Time Explorers

The pairs of Twilight, Spike, and the one Starlight Glimmer, were in the process of making what was known of their "Time Lab". There were many books on time travel on the dusty bookshelves, data charts, massive timeline notes on the board attached to the wooden wall, and the spot where they all would travel to different timelines with Starlight's time travel spell at work.

They were almost ready to go on their first time quest. As said in a discussion a few days before, the two Spikes would stay behind and make sure nothing went wrong. Anything could happen in an alternate manipulated future, but they were all very prepared with their powerful, gifted magic.

As soon as they were finished with the Time Lab, the Twilights and Starlight collected extra supplies including time spells, books, bits, and lots of magical maps to navigate almost any area they may appear in.

With all that being done, the three ponies stepped up to the portal area, ready to travel back to the present.

Before Starlight started the spell, she gave a few warnings about the magical power it would pressure on them all.

"Just a warning to you both," said Starlight strongly. "This is a different kind of time travel spell, so the pressure might be a little different. Also, seize your eyes from the blinding lights."

With them all warned and taught, Starlight preformed the spell, making all the ponies get swallowed by the massive dome above. The pressure on all of them was unbearably tight, but soon faded as they had gotten closer to the new present. Soon, they all fell out only to see the new present.

...

Princess Twilight stood up to see Ponyville destroyed in pieces. The sky was a deep red, almost brown. The clouds were scattered into every corner in the sky, with noises of magical lasers shooting in front and back of her. It almost sounded like two alicorns were battling each other.

Except they were. Twilight could see Sunset Shimmer and Trixie....as alicorns? It seemed as they were battling with very powerful magic. She realized after a few minutes, that she was staring out the window of Canterlot Castle, in Celestia's throne room. Wait...it wasn't Celestia's anymore. It was Sunset Shimmer who owned the castle, judging by all the flags and guards dressed in orange and red with sun symbols of her cutie mark.

Twilight noticed the stained glass windows looking a lot different then she could remember. The Elements of Harmony were not her friends, but yet six ponies by the names of Derpy, who was Magic, Lyra was generosity, Sweetie Drops  was laughter, Doctor Whooves was honesty, Amythest Star was kindness, and Roseluck was loyalty. She had heard of these ponies before, but didn't know much about them at all.

They used the elements to defeat what looked like a corrupted Trixie, which could explain her fighting Sunset Shimmer in battle. Twilight tried to look for her friends, and eventually she found something she could never have imagined.

She and her friends were servants of King Sombra. They appeared as shadow ponies, surrounding the Crystal Heart with darkness. Twilight appeared to be his dark princess. Fearing her reputation around this Equestria, she snapped back to reality when the others finally had gotten up.

"My head..." Spoke Starlight softly. "Where are we..and who is THAT?"

"Sunset Shimmer," Twilight explained. "An old friend of mine, but from another world. I have no idea what she is doing here."

"Another world?" Asked Starlight.

Twilight jumped back in to prevent wasting time. "No time to explain, let's head outside."

With unicorn Twilight finally waking up, she faced the signs of the orange and red pony she had never heard of before. In total confusion, she asked her future self what was going on.

Twilight explained just as she did to Starlight, but shorter. "Sunset Shimmer..old friend. Trixie...old firend/enemy."

Unicorn Twilight didn't question anything, instead following the two others from the castle straight to Ponyville.

...

They encountered some guards who surprisingly let them pass. They all thought they would get either thrown into the dungeon, or killed the second they passed by. Starlight Glimmer spoke up after a few moments of dead silence.

"Why did you let us pass?" Asked Starlight. "We're intruders!"

Both of the gaurds chuckled, making the ponies surprised of their reaction. "You jokers.." One of them spoke, partly laughing. "You ponies are all princesses of Queen Sunset Shimmer!"

"Queen Sunset Shimmer?" asked Princess Twilight. She was wondering why there was a good queen in Equestria, from Queen Chrysalis being a queen who was pure evil, feasting on the love of Equestria.

"Don't play dumb with us," said the guard. "Don't you know she defeated both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?" The three were in panic. This present was not making any sense. "Also, Princess Cadence was defeated by- wait..."

Twilight grew nervous, just as she remembered that she was in place of Sombra's dark princess. She got ready for any punishment that she deserved.

One of the guards finally spoke again. "Are you two good versions of Sombra's princess? I forgot about that!" He was apparently talking about the two Twilights.

Starlight Glimmer quickly thought of a little white lie before Twilight could speak. "Um...well....yes! We three here are princess of Queen Sunset Shimmer....just as you said so!"

To her surprise, that lie was very true in this world. "Alright. Sunset Shimmer will talk it over with you three. Follow us to the door if you please."

...

After a long walk which seemed like forever, the three finally had arrived to Queen Sunset Shimmer's meeting room. The guards quickly escorted them inside the glossed door with many jewels.

The three ponies walked in nervously, taking caution of where they walked. They didn't want to step into any mysterious "decorations".

Sunset Shimmer was completely covered in shadows, with the new Elements of Harmony standing behind her back. She finally stood up and confronted the ponies, with her wings standing up straight with her orange body. She spoke to the three in a rather serious tone.

"I have been expecting you."