Twilight stared at her reflection. Enveloped by nothing but cool white moonlight, she almost didn’t recognize herself. After all these years, the wear and tear of rebuilding Equestria after the fall of the two sisters had taken its toll on her. Bags hung beneath her eyes, yet, almost unimaginable, Twilight still looked the same as she had been when she had been part of the elements of harmony. Turning herself slightly, she caught a glimpse of the pair of lavender wings attached to her back. In a cruel twist of fate, Twilight had suddenly ascended shortly after Celestia’s death, becoming an alicorn, similar to those three Princesses who would forever be stuck in her mind for eternity. Abruptly being made immortal without warning, she was left with the task of putting back together a kingdom in ruins.
However, that was years ago. Many years ago. Three hundred years to be specific. Long enough for a new generation to be born; innocent and untouched by the catastrophic event that had occurred three centuries before. Perhaps her newfound divinity masked the tired disposition of Queen Twilight, but inside, Her Majesty ached to be released from her alicorn chains. What more was there for her now? She had achieved her goal. Not only had she restored Equestria, but she had helped it improve and modernize so much more than it had been during the reign of Princess Celestia and Luna. She had created more spells than even Starswirl himself, and increased Equestria’s magical knowledge ten-fold.
Yet... Her friends were gone still, her parents, her brother, Cadence, her mentor… what more was there left for her in this world?
Twilight put her hoof to the mirror, a forlorn look in her eyes. The golden crown that stood upon her head suddenly felt as heavy as it had been when it was first placed upon her at her coronation. What Twilight needed was a way to become mortal again. One might think that she could simply take a way out the way Princess Luna did. Believe her when she says she did try. Every single method underneath the sun did she try. Poison? Not even a small effect. Drowning? Well, it appears she can breathe underwater. Stabbing or harming herself with a dagger? Her alicorn skin always closed up quickly no matter the wound, and her blood was endless. Twilight let out an apathetic chuckle. Ah, the irony, for a filly who had wanted nothing more than to become a princess like that of her mentor, it seemed awfully like a living nightmare. What a cure to have a divinity stronger than even that of the former Princesses of the Moon and Sun. While they certainly lacked invincibility, Twilight’s was unmatched. It was something that present-day equestrians took with pride. But for Twilight, she just wanted an end.
Stepping away from the mirror, Twilight sighed and moved towards her elaborate bed. Taking off her regalia she lay in bed awake for a few minutes. Reminiscing about the carefree days she lived in Ponyville along with her friends. She eventually began to giggle, reminded of the times Pinkie Pie told a joke or when Applejack and Rainbow Dash got into a fight when their competitive natures clashed. Though as it did every night, her laughter soon transformed into quiet sobs and like the night before, and the night before that, Twilight cried herself to sleep
Author's Note
2024 already? Feels like 2023 was just a couple days ago…
I totally did not write this all in one sitting am I right?
That night, Twilight dreamed. Which was not often with Luna gone. However, it was the most pleasant experience she had in a while. She dreamed of her friends and family, and the life they could have had together. She dreamed of her brother and Cadence having a baby, dreamed of the wonders that child could have brought to the world. She dreamed of gaining a student, a former villain turned hero. Even greater, she saw a distant future where she opened a school, one which was open to all creatures and taught the magic of friendship for generations to come.
It was bittersweet, the dream was. Twilight felt such a strong longing for this reality to be true, yet she knew in her heart that it could not be. Towards the end of her dream, she saw the two sisters. An ache formed in her chest that felt all too real to just be part of her dream. Watching the memories play, she almost didn’t notice the door that had opened up into her dream.
“Hmm… What exactly is this dream?” An all too familiar voice coming from the door made Twilight’s blood run cold. “The outside door looks exactly like Twilight’s dream, but that doesn’t make sense for there to be two doors,” The voice murmured. Twilight approached the door cautiously.
“Who’s there?” She announced with the authoritative voice she had mastered over the past few centuries. The door was quickly shut, and the trespasser of Twilight’s dream revealed herself. Twilight froze. There was no doubt about it, the navy blue coat, black obsidian regalia, and starry mane spoke for itself. Someone who was definitely not supposed to be there. Princess Luna herself quirked an eyebrow and tilted her head.
“Twilight? Is that you? You look a bit different.” The night princess floated over to Twilight, circling her in a slow motion. “My, you certainly are taller, and look! Your mane matches that of mine and my sister’s!” Luna exclaimed a little excitedly. Noticing how carried away she had gotten and the odd expression on Twilight’s face, she quickly gained her bearings. “Ahem,” she cleared her throat, “Excuse my behavior, but why are there two dream doors of yours tonight?”
Twilight, previously astonished and bewildered, snapped back into the moment. Since gaining wings she had always been able to be aware of herself dreaming, but this was just too real.
“Impossible!” Twilight shouted, to the surprise of Luna, “H-how are you here?”
Luna chuckled a bit in confusion. “Whatever do you mean, Twilight? You know that I have control of the dream realm, why wouldn’t I be here?”
Twilight responded seriously. “Because you’re dead.” Luna's eyes widened and she went silent. “Either I’m dreaming, or I’m also dead,” Twilight continued. She couldn’t help but feel just a tad bit excited at the prospect of finally being free.
Luna’s gaze softened and she looked Twilight in the eye. “You are not dead, Twilight Sparkle.” She walked closer and placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, now a bit taller than her. “But I am also not a figment of your imagination.” Twilight began to tear up a bit. “Come with me, Twilight, why don’t you come and tell your story to me.” Lured in by Luna’s naturally calming aura, Twilight, like other fillies whom Luna comforted, began to tell her everything.
By the end of her story, Twilight was in tears. Even Luna was sniffling a bit.
“I’m sorry, Twilight, for the trouble I have caused you,” Luna said waveringly, “I never expected that such an action of mine would affect you and everypony so much.” Twilight shook her head.
“No, it really is nopony’s fault, not yours, not Celestia’s, not anypony,” Twilight said, beginning to dry her tears.
“There is one part of your story that doesn’t make sense,” Luna said, Twilight looked at her. “Celestia saved me, that’s why I’m here. So why does your story say she didn’t?”
Twilight shook her head. “I’m not sure.” Luna was deep in thought for a moment, but Twilight could see it when Luna formed an idea.
“Well, the Twilight that I know did say something about her visiting other timelines, something having to do with a spell and her student. Perhaps that is what’s happening here.”
Twilight found the idea plausible. “So, you’re saying that I’m from a different timeline than you?” Luna nodded.
“I believe so,” She said, “Twilight, do you still have any of Starswirl the Bearded’s spells in your world?” Twilight thought about it, and remembered that it was true.
“Yes, many of his works are still in the Castle of the Two Sisters, which is still standing,” Twilight said with a small smile. “Why?”
“Twilight, when you wake up you must go to the castle and find the scroll that can help you go back in time to the moment I decided to end it all. Save me Twilight, save the me that was in your timeline.” Twilight felt a spark of hope in her.
“You think that will work?” She asked.
“Yes,” Luna said, “If you manage to do that none of what you told me will have happened and your life can go back to normal.” Luna then looked to the ground of the dream and then back at Twilight. “When you save her, tell the me in your timeline that there are so many people that love her. More than she realizes.” Twilight nodded.
“I will,” She said confidently. Luna smiled.
“Well then, I wish you luck, Twilight Sparkle of the other world.” With that, she lit her horn, casting a spell that sent the Queen from another timeline back to her reality.
With a start, Twilight woke up. Reeling from the experience she had just had, she knew what she had to do. Dragging herself to the balcony of her chambers, she spread her wings and began to fly towards the Castle of The Two sisters. With her years of experience, Twilight made it to the castle in no time, setting her hooves on the familiar cobblestones of the old castle. The sounds of the Everfree forest drifted along the wind and though the castle was eerily dark, it was comforting as well. Twilight had not been in a very long time. The castle was now a lot more overgrown with foliage and there were small animals who took the place as their own home. Dodging over obstacles, Twilight soon found herself with the castle’s library.
Twilight lit her horn, her magic casting the dark walls with a magenta glow. Being the bookworm she was, Twilight had made a spell that could help her find a book or scroll in no time. Closing her eyes she focused, her magic caressing each book and scroll with the gentleness of a mother taking care of her foal. Feeling the pull towards a section, Twilight made her way towards it, feeling it call out to her. When she finally opened her eyes she was in front of a scroll. Taking it out and unraveling it, she found the spell that was the key to reversing her timeline. With a deep breath, Twilight spoke the words in her head and suddenly the world began to shift.
With a gasp, Twilight opened her eyes to find herself in her original unicorn body and inside the Golden Oak Library. She scanned the room and found her #1 assistant Spike sweeping the floor. Unable to contain herself she launched herself onto Spike, wrapping him into a tight hug.
“W-woah! What’s gotten into you, Twilight?” He exclaimed in surprise. With a jolt, Twilight remembered her mission and began to run out the door, dropping Spike in the process.
“Ah, sorry, Spike, but I have to go!” She yelled hurriedly. Spike groaned and scrambled to his feet.
“Wait, Twilight! Where are you goi-” Spike was cut off as Twilight slammed the door shut. It still being early in the morning, Twilight knew she had no time to waste. Running as fast as she could, she gathered up her magic and teleported in a satisfying pop.
Startling a couple of maids, Twilight ran at full speed. Up ahead she saw the pristine white coat of Princess Celestia. Twilight almost burst into tears.
“Princess!” Twilight shouted. Celestia looked back at her with a warm smile on her face. It almost broke Twilight to think that if she failed she would once again have to see her mentor broken again.
“Ah, Twilight, My faithful student, what are you doing here and in such a hurry?” She asked. Twilight stopped to catch her breath briefly.
“P-princess!” Twilight puffed after all the running, “Y-you need to get to the gardens immediately!” She shouted. Celestia tilted her head.
“Hmm? Why?”
“Please, just go!” Twilight shouted, even the staff were starting to get concerned. “Hurry, please! It's an emergency!” Celestia’s expression soon turned serious at her student’s grave tone.
“Very well, Twilight, let’s go,” The princess said, and she began to sprint. Without the earth pony part of her, Twilight could barely keep up with the speedy princess. It wasn’t too long before they were in the gardens. To her horror, Twilight could see Princess Luna hurtling to the ground, getting closer and closer to her imminent demise. Before she could realize it, she heard a large gasp come from Celestia as a flash of white flew towards Luna as she fell.
Twilight held her breath praying to whatever might be above for Celestia to make it in time. Closer and closer Luna got to the floor. Twilight could see that the Moon Princess's eyes were closed. Twilight’s heart hammered in her chest and a thin anxiety she hadn’t felt in years took control of her body.
The sound of feathers colliding sounded softly as Celestia caught Luna mid-fall. Twilight let out a sigh of relief. Snap! Twilight looked around. Did anyone else hear that? A realization dawned on her. She felt it within her bones. Her timeline had broken. It was erased and now it was being rewritten. Twilight let the tears flow out. She had done it. Yet, she let out a sharp cry. The millions of lives from the original timeline that would never take place because of her. All that time that she had spent rebuilding Equestria was now nothing. Though… She looked at the two sisters, who were both in tears, not focusing on anyone, but each other. What timeline would she have been happier in? After all of her hard work, shouldn’t she deserve this? The sisters were now smiling at each other. Twilight sighed, then smiled. She was finally back home.
Author's Note
It appears timelines are way more complicated once you start thinking about them.
