Accidents happen. They're bound to happen when dealing with unfinished, untested spells. Some would say to learn from them. But unlike Twilight Sparkle, those people's accidents don't leave them stranded in the future, with no magic and in great pain. But all this is before she realizes the future she's been trapped in.

She skipped over five years. In that time, Canterlot has fallen to Changelings, the Crystal Empire has vanished off the face of Equestria, Luna has been killed, and three of her friends scattered to nopony knows where. And to top it all off, she's stuck here until her horn heals and she can use magic again.

A smart pony would sit and find a nice corner to wait in. But can Twilight really turn her back on her friends like that?

Story inspired by HazuraSinner's series of portraits. While I'm not following her idea exactly, and using ponies instead of humanizations, credit to her for the original concept.
Title quote is from John Ruskin: "Our duty is to preserve what the past has had to say for itself, and to say for ourselves what shall be true for the future."