//------------------------------// // There was nothing // Story: Friendship is Time // by BlueSkyHeadLeft010 //------------------------------// She fell from the sky, screaming form and all. Lucky for her, she was able to quickly right herself as her wings flew open on instinct and she stabilized. "It's a good thing the portal was still stable." Twilight noted, as there was a thunderous echo for a moment, and looking up Twilight just caught the portal closing for good. She groaned as she flapped her wings and moved to sit on a cloud. "Okay first things first!" She began a mental checklist, "Find Starlight, then figure out how to stop her from changing history." She frowned as she looked over the edge of the cloud for signs of the pink unicorn. She saw nothing but a few ponies trotting about enjoying the day, but no pink unicorn. "I must've come out of a different portal. There's no way Starlight grew wings overnight." She mused. Though since Starlight had been able to cast the temporal displacement spell in the first place, she would not rule out the possibility of her having wings; yet. She shook her head. Right, focus. She decided to gather some clues from the village down below as she swooped off her cloud and dipped her wings to descend. Now that she was closer she could make out the varying details of the houses, and soon enough the finer details of ponies as she landed. It wasn't unusual for ponies to see Pegasi descend onto the cobblestone pavement, but it was unheard of to see a strange alicorn descend onto the cobblestone pavement. Twilight knew she'd cause as scene as soon as she landed and it didn't take much to prove her theory right. Most just stoped and stared gobsmacked, while others gasped in shock and immediately bowed before her. She wished she had some sort of disguise spell she could use, but alas no pony had been able to figure out the key to it; save Discord and the changelings, who both were unwilling to share. "At ease loyal subjects." Twilight spread her wings wide to address the crowd. Typically she'd be crouched down and hiding from such attention, but seeing that the ponies saw her as royalty, she decided it was best to play along for now. "I am merely visiting this fine establishment of-" she paused, realizing she hadn't even bothered to figure out what the village's name was. "-Ponyville, uh um ma'am." A polite stallion with a cherry red mane spoke as Twilight nodded in thanks. I suppose I should also make up an alibi while I'm at it. She thought. "Yes, I am merely visiting Ponyville to discuss something important with a unicorn mare named Starlight Glimmer." Twilight instructed as she sagged, "Alas, I have lost contact with her. I am afraid I might never find her." She fake pouted; princess powers activate! "We'll find her ma'am! Don't you fret now!" A blonde maned mare with an orange coat beamed. "Appl-! I mean uh-... Thank you citizen! I too will continue the search! Please go about your daily business." Twilight stuttered as everything clicked into place. I landed in Ponyville?! She hyperventilated once she was out of sight, the false bravado slipping from her like a wet rag. "And Applejack was here, that means-" "Hello! I'm Pinkie Pie!" "Gah!" Twilight shrieked as Pinkie Pie suddenly popped up in front of her. "Pinkie Pie?! What are you doing here?!" She calmed herself as Pinkie looked at her and cocked her head confused. "Well I was taking this here shortcut while doing deliveries, what are you doing her Princess-...?" "-Sparkle. I'm, Princess Sparkle." Twilight lied quickly as Pinkie Pie just smiled and nodded like nothing was wrong. "Oohhh! Well Princess Sparkle, you still haven't answered my question!" She hopped up and down. "Right, right. I was just..." She sighed defeated, she couldn't lie to her best friend! Not even if she was from the past. "Truthfully, I'm just trying to calm down." She sighed as her winged twitched involuntarily. "I'm not... Very good with crowds yet." She admitted. She'd always been bad at dealing with crowds. Pinkie Pie giggled, "Okie Dokie Loki! I guess I'll be going then! I need to hurry and deliver these caaaaaakkkkkkessss~!" She shouted as she got further and further away. Twilight sighed in relief as Pinkie left. One less hassle avoided. Now Princess 'Sparkle' needed to find Starlight Glimmer; while also staying under the radar in case any of her other friends decided to stop by. ---------------- "What in Equestria?" Twilight blinked confused as she looked above the door of Town Hall to find a banner saying, "Happy Summer Sun Celebration!" In big orange lettering. She sat there for a few minutes, reading and rereading the sign as she scratched her head. "Surely Starlight didn't travel back as far as my foalhood years.." She racked her mind, "The Summer Sun Celebration was held back in Canterlot at the time. In fact, it hasn't been held in Ponyville since-" "Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about. Come on, Twilight, just try!" A familiar, male voice spoke from behind her a few miles away. The gears suddenly clicked as Twilight froze and slowly turned her head around in shock. A few buildings down from her, stood a familiar lavender coated mare, with a small drake riding on her back. Twilight held back a gasp as her wings nearly shot up to full length in surprise. She couldn't believe it...! Right in front of her was none other than- *WHUMP* Twilight Sparkle promptly fainted.