Author’s note
Here's the 1st chapter, it's a big start I admit, but hopefully the 2nd chapter, won't be...if we're luck? Till then, enjoy...

 

Cutie Re-Mark Remake

 

Chapter 01: Time across Time

 

The scene begins to open up in where we see Twilight Sparkle, up on a podium, apparently about to give some speech?

“If somepony had told me when I was a blank flank, that one day I'd give a speech to a class at Celestia's School of Magic, I wouldn't have believed it, but…” Twilight was speaking out with an honest smile in stating what she was doing here today. But just then, she stops herself in in looking a bit nervous, before using her magic glowing horn to lift up a stack of reading cards to move them about in finding what else to say, as she smiled in finding it. “I hope that I have been up to the task, because I can tell that all of you are, & that the future of Equestrian magic is in good hooves.” Twilight points out to the crowd in stating this forth while resting a left front hoof to her chest; knowing how Equestria is safe with good magic casters in in this room.

Soon there were sounds of clapping heard from the distance, as Twilight opens her eyes to see who was applying her. For within a big lector room with Twilight in the spotlight, in front of the Alicorn mare were empty seats & pillows. But the ones clapping for Twilight were Spike, Ben, Nyx, & Phobos clapped a little while looking bored from having heard the speech.

“Finally, it’s over.” Phobos sighs off in seeing that the long speech is over before getting hushed by Ben & Nyx.

“Wow, hehe. That was even better than the…first eleven times you did that Twilight.” Spike sheepishly was stating this about how many times Twilight performed this while he clears his throat about how many times they been hearing this same speech.

“Eh, I don't know about that, Spike. I'd like to be able to get through the whole speech without looking at the cards.” Twilight shrug off uncertainly as she used her magic to levitate the cards in stating this to the others about doing her speech without always looking at her written cards.

“Then why do you need them?” Nyx asked her mother in why she even needs those cards to help her out.

“Well Nyx, sometimes writing down the right words to say helps ease a pony’s mind, though I will admit, it’s better if they study them & then do the speech without the cards.” Ben explained this off in why Twilight was using those cards to help her get a speech prepare for a large crowd.

“Oh Ben.” Twilight rolled her eyes in having heard her love say such things, even for the silly stuff.

“Come on, Twilight! You can't be nervous about giving a speech to a bunch of magic students! Especially when Spell Nexus invited you to do this!” Spike spoke off to say this with a smile & shrug off the shoulders that Twilight can’t be worried about a speech to a bunch of magic students attending this speech.

“Yeah, but if it helps…I got a trick! Just imagine everyone in their underwear.” Phobos spoke off in giving a strange & bizarre idea that could help.

“Phobos! No pony even wears those!” Nyx lectures to remind her pet pal that ponies only wear shirts, scarfs, shorts, gym-socks & hoof-wear shoes while most times they don’t wear any.

“Still, Twilight is on a nervous edge.” Spike pointed out in what Twilight is going through, being nervous under pressure.

“Oh, I'm not nervous, you guys, but I do have to set a good example, especially for magic students.” Twilight issued off to say this in trying to state her reason of what she is trying to achieve here. “With the future the next ponies embark will be reflected by how I can help them. That's why this speech has to be…” Twilight exclaimed her statement of what this speech she is giving has to be 100 percent at its best & to be…she waits in knowing the others can fill in the blank.

“Hugh, Perfect.” Spike sighs from his smile in stating what Twilight was stating, that this speech has to be perfect in every way.

“Exactly. Let's go through it one more time.” Twilight smile doff with confidence that with the subject settle, as she approach the pedestal again while her horn stops glowing to set the cards in place again, just as she clears her throat. “When Sir Spell Nexus invited me to see the staff & Princess Celestia, she asked me to speak to you today, I was honored to have the opportunity to talk about my favorite subject: magic.” As Twilight spoke her speech, a bored Spike & Phobos fell on a pillow to look up to the ceiling, this is gonna take another bit of their time away.

“Someone wake me when she’s done for the twelve time!” Phobos exclaimed off to say this in feeling like he’ll sleep through this.

“I wouldn’t count on that, Twilight has always been extra prepared when a project or topic was due.” Ben stated off in knowing what Twilight will do when she has her mind set on something.

“How come you aren’t giving the speech with her, daddy?” Nyx asked her father this question that was on her mind.

“The students here might be distracted that an Earth Pony that attended a normal school for only unicorns & Pegasus ponies, is giving an important speech. But even though I’m known as Celestia’s son, I’m letting Twilight handle this.” Ben pointed out that an Earth pony talking to students that wanna learn magic, might not pay closer attention then from a user of stronger magic like an Alicorn; besides his secret past of never saying he was Celestia’s son to his fellow students, he doesn’t wanna use popularity to gain favor.

Soon while Twilight continues her speech, everything goes dark around this time as this will take a while before the mare feels she has it all down. Ben & the rest were just gonna have to be patient as they listen on, hopefully they won’t fall asleep or Twilight will never them hear the end of it; with that, the scene ends here…

 

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A few hours later on…

 

The scene changes to what was likely the outside view of a building seen within Canterlot, it was none other than Celestia’s Magic School for Gifted Unicorns. There is much history that connects such a place while some eager ponies are seen rushing off to get to the school. As the said ponies got in, they were all there to bear-witness a special speech being given by Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. It was a chance many will get such a rare moment in their lives…

“Obviously, the long term effects of…” Twilight’s voice is heard giving off an explanation of her speech at the moment.

“Shhhh.” One of the audience ponies hushed someone to keep it quiet as they are trying to listen.

“…The simultaneous acquisition of cutie marks has yet to be determined, but…” Twilight was speaking before taking a break to levitate a glass of water to sip to replenish her throat; while behind her in a screen projection of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle & Scootaloo with their own special cutie marks that reflect the Cutie Mark Crusaders. But soon Twilight noticed that her slide was still stuck on that spot, before looking ahead. “Ahem. Next slide if you would, please.” Twilight clears her throat to tell someone this, but then got no response before looking ahead in the crowd.

While the crowd Moon Dancer was magically writing down the speech while Ben & Nyx were interested, Spike & Phobos were sleeping in class, some even snore. Those awake gently tap the baby Dragons to get them to be more awake now.

“Huh? Huh!” Spike yelps to get himself along with Phobos up, as they get the projection cards from a box.

“Whoops! Dozed off there!” Phobos stated to say this in trying to figure out which slides go next, he got some mixed up.

“Oh brother.” Nyx rolled her eyes in seeing how these two can’t keep their eyes open for a school speech.

“If this was a battle, they be open, but I guess they lose if it’s a school activity or lesson speeches.” Ben made a slight joke about what was going on here that the baby Dragons can stay awake if there is danger, school…can be kinda peaceful & more for those that can sleep it off instead.

“I can speak from my own experience that the power of Cutie Mark Magic is very real, and in the instance of my friends and I, it can be traced to a single event!” As Twilight was speaking, slides showing Phobos & Spike on the beach in sunglasses on lounge chairs with a sippy juice & straw to an upside-down image of the Mane Six, Spike, Phobos, Nyx & Ben in Rainbow Castle before it was changed again to show the gang in a right side-up image. “Without Rainbow Dash's race to defend Fluttershy's honor, this rainboom wouldn't have happened.” A 1/6 pie chart of Rainbow Dash as a filly racing in the skies with her cutie mark underneath her while in the center appeared to be a Sonic Rainboom. “Fluttershy might never have discovered her love of animals.” Next slide shows on the left side with Rainbow, Fluttershy as a filly with her animals & her butterfly cutie mark seen too. “Applejack might never have realized that she belonged on her farm.” Then the third slide shows on the right was Applejack as a filly seeing her farm from afar from a window in missing it while her three apples cutie mark was seen too. “And Pinkie Pie might never have decided to leave hers.” Fourth came Pinkie Pie as a filly with her puffy mane to her balloon cutie mark seen. “It must be hard to imagine Rarity without her sense of fabulousness.” The fifth slide showed Rarity as a filly finding a hidden stash of sparkly gemstones from a huge rock while her diamond cutie marks are seen. “But it's even harder to fathom what my life would be like.” Lastly shows Twilight as a filly in where she hatched Spike’s egg to make the baby Dragon be born into the world while her star cutie mark is seen. “So you see, without this rainboom, I might not have gotten into magic school. Celestia wouldn't have taken me on as her pupil or sent me to Ponyville to meet my friends. And if not for that, the adventures we would share & those we would meet to befriend & even love.” Twilight explained all of this to the completed pie chart of how such things came to be if not for a single event moment that transpired. “And the most powerful thing about Cutie Mark Magic that I found is the connection I share with them.” As Twilight was explaining things to the crowd of unicorns in the room, all those that were listening from her old friend Moon Dancer magically taking notes, Ben, Nyx, & narrow glare eyes from Starlight Glimmer, then some of Twilight’s old pals and…

Just then something made Twilight stopped herself right in the dead center with wide eyes, before she tried to look closely at the ponies hearing her speech. It was because the mare saw between Moon Dancer & Ben in the back that look like Starlight Glimmer, but…there was no pony there but an empty seat. She looked around to see anything, but there was no signs of what looked like Starlight Glimmer. Twilight was looking worried about this, wondering if she saw what she really saw, before shaking it off.

“But, um... “ Twilight began to look worried, as she used her magic to magically levitate her cards in trying to shuffle one or two of them over in getting back to the speech while not causing a scene. “The real question about... Cutie Mark Magic is... who it seems to affect.” Twilight was trying to continue the speech as everyone pays attention as the princess spoke while sounding…distressed over something.

“Why’s mommy looking nervous?” Nyx asked off in noticing her mother was behaving & looking all nervous so suddenly.

“I don’t know, she was doing so well, she didn’t even look at those cards until just now for guidance help.” Ben rubbed his chin in wonderment, Twilight had the speech & confidence to say things in front of everyone so well; just what happened?

“Right, after finally memorizing them by the 26th time with us.” Phobos rolled his eyes to say this in knowing that they listened to Twilight’s practice speech so many times, the mare was feeling confident after the 26th time while they felt like they were listening to a broken record player repeating the same thing.

“Maybe we’ll ask her when this is over.” Spike suggested in what they should do if something was distracting Twilight.

Ben & Nyx nod in agreement, they will just have to ask Twilight what made her get off her game. From what it seem like, she was looking for someone in the audience, who it was, they don’t know for the time being. The scene begins to darken now, as Twilight continues her speech while trying to not let anything distract her…which she hopes will work so smoothly.

 

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The scene now changes towards the outskirts of Ponyville, where we see Twilight giving Spike a ride as he carries the mare’s luggage, Nyx was in her Adult Form as she gave Phobos a ride before changing back with Ben using his Hover Boots to fly & then land on the ground. As the Sparkle group was on the ground, Twilight told them of who she thought she saw in the audience crowd that made her mess up during her speech even if she did recover.

“Starlight Glimmer? You sure about that?” Spike replied off baffled & puzzled to hear Twilight say the name so suddenly.

“I was sure that I saw her in the crowd, Spike. But when I looked again, she was gone the next minute!” Twilight exclaimed off to say this about having seen the mare in the audience, but another look take & Starlight Glimmer was not there. “I’m just worried what she could be up to.” She stated with worry in what Starlight Glimmer might be up to if she’s nearby.

“Nothing good, I bet.” Spike looked down with a frown face in betting anything, Starlight Glimmer is up to something that is nothing good.

“We can agree on that!” Phobos nods off to agree that something bad always happens from ponies seeking vengeance.

“From what you told me & Phobos, she wasn't very happy the last time you saw her.” Spike pointed out that Starlight Glimmer was not too please from the last time anyone saw that mare, face to face.

“Forcing everypony in her village to have the same cutie mark wasn't right. Taking away the talents they discovered that made them who they were wasn’t right.” Twilight’s sad frown became serious in stating what Starlight Glimmer did was not at all right, everything about it was…wrong. “We had to do something!” She stated off in knowing how she, her friends, Ben & Nyx had to do something to put a stop to that fiasco of ‘equality’ Starlight Glimmer was trying to impose.

“I still can’t forget when she insulted me about my scar, twice.” Ben stated off to mention this thing that has him in an upset mood from what happened before.

“Or the fact that she tried to recruit mommy's old friends into joining her.” Nyx pointed out another event that took off to happen, but was stopped.

“Not to mention that she turned out to be the Equalizer & tried to recruit a lot of ponies into joining her!” Spike pointed out this matter of what else they learn of one enemy was actually the same foe.

“I even kept her outfit & helmet as a trophy! It's even resting on a mannequin at the castle. Heck, even Rarity sewed those holes that were made on it.” Phobos pointed out about a certain costume that was left behind when Flash & Sunset fought the masked bogey & the pony inside escaped & left the costume & stolen helmet behind, but the outfit needed repairs.

“It still puzzles me where she got the Earth filth part from.” Ben ponders off to say, why did Starlight Glimmer get such fowl terms of addressing an Earth pony like that, only jerks like Boris ever used them to describe Pegasus & Unicorns as superior, but…it still made no sense since Starlight Glimmer wanted everyone to be equal; something about it seem very off. “Probably another thing to think about is why Seekcurse was wanting to help Starlight Glimmer,”

“That’s a good question. I would never forget of what he has done to the Three Kingdoms. He almost destroy them. First was to put Northern Ma blame on Lord Azure Phoenix for the missing ponies for the rebirth of the Qin Emperor & his kingdom. Then, he makes both the West Dragon Kingdom and the Ape Barbarians fight for the stolen goods to be reused for the arsenal weapons & Terracotta Warriors. And lastly, the Water Tiger Kingdom lost the water in making the Three Kingdoms died & gave rebirth of the Qin Dynasty.” Twilight explained some of the long, but brief explanation points about what Seekcurse has done.

“That happened when we had Friendship Problems to solve. We & Applejack saved the citizens from the Northern Ma. Fluttershy & Pinkie Pie stopped the war, brought the stolen goods back. Rainbow Dash & Rarity brought the water back in time.” Nyx pointed out the other things that happened in the play out of such events.

“Seekcurse gone nuts of wanting the Qin Dynasty back. At least, Starlight Glimmer is less crazy than he is.” Ben remotely stated this that comparing two problems, Starlight Glimmer is at least not as crazy as Seekcurse is from his evil plots.

“What I can't understand is why she would help him. She should know that Seekcurse will do anything to destroy the kingdoms, just like what he did to his.” Twilight questions off the topic as it was something very puzzling to her that she can’t figure out.

“Well even after all of that, now Starlight’s coming back for revenge.” Spike thinks this through in seriously knowing what Starlight Glimmer’s next plan of action will be, revenge.

“Same reason could be said for Seekcurse, revenge, plain & simple.” Phobos blankly pointed this out without a second thought about what Seekcurse also seeks out.

But then Ben tapped Spike & Phobos from being left behind to point ahead in showing that what was said got to Twilight, as Nyx saw the Alicorn mare looking worried & terrified to be shaking like a leaf about someone coming back to get revenge on her.

“Uh, or maybe she was just really interested in your speech!” Spike hurried up to correct his statement with worry to calm Twilight down, but the mare still showed concerns of worries still.

“What, to learn how to BORE someone to death, she must be desperate.” Phobos issued off in stating what the pony that wants revenge was going for, if that was even it. “Ow!” Then Spike whack Phobos’s noggin for speaking that way out of term.

“Not helping Phobos.” Ben scolds Phobos that the helpful advice they are giving, most of it is not doing much if they make things worse.

“Honestly, you guys. I'm not really sure what I saw.” Twilight sighs to admit this of about not knowing what she saw was real or not, as they continue to move along. “But still even with this showing up, as long as I have my friends & all of you, I know everything will be all right.” Twilight smiled off to look at her family in stating about the positive thing to help them out while they were heading for Rainbow Castle.

“That’s the spirit, mommy.” Nyx cheered her mother in seeing that she was having positive thinking now.

The scene shifts to the inside of Rainbow Castle, where those that had pack things for a long trip to Canterlot were setting them nearby. To try to change the subject, the Sparkle Family talked about how Megan, Danny & Molly are doing in the Human World & wondered when they’ll be coming back; maybe somewhere along the line, maybe. For now, the group seem to laugh a bit as Twilight’s worries seem to have faded about the Starlight Glimmer spotted in the class room nonsense…

“Maybe in truth of it all, I was just more stressed about that speech than I thought I was & started to imagine what I think I saw.” Twilight stated off with a little smile to tell everyone about what she thought happened that caused her to think she saw something, but it was not there.

“Teh-heh…Yeah. That sounds better than Starlight Glimmer coming back with an evil plot for revenge.” Spike laughed off to say this in making a joke remark about such a thing happening of why the pony was here to begin with.

“And it’s an evil plan for revenge so diabolical, it seems harder than facing her as the Equalizer.” Phobos stated off in also making a random joke about such a thing happening as a thousand to one.

“Well it can’t be an all-out attack, the Mystic Shield is still up so we’re all safe.” Ben smiled in knowing that the shield that the Mystics gave them will keep such large & powerful invasion from trying to lay waste to the Rainbow Kingdom.

“Well, when you all say it like that, it does sound kinda silly.” Twilight smiled off to say this with a smile, as she used her magic to open the front doors leading to the next room.

But just then, the baby Dragons went from happy to wide-eye shock at spotting something while the ponies were having a happy moment.

“Or it's totally true!” Spike gasped off to say this in looking at something that was freaking him out.

“Big TIME!” Phobos exclaimed off in wide-shock horror in pointing at something very surprising.

Just then to the puzzled Twilight, Ben & Nyx’s concerns, they look only to see something that made them yelp in sheer surprise. For within the Council of Friendship, in Fluttershy’s throne, someone was seen lying back with hooves on the table & hooves cross behind her head, it was shown to be none other than a sly smirking Starlight Glimmer, in the flesh! But weirder still, she wore the outfit that was torn last time she was here as the Equalizer while the helmet rest nearby…

“Welcome home, Twilight! Along with the rest of your group, Ben, Nyx, Spike, & Phobos!” Starlight Glimmer issued off to say this to wave off the welcome-mate to those that have come while setting her hooves o the table to smear at the surprised & shock faces of those that see her again.

“Starlight Glimmer!” Nyx yelps in seeing this pony so soon.

“What are you doing here?” Ben narrowed his eyes in what the pony that tried to take cutie marks was doing here.

“Isn't it obvious? A little payback. How's the scar on your chest, by the way?” Starlight Glimmer remotely stated off while making a tease towards Ben.

“Grrr….how’d you even get pass the guards?” Ben growled at that remark about the scar while trying to change the subject.

“Oh, you mean these bumbling buffoons? They’re right over there.” Starlight Glimmer pointed to the edge of the room where the gang saw encased in crystal block prisons were Fred Flintstoneward & Barney Rubblestone. “Freezing those in Crystal Blocks in where they can still see & hear, but not move does wonders to stop annoyances from getting in the way. Just like two to three of your non-pony friends tried to do.” Starlight Glimmer rolled her eyes in stating what she did to the guards, just like she took took care of those she couldn’t remove cutie marks from.

“Hey, I just thought of something over the issue of annoyances. You were the one that trapped me, Spike & Omega in that cube thingy while dressed as the Equalizer!” Phobos pondered off to say this in having realized who the mare was referring to.

“And I would have succeeded in that plan, if that Arms Stallion hadn't ruined everything!” Starlight Glimmer protest off to complain about how that plan would have worked if not for someone that interfered.

“You mean Arsenal?” Twilight questioned off in recalling that they meant Arsenal, the Arms Stallion who beyond the odds, stopped the so-called Equalizer & destroyed the Staff of Sameness V2.

“Whatever.” Starlight Glimmer huffs off to say this in not really caring about the topic.

“I knew it. Flash & Sunset were telling the truth. You were the Equalizer!” Ben stated off in seeing that the new enemy that tried something with the same tactic was the same pony they stopped before.

“Very true, I was…. And then, you threw that boomerang of yours at me & tore my suit!” Starlight Glimmer was exclaiming that issue before she points at a patch on the suit of what happened to the Equalizer outfit. “And then even before that, that Fury Dragon showed up out of nowhere & whacked me with his tail!” She complained off in remarking the fact of what happened that something else interfered.

“You mean Nightclaw?” Ben raised an eyebrow in guessing who this pony was talking about.

“Yeah, & because of that, I lost my helmet, which that Moon Dragon contaminated!” Starlight Glimmer argued off to complain in stating these facts.

“Hey! I only wore it one time during Nightmare Night. Why are you wearing that outfit again, anyway?” Phobos protest to state his case before asking why the mare was again wearing that outfit.

“None of your business!” Starlight Glimmer protest about answering that question

“Come now child, you mustn’t delay, you have a job to perform.” Spoke a new voice of a male that was not Starlight Glimmer that surprised the gang. And appearing behind the crystal block of the Royal Guards was the last foe the Sparkles wanted to see…Seekcurse.

“Seekcurse! Your here too!” Ben exclaimed out in shock to see who else was here.

“Someone had to make sure this pony completes her task!” Seekcurse exclaimed off to say this towards the group.

“Well your company isn’t welcome, I said I do this myself, & I shall, you can just watch for all I care for while I begin.” Starlight Glimmer rolled her eyes to say this while deciding to move things along. “I’ve waited a long time for this. You never knew it, Twilight, but I was always there.”

“Well, duh!” Nyx exclaims to Starlight, rolling her eyes. “I saw you two times when you were spying on our conversations with Mommy’s friends and Discord!

“Perhaps you’re right, Seekcurse. No more delaying!”

Then without warning, Starlight Glimmer used her magic to levitate a scroll before firing a magic beam to it while letting it rise up as she continued to grin. Then magic light blue aura surge around the scroll, before zapping something down to the council table as everyone watched. Then in a much surprise notice, the entire map of Equestria was displayed as a worried Twilight, Ben, Nyx, Spike & Phobos came to see what was happening, how did Starlight Glimmer made the crystal map appeared without those of the Friendship Council to be present.

“What are you doing, Starlight?” Twilight asked off with a frown, what was Starlight Glimmer planning?

“Hah-Hah, Hah…” Starlight Glimmer lets off a laugh to taunt those that do not know anything. “I’d tell you what I’m doing, but I don't want to ruin the surprise!” She leered at the group while making a wicked grin in stating that what she is up to, is a surprise to be left as that…an EVIL surprise. Then she levitated the scroll to scrunch it up into a ball for some reason. “Well now…I won't be needing that anymore.” Starlight Glimmer issued off to say before tossing the scroll over the table as everyone saw. Twilight was preparing her horn for anything, Ben was getting his Master Sword ready when… “Hah-Hah-Hah, Haahh…” Then Starlight Glimmer lets off another laugher as she held her hooves up as a strange circular ring of magic was coursing upwards from the council map table.

“Yes! The Dawn of History begins now... Time to change scenery…” Seekcurse issued off in seeing what has already started as he bask within it.

“You won't get away with whatever you’re planning!” Ben snapped off to say this towards the guy.

“Xiao Ban, Xiao Ban (Little Ben, Little Ben); you really are naive & pathetic. To think you earned Triforce Elements because you're a hero. When in truth, you will be a sacrifice.” Seekcurse shook his head in remotely taunting about Ben & how he has the Triforce & what he shall become.

“Hey! You can’t talk about my daddy like that!” Nyx snapped off to say, as she was gonna tackle this guy if Spike & Phobos didn’t hold the filly back.

“Pitiful child, you know nothing. A failure like his mother or even his father. Till then, say goodbye to what you once knew.” Seekcurse remarked off about Nyx’s naive behavior before taunting about Ben’s family while saying other strange things here.

Everyone backed away in not knowing what was going on as Starlight Glimmer stayed put in the spot. Twilight fired a magic beam from her horn, Nyx did the same to help, even Ben fired a Sword Beam, but the attacks were not able to penetrate the rotating spell rings rotating upwards. Then a strong wind was coming in, as it almost blew Spike, Nyx & Phobos away if Twilight & Ben didn’t grab them to keep them either wrap in a wing or in a hoof. They all watch as strange electricity form above before something that form appeared; it took the form of an open magical line jar that had strange symbols on the sides with rotating edge patterns & inside it was some emerald color of leading to…a bottomless void. Strange gear making noises are heard as if sounding mechanical like…a ticking clock. Starlight Glimmer smiled wickedly at seeing this, the rotating of images of stars in spheres, no one knew what sort of spell it was. But then Starlight Glimmer made her body glow in the same magic her horn lit up before hovering off the throne chair, before dashing off into the emerald void. Seekcurse also leaped up on the table to go after the mare as well. Then in the next moment as everyone was bracing from what was happening, the entire shell jar thing shrank to disappear in a tiny ball of light, leaving Twilight & her family baffled in what just happened.

“That’s it? I was expecting a little more?” Phobos questioned off the action they seen in not knowing what was going on behind it.

“Forget that! Where'd she go?” Spike asked off to approach the table, looking up from where Starlight Glimmer went into something & vanished the next.

“I don't know, Spike, but I think we better find out! Something out of the ordinary she did!” Twilight stated off worried about this as she approach the map to look at it with suspension; what did Starlight Glimmer do.

“The map looks fine, so…that’s okay.” Ben stated from seeing the map was still in one piece.

“What we need is clues to tell us what happened here.” Nyx stated off in what they should do, find & learn what even took place here.

“I guess we could start with this.” Spike’s voice stated off in what they can do to check for clues.

“Good idea, it’s the only clue we got.” Phobos’s voice also responded in agreement on the subject of what they got.

Hearing what the baby dragons said made the ponies become cautiously worried as they look to see Spike & Phobos reaching towards; a scrubbed up scroll that Starlight Glimmer tossed off. At the same moment, a strange shadow figure was in the room, studying what was going on.

“So, it starts.” It was some familiar masked mercenary assassin, the Equestrian Eliminator as he suddenly slips through the shadows & dives into Twilight’s shadow without her knowing it while everyone was focus on what thereby Dragons were about to do.

“Spike, Phobos, no! Don't touch that!” Twilight turned around to stop the baby Dragons from touching that strange paper object.

Then without warning, the same magical circular ring from the council table rose up, this time in violet magic aura color rotation going upwards. And just like before, the same shell jar object appeared above with the rotating & loud gear clock noises as a wind suction force was starting to pull the Sparkle Family towards it.

“It’s sucking us in!” Nyx yelled out in seeing what was happening.

“HOLD ON!” Ben screamed out for them to hold on tight to each other.

“Waaaaaughhhh-Aaahhhh!” Screaming was heard at this time, as Spike & Phobos were getting pulled in while Twilight, Ben & Nyx held onto the baby Dragon’s tails while getting pulled into the emerald void. Then in a split second, the entire object vanished in a tiny light after this that were sucked in, vanished along with it. Then at the same moment, someone came in through a door as it was Pinkie Pie & Pinkamena, delivering some cake before noticing, no one was around.

“Did you hear any noises?” Pinkamena asked off in thinking there were voices around here.

“Huh! Looks empty to me, I thought Twilight & her family came back/” Pinkie Pie shrug off puzzled in seeing no one was around.

“Well that’s a shame, we even had a surprise welcome back & celebration for Twilight’s Speech cake ready.” Pinkamena pondered off that they had a cake for Twilight after they heard the mare return, but now she ain’t here to celebrate.

“Wanna chow down on it so it won’t go to waste?” Pinkie Pie offered off that they enjoy the cake in the meantime.

“Well, we should be worrying about the situation & of what’s happen.” Pinkamena stated off to think that something happened that they should take more precaution of concerns for, however… “But…..that can wait until AFTER Cake! And then some CUPCAKES I brought along!” She smiled off in showing the cupcakes she had, the two can figure things out until after a little…snacking; that is so Pinkie Pie random of them.

Then without warning, both Pinkie Pie & Pinkamena opened their mouths to take a big bite chunk of the chocolate cake; never knowing of what transpired here. The scene goes dark as we have a change of scenery here…

 

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At this time, Flare Tiger was helping her friend Flower Dog water some flowers for a garden sector in Ponyville, & their friend Shadow Cat was helping out. Everything was going well until an invisible spark volt zipped across that impacted Flare Tiger’s head, causing her to drop what she was doing to hold it & let off loud moan noises. This caused her friends to stop that they were doing to check up on Flare Tiger’s condition.

“Flare Tiger, wha’s wrong?” Flower Dog asked in seeing her friend was feeling some unusual effect.

“Something is happening, Ah felt it. The timeline, someone is about ta do something ta effect things here.” Flare Tiger issued off in having felt something was off, something that would become major trouble.

“Wait, what? Can’t it be stopped?” Shadow Cat asked off in feeling this could be bad unless something is done.

“There’s no time ta waste, we gotta tussle up other Wielders of Elements & get ta Stark International. Ah’ll explain later, something this bad, could only lead ta something worse ahead in where we may need help!” Flare Tiger explained off to say this about what they need to do, gather friends & meet in a central location of someone they know who is a friend.

With a decision made, Flare Tiger used her element to open a dimension portal to allow her, Flower Dog & Shadow Cat to quickly go through it; their destination, gather up some Element Wielders & meet at Stark International. As the dimensional portal began to close & the scene goes dark, we can tell, something is going to happen that may require the aid of friends in something that may affect them all for….all TIME it seems!

 

----------------

 

Meanwhile, with the Sparkle Family…

 

We see Spike & Phobos holding onto the scroll while Twilight, Ben & Nyx held onto the baby Dragons while they continue to scream through a strange void tunnel. As they gone through they see a magical image of an hourglass rotating as more clock ticking sounds are heard while it goes further into the back of the blacken end of the tunnel.

Then in the next moment, the same shell jar appeared in the open skies from sparking a bit & soon opened up to where it let off what it suck in. As the Sparkle Family was falling, the baby Dragons let go of the scroll as being paperweight, it was slowly descending. Everyone was screaming as they seem tone plunging to their demise when…a thought came to them.

“Wait, why are we screaming, most of us have wings & magic to help us fly?” Nyx questioned off to remind everyone that they can fly then just keep falling.

“Nyx is right, ugh, how could we forget?” Ben slapped his forehead in not believing he forgot about that.

Realizing those that can fly, Twilight & Nyx opened their wings to start flapping to stop their fast descend while Ben summoned his Hover Boots to help him rush off the descent.

“HEEEEEELP/Waaaugh-Aaaaughhh!” But Phobos & Spike’s cries signal differently as they were too scared as they were about to hit the ground…until Twilight’s magic levitated the baby Dragons who shielded their eyes. Then from opening their eyes, they saw they were fine before the ponies landed on the road pavement of somewhere that was daytime. As they inspect the place, it was mostly made of…clouds. And there were lots of Pegasus Ponies flying around, many that we’re only just fillies &colts, but there were some adults. Didn’t take long to piece things together in WHERE the gang ended up in…

“Wait, we’re in Cloudsdale? But, Starlight doesn't even have wings!” Spike questioned off in pondering why Starlight Glimmer would come here since the pony is a unicorn.

“Why would she even come here, heck, even I don’t know,” Phobos shrug off to say in looking to the others, this was puzzling even for his mind.

“I don't know, but it looked like she could fly with just magic!” Twilight shook her head with concern worries before rubbing her chin to think that Starlight Glimmer managed to fly with only her magic. “She may have worn that outfit, but I think Flash destabilized the hover hoof boots, so she’s relying on magic instead.” She explained that though Starlight Glimmer wore that Equalizer suit, the mechanical function of hover boots were shot, so the mare is using magic instead.

“Well most unicorns need to have a good concentration to pull that off & enough focus, even Rarity has only started to learn about using her Eternal Style of using gems as hover hoof-steps.” Ben explained off that another friend of theirs is starting to learn how to soar by different measurements.

“We best keep our eyes open. We don't know what Starlight Glimmer has planned.” Twilight issued off to say this that whatever Starlight glimmer is planning, they must be prepared for anything.

Just then without warning, something WHOOSHED by the group that caught them by surprise, it was a fast little light blue kind of filly Pegasus with…rainbow mane & tail.

“Wait…Isn't that…Rainbow Dash?” Spike asked off as he & the others narrow their eyes to see the filly that pass by them was…their friend.

“Either that or it’s some pony who’s a super craze fan that has the same fur color & died their mane & tail with rainbow colors.” Phobos rubbed his head to random suggest something that sounded crazy to believe.

“Guys…Did Rainbow Dash look really young to you?” Twilight asked this off with a concern expression on her face about the pony in question that seem…younger than usual. “And if that was her, I didn't see a cutie mark.” As Twilight spoke, Spike took out from a bag he brought with binoculars as he & Phobos looked through them, even Ben took out his Hawkeye Mask to help get a better view from afar. From afar, the scene shows what look like fillies of Fluttershy & an arguing Rainbow Dash talking to two colts known as Hoops & Dumb-Bell. “You don't think…” Twilight was about to ask this in thinking that if Rainbow Dash who doesn’t have a cutie mark is here now, then…could this mean.

“...We ended up traveling back in time to when Rainbow Dash raced the bullies, who made fun of Fluttershy, & performed her first Sonic Rainboom?” Spike lowered his binoculars in slowly catching up to the detail of where & WHEN they are to an event that played out something in many ponies’ lives.

“Can that really be Auntie Rainbow & Fluttershy as fillies?” Nyx asked off in never believing she see her aunts when they were young.

“That definitely looked like them, when we went through the Labyrinth of Illusions, Shadow Ghoul showed me images of all of Twilight’s friends as fillies. I’m not mistaken, it’s them down to the last letter.” Ben stated off in recalling when he saw the Mane Six as fillies from an illusion from the Shadow Ghoul back in the End of Equestria, no doubt, what they see are the real deal.

“So then we really HAVE gone back in time?” Phobos issued off to say this in seeing they really did go back in time.

“You guys, only Star Swirl the Bearded could do something like that & even his spell just went back a week!” Twilight slap her forehead to remind her group about a famous spell caster in history that performed the spell of time travel & that when Twilight performed it from getting a future of herself from a week ago, tried to tell her something which lead to a whole lotta crazy stuff afterwards. “How could Starlight do more than the Greatest Wizard in Equestria that even the Mystics acknowledged his talents?” Twilight pondered off to ask how in the world Starlight Glimmer achieve what even Star Swirl the Bearded couldn’t do.

“That’s a good question, last time Flash & Sunset stopped her in the council room from taking the Book Of Forbidden Spells before she escaped & left her Equalizer getup, so the question remains…how did she do this?” Ben questioned off that when those that told them about the Equalizer coming to take something from their possession, they were received a book filled with powerful spell knowledge did not fall i the wrong clutches, but still, where did Starlight Glimmer come across a time travel spell?

Then a paper was rustling in the wind, which made the group stop their discussion to find…a familiar scroll that started this random event of time travel.

“Um, guys…I think I know how Starlight Glimmer did the trick. With this.” Spike stated from glimpsing over the scroll & showed it to Twilight & the rest with a serious frown face; written words with star & moon images with equation & stuff on it.

“That old thing, what is it?” Phobos asked off puzzled i seeing that little paper.

Twilight looks the scroll over with her focus narrow eyes before, her eyes became wide eye in shock & horror.

“Star Swirl's spell! Oh, no!” Twilight gasped in shock in realizing what this was, a scroll that was once the spell Star Swirl the Bearded made for time travel, somehow…Starlight Glimmer obtain it.

“She must have gotten it from our library when Grandma Celestia sent over lots of books!” Nyx stated in how they must have received this spell from Star Swirl the Bearded’s spell book of research & that Starlight Glimmer managed to snatch it.

“Come on, what are we waiting for? Let's go!” Spike packs away the scroll to eagerly issue that they get going here.

“Go where to Spike?” Ben asked off puzzled in wondering where Spike was wanting to go off to in this place in the past.

“To watch the race of course. I don't wanna miss the Rainboom!” Spike issued off eagerly in wanting to see when Filly Rainbow Dash performs a first Sonic Rainboom that makes history.

“Hey yeah, being the first to watch history in the making & being a part of it, sign me up!” Phobos exclaimed off in becoming interested to see something that will make things a lot more interesting.

But Spike & Phobos were not careful since they walked off the road & into the cloud surface as they were not flying types. Twilight, Ben & Nyx yelped in seeing this before Twilight used her magic horn to levitate the baby Dragons from the cloud to be on her & Ben as they smiled with determination.

“Whoa!” Spike & Phobos yelps when the adult ponies & Nyx took off to fly off to where since they are here; may as well see something to take their mind off of things.

At this moment, the scene changes to where we see many fillies & colts of Cloudsdale watching a starting point of a race; where Rainbow Dash, Hoops & Dumb-Bell were at the starting point & Fluttershy was the checker flagger in the center.

“Hugh…” Fluttershy yelped from when she swung the checker flag, the racers were off but they zoom pass her. “Wuhuhuhhahahah…ahahaha, Waahahaahhh…” As she was spinning around & around, she soon fell off her cloud towards the solid ground. Watching this action from above was the Sparkle group, Twilight saw what happened to Filly Fluttershy to almost stretch her wings to go down to help, but Spike held her wings to tap her head in getting her attention.

“Remember Twilight, Fluttershy is supposed to experience this.” Spike wiggled his finger to remind Twilight, she can’t help out in a course of something in the past.

“I agree, if we help her out, it might change the future.” Ben nods off in knowing that helping Fluttershy during a time when she fell off from Cloudsdale may lead to her not meeting her animals or discover her cutie mark.

“Right, so…we gotta not be helping the weak, pathetic, crybaby Fluttershy, so she can get her cutie mark?” Phobos was saying this much remotely before he got a whack form Spike. “Ow, what I say?” He asked off in not realizing that mistake of his.

“Of course.” Twilight rolled her eyes in being reminded of this; Fluttershy needs to be where she was in when she earn her cutie mark.

“Let’s just watch Aunt Rainbow’s race, that’ll be more exciting to see!” Nyx suggested this which everyone agreed to look to see how the young dare-devil was gonna do things in her race.

As we speak, Young Rainbow Dash was racing in the head spot as Young Hoops & Young Dumb-Bell were right behind the filly when they zipped through the first cloud ring. Rainbow Dash looked at the two bullies to see they were trying to keep up, but she was not pushing herself to take the lead. Young Rainbow Dash made a sharp turn around a corner to go through the next cloud ring, followed by Young Hoops, but Young Dumb-Bell didn’t make it as he flew straight to crash into a cloud pillar & was seeing stars.

“Whoa!” Young Rainbow Dash smiled in having the lead until Young Hoops bumps her from the left side to take the lead.

“Heh. Later, Rainbow Crash!” Young Hoops looked to the filly in signing off to taunt the pony as he dove down to take the lead.

“Hey!” Young Rainbow Dash yelled off to protest of that cheater’s move to get the lead, as she instantly rebound before shooting off to catch up to the bully.

However, as the race was going on, none saw something using magic to hover from a cloud nearby, as it was none other taen the hidden Starlight Glimmer smirking at the race reaching its final course.

“Aw, so sorry about doing this.” Starlight Glimmer made a pretend pout to say this to the young Rainbow Dash as her horn was glowing at the moment.

Young Rainbow Dash was making a fast dive in which a rainbow force was covering her front as she was giving it her all to catch up to Hoops as this was about to be the beginning of the Sonic Rainboom. But just then, a strange magic beam impacted Young Rainbow Dash, ceasing her action & movement in mid-air, much to her surprise.

“Hey! What gives?” Young Rainbow Dash protest off in not knowing what was going on that something was keeping her from moving.

Then the foals cheer as the winner that cross the finished line was…Young Hoops!? And as this was going on, Twilight, Spike, Ben, Nyx & Phobos watch this with puzzling concerns.

“Um, I know I never pay much attention about history that was boring, but…wasn’t the winner Rainbow Dash?” Phobos asked off in recalling that the winner of this race was Rainbow Dash when she won as a filly?

“Right, & where’s the Rainboom?” Nyx nods off to say this in more puzzlement that something else was missing from the picture.

“I got a bad feeling about this unexpected event may trigger some unlikely results.” Ben stated off to say this in feeling that something about this feels like what was history, may change.

Below Cloudsdale, we see a giggling Fluttershy with some butterflies that were making her happy. But then without warning, many of the birds, ducks, bunnies, ferrets, beavers, etc. were leaving the filly much to her confusion…& sadness.

Within Manehattan at the time, a Young Applejack looked out through the city with a sad face with feelings of missing home at Sweet Apple Acres. But at that moment, she just…sighs in sadness before shutting the curtains in not seeing anything interesting from the busy streets of the city while walking away.

Within a familiar Rock Farm, we see a Young Pinkie Pie moving rocks on her rock farm near some collective rock piles. She wipes off the sweat from her forehead, looked up at the sky where it was still dark; crow’s cawing & nothing exciting was going on. And so the pink filly looked down in sadness to just continue her chores.

Near a certain edge, we find Young Rarity by a large boulder rock in staring at it in puzzlement of why her horn brought the filly here. When nothing of interest happened, she just…pushed the boulder off the cliff which broke on the ground as the filly was walking away; never knowing what was INSIDE the thing that brought her here.

And within Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, we see Young Twilight straining herself to make her horn’s magic do something to hatch Spike’s egg. But all she got was a tiny spark that flew off to touch the egg’s surface, bounce off with no result, the filly looked down in…sadness in being unable to hatch a simple dragon egg. She looked up to the board of the school with Sir Spell Nexus as they used their magic horns to mark off this action of NOT hatching a dragon egg by a…Miss Twilight Sparkle. A Young Twilight looked down with sadness in seeing that she knows what happened, she failed the entry test…

Meanwhile, back in Cloudsdale, Young Rainbow Dash was still frozen in place with her body unmoving. All from the handy work of a smear smirking Starlight Glimmer as she had her magic hover herself in admiring the work she did. But soon approaching the pony that interfered with a race that played out an important role in Equestria was the frowning Twilight, Ben, Nyx, & even the frown & arm cross Spike & Phobos.

“What did you do?!” Twilight asked off in demand of what Starlight Glimmer just did here.

“You, & your group are about to find out.” Starlight Glimmer issued off with a wise-crack remark in stating the answer to that question to those upset by her action.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Phobos asked off in not following while upset over the change of the race.

Then without warning, the now dubbed Magical Time Portal suddenly flash above the puzzled Sparkle group. And then those that were near Starlight Glimmer felt themselves getting sucked in while Starlight remain where she was. As the Time Portal soon closed in on itself while the mare watch in knowing how her act will bring results, as she dons her helmet as the Equalizer…

“You should have just killed the filly.” Seekcurse appeared from nearby a cloud to lean on, suggesting what the mare in the getup should have done.

“This is MY task & I’ll thank you to not interfere, I’m working on equality, not murder here!” Starlight Glimmer spoke through the Equalizer’s helmet to protest in what she is going for is making things become perfectly equal; killing someone to change things is NOT a line she is going to cross.

“Very well, I’ll leave you to handle things while I just watch from afar.” Seekcurse sighs to say in letting this mare handle everything while he observes from afar.

“Good. Because if they come back, then I’ll be ready.” As The Equalizer issued off to say this, she flew off while everything fades out while Seekcurse showed a hidden evil grin on his face.

 

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At this moment, a flash appears in the skies before the Magical Time Portal appears with the void opened up. Screams are heard before we see Twilight, Spike, Ben, Nyx & Phobos screaming as they fell out before making a rough landing in where they yelp on. Then the Magical Time Portal vanished from the skies again once it was done.

“Ugh…” Twilight was shown manning to rub her head from feeling sore as she was in a familiar throne chair.

“Ugh…Everyone okay?” Ben struggles to hold his aching head with his eyes shut in asking how everyone else was fairing.

“I think my head broke my fall.” Phobos stated to say in having landed on his head when he hit the ground.

“Oh Phobos.” Nyx pushed herself up lightly in seeing her pet pal in such a silly state.

Just then, in front of Twilight’s attention, she saw what looked like the Council Table that displays the map of Equestria, but something seems….off; it looks all dark & rough.

“I don't know what Starlight's up to yet, but we'd better figure it out before it's too late.” Twilight exclaimed off to say this with worrying concerns in not liking what looks like a change map; as Spike & Phobos slowly got themselves up before looking ahead.

“Um, Twilight? I think…it already is.” Spike slowly pointed this out in feeling like he’s got some bad news to tell of what was seen before them.

“Yeah, like for example….our living situation.” Phobos pointed off in noticing that they have a huge problem.

At that moment, Twilight Sparkle gasped off in wide shock, even Ben & Nyx were left speechless in seeing that the entire structure of the Rainbow Castle IS GONE! There was nothing around the grassy field or by the waterfall, all that remain was the Council of Friendship’s table & even IT looked busted!

“Uh, Twilight? Where's our castle?” Spike asked coffin not noticing where the walls that surround the council table of the Rainbow Castle is.

“Our home….it’s gone!” Nyx exclaimed in shock, it was hard enough losing their first home like the Golden Oak’s Library, but now their second home.

“How was that possible? And more to the point, how’d we get back here from the past?” Ben questioned off these things in not getting enough answers of what the heck was going on.

“I think I have a theory. The map must have pulled us back.” Twilight looked to the crystal form of Equestria’s map in thinking it must have pulled them back to where they started. “But it seems whatever Starlight did in the past, changed things here!” She exclaimed that whatever Starlight Glimmer did in the past, effected & change stuff in the future of their present.

“It did!?” Nyx yelps off in having heard this, so what Starlight Glimmer did has altered their current present to be like this!

“But why? And how did we get here? Where's here?” Spike questioned off these things to tap his chin, how did they get pulled here & where they even are for that matter.

“It’s more like ‘when’ than where, Spike.” Twilight used her magic to pull the time scroll Spike had in his backpack to show this to the baby Dragon in stating about the time verse of expansion.

“What do you mean Twilight?” Spike asked off in not following this talk all of a sudden.

“Yeah, cause I’m not real fast in understanding time distortion, & stuff that makes my brain hurt.” Phobos positioned off his limitations in understanding geek talk, etc.

“Starlight altered Star Swirl's spell of time travel, then somehow used it on the map we have to travel into the past & change something!” Twilight took the map to study it before looking back at the others to explain a theory of what Starlight Glimmer did to a certain time travel spell with the use of their map to go further back in time to change something. “Once she did that, the map then pulled us right back to the present! In short, the future of where we live in!” She exclaimed to say this about what happened that when whatever was change, the ma brought them back to the present to show them the new future.

“So we're back where….I mean, when we started?” Spike cross his arms to shrug off to think, but yelped to figure out what was going on.

“Not exactly Spike.” Nyx stated this to Spike in where he & even Phobos have a hard time following such complicated science stuff like time travel philosophy, etc.

Nyx is right, as we can see…everything's different. Look at this.” Twilight stated this off with worry as she & everyone approach the map to see a change. “The map doesn't even make sense anymore of what we use to know!” Twilight pointed out as her concerning voice stated that what they see shows a different Equestria of where much of the map has changed. “The Crystal Empire takes up half of Equestria!” From where the map shows as Twilight explains, the only locations shown while what looks like many towns that existed are gone to replace with dark crystal shards covering the area, are Arimaspi Territory, Griffonstone, & the center of it at the top was…the Crystal Empire, but taken a darkly shape of a form.

“Plus there's the whole missing castle thing.” Spike pointed out in reminding Twilight & the rest of their castle missing from where they are & it’s not on the map either.

“Worse than that, all of our stuff is gone too!” Phobos stated to panic in all of their things in the castle is now gone.

“Phobos, we need to focus here.” Nyx lectures her pet pal to focus on the bigger issue at hand here.

“Nyx’s right, look here, Canterlot is missing, something must have happened to mom & everyone else. We need to find answers.” Ben pointed out in noticing that if Canterlot Castle is not o the map, something must have happened to Princess Celestia, his mom could be anywhere.

“Right!” Twilight nods to say while thinking this over, so many problems have occur & they don’t have any clue how to handle it all. “This case is too big to handle on our own.” Twilight spoke off in determination in saying this job was bigger then what they could do on their own terms.

“You think so?” Spike exclaimed in seeing that Twilight acknowledges that a problem this huge, can’t be solved by them alone.

“Listen everyone, we need to find our friends & get help!” Twilight issued off to say this, that they need to rally up their friends if they are gonna fix whatever happened.

“Where do we start?” Phobos asked i not knowing where they go to find their pals.

“I see Ponyville, if anything, they might be there.” Ben pointed in seeing what looks like the town structure of Ponyville near them.

“Then let’s go!” Nyx issued off that they best get going to find the rest of the Mane Five to fix this situation; everyone nods in agreement, as they all leave the map to venture towards Ponyville.

The scene changes now to where cawing crows are heard, as the Sparkle gang were traveling down a deserted & wasteland spot of where an old road path is seen. And they soon entire what appears to be Ponyville, only…it’s all in shambles, it looks like windows & doors were patch up, some ceilings lost the hay or some never got fix properly; it’s like an abandon town. Spike & Phobos did stop their walk in spotting a pony from her home to wave at them, only for the mare to gasp & shut her blinds in fear; leaving the baby Dragons puzzled.

“Well that was rude! You think they acted like they don’t know us!” Phobos complained in having been treated like no one knows them.

“I’m gettin' a bad feeling about this, Twilight.” Spike stated off to say as he & Phobos rejoin the others.

“I know, Spike, but this is Ponyville. The home of where three pony cultures mix in. How bad could things be?” Twilight replied off to say this while trying to put on a smile to state ‘how bad could things be then this’ while moving towards their next spot…

“Uh, Twilight…you may wanna see this.” Ben stated off in noticing something ahead of them

From the cawing crows, the Sparkle Gang arrived what looks like…the former glory that was once…Sugarcube Corner. Many were shown with sad & frown & worried faces in seeing what was once a lovely pastry shop now reduce to…this. A simple bread shop with the decorative bread design.

“Isn’t that supposed to be….Sugarcube Corner?” Spike asked off puzzled in not believing the place Pinkie Pie lives in would look so….un-fun & enjoyable.

“This is the location, but….why is it a bread-shop?” Nyx stated in knowing this place seems to sell bread than pastries.

“Better question…WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE SWEETS!?” Phobos yelled out to panic in seeing what was their place for sweets is gone.

“I don't understand. Pinkie Pie would have made this place be so happy & fun to visit.” Twilight shook her head in being puzzled by this, this should not be right.

“If this is what happened like our castle, then what other changes might have affected the home of our friends?” Ben exclaimed in having to think what could have caused this weird stuff to which the events happen from where they & possibly other ponies they know live around too.

“Gaaaugh! Oh no!” Spike suddenly gasped without warning, as he ran off ahead of everyone else before they followed him. We hear panting, as the scene shows what was shown to be Carousel Boutique, only the styles of a fabulous outfit shop was patch with wooden boards by windows & all as it too was abandon as Spike approaches it. “Rarity!” Spike called out to the mare, as he was knocking on the door with worry but got no response. “Grrr….” Then Spike goes over to a boarded window as he grunts from picking himself up. “Rarity?!” Spike called out again with worry of the pony he has a crush on as he begins to sweat with worry; where was Rarity.

“I don't think she's here, Spike.” Twilight’s voice cuts in at this time when she & the rest find Spike to which the sad baby Dragon slowly gets down on the ground in full sadness. “I’m not sure anything we know is the same as what we once knew before.” Twilight sadly stated this as everyone seem to look down in the dumps; everything’s changed & not for the better. “But maybe, just maybe, I know one place that could never change!” Twilight was in a deep thought before she smiled to hug Spike in stating this with a positive attitude of having come across something that may help.

“The town dump?” Phobos randomly guess that to be unchanged.

“No, Sweet Apple Acres, they were the first settlers that help start Ponyville.” Twilight explained that she was meaning AJ’s farm & about how the Apples settle & help start Ponyville.

“That’s right, Granny Smith came in to school for Apple Bloom to talk about Ponyville history.” Nyx nods off in recalling that, it was a great & inspiring history lesson.

“Then let’s go, it might be the last lead we can get to know what’s happen.” Ben stated off that they need to go & check out this clue.

Later on, the Sparkle Gang was off to find one pony whose family must still be around, & so they are off to the history sight of the Apple Family. Unfortunately, from the squeaking of an apple sign, the Sparkle Family bear witness something unnatural of where what was a farm of nature & wonder was now….turn into some kind of…Industrial Plant! The smoke from the plant was clouding up the clouds, turning what was a cheerful farm into something else. Everyone had wide-gaping mouths in not believing this, what in the world happened that the Apple Farm is now an Industrial Plant?

“Wow, so in this world, the Apples Farm…is a Facility?” Phobos slowly spoke off ion seeing what was going on.

“That can’t be! We gotta see what’s happening inside!” Nyx shook her head off that they need to figure out what happened here.

Soon approaching a dirty window, Twilight & Ben wiped the dirt off to see what was happening for them & Nyx to see. And inside, they saw what looked like an apple-producing machinery that was running to squirt apple sauce into cans with Granny Smith’s picture on it. Above was a steaming pot with the lid wobbling a bit before opening up to let in some apples from a belt line come dumping in before sealing the lid shut. More of Granny Smith’s Can Apple Sauce, was being bang on by a hammer. And all around, we see what look like many machines grinding & hissing & rumbling, as we see who was working. Big Mac was checking a paper board & AJ was working on the pouring machine while they wore working uniforms for an Industrial Apple-Producing Plant.

“I never expected a day when the apples would be in the productive business, this seems kind of…well, different from before.” Ben rubbed his noggin in finding this scenery to be, very unnatural indeed.

As the Sparkle Gang looked through the windows to see what was going on inside, the ponies look to their right in spotting someone roll a barrel out with a plain & dull expression; it was…Applejack!

“Applejack!” Twilight exclaimed off in surprise to see the first of her friends was here.

“Aunt Applejack!” Nyx exclaimed off in being surprised too in seeing who was here in this crazy place.

And as Applejack was rolling a barrel down, a smiling Twilight & Nyx hug her much to her weird surprise by such….huggable folks.

“Pardon me, but wha can I do fer ye all?” Applejack frowns to push Twilight & Nyx off of her in asking if there was something this bunch wanted.

“It's so good to see you! We couldn't find Pinkie or Rarity or Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash, but I just knew you'd still be here!” Twilight was running off her mouth in issuing off a bunch of names left & right while being so happy to see AJ who rolled a barrel into a cart.

“Of course I am. This here is my home.” Applejack issued off to plainly state that this farm is her home, she wouldn’t be anywhere else. “But who in de tarnation is Pinkie Bow and Flutterdash?” She asked off in being puzzled in getting the names jumbled up a bit after she was done setting her barrel. “Or fer tat matter, fer ye all?” Applejack issued off to say this while passing by the group in sounding like, she don’t know them.

“Say what now?” Ben replied off shock, did AJ ask who they were?

“You... don't know who I am?” Twilight asked off in sounding a bit…heartbroken, the others were shock too.

“Nope. Not a clue.” Applejack issued off to say she doesn’t know anyone. “Honestly, de only name I recognize is Rarity, but she left this here town fer Manehattan some years ago.” Applejack shrug off her shoulders when passing by the others in having to only recall Rarity’s name…before she left.

“Well, it’s probably to become a world-famous fashion designer, I bet’cha. She did always say that when I was with her.” Spike shrug off his shoulders to cheer their group up in thinking of what Rarity is doing in Manehattan, where folks make it big.

“Not dat I know of.” Applejack’s voice cuts in from having heard the discussion about Rarity & what she’s doing, but it sounded like…that wasn’t the case. “Last I heard, she went to help with the cause like everypony else.” She lets down a frown & a bit of a gloomy mood before placing the cart’s door up in having finished her barrels in while stating what Rarity was doing like so many others.

“The cause?” Twilight raised a suspicious eyebrow i having heard this, what’s this ‘Cause’ that sounds new to her & her family that they never heard about?

“What’s…The Cause, if you can explain to us?” Phobos asked off dumbly in liking an explanation here.

“Seriously? De Cause stands fer…De war against King Sombra & his Crystal Empire.” Applejack approached the group to plainly state what is going on, the ‘Cause’ is a military term for their battle for freedom against King Sombra.

“What?!” Twilight, Spike, Ben, Nyx & Phobos replied off in a loud voice of shock in hearing that name suddenly, even spooked AJ a bit by their reaction to see their more worried faces.

“Okay, this here’s basic knowledge fer all of us folks. But where have ye all been dat ye don’t know this?” Applejack narrow her eyes in questioning those that have been somewhere that they don’t know anything about such basic history.

“Actually, it's when.” Spike pointed off to say in a sly smile in correcting the time term sentence.

“Don’t ask, it’s hard to explain, believe me.” Phobos issued off to simply say this to AJ.

“I know this is hard to believe, but you & I and those other ponies I mentioned are friends!” Twilight insisted off with a worried expression to explain not Applejack here about her & the other Mane Five members are all friends.

“She’s right, you are all the Mane Six.” Ben explained off in knowing that is something to be true about.

“Did ye bump yer head on a crate of cider or somethin’?” Applejack dryly asked off in thinking these folks are talking nonsense about such mumbo-jumbo.

“I’m telling you the truth! The honest truth!” Twilight proclaim this as being serious about such a thing to AJ. “And if you come with me, I'll prove it.” Twilight declared off to say this that if AJ follows her, then she can show the mare that what is said is the truth.

“Right, just follow us!” Nyx nodded off to say this that they will show AJ the truth.

Everyone soon rushes off to head off, while Applejack sighs to turn back to get to work. Or would have, except a magic aura got covered around her body & YANKED her away from the cart without warning by no doubt Twilight’s magic handy work.

Later on, the scene opens towards the Friendship Council table in where the map is seen, as the gang have brought Applejack to see things here for the pony to know, what they said was the truth of the matter. Pretty much the explanation aside, the area itself seem new that AJ never seen before.

“Well, I'll admit this much ta ye folks. I've lived in these parts my whole life & I've never seen this before.” Applejack issued off to honestly say this in seeing this place first time, as she never knew it even existed until just now.

“There's also supposed to be a castle that goes with it.” Spike held up his arms in stating that there is a castle that comes with this table of a map, which he frowns in seeing it’s no longer here.

“Yeah, & you were a councilman pony! I mean, who WOULDN’T want a job like that for being an honest type?” Phobos pointed out what AJ here was in another time, much to her confusion.

“Yeah, let’s just focus on what we wanna know now before getting sidetracked.” Ben rolled his eyes in thinking they best just keep moving on the focus subject for now.

“Well, okay…but I still don't see what this has to do with this pony and I bein' friends.” Applejack lightly pointed this off to Twilight in not following how this all is supposed to be fro, the two being friends.

“Another pony named Starlight Glimmer used this map to travel through time & change things in the past.” Twilight narrow her eyes to the map to seriously explain this to Applejack about who caused something in the past that did something to the now. “For some reason we don’t know, the map's here but everything else is different!” Twilight pointed off that while the map is here, it’s everywhere else that appears different from before while AJ studies the map closely.

“Exactly wha ye mean by…different how?” Applejack looked to Twilight in liking a little more detail about how things are different compared to before.

“Would you being my honorary aunt count? And that I’m a good friend of your younger sister, Apple Bloom.” Nyx pointed this out to say, much to AJ’s surprise in what she heard.

“Hugh….I’m your honorary aunt?” Applejack yelped in having heard this as Nyx nods her head with a smile as the pony thinks this through. “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout dat, nor do I have a sister name Apple Bloom, I came back ta my family ta find my Granny & Big Mac.” Applejack explained that the only family she came back to see, was her big brother & her granny.

“I guess in another time line, you had a little sister, but here…seems to be different if you never went home from Manehattan,” Ben rubbed his chin in having to guess what happened & it’s not a pretty picture if a pony they knew was not born in this timeline.

“Okay, so, wha’s another different?” Applejack continuing on to move the subject off about her having a little sister.

“Well, for one thing Applejack, where we come from, there's no war with King Sombra. He was already defeated & stopped at that time & someone turn him good.” Twilight stated off puzzled in knowing that from where her family came from, there was no war with King Sombra; having heard such a thing made Applejack look down in sadness & sorrow as it didn’t take everyone to know that hearing about a time point that there was no war, sounded pretty nice about now. “Maybe you could tell us how the war started in the first place, then we can figure out when everything changed after that!” Twilight tried to perk AJ up by asking for a history about how things came to be, so that maybe she & her family could unravel the mystery of how everything turn out to be in this new alternate timeline.

“Well sure, dat’s easy enough ta explain.” Applejack stated off that she can tell these folks about what happened when things changed; as the mare sigs for a brief moment in about to explain the story. “When de Crystal Empire returned, it brought King Sombra back with it.” AJ explained from narrowing her eyes at the Crystal Empire image on the map, stating about what occurred during the time.

The scene changes to show the evil form view of the Crystal Empire, in which it was a more dark vision of what beauty it once held while all of the lands were like a wasteland. Soon approaching from the balcony from the palace, as there were evil flames that were whooshing about as the one coming out in full armor was…the Evil King Sombra! The evil king stood over his apace in feeling himself superior to all things.

“And it didn't take long for him ta force every one of his subjects ta fight fer him against Equestria.” As Applejack narrates, we see the subjects of the Crystal Empire were in chains & looking miserable; including the pony Earth mare known as Autumn Gem.

Then from the miserable ponies were suited in gothic battle armor from a red aura glow of magic, before the helmet showed no expression by…eerie emerald glowing eyes. As Evil King Sombra smiled wickedly in having made all of his slaves become his obedient foot soldiers. Soon the scene changes to where on the snowy plain, the Sombra Army began to march across the snow like a unit. From nearby, Princess Celestia had a stern face in waving her left hoof off in having her Royal Guards & Wonderbolt army prepare to engage. The Wonderbolts in question wore what look like sports-type battle armor as we see three fliers going in with a few others tailing. Many of the Sombra Army began to charge forth on the ground level, while many Royal Guards & Wonderbolts ran on ground & flew in air.

“Waaaaughhh!” The sounds of WAR-CRIES were heard from both charging armies before… “Kablamfruvhmmm….” Their collision created a big boom effect as they were all in the smoke cloud. Many Royal Guard stallions were hoof-fighting, head bashing, wrestling, you name it; it was a no holds brawl match between good & evil. But walking through the smoke clouds, the Evil King Sombra appeared to look at what was happening as his horn glowed before…he made dark crystal shards pop from the ground that rose him up while many Royal Guards missed the evil pony & ram into the gemstone wall.

“Hah-Hah-Hah, Haaarrugh!” Evil King Sombra laughs off wickedly in having gotten the upper hold of his state.

One mysterious Wonderbolt mare was going around, bashing & kicking members of Sombra’s Enslaved Army with speed to boast about. But upon landing, she got tackled by one of Sombra’s Soldiers before rising up & knocking the enemy off while losing the headgear. And in a strange motion, this brave fighter was…RAINBOW DASH! But, she seem different, she was more model as some rebellion fighter with a chop Mohawk type mane, a light scar on her left eye, a chip off her left ear, & her left wing was covered in metal-frame work as if suggesting…it was a replace for a lost wing from the war. This Rebel Rainbow Dash soon went off to continue the fight for the ‘Cause’ they are going for.

But while many are fighting, two Sombra Army Units were pushing a big heavy boulder from off a cliff, as it was heading for Rainbow Dash’s location when she stop fighting to notice what was coming; big trouble to flatten her like a pancake. But as Rainbow Dash was preparing for this, two ponies dove in from left & right, & were using their BARE front hooves to bash right through the giant boulder with ease. Open closer look, we discover they appeared like rebellion versions of…Maud Pie & Pinkie Pie with even short buzz-cut manes of flat mane styles with their serious rock smashing attitudes to boot as they tore that boulder to rubble. Rainbow Dash looked up from being saved by the two that saluted in being of service, as Rainbow Dash took off.

Next scene shows Celestia approaching the wounded Royal Guard, as we see Golden Heart wearing some general outfit while we spot Pinkamena who wore her Bird Of Prey getup, helping to treat the injured. The two offered their service, as even General Golden Heart was helping a wounded Lieutenant Jack Zen up who suffered a broken hoof that needs bandaging.

“And even with Princess Celestia leadin' the charge followed by Golden Heart & his sister, the Bird Of Prey…” As Applejack’s voice narrates the story, Sombra Units came from the snow to attack the two alicorns & armor pink mare, only for the princess & prince to use their magic horns to blow the enemies away while the armor mare swung her sword against more Sombra Units coming at them. “It still takes every last pony in Equestria doin' their part.” AJ’s voice narrates to explain this as the scene changes to where from Manehattan, sheep are being sent by Royal Ships as we see a version of Fluttershy in a sheep-cutter getup was buzzing the wool off sheets & Billy goats. “Workin' day and night, to keep up the fight.” Then in another scene as AJ narrates, we see a rugged version of Rarity working by a sewing machine looking like a mess to turn the wool from the sheep into new battle uniforms. Then from another scene, some ponies from towns are boarding a train by the Royal Guard to help lead them out of their homes from the war going on as wanted posters of the Evil King Sombra are seen at the train station while the train blows steam from its whistle motion.

Now the scene returns to the present, in where Twilight, Ben & Nyx along with the baby Dragons heard the tale of what was happening in Equestria now, & it all sounded so…awful.

“Wow, & to think, Pinkamena thought about turning a guy like THAT good.” Phobos issued off to say this in how things gone terrible in when King Sombra came back & is now an acting force of evil.

“Phobos!” Nyx scolds her Moon Dragon for going too far about someone that was a former enemy.

“What! You heard the story! He enslaved & mind-control his subjects to fight against their will, I wouldn’t be surprise if he did that to his gal Autumn Gm!” Phobos pointed out in what they heard is true, King Sombra has done so many bad acts of evil; it’s almost monstrous.

“Wait a second, what about the Mystics, didn’t they help?” Ben asked off in thinking there should have been other allies to help, but what happened?

“Wha de hay are ye talking’ about, de Mystics are an o’ mares tale my granny use ta say. They don’t exist.” Applejack issued off to say this that surprised Ben, the Mystics aren’t involve in this situation.

“Oh man, something tells me this is bigger than I thought now!” Ben spoke worried in having heard this, sounds like their other allies are not involved, could it be what was changed in the past?

“I don’t know what to say, I just can't believe it!” Twilight was so baffled by what she heard that such a story just can’t be true. “We stopped King Sombra! You & me & all of our friends together!” Twilight exclaimed this to hold a surprised AJ in where the mare was stating how they stopped King Sombra from ever trying to perform such acts of evil.

“But de truth of it is, we aren't friends.” Applejack sadly declines to push Twilight’s hooves off her in stating that from her view, she & the mare…aren’t much knowing another to be friends. “At least not here if wha ye said is de darn truth.” She exclaimed to say this with a straight blank expression in knowing that if what Twilight said is true, then the two were friends, but that was another time BEFORE this future was made.

“Right….Not friends,” Twilight looked away in sorrow in knowing this AJ of this alternate timeline is right, they aren’t friends here; who is she to say otherwise.

As Applejack looks around to see the sad & sorrow faces of those that wanted to help, it appears that the atmosphere of war has brought a new meaning of hopelessness to many.

“Look. I hope all this helped ye & all dat, but I really need ta get back ta cannin' those apples.” Applejack sighs to say this to everyone, as she turns around to get herself back to her family’s industrial apple-producing plant were she’s needed to get food supple for their side fighting the ‘Cause’ against King Sombra.

“Thank you, AJ. We're going to set things right. I can at least give you that honest truth of what will be OUR ‘Cause’ to end this.” Twilight stated off to say this to her Applejack of this timeline to insure her that things will get better.

“Hugh…in truth, I hope ye do.” Applejack stops to sigh in looking back in showing a near lost bit of emotional hope in wanting things to go back to ‘peaceful’ times.

“We will! No one should suffer this, we’ll change the future.” Ben issued off that for AJ & many ponies that are suffering this alternate timeline, they’ll fix it so it never happened for a brighter future.

“Thanks, maybe if we met under different times…ye would have been good pals ta help support us in our time of need.” Applejack replied off to say this in having heard Ben’s speech.

Soon Applejack continues to move along to head back home, but the Sparkle Gang still felt like things are not all better; words mean nothing without the action to follow.

But soon the group heard other hoof-steps & turn in expecting some enemy, but instead, it was of two ponies they never expected to see…

“Hey! You guys okay!” Popping out of the nearby bushes was Jade Adventure, followed by another Mystic, Blackwitch.

“Jade!” The group responded off in seeing who was here & was reacting to this very surprised.

“And….Blackwitch?” Ben slowly spoke in seeing who else was with the filly that gets in trouble.

“Wait, how come they act like they know us when AJ didn’t?” Phobos questioned off this act that was puzzling.

“You remembered us?! How?!” Nyx asked off in how the Mystics can remember them when AJ said there are no Mystics around.

“Yeah, there’s a reason for this. Remember the Book of Ages thing?” Jade pointed off to shrug off lightly to bring up something.

“The one that you tore a piece of paper to know about if the CMC would get their Cutie Marks?” Nyx replied off in knowing what Jade did during that weird moment she got in trouble.

“You bet! I’ve got immunity from the time change thing!” Jade smiled off to say this to the black filly.

“Say what now? What do you mean?” Spike asked off in not following that comment.

“It is simple. Anyone or Equestria Ponies who touches the Book of Ages, gives them a strong & powerful immunity from the sudden changes of timeline, especially like this one.” Blackwitch pointed out in stating this much about certain facts for the group to follow.

“For real here? You guys remember what life was like & it was not like this?” Phobos asked off puzzled in having sorta understood all of that.

“Wait! If that is true, why aren't we affected?” Twilight asked off in being puzzled about something of how they can still be safe from the changes of the past.

“That’s right, this happened when Star Swirl’s spell made an encounter with the map here that Starlight Glimmer used to send her & Seekcurse into the past.” Ben replied off in seeing the map that was used with a spell that started this time travel stuff.

“Then you have learn your answer. Star Swirl the Bearded's Time Spell...When anyone used it on the map, it gave them an immunity. And when you used the spell...” Blackwitch said, explaining how the spell worked to the others.

“We're immune to the changes of the new future.” Twilight gasped lightly to hear this; so that is why they can recall things differently to how things are now in this new future.

“Then that might explain why I’m here if Nightmare Moon wasn’t stopped, & daddy is here & not as a Demon Pony, & even Phobos when he was sealed away! Even Spike when he was hatched by mommy along with her still having her wings of an Alicorn!” Nyx exclaimed in realizing why the Sparkle Family are still the same, they can exist in alternate future timelines of the present while still retaining their old memories, even if some of them might not exist due to changes, etc.

“So then, what are you doing here?” Spike asked off in why Jade & Blackwitch are here.

“To help you to stop Starlight Glimmer & Seekcurse. However, I'm after Seekcurse only because he's been a threat far too long.” Blackwitch issued off to simply say this much of a reason.

“How? And for that, how can we stop this?” Twilight raised an eyebrow in not getting why this Mystic is after one enemy while asking another question.

“Look closely of your surroundings especially that which came from the Tree of Harmony...The answer lies there. For now, we must go & find Seekcurse, he may be helping King Sombra from nearby!” Blackwitch exclaimed off to say this much of things for the smart mare to figure out on her own.

“Wait, you said you help us?” Phobos asked off in recalling what this group said they do for them.

“I can only do so much, I’m afraid. Other than myself & Jade, the only other pony who is immune to the changes of the timeline would be the Chronicler, but his hooves are full just seeing what course may occur from a story unwritten with unforetold future encounters. Farewell.” Blackwitch explained off this much of some facts before she & Jade needed to go do other matters to attend to.

Afterwards, Jade & Blackwitch left to which they must try to continue their own task, of locating & stopping Seekcurse of wherever he is & end it. While leaving the matter of stopping Starlight Glimmer, to Twilight & her group to change things…

“So... how are we gonna set things right?” Spike slowly turn to ask Twilight in hoping for an answer to the question.

“Yeah, how are we gonna do that?” Phobos asked off in being puzzled about the subject itself.

“I don't know!” Twilight yelled out in being all panicky over not having any idea how to set things right; as she sat her head to her hooves o the table to pout as Ben patted her to comfort the mare.

“Easy there mommy, we’re here for you.” Nyx patted her mother’s back to help calm her down, as she was feeling stressed out.

“Thanks Nyx.” Twilight replied off in feeling a little more better to sit up a bit. “The only thing we know for sure is that Starlight stopped the Rainboom from happening. But why?” Twilight was clarified the only thing they know that Starlight Glimmer performed in the past that lead up to this event.

“And that the map's still here, even though the castle isn’t.” Spike pointed off in seeing that though the past was changed, the map that triggered them being set in the past is still around despite AJ saying it was never existing in this area.

“Guaaagh! Spike, that's it! The map is connected to the Tree of Harmony!” Twilight gasped off to state this with a little smile in realizing why the map is still here, connected to the Tree of Harmony from when they obtain the magic chest. “So then it must sense that something isn't right here! That's why it's still here!” Twilight explained off to say this in understanding that because the map was made by the magic chest from the Tree of Harmony, it hasn’t disappeared & senses something is not right that they are able to be around.

“Hugh, who knew that the Tree of Harmony could help us in a case of time travel dilemma? But still, good job there Twilight, knew you could do it.” Ben rubbed his head in seeing that even in a different timeline, the Tree of Harmony still exists that it’s helping them stop what is wrong with the future, & that is their ticket to fixing this.

“Thanks Ben.” Twilight handed her love for the vote of confidence before getting to work. “I’ll just use Starlight's version of the spell & try to have us go back a little earlier & then stop her before she even knows we're there!” Twilight issued off to say in levitating the spell from Spike’s backpack with confidence in having a plan in how to stop Starlight Glimmer’s plan before it even happens.

“So, you mean like go back before she arrived & then get the jump on her?” Phobos asked off in slowly following the plan here.

“That’s about the sum of it Phobos.” Nyx nods her head in seeing what her mother thought up was perfect.

Then Twilight hovers the spell scroll before firing a magic beam to it. As that triggered the map to unleash its rotating magic aura rings above as everyone smiles with anticipation. Too the Magical Time Portal appeared above & then sucks in the Sparkle Gang right into it while Spike grabs the map before they went in. Then in the aftermath, the portal vanished from sight like before…

 

--------------------

 

BACK IN THE PAST IN CLOUDSDALE

 

The scene opens to where the Cloudsdale race track was, as many Pegasus fillies were flying to go through the cloud rings. Then a familiar sparkle in the sky appeared which was the Magical Time Portal as it let off those from its emerald void drop out. Spike & Phobos were screaming before Twilight used her wings & her magic horn to slow the baby Dragons’ decent while Ben & Nyx used either their own wings of Hover Boots to smooth themselves within the clouds.

“Phew, close call.” Phobos sighs to say this in thinking they were gonna fall from Cloudsdale in which they go splat on the actual solid ground.

“Oh Phobos.” Nyx rolled her eyes in having heard such a crazy idea.

“Okay Twilight, what’s the plan?” Ben asked in wanting to know how they stop Starlight Glimmer from altering the past & correct their future.

“It’s very simple, all we have to do now is find Starlight & then…” Twilight was explaining the plan in how they can prevent a horrible future by finding Starlight Glimmer, & then…

But then before the sentence could be finished, an unexpected light blue magic beam impacted the Sparkle Gang as when the flashy light ended, Spike, Phobos, Twilight, Ben & Nyx were in some crystal block. That crystal block soon dropped to the ground where they impacted the cloud surface, as they had on the same expressions of puzzlement & worry, just what happened to them? This unexpected encounter wasn’t to be expected?

“Well now, finding her will be easy! But stopping her's gonna be harder than you think.” Then appearing to be speaking from nearby was the Equalizer as the pony used magic to hover near the group before removing the helmet to smile & taunt those that had a plan.

“HRUUUAGH! Hoorugh THrruuagh!?” Phobos moans off between his shut lips in the crystal block to say: ‘Hugh! How the?’ with his muffle words; weren’t they supposed to get the DROP on Starlight Glimmer before she arrived? What gives!?

“Sorry to disappoint you by showing up here when you wanted to have the upper advantage, but I created that spell to send myself back in time.” Starlight Glimmer hovers around those imprisoned in the crystal block in explaining her plot of what she did from creating such a spell. “So even when YOU, Twilight, cast it, I still get sent back here.” She hovered around those in the crystal block in ranting about how whenever Twilight & the group get sent back to this point in time, she would be here too; much to anyone’s surprise. “It wasn't really that difficult to change Star Swirl's spell, really. He'd already done the hard part for me.” Starlight Glimmer bragged off in stating that such a change to a spell by the greatest spell caster in Equestria was no big as most of the work was done ahead before the mare took a crack at it. “But figuring out I could use the map from your castle to go to any time or place & pull you along with me?” She was bragging out this as she was just rubbing this in the gang’s faces before making short laugh about it. “I even impressed myself with that one.” She boasted off that she was impressed by what she achieved by using the very map to do what no one else could was impressive. “I knew you'd try to stop me. You're so predictable.” Starlight Glimmer mocked the worried Twilight about her action to stop someone was as predictable as they come. “Why else would I leave the scroll behind for you to find?” She mocked off in stating how she left that time spell behind because she knew she be followed. “Touching it triggered the map to whisk you here in the past. And then watch me ERASE, the one thing that linked you with your friends!” Starlight Glimmer was pointing off to smear at Twilight in sternly issuing how she wanted Twilight to watch what she would do, erase something that connected the princess to her friends.

This caused Twilight & those with her to become worried, so Starlight Glimmer was changing the past that effects the future, because what connected Twilight & the Mane Six was….what was stopped from happening; the Rainboom.

“My village I worked hard to make was a sanctuary of equality, where nopony's cutie mark allowed them to feel superior to another!” Then Starlight Glimmer cease her levitation spell on herself to pounce on the crystal block as it sank more through the clouds as she was debating angry in what those here had done to a village she made to make things equal & perfect. “It was a special place, a place I wanted no pony to be left out, and you, your family, & your friends took it away!” She was stating this off to feel emotional before she glared off to lecture how Twilight & her group took everything she had away just like that.

But then Starlight Glimmer stops her ranting to look puzzled in seeing, the crystal block sank completely through the clouds, making the pony roll her eyes before she magically used her horn to hover off to go underneath the cloud to find those imprisoned in the crystal block to continue her ranting.

“Now it's my turn to take something very special from you, Twilight Sparkle!” Starlight Glimmer issued off to point in steering at Twilight in stating that she’ll take something special away from the mare just like Twilight did to her. “Without the Rainboom, you & your friends will NEVER form your special cutie mark bonds that brought you together!” She snarls off to yell this that she will make sure that the Rainboom that brought Twilight & her friends together never happens. “In a simple phrase: Cutie Marks for Cutie Marks! Sounds like a fair trade to me!” She waved her right hoof in front of the gang in stating this that a trade of taking special bond cutie marks for releasing the cutie marks from her village will be a perfect even motion of getting back at those that ruin her equality plan while smirking wickedly on the idea.

Then to add insult to injury, Starlight Glimmer taps the crystal block as it falls while she watches with a sly smile of having taken care of that little annoyance. Everyone with frozen expressions were now plunging downwards from high from Cloudsdale in about to make a crash course towards the ground. It was several hundreds to a thousand foot drop, the impact would be devastating without a perfect protection tactic. Twilight had her horn glow in struggling to help focus all she’s got before….she broke the crystal block & was free. Twilight & Nyx were flapping their wings while Ben used his Hover Boots to stay in the air.

“Phew….good thing that crisis was averted.” Twilight whipped the sweat off her forehead from getting out of that close shave.

“Wait, aren’t we missing…?” Nyx was about to say something until…

“Twiliiiiiiight!” Spike’s voice was heard from afar that snap the ponies in the air to have their attention change.

“Heeeeeelp!” Phobos cried out too as everyone looked down to see Spike & Phobos still falling.

“Oops!” Twilight sheepishly said in realizing that she forgot to help get those that didn’t have wings.

“I think the consent falling has made Spike forget those Flame Steps he learned, but then again, no time to think about it. Come on!” Ben issued off in seeing what they gotta do, focus on saving two baby Dragons.

Then quicker than a flash, Twilight, Ben & Nyx dives down where the screaming was coming from. The baby dragons were yelping from falling as they were unable to do anything until…they got swooped by Twilight & Ben in the nick of time.

“Cut that a little closer next time!” Phobos complained in how close that was for a rescue of his life flash before his eyes.

“Your welcome, Phobos.” Ben rolled his eyes in seeing how he got thanked, by citing the rescue a bit close there.

“Thanks for the save, you guys!” Spike smiled to thank those that saved them from a close encounter with the ground.

“No problem, Spike.” Twilight stated off that such a thing was no trouble at all. “At least now we know exactly what we have to do!” Twilight issued off with confidence in knowing what they gotta do next.

“Right, try to insure the Rainboom happens at all cost.” Nyx nods her head in knowing that is the only way to save the future.

Everyone was in agreement as they continue to soar up into the air. But then they yelped from when they saw Young Rainbow Dash crashing into a bunch of clouds, because she wore a strangely familiar helmet that she couldn’t get off or see or balance right from the weight; it was the Equalizer’s helmet.

“Wait, was that Rainbow Dash having a hard time seeing where to go with a helmet on her head?” Phobos asked off in noticing what was wrong with Young Rainbow Dash just now.

“That means….” Nyx was about to say in what this meant if Young Rainbow Dash was missing the race, then…

“We’re already too late!” Ben exclaimed in what this could only mean for them.

Then without warning, the Sparkle Gang was suddenly seeing another flash of light appear above before a familiar Magical Time Portal appeared & suck them through the time void. And soon afterwards, they were gone from the past yet again to a future event…none could prepare.

 

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Now a flash of light appeared in what looked like a red-blurry sky, as the Sparkle Gang fell across the Council Table in where the map showed Equestria, only much of it seem to be lay out in rubble; some locations of mountains & forest sectors were…gone, even a few towns seem hardly standing. But as the Magical Time Portal vanished, the gang slowly gets up from realizing that they missed their shot to stop another change to the past that effects the future.

“Darn it! We've missed it!” Twilight cursed in seeing they missed a moment to stop a tragic change.

“We have to go back!” Ben suggested that they need to quickly return to the past.

“What the heck are you doing?!” Them a lone Qin Soldier (Mandarin) showed up on the spot tideland answers.

Wasn’t long before Twilight & her family looked up to realize they found Qin Soldiers have surrounded them. Suddenly, a familiar pony & his army stood before them, except he was Unicorn instead of an Alicorn; he was….

“Lord Azure?” Twilight spoke off in recognizing Azure Phoenix, but he looks different right now.

“Western Ponies…” One pony named Han (Mandarin) spoke off in noticing what ponies these were.

“Guards! Take them to the Emperor!” Azure Phoenix (Mandarin) issued off the order of what to be done.

“YES SIR!” The Qin Soldiers responded to the order without delay as they pounce on the arrived gang. Soon Twilight & her family struggled to fight back, as the Qin Soldiers jumped & punched them to the ground. They even kicked the little ones without much consideration. While the gang could have handled this, Twilight & her family got cuffed up while they wore some Anti-Magic Collars; making resistance harder for them.

“Well done. No spies or assassins will get away with this!” Han issued off in seeing a fine job they achieved here.

“All units! Take them to the Imperial Court! The Emperor will judge on you, Western Filth.” Azure Phoenix gave the order on what to do with this lot.

“You heard the Grand General of Phoenix! Move it, you filthy Western Pony!” Then a version of Anger snapped off in wanting those they caught to get their flanks moving.

“If you try to be funny, we will kill you without mercy. Just like what happen to Griffonstone, the Crystal Empire or even the Ape Nation.” Then another one named Bullhound threaten those that any wise guy acts, & mercy will not be so nice.

That made the Sparkle Family feel concerned was with these guys to treat Equestrians so…uncivilized. Soon Azure Phoenix & his Imperial Phoenix Army, or was-to-be, moved out to guide Twilight & her family away from the crystal map table & head towards the Imperial Court. They have arrived at the palace, as they walked the stairs while conversation of the soldiers spoke to the strangers.

“You're all gonna regret for trying to wage a war against the Empire! When we're done with your Western Kingdom, we're going after the Humans. I heard that they make good slaves to our kingdom.” Blazefist nods off to issue his claims in what happens next after this event is wrapped up.

“Heck yeah! And I bet Equestria should be renamed as Hellfire Kingdom! Or maybe Qin Nation!” Laxtinct roared off eagerly to say these things, making the others uncomfortable in how much the Mystics, or not-so Mystics were acting & behaving.

“Lord Azure! Please, you must listen! We're not your enemies! We're your friends! We'd never invade your home!” Twilight tried to plead for Azure Phoenix to listen to reason as they are not the enemies that these guys think they are.

“I don't know who you are & how you know my name. But let me tell you something, Western Pony.” Azure Phoenix stopped for a moment, as he turned & glared at Twilight as he continued to speak. “We don't welcome you or your kind here anymore. Not after what your precious princesses have done to me or this kingdom, centuries ago! They have been planning to assassinate the Emperor from the start. They used me & Han. To think I actually love her so much…” The guy was stating off things of nonsense about the gang’s kind & about the Royal Sisters in ways no one was following or believing.

“What are you talking about?!” Ben asked off on demand, only for versions of Blazefist & Laxtinct to use their spears in blocking him from moving. “My mother never betrayed you! She loved you! She would never do such a thing!”

“Who are you?” Azure Phoenix raised an eyebrow in being puzzled by Ben’s words.

“My name is Ben Mare! This is Twilight Sparkle, Nyx, Spike & Phobos. I am the son of Princess Celestia! Han! My aunt is Luna!” Ben exclaimed to explain himself & the others of who they are; this caused everyone except the Sparkle Gang to gasp in shock from hearing this.

“Impossible... She couldn't have…!” Azure Phoenix protest in not accepting this to be true.

“You're lying! She doesn't have children! She doesn't... Celestia would never have one! Not since…” Han was issuing this off in sternly protesting the idea of Celestia having a child.

“Han, no! That’s enough!” Azure Phoenix sternly wanted Han to stop right there to not go further for unknown reasons.

“We don't know what's going on. But I assure you that the Western Kingdom will never turn against you. They know how strong your kingdom is. They want to be your friends, not enemies.” Twilight stated to try to speak reason to these guys here.

“Long ago, my mother loved you so much. She didn't mean to hurt you when you choose’d your duty over family. But nevertheless, she thinks of you a friend. She cares for you.” Ben issued off to say these things as comforts to Azure Phoenix to know that Celestia still cares for the guy; Azure Phoenix remained silent to absorb much of this. “I need to know. What happen?” Ben asked off in needing to know something, like what happened that such confusion arose?

“Cousin, don't. She's not worth it. She lied to us! She used us! And worst of it, she betrayed us!” Anger protest in an upset tone in reminding Azure Phoenix not to tell a story about such a pony.

“If this is her son, I must... I promised her... Your mother... She and Luna were sacrificed.” Azure Phoenix sighs before looking to the new group in…ushering what occurred.

“WHAT?” The Sparkle Gang except Ben reacted in shock to hear such news.

“They what?!” Ben asked off in being lost, his mother & aunt were sacrificed, why?

“The Immortality Pill was safely returned to the camp. The Emperor was saved from death. But Seekcurse told us that the Royal Sisters & the Williams Ambassadors were sent here to assassinate the Emperor. And so…we…” As Azure Phoenix explained the details, he seem hesitated on the last part…

“We killed the ponies.” Han had no trouble saying the last part, but it look like he felt like something stabbed his heart too.

Azure Phoenix & Han began to sob & let off tearfully sighs of them crying. Many of the Imperial Phoenix Army remained silent as they looked down while looking away.

“No! That can’t be! I won't believe it! You're lying!” Ben protest forth to say this as he felt tears come down his eyes, his mother & aunt are…dead?

“Believe me or not. It's the truth... They're gone. They're dead... Their bloods is used by the Emperor to reborn as an Alicorn.” Azure Phoenix explained forth in how it was to be.

“The Humans were used as the slaves for the Emperor. The one called Megan suffered death by the Emperor. He sees her as a beautiful instrument. The one called Danny was executed for his outspoken acts. And the young sibling called Molly was killed when she tried to escape. Thus, it begins the Eastern-Western War.” Han explained about what happened to certain human friends that the gang know about, but find it all the more horrible by the next.

“But those can’t be true! We’ve seen them, &…” Spike protest in recalling that last they saw the Mag’ne group, they were still alive & well…

“Spike, forget it, in this place, what happened, had happened here, weird as it sounds.” Phobos shook his he’d in seeing they can’t convince these guys since things that happen here stay here.

“It must be an off memory, since that can’t be true as Megan’s group is currently in the Human Realm, & at least nothing bad has happened to them there since it exist outside of Equestria.” Twilight whispered this off to everyone to settle their worries on the subject.

“Still, darn Seekcurse, he must have done something when history was changed to never be found out as the traitor.” Ben cursed in knowing how must have messed things up to make this crazy future.

“You dare speak about Seekcurse like that & announce him a traitor?” Azure Phoenix questioned those of their native tongues speaking.

“Ben’s right about Seekcurse! He’s the true traitor, not the Royal Sisters or Williams! He framed them, so he can keep his powers! So that he can help the Emperor rule Equestria for himself! He didn't do it for the Emperor. He did it for himself.” Twilight issued off to say this while explaining the case to these guys of who plotted this whole caper.

“It's true! He, Prime Minister Con & even his stupid second son, Huhai, had betrayed him! They wanted him dead, so they can control the Empire! But at the end, the Qin Dynasty was gone. You, Lord Virtue Dragon & Lord Courage Tiger saved the kingdom, & became the Three Emperors of Ma!” Nyx explained off what history really should have been like.

Azure Phoenix turned to look at Twilight & her friends. He couldn't believe of what he just heard. He was a ruler along with the other two mentioned ponies?!

“And that's not all, you & the rest became Mystic Ponies.” Ben pointed off to say this about what these guys became; leaving some into confusion as if not knowing what Mystic Ponies are.

“What about me?” Han asked off in wondering if he to, became a…Mystic.

“I’m sorry... You didn't make it. Seekcurse's rebels killed you. Your death was also another reason in what made Luna fall prey to darkness & became Nightmare Moon.” Twilight looked down in sadness as she recalled what happened that made Luna into Nightmare Moon to begin with.

“No! It can't be!” Han exclaimed in shock in having heard this.

“But in the present, we saved her. She was still heartbroken to later learn that you weren’t…” Spike was stating how things turned out in the end, but when Luna learn Han was no longer alive, well…

“Luna... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for everything... I'm so sorry…” Han looked depressed in realizing the mistake he’s gone & brought.

Azure Phoenix remained silent now, as he was in dilemma while shock to think all of these things. He slowly thinks carefully of what Twilight had said to him, & if they were all true.

“How will you stop this madness & save my beloved one?” Azure Phoenix asked this in…believing those here of their sincere words.

“You believed us?” Twilight asked off in relief that these guys trust them.

“It's not a matter we believed or not. If what you said is true, what will you do?” Azure Phoenix shook his head while stating the subject mix in mystery.

“Starlight Glimmer & Seekcurse are the ones responsible for this mess. If we stop them, everything will be normal.” Twilight assured the guy of stopping a cause to change things back.

“Then, that would be your priority.” Azure Phoenix issued off to say this firmly.

“Azure!” Han turn upon hearing this shocking news.

“Celestia & Luna died because I couldn't defend them. But now... This is the chance. The war against the West is not what we wanted. You would have wanted to know them, don't you?” Azure Phoenix told Han this about what they truly seek’d was not war from the beginning.

“Yes... I'd never want this. So what's the plan?” Han hissed in hating to agree on this, & asked what they do.

“Finish what I should have done. Han, Anger & Blaze, take them to the place where we found them. Defend them at all cost!” Azure Phoenix issued off the order to those here on what to do.

“Alright. Be careful.” Han nodded off to say this before he turn to Twilight & her friends. Let us go! Time is wasting!” The guy exclaimed that they need to hustle, as Twilight & her friends turned to head off at once while Azure Phoenix & his remaining units turned to enter the palace.

Soon the scene changes to return us back to the sight of where the crystal map of Equestria is from when the Sparkle Gang arrived in this weird timeline. Han & the others listen to understand & see that if such a strange map that was never in place in the area was here now, their story must be true about the past being changed.

“Are you sure it will work?” Han asked in questioning if such a thing can be possible.

“It has to. If it doesn't, then Equestria will turn into dust!” Twilight stated to say this while preparing to get things ready with a levitated scroll nearby her.

“I’m afraid I cannot let you do that.” Then the voice of Seekcurse is heard, as Twilight & her friends turned to find the Qin Army had surrounded them. “The Qin Dynasty is happy with the way they wanted.” Seekcurse comes from within the area to state off in how he likes things that have changed.

“Happy, this isn’t happiness, you destroyed lives!” Ben protest to say this in what the jerk caused.

“You’re a monster!” Nyx stated off to say this about the guy who made those here kill innocent lives.

“You lied to us. You've made a grave mistake…” Han stated in narrowing his eyes at this enemy that deceived them.

“A necessary risk to save the kingdom.” Seekcurse lightly waved off to state the claim for the subject.

“No! A necessary risk for you to keep the power! And you won't get away with this!” Twilight protest forth in stating that Seekcurse will not get away with what he’s done.

“I died once to save Luna. I will died again for her. This time, I'm gonna amend it for her!” Han stated off in where he & the other soldiers with him got ready.

“Stupid insects! I'm trying to save you & Azure. And this is how you repay me? You left me no choice. Seekcurse sternly snaps off in seeing the ungrateful bunch that dare to oppose his way of making things as they should have been, then there is but one thing left for those that won’t agree to such things…elimination; then without warning, he threw what was seemingly the helmet that belong to Azure Phoenix in front of Twilight & her friends.

“Uh-oh…tell me that isn’t…” Phobos yelps in seeing that was not good.

“That belongs to Azure Phoenix.” Spike pointed off in recognizing that helmet & phoenix logo mark.

“Azure... No! You didn’t…you….you will not get away with such a crime!” Twilight was so baffled & shock, she glared at Seekcurse for having finished off Azure Phoenix.

“We shall see! Kill them!” Seekcurse smiled wickedly before he gave the order to his soldiers to attack.

“Time Freeze!” Blackwitch’s voice was heard from a distance, as suddenly a powerful spell was launched on Seekcurse & Qin Soldiers. They were frozen in place, by a spell from the Book of Forbidden Spells that Twilight & her family once seen performed by the Superior one. Soon entering with Jade Adventure, was Blackwitch from the bushes, as they found the others & the group with Han. “That won't hold the enemies long! Grr! That hurt!” She explained that the spell she use won’t last, but groans from feeling a sharp sense of pain.

“BW! What's wrong?” Jade asked off as she & the rest saw her strange reaction.

“Each time the past changes & a new timeline comes to live, I get wounded... Starlight Glimmer & Seekcurse must be stopped. I must erased the cause once everything is in its proper order.” Blackwitch groans to struggle to say her words of what happens to her when the timeline changes to alternate futures, & that the enemy she knows, Seekcurse, must be stopped for good.

“Erase…as in gone? You wanna erase both Seekcurse & Starlight Glimmer?” Ben asked off in thinking that such an action seem kind of extreme.

“No, that isn’t it, Ben. Starlight Glimmer is not the real problem because she never try to kill so many lives like Seekcurse did.” Twilight stated off in knowing that Seekcurse was a real monster, Starlight Glimmer only wanted to bring equality, there’s a difference in the two’s methods.

“Right, we can’t let this place be repeated.” Spike nods off that they can’t let this place have a repeat like before.

“But can we finish him off?” Nyx asked off in wondering if they can stop Seekcurse.

“He possesses a strong immortality which was made not only by Mystic Magic, but ingredients for healing & regeneration, especially from the Hydra species. Only special beings like myself can erase him. You must bring or distract him at all cost.” Blackwitch explained that Seekcurse can’t be destroyed unless done by special beings that differ from others, like herself, to stop the enemy.

“Alright. We'll do our best.” Twilight nods off lightly to say this.

“Wait, what about Starlight Glimmer? Is there something you’re not telling us about her?” Phobos asked off about what the deal about handling Seekcurse is a big deal, but what about the other one in question.

“While only her story is seen by the Chronicler of what her path leads to, he spoke to me in saying…that to truly defeat your enemy, you must make them your friend. Heed the words, for they may prove stronger than any might of strength or magic.” Blackwitch gave these wise advice to those to solve the mystery behind them of what maybe the key to defeating an enemy.

Having heard this made the Sparkle Gang feel puzzled, what did it mean that to truly defeat an enemy like Starlight Glimmer, they have to turn her into their friend; that’s the last thing the pony that wants revenges on the group would wanna be at this point & time. But no later did Twilight fire up the time spell from the scroll, the Magical Time Portal appeared before the Sparkle Gang was taken into it. As it closed off just in the nick of time as Han & his soldiers were now fighting against Seekcurse’s army; the scene darkens as now many will hope a new future will be made that isn’t as terrible as this one.

 

------------------

 

And like before, the Sparkle Family fell out of the Magical Time Portal before they used their flying abilities to stop themselves from falling off. And soon the portal vanished while the gang saw that they are back in Cloudsdale of the past, again. Then they yelped from when a speedy fill of Rainbow Dash zipped by them.

"MAVERICK!!!" Phobos yelled out to the one who was a speed Demon, but it was actual…the filly they wanna help.

“That was Rainbow Dash, she must still be flying off the course.” Nyx stated in knowing who they saw was still flying okay.

“Okay, so we’re back, now let’s find Starlight before…” Then before Phobos could even finish that sentence, a familiar beam impacts them to trap the gang again in the same crystal block prison. “NURRGH-AGGRUU-Gaaarrrughhh!” Phobos mains out loudly in saying ’NOT AGAIN’ as they are again in the same state as before.

“Hah-Hah-Hah, Hah!” Then nearby, the gang spot what looks like the Equalizer getup that Starlight Glimmer regain from when they left Rainbow Castle; she was near & taunting them.

Soon Ben used his own magic to quickly shatter their crystal block prison to get focus here.

“I got this, Hero’s Bow!” Ben issued off to say this before summoning his bow to use his Hawkeye to zoom on the target before firing. But Ben’s attack seem too good as it impacted the Equalizer to fall & land on another cloud. As the gang checked out who they beaten, they saw leaking fluffy clouds from the suit & helmet, Starlight Glimmer was not even in the Equalizer costume.

“What the, it’s only the Equalizer costume & helmet stuff with clouds.” Nyx stated off in seeing this was nothing but a costume &a helmet stuff with clouds to look like someone wore the suit.

“She tricked us.” Spike stated in realizing that they been fooled.

“Very good of you to notice.” Then nearby to appear as he leans from a spot, the gang yelped in spotting; Seekcurse, as he watch this act of a distraction fool the heroes in attacking a dummy.

“Seekcurse!” Ben sternly address the guy as he summoned his sword & shield as everyone else prepared for anymore stunts by the foe.

“You may have stopped the future I wanted, but unless you can stop the main problem, I’ll exist in any future that comes along.” Seekcurse spoke off to say this in what he was trying to achieve only to be stopped; before anyone could get to him, he vanished behind more clouds while his laughter echoes a bit.

“And he’s gone the next.” Twilight stated in seeing the evil foe was gone again, trying to deal with one to two enemies is hard to keep track of what acts they do while in the past.

“Well at least this time, I’m KEEPING this costume & helmet in my own dragon pouch! I’m sick of losing it!” Phobos snaps off to say this in taking the Equalizer costume & stuffs it in his own backpack to keep it from being taken again.

“Phobos, it was Starlight Glimmer’s when she first don the identity before we got the helmet & then the outfit.” Nyx pointed this out for the moon dragon to recall.

“Yeah, but it’s a souvenir of not just one event, but two victory events, & I wanna not lose it when we stop whatever’s happening now & go home to our timeline!” Phobos stated off that he’s sick of a souvenir that is like a trophy of their victory being taken & used for evil so many times; well he’s not losing it again.

“First we have to find Starlight Glimmer. Ben, if we run into Seekcurse, can you keep him busy?” Twilight stated off to change the subject in what they have to do from here on out.

“If I see the guy, I’ll personally pound him for what he did in that alternate future we saw.” Ben issued off to say this in not about to let the enemy that caused a messy future to get off scout-free.

As those that were discussing things, a familiar shadow zoomed near the costume Phobos had of the Equalizer as it was the Equestrian Eliminator in seeing what could be of use for him.

“This object will be useful when I need to make my act, when the time comes.” The Equestrian Eliminator spoke to himself as his shadow form merge inside the Equalizer suit as he hid with no one able to know where he is until he makes himself known.

“So let’s not waste time, we have to keep the Rainboom from being stopped.” Twilight issued off that they need to insure, that the Rainboom occurs without fail.

Now the Sparkle Gang had to quicken the pace if they were gonna stop whatever evil plot was gonna happen next here. The scene changes to where the Sparkle Gang hide behind a cloud, then Twilight teleported them to another to where they were looking out, but shrug in seeing nothing before teleporting again. Twilight peeks out in not being anything strange, as she & her family quickly flew off to hide within a cloud as they used it for camouflage.

“Man, all those times Flash showed me about using my surroundings to hid myself from bullies, he never believe I use a cloud.” Ben stated in how he had learn from Flash Sentry about using good coverage, but a cloud…well, that might have been something else unless one was a Pegasus.

“Okay, keep your eyes peeled.” Twilight issued this off to her family that they need to have their eyes peeled for trouble.

“Right!” Spike replied off with determination with his binoculars out.

“Ditto!” Phobos gave a thumbs up about the plan.

“We have to stop Starlight as soon as Rainbow Dash & those bullies race by around here!” Twilight issued off to say this as she was looking around for any signs of Starlight Glimmer while everyone did the same, Spike even focus his binoculars down a general direction; before becoming bamboozled.

“Um, Twilight?” Spike slowly was speaking with weird expression of concern to get attention softly.

“So be ready for anything.” Twilight’s voice issued off that they gotta be ready for anything they spot.

“I know, but…” Spike was trying to point something out here, but was cut off.

“Because she could pop up anywhere! Who knows what she’ll do then?” Twilight issued off sternly about knowing what Starlight Glimmer will try the first chance she gets.

“Like over there?” Spike then taps Twilight’s shoulder to get her attention to point down a general direction.

“You mean you found her?” Nyx asked off in having heard what Spike said.

“Let’s take a look, Hawkeye Mask!” Ben issued off to say as he summoned his special scope to view things from afar; as Twilight levitates Spike’s binoculars for use.

“Aah-OOOOOOO-gah!!!/Haaaugh!” And let’s just say that Twilight’s eyes became brightly bigger in the binoculars as she gasp, & the answer is simple while the rest were…stump speechless.

Down in the area Spike pointed out, there was Fluttershy, Hoops & Dumb-Bell as the colts & filly were having a discussion with, guess who, Starlight Glimmer! What the what now!?

“Just remember how you'd feel if someone said those things to you.” Starlight Glimmer kindly spoke off in giving a lecture to Dumb-Bell & Hoops as the two colts looked down in feeling; pretty much terrible about their behavior towards Fluttershy.

“What's going on here?” Twilight asked off as she & her family flew down to investigate this as the young filly &colts saw them while a sly expression from Starlight Glimmer was expecting this arrival.

“Oh, I was just reminding these two colts how ‘hurtful’ teasing can be.” Starlight Glimmer was speaking off to say this while being extra ‘informative’ about a certain matter about teasing others, as if getting a message across.

“Well, don’t!” Twilight narrowed her eyes in sternly telling this to the mare trying to cause another relapse of stopping the RainBoom.

“Huh?” Young "Dumb-Bell" and Hoops looked to the other in puzzlement in what they heard.

“Huh?” Young Fluttershy was also puzzled in hearing this, while Starlight Glimmer showed a hidden smile still.

“Ugh, Twilight…that’s kind of the opposite of helping a friendship problem.” Ben whispered this off to Twilight that what it sounded was like they WANT the Young Fluttershy to be teased by these guys.

“Oh, I mean... you were?” Twilight yelps in realizing this major & uncomfy development in having seen what Starlight Glimmer was doing that seem, nice, for a change.

“Of course! In a world where everypony is unique in their own way, some are bound to feel more special than others.” Starlight Glimmer was issuing this little pretend speech of kindness, even patted Young Fluttershy’s head as she smiled from what she heard while the Sparkle Family glared at the mare in seeing what she was doing. “But that isn't a license to be cruel, is it?” Starlight Glimmer came up to smirk in front of a baffled Twilight in giving this message to her as clear as day.

“Yeah….except you're the cruel one here, sister!” Phobos silently muttered this under his breath to say while not speaking it out loud.

“No, of course not…” Twilight slowly thought this over in realizing that what Starlight Glimmer said was true, how weird is that?

“Oh, isn't it a shame we don't live in a world where everypony is equal?” Starlight Glimmer smile doff to look at the young Dumb-Bell, Hoops & Fluttershy to sweetly speak these words to hug the latter two on the conversation. “No one would ever tease anyone there! So wouldn't that be nice to have?” Starlight Glimmer smiled off to say this in giving a wise lecture to the young foals about such a place.

“Mm-hmm.” Young Dumb-Bell, Fluttershy and Hoops nods their heads in agreement; that would be nice.

“Wow; that actually does sound nice if that were to happen.” Nyx spoke off in thinking that such an idea was, actually something where more ponies could get along.

“No, it wouldn't!” Twilight spoke off in panicking here that without the teasing for Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash won’t race, but that made the others look to her puzzled. “I mean, it'd be nice not to be teased, of course, but that's not the same thing!” She was trying to make a recovery, but even the others felt like such a comment made no sense that the young foals were puzzled while a smirking Starlight Glimmer saw how difficult the situation became.

“Come on, Fluttershy. Maybe I can help you get through the course this time.” Young Hoops spoke off kindly in offering to help Young Fluttershy out, this time being nice as Starlight glimmer watch with a nice smile in how things turn out.

“Well, I-I sure could use the practice…” Young Fluttershy meekly spoke off in happily accepting this; as she & the colts were leaving the spot while those from the future sternly glared off at the happy smiling Starlight glimmer.

“Oh great! The only time we need bullies to be like former bullies, Diamond Tiara & Silver Spoon, & become reform TOO soon!” Phobos complained to say that the time for bullies to be bullies, is cut too short now.

“I know you only convinced those bullies there to not tease Fluttershy, only to stop the Rainboom from happening!” Twilight sternly approached the mare in stating the true purpose of what happened was to prevent the Rainboom from happening by peaceful negotiations.

“Oh, that's not true at all. I convinced them not to be bullies because everypony should be equal.” Starlight Glimmer smiled off to simply wave off the topic of what she was doing was something of ‘kindness’ about being bullied. “Stopping the Rainboom from happening is just a bonus from the act.” Starlight Glimmer glared off sternly in rubbing salt in the gang’s pride of what she did was helping settle a problem while preventing another event from making the Mane Six have a special cutie mark bound.

The situation seem like a tough spot, the gang need to figure out a new way to trigger the Rainboom without the matter of Fluttershy being bullied. Suddenly, something was whooshing by in the air as Spike & Phobos turn around to notice…who it was.

“Hey guys! Look!” Spike pointed out in getting the gang’s attention on something.

“It’s Rainbow Dash, the young one I mean.” Phobos pointed out as they see a young & eager flying Rainbow Dash, soaring through the skies.

“Rainbow has to make the Sonic Rainboom, so maybe as long as she can perform it without helping Fluttershy, it might help out.” Ben suggested what they can do, try to get the Young Rainbow Dash to make a Rainboom without the race between the bullies.

“This isn't over yet, Starlight Glimmer!” Twilight looked back to sternly issue this to the stern mare that the matter of preventing the Rainboom from happening is not done yet; as Twilight took off with Spike with a plan in motion while the rest of the gang followed to tail them

“If you say so!” Starlight Glimmer made a sly remark over the matter in not worrying, she’ll just watch to see how Twilight can get Young Rainbow Dash to perform a Sonic RainBoom.

“So what’s the plan mommy?” Nyx asked her mother in what the plan is now.

“I’ll approach Rainbow Dash, & challenge her to race me.” Twilight issue off in what she will do to help start a new Rainboom.

“You, race her? Why not any of us?” Phobos asked off in why they are not a part of the plan.

“Phobos, we don’t have wings & it would look weird if Ben who has no wings showed up.” Spike pointed out in knowing how things would go if any of them tried to race.

“I suppose that is a good point, but shouldn’t Nyx be the one to challenge Rainbow Dash, filly to filly, right Twilight?” Ben was figuring out in seeing that maybe it’s better if Young Rainbow Dash raced off against someone who’s at the same age then…

“Too late, she’s already gone.” Nyx pointed out that Twilight & Spike just left.

“Oh boy, I just hope Rainbow Dash doesn’t have second thoughts of flying against a full grown up pony, much less an Alicorn, if not, this plan won’t be pretty!” Ben exclaimed off to say this in having a feeling things are about to get a bit hectic if this plan doesn’t go so well.

Young Rainbow Dash was flying through the course, eagerly zipping through it with no problem. Then flying next to the filly was, Twilight putting on a big smile as she approached Young Rainbow Dash who notice she had company.

“Hi there!” Twilight made a friendly & eager greeting to be very open towards a young Rainbow, who saw Spike dangling from the mare’s tail as he happily greeted to wave out.

“Um... hi there.” Young Rainbow Dash lightly replied off puzzled in seeing some strange mare she don’t know fly in & with a baby Dragon holding onto her tail; seems weird.

“Listen, you think you can stop for a minute?” Twilight asked off in wanting Young Rainbow to stop for a minute so they can talk.

“Sure thing.” Young Rainbow Dash replied off in not having any trouble with that.

But the moment Young Rainbow Dash stopped, Twilight didn’t react & she & Spike crash into a cloud. Ben, Nyx & Phobos sighs in seeing that, they wonder if the plan will help or not. Soon making a recovery, Twilight & Spike flew up to the daring filly while some clouds are stuck on them.

“I hear you're pretty fast around here! Is that true?” Twilight spoke off in having to lay it down on knowing the real pride & ego drive of Rainbow Dash.

“Pretty fast? Please! I'm even faster than that! That was just my warm-up run.” Young Rainbow Dash repeated off to say this in feeling like such a comment is nothing, as the speed she was going, she bragged that she can go even faster than that.

“Okay, great to hear. So, um, hey, you want to race?” Twilight spoke out to be all ‘buddy-buddy’ to elbow the young Rainbow in offering her a chance to have a race.

“Um, that wouldn't really be fair. I mean, even I know the difference between me & you being a full-grown pony, and…” Young Rainbow Dash was remarking off to state in knowing that this pony that wants them to race, a filly can’t out race a mare with wings & a horn; wait a second! “Wait. Are you an Alicorn?” Just then, Young Rainbow Dash has a second look at Twilight in seeing she was not mistaken, Twilight has both wings & a horn, knowing what pony species Twilight is as the mar gave a sheepish smile in having overlooked such a thing.

“Come on, what does that matter of who species we are? I thought you were fast! Fast to spin around Earth & Unicorns in a blink of an eye?” Twilight tried to butter up to hold Young Rainbow in her right front hoof to boast the filly’s confidence to accept her challenge.

Rainbow Dash was thinking this over, before looking down to see Spike give an eager thumbs up in saying ‘it’s cool’ or something. But as the filly was thinking it could be her chance to out race an Alicorn & be even cooler, she hears sword clashes to stare down in spotting…Ben Mare fighting against Seekcurse.

“Good job Ben Mare, but not good enough when I find that filly Rainbow Dash, I’ll just end her to stop the race from happening.” Seekcurse exclaimed in what he’ll do to keep the Rainboom from happening that the heroes are trying to pull.

“I won’t let you!” Ben snapped off to say this in clashing his Master Sword against the enemy.

“Wait, is that an Earth Pony….flying & fighting some weird pony that’s….after me?” Young Rainbow Dash pointed off in seeing Ben used his Hover Boots to fly off after a weird pony who said he…come after her.

“Um…Ben’s with me trying to help you not get interrupted with our race by….a jealous pony sponsor. Heh-heh…” Twilight nervously stated with a little sweat-drop in trying to make a convincing lie, but…not so well.

Seeing the situation as it is, Young Rainbow Dash felt like her usual confidence was slightly decrease a bit from a weird Alicorn challenging her to a race to an Earth Stallion who could fly & fought off some weirdo who’s standing on clouds.

“Uh, actually, I just remembered Miss, I have somewhere I need to be.” Young Rainbow Dash sheepishly spoke nervously to push herself off from Twilight in trying to lie her way out of this before flying off; much to Twilight’s blank surprise.

We see Young Rainbow Dash was flying as fast as she could with worry in trying to get away. But Twilight was able to keep up to the filly since she had some training with her own wings against a grown up version of Rainbow Dash, so she can keep up to a filly version.

“Okay, listen. You don't have to race me. I just need you to fly fast enough for a Sonic Rainboom!” Twilight decided to just come clean to tell this to Young Rainbow Dash in what she’s trying to do here, get a Sonic Rainboom from the filly.

“What?! I can't do that!” Young Rainbow Dash replied off to say in shaking her head ‘no’ of trying to do something like that. “Nopony can! It's not even a real thing! It's just an old mare's tale!” The filly was stating off that such a thing was impossible, as it’s nothing but an old tale from long ago that no one hardly recalls if it’s real or not or if it can even be done.

“But it's not! I know it's not!” Twilight spoke off in trying to persuade Young Rainbow Dash that the Rainboom is not an old tale, it’s real from seeing it herself. “I’ve seen you do it! In the future!” She smiled to approach to tell this to the filly about her able to do something like it…in the future; she blinked her eye lashes in hoping that worked, but…

“Ooookay... I'm gonna go now.” Young Rainbow Dash pushed the mare away as she nervously flew off from feeling Twilight was weird in saying she’s from the future.

“No! Wait!” Twilight saw Young Rainbow Dash leave her, as she tried to call her back; but too late, another chance has slipped by.

“Sorry about that mommy, Seekcurse just came out after you left, and…” Nyx flew up with Phobos & Ben came up to in seeing what happened while the other enemy left.

“Well he ran off, but right after this happened.” Phobos stated in seeing what happened soon afterwards with this busted plan.

Twilight becomes sad that the attempt to get a Rainboom by a different attempt was shot down, the mare was so close…

“Gee, Twilight, what's the matter?” Then hovering by levitation magic behind the gang was…Starlight Glimmering all smug about what the problem was. “Couldn't convince Rainbow to do the impossible?” Starlight Glimmer issued off to taunt off this matter which made Twilight frown upon being reminded of the failure. “Well now, that's too bad.” She made a sly smile in stating how one’s effort to do something even a filly Rainbow Dash knows is impossible to do…unless done by accident.

Twilight Sparkle turns around to inhale before about to lash out against Starlight Glimmer when…The Magical Time Portal appeared above her & her family. As everyone was sucked in while Starlight Glimmer watched them leave the past once more, going back to the future of the changed present.

 

--------------

 

Then the scene begins to open up around the Council of Friendship’s table where the map showed…a light eerie emerald color to its surface. Where it was not like it was from last time, war zone & stuff like that. And then from a flash above that was the Magical Time Portal, the ticking of clock gears is heard before the Sparkle Gang fell & landed the map a bit hard. And soon the Magical Time Portal vanished from sight above, leaving the knock out Sparkle Family in where it was….well, a place filled with wild life trees growing around. Twilight, Ben & Nyx were the first to wake up before the baby Dragons followed after.

“Ugh. Well now, that attempt didn't work.” Spike moans to say this in dusting himself off to remotely complain about what happened that the plan to get a Rainboom ended in failure.

“Yeah….we almost had it made, term is almost.” Phobos complained in show things almost went perfectly except it didn’t.

“Well, we still have the scroll to try again, right?” As Nyx asked that question, Twilight used her magic to pull the time scroll out from Spike’s bag to look at it over.

“We do Nyx, but this is gonna be harder than I thought it be. We'll have to try again!” Twilight issued off to say this in feeling that the task of fixing the right time course may take time, but a determine expression shows they mustn’t quiet.

“Right, first King Sombra, then that other future? They were terrible.” Ben nods off in agreement in what horrible futures they saw.

“Hey, Twilight, Ben…?” Spike was trying to get the grown up ponies that were talking, but…

“I don't want to live in either of those awful futures!” Twilight sternly protest that she does not want them to relive that horrible event of what they seen again.

“I don't think you'll have to!” Spike stated off to say this with a sheepish & worried expression.

“Why’s that….ugh!” Phobos was about to say, but yelped in noticing what Spike saw.

“Um, I think we have company here.” Nyx stated to say in becoming nervous of what was before them.

As Twilight & Ben were puzzled by such claims, they turn to see…only to get sharp pointy spears pointed at them. Twilight drops the scroll, & the gang see what look like….ponies in native looking themes of dirt covering their manes & tails, & wearing some strange dark green markings on their bodies. But the most surprising was seeing that among this group of Native Ponies were…stern & serious faces of Fluttershy & Pinkie Pie!

“Pinkie? Fluttershy?” Twilight exclaimed off in seeing two of her friends here, but her worried expression made her confuse of why these ponies have spears pointed at them.

“Silence there…Changeling!” Pinkie Pie coldly issued off in where they pointed their spears & called the group Changelings

“Wait, us…Changelings?” Nyx yelps in having heard this, that don’t sound good of what’s happening?

“All servants of Queen Chrysalis found in these woods must be... destroyed!” Fluttershy sternly issued this off of what they do to Changelings, they…destroy them.

“Hah, wow, Fluttershy acting out a serious & scary savage pony, oh, she had me fooled!” Phobos laughed off lightly of the rest in having heard the last pony to ever sound this frightful was Fluttershy, it’s a good prank.

“I’m serious…” Fluttershy sternly stated this to the Moon Dragon saying this was some joke.

“Oh-ho, it’s even funny a second time, who thought she had a sense of humor to tell…” Before Phobos could continue, a spear was shot close to his throat, silencing him from speaking. “Jokes….GULP!” Phobos swallowed hard in seeing this was no funny moment of a humor to be amusing.

“I was DEAD Serious, Changeling!” Fluttershy issued off dead serious about the issue with a cold stare.

“Twilight, I think we just walked into a whole heap of new trouble here.” Ben whispered this off to his love in seeing what they got themselves into now.

“I think your right Ben.” Twilight stated to say in looking around with her group, as she, Ben, Spike, Nyx & Phobos had worried expressions in seeing where they landed in. Twilight swallowed hard in knowing this won’t be good, now they entered a scene where their friends think them as enemies & are gonna….destroy them! How can they get out of this, that is a mystery best left off….next time…

 

Author’s note
Boy, this chapter had some long comings, but it’s made. Next up, Twilight & her group end up having to deal with not only Starlight Glimmer, but also the alternate timelines of their new present future, where it’s worse off than the last. A battle that can go on for eternity, Twilight begins to think that force may not be the answer, before she & the others reveal to Starlight Glimmer what the future is like without the Rainboom & the bond of six ponies that were destine to help save Equestria. Once coming to an understanding of learning more about Starlight, things begin to almost look brighter…until Seekcurse intervenes before he’s stopped for good. But as everyone plans to head to the present future, they end up within the Time Stream Realm & find that which keeps time on a correct course, the Sacred Time Orb. But things get worse as Grimmore, a God that is also immune to time alteration changes, plans to intervene with the heroes’ return trip & rips the time streams of alternate timeline villains to gather as a battle insures…but help arrives from an unexpected result from Flare Tiger & Armor Stark with Element Wielders the gang have met. Can they stop any more time distortion, who comes to the gang’s aid after what Amon just pulled with a choice to fix things before Grimmore cuts in & the free Triforce Elements merges with the Time Orb in which he’ll use to control all things across time, space & reality? But what about when the Chronicler appears and offers the Element Wielders shards from the Tree of Harmony, to use with Ben’s Master Sword, with a risky gamble of destroying the orb to cause a Time-Relapse to put everything back into place, but things may not be the same like before? Can Twilight’s group do it, can they return to their own timeline & what will be the fate of Starlight Glimmer…stay tune to find out.