"Look. I hope all this helped, but... I really need to get back to cannin' those apples."
"Thank you. We're going to set things right."
Applejack makes a quick sigh. "I hope y'do." And with that, Applejack leaves Twilight and Spike with the map.
"So, how are we going to set things right?"
"I DON'T KNOW!!!" Twilight buries her face in her hooves that she rests on the edge of the map. "The only thing we know for sure is that Starlight stopped the Rainboom."
"And that the map's still here," Spike adds.
Twilight gasps. "Spike, that's it!" Spike falls to the former floor in response. "The map is connected to the Tree of Harmony! It must sense that something isn't right! That's why it's still here!" Spike gets back up as Twilight stops again. "Wait a minute. Something isn't right. Remember what I told this present's Applejack?"
"That there's no war with King Sombra when we came from?"
"Exactly. We can't keep messing with time. But we can mess with the future. If Equestria is at a standstill in status against the Crystal Empire, maybe I should be of some help. Perhaps, the front lines?"
Spike scratches his chin with his claw. "I do know for a fact, though, that we destroyed King Sombra, not just defeated him."
"So, maybe destroying King Sombra could just be the key to aiding Equestria." Twilight puts a wide smile on her face. "Without King Sombra, the crystal ponies won't know what to do."
"So, where do we get this present's Cadence?"
"Not sure yet. But she must be either in Canterlot or the Crystal Empire."
"But, doesn't the Crystal Empire take up half of Equestria?"
"Yes, it does, but I'm talking about where it originated. But we don't need to get her. We've got to focus on the most important key of all. That would be destroying Sombra and freeing the crystal ponies."
"So, how about we find Applejack and see what she thinks of it?"
At Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac carries the barrels out of the farm to be sent off to the front lines while Applejack supervises the entire factory.
Twilight comes in with Spike to the factory. "What do you want now?"
"Nothing from you, but I have an idea that could give Equestria the upper hoof."
"And that would be..."
"Me at the front lines."
Applejack just put a confused expression. "I confirm it, you have bumped your head on a crate of cider."
"Just look." Twilight reveals her wings to Applejack by turning her side and flaring them out.
"Oh, right. Y'have wings. Okay. What're y'all gonna do at the front lines?"
"I'll destroy King Sombra himself. It'll be dangerous, but it'll be the key to give Equestria peace again. My mission is to spread friendship across Equestria, no matter what present. And I will do anything that's for the good of the long run of Equestria."
"And what's this dragon gonna do while you're at the front lines?"
"Perhaps, I could be of assistance in Manehatten?"
"Starlight Glimmer?" Spike and Twilight get confused. "The pony you said had 'changed the past'?"
"Oh, her? If we stay here, I'm sure she won't be able to change the past again," Spike answers.
"But where is she?"
"She's still in the past."
"Well what're y'all waitin' for? Y'all have a king to stop!" Applejack puts on the first smile since Twilight and Spike have been here.
"I'll meet you back at Ponyville, Spike. When the Foal Free Press announces that King Sombra is destroyed, make sure you take the first train going to Ponyville from Manehatten."
"You got it." Spike puts a thumbs up for Twilight. "You coming?"
"No, I have wings. Plus, this train goes straight to Manehatten, according to the schedule I read."
"So, see you in Ponyville?"
"See you in Ponyville." Twilight offers a pump, which Spike accepts.
Spike enters the train and takes a seat across from the boxcar door, hearing the horn blowing from the engine.
As he arrives in Manehatten, his first stop is the town hall. It is a towering skyscraper just like any other over here.
As he enters the main hall, Spike meets the mayor right away.
"Hello there, Spike right?" Spike nods. "How could I help you with contributing to the cause?"
"Is there any lines of clothing I could help out with?"
"Okay. There's an open spot or two. Which one would you like? Saddles Road or 78th Gallop?"
"Who works there?"
"Where?"
"Either?"
"Saddles Road... Shadow Hide and Indigo Top. For 78th Gallop... Calling, Unison, Nerve Sew and Top Hat. Oh, and Rare Belle."
"Rare Belle, why does that ring a 'belle'? Rare... rare- Rarity! I'll take the spot at 78th Gallop."
"Do you know her?"
"Whe- uh, where I came from, yes."
"Very well then. Work starts tomorrow morning. We are indeed very busy with out shifts, and we will take in anyone willing to work for the cause."
"I'd say the cause is holding up considering that Equestria's at an actual standstill from what I heard. At the very least, Equestria's still around."
"Well, it's about time we got some recognition to keep our efforts at an all time high for so long. Trust me, your spot is going to be very close to this friend of yours."
"Thanks."
Twilight looks across Equestria for an open field that battles might be taking place as she flies high in the sky to avoid being noticed. But then she realized something. "Oh, great. I'll probably need a uniform. Off to Manehatten it is then." Twilight freezes. "Or maybe..." Twilight attempts to relocate where she saw Carousel Boutique. It works out successfully as she's inside the boutique.
"Okay, let's see what we have here." Twilight starts looking through the shop only to see sets of the same dress, uniforms. Suddenly the dusty air catches up to her; Twilight sneezes once. "Okay. I may not want to stay in here too long. Unless..."
Twilight relocates again, this time in front of the boutique and levitates the nails out of all the boards, all of which fall to the ground. Twilight proceeds to move them to a nearby trash can, coming back to the front door and attempting to open it. It doesn't. Relocating again, Twilight opens the two windows by the door to move the fresh air in. The dust moves out quickly enough for Twilight to evade a second sneeze. "Now, which uniform should I go in? Pegasus? Earth pony and unicorn? Oh, bless it, I'm going with the one fit for a pegasus."
"Hi!" Spike waves at Rarity, who has a mess of a mane instead of its well stroked organized beauty it should be.
"Aww, aren't you the most adorable thing."
Spike chuckles at Rarity nervously. "Um, thanks."
"Are you here helping with the cause?"
"Yeah in fact. Who knew it would look like such a dump. Perfectly understandable though."
"What ever do you mean?"
"The cause and all."
"Although I have to agree with you on the simply dreadful working conditions, I must say that at least we keep this place functional."
"Yeah. Like I said, perfectly understandable if it's only a simple dump. As long as this place could function, I'd be okay with it since we're locked in a standstill."
"Wait, do you know anything about sewing."
"Oh, I'm willing to bet I could since I've been around someone who could. And we'll get that pony back no matter what, where and when."
"How will we know that?" Rarity looks at Spike now, still on her production of uniforms.
"If the Foal Free Press lets us know we have the upper hoof, which will never happen," another pony remarks. "Now get to workin', dragon!"
"Okay."
Silence falls with sound aside from the constant clicking from the sewing machines in the workplace. That is until static sounds in front of the sewing line.
"Attention everypony. News from the Foal Free Press. A new soldier has recruited herself to the battlefields, we could really use help like this alicorn here, who has the same name as a nurse that originally attempted to enter the Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."
Spike points to the flat screen which shows a statical image of Twilight, being compared to this present's Twilight. "Would that be this present's Twilight?"
"Which one?" Rarity asks.
"The one on the right, without wings."
"I suppose so. Princess Celestia is one of two alicorns that are from here."
"So, is the other alicorn Princess Cadence?" Rarity nods.
"It's amazing that an alicorn is risking herself for the fate of all of Equestria. Perhaps this will be a revolution for all of Equestria. More news from the Foal Free Press is coming soon." The screen turns to static again only for it to turn off.
"So who's this Twilight pony you're talking about? The nurse or the alicorn?"
"The alicorn would be the Twilight that I came with from another present."
"Another present? There are other presents?" Rarity looks at Spike a little confused but intrigued.
"You could say that. Do you think that would explain how there are three alicorns over here now?"
"I suppose so."
High up in the clouds, Twilight finally finds a field that is being used in battle. Looking more keenly, she sees what looks like King Sombra. As a bit of preparation, she builds charge of a spell she found when she saw the changelings during the invasion in Canterlot. Next she stands on her hind hooves and spreads her wings. And just like that Twilight dashes so fast that the cloud disintegrates behind her. Aiming towards King Sombra, Twilight forms her changeling-like impact shield. She charges faster and faster until lightning comes from the impact shield.
"CHANGELING!!!" All the soldiers surrounding what is clearly King Sombra run away from him, including his own soldiers. However, King Sombra himself never flinches, but feels the shaking that comes from Twilight landing directly in front of him on his crystal mountain. Much to his surprise is Twilight Sparkle, the time traveller. That is when King Sombra jumps so high that he falls off the cliff.
"Hello, King Sombra."
Sombra gets up and shoots a stone out of his horn towards Twilight, who blocks it with another shield.
"If you think that's going to stop me from destroying you, then so be it, but it won't be true." Twilight summons a stone that catches Sombra's eyes.
"Wait, what... is... THAT!!!"
"This is the Crystal Heart from my present. This present's Crystal Heart is trapped in your crystal spells that blanket the Crystal Empire. And it needs the help of another Crystal Heart that has freed another Crystal Empire. My present's Crystal Empire is now far from any danger that will pass in the future."
"What!!! No!!! You're lying!!!"
"If you think I'm lying, then would it be more believable to summon something you can't or summon something in an open part of space, time and reality, despite it being in an alternate present?"
"The... latter?"
"Good! Now that I've gotten your trust, would you lead me to your Crystal Palace?"
"Very well, on one condition."
"Shoot."
"That you put your present's Crystal Heart back where it came from."
"Very well." Twilight relocates the Crystal Heart she summoned and follows King Sombra. "Phase one, check," Twilight whispers to herself.
At the Crystal Palace, King Sombra stops in front of Twilight, who bumps into him. "So, what shall be the reason we are here?"
"I want to show you my magic. I'm just as capable as summoning stone as you are."
"That's a very good advantage... perhaps we shall team up?"
"Oh, heck no. I said I could summon stone. But that doesn't mean that I'd join you." Twilight re-summons the Crystal Heart she had presented previously to King Sombra.
"No!!! That is mine!!!" King Sombra races towards Twilight who relocates right under the palace with the Crystal Heart still in her levitational grasp. The heart comes to the center of the base of the palace, taking away Twilight's grasp on it, who willingly gives it up. The heart then starts to shine brighter and brighter, brightening every single street of the Crystal Empire.
"No! No!!! STOP!!!"
The streets turn back to their brown selves before the heart starts spinning rapidly, filling Twilight with a crystal barrier in protection for what's to come, leaving King Sombra exposed to the elements that turn him to pieces flying all over the southern direction. In process, King Sombra screams. Twilight has done it. She has defeated Sombra like she was supposed to the first time around.