“So this ship should get me to where Applejack and Pinkie Pie are?” asked Twilight as she walked through the entrance.

“Yes but first we are heading to the Sky Sanctuary,” said ‘F’. Twilight looked at him with utter confusion. The place seemed completely unfamiliar to her. Though before she could ask, he answered. “It was once the center of the Kingdom Of The Order, thousands of years ago.”

“I’m sorry but the place is still unfamiliar,” she replied.

“Good, then it will be quite a sight for you,” said Flash as he walked beside her. They entered the ship, however, Rainbow Dash and Soarin didn’t go aboard.

“Wait, aren’t you two going with us?” Twilight said as she turned back upon noticing that they weren’t following.

“Look, Twilight, we have to get back to the CD ruins,” said Rainbow Dash.

“What?”

“We enjoyed this little adventure, but we are the current leaders of the Cloud Rebels. They can’t run without us,” said Soarin.

“Okay,” Twilight said slowly. “But be ready, because I might need your help again. Until then, see ya,” she smiled. After that, Twilight boarded the airship and left.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin looked at the airship as it left, its camouflage spell slowly returning as it flew into the sky.

“Well, that was rude of her. Leaving without saying goodbye to me and Spike,” Soarin and Rainbow Dash jumped upon hearing that voice. They turned to see Rarity in her Mare Do Well suit. “And if you two are wondering, you’re free to go. I have no further need of you,” she said as she stuck her head up in the air in smug annoyance.

******

Once on board Twilight, walked alongside the Doctor and Derpy through a small walkway, the walls of which were covered in clocks. The airship inside looked highly advanced. The technology was way beyond what she had already seen in this timeline and lightyears ahead of anything in her timeline.

“So,” she finally spoke. “‘F’ said you two are the pilots, right? So then how is this flying on its own?”

“We really don’t pilot the ship per say,” said Doctor Whooves. “We are more like technical engineers, we basicall--”

“We fix her when she gets cranky,” Derpy interrupted.

“‘She’?” questioned Twilight.

“Yeah that’s how Doc refers to it,” said Flash.

They continued to walk until they reached the center of the ship. Once there, Twilight looked with intrigue at what she saw. So many buttons! The room was circular and at the center of the room was a dashboard with lots of buttons on it. There were clearly too many to be needed, or at least that’s what she thought. There were also some screens with moving pictures on them.

“When I found her, she was a massive wreck. She needed a lot of repaired before she could fly again,” said Doctor Whooves.

“Found her, huh Doc?” Questioned Flash. “What I heard from Derpy was that you stole her.”

“Well, yeah. Sort of.”

The Doctor and Derpy walked to the dashboard and started pressing buttons and pulling levers while Twilight watched. She wanted to find out as much as she could about this ship. But then ‘F’ gestured for her to follow him as he went down a different pathway. She followed him down a pathway that seemed to lead to the top.

******

Once there, Twilight saw a rusted old throne. ‘F’ sat down on it. Beside the throne was some sort of breathing apparatus. It was slowly dawning on her now why Rainbow Dash and Soarin bowed to him. It seemed he was some sort of royalty.

“Twilight, tell me. Do you know the story of the Last Alicorn Wars?”

“No,” she replied as she sat across from him, assuming she was about to hear what this was about.

“Not surprising since it wasn't a time Celestia favored, though she was only a child then. And I was long from being born yet. It was the last conflict the Titan Airships was used in. It happen over forty-five thousand years ago when a fallen light alicorn named Kray Marbh Depression--”

“Light alicorns? I had no idea there was such a creature,” Twilight interrupted, quite intrigued. Up until now, she had only heard of normal alicorns and the variant of dark alicorns.

“That’s because there hasn’t been a light alicorn since the death of King Emerald Teal, but that is its own tale for later. Now, back to Kray Marbh.” ‘F’ coughed before continuing. “Kray Marbh was thrown out of the Order of the Light long ago for his obsessive beliefs in wanting perfection. He was so obsessed that he did the unthinkable.” ‘F’ began to cough this time even harder. He quickly grabbed a nearby breathing tube from the breathing apparatus, pulling it under his hood, using it to calm his breathing.

Twilight could see telling this story was hard for him, but she was still curious. ‘Alicorn Wars? Why didn’t Celestia ever tell me about this kind of stuff?’ She stopped her train of thought as she saw him put the tube down and continue.

“Sorry, now where was I? Oh yes, Kray Marbh, betrayal of the Light. He did evil experiments in his pursuit of perfection. He was banished for this, but years later, he returned with an army of changelings and launched a full-scale war against the land that would later become Equestria. This was the Last Alicorn War. It lasted for many years, but near the end, something happened that--”

Suddenly Flash interrupted as he entered the room. “We’re here.”

“Wait, what?” questioned Twilight. “But we just barely took off.”

“Yes and now we are here. The ship runs on light magic, not electricity, so it moves much faster. And besides, the Sky Sanctuary lies between the CD ruins and the Cave Rebels HQ. Heck, you probably traveled right under it.”

“What?” This confused Twilight even more. How could she have traveled under it? She saw ‘F’ get up, so she did as well.

“Well, it seems I spoke too slowly. I’ll finish in the Sky Sanctuary,” he said as he took his leave.

******

Twilight and the group walked outside the airship. Once there, she saw the Sky Sanctuary. Her jaw dropped. It was a huge, rainbow-colored cathedral in the sky, covered with the finest marble that shined even brighter than the marble of Canterlot. It was truly an all inspiring sight.

Twilight walked beside Flash and Big Macintosh as they followed ‘F’. Meanwhile Doctor Whooves and Derpy stayed with the ship. Twilight followed ‘F’ through the big marble doors and down a hallway as he continued the story. “This cathedral was used during the final days of the Last Alicorn War. It was forged by Celestia’s grandfather King Heaveonos Nighsky. He forged it out of a mountain side and used ancient magic to lift it into the sky permanently. This thing will stay in the sky indefinitely.”

“Why would he forge such a place?” Twilight questioned. The four came to the end of the hallway. There was another pair of big marble doors. On the doors, she instantly found an answer to her questions. On the door was the Symbol for Harmony.

“He forged for the original element wielders,” said ‘F’ as he gestured for her to open the doors. She did and once she entered, her eyes widened. In the center of the room was a table map and six thrones.

“Wow, wow, wow!” said Twilight as she ran over to the table. “This is built just like my castle in my timeline. Only…” she looked at the thrones. “Those had different cutie marks on them.”

“Well like ‘F’ said, this was for the original wielders of the elements,” said Flash.

“Yes, the original wielders were six creatures. Two from each side of the war,” He lifted his cane and pointed to two thrones on one side, “Two light alicorns, King Emerald Teal and Queen Chrystal Laysalis.” He pointed at two other thrones. “Two of the dark side, a dragon named Prince Dracos Ryulong, and a dark alicorn named, Princess Sapphire Amethyst.” and then he pointed at the final two thrones. “And finally, two alicorns of neutral descent, King Helios Quartz and his wife Queen Nala Lapis.” He put his cane down and finished. “Those last two were Celestia and Luna’s parents.”

This was incredible. Twilight had hoped to get more Intel about this timeline, but instead she had received massive Intel about the Elements of Harmony. So much stuff she didn’t know and many new things to be curious about. But of course, the first question she had to ask was why they were here. “So why did you bring me here?”

‘F’ looked at her and then signaled for Big Macintosh to go and grab something in another room. “Twilight when you enter the cathedral, you probably didn’t notice the difference in movement?”

“What do you mean movement? We have been walking just fine.”

“No, I mean the movement of time. It’s something we aren't used to noticing. But that’s why you are here. The Sky Sanctuary runs on light magic. Light magic much like dark magic works in different forms. When pegasi use it, it increased their speed exponentially. Examples are like when Rainbow Dash used the Shadow Rainboom. The rainbow she created was a form of light magic, but Father corrupted it to his own ends. Another form of light magic is Flash’s ability to move as fast as lightning. Then there is the form that I use, illusions. And finally, there is the strongest form. Light magic in its strongest form can bend time. That is what powers this cathedral.” The more he talked, the more confusing his words sounded. “In here an entire year of time can pass, yet outside a single day.”

Twilight’s eyes widen in shock. That’s when Big Macintosh returned carrying a long case. He brought it to Flash. He held it in front of Twilight. She looked at it.

“Twilight, you are not ready to find the rest of your friends just yet, until you are ready to become this timeline’s new Twilight,” ‘F’ finished with Flash opening the case, revealing the prime weapon of this timeline’s Twilight - the blood red katana. “So we will stay here the entire year until you embrace the power of our Twilight.”

******

Meanwhile, in the Massive Everfree Forest, Discord was running around trying to find the main base of the Forest Rebels. The forest was thick. He was worried he wouldn't find Fluttershy, but he was determined to locate her. Twilight said they were friends and maybe they could be friends in this timeline, too. It was always so hard for him to make friends with anypony. Any new friend would be a blessing.

It had been many years since he had a friend. As he ran, the last memories of his first friend came into his thoughts. He hoped his new friendship wouldn't end the same way as his friendship with Princess Celestia.

******

<Flashback>

It was raining, yet the city was engulfed in chaotic flames. Two titanic battles were happening. One in the sky and one on the ground. The battle in the sky involved Discord and Princess Celestia. She swung left, he dodged and then sent several explosions to the ground.

“Discord, you have to believe me,” she said as she swung her spear to stop the explosions from landing. “I would never say such things, those were not my words. Redsting is lying to you! He deceived you as he deceived us all!”

“NO! More lies, that’s all you are, Celestia. A liar. You called me a freak of nature, an abomination against life,” he said as he swung his tail at her.

“Discord, I would never say such things, you have to believe me!” she said as she dodged.

“No, just more lies!” he sneered as he stopped. Then he stared with hatred. “You have been lying to me since the first day you met me!”

Princess Celestia's heart twisted as she spoke her mind. She had to as this could not be kept a secret anymore. “Yes I have, but Discord, the truth is that I should have told you sooner. I...I....Lo—“

“YOU HATE ME, YOU DESPISE ME!!!!” Discord roared hatefully. He swung his tail once more. This time making direct contact, as it slapped her across the face.

“Discord.” Celestia trembled as she grabbed her face, blood seeping its way out of the small cut the attack left her with. Tears ran down her face. They were tears of fear, they were tears of sorrow. They were the oldest of friends and now they were worst enemies. She had always wanted to be more than friends, but now they were less.

“I even told myself once that you only ever wanted to find out information about Starswirl every time you came to visit me, which is why I never told you the truth, either. Because I thought you would run away and never want to see me ever again.”

“Discord, I don’t hate you. I care for you, I lo--”

“But it doesn’t matter now anymore,” he interrupted her. “You once ask me why I lived in Starswirl’s old cottage,” his voice started to rise. “The reason why I said I had lived there for centuries is” It continued to rise as he tried to get the truth out. ”Because... I… I… I am Starswirl the Bearded!!”

Hearing the truth sent a shock through her entire body. After speaking the truth, Discord flew off in anger, continuing to destroy the city. Celestia stood there hovering for a few moments. Then she final let it fully sink in. It was at the point she broke down, and the tears wouldn’t stop flowing.

It was at that moment Celestia said something, yelling to Discord, but he was too blinded by rage to hear it. At the same time on the ground, the battle there had come to a close when a massive black rainbow engulfed and defeated the demon king, Redsting.

<Flashback over>

******

As the memory ended, Discord pushed the tears out his face. He was so angry back then. But he had been tricked, they all had been tricked. And he would do anything now to ask for her forgiveness. But that was impossible now with her dead. It was the only regret he ever had. His tears dried as he continued to run.

As he ran through the forest, he didn’t notice he was being watched. Up in the trees was a zebra in her native grabs. She watched him closely. Before Discord could notice, she was gone.

She continued to watch while being out of his range of sight. She sent a message through the trees that sounded like a bird call. It reached far into the forest until it reached an all too familiar yellow pegasus mare.

******

Author's Notes:

Well that was some history. Plus if any of the readers of my oldest stories are reading this chapter. They may have recognized the Discord Flashback as a scene from an older story. The two story are not connected. I just really like that scene and thought I would update it.