Twilight and Spike tumbled back out of the time portal for the dozenth time. It could have been even more than that; Twilight was starting to lose track. She tried to open her wings in time, but still landed roughly on her side as she slammed into the hard table where the Cutie Map was laid out. Spike landed right next to her, his punctuated grunt becoming familiar.
Twilight raised her head, ready to take an obligatory glance around at this new timeline, assess how awful it was, and then charge back to the past to confront Starlight Glimmer. But as her eyes became used to the dim light, her expression changed from one of frustration and annoyance to one of open-mouthed amazement.
“Spike,” she whispered, her eyes wide and her breath catching in her throat. “We… we’re home.”
Spike stood, stretching his back as he grumbled. “Of course we are. We always come back to somewhere around Ponyvi--” He stopped as he raised his head and likewise took in the sight before him.
He saw the wooden, naturally curving walls; the shelves lined with old books and papers and Twilight’s scientific equipment covered in sheets; the familiar shape of the massive roots; the earthy scent of this cellar.
“The library… Spike, we’re in the Golden Oak Library!” Twilight exclaimed, raising her hooves to her face as a huge smile spread across her face. “It wasn’t destroyed in this timeline!”
Spike was still speechless, his mouth agape as he gawked at the cavernous basement below the library. At last, he managed to whisper, “If it wasn’t blown up… Tirek must have been stopped. But how?”
The sound of hoofsteps came and they both looked up the stairs that led to the door which in turn led to the main part of the library. Twilight wasn’t sure who was coming, but she intended to meet them head on and not be caught unprepared. She levitated Spike onto her back and flew up to land right before the door. She held her breath, lowering her head defensively, ready to defend herself and Spike or flee from whoever or whatever was coming.
“Who’s down there?!” came a familiar voice. The door burst open and the speaker jumped through the door, her horn lighting up and her eyes fierce.
Twilight and the newcomer’s eyes locked. Twilight’s opened her mouth to say something, but the one standing before her was the last pony she expected to see.
The pony’s yellow coat was easy to see in the light streaming through the door and from her glowing horn. Likewise, there were the familiar teal eyes and, most prominent, her shocking mane and tail of red and yellow.
“S...Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight managed to croak.
Sunset blinked for a moment, her mind still catching up to the sight before her. “Twilight Sparkle?” Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face. “Well, Twilight, I didn’t expect that it was you making all that noise in my basement!” she laughed. “And Sir Spike is here! Come on in, I’ll go make us some tea! Oh, or some cocoa if you like!”
She nodded in the direction of the door and turned to go back through it. As she did so, Twilight let out another gasp, for when Sunset turned, she saw, plain as day, the large wings at her side.
Spike tapped Twilight’s neck when she remained frozen in place. “Um… Twilight, did I hit my head too hard on the map that last time, or is Sunset Shimmer an alicorn?”
Twilight closed her eyes, rubbing them with one hoof before finally taking a shaky step toward the door. “If it’s the first one, then I think I must have hit my head too.”
They walked through the doorway and again Twilight and Spike were greeted by familiar sights. The books, the wooden bust on the table, and the stairs leading to the alcoves above the library were all there, all in in place, and all exactly as she’d remembered them.
“This can’t be…”
“The water’s boiling,” Sunset said, trotting out from the kitchen cheerfully. “I hope you’re not too disappointed, but I’m almost out of tea, so you’ll have to settle for orange pekoOHHH SWEET CELESTIA, YOU HAVE WINGS!” she shouted, pointing a hoof at Twilight’s feathered appendages.
“I…” Twilight shook her head. “No, never mind that, you have wings!”
Sunset ignored that and went right over to Twilight and immediately took hold of her wing. “How did this happen?! What in the world happened in the Crystal Empire to make you become an alicorn?!”
Twilight seized Sunset by the shoulders, forcing Sunset to look at her. “Sunset!” she said firmly. “Never mind that right now. Why are you an alicorn?!”
Sunset blinked at her for a moment before bursting out laughing. “Oh, come on Twilight! I know you’ve always got your muzzle in a book, but even you aren’t so spaced out that you’d forget my coronation! You were there!”
Twilight’s legs turned to jelly. Feeling her start to topple, Spike jumped off her back and held her up before she lost her balance. As Sunset looked to the two of them, her eyebrow raising, Spike decided to take matters into his own claws.
“Uh, okay, Sunset, I know this might sound weird, but could you please just answer a few questions? We’re a little confused.”
Sunset bowed her head. “Of course, Sir Spike.”
Spike couldn’t keep the grin from his face. Sir Spike, eh? he thought. I like the sound of that!
Pushing onward, he asked, “Okay, so Twilight was at your coronation?”
“I’d think you would remember that too, Sir Spike. You were there along with Princess Cadance, Prince Shining Armor, Queen Celestia and King Sombra, as well as--”
“King Sombra?!” Twilight shrieked, launching herself into the air, Spike clinging to her in surprise. “Why was he there?!”
Sunset narrowed her eyes. “Um… hang on a second.”
She suddenly fired a beam from her horn and both Spike and Twilight felt energy surge through their bodies. They both fell roughly to the floor, their heads swimming and a tingling sensation running through their limbs.
“Oookay, guess you’re not changelings,” Sunset said, rubbing the back of her neck as she chuckled nervously. She then took Twilight’s hoof, helping her up. “Sorry for the ‘force reveal’ spell. But you really should know all this. I thought you were imposters! What in the hay is going on here?”
Spike and Twilight exchanged a glance. “Mmmaybe we should tell her what’s going on,” Spike suggested.
Twilight was less certain, but Sunset suddenly put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, sensing her resistance to the idea.
“Listen, Twilight. Something strange is obviously going on. But we’re friends.” She offered her a warm smile. “Let me help you. Maybe with two of us ‘eggheads’ on the case, we can figure something out.”
Twilight relaxed, seeing that warm smile that she’d seen on Sunset’s face before now on her more equine features.
“Okay,” Twilight said, nodding to her. “Let’s talk.”
Just then, a high whistling sound came from the kitchen.
“Oh, that’s the tea! Just a minute there, Twilight!” Sunset disappeared in a flash. A moment later, she reappeared, teleporting back into the room with a tray holding a tea kettle and three cups, one for each of them.
They all sat around the table in the library, and Sunset poured a cup for Twilight, then for Spike.
“Thank you,” Twilight said softly, taking a sip along with Spike.
“Now then,” Sunset said calmly, putting a hoof to her chest, “what can the Princess of Friendship do for you?”
Both of them spat their tea out, spraying it all over Sunset.
“Ooookay,” Sunset groaned, the tea dripping from her sopping wet mane, “gonna need a towel before we continue this conversation.”
***
Twilight was a little more steady on her feet as she made her way through the streets of Ponyville, but she and Spike still could hardly believe after all the awful timelines they’d witnessed that this one looked - for lack of a better word - normal.
The sun was shining overhead. The buildings, including the businesses and thatch-roof cottages all were in the right places. Ponies walked by with happy smiles on their faces and said hello to Sunset as they passed. Even Mayor Mare spotted them and waved as they passed by City Hall.
“I don’t understand this,” Twilight muttered. “This isn’t right!”
“It looks pretty right to me!” Spike said.
Sunset cleared her throat. “So, let me get this straight,” she said, once she had their attention. “You both come from another universe?”
“Well, actually,” Twilight said, holding out a hoof, “We’re from a different timeline, not a different universe.”
Sunset furrowed her brow. “And in this other uni-- timeline, you’re a princess?”
Spike and Twilight nodded.
“Specifically, you’re the Princess of Friendship... instead of me?”
Twilight winced. “Yyyeah.”
Sunset took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “Okay.”
Twilight blinked. “Okay?”
Sunset shrugged. “It makes sense. You’re not changelings. And Twilight was not an alicorn last time I checked. And Sir Spike is not your assistant, Twilight, he’s Celestia’s!”
Twilight and Spike exchanged a horrified glance.
“Y-you mean…” Spike stammered.
“...we’re not friends?!” Twilight finished.
Sunset sighed. “Of course you are. Well, I guess you’re more like ‘acquaintances’ than close friends after all the time you spent together in the castle, what with you being Celestia’s second student.” She chuckled and smiled at Twilight. “You really surprised everypony with how much magical talent you had during your second magic entry exam. Especially after the first time was such a dud!”
Twilight puffed out her cheeks. “It was not--!”
Spike tapped her on the shoulder and shook his head. “Different Twilight, Twilight.”
Twilight groaned, tossing her head back. “Fine, fine!” Mulling this over, another thought occurred to her. “So… since you’re the Princess of Friendship, you must have harnessed the Elements of Harmony, right?”
Sunset nodded.
“And that means all my-- er, our friends are all right!”
Sunset nodded. “Oh, sure! All six of us are right here in Ponyville. In fact,” she said with a smile, her eyes catching something over Twilight’s shoulder, “I see one of them coming right now!”
Twilight and Spike both turned and broke into beaming smiles as they saw Rarity trotting over to them.
“Good morning, Sunset!” Rarity said cheerfully. “And I see you are entertaining company! Grand Vizier Twilight and… oh!”
Rarity covered up her mouth and a blush came to her cheeks. “S-sir Spike!” She looked away, a nervous smile on her face. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”
Spike felt his face flush and his mouth went dry. “Uh, heh heh, I’m… you know, just… visiting!”
“Well, as always, it is a pleasure to see you in our humble little hamlet--”
“Whoa whoa whoa,” Twilight said, interjecting herself between the two of them. “Grand Vizier?!”
Rarity crinkled her nose, cringing. “Why… yes! Oh, dear, did I make a mistake? Have you been promoted?” Then she caught sight of Twilight’s wings and immediately fell to her knees, bowing low. “Oh my goodness! Oh dear me, how could I have not known?! You’ve become an alicorn, Lady Twilight! Oh, but surely this means you are now Princess Twilight!”
“I--”
Rarity shot bolt upright. “You’ll want your clothes fitted for your new wings! No, you’ll want a whole new wardrobe! I see, and Queen Celestia has sent you her most trusted assistant to help you with the task!”
“Rarity, breathe!” Sunset exclaimed, going nose-to-nose with her.
“I… ah… yes, well…” She blushed again and took a breath, composing herself. “Well, should you require my help, please visit my boutique. I will not disappoint you if called upon.” She bowed to Twilight and then gave a smile and nod to Sunset. “I’ll be on my way then. Goodbye, Sunset, Grand-- Princess Twilight Sparkle, and…” her blush returned, deeper than before, “...Sir Spike. Please, do visit us more often.”
They watched her go and Spike felt his knees go weak, his heart practically jackhammering out of his chest.
“She… is it just me or…?”
Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Um, she’s had that unrequited crush on you ever since you defended her honor from that lout Blueblood at the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“Un...requited?” Spike said, still staring after Rarity.
Twilight bit her lip.
Sunset blinked. “Oh. Oh, in your timeline, it’s… oh.”
Twilight pulled Spike in close, hugging him. “Spike. We need to focus,” she whispered.
Spike heaved a sigh and nodded, managing a smile. “Right. Okay, what next?”
Twilight thought about this. “That’s a good question.”
Sunset cleared her throat. “Well, to be honest, while I want to help you, I also think one of my friends would be able to help us out with this even more than I could! Plus, I know he’ll want to know about this...”
***
The metal door opened and a brown earth pony stallion stuck his head out, his green bow tie fitting loosely and his mane disheveled.
“Hm, yes? Ah!” He smiled when he saw Sunset standing there. “Sunset, I’m glad you’re here! Please, come inside!” Then he turned and noticed Twilight and Spike. “Oh, and bring your guests.”
He led them back into the dome-shaped structure. His experiments and devices, machines and clocks and strange half-finished models of all types, littered every table and shelf and many were hung from the ceiling. “Derpy! Derpy, my dear, Sunset is here and she’s brought company!”
A voice from the back room called out “On it, Doc!”
Twilight and Spike exchanged glances as the brown pony - called “Doc” it seemed - went over to them with a device in his hooves.
“It’s the strangest thing, really,” he said, narrowing his eyes at the device’s display. “I am detecting a rather large flux in the chronotons in this local area. Certainly something major must have happened. The odd thing is that it’s been getting ever stronger. Now it seems to have reached it’s peak--” He was pacing and here he walked by Twilight and Spike and started to go away from them “--no, wait. Strange, now the readings are weaker.” He walked closer to them. “Wait, now they’re increasing.” He walked past them again. “Nnnno, wait, they’ve gone down. Is this some kind of natural fluctuation or…”
He looked up, seeing the reading peak right as he stood before Twilight and Spike. He frowned, backed away from them slightly, keeping his eyes on the device, and then approached them. His blue eyes lit up and began to laugh. “Ahaha! Oh, that’s absolutely brilliant! A localized time distortion centered right in these two! Fantastic!”
Sunset tapped the stallion on the shoulder. “Doc, listen, I already know that they’re from another timeline.”
“Ah... ha?” He frowned, his ears lowering. “I see. Seems I’m one step behind.”
Sunset shook her head. “No, no, Doctor, I actually need your help. In fact, you already helped by confirming their story. Up until you said something, I still wasn’t 100 percent sure that they were telling the truth!”
“Hey!” Twilight and Spike shouted in unison, glaring at her.
Sunset rolled her eyes. “Well, would you believe that kind of story if our roles were reversed?”
Twilight and Spike looked to each other, then back to Sunset.
“Probably not,” they said in unison again.
“Okay, everypony!” a cheerful, feminine voice said as its owner, a gray pegasus mare with a blonde mane came around the corner holding a tray of tea. The mare, Derpy, landed and walked over to them. Twilight thought she looked familiar, especially once she got sight of her wall-eyes. “Good to see you again, Sunset! I brought tea for you and your guests--”
Her left foreleg tripped over a large gear left on the floor and she pitched forward with a startled cry, the tray of tea upending and splashing all over Sunset Shimmer.
“Oops!” Derpy cried, getting to her hooves. “Oh my gosh, Sunset, I am so sorry!”
Sunset merely stood there, dripping wet again. “And I’m 0 for 2 on tea today,” she muttered.
The Doctor fetched a towel and began helping Derpy to clean her up.
“Dreadfully sorry, my dear, that was entirely my fault! If only I hadn’t left that gear there--”
“No, Doc!” Derpy exclaimed. “It was my fault for not looking where I was going!” She lowered her ears. “I mean, with these eyes…”
“No, I won’t hear of it!” the Doctor said, raising her chin with his hoof. “You wouldn’t have to look out for a blasted thing if I would only take some time to clean! Oh, my dear, can you ever forgive me?”
Derpy giggled and touched her nose to his, nuzzling him. “I always have, haven’t I?”
Twilight smiled as the Doctor nuzzled Derpy in return, their noses touching before they embraced each other while Sunset Shimmer still stood soaked in Ceylon. She felt a tug on her mane and looked down to Spike, who gestured for her to come closer.
“Um, Twilight,” Spike whispered, “I know these two. They’re friends and all, but they aren’t a couple in our timeline!”
Twilight raised her head. “Um, excuse me, but how long have you been dating, if you don’t mind my asking?”
The Doctor and Derpy glanced at each other before bursting out laughing.
“Dating?” Derpy managed to gasp.
“We haven’t been ‘dating’ in a while,” the Doctor added, putting his foreleg around her.
In unison, they both exclaimed, “We’re married!”
Spike and Twilight both wore tight, uncomfortable smiles. “Oh!” Twilight exclaimed. “That’s… fortunate!”
Spike glanced up at her, whispering through the clenched teeth of his smile. “Thish jusht got harder, didn’t it?” he managed to say.
“Yesh. Yesh it did,” Twilight whispered back.
Sunset finally took up the towel and began to dry herself off. “Ugh, well, there you go, Twilight. Two more of our friends right here. With me and Rarity and now these two, that’s four of the Elements of Harmony you’ve met.”
Twilight froze. “Wait… you mean these two are…?”
“Oh, you mean Sunset never told you?” Derpy asked, walking over to Twilight. “I guess we didn’t talk much at your brother’s wedding, Twilight! Sorry if I forgot to mention being an Element. Eheheheh…”
“Great whickering stallions, my little muffin, how could you leave out such a detail!”
“Well, I’m sorry, Doc!” she said, blushing. “I guess I was just too absorbed with being a bridesmaid and then Queen Chrysalis attacked--”
“That happened?!” Twilight exploded. “Oh my gosh, did we win?!”
“Of course we did!” Derpy laughed. “Oh, it was amazing! You should have been there!” She paused, furrowing her brow. “Heyyy wait a minute! You were there!”
Sunset let out an exasperated groan. “You just now said you remembered talking to her at Shining Armor’s wedding!”
Derpy blinked. “Oh yeah. Hey, why doesn’t she remember--”
“I’ll explain later,” Sunset said, waving a hoof dismissively. “Look the important thing is that we get some information going. So, let’s break the ice: Twilight, this is Time Turner and Muffins, but we all just call them the Doctor and Derpy and they’re the elements of Loyalty and Kindness, respectively. Doc, Derpy, these are Twilight and Spike from another timeline where she was the Princess of Friendship instead of me and he’s Twilight’s assistant instead of the Queen’s.”
The whole group went silent.
“Well!” The Doctor clapped his hooves together, breaking the uneasy silence. “Perhaps under the circumstances we should gather the rest of our little group and just answer each other’s questions. We’d best assemble the other Elements!”
“Ooh!” Derpy cooed. “We should all meet at Sugar Cube Corner! I’ll go get the others, Sunset!”
“Sugar Cube Corner?” Twilight asked. Her eyes lit up. “Oh, so is Pinkie there? Is she one of the Elements?!”
Derpy frowned and cocked her head to the side. “Who the hay is Pinkie? I just want to go there because they make the best muffins in town!”
***
Twilight and Spike sat with polite, if strained, smiles on their faces as they sat at the large table inside Sugar Cube Corner. The place certainly looked the same, what with the decor designed to look like confections, and Mr. and Mrs. Cake were both there as well. From the sound of the occasional crying upstairs, Pound and Pumpkin Cake were around too.
But that didn’t change the strangeness of the group sitting around the table. Sunset, Rarity, the Doctor, and Derpy were there, but that left the last two seats vacant. Twilight wasn’t sure if she wanted to ask or if she wanted to just wait it out. Her curiosity had almost gotten to her when the door to the little bakery burst open and a familiar face galloped over.
“I’m here, I’m here, sorry to keep ya waitin’!” Applejack cried, her familiar twang recognizable in an instant!
“Applejack!” Twilight exclaimed, rising to her hooves.
“Oh!” she gasped, skidding to a halt. “Well, howdy there! If it ain’t you, Starlight!”
“Where?!” Twilight and Spike both exclaimed, looking around in a panic.
“Her name is Twilight, AJ,” Sunset sighed.
“Oh. Whoops,” Applejack said, pulling down her hat to hide her face as she blushed. “Sorry ‘bout that.”
Twilight sank back into her seat, her ears drooping. She doesn’t even remember my name…
She felt a reassuring hoof on one shoulder and a claw on another and composed herself. “Sorry. Happy to see you, Applejack.”
“Right, right.” Applejack took a seat. “So, that just leaves one of us left, right? Where the hay is--”
There was a loud booming sound and a blast of confetti along with a vaguely pony-shaped object flew in through the window. The pony amid the confetti stood on his hind legs, spreading his forelegs wide. “Ta-daaa!” he exclaimed.
“Ugh. Well there ya are, Cheese Sandwich!” Applejack groaned. “I at least had to finish my chores at the farm! What’s your excuse for bein’ so late?!”
“Aw, come on AJ!” the poofy-haired stallion said, bounding over to the group and landing in his seat next to Applejack. “I’m not late! I’m fashionably late! I figured Rarity would appreciate it.” He elbowed Rarity at that, causing her to chuckle in spite of herself. “Besides, you know I love to make an entrance!”
Twilight looked to Spike, who just shrugged.
“Eh, it makes sense. If Pinkie isn’t here...”
Twilight turned back to them. “Um, thank you all for coming, everypony. I have an incredible story to tell, as you all no doubt do as well, but I think Sunset had better explain it so you don’t all think I’m crazy. Sunset?”
Sunset stood up. “Listen, everypony,” she began, levelling her gaze at all of them, “Twilight here isn’t the same Twilight we know. She’s from another timeline where she became the Princess of Friendship instead of me, where Spike is her assistant, and where different ponies are the Elements of Harmony. The Doctor can confirm that this is true.”
“Indeed so,” the Doctor said. “I’d go into details, but suffice it to say, they aren’t from our neck of the chronological woods, so to speak.”
The others sat in shocked silence, still absorbing this news before Rarity cleared her throat.
“So, you mean to say none of us bear the Elements?” she asked. “I simply can’t believe it could be anypony else but us!”
Twilight smiled. “Well, you’re partly right, Rarity. You and Applejack are the Elements of Generosity and Honesty in my timeline too!”
Applejack and Rarity exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of pride, and maybe a little bit of smugness as they bumped hooves.
“And if I’m not mistaken,” Twilight continued, rubbing her chin, “I already know the Doctor is Loyalty, Derpy is Kindness, and Cheese Sandwich must be Laughter.”
“You’d cheddar believe it!” Cheese Sandwich exclaimed, puffing out his chest as the others groaned. “If there’s a face without a smile in Ponyville, then I’m your pony!”
Twilight smiled. He really did remind her of Pinkie, in spite of their differences. “But I know that your world has some differences from mine other than who the Elements are. I’d like you to tell me more about what happened on your adventures. Spike, please take notes.”
Spike already had a quill and parchment ready and he held the quill up to show it.
“Well, sugarcube,” Applejack began, “if you want to start at the beginnin’, you best ask Sunset.”
Sunset tapped her chin. “I guess that does make sense. You see, it all began back when I was Celestia’s student. That was while she still bore the title ‘Princess.’ I was a great student, but I got too full of myself, and too impatient. I even demanded that she make me a princess too. She shut me down and I almost threw it all away right there to go off on my own, but she convinced me to be patient. In the end, I stayed, and I’m glad I did!”
Twilight was listening intently, but already there was a huge difference. In this timeline, it seemed, Sunset never left Equestria for Canterlot High.
“She told me I was only going to learn to use my power if I made some friends. Well, at first I thought it was a waste of time, but then she sent me to Ponyville. And that’s when I met all these guys!”
The rest of them all smiled.
“When Nightmare Moon appeared instead of Celestia at the Summer Sun Celebration, I knew from my research that she could only be stopped by the Elements of Harmony. We made our way to the Castle of the Two Sisters to find them, and along the way each of my new friends proved themselves. When we found the Elements and realized which ones we represented, we used their power to defeat Nightmare Moon.”
“So you brought back Princess Luna too, huh?” Twilight asked.
The table froze, their eyes downcast.
“Wait… wait, are you saying--”
“Poor Luna,” Derpy whispered, shaking her head. “We tried to get her to surrender, but she wouldn’t do it. So, we had to use the Elements and, well…”
Sunset bowed her head. “...we banished her back to the moon. We’re still trying to figure out a way to save her, but…” She stopped when she saw Twilight and Spike sitting there, mouths agape.
“Oh. Oh my gosh, are you telling me in your timeline that you saved Princess Luna?!”
Twilight nodded. “Yes. I… I can’t believe it. Poor Celestia. How did she take it?”
“She didn’t show in public how much it hurt,” Sunset said quietly. “But in private, I knew it broke her heart.”
Twilight swallowed. “I see. Please, go on. Tell me more. Like how King Sombra ended up at your coronation, for instance.”
Rarity chuckled. “Well, I suppose that will be a more cheerful subject. After all, once the Elements purified him of his dark powers, Cadance and Shining Armor took on their roles as leaders of the Empire, and Celestia took it upon herself to help Sombra rediscover his old self. They’ve grew ever closer and,” she heaved a sigh, starry-eyed, “the two of them were married last spring!”
Twilight and Spike froze again. “They… Celestia and Sombra are… they’re…” Twilight muttered, her voice shaking and distant.
Cheese Sandwich raised an eyebrow. “Whoa, looks like that one didn’t go over too well! Did they break up or something in your time?”
Spike turned to him. “In our timeline, we blew him up.”
Cheese Sandwich blinked. “Yeesh! I hope for the King’s sake they never get divorced!”
***
When they all walked outside, Twilight’s eyes unfocused and her steps off balance, nopony knew what else to say.
“Um, perhaps we should leave Alternate Timeline Twilight to herself,” the Doctor suggested. “I believe she’ll need some time to recover.”
“Good idea, Doc!” Derpy exclaimed before taking another bite of her blueberry muffin. “Mm! Should we all go home?”
The others seemed to think this was a good idea, though Twilight, still looking shell shocked, said nothing.
However, as Sunset approached Twilight, the Doctor lingered behind and beckoned to Sunset, whispering something in her ear. Keeping an eye on Twilight the whole time, her eyes went wide as the Doctor whispered to her, and she bit her lip.
When the Doctor was finished, Sunset turned back to him. “I see. Thank you for telling me that. I’ll do my best.”
He nodded and trotted off after Derpy. Sunset went over to Twilight. “Um, so, I guess that was a lot to take in, wasn’t it?”
Twilight swallowed. “Sunset, I… I need some time alone with Spike. Can I meet you back at the Cas-- at the Library in a little while?”
Sunset creased her brow, glancing back at the Doctor as he walked away, before turning back to Twilight. “Um… sure. I’ll see you when you get home.”
Twilight levitated Spike onto her back and flew up to the clouds, finding a perch as she left Sunset Shimmer behind.
***
“Ohhhh, what am I gonna do?!” Twilight cried, flinging herself onto a cloud.
“What do you mean, Twilight?” Spike asked, maintaining his balance on her back.
“What I mean, Spike, is that this timeline, unlike the other ones we visited, isn’t some terrible outcome where Equestria’s fallen to ruin!” Twilight exclaimed. She buried her face in the cloud, its pillowy depths muffling her groans. After a few minutes, she raised her head. “This world isn’t my home, but it is home to many other ponies. And it’s a nice one! Ponies with lives and friends and hopes and dreams! If we go back and change things, then this timeline will never happen!”
“But if we don’t go back, Twilight, then our timeline will never happen!”
“I know, I know, but is it really right for me to make a decision that benefits me at the cost of an entire timeline?”
“C’mon, Twilight, you didn’t make that decision in the first place! Starlight did!”
Twilight fell silent again. Spike wasn’t sure what else to say, so he did the only thing he could think of and wrapped his arms gently around her neck, embracing her. She smiled at the gesture, nuzzling him affectionately in return.
“Thanks, Spike. At least I know that, no matter what decision I make, I’ll have you with me.”
“You can count on it!” he said, thumping his chest.
“I guess… I guess that just leaves the question of what decision I should make. And how should I make it?” She took a deep breath. “Spike, do you have those notes you took?”
He took the notes out of his pack. “I sure do!”
“Then… let’s consider it from an objective point of view. We’ll evaluate this timeline’s pluses and minuses compared to our own. If it comes out on top, we’ll stay. If ours comes out ahead, then we’ll go back and try again.”
Spike cringed. “Is it really that simple?”
She turned to look at him forlornly. “Do you have any better ideas?”
Spike heaved a sigh and took out another piece of parchment. “Okay, two columns. Plus and Minus. Go.”
“Okay… in this timeline, Princess Luna was never saved.”
“Minus,” Spike said, noting it on the paper.
“But Celestia fell in love and got married.”
“Plus.”
“Scootaloo doesn’t have Rainbow Dash as a big sister figure, because Rainbow Dash never moved here.”
“Minus.”
“But that’s because she focused hard on achieving her dream and became a Wonderbolt!”
“Plus.”
“Nopony seems to know Fluttershy very well. Applejack barely knows her and says she’s practically a shut-in.”
“Minus.”
“But the Doctor and Derpy are married.”
“Plus.”
“I… I’m not the Princess of Friendship, but I am the Grand Vizier of the Crystal Empire with Shining Armor and Princess Cadance.”
“Minus.”
“Wait, is that… okay, yeah, that is a minus.” She heaved a sigh. “Much as I love Shining and Cadance, I have to admit that I am proud to be the Princess of Friendship. That’s the role I earned for myself. ‘Grand Vizier’ is a title this timeline’s Twilight earned.”
Spike scratched his head. “So… what about me? I mean, I’m not… I’m not your assistant anymore…”
“You mean you don’t want to count being ‘Sir Spike’ as a Plus?” Twilight asked, a smirk on her face.
He shook his head. “Not if it means I don’t get to be with you, Twilight.”
Twilight felt a lump in her throat. “Right. Then, that’s a Minus too,” she managed to say, holding back her tears.
“Although,” she added, “in this timeline, Rarity seems to have a crush on you instead.”
Spike was quiet for a moment. “That… might be worth two Pluses.”
“Spike--”
“Just kidding,” he chuckled, adding another Plus to the list.
“Well, another plus is that Sunset never had her falling out with Celestia and became the Princess of Friendship.”
“I… well, sure, but what about Canterlot High?”
Twilight pursed her lips, mulling that over. “If she never goes to the other world, then she never interferes with the other world’s versions of our friends, so they never drift apart. And without taking the crown there, the Sirens never show up looking for Equestrian magic either.”
“So… wait, how many pluses is that? Two? Three?”
Twilight swallowed. “I… no, that’s just one.”
Spike wrote it down.
“No, wait. Let’s be fair. T-two.”
Spike dutifully wrote it down.
“Um… Discord still got ‘reformed,’ but apparently he’s not on good terms with Sunset and the other Elements. He’s just having a truce with them. As much trouble as Discord causes, it is sad that he doesn’t have friends in this timeline like he does in ours.”
Spike nodded. “Right. Minus. What else?”
The two kept on like that, with Twilight going back over all the information they’d discussed, Spike adding his own commentary when asked, until the sun began to set and the temperature began to drop.
“Spike… we need to get back.” She shivered in the cold air. “What’s the tally?”
“It’s… let’s see…” He silently counted to himself, lightly tapping the parchment with the quill, even going over it twice just to make sure. “It’s a tie, Twilight.”
“Wait, what? Let me see that!” She used her magic to take it from his claws and counted the tally herself. Sure enough, the count came out dead even.
“Mmmaybe we should come up with a tiebreaker. There has to be--”
“Come on, Twilight, we’ve spent the last twenty minutes just trying to think of more examples!”
“Then we could do a longer term study! If we spent some time on this--”
“--then it’ll just be harder if we decide to go back! Twilight, please, we need to decide!”
Twilight was still for a moment. Then, silently, she stood and spread her wings, looking out over Ponyville below to see the Golden Oak Library, the place she once called her home, now in the hooves of another, as it seemed to glow in the radiant light of the sun setting behind it.
“What do you want, Spike?” Twilight asked quietly, not turning around to face him.
“Me? I…” He gulped. “Don’t be mad, Twilight, but I just want to go home. I know it’s selfish, but as far as I’m concerned, these ponies will never remember any of this if we change things, so it doesn’t really matter. But we’ll always remember what we left behind. I miss our friends, our home, our lives, and I don’t want to live the rest of my life in a place I know isn’t my home.”
Twilight took a deep breath. “Thank you, Spike.”
“For what?”
Twilight said nothing and launched herself off the cloud, soaring over Ponyville toward the library in the distance.
***
Sunset stood before the door to the cellar. She greeted Twilight with a smile, but Twilight could tell there wasn’t much joy in it.
“Have you made a decision, Twilight?” she asked.
Twilight nodded.
“Well, even so, I think I still ought to tell you what the Doctor told me.” She took a deep breath. “He said that even he’s not totally sure how this whole time travel thing works, but he says there are two possibilities. In one scenario, it might be that every time you go back and change the timeline, you really are creating a whole new universe. ‘Multiverse theory,’ he calls it. If that’s the case, then all those other universes you told me about are real. They still exist, which is why you remember them. And you might end up creating yet another one if you don’t fix things.”
Twilight felt something in her gut. Her eyes went wide and she took a step back, a shiver going down her spine as she remembered some of the horrible futures she’d witnessed and realizing she might not have prevented them.
“But, at the same time, Twilight, if that’s not the case and there really is only one timeline, then by going back you’re going to erase this one. For better or worse, this timeline that I’ve lived in, grown in, and become my own pony in with all its lessons and hardships and all the friends I’ve made will just… disappear.”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah. That’s possible too. I’d thought of that.”
Sunset nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.” She looked her dead in the eye. “So tell me, honestly: what is your decision?”
Twilight swallowed. Sunset’s eyes were hard, her expression stony and unmoving. She had no idea what Sunset’s reaction would be, but knew that she had to tell the truth.
“We’re going back. Spike and I must return to our own timeline.”
Sunset stood there, saying nothing. Only the slight flare of her nostrils gave any sign that she’d registered what Twilight had said. A long, pregnant pause filled the air.
“All right then.”
Twilight and Spike both looked to each other before turning back to Sunset.
“If that’s your decision, then I won’t stop you.” She stepped aside from the door and even opened it for Twilight.
Twilight glanced at the door, and then back to Sunset. “Sunset, I… why are you doing this? Why aren’t you trying to stop me?”
“I thought about it, Twilight, believe me.” She gave a wry laugh, rolling her eyes. “I really thought about how I could stop you and Spike and how I’d do everything I could to prevent even the chance of losing everything and everypony dear to me. And maybe I just want to believe that the Doctor’s first hypothesis is right and that this will all stay here no matter what. But honestly, what really convinced me is that, well, I know you must feel the same.”
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Twilight, if I’m so desperate to protect my home, then I know that you must feel the same way. I can’t believe that this all happened because somepony interfered with the way things were ‘supposed’ to happen, but it isn’t right to keep you from what she stole from you. But right from the start, I’ve believed in destiny, so I’m just going to trust that there’s a reason for you being here like this, and that there’s more to my destiny than to just disappear--”
She stopped, shutting her eyes as her voice cracked. “No. No, I won’t believe that it’s all going away! It can’t, it just… it just can’t!”
She opened her eyes as she suddenly felt the warm embrace from Twilight, followed by Spike holding her as well.
“Ah. Haha,” she said, chuckling to herself, blinking back tears. “I guess I’m not as sure as I’d like to convince myself. But, like I said, I can’t imagine how you must feel, losing everything and remembering it. At least, if I’m wrong, I’ll never know the difference.”
Twilight nodded, pulling back from Sunset. “Thank you, Princess Sunset. I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”
Sunset nodded and led them both down to the basement. She stopped before the large, crystalline table. “I guess this is your stop.”
They all laughed quietly at that. Spike held up the scroll and Twilight’s horn began to glow. She took one last look at Sunset, seeing the fear and hope in her eyes, and cast the spell. As the portal appeared once again, Twilight whispered, “Goodbye, Sunset.”
Sunset watched as Twilight and Spike flew up into the portal. It closed behind them, and there was a blinding flash...
Author's Note
I hope you enjoyed this story. I should also give credit where it's due: I actually got this story from a short review written by Brony community commentator Silver Quill (who is my favorite of the bunch), but in this short review, he made a comment that stuck with me about alternate timelines we didn't see, ones where victory was achieved at greater cost. I realized it was a neat idea and decided to try my hand at it. Thanks, Silver Quill! (Note: he doesn't usually do the plushy avatar thing - he only does that for short reviews after the episodes air, doing more in depth commentary later.)
Edit: Okay, so, this story got really popular, to my surprise. 
Since a lot of you have questions about things, I've written a blog post as an informative companion piece with some extra lore and such. You can read it here. 
