(Emmit’s POV)

It’s been three days since our encounter with the shadow mare and the news that my mother is part of the Empress. It took me nearly two days to get my head around it. Luna during my awake hours and both Tia and Luna while I was asleep. It was a day and a half ago that Luna’s estrus had started, which oddly enough, helped me. Luna was sleeping next to me. Actually, she was cuddled up against me. Her head was resting on my arm as my other hand was gently stroking her head. At least she could sleep peacefully. Even though I’ve tried for the past couple of hours, I couldn’t. My mind was too active for sleep. I moved some hair away from her face while questions ran through my mind. How the hell am I going to deal with this? What’s the fate of my mother’s soul now? By what I heard, she has retained the knowledge of me at the very least. I knew that more than likely the only way to deal with her would be through the Elements of Harmony but what would they do with my mother?

Luna sighed contently in her sleep, nudging her head against my arm with a peaceful smile on her face. I’d be lying to myself if I said that I didn’t want my mother back. Would that be possible? For the Elements to give my mother another body? If so, what body would she get? Pony or human? There was one thing I knew for sure, I was going to kill every single shadow pony and destroy that cursed organization. And let the Elements deal with my mother’s soul, whether it be rest in peace or live again.

Because my mind was too active to sleep, I got out of bed and morphed into my Ninetales form. I needed to go for a walk. And because the local paper had Luna and I on the front page letting everypony know what happened here, I didn’t have to hide anymore. Luna had booked a room on the first floor, so all I did was open the door, stepped outside, and started walking toward the front foyer.

The hotel in Las Pegasus was nice. Not fancy or anything, but it didn’t skimp on the materials either. Carpet lined the floor of both the rooms and the hallway with dark stained wood for walls and ceiling. Even though plain in design it had a nice rustic look to it, which was evident with the antique looking wall lamps lining the hallway. There wasn’t any pony in the hallways right now. With the news about what happened days before most ponies decided to give this floating city a few days to recover before returning. Not a bad idea I thought. Which meant that right now there weren’t nearly as many tourists here, comparatively speaking of course.

There was one couple in the foyer and standing before the front desk when I turned the corner. It was just them and the pony behind the counter on my right in front of me. The rest of the foyer was empty. It wasn’t that big of a foyer. Once you entered through the front glass double doors, the counter was on the left and the breakfast slash dining area and open kitchen was on the right. While in front of you was the elevators leading up to the other floors.

When the two young ponies saw me they gasped in shock with the usual reaction of the mare getting behind the male, which would stand there looking fierce. “Whoa, whoa,” the pony behind the counter said to them waving his hooves at them, “It’s ok, it’s ok. He’s not going to harm you. He’s the princesses’ consort who has been going around getting rid of all those foalnapping shadow ponies.”

I ignored the whole thing and kept slowly walking right on past them as if they weren’t even there.

“Oh,” the mare said before stepping out from behind her friend and or husband.

“He looks like he just lost his best friend,” the male pony commented as I walked toward the front door.

“Yeah he does,” the pony behind the counter agreed from behind me, “doesn-” Then everything went white.

No kidding.

Everything just went white, as if a sudden nuclear blast just went off nearby. Just without the loud noise and rush of air. Instinctively I put a front leg in front of my eyes to protect them. But as soon as it came, it went. And I got the shock of my life when I opened my eyes again. Not only did the foyer change, but the ponies did too. It went from being a quiet peaceful afternoon with only a total of three ponies to a busy and loud afternoon with the foyer now filled with ponies. Most of which looked like soldiers mixed with civilians. All around me there were ponies in armor and in civilian clothes. The ones in armor had their weapons with them, though carried at rest position. Some coming and some going.

Everything looked as if it belonged here. Even the ponies. The foyer didn’t change, but everything else did. It was as if…

Then it hit me. Starlight Glimmer.

“PREDATOR,” came a mare’s screaming voice from behind me giving me a jump scare. Which in turn, got every single guard there to turn toward me. And just like that, the foyer went straight to chaos. Civilians ran everywhere trying to get away. Meanwhile, all the guards quickly surrounded me with every spear, sword, horn, and wing pointed right at me.

“Stay right there predator,” an earth pony soldier wearing Celestia’s guard like armor said to me. There wasn’t much difference between what these soldiers were wearing compared with what the normal solar guard wore. Just thicker and meant for constant battle, not for walking around the castle all day long. I was staring at him like a monkey doing a math problem. That and the large thick spear he had pointed at me. Not that it worried me all that much. One quick dash and I could get away. Still, couldn’t fly though, which meant a long way down to the ground.

“You move you die Sombra scum,” another said menacingly.

Well, that cinched it didn’t it? I was definitely in the multiple different timelines of the Starlight Glimmer episodes. One thing though. There were a few other timelines that she went through which weren’t shown. I only knew seven of them, the last one I wasn’t looking forward to. So, what would I see? And letting these guards get me down to the ground and to Ponyville seemed the best route at the mome-

And with one sharp explosion of pain from the back of my head, everything went black.

^_^

“So what’s the deal with this thing?” came a mare’s voice to my ears after regaining consciousness. I kept my eyes closed so whoever was with me didn’t know I was conscious yet. All my other senses told me that I was on a moving train. The click-clack of the tracks underneath me with the slow gentle rocking motion told me that much. And after cracking open an eye told me that my body was now inside of a wooden cage, albeit a large one, inside of the cargo hold car.

The headache, due to whatever hit me, was still pounding a little but I could deal with that. I needed to know where I was. A mare soldier was standing in front of the cage, talking with another mare soldier in front of her. The Pegasus was the one that asked the question, which meant the other must know what was going on with me. Or at the very least, know where I was being taken.

“The only thing I know,” the light brown earth mare spoke up, with a voice that sounded like an experienced soldier, “is that he just appeared right in the middle of the Las Pegasus hotel foyer. Right out of the blue.”

“I didn’t know Sombra could send predators that far,” the Pegasus gasped making her wings flutter.

Sombra is using predator species against the ponies? Does that mean he’s got the Griffons on his side?

“Apparently he can, which would mean that there’s no place in all of Equestria that’s safe from that evil tyrant.”

With the Pegasus starting to turn around and look back at me I closed my eyes fully again. “But I’ve never seen this predator before. Do you know what it is sarge?”

“Nope, and don’t rightly care either.”

“Though I’ll have to admit something,” then she whispered, “if you’ll keep it to yourself.” There was a short pause before the Pegasus continued, “He sure is pretty.” Another pause. I could feel their eyes on me. “Oh come on sarge, even you have to admit that he’s pretty.”

The “sarge” sighed, “Alright, I’ll admit that he’s pretty. But he’s still a predator and still needs to be either killed or turned to serve Celestia.” I found that an interesting choice of words considering I’m already serving Celestia. In more ways than one.

This seems like a good time to make myself known. “Funny you should mention Celestia.” I heard them gasped, then saw them back up a few steps, with spears ready. Their eyes were wide and ears laid back against their head in shock. After opening my eyes I stood up to face them, odd that they would give me a big enough cage for me to do that in.

“Sarge? Did it just talk?”

“Yes miss I did,” I said to her with a light chuckle and a smirk, tilting my head to the side in amusement. “Though don’t ask for me to sing. I’m not that good. Although, I’m great at recreating music though.”

Neither moved but stared at me slack-jawed in shock. Until “Sarge” decided to shake her head, bringing her out of her stupor, “It doesn’t matter whether you talk or not. You’re going to Canterlot so Celestia herself can get information out of you.”

I hummed in thought, “I don’t know if she would like what I have to say or not.”

“Why is that?” the Pegasus asked.

“Well my dear, it’s very simple. This isn’t the right timeline.” They looked at me as if I just grew another head. “Hard to believe, I know. But, true nonetheless. In short, another mare went back in time and disrupted the timeline. However, I can’t tell you why I’m not affected, so here I am. But, never fear all will be correct anyway. We just have to wait it out. Or I just have to wait it out.”

“CANTERLOT,” came the conductor’s call.

Sarge shook her head, “Whatever. Celestia will find out the truth.” Turned out the train was just pulling into the station. Another minute or so later the side door to the car opened up with no less than eight burly male guards standing outside. Each one decked out in some harness with poles. “Now don’t try anything while we hook up the cage,” Sarge said to me as the ponies stepped inside.

“I can walk myself you know,” I told her with an amused smirk. Four of the earth ponies locked their harnesses to each corner of the cage with loud thunks. “Plus I can get out of here anytime I please, just so you know.”

The Pegasus got a little worried if by the slightly widened and nervous eyes was anything to go by. Sarge wasn’t so impressed. She tapped my cage with a hoof and chuckled, “Then why not escape then?”

I gave a nonchalant shrug, “Just waiting until the next timeline change.”

She shook her head, “Whatever,” then stomped her hoof against the floor of the car. At her command, the cage was lifted up by the earth pony guards, and we were off toward the throne room. Or, at least, wherever Celestia was at.

Even though everything was mostly the same, it was the atmosphere that hung in the air that was vastly different. The path leading toward the castle showed little difference regarding the buildings and surroundings. But the ponies living there had a look that said they’ve been in this war a long while. It showed in every eye that I caught. The guards marched in time all the way up to, and then into the castle. Though once inside the castle, their steps went out of time. More than likely, so they won’t bust eardrums with their walking. What really got me curious was the stained-glass hallway leading up to the throne room. There was no window portraying Twilight and her friends at all. None of their accomplishments were there.

It felt so alien to me now to be here during this timeline. Not only as a brony, having seen the episode, but now also as the lover of Celestia. And as we approached the large double doors one thought came to mind. What happened to Luna? With the double doors opening, I had a feeling that question was going to be answered.

The throne room was...different. The basic layout was the same, but with that was other tables filled with battle reports. About six other ponies of various races stood around those tables. All voices stopped when the doors opened. To my surprise, I saw not only Cadence there, but Shining Armor as well. Now that’s interesting. Celestia was also different. She was decked out in her armor as well. Rather, fierce looking actually. Her armor and weapon looked nearly exactly like one from the fan-made video Fall of the Crystal Empire.

“Who and or what is this?” Shining Armor asked when my cage was dropped onto the floor with a loud thud by the guards. The sound of locks disengaging from the cage echoed slightly in the room. The earth pony guards, that had escorted me, had moved off to the side of the room to stand at attention.

Sarge stepped forward and bowed to Celestia, then saluted Armor, “Your Highness. Captain. This was the unknown predator that appeared at Las Pegasus an hour ago. We have been speculating that Sombra has found a way to teleport his predators from the front lines to anywhere into Equestria.”

I gave out a quick laugh at that. “No, he hasn’t. I told you what’s going on.”

And there go gasps of shock again with whispers of “he speaks” around the room. I just rolled my eyes and looked over at Celestia. “It matters not what you say,” Celestia gave me a cold stare when she spoke. “I’ll find out what you know.” Stepping down from the throne itself she slowly walked over to me. “And it won’t be pleasant for you.” The animosity of her words was in her words, her steps, and in her eyes as they bored into me.

“I’m sorry,” I spoke softly, but stood in my cage looking to her, “But I can’t let you do that.” My eyes went wide as I activated my mental ability.

“You can’t-” she stopped. Dead. About three feet, or so, from the cage and just stared at me with a neutral expression. Now that I had her, what to do with her? At least I didn’t have to maintain eye contact anymore, but I had to stay in my Ninetales form though.

“Your Highness?” sarge asked while I watched Shining Armor step up as well.

“Princess? Are you alright?” Shining asked as well.

Let’s have a little fun, shall we? I gave her a mental command and a second later she sat her rump down. “I’m a little teapot short and stout,” she sang then sat up putting one hoof out curled to the side and the other curled against her body, “here is my handle and here is my spout.”

Meanwhile, I was trying not to laugh in the cage with the confused looks she was getting. The guards standing around the room was just looking at each other...lost.

Under my direction, Celestia stopped and turned toward Shining, “Oh I’m just fine my dear...dear...Captain.” I had Celestia turning on everything toward Shining right now. Bedroom eyes and sultry voice complete with swaying hips as she walked up to him.

“Your Highness?” his shock, and obvious arousal was clear for everypony to see. And out of the corner of my eye, I watched Cadence carefully. It would be fun to see if they are secretly seeing each other in this timeline.

“You really should loosen up,” Celestia said to him in a low bedroom voice. The guards didn’t know what to think or do as they just decided to stand back and simply watch dumbfounded. Cadence was looking on in shock with her mouth acting like a fish out of water. Shining was fixing to say something, but I had Celestia put a hoof to his lips and shushing him, “No, don’t say anything.” Then sat down again, grabbed his head with her front hooves, and went in for a deep passionate kiss. I even had her moan loudly and comically just for the hell of it.

“Auntie,” Cadence called out with her eyes wide in shock with a deep blush on her muzzle, “Please.”

Celestia stopped kissing him to pull back looking over at Cadence, “Oh very well, you can have him Cadence.”

“Aunty!”

Shining was sitting there like he was in a drunken stupor just staring at Celestia. Which had let him go, turned around and walked back over to my cage again. “After all Shining can’t hold a candle to this...wonderful…powerful...and very sexy predator.”

You know I don’t know why I wanted to mess with Shining right now, but I really hoped that Twilight wouldn’t find out. It was kind of evil to take him up to cloud nine just to grab him and slam him back down to earth again in humiliation. Every single guard there had a look of shock and sympathy for Shining right now. And also with confusion when Celestia used her magic to take apart the cage from around me. Murmurings and soft protests sounded when the cage walls fell to the floor around me.

I, however, looked at Celestia with a wide smile as she came in giving me a passionate kiss.

“Aunty,” Cadence protested, “What are you doing?”

Moving onto my back I had Celestia continue the kiss until she was standing over me. Then she raised her head, after breaking the kiss, to look over to Cadence and Shining, who was now feeling sorry for himself. “My dear Cadence,” Celestia grinned over at her before cackling madly and lifting her head high, “I’m giving myself over to the dark side!”

“Princess no,” Shining called out.

And right when Celestia turned her head down to look at me and right before she would have sat herself down upon my waist…

Everything went white.

It went from the Sombra war to the Changelings in a flash. And now I was on my back surrounded by a throne room filled with Changelings. On either side of the room was four portals each with multiple changelings coming and going to and fro. The throne itself looked very different. Something that Chrysalis would sit on actually. “Dammit,” I shouted in frustration as every...single...changeling now stopped and stared at me. “I was having so much fun too,” saying aloud while rolling over to stand up again. I guess they didn’t know what to do with me because each one was just staring at me bug-eyed.

Pun intended.

“What!?” I shouted at them with all my pent-up frustration at everything. Which in turn brought them out of their collective stupor. All at once every one of them started hissing at me. With their bodies lowered to the floor and their wings out each one was prepared for battle. Which I didn’t mind in the least because right now I needed something to beat on. Luck would have it, there’s a lot of buggy punching bags all around me.

They all attacked at once. Hissing, chittering, and a few battle cries were in the mix as they all came at me. The perfect solution was doing my version of the Jedi force push by using an explosion of fire and air pressure. Like many grenades going off at once, just without the shrapnel. “BRING IT BUG BRAINS,” turning toward the nearest one, that didn’t make it all the way to the outer wall, I focused all my anger toward it, “I’VE BEEN NEEDING SOMETHING TO BEAT ON.”

There in the midst of the throne room, all hell broke loose. I was doing my best to fight off about twenty or so drones. And doing a fine job of it too if I do say so myself. And I do. Using every trick in my thin book I held them off for what seemed forever. But I couldn’t keep them off of me forever. I was starting to get tired. Especially when they called in more drones. When they did that it was only a matter of time before they wore me out enough for me to make a mistake.

It was a couple of drones that hit me from the side sending me toward and then through one of the portals. Like stepping through a door. One moment in the throne room of Canterlot and the next in the throne room of the, now rebuilt, Twin Sister’s Castle. However, in this timeline, it was rebuilt in Chrysalis’ image. Naturally, I didn’t really know that until me, and the body I slammed into, stopped sliding against the floor by hitting the wall. It was a body similar in size to me with a feminine “oof” to her. At first, I didn’t know who and or what I hit until looking down showed me a dark leg with a hole in it.

Turning my head around I looked into the eyes of Chrysalis, who I flew into. Her own eyes were starting to right themselves again to begin glaring at me. “Hey Chryssy,” nervously chuckling with a cocky smile, “How are you doing? How’s the takeover of Equestria go-erk.”

Getting cut short by magic constricting my throat wasn’t a pleasant experience. She had me in her magic like the filling of a burrito as she lifted me off of her. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a number of drones come out of the portal, then stopped and saluted to her as she was getting on her hooves again. “Who is this?”

“An unknown that appeared in your throne room in Canterlot my queen,” one of the drones spoke up. “We fought him until we knocked him through the portal here.”

She forced my head toward her nearly putting her nose against mine, “Who are you?”

At this point, I knew I had to be careful because if memory serves she is just about ready to invade the camp where Twilight is right now. So, I could tell her, but would that hurt the timeline any? My knowledge of Twilight had to remain a secret if there was any hope of her getting back to the map again.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said interrupting my internal debate and used her magic to fling me toward a dark corner. One my body hit the ground, and after quickly standing up, my paws were immediately engulfed in the green goo cementing me to the floor.

“Dammit,” muttering to myself while tugging my legs. Even went so far as to ignite my legs to melt the goo, but it didn’t work. It only lit the dim corner exposing three others. Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash.

“Save it,” AJ muttered from her place in the corner next to me, “There’s no chance of getting out of it.”

“Quite right Applejack,” Chrysalis and two guards approached us. Their bodies glowed green in a swirl of magic. Seconds later three alternate Rainbow, AJ, and Rarity stood before us. “And you will stay there until I get back. There’s the last of the rebellion to crush.” Her voice change to sound like Applejack after she changed. Which enraged the real AJ of course, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Chrysalis just turned from us and laughed her way right out of the throne room.

All I had to do was wait for the timeline to change and I’d be free. However, if I was right then the next timeline was Nightmare Moon. And I was positioned in a darkened corner just behind and to one side of the actual throne. Where she’d be sitting. Could have a little fun before she notices me.

“Well that’s it,” Rainbow whispered in defeat, “With the rebellion gone, Chrysalis will have fully taken over.”

“Oh never fear Rainbow,” I chuckled trying to reassure her, “All this will be gone within about ten or so minutes.”

“And just how do you know that?” she looked over at me through narrowed eyes, “And just who are you anyway? What are you?”

Looking over with a pleasant smile I said, “Emmit Knight, a visitor from another world. Long story short I came to Equestria through the Tree of Harmony, which you don’t know about. Got to know both Celestia and Luna before a mare named Starlight Glimmer started messing with time. She used an old scroll from Starswirl along with the map from Twilight’s castle to go back in time and messed everything up. I’ve been jumping from one timeline to the next waiting for Twilight to fix everything.” They looked over at me like I was Discord himself.

“That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard,” AJ shook her head at me, “Even the princesses couldn’t do time travel.”

“I’m afraid that your disbelief is immaterial against the truth of the matter and the situation,” I told her simply with a smile.

“Let’s say you’re right,” Rarity spoke up hesitantly and looked over at me through fearful eyes, “What happens to us?”

“This timeline will cease to exist, my dear,” I told her as gently as I knew how. They all were silent for a few minutes while that sunk in.

“That’s kinda scary,” Rainbow said at last.

“I know, but don’t worry. From your perspective, or from the real you perspective, it would be as if nothing happened. Believe me, the real timeline is the best one from any of the ones I’ve seen.”

FLASH.

And everything changed again. Nightmare Moon’s timeline was here. It looked just like it did in the show. Rarity, in her uniform, was tending to a tapestry of some sort over on the other side of the throne room. And from the darkened corner I could see some of Nightmare’s mane and tail hanging over the side of the throne. No other guards were in sight.

Peck. Peck.

Although the bugs were biting in this timeline. I used a paw to rub the top of my head before trying to swat away whatever bug was trying to bite me. My mind was trying to figure out whether or not to stay hidden. If I was discovered then there would be the chance of Twilight failing.

PECK.

My paw flew up to swat at the bug, only to grab onto a wooden pole. Without even looking up my paw followed the pole to a metal point just above my head. And when I did look up I saw one of her night guards. Floating in the vertical position glaring down at me was one of the Pegasus guards.

The guard motioned me toward the foot of the throne.

I double checked by motioning with my head.

Again the guard motioned toward the throne again with the spear. With a sigh of defeat, I slowly moved from the dark corner toward a place in front of the throne with the guard landing behind me. And with the spear pointed at my rear end, I walked in front of the throne to stare into the surprised eyes of Nightmare Moon. So much for trying to stay out of things.

“So this is our new visitor?” she eyed me carefully. Her cat-like eyes roaming over my body slowly. This was the real Nightmare Moon and not the Nightmare Night one that Luna turned into. She laughed at me. “You think that you could just appear in my throne room and surprise me?” I said nothing as she laughed on her throne. When she got done laughing, she got up to walk down to stand in front of me. She stood just a head shorter than me. This was pure evil incarnate. It showed in her eyes as she glared up into mine. “Just who and what are you?”

I really didn’t know how to answer her now. Because I didn’t know how that would effect Twilight and the ultimate outcome.

“Answer the princess,” the light blue guard, which was probably Rainbow, told me before taking off her helmet to confirm what I thought, “Or face the dungeons.”

With a soft sigh, I opened my mouth to tell her, but somepony beat me to it. I heard a couple of loud gasps with Spike shouting out, “Emmit? What are you doing here?” Which got the rest of the guards coming out from the woodwork to surround Twilight and Spike as Rarity left the room.

“Why that is the most excellent question my young dragon,” Nightmare cooed before glaring at me again. “What are you doing here?” When I didn’t immediately answer Nightmare looked at me thoughtfully. Then looked over at Spike, or I assumed she did because she addressed him, “Come over here young drake.” The clattering of armor and hooves hit my ears until Spike was standing next to me nervously looking up at Nightmare.

I didn’t have to look over at Twilight in order to know the shocked look she was probably sporting right now. Not to mention the questions running through her head.

“Now then,” she cooed down at him, “Why don’t you tell me all you know about…Emmit hmm?”

Spike was nervous, while I just stood there staring off into the distance feeling helpless and defeated. Sure I could fight, but what chance did Twilight have on getting back to the map if I did? The only sure way for her to succeed is for her and Nightmare all to go willingly.

“Um...well-”

“Don’t say anything Spike,” Twilight interrupted quickly before getting silenced by the end of a spear being put against her throat.

“And if you don’t then I have all three of you put to death right here and now,” Nightmare’s wild eyes told us that she would as she grinned down at him.

Spike looked up to me.

I just nodded slowly.

“His n-name is Emmit,” he started saying quietly, “A friend of ours that came from another world.”

“Another world you say?” Spike nodded. “By what means?”

“The Tree of Harmony itself brought me here to defeat a shadow organization,” I told her trying to get her to ease off of Spike.

She laughed before facing me again. “You? Against my entire kingdom?”

I gave her a smirk, “Nope not you.”

She gave me a quizzical look, “There’s no other shadow organization but my kingdom.”

“Not in this timeline,” Spike said almost immediately, “but in the real one there is.”

“This timeline?” Nightmare looked at me, then to Spike, and then back to Twilight, “As in time travel? That is something I would like to hear. So, tell me how you came by this magic to travel through time.”

When neither of them said anything, I knew there was no way out. Especially now that Twilight has seen me, her questions would need to be answered sometime. And my knowledge about the show would have to be told eventually now. “Alright, I’ll tell you.”

Nightmare looked over at me expectantly.

“How did…?” Twilight muttered quietly.,

“Yeah how do you know Emmit?” Spike questioned while Nightmare silently looked on with ever increasing curiosity. “You came from another world and you were never there when Starlight came.”

I just sighed and hung my head, “Spike...Twilight… The other world that I grew up in had a show that was, originally, created for children to watch.” It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. “That show was called ‘My Little Pony.’” Now I turned just enough to turn my head looking to Twilight, “It was the adventures of Twilight Sparkle and her friends.” She gasped in shock with her eyes going wide. “It started with,” now I turned back to Nightmare, “your defeat at their hooves after they found the Elements of Harmony. Turning you back into Luna.”

Nightmare snorted unpleasantly at that with her eyes narrowing into slits.

“After that, each episode was about her discovering and learning about friendship.” Then I continued after looking back at Twilight again, “The show was still going on when the Tree pulled me here.” I saw the gears turning in her head. I even noticed when the figurative light bulb went off over her head.

“That’s how you knew how Rarity would turn out after she got her new store in Canterlot,” she muttered quietly in realization. I nodded slowly to her. Things started clicking in her mind as she gasped again, “That’s how you know about the scroll. You’ve seen how all this turns out. It was in one of those episodes.” I nodded again.

Nightmare quickly turned my head toward her. Her eyes glowing with excitement over more power for her kingdom. “Tell me,” she demanded before lifting Spike up from the floor and putting him in chains. Just like the show. “Or never see this drake or your marefriend again,” she growled to me.

Looking to her with defeated eyes was pretty much all I could do. “Very well.”

“No Emmit,” Twilight nearly shouted while she struggled a little in her chains. She must have been put into chains at the same time as Spike.

“I’ve got no choice Twilight,” I shouted back at her. “You think I want this?” I looked at her with my eyes blazing with hatred, but not for her. “Before all this happened I found out that those shadow ponies took two souls to make Empress Blackheart. One was obviously evil and the other was my mother...Sarah Knight.”

Twilight gasped in shock as the guards even cringed.

“Those bastards took my dead mother’s soul and bonded it with something evil and that’s unforgivable.” When I got done my body was shaking slightly from the rage pouring through me.

However, it seemed that Nightmare didn’t care. It was evident in her eyes when she used a hoof to turn my head back toward her again. “And if you don’t tell me, then you won’t see them either.”

“Twilight has the scroll that controls time,” I glared at her while speaking, “but there’s a catch.”

“Pray tell.”

“Somehow Starlight found the scroll and made it work for her. However, Twilight found out how and found a way to make sure that only she can use it. The damage was already done though. So, you have to use it through her in the woods at the map table. She has to be the one to activate it.” Nightmare was looking at me intently, trying to figure out if I was telling the truth. Hopefully Twilight caught on to what I was trying to do.

“Very well,” Nightmare said straightening herself from staring up at me, “then let us venture into the forest.”

“Twilight only knows where it is and she has to be standing on the map table in order to activate the spell,” I said in a defeated tone while hanging my head. Trying to be convincing. Without, a word Nightmare released Twilight from her chains and walked up to her.

“No tricks,” she demanded.

“No tricks,” Twilight echoed. As Nightmare took point with the guards surrounding us we left the castle and ventured into the woods.

^_^

“So this is the map?” Nightmare mumbled while looking at it slowly walking around it. Twilight and nodded. “And now you will give this time travel spell to me,” Nightmare demanded while turning around to face us again, “And with it, I will ensure that the Elements are never found and my reign shall last forever.” After a round of cackling, she glared at Twilight. “Come forth,” she demanded.

Twilight took a quick glance at me in silent communication when she passed me. “Alright Nightmare,” Twilight said softly while levitating the scroll as she walked up to the table, “You win.”

“I always win,” she cackled again.

And that was my chance. From my position, Nightmare was between me and the map table. I couldn’t just rush her without fear of hitting the table. So, I had to make a quick dash to the side before making the dash attack hitting her with everything I could. Nightmare’s loud “OOF” when our bodies collided was satisfying and even more satisfying when she went flying into the woods. “Now Twilight,” I shouted while ignited my body with flames to face the guards.

I heard a soft pop of magic as Spike disappeared.

My flames shot out toward the guards before they had a chance to fan out. Especially Rainbow. I knew she would try to take me from the air.

“Emmit-”

“GO,” I yelled at her interrupting her. My flames did a good job of disorienting the guards, but at the same time Twilight’s magic hit the scroll there was a battle cry from where I sent Nightmare. She came out of the woods running at a full charge. But it wasn’t faster than me. I met her halfway using another dash to hit her again. Her loud “NOOOOoooo” faded away while Twilight and Spike got pulled up into the time bubble.

FLASH.

And the scene changed again. This time however, instead of it being night, it was daytime. And it felt like it was right in the middle of summer. The forest was still the same though. And I was still panting a little from the exertion. “I thought the next one was supposed to be Tirek,” I mumbled softly right when the portal opened for Twilight and Spike to come tumbling out of it. They both landed on the table with a soft “oof” and a thud. “Welcome back,” I told them announcing my presence while walking back up to the table.

However, the look Twilight was giving me while still sprawled across the table didn’t bode well for me. Which turned my smile into a frown when she stood up and leaned down from the table almost putting her nose against mine. “Alright Emmit,” the tone in her voice told me that she meant business, “Spill.”

With a sigh, I sat my butt down. “What I said in the other timeline was true Twilight. All of it.”

“So how do I defeat Starlight Glimmer? And don’t tell me you don’t know because we both know you do. As far as you knowing us before being pulled here can be dealt with after all this is over.”

“You’re right Twilight,” I told her with my eyes locked onto hers, “I do know how you stopped Starlight. However, I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t tell me?” she pounded the table with a hoof in frustration, “Can’t tell me? Of course you can tell me. You have to tell me.”

“I can’t,” I told her almost matching her tone with mine.

She screamed out in frustration, “And why not?”

“Because If I do then it might...might mind you...change the ultimate outcome.” Her gaze softened as her mind started working passed the emotions. “You see Twilight,” I started slowly, “If I tell you then that might change how things turn out. However, by not telling you I know how things turn out.” Now I could see the gears turning again.

It took a couple of minutes for her mind to work on it, but with a slow nod to me, she accepted it. “Alright I see your point,” she admitted softly before tapping my forehead with a hoof, “but that doesn’t mean I like it.” Then she sat down on the table and looked around, “So what’s this timeline then?”

“Actually,” saying slowly and looking around as well I answered, “I have no idea. The next should have been Tirek, but this isn’t it.”

“Tirek?” Spike asked, “But you’ve already defeated him.”

“In the real timeline yes,” Twilight agreed. “Perhaps we should look around.”

My eyes met hers after turning her head back around to look at me while giving her an incredulous look. “Are you kidding me?” She slowly shook her head. “Is this your castle?”

“No.”

“Then this isn’t the right timeline is it?”

She looked around again, “No.”

“Then go back there and try again,” I told her firmly. Now it was my turn to give her a firm stare. “Before something else happens.”

“Such as?” Spike asked.

And before any of us could answer, somepony else did and it wasn’t something I was prepared to see.

“LIKE ME,” came a voice from above. And as I looked up my eyes caught the sight of Daybreaker of all ponies. She was pulling her head back and igniting her horn for a powerful attack.

“Who is-”

“GO,” I shouted to Twilight again like I did before. Luckily she caught the meaning and began her magic. While she took care of that I used my dash ability to launch myself at Daybreaker while putting up my shield. Hopefully, it would be enough to keep her busy while Twilight escaped. Her powerful strike hit my shield in a shower of magical sparks and fire. My strength was enough to keep my shield up, but her strike not only slowed my momentum, but sent me flying backward to the map table. Luckily for me, they were already gone when my body hit the table.

FLASH.

The world changed once more while bouncing off the table and onto the ground again. This time it was the timeline with Tirek. Because as I lay there trying to recover, he was busy using all the magic he stole to destroy everything with powerful blasts. A couple of seconds later the portal opened with Twilight and Spike tumbling out.

“Emmit?” she called out then gasped when she saw Tirek.

“Down here,” I mumbled softly.

“Emmit,” Twilight called out when she saw me before jumping off the table and lay down next to me. “Are you alright?”

After a stretch and a few checks I nodded to her, “I think so, but I’m pretty much exhausted.”

“But you haven’t been fighting all that long...have you?” she asked. I could still see the concern for me in her eyes so there was hope for the future yet, that she wouldn’t burn me when this was all over.

I gave her a light chuckle, “You didn’t see the army of changelings I was fighting a few timelines ago. But that doesn’t matter. The minute you appear don’t bother looking around, just go ahead and use the scroll again. Immediately. Do you understand?” I looked up to her with pleading eyes.

Slowly she got up then nodded to me.

“Good, then go on. I’ll still be here.”

And she did. While Tirek was burning everything she got back up onto the table and ignited the spell again.

FLASH.

This time it was Discord. And just like the show, he was chasing Celestia and Luna around with everything in total chaos around us. Luckily for me and Twilight, that appeared a few seconds later, he either didn’t care about us or didn’t see us or know we were there. At any case, Twilight took my advice and used her magic again.

FLASH.

I slowly got up from the ground as the bulldozer was plowing down the surrounding forest to make way for whatever scheme Flim and Flam cooked up. Twilight appeared and immediately used the spell again.

FLASH.

The surrounding land was barren and lifeless. The wind was blowing the sand and small pebbles around like toys it was playing with. Not even the sun or the moon was seen in the sky, but somehow had enough like to see, as if it was dusk. Nothing but sand and rocks surrounded me as the portal opened with Twilight, Spike, and now Starlight came tumbling out. I smiled to Twilight and Spike, but Starlight didn’t see me right off because she was facing away from me gazing about at the surrounding area. “Where are we?” she demanded before turning around and spotting me standing next to the table on the other side from Twilight. “And who’s he? You think I can’t battle two at once?”

“I believe you can,” Twilight said solemnly. She put a hoof onto the table and looked around, “This is the future. Or rather, the present. And that is a friend of mine named Emmit that’s been jumping from timeline to timeline with me. He’s a long story.”

Starlight looked around again as well, “But there’s nothing here.”

“Wish I could say I was surprised,” Twilight said softly with sadness in her voice.

“I’m not either,” mumbling softly I echoed her.

“But every world I come back to is worse than the last,” Twilight looked to Starlight saying firmly before pointing to me, “And he can attest to that. I don’t know why my friends and I are so important to Equestria, but we are.”

“I can’t believe you,” Starlight growled to her.

“Starlight,” speaking up softly I motioned my paw to the surrounding landscape, “Look around you. Everything in the past effects the future, even the tiniest of acts can lead us here.”

There was a pause before Twilight spoke up again, “I know I can’t stop you, but perhaps seeing this will change your mind.”

“Change my mind?” Starlight rounded on Twilight stepping up to her, “You don’t know anything about me. I was perfectly happy until you and your friends ruined what I built.”

“I don’t know what happened to make your village without cutie marks. And I’m sorry that my friends and I had to take it away.”

Starlight’s eyes went white as her horn, and her whole body, ignited in magic. “You want to know what happened to me?” she yelled out while lifting herself off the ground to above the table, “I’ll show you.” And I watched as she, Spike, and Twilight got pulled down into the table disappearing.

FLASH.

This time I was in Twilight’s castle as the portal opened with Twilight, Spike, and Starlight landing on the floor next to me. We watched as the scroll tumbled out then started glowing on it’s own before disappearing up into the time portal. And more than likely never to be seen again.

I chuckled seeing Spike kneel down and kiss the floor, “One castle of friendship. Check.”

Twilight looked over to me, “One friend. Check.” Then her eyes narrowed, “Which we will talk to later.”

I nodded in defeat with a smile.

The double doors flew open with the other five came walking in side by side. “What in Equestria was that?” Rarity asked while looking at us.

“Is everypony ok?” Fluttershy asked.

“Can you do it again?” was Pinkie.

And on cue.

“One group of Amazing friends. Check,” went Spike.

“Yep, Spike,” Twilight said putting a hoof to his shoulder and looking around, “It looks like we’re home.”

“Uh, what’s she doin’ here?” AJ asked.

Rainbow looked over to me with a smile before quickly trotting over to give my shoulder a light punch with a hoof. “Yeah, and what’s stud doing here too? Weren’t you with Princess Luna?”

“Actually, it’s kind of a long story,” Twilight said to them with a smile as she stepped up putting a hoof against Starlight.

“And with another crisis averted,” I spoke up for the first time sense our return, “if you don’t mind, I’m going to go take a long nap while you discuss things.” Turning to Twilight I eyed her pleadingly, “And please Twilight, don’t tell anypony else but those present until we talk alright? Especially Celestia and Luna?” She gave me a good long steady stare before giving in with a nod.

“Alright,” she acquitted, “I’ll wait until we all talk to you about it.”

“Thank you,” I told her then turning to Spike, “Spike, if you don’t mind sending a letter to Luna telling her about everything that just happened and that I’m here and why I’m here please?”

“Yeah, sure thing, Emmit,” he replied.

“Thank you,” I said to them all before making my way out of the throne room to the nearest guest room to nap this whole thing away.

Next Chapter: Chapter Fifteen: Back To Canterlot Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 44 Minutes