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It’s a new day, sun is shining as the Mane 6 enjoy a field trip with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Ms. Cheerilee, and the rest of the class to the old Minty Canes Candy Shop.
“Wow, this place is weird, teach,” says Scootaloo as she hides behind Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah, and the air smells of stale sugar,” adds Sweetie Belle as she hugs tight to her big sister for comfort. “Why are we here?”
“Yeah, why in tarnation?” Adds AJ as she comforts a crying and scared Apple Bloom.
“To learn about the Candy making process,” responds Cheerilee with a nod.
A few minutes later, all the ponies hear a voice. It’s calm, kind, enduring. “Welcome to my candy cane shop,” says the mare as she topples down the stairs in a tumble towards the group of ponies. She giggles a bit. “You all look strange.”
“No, you look strange actually,” responds back Pinkie, “but also oddly familiar.”
“Yeah, so do you, Pinkie Pie,” responds Minty with a smile. “How have you been, my dear friend?”
With that simple ask, Pinkie feels herself dimming, going to a more pastelled down past. “I’m good, how have you been, Mints?” Inquires Pinkie with a smile. She hugs her friend. “Long time, no see. How is everypony? I’ve missed them.”
“They’re good,” responds Minty with a smile.
They all begin to make their way through the old candy cane factory. As they do, the other ponies begin to feel off. Soon enough, another changes to an older, more bright red. “A…AJ…what happened to you, sis?” Inquires Apple Bloom as she sees a red mare with a blond and green mane where her sister once stood.
“I’m still the same me, Apple Spice,” says Applejack.
“I’m not Apple Spice, I’m Apple Bloom,” says Apple Bloom. “Sis, how do you not remember my name?”
“But I do,” responds Applejack with a sigh. “Your name is Apple Spice.”
With that insistence, Apple Bloom gives in to her sister’s inistence. “Okay, fine, I’m Apple Spice.” With that, Apple Bloom transforms over as well, growing pale, and a stripe of purple making its way into her mane and tail. Apple Bloom, now Apple Spice, looks at her friends. “Hey Scootaloo, hey Sweetie Belle.”
“Hey,” respond the other two as they hug their friend, giving in to their old states at last so they can be with their friend.
Scootaloo then looks at her teacher, “s…sis, I…I want to go home.”
“Okay,” responds Cheerilee as she grabs Scootaloo’s hoof, “let’s go home.” With that simple phrase, Cheerilee turns into her old form once more as well.
As they continue to walk through the building, Rainbow Dash turns to Rarity. “Hey Rares, you got that boa?” She inquires curiously of her friend with a smile.
“Sure,” responds Rarity with a nod. She pulls it out of her bag and hands it to Dash. As she does, she sees her own hoof is pink while Rainbow is now a more pale blue earth pony with a high ponytail. Rarity then pulls out her mirror and screams as she sees her once violet mane is now a rainbow of color and her pale white coat is now a soft pastel pink. As they continue to walk, Fluttershy begins to feel off as well. She lets a sigh as she takes a sit. She’s confused. No one around her is the same anymore. With that realization and defeat, she bows her head and with that, she accepts her fate and becomes pale pink at last, she too losing her wings as her mane and tail gain a pale yellow and magenta purple alongside its already tulip pink. With that, Minty can’t help but smile.
“Come on friends, it’s time to go home now,” and with that, she leads them through the portal into the past where they’re all reunited with the other generation three ponies and are one big happy family once more as they begin to throw the spring pageant together, laughing and joking together all the while as they do.