Gorgeous Freeman’s Comment
As you bravely flee from Midnight through the collapsing time space, a part of you can’t help but feel nostalgiac. It’s been some time since you’ve fully fallen off the wagon and gone crazy with the world crumbling all around you.
“Woo Hoo, Woo Hoo, Woo Hoo!” you laugh madly, having been conscious for over three months and yet not needing to sleep.
Bugze, now’s not the time to lose it, Selena warns.
This is the perfect time to lose it! You snap back. Everything’s bucked and I really have no idea what I’m doing right now!
Then why are you running through all this chaos? Sombra asks as you see the drunks and Flim and Flam glitching in their movements.
Because we’ve got to keep our group together! I need to find B2 and Luna, but also PostCrush! They might be able to stabilize this or something! You think desperately as you yank Aria out of the way of the constantly exploding strength machine.
“What do we do Bugze?” asks Sunset as she tackles Flash and Wallflower out of the way of several thrown bottles from the speedy drunks.
“We’re heading to PostCrush! But look for humie me!” you call back to her as Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity scream and dodge a very ornery alpaca who is sometimes on fire.
“What are they going to do about this?!” Adagio asks hectically as the phasing in and out Ferris wheel nearly crushes her, Dash and Sonata.
“I don’t know, something?!” you say desperately just as Midnight teleports in front of you.
“GYAGH!” you cry out as she starts to charge a beam attack.
“Give me your half before we all die you stupid-AGH!“
Ello Calebero’s Comment
She cries out as a cart filled with burning marijuana plants strikes into her before phasing into a hay ride wagon, and one filled with ducks simultaneously.
“Ah, right, minionized Humbra trying to sell drugs to children,” you nod as you remember that particular loop in very vivid detail.
“Huh?” said human sputters.
“The security guards tackled you to the ground and beat the crap out of you,” you tell him as you round a corner where people keep screaming at a Flulk that isn’t there, enjoying games, and angrily shouting all at once. As you do, you come across B2, who is on top of the burning yet not burning Haunted House, holding onto the hand of a dangling Luna where a very pissed off bull bellows below.
“What’s gotten into Ferdinand?” Fluttershy asks in horror.
“Echo of when Sparkle minionized him. He broke Dash’s bones fairly quickly before the table turned,” you answer.
“He did what now?” Rainbow asks, but you ignore her as B2 struggles to lift Luna back up.
“$%#@, please don’t let me fall, please!” Luna pleads in desperation as the bull starts ramming into the building, causing it to rock.
“I won’t! I won’t let you go again! Never again!” B2 declares in determination as the flames continually phase around him. With the angry bull though, he can’t quite bring her up.
“Wallflower! Slap the bull in the nose!” you order.
“Excuse Me?!” she shouts in shock.
“It won’t be able to see you, it’s how we defeated it last time!” you shout as you push the scared teen forward. Apprehensively, with a stampede of rabbits all around her, she walks up to the angry bull who is still focused on Luna and Bugze.
“Eeeeeeee!” she cries out in terror as she slaps the bull on the nose which causes it’s eyes to widen, and for it to fall on it’s side in shock as it faints.
“Good work!” you clap the confused girl on her shoulder and look back as B2 pulls Luna back up.
“You…you saved me…” she says wistfully to him.
“Yeah…why wouldn’t I?” he says cheekily. This moment is broken though as Sparkle comes blasting in.
“Quit Running and Let Me Fix This!” she wails as B2 and Luna scramble off the building, avoiding the projectiles.
“Wrong Bugze!” you shout up as you throw one of the sentient stuffed bears from time loop 332 and shoot it with Second Law, causing it to collide with Midnight’s wings.
“AGH!” she cries out as the bear starts hugging her wings together, making her fall out of the sky and into the ball pit that Fluttershy and Adagio drowned in during one loop somehow.
“B2! Humie Luna! Get to PostCrush!” you shout at them over the roar of a phantom Flulk.
“Okay!” he calls back and you and your group continue running as Midnight bursts forth from the ball pit.
“BUGZE!!!” she roars as she flies right at you, but you fire another shot of Second Law behind you, causing her outstretched wings to be caught in the wind force and thrown backwards into a food stand.
Eventually though, you and your group do catch up to Su-Z and K-Lo, who are trying to run for their lives as well from a stage where Trixie continually plays the same lyrics like a skipped record.
“There you are!” you shout, startling them. “How do we fix this?!”
“Fix this?! FIX THIS?! What The Hell Did You Do?!” K-Lo shouts in anguish as a blimp keeps crashing over and over again on stage.
“I broke your stupid time thing you bucking premodonna!” you shout back.
“Why would you do that?!” her partner shrieks as Sonata clings to her arm asking for an autograph.
“Well excuse me for not being gentle with the thing that’s been looping me for Three Bucking Months!!!”
“Yeah, I mean, we only remembered the last one, but that’s kind of on you,” Sunset adds in support and K-Lo just pulls at her hair.
“It wasn’t supposed to go on that long! But the more we used it, the crazier and more out of control the situation kept getting! I kept looping to save everyone’s lives after awhile!”
“Yeah! You and that crazy demon girl were the ones setting fires to everything!” Su-Z adds.
“Well maybe if some stupid humie didn’t try to be such a prissy perfectionist, I wouldn’t have been in that mental state in the first place! Now, how do we stop this?!”
“I DON’T KNOW!” K-Lo shouts in anguish. “I only knew how to make it turn back time, I don’t know how to repair…This!”
“…Well Buck!” you curse as an after image of clown Pinkie eating people flashes.
“Okay seriously, what happened to me?!” Pinkie says in disgust and horror. You don’t get a chance to answer her though as Midnight suddenly teleports with her hands around her throat before she teleports high above the fair grounds with you.
“GACK!” you choke as your feet dangle to the madness below you.
“Enough! Give me the other half before time crunches in on itself and wipes all of us who remember the loops from existence!” she yells in rage and desperation.
“Is-GACK-Is that what’s going to happen?!”
“I Don’t Know! But you can’t prove it won’t happen! If I can just reforge the stupid thing though, then maybe this will all stop!” she yells as she starts trying grabbing at your pockets looking for your half, but you grab her hand.
“I’m not going to let you gain this power!” you groan out.
“Screw what you want! I want to live more than anything else right now! And I have a better chance of fixing this than you do!” she growls as she begins to squeeze your throat harder.
“I warned you!” you croak out as you use your other hand to take out the Boomstick and strike her point blank in the chest.
Puzzling Frost’s Comment
Down With Chrysalis’s Comment
Kichi’s Comment
The Pony Spartan’s Comment
megamanzero’s Comment
“AGH!” she grunts out as the both of you blast apart from each other. As you fall though, you see her half of the time artifact fall from her grasp. “NOOO!!!” she cries as she sails farther away and you head straight for the ground.
“Ah buck, ah buck! Selly! Can you like punch the air or something to slow my speed?!”
Physics doesn’t work like that Bugze! Selena yelps in terror as the ground gets closer and closer.
Well someone do something or we’re paste! Sombra hollers in alarm.
Gritting your teeth, you point your fist towards the ground and holler
“Would You Kindly Bucking Bronco?!” Since you’re making a fist this time, none of your fingers break, but your wrist still snaps in agony. “GGRRRAAAGGGHHHH!!!” you shout, but thankfully you are kept from the ground’s embrace in your Plasmid effect.
As you get out of your field, you cradle your broken hand as your human crew runs over to you.
“Bugze! Are You Okay?!” B2 asks in worry as Sonata and Sunset run up to your side.
“Yeah, I’m fine. You humans really need to drink more milk or something,” you grumble as they gasp at your wrist.
“Oh my goodness!” Sonata sputters.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! We’ll worry about it later. Now start looking for Midnight’s half of the artifact. She dropped it when I fe-“
You are interrupted as a great crackling sound comes from the middle of the carnival. Rising above the mix matched chaos, is Midnight’s hall of the pendant, only time energy starts to swirl around it like a tornado without the suction.
“I think we found it,” K-Lo says in despair as all the craziness gets even more insane. Buildings and stands, and even the looping people start to float as an eerie blue light starts shining from the center of the increasing vortex.
“I…I…I am so done with this alien magic stuff,” Luna says as she rubs her head.
“No offense Vice-Principal, but at least you didn’t get turned into a monster by it,” Flash says sardonically.
“Uh, can anyone care to explain what’s going on there?” Applejack asks trepidly.
“It’s a time vortex,” Sunset answers breathlessly.
“Right…and what does a time vortex do?” asks Rainbow Dash.
“It’s going to suck all of the collapsing time in on itself till there’s a singularity and then there will be nothing left of our universe!” Fluttershy yelps and you all turn to her. “…What? I’ve watched Doctor Who.”
“Ah, classic show right there,” Humbra says with praise.
“The new series has got some hits and misses,” B2 analyzes.
“Yeah, well first of all, it’s Doctor Whooves for the real unhumanized version, and secondly, he’s real in my world.”
“What?!” Flash, Fluttershy, B2 and Humbra shout in surprise.
“Yeah, he’s the guy that can help you three later,” you say looking to the Sirens, who are still a bit confused. “But we’ll worry about him later. Right now, I’ve got to stop that vortex before-“
“AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!” you hear Midnight scream. Looking up, you see her being chased by a horrifying, winged, bat like thing.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!” everyone, including you scream as the thing attempts to eat Sparkle.
“What the Tartarus Is That?!” Aria shrieks.
“It’s a freaking Reaper!” Flash bellows in panic.
“Huh?” Sonata asks.
“Basically a time cop, only with more dismemberment and biting!” you yelp as you see more exiting the vortex and coming towards your group. Still holding the Boomstick with your uninjured hand, you start swatting the things as they try to get at your group.
“Keep Moving Towards The Vortex!” you yell as you slap one out of the air.
“Why in the hell would we do that?!” shouts Su-Z.
“Because if we don’t, everyling’s gonna bucking die!” you yell as you charge forth, striking reapers left and right.
Of course these bucks had to be real as well. First weeping angels, then daleks, so why the buck not?!
As goes the story of our lives, Selena nods solemnly.
As more of the winged things emerge, you look up to the epicenter of the vortex, and it is high above the ground.
“You all, try to take some cover! I’m going to grab that stupid thing!” you order as you start parkouring up the floating stalls and buildings, although with difficulty with your broken wrist.
“Bugze wait!” Sunset calls out to you and you look back at your humie crew.
“I can’t! It’s now or never guys! Stay safe, and I’ll be back,” you promise.
“Ha! Terminator! Awesome things are just universal,” Humbra says happily as The Sirens look at you teary eyed, B2 holds onto Luna, and the Humane 7 look worried, but place their hands on Sunset’s shoulders. Even PostCrush seem apprehensive at your departure.
“Be careful you dumb bug, you still have to take us back home,” Aria says without malice and you nod at her before leaping to a floating trinket stand.
“Bugze!!!” you hear Sparkle call, and looking over, you see her blasting a Reaper and flying for the pendant as well.
“Oh no you bucking don’t!” you shout as you use the Boomstick to rocket jump from floating piece to floating piece, getting closer and closer to your goal. All around you, the time energy swirls and sways, causing the sporadic changes to the people and objects of the Carnival.
Cockroach, going into the center of something like this-
Is dangerous, yes I know Smokey, you think back as you springboard off one of the floating drunks.
Bugze…if we perish in there, I just want you to know that- Selena starts, but you cut her off.
“We’re Not Going To Die Selly! I Won’t Let That Happen! We promised Nightshade we would return!”
I…I see. Please don’t die, she begs and you steel yourself.
I won’t. Not here. Not now, because-
“I have a rendezvous with death.”
The thought chills you, but you push forward, jumping off of a Reaper and entering the swirling winds, just as Midnight does on the other side…
And then things get really, really weird!
“WwwhHhhWWWhhhhhaAAaaAaaaTt thhttteeethee BbbbbBBUuuuBBBuuuuccckkk!!!” you shout in distortion as your body ages and de-ages rapidly.
“Aaaaaaaaggggghhhhh!!!” Sparkle’s own distorted voice rings out as the energies pass around and through you. Looking at her, you see that in one step, she is an old grey woman, and the next she’s shrunken down and looking like a preschooler, yet she is still her own age at the same time.
“This is bucking weird!” you screech, and when you look down, parts of your torso just seem to be gone, replaced by static.
“It’s already starting! We’re being erased!” Midnight says in horror as her wings blip out of existence and she falls on top of the floating stage, because of course it would be at the center as well.
“What?!” you call out as your right ear dissolves away.
“I said-Oh Never Mind!” she grunts as one of her eyes starts to phase out.
Grunting in effort, you both slowly make your way towards the piece of the artifact, your coat billowing in the cosmic wind.
“Don’t! You’ll Make It Worse!” Midnight warns you, but you keep pushing on.
“It’s gotta be hard to make it worse!” you respond back.
“Don’t! You’ll Make It Worse!” Midnight shouts sounding confused.
“It’s gotta be hard to make it…worse?” you guess.
“Don’t! You’ll-Hey wait a minute!”
“It’s gotta…Ah heck we’re-“
“Don’t-AGH! I hate time stuff!”
“Mini loop! Agh!”
“Don’t! GRAGH!”
“That tears it!” you shout as you strike the stage with your Boomstick…and it works, you are able to move forward again, even though two of your fingers on your broken hand are now phased away.
How in the blazes did that work? Sombra asks in befuddlement.
When all else fails, just hit things really hard, you answer back.
As dumb as it sounds, he is correct. I’ve learned that the hard way these last four years, Selena nods.
“That is not scientifically sound Dark Female Voice! Stop accepting stupidity!” Midnight yells as her foot phases out and she starts hopping.
Don’t you tell me what to do smelly human! Selena barks back.
You both scramble closer and closer to the pendant, losing random pieces of you to the void, and in a mirror of when you both gripped it in the last loop, you reach the pendant piece at the same time. And once again, with you’re only using one hand.
“Let go!” Midnight orders and tugs, but you tug right back.
“No! You Let Go!”
“Are you seriously doing this right now?!”
“Yes! I’m not gonna let you get even more corrupted!”
“It’s not like those red stone necklaces those hussie singers have that I’m planning on taking, I need to fix this!”
“No! I have to fix this!” you tell sternly.
“You don’t know how! You’re a pathetic, idiotic, bumbler from another dimension!”
“Yeah, and that’s all true, but that’s exactly why I’ve got to fix it!”
“What?!”
“All of this, all of it stems from the fact that I came to this world. I got all of you involved in things beyond your comprehension, and it’s only because of me you became like this. You and I breaking this stupid thing is just the latest consequence of my actions.”
“So what?! The universe will be erased whether it was your fault or not. Let Me Fix This!”
“I can’t Twilight…” you say and she gasps when you call her her real name. “I’ve got to take responsibility for you as well. And if you fix this, you’ll keep it for your own. And believe me, I know personally what happens when you gather so much powerful darkness in your heart…”
Midnight seems to snap out of her desperation at that as unbeknownst to you, an image of The Nightmare flashes through her mind. With this distraction, you yank the half from her and quickly reach into your pocket and grip it against it’s other half.
“This is going to hurt,” you weep before you hold the two halves in your uninjured hand and say, “Would You Kindly Solder?!”
An intense heat goes through your hand, as your skin is cooked and smoke sizzles from your grip.
“AAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!” you shout in anguish, but you keep holding onto the pendant as the halves start to melt back together.
Oh good gods! Sombra says in surprise and disgust.
Bugze! Selena calls out in alarm and worry.
“Wh-What is happening?!” Midnight shrieks as bright, circular portals open up all around you, swirling with the vortex. And though your flesh melts, you can still see into the doorways to other worlds.
You see a world with Sunset Shimmer as an alicorn, a world that had Rainbow Dash as the student of Celestia, the dazzlings as cheerleaders, Applejack as a changeling, A killer Rarity, a world with Nightshade as Twilight daughter, where Pinkie Pie roamed the foggy streets of Silent Hill, and where Fluttershy lived in a post-apocalyptic world.
“Alternate realities…full of horses,” Midnight says with fascination as she also sees the many portals.
Through the pain, you see other images. You see yourself a child you being protected by a dark colored alicorn from fillies that look exactly like the Deadly 6. You see yourself as a wrinkled old bug with a cigar in your mouth, leading around a younger changeling in a bowler hat, and one where Sombra protecting Nightshade at the Grand Galloping Gala with a Nightmare Cloak.
What the buck is all this?! You think as you smell blood burning.
Echoes and possibilities… Sombra says in awe.
Things that might have been under other circumstances, Selena says, mouth agape. Or what might one day be.
As she says that you see a glimpse into a world where two creatures stand at a chapel together for a wedding. An older Spike, and a familiar dark colored alicorn filly all grown up.
OH BUCK NO! You grit your teeth. Not in my lifetime you squirmy lizard!
Outside of the vortex, the Reapers start to fade away, as even more portals spin and give glimpses into other worlds than these.
They see you using Rarity as a meatshield, then Pinkie as a meatshield, then Fluttershy as a different member of the Elements uselessly sticks up for you. They see images of an old changeling in a bowler hat and a young alicorn traveling with dragons, a griffon and other fantastical creatures. They see serene happy images of a changeling peacefully living amongst the ponies with that same alicorn.
"What the Tartarus is happening?” asks Adagio as she catches a glimpse of Starswirl in a Haywaiin shirt and she grits her teeth.
"Time and Space seems to be opening up glimpses into other realities,” Sunset says aloud.
“I don’t remember becoming a queen,” Aria says pointing at an image of the Sirens laughing historically from a throne with Starswirl and his friends chained at their fins.
In another portal they see a red centaur, the size of a kaiju destroying cities, and in another they see a blue goat laughing.
“Oh hey, it’s that fairy tale guy. You know, the one where that pony stole his bell?” Sonata asks.
“…How do you know pony fairy tales?” asks Sunset.
“Because our Dad was a traveled Siren and told lots of stories,” Aria says, sounding sad.
“…I really really hope one of these things just doesn’t open up into the endless void and let in the old gods or something,” Humbra says with a shiver and everyone looks to him.
“What? If The Doctor is real in another universe, what’s there to say that Chthulhu, Yog Soggoth, Beetlejuice, Hastu-“ he is cut off as Luna hits him with a newspaper.
“Don’t tempt fate you subpar drummer!”
“Hey!” he growls back.
“Whoa, wait a second, is that supposed to be me?!” Rainbow Dash says in disgust pointing to a rainbow haired horse in fancy frilly clothing.
“Hmm, for a pony at least that version of you dresses in style,” Rarity quips.
“…Why is pony me getting hounded by a lynch mob?” Flash asks, highly disturbed at a pegasus fleeing from a group with torches and pitchforks.
“Aww, look at the puppy,” Fluttershy coos as a Shibi Inu wearing headphones barks happily in front of a control panel.
And then they start to see not just other worlds, but the past, your past. They see you in your many battles against their counterparts, they see you setting flame to your surroundings, saving those in danger, and failing in your goals. They see you in your many stages of the Nightmare Cloak…and a chill runs down their spines.
“…Hot Damn,” B2 whistles, being very impressed.
Back inside the vortex, Sparkle looks at all of the images in fascination.
“Another world, filled with magic and mystical races. Infinite versions of them being shown because you’re at the center…”
You don’t answer though as you actually start to lose feeling in your hand as the cooking smell gets worse.
“GRRRRAAAAGGGGHHH!!!” you bellow out in pain and anger…and that’s when the last of the windows open.
You see Selena as Nightmare Moon, lording over her eternal night, Sombra, sitting upon a Crystal Throne in Canterlot, Discord reveling in the chaos of randomness that was once Equestria, you see a world where the Crimson Knight’s logo flies proudly from the top of Canterlot Castle, a world where the Hive has cocooned every living soul, you even see yourself, in full Nightmare Form setting fire to the world. Flashes from the other world go through you and the scar on your chest aches with phantom pain.
But worst of all, you catch a glimpse of something that makes your blood run cold. What looks like a cross between a changeling queen and an alicorn sits in the ruins of Ponyville. She is decked out in armor similar to Nightmare Moon’s, and a strange bedazzled scar peppers her chest. In her hooves, she cradles several objects. A red crystalline horn, purple, blue and red dragon scales, a frayed Cutie Mark Crusader cape, the singed Elements of Harmony, a tattered old bowler hat, a darkened and ripped Luna plushie…and a burnt and torn Nobody Cloak.
Time seems to crawl in that instance as the creature opens it’s eyes and looks right into your soul.
“Why did you all leave me…?” Nightshade asks, her heart broken and filled with darkness.
“NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!” you, Selena and Sombra all yell in unison as you will the fire to burn even hotter. The sinew, bones and muscle blacken to ashes as your weak human hand is pushed to it’s limit. This is the final push for the broken halves as they finally weld back into one, and all of the many and sundried windows disappear as the time vortex starts to get sucked into the pendant.
As some of the winds get sucked into the pendant, some pass through your blackened hand, and you feel some sort of energy pulse through your body. The pendant then lifts out of your hands, absorbing all of the energy back into itself and causing everything to start falling back to earth.
“AAAAAHHHHH!!!” Midnight screams holding onto you, still without her wings, but you just stare back up at the Pendant as it begins to pulse and glow….before it fades into nothingness.
…Huh, I kind of thought there would be a huge explo-
*BOOM*
A massive blast of energy explodes forth from where the pendant once was, and a massive white nothingness envelops everything before you and Sparkle hit the ground.
(~~)
“Here’s your ticket sir,” the booth girl says holding out your ticket.
You stare back at the human girl who has said that so many times these last three months, and you smile.
“Thank you,” you tell her as you take the ticket and turn to the others who are looking around in shock and confusion.
“Bugze!” Sunset and Sonata call out as they run to you, the others following suit.
“What happened? Did we fail? Are we still stuck in the loop?” Sunset asks frantically.
“Are we dead?” Sonata asks fearfully.
“No…no we’re not dead and I don’t think we failed…” you say as you glance around at all the normalcy of the carnival goers and your non broken/burned hands.
No we’re not, just like you said, Selena says with pride. Well done my bug.
Although my head hurts, which is odd since I don’t have a physical one, Sombra mutters.
“What happened?” asks Fluttershy.
“I…I fixed the pendant and then it kind of sucked into itself,” you say with a shrug.
“And Sparkle?” Sunset asks apprehensively.
“I…she’s still out there. Without the pendant now though, there’s nothing to stop her from getting. Besides, I know practically every move she could make this day.”
“So…it’s over?” asks Aria.
“I think so…” you say as you look around for any sign of Midnight.
“Sooo…what do we do now then?” asks Adagio.
“Yeah, I mean, I bet you’re sick of this carnival huh?” Rainbow adds.
“Oh tartarus yes I am,” you nod. “But on the other hoof, I think we should go see PostCrush to get your stupid autographs. They owe us that much.”
“Heck yeah!” Pinkie cheers.
“Ah Crap! Nimmy’s already inside!” B2 says in alarm as he grabs Humbra and drags him into the gates.
“Hey! What are you-“
“We are having a band meeting long overdue!” B2 says in determination as they rush through the crowd.
“…Well I guess he’s in the spirit,” you shrug and look to the rest of the girls. “And all of you, maybe involve Wallflower in some activities? Someone who goes ignored for so long might one day lash out.”
“Heh, sure think partner,” Applejack agrees.
“Just…just go out and enjoy yourselves,” you tell the group and look to the Dazzlings and Sunset. “You four, I’m going to do this one last time, so let’s start with that stupid picture with the Panda.”
“YAY!” Sonata squeels and runs towards the mascot.
Just then, you get a text message and you pull out your phone, and surprise surprise, it’s from the twisted supervillain.
Alright Bugze, you win this round. I am done with this day! I’m glad you’re not dead and stuff, but nothing’s changed between us! When another big influx of magic rears it’s head, I will be there to collect. So stay out of my way!
Yeesh, even after all of that she’s determined to be the villain, you shake your head and sigh.
Old habits die hard my bug. It took me well over two years, Selena points out.
That’s because you’re a quitter, Sombra insults and she rolls her eyes.
Yeah, but even still Selly, these last three months, she was really the only one that shared in the experience with us. Many of those times when we became lazy…I saw glimpses of the real Twilight personality peaking through.
You sigh again and look around.
But I’ll deal with that another day. She’s right, let’s just get this day over with once and for all.
You then get another text message from Sparkle and you look at it.
P.S. Thanks for the parting gift :P
“…Parting gift?” you say aloud before your eyes widen. You open up your inventory and search through it, but something’s missing.
“SON OF A BUCK!” you shout out loud startling Sunset and the Sirens.
“What? What is it?” asks Sunset.
“She Took The Freaking Prototype!” you yell, remembering the last moments in the last loop when she was holding onto you.
And as you rage and kick an empty can you’ve kicked countless times before, and Midnight chuckles, clutching her precious device as she has Timber Spruce drive as far away from the Carnival as they can get…something happens unnoticed.
A strange crack in the wall near the entrance of the Carnival opens up and starts to eerily glow an odd rainbow color as a nearby parked bike vanishes...
In Equestria
“…Bugze?” DWC says aloud with a gasp as he feels a flicker of his mistress’s target. He then smiles cruelly. “So…that’s where you’ve been…”
In Ponyville
Time Turner, inventor extraordinaire, feels a shiver go up his spine and stops in the middle of one of his experiments.
“What’s wrong honey?” his wife Ditzy “Derpy” Do asks noticing his reaction.
“…I don’t know. I just felt like something was…off,” he says confusedly as he subconsciously reaches for a pocket watch that isn’t there.
“O-oh, really?” Derpy says nervously afraid that he might wake up.
“Yes…perhaps working on this mechanized bowler hat that Quick Fix fellow commissioned has gotten me more tuckered out than I thought,” he says as he takes a bite of what he thinks is an apple before his face scrunches up and he realizes it’s a pear. “What?! Ew! Rubbish!” He then chucks the offending fruit out the window.
“Oh sorry, I think Dinky left that in here,” Derpy apologizes with a giggle as her husband starts to eat butter to get the taste out of his mouth.
“Yeah, well my daughter deserves something better than such grossness,” he gags as the lingering taste of the fruit still sits on his tongue.
“Where is she anyway?”
“Oh, she’s off saying bye to her friends. They’re leaving for the Games today,” Derpy says with a cute smile.
Ponyville Train Station
POV CHANGE: Nightshade
“Ahhh, I’m so excited! I can’t wait!” Applebloom hops up and down in place.
“We’re going to be seen by so many ponies!” Sweetie Belle squees.
“Yeah, and we’ll have a front row seat to all the events!” Scootaloo cheers.
“I hope my mane is Okay, is my mane Okay?” Silver Spoon fusses worriedly.
“Yes Silv, it’s fine, the question is, is my mane Okay?” Diamond Tiara responds.
“It’s not a beauty contest girls,” Spike says with a chuckle.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it girls, we all look fine and dandy,” you say with a smile, wearing your concealing vest.
“You said it cuz,” Appelbloom nods and slaps your shoulder. “We’re gonna bear those flags like nopony’s ever beared before.”
You smile at that and look to all of your friends, happy and carefree and ready to be apart of the biggest sporting event of the year.
You look over at Grandbuggy in his pony guise standing proudly next to Granny Smith with a grin on his mug. You smile at that before you sigh and pat at the shards still embedded in your chest under the vest. There’s still been no word on your Dad and Mom from Jack, and while you’ve been able to keep your mood swings in check, they still happen. It helps when your friends are around though, especially Spike. Although at the same times, he can be the cause for many of those swings…
Shaking your head, you look back over at Grandbuggy who is now speaking with AJ and Fluttershy conspiratorially. From what he, Ahuizotl and Daring have gathered, only Umbrum magic can free the shards from your body, and since Sombra is still with your parents in another dimension, it’s time for Plan B. Being a flag bearer with your friends is just a benefit to going to the Crystal Empire once more. That, and Jack also has the machine finished, that too.
And as the rest of the Deadly 6 show up and Twilight smiles at you warmly, you can’t help but feel how in only three months, so much has changed…and yet not changed enough.
3 Months Ago
You currently sit between Granny Smith and Grandbuggy, while the rest of the Outcasts sit around the table, along with Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Zecora, filling in two others about your secret.
“And so, they’re gonna be staying with us from here on out. They’re our family, so it’s up to us to keep them safe, even if that means lying to the princesses,” Granny Smith says with authority.
Applebloom and Big Macintosh look absolutely gobsmacked by the news, with the older stallion taking it particularly hard.
“T-T-T-Tenant’s our kin?” he stammers and you’re surprised to hear even those different words come from his mouth.
“That’s right, as is this precious little filly here,” Granny says giving you a squeeze.
“Bu…He…” he points in shock at the undisguised Grandbuggy.
“You don’t have to be so nervous kid. I’m not your Grandpappy, I’m just your Grandma’s first lover,” he says cheekily and Big Mac turns a bit green.
Applebloom though has only been staring right at you this whole time with the dopiest look on her face.
Oh Dear Luna, I hope this news doesn’t affect our friendship and-
“Shade…We’re Cousins?!” she shouts excitedly.
“OHHHH YAAAAY!!! It’s like I got another sister!” she cheers as she rushes over and hugs you. “Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Best Day Ever!”
You smile and hug your family right back.
“Buck Yeah It Is!” you laugh.
“Hey! Language Little Lady!” Granny scolds you and you shrink.
“Oh, right, sorry…”
“I…But…Dragons…Ahuizotl…” Big Mac keeps gasping looking at all the strange creatures in the room.
“Yo,” Ember waves trollishly and Fluttershy shrinks down in her chair a bit.
“And a good day to you senor. I can assure you, my character is grossly misrepresented in Daring’s books,” Ahuizotl says to your big red cousin.
“Uhhhh…” Big Mac still says dumbly.
“It’s not that hard to understand big guy, we’re all chill,” Greta pipes up. “I mean, except for Gar Gar here.”
“Hey! Only my sister gets to call me that!” he growls back and Fluttershy shrinks under the table even more.
“…” Big Mac continues to gape at everything until his sister walks up to him.
“Believe me Mac, I know the feeling,” Applejack says as she pats his shoulder and looks at everyone.
“…Granny, I’m alright with protecting kin and all of that…but how do explain all of this to the others without them wanting to take her away?”
“Yeah! I mean, thanks for including me in the conspiracy and everything, but what about Dashy and Rarity? What about Twilight?” Pinkie Pie adds.
“And, um, what do we do about when Bugze does return…?”
The gathered cabal all start to look around at this and you add your two cents.
“Also, how in the bu-Heck do I get this stupid thing out of my chest?!” you declare pointing at the shards.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Okay, people, we gotta include:
Nightshade meeting the rest of the CMC and Spike again, possibly the other Mane 6 too.
Flight to the Finish (Get to take part being the Flag Carrier)
Power Ponies (See the Royal Sisters' castle for the first time, Nightshade and Spike shipper here obviously)
Bats! (It's just a fun concept for people)
Meet the Friendship Tree
Three's (Four's) a crowd (Where we meet Cadence and Discord again, trying our best to keep our secrets from Twilight)
Twilight Time (More Twilight bonding)
Somepony to Watch Over Me (We double the mess Apple Bloom makes, and meet the Chimera again)
For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils (Semi CMC episode, plus we might see Luna)
Leep of Faith (Flim Flam brothers return, let's not do another Trixie, plus more Apple Family bonding)
Inspiration Manifestation (We help Spike find the old book in the royal sisters' castle, see the castle again, and we can have a fight with Nightmare Rarity, which can go many ways, including having her (And Sweetie Belle) being the 4th Element of Harmony learn our secrets, who knows, she could remove our shard too with the dark magic, but personally I think we need Sombra to do it.)
Equestria Games (Another Spike Episode, but more importantly to finally do our Flag Carrying)
Edit: These are just what I think we need to include, the other episodes are great too though!
I think that Bugzee should try to make the best day ever for his friends and his counterpart now that the loops are over, hope that I remember.
-----
"Also, how in the bu-Heck do I get this stupid thing out of my chest?!” declare Nightshade pointing at the shards.
Nightshade begin to think about what could they do to take out the shards, while Grandbuggy began to talk with Granny Smith about his misadventures and Applejack keep watch over the others.
"I still think we should talk with Twilight, I mean, even if Nightshade is family... What about the others? Heck, how in Tartarus did you end with Ahuizotl and a couple of dragons, and whatever those shards are, if they are that bad, surely the elements of harmony could take care of them" Say Applejack as she was looking at Nightshade
"She is going to tell Celestia that will appear with a legion of guards to take all of us in some cage and take out the key... I trust more Discord that her, even when he brainwashed all of you" Say Grandbuggy to Applejack
"But how the heck did all of this happen?" Ask Applejack
"If you stay quiet and let me tell the story, you will know... Now, where I was?" Ask Grandbuggy
"I think you mentioned the part of him using the white pony as a shield" Offered Greta
Meanwhile Pinkie was with Ahuizotl and the dragons talking without stop and from what it could be seen, they were simply nodding without paying too much attention, something that Nightshade knew was going to bite them in the ass in the future.
"I wonder if a doctor could take them with surgery?" Mutter Nightshade only to imagine the doctor that her and his daddy meet a couple of times with a chainsaw ready to operate her while she was tied.
"Let's leave it as plan... Never... Maybe Applejack could break them with a powerful kick?" Asked Nightshade only to imagine Applejack kicking the jewels and them enter in the body transforming her in a monster that tried to hurt her friends.
"Okay, that is not going to work..." Mutter Nightshade as she shook the head trying to get the idea out.
"Maybe Discord could help? if Miss Shy is right, he is reformed... Wait, what am I thinking? Asking him for help is like one of those stories of selling your soul to a devil of Tartarus or a genie that give you wishes that end doing you bad" Say Nightshade.
-----
If this is the last season, they deserve to explain everything. (Unless someone volunteer for a season 5)
Wait so if a year is a thousand, three months is 250 years. Something is broke here
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I could guess that the element of magic managed to align the time so that Equestria and Human world go 1:1
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*Nervous Ahuizotl and Greta whistles*
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I am very lost.
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Yes, ALL my yes for these idea. The idea of having Nightsahde bond with everyone is adorable as hell, and can lead to some friction between the Elements and...well everyone else if they all find out the truth. Gonna be a mini pony Civil War ala Avengers stlye at that point . And oh the ideas for Nightmare Rarity...ohohohoh I'ma have some fun with that
Also, Nightshade and Spike all the way. It's adorable and the idea of Bugze returning to Equestria only to see them dating (or at least getting close to it) amuses me way too much.
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I like to see it like this: A whole reality close to another that has had very little magic before suddenly starts getting random surges of magic. Like huge amounts of the stuff. Add in time almost collapsing (literally), then the borders of the reality are bound to be damaged or weakened. Fear the crack in your wall, who knows what's on the other side.
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I can't help but feel like once Grandbuggy finishes explaining what's what with Bugze, Applejack would have some newfound respect for him. Like she's still gonna punch him in the face at least once (and she'll tell that to Grandbuggy's face too) for all the crap he put her through, but she'll be very less hating of him. She'll agree that some of what he's done was justified, and that maybe she and the Elements could have handle some of those situations (their first encounter, Appleloosa, the Gala, etc/) better, but that Bugze isn't completely in the right either. Which Grandbuggy can agree with and even support the fact that, yeah Bugze would agree with her.
Also, I expect Pinkie to be crying at the more...depressing stuff and to get into angry Pinkie mode if Grandbuggy brings up what happen to Bugze during his childhood at the Hive. Also general awe from all those around when the season 3 finale is brought up.
Also also, Applejack can't help but feel he's leaving something else...which he is. He left out all the information about the Nightmareverse (can't remember if he knows what happened there or not) and she questions him on what he's leaving out. He tries to deflect, but Pinkie brings up Bugze's scars and how freaked out he was during the season 3 opener. She keeps the Pinkie Promise she made to Bugze by not mentioning he was El Hunko, but that she just ran into the Offender at the Crystal Empire before Smokey Joe showed up. She gets less proofy haired when she talks about just how terrified he was...of himself much to Applejack and the others confusion.
Grandbuggy has enough and tells them its not his place to tell. Those scars are his reminders of something he never wants to happen again, and that's all he says.
Smiling and waving, (you've been doing that a lot lately,) when passing ponies you recognized, you trekked to the Golden Oak Library, to find Ms. Twilight and Spike.
Your Grandbuggy wanted to come with you, scared that the young Princess would do something reckless, but you managed to persuade him not to and to trust you.
Now standing on the doorstep, you knocked a couple of times, waiting patiently for somepony or dragon to answer. Minutes passed, and you didn't hear any steps from inside or any voices.
"I guess they're probably busy because Ms. Twilight's a princess now." You said to yourself. "They wouldn't mind me barging in on them though, they might be too excited than mad." You pondered, opening the door.
That's when it hit you, it was a library.
Slapping yourself on the forehead, you insulted yourself quietly and made your way in. Looking around, it felt like forever since you last saw this place. It looked great as ever, with the many bookshelves in the tree's brown bark filled with so many books you'll never read! It was so... nostalgic.
You then eyed a book on a reading stand, it looked colorful. In fact, it was the same shade as your fur. After walking up to it and getting a closer look. 'The Powers of the Nightmare, by Princess Celestia.' Your fur started to stand on end as you realized it was an ancient book about Nightmare Moon, but even more than that, it was about the powers of Nightmare.
Your eyes went downwards to some small text, "From the Canterlot Archives." You read out loud. "This must be in Princess Celestia's library then."
Celestia gave Twilight permission to study on what Nightmare Moon, AKA You, could do. No doubt about it. Now that she was out there, and Flash recently encountering her. You shivered, not wanting to think about fighting Ms. Twilight because of some stupid misunderstanding and this shard. But you also couldn't deny it would be a cool fight.
"Spike! Twilight! You guys here!" You turned away from the book and called out, with no answer returning. "Hmm..." You then decided to go up the stairs to Twilight's study, thinking perhaps they were working on something.
Trotting up the stairs, you take sight of a sleeping drake, resting his head on Twilight's study desk with drool escaping his mouth.
You were smiling, so happy to see him after all this time, smiling so hard your face started to hurt. You stepped forward, trying not to make a sound, and got next to him, beginning to hear the soft cute snores he was creating.
"Hey, Spike!" You whispered.
The dragon mumbled something incoherent while shifting his position a bit. Then he said back, still asleep, "I'll get them done in a minute Twilight..." Then started snoring again.
You giggled. Then looked over to what he was working on for Twilight. There were a bunch of documents, all related to Twilight's ascension to princess hood.
You felt a bit bad for your friend, having to do all this hard boring work while you were out having fun adventures. Beaming, you decided to help him out, taking the documents in your magic, you placed them on the floor (since Spike was occupying the desk at the moment,) and also took a pen, before sitting down on your haunches, and looking through them. "I'm a Princess, I should be allowed to do this." Then a thought came to you, and you tapped the pen to your chin twice. "Wait, since Twilight's a princess, does that mean Spike's a prince? Since he's her brother? Or was it pet? It better not be, no one will belittle my Spikey."
Almost One Document Grind Later
You were nearly done, this stuff was easy. First and last name, date a birth, gender, race, blah blah blah. It was all sitting on the desk in front of the still sleeping Spike anyways.
All that was left was to put a signature at the bottom.
...
...
What's a bucking signature?
Raising an eyebrow at a new stupid word, which there were A LOT of in these documents, you quickly read through the fine print that said you must be related to royalty or significantly close to one.
You were about to head outside to ask a random pony what a signature was when Spike started sleep talking again.
"...i...h...d"
You looked up to him, wondering what he was dreaming about.
"Nig...ade." A smile came to his face. " Hi... Night... shade."
Your mouth opened in shock, and a blush came straight to your face. But for some reason you weren't embarrassed, you were smiling like a stupid mare gushing over a strong stallion.
Giggling again, you couldn't stop your excitement from making you shout, "Spike! Wake up!"
"AHHH!" He yelled and tipped out of his seat, falling on the floor, landing on his side. Getting up quickly, he yelled. "Twilight! I'm almost finished give me five more... minutes?" He looked at you, who was still smiling happily. thinking he was still dreaming.
"Nightshade?" He asked no one in particular.
You just stood there stupidly, your smile not as wide but you didn't know what to say. So you just said, "Hi, Spike! I'm back!"
He looked at you, before getting up and walking over to you, until he was a step in front of you. Then pulled you into a big hug.
You hugged back, as tight as you could, nuzzling the side of his neck. And this time, like other times, he didn't complain that he couldn't breathe. Instead, he hugged you back harder, giving you hints of loss of oxygen.
"It's really you..." He said happily. "I knew you'd be back someday, Nightshade!" He exclaimed, pulling away from the hug and looking at you for real this time. You both smiled at each other.
Now you both were sitting on Twilight's bed, right next to each other.
"It's been a while huh." You noted.
"Yeah. next time you disappear I might not even care." He said cooly.
You giggled. "Oh stop! You'd probably be so sad you wouldn't even eat cake for weeks!"
"Months." He corrected.
"How have you been?" You asked, wanting to know what you missed.
"Well, other than some small mishaps here and there, and Twilight turning into an alicorn, not that much. Even then, that's probably not that impressive since you're..." He trailed off, gesturing towards you.
"Oh yeah, you know about that." You said. "It kinda is a big deal though, there's only what, six alicorns in the entirety of Equestria?"
"Um... five, including Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight, and you... oh wait, then there's Nightmare Moon, who's now a filly an-" He stopped and stared at you.
Your heart dropping, you quickly try to find an excuse to not screw this whole reunion up. "Wait! I know what you're thinking! I'm not Nightmare Moon!"
"Nightsha-"
"I know it seems so obvious, but really!"
"Nightshade."
"I mean sure, some of the things that ponies said that was her was my doing, but that doesn't me-"
"Nightshade!" He shouted, ending your antics.
You stared at him in the eyes, and he looked understanding.
He sighed. "I know it's not you, and I know it is you. Now that I think about it."
"Huh?" You raised a brow.
He rubbed his head. "I kept it off my mind all this time, not wanting to think about it. Plus the whole thing with Twilight was distracting me, and that whole debt I owed to Applejack, He looked towards you. "That was you, the one they're saying is Nightmare Moon's new body."
"How'd you know?" You asked, sheepishly. Not trying to make up excuses anymore.
"When I heard it from Twilight. 'A bratty dark filly with immense power.' Is what she described, and I thought of you." He said.
You put on a hurt face, your ears wilting. "You think I'm a brat?"
"No no!" He said frantically. "It's just... with the whole Trixie thing, being mad at her and all. Also what you did to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, your anger can get too high sometimes." He explained. "And I know you're pretty strong for a filly, we fought Sombra together, right? Plus your duel with Trixie was really intense!"
You nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."
"And you weren't in Ponyville anymore, so I put two and two together, and I hoped I was right and wrong. It would mean you were safe and sound and with friends, but it would also mean that you were being hunted..."
You nodded again. "It kinda sucks. My grandbu-pony got caught in the middle of it, but we're alright now."
"That's good."
"But... there's also another reason why I seem like such a brat and threat." You say, before lifting your scarf, revealing the amulet shards.
His eyes widened. "Is that what I think it is?" He asked, aghast.
"Yup." You say with a sad smile.
"H-how?!" He put his claws on your shoulders and looked at you with worry.
"It's... a long story." You say, flashing back to the monster at that small trade shop, and that blue pony you nearly... yeah. "I don't really want to go into detail right now, but believe me when I say it's complicated."
"No spit..."
"I was gonna ask, you like gems a lot. Wanna eat the shards?"
Spike let go of you. "I'm not eating it out of you." He said sternly.
You giggled. "I know, I'm just kidding. I already showed Zecora, so, for now, I just have to wait."
He looked over it once more, grimacing a lot as he did. "You gonna be alright?"
"I'm more scared of who's around me, Spike. Whenever I'm around friends and family I should be okay, but if there's anything small that might upset me... it's scary."
"Anyways," You continue, putting your scarf back on. "There's no point in wasting our time here! Come on! I have to show you my grandpony! He's so cool!" You say, getting excited.
"Okay!" Spike said, the both of you hopping off the bed. Then making your way down the stairs. "Wanna grab something to eat? There's a new banana chocolate cake that Pinkie invented at Sugarcube Corner, you have to try it!" He said, but then with one look at the study desk, he gasped. "I forgot to finish the documents! Twilight should be home in half an hour!" He shouted.
"Oh don't worry!" You said, waving him off. "I completed them for you!"
He turned to you, "You did?"
"Yup!" You said proudly. "You looked so cu- peaceful sleeping and I didn't want to disturb you, so I finished the work for you."
"Did you do them properly?" He asked, going over to pick up the documents and proceeding to look through them.
"Yeah, I followed everything on the table. Made sure everything was right."
Spike smiled. "This is great! Thanks a bunch, Nightshade I owe you a fortune!"
"It was nothing." You said, waving a hoof again. "But one question, what's a signature?"
Spike stared at you for a second, before bursting out laughing.
You frowned, "It's not funny!"
His laughter dying down, he explained that a signature was just your name in your handwriting. So it was proof that it was you you signed it.
"Good thing you didn't sign it though, it has to be me or Princess Celestia that signs it." He explained. "Or Luna and Cadence but I rarely see them that often."
"Why not me?" You ask, a flame making your wings appear, surprising Spike a bit. "Aren't I royalty?"
Spike giggled. "You may be an alicorn, but there's more to royalty than that. It more depends on who your family is. And unless your dad is a prince, you're no princess I'm afraid."
"Huh... I wonder if my mom's royalty then?" You ask yourself out loud.
Spike in turn shrugged. "Maybe." He checked over the rest of the documents. "Looks good, I'll sign these and we can be on our way. I really want to meet your grandpony!" He said.
"And I want to try that new banana chocolate cake!" You said, licking your lips.
So if Spike know a bit of the trooth about Nightshade, is he going to join the group?
If yes then both of them can have more together time. And maby we can give out some romance advice.
If no then is a 50/50 chanse that the SpikeShade ship will sail with out Bugs trying to sink it.
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He saw Nightshade at the Crystal Empire when the fight against Sombra was over. Apple Bloom also knows Nightshade's an alicorn when they found each other in the Everfree Forest I believe.
Okay, now I REALLY regret not being onboard during this chapter cause I could have commented this;
Uh, BrownDog, any chance you could add/retcon this part somewhere into this chapter as a favor heh heh...
Oh, BTW, yes this is the kinda-sorta, de facto, distant finale to my (On Hiatus/Cancelled) fic; Changeling See, Changeling DO'H Sorry, but this was my way of providing some sort of ending to the fic.
Also, for an episode arc I'd suggest "The Perfect Pear"
Nightshade and Applebloom run into Grand Pear kicking off the events of the episode, but when we visit the flashback scenes it turns out Bugze's parents (I keep forgetting if we named them) were also involved (in disguise of course).
Given Bugze's mother's tomboyish nature, she would hang out with Bright Mac and Granny Smith while Bugze's father (being a glutton) would hang out with Pear Butter and Chiffon Swirl at the bakery being a taste-taster (with the two trying to help him get with Bugze's mother). Naturally both try to help Bright Mac and Pear Butter get together, but Bugze's mom gets too gung-ho (like grandma, like grandaughter) about invoking Bugze's dad's knowledge of Romcom cliches (Bugze's mom tries to invoke the "Meet Cute" cliche, only she pushes Bright Mac too hard sending him bowling over Pear Butter, Chiffon Swirl, and Bugze's dad in the process).
This would provide a bittersweet way of telling that Granny Smith did get to spend some time with her and Quick Fix's daughter (Bugze's mother) after all.
NOTE: Bugze's mother is based on Kim Possible (Kim Possible) and Kushina Uzumaki (Naruto) while Bugze's father is based on Ron Stoppable and Henchmen 21 & 24 (Venture Bros) with hints of Grif (Red vs Blue).