Standing side-by-side in the elevator rising back up, Twilight noticed a number of flowers hanging from her mother's arm.
"Dandelions and roses... big date tonight?" Twilight inquired, trying to make small talk.
"Oh these are for my husband," Night Velvet explained. "A peace offering of sorts. He's been so worried about me... because of... well, you know..." she laid a hoof over her tummy, and Twilight realized she must have been pregnant. Not very far along, but... Twilight was literally standing mere feet away from her pre-birth self. The paradoxical implications were mind-boggling.
"Oh! C-congratulations," she said shakily.
"Thank you."
"If you don't mind me asking, how far along are you?"
"Oh, not that far, just... early stages, I think."
"That's nice," Twilight said. "I have a little filly of my own," she declared impulsively. Your grandfilly, she wanted to say, but mercifully kept the thought to herself.
"That's sweet. I'm kinda hoping for a little colt myself. Less chance she'd turn out exactly like me."
Her future daughter looked at her in some surprise. "What'd be so awful about that?"
"Let's just say that... the greater good... has rarely outweighed my own self-interests."
Absorbing that little tidbit, Twilight wondered why she would think that. Night Velvet was a legend even in the future, one of the founding members of BARDING, taught her almost everything she'd known about magic and technology, and here she was doubting herself. Could it be she had self-doubts and recriminations against herself... just like Twilight did?
Applejack again resisted the urge to whistle innocently as she trotted out of the office, keeping her hat down low to obscure her features. She paused, however, as she spotted a large contingent of guards coming her way. The odds of them being looking for her, specifically, was remote, but she didn't want to take a chance. She side-skeedadled into a nearby office to get out of sight until they passed.
She found herself in an office of some kind, and thankfully an empty one. Not anxious to get back in the halls with trouble nearby, Applejack paused as she spotted something on the nearby desk... a photo of herself... and not just any self... her pre-serum, pre-Captain Equestria self. The scrawny little weak earth pony who couldn't buck a tree to save her life. But why would have such a photo on their desk? Sure, images of Captain Equestria sold like hot cakes everywhere... but... Applejack herself?
Only one person AJ knew would have a photo like that.
Of course she'd be here too.
Peering through the shades of the office into another room, a lit conference room of some kind, Applejack felt her jaw slacken as she saw a young Apple Smith on the other side, speaking into a phone, blissfully unaware of who was inside of her own office. She looked so young... Applejack well remembered when she'd last seen her, insisting on being called "Granny Smith" and then her funeral... but here... here she was in the prime of her life. All set for all sorts of adventures with the fledgling BARDING organizations.
If Applejack wanted to... she could push open that door separating them... and finally give her that apology she owed her. From so very, very long ago.
It was tempting. So very tempting.
Applejack turned and trotted out of the room, figuring by now the guards would be gone. As she tugged back her hat down low over her face, a single tear sparkled in the corner of her eye. Her past was past, and despite all they'd done, there was no way she could go back. Not like this.
Not yet, at least.
"So, where are you with names?" asked Twilight, trying to keep the conversation going but not quite sure what to say.
"Well, if it's a boy, my husband was thinking of Shining Armor," Night Velvet explained.
The irony nearly made Twilight wince. "That's... not bad," she conceeded.
Night Velvet turned to regard her. "Let me ask you a question... when your kid was born, were you nervous?"
"Oh, totally," Twilight said, well aware of just how freaked out she was. Timber Spruce, to this day, refused to speak of that night.
"Did you feel qualified? Like you had any idea how to... successfully...?"
"I literally just pieced it together as I went along," Twilight said. "I mean, I drew up charts, I researched, I made checklists, but at the end of the day... I just winged it. I thought about... about my mother... she... she was a hard on me but... looking back now, I just remember the good things. She dropped the occasional pearl of wisdom."
"Oh? Like what?"
Thinking fast, Twilight remembered a truly good one. "Magic cannot solve everything, but friends make anything better."
Night Velvet smiled. "She must have been very wise, your mom."
"She did her best," Twilight responded instinctively. And, after a moment, realized it was true. Seeing her, right here in front of her, Twilight realized she was just as lost as she'd been. Made so many mistakes, just like she had with being Flurry Heart, and probably still would. But that didn't change the love shared between a mother and daughter. It really had come full circle, and she was still reeling from it.
The two of them emerged from the barn and back onto the farm-slash-military installation. Twilight caught a glimpse of Applejack by some apple crates, giving a nod when she caught the alicorn's eye. Her part of the mission complete then. Twilight's likewise. Honestly, the fewest bumps around, this time around.
Night Velvet reached her carriage.
"Well, let me tell you, kid's not even here yet, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for them. It was nice meeting you, Miss Twinkle," she said, offering a hoof.
Twilight regarded it, then, unable to contain herself, stepped forward and wrapped her hooves around Velvet's neck, giving her mom a hug. "... everything's gonna be alright," Twilight said, as the startled mare just let her hug, unsure of what to do. "Thank you... uh, for everything... t-that you've done for Equestria, I mean."
"Uh, sure. You're quite welcome," Velvet said.
Twilight weakly tossed off a smile and a salute before trotting over to Applejack, as Velvet just regarded her with a confused air. Around the carriage trotted up the family butler. Still watching the purple alicorn trot off, Velvet quietly asked him, "Do we know that mare?"
He followed her look, then gave a shrug, not recognizing her. "We know a lot of ponies," he said non-commitedly.
"Just seemed... familiar," she remarked, before shrugging and climbing into the carriage. The family butler attached himself to the front to lead it along, as Night Velvet settled in comfortably, thinking about her latest projects, but also her upcoming time with her husband. She owed the poor stallion a lot for putting up with her and waiting so many nights without her. She settled in comfortably for the ride.
And in the back of her carriage, beside Velvet on the seat, was the Smarty Pants doll she'd bought for her soon-to-be-born child.
Having no idea of the destiny that lay ahead of them.
Moondancer was flung to the floor, nearly dislodging her glasses. She took a moment to straighten them as her counterpart trotted over to her, glaring down.
"You're weak."
"I'm you," Moondancer retorted.
Her younger self kicked her in the face, sending her sprawling again. Tempest Shadow watched from the doorway, obstensibly to ensure her sister was fine and this imposter did not escape. But the more she watched... the more intrigued she became.
"You can stop this," the new Moondancer pleaded. "You know you want to." Seeing she was gaining no ground with her past self, she turned to Tempest Shadow instead, her sister. The one lost to her, now returned. She'd stepped away from the path of Darkness once, perhaps she could do so again. "Did you see what happens to you in the future? Grogar finds the Element of Generosity. You know how he does that? You know what he does to you?"
The Moondancer of the past slapped her face hard, knocking off her glasses entirely.
"Enough. You disgust me."
Frowning, her younger self trotted over to the side.
"But that doesn't mean you're useless," she said, holding up the broken glasses with a thoughtful look.
Hollow Shades was just as desolate and dark as it would be half a decade later when Grogar and Tempest would come to seek the Element of Generosity. The Colotorara landed, and out stepped Derpy and Rarity, grim-faced and determined. Their guide to alien planets had done their best to provide coordinates, but at the moment, all they had to look forward to was a deep, dark climb down into the earth.
"I wonder if the rabbit would enjoy spelunking down here," Derpy said. She then smiled dopily. "That's a fun word. Speeeluuunkiiing."
Rarity grimaced as she kicked another small rock but accident, positive she was going to chip a hoof. "Yes dear, certainly. You are aware that the ironically named Angel is in fact not a real rabbit, right?"
The two mares bantered back and forth casually, until a shadow fell over them, and they instinctively tensed.
"Welcome," intoned a cold voice, seemingly echoing on the wind. Something flitted out from behind a nearby rock outcropping, as Rarity held up her hooves and Derpy drew back her bow. Some creature drifted towards them, made of smoke and shadows, taking the form of an alicorn nearly as big as Grogar.
"Welcome, Rarity, Daughter of Cookie Crumble. Welcome, Derpy, Daughter of Trouble Shoes."
The two mares exchanged a glance.
"Who... what are you?" asked Rarity, with some trepditation.
"Consider me a guide. To you, and to all who seek the Element of Generosity."
Another shared look, then Derpy instantly relaxed her bow. "Oh, great. You can tell us where it is, we'll just grab it and get out of your mane."
The shadowy figure seemed almost faintly amused, but his tone was anything but. "If only it was that easy."
Once again (or was it for the first time?) the Pony of Shadows led a pair of ponies deeper into the earth, through an interconnecting series of tunnels and caves. So deep and dark it was like stepping into the Hollow Shades. Until finally they reached the chamber of darkness, and the deep well of darkness in its center. The images of the four alicorns gazed down upon them as Derpy and Rarity stepped within.
"What you seek lies in front of you... as does what you fear," Stygian explained, pointing a hoof at the well.
"The element is down there?" asked Derpy, peering down into the well, albeit from a cautious distance.
"For one of you," the shadowy spectre replied. "For the other... in order to take the Element of Generosity, you must lose that which you love. An equivalent exchange. For the ultimate gift..."
He trailed off as his hollow gaze swept over Derpy and Rarity, who exchanged a look. "... the ultimate sacrifice."
Sat on the throne in the center of his shift, Grogar watched as a Moondancer approached him, wearing broken glasses connected with tape, and wearing a heavy, ugly sweater. The features of the future Moondancer, the one who'd betrayed him and tried to kill him. Still, the mad goat remained still, watching with a casual, almost idle curiousity as she approached his throne... and kneeled before him in supplication.
"How do I look, father?" she asked, a small smile playing on her features.
"Exactly like your duplicate," he replied. Yes, this was his Moondancer.
One who had yet to betray him, and now never would.
Instead, she would be his instrument of victory.
"... maybe he's exaggerating?" Derpy suggested.
Rarity shook her head. "No, I don't think so somehow. Which means..."
"... yeah."
The Pony of Shadows watched silently as the two of them regarded one another, myriad emotions playing out across their faces. Finally, Rarity hauled herself to her hooves. "If we don't get that Element, billions of creatures will die... including your family."
"Then I guess we both know who it's gotta be," Derpy said evenly.
"I guess we do," Rarity replied, her voice equally calm.
The two of them clasped hooves, giving a gentle little tug on each other's. They'd been through a lot together. Working for BARDING, becoming super spies, then full fledged Avengers. Before that Derpy had been in the circus, and Rarity had been all but born an assassin, then fallen into the role of a fashionista a little too deeply. But now, here and now, they'd reached a point in their lives where they couldn't go on without the other. Problem was...
"..." Their tugging grew a little more insistent after a moment, and the friendly, 'farewell' sorts of looks they had in their eyes changed as their grip tightened.
"I'm starting to think we're talking about different ponies, Rarity," Derpy finally managed to say in a tense sort of voice.
Rarity nodded slowly. "Darling, please... let's not make this more difficult than it has to be. I've been trying to do one thing for the last five years... get us here. Get everybody back. Including your family."
"Rarity, no..."
The pale unicorn shook her head. "I mean, of course I don't actually want to do it... but this is your family we're talking about. Yours. Not mine. And it never will be, now, I guess..."
"Rarity...!"
"So naturally I can't let you do this!"
Derpy caught her with her hooves, grabbing Rarity by the shoulders. "Rarity I can't ask this of you. You... you know what I've done. What I've become."
"I don't judge people by their worst mistakes," she replied evenly.
"Maybe you should."
Rarity shook her head, gently pushing away the other mare's hooves. "You didn't. When you found me I was just as guilty. More so."
Derpy managed a faint smile, her eyes already going a little lopsided. "Alright... you win," she said.
Seconds before her head, rather thick-skulled, came smashing into Rarity's just below her horn. Rarity staggered back.
"Tell my muffin her mommy loves her."
The blow stunned the white unicorn, but it didn't stop her from tackling Derpy bodily before she could launch herself into the nearby well. "You can tell them yourself!" Rarity exclaimed, jabbing a hoof into Derpy's neck and setting off one of her electrical braelets, shocking the blonde mare until her mane stood on end. Rarity scrambled to her hooves to jump before Derpy could stop her, but the wall-eyed mare tossed out a bola that bound Rarity's hind legs. It missed both, but it caught one, and Rarity stumbled, allowing Derpy to make a dive for the well. Rarity grimaced, hanging upside down, but expertly timed a grab for Derpy's hind leg, yanking her back from oblivion with seconds to spare.
It also nearly wrenched her leg out of her socket, but she grimly held on. By contrast, Derpy just held there, gazing up at Rarity sadly.
"Rarity, let me go."
"No! We'll find another way!" she protested. Her muscles shrieked in protest at the strain of Derpy's weight, but Rarity simply could not let go.
"There isn't time, and we both know there isn't another way," Derpy said, her gaze solemn. "Just let me go. Please."
"I won't!"
"You have to."
"I can't!" protested the fashionista assassin. "Derpy don't make me do this!"
"I'm not. You're letting me do this. Let me save my muffin."
Put like that, Rarity felt her body slacken. And she lost her grip entirely when a hoof pressed against her muzzle in a soft gesture of affection.
"Boop."
Rarity let go, and Derpy folded her feathered wings in tight by her sides, letting gravity claim her. Rarity could only watch in horror as Derpy made the ultimate sacrifice for her family, for her friends, and for the universe of life she loved. She'd lost her way, and then she'd found it again. She vanished into the shadows of the pool, far, far below. Never to be seen again.
Darkness washed over the entire chamber, blanket it in shadow as Rarity felt an awful sensation of moving, her eyes closing as hot tears streamed down her cheeks, and then a wave of power washed over her. When her eyes open, she found herself back on the surface of Hollow Shades, sitting on the edge of a rocky outcropping. Right where the Colotorara had landed. And there, resting beside her hoof... she picked it up in her telekinetic grasp to hold it before her eyes and be sure... was the Element of Generosity, a perfect purple diamond.
Looking closer, Rarity saw within a reflection of a pony in the shimmering violet stone. A gray mare with an expression of peace on her face. Then her image vanished, leaving only the Element.
Rarity wept quietly for the mare who'd made the ultimate sacrifice, and thus shown the greatest generosity she'd ever known, for the sake of her family.
Authors Notes:
I've had a DEVIL of a time finding a suitable Peggy Carter for my story. Most of Applejack's extended cast are her family, for crying out loud, and she's easily the least romantically interested of all the ponies on the show. In the end, chose Granny Smith, on the belief that, she would have been awesomely cool as a young lady. So in this continuity, AJ and Granny are NOT related. What I'll do with the rest, we'll see.
And yes, a last minute switcharoo. Much as fan beloved Derpy set up the story, I always felt it odd Black Widow died instead of Hawkeye on Vormir, and thus did a little switcharoo, so that Rarity could find her Element, so to speak. Also something of a mythology gag to her sacrifice in the 2017 movie that saved Twilight Sparkle (and in effect, the whole film).