Pinkie Pie opened the oven door, receiving a blast of hot air in the face. Quickly the kitchen filled with the wonderful scent of freshly baked cupcakes. Peering at the pan she pronounced, “They’re done!” and moved it to a cooling rack on the counter. She took another deep breath of the heavenly aroma and declared, “These will be the best ones yet.”
A large smile on her face, she bounced over to the kitchen table where various ingredients sat at the ready. She eagerly mixed them together, humming a happy tune as she did. Adding in two cups a sugar, she paused with a reflective “Hmm” before grabbing the sack and pouring in the rest. She picked up a large wooden spoon and whipped the batter together in a bowl before she emptied it into an awaiting cake pan. Setting a timer, she slid the pan into the warm oven.
Grabbing seven pastry bags, Pinkie began to randomly and indiscriminately squirt a rainbow of colors. Icing sprayed and splattered everywhere, landing on the naked cupcakes and everywhere else, and sometimes into an awaiting mouth. Within minutes there were a dozen chaotically decorated cupcakes that would impress Equestria’s greatest abstract artists.
The pastry bags now empty, she turned – “Gummy!”
The small alligator stood on the counter, a blank stare in his eyes.
“I – I couldn’t sleep, so I thought some late-night baking would make me tired.” She let out an exagerrated yawn.
Gummy continued to stare at Pinkie Pie.
“Alright, you caught me,” she whined. “I just wanted an excuse for staying up until Sugar Bell returned from her date. Big Mac took her all the way to Canterlot for a dinner and a Bridleway show. Things are really serious between the two of them. Ooh – I’ve already planned the wedding shower, the bachelorette party and the bachelor party!”
Gummy flicked his tongue.
“No, I’m not getting ahead of myself. Sure he hasn’t asked her yet, but it’s only a matter of time. They’re so in love. Do you think she’ll ask me to be in the wedding?”
Gummy blinked.
“I asked Applejack if she thinks she’ll be the maid of honor. She said –” suddenly Pinkie’s mane formed into a long ponytail and freckles appeared on her face “‘– Ah ain’t never started makin’ cider before countin’ the apples Ah’ve harvested –’” Pinkie Pie returned to normal “– whatever that means. But she thinks she’ll be the maid of honor, even if she doesn’t admit it. And she’s excited about the idea of having a sister-in-law. Maybe not as much as Apple Bloom – she practically bounces off the wall whenever you mention it.” Pinkie put the pastry bags away as she continued, “Even Rarity has talked about her designs for Sugar Belle’s wedding –”
Without warning Pinkie began shaking violently, from her hooves all the way to her twitchy tail. “Gu-Gu-Gu-Gummy I-I-I-I thi-thi-think my-my-my Pinkie-ie-ie-ie Sen-en-ense –” As quickly as it started, it stopped. “Whoa! That was a doozy! That was a doozy of a doozy! That was the dooziest doozy I’ve ever doozied! I wonder what it means.” Her face lit up and she lifted Gummy in her hooves. “I’ve got it! Big Mac’s asking Sugar Belle to marry him!” She tossed him onto her back as she began leaping for joy around the kitchen, with the alligator clinging to her mane for dear life.
Meanwhile, outside...
Ponyville lay quiet and dark. From the south, the sound of chugging train quickly faded away. For most of the town, the only light came from the occassionally flickering gas lamp or the few moonbeams that managed to penetrate the thick cloud cover. But at the end of Stirrup Street, light poured forth from several large windows of the town’s famous sweet shop.
Two figures walked along the darkned street toward the welcoming glow of Sugarcube Corner. The larger one lumbered close to the other, whose pace was faster to make up for a smaller gait. They spoke in hushed tones, though nopony was around at this late hour to eavesdrop on their conversation.
The two emerged from the shadows and into the light, revealing the themselves. Sugar Belle’s mane had been expertly woven and styled, while her little black dress sparkled in the light. Big Mac wore a sport coat with tie and his mane, normally unkempt, was carefully combed.
Smiling, she said “I had a real good time tonight.”
“Eeyup,” replied Big Mac.
“I still can’t believe you took me all the way to Canterlot.” Her smile turned into a mischevious grin. “It’s like tonight was especially important.”
Big Mac let out an akward chuckle. “Eeyup. Well, you see, tomorrow –”
Sugar Belle took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
“ – tomorrow is our sixth-month anniversary,” he continued.
“You remembered!”
“How could Ah forget. Ah listened to mah sister and her friends and acted like a real fool.”
“They were just trying to help.”
“Eeyup.”
“But they were right.”
“Oh?”
Sugar Belle gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “We do make a great couple.”
“Eeyup,” he again chuckled.
Big Mac stared into her gorgeous magenta eyes as she stared back. Sugar Belle leaned forward and he did the same. The two shared a long, passionate kiss....
Applejack stood at the hot stove making pancakes. She flipped the one in the pan over to reveal a perfect golden-brown color. Satisfied, she moved it to a plate with a dozen pancakes staked high. Applejack turned to examine the table... plates... silverware... butter... apple and pear syrup... a pitcher of freshly-squeezed apple juice... Apple Bloom and Granny Smith –
“Where’s Big Mac?” she muttered under her breath.
“Probably sleepin’ in,” replied Granny Smith. “He did have a late night.”
“Yeah, the train from Canterlot doesn’t get back until eleven o’clock,” added Apple Bloom.
“Well, we’ve got a lot work to do today,” said Applejack. “Apple Bloom, go tell Big Mac if he wants any breakfast he needs to come down and join us.”
Apple Bloom ran from the table and sprinted up the stairs. She raced down the hall to her brother’s room. “Big Mac! Applejack says....” Her voice trailed off as she saw an empty bed. “Where could he be?”
Big Mac lay peacefully asleep, snoring softly. The mare wrapped in his forelegs shifted, and he tightened his loving embrace. Nestled within his comforting hold, pressed up against his soft chest, she let out a contented sigh before opening her eyes. Her vision filled with the morning sunlight that slipped through the curtains. Slowly the gaze shifted down to his red forelegs –
Her eyes shot wide open. “Whaa!” she shrieked as she shoved him away.
Thud! Thud! Two ponies hit the floor on opposite sides of the bed.
Big Mac lay sprawled, bleary-eyed and disoriented. After rubbing his aching head, he cautiously sat upright and peered over the edge.
“What the f@#$!?” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
“What?” he stammered, confused.
“How dare you. You – You – You pervert!!!” she growled, pointing an accusing hoof at him. Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared as every breath became sharper and angrier.
“Ah don’t under–”
She took to the air, hovering above ready to strike upon the stallion helpless on the floor. “What don’t you f@#$ing understand!!!”
“Dashie calm–”
“Dashie!? You think we’re close or something, asshole!” Rainbow Dash raged.
“Eeyup.”
“Why the f@#$ do you think that?” she demanded, her wings beating the air harder and harder. “I may be best friends with your sister, but that doesn’t give you the right to sneak into my home and sleep in my bed with ME!” Her head jerked up as a sudden realization hit her. She absentmindedly descended to the floor and stuttered, “Did we? Last night?” her pupils becoming pinpricks at the potential horror flashing through her mind.
“Did we...?” he clarified.
“Have sex you idiot!” she snarled.
“Er –”
Her hooves went to her head. “Celestia! I don’t remember a thing. I hope I don’t get pregnant.” Snapping back to the moment, her furious glare returned to the stallion. “How did you –? What did you do? Did you slip me something last night? Did you roofie me? Rapist!”
“Nnope!” Big Mac scrambled to his hooves and shouted, “Ah would never do that to you! Ah love ya too much!” His eyes hardened into a scowl matching hers in intensity.
“Why would I have sex with you? I hardly know you! And why are you in my home? How –”
“It’s our home!” he corrected.
“What!”
“This is our home!”
“No! It’s! Not! You live on the farm with your family!” she shot back.
“Ah ’aven’t lived at Sweet Apple Acres since we got married.”
Rainbow Dash jaw dropped as she recoiled from his words. “Married! You think we’re married?”
“Eeyup.”
“Where the hell did you get that idea!”
“We stood at the alter an’ –”
“What?” she interrupted.
“Six months ago – today – we stood before Mayor Mare and got married.”
“No! Six months...” Rainbow Dash paused in thought and rubbed her chin. “Okay, I don’t remember exactly what I was doing six months ago, but I know for a fact we didn’t get married.”
“Well Ah do! Applejack was the maid of honor; Braeburn the best stallion. How could ya not remember!”
“How can I not remember! There’s something wrong with you because I know we aren’t married!”
For a long time the two scowled at each other from opposite sides of the bed. Both stood their ground, attempting to understand their plight and gauge the other’s sincerity. Finally, Big Mac took a deep breath and looked down to the empty bed that had held them only minutes earlier. He stared at it longingly before choking, “Rainbow, Ah’m sorry Ah scared ya. Last night....”
She let out a perturbed huff.
“...last night everything was right. Now, everythin’s wrong. The last six months ’ave been the happiest of mah life.” He raised his head and stared directly into her eyes, “Ah don’t want ta lose mah wife. Ya mean the world ta me. Ah don’t know what’s goin’ on... but it scares me.”
Her glare softened, but remained guarded. “We need to get some answers.”
“Eeyup.”
“Let’s go see Twilight.” Rainbow trotted towards the bedroom door.
“Twilight? Ya sure she can help?” asked Big Mac as he followed behind her.
Two ponies followed a path through the woods. A blue pegasus flew just ahead, never glancing back at the big red stallion who managed to keep pace with her. There was a tense silence between them, broken only by the unceasing flapping of wings or crunch of hooves upon the dirt. In fact, they hadn’t exchanged a word since he had managed to climb down a rope she anchored to her cloud house. At several points along the walk he had opened his mouth to speak but changed his mind when he thought better of it.
Suddenly, she came to a stop and he did likewise.
“What’s –”
“Listen!” commanded Rainbow Dash.
A sound grew louder until a familiar sight came into view: Applejack hauling a wagonload of apples to market.
“There you are,” she greeted to Big Mac. “We were wonderin’ where ya got off to. Probably havin’ breakfast with Sugar Belle,” she said with a wink.
“Uh....”
Looking up to her friend, she asked, “Rainbow Dash. How are you this morning?”
Crossing her forelegs and turning away, Rainbow declared, “I don’t want to talk about it!”
“Okay?” Applejack replied, confused. “Where are you two going this early in the mornin’?”
“We’re going to see Twilight. Come on Big Mac.” She took off down the path.
“Ah think ya best come along,” Big Mac said to Applejack as he began following Rainbow.
“Uh?” She turned the wagon around and quickly caught up with the stallion. “What’s got her tail so twisted this mornin’?”
He leaned over and whispered, “Ah don’t know, somethin’s wrong with her. She’s been like this ever since we woke up.”
Applejack came to a dead stop. “‘Woke up’?”
Rainbow Dash let out an annoyed huff.
“Eeyup,” he confirmed.
“What do ya mean woke up?”
A furious Rainbow Dash spun around. “He was sleeping in my bed this morning!”
“Rainbow Dash! How dare you say such a nasty lie ’bout my brother!”
“It’s the truth!”
“Eeyup,” confirmed Big Mac.
In a flash Applejack was nose to nose with Big Mac, fire burning in her eyes. “You slept with Rainbow Dash!?”
“Well... eeyup.”
She recoiled for a moment before her deadly glare returned. “Big Mac! How could you do such a foolish thing like that! Sleepin’ with somepony else behind Sugar Belle’s back! You said you loved her – wanted to marry her. If ma and pa were here,” she shook her head, “they’d be so ashamed.”
Big Mac stuttered, “App–”
She turned to her friend hovering above, her face now a mix of anger and with deep pain. “And you! How dare you sleep with my brother when you know he’s seein’ another mare.”
“Me!?” Rainbow Dash yelled.
“Yeah! What were you thinkin’!”
“I don’t even remember it!”
“Oh, so you were wasted after one of your Wonderbolt parties? Ya think that makes everythin’ alright!”
“Hey! I didn’t get drunk last night!”
“So you were high or somethin’!”
“Applejack!” he yelled. She glanced back to the stallion, who shared a similar angry glare. “Yer problem is with me. Leave her out of this. Ah don’t want ya talkin’ like that to mah wife.”
“Your wife!”
“Yes, mah wife.”
“What are you talkin’ about, Big Mac?”
“We’ve been married six months.”
“No you haven’t!”
“Thank you!” chimed in Rainbow Dash.
Applejack shot her an angry look.
Big Mac said, “Ah don’t know what’s goin’ on. Rainbow couldn’t remember our marriage and now you can’t. We’re tryin’ to find out what’s goin’ on.”
Applejack glanced between the two of them, studying them carefully. Finally, she said flatly, “Fine. Let’s see if Twilight can help.” She began hauling the cart down the road.
The two looked at each other, before following after her.
Rainbow dashed ahead, and Big Mac pulled up next to Applejack. After a while, he said, “Applejack?”
“Eeyup?” she replied in a neutral tone.
“Since when do you where hats?”
Applejack’s eyes grew wide. “What you talkin’ about?”
“You hate anythin’ havin’ ta do with fashion. Ah ain’t never seen you in a hat, or anythin’ else for that matter, unless yer forced to wear somethin’ by Rarity.”
Applejack shook her head. “Okay, now Ah’m sure somethin’s wrong with you.”
Rounding a corner, they saw Rainbow Dash standing in the path motionless, staring off into the distance.
“What’s wrong Rainbow?” asked Applejack.
“It’s – gone.”
Taking a look ahead, Applejack came to a stop. “Celestia....”
Big Mac asked, “What’s gone?”
“Twilight’s castle,” replied Rainbow.
“Twilight has a castle?”
“Yeah, it grew out of the ground from the Tree of Harmony.”
“Uh – if’n you say so.”
“Rainbow, lookie there,” said Applejack, motioning off to the side. “The school’s gone too. Do ya –” she gulped. “Do ya think we’re under attack or somethin’?”
“It couldn’t be that. There’s no rubble or anything. Maybe somepony went back in time and erased everything? Do you think...?”
Applejack shook her head. “Starlight’s our friend. If somepony changed the past, Ah don’t think it was her.... But how can we remember?” Both mares turned towards Big Mac. “Do ya suppose he’s been affected?”
“That would explain everything.”
As the two mares continued to stare at him, he shook his head. “Ah can’t believe what Ah’m hearin’. Ya really think somepony went back in time to get rid of some sort of magical castle that grew from the ground?” He turned and headed towards Ponyville.
“Where are ya goin?” called Applejack.
“Ah’m goin’ ta talk to somepony who will know what’s really goin’ on ’round here!”
Without another word, Big Mac marched towards Ponyville. Applejack trotted behind, pulling her loaded wagon while Rainbow flew beside her. Big Mac navigated the streets as a stallion on a mission, letting nothing or nopony get in his way.
Rainbow Dash leaned over to Applejack. “Do you know where he’s leading us?”
“Nope. This isn’t the way to Rarity’s or Sugarcube Corner. Ah’m not sure who he has in mind.”
Big Mac made a sharp right turn onto Stirrup Street and the two mares followed him around the corner. Both came to a dead stop at the sight before them.
“Is that what I think it is?” asked Rainbow as she landed on her hooves, too shocked to remain in the air.
“It cain’t be. We must be seein’ things!” replied Applejack, rubbing her eyes.
Big Mac glanced behind, “Come on! What’re y’all waitin’ for?” He turned and continued his march towards the Golden Oaks Library.
Outside the hollowed-out tree stood a mob of ponies, talking amongst themselves or clamoring for a glimpse through the windows. Upon hearing the heavy hoofsteps of Big Mac approaching, Lyra turned around. “Big Mac! Do you know why the library’s back?”
“Nnope!”
More of the crowd turned around, catching sight of the two mares following behind. They unleashed a torrent of questions upon the pair: “Rainbow Dash! What’s going on?” “Applejack, why’s the library back?” “What does this mean?” “Are we under some sort of magical spell?” “Can the Elements fix this? “Why are my roses blue?” “Why aren’t they answering our questions?”
Applejack addressed the crowd, “Now lookie here, we’re here to find out ourselves. If y’all excuse us, we might be able to fix whatever’s happening.”
Big Mac pushed his way to the front of the crowd. Knock! Knock! Nothing. Knock! Knock! Again he waited, and again nothing. Pound! Pound! Pound! The hinges strained under the force. After a moment, it opened to reveal Spike. “I told you all to go – Big Mac! Applejack! Rainbow Dash!”
“Spike,” said Big Mac flatly.
The young dragon stepped aside. “Come in. Sorry. We’re getting mobbed this morning.” Big Mac walked inside followed by Rainbow Dash and, after unhitching herself from the wagon, Applejack. Spike slammed the door before anypony else could enter.
Twilight entered the foyer. “Spike, I said not to – oh. Good morning,” she said sheepishly.
“Twilight,” acknowledged Big Mac.
“Twilight, what’s goin’ on?” demanded Applejack. “First somethin’s wrong with Big Mac, now the library’s back.”
“Something is wrong with Big Mac? Please tell me.”
“Well –” he started, but stopped when another pony entered the room.
“Sunset Shimmer!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
“Hello,” she said with a weak smile.
Narrowing her eyes, Applejack demanded, “Are you behind this?”
“Me!?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Why would you think I’m causing all of this?”
“Well, the last time we saw you, you were trying to steal Twilight’s crown so you could enslave another dimension,” explained Rainbow Dash in an isn’t it obvious? tone.
Sunset turned to Twilight, who awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. “Sunset, there’s probably some things you should know.”
“No kidding,” Sunset deadpanned.
“Guys, we were going to hear what’s wrong with Big Mac,” reminded Spike.
“Yes, of course,” said Twilight.
“Well, nothin’s really wrong with me, but somethin’s wrong with these two,” he motioned to the mares who’d accompanied him, causing them to let out gasps of surprise. “Neither of them can remember my marriage to Rainbow Dash.”
“Since when are you married to Rainbow Dash?” clarified Twilight.
“Six months if I remember correctly,” said Sunset Shimmer.
“So you do know what’s goin’ on!” exclaimed Applejack.
“Yeah, spill it,” ordered Rainbow Dash. “I want to know why I found –” She quickly covered her mouth as her cheeks went red.
“Why you found, what?” asked Sunset.
“Not important!” she shot back. “Just tell us what’s going on.”
Sunset turned to Twilight, “Should you or I?”
Knock! Knock!
“Who could that be?” muttered Twilight. “Spike, I thought you told the crowd outside we were not to be disturbed?”
Spike trotted to the door and opened it. “Rarity!”
Rarity strode inside. “Twilight, there you are. I tried finding you at your castle, but it was gone!”
“You have a castle?” asked Sunset to Twilight.
“Yeah, it’s probably one of those things I should tell you about.”
“Twilight!” shouted Rarity with a stomp of her hoof, causing everyone to turn towards her.
“Yes?”
“I demand an explanation!”
“Well, the library –”
“Not the library!” Rarity shrieked.
“Then what?” asked Twilight, cocking her head.
“This!” Rarity stepped aside to reveal a unicorn foal, with a white coat and a pinkish-purplish mane.
“Sweetie Belle?”
“It’s Silver Belle!” he corrected. “Why does everypony keep calling me ‘Sweetie’?”
“Because that’s your name!” cried Rarity.
“No it’s not!” he huffed.
“Rarity?” urged Twilight.
“I wake up this morning to find – him – sleeping in Sweetie Belle’s bed!”
“It’s Silver Belle! Sunset, my sister’s acting all crazy this morning.”
“Me!? Crazy!? How am I supposed to react when I find my little sister has changed into a colt?”
“I’ve always been a colt!”
“No you haven’t!”
“Yes I have!”
“Then how do you explain us competing in the Sisterhooves Social two years ago?”
“Applejack thought it would be a good way to bond. And the Apple family has a really liberal definition of ‘sister’.”
“Eeyup,” confirmed Big Mac, who was met with an angry glare by Rarity.
“Well, what about the Grand Galloping Gala?” pressed Rarity. “I made you the most adorable little dress.”
“It was a suit! Why would I wear a dress? I’m a colt.”
“Rarity! Sweet – Silver Belle!” interrupted Twilight. Both turned to look at the alicorn. “There’s something I should tell you – all of you. You see –” Bang! The door flung open and slammed against the wall. “Now what!?” she exclaimed.
A white rabbit hopped inside.
“Angel?”
The rabbit began leaping up and down in excitement.
“Is something a matter?”
The rabbit nodded vigorously.
“What?”
He pointed behind him.
“I don’t understand.”
He turned and leapt out the door. A moment later a mare entered, pushed by Angel.
“Fluttershy!” cried Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Rainbow and Applejack in unison.
The yellow pegasus stood before them. She wore pink shorts with a purple jacket and matching hat. Around her neck was a green-and-white polka dot scarf and glasses sat on the tip of her snout. “Like, yeah,” she replied, the annoyance pervading her voice.
“What are you wearing?” laughed Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah, you look ridiculous in that outfit,” added Applejack.
“That ensemble happens to come from my Manehattan store,” said Rarity in a clipped tone.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack exchanged embarrassed glances between themselves.
“It’s the ‘in’ thing, you know?” she replied, twirling her mane in her right hoof.
“What happened to you?” asked Twilight.
“So last night, I went to bed, and this morning, I was like, ‘this isn’t my apartment.’ It kind of freaked me out, you know? And then this cat –”
“– Rabbit –” corrected Twilight.
“– Like, whatever, started acting totally weird. He dragged me over to this bookstore–”
“–Library–”
“–Whatever. So, can you like, tell me how I ended up here?”
All heads turned to Twilight. “Well... you see...” She began rubbing the back of her neck. “Last night... Starlight Glimmer –”
“Starlight Glimmer?” asked a confused Sunset.
“Yeah, she was my personal student. It’s –”
“Probably one of those things you should tell me about,” finished Sunset with a sigh.
“Yeah. Anyways, Starlight Glimmer and I tried opening a portal to another dimension. We had studied the mirror to Canterlot High thoroughly, so we thought we understood it. We were successful in opening the portal... but it had unintended effects.”
“What kind of effects?” pressed Applejack.
“You see, there was an... imbalance between the two dimensions. I managed to close the portal before it was too late, but not before some elements of the parallel dimension had come through.”
“So what your saying is that this ‘Big Mac’ – is a parallel Big Mac?”
“And Sweetie Belle?” asked Rarity.
Silver Belle huffed at her choice of words.
“And Fluttershy and Sunset?” asked Rainbow.
“Yes.”
Silence fell over the library for a long time.
“So, can you like, get us back home already?” asked Fluttershy.
“Sunset and I have been working on it,” replied Twilight. “I’ve also asked Spike to send some letters so we can get some help.”
Applejack choked, “What... what about our Big Mac?”
“And Sweetie Belle?” asked Rarity.
“We’ll do everything we can to bring them back safely,” confirmed Twilight.
Looking around, Rainbow asked, “Say, where’s Starlight? Shouldn’t she be helping to clean up this mess?”
Twilight frowned, “I believe she’s with the others.”
“Oh.”
“How long will this take, Twilight?” asked Rarity. “My parents are returning Monday, and I want them to come home to the filly they left, not the – ahem – colt who I found this morning.”
“The others should be here this evening, so that will give us the weekend to find an answer.” Looking around at the concerned faces of her friends, she said, “I know you are all anxious, but you need to sit tight for now. We’ll do everything possible to get this resolved as soon as possible.”
Rarity turned to the colt next to her. “Sweet – Silver Belle. Since there’s nothing to be done, let’s go back to the boutique.”
“Okay.”
“An we’ve got a lot of work to do at the farm,” said Big Mac to Applejack.
“Actually...,” she hesitated. “Maybe you could go with Rarity?” She shot the unicorn a pleading look. “Ah really would like ta explain things to Bloom first.”
“Oh... Ah understand,” said the crestfallen stallion.
Fluttershy asked, “Like, can I come too. I don’t really like animals and, you know, that house it totally overrun.”
Rarity forced a smile. “Of course. You two are welcome to come to my house.” She led the way, with most ponies following her out the door.
Twilight turned to Angel. “You’re going to be in charge of the Sanctuary until we can get the real Fluttershy back.”
The bunny saluted and hopped out the door.
After the door finally shut, Spike turned to Twilight, “That went better than I thought.”
“Yeah. We’ve really got to fix this. Come on Sunset, we’ve got a lot of work to do before Starswirl the Bearded and Sunburst arrive.”
“Starswirl! Sunburst! You’ve really got to fill me in on what’s going on around here!”
The group exited the library and entered the torrent of a large crowd that refused to disperse. Declining to answer questions, the group pushed through to the open street. Angel turned and hopped down the road to the animal sanctuary. Hitching herself to the wagon, Applejack trotted off to the market. And Rarity started off towards her boutique, the others in tow.
“Big Mac? Can I... speak to you for a minute in private?” asked Rainbow Dash quietly.
The others stopped in their tracks.
“Uh – sure.” Turning to the other three ponies, he said, “Go on. Ah’ll catch up.”
Rarity nodded and shepherded the others off to her home.
Rainbow led Big Mac to a back alley, where they could expect a semblance of privacy. She shifted uneasily, looking down at the ground.
“So... the Rainbow Dash you slept with last night....”
“Was mah wife,” he finished.
“Big Mac, I’m... sorry about earlier. I –”
“Ah forgive ya,” he said calmly.
She looked up into his eyes. “How can you so easily? After all the terrible things I said.”
“Ah know it was a shock to find me in your bed. You had ev’ry right to be angry. Ah’m sorry Ah yelled too.”
She let slip a trace of a smile and he turned away.
“Big Mac?”
Never looking back, he said, “Ah’m sorry. You... you just remind me too much of her.”
“I’m sorry too.”
Looking off towards the road, he said, “Ah’d best be catching up with the others.”
“Yeah. I’m late for the Wonderbolts anyways. So... I guess I’ll see you around?”
“Eeyup,” his voice cracked.
Rainbow Dash took off into the sky, soaring higher and higher. She flew towards the Wonderbolt training facility but then circled back around. Looking down, she saw Big Mac still in the alley, head hung low. She frowned and continued to circle, but finally shook her head and resumed her course to the horizon at full speed.
Normally the flight to the Wonderbolts training facility was too short. It never allowed time for a good workout or trying new tricks. Usually all it was good for was a descent warmup before practice. But today.... today Rainbow Dash wished her commute didn’t feel like it was dragging on forever. All she wanted to do was train with her teammates and preparing for the next performance. Instead, she found her mind wandering back to Ponyville and to – No! She wasn’t going to think about him. Time to get focused, get in the zone. She was already running late, but usually her teammates understood when informed of some Equestria-threatening emergency that she, as an Element of Harmony, got dragged into. But this... this would be a bit harder to explain.
Bursting through a cloudbank, the towering mesa that held the training facility came into view. Rainbow Dash laid on the speed. The air piled up in front of her into a massive bow wave. The wave became a wall holding her back, but with an extra burst of speed she broke through. Boom! A sonic rainboom! Not a bad way to announce your arrival.
Rainbow Dash swooped in and came to an abrupt stop on the flight line. Glancing around, she spotted Spitfire in a heated exchange with a gray mare. Rainbow hurried over.
“Get out of here!” yelled Spitfire.
“But –” the mare protested.
“If you don’t leave in five seconds, so help me Celestia.” Catching sight of Rainbow, she barked, “Crash! Where the hell have you been? Oh never mind. Get into uniform and get out there!” she ordered, pointing to the squad already practicing.
Rainbow started towards the locker room. The gray mare turned, and Rainbow came to a dead stop. “Derpy?”
The gray mare huffed, “It’s Muffins! Why does everybody think I changed my name!”
“You know her Crash?” asked a still irritated Spitfire.
“Uh – yeah. She’s –”
“Then would mind explaining to your friend she’s not a Wonderbolt!” yelled Spitfire.
“Der... Muffins. You’re not on the squad. And –”
“Rainbow! How could you say that! We went through the Academy together!”
“No we didn’t.”
“Yeah, I’d remember if you had come through here,” confirmed Spitfire.
Hurt filled Muffins’ face. “Rainbow, you know me. We’ve been best friends since we were foals. Why are you lying?”
“I’m not lying!” Suddenly, she took a closer look at the gray mare. “Wait! Tell me more.”
“Crash, I don’t think –” A shocked Spitfire was suddenly silenced by a raised hoof from Rainbow.
“I’ve been a Wonderbolt for a year now. We’ve been wing ponies since we joined. Why are you denying it?”
“Muffins, do you know a Silver Belle?”
“Rarity’s little brother? Sure.”
Rainbow rubbed her head. “I think I’m going to get a headache.”
“Crash, where are you going with this?”
Rainbow shook her head. “She’s a Wonderbolt.”
“Crash!”
“I mean the other Wonderbolts.”
“What are you going on about?” demanded Spitfire.
“Let’s go inside. You’re going to have to sit down for this one.”
Ding-A-Ling! jingled the bell above the front door to Carousel Boutique, proclaiming the arrival of the strangest assortment of ponies ever to grace its premises. Rarity stepped inside, followed by three unhappy-looking ponies. She quickly shut the door and locked it behind them, making sure the store sign read “Closed”. An awkward silence hung over the room as everypony stood around looking at each other. “Well... here we are,” she finally announced.
“Like, duh,” said Fluttershy.
“Yeah, I’ve been here before,” added Silver Belle.
“Eeyup,” finished Big Mac.
Examining her odd company, she suggested, “Perhaps we should go to the back where we can be comfortable?”
“Rarity?”
Turning to her pseudo-little brother, she responded, “Yes, Silver Belle?”
“Shouldn’t... you know... I go to school?”
She hesitated, “Well....” Though getting an education was important, she wasn’t sure how she could ever possibly explain this to Cheerilee. It would also worry Sweetie’s friends to learn their friend had disappeared, causing fear and panic to sweep the school and then all of Ponyville, which already lay on edge from the reapperance of the Golden Oak Library. “We’ll call today a sick day.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’m not sick!” he angrily protested.
“You’re absolutely right,” she quickly corrected herself. “But... I’m not sure there is a really good description for a day such as... today.”
“Won’t I get behind?”
Rarity thought for a moment. “It’s Friday. If it’s anything like when I was a filly, there’s nothing new covered.”
“I guess you’re right. Mister Breeze likes to spend Fridays reviewing stuff and assigning homework for the weekend.”
“Mr. Breeze?” Rarity repeated.
“Yeah?”
“As in Zephyr Breeze?”
“Yeah?” replied Silver Belle, cocking his head.
“Eeyup,” verified Big Mac.
Rarity looked to Fluttershy for confirmation.
The pegasus rolled her eyes and huffed, “He for some reason likes it here in the sticks.”
“Oh, uh –” Had it been anypony else, Rarity would have been greatly insulted at such a discription of her hometown. However, she had to remind herself that this Fluttershy was displaced from her home and likely needing a way to vent her frustrations.
“I, like, have this hip studio apartment on the upper west side,” continued the pegasus.
“Of course....” Eyeing the outfit again, she asked, “So, do you shop at my Manehattan boutique a lot?”
“Yeah, I like totally use the employee discount.”
“Em-Employee discount?” Rarity stuttered.
“Like, that’s what I said.”
Rarity rubbed her head. “I think we all better have a chat to find out how our Equestrias are different. Would anypony else care for some tea?”
“Eeyup.”
Silver Belle shrugged, “I guess.”
Rarity turned to Fluttershy.
“Like, could I have a cosmo?”
Rarity balked, “You mean a CosMare?”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes again. “I don’t want a magazine, I want a cosmo. You know, a cosmopolitan.”
“You drink!”
“Like, yeah. It’s Friday, which is my normal day to go barhopping with the girls.”
Rarity returned a blank stare.
“If you don’t know how to make it, I could tell you how,” offered Fluttershy.
“Isn’t – isn’t it a bit early to start drinking? It’s only nine o’clock in the morning.”
“It’s got juice in it, I think. Like, maybe cranberry and lemon? My memories of bartenders making them are like, hazy. Besides, I’m sure it’s five o’clock somewhere, or whatever time the bars open around here. Plus, it would, like, totally help me relax.”
Rarity sighed. “No, I will not make you a cosmopolitan.”
“So uncool.” Noticing the glare she received from the unicorn, Fluttershy said, “Like, fine. I’ll have some tea. But, could it, like, be a Long Island ice tea?”
Rarity shook her head, “I’m sorry, I actually don’t keep any alcohol here.”
“W-T-F. You’re so lame,” she whined. “My manager is so cool and in with it.”
“And who’s your manager pray tell?” she asked, ushering the other two into the kitchen.
“Like, Rarity.”
Rarity stopped dead in her tracks, halfway into the other room. “Me?”
“Duh. Rarity loves to drink, though she’s a bit snobby about it. She only drinks the expensive stuff from Neighpa Valley.” Suddenly Fluttershy’s face lit up. “I know! You should totally pick up drinking. I can help you with that.”
Rarity continued into the kitchen. “Dear, I have all that I can handle at the moment. Adding alcohol to the mix would only make things worse.”
“Whatever.” Fluttershy took a seat at the table along with the other two displaced ponies.
The room remained mostly quiet as Rarity prepared the tea, giving her a much-needed moment to catch her breath. Dealing with the other three – well, maybe not Big Mac – was extremely stressful. But shortly her respite was over, and she joined the others.
“So, perhaps I should start with telling you about our Equestria?” proposed Rarity.
“Okay,” said Silver Belle.
“Whatever. Just make it quick.” Fluttershy seemed completely disinterested in the change of topic. Or perhaps she was still unhappy about the lack of booze in Carousel Boutique.
“Well, let’s see....” Rarity took a sip of her tea as she thought of a suitable starting point. “Long ago we had six Pillars, who helped bring order to Equestria: Starswirl the Bearded, Rockhoof, Mage Meadow–”
“We, like, had the Pillars too,” criticized Fluttershy.
“Oh... so you also rescued them from limbo?”
“Okay... so maybe we don’t know, like, everything about the Pillars.”
“Well, they were sent to limbo,” continued Rarity. “When they disappeared, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna came to power. They defeated Discord who caused mayhem throughout Equestria. The two princesses ruled together, until Luna became jealous and turned into Nightmare Moon. Princess Celestia had no choice but to use the Elements of Harmony to banish her sister to the moon.” She paused to ensure everypony had followed her to this point. “A thousand years later, during the Summer Sun Celebration, Nightmare Moon returned. Six of us found the Elements of Harmony and became the Bearers: Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic –”
“Twilight?” confimed Big Mac.
“Yes?... Applejack, the Element of Honesty. Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter. Fluttershy –”
“Like, me?”
Doing her best to contain her rising annoyance with the pegasus, Rarity replied, “Like, yes you. Our Fluttershy became the Element of Kindness.”
“Like, so weird.”
Ignoring her, Rarity continued, “And I became the Element of Generosity.”
“You!” cried an incredulous Silver.
“Yes?”
“You are the Element of Generousity!?”
“Yes Silver,” confirmed Rarity, a little unsettled with what he was implying. “We used the Elements to defeat Nightmare Moon. Twilight stayed in Ponyville to study friendship and became librarian at the Golden Oak Library. Things were quiet, for the most part, until Discord returned. He attempted to take over Equestria, but we stopped him.” Again, Rarity paused to make sure everyone was following. “Then there was Cadence and Shining Armor’s wedding, which coincided with a changeling invasion. After their honeymoon, those two were sent to rule the Crystal Empire, while King Sombra returned and tried to seize to power. What else....” She took a sip of tea as she thought. “Oh yes, Twilight accidentally swapped our cutie marks, but she fixed it and became an alicorn. Then –”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” interupted Silver Belle.
“Yes, dear?”
“You mean Twilight became an alicorn for fixing a problem she created?”
Rarity hesitated, “Well, I wouldn’t put it quite like that. She actually completed a spell by Starswirl the Bearded.”
“You mean the one Sunset’s been workin’ on for the past two years?” asked Big Mac.
“Sunset?” questioned Rarity.
“Eeyup.”
“I don’t know. Perhaps?” After a pause, she continued, “Next we defeated Tirek who had escaped from Tartarus. Then the map sent us to a village where Starlight Glimmer stole everypony’s cutie mark. Starlight Glimmer came back seeking revenge, using a time spell to change history. But Twilight and Spike reformed her.”
“Wasn’t it Starlight that opened the portal that brought us here?” asked Silver.
“Yes, she and Twilight.”
“Maybe you would have been better off throwing her in a dungeon and throwing away the key.”
“Silver Belle!” snapped Rarity. “She a good friend who just happened to cause this accident.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s okay,” he grumbled, crossing his forelegs.
Rarity, though disturbed by Silver’s reaction, struggled to continue. “Let’s see, Cadence and Shining Armor had a foal, who destroyed the Crystal Heart and nearly brought about eternal winter. Then we had the second changeling invasion –”
Big Mac’s jaw dropped. “You had two?”
“Yes.”
Big Mac shook his head in disgust.
“Then we had the Storm King invasion –”
“You, like, are invaded a lot,” said Fluttershy.
Rarity sighed, “Yes, I’m afraid so.” She sipped her tea to regain her train of thought. “What else.... We opened a school to teach friendship across Equestria.”
“The school’s gone,” observed Big Mac.
Slouching, Rarity lamented, “Yes. I’m afraid it is. I saw Twilight’s castle had vanished when I was trying to find out about Swee– Silver Belle. Well, those are the major events in Equestria. For us, Rainbow Dash became a Wonderbolt a year ago... Fluttershy opened an animal sanctuary...”
“Like, eww!” complained the pegasus.
“...and she also befriended Discord...”
“He came back!?” cried Silver.
“Actually Princess Celestia had him set free, so we could reform him.”
Big Mac shook his head in disgust.
“As for me,” continued Rarity, “I opened two other boutiques.”
“Only two?” clarified Silver.
“Why, yes. How many does your sister have?”
Silver shrugged. “I don’t know... thirty or forty.”
“Thirty or forty! How does she manage so many!” cried Rarity.
Silver rubbed his chin as he thought for a moment. “Well, she spends a lot of time working. And she has a lot of help. She does the designs, but most of the sewing and running the stores is done by her staff.”
Without thinking, Rarity banged her hoof on the table. “But sewing is one of the joys of being in the fashion industry!”
Silver shrugged. “Not to her.”
“Dear....” Rarity sat back in her chair in shock. How could her parallel self be so... wayward?
After a while, Big Mac asked, “Should we tell you ’bout our Equestira?”
Snapping to the moment, she said, “Yes, I would like to know more.”
“A lot of it is like your Equestria. We ’ad the pillars. When they disappeared, Queen Celestia and Princess Luna took over, before Luna turned into the Nightmare and was sent to the moon.”
“Queen Celestia?” clarified Rarity.
“Eeyup.”
Silver Belle nodded in agreement while Fluttershy gazed about the room completely disinterested.
“When Nightmare Moon came back, Queen Celestia sent Sunset Shimmer to find the Elements of Harmony. She became the Element of Magic, mah wife the Element of Loyalty, Applejack: Honesty, Pinkie: Laughter, Redheart: Kindness, and Cheerilee: Generosity.”
“Really?” asked Rarity as she sipped her tea.
“Eeyup. Discord came back but them all turned him to stone. An’ he’s still a stone statue. After ’im the changelings invaded once, but we don’t ’ave ta worry ’bout them no more.”
“So you reformed them?”
“Reform them?” asked Silver.
“Yes. A changeling named Thorax helped the changelings become good,” explained Rarity.
“Nnope,” said Big Mac. “Queen Celestia led the army to their hive an’ wiped ’em out.”
“Wiped them out? As in – ”
“Ain’t no changelings left.”
Crash! Rarity’s teacup shattered upon the floor.
“You – You exterminated the changeling race?”
“Nnope – not me personally. Royal Army did.”
“The changelings put up quite the fight,” added Silver.
Rarity rubbed her head. “I... I just cannot believe Princess Celestia would do such a thing.”
“What were we supposed to do? They declared war on us.”
Rarity sighed, “I can sympathize, but still... killing all of them?”
“Queen Celestia did what she ’ad ta do,” explained Big Mac. After a tense silence, he continued. “Don’t know what yer talkin’ ’bout with this Crystal Empire. Never heard of it. Nor this Tirek or Starlight Glimmer. As fer the Storm King, we invaded his lands and got rid of that menace. An’ a whole lot of folks were happy for it.” He thought for a moment, “Other than that, not sure of too many other differences between our worlds. Can you Silver?”
“Well,” began the little unicorn, “you forgot to mention our other wars.”
“Other wars?” asked Rarity.
“After the changeling invasion, we wanted to keep ourselves safe. So we wiped out the changelings, overthrew the Storm King, an’ conquered the Dragon Lands, Griffonstone, Yakyakistan, and Saddle Arabia.”
“My....”
A tense silence hung over the room. Nopony knew what to say or wanted to be the first to speak. Finally, Silver spoke, “So now what?”
“Pardon, dear?”
“What are we supposed to do now?”
“We will just have to wait until Twilight and Sunset find a way to safely open a portal to your world.”
Silver shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. Since I can’t go to school, what am I supposed to do?”
“Oh....” Rarity paused in thought. “Well... you’re more than welcome to spend time in Sweetie’s room. She has a collection of books you can peruse or you can read any of mine. Many of them are business related, though I do have a number of Shadow Spade books.”
“Okay,” said Silver, getting up from his seat and heading out of the kitchen.
“Fluttershy?”
“Yeah?” replied the pegasus.
“Perhaps you’d like to look at some of my latest designs?”
“Not really.”
“I see.... Would you like to look at my fashion magazines?”
“Not really.”
“Is there something you’d like to do while we wait?”
“Yeah.”
“Please tell me it doesn’t involve hitting the bars.”
“Oh... that’s still a no then?”
“Yes.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “So uncool.”
Rarity turned to the other occupant of the kitchen. “Big Mac, what would you like to do?”
“Well....” He thought for a moment. “Ah’d like to be useful. Ah know Ah cain’t work on the farm. Is there somethin’ y’all need help with?”
“Me?”
“Eeyup.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Need help with the fashion?”
“Do you have any experience in the industry?”
“Nope.”
“That would be problematic....”
Big Mac’s face fell.
Rarity quickly added, “Well, I could use your help with some new stallion’s clothing. Perhaps I can get your opinion?”
Big Mac perked up, “Eeyup.”
Rarity stood from her chair, gathering some towels to clean up her broken cup on the floor. “Fluttershy, Big Mac and I will be upstairs in my inspiration room. If you should need anything, please come see me.”
