"I don't know how important other ponies' friendships are to the future, but I can show you what the world is like without mine!" shouted Twilight as she looked at Starlight Glimmer.
Twilight then flew towards Starlight, who simply tilted her head forward and shot Twilight with a spell that was strong enough to knock her unconscious and was subsequently pulled into the portal.
"Twilight," said Spike as he shook Twilight awake.
"How bad is it?" asked Twilight with her face on the map. She could hear a large amount of wind blowing, which made it clear to her that this future was far worse than all the others combined.
"Just look," said Spike as he looked at his purple friend. Twilight then raised her head and opened her eyes and saw nothing but a wasteland.
Wind blew fiercely as there was nothing but a wasteland that was once Equestria, there were a couple trees that stood nearby but none of them had leaves, other then that there was no sign of any life. Twilight then covered her face with her hooves as she leaned on the map.
"I'd hate to see what future could be worse than this. Come to think of it what exactly caused this future to happen?" said Spike as he began to worry about what caused the current future to occur.
"How am I gonna stop Starlight? Every time we go back to confront her she keeps beating me and I was a student of Celestia! How are we supposed to stop her?" said Twilight before landing her face on the map.
Twilight was silent for awhile as she tried to think of a way to beat Starlight, a few minutes went by before she felt Spike tapping her head.
"Um, Twilight?" said Spike as he pointed to something behind her.
Twilight then turned around much to her shock saw somepony she never thought she would ever meet.
"Star Swirl?" said a shocked Twilight as she saw Star Swirl the Bearded himself, or more specifically his spirit.
Star Swirl simply looked at the speechless alicorn before floating towards her and proceeded to touch the tip of her horn with his. A ball of light formed on the tips of the horns, energy began to flow from Star Swirl's horn and straight into Twilight's. Her eyes then began to glow a bright white color. This went on for a few seconds before the ball disappeared. Star Swirl then disappeared shortly after the ball had vanished.
"What was that all about?" said a confused Spike as he looked at Twilight who began to smile she then turned to the dragon by her side.
"Spike. I know how to beat Starlight, but I need you to do exactly as I say!" said Twilight as she looked at Spike.
"I'm all ears!" said Spike knowing that Twilight had a plan.
"Alright, here's what we're going to do," said Twilight as she began to explain her plan to Spike.
Twilight landed in Cloudsdale with Spike on her back who then proceeded to jump off and run away thanks to the spell that allows one to walk on clouds.
"Starlight! I know you're out there! Now come out and face me again!" shouted Twilight calling to Starlight knowing she was waiting for her.
Twilight then heard Starlight laughing, she turned and saw Starlight standing nearby.
"You're persistent I'll give you that. But you won't stop me!" shouted Starlight before firing a beam from her horn at Twilight, who responded by firing a beam from her horn.
The beams struck each other causing a ball of energy to form in the center. As the two fired a beam from their horns, Spike began to quietly sneak behind Starlight, while carrying a scroll.
"Twilight. I know I put all of my faith in you. But this better work," said Spike as he looked at the scroll he was carrying, only to hear a response from someone that scared him.
"I heard that!" shouted Starlight just as she quickly jumped out of the way of large energy ball flying at her, flashed a blinding light at Twilight and proceeded to fire at the dragon behind her. Who began to run away.
Spike was able to avoid the shots from Starlight who was too occupied with him to notice that Twilight was about to shoot her with a special spell she had just picked up.
"For everypony who suffered in those terrible futures, " said Twilight just before shooting Starlight with the spell. Which was felt by the unicorn, but she didn't feel anything.
"Was that supposed to hurt?" said Starlight with a smirk on her face having felt nothing from the spell she was hit with.
Twilight tried very hard to keep her excitement within her having done what she was hoping to accomplish. Without trying to tip off Starlight that the supposedly harmless spell did in fact affect her.
"Since that didn't hurt" – Starlight conjured up a large ball of magic – "here's something that'll really hurt!"
Starlight then fired the large ball at Twilight, however when it hit her the ball shattered on impact. Which completely shocked the unicorn upon seeing her foe standing completely unharmed.
"What the?" shouted Starlight in confusion upon seeing that her spell didn't even cause her opponent to flinch. Who's attention was thrown towards a filly flying right passed them at full speed.
"Go Rainbow go!" shouted Twilight as the filly Rainbow Dash began to speed up in preparation for a sonic rainboom.
"Oh no, you don't!" shouted Starlight as she used the spell she used to stop the rainboom from happening the first time she did so, this time however it did not latch onto the pegasus who began to speed up enough to perform the sonic rainboom. It was at this moment where Starlight realized that the spell did something to her.
"What did you do to me?" shouted an enraged Starlight as she looked at Twilight, who shot her with a spell to entrap most of her body with the exception of her head within a block made of crystal.
"Nighty night, Starlight!" said Twilight as she struck Starlight with a spell hard enough to send a sharp pain into the head of the psychotic unicorn, which also knocked her unconscious.
"She's starting to come to," said Twilight as she looked at Starlight.
"Where am I?" said Starlight as she began to look around and saw that she was locked up in a cage. Before noticing some familiar faces.
"Hello, Starlight." said an angry looking Double Diamond standing beside Night Glider, Party Favor and Sugar Belle as they glared at Starlight.
"Oh, this place." said Starlight upon recognizing the village she was in. She then tried to cast a spell to escape her cage, however she felt a sharp pain in her forehead which prevented her from doing so.
"Ow! What the?" said Starlight after feeling pain from her forehead, before noticing Spike tap on the bars.
"Oh, could that be because of this?" said Spike as he held some pieces of a horn, the color of which was identical to Starlight's body.
Starlight then patted the area of her head where her horn was. And realized it was destroyed.
"My horn," said Starlight upon feeling the remains of her horn.
"It gets worse," said Night Glider as the four ponies moved to the side revealing Celestia, who had an angry look on her face. She then took a few steps towards Starlight and said the following words.
"Starlight Glimmer. For your actions of altering the past, tampering with time itself, dooming Equestria in more ways than even Twilight can count, stealing the cutie marks of all these ponies, forcing them into accepting and attempting to spread your twisted version of 'equality' to all of Equestria and for attacking a princess. You are herby banished to Tartarus for life!" said Celestia sentencing Starlight to spend the rest of her life in Tartarus. Who was silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"You think I'm scared of that place? I know about Tirek and when I get out I'm gonna!" shouted Starlight only to be interrupted by vanishing in a flash of light.
"May your actions haunt you for the rest of your existence," said Celestia as she looked at where Starlight was.
"So is she gone for good this time?" said Fluttershy while looking at her friends.
"More than likely. I doubt we'll ever see her again," said Twilight assuring her timid friend that Starlight was gone for good before having her attention pulled to her other flying friend.
"So let me get this straight. In the first future all of Equestria was at war with the Crystal Empire?" said Rainbow Dash who had her mind focused on the war in the first alternate present.
"Yes," said Twilight while looking at Rainbow Dash.
"But the Crystal Empire is a lot smaller than Equestria even then they have a smaller number of ponies than even half the population of an Equestrian city and they're about as strong as we are. How are they?" said Rainbow Dash who was confused on how the Crystal Empire was giving a strong fight against a large continent full of ponies. Before being interrupted by Celestia
"The crystal ponies are different than equestrian ponies. And given how Twilight described the armor they were given, it can be assumed that the armor made them stronger in many ways. Also the Crystal Empire has more ponies than you think, they have a lot of living space," said Celestia attempting to explain how the Crystal Empire could've given a strong front if they ever fought in a war.
"Oh okay," said Rainbow Dash as she looked at the princess. Before hearing Pinkie ask a question to Twilight.
"When did you learn to render unicorn magic ineffective against anything? You never studied anything regarding what you did to Starlight," said Pinkie Pie as she looked at Twilight, who then began to explain how she got the spell.
"In the last future Star Swirl the bearded came to me. He gave me the knowledge on how to render unicorn magic unusable. Well they can still use the spells, they just won't do anything," said Twilight as she looked at Pinkie Pie.
"Speaking of which. Why would he have that spell?" said Spike questioning why Star Swirl would have such a spell.
He then turned his head to Celestia who did not respond to the question. In fact she was very silent with her eyes not blinking once.
"Princess?" said Twilight as she looked at the princess.
"What?" Celestia said as she shook her head and looked at Twilight.
"Do you know why Star Swirl would have such a spell?" said Twilight looking at Celestia who then spoke up.
"Yes but. I would rather not speak of it," said Celestia as she looked at Twilight, before looking down at the ground.
"Oh I see," said Twilight deciding to drop the question. Then a pony spoke up.
"So seeing as how Starlight is gone for good. You wanna celebrate again?" said Double Diamond as he approached the seven mares who didn't object to it.
"Sure it's not like we're needed for anything important for now. Except," said Twilight taking up the offer. But knew that Celestia was probably gonna be too busy to join.
"I suppose I could stay for a few minutes," said Celestia looking at Sugar Belle who brought out a large cake she just made.
"Let's get this party started!" shouted Pinkie Pie and Party Favor just as they pulled the cord on the back of the party cannon.
A few minutes went by and the entire village had begun celebrating the fact that Starlight was gone. However as time passed Spike was sitting at a table alone with a look on his face that one makes while they're thinking. This was noticed by Applejack and Rarity.
"Hey look Spike is sitting alone." said Applejack upon noticing that Spike was sitting alone.
"Twilight why is Spike sitting alone at that table?" Rarity asked as she revealed to Twilight that Spike was sitting alone at a table.
"I'll go see why," said Twilight as she used her magic to levitate a plate with cake.
"Twilight," said Spike as Twilight approached him with a plate of cake.
"Yeah?" Twilight asked as she walked up to Spike.
"I've been thinking about something that's been bothering me," said Spike as he thought of something.
"What would that be?" said Twilight as she looked at Spike.
"That last future we were at, the one where we met Star Swirl. What in the name of the princesses caused that future?" said Spike as he looked at Twilight who opened her eyes with surprise. Before her face had a look of fear on it. She was silent for a bit before shaking her head.
"I don't know but now that we've stopped Starlight we don't need to worry about that future," said Twilight as she handed Spike a slice of cake.
"I guess you're right," said Spike as he took the plate of cake. However as began eating the cake he still thought about the future that scared him the most.
"At least I hope we don't need to worry about it," muttered Twilight as she thought of that future.
"You hear me Twilight!? When I get out of this place I'm gonna make you wish you and your friends never interfered with my plans!" shouted an enraged Starlight as she shook the bars on her cage. However she calmed down upon hearing maniacal laughter which sounded like it was coming from everywhere.
"Who's there?" shouted Starlight calling out to whoever was laughing. She noticed a pony emerge from some nearby shadows, who wore a cloak concealing most of his body, which did not cover his gray colored horn and yellow eyes that had a red tint.
"My, my. What's a cute looking unicorn like you doing down here?" said the unicorn as he looked at Starlight who was silent at what she just heard.
"Me? Cute? Save the mushy, gushy, romantic garbage for some mare who cares bub!" shouted an angered Starlight rejecting the unicorn's words to her. Who simply brushed her words away before changing the subject.
"You must've really ticked off princess cake mouth to be sent down here," said the unicorn as he looked at Starlight.
"You should've seen her before she sent me here. But that's a story for another day what do you want?" said Starlight as she looked at the unicorn.
"I was just passing by until I heard screaming that and I sensed your arrival. I came by and here I am. So what's this I hear about some ponies ruining your plans?" said the unicorn as he looked at caged unicorn who stared at him.
Starlight was silent for a bit before giving him a description of what had happened to her recently.
"Let's just say some stupid pony and her friends ruined my plans for spreading equality across Equestria. I had an entire village under my control! Then they show up and ruin it and now they got their precious sun princess to turn on me and banish me down here," said Starlight as she looked away from the unicorn.
"You mean Twilight Sparkle and her friends?" said the unicorn speaking of the identities of the ponies who ruined Starlight's plans for equality. Starlight was surprised that he knew about who she was talking about.
"Tirek told me about them. I was originally going to free and bring him with me. But I don't work with failures. Although I can make an exception," said the unicorn explaining how he knew of Twilight and her friends before giving Starlight the following choice.
"Listen if you agree to side with me and do as I say. Not only will I free you and fix your horn. But also assist in spreading your equality across Equestria. Which will come right after dealing with those who pose a major threat to our plans, starting with those six ponies and that pathetic princess. Or," said the unicorn who stopped speaking to make sure Starlight was listening.
"Go on," said Starlight wanting to hear the rest of the offer.
"you can stay here and rot. Regardless of your choice I'm leaving this place with or without you!" said the unicorn as turned to leave. Before being stopped by Starlight shouting.
"Wait! I'll side with you. I'll do as you say as long you hold your end of the deal," said Starlight accepting the offer. The cage suddenly disintegrated. Starlight then felt some powerful magic engulfing the stub that was once her horn. Seconds after it was engulfed her horn was restored to normal.
"Try anything funny and I swear. It'll be the final mistake you ever make. Understood?" said the unicorn warning Starlight about turning against him.
"Can we just leave already?" said Starlight as she followed the unicorn.
The two walked through Tartarus for awhile before coming to a stop near an open area. The unicorn stopped Starlight with his upper left hoof and proceeded to peek above some large rocks and saw Cerberus, who stood near the gate to Tartarus.
"So how are we supposed to?" whispered Starlight as she looked at Cerberus knowing that they would escape if they got past the giant dog guarding the gate. The unicorn suddenly ran up to Cerberus and began fighting the beast. And much to the surprise of Starlight he was doing well against the towering beast.
"My, my. What strength," said Starlight as she witnessed the might of her ally who was easily beating the beast as it tried to fight the unicorn. But stood little chance against it's powerful foe, who bested it within seconds.
"Alright let's get outta here," said the unicorn as he threw the defeated Cerberus off a nearby cliff, and proceeded to open the gate.
The two then proceeded to walk through the gate and began their trek to Equestria for revenge. As they walked further away from Tartarus they could hear the voices of some of the others who were banished to Tartarus pleading whoever was leaving to take them with. As the voices grew quieter and quieter Starlight hesitantly asked her new ally the following question.
"So. What's your deal with the princess? I already told you mine so what's yours? I mean if you wanna say something. If you don't that's fine," said Starlight as she looked at the unicorn who was silent for a bit before speaking.
"Let's just say she did something to me a millennium ago. And now she's about to pay the price for what she's done to me all those years ago," said the unicorn as he thought of something that Celestia did to him a thousand years ago.
"A thousand years ago? How are you?" said Starlight surprised at what she just heard before being silenced by the unicorn.
"You wanna go back to your cage with your stubby horn?" said the unicorn as he looked at Starlight who quickly shook her head in response.
"Good now be quiet," said the unicorn as the two exited Tartarus.
