"Me?!” Starlight said. “I'm grateful that you fought off that nightmare but excuse me-" Starlight was cut off when suddenly she was pulled in by the creature's magic until she was right in front of him.
"Don't "excuse me" me," he said as he was holding her by the throat. "Your actions may have doomed this entire multiverse! Do you have any idea how big a time anomaly has to be in order for someone outside the multiverse where it was created to sense it?!"
"Uh-"
"A GIANT ONE!!"
"Okay hold on a minute," Twilight said as she got closer. "I think we're missing some dialogue. Can we go back a bit?"
"A bit more than a bit I have quite a few questions," Super Stallion said. "What and who exactly are you and why are you here and how is all of this Starlight's fault?"
"And where can I get a staff like that?" Pinkie Pie asked, making the others look at her. "What? It looks cool." Suddenly a staff that looked exactly like the creature's appeared in Pinkie's foreleg. "Cool! Does this have the same powers as yours?"
"No but it just shoots out streamers."
"Super duper cool! A streamer staff to go with my party cannon. Thanks mister!"
"No problem," the creature said as he stood up. "Now the other questions. What and who I can answer at the same time. HA that wasn't even on purpose! I am the Time Wizard."
"Time Wizard? That's your name?" Flash Magnus asked. "Like the name your parents gave you is that?"
"No, that's what I go by now."
"Can we call you Time or Mr. Wizard for short?" Clover asked.
"I'd prefer it if you didn't thank you," Time Wizard answered. "As for the other questions, I'm here to help fix a certain pony’s mistake. As for why it’s all her fault, well let me just show you." Time Wizard then created a portal showing the things he would talk about. "It all started after Starlight was forced to flee from her own village."
"Hooray! Story time!" Pinkie Pie said as she got out a bag of popcorn seemingly out of nowhere.
"When she escaped she vowed vengeance on Twilight Sparkle and set out to get it by meddling with time of all things. What could possibly go wrong? Well a lot, because time can be very dangerous when tempered with. Twilight tried to get her to see reason but she proved too tricky, not to mention thick headed."
"Well thick headed might be a little harsh-" Starlight was cut off when the Time Wizard hit her on the head with his staff. "OW!"
"Don't interrupt. Eventually Twilight pulled Starlight into one of the alternate timelines she created. And actually had to explain how she was the cause of it, seriously you didn't know changing the past also changes the future. That's like time travel 101. How can you be so stupid?"
"Stupid?!" Starlight said offended. "I'll have you know I'm very smart, my way of spells-" Starlight was cut off when the Time Wizard bonked her on the head again with his staff.
"Just because you're smart doesn't mean you're not stupid, it's possible to be both," Time Wizard said. "Anyway, she was pulled into an alternate timeline she created-"
"Yeah but then Twilight, Spike, and I left and we undid all the alternate OW!"
"I said don't interrupt! True, you erased those alternate timelines, but not everything was erased."
"How does that work?" Star Swirl asked.
"Time has its own rules, sometimes it works 1 way, sometimes it works another. But in this case there are a few other factors to take in as well."
"But wait," Starlight said.
"How many times are you going to interrupt me?"
"I'm just having trouble understanding."
"Yes, time travel can be confusing, for now all you need to know is that the Twilight that's after you is a paradox fueled only by her hatred of you. It's just a matter of time before she comes back so we need to get ready or rather you need to get ready Starlight Glimmer."
***
Time Wizard brought the entire group back to Ponyville where they split up. Clover tried to explain everything to Wacko who trained some more with Super Stallion. Twilight took the Time Wizard and her friends to the castle.
"Okay so this mission had an unexpected detour," Rainbow Dash said. "But can we just acknowledge how totally awesome it is that we have the Elements of Harmony again?"
"I did miss this lovely gem," Rarity said as she admired her own element. "Speaking of lovely Time Wizard, your robe goes simply swimmingly with your staff and hair style. It makes you look quite divine."
"Thank you Rarity you look very smoochable as well for a 2 foot tall unicorn, especially with those sexy curls in your mane."
"Oh why thank you, I do take great care of my mane work."
"And by that she means she combs her mane 100 times before bed," Applejack said.
"At least I comb it."
"All right everypony, and Time Wizard we need to focus to stop Paradox Twilight," Twilight said, ready to make a plan as she usually did.
"Actually Twi do ya mind if I head to Sweet Apples Acres my belly's growling more than a dog gone plum mad?"
"I'll do my usual thing and save time by bringing the farm to you." With a tap of his staff several of Applejack's trees appeared inside the castle. "Don't worry I'll put them back when we're done. Do you mind if I have some too?"
"Uh, no help yourself."
"Thank you, you'd be surprised how much fighting off time anomalies builds up an appetite." The Time Wizard then walked over to 1 of the trees and placed his hand on it. Suddenly the tree changed and produced zap apples to the sheer surprise of everypony in the room.
"How in the hay did you do that?!?"
"I can do many things." As Time Wizard sat down to eat the zap apple Rainbow Dash flew over to him with several empty large wooden mugs and a huge grin.
"If you can make zap apples can you also make apple cider?!"
"Now hold on Rainbow Dash, cider is made with tender love and care not with freaky magic," Applejack said.
"Challenge accepted," Time Wizard said then he picked several apples on the trees and the mugs Rainbow Dash was holding. Time Wizard once again surprised the ponies by creating what looked like perfectly made apple cider.
"My my you are quite the talented creature aren't you?" Rarity asked. Time Wizard then offered the cider to the ponies after taking a little sip himself.
"Now let's not get a hold of ourselves," Applejack said. "Just because it looks like top quality cider doesn't mean it-" Applejack was cut off when Time Wizard tipped the mug into her muzzle with the bottom end of his staff forcing Applejack to drink it. "Wow! That is great!"
"I like to cook in my spare time and when you can travel through and or manipulate time that's something you have a lot of." The others drank and they all enjoyed it, especially Rainbow Dash.
"Can you make chocolate cake taste better too?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Perhaps where's the kitchen?"
"Oh could I have some too please?" Fluttershy asked.
"Sure just let me get started and we can all pig out."
"My my, smart, handsome, a capable fighter, and you know how to cook you're more than the full package."
"Thank you Rarity but I'm taken." As Time Wizard was becoming quite close with the mane 6, Starlight was with Thorax and Trixie just outside of Trixie's wagon.
"Wow," Thorax said. "You stopped 1 monster and then suddenly another showed up?"
"Yeah that's pretty much what happened, Thorax and Time Wizard is very upset with me because all of it is my fault."
"Oh come now Starlight the wise and insightful Trixie thinks you're being too hard on yourself."
"Yeah how could you know you'd create something tartarus bent on murdering you?" Starlight then hit her head against the side of Trixie's wagon. "That didn't help, did it?"
"No," Starlight answered with her head still on the wagon.
"I'm sorry but Starlight I'm sure you can figure out what to do, you're a very smart pony."
"Thank you Thorax."
"And you're helpful too when you stayed at the hive you helped us learn so much," Thorax said as he started to make Starlight blush. "You care about others and go to great lengths to help them."
"Well I don't think that part is very true," Starlight said, still blushing.
"Trixie thinks so after all you helped me do the magic act that my idol did."
"Yeah. Despite whatever mistakes you might have made, you're a great pony and that's why I love you."
"Thank you Thorax, I love you too," Starlight said as she took her head off the wagon. Thorax and Starlight then shared a brief yet passionate kiss.
"You'll find a way to fix this somehow Starlight I know you will."
"You really think so, Thorax?"
"Of course."
"Trixie thinks you're quite a great and powerful unicorn, of course you're not as great and powerful as the great and powerful Trixie! But you're still very good."
"You know you guys are right I can't just stand by feeling sorry for myself. I got to set this right." Starlight then rushed into the castle.
"Well from the looks of things the inspirational and wise Trixie has helped her great and powerful assistant."
"Uh excuse me?"
"Oh yes and you helped out a little too."
Starlight found a rather large spell book and then opened it right up and began to take notes as well. "With this I can rework the time spell once again, but this time I'll be able to send myself to when Paradox Twilight appeared and then-" Starlight stopped when suddenly Twilight closed the spell book, shocking her.
"Hey," Twilight said.
"Uh hey," Starlight replied, unsure what her friend and former teacher was doing.
"So I was about to go outside and talk to you a bit while we waited for Time Wizard to finish making his chocolate cake when I overheard you talking a bit about time travel again."
"Well yeah but this is for a good reason."
"Oh really, like that time you basically brainwashed my friends so you could hang out with all of them better?"
"Okay that was a bad idea, but I can fix this with a spell or 2 if I rework my time travel spell I can send myself to where we first met Paradox Twilight."
"And get yourself killed, you know she wants you dead right."
"Yeah but if I go there I can stop her from escaping her erased timeline so she won't come after me."
"And you don't think that might cause another and maybe even worse time paradox?"
"Look I just need, I can rework the spell so this time time is going to, well I can work-" Starlight was cut off when Twilight lifted up the spell book with her magic and hit her right on the head, knocking her out.
"Every time I think she's past this," Twilight said to herself as she was dragging Starlight by her tail with her magic to get to the others who were so focused on Time Wizard's cake they didn't notice.
"Wow of wows this cake is delicious and yummy," Pinkie Pie said with her mouth half filled with cake.
"As I said before Time Wizard you are quite talented and if I do say so quite charming," Rarity said with a giggle.
"He's not all that great," Spike said frustrated.
"Now Spikey Wikey jealousy is not an attractive quality," Rarity said as she patted her favorite dragon.
"Twilight, help yourself before your friends gobble it all up."
"We just might, this cake goes great with cider," Rainbow Dash said.
"Uh speaking of cider Time Wizard I think we don't need my trees here anymore so would you mind?"
"It's already done." With a flash the trees disappeared and returned to Sweet Apple Acres.
***
Granny Smith was out for a walk and saw that there were empty holes where several trees were and before she could investigate the trees teleported right back into place. "Aw geez some of the trees are teleporting again."
***
"Thank y'all very kindly Time Wizard."
"No problem Applejack."
"Rather strange."
"What do you mean Twilight?" Time Wizard asked.
"Well Time Wizard I was just thinking out loud how it's kind of strange how you call yourself the Time Wizard but not all of your magic is based on time."
"Well you're the Princess of Friendship, is all your magic based on friendship?”
"Good point, wait, how did you know that I was the Princess of Friendship?" Twilight asked as this question got the attention of the other ponies and Spike.
"Just because you're outside my multiverse doesn't mean I don't know a thing or 2."
"Uh what's ah multiverse again?" Applejack asked.
"It's a group of multiple universes hence the name," Spike answered, getting the attention of the ponies he then got out some of his comics. "For example there's the Marble multiverse and there's the Private Investigators comics multiverse and who knows how many multiverses there are in the omniverse, that's pretty much everything by the way."
"Well put Spike," Time Wizard said.
"So it's like when Super Stallion rescued me and then Luna and Celestia from other worlds there were parallel universes in our multiverse."
"So does that mean there are other universes with us in it?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Oh yes," Time Wizard answered. "1 where Twilight adopts a filly Nightmare Moon, 1 where a human accidentally comes to Equestria and marries Applejack, 1 where Discord forces Fluttershy to stay with him and they fall in love, but my favorite is the 1 where Rainbow Dash is sent to another universe as a baby and is looked after by a human that acts like her father and I always cry at the end," Time Wizard said as he wiped a small tear out of his eye. "Speaking of water, sort of." Time Wizard then made a ball of water and threw it right at Starlight, getting her to wake up.
"Huh?! What's going on, what happened?" Starlight asked as she looked around and saw the others.
"You were unconscious and I woke you up."
"Now I remember, Twilight hit me on the head with a spell book." Hearing that the others with the exception of Time Wizard looked at Twilight.
"Because you were about to try another time spell," Twilight replied, which made the others look to Starlight.
"Starlight, are y'all going screwy?"
"Darling you couldn't have thought that was a good idea."
"Seriously, that is so uncool."
"Can I have more cake?" The others then looked at Pinkie Pie. "What? It's good and I'm still hungry."
"Why would you try to travel through time again?" Fluttershy asked.
"Especially since what happened last time," Time Wizard said as he tapped his staff and suddenly Paradox Twilight appeared causing Starlight to scream in fear and ran into the corner as it went after her.
"NO! LEAVE ME ALONE! PLEASE I'M SORRY FOR WHAT I DID! NOOO! Paradox Twilight then vanished like a fog when, Time Wizard hit it with his staff.
"Calm down it was just an illusion, you're really utterly terrified of her aren't you?"
"I…wasn't…that scared," Starlight answered. Suddenly Time Wizard was about to help Starlight up but stopped and looked away with his hand blocking what he just saw next to Starlight.
"I’ll get a mop.”
***
Starlight decided to go to the spa to try and melt away all the stress and Trixie decided to join her. "I should have come here sooner," Starlight said.
"Tell me about it," Trixie said. "It's nice to come here and just relax."
"Yeah I've had a lot of that lately my worst nightmare has literally come true and wants me dead."
"Well don't you worry Starlight," Trixie said as she walked over to Starlight to give her a hug. "If she wants you she'll have to go through the powerful and unbeatable Trixie." Just then Trixie stepped back and screamed a little and when Starlight turned around she saw Paradox Twilight.
"Ha ha real funny Time Wizard look I got your point the 1st time." Suddenly the spa got covered in a shadowy aura that started to break away the whole spa. "Uh, Time Wizard?"
"Even now when you're about to face the end you deserve, you continue to aggravate me!" Paradox Twilight then used her magic to try and bring the entire spa down on her head. And she would have if it weren't for Super Stallion and Wacko who had been training with one another not too far away and overheard everything and got everypony out just in time.
"Well, it looks like Paradox Twilight is back."
"Wacko take her down and do good!" Super Stallion and Wacko tried to fight her off but she was able to push back with her chaos magic.
"Stay out of my way!"
"Not going to happen, Paradox Twilight!" Super Stallion said.
"Paradox Twilight? Is that what you've decided to call me? I suppose it fits considering, not anymore."
"Why not?" Super Stallion suddenly getting a very bad feeling. Suddenly darkness started to surround Paradox Twilight.
"Trixie doesn't like this."
"Starlight doesn't like the looks of this either," Starlight said as she was hiding behind her magician friend.
"It was darkness that called itself the Pony of Shadows. He was stuck somewhere outside time like me and like me he had a great hatred that won't simply vanish. So we decided to work together."
"Call me Shadow Paradox." She then attacked Wacko and Super Stallion with chaos magic blasts that were even stronger than before.
"Owie, " Wacko said as he landed on the ground.
"Yeah big owie," Super Stallion said as he was on the ground as well. They both picked themselves up and around that time the pillars and the mane 6 heard what was going on and showed up.
"What in Equestria is that?" Star Swirl asked as he gazed upon Shadow Paradox.
"Paradox Twilight and the Pony of Shadows fused together," Super Stallion answered.
"Perfect!" Rainbow Dash said "Now we can stop both of them at once." Before they could activate the elements Shadow Paradox pushed them all back with magic even Wacko but Super Stallion was holding his ground.
"Oh this is just wonderful now her power has been doubled yet again," Super Stallion said to himself. "But I'm not going to let her do any more damage than she already has no matter how much of a beating I have to take!" Suddenly the rainbow aura from before returned and Super Stallion was able to move forward and then blasted Shadow Paradox so hard she was rammed into a nearby mountain.
"It can't be," Star Swirl said as he saw the aura around Super Stallion. "But it's the only explanation." Shadow Paradox then got out of the mountain and fired several blasts that were aimed at Super Stallion but went off course and Super Stallion had to blast them before they hit anything or anypony.
"It seems I'm having a little trouble controlling this new power," Shadow Paradox said standing on top of where the spa used to be. She then stared at Starlight with her cold dead eyes and froze her to her core. "But I'll get it under control in time and then I will end you." And with that Shadow Paradox vanished.
"The bad guy vanishes into thin air, that's a new one," Super Stallion said to himself as he saw the rainbow aura around him slowly vanish.
"Wait, the bad guy is gone?" Clover the Clever asked. "Shoot I wanted to come sooner but I thought I should bring a few things to help fight, Did Wacko at least help out a lot?"
"No," Wacko answered as he got out of the dirt. "Wacko do bad at do good."
"Are you kidding me?!" Clover said as she threw her stuff on the ground. "That's twice now he was robbed of a chance to do something really good by stopping a major bad guy."
"Ah Clover there might be more pressing matters at hoof," Star Swirl said.
"But it's not fair why can't he get a chance to show he's capable of being great? Just because an individual doesn't have a humble beginning or a good track record doesn't mean they shouldn't get a 2nd chance I mean if they just let Chrysalis-" Clover the Clever stopped herself by placing her hoof over her own muzzle. Clover then started to tear up and ran off.
"Clover wait!" Star Swirl asked as he tried to go after her but she teleported away. “I don't suppose one of you knows where she teleported off to?"
"Actually," Super Stallion said. "I have a pretty good idea." Super Stallion then picked up Star Swirl and flew off with Wacko close behind.
"My my," Time Wizard said as he approached the others. "It seems you ponies have been going through so much drama lately you really should try to do something about that. As for me, I think I'll take a trip around the spa you have here."
"Why in Equestria would you want to do that?" Starlight asked. "Don't you see all the damage that Shadow Paradox did to it?" Time Wizard waved his hand and the spa was restored as if Shadow Paradox was never there.
"What damage?" Time Wizard asked as he walked in.
***
Clover was sitting outside of the changeling hive in front of a marked grave in tears. A few seconds later Super Stallion, Wacko, and Star Swirl the Bearded arrived. "Is this a friend of yours, Clover?" Star Swirl asked.
"Yes her name was Chrysalis and she was the queen of the changelings."
"The queen?!" Star Swirl said in shock, remembering some of his not so pleasant encounters with them in the past. "They've changed. Was it friendship that helped them change? I knew friendship was powerful but I didn't think it could be that powerful."
"No it was love, and while love and friendship go hoof and hoof there is a difference. Love helped the changelings, well change but Chrysalis passed away before it could happen to her at least on the outside. I wanted to help her be good because I thought she could have done a lot, but she died before she could."
"I see," Star Swirl said.
"I guess that's why I've been trying so hard to help Wacko. I don't want the same thing to happen to him." Star Swirl then placed his hoof and Clover's shoulder as she continued. "When I fell through the time portal it messed with my head, made me forget things, I've gotten better but it still messes with my head sometimes. I'm afraid it'll make me forget stuff again."
“I see,” Star Swirl answered, not sure of much else to say.
"I need to be alone right now," Clover said as she ran off and Super Stallion left when he the changelings called him over to meet him.
"Beard pony?"
"Yes Wacko."
"What passed away mean?"
"It means somepony or some creature died."
"Died?"
Star Swirl thought for a moment then he saw a bunch of trees and got an idea. "Do you see those trees over there Wacko?"
"Wacko see."
"They start out as seed but over time they grow into large trees filled with life. But eventually the tree will get old or get chopped down and then it dies. We're like that too, we're born, we live for a while and then we die as life comes out of us."
"Beard Pony die?"
"Yes, someday."
"Wacko die?"
"I'd imagine."
"Where life go when it not in Wacko or beard pony?"
"Well, all living creatures have a soul and when we die it goes somewhere else and that lives on forever because souls never die."
"Wacko have soul?"
"You weren't born normally but you think and you have emotions, so yes I believe you do. Now if you'll excuse me I think I'll go talk to the changelings and see how different their lives are now and just how love changed it so much." Star Swirl then made his way down while Wacko looked at the tombstone of Chrysalis and put his hoof on it.
"Souls never die," Wacko said to himself but then suddenly he pushed on the tombstone too hard, breaking it. "Oh no beard pony Wacko do bad Wacko do bad."
***
Back in Ponyville the spa ponies were so happy Time Wizard fixed everything, they gave him numerous massages all on the house. "Yes, yes," Time Wizard said as Bulk Biceps was pressing his hooves right on his back. "Yes right there oh I feel the stress melting right off." After the massage, Time Wizard made his way in the hot tub where Starlight Glimmer was.
"Oh hello Time Wizard, are you going to be here much longer?"
"I was planning to, why?"
"Well it's just Shadow Paradox as she calls herself wants to murder me. So shouldn't you do something about her?"
"I've already been doing my part of forcing her back but it's going to be up to you to stop her once and for all."
"Me?!" Starlight said in shock. "How do you expect me to stop her? I'm talented with magic but her raw power would rip me to shreds in seconds."
"I never said you had to fight her," Time Wizard said as he got out of the tub and turned his swimming trunks into his robe.
"Okay that was cool."
"Thank you," Time Wizard said as he summoned his staff and sat down. "Shadow Paradox is one of the strongest time anomalies I've ever met ever but I could defeat her easily."
"Then why don't you?"
"Because you can't expect others to fix your mistakes. This is your mess, and you need to clean it up.
"Oh yeah how do I know you're not too scared to fight her?" Starlight asked and then put a barrier around her anticipating Time Wizard hitting her on the head with his staff. And Time Wizard did just that, breaking through the barrier effortlessly.
"Starlight Glimmer, I have seen the dawn of time and the creation of everything itself. I have stared into the face of God. I've seen an entire multiverse fall apart and miraculously come back together. I've made friends with incredible individuals some of which gave their lives to protect literally everything. But you are without a doubt the most thick headed creature I have ever had the displeasure of working with!"
"I'm sorry," Starlight said with her head down. Time Wizard then took a deep breath and put his staff on top of his lap.
"Sit down Starlight Glimmer." Starlight then sat down at Time Wizard's request. "You have talent Starlight Glimmer, more than just the magical abilities you've used time and time again to try and solve your problems, pun intended of course."
"Of course," Starlight added.
"You can be quite intelligent and help others with their problems when you aren't manipulating them to join your enslaved village."
"Oh, you know that too?"
"Yes, you've made mistakes in the past but everyone makes mistakes, even me eventually."
"Eventually?"
"I wasn't born like this, I was a mortal. When I was young, I found a magical crystal that eventually gave me the time powers I have now. Before that I used the crystal's power whenever I made a mistake to turn back time & correct it."
"Wow so you never made mistakes. That’s cool.”
"Not cool. Because I never made mistakes I never learned anything and that is the biggest mistake of all. Mistakes push us down so we can learn how to pick ourselves back up. Mistakes even help us learn who we are."
"They do?"
"Think for a second Starlight even when you were running that village deep down you knew it wasn't right but you did it anyway. As a result you got to meet Twilight who has been trying to help you get to your full potential. But you never will if you keep falling back into your bad habits.”
"Okay, but how is that going to help me stop Shadow Paradox?"
"Some evil can only be fought with the heart. So when it comes time for you to face Shadow Paradox try using your head, if you can still remember how to use it."
"But you said some evil can only be fought with the heart. Should I use my heart or my head?"
"I don't see why you can't use both."
"Well maybe you should have just said that instead of the story. Or maybe you can try knocking some sense by hitting me with your staff again." Suddenly Time Wizard raised his staff and Starlight ran behind one of the pillars. "No no wait I take it back!" Time Wizard then got back up, taking another deep breath.
"I'm going to get another massage, you try to listen to my story, maybe it'll teach you not to hide behind your insecurities," Time Wizard said as he walked off.
"I think another bonk on the head would have been a lot less painful."
A little while longer after that Super Stallion and Wacko had brought Star Swirl and Clover to Twilight's castle.
"Oh Clover are you all right?" Twilight asked.
"No, but I will be," she answered as she walked off and Wacko followed.
"So Star Swirl since you're here there was something I wanted to talk to you about. Super Stallion twice now had this rainbow aura around him-"
"I beat you to it Twilight," Super Stallion interrupted. "I asked him about that earlier."
"Oh you did?"
"Yes and as I explained to him it was an extra part of the sphere's magic to act as a transformation or as Super Stallion put it, a hyper mode to give the user a power boost in an intense fight. But I could never quite get it to work so only a part of it is able to come out."
"Wow," Twilight said.
"I know it's hard to believe right," Super Stallion said. "All the things I can do and there's still more to it."
"Do you think maybe it could work if Super Stallion trained with Wacko somehow?"
"I doubt it, Twilight," Star Swirl answered. "I could never quite get it to activate no matter how many times I trained while using it."
"Are you 100% sure because I'd love to test it out on Discord."
"We can figure that out later,” Twilight said. “I'm going to bed early. Something tells me we have a big day tomorrow."
***
Celestia and Luna came to the castle in the morning when they learned about a Time Wizard who explained he came all the way from another multiverse.
"May this is truly fascinating," Luna said. "I've been to another world, as unpleasant as it was, it was rather fascinating. But you're from another multiverse. A realm beyond all of ours."
"What's it like in your multiverse?" Celestia asked. "That...might be a rather difficult question to answer."
"Not really," Time Wizard replied. "It doesn't have as many magical talking ponies, but it's still really cool."
"So what are you doing here exactly?" Luna asked.
"It's my self appointed duty to make sure the natural flow of time isn't disturbed. To make sure things are meant to be the way they are," Time Wizard answered.
"I see," Celestia answered and then paused. "Luna, could you give us some privacy please? I'd like to talk to the Time Wizard in private." Luna was rather confused but honored her sister's request.
Celestia prepared to speak when suddenly the Time Wizard raised his hand. "Hold that thought, Starlight." Time Wizard turned his head to face a certain unicorn that was hiding in the corner thinking about the right way to approach a certain wizard.
"Uh yes?"
"Princess Celestia said she wanted to talk to me in private."
"Right sorry," Starlight said as she left the room but would stop at the end of the door. Her curiosity got the best of her.
"I know you're still listening Starlight, go away," Time Wizard said starting to get annoyed.
"Right sorry," Starlight said. In an attempt to fool the Time Wizard she lifted her legs and pretended to walk away. The Time Wizard however, wasn't fooled 1 bit. After inhaling he made his staff fly over to Starlight which repetitively bonk her on the head. "OW SORRY SORRY!" Starlight ran off but the staff chased her a bit until appeared back in the Time Wizard's staff.
"Blockhead," Time Wizard said which Celestia couldn't help but laugh at. "You were saying."
"Right, well it all started when Shining Armor was going to marry Princess Cadence. But...things didn't go according to plan."
***
"So, I placed my head on her and was crying my eyes out. But as it turned out, she was still alive."
"I see," Time Wizard said after Celestia finished her story. "So basically you had a prophetic dream that had every part of it come true except the last one. And you don't know why."
"Yes," Celestia answered. "I've always wondered why, but I could never think of somepony or rather, somebody to talk to about it. You just seemed like the right one to ask. I'm not complaining at all, but why do you think the last part of my dream didn't come true."
"You know, your story reminds me of another story."
"It does?"
"Yes, about a man born and groomed to be a great warrior. He became a powerful leader but was overwhelmed by an army of barbarians. So to defeat their forces, he made a deal with a cruel god of war. The war god thought the warrior would prove to be useful to him and agreed. He granted the warrior magnificent power but would turn him into his puppet."
"So getting his revenge cost him his freedom," Celestia said. "I hope it was worth it."
"It was not," Time Wizard answered. "For he made the warrior pay a terrible price. Make a long story short, he got his revenge on not only the god of war, but every god that wronged him. Including his own father."
"My, gosh."
"It gets worse. His revenge brought the destruction of his homeland. Though for what's it worth he released hope allowing the survivors to rebuild."
"Wait? He released, hope?"
"Like I said, long story. After that he traveled to a far off land to start over where he remarried and had a son. Eventually the wife passed away and her last wishes were for her ashes to be spread across the highest peak in all the realms. The warrior and his son set out and hijinks ensued, and when I say hijinks I mean death defying obstacles. Along the way he learned he and his son were connected to a prophecy involving a great battle where the warrior would lose his life, follow me so far?"
"Yes."
"Okay just checking. As the great battle neared, he tried to make sure his son would be okay without him, without knowing he was pushing him away. Eventually he sought out the ones in the land that can see the future to change his fate. They in turn explained that there is no fate."
"What?" Celestia asked confused.
"They told him, and I'm paraphrasing here, this is no fate no grand design. Only the choices you make, but because people never change, their choices become easy to predict."
"I see," Celestia said trying to process what the Time Wizard said. "So what happened next?"
"Not too long after that, the great battle came and the warrior led a great army to fight a tyrant god king. A little before the end of the battle, the warrior did something unexpected. He made a different choice, he saw the error of his ways and made a change of heart. As a result he not only survived but was able to make a new destiny for himself."
As the Time Wizard finished his story Princess Celestia sat in silence to process everything. "So," she started. "You're saying that before Twilight was supposed to die, I made a different choice which resulted in Twilight's death being avoided."
"You got it," Time Wizard said with a thumbs up. Princess Celestia didn't understand the gesture, but didn't give it much thought.
"Can it really be that simple though?"
"Our actions decide our legacy, or in your case, your student's legacy."
After their talk, Time Wizard finished his breakfast and brought the plate into the kitchen where Spike, who made breakfast and even invited Rarity over to eat and make a day for their date was cleaning. "My compliments to the chef," Time Wizard said.
"So Time Wizard," Spike said.
"So Spike."
"I have a date with Rarity coming soon and it might really help to know how it will go."
"Perhaps, but sometimes revealing the future changes it." Time Wizard then bent down and put his hand to Spike's ear. "Though between you and me you have more of a chance than most of the countless other versions of yourself." Hearing that Spike made the biggest smile he ever made and then ran off to find a tuxedo his size.
"Well that was certainly nice of you," Starlight who recently went into the kitchen said.
"I have a soft spot for baby dragons." Time Wizard then made the breakfast plate he saved for Starlight hover over to the table.
"Oh thank you, hey listen, I'm sorry for earlier, and yesterday."
"Forget about it, yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, that's why they call it the present."
"You certainly have a way with words don't you?" After breakfast Starlight went to see Trixie but a portal opened above Ponyville that Shadow Paradox came out of.
"She's back already," Starlight said with her legs shaking. "And it looks like she's learned a few new tricks." Suddenly the others made their way outside as it was rather hard not to notice her portal.
"Let's make sure she doesn't get away again," Super Stallion said who stuck around for in case Shadow Paradox returned.
"Yeah if this chapter goes on much longer the writer will have to add a part 3," Pinkie said.
"You will die this day Starlight Glimmer, you and every Starlight Glimmer," Shadow Paradox said as she flew on top of Starlight. She tried to blast her but Time Wizard summoned a shield.
"Well Starlight hope you're ready to reason, if not well I can't say it was nice knowing you." Time Wizard continued to protect her and the others were about to attack her but then she made multiple copies of herself that flew around confusing the others.
"Big mean pony now lot's of big mean ponies."
The copies kept the others busy while Shadow Paradox made her to Starlight. Until Time Wizard got in the way again. "Don't get in my way!"
"Sorry but stopping creatures like you is kind of my job," Time Wizard said as they took to the air. Shadow Paradox cast numerous powerful spells, several of which nearly hit Time Wizard in the face. "Oh, that was a close one."
"Why must so many get in the way of what I so rightly deserve!?" Shadow Paradox then fired a beam and Time Wizard did the same. They clashed beams as they spun around a little while. WHY CAN’T I HAVE MY REVENGE!?!?" Shadow Paradox screamed with a version of the royal Canterlot voice that could be heard for miles. "She ruined everything I loved."
"Ruin everything, what are you talking about?" Shadow Paradox then screamed even louder as it caused everypony in Ponyville and even a few in nearby cities and towns to cover their ears from the pain.
Time Wizard endured it despite bleeding from his ears and forced his beam ahead hitting Shadow Paradox dead on. “This is nothing compared to the pain inside my heart, or what was my heart.”
“Seriously, what is she talking about?” Starlight asked. Shadow Paradox then used her chaos magic to make rips in space itself. As well as cause a rift in the earth going right at Starlight. Thinking quickly, Time Wizard threw his staff at the rift, stopping it in its tracks while he stopped the rips himself. Shadow Paradox then teleported to Starlight. “Uh, hello.”
"You want to know what I’m talking about, I'll show you." Shadow Paradox grabbed Starlight as well as Time Wizard’s staff after making a portal and flew into the portal with Starlight. It was about to close when Time Wizard used his magic to keep the portal open. Super Stallion was about to fly right in there with Wacko close behind when suddenly.
"No!" Time Wizard called out. "You'll die!"
"That's a risk I'm just going to have to take," Super Stallion said who then flew into the portal with Wacko as well as Trixie who used her cannon to launch herself into the portal to the surprise of everypony.
***
"Trixie? What are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked as he and Wacko arrived in a wasteland.
"What do you think that evil shadow version of Twilight took my friend. Honestly Trixie is surprised as well. Trixie's body moved on its own." As the 3 searched for Starlight she was thrown to the ground by Shadow Paradox.
"There's no escape Starlight Glimmer," Shadow Paradox said. "Do you recognize where we are?" Starlight then looked around and quickly put the pieces together.
"This, this is the timeline where I first met you, but how?"
"We're in Limbo. I remodeled it because what better place to finish you off before I move on to the others?"
"Others?"
"I was originally going to remake the time scroll, but with this staff when I finish you off I'll travel to other timelines and get the Starlight Glimmers there. I won't stop until I erase your existence from the multiverse!"
"That's insane, do you have any idea how much damage you could make?" Your actions may have doomed this entire multiverse, Starlight remembered Time Wizard saying before she was suddenly blasted into a rock by a spell.
Shadow Paradox continued to attack Starlight again and again. Starlight tried to escape and defend herself but it did her no good and she took a massive beating. Shadow Paradox stomped on her back, nearly breaking her spine, then punched her in the stomach again and again until she barfed out blood. Shadow Paradox then bombarded Starlight with spell after spell, 1 of which broke her left foreleg.
"S-Stop, please I beg you," Starlight said on the verge of death.
"You beg me?" Shadow Paradox said as she stopped attacking. Suddenly she was attacked from behind by Super Stallion and Wacko. While they attacked, Trixie went to Starlight to help. Super Stallion and Wacko, having trained with each other, were rather great at fighting together.
"Super Stallion, I remember you and I remember you don't mix so well with chaos magic." Shadow Paradox then counter attacked with powerful blasts of chaos magic the size of boulders. "My isolation left me tons of time to raise my magic power. I imagine my chaos magic is on par with Discord."
"She's right," Super Stallion said on the ground. "In fact I think she's even stronger." Suddenly Wacko and Super Stallion were bombarded with blasts of pure concentrated chaos magic and in no time at all they were in a condition almost as bad as Starlight.
"Nothing will get in my way!" Shadow Paradox made her way back to Starlight and whacked Trixie with the staff knocking her out. "I will stop at nothing to finally have my revenge!" Shadow Paradox then attacked Starlight more as Wacko heard her cry out in pain.
"Star pony in trouble," Wacko said to himself as he got up not noticing strange light blue cracks around his body. "Wacko help!" Wacko charged straight at Shadow Paradox and attacked her with everything he had. In the end Wacko blasted her up with the strongest beam from his mouth and then flew up to her just to punch her so hard she slammed into the ground. "WACKO DO GOOD!"
Suddenly the light blue cracks around Wacko started to spread. Wacko saw Super Stallion who was on his way and gave him a small wave and then exploded. This small explosion pushed Shadow Paradox back and all that was left of Wacko was the leftover remains and what was used to create him. "No, Wacko," Super Stallion said as he collected the pieces when suddenly Shadow Paradox charged at him. "Great, don't even have time to mourn."
"How could I have created such a monster?" Starlight asked as she was able to see everything.
"I will erase Starlight and I'll take down anypony that gets in my way." Shadow Paradox then fired a shadow beam at Super Stallion who summoned a shield to block it. "I'll defeat anypony that gets in my way, I'll erase Starlight Glimmer forever even if I have to destroy the entire multiverse to do that!"
"What?" Super Stallion asked, thinking about if that actually happened and how horrible it would be if wasn't able to stop it. Everything he cared about and much much more would vanish including Celestia and his unborn child.
"No!"
"Huh?"
"No you won't! If I have to give my own life like Wacko did, I will take you down!" Suddenly the aura from before returned and with a sudden power burst the barrier expanded, forcing Shadow Paradox back again who got up and was blinded for a split second by a light that came from Super Stallion.
"You will lose," Super Stallion said calmly and attacked Shadow Paradox with speed and power on a whole new level.
"All the misery, all the suffering, all the endless waiting wasn't enough, it all still continues." Shadow Paradox then let out a fury of large chaos blasts that Super Stallion figured at his new level he could charge right through them but to his surprise and great pain it only took 1 to blast him back. After several more hits he was pushed back and slammed into the ground.
"What's going on? I feel like I've been impaled several times over?" Super Stallion asked as he tried to get up when suddenly the sphere came off and when he tried to put it back on nothing happened. "Oh this just went from bad to utterly horrible!"
"She took down Wacko and Super Stallion," Starlight said as she got back up. "But that has to mean she's on the verge of defeat, maybe if I get the staff I can-" Starlight stopped when she saw Shadow Paradox use the staff on herself to reverse the battle damage. "You have to be kidding me, is there any way to defeat her?"
Some evil can only be fought with the heart, Time Wizard's advice repeated in Starlight's head as Shadow Paradox jumped down and attacked her once again.
"At long last I can finish you off once and for all!" Shadow Paradox then planted the staff on the ground and started to violently strangle Starlight. "Time to finish what I should have started long ago."
"...Is this how I made you feel?" Starlight asked, barely able to get the sentence out.
"Huh?" Shadow Paradox suddenly loosening her grip.
"When I meddled with time you tried over and over to get me to see reason but I wouldn't listen. I was too stubborn.”
"Yes and when that failed I brought you to a different timeline you created but you still refused to see the truth and then you ran away like a coward with your time spell leaving me there. So after what felt like a lifetime I found the magic and the means to rework your spell."
"And that's when Twilight, Spike and….wait, you’re the Twilight I know aren't you?"
"I was, long ago."
"So what happened to Spike?" Shadow Paradox then remained silent for a while; she was still on top of Starlight and her hooves wrapped around her neck. Shadow Paradox then put her horn on Starlight's head and she found herself in the mind of Shadow Paradox. Starlight then saw Twilight and Spike wandering around a wasteland of nothingness.
"When you ran away, we tried to look for something or somepony that could help us," Shadow Paradox said with her former self and Spike doing what she narrated. "We came across a special container in the ruins of Canterlot castle that had alicorn magic in it and a note that had "for any survivor that can use this magic" written on it. It gave me my new look and a huge magical power boost.”
“My gosh,” Starlight said as she looked around at what she created from her revenge.
“I worked on creating your spell from scratch,” Shadow Paradox continued. “I found other remains of powerful magic including abandoned ruins with powerful darkness. But when I tried absorbing it, some of it got to Spike acting as a poison, and, I," Shadow Paradox couldn't even finish as she was in tears and all choked up.
"Spike didn't make it?" Starlight then looked over to the regular Twilight absorbing the dark magic but also holding Spike trying to help him. But as strong as a little dragon he was, his heart wasn't able to fight the poison long enough for Twilight to remove it.
"Curse you Starlight," the Twilight holding Spike whispered. "CURSE YOU! CURSE YOU! CURSE YOU!" She screamed at the top of her lungs looking up at the sky as her eyes went blank. Shadow Paradox then brought them out of her mind still on top of Starlight but her hooves no longer around Starlight's neck.
"That's why you've been so bent on getting me, you wanted to avenge Spike. But you don't have to anymore."
"What?"
"Don't listen to her," the Pony of Shadows said. "She's trying to confuse you."
"QUIET!" Shadow Paradox then absorbed the shadows completely inside her to keep them from interrupting. "What do you mean?"
"When Twilight helped me escape she got me to change my ways and the timeline was reset so what happened to Spike never happened. You stopped me from running off like the coward I was. You saved Spike and he's living happily and he's even going on a date with Rarity soon." Hearing that Shadow Paradox backed off Starlight in shock.
"A date, I, how could I have been so blind. My hatred wouldn't let me see the truth…I've become you," Shadow Paradox said as her pupils slowly returned.
"Yeah you have," Starlight said, not even insulted by what Shadow Paradox said. "But I don't blame you. What pony wouldn't go crazy after what I forced you to go through," Starlight then struggled to get up as she started to cry. "All this time i’ve been terrified of what you might do to me. But maybe it’s fitting.”
“Fitting?”
“Yes, getting murdered by the monster I created. I…I'm so sorry Twilight."
"You're sorry?" Suddenly the shadows tried to get back on the surface but then Shadow Paradox started to fade away.
"What's going on?"
".....I forgive you, Starlight Glimmer," Shadow Paradox answered in a calm voice.
"You do? But how, after everything I've done?"
"The Starlight I hated and the Starlight you are now are not the same. Funny how time has a way of changing ponies isn't it?I forgive you. And now that I do, my anger and hatred has faded, the only things that kept me here. Thank you Starlight. I feel so…light."
"NO!" The Pony of Shadows said as he tried to escape his host but it was too late as she faded away into nothing and took the Pony of Shadows with her.
"Oh my gosh I did it," Starlight said as she sat down. "Time Wizard was right, and now I never have to worry about her ever again." Starlight then made her way to Trixie and woke her up.
"Starlight what happened?"
"She's gone, gone for good."
"Really? Ha of course. She ran off when she saw the great and powerful Trixie coming."
"Yeah that's it," Starlight said, humoring her friend before walking over to get Time Wizard's staff.
"All that's left is to find Super Stallion, get out of here, and return Time Wizard's staff."
"Wait, the guy that can manipulate time?"
"I think it's more that he monitors time but yeah."
"The wise and perhaps soon to be perfect Trixie has a great idea. There's no rush to return it, at least not until we use it."
"Use it? For what?"
"This may come as a shock but even Trixie's made mistakes. Yes I know it's hard to believe but if we use that staff we can go back in time and undo our mistakes."
"Trixie I don't know how to use this staff it's not like I can just think about a part in my past and-" Starlight was cut off when the staff shot out a beam that created a portal showing when Starlight started making her village.
"You did it!" Trixie said excitedly. "Now we can undo every single one of our mistakes." Starlight was actually excited to think she could undo all the bad things she did in the past, but it didn't last and she used the staff to show the portal to when Starlight and Trixie met each other at the spa. "Starlight, what are you doing?"
"Do you remember that time Trixie?"
"Of course Trixie does, that was when we first met."
"Yes and we bonded because we both had a rough day and because of the mistakes we made in the past. If we undo our mistakes we might never become friends." Trixie was shocked as she didn't even think about that. "We've made mistakes in the past but they kind of lead to us being friends, so I'd say they were worth it don't you think?"
"Oh Starlight that goes without saying," Trixie said as she hugged Starlight who returned the hug. "You're the best friend a pony could ask for."
"We've made mistakes in the past but by learning from them we can be better ponies. That's what Time Wizard was trying to tell me.” Starlight and Trixie then met up with Super Stallion who got his sphere to work and after being told what happened collected the pieces of Wacko to bring him back and Starlight used the staff to get the group out of Limbo.
***
With Shadow Paradox gone for good the group made it back to the others a literal second before they left. Starlight returned the staff and then she and Super Stallion fell down as a result from the beating they took.
"Are you all going to be okay?" Somnambula asked.
"I think so," Super Stallion answered. "After all, we were the ones that got off easy." Super Stallion then showed Wacko's remains that he was still able to hold on to.
"Wacko!" Clover said as she went over and grabbed the pieces. "What happened?" Super Stallion and Starlight explained everything that happened in Limbo.
"Wow that sounded intense," Twilight said. "Poor Wacko."
"Wait a minute, Time Wizard-" Starlight was cut off when Time Wizard put the bottom end of his staff to her mouth.
"I know what you're going to ask, but if I go back to when he was still alive it could cause a butterfly effect. A key factor for time travel is minimal interference and getting involved in a life or death situation is not minimal interference."
"So you can't help him?"
"Sorry Clover for lack of a better term, it was his time."
"Maybe if you find the rest of the pieces we can put him back together again."
"Uh those are all the pieces," Super Stallion said to Clover.
"But it can't because he was so big and these are so small."
"Oh no I think her condition is kicking in again," Twilight said.
"Condition?" Time Wizard asked.
"She fell through an unstable time portal and it messed with her head."
"Oh is that all." Time Wizard then put his hand on Clover's head and suddenly a blue aura appeared around it seemingly affecting her. When he stopped Clover fell down a little but got up right away.
"Clover? Are you all right?"
"Yes Star Swirl I actually feel a lot better. What did you do, Time Wizard?"
"I repaired your brain by reversing the damage you took when you were hit by the unstable time portal."
"You can do that?!" Super Stallion said almost screaming as he flew right up to him. "There's another pony that got their head messed with by portal lightning or whatever you call it. Could you cure him too?"
Time Wizard followed Super Stallion to Badland Prison and Time Wizard healed Stone Wall. After that Super Stallion left to change back into Squeaky Clean as he was forcing the sphere to stay on half the time. Time Wizard then returned to Ponyville where Starlight was taken to a hospital as well as Trixie for her bump.
“Well, you certainly are far from 100%, but you should be able to make a full recovery,” Nurse Redheart said.
“Well that’s good,” Starlight said.
"Hey Time Wizard if you can fix my head, you can heal Starlight right?" Clover asked.
"No Clover, I don't want him to heal me," Starlight said to the confusion of the others. "I wanna stay here and think about my past and all the bad choices I've made. And think about what I can do to make up for it and learn from them." Time Wizard then approached Starlight and she closed her eyes expecting another painful whack to the head but instead she felt a few gentle pats on her head by Time Wizard's free hand.
"You're all right Starlight."
"Really? Does that mean we're friends?" Starlight then received another painful strike to the head by Time Wizard's staff.
"Not a chance," Time Wizard answered. "But acquaintances might do."
"While I'm glad all this is settled I'm still rather puzzled," Star Swirl said. "About Super Stallion and Shadow Paradox how could the former's desire to protect help him unlock a power he didn't even have and the latter's rage and hate make them strong enough to survive their timeline getting erased. Can emotions truly be that powerful?" Suddenly Time Wizard placed his free hand on Star Swirl's head, getting his attention.
"Before I go, let me tell you a story about a boy who became a hero through his sheer desire to protect others. And along the way defeated a great evil and learned that love is far more powerful than death."
"Wait Time Wizard!"
"Yes Applejack."
"Before you leave y’all should come over to my farm and try some apple pie, and also meet my family who-"
"You want me to take you all back in time to when your parents were still alive."
Applejack paused before taking her hat off. “It’s not for me. It’s for my little sister Apple Bloom. They died little after she was born. You being a Time Wizard and all, it’s a rare opportunity.” Applejack paused again. “It would mean the world to her.”
"I'll think about it," Time Wizard said as he walked out of the room with Star Swirl.
"Well these last few days have been pretty stressful huh?" Twilight asked and her friends all agreed. "I think we need to do something to lighten things up."
"You mean like a party?"
"No Pinkie, not a party, a festival. A festival of friendship and everypony is invited, we can have it at Canterlot and make it the best it can be." Twilight's friends then all got excited as that sounded like a grand idea.
"That would be wonderful, what could possibly go wrong?" Starlight asked, causing all the others to glare at her. "Maybe I shouldn't have asked that."