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Awesome! Truly tense and that ending is a great setup.

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Well! This is a bit of a tense moment, isn't it?

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Could also be that she became an alicorn after ditching Sunset. But still... what is our Twi gonna do?

I’m, frankly, surprised no one has made a reference to a certain pair of travelers, from a certain Sci-if show. Either Rick and Morty, or Dr Who

Huh.. Must have prob missed somthing in the rules.

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Direct crossovers with other IPs aren't allowed in SLS. It's to help encourage people to come up with creative new worlds and events!

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There's been references, but no appearances.

Alright, I guess it's me.

Chapter 10 - Ebon Quill

Something's wrong.

Twilight glanced around, watching as the host of otherTwis mirrored their mistress's movements. The same malice as they glared at Sunset. The same warmth as they looked at her.

Sunset squeaked a little as the glare of the alicorn turned back to her.

Twilight knew tongue-lock when she saw it. You could be as prepared as possible for a debate, but when it actually came time to present…

She cleared her throat. “Thank you for, uh…”

She trailed off as the myriad eyes focused on her all at once. She felt her throat dry up.

“Thank you for the offer,” she continued, swallowing against her nerves. “I would first like to ask, to whom am I speaking?”

The alicorn smiled, and for a brief moment Twilight glimpsed a glittering hunger lurking just behind her eyes.

She'd seen it before. She was quite accustomed to it, in fact. Her… colleagues back at Crystal Prep wore the same look, every time they'd talked to her. The same false front hiding a predatory grin.

“You address the Gloaming Gleam at the Dusk of Time. The Herald of the End. The Twilight of All Things. The Sparkle of the Last Dying Star.

“I am you,” she said, spearing Twilight with a glance.

“I am them.” She swept her hoof over the gathered otherTwis, who cheered.

She locked eyes with Twilight and stood to her full height, towering over the rest.

“I am Lady Twilight Sparkle, Goddess of the Stars and Sole Inheritor of the Spheres.”

And there was a tickle at the base of Twilight's neck. She suppressed it as if it were an inappropriate sneeze.

“Thank you, Lady Sparkle. As one of… you? May I ask a question?”

“Of course, my child,” Lady Sparkle purred. “Anything for me.”

“What has my travelling companion done to warrant such a harsh greeting? There had been some talk of constants…”

Lady Sparkle sighed, and it was almost delicate. Not quite dismissive. “Sunsets are distractions. They are sweet promises, but are as fleeting as their namesake. Only the stars are eternal.”

“Then why kill her?”

A trace of irritation crossed Lady Sparkle’s imperious features. “Sunsets bring trouble. Sunsets bring chaos. They disrupt the Harmony of the Spheres. This cannot be allowed.”

“But—!” Sunset started.

A thousand hisses of derision and scorn echoed around them.

“Be silent, interloper,” Lady Sparkle said, her voice dripping with venom. “I tolerate you only as a lesson for my new daughter.”

“Isn't that right?” Lady Sparkle turned and met Twilight's eyes again.

The tickle at the back of her neck struck again. The world tilted as a pressure settled on the bridge of Twilight's nose.

Muzzle.

Whatever.

Twilight shook it off again.

Sunset looked like she wished she could hide in the intricate twist of her current manestyle.

Why is she so cowed? Cinch was worse than this so-called ‘Herald.’

She glanced around the amphitheater at the otherTwis around the wooden throne. A sea of violet eyes, all focused on her.

All except one pair of rubies. That Twilight had a swirl of ashes in her magic, and was steadily extracting a dark, oozing muck out of them. She saw Twilight looking, and urgently pointed back to the Lady with her horn.

Twilight blinked and turned back to the Lady. She crossed to a point where she could see both the Lady and the strange red-eyed Twilight at the same time.

“Then I er, beseech you, Lady Sparkle, why kill her?”

“Nightingales do not flock with skylarks. The Spheres are not meant to be shared. But if you are attached to this little magpie, I will allow you until the Rising of the Moon to say your farewells. Unless she has something to say in her defense?”

Sunset shrank into Twilight's shadow, bullets of sweat pouring off of her. A thrum ran down Twilight’s spine, as if she was just a hair’s-breadth away from a Tesla coil.

“No? Pity. It seems even a magpie may have her voice stolen by the majesty of the Stars.”

Lady Sparkle spread her massive wings, blotting out the sun.

“Daughters!”

The otherTwis called back in response.

“Welcome your new sister. Allow her to grieve as this Sunset fades. Share with her your hearts, so she can finally be welcomed home.”

Cheers and stamping hooves all around. Hosts of Twilights took to the sky. Some few others trotted out of the amphitheater and ambled about. Some approached her with warm welcomes or hushed commiserations. Some just watched her.

The ruby-eyed Twilight had disappeared.

It took a few moments for Twilight to push through the sea of otherTwis, each one asking what they could do to help, and being gently rebuffed again and again. Eventually, she’d asked for some time to mourn Sunset, and had been directed to a small café.

A sign floated overhead: 'So Long Sunset Session in progress. Please, respect our privacy!" Below it, the otherTwis had an Earl Gray latté and lemon poppyseed muffins set aside for her. Opposite them on the small table sat a lonely mug of straight black coffee, all alone.

Sunset slunk over to it and blew on it gently.

“You alright?”

Sunset nodded.

“Gosh. This is really weird. I don't even have to order, I just—”

An otherTwi dashed out of the café, levitated a cushion behind Twilight, fluffed it, and nestled it behind her.

With a wink, she was gone.

“—do that, and…” she trailed off.

Sunset swirled her coffee in its mug, and took a swallow.

“This is weird. This is weird, right?”

Sunset nodded and set the mug back down.

“Are you alright?”

Sunset shook her head, little wisps of gold and crimson bouncing free of her twist.

“I'm supposed to be saying goodbye before they send me home, but—”

“Don't be stupid,” a smoky voice said. The smooth huskiness echoed that of the Lady, but with a more playful air.

It wasn't Twilight's at all.

Sunset bristled, leaping away from the table and lanced out with her magic.

An otherTwi floated out of an alleyway, wreathed in Sunset's teal magic, her eyes shut tight against the pain.

“Sunset! Put her—!”

Sunset shook her head furiously, dislodging her mane’s twist entirely.

The otherTwi opened one eye, and winced as she tried to speak again.

One ruby met Twilight's gaze.

“Sorr—”

Sunset snarled, and the aura around the ruby-eyed otherTwi brightened. Any other sounds were strangled out.

“Sunset!” Twilight rushed over and jostled the other unicorn.

The otherTwi whipped left and right as Sunset's horn swung wildly.

Twilight leapt in front of Sunset and took her muzzle in her hooves.

Sunset’s hot angry tears streamed down her face.

Twilight gazed into Sunset's rage-filled eyes and finally got her to see.

“Sunny. Please.”

The blazing magical aura winked out, and the otherTwi dropped in a heap, gasping.

Sunset turned away, trembling.

The otherTwi got to her hooves, gasping and shaking.

“Nice to— see you, too, Shimmer.” she wheezed. “I guess— I got under— your skin, after all.”

The otherTwi raised her head, and a cascade of golden ringlets and amber curls washed over her face. In a matter of moments, a golden-coated unicorn with a voluminous mane stood where the otherTwi had.

She still held the same ruby eyes.

“I don't— remember you wearing glasses, Princess. Nice to— see you, too.”

Twilight nibbled on the fringe of a bang nervously. “Uh. I don't… that's not me.”

The golden-tressed unicorn smirked. “Really?”

Another harsh coughing fit tore her words away.

“I didn't know you wanted to hold me so tightly, Sunset.”

Sunset rounded on her, fury etched on her face as if by a powerful laser.

The ruby-eyed unicorn flinched away. “Easy! Truce! I'm stuck here, too!”

Sunset flopped against the table, eyes rolling up towards the sky.

A light flicked on in Twilight's mind. “Why isn't she talking?”

The other unicorn raised an elegantly manicured eyebrow. “You are new, aren't you? She's been silenced. The Lady got her under her spell. Couldn't you feel her insinuating herself into your mind? I felt her trying.”

Twilight started to shake her head, but then froze. The tickling at her neck, and the pressure on her muzzle reappeared briefly.

The other unicorn hummed a song while holding eye contact. The song pressed against Twilight’s muzzle, and thrilled through her mane.

Twilight shook off the melody, and glanced away.

The curly-maned unicorn’s vulpine grin widened.

“That's right, Princess. Good work. Our little ray of sunshine let the night in, and now she's stuck dancing to her tune.”

Twilight laughed right in her smug face. “No way! Sunset’s stronger than that!”

Sunset flinched away, tears in her eyes.

The unicorn nudged the mute Sunset. “Look at her. She can’t even look at you anymore. The Lady has her tendrils in deep. Good thing you have those glasses.”

Twilight’s laughter died in her throat.

“I bet she has a pet name for you. ‘Twily?’ ‘Sparkler?’ I think I remember hearing— no! Wait!”

Her ruby eyes glittered with barely restrained laughter. Just a hint of malice.

“Sparky!”

Sunset jerked upright like she’d been slapped.

“Mm. That’s the one. And she’s been reduced to a shrinking violet, thanks to the Lady and her Twive Mind.”

Twilight adjusted her glasses, sat back on her cushion, and frowned. “So what do we do now?”

The other unicorn laughed, a throaty chuckle that seemed more at home in the halls of CPH than here at the Twilight Sparkle Theme Park they were stranded in.

“Sunny here is going to enjoy spending time with some old friends. You, my precious little Princess, are going to waltz up to the Lady and pluck that Talisman right off her neck. And I'm just dying to see her face when you do.”

“Great! But uh, I'm not her.”

“Pardon?”

“I'm not Princess Twilight.”

She saw a flash of recognition in the other unicorn's eyes. “Oh! Then allow me to introduce myself. Adagio Dazzle, at your service. My sisters and I have had dealings with your… let's say ‘counterpart.’”

“Right. Are you also sliders?”

Adagio preened. “From time to time. Why, we’ve even pulled a few jobs with Sunset. Not that wishy-washy goodie-two-shoes from your Canterlot High, either, but this adorably edgy specimen right here.”

Sunset’s lip trembled, and hoofed at the ground.

“That’s just sad, Sunshine. ‘Above all, protect your mind,’ remember?”

Twilight slammed her empty cup down. “Shut up!”

Adagio blanched, and raised her Twilight glamour.

An otherTwi dashed from out of the café and refilled it.

“Would you like anything else?”

Twilight waved her away. “I’m uh, grieving.”

The otherTwi nodded sympathetically, and left.

Adagio dropped her glamour and sighed, “You want to free her, you’ll have to disrupt the Lady’s control. She’s anchored her song into that tawdry bauble she wears.”

Sunset stiffened again.

Twilight dropped her head onto the table. “That stupid TPT. Ours broke when we got here, and that’s supposed to mean her Twilight’s here.”

“Oh, that. Well, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Her Twilight's long gone. That’s her toy the Lady’s wearing. Custom job, crafted for Sunny here.”

"Where—"

Adagio shook her head, grinning conspiratorially. She floated up a small bag of viscous black liquid, and slipped it to Twilight.

“Disrupt her control. Introduce the Spheres to the Void. Then, I’ll show you how my sisters and I smuggled Sunset's nightingale into the care of the Lady's skylark. And who knows? Maybe we'll save all creation in the process.”

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Hot damn, this is good. So many possibilities!

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Well now. I have my work cut out for me, and I mean that in the best way possible. Good thing I have the weekend to work with.

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Yup. Still creeped out. Shiver.

Holy carp...dazzling.

No pun intended.

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Well! That was an unexpected twist. Also, we have another level of plot! Veeery interested in seeing where this goes.

Well.... I did not expect this at all.

I am pleased.

Chapter #11 - FanOfMostEverything

Twilight bit her lip as she considered the bag. “So, uh, possibly dumb question, but how do I use this?”

Adagio rolled her eyes. “It couldn’t be simpler. You—“

“Okay, everypony!” chirped an otherTwi who emerged from the cafe. “The Rising of the Moon is in just a few…” She trailed off, tilting her head. ”…minutes?”

All three had scrambled when they heard the door open. Adagio threw her glamour back on, trying to look as Sparkly as possible. Sunset visibly tried to keep her composure, tears welling in her eyes. And Twilight did what she did best.

She thought fast.

Telekinetic stopper on the latte, careful positioning to obscure the bag, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze!

The Void essence had a hint of burnt molasses, but for the most part, it tasted like nothing at all. Even the last muffin crumbs stuck in her teeth lost their flavor as Twilight choked down the ooze.

“Whoa, whoa, easy!” said the otherTwi, approaching slow enough that Twilight could toss the empty bag under the table. “There’ll be plenty more where that came from, sister! Now come on, we don’t want to keep the Lady waiting.”

“R—“ Twilight coughed a few times to clear her throat. “Right,” she croaked out. “You go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”

The otherTwi giggled. “Don’t drag it out too long.” She glared at Sunset. “You’re better than that.”

Twilight just nodded, then looked at the others still at the table. Both had matching looks of utter shock, jaws slack as they stared at her. “I take it that isn’t how I was supposed to use that stuff?”

Adagio and Sunset shook their heads in eerie synchronicity.

Adagio half-watched the newbie Sparkle approach the Lady, most of her attention devoted to figuring out what the actual crap was happening.

Void essence wasn’t a toy. The stuff ate through most magic like Sonata after a three-day fast, especially the harmony magic that Sparkles loved so very much. And yet that bespectacled horse had chugged down enough to give a self-proclaimed goddess pause without even batting an eye.

“And so the fledgling nightingale returns,” cooed the Lady. “The time has come to put childish things aside, Twilight.” Power crawled across the Lady’s horn, and the heavens answered her call. Night fell across the amphitheater. “Childish comforts, childish ideas, even childish affectations.” She removed the newbie’s glasses almost tenderly. “Now, do you have anything to say to this Sunset in her final sunset?”

Adagio could feel the Lady’s mental tendrils crawl across the newbie’s skull, trying to find purchase. Once again, the newbie shuddered, scattering the probes. Then, to Adagio’s eye-widening amazement, that whimpering little mare’s psychic pressure kept pushing out.

You seem surprised.

We got rid of you at Camp Everfree!

I told you, Twilight. I’m a part of you. Your ambition. Your insatiable curiosity. Your… sensuality. You couldn’t get rid of that without lobotomizing yourself. But before you consumed that wonderful magic, all I could do was keep that mockery from controlling us. After all, I was in this brain first.

… I’m going to have to panic about this later. Could we please focus on the alicorn who’s about to kill Sunset?

Certainly.

Twilight blinked a few times, then took in the looks of shock staring at her from every angle. Her vision had gone teal around the edges, and along her peripheral vision, she could make out similar lines of light tracing the edges of wings that weren’t there.

“What…” The Lady shook her head, snarling at Twilight. The thousand otherTwis followed suit, a scant few doing so just slightly after the others. “What is this aberration!?”

“Oh, I see how it is.” Twilight strode forward, her confidence rising with every step. “I’m the aberration, just because I don’t fit in your little framework for how Twilights are supposed to work.” She looked around the arena, not seeing a single bun or pair of glasses among the audience. “You've really never met a Midnight Sparkle before, have you?”

“Midnight Sparkle?” The Lady sneered. “An unfounded rumor. The inane nattering of skylarks begging for mercy they do not deserve.”

“Firsthand evidence, right here.” Firsthoof? Twilight dismissed the matter, stopping at the foot of the Lady’s throne. “But you’re probably too wrapped up in your bird imagery to notice anything outside your narrow worldview.”

Lady Twilight narrowed her eyes and gave a very equine snort. “Believe it or not, this is not the greatest folly of youth I have witnessed. I am a merciful goddess to the deserving, Twilight. Submit to my greater wisdom and I will forgive even this.”

Twilight hadn’t realized she had an inner Sour Sweet until she started channeling it. “Wow, so generous! I have a counteroffer.” The flavor was easy to recall. Almost laughably so. The beam of void magic went through the chain like it wasn’t even there. Twilight snatched it and spun the TPT about a hoof. “Let us go and the next one won’t go through that swelled head of—“

“Enough.” A thousand horns glowed as one, and magic wrapped around Twilight so tightly that she couldn’t even blink. The TPT fell from her hoof—and how had she even been holding that thing?—the chain wrapping back around Lady Twilight’s neck. “You have exhausted my patience, child, and now—“

“Lady about to get suplexed says what?”

“Wha—?”

At first, Twilight thought she was looking at yet another otherTwi, but the missing horn and traces of green in her mane pegged her as a stranger. Also, she was pretty sure no version of herself would ever dare to deliver a Germane suplex to a physical goddess.

The spell ended once the Lady hit the ground. A familiar voice came from behind. “Get moving, Sparky!”

Twilight turned to look. “Sunset?” There she was, charging forward, the confident mare Twilight had so missed since they’d arrived in this world.

Getting the TPT away from the mockery for even that long was enough to break Sunset from her spell. You’re welcome.

“What Baconmane said,” said the suplexer, TPT in hoof. “The shock won’t last forever.”

“Key disadvantage of brainwashed masses,” said Adagio, carried by a blue pegasus as the latter glided to their position. “No initiative when the mind in charge can’t focus.”

“”Enough talk.” The earth pony grabbed the device with her teeth and leapt over everyone, touching each with a hoof.

The last thing Twilight heard as they left was her own voice, screaming with unfathomable rage.

The group materialized atop a low, grassy hill, a village visible in the distance. Probably some version of Ponyville, Sunset thought. She stumbled to her hooves as she took stock of herself. Unicorn. Current Twilight yet to get up after getting dumped in this universe. Mind free of alicorn mental magic. Mane currently in Aria-esque twintails. Sirens regrettably present.

Adagio glared at the scenery as though it had insulted her. “This isn’t the rendezvous point.”

“Sue me,” said Aria. “Some of us are more concerned about getting out alive than kicking one of the biggest hornet’s nests this side of Limbo.” She glared at the still prone Twilight. “Seems to be a lot of that kind of stupid going around these days.”

Sunset moved to face Aria. Ending up next to Twilight was purely coincidental. “Hey, it worked, didn’t it?”

“True,” said Adagio, “but even I know better than to mock someone that powerful to her face.” She sneered. “Of course, I also know better than to chug down Void essence like a smoothie.”

Sunset looked down at Twilight… who still wasn’t getting up. “Uh, Spar— Twilight? You okay there?”

“I’m sorry. Twilight isn’t available right now. You can leave a message after the kiss.”

“The wha—“

Several things happened in quick succession. Turquoise flames burst to life around Twilight’s horn and eyes. Translucent wings formed at her sides. She lunged for Sunset, lips puckered.

And Sonata Dusk eagerly clapped her hooves. “This is always my favorite part!”

Hex code for Midnight's mental dialogue is #a8e0b8, same as the outline for her horn.

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Oh hell... well, THAT'S gonna complicate things...

I love this story so much. SO MUCH.

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Nice use of colored text! Gives midnight an eerie, supernatural air

I never thought I'd be so psyched to see Midnight Sparkle! Good stuff.

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Well, that's a cliffhanger!

Twilight, what have you done?

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Now that's how you do it.

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Midnight was planned. Aria suplexing Lady Twilight was a moment of pure, beautiful inspiration.

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It WAS beautiful. It's little moments like that that can turn even short fics into works of art.

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Truly, it was the suplex heard around the world.
Anyway, another chapter, another unexpected twist! I can only imagine what this is gonna look like when it's finally my turn.

I...uh...well damn.

Suplex now Fimfiction canon.

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I loved this chapter the moment Aria's solution to their problem was to suplex Lady Twilight. And a very creative use of Midnight and how she would function in the pre-established Twilight/Sunset slider dynamic. Well done.

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Unicorn solution: Infiltrate the enemy's ranks, surreptitiously extract the magical essence of diametrically opposed cosmic forces, and use an unwitting stooge to apply said essence where it will hurt the most, thus moving on to step 37c of the master plan.
Earth pony solution: SUPLEX THE DOOM TRAIN ALICORN

Yes, they're sirens, but you work with the body you're given. Furthermore, it's Adagio and Aria we're talking about. They'd probably enact the same solutions regardless.

I am a FanOfMostEverything in these two chapters.

especially "twive mind."

bless you both

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I'm glad Twive Mind survived my chapter.

Chapter 12 - Tchernobog

In hindsight, she could have simply teleported out of the way, or even held Twilight with her magic. And she’d be the first to admit there was a bit of childish glee at seeing this Twilight ram muzzle first into the shield she’d instinctively summoned. The ensuing resonant bonk would keep her amused for far too long.

That, however, didn’t stop her from glaring at the other unicorn… with magic spectacles and wings. “What the hell, Twilight?”

“Aww.”

“Shut up, Sonata.” Sunset said, keeping her eyes firmly on her ‘companion’.

“Ow.” Twilight said, rubbing her muzzle. “Rude. Is that how you thank your savior, Sunset? At least the one on my world knows the virtue of being polite.”

Sunset blinked. “Uh. Yeah, thanks, I guess? But that doesn’t change things. What’s with… this?” She asked, waving a hoof at Twilight.

“You just waved at all of me.”

“So I have a lot of questions, okay?” Sunset said, stomping a hoof. “What the heck is a ‘Midnight Sparkle’?”

“Horohorohoro….” Twilight chuckled, sending a shiver down Sunset’s spine. She’d never heard a Twilight laugh like that.

“...was that supposed to be a laugh?”

“Shh!” Adagio hissed. “Shut up and watch, Aria!”

“I guess I’m even more unique than I thought I was.” Twilight smirked, rubbing a hoof on her chest and peering at it admiringly. An eyebrow rose as she looked back at Sunset and tapped the shield with the same hoof. “You can take this shield down, by the way. I won’t kiss you. Unless you want me to.” She said, smirking even wider.

Sunset glared, silently holding the shield for just long enough to be considered insulting. “That still doesn’t answer my question.” She said, the magic around her horn fading along with the shield. “What happened back there? What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing is ‘wrong’ with me, Sunnybuns.” Twilight said. “Let’s just say that I’m a part of Twilight. And that magic she ate was just what I needed to wake up again.”

Sunset’s eye twitched. “Sunnyb-. No. Do not call me that. Ever.” She glared at...whatever Twilight was now. “What do you want?”

“The knowledge of the multiverse, an orange smoothie, and you in a bed screaming my name.” Twilight grinned. “Not necessarily in that order.”

“Ooh, that sounds good right now.” Sonata whispered.

“What, Sunset in bed?” Aria asked.

“No! Well, yeah, but I meant the smoothie!”

Cheeks blazing, Sunset rubbed a hoof against her face. “This is not what I need right now. You three!” She barked, whirling on the sirens, who’d somehow gotten popcorn from somewhere. “Where are we?”

“Heck if I know.” Adagio shrugged. “We had a different place in mind when we jumped, but some dummy I won’t mention sent us here.”

“Hey!” Aria cried out.

“Regardless!” Adagio pressed on. “This seems like a pretty safe world. That’s Ponyville down there, isn’t it?”

“Looks like it.” Sunset nodded, staring down at the village. Her horn shone, plucking the talisman out of Aria’s hooves. Despite finally, finally holding her very own talisman, her heart sank. The device was lifeless, not even registering any ambient magic. All she could sense were the rapidly dissipating traces of that queen Twilight’s magic. “We need to go down there.”

Aria grunted. “Why? Let’s just wait until the damn thing charges.”

“Because it’s not working.” Sunset spat, holding up the device in her magic. “And I’m not trusting this Twilight with it.”

“Some offense taken, by the way.”

Sunset ignored Twilight’s jab. “We need to find this world’s Twilight. Let’s hope she’s home.”

“Y’know, it’s a lot pinker than I remember.” Sonata said, looking around as the group strode into town.

Sunset glanced at Twilight. “So let me get this straight-”

“Oh, I’m anything but.” Twilight smirked, her magic batting at Sunset’s hair like a cat.

Sunset ground her teeth, increasing the distance between herself and the other unicorn. “Twilight’s pre-portal talisman ate her friends magic, she consumed it, and out came whatever you are?”

“A short but accurate summary of my awakening, yes. I’m just the… passionate side of her, let’s say.” Twilight practically purred. “And call me Midnight Sparkle, if you really need to differentiate us.”

“...right. And Sparky’s still in there?”

“Like a bee constantly buzzing in my ear, yes.” Midnight smirked. “She thinks I’m being rude.”

“You did kinda take over her body…”

“Really, really pink. I mean, every building is pink.”

“If I didn’t know better,“ Adagio said. "I’d say it looks like Pinkie vomited paint all over town.”

“That’s because I did!” Pinkie chirped, popping up in the middle of the group, sending the mares stumbling back with a cry. “Well, I didn’t vomit it, I just threw paint over everything. Pink is the funnest color!”

“Pinkie!” Sunset said, her heart still beating furiously. “...Pinkie?” She blinked. She didn’t remember ever seeing a world with Pinkie having a horn and wings. One or the other, sure, but this?

“Yepperoonie!” Pinkie giggled. “You girls look new here. Welcome to Pinkieville!”

“Pinkieville?” Adagio asked.

“The Party Principality!”

“Horohorohoro... I like this version.” Midnight chuckled. “Also, ‘funnest’ is not a word.”

Sunset sighed, shelving her concerns about an Alicorn Pinkie Pie to deal with later. Like, never. “Ooookay. Where’s Twilight? And I don’t mean this one.”

“Silly, she’s in Twilightville. And Fluttershy is in Flutterville, Rarity in Rarityville, Dashie and Applejack are in AppleDashville-”

“Okay, okay, I get it. Where’s Twilightville? I need to talk to her.”

“Other side of the country!”

“Of course it is.” Sunset sighed. “Can you message her? Teleport us there? Or a train? Anything? We really need her help.”

“Weeeeelllll yeah, but it's a long ride. Maybe I could help too!”

“Not unless you know how to fixed advanced dimensional travel devices.”

Pinkie gasped. “Ohhh, you’re sliders! Why didn’t you say so?”

“We kinda just got here?” Sonata offered, shrugging.

“Oh, right. Hi ‘Nata!” Pinkie said, pronking over to the pegasus and nuzzling her. She turned back to Sunset, leaving a bewildered but grinning Sonata behind. “Why don’t you let Twitwi fix it?” She said, pointing at Midnight.

“Because she doesn’t trust me.” Midnight pouted. “She’s being mean.”

“I’m-” Sunset took a deep breath. “No, I’m not even gonna dignify that with a response.” She faced Pinkie. “She’s not herself right now. So, can you help?”

“Welllll I could get my Twi here but it would take a week-”

“Too long!” Sunset cried out, ignoring Sonata’s ‘I don’t mind!’.

“Or you could go through my party chute.”

“Party chute?” The assembled ponies asked simultaneously.

“Well yeah, I thought it was just a place to put all my party paraphernalia but it’s actually another world!” She giggled. “Until another Twitwi came out and asked to stop throwing stuff into her basement. Maybe she could help!”

Sunset glanced at Midnight and the remaining undesired companions. She didn’t like the sudden sense of responsibility draping over her shoulders. “What do you think?”

“Risk it.” Adagio said, Aria nodding with her. “We gotta get as far from the Twive Mind as we can.”

“Aww but I wanna stay!” Sonata whined.

“We aren’t staying just because she likes you, Sonata.”

“Boo, hiss! Boooo.”

“Not that you’ll listen to me-” Midnight started.

Sunset nodded. “You’ve got that right.”

“-but I agree with Puffball here. I could take her own alone, but not with all the backup she's got.”

“Right. Pinkie?” Sunset said.

“One party chute, coming up! Follow me, fillies!”

Two corners later, Sunset was staring at a hole in the ground. “Pinkie, that’s a garbage chute.”

“It was! I just never changed it.”

“Whatever. Let’s go.”

“Waaaaaaait!” Pinkie cried out, leaping at Sunset.

“What? What?!”

“I almost forgot! Give the other Twilight this!”  Pinkie said, floating over a box in her magic. “It’s a surprise! Oh, and make sure to hold it tight, you’re human on that side.”

“Oh thank Celestia.” Sunset sighed. She levitated the box and balanced it on a hoof. “Cmon, let’s go.”

Midnight Sparkle tsk’ed as she stood up. Despite being in control, her magic seemed just out of reach in this world. She’d sort through that headache later. Meanwhile, she'd just have to stay in Sunset's good graces. Mostly.

Hey!

Speaking of headaches… Midnight thought. What do you want?

My body back, to start with!

Oh come now, my last stay was so brief. Let me have some fun.

No! It’s my body!

Our body. I’m not some thing possessing you. I’m part of you. Plus, I just saved everyone’s bacon and baconmanes. You owe me.

...Fine. But we’re getting me back in control!

No promises. Midnight thought, sending a mental smirk inwards. She took in her surroundings, a dusty basement full of boxes, and more boxes, and yet more boxes. She spied a book poking out of one of them, and chuckled. Yep, definitely one of us.

She turned back towards the rest of her group, holding back a snort as she noticed Sunset’s sizeable afro. “We all in one piece?”

“More or less.” Sunset grunted, hefting the box. “Okay, let’s find Twilight.”

The sudden slam of an opening door made everyone jump. In the middle of the doorway, a Rainbow Dash stood proud. She wore coveralls, a cowboy hat and had a pair of earrings in the shape of three red apples. But still, it was distinctly Rainbow Dash.

The girl grinned, leaning back to yell behind her. “Hey, AJ! Call Twilight! Delivery’s here!”

Inner Twi is #a66ebe. Also known on fimfic's color wheel as "Twilight Sparkle" color. I'm not kidding.

Bravo!

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Dashie and Applejack are in AppleDashville

Just in case it wasn't clear who was writing this chapter.

Fascinating left turn from my expectations, both in the surreal oligarchy of ManeSixquestria and whatever human world the group literally slid into. You did a great job with Midnight's near-complete lack of any self-imposed restrictions: self-doubt, self-restraint, tact.

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Just in case it wasn't clear who was writing this chapter.

I have no idea what you are implying!

And yes. Middy is passionate about magic as much as with anything else, and doesn't really care what others think~

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I think my favorite part of this chapter was the fact that Princess Pinkie's party chute just inexplicably leads to some poor Twi's basement.

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"Well, yeah. Doesn't yours?"

... Is it traitorous of me to say I like Midnight?

Chapter 13: Little-Tweenframes

Oooh......

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best part in Sunset's fro, I think. there are other good parts, but that one stands out.

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Oooooh my goooood

And those two cuties! Aaah!

Uh oh. What are you doing, Twi!

I can't decide which would be cooler - finding out that Midnight is trustworthy after all, or watching her sudden but inevitable betrayal. Excellent work to all so far, as usual!

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I love how the comic segments can lead to so many questions and options with relatively short installments.

And yes, that background Sunfro is amazing.

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Deals with the Devils.

Words cannot express how much I love how this project is going. This is beyond my wildest dreams. YOU GUYS ARE ALL DOING SO FLIPPIN' AMAZING!!!!!!!!

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Scitwi horse from above looks so adorable!! And that image of Scitwi's face gradually blending into Midnight sparkle's face is so cool, helping show that they're both parts of the same mind... :O

Background Sunfro is best Sunfro.

Also, I'm very interested now to see how this deal works out. Really feels like it could go either way.

Yay! I'm caught up! This has been utterly amazing from start to finish, and I can't wait for my turn.

But now I want more! More I say! And when do I want it?

“Hey everyone! So sorry I took so long! Had to run some errands along the way. Anyway, you said there was a special delivery for…” The rest of the words were drowned out by a rush of metaphysical energy and wind that swirled around Twilight and Midnight.

Twilight shivered and panickedly looked around as the mindscape quivered and cracked. “What’s going on?!”

Midnight chuckled, waving it off, “Relax, I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t—”

She was cut off as a bang and a flash resounded throughout the mindscape, shattering it and forcing them back into the real world.

Discombobulated, Twilight tried to track the rushing shapes and muffled shouts that echoed around her.

“Sliders identified!”

“What in tarnation!”

“Sonata, get down!”

“Woah! We’re the good guys!”

“Don’t you touch her!”

“Try and stop me.”

A force like a truck slammed into Twilight and sent her flying. She crashed into something hard and she plunged into darkness.

She came back to a splitting headache. Twilight slowly opened her eyes and immediately wished she hadn't. The light of the setting sun stabbed at her eyes, making spots and colors dance in her vision. The ringing in her ears didn't help either. Finally, she managed to blink herself back into something approaching coherence.

“What… What happened?”

Twilight tried to stand up, but quickly collapsed back to the floor.

“Ugh… Midnight?” “Midnight?”

“What happened? Why am I in control again? Not that I’m complaining…”

Midnight didn’t seem the type to just up and leave.

“Ugh… Be quiet, Twilight. Our head hurts enough as it is.”

“Midnight! You’re okay!”

“Of course I am,”she snarked. Twilight’s arm reached up of its own volition and rubbed her eye.

Twilight froze, her thoughts coming to a screeching halt.

“Did… Did you do that?”

“Do what?” came the groggy reply.

Twilight lifted her arm experimentally. It moved as she expected.

The pain in her head slowly began to recede, as Midnight began to rouse herself. It was then that Twilight noticed how quiet it was.

She glanced around Applejack’s living room. Sunset and the rest of the girls were gone the furniture had been tossed around, as if a small twister had blown through.

“Hello? Where did everyone go? What happened?”

Twilight stayed silent, waiting for a response. She sat there for several minutes, waiting for something to happen.

“It’s time to grow a spine, Twilight. Midnight grumbled in their head.

Twilight’s body began to move, once again independent of Twilight’s input. She yelped and lurched backwards.

“What was that? Did you just move me?!”

Midnight hummed.“It seems that I did, must be because of our new union.” Midnight flexed their arms experimentally. “I could get used to this.”

Twilight shuddered. “We need to come to some kind of agreement, or something, this is just too weird...”

“We should do that later, unless you don’t want to find your friends. I’m fine either way of course.”

“Do you… Do you think they’re okay?” she asked hopefully.

Midnight tsked in disappointment.“Use your head Twilight. Judging by the state of the place, they probably need more help than you do.”

Twilight nodded slowly, biting her lip. Carefully, she picked herself up and moved out of the rustic dining room, using the wall for support. As Twilight walked, Midnight’s strength returned, allowing them to move with confidence and grace.

“Hello?” Twilight ventured, “Is anyone there?”

“Will you keep it down?!” a voice whisper-yelled.

Midnight brought them down to a crouch and cautiously looked around. “Who’s there?” Midnight whispered.

Whomever it was cursed under their breath. There was a quiet shuffling sound, and a girl with purple and mint-green hair stuck her head around the corner.

“Is that Aria?”

“I-I don’t know, Maybe? I can’t tell from here.Twilight paused. “I’m surprised you don’t know, aren’t you supposed to be better than me in every way?”

“No, Twilight,” Midnight sighed,“I’m just more confident than you. More willing to get what I want, and to be honest, those girls are beneath us.”

The girl rolled her eyes and waved them toward the corner before vanishing around it.

“Do we follow her?”

“If we want answers, I suppose we should.”

Staying low, Twilight crept towards the corner and peeked around it. There was no one on the other side. Nothing but an empty hallway and an open door. Twilight swallowed nervously as Midnight’s strength kept them moving forward. They slowly peered through the door.

Someone flung open the door and yanked them in. Midnight tried to mount a counterattack, bringing her elbows in and raising their arms, but Twilight panicked and flailed about. The combination of which only made a menagerie of flailing limbs that their assailant easily avoided and provided ample opportunity for their assailant to sweep their legs out from under them. Before either of them could react, the attacker pulled a length of rough rope tight around their wrists.

With a grunt of disappointment, the attacker dragged them over and tossed them into a corner like a sack of potatoes. Twilight started when she realized she’d just been attacked by one of the girls who had saved her from Lady Sparkle.

“A-Aria, what—”

She ignored Twilight and stormed out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

“Way to go Twilight.”

“What, me?! How is this my fault?”

“I had everything under control.”

After several minutes, Aria calmly walked back into the room. “The three of us operated for close to twenty years without an incident like this.” she stopped, glowering down at Twilight. “But a couple jumps after hooking up with you two…” She sighed and shook her head. “Who do really work for? What’re you trying to accomplish?”

“I work for Donut Joe at the Canterlot Mall!” Twilight yelped. “I’m trying to save up enough money to put myself through college!”

“...Wow Twilight.”

“What? I’m not gonna lie to her. What if she has a some kind of weapon?!”

“...Let me handle this one.”

“Likely stor—”

Midnight lunged forward, cutting Aria off and tackling her to the ground.

The scuffle was a short one. It took approximately twenty seconds (Twilight timed it) for Aria to get the upper hand and pin them again, pressing their face into the carpet.

Midnight struggled under her weight. “You’ll regret this!”

“Not likely,” Aria sneered, pressing Midnight’s face deeper into the carpet. “Now, shut up and make this easy for me.”

Midnight continued to struggle underneath her, trying again to summon her magic.

She was rewarded with a hit to the head. “Stop that. The Guard can track when people try to use magic! That’s how they got your friends, after all.”

Twilight froze. “My friends…?” She said, slightly muffled by the carpet.

Aria picked herself up, “Mhmm, your friends, and my sisters.” She forcefully yanked Twilight to her feet. “Now you’re gonna help me get my sisters back.”

“W-Wait… Maybe I can help?”

“You are helping. Just not willingly,” she grumbled.

“I want to get them back as much as you do! We can accomplish more if we work together!”

“Oh please don’t start with your friendship magic garbage.”

Twilight bit back Midnight’s quip.

“Killjoy.”

“O-Okay… Why, uhh, why wasn’t I taken too?” Twilight paused for a moment, then added, “More importantly, who would want to capture us?”

Aria sighed, mumbling something about Twilights and questions. “I don’t know, and I honestly don’t care. You can ask Daybreaker when we get there.”

“Maybe… Maybe you don’t have to turn me in? Wouldn’t it work out better if I helped you?”

“I don’t like to work with anyone but my sisters.”

“You sound sure of yourself.” Midnight stepped in. “But can you really guarantee that your plan will work?”

Aria paused. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get them back.” She turned and shot a glare at Midnight. “And I pity the fool who gets in my way.”

Twilight swallowed nervously and nodded.

“Good, now right this way.”

Twilight scampered past Aria, through a door leading outside.. Twilight found herself on a balcony, and surrounded by towers that stretched beyond the clouds.

“Wow…” Twilight breathed, as the light from the setting Sun sparkled off of the crystalline buildings.

There was a wet smacking sound, followed by a thump from behind her. Twilight whirled around and found Sunset standing over an unconscious Aria.

“It’s good to see you again, Aria.” Sunset said down to the unconscious girl, before turning her attention to Twilight.

“That’s a differentSunset. That’s not my Sunset.

“How can you tell?”

“Her hair. It’s not a big, poofy, afro.”

The Sunset stood up, showing off her maroon combat armour. She smirked, and Twilight took a step back, away from the dark mockery of Sunset’s signature smirk.

“Twilight, I’m so delighted you finally woke up.”

Hmmm. Interesting.

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Another unexpected series of twists! But at least I have a better idea of what I'm gonna have to deal when it's my turn after next.

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Now it's my turn. *crackles knuckles* And I sincerely thank you, good sir, for giving me the perfect set-up to run with an idea I've been waiting to post for a month now.

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Twists and turns are my master plan...

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Fear Intensifies

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Then find Sunset back where you began...

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Can't wait to see what you come up with.