Engessa asked to step away for a moment. The others were puzzled but they let her. She disappeared into a patch of trees. The group saw a blinding light. Then there was silence. After a while they saw a form coming back. When it emerged it was an unicorn stallion in full royal armor with Engessa's colors. The others looked puzzled when the stallion said, "Ah great. I feel better to have that reversed. Ugh!" The others looked in wonder. The stallion chuckled, "Ah don't look that way. It's a little guard spell we have. Changing appearance. Tensions are high since the attempt on the princesses lives so all guards are changing their looks to make it seem we have more guards than we actually do if someone was looking." All of them thought that it was clever, if a bit unsettling.

Celestia was stunned. Equestria? But she was dead for over fifteen-thousand years. The voice seemed to read her thoughts, "Fifteen thousand years, four months and lets see... nine... sixteen, yes, sixteen days to be exact." Celestia was awestruck. "When you are dead you have nothing better to do." Equestria chuckled. "Here, let me try to make this place hold a form."

The light dissipated and instead was a room by a fireplace. Celestia looked again and there was a great light shining by the chess board. Equestria said, "I won't try to hold a form myself as it just drains energy since you already know who I am."

Celestia didn't feel like talking but instead looked again at the chess board. She realized the pieces had changed. Although some still looked like pawns and other pieces some looked like people. The white king was Luna; he white queen was Celestia. While one white rook was plain the other looked like Twilight. Two pawns had become two royal guards. And the black side seemed odd. One piece was cornered by herself and that seemed to be a bishop representation of Nightmare Moon. A large amount of pawns seemed like regular ponies but shrouded in blackness, including the ones surrounding the rook. The rook looked invisible but you could see shimmering in it's place.

Celestia knew what this represented, "The chess board you used as an example to me. But I thought Mother was white."

"Yes. But I didn't understand that I was who was to guide the world. But this is all an example. This isn't what's really happening."

Celestia thought, "Wait if I'm seeing you. I must be..."

Equestria laughed, "No, little sister, just dreaming. A dream I have influenced as you wait out the battle."

Celestia's eyes widened, "Battle?"

Equestria nodded, "You are on the battlefield of one of the many battles of good and evil. But this is much larger scale than the rest. This is a war. The war of the universes. The war that will show no bounds in light and dark spirits. Both fight equal and die equal. Whether they are fueled by the magic or manipulate it as such."

She paused, "The War of the Chaos Theory."

Celestia winced. She knew what Equestria was about to get at. That theory was made by her to get rid of certain people right after the Nightmare Moon incident. "Well let me go so I can lead my people!"

Equestria gave a soft neigh, "Little sister, you haven't been ruling the land well. Why should I let you out? No, we have much to talk about. Others will lead the fight."

The place changed to a court room with Equestria on the judge's seat. "Lets review your major charges."

Rarity walked into the streets. It seemed normal. Everypony was there and seemed happy. Like nothing had happened. Rarity blinked. Something was wrong with this perception she was having.

She rushed out to Twilight's house, expecting it to be empty. She threw open the door and saw her friend busy studying. Twilight turned, "Hello Rarity, what's going on?"

Rarity looked awestruck. Like everything was normal, "What happened since I left you?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow, "Left me? What the hay are you talking about?"

Rarity looked around again, "Where's Shadow?"

Twilight had a concerned look on her face, "Who is Shadow? Rarity, are you okay?"

Rarity didn't feel okay at all. She thought something was wrong. This wasn't Ponyville. It couldn't be.

Amethyst was terrified, simply terrified. He looked at his mother with pity. The mare was a saint. She was always kind as she raised him herself. It was probably a nightmare for her as she brought up her boy as an only parent. You see, Rarity's taste in men may stem from appearances but she was no fool. She knew when a stallion (or man or any other animal depending on where she was) was a scumbag. Or if he was good.

Except for one night. Trixie had convinced her to come with her to Las Vegas in the human's world some four years after the incident. Just that once. It wasn't pretty.

Now I'm not saying Trixie is a drunk... anymore (Tails whipped her into shape during a excursion through the universes they once took many years ago.) But she insisted on stopping on different famous bars. Rarity wasn't adverse to a drink or two but she didn't expect the power of the alcohol she had. Then she realized it was drugged. She ran out and dissapeared.

Trixie said she found her half-undressed in a alleyway the next morning. It was sad but she has been taken and beaten, and um, how to put it lightly, abused. Rarity claims to have no memory of it. Trixie says that it is probably for the best. It was a secret kept by only her and Trixie. But the aftermath was no secret if you looked on her. Rarity moved away for a long time to hide this fact. It was the only time she had ever felt like that.

When Amethyst was just two they returned to Ponyville. Nopony questioned what happened. After a time it became normal and nopony cared about Rarity. Rarity had re-established bonds and restarted her business. All while caring for Amethyst.

He had grown up with only his mother and now seeing a younger her floating helpless under something's control brought tears to his eyes. He could do nothing to return.

Shadow stepped back. He felt there was something wrong about this. Delving into someone's thoughts. Knowing their personal feelings and secrets. But something reassured him. A voice, "Hedgehog, do not fear. Use it to know. Use it to comfort."

Shadow spun around, "Who's there?"

Silence. Then the voice spoke again, "Hedgehog, you are not one of my subjects. Why should I reveal myself to you, dark warrior?"

Shadow felt that he knew who this was. He opened his mouth to speak but he was interrupted, "You need not ask questions. I am Equestria, the the one sent by the Goddess as well as her daughter."

Shadow understood. He didn't feel like saying anything else so he turned back to the computer screen. It once again showed all the ponies and others in the group. He decided to choose Rainbow Dash. To know at least. Her thoughts popped up. It was mostly fun, uplifting things with a occasional unhappy thought. Shadow found that odd, even if she didn't witness the manticore attack. Come to think of it her demeanor never changed even in the worst circumstances, like killing the assassin. She had done it with no sign of remorse. But killing another of your kind should bring great stress if it was a first kill.

Then Shadow got it. It wasn't the first kill.

His mind raced. Now cocky he understood; reckless, yes, but a killer? Then he took a little liberty of trying to find that time. He found a time that would somewhat fit the general feeling. He then realized he wouldn't be able to know the context. It was possibly wasn't something major.

He kept the date in mind and he went out. He selected Twilight next. Two odd options appeared, dream and communicate. Dream seemed odd and Twilights general feeling were cheerful. So he tried it.

"Dream:

Influenced by Equestria.

Has access to fully know what happened in any point in the past."

Shadow thought that that would be useful if he could communicate. So he pressed that button and waited a second.

Twilight's head was swimming with information. She had only gone into recent events but it was magnificent what she discovered. Something formed in the distance and she turned toward it. The figure approached and came to be Shadow, in hedgehog form. She was puzzled on how she could be in one form and he another. Let alone how he got here. When he came up he saw the look and he chuckled, "Ah, my little pony, didn't expect me here?"

Twilight gave a jump, 'Wait! Your wounds! They are gone! And if I'm seeing you then we are both-"

Shadow shook his head, "Not dead, dreaming. I think. To tell the truth I only know you are. I might be dead for all I know. But never mind that."

Twilight found it hard to just "Never mind that." How could you say that after just saying you are possibly dead? "What are you doing here?"

Shadow nodded, "Well a little birdie told me your dream was influenced by Equestria to let you see any point in time vividly."

The filly nodded cautiously but then stopped, "Wait, Equestria? Who the hay is Equestria?"

Shadow looked at her in a puzzled manner for once, "You know Celestia and Luna's sister?"

Twilight shook her head, "They never had one." Then she stopped, "Oh you mean that Equestria! Shadow, you do know it's an old pony tale."

Shadow opened his mouth but then the voice said, "I really don't like being called an old pony tale you know"

Shadow was annoyed to say the least, "Will this become a regular thing with you? Interrupting me every other time I open my mouth to talk to about you [censored by Equestria]it!... Oh great you are going to do that too! Sheesh!"

Twilight wasn't exactly as rude, "Yo- You're Equestria?"

The voice laughed, "Shadow, take a joke. I've been dead fifteen thousand years, let me have some fun."

Shadow grumbled, "Like elder like younger."

Twilight asked again, "You are Equestria?"

The voice was silent for a moment, "No, Twilight, I'm Santa Claus. Ho ho ho."

Twilight didn't take kindly to this voice mocking her, "I would expect someone a bit more regal to be watching over me."

The voice laughed, "Well, I'm what ya got. Seriously lighten up. There is a war going on and you're on the most important battlefield. Be happy!"

Both Twilight and Shadow said at the same time, "How is that supposed to encourage us?"

Equestria seemed to be thinking, "Because I'm your general?"

Shadow rolled his eyes, "Oh we feel much better."

The voice sighed, "Why couldn't a fun pony like Pinky Pie come here first? But nooo I got Mr. and Ms. Serious. You guys are no fun."

Twilight cleared her throat, "Is there a purpose to you coming here?"

The voice laughed, "Oh, Twilight, not everything has a purpose. But I will come back soon with one." With that the voice became absolutely silent.

Shadow breathed a sigh of relief.

Twilight lay still for a moment. "Did you have a purpose for coming here?"

Shadow nodded, "I have a few dates that might interest you."

Twilight flipped her mane back, "Let's hear 'em"

Celestia looked at her sister in shock, "What are you doing!"

Equestria sighed, "Sister, I have to say you disappointed me."

"How? How did I disappoint you? Tell me."

The world shifted to reveal Celestia just a few years after Equestria died.

Young Celestia looked out over all the land. She was extremely sad. The past four years had been nightmares. Her people didn't respect her and worse, resented her. They didn't trust their new head princess ever since the incident many years back. You would think they would forgive and forget. But no. Well she had an idea. It was night and Luna had just taken charge so she slipped away.

All through the night in every land books about the times before her reign were taken and destroyed. Celestia knew that in due time everyone would forget her mistakes.

But her older self knew that that was the greatest mistake she had made. It worked and nopony knew about her mistakes prior in due time. But nopony knew of the golden age either. It had shifted the greatest times into the realm of fiction in just a few generations.

Celestia cried out, "I was young. I didn't know better."

Equestria gave her a stern look, "You were over ten thousand years old then, Celestia. I don't want that excuse. Even if your Coming was only a few years before. It doesn't excuse you."

Then the scene shifted again. Luna was in her room crying. Celestia was in a horrible mood and yelled and screamed at her. This was the last straw. She had put up with it long enough. For almost five hundred years she had to listen to her sister complain and yell at her for things she couldn't do anything about. Then insult her handiwork in the night sky.

She was going to revolt. She had gathered supporters among nobles, guards and commoners alike. Now she was going to overthrow her sister at the day before the summer sun celebration. She called in loyal guards to prepare her transport.

Celestia winced as the scene changed again. She was in the battle of the two sisters. It had already destroyed the temple and now had moved outside the Everfree to the castle itself. Nightmare Moon and her army was winning. Celestia winced, it was the morning of the summer sun celebration. And the Five-hundredth anniversary of her reign. Now was the time. She readied the elements to seal her own creation. Nightmare Moon appeared behind her. Brief dialogue was exchanged but Celestia couldn't hear it. Her younger self slowly slipped toward the elements but something obstructed her view and she couldn't see what was happening.

The scene changed once more to her standing over the balcony of the castle. She heard herself say, "Henceforth, the wise men have come to this: Those who have control over the Cha-O type magic are inherently evil. The conspirators are to be banished and any black magi are to go with them if you know whats good for you."

Celestia welled in tears. She had been foolish and brash. Annoyed at the slightest thing. Even later she put out things that made all this pass into a old pony tale like incorrect information on how things were run. She was upset at her sister when she should have been toward herself. Celestia lay down as the scene changed into the court room once again.

And she began to cry.