Twilight v. Sombra Part 1
"Look. I hope all this helped, but... I really need to get back to cannin' those apples."
"Thank you. We're going to set things right."
Applejack makes a quick sigh. "I hope y'do." And with that, Applejack leaves Twilight and Spike with the map.
"So, how are we going to set things right?"
"I DON'T KNOW!!!" Twilight buries her face in her hooves that she rests on the edge of the map. "The only thing we know for sure is that Starlight stopped the Rainboom."
"And that the map's still here," Spike adds.
Twilight gasps. "Spike, that's it!" Spike falls to the former floor in response. "The map is connected to the Tree of Harmony! It must sense that something isn't right! That's why it's still here!" Spike gets back up as Twilight stops again. "Wait a minute. Something isn't right. Remember what I told this present's Applejack?"
"That there's no war with King Sombra when we came from?"
"Exactly. We can't keep messing with time. But we can mess with the future. If Equestria is at a standstill in status against the Crystal Empire, maybe I should be of some help. Perhaps, the front lines?"
Spike scratches his chin with his claw. "I do know for a fact, though, that we destroyed King Sombra, not just defeated him."
"So, maybe destroying King Sombra could just be the key to aiding Equestria." Twilight puts a wide smile on her face. "Without King Sombra, the crystal ponies won't know what to do."
"So, where do we get this present's Cadence?"
"Not sure yet. But she must be either in Canterlot or the Crystal Empire."
"But, doesn't the Crystal Empire take up half of Equestria?"
"Yes, it does, but I'm talking about where it originated. But we don't need to get her. We've got to focus on the most important key of all. That would be destroying Sombra and freeing the crystal ponies."
"So, how about we find Applejack and see what she thinks of it?"
At Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac carries the barrels out of the farm to be sent off to the front lines while Applejack supervises the entire factory.
Twilight comes in with Spike to the factory. "What do you want now?"
"Nothing from you, but I have an idea that could give Equestria the upper hoof."
"And that would be..."
"Me at the front lines."
Applejack just put a confused expression. "I confirm it, you have bumped your head on a crate of cider."
"Just look." Twilight reveals her wings to Applejack by turning her side and flaring them out.
"Oh, right. Y'have wings. Okay. What're y'all gonna do at the front lines?"
"I'll destroy King Sombra himself. It'll be dangerous, but it'll be the key to give Equestria peace again. My mission is to spread friendship across Equestria, no matter what present. And I will do anything that's for the good of the long run of Equestria."
"And what's this dragon gonna do while you're at the front lines?"
"Perhaps, I could be of assistance in Manehatten?"
"Starlight Glimmer?" Spike and Twilight get confused. "The pony you said had 'changed the past'?"
"Oh, her? If we stay here, I'm sure she won't be able to change the past again," Spike answers.
"But where is she?"
"She's still in the past."
"Well what're y'all waitin' for? Y'all have a king to stop!" Applejack puts on the first smile since Twilight and Spike have been here.
"I'll meet you back at Ponyville, Spike. When the Foal Free Press announces that King Sombra is destroyed, make sure you take the first train going to Ponyville from Manehatten."
"You got it." Spike puts a thumbs up for Twilight. "You coming?"
"No, I have wings. Plus, this train goes straight to Manehatten, according to the schedule I read."
"So, see you in Ponyville?"
"See you in Ponyville." Twilight offers a pump, which Spike accepts.
Spike enters the train and takes a seat across from the boxcar door, hearing the horn blowing from the engine.
As he arrives in Manehatten, his first stop is the town hall. It is a towering skyscraper just like any other over here.
As he enters the main hall, Spike meets the mayor right away.
"Hello there, Spike right?" Spike nods. "How could I help you with contributing to the cause?"
"Is there any lines of clothing I could help out with?"
"Okay. There's an open spot or two. Which one would you like? Saddles Road or 78th Gallop?"
"Who works there?"
"Where?"
"Either?"
"Saddles Road... Shadow Hide and Indigo Top. For 78th Gallop... Calling, Unison, Nerve Sew and Top Hat. Oh, and Rare Belle."
"Rare Belle, why does that ring a 'belle'? Rare... rare- Rarity! I'll take the spot at 78th Gallop."
"Do you know her?"
"Whe- uh, where I came from, yes."
"Very well then. Work starts tomorrow morning. We are indeed very busy with out shifts, and we will take in anyone willing to work for the cause."
"I'd say the cause is holding up considering that Equestria's at an actual standstill from what I heard. At the very least, Equestria's still around."
"Well, it's about time we got some recognition to keep our efforts at an all time high for so long. Trust me, your spot is going to be very close to this friend of yours."
"Thanks."
Twilight looks across Equestria for an open field that battles might be taking place as she flies high in the sky to avoid being noticed. But then she realized something. "Oh, great. I'll probably need a uniform. Off to Manehatten it is then." Twilight freezes. "Or maybe..." Twilight attempts to relocate where she saw Carousel Boutique. It works out successfully as she's inside the boutique.
"Okay, let's see what we have here." Twilight starts looking through the shop only to see sets of the same dress, uniforms. Suddenly the dusty air catches up to her; Twilight sneezes once. "Okay. I may not want to stay in here too long. Unless..."
Twilight relocates again, this time in front of the boutique and levitates the nails out of all the boards, all of which fall to the ground. Twilight proceeds to move them to a nearby trash can, coming back to the front door and attempting to open it. It doesn't. Relocating again, Twilight opens the two windows by the door to move the fresh air in. The dust moves out quickly enough for Twilight to evade a second sneeze. "Now, which uniform should I go in? Pegasus? Earth pony and unicorn? Oh, bless it, I'm going with the one fit for a pegasus."
"Hi!" Spike waves at Rarity, who has a mess of a mane instead of its well stroked organized beauty it should be.
"Aww, aren't you the most adorable thing."
Spike chuckles at Rarity nervously. "Um, thanks."
"Are you here helping with the cause?"
"Yeah in fact. Who knew it would look like such a dump. Perfectly understandable though."
"What ever do you mean?"
"The cause and all."
"Although I have to agree with you on the simply dreadful working conditions, I must say that at least we keep this place functional."
"Yeah. Like I said, perfectly understandable if it's only a simple dump. As long as this place could function, I'd be okay with it since we're locked in a standstill."
"Wait, do you know anything about sewing."
"Oh, I'm willing to bet I could since I've been around someone who could. And we'll get that pony back no matter what, where and when."
"How will we know that?" Rarity looks at Spike now, still on her production of uniforms.
"If the Foal Free Press lets us know we have the upper hoof, which will never happen," another pony remarks. "Now get to workin', dragon!"
"Okay."
Silence falls with sound aside from the constant clicking from the sewing machines in the workplace. That is until static sounds in front of the sewing line.
"Attention everypony. News from the Foal Free Press. A new soldier has recruited herself to the battlefields, we could really use help like this alicorn here, who has the same name as a nurse that originally attempted to enter the Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."
Spike points to the flat screen which shows a statical image of Twilight, being compared to this present's Twilight. "Would that be this present's Twilight?"
"Which one?" Rarity asks.
"The one on the right, without wings."
"I suppose so. Princess Celestia is one of two alicorns that are from here."
"So, is the other alicorn Princess Cadence?" Rarity nods.
"It's amazing that an alicorn is risking herself for the fate of all of Equestria. Perhaps this will be a revolution for all of Equestria. More news from the Foal Free Press is coming soon." The screen turns to static again only for it to turn off.
"So who's this Twilight pony you're talking about? The nurse or the alicorn?"
"The alicorn would be the Twilight that I came with from another present."
"Another present? There are other presents?" Rarity looks at Spike a little confused but intrigued.
"You could say that. Do you think that would explain how there are three alicorns over here now?"
"I suppose so."
High up in the clouds, Twilight finally finds a field that is being used in battle. Looking more keenly, she sees what looks like King Sombra. As a bit of preparation, she builds charge of a spell she found when she saw the changelings during the invasion in Canterlot. Next she stands on her hind hooves and spreads her wings. And just like that Twilight dashes so fast that the cloud disintegrates behind her. Aiming towards King Sombra, Twilight forms her changeling-like impact shield. She charges faster and faster until lightning comes from the impact shield.
"CHANGELING!!!" All the soldiers surrounding what is clearly King Sombra run away from him, including his own soldiers. However, King Sombra himself never flinches, but feels the shaking that comes from Twilight landing directly in front of him on his crystal mountain. Much to his surprise is Twilight Sparkle, the time traveller. That is when King Sombra jumps so high that he falls off the cliff.
"Hello, King Sombra."
Sombra gets up and shoots a stone out of his horn towards Twilight, who blocks it with another shield.
"If you think that's going to stop me from destroying you, then so be it, but it won't be true." Twilight summons a stone that catches Sombra's eyes.
"Wait, what... is... THAT!!!"
"This is the Crystal Heart from my present. This present's Crystal Heart is trapped in your crystal spells that blanket the Crystal Empire. And it needs the help of another Crystal Heart that has freed another Crystal Empire. My present's Crystal Empire is now far from any danger that will pass in the future."
"What!!! No!!! You're lying!!!"
"If you think I'm lying, then would it be more believable to summon something you can't or summon something in an open part of space, time and reality, despite it being in an alternate present?"
"The... latter?"
"Good! Now that I've gotten your trust, would you lead me to your Crystal Palace?"
"Very well, on one condition."
"Shoot."
"That you put your present's Crystal Heart back where it came from."
"Very well." Twilight relocates the Crystal Heart she summoned and follows King Sombra. "Phase one, check," Twilight whispers to herself.
At the Crystal Palace, King Sombra stops in front of Twilight, who bumps into him. "So, what shall be the reason we are here?"
"I want to show you my magic. I'm just as capable as summoning stone as you are."
"That's a very good advantage... perhaps we shall team up?"
"Oh, heck no. I said I could summon stone. But that doesn't mean that I'd join you." Twilight re-summons the Crystal Heart she had presented previously to King Sombra.
"No!!! That is mine!!!" King Sombra races towards Twilight who relocates right under the palace with the Crystal Heart still in her levitational grasp. The heart comes to the center of the base of the palace, taking away Twilight's grasp on it, who willingly gives it up. The heart then starts to shine brighter and brighter, brightening every single street of the Crystal Empire.
"No! No!!! STOP!!!"
The streets turn back to their brown selves before the heart starts spinning rapidly, filling Twilight with a crystal barrier in protection for what's to come, leaving King Sombra exposed to the elements that turn him to pieces flying all over the southern direction. In process, King Sombra screams. Twilight has done it. She has defeated Sombra like she was supposed to the first time around.
Author's Note
Well, question time.
What would happen now that Twilight had summoned the Crystal Heart from her present to another?
Since Twilight has to go back to her present, by going to the past in the process, she would've essentially created another Crystal Heart; however, her timeline would still have one Crystal Heart. It's a stable time loop. Her timeline is indeed not the same as the one she returns in if she and Starlight let the Rainboom happen and Twilight had the Crystal Heart with her.
Twilight v. Sombra Part 2
Everyone in the room freezes when a bright light comes from outside.
"What in the WORLD is going on here?"
"Are those, the northern lights of the Crystal Empire?!? Here in this present?!? Wait a minute. Rarity! You're mane!!! Your coat!!! It's of crystal!!!" Spike runs to Rarity and hugs her. "That means, King Sombra's destroyed. Twilight would've made a perfect score on a test if that happened the first time around."
The screen turns on in static until a clear motion image comes up. "We're getting word that a huge explosion has caused a set of visible bright jet streams to appear. What would this mean for Equestria? In other news, crystal soldiers' helmets have mysteriously stopped working. Could this mean that King Sombra is destroyed? Could this give Equestria the upper hoof in the war against the Crystal Empire? Word of action confirms the former. Which means that the war is over. And starting now, crystal ponies have been arrested by the royal guard. Stay tuned for more of what happens to these crystal ponies." The screen turns to static again and turns off.
Twilight stands alone in the familiar Crystal Empire she knows and loves. There isn't a train that comes here, Twilight realizes. "Guess I better head for manehatten all by myself by flight."
"Not on our watch." Twilight hears a bravely new, but familiar voice. She turns around to see Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Maud Pie together, leading all the other soldiers. "You can fly with us."
"Pinkie Pie, Maud, Rainbow Dash?!?"
"Exactly. Say, you know your soldiers too."
"Why wouldn't I know you all?"
"How else?" Rainbow Dash asks.
"Other presents?"
"Other presents?" Pinkie Pie echoes. "You're implying time travel. Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Okay. That is awesome! Where do you want to fly to?"
"Manehatten. My assistant's there helping out with Rarity I assume."
Spitfire comes out of the crowd. "Well, not anymore. The war's over with now. We congratulate you. I wouldn't have thought to actually go for King Sombra himself to have the upper hoof."
"I assume that all this can be reasoned with the crystal ponies."
"Actually soldier, the royal guard is putting the crystal ponies on trial."
"WHAT?!? Did you see what they were wearing for head gear? It must've been powered by King Sombra. Couldn't you tell by the sickly green glow?"
"From what I saw there was just head gear that just so happened to stop working at the same time as when that huge explosion happened. Ifyou saw a sickly green glow somewhere in the head gear, you must have a pretty good eye."
"Thank you everypony. I never expected it to hold this much attention though. Last time this happened, me and my friends just went home after singing."
"It's more than worth singing about when you've destroyed this present's King Sombra. This calls for celebration."
"Will it be likely there will any guilty verdicts for the crystal."
Maud half raises her hoof. "Not if King Sombra was the entire cause of this war. I have some evidence." Pinkie passes Maud a rock King Sombra had grown. "I told Pinkie to keep this rock safe in case King Sombra was destroyed. I smuggled it. It was crystal black."
Spitfire draws a confused expression to Maud. "Wait, are you saying a rock will defend every single one of the crystal ponies?!?"
"Don't believe her? Would you believe that she was part of six ponies that defeated Nightmare Moon and Discord?" Pinkie faces Spitfire now.
"What other five ponies defeated Nightmare Moon and Discord?"
"All of us six ponies represented the Elements of Harmony. Mine was loyalty, kindness was Fluttershy, laughter was Cheese Sandwich, honesty was Silver Shill, generosity was Coco Pammel, and magic was Starlight Glimmer."
"WHAT?!? Starlight G-GLIMMER?!?" Twilight looks baffled now. "I'm willing to bet this Starlight Glimmer wasn't the one who changed the past."
"I'm sure she hasn't." Maud is still in her deadpan tone; however, she ever so slightly raises an eyebrow. "Back almost twelve years ago, the Foal Free Press said that a rainboom was confirmed, but it never happened thanks to one of three foreigners."
"We have no time to waste though. We'll figure out who it... wait a second. I think I know who they were. Pinkie Pie. You remember what you said about the alicorn implying time travel?" Pinkie nods to Rainbow Dash. "So, if you and your assistant are going back to your 'present', in the process of stopping this Starlight character from the stopping a- oh my gosh! It all makes sense now! You, your assistance and that Starlight character were the three 'foreigners'! So, who was it that froze me when I was about to make a sonic rainboom?"
"That would be Starlight Glimmer."
Maud Pai's pupils shrink with her eyes completely open.
"Don't worry, that was my present's Starlight Glimmer. She stopped the rainboom, causing everyone's lives to come to how it wouldn't have been if not for King Sombra." Maud gets back to her normal deadpan position she once held not long ago.
"Thanks for your help, soldier. We couldn't have ended the war without you."
"You're welcome, Spitfire."
"Well, we're not getting to Manehatten if we just sit here congratulating you. Let's get to the big city!" Rainbow Dash jump and flies ahead to lead the group of soldiers behind her. Twilight follows to grab his assistant at her destination.
At Manehatten, all the soldiers except for Pinkie Pie, Maud, and Rainbow Dash have left.
"Everypony, thanks for taking me over to Manehatten. It was very generous of you."
"No problem Twilight. Just call if you need anything. I gotta get to Cloudsdale. Wouldn't want to miss the celebration at home, now, would I?"
"We'll do as to return to my family. They've needed a break from all this war effort."
"Goodbye. I wish you well when you return home."
"Thanks, Twilight."
Twilight nods to Rainbow Dash in response. With that, Pinkie Pie, Maud and Rainbow Dash leave Twilight in the big city. When Twilight gets to city hall, the mayor comes to her right away. "Congratulations on helping win the war against the Crystal Empire."
"Wait a minute... just curious. Do you know Countess Coloratura?"
"Why yes, I do. I remember how she used to be one of the biggest stars in all of Equestria before the war. However, I was enlisted as mayor in Manehatten when the war started. Actually it does make some sense though, me being mayor. A manager essentially does the same thing as a mayor I assure you. When I was enlisted though, poor Coloratura and I had to part ways."
"I imagine her music must be better than ever by now."
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. She'd been on the radio quite a bit. Upon the start of the war, radios have been sent out in promoting the help of war effort. Now was the time to be on the war effort. I will say, aside from the messages from her most recent songs essentially being the same, what about all this war effort, her songs SOUND better than ever. Even better than when I was her manager. She's an independent filly now, free on her own whim."
"I bet." Twilight looks down on the ground. Who knows what songs may be exclusive to this present? It's time to leave with Spike. Something comes up though. The crystal ponies. They'd been arrested... for something that King Sombra had them do by force... by head gear. When King Sombra was destroyed, the helmets stopped working. Maud Pie had stolen one of King Sombra's crystals. Pinkie kept it safe from destruction. Now it's considered evidence that the crystal ponies were not to blame. It's the same thing as all of those unicorns and earth ponies arrested for participation in the Pegasus Khurbn over a thousand years ago, and it wasn't even a year after Equestria was founded. "Mayor Svangallop, do you know about the trials of the crystal ponies that should happen rather soon?"
"Oh, yeah. The crystal ponies were arrested as being the cause of the war. The common pony in Equestria wouldn't even connect King Sombra with the actions the crystal ponies unleashed under head gear."
"I saw what the crystal ponies wore, and in such high detail from above. That was quite the sickly green glow in them."
"I know. I saw the head gear too. Wait a minute! You can-"
"Represent the crystal ponies? I think Maud's got that covered. Pinkie Pie might as well be her co-counsle. Can I see Spike?"
"Why yes, you can. The war's over now so you can see him."
"Mayor S- T-Twlight?!? What you doing here?!?" Twilight turns to Spike at the entrance of the town hall. "I thought you'd meet me back in Ponyville."
"I did. But there was a big change of plans."
"Wait a minute. Is it about the crystal ponies?" Twilight nods in response. "You're going to defend them aren't you?" Spike bluntly asks.
"Not exactly. Maud might be able to do this on her own. Pinkie Pie will be there just in case Maud needs help. And so will I."
"I met up with Rarity while you destroyed King Sombra."
"I knew something like that would happen."
Twilight comes to the lobby from the courtroom and sighs in relief that the crystal ponies have been set free. Behind her is Spike (first one behind her), Pinkie (in the middle) and Maud (last). When Maud comes in the lobby, one crystal pony nearby instantly recognizes her.
"Everypony! Look! It's our savior, Maud Pie!"
In response, all the crystal ponies cheer at the sight of Maud Pie's presence.
"Gee, what's the praising crowd all about?" Maud asks in her deadpan tone.
"Oh, gee, I don't know. Maybe it's showing a single rock that has proved that King Sombra was behind the starting of the war against the Crystal Empire." Spike smiles, elbowing Maud in the process, in which she smiles. Pinkie smirks and starts to laugh.
"Don't expect a full interview with us, crystal ponies. Maud and I have to come back to our family so we all could celebrate."
"And may Equestria have the biggest leap of technology ever since the founding of Ponyville." Princess Celestia comes out of the court room. "Who knew that a single rock from King Sombra was what it took to defend an entire population of crystal ponies?" Twilight instantly sees Princess Celestia and cues for Spike to bow with her.
"Why, hello there, Twilight. I'm sure I've seen you at least once during the rising of the sun at the Summer Sun Celebration."
"You have?"
"Of course. But I never expected that you'd be given wings. Who gave you them?"
Twilight thinks back to her coronation. It was Princess Celestia who presented her as Princess Twilight Sparkle not even a week before the Summer Sun Celebration. Twilight has no other choice. She has to let out her fact. "It was my present's Princess Celestia who'd given me these wings."
Princess Celestia raises her eyebrow. "Really? You mean you time travelled here?"
"Exactly."
"So what would your position be in your time?"
"Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship."
"Well, this was quite the unexpected visit though."
"I know. I didn't know at first that there was a war with King Sombra over in this present."
Meanwhile, Spike looks out to the main entrance after hearing a call for his name.
"Spike!"
"Rarity?!? Applejack?!?"
"I'm so glad I found you! I've gotten the biggest of news!"
"Yes?!?"
"Carousel Boutique is back in business! And I'll be back in Ponyville!"
"And we Apples in Sweet Apple Acres will demobilize our farm for local use again. It's always been my home, and it will continue to be."
"Wait, where's Fluttershy?!?" Spike looks around the crowd of crystal ponies to see if there's anything solid and yellow.
Fluttershy suddenly comes out of crowd wearing a very torn veterinarian suit with her mane rather short. "Finally! A dragon! After shaving so many sheep at Sweet Apple Acres, I couldn't bear to look at a single furry creature for so long." Fluttershy hugs Spike as tight as a bear of hers would've.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Maud Pie, Rarity, Spike and Twilight all come to the map surrounded by the five run down thrones. "Are you sure you don't want to stay with us, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asks.
"I have to stop Starlight from changing the past so I could get back to my present. Equestria will need me no matter what present I run into. And I'd say that is too important of a role to opt out of."
"I see what you mean. No matter what happens, I'm sure we have Maud and all of her friends to go to, right?" Maud Pie nods at Fluttershy. "And I'll be right there with them."
"It may be goodbye for now. But if you need, I'm sure we could help with the help of the Element of Magic."
"Same here," Maud remarks.
"So what will you do with OUR crystal heart, now that yours is in the Crystal Empire?"
"I have a pretty good idea of where to put it." Twilight raises her eyebrow at Applejack.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you again you two... if you come back that is."
"I won't have a problem with that. All I would have to do is wait for Starlight to stop the rainboom the way she did."
Spike takes out the scroll from his backpack and gives it to Twilight, who uses it to travel back to Cloudsdale just before the rainboom.
"Well, I got no apples to can now. How 'bout we have some apple pie?"
"Or maybe we'll have some cake from Sugar Cube Corner!" Pinkie Pie's mane poofs up for the first time in her life.
Everyone except for Maud cheers, who smiles. And so, everyone heads towards Sugar Cube Corner to get the treats they like.
