The Key

by CrackedInkWell

Rating: everyone
Tags: Rainbow Dash, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity, Other, Science Fiction, Slice of Life, Crossover, Alternate Universe, Applejack, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 8980

What would happen when the CMC is accedently sent a thousand years into the future? What would they find there?

The CMC is known for their misadventures to get their cutie marks. Trying anything and everything to earn them.

So with that being said, how did they go from trying to find where a found key unlocks to ending up in their town a thousand years later and back? And what do they find out while there?

Proofread by SecretBrony01.

Published 2014-07-03 22:20:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-04 22:58:31 UTC

1: Lost and Found

It all started when school was dismissed for the day. Homework assignments were given out and the fillies and colts were running out of the schoolhouse in the joy of freedom from boredom.

One of the last few to leave where the three fillies. Known to the school along with the town as the Cutie Mark Crusaders. What made them stand out from most of their classmates was the fact that they still don't have their cutie marks, and have been coming up with countless schemes to earn them.

The Crusaders were made up of three members. Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. One earth, one pegasi, and one unicorn. All planning on what to do that day.

“Maybe we could go for that flying machine again.” Said Scootaloo, “I think we were close to making it fly.”

“Yeah, after we pushed it off a cliff and onto a pile of rocks.” Applebloom deadpanned.

“Well, what about deep sea diving? Have we tried that one?” Sweetie Belle suggested. They threw suggestions and reality checks back and forth for a while until Sweetie spotted something shiny. She took a moment to pick it up. It was a key.

“Hey, guys.” She called out. “Whose key is this?”

Now having their attention, the three of them inspected the key. “Never seen a key like this befor'.” Applebloom said.

“It must be new or something. Plus, I don't think it's that old.” Said Scootaloo, as she took the key into her own hooves.

Both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle asked how she knew that: “There's no rust and it's not that dirty, so somepony might have dropped it not too long ago.”

“Wonder where it goes to.” Sweetie Belle said curiously.

Then Applebloom got an idea. “Hey, why not we go around to see what this key unlocks. Maybe if we find what it unlocks, we might find the owner.”

“And maybe get our cutie marks while doing it.” Sweetie Belle added with excitement.

“So what does that make us?” Scootaloo asked.

“I don't know. Locksmiths?” Applebloom asked. And a moment later, their mission was unanimously established as they shouted: “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS LOCKSMITHS YEAH!!!”

-*-

“This is hopeless!” Scootaloo whined. For the entire day, they went over nearly every nook and Carney all over Ponyville: every doorknob, every locked cabinet, every chest, anything with a lock, inside or outside, the key would not fit. They tried every building they saw, nothing would fit that key.

At this time, the sun was to be set within a few hours, and the three crusaders were now on Trotting Lane. Starting to give up.

“We've tried everywhere and everything and this stupid key won't fit anywhere.” Scootaloo continues ranting.

“Maybe it's ain't from Ponyville,” Applebloom suggested. “Besides, it's not a skeleton key, it might be from someplace else.”

“Maybe it's from a different country, like Prance or something.” Sweetie Belle joined in. Just then, Applebloom stopped as something blue caught her eye. In one of the very old junkyards of Ponyville where there is a space big enough for a house, amongst the piles of broken junk, she caught the sight of something very unusual. It was a very tall blue box. On top of the box it looked like a short lantern of some kind, the sides of the box had what looked like windows but was painted white. But what really caught her attention was that this box looked brand new.

“Applebloom?” Scootaloo called back to her, noticing that she wasn't following them.

“What's this thing?” Applebloom asked as she entered the junkyard. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle followed her, now taking notice of the blue box.

“What is it?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“I think it says something.” Scootaloo pointed towards the words on top of the box. “Poll... Pull-ies... Pulleys Public Call Box? What's a pulleys public call box?”

“I don't know.” Sweetie Belle admitted. “It looks something Rarity might have as a closet.”

“And why would anypony throw this thing away?”

As the two questioned on what the box really is. Applebloom went all the way around the box and noticed something on one of the sides.

“Hey, I think there's a door here. And it has a lock.”

The other two joined Applebloom where they all saw the lock. Sweetie Belle, who had the key, placed it to the keyhole.

“It fits!” She cried. And then using her teeth, she turned it until a 'click' could be heard. She tried pushing at the door, but it wouldn't open.

“Maybe we just need to push it harder,” Scootaloo said as she and the others pushed and shoved at the door. A few tries later, the door opened, making the three crusaders collapsed on the ground in a pile.

“Owe! Now, what's in, ah...” Applebloom trailed off from what she was about to say, but it was lost when she got a good look at the room before them.

None of the three fillies couldn't believe what they were seeing. They went outside going around the box to see if this was some kind of a trick. But once they entered back in, they all came to the same conclusion.

“It's... Bigger.” Sweetie Belle started.

“On the inside.” Said Applebloom.

“And smaller on the outside.” Scootaloo finished. “How does that work?”

“And who lives here anyway?” Applebloom asked, “Look at this place. It's looks something out of them fancy science fiction comics that Scoot reads.”

This room had all sorts of strange machines and gadgets that none of the ponies have ever seen before. It was also a bit of a mess since there were parts laying about the floor. As they approached the center of the room, there was a hexagon like a panel that was full of switches and buttons with a pillar of glass in the center. Flashing lights and screens that had circles. It was here that Sweetie Bell put the key down.

“What if this is somepony's house?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Hello! Anypony home?” She cried out. To their surprise, they heard echoes, but there was no reply.

“I don't think anyone lives here,” Scootaloo said, getting an idea while at it. “In fact, girls, I think we've found a new clubhouse!”

“Totally!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“Well I guess, nopony seems to live here. Plus, this place looks really cool,” said Applebloom.

“Then it's settled. This is our new clubhouse.”

The three fillies cheered. But their celebration was cut short when two ponies entered through the opened doorway. One was a stallion that the fillies have seen before. He was brown with a tie and an hourglass cutie mark. The other was recognized immediately. She was the local mail mare known as Ditzy Do (although, some fouls call her Derpy Hooves). With a blond mane, durped eyes, a gray coat with bubbles as her cutie mark. Both of them had the look of surprise.

“Well, this is unexpected.” the stallion said.

“Um...” Applebloom started, “Sorry, uh, is this Y'alls house?”

“Well. Yes and no.” The brown stallion said, “But more importantly, how did you three get in here?”

“Well, we found a key mister.” Sweetie Belle explained, “We looked all over town to see where it might fit and try to give it back if it has an owner.”

“Oh!” the mail mare said while giving herself a facehoof. “At least we know where my key went.”

“Say, how about we just give you back your key and we'll just go,” Scootaloo said, turning to Sweetie Belle. “So where's the key?”

“I put it over there.” Sweetie Belle said pointing towards the control panel. “I'll get it.” But just she was near the hexagon shaped control panel, she tripped on a part. She tried to catch her balance but her forehooves landed on the control panel, hitting a few buttons and switches along the way.

The door that they came inclosed and the machine in the very center of the room sprang to life. Making a sound that something between a siren and a growl. Sweetie Bell falls backward onto the floor.

“Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom cried, “What did you do!?!”

“I don't know!” She cried back. “Let's get out of here!”

The three panicked fillies made a mad gallop to the door and tried to force it open. Meanwhile, the stallion went up to the control panel to stop the machine. A moment later, the machine stopped with a low pitched ring.

“No need to panic everyone.” he said, “I've got all under-” But the fillies were nowhere to be seen. “Ms. Hooves, where did the children go?”

“They left as soon as it landed. Doctor, don't we need to go after them?”

“Let me see...” He looked at the screens. “Planet: Earth, that's good. Country: Equestria, still good. City: Ponyville, very good. Year... That's not good. Ms. Hooves, we need to go find them, now!”

-*-

“I think... we lost them,” said Scootaloo out of breath.

“I bet he's... mad at us... right now,” said Applebloom.

Sweetie Belle was the first to get her breath back and look around their surroundings. “Um. Girls, is this still Ponyville?”

The other two looked up to where they were at. At first, they thought that they were in a city like Manehatten. But something was completely off. The skyscrapers were made out of metal, wood, and glass, some have archways that link from one building to another. There were also impossible staircases, balconies, platforms, gardens and cafes that were sideways or upside down that ponies seemed to walk on them without a care. They took notice of the ponies around them, none of whom they recognized.

“Girls,” Scootaloo finally said. “I don't think we're in Equestria anymore.”

“Where are we anyway?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“More importantly, what is all this?” Applebloom added.

After wandering around, their stomachs grumbling, their eyes lay upon a very familiar sight. It was rather surprising and almost out of place amongst the surreal architecture. It was Sugar Cube Corner, and it's open.

When they entered, at first, it was just like the Sugar Cube Corner that they knew. It was still decorated the same, it still had the same food, the same glass counter-top, it even smelled the same. But the crusaders noticed several things out of place. For one, there was no Mr. or Mrs. Cake. Instead, there was a zebra and a Pegasus running the counter. Not only that, but the menu was on display on a hologram. And finally, the cash register was gone. The ponies didn't pay with bits at all, instead, they give them a single black disk the size of a bit, then is swiped under what looked like a lamp, and was given back to the pony with their food.

When the fillies got up to the counter, the turquoise Pegasus give them a smile as he said: “Good afternoon and welcome to Sugar Cube Corner, I'm Oven Baked, how may I help you?”

“Uh, is Mr or Mrs. Cake around by chance?” Applebloom asked.

The response they got was he cocked his head to the side and asked, “Who?”

“Or is Pinkie still around?” Scootaloo asked.

At the mentioning of that name, the Pegasus eyes lit up in realization. “Oh! Oh yes, she's here.”

“Oh thank Celestia,” Scootaloo said with a shared sigh of relief. “Can we see her?”

“Just give me a sec.” He then turns towards the kitchen, “Miss Pie, there's somepony who wants to see you.”

“I'll be right out there as soon as I can get these cookies out.” Replied the familiar perky voice.

“We'll just sit over there.” Sweetie Belle said to the Pegasus pointing towards a table.

The Pegasus smiled and nodded as he signaled for the next customer in line. “Next please.”

The Crusaders made their way to the table. The three of them try to piece together what just happened. When suddenly, they heard Pinkie's voice saying, “You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, Pinkie...” Applebloom trailed off as the three of them saw what was before them that made their eyes open wide and their jaws hit the floor. There was Pinkie, same voice, same cotton candy like mane and tail, same bubble gum pink coat, even the same cutie mark. However, this Pinkie was much, taller... and has wings... and a horn... and even a giant cupcake on her head.

“Pinkie Pie?” they said in unison. Pinkie only gasps as her wings opened up.

“Ohmigosh I can't believe it! You’re back! You’re actually back! Well, I knew you would come back since my pinkie sense told me this morning. But look at you, still young as ever and still no cutie marks? I mean wow, I know it's been like a good thousand years since we last saw you, but still, you think you three might have gotten one by now! By-the-way do you some doughnuts?”

The three young crusaders couldn't help but blink.

“What?” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“Do you want doughnuts with sprinkles?”

“No no. Not that, I mean, when the last time you saw us?”

Here, her horn glowed a light pink and a watch appeared to where she gave a good long look at it. “A thousand years, three months, twenty-eight days, seven hours, fourteen minutes and nine seconds. Why'd you ask?”

The three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders fainted right out of their seats.

“Was it something I said?” Pinkie asked.

2: Applebloom's Reunion

Applebloom woke up in the light of a sunrise. It took a while to blink the blur away to just to see, but when things became clear, she was staring out a window that overlooked the deserts of Appaloosa... Wait!

“Scootaloo? Sweetie Bell?”

She sat up. Finding herself in a gorgeously carved bed that was made out of apple wood, the same kind of wood that made up Sweet Apple Acres. She found herself in a room where there were pictures of every family member she knew and many, many folks that she never had seen before. But what caught most of her attention was what was right in front of her. Or rather, who.

Sitting her back from the fireplace in a rocking chair was her sister. Even as a tall alicorn, it was no doubt her sister. From her orange coat to even her trademark hat that now has a golden apple that was added to it. Applebloom saw her eyes. She had seen her like this before when she had to do graveyard shifts to make up lost time. And those tired eyes were staring straight at her.

“I just don't know what to do with you,” she said. “I don't know if I should be shocked. Or thankful. Or sad. Or even glad that my own sister; long thought to have either been foalnapped or ran away; searched for decades only later to presumed dead, and I have wept for you for centuries; only to find out that you as well as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to come right back a thousand years later. The only thing that's on my mind right now is asking you – why?” Here, Applebloom saw something in her sister's eyes that she hadn't seen since the day their parents died. Although she tried her best to look serious, her tears betrayed her. “Why did you leave? Was it, something I've said? Or somepony else said or did? Did you left with somepony without leave us a little hit, not even a note? Ju-Just why?”

Applebloom, ignoring her hunger pains, got out of the bed and went over to her sister. “Sis. You did nothin' wrong. I didn't know I even left, I swear! Please, don't cry Applejack, I'm here. There ain't nothin' to cry about no more.”

She was caught off guard when her sister went up and hugged her in a death grip. Applebloom struggled to say something.

“What's that Applebloom?” Applejack asked loosening her grip a little.

“Oxygen!”

“Oh!” she let go of her little sister. “So sorry about that. Just couldn't help it.” she laugh uneasily but returned her stern look. “But in all seriousness. Just where on this planet have the three have you been? We've been looking the entire world for you.”

Applebloom's ears folded back, she looked down as she pawed at the ground. “I'm sorry sis. It was just yesterday that we went all over Ponyville to see what this key unlocks. We spend all day lookin' until we found a blue box on Trotting Lane.”

“A blue box?”

“Yeah, and, I know I might sound a little crazy, but we found it was somehow bigger on the inside, and there was this machine in there, and then there was this stallion with Ditzy Do. Then Sweetie Bell set the machine runnin', we tried to get out, and when we did we found everythin' has changed and Pinkie's an alico-”

“I think I get the picture.” Applejack put a hoof in her sister's mouth. “Just so I know that you didn't run away on purpose, right?”

“Why would I?”

“And that this stallion didn't foalnap ya, right?”

“Well, no.” Applejack hugged her sister again, this time more gently.

“That's all I wanna hear. And the important thing now is your back, and that's all that matters.”

“But, what about Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, where they?”

Applejack smiled. “Sweetie is in Prance with Rarity. And Scoot's is in Cloudtro- Cloudsdale with Rainbow.” It was here that Applebloom's stomach growled loudly.

“Why look at that! I didn't realize you'll be that hungry. Come on, let's get ya breakfast.”

“Oh good, I'm starvin'. And by-the-way, what's breakfast?”

“Whatever you want.”

-*-

Not even in all of her memories of Applebloom has Applejack has ever seen her sister this hungry. She already went though flapjacks that stacked as high as her head and was drenched in melted butter and maple syrup; half an apple pie; three glasses of apple juice and at least a dozen cinnamon buns.

But when she wasn't eating, she asked about what happened to her, the family, the farm and why she's in Appaloosa.

Her sister explained that after she had disappeared, she had transcended from earth pony to alicorn when she unlocked a new kind of the magic of honesty. Over time, the family that Applebloom knew died off one by one. First Granny Smith, then Prince Big Mac with his wife Cheerilee. Until all of her best friends became alicorns like her and Twilight, she worked on the farm until she found ponies worthy enough to take care of it. And promise to keep it in business as long as possible. The farm itself is long gone but it did leave a legacy behind of work ethics and help her relate to the ponies here in Appaloosa.

She had helped, through trial and error, to straighten the relationships of the buffalo tribes and the ponies who work here. When Equestria became an Empire of Harmony, where Celestia is the Empress of the day and Luna the Empress of the night, Applejack wisely suggested that each part of the empire should have a leader of its own, that way, all who ruled these territories are kept in check to see they don't become corrupted. And because of relationships here in Appaloosa, she decided to stay here to rule.

“Well, that makes sense, I guess,” Applebloom said. “But wait, if your princess here, does that make me royalty or somethin'?”

“Well, since you’re really the only one who's really close to me by blood that I know... So yeah.”

“Sweet!” She continued to devourer the palate of toast.

After a while, Applejack spoke up. “Um, Applebloom, I need to tell ya somethin'.”

“About what?”

“Well, after you... left. We started searchen' for clues to try to figure out where you Y'all were. Well, for my part, the first thing I did... Was going through your diary.”

Here, Applebloom nearly choked on her fourth cup of apple juice. “Y-you did what!?!”

“I know. I know, I shouldn't have. But at the time, we were desperate to find Y'all. So I thought maybe if ya kept a diary like we had, maybe it might provide a clue as to where you'd have gone.”

At this point, Applebloom turns a paler shade of yellow.

“And while I went through it, I found somethin'. It was the part about Scootaloo.”

Now Applebloom's face turned more and more red.

“I...” She couldn't look at her sister in the eye. She was getting nervous and her sister knew it. “I-I don't know what your talkin' about.”

“Applebloom.”

“I-I mean. S-Scoot's a good f-friend and all.”

“Applebloom.”

“YouknowwhatIshouldgo.” She said quickly as she tried to just leave the room. Before she could even make halfway towards the door, she found herself in yellow light, being picked off the ground. Now she was terrified. She tried bucking and moving her limbs to fruitlessly try to free herself. “Applejack, no! Let me go!”

“Applebloom! Look at me!”

Reluctantly, she did. Applejack can see nothing but absolute fear in her little sister's eyes.

“Applebloom. You don't have to be afraid of me no more.”

“W-why not?”

“The thing is... I get it.”

She just stared at her, for what seemed to be a good solid minute until she asked: “Wha?”

“Look, if it makes ya feel any better, remember Braeburn?”

Applebloom tilt her head to the side, “You mean cousin Braeburn? The one who really likes it here and has that creepy than anything' you've ever seen smile whenever anypony get's off the train Braeburn?”

Applejack nodded.

“What about 'em?”

“He got married.”

Her eyes widen. “He did?”

“Eeyep. But more surprising was who he married.”

“Who?”

“Believe it or not, it's Soarin.”

Now Applebloom's jaw dropped. “Soarin! As in one of the Wonderbolts Soarin! So wait, does that mean that cousin Braeburn is-”

“Was.” Applejack interrupted. “He passed away a very long time ago. But to answer your question, yes, cousin Braeburn was into stallions. Which in hindsight turns out to be really helpful when the Pegasi immigrated here. All because a famous Pegasus married someone who lives here.”

“Oh.”

“And if it helps any further... Applebloom, I'm married.”

“Oh now, I can't believe that!”

“And why not?”

“No offense sis, but the last time I saw ya, you weren't the marrin' type.”

“That was a thousand years ago.” Her older sister said rolling her eyes. “But when I got to start doin' these princess duties, well, it turns out that being a ruler is much more lonely then I thought. And Applebloom, I know, it's one of the worst feelings you could have. Fellin' alone at the top that is. And I know that as long as there's somepony beside me, I would want have a reason to feel that way.”

“Well, okay. So what's his name?”

“Her.” Applejack corrected her.

Applebloom stared at her sister again, somehow, this time it seems longer.

“Applejack... does that mean, that- your a-”

“That I like mares? Yes Applebloom, you don't need to hide no more.”

Even suspended in mid-air by her sister's magic, Applebloom did manage to give her sister a nuzzle.

“Alright, so, who is it then?” Applebloom asked.

“I'll give ya a hint. She has a very colorful mane and even after a thousand years, she's still very narcissistic.”

“You mean?... Rainbow Dash!”

Applejack smile and saying only one word: “Eeyup.”

Author's Note

Before anybody says anything, the answer is: "No, there is no shipping in this story. Otherwise, I would had put the "Romance" tag on the thing."

3: Sweetie Bell's Reunion

Sweetie Belle awoke in the light of the moon. She whipped away the sleep from her eyes to a view of lights of the Eiffoal tower... Wait what?!

As she sat up, and the electric candles in the room slowly lit up. She found herself lying on a bed made out of the finest cotton sheets in the land with a silk blanket embedded with jewels. She looked around the most elegant room that she's ever seen. The room was full of classical painted murals and gold molding from floor to ceiling. Though the tall windows, she saw the skylight of the capital of Prance. She saw that there were new buildings, but the Eiffoal tower was still the centerpiece of the city.

“Applebloom? Scootaloo? Anypony?” She cried out.

The door to her right opened, there entered a unicorn who was dressed like somepony who seemed to step out of the age of reason. Powdered wig, layered clothes and all. The unicorn bowed to Sweetie Bell and took out a pocket watch.

“Mistress Sweetie Belle is it?” He asked in a Prench accent. Sweetie Belle nodded but was confused that he called her, a young foul, mistress.

“You are still in time for dinner. Please come follow me and I shall show you to the dining hall.”

“Excuse me mister, but, who are you?”

“I am Silver Plate mistress, one of the servants here.”

“Where am I?”

“You are in the palace of Versailles milady, in the grand territory of Prance.” Sweetie Belle's jaw dropped. She had heard about this palace in school when Cheerilee was teaching history of the Prench Revolution. “I was made aware you would have many questions.” Silver Plate said, “The princess wants to inform you that all of your questions will be answered by her and her husband when you awoke. Now please follow me, mistress.”

She got out the bed and followed Silver Plate through the room after an elegant room. Down halls of mirrors to staircases made out of the finest woods in the world to eventually she reached the dining hall.

Amongst the gold moldings, the carved woods, the crystal candles, the titanic table with mountains of food and rivers of every drink imaginable, there at the end of the table were a pony and a dragon. At first, Sweetie Bell had to take a triple take at them to register who they were.

“Rarity? Spike? Is that you?”

Suddenly, Sweetie Belle was engulfed in Rarity's aura, being lifted off the ground and flew over the food and right into the crushing arms of Rarity's forelegs.

“Sweetie Belle! Oh, Sweetie Belle! You're alive!”

“I won't be if you keep crushing me!” Sweetie Belle struggled to say. Princess Rarity did loosen from her grip and both of them got a good look at each other. Beside of still having to look the same, Sweetie Belle noticed that Rarity is much bigger, is an alicorn and she is wearing jewelry from her golden ruby embedded tiara to her intricate silver necklace.

“Why Sweetie Belle, you haven't aged at all!”

“And look at you, why are you bigger and have wings? Why is Spike big and why is he even here? And why are we in Prance. How did I get here? Sister, what's going on?”

“Sweetie Belle, calm down. It's alright. Everything is fine now.”

“And where are Applebloom and Scootaloo?”

“Please darling, one question at a time. We shall explain everything.”

Here, the angry growl of Sweetie's stomach can be heard throughout the hall.

“Why Sweetie, I did not realize how hungry you were! Here, first things first.” She used her magic to sit Sweetie Belle down in one of the nearby chairs. “Since dinner isn't quite over yet, how about we get you fed.”

-*-

“But Princess Celestia and Luna are still around are they?” Sweetie Belle asked.

By now, her, Princess Rarity and Sir Spike were sitting near the grand fireplace of the palace. It was after dessert, the royal princess and the dragon tried to explain as best as they could what happened the last thousand years.

“It's Empress Celestia and Luna Sweetie Belle.” Spike corrected her. “And yes, they're still around.”

“So what does that make Rarity?”

Spike couldn't help but laugh a little as he said: “She's practically the Queen of Prance.”

“At least I'm doing a good job at it, darling.” Rarity retort. Spike bend his neck down to give her a nuzzle.

“True. But to me, you'll always be my princess.”

“That was rather cheesy don't you think?”

“Wait! You two are married!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“Why yes.” Rarity said in a matter-of-fact fashion. “Besides, our 900th anniversary is coming up after all.”

“And I still don't know what to get her,” Spike muttered to Sweetie Belle.

“I heard that!”

“So what have you two been doing in Prance for so long?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Well, ruling over one of the most cultured and creative places on earth; the first thing I did was leading Prance the way from one cultural revolution after another. By expanding education. Have not only encouraged the arts but even paid the most creative artists, writers, actors, philosophers, inventors, scientists, architects and engineers to press further the culture and sophistication of Prance to the world. Oh Sweetie Belle, you would not begin to believe the creativity here.”

“I don't find it that all surprising since you've always adored anything that's Prench.” Sweetie Belle said.

“True. It is rather ironic that I use to buy things from this part of the world, only in the end to owning the country itself.”

“But what about the other princesses like Twilight, do you still see them?”

“We do,” Spike said. “In fact, mom was just her last night after she teleported you here.”

“Your mom?” Sweetie Belle asked as she tilts her head to the side.

“Oh, I didn't mention that Twilight adopted me, didn't I ?” Sweetie Belle shook her head. “She did, and not long after the three of you vanished.”

“Say, am I ever going to see Applebloom and Scootaloo again?”

“Well,” Rarity said as her horn glowed and an invitation appeared. “Pinkie is planning to give the three of you a, as she puts it: ‘A welcome back from disappearing for a thousand years party’ tomorrow night. So you will be seeing them soon.”

Just then, Sweetie Belle got an idea. “Hey Rarity, if you're not too busy, can we go into Paris tomorrow? I always wanted to see what it's like.”

“Well, we do need to get a few necessities anyway, so of course. Anything for you.”

4: Scootaloo's Reunion

The first thing that Scootaloo noticed as she awoke was the sound of flapping wings and the distant voices of ponies. Then she opened her eyes to the noonday sun that was in between pillars of clouds... Wait! Clouds?

She sat up from a huge cloud bed. She looked around to find herself in a huge gazebo-like cloud where all that she could see at first was the blue sky and a few guards around. All of them bowed to her and flew off.

“Where am I?” she was rather confused as to where she was and why those guards bowed to her. She got up and trotted over to the edge of the cloud.

She was in the center of a cloud city. At first, she had trouble making out where she was. On one hoof, there were a few cloud marks that looked like Cloudsdale like it's grand stadium. But on the other hoof, this place seemed much too big to be Cloudsdale or even Las Pegasus.

“So how was your long nap?” Came a familiar voice behind her. The young Pegasus turned to find her idol. Scootaloo always saw Rainbow Dash as the coolest pony alive. But now she looked at her in awe.

It was unmistakably Rainbow Dash. But to Scootaloo, she was improved beyond what she had ever pictured her. She was now a good deal taller and an alicorn. She wore on her head what looked like a mix of a helmet that the guards would wear and a crown. The helmet itself still showed off her multicolored mane, yet the helmet was covered in opals and had a golden laurel reef. Her enormous open wings were apologetically majestic. Even her light armor seemed to capture the awesomeness of her beloved idol.

Scootaloo couldn't think of anything to say at all. She didn't need to say anything anyway, for her idol spoke up.

“Hey, you alright?”

She can only nod her head. It took a moment to register in Dash's mind, but she caught on why she was staring at her.

“I know, I know, I'm that awesome.”

“I'll say.” She shook her head to clear it. “Where am I?”

“You're in Cloudtropolis.”

“Where?”

“Oh, uh it used to be Cloudsdale, but it was renamed a long time ago.”

“And you're a princess?”

“Yeah pretty much.”

“Now you're way cooler!”

Rainbow chuckled a little bit. Even a thousand years later, she's still her number one fan.

“Let me show you around.” Her horn glowed a rosy color when suddenly a scooter appeared before Scootaloo. What she didn't expect, was that the scooter didn't fall through the clouds, she asked why about that.

“The wheels on the scooter can roll on almost anything. On the ground, on water, even on clouds. Now come on,” her horn lit up once more, now Scootaloo has a helmet on. “Let's have a look around.”

Here they heard Scoot's stomach growl, “And let's get you lunch while we're at it.”

-*-

This was heaven. With this scooter, Scootaloo was in a way flying with Rainbow Dash all over this enormous city. So many tricks. So many jumps. And there was Rainbow right there cheering her on. Not to say that her tricks didn't go unnoticed. It did. In fact, many ponies around her at times took double takes at her, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. At first, she thought it was just admiration at her skills.

That was until they took a break at the Sentry fountain. When a green colt with a red neckerchief came up to her.

“That was some really awesome tricks you did back there.”

“Eh, it was nothing really.”

“And by-the-way, you kinda look familiar, what's your name anyway? I'm Buzzing Wing.” He offered up for a hoof shake, in which she accepted.

“Scootaloo. But you can call me Scoot's for short.”

The young colt's eyes went wide open and his jaw hung a little. “S-S-Scootaloo! The Scootaloo! You're really her! O Gosh, I can't believe this even happening to me! Um, would you sign my neckerchief?” He pulled out a pen from under his wings and hand it over to Scootaloo. He turned to the side to where Scoot's can see that there is a seal on the back of his red neckerchief. It was the crest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She signed her name (as best as she could) onto the piece of fabric. After she gave the pen back, she heard him say as he disappeared into the crowd.

“My troop is not gonna believe this!”

Scootaloo blinked. She turned to Rainbow Dash with a smirk on her face. “What just happened?” she asked.

“You're famous here.”

“I am? For what?”

“Did you noticed what he was wearing ?”

“It was the crest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I didn't know it would even be still around.”

“Oh-ho yeah. They're around.”

“But after a thousand years? How?”

“Do you remember Applebloom's cousin? Ah, whats-her-name? The one from Manehatten?”

“Babs?”

“Yeah, that's it! After the three of you disappeared from thin air, she kick-started your club that spread to foals who haven't got their cutie marks all over Manehatten. And from there, it just grew and grew over the years. It got so big, that even Celestia and Luna asked the whole country to let any foals join in if they wanted to.”

“And it's still going after a thousand years?”

“Scoots, as long there is a foal out there who haven't gotten their cutie mark, there always will be a Cutie Mark Crusader. Besides, you, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle are in some history books for being the founders of your club. So of course, everypony you see owe you guys a lot. If it weren't for the three of you, there would still be many out there who would never find out their place in the world.”

To say that Scootaloo's mind was blown to kingdom-come is an understatement. She stared into space with an open jaw that seemed like hours.

“Um. Scoot's you okay?”

She turned to Rainbow Dash with a smile that spread from ear to ear, trying her best to keep back her tears of joy and said: “This has to be, the best day of my life. Can this day get any better?”

“Oh yeah! I almost forgot! We need to go to Ponyville now.”

“Why?”

“Pinkie is throwing you guys a welcome back party. Come on, hop on my back.”

Dash lowered herself so that Scootaloo could get on. With a flash of her magic, she made the helmet and the scooter disappear. “You'll get it back later.” She told her. And with that, they were off to the party.

5: Welcome Back Party

There was a bright flash for a moment, and there were Princess Applejack and her little sister standing on the balcony that overlooked Ponyville. They turned to the giant brightly painted bubble gum pink giraffe, which was the home of Princess Pinkamena Diane Pie.

Applejack took noticed that her sister seemed to be nervous even long before she teleported them here. She already had a good idea what it was about.

“Applebloom, you don't have to tell her at the party.”

“I know. But...” Applebloom trailed off.

“Just worried?” Applejack asked, to which her sister nodded.

“Trust me, I know what it's like. And I keep tellin' ya, she's goin' to eventually find out one way or another.”

“I know. It's just, I don't think I could do it right now.”

“And I'm tellin' ya, you don't have to right here, that's for you and you alone to do so. All I could suggest that you should do it sooner rather than later.”

“And this is coming from a pony who took how long to tell Rainbow?”

“Oh shut up.”

-*-

A few minutes later on that same balcony, three more guests appeared the same way as Princess Applejack had. Now this time there was Sir Spike, Sweetie Belle, and Princess Rarity. Sweetie Bell now had on the latest fashion in Paris with a smile.

“Paris is amazing!” Sweetie squeaked. “That was so much fun!”

To Spike and Rarity, it was a regular day in the capital. Getting fabrics and jewelry from the fashion district, inspecting the latest art from museums, eating at their usual reserved place at the Eiffoal tower for lunch, and shopping for whatever else they needed. But to Sweetie Bell, this was one of the best days that she could remember.

“Quite.” Rarity said, “Now let's go inside dear, Pinkie is waiting for us.”

-*-

Rainbow Dash landed on the balcony and used her magic to put Scootaloo down. By now, the party was already starting. As they entered the pink giraffe, Scootaloo noticed two things right away. First, like the blue box, it was much bigger on the inside. And second, the normal laws of gravity don't really work here, for all the ponies were walking on walls and even on the ceiling.

“Scootaloo!” she looked up, and down from the walls was Sweetie Bell.

“Hey Sweetie Belle, where's Applebloom?”

“On the ceiling in the next room. Come on up.”

Scootaloo put a hoof on the wall, then another, and with a little jump, she was standing on the wall without falling back on the floor. As they made their way to the upper floor, they bumped into a maid with a lime green bow tie, with blue polka dots.

“Oh, sorry about that, do you know where Miss Pie is?”

“She's by the swimming pool.” Sweetie Belle answered.

“Thank you.” As the maid left, Scootaloo staring at Sweetie Bell.

“What?”

“Miss? Is Pinkie married?”

“Yeah. But can you never guess who?”

“I don't know, what kind of a pony would stand her.”

“I would.” Came a voice in the wall. Sitting on a serving tray that one of the servants were carrying. Scootaloo unsurprisingly jumped back in shock and surprise.

“DISCORD!”

“Well of course.” Discord deadpanned, “Were you expecting somepony else? At least your reaction was more restraint then Applebloom's.”

“W-what did she do?”

“She bucked me hard in the face. Twice.”

Despite the shock of seeing Discord, Scootaloo couldn't help but chuckle.

“But it's alright.” Discord continued. “At least my face is replaceable. Now, how about you two go upstairs so we can start this welcome back party properly.”

On the next floor, they found on the ceiling Applebloom with her sister. Along with Princesses Twilight, Fluttershy and Rarity.

“Hey, Applebloom!” Scootaloo cried out as she and Sweetie Belle trod over to her. They both noticed that Applebloom blushed.

“Hey Applebloom, you okay?” Scootaloo asked.

“Y-yeah, it must be because we're upside-down or somethin'.”

The three princesses giggled.

“What's so funny?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“I'll tell you later dearie.” Rarity said.

“Oh! What's the joke?” They looked up, or rather down, there they found the smiling Pinkie and Rainbow.

-*-

As time went by, the three crusaders have been telling each other about what had happened to them in the last few days.

Applebloom told them about spending free time with her sister in Appaloosa, and that she's getting treated like royalty.

Sweetie Bell told them about her sister's new home, and that she got to spend the day wandering around Paris.

Scootaloo went on talking about her day in Cloudtropolis. Her new scooter that can fly on clouds. And she even mentioned that they are remembered here.

“So wait,” said Sweetie Belle, “if we're the founders of a club that's lasted for a thousand years, shouldn't we get our cutie marks for that?”

They all at once looked at their flanks, still nothing. The three of them “Awed” in disappointment. Princess Fluttershy happened to be nearby, overhearing the conversation.

“There, there.” She started, “The three of you will get your cutie marks eventually.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Said Applebloom with a sad smile, “The Cutie Mark Crusaders is still around after a thousan' years. If only Granny were...” She trailed off with a crushing realization. Something that the three of them we so caught up in that they never give any thought to. The very thought brought tears in her eyes.

“Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked, “You okay?”

“Have none of Y'all realized it?”

“Realized what?”

“Think about it, it's been a thousand years, other than our sisters, everypony that we ever knew is gone. Granny Smith, Big Mac, Ms. Cheerilee, the Cakes, your parents Sweetie Belle, Lickity Spit, even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They're gone, they're all gone!”

From here, she began to cry uncontrollably, and now with the realization hitting them, both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had tears in their eyes. And soon, all of them cried rivers of tears as they cried in unison: “WE MISS THEM!!!”

This, of course, caught the attention of everyone within earshot.

“Perhaps we could offer some assistance.” Came a familiar voice. He had a Trottingham accent. The three of them looked to see a brown stallion followed by the mailmare, Ditzy Do.

6: Return to the Past

“Hey, it's you!” Said Scootaloo.

“We were looking for you for days.” Said the stallion, “We would have come sooner except we got distracted by two things, well three things, well three things and a pool of toothless alligators with a box of matches but that's not important.”

“Just who you might be?” Princess Fluttershy asked.

“Well, I'm the Doctor and this here is my assistant.”

“A doctor who exactly?” Applebloom asked.

“Just call me the Doctor.” He said, “And we're here to take the three of you home.”

“Home?” the three fillies asked.

“The three of you are not supposed to be here.” Ditzy said, “None of you were supposed to be taken out from where you were, to begin with. We just want you to take you back.”

“So I reckon that Y'all were responsible for having them disappear from thin air?” said Princess Applejack as she approached them with a stern look on her face.

“In a way,” said the Doctor, “that's why we're here to fix it.”

“What are you going to do mister Doctor?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“First of all, it's just Doctor, no mister, I'm not that old. Secondly, all we need to do is to take you back to the very minute that we were previously, to make it look like the three of you have never left.”

Sweetie Belle was suddenly found herself engulfed in her sister's aura. She was flying from one wall to another into her sister's forelegs.

“No! You can't take my Sweetie Belle! We just had been reunited after all.”

“Um, Rares.” Princess Applejack flew over to her. “I think that's exactly what he's tryin' to do.”

“But Applejack-”

“Rarity, I think we should let them go.”

“But why?”

“We have been in mournin' over both of our sisters for the past thousand years because we had no idea what happened to them. Even if we did let them stay here, what difference would that make? Either way, we would just see them grow old and die. Don't ya think it would be all the better if we knew what happens to them a thousand years ago, then spend that time not knowin' what happened?”

Rarity looked at Applejack, then at her sister. She hates to admit it, even to herself, but she was right. She nuzzled her sister for one last time.

“Sweetie Belle, it's about time that you along with your friend should be returning home.”

Sweetie Belle hugged her sister back. “Thanks, Rarity, this has been the best day ever. I'll never forget it.”

“I'm sure you wouldn't. Now go, you too Applebloom and Scootaloo.”

The three fillies made their way over to the Doctor and the mailmare, but before they walked out of Pinkie's home, Princess Applejack stopped her sister.

“Just a moment.” She said, “I want to say somethin' to my sister before you go.”

“We'll just wait outside.” The Doctor said as he, Ditzy, and the other two crusaders exited out.

“Applebloom, when you go home, I want ya to do me a huge favor there.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“It's not gonna be easy at all, but if ya do, it would lead towards a better future for both of us.”

“Well, what is it?”

“Promise me, that when ya get home a thousand years back, when you have the time to talk to- well, me, I want you to tell me you like Scoots.”

Applebloom eyes went wide and her cheeks redden. “W-why?” she asked.

“Look, until Braeburn got hitch, I myself didn't tell Granny or Big Mac because I was afraid of what my own family would think. But if you told me, it might give me a reason not to be afraid. And besides, maybe I might have asked Rainbow out sooner.”

“Um... O-Okay.”

“That's my Applebloom. Now go home, ya hear?”

She nodded before she left, she gave her sister a nuzzle, said her “Good-bye” and left.

-*-

It had only been five minutes since the blue box has disappeared in the junkyard on Trotting Lane. Then amongst the quiet, a strange noise rang out. It was the sound of a mix of a siren and a growl. But when it ceased, the blue box materialized back to where it once was. A moment later, the doors opened and the three crusaders stepped out.

“Are ya sure this is our time?” Applebloom asked.

“The same date as we left my dear Applebloom.” the Doctor said with reinsurance.

“So, we just go home?” Ask Scootaloo. “That's it? We just walk away from what just happened?”

“Yes, pretty much.”

“Should we tell anypony?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Do you think they would believe you? The three of you stepped into a box that's bigger on the inside, got teleported a thousand years into the future with a Doctor and the local mailmare?”

“Well, when you put it like that, it does sound rather ridiculous.”

“Oh, and Der- I mean, Ditzy Do,” said Scootaloo.

“Yes?”

“Sorry about the key. We didn't know it was yours.”

“That's okay. At least I got it back. Thanks anyway.”

“So where are Y'all gonna go from here?” Applebloom asked.

“I don't know.” Said the Doctor with a grin. “Miss Hooves, how does Titan sound?”

“Where's that?” the mailmare asked.

“It's one of Jupiter's moons.” And with that, the door was closed, and the blue box vanished from sight. Sweetie Belle couldn't help but stuck her hoof into the empty space where the box was once was.

“Wait-a-minute!” Scootaloo said with a sudden realization, “If we just traveled into the future and back, does that mean we get time traveling cutie marks?” The three of them looked at their flanks. Still nothing. Once again, the three of them “Awed” in disappointment.

The three crusaders called it a day. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle already went home. Applebloom was on her way home, back to Sweet Apple Acres.

7: Applebloom's Epilogue

The farm was exactly the way it was that she left it. The same trees, the same fence, even her home. The air smelled familiar, but in a good, welcoming way. She knew what it was. It was Granny Smith's cooking.

She saw one of the doors opened up and out stepped her sister. Not the tall alicorn, but the sister that she knew.

“Oh there you are.” she said, “I was just gonna tell ya it's time for dinner.”

“Is Granny and Big Mac around?”

“They're in the kitchen- Hey!” Applejack was cut off as her little sister dashed through the door. The first one to be tackled with was a sitting red stallion while calling his name. Applebloom gave her big brother a hug; he in return, looked at Applejack, giving her a “what's gotten into her?” look.

Then she spotted the oldest of the Apple clan putting bisects on the table. “Granny!” She tackled her too, almost knocking her to the ground.

“Easy there youngen'. What's gotten into ya? You're actin' like you've haven't seen us in years.” Granny said.

“It's just... I'm glad to see ya, that's all.” Applebloom turned to her sister. “Say, uh, Applejack, can I talk to ya after dinner?”

“Why sure you can.”

-*-

“So, what do ya wanna talk to me about?” her older sister asked. By now, dinner was over, and they went to her room. Applebloom sat on her bed.

“Sis, I think you wanna sit down for this.”

Applejack sat besides her with a look of concern on her face. “Why? What's wrong?”

“Nothin' wrong. Really. It's just... that... uh...”

“Applebloom, it's alright, ya can tell me anythin'.”

“I think that I...” -Applebloom tried to think carefully what to say next. How to tell her sister what her distant future sister knew. It's one thing to write about it in her diary, but it was quite another when she had to tell her sister who doesn’t know, yet- “....have a... a-a crush.”

Her sister's face lit up like lights on a Hearth's Warming tree. “Awe! My little sister's growin' up! So tell me, who is it? Who's the colt?”

'This is it.' Applebloom thought. 'Might as well tell her name then.' “Uh... It's, S-S-”

“Split?”

“No. It's S-”

“Snips?”

“No! It's-”

“Snails?”

“Dang nab-it Applejack! Won't you just let me say Scootaloo!” Quickly realizing what she said in her outburst, she cover her mouth with both of her hooves. She saw her sister's eyes widen with a slightly slack jaw. Applebloom had too many thoughts at once in that silence. Second guessing, triple guessing, quadruple even. Had her sister in the future been so much different than her now? Have she been wrong to agreed to do this. They stayed silent for a while until Applejack spoke softly, “You’re serious, aren't ya?”

“Um... Y-yeah muphft!” Before Applebloom could say anything further, she found herself being hugged tightly by her sister. And Applejack was laughing like a madmare.

“Uh sis?” Applebloom managed to say, “Ya alright?”

“Oh Applebloom, this is the best piece of news I've heard all year!”

“Uh, it is? Why?” Applebloom (now relieved) already knew why. She can't explain to her sister how she already knew it, so the best she could do is act innocent.

“I... I-I'll tell ya later but, ha-ha. But still, Scoot's? I would never even guess. But ya know, just thinkin' about it now, you two would make a cute couple.”

“S-Sis stop it!” said Applebloom, her cheeks now turning red. Her sister couldn't but help laughing a little bit.

“Oh this is too precious. So how long has this been goin' on?”

“I-I don't know.”

“And does Scoot's know?”

Her ears flatten against her head as she shook it.

“Oh. Well, don't worry too much. I promise, everythin' will turn out well in the end.”

“Really?”

“Eeyup. Oh and uh, Applebloom, thanks.”

“For tellin'?”

Applejack nodded.

“Okay then, well, thanks for listenin', I guess.”

“No worries Applebloom, your still my little sis no matter what. Now, don't you have some homework to do?”

“I get to work on it right now.”

-*-

Applejack left her little sister's room. As she made her way to her room, she told herself, “Later. Not right now, but I'll tell her later.”

That night, Applejack and Applebloom rest easy.

The End