//------------------------------// // 8. No Going Back // Story: My Little Pony: Living the Future // by Harrison Sparrow //------------------------------// The Mane Six and Future Twilight arrive at the Canterlot Library of Magic, where Starlight Glimmer and Trixie Lulamoon are seen talking to each other. "Starlight? Trixie?" Future Twilight said. Starlight and Trixie turn to face her. "Oh, hey, Twilight!" Starlight said. "Is everything okay?" "I'm glad you're here. We need your help." Future Twilight said. Trixie looks at the Mane Six and Spike. "What in the world...?" She said in shock. "Even Trixie is different." Rainbow said. Rarity scoffs. "Will you stop saying that, Rainbow?!" She said, completely annoyed. "Hey... Why is there two of you and your friends, Twilight?" Starlight asked. "It was the comet." Future Twilight said. "It brought them here from the very past." "Ah, I see!" Trixie said. "I'll admit, I really miss seeing the little Twilight Sparkle." "Me too. Gee, how much time has gone by." Starlight said. "Uh, who are you?" Twilight asked Starlight. "Sorry, young Twilight." Starlight said. "My name is Starlight Glimmer. I became friends with your future-self." "Okay, so, Starlight and Trixie, do you know if there's any time travelling spells to send me and my friends back home?" Twilight asked. "Our parents are dead." "Hmm... well, you came to the right place!" Trixie said. "I do happen to be a travelling magician." "And I did use to go back in time once." Starlight said. Rarity gasps. "Really!?" She said. "That is great!" Fluttershy said. "Okay, Trixie and I will go look through the archives and see if we can find anything." Starlight said. "Hopefully they're still in one piece." "Oh, thank you so much!" Twilight said. "I knew you'd be the right ponies for the job." Future Twilight said to Starlight and Trixie. "Just leave it to Starlight and the great and powerful Trixie!" Trixie said, as she and Starlight walk off to the archives. "Do you really think this will work, Twilight?" Pinkie asked. "Don't worry." Twilight said. "We can count on them." One hour later, whilst the Mane Six and Future Twilight have been waiting, Trixie and Starlight return with saddened looks. "Goodness, Starlight and Trixie, we've been waiting for an hour!" Twilight said. "So, have you found anything?" Future Twilight asked. "Um, we..." Trixie said, as she sighs. "So... we looked through all the archives, and did a lot of research, but... we haven't found anything time-related." "What?" Twilight said. "We even had a few more ponies helping us out, but there was nothing in the database." Starlight said. "We've done everything we could." "Guys, I... I don't understand." Future Twilight said. "There's gotta be something to bring them back home!" Twilight is losing hope. "Please, isn't there anything else?" She said, begging. Starlight and Trixie look at their supporters, who shake their heads in disagreement. "No, Twilight." Starlight said. "We're sorry, but since the comet changed everything... we also found out that... the hourglass is gone." Trixie said. "So, the spells for travelling through time... are no more." "You and your friends are stuck here. Forever..." Starlight said. Twilight and her friends start crying. "What…?" Fluttershy said. "No…" Rarity said, weeping. "Granny…" Applejack said. "Mom and Dad…" Rainbow said. "We’re… we’re not going home…?" Pinkie said. "No… we’re not… and we’re not gonna see our parents ever again…" Twilight said, as she runs away, sobbing. "Twilight!" Future Twilight calls out, but Twilight runs out of the library. She starts crying as well. "I’m so sorry…" Starlight and Trixie hug her. Future Twilight returns to her house. "Twilight?" Future Spike said. "What's wrong, darling?" Future Rarity asked. "I'm so sorry, guys..." Future Twilight said. "'Bout what?" Future Applejack asked. "What happened?" Future Pinkie asked. "It's our past-selves." Future Twilight said, as she sniffles. "They're not going back..." "Huh?" Future Applejack said. "What do you mean?" Future Rainbow said. "The hourglass in the Canterlot Archives is gone, because of the comet." Future Twilight said. "So Trixie and Starlight haven't found anything time-related." "So you're saying that your past-selves are stuck in this world for good?" Luster said. Future Twilight nods. " Yes..." She said softly. "I guess that means we're stuck here, too..." Luster said sadly. Future Spike hugs Future Twilight. Future Twilight takes a deep breath. "But we're not giving up." She said. "What are you saying?" Future Spike said. "Ever since Celestia retired and I became ruler years ago, I always said we would never give up when we get into hard times like this." Future Twilight said. "If something bad happens, then it's always up to us to fix everything." "But, what are we going to do?" Future Fluttershy asked. "If our past-selves don't have a family and are alone, then..." "Then we should adopt them." Future Twilight said. The others are shocked and surprised by Future Twilight's words. "What!? Adopt ourselves!?" Future Rainbow said. "Are you kiddin'!?" Future Applejack said. "Absolutely not!" Future Twilight said. "I know it sounds crazy and weird, but it's the only way. I'm ready to become a mom. As long as you are." "Well, I'm already married and have a son, so... I think I'm gonna have a past-self daughter!" Future Pinkie said. "I guess I'm already qualified." Future Rarity said. "You guys are gonna adopt your past-selves!?" Luster said. "I can't believe what I'm hearing!" "Yeah, me either!" Future Spike said. "All right, I need you guys to go and tell your friends about this." Future Twilight said. "And once you've done that, find your past-selves and tell them the news. I'll take care of Twilight." "We're all in this together, right?" Future Rainbow said. "We sure are, Sugarcube." Future Applejack said. "Okay, guys, let's get to work!" Future Twilight said.