Madness, and How to Live With it

Brave blinked. The second he had touched the crown, he, Carrot, and Glitter had been sent from Canterlot Castle to the plains near Canterlot Mountain, all in a single instant.

And it had been the smoothest teleport he had been subjected to. No jerking, no magical anything, not even the sensation of travel until the senses caught up to the sudden change.

The crown gently landed on the grass, and Brave looked, to see Glitter and Carrot just as befuddled as he was. But who he did not see, was Rainbow Dash.

He came to a swift conclusion. The thing that had been Twilight Sparkle had tossed them away, so that it could deal with Rainbow alone. Things were… randomly intelligent, and rarely had powers like this.

Not to this degree, and never in a harmless manner, and never something to escape Canterlot, but it was the only thing that could possibly have happened. Unless…

He looked down at the crown and wondered. But he had something more important to do.

He had lost teammates to Canterlot’s dangers before. It was a distressingly common occurrence. Somepony took a wrong step and anything might happen to them. It was a bit of a blessing when they just vanished. That meant that you didn’t have to see something horrible happen to them.

But Rainbow was one of the bearers of the elements. She and all the others had entered Canterlot for years, and they never fell to it, not even when they worked alone. She might still be alive.

And Brave would rip his own wings off if he didn’t try.

“Carrot! Glitter! Get it together! We’re going back!”

Three years earlier

Twilight had always had a… chaotic life. Chosen as the leader of the elements, she oftentimes had to face and deal with just about anything that decided to bother ponies. Things that ranged from Tirek, who threated everypony’s lives, to things like the CMC, which threatened their peace of mind.

But she always loved it. Yes, things got dangerous, and yes, ponies got hurt, but it always worked out for the best. It was a good life, a fulfilling life, and if she had had the choice, it never would have ended the way it had.

Four years ago Kitty broke free form his stony prison and for four days caused no end of havoc and panic until it was found that he was friendly. A little after him was the centaur, and the shifting monster that almost killed everypony. Then the whole element fiasco, which took a solid year of pain and fear and worry before resolving itself. And then, the darkness itself invaded, and they had… purified it.

And every other little problem that came with them. Sometimes small, sometimes worse, but they never really fought alone since then. Kitty had helped against the changelings, as did… she, thought she hadn’t been seen since. When Tirek came, Kitty had come again, and after the centaur were befriended, they had stood at the forefront of pony defense against nature.

And though the darkness had wanted nothing more than to douse the light of everything forever, they had somehow made friends with that too. Even Twilight hadn’t expected that, but they had. An age of peace had followed, where the shadows themselves would end threats before they could fester.

And then Twilight had had her Great Idea. And that marked the downfall of everything, the start of its coming, the eventually destruction of all she held dear.

And it all began with a harmless comment…

Twilight was hard at work in her library. She had had very little to do, and was returning to her studies of anything that happened to catch her interest that day.

She was searching for her next topic when Spike had an idea, or rather, a ‘wouldn’t it be nice if’ thought.

“You know Twilight,” he said, carrying books from one pile to the next. Twilight nodded, only half listening.

“I’ve been thinking. What if we had somehow known that everything was going to go bad, and stop it?”

Twilight hesitated. “Kitty says that’s not feasible Spike.”

“Not like, change it, but… What if we had known that things were coming, and could properly prepare for them?”

“Again…”

“I know that, but not future sight! Like… a big bell or something, to tell us something came. To tell us when it arrived if it does?”

Twilight thought about it. Spike was right, that wasn’t future sight. Just an early warning system, and the thought was… tempting.

If they had been able to react immediately to the problems of the past few years, how much suffering might have been prevented? If they had known about Chysalis, or Tirek, or the centaur, or her, or the darkness when it arrived? So much happens because a problem festers unknown before it’s discovered.

A great idea, but how? It was impossible to cover Equestria in a gigantic bubble. Or even cover it in simple warning spells, the land was too big. So a feasible, simple way, to spot problems before they ever happened…

And then Twilight knew it. Time travel was difficult and dangerous, but that was over years.

But if she did it with seconds, or minutes…

Then she could make a tiny hop, and effect nearly nothing, and prevent something terrible from happening. In case it ever did.

And she could think of hundreds of uses for a few seconds. Saving something from falling, taking back something stupid that slipped out, preventing a disaster with magic or alchemy. And every single CMC disaster could be prevented with a few seconds of warning!

“Spike I think you’ve just given me the best idea ever!” she squealed.

Spike watched her take a piece of paper and write furiously on it, confused. “I did?”

“You did! This is your list, I need these books!” she yelled, passing him the paper. Spike eyed the tomes written on it, each one having something to do with time magic, as well as an extra note saying that any book which could conceivably deal in either time or magic.

Twilight then called, “Magica!”

A blue and purple unicorn appeared near her. She seemed… darker than normal, and her eyes were black with gently glowing purple pupils.

“Do you need something Twilight?” she asked, her voice soft and her words carefully chosen.

“I need anything you can find about time magic!”

Magica cocked her head, and rubbed her chin with a hoof. She hummed for a moment, and then nodded.

“If I can trust any… pony then I can trust you not to harm my tomes. I shall gather a few for your endeavor, but first. Far travel, or time effect?”

“I was thinking a few seconds to a minute back.”

Magic seemed surprised, and then smiled, a rare event for her. “You want to break new ground Twilight. Every time I see you, you seem to make me more impressed and proud of you. I will wait with breathless anticipation for your final results.”

Magica vanished again, and Twilight smiled at her compliment before focusing again. There was a lot for her to do and recall before she started actual research. Time travel was possible, under crippling requirements, and it was best to start with knowns before finding unknowns.

Present day Ponyville

Brave and his team were returning to Ponyville, the group conflicted about what they should be feeling.

Carrot Root was unhappy. It had been when they arrived at Canterlot again when Rainbow had come out of it. At full speed. It was only the skill and resolve of Brave and Rainbow combined that they escaped falling off the cliff without broken bones, and only a brush with death and bruises.

Brave was very happy. Sure, they feel hundreds of feet before recovering at the last six, but Rainbow was safe. He had worried about that, and actually seeing her unhurt and able to escape alone raised his spirits and made the old stallion smile.

Rainbow was trying to be brave. A traumatizing meeting, a wild rush through danger, falling and having to save everypony, and then Brave’s joy at her safety had left her a little confused in feelings. Sad? Frightened? Happy? She wasn’t really sure, but she was trying her hardest to resolve her feelings about Twilight.

Bight Glitter was still trying to get her heart to stop beating so hard. Carrot had the resolve to not really care about nearly pancaking on the ground, but she didn’t. She was young, and easily effected by such things. And she was also effected by the emotions around her, more easily able to see Rainbow’s consternation and Brave’s deep happiness.

But they were returning safe and whole, with the crown. It had been a draining mission, but it had accomplished an old objective, and obtained information long sought after. Twilight was gone, and a thing now held her form, voice, and memory, answering something that they had sought an answer to for a long time.

It wasn’t a happy answer, but it was an answer. Brave thought it was better than not knowing, but Rainbow was in disagreement. Anything else would have been better as far as she was concerned.

Brave and his team entered into the Memory Castle in Ponyville, still somewhat known as ‘Princess Twilight’s Castle’. It was where the twin princesses lived currently, and where the four teams stayed and planned their expeditions.

The other three teams were not there when they entered. Brave had taken his group alone, and the others were resting after their expeditions. He went through the Castle with a firm purpose of direction, and entered into the map room.

Within was Celestia and Luna, as were the other element bearers. On the round table was the current ‘map’ of Canterlot, with crisscrossing lines and several rooms marked. Mapping placement anomalies took time and effort and yielded a confusing mess if care was not taken.

Brave stopped ten paces away from the group, and saluted and waited.

Celestia looked over, and nodded. “You return captain.”

“Yes Princess.”

“Have you met the enemy?” asked Luna, regarding the disheveled look on the group.

“Permission to give the report Princesses and heroes?”

“You may captain.” Celestia said.

Brave nodded. “Entry was gained at eight a.m., and progression was made to the second hall. We proceeded to begin mapping new rooms, discovering at least five variations from the last door. Of five rooms, three are deadly, one is dangerous, and the last is semi clear, but we have extra information that might shine doubt on that last analysis.”

“Upon arriving in what I am assuming to be the entry hall, entry the right main door, we encountered… Permission to speak freely Princess?”

“Is somethin th matter?” Applejack asked.

“You don’t normally hesitate darling.” Rarity added.

Celestia nodded, and Brave sighed.

“We… we have discovered the fate of princess Twilight Sparkle.”

All those not part of his team expressed sudden interest.

“Is she safe!?”

“What has happened to her!?”

“Why is she not with you?”

Luna banged the table with her hoof, getting the bearers to silence. “Captain, continue.” she ordered.

“Upon encounter, she informed us that the floor was not safe, and prone to collapse. Once a closer look was obtained, we noted several key features.”

“Her eyes held the swirling colors, her horn seemed mesmerizing, her wings are an amalgamation of things, both mane and tail seem infinitely long, and her cutie mark was displaying anomalous properties.” A dawning horror settled on the group as Brave continued. “There can be no other assumption. Twilight Sparkle has died and is currently held by a thing of some intelligence and power.”

The bearers ceased hearing him, each one caught with their own thought and emotions. Luna seemed distressed, and even Celestia had a note of tension to her that she never normally had.

“… My deepest regrets for your loss.” Brave said.

“Thank you captain.” Celestia said, drooping.

“… I used the unknown encounter procedure, and we retreated. Glitter expressed the opinion that the thing had somehow shifted the anomaly behind us, and following it, we arrived at the throne room. Current analysis indicates dangerous, at least for the ground. We searched for the lost items, but found nothing.”

“When exiting, the thing appeared between us and the door, flying over the floor. It claimed that it wished to help, and tossed the crown at us. Upon touch, I, Carrot, and Bright were sent about a mile from Canterlot, deposited on the ground without any negative effects.”

Applejack looked up, slight confusion warring with sadness. “Nothin does that. No way ta get out cept through th entry.”

“I note that Rainbow is not listed.” Rarity said, her voice dull and slow. “What happened?”

“Rainbow.” Brave said, and waited. And then he looked over his shoulder where Rainbow looked like she wanted to be anywhere else. “Rainbow.” He repeated, and she walked next to him like a pony walking closer to their greatest fear.

Celestia regarded her rigid form. “Rainbow. I expect that you met… it. I want to hear your opinion on the matter.”

Rainbow took a deep breath, and looked around at the ponies at the table. Depression, sadness, and maybe a touch of denial. She had felt that not too long ago.

“…What do you mean princess?”

Celestia hesitated. “Is Twilight truly… are we sure that chance did not cause this? That perhaps a thing was only mimicking…”

Rainbow shook her head, and Celestia sighed and looked old.

“It spoke like her, acted like her, and knew my name. That… it was Twilight. I know it was Twilight. I… I ran, and she, it chased me.”

“Thou ran through Canterlot?” Luna asked, dismayed. Rainbow winced, the suicidal nature of her action becoming more apparent to her now.

“… Yeah. I made it into the city, and sh- it just kept coming. I knew it was. One of the anomalies in the city dropped me right outside the exit, and I went right through it.”

“Right inta us.” Carrot remarked, earning her a glare from Brave.

“Your crown, Princess.” Brave said, holding it out. Celestia looked at it for a time, and then nodded.

“Keep it.”

“Princess?”

“It is possible that the crown is a guaranteed escape from Canterlot.” she said. “Keep it with you, and use it well.”

“Princess.” Brave said, saluting again. “Permission to leave?”

“Granted.”

The team left but for Rainbow. The moment other ponies were gone from the room, Fluttershy stopped hiding it, and cried.

“We’re gonna hafta kill her, aren’t we?” Applejack asked, close to despair.

None of them was up to the task of answering her. Not even the indomitable Celestia, or the hardened Luna.

Their hopes of finding her, even after so long had died, and then inverted. They had found her, found her a monster that needed to be slain. Fluttershy only cried worse at the thought of it, and the others couldn’t imagine themselves up to the task.

Spearing Twilight, even if it was just a thing, was not something that any of them could face. Rainbow had done it on instinct, and she had missed. She started the rush at the heart, but tried to miss at the last moment, and she was horrified that she had hit Twilight at all.

Logic said that Twilight was dead, and it was only a thing. Nothing to be concerned over, nothing to mourn. But the heart bled for the loss, and it was all the worse that they might have to kill something that looked like Twilight. Something that spoke like Twilight. Something that might call their names as they killed it.

For a few, the tougher amongst them, despair shifted to anger. Anger at what had caused this, anger at what killed Twilight, anger at whoever had caused all of this.

Rescue was never going to happen. Not anymore.

But revenge was still possible. Finding the pony who was responsible for Twilight’s death, and ending him. Rainbow and Applejack arrived their quickly, deciding that living pony or no, they were going to kill whoever had done this.

And the others followed. Slowly, eventually. Even the gentle Fluttershy.

Canterlot

Twilight walked with Hope as he led her to the castle gardens. It was nice there. Just like everything had turned nice, suddenly.

Though Twilight was still sad. She remembered her losses, and what Canterlot had been. Hope said that he could fix that.

Standing next to the plants, away from everypony else, he turned to her, and said, “Close your eyes, and I can take the pain from you.”

“Really?” Twilight asked, and he smiled and nodded. So she sat, and closed her eyes, and waited.

For a moment, those pains rose, and she winced at them. Every memory, once happy, but now a dagger to her, rising to the forefront. But then they were gone.

“Open your eyes, my daughter.”

She did so, and saw Hope holding a writhing orb in his hoof. It seemed to be made of purple light.

“I shall put it where it won’t hurt you, my daughter. But first, a new name.”

“A new name?” she asked, and then it struck her that she didn’t have one. She smiled anyway. Her father would give her one, and she waited eagerly to see what he would choose.

“Rise my daughter. Rise…”

“Great Change. My daughter.”

Great stood again, smiling. It was a good name.

“Come with me my daughter.”

She followed him, until he came to the edge of the cliff, and looked out at the sunset. Great could see all the way to Ponyville, and see the changing colors as the sun fell.

And it was ugly, and frightening, and strange. The way things were so… rigid. Unchanging, like rocks, rocks pretending at life. She flinched, and leaned against her father in concern.

“What is it?” she asked him.

“It is madness, my daughter. A place where everything is wrong, where everypony suffers. It is broken apart, and needs to be mended.”

“Can we fix it?”

“Not yet. You are not old enough yet, and you still have trouble seeing. Walk in the city, and see what there is before the sun falls. Make me proud, and be done before the night falls.”

Great nodded.

And she visited every place, and saw everypony, and was back by her father’s side before the sun fell, and the pair watched the moon rise, and then retired, heading into the castle, where Hope lived.

It was such a fitting thing thought Great. Hope lives in the castle, and she, Great Change, was going to be the salvation of the world. Putting what was wrong, right. A Great Change.