Remembrance (The Audio Drama)

by Nira Lightshine

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Flurry Heart, Alternate Universe, Main 6, Romance, Drama, Original Character, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 13678

What if Twilight has to face the Nightmare again? But without her friends?

Based on Argodaemons Remembrance. Also using Ashley H's audio Drama. Link to hers below. Have permission to do this as well.

Remembrance by Ashley H

Remembrance by Argodaemon

"Becoming a Alicorn wasn't the hard part. Its watching everypony you love die. Knowing you will never see them again."
For thirty years, these thoughts have haunted Twilight Sparkles mind. Thirty years to the day she lost the last of her friends.
Now, after coming across the Nightmare, a century after defeating it the first time. She comes to a realization with the help of the other princesses, if it gets a host. They cant stop it.
The elements of harmony, once bright beacons of light now lay dull, cracked and broken as she cant wield the last gift of her friends. A trip to Ponyville will lead Twilight back to the past. To help rediscover the elements.
But what if it's already too late?

Published 2018-11-26 12:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2019-01-28 20:58:03 UTC

Lost Part 1

Long ago, there lived six ponies. They were entrusted with the most sacred items in all of Equestria. They were called…the elements of Harmony.

The leader of the group, Twilight Sparkle. Was graced with the prominent title of the Princess of Friendship. Using the elements, they defeated many enemies in and out of this world. But as the hands of time slowly turned, so did the moments with her friends. Slowly, one by one. The elements faded, and plummeted Twilight back to where she began her journey. In solitude.

The princesses would worry about her, seeing her being driven deeper into heartbreak. Hoping that the elements would one day, be restored.

----Present Day----

As daylight would come into a dimly lit room, it would come across the face of a purple, what appeared to be a unicorn. But as the light hit her face, she groaned and would open her eyes sitting up as she stared around. Momentarily forgetting where she was, very briefly thinking she was back in her old castle in Ponyville.

But when she realized she was in her old room in Canterlot Castle. She would feel the wings on her sides, droop and her ears did too, "It's been thirty years. Why is this so hard still. Why is it so hard and painful to be able to let go or heal." She said.

And thus, as she had for the past thirty years. Princess Twilight Sparkle would begin her morning routine. Of brushing her hair, getting bathed. And finally as she went to her dresser, she would get out the last piece of her regalia. Her crown, not the one that held the element of magic in. But the custom crown that was made for her after they put the elements back into the tree of Harmony thirty years ago. The day that the last of them died, the day the last of the elements broke and cracked. The day the last of Twilight's friends died, and left her alone.

As she put it on her head, there was a soft knock on the door, which would open to show Princess Celestia

"Oh, good morning Celestia. How are you?" She asked, trying to look excited at the sight of her former teacher, but the smile she put on had been fake. And was obvious.

"Good morning Twilight. Did you have a restful night?" She would see the fake smile, and would give an inward sigh.

"O-Of course. All rested up for monsters and debates." She said nervously giggling to herself.

Celestia would give a slight giggle, "I'm glad. I came here to tell you that Cadance is coming to visit tomorrow. And we should prepare for her arrival. Cadance, somepony who'd they'd not seen in years had finally given into visiting Canterlot.

"Really! Woohoo!" She then caught herself before becoming too excited, "I mean very good. I will help in making the preparations."

A small pause of awkwardness would pass between them before Celestia spoke, a nervousness to her voice, "You know…Twilight. You shouldn’t keep things bottled up, you need to-" But she would be cut off.

"I wonder what's for breakfast. I hope its pancakes." Twilight said in a hurry, now almost galloping away from Celestia, who raised a hoof to try to get her back, and words failed her as she sighed.

Soft hoofsteps would come up to her from behind. And Celestia would turn around to see her sister, "Good morning my sister…what is the matter?" Luna asked as she looked around her seeing Twilights disappearing form go around a corner, but not in the direction of the dining hall, but toward the glass portrait room. 'Poor thing. Thirty years, and she still can't heal over her friends deaths.'

"It's nothing Luna, it's just I worry about her. She refuses to move on past this one event. It began with Shining Armors death." She said remembering the day the news spread about that event.

"I am too my sister. But this is a normal process of grieving." Though as she looked back at her, Luna had to agree with one thing. It was going on too long.

"Yes, but It's been thirty years. She should have already been able to move on." Celestia said as she even felt slightly cruel for saying that.

"Remember when I was trapped on the moon for one thousand winters? Did you end up forgetting about me and moving on then?" She said gently.

"Of course not my dear sister, how could I ever forget about you?" She asked, also even if she could? She still had the picture of her sisters face stuck to the moon to make it impossible.

"OF course I know. But what I'm trying to say is that Twilight is going through that exact same thing this very moment. She needs time, maybe more time than we would know." She said, and as she turned now. She and Celestia would go toward the dining hall. Luna knowing and Celestia not, that Twilight probably would not join them for breakfast.

---The stain glass hall---

Twilight would indeed not be going into the dining room. She made her way to the stain glass room that showed the adventures of her and her friends. She would go to the one that gave her pain, the one that had been the beginning of what she was now. A immortal alicorn, and she wasn't even given a choice in it. She was transformed into one, before even asking if she wanted to, or telling her what came with it besides a dramatic increase in her magical capabilities.

"Oh girls. I miss you so much, I don't know what I'm supposed to do without you all." She whispered tears in her eyes.

(Song: Memories)

As Twilight turned around and started to cry, she would sing.

'The walls aligned with glass and empty corridors! A familiar feeling of emptiness!'

She would now stand in front of the stained glass that held their defeat of nightmare moon.

As she remembered back to that day, where she stood up to who would become Princess Luna, she had failed to reignite the elements and was ready to admit defeat. But as her friends came up behind her. She felt the spark, not the spark she made with her magic, but the spark of the magic of friendship. And as the lasers hit the nightmare, her vision would go back to the room.

'I want to believe you’ll be by my side that you’ll remain but deep down, I know.'

Her thoughts wandering to the day that changed her life forever. The day she became a alicorn. The day that made her the immortal princess she was. Something she wished she could go back and prevent.

'The laughs we shared, the memories we made are like pictures I will never forget'

Her mind now as she looks upon the defeat of discord, plays back when Fluttershy did the impossible. And became friends with the Draconequus. And slowly over time, they would all start to think of Discord as a friend. That friendship was tested though when he had betrayed them to work with Tirek. Something Twilight was among the first to forgive, for the fact that he had seen the error of his ways, and the fact that he did everything he could over the course of the next year to make up for his mistakes. As she would turn away, a few tears flew away from her eyes, hitting the floor as they did. Coming to a window that made her smile just briefly.

'Even when your story ends, my thoughts will never fade'

And this picture would show Spike, riding the back of Cadance as they flew the Crystal Heart toward the pedestal meant for it. How he would not drop the fact he saved the Crystal Empire for years and years would bring a small smile to her lips

'All I want is to see you, you singing and encouraging words, and your random antics. That brought me peace.'

And just for the moment, as she stared ahead for a brief moment, she felt them again around her. Her friends all staring at her with caring and loving expressions, before that feeling disappeared and her ears would droop.

'I remember the time you threw a party just for me. The time you made me smile. The times you made me for awhile are the times I would remember most. They tell me to forget, that time will heal all wounds. But I can't forget, what was real. And what you meant to me.'

As she reached the high pitched parts of this song played out, she would think to the memories of when she first arrived and how annoyed she was at Pinkie throwing a party for her in the library. How she would give to have that again. Or when Rainbow and Applejack were too busy to outrace the other to realize they were beaten by everypony else. Or the night of the Grand Galloping Gala, the night that really cemented their friendship and their bond as they all laughed together and hung out at Doughnut Joes with Spike and Celestia.

"I wish I could hear your voice one more time to let me experience joy once more because you see I am a broken pony without you The laugh’s we shared the memories made are like pictures I will never forget Even when your story ends my thoughts will never fade All I want is to see you, you singing and encouraging worlds and your random antics because you see I am a broken pony."

As she finished the song, she sniffled and looked down. All this did was make her miss her friends more. But as she walked out of the room, she didn't know why. But she felt she needed to see the tree of harmony once more. TO see the gifts her friends left her, that she couldn't look at any longer as she failed them. And she would take off into the air, and fly toward the tree now.

---At the tree of Harmony---

Once Twilight had landed, she would walk into the mouth of the cave, still mesmerized by the beauty of the tree. She would see the broken and damaged fragments of the elements. She would walk up to the tree of harmony and put a hoof to it.

"Oh girls…I miss you so much. Please, I could use a sign of what to do." She said through tears, not seeing the fog that started to surround her and the tree, or the shadows taking form.

That was until she heard the laughter and turned around, laughter that had an eerie familiarity to the voices. And to her terror. She would see five familiar, but dark figures.

"Hello Twilight, long time no see." Said the figure that would look like Applejack.

Lost Part 2

Twilights eyes, once filled with tears, now would hold nothing but fear, shock and horror in them. After all, what stood in front of her were her best friends. Or what appeared to be her friends as she backed up against the tree now.

"W-Who are you?" She asked, eyes looking for a possible way to escape, body tensing as she shook her head, 'This isn't them. This isn't them!" She repeated in her head, yet the voices that would come out now, sounded too much like them for her liking.

Hehe, you don't remember us Twilight?" Said the shadowy form of Fluttershy.

"Aww come on Twilight." Said Shadow Pinkie Pie.

"Has it been that long?" Said Shadow Rarity.

"That you don't remember us." Said Shadow Applejack.

"Your nearest and dearest friends." And they all would cackle with laughter at this, moving ever closer to her.

Twilights eyes shifting between them as she wondered what could be causing this. Had she finally snapped and was just seeing things? Were these really her friends? Could they just be changelings? All these thoughts ran through her head as she shouted, "You are not my friends! You can't be because my friends ar-are-ar-." She could feel her heart break now over this as she felt her ears lower, 'They aren't coming back…they aren't ever coming back.'

"What dead? Of course they are! You’re the last one Twilight, the lonely Alicorn. Never to have her friends again by her side." Rainbow cackled as their forms started to tower over hers.

"Your wrong! I'm not alone! Now disappear before I make you leave!" Twilight shouted trying to stand taller to look more formidable as she was preparing a spell, her eyes looking back at the elements behind her.

"Oh Twilight, poor sweet innocent Twilight. How are you going to do that?" Fluttershy mocked as she appeared to be smirking widely at her.

"We know you can't use the elements anymore!" Mocked Applejack.

"Now why don’t you run off and cry to Princess Celestia. Because this? This is our domain, and you aren't welcome here." Rarity said, and as she said this, the fangs of the six of them would glint now.

Twilight would then cause an explosion of light that would hit the five shadowy figures of her 'friends'. But when the smoke cleared, Pinkie Pie would laugh, "Oh Twilight! You can't get away from us that easily!"

"Now why don’t you give us the elements so we can take our place in this world!" At these words the five of them would surround her in a circle with tendrils of black smoke grabbing at her legs. Which she blasted apart. 'I have no choice. I'm sorry Tree of Harmony." She thought as she grabbed the elements with her magic, and ran. She would hear the forms of her 'friends' running after her as she desperately ran out of there and once she was out of the mouth of the cave. She teleported away.

---Canterlot Castle---

Twilight sprinted hard into the castle the moment she arrived, holding the elements in her aura. Once she got to a guard that was close to the dining room, she'd tell him, "Take these to my study immediately! Don't stop for anything and wait there until I come." The guard would nod as he rushed off, his brown aura from his horn lighting up as he ran toward the study taking the decayed and broken elements with him.

And as soon as he left, she banged the door to the dining room open, Luna eating pancakes and Celestia stuffing her face with cake. Both looking shocked, and Celestia embarrassed, as Twilight said, "Celestia! Luna! Equestrias under attack!"

There would be a clatter of silverware as the two princesses would drop the forks or knives they were using to eat, as both stared at her wide-eyed. Both thinking, 'What could be causing this?'

---Canterlot Castle War Room---

A room that hadn't been used since the Pony/Gryphon war nearly three hundred years ago. Something that was kept up and tidied though in case it was needed as the three princesses would sit at their respective chairs, "Now tell us what happened." Celestia said calmly.

"I was visiting the tree of harmony, and then this black mist showed up. It went into the tree and turned it black, and these shadows appeared and…" She looked down tears flowing from her face, "They looked like my friends. Down to their very cutie marks. They had white eyes and sharp fangs. I grabbed the elements and escaped before it could destroy them. I didn't know what else to do."

"D-did you say these creatures looked like shadows?" Luna asked.

"Yes, and they knew everything about me."

"I think we know what you encountered Twilight." Celestia said seeming to stare at something for a moment before she came to the chair she always sat at. Her face darkened for just a moment as she did so.

"Then wh-what is it?" Twilight asked

"It's the virus that once infected me long ago." Luna announced

"V-virus? What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"It is called the Nightmare. It feeds on darkness and disappears. And it is the very creature that caused me to blind my judgment and become my worst fear. A creature hated by my subjects."

"Wait, this same creature turned you into Nightmare Moon?" Twilight asked.

"The very same, and if you encountered it. That means it's looking for a new host."

After a moments pause, Twilight asked, "Then does that mean my friends are now…" She couldn't bear the thought of the five friends she stood with now being corrupted by an evil creature such as this.

"No, of course not. It only took the shape of your friends to confuse and anger you. And I can see it did a pretty good job." Celestia stated

"The problem of the matter is. A darkness is approaching. More terrible then you would ever know." Luna said

"Then how do we defeat it?" Twilight asked.

"The only way to defeat it, is to use the elements once more. To bring together ponies who could use them with you." Celestia said.

"But…I can't wield them anymore not since they left. I haven't felt a connection to them since…Fluttershy passed." She said thinking of the last of her friends who had died.

"That is true sister. There has to be another way." Luna said.

"I'm sorry everypony. If I could just stop being useless. This problem would be solved." Twilight said as she laid her head on the table now.

"No Twilight, this isn't your fault. We will find another way to defeat it." Celestia said.

"She is right Twilight. There has to be another way to defeat the nightmare."

Author's Note

Not much to say about this. Sorry for the wait. And how short it is, I kind of ran out of time and will be busy for a few days. I had originally planned to write the rest of episode 1 out. But will do so next time.

Lost Part 3

---Hours Later---

-Twilights Library-

"Argh! There's nothing here! I've been searching for hours, and there's absolutely nothing here! Ugh!" Twilight growled to herself as she slammed her hoof on the table.

"Princess Twilight? Is that you?" Said a loud mare's voice as a pony came into view, looking a bit frustrated at the sudden disturbance, but brightening a bit when she saw who it was.

Twilight yelped out as she and the chair took a plummet to the ground, she would straighten herself and looked to see her student. A mare that went by the name of Galaxy Star. She would be a mare that had a lightish blue tinge to her fur, and purple and blue in her mane and tail, "Oh it's just you. What are you doing?" She asked sitting up on her haunches now.

"I was just looking at the latest volume of the Pinnacle Emotion. It's going to be on my next exam in a week. I have to study up." She said sitting down now as she looked at her teacher worriedly.

"Of course, I remember when I was a student just like you." She chuckled lightly.

Galaxy giggled, "That is so weird. Seeing how I am your student now Princess Twilight."

"Yes, that was a long time ago," Twilight said. Now getting up and walking toward the book she had taken down and put it onto a shelf nearby

"Anyway, what are you looking for princess. Maybe I can help you track it down?" She said smiling brightly as she began to look around at the bookshelves, momentarily forgetting that she didn't even know what her teacher was looking for.

"I-I don't think you should be involved in this." Twilight answered while, looking through a book on ancient elemental magic, but grunting when it literally meant, 'Elemental magic' as in fire, water, earth, and wind.

"Why? is it dangerous?" Galaxy asked as she moved closer to her teacher and took a book from the pile and wondering why she would be looking for things in ancient magic.

"Yes, and I don't want you to get hurt." She said, but thought, 'I can't lose another pony important to me. Not again, especially if I can stop it.' She would start to put the books away though resigned, maybe the Starswirl Wing in the Canterlot archives might have something?

"But this is what my studies are for. I want to help you, princess! Please let me!" Galaxy said, her ears down and a hoof to her chest, she would be ready to stand by Twilights side, all she needed to do was ask.

"I guess your right. But I can't endanger you any further. I'm sorry." Twilight said as she looked sadly at her student. She remembered her as the little filly she'd found crying in the hallway after a teacher had told her she shouldn't go to this school if she couldn't perform a simple spell.

"I understand princess. But if you ever need anypony to talk to. I'm always here." Galaxy said brightly, trying to brighten up the mood.

"Thanks, that…that really means a lot to me." Twilight said

"No problem! But I'm sure whatever the problem is. It can be fixed by the elements. I've read so much about them already. How they helped you save Equestria from monsters, villains and even Sirens. I remember one pony even said…" She would watch Twilight go toward a chest on the floor with a dark expression on her face as she lifted it with her magic, "What's wrong princess?"

"Nothing Galaxy…it's just…I can't use the elements anymore." She said starting to move the chest to Galaxy and opening the lid.

"Whhhhaattt? What do you mean you can't use the elements anymore? Aren't they the main reason for your kingdom. I mean being the princess of friendship and all." She realized then what she said and looked down, "Sorry, guess I'm not helping that much."

"No, it's fine. I know the elements are part of the reason for me becoming an alicorn. It's just…when my friends…left. So did the elements. See?" She said opening the lid completely before putting it on the ground.

Galaxy would stare into the chest excitedly, but instead of bright jewels like what the books showed, there were six broken what looked to be ornaments, cracks running all over them, "Wow…they look so…dull." Galaxy said as she looked on them sadly. Staring up at her teacher as she closed the chest again now and put it away.

"They didn't always used to be like that. They used to be bright beacons of light that gave hope and joy to everypony." She said meaning more about her friends then the elements, "Then one by one, each friend of mine left. So did the element. They became dark, dull and slowly cracked. I tried to use them, but they were useless. They are never coming back, and neither aren't the elements." Twilight said.

"I'm sorry Twilight, but I'm sure elements are completely gone though. Their probably buried deep deep down somewhere." Galaxy said heading toward the stairs now.

"I'm not too sure about that Gal," Twilight said with a hoof to her chin as she began to follow her, getting ready to head to the royal archives.

"Well, you never know princess. Now I have to go practice my teleportation. Because I keep ending up in Saddle Arabia. Hehe, maybe I should go buy a train ticket first. Just in case." Galaxy grinned while walking down the stairs.

---Hours later---

-Royal Archives, Starswirl Section-

A loud snoring noise could be heard as a purple alicorn could be found sleeping with a scroll attached to her horn, drool covering the book she was using as a pillow and the other scrolls as a blanket, it might be cute if it wasn't for the fact, she looked like this was the first bit of restful sleep she'd had in days most likely.

"Twilight? Where are you?" Called a soft voice.

The purple alicorn yelped out an answer as she was startled awake, "The answer is sixty-five!" She called out blearily, before blinking owlishly at her teacher, "Um I mean." She said starting to look through the scrolls again determinedly, trying to act like nothing was amiss.

"There you are Twilight!" She would look over her disheveled mane and tail, and the bags under her eyes, despite Twilights wide grin, Celestia had known her since she was a Filly, and knew the telltale signs of an all-night study session, "Have you been in the library all night?"

Twilight deflated a bit as she looked back at the pile of scrolls, deciding as she did so to start putting them away, they hadn't had the information she was looking for, "Ummm…maybeee?" She asked turning back to face her mentor, "I was just trying to find something to help us defeat the nightmare…but I have nothing."

"Well thank you for your dedication Twilight. But I think I found an answer to the problem." Celestia answered.

Twilights ears popped up excitedly, "Really! What is it?"

Celestia chuckled sadly, "Calm down. I know of a zebra…in Ponyville. That could help us with the problem."

Twilight gasped in pain as she looked at her hoof, was she really ready to face Ponyville again after so many years, "In pony…ville?" She choked out.

"Yes I know you don't like going there Twilight, but this maybe the only opportunity we have," Celestia said as they started to walk toward the exit.

"Of course, I understand. It's just hard. When do we leave?" Twilight asked.

"Oh Twilight, I wish I could go with you. But me and Luna have to prepare for Cadances visit today. I know this is difficult, but you have to go without us." Celestia said.

"Well if it's the only way. Yes, I'll leave immediately." She said.

Celestia would conjure a cloak then, "Here take this, so you won't be recognized."

Twilight would take the cloak and put it around her shoulders now, "Thank you, Celestia."

"One more thing Twilight. Since neither I or Luna can come with you. I've already asked Galaxy to join you. She is very excited to learn about where you live."

"Oh really? Oh, thank you, Celestia." She said as she would see Galaxy in the distance looking nervous as she waved at the two princesses.

"Of course Twilight. Now you better get going. The carriage leaves soon." Celestia said stopping now.

"I think I'm going to take the train. For old times sake." Twilight said walking on.

"I see. Good luck Twilight." Celestia said turning now as her former student and her student started to head to the train.

---Ponyville---

Twilight found herself in a place she promised herself she would never step in again. Not because it was below her station or anything. But because of the fact that it held way too many memories. Memories that stopped her heart with grief as she realized, she still wasn't ready for this. But as she and Galaxy stepped off the train. Her student would be almost skipping in excitement as she said, "Woah! This is so cool! I've read about Ponyville in books and you've told me about it. But we're here! Oooh, it's so exciting!" She squealed, "I mean. I'm sorry Princess."

Twilight chuckled reminding herself now of Pinkie Pie a bit as she said, "Yes it’s a bit exciting to be back here where I used to live. But while we are here. Can you call me just Twilight? It might look a bit suspicious if you called me Princess."

"Okay! You got it, prin-I mean Twilight." Galaxy would stop herself as they walked toward the center of town, "So are you going to give me the grand tour or what?"

Twilight nodded, "Well that's where I used to study for exams. And that over there is where the mayor used to live…and." That’s when she saw Carousel Boutique. Memories of her friends started to come to mind.

"Oh Darling, that dress is simply gorgeous." Rarity's voice came.

"Thanks so much for helping me Twilight. I couldn't have done it without you." Applejacks came next.

"Eee! Look at that over there." Pinkies voice.

"Oh, Twilight! Can you help me find new food for Angel." Fluttershy's voice.

"Hey Twilight. Think you can beat me in a race?" Rainbows voice.

"Twilight. Twilight! Twilight!!" These voices were coming louder and louder until one finally broke through to her, "TWILIGHT!" It was Galaxy starting to grow worried about how quiet she was, "Are you okay Twilight? You kind of spaced out there."

"Ya Gal. Let's just try to find that Zebra quickly." As they walked through the stalls, they'd see one occupied by a tan earth pony, "Excuse me. Do you know a Zebra who lives around here?" Twilight asked hopefully.

"A Zebra? The only Zebra that we have that lives around here is Zillia. But she lives in the Everfree Forest." He said stopping the cleaning of his stall.

"The Everfree Forest! Why the heck does she live there." Galaxy exclaimed.

"Beats me. A few of us have tried to convince her to move out of that shabby old shack and move into Ponyville. But she always says no. I guess it belonged to her mother." He said.

"You mean Zecora?" Another friend lost, she was a very trusted advisor for unusual things too. She had forgotten she'd had a daughter.

"I think that's her name. Now, are you going to buy something? Or ask twenty questions?" He said sounding annoyed.

"Thank you, you've been very helpful," Twilight said as they started to walk toward the forest.

"Sure kid. Whatever." He said going back to cleaning the stall.

As they walked ever closer to the Everfree Forest, Galaxy said with fear in her voice, "Please don't tell me this means what I think it means?"

Twilight gave a small smirk, "Yup, it means we have to go into the Everfree Forest." She also thought as they began to walk in, 'Just like how my first adventure against the Nightmare began. Entering the Everfree Forest after Celestia sent me to Ponyville to make friends."

---Sometime into the Everfree Forest---

"Ack! Something touched my hoof! Oh, it was just a vine. Ack! Something touched my other hoof. Oh, it was only a twig. Ack! Something touch-" She was interrupted.

"Galaxy! This is a forest. Things are going to touch you!" Twilight now pondered the wisdom of bringing somepony else with her for this.

"I know I know! I just don't do outdoors. Why do you think I'm studying magic in Canterlot? To get away from the woods!" She said still making sure there was nothing that was going to eat her following them.

"Well, you don't have to worry because we are here." She said pointing to an old hut in the middle of nowhere. And she knocked then, "Hello? Zillia?"

The door would open then, and a black furred and silver-maned Zebra would stick her head out, "Yes? Who are you?"

Twilight would shed the hood covering her head, "Hello Zillia. My name is Twilight Spar-" She would be interrupted.

"Yes, I know you, Ms. Sparkle. So the princess of friendship has come to find me. So it must be big." She said moving toward the middle of her hut to work on her dinner that night.

"How do you know me?" Twilight asked.

"My mother Zecora spoke of you quite fondly. I must say, it is an honor to meet you, Ms. Sparkle." Zillia said.

"I'm not sure it’s an honor. I'm just a normal old pony." Twilight said watching Zillia move over to a bookcase, "Anyway. We need your help, this creature called the Nightmare is threatening to destroy Equestria and we were wondering if-."

"Old, yes. Normal, no. I don't think there is an ounce of normality in you Ms. Sparkle. In fact." Suddenly a book would be thrown at Twilights head that barely missed her, a large book at that, "This is a book complications you have overcome. You are far from normal."

"Um, Zillia. That's great. Princess Celestia said-." Getting interrupted again by the Zebra mare.

"Yes yes, oooh my soup is ready!" She said acting like a filly instead of a mare as she trotted over to the soup.

"Xillia. We really need your help-" This interruption was the last straw for Twilight.

"Maybe I should head into Ponyville later and get some carrots. Yes, carrots sound good." She said.

"XILLIA! We really need your help with the nightmare!" Twilight shouted.

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you, Ms. Sparkle," Xillia said looking up now as she did so.

"But Princess Celestia said."

"I can't help you, Ms. Sparkle, because you can't wield the elements like that." She said gesturing to Twilight herself.

"Like what?" Twilight said weakly.

"Like that, the Elements can't be used now because you are like that!" She said having her own level of being cryptic that must run in her family.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand. How can I stop the nightmare!" Twilight said

"The problem is. You are asking the wrong question. Instead, you should be asking another." Xillia said coming out from behind the cauldron.

"I still don't know what that means."

"How about I put it another way," Xillia said sitting at the table near her.

---Song: Open up your heart----

As Xillia started to hum a tune to herself. Galaxy would start to bob her head side to side to the rhythm as Twilight glared at both of them her patience starting to wear thin.

"So you say that you are worthless, so you say your nothing more, then a poor princess, but let me say, that you are wrong!" She sang and pointed a hoof at Twilight.

"So you say that you're dried up! So you say that you've hit the floor and your broken and bruised but let me say, you'll walk away!"

"The savior of Equestria. Time and time again." As one of the scrolls activated, visions of Twilights conquest of Nightmare Moon would play out, 'To answer your question, there's just one thing you gotta do! You gotta dig a little deeper! Rediscover who you are! You gotta dig a little deeper! To save the elements! You have to find what you lost so long ago! Open your heart once more!" And as Xillia looked through the bookcase, she would suddenly start flinging books out Twilight using her wings to shield her and Galaxy Star as this happened.

"Um! Is this song really necessary!" She called out.

"The only way you can fix this! Is to go back to where it began!" Xillia sang while a scroll activated to show a globe and 5 familiar shadowy figures in it.

Twilight gasped at the sight of her friends for the fleeting second she saw them, "Wait! What!"

"Go back in time and find your friends once more! And you'll find yourself once more! Honesty, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness, Generous heart! These are the things you will need to create balance once more!" She sang, "You gotta dig a little deeper! Rediscover who you are! Dig a little deeper to save the elements! You have to find what you lost so long ago! Open your heart once more!" She sang as she held her hooves over her heart.

As Twilight stood again as the barrage of books finally stopped, she said, "Uh Xillia! How exactly do I go back in time."

"Ya isn't that like impossible," Galaxy asked, not aware of Twilights messing with the past before.

Xillia only giggled as she sang, "I have just the thing to get you where you need!" She said now holding a book in her hooves, "Repeat the story and start again! Then you'll dig a little deeper. Rediscover who you are, you'll dig a little deeper, to save the elements! You have to find what you lost so long ago. Open your heart once more." She then hoofed the book to Galaxy who barely caught it, "Here kid take this." She said, "Open your heart! Open your heart!"

Galaxy chimed in as well now, "Open your hearttttttt!" She opened an eye, to see Twilight staring at her as if saying, 'Don’t encourage her.' And she looked back, "What?"

"Onceeeee moreeeeeeeee!" Suddenly Twilight and Galaxy would find themselves being pushed out her door, "Now please go. I have many things left to do today."

Twilight said, "Wait but you didn-" She would have the door slammed in her face, "Ugh! Fine. That's the last time I ask for help from her. Let's go, Gal." As they were leaving, Galaxy started humming the song again, "Galaxy!"

"Whattttt! It's catchy!" She whined but stopped.

---Canterlot Throne Room---

Twilight had several hours of frustration to keep pent up in a small cabin on the train. And when she finally arrived in the throne room, she was ready to sleep but knew she needed to report to Luna and Celestia. So as she arrived in the throne room, she tried to put a smile on her muzzle.

"Welcome back Twilight, did you find Xillia?" She asked sensing something was wrong.

"Yes we did, but she wasn't very helpful." She said pulling the book out from under one of her wings.

"What do you mean?" Luna asked.

"She threw this and several other books at us. And then slammed the door in our faces." She said, "And we still don't know how to stop the nightmares."

"And that's all she said?" Celestia asked.

"She also said something about going back in time and finding myself," Twilight said.

"Let me see the book Twilight," Luna said as she and Celestia started to look through it.

"Actually, Xillia might have been onto something. This is a book of old spells Starswirl threw away in the middle of his studies." Celestia said.

"Woah you mean THE Starswirl?" Galaxy said hopping up to look at the book now before in her clumsiness, would trip.

Twilight rolled her eyes as she said, "But these spells are just from a dusty old book that probably won't even work. How can this help us?"

"I'm not sure. But I don't believe Xillia would have given this book to you Twilight unless there was a reason for it." Luna said.

"Maybe the spell isn't useless. But unfinished?" Galaxy suggested as she got back up.

"What do you mean unfinished?" Twilight said taking the book back now.

"Welllll, you became an Alicorn by finishing one of Starswirls spells. Maybe this is the same thing?" She said getting a grin on her face at her idea.

"Galaxy! You’re a genius!" Twilight said grinning, "Look, here's a spell that allows a pony to go back in time, but only for a short while. But what's missing?"

"Why not recite it? And see what happens?" Galaxy suggested.

"Um, I'd rather not. Seeing how last time I almost destroyed my friend's lives." She said, and began to work on the spell for the next few moments, "There! That should do it." She would begin to read the spell now out loud.

"When one heart is lost in the depths of time itself. One must go and set things right, by rediscovering the place in which they began." And as she was reading this her eyes began to glow brighter and brighter before. *BOOM!* As an explosion of light happened, Twilight would feel her body leave the area.

And as the smoke cleared, instead of seeing Twilight, Galaxy, Celestia and Luna only saw a smoldering spot on the carpet, "TWILIGHT!" They all shouted

Author's Note

Heres the entirity of episode 1 now. I'll start working on episode 2 after this.

Reunion Part 2

---Golden Oak Library---

Twilight couldn't believe what was sitting in front of her. It was her home for many years before Tirek had destroyed it…the Golden Oak Library. She'd forgotten, that going back in time, would bring this back as well.

"The Golden Oak Library! It's here!" Twilight proclaimed with joy, admiring the home for the first time in years with a gleeful grin on her face.

Spike and Fluttershy looked at her confused while Spike answered, "Uh ya. That’s what Princess Celestia said."

As they entered, Twilight saw the room was dark now, and she felt joy in her heart. It couldn't be could it? But as she went to turn on the lights, they turned on for her. And in front of her, were ponies…ponies long dead. Some of them were dear friends of hers, others she knew in passing. But the one who caught her eye though, was the Pink Pony bouncing around her now.

"Surprise! Are you surprised! Huh huh huh huh huh huh! I've never seen you before, and knew you were new to town! As I know everypony, and I mean everypony in Ponyville!" This would go on for a while, and Twilight smiled as she watched this. She missed Pinkie Pie so much, her sweet attitude made it hard not to smile. To the point it hurt now, and would end with, "And now you have lots and lots of friends." And with this, her friends would all come around and smile at her.

Twilight looked at them and felt a pang in her heart, her friends…they were really all here. She couldn't believe her eyes and felt tears come to them, "Friends…ya." She felt a hoof on her shoulder as she looked up at Applejacks worried eyes.

"You okay Sugarcube?" She asked

"Ya, I'm fine." She said backing up slightly, she wasn't used to physical attention like this now. Not since she had withdrawn from the world to save herself the heartache of losing more friends. It wasn't since she'd taken Galaxy as her student, she'd done such things.

"I know what can turn that frown upside down. A parttyyy!" Pinkie shouted out excitedly as confetti seemed to explode around her. Something even a century later Twilight hadn't figured out how Pinkie did without her party cannon.

"Ya that would be-" She stopped herself as she realized then, she couldn't change the timeline, 'Think Twilight, if you affect the past. It might affect the future. Like last time.' She then said out loud, "Actually I'm really tired. I think I'm going to get some shuteye." She said and felt a pang of guilt as she saw the disappointed looks on her friends faces.

"Of course, Darling. You have to rest up for the big celebration tomorrow." Rarity said, her smile a bit forced as she looked worried at Twilight.

She would start to walk toward the stairs muttering a bit distractedly, "Thanks." And would close the door to her old bedroom behind her, tears slipping down her face as she murmured, "I'm sorry my friends."

---Present Day Canterlot---

Galaxy would walk toward the library in Canterlot castle as she took careful steps, "Okay…sure! Let Galaxy watch over the elements! No pressure! Hahah-oof!" She said as she'd fall on her face.

As she tried to get back up, she heard two sets of hoof steps walking up to her as two royal guards would glare down at her as one would say, "Wow there she goes again. I don't understand what Princess Twilight sees in her." One snickered.

"Some prized pupil! She can't even walk straight." Both would laugh at her mockingly as they walked away.

Galaxy would slowly reach the library tears flowing down her face, as she muttered, "I'm not useless!" But once she reached the library, she would close the door behind her.

When she found the chest holding the elements, she would open it up and pick up the element of magic, voice breaking, "Why can't I be more like you?" She said hugging it to her chest for a moment.

---Song (Someday)---

--Present Canterlot--

Once Galaxy put the element back into the box, she would go to the glass now and stare out at Canterlot and subsequently Ponyville. And as she backed away feeling frustrated more than sad now, she'd glare downward.

'Good Job Galaxy you did it again! You messed up, and every pony turned and laughed at you! For being a clumsy, stupid fool, I'm not who they want!'

As she sang these words, the sadness in her voice would pitch though as she gave a sigh, her heart feeling hurt as this happened. But she would get up determined slowly and teleport back to the box of the elements. Seeing it gave her hope again, as if she could feel her mentor’s presence there.

'I dedicated my life to this! I try to always keep a constant smile. No matter what, challenges are ahead of me.'

She decided to reopen the box, as if to make sure the elements were still there. She thought for a moment she saw a shimmer of light from them, which brought hope to her heart a smile to her face as she teleported back to the center of the room.

"But now's my time to show them I'm useful. I'll raise up and save the day. No matter what they say! All the glares and expectations. I'll wash them all away. And prove to them I can be important someday! Someday! Someday! I'll be important someday! Someday! Someday!'

As Galaxy got the look of hope on her face. She would stare back at her reflection, instead of the despair on her face before, she saw hope. Which only made her smile brighter. Unknownst to her, Twilight in another time was looking up at the same night sky she was.

---Past Ponyville---

If Twilight had an inkling that her student was looking up at the sky, trying to find guidance. She might have wanted to be there for her. But all she could think was she was back with her friends, but not joining in on the party. Oh, how she wanted to hug them again and never let go, but she was afraid they'd turn out to just be ghosts…despite the bruises to her ribcage that Rainbow left again!

'They are here but are like shadows! Invisible! I can't believe this has happened, my wish granted. I will give everything I have to you. My friends I will not screw up, again. And treasure every precious moment I have with you before time runs out.'

She swore she could see an image of her friends now in front of her, looking like the day they first met, her heart soaring again, but also sinking knowing this was only temporary…but her mind refusing to allow her to think that.

(Galaxy/Twilight both singing from here out)

Twilight/Galaxy:
'I may not be the best. I may not be the best for you!'

Twilight:
'But I'll do whatever it takes.'

Galaxy:
I'll make a million mistakes.'

Twilight/Galaxy:
'To make the world safe and sound for you'

As both would step away from the window they were staring at, joy and excitement in their hearts as they would sing their hearts out now.

Twilight/Galaxy:
'Now's my time to start over again! I'll raise up to save the day, no matter what they say. All the tears and anticipation! I'll wash them all away. And prove to you I will be important today. I say! I say! I know I'll be useful today. I say! I say!'

As both felt the connection of something in their hearts. The music would die down within them too, and both would go back to the window to stare out. Hope realized.

---Hours later, Past Ponyville---

As ponies gathered for the raising of the sun. Twilight kept her eyes on the stage ignoring what was going on around her. And thus, was the only one not surprised that Celestia was not on stage when the curtain was pulled back.

But not even moments later, a familiar dark figure appeared on the stage, one she'd not seen in over a hundred years, Nightmare Moon, "Luna." Twilight whispered, ears down. She remembered the conversations she would have with Luna years later about this.

Nightmare moon would look down upon them imperiously, "Oh my beloved subjects, it's been so long since I saw all your sun loving faces." She said with a smirk.

"What the hay have you done with our princess!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she would fly toward her, but Applejack would grab her by the tail.

""Woahh Nelly!" She shouted muffledly.

"What am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" She asked.

"Oooh! More guessing games! How about hokey smoke, how about queen meanie, oooh black sooty! Black soo-mmph!" She said as Twilight shoved a cupcake in her mouth.

"Pinkie!" She warned with a glare as she stared back up at the Nightmare.

"Does my crown no longer count, now that I've been imprisoned for a thousand years. Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?" She said hovering above everypony.

Twilight spoke up without really thinking about it as she said, "I did. And I know who you are! Princess Luna!" She said, gasping a bit suddenly as she realized she said the wrong name this time.

Instead of being angry, Nightmare Moon would only laugh at her answer, "Hah, wrong. I'm no longer that pathetic mare. I am Nightmare Moon! Now face my eternal darkness!" She shouted as she disappeared into vapor.

While ponies were running around screaming, Twilight would give a roll of her eyes as she shouted over the noise, looking to her friends, "Follow me!" She said as she ran to the Golden Oak Library.

-Golden Oak Library-

As they gathered around the center table in the library, Fluttershy asked shaking a bit, "Oh no, what do we do?" She asked, the rest of them looking at Twilight.

"I have a pretty good idea." Rainbow Dash said glaring at Twilight with a suspicious look, "Hey Twilight…what's going on here."

"Rainbow's right, they appeared right after you showed up. So, start talking." Applejack said, staring her down as she said this.

"I can't explain everything right now, but we need to find the elements of harmony. They’re in the princesses old castle in the Everfree forest." She said before having Pinkie jump up in her face.

"And how do you know it’s in the castle? Huh? Huh? Huh?" She said staring directly into her eyes.

"Please listen to me, we need to find them before Nightmare Moon does." Twilight said backing up feeling nervous, before feeling a hoof on her shoulder.

"Well, alright. Something tells me we can trust you." Rarity said smiling at her while Twilight smiled back, a sense of relief washing over her.

"Same here, now let's get going." Rainbow Dash said,

Twilight though thought to herself, 'Why does this feel too easy?'

---Castle of the Royal Sisters---

After hours of going through the same trials they did before. Everything playing out the same way, Twilight making sure of it too. They would finally arrive at the pedestal holding the elements of harmony. All of them giving wows at the sight of them. And now as the orbs were brought down. Pinkie started to count them, "One, two, three, four…there's only five?" She said looking back at Twilight with worry.

"Where's the sixth?" Rainbow Dash asked settling down on the ground.

"I have to ignite the spark to bring out m-I mean the element." Twilight said, sure that her magic would be enough to do it.

"And what the hay does that mean?" Applejack said.

"Just…follow my lead." Twilight said as she would light up her horn to fire her magic at the orbs, convinced that's all it would take to do it, but nothing happened, "Aw come on! It went like last time! Why didn't it work!"

"Maybe we should give her some space?" Fluttershy suggested now.

"No, it's okay. I got this!" Twilight said getting ready to do it again. But as she fired her magic at them again, she would see nothing happen again, "Everything is like it was before. Why isn't it working!" She said.

"Are you sure?" Pinkie said coming next to her

"Yes…unless." She though was cut off when the orbs started to swirl into the air.

And as Nightmare Moon formed in front of them, she would have the elements in her magic, "Here's what I think of your precious elements!" She said, using her magic to shatter them against the floor. Twilight felt the hope leave her when this happened, "You little foal, thinking you can defeat me. Now you'll never see your princess or your sun! The night will last forever!"

"It's okay everyone. We can still use the elements!" Twilight shouted as she charged at Nightmare Moon.

"You’re kidding me, right?" She said and as she watched her get closer, she would blast Twilight with her magic sending her skidding across the floor.

"Twilight!" Her friends cried out helping her up, as they all looked up in fear at Nightmare Moon.

"I don't understand…why isn't it working. I did everything correct. Why am I so useless?" She said tears forming in her eyes.

"It's okay Twilight." Fluttershy said standing next to her.

"You’re not useless! You have us after all." Rarity said.

"That's right! We're still friends." Pinkie Pie said.

Something awoke inside of Twilight when she heard the word, 'friends'. A spark ignited in her heart, "Friends? That's it! That's what’s missing! I need you, I need to rely on you. My friends." She said as the element shards now started to float into the air on their own.

As the orbs started to gather around them, Twilight would say, "It's not just magic. There’s Generosity. Kindness. Honesty. Laughter and Loyalty that bring Harmony." She said as the orbs formed into the elements now. And as the elements fired the beat at Nightmare Moon again to defeat her.

And after they would wake up from a short rest on the floor, Twilight would feel glee in her heart. They did it! They restored the elements.

"Oh Rarity, its beautiful." Fluttershy said staring at the necklace on Rarity’s neck.

"I know!" She shouted playing with and wagging her tail excitedly.

"Not your tail…your necklace. It looks just like your cutie mark." Fluttershy pointed out.

The rest was lost to Twilight as she was happy with glee, "I did it! I mean we did it! We used the elements…maybe it's possible after all." But suddenly the elements would start to glow again, but instead of the rainbow light. It'd be a white light enveloping all, but none of her friends would seem to notice.

"What? What's happening?" She asked before her vision went white.

---Canterlot Castle present day---

As Celestia, Luna and Galaxy would be waiting in the throne room for Cadance to arrive, Galaxy was starting to get impatient, "Shouldn't she be here by now?" She asked, not wanting to let Twilight down by something happening to the elements. Needing to get back to them soon.

"Have patience Galaxy. She will be here in due time." Luna said also feeling a bit impatient.

"They did come all the way from the Crystal Empire." Celestia said.

"They?" Galaxy said as her brows furrowed, who else would be coming with Cadance?

"Yes, we found out she would be bringing a guest." Luna said. And as soon as these words left her mouth, the doors would open in front of them, a tall and slender figure would be there in the door…but it wasn't Cadance.

"Oh my, Celestia. You've really let this place go." Said Discord.

"Discord?" Celestia asked hesitantly.

"Wait? You mean the bringer of chaos who was a statue in the castle courtyard? That discord? Princess Twilight told me about you." Galaxy said.

"Oh? And what else has Princess Twilight told you about me?" HE asked teleporting to Galaxy bent over backwards to look her in the eye, while she glared at him defensively. As he appeared with Twilights wings, mane and tail on his body now.

"That-." She would be cut off though by Luna and Discord picking her up in a hug.

"That's enough Discord, why are you here?" She asked, while Galaxy had a look of shock on her face.

"Oh, you are no fun Luna, I'm just here visit my old friend Celestia and dear old Gal." He said.

"I just met you!" Galaxy said muffledly and then tried to start biting Discord to make him drop her.

"I know, I know! It does feel that way doesn't it!" He said not even noticing her trying to bite him.

"Discord! Release Galaxy and tell us what you are doing here." Celestia demanded.

"Fine! Fine!" He said dropping Galaxy to the ground who grunted in annoyance and walked away from him and to the side, "No reason to get so worked up. But honestly. I'm just here to get in touch with some old pals. You know like the good ol' days." He said innocently.

"And it wouldn't have anything to do with Cadance coming for a visit?" Luna said suspiciously.

"Goodness no! It's not my fault you forgot my invitation to this little shindig your having." He said.

"But we didn't invite you!" Galaxy shouted.

"Of course, you did. And you’re lucky, that I arrived in time in such a short notice. Now I'll take the room on the top floor please. Galaxy take my bags will you." He said snapping his fingers and a bunch of luggage fell on Galaxy.

"Ahhhhh!" She shouted being buried in luggage now.

Suddenly the door would open again, this time showing two mares. Celestia breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out not to be more uninvited guests, "Ahh. Welcome, it's so wonderful for you to come for a visit." Both mares would come into the light now, one looking irritated she was there. And one, who just looked glad to be here, "Cadance…and Flurry Heart." Celestia said.

One mare United,
The other is left behind.
Can the one that is alone,
Heal a heart of stone?

Author's Note

Finally got a day or two off of work to work on this sorry for the wait.

Heart of Stone Part 1

Once Cadance and Flurry Heart had walked into the room completely, Celestia came forward to hug Cadance, but she would back away from her, Celestia, keeping her emotions in check would say, "Thank you for coming such a long way you two. It's always so wonderful to see…some familiar faces."

Cadance though would give a sigh as she turned away from them, her annoyance prevalent in her voice as she said, "Likewise, I take it our room is through here?" She said already walking toward the direction, she after all knew where the room was. It was the same one she used to share with her…with him.

Luna answered as she came forward, "Of course, follow me." Luna would guide her out of the room now.

Galaxy stared after Cadance thinking to herself, 'Is this really the fabled foal sitter that Princess Twilight told me about? The one who rarely got angry?' She would stare after her for a moment before saying, "What's got her so annoyed?"

"Oh…sorry about my mom. She doesn't do well around strangers. My name is Flurry Heart by the way. It's nice to meet you…you?" She would trail off.

"Oh right, Galaxy…Galaxy Star. It's nice to meet you princess." Galaxy answered.

"Do you know where Twilight is? I told my mother to keep my arrival a secret so I could jump out and surprise her." Flurry Heart said.

"I'm very sorry Flurry Heart. I'm afraid Twilight has been called out on an important mission and won't be back for some time." Celestia answered

Flurry Heart would have a sad expression on her face as she said softly, "Oh…well that’s okay. I know being the princess of friendship is a full-time job. I guess I should have made it known I was coming." She answered

"Well I might not be Princess Twilight, but I can show you around if you like. I know this castle like the back of my hoof." Galaxy offered and Flurry would fall into step beside her.

"I would love that, thanks Galaxy!" She said excitedly as her wings shuffled while they wandered off together.

Meanwhile though Celestia would stare after them with a saddened expression on her face, before Discord popped up next to her, "What's with the long face Celestia? Are you worried about Cadance?"

Celestia sighed, "Yes, I'm not sure if this visit will help her in anyway."

Discord laughed, somewhat sounding like his old self as he said, "It is a tricky situation you put yourself in, but it's not something I'd get myself involved in. Toot aloo!" He said snapping his fingers as him and his luggage disappeared. Leaving Celestia alone with her thoughts.

---A few hours later---

Flurry Heart would go to her mother’s door and knock on it a few times, "Mom, it's me. Please let me in." She would see a glow around the door handle and the door would pull open. Leading to a dark room, her mother on the bed turned away from her, "Mom, you should have said something down there. Like 'hello'."

"Why? Would that have made any difference?" Cadance snapped at her.

Flurry used to her mother’s short temper nowadays, would push on saying to her, "I don't know, it might have been the nice thing to do." She instantly knew this was the wrong thing to say as her mother shot a glare at her.

"Nice thing to do? What's the point of that?" She said.

"Yes. Now, why don't we open these curtains to let some light in." She said, but as soon as she opened the curtains. Cadance would force them shut.

"I liked them the way they were." She said turned away from her again.

"Oh…okay. Here let me help you unpack." She said as she would start to go through her mother’s saddlebags. But as soon as she opened them…she saw something in the flap. Her dad's old crest he wore on his wedding day, "Mom?" She said taking out as she held it up, "Maybe…this visit is a blessing in disguise."

Cadance who was turning around to get her stuff out of the saddlebags, would say, "What do you mea-What are you doing! Don’t touch that!" She shouted as she ripped the crest away holding it protectively in her wing.

Flurry, never having seen her mother this angry gasped in fright, "I'm-I'm sorry. It's just that!" She stuttered unsure of what to say.

"I told you never to touch this. It's priceless and you know it!" She shouted as she backed away putting it back in the saddlebags.

"I know mom. I'm sorry." Flurry said as she watched the crest go back in the bag.

"Why are we even here? There isn't any event. And it's just wasting my time training the noobies." Cadance said as she started to walk away now, pulling out an old picture now too.

"Well…maybe you should get out and talk to other ponies…like Celestia and Luna. They care about you. Dad wouldn't want you to be this way. Everypony wants you to go back to the way you were before." Flurry said following her mother

"And what does that matter if I talk to them! It's not going to change anything! This whole visit is a therapy treatment." She says flinging the picture now, one of Flurry Heart when she was still a young foal, Cadance and Shining Armor together, "Nothing else matters because he is still…gone. Shining is dead. And I have stay, stuck here. I wish Celestia had never made me into an Alicorn." She said tears flowing down her face.

"I know your hurting but shutting yourself out like this won't change the fact that…that dad isn't with us anymore. He would want us to live our lives to the fullest and step out into the light. Not just hang out in the darkness." Flurry said coming closer to her mother now

"Light? What light? Everything is still turned off the way it was before. I've lost the ability to smile. I don't even remember what it was like. Being happy." Cadance started to sob now.

"Well maybe it's time to finally talk about it. You can talk to me mom. I care about you. Please…let me into your heart." She said, but then the hard look her mother always had on her face was back.

"You should go to bed." She said.

"But mo-." Flurry said heart sinking, they were finally talking!

"Please…just go to bed." Cadance said. Turning away now.

---Song: With you---

As Cadance started to get ready for bed herself, she would start to pull her armor off. Her eyes closed and refusing to look back at the door, she'd just watched her heartbroken daughter leave through, 'Flurry it's for your own good I'm doing this.' She thought.

'I walked in your room this morning. I don't know why, I don't know why. Our daughter walked by to say hello.' She would think back to this morning when she'd in one of her happier moments, would walk toward the direction of the castle she and Shining would share a bed in. And she thought, for once she was ready to do so, but as soon as Flurry had walked by, she started to cry, "I started to cry, I started to cry. Everyplace we ever walked. Everyplace we talked, I miss you. You never leave my mind. So much of you is left behind." She sang as she took her helmet off, looking at it, as she put it on the ponyquin. Along with the body armor.

Her mind would flash back to memories of her time with Shining, to the day of Twilights coronation, 'You took my days with you.' To the day they started ruling the crystal empire together, 'You took my nights with you.' To many others.

'Those unfinished conversations. We used to have. Stills peak to me.' Her memories play now to letters to this day she would attempt to write, just to give her some peace of mind, "And I write you letter's every day. That I'll never send. And you'll never see.' She would never finish them though or even start and just crumple the paper up, 'All this wishful thinking. Gets me nowhere I can't stay. Though is my heart is broken. It keeps breaking every day.' She would look down at the ground lost in thoughts again of various memories again she would either be told about or seen herself.

'You took my hopes with you! You took my dreams with you!' She was almost shouting as she sang. Thinking back to their wedding, to them saving the day and to their first kiss as husband and wife…to the days following their daughter’s birth.

As she walked toward the balcony of her room now, she would start to sing, 'I keep thinking that you'll be calling!" She stomped her hooves a few times in aggravation as she walked closer to the door, 'Everypony says that it's all in my head. And I can't accept it yet. I'm not ready to just give in!' She would open the doors and step out, feeling the wind in her mane, "I know that I can't live in this pain. With these feelings of regret! I can't comprehend this. And pretend that I don't care. Any place I wanna be. I wanna see you there.'

She would finish looking up into the sky, feeling tears flow down her face, "You took my life with you. Took my world with you." She whimpered softly as she laid down now crying into her legs, the picture she'd broken earlier floating over to her as she for the first time in years cried openly, but nopony was there to see it, or comfort her.

Author's Note

Two updates in one day? What kind of insanity is this?

Reunion Part 1

"Okay! So…what just happened!" Galaxy exclaimed, looking down at the spot where her mentor once stood, and now there was a blackened and charred spot on the rug where she was. And the book was there too. But Twilight was gone.

"She must have completed the spell from Starswirls book," Celestia said, looking at Galaxy, while Luna looked at both frowning a bit.

"Awesome…great…perfect. So how do we get her back!" Galaxy said picking the book up with her magic as she did so.

"Galaxy, you need to relax. There's nothing we can do for her here." Luna said putting a hoof on her shoulder to get her to calm down.

"Luna's rights. I'm sure Twilight is fine on her own. We should continue to do our duties until she is back." Celestia said, before adding, "And Galaxy, since Twilight isn't here. I want you to guard the elements in her absence."

"W-w-w-wa-wait! You want me to do what! I can't watch over the most important elements in all of Equestria. Do you know how many times I've fallen on my face today?' Galaxy, after all, was clumsy. And she knew it, but the other princesses tended to ignore it to not hurt her feelings.

"Yes, you can Galaxy! You have been studying with Twilight for this reason. She believes in you and so do we." Luna assured her.

"If you really think that way then…" Galaxy would put her hoof up in a salute. "I will accept this duty princesses." She said proudly.

Both Luna and Celestia giggled at her excitement before Celestia said, "We shall put our trust in you then. Now me and Luna have to finish preparations for Cadance today. The Elements are in the Library." She said as she and Luna walked out.

Galaxy would look down with trepidation in her voice as the princesses left, "Greattttt…" She would then walk toward Twilights library to study for her next exam and keep the elements close by at the same time.

---Ponyville---

Twilight would hear birds chirping and animals making noises, "That's weird, why…oh. Ahhhhhh!" She screamed as she started to fall. She was above the trees in a place she thought that looked familiar, but as she tried to flap her wings…she wouldn't feel them there. And as the branches hit her on the way down, she yelped and groaned out in pain. And then hit the ground, "Owwwwww! Wait, my wings! Where have they-" She was cut off by a voice she'd not heard in years.

"Twilight! Oh, there you are Twilight! What are you doing out in the middle of nowhere?" Asked Spike, who was so much smaller then she had last seen him.

"Huh! Spike! Your so-tiny!" She squealed at how cute he looked.

"Uh ya Twilight. Maybe because I'm a baby dragon. Did you lose some brain cells when you disappeared?" He asked looking concerned.

"Disappeared?" Twilight inquired, wondering why he was so tiny and thought something was starting to feel off about the situation.

"Ya, we were going around checking on the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And you disappeared." He said pulling out a parchment as he did so.

"The Summer Sun Celebration? That doesn't make any sense. I have to go find Princess Luna. She'll know what's going on." She said getting up and starting to walk in a random direction. Something still felt familiar about this place to her.

"Um, who is that?" Spike asked as he stared at her.

"What do you mean who is that? She is Celestia's sister. The one who helped me get here! Wherever here is." Twilight said whirling around to look at Spike with a slight twitch in her eye.

"Righttttt? But Princess Celestia doesn't have a sister. And when have you started calling her Celestia." He said.

"Spike, how can you not." She gasped. "The mare in the moon." She whispered.

Spike sighed, "Ya, you keep talking about how Nightmare Moon will take revenge at the Celebration tomorrow. But don't you think if it was that big of a deal Princess Celestia would have done something to stop it?"

"N-no. It can't be. It's impossible. It's theoretically improbable." Twilight muttered to herself. As more and more clues started to come together in her head.

"Uhhh, Twilight. Are you going to stop whispering to yourself so we can move onto the checklist? Next up is checking the food at Sweet Apple Acres." Spike said.

That clicked in her head, the final piece of the puzzle, "Sweet Appl- Applejack!" She practically screamed as she ran off, desperate hope in her heart…were her friends here and alive?

---Sweet Apple Acres---

As Twilight panted and arrived at the front gate, she would see an orange earth pony mare with a blonde mane and tail and a brown Stetson hat being worn on her head as she prepared food, and the family reunion about to start too.

Twilight stopped and felt tears in her eyes, 'It really is her. Oh my Celestia…it is Applejack.' She thought as she would come up. And as her hoofsteps got closer, and curious green eyes met hers. A bright smile appeared on Applejacks face.

"Well howdy. What can I do ya for?" She said brightly to her.

What she was probably not expecting is the sudden shooting forward. mare and the hug she would receive, "Applejack! It's you! It's really you! I can't believe it." She said hugging her friend, one she'd not seen in over thirty years now.

"Uhhh, it's nice to meet ya too. Aren't you here to sample the food for the Summer Sun Celebration?" Applejack said pulling away.

"What? No! I'm here to bring back the elements of harmony." Twilight said while Spike facepalmed which caused Twilight to glare at him.

"The Elements of whoeey whatey? I'm sorry Sugarcube. I've never met you before, and I don't know anything about any Elements of Har-Mo-Ney. Now, how about you taste some of the food?" She asked.

"Yes! Please!" Spike shot forward eagerly.

---Near Ponyville Square---

As they walked back into Ponyville. Twilight would give a soft groan, "I ate too much pie." She grumbled quietly to herself. She really needed to get better control of herself, but gosh darn it! The Apple Family pies were always soo good! But as these thoughts came to her, she would think about why she was here.

'That was weird. First Spike didn't know who Luna was. And Applejacks alive, but didn't know me…it's almost like.' She stopped with the sudden realization, 'I went back in time.' She then turned and grabbed Spike, "Spike!! What am I the princess of!"

"Uh, I hate to break it to you Twilight. You aren't a princess. You aren't even an Alicorn." He said and then was dropped.

"Oh my Celestia! I did it! I really am back in time!" She shouted and pranced a bit in place in joy and then stopped, "Wait…now what do I do?" She thought to herself, 'Do I go and revisit my friends…or try to get the elements now?' She thought to herself, almost drowning out Spikes next words.

"Ugh, these clouds really need to be cleared. I heard a pony called Rainbow Dash is supposed to do that!" Suddenly something hit Twilight in the side. And just like the first time, she ended up in the mud with a Cyan furred and Rainbow Colored mare on top of her.

"Uh oops! Excuse me. Let me help you with that!" Rainbow Dash said quickly zipping away.

Twilight though remembering what happened last time was quickly getting up and was preparing a spell. But as Rainbow flew overhead with a cloud full of rain, she shouted, "Wa-wait Rainbow don't!" But too late. She was now drenched in rainwater and glared up at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow saw her wet and drowned mare look and laughed loudly at this, "Wait, let me try this!" She shouted as she started to fly around Twilight sucking the water out.

But all it did was what it did the first, a frazzled mane and a guffawing pair of a pegasus and baby dragon. Who she glared at both for their laughter, "Rainbow! I need you to listen to me!" She shouted, realizing too late she said her name without having been given it.

But thankfully Rainbow just used it to stroke her ego, "Woah! You know my name. Am I that famous already?" She asked jumping up and giving a proud stance.

'Shoot! Think Twilight. What do I tell her? This is where we meet. I can't tell her about the Elements.' She thought and then said, "I uh, just heard you were supposed to be keeping the sky clear."

"Oh that. That'll be easyyyyyy!" Rainbow got up into the air.

Twilight thinking of the chance she was being given, would give a playful smirk before turning away, "Ah okay. We should move onto-" But she was cut off.

"Wait? Aren't you going to ask me how I'm going to do it." Rainbow asked.

"No, I think I'm okay. Goodbye." Twilight said starting to walk away.

"You don't think I can do it, do you? Well, I'll have you know. I can clear this sky in ten seconds flat." But all she got was silence as Twilight stopped and turned her head to give her an eyebrow raise, "That’s it! You asked for it!" Rainbow shouted as she dashed into the air, to do exactly what she said she'd do. But as she turned around. Spike and Twilight were gone.

"Huh, that Twilight is a weird pony." She said shrugging and flying off to practice for the Wonderbolts more.

---At Town Hall---

"Now if I remember correctly, the next thing on the list should be." She was interrupted though by Spike.

"So beautiful," Spike said as he floated in the air with his tail. To think in a few years, he wouldn't need his tail for such a thing.

"Yes Spike, the decorations are beautiful. But we are looking for-." She was interrupted again by him."No. Not the decorations…herrrr." He said as he floated closer to the object of his affection, while Twilight gave a roll of her eyes, before stopping as she saw her friend Rarity, she forgot just truly how much that coat glimmered in the light.

"No! NO! NOOOO! Oooh yes!" Rarity would say as she would find the perfect ribbon, "Ribbons do give the perfect personal touch." She said.

"Rarity!" Twilight shouted, her eyes alight with joy as she rushed up to her.

Rarity frowned in confusion as she saw a pony come up to her, one she didn't know. But knew her, "Oh hello yo-oh my stars! Darling! Whatever happened to your mane!" She shouted as she started to play with the mane trying to see how to fix it.

Twilight giggled at this, same old Rarity. Too busy to try to fix someone else's hair, "My name is Twilight Sparkle. And sorry about that. We're here to uh…uhh." She couldn't remember now, why was her mind failing her on this one thing!

"Check on the decorations?" Spike chimed in, raising an eyebrow at this.

"Yes! Check on the decorations. Nothing else! Just the decorations." She laughed embarrassingly as she tried to shrug this off as if it was nothing.

"Righttttt. Well, we can't let you go out there with that mane do. Not..hmmhmm, that it's not lovely of course. Come, we have a lot of touching up to do." She said pulling Twilight with her, but Twilight wouldn't resist. What she would have found annoying the first time…she would do this all again just to have these beginning moments with her friends…even Rainbow Dash's.

So as she stood on a stand, waiting for Rarity to finish up what she was doing. Twilight smiled letting her hair be curled and played with, she would smile with joy. She missed these days, and as she and Spike walked out. She sniffed a bit, knowing she wouldn't have time with them. But would have to cherish what time she had, "Twilight are you okay? You've been acting really strange today." Spike asked as they started to head toward what sounded like singing birds.

"NO of course not! Your acting crazy Spike. Now come on, let's go see how Flutter- I mean how the music is getting up to."

As they walked along the path, heading toward Fluttershy's cabin, the singing birds would get louder. Until suddenly they came across a canary yellow and pink colored pegasus pony singing with her birds, "Wow that sounds amazing!" Twilight shouted. Which scared the birds and the Pegasus, "Ooh! Sorry, I probably scared you. My name is Twilight Sparkle."

The pegasus squeaked her name, though Twilight knew it to be Fluttershy. Though as Spike came out, Twilight was again bowled over by Fluttershy charging to see Spike, "A baby dragon! Oooh, I've never seen a baby dragon before! It's so incredibly wonderful. I don't even know what to say!" She said wings flapping happily.

"Hi, I'm Spike!" He said as Twilight got back up but unlike the previous time. She wouldn't be trying to escape Fluttershy and just started walking as Spike and Fluttershy followed talking.

"Hi Spike. I'm Fluttershy!" She said flying behind them excitedly

Author's Note

Here is part 1 of Reunion. I'll probably make this just 2 parts. The final chapter of each part except the first one will have something that popped up at the end of each episode too.