Several days had passed since the rogues had at long last been captured and sent to Tartarus. All but 1, Wacko who Clover the Clever decided to teach how to be truly good like a friend she made not too long ago. Swift Sweep even donated some of his time to help Clover in reforming Wacko.
"Wacko give wallet back, Wacko good," Wacko said, grabbing the wallet before it even hit the ground.
"Doesn't look familiar," Swift Sweep said.
"Familiar?" Wacko asked, saying the word very slowly.
"You know, it's when you remember something or somepony because you've seen it before and so, oh wait this is my wallet. Thank you Wacko."
"Hooray Wacko do good!" Wacko then jumped up and down out of joy, while that was going on Twilight was finally able to free Starlight. She made her way to the changeling hive where her statue was carefully preserved by Thorax and reversed the Slab of Stone's magic, freeing her to Thorax's utter delight.
"STARLIGHT!" Thorax called out as he tackled her to the ground and gave her a big hug.
"Hey Thorax," Starlight said, still on the ground. "It's nice to see you again too." Thorax then helped her up and gave her another hug that she returned.
"I'm so glad to see you Starlight, let's celebrate!" Thorax said as he let go of Starlight.
"Oh I know we can have a party," Twilight said. "I can get Pinkie Pie here in no time."
"Well actually I was thinking I could take Starlight to a lake not too far away and maybe we could have a picnic there."
"Oh my," Starlight said as she blushed a little as she put the pieces together. "Thorax, are you asking me out on a date?"
"Y-Yeah I guess I am," Thorax replied as he blushed a little as well. "So, so what do you say Starlight?"
***
Sunburst, a talented wizard in the Crystal Empire recently found a journal that belonged to a legendary unicorn from long ago. The journal explained how not only he but all the other pillars disappeared after imprisoning The Pony of Shadows. Twilight believed it would be best for Equestria to free them. After a few days of research and a little help from Swift Sweep who as a big surprise to everypony could read ancient languages the mane 6 got to work finding certain artifacts then traveled to Pone Henge where the imprisoning happened.
"This is going to be so exciting," Twilight said excited to see Star Swirl again but it wasn't going to be a pleasant reunion.
"Yes at long last I am free," the Pony of Shadows said as he made himself known.
"How exactly can you say at long last when time doesn't exactly or even at all pass in Limbo?" Somnambula asked.
"Twilight I don't think we had a plan for this," Spike asked.
"Actually I made just the contingency plan for this," Twilight replied as she pressed her special bracelet and Super Stallion arrived at Pone Hedge in no time at all ready for a fight.
"Now that is quite something you don't see everyday," Somnambula said.
"Oh my gosh, earth ponies can fly now!?" Flash Magnus said.
"You again?" The Pony of Shadows said surprised to see him again.
"Again?" Super Stallion said but then decided to dismiss it and attack. Super Stallion didn't hold back but the Pony of Shadows was able to hold his ground.
"You'll need to do better than that," the Pony of Shadows said. As Super Stallion continued to fight he started to glow as a rainbow-like aura began to surround him quite a bit.
"What the hey is that?" Applejack asked.
"Looks like the writer is going for another Deus ex machina," Pinkie Pie answered and just as she did Super Stallion was knocked to the ground and the aura disappeared. "Oh looks like he wants this one to be explained first."
"You are quite powerful for a pony that isn't an alicorn but once I return to my full power none will be able to stand in my way." And with that the Pony of Shadows left so quickly even Super Stallion couldn't stop him.
"Stygian, wait come back!" Star Swirl called out.
"Stygian?" Twilight asked.
"Perhaps it's best I or rather we explained myself," Star Swirl said.
"Well I know where we can go," Twilight said. They made their way to the Castle of Friendship which Star Swirl not only figured out was a product of the Tree of Harmony but also explained how the pillars created the tree.
"Wow that is amazing," Super Stallion. "But that still doesn't explain why you called that giant walking shadow Stygian."
"It's a rather long story but I'll try to be quick as time may not be on our side. Stygian brought us together to stop dangerous creatures known as the sirens. He wasn't talented like we are but he was strategic and helped us make plans to win, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to be a hero just like us and used items that belonged to us for a ritual to make himself like us. But we stopped him and cast him out because we unfairly assumed that he was going to steal our powers."
"Woah I bet he wasn't too happy about that."
"No he wasn't Super Stallion, by the time we realized what we had done, it was too late. We looked for him to apologize, but when we did he was consumed by darkness and we had no choice but to imprison him. We only meant for him to be imprisoned in Limbo for just a little while until we figured out how to separate him from the darkness but when we sent him in there he sucked us in there with him. Until now that is," Star Swirl finished.
"So I think I'll just go right out on a limb and say that you don't just want me to pound the living crud out of Stygian?"
"No Super Stallion, I don't want you to do that," Star Swirl answered. “We're beyond long overdue to make what we should have long ago," Star Swirl said as he raised his head. "No time like the present as they say."
"Yeah that's the spirit," Rainbow Dash said, ready to help the pillars.
"We'd be honored to help you Star Swirl," Twilight said. "And it won't just be us, there's my brother and my sister in law who's also an alicorn too, Celestia and Luna, oh and even Clover the Clever."
"I beg your pardon?" Star Swirl asked.
"Clover the Clever she's here too and she can help you out."
"Is that a fact? Well it seems that time just might be on our side after all."
***
The mane 6, Spike, Super Stallion, and the pillars made their way to Canterlot Castle where Celestia and Luna were able to greet their teacher and father figure. They were so excited to see him again they hugged him right on the spot.
"It's so unbelievable," Celestia said with tears streaming down her face. "When I first heard from Luna that your journal was found and that there was a chance to bring you back it was like a miracle."
"Yes," Luna added with tears also streaming down her face. "It's so wonderful to finally see you again. I thought that wouldn't happen until, well you know."
"Yes but I had a feeling we would meet again," Star Swirl said.
"Star Swirl listen," Celestia said. "About what I said when you-" Celestia was cut off when Star Swirl placed a hoof on her muzzle.
"I forgave you long ago." Star Swirl then wiped the tears from the eyes of his daughter. As he backed up his jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw the size of their stomachs. "I'M GONNA BE A GRANDPA!" Star Swirl then actually jumped like a young stallion but stopped when his back hurt. "I'm okay I'm okay, somethings I forget I'm not as young as I used to be."
"Wait a minute Star Swirl was your dad!?" Swift Sweep asked.
"Not quite," Luna corrected. "We never knew our actual parents. Star Swirl found us when we were babies and he took care of us."
"Yes and a certain somepony made raising the 2 quite difficult didn't they?" Star Swirl asked as he looked right at Celestia who blushed.
"Yes, well no need to get into that," Celestia said.
"Yes you probably don't want to relive how you acted like such a menace when you were young," Star Swirl said as he reached up to rub her mane a little. "But you were my little menace." Suddenly Star Swirl got depressed again. "I just wish I was as good a friend to Stygian as I was a father to you and Luna. I screwed up and my pride blinded me to that until it was too late. How could I have done something so stupid?"
"Don't be so hard on yourself Star Swirl," Celestia said as she looked at Twilight for a few seconds. "I know how you feel but if you still have time to fix it you should fix it and let those close to you know how much you care about them. Twilight, can you come here? I want to let you know how precious you are to me."
"NO!" Twilight then ran for the hills to Star Swirl's confusion but decided to look into it later as he had been distracted long enough and went to get Clover the Clever. She was at the castle as well and was even more excited to see Star Swirl again than Celestia and Luna.
"Star Swirl Star Swirl Star Swirl!" Clover said as she grabbed his fore legs and danced with him a little.
"I see you haven't lost your excitement Clover."
"Oh it's so good to see you again Star Swirl," Clover said as she pulled him into a hug and Wacko joined in.
"My my who do we have here?"
"Oh Wacko? It's kind of a long story."
"You tried to recreate my sphere with the gems of magical properties in the Undiscovered West and he's the result of that isn't he?"
"Wow, you're good." Wacko then flew Star Swirl and Clover to where her cabin was as she still kept many of her things including her old Prank Master uniform. "Uh Clover, what is this?"
Clover used her magic to take the uniform out of Star Swirl's hooves and into hers. "Let's just say that I went through a phase when I got to this time."
"When you fell through the portal I made to get Twilight and Squeaky home before it was finished the unstable energy of the portal scrambled your brain causing you to act like a crazy and random rogue didn't it?"
"Wow you have got to teach me how you do that?"
"Perhaps after we help Stygian," Star Swirl answered as he looked through the various items in the cabin.
"What are we doing here again?"
"I explained on the way here."
"I know but my mind isn't what it used to be."
"Before you fell into the portal you were working on a spell that could project a pony forward into time. When you were gone I had to continue your research with the few notes left over. I didn't have a lot to work on, though I was able to send myself into the future a couple times."
"Really? How did that go?"
"It was okay, the last one wasn't exactly a joyride into the future but it had its nice parts."
"Well I don't know where the heck I put that journal of mine who knows how long this will take."
"Found it."
"Really? Oh I get it you must have done that thing where you figured it out right away. How'd you do this time?"
"I was looking for your journal and I saw a book that has theories on a time spell written on it."
"Oh, go figure,"
"Yeah, go figure."
***
With the journal found the 3 ponies made their way back to the castle and asked for Twilight and Squeaky to come to join them while the others searched for possible places that Stygian could be hiding. As Twilight and Squeaky arrived they arrived at Canterlot castle they found a circle drawn on the floor by Clover and Star Swirl. Wacko wanted to help but he didn't know how to write yet so he just watched.
"So why have we been brought here when we need to stop the Pony of Shadows?" Squeaky asked as he and Twilight were standing in the center of the circle as per Star Swirl's instructions.
"By going back in time you'll be at or at least very near the point when Stygian fell into darkness. By figuring out the reason that he did such a thing it will help me get through to him," Star Swirl answered.
"Couldn't you try to do that now and save us a possible unnecessary trip through time?" Squeaky asked.
"Yeah Star Swirl don't get me wrong you're a genius but this might not be the best plan to stop the Pony of Shadows and help your friend."
"You may be right Princess Twilight but you have to go anyway," Star Swirl said.
"Why?" Squeaky asked, a little confused.
"Because you already did, time travel is funny that way," Star Swirl answered.
"Is there something that we need to know before we're sent to…before?" Twilight asked.
"A couple things actually while we've met before Twilight you'll be meeting me for the 1st time and while the present me and Clover have found a way to send you 2 to the past it'll be up to the past me and Clover to send you to the future."
"Huh, ironic," Squeaky said to himself.
"Ironic?" Wacko asked once again saying the word very slowly.
"It means funny," Clover answered.
"Oh, HA HA HA HA HA HA HA, I don't get it."
"I'll explain later," Clover said.
"Once you get to the past and learn why Stygian turned to darkness, Clover and I can get you 2 back home. Other than that just try not to do anything that will disturb the space time continuum."
"Got it we won't let you down Star Swirl," Twilight said.
"I know you won't Twilight."
"Wait, was that a time travel joke?" Before Star Swirl could answer his question Squeaky and Twilight were hurled through time and Twilight and Squeaky found themselves in Equestria over 1000 years ago.
"Wow it's so amazing time travel is just such an amazing thing," Twilight said in awe.
"Didn't you actually already go through time?"
"Yeah but I was so focused on stopping Starlight that I could enjoy it."
"That makes sense like the time I traveled to parallel worlds but I was so focused on rescuing you then Princess Celestia and Princess Luna that I couldn't just take the time to say we're in a flipping alternate dimension. We really gotta take the time to stop and realize just how awesome our lives are."
"Yeah, but not now we gotta get going."
"Right time's a wastin," After Twilight gave Squeaky a pity laugh the 2 set out to find Stygian. "Twilight wait!"
"What is it Squeaky? Is something the matter?"
"Star Swirl said not to do anything to alter the course of history."
"Yeah."
"Well we better make sure that nopony else sees another alicorn running around." Twilight then looked at her wings and saw Squeaky's point.
"You're right we got to do something to hide my wings." Twilight then used her magic to make a black hood and robe appear and then put it on while leaving the hood down. "There, that should do it now let's get going. We need to find Stygian so we can help Star Swirl and the other pillars but mostly Star Swirl. Not that I have anything against them, it's just that Star Swirl is my hero, he's just so cool."
"Yes he is, I was never one for history but even I know how much of an impact he had on Equestria. Such as making a certain sphere I brought along." After making sure that no other ponies were around Squeaky Clean made his change into Super Stallion and flew up and used his super hearing to find Stygian. "All right Stygian where are you?"
"Somnambula is so beautiful. Perhaps if I ask her super kindly she'll say yes to being my bride."
"I get those 2 ponies that can raise the sun and moon should get their own castle but why are they making it in that forest? I think it would look better up on the mountain."
"The poor guy just died right out of nowhere it was so shocking none of us saw it coming, I'm really gonna miss that wacko."
"You ever think that maybe we're just products of a being's imagination but despite that we're still beings as imagination is the beginning of all things."
"All I wanted was to be a hero but they just wanted to hog all the glory to themselves. I wanted to shine in the light with them but perhaps it would be best if I just fell into darkness."
"Yeah that's gotta be him." Super Stallion flew in the direction of Stygian's voice and he could sense all the darkness from the air. "And that is some powerful darkness down there." Super Stallion then dived after making sure no other ponies were around and when he landed a tower of shadows appeared from underground.
"Yes the darkness has made me so powerful the darkness makes me feels like I belong the darkness make me feel complete!" The Pony of Shadows then made its way out of an underground cave and made another shadow tower appear out of its sheer essence. “I am the darkness and the darkness shall spread across the world."
"Yeah I definitely found the Pony of Shadows," Super Stallion said to himself, getting the attention of the Pony of Shadows right away.
"Who are you?"
"I'm somepony that wants to help you come back into the light Stygian."
"My name is not Stygian, not anymore. Now I am the Pony of Shadows."
"But why? Why are you doing this?"
"Why should I even answer that? You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
"Why should I try to explain myself to you!" The Pony of Shadows nearly yelled out as he pushed Super Stallion back and into a large boulder that he was forced through halfway.
"You are the 1st to suffer and once I gather even more power to get me to my full potential I'll make those who cast me aside suffer no matter how long it takes. I thought they were my friends but they turned their backs on me just because I wanted to be like them. They betrayed me and in time they will suffer like they never suffered before." The Pony of Shadows then disappeared and Super Stallion got out of the boulder and once again found himself unable to locate or track the Pony of Shadows.
"Well at least I found the reason why he turned to darkness," Super Stallion said as he picked himself up a bit then made his way back to where Twilight was. After he made his way down and changed back into Squeaky Clean and walked over to Twilight who was working quite diligently on a book she brought with her into the past.
"Oh hey Squeaky you're back," Twilight said as she got back up. "Find anything?”
"Yeah, what are you doing? Making a drawing?"
"Well while I was waiting for you to get back I felt like working on this book of mine that I brought with us. I actually had enough time to draw the whole circle in the book right when you got back." Squeaky then looked and saw that she indeed drew the whole circle in her book.
"I wasn't gone that long. How were you able to do that?"
"I didn't get these wings for nothing," Twilight answered with a rather big smile taking a little pride in her abilities.
"Well I figured out what Star Swirl wanted us to figure out so let's get to Star Swirl so we can see Star Swirl." Twilight and Squeaky then made their way to the Castle of the 2 Sisters seeing various ponies walking around the place that would become the Everfree Forest in time.
"Wow," Squeaky said as they were walking.
"What is it, Squeaky?" Twilight asked.
"It's just kind of amazing how much things have changed over the years hasn't it?"
"Yeah time certainly has a way of changing things. It took me so long to get used to going from a unicorn to an alicorn. I always thought I'd be somepony like Star Swirl who would advise Princess Celestia but now I'm like her. Change can be so random and difficult at times."
"Yeah you're talking to just the right pony about that. I was just a mild mannered janitor that was content with living a simple life but then I came across a magical ball that made me into something I thought I could never even dream of becoming. On top of that I fell in love and married a beautiful princess."
"We've both gone through quite a bit of change haven't we?"
"Yeah no doubt about that, what new and greater changes that are going to come our way nopony can really say."
"True," Twilight replied as they were nearly at the castle. "But for now we should focus on the present, in the past." Before long, they came across Star Swirl the Bearded himself.
Wow that was fast, Squeaky thought to himself.
"I don't recognize you 2," Star Swirl said. "You must be new here, that or you felt like sneaking into the castle to meet the princesses. Or perhaps me."
"Well," Twilight replied. "You aren't off."
"I knew it, all right I'll sign autographs but I won’t go to your child's birthday party."
"That's fine with me," Squeaky said. "I don't have any kids, well at least not yet."
"Well in the meantime if you want autographs perhaps you can do something to help me. You look like you could help out in the library."
"I would love to," Twilight said with excitement as she would love to look at classic books from 1000 years ago.
"And you look like you'd be great at cleaning some of the floors in the castle."
"I can mop and clean with the best of them," Squeaky said.
"Good to hear," Star Swirl said as he led them into the castle. Twilight organized as well as read half the books in the library and Squeaky nearly made the castle floors shine and along the way came across Princess Celestia and Clover the Clever.
"Oh hello there," Celestia said to Squeaky who said hi back. Celestia then whispered something in Clover's ear.
"You're in luck pal Princess Celestia thinks you're pretty cute." Suddenly Clover got smacked in the side by one of Celestia's wings rather hard.
"Clover oh my gosh!" Celestia then ran off with her face almost as red as a cherry.
"Honestly Clover, did you really think she wanted you to say something out loud if she whispered it in your ear first?" Star Swirl asked.
"Oh come on she should say what's in her heart more openly anyway. Plus you gotta admit it was a pretty funny joke wasn't it?"
"Yes Clover you're a real Prank Master." Just then Twilight came out of the library and joined the others.
"Clover, would you excuse us? I need to help these 2." Clover the Clever then left the hallway and Star Swirl then turned to Twilight and Squeaky. "Well since it's just the 3 of us, perhaps now would be a good time to explain to me why one of you is an alicorn." Squeaky and Twilight were so shocked.
"Wow I knew you were brilliant but how could you have figured it out so quickly?"
"Oh I've been around, I've learned a few things. So what do you call yourselves?"
"My name is Twilight Sparkle and this is Squeaky Clean." Twilight then took the robe off showing her wings. They then explained to Star Swirl how they were sent back in time by him to help in the future.
"My word I've been experimenting and working on a few possible spells but I still wasn't sure that time travel was actually possible."
"Oh I know I actually visited myself from the future once, it was so cool." After a while Star Swirl found Clover and the 2 got to work on helping Twilight and Squeaky get home. They went with Clover outside the castle to the Smoky Mountains west of the Everfree Forest via teleportation.
"Why did we come here again with our time travel notes?" Clover asked.
"We need to help our future friends get back to their time and we're gonna need a lot of open space which these mountains have plenty of."
"Couldn't we have simply gone to that large mountain not too far away from the castle?"
"We also want privacy and that mountain has ponies coming from all over to go into its mines for gems. Besides, I'm planning on doing a little exploring in that large forest to the west of these mountains after we help them out." Clover and Star Swirl after being told how far in the future they were from got to work making a portal that will take them back. When the spell was complete a portal the size of a small lake appeared below the 4 ponies.
"This should be able to take you to your present moments after you left. We just need to wait a while for the portal to finish the link otherwise you'll end up in your own past."
"Wow this is so cool," Clover said. Suddenly the portal started to act unstable and shot out lightning and in the surprise of it all Clover lost her balance and fell in. Star Swirl wanted to help her but Squeaky and Twilight stopped him.
"Don't if you get closer you'll fall in too!" Twilight said.
"Besides we have to do something about that portal," Squeaky said and after seeing it get more unstable Star Swirl used his magic to make it stable once again.
"That should do it, but Clover."
"Can't you go in there and bring her back?" Twilight asked.
"I'm afraid the portal is only 1 way," Star Swirl answered sadly. "Clover."
"Don't worry she'll be okay, sooner or later," Squeaky said.
"What?"
"It's kind of a long story, Star Swirl."
"Well all right, the portal should be ready now you should jump in before it gets unstable again."
"Don't have to tell me twice, come on Twilight." Twilight and Squeaky jumped in the portal that closed the moment they did. Star Swirl then found himself alone on the mountains and slowly walked down to explore the Undiscovered West for another project he was working on. "Poor Clover, though if ponies coming from the future are coming here because of me perhaps that means that everything will work out, in time." Star Swirl couldn't help but laugh out loud at his own joke but stopped when he remembered he was the only one there. "Ah stallion, I wish the others were still here, that was hilarious."
***
Twilight and Squeaky were flying through time once again when suddenly the vortex became a bit unstable again. Twilight was about to put a barrier around them but she was pulled forward while Squeaky stayed behind. Twilight threw her journal at Squeaky believing it would help him and she vanished while Squeaky found himself in Canterlot but could tell there was something off.
"She's not coming!?" A young purple unicorn filly cried out to her parents as they were walking with her.
"I'm sorry Twilight sweetie but Cadance got a bit of a cold and she doesn't want to come over because she's worried you'll catch it too," Night Light said to her daughter.
"What do we do?" Twilight Velvet asked . "I don't want to cancel our date but where are we going to find a foalsitter on such short notice." Hearing that Squeaky's memory of first meeting Twilight at the castle came to him in a flash as well as an idea.
"No wonder I didn't remember," Squeaky said as he approached the family, getting their attention. "Excuse me I couldn't help but overhear, I could foalsit your daughter. I was hoping to look at this journal about possible time travel spells but I can save it for later."
"Time travel spells?" Twilight said.
I was hoping that would get your attention, Squeaky thought. "Yes, some of them were made by Star Swirl the Bearded himself with help from Clover the Clever.
"Star Swirl the Bearded! Clover the Clever!" Twilight then ran over to Squeaky and jumped up trying to grab the book. "Let me see! Let me see!"
"Easy now Twilight," Night Light said as he pulled his daughter back. He then pulled his wife back a bit.
"What do you think he might be a good sitter? I think Twilight already likes him?"
"I don't know," Velvet said. "We don't even know him."
"Yeah, but I'm not getting a bad vibe from him." Suddenly Shining Armor and Stone Wall made their way to the other ponies.
"Squeaky Clean as I live and breathe," Stone Wall said.
"Captain Stone Wall," Twilight Velvet said, surprised to see him. "You know this stallion."
"Yes, he's my best friend. How strange I run into him while your son and I go pick up some things in town for the princess."
"Stone Wall!" Squeaky said more than happy to see his old friend again and in sound mind and body. He jumped right at him to give him a hug that Stone Wall blocked with a magic barrier. "Right you aren't a huger," Squeaky said with his face pressed against the barrier."
"If you forgot that we've been apart longer than I thought."
"So Captain, do you trust this stallion?" Night Light asked.
"I trust he won't try to hug me again, but in all seriousness, yes. He's always been helpful and caring towards others, even complete strangers, something I always admired about him." Stone Wall then dispelled his barrier and Squeaky fell to the ground and also touched at his friend's comment.
"Well I think that settles it," Night Light said. "If the captain of Princess Celestia's royal guard trusts him I think he'll make a wonderful foalsitter."
"Foalsitter?" Shining Armor asked. "Right Cadance's cold I could fill in for her after all- '' Shining Armor was cut off when Stone Wall grabbed him by the neck.
"You've been putting off basic training enough as is with your dates, now come along." Stone Wall and Shining Armor headed off and later that night Squeaky showed up at Twilight's house. They had a great time and as Squeaky hoped Twilight with her brilliant mind even at a young age helped him understand how the "hypothetical" spell would work. Before long her parents returned and he took off after he was paid.
"Can you foalsit again Squeaky?" Twilight asked.
"Sorry but I'm gonna be out of town for quite a while so you'll have to find somepony else."
"Oh," Twilight said, disappointed. "Will I ever see you again?"
"You just might Twilight, you just might," Squeaky answered as he rubbed her head a little. After leaving he found a quiet spot to perform the spell and jumped back to his present.
***
Twilight after leaving the past found herself back where she started. "Star Swirl we have a problem Squeaky-" Twilight was suddenly cut off when Squeaky appeared right beside him. "Never mind."
"Oh alright then were you able to figure out why Stygian did what he did?"
"We did Star Swirl. He felt betrayed by you and the other pillars." Star Swirl remained silent for a few seconds to Twilight and Squeaky's surprise.
"I figured that was the reason, but I was hoping it was something else. In my younger days I was starting to develop quite the ego but when I became a parent to Luna and Celestia it helped me learn humility because no parent is always right. But it appears that a part of that ego stayed with me, so much that I sent 2 ponies on a somewhat dangerous journey through time just so they could tell me what I already knew. But at least now I can finally set things right."
"We're right behind you, Star Swirl," Twilight said.
The Pony of Shadows was located thanks to the magic map in the Castle of Friendship so Twilight and her friends along with the pillars, Super Stallion, Wacko, Clover, and even Starlight arrived where he was. With their combined power they were able to restrain the Pony of Shadows along with the Elements of Harmony Star Swirl got back from the Tree of Harmony. Once he was restrained Super Stallion tried to pull Stygian out but the shadows were still holding him.
"Let go of me, the darkness is my only friend!"
"No we're your friends," Star Swirl called out. "I just wished I acted like it. We're sorry Stygian." The other pillars chimed in saying sorry as well which helped Stygian come to his senses.
"You're, sorry?"
"Yes Stygian," Star Swirl replied with great humility which got through to Stygian who helped himself get free of the Pony of Shadows that was resealed in Limbo.
"Wow that was easy, almost too easy," Super Stallion said.
"Works for me," Clover said. "But I wish Wacko could have helped out more. I even went through the trouble of bringing the Scepter of Strength in case we needed it."
"Yeah I'm ready for a challenge," Starlight said.
"Starlight you just got freed from your stone prison don't you think you should take it easy?" Twilight asked.
"No way Twilight, if anything I need to make up for lost time. What danger is next to face I'm ready," Starlight said with gusto. "Whatever it is, bring it on, I'm not scared of anything!" Suddenly to the shock of everypony, the portal to Limbo appeared and was forced open by not the Pony of Shadows but by Paradox Twilight.
"STARLIGHT GLIMMER!" Paradox Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs which made Starlight run off screaming. Paradox Twilight then let out a giant amount of magical energy that caused the cave to crumble. Wacko and Super Stallion got everypony out in time and when they did Paradox Twilight broke through the rubble and made it raise up ready to use it to attack when suddenly she saw the Scepter of Strength and grabbed it.
"The Scepter no I must have dropped it in the cave," Clover said. "Give that back we need it to beat you, it doubles the magical powers of whoever holds it….I should not have told her that." Paradox Twilight then looked at the scepter and swallowed it whole. "Oh that's a relief whatever that thing is it's not smart because that's not how the scepter-" Clover was cut off when Paradox Twilight released a giant shadowy aura that was cracking the land. "I stand corrected."
"Great now, whatever this creature is, it's twice as powerful," Star Swirl said.
"It doesn't matter how strong it is because we have it outnumbered," Super Stallion said. "Now let's get it!" Super Stallion charged when suddenly he was grabbed from behind.
“DO NOT TOUCH THAT!” The strange creature said and then turned around aiming his staff at Paradox Twilight and blasted it with a beam of magic. "Back! back you giant anomaly! Crawl back into the nothingness that spat you out!" Suddenly Paradox Twilight was forced back by the beam and vanished.
"You've defeated it great warrior," Rockhoof said.
"For now, but it will return."
"Well in the meantime can somepony explain why whatever that was looked like Twilight?" Super Stallion asked.
"I can," Twilight answered. "But it's kind of a long story and honestly I'm not 100% sure how she got here. She shouldn't exist anymore."
"Exist?" Star Swirl asked.
"Like I said, it's a long story."
"I can explain everything," the creature that fought off Paradox Twilight answered as he pointed a finger towards Starlight Glimmer. "IT’S ALL HER FAULT!”