Innocence Lost And Found

by Bibliomane

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Mystery, Spike, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Adventure, Derpy Hooves, Main 6
Length: 19390

A foalnapping has occurred on the eve of the solar eclipse celebration. And the main 6 must enlist the help of an unlikely source to save the day, and bring the foals home.

The time of the Solar Eclipse has arrived. A once in a generation or two event that has all of Equestria making ready for a grand celebration to be held in Ponyville. On the eve of the auspicious occasion several of the school aged fillies have dissapeared. The task falls to Princess Twilight and her friends to bring them home before the eclipse has ended. They have only one chance and must enlist the help from an unlikely source for salvation or the foals may be lost forever.

Published 2017-10-31 00:50:16 UTC
Last updated 2017-10-31 00:50:16 UTC

Chapter 1

Author's Note

I began writing this story sometime between S2 E14 The Last Round Up, and Derpy's return in S4 E10 Rainbow Falls. It began when a friend told me about the over reaction some idiots made with Derpys speaking debut. First making the assumption that she's mentally disabled, and secondly that Hasbro was using her to make fun of the mentally disabled. All just because she's different from the other characters, and didn't have a high pitched voice (as they gave her in Slice Of Life to "fix her" for the insensitive louts). Not very inclusive of those people that think only those whom conform to a set parameter of behavior and traits are worthy of inclusion, or the magic of friendship. As I was researching for the story I began thinking also as to the other animation glitches and incorporated an explanation and resolution for them as well.

As I wanted to stick to the on screen continuity as close as possible, I researched all the history that was available. Very annoying as there was no actual timeline created, just the ambiguous "many, or thousands of moons ago." I compiled events to come up with an plausible historical timeline to encapsulate the bases of the backdrop of my story. After I completed the story I didn't quite know what to do with it so I kept it around, and made a few revisions when episodes contradicted bits, such as changing Applejack saying that she had to convince Granny Smith to use an irrigation system to, it took her a long time to convince Granny to reinstate it. But with the season 7 finale episodes that completely ignored established continuity there was no compatibility between Shadow Play and anything written before including my story (Hasbro apparently cares more about trying to sell 5 new ponies with the creation of The League Of Extraordinary Gentleponies, then keeping to established continuity), I finally hit Frell it and posted the story here. I suppose Innocence Lost And Found could now be considered taken place in a close parallel universe.

Chapter 1

Prologue

The focus is that of a typical Ponyville living room. The camera pulls back to reveal a slightly nervous, and agitated colt with a clapboard cutie mark, wearing a tam hat at an angle. He was restlessly pacing in and out of shot.

"Where is she? We need this establishing shot in the can before we can continue!" He bellowed to everypony, and no pony in particular.

Just then a grey and yellow streak flew into the cameras view and effectively destroyed the set. The director poked his head threw the fabric that was formally the backdrop for the set. With resignation he said, "just say your line."

Derpy appeared from under a pile of props, looked around for the camera and she said. “I just don’t…”

The director out of frustration facehoofed shaking his head as he grumbled, “not that! The line on the cue card.”

Derpy looked about focusing on something behind the camera she took out and put on a pair of heart shaped, rose colored glasses, saying. “This... is a flashback episode." With reverb on the last word.

Chapter 1

Dawn in Ponyville, it's a lovely spring morning. Passing through the town and settling on the Carousel Boutique, the fashion center for Ponyville, as well as home to Rarity, and her sister Sweetie Belle. Inside Rarity was fast asleep in her bed. Shifting threw the living space of the boutique finds Sweetie Belle in a fitful state, kicking her legs as if being chased by an invisible pursuer. The scene changes to reveal, one by one several other school aged fillies similarly effected by their nocturnal visions.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Archer, Sun Glimmer, Cotton Cloudy, Mango Dash, Liza Doolots, Aquamarine, Boysenberry, Erroria (as a Pegasus), and Ruby Pinch.

Panning across Ponyville and over the foliage of the Everfree Forest, diving threw the canopy we find Derpy asleep on a bed of moss thrashing about. She groggily opens her eyes, turning herself upright to sit up.

Yawning widely and taking in her surroundings, her eyes off in separate directions, grew wide with recognition.

She takes to the air, flying above the thick canopy, and away from Ponyville. Moments latter an excited mumbling in a husky almost rasping voice could be heard.

"Oh dear... Oh my! I'm late! Again!" Derpy appears at top speed racing towards town.

In the library of Castle Friendship, Spike is surrounded by boxes of old looking scrolls and books. Beside him are several stacks of books of various color, size, and thickness.

As he rummages threw a rather large box, he selects one of the tomes and plunks himself down on one of the smaller stacks that he had made in an attempt of preliminary organization of the new arrivals to be archived in the library.

As he began reading, Twilight Sparkle passed by the room, registering that Spike was in the room she entered the library, yawning as she did.

"Good morning Spike, I didn't think you were particularly interested in reading anything that doesn't have pictures in it." She casually remarked.

"Huh, no usually not." Spike replied, "but I found this one in the batch of books and scrolls that Princess Celestia had sent over for us to catalog. They came from the archeologists exploring the newly excapated..." Spike screwed up his face. "No that's not right, escalated, no..."

Twilight, whom had been busying herself by reading the titles of the various books, by magically picking them up and stacking them in various piles around her. With a kindly look in Spikes direction, supplied the correct word, "excavated Spike."

A look of whatever registered on his face, as he rolled his eyes and said. "Oh right, anyway, these books and scrolls are thought to date back as early as the Pre-Classical age. I remembered you saying that was when Star Swirl The Bearded was alive."

At the mention of the name, Twilight's ears perked up, and gave Spike her full attention, the books she was levitating crashing to the floor.

"I was reading this one about famous historical figures, it has a few chapters dedicated to him." Spike frowned, "although I still think he looks a lot like that kooky grandpa at the Ponyville retirement village." Spike held the book in front of Twilight's face, pointing at a picture of Star Swirl to add emphasis to his point.

"Spike!" Twilight snapped, "do you know whom you are insulting!? Hmm, only the most important unicorn in the..."

As she continued her rant, Spike rolled his eyes as he stuck his head back in the book. "Yah, yah, I just said that I remembered you talking about him, and that's why I was looking through this book in the first place." Spike continued to mumble in his most sarcastic tone. "You've only been going on about him since you dressed up like him on our first Nightmare Night in Ponyville."

Twilight, still quite headstrong into her lecture, hadn't heard Spikes comment (probably for the best) "... and further more..." Twilight paused frowning, only just realizing that Spike had said something.
She cocked her head to one side as she refocused her attention on him. "What was that Spike?"

Spike looked at her from over the book. "I said... well just listen to this." He dramatically cleared his throat. "It says here that, as we know, Star Swirl was responsible for creating at least two hundred spells, and lists them here. And as you've said before, most are still in common use, however what's interesting here is the author thinks that Star Swirl has left several projects unfinished. Apparently not just the one Princess Celestia gave you."
Spike looked at Twilight, then returned his attention to the book. "The author speculates that he did this on purpose so he could find a successor. Apparently not because he was unable to complete them himself, or because he didn't understand the magic of friendship."

Spike paused to let the implications sink in. "It also speaks of his great work, whatever that is. The bottom half of the page that says what it was is missing."

Spike adopted an uncharacteristic thoughtful look, "I suppose that it is referring to his prophecies, but on the top of the next page, it goes on to say that he made a study of The Elements Of Harmony. Although it doesn't actually call them that. It actually calls them magical gems of incredible power. But, what else could they be, am I right?"

Twilight's eyes went wide with shock, and interrupted Spike. '"I've read every book, scroll, and listened to every story known about Star Swirl! At least I thought I had. But I've never heard about that! Spike what does it say about it?"

Spike had a glazed look on his face. In apparent confusion he asked, "about what?"

Twilight let out an exasperated snort and stamped her forehoof in frustration. "The book Spike, what does the book say about Star Swirl and the Elements? The first time the Elements are mentioned in historical context was when The Two Sisters released them from the Tree Of Harmony to use against Discord. But that happened well after Star Swirls time"

Spike shook off his distant thoughts and replied, "huh... Oh, um, not much. Only that he was making a study of these gems, it seems, well before the defeat of Discord."

Twilight pushed past Spike as she stuck her head closer to the book. "There has to be more, that can't be all there is! There must be some other reference to this!"

Spike let the book go, which was immediately caught in Twilight's magical aura. After flipping multiple pages, she said, "You're right Spike, there's nothing more."

Spike rooting threw another box, rolled his eyes. "Duh, that's what I just said."

Twilight, to caught up in her thoughts either didn't hear his comment, or ignored it outright. "I don't think it would be on the missing page, that seems to be corresponding to the other matter..." As Twilight continued to mutter to herself contemplating the text.

"Apparently this commentary was written by a historian, and obviously wasn't able to make a study of the full extent of Star Swirl's unpublished works."

Spike smacked his forehead. "I just remembered, Pinkie and Starlight Glimmer are already at the school yard, they've been waiting for us since before dawn, Rarity joined them shortly after, and..."

Twilight, with a mane blowing look of shock stammered, "before dawn!? But the preparation setup for the solar eclipse celebration were to start at nine, it's barley eight now!"

As she talked she paced the library, absently picking up a pony bag and magicking it into place across her back. Then stuffing it full of blank scrolls, quills, parchment, ink wells, and other supplies as she made her way threw the castle.

Spike reluctantly scampered after her, trying to keep up. "Spike, if they were going to start early," Twilight said. In her panicked frenzy she absentmindedly ensnared Spike in her magical aura and unceremoniously dumped him, head first, into one of the side pouches as she raced from the castle.

"Then why didn't you tell me before now!?"

From somewhere inside the bag came a muffled reply. "I can't imagine."

Chapter 2

Twilight made her way threw the streets of Ponyville, Spike, now free of the bag bounding after her. Thoughts of seeing Rarity again racing through his mind, the unpleasantness of his temporary confinement already forgotten.

Suddenly a bolt of multi hued light loopdy looped out of the clouds and streaked past them and the other pedestrians going about their daily business in town, giving everypony a start.

"Giggle! Good morning everypony!" Exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she disappeared beyond the buildings at the edge of the square.

"Um... Hello Twilight, Spike." Came the timid greeting of Fluttershy, a stark contrast to the greetings of the former pegasus.
"Oh, I hope I haven't startled you farther with the abruptness of my greetings." She earnestly and meekly apologized.

Spike rolled his eyes, "hello Fluttershy," he said.

Twilight covertly swatted Spike with her tail in retaliation for his rudeness. "No Fluttershy, you haven't we're just fine. Would you care to join us, we're on our way to the school yard?"

Fluttershy nodded her acceptance, "thank you, sometimes walking through town this early in the morning can be rather off putting."

The trio arrived at the school playground that was slowly being transformed into the staging area for the festivities and viewing areas for the celebration.

Besides Starlight Glimmer, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity, the staff of the schoolhouse and students, it looked as if Mayor Mare had enlisted the help of a good deal of the population of Ponyville and quite a few visiting ponies in town for the celebration.

All were lending a helping hoof wherever needed. In some cases, attempting to clean up debris near a grouping of picnic tables.

To no surprise to anypony present, could be seen a rather large box, formally containing a good amount of presently destroyed, or semi destroyed decorations, was precariously balanced upon the head of an abashed Derpy.

She was currently being thoroughly chastised by one Poe Stile, the owner of the delivery company hired by Mayor Mare to transport and deliver, safely, the now ruined decorations, and just happened to be Derpy's boss.

"You're fired!" Exclaimed the enraged forecolt. "Your clumsiness has finally cost me, and my company far more than I can afford! Just take that situation with Bad Move, you dumped a full truck load of goods. I had to replace everything that..."

Poe Stile's voice trailed off as Twilight and company moved out of earshot. "Twilight! Spike! Fluttershy!"

As Fluttershy jumped from being startled, but before she could otherwise react, the trio were scooped up by an exuberant Pinkie Pie in a one way group hug. She dropped them in a heap and stood there wide eyed staring at everypony. "Hiya!" She exclaimed as everypony righted, and composed themselves.

"Good to see you too Pinkie," said Twilight none to enthusiastically.

"It's good you three got here, we're toootally swamped with everything that has to be done!" Pinkie exclaimed, oblivious of Twilight's tone.

"Especially now that hurricane Derpy blew in!" Rarity said, as she flipped her mane. "Ooh that Derpy! She just ruined hours of planning and hard work. Not to mention the centerpiece that was CRUSHED by those boxes of decor she 'DELIVERED!' It simply must be in a million, billion pieces! Of all the worst possible things that could happen, that's the worst possible thing!" Rarity exclaimed, dramatically Covering her face with a foreleg, while standing on her hind legs. She flounced/ fainted upon her couch that she magicked over to catch her fall.

"Now, would'ja knock it off with the dramatics gal." Applejack boomed as she approached the gathering of friends.

"I just checked out the stuff and thangs. Apart from a few of the minor decorations every one of ems' gonna be right as rain on a cloudy day."

In a lower more conspiratorial tone, she said, "or least wise can be easily fixed with some good ol' spit n' Polish and a lick of paint"'

Rarity winced at Apple Jacks' choice of crude countryism and shot her a look of disapproval. "Yah, and the centerpiece isn't to bad off either." Came the voice of Rainbow Dash as she flew over to hover just above everyponys head.

They all turned to look in the direction of the dining area. As there came the sounds of breaking glass as a deflated Derpy disentangled herself from the last of the decorative objects clinging to her, as she listlessly, and aimlessly flew away from the schoolyard.

No longer on her couch, Rarity addressed the group while watching Derpy disappear into the distance.

"Uhh! That Derpy! I swear she's going to cause somepony some serious and irreversible mischief someday!"

Fluttershy indecisively scrapped her forehoof along the turf. "Um... Well Derpy has been struggling since graduation to find her way. Her cutie mark doesn't exactly point to any particular talent, after all."

Applejack spoke up. "You're telling me. Directionless ain't half the truth."

Fluttershy looked both shocked and embarrassed, shyly she stammered. "Um, that's not exactly what I meant."

But her statement went largely unheard as Applejack continued. "Back when we were fillies, we tried lots of stuff to see if we could get our cutie marks for it. Granted not as much stuff, or as persistently as Apple Bloom and her friends, but we all tried stuff. Well on one occasion Big Mac let Derpy and me help him about the farm."

Flashback to the Apple Farm, a filly Derpy and Applejack were following a young Big Macintosh as they walked along a plowed field, as present day Applejack continued her narrative.

"The gal plum ain't got the disposition for farming."

Young Big Mac paused and demonstrated the proper way to plant seeds, pulling back some soil and dropping seed in the hole, then covering the seed over with the dirt he had unearthed, from a watering can he then poured water over the spot.

Filly Applejack, then filly Derpy scraped a rent in the ground, took some seed dropped it in their respective holes then covered them over and from foal sized water cans sprinkled the newly planted trees.

Derpy looked expectantly, first at Applejack, then to Big Mac for approval.

They both smiled at her and nodded, "ayep,” Said Big Mac.

A ripple dissolve brought forward to the same strip of field.

Filly Derpy hovering over the spot where she had planted the seeds, her wings flapping like a hyperactive hummingbird. All the while examining the ground in an attempt to see if anything had grown, seeing nothing but dirt, her legs and head drooped as a sad look came over her countenance.

Her wings slowed till she was barely able to keep herself aloft as she languorously floated away.
Only moments latter to return to the spot, wings once again batting away, face lit up, but when she saw nothing but dirt as before, once again became crestfallen and floated away.

Back at the schoolyard Applejack continued her story. "An' no matter how many times we explained to her that the seeds wouldn't grow overnight, she kept expecting them to have grown anytime she wern't looking at em." Applejack rolled her eyes as she said that last sentence. "And she dern near wiped out the new crops that year!”

Another flashback to the Apple Farm yard revealed a young Big Mac being once again followed by filly Derpy and Applejack. They were walking along a pipe that led to, and connected with an impressive looking piece of machinery.

"Big brother, you mind my explanin' this here watering system to Derpy?"

Big Mac paused in thought, shaking his head, he replied, "ayep."

Applejack looked confused. Big Mac frowned, then understanding the miscommunication he blushed, and with an embarrassed smile he corrected himself. "Err, ah nope."

Applejack rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Derpy. "Well what all these here young shoots need to grow is light, which they get natural like from the sun. They also need water, and lots of it, but not to much at one time, it's a slow steady flow what's needed." Applejack looked up at Big Mac, "right big brother?"

He nodded, "ayep."

Smiling Applejack glanced at Derpy before turning her attention to the metal contraption connected to a series of pipes that led across the planted field.

"This machine regulates the waters flow to the shoots so they don't get too much or too little at one time. The water is taken from that pond yonder, threw them pipes, threw here..."

Applejack made wide sweeping motions with her foreleg threw out her explanation, to indicate the different points of her talk.

"... then out to the fields. And this," she pointed to a metal circlet on the contraption. "Controls the flow of water to..."

Derpy, whom had been looking like a deer in headlights threw out most of Applejack's explanation lit up at hearing something she could do to help. She exclaimed, "I'll get it!"

Qickly flying to the valve, before either Applejack or Big Mac could stop her. Derpy attempted to turn it, with a look somewhere between shock and horror Applejack yelled out, "Derpy no!"

Simultaneously Big Mac yelled, "Derpy nope!" As they lunged to try and stop her.

But to late, because the valve, as the result of Derpys exuberance to help, broke off in her hooves. Both Applejack and Big Mac became stunned into inaction, could simply watch as Derpy looked at the valve in her hooves with an oopsy face.

Then, as nothing happened, her expression turned to confused curiosity as she stuck her head into the mouth of an exposed pipe.

Both Applejack and Big Mac attempted to pull the blue grey filly away from the aperture.

It was at that moment that a torrent of water gushed from the open pipe carrying the trio away as the water burst forth.

The water finally dissipated depositing the soaked ponies right in the middle of the barn.

Both Apples glared at Derpy. Ashamed and confused, Derpy looked at the valve still in her hooves, then looking at the other two ponys she exclaimed, "I just don't know what went wrong!"

Back at the schoolyard Applejack finished her flashback narrative.

"Because of that brewhaha the pipe watering system was abandoned, it took me years to convince Granny Smith to give it another go." Applejack said shaking her head.

"That's nothing," said Rainbow Dash, whom was still hovering overhead settled herself on Rarity's couch.

"I tried to get her involved in the weather patrol, and you all know how that ended."

Flashback to the opening scene of The Last Round Up.

"Precisely!" Exclaimed Rarity, "I've had it with that mare, why just last year when I needed some extra help with a huge order for the Canterlot Carousel. Out of desperation I foolishly hired her to assist me."

Flashback to the showroom of the Carousel Boutique. Rarity was talking to a prevalent looking customer.

A loud crash emanated from the back of the shop, both ponys winced at the racket.

They poked their heads threw the curtain separating the shop from the storage area, to find Derpy in the middle of a heap of fabric, mannequins and other assorted items that Rarity kept in storage for her craft.

Derpy peeked out from under an unrolled bolt of fabric with an oopsy face. "I just don't know what went wrong." She said, with a shrug.

Chapter 3

At the schoolyard Rarity stamped a forehoof in anger.

"Honestly! Not only did that fiasco set me back on that order even further then I originally was. She ruined most of the supplies in my storeroom."

If it had been anypony else talking but Rarity, Spike may have said something along the lines of, 'are you sure you're not remembering that with drama queen glasses on?' But as it was her, he simply winced and said, "no wonder you're so angry with her."

Spike, deep in thought for a moment then said. "I once asked Derpy to help me with my cataloging a consignment of books at the old library. Only she either fell asleep from boredom, or ended up knocking stuff over."

Flashback to the Golden Oaks Library. Spike, holding an armful of books, and scrolls stuffed under each arm.

As he walked past a doorway leading to a side room off the Central room he glanced back into the room and saw the sleeping form of Derpy.

She was sitting on a stool. The top half of her body sprawled across the table in front of her, that otherwise was covered by books and parchment.

Scene change to Derpy balancing several stacks of books and scrolls in her forelegs and wings, while walking on her hindlegs.

As she walked across the library Spike lost sight of her, seconds latter hearing a crash.

Turning a corner into the main room he saw that there were books, scrolls and just about everything else in the room scattered everywhere.

Back in the schoolyard, Rarity interrupted Spike's narrative. "Let me guess," she picked up the narrative. "You found her surrounded by the mess she made," and so she was, with Owlicious perched on her head.

Owlicious bent forward to look Derpy in the eyes, Derpy looking up to stare back. "And always with that same line."

Rarity said in a voice she usually reserved for criticizing an unfashionable article of clothing.

Derpy shrugging, her hooves spread, and with Rarity's voice said. "I just don't know what went wrong."

Rarity's head superimposed itself over the fading flashback. "Like she doesn't actually know! Please!"

The group of friends were so wrapped up in the narratives that they failed to notice that they had drawn a crowd, that is until Cheerlee spoke up.

"Rarity, although Derpy may have her moments of, well for a lack of a better term, her absentmindedness, that usually leads to such accidents as the ones you've all described. As well as is the unfortunate mishap that got her discharged from Poe Stile's service. I fully believe that she means well, and has a good heart. I don't believe for a moment that she maliciously goes about looking for ways to cause trouble for anypony. Do you really think she does Rarity?"

Rarity ashamed, shook her head. "Well... no, I suppose not, but..."

Cheerlee continued, "Do any of you really? Keep in mind the one thing that all of your stories have in common..."

Spike interrupted her. "Something always gets broken?"

Spike, and a few of the others in the crowd laughed at the comment, until Cheerlee shot them a look usually reserved for particularly naughty foals, everypony was instantly silent.

"No Spike!.. Well yes, I suppose. But more to the point, in each of these stories, and I'm sure in many others, Derpy only got involved because she wanted to help somepony or another."

Most of the ponys in the crowd blushed, realizing that, at some point or another Derpy attempted to help them only to be treated poorly when things went wrong.

"No pony," an audible change could be heard in Cheerlee's voice, and a groan from the foals present as they noticed the change in their teachers voice, and stance to be one when she was about to launch into a lesson.

Cheerlee cleared her throat to silence them, as if they had been in class. "As I was saying, no pony should be made to be made to feel like they are worthless in this world. Everypony has a role to play, that's why we have our cutie marks. While they choose us, and help point us to our true calling in life. So we can enhance, learn, and excel with our special talent without having to listen to what others whom, even in good conscience, would project what they would think is best for us."

The crowd fidgeted a bit, uneasy at being caught in an unexpected and impromptu class lesson. But to polite to interrupt, or leave before she had finished.

The foals in the crowd however had other ideas. Having had enough lesions during school, they didn't want to be be getting more after hours.

They all made the unspoken unanimous decision to sneak off. Cheerlee continued, "as you all may know, the cutie mark is only a visible representation as to where ones talents lie, there is also a mental component. No pony has ever gotten a cutie mark for a talent that they don't care for, it always represents a talent within their skill set.

When a pony receives their cutie mark it is when they are thinking about, or more commonly doing something that they love, or care deeply. In some cases, like with the Apple Family."

Cheerlee pulled Applejack over and pointed to her rump. "Hay there now!" Applejack protested, and was ignored by Cheerlee as she just pressed on with her lecture.

"A central theme is passed on threw one generation to the next, from Granny Smith, to Apple Bloom, they all share apple related cutie marks due to the families passion for apples.” She let Applejack go. "Whereas there are some ponies,"

Cheerlee grabbed Pinky Pie. "Hay!" Again Cheerlee ignored the protest as she continued on.

"Like Pinkie pie, who is the antithesis of her more subdued family."

She released Pinkie and continued. "Most cutie marks are easy enough to explain, however in some cases the cutie mark may take a bit more soul searching to interpret.

Derpy's cutie mark for example, from casual observation, one could interpret it to mean that the pony in question may have an affinity for aquatic life, or enjoy underwater exploration.

The mark is rather uncommon and for a majority of ponies barring Derpys mark threw out the ages have, or will in time, be destined to accomplish great things, relatively speaking that is.

They do however walk a hard path in life, whatever they happen to end up doing.

With out the guidance of a clear path to take in life that you and I take for granted, they often drift aimlessly threw their life waiting for that great thing to happen. Sadly it's often like they have never received a cutie mark in the first place."

The foals had scattered across the event space, gathering in whichever social groups they belonged to.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were standing in a small herd of several other foals including a few blank flanks that had expressed interest in joining the CMC.

A few of the fillies in the gathering had worried expressions. Archer addressed the group, "um... I've been having the worst, awfullest dreams."

The rest of the herd looked at her than around to each other, "me too," Ruby Pinch called out.

Several of the other fillies admitted they were having the exact same experience, twelve in all were having nightmares. The twelve fillies excused themselves from the rest of the foals.

"It's taken so long to say something about it." Apple Bloom said as she looked at her fellow founding members of the CMC. "Even to each other, it's been to dern scary."

Boysenberry spoke up, "I know right! I thought I was the only one and was to embarrassed to mention it to anypony."

The other fillies looked from one another nodding their agreement. "There I was, all alone, and so totally frightened!" Aquamarine began, the small herd trembled slightly at the memory that, although a solidarity experience for each, it was a collective one for all of them.

"Then the voice followed me as I ran from it, Aquamarine, Aquamarine, follow me, don't run away. Come follow my voice."

And with the subject breached, the floodgates opened. The fillies started to share their experiences simultaneously, each trying to talk over the next.

A filly would begin a sentence, without dropping a beat another would finish it. They went on like this for some time, saying things like. "Yes that happened to me."

Or, "oh me too," and so on.

Apple Bloom clacked her hoof on the ground bringing the small herds attention to her. "Although this ain't an official meetn’ of the CMC, an some of us here ain't actually members, I'd like, since we're all having the same thing happen to us, vote on what we should do about this."

Sweetie Belle cleared her throat, "Shouldn't we come up with a plan or two to vote on first?"

Blushing, Apple Bloom responded. "Huh, yah I suppose you're right, any suggestions?"

Scootaloo shifted her weight from one hoof to another. "The main thing to decide is if we can handle this on our own, or do we put it to the older ponys."

Archer chuckled, "Scootaloo, phrasing... Boom!"

Mango Dash, in a terrible state chimed in. "Whatever we decide it better be soon. It's been getting worse, and I don't think we have much time left before it's to late." The other fillies nodded their assent to the plan.

Chapter 4

Derpy eventually found herself flying through the Everfree Forest. She flew for a while among the trees, her legs listlessly dangling, head down turned.

"I try,

I really try,

my hardest to fit in.

But looking back I see,

that I have seldom achieved that win.”

A flashback shows a filly Derpy standing on her unique looking wagon taking in the accolades of her fellow classmates as she's awarded the prize for most original derby wagon.

“So as the daylight turns into night,

A promised bright future turns into blight.

It seems I can never do things the way others think they should, be, done."

A ripple dissolve shows Derpy at the carousel boutique placing bolts of fabric on a high shelf.

When she finished she noticed a spool of ribbon under the shelves. Leaning over to pick it up, stretching a wing to reach it, her head banged into a shelf knocking it over.

A chain reaction began resulting in practically everything in the room falling on top of her.

Rarity and her costumer poking their disapproving heads through the curtains.

"I want to be of help,

to belong,”

A flashback to the Golden Oaks Library showed Derpy walking through the central room on her hind legs.

Her wings and forehooves filled with books and scrolls. As she passed a door to an adjoining room, Spike could be seen passing in the opposite direction.

Derpy deftly avoided tripping over a comic book that had been left on the floor, only to trip over a small hoofstool she didn't see. With the resulting mess to follow.

"to join in on the fun."

A flashback reveals Pegasus flying around cloud busting, with an uncertain Derpy looking on.

Rainbow Dash swooped up beside her, in a playful tone called out, "Come on Derpy! Just have fun with it!"

As she flew off to bust up a nearby cloud. Derpy shook herself and shot towards a rather large and gray storm cloud, upon contact it sent off an electrical discharge that took off the top of the town hall building.

"So as daylight turns into night,

A promised bright future turns into blight.

I guess I'm better off staying away from everypony."

A ripple dissolve showed a montage of images with various ponies admonishing a miserable looking Derpy.

"After a while you start to feel any kindness shown is phony.

I’m tolerated because they think that's what they're supposed to do,

is the only explanation I can give.

I only want a proper life to live.

So as the daylight turns into night,

A promised bright future turns into blight.

I should just go away,

There's no more reason for me to stay.”

As she flew, she sped along the cap of the forest canopy.

"Yes, this is where I belong,

In the Everfree,
where the freaks and monsters live."

She executed a sideways loop and disappeared into the darkness of the foliage. Derpy looked to the sky poking through the boughs of the trees.

"Today though... I just couldn't focus at all. Those dreams... So real..."

She found a spot to roost herself as she contemplated her nocturnal visions of the past few nights.

When she snapped out of her thoughts, it was already late evening.

"Derpy... Derpy..." The odd lilting voice from her nightmare called out to her, male or female, she couldn't tell.

It was if the voice were caught in a wind tunnel.

Spooked, Derpy took to the air and while remaining in one place she began thrashing about in an attempt to locate the source of the disembodied voice, almost falling as she did so.

Chapter 5

Back at the schoolyard Cheerlee finished her impromptu lesson.

Granny Smith, whom had been working on the setup for the Sweet Apple Acres vending display nearby piped up. "Well if'n y'all ask'n me."

Nopony actually was, but it's always a good, as well as a polite thing to listen to your elders.

"I've been around a good deal long enough to have seen most of y'all here grow from youngn's, to who y'all are today. Now young Derpy, I know can at times be try'n on ones patients, right pain in the backside at times as well.

Caused the lot of us, at one time or ta'nother some bit o trouble. But what most y'all don't know is that she's been on her own most her life, specialty since gragatin from school."

Granny Smith momentarily dropped her head and gave it a sad shake, as she mentioned the last sentence. Then taking in the crowd, she said, "she ain't had the upbringing what most y'all young'ns had.

I for one don't buy into what I've heard some uncharitable n' judgmental ponies been asayin bout her. That she's soft in the head, lacking in the smarts department and all. I don't think so.

N' so what if she was, tain't no good reason to shun a body, look down on, or heap abuse on somepony nohow.

Folk aut'a be shamed o' themselves! But no, seems to me that Derpy just gets to plum eager to please somepony or ta'nother.

She craves acceptance and praise so badly that she jumps into a setcheation without putting the proper thought to the task at hand, or fer that matter, in some cases whether or not she's able to do it in tha' first place.

Impulsive as a foal that gal is, is all. She puts herself under a heap o' pressure.

Pressure from others to behave and act the way they think she should, and pressure from herself not to let anypony down.

How would Pinkie Pie, do y'all think, have turned out had folk decided at a young age her behavior was too outlandish and kept her from being herself?" Granny Smith shook her head.

"N' not the care free party planner, but instead a shunned n' in her case, miserable rock herder I reckon. Everyponies been going on about 'The Power Of Friendship' lately, but there's not been too exceptin, or time spent on helping out when it comes to her.

Maybe something aut ta be done bout fixn' that."

Granny Smith fixed the crowd with her patented stink eye as she finished speaking and went back to the display to finish her work. With very few exceptions everypony could think back to a time when they were unkind to the little blue taffy mare in question.

Mayor Mare broke the silent contemplation of those that had gathered to hear the stories, having just completed negotiations with Poe Stile. "OK everypony," she announced from the podium set up across the field on a platform erected for staging the opening ceremonies of the upcoming event. She clacked her hoof on the podium like a gavel.

"We've got plenty of time for socializing at the festival, but right now we have much work to accomplish before the festival area is complete." Snapping out of their private thoughts, the ponys and Spike gave their attention to Mayor Mare.

"Now let's get back to work and make this the best celebration ever. Remember, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna have chosen Ponyville to be the official festival site for Equestria, and we will most likely have many visitors from across the land. Not to mention that the Princesses themselves will be in attendance."

Everypony went back to working on the various tasks that they had been working on before they got distracted. Twilight made her rounds handing out assignments, and making sure that everything was running smoothly. Spike ticking off the tasks as they went from off Twilights many checklists.

Applejack, Big Mac, Bulk Bicep, and a few other ponies were struggling with raising tall pillars that would become supports for the last of the viewing bleachers were being erected, where in just a few hours would sit everypony that would come to view the eclipse.

Apple Bloom approached her sister with a few of the other fillies, having unanimously decided to take their problem to the older ponies after all.

"Apeljek," Apple Bloom began. "Um... I... that is to say, we would like to tell you..."

Applejack, struggling with the rope attached to the pillar looked down at her little sister, "Sugar cube," She grunted, shifting the weight of the tether so it was more manageable and also easier for her to talk. "This really ain't sech a good time, maybe you and your friends could..." Applejack shifted her weight, catching herself as she almost lost her footing, "Maybe you could get back to me latter, huh." Apple Bloom and the other fillies walked away deflated.

Scootaloo and the pegasus fillies tried their luck with Rainbow Dash. But she was busy wrangling the pegasus volunteers, making sure that the hanging decorations were put up correctly and securely to properly hear what the fillies were trying to convey.

Especially as there were a few pegasus ponies hanging various decorations and banners either in the wrong places or, in some cases upside down.

Sweetie Belle, and the unicorn fillies attempts to engage Rarity were in vein, as her attention was focused on having one of her overly dramatic moments overseeing that some of the pony volunteers were properly fixing the items that Derpy "delivered" to the event.

A few fillies attempted to get threw to Pinkie Pie, however it turned out to be an exercise in futility, as well as exhausting as Pinkie was all over the place. Making sure that all of the decorations were in their 'optimal placement,' so no matter where somepony was they would benefit from them.

Archer and Ruby Pinch approached Fluttershy but as she was comforting and reassuring the animals that everything would be fine during the eclipse, and as the animals currently being comforted were a family of Cragadiles. The two pair didn't try to hard to interrupt them.

The fillies gathered together to make a concerted effort to engage Twilight's ear.

Twilight, without even giving them a chance to speak, simply passed out assignments to each of them from her master checklist of things that needed to be done, then returned to her supervising duties.

Spike gave the fillies a supportive shrug, and scrambled after Twilight's wake. In fact all of the mares and colts were too busy to be of any help to the herd of fillies.

By the time the fillies gave up trying to get the attention of the older ponies it was rapidly approaching very late in the evening.

Chapter 6

Fluttershy was walking along her way home. "Oh, I was so busy at the schoolyard that I had forgotten about the poor buzzards. They become so self conscious during their molting season. I would just hate myself if I weren't there to give them a word of comfort in their time of need."

Fluttershy was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't even see what hit her, as she was bowled over by something that zizzed from out of the darkness.

As she often did when startled, or confronted by something unknown to her, Fluttershy jumped for cover, hiding in a bush.

But as nothing further happened, just as often, Fluttershy's curiosity got the better of her.

She hesitantly approached what appeared to be a ball of fur and feathers, tentatively reaching out to touch it with her forehoof and tapping it lightly.

As the ball quickly unfurled to her touch, Fluttershy quickly disappeared behind the nearest tree. Fluttershy got up the nerve to peer around it to look at...

"Derpy!?" Fluttershy timidly exclaimed, and cautiously moved closer.

For a moment the two pegasus stared at each other, neither even so much as twitched.

Suddenly Derpy broke into an excited, almost Pinkie-like, excited, mile-a-minute speech. 'I... THERE-I-WAS-AND-SOMEPONY-MAYBE-SOMETHING-TALKING-ALL-AROUND-ME-CALLING-OUT-TO-ME!'

Derpy paused to take a huge breath, then without warning pounced at Fluttershy, pinning her to the tree behind her. Derpy held fast to Fluttershy with her forehooves as she continued to rant.

"IT'S-WHISPERING-MY-NAME-OVER-AND-OVER-AND-OVER-AND-OVER!-"COME-TO-ME!"-IT-SAYS!" Derpy pressed her face to Fluttershy's.

Terribly frightened, as well as uncomfortable, Fluttershy was desperately and ineffectively trying to escape the grip of the crazed acting mare. Derpy looked from side to side. "DO YOU HEAR IT!?"

Derpy exclaimed, while looking Fluttershy directly in the eyes. Fluttershy shrank away from Derpy's gaze, pressing herself as far down, and back into the tree as it would allow.

"Um... Derpy... Derpy, please calm down. I'm having a hard time understanding what you're saying when you speak so fast."

At first it was as if Derpy hadn't heard Fluttershy as she continued her gesturing and waving her forehooves. "AT FIRST THE VOICE ONLY CAME WHEN I WAS ASLEEP BUT NOW!.. CAN'T YOU HEAR IT!?"

Fluttershy raised her head just enough to shake it, finally she was able to disentangle herself from Derpys grasp. "Pl... please Derpy, get ahold of yourself. Stop talking so fast. I think I understood some of what you are saying, but I can't help if I can't understand you fully."

Finally it seemed as if Fluttershy's words had gotten threw to her, either that, or Derpy simply ran out of steam. As she had stopped her rambling.

Derpy blinked, her eyes for once, both focused on Fluttershy, then drifted apart in separate directions.

Which was what any pony whom knew her had come to interpret as Derpy thinking something over.

Derpy stood unmoving on her hind legs for several moments, then took to the air flying above the tree line. "Why bother talking to you, you won't believe me anyway!" Derpy shouted as she flew away. "Why would you... No, why would anypony believe a stupid ret..."

Whatever else Derpy had said was lost in a sniffling sob carried away on the wind.

Shocked by the revelation that Derpy was aware of how, more than a few ponies thought of her, and felt a bit of shame at how little thought she gave to the blue taffy mare.

Fluttershy attempted to follow Derpy, and uncharacteristically yelled out to her. "Derpy!.. Derpy! Come back! I'll listen to you! Help you if I can!.."

But it was to no avail, Derpy, the better flyer of the two, was well out of earshot by then. Fluttershy was forced to abandon her pursuit, left to ponder the implications of her bazaar encounter.

Fluttershy, lost in thought jumped, then almost lost her altitude startled by Rainbow Dash calling out to her. "Fluttershy! Come quickly the Princesses have summoned us to deal with something!"

A few moments earlier in the schoolyard, the small herd of fillies started, as they heard the disembodied voice from their nightmares calling out to them. Each filly hearing their own name,

'Apple Bloom,' ‘Sweetie Belle,' ‘Scootaloo,'

and so on down the line. All of the fillies bristled at the sound of her name being called on the wind. The realization that they were very much awake and this was no dream.

"Come, follow my voice and all will be clear," the voice beckoned.

The fillies were unsure what to do, until Apple Bloom mustered up the inner strength to say, "Well we ain't gunna get anywhere standing around shivering like yearlings."

She stood erect to address the group. "The gron' ups ain't gunna be of help on this one. If we want to get to the bottom of this we're gunna have to follow the voice, and hope we can solve this mystery on our own. Come on y'all!"

Apple Bloom made her way out of the schoolyard with both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo by her side. The rest of the fillies looked at the founding members of the CMC leaving, then from one to the other, with a silent consensus they galloped after the trio to catch up with them.

The herd back together, cantered slowly along, following the pull of an invisible trail. They crossed an empty field just outside town, close to the borders of the Everfree Forest, as they neared the edge of the tree line, with a flash of magical energy the fillies were gone.

Mayor Mare once again gathered everyponys attention by stamping her forehoof on the podium. With the sound system in place, everypony was able to hear her.

"OK everypony, we've all worked hard today. And now it's time for everypony to get some sleep so we can be bright eyed and..." She gave a chuckle at her little joke. "Bushy tailed." As she bent down and stuck her rump in the air, while rapidly shaking her tail back and forth. Most everypony else groaned.

With her head below the glare of the spotlights she could better see the festival grounds. She righted herself and stepped out from around the podium, looking out over the crowd she said,

"Mrs. Cheerlee, where are the fillies from your class?"

Everypony searched the festival grounds, and the school, but could find no sign of the twelve fillies in question.

Suddenly, Spike began hacking like a giant cat attempting to expel a hairball. From out of a brilliant green flame that belched forth from Spikes mouth, a bound scroll materialized.

Twilight's horn became surrounded by a glowing crimson aura, an instant latter so was the scroll. She magicked the scroll to her, the seal broken, the parchment unfurled, Twilight began to read it. "We have been summoned by both Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna."

By "WE" everypony knew that she ment the herself, Spike, and the five other Element Ponies. "Rainbow Dash, as you are the fastest of us, please go find fluttershy. I believe she left early to tend to some of her animal charges. When you find her meet us at Castle Friendship, where the Princesses are waiting for us."

Chapter 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 3

Chapter 12

Twilight tumbled down the shaft, along with the other four ponies and Spike, banging against the walls of the diagonal passage. Coming to her senses, she lifted her wings and halted her decent. Her horn illuminated the shaft with her crimson aura, and her magic enveloped the others, they all drifted to the bottom of the shaft. In short order Rainbow Dash and Derpy joined them, as they all took in their new surroundings.

They found themselves in a well lit passageway, devoid of the effects of Discords chaos magic. The moss covered brick walls were lined by intervals of recently lit torches illuminating the hallway in a warm, friendly glow. The herd looked from one to another, smiling in relief at the first sign of normalcy since their arrival.

They set off down the corridor, at it's end was a curious, oversized rounded arch double door. It was decorated with a grey and cobalt swirling patterns punctuated with stars. They tentatively pushed the doors open and gaped at what they saw inside.

The room beyond the doors was huge, with a cathedral high ceiling. The herd spilled onto a landing with a staircase leading to the main floor of the chamber. Most of the walls were covered by oversized and overstuffed bookshelves nearly reaching the ceiling. Any wall space not occupied by bookshelves were dominated by machines heteroclite in nature to the party.

Some of the gadgetry sported sparking antennas and coils, that presumably generated the awesome amount of energy needed to power the machinery. The room itself was a maze of bookshelves. Everypony was silent as they made their way through the shelves, as finally they came upon a clearing towards the far end of the room, and they saw...

Applebloom, Sweety Belle, Scootaloo, and the other nine fillies inside a transparent sphere. Upon a dais was a pony, mostly cloaked by shadows cast by the rooms lighting and the illumination of flashing lights covering the instrumentation, as well as an actual cloak.

The figure was also wearing a tall broad brimmed pointed hat, that Made a tinkling noise every time the hat moved. Twilight gasped in horror. The figure spun around at the sound. What the herd saw shocked them all. That is except Twilight, whom was on the verge of enraged madness at the thought of her childhood idol was behind as dastardly an act of foalnapping.

For the pony reveled on the dais was a dark grey unicorn colt, with a full white beard that grew longer at the end of his muzzle. "Star Swirl!" Twilight bellowed, "you're responsible for abducting the fillies!?"

At the same moment, the fillies saw Twilights group, the fillies rushed over to them. The CMC embraced their respective counterparts.

"Sugar cube! I've been so worried!" Exclaimed Applejack, "are you and your friends alright?" She inquired of her sister, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and the rest of the newly arrived ponies asked similar questions about the fillies wellbeing.

Finding that the fillies were fine, Twilight allowed her anger to resurface. She was doubly angered, firstly because the fillies had been abducted. Secondly because the colt she admired all her life was not the hero she had always believed him to be, but apparently some kind of villain with nefarious intent.

Making matters worse was the fact that during the whole exchange with the fillies, Star Swirl was leaning on the railing encircling the dais, head in hoof with a bemused stupid grin on his face as if to say, 'can we move things along, things to do you know.'

Twilight's thoughts, clouded by rage unthinkingly launched herself at the legendary wizard with ill intent, her wings broke free of Rarity's makeshift dress as she flew at top speed. Upon seeing the enraged alicorn rushing towards him, Star Swirl was momentarily taken back. "What!? Another alicorn!" He exclaimed as Twilight tackled him, pinning him to the machinery behind him.

"What have you done to the fillies!?" She demanded, "you're supposed to be a hero, not a villainous foalnapper!" Twilight growled.

Star Swirl, recovering himself from the sudden attack, his horn began to glow. Twilight, realizing the potential danger she was in due to her extensive knowledge of Star Swirl's reputation and recorded history. But also knowing that it was to late to react, slammed her eyes shut awaiting the worst.

Twilight heard a pop, and felt herself fall. She opened her eyes just in time to see the floor rush up to greet her. Twilight looked up in the direction of laughter, Star Swirl was covering his mouth with a forehoof in a failed attempt to hold back his mirth at seeing the young alicorn unceremoniously fall flat on her face. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry," Star Swirl said in between his chuckling. "I just have an awful weakness for physical comedy."

Twilight reared on him. "That aside, why have you abducted the fillies!? And what did you plan to do with them with all this machinery?"

By this time Everypony had gathered around them. Derpy involuntary giggled, under her breath she said. "It was kind of funny though."

Everypony began asking all manner of questions, and demanding answers from Star Swirl. "Wooh, all right, everypony calm down. I've only the one chance, and little time to complete too many tasks. What I want to know is how you became an alicorn young mare? You don't resemble either Celestia nor do you look like Luna. Did you get your coat, and mane coloring from your father perhaps?"

Everypony was confused by the inquiry. Then realization hit Twilight, in light of her brother and sister in-law's recently giving birth to Flurry Heart. "Um, well no, neither of the Princesses are my mother. But if you considered it a possibility that I was one or the others daughter... Then that would mean you believe that an alicorn's child would also be an alicorn,"

Star Swirl magically straightened his glasses."Uh huh." He replied, "that's the theory anyway. Although I have nothing to base it on as there are, at least at this point in history only two alicorns, and at present don't possess the proper understanding of friendship that would open themselves to love somepony beyond the bond they share for each other. At present they've been to focused on their royal duties..."

Derpy inadvertently interrupted him with a giggle. "He said doodies."

Beside Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, the mares shot her a look. Everypony else couldn't help but to join her, relenting the rest of the mares joined in. Star Swirl let out a brief chuckle as well, but quickly regained his composure, clearing his throat. "As I was saying, at this point, at least, they are so focused on their duties that they haven't had time to learn the power of friendship, without that understanding they will unlikely to be open to the possibility of becoming close enough to a colt to get married." Momentarily crestfallen, Star Swirl dropped his head as he shook it, said, "I still have hopes for them, I just hope I did the right thing." The last comment baffled the assembled.

As Star Swirl wasn't attacking anypony, nor was he fleeing, Twilight forgot her anger as her curiosity, as well as her inner fan filly got the better of her. She felt a compulsion to tell Star Swirl her life story, beginning with her school days. How she got her cutie mark, became Princess Celestia's pupil, how the Elements ponies got together, all the way to the point of how she became an alicorn and the Princess Of Friendship by completing his unfinished masterpiece. Including the adventures in the human realm, along the way Everypony supplied their own contribution to the narrative.

"Wow," Star Swirl began. "Firstly, it seams that a lot of unfinished business of mine has, or rather from my perspective, will come back to bite you lot in the rump." He shook his head in amazement. "For that, I apologize, however my knowing this won't actually change anything, or things won't turn out the way they're supposed to turn out, I'm just glad you all were up to the task. Also Twilight, you mentioned that you earned your wings because you finished my 'unfinished masterpiece.' What exactly did Cele think was my unfinished masterpiece?"

Twilight paused, remembering the words she began. "The spell went, from one to another, another to o..."

Chuckling Star Swirl covered Twilights mouth to prevent her from continuing. "Twilight Sparkle, I know the one, please stop now before we all have our cutie marks switched." He dropped his hoof. "I'd rather not spend the remainder of my life pondering the meaning of cutie marks." He turned to address the CMC, with a wink of his eye said. "No offence young ones, but I've had all the lessons about cutie marks I could take from school."

As one the CMC exclaimed, "none taken!"

Twilight's jaw nearly hit the floor. "You meen... You know what the spell does?"

Star Swirl smiled a big grin, "ayep." He said and winked at the Apple sisters, acknowledging the nod to their brother.

Twilight launched into her excited speech mode. "But Princess Celestia said that it was unfinished, and you abandoned it, and it was because I was able to understand the power of friendship better then you had, I was able to complete it." Star Swirl was momentarily stone faced, suddenly he reared up on his hind legs, and leaned on a table behind him as he let out a belly roar like nopony had ever heard before.

His sudden outburst rather annoyed Twilight. "Please don't be upset young Twilight," Star Swirl began when he was able to talk. "I'm not laughing at you, or any of your accomplishments. It's just that the spell in question was very much indeed a complete spell. The spell does exactly what's on the tin as it were. Besides the fact that it was a completed spell, our dear Celestia also must have forgotten the real reason I 'abandoned' my favorite party piece."

Pinkie gave him one of her most suspicious Pinkie looks. "Party piece? And also why would you do that? It was simply awful," remembering her ordeal.

Star Swirl addressed her. "Ms. Pie, surely you, of anypony present can appreciate, that used in a controlled setting, switching the cutie marks of two ponies can be truly hilarious. But as it happened, at a particular gala, a visiting dignitary from another land didn't quite get the joke. When his cutie mark was accidentally switched with a ditch diggers. So I reluctantly stopped using it. I have no idea how dear Cele got hold of the spell, I can't even remember what I did with it.

Did I happen to remember writing down the counter spell... No I suppose I didn't, as you were led to believe the spell was incomplete. Which, I suppose it was, without the counter spell." Star Swirl turned his attention to Twilight, "how was it that you got the effected ponies to regain their proper cutie marks?" Twilight explained the details of the incident, as well as her "corrected version" of the spell. "Hmm, very nicely done," Star Swirl contemplating what was said. "My counter spell would have worked instantaneously, but you wouldn't have learned the lesson of friendship gained by your experience of doing it the way you had. It seems that you hadn't completed the spell, as much as you created a brilliantly written counter spell for it."

Twilight blushed from the praise from her lifelong idol. Something from the machinery gave off a loud bleep, Star Swirl, as well as most everypony else jumped, startled by the sound.

Chapter 13

“Oh dear, we were so caught up in the narrative, that I nearly forgot the scan of the fillies. I simply must complete my tasks before the eclipse has passed threw it's phase, doubly more so, as you eight are here."

Twilight gave him a squinty eyed look of suspicion. "Just exactly what are you trying to accomplish, and why does it require the fillies presence?" Twilight inquired of Star Swirl, as he was rushing about checking on the various monitors and readouts amongst the instrumentation.

"I can only answer that in a circumlocutory sort of way. I don't actually need the fillies for my task, or rather I only require one of them. Because of an experiment that I began a long time ago involving my desire to look into the distant future, and find out the fate of the then budding Equestria because of my involvement shaping it's creation.

To that end, I sent a volunteer from my apprentices into the future to bring back to me information about that which was to come."

Twilight comprehending nodded, "your work with prophecy, I had a feeling that it wasn't done threw supernatural sources, but from a sound magically scientific design."

Star Swirl nodded, "well yes, but at the time no. I never expected my journals to be found, what you know as my prophetic works are reworked edited highlights of the original compilation that I have, and will compile from the information gained from my assistants return trips."

Twilight looked quizzically at Star Swirl, "return... trips? You mean you've done this before? It's not the first time?"

Star Swirl paused from his examination of the data, shook his head as he magically removed and cleaned his glasses with a cloth, and replaced them as he said. "No, this isn't the first time that I've retrieved my assistant from sending her into the future. In point of fact, we've done the exchange during every solar eclipse after the Two Sisters coronation.

That would make this the... Yes, the forth time for a return trip." Star Swirl paused, holding up a forehoof to silence any interruptions. "However, this is the first time I've had these particular problems. I was always able to pinpoint and extract her from the future alone, without attracting undue attention. The reason I was kind of forced to bring all the fillies, was because as the time grew nearer to this particular eclipse, I encountered a great deal of interference from the chaos magic released by Discord." There was another ding from nearby, Star Swirl returned examination and adjusting of the equipment, as he continued. "Although I did encounter difficulty with the chaos magic during last time we encountered this particular eclipse. That was from the other end of the process of course.

Although I thought that I prepared for this exchange, I was unprepared for the full might of Discord's unrestrained power. But as I was saying, as the time of this eclipse drew nearer, I was unable to properly locate my assistant.

There was some kind of interference coming from the other end of the connection. Ah," magically taping one of the readouts with a quill then continued. "Apparently there is to be a problem with the celestial phases. Strange, it seems that the sun, and moon are to be in perpetual eclipse, or something near enough during that phase, yep, that'll do it."

Star Swirl moved on to adjust, and take a look at other data churning from the machinery. "Anyway because of that spot of bother I was forced to advance to the next eclipse point. Impossible under normal circumstances of course, but because I increased the power to compensate for the chaos magic, it made it possible to reach your time." Star Swirl paused for a moment deep in concentration. "Hmm... That's interesting."

"What's interesting?" inquired Twilight, prompting Star Swirl to look up from the page suspended in front of him.

"Hmm... Oh, it seems that when I returned my assistant to this point during the last eclipse cycle, Discord's chaos magic caused the transformative aspect of the spell I used on Prim to 'splinter' itself onto other ponies. Nothing particularly harmful to them, and nothing they, or others would have likely noticed.

However it caused, will cause certain anomalous discrepancies, such as certain ponies tribal aspect and or cutie mark to fluctuate from time to time, or perhaps some other minor glitch."

Clearing his throat, Star Swirl collected himself. "Ah, but let me rewind a bit. I became aware that the eclipse cycles were linked, and that somepony could bridge from one to the other with the timeportation spell that brought you all here. However the alignment would only last as long as the eclipse lasted. I calculated that the only way they could survive the process of the jump, and live long enough until the next eclipse was if they were transformed into an alicorn."

Twilight cocked her head, and said. "The jump"? We all came through the timeportation spell and everypony else is fine, as far as I can tell."

Star Swirl nodded, "yes the spell brought you all here is one thing, anypony could use it, there aren't any side effects from it's use. But very few ponies possess a lifespan to witness two eclipse cycles. If not intrupted by unnatural means an alacorn lifespan should be nearly immortal." Star Swirl magically scrached his head with a quill.

I'm still not sure why the portal remained open for you to use it. It was only my intention to bring the fillies here, collect the necessary data and return them before the end of the cycle. The way the spell was designed, it should have brought you to the lab, not the same spatial location as you left.

Anyway, since the volunteer was originally to be transported a few decades into the future, she would have to remain there until the next eclipse. At which point she would be brought back, and the information collected through the machinery. Part of it's purpose is to collect and process thoughts, you see." Star Swirl patted the machine.

"And then return her to the same point of retrieval, for this process to continue the pony selected would have to be an alicorn. You see, the volunteer would not only require the lifespan of an alicorn, but another aspect of an alicorn as well, the increased mental capacity to hold the memories of such a long life. So it's not as a result of the timeportation spell at all. But of course, as you obviously encountered by the fact that you disguised yourself, a Non-contemporaneous alicorn would draw to much attention."

Applejack elbowed Rarity, and covertly asked "what'd he say?"

Derpy sighed and replied, "I think he means that a third alicorn suddenly appearing when there should only be two alicorns would be bad for the experiment."

Star Swirl turned to regard her, "quite right, young mare. It would be to conspicuous for there to suddenly be an unknown alicorn trotting about, and unlikely that she could blend in long enough to collect the information required. Also an adult would project their own cultural, and personal bias into any situation that was witnessed by them.

So we, my assistant and I, added to the spell an innovation that, after transforming into an alicorn she would then become a foal. With the idea that, when the volunteer, upon reaching a certain age, the process could repeat itself. She would again become a foal and learn about the age she was now living in. And as the alicorn possess the attributes of the three pony tribes, her appearance as one of the three, an earth, pegasus, or unicorn, would be randomly chosen for that particular "life" cycle."

Star Swirl continued his work with the machinery as he continued his explanations. "This process would continue as necessary as it would be sometime between eclipses. But with the interruption of the natural pattern for the next eclipse from now, and Discord running amuck at this point, I was unable to properly identify, locate, or even discern which of the three tribes she had assumed for your generation."

Apple Bloom asked her sister, "you getting any of this big sis?" Applejack shook her head, "not hardly at all."

Twilight looked over at the pair. "I think I do."

Spike rolled his eyes, "well, that figures."

Chapter 14

Both Derpy, and Pinky Pie let out a giggle. Twilight gave him a look. "Hush Spike, Star Swirl is saying that one of our twelve fillies is actually an alicorn, and his apprentice. Sent into the future to gather information for what we will know as his prophetic writings." Twilight turned to address Star Swirl, "what I don't understand is how you accomplished all this, and have you now identified which of the fillies is actually your apprentice? I hope for Applejack, and Rarity's sakes it's not Apple Bloom, or Sweetie Bell."

The pair of sisters hugged each other protectively. Star Swirl stopped what he was doing, and addressed the distressed quartet. "Not to worry, none of the CMC are Primrose Wing." He held up a forehoof, "and to answer your next questions, Primrose Wing is the true name of my assistant, and turning her into an alicorn was the easiest part of the whole endeavor, as I was the one that invented the spell in the first place." Twilight wasn't the only one to have their mouth hit the floor, everypony was aghast.

Star Swirl, ignoring their reaction, or was there a covert smirk lurking as he continued. "The Second transformation was a bit trickier, you see the only way to accomplish the task was with the use of some unusual gems that contain curious properties that I've dubbed, The Elements Of Harmony." Again everypony was astonished by his words, once again Star Swirl glossed over their reactions.

"As they seem to have their own temperaments you know," he let out a laugh. "Well of course you do. And they will only properly work when used together, remember that. Although, as far as I'm aware, nopony has been able to properly bond with them as well as you six have. But as I was saying, although I have made a study of the Element stones, and have come to a comprehensive understanding of them, I needed the help of all this equipment to wield them properly. Also working with the seventh Element has been the most difficult, as well as the most frustrating."

Again with the jaw dropping, "I... We weren't aware there was... Is a seventh Element Of Harmony!" Twilight exclaimed, the first to find her voice. Everypony else started asking multiple overlapping questions.

Star Swirl once again held up a forehoof. "Please, one at a time, yes there are seven elements, you are, of course familiar with the Elements that you embody, Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, and of course Magic. But the Element that's been instrumental component to my experiment is the seventh, The Element Of Innocence.

I couldn't have reverted, Primrose Wing to a foal, let alone activate the spells ability to reset each generation as necessary without it."

Threw gaping mouths everypony exclaimed, "The Element Of Innocence!?"

Star Swirl nodded, "yes, weren't you listening?"

Twilight shifted her weight from one hoof to the other. "Then sense it exists now, why don't we know about it in the future?" She inquired.

"hmm... As I'm here, and your from there, I'm not going to have a definitive answer, even the collected data hasn't revealed that, if I were to hazard a guess, it could be as simple as the sisters not being aware of it. Another more probable explanation might be that there hasn't been a pony yet worthy enough to become it's embodiment. I must say though, in my opinion, from what little I know about you Mrs. Pie, you certainly came the closest to anypony in history."

Pinkie Pie, whom at that particular moment was investigating a shiny bug scuttling across one of the machinery panels with Derpy, and a few of the fillies, looked over to Star Swirl, with a big grin and in a jubilant voice said, "thank you!.." Then in confusion added, "I think."

Applejack cocked her head to one side, "now just an apple bucking moment! I thought you said as you hadn't collected the data from our time, n' you weren't aware which of the fillies is Primrose Wing. But you "know" that she's not one of the CMC!? N' how do you know bout the CMC anyhow?"

Star Swirl adjusted his glasses, "well yes, and also no, at the same time. Until you all arrived I didn't know either the identity of Primrose Wing for your generation, or about the CMC. However as we were having our exchange, I was analyzing the data I collected from the fillies when they were inside the amplifying sphere before your arrival, Not only do I now know the identity assumed by Primrose Wing." He turned to address the fillies. "Thanks to you, I also collected an unprecedented amount of information from your impressions, and memories of your age. I do hope you girls don't mind. But it was necessary to find my dear Primrose." The fillies voiced their opinion that it was ok.

"Great," began Star Swirl. "Then, if you all will permit me, I shall use the Elements Of Harmony to return Primrose from her current enchanted state, she does so enjoy her few moments as herself before heading back to the unknown." Star Swirl removed his hat, and his horn began to glow with his magical aura.

"Now if you fillies could stand over here." He said gesturing to a clearing with his forehoof. A beam of light radiated from the tip of Star Swirls’ horn towards a previously unnoticed pedestal with six outstretched branches, each holding a circular tray at the end of each branch. Each of the branches held a medium sized spherical rock. At the top of the pedestal's central column sat a larger sphere. As the beam hit the structure, the orbs began to glow, then from out of each sphere, emerged five of the gemstones that they all knew were the Elements Of Harmony, pink, blue, orange, green, and red, but from the sphere on the seventh branch emerged a glittering fire opal colored gemstone.

Derpy's eyes lit up upon seeing it. "Oooh! That's the prettiest thing I've ever seen." Then from the largest sphere emerged a purple gemstone, for a moment the seven stones shown brilliantly, their glow filling the chamber with a disco ball rainbow effect filling everypony with awe.

Suddenly they all lost their magical shine and slipped from Star Swirl's magical grasp. Settling back into the stone spheres from which they originated.

Upset, Derpy flew over to the Elementalabra, before anypony could stop her, tapped on the sphere that held the opal stone. "Pretty stone, come back out, I would like to see you again!" She tapped on the sphere again, this time a bit to hard.

Star Swirl closed his eyes, and averted his face, as he heard the stone sphere roll off it's perch and shatter upon impact with the floor. The force of Derpy's impact having knocked the sphere off the stand.

The only evidence of the Element Of Innocence was a sparkling powder mixed in the shards of stone. Everypony was stunned, to shocked to even express the horror they felt from witnessing the destruction of the Elemental stone. Derpy looked from the now empty tray, to the small pile of shattered stone on the floor. Embarrassed, she spun around in the air to face the others. With her forehooves spread, and as she said the words, both Rarity, Spike, and Applejack mimed along. "I just don't know what went wrong?"

Star Swirl opened his eyes, not wanting to miss what was to come next. "I guess we found out what happened to the Element Of Innocence." Spike said with a snort, tiny flames emitting from his nostrils as he did.

Subtly what at first appeared to be dust settling, or faint wafts of smoke emitting from the shards of stone that use to be the vessel for the Element Of Innocence, became apparent that the smoke was emitting a sparkling magical aura of indeterminate color.

The aura quickly thickened as it enveloped Derpy, whom was hovering above the ruins of the fallen sphere. As the cloud of sparkling energy began to be absorbed by her body, a radiant glow began to reflect outwards. Her eyes shined a white glow, with dazzling pinpricks of multi-colored sparkles dancing within. Suddenly, golden slippers appeared around her hooves with golden straps cascading up and wrapping around her legs ending in a circlet mid thigh on each of her legs.

Around her neck, a necklace much like the ones that five of the main six once wore before returning the Elements to the Tree Of Harmony. The only difference between them being that there was a largish shimmering fire opal in the shape of a bubble set upon it's gleaming plate.

"Oooh! doesn't she look just radiant in her ensemble!" Rarity asked nopony in particular, gushing in awe. As the glow faded, Derpy landed in front of everypony, without farther incident.

Star Swirl remarked, "it appears we have found the reason for the eight of you being brought here. Young mare, you are the embodiment of The Element Of Innocence, it was the Crystal that was calling you to it Derpy.

Star Swirl then addressed the mane six. "It also becomes apparent to me that sence you mares are here the Elements will only respond to their proper embodiments." Star Swirl gesturing to take them all in, "ladies, if you will?"

The fillies squealed with delight, saying things like, "oooh! This is gonna be great!" And in a few cases, "This will be so cool! I've never seen them transform before!"

All six of the remaining mares reached out to touch the sphere containing their respective Element gem. "I can't believe I'm getting another chance to wear that fabulous, and stunning necklace again." Just as Rarity finished her comment, the six mares were surrounded by the aura of their Elements. Their eyes shown brilliantly, and the golden hoof adornments appeared on each of their hooves. Then, from each cascaded upwards wrapping around their legs, ribbons the color of the mares respective Element, ending mid thigh.

Around the necks of Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie appeared their original necklace adorned with their Element stone in the shape of their cutie mark, and upon Twilight's head appeared her tiara. "Wooh nelly!" Exclaimed Star Swirl, "it's one thing to read, theorize about, or even watch in a vision, it's even more spectacular to witness first-hand."

Twilight turned to Star Swirl. "Ok, now that we wield the power of the Elements, what's the next step?"

Chapter 15

Star Swirl addressed the now seven Element ponies, "well this is the interesting thing, and something the six of you, being that you have been working solo, so to speak, for so long are not going to be use to. Especially as Derpy has, for the most part been maligned for so long."

They all, the mares, fillies, and Spike, crowded around Derpy giving her a group hug. All apologized for the poor treatment she received over the years. "Please, whilst I don't wish to interrupt a much needed, and from what I've come to understand much overdue tender moment." Star Swirl interjected, "however, because of the nature of the circumstances involved, being that one of these twelve fillies needs to be transformed back into my dear Primrose, we must hurry, the end of the eclipse cycle will soon be upon us. All the times before, the machinery was necessary for me to amplify and direct the Elements power, but that you're here things will be much easier. Now then, whilst I recite the incantation that will ignite the Elements, and guide the magical energies to transform Primrose Wing back to her alicorn form... Will you fillies please step over here?"

Star Swirl gestured to a clear section of the dais with a forehoof. The fillies moved to the indicated spot. "Now the rest of you stand by as I begin the spell, each of you concentrate your energy on Derpy. Derpy, the power of the Elements must be channeled through you, when you feel the power coursing threw you, I want you to direct it towards the fillies, it will be alright, only Primrose will be effected." Everypony waited expectantly as Star Swirl levitated and unfurled a scroll. "Now, on the second line, the six of you combine and channel your power into Derpy. Derpy, when this happens I want you to focus on Primrose Wing."

Derpy scratched her head, "but I don't know which of the fillies is her. Or for that matter what she use to look like."

Star Swirl shook his head. "That's not important, just concentrate and the image will form in your mind. Let us begin." Star Swirl began reciting the incantation.

The Element stones glowed in anticipation, on the beginning of the second line, the Element ponies began their part, a beam of magical energy, each the color of their respective Elements shot forth, joining into a single rainbow wave shot towards Derpy, she cringed, closing her eyes as the rainbow enveloped Derpy in a sphere of multi-hued light.

Suddenly her eyes went wide and glowed from within, a brilliant white bespeckled with dazzling pinpricks of colors of the other Elements. Derpy's body became surrounded by the glow, rainbow effects soared around her. From her eyes shot a beam of the multi-hued light, rainbows twirling around the beam. Upon contact with the fillies they too become surrounded by the dazzling display, the ball of light drifted upwards taking all of the fillies into the air. Star Swirl having completed the incantation directed each filly to clear aside, as one by one, each of the other fillies descended from the glowing orb of light and soaring rainbows.

Each time a filly touched the floor they were beckoned over by the increasing herd of foals standing next to the legendary wizard. When all but one of the fillies had returned from the glittering orb of light, it descended to the floor. As the energy dissipated it left in it's place a violet-dun colored alicorn with a cutie mark of an intertwined upright grey feather, and a pale Primrose. With the exception of Star Swirl, everypony was gobsmacked by the vestige of the current form of the fillies playmate, now known to be Primrose Wing. She stood regally and erect, her wings outstretched. She had the same bearing as Twilight Sparkle's sister-in-law Princess Cadence. Then, as the last of the magical energy faded, she turned to Star Swirl and fainted.

Star Swirl rushed forward to steady her. "Thank you." Primrose said as she regained enough strength to stand on her own. She looked around at the assemblage of strangers, "Star... Who are these ponies? And... And a baby dragon!? I thought the experiment was to be conducted in secret."

A confused Twilight blurted out, “Star?” Surprised that anypony would address the legend in such an informal manner.

"And how else should I address my dear uncle?" Primrose asked.

Twilight looked incredulously from Primrose Wing, to Star Swirl. "Yes," began Star Swirl, "Primrose Wing is my niece. Not everything gets recorded in the history books." Everypony looked at Primrose Wing in awe, whom they had only moments ago knew her as simply a school yard playmate, now so much more.

Primrose shied away from the attention, then to Star Swirl she asked. "Well!?"

Star Swirl cleared his throat, "my dearest, you know the shock of transformation effects your memory at first. The memory of your life, or perhaps lives, and the reason for those assembled here will catch up to you shortly. But in general, when you and I first began the study of future events, because of second guessing my role in the founding of a united pony tribe and consequently the founding of Equestria. I was hoping to keep the findings to ourselves so nopony could use the information to corrupt the timeline. But the last time I brought you back I found that a portion of our notes had been discovered and taken as prophetic visions of what was to come. Who was I to object.

So I created a secondary journal, a flowery mystical sounding version that could be found, but vague enough that they couldn't be used as a road map. The last time we made the transfer, Discord had risen to power, his reign of chaos, well really, now actually. I encountered extreme difficulty and thought that by the time I reached now I would be able to compensate for Discord's chaos magic with the extra equipment, and the power of the Elements.

However, I didn't realize two things, how powerful Discord's fully unleashed power would be. And Secondly, that the Elements Of Harmony would find, and call their true pony embodiments. Interestingly one of the embodiments hadn't yet connected with it's pony counterpart.

As it felt the need to be connected, the Elements created a situation to draw you all here, by the Element Of Innocence calling out to you, Derpy.

Due to the interference of the chaos magic, or perhaps by design of the Elements, I was unable to pinpoint exactly where in Equestria you were Prim, I was able to narrow the search to Ponyville, and your schoolhouse, but which filly, I was still unable to tell, time was running out so out of desperation I was forced to bring the most likely candidates here." Star Swirl gesturing to Primrose Wing and the fillies.

During Star Swirls monologue Spike and the ponies had been quietly talking among themselves, the one most recurring question was the one that Star Swirl now answered. "I believe that you eight," Star Swirl indicating Spike, and the Element mares. "Were called here in the same manner as I called to the fillies, so to had the Element Of Innocence called out to Derpy, as it's embodiment, the one pony whom could properly wield it, and to be finally acknowledged.

Now, as the solar eclipses are a constant in each time zone, it seems that I have a limited time to send you all home to your proper time. There's still much for me to do even after you've gone." As Star Swirl continued to speak, he created a flurry of scrolls, and other hardcopy read outs as he checked each and placed them in a particular order.

"I have to get the Elements back to their places on the Tree Of Harmony. Enlighten Celestia and Luna about them so they can stop that buffoon Discord rampaging, ugh, and although I find their heavy handed method completely distasteful, turning Discord into stone until he's released in your time. I'm just glad that you girls will finally be able to teach him the value of friendship. As well as Celestia and Luna, for that matter, by the by. The girls will be bereft of the magic of friendship for a while longer I'm afraid, although it is another unfortunate necessity for events to unfold in the best possible order.

With you all coming together to steward Equestria, and becoming who you now are." He waved a forehoof to indicate the Element ponies and Spike. "Recovering the Elements, and putting right all the 'ghosts' of my past."

He then turned to Primrose Wing. "My dearest Primrose, I have finally come to the conclusion that the future is in good hooves with these mares, and my decision at the founding of Equestria was the proper one after all. I think now is the time for this experiment of ours to come to it's end. You can finally live out a proper life here with me, and your family, where you belong."

Primrose Wing shook her head, "no dear uncle." Star Swirl was both surprised and confused. But he withheld comment, not wishing to interrupt Primrose. "I have been away from my former life for too long, it would not be the same.

Uncle I have recovered my full memories of the countless lives that I have lived threw out the centuries. And I cannot remember a single time that I have been happier then with the friends I've made in Ponyville." The fillies glomed Primrose Wing in a giant group hug. "As you wish to bring the experiment to it's conclusion, it is mine that I return with my friends and live out my life as Errorita."

As a tear rolled down his cheek, Star Swirl nodded in sad comprehension. "I understand and will miss you dearly, but you do realize that this time it will be permanent. You will not remember anything of your former life, save for those that you've experienced as Errorita, and,"

Star Swirl lowered his head, with tears in his eyes he said, "you will never know me as anything other then a legendary figure of antiquity."

Primrose Wing lifted his muzzle with a wing, her eyes moist with tears, she put a foreleg over his shoulder. "Yes Uncle I do, and that, is the only thing I will regret... Well I suppose afterwards I wont, come to think of it. My love of you is the only thing that would tempt me to stay. However, I don't want to leave the friends and the life I've known in Ponyville."

Wiping the tears from his eyes, Star Swirl turned his back to the others and said, "all right then, this is going to take alteration to the original spell, removing your alicorn aspect, and returning you to your pegasus filly state. For the sake of your living the normal life that you had been living up to the point that I brought you here, no pony, not even yourself can remember who you really are."

Star Swirl cleared his throat as he gathered his composure. He then addressed the Elements ponies. "Now then, with you seven here, the masters, and embodiments of your element, none of that should be a problem. We do however have a time constraint, so any other questions not related to getting you all home safely will have to wait until latter."

Twilight took on one of her inquisitive looks. "Sorry, but later how? When will we meet again? Are you still alive in our time? Where will we be able to find you?.."

Turning his attention to Twilight, Star Swirl rolled his eyes as he cut her off, "Twilight, what did I just say about questions unrelated to the task at hand?"

Frustrated Twilight responded, "right, right, sorry, it's just that it's such an honor to meet you and I have so many questions..."

Spike smirked at the fact he could finally turn the tables. "Twilight!" He exclaimed, everypony laughed at that.

"Actually, it's good you're here Twilight." Star Swirl began, "I'm going to need some help revising the original spells."

For the next few hours, While Star Swirl and Twilight reworked the components of the spell to send the twenty travelers back to their proper time, the rest of the group spent their time asking Primrose Wing what it was like to live threw all the ages that she had lived through were like. They were also admiring Derpy in her Element jewelry, among other things. As Star Swirl and Twilight worked on the spell with Spike taking notes and writing down the revisions. Finally the spell was completed, with Spike writing down the final words.

"Alright, the spell is finished." Star Swirl announced, he was leaning on an object concealed by cloth covered by, from all appearance, a centuries worth of dust. "The first thing we have to do is transform Prim and transfer her alicorn aspect into this receptacle that I've set aside for the conclusion of the experiment all those years ago." He magically removed the cloth sending a thick cloud of silt filled effluvium. Everypony began coughing in an attempt to expel the dirt from their lungs. With a wave of a forehoof the cloud dissipated at Star Swirls behest.

"[Cough] My apologies [cough], I haven't been down here for many years. Now, Prim, if you could stand over here, you seven stand over here, girls please stand well back. With you seven guiding the Elements, there will be no need for the equipment for this part of the task. Afterwards however, in order to get you back to your home, I will require the elements to power the augmentation sphere. Everypony will have to enter the sphere to ensure your return trip. I have already entered the settings for your return trip.

The Elements, I'm afraid, will have to remain here so they can fulfill their role in history, and reach you at the proper time. After this business is completed, I have to return them to the Tree Of Harmony." Star Swirl turned his attention to the Elements ponies, "now as before, focus the energies of your Element towards Derpy, and Derpy, once the power flows into you, direct the energies of your element towards Prim..." In a malancholy voice he said "No, Prim no longer." Quickly recovering for the benefit of the others, rubbing his hooves he continued.

"All right, let's get started." Star Swirl began reciting the incantation, the Element gems glowed and beams of magical energy shot towards Derpy. This time Derpy did not flinch as the energies merged with the opal on her necklace. Seconds later, a white shaft of bespectacled light burst forth and enveloped Primrose Wing. She glowed with the pale aura of bespectacled light and began to shrink, her form reverting to that of a foal once more. The process complete, the aura retreated from her hooves to her horn. Upon reaching the tip of her horn, it exploded into a shower of multicolored sparks. The fillies glomed her, asking how she was, and what it felt like.

"Now," announced Star Swirl. "Before we run out of time, I need to get you all home. Would everypony please get into the sphere. Fillies first," Spike helped the fillies into the translucent sphere, then got in as well. "Now ladies, if you please," Star Swirl indicating a near by table, the mares removed their Element jewelry and placed them on the table. As they did the rest of the golden accessories blinked out of existence. The gems themselves reverting back to their natural state.

"Aww... I hadn't realized how much I missed wearing those gorgeous accessories," Moaned Rarity.

"I never got the chance to wear mine before and I probably never will get to wear it again!" Derpy exclaimed in an angry pouty way, her forelegs crossed before her as she leaned on the table looking forlorn at the opal stone twinkling back at her.

"Oh darling, never say never." Rarity said, putting a comforting hoof across her shoulder.

"Yah sugar cube, I’m certain you'll get to see it again. After all, you are the embodiment of the Element Of Innocence if I ever saw one. Come on now, it's time to go."

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Derpy joined the fillies in the sphere. "Twilight, we have mere moments to resolve this! You must get in the sphere now or you all will be trapped here in your past for a very long time." Twilight, about to enter the sphere, turned to Star Swirl. "I will, but first I wanted to say goodbye. It was an honor to meet you, you have always been an inspiration to me. Also you mentioned that we would have time to talk later. How will I be able to find you?"

Star Swirl, a little exasperated replied, "Spike knows, now GO!" Confused Twilight joined the others in the sphere. Star Swirl twisted a few dials on a control panel before him. His horn began to glow with his magical aura, and he began the incantation to send the herd home. The Elements began to glow, and lifted into the air making a rotation above the sphere. Their radiance, and speed increasing with each completed circuit until their brilliance filled the vault with pure blinding light.

When the light finally dissipated, the gems had returned to the table, and Star Swirl was alone in his subterranean lab. He turned as he heard a loud cracking sound, and saw that the arm of the Elementalabra that formally held the Element Of Innocence had, rather cleanly, broken away from the main structure, and rather loudly crashed to bits on the floor. "Oh well," mumbled the wizard, with a smile of indifference. "I don't really suppose that was going to be particularly necessary in the future anyway... Probably just confuse a pony."

Star Swirl returned his attention to gathering the Element gems, he magically scooped them into a pouch concealed within his cloak.

With a spherical flash, he vanished... Only to reappear moments later in similar fashion. "With everything that's happened, I almost forgot." Star Swirl walked over to a desk where a letter was addressed to Princesses Celestia, and Luna. What could be made out was,

'To my little ponies Celestia and Luna, I have found a way to defeat Discord, but only the two of you by your bond of sisterly love and friendship will be able to accomplish the task. In a cave below your castle you will find The Tree Of Ha...'

The rest of the message was concealed by the end of the parchment curled over it. Star Swirl magically lifted the parchment, rolled it up and sealed it with a ribbon and his mark.

"I simply don't know where my head is these days, I've got to remember to get this to the sisters as well as replacing the Elements, or the whole plan will be ruined. Then where would we be huh?" Star Swirl asked nopony in particular.

"Humpf," came a disgruntled sound coming from under his hat.

"Hush Ember, now come out and send this off to Celestia." What looked like a snake with wings, and four stumpy legs quickly half climbed, half slithered from the under recesses of Star Swirl's voluminous hat.

"Alright, alright!" Ember grumbled, as he paused on the brim of Star Swirl's hat, he then exhaled a stream of green flame that ignited the scroll. The scroll was then caught up in a magical vortex, and blinked out of existence. "Now that's done, let's be on our way." They both disappeared in another magical spherical flash.

When the light dissipated, the lab looked as if it hadn't been occupied for a very long time. As it should do, because nopony had been there for many moons. Layers of dust and cobwebs covered everything. The only illumination emanated from a panel of the ancient machinery, newly activated after the moons of neglect.

There was a flash of besparkled light that emanated from the translucent sphere, Spike and the ponies popped into existence. "We must be back home," declared Applejack.

As everypony spilled out of the sphere, Archer rolled her eyes. "Dr. Obvious, paging Dr. Obvious, thanks for the update." Applejack shot her a look.

"Yes," said Twilight.

"Twi!?." Exclaimed Applejack,

"not about that Applejack. Perhaps Star Swirl left some things behind for us to learn from. Spike make a note about getting this part of the castle cataloged, and the books and scrolls sent to Castle Friendship. After a proper archeological examination of the area is made, of course."

Spike, quill and parchment already in hand, furiously writing down the reminder. "Check," he said, then slapping his forehead, "oh no!" He exclaimed.

"What is it Spike?" Asked Twilight, Spike looked at her.

"I just remembered, we still have all those books and parchment from that other archeological find we haven't gotten through yet! Now all this!" He waved his claws in an all encompassing manner to indicate the immensity of the vaulted lab. The scene expanding as he said this to show the vast chamber filled with the overstuffed bookshelves. Everypony began laughing. Spike on the other hoof, crossed his arms across his chest and let out an indignant, "humph!"

Latter, after the fillies had been reunited with family and friends, Twilight had time to discuss the adventure with those involved, and found that they had forgotten much of the details of the adventure following their arrival at Star Swirl's lab. "There's something I still don't understand about all that's happened Spike." Twilight said as the two of them were sitting in the library of Castle Friendship sorting threw the piles of boxes containing the books and scrolls that had been neglected during their recent adventure.

"Only one thing?" Spike replied, Twilight looked at him with a brow raised, in an attempt to discern the degree of his sarcasm. Then decided it really didn't matter.

"Before we were transported home, I asked Star Swirl how we were going to talk later. He simply replied that you would know."

Spike shelved a book as he shrugged replying, "well I suppose that means that you will just have to wait until the answer comes to you."

Twilight shook her head. "No Spike, he said 'you’ would know where to find him. Not that I would figure it out."

Spike turned to her and frowned, resting his elbow in one claw and rubbing his chin with the other in contemplation. "Well... The only thing that comes to mind..."

His face lit up, as did Twilight's. Spike snapped his claws and they simultaneously exclaimed, "The kooky grandpa at the Piney Shade Retirement Community!"

The two arrived at Piney Shade and saw what appeared to be an elderly pony colt relaxing on a porch swing. He was wearing a time warn cloak and watched their approach from under a beat up wide brimmed pointy hat that jingled with the movement of the swing.

"Twilight Sparkle... I've been waiting a long time for this moment to come! Let's have that talk you wanted to have all those moons ago.

Epilogue

The three of them walked down a path away from the retirement home. "I have a lot of questions," Twilight began. "But the first thing that comes to mind is, how long have you been living in Piney Shade? Have you been here all along?"

Star Swirl turned his head to look at her. "No, only for the past few years, I've missed Prim, and even though she has no memory of who I am to her, other then a figure of legend and, as I am now, a kindly old colt living in the home. She comes to Piney Shade from time to time for a visit, it's a small comfort, I suppose. Ah me, I seem to be getting sentimental in my dotage."

Twilight smiled, and shook her head. "No I think it's kind of sweet actually."

Star Swirl stopped and rubbed his forehooves together. "O.K. enough of the mush. I know there's more you want to know about then my current personal well being. What's on your mind?.. Fire away, only sense we now have plenty of time for discussion now." Twilight opened her mouth to ask her questions.

Star Swirl interrupted her, "Oh, but one question at a time please, if I remember correctly, you have a tendency to go full auto, when obliged." The trio shared a brief laugh.

Twilight thought for a moment, "I noticed that you altered the return timeportation spell before sending us home. It didn't register then what you had done, but after talking to the others, I have a good idea what it was. Why did you include a memory alteration passage to the spell so everypony but Spike and myself would forget the majority of our encounter?"

Star Swirl flashed a guilty grin. "You caught that, did you. Well it would do no good to have anypony thinking any less of their two reigning matriarchs. I felt that you on the other hoof would be able to objectively handle certain truths, ones better off lost to history, and not look disparagingly on our Princesses.

What you have to realize is that, in the beginning of what is now Equestria was a very different place then it is today, even more then history books have recorded it."

Twilight paused for a moment looking thoughtful, she then asked, "when you've talked about the Princesses, you generally call them by name, and rarely use their pre-honorific titles of Princess. In the history books, it's recorded that the three of you met at their Coronation, doesn't that make them your Princesses as well?

But I suppose, as you said all those moons ago, not everything makes it into the history books." Twilight gave Star Swirl a particularly nasty stink eye, usually reserved for Spike at his worst. "What was it exactly that you did at the founding of Equestria that put you on the path of needing to 'divine' the future to see if it was the 'right' decision? And for that matter, who are the Princesses to you anyway?"

Star Swirl gave Twilight a conspiratorial grin. "Although I did request you ask one question at a time,"

Twilight gave a guilty cringe, but relaxed as Star Swirl continued. "However, as both are actually connected... To get to the answer of those questions and perhaps a few others that you haven't asked yet, you have to have some context of my unwritten history."

As Star Swirl began his remembrances, Twilight was able to see the events in her minds eye. "When the tribes came together, as it's related in the Hearths Warming Eve pageant, the leaders of the tribes brokered a treaty, however there was much conflict over whom should rule over the now "united" tribes of ponies.

It seemed impossible that a representative from any of the three individual tribes could rule by themselves, even if the rule alternated from tribe to tribe. The ruler in current power may well have played favorites with their tribe over the other two. At the very least, could have been accused of doing so.

The current Tri-Counsel would be no better (actually they would have been worse). And after listening to all those awful, and endless debates, I felt there was no way a counsel of representatives from each tribe would be likely to be able to properly govern either. As the Windigo threat was still to fresh, and there was too much bias towards what was best for the individual tribes, as opposed to what was best for all.

My former apprentice Clover put forth that I might be able to come up with a solution. As you know, I was one of the unicorns tasked, along with a few others, the very auspicious, and quite frankly extremely boring occupation of raising the sun in the morning and the moon at night. Although it gave me time for studying magic and other academic pursuits, it was very unfulfilling for me and kept me tied to one place.

What I really wanted, even more then the common and arcane knowledge of study, was to explore new lands and actually experience things for myself. But I couldn't as long as I was trapped in my infernal and unwanted profession.

That was why I began dabbling in time spells, by the way. I was able to venture farther from home then a half-days journey and still be back to do my job. It was during one of these sojourns that we, Prim and me that is, found a pair of twins.

How they came to be separated from their parents, or whom they were, we never found out. In those days any orphaned foal may never have survived without the kindness of somepony taking them in. They were about the age a foal receives their cutie mark, but were still blank flanked.

After a time, when the sitting council brought me their problem, I came to a decision to have the twins become the solution for both the councils problem and my own.

I began working on a spell to augment a pony and infuse them with the aspects of each of the three tribes so that nopony could claim bias. But as I thought about candidates to bestow this awesome power and responsibility upon, I realized that no mature mare, nor stallion could be the ruler that was needed. Because although they now would no longer be of their former tribe, they would still bring with them the values that had been ingrained into them sence childhood. The solution then became apparent that if I were to bestow the aspect of alicorn upon the twins and threw the guidance of the council be raised to become proper rulers, as alicorns, they would truly represent all tribes equally and be impartial to all. I felt hopeful that this would finally and permanently unite the tribes.

But As I also wished to be relieved of my burdensome profession, I created a caveat that they would be tasked, along with their responsibility as rulers of the budding kingdom, that they should be responsible for tending to the dawn and dusk, for which they unexpectedly to me, earned their cutie marks for. I thought also that if they were tied to tending to the sun and moon, it would keep them focused on their responsibilities to the newly formed kingdom.

However as time passed, I began to worry about whether or not I had made the correct decision in choosing the twins for the task, as they become hardened by the burden of their royal responsibilities in overseeing the ever increasing needs of a now thriving nation. As a result, I then set myself to the task of looking into the future to see how my decision would result in effecting future generations. In secret, I hollowed out the cavern and built the machinery that you saw in my, well, now ancient lab with my niece Prim.

With the help of the Elements I was able to create the proper conditions to transform Prim, and give her a new identity. At the time of that first solar eclipse, I brought her back and we analyzed the data collected. We found a few worrisome insistences, but also found that with age came wisdom for the girls. A long time coming for Celestia, but she had finally started listening to my council, even when I was no longer around, that the most important thing that one could achieve in life is the magic of friendship.

She saw in you the potential to learn and excel in that area. Your lessons are not only for you and your friends benefit, by the way, but also for the benefit of Celestia and Luna as well. It was because of you and your friends, the embodiments of the Elements that had shown me that I had made the correct decision. But more importantly to me, have shown the girls, my girls, to look beyond their duties of office and open their world to love, friendship, and perhaps one day a family of their own." This is what satisfied me to end the experiment all those years ago.

Star Swirl paused and from a pouch under his cloak, a book that seemed to big to have been put in it squeezed itself out. "By the by, I want you to have this, keep it safe for me. It's a history of Equestria from the data that Prim and I collected with my own personal perspective added.

This is one of a kind, you won't find any of this anywhere else." With a serious look and a raised brow he continued, "and for now that's exactly how I want it..." In a more relaxed voice he said, "please."

Twilight, after all that had been revealed to her since their first meeting in his lab had lost the ability to be surprised by anything he had to say. She also, for the first time in her life since foalhood lost the ability to speak. Choked up she finally said, "thank you for your trust in me. As for what you just said, I suppose that is comforting to know, in a way. But I have been curious about what you had said about Discord 'splintering' the spell used on Primrose, and about Derpy, and the Element Of Innocence? Also I know I've asked this before, but now having lived through all of this, I'm wondering if you have a more definitive answer. How come the Element Of Innocence was never found, and why doesn't anypony know about it now?"

Star Swirl gave her a look, and sighed. "It seems you will forever ask multiple questions in one breath. As for the anomalies I described, now that the spell has effectively ended, so to will the anomalies eventually end, I should think."

As Star Swirl answered her, the view pulled away from the trio, threw the Everfree Forest.

"As for Derpy she remains the embodiment of the Element Of Innocence, that will never change. But as I had once said, the Elements have their own temperaments."

The scene zoomed towards the Castle Of The Two Sisters.

"They tend to reveal their secrets when they are needed."

The scene dropped down into the cave where the Tree Of Harmony grew.

Inside Derpy was lying a few paces away from the tree. Her head resting on her forelegs crossed in front of her looking forlorn at the tree, with her eyes moist with tears.

"Well that and..."

The scene focused on the Tree Of Harmony, the Elements shining brightly on each of their branches and shaped like the cutie marks of their pony counterparts.

The Element of Magic shining in the conjunction of it's branches.

"Has anypony thought to look behind the tree?"

The view rotated around the tree, at the conjunction of the branches, glowed brightly, a brilliant multi-colored bespectacled white gemstone.

Zooming in, the gemstone changed to resemble the appearance of a soap bubble.