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It was one of those days that started out seeming like just another normal day like any other.
They were all fine, each going about their daily business, when Spike ran to Twilight with a message from Princess Celestia.
- Equestria... - He began, stopping to take a breath. - ...need us.
Twilight understood instantly and ran to call her friends.
As soon as everyone was gathered together, they ran to catch the first train that could take them to Canterlot.
- What will it be this time? Manic pony-eating penguins? Or perhaps a villain who is trying to destroy all of Equestria? - Rainbow asked, punching the air with an excited smile.
- Or! Or! Or perhaps it will be a villain who will cause our system to destabilize and ultimately end up with what we are exchanged for, which will create confusion and a disturbance in our destinies and, therefore, in our cutie marks, preventing us from saving Equestria. - Pinkie stated, jumping from where she was, with a huge smile.
Rainbow looked at her strangely.
- This has happened to us before, Pinkie. - She dismissed the idea.
- I'm not sure if we should be excited about this. - Twilight says, with concern.
- Worried, perhaps? - Rarity says, looking up from the magazine she was reading.
- I think that, regardless of what it is, we will be able to discover a solution. - Applejack encouraged them, patting Twilight on the back.
It didn't take long to arrive in Canterlot and they soon ran to the palace.
- So, princess, how can we help? - Twilight exclaimed, opening the gates with a single thump.
- Hello girls. Well, it's an unicorn...
- Have you noticed that it's always an unicorn? - Pinkie whispered, suspicious.
- I perceived. - Fluttershy commented, softly.
- This is an affront! - Rarity exclaimed, catching the royal's attention. She turned red, before saying: - You can return your explanation, your highness.
- Well, he's been causing problems for passersby between Canterlot and Crystal Empire, transforming their essence into something other than what they are.
- Their essence? - Princess Celestia's pupil asked, without understanding.
- Yes. There were situations in which pegasus became earth ponies and another case in which a unicorn gained wings.
- Became an alicorn? - Twilight asked, eyes widening.
- No. He lost his horn in exchange for his wings.
- I WARNED! I WARNED! - Pinkie hummed, jumping around the room. Rainbow looked in shock and open-mouthed at the pink pony for getting it right.
- I don't know why you're still surprised. - Applejack commented, finding her shock amusing.
- His name is Swap Token. And reports say he transforms with just his words. - The princess warned, before sighing with regret. - We don't accompany you, as we don't know what its effects can have on us.
- Yes, yes, this could change you and influence the entire kingdom! - Twilight exclaimed, with a desperate expression.
- That's why I ask you to capture him as quickly as possible. I'm counting on you girls. - The princess asked, looking at them with confidence.
- Don't worry, princess! Let's find a solution. - Twilight promised, before leaving there. - Do you know where we're going now? - She asked with her eyes shining.
- To the coffee shop? Joe's store? A pool??! - Pinkie asked, increasingly excited.
- No! Let's go to the library. - Twilight says, knowing that if there was any place to learn about this new villain, it would be in the library.
°°°
- I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING! - It was Twilight's disturbed scream, already disheveled and panting.
- Calm down, sugarcube, we can still find something. - Applejack consoled her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
- I think we should go and settle this with a few punches. It should be enough. - Rainbow argued, once again punching the air.
- Will you please shut up, Rainbow Dash? - Applejack asked, looking at her madly.
- No, but do you want to know? She's right. - Twilight says, suddenly standing up with a hopeful look. - We have saved Equestria many times before and only with the power of our friendship.
- Actually, there was a bit of studying too... - Pinkie replied, thoughtfully.
- For even Pinkie to be acting rationally, I feel like something is going to go very wrong. - Rarity predicted, with trepidation.
- I've always been someone rational! - The pink pony exclaimed, offended.
Well. Here's the group's situation now:
They were in the middle of a desert with a lot of wind, constantly getting sand in their eyes, as it was summer and the path would not be covered with the snow from before.
- Are you sure we're not heading south, honey? -Rarity asked, before screaming for her hair to be disheveled once again.
- Absolutely sure. - Twilight assured, trying to read something through her map, which kept moving due to the wind. - We are close to the place where Princess Celestia said the attacks were carried out, but I can't see it...
- Transform... - Everyone heard the whisper and got scared, looking around.
- Did you hear what I heard? - Fluttershy asks, cowering where she was, next to Twilight.
- Yes, I...
The wind began to circulate around them, forming a barrier, so that they could not see what was outside.
- Transform... - The voice sounded louder, before all the wind stopped for good.
A hooded unicorn was now in front of them, disguising itself with the local sand.
- Transform... - He spoke clearly, raising one of his paws towards them.
- Seriously that his power is said by a single word? - Rainbow scoffed, mockingly.
- The writer of this chapter must not be very creative. - Pinkie murmured, with some laughs.
- What did you say? - The blue pony asked.
- Is this really the time to talk about this kind of thing? We could die here! - Twilight shouted for her friends to stop arguing.
- For elements of harmony, you are quite contradictory. - The pony replied, seeing the curious interaction of the six. Five, if we were to disregard the presence of the one that trembled with her head between her paws.
- He speaks! - Applejack shouted in surprise.
- We heard him speak for the first time, Applejack. - Rainbow says sarcastically.
- You understood what I meant. - The blonde sent a sharp look at the one who was flying.
- We've never been able to beat a villain on the first try, really. - Pinkie resigned herself, closing her eyes calmly.
Rarity sighed dramatically.
- I agree, darling. I agree.
And in the middle of the others' discussion, they didn't realize when the spell was cast:
- Transform...
They felt a slight shock and then a softening of their limbs, until they felt the weight of sleep carry them away.
°°°
- Oh, no, what happened? - Twilight asks herself, trying to understand the huge headache she felt.
She opened her eyes slowly, seeing her friends around her, also slowly waking up.
This reminded her of what happened, so she stood up, worried sick.
- Girls! Everything is fine? - She ran to Fluttershy who was closer and shook her.
- What is happening? - Rainbow asked, standing up and feeling dizzy.
Twilight shook her head, confused, then said:
- I don't know, I thought he changed our brands, but I don't see it...
- My wings! - Rainbow shouted. - Where are my wings??
The purple unicorn looked up in shock.
Understanding what was happening, she put her hooves on her forehead.
- My horn! - Regretted the lack of it.
She soon observed what was happening to the girls around her.
They got up, waking up little by little and although at first glance there was nothing wrong, it was soon possible to notice the difference.
- What is this I'm feeling? - Pinkie muttered in shock. She made something jiggle at the thought and it made her freeze in place.
- It's okay, Pinkie, we'll work this out, are you-
- I HAVE WINGS! - She shouted, excited, looking at the wings she had, which were flapping agitatedly at the moment.
- I don't feel like myself, I have something stuck to my forehead! - Rainbow exclaimed, hiding what she had on her forehead between her hooves.
- You had two things stuck to your back and I never saw you complaining. - Rarity says testing the beautiful wings she had. - I think I'm in love. - She smoothed her new wing, bringing it close.
- In the end, this curse doesn't change our cutie marks. It only changes our physical form. - Applejack noted, raising one of her wings to show that she still had her own mark.
Rainbow Dash found herself gaping.
- Do you have wings?? - She exclaimed, surprised.
I mean, of course everyone there has changed, but still, seeing Applejack like that...
- Apparently yes. - She shrugged, but then smiled sideways at Rainbow. - Who knows, maybe if you had yours on now, we wouldn't be able to have a proper competition.
Saying that she felt dizzy would be small for the blue pony at that moment.
- Are you sure this doesn't cause any side effects? I'm feeling panicked at the moment. - She commented, feeling her heart beating faster.
- Not because of the research I carried out with those affected. - Twilight says, observing her friends as a whole. - And you, Fluttershy? Do you feel good?
- Yes. Nothing different. - The pony smiled, now being an Earth pony.
- The only thing we can do now is find a way to reverse this so that we are not harmed.
- I don't see any damage! - Pinkie commented, doing a somersault in the sky.
- How did you learn to do this so quickly?? - Rainbow asks, in shock.
She heard laughter next to her and soon saw Applejack smiling at her.
She swallowed, feeling nervous.
- Calm down, sugarcube, you're more shocked than the chicks on the farm.
- It's just... - She took a deep breath, deciding to go back to acting as usual. - Well, it doesn't matter. I doubt you will, anyway.
Rainbow heard another laugh, this time bolder.
- Do you doubt that I can fly like you?
A cocky smile settled on Dash's face.
- I didn't mean that, after all it's impossible to fly like me. I meant doing a somersault like Pinkie. - She scoffed, standing in front of Applejack.
- You underestimate me a lot, Dash. - Applejack says, testing the movement of the wings.
- I'm just being realistic. There is no way to be a legend like me in a single day. - She shrugged, smiling convinced.
- You bet? - The blonde spat on her own hoof, getting closer to the other.
- I bet. - She also spat on her own hoof, then grabbing Applejack's.
- Is it serious that they are betting on a time of crisis like this? - Twilight asked herself, frustrated.
- Seriously! - Pinkie commented before flying away.
- Let's go to Crystal Empire, since it's closer. We can only hope that Swap Token also had the same idea. - The purple pony said, looking at the horizon.
°°°
Once there, Twilight obviously jumped into the library looking for a solution to what they had and meanwhile the girls saw the benefits and harms of what they had become.
- I just think it's a shame that I can't lure the birds down anymore. - Fluttershy commented, playing with a squirrel that had come to her feet.
- I couldn't be more inspired! These wings are giving me so many ideas for pegasus outfits. - Rarity says, focused on how the fabric she had arranged molded itself over the wings.
- And I... - Pinkie says, between one spin and another in the air. - I can't... Stop... Spinning!!!
- Has anyone seen Applejack and Rainbow Dash? - Fluttershy asked, when she didn't see them there.
- They're flirting. Or doing what they swear is competition. - Rarity says, cutting the first piece of fabric.
°°°
The two were on the border between Crystal Empire and the outer terrain, as it was an open and less dangerous field.
Even though she wanted to see Applejack fail, she didn't want to see her hurt.
- So.. You can try to surpass me. - Rainbow says, sitting on the floor and crossing her hooves.
- Well, let's see. - Applejack stretched her wings, feeling them and managing to flex them with her thought. - Okay, it shouldn't be that difficult.
She jumped and closed her eyes.
And then she returned to the ground.
She opened her eyes, confused.
Loked at Rainbow, who was holding back a laugh, but when she looked into her eyes, she couldn't do it anymore.
Raibow let out a loud laugh.
- You didn't even move your wings! - Dash exclaimed between laughs, falling back to the floor. - What were you doing? Playing at statues? - Laughed even louder at her own joke.
Despite being embarrassed, the blonde sulked, approaching her friend.
- Is not fair! It's the first time I've tested it. - She explained, confident that she just couldn't do it because it was her first time. Since Rainbow was still laughing, she continued: - You wouldn't be able to use your magic at first either.
This soon woke up the blue pony, who stopped laughing to look at her in challenge.
- Don't be so sure about that. - She said, getting up to test.
The one who sat down now was Applejack, watching what the girl was going to do.
Dash focused on a small rock, so he could levitate it and...
Failed.
She tried to imagine the stone rising, she strained the muscles in her head, she curled her lips, everything, she tried everything.
And nothing worked.
Applejack was the one laughing now, at the faces Rainbow was making for anyone to see.
- Enough! Enough! - She asked, feeling her stomach starting to hurt.
Rainbow sat on the floor, tired of her attempts.
- Okay, okay, you're right on that point. - She sighed, looking at her friend who wiped the corners of her eyes with a smile on her face. - So, how about I teach you?
Applejack looked at her in surprise.
- Would you do it?
- Of course yes. - She commented, then rolled her eyes. She smiled sideways at the blonde. - It's not like I don't know that you won't surpass me.
- That's what we'll see. - She smiled back, looking into her eyes.
- So okay, first of all, you don't have these things for nothing. - Rainbow stood next to her, passing her hoof over one of her wings. - Don't think that she will move because of your thoughts. It's something automatic. It's like walking, you don't think you're going to walk to do it. - Explained, pulling the wing so she could lengthen it.
Applejack felt a shiver run through her, as she had no idea wings could be so sensitive.
- So I have to imagine having 6 hooves? And two of them in the back? This is truly weird. - Applejack says, shaking them lightly.
- Something like this. - Rainbow says, laughing. - Just don't want to fly upside down now. Well, as you could see after your failed attempt... - Provoked, receiving a slight push from the girl beside her. - You can't fly with your feet. There is no point jumping, in fact it reduces the intensity of your start.
She stood in front of the blonde, pointing at her front hooves.
- They will boost you to fly. Push them down when you get your wings working.
- And how do I make them work? - She asked, confused.
Rainbow tried to find the right words to describe something she didn't know how to explain.
- Flap your wings. - She asked, Apple soon obeying. - Can you feel the air under them? What about above them? - She smiled, imagining the relaxing sensation. - Feel yourself sink and swim in this heavy yet light air of the world. It's like you're swimming towards the surface and everything gets smoother the higher you are. - Explained, imagining herself in sky. - I didn't explain anything, did I? Just keep pushing them up no matter what, so you can float.
Applejack nodded, despite being focused on the ecstatic expression of the pony in front of her.
- And finally, to fly at speed, after gaining momentum in the air, keep your wings flexed and only open them when you feel yourself leaning towards the ground.
- You could be a good teacher, you know? - Applejack says, looking at him affectionately.
- I've known that for a long time. Don't you see how many lessons Scootaloo learned from me? - She asked, throwing her hair behind her ear.
Apple smiled, shaking her head. Rainbow was really hopeless.
She took a deep breath, prepared to try one more time.
She prepared herself as Rainbow had taught and thrust her wings upwards, still as a test, surprising herself by floating, still close to the ground.
Her eyes widened, smiling in surprise.
- I can do it, Dash! - She exclaimed excitedly, the lack of ground beneath her feet making her heart beat faster. - It's like riding a balloon, but without a balloon and- Ah!
Forgot to move her wings and would almost fall to the ground if Rainbow hadn't caught her.
- If I knew you would be so happy with something so simple, I would take you for a walk sooner. - She commented, unable to contain the silly smile that appeared upon seeing the other's genuine happiness.
- I will try again. - She warned, before walking away and getting it once again. - I'm feeling confident that I will surpass you.
- You dream about it. - Rainbow says, looking at the girl who was floating around her at the moment.
Why couldn't your smile disappear?
Applejack continued to get used to the wings, while the two talked the usual nonsense.
- I think I'm ready. - She commented, looking at the horizon.
- To really fly? - Rainbow scoffed from the floor.
- Yes. The time has come. - She took a deep breath, taking courage.
She followed Rainbow's advice again and pushed her wings back.
She was taken by surprise when she felt the strong wind in her mane and soon realized she was far from where she was.
She let out an incredulous laugh, turning to turn back and found herself propelling her wings upwards.
The view, the cold wind on her shoulders, the fresh air that entered her lungs, all of it made her feel...
Free.
It was a sensation unlike anything she had ever felt, now she was like a bird.
Rainbow imagined that she would be proud that she did a good job teaching Applejack or that she would be remorseful that she did so well for her first time.
But she didn't think she would be thrilled to see her friend fly.
As soon as she felt the air pressure shaking her hair and the yellow figure running away, she knew instantly: she was in love.
When she saw Applejack turn around, coming back to herself, going up and down that path, Rainbow realized the obvious, she was madly in love with her best friend.
Only this could explain how she couldn't take her eyes off the figure that flew and became the sun in her vision, back and forth.
How Applejack looked like an angel when she left the crystal terrain and then came back, in that zigzag, shining back at her, with that sparkling smile that showed so little, but shook Rainbow's heart to the extreme.
The only thing Rainbow wanted at the moment was to be able to fly alongside her and dream of having that girl for herself.
It would be too lucky if someone like Applejack accepted her by her side.
Applejack slowed down, getting close to Dash, but couldn't stop, bumping into the one she was too in love with to care about the fall and being lying on the ground now.
The blonde laughed, still ecstatic.
- Sorry. - She asked, leaning on her hooves so as not to fall on Rainbow. - Do you think I did well? - Asked, licking her lips, no longer caring about the competition, just whether Dash liked it.
In response, the colorful girl brought one of her hooves to the girl's cheek and leaned up, sealing her lips.
If she had felt a huge explosion when she actually flew, Applejack would say that she was now having a complete epiphany.
She closed her eyes, extending her wings to cover them both.
Rainbow was already sure enough that this was the best moment of her life, but when she felt Applejack responding to her, the euphoria in her chest only became greater.
She walked away, despite herself, because of a smile that was forming.
- You were perfect. - She whispered against the blonde's lips, looking at her with admiration. - You're perfect.