Unfinished Businessby 1BitChaptersChapter 1 - The ReturnChapter 2 - Sweet Apple AcresChapter 3 - ManehattanChapter 4 - DowntownChapter 5 - RarityChapter 1 - The Return "We stopped King Sombra! You and me and all of our friends!" The words on the page began to dance in and out of Twilight's vision and she squinted hard to try and make out what they said, but to no avail. "But we aren't friends, at least not here." The harder she tried to look, the more and more the words began to split apart and blur in her vision. A purple aura soon shut the book with a loud slam as the same aura brought another one in front of the alicorn. "We're going to set things right..." She flicked through each page but every one she turned to was more distorted than the last and did nothing to quell her growing frustration. Another book slammed, another book placed in front of her. "...I hope you do." "Ugh!" Twilight exclaimed, the piles of books surrounding her collapsing in unison. This only annoyed her further. "Why can't I concentrate?" The princess' cries attracted the attention of her newly reformed student, Starlight. She looked up from the scroll she was writing to see Twilight slamming her head repeatedly into the table she was sat at. Starlight trotted over to her, looking down at the dishevelled princess. She may not have known much about being a good friend yet, but it was still obvious when someone wasn't feeling their self. "Twilight?" Twilight momentarily looked up from the table. "Yes, Starlight?" "Uh, are you alright?" She shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, you've been really...scattered recently." Starlight looked over the princess, realising how much of an understatement 'scattered' was. Twilight's mane was completely frazzled, with some strands wildly flailing about. Not to mention that dark bags had begun to appear beneath her eyes. Twilight stared at her student, concocting a variety of fake and guilt-ridden smiles. "Scattered? Oh please, I'm fine! I'm doing great, in fact!" However, all that greeted her was a raised eyebrow from Starlight. She sighed. "Alright, I guess I have been a little all over the place as of recent." "But why?" Starlight replied. "It isn't something I've done is it? Have I already messed up?" Starlight gulped nervously, biting her lower lip. Twilight shook her head. "Oh don't worry Starlight, it isn't anything you've done." This only confused Starlight further, and she cocked her head slightly. "Then what's the problem?" "Oh I don't know." Twilight looked down again, sighing. She got up from her perch at the table and made for the door. Starlight followed her out, sticking close by her side. The castle was still quite barren, mostly made up of untouched crystal walls and perfectly polished crystal hallways. However, little things that the two came across clearly showed the personal touches the castle had received. Beautifully crafted flower arrangements placed in equally beautiful white vases. Hoof-made curtains and carpets that displayed a variety of earthly colours and patterns. The large trophy cabinet with shelves that were filled to the brim with various blue ribbons, golden cups and photographs. All signs of the love that Twilight and her friends had put into the castle to make it more homely. The two mares continued on, passing through the grand, double doors that led into the map room. The map seemingly glowed brighter upon their approach and a low, soft hum was emitted from it. Twilight instinctively sat herself down on her own throne and the cutie mark which decorated it glowed a deep purple. Starlight decided to just stand. The last time she'd sat in one of those thrones...she shook her head. Best not to think about the past. She'd already played with it enough. Twilight gazed at the map. "I just can't help but think about those other futures I visited. The ponies there were just so...different and depressed." Her mind was a mess of thoughts and emotions as she spoke but her face remained stoic as she addressed Starlight. "Equestria was so cold, there was certainly no friendship there." Starlight gulped. "But, it was all fixed right? The rainboom did happen after all, despite-" Starlight cut the sentence there, tears welling up in her eyes. "-well, you know." Twilight brought Starlight close and gave her a small hug. "It's alright. Don't beat yourself up about it." She let go and began to study the map more closely. "I just can't shake the feeling that the world isn't as fixed as it may seem. Sure the rainboom did eventually happen as it should have, but those other realities I visited, how could they suddenly just cease to exist? Especially when they were so real?" Starlight brought a hoof to her chin. "So, what are you trying to say?" "Well I'm merely suggesting that perhaps these other realities might still exist." Twilight could see the doubt in Starlight's eyes. "I mean, sure, we might be back in the world we belong in, but these were other living, breathing worlds. It just seems impossible for them to suddenly not be there." Starlight nodded slightly as her mind processed her thoughts. Twilight looked at her in dismay. "Just ignore me, I'm rambling on as usual." "Actually, what your saying does make sense." Starlight pointed out. "When I was studying Starswirl's spells, he often discussed the possibilities of alternate universes and how time travel could affect said universes." Starlight grinned. "It would take ages to try and explain it all, but the stallion was a genius." Twilight looked at her with more sadness than before, holding her head in her hooves. Starlight edged a little closer to her, and tentatively put a hoof on her friends shoulder. It still felt alien to her calling the princess of friendship her 'friend'; but she was determined to prove herself worthy of being the friend of such an important pony, especially after all she had done. If that meant just being there to comfort her, that's what she'd do. "I don't expect you to understand Starlight. It's just that I made a promise to a pony in one of those other worlds. And it's been clawing at my mind since I got back." Twilight sniffled. "What good is it anyway? There's no way to see if Starswirl's theory is correct. The spell's gone." The silence in the room was deafening with both Twilight and Starlight frozen there, contemplating. "Well, technically, I can still recreate the spell." Starlight offered, smiling sheepishly. "You don't just study magic and spells for years to suddenly forget them." "It's kind of you to offer Starlight, but there's a good chance that we're just spouting a load of nonsense." "But what if it isn't?" Starlight now began to take more command of the conversation. "These other realities could still be out there and I mean, it's worth a try, isn't it?" Twilight pondered on the point for a minute, looking between Starlight and the map. "I guess so." She said quietly, offering a small smile to Starlight. "If you think you can find a way, then I guess so." Starlight clapped her hooves together in excitement. "Don't worry Twilight, I'll get right on it." She dashed out of the map room before Twilight could say another word. Twilight simply smiled and slumped back in her throne. A shaky breath escaped her mouth and she closed her eyes. "We're going to set things right." Every word seemed to echo around the empty chamber. "I promise you, we'll make it all right." A few days later... The saddlebags Twilight had prepared fit snugly over her back and she smiled as the straps wrapped tight around her. Rarity had insisted on giving her saddlebags that would be more comfortable for the longer journey and Twilight had to admit that they were definitely more comfortable. The soft material felt perfect against her purple coat. Starlight trotted up next to her and smiled. She had a similar set of saddlebags to hers, but her bags clearly showed her cutie mark, beautifully sewn on with some added glitter (courtesy of Pinkie Pie). The two stood there smiling for a while, unsure of what to say. Starlight was the first to break the silence, coughing loudly. "Well, uh, ready to get this show on the road?" She motioned to the map while using her magic to levitate out a small scroll. Twilight simply nodded in agreement. Starlight lifted the scroll up but hesitated. "And you're sure your- I mean, our friends can't help?" "It's not a case that they couldn't help." Twilight pointed out. "But if all of us went, it would definitely create some confusion in this alternate world. Just because things turn out differently in Equestria, doesn't mean that my friends aren't there. Having two of everyone would just make matters worse." "Well I guess we should be off then." Starlight trotted forward and took a deep breath. "Alright, I changed the spell ever so slightly so that all the parameters needed for this other reality to exist are in place. It should mean we can bridge between this Equestria and the other one without needing to go through the rainboom again." The unicorn gulped. "Let's just hope it works." "Don't worry Starlight, I trust you. If anypony's able to pull this off, it's you." Twilight grinned and motioned her forward. Starlight couldn't help but smile as she turned her attention back to the scroll. She unfurled it and with a small amount of effort, fired a blast of magic directly at it. The room was flooded with cyan light as Starlight's magical aura lifted the scroll up high above the map. The map came to life, the edges of it seemingly rippling with energy. Cyan magic flowed around the scroll, creating beautiful arcs in the air. Just like before, soft and angelic rings began to rise up out of the map. The mystical portal began to open above, the faint ticking of clocks heard once again. Starlight held Twilight close as her aura began to encircle the both of them. They lifted off the ground slowly, the ticking and humming noises of the spell growing louder and louder. Twilight shut her eyes tightly, as she felt the portal grab her and pull her in. And just like that, everything was silent. The ticking was gone. Twilight opened her eyes slowly, happy to still feel Starlight next to her. She lifted herself up slowly, throwing her forehooves onto the map to regain her balance. She looked over it quickly, a soft red glow covering the map. Twilight's smile grew wider. "Starlight, you did it!" She exclaimed, double checking that the map was an exact replica of what it once was. "The spell sent us back to the Crystal War reality!" Starlight was still on the ground, rubbing her head. "Crystal War?" She asked, quizzically. Twilight paused and began to laugh nervously. "Oh yeah...I never told you about it did I? Well, let's just say it's quite a long story." Chapter 2 - Sweet Apple AcresThe duo trotted through Ponyville at a snail's pace. They were surrounded by boarded up windows and run down buildings. Everywhere they looked, a shroud of decay coated the once peaceful town and the vibrant colours there once was were now faded into greys and dull whites. Ominous clouds in the sky spoke of the dreaded path that awaited them on their long journey and Starlight could do little to hold back her nerves. "I-I did this?" Starlight's voice cracked slightly, stuttering. "It looks so...empty." "I know it looks bad Starlight, and I agree that it looks empty." Twilight replied, glancing sideways as they passed Sugarcube Corner; a hollow and plain rendition of the one Twilight knew and loved. "But if we can pull this off, then it won't ever look this way again." She cracked a smile. "I'm still not entirely sure what we're trying to pull off here." Starlight blushed, rubbing the back of her head. The two mares followed a winding, dusty path out of Ponyville towards Sweet Apple Acres. Each hoof they put down sent clouds of dust soaring into the air in little pirouettes. "When King Sombra and the Crystal Empire returned to Equestria, it took all of my friends and I to stop him before it was too late. While it would be difficult to create a crystal fair like we did last time, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna used the elements of harmony to banish King Sombra when he first rose to power. If we can bring out the power of the elements once again, perhaps we can end this war before it's too late and Equestria falls because of it." Twilight sighed. "Of course, it all depends on how we're able to approach our friends in this world. I have a funny feeling they've taken up very different roles in this alternate Equestria." The telltale signs of putrid, black smoke rising over the hill suggested they would soon reach their destination. Twilight gulped nervously as more and more of the farm came into view; that is, if it could still be called a farm after all the industrialisation. The brick red columns soared up into the air and sliced through the thick smoke cover which held a tight grasp around the surrounding area. Starlight had a similar initial reaction to Twilight, her mouth agape and her eyes transfixed on the machine that Sweet Apple Acres had become. There seemed to be more activity than when Twilight had visited previously, with towers of barrels all positioned neatly together along the front of the barn. Twilight could make out Applejack and Big Mac's figures through all the smog, bending over various machinery and appliances within the main barn. It pained her to think where Granny Smith and Apple Bloom had ended up in this reality. Twilight galloped up to the window and rapidly tapped a hoof against one of the soot covered glass panes. She continued her incessant tapping until Applejack looked up from her work. It didn't take long for her gaze to rest solely on the purple alicorn standing outside her barn window and she slowly walked out to meet her. "Applejack?" Twilight asked nervously. It had struck her quite soon after their arrival, that the farm pony may not even remember her from the last visit. Applejack was silent for a moment, mentally mulling the situation over. "Hey, yeah, I remember you." She finally spoke up, the southern accent coming through crisp and clear. "You were that, uh, time-travelling alicorn, weren't you?" She looked down at the ground in despair. "Guessing you weren't able to fix anything, considering life is just as miserable as usual." Twilight exchanged glances with Starlight, who merely took a step back and bit her bottom lip. "It didn't turn out how I expected it to, to say the least." Twilight confessed. "We fixed the past, but-" "It didn't fix nothing here, I know." Applejack turned tail and led them into the barn with her. "After the last time you came, I kept thinking about what you said and after the life I've been living, I honestly didn't expect much good would come from whatever you were up to, fixing things and putting things right." The orange pony grabbed one of the rations tins in front of her, bringing it up to her muzzle to inspect it closely. "And I guess I was correct in my assumptions. Because frankly, I don't see much change around these here parts." "Well you're in luck, because this time, I'm here to make sure that everything gets set right." Twilight beamed at her. Applejack rolled her eyes and raised an eyebrow. "And just how do you expect to do that?" She asked the princess. Twilight grinned, levitating out a scroll from Starlight's saddlebags. The scroll was littered from top to bottom with a variety of scribbles and diagrams, all of which were crudely drawn and barely legible. "I have a plan, but if we're going to solve anything, we'll need all of our friends help. Remember those friends I told you about?" Applejack scratched her head, mulling it over. "You mean Pinkiebow and Flutterdash?" "Well actually it's Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity." Twilight replied, blushing. "But yes, we need their help. And well, I'll need your help too." There was a small pause from Applejack. Her face fell and she turned away from Twilight and Starlight, staring up into the vast and dusty expanse of the barn roof. "Look, I know you've never been in a war before, but the work I do here is important. Do you know how hard it is keeping up supply chains for our soldiers on the front line when King Sombra is cutting off half of Equestria from the other half? Shoot, just last week, Appleloosa came under attack from the Crystal Empire." Tears began to form in her eyes and meander down her cheeks. "That was our last main bastion for food production, without them, even more food has to be rationed and we here at Sweet Apple Acres have to work overtime." She looked over to Twilight solemnly. Her face slowly became a contorted mess of sadness and she fell to the ground whimpering. "I-I had family there...lots of them. I even sent my little sister over there hoping she could avoid this whole conflict. Look where that got her. Right in the thick of it." Twilight trotted over to her and sat down. She brought Applejack close and hugged her. "I know it seems crazy, but if you join us, we can make sure they're all safe. We can stop Sombra." Applejack smiled but pushed Twilight away from her, wiping up the last few tears that leaked from her eyes. "I'm sorry but I can't leave. I want to help, I do, but if we're going to win this war, I need to be here. Big Mac won't be able to handle all the production on his own." The earth pony got back up off the dirt, brushing down her overalls. "But if you really are intent on helping, I can at least tell you where Rarity is. If I know Rarity, she'll be helping out in the clothing district in Manehattan." Applejack sighed. "Even clothing's had to be rationed." "Thank you." Twilight replied softly. Applejack simply nodded in reply. "And we'll make sure your sister's okay too." Applejack paused at the door, choking on another wave of tears. "...Thank you." She whispered, before leaving Twilight and Starlight standing alone in the barn, both staring at the farm pony as she trotted away with her head hanging low. Chapter 3 - ManehattanThe Manehattan skyline was a bleak and dulled rendition of it's former self. No sun could be seen through the thick cloud layer so the whole city lay in darkness with only the softest of lights being emitted from street lamps along the streets. Like a living nightmare, Manehattan was a testament to how far Equestria had fallen since the beginning of the Crystal War; no blue skies, no happiness, no joy. All that was left was a shadow of what Manehattan used to be, with decaying sidewalks and decaying morale. Despite that fact, it was clear to Twilight and Starlight on the train in to the city that Princess Celestia was determined to keep morale up where possible. Every building seemed to be covered with colossal posters that displayed vivid backdrops and dozens of happy ponies laughing and dancing in pure, clean sunlight. The slogan read, We're trying to save this Equestria, will you try to save it too? and right underneath it was a lot of smaller print detailing work placements at local factories or workshops. Twilight looked away from the train window and slumped back against her seat looking glum. Starlight, on the other hand, couldn't snap her eyes away from the window. The vision of wartime Manehattan found itself engraved in her mind, eating away at her guilt and sorrow. Tears began to slowly appear in the corners of her eyes and the otherwise silent train carriage was filled with the soft sounds of sniffling coming from Starlight. Everytime she looked away, she found herself drawn back to the window as more depressing scenery came into view. Even now, Starlight struggled to come to grips with what was truly unfolding here. "It doesn't help to dwell on everything Starlight. I know it looks bad, but we need to stay focused." Twilight said, smiling. "I'm sorry." Starlight tried to wipe away some of the preliminary tears and looked down at the bottom of the carriage. Even the carriage seemed to have suffered in this iteration of Equestria, with the carpet all frayed and torn as well as the whole carriage being filled with all manner of litter. "I just can't believe this could really happen to Equestria. Is our entire existence so fragile that it could break like this so quickly?" She choked a little on her words as a lump formed in her throat. She sat back down on her seat, which replied with a loud creak. "I'm just as surprised as you are, but when you think about it, Equestria gets attacked by all manner of magical creatures. For Equestria to still be standing when Sombra returned is impressive in itself. Even in our time, many others came before him intent on laying waste to Equestria and clearly they were stopped, even without me and my friends." Twilight's speech did little to qualm Starlight's worries. Despite Twilight's attempt to cheer her up, all it did was make the situation worse. "So what you're saying is that no matter how hard we try, we're always going to be under threat? That Equestria has no hope of survival?" Starlight replied. Her voice was sharp and to the point, cutting through the stingy air like a knife aimed directly at Twilight. "No, it isn't. What I am saying is that no matter the threat, we find a way to overcome it. And this won't be an exception." Twilight's wings unfurled and she hovered over to Starlight and sat beside her. It should have been no surprise to her that she elicited a few stares from other ponies on the train. Any alicorn would. Twilight returned the stares uncomfortably, rubbing her hooves together awkwardly. She sighed. "I hope we can get off this train soon, I don't like so many ponies staring at me so...strangely." On cue, the train began to slow to a halt and the entire locomotive was consumed by smoke that billowed out of the small station they were heading straight into. Before they'd even stepped off the train, the smell of smoke and coal was strong in the air. The smell only got worse as everypony rushed off the train and their nostrils were invaded by the putrid smell that plagued the city. A horrible mix of fumes, litter, smoke and sweat. Very different from back home. The station was filled to the brim with ponies, most wearing long trenchcoats and hats which obscured their true identities from view. Nopony looked at each other aside from a fleeting glance as they rushed to and fro, either leaving Manehattan or entering it. Those who weren't in trenchcoats were stuck in what looked like work clothes; fabric poorly stitched together and carrying around brown parcels which seemed to contain another set of clothing which looked to be in just as bad shape as the ones they were wearing. Twilight cautiously moved forward with Starlight in tow. She lifted a small coat out from her saddlebags and carefully put it on until she was sure her wings weren't visible. Satisfied, she pressed on through the masses, cutting through hordes upon hordes of Manehattan ponies who all looked lifeless with dull, emotionless eyes. It was as if they moved around because they were programmed to. There was no life here. Not like the two mares knew. "It feels like the further we travel into this place, the worse everything gets." Twilight whispered back at Starlight, narrowly dodging bumping into a large group of ponies in work clothes lining up in front of a rusty gate as she turned her head back forward. "Well, do we even know where we're going?" It was a fair question on Starlight's part, who felt like she'd been kept in the dark this entire time. "If I know Rarity, any help she might be doing would surely be to do with fashion and clothing." Twilight thought for a moment, devising any kind of plan. "If we can work out where the main workshops might be, perhaps we can narrow everything down and find Rarity much quicker." She ducked and weaved, occasionally muttering embarrassed apologies whenever she knocked into a pony. "There's just one problem." They finally broke free from the prison-like walls of the station, stepping out into the dark streets. While it may have not been as overcrowded as the station, there was a sense of hostility in the air. Windows were shattered, walls were vandalised and bins were overturned. Starlight moved closer to Twilight, gnashing her teeth together and staring out at the city with wide, terrified eyes. Twilight gulped. "The only problem is getting through all of this." Author's Note Sorry for the weird update schedule right now, once the christmas break comes, I can write a lot more freely so I can update the story a lot more Chapter 4 - DowntownManehattan's streets were nothing like what Twilight could have possibly ever imagined. Sweat visibly dripped from every pour on her face with every step she took further into the city centre, the fear of death feeling very real in her mind. The more of Manehattan they trekked through, the more it became difficult to see what lay in front of them. The city was shrouded in smoke and the muggy air latched onto every surface and damp spots showered every wall and sidewalk. Starlight stuck to Twilight like glue and her face was contorted with horror at what she saw. Barely a word was said between the two as they witnessed ponies in large groups staring at them; the dim light from street lamps shone upon their various tattoos and scars. They even saw ponies being visibly tormented or abused in the streets and yet nopony batted an eyelid in their direction. Manehattan's ponies were known for often being cold, but never anything like this. Twilight's mind was reeling with panic and it wasn't long before every trot became a canter, every canter became a gallop. The smog cover made it hard to distinguish any road signs or directions towards the fashion district; the only location imaginable for Rarity to be in this mess of a city. Twilight solemnly gazed up at the billboards and advertisements they passed by. A theatre showing My Fair Filly came into view. However, the front of the building was missing an F and the two L's, as well as having all manner of foul words spray-painted over the once grand entrance. Right next to it, a small corner shop lay in ruins with papers littering the sidewalk in front of it as well as the shutter digging deep into the wooden framing of the stall. Twilight could barely contain her tears. However, Starlight snapped her head back to reality, pointing out a single signpost up ahead which clearly spelt out towards their destination; finally. "I don't mean to rush you Twilight, but it would be great if we could hurry things along? This city..." Starlight shivered, cutting off mid-sentence. "I know what you mean." Twilight agreed. Her head flicked to the left and right before the duo headed directly down towards the fashion district. The scenery cleared ever so slightly as the district came into view, with vandalism declining and more colour splattered on the buildings. But it was all still entombed in the eternal smog that smothered the landscape. "If my assumptions are correct, we'll be looking for some form of clothing factory, similar to what Sweet Apple Acres has become. I think that's the best chance we have at finding Rarity." "Twilight? Do you mean like-" Her extended hoof pointed towards a long line of ponies in dingy uniforms, all of which looked like they had seen death itself and had every inch of their soul sucked out of them. Rows upon rows of these ponies, all funnelling into a large, brick red building down the street. "-that?" The two ponies exchanged glances before beginning their journey down the line. The building only became more intimidating as it dominated more of their vision. Despite all the lines, it was surprisingly easy to gain access to the factory. Nopony blinked an eye as they cut to the front of the line and slid through the rusting steel doors. Upon entry, they found their senses being invaded by the stink of sweat and burning machinery, all of which being completely nauseating and Twilight retched multiple times before being able to even think. All Twilight and Starlight could hear was the low hum of sewing machines furiously working across hundreds of workstations, each looking to be rotting with decay; despite the factory's constant use, it was clear there was no thought being put into health, safety or care, something Twilight struggled to comprehend. Each workstation was also occupied by one or two ponies, although, their identity would be difficult to work out. Everypony wore the same uniform, had the same dirt and sweat marks, did the same job creating the same work outfits. "This is ridiculous!" Twilight's sudden outburst caught the attention of a few ponies, but they swiftly returned to their work with their heads right down and focusing on the machines. "How are we supposed to find Rarity in all of this?" She turned to Starlight seeking an answer, but the unicorn was already gone, trotting down each row of workstations asking each pony in turn about Rarity. Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well...seems like it's our best shot for now..." Chapter 5 - RarityNo matter which pony they asked, they were still no closer to finding the unicorn. The ever-increasing rows of workstations ahead of them also did little to qualm their worries on just how long this was going to take. It also began to become painfully clear the further they went into the workshop, the worse the ponies looked. Their manes were completely frazzled and their coats seemed to hang to their figures through a combination of sweat and tears. Their machines faired no better, some rattling uncontrollably from overuse. Some even looked like they would break apart any second. The same went for the ponies working at them. There were times Twilight questioned whether Princess Celestia even ruled over Equestria anymore, judging from Manehattan alone. Starlight was equally appalled by the state of the workers, but more because she saw stark similarities between the rows upon rows of workers and the vision of Equestria she once tried to build. All the ponies were the same, wore the same, completed the same tasks at the same quality...but there was no joy, no friendship. Only horror and decay. Even after her reformation, Starlight still clung on to many of her old beliefs; equality, in her mind, still provided an escape from so much heartache for her. But what she saw in the confines of the workshop was so much worse than she could have ever believed. Tears tried to force their way out of their ducts, but Starlight shook her head repeatedly in desperation. She would not cry. She would not allow herself to. Twilight could have sworn they'd been walking for hours. The frustration continued to build up inside of her, as it often did when she could not complete a task with ease. From outside, the building looked big, but this was beginning to get ridiculous in her eyes. Her head seemed to lower with each unsuccessful stop at a workstation and her eyelids fought to close themselves. "Rarity?" She repeated again, no reply. "Rarity?" Another workstation, another blank face. "Rarity?" Twilight's voice was quiet and weak, beginning to lose hope. An earth pony stared up at her and cocked her head. "Never mind." Twilight kept walking forwards. "Did somepony say my name?" The voice was distant and monotone, but Twilight's ears instantly perked up and she desperately searched for the source of the voice. A few rows down, a mare was looking straight up at her with a curious look on her face. "Rarity!" Her outburst caught the mare by surprise and she edged away from the oncoming purple unicorn, who was oddly happy to see her. "Um, yes?" She smiled, but quite awkwardly. "Should I know you?" "Oh, right." Twilight blushed. "I shouldn't expect you to know me, I'm Twilight Sparkle." She extended a friendly hoof, but no hoof joined it. Rarity timidly looked at the purple hoof in front of her, just...staring at it. Twilight frowned. "N-never mind." Twilight retracted her foreleg awkwardly. Well this is going well so far, she muttered to herself internally. "Well uh, what can I do for you?" Rarity asked, still smiling sheepishly. "I'm certainly not used to ponies stirring up conversation around here." Twilight looked thoughtfully at the ground, before it all clicked in her mind. "Well, I don't know if you noticed-" Twilight fluffed up her wings a little and her eyes looked up towards her horn. "Oh my goodness! I-I didn't see!" Rarity's mouth was agape and she quickly knelt before her. "Forgive me, your highness." Twilight was a little taken aback by the response. "No no, it's fine. You don't need to kneel or anything." A crimson blush began to form. "But anyway, it's my royal duty to look out for certain ponies who, um..." It was painfully apparent to Starlight that Twilight was making everything up as she went along. Luckily, Rarity still seemed to be too shocked to be talking with an alicorn to notice. "Certain ponies who display, uh, certain...gifts!" Starlight chipped in, giving Rarity a painfully forced smile. "Yes! Gifts! Uh...magical ones?" Twilight shrugged and Starlight slapped her face with a hoof. "But surely, I could not be such a pony that you seek?" Rarity looked up at the two. "There's nothing special about me, I just make, rather drab, work outfits for the masses." "Well we can find out for sure if you choose to come with us." Twilight smiled again, looking between Rarity and Starlight. Rarity's eyes flickered, but for the most part she looked stoically at the ground. "It's a wonderful opportunity, but honestly I think you have the wrong unicorn. And anyway, here, I at least know for sure that I can help ponies without going on some theories that I could, maybe have some special gift." She sat back down at the workstation and paused for a second. "But thank you for the offer anyhow, uh, Princess, is it?" "Now Rarity, don't make the same mistake I did." All three heads snapped to where Applejack suddenly stood behind them, leaving Twilight especially in a state of confusion. "Um, how long have you been standing there?" "Eh, quite a while but I had to wait for the right moment for dramatic effect." She chuckled, but her expression quickly became more stern. "Now look Rarity, I know it might sound a lil' far fetched what she's sayin', but I think she's tellin' the honest truth. That's my gut feelin' anyway." She briefly looked away from Twilight. "I couldn't bear the thought I might be missin' out on doin' some real good things by stayin' behind after you left, so I jumped on the train just as it was leavin', followed you here." Twilight beamed. "Thanks Applejack. It really means a lot. Now Rarity, I know it sounds crazy, but you've got to give us a chance to explain everything." She once again extended her hoof to the unicorn. "Well alright, I suppose." She rolled her eyes. "I mean, you're not leaving without me, are you?" The sheepish grins were the only answer she needed. "Still, I'm surprised Applejack is being so friendly now." "What in the hay is that supposed to mean?" "Well back in Ponyville, you called me a good-for-nothing pushover." "Yes, but-" "And a childish, prissy mess." "I know, but-" "And who could forget the time-" "WE GET THE PICTURE!" More than a few heads now looked to Applejack, her voice still echoing down the building. "I-I mean...I was an awful friend to you back in Ponyville, b-but I want to make it up to you, if I can. I'm awful sorry." She brought her Stetson down to her chest; A Stetson that Twilight hadn't even noticed she'd started wearing. Rarity smiled at Applejack and gave her a long hug; an embrace which was returned by Applejack. "That's all I needed to hear." Rarity replied. "Now how about we start discussing what exactly your roping me into here, Miss Twinkle." "Sparkle." "Oh, uh, yes- ahem, sorry."
Chapter 1 - The Return "We stopped King Sombra! You and me and all of our friends!" The words on the page began to dance in and out of Twilight's vision and she squinted hard to try and make out what they said, but to no avail. "But we aren't friends, at least not here." The harder she tried to look, the more and more the words began to split apart and blur in her vision. A purple aura soon shut the book with a loud slam as the same aura brought another one in front of the alicorn. "We're going to set things right..." She flicked through each page but every one she turned to was more distorted than the last and did nothing to quell her growing frustration. Another book slammed, another book placed in front of her. "...I hope you do." "Ugh!" Twilight exclaimed, the piles of books surrounding her collapsing in unison. This only annoyed her further. "Why can't I concentrate?" The princess' cries attracted the attention of her newly reformed student, Starlight. She looked up from the scroll she was writing to see Twilight slamming her head repeatedly into the table she was sat at. Starlight trotted over to her, looking down at the dishevelled princess. She may not have known much about being a good friend yet, but it was still obvious when someone wasn't feeling their self. "Twilight?" Twilight momentarily looked up from the table. "Yes, Starlight?" "Uh, are you alright?" She shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, you've been really...scattered recently." Starlight looked over the princess, realising how much of an understatement 'scattered' was. Twilight's mane was completely frazzled, with some strands wildly flailing about. Not to mention that dark bags had begun to appear beneath her eyes. Twilight stared at her student, concocting a variety of fake and guilt-ridden smiles. "Scattered? Oh please, I'm fine! I'm doing great, in fact!" However, all that greeted her was a raised eyebrow from Starlight. She sighed. "Alright, I guess I have been a little all over the place as of recent." "But why?" Starlight replied. "It isn't something I've done is it? Have I already messed up?" Starlight gulped nervously, biting her lower lip. Twilight shook her head. "Oh don't worry Starlight, it isn't anything you've done." This only confused Starlight further, and she cocked her head slightly. "Then what's the problem?" "Oh I don't know." Twilight looked down again, sighing. She got up from her perch at the table and made for the door. Starlight followed her out, sticking close by her side. The castle was still quite barren, mostly made up of untouched crystal walls and perfectly polished crystal hallways. However, little things that the two came across clearly showed the personal touches the castle had received. Beautifully crafted flower arrangements placed in equally beautiful white vases. Hoof-made curtains and carpets that displayed a variety of earthly colours and patterns. The large trophy cabinet with shelves that were filled to the brim with various blue ribbons, golden cups and photographs. All signs of the love that Twilight and her friends had put into the castle to make it more homely. The two mares continued on, passing through the grand, double doors that led into the map room. The map seemingly glowed brighter upon their approach and a low, soft hum was emitted from it. Twilight instinctively sat herself down on her own throne and the cutie mark which decorated it glowed a deep purple. Starlight decided to just stand. The last time she'd sat in one of those thrones...she shook her head. Best not to think about the past. She'd already played with it enough. Twilight gazed at the map. "I just can't help but think about those other futures I visited. The ponies there were just so...different and depressed." Her mind was a mess of thoughts and emotions as she spoke but her face remained stoic as she addressed Starlight. "Equestria was so cold, there was certainly no friendship there." Starlight gulped. "But, it was all fixed right? The rainboom did happen after all, despite-" Starlight cut the sentence there, tears welling up in her eyes. "-well, you know." Twilight brought Starlight close and gave her a small hug. "It's alright. Don't beat yourself up about it." She let go and began to study the map more closely. "I just can't shake the feeling that the world isn't as fixed as it may seem. Sure the rainboom did eventually happen as it should have, but those other realities I visited, how could they suddenly just cease to exist? Especially when they were so real?" Starlight brought a hoof to her chin. "So, what are you trying to say?" "Well I'm merely suggesting that perhaps these other realities might still exist." Twilight could see the doubt in Starlight's eyes. "I mean, sure, we might be back in the world we belong in, but these were other living, breathing worlds. It just seems impossible for them to suddenly not be there." Starlight nodded slightly as her mind processed her thoughts. Twilight looked at her in dismay. "Just ignore me, I'm rambling on as usual." "Actually, what your saying does make sense." Starlight pointed out. "When I was studying Starswirl's spells, he often discussed the possibilities of alternate universes and how time travel could affect said universes." Starlight grinned. "It would take ages to try and explain it all, but the stallion was a genius." Twilight looked at her with more sadness than before, holding her head in her hooves. Starlight edged a little closer to her, and tentatively put a hoof on her friends shoulder. It still felt alien to her calling the princess of friendship her 'friend'; but she was determined to prove herself worthy of being the friend of such an important pony, especially after all she had done. If that meant just being there to comfort her, that's what she'd do. "I don't expect you to understand Starlight. It's just that I made a promise to a pony in one of those other worlds. And it's been clawing at my mind since I got back." Twilight sniffled. "What good is it anyway? There's no way to see if Starswirl's theory is correct. The spell's gone." The silence in the room was deafening with both Twilight and Starlight frozen there, contemplating. "Well, technically, I can still recreate the spell." Starlight offered, smiling sheepishly. "You don't just study magic and spells for years to suddenly forget them." "It's kind of you to offer Starlight, but there's a good chance that we're just spouting a load of nonsense." "But what if it isn't?" Starlight now began to take more command of the conversation. "These other realities could still be out there and I mean, it's worth a try, isn't it?" Twilight pondered on the point for a minute, looking between Starlight and the map. "I guess so." She said quietly, offering a small smile to Starlight. "If you think you can find a way, then I guess so." Starlight clapped her hooves together in excitement. "Don't worry Twilight, I'll get right on it." She dashed out of the map room before Twilight could say another word. Twilight simply smiled and slumped back in her throne. A shaky breath escaped her mouth and she closed her eyes. "We're going to set things right." Every word seemed to echo around the empty chamber. "I promise you, we'll make it all right." A few days later... The saddlebags Twilight had prepared fit snugly over her back and she smiled as the straps wrapped tight around her. Rarity had insisted on giving her saddlebags that would be more comfortable for the longer journey and Twilight had to admit that they were definitely more comfortable. The soft material felt perfect against her purple coat. Starlight trotted up next to her and smiled. She had a similar set of saddlebags to hers, but her bags clearly showed her cutie mark, beautifully sewn on with some added glitter (courtesy of Pinkie Pie). The two stood there smiling for a while, unsure of what to say. Starlight was the first to break the silence, coughing loudly. "Well, uh, ready to get this show on the road?" She motioned to the map while using her magic to levitate out a small scroll. Twilight simply nodded in agreement. Starlight lifted the scroll up but hesitated. "And you're sure your- I mean, our friends can't help?" "It's not a case that they couldn't help." Twilight pointed out. "But if all of us went, it would definitely create some confusion in this alternate world. Just because things turn out differently in Equestria, doesn't mean that my friends aren't there. Having two of everyone would just make matters worse." "Well I guess we should be off then." Starlight trotted forward and took a deep breath. "Alright, I changed the spell ever so slightly so that all the parameters needed for this other reality to exist are in place. It should mean we can bridge between this Equestria and the other one without needing to go through the rainboom again." The unicorn gulped. "Let's just hope it works." "Don't worry Starlight, I trust you. If anypony's able to pull this off, it's you." Twilight grinned and motioned her forward. Starlight couldn't help but smile as she turned her attention back to the scroll. She unfurled it and with a small amount of effort, fired a blast of magic directly at it. The room was flooded with cyan light as Starlight's magical aura lifted the scroll up high above the map. The map came to life, the edges of it seemingly rippling with energy. Cyan magic flowed around the scroll, creating beautiful arcs in the air. Just like before, soft and angelic rings began to rise up out of the map. The mystical portal began to open above, the faint ticking of clocks heard once again. Starlight held Twilight close as her aura began to encircle the both of them. They lifted off the ground slowly, the ticking and humming noises of the spell growing louder and louder. Twilight shut her eyes tightly, as she felt the portal grab her and pull her in. And just like that, everything was silent. The ticking was gone. Twilight opened her eyes slowly, happy to still feel Starlight next to her. She lifted herself up slowly, throwing her forehooves onto the map to regain her balance. She looked over it quickly, a soft red glow covering the map. Twilight's smile grew wider. "Starlight, you did it!" She exclaimed, double checking that the map was an exact replica of what it once was. "The spell sent us back to the Crystal War reality!" Starlight was still on the ground, rubbing her head. "Crystal War?" She asked, quizzically. Twilight paused and began to laugh nervously. "Oh yeah...I never told you about it did I? Well, let's just say it's quite a long story."
Chapter 2 - Sweet Apple AcresThe duo trotted through Ponyville at a snail's pace. They were surrounded by boarded up windows and run down buildings. Everywhere they looked, a shroud of decay coated the once peaceful town and the vibrant colours there once was were now faded into greys and dull whites. Ominous clouds in the sky spoke of the dreaded path that awaited them on their long journey and Starlight could do little to hold back her nerves. "I-I did this?" Starlight's voice cracked slightly, stuttering. "It looks so...empty." "I know it looks bad Starlight, and I agree that it looks empty." Twilight replied, glancing sideways as they passed Sugarcube Corner; a hollow and plain rendition of the one Twilight knew and loved. "But if we can pull this off, then it won't ever look this way again." She cracked a smile. "I'm still not entirely sure what we're trying to pull off here." Starlight blushed, rubbing the back of her head. The two mares followed a winding, dusty path out of Ponyville towards Sweet Apple Acres. Each hoof they put down sent clouds of dust soaring into the air in little pirouettes. "When King Sombra and the Crystal Empire returned to Equestria, it took all of my friends and I to stop him before it was too late. While it would be difficult to create a crystal fair like we did last time, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna used the elements of harmony to banish King Sombra when he first rose to power. If we can bring out the power of the elements once again, perhaps we can end this war before it's too late and Equestria falls because of it." Twilight sighed. "Of course, it all depends on how we're able to approach our friends in this world. I have a funny feeling they've taken up very different roles in this alternate Equestria." The telltale signs of putrid, black smoke rising over the hill suggested they would soon reach their destination. Twilight gulped nervously as more and more of the farm came into view; that is, if it could still be called a farm after all the industrialisation. The brick red columns soared up into the air and sliced through the thick smoke cover which held a tight grasp around the surrounding area. Starlight had a similar initial reaction to Twilight, her mouth agape and her eyes transfixed on the machine that Sweet Apple Acres had become. There seemed to be more activity than when Twilight had visited previously, with towers of barrels all positioned neatly together along the front of the barn. Twilight could make out Applejack and Big Mac's figures through all the smog, bending over various machinery and appliances within the main barn. It pained her to think where Granny Smith and Apple Bloom had ended up in this reality. Twilight galloped up to the window and rapidly tapped a hoof against one of the soot covered glass panes. She continued her incessant tapping until Applejack looked up from her work. It didn't take long for her gaze to rest solely on the purple alicorn standing outside her barn window and she slowly walked out to meet her. "Applejack?" Twilight asked nervously. It had struck her quite soon after their arrival, that the farm pony may not even remember her from the last visit. Applejack was silent for a moment, mentally mulling the situation over. "Hey, yeah, I remember you." She finally spoke up, the southern accent coming through crisp and clear. "You were that, uh, time-travelling alicorn, weren't you?" She looked down at the ground in despair. "Guessing you weren't able to fix anything, considering life is just as miserable as usual." Twilight exchanged glances with Starlight, who merely took a step back and bit her bottom lip. "It didn't turn out how I expected it to, to say the least." Twilight confessed. "We fixed the past, but-" "It didn't fix nothing here, I know." Applejack turned tail and led them into the barn with her. "After the last time you came, I kept thinking about what you said and after the life I've been living, I honestly didn't expect much good would come from whatever you were up to, fixing things and putting things right." The orange pony grabbed one of the rations tins in front of her, bringing it up to her muzzle to inspect it closely. "And I guess I was correct in my assumptions. Because frankly, I don't see much change around these here parts." "Well you're in luck, because this time, I'm here to make sure that everything gets set right." Twilight beamed at her. Applejack rolled her eyes and raised an eyebrow. "And just how do you expect to do that?" She asked the princess. Twilight grinned, levitating out a scroll from Starlight's saddlebags. The scroll was littered from top to bottom with a variety of scribbles and diagrams, all of which were crudely drawn and barely legible. "I have a plan, but if we're going to solve anything, we'll need all of our friends help. Remember those friends I told you about?" Applejack scratched her head, mulling it over. "You mean Pinkiebow and Flutterdash?" "Well actually it's Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity." Twilight replied, blushing. "But yes, we need their help. And well, I'll need your help too." There was a small pause from Applejack. Her face fell and she turned away from Twilight and Starlight, staring up into the vast and dusty expanse of the barn roof. "Look, I know you've never been in a war before, but the work I do here is important. Do you know how hard it is keeping up supply chains for our soldiers on the front line when King Sombra is cutting off half of Equestria from the other half? Shoot, just last week, Appleloosa came under attack from the Crystal Empire." Tears began to form in her eyes and meander down her cheeks. "That was our last main bastion for food production, without them, even more food has to be rationed and we here at Sweet Apple Acres have to work overtime." She looked over to Twilight solemnly. Her face slowly became a contorted mess of sadness and she fell to the ground whimpering. "I-I had family there...lots of them. I even sent my little sister over there hoping she could avoid this whole conflict. Look where that got her. Right in the thick of it." Twilight trotted over to her and sat down. She brought Applejack close and hugged her. "I know it seems crazy, but if you join us, we can make sure they're all safe. We can stop Sombra." Applejack smiled but pushed Twilight away from her, wiping up the last few tears that leaked from her eyes. "I'm sorry but I can't leave. I want to help, I do, but if we're going to win this war, I need to be here. Big Mac won't be able to handle all the production on his own." The earth pony got back up off the dirt, brushing down her overalls. "But if you really are intent on helping, I can at least tell you where Rarity is. If I know Rarity, she'll be helping out in the clothing district in Manehattan." Applejack sighed. "Even clothing's had to be rationed." "Thank you." Twilight replied softly. Applejack simply nodded in reply. "And we'll make sure your sister's okay too." Applejack paused at the door, choking on another wave of tears. "...Thank you." She whispered, before leaving Twilight and Starlight standing alone in the barn, both staring at the farm pony as she trotted away with her head hanging low.
Chapter 3 - ManehattanThe Manehattan skyline was a bleak and dulled rendition of it's former self. No sun could be seen through the thick cloud layer so the whole city lay in darkness with only the softest of lights being emitted from street lamps along the streets. Like a living nightmare, Manehattan was a testament to how far Equestria had fallen since the beginning of the Crystal War; no blue skies, no happiness, no joy. All that was left was a shadow of what Manehattan used to be, with decaying sidewalks and decaying morale. Despite that fact, it was clear to Twilight and Starlight on the train in to the city that Princess Celestia was determined to keep morale up where possible. Every building seemed to be covered with colossal posters that displayed vivid backdrops and dozens of happy ponies laughing and dancing in pure, clean sunlight. The slogan read, We're trying to save this Equestria, will you try to save it too? and right underneath it was a lot of smaller print detailing work placements at local factories or workshops. Twilight looked away from the train window and slumped back against her seat looking glum. Starlight, on the other hand, couldn't snap her eyes away from the window. The vision of wartime Manehattan found itself engraved in her mind, eating away at her guilt and sorrow. Tears began to slowly appear in the corners of her eyes and the otherwise silent train carriage was filled with the soft sounds of sniffling coming from Starlight. Everytime she looked away, she found herself drawn back to the window as more depressing scenery came into view. Even now, Starlight struggled to come to grips with what was truly unfolding here. "It doesn't help to dwell on everything Starlight. I know it looks bad, but we need to stay focused." Twilight said, smiling. "I'm sorry." Starlight tried to wipe away some of the preliminary tears and looked down at the bottom of the carriage. Even the carriage seemed to have suffered in this iteration of Equestria, with the carpet all frayed and torn as well as the whole carriage being filled with all manner of litter. "I just can't believe this could really happen to Equestria. Is our entire existence so fragile that it could break like this so quickly?" She choked a little on her words as a lump formed in her throat. She sat back down on her seat, which replied with a loud creak. "I'm just as surprised as you are, but when you think about it, Equestria gets attacked by all manner of magical creatures. For Equestria to still be standing when Sombra returned is impressive in itself. Even in our time, many others came before him intent on laying waste to Equestria and clearly they were stopped, even without me and my friends." Twilight's speech did little to qualm Starlight's worries. Despite Twilight's attempt to cheer her up, all it did was make the situation worse. "So what you're saying is that no matter how hard we try, we're always going to be under threat? That Equestria has no hope of survival?" Starlight replied. Her voice was sharp and to the point, cutting through the stingy air like a knife aimed directly at Twilight. "No, it isn't. What I am saying is that no matter the threat, we find a way to overcome it. And this won't be an exception." Twilight's wings unfurled and she hovered over to Starlight and sat beside her. It should have been no surprise to her that she elicited a few stares from other ponies on the train. Any alicorn would. Twilight returned the stares uncomfortably, rubbing her hooves together awkwardly. She sighed. "I hope we can get off this train soon, I don't like so many ponies staring at me so...strangely." On cue, the train began to slow to a halt and the entire locomotive was consumed by smoke that billowed out of the small station they were heading straight into. Before they'd even stepped off the train, the smell of smoke and coal was strong in the air. The smell only got worse as everypony rushed off the train and their nostrils were invaded by the putrid smell that plagued the city. A horrible mix of fumes, litter, smoke and sweat. Very different from back home. The station was filled to the brim with ponies, most wearing long trenchcoats and hats which obscured their true identities from view. Nopony looked at each other aside from a fleeting glance as they rushed to and fro, either leaving Manehattan or entering it. Those who weren't in trenchcoats were stuck in what looked like work clothes; fabric poorly stitched together and carrying around brown parcels which seemed to contain another set of clothing which looked to be in just as bad shape as the ones they were wearing. Twilight cautiously moved forward with Starlight in tow. She lifted a small coat out from her saddlebags and carefully put it on until she was sure her wings weren't visible. Satisfied, she pressed on through the masses, cutting through hordes upon hordes of Manehattan ponies who all looked lifeless with dull, emotionless eyes. It was as if they moved around because they were programmed to. There was no life here. Not like the two mares knew. "It feels like the further we travel into this place, the worse everything gets." Twilight whispered back at Starlight, narrowly dodging bumping into a large group of ponies in work clothes lining up in front of a rusty gate as she turned her head back forward. "Well, do we even know where we're going?" It was a fair question on Starlight's part, who felt like she'd been kept in the dark this entire time. "If I know Rarity, any help she might be doing would surely be to do with fashion and clothing." Twilight thought for a moment, devising any kind of plan. "If we can work out where the main workshops might be, perhaps we can narrow everything down and find Rarity much quicker." She ducked and weaved, occasionally muttering embarrassed apologies whenever she knocked into a pony. "There's just one problem." They finally broke free from the prison-like walls of the station, stepping out into the dark streets. While it may have not been as overcrowded as the station, there was a sense of hostility in the air. Windows were shattered, walls were vandalised and bins were overturned. Starlight moved closer to Twilight, gnashing her teeth together and staring out at the city with wide, terrified eyes. Twilight gulped. "The only problem is getting through all of this." Author's Note Sorry for the weird update schedule right now, once the christmas break comes, I can write a lot more freely so I can update the story a lot more
Chapter 4 - DowntownManehattan's streets were nothing like what Twilight could have possibly ever imagined. Sweat visibly dripped from every pour on her face with every step she took further into the city centre, the fear of death feeling very real in her mind. The more of Manehattan they trekked through, the more it became difficult to see what lay in front of them. The city was shrouded in smoke and the muggy air latched onto every surface and damp spots showered every wall and sidewalk. Starlight stuck to Twilight like glue and her face was contorted with horror at what she saw. Barely a word was said between the two as they witnessed ponies in large groups staring at them; the dim light from street lamps shone upon their various tattoos and scars. They even saw ponies being visibly tormented or abused in the streets and yet nopony batted an eyelid in their direction. Manehattan's ponies were known for often being cold, but never anything like this. Twilight's mind was reeling with panic and it wasn't long before every trot became a canter, every canter became a gallop. The smog cover made it hard to distinguish any road signs or directions towards the fashion district; the only location imaginable for Rarity to be in this mess of a city. Twilight solemnly gazed up at the billboards and advertisements they passed by. A theatre showing My Fair Filly came into view. However, the front of the building was missing an F and the two L's, as well as having all manner of foul words spray-painted over the once grand entrance. Right next to it, a small corner shop lay in ruins with papers littering the sidewalk in front of it as well as the shutter digging deep into the wooden framing of the stall. Twilight could barely contain her tears. However, Starlight snapped her head back to reality, pointing out a single signpost up ahead which clearly spelt out towards their destination; finally. "I don't mean to rush you Twilight, but it would be great if we could hurry things along? This city..." Starlight shivered, cutting off mid-sentence. "I know what you mean." Twilight agreed. Her head flicked to the left and right before the duo headed directly down towards the fashion district. The scenery cleared ever so slightly as the district came into view, with vandalism declining and more colour splattered on the buildings. But it was all still entombed in the eternal smog that smothered the landscape. "If my assumptions are correct, we'll be looking for some form of clothing factory, similar to what Sweet Apple Acres has become. I think that's the best chance we have at finding Rarity." "Twilight? Do you mean like-" Her extended hoof pointed towards a long line of ponies in dingy uniforms, all of which looked like they had seen death itself and had every inch of their soul sucked out of them. Rows upon rows of these ponies, all funnelling into a large, brick red building down the street. "-that?" The two ponies exchanged glances before beginning their journey down the line. The building only became more intimidating as it dominated more of their vision. Despite all the lines, it was surprisingly easy to gain access to the factory. Nopony blinked an eye as they cut to the front of the line and slid through the rusting steel doors. Upon entry, they found their senses being invaded by the stink of sweat and burning machinery, all of which being completely nauseating and Twilight retched multiple times before being able to even think. All Twilight and Starlight could hear was the low hum of sewing machines furiously working across hundreds of workstations, each looking to be rotting with decay; despite the factory's constant use, it was clear there was no thought being put into health, safety or care, something Twilight struggled to comprehend. Each workstation was also occupied by one or two ponies, although, their identity would be difficult to work out. Everypony wore the same uniform, had the same dirt and sweat marks, did the same job creating the same work outfits. "This is ridiculous!" Twilight's sudden outburst caught the attention of a few ponies, but they swiftly returned to their work with their heads right down and focusing on the machines. "How are we supposed to find Rarity in all of this?" She turned to Starlight seeking an answer, but the unicorn was already gone, trotting down each row of workstations asking each pony in turn about Rarity. Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well...seems like it's our best shot for now..."
Chapter 5 - RarityNo matter which pony they asked, they were still no closer to finding the unicorn. The ever-increasing rows of workstations ahead of them also did little to qualm their worries on just how long this was going to take. It also began to become painfully clear the further they went into the workshop, the worse the ponies looked. Their manes were completely frazzled and their coats seemed to hang to their figures through a combination of sweat and tears. Their machines faired no better, some rattling uncontrollably from overuse. Some even looked like they would break apart any second. The same went for the ponies working at them. There were times Twilight questioned whether Princess Celestia even ruled over Equestria anymore, judging from Manehattan alone. Starlight was equally appalled by the state of the workers, but more because she saw stark similarities between the rows upon rows of workers and the vision of Equestria she once tried to build. All the ponies were the same, wore the same, completed the same tasks at the same quality...but there was no joy, no friendship. Only horror and decay. Even after her reformation, Starlight still clung on to many of her old beliefs; equality, in her mind, still provided an escape from so much heartache for her. But what she saw in the confines of the workshop was so much worse than she could have ever believed. Tears tried to force their way out of their ducts, but Starlight shook her head repeatedly in desperation. She would not cry. She would not allow herself to. Twilight could have sworn they'd been walking for hours. The frustration continued to build up inside of her, as it often did when she could not complete a task with ease. From outside, the building looked big, but this was beginning to get ridiculous in her eyes. Her head seemed to lower with each unsuccessful stop at a workstation and her eyelids fought to close themselves. "Rarity?" She repeated again, no reply. "Rarity?" Another workstation, another blank face. "Rarity?" Twilight's voice was quiet and weak, beginning to lose hope. An earth pony stared up at her and cocked her head. "Never mind." Twilight kept walking forwards. "Did somepony say my name?" The voice was distant and monotone, but Twilight's ears instantly perked up and she desperately searched for the source of the voice. A few rows down, a mare was looking straight up at her with a curious look on her face. "Rarity!" Her outburst caught the mare by surprise and she edged away from the oncoming purple unicorn, who was oddly happy to see her. "Um, yes?" She smiled, but quite awkwardly. "Should I know you?" "Oh, right." Twilight blushed. "I shouldn't expect you to know me, I'm Twilight Sparkle." She extended a friendly hoof, but no hoof joined it. Rarity timidly looked at the purple hoof in front of her, just...staring at it. Twilight frowned. "N-never mind." Twilight retracted her foreleg awkwardly. Well this is going well so far, she muttered to herself internally. "Well uh, what can I do for you?" Rarity asked, still smiling sheepishly. "I'm certainly not used to ponies stirring up conversation around here." Twilight looked thoughtfully at the ground, before it all clicked in her mind. "Well, I don't know if you noticed-" Twilight fluffed up her wings a little and her eyes looked up towards her horn. "Oh my goodness! I-I didn't see!" Rarity's mouth was agape and she quickly knelt before her. "Forgive me, your highness." Twilight was a little taken aback by the response. "No no, it's fine. You don't need to kneel or anything." A crimson blush began to form. "But anyway, it's my royal duty to look out for certain ponies who, um..." It was painfully apparent to Starlight that Twilight was making everything up as she went along. Luckily, Rarity still seemed to be too shocked to be talking with an alicorn to notice. "Certain ponies who display, uh, certain...gifts!" Starlight chipped in, giving Rarity a painfully forced smile. "Yes! Gifts! Uh...magical ones?" Twilight shrugged and Starlight slapped her face with a hoof. "But surely, I could not be such a pony that you seek?" Rarity looked up at the two. "There's nothing special about me, I just make, rather drab, work outfits for the masses." "Well we can find out for sure if you choose to come with us." Twilight smiled again, looking between Rarity and Starlight. Rarity's eyes flickered, but for the most part she looked stoically at the ground. "It's a wonderful opportunity, but honestly I think you have the wrong unicorn. And anyway, here, I at least know for sure that I can help ponies without going on some theories that I could, maybe have some special gift." She sat back down at the workstation and paused for a second. "But thank you for the offer anyhow, uh, Princess, is it?" "Now Rarity, don't make the same mistake I did." All three heads snapped to where Applejack suddenly stood behind them, leaving Twilight especially in a state of confusion. "Um, how long have you been standing there?" "Eh, quite a while but I had to wait for the right moment for dramatic effect." She chuckled, but her expression quickly became more stern. "Now look Rarity, I know it might sound a lil' far fetched what she's sayin', but I think she's tellin' the honest truth. That's my gut feelin' anyway." She briefly looked away from Twilight. "I couldn't bear the thought I might be missin' out on doin' some real good things by stayin' behind after you left, so I jumped on the train just as it was leavin', followed you here." Twilight beamed. "Thanks Applejack. It really means a lot. Now Rarity, I know it sounds crazy, but you've got to give us a chance to explain everything." She once again extended her hoof to the unicorn. "Well alright, I suppose." She rolled her eyes. "I mean, you're not leaving without me, are you?" The sheepish grins were the only answer she needed. "Still, I'm surprised Applejack is being so friendly now." "What in the hay is that supposed to mean?" "Well back in Ponyville, you called me a good-for-nothing pushover." "Yes, but-" "And a childish, prissy mess." "I know, but-" "And who could forget the time-" "WE GET THE PICTURE!" More than a few heads now looked to Applejack, her voice still echoing down the building. "I-I mean...I was an awful friend to you back in Ponyville, b-but I want to make it up to you, if I can. I'm awful sorry." She brought her Stetson down to her chest; A Stetson that Twilight hadn't even noticed she'd started wearing. Rarity smiled at Applejack and gave her a long hug; an embrace which was returned by Applejack. "That's all I needed to hear." Rarity replied. "Now how about we start discussing what exactly your roping me into here, Miss Twinkle." "Sparkle." "Oh, uh, yes- ahem, sorry."
