//------------------------------// // Q is for Quality // Story: The Heart of Worlds // by Alchemystudent //------------------------------//  Eons ago... For  a few moments, Twilight laid there on the ground, her world being nothing but a swirling mass of colors and shapes when she found herself being thrown through the portal. When Twilight woke up, a young unicorn looked at her, "Wow, you look like the Queen of Friendship." When Twilight looked at the unicorn, her memories of what had happened moments ago had hit her. Twilight then turned away, tears in her eyes,"I couldn't save them..." She muttered. "Save who?" the unicorn asked, looking up at Twilight. "And why are you crying?" "My friends, they're all gone. My magic couldn't stop them." Twilight sobbed into the ground. A loud and boisterous voice shouted from the hill, "Cadet, what do you think... is that a unicorn crying?" the mare asked, walking with long strides. Brushing a hoof through her white mane, the pony shouted, "Dry your tears,young alicorn! Whatever problems that you may have, I FAITH, can make them vanish!" "She said her friends are gone," the little filly said, backing away as the pony spread her wings in shock. "Her friends have banished you say?" the mare said, her horn picking up a flower and handing it to Twilight, "Dry your tears! for I, Faith, will help with that you need!" she then gave Twilight a hug, "Just know that you are not alone! Perhaps I, Fatih, will be able to help you find your compatriots." "Um, mistress, shouldn't we-" "See, young alicorn, I faith, am a very powerful magical user myself!" Smirked the dark blue alicorn. Twilight gasped,"Trixie!?" She shook her head as she giggled a bit,"No that's impossible." She blinked,"Uh, what year is this?" The year? Well before I, Faith, tell you what it is, you must understand something. There are two times here! The first, and most important, is Faith time, and anytime that I, Faith, am here is FAITH TIME!" Faith smirked, "Then there is the other times that the other queens go by, and that year is Queen Majesty reign 120! Why do you ask?" Twilight gasped,"Oh, I'm in the friggin' past." She muttered,"I wonder if Trixie has Trixie time. Don't want to ask, though." She looked up at Faith,"Can you take me to Queen Majesty?" Faith noded, "Why yes I, Faith,can! As a matter of fact, that was my next stop. I, Faith, was just showing my new apprentice how to control a tiny fireball." The unicorn nodded and generated a fireball, "Cool huh? Think I will be great as you?" "One day, little Swirl, one day," Faith then put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, "Now come, damsel! We must be off, and then you can tell I, FAITH, all about your harrowing tragedy!" Alright," Twilight nodded as she told Faith everything. She talked at length about her adventure so far, but made sure to leave out anything that might ruin the timeline. "Indeed, your adventure is truly one of epic proportions,” Faith said, putting a hoof to her chin. “This Valtor sounds like similar to the Darkness that one pony came to the queens to ask for help in stopping.” "The... Darkness?" Twilight asked. “It's what me and Forgiveness have been calling what is trying to get to the heart of worlds. When Cunning tried to scry, she was hit back with a vision of a black thing reaching its claws to the heart," Faith said. "Hmm, can the Queens do anything about it?" Twilight asked, then a teenage alicorn mare walked by with a wreath cutie mark,"Terra?" Twilight asked for a bit. "Ah the little sister! Have you heard of her in your time?" Faith asked "Uh, yeah, let's say that she's very important..." Twilight said. “Well, to Queen Majesty, she is very important," Faith chuckled as a little black alicorn colt ran by. "Come back here Terra, give me back my doll," squeaked the colt. Faith chuckled, "and that would be lil Titan." Twilight began to chuckle,"Oh, you don't know how funny this is right now!" She said as Terra began to play keep away. "Ir is pretty funny right now, if you ask I, Faith," Faith chuckled as they neared the castle.         Twilight looked up at the castle, admiring the sight. The large purple castle resembled the castles of old, complete with parapets and flags holding banners high. Throughout the castle pegasi and earth ponies began to hustle and bustle around, making the large imposing castle seem like a collection of ants swarming it. Ahead of them, a orange alicorn with wavy red and yellow hair stood, waiting for them, "Forgiveness," Faith said, walking towards the other alicorn with a smirk. Forgiveness bowed, before shaking her old friend’s hoof"Faith, and who is this young one?" She asked, looking down at Twilight. "Sunset...?" Twilight whispered. "Her name is Twilight Sparkle, a friend from out of time. It seems that she got separated from her true companions and I, Fatih, have chosen to help her," Faith said, a smile on her lips. "Out of time, you say?" Forgiveness looked down at Twilight,"Come on then, I think Majesty can help." Twilight began to think,’Huh, I wonder if my magic is translating them, I mean, the language should've changed...’ "Forgiveness, speaking of Majesty, have you found anything more about her or Mimic's condition?" “Wait, Majesty's condition?" Twilight asked. "Sorry, I meant information about Majesty, and about Mimic's condition," said Faith. " See the alicorn Queens are quite curious as to how Mimic knew of the heart of worlds. And, they are also curious as to why Majesty is allowing the last of the children of the first unicorn to descend into just a state." "That's the thing, Majesty has been really cryptic as of late." Forgiveness said,"She keeps saying that she'll only give the displaced one a proper explanation” “Hmmm,"Faith looked down at Twilight and smiled, "Sounds like anypony you know?" Twilight nodded,"Wow, crypticness must run in the family," She muttered,"Okay, take me to Majesty!" The two alicorns nodded and walked with Twilight towards the throne room, only to be halted by a white unicorn with a two toned mane of red and blue, "Excuse me, but Queen Majesty is busy right now. Could you please wait for about thirty minutes?" "What is she doing?" Asked Faith. "I don't know, but she said it's important," Moondancer said. "But it could have something to do with what Wind Whistler is studying in the library."         "Wind Whistler!?" Twilight squeed,"Ooh, can I help her! Moondancer noded and pointed down the hall, "The library is down that way." As Twilight ran to the library, she would see a room that was filled with shelves and resembled much of the libraries in Canterlot. From wall to wall there were shelves upon shelves. The book having been strewn about the library in various towers and piles.When Twilight looked down the the center of the room, she would find the books stacked in ordered piles. Some taller than others while others were opened, "No no no, this is not good. This is absurd," said a light blue pegasus with a light pink mane. on her flank was three whistles, "No, how can this be. Hmph, out of date." Twilight gasped,"Oh, my goodness," Her mouth watered at the organization of the books. She ran to the pegasus,"Anything I can help with!?" She asked with a big grin. The pegasus poked her head out from behind one tower of books, "Yes, you can help me get 'Gethersmane's points of relativity." Twilight gasped,"That book's been lost time!" She said, trying to find the book. "Quit incorrect, it has not been lost in time, but it was only lost due to poor managerial set up," Wind Whistler said, looking over the books. "Oh, but you see, I'm from the future, so to me it was lost to time! Maybe if we fix the managerial set up, we can better keep a volume for the future!" Twilight said. Wind Whistler poked her head up, eyes wide, "The... future?" for a moment, the normally stoic pegasus smiled and flew to Twilight. "How did you manage such a feat? How far along are you? When did you get here? You must tell me all you can. Oh..." she flew back ,"Sorry, lost control there. "That's okay, I do it too!" Twilight grinned,"As a matter of fact, you're famous in my time! Oh, if it weren't going to mess with the timeline, I'd tell you everything!" "No, telling me about the future will be most inadvisable," Wind Whistler said, pulling out a book. "Unless we run on a multiverse theory, then anything that happens to this timeline and anything you tell me will only have an effect on the timeline here. Oh, this is so fascinating, I wish we had time to correlate theories." "Oh, yes! But my friends are in danger, and I have priorities..." Twilight frowned. "I understand, this is why I am here," she said looking at another book, and then taking to the air, "I assume you have heard of Mimic and her current state?" "Yes, let's just say I've kind of saw the past before through someone else's eyes." Twilight sighed. "Hmmm, spiritual transference. Interesting," Wind Whistler said, "Must more of Mimic's 'plan' and the reason she split me and the others up. Still doesn't answer the important questions." "Like what?" Twilight asked. "Why those spots, when you look at them as a pieces, they are quite unremarkable," Wind Whistler said, "A land under sea, a forest full of flutter ponies, and then the arid desert. There is nothing connecting the three locations. Or the one I went to." "Where did you go?" Twilight asked. “Some plains that we quite far from here, next to Mount Avalon," Wind whistler said, "I found nothing there, except maybe for a forest that I have no idea about why it is there. So, I returned here to discover help for Mimic." "And I guess you didn't think of anything you were supposed to do there, did you?" Twilight asked. “She visited the site where Ponyville is going to be.” "No,I did not," Wind Whistler sighed, "It doesn't' make sense, what is the connection." Wind Whistler tapped her hoof against her chin, "And why is Mimic's magic only now destroying her?" Twilight frowned,"It has something to do with the Heart of Worlds. Do you think it's reaching out to her?" "The Heart of Worlds, that is another puzzle," Wind Whistler sat on her haunches. "What is a Heart?" "Well, I understood it as some sort of symbol of power in a universe." Twilight remembered her previous adventures,"I saw several when I traveled to other worlds. " Hmmm, the other worlds, could you tell me about them. You do not need to give up anything that will change the timeline, but just the bare facts..” She then sat there and listened intently to Twilight, taking note of everything that Twilight had seen throughout the world, “"Wait... heartless... nobodies... darkness... a need... A NEED!" Wind whistler shouted ass she began to look through the books. "A need?" Twilight asked. "Yes, the heartless needed to know who they really were, the nobodies needed to know that they were there own ponies and become embraced with hope, and the world of darkness needed a light to show them the way. Each world needed a virtue to be brought to them in order to save it. That is what they were testing for," Wind Whistle smiled. Twilight gasped,"You're right! But where does that lead us?" She asked. "I do not know, but I do believe that the reason why Mimic sent us to those locations was because that was where the portals were at their weakest and we were sent there to fix it. We are serving a harmonic convergence to help create a stronger barrier to the Heart of Worlds, with mine as a centerpiece," Wind Whistler said, but then sighed, "But this does not answer what need i serve. The others I understand: Gusty is always willing to give of herself, Fizzy is kind and ridiculous, while Truly is truthful. This leaves me." “Hmm, would you do anything for Mimic?" Twilight asked. Wind Whistler nodded, "I know I can be callus sometimes, but make no mistake, I would stand with all of them to the death." Oh, no! You're not that callus!" Twilight grinned,"As a matter of fact, I kind of admire you. "You do?" asked Wind Whistler. Twilight nodded,"You're intelligent, hard-working, and you use big words. I even wanted to be you when I was a filly!" Wind Whistler smiled softly, "Thank you." Twilight smiled,"Don't thank me yet, I'm not done helping you figure this out!" "Right, so now we know that this is meant to help the heart of world's. This makes me worry for Majesty and the Queens, what if they can not handle whatever it is that is after the Heart of World's and why is Mimic suffering?" "Miss Twilight," Moondancer said, "Queen Majesty will see you now." Twilight turned to Moondancer,"Thank you," She looked at Wind Whistler,"I'll see you in a bit!" She trotted off. Moondancer led Twilight to the throne room, "Presenting, Princess Twilight Sparkle." As Twilight walked into the throne room, she was taken aback by the sight of the white unicorn that stood before her. "Um, hello?" Twilight meekly said,'Oh my gosh, I'm speaking with Queen Majesty, in the past! Oh, I am having such a nerdgasm!" "Welcome Princess," Majesty nodded and bowed to Twilight, her vibrant blue mane seemed to droop around her, "And what brings you to me, Princess "Uh, I'm kind of time displaced right now, but I want to help Wind Whistler figure out why Mimic's acting weird." Majesty sighed, "Ahh, the time displaced one. I knew you would arrive soon. Come sit," the queen said, putting a cushion underneath Twilight. Twilight sat down,"My Queen, you don't know how... exhilarating this is for me." "Oh, has my legacy been revered that far?" asked Majesty, the white alicorn smiling Twilight nodded,"Yeah, I mean," She frowned,"I'm not supposed to tell aren't I?" She sighed.         "It would make me a little happier to know." "Well, I'm not going to tell you too much, but," She smiled,"Let's just say the future is in good hooves, for now at least." Majesty sighed, putting a hoof onto her chest, "Good, I am glad that my legacy has endured. I was a little concerned." "Concerned?" Twilight asked. "Yes, Majesty sighed. "You know that Mimic has been sensing the darkness that is coming for the Heart of Worlds, and how Mimic is getting sicker thanks to her overwhelming power?" "Yes?" Twilight asked. "I had felt the darkness coming to the heart since Mimic's symptoms had first started. I thought it was my duty to try and stop him from getting to the heart and taking its power, before moving onto Mimic herself. The Darkness needs a body after all, so I-" Majesty then began to cough, a small splatter of black blood dribbled from her chin. "S-sorry. Twilight gasped as she ran up to Majesty,"Majesty! This... I can't let you do this!" Twilight's horn glowed, scanning Majesty's body. "It's...it's too late, Twilight," the alicorn sighed. "I-I brought it upon myself when I challenged the Darkness to combat alone. I thought that it was my duty alone to protect Mimic, but he was too strong. He blasted me with all he had and left me with this curse. I know what will happen. I will become corrupted, and turn into a nightmare. Then it will be up to Mimic and the others to stop me. My sister," a tear fell down from her cheek, "Will ascend the throne after me, and the alicorns..." she paused. "The alicorns, the Queens of Harmony can help!" Twilight said, flying back a little,"Let me go get them!" "They are heading into battle with the Darkness," said Majesty. "I do not know if they will win, or if they will lose and fade away into their souls and rejoin The Harmony Tree, but, that is why I influenced Mimic's vision." "Y-you were the one who gave Mimic her vision?" Twilight asked, hovering in the air. Rainbow's voice went inside her head,"Twi, now's not the time to interrogate her, we need to save her!" "Of a sort, I gave her a vision of four locations, in trouble. It was up to her to pick the right mares for the job. She knew her friends better than anypony," she coughed, more black blood dribbled out. "So, how was that spot that Wind Whistler went to in trouble." Twilight asked. "Twi..." Rainbow's voice echoed “Wait, there was nothing there?" Majesty asked. "This makes no sense, she should have found a place where she was needed. I gave Mimic the vision of four  places where the dimensional fabric was at its weakest. She was supposed to pick four ponies of noble virtues that would’ve been able to perform a great task that would’ve helped to seal the barrier and save that world. This would’ve helped to protect the Heart of Worlds by adding an extra seal to protect it. "Maybe... she's needed here?" Twilight flew closer to the window." "Perhaps, but why was the area she went to abandoned? What purpose could she serve here?" "Protect you!" Twilight's eyes glowed magenta as she opened the window,"I'm going to the Queens!" She said as she flew off,"Come on, Twilight, you need to save her life, just... find a place with six alicorns who look somewhat like your friends!" She thought, as a shadow of Rainbow Dash flew above her Majesty let out a gasp as she watched Twilight leave, "I don't need protection! I am assigned to my fate!!" Wind Whistler caught sight of Twilight flying overhead,"Where are you going?" Wind Whistler asked, flying with Twilight. "Majesty's in trouble, and I'm going to save her!" Twilight shouted. “What? In trouble from what?" asked Wind Whistler. "And how can I help?” "She's absorbed a few pieces of darkness, and she may turn into a Nightmare. I need you to look out for her while I get the Queens!" Twilight shouted. "What is a Nightmare?" "It's a being that sort of like all of a pony's evil traits magnified."Twilight said, flying ahead "What?! And Majesty is becoming infected by all of that? And I assume she is resigned to her fate?" Wind Whistler said "Yeah, and I'm not letting her die like she wants to!" Twilight shouted, a rainbow streak appearing in her mane. Shaking her head, the light blue pegasus asked"And how do you plan on doing this? How do you plan on saving her?" "First, I'm going to find the Queens, and then I'm asking them to cure her, and then, barring that, I'm creating a new spell on my own!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Create a new spell?” Wind Whistler could only look on in shock at the alicorn’s raw determination. Ten she added, “ Quite illogical for you to put forth this effort for a pony you only heard about in legends.” "It's a life!" Rainbow Dash cried out,"I'm not about to let her die, even if it's the past and she's probably going to die anyway, I'm going to make sure she survives!" Wind Whistler smiled at this and nodded, "You are right. Come on. There is something that I saw back on that plain that might be interesting." Rainbow Dash nodded, as her eyes went back to purple, and the rainbow streak disappeared,"What did you see?" Twilight asked. When they landed on the plane, Wind Whistler walked a few feet in front of Twilight, "I saw something shining right around-Ah... here we are." she then picked up a small gem. "Tell me, does this look like a seed to you?" Twilight held the gem in her magic and looked it over, “It kind of does.” As the gem floated in the air, the crystal began to glow brightly before transforming into a large portal, “That must be the key!” “The... key?” Wind Whistler said, looking at Twilight curiously. “Each of the three gates was protected by a key that we had to get in order to open the portal. And each of those keys were attached to you in order to keep it seal when one of you did a great task,” Twilight said. “Like what?” Wind Whistler asked. Twilight looked to the pegasus, “Well,  Truly helped to save the seaponies, Fizzy helped to get the flutter ponies out of the dark, and Gusty helped push Jade back onto her road of being a hero.” “Which leaves me, and what my role in all of this is,” Wind Whistler said. “And how can I and the other form a key. Of the four of us, only Fizzy is capable of magic.” “That, Wind Whistler,” Twilight said, stepping through the portal. “Is the last piece of the puzzle.” Stepping through the portal with Twilight, they found themselves in a barren land, dust and wind billowing around them, "Twilight, was it like this for the other worlds that you have visited." "No, at least," She looked around,"There were more buildings." "Loyalty, we are being followed. Check to see if Twilight has found us." A voice said. The rainbow alicorn nodded and turned, to see the purple alicorn with the blue pegasus, "Yes, and she has brought a friend Twilight looked at the alicorns, and flew to them,"Please, your majest-" She blinked,"How did you know my name?" Loyalty shook her head, "I am not sure of all of the details. That's Friendship's job." Friendship smiled,"Twilight, I should know the pony who's been riding my memories for these past few weeks." She looked at Wind Whistler,"And you must be Wind Whistler." Y-yes, your majesty.," Wind Whistler bowed. "Riding memories?" Friendship smiled,"I'll explain... later. Right now, what brings you here?" "Queen Majesty, she's dying. She fears that she may turn nightmare.,” Twilight said. Friendship gasped,"So that's why she's been so distant!" She looked at the other five,"What do you think we should do?" Honesty sighed, "We’re still making sure of the locks of the Heart of Worlds at still working.” "But, we can't let Majesty go nightmare!" Generosity said, shaking her head. Friendship frowned,"Honesty, Loyalty, you and I will go check the locks of the Heart of Worlds. Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, you go help Majesty." Kindness nodded, spreading her wings wide and flying over to them, "Come along, you two." her voice was soft and whispering, like a calm breeze. "Oh, this is going to be good," cheered Laughter as she ran ahead through the portal, chittering and giggling all the while. Twilight shuddered,"Oh, Celestia, she's a god-like Pinkie..." She muttered as she followed the alicorns. "What was that, dear alicorn," said the sultry voice of Generosity, her mane billowing softly. She tucked the alicorn's chin and smiled softly. “Uh, nothing." Twilight thought for a moment,"If Friendship knew about me, do you know about my friends?" Generosity smiled, "Only bits and pieces. Friendship gave us hints about what each one of them looks like and how they act." she breathed slowly, "I have to admit, I am proud to know about the one who inherits my armor." As Wind Whistler followed she moved next to Twilight, "Twilight, do you know where they went in your time?" "I'm sorry, I don't." Twilight said,"And that worries me." "It scares me as well," nodded Wind Whistle as they stepped back onto the plane of their world. Twilight flew up and lead them back the castle,"I hope we're not too late..." she thought. As they reached dream castle, they could feel a small rumbling, "Hey, this feels funny!" squeaked Laughter "Oh, no..." Twilight whispered. Laughter ran at the speed of light, putting up pillows when the explosion sounded. After the rumble of the explosion, ponies began to land on the ground as a loud laughter began to sound out through the land, "Oh my." whispered Kindness. "I suppose that is what we are worried for," Generosity said. "Oh no... MIMIC!" screamed Wind Whistler, taking off. Twilight watched in horror, and then her eyes turned magenta,"Alright, let's hold her down, and then we'll figure a way to save her!" She flew up and towards the sound of laughter. From the hole that was once the throne room, a white figure sat on the throne. Her wings were wide and veinous, much like a bat's. Her dark blue eyes watched in rapture as Twilight and the three Queens arrived to her, "Hello, my fellow alicorns." chuckled the alicorn formally known as Majesty. When the waved a hoof,three unicorns were forced to bow, "Welcome to my new home. Please call me Nightmare Magnificence! Bow before my glory!" her eyes gleamed with an evil shine. Twilight bit her lip,"... I'm going to stop Majesty for now. Do you three think you can do something about Mimic?" Her horn glowed as her body was covered in a shield. Kindness nodded, and placed her hoof onto the shield, "I can keep you safe." Generosity looked over her shoulder and whispered to Laughter. The pink alicorn nodded and raced off in a blur. Twilight walked slowly towards Nightmare Magnificence,"Majesty, I know you're in there, you can fight this." "Fight it? why? I am a god! A queen that has finally taken her proper place," laughed Majesty. "I have the power to change the world, I have the proper ability to actually control the ponies and keep them safe. I am the queen that the ponies of this world needs!!" Twilight flared her wings,"Majesty, this is not keeping them safe. You are listening to lies perpetuated by the Darkness you absorbed." She ran at her,"And I will save you from it!" "Save me? who is going to save you from yourself?" Majesty asked, firing a blast of fire magic at Twilight and then taking flight. "How do you think I am not keeping them safe?" "Mimic," shouted wind whistler as she continued to fly though the shaking building, only to find a light green hoof near some rubble. "No." "W-windy?" smiled the unicorn, coughing slowly. "Hey there." "Mimic, are you ok?" the pegasus asked, running her hoof through her friend's mane. "What happened?" Mimic coughed a little, "Majesty heard I was getting worse and went to me, she wanted to try and help me. B-but she started to twitch and rock in pain when she got nea-" she began to cough violently, "that was when she began to turn. I-I think she lost control f the darkness." “Majesty was infected?" asked Wind Whistler. "Why do you think I sent you out there? Sh-she wanted to save me, but I wanted to save her instead," smiled Mimic weakly. "She is just too important to this world." "Illogical, you are important to this world, just as much as the queen," Wind Whistler said. "B-but without her, the races could crumble. What would you rather save, one or many?" "Logic states that it would be more provincial to save the many," Wind Whistler said, holding the head of Mimic, "but I believe that it is more advantageous to try and save everypony, no matter what." "But, what if you-" "There is always a third way, there is no such thing as only one solution," Wind Whistler smiled. "But I am... so far gone. If I die now, then my power could stop her," Mimic moaned. "Let me go, Windy.Let me give my power to Terra and she can stop her sister.” "No! I refuse," Wind Whistler said, looking down at her friend and shaking her head. Tears rolled down Mimic's cheeks, "What choice do I have?" "Aw, there's always a choice, look there," pointed Laughter as three ponies came running towards the the two mares. Wind Whistler smiled, "Mimic, I know I can be... callous and to the point, but please understand this. You cannot give up and abandon the ponies you care about, no matter what. Quitting is so, pointless. What do you learn from by quitting, what is there to gain." "Y-you would continue to stand with me, even if there is no point?" Mimic whimpered. "I would stand with all of you, because I would always find a way to help," nodded Wind Whistler.         The blast of fire hit Twilight, sending her flying to the ground. Twilight coughed as she got up,"I... don't need saving." She put her barrier up again and fired a bolt of magic at her. Majesty smirked and flew up and around the bolt and dived towards Twilight. A lighting bolt crackled along Majesty’s horn and shattered the purple alicorn’s shield electrocuting her. As Twilight screamed in pain, the armor began to redirect the lighting through her body and into her front hoof. Clapping her hooves together, she launched the combination of fire and lighting at Majesty, blasting her out of the air.         MAjesty crashed to the ground and shook her head. Looking above her, she saw Twilight surrounded by yellow arrows, “Flare Arrow!” shouted Twilight as she launched the arrows at Majesty. Majesty created her own hail of ice arrows and sent them flying at Twilight, each arrow hitting each other in a mash of attack, creating steam. For a moment, Twilight panted, waiting for the next attack. As the steam cleared, she saw Majesty charging a golden bolt of light. Firing the bolt, Twilight blocked her shot with her shield. Then, she began to push the shield back, pushing maJesty and the energy backwards slowly. Majesty grunted trying her best to hold back the power.         With a final grunt, the alicorn broke the struggle and flew into the air, growling at Twilight, “Stand down princess! Surrender, for you are facing a god of magic.”         Twilight smiled as she began to waver, “ Stand down, queen of old... I am magic!” then she took off in a sprint, creating after image and after image. Majesty watched as Twilight used the shadow spell to keep her eyes busy. Then the alicorn screamed in pain as a rock pillar hit her in the side and sent her into the sky. As Majesty hovered, she struck Twilight with a white lighting bolt, “Tell me... little alicorn, are you tired?” Twilight gasped,"I'm... just fine..." She fired a beam of magic at Majesty. Before Wind Whistler could say any more, she hear three sets of footsteps running towards her. Looking up, she saw Gust, Truly, and Fizzy being led by Laughter. Laughter giggled and flew up, “I’ll let this go to you girls, I have to hold in Twilight’s fight.” "Mimic!!" shouted the three mares. Gusty sat next to the green unicorn, "Mimic, we're here! It's going to be ok, trust me. Wind Whistler, what's happening to her." "Her magic is taking its toll, it's going to kill her," Wind Whistler said. "Then put her magic into me!" "No, you can't," whimpered Mimic Fizzy nuzzled Mimic, "I brought the horseshoes, she should be fine right?" "I don't know," Wind Whistler shook her head. "Put them on." "Oh, y'all don't know anything about fixing shoes. Let me try," smiled Truly, getting down to each hoof and began to fixing the shoes on each leg. As she finished with the final shoe, she muttered, “Just a little more and there!” Generosity smiled at Laughter, "Well, will you look at this. five mares,united by friendship." "Caring for one another," Smiled Kindness. "I think you know what's going to happen," smiled Laughter. "And they do too." "Please Mimic, we need you," Wind Whistler said, a tear falling down her face. "Please." Truly shook her head, “Please, no... just... not after all we have been through.” Gusty began to cry as she sat next to Mimic, “Please Mimic, I’ll never forgive you if you die.” “Please Mimic, say something!” Fizzy cried. Mimic's hoof lightly touched the seed that Wind Whistler had with her," U-unite." The two alicorns stared each other down as they stood in the ruins of the castle, their blades drawn. Majesty grinned as she glared at Twilight, “Tell me Twilight, did you ever think you could beat me?” “No,” Twilight panted, sweat rolling down her head, “Just keep you busy.” “Busy? For what?” Majesty asked. “Your salvation,” Twilight said, racing at MAjesty as a beam of light shown out from the distance. Let me tell you a story, Majesty... Wind Whistler closed her eyes, feeling the flames lick her wings, "W-what on earth?" The flames began to crawl up her body, covering her, and bonding to her body. Once there were six dragons, friends to the Queens of Harmony. They were sent by Bahumut to find and protect the source of magic in the multiverse. So they traveled the multiverse, finding clues and soon found the font of magical energy.The purple dragon lost her five friends in the course of the journey. So heartbroken was she, that she used the magic for one selfish thing... to bring back her friends.   "Something's weird," Gusty muttered, feeling the wind on her horn becoming stronger. The wind slowly enveloped her in a tornado. The six dragons used the magic to bring it forth across the universe, giving the earth ponies their strength, the pegasi the power over the weather and flight, and the unicorns their spells. The five dragons then sealed their power into five orbs, known as aurameres and placed them within the halls of Kandrakar "M-mimic?" muttered Fizzy. Water began to pool at her feet before washing over her body Soon the dragons died, but not before making sure that the world that they loved so much and the ponies they cared for were protected. Thus, they made sure that, one day, their power would fall upon five who will protect the multiverse as the Queens protect Harmony "Where's-" Truly was interrupted by the blinding light from Mimic. Around her, her body began to get covered in earth. Six queens to protect harmony of the multiverse, they will be the knights who will make sure that the virtues that we all hold dear will be safe. They will inspire others with their light. But five guardians will rise to protect against the corruption of the multiverse and to aid the Queens. Mimic began to softly speak, "five elementals, protecting one princess and guarding the heart. This will happen and will always happen. We are guardians! Quintessence." "Fire," "Water" "Wind" "Earth" Each pony said this, as if the words were always in their hearts, and their bodies began to glow brightly. As Twilight finished her story, she panted, “Heh, so...that was the meaning of that story. Heh, thanks Mom,” she then fainted. Terra looked on in fear, watching the five lights fly off, "S-sister." the alicorn whispered. Magnificence smiled as she lifted her sword above her head, only to be hit by fire and wind. Looking up at the two offenders, she growled at seeing Wind Whistler and Gusty at her side. As she charged off, Truly used her earth magic to pick up Twilight and put her outside. The nightmare growled at the five newcomers, and slowly lifted her hoof to beckon the five, "Come then, fight me." "Well, we aren't gonna kill her are we?" asked Truly. Mimic shook her head, "No, we just need to beat her." Mimic said, charging her lighting and shooting it out at Magnificence. The alicorn screamed as the lighting struck her body and returned with a crack or the earth, shaking the four earth bound ponies. As the earth shook, Wind Whistler sent out waves of fire at Magnificence, singing her wings. Taking off, the white alicorn charged at her opponent. Turely used her earth magic to lift up the other mares, while Gusty took flight with her wind magic, sending out tornadoes at the alicorn to send her tumbling in the air. Magnificence growled and sent a lighting bolt out that struck at Gusty, hitting her hard in the chest. Fizzy gasped and sent a stream of water at Magnificence, who blocked it with her wings. Mimic smiled and sent a lighting bolt at Magnificent, electrifying her. The alicor flew to the lighting user and uppercutted her hard in the chin. However, her back wa opened for a strike from Wind Whistler. Magnificence used her own wind power to blow her away. Terra watched this in horror, "Sister!!! Please!!!" "You know what you must do," Generosity said. Friendship walked up with her friend from a portal, "You must join them." "M-me?" Terra asked. "It takes six," Loyalty said, smirking. Terra nodded, running to the battlefield. She flew up to catch a falling Mimic and landed her down on the ground. Magnificence smirked at her sister, "Poor sister. I am going to have to kill you. See, I know about your daughters, oh yes. One of them...one of them will bring darkness to us all. And I plan on stopping it." "No, you won't," whispered Terra, as she levitated her horn, magic glowing. Mimic looked to her four friends, uniting their magic with Terra's, shooting at once. Magnificence screamed as she felt the magic hit her hard. Wind Whistler let out a gasp, "I-is that the Rainbow of Light? Is that what happened to it?" "Yes, it went into the Heart of Equestria, which is in my hooves," Mimic said, showing her hooves as the rainbow struck Magnificence hard. Friendship gently levitated Twilight on her back,"You know what must happen now." She whispered to herself. Mimic smiled as she watched Majesty return to normal, before landing down herself and breathing softly, "There, it's done." "My stars, was... was that really us?" asked Truly, looking down at her element flowing around her. "Yes indeed, it seems that we were chosen not for our virtues, but for our magic as well. Each one of us were needed, because we were needed to protect someone or something. Be it the pride of a nation, a group of ponies, or another's destiny. I was meant to protect," "Me," Mimic said, smiling. "So, how does Twilight get home," Terra ased. "I think I might know, but first, I need to let Twilight have the third piece," Mimic said, giving Twilight a medallion, "This is Friendship’s medallion. It lets her feel wherever her friends are ad." Friendship smiled, holding Twilight close,"When you awake, you'll be near your two friends..." She whispered in her ear. And with that, Twilight vanished. The present Will sat at the station, her eyes wide in shock, "Come on, Will! Let's go!" Rainbow said, trying to pull Will away. The chromatic pegasus sighed, and shook her head. Twitching her ear, she heard a voice from the station. Looking up at a cloud, she flew up where she saw a figure in a cloak, "You!" "Yes, me. I wanted to talk to you abou-" "You bucking monster! This wasn't the deal! The deal was I kept this thing in me, take out Sunset, and keep an eye on Will, you never said a bucking thing about taking my friends away!" Dash yelled. The figure in the cloak sighed, "The master had a change of plans. It seems that he wants to isolate both you and the Heart to get to the last gate." "Bt, doesn't he need Twilight to complete the test?" Rainbow Dash asked. "No, he just needs Magic's soul. It can be anypony with the potential to become an Element of Magic in any world," the figure in the cloak said. Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her chin in thought, before opening her eyes wide, "Wait, Trixie and Twilight are gone, that leaves... no. he wouldn't!" "Yes, he would. He plans on visiting Sunset tonight, and convince her to stay asleep," the servant said. "I thought he was done with her. He can't kill her!" Dash argued. The figure shook her head, "Yes he can and he will. As such, you have a new mission. Keep Will distracted." "You expect me to leave Sunset alone?" Rainbow Dash growled, watching the hooded figure nod. "No, I can't. I would never," she grunted as she felt the insignia glow on her neck. "Remember, you fail to obey, and you will release the spell. Twilight will die, and the others will be infected by the plague. Now, do it," the figure said. Dash could only nod as she flew back to Will who was walking away. Twilight’s voice echoed in her head,”Rainbow, it’s alright. Just wait a little longer. Remember, trust me, I will help you through this.” Thousands of years ago Fluttershy looked around her, eyes opened wide in horror as the darkness loomed over her. She squeaked and whimpered as she heard the cracks and moans of the world around her. Letting out tiny whimpers she back up a little more towards the bushes, but stopped when she heard a whimpering noise. Looking inside, she saw a pair of blue eyes, "Oh, who is there?" called out the pegasus to the little shivering thing in the bushes. "Eep!" A little blue alicorn filly curled up in the bushes,"Don't eat me!" "Oh, don't worry, I won't eat you. My teeth are much too flat. It's ok," Fluttershy calmly said, offering her hoof. "I won't hurt you, I promise." The little filly looked up, and slowly raised her hoof to Fluttershy's.Gently, the buttery pegasus took the little filly by the hoof and helped her out. The filly shook her light blue mane,"Thank you pretty lady!" She looked up with a soft smile. You are welcome," Fluttershy smiled softly as she rubbed the little filly's mane. "My name is Fluttershy. What's your name, little one?" The filly kicked the ground,"Luna." She looked up with big eyes. "Luna? " Fluttershy said, in wonder (Could she be? No... it couldn't be possible. Luna has never said that she was this small and helpless.) "Well, Luna... what are you doing out here in this big forest all by yourself?" "Well, I was trying to fly out of the castle to show my big sister what I've learned, but then I looked down," She looked down at the ground,"and my wings stopped. Next thing I know, I was lost..." "Your wings stopped? OH you poor thing," Fluttershy said, looking back at the wings. Then she realized what went wrong, "What scared you up there?" "I, um," Luna shuffled a bit,"I guess I'm just a bit scared of heights..." “That's alright," Fluttershy said, laying on her stomach next to the alicorn. "I get scared of heights too." "But I'm a princess! I'm not supposed to be scared of heights!" Luna kicked a pebble,"I'm supposed to be strong, and brave, and awesome, just like my big sister!" "Well, I'm a pegasus and I am supposed to fly, but I am terribly afraid of heights too. As a matter of fact there are a lot of things that scare me," Fluttershy said, smiling softly. " You don't need to make yourself anything but the best you that you are. No one would look down on you for that." ------------------------------------------ A little filly Dash put her hoof onto the filly Fluttershy's shoulder, "Besides, anypony sas differently will get a hoof ful of Dash!" ------------------------------------------------------- "Beides, brave alicorns do get scared," Fluttershy said. "My dear friend Twilight is afraid losing her friends, and my friend Dash is the bravest pony I know, and she's afraid becoming alone." Luna began to sniffle,"Really? So even Momma can get scared?" Yes," Fluttershy said, wiping a tear with her wing ,"Even your momma." "But Momma is the second strongest pony in the world!" Luna raised her hooves in emphasis,"Tia's the first strongest." "But, being strong, doesn't mean that you aren't always fearless,"Fluttershy said, trying to remember something Applejack had told her once. "It’s all about conquering our fears. "Really?" Luna cocked her head. "Yes, really. Sometimes you need to be big and loud to prove it, like how my friend Rainbow Dash is big and loud. Or sometimes, you need to hide it all the way in, like my friend Applejack.," "Oh," Luna looked down for a bit,"So if Tia's acting strong during a monster attack, she could also be afraid?” Fluttershy nodded, "Yes, because she's afraid of what the monster will do if she lets it get away he might hurt you." "So, do you think Tia, Momma and Poppa are scared for me right now?" Luna asked. “Most definatall, shall we go to your home?" Fluttershy asked, holding out her hoof’ "Uh-huh!" She pointed forward,"Momma said I should look towards the blue light if I'm ever lost!" She jumped on Fluttershy's back,"Let's go!" A shadow passed them.Fluttershy giggled at the little filly's enthusiasm and nodded. Turning around she began to walk towards the blue light. A shadow went in front of Fluttershy,"Wait, little one, you aren't going too soon, are you?"         Fluttershy stepped back, putting Luna behind her,”Who are you?” "Is my name so forgotten now?" The shadow slinked over to Fluttershy,"I am a small part of the being known as Pandemonium, trapped forever by Majesty's spirit." "Pandemonium?" Fluttershy asked.         Pandemonium sighed,"In the beginning, young one, there was nothing, until two creatures were born: Cosmos and Pandemonium. Cosmos was a being of order, and Pandemonium was a being of chaos. The two saw each other as opponents and began to battle each other. They are still fighting to this day, as their blood from the conflict is what makes the seeds that create the TRees that build the planets of the universe. I am but many aspects of Pandemonium that he sends to crush those of Cosmos, such as Majesty. And I have been stuck here for years, slowly losing myself." Fluttershy blinked,”Is Discord one of your aspects? And what do you want with Luna?” "Discord? No, I don't want Luna, I just wanted to talk one last time, to someone who will listen." Pandemonium said,"I didn't want to be forgotten."         Fluttershy sat Luna down, "Are you afraid of being forgotten?" "Yes. You see, I'm slowly losing myself to time, and soon, I will forget how to move, or to speak. I will be nothing more than just the background to this place. This is why I've been keeping the creatures away from you, so you will remember me when others have forgotten." "I'm so sorry to hear that," she said rubbing the shadow's hand. "Thank you for protecting us. Is there anything I or Luna can do to help you? "Just... never forget." The shadow said, before disappearing as a white alicorn filly with a pink mane and tail appeared,"Luna!" She screamed as she ran to Fluttershy.         "W-wait," Fluttershy said, reaching out with a hoof, and looking down. She then turned to the white alicorn, "Oh, hello there. Is this your sister?"         "Tia!" Luna said, running to the filly as a larger green alicorn came up. Tia hugged her little sister, and then looked up at Fluttershy,"Were you taking care of her?" "Y-yes I was," Fluttershy said, looking up at the green alicorn, she bowed, "Um, are you their mother?"         "Yes, I am Queen Terra. Thank you for bring-" She blinked,"Kindness?"         "Kindness? Oh no, my name's Fluttershy," the kind pegasus said with a bow.         Terra smiled,"Sorry, you remind me of one of the Queens of Harmony." She bowed,"Greetings, Dear Fluttershy. Thank you again for finding my youngest daughter." Her horn began to glow as she pulled out a piece of paper.         "You are welcome, your majesty. I was doing my best to make sure she was ok," Fluttershy said. Then looking at the papr, she asked, "What is that?"         "This is a letter from Kindness. She told me to give this to FLuttershy, should I meet her." She handed Fluttershy the letter. "Dear Fluttershy, Don't worry, let Terra bring you home, Twilight is heading there as we speak, thanks to Friendship. Don't let Valtor worry you, for he has not won. The key to the gate, is in the place you least expect. One thing to note, prophecies are not always right. Signed, Kindness Fluttershy looked at the letter oddly, before looking back up at Terra, "Are you going to bring me home?"         Terra nodded,"If you wish." Luna held on to Fluttershy,"Wait, I want to play with her a little bit!"         Fluttershy knew it was better than to jump on the hooves of a queen, so she asked, "May she?" "Very well, but she mustn't stay too long, little Luna." Terra said with a smile. "Yay!" Luna hugged Fluttershy's neck. "Come along," Fluttershy said, taking Luna a little bit deeper into the woods. As she walked, she said, "I'll show you some of the little nocturnal creatures”         "Wow!" Luna said as she followed Fluttershy. Celestia looked up at her mommy,"Can I go too?" "Sure, be back by sunset!" Terra said with a smile as Celestia followed the two. "Now this," Fluttershy said, pointing up to a little bat as it flew to her hoof, "Is fruit bat." "It's so cute!" Luna said, petting the bat. The bat let out a small squeak as it was petted, before flying off into the night. A small lemur landed onto Celestia's horn, before jumping off. Fluttershy giggled at the sight before taking them on further through their journey, while a little tarantula crawled along Luna's back.         Celestia squeaked as she saw the tarantula,"Lulu!" She exclaimed. Luna giggled as the tarantula came across her back,"It tickles." "OH, don't worry Tia, Tarantulas aren't poisonous," she said as she picked the little arachnid with her hoof. "See, he just wanted to say hello." the little creature then waved kindly at Tia before crawling away.         Tia gulped,"It's just that, spiders kind of creep me out..."         Luna giggled,"Don't worry, Tia, I'll protect you!"         Fluttershy giggled as a team of fireflies flew to the young princess of the sun and flew around her head like a wreath, while a little one landed on top of Luna's nose. Just up ahead, six little kits ran together. This made Fluttershy smile a little to herself. She then saw a seventh little kit that looked sad and lonely, trying to be alone. The little Pegasus smiled softly and nudged the lightly orange kit to her six firend, “There you are... Sunset.” Luna giggled as the firefly flew off. Fluttershy led the duo through the woods, petting a wolf and helping Luna feed a possum. She then taught Celestia how to hold a little ocelot. Celestia giggled as she held the ocelot Luna snuggled up to Celestia as they walked with Fluttershy, and Luna let out a yawn.Fluttershy smiled softly, "Is somepony getting sleepy?"         Luna's eyes drooped,"No, I" She yawned again.         Fluttershy smiled softly as she let a few kits rub up against Celestia's leg, while the crickets began to play a soft melody All the stars, they shine for you Guiding you, and protecting you From their fields of blue Fluttershy helped a little mouse to a tree and gave one to Celestia, letting her help the little family reunion. From above, a soft hooting was heard as an owl floated over to Luna and landed onto her back. A little catfish jumped over the two sisters Dream, child so dear Wise beyond your years Never lose sight of who you are Luna leaned on Celestia's shoulder as Celestia began to feel her eyes droop. Fluttershy nodded, leading the two fillies back home. The animals around them adding their own music In time I see, in time I see You'll no longer need me Rise to meet your destiny Oh how proud I'll be! As she neared the clearing where Terra stood, the two fillies had fallen asleep on each other. Dream, child so dear Wise beyond your years Never lose sight of who you a Terra smiled as she gave Fluttershy a medallion,"This will calm all who are near you..." She whispered.         "Thank you, your majesty," Flutter bowed, before the energy made her vanish into the ether. Rainbow Dash walked calmly towards the library, while Will slowly followed her. As the cyan mare continued to walk, she would occasionally look over her shoulder at her companion before looking back. After a few more minutes of awkward silence, she discovered that Will had stopped, “Will, what is-” “How do you keep going?” Will asked Rainbow Dash. “What do you mean?” Dash asked. “Through all of this? Our friends are gone, separated by time thanks to Valtor, My memories are going away, and you are ready to head to a library to find information you can’t even you,” Will said. “How do you keep going?” Rainbow Dash shrugged, “I...just do. Too many ponies count on me for me to quit. And I never leave a pony hanging if it’s important.” “Even if it looks hopeless?” Will ased. “Here’s the thing,” Dash chuckled as she opened the library door, “I make my own hope, and then tell the ponies t follow me.” "Momma, Momma, look! That pony just popped out of nowhere!" a little unicorn colt said. The mare smiled, "Sure she did sweetie." "S-sweetie? Momma," Applejack asked herself as she got up and shook her head. "Uggh, where am Ah?" A stallion came up to her,”Ya’ll right?” "Y-yeah, Ah fine, just hit my head," Applejack said getting to her hooves and dusting her hat off. Looking up, she let out a gasp as she gazed at the large yellow stallion before her. He matched the height of her big brother, and had a very thick stubble. His yellow coat seemed to match the bright sun around him, only interrupted by the large apple on his flank, "P-paw?" she whispered, before hugging him tightly.         The stallion blinked,"Excuse me?" He chuckled,"Ah've never been mistaken for somepony's dad before!"         A blush came to Applejack's face as she pulled away, "S-sorry. It's just that, ya reminded me of somepony important. What's your name?" she asked, looking around at the city of Canterlot. She had been there enough that the white spires and the castle had become an usual sight.         "The name's Rambo Apple, and you?" He tipped his hat.         "A-" Applejack paused, from the appearance of her father, she knew she was back in time. Shaking her head, she said, "Abbigail Johnson sir." "Abbigail? Odd name, but A'ight!" He smiled,"What brings ya down here?"         "Well, Ah was traveling with some friends, when me and them got separated. And well, Ah just kind of want to find them and head back home."Applejack said, tiling her hat, hoping to miss the gaze of her father. Catching a sight of a newspaper, she remarked (Hmmm, just a day away from my brithday)         "Oh, mighty sorry about that!" Rambo looked around,"Ah'm right now trying to find a gift for mah daughter-to-be! Maybe we can help each other?"         "Why sure we can," Applejack smiled. "Your daugher? Why, you must pretty proud of that. What kind of gift were you thinking of?"         "Ah was thinking maybe a bow fer her? Or Ah could give her a hat like mine." Rambo said with a smile,"Ah'm so happy to get another kid, Big Mac don't have to be so lonely anymore!"         Applejack chuckled, "Ah know, bet he was always playing with dolls and trying to pretend that they were his little siblings. Wanting them to come alive and play with him or to show off his little tricks."         “Yah, and he won’t admit it.” Rambo laughed "Because he was slightly embarrassed by it. But you wouldn't care, right?" Applejack laughed as they walked into the shopping district. The laughs that escaped her throat were both a little happy and  a little sad.         "Ya sound like ya have experience?" Rambo asked as they looked around the shop. "Daddy, look, I'm a knight!" A white unicorn colt said. "That's nice, Shining." Night Light said with a smile. Applejack chucked at the sight (Wish Twilight were here to see this) "Yeah, Ah have a brother who the same way."         “Oh, that's pretty funny. Is he a nice big brother?" Rambo asked, as a white stallion with glasses walked by them, carrying some boxes. "Keep on boxing my stuff, Fancy Pants!" A stallion said. "Yes sir." Fancy Pants said in a very calm voice. "The best," Applejack sighed as she picked up a little doll. She could overhear a small white filly giggle. "Fluer, don't stare at the stallion. It’s not polite." "But he is so cute, mom," said the filly. "Isn't he, Sassy?" "I agree." A slightly taller unicorn filly said. Rambo looked at the doll,"Ya know, sometimes Ah secretly put a doll under Big Mac's door. He thinks it comes from Santa Hooves." He said with a smile. (So that's where he picked it up. That little trickster.") Applejack thought to herself, and then said, "Trust me, that doll is the one. A-She will love it. A little orange filly ran by, with a white unicorn with a pink mane and tail running after her,"Come back, Sunset!" The mare caught a glimpse of Applejack,"Honesty?" She shook her head as she ran after her charge. As the orange filly ran by, Applejack muttered, "Wait she's older than all of us?" she then smiled as she watched Sunset run by her. Reaching down, she scooped up the orange filly, "Where's the fire, kid?" Rambo smiled,"Thanks, Ah think she would- whoa!" He chuckled as Applejack picked up the four-year old. "I'm wooking for the Cwoud Monster!" Sunset shouted, her little hooves in the air. A gruff voice flew down at high speeds,"Whoa, what's this about cloud monster?" Said a rainbow maned stallion. "This brave little filly was on the hunt for a 'Cloud Monster' Applejack said. giving a little chuckle as she sat the little one back down to the white alicorn. As Applejack looked up at the stallion, she smiled, "Ah don't know if those things would be coming to Canterlot though."         The white unicorn nodded,"Thank you, it's very difficult with somepony her age, I just wonder how my mother handled this." The unicorn ran off. With a grin the stallion walked towards the two,"Are you kidding!? Those things go all over the place. They're harmless though." He looked at Rambo,"You having a kid, Ram?" "Eeyup! How about you, Blaze?" Rambo said. "Well one day, I mean me and Firefly just got married." Rainbow Blaze said. Applejack chuckled, "Just don't get those two together too soon. They will be competitive like nopony's business. Your houses won't survive." There was a smile on her lips as she thinks about her dear friend.         "Like us right now!?" Blaze chuckled,"After all, my daughter or son will  be the fastest in Equestria- no, the world!" "Yeah, whatever, mah daughter's gonna be the strongest mare in the world!" Rambo said with a grin. Applejack playfully flexed her bicep, reminding herself of how her paw was right. She then noticed one stetson, "Hay P-Rambo, get her this hat. It's a nice one for your collection."         Rambo looked behind them,"Hey, this hat is perfect! Thanks AJ!" He said, picking it up. A low growl was heard. "No prob, Ra," Appleack said, only to turn at the sound of a growl, "What in Tarnation?"         A large dog barreled over Blaze and jumped up at Rambo,"Hey there Hank!" He said as the dog licked his face.         “Hank?" Applejack asked herself. (Wheeee!" the little filly cheered as she rode on the large dog's back) "Hank!" she smiled as she walked over to the dog and petted his head. Hank turned, and sniffed AJ before jumping up and licking her. "Hank just loves new ponies, doesn't he?" Rambo said with a chuckle. Blaze shook his head,"Yeah, and barreling over pegasi..." "Y-yeah,"Applejack chuckled as the dog licked her. She rubbed the brown dog's head and smiled, "Hey buddy. I bet you can't wait to have some adorable pups." she tried her best to not to cry as she got to her hooves and putting her hat back on her head.         Rambo smiled,"Come on, Gala's making apple cobbler at our hotel." He motioned behind him,"Y'all can come too!" Blaze grinned,"Sweet! Gala's cobblers are almost as good as her cider!" He said, as Hank led Applejack to a large hotel. "M-Gala's making apple cobbler?" Applejack said with a smile. "Well, what are we waiting fer?" she cheered, running out.         Rambo went into the hotel,"Darling, Ah brought guests!" He said with a smile.         The pregnant mare came out from her kitchen, "Hunny! Welcome," Gala said, her red coat showing off her orange trees on her flank. She hugged her husband and kissed him deeply. Applejack tried her best not to turn green at the sight, making Gala notice, "Oh, and who is this?" "This is Abbigail Johnson, she's kinda separated from her friends!" Rambo said, with a kiss on Gala's cheek. Blaze grinned as he flew in,"Hey there, Gala, where's the little colt?" "In the other room, he is," he smirked, "having another 'conference'." she smiled as she hugged Blaze. "How's Firefly?" Applejack walked into the hotel room and saw in a corner, a little red colt talking to some dolls. She tried to repress a giggle at the sight. ("Big mac?" asked little Applejack. "Why are you playing with my dolls?" "I am not playing, I am having a conference," Big mac said. "Can I listen?" Applejack asked. Big Mac frowned at first, and then smiled, "Eeyup.") Applejack shook her head, "Keep having that conference, kid." "Will you two be staying for supper?" asked Gala. He flew to the table,"And of course I'm staying for supper!" Gala smiled and hugged her friend, "Ah'll get everything read." she walked by Applejack, "Miss Abbigail, you know how to cook, right?" "Why, sure Ah do," Applejack sighed under breath, "Ah learned from the best." ("Honey, isn't she too young to cook?" Rambo said. "Not at all, look at her right now," said Gala, point to the little filly as she held a spoon and put it into the bowl. "Look Aomma, Ah'm a cook. Amma making fwitters and cobbewr," Little Applejack said.) "Let me get those bowls for you, mam," Applejack said, standing on her hind legs and grabbing some bowls. "Hun, Ah may be expecting anytime now, but-" "Ah am still able to work," Applejack said at the same time. "Ah just wanted to help you out." "My, what a hard worker, Ah hope the little gal takes some lessons," Gala said, rubbing her stomach.          Rambo chuckled,"AJ, careful, she's a bit stubborn, even Ah couldn't convince her to let me help sometimes!" He said as he walked up behind Gala, and began to put his hooves on hers.         "That's because you know Ah would beat ya uyp," chuckled Gala as she put her head to her husband's. Applejack smiled softly at this sight, trying her best not cry. Blaze laughed,"Sweet Celestia, you two are acting more lovy-dovy then me and Firefly! I'm going to have to rectify that when I get home..."         “Fine then, you can then tell Fly how much better my hubby is when you are done," Gala smiled, much to Applejack's chagrin. After the supper was cooked, Applejack sat down with the others, "So, you going home after this?" "Yup," Gala smiled, "We had to make an emergency run of some apple pie and were just staying tonight." "Ah got to wrestle an unicorn," Big Mac cheered. "And Mr. Belle signed my hoofball." Blaze laughed,"Magnum Belle? That's awesome, little dude!" Blaze rubbed the colt's head.         Applejack chuckled (Well, that's four down. Ah half expect to see Fluttershy's mom and then the pie family to show up.) A knock came at the door,"Ah'll get it!" Rambo went to the door, and opened it,"Posey?" A yellow earth pony garbed in guard armor stood in the door,"Hello, Rambo." She said in a loud voice. "Ya want to come in?" Rambo asked. "Sorry, but I didn't come for a friendly talk. I came to tell you that you need to stay inside." Posey said immediately. Applejack stood up, moving the chair aside, "Stay inside, why?"         "A Hydra has been spotting heading here. We don't know if it's going to attack yet, but there's a chance it might." Posey looked at all of them,"You may have to delay coming home, Apples, I apologize."         “No, its all right," Gala said, holding her son, "Better be safe than sorry." "Have any idea where the thang's been spotted?" Applejack asked. "About 45 meters west from here." Posey said,"Don’t worry, we'll handle it."         Applejack looked back to her mother and then to the guard, "Ok." Gala sighed, "Granny's going to be worried about us." "She's Ma, she always worried!" Rambo said with a laugh. Blaze grinned,"That thing better not come here, though, or it'll contend with me!" Posey nodded,"Stay safe citizen." She looked at Applejack,"When this is over, the Princess needs to see you." "Me? Why me?" Applejack asked. She then shook her head (Oh, Twilight is going to kill me if i end up messing up the timeline.) "She didn't say, ma'am." Posey said. She looked at Gala,"Good luck on your foal."         Gala smiled, "Thanks Poesy." Applejack went to a window, looking back to her parents and the to the window, "I want to be with my friends, but my family..." A loud rumbling was heard and outside, Applejack could see the side of the hydra walking by.         "Oh, no," Gala said, looking down at her son and then the door. Only to see Applejack running to the door, "Abbigail!" "Don't worry, Ah got it M-Gala!" she said. Closing the door behind her, she ran outside, her hooves hitting the ground with a quick stride. Applejack ran outside, looking up at the monster, and pushed down her hat. For the moment, she was glad nopony was around, "Hello, beastie. The name is Abbigail Jaquiline III, Applejack to my friends, and I am here to say...howdy." The monster roared in response as he charged at the mare, who charged back. Two of his four heads raised up and launched at applejack as she charged at the monster. Applejack dodged to the left of the first strike and then bucked the fourth head hard (Wouldn't it be something if Ah was the reason why that one head was an idiot?) The fourth head wobbled, and stuck it's tongue out. The other three heads gasped, and turned to AJ, and charged her. Three of its heads snapped at her, and for each head that struck out at her, she jumped and rolled out of the way. When the fourth head recovered from its daze, it struck out at her again. Using the greeves in her armor, she blocked the jaws from closing on her body. With a grunt, she pushed the head into the air and then bucked its neck. The three roared in anger and swiped a tail at their mare, hitting her and sending her roll across the ground. Slowly getting up, she rolled out of the way of the stomp. Then she bucked it hard in  the side of the body. Applejack smirked, waved a hoof at the beast and turned and ran for a bit, leading it away from the hotel. Turning back around she ran along its side and began to kick at it with her fore hoof, letting the armor do its work.The hydra roared as it flew into a building. It got up and roared again as it bit at Applejack. The head thrashed AJ around. Treating the head like a while bull, Applejack held onto it, guiding it around (Ah should be running and hiding like everypony else. Letting the guards or somepony else handle this. Heck, Ah did run when Ah met this feller back at the swamp, but that was because Ah knew Ah was outmatched and didn't need to fight. But right now, my maw and paw are there needing me. Guess Ah blame ya Twilight.) (Ah never could leave a pony behind when they were in trouble and the moment you looked like ya needed help, Ah jumped in. So Ah guess... ya helped become a hero. Thanks.") Smirking Applejack let out a shout with with a "YEEEEEEEHA!!" . Leaping off, she bucked the second head and ran off to the border of Canterlot. The hydra roared and chased after her.The hydra roared as it began to be lead closer to the border of Canterlot, where a brown stallion was waiting with a grey earth pony on his back.  As Applejack saw the two ponies, sh shouted, hey! What are ya'll doing out here?" she said, jumping to the wo.          The stallion looked up at the hydra, and held up his hoof,"Cut it out." The hydra stopped, and blinked, before walking away. The filly said in an emotionless tone,"Yay, you saved me." "Your welcome, Maude." "How in the hey," Applejack asked herself as she walked to the stallion, "Thanks. And a pleasure to to see that the little filly is all right." "No problem, Ma'am, I was just doin' what's best for my family." Igneous tipped his top hat and walked away.         Applejack chuckled, shaking her head ,"And lo, do we see where Pinkie gets her randomness fro-" "She's comin’! She's comin’," Big Mac called out, the little colt's legs running past Applejack. "Who's coming?" Applejack asked. Big mac smiled, "Mah baby sister, paw wants me to run to the doctor." Applejack’s eyes opened wide at the news and quickly ran from the little colt. Panting, she ran up the stairs to where she could hear screaming. Both of the male and female variety. Opening the door, she saw her father at her mother’s side while Blaze was panicking, Blaze was flying around the hotel,"Oh, what do I do, what do I do!?" Rambo yelled from inside,"Shut up, and help me!" Applejack raced in, and then looked up at Blaze, ""Get some towels and tell the staff Ah apologize for what Ah about to do to them. Meanwhile we got to get her to lay down," with a quiet determination, the mare laid her mother down. Applejack’s nerves were quieted down by the memories he had of helping a few deliveries before from her other family members. "If you tell me it’s going to be all right, I will RIP YOU DAMNABLE THROAT OUT!!!" growled Gala as she broked Rambo's hoof. applejack shook her head, "Ah'm not gonna say it, just start pushing a little more Blaze nodded as he did what he was told. Rambo screamed,"Ya'll think Ah should get used to this!" "If you go for a third, you won't be, trust me," Applejack said. Gala screamed, "Like I am going to fucking let his dick anywhere near me agaiiiiiiiiiin!" (Yes you will, and you will be saying far worst than what you are saying here) Applejack chuckled. ("Maw still loves Paw, right granny?" asked Applejack. The green mare nodded, "Yes, don't worry Applejack. She's just saying what all mothers go through when they are bringing in a new child." "Granny... why is mah sister trying to kill Maw?") "This thing is killing me!!!" Gala screamed. "No she isn't" Applejack said as Gala crushed another limb of Rambo. "Ah'm losing my legs, Ah think she's gonna make me a cripple!" RAmbo gasped.         “Just a little longer, Ah see it's head," (Or mah head, man time travel is confusing!) "Just a little-" "FUCK YOU ALLL!!!!” Gala screamed. "Come on, honey, just a little more!" Rambo said in pain. "Fuck you AHHHHH!" Gala let out a scream as a crying began to ring out. Applejack smiled as she looked at the baby in her hooves. the little yellow tuff of hair on top matched the little freckles that dotted her cheeks. Applejack chuckled as she wiped the younger version of herself down, "Here." "T-thank you," Gala smiled, "My little Abbigail." Applejack watched as her mother held her young self in her arms and began to turn away, trying to hide her tears. She had a smile to herself as she walked away a little. "Your welcome... Maw," she whispered. A bright light emanated from the door,"That's always a beautiful thing to watch." Celestia's voice came.         "Princess," Applejack bowed.         "Come with me, Applejack," Celestia whispered as the doctor come from beside her.         Rambo put a hoof onto Applejack's shoulder, "One minte..you highness." at Celestia's nodding, Rambo walsed to a corner. He then sighed, "That's you over there, in my wife's hooves... aren't you?" "H-how did ya know," Applejack asked. "Your hat. It's one of the most prized hats in my collection, and one I promised to give my daughter one day." Rambo smiled softly. "Y-yeah," Applejack said, reaching her hoof out. "Look, whatever it is that you know about the future, Ah don't want to know," with a sigh he pulled Applejack into a hug, "Ah'm just glad that my daughter grew into a fine mare." "More than that Paw, A...Ah've been doing so much, you should see the farm Ah kept it up nicely and A-Ah've taken good care of granny, and Ah made some great friends and AH-" Rambo put a hoof to Applejack's lips, stopping her, "Say no more. Ah can probably guess what you have done, just by seeing how fast you ran out there, how you took care of Gala. You've become a great mare, one that Ah am proud of." Tears began to roll down Applejack's cheeks, "T-thanks Paw." "Ah'm dead, in your time... aren't I?" Rambo asked as Applejack began to cry. "Ah new it. Well, if Ah've used to the time to raise a great child like you, then no regrets." "Paw, A-A," Applejack broke down, hugging her father tightly. "Ah love you, Ah love you so much, Ah miss you." "Shhh, Ah love you too, Abbigail. No go, Rambo said. "The princess needs you." Applejack nodded. But before she walked out the door, she walked to the sleeping Gala, "Maw, thank you. Thank you for teaching me to keep my head on straight, to be honest and brave, and thank you...for getting me this far." She then hugged her, and kissed her young self on the forehead "And you keep out of trouble. Love you...Maw." As Applejack walked with Celestia, Gala whispered, "Goodbye, Abbigail. Give him hell." Celestia gave Applejack a hug with her wing. She gave her a medallion with a letter,"My mother told me to give a mare like you this. This medallion will allow you to see the truth hidden behind lies."         "T-thank you, your highness," Applejack sad. As she looked at the medallion, she began to think, "Wait, how did your mom know-?" Celestia smiled as her horn glowed and teleported Applejack away. Applejack, I apologize for what Valtor has done. If there was a way for me to stop it, I would. But it's up to you to do what your element compels you to do. Protect your friends. Honesty.