Chapters Chapter 0.5: "Slice of Life?"
Author's Note
This entire story has been written from the viewpoint of a real MLP episode or a first-person game, so it might have a bit more awkward tone than normal.
Song(s): [A Single Mistake]
Chapter 0.5: "Slice of Life?"
The Prelude
It all began during a trip to the Crystal Empire. I was reading books at the Crystal Library, when Starlight brought a piece of paper to me:
"Hey Twilight, remember this piece of paper? (nervous laughter) Starswirl asked me to give it to you, soo uh, here it is."
"Oh Starlight, how were you, and how and why in Equestria would Starswirl ask you to give it to me?"
"Uhh, it's a bit complicated, I and Sunburst were just walking outside the Crystal Empire and then-"
"Wait, you were walking outside the Crystal Empire, you mean literally outside, that's just.. uh, crazy !"
"Okay okay calm down Twilight, and then somehow he appeared and then literally gave me this piece of paper and told me to give it to you. Sounds simple enough? (nervous laughter)"
Spike snatches the paper and reads:
"Dear Twilight, here are two spells that you have grave experience with, one being "my unfinished masterpiece" which you helped finish and the time travel spell; I have altered it a bit so nopony like Starlight Glimmer can change it again. This is a gift from me, to you. Signed by Starswirl the Bearded."
Starlight blushes in embarrassement.
"Oh my gosh this is so awesome; we should go and check it out now!"
"Oh yes, you should totally go, Spike and I will just stay here an-"
Twilight uses her teleportation spell to return to her castle.
"Oh well, there she goes. Oh and Starlight would you mind bringing me some rubies, I'm very hungry!"
"(groans)"
After going to the throne room, Twilight decides to cast the time spell, and she did. Then she entered the portal, but she wouldn't ever guess what would be waiting on the other side of the portal.
The Alternate Era
Twilight enters the other realm, but is met by only devastation and suffering. She wanders around to hear screams of pain and agony all around her now blood-splattered remains of her castle. She then decides to enter a room next to the throne room, and sees multiple ponies being tortured by the castle guards.
"Hey, what are all you doing in here? If you don't move away from there right now then I will-"
"But uh, Princess Twilight Sparkle, you're the one who ordered us to do it!"
Twilight orders them to stop the torturing for a while and actually give them care and medical support for their injuries before heading back to the throne room.
"Why am I in the present of an alternate dimension when I clearly meant to go back to the past? Maybe I did the spell wrong!"
She then returns to reevaluate the spell:
"The past and future merged together, in a distinct chain of the present, leading back to where we all began, entirely on hoof, with a delight of alteration and change, opposite of the truth. Wait a minute, "with a delight of alteration and change, opposite of the truth", That isn't in the spell at all! Oh no, there isn't a counter-spell to return to my own world! What in Equestria should I do?"
As Twilight keeps reaching dead-ends while thinking of a way, she decides to:
[Twilight Sparkle]:
If only- I created a counter-spell,
I only have to find it,
A single mistake,
Twilight gains confidence after singing to herself, and so she decides to find out how to escape this alternate dimension.
Chapter 1: "Alternate Adventures"
The Effort to Stop
Twilight rushes out of the room, and immediately rushes into every chamber of the castle, which has now all been changed into torture chambers, and orders the castle guards to stop the torture and treat them for their injuries. However, as she opens one of the rooms, she stares in utter disbelief.
She sees Applejack and Fluttershy tied upside-down by a barbed wire covered in blood.
"Applejack? Fluttershy? you guys are-"
Then she notices all of her remaining friends; Starlight is being caged in a metal cage with acid dripping all across their body, Spike being waterboarded using ice-cold water while being forced to swim inside of liquid nitrogen, Rainbow Dash having her wings being chopped off using a hacksaw, Pinkie being suffocated using balloons, and Rarity being rotated in a breaking wheel while her flank was being poked using hot pokers.
"Are you guys all-"
She is stopped by Rarity, who says in a crying voice:
"Please oh Princess of Darkness, please let us go. I am sick of this pain, My hooves are twisted and my flank has been melted by hot pokers. Please !"
Twilight nearly faints after seeing her friends in such a bad state.
"I.. I can't take this!"
She then takes up a piece of glass, and stabs herself multiple times, before crying out loud:
"Release them! Release them immediately! "
The guards are in complete shock, as this world's Twilight has never asked anyone to stop the torture of her "friends ". She would set other ponies free in return for slavery or heavy-duty work but never listen to their pleas. Regardless, the guards set them free and they all fall limp on the floor, mainly due to their injured bodies. They then take all of them including Twilight, but Twilight stops them:
"I don't need medical treatment, they need medical treatment!"
A now injured Twilight then leaves the room and continues entering more rooms, freeing more ponies, until a single room catches her eye:
"The Room for the Fucking Royals?"
She then enters the room, only to see Shining Armor in chains, Cadence being beaten using a machete, Flurry Heart is being starved, and Celestia and Luna being forced to hurt each other. Even before anyone can say anything, she exclaims:
"Set them free !"
The guards are again in complete shock, but they do it anyways. Twilight then continues through the castle, releasing more and more ponies, and after nearly six hours after entering this world did she finally finish. She then decides to take a stroll outside the castle, with a disguise that is:
"Hey mate, how much do these apples cost?"
"Five bits per se."
"I'll take two!"
"Wait, you must come with me first, I have something to show you!"
Twilight follows the shopkeeper, as he leads the path ahead:
"Haven't seen you around here for a while, are you new here?"
"Well yes of course, you know, I used to live in Canterlot, just came here to visit my family!"
"Eh, having a peaceful time here, not being bugged by the princess, uh right?"
"Yes, having a great time here, well uh, where are we going anyway?"
She says as they turn a corner into an isolated alley:
"To get robbed that is! (Maniacal laughter)"
He brings a knife out of his pocket, and holds it against her neck:
"Give me all the bits you have, or else.. Get ready to be decapitated!"
Twilight then takes off her hood, to reveal herself:
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, I.. I.. uh.. Please forgive me, I'll never do anything like it again!"
"Oh you will be punished, for you have passed your limits!"
The shopkeeper's face turned pale, as he knew what his punishment will be:
"No please, your punishment is painful. I've seen first hoof how-"
"Not that kind of punishment, as I am not your Twilight."
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"I entered this world because I accidentally added a few lines to a time spell that I tried casting to go back in the past."
"Our Princess was cruel and manipulative, she used to treat us like toys."
That's when the realization hit Twilight:
"That means, if I'm in this world while this world's Twilight is missing, that means she is right now in my world causing mayhem and trouble, meaning if I ever even can return to my world then I will be hated and disgraced by everyone there!"
"Please don't leave, at least help us save ourselves from our Twilight when she returns before leaving for your own world."
"Okay, that's a deal, but you must promise to never rob anyone again."
"I promise, and again, thank you for your help."
"You're most welcome. Now let's get started!"
"Also sir, what's your name?"
"Fierce Gold."
"Also I only used to rob people to make ends meet."
"Don't you have the apples?"
"You know, in these times, everyone hoards staple food, and not mere snacks like my apples."
"Oh okay, that's fine.. actually not fine by me, even if it is used to make ends meet."
"You're right, I shouldn't have robbed these people anyway, but in this Equestria there is no law and order."
"That's not good."
"It isn't, but we can do nothing either. Also, I feel bad for the people I have robbed, they did nothing to me, and all I did was steal their life savings by force."
"I think you should go ask an apology for as many victims you remember and try your best to repay the stolen money."
"I can't, the princess has set an outrageous amount of over 1,000 bits per pony to live just one month in Equestria. And those who fail to pay the taxes will be locked up with the other prisoners in the torture cells. "
"Can't you all just, like, go to other lands, like, the-"
"We can't, the princess has conquered and destroyed those lands, and held the ponies who fled there hostage for their supposed "betrayal ", though many ponies did manage to escape."
They hear the sounds of collapsing buildings in the distance:
"We need to hurry, now!"
"There is only one creature that can help you."
"Who?"
"King Centaur."
A new being?
"Where can I find him?"
"King Centaur, the king of the ursas, has been captured and locked away in Tartarus, with the door being locked with a special padlock that only the princess can open."
"Since you are the exact copy of our princess, you maybe can open the lock?"
"I don't know, maybe, I can try."
"But you'll need to show me the way.'
"This world's Tartarus is located atop Mount Aris. It was moved after an infiltration attempt by the three races of Equestria. It has since been protected by a magical force field that alerts the princess if anyone tries to break through. Since you're the princess, it really won't matter if anyone tries to break in."
"Okay then, let's save all of you!"
The Real Chapter 1: "In Spite of Weseluck"
The News Spreads
Shining Armor gasps upon hearing his sister's disappearence:
"D... do you really think she is fighting some monster back in the past?"
"I don't think so, maybe. It is possible that she went back to a period of time when she and her friends were fighting with some monster, even though she can do magic and alter history, she would still be a visible hologram only."
"We should let the princesses know, maybe they can help."
Just then a stranger entered the throne room:
"How dare you enter this palace without any permission from anyone! Also, how did you pass my guards? They don't let anypony come here."
The stranger smirked, as he teased Shining Armor:
"Oh dear prince, I have permission from somepony who everyone adores. And for your guards, I have put them to sleep."
"Oh really?"
Shining Armor then takes a peek outside:
"(Whispering to Starlight) Oh my gosh, he really did put all of them to sleep."
"(Clears throat) So then, who is is that decided to send somepony like you here in my castle? (Whispering to Starlight) I hope it is Twily."
"The all great, Starswirl the Bearded!"
"(Scoffs) And how do we know that?"
"You don't have to, little cunts, I'm-
"Are you serious, cause I can send you to the dungeons for calling me-"
"I am the son of the greatest wizard in Equestria! And also I was just joking."
"Proof please, you were rude to him so, I'd like something that signifies that you're his son."
"Here, I can do a spell that changes time!"
"(Whispering) Wait what, I thought only I, the princesses, and Starswirl himself could do it."
"(Whispering) That is if he is not his son, but who would be the mother then."
"(Whispering) I... don't... know."
"(Whispering) Oh wait, did he already cast the spell?"
"(Whispering) I think so."
"(Clears throat) Where are we?"
"In the past of course!"
"Uh, why is it so dark?"
"Because King Sombra liked the dark."
"So you're saying..."
"That we are..."
"One thousand years in the past !?"
"See, I told you, I am his son."
"Wait a minute, I'm pretty sure that this is a vision spell, not a time spell, let me try doing the unvision spell"
Starlight lights up her horn, and struggles for a bit, before managing to cast it, but having no change whatsoever; she begrudgingly accepts the fact that they are in the past:
"Uh, good sir, can we go back?"
"Sure can do, but first, do you believe now that I am his son?"
"(Groans) Yes, sure."
"Okay then, stand back."
The stranger lights up his horn, and casts a counter-spell, and returns to the actual timeline.
"Uh sir, what is your name?"
"Starsmart the Weseluck."
"Does that mean you're umm, smart?"
"Of course I'm not as talented as my father, but I do have some hereditary talents I inherited from him."
"How come we've never heard about you, let alone see you?"
"Also, how were you living when your father and the other pillars were in limbo?"
"Aah it is a long story. My father married a young mare when he was young too. Together they gave birth to me. After he and the pillars got stuck in limbo, I got stuck in my father's journal, one of the artifacts. After Twilight and her friends saved my father from limbo; I was thrown away into the depths below. I after so many years have finally managed to exit the depths, and I am now the true heir if my father's belongings."
"Then how come none of the books nor Starswirl himself mention that he married somepony or even gave birth, it doesn't make sense."
"Well, you see, my father didn't want to get married, but he was forced by my grandparents. After I was born, he divorced my mother and left on his own. My mother then also disowned me, so my father took care of me. However, he kept it a secret because he was afraid that he would be teased if anyone realized that he got married once, so that's why there's no reference of either my mother nor me."
"That was a really nice, and boring speech. Also uhh, how did you even survive in the depths? It gets freezing down there and there is no source of food or water down there."
"Also you're not an Alicorn, so how come you are still, well um, young?"
"(Deadpan) Didn't I say that I am the son of Starswirl? It should probably make sense about the fact that I can perform age spells, magic up firs- I mean fires, food, and coconut juice? Come on, I believe even you guys can do that."
"Uh, no we-"
Shining Armor uses magic to bring a platter of food, water, and some dry sticks:
"(Clears throat) I mean I can't do it."
"Come on Starlight, it's easy."
"Seriously? You're not joining him to tease me, are you?"
"Wait a minute, I think we spent ten minutes just chatting here while who knows what has happened to Twilight!"
"We should leave, like right now !"
"Fear not, my little ponies-"
"I will-"
"For I can do a teleportation spell!"
"Uh, I think we both-
"Yeah, now it's time for you to tease me, since I am not as talented as you, since you literally like changed a Starswirl spell on your own without any help at all."
"Well then thank you , I may now, or might as well, call you a loser."
"Starlight, I am very sorry, but that's not how you speak to, royalty !"
"Heh, bet you."
Starlight then teleports right in front of Princess Celestia and Luna:
At the Castle
"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! Twilight's missing!"
"Wait what, since when?"
"Well apparently she went back to her castle to do some time spell and now she's missing for over six hours."
"Spike, how are you here?"
"Well duh, somepony has a sister-in-law, right?"
"Cadence, how did you know?"
"Meh, I told her, and she was like "Oh my goodness we must go this instant." So um yeah, that's how."
"Wait, isn't that Twilight and her friends?"
Everypony looks back, to see them:
"I left my apples after Rarity said she was missing."
"And I had to leave my flying practice."
"I had to leave Angel alone."
"I had to leave my baking sessions."
"Wait, so then how did you find her?"
"Well, we all were searching for her in the outskirts of the Everfree forest; then, she just appeared out of nowhere and then she said that there was nor is anything to worry about."
"Uh, what were you saying?"
"So that means I came here, for no reason at all."
"Twily where were you, we were very worried."
"(Whispering to Shining Armor) She did act weird and evil when we first found her."
"Oh, I just, went to visit Zecora, I was kinda missing her."
"(Whispering to Applejack) Well, it looks like everything is wrapped up."
"Well then, we should probably return home. Everypony, there's no reason to worry, Twilight has been found!"
"Well, that wasn't too alarming."
"Heh."
"Hey, where will I live?"
"I think..."
"It's best you reconcile with your father."
"Sounds great. Also sorry for teasing you guys, especially you Shining. Okay then, bye."
"Guess we really did have a happy ending after all."
Chapter 1.5: "Trepid Troubles"
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. 