Meet and Greet
This chapter now has an audio reading by Skijarama
***
Rarity stumbled from her chair as the bonds around her hooves were undone in a flash of magic. Her muscles felt weak and stiff, and she wondered to herself just how long she had been sitting in that uncomfortable position. She didn’t ask her company, though, and instead fell into an uncoordinated bow. “Your highness,” she squeaked as regally as she could.
The pink Alicorn nodded to her. “Please rise, I have much I’d like to discuss with you.”
Rarity obediently scrambled to her hooves and stood up as tall as she dared. She had expected to meet an Alicorn, yes, but the Alicorn she thought she was going to meet hadn’t bled off this much raw… divinity when she had seen her. Not only was she flaunting the required horn and wings, but she was a good head taller than a normal pony. Her mane and tail were perfectly styled and she wore all the glistening regalia that Rarity had come to associate with power.
Rarity quickly glanced over at Twilight Sparkle and was surprised to find the purple, still-very-much-a-Unicorn, pony glowering at her. She had expected Twilight to be a bit suspicious of her and her claims, of course, but couldn’t fathom what she had done to entice that look from the other Unicorn.
“Now, Miss Rarity,” The Alicorn spoke again and Rarity took the opportunity to focus on her and not Twilight. “I’m sure you have many questions, and I want you to know that no matter what they are we will happily answer them, so don’t be afraid to ask.”
Rarity nodded at that but silence persisted on for a few seconds before she finally comprehended the anticipating stare the Alicorn was giving her. “Oh! You mean right now. Alright then, let me just organize my thoughts a bit here.” She took a deep breath and steeled herself to calmly ask one question. “Who are you!?” She shouted at the Alicorn, blowing her and Twilight’s manes back. Days of pent up frustration and confusion were finally released and Rarity found that she had no real control after she got started. “Where am I!? What just happened? How do you even exist? Why on earth did Twilight poison my drink? Why is everything made of crystals? Why is Twilight glaring at me? Why is that dragon so adorable? How long have I been asleep? How many Alicorns are there? How can a rebellion even exist anymore? Why does it exist? And most importantly,” her stomach growled loudly, causing Rarity to blush and lower her voice to a tiny squeak, “Is there any way I could get a bite to eat?”
Twilight, the Alicorn, and Spike all blinked owlishly at her. Finally, Spike was the one to break the silence. “You think I’m cute?”
Rarity’s blush deepened. “I… well… that is to say…”
Before she could finish her thought, she was cut off by Cadence clearing her throat. “In order: I am Princess Cadence. You’re in the Crystal Empire, which is in the frozen north. You just got interrogated, but I have deemed you trustworthy. Princess Celestia kept me on the hush since my youth, and I fled once Nightmare Moon returned by her orders. Twilight drugged your tea so she could bring you here swiftly and without incident. It is the Crystal Empire. She doesn’t like the idea that she’s been destined to defeat Nightmare Moon in a great spectacle.” Twilight opened her mouth but Cadence didn’t give her a moment to speak. “Probably because he’s still a baby. Six hours. Only three that I know of. Fear does not crush a pony’s need for light. To stop Nightmare Moon of course. Yes, would you like a sandwich?”
“I… well… yes. Thank you.” Rarity said once she had sorted through the rush of words.
Cadence smiled at her and turned to the baby dragon. “Spike, can you get our guest a daisy sandwich please?”
The dragon opened his mouth but shut it after a pointed look from Twilight. “Yeah, yeah,” he mumbled, trudging out of the room through the one lone door, “You guys get to have all the fun.”
Rarity watched him go, trying to wrap her mind around everything that had just happened in the past two minutes. Her musing, however, was interrupted by Twilight speaking again.
“I don’t know about this, Cadence. I mean, she works for Nightmare.”
“And so did your brother,” The Alicorn said, laying a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, “You know that most ponies work for her because they have no choice.”
“But… but…” Twilight stuttered, thrusting a hoof at Rarity, “What about that crazy plan she has? Me being an Alicorn? Everypony storming the castle and defeating Nightmare Moon because it’s our destiny or whatever? Doesn’t that all sound a bit suspicious?”
Cadence frowned. “Yes, of course it does. Don’t accuse me of not taking precautions, Twilight. That’s why she was tied up. But I can feel the love for her sister in her. She’s a good pony, Twilight, and I don’t think she’s one to just lie about something like that.”
Twilight opened her mouth to say something else but let the words go with a deep sigh. “Fine. Just know that I don’t agree with any of this, and I still don’t trust her.”
Cadence nodded and wrapped Twilight in a wing hug. “Thank you, that’s all I can really ask for. Now, shall we answer some of her questions?”
“Fine,” Twilight grumbled, turning back to Rarity, “Have you ever heard of the Crystal Empire?”
Rarity felt like she was getting a variation of whiplash from how fast the conversation kept changing topic. “The… er… the Crystal Empire? Yes… yes, I think I’ve heard about that. It appeared in the middle of the Frozen North about a year ago, I think?” The more Rarity thought, the more she remembered that particular evening when a few soldiers, not personal guards of the Princess and certainly not anyone who should approach her without invitation, just regular soldiers, burst into the throne room. They had frantic looks on their faces that probably saved their lives when they startled Nightmare Moon so much by their sudden entrance that she leaped off of her throne completely.
Rarity remembered jumping too; she had been bringing Nightmare Moon her tea and only just managed not to spill it when the doors flew open with a clang.
“Princess!” The soldiers had shouted, barely remembering to skid into a bow. “Something has happened in the Frozen North!”
Rainbow Dash and some other guard Rarity didn’t remember the name of came in seconds later, moving towards the soldiers. They instantly stopped, however, when Nightmare Moon raised her wing. An expression that Rarity couldn’t place, but surprisingly wasn’t anger, adorned her features as she walked closer to the two soldiers. “What happened in the Frozen North?”
Rarity had noticed then that the two were Pegasi with icicles decorating their wings. With a start, Rarity had realized that they must have flown all the way here.
“A brilliant flash of light,” The soldier that had spoken before breathed, his buddy content on just nodding rapidly along, “We were doing a quick fly by when suddenly the air started shimmering and a flash of light blinded our entire group. When we could see again there was a great city in the middle of the snow, sparkling like crystals.”
He paused for breath and Nightmare took the opportunity to sip at the tea Rarity had brought her. “Did you see anypony there?”
The soldier shook his head so rapidly Rarity was sure it would fall off. “No, Your Highness. We barely got to look at it before a dark cloud started billowing up out of the snow.”
“It was horrible!” The second soldier had finally decided to speak then, “It started snatching us out of the air and suffocating our platoon in its depths. We were the only two who escaped.”
“I see,” Nightmare had said plainly, returning the tea to Rarity’s tray, “Well, it seems I must take a leave of absence at the moment. A young colt has decided to try to wreak havoc at exactly the worst time.”
“And when she returned a few days later...” Rarity wasn’t sure when she started telling the story out loud, but continued on as Cadence gestured for her to finish. “When she returned a few days later she had a message sent out that no one was to go to the city and that the elements would wear it away within the year.”
Cadence nodded. “That would have happened, too, if it wasn’t for Twilight’s quick thinking.” She turned to the door from which Spike had exited and glanced over her shoulder. “Come, let's take a walk.”
Rarity glanced over at Twilight, but the purple Unicorn didn’t so much as look at Rarity before strutting out with Cadence. With a resigned sigh, Rarity followed.
“A thousand years ago,” Cadence began once they started walking, “A great empire was structured in the north that was home to a fourth tribe of ponies that lived nowhere else. The Crystal Ponies, as they were called, for their coats sparkled like crystal, lived peacefully in their isolated city until, one day, a dark Unicorn came into their midst. No one knows exactly how, but soon after his arrival, the Unicorn had managed to gain great power and enslave the entire race of Crystal Ponies.
“The stories say that Celestia banished him to somewhere for a thousand years but he took the Empire with him. After it reappeared last year, Nightmare Moon was able to defeat the dark Unicorn in his weakened state and destroy the magical artifact that protected the Empire from the storms of the North.
“Without the artifact the Empire itself would have been quickly consumed by the snow if Twilight hadn’t been so quick witted.” Cadence concluded, nodding to Twilight, who in turn blushed at the praise. “We were already hiding in the North and Twilight convinced me to shield a bit of the city. We've been expanding in the underground mines ever since.”
Rarity couldn’t take it anymore and let out a loud laugh. “Oh, you have got to be kidding! Sparkling ponies? A hidden kingdom? That all seems a bit far-fetched, don't you think?”
Twilight looked like she was about to argue, but she was interrupted by a cheery voice echoing off the wall.
“Excuse me, Princess.” A shimmering red pony trotted up to the trio and Rarity’s mouth dropped. “I just wish to inform you that Troop Six has returned successfully with new supplies.”
“Thank you, Folly.” Cadence smiled warmly at the pony. “Please go alert the chefs that they will need to prepare for more food.”
Folly bowed and moved on further down the hallway, Rarity’s eyes following her the entire way. “That… the… wha?”
“Yep,” Cadence replied with a smile, “Most of those still here haven't gotten their shine yet, but a few have managed to get comfortable.”
“That’s…” Rarity whispered, “That’s amazing.”
“But all of this is only possible because we've been careful,” Twilight said, again glaring at Rarity, “That means no protests, no raids, and no all-out attacks on the capital.”
“No one is saying we're going to do that,” Cadence said before Rarity could reply, “We just need to think about the opportunity that's now available.”
“And all I'm saying is that we can't do anything rash just because…”
“Twilight!”
Twilight stopped speaking mid-sentence, her gaze saying that the conversation wasn't over and turned to the sound of her name. Down the hallway came a rapidly approaching baby dragon that, to Rarity’s despair, was not holding a sandwich. “Yes, Spike, what is it?”
The dragon huffed as he came to a stop next to Twilight, a small flashing stone gripped in his claw and a look of panic on his face. “The stone,” he breathed, “Applejack’s calling you.”
Twilight paled and snatched the pulsing rock out of his grasp. “Applejack?” She spoke into the rock, “Are you there? You know you're only supposed to use this line for emergencies.”
There was a buzzing noise that emanated from the rock, causing Rarity to stare at it wide-eyed before a voice broke out clear and clean as if the pony was standing right next to them. “Yeah, ah know that, Twilight.” Applejack said, her voice was ragged and punctured by pants and she seemed to be shouting quite loudly, “That’s why I’m usin’ it. I ain’t tryin’ ta tell you that cider season went well.” There were more buzzing sounds and Applejack’s voice, sounding more distant now, shouted, “Would someone help her already? My grandmother is literally moving faster than you all.” There were some rustling sounds and something vaguely familiar that Rarity could only classify as defensive squawking. Then Applejack’s voice was back, mumbling something that sounded like, “Dumb Pigeons.”
“Alright, Applejack just calm down,” Twilight said, though her voice shook a little, “Just tell us what happened. Where are you?”
“In the Everfree.” Came the reply. “We’re closin’ in on the safe point so ah need ya to be ready soon.” The voice softened considerably, though the rustling and buzzing sounds were still prominent. “A’m sorry Twi but we’re caught. Someone snitched and they know.”
“No!” Twilight practically yelled, “No, tell me what happened Applejack. Tell me exactly what happened.”
Applejack sighed on the other side of the rock. “Some guards showed up at our doorstep and said they needed the castle's order early in preparation for the Eternal Night celebration because some supply wagon was ambushed or whatnot. I was suspicious but went ta get what we had when they started sayin’ they'd caught some of the raiders and the next moment Apple Bloom started shoutin’ that a whole platoon was comin’ up the hill. We got out of there fast as our legs could carry us. Also, didn’t help that we had two fugitives hunkerin with us I reckon. I’d say there’s about fifteen soldiers on our tail this minute. Sorry Twi. Looks like we’ve been found out. If they don’t know about you yet, they will within the week if anyone's been talkin’.”
Twilight stood rigid, her eyes were wide and her jaw trembled. Rarity wanted to say something, anything, to break the weighted silence that surrounded her. Princess Cadence, however, beat her to the punch.
“Applejack,” Cadence said calmly, “How many are with you? Who did you get out? If they came for you, they might take others.”
“No one,” Applejack’s voice crackled from the rock, “Just mah family, Zecora, and the two fugitives ah was talkin’ about. We left in a hurry like ah said.”
“Alright,” Cadence replied, though Rarity couldn’t miss the hint of sadness in her voice, “That will make our job simpler I suppose. Spike, go get Shining Armor. Twilight, Rarity, come with me, please. Applejack, we’ll be ready in five minutes.”
That seemed to snap Twilight out of whatever daze she had gone into, and she followed Cadence with a tall posture, still talking intently into the rock.
Rarity didn’t listen to the rest of their conversation, however, as she followed the two down the sparkling hall. Her mind swirled with all the information the little rock had given her.
Applejack.
She knew that name. In a time before the sun set, she knew that voice. She distinctly remembered a rambunctious freckled face splashing dirt onto her coat and sharing her apples. She couldn’t picture the filly she had practically grown up with becoming one of these secret rebellion leaders. She would have never pegged little AJ as somepony who would grow up to fight tyranny. But, she mused, she never pegged herself as one either, and here she was.
Her musing was interrupted as the two ponies in front of her stopped. She had been so caught up in her own mind that Rarity hadn’t noticed the group entering an entirely different room and closing the doors behind them.
The room they were in was a plain round room with an intricate spiral-like design painted onto the floor. Cadence and Twilight moved into two circles and Cadence gestured for Rarity to step into a third. Rarity hesitantly complied and looked at the other two in confusion. “May I ask what we’re doing?”
“A high-level teleportation spell,” Twilight told her, cracking her neck and spreading her hooves out, “We need a couple unicorns and this rune circle to get seven ponies from the Everfree Forest to here.”
“What!?” Rarity’s eyes widened. “I can’t cast that strong of a spell!”
“That’s why we have the rune circle. You just have to shoot magic into the center,” Twilight growled, glancing at the door, “Where is Shining? We need him for backup.”
Suddenly the door opened and Rarity’s jaw dropped. In the doorway was Spike standing right next to the most amazing stallion Rarity had ever seen. His white coat, whiter than even hers, seemed to glisten like the crystals in the room. His silky blue mane fell casually over his face and framed a long, majestic horn that had a winding crack down the middle. The crack, along with a few scars dotting his muscular body, made him seem battle worn and rugged.
“Honey, I’m so glad you’re here,” Cadence greeted him and snuck a kiss as he walked past, leaving Spike waiting by the door.
Rarity felt her whole body drop. Of course, he was already taken by the princess. With her luck, what else did she expect?
“How many ponies are we teleporting?” Shining Armor asked, his deep voice making Rarity swoon.
“Seven,” Twilight replied, “From the Everfree.”
Shining grimaced. “That’s a lot of energy needed, are you sure I shouldn’t get Moondancer or someone else?”
“There’s no time,” Twilight snapped, “This should just be enough.”
Shining Armor sighed but did not walk over to one of the other circles. Instead, he went to stand beside Twilight, head bent to let their horns touch.
Twilight’s horn instantly started glowing with power and after a few minutes of the purple light growing bigger than Rarity had ever seen an aura grow she lowered her head and touched her horn to the lines on the floor. Shining maintained contact the entire time.
The aura flowed from Twilight’s horn and across the floor like water, staying firmly on the lines and bathing it in purple.
“Rarity,” Cadence called, causing Rarity to turn her eyes from the stunning display, “Charge your horn and direct the magic down through the rune. Just pour in magic, don't worry about casting a spell. Twilight will handle that.”
Rarity thought better than to question her at the moment and instead started channeling magic as directed. She gasped when she placed her head to the floor in an awkward bow-like pose and started to feel the magic sucking out of her. The slightly painful sensation of being drained almost caused her to cancel the spell, but she gritted her teeth and held her stance, knowing that drawing back now would shatter what little trust these ponies had for her.
The runes on the floor glowed a three-hued color as the magic from the three ponies was poured into it. Twilight lifted the rock still clutched in her hoof to her mouth as the raw energy started causing a breeze to pick up.
“Alright Applejack,” She said, not sounding strained at all by the spell, “We’re ready whenever you are.”
More rustling sounded from the rock before Applejack’s voice cut through. “Start it now Twi. We ain't there yet but if we wait we're gonna get a platoon comin’ along with us.”
Twilight hesitated. “That can't work AJ. If I start the spell without you already in place the runes will crumble. That's not even mentioning what will happen if one of you is only half way through.”
“Crumbled runes is good,” Applejack’s panting voice replied, “We definitely can't use this site again and what's behind us is just as bad as bein’ torn in half.”
Twilight bit her lip. “But…”
“Twi,” Applejack growled, “If ya don't start that spell now we ain't comin’. Period.”
“Fine.” Rarity felt a yank in her magic as Twilight squeezed her eyes shut. “I'm starting now. You have two minutes.”
“Thank ya Twilight. I'll see ya on the other side.”
Twilight snorted and Rarity felt another yank on her magic. It was almost like someone was trying to weave an intricate design using Rarity as the thread.
The wind steadily picked up speed as a ball of magic started to shakily form in the center of the room.
“Come on Applejack…” Rarity heard Twilight mutter as the wind started whipping her purple mane about. Rarity was silently grateful that her own mane was tucked safely in her bun.
The magic ball continued to grow brighter and bigger, with multicolored sparks bouncing across it. Just as Rarity thought it would surely collapse under its own weight, the ball abruptly shrunk down like a balloon being sucked of its air.
Light exploded outward, blinding all occupancies of the room. Rarity reeled back as her connection to the spell broke with an echoing snap ringing through her head.
Blinking, Rarity steadied herself and turned back to the center of the room, looking to see what had come of her efforts.
Sprawled in a large pony pile, paint falling around them as the rune crumbled, was Applejack’s almost familiar orange coat and brown hat.
There was a red stallion under her and an older mare off to the side that Rarity recognized as Applejack’s brother and grandmother respectively. A yellow filly lay on top of a Zebra mare and a familiar blue Pegasus was sprawled on top of Applejack.
Rarity’s mouth fell open. “Rainbow Dash?”
Rainbow stirred and blinked up blearily at her. “Wha… Rarity?”
Applejack shoved Rainbow off of her. Her hard gaze swept across the room until it rested on the pair of siblings, seemingly no worse for wear from the spell. “Twilight!”
Pinkie Pie popped up from behind the red stallion and pointed excitedly at Cadence. “Alicorn!”
Shining Armor took a step back, his eyes wide and his jaw slack. “Pink… Pinkamena?”
Rainbow’s eyes traveled behind Rarity and her wings flared wide. “Whoa, dragon.”
“It’s Spike, actually.” The drake corrected, rubbing the glare from his eyes.
“Did everyone make it?” Cadence asked, her brow coated with sweat.
“Eyup.” An extremely deep voice answered.
“Alright everyone, quiet!” Twilight yelled, ending the rapid exchange of greetings. All eyes turned to her and, with a scowl that could freeze Tartarus, she thrusted a hoof at Rainbow Dash and Pinkie. “Applejack, who are they?”
“The fugitives ah was talkin’ about.” Applejack rose and dusted herself off. “You sure this jump place is secure Twi? There was an awful lot of guards chasing us.”
“Yes,” Twilight said absently, “No one is able to track the teleport, especially with it being destroyed right after. Now are you sure these two are trustworthy?”
“They are,” Rarity spoke up, “They’re my friends. And I’d love to hear how you two became fugitives.”
“Hey,” Rainbow said, dusting herself off also, “I’m like eighty percent sure you are too now, and I’ve been scared for your life for the past couple of days so don’t go being mad at me.”
“Anyways,” Twilight interrupted, shooting a glare at Rarity, “I don’t even know if you’re trustworthy yet, so your word doesn’t mean a thing.”
“How about mine?” Shining Armor stepped forward from the opposite end of the circle and, with a grace that could only come with years of practice, bowed deeply to Pinkie Pie, “Commander Pie, it is an honor to meet you again.”
“Oh, I’m not the Commander,” Pinkie said immediately, “That was always Limestone. I was perfectly happy being Lieutenant.” There was half a second of silence before her brain caught up to what her mouth was saying and her relaxed posture suddenly became much more nervous. “Oh, oh. That’s not… I um…I don’t… please stop bowing. I… I really don’t deserve any title anymore. Or that much respect.”
Shining smiled and stood back up from his bow. “My apologies Miss Pinkamena, I’m just very happy to see you alive. Everyone assumed that Nightmare Moon had killed you when you never returned.”
“That would have been…” Pinkie started before her eyes locked with Rainbow’s and she swallowed her words. “I mean… yeah. I can see where you might have thought that.”
Rarity raised a hoof. “Excuse me. Is anypony else completely confused?”
A yellow hoof joined Rarity’s in the air. “Ah am.”
Everyone else ignored the two, and Twilight Sparkle, her face suddenly glowing with what Rarity could only describe as awe, trotted up to Shining and Pinkie. “Big Brother, are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Eyes wide as saucers she turned to Pinkie. “Are you the Pinkamena Pie? Co-Leader of the First Rebellion?”
“Um…” Pinkie said, rubbing the back of her head, “...yes. I mean… well… technically yes but…”
“Oh my gosh!” Twilight interrupted. A flash of purple light went off above her head and suddenly she was holding a notebook and a pencil. “I can’t believe you’re here. In my base! Oh my goodness I have so many questions. How did you survive? Everyone assumed you died and they even had a funeral and everything. How have you evaded Nightmare’s detection? What have you been doing these last couple of years? Do your sisters know you’re alive? Oh wait, tell me about leading the First Rebellion! What do you think caused you to lose? What would you have done differently? Oh! Wait wait wait, can you punch through rocks too? Is it true that you can predict the future? Oh my gosh will you sign Shining’s old uniform?”
Through the entire onslaught of words, Pinkie had been increasingly trying to back away from the babbling Unicorn. Twilight had stayed with her every step of the way, however, and now the Earth Pony was backed into the wall, looking for all the world like she wanted nothing better than to shrink into the floor.
“Hey, knock it off!” Rainbow suddenly cried, flying over to Twilight and shoving the Unicorn away from her friend, “Can’t you see you’re upsetting her?”
Twilight blinked silently at her before her face took on the standard glare. “Wait a moment, you… you’re Rainbow Dash, aren’t you?”
Rainbow blinked in surprise but kept her protective stance in front of Pinkie. “Yeah, how do you know me?”
Twilight’s face was slowly morphing into a look of pure rage. “I keep tabs on all of Nightmare’s personal guards. You’re practically one of her lap dogs, what right do you have telling me what to do?”
“I happen to be,” Rainbow said, poking Twilight in the chest, “The best friend of the pony you were harassing. I’m also nopony’s lap dog and don’t like to be accused of it.”
“Oh please,” Twilight sneered, “You’re the only Pegasus in Nightmare’s personal guard. What did you do to land that position, rat out your family as traitors?”
Rainbow shoved her nose into Twilight’s, causing her to stumble back a few steps. “If you ever dare say I would betray my loved ones again I’ll rip your horn out. I had that job to protect those I love and I don’t freakin’ care what you have to say about it, but you will NOT harass my friends.”
Twilight opened her mouth to retort but Rarity had finally had enough and jumped into the conversation with a cough. “Rainbow, darling, perhaps you shouldn’t threaten physical harm to our friend, Twilight Sparkle.”
Rainbow’s eyes widened and she took a hesitant step back from the Unicorn. “You’re Twilight Sparkle?” Her eyes went from her face to her cutie mark to her back. “You’re not even an Alicorn!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Again with the Alicorn thing. We should throw you in the dungeon on account of being insane, nevermind everything else you’ve done.” Her eyes narrowed and she took a step forward, poking Rainbow’s chest in return. “What have you done, hmm? What crimes have you committed in the name of protecting those you love? How many ponies have you killed? How many families have you ripped apart all for one or two ponies that are special to you? You’re no better than any of Nightmare’s loyal followers.”
“Twilight,” Shining hissed, stepping in front of Rainbow and pushing his sister backward, “that’s enough.”
Twilight hesitated, but eventually looked away, leaving the room with a heavy silence. Shining looked up from his sister and to the actual Alicorn watching the scene. “Cadence, this is your decision. Should we trust these new ponies?”
Cadence frowned, her eyes sweeping the room and settling on each of the three new fugitives in turn. “I say we take a vote. Who here deems these ponies untrustworthy of joining the rebellion?”
Twilight’s hoof instantly shot up, along with the red stallion’s, the older mare’s and Applejack herself. Pinkie’s almost went up too before Rainbow snatched it down.
Cadence nodded and they lowered their hooves. “Who thinks they are trustworthy and should be joined into our ranks?” Her own hoof dainty went up, along with Shining’s, Spike’s, Zecora’s, and a tiny yellow one.
“Apple Bloom?” Applejack said, turning to her little sister, “Ya think we can trust ‘em just like that?”
Apple Bloom stared right back, a hard, determined expression on her face. “Ah do sis. These are good ponies who just don’t want ta be hurt no more. We’re all in the same boat and it’d be stupid to reject their help because of how they got hurt in the first place.”
Applejack smiled and ruffled her sister’s red mane. “That was some wise words, little sis. Ah’m proud of you for thinkin’ this through.”
“Well, that settles it,” Cadence spoke up, smiling warmly at Rarity and her friends, “Welcome to the rebellion you three.”
More talking! There was a fight scene last time so I had to dial back all that crazy action. 
Once again, thank you to Shipmun and Blue_Paladin42 for being amazing editors.
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Yassssss!
MOAR!!!!
This is just getting good....
No. Please. Don't. Ugh.
Everypony CALM DOWN! Also I got a strong SpongeBob vibe from this
Hey there. Sorry I took so long to getting around to reading this story, but I have to say you ARE doing a darn good job on the exchanges, emotional content and future chapter set-up in all the right places. I will definitely be looking forward to more of this as soon as time and inspiration will allow.
Loving this. It will be interesting to get more info about Pinkie. I could see with the right motivation Pinkie could have many qualities that would make her an effective soldier and even potentially a leader if she was motivated to use her energy and skill in the right way.
It was also nice seeing Dash protecting Pinkie it fits their dynamic.
I find it really interesting how much Shining respects Pinkie (and by Proxy Twilight even if they cannot see that it is hurting Pinkie) Makes you wonder what she did to earn that respect. I can see Twilight being really disappointed with how Pinkie has been hiding in Nightmare Moon's court though.
That has to be one of the most unexpected lines in this storybso far and a nice injection of humor.
A great chapter sir love how everything is developing. I look forward to more
Shining Armor knowing Pinkie threw me for a loop, but you gave a good explanation. I like this chapter, I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.
Is anyone else curious as to whats happening to poor Fluttershy at this moment? It seems rainbow dash has forgotten about her.
I believe you mean "daintily".
Now the only one left is Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness.
Actually, adding on to my previous thought... They CAN'T trust Rainbow Dash.
Think about it, she turned on the whole of Equestria for a friends life, a friend whose life is still in danger. Whose to say given the opportunity, she won't do it again, it seems Fluttershy means the world to her after all. Until Fluttershy is safe, it would be folly to deploy her, and I don't think she would want to be deployed, because as long as Rainbow Dash doesn't act, Fluttershy is safe, as Nightmare would have no reason to lash out at her when Rainbow Dash was not around, unless she does it anyway out of spite, but then she would lose her bargaining chip.
So effectively Rainbow Dashes hooves are tied until Fluttershy is safe.
Twilight should cast a spell on RD to watch her memories or something, then she'd realized it was all true.
Cant wait to see more btw.
I just caught up with this story, and oh my god! I can't believe I forgot to track this story! Well, it's tracked now. Also favourited.
7213666 Puppies and kittens are cute, doesn't have to imply shipping.
7214048 You can fake memories, block them out, and throw distractions at anyone that tries to read your mind.
7213779
It's not a pun if "harmonious" is just the adjective form of harmony. They're the same word.
I'm really starting to dislike Twilight here
Looking forward for more. Maybe even Rainbow putting Twilight into her place because she is annyoing me really good even though I can understand her behaviour.
Well, I'm pretty sure Fluttershy is wishing she was dead right about now. If What happened to Pinkie is any indication, Fluttershy is not having a good time while the rest of them are busy joining the rebellion.
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Twilight is accusing Dash of the same crime her brother Shining Was once guilty too: working for the evil overlord to keep your beloved ones safe from her wrath. That makes her an hypocrite.
Wow, this Twilight is a grumptard.
I honestly expected the teleportation to end with at least one pony missing a leg. Glad I was mistaken!
At least they are all together again...
From the mouths of foals.
It's more likely than you think.
I'm glad Twilight doesn't have the most likable personality. It makes sense that she would regress a little, and if she was already the valiant peacemaker we all know, this story wouldn't have much of a point.
You're moving along really well. Despite supposedly not knowing what to do with this story, you've put a lot of good stuff in it.
At this point, as long as you come up with a good plan to finish (and how to get Fluttershy out of her mess), you can pretty much do anything you'd like with the rest!
I wonder if Starlight will come into this at some point. Each timeline must have had a Starlight that had stopped the rainboom, and then had to live in the world she created. Witness the horrors she caused.
7214701 jep, that's why I hope Rainbow will put her in her place. She had no right accusing her of anything when the life of loved ones are on the line. It would have earned a hit in the face from me.
There is something very awesome about Nightmare Moon calling Sombra a "young colt."
I added this to my favorites
Ugh twilight is really rubbing me the wrong way not that that's a bad thing a good character is'nt
Always a likable character. It's just ugh she is so anoying but anoying in a way I could defenetly see
Reble leader twilight to be like.
So any way grate story just you won't hear any complaints if twilight gets thrown in a lake or a sewer.
7215306 Not necessarily. I had always assumed Starlight (and Twilight) were taken out of the timeline once they did what they did. Otherwise we'd have an alicorn Twilight as part of this.
7220496 Alicorn Twilight technically was a part of this until she used the scroll again, the problem with time travel is that it creates paradoxes
I hope Twilight doesn't do anything foolish. For a moment I thought her and Rainbow Dash were about to throw down. Now that the votes over and the three are in I wonder what comes next.
I think Twilight's character is well-written here. In this timeline she never would have had friends or learned any of the lessons she's learned in the show. And if Shining Armor worked temporarily for NMM it probably means that Twilight was tortured as incentive. It makes sense that she would be very unfriendly to strangers,
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Really, you have experience resisting the invasion of telepaths such that you know this to be the case?
Well! This chapter revealed... a lot. Not much happened though. But a lot was revealed. Things are getting set up for something pretty big, not that the characters have even started planning it yet.
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Oh come on, this is basic rookie knowhow. It's like you don't even use 4 layers of aluminum foil on your hat.
Something tells me there's going to be a lot of tension between Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
7239096 Oh. I'm see your point
&
(Although if you're REALLY tyrannical you may not get overthrown (i.e. Stalin)).
been meaning to ask this since the last chapter but kept forgetting to.
Anyway, if twilight never got into Celestia's School because rainbow never did the rainboom, how the hell is Spike is this?
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Puppies and Kittens being cute doesn't make anyone blush.
Besides why would she find this Spike cute, when she was disgusted by Spike in this timeline?
7214285 Seems 7272718 got to it before I did. the story is following the timeline and showing what happens after Twilight leaves, but everything shown in the episode happens. And what is shown is Spike's interaction with Rarity, and Rarity's disgust with him and dragons in general. Why would she suddenly find him cute and blushing at that?
SO how did Pinkie hide the fact she was in the leadership of the rebels or why does Luna ignore that. It would seem dangerous. Or is there more going on?
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Presumably, Luna's reasoning was that if ponies see the leader of the last rebellion emotionally traumatized, broken, and grovelling at your hooves, then they won't be as eager to start the next rebellion.
Finally! A Fan Fic example!
so much answered, wonderwhat happens next.
Wow, neat chapter. Really wonder what happened to the three other sisters
Jeez, this was a lot of info dump.
Oh shoot not only the Crystal Empire return so does King Sombra
Yeah somebody rat us out
Sorry Rarity don't you hate it when it happens