Restoring A Great Loss

by PioneerofImagination

Search for the Relic

"If this is some sort of joke I can assure you the last thing I'll do is laugh, and the first thing I'll do is hurt you." Shining Armor said.

"And I can assure you that this is far from a joke. I'm well aware of your painful loss, but if you can help me get it back I can use it to bring back something you want." Kronos replied. Shining Armor didn't know how to respond to what he just heard sounded too good to be true, so it probably was.

"So if I had this relic I could use it to travel through time to wherever or I guess whenever I wanted?"

"Precisely." Kronos said as he continued to bow to the royal ponies who were rather at a loss for words. Shining Armor had more questions but became silent as the thought of seeing his sister again all but overwhelmed him. Not too long after that Shining Armor wished to discuss things with the other royal ponies who agreed.

"Kronos was it?" Shining asked.

"Correct."

"We need to talk about this for a minute in private. Would you mind waiting here for a bit?"

"All right but don't take too long time waits for nopony, at least for now." After that the royal ponies made their way out of the room to talk.

"Do you think he's telling the truth?" Shining Armor asked, hoping for his life that Princess Celestia would answer yes.

"While I won't deny that this Kronos character certainly has a shady side if ever there was, there are several spells that can allow somepony to travel through time."

"So we can actually do what he was talking about?"

"I don't think he was lying Shining Armor, but there was something about him."

"Yes I kind of saw it too." Cadance said.

"But if he's telling the truth," Shining Armor said. "If we can actually get this thing and turn back time then Twilight-"

"I know Shining Armor," Celestia interrupted. "You honestly think I didn't take that into consideration, you're not the only one that misses her. The idea of getting to see her once again, it might be worth the risk of whatever that stallion might be planning."

"Celestia I don't blame you one bit for wanting to see Twilight again, but what if this is some sort of plan to abduct royal ponies?" Princess Luna asked.

"That might be a possibility, but as I said before it might be worth the risk. Plus if I were to go and bring several royal guards with me that would make abducting me rather difficult." Princess Celestia then made her way back to the throne room where Kronos was waiting and asked to see the map. After Kronos did as she asked, Celestia brought the map to the others to see where to find the relic.

"According to this map the relic is somewhere in an area that is rather difficult to fly to," Cadance said. She saw it wasn't far from the Crystal Empire but having sent guards to explore past their borders a bit they reported back saying traveling beyond Mount Everhoof was rather difficult. "If you were to go with several guards, it would be hard to direct a big group there."

"So maybe we should just send one," Shining Armor said. "I've explored with those guards before so I know a thing or 2 about those areas, I've been pushing my magic to its limits and beyond lately. If that stallion is planning something fishy I think I'm overqualified to handle it."

"You may be right, I'm not exactly an expert on traveling or scouting." Celestia said.

"I should probably stay behind too," Princess Luna said. "If whoever goes does get into some sort of trap they can tell me about it in their dreams and I can get a rescue planned right away.

"Is it still a good idea to let him go alone though?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Indeed perhaps I should go too." Cadence said.

"Not a chance. You're with an unborn child, if you get in danger so will our future prince, or princess, can we tell yet?"

"We're going to let it be a surprise and that's final!" The royal ponies discussed for a little longer but in the end figured that having Shining Armor go alone was the best choice.

"All right, I'll be back before you know it, and with Twilight," Shining said with excitement but then got rather confused. "Or rather you won't because I'll change the past so I won't have to be back. But if I never went on the journey that I haven't gone on yet Twilight might not be back. So I have to go on this journey so I won't have to, and I just gave myself the mother of all headaches."

"Okay maybe you shouldn't go, how about we wait a while?" Cadance said.

"What? No Cadance, no time like the present, see what I did there?"

"Yes Shining Armor I got it," Cadance replied as she rolled her eyes. "But don't rush into this, okay perhaps we should sleep on it at least until your mother of a headache goes away."

"Okay Cadance." Shining said. The royals then informed Kronos that Shining Armor would be going with him but asked if he could wait until tomorrow.

"That is most reasonable. I've waited this long, I can wait a little longer," Kronos said. "I'll be waiting just outside Canterlot." Kronos then made his way out of the castle without another word. Cadence and Shining Armor then made themselves at home while at Canterlot castle and Shining Armor tried to find it in himself to say hello to Twilight at her grave, but thought it would be rather pointless since she'd be coming back soon. After a rather nice dinner prepared by Spike, Shining and Cadance made their way to one of quite a few guest rooms at the castle.

"By the way," Celestia said as she guided the married couple to where they would be sleeping. "Be sure not to mention any of this to anypony. If others learned about something that could alter the very fabric of time, it could tempt them to take this relic for themselves. And then who knows what with it."

"Yeah that's a good idea," Shining Armor said. "I've read more than my fair share of comics and if there's one thing I've learned it's that bad things happen to ponies that meddle with time. But perhaps some should be meddled with."

"Easy now Shining Armor I'd still like to sleep on it," Cadance said and that's what she did almost right when they got to the room. Carrying a foal can be murder on the legs, after a while Shining Armor joined his wife but couldn't really get much sleep as he had a lot on his mind. He wanted it to be morning so he could search for the relic, but he couldn't wait any longer. He got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, grabbing a bag with his magic and filled it with several items he figured he would need. Ready to go he made his way to the door quietly so as to not awake Cadance.

"Bye Shining," Cadance said from the bed just as he was about to exit the room. She didn't turn to face him or even open her eyes but it was enough to stop Shining Armor in his tracks. While about half asleep at this point she still knew her husband quite well. "Dress warmly."

"Okay," Shining said as he used his magic to grab a scarf and wrapped it around his neck. "I'll be back real soon, with Twilight."

"All right, be careful," Cadance said and even though Shining Armor didn't see it he knew Cadance was smiling. Shining then made his way out of the castle and eventually out of Canterlot. Even though Kronos said this was where he would be waiting, Shining was having trouble figuring out where he was and to his surprise he saw that he was sleeping under a nearby tree. Shining was about to approach and wake him up but his eyes opened up before Shining even got within 10 feet of him.

What is with this pony? Shining Armor thought to himself as Kronos got up and made his way to Shining Armor.

"Trouble sleeping?"

"No, well yes but it's because I want to come with you and I already made up my mind about it."

"All right then," Kronos answered as he began to walk away from Shining Armor. Shining Armor then started to follow Kronos. Shining Armor used his horn a bit to light the way and once he lightened up so to speak, he got a better view of where he was going.

"Wait a minute, this isn't the way to the train station."

"That's because we're not going to the train station. I tried to travel here via train but the station here has been closed down for repairs so it won't do us much good."

"Oh yeah." Shining Armor replied as recalled hearing about that earlier. The two traveled together mostly in awkward silence as Kronos wasn't much of a conversationalist, Shining Armor tried to start a conversation with him several times but Kronos just ended them before they hardly started. But Shining Armor didn't actually have all that much that he wanted to talk about. All he could really think about was his sister. The two stallions traveled together with Kronos making sure they were going the right way and would eventually make their way to the Neighagra Falls as Celestia raised the sun.

"According to the map we're about halfway to the Crystal Empire." Kronos said as he checked the map to make sure.

"I think it's the first time I've ever been to Neighagra Falls," Shining Armor said. "I don't have to use the bathroom but if I stare at those falls long enough I'm sure I'll have to." Shining Armor kind of looked at Kronos who didn't reply or giggle. "Because you know it's a lot of water."

"Just because I don't laugh doesn't mean I didn't get it." Kronos replied.

"Right." Shining Armor replied as he went over to the falls to get a drink and wash his face a little bit. Seeing that Kronos decided to do the same. After that they continued their journey but before long Shining Armor walked over to Kronos until they where walking stand side by side. "Since the sun is up we're going to have a better chance at fighting if we need to," Shining Armor whispered to Kronos.

"Is this about the creature that's been following us since we left Canterlot?" Kronos replied.

"You noticed it too?"

"Yes, though I have to admit whatever it is, it's doing a good job hiding."

"Whatever, you mean it's not a pony?"

"It might be," Kronos replied. "But I doubt it very much."

"So what are we going to do?" Shining Armor asked as he continued to whisper.

"I don't think it wants to fight, it probably just wants to wait until we fall asleep so it can grab the map to my relic."

"So what should we do?" And what the heck do you mean by your relic?

"Hard to say, I used to be quite the fighter back in the day but these days not so much."

"Well I think I may have an idea," Shining Armor said as the 2 stallions continued to walk together. Shining Armor seemingly continued to walk by Kronos but in fact he used magic to make a copy of himself that was the one walking with Kronos. While the real Shining Armor ran over to a tree and quickly made his way to the top to wait for whatever was following them. In no time at all he got himself into a good position and when he saw something sneaking around several bushes, he pounced on it and pulled it out of the bush. "All right now I got you you little, Spike?"

"Yes it's me, what's the big idea?" Shining Armor then dispelled his fake that was standing next to Kronos and let go of the baby dragon.

"Spike why were you following us, do you have any idea what I could have done to you?"

"Do you have any idea what I could have done to you?" Spike asked as he breathed a rather large ball of fire out of his mouth but making sure that it didn't hit Shining Armor. "Yeah, how about that!?"

"Okay okay calm down I see your point, but that still doesn't answer my question. Why are you following us?"

"Why else I want to go back in time too and help you save Twilight." Hearing that Shining Armor was rather shocking. "I overheard you all talking about it earlier."

"Spike, go home," Shining Armor said, trying to be nice.

"I figured that's what you were going to say, that's why I decided to just follow you. And no way I'm not heading back not when I can see Twilight after all this time if any creature deserves that it's me, I loved her more than anypony."

"Excuse me!" Shining Armor said rather offended. "I was her older brother. I knew her longer than you did, I grew up with her if anypony loved her the most it was me!"

"If that's really the case then how come you never visited her grave, not even once?" Spike asked as he raised a finger. "I visit her almost everyday and we never see you there." Shining Armor didn't know what to say as he could barely talk to Cadance or even himself about this, so how could he explain it to Spike.

"Excuse me," Kronos said as he got the attention of Spike and Shining Armor. "Are you planning on continuing our little quest or do you just want to talk each other's heads off."

"What about Spike?"

"Are you planning on attacking us at some point?"

"Uh, no." Spike replied rather confused.

"Then come along. Hurry up and don't fall behind." Kronos said as he got up and walked off leaving Shining Armor and Spike rather confused for a moment, but after looking at each other they ran to catch up to him.

***

After a while the trio made it to the Crystal Mountains where Kronos suggested they stop for the night. Shining Armor wanted to travel a little more because they weren't all that far from the Crystal Empire, but he was rather tired so he agreed. While it was a rather cold place to be Shining Armor put a bubble to keep out the cold wind from getting to them and Spike was able to make a fire. "Wow does that hit the spot," Shining Armor said about the fire as sat next to it.

"Bet you're glad I decided to come along now huh?" Spike said with a rather cocky smile.

"Yeah I am, you've really gotten better with that fire of yours."

"Yeah Princess Celestia has been helping me with that, she said Twilight would be amazed with how far I've come." There was a bit of awkward silence after Spike finished.

"Well if all this is true she'll be able to tell you that herself," Shining Armor said to break the silence.

"Yeah if," Spike said as he looked over at Kronos who was already fast asleep. "Do you think we can trust him? There's something off about him."

"Yeah I know but I think he's right about the relic so it's worth whatever he tries to pull."

"Plus between the two of us he wouldn't stand a chance. I'd burn him to crisp and you could blast him out of here like you did with the changelings. I think Twilight would have been amazed with you too."

"Thanks Spike," Shining replied which was followed by a not so awkward silence as they smiled at each other. Not too long after that they put the fire out and went to bed, neither of them noticing that Kronos was half awake listening in on them.

"Wouldn't stand a chance would I?" Kronos shortly went to sleep himself and in the morning the three quickly made their way out of the mountains, with a sled they forged from a dead tree not too far away from where they made camp. Thanks to that and Kronos's master steering they got to the Crystal Empire in no time where Spike and Shining Armor stopped for lunch. Kronos however wasn't hungry and got the other two to follow him out the Crystal Empire right away to continue their journey. The others kind of wanted to relax a bit mostly Spike as the Crystal Ponies all but adored him since he saved the place once or twice but Kronos got them to get going, some guards did provide a little transportation for the trio just passed Mount Everhoof.

"We're almost to where this relic is, right?" Spike asked after signing a few autographs for the guards and saw them leave with glee.

"Correct, but beyond this point are some rather vicious creatures that call the point home."

"Uh, how do you know that exactly?" Spike asked.

"This isn't my first attempt to get it." Kronos answered.

"Spike, maybe you should stay here." Shining Armor said.

"No way I'm sticking with you, for all you know I'll be the one to help you out." Spike said ready to head out. Shining didn't think it was a good idea but he saw that look in his eyes and knew he was determined to go. The three made their way past the mountain and in no time at all found themselves in thick snow, eventually they had to make camp one more time with Spike and Shining Armor doing the same routine. The next day they continued on but soon came upon several large and vicious looking creatures Spike scared a few away while Shining Armor forced the others back with his magic.

"Nice work you two," Kronos said. "But let's get moving before they come back with friends." The trio then went further into the mountains where it got colder but Spike made sure they stayed warm.

"I didn't think there was this much land that passed the Crystal Empire," Spike said. "We're going to get to the edge of the continent soon."

"Hopefully we'll find my relic before that, if not I hope you two are good swimmers," Kronos said and little after he did the trio came upon a crater with no snow in it as if unaffected by its environment. As they looked deeper they saw a crystal ball right in the very center of the crater.

"Is, is that it?" Spike asked as he ran over to grab it, Kronos tried to stop him but he was too fast.

"Yes yes it is." Kronos said.

"How does it work?" Shining Armor asked as he and Kronos got closer to Spike.

"I think it might work by thought," Spike said as he continued to hold the relic. "I mean there's not really any other way, there aren't buttons or anything. So if I just think about the last time I saw Twilight a little before-" before Spike could even finish that sentence the three were sent through a time vortex. When they reached the end they were at Canterlot castle at the time of the Changeling invasion. "Oh my gosh it worked!"

"Yeah it really worked!" Shining Armor said as he found he was placed in the exact same spot he was during his wedding and saw his sister alive and fighting Chrysalis.