MLP Time Loops

by Saphroneth


MLP Loops 100

100.1

“Okay.” Mac mixed the drink Lyra had specified. “Olive oil, absinthe, azeotrope chaser 'n' some coffee. Seriously?”

Lyra nodded. “That is correct. Thank you.”

“This the whole... multiple... you, thing?”

“Sort of.” Lyra picked up the drink with an application of telekinesis, and sipped it. Her expression took some interesting shapes. “Basically, you know how all this got kicked off?”

“Kinda. Y'all... broke something?”

“Pretty much.” Another sip. “Anyway, three of me were relatively normal... well, normal for Equestria. Human girl, unicorn, and a sea pony. But the fourth me, the one who's talking to you now...”

She put the drink down, and shrugged. “I was... well, the one who actually used the machine. As far as I can tell, I'm the one who gets all the personality traits from universal bleed.”

Mac blinked. “Come again, miss?”

“It's the whole unstuck in the universe thing.” This time, Lyra took a mouthful of the drink, and sighed as it went down. “The other mes are quite coherent, so they get memories relating to that – they filter them, sort of. So human Lyra gets memories relating to humans, seapony Lyra gets seapony memories...”

“Right. Kinda like loop memories?” Mac cleaned a glass with a cloth. The glass in question was already quite clean enough, but it was something any barman learned to do as a time-filler.

“Sort of.” Lyra sipped again. “And I/we split the workload on interpreting them. I actually get less than the other three to work with... it's just that I get all the strange stuff. Robots, changelings, mad science earth ponies working on inventing a Human Analogue Neat Device...”

Berry Punch giggled from the experiments cabinet. “A HAND, huh?”

“Yep.” Lyra took another slug. “Anyway, the result of that is that I'm... kind of everything at once that the other three aren't.”

“Sounds like most loopers,” Mac deadpanned.

Lyra shrugged. “Suppose. And that's why my taste in drinks looks like it was selected by picking four random bottles out of a bottle bank.”

“Excellent!” Berry marched around the counter and sat down next to her. “You have no idea how much I appreciate a challenge! Want to see if we can make something with pesto that you'd like?”

Lyra's eyes unfocused for a moment. “The other three went ew. I'm game.”


100.2

“Ah, it's good to see you,” Spike said, smiling, as he released his embrace.

“Likewise, dear,” Rarity replied. “Was it long?”

“Pretty long,” Spike admitted. “Last-but-one Loop was an Arda one.”

Rarity winced.

“And last loop...” Spike paused. “Well, we do need to discuss it sometime...” He sighed. “You got a crush on me.”

His wife blinked. “...I'd have thought it was usually the other way around...”

“Oh, har har.” He tapped her on the hock. “No, I think it was a combination of my undeniable awesomeness and the fact I was about half as big again as you that loop.”

Rarity smiled archly at him. “Well, you're hardly the Element of Modesty, are you?” she asked impishly.

“I think it's a thing.” Spike shrugged. “I point to Scootaloo and Dash.”

“Okay, fair point, dear.” They shared a chuckle.

“...but, yeah,” Spike said, bringing them back to the topic. “Basically, we need to hash out what to do in that kind of situation.”

Rarity nodded. “Good point, yes... we've sort of just assumed a no, haven't we?”

“We have, yeah.” Spike sat down, sighing. “And I usually am better at heading off your unawake interests in me when they develop, these loops... it's just... it was a long time.”

The unicorn sat down next to him, silent.

“So... yeah. I know that Shining and Cadence have a standing agreement that it's fine whether one or even neither is Awake, so...” Claws drummed on the ground, leaving dents. “And I don't even know what Trix and Chrysalis do...”

Rarity frowned. “I may have a suggestion.”

“Go on,” Spike invited.

“If one of us is Awake, they can... reciprocate as appropriate.” Rarity hummed. “Don't start anything, don't go to a further stage of the relationship, and,” she smiled. “And if the unawake one is about ten years old, the awake one can limit it to the affection appropriate.”

Spike mulled that over. “...yeah, seems fair. But – I'd say that, if it gets to the point of clear romantic involvement, we should tell the unawake one about the loops. Come clean about it.”

“Good idea.”

Rarity leaned into his shoulder, and for several seconds they sat looking up at the morning sky.

“...Berry got romantically involved last loop,” Spike commented.

“Oh?” Rarity raised an eyebrow delicately. “Do tell.”

Spike grinned. “The old flatfish himself – Discord.”

Rarity took a moment to process that.

“...huh.”

“Yeah, that was about my reaction too,” Spike agreed. “Hey, want to try something new I thought of?”

“Do go on.”

“Well, basically, it involves my dragonfire, the cloth-form spell, a carpet made from same, and the command release phrase being 'last forever'...”


100.3

“...so, that's about the shape of things,” Twilight finished, clicking the slideshow off. “I know you've had the talk before, but that was the version for local loopers so it should orient you here.”

The Saddle Arabian stallion seated on an entire bench nodded. “Thanks. That was a very professional briefing.”

“I try,” Twilight allowed. “Now, how does a looper get the pony name 'Free Spirit'?”

This elicited a sigh.

“Okay, this is kinda strange,” he began. “I've got a baseline, and then I seem to have another completely different one I spend almost as much time in. I'm a horse there, by the way-”

“Right.” Twilight looked him up and down. “Explains why you were so comfortable on four hooves, most newcomers are a bit coltish for a day or so.”

She rummaged in her pocket, and brought out a notepad. “Okay, I don't get to play this often... give me clues, and I'll see if I can work out who you are.”

Free Spirit nickered a laugh. “Now this is familiar. First clue – my name's David Webb.”

Twilight dropped the notebook, rummaged again for a second, pulled out a novel, and then held it up. “Not Weber?”

“Nope, Webb.” He grinned, rolling back his lip to reveal really rather large teeth. “And it's not actually much of a clue, almost no-one knows me by that name.”

“I see...” Twilight noted it down anyway. “Well, I'm stumped... next?”

Another chuckle. “I'm going to be really inconvenient. This one's from my sort-of-other-baseline. I was a herd stallion.”

“Not surprised,” Twilight muttered. He was huge, even for a Saddle Arabian.

“Third clue – I don't get on well with the US government...”


About half an hour later, Twilight held up her pad of paper in triumph. “Finally!”

She then looked at the extra data alongside the names, and blinked. “Okay, apparently both your baseline and your most common other loop have versions in the Hub where you're played by the same actor.”

The big stallion shrugged.

“So...” she paused. “Do you prefer Spirit, or Jason?”

“Let's go with Spirit.” The mustang stood. “Speaking of which, I think you mentioned a bar?”

“I did. Follow me.”

As they left the library, Twilight looked back at him. “Solved most of the problems with your baselines? If not, I could lend a hoof...”

“I'm good.” Spirit bobbed his head in a shrug. “By now I just keep recorded confessions from the CIA operatives in question. As for the US cavalry, they're usually remarkably surprised by a horse who can handle demolitions charges...”


100.4 (DrTempo)

Sunset walked in to Mac's Bar, relaxing a little. Twilight was there, draining down a large beer.
"Ouch, Twilight. What Loop were you in that's driven you to drink? Eiken? G3? Or...shudder...the Bureau?"

Twilight shook her head. "No. I was in the really cheesy Batman Loop...the one where he used that card..."

Sunset facehooved. "OUCH."

Twilight noticed Sunset smiling. "You're in a good mood."

Sunset nodded. "Yeah...Things're actually moving forward in the Canterlot High world. A battle of the bands is going on...and the human versions of your friends are trying to form a band. I have a few tales I heard."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "This I gotta hear."

Sunset smirked. "Well, that world's Trixie and Rainbow Dash got in a guitar duel to get a cool guitar...from what I heard, Dash somehow got her pony traits she had when my baseline self got whooped during the duel. She did give up...but the funniest part of that one? Trixie's 'prize' cost 12 grand! And she didn't have the money!" Sunset pulled out a trumpet, playing the infamous losing horns tune.

"Meanwhile, Rarity tried hauling a grand piano by herself to a practice. What she was thinking...Oy. And poor Applejack had to reclaim her bass guitar from those stupid Flim Flam Brothers...had to work for them to pay for her own guitar."

Twilight drank, and said, "That..may be the first time any version of them's gotten the best of Applejack. What about Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie?"

Sunset smiled a little. "Pinkie's apparently a natural drummer...and Rainbow Dash was seeing it in front of her face and didn't put it together for a while. And remember the saying 'music soothes the savage beast?' If by, 'savage beasts', you mean hamsters, Fluttershy had to reel in a bunch of them after Rarity was helping her take care of them, and well...Hilarity ensued. And remember the thing with Rainbow Dash I mentioned? If I heard right, it happened to all of them in those cases."

Twilight shrugged. "Guess things aren't too boring there anymore."

Sunset smiled. "As our bartender'd say, eenope."


100.5 (FanOfMostEverything)

Twilight liked her new castle. Really, she did. But the library had been her home for billions of years, and seeing it explode, implode, get used as a bludgeon, or otherwise destroyed every Loop hurt.

So she looked for ways to fix it. Prevention was, of course, the top priority, but it almost never worked. It was depressingly reminiscent of the Final Destination Loops, like the tree was destined to be destroyed by Tirek.

Thus came plan B, reconstruction. Usually, the roots survived, which meant alicorn-level earth pony magic could regrow the place. The reconstruction spell Twilight used on un-Awake Trixie's wagon (which she would've thought of on her own eventually,) worked quite well if enough of the mass hadn't been incinerated. And in those cases when the place was utterly disintegrated… well, Twilight was working on that.

Still, at this point, she was often able to reconstitute Golden Oaks before Loop's end.

Whether it survived to that point…

"First, I would like to apologize," said Trixie, her shield filtering the smoke out of the air. "I completely forgot I put that crate in your basement. Second, look on the bright side. Now we know more about how earth pony magic interacts with explosive compounds. It may even explain Pinkie a little."

She waited for a reply. Twilight just stared, pinprick pupils locked on the smoldering crater that had been her regrown home. One of her ears flicked like a deranged metronome. Trixie could see her mane frizzing out hair by hair.

Trixie coughed into a fetlock. "I'll just show myself out." She walked facefirst into the shield, which she only now noticed had gone from blue to purple.

Twilight's head never moved away from the smoking ruin. Her voice was oddly distant and dispassionate, as though she were commenting on a movie. "I am going to start lecturing you now, and I'm not sure when I'm going to stop."


(Bardic Knowledge)

Sunset's Journal:

Well, that was different. Not the Awakening, nor the fact that I was in a bustling city with species I couldn't recognize. What made this Loop different is that the local Anchor was actually rather new. Gideon had been confused to not find a friend of his (whom I was apparently replacing) named Chandra. At first I wouldn't have noticed had he not muttered something about having plans for this Loop. Something about him felt oddly familiar, but I couldn't place it.

After I caught up with him, I did my best to explain the situation to him. After the Multiverse speech Mickey had given me and the multitude of places I had been, it was interesting to be on the giving end of it. Especially when I started off about the nature of the Multiverse and he said he already knew what the multiverse was! The different capitalization is important, because he was talking about his local Branch's multiverse rather than the wider Multiverse that was part of Yggdrasil.

Kephalai, the city I had Woken up in, was apparently only one world, or "Plane," in his multiverse. Gideon, this Chandra person (a pyromancer according to my in-Loop memories), and a few others were called Planeswalkers and were the only people who could freely travel between them. I was somewhat surprised when he said I was somehow one of them, but he said that all Planeswalkers could identify another Planeswalker when they meet (this was apparently the familiar feeling I had felt before).

He taught me how to Planeswalk and how to follow another Planeswalker, and he took me on a tour of the multiverse. There were some very strange places, like that metal place, Mirrodin, or the city-plane Ravnica (I had no frame of reference of whether it or Coruscant was bigger).

The way magic worked there involved bonding with various landmarks or other places, then using the mana inherint in that bond to cast spells or call on creatures to fight for you. I gave it a try, but it seems that as soon as I went on to the next Loop, I lost all connection with the places I had bonded with. I wonder if I'll be able to use that kind of magic back in Equestria?


100.6 (Kalimaru)

"What's that a statue of, Miss Cheerilee?"

Looking at the statue, Cheerilee smiled. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and their teacher were all Awake and aware of who it was, but appearances needed to be maintained. This just had the bonus of training Cheerilee to not go overboard on the children. "This menacing monster is known as Conquest. He's a dangerous creature that the Princesses sealed away millennia ago. Legend says that when he was free, he had the ability to cause strife amongst ponies and turn them to statues."

Snips and Snails, ever the intellectuals, grinned at this. "Cooooooooooolll!"

Cheerilee shook her head. This was going to be one of those Loops where the two were testosterone junkeys. "Not 'cool', I'm afraid, but you are close. Conquest's powers were what first drew the Windigos to Equestria, back before the three pony tribes had become one. If he were to ever get out again, Equestria would probably once again become a frozen wasteland."

"Oooooh." In the back, the Crusaders smiled and rolled their eyes. As most of the group continued on, Sweetie Bell turned to the others. "I'm thinking this will be a Loop without us being the ones to wake him."

Scootaloo pointed a hoof over Sweetie's shoulder. "And you're right, because those two knuckleheads are about to do it."

Still at the statue, Snips and Snails had begun poking the giant hand. "Think there's a secret entrance to its cell here?" "I hope so. I want to see a Windigo!"

Galloping towards them, Diamond Tiara swatted the two colts away. "What do you think you're doing? What if he gets out?" Tapping the pedestal that 'Conquest' was mounted on, Diamond Tiara turned and began reprimanding the two. "Do you know how hard it'll be for everypony if everything gets frozen?"

The other Crusaders had joined them and were now watching the statue. Applebloom spoke first. "Uh, DT?"

"Wait a moment, Apple Bloom." Tiara returned to her rant. "And another thing!"

This time it was Nyx's turn. "Diamond Tiara?"

"Not now! And you two thought-"

The whole group at once this time. "DIAMOND TIARA!"

"What? What is it?"

Behind her, Master Hand floated free of the pedestal and laughed darkly. "Mwahahaha!"

Diamond Tiara facehoofed. "Aw, ficus."


100.7 (Detective Ethan Redfield)

The gathered ponies cheered as Mayor Mare announced the start of the Summer Sun Celebration, not that Twilight took notice. Even now, 4 stars converged behind the moon, causing the Mare image on the moon the vanish. Twilight clenched her teeth, hoping nothing bad was about to happen. The birds started chirping and the trumpets blared as Rarity pulled back the screen. But there was no Celestia.

Dark purple fog rolled in from the backstage as Twilight gasped, "Oh no!"

Then the fog materialized into a black filly alicorn with a purple mane and cyan eyes. She seemed as frightened as the rest of the ponies confused. Her eyes even now were watering, "M-mommy?! Mommy, where are you?!"

Her voice rose as tears started flooding down the side of her cheeks. Fluttershy responded quickest by instinct, gliding over to the filly and lifting her up, "There, there, now...what's your name, little filly?"

The filly rubbed her eyes clear of tears and gave a small smile, "N-N-Nyx..."


Twilight tilted her head in confusion, "Huh?! Could that really be Nightmare Moon? But she's so...young!"


"Nyx, you're such a brave girl, coming out on that stage to find your mommy. What does she look like?"

"S-She's got a purple coat with the most beautiful cutie mark of them all. It's really special since her talent is magic...all magic."

Fluttershy carried Nyx in her arms as she spoke to the crowd in an uncharacteristically loud tone, "Is there anyone here with the special talent, magic?"

Twilight's eyes widened. This had to be her plan, Twilight thought, She knew her only weakness is the Elements of Harmony, and I'm the only one who knows about it here! She's trying to take me out quick, and she's already captured the hearts of Ponyville with her cute act! Spike, however, recognized the reference immediately, "Hey, that's T-"

Suddenly, Spike was dropped off Twilight's back as a hoof covered his mouth to stop him talking. Twilight hissed, "Spike! That's Nightmare Moon, and she's trying to find me to take us out! We're the only ones who know about her weakness to the Elements of Harmony. The instant she finds us, she'll blast us to the moon!"

However, the damage was already done as Nyx homed in on Twilight, "Mommy!"

Fluttershy looked to Nyx, "Is Twilight your mommy?"

"Yes, Twilight is my mommy! Mommy, I'm up here!"

Twilight's eyes widened as she levitated Spike onto her back and bolted. Several ponies reacted instantly as they gave chase. Moments after Twilight was out of sight, Celestia appeared in a burst of white light signifying teleportation, "Sorry my little ponies, there was a parasprite invasion in Manehatten that demanded my immediate attention-"

Celestia's eyes landed on Nyx in Fluttershy's arms and smiled, "Well hello, little one...why are you crying?"

Nyx sniffed and barely held bad her sobs, "Mo-Mommy Twilight...she just...just, ran away."

The waterworks started again as Celestia seemed surprised, "Twilight Sparkle, my student? She didn't tell me about any children. Well, we'll have to get you back to your mommy in a few minutes."

With that, Celestia took Nyx on her back and raised the sun.


"So, mommy locked herself in the Library and bolted every door and window," asked Nyx.

Celestia nodded and giggled, "It's not often we get to prank an unawake Twilight. She really did need to lighten up and lay off those dusty old books. I bet her newest theory is you've corrupted me and I'm now your mind controlled servant, to lull her into a false sense of security."

Again, the two shared a laugh before Nyx paused, "Wait, so what's Luna up to this loop?"

"She awoke a thousand years ago on the moon before discovering a stargate planted there predating the earliest known life on Equestria. I wonder what she's been up to."


General Hammond sat at the table as the Equine Empress of Humankind briefed SG-1 on what to expect from Equestria. O'Neill had his head planted on his hands as he sighed. This was going to be a weird loop.


100.8 (AnonymousAsk)


It was a dark night when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna approached Carousel Boutique, with lightning flashing on the horizon. Twilight closed the door behind the two alicorns, and led them into a small room. Inside they found Sweetie Belle, who had been bound to a bed by her sister’s magic.

“I’m delighted you managed to come, Princesses,” said Rarity, not taking her eyes off her sister.

“After Twilight’s letter, we felt we had no choice,” Celestia replied. “What is happening to Sweetie Belle?”

“I’m sorry Princess, we’re not sure,” Twilight responded. “But we think the phantom of a Windigo may be trying to take over her body.”

Luna raised an eyebrow sceptically. “Are thou sure? Perhaps she is merely ill.”

“This body WILL be mine!” Sweetie Belle screamed in a voice much gruffer than her own. She began to pull through Rarity’s bindings, and float above her bed.

“My poor Sweetie Belle...” Rarity had tears in her eyes as she watched.

The boutique’s doorbell rang through the house, and everypony turned towards the front door. Big Macintosh strode in, wearing priest’s robes. Twilight left Sweetie’s room and approached him.

“Please tell me you’re the professional we called,” Twilight begged.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh nodded as he gave his reply. He walked into Sweetie’s room, and took a deep breath.

“There’s great evil in this room.”

Sweetie Belle spat a flood of green ooze over Princess Celestia, and strained against Rarity’s magic once more, floating higher in the air. “You’ll never get me, bwahahaha!”

“Get outta her body, ya Evil Spirit!” Big Mac roared at Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle turned her head to face Big Macintosh. “Aaahhh, Big Macintosh. Your sister is in here with us. I can send her a message if you’d like.” An eerie smile spread across her lips as she spoke.

“Sis, get outta here, please, Ah’m tryin’ ta work.” Big Macintosh sighed, face in hoof.

Applebloom crawled out from under the bed, muttering under her breath. Big Macintosh could have sworn he heard her call him a killjoy as she passed him. He shook his head, before turning back to Sweetie Belle “In the name of the Princesses, Ah command ya ta leave this body!” He began waving around a holy symbol which depicted both Celestia and Luna.

“...What?” The two alicorns asked in unison, both utterly confused by proceedings.

Sweetie Belle screamed over them, with words no pony present had ever heard.

Celestia’s eyes widened, as she turned to Rarity. “Where did she learn this?”

Rarity stood, mouth agape. It took a few seconds for her to regain her composure long enough to answer the Princess. “Well, it was most certainly not from me. Perhaps it was from one of Miss Cheerilee’s classes?”

“Does anyone else feel it getting colder in here?” Luna asked, backing away from Sweetie Belle, and towards the doorway. Ice was slowly spreading across the ceiling.

“In the name of Princess Celestia, an’ Princess Luna, an' Nightmare Moon...” Big Macintosh yelled, raising his symbol higher.

“Why are thou mentioning me twice?” Luna asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Ugghhh...” Sweetie Belle started, before her head slowly began to rotate 360 degrees. Once finished, she had a short coughing fit, before a small white light, which then evaporated.

Rarity practically leapt onto the bed, embracing her little sister “Are you alright, Sweetie Belle?”

“Fine... Can’t... Breathe...” Sweetie Belle choked out, but her sister didn’t seem to notice.

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, before turning to the Princesses “Thank you for coming Princesses. If you hadn’t been here, who knows what could have happened.”

“You’re... most welcome, Twilight.” Celestia replied, still trying to understand what actually had happened.

“Did we even do anything, Tia?” Luna whispered, before receiving a swift kick from her sister, which she understood to be a message to keep quiet. The pair gave their goodbyes, before leaving the boutique.

Sweetie Belle waited for a few seconds, before slinking out of her sister’s grasp “They gone?”

“Yeah, I think they’re probably back in Canterlot Castle by now...” Twilight said, staring out of a window.

“I must admit, I found it funny.” Sweetie Belle said, clicking one of her hooves before transforming back to Discord.

“Eeyup.” Replied the quiet farmer.

“However, I think that’s the last time we let you improvise, Big Macintosh.” Rarity said, holding back a giggle “In the name of Nightmare Moon? Seriously?”

“I did like Applebloom appearing from under the bed.” Discord said, laying back on the ceiling.

“Well, what’s next?” Applebloom said, walking back into the room.

“We could invite them to the beach, and stage a shark attack.” Discord suggested.

Twilight shook her head. “We did that a few loops ago.”

“Ooh, we could do Titanic. Me and my dear Spikey-Wikey could play Jack and Rose...” Rarity said as her eyes glazed over.”

“You do remember that Jack drowns at the end, right?” Twilight said, turning to stare at Rarity.

“Well, a minor rewrite would be required, of course...” Rarity said, embarrassed at that oversight.

“How ‘bout we make Celestia Connor an’ the Termiponies?” Applebloom suggested.

Twilight scratched her chin with a hoof in thought. “Hmmm... We could do it, but we’d need to check that with Skynet first...” She looked around the room “No reason we can’t start the prep work though.”

“Hey, Ah just thought of somethin’. Where’s the real Sweetie Belle?” Applebloom asked Rarity.

“Oh, she’s with our Grandparents. They were really eager to meet her this loop for some reason.” Rarity replied, shrugging her hooves.


100.9 (misterq)

"And that is why we need to give our alicorn magic to the one pony Tirek will never expect," Princess Celestia stated.

"Don't worry," Twilight Sparkle smiled, "I think I know what I can do to stop Tirek from blowing up my tree this time.. er, I mean conquering Equestria."

The princess of the sun shook her head, "You misunderstand me, Twilight. I plan to have all of us give our alicorn magic to.. her."

Twilight looked down where her mentor's hoof was pointed and saw a smiling grey and blonde pegasus with mis-focused eyes. Ditzy saw her looking and waved eagerly. The princess of friendship then summarized her extensive thoughts on the matter.

"What?"

"We have realized that only Ditzy can save us all since Tirek would never expect her. All right every pony, transfer your magic now," Princess Celestia lowered her horn along with the other princesses. Even though she was performing the motions and the magic transference spell, Twilight still felt the need to comment of the situation.

"What?" said the lavender unicorn as her magic mixed with the other alicorns and then barreled right into Ditzy.

When the light faded, Ditzy stood tall as an alicorn. Her muffin shaped tiara did kind of ruin the image. The mail-mare oohed and aah-ed as she examined as much of her new self as she could before trotting off in search of a mirror, or possibly breakfast.

With a great crashing noise, Tirek burst through the palace doors.

Tossing the door fragments aside, he spoke to the tired looking alicorns in front of him, "Good day, princesses. You know why I'm here. Once I take your alicorn magic, I.."

There was a pale blue burst of magic that streaked in from where Ditzy was examining herself.

And then suddenly, Tirek was a muffin.

A normal sized muffin. Chocolate chip, if Twilight's nose was accurate.

Twilight carefully spoke her mind on what had just occurred in front of her, "Wait, what?"

"Yay! I won!" Ditzy danced in place happily, "Now to cast the spell to send all the stolen magic back to every po... oopsie. That was the muffin making spell again."

Twilight watched the spell shoot out a nearby window. Derpy raced forward and stared after her wayward spell. A brief burst of magic and Luna's telescope was now in front of Ditzy.

"Don't worry. It didn't hit any pony. Just Twilight's library. Oh, and Pinkie Pie was just passing by," Ditzy gave a play-by-play commentary, "Oh no. Sorry your house got eaten, Twilight."

Twilight Sparkle just made a weak squeaking noise as she lay there with her eyes closed.


The princess of the sun shook her head, "You misunderstand me, Twilight. I plan to have all of us give our alicorn magic to her."

There stood Pinkie Pie, in all her cheery glory.

"Yeah, he'll never expect her," Twilight preempted her mentor, "All right, let's do this."

A short magic transfer sequence later, and Pinkie was an alicorn. The pink pony was practically vibrating with energy. Pink sparks arced up and down her body in a way that seriously worried Twilight.

Then Tirek burst in. The villain took a moment to look at the scene in front of him, "So this was your plan, princess? It's too bad for you that I'm quite capable of stealing the alicorn magic from this new inexperienced princess you had been hanging your hopes on."

"Oh, you don't need to steal anything," Pinkie Pie smiled the smile of an all-powerful party alicorn, "If you want all my powers, I can just give them to you. Would that cheer you up?"

Tirek grinned, "Nothing would make me happier."

"Well, okie dokie lokie," Pinkie chirped and lowered her new horn. Among the feeble protestations of the other princesses, Twilight watched onwards as Tirek absorbed all of Pinkie Pie's magic.

"Finally!" the magic thief roared, "With all of your magic, Equestria shall be mine to party!"

The centauroid looked confused at what he had just said, "I said, Equestria shall be partied to... Equestira shall fun party... Partyquestria party smile fun party. What the fun is party wrong with me?"

Twilight watched in amazement as Tirek's fur turned a bright pink color.

"No!" the monster was in full panic mode, "I will not fun this party indignity! I will sooner joy than party on like this! Party party fun joy.. Joy party... Fun fun fun time party!"

Tirek horns were now striped like candy canes and his hooves had pictures of balloons on them. The magic thief started shooting pink beams of magic everywhere, futilely trying to get the tainted energies out while screaming out party words in fear and anger. Twilight watched sadly as one of the pink beams struck her doomed library, turning it into a delicious chocolate statue that started to melt under the heat almost immediately.

Finally tired of running in circles, Tirek just fell onto the floor and curled up in the fetal position.

The color faded Pinkie walked up to him, "Do you want to give back all the pony magic you have taken now?"

Tirek nodded pitifully.

"Well then," Pinkie Pie nodded, then thought for a moment, "I have absolutely no idea how to make that happen."

The party pony thought some more and then gave a wide smile, "What if it's like a pinata? All the magic will rush out like candy once we bust him open with large sticks?"

Upon hearing that, something far less magical escaped the newly panicking Tirek.


100.10 (Bardic_Knowledge)

Twilight Woke up in her usual book-reading spot, but instantly noted that something was off. It was night out, and she had been reading to the light of her horn. A quick scan of both book and memory pegged this to be a rather curious Variant Loop, wherein the ruler of Equestria was Tirac, Lord of the Night Sky, and the banished sibling was not Scorpan, as she expected (Prince Scorpan did show up in her memories, however, as her old foal-sitter), but Tirek, Lord of Sunlight, whose corrupted self was known as King Sunstar.

That brought up some rather unpleasant memories of the Fused Loop they'd had with Mega Man.

Considering the motivations of Tirac during their G1 Loops, she was somewhat worried the night sky meant he had brought about his "night that never ends," but double-checking her memories revealed that, in this version of Equestria, everypony was actually nocturnal. This meant that Tirek's rebellion was motivated by the same thing that Luna's had been, so hopefully the Elements would still work on him without resorting to the inverse beam they'd had to use on Tirek Sunstar. Further, this Lord Tirac may have been intimidating and a fairly harsh taskmaster in comparison to the more motherly Princess Celestia, but he was still a good guy in this Loop.

Checking the Elements showed that only one of each Element was awake this time. She'd have to contact each in turn until she could be sure who all it was, but maybe they'd like an almost-baseline run this time around.

I wonder if someone's replaced Discord, too? Catrina, maybe? she thought. And please, please, please don't let Sunstar blow up my library at the start of the Loop.

Twilight burst into the library as normal, calling for Spike. From his response, she could tell he wasn't Awake, nor had minor events (like Moondancer, her party, or Spike's crush) changed due to the change in leadership. She did her baseline search, changing her terminology from "Mare in the Moon" to "Lord in the Stars." A similar letter was written and sent off, but the reply was rather different.

"Twilight Sparkle,

I see I was not mistaken in choosing you as my pupil. My brother is expected to return on the Longest Night and I will be there to face him. I have long learned, however, to set up contingencies. In case I fail to stop him, as unlikely as it seems, I am tasking you with the retrieval of the Elements of Harmony from the Ancient Castle. None are allowed to know you have this task. As such, you have been given a cover as "overseer" of the celebration.

You know what will happen if you fail.

Lord Tirac of the Night Sky."

"I guess we're going to Ponyville, then," concluded Spike. "Hopefully there's enough time that we can say good-bye to our brothers."

Twilight double-checked her Loop memories. Rather than Lord Tirac raising Spike, as Celestia had during the baseline, Prince Scorpan had taken care of the young dragon. They had settled on a sibling relationship once Spike had become more independent, and Scorpan and Shining Armor had become fast friends.

Oh. More than... Heh. Scorpan and Shiny. Cadence will love that.

"That's right, Spike. I'm honoured Lord Tirac has entrusted me with this task, but remember what he said: Don't tell anyone what he's sent us to do."

Spike saluted and set about packing for their trip to Ponyville. She set out to find Shining, both to check if he was Awake and to tell him the news.


Going around Ponyville confirmed that the other Elements she had felt awake were the original set, and they gave each other subtle clues to keep things mostly baseline. Rarity's decorations were more malevolent in appearance and Fluttershy's bird choir was made up of various owls, but, considering the differences in this Equestria, that was understandable.

She had no idea a snowy owl could keep the beat like that.

The first major change came as everyone was leaving Pinkie Pre-Longest-Night-Party Party. Instead of gathering inside the town hall, everyone waited outside of it, watching Canterlot in the evening sky for Lord Tirac's chariot to arrive.

Which meant that everypony in Ponyville had an excellent view of Midnight Castle's tallest tower exploding.

Beams of furious light and roiling darkness clashed against each other as Sunstar and Tirac battled in the distance, before Twilight turned from the crowd and ran for the Everfree Forest. Obviously, her friends noticed, and Spike started along side her, but he kept tripping at her side, not used to being up as long as he had. Realizing his predicament, Twilight picked Spike up and changed directions for the library.

"But Twilight, I c-" he yawned, "I can stay up! I can help you- Zzzzz." He probably wouldn't have dropped off quite that rapidly if she hadn't also cast a sleep spell on him, but this way she could speak more freely with the others. As they arrived at the library, flashes of eldritch power shining (or darkening) through the sky, they quickly gathered around the Elements of Harmony Reference Guide.

"Six Elements, five known, that hasn't changed. The names have, though. Deception, Ferocity, Sorrow, Ambition, and Suspicion," Twilight's brow furrowed. "It doesn't say anything about location in this one, though we do know where to go."

Rarity gasped, "But, darling, isn't that-"

"The way we used the Elements in that Mega Man Loop? Yes."

"You mean the one I wasn't Awake for?" Dash said.

"Right," nodded Twilight. "But let's get moving. I don't want Sunstar to take out this library before I've even moved in. Or accidentally take out the rest of Equestria while he's fighting Tirac." As they ran, Applejack saw fit to inform everyone of another change.

"Almost everypony believes in the Pony of Shadows this time 'round, though it's not a fragment of Sunstar's power or Lord Tirac's, just a monster of the forest. And they say that anypony who goes in never comes out the same."

Everypony nodded in response, already forming their own conclusion about the emphasized words.


The cliff that Nightmare Moon broke apart in the baseline was easy to get past without her interference, and the manticore remained sleeping, too. In fact, everything seemed too smooth until they emerged from pitch-black path into the clearing with the no-longer-scary trees. It was Rainbow Dash who noticed something was off first, when she realized that Pinkie wasn't pronking like she normally did. She sidled up to Applejack.

"Psst. AJ," she whispered. "I think something's up with Pinkie. She's not acting quite right." Applejack glanced over herself, and saw it, too.

"I think I understand," Applejack replied, before moving over to Pinkie. This had to be done delicately. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. You remember the last time we saw trees like this?" The right answer would have been a reference to the previous baseline Loop they did together.

"Silly Applejack! Of course I do!" Pinkie(?) giggled. "It was that one night we had a party at Sweet Apple Acres! Apple Bloom wandered too close to the forest and-"

"I'm going to have to stop you there, faker," said Rainbow Dash. The fake Pinkie stopped dead as she noticed that the others had surrounded her.

"W-what?"

"You see," Twilight said, "we've got some shields to keep our minds safe from anything that could even try to read them. All most ponies, or other, could get is some falsified memories we let them see." With a snarl and burst of green fire, the fake revealed herself to be a changeling.

Before the changeling could pounce or flee, Fluttershy looked it straight in the eye and Stared deep into it.

"How dare you do something like this?" she said, her voice quiet but forceful. "We're here in this forest to stop the evil King Sunstar, and you think that's a good time to kidnap one of our friends?!" The changeling whimpered. "Now, you will take us to the real Pinkie Pie, or so help me..."

The changeling nodded rapidly, then indicated a direction. Apparently this was a Loop where changelings couldn't speak Equestrian in their true form. The others kept a circle around the changeling as it guided them with gestures and clicks. It seemed that, as they got closer, the changeling was getting worse and worse, occasionally holding its hoof to its mouth like it was going to throw up. Only a few feet from the edge of the river clearing where the sea serpent lived, it finally seemed to just give up and fall unconscious. At that point, though, they had no need for the guide.

"Pinkie!" cried Rainbow, as she sped towards the straight-maned pink form before her. Surrounding her was five more fallen changelings.

"Dashie!" replied Pinkie, her hair poofing instantly back to it's normal shape as she turned around. Rainbow stopped just short of the hug, which confused Pinkie slightly.

"Who lives in the river?" she asked. Pinkie instantly understood.

"Well, we never really got his name, partly 'cause it changes from time to time, but most of the time he's called Steven Magnet."

"It is you!" cheered the group, as they shared a group hug.

When the hug ended, Twilight asked, "But Pinkie, how did you manage this?"

"Well, after we came out of the dark part of the forest, I noticed they were acting more energetic than you guys normally do and when I talked to them, they asked me to tell them some funny jokes. Well, the more I laughed, the more they acted funny, so I tried something different: I thought of every day I missed you, whenever it wasn't actually you Looping, or those times I was isolated and alone in a Fused Loop, and they started acting sick. Kind of like Mazoku when you're having a really good day, really." Pinkie giggled. "Anyways, I kept up the sad thoughts until they were knocked out, and then you guys showed up!" Pinkie re-initiated the hug.

After a few more moments of basking in their friendship, they continued onward.

It wasn't long before they found the Ancient Castle of the Lords, a far more ornate bridge than the simple (and broken) rope bridge from the baseline crossing the gap. But what brought them up short was the massive network of organic tunnels and walls that surrounded the bridge, from which emerged a swarm of changelings that quickly surrounded them.

Feigning fear, the Loopers stood flank-to-flank, watching the swarm around them. When several of them adopted their forms, however, Rarity gasped in delight.

"Oh my word! How marvellous! Tell me, my dear," the Fluttershy-looking changeling Rarity approached looked quite confused, "can all of you do this?"

"Um, yes?" replied the Flutterchangeling.

"And- Are you restricted to pre-existing forms, or can you turn into whatever you want?"

"Um, um."

"Why do you ask?" retorted a familiar voice from the hive around the bridge. Rarity turned to see Queen Chrysalis emerge from the main entrance, looking at her intently.

"Why, if you could look like just about anything, imagine the dresses you could model!"

"Dresses? What use would we have for dresses?! All we need to survive is love. Clothing is entirely unnecessary."

"Oh, my dear, don't you know just how much models are loved in Equestria? Why, if you were to, say, model some of my designs—well, it doesn't have to be you specifically, it could be any of you at all—you could become one of the most beloved figures in all of Equestria!" That got a few looks and murmurs from the swarm as they considered the idea. Chrysalis looked intently at Rarity.

"And what do you get out of it?"

"Well, I did say model some of my dresses, did I not? I sew, you model. I get all the money, and you get all the love you ever need." Chrysalis definitely looked intrigued now. They continued negotiations, the swarm of changelings discussing the situation as well, and it took all the political savvy Rarity had picked up from her politician Loops and her Loops as the Changeling Queen (or, on occasion, both) to hammer out an iron-clad contract that ensured everyone would walk away from this deal satisfied.

With a cheer and a promise of a "Congratulations On The New Job" party from Pinkie, the party headed for the castle. It was almost indistinguishable from the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, including the pedestal holding the petrified Elements. It was at that moment that King Sunstar smashed through the roof of the ceiling, a flaming crown between his horns and a malevolent grin on his face, looking up on at the lightening sky, as the sun overtook the moon, which now bore the face of Tirac.

"My brother seems to have forgotten that I can devour his magic. Perhaps a thousand years on his precious Moon will teach him to respect me," he gloated to himself. He then looked down at the ponies in front of him. "What's this? Is this what my brother has sent to stop me?" Sunstar began laughing uproariously.

"That's right, King Sunstar!" declared Twilight. "And I know exactly how to stop you!"

This declaration seemed to make Sunstar laugh even harder. "You?! How is an insignificant pony supposed to stop me? Even six of you are barely worth my time."

"We can stop you, with the Elements of Harmony!"

"What?" Sunstar stopped laughing at that. "My brother would never tell anyone about them!"

"Well he told me! Noticing that something was off with a member of our group that had been replaced by a changeling, Rainbow Dash represents the Element of Suspicion!" An orb lifted off the pedestal to float over Rainbow Dash's head, glowing a dark red.

"Having tricked that changeling into revealing itself with the truth, Applejack represents the Element of Deception!" An orb lifted off the pedestal to float over Applejack's head, glowing a dark orange.

"In coercing that changeling into leading us to our friends, Fluttershy represents the Element of Ferocity!" Another orb, this one glowing an odd dark pink, approached Fluttershy.

"By missing us, Pinkie Pie poisoned the changelings trying to capture her, making her the Element of Sorrow!" A blue orb floated to Pinkie. Twilight was very glad narrative causality kept Sunstar from attacking while she made her speech.

"Having persuaded the changelings into a deal that would help further her business and benefit them as well makes Rarity the Element of Ambition!" This orb was an almost black shade of purple.

Sunstar snarled, "Even if you know those Elements, you can't know the last one. My brother never even told me!"

"And that's exactly how I know it! Information is power, so keeping information to yourself gives you more power over those who don't know it, and it is that secret information that forms the Element of Magic!" A burst of dark violet light manifested an orb over her head, and with a burst of power, a twisted rainbow of darkness emerged from the Element bearers and crashed down upon their foe, knocking everyone unconscious.

Waking up sometime later, Twilight and the others looked upon the fallen and weakened form of Tirek. As the sun set again, a burst of darkness at the back of the hall revealed Lord Tirac, looking down upon his brother.

"You have failed in your coup again, brother. I am disappointed. It was you who persuaded me that my everlasting night was no better than Discord's random day cycle."

Tirek groaned as he stood on his hooves. With a cough, he replied, "I apologize, brother. I was blinded by jealousy as our subjects ignored my sun for your stars. Can you accept me back?"

"I can. However, you will be kept in the care of my adopted nephew Scorpan until you can move your sun on your own again." Tirek bowed in acceptance of his sentence, and Tirac turned back to the gathered ponies. "Once again you have validated my faith in you, Twilight Sparkle. And who are these others I see beside you?"

Twilight bowed, "These, Lord Tirac, are my allies. As I sought to fulfil your orders, they followed me of their own volition. Without their assistance, I would likely have been lost to the changelings that dwelled within the forest."

"Then you and your allies are to be honoured. Once festivities have been completed in Ponyville and Midnight Castle has been rebuilt, we shall grant each of your allies a knighthood, and you shall be dubbed Baronetess Twilight of Ponyville."

"You honour us, my lord." Tirac nodded solemnly before transporting all of them back to Ponyville with a wave of his hand and a brief burst of darkness.