//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Innocence Lost And Found 
// by Bibliomane 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 12

Twilight tumbled down the shaft, along with the other four ponies and Spike, banging against the walls of the diagonal passage. Coming to her senses, she lifted her wings and halted her decent. Her horn illuminated the shaft with her crimson aura, and her magic enveloped the others, they all drifted to the bottom of the shaft. In short order Rainbow Dash and Derpy joined them, as they all took in their new surroundings. 
They found themselves in a well lit passageway, devoid of the effects of Discords chaos magic. The moss covered brick walls were lined by intervals of recently lit torches illuminating the hallway in a warm, friendly glow. The herd looked from one to another, smiling in relief at the first sign of normalcy since their arrival. 
They set off down the corridor, at it's end was a curious, oversized rounded arch double door. It was decorated with a grey and cobalt swirling patterns punctuated with stars. They tentatively pushed the doors open and gaped at what they saw inside.

The room beyond the doors was huge, with a cathedral high ceiling. The herd spilled onto a landing with a staircase leading to the main floor of the chamber. Most of the walls were covered by oversized and overstuffed bookshelves nearly reaching the ceiling. Any wall space not occupied by bookshelves were dominated by machines heteroclite in nature to the party. 
Some of the gadgetry sported sparking antennas and coils, that presumably generated the awesome amount of energy needed to power the machinery. The room itself was a maze of bookshelves. Everypony was silent as they made their way through the shelves, as finally they came upon a clearing towards the far end of the room, and they saw... 

Applebloom, Sweety Belle, Scootaloo, and the other nine fillies inside a transparent sphere. Upon a dais was a pony, mostly cloaked by shadows cast by the rooms lighting and the illumination of flashing lights covering the instrumentation, as well as an actual cloak. 

The figure was also wearing a tall broad brimmed pointed hat, that Made a tinkling noise every time the hat moved. Twilight gasped in horror. The figure spun around at the sound. What the herd saw shocked them all. That is except Twilight, whom was on the verge of enraged madness at the thought of her childhood idol was behind as dastardly an act of foalnapping.
For the pony reveled on the dais was a dark grey unicorn colt, with a full white beard that grew longer at the end of his muzzle. "Star Swirl!" Twilight bellowed, "you're responsible for abducting the fillies!?" 

At the same moment, the fillies saw Twilights group, the fillies rushed over to them. The CMC embraced their respective counterparts. 

"Sugar cube! I've been so worried!" Exclaimed Applejack, "are you and your friends alright?" She inquired of her sister, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and the rest of the newly arrived ponies asked similar questions about the fillies wellbeing.    

Finding that the fillies were fine, Twilight allowed her anger to resurface. She was doubly angered, firstly because the fillies had been abducted. Secondly because the colt she admired all her life was not the hero she had always believed him to be, but apparently some kind of villain with nefarious intent. 
Making matters worse was the fact that during the whole exchange with the fillies, Star Swirl was leaning on the railing encircling the dais, head in hoof with a bemused stupid grin on his face as if to say, 'can we move things along, things to do you know.' 
Twilight's thoughts, clouded by rage unthinkingly launched herself at the legendary wizard with ill intent, her wings broke free of Rarity's makeshift dress as she flew at top speed. Upon seeing the enraged alicorn rushing towards him, Star Swirl was momentarily taken back. "What!? Another alicorn!" He exclaimed as Twilight tackled him, pinning him to the machinery behind him. 

"What have you done to the fillies!?" She demanded, "you're supposed to be a hero, not a villainous foalnapper!" Twilight growled.

Star Swirl, recovering himself from the sudden attack, his horn began to glow. Twilight, realizing the potential danger she was in due to her extensive knowledge of Star Swirl's reputation and recorded history. But also knowing that it was to late to react, slammed her eyes shut awaiting the worst. 

Twilight heard a pop, and felt herself fall. She opened her eyes just in time to see the floor rush up to greet her. Twilight looked up in the direction of laughter, Star Swirl was covering his mouth with a forehoof in a failed attempt to hold back his mirth at seeing the young alicorn unceremoniously fall flat on her face. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry," Star Swirl said in between his chuckling. "I just have an awful weakness for physical comedy." 

Twilight reared on him. "That aside, why have you abducted the fillies!? And what did you plan to do with them with all this machinery?" 

By this time Everypony had gathered around them. Derpy involuntary giggled, under her breath she said. "It was kind of funny though." 

Everypony began asking all manner of questions, and demanding answers from Star Swirl. "Wooh, all right, everypony calm down. I've only the one chance, and little time to complete too many tasks. What I want to know is how you became an alicorn young mare? You don't resemble either Celestia nor do you look like Luna. Did you get your coat, and mane coloring from your father perhaps?"

Everypony was confused by the inquiry. Then realization hit Twilight, in light of her brother and sister in-law's recently giving birth to Flurry Heart. "Um, well no, neither of the Princesses are my mother. But if you considered it a possibility that I was one or the others daughter... Then that would mean you believe that an alicorn's child would also be an alicorn," 

Star Swirl magically straightened his glasses."Uh huh." He replied, "that's the theory anyway. Although I have nothing to base it on as there are, at least at this point in history only two alicorns, and at present don't possess the proper understanding of friendship that would open themselves to love somepony beyond the bond they share for each other. At present they've been to focused on their royal duties..." 

Derpy inadvertently interrupted him with a giggle. "He said doodies." 

Beside Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, the mares shot her a look. Everypony else couldn't help but to join her, relenting the rest of the mares joined in. Star Swirl let out a brief chuckle as well, but quickly regained his composure, clearing his throat. "As I was saying, at this point, at least, they are so focused on their duties that they haven't had time to learn the power of friendship, without that understanding they will unlikely to be open to the possibility of becoming close enough to a colt to get married." Momentarily crestfallen, Star Swirl dropped his head as he shook it, said, "I still have hopes for them, I just hope I did the right thing." The last comment baffled the assembled.

As Star Swirl wasn't attacking anypony, nor was he fleeing, Twilight forgot her anger as her curiosity, as well as her inner fan filly got the better of her. She felt a compulsion to tell Star Swirl her life story, beginning with her school days. How she got her cutie mark, became Princess Celestia's pupil, how the Elements ponies got together, all the way to the point of how she became an alicorn and the Princess Of Friendship by completing his unfinished masterpiece. Including the adventures in the human realm, along the way Everypony supplied their own contribution to the narrative. 

"Wow," Star Swirl began. "Firstly, it seams that a lot of unfinished business of mine has, or rather from my perspective, will come back to bite you lot in the rump." He shook his head in amazement. "For that, I apologize, however my knowing this won't actually change anything, or things won't turn out the way they're supposed to turn out, I'm just glad you all were up to the task. Also Twilight, you mentioned that you earned your wings because you finished my 'unfinished masterpiece.' What exactly did Cele think was my unfinished masterpiece?"

Twilight paused, remembering the words she began. "The spell went, from one to another, another to o..."

Chuckling Star Swirl covered Twilights mouth to prevent her from continuing. "Twilight Sparkle, I know the one, please stop now before we all have our cutie marks switched." He dropped his hoof. "I'd rather not spend the remainder of my life pondering the meaning of cutie marks." He turned to address the CMC, with a wink of his eye said. "No offence young ones, but I've had all the lessons about cutie marks I could take from school." 

As one the CMC exclaimed, "none taken!" 

Twilight's jaw nearly hit the floor. "You meen... You know what the spell does?" 

Star Swirl smiled a big grin, "ayep." He said and winked at the Apple sisters, acknowledging the nod to their brother. 

Twilight launched into her excited speech mode. "But Princess Celestia said that it was unfinished, and you abandoned it, and it was because I was able to understand the power of friendship better then you had, I was able to complete it." Star Swirl was momentarily stone faced, suddenly he reared up on his hind legs, and leaned on a table behind him as he let out a belly roar like nopony had ever heard before.

His sudden outburst rather annoyed Twilight. "Please don't be upset young Twilight," Star Swirl began when he was able to talk. "I'm not laughing at you, or any of your accomplishments. It's just that the spell in question was very much indeed a complete spell. The spell does exactly what's on the tin as it were. Besides the fact that it was a completed spell, our dear Celestia also must have forgotten the real reason I 'abandoned' my favorite party piece." 

Pinkie gave him one of her most suspicious Pinkie looks. "Party piece? And also why would you do that? It was simply awful," remembering her ordeal.

Star Swirl addressed her. "Ms. Pie, surely you, of anypony present can appreciate, that used in a controlled setting, switching the cutie marks of two ponies can be truly hilarious. But as it happened, at a particular gala, a visiting dignitary from another land didn't quite get the joke. When his cutie mark was accidentally switched with a ditch diggers. So I reluctantly stopped using it. I have no idea how dear Cele got hold of the spell, I can't even remember what I did with it. 
Did I happen to remember writing down the counter spell... No I suppose I didn't, as you were led to believe the spell was incomplete. Which, I suppose it was, without the counter spell." Star Swirl turned his attention to Twilight, "how was it that you got the effected ponies to regain their proper cutie marks?" Twilight explained the details of the incident, as well as her "corrected version" of the spell. "Hmm, very nicely done," Star Swirl contemplating what was said. "My counter spell would have worked instantaneously, but you wouldn't have learned the lesson of friendship gained by your experience of doing it the way you had. It seems that you hadn't completed the spell, as much as you created a brilliantly written counter spell for it."

Twilight blushed from the praise from her lifelong idol. Something from the machinery gave off a loud bleep, Star Swirl, as well as most everypony else jumped, startled by the sound. 


Chapter 13

“Oh dear, we were so caught up in the narrative, that I nearly forgot the scan of the fillies. I simply must complete my tasks before the eclipse has passed threw it's phase, doubly more so, as you eight are here."

Twilight gave him a squinty eyed look of suspicion. "Just exactly what are you trying to accomplish, and why does it require the fillies presence?" Twilight inquired of Star Swirl, as he was rushing about checking on the various monitors and readouts amongst the instrumentation. 

"I can only answer that in a circumlocutory sort of way. I don't actually need the fillies for my task, or rather I only require one of them. Because of an experiment that I began a long time ago involving my desire to look into the distant future, and find out the fate of the then budding Equestria because of my involvement shaping it's creation. 
To that end, I sent a volunteer from my apprentices into the future to bring back to me information about that which was to come."

Twilight comprehending nodded, "your work with prophecy, I had a feeling that it wasn't done threw supernatural sources, but from a sound magically scientific design." 

Star Swirl nodded, "well yes, but at the time no. I never expected my journals to be found, what you know as my prophetic works are reworked edited highlights of the original compilation that I have, and will compile from the information gained from my assistants return trips." 

Twilight looked quizzically at Star Swirl, "return... trips? You mean you've done this before? It's not the first time?" 

Star Swirl paused from his examination of the data, shook his head as he magically removed and cleaned his glasses with a cloth, and replaced them as he said. "No, this isn't the first time that I've retrieved my assistant from sending her into the future. In point of fact, we've done the exchange during every solar eclipse after the Two Sisters coronation.
That would make this the... Yes, the forth time for a return trip." Star Swirl paused, holding up a forehoof to silence any interruptions. "However, this is the first time I've had these particular problems. I was always able to pinpoint and extract her from the future alone, without attracting undue attention. The reason I was kind of forced to bring all the fillies, was because as the time grew nearer to this particular eclipse, I encountered a great deal of interference from the chaos magic released by Discord." There was another ding from nearby, Star Swirl returned examination and adjusting of the equipment, as he continued. "Although I did encounter difficulty with the chaos magic during last time we encountered this particular eclipse. That was from the other end of the process of course.
Although I thought that I prepared for this exchange, I was unprepared for the full might of Discord's unrestrained power. But as I was saying, as the time of this eclipse drew nearer, I was unable to properly locate my assistant.
There was some kind of interference coming from the other end of the connection. Ah," magically taping one of the readouts with a quill then continued. "Apparently there is to be a problem with the celestial phases. Strange, it seems that the sun, and moon are to be in perpetual eclipse, or something near enough during that phase, yep, that'll do it."
Star Swirl moved on to adjust, and take a look at other data churning from the machinery. "Anyway because of that spot of bother I was forced to advance to the next eclipse point. Impossible under normal circumstances of course, but because I increased the power to compensate for the chaos magic, it made it possible to reach your time." Star Swirl paused for a moment deep in concentration. "Hmm... That's interesting."

"What's interesting?" inquired Twilight, prompting Star Swirl to look up from the page suspended in front of him. 

"Hmm... Oh, it seems that when I returned my assistant to this point during the last eclipse cycle, Discord's chaos magic caused the transformative aspect of the spell I used on Prim to 'splinter' itself onto other ponies. Nothing particularly harmful to them, and nothing they, or others would have likely noticed. 
However it caused, will cause certain anomalous discrepancies, such as certain ponies tribal aspect and or cutie mark to fluctuate from time to time, or perhaps some other minor glitch." 
Clearing his throat, Star Swirl collected himself. "Ah, but let me rewind a bit. I became aware that the eclipse cycles were linked, and that somepony could bridge from one to the other with the timeportation spell that brought you all here. However the alignment would only last as long as the eclipse lasted. I calculated that the only way they could survive the process of the jump, and live long enough until the next eclipse was if they were transformed into an alicorn." 

Twilight cocked her head, and said. "The jump"? We all came through the timeportation spell and everypony else is fine, as far as I can tell." 

Star Swirl nodded, "yes the spell brought you all here is one thing, anypony could use it, there aren't any side effects from it's use. But very few ponies possess a lifespan to witness two eclipse cycles. If not intrupted by unnatural means an alacorn lifespan should be nearly immortal." Star Swirl magically scrached his head with a quill.
I'm still not sure why the portal remained open for you to use it. It was only my intention to bring the fillies here, collect the necessary data and return them before the end of the cycle. The way the spell was designed, it should have brought you to the lab, not the same spatial location as you left. 
Anyway, since the volunteer was originally to be transported a few decades into the future, she would have to remain there until the next eclipse. At which point she would be brought back, and the information collected through the machinery. Part of it's purpose is to collect and process thoughts, you see." Star Swirl patted the machine. 
"And then return her to the same point of retrieval, for this process to continue the pony selected would have to be an alicorn. You see, the volunteer would not only require the lifespan of an alicorn, but another aspect of an alicorn as well, the increased mental capacity to hold the memories of such a long life. So it's not as a result of the timeportation spell at all. But of course, as you obviously encountered by the fact that you disguised yourself, a Non-contemporaneous alicorn would draw to much attention."

Applejack elbowed Rarity, and covertly asked "what'd he say?" 

Derpy sighed and replied, "I think he means that a third alicorn suddenly appearing when there should only be two alicorns would be bad for the experiment."

Star Swirl turned to regard her, "quite right, young mare. It would be to conspicuous for there to suddenly be an unknown alicorn trotting about, and unlikely that she could blend in long enough to collect the information required. Also an adult would project their own cultural, and personal bias into any situation that was witnessed by them.
So we, my assistant and I, added to the spell an innovation that, after transforming into an alicorn she would then become a foal. With the idea that, when the volunteer, upon reaching a certain age, the process could repeat itself. She would again become a foal and learn about the age she was now living in. And as the alicorn possess the attributes of the three pony tribes, her appearance as one of the three, an earth, pegasus, or unicorn, would be randomly chosen for that particular "life" cycle."
Star Swirl continued his work with the machinery as he continued his explanations. "This process would continue as necessary as it would be sometime between eclipses. But with the interruption of the natural pattern for the next eclipse from now, and Discord running amuck at this point, I was unable to properly identify, locate, or even discern which of the three tribes she had assumed for your generation." 

Apple Bloom asked her sister, "you getting any of this big sis?" Applejack shook her head, "not hardly at all." 

Twilight looked over at the pair. "I think I do." 

Spike rolled his eyes, "well, that figures." 


Chapter 14

Both Derpy, and Pinky Pie let out a giggle. Twilight gave him a look. "Hush Spike, Star Swirl is saying that one of our twelve fillies is actually an alicorn, and his apprentice. Sent into the future to gather information for what we will know as his prophetic writings." Twilight turned to address Star Swirl, "what I don't understand is how you accomplished all this, and have you now identified which of the fillies is actually your apprentice? I hope for Applejack, and Rarity's sakes it's not Apple Bloom, or Sweetie Bell."

The pair of sisters hugged each other protectively. Star Swirl stopped what he was doing, and addressed the distressed quartet. "Not to worry, none of the CMC are Primrose Wing." He held up a forehoof, "and to answer your next questions, Primrose Wing is the true name of my assistant, and turning her into an alicorn was the easiest part of the whole endeavor, as I was the one that invented the spell in the first place." Twilight wasn't the only one to have their mouth hit the floor, everypony was aghast.
Star Swirl, ignoring their reaction, or was there a covert smirk lurking as he continued. "The Second transformation was a bit trickier, you see the only way to accomplish the task was with the use of some unusual gems that contain curious properties that I've dubbed, The Elements Of Harmony." Again everypony was astonished by his words, once again Star Swirl glossed over their reactions.
"As they seem to have their own temperaments you know," he let out a laugh. "Well of course you do. And they will only properly work when used together, remember that. Although, as far as I'm aware, nopony has been able to properly bond with them as well as you six have. But as I was saying, although I have made a study of the Element stones, and have come to a comprehensive understanding of them, I needed the help of all this equipment to wield them properly. Also working with the seventh Element has been the most difficult, as well as the most frustrating." 

Again with the jaw dropping, "I... We weren't aware there was... Is a seventh Element Of Harmony!" Twilight exclaimed, the first to find her voice. Everypony else started asking multiple overlapping questions. 

Star Swirl once again held up a forehoof. "Please, one at a time, yes there are seven elements, you are, of course familiar with the Elements that you embody, Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, and of course Magic. But the Element that's been instrumental component to my experiment is the seventh, The Element Of Innocence. 
I couldn't have reverted, Primrose Wing to a foal, let alone activate the spells ability to reset each generation as necessary without it." 

Threw gaping mouths everypony exclaimed, "The Element Of Innocence!?"

Star Swirl nodded, "yes, weren't you listening?" 

Twilight shifted her weight from one hoof to the other. "Then sense it exists now, why don't we know about it in the future?" She inquired.

"hmm... As I'm here, and your from there, I'm not going to have a definitive answer, even the collected data hasn't revealed that, if I were to hazard a guess, it could be as simple as the sisters not being aware of it. Another more probable explanation might be that there hasn't been a pony yet worthy enough to become it's embodiment. I must say though, in my opinion, from what little I know about you Mrs. Pie, you certainly came the closest to anypony in history." 

Pinkie Pie, whom at that particular moment was investigating a shiny bug scuttling across one of the machinery panels with Derpy, and a few of the fillies, looked over to Star Swirl, with a big grin and in a jubilant voice said, "thank you!.." Then in confusion added, "I think."

Applejack cocked her head to one side, "now just an apple bucking moment! I thought you said as you hadn't collected the data from our time, n' you weren't aware which of the fillies is Primrose Wing. But you "know" that she's not one of the CMC!? N' how do you know bout the CMC anyhow?" 

Star Swirl adjusted his glasses, "well yes, and also no, at the same time. Until you all arrived I didn't know either the identity of Primrose Wing for your generation, or about the CMC. However as we were having our exchange, I was analyzing the data I collected from the fillies when they were inside the amplifying sphere before your arrival, Not only do I now know the identity assumed by Primrose Wing." He turned to address the fillies. "Thanks to you, I also collected an unprecedented amount of information from your impressions, and memories of your age. I do hope you girls don't mind. But it was necessary to find my dear Primrose." The fillies voiced their opinion that it was ok.
"Great," began Star Swirl. "Then, if you all will permit me, I shall use the Elements Of Harmony to return Primrose from her current enchanted state, she does so enjoy her few moments as herself before heading back to the unknown." Star Swirl removed his hat, and his horn began to glow with his magical aura.
"Now if you fillies could stand over here." He said gesturing to a clearing with his forehoof. A beam of light radiated from the tip of Star Swirls’ horn towards a previously unnoticed pedestal with six outstretched branches, each holding a circular tray at the end of each branch. Each of the branches held a medium sized spherical rock. At the top of the pedestal's central column sat a larger sphere. As the beam hit the structure, the orbs began to glow, then from out of each sphere, emerged five of the gemstones that they all knew were the Elements Of Harmony, pink, blue, orange, green, and red, but from the sphere on the seventh  branch emerged a glittering fire opal colored gemstone. 

Derpy's eyes lit up upon seeing it. "Oooh! That's the prettiest thing I've ever seen." Then from the largest sphere emerged a purple gemstone, for a moment the seven stones shown brilliantly, their glow filling the chamber with a disco ball rainbow effect filling everypony with awe.
Suddenly they all lost their magical shine and slipped from Star Swirl's magical grasp. Settling back into the stone spheres from which they originated. 

Upset, Derpy flew over to the Elementalabra, before anypony could stop her, tapped on the sphere that held the opal stone. "Pretty stone, come back out, I would like to see you again!" She tapped on the sphere again, this time a bit to hard. 

Star Swirl closed his eyes, and averted his face, as he heard the stone sphere roll off it's perch and shatter upon impact with the floor. The force of Derpy's impact having knocked the sphere off the stand.

The only evidence of the Element Of Innocence was a sparkling powder mixed in the shards of stone. Everypony was stunned, to shocked to even express the horror they felt from witnessing the destruction of the Elemental stone. Derpy looked from the now empty tray, to the small pile of shattered stone on the floor. Embarrassed, she spun around in the air to face the others. With her forehooves spread, and as she said the words, both Rarity, Spike, and Applejack mimed along. "I just don't know what went wrong?"

Star Swirl opened his eyes, not wanting to miss what was to come next. "I guess we found out what happened to the Element Of Innocence." Spike said with a snort, tiny flames emitting from his nostrils as he did. 

Subtly what at first appeared to be dust settling, or faint wafts of smoke emitting from the shards of stone that use to be the vessel for the Element Of Innocence, became apparent that the smoke was emitting a sparkling magical aura of indeterminate color. 

The aura quickly thickened as it enveloped Derpy, whom was hovering above the ruins of the fallen sphere. As the cloud of sparkling energy began to be absorbed by her body, a radiant glow began to reflect outwards. Her eyes shined a white glow, with dazzling pinpricks of multi-colored sparkles dancing within. Suddenly, golden slippers appeared around her hooves with golden straps cascading up and wrapping around her legs ending in a circlet mid thigh on each of her legs.


Around her neck, a necklace much like the ones that five of  the main six once wore before returning the Elements to the Tree Of Harmony. The only difference between them being that there was a largish shimmering fire opal in the shape of a bubble set upon it's gleaming plate.

"Oooh! doesn't she look just  radiant in her ensemble!" Rarity asked nopony in particular, gushing in awe. As the glow faded, Derpy landed in front of everypony, without farther incident. 

Star Swirl remarked, "it appears we have found the reason for the eight of you being brought here. Young mare, you are the embodiment of The Element Of Innocence, it was the Crystal that was calling you to it Derpy. 
Star Swirl then addressed the mane six. "It also becomes apparent to me that sence you mares are here the Elements will only respond to their proper embodiments." Star Swirl gesturing to take them all in, "ladies, if you will?" 

The fillies squealed with delight, saying things like, "oooh! This is gonna be great!" And in a few cases, "This will be so cool! I've never seen them transform before!" 

All six of the remaining mares reached out to touch the sphere containing their respective Element gem. "I can't believe I'm getting another chance to wear that fabulous, and stunning necklace again." Just as Rarity finished her comment, the six mares were surrounded by the aura of their Elements. Their eyes shown brilliantly, and the golden hoof adornments appeared on each of their hooves. Then, from each cascaded upwards wrapping around their legs, ribbons the color of the mares respective Element, ending mid thigh. 

Around the necks of Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie appeared their original necklace adorned with their Element stone in the shape of their cutie mark, and upon Twilight's head appeared her tiara. "Wooh nelly!" Exclaimed Star Swirl, "it's one thing to read, theorize about, or even watch in a vision, it's even more spectacular to witness first-hand."

Twilight turned to Star Swirl. "Ok, now that we wield the power of the Elements, what's the next step?" 


Chapter 15

Star Swirl addressed the now seven Element ponies, "well this is the interesting thing, and something the six of you, being that you have been working solo, so to speak, for so long are not going to be use to. Especially as Derpy has, for the most part been maligned for so long." 
They all, the mares, fillies, and Spike, crowded around Derpy giving her a group hug. All apologized for the poor treatment she received over the years. "Please, whilst I don't wish to interrupt a much needed, and from what I've come to understand much overdue tender moment." Star Swirl interjected, "however, because of the nature of the circumstances involved, being that one of these twelve fillies needs to be transformed back into my dear Primrose, we must hurry, the end of the eclipse cycle will soon be upon us. All the times before, the machinery was necessary for me to amplify and direct the Elements power, but that you're here things will be much easier. Now then, whilst I recite the incantation that will ignite the Elements, and guide the magical energies to transform Primrose Wing back to her alicorn form... Will you fillies please step over here?" 
Star Swirl gestured to a clear section of the dais with a forehoof. The fillies moved to the indicated spot. "Now the rest of you stand by as I begin the spell, each of you concentrate your energy on Derpy. Derpy, the power of the Elements must be channeled through you, when you feel the power coursing threw you, I want you to direct it towards the fillies, it will be alright, only Primrose will be effected." Everypony waited expectantly as Star Swirl levitated and unfurled a scroll. "Now, on the second line, the six of you combine and channel your power into Derpy. Derpy, when this happens I want you to focus on Primrose Wing." 

Derpy scratched her head, "but I don't know which of the fillies is her. Or for that matter what she use to look like."

Star Swirl shook his head. "That's not important, just concentrate and the image will form in your mind. Let us begin." Star Swirl began reciting the incantation. 

The Element stones glowed in anticipation, on the beginning of the second line, the Element ponies began their part, a beam of magical energy, each the color of their respective Elements shot forth, joining into a single rainbow wave shot towards Derpy, she cringed, closing her eyes as the rainbow enveloped Derpy in a sphere of multi-hued light. 
Suddenly her eyes went wide and glowed from within, a brilliant white bespeckled with dazzling pinpricks of colors of the other Elements. Derpy's body became surrounded by the glow, rainbow effects soared around her. From her eyes shot a beam of the multi-hued light, rainbows twirling around the beam. Upon contact with the fillies they too become surrounded by the dazzling display, the ball of light drifted upwards taking all of the fillies into the air. Star Swirl having completed the incantation directed each filly to clear aside, as one by one, each of the other fillies descended from the glowing orb of light and soaring rainbows. 
Each time a filly touched the floor they were beckoned over by the increasing herd of foals standing next to the legendary wizard. When all but one of the fillies had returned from the glittering orb of light, it descended to the floor. As the energy dissipated it left in it's place a violet-dun colored alicorn with a cutie mark of an intertwined upright grey feather, and a pale Primrose. With the exception of Star Swirl, everypony was gobsmacked by the vestige of the current form of the fillies playmate, now known to be Primrose Wing. She stood regally and erect, her wings outstretched. She had the same bearing as Twilight Sparkle's sister-in-law Princess Cadence. Then, as the last of the magical energy faded, she turned to Star Swirl and fainted. 

Star Swirl rushed forward to steady her. "Thank you." Primrose said as she regained enough strength to stand on her own. She looked around at the assemblage of strangers, "Star... Who are these ponies? And... And a baby dragon!? I thought the experiment was to be conducted in secret." 

A confused Twilight blurted out, “Star?” Surprised that anypony would address the legend in such an informal manner. 

"And how else should I address my dear uncle?" Primrose asked.

Twilight looked incredulously from Primrose Wing, to Star Swirl. "Yes," began Star Swirl, "Primrose Wing is my niece. Not everything gets recorded in the history books." Everypony looked at Primrose Wing in awe, whom they had only moments ago knew her as simply a school yard playmate, now so much more.

Primrose shied away from the attention, then to Star Swirl she asked. "Well!?" 

Star Swirl cleared his throat, "my dearest, you know the shock of transformation effects your memory at first. The memory of your life, or perhaps lives, and the reason for those assembled here will catch up to you shortly. But in general, when you and I first began the study of future events, because of second guessing my role in the founding of a united pony tribe and consequently the founding of Equestria. I was hoping to keep the findings to ourselves so nopony could use the information to corrupt the timeline. But the last time I brought you back I found that a portion of our notes had been discovered and taken as prophetic visions of what was to come. Who was I to object.
So I created a secondary journal, a flowery mystical sounding version that could be found, but vague enough that they couldn't be used as a road map. The last time we made the transfer, Discord had risen to power, his reign of chaos, well really, now actually. I encountered extreme difficulty and thought that by the time I reached now I would be able to compensate for Discord's chaos magic with the extra equipment, and the power of the Elements. 
However, I didn't realize two things, how powerful Discord's fully unleashed power would be. And Secondly, that the Elements Of Harmony would find, and call their true pony embodiments. Interestingly one of the embodiments hadn't yet connected with it's pony counterpart. 
As it felt the need to be connected, the Elements created a situation to draw you all here, by the Element Of Innocence calling out to you, Derpy. 
Due to the interference of the chaos magic, or perhaps by design of the Elements, I was unable to pinpoint exactly where in Equestria you were Prim, I was able to narrow the search to Ponyville, and your schoolhouse, but which filly, I was still unable to tell, time was running out so out of desperation I was forced to bring the most likely candidates here." Star Swirl gesturing to Primrose Wing and the fillies. 

During Star Swirls monologue Spike and the ponies had been quietly talking among themselves, the one most recurring question was the one that Star Swirl now answered. "I believe that you eight," Star Swirl indicating Spike, and the Element mares. "Were called here in the same manner as I called to the fillies, so to had the Element Of Innocence called out to Derpy, as it's embodiment, the one pony whom could properly wield it, and to be finally acknowledged. 
Now, as the solar eclipses are a constant in each time zone, it seems that I have a limited time to send you all home to your proper time. There's still much for me to do even after you've gone." As Star Swirl continued to speak, he created a flurry of scrolls, and other hardcopy read outs as he checked each and placed them in a particular order. 
"I have to get the Elements back to their places on the Tree Of Harmony. Enlighten Celestia and Luna about them so they can stop that buffoon Discord rampaging, ugh, and although I find their heavy handed method completely distasteful, turning Discord into stone until he's released in your time. I'm just glad that you girls will finally be able to teach him the value of friendship. As well as Celestia and Luna, for that matter, by the by. The girls will be bereft of the magic of friendship for a while longer I'm afraid, although it is another unfortunate necessity for events to unfold in the best possible order. 
With you all coming together to steward Equestria, and becoming who you now are." He waved a forehoof to indicate the Element ponies and Spike. "Recovering the Elements, and putting right all the 'ghosts' of my past." 
He then turned to Primrose Wing. "My dearest Primrose, I have finally come to the conclusion that the future is in good hooves with these mares, and my decision at the founding of Equestria was the proper one after all. I think now is the time for this experiment of ours to come to it's end. You can finally live out a proper life here with me, and your family, where you belong." 

Primrose Wing shook her head, "no dear uncle." Star Swirl was both surprised and confused. But he withheld comment, not wishing to interrupt Primrose. "I have been away from my former life for too long, it would not be the same. 
Uncle I have recovered my full memories of  the countless lives that I have lived threw out the centuries. And I cannot remember a single time that I have been happier then with the friends I've made in Ponyville." The fillies glomed Primrose Wing in a giant group hug. "As you wish to bring the experiment to it's conclusion, it is mine that I return with my friends and live out my life as Errorita."

As a tear rolled down his cheek, Star Swirl nodded in sad comprehension. "I understand and will miss you dearly, but you do realize that this time it will be permanent. You will not remember anything of your former life, save for those that you've experienced as Errorita, and,"
Star Swirl lowered his head, with tears in his eyes he said, "you will never know me as anything other then a legendary figure of antiquity." 

Primrose Wing lifted his muzzle with a wing, her eyes moist with tears, she put a foreleg over his shoulder. "Yes Uncle I do, and that, is the only thing I will regret... Well I suppose afterwards I wont, come to think of it. My love of you is the only thing that would tempt me to stay.  However, I don't want to leave the friends and the life I've known in Ponyville."

Wiping the tears from his eyes, Star Swirl turned his back to the others and said, "all right then, this is going to take alteration to the original spell, removing your alicorn aspect, and returning you to your pegasus filly state. For the sake of your living the normal life that you had been living up to the point that I brought you here, no pony, not even yourself can remember who you really are." 
Star Swirl cleared his throat as he gathered his composure. He then addressed the Elements ponies. "Now then, with you seven here, the masters, and embodiments of your element, none of that should be a problem. We do however have a time constraint, so any other questions not related to getting you all home safely will have to wait until latter." 

Twilight took on one of her inquisitive looks. "Sorry, but later how? When will we meet again? Are you still alive in our time? Where will we be able to find you?.." 

Turning his attention to Twilight, Star Swirl rolled his eyes as he cut her off, "Twilight, what did I just say about questions unrelated to the task at hand?" 

Frustrated Twilight responded, "right, right, sorry, it's just that it's such an honor to meet you and I have so many questions..." 

Spike smirked at the fact he could finally turn the tables. "Twilight!" He exclaimed, everypony laughed at that. 

"Actually, it's good you're here Twilight." Star Swirl began, "I'm going to need some help revising the original spells." 

For the next few hours, While Star Swirl and Twilight reworked the components of the spell to send the twenty travelers back to their proper time, the rest of the group spent their time asking Primrose Wing what it was like to live threw all the ages that she had lived through were like. They were also admiring Derpy in her Element jewelry, among other things. As Star Swirl and Twilight worked on the spell with Spike taking notes and writing down the revisions. Finally the spell was completed, with Spike writing down the final words. 

"Alright, the spell is finished." Star Swirl announced, he was leaning on an object concealed by cloth covered by, from all appearance, a centuries worth of dust. "The first thing we have to do is transform Prim and transfer her alicorn aspect into this receptacle that I've set aside for the conclusion of the experiment all those years ago." He magically removed the cloth sending a thick cloud of silt filled effluvium. Everypony began coughing in an attempt to expel the dirt from their lungs. With a wave of a forehoof the cloud dissipated at Star Swirls behest. 

"[Cough] My apologies [cough], I haven't been down here for many years. Now, Prim, if you could stand over here, you seven stand over here, girls please stand well back. With you seven guiding the Elements, there will be no need for the equipment for this part of the task. Afterwards however, in order to get you back to your home, I will require the elements to power the augmentation sphere. Everypony will have to enter the sphere to ensure your return trip. I have already entered the settings for your return trip. 
The Elements, I'm afraid, will have to remain here so they can fulfill their role in history, and reach you at the proper time. After this business is completed, I have to return them to the Tree Of Harmony." Star Swirl turned his attention to the Elements ponies, "now as before, focus the energies of your Element towards Derpy, and Derpy, once the power flows into you, direct the energies of your element towards Prim..." In a malancholy voice he said "No, Prim no longer." Quickly recovering for the benefit of the others, rubbing his hooves he continued.
"All right, let's get started." Star Swirl began reciting the incantation, the Element gems glowed and beams of magical energy shot towards Derpy. This time Derpy did not flinch as the energies merged with the opal on her necklace. Seconds later, a white shaft of bespectacled light burst forth and enveloped Primrose Wing. She glowed with the pale aura of bespectacled light and began to shrink, her form reverting to that of a foal once more. The process complete, the aura retreated from her hooves to her horn. Upon reaching the tip of her horn, it exploded into a shower of multicolored sparks. The fillies glomed her, asking how she was, and what it felt like. 
"Now," announced Star Swirl. "Before we run out of time, I need to get you all home. Would everypony please get into the sphere. Fillies first," Spike helped the fillies into the translucent sphere, then got in as well. "Now ladies, if you please," Star Swirl indicating a near by table, the mares removed their Element jewelry and placed them on the table. As they did the rest of the golden accessories blinked out of existence. The gems themselves reverting back to their natural state. 

"Aww... I hadn't realized how much I missed wearing those gorgeous accessories," Moaned Rarity.

"I never got the chance to wear mine before and I probably never will get to wear it again!" Derpy exclaimed in an angry pouty way, her forelegs crossed before her as she leaned on the table looking forlorn at the opal stone twinkling back at her. 

"Oh darling, never say never." Rarity said, putting a comforting hoof across her shoulder. 

"Yah sugar cube, I’m certain you'll get to see it again. After all, you are the embodiment of the Element Of Innocence if I ever saw one. Come on now, it's time to go."

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Derpy joined the fillies in the sphere. "Twilight, we have mere moments to resolve this! You must get in the sphere now or you all will be trapped here in your past for a very long time." Twilight, about to enter the sphere, turned to Star Swirl. "I will, but first I wanted to say goodbye. It was an honor to meet you, you have always been an inspiration to me. Also you mentioned that we would have time to talk later. How will I be able to find you?"

Star Swirl, a little exasperated replied, "Spike knows, now GO!" Confused Twilight joined the others in the sphere. Star Swirl twisted a few dials on a control panel before him. His horn began to glow with his magical aura, and he began the incantation to send the herd home. The Elements began to glow, and lifted into the air making a rotation above the sphere. Their radiance, and speed increasing with each completed circuit until their brilliance filled the vault with pure blinding light. 
When the light finally dissipated, the gems had returned to the table, and Star Swirl was alone in his subterranean lab. He turned as he heard a loud cracking sound, and saw that the arm of the Elementalabra that formally held the Element Of Innocence had, rather cleanly, broken away from the main structure, and rather loudly crashed to bits on the floor. "Oh well," mumbled the wizard, with a smile of indifference. "I don't really suppose that was going to be particularly necessary in the future anyway... Probably just confuse a pony." 

Star Swirl returned his attention to gathering the Element gems, he magically scooped them into a pouch concealed within his cloak. 
With a spherical flash, he vanished... Only to reappear moments later in similar fashion. "With everything that's happened, I almost forgot." Star Swirl walked over to a desk where a letter was addressed to Princesses Celestia, and Luna. What could be made out was,

'To my little ponies Celestia and Luna, I have found a way to defeat Discord, but only the two of you by your bond of sisterly love and friendship will be able to accomplish the task. In a cave below your castle you will find The Tree Of Ha...' 

The rest of the message was concealed by the end of the parchment curled over it. Star Swirl magically lifted the parchment, rolled it up and sealed it with a ribbon and his mark. 

"I simply don't know where my head is these days, I've got to remember to get this to the sisters as well as replacing the Elements, or the whole plan will be ruined. Then where would we be huh?" Star Swirl asked nopony in particular. 

"Humpf," came a disgruntled sound coming from under his hat. 

"Hush Ember, now come out and send this off to Celestia." What looked like a snake with wings, and four stumpy legs quickly half climbed, half slithered from the under recesses of Star Swirl's voluminous hat. 

"Alright, alright!" Ember grumbled, as he paused on the brim of Star Swirl's hat, he then exhaled a stream of green flame that ignited the scroll. The scroll was then caught up in a magical vortex, and blinked out of existence. "Now that's done, let's be on our way." They both disappeared in another magical spherical flash. 

When the light dissipated, the lab looked as if it hadn't been occupied for a very long time. As it should do, because nopony had been there for many moons. Layers of dust and cobwebs covered everything. The only illumination emanated from a panel of the ancient machinery, newly activated after the moons of neglect. 

There was a flash of besparkled light that emanated from the translucent sphere, Spike and the ponies popped into existence. "We must be back home," declared Applejack.

As everypony spilled out of the sphere, Archer rolled her eyes. "Dr. Obvious, paging Dr. Obvious, thanks for the update." Applejack shot her a look. 

"Yes," said Twilight.

"Twi!?." Exclaimed Applejack, 

"not about that Applejack. Perhaps Star Swirl left some things behind for us to learn from. Spike make a note about getting this part of the castle cataloged, and the books and scrolls sent to Castle Friendship. After a proper archeological examination of the area is made, of course." 

Spike, quill and parchment already in hand, furiously writing down the reminder. "Check," he said, then slapping his forehead, "oh no!" He exclaimed. 

"What is it Spike?" Asked Twilight, Spike looked at her.

"I just remembered, we still have all those books and parchment from that other archeological find we haven't gotten through yet! Now all this!" He waved his claws in an all encompassing manner to indicate the immensity of the vaulted lab. The scene expanding as he said this to show the vast chamber filled with the overstuffed bookshelves. Everypony began laughing. Spike on the other hoof, crossed his arms across his chest and let out an indignant, "humph!"

Latter, after the fillies had been reunited with family and friends, Twilight had time to discuss the adventure with those involved, and found that they had forgotten much of the details of the adventure following their arrival at Star Swirl's lab. "There's something I still don't understand about all that's happened Spike." Twilight said as the two of them were sitting in the library of Castle Friendship sorting threw the piles of boxes containing the books and scrolls that had been neglected during their recent adventure. 

"Only one thing?" Spike replied, Twilight looked at him with a brow raised, in an attempt to discern the degree of his sarcasm. Then decided it really didn't matter. 

"Before we were transported home, I asked Star Swirl how we were going to talk later. He simply replied that you would know." 

Spike shelved a book as he shrugged replying, "well I suppose that means that you will just have to wait until the answer comes to you."

Twilight shook her head. "No Spike, he said 'you’ would know where to find him. Not that I would figure it out." 

Spike turned to her and frowned, resting his elbow in one claw and rubbing his chin with the other in contemplation. "Well... The only thing that comes to mind..." 

His face lit up, as did Twilight's. Spike snapped his claws and they simultaneously exclaimed, "The kooky grandpa at the Piney Shade Retirement Community!" 

The two arrived at Piney Shade and saw what appeared to be an elderly pony colt relaxing on a porch swing. He was wearing a time warn cloak and watched their approach from under a beat up wide brimmed pointy hat that jingled with the movement of the swing. 

"Twilight Sparkle... I've been waiting a long time for this moment to come! Let's have that talk you wanted to have all those moons ago.        


Epilogue

The three of them walked down a path away from the retirement home. "I have a lot of questions," Twilight began. "But the first thing that comes to mind is, how long have you been living in Piney Shade? Have you been here all along?"

Star Swirl turned his head to look at her. "No, only for the past few years, I've missed Prim, and even though she has no memory of who I am to her, other then a figure of legend and, as I am now, a kindly old colt living in the home. She comes to Piney Shade from time to time for a visit, it's a small comfort, I suppose. Ah me, I seem to be getting sentimental in my dotage." 

Twilight smiled, and shook her head. "No I think it's kind of sweet actually." 

Star Swirl stopped and rubbed his forehooves together. "O.K. enough of the mush. I know there's more you want to know about then my current personal well being. What's on your mind?.. Fire away, only sense we now have plenty of time for discussion now." Twilight opened her mouth to ask her questions. 

Star Swirl interrupted her, "Oh, but one question at a time please, if I remember correctly, you have a tendency to go full auto, when obliged." The trio shared a brief laugh. 

Twilight thought for a moment, "I noticed that you altered the return timeportation spell before sending us home. It didn't register then what you had done, but after talking to the others, I have a good idea what it was. Why did you include a memory alteration passage to the spell so everypony but Spike and myself would forget the majority of our encounter?" 

Star Swirl flashed a guilty grin. "You caught that, did you. Well it would do no good to have anypony thinking any less of their two reigning matriarchs. I felt that you on the other hoof would be able to objectively handle certain truths, ones better off lost to history, and not look disparagingly on our Princesses.
What you have to realize is that, in the beginning of what is now Equestria was a very different place then it is today, even more then history books have recorded it." 

Twilight paused for a moment looking thoughtful, she then asked, "when you've talked about the Princesses, you generally call them by name, and rarely use their pre-honorific titles of Princess. In the history books, it's recorded that the three of you met at their Coronation, doesn't that make them your Princesses as well? 
But I suppose, as you said all those moons ago, not everything makes it into the history books." Twilight gave Star Swirl a particularly nasty stink eye, usually reserved for Spike at his worst. "What was it exactly that you did at the founding of Equestria that put you on the path of needing to 'divine' the future to see if it was the 'right' decision? And for that matter, who are the Princesses to you anyway?"

Star Swirl gave Twilight a conspiratorial grin. "Although I did request you ask one question at a time," 
Twilight gave a guilty cringe, but relaxed as Star Swirl continued. "However, as both are actually connected... To get to the answer of those questions and perhaps a few others that you haven't asked yet, you have to have some context of my unwritten history."

As Star Swirl began his remembrances, Twilight was able to see the events in her minds eye. "When the tribes came together, as it's related in the Hearths Warming Eve pageant, the leaders of the tribes brokered a treaty, however there was much conflict over whom should rule over the now "united" tribes of ponies. 
It seemed impossible that a representative from any of the three individual tribes could rule by themselves, even if the rule alternated from tribe to tribe. The ruler in current power may well have played favorites with their tribe over the other two. At the very least, could have been accused of doing so. 
The current Tri-Counsel would be no better (actually they would have been worse). And after listening to all those awful, and endless debates, I felt there was no way a counsel of representatives from each tribe would be likely to be able to properly govern either. As the Windigo threat was still to fresh, and there was too much bias towards what was best for the individual tribes, as opposed to what was best for all. 
My former apprentice Clover put forth that I might be able to come up with a solution. As you know, I was one of the unicorns tasked, along with a few others, the very auspicious, and quite frankly extremely boring occupation of raising the sun in the morning and the moon at night. Although it gave me time for studying magic and other academic pursuits, it was very unfulfilling for me and kept me tied to one place.
What I really wanted, even more then the common and arcane knowledge of study, was to explore new lands and actually experience things for myself. But I couldn't as long as I was trapped in my infernal and unwanted profession.
That was why I began dabbling in time spells, by the way. I was able to venture farther from home then a half-days journey and still be back to do my job. It was during one of these sojourns that we, Prim and me that is, found a pair of twins.
How they came to be separated from their parents, or whom they were, we never found out. In those days any orphaned foal may never have survived without the kindness of somepony taking them in. They were about the age a foal receives their cutie mark, but were still blank flanked. 
After a time, when the sitting council brought me their problem, I came to a decision to have the twins become the solution for both the councils problem and my own.
I began working on a spell to augment a pony and infuse them with the aspects of each of the three tribes so that nopony could claim bias. But as I thought about candidates to bestow this awesome power and responsibility upon, I realized that no mature mare, nor stallion could be the ruler that was needed. Because although they now would no longer be of their former tribe, they would still bring with them the values that had been ingrained into them sence childhood. The solution then became apparent that if I were to bestow the aspect of alicorn upon the twins and threw the guidance of the council be raised to become proper rulers, as alicorns, they would truly represent all tribes equally and be impartial to all. I felt hopeful that this would finally and permanently unite the tribes.
But As I also wished to be relieved of my burdensome profession, I created a caveat that they would be tasked, along with their responsibility as rulers of the budding kingdom, that they should be responsible for tending to the dawn and dusk, for which they unexpectedly to me, earned their cutie marks for. I thought also that if they were tied to tending to the sun and moon, it would keep them focused on their responsibilities to the newly formed kingdom. 
However as time passed, I began to worry about whether or not I had made the correct decision in choosing the twins for the task, as they become hardened by the burden of their royal responsibilities in overseeing the ever increasing needs of a now thriving nation. As a result, I then set myself to the task of looking into the future to see how my decision would result in effecting future generations. In secret, I hollowed out the cavern and built the machinery that you saw in my, well, now ancient lab with my niece Prim.
With the help of the Elements I was able to create the proper conditions to transform Prim, and give her a new identity. At the time of that first solar eclipse, I brought her back and we analyzed the data collected. We found a few worrisome insistences, but also found that with age came wisdom for the girls. A long time coming for Celestia, but she had finally started listening to my council, even when I was no longer around, that the most important thing that one could achieve in life is the magic of friendship. 
She saw in you the potential to learn and excel in that area. Your lessons are not only for you and your friends benefit, by the way, but also for the benefit of Celestia and Luna as well. It was because of you and your friends, the embodiments of the Elements that had shown me that I had made the correct decision. But more importantly to me, have shown the girls, my girls, to look beyond their duties of office and open their world to love, friendship, and perhaps one day a family of their own." This is what satisfied me to end the experiment all those years ago.
Star Swirl paused and from a pouch under his cloak, a book that seemed to big to have been put in it squeezed itself out. "By the by, I want you to have this, keep it safe for me. It's a history of Equestria from the data that Prim and I collected with my own personal perspective added. 
This is one of a kind, you won't find any of this anywhere else." With a serious look and a raised brow he continued, "and for now that's exactly how I want it..." In a more relaxed voice he said, "please." 

Twilight, after all that had been revealed to her since their first meeting in his lab had lost the ability to be surprised by anything he had to say. She also, for the first time in her life since foalhood lost the ability to speak. Choked up she finally said, "thank you for your trust in me. As for what you just said, I suppose that is comforting to know, in a way. But I have been curious about what you had said about Discord 'splintering' the spell used on Primrose, and about Derpy, and the Element Of Innocence? Also I know I've asked this before, but now having lived through all of this, I'm wondering if you have a more definitive answer. How come the Element Of Innocence was never found, and why doesn't anypony know about it now?" 

Star Swirl gave her a look, and sighed. "It seems you will forever ask multiple questions in one breath. As for the anomalies I described, now that the spell has effectively ended, so to will the anomalies eventually end, I should think." 

As Star Swirl answered her, the view pulled away from the trio, threw the Everfree Forest. 

"As for Derpy she remains the embodiment of the Element Of Innocence, that will never change. But as I had once said, the Elements have their own temperaments." 

The scene zoomed towards the Castle Of The Two Sisters.

"They tend to reveal their secrets when they are needed."

The scene dropped down into the cave where the Tree Of Harmony grew. 
Inside Derpy was lying a few paces away from the tree. Her head resting on her forelegs crossed in front of her looking forlorn at the tree, with her eyes moist with tears. 

"Well that and..." 

The scene focused on the Tree Of Harmony, the Elements shining brightly on each of their branches and shaped like the cutie marks of their pony counterparts. 
The Element of Magic shining in the conjunction of it's branches. 

"Has anypony thought to look behind the tree?"

The view rotated around the tree, at the conjunction of the branches, glowed brightly, a brilliant multi-colored bespectacled white gemstone.
Zooming in, the gemstone changed to resemble the appearance of a soap bubble.