An Mistake Left In Time

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter one: Keeper of the time laws
Chapter Two: There was a magic fight!
Chapter three: What in the past should stay in the past.
Chapter Four: Deals with the Devils
Chapter Five: If we had a Mexico, This would be called a stand-off
Chapter Six: An army’s last stand and a royal declaration
Chapter seven: The true measure of friendship
Chapter Eight: A few mintues left on this world.
Chapter Nine: Ash to ash, Dust to dust.
Chapter Ten: The sins we remember and the sins to come

Prologue

The night was still as Apple Picker look over his latest loot. He just got done picking the left half of his orchard and was understandably hungry. He sat on top of his cart and pick what he consider the best out of the bunch. He was pretty good at what he does, as it was his special talent. As he took the first bite out of his apple, a small crackly noise rip through the air. He looked around but saw nothing. He shrug and was about to take another bite when a slight louder crackly noise happen again, this time to his left. Apple Picker didn’t know much about storms but the Pegasus had said there wouldn’t be any storms for the next day or so.

Before he could think about it any further, a loud pop and a blinding light hit Apple Picker right in the eyes. He stumble off his cart and slam into the ground hard. As he started to recover, he look to see he was not alone anymore. Standing at were the light had come from, was a pony wearing some type of armor, huddle on the ground. He had seen the armor of the royal guards but this wasn’t it at all. He pick himself up and walk towards the strange pony.

“Excuse me, are you alright?” Apple Picker ask as he got closer to the strange pony. He smelt burnt hair and the smell of magic. The pony has started to get up and Apple Picker saw that the pony was wearing a helmet of some kind, blocking him from seeing the Stanger’s face.

:”Where am I?’ The pony ask, allowing Apple Picker to at least recognize as a female pony. He step a little closer to her and lift out his front right hoof.

“You’re about six miles out from a small town called Ponyville. I was about to head there myself when you…” Apple Picker started to say but felt magic wrap around his throat before he could finish. He let a startle gasp as he felt himself being lifted into the air. He look to see that the unicorn’s horn was glowing a deep purple with red lightning flashing inside it.

“Six mile, you say? Next question, do you recognize this pony? She said used her magic, still holding him in place, to pull out a fade picture from her pocket. Apple Picker look at the picture and shook his head no. The female pony tilted her head at this and Apple Picker can almost hear the smile behind the voice.

“Well, that mean I have no further use for you. Well, except for one more thing.” She said. Suddenly, the magic surrounding Apple Picker turn a blood red and he felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time. His very energy was being drain. He remember when Tirek did this. But unlike Tirek, she wasn’t stopping. He felt the world get colder and his vision started to blur.

“Wait... You’re… killing…me.” Apple Picker gasp. The last thing he heard before he left the world of the living was, “Won’t be the first time.”

(Royal Palace, Same time)
Celestia awoken with a start, as the echo of her dream left her mind. She had felt this power before but not like this. This felt ten time more powerful and angrier. She got out of bed and race towards the throne room. She knew that her sister had felt it and if it was from the same foe as before…

“Sister, please tell me that wasn’t who I believe it to be.” Luna ask as soon Celestia flew into the room. Luna was using the throne room like every night to watch over dreams and keep the moon in its place. She felt the wave of power just as clearly as her sister but not its source. Celestia was pulling out scrolls and magic books from every direction.

“I don’t know if it was Tirek but I set up some precaution since last time. I left a squad of loyal guards at the front of Tartarus to keep an eye on things. I’m going to use a spell that is supposed to commutate over long areas.”

“Or?” Luna said with a raise eyebrow. Celestia look a bit annoyed and sighed.

“Or I switch heads with the pony I’m trying to talk to. But I have no time for cation. I need to know if it him.” Before Luna started to protest, Celestia started to chant.

(Meanwhile, The fort outside Tartarus)

Two guards were standing outside, one with a spear and the other holding a crossbow like weapon. As they stare into the night sky, the speared one spoke out loud.

“Do you ever wonder why we’re here?” He asked his comrade. The other guard didn’t even look away from the sky.

“No, I don’t ever wonder why we’re here.” Crossbow guard said quickly. The last time they got in discussion, He won’t shut up about how it was stupid for them to be there or how…

“I mean, I know I can fight off a couple of bandits, the occasional monster but do you think we stand a chance if Queen Chrysalis, or even Tirek broke out. I get Celestia want us to warn her if they escape but how am I supposed to do that?” Spear Guard asked, kicking a stone across the dirt path way. Crossbow Guard sighed and was about to answer when a fire ball pop right in front of the two guards. They quickly drew their weapons but watch as the fire open up, revealing the face of Celestia.

“Hello? Hello, can you hear me?” Celestia voice drifted in and out of the fire. The two guards’ instinctively lower their weapons and stand at attention.

“My Queen.” They both response as they lower their head in a bow.

“At ease, my soldiers. I only have a few minutes with this spell so I’ll be quick. Has Tirek escape from captivity?” Celestia call out from the flames. Both the guards look at each other and turn back to the fire ball.

“No, My Queen. None of the prisoners has escape from their cells.” Crossbow Guard answer. The image of Celestia nodded at the news but it was clear to the guards that she was worry.

“That is good news. Please, stay at your post and alert me the second something seems off.” Celestia said and with that, the fire ball disappeared. The two guards look at the smoke left behind and stood in silence. Like before, Spear Guard broke the silence by asking, “And how are we supposed to do that?”

“Just shut up and stay on point.” Crossbow said in a tired voice.

(Back at the palace.)

“So if it wasn’t Tirek, sister. Then who could have possessive that much power?” Luna ask as soon as the spell ended. Celestia look at her sister and then back to the night sky.

“I don’t know and that is what scare me the most.”

Author's Note

Next chapter: Keepers of the time laws

Chapter one: Keeper of the time laws

Twilight pace back and forth in front of Starlight house. She had just got into their little town that morning, wanting to check up on her since their little adventure three months ago. But when she got there, a crowd had form in front of Starlight house. She asked what was going on to several of the other pony but all she got was a few of them muttering something about time laws. She didn’t read or hear anything about time laws but it was obvious that it was about the time spell Starlight had made. Now, she was pacing in near panic, hoping that whoever was behind those doors was not going to do anything to drastic.

Before she could go into full on panic mode, the front door swing open. Out step three ponies, one she recognized and two stranger. The first stranger was a unicorn that had bright yellow coat with a slightly spike mane and brown eyes. His cutie mark was a pocket watch with a quill. He glance at Twilight direction but continue walking. The other was a pegasi that was had a cherry red coat, long straight hair for her mane and a scar over one eye. Her cutie mark was a stop watch. She flew right past Twilight and landed a few steps away. She turn back and was watching Twilight intently.

The one she recognize was one she see in Ponyville almost every day and was surprise to see him here.

“Doctor Hooves, what are you doing here? What going on? Dose it deal with what happen with the spell? I already explain to Princess Celestia that…” Twilight was going to start rambling but Doc raise a hoof in an effort to keep her calm. Twilight stop rambling and started to take deep breaths. When she finally calm down, Doc pull out a bag from his pack.

“Would you like a Jelly Filly? I find they help me stay calm.” Doc said, popping a few into his mouth. Twilight shook her head, Doctor Hooves shrug and continue. “Now as for the matter at hoof, I’m a part of a secret society, if you will, that deal with events in time. When events like what happen between you and Starlight happen. Me and my two friends over there.” Pointing to the other two ponies that were behind Twilight. “We figure out how dangerous it is and what we need to do.”

“So, how bad is it?” Twilight ask. Doc look towards the door to see Starlight was standing there, confusion written all over her face. Doc look at his two friends who had harden looks on theirs.

“We should all talk in private.”

(Inside Starlight Glimmer house.)

If Twilight wasn’t nervous before, she was now. Thought the Doc was being kind and gentle, his “friends” were cold and as distance as possible. Doc introduce the red pegasi as Sky Watcher and the yellow unicorn as Record Keeper. The two of them refused any food or drink, but instead just sat at two ends of the table that they all sat at. Doc sat in the middle, sipping out of a tea cup. Starlight was on his left, glancing back and forth between him and Twilight. Twilight was trying not to have a panic attack. She didn’t have any idea what this group could do but she felt like she was back at filly school.

“Okay, now that we are all settled, let try to do this calmly.” Doc said. A huff noise was made from Record Keeper side and Sky Watcher roll her eyes. Doc ignore them both and continue. “Now, do you two know how most of us theories how time works?” He pointed at both Twilight and Starlight. Twilight raised her hoof, and Doc pointed to her.

“When I was in the different time, the Zecora of that world talk about it being like a water stream. It flows in one direction and if something change the flow, it can cause different effects. But I thought when I kept Starlight from changing the event with Rainbow Dash, I stop any of those future from happening.” Twilight said. She notice Record Keeper was starring daggers at Starlight. Doc wince, lift his hoof and made a swaying motion.

“That sort of right.” Doc said, “You see, you stop your timeline from experiencing those events. But your timeline not the only one that exists. Imagen a hundreds of streams, all intertwine at one point or another. Now, we go one path why other go another. We worry about what would happen if someone saw you or found out about the other time streams. It could cause all kinds of problem.”

“What kind of problems?” Starlight ask. This cause Record Keeper to sit up straight but keeping his eyes on Starlight. When he spoke, his voice was a soft but deep voice.

“Oh, I don’t know. What happen when a ruthless army decide that their time stream isn’t the only one to capture? What happen when one siege by war and famine decide we have what they need? How about a world where they have a disease that we never encounter and could kill us all.” Record Keeper list off, getting increasable angry. “DID YOU EVEN THINK!?!” He roar all the sudden, causing Twilight, Doctor Hooves and Starlight to jump. “Did you even consider the actions of what you have done? You left us open to so many attack and all because you couldn’t deal with a problem a child knew how to handle?”

“Rec, that is enough.” Doc said in a calm but stern voice.

“He not wrong.” Sky Watcher said, her voice as cold as ice. “She acted without remorse and put us all in danger. Time is not friendly mistress and she straight up spat in it face.”

“I said, that ENOUGH!” Doc said, slamming his hoof down on the table. “We have plans, spells and protocols in case of all events. We also know that it take a lot of magic to create a portal that could bring an army. We have nothing to worry about as long as when take certain precaution.”

“What precaution?” Twilight ask, scare of what punishment they would come up with. Would they turn Starlight into a statue? Tie her up for the rest of her life? Throw into a burning lava pit? She held her breath as Doc started to speak again.

“Starlight Glimmer, You are here by ban from entering the Star Swirl the Bearded library for life.” Doctor Hooves said. There was a stun silence, then a chuckle broke out.

“What? You’re serous. You come here acting like I committed murder and the worst you can do is ban me from a library. What next? Charge me for the overdue books? Oh no, you might make me be 5 bits poorer.” Starlight said with sarcasm. Twilight saw Record look over to Doctor Hooves.

“I told you that she wouldn’t take it that seriously.” He said in a gruff tone. Doctor Hooves shook it off and turn back to Starlight.

“We don’t have the power or authority to enforce any real punishment. Somepony lost our paper work that prove our groups worth.” Doctor Hooves said, a little annoy. Twilight saw Sky Watcher blush a bit but didn’t react any other way. “But we need to make sure that nothing like that happens again. We are lucky no pony got hurt.”

(Three mile outside of Ponyville.)

Grass Trend and Stone Smasher were sitting in the shade of a big oak when they saw the strange pony walking up the road. Stone threw an apple to Grass Trend and began to pick a rock.

“Hey Grass, I bet ten bits I can hit that pony from here.” Stone said, tossing the stone up in the air. Grass look at the strange pony then back to his friend.

“You’re on.” He said, throwing an apple core to the side. Stone grab the rock out of the air and aim for the strange pony. After a couple seconds, he arch back his hoof and toss it as hard as he could. The rock flew with great speed and hit its target on the head. A small thunk noise was made as it connected with the helmet.

“Bull’s eyes!” Stone shouted. He felt proud…for about five second. That all it took before magic wrap around his throat and yank him into the air. He saw his friend was right next to him and saw a purple hue surrounding his friend throat. It was probably the same magic holding him. He look down to seem the strange pony was suddenly standing only a few feet in front of them.

“Since you’ve grab my attention.” The strange pony said, showing no sign of strain or struggle of holding the two colts. “I will ask you a question. Have you seen this pony?” She produce a picture out of her pack. The two colts look at the picture and Grass started nodding quickly. “Where?” She loosen the magic around Grass’s throat, allowing him to speak, only barely.

“Was in Ponyville a while ago. Speak to the pony name Twilight. She’ll know where.” Grass gasp out as much as he could. The pony tilted her head to side and then nodded.

“Well, I guess I can let you live.” The pony said. Before Grass could respond, the pony fling her head back causing him to go flying into the distance. She turn her attention towards Stone. “You, on the other hand, drew the short straw.” Just like before, the magic turn blood red and Stone barely had time to scream.

Chapter Two: There was a magic fight!

Twilight look out the window of the train, lost in in her worried mind. She was also was silently kicking herself for not taking Spike or her friends with her on the trip. Even though her friends forgave Starlight, she got a sense that they still didn’t like her that much. But still, if she had someone like Rainbow Dash or Apple Jack, they would easy this sea of worrying thoughts.

Doctor Hooves said not to worry because he had “safeguards” in place that would warn them if something from another world came. He was in the train cart in front and as much as she wanted to ask more question, she didn’t want to talk to Record Keeper or Sky Watcher. They were in the same cart, planning to transfer from Ponyville to their respected towns. Record Keeper work at a bookshop in Canterlot while Sky Watcher delivers weather report to all the towns from Cloudsdale.

Twilight was battling the idea of talking to Doctor Hooves some more when the door to her cart open and Record Keeper walk in. She pretended to look out the window, hoping that he was just going to the bagging area. Not the case.

“I must say, you surprise me. I figure you would be interrogating the Doc till the end of the world. Instead, you are sitting here, worry about me and the klutz.” He said, sitting on the aisle side seat. Twilight open and close her mouth several time but no words came out. Record Keeper wave his hoof in the air. “Don’t worry. I’m might have left a bad first impression but I’m not that bad of a guy. I tend to let my angry get the best of me sometimes. But now I know that spell is lost in the time stream, I don’t have that much to worry about.”

“But all those things you talked about,” Twilight said, sitting up in her seat. “You made out like that we might have brought the world to an end.”

Rec chuckle and pull out a piece of candy. “Those are the worst possibility out of the worst of ideas. It was a scare tactic, really. Just to discourage more events like this from happening. A onetime trip is very unlikely to cause anything bad from happening.” He look out the window and sighed. “So, you saw the world under control Queen Chrysalis. I was there when she first attack. Not like your friends, I was on the ground floor. I fought most of them off but they overwhelm me. If your sister in law didn’t pull off that spell, I’d be dead.”

“Well, let just hope nothing bad like that happen agai…” Twilight started but was interrupted when the train screech to a stop. “That’s odd.” She thought “Ponyville stop isn’t for another five minutes. Why are we stopping just outside of town?” She look out the window and gasp. She ran out the cart, with Record Keeper following right behind her. Ponyville was surrounded by guards and magic shield.

“What in Celestia’s name?” Record Keeper said under his breath. That all Twilight heard before she went at full speed toward the guards.
(An hour earlier)

“The Great and Powerful Trixie is about to perform a show in two hours and she doesn’t like to wait for her coffee.” Trixie shouted while waiting for her order at the local café of Ponyville. She need to stop coming here. Her greatest failures happen here and she didn’t like to be reminded of her failures. As she tap her hoof in inpatient, she saw a strange pony standing in the middle of the road.

She got up from the table and started to head towards the stranger when she saw the pony horn light up. “I’ve seen the color of her magic before… but where?” Trixie thought when the pony blasted magic into the air and surround the town in some kind of shield. Suddenly, a voice boom around the town.

“I will only ask one time. Where is the pony knows as Twilight Sparkle?” The voice shouted. Trixie just sighed. One of these days, she just going to skip this town.

(At Rainbow Dash’s house)

Rainbow Dash woke with a start when a loud voice booming woke her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes to see a magic shield had encased Ponyville and her house with it. She moan in annoyance and she got up. “If this is Trixie with some kind of gem again.” She thought as she flew into town. She realized it wasn’t Trixie when she saw the strange pony in the center of town. She slow down and landed right in front of the stranger.

“Okay buddy. I can see you’re new around here. So I’m going to give you one chance to pull down this shield before I have to take it down myself.” Rainbow said, cracking her shoulders while doing it. The stranger tilled her head to the side, almost study Rainbow Dash.

“You are not Twilight.” She stated. Rainbow Dash blink at this, then started to circle the stranger.

“Twilight is my friend and she is out of town at the moment. So you have to deal with me.” Rainbow said. The stranger seem to be a bit taken by this statement.

“You ...are …friends with Twilight?” She asked. Rainbow felt the air changing and realized she needed to move, now! She dove to the side as magic bolt came at her. She dodge two more as she saw the stranger’s magic glow a deep red.

“Twilight has no friends!!!” the stranger scream, marking each word with another bolt. Rainbow was able to dodge them with ease but she was worry that she would run out of energy before the stranger. She didn’t have to wonder long when the stranger fake a left, causing her to get hit by a bolt. It felt like she got slam by a bugbear ten time over. She struggle to get back up but the stranger landed on top of her.

“You are going to tell me if she has anymore friends and you are going to tell me where they are.” The stranger said with her teeth clench. Rainbow Dash struggle to look up at the stranger and saw her eyes lighten up behind the helmet.

“What make you think I will tell you anything?” Rainbow Dash struggle to say. She felt magic encased her head and slam her into the ground. She felt the magic push into her skull.

“You won’t have a choice.”

(Now)

Twilight was now inside the shield that encased her town. The guards outside of it said they tried everything but could not get through. The Princesses were at least two hour out and Twilight couldn’t wait that long. The guards’ mention that a voice demanded that Twilight enter and no one else. The guards try to convince to wait for the Princesses but Twilight was sure that she could handle it.

The town was bare and not a single soul was around. She didn’t know who the voice belong to but she couldn’t leave her friends endanger any longer. As she step quietly through the town, she saw her castle was glowing with a red glow.

“If I was a betting pony…” she thought as she start to head to the castle. It didn’t take long before she was at the front door. She open it quietly as possible and sneak down the hall. Maybe if she can get the drop on the stranger, she would be able to end this battle before hurting anyone else. As she got to the map room, she heard a small moan above her. She look up and had to avoid screaming.

Everypony from town were on the ceiling, in some kind of shell. They all look semi-conscious and barely alive. They were floating and drifting from one point of the room to the other. She even saw Spike in the cloud and a couple of animal that been known to follow Fluttershy. But she didn’t see her friends and she didn’t know if that was good or bad.

“Enjoying the view?” A voice said from the dark. Twilight summon her magic and turn to the voice. Stepping out of the shadows was a strange pony cover in armor she seen before. The helmet was one half nightmare moon armor and the other was half was the rebel of the changelings world. She was wearing a body armor of several piece from all the worlds she visited and some she didn’t. All of it was crudely mended together.

“I’ll make this quick.” The pony said, jumping on top of the map in the middle of the room. “Where is this pony?” She pull out a picture and float in front of Twilight. She recognize it and try to hide that showing on her face. It was Starlight Glimmer, taken when she was angry. She didn’t recognize the background but she remember the face. It was during the battle in time.

“I don’t recognize…” she started but was hit back by a force and into the wall. She saw the pony float down to the ground from the table and towards her.

“Don’t lie to me again.” The stranger said. “If you do, I will break your spine.”

Twilight quickly look around the room for any way to get the upper hoof but as the stranger move closer, she realized that she was running out of options. If only she could create a bit more room. Twilight remember a spell that might just work but barely. She waited until the stranger was a few step away from her. Then she cast the spell before the stranger could react. It was a simple spell that was used to light up darken path. By putting a large amount of energy into it and then stopping it almost immediately, creating a flash like a camera.

It had the desire effect on her opponent. She cry out in shock and was blinded. This allowed Twilight to teleport out of the way and was on the opposite side of the room.

“My eyes!" The stranger scream and almost crash into the wall. But the stranger wasn’t blinded for long and realized that Twilight wasn’t there anymore. She turn around just in time to see a magic bolt hit her in the face. Twilight thought she end the battle at that moment but the glow of red magic prove otherwise.

“Alright, looks like we’re doing this the hard way.” The stranger mutter, charging anther spell. Twilight dive to the left as she fire her spell, opening her wings to allow her to get a better distance. She turn back and try to fire anther spell but had fly up to avoid two more spells.

“She fast and strong.” Twilight thought as she flew down the hall and turn left toward the front door. “If I can get her outside, I might be able to turn this around.” But a second before she could reach the door, the stranger teleported right in front of her, blocking her path.

“Where do you think you’re going?” The Stranger said, clearly taunting Twilight. Twilight quickly bank right and blast a hole in the window. She cast a spell on the falling shards of glass, turning it to a sand cloud. She blast it at the stranger but had little effect due to the helmet. She started to head to the sky but felt magic wrap around her entire body. She was yank down to the ground, hard. She smash into the floor of the castle, knocking the wind out of her.

“I said, you don’t get to leave just yet.” The Stranger said. Twilight felt the force tighten around her again. It lift her off the ground and threw her across the hall, pass the map room and into her bed room. She rolled on the ground and landed on her back. As she start to open her eyes, she saw some figure on the ceiling.

“But all the people were in the map room, who could be in…” The thought die when her eyes came in focus.

“Enjoying your new ornaments. I figure that you want four best friends to hang around.” The Stranger said, float into the room with easy. Inside her bed room, float like the others, was Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. But unlike the other, they were wide awake and struggling to break out.

“So much for her element of harmony.” The stranger said with a chuckle. “She gave up all four of them without much of a struggle. I hardly had to use my magic. But not all of us can be born a genius.” Rainbow twitch at this but also had a hidden smirk that only Twilight saw. “So are you going to tell me where the pony is or which one of them will suffer a fate worse than death?” The stranger said. The stranger started to notice Twilight shaking with fear as she got closer. That when she notice that Twilight wasn’t shaking with fear but trying not to laugh.

“What is so funny?” The stranger demanded as she got closer. Suddenly, a shadow was right behind.

“Because I was making faces behind you for, like, two minutes, and you have yet to notice, helmet head.” A voice said behind the stranger and she turn around to get a pie right in her face. She stumble around, blinded by the cream, trying to get her vision back. As she wipe the rest the muck off with her front hoof and turn back to Twilight to instead see a cannon point at her face.

“Party time!” Twilight shout as she hit the trigger causing to fire confetti at the stranger. It rocket her into the sky and out the window with a thundering crash. This cause the spell that hold her friends to be release, dropping them to the ground. They all got up shakily and shook their heads in an attempt to clear them.

“What the hey is going on?” Applejack said, brushing her hat off before she put it back on. Pinkie Pie jump in front of the group.

“Weeelll, I was trying to get supplies for a party to celebrate Trixie show when a shield was cast over the town. Then it became a big game of hide and seek as Bucket Head was capturing everyone. I hid until I saw Twilight come back and hear her miscount how many friends you have, so I decided to surprise her with cream pie.” Pinkie rattle off quickly as she bounce around the room.

“I, for one, have to ask how she didn’t know about Pinkie at all but found us so quickly.” Rarity asked, brushing off the dust her mane. The group all turn to Rainbow Dash, who was still a bit dizzy from the experience. She realized that the rest of the group was staring at her.

“Hey, I’m the element of loyalty, not honesty. She cast some spell on me that made it hard to lie buut I was able to get away with a few. She didn’t know about Pinkie pie or Spike. I said he was a pet in order to keep him safe.” Rainbow Dash said. Twilight was surprise Rainbow Dash was able to think on her hoofs that quickly but she had no time to thank her.

“Girls, we need to get ready to fight her. I doubt the cannon was going to do much but it knock her off guard. We need to get out of here before she comes back.” Twilight said, gear up for the battle.

“Umm, Twilight.” Applejack said, pointing towards to window the stranger had recently flew out of. Twilight turn to see that the stranger was floating in the hole she created. The red glow surround her and was very bright. Twilight could feel the power flowing off of her... and the angry.

“I AM SO DONE WITH THIS!” the stranger roar and with a blast of magic, she pinned all of them onto the wall. “YOU ARE GOING TO TELL ME WHERE THIS PONY IS OR I SWEAR TO LUNA, I WILL PEAL THE FUR OFF YOUR HIDES AND TEAR YOU IN TO PIECES!” She went towards the group, red lighting flicking off her body in an agitated state. Twilight look at her friends then back at the stranger.

“Okay, I’ll tell you. Just let my friends go.” Twilight beg. The stranger laugh at this and press her hoof on Twilight chest. She kept on pressing until Twilight ribs started to crack. Twilight howl in pain and try to move but the spell kept her place.

“Oh, your friends are going nowhere. I need to make sure you are telling the truth, unlike your other friend.” She said, motioning to Rainbow Dash. She flick her hoof and a loud snap was made as lightning struck Rainbow in the thigh, causing her to yelp in pain. “And if you even think about tricking me or trying anything funny. I will rip your friends’ limbs off one at a time. Do you understand me?”

“Yes. Just answer me this. Why are you doing this?” Twilight ask as she felt the magic loosen around her. The stranger chuckle and raised her hoofs to her helmet. There was a hiss as she pull it off. She drop it to the ground and Twilight got to see the stranger face. Her mane was cut military and her face bore a scar above her right eye and across her left. She had a deep purple fur but was clearly not clean in a while.

But what scare Twilight was she had seen this pony before. Every day in the town or when she went to Canterlot. Every night before she went to bed and look in the mirror.

“Shock, aren’t you? To avoid the little confusion that this might cause, you made call me Pure Twilight.” She said “and I’m doing this to take out the pony who cursed my world to be destroy.”

Author's Note

Next chapter: What happen in the past should stay in the past.

Chapter three: What in the past should stay in the past.

Pure Twilight was scrounging around in a forgotten cart as another dust storm roll by. She was hoping to find some food the parasprite had missed on their rampage but was finding none. She had mange to escape the horde when they started to turn on the ponies themselves to keep on eating. She believe that they either starve themselves out or move to different part of Equestria. Either way, her main concern was finding enough food to survive.

“What the point?” She thought as she pull out a camera she found in the remains of the cart. She sat down and hold the camera in her hoof. “Even if she did find food, why should she survive? She was, as far as she knew, the last pony on the planet. She had nothing to protect her from the elements. She really need a cloak.” She reach in her pack and pull out a skull of her only friend in the world, Moon Dancer.

“So, what do you think I should do Moon Dancer?” She ask the skull. She then press the skull to her head and started nodding on and off. “Yes. That make sense. True. Alright, but where will I find enough poison to make it quick?” This conversation continue until she hear thunder. “Thunder? But only Pegasus can make storms, so that mean…” She jump to her hoofs and quickly pack her bag. In her haste, she pack the camera into her bag.

She ran to the sound of the thunder to only see two pony in the distance, yelling at each other on top of some stone table. They were unicorns, so not the source of the thunder. . She hid behind a lone dead tree and listen to what they were saying.

“Like I said, everything in the past affects the future, even the tiniest act, and what you’re doing leads here.” One of unicorns said. Pure Twilight couldn’t see much of this unicorn, only that it look similar to her. She then notice the wings and realize it was an alicorn.

“She must be the last royal pony in Equestria. She’ll know what to do.” Pure Twilight thought and was about to speak when the other unicorn spoke out.

“Change my mind!?! You don’t know anything about me! I was perfectly happy before you and your friends ruined what I built!” She shouted causing the alicorn to step back.

“How dare she talk to royalty this way!?!” Pure Twilight thought angrily. But she stay hidden because of what they said earlier. “What did she mean, “cause this.”?”

“I don’t know what happen that led you to make you village without cutie marks. And I’m sorry my friends and I had to take it away.” The alicorn said, trying to calm her down.

“You want to know what happen to me!?! I’ll show you!” The unicorn shouted, causing Pure Twilight to drop her bag in shock. The camera roll out and flash as unicorn cast the spell. The alicorn and unicorn got stuck in, along with some lizard creatures. Pure Twilight try to dive after them but just struck hard rock instead. She cry out in pain and started pounding on the stone.

“No! Come back, COME BACK!” She scream into the stone. “I can’t live in this world! I can’t live with what I had to do to survive! Just COME BACK!” She stay there for a while, crying into the stone table in hopes they would come back. Suddenly, the thunder noise happen again and a portal open up above her head. She look up in hope but her face fell as a piece of paper drifted out of the hole.

She grab it and was about to rip apart but stop when she saw what was written on it. It was a spell that was supposed to help you travel through time. It was a very complex spell but she thinks she could cast it. But before she would cast the spell, she need to get one thing. She jump off the table and pick up the camera. A picture was flapping in it, still waiting to be pull out. She pull it out and look at it.

It was blur but it caught the face of her target. She put it into her pack and grab Moon Dancer’s skull, lifting it into the sky.

“I swear on your life and on Celestia soul, I will hunt down this pony who cause this pain upon us and I will make her pay.” She cry into the sky. With that, she put the skull into her pack and summon all her power to cast the spell. And in a flash she was gone.

(Now)

Twilight was still in shock at this version of herself. The Pure Twilight was getting a little impatient.

“You know, all the other version of us at least ask a question by now.” Pure Twilight said. This finally snap Twilight out of her daze. She try to think of just one question but all of them seem to want to be answer at once. Finally, one that seem more important than rest came out of her mouth.

“How did you get so strong?” She ask, trying not to reveal her fear. Pure Twilight smirk at that.

“You are the fifty version to ask me that. That and how did I get here? I learn a spell on the third world I landed on that allow me to absorbed magic from other pony and after a while, other things. Soon, I was able to absorb the gods of those worlds.” She said with confidence. Twilight looked with complete horror. “Oh, don’t shed any tears for those worlds. One was a world fill with a bunch of cannibals who eat the flesh of the pony they murder in cupcakes. Another one where we killed a bunch of pony in order to “preserve” friendship. I take out Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra and even Nightmare Moon. I defeated them all almost a hundred times and it all ended the same.” Twilight notice she forget Discord but continue to stay silent.

“I destroy almost all the time line I’ve been to. Not just kill our alter self, not slay a few ponies. I destroy worlds.” Pure Twilight said, relishing ever word. “I made the gods themselves fall to their very knees and made them beg for mercy. It was the fifth time this happen, I realized that I could finally make the one who cause me so much pain and misery. That I could finally hunt her down and make her feel the thousands of deaths she cause.”

“You said that you destroy almost every world. What world did you spare?” Twilight ask but felt she knew the answer and if she right, might give her an advantage.

“The first two world were just to heal up from being in a wasteland. Then after I gain enough power to hunt, I stubble on a time line that was clearly a mistake. Day turn to night too quickly and rain chocolate. I left in almost two minutes, knowing that wasn’t the timeline I was looking for. Now that I found it.” Pure Twilight said, look towards the broken window.

“No more talk about the other worlds, I’m afraid.” Pure Twilight said quickly, walking towards the door of the bed room. Twilight notice her wincing as she walked. She saw a shard of glass sticking out of her left shoulder. She was about to point it out but decided against it, it might give her the upper hoof. No such luck as Pure Twilight yang out the shard right in front of her and held in her hoof.

“That really stings, you know.” She said as she wave the shard in front of Twilight. “Okay, so here the deal. You bring me… what her name?” she brought the shard to Twilight’s throat.

“Starlight Glimmer.” Twilight said as the glass press onto her skin. Pure Twilight nodded.

“Starlight Glimmer. You bring her to me at the center of town in about two day or… Well, I’ll show you what I’ll do to your friends with a volunteer from the town folks.” She said and with that, open the doors to the map room. But to every pony surprise, the room was bare.

“Where did they go!?!” Pure Twilight yelled into the empty room.

(Ten minutes ago, Map Room)

A loud crash awoke Vinyl Scratch from her sleep. She remember working on some music for a party but then blacking out. Now she was in some kind of room with a map in the middle. She also felt like she fell out of bed. She started to get up but felt someone laying on top of her. She look over her shoulder to see another pony she knew, Bon Bon, starting to wake up.

“Lyra, leave me alone. I don’t want to get up yet.” Bon Bon mutter drowsily.

“What are you taking about?” Vinyl ask, waking Bon Bon all the way. She went wide eye and look around the room. Vinyl did the same and notice that almost all the pony from town were in this room. Octavia Melody was leaning on a chair while Lyra Heartstrings was helping a couple of other pony get up.

“What happen?” A voice called out in the now rising group of towns folk. Everyone look around confuse and then someone finally spoke up.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie knows who did this to us. It was some stranger who kidnap us and knock us all out cold. Trixie, for one, is tired of always expecting Twilight Sparkle and her friends to saving us. Let find this stranger and make her pay!” Trixie cry out in the middle of the room. The group started to nod and there was a rise of ponies agreeing with her. It was about to go onto full scale mob when they all heard something smash against the wall.

“YOU ARE GOING TO TELL ME WHERE THIS PONY IS OR I SWEAR TO LUNA, I WILL PEAL THE FUR OFF YOUR HIDES AND TEAR YOU IN TO PIECES!” A voice boom from the other room. This silent all talking from the group and every pony was afraid to breath.

“Or…” Vinyl Scratch said in clear voice so everyone could hear. “We could get out of here and possibly get ahold of the princesses.” The group took about to two second before they stampede out of the castle.

(Now)

“Alright, I can’t show you what I want to do and if I do to one of your friends now, you might try to turn on me.” Pure Twilight said, trying to think of a solution. “So here my plan.” She floated the shared to Twilight eye and slowly started to spin it. “You bring me this Starlight Glimmer or I will drain your friend like an ice cold drink. Now, go.”

Twilight felt a force push her out the castle and into the grounds. As she got back up, the doors of the castle swing shut and a red shine started to incase the castle.

“Twilight!” a voice shout and Twilight turn around to see Spike running towards her. She notice the shield was gone and all the towns’ ponies were standing around. They look at Twilight in shock and confusion. The whole town was there, hoping she knew what to do. But she didn’t, she had no idea.

“Twilight, what happen? All I remember was cleaning the castle and then wham! I woke up in the map room with a couple of ponies pile on top of me. What is going on?” Spike said, stopping in front of her.

“That is something we all like to know.” A voice said above Twilight. She look up to see Celestia and Luna flew right above her and landed in front of the group, causing them to all bow to the royal. Twilight saw Doctor Hooves and his friends in front of the crowd, looking a little nervous. Twilight understand that feeling, she was feeling it right now.

“This is going to be a long story.” Twilight said.

“Oh, I love long story. I hope Fluttershy brought some tea, because I’m craving it.” A voice know all too well to everyone in town. Discord pop out of the ground like a worm and slither into a coil in front of the princesses. “Where is Fluttershy? I try to go to her house early but a shield was over the town. Did Trixie go off her meds again?”

“Hey!” Trixie voice cry out in angry.

“Discord, you need to hear this.” Celestia said. Discord turn around to face her but stop smiling when he notice the sorrowful and scare tone he sense in every pony.

“It started with the time spell…” Twilight began.

(Back in the Castle)

Pure Twilight wander the room, look at the friends of this world’s Twilight. She release them from the spell but warn them that if they try anything, they would regret it. She try tending to her wound in her shoulder but was having little luck as she didn’t know a lot of healing spells. As she try to again, she heard a throat clear behind her. She turn to see the one known as Fluttershy was standing there, shifting on her hoofs.

“Um, Miss Pure Twilight. I notice you have a cut on your shoulder. The animals I watch get hurt all the time and I know a few way to cover wounds.” Fluttershy said. Pure Twilight stare blankly then lay in front of Fluttershy, presenting her wound to her. Fluttershy pick up some cloths and a water bowl. She started to clean the wound, ignoring the hiss of pain that came from Pure Twilight.

“So you are the element of kindness. Even after I threaten your friends and injury them, you are still willing to help me heal. I don’t know if I call that foolish or naive but I will gladly accept your help.” Pure Twilight said.

“You know, it not nice to bad talk the pony helping you.” Fluttershy said, starting to stich up the cut with some thread she had clean. Pure Twilight ponder this and continue to let Fluttershy work. On the other side of the room, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were sitting around the wounded Rainbow Dash, who Fluttershy had patch up earlier. They watch Fluttershy work and wonder if what their next move should be. Hopefully Twilight was coming up with a better plan then them.

(Outside the Castle)

“And she said if I don’t bring Starlight Glimmer in two days, that she going to hurt all my friends or worse.” Twilight said. She try to at least look calm but she was afraid it was clear she was on the brink of tears. Celestia look scared while Luna had a face of deep concern. Doctor Whooves was in complete shock, along with his two friends. The town folk had a combination of scared and worry faces. The only one not showing feeling of fear was…

Discord shot out of the group and was heading straight for the castle.

“NO!” Scream all three of the princesses at one. Twilight cast a spell to hold on to Discord while Luna and Celestia flew in front of him to block. Twilight could barely hold on him as he kept on pushing towards the castle.

“Let me go, Twilight.” Discord growl, showing no sign of humor.

“Discord, we need to think about this.” Celestia started but Discord immediately snap at her.

“FLUTTERSHY IS IN TROUBLE! MY FRIEND IS IN TROUBLE!” He roared. “You wanted me to make friends. Well, now she is in trouble and you are not going to stop me from turning this “Pure” Twilight into dust.”

“Discord, you are not a fighter. You use deception and trick to gain control. If you head first into this battle, you will lose. Fluttershy will lose you.” Luna said as calmly as possible. Discord stop struggling and collapse onto the ground. He breathe heavily as he realized that they were right.

“Don’t lose hope, Discord. I learn something that might help. You.” Twilight said. Luna and Celestia raised their eyebrows. Twilight decided to continue. “She doesn’t know about Discord or what he can do. If we plan this right…”

“We will still fail.” Luna said, landing on the ground. “She claim to defeat Tirek by herself. Herself. Twilight herself couldn’t perform the task with all our magic combine and she did it alone. She defeat the greatest threats of our kingdom without any help and then killed us, numerous times. How are we supposed to stop a threat like this?”

The four grew silent and the feeling of despair wash over Twilight once more. “This is hopeless.” Twilight thought. “But I will not surrendered Starlight to this monster. I will find a way.” Twilight turn to the crowd and motion to Doctor Whooves and his friends to come forward. Record Keeper kept his head level with Twilight while both Sky Watcher and the doctor kept their head bow, advoiding eye contact with the princesses.

“Is there anything you guys can make that could help?” Twilight ask. They all stay silent for a few moment, then Doctor Whooves spoke up.

“There is one thing, a spell that will lock some pony in their own time line for good. But it take time to set up and she’ll notice when we start. If she as powerful as she claims, she could stop the spell in no time. We need to find a way to distract her long enough that she couldn’t stop the spell. Any ideas?” The group look at each other but no spoke up.

“Wait.” Discord said, startling the rest. “I have an idea.” He turn to Twilight. “When she said she taken out all the baddies, did she say if she fight them one at time or together at all?”

“She didn’t get into specifics.” Twilight said. “But she kind of hint that she only fought them one at a time, why?”

Discord started to fiddle with his claws. “I have an idea that might work. It is extremely dangerous and crazy but it just might work.”

Author's Note

Next chapter: Deals with the devil

Chapter Four: Deals with the Devils

Crossbow guard was about to strangle him. For the last two days, Spear guard was driving him up the wall. Complaining about how we couldn’t stand a chance facing Tirek or if something else broke out of the prison. He was about to get another ear full when he heard something coming down the road. He look down the road to see a lone pony with a cart behind him.

“Halt Stranger, who goes there?” Crossbow said, aiming at the pony’s chest.

“I’m just weary traveling looking for shelter for the night.” The pony said, pointing to the cart. “I trade exotic items ponies fear to trade. I also sell frozen fruit, which I call Froz-Fru.”

Spear guard pop out of the fort hearing about fruit.

“We could let you stay if we get some of that fruit.” Spear offer. Crossbow pull Spear by the collar and close to him.

“We can’t let ponies stay here. What if their some kind of enemy or it a test by the commander?” Crossbow pointed out. Spear threw him off and started to open fort door.

“Then they should have given us something better then instant hey. I need to taste something different.” Spear said. The pony pull the cart into the fort and pull out two apples. He gave them both to the guards and sit on his cart. Spear quickly ate it while Crossbow sniff it then took a bite. They relish the taste of sweet fruit and some kind of after taste. Almost like medicine...

The two guards collapse on the ground as Discord reveal his true form. “That was way too easy. If we get out of this, I have to have a serious talk to Celestia about her military.” Discord said. He slither in to the prison and look for the one inmate in house.

(Inside Tartarus)

Tirek scratch another line in the wall of his prison. He been here for over a year now and with no sign of escape in sight, he felt truly beaten.

“Wow, and I thought my prison was bad.” A voice ring out behind him. He recognized it right away. He turn to see Discord laying in a hammock in thin air.

“Discord. Come to gloat while I suffer?” Tirek asked, hobbling over to sit on a rock slab.

“Usually, that exactly what I would do but not today. Today, I come with a proposition. You see.” Discord said, snapping his claws to get rid of the hammock by turning it into flies. “I’ve grown tired of playing second fiddle to a bunch of ponies and would like a change of pace. So, here I decided that I wanted to see if you can defeat Twilight, just Twilight.”

“Your jokes do not amuse me, Discord. The state that I’m in, I could barely defeat a filly. Why would I allow myself be humiliated again?” Tirek mutter, looking at the ground in disgust. The dirt swirl into a cloud in the form of Discord’s face and blow dust at him. Tirek wipe his eyes in disgust and look back up to see Discord was playing paddle ball with one of his eye.

“You’re not wrong. You would be defeated before I had a chance to even cause a tiny bit of chaos. That why I came with this.” Discord whip out a bag and started to dig around in it. He pull out a ball of light, about the size of a watermelon. Tirek almost started to drool when he felt the power coming off the object. He started to reach for it but Discord pull it just out of reach of his hands.

“Ah, ah, ah. We need to set some ground rules. I’m still recovering from you “Borrowing” my energy. Rule one: You don’t try to take me out. This energy only work if I’m still in control of mine. You drain me and you will regret it. Rule Two: The fight will be with Twilight at the center of Ponyville in two days. If you want a chance at winning, be there no sooner or later.” Tirek smirk at this.

“Where did you get this energy?” Tirek ask, licking his lips.

“You’ll be surprise what lies around in other dimensions. It will make you as powerful as when you first fought her. I also took these.” Discord reach into the bag again and pull out a pair of purple wings. Tirek eyes went wide with surprise.

“How did you get Twilight’s wings?” Tirek ask. Discord smile as Tirek hold the wings in his hand. “Now for the home run.” Discord thought.

“I took her horn before and this time I decide to take her wings. I give you an advantage, don’t waste it.” Discord put the energy ball on the ground and turn to leave.

“Wait, how can I trust you?” Tirek question before Discord could leave.
Discord smiled. “Hook, line and sinker.”

“Now where is the fun in that?” Discord turn invisible and made Tirek think he was gone. “Let’s hope the other two had it this easy.” He thought while watching Tirek absorb the energy.

(Out in the badlands of Equestria.)

Spike really hated this plan. Well, at least this part of it. Vinyl Scratch had come with him until about a mile back but it didn’t make this seem any safer. Twilight pointed out that he was the only one that could pull this off. Now he was alone, walking right into the changelings’ lair. The smell of rotten fruit fill the place and was making Spike sick to his stomach. Of course, that could be the fear.

“Stay calm. You will be fine. Nothing is going to hurt you.” Spike told himself, walking deeper into the cave. He hear a rustle right behind him and felt something sharp poke the back of his head.

“What makes you think that your safe, dragon?” A voice hiss into his ear. Spike try not to shrike as four changelings surrounded him, all pointing spears at him.

“Don’t I know you?” One of the changelings ask, all starting to circle the dragon.

“Yeah, you’re the little lizard that a pet for that one pony. What her name?” Spike started to pray they don’t know the right…

“Twilight. The one the reveal are queen and ruin our conquest.” The changeling behind Spike said.

“Darn it.” Spike thought as the changeling stop moving and start pressing the spear harder against him.

“You know, I haven’t had meat for so long and I always wanted to try dragon.” Spike squeeze his eyes shut and hope for it to be quick.

“Stand down, my children. If the dragon wanted to die, I’m sure he would pick a quicker death.” Queen Chrysalis command, causing them all to lower their weapons. “But I must say, it was pretty foolish for you to come. What business do you have for me?”

“I...I need some help.” Spike said, trying to sound brave but failing on all accounts. “I want to take out Twilight.”

There was a shock silent in the cave. Then, Chrysalis threw her head back and started to laugh. The gang of changeling that surrounding them started to join in and Spike gave a nervous chuckle. Then, as quick as a switch, she threw Spike into the wall and held him there, horn at his neck.

“Do not take me for some kind of fool. Why would Twilight’s faithful servant want to turn on her?” Chrysalis stared to summon a spell, lighting up Spike face.

“Maybe I don’t want to be a servant anymore. Maybe I found out that I have a better deal.” Spike struggle to say as he felt the pressure increase around his chest. “I figure you heard what happen a while ago, with Twilight.”

“I heard she got mix up in some kind of magic spell. Something about time travel and different worlds. My spies only get snippets of what is whisper in the kingdom but I think I can put the pieces of the puzzle together.” Chrysalis said. Spike knew he could work with this. He try to adjust but couldn’t move under the pressure.

“Yeah, well, she hasn’t been the same since then. She gone crazy and has been more demanding of me. So, I snuck away and came here, looking for help.” Spike gasp out, as oxygen started to get a little low. “I would like to tell you more but I think I’m about to past out.” Chrysalis smirk and drop Spike to the ground with a thud. He gasp in quickly and cough several time.

“Thank you.” Spike wheeze out. Chrysalis rolled her eyes and wave her guards away. After a few minutes of getting air, he continue. “She been getting power crazy and I’m worry that there is no way to stop her. All the town folk have left in fear and the princesses are too far away to help.”

“Alright, how am I supposed to help you? The last I heard, she has gotten very powerful, some say more powerful than Celestia. I would not be able to fight her if this is true.” Chrysalis said.

“I know but she is also paranoid. The unicorn that cast the time spell, Twilight worries that she could defeat her by taking her out before she was strong. She cast a spell that kind of made a clone of herself and sent it to get that unicorn.” Spike said, following the plan to the letter. “Twilight’s friends have a plan to get the spell and stop the clone. She is weaken while the clone is out and is able to be defeated. If you help us out…”

“And why should I help? What do my kind get out of helping you with your problem?” Chrysalis asked.

“Think about it. If you defeat Twilight, not only will you look like a hero, your people will be able to get out of here. You’ll be able lead them to their rightful place. I know all about being force to live under ponies hoof. Don’t you think it‘s time to turn the table?” Spike answered, driving the final nail home.

“What is the plan you have in mind?” Chrysalis ask, smiling.

(At the edge of Crystal Empire)

The group were gather around the shrine. It was made about three years ago and most ponies who worship it didn’t knew what it was. A blood red gem that granted strength to any ponies that prey for it. As the ponies started to trail out of the monument, two more went in right before it close.

“Are you sure this is it?” Luna ask as soon as the door close.

“I’m sure, my sister. The royal guards have kept eyes on it to make sure nothing that was too malicious happens. So far, it only grant strength to pony who prey to it.” Celestia said, making sure the place was empty. “Remember the plan. We just need to wake him up strong enough to stall.”

“I remember, sister.” Luna said, a bit annoyed. They started to break the rock around the gem. As it fell out, the gem was revealed to be a horn. The sisters look at each other, both equally nervous. Then they charge the spell that they had prepare, allowing the owner of the horn to come back to life. The shadows started to gain a form and then the body of an old foe roar to life.

“Welcome back, King Sombra.” Celestia said, no joy in saying these words.

“Princesses. Why would you summon me?” King Sombra asked.

“One of my student have gone rogued.” Celestia started

(Inside Twilight Castle)

Pure Twilight was watching the moon raise slowly in the night sky. Tomorrow she would either have her target or get to enjoy ripping this time line apart looking for her. She heard another voice being cleared. She turn to see the one name Applejack was standing there.

“Ya wanted to see me?” Applejack said as she step closer.

“Yes, you’re the element of honesty. Correct?” Pure asked. Applejack nodded. “Good, then answer me this. Do you think Twilight will give me this Starlight Glimmer or will she leave you all to rot?”

Applejack stood silent for a moment then answer. “Darling, she has been my friend for over five years now and I know she’ll would do just about anything to protect us. I also know she consider Starlight her friend. I believe what she will do, is try her darnest from letting you form succeeding.”

“You are braver then the rest of them. Stupid too. You think the hundreds of versions of this world I fought before didn’t have a “plan.” You know what I’ve learn about plans from doing this. They all go downhill the minute the battle begins. Have you ever fought in a war, Applejack? A real war?” Pure asked. Applejack shook her head no. Pure nodded.

“Well, I have. My world try it bested to fight off a killer swarm that was unleash by Starlight actions. I watch ponies die trying to stop it. I did things.” Pure hold her pack that had her friend inside. “Some horrible things, to survive. I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t want it but I got it. You think you know a pony, wait to you’ve gone a battle field with them. Then you find out what I had to live through. That wars make monsters of us all. You just better prey you can live with what is inside.”

“I don’t believe that.” Applejack said. Pure raised an eyebrow. “Ponies are decent folk, willing to help each other. I think you are using that as an excuses to keep you from seeing the truth. That you make a mistake and are too scared to accept responsibility.”

Pure nodded at this, then cast a spell around Applejack, holding her by the throat.

“You think just because I’m using you and your friends to make sure Twilight dose what I said, I won’t kill you. Learn you place, Applejack. When you speak to me, you are speaking to a god.” Pure said, increasing the hold on Applejack.

“You want to know something, Sweetheart. I ain’t going to lie, I’ve seen scarier things then you and Twilight took them all out.” Applejack said, grinning. Pure roar and threw her across the room. She crash into the wall, landing on her back leg wrong. A hot pain shot up Applejack, causing her to cry out. She look up to see in time to see Pure holding a spear, about to bring it down on her. She did not flinch as she brought the spear right to her eye.

“You are willing to face death for your friends?” Pure ask. Applejack lock eyes with Pure when she answer.

“I’m not afraid of you. You have taken me against my will but I will not give you the pleasure of fear.” Applejack said, not blinking once.

“I like you.” Pure said, lowering the spear. “I’ll make your death quicker than the rest.” She threw the spear to the side. “You may leave now. Tell your friends that Twilight better not be trying to back stab me or they won’t live to see her fail. Just telling you, as a friend”

Applejack limp out but turn to face Pure one more time

“I ain’t your friend.” She said and walk away.

(At a nearby mountain, deep in the caves)

“Is everything prepare?” Doctor Hooves ask, drawling out a circle in the cave floor.

“I got all the supplies and Sky Watcher got the message to Shining Armor. Spike came back four minutes ago, Discord is waiting outside of Ponyville to give us the signal, and the princesses are preparing the above floors with spells. As soon as Twilight get backs, I think we will be set.” Record Keeper answered, holding a book and mixing the items into a bowl.

“Okay. Then we should be able to pull this off.” The Doctor said. He look in his book, tracing the symbols. There a slight pop and Twilight appear in the room, looking a little stress.

“How did your mission go?” Record Keeper ask.

“Got it set up. Is every pony from the town safe?” Twilight ask Record Keeper.

“We got them safely in the Everfree Forest, Zecora is watching over them.” Doctor Hooves answered.

“Well, almost every pony.” Record Keeper mention. Twilight was about to ask who, when he pointed to the exit. “They are waiting outside, wanting to help out.”
(Outside, at the mountain entrance)

Outside, the air was cool and almost help Twilight forget her troubles, almost. Who she saw outside was not who she suspected. She was working on the speech of what to say to Apple Bloom and her friends. She knew that they want to help due to their sisters being in trouble but this was way too dangerous. Instead, it was Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody where waiting outside.

“What are you two doing here?” Twilight ask.

“Twilight, Vinyl and I are here to offer are assistance.” Octavia said. Twilight look at each of them, in a bit shock.

“That’s very nice of you two but I don’t know how you two can help. You’re both performers, hardly useful in a fight. And I hate to be responsible for you two being injured.” Twilight said.

“We aren’t really going to fight, more keep her off balance.” Vinyl said, jumping off a rock she was perch on. “You mention that Pinkie Pie caught her off guard and allow you to get a shot in. I think I got something that can do the trick and it’s not a cream pie.” Twilight was going to try to talk them out of it but realize they were right.

“Okay but the second you two feel like it’s too much, get out of there, please.” Twilight said. They both nodded and started to head down. “Wait a second, I have to ask. What do you have in mind?”

Vinyl smile and put on her headphones. “You don’t need to worry about that, Twi. Just know.” She pull down her sunglasses. “It’s going to rock her world.”

Author's Note

Next chapter: If we had a Mexico, this be called a Standoff.

Chapter Five: If we had a Mexico, This would be called a stand-off

(At Twilight’s Castle)

Pure Twilight watched as the sun rise over the town, slowly lighting up the roads. She saw two ponies standing in the center of town. She smile. “That’s a smart girl.” Pure thought. She walk to the door and saw the group all starting to get up too. “Your friend was wise. She is waiting outside with what I want. Good news, you’ll live to possibly be hostages another day. I don’t understand why she allows herself getting close to such weak beings. I should, I’m technically her.”

Pure headed towards the door and took one last look at the group. “I won’t move if I were you. If she tries to pull something, you won’t know what pain I’ll put you all through. Wish me luck.” She open the door and walk out towards the town’s center. Applejack walk to the window and look to the scene.

“What have you dun, sugarcube?” Applejack wonder out loud.

(At the Town square.)

“So you brought me Starlight. I have to say, I kind of expect you to try to betray me or be noble. I’m glad you prove me and your friends wrong.” Pure said as she approach the pair. Twilight show no reaction and neither did Starlight. “That was weird. Neither of them have said a word.” Pure thought but brush it off as them realizing that she not some pony to mess with. She also notice the town folk were still in town. “I figure they clear out.”

“I have brought you Starlight Simmer like you wanted, Master” Twilight respond.

“And that’s good. Now, we…” Pure started, then pause. “Wait, I thought you said her name was Glimmer and when did you start calling me “Master”?

Both Twilight and Starlight both look at each other nervously.

“That what I said, Farsight Glimmer.” Twilight said, starting to sweat.

“You said her name wrong twice, what is wrong… Oh I see.” Pure said, starting to back up. “You should know that five different Twilights try this trick and it all ended badly.” She look around for her true target.

“The pest wasn’t wrong, you have really lost your mind.”
Pure Twilight turn to see Queen Chrysalis standing where Twilight once stood. Pure smile at this little gesture. “You should have just given me what I wanted. Now this world will die!” She shouted, jumping back to fire a spell at the Queen. She felt something tackle from both sides.
“For our Queen!” Several changelings shout as they piled on her. She created a shield and blast them all off her.

“All right, so her army is here too. Only two of the Twilights were able to pull that off. Still, this will only take a few…” Before she could finish the thought, she was hit hard from the left side, flying into a small house. She felt the wall give in and collapsed on top of her. As she push off some stones off her and look to see a large, black hoof.

“Twilight Sparkle, ready for your reckoning?” Tirek said, cracking his knuckles. Pure jump up onto the roof and started charging her attack.

“Okay, how did she get both of them to fight me? I never fought them at the same time. Still, no matter. It’s going to take more than these two to slow me down.” She thought, firing a spell right into Tirek’s face. He block it but it allow Pure to teleport right above him and start another spell. This aim to kill. But right before she fired it off, a small blast hit her in the face. She miss and blew up the ground next to Tirek. She flip in the air was about to try again but another force hit her in the back, throwing into ground ungracefully.

“What is going on? Who is hitting me?” She scream in her head as she dodge some kind of projectile. It cause air to ripple and was shape like a cannon ball, same size too. When it made contact, it release a loud noise that rip through the air and Pure. It sounded like music turn up too loud. “Who is doing this?”

She look to the source of the attack to see two large speaker-like cannons in the distance, aim at her. Behind them was a white unicorn with headphone behind the about to press a button.

“You have got to be kidding me!” Pure scream, bringing up a shield.

“Drop the bass!” Vinyl scream, smashing the button. A blast headed right for Pure but she brought up her shield just in time, causing it to explode in mid-air. The explosion send a dust cloud over her, blinding her temporally.

“I’m getting really tired of this.” Pure growl as the dust started to settle. The dust suddenly started to turn in a darker color until it was pitch black.

“We’re just getting started.” A voice growl in her ear. She turn to see King Sombra was forming around her, raising a giant sword. He took a swing at her, aiming at her head. She duck and roll out of the way, allowing her to face all three of her attacker at once. She didn’t know how this happen but she was going to have fun with this.

“Alright, I’m going to give you all one chance to live. Leave now.” Pure said, as the three started to move closer. They didn’t even pause to consider her offer. She smiled and open her pack. “I was hoping for that answer.”

Pure pull out two twin blades out of the pack, each as sharp as talons. One was a bright red, forge out the armor of a fallen King Sombra. The other blade was ice blue, made from Nightmare Moon’s armor. She twirl them with her magic and slice through the air. “Well, then by all means. Let the battle begin.” Pure said, waving her right hoof in a ‘come at me’ motion.

King Sombra and Tirek both charge at her, fist and sword raised in the air. Pure jump over them and was going to swing her sword but stop when she saw a swarm of the changelings heading right to her, all armed with swords, daggers, and spears. She instead dive right into them, taking the swarm head on. The sounds of metal clanging and blades against flash were heard until she dropped on the ground.

There was a pause as she stood there, not even sweating. Then the bodies of changelings foot soldiers started to rain to the ground, all dead and broken. Pure fling her swords clean of all the blood she collect in the swarm. She saw King Sombra, Tirek and Queen Chrysalis all look in shock at the carnage. “Alright, who’s next?” She ask, aiming the blades at them. King Sombra let out a roar and charge at her.

“I’m King Sombra! A warrior who have fought countless armies and brought the princesses to a standstill. I will not be made a fool by some renegade unicorn who defied their teacher. I will bring untold suffering to this land and you will bow…” He started until a loud slicing noise cut him off. Right in front of him, Pure was standing there, her sword deep in his shoulder.

“You don’t want to know how many time I’ve that heard speech before. Odd? You think one version would have change that speech.” She said, starting to twist the blade into King Sombra’s body. He let out a roar and threw her back, drawling his sword again.

“You will not win this battle. I will mount your head on my castle wall!” He said, charging at her with full speed. Pure ready herself for the strike but felt a stabbing pain in her left shoulder. She look to see that the wound from earlier had re-open and was bleeding. She let this distract her just a second but it allowed King Sombra to gain the upper hoof. He swing down on her, barely hitting her. She flip through the air but felt something roll off her shoulder.

She look to see her friend was out of the pack, soaring across the air and landing on the dirt. It rolled away and came to a stop a few feet away from her. She landed, then started heading for Moon Dancer. She had to keep her safe, keep from being harm. Just as she was about to grab it, a large hoof landed onto of it. The crunching noise that follow echo inside Pure, blocking out all other noise in the world.

“No.” Pure mutter, looking at the hoof that had destroy her friend. “No. No. NO! NOOOOOOOOO!”

“Insignificant little worm, caring about a little trinket.” Tirek mutter, rising a fist. “That is why you lose this battle.” He brought his fist down on Pure, flatting it to the ground.

(The valley across from Ponyville)

“Looks like the battle is over.” Octavia said, holding a pair of binoculars. She just saw Tirek land the fist right on top of Pure and seem to crush her. She turn to see Vinyl was packing up her speaker. “Now, all we have to worry about is those three.”

A zipper noise was sounded as Discord appeared in front of the two. They expected a joke but Discord had a scared look on his face. This unnerve the two almost instantly.

“We have to get out of here. Now!” He said, making a door appear. He fling it open and grab Octavia. “Why are you even here?” Asking Octavia while lifting her up.

“Everypony knows you need a spotter to hit long, ahhh!” She started before Discord threw her inside.

“What are you talking about? The battle is over!” Vinyl shouted as he picked her up. Discord turn to where the battle was taking place.

“Yes, the battle is over. But they didn’t win.” Discord said calmly. “I’ll stay here and try to buy more time.”

(Back at the battle.)

Tirek smile over his kill. He felt a sense of accomplishment and an almost warm feeling wash over him. Especially in his hand, the hand he used to crush… The warm feeling quickly erupt into a blinding pain. Before he could move, his hand erupted into a fine mist of blood and flash. He roared in pain and hold the stump that was once his hand as he stumble onto the ground, slowly shrinking into his weaken form.

“This game is over.” Pure said. She lift her twin sword and turn to Queen Chrysalis. “Your turn.”

Before Chrysalis could react, Pure dive at her and started to swing. The blades made their marks, cutting into her quickly. Chrysalis cry out in pain and try to block the swords but they all came down too quickly. In a few seconds, Chrysalis laid on the ground, gasping and bleeding profusely. She look up to see Pure walking towards her, no emotion on her face.

“Wait, spare me! It was your pet dragon! He wanted to betray you! I just wanted to save my kind.” Chrysalis beg, crawling away as fast as she could. Pure made no remarks as she approach the whimpering foe. She brought the blade up to Chrysalis chest.

“I don’t have a pet dragon.” Pure replied coldly before driving the sword straight into her heart. Chrysalis let out a dying gasp as the light left her eyes. Pure kick the body off her sword and turn to her last opponent, King Sombra. She raised her blade even with him, her eyes not moving for a second.

“Are you ready for a warrior’s death, child?” King Sombra ask, raising his sword in a defensive pose.

“Death is something mortals fear. I lost that fear a long time ago.” Pure answered. With that, she jump at him. The swords connected in air, producing a metallic song. The movements were quick and powerful, causing sparks to fly in the air. Neither of them giving up ground or seeming to flinch. The swords were growing red hot and were about to break at any moment.

Pure finally let up her attack by jumping back only to do several quick runs at Sombra. He block them all but felt his sword starting to give in. He need to change tactic or this battle was hers. He started to back away but timed it poorly. It allowed Pure more room for a charged attack and more force. She back away once more and swing her full force into the attack. It connected with his sword and went into it. The sword broke with a sickling crack and bury itself in Sombra’s chest.

Sombra let out a painful gasp as he collapsed to the ground. Pure calmly walk over to him and grab ahold of his head.

“So, are you ready for a warrior’s death?” She whisper into his ear. Sombra look up to her, still trying to raise his shatter sword. Pure easily kick the sword away. “Good. I wasn’t going to give it to you.” Pure summon the spell to drain the rest of Sombra’s life. He disappear as the spell completely drain him. Pure pick up her swords and turn to see Tirek crawling away, holding what was left of his arm. He was quickly losing the power and was going to die in a minute.

Pure landed right on top of Tirek, making him scream in pain. She bury her sword into his front leg, pinning him to the ground.

“I usually drain you but I need to know how she pull this off before I tear this world into shreds. Since I kill the other two, I need to read your mind.” Pure said, twisting the sword in deeper. She cast her spell and dove in deep in Tirek’s memory. It didn’t take long to find the information she needed. She concentrate for a few minutes then her eyes went wide, causing Tirek’s head to explode from the sudden influx of energy.

Pure turn around violently, scanning the area. She finally found what she was looking for and shot like a bullet in the direction. She stop in front of a tree and shot it with a magic bolt. A yelp of pain came out and Discord pop out of the tree.

“You know, you could of just, ahhh!” Discord was thrown to the ground. He felt a hoof began to press against his head.

“She told you to do this, didn’t she?” Pure interrogated. “You know, I figure after the multiple times!” She shouted as she snap Discord’s lion paw. He gritted his teeth in an effort to be quiet. “You think that one of these version of me would just listen to me! Well, the ones I ask to do anything anyway. Maybe it was one of the ones I slaughtered. Boy, ain’t my face red!” She concluded this with breaking his dragon leg. He groan again in pain.

“What I got to know is, why haven’t I seen you before?” Pure asked, putting more pressure on his head with her hoof, burying his face in the dirt.

“Maybe if you explored more worlds then destroy them, we would have met…” Discord started but was cut off by getting slam in the stomach.

“And I don’t care.” Pure said, kicking him in the stomach. He slide on the dirt to a stop. Before he could even get up, Pure slammed on top of him. She use her magic around his eagle claw and snap it into two. She grab him by the throat and lift him to her face. “And in a few seconds, I’m going to drain you of power and you won’t matter. And if I readed Tirek mind right, your powers are going to be fun.”

She started to cast the drain spell when Discord started to laugh. “What is so funny?” She ask, stopping the spell.

“It just, he he, I’m imagining those powers might help you on your world. You know, fix all the problems that there and such.” Discord giggled.

“What are you talking about? I’m not going back to my world.” Pure said.

“Well, not by choice.” Discord pointed out. “You see, while you were fighting the three amigos, a couple of ponies were working on a spell.” That was when Pure notice an annoying pulling feeling. She didn’t realize it but it started at the beginning of the battle. It was coming from the mountain area a few miles from Ponyville. She started to put the pieces together and was getting angrier.

“At this moment, they are probably about to finish the spell. Once they’re done, you’re done in this world and any other world. If I have to point out your biggest mistake, it was concentrating on those morons.” Discord said with a smile. Then added, “That or the stupid name.”

“I WILL DESTROY YOU!!!” Pure roar.

“You can try.” Discord respond. Pure threw him to the side. She cast a flying spell and started to head straight for the mountain. She’ll wreak revenge on them all after she deals with this. She need to stop this spell first.

Author's Note

Next Chapter: Chapter 6: An army’s last stand and an royal declaration

Chapter Six: An army’s last stand and a royal declaration

(At the mountain entrance. Five minutes before Pure arrives.)

Shining Armor watch as the signal was fired a mile away. It was time. He put on his royal helmet and then summon a basic shield over the top of the mountain. When he gotten the letter from Sky Watcher, he had hope that the first part of this insane plan was to be enough. Now he was going to enacted part two: Stall.

He walk out of the small tent that was sent up on a cliff near the entrance. As he look down the mountain side to his army. 500 legion of the royal guards were looking at him, waiting for the order. He saw so many faces of fear and panic looked at him for guidance. He was afraid he had none to give. He clear his throat and ingest a potion that aloud his voice to be heard across the valley.

“I will not lie. This is going to be the most difficult and dangerous battle you ponies will have ever face. I’m not going to tell you that you will come home heroes or that you will come home at all. Many of you will risk your life to fight this threat. Many of you will lose them. But I still come and ask you to fight. Not for glory, not for fame. I ask you to put your life on the line for your fellow ponies. To give them a chance at life. Because if we can’t stop this threat, we lose our world.”

“Now you must make a choice. Stand and fight this evil that has dare enter our world, threaten our royalty. Or leave now, tell the world while it burns how you could have help stop it. So my fellow comrades, what is your answer?” Shining Armor ended. There was a pause, then the whole mountain erupted with their answer.

“We laugh in the face of death.” The army answer.

“And why do we do that!?!” Shining Armor demanded, raising a battle ax to the air.

“Because we show undying loyalty to the Sun and Moon!” The army called back, starting to raise their own weapons in the air.

“How do we show this loyalty!?!” Shining Armor called out.

“By showing no kindness on the battlefield!!!” They all called out.

“Why do we not show kindness to are enemy!?!” Shining Armor shouted out.

“Because we are generous with are swords and arrows!” The army continue to get louder.

“Why are we so generous with our weapons?” Shining Armor ask, already knowing their answer.

“Because we strike honest and true!!!” The mountain side erupted in a loud war cry. Shining Armor felt the pride in his heart as he said the next command.

“Then let show this “Pure” Twilight what the royal army of Celestia is made of!!!” He cried out, front legs out stretch. The war cry continue as they turn around and prepare the weapons. Shining Armor look in the distance to see something coming extremely fast. He held up his left hoof to give the signal. As soon as the target was in an acceptable range, he brought it down.

“Fire!!!” He called out and the archers let lose their payload.

(In the air, three miles away from the mountain.)
Pure was pushing her magic to get there as fast as she can. She can get to the spell as long as she didn’t hit any more distractions. As she got closer to the mountain, she notice it start to get darker. “That’s funny. The sun isn’t supposed to set for another five hours.” Pure thought, looking up to the sky. She notice a dark cloud was slowing falling towards her. It took a few second for her to realize it wasn’t a cloud, as five arrow slice pass her. A couple arrows hit there marks, piercing her hide but not deep.
She cast a shield over herself and blast through the wave of arrows. When she got pass that cloud of arrows, she was greeted with a few boulders flying at her. She dodge two but got hit by the third one, causing the shield to break. Pure put up a stronger shield and push on. This was getting ridicules and was making her more than a little peeved. She was only a minute away from the mountain, yet the wave of arrows and boulders were still coming straight for her.
“This ends now.” She thought as she fired a spell into the archers. An explosion rip into them, causing the arrows to stop for the moment. She knew the only way to stop an army from being an obstacle, was to take out there leader and she knew neither of the princesses would be up here. So that leaves…
“Do not break formation. Keep her back!” A voice she knew from her world commanded the army. She smirk and aim right where it was coming from. Two soldiers try to take her on but she easily defeat them by breaking their necks. She toss the worthless bodies to the side and look up to see who was standing in her way.
“Hello, Brother.” Pure said to Shining Armor. He raised up his battle ax and keep his stance.
“I’m not your brother. My sister would never become so twisted or vile.” Shining Armor responded. “I swore to protect the land from all intruders and I guess that include ponies from other timelines. Now, I will give you a chance to live. Leave now and you will be spared”
Pure smirk and cast a spell directly at him. Shining Armor jump to the side and dive at her. He was a second away from landing a strike before a spell incinerated his ax into dust. He felt the magic grab his throat and lift him into the sky. He struggle to breathe as Pure tighten it.
“You know, brother. You should really learn your PLACE!” She shouted before she blasted off the cliff.
He went flying into the air and into the abyss. He soar in the air, tumbling down in the darkness. He was sure that he was going to die but felt something grab his back hoof. He twist to see the Pegasus that deliver the message holding him and dragging him back up.
“Twilight told me you might drop by but I was thinking a little less literally.” Sky Watcher said, turning and flying away from the battle.
“Wait, my soldiers! I can’t leave them!” Shining Armor cry out as they flew away from the battle. Sky Watcher shook him to get him to stop shifting.
“Ok, rule one when I fly you places: You stay still unless you want to end up on this week‘s splatter horses. Don’t worry about your warriors, Psycho from other world went straight in the cave. She knows that she is on a time limit and you have no way of catching up to her.” Sky Watcher said. Shining Armor look back at the burning mountain and hear the cries of pain. He curse that he didn’t fight harder or that he was thrown away like garbage. He hope that this outsider would find the next part a little harder.

(Inside the mountain, first level.)
Pure ran through the cave as fast as she could go, turn down crevasse and sliding down tunnels. She felt the power was deeper in the earth but knew she will be upon it in a few seconds. As she turn down another shaft, she felt the ground heat up around her. She jump as the ground explode around her, sending fire into her. She landed on her back and roll, seeing she was in some kind of cavern, pretty wide and dark.
“You have come a long way for a doomed mission.” A voice spoke from the other side. Pure look where the voice came from and sighed. She knew at some point that she run into these two but she kind of hope that they had run scared. But in front of her was Celestia and Luna, holding their personal weapons. Celestia was wielding in her magic a long broad sword, pointed wave-like to be like the sun. She had a shield attached to her fore leg, allowing to not focus magic on it.
Luna had a large battle ax, the blade similar to the crescent moon, in her magic. She flex the power, causing the blade to shift from ax to scythe-like weapon and back. She started to circle around Pure while Celestia stood where they had come out of. Pure took in her surrounding and try to figure out where the spell was coming from. She had sense the power here but there were no spell marking or any signs of… She realize that the spell was directly below her, about fifty to forty-five feet of thick stone between.
She could try blasting down but it would leave her open to attack. If she kill the two sisters, they might complete the spell in time, making her revenge impossible. What she need to do is get this out of the way as quick as possible. But she doubt the princesses we’ll let it be that easy.
“Look, girls. As much as I love to defeat you. I’m on a bit of a time crunch. Wait to after I stop that time spell. Then I’ll take my sweet, not going anywhere time dealing with you two.” Pure said, starting to go around Celestia. She brought down her sword right in front of her, causing the ground it strike to let out a small spark. She look to see Celestia looking coldly down on her. She suddenly had a memory of fearing this stare, back when she was a little filly.
“I take that you’re not going to do this the easy or smart way. I’m sure I told you that I killed you several time. Do you not trust your faithfully student?” Pure ask with a smile.
“You are not my student.” Celestia said coldly. The smile on Pure’s face drop and she suddenly pull out her swords and took a step back into a fighting pose.
“You know what gets tiring?” Pure said, raising the blades to Celestia. “Every single world telling you what you’re not. You’re not my student, you’re not my sister. You are not my friend. You want to know what happen to my teacher, my brother.” She suddenly went in for a strike at Celestia, hitting with such force she was push back. “MY FRIEND!”
Celestia kept on blocking with her shield, feeling the force this Pure was able to produce. The info Twilight gave prove useful but too much. This send Pure on a rampage, sending strike after strike onto Celestia shield. Both her weapons were starting to show there degraded as she continue her attack, raging and ranting.
“YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO PROTECT US! YOU WERE OUR GOD! WE WORSHIP YOU AND YOU COULDN’T PROTECT US FROM A SWARM! YOU ACTED LIKE I’M THE MONSTER. YOU CONDEMN ME FOR TRYING TO SAVE MY WORLD! YOU JUST HAVEN’T RELIZE I’M THE BETTER, I’M THE GOD AND YOU WILL BOW BEFORE ME!” Pure roar with each hit.
During the ramming, Celestia notice Pure’s red sword was starting to break. If she time this right. She saw Luna was preparing for this moment as well. The chance came soon enough when Pure let out another roar and strike down on the shield. The red sword shatter and left Pure expose. Celestia put all her force into her shield and smash it into Pure body. It send her soring into air.
As Pure went into the air, she look to see Luna above her with her weapon. It was change into a full moon battle ax. Luna brought it down on its broad side on Pure. Pure felt the full force of the hit and was send rocketing into the ground with a thundering crash.

(In the cave floor below)
The room shook as Doctor Hooves and Record Keeper heard a rumble happen above. Record Keeper kept throwing down herbs into the spell circle, while Doctor Hooves read from a scroll.
“To the goddesses of time and the gods of space, hear my plea of mercy. Those who don’t belong to this world have wreak havoc on our plane and must be remove.” Doctor Hooves chant, repeating them over and over again. Record Keeper look up to where the sounds of battle were happening.
“Please stay alive.” Record thought as another crash was heard from above.

(Up above.)
Pure crawl out of the small crater that her body left in the ground. Her cloak was tatter and worn. Her pack was ripped and had lost most of her items. The only things left inside where two photo and the spell of time travel. She was bleeding from several cuts, from the arrows and swords. She felt that her energy was about a one-fourth down and it make her feel weak. She hated feeling weak.
“She could have killed me with that strike.” Pure thought, looking up at Luna. “Why aren’t they aiming to kill? It dawn on her the answer. “They are trying to wound me. Trying to get me to summit. I can use this to my advantage.” She brush off dust and saw Celestia starting to approach her.
“I’m offering you a chance to surrender. My sister can attest to how many foes didn’t get this chance. Those who commit lesser act of treason were killed without mercy. You go back to your world and never threaten my world again.” Celestia said, approaching the wounded Pure. Pure look up and started to laugh out of control.
“Two things I learned from doing this for so long. One, never show mercy to someone who is clearly the stronger one. And two, never approach a wounded animal.” Pure said. She suddenly pull out her blue sword and plunge it into Celestia stomach. Celestia cough out some blood. Luna let out a scream as Celestia body slump onto Pure. Pure lean in and whisper in her ear.
“You just might get bit. I figure it would be more fitting to taste death from your sister’s armor.” She threw Celestia into the ground and headed toward the next level. She took three steps before Luna dive at her, her weapon turn into scythe form. Pure deflected a couple of blows but was slice down her back causing Pure to scream in pain. Luna jump over her and caught her remanding blade. She twist it out of her magic and shatter it on the ground.
“You are disarmed and the fight is over. Don’t make me kill you.” Luna respond, landing on the ground in front of Pure. Pure lock eyes with Luna and still move towards to lower floor. “You’re insane. You can’t possibly win this fight. You have no weapon.” Luna said, not moving from the spot.
“Oh, I have a weapon. YOURS!” Pure shouted, and in an instance, wrap her magic around Luna weapon. Luna could only struggle for a moment before the weapon blade turn on her and it slice her left hoof right off. Luna let out a bloodcurdling scream and fell on the dirt floor. Pure ignore her and head to the lower floor, leaving the weapon behind. The screams faded away as she went lower. She knew nothing would stand in her way now. She taken out the army and the princesses. Only fools would stand in her way.
As she look down the dark cave tunnel, she saw a light in a second cavern about as big in the last one. She step into the open area and saw five ponies in her way.
“You have got to be kidding me!” Pure shouted as Applejack stood in front of the group.
“Hello again, Darling. Now what this about us being hostages?” Applejack ask, throwing her hat to the side in preparation for the battle.

Chapter seven: The true measure of friendship

The air in the cave was still as the group stare down there opponent. Pure was still trying to wrap her head around what was in front of her. She left these five at the castle and she knew none of them had the strength or speed to get to this mountain. Pure knew that she would be able to take them out without a second thought. If she was at full strength, that is. After fighting those three morons, the army and the sisters, she was feeling the drain. She needs to rest for a minutes or tens.

But she felt the spell they were performing was getting stronger and stronger with each passing breath. She needed to stall, at least for a few seconds.

“So, how did you fools beat me here?” Pure asked, brushing the sweat and blood off her brow.

“Funny story.” Pinkie Pie said jumping from the back and right in front of Pure. “We were at the castle when…”

(Back at the castle, during the fight between Pure and the villains.)

Applejack watch as the battle rage on in the town. She watch as one of the houses blew up and hope her family was away from this. She heard a slam from behind and turn to see Discord had kick in a door out of thin air open. He look around and saw Fluttershy was standing near a window. He tackle her with a strong force and squeeze her tight.

“Fluttershy! You’re alive!” He shouted, then look at the other four. “Oh and rest of the group is too, woo hoo.” An explosion rock the castle and Discord looked out the window. “Right, back on topic. You all need to get out of here before she get a chance to find you. I getting you as far as I can.” Discord rip open a window that lead to the Crystal palace.

“No.” Rainbow Dash said, calmly. Discord turn to the wounded pegasus, lying on the floor.

“Loyalty, always a pain in the neck.” Discord mutter. “Look, there is a spell that will banish our little problem back to her world. You don’t need to get injured more or killed to stop her. The spell will be completed in about thirty minutes and I’m sure that an army plus those three titans will keep her…”

Discord turn to see the swarm of changeling drop to the ground, leaving Pure unfazed. He turn back to the group and block the window. “Well, even if those three can stop her. We got the royal guard and the sisters blocking the spell…

“And she defeated them all.” Rainbow Dash said, struggling to get up. “She defeated them all with no disregard. Pure defeated all the villains and monsters we fought and won. But there is one thing she hasn’t defeated.” Rainbow Dash stood up tall as she spoke the last part.

“She hasn’t beaten us.”

(Back in the mountain.)

Pure stood in absolute shock after Pinkie Pie finished the story. Then Pure started to laugh like a mad pony.

“You are the element of laughter. You really think all of you can defeat me? Me? The one who cut a bloody path through the fabric of time is going to be stop by a dressmaker, a farmer, a party planner, a loner and an army reject.” Pure rolled on the floor, sniggering. As she continue to roll on the ground, Rainbow Dash lean to Rarity and whispered.

“I know I made that up on the spot but it still kind of cool what I said.”

Rarity pat Rainbow Dash on the back. “Don’t worry darling. We all thought it was cool.”

Pure got up and straighten herself. She look at the group and smiled. She needed this. She really needed this. An easy fight that she could win in a heartbeat and get the joy of punishing someone who stand in her way. She crack her shoulders and rolled her neck.

“Alright, who wants to die first?” Pure asked. The group kept their stance and show no sign of moving. “Fine.” She lift her hoof and started to point at them separately. “Which one should I,” She stop on Rarity. “Choose!” She dive at her with lightning speed. But with years of being friends with Rainbow Dash allowed her to simply step to the side, causing Pure to fall down in a hole that was behind her.

Pure fell into a bunch of fabric and try to get up but couldn’t get a proper footing.

“Oh, WHAT IS THIS?!?” She shouted trying to get untangle, seeing Rarity looking down from a top the hole.

“Just some horrible scrapes of fabric I had to get rid of. They are the most useless things, getting caught in a pony’s hair or hoof.” Rarity answered. “The only really used for them is…”

The pit erupt in flames as Pure shot out of it and hover above. “You think a bunch of rags will stop me?” She demanded. The fabric had lit up quickly when she casted the fire spell, release her quickly.

“I was going to say, darling. That the fabrics was only used as wicks for fireworks.” Rarity replied, walking away from the pit. Pure cocked her head before she heard a hissing sound from below. She look down to realize that that the fabric only went a foot deep, while under it was about six barrels of firework powder. Her eyes went wide when she found the source of hissing was several barrels were attach to the fabrics she just lit up.

A loud boom sounded the cave as the full force hit Pure in the chest and send tumbling into the ground. She started to get back up when she felt something smash against her face. She brush up the debris to get hit again from some kind of glass object. She look to see that Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were throwing plates and cups at her.

“They aren’t serious, are they?” Pure thought as she brushed off the glass. She got her answer when Pinkie threw several plates like Frisbees, smashing into Pure’s body. She cast a shield and blast anymore attempts at this.

“I’M THE VERY FORCE OF DARKNESS. I’VE KILLED GODS AND DEMONS ALIKE. I HAVE MADE ARMIES FALL TO THEIR KNEES AND RIP APART THE VERY FABRIC OF TIME. I WILL NOT BE MADE A FOOL BY CUTLERY!!!” She roared, disintegrating all the plates thrown at her. She was about to throw a spell when a she felt a large metal object hit her in the back of the head. She crash into the ground and was dizzy for a minute. She look to see that it was a kitchen sink.

“You had a kitchen sink. Where did you get a kitchen sink?” Rainbow Dash ask as Pure stumble around.

“I keep kitchen sinks stash all over Ponyville in case of kitchen sink emergency.” Pinkie Pie said off handily. They all were going to point out that they weren’t at all in Ponyville when Pure let out a deathly howl of pure rage. She blast a spell in all direction causing the five to duck behind rocks

“I DON’T GET IT! THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASY!” Pure bellowed out, shooting out spells in all direction. “YOU ARE NOT GODS. YOU ARE NOT ANY KIND OF POWERFUL DEITY. WHY ARE YOU NOT COWERING BEFORE ME LIKE THE MERE SCUM YOU ARE!?!”

“That the thing, sugarcube.” Applejack responded, jumping out from behind her cover. “We fought and beaten all the enemies of this world and won. We did as a team and as friends. Something you haven’t figured out by now.” With this, she pull out her lasso and fling it around the sink from earlier. She pull it off the ground and created some kind of mace. She hurled it into Pure with full force. It knocked her off balance and into a wall. Applejack went in for another swing but the sink was blasted out the rope.

Pure cast a spell on the rope and pulled it. Applejack didn’t expected this and was pulled into the air. She was flying around the cave in a circle before she heard Pure shouted, “Gitty-up, partner.”

She fling Applejack into the wall and brought her up into the air again. She was going to bring Applejack down again when she was tackle from the side, forcing her to let go of the rope. This cause Applejack to crash into Rarity, knocking them both out. Rainbow Dash went head first into Pure, taking her by surprise. They rolled for a while, punching and kicking the whole time. Pure finally cast a spell into Rainbow Dash, throwing her against the wall with a sickling crack.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy scream as Rainbow Dash slid down the wall. Pure turn to Fluttershy with fire in her eyes.

“Oh, is the poor little weakly upset that I hurt her friends?” Pure ask mockingly, stepping closer to Fluttershy. “Maybe you should have thought of that before you heal me. Maybe your dead princesses would be alive or possibly Twilight’s brother wouldn’t be laying down, broken and bleeding out. What else can you do beside fail miserably and be completely useless?”

Fluttershy eyes widen with ever insults and tears ran down her face. She shook her head and back into the wall. “Please don’t make me do it.” She ask shakily, almost breaking down. Pure snorted dismissively and move one step closer to Fluttershy.

“What can you possibly do to me, you worthless worm? Let’s find out.” Pure said, summoning her mind reading spell. The words cause Fluttershy to snap and she brought all her strength into the one thing she could do.

“This.” She said sharply and brought up her Stare. While this was used to stun animals and sometimes it can reflect magic. Because Pure was about to summon a mind reading spell, it was reflected right back onto her. This allow Fluttershy to dive into Pure’s mind and allow her to re-live several memories.

Both of them let out a howl of pain as the Stare was cast. Fluttershy caught several memories while Pure felt like she was smash in the head with a hammer. Pure crawl in the dirt, trying to get away from the painful invasion in her mind. Fluttershy was reeling from the explosion of info send into her head.

“How could you?” Fluttershy mutter as the memories finally calm downed. Pure look up from where she crawled.

“What did you say?” Pure said darkly. If this pony saw what she think it saw…

“How could you? She trusted you, feed you and gave you shelter.” Fluttershy said, starting to stand to face Pure.

“Shut up.” Pure said, getting up into her face.

“She saved your life countless times and that is how you thank her? You weren’t looking for justice or revenge.” Fluttershy continuing to apply pressure onto her.

“I said shut up.” Pure growl through her teeth.

“You were running from her. From what you did to her. Moon Dancer.” Fluttershy finished.

“I SAID SHUT UP!!!” Pure roared, grabbing with her front hoof Fluttershy neck and punch with full force. She knock Fluttershy back into the wall and let her slide down to the ground. But she didn’t stop, she continue to hit her as Fluttershy laid on the dirt floor.

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!!!” Pure continue as she rain down hits onto Fluttershy body. “YOU CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND. YOU NEVER HAD TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. YOU NEVER HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN YOUR LIFE AND THE ONE YOU LOVE. YOU NEVER HAD TOO…”

Before she could continue, a loud crash and a sickening crunch was heard. Pure collapsed on the ground and Pinkie was standing behind her with a rock in her hoof.

“I’m sorry but is any pony sick of her yelling all dramatically like?” Pinkie ask in between heavy breaths. Before anyone could responded due to every other pony was unconscious, Pinkie felt a hard smack across the face. Pure had gotten up and hit Pinkie Pie with the back of her hoof. Pure stand shakily and her head was twitching a bit. She watch as Pinkie Pie bounce around the room like a ball.

“That’s not possible. You’re not scientifically possible.” Pure said as Pinkie Pie landed in front of her. Before Pinkie Pie could respond, Pure started to rain spells onto her. Pinkie dodge each one with ease as the spells exploded around her. Pure stop the spell attack and look at the smoldering hole.

“Hey, Bucket Head!” Pinkie Pie called singly from the wall, which she somehow was standing on, behind Pure. Pure turn to see her gravity defiling taunt.

“You missed!” She called and with a strange whooping noise, ran up the wall. Pure eye started to twitch and roar out another spell at her direction. This one almost hit Pinkie but cause her to fall from the ceiling. She landed with a thud and was going to try to move but felt the magic of Pure wrap around her throat.

“Are you done with your little games yet?” Pure ask as she started to squeeze Pinkie’s throat tightly. Pinkie pull out a watch and threw it at Pure face.

“Why in the world would you choose a clock…?” Pure started to ask when it hit her like a stack of bricks or a clock. The spell they were casting was almost done and she… She threw Pinkie to the side and went down to the source. It wasn’t too late, it can’t be too late.

(Spell room)

Doctor Hooves was about to put the last bit of the spell in. He had about five more minutes before the spell was complete and be able to rid this threat. He pick up a ruby and potion when a crash happen on the floor. “Not now. I need more time.” Doctor Hooves thought, the irony not lost on him.

“This must be some kind of cosmic joke!” Pure shouted as she enter the third and finally room, limply slightly. Blood was slowly dripping down from her face. “I killed countless ponies, armies and gods. I ripped worlds apart and you think that you and your little spell could stop me. I didn’t destroy hundreds of world to be stop by some parlor trick. And now I don’t have to find out. You still have some time before the spell is complete and there is no one left to defend you.”

“You forgot about me.” Twilight said as she step out of the dark and in front of Pure.

“You!?! You couldn’t handle me when I was annoyed and now I’m furious. What makes you think you can take me, by yourself?” Pure said as she wipe the blood from her eyes.

“She won’t be alone.” A voice called form the other corner, in the darkness. Out step a lavender color pony that Pure almost recognize off the bat. It was the one she was hunting and the one that fill her with insane rage.

“Hello, Pure.” Starlight Glimmer said as she walk out the darkness and beside Twilight. “I heard you been looking for me.”

Chapter Eight: A few mintues left on this world.

No pony move as the three stare each other down. Doctor Hooves was waiting for the last part of the spell to power up while Record Keeper was sneaking around to the exit that was behind Pure. He didn’t get far as Pure just twitch and send him across the room. It was clear that no pony was leaving.

“You really are stupid. You allowed your family, your royalty, and your friends to die just to try to get rid of me. You risk the lives of some many ponies and destroy your town. You do all of this and then you give me what I want?” Pure asked, starting to step closer to the two. “You think I’ll go straight for Starlight and forget about the spell. Well, you’re wrong.”

She shot a spell right at Doctor Hooves but it was deflected by both Twilight and Starlight. Pure kept firing spell with lightning fast reflex but were all cast away by either of them. This continue for a few more moments but at the end all three were panting from exhaustion.

“Pure, please listen.” Twilight beg, panting in between words. “I didn’t bring Starlight here to fight.”

“You brought her here to mock me, is that it?” Pure demanded, letting blood pool around her. “You think that as soon the spell was completed, you could show the source of my revenge and laugh while I was sent back to my world?”

“No.” Starlight answer, taking the front position. “I came to say that I’m sorry.” Pure mouth open in complete shock. “I’m sorry for allowing you to believe I cause so much pain. I never cause you world’s plight. I should have never had let my revenge take hold like I did. I was blinded by rage and didn’t see how I hurt others. Please, don’t make the same mistake I did and let anger control you. Don’t become like me.”

Pure open and close her mouth several times but couldn’t properly make any noises. Twilight was hoping for this, that it will stop Pure and make her realize that she didn’t have to fight. Then, Twilight felt it. A burning rage that was building in the room, almost suffocating it. Pure started to breathe heavily and her magic turn in to a blood red.

“You’re sorry?” Pure said, the magic starting to produce lightning. “YOU’RE SORRY!?!” This cause both Twilight and Starlight to jump back, not in surprise, but to avoid two bolt of magic lightning. Pure started to float in the air and fire was in her eyes.

“I have no need for you forgiveness or your pity.” Pure said, throwing the lighting at the two. “I came for one thing and one thing only. Your head on a pike.” Pure shot a bolt at Starlight who quickly dodge to the side to avoid the blast.

“Looks like talking is out of the picture.” Starlight said as she rolled to dodge another bolt of fire magic. She summon a spell and aim it directly at Pure. It hit Pure in the chest and imprison her in a block of ice.

“That should cool you off.” Twilight said but duck when Pure blast herself out in a second. “Or not.” Pure shot a spell of vines that entangle around Twilight and hold her to the wall. She blast the vines off and rolled out of the way as Pure blast the wall. The wall burn brightly with bright white violet fire. Twilight felt the heat leapt off it. She needed to think of something to get them out of this or they won’t last two minutes.

(First cave level.)

Luna crawled over to her sister, using her magic to keep her stump of a leg from bleeding out. She had to see if her sister was alive and if not, hunt down the foal who dare hurt her. She managed to be right next to her when Celestia let out a moan of pain.

“Sister.” Celestia moan weakly as Luna lift her sister head off the ground.

“Shhhh, it okay. You’re okay.” Luna said, hiding the wound she receive in the battle. She then look at the stomach wound Celestia received. It was bleeding profusely and if she didn’t get it cover soon, Celestia’s fate was seal. Luna started to cast a healing spell and wince as her front leg started to bleed. If she wanted to save her sister, she need to risk her own life.

She made the choice almost on the spot. She push her magic into her sister and ignore the burning pain in her limb. The spell was working well but Luna knew she was losing a lot of blood because she could swear that she heard something running down into the cave from the outside. No pony would be that foolish enough to run into here head on.

She look up to see Spike running down the tunnel, follow by two unicorns with white coat and red plus sign on their flanks. Luna started to black out as the group reach them and collapse on the ground. She regained conscious a few seconds later to see one of the unicorns was mending her wounds while Spike look down on her with a concern face.

“Spike, Why are you here? You should be with the rest of citizens of Ponyville.” Luna pointed out, hissing in pain as the medic place a cast over her front leg. “Your part has been done.”

“I had to make sure you both survived. Twilight would never forgive herself if you both had fallen.” Spike said as he gave Luna a healing potion to drink. There was a cry of pain as Celestia awoke and try to get back up.

“Princess, you need to rest.” The medic working on her pleaded.

“Spike, I... need…” Celestia started to say, letting out a painful gasp with each word. Spike ran over to her, leaving Luna in the hoofs of her medic.

“Yes, Princess.” Spike answer, bowing his head.

“Need… You…to get…to…Twilight.” Celestia gasped. “Pure…absorbed King Sombra and…took some of my magic when she did. I see what …coming and…if you’re not there. This will all be for not.”

Spike stood up and started running as fast as he can down. He didn’t know why he need to be there but he had a feeling that it was going to be worst below.

(Back at spell room. Two minutes before the spell will be complete.)

Twilight was running out of ideas. They both had try fire, ice and ground spells on Pure but she just kept on powering through. Twilight knew that Starlight was starting to feel the strain. They both were working to keeping Pure distracted and blocking any stray spells that headed in Doctor Hooves direction. Pure let out a roar and cast a spell at the ceiling. The blast cause several rock and stalactite to rain on the two.

Twilight block them while Starlight cast a spell that shot them into Pure direction. Pure blasted them into dust which is what Starlight wanted. She turn the dust into a tornado and blast it in Pure’s face. The dust blinded her temporary causing her to be unable to block Twilight spell that she cast. It hit her strong and caused her to fall backwards into the dirt.

“Good shot, Twilight.” Starlight called out. Twilight started to cast another spell but had to quickly turn it into a shield spell as Pure suddenly shot a bolt right at the two.

“What is with you ponies and blinding me? I swear, I shouldn’t have left that helmet back at castle. It going to take a little more than dust to take me out. I lived in a world of dust and darkness. What do you have that can possibly stop me?” Pure shouted as Twilight started to cast a spell, one she used before on Pure.

“How about this!!!” Twilight shouted as she cast the flash spell again. It caught Pure off guard and a cry of pain prove it. She whip her head back and shook it in an attempt to regain her sight. She got it back only to feel the force of Starlight spell she just cast hit her in the chest. She flew down the tunnel into the darkness and disappear. Twilight thought she had won but was instantly proven wrong when she felt magic wrap around her throat and saw Starlight was being lift into the air the same time.

“Like I said before, you all seem to have obsession with blinding me.” Pure growl as she walk out of the darkness.

(Second floor of the mountain.)

Spike was running as fast as his little legs could take him. As he arrive in the second cave, he saw a sight that shock him to the core. Applejack was laying on the ground on top of Rarity, both of them hardly breathing. Rainbow Dash was bleeding into a pool of her own blood while Pinkie was cradling Fluttershy in the corner, crying. Spike was about to stop to try to help them but the words of Celestia echo in his mind.

“If you’re not there. This will all be for not.” Spike continue to go forward on his mission and pass his friends in pain, praying he get there in time.

(Spell room. Thirty second before it’s complete.)

Twilight was pin by several vines that Pure had summon to the ceiling. Starlight was in the same spot but held by a ring of fire instead.

“I will deal with you two later. Right now.” Pure turn to Doctor Hooves, who was holding a ruby at the moment over the circle. “I have to stop a certain doctor.” She left Twilight, who struggle to break the vines, and headed straight for him. Doctor Hooves try to continue but was stop when a hoof grab his throat and throw him into the wall. Pure was holding him, pressing him into the wall harder.

“How do I stop the spell?” Pure ask.

“I don’t…” Doctor Hooves started but was cut off when Pure cast a spell on his left front leg and snap it. He howl in pain but felt the pressure around his throat increase.

“If you lie to me again, I’ll snap your neck.” Pure said, no emotion in her voice. “How do I stop the spell?”

Doctor Hooves lift the ruby and let out a gasping noise. Pure drop him into the ground and he started to answer.

“You have to crush the ruby over the circle.” Doctor Hooves answer, crawling away from Pure and knocking over potions. “Please, just let me live.” He beg. Pure step into the circle, holding the ruby now and smashed it into the ground. There was a pause and the dirt started to crackle with energy. The crackling become louder and started to ripple the air around the circle. Pure jump out and look over to Doctor Hooves, who was smiling.

“You lied!” Pure shouted.

“Well, I kind of stretch the truth really. Really have a habit of that. It would have work, if certain potions weren’t added like I just did.” Doctor Hooves said, pointing with his remaining hoof to the mess he just made. “Because if there one thing you shouldn’t have done, it’s let me near those potions. But I give every pony one last piece of advice. RUN!”

With that, he bolted to the entrance and grabbing Record Keeper with him. The portal rip open at that moment and Pure started to feeling a huge amount of force pulling her to it. She try to fight it but knew it was a losing battle. She decide if she was going to her world, she was not going alone. She aim her spell at her target and fired.

Twilight manage to break out of her trap and see Pure aiming right for Starlight with a spell. Twilight jump to block it and got hit with it full force. But it didn’t hurt, just was holding her tight. She felt herself being drag towards the portal too.

“Twilight!!!” Twilight heard from behind and she turn to see Spike jumping towards her. He grab onto her as they both tumble into the portal, falling into the time stream.

Chapter Nine: Ash to ash, Dust to dust.

The lights was blinding as the three enter the time vortex. Twilight was trying to keep Spike next to her but as soon as Pure saw she grab the wrong target, the ride became a lot more hectic. Pure, at first, try to summon spells but was unable to aim right. So, she started throwing some hit in. The two struggle while Spike hang on for dear life. Twilight duck one hit and grab hold of Pure’s pack. The struggle cause the bag to rip more, causing the time spell to fall out.

The spell hit the wall of the vortex and disappear in a blink of an eye. The two didn’t notice as they tumble farther into the tunnel until they reach the other side: The dust world. They all landed with a thud. The portal didn’t take them to inside the mountain but outside, in a wide open plane. Twilight was the first to recover, looking up to see the portal was still open. Before she could react, she felt Pure tackle her from behind.

“YOU THINK YOU’VE WON!?!” Pure screamed, holding Twilight to the ground and strangling her. “YOU ONLY STALL WHATS TO COME! I will strangle the life out of you and go back to finish what I started. I’ll make sure to torture Starlight for life times before I end the world you died to protect. You should be happy, I’m sending you back to see all the ponies you love. Your brother, your teacher, your friends. All of them die for your worthless cause.”

“You’re wrong.” A voice stop Pure in the middle of strangling to look up at the little pest. Spike was starting to get up from the fall and was staring down Pure. “Shining Armor was caught before he fell too far. The princesses were wounded but I got medics to them in time. None of Twilight friends were killed. You have failed.”

Pure let go of Twilight and started to take a few steps back. “How is this possible? I’ve killed so many ponies and defeated the strongest ones over hundred time. How is it that it take only a few friends to truly beat her?” Pure thought. Then an idea form in her mind and she started to smile. “Well, if I can’t leave my world neither can she.”

Twilight started to recover from the assault when she notice that it was slowly getting brighter. She look up and gasp as she saw what was causing the sudden illumination. Pure was now floating a foot off the ground and above her was a ball of pure magic energy, steadily getting larger.

“You see, Twilight, I know the answer to my problems. You rather die than give up Starlight. Then you will live to see your world set to flames. I’m pulling all the magic I’ve drain from the previous worlds and putting into one spell. There will be nothing left for you to go to and I will finally have my revenge.” Pure said, smiling as the spell grew larger.

“But why!?!” Twilight shouted, trying to be heard over the spell. “You can’t leave this world and you’ll die all alone.”

“I RATHER DIE ALONE THEN LET HER SURVIVE!!!” Pure roar. The spell started to blast lighting as large as trees. “I WAS ALONE EVER SINCE I LOST MOON DANCER! YOU SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME WHAT I WANTED! NOW YOUR WORLD WILL BURN IN TARTRUS!”

(Back at Twilight’s world.)

Celestia awoke from the dreamless sleep that the medic put her in. She sense it was happening and she only had a few minutes before it was too late. She lift up her sword and started to summon a spell she haven’t used in a long while.

(Back in the world of dust.)

Spike started to feel gas building inside his stomach. But not like gas from eating but when Celestia was sending… Suddenly, Spike let out a burp and a burst of flames as a sword came out. Twilight saw it flip in the air and land in the dirt with a thud. Pure was concentrating solely on the spell, not noticing it. Twilight pick up the sword with a spell then turn to Pure.

“I’m begging you, Pure. Please stop this before it’s too late.” Twilight beg, slowly lifting the sword.

“Your prayer have fallen on deaf ears, Twilight. You will soon see the full strength of my wrath!” Pure said, her voice full of anger and emptiness. Twilight knew there was nothing left to do. She look up to the sky and let out one last prayer.

“May Celestia forgive me.” Twilight whisper and swung the sword as hard as she could. Pure saw the sword coming and summon a shield to block her neck and head. She didn’t think Twilight had it in her but was going to be safe than sorry. Then she notice the blade was aim too high for her head, like she was aiming for something else. But what could she be… Before she had time to realize her mistake, the sword hit it mark with a metallic ting.

For few seconds, time seem to come to a slow crawl. Pure thought that maybe she missed but the skull splitting pain that came from her horn prove otherwise. Her horn fell to the ground and shatter on impact. Pure drop to the ground and let out a painful howl as Twilight threw the sword into the portal. Twilight watch her roll on the ground, tear rolling for her fallen villain. Without the horn, she can’t perform any magic and will be helpless to defend herself.

Twilight turn to the portal and while holding Spike, was about to walk through when a loud crash made her look up. The spell that Pure was performing wasn’t dissipating like it was supposed to. From what she read, if the horn was damage, the spell would not be complete and would fail. Now the spell above was bulging and starting to turn into a deep purple color. Twilight was gaping at it when she started to heard a strange noise. She look down to see Pure was looking up at the sky, laughing.

“Are you happy now?” Pure ask, sounding a little loopy. “You finally killed me. You killed me. I’ve won so many time and I lost to some loser. Some loser and her friends. It actually kind of funny, in a I’m so dead kind of way.”

“What are you talking about?” Twilight ask. “You’ll live without your horn.”

“You really are stupid.” Pure said, weakly getting up from the dirt. “It’s not the horn wound that going to kill me, moron. It’s the spell.” She pointed to the spell ball that was now turning into a bright red. “In about three minutes, that spell is going to go off and destroy about, oh I don’t know, half this universe.”

Twilight look at the sky and back at Pure, who was laughing and crying at same time. Twilight was about to leave when she heard something that was going to haunt for the rest of her life.

“Before you leave, I’m going to give you one parting wound.” Pure said, poison dripping off her words. “You were the one to kill me. Not your princesses, not your friends, you killed me. May I haunt your dreams to the end of time and may you never forget my rage. Because I will find a way to get you.” Twilight step through the portal as Pure continue to rant. “I will find a way to get my revenge. I will crawl from the bowels of Tartarus to get my revenge. I WILL GET MY REVENGE, YOU WAIT AND SEE!!!!”

The portal close and Pure was still staring at where it once was when a lightning strike snap her out of it. She look up to see the spell was turning into from red to yellow and starting to shake. Pure pull the remains of her pack off her back and pull out the last two items from it. One was the photo of Starlight she used to hunt her down. Pure threw it into the wind and was more focus on the second photo. One she kept hidden since before her world turn to dust.

It was a simple picture, taken from the hoof of one of the pony in the photo. It was Pure and Moon Dancer, smiling and hugging each other before the final year at Celestia School. Pure didn’t get in the first time but managed to pass the test the second time. She met Moon Dancer as her tutor and they became close friends. It was the last year when it became more. They barely got started when their world was destroy.

Pure look at the photo and a single tear rolled off her face. It hit the photo with a collection blood and dust. Then Pure finally started to break down, letting out long howls of unbelievable pain and misery.

“I’M SORRY!” Pure cry out, holding the photo close to her chest. “I TRIED. I REALLY TRIED TO SAVE US! I TRIED TO SAVE US ALL!” At this point, Pure was just crying into the photo, ignoring the spell as it hit the last seconds before it explode. “I just wanted to bring you back. All I wanted was to bring you bac…”

The last thing that Pure heard was a high pitch whine before being incased in a bright light.

Chapter Ten: The sins we remember and the sins to come

Twilight was looking out the window of her bedroom in the hospital, one of the few buildings to escape the damage of the battle. Twilight had gotten a room by herself due to her wounds being so severe. She was found in the spell room awaunkeconscioussleep and barely breathing. She didn’t wake up till three days afterwards. Her friends have fare a little better but not much. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were both out of commission for a while. Rarity was nursing a broken rib and a few bruise while Pinkie Pie just had a black eye. The worst out of the five was Fluttershy.

The wounds she suffer were pretty intense but what most feared was her mind. She didn’t have a lot of experience with magic so the sudden invasion into another pony mind was new territory. She was suffering nightmares from the memory of Pure and nothing Luna did in the dream verse seem to help. But Luna had one more pressing concern and that is why she was sitting next to Twilight’s bed.

“I know what haunts you, Twilight.” Luna said. “Your dreams have been crying louder than Fluttershy in pain. I know you are suffering one of the other pains of a battle. The pain of the memories. You are suffering the weight of the actions of war but know that you did everything right. You try to reason with her, help her and in the end, only try to disarm her. You show Pure great mercy, more mercy then she have ever shown.”

“That was not enough.” Twilight mutter, not at all turning to Luna. Luna notice the shaking in her voice. Twilight wipe at her eyes as tears started to form. “I killed some pony. I killed me! I should have just closed the portal. She lost the time scroll and was helpless. I should of just…” Luna put her wing over the sobbing alicorn and started to comfort her.

“Twilight, you couldn’t close the portal. Doctor Hooves said that the portal would have stay open for enough time for the spell to be complete and she would have fired it.” Luna said. Twilight look up with a confuse look and Luna nodded. “Your dreams tell me a lot of things and also her last words. That is what has been haunting you the last few days and will haunt you for a while. Pure told you one of you friends that wars bring the monster in all of us. I believe that it is not that wars and battles that bring out the monsters but its friends that brings out the saints in us.”

Luna turn and started to head to the door. As she limp away, Twilight started to ask but bit her tongue. She didn’t think it was right to ask how Luna was faring after her fight. The medic try all the spells they could think of but nothing repair the damage. Luna was now three legs and probably would be for the rest of her life. Twilight was going back to the window when Luna spoke up again.

“Doctor Hooves and his friends will be here in the morning. They will be asking about the time scroll. They have some theories but only you can get them to stop debating. Those three have been talking all night and I swear, Celestia just make their group officially to get rid of them.” And with that, Luna walk out of the room.

(The next day)

“So the scroll hit the wall of the vortex and disappear?” Doctor Hooves question as he paced the room. Sky Watcher was sitting on a dresser that was on the far end of the room. Record Keeper was sitting next to Twilight, both of them watching Hooves going from one end of the room to the next. “So that give us two possibility. One, the scroll was rip to shreds and spared over the dimensions like a fine jam.” Hooves pointed out.

“Or?” Sky Watcher ask, rocking back and forth on the dresser.

“Or it could be sent to a dimension of time it never visited. Which could be good or bad depending on certain things.” Doctor Hooves finish, stopping in the middle of the room.

“How could it be good or bad?” Twilight asked. Hooves sigh and walk over to Twilight bed.

“The way it could be good is it land in the world were ponies don’t have the power to cast the spell and won’t be a threat. The way it could be bad is it land in the hooves of some power hunger pony or a group of them and they decide to enact one of Record Keeper’s theories.” Doctor Hooves pointed out. The door open at that moment and Twilight saw Fluttershy poke her head in the room.

“I was, um, told you would all be here and, well, I was hoping to talk to Twilight about it. But if you are busy, I can come back later.” Fluttershy said, starting to withdraw from the door.

“No, it all right Fluttershy. You can come in.” Twilight said, starting to sit up in the bed. Fluttershy walk over to the group and stop just short of Twilight’s bed. She look nervous, more nervous than usually. She brush her hair back and look at the three staring at her. She took a deep breath and started to talk.

“You see, when I saw those memories, one seem to stuck with me.” Fluttershy explained. “It was her first time jump and she was still recovering. Something talked to her while she was hurt. Its how she learn to absorb energy and how she was able to keep so much of it. It promise to help her in exchange for…” Fluttershy stop and look away, afraid of what she knows.

“In exchange for what?” Sky Watcher ask, now not at all rocking but staying as still as possible. Fluttershy look up in complete fear.

“She need to help it after she was done. No matter what.” Fluttershy said. The group was in complete silent for a few moment then Doctor Hooves clear his throat.

“It impossible.” He said. “Twilight said that the spell Pure cast was enough to destroy half the universe. There is no way a pony could survive that.”

“But…” Fluttershy started but Doctor Hooves put his hoof on her shoulder.

“I’m telling you.” He said. “There is nothing that could survive that.”

“I like to believe you, Doctor.” Twilight said wearily. “But that does raise one question. Where did you learn that spell?”

“What do you mean?” Doctor Hooves asked.

“We never dealt with magic like this before.’ Twilight pointed out, laying back in her bed and looking at the early morning sky. “So how did we have a spell that could banish a pony to her timeline?”

Epilogue: The end of the bargain

Pure Twilight awoke on a grassy field with the sun shining and a slight breeze blowing. She was a little confuse of where she was or how she got here. The last thing she remember was her spell going out of control because… She lift her hoof to her head and felt her horn intact.

“Okay, this is weird.” Pure thought. “That spell was meant to destroy worlds. How did I survive and how did I end up here?” Pure was looking around but saw nothing but grass fields. She felt something she hasn’t felt since she started all this. Peace. She was enjoying the feeling when she felt something was watching her, something big. She turn around and saw some pony in the distance but couldn’t make out who. She ran towards the pony as fast as she could. She try using magic but she didn’t seem to have the energy.

She was about five feet away when she finally recognize the pony. She had a white fur and multi-color mane of red, purple, and violet. She was wearing glasses and had a dark sweater. She was sitting in the grass and staring up at the sky. She turn to Pure and smile at her ever so slightly.

“Hey, lover. Where you been?” Moon Dancer ask. Pure went numb with shock and collapse on the ground. Moon Dancer walk over and stare down at her. “We can’t start that just yet.” This finally broke Pure out of her shock.

“Moon Dancer!” She shouted and embrace Moon. Pure started to ramble and crying. “I so sorry. I did it for you and I just wanted you back. Please, don’t ever leave me. I’m begging you, don’t ever leave me again!” Pure kept on begging while Moon Dancer started to wrap her front legs around Pure, holding her tightly.

“There, there. It’s all right. I’m not going to leave you.” Moon Dancer said. Her eyes suddenly went blood red and her pupils turn into slits of dragons. “Besides, we had a deal. Don’t you remember?” Pure eyes went wide with shock.

Author's Note

And that the end of this story. I already started writing the sequel to this story and have a third one plan out. I do plan to go back and edit it, so don't be shy and point out mistakes. A hint for the next book: Multi-universe theory is more of a fact in this story.