Chapters Prologue
Twilight had never felt better. Everything was going so well, how could she feel any less? She made amends to her old friends in Canterlot; a big regret from her past life. Her position as a princess was becoming less difficult as she gained experience, and suddenly her castle didn't seem so overwhelming. The concert the other day with her friends was icing on the cake, and each slice of life she ate maintained its sweetness. Truly, the purple princess was at peace.
Stepping through her castle doors, returning home, Twilight Sparkle gave a content sigh. She walked further, into the main room, and then took a surprised step back. The pony she saw, legs propped up on the castle's map of Equestria, had a smirk that was all but friendly.
"Twilight Sparkle, welcome home~" Starlight Glimmer cooed.
Twilight took up a glare towards her, getting fierce in retaliation of the smooth talking villain. "What are you doing in my home?? You are NOT welcome here!"
Starlight simply snickered, reclining with her hooves behind her head. "Oh, I'll tell you what I'm doing here, don't you worry. What would a revenge plan be without a little monologuing?"
Twilight's horn began to glow, but Starlight continued on talking casually. "You remember when you destroyed my town, don't you? Took the equality away, and left only..." She makes a few gagging noises. "Democracy? Freedom? Disorder? You remember breaking the harmony I had made, right?"
Twilight kept her magic ready, but allowed the conversation to continue for the moment. "I remember rescuing the ponies of that town from a dictatorship. One that /you/ created.
Starlight ignored Twilight's allegations. "Good, you do. Well, I also remember that pony with you telling me a map sent you there. Pinkie Pie, was that her name? Regardless, after you ran me out of town, I did a little investigating. With some stalking, a bit of research and a disguise or two, I think I know more about this map than even you do."
"How? There aren't any books about it, or I would have already known!"
Starlight laughed, "Oh Twilight, you thought I meant I researched the map itself? I researched you, and your little friends too!" Sitting up straight in Twilight's throne, Starlight ran her hooves over the map. "This is connected to the six of you, and more importantly, your cutie marks. Plus, it is very powerful! More powerful than you would ever know. I woooonder, what would happen if- Oh, I don't know, if somepony put a little time travel spell into it, hmm?"
Now Twilight was aware of the threat, quickly taking position and firing her magic at Starlight. Though Starlight was already gone, her spell cast, sending her who-knows where. Thinking fast, Twilight attempts to cast the spell herself. Before she can, she POOFs out of existence. And then Ponyville POOFed out of existence. And Equestria. And following them, the universe they knew ceased to exist.
Chapter One: A New Brand Deal
Rainbow Dash flew by fast, racing the Junior Speedster bullies in an attempt to stand up for Fluttershy. She didn't know her all that well, but Dash was tired of them picking on all the new kids. With each turn, her speed increased, her body starting to feel like it was tearing a rift in the very sky from the sheer force. Sparks started to go off around her, Dash determined to keep going, faster and faster until...
A blast of magic struck her side, causing her to steer of course. "W-whooooa!" Luckily, she touched down on a cloud instead on falling down to Earth. "Eeerguh.. Ooooow..." The flyer rubbed her injured wing.
"Dash!" Gilda hurried over to her side, trying to comfort her. "Is it supposed to bend like that...?"
"Uuurgh.." On Rainbow's flank, there was her newly achieved cutie mark; a cartoon portrayal of a crash.
"Ha! Now you really are Rainbow Craaaash!" While the bullies took their victory, insulting the injured Dash, Fluttershy quietly snuck away to go home and hide in her room.
Rarity was dragged by her horn across plains and fields, deserts and grasslands, until arriving on a rock face. The filly looked up at the large boulder in front of her, and scoffed. "A ROCK?! THAT is my destiny!?!"
Later that day, Rarity made it to where she had been walking. Spotting another filly, she trotted over and cleared her throat. "Ahem.. Terribly sorry, but I think I belong here..." Rarity turned to show the rock mark on her flank.
"You're not happy either, huh..?" Pinkie Pie mopped back, showing off the rock mark of her own. "Looks like we're gunna be mining rocks, forever. C'mon, hard hats and pick axes are over here..."
Running away from home wasn't easy on Applejack. She longed for the farm, wishing to go back. The fancy life in Manehatten wasn't very appealing, so she found herself looking out the window towards Sweet Apple Acres. After a few moments passed, she went back to trying to mingle with the Oranges.
This was it. Twilight Sparkle's one chance to impress the judges, and get into the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns. All she had to do was hatch their dragon egg. Her parents were watching from the sidelines, all eyes trained on her. But all her concentration and eye squeezing did nothing. She apologized to the judges, and trudged over to her parents through her shame, going home.
Eying Twilight's failure through the Canterlot window, Starlight grinned. Her revenge was even sweeter than she could have imagined. Walking away, she planned on returning to her village, then Starlight stopped in her tracks. "No.." She only now realizes that she is trapped in the past, with any future she knew gone. "No! I.. There must be... GRAH!!" Starlight cursed herself, going elsewhere to come up with a new plan. Though even after this realization, she still was unaware of the consequences she set in motion, far worse than what she could foresee. It would take years, but nonetheless, this new world would be doomed. All because of the ignorance of Starlight Glimmer.
Chapter Two: Goodnight Sun
"Princess, the ponies of Ponyville are expecting you in less than an hour! Should we prepare the chariot?" The Captain of the Royal Guard asks Celestia, oblivious to her slightly nervous expression.
"Yes.. I will be right with you, I only need some water before we go."
Flash Sentry nods and salutes, heading off to do as she requests. Celestia puts away her journal, her entry about dreading her sister's return finished. She knows what Starswirl predicted; the stars aiding in her escape, to bring upon eternal night. She's aware it is today, and that she was unable to find a pony to take up the elements when she is captured. Sunset Shimmer appeared promising, but her ego and impatience proved otherwise. Starlight Glimmer before her had shown the same; once she rose to a level higher in society, she started to act as though she could control those less fortunate.
After those two students of hers, no other pony caught her eye. None seemed promising enough to handle the responsibility. Young Twilight Sparkle trained so much for the chance, and Celestia thought she could be her savior. But it was all for not, the Princess could not pass the pony who had already failed on day one. No other ponies could meet the standards she needed. So now, Celestia takes a moment to breathe, before leaving to go face her corrupted sister.
Starlight pushes past the crowd of ponies, "Move it, would you? Get away! Watch it, I'm going in front!" Eventually she's closest to the balcony, waiting to see Celestia's Sun Celebration. She missed it this year in her own timeline, which means her current self is still missing it, but that only means to her that she should see the sights this time around. She readies her camera, knowing how rare pictures of Celestia were at this year's event, though she's not sure why.
Mayor Mare steps up to the front of the balcony, raising her hoof with a smile on her face. "Fillies and gentle-colts! As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my..."
Starlight, getting bored, blocks out the overly upbeat pony's speech. Some cellist plays a piece for the event, and the light comes on where Celestia will enter. But Celestia doesn't enter, leaving Starlight to stand there awkwardly with the camera to her face. 'No wonder the photos were so rare, it was a no-show! Typical for a princess to ruin something good,' she thinks to herself just before a swirling mass of purple smoke takes up the space. The evil laughter takes up the room, soon revealing none other than Nightmare Moon!
"Oh, my beloved subjects," she begins. "It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces."
"Who is this?!" Starlight yells, obviously angered by the whole ordeal. "I came for the Princess, not some poser in a Nightmare Night costume!"
"SILENCE!!" The Queen of Darkness fires a beam of magic in Starlight's direction, which she sidesteps away from. "YOU HAVE ALL FORGOTTEN THY NAME SO EASILY? Let us see if you all recall once ALL of Canterlot is ours!" Nightmare Moon blasts a few walls, then exits stage left.
Starlight scoffs. "As if she is about to do just that. I've seen what happens, and that is not it!"
About an hour later, Nightmare has Celestia caged in her own throne room. The guards are in the dungeon, any other ponies are simply too afraid to do anything. The sky is looking to be the eternal night she craved, and now she is pleased. Nightmare Moon trots up to her old sister to gloat. "You thought keeping me confined to the moon would prevent this? You were a fool, then and now! Darkness will be all this kingdom receives, FOREVER!"
Celestia defeatedly looks her in the eyes. She knows she has lost, and even more than that, she has lost Equestria to the shroud of the moon. "I am sorry, Luna..." A tear falls from her cheek, hitting the cold metal cage's floor.
Outside the castle, the disharmony in the air is still very powerful. The statue cracks, and then shatters, a deep chuckle coming from the creature inside.
Chapter Three: Enter the Chaos King
With nothing to do, helpless in her own castle, Celestia rests on the cage floor. Her sister had done it. Canterlot was overthrown, and she had brought upon everlasting night. It was all hopeless now. Hopeless...
"Well, this sun doesn't seem bright at all. Too busy being eclipsed by the other celestial rear end of the moon?" Discord floats beside the princess, laying on air with his hands on his chin as if to listen. "You know, they say disharmony only brings more trouble, but I just don't see it!"
"Discord..." Celestia doesn't seem surprised, nor does she turn her head. "I cannot stop you from doing as you please.. I only beg that you do not hurt the ponies of Equestria."
"A favor? Really?" The Draconequus taps a talon to his chin. "That's funny. I leave for, oh I don't know, eons was it? And the moment I return, you already need me! I don't even recall why I was gone, Celestia knows why. Oh! That's right! You are Celestia! Yesyesyes, I remember now. Locked away in stone ."
With his sudden change in tone, Celestia knows he's in no mood to listen to what she has to say. 'My embarrassment is little compared to their safety..' The princess goes over in her head. "I.. Will be your loyal servant, never will I go against your word, if you keep them safe..."
Discord snorts. "Oh please, if I wanted to I could warp your mind at any moment! Then you wouldn't want to disobey me!"
'It needs to be more...' Going against her own instincts, she attempts to play the affection card. Leaning in, Celestia kisses his lips.
"A bit half-(PG)ed, don't you think?"
Celestia opens her eyes, revealing that she's kissing Cranky Doodle Donkey. Quickly she rears her head back in surprise, too stunned to apologize to the borough.
"You think I wanted to kiss you, Celestia? You believe that I would just fall into your hooves, and do as you asked because you came onto me ? How assuming and sexist of you, their supposed leader!" Discord rants from outside the cage, a closed paw to his forehead in disgust. "Plus, you are downright ugly. Have you forgotten a couple decades of shampoo? Your mane seems to go just about everywhere on its own."
Nightmare Moon comes to the sound of the commotion, instantly spotting the abomination to nature. "Halt, Discord! Be gone from thy castle!"
That only makes him chuckle. "Your castle? You've got it all wrong, you see! The sky isn't even night anymore!" Cracking his neck, the sun comes back up.
Nightmare gasps, looking out at the sight. "You will NOT take my reign from me!!" Acting rashly, she fires a beam in his direction. It goes right through him, naturally, and destroys the lock on Celestia's cage.
Slowly turning back to see, Discord places a paw to his mouth. "Did I do that? Oh, terribly sorry, Nightmare was it? I would certainly hate to ruin all your fun, I'll go. But before I do, to make it up to you somewhat, you have something on your face."
"We.. We do?" Nightmare tries wiping her face with a hoof, confused.
"Yes! Let me just get that for you real quick. Seems to be a nasty spill of darkness." Before she can object, a beam of light shoots out of Discord's open paw, vaporizing the evil confined in Luna.
"NO! NOOOOOORAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHH!!!" After it has all dissipated, Luna falls to the floor, clean of her dark curse.
"Discord.. You've done it!" Celestia hurries to her sister's side, overjoyed.
"You're right! I did do it!" Another, bigger cage comes up from underneath the princesses, imprisoning them once more. "I finally took over this dump to be my own chaos capital of the world! How kind of you to celebrate with me, a true sport!"
Starlight grumbles over not getting to see Celestia again. Ever since Glimmer was dropped from being her number one student, not even glimpses of her came. Did she resent her for it? Of course, it was even why she formed her own philosophy of equalism with herself on top. But that didn't mean she didn't want to see her for celebrity reasons.
"Attention, citizens of Ponyville!" Blinking out of her deep thinking, Starlight looks up at the many holograms of Discord around town. "You are now the citizens of Discordville! It's the wonderful town you'll never want to leave, because wanting to leave will put you in jail!" Walls rise from all sides of the town, until Ponyville is in a bubble of glass.
Starlight starts putting two and two together, remembering Nightmare Moon's threat, and changing Twilight's past, and now this. "...Crap."
A Bug to a Boot Must Seek Help
Chapter Four: A Bug to a Boot Must Seek Help
Months have gone by, and Starlight has had it with her confinement. She considers leaving the Golden Oaks basement to get away from the pony she now deems to be the most annoying mare on the planet, but this is the only place where they aren't monitored.
"Trixie cannot believe how long she's had to live in this town! Trixie is meant to amaze and entertain, not smile and wave! Trixie-"
"Trixie has done nothing but complain every single day since this happened!" Starlight snaps at the blue magician, her jaw locking up a bit from the straining. "You nag and nag and nag, and for what? We're still no closer to getting out of here, so get used to it!"
"Hmmph!" Trixie retaliates. "She can complain as much as she'd like when put in this.. This caaage!" Starlight only groans in reply.
Queen Chrysalis flies through the cold, windy air. Her wings buzz harder than usual, her destination both treacherous to reach and possibly even more dangerous to enter. The Queen has no other choice, however. She needs help, something must be done. Making it past the icy tundra, Chrysalis then enters the Crystal Empire; Sombra's returned domain. By the looks of it, he has already regained control.
Chrysalis takes the form of a female Umbra, hoping that seeing another of his own species will make him less inclined to enslave her, or worse. Walking past the enchained ponies, up into the crystal palace and into the throne room is where she finds him.
The dark King growls in distaste. "Noooot reeaaaal!" He leaves his throne in a mist of black smoke, reforming beside her, breathing down Chrysalis' neck. "Shoooow yourssssselff!"
She appears unphased. "You saw through my disguise, nicely done." She reverts back via her whiff of green flames. "Just as I saw through your voice. You're trying to sound scary? Someone should have informed you by now that it isn't helping."
Sombra snarls, then stops, questioning if she's trying to be helpful or not. "..." He moves away from her. "What is your purpose here, bug? I have only just reclaimed my kingdom, it has been a stressful week."
"You don't remember me? I'm hurt, really." Chrysalis flicks her forked tongue out in his direction. "It was my kingdom first, you do realize. Until you tricked me, forced me and my followers from our home and turned us into the monsters we are today. Or as you so delicately put, bugs."
"Mmm. I recall none of this." The King begins walking back to his throne, sitting in it lazily.
"Fine. Regardless of your brutish past, I need your help fixing a problem that can bother the both of us."
Sombra merely rolls his eyes. "Let the princesses try to reclaim this place. They will never find the crystal heart, or defeat me a second time."
Queen Chrysalis walks closer, her expression nervous. "The princesses aren't the problem. It's Discord." Now she has caught his attention.
Digging fast, Starlight breaks a sweat. She knows she can't stop, or risk getting detained in one of Discord's prison camps. Meanwhile, Trixie is laying on a pile of books off to the side. "It can't be done! Not even Trixie's magic could help enough to escape..!"
"I don't need your help!" Starlight shouts back, tossing dirt behind her. "This isn't the first escape tunnel I've dug, and it isn't the longest either!"
With enough grit, patience and determination, eventually she finishes her tunnel from the Golden Oaks basement and to the outside world. Trixie comes over to praise her, after all the doubt. "You have done it! Trixie is saved, all thanks to you!"
"Now I need to go find the pony who can fix this.." Starlight mutters to herself, thinking things over in her head.
"After you! You may have the honors of escaping first, since it was your hard work." Trixie is really only afraid that they might be caught, wanting to use her as bait.
With her back turned, Starlight's eyes move to the direction of her agonizing voice. Her horn powers up, and casts a spell to push Trixie away from her and back into the library. "Hey-!" Before the blue mare can complain some more, Starlight blasts the entrance of the tunnel, side stepping out before it crumbles behind her.
Discord is being fed grapes while lounging across the throne. Celestia has never felt so eager to take up plumbing if it meant not having to put up with this clown prince of chaos. While massaging his scaly foot, Luna whispers to her. "I am so sorry, sister.. This is all our fault, I-"
Discord cuts her off by clamping her muzzle with two reptilian toes. "Uh-uh-uh! As much as I do love a good soap opera family apology, I am trying to relax."
Celestia walks in through the front door, making Discord, Luna and Celestia turn their heads to her. "Discord, that Celestia is an imposter! Put her in chains!"
The Draconequus eyes the princess near him. "Well? Are you the real one, or are you lying to yourself?" Unable to come up with a response, Celestia just looks from him to herself across the way.
"It looks like you both will have to feed me, since we are unable to form a thorough investigation currently." He snaps his fingers, bringing the duplicate next to the other.
"Oh, I don't think there's much time for that~" Celestia flashes green, back into the Queen of the Changelings. An instant later, shadows engulf Discord's head, causing him to flail.
"Graaaah-!!"
The Three Faces of Sunlight Glitter
Chapter Five: The Three Faces of Sunlight Glitter
"Graaaah-!!" The darkness is all around Discord as he tries to get it away, but he was taken by surprise. He falls face first to the floor, Sombra rising from the shadows and into his physical form. Discord lays there, unmoving.
Chrysalis cackles with delight. "You killed him! And I thought I was cruel~"
"He's not dead," Sombra mutters, now somewhat disappointed he got all that praise for nothing. "He's unconscious. When he wakes, he will be under my command."
"That sounds even better to me, mrahaha!" The Queen can barely contain her excitement; not only have they stopped the possible threat to each other, but they have just taken over in his place too! And she didn't even need to do her elaborate plan to takeover. "Of course, I'm assuming you don't plan to betray me right now, but you wouldn't do that hmm?"
Sombra's grumbling intensifies. "You can be useful.. Your changelings can have Canterlot, just leave me my empire."
"As you wish~"
"Nrrg.." Discord stirs, climbing slowly to his feet, eyes closed.
The King clears his throat, shifting his hooves to stand tall. "Discord, come with me. You will be my entertainment in the Crystal Empire."
Now standing tall himself, Discord breathes in. He appears to be more calm, his hands in loose fists. Then his eyes open, misty just as Sombra's are. "No." His paw swiftly points to the floor, the other two villains falling through it. The princesses nervously watch as he retakes his seat, arms on the armrests, shoulders broad. He raps his fingers against the ends, and when he cricks his neck, the princesses follow the others down below the ground.
Starlight sneaks through the newly installed Canterlot dungeons, past the various rowdy residents. "Shhh, quiet! I'll get you all out if you just shut up!" She has no intention of getting them all out. Chrysalis hisses at her from behind the bars. 'They're putting hideous monsters in here too?' The mare thinks to herself, going down the winding path until she finds her; Twilight Sparkle.
"You!" Starlight rushes to the pony, looking over the gate for a way of unlocking it. "We're leaving here, you better be ready to run if we're seen!"
The mare with the book cutie mark blinks, sitting upright. "Me? Why me? I'm just a regular old unicorn.. And anyways, the cells are magic proof, and I don't even know you!"
"It's you !" The new voice makes Starlight forget about Twilight for a moment, looking in the cell next to her at Sunset Shimmer. "What are you doing here? Celestia already decided that you weren't worthy, you can give up this pathetic hero act!"
A smug grin crosses Starlight's face, running her hoof over the bars. "Is that so? Isn't it strange how you were not only judged to be the same, but banished to another world? Why aaaare you back, anyways? Couldn't listen to her rules again, you little rebel you? I suppose some of us mature faster than others, Shimmer."
Sunset grits her teeth in anger. "I had a plan when I came back! I was going to rule all of Equestria, but I couldn't account for someone getting it before me , now could I?"
"Such a high expectation to have! A completely misguided one, but admirable, truly! I'll tell you what, after I fix the world, we'll see how far you get, alright? Now take it easy, I know how bad your hormones get, always throwing hissy fits like some teenage beasty."
That sets Shimmer off. Yelling insult after insult, she tries to dig away at Starlight's mocking smile. Though the Marxist mare ignores her ramblings, pulling a bobby pin from her mane to pick the lock on Twilight's door, swinging it open. "Hurry, Twilight. She's as loud as a siren, we may be heard and chased."
Hesitantly, the purple pony stands and nods, running with her back the way she came in.
Sombra runs at full force into the bars, releasing his animalistic roars of dismay.
"Calm yourself, Sombra dear. A tantrum won't help any." Chrysalis lays on her hooves casually, watching him struggle. "Can you not just shadow out the door?"
"Can you not just turn into a small animal and escape?" The King snarls back, banging some more.
"Our magic tricks may be countered by Discord's prison, but he does not know about the card up my sleeve. Patience, Sombra. I have already reached out through the hive link, my children will come."
Chapter Six: You Did WHAT?!
They trekked for hours, making sure to put enough distance between Canterlot and themselves. Starlight insisted they wait to get away before speaking, eventually slumping over beside a tree stump. "Alright, this will be enough.. Sit, and listen to everything before asking any questions."
Silently, Twilight obliges, resting on the floor.
"Okay, now.. My name is Starlight Glimmer. I was a student under Celestia, just like you."
"I wasn't a student of Celestia!" Twilight blurts out.
"What did I just tell you?? No questions until I'm finished!"
"But that wasn't a question-!"
"QUIET!" Starlight tenses up, quickly rubbing her head after from feeling a sharp pang.
Twilight flinches, not wanting to set the possibly insane pony off again. "Okay, I'll be quiet, promise.. You did help me escape, after all.."
"Where was I..." Star shakes her head clear. "Yes.. You were a student of Celestia. Not in this world, but another that's the same, it's all very confusing really." She stares Twilight down, seeing how eager to interject she appears. "In this other world, you were taught how to be a powerful unicorn, like me, by the princess. Years later, you made five friends, and with them used the Elements of Harmony. You also had a pet dragon or whatever, he was short. Anyways, you learned things about "true friendship" and what it meant, and reported to Celestia."
"-Then one day, you passed a test, and Celestia turned you into a princess yourself. The Princess of Friendship, a tacky title, I know. Somewhere along the way you got your own castle and your brother married Princess Cadance and something about you saving another dimension? It got a little blurry there, from what I could find out. But all these villains, taking over the world now? You and your friends stopped them. All of them."
"-And I was one of those villains. Your arch nemesis; the only one who even came close. I created a town that made every pony equal, by removing their cutie marks so that nopony could be better than another. And you and your annoying friends swooped in and ruined it all! Giving them back-" Starlight catches herself monologuing again, coughing into her hoof.
"I mean to say, you returned the cutie marks to the ponies, and I fled. I spent the better part of a few months researching you and your friends, learning what I could to plot my revenge. Using a map in your castle tied to the six of you, and a time spell I learned in the Canterlot Archives, I had enough power to jump back and change the one thing that made the six of you become what you did. But in the end, it didn't even matter that I bested you, because I was stuck in the past! Then the world started falling apart at the seems, and that's when I really learned how key you were to keeping the balance."
Slooooowly, Twilight nods. "That.. Is a lot to take in. A /lot/. In fact, it's too much, so I'm just going to assume you're telling the truth and that you aren't completely out of your mind. I'm guessing from all that you said... You came to me to see if I knew a way to stop all this?"
"Yes. And thank you for your faith in me, it really gets me right there in my heart."
"Well.. I have read up a lot about paradoxes.." The book mare, glances at the ground in thinking. "If you came into contact with yourself from this timeline, in theory it could disrupt the flow of everything and move it back to the other path..."
"Great, knew you could do it, let's go." Springing up, Starlight wastes no time, trotting in the direction of her town. Twilight follows, knowing that even if she is off her rocker, she's no worse than how things will get if she's wrong.
Flash Sentry bows before the throne, practically trembling. "Our scouts have discovered that Cerberus has escaped Tartarus, do you wish us to capture him..?"
Discord sneers, his eyes stone cold, dead serious with the purplish mist protruding from them. "Go to Tartarus. Make sure Tirek does not escape. This is not a story about him, just as it is not about Smooze, or Grogar."
Flash salutes, leaving fast as to not displease him. Discord looks at his paw, deep in thought. Everything was going as he wanted, and yet he did not like what he had. He needed to do more. Chaos was always the only way, after all.
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Starlight, Starlight, Both Stars I See Tonight
Chapter Seven: Starlight, Starlight, Both Stars I See Tonight
Bang. Crash. Slam. Bang. Roar. Nonstop, Sombra repeated his actions, thinking that with enough force he truly could break out of this prison. "Grrraaaaaaahhhhh!!" Bang.
The Queen was getting hungry. She eyes the ponies on the opposite side of her, who are backed against the wall as far from Sombra as they can be. To her, the ponies there seemed barely lovable, but they would do once she's released. Just a kiss, a bit of their energy taken to feed her for what's to come. She licks her lips.
Two guards can be seen walking closer. Once they get too near to the cells, their forms flicker, now changelings in Royal Guard armor. "Momma!" One runs over, looking concerned to see their Queen in such conditions. "Momma, we'll get you out, don't worry!"
"I never doubted you, my children." She smirks, glancing at Sombra who has since stopped his slamming. "Though someone wasted his energy doubting us."
The changelings use their stolen keys to unlock both cells, Sombra grumpily walking out. "Let's go, I need to check on my slaves."
"Patience. Before we leave, we need to still take care of our problem." Chrysalis directs her children to the cells in front of her, getting them open as well. The ponies inside quiver with fear, staring back at the Queen. "And I can't do that on an empty stomach~"
Starlight peers over a rock, watching her old town down below the hill bustle with her ponies. All of them the same, all of them without marks. "The glory days.. I did miss seeing them all, being friendly to one another. Punishing those who acted out, throwing them away to think about their actions. It's how society should work, Twilight, if you had only stopped to think about it too."
Twilight debates leaving, looking at Starlight reminiscing over her dictatorship. 'This pony really has problems...'
"No time to waste, let's go talk to myself." Breathing in deeply, Starlight steps down into her past. Twilight follows along, gulping.
"Starlight?" Sugar Belle trots over to her, confused. "But I just saw you at your home, a-and..." Hey eyes drift, taking notice of her cutie mark.
Seeing the commotion, Double Diamond comes over, first spotting Twilight with Starlight. "Welcome! Starlight, has this pony come to give up her..?" Now he sees the cutie mark too.
"Welcome!" Party Favor is now the only one smiling around them, oblivious to the other's expressions. "Do you want me to give her the tour of our village, Starlight? I just know she'll... Your.. Cutie mark...?"
Starlight recalls the bad parts to her town, now. "These idiots again... Yes, look at my flank. Isn't it so crazy that I kept my cutie mark, but took yours?" She does some sauntering, showing off the uniqueness of it. Twilight knows now that even if she was telling the truth, she is also deranged. "I have to most beautiful mark in all the land! Such a spectacle to be seen, while all of you are lesser than me!"
"What is going on over here?" Starlight pushes Party Favor out of the way, gasping at herself shaking her un-disguised flank in front of her. "What is this?? You can't be me, this is just some trick!" She speaks up louder, to all the bewildered residents. "It's just a trick, everypony! Of course I am like you! Do you think I could actually hide a cutie mark for all these years??"
"We used makeup! With the right colors and a cut out copy of an equal sign, applying it was simple." Starlight counters her own claims.
"Preposterous! What if it rained? I would be exposed!" Starlight was starting to get nervous, all eyes on the both of her. She had no idea who the other Starlight was, but she didn't have time for questions while her life she made was in jeopardy.
"We didn't go out when it rained. And it's the desert, it barely drizzled on a good day!"
Starlight gets up into Starlight's face, scowling. "I don't know who you are, but you cannot just walk into my town and disrupt my life!"
Starlight smirks some more. "Fight me."
Starlight dives at Starlight, tackling Starlight in a fit of rage, but Starlight manages to roll over onto Starlight, Lightstar trying to pin Glimmer Glammer down so to shout over to Twilight. "Your plan isn't working! There aren't any paradoxes being made!"
Stepping away from their fighting range, Twilight shouts back. "If that didn't work, there's only one other idea I have that might do it! But we need to leave!"
Starlight's back hoof in their struggling slides up against the other her's flank, removing a line of the makeup. "Sorry, I've gotta run, but I recommend doing the same to the caves!" With a flash of her horn, she uses a magic bubble to push herself and others away, taking off with Twilight.
"Uug.." Starlight gets up on her hooves, wobbly. Hey eyes glance over all the stern expressions, so she tries her best to save face. "What are you all looking at? They're the problem, not me!" As she places a hoof to her chest, she catches out of the corner of her eye the revealed cutie mark on her. "I..."
Night Glider steps forward. "Get her!"
The angry mob grabs Starlight, the mare flailing and yelling at them. Insult after insult, before being thrown away in the building she threw them into when they broke the rules.
"Was that really how I sounded..?" From a safe distance, Starlight observes the town rebelling and running to the caves for their cutie marks back. Twilight decides not to say she sounds the same now, too. "Whatever.. What is your next brilliant idea, Sparkle?"
Ignoring the way it was put, she answers the question. "You told me that in your world, I had friends who helped stop all these villains, with the help of the Elements. It could very well not work, but I believe the only way to put things back.. Is to find my friends."
