Chapters How could a day meant to bring joy and love instead bring sadness and regret? Shining Armor asked this time and time again ever since it happened. It was his wedding to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza but she preferred Princess Cadance and was to be held at Canterlot Castle with Princess Celestia herself to be the one to pronounce them husband and wife. But when the day came he was brainwashed by Chrysalis the queen of the changelings who took the place of his wife to be. The only one that was able to see through her deception was his little sister Twilight Sparkle but when she tried to call off the wedding Shining Armor defended his false wife.
While being brainwashed he was still aware of his actions and in time would greatly regret what he did that day, for he all but humiliated his sister in front of her friends and teacher. The last thing he said to his sister was that she shouldn't even come to his wedding but despite saying so, she did and revealed the changeling right before they were married. Twilight showed up with the real Cadance but Chrysalis and her minions still attacked not even Princess Celestia could stop it. But even when things seemed hopeless Twilight refused to give up. "If I were you I wouldn't get so comfortable," Twilight said to Chrysalis after she and the rest of the mane 6 were forced back to the hall where the wedding would have taken place.
"Oh really and why is that?" The queen asked clearly not taking Twilight seriously.
"Because we're going to stop you," Twilight answered right away, which made Chrysalis laugh.
"Oh really, and just how are you going to do that?"
"I don't know but just like my instincts told me that you weren't the real Princess Mi Amore Cadenza-
"Actually Princess Cadance is enou-"
"Not important right now!" Twilight interrupted.
"Right, sorry."
"Just as my instincts told me that you weren't the real Cadance, they're telling me that we'll still defeat you, someway, somehow."
"Oh please listen to yourself, how are you going to stop me exactly? I bested your precious Princess Celestia, my minions stopped you from getting to the Elements of Harmony, and your brother is under my complete control."
"Is he now?" Twilight said as she looked over to where her brother was standing which whipped Chrysalis's smile away as she noticed it. "SHINING NOW!" Chrysalis then turned around to face Shining Armor expecting an attack and that's exactly what she got, from behind. Twilight blasted Chrysalis as hard as she could right when she turned around.
"That was dirty!" Chrysalis said as she was actually knocked to the ground by Twilight's sneak attack.
"Oh really? You don't find your own methods dirty?" Twilight asked, getting the changeling queen angry who got up and tried to blast Twilight, but she teleported behind Chrysalis and blasted her again. Once again the queen was knocked to the ground when the changelings saw their queen in danger they tried to swarm Twilight but she summoned a barrier to protect her. "Are you all planning on helping out or are just going to keep standing there?" Twilight said to her friends who were still watching in awe of Twilight.
"Oh right!" They all said snapping out of it and attacking the changelings to get them away from Twilight so she could continue to fight the queen. Chrysalis tried to blast Twilight but she teleported again, however this time Chrysalis kept her guard up and blocked Twilight's attack. Twilight kept teleporting to try and get Chrysalis off guard while Twilight's friends fought off the changelings and got to freeing Cadence who would break Shining Armor of his brainwash. Chrysalis knew she would have to act fast and saw that Twilight's friends were gathered together and got a rather nasty idea, she charged straight at them with murder in her eyes.
"NO!" Twilight said as she saw the look in Chrysalis's eyes and instinctively teleported in front of her friends, one of the last few things she would do. For as Chrysalis charged at Twilight's friends with her horn faced right at them, so when Twilight appeared to protect them the horn impaled the brave little pony.
"TWILY!" Shining Armor called out when he regained his senses thanks to Cadence. Suddenly in both his rage for what Chrysalis had done and in love for his sister Shining Armor summoned all the magic he could even though he was drained and forced every single changeling out of the capital. Shining Armor then went over to his sister to see if he could seal the wound somehow. But Twilight was already bleeding out and with the last of her strength she looked over to her brother who like all the others were in tears.
"I, forgive you," Twilight said before she closed her eyes for the final time making what should have been a grand day of celebration one of despair and loss.
***
1 year had passed since Twilight's death and those who knew her had tried to move on, the key word being tried. Twilight's Ponyville friends went back to their usual things at home except for Spike who moved back to Canterlot to stay with Celestia. Princess Celestia, except perhaps for Shining Armor, felt the most guilty over what happened, the whole thing happened under her muzzle and when the cat was out of the bag she couldn't help at all. She thought she could have healed her favorite student if she managed to escape from that slime cocoon. Disappointed in herself not being able to help one of the ponies she cared for the most, she became determined to be a much better protector. As a result she as well as her sister became much more active in protecting Equestria from threats realizing they like being part of the action.
Shining Armor eventually married Cadence who is now expecting and they run the Crystal Empire after Celestia and Luna stopped King Sombra.
"I'm thinking we should call her something like Flurry Heart, what do you think?" Cadence asked but then saw that her husband was looking at the window, a habit he had picked up ever since Twilight died. "You're thinking about her again aren't you?"
"I can't help it," Shining answered. "Somehow everything reminds me of her."
"Shining I know you miss her but it's already been a year she wouldn't want you to keep moping about."
"WELL HOW WOULD YOU KNOW!" Shining snapped as he turned around to face Cadence which rather shocked her, despite the numerous times he had already done that. Shining then snapped out of his snap. "Cadence I'm sorry I did that, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I lay around all day and that I've snapped at you over nothing too many times"
"It's all right Shining Armor," Cadence said as she wanted to walk over to her husband to comfort him but he walked in the other direction.
"No it's not! But I keep doing it, but I can't help it. Why did I storm out on her!?"
"Huh?"
"I thought she made you cry but I should have known she was doing it to help. I should have known you would never act like that, the last thing I told her was that she shouldn't even come to the wedding, I-I-I was such a jerk Cadence," Shining said as he started to cry, another habit he picked up ever since Twilight died.
"Oh Shining," Cadence said as she looked at her husband with pity and empathy. "We've been over this a hundred times. Twilight didn't hate you, if she did she wouldn't have gotten me out of the mines."
"I can't help it Cadence," Shining said as he cried more. "I wish I could tell her that, I wish I could take back all the things I said. But I can't, nothing can bring her back and no matter what I do I can't make the pain go away, why can't I make it stop Cadence?"
"Sadly we can't control our emotions," Cadence answered as she approached her husband again who this time allowed his wife to get to him and pull him into a hug. "But listen Shining, I know Twilight and I know that she did what she did out of love. I may be the princess of love but greater love hath nopony than she who lays down their life for their friends, she cared about you and even though the last things you said weren't pleasant the last things she said to you were she forgave you."
"I know, she was the best sister anypony could’ve asked for. I just wish I could talk to her one more time."
"Well maybe you could," Cadence said which made Shining Armor look away from Cadence as he knew what she was going to say. "You could finally visit her grave." Twilight was buried near Canterlot castle but Shining Armor could never find it in himself to go see her, even after all this time.
"I-I-I don't know, I know I should but just thinking about it makes me freeze up more than walking around in the cold just outside the Crystal Empire." Cadence didn't say anything, she just hugged Shining Armor a little tighter hoping she could find someway to help his heart heal. Not too long after that Cadence and Shining Armor made their way to Canterlot to see to some royal business and along the way arrived to see Shining's parents, who were doing well considering. When they made it to the castle they were rather surprised to see that Spike was arguing with Princess Luna.
"Spike I don't understand I figured you'd want to do this, who else can I ask to do such a thing?"
"No!" Spike almost shouted. "I won't do it! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" And with that Spike ran off with tears in his eyes. Seeing the little dragon running away Cadence and Shining Armor went over to Luna to ask why Spike was so upset but Celestia beat them to it.
"Sister, what in Equestria is the matter with Spike?"
"I'm not sure I was almost certain he'd wish to do it."
"Do what?"
"Well sister, it's been a year since your precious student passed away and I was thinking we should finally have the funeral," Luna answered. "A better one anyway." While Twilight was already dead and buried the funeral wasn't quite as good as one Twilight deserved as several who cared for her couldn't come as they were too heartbroken. Luna wanted to have a new one and have Spike be the one to give the eulogy.
"Oh I see," Celestia replied.
"Sister, I don't understand, have I done something wrong?"
"No Luna, it's okay, let me go talk to him." Celestia then took off to where Spike ran off leaving Luna with Cadence and Shining Armor. If there was one creature that missed Twilight more than Shining Armor and Princess Celestia, it was Spike. He was always there for Twilight since the day he was born acting as her number 1 assistant and would do just about anything for her. The day she died Spike refused to get out of his bed for days and nopony could get him to come out, not even Rarity.
Before long Celestia found Spike who was in Twilight's old tower crying, when she saw him she quickly approached him surprising him with a hug as she felt he really needed that. "Spike, are you all right?"
"No," Spike answered, still in tears. "Luna wanted me to-"
"I know Spike, she told me after I saw you run away." Spike then got up to face Celestia as he whipped the tears away but even when he did new tears came out.
"Please, please don't make me do it." Spike was about to continue but stopped when Celestia pulled him into another hug this time wrapping her wings around the baby dragon.
"Ssh, It's okay Spike. You don't have to if you don't want to," Celestia said as she continued to comfort him. "Luna just thought that you would be the best one to give Twilight a proper farewell."
"I," Spike tried to talk but stopped because he got all choked up and had to clear his throat before he could continue. "I actually did want to do it, kind of."
"So why did you tell Luna no?"
"Well, the idea of talking about how she's gone-" Spike couldn't finish as he got all choked up again and started to cry even more. "I just miss her so much."
"I know Spike, I know exactly how you feel. It's been a year now but it still feels like it happened yesterday. Twilight was so precious to me I saw so much potential in her but now it's gone and I can't stop blaming myself."
"What?" Celestia then stopped hugging Spike as now she had tears of her own to wipe away.
"Not a day has gone by I don't think about what happened, Twilight was right there fighting for Equestria and all I could do was watch. If I didn't try to stop Chrysalis by myself I could have helped Twilight fight, I could have done something. Oh Twilight, you could have done so much for Equestria and beyond, so much that I pushed her too hard. I sent her book after book to read about magic and I had her friends face dangerous threats, to teach you valuable things you would need on the road to your full potential. If any good has come from all this, it made me realize how much I should have appreciated all that she did. And all the little things she did that I miss, I miss her letters, I miss her visits, I miss that glow in her smile when she saw me and made me proud of her-" Celestia would have gone on longer but stopped when Spike hugged her leg.
"I know I miss those things too," Spike said as Celestia remembered that he was in the tower.
"Sorry Spike I really went on a rant there didn't I?"
"Yeah, you really did. But I bet that made you feel better."
"Yes Spike yes it did, it's really nice to talk about her."
"It's also nice to hear how much she means to everypony."
"Yes she touched many hearts, when great deeds are remembered in this land her name will stand among all others. Spike, would you mind letting go of my leg now please?"
"Oh sorry I suppose it's a rather awkward place to hug."
"No it's not that, your claws were really sinking in."
"Oh sorry."
"It's quite alright Spike." Celestia said. Princess Celestia then sat down next to Spike as she wished to talk more about her favorite student. Princess Celestia and Spike would be in the tower for quite some time leaving Princess Luna to help the prince and princess of the Crystal Empire with what they came to the capital for. They finished it up around the time Celestia had to lower the sun and Cadence and Shining Armor got ready to head back to the Crystal Empire.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for at least the night?" Luna asked.
"No thank you." Cadence answered.
"We're grateful for the offer but we have to get back to our kingdom. It can be a full time job. Plus Cadence wants to get back to work on the nursery." The royal couple were about to head out when suddenly several guards came up saying a mysterious pony arrived at the castle.
"Mysterious how exactly?" Princess Cadence asked.
"He doesn't have a mane." One of the guards answered.
"Okay, I guess that's a rather unique fashion choice, but that doesn't exactly make him mysterious." Shining Armor replied.
"It's sort of the overall aura coming from that guy." another one of the guards said.
"Well what does this pony want exactly?" Princess Luna asked.
"He said that he was requesting an audience with Prince Shining Armor." the 3rd guard answered. Cadence and Shining Armor wanted to go home but decided to see what this pony wanted and made their way to see him.
"I think I get what the guard meant by mysterious aura." Cadence whispered to her husband as there was something to this stallion that she didn't like. When asked what he wanted the stallion who went by the name Kronos said he wished for Prince Shining Armor to help him retrieve an artifact that was beyond the borders of Equestria.
"That's it?" Shining Armor asked, almost not believing his ears. "You want me to help you find some old relic?"
"It's not just any old relic, my prince," Kronos replied. "It has great power, but it can only be found in a rather dangerous area so I can't get it alone."
"Wouldn't it make more sense for you to ask some explorers or archeologists for help instead?" Princess Luna asked who came as well as her sister.
"No, I doubt they would be strong enough to help me in this quest."
"What do you mean?" Princess Cadence asked.
"The relic is in dangerous territory. To get it I would need the help of rather powerful ponies or perhaps just one that had the power to push back an entire invading army." Kronos said as he looked at Shining Armor.
"Yeah I see where you're going with this, but I'm not interested." Shining Armor said as he started to walk away.
"Is that so? What if I told you that the relic I wish to obtain had the power to turn back time?" Hearing that stopped Shining Armor right in his tracks.
"What?"
The sight of his sister alive once again filled Shining Armor with an unrivaled joy. "Twilight!" Spike yelled out, snapping Shining Armor out of his trance as he ran over to Twilight and grabbed her chest, hugging her tight.
"Uh Spike, I appreciate the hug but can we do it when I'm not defending all of Equestria?" Twilight asked, completely confused by her number 1 assistant's behavior.
"I'm not letting go Twilight, I'm never letting go." Spike replied as he hugged Twilight a little tighter.
"Spike what's gotten into you?" Twilight said even more confused. But she wouldn't have time to process it as Chrysalis, who was stunned, got back up and was ready to attack Twilight. She charged at Twilight with sheer rage in her eyes and Shining Armor saw it too and before Chrysalis could reach her, he charged his horn and once again forced all of the changelings out of Equestria. After doing that Shining Armor ran over to his sister and gave her the biggest hug he could give. "Shining Armor, what's gotten into you, what's gotten into the both of you?"
"We'll explain later but for now let us just hug you." Shining Armor said as he hugged Twilight tighter to her continuing confusion.
"Uh okay."
"Oh Twilight we thought we'd never see you again," Spike said as tears ran down his eyes.
"Okay seriously what in Equestria has gotten into you two?!" Twilight asked as the others gathered around also wondering what was up with them, Rarity showing the most concern for Spike and Cadance for Shining Armor.
"Oh Spike you poor darling this whole crisis has fried your mind let's get you into bed right away."
"And while we're at it maybe we should get my Shining Armor's head looked at," Cadance said to Rarity.
"We're fine, we can explain but it's kind of a long story." Spike said as he finally let go of Twilight.
"Does it have something to do with that strange cloaked pony that's holding a crystal ball?" Pinkie Pie asked. Suddenly everypony and Spike looked over at Kronos who was holding the sphere that Spike used only moments ago to bring the trio here with a sinister smile on his face.
"Finally! At long last!" Kronos then placed the sphere in his chest and suddenly a strange magical energy surround him. Kronos then laughed like a mad stallion sending chills downs the spines of everypony and Spike and as the energy swirled around him like a tornado, Kronos left the others utterly shocked with what they saw when it cleared.
"This day was supposed to be perfect," Cadance couldn't help but say.
"And yet this day just seems to be getting worse and worse," Twilight added to her almost sister in-law's comment.
"Kronos what the heck happened to you?" Shining Armor asked.
"I have become whole once again!" Kronos said.
"What is that thing?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"An ancient myth," Twilight answered in more shock than the others, making them look at her instead. "Kronos. Back when Starswirl the Bearded was around he created this to help him fight off the various creatures that endangered the ponies on almost a daily basis. Whenever it couldn't help stop the threat it just turned back time and tried again."
"But it was supposed to help ponies. Why is he giving off such an unfriendly aura?" Cadance asked.
"It's because it was beneath me," Kronos answered. "I may have been created by ponies, but that doesn't mean I wasn't superior to them. I saw how much stronger I was, how much better I was, and how I should be the one to rule. But Starswirl and half a dozen or so of his friends didn't agree. We fought and only won because Starswirl snuck up on me and pulled the source of my power out of me which made me transform into what you saw me as before. I just barely got away but I swore one day I would return to the creature I once was."
"If Starswirl removed that sphere from you how did you know where it was?" Shining Armor asked.
"Even though it was taken from me I was still connected to it, it was still a part of me so I could sense where it was. But that crafty unicorn hid the sphere where he knew I could never reach it, at least not on my own. I tried several times to get it on my own and every time I did I was nearly torn into pieces."
"That's why you came to me," Shining Armor said, putting the pieces back together.
"Yes I knew I needed somepony to help me get to my core and you weren't the first. I tried explorers or those I told could find a treasure beyond imagination, but none of them could get near it. I needed somepony with not only the means to get me to my core but also had a reason to get to it at any cost."
"You used me." Shining said.
"I played you like a fiddle. I was watching for a while before I actually talked to you, you were powerful but you were nearly sweating depression. And thanks to that I can finally take control of this land and the others beyond it. And this time none of you ponies or that little dragon, wait a minute, where is that little dragon?" The others looked mostly Rarity as it turned out Spike was not with the group, and suddenly Kronos found himself utterly engulfed in fire.
Spike read enough comics to know when a bad guy would go on a rant for too long. So he slowly made his way around and eventually behind Kronos then breathed almost as much fire on him as he did on the frozen cloud he melted when he saved the Crystal Empire.
"Wow, way to go Spike!" Twilight said rather in awe.
"I know such a brave little dragon isn't he?" Rarity said also rather impressed.
"You overgrown newt! I'll kill you!" Kronos said as he was putting out the fire. Spike then tried to breath a ton of fire on Kronos yet again but this time Kronos blocked it with a shield that he summoned with his newly reacquired magic.
"You can't get me with the same trick twice," Kronos said as he pushed back the fire quite a bit.
"Is that why I was able to sneak up on you like how you said Star Swirl did?" Spike said in a cocky tone that wasn't even trying to be subtle.
"Why you smart little brat!" Kronos then prepared a magic counterattack but Spike was teleported to where the others were by Princess Celestia.
"You shall not harm any of my subjects," Celestia said as she flew up and fired her magic right at Kronos who blocked it with his newly acquired hand and shot out a counter beam from the said hand. Celestia tried to push her magic forward but it was pushed back and Celestia was forced to the ground. "Uh, not again."
"You foolish ponies, did you think I'd let you take me down after all the time I've waited to get back what's mine? Nopony is going to stop me!"
"Well it's a good thing I'm a dragon." Spike said as he tried to breathe fire on Kronos but once again he blocked it with a shield.
"You'll have to do better than that!" Kronos said as he was blocking the fire.
"I already did." Spike said and before Kronos knew it he was on fire yet again.
"What but how?" Kronos asked and before he could get an answer the ponies bombarded him with attacks even from Celestia but only a little as it's been a rough day for her. "Get away!" Kronos then summoned a surge of magic energy to force them all back. "You fools, you think you can beat me, I haven't even used a fraction of my power and I've barely taken any damage."
"You are quite the creature," Twilight said. "You're powerful and tough but you're not smart."
"Excuse me?" Kronos replied.
"Well perhaps you're a little smart but not as smart as you think you are. Otherwise you would have noticed that I grabbed this." Twilight said as she revealed to be holding the core of Kronos. Kronos then checked and saw that in fact it was indeed his core.
"No!" Kronos then felt his body slowly change back but he used his newly reacquired old magic to stop it and then tried to grab the sphere.
"Nice work Twily!" Shining Armor said more proud of his sister than he's probably ever been. "Now to finish him off!" Shining Armor then tried to force him to break with a spell similar to the one he used to defeat the changelings, but Kronos stopped it with his bare hands.
"You may have taken my core but I can still use the power it grants me if I'm close enough." Kronos then started to turn back time to when he was still connected to his core. But Twilight, thinking quickly as she usually did, used the sphere to undo his time traveling.
"As long as I have the sphere I can cancel out your time travel powers."
"Then I'll kill you and take it back." Kronos replied as he smashed the floor with his fists breaking it and causing Twilight to fall. But Spike and Shining Armor quickly came to aid her and so did the rest of the mane 6, Shining Armor teleported to catch her while Spike jumped down to get the sphere. The mane 5 swarmed Kronos to keep him from attacking. "You think you can stop me, even if you take the sphere I'll get it back sooner or later. Nothing will stop me even if I have to wait until the end of time!" Kronos used another surge of magic to force Twilight's friends back, knocking them out and charging at her but she jumped over Spike and Shining Armor and hit him with spells and fire.
"This is one way to stop you, Spike Shining Armor destroy the sphere!"
"Right!" Spike and Shining Armor said at the same time ready to do just what Twilight said until.
"It's the source of his power so doing that should not only destroy his power, but it should also reset everything to what it once was," Twilight said.
"What?" Spike and Shining Armor once again said together.
"How tragically ironic isn't it you two?" Kronos asked as he started to laugh.
"What's wrong with you two? Hurry up and destroy it!" Twilight said as she was still holding off Kronos but she knew she wouldn't be able to do that for much longer. "Hurry! Before he gets it back!"
"No we can beat him another way right?" Maybe we can force him out of Canterlot and then lock up his core somewhere he can never get to it."
"Shining, why are you acting weird? If there was a worst time to be weird this would it by a long shot!?"
"Twily…" Shining Armor tried to explain but his throat got all choked up.
"Because you die!" Spike said with tears in his eyes as he held the sphere tightly. Twilight was in shock when Spike answered and in her shock Kronos charged through but Shining Armor created a small barrier around him and Spike. While small it was more than tough enough to endure Kronos's attacks. "Chrysalis kills you and life for us all has been horrible ever since."
"Spike's right," Shining Armor said. "I never got over losing you, that's what all this is about, he used me, he used us." Shining finished when he looked over to Spike.
"So if you destroy his core," Twilight said. "I'll be dead?"
"I'm not going to let that happen!" Shining Armor said. "We'll think of something we can beat him somehow!" Suddenly Shining Armor's shield started to break and crack. "There has to be something we can do!"
"There is," Twilight said in a rather calm demeanor. "Destroy the sphere."
"What?!" Spike and Shining Armor once said together.
"It's the only way."
"No it's not!" Spike said. "You could go get the Elements of Harmony."
"My friends are all out cold and I can't use it without them."
"Call the guards!"
"If Princess Celestia couldn't beat Kronos they won't stand a chance."
"We could, we could, WE COULD DO SOMETHING!" Spike said as he started crying again. "There has to be something."
"They can't guarantee beating Kronos." Twilight then hit Kronos with a powerful stun spell that managed to stop him in his tracks just as he almost broke Shining Armor's shield. "We can't risk the damage he could do, it's like when Princess Celestia trapped her sister in the moon, sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good."
"No, we can just beat him now!" Shining Armor said as he tried to finish off Kronos who was on the verge of breaking through the stun spell.
"You creatures truly are pathetic, Twilight's right but your emotions won't let you see reason that's why you'll always be below me. You fight for trivial things like love or friendship. You should have learned they don't matter in the grand scheme of things eons ago. But no you still act like they matter that much. No matter what I'll always be-" Suddenly Kronos felt like he'd been impaled and what he saw when he looked up shocked him. "What have you done?" Shining Armor turned around to see Spike had struck the sphere by punching a hole right in it.
"What did you do?" Shining Armor asked.
"Twilight's right," Spike said with tears going down his eyes like a pair of waterfalls. "This is the only way to defeat Kronos."
"You, you stupid pony wannabe!" Kronos said as he got back up.
"I'm not a pony wannabe! I'm a ferocious, fire breathing, DRAGON!" Spike then breathed fire right on the sphere causing it to melt quite a bit and made Kronos fall down and when he punched the floor in annoyance and frustration he broke another hole and fell through it landing right on his head. "Who's beneath who now?" Spike said happy to see Kronos in a rather pathetic state.
"Curse you." was all Kronos could say as he couldn't even get up anymore somehow. Suddenly the fabric of reality started to fade away into cosmic dust, Spike again having read a lot of comics before knew what was going on. The sphere became so damaged it was as Twilight said. Time was resetting and Spike hugged her once again as hard as he could, surprising her.
"If I hold on to you I can take you with me."
"I don't think that's how it's going to work Spike, I can understand losing me can be rough, but perhaps in a cosmic way this is all for the best."
"Twilight darling, what are you talking about and what is going on?" Rarity asked as she and the others got up. Spike then let go of Twilight and walked over a bit to Rarity.
"Twilight you said it would all reset as if nothing we changed or did happened?"
"Yes Spike." Twilight answered having a very strong idea what he was going to do. And she was right Spike kisses Rarity right on the lips to her surprise and then to Spike's surprise Rarity started to return the kiss rather passionately.
"Rarity time is resetting so I have to ask this now, if I asked you out would you say yes?" Rarity hesitated but not for long as she rather wondered that herself.
"Ask me in a few years," Rarity said. "You're a tad too young for me but I can't deny I care for you. And when you come of age, I believe there would be quite a chance I would become quite fond of you." Meanwhile Shining Armor just stood next to Twilight once again choked up but this time he fought it off as he knew this would be the last time he'd talk to his sister in pony for a long time. He pulled Twilight into the biggest hug he could give and she returned it.
"I'm so sorry for the bad things I said to you I didn't mean any of it, you're the best sister a pony could ever ask for and I mean that from the core of my being."
"And you're the best friend a dragon could ask for. You were the closest thing I had to a mother." Spike said as he joined the hug.
"Thank you," Twilight said as she cried tears of joy. "Hearing that warms my heart like it's the sun, I love you guys."
"We love you too." The three held onto each other as time was on the verge of resetting when suddenly Kronos jumped out of the hole with a second wind.
"You'll pay for this!" Kronos yelled, eyes red with a desire for revenge. Shining Armor then saw what was left of the sphere then picked it up with magic and threw it at Kronos.
"Hey Kronos," Shining Armor said, getting his attention before blasting the sphere and breaking it into pieces. "You're history!" Kronos was then blasted by Shining Armor and he disappeared into time. Shining Armor then held onto his sister once again with a tight yet warm hug. "I love you, no matter what Twily I'll love you always."
"I feel the same Shining Armor." Twilight said as everything around Spike and Shining Armor started fading away, including her.
"Please don't leave us Twilight," Spike said as he was hugging her as well. "We need you."
"I'm sorry Spike, it's not my call. But I'm so glad you said you thought of me as a mother, because I've always loved you like a son. And Shining Armor no matter what. Across space, time, and even death, you will always be my big brother best friend forever." Twilight said as she faded away. Spike and Shining Armor then found themselves back to where they found the sphere only moments later.
"We're back." Spike said.
"Yeah, but where's Kronos, shouldn't he have been brought back too?" Shining Armor asked.
"I'm not sure what happened to him. Maybe he somehow got blasted into a different timeline or something, it's hard to tell. I don't really care, something tells me we won't have to worry about him ever again."
"Well that's good to know." Spike said.
"By the way, how did you light him on fire from the floor?" Spike then revealed a bottle he had.
"When he blocked my fire a second time I splashed some olive oil on the floor and lit it on fire when he was blocking the first fire."
"So you used it as a distraction. Smart."
"Thanks, hey listen about what I said at the falls-"
"It's okay. We've all been emotional for some time." Shining Armor said.
"Yeah, so I guess we might as well go home now."
"Yeah, the others will most likely want to hear about this." Shining Armor then bent down. "Would you like to ride on my back?"
"Really?"
"Yeah all those attacks probably took a lot out of you. You earned it great and honorable Spike the brave and glorious." Shining Armor said with a wink.
"Yeah it kind of did," Spike said as he got on Shining Armor's back who stood up and started walking off. "I think that's the first time you ever called me that."
"I guess I was overdue." Shining Armor then seemed like he was deep in thought for a moment. "Spike, you've really become quite the hero, Twilight would be very proud of you."
"Thank you," Spike said, who was now deep in thought. "Shining Armor, are you okay?"
"No Spike, but I, will be."
***
"And then Spike and I arrived back in the mountains and then we came home," Shining Armor explained to the princesses upon returning to Canterlot.
"Wow that is quite a story," Princess Luna said.
"Are you okay Shining Armor?" Princess Cadance asked.
"Yeah I feel good, more than I have in a long time."
"Well then since that's settled I suppose all that's left is to talk to a little dragon about taking off without telling me." Princess Celestia said as she approached Spike who smiled sympathetically at her. "You aren't getting out of this by being cute, you had me worried sick." Not too long after that the ponies got back to their lives but rather better, while Spike still lived in the castle he would visit Ponyville spending time with his friends, mostly Rarity. Shining Armor would also get to know Twilight's old friends and would even become the new Element of Magic. Not too long after that Princess Celestia had brought the new mane 6 to free Discord believing he would be of great use if he used his powers for good.
"Well this is quite a touching reunion," Discord said. "Shining Armor it's quite amazing that you've become the new Element of Magic to replace Twilight."
"You know about that?" Shining Armor said.
"Being turned to stone doesn't keep me from hearing what you're talking about among other things, I'm sorry for your loss." Discord said to Shining surprisingly sincerely.
"So you know, that was actually why I wanted to free you."
"Sorry Shining Armor, not even my magic can revive the dead." After that Discord would do just as Celestia wished and even more so. Such as capturing a creature known as Tirek. He tried to get him on his side to take down the ponies which was rather tempting for him but as he considered it he thought about Twilight. While he didn't know her all that much and she was the one that stopped his takeover, he had to admit he always sort of liked her which got him thinking even more. If love and friendship was so important that Twilight would lay down her life for it, then maybe just maybe it was far more valuable than those like Tirek and Kronos made it out to be.
"Well?"
"No deal Tirek."
"What?" Suddenly Tirek was trapped in a cage and would be brought back to Tartarus. "You're making a mistake, Discord."
"Maybe, but it's mine to make." After that Discord would continue to do good and actually found it to his liking. He then brought it to himself to bring balance to the land his way of honoring the pony who most likely would be doing this stuff in his place. From stopping a cult leader to a pony of shadows to a seemingly sweet filly that was actually about as cunning as he is, and would even stop a certain ram in quite an epic fight, but that's another story. As for Shining Armor, when Cadence eventually gave birth to their baby she was brought to Canterlot castle to show Celestia and Luna.
"She's so beautiful," Celestia said.
"It's still so amazing to believe she's a natural born alicorn." Luna added.
"Yes it makes me feel that she's going to be somepony truly special when she gets older."
"By the way, where's Shining Armor?" Luna asked.
"Visiting Twilight," Cadence answered. After his adventure Twilight was given another funeral and Spike was able to give a rather good eulogy with help from Celestia and Luna. After that Shining Armor found it easier and easier to visit Twilight.
"She's an alicorn so we're expecting big things from her right away. If she's anything like you she's going to be doing great things before we know it. It's like Spike said at your funeral, when great deeds are remembered your name will stand above all others. I know my daughter will do great things but I'll never forget you. Cadance may be the princess of love but greater love hath nopony than she who lays down their life for their friends. I miss you Twily, but it doesn't quite hurt as much because I know you're still here with me.
I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner. I wanted to but it took me a while to come to terms with it, but I learned not to run away from it better late than never right? I should go now the grass is starting to itch, but you should know no matter what. Across space, time, and even death, you will always be my little sister's best friend forever, I love you Twily." After that Shining Armor went to see his wife who was with her daughter that hasn't been named just yet.
"Hey there you, look sweetie daddy's here I wonder if he thought of a name for you." Shining Armor then took his daughter when Cadence offered her to him and he held her in his forelegs.
"I did have an idea for a name that's been bouncing around in my head for quite some time."
"Something told me that is was," Cadance said. "It's okay Shining Armor, go ahead."
"Really?!" Shining Armor said as he had to contain his excitement to not get his soon to be named daughter to start crying.
"Of course." Shining Armor then gave Cadance a great big kiss.
"Thank you so much Cadance, I knew there was a reason I married you."
"Good to know," Cadance replied. Not too long after that Cadance and Shining Armor would make their way back to the Crystal Empire as running it can become a full time job. The royal couple made their way to the train as they felt like taking a more scenic route for a change, but as the train moved out Shining looked out the window and couldn't believe his eyes. Twilight's ghost was at the station waving goodbye to him with a smile.
"I think things are going to be better from now on." Cadance said.
"Yeah, I think you're right Cadance, I think you're right," Shining Armor said with tears of joy. "Now let's see if we can get little Twilight Sparkle to take her nap now."
The End
Author's Note
Edit: I thought it fitting to add this song at the end of this story.
"If this is some sort of joke I can assure you the last thing I'll do is laugh, and the first thing I'll do is hurt you." Shining Armor said.
"And I can assure you that this is far from a joke. I'm well aware of your painful loss, but if you can help me get it back I can use it to bring back something you want." Kronos replied. Shining Armor didn't know how to respond to what he just heard sounded too good to be true, so it probably was.
"So if I had this relic I could use it to travel through time to wherever or I guess whenever I wanted?"
"Precisely." Kronos said as he continued to bow to the royal ponies who were rather at a loss for words. Shining Armor had more questions but became silent as the thought of seeing his sister again all but overwhelmed him. Not too long after that Shining Armor wished to discuss things with the other royal ponies who agreed.
"Kronos was it?" Shining asked.
"Correct."
"We need to talk about this for a minute in private. Would you mind waiting here for a bit?"
"All right but don't take too long time waits for nopony, at least for now." After that the royal ponies made their way out of the room to talk.
"Do you think he's telling the truth?" Shining Armor asked, hoping for his life that Princess Celestia would answer yes.
"While I won't deny that this Kronos character certainly has a shady side if ever there was, there are several spells that can allow somepony to travel through time."
"So we can actually do what he was talking about?"
"I don't think he was lying Shining Armor, but there was something about him."
"Yes I kind of saw it too." Cadance said.
"But if he's telling the truth," Shining Armor said. "If we can actually get this thing and turn back time then Twilight-"
"I know Shining Armor," Celestia interrupted. "You honestly think I didn't take that into consideration, you're not the only one that misses her. The idea of getting to see her once again, it might be worth the risk of whatever that stallion might be planning."
"Celestia I don't blame you one bit for wanting to see Twilight again, but what if this is some sort of plan to abduct royal ponies?" Princess Luna asked.
"That might be a possibility, but as I said before it might be worth the risk. Plus if I were to go and bring several royal guards with me that would make abducting me rather difficult." Princess Celestia then made her way back to the throne room where Kronos was waiting and asked to see the map. After Kronos did as she asked, Celestia brought the map to the others to see where to find the relic.
"According to this map the relic is somewhere in an area that is rather difficult to fly to," Cadance said. She saw it wasn't far from the Crystal Empire but having sent guards to explore past their borders a bit they reported back saying traveling beyond Mount Everhoof was rather difficult. "If you were to go with several guards, it would be hard to direct a big group there."
"So maybe we should just send one," Shining Armor said. "I've explored with those guards before so I know a thing or 2 about those areas, I've been pushing my magic to its limits and beyond lately. If that stallion is planning something fishy I think I'm overqualified to handle it."
"You may be right, I'm not exactly an expert on traveling or scouting." Celestia said.
"I should probably stay behind too," Princess Luna said. "If whoever goes does get into some sort of trap they can tell me about it in their dreams and I can get a rescue planned right away.
"Is it still a good idea to let him go alone though?" Princess Celestia asked.
"Indeed perhaps I should go too." Cadence said.
"Not a chance. You're with an unborn child, if you get in danger so will our future prince, or princess, can we tell yet?"
"We're going to let it be a surprise and that's final!" The royal ponies discussed for a little longer but in the end figured that having Shining Armor go alone was the best choice.
"All right, I'll be back before you know it, and with Twilight," Shining said with excitement but then got rather confused. "Or rather you won't because I'll change the past so I won't have to be back. But if I never went on the journey that I haven't gone on yet Twilight might not be back. So I have to go on this journey so I won't have to, and I just gave myself the mother of all headaches."
"Okay maybe you shouldn't go, how about we wait a while?" Cadance said.
"What? No Cadance, no time like the present, see what I did there?"
"Yes Shining Armor I got it," Cadance replied as she rolled her eyes. "But don't rush into this, okay perhaps we should sleep on it at least until your mother of a headache goes away."
"Okay Cadance." Shining said. The royals then informed Kronos that Shining Armor would be going with him but asked if he could wait until tomorrow.
"That is most reasonable. I've waited this long, I can wait a little longer," Kronos said. "I'll be waiting just outside Canterlot." Kronos then made his way out of the castle without another word. Cadence and Shining Armor then made themselves at home while at Canterlot castle and Shining Armor tried to find it in himself to say hello to Twilight at her grave, but thought it would be rather pointless since she'd be coming back soon. After a rather nice dinner prepared by Spike, Shining and Cadance made their way to one of quite a few guest rooms at the castle.
"By the way," Celestia said as she guided the married couple to where they would be sleeping. "Be sure not to mention any of this to anypony. If others learned about something that could alter the very fabric of time, it could tempt them to take this relic for themselves. And then who knows what with it."
"Yeah that's a good idea," Shining Armor said. "I've read more than my fair share of comics and if there's one thing I've learned it's that bad things happen to ponies that meddle with time. But perhaps some should be meddled with."
"Easy now Shining Armor I'd still like to sleep on it," Cadance said and that's what she did almost right when they got to the room. Carrying a foal can be murder on the legs, after a while Shining Armor joined his wife but couldn't really get much sleep as he had a lot on his mind. He wanted it to be morning so he could search for the relic, but he couldn't wait any longer. He got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, grabbing a bag with his magic and filled it with several items he figured he would need. Ready to go he made his way to the door quietly so as to not awake Cadance.
"Bye Shining," Cadance said from the bed just as he was about to exit the room. She didn't turn to face him or even open her eyes but it was enough to stop Shining Armor in his tracks. While about half asleep at this point she still knew her husband quite well. "Dress warmly."
"Okay," Shining said as he used his magic to grab a scarf and wrapped it around his neck. "I'll be back real soon, with Twilight."
"All right, be careful," Cadance said and even though Shining Armor didn't see it he knew Cadance was smiling. Shining then made his way out of the castle and eventually out of Canterlot. Even though Kronos said this was where he would be waiting, Shining was having trouble figuring out where he was and to his surprise he saw that he was sleeping under a nearby tree. Shining was about to approach and wake him up but his eyes opened up before Shining even got within 10 feet of him.
What is with this pony? Shining Armor thought to himself as Kronos got up and made his way to Shining Armor.
"Trouble sleeping?"
"No, well yes but it's because I want to come with you and I already made up my mind about it."
"All right then," Kronos answered as he began to walk away from Shining Armor. Shining Armor then started to follow Kronos. Shining Armor used his horn a bit to light the way and once he lightened up so to speak, he got a better view of where he was going.
"Wait a minute, this isn't the way to the train station."
"That's because we're not going to the train station. I tried to travel here via train but the station here has been closed down for repairs so it won't do us much good."
"Oh yeah." Shining Armor replied as recalled hearing about that earlier. The two traveled together mostly in awkward silence as Kronos wasn't much of a conversationalist, Shining Armor tried to start a conversation with him several times but Kronos just ended them before they hardly started. But Shining Armor didn't actually have all that much that he wanted to talk about. All he could really think about was his sister. The two stallions traveled together with Kronos making sure they were going the right way and would eventually make their way to the Neighagra Falls as Celestia raised the sun.
"According to the map we're about halfway to the Crystal Empire." Kronos said as he checked the map to make sure.
"I think it's the first time I've ever been to Neighagra Falls," Shining Armor said. "I don't have to use the bathroom but if I stare at those falls long enough I'm sure I'll have to." Shining Armor kind of looked at Kronos who didn't reply or giggle. "Because you know it's a lot of water."
"Just because I don't laugh doesn't mean I didn't get it." Kronos replied.
"Right." Shining Armor replied as he went over to the falls to get a drink and wash his face a little bit. Seeing that Kronos decided to do the same. After that they continued their journey but before long Shining Armor walked over to Kronos until they where walking stand side by side. "Since the sun is up we're going to have a better chance at fighting if we need to," Shining Armor whispered to Kronos.
"Is this about the creature that's been following us since we left Canterlot?" Kronos replied.
"You noticed it too?"
"Yes, though I have to admit whatever it is, it's doing a good job hiding."
"Whatever, you mean it's not a pony?"
"It might be," Kronos replied. "But I doubt it very much."
"So what are we going to do?" Shining Armor asked as he continued to whisper.
"I don't think it wants to fight, it probably just wants to wait until we fall asleep so it can grab the map to my relic."
"So what should we do?" And what the heck do you mean by your relic?
"Hard to say, I used to be quite the fighter back in the day but these days not so much."
"Well I think I may have an idea," Shining Armor said as the 2 stallions continued to walk together. Shining Armor seemingly continued to walk by Kronos but in fact he used magic to make a copy of himself that was the one walking with Kronos. While the real Shining Armor ran over to a tree and quickly made his way to the top to wait for whatever was following them. In no time at all he got himself into a good position and when he saw something sneaking around several bushes, he pounced on it and pulled it out of the bush. "All right now I got you you little, Spike?"
"Yes it's me, what's the big idea?" Shining Armor then dispelled his fake that was standing next to Kronos and let go of the baby dragon.
"Spike why were you following us, do you have any idea what I could have done to you?"
"Do you have any idea what I could have done to you?" Spike asked as he breathed a rather large ball of fire out of his mouth but making sure that it didn't hit Shining Armor. "Yeah, how about that!?"
"Okay okay calm down I see your point, but that still doesn't answer my question. Why are you following us?"
"Why else I want to go back in time too and help you save Twilight." Hearing that Shining Armor was rather shocking. "I overheard you all talking about it earlier."
"Spike, go home," Shining Armor said, trying to be nice.
"I figured that's what you were going to say, that's why I decided to just follow you. And no way I'm not heading back not when I can see Twilight after all this time if any creature deserves that it's me, I loved her more than anypony."
"Excuse me!" Shining Armor said rather offended. "I was her older brother. I knew her longer than you did, I grew up with her if anypony loved her the most it was me!"
"If that's really the case then how come you never visited her grave, not even once?" Spike asked as he raised a finger. "I visit her almost everyday and we never see you there." Shining Armor didn't know what to say as he could barely talk to Cadance or even himself about this, so how could he explain it to Spike.
"Excuse me," Kronos said as he got the attention of Spike and Shining Armor. "Are you planning on continuing our little quest or do you just want to talk each other's heads off."
"What about Spike?"
"Are you planning on attacking us at some point?"
"Uh, no." Spike replied rather confused.
"Then come along. Hurry up and don't fall behind." Kronos said as he got up and walked off leaving Shining Armor and Spike rather confused for a moment, but after looking at each other they ran to catch up to him.
***
After a while the trio made it to the Crystal Mountains where Kronos suggested they stop for the night. Shining Armor wanted to travel a little more because they weren't all that far from the Crystal Empire, but he was rather tired so he agreed. While it was a rather cold place to be Shining Armor put a bubble to keep out the cold wind from getting to them and Spike was able to make a fire. "Wow does that hit the spot," Shining Armor said about the fire as sat next to it.
"Bet you're glad I decided to come along now huh?" Spike said with a rather cocky smile.
"Yeah I am, you've really gotten better with that fire of yours."
"Yeah Princess Celestia has been helping me with that, she said Twilight would be amazed with how far I've come." There was a bit of awkward silence after Spike finished.
"Well if all this is true she'll be able to tell you that herself," Shining Armor said to break the silence.
"Yeah if," Spike said as he looked over at Kronos who was already fast asleep. "Do you think we can trust him? There's something off about him."
"Yeah I know but I think he's right about the relic so it's worth whatever he tries to pull."
"Plus between the two of us he wouldn't stand a chance. I'd burn him to crisp and you could blast him out of here like you did with the changelings. I think Twilight would have been amazed with you too."
"Thanks Spike," Shining replied which was followed by a not so awkward silence as they smiled at each other. Not too long after that they put the fire out and went to bed, neither of them noticing that Kronos was half awake listening in on them.
"Wouldn't stand a chance would I?" Kronos shortly went to sleep himself and in the morning the three quickly made their way out of the mountains, with a sled they forged from a dead tree not too far away from where they made camp. Thanks to that and Kronos's master steering they got to the Crystal Empire in no time where Spike and Shining Armor stopped for lunch. Kronos however wasn't hungry and got the other two to follow him out the Crystal Empire right away to continue their journey. The others kind of wanted to relax a bit mostly Spike as the Crystal Ponies all but adored him since he saved the place once or twice but Kronos got them to get going, some guards did provide a little transportation for the trio just passed Mount Everhoof.
"We're almost to where this relic is, right?" Spike asked after signing a few autographs for the guards and saw them leave with glee.
"Correct, but beyond this point are some rather vicious creatures that call the point home."
"Uh, how do you know that exactly?" Spike asked.
"This isn't my first attempt to get it." Kronos answered.
"Spike, maybe you should stay here." Shining Armor said.
"No way I'm sticking with you, for all you know I'll be the one to help you out." Spike said ready to head out. Shining didn't think it was a good idea but he saw that look in his eyes and knew he was determined to go. The three made their way past the mountain and in no time at all found themselves in thick snow, eventually they had to make camp one more time with Spike and Shining Armor doing the same routine. The next day they continued on but soon came upon several large and vicious looking creatures Spike scared a few away while Shining Armor forced the others back with his magic.
"Nice work you two," Kronos said. "But let's get moving before they come back with friends." The trio then went further into the mountains where it got colder but Spike made sure they stayed warm.
"I didn't think there was this much land that passed the Crystal Empire," Spike said. "We're going to get to the edge of the continent soon."
"Hopefully we'll find my relic before that, if not I hope you two are good swimmers," Kronos said and little after he did the trio came upon a crater with no snow in it as if unaffected by its environment. As they looked deeper they saw a crystal ball right in the very center of the crater.
"Is, is that it?" Spike asked as he ran over to grab it, Kronos tried to stop him but he was too fast.
"Yes yes it is." Kronos said.
"How does it work?" Shining Armor asked as he and Kronos got closer to Spike.
"I think it might work by thought," Spike said as he continued to hold the relic. "I mean there's not really any other way, there aren't buttons or anything. So if I just think about the last time I saw Twilight a little before-" before Spike could even finish that sentence the three were sent through a time vortex. When they reached the end they were at Canterlot castle at the time of the Changeling invasion. "Oh my gosh it worked!"
"Yeah it really worked!" Shining Armor said as he found he was placed in the exact same spot he was during his wedding and saw his sister alive and fighting Chrysalis.