Different Events

“Hey! Hey, wake up! Are you even listening!?”

Spike, lying on his back, was roughly shaken awake by two hooves. Slowly creaking his eyes open, he was greeted with Rainbow Dash towering directly over him.

“You okay?” she inquired, cocking her head. “You kinda just collapsed after the door shut.”

Sitting up, Spike reoriented himself with the porch and glanced to the door.

“Guess Twilight’s sister is a little protective, huh?” Dash asked, making Spike snap his head back to her.

“Wha– Sister!?” He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her snout-to-snout. “That’s not her sister, Rainbow; that’s the mare who tried to kill you!”

The filly’s eyes sprung wide open as her whole body sunk. “W-wait, y-you mean she’s the one who trapped me in that crystal in Cloudsdale!?”

Spike nodded rapidly. “Uh-huh! And now she’s somehow Twilight’s tutor!”

“WHAT!? You’re not gonna get away with this, evil mare! You hear!?” Rainbow yelled, buzzing her wings as she jumped into the air, pulling back and bolting for the door.

Spike quickly grabbed hold of her tail and yanked it.

“*YIPE!* WHOA!” the filly shrieked as she sprung back, butt-slamming Spike in the face and sending both tumbling off the porch and into a bush.

Dash sat up and shook her head, blinking.

“Rhbh, cn yh gih–”

“EEP!” she squeaked, tensing up as she shot into the air. “Ha– woo!” she nervously giggled, seeing Spike spit both a strand of red and green hair out of his mouth. “G-Gee whiz, buddy, I k-know I’m the future greatest Wonderbolt and all, b-but you don’t need to go brown-nosing me!” she said defensively, shuddering a bit.

“Hey, for your information, I was too busy being forced to taste the rainbow in your tail!” Spike groaned, getting back up.

Dash smirked. “Bet it tastes like raw awesomeness!” she boasted, crossing her forelegs.

“Rainbow, we need to focus here! We’re dealing with the most powerful unicorn alive! We can’t just run in and fight her; she could pop our heads like balloons in two seconds flat! We’d be nothing but pony and dragon confetti!”

Dash gulped and slunk down a little. “R-right… You better call the shots then. I-I’d rather not be some filly’s party decorations...”

“We need to find out where my Twilight is and tell her what happened. You can fly; scan over the streets and look for her. I’ll check around near the ice cream shop. We’ll meet back there at three o’ clock if we don’t find her.”

Dash nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” She puffed out her chest “You can count on me– ...Uh, what’s your name, by the way?”

“Spike.”

“You can count on me, Spike!” she exclaimed while saluting, before dashing off into the skies.

Gulping and taking a deep breath, Spike ran forth.

The clacking of gold shoes on marble echoed loudly through the entire throne room. In the center, a small percussion of soft thumps joined them, as Twilight nervously tapped her hoof against the carpet.

The young alicorn watched as Celestia paced back and forth, examining a stack of notes, all of which detailed key moments in Twilight’s life story – especially those along her friendship journey.

Finally stopping and taking a sip of her tea, Celestia turned to face Twilight.

“I will admit, these are quite fantastical tales,” she spoke, in a highly neutral tone.

Twilight's ears flopped against her head. "You don't believe me, do you?" She looked down, sighing. "Am I allowed to pick where I’ll be put in the gardens?"

“Twilight, please, I only find your story unusual,” Celestia sternly clarified, taking another sip of tea. “And I’m quite interested in hearing more.”

Twilight tilted her head up and raised an eyebrow. “More? W-what do you even want me to tell you about?”

“Tell me a bit more about my sister,” she said, sitting down on the floor in front of Twilight. “What has she been like as a friend?”

“Well…” Twilight began, avoiding eye contact. “When I first met her, it was right after she had changed back from Nightmare Moon, and she was pretty quiet during the celebration. I didn’t really get to know her until she attended our Nightmare Night party in Ponyville a few months later. When she first showed up, things...didn’t quite go so well. She kept terrifying everypony with the Royal Canterlot Voice, all the foals thought she would eat them alive – even while she saved one colt from drowning, and she tried to entertain us by turning a bowl of plush spiders into an army of real ones…”

Twilight weakly smiled. “But eventually she figured out how to play along with all the scary festivities – even the colt who thought she was gonna gobble up his backside couldn’t wait to see her again next year! Besides that, she actually went out of her way to approach three of my friends’ little sisters in their dreams, helping them overcome some of their deepest fears! She even needed our help – plus a shared dream with the whole town – to forgive herself and overcome the guilt she felt from being Nightmare Moon.

Taking a pause in her speech, Twilight finally looked backto Celestia’s face.

The mare bore a soft smile, all while tears filled her eyes, ready to trickle down her cheeks.

“A– Are you alright?” Twilight asked, her eyebrows dipping.

Celestia nodded and took a deep breath. “I am, Twilight, I am…” She levitated a handkerchief out of a pocket in the back of her breastplate, and began dabbing away the tears. “It’s just that...you don’t know how long it’s been since I've heard somepony talk about the Princess Luna I knew…”

The little alicorn raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because if I’m right, based on when she came back, it’s been about nine hundred eighty nine years, eleven months, twelve–”

“Twilight,” Celestia interrupted. “I know how long the spell lasts.”

“Oh, right,” she replied with a nervous chuckle, averting her gaze.

Celestia stood up and took a step forward, resting her hoof on Twilight’s shoulders. “You gave me something that my heart has been waiting an eternity for: hope that Luna will be alright. I may still have ten years until I can see her face again, but I know now that her rescue is in good hooves with you, Twilight.”

The younger alicorn's eyes widened. “D– does this mean–”

“Yes, Twilight. If Luna trusts you, I trust you.”

“Thank you Princess!” Twilight cried out, wrapping a tear-filled hug around one of Celestia’s forelegs. The elder mare embraced Twilight with her other leg, smiling gently.

Once she let go, Twilight took a step back and recomposed herself. “So, erm, about this horn ring and my cuffs…”

“I will have the guards unlock them on the way to your house,” she stated, stepping towards the door of the throne room.

“My house?” Twilight questioned, trotting after her. “I-if you mean my parent’s house...don’t you think that’s a little risky for the timeline to speak with my younger self directly? A-at least, not until she’s done some crazy magical feat?”

“That damage has already been done, Twilight. What I fear is the ongoing damage I have caused by making Starlight Glimmer your tutor.”

Twilight’s hooves clacked to a halt.

Celestia paused and turned around, furrowing her eyebrows. “Twilight? Are you alright?”

The young mare’s left eye simply twitched. “YOU DID WHAT!?”

“Twilight!” a half-squeaky, half-scratchy voice called out.

Twilight– who was quickly marching alongside Celestia and a couple platoons of guards – glanced up and witnessed a blue and rainbow ball barreling straight towards her. Ducking, the airborn intrusion sailed right over her head, knocking over three guards like bowling pins.

A dazed Rainbow Dash popped her head out of the pony-pile and looked around.

“YEAH! STRIKE!” she boasted, swinging her forehoof in a hook.

Suddenly, a ring of spear tips were at her neck. “FREEZE, FILLY!” a guard shouted.

Rainbow immediately did, nervously glancing around as she gulped. “W-whoops…” she squeaked while leaning back, only to give a small “Yipe!” as the back of her neck pricked one of the spear tips.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight gasped, running over to the filly. The guards stood down, and the young alicorn wrapped her future friend in a tight hug.

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” she cried, still holding tight.

“Uh, thanks?” Rainbow said in confusion. “You don’t have to get all sappy about it though.”

Twilight quickly pulled out of the hug. “S-sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it; I was actually looking for–” Rainbow glanced past Twilight. “Princess Celestia?”

She gave a nod, smiling.

Rainbow shook her head and pressed her hooves to Twilight’s chest. “A-Anyway, me and Spike have been looking all over for you!”

“I know, Fluttershy told– Wait, what do you mean you and Spike!?”

“We found out that the mare who tried to kill me is hanging out with your younger self right now!” she exclaimed.

Twilight winced. “Don’t remind me...”

Celesita sighed, holding a hoof to her head. “We need to keep moving. The sooner I can fix this mistake, the better…”

“I’ll catch up in a moment,” Twilight replied, letting the others go forth. She turned her attention back to Rainbow “Now where did you last see Spike?”

The filly averted her gaze. “Uh...well, when I left your house to go find you, I searched from the air, and he took the ground near the ice-cream shop...he’s probably only covered a few streets since the last time I spotted him.”

“Good. Now listen, Rainbow,” Twilight began, staring her directly in the eyes. “What I need you to do is to go find Spike. Then, both of you need to go to Ponyville for the time being. It’s safer there.”

The filly pushed back against Twilight with both hooves. “What!? No way! We’re gonna come right back and help you!”

“Rainbow, no. You and Spike both need to be safe,” Twilight insisted.

“How do you know? Seems like Spike thinks none of this originally happened!”

Twilight groaned. “Rainbow, please at least find Spike, okay? I don’t want him wandering alone right now.”

“Alright, alright.” The filly scoffed, hopping into the air. “But as soon as I find him we’re coming right back!” she declared, speeding away across the sky.

“Rainb–...” Sighing, Twilight ran after the guards. Within a few minutes of catching up, they all approached her parents’ house.

“I want every guard to remain out here,” Celestia ordered, coming to a stop “–and stay hidden. I wish to speak with Starlight alone.”

The captain nodded and began ordering his troops to various locations invisible to the front door.

Meanwhile, Twilight trotted after her mentor.

Glancing down, Celestia held out a hoof in front of her. “I’m afraid that means you too, Twilight.”

“But Princess!” the little alicorn argued, “Starlight’s probably the most powerful unicorn I’ve ever met! If I let you go in there alone–”

“I am more than capable of handling things myself, Twilight,” Celestia insisted. “Besides, I only intend to talk with Starlight; violence should not be necessary.”

Twilight silently glanced towards the house, pausing for a few seconds. “If you say so…” she sighed.

Ducking behind a bush, Twilight watched as Celestia approached the front door and gave a soft knock. A few seconds later, it opened.

“Good afternoon, Starlight,” Celestia greeted.

“Princess!” Starlight exclaimed. “This sure is a surprise!”

She smiled. “I wanted to stop by and chat about a particular matter...and see how you and Twilight are doing.”

“Oh we’re doing fine!” Starlight laughed, waving a hoof. “Just in the middle of magic practice, that’s all.”

The conversation was interrupted with the sound of a glass shattering on the floor.

Starlight whipped her head around towards the dining room, and Celestia glanced past her.

Unable to see inside, Twilight teleported to the side of the house and peered in through a dining room window. Her brain almost short-circuited from seeing her 12-year-old self in front of her.

Her younger self, meanwhile, simply stared at Celestia, frozen in shock.

“Hello, Twilight; it’s good to see you,” the princess said to her, smiling.

The filly immediately scrambled to bow down.

“I’m just visiting as a friend,” she spoke in her motherly tone, stepping inside. “You don’t have to be formal.”

Twily looked up, blinking. “R-right. I-I’m sorry, Princess!” she stuttered, briefly bowing her head a second time before correcting herself and standing back up. She glanced to the mess of glass and water on the floor. “I-I can clean that up…”

“Practicing your levitation stability?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Y-Yeah, h-how did you know?”

“I’m the Princess; I know everything,” she winked.

Twily’s jaw dropped. Starlight’s eyes shrunk ever so slightly.

“The foals at my school try balancing water too,” she clarified, chuckling.

“Oh, r-right! O-of course!” Twily laughed, nervously.

“Although, we do use paper cups instead.”

Twily blinked. “Oooooohhhhh…”

“Why don’t you go get another glass ready while I speak with Starlight,” she suggested.

“Y-yes Princess!” Twily replied, stepping back into the kitchen.

Celestia then stepped into the living room, Starlight following.

The older Twilight teleported to a window on the other side of the house.

“So, um, what’s the problem?” Starlight asked. “Did Twilight’s older self show up?”

“Actually,” Celestia replied, “I was hoping we could talk about your younger self.”

“O-oh, r-really?” Starlight smiled awkwardly, taking a shaky step back.

Celestia nodded. “Yes. I hear you were the leader of a town against cutie marks?”

Starlight laughed. “Oh that! Ha-ha, yeah; calling it a town’s a bit of an over-exaggeration – it was just this school club I led as a teenager. You know, painting over our cutie marks with an equal sign as a political statement; it was pretty dumb in hindsight.”

“Actually, I think it’s a rather interesting concept.”

She blinked. “You do?”

“Mm-hmm. In fact, I am quite curious about what you wrote in your reflection thesis for that event.”

“R– Reflection thesis?” Starlight’s face twisted as she took another half-step back.

Celestia looked her directly in the eyes. “Yes; with a topic like that, I’m quite certain I would have requested one from you, my faithful student.”

Starlight took another step back, shaking slightly as her posture slunk down. “W-well, y’know, that was kinda a while ago now, a-and I don’t quite remember…”

The Princess stepped forward, closing the gap between them. “Really? Because as I understand it, this was something very personal to you.”

“Well...” Starlight’s gaze drifted away to one of the side windows.

It was then that she locked eyes with Twilight.

The two only stared for a second, but it was long enough to shake both. Twilight dropped below the window in a panic, and Starlight snapped her eyes back to Celestia, losing her nervous smile in favor of a terrified stare.

“I’m listening,” Celestia sternly reminded.

Starlight’s expression became much more serious as her eyebrows lowered. “If only you had…” In a quick flash of her horn, she sent out a shockwave, shoving the alicorn all the way back across the room.

“AAUH!” Celestia yelped, crashing into the front wall, which smashed the plaster and demolished a lamp in the process. “*Nngh*,” she groaned, collapsing over the end-table.

Hearing the noise, Twilight peaked back over the window sill and gasped.

“Starlight what happened!?” Twily exclaimed in horror as she ran back into the room.

“We’re not safe here, Twilight,” Starlight stated, stepping around Celestia for the filly to run up to her.

“HALT!” Celestia shouted in the Royal Canterlot Voice, propping herself up as she charged her horn and fired.

Immediately, Starlight formed a magical dish shield, reflecting the spell back ather.

Hit with her own spell, Celestia was now locked in place.

While the alicorn attempted to unfreeze herself, Starlight took the opportunity to fire a heat beam.

“*GUH*!” A nasty scorch mark was singed across her shoulder. The mare tumbled off the end-table, landing on the floor.

“CELESTIA!” Twilight screamed.

Starlight and Twily glanced at the window, and the former fired a bolt.

Twilight quickly teleported to the front yard as one of the panes was blown out.

“S-Starlight?” Twily asked, shaking. “W-was that…me?”

Starlight narrowed her eyes. “Yes, and despite everything I’ve done, it looks like the Princess decided to listen to her instead!” she growled, glancing back at Celestia.

The alicorn powered her horn once more, only to get blasted in the side of the jaw with another heat beam, slamming her head against the floor. She groaned as her eyes squeezed shut in pain, only to relax as her body slipped into unconsciousness.

“If only you had just listened to me…”

Suddenly, the front door was bucked in, flying off the hinges.

Catching it, Starlight immediately rotated it and hurled it back at two mares ready to run in. Both were pummeled like dominoes, getting launched straight off the porch.

Putting up a force-field across the now-open doorway, Starlight grabbed Celestia in her aura and ran for the back door.

However, she was cut off by Twilight teleporting in front of her, wings flared and teeth barred. “It’s over, Starlight!” she hissed, charging her horn.

Starlight smirked as she raised an eyebrow. “Really Twilight? I’m inches away from your mentor and younger self. Do you really wanna risk missing a shot and hitting them instead of me?”

Twilight looked at the unconscious Celestia, and then to her younger self.

Twily was simply frozen, staring back with tear-filled eyes as she clung to Starlight.

The older Twilight gulped, depowering her horn.

Starlight smiled coldly. “That’s better. Now, I’m going to go deposit your younger self and the princess at a safe location of my choosing. Once I do, you’ll have about three hours to decide whether you want to stand aside and let me fix Equestria, or whether you want to be on the run for the rest of your life, after I give Celestia a little ‘talking-to’. You’ll give your answer at Rambling Rock Hills near Ponyville. Understood?”

Twilight nodded, nervously.

“Good.” She then powered her horn and looked back to Twily. “Ready Twilight?” she asked.

The filly nodded, eyes still locked on her older self.

Starlight looked back to the older Twilight. “Oh and by the way; if I see any guards there, then you’ll have made your decision clear.”

With that, Starlight, Twily, and the unconscious Celestia disappeared in a flash.

Twilight remained still for a few moments, before dropping back onto her haunches.

Several guards then rushed in, rapidly looking around.

“Miss Twilight, are you alright!?” one – a dark gray stallion – asked, rushing up to her. “Are you okay ?” he reiterated, watching the side of her face as she remained stuck in her thousand yard stare.

“They’re...gone,” Twilight uttered, her breathing starting to pick up pace as her eyes watered ever so slightly.

“Gone?” the stallion asked.

“Princess Celestia...Starlight...gone!”

The guardstallion looked around. “Alright everypony, listen up, we’ve got a Code Gray right now; the candle is missing. Repeat: we’ve got a Code Gray, the candle is missing!”

“Understood, Captain,” a mare replied. The others still in the room nodded, and immediately began making their way out.

Shortly after, Twilight exited, being helped down the steps by the captain as she hyperventilated.

“Okay, easy there,” he calmed, getting her to sit down on the curb. “Somepony get her a bag,” he instructed.

“Twilight!” Spike’s voice cried out from a distance, finally getting the catatonic mare to look up.

As he and Rainbow Dash rushed up to her, she simply closed her eyes and pulled him into a hug, while tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Twi? W-what happened?” he asked, reluctantly hugging her back.

She took a struggled breath, letting it back out with an equally stressed whine. “We failed, Spike,” she choked. “We failed everypony…”

A guard handed Spike a bag, which he passed to Twilight. “Okay, calm down; deep breaths. Just take it easy and tell me what happened.”

Twilight breathed in and out of the bag a moment, then stared him straight in the eyes. “Spike, Starlight took Celestia!”

“Oh,” he squeaked, snatching the bag for himself.

“That…sounds bad,” Rainbow gulped, sinking slightly.

“She was right in front of me, too! ...But all I could do was watch…” Twilight lowered her head.

“Miss Twilight?” the guard captain asked, approaching her.

“Y-yes Captain Ironshield?” she replied.

“Seeing as Princess Celestia is unable to perform her duties at this time, her last - and quite recent - standing order of succession, Royal Decree #108-26, now takes effect. Please raise your right hoof.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped, and shaking, she slowly raised her hoof in compliance. Spike and Dash blinked in surprise.

Captain Ironshield cleared his throat. “Princess Twilight Aurora Sparkle, do you swear to serve and protect the country and citizens of Equestria to the highest order, on your life?”

Twilight’s eyes sunk in their sockets. “W-wait a minute, I-I’m not sure this is the best idea right now…”

“Please answer the question, Princess Sparkle,” he urgently insisted. If you’re unable to take the throne, I must remind you that it could take hours to find the next two ponies in succession - and both of them are teenagers.”

She gulped. “I-I do...”

“Then by the power of Princess Celestia in the action of Equestrian law, you are hereby declared Acting Sovern for all intents and purposes, and shall remain as such until either you or the Mayoral Assembly deems Princess Celestia to be of able state to resume her duties.” He then proceeded to salute. “Captain Ironshield at your service, Princess Sparkle.”

Twilight shut her eyes to take a deep breath. “Just a minute, please,” she responded, still holding in her breath, and then immediately grabbed the paper bag back from Spike to hyperventilate.

The dragon looked up to his sister. “Twi, calm down! It’s not like you’re new to ruling Equestria! Sure you haven’t done it while trapped in the past, without any of your friends around to help you, while Celestia’s in the hooves of a mare who brainwashed a whole town, which means Starlight could brainwash her into making Starlight a princess, and then they’ll both claim that you’re committing treason, and all of Equestria will hate you, and you’ll get put into the royal garden for a thousand years…”

“Geeze,” Rainbow interrupted, “We already lost one princess, you don’t need to make another have a heart attack!”

Spike glanced over to see Twilight hyperventilating even harder. “...Right, sorry.” He nervously chuckled, starting to rub her back. “Maybe just focus on the part where you’ve done this ‘princess’ thing before.”

Twilight pulled the bag away from her mouth and took a deep, slow breath in. “You’re right, Spike. This isn’t my first crisis, and I’ve dealt with Celestia being gone before…” She took another, more stressed breath. “But I sure wish I had the girls here to help me…”

“TWILIGHT AURORA SPARKLE!” the booming voice of a mare echoed down the street.

Twilight’s head whipped around, barely fast enough to stop a gray and purple blur in her aura.

Twilight Velvet glared her in the eyes.

“M-MOM!?” Twilight blinked, eyes wide as dinner plates. “Wow, you look so young!”

The mare bopped her daughter on the head with a zucchini. “HOW DARE YOU TRY AND MAKE EVERYPONY IN EQUESTRIA INTO YOUR PERSONAL LAB RATS!” she exclaimed. “I RAISED YOU BETTER THAN THAT!”

Immediately, Captain Ironshield came running up, panting, completely disheveled, and missing his badge. “I’m so sorry, Princess Sparkle! She put four of us to the ground with her sheer will and a bag of groceries! There was nothing we could do!”

“Mom, listen to me,” Twilight Sparkle insisted, staring the mare dead in the eyes. “Anything Starlight told you was a lie. Her whole goal was to get control over the younger me, got it?”

Velvet narrowed her eyes.

Rainbow groaned, dragging her hooves down her own face. “UGH! Just tell her Starlight whooped the Princess’s rump and took her as a hostage already!”

Velvet gasped as her eyes widened. “Starlight kidnapped the Princess!? My apologies for doubting your loyalties, Captain!” she exclaimed, returning the badge to his chestplate.

Princess Twilight gave a groaning sigh as she set her mother down.

Velvet stood up to attention, saluting. “Twilight Velvet Sparkle, Canterlot Natural History Museum Assistant Chief of Security, at your service to help find the Princess, SIR!”

Spike and Dash snickered like crazy.

“At ease ma’am…” he wearily instructed.

The mare relaxed.

“Perhaps you should go have Lieutenant McBuck explain the whole situation to you, mother to mother…”

“Yes sir!” Velvet exclaimed, before turning and trotting off toward a guardsmare covered in raw egg.

Captain Ironshield shuddered.

“Now,” Twilight Sparkle began, clearing her throat. “Split the guards into two groups; one will conduct standard search procedure, and the other will search in Canterlot’s least-known places! Report back every half hour. Understood?”

“Yes ma’am!” he replied with a firm salute, before running to the other officers.

Spike mosied over next to Twilight. “You know, you may not have your friends around to help you, but you’ve still got a fire-breathing dragon here!” hereminded, puffing out his chest with a cocky grin.

“Not to mention the world’s future greatest Wonderbolt!” Rainbow declared, zipping down beside him.

Twilight smiled. “I appreciate the offer, you two, really, but you both need to go to Ponyville where it’s safe.”

Spike’s eyebrows dipped in concern, while Rainbow’s fell flat in annoyance.

“Twi, you know you can’t fight Starlight on your own!” Spike exclaimed. “I’m staying right here!” He announced, crossing his arms.

“Spike,” Twilight lifted her brother’s chin with her hoof. “If something happens to me, you’re all Equestria has left. I need you to be out of Starlight’s way for the time being.”

Spike sighed. “Fine…”

“I love you, Spike,” Twilight said, pulling him into a hug and kissing his forehead.

Captain Ironshield trotted back up. “Orders are being distributed and every squad leader has moved out, Princess,” he stated.

“Good,” Twilight replied. “Now, escort these two to Ponyville immediately, and keep quiet on what’s going on… Any details are on a need-to-know basis, especially anything about me being in charge. After that, meet me back at the castle to review our search procedures, and…bring the best calming tea you’ve got, please.”

“Yes ma’am,” he replied. “Come along you two,” he said to Spike and Dash, ushering them forward.

Dash groaned. Meanwhile, Spike looked back, sharing one last solemn glance with his sister.

The two gently waved, and Twilight finally looked away, taking a deep, stressed sigh. A tear rolled down her cheek as she took to the sky. “I’m sorry for failing you and Equestria, Celestia… I should’ve listened. Maybe I wasn’t cut out to be your student after all…”