Twilight and Spike had just escaped becoming a pack of Timber Wolves next meal, and they had also just encountered Nightmare Moon. The first mare that had ever tested Twilight's true purpose. She had overheard Twilight's frantic outburst about time travel. "Tell me how you came across this time magic," Nightmare Moon demanded.
"The Princess gave you an order mare. And unless you wish to visit the dungeons, you'll tell her what she wants to know," Came the voice of a rainbow maned mare, whom Twilight realized was Rainbow Dash, in nightmare armor.
"Rainbow Dash! You're here," Twilight exclaimed.
"You know this mare captain?" Nightmare Moon inquired.
"........ Not personally, your highness, no. Not even sure how she knows me. Though, minus the wings, she does look like that young mare your niece visits from time to time," Rainbow Dash answered.
"In any case. No pony but me should possess a spell powerful enough to change time in my kingdom," Nightmare Moon stated.
"Your kingdom?" Spike inquired, before Twilight elbowed him to not question Nightmare Moon's authority.
"Who else?" Nightmare Moon retorted.
"Um, Princess Celestia of course," Spike answered.
This gained silence from the crowd, but made Nightmare Moon laugh. She explained how she dealt her sister the exact same blow she had been given, and then told Twilight to take her to the source of the time magic, binding Spike in chains. But just as Twilight was about to lead them to the area, the sound of windows breaking happened. In a matter of seconds, a herd of ponies, clothed in black attire and masks startled the guards and Nightmare Moon. Before the Princess and her guards could regain their senses, the ponies grabbed Twilight and Spike, and were out of the castle once more. Twilight, not questioning what just happened, let her new captors take her and Spike away from the Castle of the two sisters, and far away from the Everfree forest.
When the group stopped running, the ponies holding Twilight and Spike set them down gently, and one stallion spoke, saying, "We apologize for the dramatic entrance and exit back there, but my herd of warriors and I are not ponies who like to stay at that place for too long. It's been a while since we cause that mare some excitement."
"Um, well, thanks for getting us out of there," Spike stated.
"Yes, thank you, but, who are you? You're certainly not ponies who follow Nightmare Moon's rule," Twilight stated.
"Well, I would think you might recognize me at least," came another stallion who approached them.
He removed his mask, to reveal Shining Armor. A little battle worn, but as tough as Twilight and Spike remembered him. "Shining Armor!" They both exclaimed, before embracing him in a hug.
"Uh. Good to see you too, I suppose," Shining stated, feeling a bit odd.
"What happened? Where's Princess Cadence? Tell me everything," Twilight insisted.
"In a moment. We best make haste for cover. Nightmare Moon's guards will be patrolling the skies for us, and we don't want to be out in the open when they are out there," The first masked pony stated.
"Right," the three agreed.
Soon, they and the rest of the herd made a dash for a near by coverage that appeared to be the land the Apple family used. Twilight followed pace with the herd, as they came to a building similar to the farm house and barn Twilight remembered, with a few upgrades, one, where a hidden passage opened up, and led the group underground. Once inside, one pony lit some candles as the rest of the herd settled in. "Now, you were asking what happened here. Well, first let me introduce myself," said the pony.
He removed his mask to reveal a bat pony. Grey fur, with a grey and white mane. About Twilight's age. "I'm Night Mist. Leader of the Rebel Moon forces. Nightmare Moon took over about three years ago, before any of us knew what was happening. She bested the original guard Princess Celestia had, and banished her own sister, as you may have already learned. Shining Armor, as you seem to know, is my co-leader. Playing double agent for us. When we saw you were captured, we thought Nightmare Moon had taken his sister, or at least the one he was familiar with. Course, we had not noticed your wings originally. Which most likely means, the Twilight we all know is back home in Canterlot, keeping a low profile, and staying out of harms way," Night Mist stated.
"All the same, it would have been wrong to let Nightmare Moon harm any version of my sister. As for your question about Cadence. She's living with Nightmare Moon. The Night Princess wants to keep her close when she can, but allows her to visit other parts of Equestria once in a while, and, like me, is helping the rebels from the inside. But we have gotten no where fast. Nightmare Moon's power is far to great at this point to challenge directly. And no pony dare approach her to demand anything of her. We've been trying to find a solution for months now, but haven't found anything yet," Shining Armor stated.
"We had just made a raid on the castle library when we spotted you. So we're glad we came back with more than what we had originally planned," Night Mist admitted.
Twilight was thinking long and hard. She could easily sneak back to the map and use the spell to take her and Spike back to the past where they found Starlight, but she also had to consider something else. While she may be able to get back to her original reality she knew, this reality would continue on parallel to her own reality. And would still be under Nightmare Moon's iron hoof, with the rate these ponies were trying to find a solution. "Alright, what can I do to help?" Twilight pleaded.
"Twilight, what abou-" Spike was cut off, as Twilight covered his mouth with her wing.
"No Twilight. I can't risk you getting hurt out there. It's too dangerous," Shining Armor argued.
"It's like was stated before. I'm not the Twilight you know. In the reality I know, I was taught and guided under Princess Celestia herself. I know some pretty good spells that can help if I can," Twilight countered.
"Shining Armor. She has a point. she may be able to help in ways the rest of us can't. I know the Twilight we've met is a really big bookworm, and most likely this Twilight is too. But if Celestia is the one who taught her, and the fact that she's an alicorn version of your sister, perhaps she can help," Came the voice of a country pony Twilight's ears recognized.
"Applejack!" Twilight chirped.
"Howdy there Twi. Now, I know I may not know you as you are now personally, but you got my gears winding on an old idea we had. Perhaps, because you're here, could work," Applejack stated.
"What did you have in mind?" Twilight pondered.
"Well, now hear me out, I can tell that, because you're another version of yourself, that must mean, you come from and alternate timeline, am I right?" Applejack inquired.
Twilight nodded. "Right, so that means, if you have a means to return to it, we can't force you to stay here in this reality. That being said, we will need some pony to take up the mantle of ruling Equestria after Nightmare Moon is overthrown," Applejack stated.
"Applejack. Last time we tried battling her, she threw us to the side like pieces of a board game," Shining argued.
"Because we did not have an alicorn to challenge her. I know we can't use Cadence. Her magic is only meant to bring love an healing. It can not be used to battle Nightmare Moon. And no doubt, while Twilight was in her presence, Nightmare Moon saw she was an Alicorn, so they'll be lookin for her more than any of us," Applejack argued back.
"Are you saying that you want me to challenge Nightmare Moon and take her place as ruler?" Twilight inquired.
"No. I know you need to get back to you're reality. You can't stay in ours. Our Twilight would not be able to handle the thought of another version of herself being here. What I am stating is. With your magic, we might be able to defeat her. Not by having you use your magic directly on Nightmare Moon, but unlocking another pony's potential to achieve the alicorn state," Applejack stated.
"I-I can do that?" Twilight wondered.
"It was from an old story we read about how Cadence got her wings. But Cadence has admitted she can not perform such a spell on any pony, since Nightmare Moon would grow suspicious of her, and with how many guards are by her side at almost all times, there'd be no way for her to perform it without getting noticed, and reported," Night Mist stated.
"Right but now that this Twi is here, she can possibly preform it," Applejack suggested.
"No, I can't. Not without knowing who I should choose to use it on, nor without the Elements of Harmony," Twilight stated.
"The Elements of Harmony? But they're just a myth," Came another smaller pony's voice.
It was Scootaloo, who was being looked after Applejack and her kin, while her parents were sent to learn of any threats for Nightmare Moon. "They're not a myth Scootaloo. They're very real, and they are very powerful. However, the only place I know them to be, would be in the Castle you all just helped me escape from. But by this time, Princess Nightmare Moon has probably moved them to another part of the Castle," Twilight stated.
Shining Armor cleared his throat, "There, um, wouldn't happen to be six of them, would there?"
"Yes, but how-" Twilight was unable to finish her question.
"I, well, being a double agent, I have spotted them. They're actually in plain sight. I've seen Nightmare Moon gloating to herself sometimes while staring at them, when she's, em, speaking to her sister," Shining explained.
"Okay. Well, we'll need a plan of attack to get to them, but that's just one part of the puzzle. I also need to decide who I will be using the Elements on for the blessing," Twilight stated.
"Wait, so, you're going to go through with this idea?" Night Mist inquired.
"I am. But I can't stay here forever, and neither can my little brother Spike," Twilight stated as she nuzzled Spike.
"Brother?" Shining inquired.
"I'll explain a little later. What I mean is. I need to find someone worth of taking on the mantle of ruling until Celestia's return from her imprisonment," Twilight stated.
"Well, alright. Well, while we are making a plan to retrieve the Elements of Harmony, I would like some of you to take up a chance to read through the books we collected, see if we can find any information that can give us any kind of an edge while we prepare. There rest of you help me, Twilight and Shining Armor start a layout of our plans," Night Mist ordered.
The ponies nodded, and some began to gather around the three ponies and Spike, while others made their way to the books, Scootaloo among them. Twilight saw that Night Mist was showing true acts of leadership, not putting himself upon a pedestal, and seeking council from others. And many already seemed to trust him, following his orders without question, but also offering guidance he took into thought, when needed. But the same was also said for her brother, and she had seen how well he led the guard in her own reality, and saw it was not lost in this one.
"You think you already made your choice," Spike whispered to Twilight.
"Maybe, but we'll have to wait and see. Shining and Night Mist are both likely candidates. But I can't jump to conclusions," Twilight whispered back.
"Fair enough," Spike agreed.
Soon, they joined the others to listen to the council of rebels on what might be the best plan of attack. And to get a little more back story on Night Mist, no recollecting knowing him in her own reality.