Quill's Journal (a.k.a. The journey to the center of Equestria)

by Waterwitch222

Rating: everyone
Tags: Queen Chrysalis, Random, Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Original Character, Comedy
Length: 31046

When a threat befalls Equestria, it'll be up to three unlikely heros to save the day.

Quill is an eccentric Pegasus with a BIG imagination. Being a traveling writer, she's done plenty of wild things, but nothing as big as this! When a mysterious legend is found in the Golden Oak Library, Quill knows that finding the truth would mean the story of her life! With her friend Time Turner by her side, she sets off to seek answers to the puzzling myth, for if not uncovered, nothing in Equestria would be the same again.

Published 2014-09-27 15:00:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-09-27 15:00:04 UTC

prolouge

9 years ago...

"Oh, Quill! Just look at this veiw won't you? It's absolutly glorious!"

Sugar Sweet said to her daughter as they soared over Equestria on a cloud pulled by Wind Slicer , Sugar's husband. Quill hardly paid attention though. She had more on her mind than the veiw on their way to visit cousin Soda Pop in Trottingham. Quill chewed on a strand of black hair, thinking deeply.

"Quill, what's wrong? Are you still upset about not having a cutie mark? I told you it'll come...."

Sugar started. "No. The creative writing contest for school ends in four days...and I havn't written a word!"

Quill interupted, her eyes wide in disappointment.

"Don't worry Quill, you'll think of something. For now, just enjoy visiting your cousin."

Wind Slicer said as they landed in Soda's yard, Soda's smile wide in excitment as she welcomed her relatives to Trottingham.

Quill was having fun with her favorite cousin, but her writing peice still nagged at her mind.

"You're as quiet as the colts that guard Queen Ann Lace's palace. You alright mate?"

Soda asked in concern.

"It's this contest at home. I haven't found any source of an idea."

Quill answered glumly. Soda thought for a moment.

"Sounds to me like a case of writer's block, and I know just the cure for that!"

"What?"

"A trip to the parfait shop in town."

Soda answered with a grin.

As the two ponies sat outside eating ice cream, Quill thought some more. A tale of a sea pony who becomes an earth pony? To predictable. A horror story about an old corpse looking for a shoe? Already done. A short story about a little foal's dream? To kiddish. Quill looked aound the street, hoping to find some inspiration. Her eyes fell on a large clock tower across the street.

"Soda? What's that?"

Quill asked, gesturing her hoof toward the tower.

"Why that little cousin is Big Glen, named after Glen Pasture, a rodeo pony who saved Trottingham from a dragon attack."

Soda explained.

"Really?"

Quill asked.

"Really. It's powered by unicorn magic, everything related to time comes from that clock."

"What if it stopped?"

Quill ventured.

"I don't know. Most likely mess around with the future and past i'd suspect."

Soda replied, taking another bite of her ice cream.

That's all Quill needed to know. An image began to fill her mind of a young unicorn colt named Gear Spark who accidently stopped time. The more time Quill spent with Soda, the more ideas came to her. After saying her goodbyes at the end of the week, she had a whole story in her head. As soon as she came home to Ponyville, she took out a piece of paper and began to write everything from the story her page could hold. She titled it "Clockwork Wonders" and sended it to the contest on the last day.

"And the winner is..."

Quill bit her lip as she sat on a cushion near the stage outside the schoolhouse.

"Clockwork Wonders by Quill. Come up to the stage and clame your prize young filly. You've earned it."

Ms. Pencil Sketch said with a smile. Quill walked up to the stage and smiled at the beaming and applauding ponies below. As she felt a gold medal be put around her neck, a flash appeared at her flank. She looked over and grinned. Her cutie mark (a pencil on top of a notebook.) had appeared. As she walked down the steps, she was greeted by a tight hug from her dad.

"We're so proud of you Quill! You did an amazing job."

Sugar Sweet gushed.

"Thanks mom."

Quill said happily. The three pegasai then set off toward home. When they reached it, a package was on the step. Quill picked it up and ripped the paper off. Inside was a grey fedora. A note was also inside. It read: "Dear Quill, I found this in my attic. It's not really my style so I thought maybe you might like it. Maybe if you wear it, it'll give you inspiration! Hope you like it and wear it often. Your cousin, Soda Pop."

And wear it often she did. After that day, Quill never took it off. She became a very succesful writer, rewriting Clockwork Wonders at a later age,writing more amazing stories after traveling all over Equestria, and even co-writing "Daring Do and the Griffin's Goblit." Quill was a published author and now lives peacfully in Ponyville...for now.

chapter 1- An almost normal day

Quill stretched her wings as she got out of bed, still sleepy from a midnight book signing in Manehattan last night. Alot of ponies liked her writing, so there were a whole lot of books to sign. She combed her constantly wind blown mane the best she could and reached for her fedora, which woke up her sences as soon as she placed it on her head. She made her way down the stairs, passed her chaotic jungle of a study. She was working on a new piece of writing, so she hasn't had time to clean her "Workshop" as she called it. "I'll clean it later." Quill said out loud, retrieving her saddle bag on her way out.

Quill breathed in clean, fresh air as she closed her door. Her father's work most likely. She knew her father was the pegasus to go to when in need of winds and breezes in terms of weather. Quill began to think about her parents, who were both doing jobs in Cloudsdale. Her father working at the weather factory, and her mother running a sweet shop. Quill wondered how they were doing up there. "Living the dream probubly." Quill thought, examining her own wings that STILL couldn't get her off the ground. Her head began to fill with all the teasing she used to hear from her rival Lily Blossom back at school. Quill shook her head. It was all in the past now. She had a friend now, and was traveling everywhere and writing awesome stories while Lily was tending to a flower shop.

Quill stopped by Sugarcube Corner for breakfast. As the bell above the door, she was greeted by a bouncing flash of pink.

"Good morning Pinkie."

Quill said with a smile, as she took her usual seat by the window.

"And a VERY good morning to you too Quill. How was Manehattan? Was it fun? Did you meet nice ponies there? Were there alot of books to sign? Did you see the Green Pony of freedom?"

BANG, BANG, BANG! Pinkie fired question after question as Quill nibbled on the muffin Pinkie gave her. After she was done, Quill got up to leave, Pinkie still asking questions.

"Pinkie, I'll tell you everything I can, just not now. I have errands I need to run and ponies to see. But I promise I'll answer your questions later during a cupcake meetup."

Quill said politly.

"Pinkie Pie promise?"

Pinkie asked teasingly.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

Quill answered, moving her hoof in a circle over her heart then touching her closed eye. She bid Pinkie goodbye and left the shop.

Quill smiled as she walked through the doors of Gear's Galore, her best friend's clock shop. She saw a stallion hunched over a desk as soon as she walked in. It was Time Turner, fixing a broken clock most likely. Quill stood beside the desk and watched Turner work. He blew a strand of his wavy, dark grey mane as he worked, his golden eyes fixed on the broken clock. He didn't even notice Quill was there. Quill didn't mind at all. She was used to Turner's one track mind. Ever since they met in Ms. Pencil Sketch's class, they were very different from each other. While Quill was social, curious, and laid back, Turner was shy, serious, and always thought things through.

Time Turner was thought to be an oddball in Ponyville. With his grey coat, dark grey mane, and grumpy attitude, he was certainly different from all of the colorful, happy ponies around him. Everypony thought him to be a grumpy stick-in-the-mud who was serious ALL the time. Quill knew it wasn't all true. Time Turner was serious, sure, but he's always been there for her, being the voice of reason and to give advice. He always supported Quill through her whole career, and she felt she owed so much to him.

"Turner?"

Quill said suddenly, causing him to jump back in surprise.

"Ugh,Quill! How did you get in here?"

Turner asked annoyingly, but with a slight smile on his face in seeing his friend.

"I let myself in, if that was okay. I was wondering if you wanted to take a trip to the library with me. I told Spike i'd would watch it for him while he visited Twilight in Canterlot and I could use the company."

Quill explained. Turner thought for a moment.

"Well, I guess I could use a break, and I know you'd probably want my organizing skills when it comes to re shelving."

Turner said.

"So, sure. I'll come."

"YAY!" Quill said happily. "C'mon Turner! Library-sitting waits for nopony!"

"Wow! Now I can see why Spike sometimes calls this the Twilight Zone."

Quill joked, as she and Turner walked into the messy Golden Oak Library.

"Indeed. We'd better get working. This library isn't going to clean itself."

Time Turner replied, picking up a feather duster off of the ground.

"Aw! But I was hoping to read some history books for inspiration in the book i'm writing!"

Quill whined. Turner gave her a stern glare.

"Alright. I guess cleaning's fun too."

she said half-heartingly as she began to pick up books.

Two hours and three walls of books later, the library was beginning to look great. Quill wandered into the myths and prophesies section and began dusting some books.

"Geez, why can't Twilight just read one book at a time?"

she questioned. As she dusted, a piece of silver ribbon hanging off a shelf caught her eye. Cautiously, she moved some books aside and saw a large book wedged deep into the shelf.

"Hmm. Interesting."

she mumbled, placing her duster on the ground.

Quill grasped the book in her hooves and began to pull.

"Argh!"

she cried in frusteration. The book wouldn't budge.

"Turner?"

she called.

"Can you help me with something?"

"Help you with what?"

Turner mumbled, walking into the section with a duster in his mouth.

"There's a book wedged in the back of this shelf. Spit that duster out and help me get it out."

Quill explained, trying to pull harder. Turner spit the duster out of his mouth.

"How do you know if it's not a trap or not?"

he asked nervously.

"A book trap in a library left by a princess and her dragon assistant? Really Turner? I'm sure it's fine."

Quill replied.

"But, what if..."

"PLEASE?!"

Quill begged.

"Alright, alright."

Turner said, wrapping his arms around Quill's waist. They both began to pull.

"Almost...got it!"

Quill muttered between gasps of breath. They both fell backward as the book gave way.

Turner picked up the heavy book and placed it on a table nearby.

"What is it?"

Quill asked.

"I don't know. All I do know..."

Turner said, gesturing toward the side of the book.

"...is that it's locked."

chapter 2: Just an old ponytail?

"Aw man! Now I wish I could trade my wings for a horn so I could unlock this hunk of dust!"

Quill groaned, banging her head on the table.

"Hm, maybe there's a key around or something."

Time Turner murmured, looking about. Quill sighed and peeled her face from the table top. They began to search the library for a key. Thirty minutes later, there was nothing, not to mention the extra ten minutes spent putting everything they pulled out back in their proper places again.

"Why couldn't it be a simple book you could just flip open?"

Quill wondered out loud.

"Not everything is that simple."

Turner answered. Frusterated, Quill picked up the book to put it away, when a few loose pages fell out. Turner picked up curiously.

"Now what do we have here?"

After blowing on it to clear the dust, he unfolded it and began to read.

"To whom it may concern..." Turner started out loud.

"You may not know of me, and I may not know you. However, if you've found this book, then our fates have collided. I am called Wisteria the Wise, personal apprentice to the great Clover the Clever. After being trained by Starswirl the Bearded, she took on the responsibility as the castle shaman so he could finish this mysterious spell,and i'm training to follow in her hoofsteps to become just as powerful as she was."

"After creating Equestria, many dangers have met us tribes of three. To deal with them, the six brave ones who founded our land, journeyed deep into the dark wood, to seek the guidence of the tree of harmony. When they returned, they carried with them elements of six, which would be used to defend our borders. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic were excellent tools and defended our home from then on. That is, until the great trickster came."

"He called himself Discord, and ruled Equestria in a state of disharmony and dipression. When the great six were defeated due to his chaotic magic, I knew I had to do something. Using a map as my guide, I journeyed deep into the dark wood to find the tree of harmony. I discovered it three days later. I used a spell to recieve the visions the great tree had in store. It said that two ponies with power beyond imagination would save us all, but only if they were called."

"It gave my two stones strung on a chain,one to represent harmony and one to represent disharmony. I was then told that light and darkness are both needed in our world, and must be kept safe. I swore I would find a way. I journeyed deep into the woods until I came across a cave to hide them. I casted a protection spell and they glowed a great light when magic touched it. It made a great beam in the sky, and I knew our saviors were coming. A week later, two great ponies (later known as alicorns) conquered Discord and encased him in stone."

"In honor of me leading them to Equestria, I became their shaman when they were crowned two months later. The amulet of balence is still kept safe in the cave to this day."

"The pages of this book are filled with myths and legends of great creatures and curses that would serve you well at this point, because dear reader, you are in great danger for finding this book. Legend says that the pony(s) who discover the guardian's knoledge would have to fight a great evil to save Equestria. Know this, dear reader. The amulet is powerful, and if seperated, or one half is destroyed, the good and bad of the world will be inbalenced, and Equestria, as we know it, will seace to exist."

"I urge you, reader, to use the guidence an knowledge of this book to ensure this horrid prophesy does not come true. The key to open it is a pegasus feather dipped in the dephs of winsim falls, located in the plains outside of the forest. Inside, you'll find a map and instructions to assist you on your quest. I wish you good fortune reader, for the fate of Equestria, is in your hooves."

"Sincerely, Wisteria the Wise"

Turner stopped reading and turned to Quill, who had been listening intently.

"Well, I guess this is why it was shoved to the back of the shelf. It couldn't be discovered by anypony else but us."

Quill said imaginativly.

"I'm not sure if this letter is referring to us, but clearly something is coming. Something terrible, And I suggest we open this book and find out more."

Turner stated, folding the pages and putting them in his saddlebag.

"Well then, c'mon Turner, we have multicolored waterfalls to find!"

Quill shouted excidedly, as they left the library for an unscheduled camping trip.

chapter 3: The dream

"...And then,the little filly was met by darkness, a hoof creeping up her shoulder. She froze, for standing right behind her, ready to pounce was... The frozen griffin from the snow beyond!"

Quill announced, watching Turner's face light up in surprise and turn to a scowl in the fire light.

"You've really been working on ghost stories haven't you?"

He asked in amusement, but failing to show it on his face.

"Yeah, I thought i'd try something new."

Quill replied, stretching out on a log as comfortably as she could.

"You never mentioned. How did Pinkie take you canceling your cupcake thing with her?"

Turner asked through a mouthful of smores. Quill laughed nervously, recalling the events of two days ago, when she found out what happens when you break a pinkie promise.

"Let's just say she wasn't too happy."

she replied simply. Quill stretched her arms and yawned.

"I'm gonna hit the straw. Goodnight."

she said, curling up in her sleeping bag.

"G'night."

Turner answered, as he listened to Quill's breath slow as she fell asleep.

He looked up at the stars, thinking deeply about things. Things he couldn't hope to mention to Quill. His mind wandered to his old home in Canterlot, where even there he was out of place. Before he could think more, his eyelids began to quiver, signaling that he needed sleep. With one last look around, he settled on his sleeping bag and closed his eyes.

His dreams were quite strange that night. He was in a dark fortrace, of a sort. He turned his head to see two changlings heading straight for him. Knowing quite a bit about them after last year's wedding fiasco, Turner imediently dove for cover, but the changlings simply ran through him as if he were made of mist. Wiping sweat from under his dark grey bangs, his eyes took in the battle before him.

There was a whole army of changlings, fighting a band of three ponies. He suddenly noticed Quill, kicking her backlegs against her opponent's side. She was doing great, until a beam of green light hit her, knocking her to the ground.

"QUILL!"

his screaming was drowned in the scream of another pony, who rushed to her side. It was a tangerine unicorn, with a spiky, fire colored mane, and a scar over one of her red eyes. The unicorn was followed by a grey earth pony, his eyes filled with regretful tears. The tears changed to ones of anger as he turned to a ledge high above, where Chrysalis was watching the battle with interest.

"CHRYSALIS! YOUR GONNA PAY FOR THIS! DO YOU HEAR ME?!"

the pony shouted, his hoof pounding at the ground.

The voice. Turner knew that voice. As he tried to figure it out, he saw the stallion fighting changling after changling as if his life was at stake. In twenty seconds, a third of the army was on the ground. The stallion turned his head to fight more, which made Turner's heart skip a beat.

The stallion, the grey stallion that was so brave and quick to fight for his friends, was HIM?! Before he could say anymore, a voice whispered,

"You must follow your destiny!"

Time Turner gasped as he shot up from his pillow, weak and shaking from the dream.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty! It's eight o'clock, and if we get moving now, we'll reach Winsom Falls by eight THIRTY!"

Quill shouted from the fire pit, where she was nibbling on a roasted bagel. Turner glanced at her strangly and quickly remembered the point of the trip. He grabbed the book, held it up, and simply said,

"Let's go."

Thirty minutes later, the duo stood by the multi-colored falls, gazing in amazement of their wonderment.

"So, how do we open the book again?"

Turner asked.

"We get a pegasus feather..."

Quill started, plucking a feather from her wing, stiffling a groan of pain.

"And we dip the tip in the water..."

she continued, dipping the feather to reveal a colored tip.

"And that's our key."

Turner finished. He carefully placed the feather in the keyhole and slowly twisted it. The lock clicked. Quill opened the book excidedly. The two ponies looked inside and began to read.

chapter 4: The Prophesy revealed

"This book...is AMAZING!!"

Quill cried in excitement, turning page after page with Time Turner.

"Griffin anatomy, Dicadiquai weaknesses, powerful spells, and even 50 remedies for every known illness including cutie pox! I think this Wisteria the Wise is on to something!"

Turner agreed, as they flipped to the last page. A map of Equestria came into veiw with a picture of a small ying and yang charmed amulet next to it . A paragraph was written under it.

"Do you think this is it?" Quill asked. "Let's find out." Turner answered, as they both began to read.

"The Amulet Of Balence (picture on right) is an anciant artifact guarded by the tree of harmony after hidden there by the one horned sages after creating the world now known as Equestria. The purpose of the amulet is to make sure that the chaos and harmony in the world remained balenced. The amulet is a very powerful artifact, so powerful that who ever wears it is blessed with the untold powers of both harmony and disharmony. However, the magic is impossible to wield all at once, which is why it was safe guarded by the tree of harmony 3000 years before Celestia's reign.

Until it was found 2099 years later by the apprentice of Clover the Clever, Wisteria the Wise. Wisteria was given the amulet to hide, in hopes that it's magic and terrible uses would be hidden from the future rulers of Equestria. Wisteria hid the amulet in a hidden cave deep within the Badlands. After a brief spell, the cave collapsed, hiding the amulet inside forever.

75 years later, Wisteria wished to visit the tree once more before she joined her mentor in the stars. When she did, the tree told her a prophesy regarding the amulet she hid all those years ago.

It stated 1003 years from now, the amulet will be rediscovered by a tribe who changes shape. It will be used for evil purposes and the changing tribe will rule Equestria from then on. However, your guidence will assist the heros of three, each with one wish. One to prove herself, another to redeem himself, and one to complete herself. Each will do so during their quest, but only if they let their hearts lead the way.

After the disapearance of Wisteria, a map (picture on left) was found, showing the location of the amulet. It also shown the location of the heros of three. Hopefully, the three will find this book, and protect the land from the changing tribe."

"Well, I guess we are the ones after all."

Turner said after reading.

"What do you mean?"

Quill asked.

"I had a dream last night of us fighting changlings, and there was a unicorn with us. I think that the changlings are the ones that are going to steal the amulet, and WE are two of the three ponies to stop them."

he explained.

"Oh dear goodness! We're apart of the possible fall of Equestria?! I thought I gave all of that up after..."

Turner paused.

"After what Turner?"

Quill asked in concern.

"Nothing, never mind. But, it's true we're two of the chosen ones, but we don't know who the third is."

Turner said quickly. Quill smiled a mischeivious smile and said,

"Then let's find out!"

chapter 5: no business like thieves business like no business she knows

Firecracker's heart beat loudly as she ran down the street. Pony's shouted comments like,

"VIGALANTY! SPAUN OF CHAOS! LITTLE THIEF!"

as she ran passed them, clutching a small silver mirror with her magic. Her tattered, grey sweater did little to block the cold, but she hardly noticed. Sweat dripped down her face like raindrops on a window, not from fatigue, but from fear and anxiety.

She rounded a corner into a dark allyway. Pausing to catch her breath, she turned to see her pursuar. A guard that caught her during her little trip to the museam of history.

"Firecracker, i'll give you two choices. You can either return the mirror and be sent to the orphanage where you belong, or you can keep the mirror and be sent to the detainment center in Vanhoover for more time than what you owe from your FIRST robbery!."

he explained carefully, his hoof extended for the mirror.

Firecracker's breath quickened. She couldn't leave Manehattan! Nopony would want a battlescarred, crime-comitting, full-grown mare like her anyway. Plus, there was no way she was going to a detainment center either. She'd rather go down in the streets of her home city than behind bars. Firecracker's red eyes darted from the pony's hoof to the mirror levitated by her crimson magic. She made up her mind.

"I choose...NEITHER!"

she declared, her voice rich with a Manehattan accent.

She clutched the mirror in her mouth as her horn began to glow. In a flash of maroon, she was gone.

Firecracker landed on the ground with a thud, doing little to darken her spirit. She escaped! She wasn't going anywhere! She picked herself up and walked across the floor of the burned out, forgotten hotel she called home.

Her hooves expertly maneuvered through the maze of broken chairs, shattered glass, debri, splintered wood, and rusty nails. She placed the silver mirror on a small table in front of a wall and she looked into it, picking the loose twigs and leaves out of her mane.

Her gaze fell on the small scar over her right eye, a souvenier from her second robbery, when she tried to steal an indigo fire ruby in Filly Delphia. Firecracker winced at the memory. Suddenly, her ears twitched as the sound of beating wings filled the air.

"Righ on time Ash Brush. C'mon in!"

she said without turning around.

An earth pony with robotic wings landed on the ground. His soot covered, grey fur, and filthy copper colored mane came into view.

"You have it?"

Ash asked, his cloudy, sightless eyes flitting the room hungrily. Firecracker picked up the mirror with her magic and passed it to him.

"I assume that the vendors fell for ya tricks again?"

she asked. Ash reached into a pocket in his large trench coat and pulled out a loaf of bread and a stalk of celery.

"It was all I could get."

he said in embarrasment.

"They've gotten cleverer."

Firecracker eyed the young blind colt and smiled a limp smile.

"It's alright. We'll share it."

she answered, walking to the colt and putting an arm around him in a friendly hug. Firecracker gently took the food out of Ash's hoof, and set about looking for a knife to cut it with.

Ash reached over to unbuckle the band that held his metal wings. After a sharp tug, they fell off his back like an empty shell. He removed his coat, wincing as the fabric brushed against his bandaged side. Firecracker walked over to his side with a plate full of peices of bread slices and celery tidbits.

"Ya wounds actin up again?"

she asked. Ash nodded, holding back tears of pain.

"Alright."

Firecracker replied, placing a peice of bread in Ash's hoof.

"Ya chew on dat while I take a look at'cha."

Ash nodded and began to take a small bite out of the soft bread. Firecracker began to unwrap the bandages, careful not to hurt Ash Brush in the process. She removed the bandages and stifled a moan of horror.

The right side of Ash's body was covered in cuts, bruises, gashes, and scrapes. It was as if he was in a fight. Firecracker sighed and levitated an unused bag of medical stuff she stole from the hospital over to her.

She began to rewrap his bandages and tried putting a little ointment on the wounds so they won't get infected. Ash kept quiet, but Firecracker could tell he was in pain, in more ways than one.

"Who'd ja lose?"

she asked suddenly. Ash swallowed a mouthful of bread in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Ya ain't from round here, ya hurt, and I hear ya cry at night. Ya missin somepony?"

Firecracker continued. Ash may not be able to see, but he could imagine the concerned look on Firecracker's face right now.

"My brother."

he answered, tears building in his eyes.

"My big brother. We were so close once. A long time ago. We lived together in a city like this. We had a home, a family. Life was good. Until they attacked."

he continued.

"What?"

Firecracker asked.

"These...weird, beetle pony things!"

Ash answered.

"They attacked the library we were in. Shot green light at us. A blast hit me in the eyes. I couldn't see again after that. My brother tried to fight, but they shot him down. Before I could get to him, a bug thing hissed at me to run. I tried to fight, but as you can see."

he continued, gesturing to his side.

"That didn't end well."

Firecracker was silent.

"What happened ta him? Ya brother I mean."

she asked.

"He got sent to the hospital. He was hurt pretty bad. I was still under the rubbel. By the time they uncovered me, I was hardly recognizable. They didn't know who I was. I hardly knew who I was! They sent me to the hospital too, but I could hardly bear the thought of my family never recognizing me, and without somepony claiming me as their own, I couldn't get checked out of the hospital. I was in shock at the time. I couldn't say anything to prove my identity. So that night, I snuck out, using sounds as my guide. I managed to find a box to sleep in, but it carried a blanket that was being delivered by train to Manehattan. By the time I woke up, I was being tossed out of the house of the angry pony who ordered the blanket. I didn't dare try to go back home. A few days later, I found you! I built my wings out of scrap metal, helped collect food, and lived on the streets ever since."

Ash finished, his eyes tearing up at the memory.

Firecracker's heart ached. She looked down at the colt. He was only three years younger than her, but he always seemed as strong and smart as a full grown stallion. She couldn't imagine this horrid story was his! She walked over and sat next to Ash, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Ash. Don't cry. Ya don't need ta cry. Ya with me! We may not have a proper life, but we're together at least! Ya may have had a bad beginning, but it ended with us. Ya like the brother I never had."

Firecracker sniffed, enveloping Ash in a hug.

"And I promise to never stop protectin ya."

she finished. Ash seemed surprised for a moment, but soon he stopped crying. They gathered their things and went out on the streets to find food. Together.

chapter 6: The train ride of secrets

chapter 6: The train ride of secrets

The usual quiet of Holly Shades was soon lost to the rour of the friendship express as it rode through. Inside a train car, Turner was studying the map in the book while Quill scribbled excitedly in her notebook.

"Turner, what about this?"

Quill asked, as Turner lifted his nose from the book in mock interest.

"What about two ponies rebelling against the ways of a shadow king, and their home was an abandoned train car in the Frozen North."

she said, explaining the fifth book plot she thought of on the train ride alone.

Time Turner simply rolled his eyes and pointed to a shape on the map.

"It says here that we can find the third chosen one in Manehattan, so not only will we find her, we might be able to do research on Wisteria the Wise at the museam of history."

he explained bluntly.

"Nice!"

Quill answered, tapping her hoof on the floor in excitement. Just then, a pony slammed the door open, catching Quill's extended wing in the process.

"Ouch!"

she moaned, rubbing her sore wing in pain.

"Are you alright?"

Turner asked in concern.

"I'll be fine, it's not like I can fly with it anyway."

she answered depressingly. Quill then got up from their car and walked to the dining car, hoping to drown her sorrow in chocolate cherry milkshake (her favorite drink.) Turner got up to follow her, but stopped himself.

He knew Quill's flying disability was a tricky topic to discuss, and he also knew that she would feel better after a bit of alone time. He learned an awful lot about her during their friendship, and she didn't know that her best friend had once done the worst thing of his life. Turner pushed it out of his mind. He felt his eyes grow heavy, signaling his lack of sleep. He sighed in defeat of his plan to stay up and walked to the sleeping car with the book clenched between his teeth.

Quill tossed and turned in her small bed on the train, cursing herself for drinking six milkshakes in a row before bed. She squeezed her eyes tight as her mind went blank, signaling the beginning of a dream.

Quill found herself in a library, very ancient by the looks of it. The sound of a door creaked behind her, causing a cold draft to blow across her face. A lavender unicorn walked into the room with a worried look on her face. Quill rushed to get out of the way of the pony's long strides, but to her surprise, the distracted unicorn walked through her as if she were a cloud.

Quill frantically checked her pulse and felt her skin, only to assure herself that she wasn't a ghost. She looked at the unicorn with interest as the pony sat at a desk. The unicorn had a long, waved violet colored mane that framed her lavender face. Her eyes were a light green, like the leaf of a carnation. The unicorn wore a simple patchwork shirt with a hood, but her cutie mark took center stage. It consisted of a book wrapped in vines covered in purple flowers. Wisteria blossoms.

Quill felt her heart stop. The unicorn in front of her was none other than Wisteria the Wise.

"But she's been gone for over three-hundred years, I can't see her unless i'm seeing..." the truth dawned on her as she finished her sentence.

"...the past."

Quill watched Wisteria in wonderment as she pulled random books off the shelves with lime-colored magic. Wisteria then pulled a quill and hard-cover journal out of the sack tied around her waist, and opened the journal to a blank page. Quill peered over her shoulder and watched as the ancient unicorn filled the pages with knowledge way beyond her own. Poison joke, wild phoenix migration patterns, ten ways to outsmart a diamond dog, and even how to talk to an ursa major! This pony had it all!

Quill, facinated by the unicorn's wisdom, watched as Wisteria checked her work for spelling errors. She was almost done when the door slammed open, with a green haired pony entering. The white unicorn with a cloak and shimmering clover cutie mark could be none other than Wisteria's mentor Clover the Clever.

"Wisteria! You must come at once!"

Clover cried, breathing frantically.

"What is it my teacher? What has caused you such distress?"

Wisteria asked, a hint of concern in her smooth, sweet voice.

"It's the weather! It's raining...well...CHOCOLATE!"

Clover exclaimed.

"Chocolate? What about the pegasai? Aren't they doing something?"

Wisteria asked.

"They can't, their wings have vanished! The unicorns haven't been affected yet, so there's hope! Will you help?"

Clover asked. Wisteria quickly put her journal and quill back into her bag.

"I'll defend our new home to the end my teacher, you have my word."

With that, the two unicorns ran out of the library. As Quill rushed to follow them, a voice whispered in her ear, it said

"Follow you destiny!"

Quill then awoke in a cold sweat, panting heavily.

"Oh Quill! You're awake!"

Turner said from his perch near the window. Quill lifted herself clumsily from her bed and plopped her fedora on her head, not bothering to comb her mane.

"Are we there yet?"

she asked.

"Quill! I told you we'll get there when we get..."

then the loudspeaker announced

"WELCOME TO GOLD STAR TRAIN STATION!"

interupting Turner's words.

"Well, guess we're here then!"

Quill said gleefully, as she looked out the window at the city of Manehattan. Their journey has finally begun!

chapter 7: Meeting

"I'm telling you, we were supposed to turn LEFT at the bridge and RIGHT at the central square park! Give me the map!"

Turner complained, as he and Quill tried to find their way to the Manehattan Museam Of History.

"Excuse me, but who's the traveling writer around here?"

Quill asked.

"I know how to read a map."

Turner rolled his eyes and kept on walking, his hooves echoing on the damp pavement.

"Aha! Here it is!"

Quill said suddenly, pointing toward a tall building with her hoof. Turner imediently noticed the architecture, it looked so familiar, almost like...

"C'mon slowpoke! You coming or what?"

Quill called, snapping Turner out of his thoughts. Turner sighed and trudged into the museam.

"Now DAT was a good haul."

Firecracker said in delight, as she and Ash Brush walked back into the abandoned hotel.

"That vendor is just gullible, he didn't know what hit him."

Ash ventured, as he stuffed all the stolen food from his saddlebag into a barrel Firecracker passed to him. Firecracker then peered out of the door with a nervous glance down the street, making sure nopony was there. When the coast was clear, she had barely closed the door when a loose flyer blew in.

Ash picked it up curiously. "What does it say?"

he asked. Firecracker picked it up and read it.

"It's a flyer 'bout da arrival of Queen Ann Lace from Trottin'ham and how she's gonna be at da unveiling of a spellbook dat some archeologist brought in."

she explained as she read. It suddenly dawned on Firecracker that if she managed to steal the book, she could sell it to a antique collector and get a lot of bits for her and Ash to live off of. Their whole future could be turned around by a simple peice of knowledge.

"Your going to steal it aren't you?"

Ash asked suddenly.

"So?"

Firecracker replied. Ash suddenly smiled.

"Will it be risky?"

he ventured.

"Yep."

she answered.

"Totally change our lives?"

"Most likely."

Ash then felt something he's never felt before. His heart that had snapped in two when his brother got hurt slowly began to rebuild at the thought of a new life. He felt stronger, the pain in his side felt sedated and determination burned in his sightless eyes. He turned to Firecracker and simply said

"Let's do it."

Quill and Time Turner looked about the museam, searching for another clue from Wisteria. All they saw was old armor, books, crowns, and the queen of Trottingham. That was cool and all, but it wasn't what they were looking for. As they walked toward the founding of Equestria section (again) Turner suddenly heard a door screech. He turned to see a tangerine unicorn step in, with a small grey earth pony with robotic wings trailing behind her. Turner's heart began to lurch. He began to breathe heavily as thoughts and memories filled his brain. Of Quill being shot, of the scarred unicorn screaming, of his own body being battered and scarred, and of...

"TURNER!"

Quill cried, helping him to his hooves.

"Are you okay?"

she asked in concern. Turner lifted his hoof and pointed at the unicorn.

"She's the pony we're looking for."

Everything was going according to plan. They'de snuck in, they're in the display room, and all Firecracker and Ash had to do was wait for the dull and boring speeches to be over. Ash seemed to be more impatient than usual, wriggling and squirming in his spot on the floor.

"Is it time yet?"

he asked.

"Almost."

Firecracker replied, as the Queen finished her speech. Just when all the ponies got up to leave, a pony shouted,

"IT'S HER! IT'S A CHANGELING!"

Everypony turned to see a grey earth pony and a white pegasus in a fedora shouting and pointing at the queen.

Turner knew the green gleam in the queen's eyes. It had haunted him in his dreams for years since that faithful day. It belonged to the eyes of evil. The kind of evil that changes shape.

"Aw well. May as well reveal myself now that i've been discovered."

the queen said with sudden hostility. Her horn began to glow an eery green as her body got engulfed in light. She grew taller and more bug like until the evil Queen Chrysalis stood before the crowd. She smiled a menacing smile and said

"Go my subjects. FEED!"

and a second later, the air was alive with changelings.

Everypony ran this way and that, hoping to ward them off. Ash Brush spread his mechanical wings and headed toward a window as Firecracker ran toward an exit. Quill and Turner ran after her.

"AHHH!"

Ash screamed, causing both Firecracker and Time Turner's heads to turn frantically.

They saw Ash cowering under the gaze of changelings, his metal wings snapped and broken. Chrysalis lifted his chin with her hoof, studying his dirty face and cloudy eyes.

"So filthy, so frightened, my, my what a trooper you are."

she inquired, as she moved her hoof toward his head. Firecracker's heart tightened.

She suddenly saw a grey blur run toward the changeling queen. It was that grey stallion from earlier. His golden eyes were filled with rage.

"LET HIM GO!"

he shouted, until one of Chrysalis' guards slapped him across the face, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. Chrysalis continued to study Ash Brush.

"Ah, a look of hope not shown in your eyes but in your heart. Definitely a keeper."

"NOOO!"

Firecracker shouted, her horn blazing a crimson light. A changeling pushed her aside and picked Ash up with magic.

"Tooteles."

Chrysalis said, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone, taking Ash with her.

Quill ran straight to Turner and helped him up, relieved that he only had a few cuts and bruises.

"Turner, what were you thinking? You could've been killed!"

she cried, her voice filled with both relief and anger.

"I think dat what'cha did was stupid. Why would'ja risk ya life for somepony ya don't know?"

Firecracker questioned.

"I've never seen that side of you before Turner. What happened?"

Quill ventured.

Turner couldn't hold the truth in any longer.

"I couldn't let them take him. Not again."

he said regretfully.

"What do ya mean, again?"

Firecracker asked.

"The pony they took, they've taken him from me before. Defensless Ash Brush with eyes of hope...gone."

Turner continued,his hoof wiping a tear from his eyes.

"Wait, if ya know he was taken, then dat means ya..."

"Yes."

Turner interupted.

"I'm Time Turner, and Ash Brush is my little brother."

chapter 8: Blast to the past

"I can't believe it, YA ASH BRUSH'S BROTHER!?"

Firecracker shouted in disbelief. Turner wiped a tear from his eye and stared at the tangerine pony.

"Yeah. What's it to you?"

he ventured. While the two ponies yelled at each other about who should have been there for Ash, Quill could hardly get the look of disbelief off of her face. She now understood why Turner kept to himself so much of the time, and why he moved back to Ponyville after that attack in Canterlot. All of the sudden, Quill felt her mind begin to drift toward memories of her childhood, memories she hasn't visited in a long time.

-8 years ago-

It was a whole summer after Quill had earned her cutie mark, and she had just begun her last school year before graduation, and she was determined to make the most of it. The classes she was to take this year sounded fun, her new teacher Ms. Pencil Sketch was nice, and Quill had succeeded in befriending a megenta colored filly named Cheerilee.

It was after lunch and Quill and Cheerilee had claimed the swingset when the fighting started. A dark pink filly and purple maned filly were cornering a colt against the school wall, shouting and laughing.

"What's going on?"

Quill questioned.

"I don't know, but it hardly sounds good."

Cheerilee answered squinting under the sun's gaze.

"Oh gosh! It's Lily Blossum and Berry Punch! They're picking on some colt from our class!"

Cheerilee gasped, when she spotted the situation at hoof.

"Can't we do something?"

Quill asked, jumping off the swing.

"I don't know."

Cheerilee answered. Quill began to adjust her fedora and thought deeply to herself. She suddenly got an idea, her blue eyes squinting in triumph.

"Alright. I'll go over there and keep Lily and Berry off him as long as I can while you go get a teacher."

"But what if..."

"Just do it Cheerilee, he needs us!"

Quill interupted, cutting off Cheerilee's protests. Cheerilee nodded nervously an trotted quickly toward the school entrance.

Quill breathed deeply and began to gallop toward the wall.

"C'mon Turner, you say you have your cutie mark, so let's see it!"

Lily ventured, leaning closer to the colt, who was clutching a saddle bag close to his side.

"W-why do you need to see it? Can't you just take my word for it and l-leave me alone?"

the colt stammered.

"Sorry bud, but we need some proof if you wanna keep yourself hidden this year."

Berry crowed, stomping her hoof in front of him. The colt pushed his glasses up his nose and gulped. Sweat dripped down his face as his golden eyes searched wildly for a way out.

"HA! I knew it! You don't have a cutie mark! You made it up!"

Lily shouted in triumph as she yanked the colt's saddle bag away, causing gears and its of metal to fall out and his blank flank to be revealed.

"Nice try BLANK FLANK! But nopony can ever lie to US!"

Berry yelled, as she and Lily began to chant "blank flank" over and over. That was Quill's cue. She jumped out of a bush and in front of the grey colt, her blue eyes glinting in confidence.

"So what if he doesn't have a cutie mark? He's still a pony just like you."

Quill said firmly, moving the brim of her fedora out of her face.

"Coming from the pegasus who CAN'T FLY!"

Lily crowed, gesturing to Quill's wings. The colt saw her face fall for a moment and straighten back to a firm stare.

"So? Flying has nothing to do with my talent or my cutie mark, like how bullying has nothing to do with your's. He may not have found his destiny yet, but he's TEN TIMES the pony you could ever be because he's not being mean or stuck up like YOU TWO!"

Lily and Berry huffed in disapointment and walked away...right into the teacher. While the two ponies got the talking to of a lifetime, the colt turned to his savior with a shy smile.

"Um thanks. You really saved my neck."

he said quietly.

"No prob. Those two wouldn't know kindness if it came up and bit them, but no reason they should mess with you."

Quill answered.

She looked at the colt from his grey coat to his golden eyes, but she didn't know him in the slightest.

"I don't think we've met. Were you in a different class last year or something?"

she asked bluntly.

"Um, maybe?"

he answered shyly.

"Thought so. I'm Quill."

she ventured, lifting her hoof for a hoofbump. He stared at her a moment, surprised that a pony not only spoke to him, but was going out of her way to be nice to him too. He never had a real friend before, being a bit odd to most ponies, but he wasn't going to pass up the chance! He gave a big smile and bumped his hoof against Quill's.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Time Turner."

After that, the two were practically inseperable. Hanging out, exploring Ponyville with Cheerilee (who earned her cutie mark during a campout near the Everfree Forest.), and even taking on small tasks around town to earn a bit or two (which earned Turner his hourglass cutie mark after he cleverly fixed a broken gear mechanism in the broken Ponyville clock tower when they were supposed to just hand the work ponies tools, thus getting it working again.)

Even after Turner and his family moved to Canterlot to live with grandparents, the two foals kept in touch through letter and became very chatty pen pals.

-last year-

Quill had just finished a letter to Turner about her co-writing with A.K Yearling and of an awesome secret she discovered. She was sealing the envelope when she heard a knock on her door.

"Hmm. Wonder who that could be?"

she wondered aloud, walking to the door cautiously. She opened the door to find a familiar stallion on her doorstep. Time Turner. Quill knew time had passed since their school days but Turner had changed quite a bit. His glasses were now gone and his wavy dark grey mane was now left loose instead of being combed back and covered in hair gel (he was such a neat freak at the time) Quill also noticed that the cheerful glint in his golden eyes was gone, replaced with a serious look of sadness she never saw in him before.

Despite all of this, she pulled him into a hug, which he returned with a small smile. He stayed with her for a few days then moved into an apartment above his new clock shop Gear's Galore, which he had owned ever since.

Quill opened her eyes quickly and looked about. Turner and Firecracker were staring at her as if she's gone insane.

"Quill, are you alright? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Turner said in concern.

"And ya eyes were all glowy and white. Ya looked possessed."

Firecracker added bluntly, earning a glare from Turner.

"I-I saw us Turner. When we were foals. It felt like I was reliving our past. I felt both our feelings, saw every little detail of everything, saw the pain in your eyes when you showed up on my doorstep. It was like I was looking through the eyes of two ponies, me and you. It was so cool and so creepy at the same time."

she explained, feeling her body relax when Turner put an arm around her.

"Aw, so memorable. Now, what are we gonna do 'bout Ash!?"

Firecracker asked impatiantly.

"He could be miles away by now and I ain't waitin around for him to be set free."

"Firecracker..."

Turner started.

"Firecracker? Is that your name?"

Quill asked her, interupting Turner's response.

"Yeah, gotta problem wit it?"

Firecracker replied.

"No, I like it."

Quill said with a smile.

"As I was saying, he's my brother so I understand that his rescue is certainly top priority. And, I actually think I know where he is."

"You do?"

the two mares asked.

"Yeah. In my dream, I saw the changeling queen in the Badlands, it looked like the three of us were fighting to get to the amulet of balence from her. If my hunch is correct, she took my brother there to use him to find the amulet, as I know that he lost his sense of sight, which means his other four senses got hightened. So I think if we find the amulet, we'll find Ash."

Turner explained.

"That's what you two have been arguing about while I was in limbo?"

Quill asked.

"Pretty much."

Turner said with a shrug.

"Good enough for me."

Quill replied.

"You coming Firecracker? We can't do this without you apparently."

"All o' ya are just followin da guidence of a stallion's dream and a dead pony'smap to find some imaginary artifact that's being hunted by a shapeshifting royal phyco?"

Firecracker ranted. The two ponies nodded.

"Ya crazy. Da two o' ya's."

Firecracker said. The ponies shrugged and walked away.

"HEY! I didn't say I wasn't comin!"

Firecracker cried, running to the two surprised travelers.

"Ash is like a brother ta me. If ya hunch is right, and Ash's fate is intertwined with Equestria's, then i'm not gonna let ya two have all da fun. I'm in!"

The two ponies smiled and began walking forward, with a new destination in mind, a new plan, a new drive to complete the quest, and a new pony along for the ride.

chapter 9: By the shade...

The trio ran as fast as they could to the train station, with heavy hearts and saddle bags of supplies. The train was to leave at 12:00, and it was 11:59.

"Hey Quill? Can ya be a great help and fly to the station and book us tickets real quick? Then we can just hop on."

Firecracker huffed.

"I...uh..."

Quill stammered.

"I don't think that would help. As the train just left."

Turner shouted over the roar of a moving train. The smell of gas and burning coal hit them in a cloud of smoke.

Coughing and sputtering, they made their way to the ticket booth. Firecracker uneasily pulled up the hood of her sweater at the sight of a police pony nearby.

"Excuse me miss? When do you think the next train for Filly Delphia will leave?"

Quill asked, as Turner studied the map.

"Alot of ponies are headin there for da Summer''s End Bonfire in da city. Another train won't be comin for another four days."

the ticket pony said from behind a newspaper.

Turner lifted his head from the map to see Firecracker staring uneasily at a police pony.

"You alright?"

he asked in concern.

"Uh, sure! Why wouldn't I?"

she stammered

"Well, it seems like your trying to hide from that police pony over there."

he replied, gesturing toward the stallion making his way toward them.

"I...um..."
"Miss?"

the pony said, hovering over Firecracker. She tried as best as she could to hide her face under her raggedy hood.

"Miss? Ya look like ya went and swiped the crystal heart for a tub toy? What is causin ya such distress?"

he asked politely. Wiping sweat from her forehead, she turned to Turner and Quill and interupted their map study.

"Guys. We best be goin. We still need to book a hotel till the train gets back..."

"We kinda want to find info on our next destination first."

Turner interupted, gesturing for Firecracker to come to the book. She slowly made her way toward them, her eyes dry with fear.

The police pony eyed them suspiciously.

"That book of your's looks a tad old. Where'd ya gettit?"

he asked.

"We um...found it."

Firecracker stammered.

"Found it..."

the police answered, eying the red scar on Firecracker's face.

"Or stole it?!"

he finished, ripping the hood off of her head.

"Firecracker, the jig is up. You have some time in the Vanhoover detainment center that's LONG overdo."

Firecracker glanced nervously at Turner and Quill's looks of disbelief. She had to do it. Ash Brush...and Equestria depended on them following the map, so she had no other way to help do that.

"Turner? What's the next spot on da map?"

she asked, making her way toward them.

"Um... the Foal Mountain...why?"

he answered uncertainly.

"Hold on to somethin!"

she cried, as her horn glowed bright scarlett. Her eyes shut tight in concentration. She knew she couldn't make it all the way there, but she could bring them closer then they were now. With one last glance at the police pony running toward them, she, the duo, and the book...disappeared.

Gasps of surprise filled the air as the group landed on soft pine needles and leaves. Quill turned her head and saw Turner holding the book and glaring at Firecracker, who was gasping and sweating from the power of the spell.

"You're a CRIMINAL?!"

he voiced in disbelief.

"I steal what I ain't able to afford to survive!"

she stammered.

"I don't have no proper house, no money, no family other than ya bother, I had to find a way to take care of both of us! I stole to keep him alive! Does that mean anythin to...you..."

her eyes rolled back as she collapsed on the ground.

"She's still exhausted from the spell. Turner, we need to set up camp so she can rest and so we can find out where we are."

Quill said, hoisting Firecracker on to her back. Turner's eyes narrowed, but he didn't argue. Together they began to walk toward the trees. All the while, Firecracker's horn got a soft white glow as she fell asleep.

Firecracker opened her eyes to find herself in a dusty cave. She looked about and gasped as changelings flew in through the entrance. She tried to use magic to teleport, but her horn didn't even make a spark of magic. It was as if her magic didn't exist. She braced herself for a fight, but the changelings passed her as if she weren't there.

Confused, she turned her head and watched Queen Chrysalis enter, carrying Ash Brush with her magic.

"Ah, that was WAY easier than expected. You seemed so strong for somepony so small."

she purred as Ash got chained to the cave wall. Though his eyes were clouded and sightless, Firecracker could see the fear within them.

Chrysalis made her way toward him and lifted his chin with her hoof.

"Ah! So many love-filled emoticons here! Your worried about your little city friend aren't you?"

she said, moving his face from side to side.

"Let me go! I don't have anything you want!"

he cried, his soft voice sounding different and terrified to Firecracker's ears.

"On the contrary, your love for others go even further. I can see that your not only fearing your friend's safety, you are also still fearing the safety of your big brother. You still don't seem to know if he's alive!"

she hissed.

"He is! I know where he is!"

Firecracker shouted, but nopony seemed to hear her.

"You see, you are of use to me! The love you have for your friend and family is the perfect boost I need to unlock the cavern to find the amulet! *evil cackle* hold him down."

Chrysalis ordered as two guards pinned Ash against the wall, his hooves struggling to escape.

"NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Firecracker shouted, running to the queen to attack, but she slipped through the changeling as if she were a ghost.

Firecracker watched in horror as Chrysalis shot a stream of green magic at Ash as she fed on his love for her and Time Turner. His eyes were wide in pain and she could hear his cries as good memories were locked and fed upon. Firecracker couldn't bear it. She shut her eyes, urging herself to wake up, but soon all she saw was black, a voice whispering in her ear

"Follow your destiny."

Chapter 10: Wisteria's Wisdom

"Yes. This should be enough."

Quill said to herself as she grabbed one last branch of firewood. She turned and began to walk back to the campsite.

She suddenly heard a scream and she sped her trot to a gallop. Quill crashed into the clearing and saw Turner standing over Firecracker, who seemed to be having a nightmare.

"No! Ash! NO!!! WAKE UP!!! WAKE UP!!!"

Firecracker shouted in terror that sounded so odd coming from such a brash unicorn

Turner shook her back saying "It's okay" and "You can wake up." Over and over. Quill touched the unicorn's shoulder in concern.

"What happened?"

She asked.

"I came to check on her after studying the map, but she started this as soon as I got close!"

Turner answered, his voice scared for the first time since meeting Firecracker.

Suddenly, Firecracker gasped and shot up from her sleeping spot, sweat dripping down her face.

"Firecracker! You're okay!"

Quill cried, hugging her tightly.

"Yeah,i'm fine, so can ya get off!?"

Firecracker asked, shoving Quill away.

"I had da weirdest dream. I saw Ash's love being fed on by the queen changeling! It felt so real!"

she said in awe.

"That's really strange. Ever since we started this journey, I visited the future through dream, Quill the past..."

Time Turner started.

"And me da present?"

Firecracker finished.

"I guess so."

Quill replied.

"I wish we knew why."

"Well, I wish my horn would stop glowin! I am practically blind right now!"

Firecracker said, slapping her glowing white horn and wincing in pain.

Suddenly, Firecracker screamed as a white beam of magic shot out, making a white ball of light in the middle of the clearing. Each pony wanted to turn and run away, but instead felt mesmerized by the glow and suddenly felt the urge to bolt right into it. The feeling got in the way of their judgement and the trio ran straight into the unknown.

The trio blinked against the light as their eyes adjusted. They were in a large dome filled with rainbows and stars that danced across the walls.

"How beautiful..."

Quill murmured as she walked around the space, surprised of how large it was.

"What do you think it is?"

Turner asked, rubbing his hoof against the soft ground.

"Who cares! It beats a burned hotel!"

Firecracker squealed in delight, prancing about like a foal in a candy store.

"At last. She was found. The mage of the group."

The three ponies screamed and jerked around, coming face to face with a young, lavender colored unicorn.

"Who would SHE be!?"

Firecracker sputtered in alarm. Quill simply smiled.

"Hi Wisteria."

she said calmly.

"Greetings young Quill, I see you still remember."

the unicorn answered.

"Wait, she is Wisteria the Wise?!"

Turner questioned.

"Correct Time Turner. I was able to borrow your friend's magic to make it possible for all of us to communicate. I apologize for any inconvenience."

Wisteria replied. Firecracker blew her fiery bangs out of her face and scowled.

"So dis is da pony who can tell us why we were assigned for this treasure hunt?"

she asked bluntly.

"Yes Firecracker. You are all here because you were all chosen because you each have something special that is being kept away, but will be rediscovered to aid you during your quest."

Wisteria explained.

"Huh?"

Quill questioned.

"You were chosen by the tree of harmony. You three have potential to aid a very important pony in the future, this quest will determine if this is true."

Wisteria continued.

"So, is this why we have these weird powers?"

Turner asked.

"Yes. You were given these abilities by the tree because they give you key information to help and guide you during your quest. However, know you cannot pass this dangerous test unless you face the obstacles within."

Wisteria replied.

Wisteria turned her head as if to leave.

"My time here has expired. I will visit through dream to guide you all to your goal. I have transported you to your next obstacle. You must hurry! The day of the amulet's rediscovery draws near!"

she warned, as the dome disappeared along with her, revealing a large mountain in the group's way.

Chapter 11: Trapped

Ash listened as the queen left his cell, then he allowed himself to breathe. He was awfully lucky he couldn't see what happened, and even more lucky that his love for his brother and friends was endless, it would take years to consume even half of it.

Encouraged by this, he cautiously got to his hooves and walked around his cell, feeling walls and exploring his prisoner's home. He hated it.

''The hotel is better than this."

he told himself. Ash's heart began to ache as the memories returned. Of food hunts, small picnics, robberies, and long winter nights sleeping close to Firecracker, who was always warm.

Tears began to form as he thought of his brother. How he was so smart, so silly, a bit geeky, but so kindhearted and loving. Next to his parents who had worked often to make ends meet , Time Turner was his best friend as well as his brother. A B.B.B.F.F, he thought it was called.

Thinking these things made him sob himself to sleep, wondering if Firecracker was looking for him.

He opened his eyes and stifled a cry of shock. He could see! He was in a meadow of stars and rainbows! He could see all the colors, the shapes, and... unicorn? He stood still as a lavender unicorn approached him.

Ash thought to run away, but he could see the mare's kind smile, which comforted him enough to stay put.

"Who are you?"

he asked hesitantly.

"Do not be nervous Ash Brush, I am Wisteria the Wise. I bring information and guidance, not trouble."

she answered, her voice so smooth and sweet, like a lullaby with no singing heard.

"Did you give me my eyes back? Did you set me free?"

he asked in hope. Wisteria frowned and shook her head sadly.

"No. This is simply me visiting your dreams to give you a message, you are sadly still blind in reality."

she revealed, causing Ash to sit down in sadness.

Touched by the young colt, Wisteria lifted his chin and gave a small smile.

"I do bring news of your loved ones though. The two ponies who love you most, as well as a future friend, are coming to save you as well as Equestria."

She said in excitement. Ash's eyes widened.

"Firecracker and who?"

he asked in astonishment.

"A mare named Quill and your... brother."

Wisteria replied.

Ash's heart stopped. He couldn't find any words to say.

"They are coming Ash Brush, so listen closely. Never give up, as long as you think of the ponies you love that are coming for you, you will always be protected."

she promised. Ash nodded slowly and felt his vision fade as his dream, and the nice unicorn, disappeared.

Ash awoke quickly, blind once more but happy just the same. His brother. His dear big brother Time Turner... was alive!

Chapter 12: Exposed

"And they were never heard from...EVER AGAIN!"

Quill finished, spreading her wings slightly in the firelight. Firecracker rolled her eyes and turned around.

The trio had been walking up the mountain all day, they had just set up camp in a cave near the top. Firecracker was keeping watch outside while Quill wrote in her notebook and told campfire stories to pass the time not spent sleeping. Time Turner however, was passed out in his sleeping bag, his arms clutching the book tightly.

Firecracker squinted her eyes at the night sky, fatigue causing her muscles to ache and her bones to scarcely be felt. Quill looked at her and suddenly felt a wave of sympathy. Ever since they had met Firecracker, she had proved herself time and time again. She was brash and uptight, but she did care for her comrades very much. Quill smiled slightly as the tangerine unicorn nodded off slightly, only to wake up again startlingly.

Quill made up her mind. She walked over to Firecracker and sat next to her. Her eyes flitted from star to star, knowing each one had a purpose, a story.

"You want to sleep? I can keep watch for you."

Quill offered. Firecracker grimaced and turned away.

"I understand you don't want to talk and that's fine. I just don't want you to over exert yourself. Everypony here is doing their part and nopony should do more than their share."

she continued.

"I can't stop thinkin 'bout Ash. I saw him! He was right there in front a me, being hurt and trapped and I could do nuttin 'bout it! Wisteria is wrong. Da abilities ain't blessings, they're CURSES!"

Firecracker ranted, punching a cave wall with her hoof.

The sound echoed through the cave. The air soon was alive with a screeching sound. Quill felt her heart stop. She turned her head slowly and her nightmares became real. A Windigo! They usually would thrive in the cold of the Frozen North, but this one preferred the Foal Mountain. Quill nudged Firecracker, causing the unicorn to turn in horror. It was getting closer!!! Quill quickly pulled Turner to his hooves, trying to wake him up, but he seemed to be out cold. She opened his eyelid slightly. His golden eyes were replaced with an every white. He was visiting the future. Quill groaned in frustration. Of all the times to future walk, it had to be now!

Firecracker turned to Quill.

"Well? C'mon! He ain't gonna live if he ain't awake!"

"He's out cold! He's in the future! It's impossible to wake him up now!"

Quill answered frantically. Firecracker groaned in frustration. She picked up Turner with red magic and ran. Quill followed close behind.

The Windigo was closely following

"I can't hold this giant lug AND fight da beast at da same time! Fly him to safety and I'll meet'cha there!"

Quill's chest felt cold.

"I uh..."

she stammered.

"What's da problem? Take him and go! It's getting closer!"

Firecracker interrupted. Quill nervously backed away. Before Firecracker could ask again, the Windigo flew overhead, blowing an icy breeze onto the cliff.

"TAKE HIM NOW!"

Firecracker screamed. Quill could bear it no longer.

"I'M SORRY! I CAN'T FLY!"

Firecracker's eyes widened in shock, the truth now exposed.

The windigo's screech interrupted her answer. The ground was being frozen over by the breezes blowing, the ice crawling closer and closer to the ponies. Still slightly exhausted from her outburst earlier, Firecracker squeezed her eyes tightly and urged her magic for another teleportation. It flickered and sputtered, dropping Turner on the ground.

Quill frantically looked around for a plan B. Her eyes fell on the foggy abyss below the cliff. Her weather pony genes began to take hold of her mind, allowing her to practically see through the cloudy layer. She had an idea.

"Firecracker! Grab Turner! We're going to jump!"

Quill shouted, as the ice crept closer.

"Are ya nuts! Ash'll never escape if we die!"

Firecracker protested.

"We won't die, I promise. We'll get out of this and I promise to confess. You have my word. But for now, just trust me."

Quill replied calmly, placing her hoof atop her fedora. Firecracker held her glare at Quill for a moment, but it soon softened to a look of concern. She nodded. The two ponies picked up their hooves, and jumped over the cliff.

__________________________

The deep snow below broke their fall, just as Quill predicted. Firecracker sputtered and cursed, spitting snow out of her mouth. She set Turner aside on a pile of pine needles, staring at Quill, who was shaking snow out of her fedora.

"Okay, we're down. Now will ya explain somethin to me? HOW IN EQUESTRIA ARE YA A PEGASUS THAT CAN'T FLY!?"

Firecracker asked hostily. Quill looked close to tears for a moment. Firecracker suddenly felt her heart soften.

"Sorry."

she said, sitting next to Quill. Quill wiped a stray tear from her face.

"It's not your fault. It was mine. Mine for being at the wrong place at the wrong time that day..."

'9 years ago...'

"Alright Quill, you can do it! Just flap a little faster..."

Wind Slicer said, as Quill hovered a few inches from the ground. Quill flapped her little wings faster, feeling herself being lifted into the air gracefully like a white cloud in a blue sky. She grinned. She picked up speed as she did a small twirl, throwing in a backflip to match. She watched her dad smile in amusement.

"Alright Quill, come down."

He said smiling. Quill laughed, but began to slowly make her way to the ground. Wind Slicer's warm smile turned to one of terror as he began to spread his wings.

"QUILL! LOOK OUT!!!"

Quill turned to look a second to late. She was suddenly bombarded in the side by a storm cloud. A painful shock erupted on her left wing, causing her to scream in agony. As she fell down, two ponies rushed to her rescue. Her dad, and a white Pegasus filly with a distinctive blonde mane, who was later revealed to be named Surprise.

Wind Slicer got there first however, wrapping his arms around Quill as the electric blast of the lightning began to scramble her mind, knocking her out cold.

A surgery, many therapies, and hundreds of medications followed after that. While in the hospital recovering, Surprise visited Quill. She explained that she and another filly named Fleetfoot were cloud busting for an assignment at the Junior Speedsters Flight Camp, but their cloud spun out of control, careened into a weather pony's storm cloud, and crashed into Quill.

Quill didn't mind though. She was just hoping she would be able to fly again. However, her doctor revealed a week later that a muscle near the base of her wing, the muscle that allowed her wing to bend and twist to maneuver through the air, was severely damaged and out of place due to the blast landing directly on her wing. It was to close to her spine to operate without breaking, or even shattering key bones in her back. She would either never fly again, or scarcely move an inch for the rest of her life, as the back bones breaking would lead to a body wide immobilization.

Quill however, chose to leave the damaged muscle alone. She wanted to at least try to live normally rather than never move until she no longer existed. Since then, she could barely lift her left wing without using her hoof, and her right wing was constantly having it's purpose wasted to hold papers and books when a saddle bag wasn't on handy. Quill had lived that way since she was seven...

__________________________

"Since ya were seven?"

Firecracker said with a gasp when Quill finished her story. Quill nodded, refusing to cry.

"I...I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Firecracker said, genuine apology in her eyes.

"You didn't have to know. Turner found out himself, but I hoped I wouldn't have to talk about it again."

Quill said.

Firecracker suddenly lost interest in trying to stay tough. She felt the wall she had put around herself break. She wrapped her arms around Quill and pulled her into a hug. Quill stiffened in surprise. She felt tears streaming down her face from the pain of the memories. She gave in. She hugged Firecracker back. The two embraced for a few moments. As they let go, Turner suddenly lifted his head from the pine needles, his head spinning from what he saw.

"What did I miss?"

he asked.

__________________________

Chapter 13: To be decided

Turner dragged his hooves in the snow, the book held between his teeth.

"We can shelter in there."

Quill suggested, gesturing to a large cave. Firecracker gave a gruff nod and began walking toward it, snapping branches off of pine trees with her magic as she passed.

The cave was cold on the inside, but well sheltered against the harsh winds at the top of Foal Mountain. Turner rubbed his face with his hoof, trying get rid of the drowsy feeling in his head. He rolled out his sleeping bag and curled up on it for comfort, opening the book in front of him. He watched as the mark on the map moved southwest, toward Horseshoe Bay. He grimaced. He never liked the water. Picking up a pencil in his mouth, he wrote down a series of marks on a piece of paper, trying to compile all the clues to their quest into a final conclusion.

He glanced down at the notes, but the small symbols were blurry. He couldn't hold it back any longer. He felt his eyes roll back as he wrapped his arms around the book, giving in to fatigue. Quill looked up from the fire and gave a sorrowful look at her friend.

"Turner's worked himself to the bone. I hope he'll be okay."

Quill said to herself, pulling out a notebook as she began writing.

Turner opened his eyes and found himself in a cell of some sort. He glanced around frantically, trying to find a way out. He suddenly felt something push through him, causing a chill to run up his spine. He turned to see...himself?

Confused, Turner gazed at his frail self in wonderment. He seemed battered and defeated. Turner wondered why he felt this way. He listened closely as his future self mumbled.

"Quill...Ash...Firecracker...dead...I'm sorry...amulet...Wisteria...Gone...Why...failure...Equestria doomed..."

Turner stepped back in horror. His friends, his brother, were dead? Does that mean that they...failed? Turner felt tears form in his eyes. All they worked for was for nothing. He began to cry hard, as if he were trying to drown himself in his own tears.

Turner suddenly felt a hoof touch his shoulder. Wisteria. His tear stained face looked into her lavender one, his mind filled with questions.

"You have questions for me?"

she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"*sniff* Yes. Is this really our future? Are my friends and brother really going to...you know?"

he asked tearfully. Wisteria thought a moment.

"That is entirely up to you."

she said simply.

Turner dried his tears in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

he asked.

"The future is made up of many paths. Choices made in the past and present determine which path we go down. This path is the only one of many that can be crossed."

Wisteria explained.

Turner suddenly felt himself grow happy for the first time in a long time.

"So, I can try to make the choices to save them? This future won't come true?"

Wisteria gave a weak smile.

"That is only determined by your choices, but I have confidence you'll do what's needed. Good luck Time Turner."

With the last word, Turner watched his vision go black. He was waking up.

Turner lifted his head off the ground and run his head, excitement running through him. He glanced down and saw his sleeping bag replaced by pine needles and snow, the book lying next to him. He stared up at his comrades, who stared back in confusion.

"What did I miss?"

he asked.

Chapter 14: The game plan

"So, let me get dis straight. Wisteria told ya dat there is 'undreds of ways dis mission can go? And we'll never know if a choice can lead to our deaths? AND YA OKAY WITH DIS!?"

Firecracker shouted, glaring at Time Turner as they walked along the train tracks.

" C'mon Firecracker, your not being fair! Turner is under enough stress already! He's the one who knows where we're supposed to go and is leading us! Please save your comments when he is actually listening! Look at him, he's delirious!"

Quill scolded, gesturing toward Turner.

Turner was walking 5 feet away from the mares, mumbling to himself and glancing at the book for the guidance of the map. There were dark bags under his eyes from his restless sleep and his eyes were still shifty after what he had witnessed the night before. Quill had offered multiple times to help him with the map and the notes, but he always brushed it aside, saying he could do it himself.

However, Quill knew him better than that. She could clearly tell he was unwell. The tension of the journey was really hurting him, physically and mentally. She wished she could help him.

"Ugh..."

a ragged moan interrupted Quill's thoughts. She turned to find Turner collapsed in the grass, the book wide open next to him.

"Turner! What's wrong? Are you alright!?"

Quill asked quickly, rushing to his side.

"*ragged cough* Yeah, if course. I'm *cough* fine."

Turner answered, shakily rising to his hooves.

"Well obviously not!"

Firecracker contradicted, lifting her hoof to his forehead.

"Turner, ya burnin' up! It has'ta be your lack of sleep, ya got ya'self weak and now we gotta find a way to get ya and da book to Horseshoe Bay safely and in one piece!"

Firecracker ranted, sending Turner stumbling backwards.

"Stop treating me like a foal! I can take care of *cough* myself."

Turner argued, a coughing fit taking over.

Quill decided to lessen the tension in the air.

"Time Turner, as much as it will surprise you, you're wrong. You haven't been getting much sleep lately and your worrying constantly about Ash Brush, that isn't healthy! Not to mention how you aren't used to rough travel like me or Firecracker, so exhaustion probably has a part to play too. Let's just find a place to settle down so you can rest and we'll be back on the road in no time!"

Quill explained. Quill glanced around trying to find a good camping spot. Her eyes fell on a sign pointing toward a nearby city.

"No...I...can't..."

Turner tried, slumping forward tiredly. She helped him to his hooves once more.

"Firecracker, lift Turner with your magic and follow me."

She ordered.

"Where are we goin?"

she asked as she levitated Turner over her head.

"We're going to Baltimare."

Quill replied.

20 minutes later, the trio was walking up to a hotel in the center of the city. Quill didn't notice, but Firecracker was screaming for joy inside her mind at the thought of sleeping in an actual city. The days spent sleeping on rocks and under trees had been so strange to her, so it felt good to be back to her old ways.

As Quill checked them into a room, she took the opportunity to ask a question to the desk pony.

"Um, excuse me? Do you happen to know where I can get medicine around here? Good medicine. That can heal in a day or two?"

Quill asked nervously. The pony looked at her strangely.

"Eh, try Neiging village, plenty of weird, magical remedies that fit that description are being sold there."

The pony said, sounding as if the remedies were more like poisons.

Quill didn't notice though.

"Oh! Thank you very much!"

she shouted, running back to the room they'd payed for to share the good news.

"... and all we need to do is find the right remedy and Turner will be back on his hooves in a day or so."

Quill finished, earning strange looks from one of her comrades. Firecracker thought a moment.

"Do ya think I should go? I know how ta navigate through a city quickly."

Firecracker suggested.

"Usually I would, but this medicine is REALLY important. If you even accidentally scare somepony, our chances of helping Turner and having you go unnoticed by the authorities will be slim to none. So i'll take care of it."

Quill replied, pulling on her saddle bag.

"What am I supposed ta do then?!"

Firecracker moaned. Quill looked to Turner's bed, where he slept peacefully.

"Look out for him until I get back. Make sure he gets plenty of food, fluids, and rest. That's pretty much all you can do right now. I'll be back soon."

Quill said, walking out the door, leaving a shocked unicorn next to a sick pony's bed.

Chapter 15: lost in the city

"Oh great!"

Quill moaned sarcastically, wiping water from her face. She had been trying to get a cab for nearly 15 minutes and hadn't had much luck. She was running out of patience, and tissues to wipe all the water that was being splashed in her face from puddles.

Quill sighed in frustration. She glanced at her flightless wings angrily, knowing this whole shebang would've been avoided if she could fly.

'If I don't get a cab soon, i'll have to walk there.'

Quill thought to herself, waving her hoof in the air once more. Nothing stopped. She stood there 5 more minutes, taking the time to reflect on all that's happened.

She began wondering whether or not Ash Brush would be alright. She didn't know him, but both Time Turner and Firecracker missed him. Badly. Quill never had a sibling like relationship with anypony other than her cousin, who was all the way in Trottingham. Quill suddenly felt like a filly. She hadn't thought much about this trip, but now began worrying just by thinking about it.

Turner had said that the future is made of many paths they could go on, and that down one of them, she would die. At that moment, as the gravity of the problem dawned on her, another carriage passed by, splashing her once more with water.

Quill sniffed and felt tears gather up in her eyes. She sat down on the sidewalk and began to cry to herself, wishing that her luck could rearrange itself, for her sake as well as her friend's. Turner and Firecracker were counting on her to get a cure at Neighing Village, Wisteria was counting on all three of them to save Equestria and save Ash, and yet Quill couldn't even catch a cab!

Tears streamed down Quill's face, making her wish the ground would swallow her whole. Suddenly, a hoof touched her shoulder. Quill turned her head to see who it was. Her eyes widened at the sight of the very pony she wanted to see. Soda Pop.

"SODA!"

Quill shouted, throwing her arms around her cousin, her tears beginning to dry. Soda returned the hug with a comforting smile, glad to see her little cousin once more.

"Hey little cousin! Long time no see! What brings you to Baltimare?"

Soda asked, gesturing to the buildings around them.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing."

Quill sniffed, wiping tears from her eyes.

"I'm here to help with experiments on healing Sasparilla. It can heal anything!"

Quill's hopes began to soar.

"But it's only managed to cure headaches, nothing life changing."

Soda finished, causing Quill's hopes to shatter all over again.

"I noticed you were standing near the street, were you trying to catch a cab or something?"

Soda asked.

Quill wiped her eyes and told her cousin about the journey she and her friends have been taking, and how Time Turner had become ill because of it.

"I know somepony in Neighing village who can help you, but not without a cab."

Soda said finally. She stood up and whistled loudly. A passing cab stopped politely in front of them. "

Where too?"

the cab drawing pony grunted.

"Neighing Village."

the cousins said in unison, as the cab pulled away.

Firecracker placed another wet washcloth on Turner's forehead, trying to lower his fever. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he gave a ragged cough. Firecracker sighed. She was no doctor, for all she knew she could be making Time Turner feel worse than he was already. She silently hoped Quill would be back soon.

"She's here?"

Quill questioned, as the two cousins stood outside of an apothecary shop in Neighing Village.

"Yes."

Soda answered, opening the door with a creak. The place smelled damp and of incense. Candles flickered as a breeze entered, causing the pony behind the counter to lift her head to face her visitors.

The pony pulled down her hood to reveal herself more. She was a white earth pony with a short, black mane and narrow, hazel eyes.

"It is a pleasure to see you once more, Soda Pop."

she said calmly, bowing her head.

"Likewise, Kimono."

Soda answered, also bowing her head.

"I sense great distress in the room. Is there something troubling you Ms. Quill?"

Kimono asked. Quill did a double take.

"How did you know my name?"

she asked in awe.

"Kimono has super awesome psychic mojo! She knows everything!"

Soda spoke up, earning a humble nod from Kimono.

"I also understand that you're having doubts about your usefulness among your companions."

Kimono murmured.

"You are?"

Soda questioned.

"I am?"

Quill asked.

Kimono nodded and walked to a cauldron at the corner of the room, beckoning the two cousins to follow.

"Among the three chosen ones, you feel you haven't contributed as much as the others. Firecracker had saved you and Time Turner with strong spells and Time Turner had kept track of the map, which landed him with his unfortunate illness."

Kimono said, gesturing toward the images of these very things flickered in the boiling liquid.

Quill sighed.

"Yeah.Turner is so strong and brave at the best of times and Firecracker has all that magic to defend herself. How can a flightless pegasus like me ever amount to that?"

Quill said moodily, staring at the ground in defeat. Kimono smiled.

"Quill, you are a special pony in your own way. You've kept the peace in the group so far and that is an excellent quality to have, and it might come hoof and hoof with another quality you possess that you'll discover in the near future."

Kimono replied, earning confused glances from Quill and Soda Pop.

"What kind of quality?"

Quill asked. Kimono shook her head.

"You'll find out soon enough."

she replied coolly, as she walked to a nearby shelf.

"Ah, here we go. The cure you need. Give this to Time Turner and he'll be back on his hooves in no time."

Kimono said, giving Quill the bottled elixir. Quill smiled with glee.

"Thank you so much Kimono!"

Quill said excitedly, hugging the wise earth pony tightly.

Kimono returned the gesture gently and waved as the two cousins walked out.

'I do hope she remembers what I told her.'

she says to herself, as she walked back behind the counter.

'She'll need these kind of qualities more than ever quite soon.'

Chapter 16: An unexpected visitor

Ash Brush's eyes fluttered open when he heard the door of his cell clang open. He got to his hooves nervously, knowing what was coming. The changeling guard lead the blind earth pony to the center of the labyrinth-like cave, pushing the colt in front of Queen Chrysalis.

The queen looked down at Ash and smirked, ready to feed on his love once more. Her horn began to glow green as she prepared the spell. Ash squeezed his sightless eyes shut and prepared for impact. Chrysalis shot a green beam of magic at the colt's forehead and began to feed on his emotions and memories for his loved ones. Chrysalis smiled madly as the colt's love for other's transferred to her in the form of magic, chuckling as the colt winced and yelled in pain. When she took what she could, she stopped the flow by subsiding the glow of her horn, causing Ash to keel over in pain.

Chrysalis grimaced when she noticed that her prisoner still wasn't under her control. His cloudy eyes weren't green and love still burned in his heart. She couldn't break him! Chrysalis growled in frustration.

"How many times do I have to feed on the same colt's love!?"

she screamed angrily, putting a victorious smile on Ash Brush's face.

"How can you still have hope? You should be under my direct control by now! You should have given up by now! How are you still fighting back!?"

she ranted, flying around the colt in a circle.

"What will it take to break you?"

she screamed.

That's when it hit her. She gazed deep into the colt's eyes as his memories began circling her mind. She needed her. She needed that city friend he cared so much about. It was the only way. The only way to break him. Of course, his brother would do also, but the chances of him being alive were slim to none.

"CACOON!"

she shouted, causing her advisor and army general to fly in quickly.

"Yes your majesty?"

Cacoon asked, bringing his hoof to his head in a salute.

"I need you to send the finest in our army to track down that city friend of his, I have use for her after all. Bring her to me alive! I need her heart pumping...for now."

she ordered. Cacoon nodded and left to make preparations. Chrysalis walked over to Ash and patted his head.

"Now you know I mean business. Take him away!"

she called. As a changeling guard lead Ash back to his cell, all he could think was,

'What have I done?'

Firecracker paced the hotel room nervously. Quill had been gone for 2 hours. Firecracker hoped that she was okay. Firecracker glanced back at Time Turner, who was shivering under a blanket as he slept. Firecracker could tell that he was having a bad dream. She sighed. She could tell that Turner cared about Ash a lot, maybe even more than she did. She had heard of ponies who would do anything for those they cared about even to the cost of their lives, but this was the first time she saw a pony like that personally.

She walked over to Turner and placed another washcloth on his forehead, trying once more to lower his fever. It had gone down a little bit, but his skin still felt warm to the touch. Firecracker hated seeing ponies like this. It made her feel helpless when she didn't know how to help them. She had seen this in Ash once, and it was horrible.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Turner bolted up from his slumber, panting and sweating.

"Are ya okay?"

she asked with concern.

"I-I just had a bad dream is all."

Turner said quickly, his voice raspy from all of his coughing. Firecracker didn't buy it.

"Ya wanna talk 'bout it?"

she asked. Turner shook his head, but Firecracker could see tears building up in his eyes.

"C'mon, it might make ya feel better."

she tried. Turner sighed.

"I was back home. With Ash. We were playing tag in the park. I was it. I chased him all over the place. He turned a corner and ran after him, only to find a changeling pinning him to the wall. I tried to run over to save him, but my legs couldn't move. I watched as the changeling tortured him. Stealing his love, slapping him, scratching him, punching him, doing horrible things to him. When I finally broke free, Ponyville was in chaos! Changelings everywhere. Ponies were running around all over the place. Chrysalis was at a podium, giving some sort if speech, saying that she owed it all to me for letting this happen, then I got hit in the face by a changeling. That's when I woke up."

Firecracker didn't know what to say. She'd never had a dream like that before.

"How often do ya get dreams like this?"

she asked curiously. Turner sighed.

"At least once each time I go to sleep."

he said pathetically. Firecracker nodded, her suspicions proven correct.

"I'm sorry I was tough on ya. I was thinking so much about Ash's position in this, I blamed it on ya. But now I see that I was wrong."

Firecracker said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

As Turner opened his mouth to answer, they heard a crash. Firecracker turned and her eyes widened. Standing in front of the (now broken) window, was a changeling.

"Thanks again so much for helping me Soda Pop!"

Quill said, hugging her cousin one more time.

"No problem! Make sure you keep your mates out of trouble! Good luck on your quest!"

Soda said, as she spread her creme colored wings and took flight.

Quill smiled and began walking back up to her hotel room. She was near the door when she heard a crash. She quickly ran in to see a changeling in front of a broken window, eying her friends with interest. Quill froze in place, her eyes widened in horror. She knew she couldn't get to her friends before the creature strikes, so all she could do was pray to Celestia that the changeling would lose interest and go away.

But that's not what happened.

The changeling lunged at Firecracker, causing Quill to disregard her plans and run forward. Firecracker was putting up quite a fight, kicking and hitting and shooting beams of red magic. However, she still hasn't fully recovered from all the magic she's been using the last few days, so she was overpowered by a simple punch in the face.

The changeling picked up the unconscious unicorn with it's magic and flew out the broken window, leaving a terrified pegasus and (still) ill earth pony behind.

Chapter 17: Darkness

Quill just stared at the window in disbelief, hoping that what she just saw wasn't real. Time Turner struggled to his hooves and stared at Quill with a look of sorrow.

"I should've gotten here sooner."

Quill said without turning around.

"Come on Quill, it wasn't your fault! It was mine for working myself so hard. If I hadn't, I would've been fine and we wouldn't have had to come here at all."

Turner said raggedly, coughing softly under his breath. Quill stared at him. Turner had never blamed himself so openly before. Quill began to wonder what her comrades were talking about while she was away. She brushed the thoughts away and straightened up, handing the vial of medicine to Turner.

"One gulp should be enough. We need to be ready to go in at least an hour if we want to save our friend and your brother."

Firecracker blinked her eyes open and looked around, grimacing at the iron bars trapping her within the cell.

'This is too easy.'

she thought to herself. She squeezed her eyes shut as red magic gathered into her horn, preparing for a teleporting spell. Before she could blink, Firecracker was standing outside of her cell, dusting herself off triumphantly.

"Honestly, were they even trying?"

she thought out loud, as she walked down the row of cells. She was hoping to find Ash, or that amulet, or both. Her search was interrupted when she heard a cough behind her. She turned to find Chrysalis standing 2 feet away, levitating Ash with a green glow.

"Looking for him?"

the queen asked innocently, gesturing to Ash as if he were some toy. Firecracker gasped as Ash got dropped on the ground, his gasp of pain echoing through the cave.

"I'm warnin ya! Don't hurt'im, or i'll..."

she raged.

"Or what?"

Chrysalis interrupted mockingly. Firecracker didn't answer. She didn't say anything at all as all if her anger and rage built up inside of her, like a volcano about to explode.

Firecracker didn't understand what was happening, but whatever it was, it felt right, it felt natural, and it felt powerful. She hardly flinched as magic built up in her horn, because to her, the spell she had in mind was as simple as levitation. To Ash however, something strange was going on. He could sense a change in his friend, as if all of the negative emotions she's held back were resurfacing.

Firecracker hardly noticed what was happening to her. Her red magic was slowly turning purple and green, bubbling around her horn. The white of her eyes became lime green and her red pupils became slits while her irises became a dark red. Purple smoke began to gather up at the corners of her eyes, like smoke in a fireplace.

Ash knew what was happening even if he couldn't see it. He could feel it in the air. Firecracker was using dark magic. She had only used it once before... when the two of them had been jumped by a gang back in Manehattan. The air had become grim and cold, and even through his sightless eyes he knew Chrysalis was going to be in BIG trouble.

Chrysalis began to see what was happening and began to step away. Firecracker was too quick for her though. With a blood curdling scream, she shot a beam of dark magic at the queen, making her fall to the ground. Chrysalis wiped dirt off of her cheek and stared at the tangerine unicorn in horror as she returned to her normal self. Firecracker rubbed her throbbing head and rushed to Ash Brush's side, helping him to his hooves.

"LOCK THEM UP! LOCK THEM UP NOW!"

Chrysalis screamed, causing her two prisoners to be grabbed by two changelings and thrown into the nearest cell. As an extra precaution, Chrysalis put a spell around the cell, so only those of changeling blood could go inside or outside of the cell at will.

"Dang it!"

Firecracker cursed, as the queen walked away.

As soon as Chrysalis had left the cave, Ash hugged Firecracker tightly. Firecracker stiffened, but returned the gesture teary eyed.

"Are ya okay?"

she asked in concern. Ash gave a weak smile.

"Nothing I can't handle."

he replied. Firecracker ran her hoof through his mane in a way only an older sibling would, ruffling his bangs as she did.

"Did you come here alone?"

Ash asked in curiosity. Firecracker stopped and softly nodded to herself.

"Yeah, they took me right out of a window when I was taking care of... a friend."

she said.

"Was your friend my brother?"

Ash asked in hope. Firecracker stared at him in shock.

"How'd ya know I was traveling with ya brother?"

she asked in surprise. Ash grinned.

"Some unicorn visited me in my dreams and said he was alive and traveling with you and a future friend."

he answered.

"Wisteria. She visits ya too. That must mean your connected to this prophesy too."

Firecracker muttered.

"What prophesy?" Ash asked. Firecracker's answer was interrupted by a scream of agony as her horn glowed white. Firecracker could feel herself losing conscious as her eyes became an eery white. The last thing she saw before she passed out was Ash's terrified face and rusty iron bars.

Chapter 18: The truth

Firecracker blinked her eyes in the light now engulfing her.

"Woa!"

she breathed, opening her eyes completely in surprise at where she was. It was like she was standing on stars. She looked around in awe at the blue green sky and multiple stars around her, not knowing, or caring about where she was.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a familiar voice echoed through her mind.

"Hello Firecracker."

Firecracker turned to see Wisteria the Wise standing behind her, a warm smile on her face.

"What do ya want from me?"

Firecracker asked bluntly, stepping back as if she were about to fight. Wisteria's smile faded.

"I don't bring news of the quest, I bring news of you." she replied. Firecracker stared at the lavender unicorn. "What kind of news?"

she asked nervously.

"I think it's time you knew, especially after your outburst a few moments ago."

Wisteria said.

Firecracker grimaced.

"What do ya mean outburst? What did I do? What do ya want me to know? What are ya talkin about?!"

Firecracker spat, expecting the lavender unicorn to carefully explain the situation, but instead was met with laughter.

"Oh! So quick to get to the point. Your just like your father."

Firecracker's heart stopped.

"My father? Ya know who my father is?''

she asked, her voice soft for the first time in a long time. Wisteria said nothing, but she did nod her head slowly.

"What happened to him?"

Firecracker ventured.

"To know who your father is, and who you are, you'll have to see the past to understand."

Wisteria said, as her horn began to glow green, wrapping her and Firecracker in light.

"Where are we goin?"

Firecracker screamed.

"To the point in time where your legacy began!"

Wisteria shouted back. As the light cleared, Firecracker saw a long, wooden hallway, where a familiar, lavender unicorn walked down.

"Is this you?"

Firecracker asked. Wisteria nodded, gesturing to pay attention. Firecracker watched closely. Wisteria was walking toward a library. With a star shaped pendant around her neck, it must have been the point in time after Wisteria became the castle shaman.

Wisteria opened the library door with a squeak and walked inside slowly. Firecracker eyed the past version of the unicorn next to her with curiosity. Wisteria walked silently toward a grey unicorn in the room, his back hunched as he read a book. With a grin, Wisteria hugged the stallion from behind, causing the unicorn to gasp in surprise.

"Wisteria! You startled me!"

the stallion said with a laugh.

"It's just what I do best Sombra."

Wisteria answered, giving the pre-villain a kiss on the cheek. Firecracker gagged.

"Ya were seriously dating the future overthrower of the Crystal Empire?"

she asked, earning a blush from Wisteria.

"He wasn't mean when I was with him. But let's pay attention shall we."

Wisteria replied, earning an annoyed look from Firecracker.

Wisteria and Sombra talked for quite awhile about different spells and dangers they've encountered throughout their travels, causing Firecracker to want to go to sleep. She had no idea why Wisteria was showing her this stuff, until the event that happened a few moments later.

Wisteria was getting up to leave the library, when Sombra touched her hoof, signaling for her to stay.

"Please stay a moment, I need to ask you something."

Wisteria stopped and looked at Sombra in concern.

"What is it?"

she asked. To Firecracker's dismay, Sombra kneeled down on the floor and stared into his marefriend's eyes.

"Wisteria, ever since I became a guard for the unicorn king, I've always knew that you would do great things. Now look at you! Your the castle shaman, the second highest honor for high level unicorns! I know that both of us will be busy now, and our relationship will be tested time and time again, but I know that I'll never find another mare like you to make me happy."

Sombra said, causing Wisteria to blush.

"What are you saying?"

she asked. She gasped as Sombra pulled out a ring with his magic from a nearby bookshelf, holding it in front of her.

"I love you Wisteria the Wise. Will you marry me?"

At first Wisteria said nothing, but then she began nodding her head, tears in her eyes. Sombra grinned. Sliding the ring on her horn, the two relished a passionate kiss, on the lips this time.

Firecracker gagged once more.

"Ugh! Wisteria! I thought I was gonna to see my past! Not ya lovey dovey love life!"

she whined, earning a stern look from Wisteria.

"This plays a really large role in your past. Just watch and see."

With those words, the two unicorns were taken to another flashback, this one in a room in the castle. There was a bed and several books in the shelves, but what caught Firecracker's eye was the crib in the corner.

'Does that belong to my father or grandfather?'

she thought to herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Wisteria walked in, 6 years older and really tired. Wisteria's eyes were red, as if she'd been crying. She reached into the crib and pulled out a bundle of blankets, unidentifiable from where Firecracker stood. Wisteria walked over to the bed and began rocking the bundle, singing a strangely familiar song:

*Rest, now. My little star. Know I'll never be too far. When you rest and close your eyes, I'll be there when the sun shall rise.

Even when the sky's not blue, I'll be right there beside you. Even when the clouds are grey, I'll be there for you each day.

I know that sometimes it's tough. That you'd want to just give up. But know one thing my little star...I will never be too far.*

Firecracker blinked her eyes in shock.

'That song! I know that song!'

she said to herself. Her thoughts drifted to when she'd sing that exact same song to Ash Brush when he had nightmares. She wasn't much of a singer, but it helped Ash a lot. Firecracker always wondered how she knew that song, and now she was more confused than ever.

Her thoughts were interrupted once more by a tap on the shoulder from Wisteria, signaling that she should pay attention. Firecracker turned back toward the scene before her as the door of the room burst open, revealing an odd looking stallion.

The stallion had a creme-tan coat and a slightly messy, dark brown mane. His dark grey eyes sparkled like silver in the light, as if he was often happy. The stallion wore an unbuttoned, black button up shirt over a plain white t shirt, watches up both of his front legs, and goggles on top of his head. What really caught Firecracker's attention was the stallion's cutie mark, an hourglass just like Time Turner.

Firecracker pondered this as the two ponies talked.

"Are you absolutely sure about this? You do know that by doing this you might never see her again."

the stallion explained, his voice having a slight Trottingham accent to it. Wisteria nodded, tears in her eyes.

"Yes Doctor. With my husband banished after his overthrow of the Crystal Empire, I know that dark magic could still be lurking, especially here. I don't want to risk her being corrupted. At least in your time, she has a chance to have a family that she wouldn't be able to get from me."

Wisteria replied, as she hugged the blanket bundle close.

The stallion (Doctor?) nodded understandingly, accepting the bundle placed in his hooves. Wisteria stroked the blankets gently as the Doctor turned to leave.

"Goodbye my little spark."

she whispered, before the stallion walked out of the room, taking the bundle with him.

Firecracker turned to Wisteria questioningly.

"Who is the foal ya gave up?"

she asked. At first Wisteria looked slightly hurt, but straightened her face and gestured toward the scene before them.

"You'll see."

Firecracker watched as a blue farm shed appeared next to the Manehattan Young Orphanage, where Firecracker had grown up until she'd earned her cutie mark and ran away. The stallion walked out and placed the bundle on the doorstep.

"I hope you make your mother proud...Firework."

he said, before ringing the doorbell and running back into the shed.

'Firework?'

Firecracker thought to herself. She didn't remember a Firework ever staying at that orphanage...unless... Firecracker's eyes widened as a thought overtook her.

'No... It can't be...'

Firecracker looked frantically at the bundle as the door of the orphanage opened. As the owner took the small filly inside, Firecracker began to sweat when she saw the foal's tangerine face and fiery mane, exactly like her own. She gasped when the young filly opened her eyes and began to cry as the door slowly closed, revealing her red eyes for a moment before the scene faded.

Firecracker stared at Wisteria in disbelief.

"Wait, ya... ya my... I'm ya..."

Wisteria nodded.

"Yes. I'm your mother and Sombra's your father. After your father was banished into the arctic north, our family was questioned for dark magic users. I was scared for you, because your the one that had dark magic inside you already! I didn't want you to live the life of evil and treason that could've come if Sombra's spell books corrupted your mind, so I allowed a friend of mine, a time traveler, to take you to the time you thought you were born in and left you at the orphanage. I loved you so much, I still do! But you must understand that you're in danger! You have dark magic as well as good magic coursing through your veins, if you can't find a way to control that, you will become your own enemy."

Wisteria explained.

Firecracker opened her mouth to say something, but Wisteria covered her mouth with her hoof.

"All questions will be answered soon, but my time with you has already expired. Good luck on the quest, my little spark, and remember what I've told you."

With that, the starry void, and Wisteria, vanished, leaving Firecracker shaken and shocked when she woke up, much to the confusion of Ash Brush.

"Are you okay?"

he asked. Firecracker nodded slowly.

"Yeah, if you count meeting you physically dead mother in your dreams okay."

Chapter 19: Time Turner's lie

Quill wiped sweat from her forehead as she walked, yearning for the suffocating heat to go away. Time Turner simply walked on, stopping occasionally to look around. The elixir that Kimono had given Quill had definitely done it's job, now Turner was almost in better shape than when they started this trip.

Quill could see however, the glint in his eyes. The same glint she'd seen when he showed up on her doorstep so long ago. 'First he lost his brother, now we both lost Firecracker! We need to find them before anypony else gets hurt!' she thought to herself, urging her hoofs to go on. Her left wing twitched in pain, but she ignored the throbbing heat she felt.

Time Turner's long strides suddenly came to a halt.

"We're here."

he said simply, gesturing to the sandy border that led to Horseshoe Bay. Quill followed his gaze with a smile. She had been to the bay once before, and it hadn't changed a bit. The soft sand, the scent of saltwater, and the intoxicating aroma of pineapples was so wonderful, Quill would've stood there and admired it forever if Turner didn't have any trouble with the locals.

"OUCH!"

he cried, his right hoof in his mouth as he teared up in pain. Quill looked down to see a small crab staring at Turner angrily. Quill rolled her eyes.

"C'mon Turner, it's just a crab. We'll be fine."

Quill said, walking around the crab as she did. Turner made a face at the crab as he passed, causing the crab to let out a high pitched whistle.

As the two ponies walked along the shore, Turner pointed to a mark on the map.

"See? Once we get across the bay, we'll just need to cut through the Hayseed Swamp and we'll be in the Badlands."

he said, a nervous tremor creeping into his voice. Quill opened her mouth to reply, but her words were cut off by her own squeal of pain.

"OUCH!"

she cried, massaging her (now aching) right wing in pain.

Turner raised an eyebrow.

"What was that?"

he wondered aloud.

"Quill bit her lip. "Probably just another crab."

she answered. Turner nodded at first but soon froze when he saw something at the corner of his eye. His eyes widened when he actually turned his head all the way.

"Yeah, definitely a crab... perhaps even a whole herd of crabs."

he said with a shaking voice. Quill laughed.

"Turner, don't be ridiculous. Crabs almost never travel in..."

Her words were interrupted when she followed Turner's gaze. Behind them, a ginormous group of crabs stood, their pincers poised to snap. They didn't look happy.

"...herds."

Quill finally managed to finish, as she and Turner began to back away.

"Quill... you've been here before... what should we do?"

Turner asked in a panicked voice.

Quill gulped.

"Well, the crabs at horseshoe bay are divided into two species, the pinchers and clampers. We unfortunately ran into clampers, which are the most vicious and dangerous when angry."

she said in a quavering voice.

"Meaning?"

Turner asked, digging his hooves into the sand.

"RUN!"

Quill shouted. Time Turner didn't need to be told twice. The two ponies began running as fast as possible down the shoreline, with the clamper's herd hit on their tails. The duo swerved this way and that, trying to lose them, but only succeeded in bringing the group closer to them.

They finally had to stop when they were pinned against a palm tree, unable to run anymore. The crabs crawled closer and closer to them, venom oozing off of their originally safe claws. Quill and Turner squeezed their eyes tight, preparing to meet their fate. When all of the sudden...

'WHOOSH!'

A gigantic wave washed up on the shore, pushing all of the crabs away from the two ponies, while unfortunately getting them wet.

"Peh!"

Turner spat, trying to get seaweed out of his mouth. Quill simply took off her fedora, wrung it out, and placed it back on her head.

"Sorry 'bout that Ye landtrotters, was jus' tryin to get the clampers away, I swear!"

a familiar voice rang.

Quill turned her head excitedly, her suspicions confirmed. "HOOFBEARD! JEWEL! It's great to see you again!"

Quill cried, as she ran over toward the shore to greet the seapony and pirate with gills.

"As it is to see you again Quill. I hope those crabs didn't give you and your friend much trouble."

Jewel said politely. Turner raised an eyebrow.

"You know them?"

he asked Quill.

"Yeah, I heard the story of how they met from Pinkie and thought it was nice, so I came down here and got more information so I can write a book about it."

Quill explained.

"Aye, so what can we do fer ye?"

Hoofbeard asked. Quill thought a moment.

"Well, we got a bit off track while running away from the clampers... so do you think you can give us a lift? We're trying to get as close to Hayseed Swamp as possible."

Quill explained. Jewel and Hoofbeard nodded in unison.

"Of course we will! Hoofbeard brought the Salty Sea Mare with him when we returned to the shores, so he can give you a ride while I swim close by."

Jewel said.

"Aye! Just follow me and ye will see the Hayseed Swamps by mornin."

he said, as he walked toward a ship anchored at the shore. Time Turner and Quill followed.

-2 hours later-

"Aye! Just as I thought. The currents are pushing me ship quickly near these parts, so me promise of ye being at the swamp by mornin will be kept."

Hoofbeard called from the wheel. Quill turned toward him from her perch in the crow's nest and grinned.

"Thanks a bunch Hoofbeard!"

she called. Hoofbeard smiled back.

"No problem lass! Now if ye will excuse me, I think I'll have a swim with me Jewel for a wee bit. The wind should push me ship in the right direction, but shout if anything changes."

he ordered. After a nod of reassurance from Quill, he dove over the side of the ship. Quill sighed and returned to her notebook.

Her pencil danced across the page as she wrote about everything that had happened so far on this trip. She hadn't written such an amazing story in her life.

'And the best part is... it'll have a happy ending.'

she thought to herself, as she closed her notebook, sliding that and her pencil into her (still damp) saddle bag. She peered over the edge of the crow's nest and saw Time Turner hunched over the side of the ship, staring into the ocean waters.

Concerned, Quill climbed back down to lower deck and walked over to Turner, sitting next to him when she made it to him.

"Are you okay?"

she asked. Turner's head jerked up in surprise.

"What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just a little nervous about the future is all."

he said calmly, with a hint of fear in his voice. Quill nodded in understanding.

"Don't worry Turner, We can do this! We'll get the amulet, save Firecracker and Ash Brush, and even save Equestria from Queen Chrysalis! Aw man, I can't wait to see the looks on your parents faces when we bring Ash home safely! Can you?"

she asked quickly, expecting to see a positive response.

Instead, Turner looked traumatized, and Quill could see tears at the corners if his eyes, threatening to slide down his face.

"Turner? They DO know what happened... right?"

she asked in concern. Turner couldn't even answer. He simply buried his face in his hooves, wishing he could disappear. Quill couldn't bear to see him this way.

"Turner? What happened?"

she asked.

Turner moved his hoof a little so one of his eyes can peek at Quill.

"It will make things seem better if you talk about them with somepony else."

Quill continued gently. Turner opened his mouth to protest, but instead sighed.

"May as well. You were probably gonna get it out of me eventually."

he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. He refused to let himself cry. Especially now.

With a deep breath, he began to tell the story.

"It happened last year, around the time of Princess Cadence's wedding. Ash and I were at the Canterlot library. He was helping me fix a clock that had broken that day. We were just about finished, when a green beam of light shot through the wall. Changelings! To many to count. They began shooting more green blasts at us. One of them hit Ash! Instinctively, I shielded Ash from them. I didn't want him to get hurt even more, but one of the changelings pushed me aside, trying to get to him. I kicked back. That resulted in me and that changeling to have a fight, which I lost. I was so banged up that I lost conscious before I could see if my brother was okay. The last thing I heard was his scream... when they got him."

Turner said, the tears returning.

Quill gasped.

"That's awful!"

she cried. Turner wiped his eyes again.

"It gets worst. Before I left the hospital, I wanted to see how Ash was doing, but... when I finally found his room, he wasn't there! The doctors said that they didn't check him out of the hospital, said that he might've escaped out the window. I searches the entire city all day for him, but he was gone. I'd lost him. When I went home, my parents had already heard about what happened at the library. They were glad I was safe and I nearly forgot what happened in the midst of the love they were showering me with. When they asked about Ash though, I couldn't speak. How could I tell my parents that their youngest son was injured and out in Equestria somewhere? I couldn't bring myself to tell them... so I lied. I told them he was fine... that he just had to stay a few extra days in the hospital to run some tests... that he was okay... *sniff*. And.. they *sniff* believed me!"

Turner was having trouble controlling his tears now, but refused to give in. He had to finish.

"I knew they would figure out the truth once they went to the hospital the next day to visit Ash, and I didn't want to even THINK about being there when that happened. I didn't know what to do! I couldn't sleep that night, knowing that once my parents found out, I would've failed twice in the same week! Un the morning, I decided to leave Canterlot. I decided to look for Ash myself. As soon as they went out to go to the hospital, I had packed as much as I could and left, taking the train to the nearest city. I thought Ash couldn't get far on hoof... I thought I could find him... *sniff* after 4 months of searching... *sniff* I had wound up in the Everfree Forest with little money left, no shelter, and *sniff* no sign of Ash at all. I thought he was dead! I didn't have the heart to go back home, so I walked to your house in Ponyville. I thought that you could help me start over. Help me forget what happened... but I...*sniff* But... I..."

Quill wrapped an arm around Turner, who was quivering and losing control of his emotions.

"Time Turner... it's okay... just let it out."

she said sympathetically. Turner couldn't take it anymore.

"But I... BUT I COULDN'T! *sob* I COULDN'T EVER *sob* FORGET! I HAD FAILED EVERYPONY I CARED ABOUT *sob* AND HAD NO WAY TO MAKE THINGS *sob* RIGHT! I*sob* I LIED *sob* TO EVERYPONY THAT WAS CLOSE *sob* TO ME, AND THERE'S NO WAY TO TAKE ANY OF IT BACK! *sob* NO WAY TO *sob* START OVER! I*sob* I'M SO SORRY!"

That's what happened for awhile. Quill hugged Turner tightly while Turner cried, letting all of his bottled emoticons out. Quill knew right then why Turner was so grumpy, so serious, so protective! He didn't want to lose anypony else ever again! She also now knew why he never went back to Canterlot. she also knew above all, that right now, after all the times he's supported her, it was her turn to do the same.

After 10 minutes, his crying eventually subsided. He breathed deeply, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. Quill hugged him again.

"Feel better?"

she asked. Turner wiped his eye again.

"Yeah."

he answered.

"I do."

Chapter 20: Hope

"Alright, we got ye as close to ye swamps as possible. Good luck to ye!"

Hoofbeard called from the wheel, as Quill and Time Turner walked off of the ship.

"Thanks Hoofbeard! Bye Jewel!"

Quill called, waving as she did. Jewel waved from her spot in the water.

"Goodbye Quill! Farewell Time Turner! Good Luck!"

she called back. With one final wave, the duo set off into the swamp.

Of all the places in Equestria, the Hayseed Swamps was Quill's least favorite. It was foggy, wet, smelly, hot, and at times dangerous. Turner looked at her as she shuddered at the hot fog around them.

"So, have you been here before?"

he asked. Quill turned to him and slowly nodded.

"Yeah. It was the worst trip I'd ever been on! I nearly got myself killed."

she said in annoyance. Turner stopped walking.

"K-k-killed!?"

he stuttered in fear. Quill turned to him and gave a nervous laugh.

"Don't worry. The Fire Center of the swamp is where the danger is. If we stay away, we should be fine."

she said, a fearful tremor in her voice.

Turner's grey coat began to turn paler.

"Quill... that's the part of the swamp we need to cut through."

he said quietly, as if he was scared to speak any louder. Quill stared at him in disbelief.

"Seriously?"

she asked in horror. Time Turner nodded, lifting up the book to show her. Quill gulped.

"Okay, now tell me this. Did we happen to remember to pack flame proof boots, a chair, a snake charmer's flute, and a hunk of ricotta cheese?"

she asked nervously, trying her best to remain calm. Turner gave her a weird look.

"No. Why would we need that stuff?"

he asked in confusion.

Quill sighed. This trip just got harder.

After Firecracker explaining everything she could, Ash looked like he has just witnessed a dream visit from Princess Luna.

"So, the unicorn who visited me was your mom?"

he asked. Firecracker sighed.

"Yeah. I didn't know 'till a couple minutes ago. I jus' wish I found out sooner."

she said, hanging her head in sadness. Ash could tell Firecracker was sad even if he couldn't see, so he decided to try to change the subject.

"So, what was it like to travel with my brother and this... future friend of mine?"

he asked. Firecracker turned toward him, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Ya brother Time Turner is just 'bout da most overprotective, grumpy, serious stick in da mud I've ever met. But without him, we might not've made it dis far. He loves ya and misses ya a lot. He'll be glad to see ya when this is all over."

she told him, hugging him close as she spoke.

Ash Brush blinked his sightless eyes in astonishment and talked some more.

"Who's this future friend then?"

he asked in confusion. Firecracker laughed.

"Oh, ya gonna love Quill! If it weren't for her, ya brother and I might not've been able to get along. She's a little annoying and weird at times, but she has a good heart and gives a shoulder to cry on whenever me or Time Turner need it. Time Turner knows her better than I do, so if ya wanna know more, ya will have to ask him or Quill herself."

Firecracker told him.

Her words encircled through Ash's mind like a whirlwind. He could hardly believe that after this he'll not only have a new friend, but will be reunited with his BBBFF again! However, as he thought about all this, a question came to mind.

"Firecracker? What about you?"

he asked. Firecracker looked at him in confusion.

"What do ya mean?"

she asked.

"When this is all over, and I get to be with Time Turner again, what will you do?"

he asked. Firecracker thought a moment.

"I... I don't really know Ash. I'll probably go back to Manehattan and try to keep those guards off my tail. I did a lot o' bad things to get money and I don't want ya to mix yaself with dat when ya don't have to."

Ash's eyes began to fill with tears. That wasn't the answer he was expecting.

"But... but you've taken care of me for the last year! You've fed me, healed me, and gave me a place to sleep! Your like my older sister AND your my best friend! I-I don't want you to go back to living in the streets of Manehattan! Not after all you've done for me!"

Before Firecracker could say anything to cheer Ash Brush up, the force field around them disappeared as the door of their cell opened. A changeling guard and Chrysalis stood in front of them, malicious smirks on their faces.

"Let's get started then!"

Chrysalis said, picking up Firecracker with a green glow while the guard did the same to Ash Brush. Firecracker tried to struggle, but her attempts were in vain. Not even a spell could get her out of this. Whatever Chrysalis was going to do to her and Ash, she couldn't do anything to stop it.

They were on their own.

Quill and Time Turner have been walking for over an hour, and they've actually been met with a decent trip through the swamp. No dangers, no need to run, and nothing to fear. Though it made Turner feel better about the whole thing, Quill couldn't help but feel pretty nervous.

"You okay Quill? You seem pretty tense... more so than usual."

he said. Quill turned to him and sighed.

"It's just a bit to quiet for my liking. We're getting pretty close to the fire center and we should be seeing smoke, fire, and a scary beast by now. The silence is just... abnormal to me."

she explained.

Turner stared at her.

"Really? I find this kinda peaceful. If danger isn't coming right away, I say we enjoy the quiet while we can."

he said, trotting ahead to emphasize his point. Quill looked around before galloping after him.

'But this isn't normal, I know it isn't! I'm not gonna relax until we see a sign of danger.'

she thought, laughing to herself about her line of thinking.

Her mental laughter was interrupted when she bumped into Turner, who'd suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What gives?"

Quill asked. Turner said nothing. He simply lifted his hoof and pointed into the clearing in front of them, mud falling off because of his quivering body. Quill followed his hoof and felt her heart stop. Changelings. 10 or 20 of them flying in the clearing, staring at them with hatred, as if they'd been waiting for awhile for the duo to show up.

Quill gulped. She hadn't expected this at all.

"Is this the danger you were telling me about?"

Turner asked in terror, the changelings flying closer and closer to them. Quill shook her head.

"No, there was supposed to be a Chimera! Where's the Chimera!? I'd MUCH prefer the Chimera right now!"

she said quickly, her good wing coming to her face, covering her eyes in fear. Turner looked at her as if she was an alien that just landed on Equestria.

"A Chimera!? Are you insane?!"

he shouted. Quill shook her head.

"Seriously. There was a Chimera out here."

she said, her eyes perking out between her feathers.

The changelings were coming too close for comfort. Turner didn't want to find his brother like THIS! So he did the first thing that came to mind. He punched.

The changeling snarled at the blast, rubbing it's jaw in pain. Quill stared at Turner in disbelief. She never thought she'd see the day when Turner would personally harm another living thing. Quill hid behind her wing again, too scared to move. Turner simply punched any changeling that came close to them, making the group very angry.

"I've had enough!"

a hissing voice cried in annoyance. With those words, a green glow surrounded the duo, picking them up off the ground. Quill tried her hardest to move, but even her hurt wing wasn't twitching anymore. Turner tried as well, but was also met with failure.

The changeling that was levitating them showed itself to be a changeling with blue armor.

"Let's report back to our queen! She shall be pleased!"

it called. The changelings around the duo and armored changeling saluted.

"Yes General Cacoon sir!"

With that, the duo was taken through the swamp toward the Badlands, as prisoners rather than rescuers.

Chapter 21: Reunited

Firecracker squirmed and kicked, trying to escape Chrysalis' enchanted grasp, but it was as if all of her strength had disappeared. She could see Ash not even trying to escape, as if he'd given up trying. Rather than spend her time acting like a paranoid filly, she decided to take a more assertive approach.

"So, what exactly do ya have in store for us?"

Firecracker asked, putting a smirk on Chrysalis' face.

"Why, I thought it was obvious. I need to get more powerful in order to activate the amulet of balance, and you and Ash just might have enough love to give me the power I need."

Chrysalis explained, putting terrified looks on Firecracker and Ash's faces.

"So, ya found da amulet already?"

Firecracker asked. Chrysalis nodded.

'Hmm, that might just be a tad helpful.'

Firecracker thought, keeping her excitement absent on her face.

Chrysalis suddenly stopped, finally reaching the center of the ginormous, labyrinth of a prison that Ash has called home for the past few weeks. Levitating Ash and Firecracker in front of her, Chrysalis closed her eyes, preparing her spell. Before Firecracker could brace herself for impact... she heard it. A faint voice in the distance, shouting her name. A voice so familiar that all of her lost hope seemed to return. It was Quill.

Firecracker's joy didn't last long as she and Ash came in contact with the spell. Electrifying magic coursed through Firecracker's mind, breaking down walls she'd put around her memories, feeding on her love for her new friends, her home, her newfound mother, and most of all... Ash Brush, whom she could honestly call her younger brother. She could hear Ash screaming next to her, his similar emotions being fed upon, but his were slightly subdued, as if he's felt this pain several times.

As soon as the pain started, it stopped. Firecracker fell to the floor shakily, her body weak, but her loving memories and emotions thankfully intact. She put a shaky hoof around Ash, who looked like he was just about ready to give up on thinking of love at all! Chrysalis grimaced, upset that her plan didn't work the way she hoped.

"Take them away. I don't have any more use for them."

With a nod, a guard levitated the two ponies above his head, unaware that while one pony felt miserable inside, another was formulating a plan.

"FIRECRACKER?! FIRECRACKER!"

Quill called, her hooves desperately wrapped around the rusty bars of the cell. Time Turner facehoofed.

"Just stop it Quill! She obviously can't hear us."

he said, his voice monotone and depressed. Quill sighed.

"So? I have to do SOMETHING! Firecracker is down here. Your BROTHER is down here. We need to do find some way out of here so we can find the amulet, but we can't do that unless we can get out of here."

Quill huffed, turning away and looking out through he bars once more.

Time Turner sighed. He didn't know which path of the future they'd gone down, but he didn't see any good coming out of it. Quill was right. They DID need to find a way out, but the chances of Firecracker arriving in the next minute was slim to none.

As if to defy his thoughts, the iron door suddenly blasted off of it's hinges, revealing a grinning Firecracker, her horn smoking.

"Well, it's 'bout time I found ya. I must've gone through 10 cells before this one. I was getting impatient."

she said, blowing upwards to clear some smoke off of her horn. Turner and Quill stared at her in disbelief.

"How did you find us? We thought they captured you!"

Quill said, adjusting her fedora as she spoke. Firecracker smiled.

"Well, I was. Chrysalis was torturing me and ya brother, but I managed to get some info outta her before dat. When da guard was bringing me and Ash back to our cell, I punched our way outta his grasp and ran away as fast as possible, hoping to find ya guys."

Firecracker explained, earning nods of understanding. Turner stepped forward nervously.

"So, Ash. Is he okay?"

he asked. Firecracker's smile grew smaller, but didn't go away completely.

"Why dont'cha ask him ya'self?"

she asked leaning down so something grey could slide off her back.

Ash Brush.

Time Turner could hardly believe it was his own brother laying in front of him. The past year of living on the streets had made him scratched and dirty, but Turner could tell that Ash had tried to keep himself presentable all the while.

Turner stepped forward and raised a hoof shakily. He hadn't seen his brother for over a year, believing he was dead, but now that he was right there, Turner felt like crying again. Turner forced himself not to though, not wanting to upset Ash after all he's been through.

Turner gently ran his hoof through Ash's mane, causing the young colt to awaken.

"Firecracker? Is that you?"

he asked, his searching, sightless eyes threatening to make Turner break his promise to himself. Turner wiped his tearing eyes.

"No Ash Brush... It's me."

he said, tears still sliding down his cheeks, but not quite noticeable to the ponies around him.

Ash's eyes grew wide as Turner spoke, his head turning toward different spots as he tried to find the direction where the voice came from.

"T-Time Turner? Is that you?"

Ash asked, his own eyes filling with tears. Turner couldn't take it any more. He trotted forward and put his arms around Ash, not bothering to hide his tears anymore.

"Yes Ash. It's me. I'm *sniff* SO sorry that this happened to you! It was all MY fault and *sniff* I thought I'd never see you again!"

Turner said, hugging Ash tightly, neither of them wanting him to let go.

Ash's tears began to slide down his cheeks as he hugged back, clutching his older brother as if he was life itself.

"Turner, *sniff* It wasn't your fault! I shouldn't have run away! If anything, I should be apologizing to YOU! I should have just *sniff* stayed in the hospital, then *sniff* none of this would've happened."

Quill stepped forward, putting her arms around the two brothers.

"Ash, we can't forget the past, but look toward the future. You and Turner are both here now and that's all that matters."

Quill said, hugging the two brothers tightly. Firecracker at first turned away, but watching her "brother" and two friends share a hug like that was just to sweet to stay out of. With a shrug, she put her arms around the three ponies, completing the group hug.

Suddenly, a white light began swirling around them, causing them to gasp and murmur in concern. Even Ash could tell something was wrong. With a small 'ping', the four ponies were gone.

Chapter 22: Proven

The four ponies screamed for a moment, but they subsided when they found themselves in a starry void.

"Where are we?"

Quill wondered aloud, her hooves feeling around for any textures. Time Turner stood close to his blind brother and looked around, half expecting somepony (or something) to attack them. Firecracker simply sat down and smiled. She knew where they were, and the pony that brought them here.

As if to emphasize her thoughts, Wisteria the Wise stepped in out of nowhere, giving the 4 ponies quite a fright.

"For the love of the two sisters Wisteria! Quit doing that!"

Turner said, Ash nodding in agreement. Quill sighed.

"Is there something else about the quest that we need to know about?"

she asked. Wisteria shook her head.

"No, on the contrary, I've come to congratulate you."

Wisteria said, a warm smile on her face.

Firecracker raised an eyebrow.

"Congratulate us? What for?"

she asked. Wisteria gave a light laugh.

"You've all fought the obstacles you all had inside, meaning that you are now ready to stop Chrysalis."

Wisteria said. A confused look crossed everypony's face.

"Obstacles? What do you mean by obstacles?"

Ash Brush asked. Wisteria sighed.

"Allow me to show you all a little reminder."

With that, her horn began to glow green as more white light engulfed the ponies. When they opened their eyes, They saw an elderly version of Wisteria walking over to the tree of harmony. Firecracker raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, mom? If ya've already died, then how are we still talking to ya?"

Firecracker asked, putting weird looks on Turner and Quill as Ash tried to explain. Wisteria smiled.

"I may have died physically because of old age, but because the princesses knew that my abilities could be helpful some day, they allowed me to live on as a representative if the etherial plain."

Wisteria answered. Firecracker raised an eyebrow.

"So... My mom's a ghost?"

she wondered out loud.

Wisteria huffed in annoyance.

"I prefer the term, Etherial Rogue, now pay attention, all of you, this is important."

she said, gesturing toward the scene before them. The older Wisteria had pressed her ear to the trunk of the tree of harmony and the ponies could hear what she was hearing.

"1003 years from now, the amulet will be rediscovered by a tribe who changes shape. It will be used for evil purposes and the changing tribe will rule Equestria from then on. However, your guidence will assist the heros of three, each with one wish. One to prove herself, another to redeem himself, and one to complete herself. Each will do so during their quest, but only if they let their hearts lead the way."

When the last words were spoken, they were brought back to the starry void. Wisteria looked at the confused faces in amusement"All three of you demonstrated a change during this quest."

she said, motioning toward Quill.

"Quill, before this quest began, you were a pony that thought herself useless and didn't believe you'd help much during the quest, but now you've proved yourself to be a skilled explorer, a positive thinker, and most of all, a friend when your comrades needed you most. You've been able to PROVE yourself, just as the prophesy said."

Wisteria explained, earning a gasp from Quill.

Wisteria turned to Turner.

"Time Turner, ever since Ash Brush had disappeared, you thought you'd failed him and your parents and had run away to think of a way to set things right, with no avail. But, throughout this quest, you were a leader and a navigator. You were able to finally set your true feelings free and you were able to keep those you traveled with safe. You even managed to find your brother again. I believe that you've managed to REDEEM yourself, just as the prophesy stated."

Wisteria continued, causing Turner to tear up as Ash hugged him.

Wisteria then turned to Firecracker.

"And Firecracker. Before now, you didn't know where you came from or who you were supposed to be, so you tried to make up for it by giving Ash Brush what you didn't believe you possessed. Love. But, during this quest, you were able to discover more about yourself and those around you. You found out about where you came from, who your family is, and what you're capable of, making you stronger in the process. You've been able to COMPLETE yourself as the prophesy said you would."

Wisteria said, as Firecracker beamed with pride.

Ash unwrapped his arms from his brother and raised an eyebrow.

"Then, what happens now?"

he asked. Wisteria smiled.

"Now that they've fulfilled a part of the prophesy, they're ready to face the other part. Chrysalis. She is already aware of the amulet's location and is already putting her plan into motion. Are you ready to face her, get the amulet, and save Equestria my little ponies?"

As Quill turned to her comrades, she saw right away that Wisteria was right. Her friends had changed so much since this mission began, just as she did. She also knew right then that all the dangers and obstacles they'd faced wasn't just preparing them for their confrontation against Chrysalis, or even to save Ash Brush, but it was preparing them for the obstacles to come later on in life. The obstacles that they'll be able to face together. If they could face this, they could face everything.The four ponies nodded and faced Wisteria.

"We're ready."

Chapter 23: Balanced out

Quill blinked her eyes against the bright light, trying to get rid of the splotches in her vision. Even though she knew that Wisteria was technically an enchanted ghost, she wished that she and her friends could be teleported less dramatically.

"Ugh, okay. We have an evil queen and army that can change into anything and THEY have the amulet, any ideas how to stop that?"

she asked, as she placed her fedora back on her head.

Firecracker shrugged her shoulders.

"I say we just improvise."

she said simply.

"Da queen is smart, she probably is EXPECTIN us to think of a plan. Goin in head on might be our best chance because she won't be expectin dat."

Firecracker explained, her hoof stroking her chin in thought. Time Turner sighed.

"I guess we don't have any other choice."

he said in annoyance. Ash Brush turned his head this way and that, his ears capturing information that his eyes couldn't.

"Alright then. Let's go!"

he said, as he rose to his hooves shakily.

"And just what do ya think YA doin?"

Firecracker asked, her voice stern.

"I wanna help. I wanna get back at Chrysalis for being so mean to me."

Ash explained, his front hooves punching the air. Turner sighed and put his arms around Ash, stopping his brother's rant.

"I'm sorry Ash, but it might be better for you to stay here."

Turner said calmly. Ash's face twisted in aggravation.

"Why?"

he asked in annoyance.

"Because it's going to be too dangerous and both me and Firecracker don't want to see you hurt."

Turner explained, Firecracker nodding in agreement.

Ash's eyes began to tear up.

"But, what if YOU get hurt?"

he asked. Quill stepped forward and put her good wing around the blind colt.

"Not gonna happen. We've gone through dangers and obstacles to PREPARE us for this. We'll stop Chrysalis, get the amulet, save Equestria, and then get you home safely. Okay?"

she said, a hint of a smile on her face. Ash opened his mouth to protest, but simply shut it a moment later.

"*sigh* Okay."

he said finally.

Firecracker smiled and hugged Ash tightly.

"A'right then Ash. Stay outta sight and take care of y'self. We'll be back soon." she said, a small tear forming at the edge of her eye. Once Firecracker broke from the hug, Turner stepped forward and gave a hug to Ash as well, but this hug was tight and Ash didn't want his brother to let go. "Don't let me lose you again."

Turner whispered desperately, his tears refusing to be subtle. Ash sniffed as he began to tear up even more.

"I promise."

he whispered back.

With a final ruffle of Ash's mane from Quill, the trio set off to the surface, wondering if Chrysalis was already waiting for them.

As their hooves echoed through the hallways, Quill looked around in confusion. This was supposed to be a dungeon, yet there wasn't a single changeling guard in sight.

"Firecracker? When you came to break me and Turner out, did you run into any guards?"

she asked curiously. Firecracker raised an eyebrow.

"Now dat'cha mention it, I didn't. Dat's weird."

she replied.

"Which means Chrysalis must know what we're gonna try to do and was rallying forces while we were with Wisteria. That... might complicate a few things."

Turner said out loud, a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Quill nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I bet my fedora that they're waiting outside for us as we speak."

she answered, anxiety creeping into her voice as well. Hearing this, as soon as they spotted the door, none of the ponies wanted to open it. A pin drop could be heard at that moment. Nopony moving. Nopony speaking. Just waiting. Waiting for something to happen.

Firecracker sighed and reached for the door, but Quill went in front of her and shook her head. Quill's eyes were pleading. She wanted to be the one to do this. Firecracker nodded, while Turner began to sweat in anxiety. Quill reached her hoof toward the door, her wings tensing up in anticipation. With a final gulp for breath, she swung the door open. What they saw surprised them greatly.

"Hey! Where da hay are all da guards?"

Firecracker wondered out loud, her hooves picking up dust as she walked out of the door. All the three could see was red dust and rocks along with many caves and cliffs around them. Though it was nice to see the sky again, Firecracker couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about the changeling guards not being anywhere in sight.

Turner's eyes searched the dust and rocks nervously, trying to find any movements among the desert-like environment. At first, he saw nothing, but then he saw a shadow cross over a cliff.

"Um, guys? I think we have company."

he called, backing toward them again.

"You couldn't be more right!"

With those words, the changeling queen herself stepped out of the shadows, a smug look on her face. Quill glared at her.

"Ah, Chrysalis. Finally decided to show yourself instead of sending your little toy soldiers after us?"

she asked mockingly. Chrysalis gave a light laugh.

"Oh, you're a funny one. You'll be a perfect addition to my species once Equestria is mine."

she said smoothly, as if she'd rehearsed her words already.

Quill raised her eyebrow.

"How do you know your plan will actually go without a hitch? I mean, we are here aren't we?"

she asked. Chrysalis smiled.

"Because I have this."

she said smugly. To emphasize her point, she levitated a small, charmed necklace in front of her. The three ponies gasped.

"The amulet of balance!"

Turner breathed, his eyes wide in shock. Firecracker grimaced, stomping her hoof on the ground in frustration at the sight of the yin-yang charm.

"Oh come now, you three MUST have seen this coming."

Chrysalis said. Quill raised an eyebrow.

"Actually no, we thought that you'd be waiting for us out here, start monologuing, and be distracted long enough for one of us to get the amulet and blast you back to the land of which you came."

Turner facehoofed.

"Quill, no. That only happens in stereotypical adventure books. The kind of books you try NOT to write."

he said from behind his hoof. Firecracker smiled at his words.

"True, but there's another thing dat is ALWAYS found in a stereotypical adventure book."

To demonstrate, Firecracker's horn began to glow red, and with a final thought, a red beam of magic hit Chrysalis square in the face, sending her snarling into the rocky wall behind her. Firecracker blew the smoke off of her horn and grinned.

"Da villain NEVER dodges an attack."

Chrysalis grimaced and rubbed her hoof on her face in pain.

"Argh, GET THEM!"

she shouted, sending her changeling soldiers straight toward the three ponies. Firecracker smirked and began blasting changelings with red magic. Quill and Turner nodded to each other and began kicking their shape shifting opponents as well. The battle has begun.

Ash dug his hooves into the dirt under him, bored out of his mind. He didn't feel right sitting down here while the two ponies he cared about most were fighting up above.

'It feels... wrong. I know I can help them. But how?'

Ash thought a moment, trying to think of something he could do. There really wasn't much he could think of though. Everything he knew he would EXCEL at wouldn't be very useful right now.

"Why do I have to be so USELESS?!"

he asked out loud, too frustrated to worry about being quiet. He suddenly heard something roll by. A cart! A cart of supplies being pulled by two changelings.

Ash smiled. Perhaps there WAS something he could do. With a deep breath, he ducked under the cart as it passed, his plan to help his siblings and new friend already weaving it's way into his head.

"Ugh, how many of them ARE there?!"

Quill complained, as she kicked another changeling away. Turner punched his front hooves at another changeling and turned to her.

"Who knows? Dozens, hundreds, thousands? It's hard to tell."

he answered matter of factly. Firecracker said nothing as she continued to blast changelings with magic, not wanting to get distracted.

The battle was in full swing as soon as it started. Changelings rose as soon as they fell and more recruits came to replace the wounded almost instantly. The three ponies were growing tired, but they refused to give in. Quill had never felt so strong in her life. She's had to fight many creatures during her travels, but the battle she was in right now made her feel like she could fly 100 miles, even if she couldn't fly at all. It was invigorating.

'It must be because the problems I had inside me have been faced.' she thought to herself.

Quill kicked her back legs into another changeling, no longer surprised that the changeling got shot into the ground so easily. She was stronger than she thought she was. There was a small hiatus before the next wave of changelings, giving her enough time to look to see what Chrysalis was doing. The changeling queen was simply smirking as she watched the scene in front of her, as if waiting for the right moment to use the amulet that now hung around her neck.

'She won't get the chance. We won't LET her have that chance.'

she thought to herself, as she ran back into battle, kicking and punching the whole time. As she punched a changeling, she thought she saw a flash of grey near a cart of supplies that two changelings just brought into the battle field, but ignored it as she head butted a flying changeling.

Quill could tell that her friends were beginning to grow tired, and she could feel her legs begin to weaken as well, but all three ponies refused to give the changelings the upper hoof and simply kept fighting, each move growing sloppier than the last. As Quill kicked her back legs into a changeling, she saw him. She saw Ash Brush moving against the wall toward the cliff Chrysalis sat upon, his sightless eyes searching the air around him for danger.

"ASH?!"

Quill called, her eyes widening in concern. As the last word escaped her lips, she suddenly heard it. The hiss of magic being unleashed, and it was getting louder and louder. Time suddenly seemed to slow down for her as she turned around, her breath quickening as she saw a green beam of light heading straight for her. She began hitting the ground with her hooves as she tried to run away, but she was too slow.

Before she could even react, a shockwave of pain enveloped itself on her left side, as if she was being hit by the very same storm cloud that made her flightless all over again. Quill screamed in agony, her hooves giving way under her as she collapsed to the ground. Her eyelids grew heavy as the magic blast began dulling her senses. The last thing she heard before she passed out completely were two terrified voices calling her name.

"QUILL!!!"

Time Turner ran to Quill's side as soon as he heard her scream, tears coming down his face. After everything they've done, after all the precautions he took to protect her, she still ended up on the path that was shown to Turner through dream so long ago. Firecracker put her hoof to Quill's neck, checking for a pulse.

"She's still alive, but her breath is too shallow for her to last much longer."

Firecracker reported, her eyes beginning to tear up.

Time Turner's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Quill...dead?"

he mustered up, tears already rolling down his face. He suddenly heard a soft laugh behind him.

"Think of it this way Mr. Turner. With the weak link of your group gone, you might actually be able to put up a decent fight before you submit to me."

Chrysalis grinned, her green eyes sparkling in delight.

Turner's eyes immediately dried up in anger, all of his fear replaced with rage. He turned on his hooves and looked up at the changeling queen, his death stare making Chrysalis slightly uncomfortable.

"You'll pay for this Chrysalis! DO YOU HEAR ME!?"

And with those words, Turner threw himself into the battle, fighting and storming through changeling after changeling, his mind fueled with the drive to save his friends and brother, as well as make Chrysalis pay for hurting Quill.

Ash climbed as quickly as he could up the rocks, hoping to go un-noticed by any changelings. He was hoping that he'd be able to sneak the amulet away from Chrysalis while she was focused on the battle, and head back to his hiding place without anypony seeing him. However, it didn't exactly work out like that.

As Ash climbed over another rock, he suddenly felt magic envelope him, lifting him off the side of the cliff in the process.

"And where do you think your going?"

Chrysalis asked, eying the blind colt with interest. Ash Brush cursed under his breath. His plan was an ultimate flop. However, instead of trying to break free of Chrysalis' magic, he decided to do what Firecracker would do. Stick around. Play along. Buy time to think of an actual plan.

"What's it to you?"

Ash asked, not bothering to speak politely to the changeling queen. Chrysalis giggled.

"I just wanted to know so you'd drive yourself mad knowing you won't live long enough to reach your destination. You've been a complicated thorn in my side for far too long. It's time you were dealt with."

Ash gasped. This wasn't at ALL what he'd planned.

Firecracker sat next to Quill's still body, tears streaming down her face. She'd managed to teleport herself and Quill into a cave nearby, but it wouldn't be long before they were discovered, and both Firecracker and Quill lose hold of the life they had left.

"C'mon Quill. Ya can't die. Ya just can't! We need ya! My mom needs ya! EQUESTRIA needs ya! PLEASE! Ya need to come back! COME BACK! Don't leave us like this! COME BACK DANG IT!"

Through all of her angry tears, Firecracker didn't notice that her friend was having troubles on the inside. Quill was half conscious, but her mind and body was protesting, trying to pull her into a stupor. Quill refused to give in though, using all of her strength to try to wake up, but with no avail.

'So this is what it feels like to have no control of yourself. It's like floating in a void. I had hoped I'd never feel pain like this. I had hoped I wouldn't die today.'

she thought to herself, feeling all her strength melt away as she let go.

She couldn't do this anymore.

Firecracker didn't care if she was being watched by anypony else, she cried until she was certain that her eyes would slide out of their sockets. She refused to believe it, but it was happening. Quill's breath and heartbeat was slowing down. Quill was dying.

Through her tears, she saw something odd on Quill's left side. Quill's wing. Cit and scraped and bent at an odd angle, as if someone tried to twist it in a complete circle. Firecracker's eyes suddenly dried when a thought struck her.

"It's not da magic killing her. It's da PAIN! She can't take so much pain on one side of her body, so she's lettin herself go into a coma so she won't have'ta feel it. She AIN'T DYING!"

Firecracker began to whoop for joy but then stopped when another thought crossed her mind.

"But she will if she can't be healed."

Firecracker immediately knew that she couldn't do something like that. "I don't know any healin spells! What am I gonna do?"

she asked out loud. That's when she felt it. A hoof touch her shoulder and a horn tip touch her's. She turned to see Wisteria, her transparent horn glowing green. Firecracker didn't know how, but she knew what to do! Firecracker closed her eyes as well, her horn beginning to glow red.

Her mind began straining as new knowledge of spells filled her mind. Firecracker gritted her teeth in concentration, refusing to let any ounce of magic go out of control, with a final gasp, Wisteria and Firecracker shot beams if magic at Quill, enveloping the unconscious pegasus in green and red light. When the glow subsided, Quill's wing was back to normal, but something new about it was there too.

"Wha-what did we do?"

Firecracker asked her mother. Wisteria smiled.

"Advanced full body spell. Created it myself. It takes an exceptional amount of skill and concentration to do it, but is very effective in the long run. Quill will be fine now."

Wisteria explained, as she gave Firecracker a small hug. Before Firecracker could return the gesture, Wisteria disappeared, as if she were merely a cloud passing through the sky.

Firecracker's look of surprise was short lived when she heard a cough next to her.

"QUILL! Are ya okay?!"

Firecracker asked frantically, as she helped Quill to her hooves. Quill rubbed her head awkwardly and looked around.

"I'm fine, but I'm more worried about Ash! I saw him before I got blasted. He could be in big trouble!"

Firecracker gasped.

"He's out there! I thought we told 'im ta stay put!"

she said with fear. Quill sighed.

"I guess he didn't listen, but we have to find him before Chrysalis finds him!"

Firecracker's nodding face turned toward Chrysalis' cliff, making her eyes widen in horror.

"We're too late! Look!"

Quill followed Firecracker's pointing hoof toward the cliff, where Ash was being held in the magical grasp of Chrysalis. Quill's eyes widened, but then they squinted a bit when she felt something on her back. Something she didn't recognize. It was a feeling of completion, as if a part of herself was back to where it should be. As if all the pain she'd ever felt had disappeared. Her eyes widened again when she realized what it was, but pushed it out of her mind when she Firecracker's hoof steps began to be heard as she walked out of the cave.

"Ya ready?"

she asked.

Hoof to fedora, Quill nodded to Firecracker and ran out into the battle field, both hoping that this battle will end soon.

Time Turner kicked his back legs into two more changelings and began to run to Chrysalis' cliff, all the fatigue he felt before washed away and replaced with a desire for revenge. His eyes squinted in anger and concentration as he punched his way through the crowd of changelings guarding the cliff. When he reached the base of the cliff, he breathed heavily, his tired limbs finally protesting.

He stared up at Chrysalis angrily, his front hooves pawing at the base of the cliff as if he wished to climb it.

"*breath* You and your army have done plenty of horrible things to Equestria Chrysalis. You destroyed Canterlot during the *breath* royal wedding, you blinded my brother, *breath* you imprisoned my brother as well as my friend, you have the amulet *breath* of balance, and now *breath* you might've killed my closest friend in Equestria. Your reign of tyranny has gone long enough! You will be stopped! *breath* even if I have to put an end to it myself."

Chrysalis laughed, amused by Turner's speech.

"I admire your courage Time Turner, but you will find that it will not aid you. I know you cannot stop me, because you letting me keep the amulet will be the only way... to save your brother."

Turner's eyes widened when Ash was levitated in front of the queen, his brother's hooves not meeting ground as he hung high above the ground Turner stood upon.

"ASH!"

he yelled, his eyes frantically searching for a way to climb up and save his brother. Chrysalis shook her head.

"Surrender Time Turner! You and your friends have gone on this goose chase to stop me, but now your loyalty shall be tested in a way that phantom menace Wisteria the Wise could NEVER test you with! Throughout this quest you've asked questions, but now I have a question for you! Which is more important to you!? Equestria? Or your precious little brother?" Chrysalis sneered, Turner's eyes widening with each word.

Chrysalis chuckled. "It all comes down to which you'll choose. If you surrender, I will let your brother go and Equestria will be mine. However, if you choose to keep prattling on like the game piece you've become for your little prophesy, Equestria will still perish, as well as your brother. So, what will it be, the 100% safety of your brother? Or the 50/50 chance of Equestria's safety and Ash Brush's death?"

Ash struggled under the influence of the changeling queen's magic.

"No Turner! You can't! You can't let her have Equestria! Forget about me! Find Firecracker and Quill and do what you set out to do from the start!"

Ash called. Chrysalis slapped him.

"SHUT UP! Now Time Turner. Make your choice."

she smirked. Tears began filling Turner's eyes, not because of the choices, but because of the outcome of the choice he was going to make.

"Ash. I-it was my fault you ended up in this situation in the first place. I-I should have been there for you and protected you from this. I've waited too long to lose you now. You mean too much to me."

Turner sniffed.

"NO!"

Ash called. Turner ignored his cries.

"Chrysalis. I surrender. Let Ash go."

he said. Chrysalis smiled.

"Fine."

she said, levitating Ash into Turner's arms, the young brother crying as soon as Turner's arms encircled him.

"However, now that Equestria is mine, It's time to make a few changes. Starting with ridding the world of YOU AND THAT PATHETIC BROTHER OF YOUR'S!"

she cackled. Turner's eyes widened in anger, his arms clutching Ash tighter.

"What!? But, you said you'd let him go!"

Turner shouted back angrily.

"But I just did! I let him return to you safely, and now you both will die together! *giggle* isn't that wonderful? You and your friends have interfered with my plans many times up to this point! First you all of you, then EVERYPONY ELSE IN THIS PATHETIC WORLD!"

Chrysalis shouted.

With a throaty laugh, her horn began glowing green as magic encircled the amulet around her neck. The charm began glowing silver in response to the spell and slowly began to turn black as more dark magic enchanted it. The black magic began to swirl violently around the amulet and began skyrocketing toward the two grey colts below, ready to give it's death blow. Turner positioned himself in front of Ash, tears streaming down his face heavily as he prepared for impact. However, instead of pain, he felt the gentle breeze of the land around him blow on his back, as if nopony else was there.

He looked up to see a confused Chrysalis frantically looking around the cliff for the amulet, which seemed to have vanished from her neck.

"Where is it!? WHERE'S THE AMULET OF BALANCE!? WHE-"

Chrysalis' words were interrupted by a light cough behind her. The changeling queen turned around to see Quill standing a few inches behind her, her face smug.

"Looking for this?"

Quill asked mockingly, removing her fedora to reveal the enchanted piece of jewelry nestled inside. Chrysalis snarled angrily, her hooves groping for the hat, which she always missed by a few inches. Quill smiled.

"Yeah, I don't believe this belongs to you, so I suggest we settle this the easy way, or the hard way. Any choice you prefer is fine with me."

Chrysalis responded with lashing out at the pegasus, pushing her off the cliff.

"QUILL!"

Turner shouted, his hoof outstretched as if to try to save her. However, his hopeful rescue was not needed, as what Quill did next surprised even Chrysalis. As Quill fell toward the ground below, she opened up her wings, both of them, for the first time. With a confident smile, she flapped them down, launching her up into the air in a shaky aerial twirl. Before anypony could blink, Quill was hovering in front of the changeling queen, both of her wings flapping awkwardly, but still working as if she'd been in the air before.

"Quill? Y-you can f-FLY!?"

Turner sputtered. Quill grinned happily.

"Yep! And it's all thanks to Firecracker."

As if on que, Firecracker stepped out of the shadows nearby and stood next to Turner, smiling all the while. Quill gave a light wave and turned back to Chrysalis.

"So? Hard way then?"

she asked. Chrysalis frowned and her horn began to glow green as it made an SOS sign above her head, causing more changelings to come onto the battle field.

"I always play hard."

the queen said mockingly. Quill smiled.

"Then let the games begin."

With a battle cry, all of the changelings began to advance onto the ponies, but they were ready. Firecracker's horn began to glow red as a protection bubble surrounded her, Turner and Ash, bits of magic flying off occasionally to hit any changelings who came close. Firecracker turned to Time Turner and gave a soft smile.

"Ready?"

she asked. Turner smiled and nodded back as he began to step out of the bubble.

"Ash."

he said.

"Yeah?"

the young colt asked.

"Keep yourself safe."

And with that, Turner stepped out of the bubble completely and began fighting the swarms around him, his limbs rested and senses sharp.

Quill helped as well. Using her shaky, newfound abilities as an advantage, she tricked changelings into crashing into each other while leading a chase for the amulet with Chrysalis hot on her tail.

"You will not defeat me!"

Chrysalis stated, trying to shoot green beams of magic at the white pegasus. Quill simply smiled.

"You will not get the amulet!"

she answered in the same tone as the queen, annoying Chrysalis that much more.

Quill then swerved to the left and began flying back toward the battle field, causing Chrysalis to fall behind after crashing into a rock. Quill's hooves touched the ground as she rushed to her friends, who'd managed to weaken the changeling army considerably.

"*huff* I think I've weakened her *puff* enough."

she reported. Time Turner gave a weak smile as he limped back into Firecracker's protection bubble.

"So, is it time?"

he asked.

"I think it is. It's time ta end dis! Once and for all!"

Firecracker answered.

With that, Firecracker dimmed the glow in her horn, causing the bubble to vanish. Chrysalis landed in front of them, her breath heavy and her steps shaky.

"So? Anymore tricks up your sleeves?"

she asked weakly. The three ponies smiled and Ash began to laugh.

"Just one. Just one thing we have on our side. the one thing that's been against you since day one. The prophesy."

Turner started.

"My mom's book is what brought us here today, because she knew ya would try ta bring harm and deceit to Equestria. She got da signs from da tree of harmony that the amulet we now have would be rediscovered, and she also knew who da tree chose to stop ya from goin through with ya plans."

Firecracker continued. With each word, the amulet began to glow silver once more, but this time it began to slowly turn white and swirled calmly around the charm.

Encouraged by this, Ash took a step forward.

"I didn't know about the tree or the prophesy, but I knew without a doubt that you would be stopped. The evil in Equestria can never last long among those that hold friendship true to their hearts, and whether by the elements of harmony or the amulet of balance, the love and happiness we demonstrate each and every day will help and guide to defeat those who try to destroy it."

Ash continued, his words making the amulet shine brighter.

With a small hug to him, Quill stepped forward last.

"You can never rule in Equestria. Your hatred and dark magic will always be balanced with our love and friendship. Wisteria told us at the beginning of this journey that the lessons we learn throughout everything we face will assist us in a danger we will face in the future. I don't know what we'll face or how we'll face it, but I do know one thing."

Quill started. With her words, the white light began to swirl around Chrysalis as the eyes in all four ponies began to glow white.

"It'll be a story and adventure MUCH more interesting than whatever YOU had planned."

With the final words, the light swirled like a tornado around the changeling queen, who screamed and cursed as she began to slowly fade away.

"NO!"

she shouted. And with that, she was gone.

When the light faded, the four ponies were collapsed on the ground, exhausted from the magic they've unleashed.

"Is everypony okay?"

Quill asked. Everypony murmured and nodded yes while getting to their hooves, dusting themselves off all the way. Firecracker levitated the amulet and cast a teleportation spell.

"Where did you send it?"

Ash asked.

"To da chamber of da tree of harmony. It should be kept safe there."

Firecracker answered.

Turner raised an eyebrow.

"Ash? How did you know Firecracker had teleported the amulet?"

he asked. Ash gasped at his brother's words, the truth made clear to him.

"T-Turner! I-I can see it! All the colors, shapes and lights! All of it's blurry, but I can see it! I-I can SEE IT!"

Everypony was shocked at the news. They began to cheer and hug Ash as he stared at the scenery around him, tears glistening in his eyes, which were now a chocolate brown. Quill laughed and began flying into the air in joy.

"Now that Chrysalis is gone, what do you guys say to a trip back home? I think we have a couple ponies to see back there anyway."

she said with a smile.

Turner at first looked startled, but then smiled.

"Yeah. Let's go home."

he answered, as Ash nodded in agreement. Firecracker poked at the ground with her hooves.

"But, once I go back ta Manehattan, I'll just get arrested."

Turner and Quill looked at each other and smiled while Ash began pulling on Firecracker's hoof, urging her to begin walking.

"I think we can fix that."

Quill said simply.

Epilougue

Time Turner's hooves shook as he stared up at the house. The house he ran away from over a year ago. Firecracker stood by his side, a grey hood over head that connected to a black hoodie that she now wore. Ash stood on the other side of him, his mane and coat clean and new, round glasses framing his eyes.

"May as well do it now that ya here."

Firecracker whispered. Time Turner nodded and began to raise his hoof shakily to the door, giving four short knocks as he did.

Hoof steps were heard from inside the house as someone came to answer. The door opened to reveal a grey earth pony stallion with a light blue, wavy mane and a pocket watch for a cutie mark.

"T-Time Turner? I-I-is that really you?"

the stallion quavered, tears emerging in his eyes. Turner's body was still quivering, but Turner forced himself to stay balanced, especially in front of his father.

"Yes Dad. It's me. I've come home."

The stallion's eyes filled with tears as he hugged Turner tightly, not wanting to let go anytime soon. At that moment, a sandy yellow pegasus mare with a copper brown mane and a sun shaped clock cutie mark flew to the doorway, hardly believing everything she'd just heard.

"He's home? Clockwork, is he really home?"

she asked, tears trickling down her cheek. Clockwork opened his embrace so his wife could hug Turner as well.

"Yes Sun Dial. He's home!"

After a few moments, Turner finally spoke up.

"I'm not the only one."

Turner and Firecracker both stepped to the side to reveal Ash, who was smiling at the sight of his parents.

"ASH BRUSH!"

the parents said in unison, pulling their youngest son in for a hug. Ash was too happy to speak, so he let his parents give him all the live he's wanted from them.

"Now, what I'd like to know is where you've both been! We've been worried sick about you!"

Sun Dial said.

With a deep breath, Turner nodded and began to tell the story. Of the attack, Ash being blinded, the hospital escape, the lie, and of Turner running away. Firecracker and Ash jumped in when they described how Firecracker found Ash and had taken care of him the past year. All three of them began telling their sides of the story when they got to the journey they've gone on. Clockwork and Sun Dial listened intently, questioning the confusing parts and laughing at the right places.

"So, young lady. I suppose we have you to thank for protecting Ash Brush for us in the past year."

Clockwork said, patting Firecracker on the back. Firecracker began to blush, which was pretty abnormal for the unicorn.

"Oh, it was nuttin. Really, I didn't do much. Honestly, all I gave him was a roof over his head and a ton a trouble with da city because of me."

"But Firecracker! We got it all sorted out with the princesses remember? Your off the hook now!"

Ash said, giving Firecracker a hug.

"Yes, and Quill had even offered you a part of her house in Ponyville for you to live in as a roommate."

Turner chimed in. Firecracker began to grin.

"Yeah, she did. And all I can say to ya, is thanks. Ya guys are da greatest bunch o ponies that a time displaced unicorn could evah hope ta meet!"

Firecracker sniffed, her happy emotions finally showing on her face.

"Speaking of Quill, where is she?"

Sun Dial asked. Turner smiled.

"Don't worry, she'll be here soon. She just had somewhere else she needed to be first."

Sugar Sweet paced the floor of the cloud home profusely, stressing over the news that Soda Pop had told them when she had arrived at Cloudsdale a few hours before.

"Sugar, calm down. Soda just said she was involved in a quest of a sort with Turner and another pony. She's a smart mare, she'll be fine."

Wind Slicer said calmly, causing Soda to nod in agreement.

"I know, but what if she's hurt Slicer? She might be stuck somewhere and not be able to get out because of her wings! Oh, the poor dear could be a changeling's love banquet by now!"

"Or maybe she's standing right outside!"

a voice shouted, causing everypony to turn their heads toward the door at the sound. Soda rushed out of the door, her eyes searching for the source of the voice.

"Quill? Is that you? Where are you?"

she asked, earning worried glances about from Sugar and Slicer.

"Look up!"

the voice called again.

The three ponies looked up and gasped. Quill was flying gracefully above them, her wings now used to maneuvering the air again. With a small twirl, she landed shakily next to them, her hooves not used to the softness of clouds.

"Hi guys! Did ya miss me?"

Quill asked with a grin.

The three pegasai didn't say a word. They all simply crowded around Quill, hugging her, kissing her, and showering her with love.

"But, how are you flying? The doctors said nothing could cure your wing."

Wind Slicer asked at last. Quill smiled.

"They didn't say anything about magic. My new friend Firecracker from Manehattan and her ghost mom cured me after I got zapped by a changeling during a battle in the Badlands."

she answered casually, earning worried looks from her parents and a shaking head from her cousin.

"Badlands? Changelings? Does that mean you ACTUALLY faced Queen Chrysalis?"

Soda Pop asked. Quill nodded.

"Yeah! And if you need more proof, Time Turner and Firecracker are waiting at Clockwork and Sun Dial's house in Canterlot for us! Anypony up for a little flying trip?"

Sugar raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure you can handle it?"

she asked. Quill rolled her eyes.

"Yes mom. Don't forget, I DID have flying lessons before the accident. I may be outta practice but I know what I'm doing."

Quill said with a small laugh. With those words, the three pegasai took flight and headed toward Canterlot, with Quill not walking below them, but flying beside them.

'Dear Journal,

After that day, It's safe to say things didn't exactly return to normal. After my parents and Turner's parents found out that we were telling the truth, they began writing to us every week to make sure we were alright and even visited Ponyville every few months.

Despite that, I'd say life became as normal as it could get. Ash Brush came to live with Time Turner at the clock shop and even earned his cutie mark in art, which he used to draw more business into the shop. Firecracker moved into my house with me and got a job with Rarity at the Carousel Boutique, using her skills and magic as an advantage to find gems for different designs. I can tell she misses Manehattan, but I'm glad that's she found a good life here in Ponyville, especially because she doesn't have her name on Manehattan's most wanted anymore.

As for me, I decided to take a break from my usual travel and stay in Ponyville with my friends and do some collaborative poem writing with a pony named Ink. Our first book was a success and Princess Twilight even keeps a copy of it in the library! I guess it must be good if Twilight likes it!

Wisteria still visits Firecracker sometimes, but so far it was just for catching up with her, which I think is pretty nice considering all the responsibilities she might have, being a ghost...sorry...Etherial Rogue and all.

Ever since the quest we haven't gotten any word about the pony we're gonna have to help, but I bet the story will be just as good as this one, which I'm already writing as an autobiography. I still can't think of a title though. I'm torn between the Changeling menace and Journey to the center of Equestria. Maybe Turner and Firecracker can help me decide when I see them at Sugarcube Corner for cupcakes with Pinkie! Speaking of, I'd better go! I'll write again soon journal!

-Quill'

With a sigh, Quill put her pencil down and closed her notebook, which had several pages ripped out because of the notes she's written on them during the quest. She stretched her wings and began trotting down the stairs and out the door of the house, which had been painted yellow thanks to Firecracker. With a smile, Quill spread her wings and flew into town, not knowing that a pony was watching nearby.