The Queen visits Ponyville

The three alicorns were standing in the Royal Gardens,

" I must give up my control. I must... I must give up my immortality. My very life. And give it to you. To all the ponies; not just in Ponyville, or Cloudsdale, or Appaloosa, or Canterlot, but all over the world. Twilight was so distraught... I've always given choices, but never allowed them true free will. Sure, they develop their personalities on their own, but I control it all, like some sick mastermind watching his plot unfold... " Said Faust, quite stricken by her revelations.

" Mother, please don't speak like that! " Pleaded Celestia

" Yes Mother, it is most unbecoming of a queen. " Said Luna

" You don't understand. I've been keeping the entire world in shackles... I have to fix this. I... I must prepare myself. Celestia, please get Twilight and her friends over here, but not by force. Write a letter. I'll be in my chambers if you need me. " Faust said.

Celestia sighed and used her magic to start her letter.

Dear Twilight,

I'm sorry for having to put you and your friends through such an ordeal. I know it must be hard on you... Look, Queen Faust would like to talk to you about a way she can fix things. Make them right. Please, if you find it in your heart to just listen, one last time, it'll be better, alright? Please reply soon. I await your letter.

Celestia

Back in Twilight's library, the purple mare had just finished reading the letter out loud to her friends. She asked them, " Well girls, what do you think? "

" It's not like we have a choice, is it? " Dash said sarcastically.

" Ah'm with Rainbow. Everything was fine until that queen showed up, and now our minds all are screwy! Ah don't like her, and want nothin' to do with her, " Stated Applejack.

" I don't...exactly...like her either, " Whispered Fluttershy

" She made me work so hard on a dress, and didn't even compliment me on it! She's not worth my time." Said Rarity.

" Well...I did have to wait in line at the party that I threw, but she DID make it up to me by letting us have our own private party in the royal palace... Okay. I'll go with you Twilight! " Chimed Pinkie Pie.

" Okay Pinkie. We'll leave soon. Everypony else... When we get back, we'll let you know how it went, okay? " Twilight explained.

All she got in return was a " Mmkay " from Applejack as the rest of the ponies went home. Twilight sighed. It was time to go.

" Alright Pinkie, we're heading to the palace. Ready? " Twilight asked.

" Ready Freddie! "

" Here we go. " Twilight fired up her magic, and they were whisked away in a swirling vortex of purple light.

They appeared in the royal gardens, where Celestia, Luna, and Queen Faust were waiting. Faust was the first to speak as the two ponies, purple and pink, approached. " Welcome back girls. I see the others aren't quite happy with me. I understand. What I have to talk about however, is very important, but also nothing more than a formality. "

" What do you mean, Your Majesty? " Twilight asked.

" Well Twilight, I have... I've decided to give up my control. Once I fix things, everything around the world shall have it's freedom, it's free will, restored. "

" That sounds like wonderful news! Wait til I tell the girls about this! "

" That's another thing I wanted to discuss with you two. Neither of you will be going back. "

Pinkie was perplexed. " What do you mean we won't be going back? "

" In order to fix what was wrong, there's...a certain process I must follow. I must return free will to the world, and erase the cause of it's shackling. "

Twilight jumped in, " Well, how do you do that? "

" I must make a great sacrifice. I will give up my immortality, my life, to restore the world to how it should be. "

" But... surely there's another - "

" There is not. And my decision is final. "

" I see... But, what do you mean we cannot go back? Why not? "

" Because it will be such a large event that time will distort. It may jump forward, but that is unlikely. More likely, you, and the rest of Equestria shall be launched back to some random point in the past. "

Pinkie jumped in again, this time with tears in her eyes, " But, but, but, you're nice! You're good! You... You threw me a party! " Pinkie started sobbing. " It's not fair! It's not fair! "

" I know it's not Pinkie, but I haven't been fair to the world. I have to give back. "

" Will... Will I remember you at least? The par-par-party was really fun. " Pinkie sniffled.

" No Pinkie, you won't. I'm sorry. I'm glad I have at least one pony who called me friend, and was able to have one last day of fun meeting nice ponies. If, somehow, magic permits, maybe some semblance of me will remain, and I'll be able to observe you, and remember our good times. "

At this, Pinkie's hair drooped to the side, the way it did when she was mad or depressed, and she started shaking and crying uncontrollably. Twilight didn't know what to say, or how to react. Queen Faust embraced Pinkie in one last hug. Pinkie almost broke the queen's neck, and she almost didn't let go. Pinkie hated losing friends.

" I've said goodbye to my daughters already, but... in reality, this reality at least, you are all my children. My creations. But do not fret. Even without my hand, you all would have existed anyway. My magic will take care of that." The queen stepped a few steps back. " Farewell, my daughters. Farewell,Twilight. And goodbye to you, Pinkie Pie, goodbye, my friend. "

Twilight had to hold Pinkie Pie back as the giant alicorn's horn lit crimson one last time. Suddenly, the queen's body turned into trillions of tiny pinpricks of light. The lights started dispersing, making it seem as if she was fading away. The fade started at her tail.

Her head was the last thing to go. She had time to look Pinkie Pie in the eye and mouth the word 'farewell'. Just before her eyes vanished, a single tear was shed, and it went and landed in Pinkie's outstretched hoof.

The queen's horn seemed to linger in mid-air. As the very tip of it dissolved in light, there was a flash of light and a soundless explosion as time warped and twisted, an explosion that nopony in the world would remember.

The entire world was sent back in time. It was sent back in time two weeks.

The bell at the school in Ponyville had just rang, and a group of foals had just ran out of the school building, crowding around Featherweight, who had just gotten his cutie mark. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood in the doorway and sighed.

" I give up. " Said Sweetie Belle.

" I've got it! " Shouted Applebloom, who had appeared from inside. She jumped over her friends and tossed a newspaper at them. " The answer to all our problems! "

" The Foal Free Press? "