Starlight was waiting for Twilight in her Castle , with the Cutie Map in perfect view. No pony had ever been seen sneaking in through the front door, and yet she managed to slip in without making a sound. After attending the seminar Twilight had just held about the effects and implications of Cutie Mark Magic, she decided to use the opportunity to get back at her. She was going to make sure that Twilight and her friends never met, thus never interfering with her vision for equality. She had no idea the impact it would have on Equestria. Each Timeline would turn out much worse than it was supposed to be. And each one would contain different levels of discontinuity, one universe would not affect the others, and so on. And Starlight's fate would be different in each timeline. You the reader will be witness to each divergent timeline and the effects that would result from Glimmer's misguided path to revenge through the use of Time Travel.
She was also unaware of the fates she would inevitably create for her alternate selves in the process. That thought had never occurred to the lavender coated unicorn. She was so blinded by her quest for revenge that she couldn't see what was right in front of her.
A chance at a better life.
And yet her fate had been resigned to something much worse.
The Everlasting Night
Universe Alternate Season 1 ( What if Twilight never found the Elements and Celestia was Beaten instead of her Sister Luna)
It wasn't going to be easy, but Twilight had to do something about Starlight, or she was bound to destroy all of Equestria through all this Time Travel meddling. She pulled herself together after her and spike went through the 3rd time loop. It was nighttime compared to the last 2 realities she had been in. Fear started to creep up her spine, filling her with a cold dread. If it was night here, then that meant that in this timeline Nightmare Moon had come back and conquered Equestria unchallenged. It also meant that Celestia was either dead or Banished. She picked herself up and started walking, with Spike right next to her. Then came the howling, They both realized that this also meant that the Timberwolves were nearby. Spike and Twilight began running to the bridge connecting the Castle Grounds to the Ravine where the Tree of Harmony was. She pushed open the door with her hooves and stopped to breathe. As they opened the door all the torches in the great hall flickered to life. As they walked down the hallway she kept thinking about her friends and what their life must be like without her. As soon as they climbed the stairs to the upper level of the Castle, a White Unicorn with 3 diamonds for a cutie mark walked by them and whisked a torn banner off the ground with her magic and onto a hook high on the wall.
"Rarity?", Twilight muttered to herself. The Unicorn gave her a snide look as she commented that all the banners needed changing and that the castle was closed to visitors.
"Rarity," Spike clamored, "It's me, Spike."
"I don't associate with dragons.", She said coldly to him. Spike looked like his heart was going to break in half.
"Rarity" Twilight spoke out loud this time.
"We need your help, we have to get back to the map and stop Starlight Glimmer.", Twilight told her.
Rarity looked at her with skepticism, " I don't know how you know my name, but i don't have the time for some Tourist and their crazy stories right now." And with that, another Chill ran down Twilight's spine when she turned around at the sound of a commanding voice.
"I guess you leave me no choice," Twilight slung the words at Rarity like a barb, and before the unicorn could react she was presented with a series of images in her mind. Of the sun, of another version of herself and this other pony at the spa, almost as if they were friends in another life. It slowly dawned on her, they were friends in this other life, an alternate timeline as it were. One where where they all shared in the warmth of Celestia's sun, and of their friendship.
Then Twilight stepped away and turned to face what she had sensed was giving her such a chill down her spine. There was no denying it now. There sitting on her Lunar Throne was Nightmare Moon. She seemed uninterested in what had transpired between this mystery guest and her Night Maid, Rarity. As she was about to speak, Rarity had just turned the corner to head to the cantina that was just around the next hallway. Before rounding the corner, she could only back at both Twilight and Spike. And she felt utterly ashamed of herself now for what she had said to the young dragon.
Fix this, she thought, fix this for all our sakes Twilight.
" Time Travel you say?", And with that statement a tall black and blue armored Mare stood up from her Throne. NO. Twilight thought. There in front of her were six more ponies clad in Lunar Republic Armor. and walking towards her was none other than Nightmare Moon. " You will take me to this map of yours and tell me more about this time travel magic." She demanded of Twilight.
What was she going to do. That thought was playing over and over in Twilight's mind. She could try and fight Nightmare Moon, she had the magic to now to do so. She could teleport both of them away from and try to reason with her. Or so she take Nightmare with so Starlight could see just how stupid her plan at revenge had been. For now she decided to go with the latter plan. But she'd keep the second one as a backup option. That's when a familair voice came from behind her and got her attention. When she saw who was speaking, a part of her heart broke.
"The PRINCESS gave you a command, and if you want to stay out of the Dungeon i suggest you comply.", Twilight turned around to see a light blue, cyan colored pony take off their helmet to reveal a familiar face. Twilight's heart broke in half and turned to ice when she saw none other than Rainbow Dash standing there.
"Ok.", Twilight said as she turned back to face Nightmare Moon. Spike protested but it fell on deaf ears.
"We have no choice Spike." She whispered to him. As they left for the forest Twilight turned around and looked Rainbow Dash in the face.
" What is it.", She asked hiding her curiosity.
"How long have you been under her command?", Twilight asked her.
"Since the Fall of Celestia, what does it matter to you?", RD retorted.
"Because in the time i'm from, me, you and 4 other friends of ours found something called the Elements of Harmony, and defeated her. When i heard your voice i felt like my heart was on the verge of breaking", Twilight told her.
" Because in my world you are very important to me and i cant let Starlight get away with what she's done.", She looked deep into RD's eyes and whispered to her 4 words.
" Your one of my best friends Rainbow. Well, more than that to be honest.", Twilight whispered. As she said that Rainbow's attention seemed to focus on those last words of hers.
"Just how close are we, really?" She was curious now. With that Twilight put her lips to Rainbows and kissed her. Just on that gesture alone Rainbow Dash had a good understanding of how close her and Twilight were. And for the longest time since Nightmare Moon's return, she felt happy for once.
As soon as they got to the area where the map was, Twilight caught up to Nightmare in time to see her blast the last Timberwolf with a bolt of Magic. She turned her attention to the map and told Nightmare Moon that she would show her what to do. But in the back of Twilight's mind there was another reason to do this. She would use Nightmare Moon to school Starlight Glimmer in just how bad revenge was as an idea. She turned around to look Rainbow in the face and told her to come to the map as well. Rainbow Dash complied and the 4 of them Got on top of the map. Twilight activated the spell and they were all transported to the Cloudsdale Junior Flight Camp. And almost as if on cue, Starlight showed up. But then the unexpected happened. CELESTIA was there.
What was Celestia doing here? She had never attended the Race as far as Twilight had known.She stepped away from Moon and approached her former mentor.Twilight felt it was best if she went and explained what was happening before she could say anything. Celestia's answer surprised her to be honest.
"I know", the Princess stammered out. She told Twilight that she had sensed something was wrong with the timeline through the Tree of Harmony. Starlight ignored them and walked over to Nightmare Moon, much to Twilight's chagrin. Before she got close to the princess Rainbow Dash jumped in front to block her. Twilight told RD to follow her. Rainbow Dash Reluctantly obeyed and walked over to Twilight. As she did so, she saw the most unbelievable thing, there flying past at a fast pace, was the filly version of Rainbow Dash. As soon as that happened it looked like she was going to cry. Happier memories came flooding back.
Nightmare Moon could only stare at Starlight Glimmer with the faintest bit of rage in her eyes. If what Twilight had said was true, then this mare broke time iteself out of petty revenge. She had interrupted their lives. Before they had stepped through the portal Twilight showed Nightmare just what had happened in her timeline. How she and Celestia were both happy and ruling together. As had been intended. Twilight had explained to her that after the banishment Celestia had cried herself to sleep every night since that tragic event.
Nightmare had found herself staring at the ground before stepping through and when she saw Celestia staring back at her when they had entered the past she was content. Content that her older sister was alive and well and not stranded on the moon like she had been for thousands of years. Inside her mind, she woke Luna up and told her everything that was happening.
"this mare, Twilight, she said that We're ruling together with Celestia. As it should have been. Luna, you were right all this time. I may be a seperate being now, but i realized that i was created out of your jealousy. And that Jealousy is gone now." Nightmare Moon spoke to the mare before releasing final control of Luna's Mind.
"Before i leave you, i need you to do something for me." She spoke one last time," Make this Starlight Glimmer understand how pointless her quest for revenge really was." As she said that Luna was released from her confinement within her own mind. Celestia couldnt barely believe what she was seeing. There in front of her was her little sister.
"Luna.." Celestia stammered. Seeing her older sister tearing up made Luna tear up as she wrapped her forehooves around Celestia's breastplate.
"Im sorry for what i did to you Sister," Luna squeaked as she also cried into Celestia's fur,"I'm sorry for doubting what you had tried to tell me that day." Celestia put a foreleg over her sister and hugged her tight. This was the most important thing that could have happened for them. They looked up though to see a dark blob of magic take the form of Nightmare Moon.
"Dont worry Tia, Im going back to make sure things turn out for the better for us." Celestia smiled after she had said that. Nightmare was now her own separate being and right in front of her assumed Luna's form before walking back to the portal. She'd travel to this universe's moon and retrieve the Luna still stranded there and take her with her. She would also explain to her what was going on. Somehow thanks to Twilight Sparkle they would fix their timeline.
And if they found the Starlight Glimmer of their world, they'd lock that mare aware just to teach her a harsh lesson in humility.
They all heard a scream and whisked around. Starlight was clutching her side trying to stop the blood from spilling out onto the sky pavement. As a parting gift Nightmare grazed Starlight with a bolt of magic. Twilight hoped that would show her that revenge is a path you dont want to go down. Lest you become consumed by it. As she looked around Rainbow felt something come over her. For the first time in years, Rainbow Dash pulled off her Armor and spread her wings in the beaming Sunlight. This caught they attention of her younger self, and they met in the middle.
Twilight, Luna, and Celestia could see the scars that covered her entire back and part of her side. This Rainbow had been in numerous battles it seemed. And now she was free. Free to spread her wings and soar the skies once more. Twilight caught her smiling before a small pegasus came up to them.
"Are you me?", her filly self asked. Talk about bizarre. The smaller Rainbow Dash was now looking up at an older and more grizzled version of herself. Her ears perked up when the Older one spoke to her in a calm tone.
"Yea i am kid, and i have something to tell you", The Older one stated. This was going to be something that she'd regreted when she was a filly and had never really gotten over. Seeing both her younger self, and being here in the past. She had to set this right.
"Dont make the Mistakes i made, Protect Fluttershy, and more importantly defend her whenever you can.", she said," Of all the friends you'll make, she's the one that will matter most until you meet four others, you understand?", The filly looked at this Scarred, yet proud mare with a Rainbow Mane.
"Yes. Yes i understand.", she replied back.
As Nightmare Moon entered the Portal, the older Rainbow Dash started walking back to it to. She looked at Twilight with a thankful smile. but what happened next was unexpected. around the corner came a timid yellow filly Pegasus. Rainbow's eyes and hers met. RD walked over to her and put a wing around her and pulled her closed to her body. The Yellow Pegasus was none other than Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash and her looked at one another before the filly smiled and hugged her back. Fluttershy knew this wasnt her Rainbow Dash, but at the same time knew that it was Rainbow Dash all the same.
Twilight and Celestia turned back around to confront a wounded Starlight Glimmer. As much as Twilight felt satisfied, she couldn't really just let her die. They bound the wound and they all watched the race from a safe distance. Rainbow Dash felt satisfied when she watched her filly self hit the sound barrier and punch through it, doing a Sonic Rainboom in the process. Rainbow Dash was unsure what to do now. Does she go back to her own timeline and face the consequences and or does she find an isolated part of Equestria and settle down all the while staying out of sight as not to contaminate the timeline. Celestia looked at her and then Twilight.
"Why dont you go with her.", she said calmly.
Twilight thought of how odd it might be if there were 2 Rainbow Dashes. but she decided it was worth the risk if it meant that this RD got to see how her life might of been. As soon as the next Time portal opened the 4 of them went through it and ended up back in Twilight's Castle. All of her friends had just entered the room, when Rainbow Dash froze with an astonished look on her face.
" Your'e here", she said.
Apparently she never told anypony about a certain event that took place at Junior Flight Camp. and neither did Fluttershy. You'd think with 2 Rainbow Dash's being in the same room that some kind of temporal cascade effect would of happened. but not here. Starlight was taken to Canterlot by Twilight and BOTH Rainbow Dashes. The Second Rainbow Dash decided to dye her Mane darker colors, RD never told her family that a second version of her was from another reality. they forged credentials stating that she just Rainbow Dash's twin sister. As they were doing that, Twilight Remembered something that Chrysalis had told her when she had impersonated Cadence. Something about the Canterlot caves...
Twilight told Celestia what Starlight had planned to do with the time spell. Celestia was not pleased by any means. Twilight told her about a perfect way to punish Starlight Glimmer and the princess cracked a smirk. As soon as they neared the steps to Throne, Twilight used a spell similar to the one Chrysalis used and opened a rift in the floor and watched Starlight disappear from sight.
" You'll have plenty of time to think about your life and what matters more.", Twilight said as she disappeared beneath the floor.
Rainbow Dash turned to her other self and hugged her. " I knew I'd see you again, i never understood it, but i just knew somehow."
The other one smiled and then turned to Twilight, " so you think you could help me change the color of my coat?"
" I think tan would be nice, and a compass for a new Cutie Mark.", she said.
" I think that can be arranged", Twilight told her with a smile. Before they parted ways, she leaned in close to Rainbow Dash and kissed her on the cheek.
"What was that for?" Rainbow asked her.
" That's what i explained to you in the forest, remember, I love you and i always will no matter what life sends at us. "
" And if you need me, just whisper it in the night wind and ill find my way to you." , Twilight told her.