Twilight Sparkle, receiving only blank stares in response to her perfectly legitimate question, continued to examine this odd Ponyville she found herself in. Princess Luna was standing on the other side of the town, her proud figure blending in with the dark night. She flew gracefully above the town, and every pony in Ponyville watched as she followed the moon on its ascent into the sky.

"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE! HEAR YOUR PRINCESS!" She screamed in her Royal Canterlot Voice. "IN SEVERAL HOURS, THE ETERNAL NIGHT SHALL CEASE! THE REIGN OF THE ROYAL SISTERS HAS RETURNED!"

Collectively, every pony in Ponyville started up a cheer that echoed into the empty night. Fillies and colts screamed in delight as they ran out from their hiding places to see their ethereal Princess, and the more mature of the Ponyville residents bowed in respect. They were apparently unfazed by the intimidating stature of Luna's deafening voice, given the magnificent news she was presenting.

Twilight walked up to Fluttershy, still staring at her as she crawled from the crater, before barraging the yellow mare with questions.

"What exactly is going on Fluttershy? What happened to your wings? Where am I?"

Fluttershy bent her head nervously. "Umm...well, Twilight, it looks like your plan worked...and..."

Suddenly, Fluttershy stopped talking as she realized something. She remembered what Twilight had told her that morning...of her guilt, her fear of how Celestia would respond to her crimes. She couldn't know for sure what had happened to Twilight's memory, or how far back she had forgotten, but she knew better than to explain to her the horrors of this Equestria all over again.

Twilight looked at Fluttershy impatiently. "...Well...?"

"Well...Twilight, what do you remember last? Maybe we...umm...can start from there?" Fluttershy asked hopefully.

"I remember going through the Mirror Pool...nothing after that...Please Fluttershy, just tell me whats going on!"

"I...don't know..." Fluttershy stammered.

Twilight was about to call Fluttershy out on her blatant lying, when Princess Luna landed between the two.

"Twilight Sparkle!" She spoke happily, in a normal speaking tone. Fluttershy bowed immediately.

"Princess Luna! Surely you of all ponies can tell me...whats going on..."

Princess Luna cast a backwards glance at Fluttershy, and then back at Twilight Sparkle.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're not of this world. I've spoken with you already but I have my doubts you remember."

Twilight shook her head. "Sorry, Princess, but apparently I don't remember anything."

"Perhaps it is better this way," Princess Luna said, closing her eyes. Twilight wondered exactly what it was about her memory loss that the Princes envied. Behind her, Fluttershy shuffled uneasily, obviously having something to say but being too afraid to say it. Luna noticed this, and nodded at the yellow mare.

"Well...I...I was just thinking that maybe...it would be better if Twilight...didn't remember..."

Princess Luna nodded in agreement, before turning back to Twilight.

"Your friend is right, Twilight Sparkle. Your past in this realm is an unnecessary burden on your conscience. One you shouldn't need to bear."

Twilight looked impatiently from the Princess to Fluttershy. "So...what? Go back? To the Mirror Pool? But I just got here!" Twilight exclaimed irritably.

"Actually..." Fluttershy said. "You've been here for almost a week...and you've had more of an impact on Equestria than any pony ever before you. You were a hero, Twilight...even if you don't remember it. We're going to miss you here, Twilight...but I'm sure there's ponies out there that miss you even more than us."

The rest of Twilight's friends had made there way over now, and were smiling at her kindly, with the exception of Rainbow Dash, who was staring at her hooves.

"You did good, Twilight," Rainbow Dash murmured, and Twilight got the impression she had no exactly been on good terms with Rainbow Dash here. "Who would've thought..."

"You certainly did! Admittedly, I had my doubts, but you have defined yourself as a true hero indeed!" Rarity complimented.

"Wow...talk about cheesy," Pinkie Pie interjected, receiving annoyed glances from her friends and a light chuckle from Princess Luna.

"You're stayin' for the Morning Sun Celebration, ah hope?" Applejack asked.

Princess Luna shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid this cannot be so. Twilight Sparkle, you said your dwelling origins are beyond the mirror pool, correct?"

"Well...yeah. I mean, I'm still from Equestria, but not this one I guess."

"The Mirror Pool has always been a mystery amongst even the most intelligent of Equestrian scholars," Princess Luna explained. "It's nature has always been a mystery to me, but I think I have a decent enough idea of what created it, and what now will close it. And I'm afraid if you don't return to your Equestria before the sun is high, you perhaps never will."

"But...why so soon? Why do I have to return before the sunrise?"

"We cannot know for sure whether or not it is mandatory for your return to occur prior to daylight, but if my prediction is correct, then return to Equestria would render itself impossible."

"Alright...So I guess its better to be safe than sorry," Twilight translated, looking up at the moon, now beginning its descent from the midpoint of the starry hemisphere. "I'd better get moving now then..."

"Twilight, before you do..." Princess Luna began gravely. "I just want to tell you, from the hearts of every pony in this world, that we couldn't thank you anymore. You may not remember what you've done here, but believe me when I tell you that nopony will ever forget this act of valor. So, one final time, thank you, and farewell. I wish you the best in whatever life awaits you on the other side. "

Twilight Sparkle looked at her friends and the Princess one last time, before smiling, saying her hasty final farewells, and dashing through the odd gate in the direction of the Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy considered running after Twilight into the forest, but deciding she simply couldn't follow Twilight into whatever better world she was returning to, watched her first Equestrian friend disappear into the woods ahead. Besides, she had the sunlight to look forward to.

Deeper and deeper through the cave she traveled, when she saw what she had come searching for. The pool was glowing with light like the sun, and Twilight remembered what the Princess had instructed her to do.

Twilight Sparkle gazed into the clear water, remembering the spell she had seemingly just finished casting. The water clouded over after she had finished casting her magic, the pink light from the tip of her horn casting light on the walls. Outside, the moon was likely finally dipping over the horizon, and in a few minutes the first beams of sunlight would shoot through the narrow opening and into the murky water.

Twilight wasted no time in leaping through the water. She was suddenly and abruptly jolted backwards, and found herself glancing around, trying to determine if anything had actually changed. She waited for a long time, watching the sky grow brighter and brighter in its familiar pre-dawn light, before the sun finally broke through a gap in the thickets.

The empty cavern on the other side bore no witnesses to the amazing miracle of nature unfolding in the Mirror Pool Cave. As the first glimpse of light struck the sparkling water, the light exploding and imploding at the same time, growing brighter and dimmer, the pool sparkling in one final torrent before calming, the last projection of magical light dying out as the sunlight illuminated the cave for the first time in a thousand years.

Its purpose complete, the Blood of the Princess lost all magical potency, flickering calmly before settling, leaving the cavern filled with nothing but plain, clear water and the light of morning.

Finally leaving her guard at the side of the pool, Twilight turned back to the entrance of the cavern and was shocked to see Princess Celestia standing there.

"Good morning, Twilight Sparkle! I've been rather worried about you since you're departure. Everything went well, I assume?"

Twilight was at a loss for words, particularly because she didn't know the answer herself. From what Princess Luna had said, it sounds like it did, but she still had no idea what it was that she had done.

"I...I guess so, Princess...I still have so many questions though..."

Princess Celestia frowned slightly. "You defied my instructions, didn't you? You interfered in the affairs of the other world? Please don't lie to me, Twilight Sparkle..."

Twilight Sparkle was shocked. Apparently she did, judging by what Princess Luna had said.

"I...I don't know, Princess! Honestly, I don't remember anything from the other realm."

"You don't remember...?" Celestia said stoically, raising an eyebrow.

Twilight explained to Celestia what little knowledge she possessed of the events of her week in the alternate Equestria. She described what it looked like, what Princess Luna had said to her, and how her friends had thanked her for some act of valor. Princess Celestia remained quiet through Twilight's recounting of the events of the past few hours, before turning and walking wordlessly past Twilight Sparkle into the Mirror Cavern. She looked at the clear water for a long time, before beginning to cast the familiar spell to turn the water murky.

The water remained clear.

"As I suspected," Princess Celestia said gently, running a hoof through the plain water. "The Mirror Pool has closed, most likely across all Equestrias. Whatever its purpose was, it appears you have helped in fulfilling it."

"At what cost, I wonder," Twilight Sparkle muttered, more to herself than Celestia. "I disobeyed you directly...I don't know why I did that, Princess...I'm sorry..."

Celestia continued to stare into the clear water, her next words a barely audible whisper.

"Ah, but you did not disobey me, Twilight Sparkle. You disobeyed yourself."

Celestia turned to Twilight, forming a light grin, and the two walked out of the cave into the morning light. Twilight didn't speak, hoping Princess  Celestia would elaborate on her cryptic point. When it became clear that she would not, Twilight stopped pacing, and Celestia did the same, turning again to face her student.

"You told me to observe the other Equestria, but to NEVER interact with it. I didn't do that...as a matter of fact, whatever I did in there...it sealed the mirror pool forever. You said Starswirl himself warned you this might happen, and to never under any circumstance do exactly what I did."

Princess Celestia chuckled softly and started pacing again, and Twilight followed.

"I would think it's much easier to tell somepony disguised as another than it would be to tell the difference between a perfect duplicate, wouldn't you agree, Twilight?"

"I...I guess so...you mean, like a costume?" Twilight was confused by the abruptness and irrelevance of the question, but at least tried to look interested.

"Indeed. Do you remember what I told you to bring before you left Ponyville a week ago?"

"Yeah...my Starswirl The Beard-" Twilight Sparkle stopped suddenly, realizing exactly what Princess Celestia was suggesting. "You mean..."

"The scroll, Twilight. It's a time travel scroll, given to me a long, long time ago. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Twilight nodded, withdrawing the scroll from her saddle pack and setting it down in the middle of the clearing.

"Now, Princess? Or should it wait?"

"I would think now, Twilight. Better to get this whole time paradox business out of the way as swiftly as possible, don't you agree?"

Twilight nodded again, charging her magic and casting a nervous grin at Princess Celestia, before the minutes blurred backwards into hours.

Twilight found herself in the middle of a slightly different Everfree Forest. The clearing she had been standing in was populated largely by odd looking bushes, but they were the least of her concerns as she looked in shock at the explosion of light in the distance.

Twilight started to run, but stopped when she realized she still had to change into her Starswirl the Bearded costume. She simply couldn't believe she was supposed to imitate her idol in front of the most powerful and intelligent pony in Equestria. Hastily, she threw on the wrinkled hat and stuffed the time travel scroll back into her saddle-pack.

In the distance, the explosions had stopped, and Twilight could faintly hear laughing cutting through the night. It sounded familiar, but Twilight couldn't quite put her hoof on where she had heard it.

Until she saw the castle, and watched in surprise from a high cliff as a rainbow of light struck Nightmare Moon as Princess Celestia faced off against her high above the forest floor. Princess Celestia looked up at the moon for a long while, lowering herself downwards onto the ground sorrowfully. Twilight heard her whisper something faintly, but couldn't make out what she had said. She looked frantically for a way down, before taking her chances and teleporting downwards. She made it most of the way, but fell significantly nonetheless. Shaking herself off, Twilight dashed towards where Princess Celestia was standing in the destroyed castle courtyard.

"I'm sorry, sister...I truly am," Princess Celestia whispered into the night. "I sincerely hope the wrath of the Elements do not extend your exile for long...I will miss you."

Princess Celestia's lament was interrupted suddenly and abruptly by rapid running hoofbeats. Shocked, Princess Celestia whipped around, wielding the Elements of Harmony in case they had failed in there first attempt to defeat Nightmare Moon.

Instead of the terrifying form of her sister's twisted caricature, Princess Celestia found herself facing a purple pony in the oddest clothing she had ever seen. If it weren't for the graveness of the situation, Princess Celestia would surely have laughed.

"And who might you be?" She said awkwardly, still wielding the Elements of Harmony.

"Uhh...Starswirl The Bearded... but I don't have time to explain! You need to remember what I'm telling you right now, because it is VERY important...or...it will be," The odd pony stammered nervously, adjusting the hat atop his head. "In...roughly a thousand years, a pony by the name of 'Twilight Sparkle' will mention something called the 'Mirror Pool.' It is imperative that she investigates whatever is beyond it..."

Twilight Sparkle cursed herself for her terrible male pony vocal interpretation, but Princess Celestia seemed more focused on her costume anyway. She realized this was probably the last chance she would get to prevent her from disobeying the Princess in the future, and preventing whatever 'conscience endangering action' she had performed in the alternate Equestria.

"And also, it is important that Twilight Sparkle does NOT INTERFERE with the affairs of whoever and whatever she might find when she investigates the Mirror Pool. Doing so may rupture all of existence!"

Twilight could already feel the magic sparking around her as the time travel spell wore off. She had better get out of here before she made too much of a paradox-inducing exit and pulled Celestia back to the future with her or something. She turned around quickly, dashing across the castle courtyard. Suddenly, she realized something and turned back around, returning to Princess Celestia. As she ran, she withdrew the time travel scroll from her saddle-pack.

"And also, give this to her when she disembarks!"

Twilight ran across the castle courtyard again, leaving Princess Celestia gaping in confusion at this obviously mentally-handicapped pony. Suddenly, the fleeing pony exploded into electrical light, and the only thing that remained when the light dimmed was the battered blue hat, which quickly burst into flames.

"And that..." Twilight panted. "...Is that..."

Princess Celestia laughed cheerfully at Twilight's costume. Twilight, noticing this, quickly and violently ripped off the white beard and blue cape.

"Indeed it is, Twilight Sparkle. You've done well...whatever it is that you did in there," Princess Celestia motioned to the opening to the Mirror Cavern. "I'm sure your friends will be pleased to know that you have returned. We've all been quite worried about you."

"Yeah. Do they know..."

"About the Mirror Pool? No, they do not. I think it would be better if we kept this whole experience between the two of us. I think there is a reason that you do not remember what is on the other side. I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation as to what the Mirror Pool is, it is even likely that you yourself at one point knew the answer. Who can really say."

Twilight smiled at her mentor. She was still shocked that Celestia did not blame her for potentially endangering all of reality, although it was likely there was no danger whatsoever...the more Twilight thought about it, the more it made her head spin. She understood what the Princess was saying about how some things needed to remain a mystery, but she still wanted to know desperately what it was she had done on the other side that was better to be forgotten. She had so many questions, and would have given anything to return to the alternate Equestria, but she knew that was completely impossible, and for the better.

Twilight and Princess Celestia continued walking towards Ponyville, as the sun rose above them, its beams covering the land in a vibrant mosaic of beautiful light that nopony found particularly interesting or surprising. Sunlight was ordinary and expected. It was perhaps taken for granted, as was the peace and tranquility that every pony in Equestria lived in.

Princess Celestia cast a subtle sideways glance at her smiling student. She had only seen memories cleared this precise before, and it was as a result of Element-Backfiring...it had happened dozens of times in Equestrian history...ponies trying to wield the Elements for their own personal gain and finding themselves unable to control such supreme magic. It took a unicorn of extreme magical ability to override the desires of the Elements themselves...

She had gone in to rescue these poor misguided unicorns each time they so foolishly and selfishly entrapped themselves within the Elements of Harmony. Most of them were utterly terrified and had sworn to never commit such actions again, and most of the memory loss caused by the ordeal was short-term and harmless.

Most of the time.

Rarely, she had seen ponies go mad, loosing every memory and instinct they had learned in their lives. It was not a pretty sight, watching as ponies forgot their friends, family, every beautiful moment they had experienced, burning away due to one evil act of greed, or some lust for power they could not possibly understand. She shuddered at the thought of this happening to her most faithful student. She couldn't bring herself to ponder the thought much longer, as she looked into the smiling face of Twilight Sparkle as she ran forward to reunite with her friends who had been worrying excessively about her absence.

Overhead, the sun continued to shine across the wonderful land of Equestria as life in Ponyville moved forward to a better tomorrow...in more worlds than one.