>With the week almost over, you've been feeling pretty relaxed
>D&D campaigns are progressing
>Cooking skills are improving
>The neighbors that complain about the noise the most moved out three days ago
>It really feels like things are finally at that peak mix of routine and fun
"...What the hell is this?"
>Or so you thought
>You plop the rather hefty box down in the living room, each pony sitting from a different angle
"And since when did you need a pseudonym? Seriously, "Sparline Shinron"?"
>Sparkler grins with malicious intent
>"Shut up, it's smart. And what I got..."
>The box begins to glow with the unicorn's aura
>The cardboard peels itself like a banana, revealing a-
"Oh shit."
>It's a box
>The surprise isn't that the box contained a box, but that the box contains a red unicorn
>"Ha. You look like you're gonna be sick... is it really that bad?"
>Jacky circles around, stopping in mid-step the second she sees the duplicate of her second best friend
>"Wh... what is this?"
>She doesn't sound as negatively impacted
>She still backs away under the existential threat of seeing a double
>"It's me, Jacky. I mean, it's probably some... cheap copy of me. But it's me. I did some digging and if this really is true... well."
>As cocksure as she is, she still manages to only gaze at her double for only a second before breaking eye contact and visibly shivering
>"It means that we have Nona to "thank". And it means that she will be able to use magic too. If we have two of me, we can probably do whatever we want to get answers out of her. And we've all been wondering, right?"
>Despite her focused tone, neither of the girls are into the idea
>To be honest, you aren't either
>Part of you was scared this might happen
>Now that it has, now what?
>"Come on, are you telling me that all of you lost your fight?"
"To be honest, we didn't have all that much of a fight to start, once everyone got together."
>"Yeah?!"
>Shine whips her head at you
>The manic energy in her voice gives you a keen hint that she isn't purely happy about this confirmed revelation
>You don't submit to her gaze
>As much as you can feel her aggression, you won't let her just have a win on this
>"One hole in your logic, Sparking... if I remember what I was told, you couldn't do magic when you first woke up. What makes you think this double is any different?"
>As if she were remembered of an old shameful memory, her lips twitch into a bitter grimace
>"...Well I learned. So she can too. We just need to go through some of the same steps I went through."
"You say that as if we can just... fake it all. And there are some things that really shouldn't happen again."
>"I'll say."
>Jacky's patented gunmare's glare goes from Shiner to Shiner
>"I don't want her trying anything funny. You're already enough of a pain in the butt sometimes."
>"Yeah well you come up with a better idea. I'm freeing her now."
"Ah crap."
>Unable to come up with a way to stop her in time, you watch her peel the packaging to ribbons

>The twin red mare lays out on the floor, unresponsive to the world
>"...How does it work? How do we wake her up again?"
>Shiner looks up at you, the initial rush of excitement already wearing away due to the reality of the situation
"I don't remember."
>"Wh-are you telling me you don't treasure that memory?"
"I remember you threatening to kill us when you first woke up so forgive me if I forget the minor details of what I did to make you pop up."
>"I don't remember either, Anon... but when I came to, I remembered everything like I hadn't missed a step. And Jacky, you..."
>The yellow pony shrugs
>"Iunno. I woke up in the dark and then we met and... the rest just fell into place."
>Shiner sighs
>"Well fantastic. We all have picturesque origins in this world, and other-me is playing Sleepy Beauty. All we need left is a Pri..."
>Sparkler grins
>This can't be a good idea
>"Anon. Go wake her up. If she's even half the me she is, you'll do the trick."
>You give Jackenstein a shared look of concern
"How about no to that particular option."
>"Ugh. Whatever. Just... get her up. If I use my magic on her, that might..."
>She strains herself to come up with an answer
>You can hear the strain in this elongated grunt
>"Blow me up or something. Or her. I don't know what'll happen. So you do it."
"Oh Jesus. You know, if we all die I'm gonna kill you."
>"Deal. Now get her up."
>You scoot over to the sleeping double
>She looks...
>At peace
>Kinda like the first time you saw her
>Trying to ignore the piercing, attentive, and curious stare of the three mares around you, you clear your throat
"Hey... hey, fireball. Time to wake up. You've been out for a while, haven't you?"
>While still sitting, you lurch over her and bring your hand to her mane
>Right behind the ear too
>Not that you know that's a weak spot or anything
"Up an'attem."
>After a few moments of petting, she stirs
>You freeze at the movement
>After your finger slides over the back of her ear again, her eyes open
"Gy-"
>Rather than focus on you, they seem to roam over the room
>Without much care of what's going on, she sets herself up from laying, to sitting
>"...Wow. This is kinda... new."
>She sure sounds like Shiner
>The biggest difference that tips you off that she's different is her tone
>It has no sense of maliciousness
>No friction
>"Hey, me. Welcome to Earth. What's the last thing you remember?"
>Shiner's horn ignites for a second to be sure to grab her double's attention
>"W-woah?! You're... wait. You're me...?"
>Double Shine looks at you as if for confirmation
>Sparkler clicks her tongue
>"Hey, eyes on me hot stuff. We need to get you up to speed, ok? You got a long way to go before you're as good at me, and I need that to happen sooner than later."
>Double Shine looks between you and her
>She peeks around to see Jacky and lights up
>"Oh... Jacky, you're here too?"
>Jaquinox flashes a smile
>"I am! Do you remember me by chance...?"
>"Well... yeah. Why wouldn't I? Where are we?"

>Though it feels surreal, you listen to everyone fill in all of the gaps
>"Wow... so I eventually learn to use magic."
"You do. You are actually pretty awesome at it. You just needed the right motivation. It wasn't being violent that made it work, but wanting to help out."
>"Yeah yeah yeah, don't worry about the right motivation. You need to level up, pronto, so we can fry the bitch who did this to us. And why I say "bitch", I mean she's worth every bad word in the book."
>Double Shine seems to understand her twin's urgency
>But she doesn't seem to care
>"Anon and Jacky... why am I not surprised?"
>Rather than be frustrated, she looks like she's accepted defeat in a battle she didn't know she was in
>"I could see why I'd be mad about that. Faint Prism always made it out to be the "sophisticated" thing to do. And then I was always just some..."
>You hold a hand up
"You can hold off on that sentiment. You're important to all of us. Don't let your past get in the way."
>Jacky speaks up, not hiding a slight hint of envy all that well
>"And you got away with kissing him... not that you didn't pay for it after the fact."
>Double Shine blushes
>You didn't think you'd see Red blush like that
>It's honestly a captivating sight
>"...Really?"
>Shiner pokes her hoof into Double's
>"Hey, stop day dreaming. I bought you so I can have someone to help me fight. Is that you or do I gotta throw you out?"
>Double's first expression is one of shock
>It melts into a murky sorrow
>"...I can fight. Sure..."
>Where is this aggression coming from?
>You scoop up Double by reflex, plopping her on her lap
>Like a lazy cat that has no concept of danger, her legs just flip up and her belly remains exposed
>Jacky's eyes watch her move, just to go back to her original second best friend
"Hey, calm down man. You--she--just woke up. After who knows how long. Go easy on her."
>"Easy?"
>Shiner looks at you in disbelief
>"Easy?! That loser?"
>She points a hoof at Double
>"Stop acting weak, it isn't working on me. You know better. Start acting like it."
>Double looks up at you, trying to not directly engage
>"...Is she... am I usually like this?"
>As much as you want to poke at her, you sigh and shake your head
"No, a lot of the times you're far better. She's been scheming and we've been playing a lot of D&D so she's kinda in character."
>"What's D&D?"
>Before you can answer, Double gets hoisted up into the air through deep red aura
>"No-no. No! We're not going down that path. You aren't getting anywhere with that "woe is pitiful me" act."
>Holding the floating Double clear to her face, Shiner looks
>You can barely describe it
>It's like she was looking at something rancid
>"You. Are gonna help me. And I don't care what you think, you can get as powerful as I am right now. So stop wasting time and do it."

>As if that triggered something, Double returned Sparking Shine's glare
>"You can lift me up and set a little spark... you're telling me I'm the weak one because, what, I don't know your petty little tricks?"
>The red aura around her flexes
>Shimmers
>Double's hooves land on the floor, despite Sparking's increasingly concerned gaze
>"W-what are you doing?"
>"I'm getting you off of me."
>Hearing the same voice speaking in two very different tones...
>Are you sober enough to be ok with this?
"Girls, I know that look. Why don't we-"
>"Not now."
>Both of them speak at the same time
>In the same tone
>"...This isn't gonna end well, is it."
"Nope. Prism, get the fire resistant blanket."
>"Already got it."
>Knowing better than to get involved when your means are limited by pride and self-respect, you drag Jacky back a few yards
>"What the hell makes you think you can stand up to me, you worthless gutter rat?"
>"What the hell makes you think you can push me around, you spoiled leech?"
>Neither of them are ceding any ground
>Shiner's horn re-ignites
>What started as a dark crimson shifts to something almost pure white
"Hey, don't burn this place down. Remember where we live."
>Maybe you should get the extinguisher
>Double's own horn glows
>But the glow is dim
>It is enough that you can tell that it is there, but it isn't some overwhelming presence
>"I'm gonna beat that weak piss out of you. We're gonna show them we can do it, since they don't want to."
>"And if I don't want to?"
>"Then you're worthless to me."
>Their stare-off continues
>They're within mutual headbutting distance
>Neither seem to mind the obvious visual difference in magic control
>Or is it merely magic power?
>"What are you waiting for? Anon got your tongue?"
>Double breaks the tense silence with a smirk
>It's her alright
>Even if it isn't
>Is it?
>"I'm waiting for an excuse to roast you. You fucking wimp. You good-for-nothing waste of-"
>"Speak for yourself. I just woke up and from where I'm standing, you have a chance to have it all and you still want more."
>"Damn right I do. She's stopping us from staying safe."
>"She's the reason any of us are here to begin with."
>"And she's the reason why there is two of me."
>"And you can't stand that. Afraid I'm gonna be the new favorite?"
>"I'm afraid you're gonna be resistant to burning."

>As if they came to an accord through some esoteric Sparking Shinese, Double disengages complete
>She turns her flank to the fired up Sparking, giving you a smile
>"So, Anon, is it alright if I get some food too?"
>You glance over at Prism, who has kept her wings folded over Jacky
>She simply gives you a clueless shrug
>Not a clue between the two of you, apparently
"I... uh. Sure. I don't see why not. Wanna see if we stock your favorite stuff?"
>"Maybe, did my tastes change when I became an egomaniac?"
>While she trots by, Shiner glares at you
>The fire of her horn darkens until it goes back to a deep red
>Even without saying anything, you can tell on her face
>"This was a bad idea"
>You're not sure if she's wrong


>Despite the apparent fail of buying a duplicate fire flinger, everything has felt...
>Pleasant
>Almost like everyone has been welcoming home a long, lost friend
>And to be fair, she was lost
>Except that she hasn't
>You haven't found it in yourself to treat her like a clone, or a doppelganger or whatever she may be
>She's still her
>What else matters?
"So tell me what's on your mind. This must be a trip and a half."
>Because you are the unicorn whisperer, you've been unofficially tasked with taking care of her while the other two deal with her more volatile...
>Sister?
>Self?
>Who knows at this point
>"You really want to know?"
"Of course I do. Count Jackula and I may be two peas in a pod, but you're my best friend otherwise. We do a ton of things together. When it comes to more serious topics... for better or worse, you're also the best source of a second opinion."
>Double Shine watches your face while you speak
>You don't feel an ounce of anger from her
>Or frustration
>Or near anything negative
>"Wow. I must really be something."
>You clear your throat... and check that the glass door is indeed closed behind you
>The patio has always been the best place for solid straight talk
>Nothing around but the sky and tops of trees
>Maybe the neighbors below if they're out
>You can only imagine the dark secrets they must live with that come from a man living with three nutty ponies
"Well... you've kinda gone a little too far. A few times. I... I don't know what to make of it. For one reason or another I can't stop it full. And Jacqueline has headbutted you a few times for the shit you've pulled."
>Double Shine chuckles, as awkward as it must be for her
>"I guess that sounds like me."
"It does..."
>You hold up your soda bottle
>She declines with a quiet "nah"
"I just gotta know. What's on your mind with all of this? Why are you so..."
>"Reserved?"
"Non-hostile?"
>"Short-fused?"
"Normal?"
>"Sensible?"
"Safe to be drunk around."
>You enunciate each word of that sentence with a tone of authority
>Double Shine can't stop a giggle
>"Hey, if I have a reputation to uphold..."
>She trails off and watches the trees
>"I... I think I knew I was stuck in a box. I thought I died."
>She speaks with such an aloof tone
>"I had a lot of time to think on how things went. How I was always following Jacky and Faint Prism. How I was always this... backstabber. How my horn never worked."
>The way she hangs on some words
>She really sounds like your Shiner
>But she just seems so lax about it
>"And I guess I thought that if I ever met them again, I would do better. Be better. Try to make up for lost time. And how bad I was."
>You remain silent so her words can linger in the air
>Repentant
>Would that sum her up the best?
>Your Shiner has never been so much that
>Her growth has been undeniable but not without friction
>Or failures

"To be fair, your horn was never the issue. I mean, you saw her yourself. She-you-contain a lot of power. Your ability to use magic is absolutely busted. In a good way. Out of all of us, you could probably do the most if you put your mind to it."
>While she would still only be a pony in a world full of humans, how could she not end up living in the lap of luxury?
>"So you said I learned because I had motivation. Was it really to help out?"
"Kinda."
>"Kinda?"
"Kinda. From what I recall, it was to impress me. There was this period of time and... ah. It was a mess."
>You grumble the end out
>You wouldn't want to go down that sort of history if you could help it
>It is a little embarrassing
"But you are really deft with magic. Lot of fire and I guess "basic" magic. I don't know if you could reliably do more."
>God help you if you mention the one time she made ice
>"I could see that. So, Anon. Can you really tell me why she's so upset?"
"What, you mean like you need my take?"
>"Yeah. If she likes you so much, I probably should too."
"Well you shouldn't anything. Not like that I guess."
>"In that case, I see why she does."
>There really is two of them, isn't there
"...Man, Madjack is gonna go ballistic..."
>You can't afford to be caught flat-footed by this
>She may be a clone but she's still Shiner
"So. Upset. Why."
>She nods
"We've been playing D&D a lot--which is basically just a made up game we all play where you get to play as a character with unique abilities."
>"Is it fun?"
"Massively. So... ok."
>You shake your head
>It's maddening to think of the logistics of all of this
"Should I refer to Shiner as you, or her?"
>"Go with her. Can you give me a pet name like one of the ones you call Jacky?"
>Yup
>She's as Shiner as can be
"...Y'alright, sure. I hereby dub thee as Twinspark."
>You move your hand to christen her so
>The gesture and title makes her grin
>"Twice as hot?"
"Twice as..."
>That look on her face
"...likely to fail. I know your moves, lady."
>She can't even try to stop herself from looking as pleased as pie
"So, anyway. Her. Right."
>If only you had a notebook to keep track of this stuff
"She's starting to really embrace her evil alignment. And, on top of that, she's been getting frustrated because we haven't been going after the only lead that may explain where you all came from, for sure."
>The mare does a good job at biting her tongue on questions
"And... because you're here. And she's here too. The woman I got all of you from is named Nona. I got Jacky first-"
>Twinspark opens her mouth to speak but you both stop
>That freakish mutual sense of understanding makes it so you don't have to explain why you got her first
>Not that you genuinely had that strong a reason to start
"...And she remembered you. And Prism. She couldn't remember much about herself, and she didn't even really know what all you were about. But she remembered that you two were thicker than thieves."
>"Nice wording."

"Notice I said "thicker than"."
>You take a swig from your soda
"So we got you first. Why you and not Prism? I... I don't remember. I think it was because she remembered you better at the time."
>You remember when she smiled while still in the box
>It wasn't a finished box either
"And then, we eventually went back to get our good ol' Dashie. It... cost me. A lot. Last time we saw her, Sparky tried... something. And it caused her to absolutely lose her shit. I had never heard her scream such bloody murder."
>Best if you don't tell her what she tried to do
>Last thing you need is to have your head probed again
>"Did she do..."
"The thing, yeah, that."
>Unlike Shiner, Twinspark seems to understand when to stop pressing
>"Oh... oh that's not good."
"No. And for the last few... years, now?"
>"All of you have been here for entire years?"
"Yeah. Almost four now, if you can believe it."
>"Woah... how can she still be so angry?"
"She finds a way. And right now, I think she's just mad that we aren't making it a priority. She wants answers. And... if I found out I could buy myself? I wouldn't know what to feel."
>"Yeah... I guess I would be like that too. I guess right now, I'm just shocked that she has it so good. What did we ever do to deserve this?"
"You worked for it I suppose."
>Saying it feels like a lie
>But it would be a lie to exclude that detail too
"She, I mean. There was a lot of pain. Lot of time."
>"Do you think I could get to be as good as her?"
"Well she's you... so yeah. If anything, you have a head start I guess."
>You finish off your bottle and hold your head in your hands
"I'm so lost."
>"I don't think I'm in any better position. I don't know how two of me can exist. And I remember Jacky, and Faint Prism. So are my memories false?"
>That implication is distasteful at best
>Deeply unsettling at worst
"I don't think so. I think you're just you. And she's her."
>Twinspark sighs
>"This makes my head hurt. And my stomach growl."
"Snack wasn't enough, huh?"
>"Is it bad if I tell you I remember having less than half of a snack for an entire day?"
"Yup. And from what you can probably see, the girls eat pretty well."
>"I'll say. When did she get so shapely?"
>Rather than fall for that bait, you clear your throat
"I have no clue what you're referring to."
>"Oh? You're telling me that you smell like pony and you don't know?"
"You are gonna have to ask your twin, I'm not going there."
>"...Oh ok. Is she just as pushy as me?"
"Worse."
>"Good. As long as I'm not as bad as her."
"I guess so."
>Twinspark looks back at the glass door and shrieks
>You aren't as easily jumped but you recoil at the sight
>It's Jacky
>With her face positively smushed against the glass
>You squint at her and poke at her eyes
>The tink of fingertips against glass works in making her head dart back
>You slide open the door, satisfied with the tactic
"Hey there Jack-o-lantern. Twinspark and I were kinda hashing things out."

>Jaqen H'ghar wordlessly slinks onto your lap
>Making an effort to slither and roll into herself as if to mark her territory
>You have long stopped trying to ask her to explain herself
>Only when she's comfortable does she speak up
>"Sparky said she was going out with Dashie for a walk so... I think she'll be ok. What's been going on out here?"
>"Anon told me more about your best friend. Why she got me and why she's upset with things. I would be too but right now I guess I'm just kinda jealous."
>Whether it's her tone or wording, Jacky's offensive drops immediately
>"Hey, you're my best friend too. Just because you've been here with us before doesn't mean you can't still be new."
>You furrow your brow and pull back on her mane
>She looks right up at you
"Did that make sense in your head?"
>"You don't make sense in your head."
>You purse your lips and force a smile
"Mm."
>You release her mane and gently pet her head
"Carry on."
>"Thank you."
>"...Jacky, did that buck to the head do something to you?"
>Twinspark's incredulous tone is flavored with some genuine concern
>"I don't know, but to be fair, I've been pretty happy for a while."
>"I can tell. I don't think I've ever seen you so well-fed and clean."
>"We got plenty to eat, too. Our kitchen is full of stuff. Pantries, closets, fridge, freezer. Sparks is pretty good at cooking too. It's easier for her so she's kinda our go-to chef around here."
"To be fair, she's actually really good."
>"Wow."
>Any conversation momentum starts to slow down until everyone is just... sitting
>Everything had run the gamut from weird, to alerting, to draining to just plain normal
>As normal as anything else around here
>Jacky and Twinspark keep watching each other
>It must be some sort of pony thing
>You want to speak up but it feels like you're interrupting something
>"So that's how that is."
>"Yeah. Did that answer everything?"
>"I... I think so."
>Twinspark's face spreads to a smile
>Warm
>Comfortable
"Do I wanna know what happened? Did you really do the-"
>"She didn't."
>Well her horn didn't light up
"I'm so confused."
>"It's ok, Anon. Just... I think I get it."
"Get what?"
>"That she's at home, goofball."
>Jacky rolls onto her back, smiling up at you
>"What else does she need to know? None of us are telling lies. None of us don't want her around. She's home now."
"I don't disagree with any of that. So. Welcome home, Twinspark."
>The red mare smiles
>"Can I get a hug?"
>"From who?"
>Jesus, that reply came out lighting fast
>"...F-from both of you. I guess. If that's ok."
>Jacky glances at you from the side of her eye, and back
>"...Oh. Well yeah, bring 'er in!"
>Twinspark rushes you, flopping onto Jacky
>She isn't quite all skin and bones, but she certainly looks physically weaker than Shiner
>That's an accomplishment
>One hand goes to her head while the other goes to Jackington's shoulder
>"This is nice... this is really nice. Tell me this always happens."
>"Don't get any funny ideas, Sparky Two."