> Time Dash
>  by Xz Hacker
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter One: “The Finish”
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash was soaring near her top speed, the finish line was in her sight. She chanced a glance over her shoulder to see if anypony had even come close to keeping up with her. To her surprise, the dark blue male Pegasus that hadn't said a word at the start of the race, was hot on her hooves, and not about to give up without a fight. Rainbow Dash pushed herself to the limit and put everything she had into a final push. She shot across the finish line with the blue stallion right behind her.
“Wow, you nearly had me there!” Rainbow Dash walked over to shake hooves with the stallion that could keep up with her.
He grunted, and walked away, obviously angered at his lost.
“Well excuse me. You should expect to lose with that kinda attitude!”
Fluttershy met Rainbow Dash at the finish line to congratulate her. “Rainbow Dash you were awesome.”
Rainbow Dash forgot about the sore loser upon hearing praise. “I know, right? I was going so fast, I'm surprised Mr. Grumpy over there could keep up.”
Fluttershy looked at the now flying away second place Pegasus. “Oh, shouldn't he stay for his second place medal? He did so well.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Let him go, there's no helping a sore loser.”
Rainbow Dash stood through the ceremony impatiently awaiting her third first place ribbon in the tournament she had been participating in for a month now. Only the top three racers from each race got to compete in the next race in the series. Rainbow Dash was on her way to a flawless victory. She smiled proudly as they pinned the ribbon on her and the crowd cheered.
Being the semi-finals, all of her friends had decided to attend. She flew down to meet them before they left back to Ponyville. “Hey guys! What did you think? Was I awesome, or was I awesome?”
There was a general murmur of agreement accompanied by the shaking of several heads. Pinkie Pie couldn't help but to express herself. “OH WOW! YOU WERE GREAT! At first, you kinda fell behind cause that one meany knocked you to the side. But you got up so quick. Then, right there at the end, that blue guy was about to catch you and you were like NOPE! And just sailed straight through the finish line like it was nothing!”
Rarity nodded. “Indeed, you did give us a show Rainbow Dash, but that stallion that got second came dangerously close to catching you there in the end. You might have to look out for him in the next race.”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “What? HIM?! Nah, I beat him no sweat. I've never even seen him before, and I know like, all the major racers.”
Twilight shook her head and levitated some paper from her saddlebags. “Actually Rainbow, it says here that he's been absolutely dominating his races like you. This is the only of his three races that he hasn't got first in.”
“You mean like me? Except I did get first in this race?”
Twilight rolled her eyes at Rainbow Dash. “I'm just trying to say if you've never heard of him, why is he so good?”
“I don't know, maybe he is from some far off town I've never heard of or something. Where did he go to flight school anyways?”
Twilight looked down at her papers. They contained all the bios on each of the racers. “Well you won't believe this, but he went to Clousdale with you. As a matter of fact both of your pages specifically mention that both of you went at the same time, since both of you are doing so well. They are calling you guys school rivals.”
“What? Let me see that!” Rainbow Dash snatched the papers from the air and began reading over them. Twilight wasn't lying. She read through and stopped and starred when she saw the stallions name. Her face got a confused look on it, then it got slightly angry.
Twilight looked concerned. “What's wrong Dash?”
Rainbow Dash tossed Twilight's papers off to the side, scattering them before they fell through the clouds they were standing on. “I need to go talk to someone.”
Twilight watched as the last of her paper sank into the clouds. “Hey, I had to pay for those!”
Rainbow Dash ignored her and went rocketing off in the direction of the second place winner of the semi-finals of Equestrian Grand Race.
She quickly caught up with him. He wasn't going nearly as fast as he was in the race, then again, who would? He looked upset and was actually flying exceedingly slow. As Rainbow Dash caught up she yelled ahead to catch his attention. “Hey! Streaky! I wanna talk to ya!”
He turned his head to see her following him and grimaced a little. He looked around and spied a nearby cloud and landed on it. Rainbow Dash landed seconds after. “Hey Streaky, I didn't recognize you in the race but my...”
He cut her off. “I told you in flight school not to call me that. My name is Fast Streak.”
“Yeah, I remember you wanting me to call you that now. Okay anyway, I wanted to catch up, see how you've been.”
He eyed her coldly. “Listen Dash, I don't care about catching up. Flight school was an unpleasant time, and you are a big reminder of how much I hated it.”
“Yeah, those bullies gave you about as rough a time as they did me most days. That's kinda why I'm here though Strea... I mean Fast Streak. You seem to have gotten a lot faster since flight school, I mean A LOT faster.”
Streaky shifted his weight to his left hooves and glanced off to his left. “Yeah, I've been training real hard, working my way towards this.”
Rainbow Dash glanced at his cutie mark. It was the all too common storm cloud with a lightning bolt. “I see you found your place as a weather pony. So, what are you doing working so hard for this tournament?”
He looked her in the eyes intensely. “I'm doing this to prove to myself that I can, to prove to all those bullies back in flight school that I could be fast too. And in three days when I take first place, they will all see.”
Rainbow Dash eyed him. “So what kinda training have you been doing that has given you such dramatic results? I mean, no offense, but you were one of the slowest in flight school, and now...”
He glared at her. “You're just like them, you may not have called me names, but you still thought the same things. 'Look at Slow Streak, he's so slow a snail could beat him!' Well at the finals I'll show you too, you don't stand a chance!” He leapt up and hovered in the air. “See you at the finish line!” At that, he flew off in a burst of speed, his anger fueling his adrenalin.
Rainbow Dash stared at him as he faded into the distance, wondering what old Streaky could be up to. She knew he was smart, but he was never fast. So what could he possibly be doing to give him all his new found speed. She thought about this all the way home.
When she got there, Fluttershy was waiting just inside the door. “Oh hey Dash, I uh, when you flew off everyone got worried about you, so they asked if I could wait up for you and make sure you were OK.”
Rainbow Dash smiled a little. “Yeah I'm fine Fluttershy, don't worry.”
“Oh... Then why did you fly off in such a hurry?”
“That racer that got second was Streaky.”
Fluttershy cocked her head in confusion. “Streaky? But, he was the only pony I ever thought I had a chance to out fly. The poor guy was nearly as slow as me, and about as coordinated as you were.”
Rainbow Dash gave Fluttershy an annoyed stare. She smiled sheepishly. “Well what I meant was...”
Rainbow Dash held up her hoof. “I know, I was bad back then. They didn't call me Rainbow Crash for nothing. Anyway, I never thought I would see Streaky go even half as fast as he did today. It just doesn't make sense.”
“What are you thinking, Rainbow Dash?”
“I don't wanna call him a cheater, but something doesn't feel right here.”
“How do you cheat at a race?”
“You use magic. It's about the only thing against the rules past purposely injuring another racer.”
“So you think he has a Unicorn helping him?”
“Maybe, but how to prove it?”
“Maybe Twilight can help, she knows a lot about magic.”
Rainbow Dash smiled. “Yeah! That's good thinking Fluttershy! I'll use magic to fight magic. If he is cheating, Twilight will bust him for sure.” Rainbow Dash gave Fluttershy a brief hug. “Well I'm gonna go to bed Fluttershy, I'll go talk to Twilight in the morning. Night!”
“Good night Dash.”
> Chapter Two: “The Investigation”
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The next day Rainbow Dash flew straight to Twilight's library and explained her suspicions. “And that's why I need you to look into it for me.”
Twilight cocked her head. “I don't know Rainbow, you are asking me to spy on somepony for you.”
“Not FOR me, WITH me.”
Twilight shook her head a little and sighed. “OK Dash, I'll help, but only because if this guy is cheating he needs to be stopped.”
“OK good, now we just got to track him down and follow him to see him do his so called training.”
“That's good and all, but I'm not going to be able to keep up with you in the clouds. How about you come find me when you think you know where to go?”
Rainbow Dash smirked a little. “OK, but be prepared, who knows when this cheater will... do whatever it is he is doing to cheat.”
“I'll be anxiously awaiting your return.” Twilight said as she opened up a nearby book and began reading.
Rainbow Dash took off to Cloudsdale to begin her search for Streaky. She stopped by the race track's information center and looked through some of the papers on him. They revealed that he was currently living on the North end of Cloudsdale. She quickly made her way to his house, where she began to sit and wait for him at a safe distance away.
After a few hours, Rainbow Dash was about ready to give up, when she saw him come out of his house stretching his forelegs into the air.
“That jerk has been asleep this whole time?!”
Streaky took off in the direction of Ponyville, with Rainbow Dash following in his blind spot. When they arrived, he went straight to the local diner where he ordered breakfast. Rainbow Dash sat across the street watching him closely. His breakfast was big, he was eating a lot. She didn't see anything suspicious about his food, or the waiter.
She continued to follow him as he made his way to the market. He bought several fruits and vegetables along the way, but still nothing suspicious. Trying not to look conspicuous, Rainbow Dash bought a few things along the way. 
After that, Streaky took to the air, and headed back to Cloudsdale. Once there, he went straight to his apartment and closed the door behind him. Rainbow Dash took up the position she had before, and waited for him to emerge.
Eight hours passed and he had not come out. Rainbow Dash had eaten all the food she had bought at the market and was starting to get hungry and bored. “Oh come on! What is taking you so long in there?” A few more minutes Streaky came out again. It was nearly sundown by this point. He flew off towards Ponyville again. Following close behind once more, Rainbow Dash mentally noted how fast he was flying. He hadn't seemed to be going any faster than before, whatever he has been doing wasn't his 'training'.
When Streaky got over Ponyville, instead of landing, he flew a bit farther. He was over the Everfree Forest. His pace slowed, as he began to scan the forest below. After a minute, he flew down into a thick bunch of trees.
Rainbow Dash carefully landed behind him, making sure not to make a sound. She hid in a bush nearby and watched him as he looked around. He made his way over to a small clump of rocks stuck between two trees. He pushed some of the rocks aside, to reveal a small hole in the ground. He looked around for a moment, then dove in. Rainbow Dash walked over and looked down after him. The hole was long and narrow. There would be no way to follow without him seeing her. She instead went back to hiding in the bush. 
After thirty minutes, he came back out of the hole, looking very happy with himself. He carefully moved the rocks back into place, and then he took off at a blinding pace towards Cloudsdale.
After a few seconds, Rainbow Dash emerged from her hiding place and made her way to the pile of rocks blocking the hole. She quickly kicked them to the side and jumped down the whole. After ten seconds of falling she came out into a wide cavern. There was a faint purple glow from the rocks that lined the walls, and was imbedded in the floor. Otherwise, the cavern seemed empty.
Rainbow Dash began to look around, trying to find something, anything that Streaky could be using to cheat. She moved rock piles, looked at the dirt to see if something was buried. After ten minutes she gave up. She went back to the tunnel out and looked up. She jumped up and began to fly out. She found herself moving quickly, without meaning to. She stopped mid way and hovered in place. She shot back down into the caves and looked around.
The light purple glowing rocks in the caves shown faintly all around her. She looked around and found the brightest glowing rock. She went to it and dug it out of the wall.
She quickly left the cave, covered the hole, then sped towards Twilight's library.
Twilight was just about to go to bed when a knock came at her door. She went to answer it and found Rainbow Dash holding the glowing purple rock. “Rainbow, what in Equestria is that?”
“That's what I want to know egg head. Streaky was in a cave full of these rocks for a while, and after I went in there to investigate, I felt faster. I think these rock have something to do with it.”
Twilight sighed. “Come on then.” She led Rainbow Dash down into the library's basement, where Twilight had set up a lab.
Twilight took the rock from Rainbow Dash and set it on the table. She levitated a small pick over and chipped off a small piece of the rock. Holding the piece in the air, she cast a spell on it. The piece shattered into dust.
Rainbow Dash was impatient. “What are you doing?”
“Look Dash, I have to break it down into it's components to see what it is made out of. Then I can see if any of it was enchanted in any way.”
“How long is that going to take?”
Twilight got an irritated look. “All night if you keep asking me questions.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Fine, I'll come back tomorrow.”
The next day Rainbow Dash came back to the library and knocked. Spike answered the door. “Oh, Rainbow Dash, yeah Twilight is still downstairs, I think she has been up all night. She told me to send you down when you got here. What are you two doing?”
“It's kinda complicated, Spike. Maybe when we're done I'll explain.”
Downstairs Twilight was still hard at work trying to figure out the mysterious glowing rock. She heard the door open and quickly began to ramble. “Oh good Spike, your back. I need five millimeters of ten molar sulfuric acid, and the same of sodium hydroxide.”
“Uh what are you talking about?”
Twilight turned to look at Rainbow Dash in surprise. “Oh, it's you Dash. I've been working on that sample you brought me all night. So far nothing I have tried seems to affect it. I have distilled it to its base components and all I can find is that the water in it seems to be what gives it its purple glow. I have run the water through multiple processes, but no matter what I do. it keeps that glow. When I try to test it for magic it always comes up negative!”
“So, what you're saying is, he's not cheating with these rocks?”
“I don't know, I can't tell if it is doing anything or not! For whatever reason, I can't get any readings from this stupid water!” Twilight held a small vile of purple glowing water up to emphasize her point.
Rainbow Dash grabbed it and looked at it closely. “So we can't test it at all? There isn't a way at all? Come on Twilight, I need to know.”
Twilight looked a little frantic. She hated this. She wanted to figure out what was causing the water to glow. She had almost forgotten during the night that the rocks were supposed to be used for making a pegasus go faster. After a few seconds Twilight got a sly smile. “Well actually Dash, there is one thing we can do to see.”
Rainbow Dash got a nervous look. “What?”
“If you tried some of the distilled water, we might be able to see if it made you any faster.”
“Then I would be a cheater too!”
“Not if you told the race committee what happened, and that you only did it to expose Streaky.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “No way Twilight, they would still disqualify me from this year's competition.”
“There is always next year, Dash! Besides I need to know!”
“There has to be another way!”
Twilight shook her head. “I have tried everything. Please Dash, I need to know if this stuff causes pegasus to go faster. There is no other way!”
Rainbow Dash sighed. “OK.”
“Good, let me get my timer.”
“What for?”
“To see how fast you are before and after you drink it.”
Twilight grabbed her timer and she and Rainbow Dash went outside for the test. Twilight held up the watch. “OK Dash, from here to the market and back, ready?”
“Ready.”
“GO!”
Rainbow Dash shot to the market, stopped, turned around, and bolted back to the front of the library. 
Twilight shook her head in approval. “OK good, it looks about ten seconds. Now drink the water.”
Twilight levitated the vile over to Rainbow Dash. She took it from the air and looked at it. She knew she was probably giving up the Finals, but she couldn't let that cheater Streaky win. She popped the cork of the vile, looked at it for a second longer, then drank the entire thing. She looked over at Twilight. “OK, I'm ready.”
Twilight shook her head. “Give it a moment to begin working. I want to make sure of this.”
Rainbow Dash impatiently waited for what felt like an hour. She looked over at Twilight, who was still staring at the timer. “How much longer?”
Twilight looked up. “OK ten minutes should do, ready?”
“Ready!”
“GO!”
Once again Rainbow Dash shot to the market, stopped, turned around, and bolted back to the front of the library. 
When she got there, Twilight was staring, dumbfounded. Rainbow Dash cocked her head. “Well what was the time?”
Twilight shook her head a little. “I... I don't know, you were... to fast for me to time.”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “Yeah right, no really, what was the time?”
Twilight shook her head harder. “No, really Rainbow, I didn't have time to press the button, that took less than a second.”
“It couldn't have been that fast. It felt like it took at least ten seconds.”
“Maybe you should get some sleep. I'm going to send a letter to the Princess. I'm sure she would be able to help me figure these rocks out. In the meantime, you be careful. You are going awfully fast.”
Not knowing what else to do, Rainbow Dash went home and got some sleep.
The next day she went to Twilight's to see what the Princess had said. To her surprise the Celestia was there waiting for her when she arrived. “Oh Princess.” Rainbow Dash gave a bow.
“Hello Rainbow Dash. Twilight here has been filling me in on your situation.” Twilight looked embarrassed, sitting on the far side of the room. Celestia continued, “how are you feeling this morning?”
“Uh, pretty good I guess. Why, is there a problem?”
Celestia shook her head. “No, not at all, I was simply checking to make sure that the substance Twilight gave you wasn't having any negative side effects.”
“No, I feel fine.”
“Good, how about we go outside so you can demonstrate how fast you can go with it?”
“OK...”
They all three made their way outside.  Once there, Celestia looked over. “Twilight told me you were going to the market and back yesterday very quickly, can you show me?”
“OK. Here I go!”
Dash repeated her quick trip to the market and back again, and looked over at Celestia and Twilight. They stared at her for several seconds. Rainbow Dash got nervous. “Uh.... was that OK?”
Celestia blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Was my run OK, did you get a good look?”
Celestia was stunned for a moment. “You... you finished?”
“Yeah, didn't you see?”
“I didn't see you move.”
“Do you want me to go farther?”
“Yes, that might help. Please go to the edge of the Everfree Forest and back.”
“OK.”
Rainbow Dash took off as fast as she could go to the edge of the Everfree Forest and back.
When she landed again she was panting. She was giving it her all to give them a good idea of what the stuff could do. She looked back at Celestia and Twilight. “Well?”
Celestia nodded. “That was indeed faster than I had anticipated. You are moving at an incredible speed Rainbow Dash. I need you to be careful, there is no telling what you could do at that speed.”
“Wait a minute, shouldn't I be causing a Rainboom, if I'm going as fast as you say I am?”
Twilight's eyes went wide. “Yes, yes you should. Why would you not... unless....” Twilight sat there for a moment deep in thought, with both Celestia and Rainbow Dash staring at her, waiting for the answer to come to her. “I've got it! Princess, she isn't going any faster, we are going slower!”
“I'm afraid I don't understand Twilight.”
Twilight shook her head. “I've been so busy testing the substance, and all the things I have applied it to, but not thinking about another possibility. What if the substance is not in sync with our time? Rainbow Dash has been fused with the substance, and is slowly getting faster, or to be more precise, is slowly slipping out of sync with our flow of time. It's not magic that's causing her to go faster, its an extra dimensional substance that is changing the way time flows!”
Twilight finished breathless. Both Celestia and Rainbow Dash stared at her for several seconds as she breathed in to catch her breath. After a few moments, Celestia, hesitantly spoke. “I believe that explanation would seem the most logical, given the evidence. Twilight, is there anything you can think of to slow down this process?”
“I would need some of the substance to see if I can use my new theories to reverse engineer the way it actually works.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head confidently. “I'm on it.” She shot off towards the Everfree Forest once again. It didn't take her long to find the hole, shoot down it, and come up with a dozen or so of the glowing rocks. When she arrived back at the library, Twilight and Celestia had gone. Rainbow Dash knocked on the door with her hind leg, while still hovering in air, trying not to drop any of the rocks she had procured. Twilight answered the door after a few seconds and looked curiously at Rainbow Dash.
“Dash? What are you doing with more of those rocks?”
“You said you would need more of them, so I got them, duh.”
Twilight shook her head sleepily. “I told you to come back today, and that I would send word to Celestia, not to bring more of the rocks.”
Rainbow Dash was utterly confused. “What are you talking abou,t we just...”
Just then, Celestia flew down, startling them both. “Ah Rainbow Dash, I didn’t expect you here so early, but I'm glad you came. Are those the rocks in question?”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Yes, these are what that cheater has been using to win the races.”
“Let us go inside  so I can have a look at them.”
Confused, Rainbow Dash followed them inside, and set the rocks down on a table. Celestia looked at the rocks carefully, saying “hmm,” several times. Finally, after several minutes she looked at Twilight. “Twilight, can you describe the process you used to distill these down to the water you let Rainbow Dash drink?”
Twilight smiled sheepishly. “Uh yes, I broke them down by grinding it to powder. Then I heated the dust to extract the liquid. I then used a compensator and a small vile to collect the liquid.”
“And you say that the liquid maintained the glowing property you observed in the rocks, but was unable to explain?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm, Rainbow Dash, please wait outside while I talk with Twilight.”
“Yes Princess.” Rainbow Dash went outside as she was told. She sat there for several minutes, before she began to felt tired. She had been doing so much the last three days she hadn't gotten very much sleep. Surly a nap couldn't hurt, at least while the Princess talked with Twilight about whatever it was they were talking about. She slowly let her eyes shut, then slipped off to sleep.
> Chapter Three: “Missing”
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Snow fell down on the sleeping Rainbow Dash. She jumped up in surprise. “What the?” Snow wasn't due for several more months. Somepony had screwed up her weather.  She shot up into the sky and looked around. In the distance, she saw several pegasi moving clouds around. She went over to them and yelled. “What the hay do you featherheads think you are doing? Winter isn't for another three months!”
From out from behind one of the clouds, Fluttershy poked her head and got a huge smile. “RAINBOW DASH!?!?” She flew straight over to her and practically tackled her with a hug. With tears in her eyes she looked up at Rainbow Dash while still holding her tightly. “Where have you been? Everyone else had given up looking for you.”
“Given up... looking for me? What in Equestria are you talking about Fluttershy?”
“You don't know? You've been missing for three years Dash.”
Rainbow Dash peeled back from Fluttershy's tight hug. “Wait what?! Three years, no, no, no. I just took a nap, and woke up, It couldn't have been more than three minutes or so.”
Fluttershy shook her head a little. “Come on Dash, let's go talk to Twilight. She hasn't been quite the same since you disappeared, but I think she will be happy to see you again.”
They both flew down to the library. Fluttershy knocked at the door. Spike opened it a few seconds later. “Hey Fluttershy what...” he paused as he saw Rainbow Dash behind her. “Rainbow Dash!!! What are you doing here? Where have you been? Are you alright?”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Whoa, slow down Spike. I'm fine, and I haven't gone anywhere. I don't know what everypony is talking about. I didn't go anywhere.”
“I haven't seen you in three years, so you must be pretty good at hiding if you haven't gone anywhere.”
Fluttershy looked at Spike. “She doesn’t seem to remember anything that happened. I think maybe she has amnesia.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head furiously. “I'm right here you know, and I don't have amnesia. Something else is going on here.”
Just then, Twilight came walking out of the library's basement. “Dash? Is that you?” She ran over and gave Rainbow Dash a tight hug. “I can't believe it, I never thought I would see you again!”
“OK, this is getting old fast.”
Twilight held her back from herself. “What do you mean?”
Fluttershy stepped in to explain. “Dash doesn't have any memory of having been missing. She claims she was just napping, and woke up a few minutes later. Do you think it could be amnesia Twilight?”
Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash closely. “No, I doubt it, there isn't any indication of head trauma, the usual cause of amnesia. Rainbow, what is the last thing you remember?”
“Well, I had just come back from the Everfree Forest with a bunch of those glowing rocks, and then you and Celestia looked at them for a bit, then she told me to go outside. Then I took a nap, woke up, and then suddenly, everypony says I've been missing for three years.”
Twilight began pacing the floor of the library. “That sounds like amnesia, but some things just don't add up. Why would nopony have reported seeing you all this time. You are fairly famous, especially here in Ponyville.” She stopped to stare at Rainbow Dash. “No, something else happened, I'm sure of it, but where have you been these last there years?”
Rainbow Dash finally broke down. “OK fine, I believe you. I've been missing for three years. Can we stop talking about me like I'm a mystery? I'm right here, and I'm fine!”
Twilight walked over and hugged her again. “You're right Dash, we should be thankful you came back to us. I wish Celestia could have been here to see this.”
Rainbow Dash looked confused. “What, can't you just send her a letter and tell her?”
Both Fluttershy and Twilight lowered there heads. Twilight was the first to speak. “I'm sorry Dash, I've forgotten how much you missed. If only we hadn't... no, it's not the time for regrets. About a year after you disappeared, the changeling army attacked Canterlot again, this time in force. They subdued Celestia, Luna, and Cadence quickly, and without all of us... Equestria was defenseless. Somehow they had learned of your disappearance, and knew it was their time to strike. Since then, Canterlot is a ghost town. No one dares oppose the changeling queen's rule.”
Rainbow Dash sat dumbfounded. “You can't be serious, all that happened in just a year of me being gone?”
“Yes, and that's not all. About a month after I gave you that distilled liquid, Applejack went looking for you. She was actually in Canterlot during the attack. Meaning, even with you back with us, we are still missing one of the Elements. Even if we found AJ, the changeling army came and stole the Elements themselves from me, so I'm afraid that Equestria is doomed.”
Rainbow Dash sat there for several moments, staring at nothing in particular, feeling guilty for something that really couldn't be her fault. After a minute of ear splitting silence, Fluttershy finally spoke. “I'm glad you're back Dash, despite everything that has happened At least I have you again.”
Rainbow Dash looked over at her, then hugged her tightly. “I'm so sorry, I had no idea.”
“It's fine Dash, we have managed.”
There was a knock on the door. Twilight looked over at it nervously, then whispered fiercely towards Rainbow Dash. “Hide!”
Fluttershy dragged Rainbow Dash down into the basement of the library. Upstairs they could hear Twilight answering the door. “Can I help you?”
“We have reports that a weather pegasus and an unidentified pegasus made their way into this building several minutes ago. The weather pegasus is dodging her duties, and the unidentified pegasus needs to be confirmed to have been registered. Are you aware of the presence of these two pegasi in your facility?”
“I'm afraid I haven't seen the two pegasi you are referring to. Maybe you have the wrong building?”
“Move aside, we need to search the premises.”
“Of course.”
The two at the door made their way inside, and started searching the library. After a few seconds the door to the basement burst open, and two changelings were staring at Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. “We found them!”
Fluttershy jumped up. “Run!”
They both flew past the two at the top of the stairs and out through the front door. Once outside, they took off into the air. After a few seconds of flying, hundreds of changelings flew into the air in chase. Fluttershy yelled to Rainbow Dash. “Go faster, don't worry about me!”
Rainbow Dash stopped and looked at her. “No way, I'm not leaving you to them!”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Ponyville has changed a lot since you've been gone, I can hide here, but you can out-fly them, I can't. Just go ahead, I promise I'll be OK.”
She pushed Rainbow Dash forward, and dived to the ground. About half of the changelings dived after her, she darted through an alleyway and knocked over a fruit stand as she went by. The other half of the changelings were still making there way towards Rainbow Dash. She took a second look at Fluttershy as she disappeared into the alley, then turned and bolted away. 
She flew as fast as she could, not even knowing where to. Where could she go if all of Equestria was under the rule of the changelings? She thought about this for a moment, then a thought occurred to her. She could go to Canterlot, then maybe she could find Applejack, maybe she could somehow get the Elements back, and maybe they could somehow use them to beat the changeling queen. It was a lot of maybes, but with nothing to lose she turned and bolted for Canterlot.
About an hour later, she found herself in Canterlot. To her surprise she found it to be full of ponies, as it always had been. What was going on? Twilight had made it sound like there was pretty much nopony left here.
No one seemed to pay attention to her, or care at all she was there. There was no way changelings would just let her walk in, would they?
Rainbow Dash flew around the city, looking for any sign of changelings, or anything out-of-place. Canterlot seemed to her just as it had when she had last left it, happy and full of ponies going about there lives. After several minutes of flying she found herself growing tired, and reluctantly, landed.
After several minutes of walking around she spotted Applejack walking up to vendors in the market and showing them something. She flew over to her. “Applejack? What's going on here?”
Applejack turned at hearing Rainbow Dash's voice. “Rainbow Dash? Where in tarnation have you been?” She asked, half trying not to cry, half legitimately angry.
“Yeah, I know, I know, I've been missing for three years, I have already heard it three times today AJ.”
“Three years? You've only been missin for about a year now Dash.”
“Wait what? OK, somethings not right here. First everypony tells me I've been missing for three years and changelings took over, then you tell me that it's been a year. UHG!!!! What is going on?”
“What in Equestria are you goin on about Dash?”
“I was at Twilight's, OK? Then I decided to take a quick nap while Celestia talked with her, then I wake up and its Winter, and then Fluttershy says it's been three years, then Changeling attack, and I'm totally lost.”
“You sayin you were attacked by changelings at Twilight's? Why didn't you help them?”
“They said that the Changelings took over Canterlot already, and that you were lost.”
“I ain't lost, I'm here lookin fer your tail. Your the one whose been missing for a year!”
“That's it I give up, OK? I don't care what's going on, just take me home!”
“Now that I can oblige, everypony back in Ponyville will be mighty happy to see ya Dash.”
“Let's go hop on a train, I'm beat.”
“What did you fly here from Ponyville?”
“Yeah, after Twilight...”
Rainbow Dash was interrupted by a large explosion on the North end of Canterlot. Every one on the streets started running in panic. Rainbow Dash looked towards the North end and squinted. At first she couldn't see anything, but then she saw a large black mass heading towards them. After just a few seconds it was apparent to her what they were.
“Changelings!!!! Run!!!”
Without a second thought, they both began to run towards the castle. They needed to see Celestia, she had to be warned. They came up to the main entrance of her throne room quickly, but it was blocked by a dozen or so guards. “Hault! What is your business?”
Applejack spoke. “I'm Applejack, and this is Rainbow Dash, we are two of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, we came to warn the Princess of the changeling attack.”
The guards glanced at each other. One nodded, the other turned to continue speaking. “Right, I assume that is the source of the explosion we heard. OK, good intel, go warn the Princess, we will hold this door as long as we can, at least now my men will know what's coming.”
Rainbow Dash and Applejack bolted towards the throne to find Celestia sitting there with Luna. Celestia turned in surprise. “Rainbow Dash? I see Applejack has finally found you, where have you been?”
Rainbow Dash stopped and looked around quickly. “No time your highness, we have a large wave of changelings incoming.”
“Changelings? How Many of them?”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Way too  many to count, it's an invasion.”
“Oh my, sister, prepare yourself for a fight. I have dealt with their queen once prior, and she is a force to be reckoned with.”
“We are ready to fight by your side, dear sister. Surely this changeling queen can be no match for the sisters of day and night fighting as one!”
“We shall see. Thank you Rainbow Dash, Applejack. You have done well by warning us.”
Luna nodded. “Indeed, but you should go now, reunite with the rest of the Elements. If this day does not favor us in battle, we may need them to restore order.”
Applejack and Rainbow Dash nodded, and bolted for the main entrance. Outside there were three times as many guards as there were when they entered. The changeling swarm was fast approaching, but still a little ways off. Rainbow Dash looked to the commander of the squad. “Do you need any help?”
“No, you have done more than enough, has the Princess been warned of the danger?”
“Yes, both Celestia and Luna are preparing for the fight.”
“Good, I'm afraid we are outnumbered here. Alright you two, get out of here, you are more important elsewhere!”
They took off towards the South end of Canterlot. The streets were packed with screaming running ponies. Applejack was fighting her way through the crowd, while Rainbow Dash scouted the area ahead. “It looks like the main trains are gone! We might want to try the smaller ones nearer to the East side!”
Applejack nodded and turned that direction. They both slowly made their way to the South East side of Canterlot. Once there, they could hardly believe their eyes. The entire train station had been completely destroyed by what looked to be a large explosion. Applejack shook her head. “I s'pose that is one way to take care of our escape. Tarnation, how are we gonna get outa here now?”
Rainbow Dash turned around to see several hundred changelings coming towards them and the other three or four dozen ponies who had the same idea. “I don't think we are going to get the chance AJ!”
Applejack turned just in time to see the oncoming wave of changelings start to pick up the ponies in the crowd and carry them off. Some put up a good fight. Most were overwhelmed in seconds. Applejack looked around and pointed to a building nearby. “Let's get in there!”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “We would be trapped, its either run or fight!”
Applejack shook her in agreement. “All right, lets do this.”
They got side by side and prepared for the changeling swarm to hit. It didn't take long. Several changelings descended around them in a circle, completely trapping them. There were a few seconds of calm as the changelings stared at their prey. Then, as if on cue, the changelings attacked all at once. The front and back groups came hard in the middle, in a wedge formation, trying to split Applejack and Rainbow Dash apart. Applejack kicked hard with her hind legs catching the lead changeling of the flanking group, causing the formation to break apart and fall back. At the same time, Rainbow Dash gave a strong left hoof at the leader of the front group with similar results. During all this, the remaining changelings to their left and right jumped in the air and began to rain down on them. Rainbow Dash managed to shove several of them off with a strong beat of her wings. Applejack was not so fortunate. She had a changeling on her neck choking her. Rainbow Dash gave a quick right hoof to its face.It let out a high  scream and fell back into the mass of its comrades. Then Rainbow Dash was grabbed from behind, being choked in the same fashion as Applejack. Rainbow Dash struggled for several seconds until Applejack saw this and leapt towards them, trying to help, but was grabbed by her hind legs and dragged backwards. Rainbow Dash watched in horror as Applejack was dragged into the swarm kicking and screaming, while she fought the changeling on her own neck. After several seconds of struggling, fighting as best she could to help out Applejack, everything slowly faded to black, Rainbow Dash passed out.
> Chapter Four: “Changes”
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes. She was lying on the cold hard ground. She let her eyes wander around. It seemed bleak, dusty, and hopeless. She wondered for a moment if the changelings had thrown her in some sort of dungeon.
After a few seconds, she slowly picked herself off the cold concrete and took a better look around. The bleak place she found herself in was more horrifying then she had realized. She was not in some dank dungeon. No, this cold, hard, lifeless place was none other than Canterlot. All around her there was no sound of life. The buildings that were lucky enough to have still been standing, were all crumbling and on the verge of collapse.
She stared at the scene for a minute, on the verge of tears. The last two days had been a nightmare. First, she finds out that shes been missing three years. Then she finds out one of her best friends is missing or dead. Then, when she tries to find that best friend, she has to watch the attack that was supposed to take her. Now, after all of that, she sees the most beautiful city in Equestria, its very heart Canterlot, ruined.
By this point, Rainbow Dash had begun to question her own sanity. She looked around for anything that could give her a sign as to what was happening this time, or when she supposedly was this time, or at least what happened to Canterlot since the changeling attack.
She took to the air and flew around the dark city. She grew slowly more depressed as she flew by countless ruined buildings and desolate streets. After about an hour, she landed and rolled over on her back. “What happened here?”
She looked up at the sky. It was eerily grey, with absolutely no clouds in sight. She didn't even know what time of the day it was supposed to be, let alone the weather that she should be seeing. After a few seconds of staring she noticed the sun. It wasn't behind clouds, but it was barely shining, giving off just enough light to keep it looking like dusk.
She jumped up and stared at the almost grey sun. “What in Equestria is going on?”
After a few seconds of thinking it hit her. If the sun is still here, maybe Celestia is still here. Maybe she survived the changeling attack. As that idea finished crossing her mind, Rainbow Dash jumped in the air and flew as fast as she could towards the palace entrance.
In a matter of seconds she was at the door. She shoved it open and ran inside. She went straight to the throne room, but paused just before she went in. What if Celestia was there, what would she ask her? Worse, what if Celestia wasn't there, what then?
She swallowed her fear and walked into to the throne room. Inside all the tapestry had fallen, and everything had lost its luster. The walls, now riddled with cracks, looked as if they were barely holding up the roof. She looked towards the throne in shock. To her surprise it was not Celestia, Luna, or even Cadence sitting on the throne. It was Twilight, with wings.
“Twilight?!”
Twilight slowly raised her head. Her eyes were tired, her mane was a mess, and she looked much taller and older than before. She looked at Rainbow Dash and squinted her eyes. “Who addresses Princess Twilight?”
Rainbow Dash stopped mid-stride, taken aback by her question. “Twilight? It's me Rainbow Dash, you know one of your best friends?”
Twilight stared at her for a whole minute, not saying a word. Then nodded her head. “Yes of course Rainbow Dash, how have you been my dear?”
“How have I been? How about what's going on here? Twilight have you seen outside, or hay, even around you? Canterlot is a mess, the whole city looks like it's going to fall apart, the sun is dim, and do you have wings?”
“Forgive me Rainbow Dash, it has been so long. Many of the things that worry you now have been accepted for quite some time as facts of life. Let me explain, because I know what you have been through, and I've had quite some time to think over the finer points of it all.”
She paused and looked at Rainbow Dash expectantly. Not knowing what else to do, Rainbow Dash simply nodded her head. “OK”
This seem to satisfy Twilight. “If I'm correct, the last thing you remember is being chocked by a changeling while Applejack was drug away, is that correct?”
“Yeah, pretty much, until I woke up in this ruined version of Canterlot.”
“Good, then everything is going as I thought it would, although I admit you have arrived much later than I expected. That changeling got you good, eh Dash?” She smiled at Rainbow Dash weakly, and expectantly.
Feeling quite awkward, Rainbow Dash gave a fake smile back.
Once again satisfied, Twilight continued. “That day Applejack watched you feint. She was never more scared in her life, both for you and herself. But interestingly, at the exact moment you passed out, Applejack saw you disappear. She described it almost as if you faded out of existence, except with what seemed to be an electrical 'pop' right before you were gone.”
She paused and took a long, deep breath before continuing. “After that, the royal guard came to the south end where you were with Applejack, trying to escape. They had got word that civilians were being ambushed there, and came to help. It took several dozen guards, but they managed to fight off the changeling army. Meanwhile, with the information you gave her in hoof, Celestia managed to, with some help of Luna, and some effort, repel the changeling army.”
“Wait, so the changelings lost? Then why is the city ruined?”
“Good question. I'll get to that in a moment, but for now let me continue the story. It will answer all your questions, I promise.” She paused and waited for Rainbow Dash to respond once more.
“Yeah, OK, fine...”
“Good, now where was I? Oh yes, when everything was over with the second changeling attack, it didn't take long for things to go back to normal, except you were still missing. Then Applejack told me the story of how she found you, and how you told her about this wild story of having been missing three years instead of one. We were all very confused. Even dear Celestia didn't know what to make of it until Applejack finished with you disappearing before her very eyes. And that's when it occurred to me, you weren't going anywhere, you were going to another time.”
“What? I'm a time traveler now?”
“Think about everything that has happened to you, in what I'm sure seems like to you a few days. Does it seem that hard to believe?”
Rainbow Dash thought about it. She flew to get the rocks for Twilight, and then Celestia showed up for a second time. She took a nap, and then she woke up three years later. She flew as fast as she could to Canterlot and she was back two years before. Now she finds herself who knows how far in the future, after getting knocked out. “OK, I think I get it. So if I sleep I go forward, if I go fast I go back, right?”
Twilight chuckled slightly. “That is putting things simply, but yes, in essence. The real cause is linked to the substance that now flows through your veins. The faster your heart races, the faster it flows. Of course the opposite is true, the slower you heart rate, the slower it moves. This, combined with several other factors that would take a century to properly explain.”
“So, when am I?”
“Oh let me think... the second changeling attack was... three or four... no, seven thousand years ago.”
Rainbow Dash couldn't bring herself to do anything more than sit and stare with her mouth wide open. Even if she could speak, she couldn't tell you if it was horror or awe.	
Twilight smiled. “I know that must be a shock to you, but we're not done. That answers one of your questions, now for the others. My wings here were given to me by Celestia not long after you disappeared. She told me that I had learned the true meaning of friendship, and that I was to become a princess. I was then transformed into the alicorn you see before you, but that was a long time ago.”
Rainbow Dash merely nodded as Twilight stopped once more.
“In reference to the grey sun outside, it is a side effect of the many years that have passed. The sun started dying about two thousand years after I was made an alicorn. Knowing this, Celestia began to give more and more of her time to keeping it alive with her magic. After some time ,she realized that the sun wouldn't last much longer, even with her almost constant intervention. She decided, with almost no hesitation, to give her life to power the sun for just a while longer. Luna took over her duties of keeping the sun and moon in regulation. After another two thousand years, the sun once again began to die. Luna knew what she had to do, and gave her life as well. I was prepared to give the regulation of the sun and moon my best, but Cadence insisted as the older alicorn it was her duty before it was mine. One thousand years later, she too gave her life.” Twilight paused and smiled at Rainbow Dash. “ I've been waiting here for all this time, hoping you would come before my time ended.”
That snapped Rainbow Dash out of her daze. “Wait, what do you mean, before your time ended?”
“I have been keeping the sun alive as best I can, hoping that I would be able to help you with your journey as one of my final acts. It seems that I have held out just long enough. Rainbow Dash, my life is at an end, I have nothing left to give. I have managed to keep the sun alive just long enough to see the end of pony civilization. You were the last thing left for me to do, now that that is over, I can rest in peace.”
“Wait Twilight, what am I supposed to? How can I stop all this?”
Twilight slowly closed her eyes and shook her head. “I'm sorry Dash, this is both your gift and your curse now. All I can offer you is one final service, I can send you to a point in time you want, then maybe you can learn to use your gift a little more appropriately.”
“When could I possibly go that would help me learn?”
“The beginning sounds nice, doesn't it?” Twilight raised her head high and began casting a spell. Rainbow Dash was covered by her magic in seconds.
“Wait where are you sending me?”
Twilight began to speak but Rainbow Dash couldn't hear her. After just a few seconds, all she could see was purple. She closed her eyes, shielding them from the blinding light.
When she opened her eyes again, she was in a large grassland, the sun shining brightly down upon her. She looked around for a moment. There were several trees off in the distance. A warm breeze blew through, causing the grass to sway.
Rainbow Dash jumped into the air and looked off into the distance. She was on a small plateau, up a tall mountain. Down below the mountain was almost nothing but dense forest as far as she could see. She turned around in air and saw the place on the mountain where the plateau gave way to a steep cliff face once more.
She stared at the lovely scene for a minute before it finally hit her. She knew where she was, she was in Canterlot, or rather she was where Canterlot should be. She turned back once more to look off into the distance. She spied where the normal forest gave way to the dense dark forest she knew as the Everfree Forest, but to its left there was no Ponyville.
“When am I now?”
> Chapter Five: “The Beginning”
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash looked around a little while. The plateau she was on was actually quite boring. There seemed to be nothing of interest and nopony around for miles. After several hours of flying, she landed and sat down to think. Why would Twilight send her to this place, or rather time? What possible benefit could there be to sending her here?
It didn't take long before it was getting dark. It was fairly warm, and it didn’t look as if the night was going to get much cooler. Too lazy to actually find anywhere more comfortable or safe, Rainbow Dash fell asleep in the middle of the field.
She awoke the next morning feeling well rested. The last few days had been hectic, and she hadn't gotten an honest nights sleep until today, or would that have been years ago? Who knew?
She looked around again, hoping to see some sign of ponies. Much to her disappointment, there seemed to be none. The season hadn't seemed to change much. Maybe she didn't jump this time? That thought terrified her. What if Twilight's spell also made her not time jump anymore. What if she was stuck in whatever time this was?
The day was very uneventful. She walked around, ate some grass, laid in some other grass, and she was getting to be utterly bored. After quite some time, she finally fell asleep again out of boredom more than anything else.
She awoke to find very little changed. The air seemed much cooler than it had the previous day, and the leaves on the trees in the forest had mostly fallen off. Other than those minor changes, the landscape seemed virtually unchanged. The only good thing about it was that she at least knew by the trees that she was still moving through time at some significant pace.
Rainbow Dash groaned loudly and fell back down on the grass, staring up at the sky. It was as clear and blue as any summer day. Being a weather pegasus, this bothered her a lot. There should be some clouds out if it was winter, or else it would never get cold enough for any snow.
After some time of sitting there, she heard some voices in the distance. She bolted up and began to look around for their sources. After a moment she spotted them. Two figures, not very far from where she was, appeared to be in some sort of argument. Without hesitation, Rainbow Dash flew towards them. “Hello!”
The two unicorns turned in surprise at the voice. As Rainbow Dash grew closer, she was able to make them out. To her surprise, they were none other than Celestia and Luna, except where were their wings?
She came to an abrupt stop about ten feet from them, mouth opened wide. “Princess Celestia? Princess Luna?”
The two sisters looked at each other in confusion, and both asked in unison, “Princess?”
Celestia, the unicorn turned and looked at Rainbow Dash. “Do tell us, young Pegasus, how you have come to know our name, and for what reason you do call us both Princess?
Rainbow Dash couldn't stop staring at where their wings were supposed to be. She was so used to seeing them as alicorns, it was odd seeing them without wings, and so short. “I uh... that's a bit of a long story, but what are you two doing here?”
Luna smiled. “We have been tasked with finding the location for the new empire of the...”
She was interrupted by her sister's hoof in front of her mouth. “Neigh, we shall not reveal our secrets to this one, she may very well be a spy from the pegasi, sent to gather information on us!”
Rainbow Dash was confused. “Wait, what? A spy? Why would anyone want to spy on you finding a location for Canterlot?”
Celestia's eyes grew wide. “You see? She is a spy, she knows the name by which our king intends to name our new city!”
Luna looked skeptical. “I understand your concern, but no spy would possibly be idiotic enough to reveal that sort of information when being accused of being such.”
Celestia relaxed a little. “You might be right, how could a spy ascertain such information and be idiotic enough to reveal it? No, there is another explanation here. You! Pegasus! Tell us how you came upon such information! Is it that the pegasi have infiltrated a spy for so long that our plans have become common knowledge in your empire?”
Rainbow Dash didn't know what to say. All this talk of spying and empires was one thing, but she was still trying to get over Celestia and Luna's lack of wings. “I uh.... what are you talking about? Empire?”
Celestia grabbed Rainbow Dash and shook her a little. “The Pegasus Empire obviously, you are a pegasus are you not? You are obviously from there.”
Luna pulled Celestia off Rainbow Dash. “Please let me handle this, you do not know the meaning of subtlety.” She walked over and gently placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash's side. “Please young pegasus, tell us how you came to know of our secret mission. We would be ever so grateful to understand how it is you came to know of something that most of our own nation does not.”
Rainbow Dash sighed. “I'm not quite sure I believe the story, and I've been living it the past few days.”
Luna smiled warmly. “We will gladly listen to any story you have to tell.”
“I guess the easiest way to put it is... well, I'm from the future.”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “Luna, please tell me you are not going to listen to the lies this pegasus is so blatantly spitting at us?”
Luna ignored Celestia. “Please continue, what is it from the future that let you know of our mission here.”
“Well, uh... I guess first would be, here is where Canterlot is supposed to be, the center and capitol of Equestria.” she said as she motioned to the large open grassland behind her.
Luna got a smug smile and looked at Celestia. “You see? Here is the correct choice.”
Celestia glared. “The pegasus said Equestria, not the Empire of the Unicorn. What is this Equestria you speak of pegasus?”
Rainbow Dash looked at them. “Well... it's the land that the both of you rule.”
The two unicorns looked at each other for a moment. Luna looked at Rainbow Dash again. “The two of us? So it is the Empire of the Unicorn, just under a different name?”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “No, it is a land in which pegasi, earth ponies, and unicorns all cooperate in order to survive.”
Celestia looked smug. “And it just so happens to be ruled by the unicorns? How fitting.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head again. “No actually, you're not unicorns in the future.”
They both stared at her intently. Celestia asked in a low cautious tone. “Then what are we?”
“Alicorns.”
They both continued to stare, this time in confusion rather than suspense. Luna spoke first. “And what are alicorns?”
Rainbow Dash was shocked. “You don't know what an alicorn is?”
They both shook their heads.
“They are large unicorns with wings.”
Celestia began to laugh. “This is all insanity. How on earth could we possibly gain wings, and further more, why would we be the rulers of this new kingdom of which you speak?”
“Because you both control the sun and the moon, you are the sisters of night and day.”
Luna looked confused. “Sisters? We are not sisters. We are, however, the directors of the night and day. We simply help tell a team of other unicorns where to move them. No one unicorn could possibility move the sun or the moon.”
“You're not sisters?!”
Celestia looked concerned. “This isn't a joke, is it? You actually believe what you are telling us, don't you?”
“It's all true, I swear. At least, you always told us you were sisters.”
Luna shook her head. “No we are not sisters. We have been with each other since a very early age, however. As young fillies we showed great interest in the celestial bodies. After a while, we became experts at them, hence our cutie marks you see. As we got older, we were put in charge of the teams of night and day. We have coordinated with each other since then as partners. We were sent on the mission to find a new place to make the Empire of the Unicorns, since we would be most familiar with the position of the sun and stars. It would not only help us navigate, but also with finding a place with an adequate growing season.”
Celestia held her head up high. “And before you arrived, I was just informing Luna here that there would be no way this place would get enough sunlight for growing food due to the position of the cliff there.”
Rainbow Dash looked over to the forest where Ponyville would eventually be. “Well, over there will be a town of mostly earth ponies, and a large apple farm.”
The two unicorns looked over at it. Luna looked for several moments. “Well what do you think Celestia, is that a good place for a growing season?”
Celestia nodded. “Yes indeed, however the trees would become incredibly annoying, we would have to get rid of them.”
Luna nodded and smiled. “Good. Then it is settled. The city of Canterlot shall be made here, and we shall recommend to our king that another town meant for farming shall be made yonder.”
Celestia looked back and forth between the forest and the grassland plateau they were standing on. “Fine, this place will be well cooled by the cliff face, and that place will have good sunlight for growing. However... what are we going to tell our king of this pegasus?”
Luna looked down at Rainbow Dash. “Please, tell us how it is you came to travel from the future to our time.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I'm still not sure how it works, but basically if I sleep, I go forward, and if I fly fast I go backward. I got here by getting sent back by another alicorn.”
Celestia shook her head. “I am still not sure I believe all of that. But, at the very least, you have made a good suggestion for where to place our new city.”
Luna looked at Celestia. “I do not think we should tell our king of this. He will most certainly become paranoid upon learning of a pegasus that knew of our plans.”
Celestia glared at Luna. “And rightly so, whether or not she is telling the truth is beside the point. Either she is a spy with a clever, if not insane story, or she is truly from the future as she claims, and we must inform him of this Equestria!”
“Celestia, are you foolish enough to think that if he learns of these things he will let us live? We are to be the ones to rule this kingdom. If he hears that, then we will certainly not be alive to see this prophecy unfold. I think it unwise to tell him either way.”
Celetia stared intently at her for a moment. “Alright then, I propose this: we watch this pegasus sleep. If her story is true, then she shall disappear sometime in the night and we know she is telling the truth, and we will not tell our king. If she is with us by morning, then she is a liar and a spy, and we take her to stand justice.”
Luna turned and looked at Rainbow Dash. “This sound fair to me, what say you?”
Rainbow Dash merely nodded, hoping for the first time the time jump would happen.
The three of them made it to a cave in the cliff face and made a fire for the night. Celestia went to sleep first, while Luna stayed awake to watch Rainbow Dash. “So how is it that you came about the ability to move through time?”
Rainbow Dash rubbed her left foreleg against her right. “That's a kinda weird story too. It has something to do with these weird glowing rocks I found in a cave.”
“I see, do you know why they gave you this power?”
“I'm not sure I would call it a power, I mean I can't really control it.”
“You seem to know how it works, that is the first step to controlling something.”
“I guess.” Rainbow Dash yawned. “I think I'll go to sleep now, I have no idea when I'll see you two again.”
“Before you leave, I wish to know your name.”
“Oh... I'm Rainbow Dash.”
“Good to meet you Rainbow Dash, I am Luna.”
“You might want to start thinking about being called Princess Luna.”
“It is a nice title indeed. I will keep it in mind until the day comes I begin to use it.”
“Good night.”
“Yes, yes it is.”
Rainbow Dash smiled and went to sleep.
> Chapter Six: “The Double Rainbow Paradox”
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash awoke, still in the cave, but without any sign of Celestia, Luna, or a fire. She shivered a little. Without the fire the cave had grown quite cold.
She stepped outside and shielded her eyes from the bright sun. After her eyes adjusted she looked around at Canterlot. She was on the far West side of the city, the cave hidden in a back alley behind a building. The castle seemed to be mostly the same as she remembered it. She flew up to get a better look around.
Once in the air she noticed something strange. All the ponies she saw were in guards uniforms, there were no citizens walking around. She flew down to meet a small group of guards. “Uh, hey guys... I'm a little lost, can you tell me where I am?”
The guards stared at her for several seconds in stunned silence, until one of them yelled. “Seize her!!!” They all jumped on her at once and she couldn't get away. After having her front hooves chained together and her wings tied, they began to march her towards the castle.
One of the guards looked at the one who had yelled. “Uh, Captain? Where are we taking her?”
The captain frowned. “I've had orders from Princess Luna to capture any pegasus we found with rainbow hair and bring them to her.”
“So she has been expecting this one to show up?”
“Yes, apparently.”
They made their way to the castle slowly, impeded by the chains around Rainbow Dash's front legs. At the front gate Rainbow Dash spied two flags, one on each side of the door. They had Luna's cutie mark on them instead of the flag of the two sisters.
After the guards of the front gate checked the paper work the captain was carrying, they brought Rainbow Dash before Luna. Luna was once again in her familiar alicorn state, and was sitting on what appeared to be Celestia's normal throne. When she saw Rainbow Dash she smiled broadly. “Release her from those bindings at once Captain.”
The Captain looked first at Luna, then at Rainbow Dash, obviously not wanting to free his captive. Hesitantly, he untied her wings and then released the chains on her legs.
Rainbow Dash took to the air and folded her front legs. “What's the big idea having the guards tie me up like that Luna?”
“I apologize dear Rainbow Dash, I wasn't sure what state you would find my dear city in when you arrived. The orders to capture you were standing.”
“What do you mean what state? Is something wrong?”	
Luna looked over to the guards. “You three may go now.”
They bowed and walked out of the room. Once they had left, Luna turned back to Rainbow Dash. “Yes, there are many things wrong. We are frequently attacked by many of our foes. It is not often we have a week of peace.”
“Foes? Like who?”
“The tyrant Discord has plagued my city for nearly a thousand years now.”
“Discord? But he... he should be stone.”
“Stone? Is that what the future holds? How is it that we turn him to stone?”
“With the Elements of Harmony, that's what we used, and what you and Celestia used.”
Luna got a sad look on her face. “I see, I was afraid you would say something like that. Still I'm at least glad to hear he is not undefeatable.”
“I don't get it, why can't you and Celestia just use the Elements on him?”
“The reason is two fold. Firstly I'm unaware of these Elements of which you speak. Secondly...” She paused, looking away from Rainbow Dash. “Secondly... Celestia has not been with us for quite some time.”
Rainbow Dash stared at her, dumbfounded. “When did... how could...?”
Luna shed a small tear. “It was not long after our ascension to being alicorns, as you had predicted, that the tyrant Discord appeared. At first he was a nuisance, but he quickly became a serious problem. I tried to reason with her, tried to strategize, but she wouldn't hear of it. She said that until the day we saw you again, we were invincible. Your prophecy foretold us becoming the rulers of this land, and until it was met, we were destined to succeed. She charged headlong into battle with Discord, taking no heed to my cries. She fought hard with him, but was unable to beat him. In a final desperate attempt, she summoned the power of the sun to her aid. She couldn't control the immense power of the sun, and it quickly killed her, but in the process she greatly injured the tyrant. He escaped before I was able to finish him, but since that day he has grown slowly more powerful. I fear that he will soon regain his full potential, and we will be unable to stop him.”
Rainbow Dash stared at Luna for several minutes, thinking about everything she had just been told. History had changed dramatically. There were no Elements, Discord had never been turned to stone, and worst of all Celestia had been dead for nearly a thousand years. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. “So how can I help?”
Luna smiled. “I'm glad you asked. Today is the day we finally strike back. My troops have been doing serious reconnaissance for months now, and my scientists tell me that they have finally finished building a weapon that may be able to stop Discord. The problem is... powering the device seems to be nearly impossible.”
“OK... still, how can I help?”
“You might find the unique nature of the device intriguing. It is designed around 	the concept of temporal manipulation. I had thought long and hard about everything you told me so long ago, and I decided that the best way to beat Discord, was to stop him before he got started. My scientists worked for years building a device that can destroy anything by stopping it from ever existing.”
“Wow... how is that possible?”
“It wasn't, without you. You can help us power the device. You know where the rocks are that gave you your power. We can use them to power the machine and defeat Discord.”
“So you want me to lead you to the rocks?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“I guess not, its been like four or five days, and I have only been there twice. If it hasn't changed too much I might be able to find them.”
“Splendid, I will fetch the head scientists at once and we will leave as soon as we can. Wait here please.”
Luna went and fetched the scientist and several pegasus soldiers to help carry him and the small device. They all made their way to the Everfree Forest. After flying for ten minutes, Rainbow Dash spotted the clearing where the rocks should be. “Down here!”
The team landed with the doctor and the device. Luna landed last and looked around. “So where are they?”
Rainbow Dash walked over to the large rock and kicked it out of the way. “Down here.”
Luna, the doctor, and several soldiers looked down the long hole. “Right.” The unicorn doctor said as he made his way over to his weapon. The weapon itself was actually very small. About half the size of your average pony. He levitated it into the air. “We will need to go down there with the device.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and jumped into the hole. Luna looked to the soldiers. “Wait here, make sure no one follows us.” She then jumped in after Rainbow Dash. Finally the doctor, still telepathically holding his device, jumped in behind them.
Once inside, they looked around the cave. It still held the purple glowing rocks as it had before. The doctor walked over and picked one up. “Fascinating, I wonder what gives them their glow?”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “Good luck egg head. My friend Twilight is a genius, and she couldn't figure it out.”
The doctor huffed, and then set down his device. “Well in that case, let us get started.”
He reached down and hit a small button on the little cube-like weapon. It began to hum loudly.
“What are you doing?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Before he could answer, a small ghost like image appeared in front of them. The doctor reached down and adjusted a small nob. Slowly it became clearer. It was Rainbow Dash.
“What in Equestria.... what are you doing?”
Luna smiled broadly. “A little more doctor.”
He moved the nob ever so slightly, and the other Rainbow Dash came into focus. The second Rainbow Dash looked around at them. “What in the hay? Who are you?”
Luna raised her horn and completely engulfed the second Rainbow Dash in magic, and before either Rainbow Dash could do anything, Luna destroyed her.”
Rainbow Dash sat there and stared, unsure of what just happened. The doctor began to jump up and down in obvious glee. “I got it. The paradox is complete!”
Rainbow turned to him angrily. “You mean your plan was to kill me this whole time? Or, kill the other me?”
Luna stepped between them. “I'm afraid it was the only way to power the device. Securing a paradox fractures the time line you see. Now this device exists because it isn't supposed to. Now it can do anything.”
The doctor stepped forward. “That is more or less correct. You have been creating so many time lines, always jumping around, back and forth, I bet you never even stopped and thought about what had happened to them, had you?”
“Well... no, wouldn't they just stop existing?”
“Incorrect! Those time lines continued after you left them, you simply can't go back to them. Using this device, I have taken one of the universes you had made from jumping around and used them to fuel it. It now has the potential of an entire universe all rolled into one weapon!”
Luna took a step forward. “This was necessary to our survival, I hope you understand, Rainbow Dash, that this was the only way I could protect my people from the tyrant Discord.”
“You murdered all of those thousands, no billions, just to save a few?”
The doctor shook his head. “Murdered is such a cruel word. We merely stopped them from existing. They felt no pain.”
“That doesn't justify what you did.”
Luna laughed. “I don't need to justify myself to anyone! What I do, I do in the name of peace and sanity! And do you know what? I don't need you anymore.”
She raised her horn and engulfed her in magic. The doctor shouted. “WAIT!!!”
Luna looked at him impatiently. “What?”
“You can't destroy her, don't you see? She IS the paradox. We need her. Nothing else from that universe remains except her. She exists outside of time, and as long as she does, the paradox remains intact.”
Luna looked at Rainbow Dash, frozen in the air, still completely contained by her magic. “How can we possibly contain her?”	
“We don't need to, we can just get rid of her here.”
“Make up your mind, can I kill or not?”
“Not kill, but I can trap her in another dimension, completely out of our way.”
“I see, but there is one thing you are forgetting doctor.”
“Oh?”
“I helped you build that machine. I don't need you anymore either.” At that, Luna picked him up and crushed the doctor into dust, just as she had the past Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash tried to move, tried to break free. Luna laughed as she walked over to the device. “All the power in the world, the ability to move through time itself, and now look at you, helpless. She reached down and hit several buttons on the machine. A small hole opened in the air, solid black and perfectly circular. “Have fun!” Luna threw Rainbow Dash through the portal, and it closed behind her immediately.
Rainbow Dash turned around to see the portal had vanished. She looked around to see where she was. It was a large plain, as far as she could see, with a few scattered trees. Overhead the sun sat perfectly in the middle of the sky. She shot off in a direction, hoping to find something, anything.
Hours went by, she continued to fly. After ten hours of nonstop flight she landed next to a tree. She looked up at the sun. It still had not moved from the center of the sky. She laid down under the shade of the tree and began to cry. What had she done? How could she fix this? She continued to cry until she eventually passed out from exhaustion.
> Epilogue: “We're Just Getting Started”
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to the blinding light of the sun that never set. She blinked several times before everything came into focus. To her surprise, in front of her sat Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack. Twilight shook her head. “I should have known it would be you.”
Rainbow Dash was confused. “Wait, what?”
Twilight looked at Pinkie Pie. “So we're almost done now right?”
Pinkie Pie shook her head. “Are you kidding? We're only half way there, and that's if you count me!”
Twilight sighed. “Three? Three more? Really? This is getting to be a serious chore, we spent the last month trying to track this one down.”
Rainbow Dash was getting angry. “What are you two talking about?!”
Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash. “We've been tracking you down, jumping from universe to universe. Do you know how tiring that gets?”
Rainbow Dash shook her head.
“The last three better be easier than this one, because that was ridiculous.”
Pinkie Pie shook her head. “No way, the last one is going to be a doozy.”
Rainbow Dash stood up. “You still haven't told me what's going on!”
Applejack stepped forward and placed a hoof over Rainbow Dash's neck. “Trust me Dash, these two ain't made a lick of sense since I joined them. But let me see if I can catch you up to speed.”