//------------------------------//
// Chapter 18: Probability and Negation 
// Story: Lost Fate 
// by Fluxxdog 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 18: Probability and Negation

Something started forming. The light from Cantrip’s eyes seemed like it was hitting a wall. Snow in the perfect void started falling. Then colors were starting to show. Sounds could be heard, like distant mumbling.
Discord turned to Cantrip. “Almost there, buddy, just bring it into focus.” He was peering closely at the snowy image as it started turning into blobs. The mumbling turned into muffled voices.
Suddenly, the picture became clear and the voices could be heard clearly.
“Yes, your highness.” It was Celestia, but she was addressing someone else. “Next on the agenda, we have a letter from Apple Fritter. He wants to know if you want thirty apple pies for this year’s gala.”
From out of view came a soft and melodic voice. “No, tell him we would like thirty-five this year.”
“You majesty, last year we ended up with two leftover.”
“And it would have been a shame if it was two too few. Moreover, if we do happen to have extras, I will be sure to take care of them personally. Send him the reply with the appropriate bits. Any other business that needs to be taken care of right now?”
Celestia seemed a bit taken back. “Well, not right now. We have plans to make for Cadence’s visit next week as well as organizing tomorrow’s agenda.”
“Very well then, Celestia. Let us call it an early day. Clear that throne room. Oh, and somepony come find me when Luna raises the moon.”
Celestia turned around. “Day Court has ended for today! By order of the queen, clear the throne room!” Some side discussion seemed to get quiet as a large pair of doors could be heard being shut. As soon as they were… “What’s this about? In the 70 years you’ve been queen, you’ve only skipped planning your days when there was an emergency.”
“Celestia, we have company.” The ‘queen’ suddenly stepped into view. There was no mistaking who it could be.
It was Twilight Sparkle, as tall as Celestia herself. The jewelry she wore out shone Celestia’s own.
Speaking of which, Celestia’s horn lit up. “Where? An intruder?”
“Calm yourself, Tia. I can sense it, but we’re being watched.” Rarity, Discord, and Slipwind watched Twilight’s long horn glowed and covered the view in a brief glow of purple.
Celestia gasped. “No! It can’t be! Discord? Rarity? And… Um, I have no idea who that is.” Pointing to the oddly floating Slipwind.
Discord spoke up. “Well well, it doesn’t look like this’ll be a one-sided conversation after all. Good day to you Celestia. And Queen! Well, never thought you had it in you! Tell me, was it a coup d'etat? No, wait, you started a revolution, didn’t you? Oh, I can’t wait for that to start!”
Rarity was confused. “Wait, queen? How did Twilight become queen? Oh, please tell me you let me design your coronation dress! Was it fabulous? Oh, I can picture it now!” Rarity was practically giddy.
Discord rolled his eyes. “And here I thought she’d be the level-headed one. But yes, I’m sure you were offered it for being such a great sport and everything. When we defeated Tirek, I’m sure they thought it would be better in your hands.”
Slipwind righted himself. “Uh, way I heard it, they stopped Tirek, not you.”
“Well, I helped a little bit. I mean, I know I helped cause some of the trouble in the first place, but I helped fix it.”
The Queen looked a little perplexed. “I defeated Tirek.”
All 3 of them looked at her. Rarity said, “With our help also.”
The queen shook her head. “When Tirek and I fought each other, I had the upper hand. With all the princess’s powers combined, I overpowered him.”
Rarity looked taken aback. “You mean you never opened the box?”
“The box from the Tree of Harmony? No, we never figured out how. When everypony’s powers were returned after Tirek’s defeat, I tried to give the princess’s their powers back. Somehow, the magic bonded to me. It took decades before I could give Celestia and Luna enough power to raise the sun and moon again. Since I was so powerful, Celestia decided I should be made Queen. It was more political than anything, but I stepped up to be a true leader.”
Their jaws nearly hit the ground. That was not how things went. Slipwind spoke up, “This isn’t our reality.”
Discord nodded. “You’re right. We’re not viewing things as they happened, but rather what could have happened. But why in the future?”
Celestia shook her head. “Who knows? But one thing is certain, this is powerful magic. Be careful, my little ponies.”


The scene shifted back toward snow.
Rarity was the first to speak. “Didn’t Twilight look marvelous?”
Slipwind looked at her. “Focus, Rarity. Twilight was a queen because something changed. This spell is supposed to gets us to that scroll. If we’re going around, seeing what had happened because things change, then what we’re looking for is what stayed the same.”
Discord nodded. “The fact that we were able to have the difference explained to us was a stroke of luck. Who knows if we’ll be able to converse so freely next time?”
Almost if on cue, the snow started settling again.


“Twilight, Twilight, I found something! It doesn't stop time, but it lets you go back in time. It says you can go back once, and it only lasts for a few moments. Does that help?” Pinkie was holding up a scroll.
“Pinkie, you’re a… wait. It’s seems like a good idea, but isn’t this how this mess started?”
Spike looked at her. “But you could just warn yourself.”
“No Spike, I couldn’t. Last time, I didn’t let myself get a word in, except just enough to cause all this stress. This time, I’ll just let things come as they… Do you hear something?”
There was a rumbling. Not from Spike’s stomach from too much ice cream, but something else. Distant almost, as if reality suddenly became a storm.
Pinkie looked scared. “Twilight, what’s going on!?”
“I don’t know! Unless… Oh no! By not going back in time, I created a paradox! Quick! Give me that scroll! Maybe it’s not too…” A sudden magical explosion where Twilight was standing turned the view to snow again.


“So, I guess the lesson here is don’t try to fix time?” Slipwind thought there was something to it. Right?
“Well, time isn’t the issue. Something had to be the same, right up until she didn’t cast her little time spell.” Discord was confused. Chaos confused is not usually a good thing. "It also didn't help she was dabbling in time magic like that. Time magic has to be planned almost perfectly, from what you did to what you wil do."
Rarity said, “Well, the only things that were the same was Twilight. She was the only one present both times. But if we’re trying to find out how to get that thing, how is she involved? She didn’t even know about it.” The snow started clearing again.


“Miss Sparkle? Can you understand me?” A doctor was talking to Twilight. A very unhappy Twilight. She looked filthy and unkempt. But there was one real difference.
Her horn was broken.
“Yes Dr. Hoofenwitz. I’m just tired today.”
“Do you know how long you’ve been here, Twilight?”
“No. I stopped counted some time ago.”
“It’s been 8 months and 4 days. Does that seem right?”
“I DON’T KNOW! SHOULD IT SEEM RIGHT?” Twilight was suddenly angry, then just as quickly she started sobbing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s okay, Twilight. You’ve made good progress since coming here.”
“Why do we have to do this over and over?”
“So you can deal with the reality of what happened. Now, let’s go through it again. How did you get here?”
Twilight sighed. “It was the day of the 1000th Summer Sun Festival. Nightmare Moon came like I predicted. With the help of five new…” An ache just crossed her face. “… ponies, we had found the old castle in Everfree Forest.” She seemed hesitant.
“Go on. You can do this Twilight. You entered the castle…”
After a moment, she picked back up. “I entered the castle to confront Nightmare Moon. With the help of my fr… fr…” It seemed hard to say it.
“You can do this, Twilight. With the help of your…”
“With the help of my fr… friends,” nearly exhausting herself with the words, “we were able to awaken the Elements of Harmony. We were able to purge Nightmare Moon from Princess Luna.”
“Good. Let’s take a little breather before we continue. Would you like some water?”
“Yes please.” The doctor poured her a glass. She carefully picked it up with both hooves and drank it slowly. The discussion was exhausting for her.
“Okay then. Let’s continue.” The doctor looked at her a little sternly. This was the hard part.
“I don’t want to. Can we hold off today?”
“No, Twilight, not today. You need to face your past and accept it. You can do this. We’ve been working for months to get to this point. Today, you move forward.”
She seemed like a little filly how was just told Nightmare Moon was going to gobble her up. “I… I don’t…”
“Do it, Twilight. You control yourself. Not the memory, you!”
Slowly, she started speaking. “The… the magic was too strong. I started going out of control.” Like a dam bursting, it started flooding out. “No! I can’t control it!” She made a motion like she was ripping something off her head. “It’s not working! IT’S INSIDE ME!” Her eyes started to glow. The water pitcher and glass started levitating. “I CAN’T… NO… CELESTIA! BREAK MY HORN! IT’S THE ONLY WAY! MAGIC IS INSIDE ME AND I CAN’T STOP IT! I’LL KILL EVERYPONY!” The scream she let out shattered the glass and pitcher before she slumped onto the floor.
Two orderlies rushed in. One of them picked up Twilight. The other looked at the doctor. “Doc, you all right?”
The doctor was wet, but none of the glass had cut him. “I’m okay. And with time, she will too. She finally broke through.”


Rarity was crying. “Poor Twilight! That could have happened?”
Slipwind wrapped a wing around her to comfort her, tears in his own eyes. “That wasn’t our Princess. That didn’t happen.” Slipwind was mad now. “Right now, we have one common thread. She overcame Nightmare Moon. That’s our common link.”
Discord was shocked beyond belief. “I didn’t think they had that much power! I mean, turning me to stone is one thing, but that? Poor Twilight.”
Rarity looked at him through tear-filled eyes. “So you think Nightmare Moon is behind this?”
“No.” Cantrip spoke for the first time in a long time in a nearly mechanical voice. “The spell is still going. That mean we haven’t found our path yet. We’re getting closer.”