly. The first one scowled at his prisoners, then marched off in a different direction. They floated after him, struggling helplessly against their bonds.

"Still think coming here was a good idea?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh my...we're in a lot of trouble, aren't we?" Fluttershy squeaked.

"Relaaaax! Twilight'll understand!"

* * * * *

The door to Princess Twilight's royal bedroom opened. "Your Highness!"

Princess Twilight awoke, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Whaa...?"

"Intruders in the castle!"

Princess Twilight frowned, sitting up in bed. "You mean Sunset Shimmer and...that other Twilight Sparkle? They're not intruders, they're—"

"Not them, Your Highness," the guard in the door said. "We found five ninja ponies in the library. They're being escorted to the throne room."

Princess Twilight frowned. "Ninja ponies?" She teleported out of bed. "I'll be right there. I'm going to wake up Sunset Shimmer first and bring her with me."

"Very good, Your Highness." The guard saluted and left.

"Ninja ponies..." Princess Twilight shook her head. "What now?" With a sigh, she floated her crown onto her head, magicked her golden slippers onto her hooves, then teleported to Sunset's bedroom.

Sunset was snoring gently. Princess Twilight smiled; she gently shook Sunset's shoulder. "Sunset Shimmer..."

"Zzzzz....hmm..."

"Sunset Shimmer. Wake up."

Sunset stirred, rolling over. Sleepy teal eyes opened, regarding her. "Hm? Twilight? Whazzuh..."

"Intruders in the castle," Princess Twilight said. "The Dusk Guard apprehended them in the library. I'm sorry to wake you, but I might need your help."

Sunset's eyes snapped sharply open, and she was instantly on her hooves. "Right!" She frowned. "Umm...which way is...?"

"Just attempt a teleport. Any teleport." Princess Twilight smiled. "I've set up protection spells that take anypony who tries to teleport inside the castle that isn't a Princess straight to the throne room."

"Huh. That's...crazy prepared," Sunset said. "Okay..." Her horn glowed, and she disappeared. Princess Twilight vanished a moment later...

...and reappeared in the throne room, wings spread wide. Sunset Shimmer stood four feet away, blinking dazedly. In the center of the room, two guards flanked five fettered mares in black catsuits and goggles. "Alright, what's the meaning of this?" Princess Twilight demanded. "Who are you, and what were you doing in my library at this time of night?" Her horn glowed, and the hoods of the catsuits fell away, revealing...

Princess Twilight's eyes widened. "Rainbow Dash? Pinkie Pie? Rarity? Applejack? Fluttershy?! What...what were you all doing sneaking around...dressed like ninja ponies?"

Sunset's brow furrowed...and she facehoofed, letting out a tired groan. "You idiots followed me through the portal, didn't you?" she said flatly.

"Through the...?" Princess Twilight looked from Sunset to the five ponies. She frowned. "You're...the Rainbooms? From the other world?"

"Aheh...yeah," Rainbow Dash said.

"Surprise," Pinkie Pie said lamely.

"We're sorry," Fluttershy said, trembling.

"Ahem. Could you...perhaps...?" Rarity asked, gesturing at her restraints.

"Oh! Yes, of course." Princess Twilight turned to the guard who had fettered them. "Release them at once. They're my guests."

"Of course, Your Highness." The fetters vanished immediately.

"Princess?" the second guard asked. "What's...going on here?"

The doors to the throne room burst open violently, and five mares charged in. "Twilight!"

"What's goin' on, sugarcube?"

"We all felt a sudden urge to come running heeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE!"

"Whoa, what th' hay?!"

"Oh my goodness! Is it...is it Changelings?"

Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity faced off against Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity.

"Whoa nelly."

"Oh my..."

"Aaaah! Too many Pinkie Pies! Again!"

Princess Twilight groaned. "Will you all be QUIET?!"

Ten ponies snapped to attention and sat down, facing her.

Princess Twilight groaned, massaging her face with a hoof. "Alright...this is ridiculous," she said. "Rainbooms, hold perfectly still."

"Huh? What?"

Princess Twilight's horn began to glow. The magenta glimmer of her magic intensified to a blinding pinkish-white light.

"Twilight? What are you...?"

With a tremendously bright flash and a loud chiming sound, five ponies in catsuits were replaced by five human girls in catsuits.

Princess Twilight's horn dimmed, and she panted. "There. That's better."

Sunset's eyes widened. "Whoa. How did you—?"

"A spell I learned a while back. I just modified it a little."

"Awww!" Human Pinkie moaned. "I was having fun being a pony!"

"Well I certainly wasn't," Human Rarity said. "Hooves are...strange."

"An' Ah like ridin' horses, not bein' one," Human Applejack said. "Uhh...no offense..."

"The being one part or the riding one part?" Sunset asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Uhh...Twilight?" Pony Rainbow Dash asked, raising a hoof. "What's goin' on here?"

"Girls, these are my Canterlot High friends," Princess Twilight said. "Canterlot High friends, these are your counterparts from here in Ponyville."

"'Sup?" Human Rainbow Dash asked nonchalantly.

"So...what're they doin' here?" Pony Applejack asked.

"We uhh...wanted t' see Equestria," Human Applejack said. "Didn't y'all ever wanna see our world?"

"We did, but Twi wouldn't let us," Pony Applejack said. "Somethin' about there bein' two of each of us in th' same place at th' same time bein' too confusin'."

"She was right," Pony Rarity said. "This is...well...bizarre!"

Human Pinkie suddenly rushed up to Sunset, kneeling down and examining her from every angle. "Wowee!" she exclaimed. "Sunset Shimmer, is that really you?"

"Yes, Pinkie," Sunset said, rolling her eyes. She let out a loud, surprised yelp as Human Pinkie suddenly hopped on her back with a loud whoop of delight. "What the—?!"

"Hi-ho, Sunset! Get along, little pony!" Human Pinkie cried, giggling.

"You have three seconds to get off of me," Sunset hissed, gritting her teeth.

"Oh come on! Can't you give your BFF a pony ride?"

Sunset bucked Human Pinkie across the room. She landed right in Pony Pinkie's throne. "Ouchies..."

Pony Pinkie giggled. "Come on, me! I'll give you a pony ride!"

"Yay! I knew I could count on me!" Human Pinkie sprang to her feet and bounded over to Pony Pinkie, straddling her. Pony Pinkie reared with a playful whinny and began galloping around the throne room.

"This...is really embarrassing," Sunset said, facehoofing. "So! Twilight! You just...left the portal open!"

Princess Twilight rubbed the back of her head with a hoof and gave Sunset a sheepish smile. "Oops?" She then looked to the two members of the Dusk Guard who were present. "You are dismissed, good sirs," she said.

The Guards saluted and withdrew, casting occasional bemused glances at the two Pinkies.

Human Rarity watched them go with a raised eyebrow. "Well well...your very own personal bodyguards, eh?" She looked around the throne room. "And such a majestic castle! Why, you've done rather well for yourself, darling! I find myself...rather jealous!"

"Oh, you should see my suite, darling," Pony Rarity said. "I spend at least four nights of the week here at the castle...I was at the boutique tonight because I have an order that needs attention, and it is quite a walk back..."

Human Rarity looked down her nose at her counterpart. "Forgive me, but given what I've seen of your taste in dresses, I question your sense of interior decor..."

Pony Rarity gasped. "What! Well! I...!"

"Uh-oh," Human Rainbow said. "That's gonna get ugly."

"Yeah," Pony Rainbow agreed. "So uhh...you're supposed to be me, huh?" She looked Human Rainbow up and down. "Yeah, okay, but I bet I'm at least twenty percent cooler than you."

"Hah! You wish!" Human Rainbow said. "I bet you can't even shred on guitar with those hooves!"

Pony Rainbow frowned. "Dang it! You got me on that one." She smirked. "But it's not because of my hooves, it's just because I never learned guitar." She spread her wings. "Too busy being awesome in the air and inspiring others to write epic rock music in my honor."

"That was fun! Now it's my turn!"

"Okay!"

Human Pinkie got down on all fours, while Pony Pinkie climbed up on her back. They started scampering around the throne room, laughing all the way.

Human Fluttershy sat down next to her counterpart. "Can I...can I brush your mane?"

"Well..." Pony Fluttershy looked shyly up at her. "I...guess so?"

Human Applejack leaned against the wall, staring at the chaos with a flat, bemused expression. "Ah dunno about you, but Ah ain't never seen nothin' crazier than this."

"Oh, Ah've seen crazier stuff," Pony Applejack said, "but this here sure is up there."

Human Applejack studied her counterpart, tilting her head. "So...apples?"

"Apples."

"Apple cobbler?"

"Apple brown betties!"

"Apple pie!"

"Apple fritters!"

"Apple butter?"

"Apple jam."

"Candy apples?"

"Heh, you know it, pard."

Pinkie and Pinkie looked at one another. "Wanna ride Rainbow Dash?"

"Totally!"

The two Pinkies leapt at the two Rainbows, knocking them to the ground. "RAINBOW RIDE!"

"AAAHHHH!! GET OFF!!"

"PINKIE PIE, WHAT THE HAY?!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"

Every pony and human stopped and turned to face the stairs, where a cranky-looking lavender unicorn with a tangled, messy violet mane and black-framed glasses stood, glaring at them archly.

"Oh snap," Pony Rainbow said.

"Who's that?" Human Rainbow asked.

"Why, that looks like..." Pony Rarity turned to look at Princess Twilight. "That looks like you, darling!"

Sunset groaned. "Girls? Say hello to Twilight Sparkle. The Twilight Sparkle from our world."

Twilight adjusted her glasses. "So...the Rainbooms are here. Good. I've been looking forward to speaking with each of you."