//------------------------------// // Rainbooms About Town - Part 2 // Story: Waking Nightmares: Magic Lives // by KnightMysterio //------------------------------// Waking Nightmares – Magic Lives An Equestria Girls fanfiction by Jonathan “KnightMysterio” Spires Chapter 3: Rainbooms About Town – Part 2 All characters not original copyrighted to their original owners, used for non-profit amusement reasons. All original characters copyrighted to me. Comments, compliments, and constructive criticism are appreciated and encouraged. Flames will be ignored. Events of this section of the story take place two years before the start of Waking Nightmares. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Sugarcube Corner... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Mr. Cake and Mrs. Cake, both clutching their infant children tightly, watched as two pink cyclones swirled about the room. A small pile of bits, payment for the ingredients used, lay near the cash register, as cakes and punch seemed to will themselves into existence in the wake of the two Pinkies' passing. “Sugar lump?” Mr. Cake asked. “What's happening?” “I... I don't know, muffin tin,” Mrs. Cake said, shivering. “But I'm so very, very frightened...” The two Pinkies worked on, unheeding of the fear of their parental figures. With almost comical screeching sound, the two pink cyclones stopped, revealing two party ponies, identical save for the fact that one was wearing a shirt and had a different cutie mark. The native, naked Pinkie Pie looked over the gathered items thoughtfully. “Let's see...” she said. “We have cake, punch, streamers, homemade party favors...” “I'm still amazed that you could do all that with hooves,” Pinkamena said. “So cool!” Pinkie Pie giggled. “It's all in the wrists,” she said. “Baloney!” Pinkamena teased. “I've tried it and my wrists are only as bendy as my other body's are!” “No bologna here,” Pinkie Pie teased right back, “We're all vegetarians! Pony stomachs can't handle that much meat.” Pinkamena giggled. “I've noticed. Poor Dashie will have a heart attack when she realizes she's going to have to go on the same diet our Flutters is on back home.” Pinkie Pie looked interested. “Oh? Your Fluttershy eats like us?” Pinkamena chuckled. “She doesn't eat hay and grass, those are horsey foods, but she does eat just fruits and vegetables and cheese and stuff. I tried it once, but then I discovered the bacon donut. Mmmm, bacon donut,” she cooed, licking her lips. Pinkie Pie chuckled. “I always wondered about how bacon tastes. Never got the nerve to do it, though. Plus, there's laws preventing anything that can talk from being eaten, so that limits the options even further.” Pinkamena blinked. “Wait, cows and pigs and such can talk here?” she said, grinning widely. Pinkie Pie shook her head, chuckling. “Not all of them. Some learn how. Around here, only Applejack's cows can. And really, I've only heard a couple of them actually talking,” she looked thoughtful for a minute and shrugged. Pinkamena bounced around. “Wow, that's neat. I bet Flutters will love to meet some talking animals!” “Heheh. I can just imagine! 'Omigosh, your cows can talk? That's so wonderful!'” Pinkie Pie said. “'Nature is so fascinating,'” both Pinkie Pie and Pinkamena said. They then stared at each other for a moment and collapsed in a fit of giggles. “Um... Pinkie dear...” Mrs. Cake said. “Did you go to the Mirror Pool again? Princess Twilight said that you shouldn't...” Pinkie Pie shook her head. “Nope! Pinkamena here is me from an alternate reality! She's a human that got turned into a pony on the way over here!” “Yep yep!” Pinkamena said. “And let me just say that the twins are just as adorable here as they are in my world!” Mrs. Cake blushed, relaxing a little, the twins gurgling happily. “T-Thank you...” she said. (Although she had no idea what a 'hyu-man' was.) Pinkamena giggled. “We made friends with Twilight when she visited our world! We just wanted to visit for a couple days, see what her home was like!” Pinkie Pie nodded. “But no visit is complete without a PARTY!” she cheered. “So since we're both the most awesomest pony planners in our world...” “Well...” Pinkamena amended. “There was that one time with Cheese Sandwich...” Pinkie Pie chuckled sardonically. “So you had to go through him upstaging you too, huh?” Pinkamena giggled. “Yeah. But we made friends by the end of it!” Pinkie Pie giggled as well. “Same here!” she said. “Say, I wonder if there are other alternate realities out there with other versions of us!” Pinkamena smiled. “Oooh! Infinite Pinkies!” “Infinite... Pinkie Pies...” Mr. Cake moaned, fainting, Pound flying out of his father's grip before he fell. The Pinkies stared at him a long moment before Pinkamena giggled. “That's another thing my Mr. Cake has in common with yours,” she said. Despite herself, Mrs. Cake giggled, the two Pinkies going back to preparing their party. She decided to just do the safe thing and stay out of their way, Pumpkin and Pound poking their unconscious father with wooden spoons. “Well...” Mrs. Cake said, mainly to herself as she watched the two Pinkies work. “If nothing else, the next couple of days are going to be interesting...” /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Carousel Boutique... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ “...Oh my,” Rares said, grinning as she looked over the store. “This... this is simply FABULOUS!” Rarity grinned. “I take it your Carousel Boutique looks a bit different?” “It has a carousel motif, darling, but to actually make it look like a carousel?” Rares said, tittering merrily. “I adore it! I've been suggesting a redesign ever since I started working there.” Rarity smiled. “It certainly stands out, doesn't it?” she said, looking it over proudly. “I wasn't the original designer, but I have done a lot of refurbishing to make it the palace of utter fabulosity it is today.” “It's fantastic, darling!” Rares said, smiling. “I can't wait to see your designs!” Rarity giggled. “Then let's step inside, darling,” she said, opening the door, pausing briefly. “...How many times have we called each other darling in the past few minutes?” she asked, looking sheepish. “Oh thank God,” Rares said, laughing. “I thought I was the only one who noticed it.” Rarity tittered. “We do seem to be fond of that word,” she said. “Well, we can't help it if we find everything...” Rares started. “...'just darling,'” Rarity and Rares said together, giggling. “Oh dear, that was awful,” Rarity said, smiling warmly. Rares giggled. “Well, the Rainbow Dashes don't hold a monopoly on bad jokes. We have to get it in sometimes ourselves.” “Indeed,” Rarity said as she went inside. “Remember to wipe your hooves off on the mat before entering, and welcome to my Carousel Boutique, where everything is 'chiq, unique, and magnifique.” Rares giggled. She used that phrase a lot herself. She sauntered inside, smiling at the sight of the store interior that was just as elegant as the exterior. Elegant dresses and even a few suits mounted on ponyquins, all displayed magnificently and in eye-catching fashion. “Absolutely exquisite, darling!” Rares said, admiring the elegantly flowing dresses, several mounted with gemstones in eye-catching places. “And these gems... why, getting these must have set you back a fortune!” “Hmmm, not really,” Rarity said. “I have a good deal going with the local Diamond Dogs. They resent me for it, of course, the greedy brutes, but they know better than to turn down a guaranteed profit. Especially since not only is my voice apparently unbearable for them, but I can also whup all their furry posteriers as well.” She chuckled. Rares blinked. “I don't understand,” she said. “Gems like these are fairly commonplace. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires... Elegant yes, but there's a mine just outside of town that has them in such abundance, I can simply scoop them out of the ground. Rare gems, like sun rubies, or sky crystals... those I wouldn't waste on decorating such finery,” Rarity said, almost casually opening a nearby chest and revealing a huge pile of gems. If Rares jaw could have dropped any further, it would have been on the floor. Rarity giggled, and gently closed her mouth. “Standing there with your jaw gaping like that is unladylike, darling.” “Gems... so many... Bwuhh...” Rares stammered. She had heard it earlier from Twilight, yes, but it hadn't really registered in her mind that gems, beautiful, wonderful gems, could be so easily found. “I'm guessing they're not as commonplace on your world?” Rarity asked politely. “Rarity, darling, there are DIAMONDS on this dress!” Rares almost shrieked. “And... is that silk?! In our world this dress would cost millions of dollars!” Rarity looked thoughtful. “Well... I'm not sure what the bit/dollar exchange rate would be, but here, I can get a solid five hundred bits for this dress. And this is one of my more understated pieces.” “Understated,” Rares said, incredulous. Rarity nodded. “Come! I shall show you what I've been working on for Sapphire Shores,” she said. She then paused, and added, “Ah... Sapphire Shores is a famous pop star in our world.” Rares chuckled. “That I can believe. In our world she's the choir director at the local college and is a complete and utter ham. Her being a pop star? Not that much of a stretch. We'll probably all be attending the college she works at soon enough, once we graduate.” She paused. “Goodness, that's almost here... Time flies...” “Indeed it does,” Rarity said softly as she opened a curtain into a hidden area. It was messier here, threads, needles, and swatches of fabric strewn around haphazardly. Rares just smiled, as her own 'work area' was in a similar state. In there was an elegantly feathered gown and cloak, a dolphin-shaped crest on the neck piece. The headdress was designed to accentuate the features of the mare wearing it. Rares could easily imagine how elegant the wearer would look. The gems mounted in the dress were designed to perfectly catch the light, so that every movement would be showy and flashy. “Incredible!” Rares said, grinning. “Absolutely fabulous!” Rarity beamed. “I'm glad you approve, darling,” she said. Rares gave Rarity an excited look. “Now what about your casual line?” she said. “I'd love to see that.” Rarity blinked, taken aback. “Casual line?” she asked. Rares nodded. “You know, the clothes you make for ponies around town,” she said, tugging on her purple vest and light blue shirt. “Like what I'm wearing. Designed everything myself.” Rarity fidgeted nervously. “Err...” she said. “Technically... you've already seen my casual line.” She gestured absently to the diamond-studded dress in the display hall. Rares blinked. “What, that!?” she said. “Dear me, Rarity. Forgive my blunt honesty, darling, but that's something for rich showy people... err... ponies... gah, you know what I mean! That sort of thing is for rich, well-to-do ponies with money to burn. What about the locals? What do you make for them?” Rarity looked sheepish. Rares sighed, suddenly understanding. “Social climber? Wanting the big city life?” she asked. Rarity nodded. Rares shook her head, chuckling. “Rarity, darling, you have to play to your customer base. You make your home and business here, so you have to consider your clientele.” As she spoke, the bell to the front door rang. The two unicorns traded mischievous looks, and went to the door, where Blossomforth was waiting. Rarity opened the door telekinetically, letting her in. “Welcome to” Rarity started. “Carousel Boutique!” Rares finished. “Where everything is” Rarity started. “Chiq,” Rares added. “Unique,” Rarity added. “And mangifique!” they finished in unison. Blossomforth stared at them, disturbed. “...Don't do that again,” she said. The two unicorns giggled. “My apologies, darling,” Rarity said. “We couldn't resist. Now. How can we help you become fabulous today?” Blossomforth was still a little unnerved by the sight of two Raritys with two different cutie marks, but she managed to hide it well. “I was just thinking about getting something nice for myself. Y'know, something... uh... hmmm.” She stared at Rares, looking over her vest and shirt. Rares frowned. “Something wrong?” “That...” Blossomforth said, “...is a VERY nice vest.” Rares grinned, Rarity going wide-eyed. “Really? You think so?” Rares asked. Blossomforth nodded, smiling. “I've actually been wanting something like that for a while,” she said. “Something casual that will look good on me, something I could wear to work. You got that in my mane colors?” Rarity stepped in, sensing a sale. “Not on hoof, but I can have it ready by this evening,” she said. “Fifty bits all right?” Blossomforth beamed. “That's perfect! And it'll leave me more than enough to take Thunderlane out to dinner tomorrow!” she said, turning to leave. “This is awesome. Lemme go get the payment now. I'm gonna show it off to everyone and tell them I got it from your shop.” The bell jingled as Blossomforth left to retrieve payment, leaving Rarity rather stunned. Rares giggled, nudging her. “Told you. Sometimes casual works. Sometimes you don't HAVE to go fancy to make the sale...” “Ponies around town do tend to favor my simpler pieces...” Rarity said, mainly to herself. “Perhaps there is an art in simplicity I have been neglecting...” Rares grinned, idly straightening her vest with one hoof. It was then that Rarity noticed the golden band around one hoof. “What is that?” she asked, smiling. She had an idea, but she needed to hear it... Rares looked at her hoof, and grinned. “Oh good, it carried over to this form...” she said. “It's... well, it's a wedding band.” Rarity let out a cheer. “Wahaha!” she crowed. “Oh darling, how wonderful for you! Who's the lucky stallion?” Rares blushed. “Mare, actually... Applejack, my Applejack, and I have agreed to get married once we graduate from high school. We have both our family's approval and...” she smiled wistfully. “After Sunset Shimmer was stopped, we decided that we want to spend the rest of our lives together...” Rarity blinked. “Applejack? Really?” Rares nodded. “Why do you ask?” /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Sweet Apple Acres... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ “Well...” Applejack said, blushing a little as she and AJ stopped to rest underneath a tree. “Rarity and ah used to date. Didn't work out, though. Personality clash. We did have some good times though, and...” She blushed, and added. “Can't really complain about the sex, either. She's... surprisingly athletic...” AJ paused for a moment and shook her head. “Sorry. Was tryin' to imagine lesbian pony sex there for a minute,” she said, both she and Applejack chuckling. “Well, shoot,” AJ said, chortling. “Why not give it another go? Rares and ah are happy as pigs in a waller!” She blushed. “Heh. Well, maybe not a waller. Mah diamond ain't th'type to go rollin' around in mud. Dang if she don't look good in overalls and a straw hat, though...” “That ah'll agree with,” Applejack said with a blush, thinking of the Trenderhoof fiasco. “Heh. Well, it ain't nothin,' really,” AJ said. “What works fer us may not work fer you and yer Rarity. No worries there.” Applejack smiled. “That's somethin' to think about at any rate. Now let's go! I wanna show you around the homestead.” AJ nodded, looking forward to seeing it. She had already sampled the apples from the orchard while coming up to the farmhouse, and they were actually BETTER than the ones she had at home! She was more than looking forward to meeting the pony versions of her family. After a few minutes more of walking, they came up to the farmhouse. AJ grinned, and laughed. “Shucks! It looks almost exactly like mah house! Y'even got that same patch on the roof!” Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, Apple Bloom's a real genius when it comes to repairs and construction and such,” she said. “Wish she'd realize it so she'd get her Cutie Mark and stop nearly destroying the town every other week...” AJ chuckled. “So these Cutie Marks... they just appear on y'sides when y'learn your special talent?” Applejack nodded. “Eeyup. But they don't have to define ya. Me, I'm Apple to the core. Same as you. It's why we both got apples on our butts,” she said, AJ giggling. Applejack continued, saying, “But Rarity? Technically, her talent's finding and using gems. She'd be a great miner or jeweler, but she makes some of the finest and fanciest dresses ah've ever seen.” “Huh,” AJ said, looking at the single large apple on her flank. “That's kinda neat.” They walked up to the house, where a skinny, rickety-looking old mare was sitting on rocking chair and idly strumming a banjo. AJ shook her head. “Y'all really need to teach me how to hold things with hooves,” she said. “Ah'm fumblin' all over the place, here...” Applejack smiled. “We'll get t'that,” she said, turning to the old mare. “GRANNY!” she called out. The old mare nearly dropped her banjo, startled. She looked out at the two Applejacks, one wearing a shirt and vest, the other just wearing her hat. “...Applejack, honey,” she said, “ah was fine with you datin' Rarity. It's like ah told Big Mac when those rumors about him were goin' round, ain't nothin' wrong with datin' another of the same gender so long it makes you happy and ah still get great-grandchildren. But ah gotta draw the line at a Changeling...” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Granny Smith, ah told you earlier that this is me from another world. Remember that letter from Spike ah got ah few minutes ago?” Granny Smith blinked, and then she nodded. “Oh! Right, right, I remember,” she said, looking the newcomer over. “Hm. Well, y'all are sort of kin, so ah guess we need t'treat you to a fine meal 'afore that Pinkie Pie critter spoils you with her cakes and such,” she said, standing up. “She's too dang skinny, anyway. Ah reckon a few dozen apple fritters'll put some meat on her bones.” AJ chuckled. “Mah version o' Granny would say the same thing,” she whispered to Applejack, who laughed. “Granny, ah promised her some Zap Apple treats. Mind if we use some of our leftover stock for her?” Applejack asked. “Well sure,” Granny Smith said. “She's kin, and that stuff we save back is meant for kin. C'mon in, other Applejack.” “Just AJ will do, ma'am,” AJ said, smiling. “Lay offa that there 'ma'am' nonsense,'” Granny Smith scoffed. “You can call me Granny, same as anypony else.” “Thank you kindly, Granny,” AJ said, grinning. Apple Bloom trotted out of the house just then, followed soon after by Big Macintosh. Surprisingly, Big Macintosh took the initiative, walking directly up to AJ and staring at her for a long moment. After a while, he simply said, “Eeyup,” and trotted out into the field. AJ snickered. “Nice to know some things stay the same from world to world,” she said. Applejack and Apple Bloom both laughed at that. “Gee, are you that other Applejack that ah read about in the letter mah Applejack got?” Well danged if this Apple Bloom ain't the most adorable thing, AJ thought. “Eeyup! Although ah'm goin' by AJ while ah'm here,” she said. “This is so neat!” the filly cheered. “Hey, can ah get yer opinion on something?” She ran inside and came back out with a rather... 'badly drawn' poster, to put it in the politest possible terms. Applejack just stared in aghast horror, while AJ kept her face neutral. “Whatcha think?” Apple Bloom asked. “Ah've been tryin' for a portrait painter cutie mark! It's a picture of the whole family! Here's me, Applejack, Big Macintosh, Mama and Daddy up in the Summerlands...” “It looks mighty fine,” AJ said, the lie slipping off her tongue easily. Applejack stared at her. AJ ignored her, and continued. “But why don't y'ask someone you KNOW can paint t'give you a few pointers?” Apple Bloom blinked. “Y'sure? If it's mah special talent...” she said, trailing off. AJ just smiled. “Now, even the best need tips from the old pros sometimes. You know anyone in town that can paint?” “Well...” Apple Bloom said, looking thoughtful. “Ah think so...” She looked at her picture, frowning. “Ah guess ah can go talk to him later...” She rolled up her ugly picture, and went back inside, muttering to herself. “Egads, she's actually thinking...” Applejack said when the filly was out of earshot. She gave AJ a concerned look. “...You lied to her face.” AJ shrugged. “Truth-tellin' on everything just gets you in trouble. You want honesty? Talk t'mah Rarity,” she said. “Nearly cost her a client a couple times, 'cause she's always insisted on tellin' people the God's honest truth, but dang if that girl ain't good at spin doctorin.'” She chuckled. “Me, ah'm more of the 'always there for you no matter what' type.” ...Could the Elements our counterparts represent be different? Applejack thought. Sunset's obviously Magic, and if Pinkamena's not Laughter for that world ah'll eat mah hat. Rares as Honesty, AJ as Loyalty... Her thought processes were interrupted when Granny Smith came out with some toast spread with a rainbow-colored jam. AJ stared at it warily. Applejack grinned, and held up the toast to her mouth. “Try it!” the farm pony said, grinning. “It's Zap Apple Jam! Best in any universe.” AJ frowned, staring at it warily, and then cautiously took a small bite. Imagine the concept of the word delicious, and give it the intensity of pure sunlight focused into a laser. Imagine the very concept of sweetness and tartness magnified until they have the strength of titanium. Imagine the best sex of your life, the greatest orgasm you've ever had, magnified by a hundred. Imagine what it's like to be the DC Comics character Superman after he's been bathing in his power source, the sun itself, for over a year. Imagine feeling all of these things at once, times a billion. Do so, and you'll be experiencing one fiftieth of the sheer pleasure AJ is experiencing in her first bite of Zap Apple Jam. Applejack and Granny stared at AJ as she stood there, eyes open and sparkling, not swallowing the bite in her mouth. Granny reached forward and poked AJ in the chest. “Ah can see stars...” AJ groaned in sheer bliss. Applejack and Granny chuckled. “Forgot that always happened to first timers,” Granny said. Applejack snickered. “Well. Ah wonder how the others are doin'?” she said. “Bet the other Fluttershy's havin' a blast.” /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Fluttershy's cottage... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ “I love it here and I never want to leave,” Flutters said, giggling excitedly as she cuddled up against a sleeping big brown bear while hugging a pair of bunnies, a weasel, and a squirrel, a pair of robins resting in her mane. “I mean, I know I have to go back, my home and family are there, but still, this place is absolutely WONDERFUL!” Fluttershy was beaming. “Oh, I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself!” she said. “I was so worried! I rarely have guests over besides the girls or Discord.” “You needn't have worried!” Flutters said, smiling widely. “Your cottage is so wonderful! You get to live with nature, and help care for all these wonderful critters... I never get a chance to work with bears or weasels or snakies at the animal shelter!” “Ooh, an animal shelter?” Fluttershy asked, smiling. “A place to keep cute little animals until they find a home?” Flutters nodded. “Mainly just kitties and puppies, though. And sometimes we have to... um...” she trailed off, fidgeting. “The last kindness,” Fluttershy said softly, understanding. Flutters shook her head, tearing up. “I hate it. I hate it that sometimes that's the only way to help some poor little critter...” she said softly. “I do too...” Fluttershy said. “But that's just the way nature is sometimes. After they've been to the vet for... that... they sometimes come to me to talk. I've had to talk some of them out of getting a pet right away again, so they've had time to mourn.” “Same,” Flutters said. She took a deep breath, and said, “But let's not talk about such dark things. We're here to have fun!” Fluttershy grinned. “Yeah, you're right!” she said. A thought occurred to her, and she said, hesitantly, “Um... maybe I could teach you how to fly? I mean, you are a pegasus... I could show you some...” She gulped nervously, and continued, “'tricks...'” Flutters squeaked nervously. “U-Um... If it's okay, I'm fine with not learning anything fancy about flying... This is kind of embarrassing to admit, but... I... um... have a fear of heights...” Fluttershy blinked. “I'm sorry, what? You sort of trailed off at the end...” Flutters blushed brightly. “I'm scared of heights...” Fluttershy bit her lip, frowning. “Please, speak up...” she said softly. “Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked. Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hooves. Must not laugh. You've done the same thing. Must not laugh at the irony of having it happen to you. “Okay, um...” She heard the distinct sound of fingers snapping, as well as a magical tinkling sound. She shook her head, and said, “I know you're scared. But it's nothing to be ashamed of. If you said what I think you said, I know where you're coming from and understand perfectly. I don't like heights either, and am SO very glad you're not interested in stunts. Rainbow Dash's tricks terrify me. Now please, speak up.” Flutters nodded, and took a deep breath. She opened her mouth to speak, but instead of her normal voice, what came out was the booming 'Flutterguy' voice Fluttershy had whenever she was affected by Poison Joak. “I HAVE A TERRIBLE FEAR OF HEIGHTS!” Flutters rumbled, covering her mouth in shock. Fluttershy rolled his eyes as Discord literally fell out of nowhere, the draconequus laughing wildly. “Oh, you should have seen your face!!” he crowed. “Yes yes,” Fluttershy said. “Very amusing. Now change her voice back to normal and apologize.” Discord nodded, still giggling. He snapped his fingers again, creating a brief flash of magic, and sighed. “Ah, so much fun. At any rate, I do apologize for the rather awkward way of introducing myself. Your voice should be normal again. I find a friendly prank is an excellent way to break the ice.” Flutters hesitated a long moment, singing a few notes softly to test to see if she was back to normal. Once she was satisfied that she was, she looked at Discord apprehensively. “Y-You're...” “Discord,” the draconequus said, bowing. “Bastion of Chaos and Change, Ruler of All Things Insane and Inane, and Mayor of a small town on the coast. It's really quite lovely. You should visit sometime.” Fluttershy blinked. “You're a mayor?” Discord laughed. “Nah. Stole that last one from a webcomic,” he said. “I'd never have the patience to be a politician.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe. Never actually tried it.” Flutters just stared at him, awestruck. Discord sighed, and gently stroked her chin. “Fear not. I would rather die and spend the rest of eternity in Tartarus than let Fluttershy or any alternate version of her come to harm.” “I'm not scared, it's just...” Flutters said softly, smiling. “I've never seen anything like you.” “I pride myself on being one of a kind,” Discord said, posing proudly. “Granted, it's also because more than one of my kind in a 'mundane' dimension tends to cause rips and distortions in reality that require obnoxious harmony rainbows to fix,” he added casually. “Still, it was nice seeing mother and father again. I really should thank the Crusaders for that little incident last month.” Flutters blinked. “Do I want to know?” “Probably not,” Discord and Fluttershy said in unison, the two looking at each other and laughing. Flutters smiled. “You're really amazing,” she said. “Both of you. I envy you.” Fluttershy blushed. “M-Me?” she said. Flutters nodded. “You live in such an exciting, magical place, you get to meet people as amazing as Discord...” Discord chuckled, faking sheepishness and speaking in a silly voice. “Aw gawrsh, you keep sayin' nice things like that and I'mma gonna get a swelled head,” he said, his head inflating like a balloon and popping, raining down confetti which turned into biscotti cookies on tea plates when they hit the ground. Discord regrew his head in an instant and helped himself to the cookies. Flutters giggled. “And you get to go on such amazing adventures with the girls!” she said. “I could never do something as brave and impressive as that...” “Brave? Me?” Fluttershy giggled. “Flutters, every time we go out on some insane adventure, it's a wonder I'm able to maintain anything resembling bladder control. Nightmare Moon, Discord before he became nice, Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra, Starlight Glimmer, eldritch abominations, FULL GROWN DRAGONS...” she shivered. “I hate being an adventurer. Large things that aren't my mother, Bulk Biceps, or Discord scare me, and I loathe excitement of any kind. Oh, I'll go out and help. I can't let the girls go it alone, can I? But all things considered, I'd rather stay home and take care of my animals.” Flutters grinned and nodded, understanding completely. Discord looked thoughtful for a moment. “In a way, Fluttershies... You two are the bravest and the strongest of all of Elements,” he said. Fluttershy and Flutters stared at Discord in confusion. He smirked. “Hear me out: if you have no fear, then how hard would it be to face something that's big and scary?” He snapped his fingers, creating images of Applejack and Rainbow Dash dressed up as barbarian warriors, wielding massive weapons and facing down a hydra. Fluttershy shrugged. “It would be easy, I guess,” she said, Flutters nodding in agreement. Discord snapped his fingers again, creating an image of Fluttershy, cowering in heavy armor with a thick shield and lance, facing down the same hydra. “Now,” he said, “how much strength, how much courage would it take to face something that scared you, that terrified you to the core, and not run away from it?” He gestured, and the image of Fluttershy ran forward, letting out a silent (but adorable-looking) battle cry while sobbing in terror, flailing her lance around wildly. The hydra image, taken aback, ran away from the Fluttershy image, disappearing into the ether. The Fluttershy image looked around once she noticed the hydra image was gone, and raised her lance triumphantly. Flutters stared, awestruck, as if she hadn't considered that before. Fluttershy chuckled. “I remember getting that lesson before. But I guess I need reminding from time to time...” She smiled at the draconequus. “Thank you, Discord.” Discord grinned, relaxing in an invisible hammock in midair. “For you? Anytime.” Fluttershy looked over at her Angel bunny, who seemed to be in an intense argument with Flutters' Angel bunny. With her intuitive knowledge of animals, she could understand what they were saying. ((Author's Note: All lines spoken by the Angel bunnies are translated from rabbit speak. The Fluttershies and Discord can understand them, but nopony else in-universe can.)) “How... how can you be such a WIMP!? I can tell you're me, we have the same scent, but you're such a limp noodle!!” said Fluttershy's Angel bunny. “How can you be so MEAN to your Fluttershy!?” said Flutters's Angel bunny. “She feeds you, takes care of you...” “She's also a wimp!! She needs a swift kick in the cutie mark now and then just to keep her motivated!” protested Fluttershy's Angel bunny. “Don't you love her?!” yelled Flutters' Angel bunny. “Don't you dare accuse me of not loving her! I love her more than the other pets love their owners! But damn it, if she won't develop nerve on her own from time to time, then someone has to FORCE her to!” Discord and the two Fluttershies stared at the two bunnies as they argued, oblivious to their surroundings. Discreetly, Fluttershy leaned in to her counterpart and asked in a quiet voice, “...Wanna trade Angels?” Flutters snickered. “No offense but... I think I like mine better.” Fluttershy smiled. “Oh well. I'll guess I'll just have to do better in getting mine to be nicer.” “Good luck,” Discord muttered, causing the two yellow pegasi to giggle. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Rainbow Dash's cloud house... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ “SOOOOO JEALOUS!!!” Dashie laughed, flying around the elegantly structured cloud house. Rainbow Dash smirked. “Ponies never believe me when I say I designed it myself. Took me weeks to gather the clouds and get them at just the right consistency to be used as building material,” she said. “Just because I don't like nerdy stuff doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to cloud construction!” “I know, right?” Dashie said, swooping up beside her. “My Dad's in construction, and I've picked up a lot from him. I don't do well on some of my history reports, and the advanced math, but I'm no dummy.” The two hot-headed pegasi traded high-hooves. “C'mon in,” Rainbow Dash said. “Lemme show you around.” She landed on the gate of the cloud-house with a puff, Dashie hesitating before folloing suit. “It feels solid,” Dashie said, marveling. “Yeah, pegasi got a natural magical aura around us that lets us manipulate or stand on clouds and such,” Rainbow Dash said. “At least I think that's how Twilight explained it. I don't get the mechanics of it, I just know it works.” Dashie chuckled, following her in. They went inside, Dashie looking in curiously... and laughing. For all the grandeur of the outside, the inside was almost exactly like her house. Dishes that needed cleaning, an absurd amount of memorabilia of Rainbow Dash's favorite sports team, random books piled about, excessive amounts of socks in random locations. “Wait, socks?” Dashie asked. A terrified squeak and a rainbow-colored blur later, there were no signs of socks left anywhere in the house. “Eheheheh...” Rainbow Dash said, laughing nervously. “I... may have had a passing interest in a certain artifact of intimate apparel a year or two ago...” “Socks.” Dashie deadpanned, quirking an eyebrow in amusement. “Really.” “Not all of us wear clothes all the time, noob,” Rainbow Dash said, gesturing at Dashie's vest. “Certain articles take on different meaning for us.” Dashie chuckled. “Still, this is all really incredible. Can you really create a sonic boom, like you said?” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Sonic RAINboom, thank you very much,” she said. “And just watch.” Rainbow Dash zipped outside and started going higher, wanting the shockwave to cause as little damage as possible. Dashie watched as her counterpart went higher and higher, almost exiting the atomsphere... and dove straight DOWN, picking up speed at an incredible rate. Down, straight for the house. “OmigoshomigoshOMIGOSH!!” Dashie said, flying away from the house to avoid what was, to her eyes, an inevitable crash. But before that could happen, however... BOOM The sound barrier broke, a shockwave of pure color spreading out over the skies above Rainbow Dash's house, sloshing around her various rainbow fountains. Rainbow Dash herself spiraled around the house, surrounding it in a cage of rainbow energy before zooming off and using her rainbow contrail to write the words 'Aw Yeah' in midair before skidding to a perfect stop in front Dashie, who's jaw had dropped in shock. Rainbow Dash, forelegs folded, just dusted herself off casually. “Well?” she said. “...Teach me, sensei!” Dashie almost shrieked, giggling like a schoolfilly. “Heh,” Rainbow Dash said. “Sorry, but the only way I could manage that is if I had a few years and you had a talent for speed, like me.” “Awww!” Dashie complained, still smiling. “But that was so AWESOME!” “I know, I know,” Rainbow Dash said, chuckling. She glanced briefly at the rainbow trail she left, which was already fading. “Y'know, for someone who's not been a pegasus before, you're pretty good at flying.” Dashie grinned. “Haven't been a pegasus before, have had wings before,” she said. “We did a sort of half-transformation when we fought Sunset and then the Dazzlings.” She flicked her ears, giggling at the sensation. “Yeah, we all grew pony ears, our hair grew out into long tails, and me, Twilight, and Flutters grew wings.” “And naturally, being me, you took off immediately,” Rainbow Dash said. “Well, of course,” Dashie said, smirking. “I mean heck, every human dreams of flying. Except maybe Flutters.” “Wouldn't surprise me, as difficult as it is to get Fluttershy off the ground,” Rainbow Dash muttered affectionately. The two Rainbows giggled. Dashie stared at Rainbow Dash's mane for a moment, and said, “Listen... I don't mean to be rude or anything like that, but...” “Yes, it's all natural color,” Rainbow Dash said. Dashie laughed. “Mine too, but that's not what I meant.” Rainbow Dash's smirk became slightly melancholy. “Have people mistook me for gay?” she said. “Oh yeah. I've been called all the names. Had mares flirt with me to, even though I didn't have any physical interest in them.” Dashie nodded. “Same here, which is annoying. I mean, just because I'm kinda butch, and I like sports, roughhousing, and being crude like the guys doesn't mean I don't want them between my legs.” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Lemme guess – only completely straight one in the group?” “Rares, Sunset, and Flutters are bi, AJ's gay, and Pinkamena I'm pretty sure would have a go with anything that said yes that wasn't a corpse or kid,” Dashie said, sighing. Rainbow Dash shook her head, laughing. “Yeah, same on this world with Twilight and the girls,” she said. “It's all good, though,” Dashie said with a grin. “Just means I'm so rad that everyone wants me. I'm too awesome for them anyway.” “Amen, sister!” Rainbow Dash said, the two of them high-hoofing. “So what about you? What's your talent?” she asked, gesturing to Dashie's Cutie Mark. Dashie looked at her flank. “Well... I guess you could say its sports. I'm good at pretty much all of them, but my best ones are basketball and football,” she said, briefly explaining the rules of both. “Huh...” Rainbow Dash said, looking thoughtful. “Basketball and cloudball are kinda the same. That's kinda neat.” “They're the main teams I play for, but I try to help out with all of them,” Dashie added. “Dad and Mom always taught me to be generous with my time and talents, help out others where I can.” ...Rarity said that to me when we first started to get to know each other, Rainbow Dash thought. Does she represent a different Element than me? She thought about it for five seconds before she started getting a headache and decided to just accept it. “Anyway, c'mon rookie. We gotta teach you the basics of ponydom before the Pinkies' party tonight. You gotta be able to hold the cupcakes before you can stuff them in your face.” “Sounds good to me!” Dashie said, grinning.”Hey, will there be bacon cupcakes and things like that?” “...” Rainbow Dash said, biting her lip. “I gotta have my bacon,” Dashie said, licking her lips. “Tell me, does your Applejack have a farm?” Rainbow Dash asked after a long moment. “Yeah, why?” Dashie asked. “Got any animals on it?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Some. Pigs, cows, chickens, horses for riding...” Dashie blinked, thinking of something, and blushed. “Not the riding like the euphemism riding, but like using for transportation. Anyway, none of them talk, not even the horses. There's this one big one, a Clydesdale named Samson...” Rainbow Dash nodded. “And what does Samson eat?” Dashie frowned. “Geez, I dunno. Hay, oats, apples, carrots...” Her eyes widened as she began to realize the implications. Rainbow Dash just nodded. “N-No tasty piggy flesh?” Gross, Rainbow Dash thought, he expression remaining neutral. “Eeenope.” Dashie's cry of dismay echoed across Ponyville. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Princess Burger... Outside lounge... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Twilight snickered. “Aaaand, that would be Dashie finding out about her new diet, I'd bet...” Sunset belched, rubbing her belly as she nibbled at some apple nuggets. The demolished remains of two Double Royal Hayburgers, a large order of fries, and a massive Moon Shake lay nearby, the remnants of the food puddled around her lips. Two little toy keychains of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were attached to her jacket, the newly minted alicorn rubbing her mouth with a napkin. “Ssssooo gooodd...” she moaned. Twilight smiled. “Feeling better?” “I haven't eaten this well in ages!” Sunset said, smiling happily as she wiped her mouth clean of ketchup. Twilight grinned. “You now have a near unlimited food capacity,” she said. “Alicorns need to eat a lot to maintain their magic. Plus, it carries over to human form.” Sunset blinked. “Really?” Twilight blushed. “I... may have done some excessive snacking while I was helping you girls with the Dazzlings,” she said. “Pinkamena knows about it, at any rate.” Sunset snickered. “And now I'll be the envy of every girl there again,” she said. “The capacity to put enough away for ten people and STILL not gain an ounce.” The two alicorns giggled. “So, are you excited?” Twilight asked. “You're going to be a princess soon!” Sunset grimaced. “I still don't know about that, Twilight...” she said. “I mean, I'll be going back soon after the ceremony, and the way the government works on that world my title wouldn't be recognized.” Twilight blinked. “Really? No royalty?” Sunset nodded. “They use democracy. For all leadership positions,” she said, explaining what she knew of the other world's system of government. Twilight frowned. “Well, democracy is good for local leaders, like Mayor Mare, but for leading the full country?” she said, shaking her head. “Too much chance for corruption. It's why Celestia limited elections to local leaders here in Equestria.” “And I still say it's a better system,” Sunset agreed. “Rulers at the top, appointed leaders for country-wide governing, elections for local town officials.” Twilight nodded. And then she chuckled. “Of course, we're kind of spoiled in that Celestia and Luna are immortal, clever, intelligent, and actually care about what happens to us.” Sunset smirked. Her smile then turned happy as she looked around, watching everypony eat and chat, occasionally casting glances at the two alicorns. “Bit for your thoughts?” Twilight asked. “It's just...” Sunset said. “After the Elements of Harmony cleansed me of my demon form... Heck, even before that. I was prepared to never be accepted back here again. That Celestia would hate me for betraying her and abandoning her. And yet...” Twilight nuzzled her. “You feel like you're home. You feel welcome,” she said softly. Tears were in Sunset's eyes. “She forgave me, Twilight. Stupid, arrogant me, and she forgave me...” “It's who she is, Sunset. She cares about her little ponies, especially her students,” Twilight said. “Especially you.” Sunset and Twilight hugged each other tightly. “Welcome back to the herd, Sunset Shimmer,” Twilight said. “No matter how far you wander, you'll always have family here.” Sunset shivered softly. “But... I also have family there, too,” she said. “So? Invite them over,” Twilight said, grinning. “I'd love to meet them. Do they know you're a pony?” “They know I'm from another universe,” Sunset said, shifting nervously. “I... I ran away when I first saw them, but they kept after me until they cornered me and got me to talk. They understand that I'm not human, and after the Fall Formal, understand that I wasn't lying about magic, but they're still having trouble wrapping their heads around the fact that I'm normally a magical talking pony.” She flapped her wings idly. “One that can fly now, apparently. I should probably learn a few of the basics before leaving.” “Heh. Let me teach you. Rainbow Dash is too drill sergeant-y for short lessons,” Twilight said. “Sounds about right,” Sunset said, the two alicorns laughing. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Canterlot... Donut Joe's... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Tia groaned happily, rubbing her swollen belly, her wings splayed out idly. In front of her, a plate that was once filled with forty donuts lay empty save for some crumbs and glaze. “Uuuoogh... Never knew I could eat so much,” she said. “And these donuts are SOOO GOOOOD... I'm ruined for my world's donuts.” “One of the finest compliments a baker can receive,” Joe almost chirped as he refilled the coffee of the two ivory alicorns. Celestia giggled. She still had donuts on her plate, having been busy filling out and sending forms to prepare for Sunset's coronation the next day, sending them along their way by burning them in a jar of green dragonflame that she teleported from her office. “I'm glad you're having a good time,” she said. “And it's been so fascinating to hear about your world! Although some of it makes little sense to me, such as the taboo against same gender couples.” Tia burped again, blushing. “I wish I had a better explanation for that,” she said. “It's silly,” Celestia said. “I mean, love is love. You can't help who you are attracted to.” Tia nodded, smiling. “A good attitude to take,” she said. “Everything seems so peaceful here.” “I've done my best to avoid conflicts with other nations,” Celestia said proudly. “So far, the only real problems have been internal.” “Yes...” Tia said. “You mentioned that there is a house of nobles?” She smirked. “Are they as obnoxious as I'm imagining them to be?” “Moreso,” Celestia muttered. “Only a couple of them, like Lord Fancypants, are worth talking to. The rest...” She shook her head. “Sometimes I wish I could just poison the lot of them and be done with it. But that would be stooping to below their level. And I will not have that. I just discreetly raise their taxes now and then.” Tia laughed. She watched for a few moments as Celestia signed documents approving resources needed for Sunset Shimmer's coordination. “...Why are you doing this?” Tia asked. Celestia blinked. “Hm?” “You do know she's going back after all this. To her human family,” Tia said gently. Celestia closed her eyes, smiling. “I know. And while in your world, the title would not be recognized, it WOULD be recognized here. After taking from Sunset for so long, I wanted to give her something...” Tia nodded. “I don't know if it would be a good idea for it to get out that she was an alien princess,” she said. “Maybe I've watched too many government conspiracy shows, but...” She shook her head. “An understandable precaution,” Celestia said. “Officially here, Sunset's title will be Ambassador to your world. Beyond that, I leave her fate to you and your world's Luna.” “You poor, poor fool,” Tia said, chuckling wearily. Celestia blinked. “Hm?” “I haven't exactly done well in protecting her so far,” Tia said. “When Sunset was still evil, I let her reign of terror go mostly unchecked because she was so good at concealing evidence. I didn't do very much to stop others from bullying Sunset after her reformation because I was angry with her, and...” She sighed wearily. “...And I was completely useless when the Dazzlings showed up. They brainwashed Luna and I first thing.” Celestia set down her quill. “The mistakes of the past are just that – in the past. The only thing that can be done with them is to either ignore them, or to remember them and learn from them,” she said. “I know that,” Tia said, frowning. “But how am I supposed to defend against magic? How am I supposed to protect my students if... if, I don't know, Frizzenbopper the Goofy comes over from Equestria and starts turning everyone into clown demons?” Celestia blinked. “How did you know about Frizzenbopper the Goofy?” Tia paled, making a frightened squeak. Celestia giggled. “I'm only teasing,” she said. “There's no such villain.” Tia, scowling, tossed a donut at her. Celestia caught it in midair with her magic and ate it. The princess smiled. “Back to the subject... The fact that the Elements of Harmony worked in that reality means that magic lives in your world. It's all a matter of harnessing it.” Tia blinked. “Magic in our world? Really?” Celestia nodded. “From what you've told me, I've become quite certain of it,” she said. Tia looked down at her hooves. To have magic... to have REAL power to protect my students... She smiled at her royal counterpart, and then looked down at her gut, which was flat again despite having been overstuffed before. “Well if nothing else, my metabolism is magic,” Tia joked. “Back home it'd take me weeks to work off the pudge a bender like that would have given me.” “You can always have more,” Celestia said. “You'll still have plenty of room before the Pinkie Party this evening.” A grin crossed Tia's face. “You know what? I think I will. More of those donuts, please!” she said. “And charge it to my expense account, as always,” Celestia added. Donut Joe had to resist the urge to skip as he began to gather more delicious pastries together. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Later that evening... Ponyville... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ The Double Pinkie Party was on, and it was proving to be a resounding success. Most everypony in town had come, save for the still-suspicious Flower Trio, who were hiding out at Roseluck's place. The Pinkies were proving to be excellent hosts, working in almost perfect unison to help make sure things went well. Discord was managing most of the entertainment, making various park benches and lamps act out famous scenes in Daring Do novels. Dashie, upon Sunset telling her that their world had an equivalent of the Daring Do series, suddenly found herself with a new love. Eventually, Zecora joined with Discord in the storytelling, adding her own illusions to give the presentations even more dramatic flare. The Fluttershies, when they weren't watching Discord, were staying out of everypony's way and chatting calmly, comparing notes on how they took care of animals in their worlds, each learning from the other. Applejack was setting some several apple-themed treats up on the table, while AJ and Rares were chatting excitedly. “Ah still can't believe it,” AJ said. “Them Zap Apples... It's like tasting concentrated happy! Ah just... wow, ah cain't even put it into words how good they were!” Rares was impressed. “I've heard you extoll the virtues of apples before, darling, but this is rather much, even for you!” As they talked, Applejack, putting a slice of candied Zap Apple out of her saddlebag, walked up to them. “Remember what I said about kin, and us saving our leftover Zap Apple stock for kin?” she asked. AJ nodded. “Fiancees count as kin,” Applejack said, tossing the candied Zap Apple slice into Rares's mouth before the unicorn could protest. She closed her mouth, tasting the slice... and her eyes went starry. AJ frowned, a little worried. “Rares?” “Sssssh,” Rares almost moaned. “I'm having a 'moment.'” The two Applejacks giggled. Rainbow Dash was only half paying attention to the party, as she had taken Scootaloo off to fulfill a promise to give her flying lessons. Whenever they took a break, Rainbow Dash would bring her into the party, both to show off her progress and to get some snacks. Rarity, meanwhile, was relaxing on her chaise-lounge, sipping tea calmly and enjoying the festivities, Spike graciously fanning her with a palm frond that he procured from somewhere. She had assured him that he didn't have to, but he insisted. She really adored Spike sometimes. If it weren't for that blasted age difference, she might even consider him... Twilight and Sunset were trotting around the party. Several ponies bowed to the two of them, Sunset grinning nervously. “You ever feel awkward with ponies kowtowing to you all the time?” “Every damn day,” Twilight muttered. “But I've given up trying to get them to stop. It doesn't hurt anything, and the ponies I'm friends with still treat me as a friend, so that's what counts.” Sunset smiled. “I suppose it does,” she said, glancing over at the snack tables. Two Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness cakes adored the center table, one made for the public and one reserved solely for the two Celestias, who looked to be in absolute bliss. Princess Luna, meanwhile, was enjoying a piece from the public cake and teasing her sister and otherworldly counterpart. Sunset chuckled. “Honestly, I think things are going pretty well,” she said. “Hey, I gots an idea!” Apple Bloom said suddenly, having been working the mix tables with Vinyl Scratch. “The otherworlders that came with Princess Sunset are musicians, why not have them play somethin' for us?” “I just had to jinx it, didn't I?” Sunset muttered. “It's the Cutie Mark Crusaders effect. I've done studies on it,” Twilight chuckled wearily. “Still don't have an answer for it.” The other ponies at the party latched onto the idea of a concert and began cheering for it, the Rainbooms becoming nervous. “Um...” AJ said. “We... We barely know how to hold things with hooves. Usin' actual instruments...” “We don't know how to play as ponies,” Rares clarified. Discord shrugged, and snapped his fingers. Light flashed before the eyes of the six Rainbooms, dizziness overcoming them briefly as found their minds suddenly filled with knowledge of how to play their instruments as well as they did in their human forms. “Now you do know how to play,” Discord said, snapping his fingers again and creating musical instruments for them to play, along with a stage. The Rainbooms all gathered together in front of the stage, talking intently for a moment. Sunset looked up and said, “Give us a minute. We'll be ready to perform shortly.” The crowd cheered. The group went backstage, taking their instruments with them. “Talk about an infodump,” Dashie said, rubbing her forehead. “I'm still dizzy.” “A concert's fine, darlings,” Rares said, “Especially since we know how to play as ponies now... But what will we sing?” “Um...” Flutters said softly. “I did have a couple songs in mind...” Everyone turned to her expectantly. Flutters squeaked in fright, and said, “I... um... I prepared a couple songs for our concert against the Dazzlings. I was thinking we could play Shine Like Rainbows?” The others looked thoughtful for a long moment, humming the lyrics to themselves, their forehooves unconsciously going through the motions of playing. Sunset grinned. “Okay, I think we can work with that.” The Rainbooms went out onto the stage to polite applause. Their Equestrian counterparts all sat in the front row with Celestia, Tia, and Luna, watching expectantly. “Alright, everypony!” Sunset said. “Let's have a little fun!” The crowd cheered, and they began to play. AJ started the song. “Once upon a time, you came into my world and made the stars align...” Rares continued it. “Now, I can see the signs, you pick me up when I get down so I can shine...” “Shine like rainbows!” the group sang. As they played, magic swirled around the square as the Rainbooms lost themselves in the music. A wave of pure Harmony washed out over the crowd, filling everypony with joy, the Rainbow Power triggering in Twilight and the Elements. Only Celestia and Discord showed any negative effects, flinching as the Harmony wave washed over them. Neither seemed to notice, nor did anyone else. The wave of Harmony spread out over the forest, becoming a single beam of light that transformed into the Rainbow of Light itself, strengthened by the music of the Rainbooms. It pierced through an unholy gate deep within Everfree, lashing down past the hordes of the damned and demonic... and piercing through a small burlap bag, held within the bedroom of a slumbering demon king. From inside the bag the Rainbow of Darkness burst forth, swirling joyously around the Rainbow of Light. I am free! the Rainbow of Darkness thought happily. Yes, the Rainbow of Light thought back. Never again will you be used for evil. The two Rainbows flew out of the demon king's castle and into the skies over Equestria, a feeling of peace overcoming everypony in the nation, the feeling spreading out to all the species of the world. And when the demon king woke up and found his long enslaved prize gone, his impotent, helpless rage would echo across the canyons of Tartarus for days. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Meanwhile... Twilight's castle... Mirror room... /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Two guards stood at attention in the room. Both were bored out of their skulls. “Aw, geez,” muttered Swift Saber, the mare listening to the song play. “The new ponies are doing a concert now! And we're missing it!” Her partner, Power Words, just chuckled. “Now now, Swift,” he said. “It's our responsibility to guard the mirror when Princess Twilight is out in the field.” “She's out in the field having a party,” Swift Saber muttered. “You really want to begrudge Princess Twilight some fun with all the work she does,” Power Words said, quirking an eyebrow. Swift Saber sighed. “No, I'm just... I'm jealous and I'm bored,” she said. “Why are we even here?” “Something may come out of the mirror,” Power Words said simply. Swift Saber groaned. “NOTHING is going to come out of this mirror. I guarantee it. Princess Twilight told us that the connecting element in the other world is a statue. And NOPONY is going to be dumb enough to fall into a statue at random.” “You think so?” Power Words said, amused. Swift Saber nodded. “I betcha anything. I bet my booty on it,” she said, smirking. Power Words blushed. “Well, it is a nice booty...” Swift Saber scoffed, but she was smiling and blushing. “SO confident am I that we're never gonna have to do anything, that I will make a bet with you. If you win, I will take you on a date, me paying for everything that ends with both of us in bed together.” She smirked. “And you on top of me, if you get my drift. You're just cute enough that I'd let you.” Power Words grinned, blushing brightly. “And if you win?” “I want one of those MMMM supercakes the Cakes make,” Swift Saber said. “All to myself. And you have to deliver it and do a little sexy dance for me in socks.” Power Words laughed. He was confident enough in his manhood that he could deal with having that as his end of the bargain. And truthfully, he thought she was right, that nothing would ever happen. But duty was duty. (Besides, if he was reading this conversation right, he'd probably get to have fun with her either way.) “I accept those terms,” Power Words said. “SWEET!” Swift Saber cheered. “I've got the socks all picked out, and...” The mirror's portal magic flared, dumping out a unicorn that looked like Twilight Sparkle, only with her mane in a bun and wearing glasses and a lab coat, her cutie mark a pair of crossed test tubes over a DNA helix design. Soon after, an alicorn that resembled Princess Luna tumbled out, wearing a pink shirt, her cutie mark that of a trio of white, black, and gray balloons. “Whu...” the not-Twilight said, dizzily trying to stand up on her hind hooves. “What... What!?” She fell over, looking at her hooves in shock. “What is this?! What happened to me?! Vice-Principal Luna, what's going on?!” The not-Luna glared at her. “I told you to go inside the school, Sparkle!” she said. “Then we wouldn't be in this mess and... oooh, wings...” The not-Luna flexed her wings, admiring them. “Quit being distracted, this is serious!” the not-Twilight said. “We... uh oh...” The two otherworlders turned, noticing the guards for the first time. “...” Swift Saber said, staring. Power Words laughed. He couldn't help it. “Wow, an instant victory!” he said. “By the way? Don't move.” Both Power Words and Swift Saber pointed their lances at the two newcomers, who grinned nervously. “Well, this is certainly a fine mess you've gotten us into, Sparkle...” Vice-Principal Luna grumbled. TO BE CONTINUED...