https://web.archive.org/web/20191101035411/https://mlpol.net/mlpol/res/246542.html#248987 >you are Anonymous Shitposter, free agent of home improvement >looking back on the past 13 years or so, since you first woke up in Ponyville, you realize now that they've been the best of your life >even the 10 years since Twilight moved to Canterlot and stopped dragging you into whacky adventures >you have to admit, pony society is structured in such a way that it's all but impossible not to feel a purpose in your life >for example, the emphasis on finding a "special talent" >with your hands, you're almost a dextrous as a unicorn >and with your lower-middle class upbringing, you're almost as unafraid of hard work as an earth pony >hence, you ended up fitting very nicely into the niche of home improvement work >still, you've been thinking lately >things have seemed just a tad less nice around Ponyville >for example, now, as you're on your way to get a fresh coat of paint on Ruby Ring's jewelry shop >"Hey! Watch where you're going!" >you jump a bit and look down >a kirin is scowling up at you, her mane - quite literally - on fire with anger "Ah, sorry. Didn't see you there." >"Ever tried looking down, you big freak?" >the serpentine horse-creature stalks away >you sigh >yep >these new "creatures" seem to like you a whole lot less than the ponies generally have over the years >probably best not to pick a fight with a literal monster that could burn down the whole town if you pissed it off enough though >you pick up your paint can and keep on walking >only to jump again >a massive, purple explosion can be seen blossoming in the center of town "Holy shit!" >that's… >that's the friendship school that just blew up >Princesses Celestia and Luna, whom you've heard nothing whatsoever about in at least 7 years now, descend upon the scene and begin firing magic bolts at some unseen adversary "Holy shit!" >they subdue their opponent and fly away with their target in tow, immobilized and levitated by glowing chains of yellow and blue >and their prisoner is none other than Twilight herself! "Holy fuck!" >you stand motionless as you watch the trio disappear among the city atop Canterlot Mountain >and you stand motionless for a good while longer, too >finally, you're snapped out of it by a swirl of green flame >a scroll materializes before you >you catch it >unfurl it >and read it >"Meet me in Canterlot Castle ASAP. ~ Twilight" >you drop the paint bucket on the ground and break into a run for the train station >there's a train scheduled to leave for Canterlot soon >but it's not leaving for another 20 minutes >no matter, you can change that >dashing onto the train, you run forward through the cars til you reach the engine >the engineer - a dragon - looks up at you with a bored expression >you wave the scroll in his face "Hey, the princess needs me in Canterlot yesterday. Can we take off now?" >the dragon shrugs >"What's your namby-pamby pony princess to me?" >fuck you'd throttle this faggot if you didn't need him to drive the train >instead, you reach into the coin pouch of your toolbelt and start throwing bits at him "Go, scalenigger, go!" >the dragon eyes the gold coins on the floor and shrugs again >"Well, if it's that important to you." >the engineer wraps his claws around the controls and takes off hard >the sudden acceleration knocks you off your feet >the dragon chuckles >"Might wanna take a seat, sir. I'm going at top speed just for you." "Th-thanks." >you pick your way back to a passenger car >sit down >and wait >what the fuck was that explosion? >why did the old princesses take Twilight away in chains? >if Twilight is a prisoner, how did she send you that scroll? >and what in the world could she need you for? >finally, the train screeches to a halt in Canterlot >you dash off the train and sprint to the street >the street is a bit too crowded to move as fast as you'd like though >but you squirm and weave through the crowd as quickly as you're able >it'd be nice if there were less gigantic fucking yaks on this street >"Hey! Watch where you go, Kluge monster!" >hurried though you are, you take a moment to internally seethe >if there's one thing you hate more than the monster-folk from Kluge Town >it's the blind fucking niggers who mistake you for the monster-folk from Kluge Town >at last, you break through the crowd and jog up the steps to the castle >you call out to the guards on your way up "Hey! I need to get in there!" >a gryphon guard slowly blinks at your approach >"Got an appointment, buddy?" >you flash the scroll and point at the royal seal "Yeah." >the gryphon's eyes widen a bit >"Yeah all right, I'll let you in. Just a second." >the guard takes his badge in his talon and presses it against the door >you don't wait for the guard to finish speaking before you run inside as fast as you can >"All right, you're- whoah!" >Spike is waiting for you in the main foyer >"Anon, you're here! Follow me, I'll take you to the conference room." >Spike leads you to a room with a large, round table in the middle of it >seated at the table are all five of Twilight's closest friends >the four remaining Pillars of Equestria >Starswirl and Mistmane, of course, passed away a few years ago >the six creatures who came to be known as "the student six" 10 years ago >and Zecora is there too >at the front of the room, Twilight stands and stares blankly into her own deep thoughts >behind her stand Princesses Celestia and Luna >between them, imprisoned in magical chains, stands… >Twilight? >but this Twilight doesn't look quite right >she seems so skinny >you can see her ribs >the tip of her ethereal mane had faded to a dull grey >and there's a noticeable crack in her horn >you just stare at her >Spike flies over to the normal, healthy-looking Twilight, whispers in her ear, and points at you >normal Twilight looks up and addresses you /"Anon, you're here. It's good to see you. Please, have a seat. We'll get started in a moment." >you stop staring at Skinny Twilight and clear your throat "Y-yeah. Sure." >the only seat left is the one between Smoulder and Rockhoof >once you're seated, Twilight closes her eyes >and takes a deep breath /"Okay. To my friends, my fellow princesses, and the pillars, you all are here because, once again, I'm faced with a difficult decision and I need your advice." >Twilight hesitates before proceeding /"To the nine non-ponies in the room, you all are here because the decision I am faced with directly concerns all non-ponies, and you nine are the non-ponies I know best. And Sandbar, of course, is here because whatever concerns his friends concerns him as well." >Sandbar's hoof clutches Yona's on top of the table /"The mare you see behind me was apprehended today after destroying the School of Friendship. Nocreature was killed, but my dear friend Starlight Glimmer is in critical condition at Ponyville General Hospital." >Skinny Twilight bows her head <"She was my friend too." >Twilight glares at Skinny Twilight before proceeding /"The story this mare has to tell you all is somewhat fantastical in nature. Unfortunately, however, I have not yet found any reason to disbelieve it. When she's told you everything, we will make our decision." >Twilight moves behind Skinny Twilight >and Skinny Twilight clears her throat to speak <"In short, I am Princess Twilight Sparkle from about 200 years into the future. It hurt me, more than you know, to attack the School of Friendship, but…" >Skinny Twilight squeezes her eyes shut tight for a moment before continuing <"It had to be done. To save Equestria." >Smoulder raises her claw >"Uh, why?" <"Ah, to put it… delicately… the Equestria where I come from is a place where ponies only make up about 40% of the population." >Sandbar leaps out of his seat >"Well why should that matter? As long as everycreature believes in friendship, who cares where they come from?" >oh no… >13 years ago, you had breathed a sigh of relief >you thought you'd escaped the demographic crises of Earth once and for all >but now… >Skinny Twilight bows her head sadly <"That's just it, Sandbar. The thing is, most creatures, whether they're yaks or gryphons or changelings… or even ponies… most of them can never really understand the finer points of friendship. I've learned this the hard way." >Sandbar slowly sits down >"Wh… what's that supposed to mean?!" <"I mean… there are aspects of friendship that can't really be taught in a school. Finer points that you just can't outline in some lesson plan. You have to feel it for yourself. Everycreature in this room understands it pretty well, but most… well, let me put it to you this way. Cozy Glow was a student at the School of Magic." >regular Twilight begins to sputter /"How… how… how dare you-" <"It's true. And you know it. I'm the proof. The Equestria I've just come from has been completely torn apart by civil war." >Rockhoof slams the table >"How could tha' be?!" <"In short, the non-ponies want the ponies out of Equestria." >Yona gasps >"B-but why?! Yona no want ponies gone! Yona love ponies!" <"I don't know why. I used to think like Sandbar, that it didn't matter where a creature came from. But I wasn't listening. One day, a yak was trampling foals. The next, a mob of niriks was setting fire to Fillydelphia." >Ocellus interjects >"You mean kirins, right?" >Skinny Twilight's eyes grow hollow <"No. There haven't been any kirins in my Equestria for decades. They're all niriks, all the time. They just got so angry. Everycreature just got so angry. It started with brawls. Then there were riots. And then, there was a war." >nobody can think of anything to interrupt Skinny Twilight with at that <"I don't know how it started. I probably just wasn't paying attention. One day, there was just an army of non-ponies based out of the Everfree Forest, and they started taking land for themselves. Next, the Black Forest seceded from Equestria, and they started conquering land as well, kicking out all the non-ponies wherever they went. Most of those fled to the Everfree Forest." >Skinny Twilight shakes her head <"It's been 10 long, hard years. All that's left of Equestria is Canterlot and Ponyville. And Ponyville is constantly under siege from the Everfree Forest. And the Black Forest is slowly losing ground to the non-ponies. In short, Equestria is finished. In a few decades, ponies will be finished. I came here to change that." >utter >fucking >silence >but a thought creeps into your head "But you didn't change it. You're still here, so your future hasn't changed yet." >Skinny Twilight nods <"That's right. My best guess is, in the timeline as it is now, the School of Friendship will be rebuilt. That is a mistake. The School of Friendship is the number one gateway for non-ponies into Equestria, and will be so for decades to come. It needs to stay gone to prevent the civil war." >Spike's wings flare in shock >"And what, we just give up on friendship?!" >the room explodes into a cacophany >"M-maybe we should just go back to our homelands." >"Yona no want to go home! Yona want to stay with her friends!" >"Doesn't everycreature deserve a chance to come to Equestria?" >"Yeah, but ponies deserve to live in Equestria too, and they don't have anywhere else to go!" "Ahem! I have a question!" >the arguing creatures grow quiet "Why didn't you just go back to 10 years ago and convince yourself not to found the school in the first place? It seems like the best way to fix the future, with minimal tears in the present." >Gallus explodes >"And just make it so the past 10 years never even happened?!" >Skinny Twilight's eyes begin to shine with lurking tears <"I… I couldn't. I just couldn't erase it completely! The school did so much good at first. Those six creatures sitting next to you… Graduates from the School of Friendship really did succeed in teaching their homelands about friendship! The Dragonlands and Griffonstone especially benefitted from the school!" "But Equestria didn't." >Gallus tries to reach across Smoulder to get at you >"You're only saying that because you'd get to stay in Equestria whether the school got founded or not! You think you're a pony, Anon, but you're not!" >the room erupts into a verbal free-for-all once more >you bury your face into your hands >maybe you shouldn't have said anything >of course, the little feathernigger is right >you're not a pony >but fuck, everything feels so wrong! >the assembled ponies and creatures at the table continue to shout over each other >Zecora, to her credit, is silent >the princesses, too, with the exception of present-Twilight, gaze on in a sad silence >and you, of course, say nothing as you gather your thoughts and feelings >when you were younger, and living on Earth, you used to promote rather extreme solutions to its demographic crises to anyone who would listen >but there are reasons why there were so few who would listen >in the first place, the forcible removal, lethal or otherwise, of millions of people is impractically difficult >that's how you knew that historical claims like the so-called "holocaust" were exaggerations at most >but after more than a decade of living among these lovable ponies, you've begun to think somewhat less practically >and as a result, you eventually did realize the real reason why nobody wants to hear of violent solutions to population problems >no matter how many facts, stats, and well-cited arguments you can present >no matter how obviously necessary violence is >even the most hardened souls grow queasy at the thought of bringing harm to individuals who haven't personally harmed anyone themselves >hell, even going too hard on those who have caused harm can be an uncomfortable thought >and that's to say nothing of millions of people >of course, when things get bad enough, such qualms will inevitably dissolve >it's going to happen right here in Equestria about 200 years from now, apparently >but that's still a long way off >and by then, it will probably be too late >of course, there's one more obvious reason why you can't suggest anything too drastic >specifically, you'd have to be expelled from the country as well, if all non-ponies ended up having to leave >that's obviously not something you want >there's just one thing about all this that's frustrating you >this Twilight from the future holds in her brain a way to save her nation without any violence >she could literally go back in time and stop the floodgates from ever being opened in the first place >but instead of doing that, she chose to show up a decade after the gates were opened and blow up her friend in a failed attempt to re-shut them >it's nonsensical, no matter how much good she claims the school did in its early years >you've got to make the case for a time travel solution >and you've got to convince them this time >you take advantage of your height to stand up and get everyone's attention "Look. I know first-hand what future-Twilight is talking about. I came from a multi-racial society too." >all right, that's good >they actually shut up and started listening "And Twilight. Twilights. I've explained it to you before. Things weren't quite as bad as civil war yet, but they were sliding downhill fast. And I have a lot more in common with a non-White human than you do with a non-pony creature." >Smoulder crosses her claws >"You know, I really don't like the way you say 'creature.'" >you ignore her "I'm telling you, there's a crisis on the way, and you have an opportunity to stop it that my world never had. You have magic. You have time travel spells. You can go back in time and nip this problem before it has a chance to get started. You can go back and tell yourself to never found the school in the first place." >Gallus' claw tightens to a fist >"But that's not fair. We would never have come to Equestria and become the creatures we are today without the School of Friendship! How would you like it if I stood up here and started talking about how humans needed to be kicked out of Equestria?" <"Humans never really get to be an issue. Anon dies in about 50 years without ever reproducing, and that's the end of humans in this world." >the glares you're getting from the diversity squad tell you that Skinny Twilight's interjection was less than helpful "And, and, and that's a good example of how this crisis is gonna work. I'm just one guy, and I can't single-handedly change this place. But if there were millions of humans running around, that would be horrible for this place. Again, Twilights, I've told you about some of the philosophies that were popular in the world I grew up with. Nihilism, cynicism, hedonism. And you couldn't understand what the fuck I was talking about. But if there were millions of humans here, these ideas would start to effect ponies. And this whole high-trust friendship society that ponies have created would die." >you point at Skinny Twilight "I bet that's about what happened, isn't it? Nobody trusts anyone, and nobody believes in friendship anymore, right?" >Skinny Twilight nods <"That's about right. I won't necessarily claim to know why, though." "Well I'll take a guess. You've got all these different creatures, with their different cultures and beliefs that sprung up to suit their needs in their homelands, and they're all clashing here in Equestria. Take… take dragons, for example. Take that Hearth's Warming tale they've got." >Smoulder raises a claw >"Feast of Fire tale." "Okay, Feast of Fire tale. That one story about the dragon who overthrows the Dragon Lord for being nice to her. Does that story make any sense to anyone here who didn't grow up in the Dragonlands?" >sixteen heads shake "no" "Well, that's what dragons grow up with. That's what little dragon hatchlings are taught to believe while they're growing up." >Smoulder breathes smoke >"But that's not fair! I don't think like that anymore!" "Okay, well you're one dragon. Suppose there's another dragon who does still think like that. Suppose he's a fully-grown dragon. You know, one of those ancient fuckers who's older than Equestria and big enough to swallow a yak whole. Suppose he moves to Equestria and gets it into his head that Princess Twilight is just like the Dragon Lord from that story. He could cause some pretty big problems, yeah?" >Skinny Twilight shudders <"Inferno the Black. He did cause some big problems." "Here's what I'm getting at. The more foreigners you let into Equestria, the less they're going to respect pony culture. The less they're going to respect ponies in general. That's what kills trust. That's what kills friendship." >you send a brutal knife-hand in Skinny Twilight's direction "And that's what kills Twilight." >the ponies and creatures think about that for a second "Twilight. Present-Twilight. We're still friends, right? You still think of me as a friend, don't you?" /"Of course. Of course you're my friend, Anon." "That's good. I'm glad. I like to think of you as my friend too. And I don't want her-" >a nod at Skinny Twilight "To be you. You deserve better than that." >you look around the room, being careful to meet everyone's eye "We're all Twilight's friends, aren't we? Does anyone want our Twilight to turn into that future-Twilight? Look at her. She's only a little over 200 years old, and already she looks three times older than Celestia over there, clocking in at a little over 2000." >you sigh, feeling very tired >feeling very ready to wrap up what you're saying with one last point before sitting back down >so you take your last point from your heart "Look. I'm not gonna be alive in 200 years. I'm not gonna have any descendants in 200 years. My only stake in what happens 200 years from now is Twilight. I want her to be happy for a long, long time. We all want that, right?" >uncomfortable nods ripple over the table "All right. So let's have future-Twilight go back in time to stop the school from being built. It's the most peaceful way, and the most sure way, to keep Equestria a land of friendship for centuries to come." >with that >you slump back into your seat >Skinny Twilight is the first one to speak <"Well, I can't actually go back in time myself right now. My horn was cracked when I was… apprehended. I can't safely use that kind of magic right now." >Twilight frowns /"You… you said that in a few decades from your time, ponies would be finished, right?" >Skinny Twilight nods slowly >Twilight closes her eyes >inhales deeply >and looks at her future self with sad eyes /"Could you teach me the time travel spell you used?" >you can hear Smoulder's breathing growing shaky next to you >but the dragon holds her peace <"I'm afraid you're still a bit young for the particular spell that I used." >and after a brief silence >Celestia clears her throat >"But I am not." <"That's true. You could cast it." >"Of course, though you ruled Equestria in the future, and I in the past, the present ruler of Equestria is this Twilight here. It's her decision." <"Of course." >Twilight's gaze passes from her old heroes >to her old friends >and her old students >and she speaks /"Do it." >Yona gasps >"But… but Yona no want to lose her friends!" "You shouldn't have to. While they're discussing the spell… I'll… I'll think of something." >Twilight closes her eyes >and her horn starts to glow >for a while, the only sound in the room is the whispered discussion between Celestia and Skinny Twilight >but eventually, that dies down as well >everyone in the room waits with baited breath for Twilight to do or say something >finally, streams of purple magic trickle from her horn to the far corners of the room >there's a flash of blinding white light >but when it passes, Twilight's eyes are open /"With the spell I've just cast, everycreature in this room will retain their memories of the past 10 years." >with something wet sliding down her cheeks, she looks at her old students /"I want you six especially to remember everything you've learned, and to stay friends, okay? Don't give up on friendship. There's still so much we all need to learn from you." >Twilight nods her approval at Celestia >and Celestia's horn glows with a primal, white light >but she never finishes the spell >with a flash of purple, somebody new enters the room ^"Stop! Do not cast that spell!" >the mare who's just entered the room is Skinny Twilight's opposite in every respect >her rippling muscles bulge and twitch as she glares down at Celestia >her mane, with the exception her trademark pink and purple highlights, flows with the absolute blackness of midnight >and her eyes - alive with emotion - emanate an unsavory, green smoke >you're going to call her Buff Twilight ^"I'm Twilight Sparkle from 150 years into the future. The instant you committed to casting that spell, the timeline changed, and let me tell you right now, it isn't any better." >Skinny Twilight's eyes come to life for the first time since you've seen her as they fill with fear and shock <"But if the timeline changed, then... you should be me! I should be you!" >Buff Twilight smiles a wicked grin ^"Not with that cracked horn you got there. The time-travel spell finished without you, and the timeline changed without you. You never made it back to the future. Instead, you spent the next ten years slowly - and painfully - fading away into nothing... just like you deserve." >Skinny Twilight's eyes grow hollow again <"Oh... is that all?" >Buff Twilight grimaces ^"No will to live. You're pathetic." >the normal Twilight of the present time and current timeline interjects /"You look like you've been practicing dark magic." ^"You would too, in my horseshoes. Actually, you will, when you get around to wearing them." /"What future could possibly be so bad that I'd do such a thing?" ^"War. From the outside, not the inside." <"But Equestria can hold its own against a foreign power. That can't be nearly as bad as a civil war." ^"Can Equestria hold its own against Griffonstone, the Dragonlands, the New Changeling Hive, and the Buffalo Nation?" >Gallus, Spike, Ocellus, and Applejack all try to question Buff Twilight at once >"Griffonstone?" >"The Dragonlands? But Dragon Lord Ember would never invade Equestria!" >"N... New Changeling Hive?" >"Since when is there a Buffalo Nation?" >Buff Twilight rolls her eyes ^"Okay, so it started when a gryphon named Gizzard discovered the Lost Treasure of Griffonstone and became king. The first thing he wanted to do was restore the old 'glory' of Griffonstone, and he figured that Equestria had enough glory to share some, if you know what I mean. In the meanwhile, Ember was growing more and more unpopular with the dragons every year for being too 'pony-like.' When she ordered the Dragonlands to help Equestria, she was overthrown by a dragon named Inferno the Black, who proceeded to order the dragons to help the griffons instead. Around this time, some royal eggs that Chrysalis had hidden before her fall matured into queens and set about spawning a hive. The first thing they did was destroy Thorax's hive. Then they moved in on Equestria. Finally, one or more of these foreign powers managed to agitate the buffalo herds out west into seceding from Eqeustria and attacking the border settlements." <"That's funny. There was a Buffalo Nation in my timeline too." ^"Let me guess. You signed off on the secession yourself?" >Skinny Twilight bows her head ^"So you see why I needed the power-boost dark magic has to offer." >a flash of purple light leaps from Buff Twilight's eyes as her nostrils flare ^"I've had to take thousands of lives myself already." >Celestia's eyes waver >"Twilight... I didn't teach you to be a monster." ^"You didn't teach me to be a lot of things. But maybe that's why you were assasinated at a phony peace summit at Griffonstone, and I survived." /"But... I was going to enable everycreature here to keep their memories. My students... they should have been able to spread friendship in their homelands." >Buff Twilight snorts ^"Believe it or not, they tried. But let's be real here. After the way you kicked them out of Equestria, they only half-believed what they were saying themselves." /"We... won though, right?" ^"Would I have come here if we did? Even with dark magic, I'm only one alicorn. Equestria has fallen. Ponies are a slave race." >nobody knows how to respond to that >so Buff Twilight continues by asking Skinny Twilight a question ^"Remind me, in your timeline, did any foreign powers end up declaring war on you?" <"No. Like I said, the School of Friendship really did a lot of good. The Dragonlands, Griffonstone, even those queens Chrysalis spawned, they all came to officially embrace friendship in their own ways. They even offered assistance Equestria during our civil war. Or, they did at first, anyway." ^"Well, there you have it. Rebuild the school, and the war never happens." >Buff Twilight's eyes flit about the conference room eagerly, as though awaiting the inevitable reaction to a funny joke >you take the bait "But... if you rebuild the school, the civil war happens." >Buff Twilight's eyes lock onto you and flash black for a moment ^"Very astute of you, Anon. Especially after that time you created my timeline, by convincing me to prevent the school from being built. Yep, those are our options. Equestria can fall in a war, or it can fall in a civil war." /"Let Equestria be torn apart by hate from without or hate from within? Those aren't options at all!" >Buff Twilight's voice drops to a low, dangerous octave ^"Well, Anon knows of a third option. It's the first thing he would think of if this were happening on his world." "What? Third option? There really isn't one." >Buff Twilight's eyes narrow "Nothing... practical anyway." >and her lips crack into a sardonic smile "I mean... the other thing I can think of... and it's completely insane, mind you... it would be... um..." ^"Yes...?" "Well... you'd... kind of have to wipe out every non-pony on the planet, wouldn't you?" >Buff Twilight's horn flares up black ^"That's a wonderful idea, Anon! I'll get started on it right away!" >Buff Twilight's horn explodes into shadow >you cringe and shut your eyes tightly >and the smell of ozone permeates the air >you crack open one eyelid >Buff Twilight's eyes are crossed at the top of her head, trying to get a better look at her horn >her mane has brightened to the indigo color the other Twilights are wearing >and her eyes are free of that noxious green smoke >Buff Twilight's horn is cracked >Celestia's horn is smoking ^"Y… you cracked my horn!" >Buff Twilight begins to hyperventilate like little Twilight would have done 12 years ago over a friendship problem ^"I'm gonna be trapped in the past! I'm gonna fade! Why? Why? Celestia-" >"I'm sorry, Twilight. You've been through a terrible experience. But you cannot come back to the past to cause harm. That goes for both of you." >Skinny Twilight looks down at her old mentor's reproval >"But I'm sure we can find a way for you to live in the past. Once you've had some time to rehabilitate-" ^"I don't have time! I've got maybe 10 years to live now!" >"In case you've forgotten, your old friend Starlight Glimmer is a very skilled chronomancer. Once she's recovered from her injuries-" >if Skinny Twilight's gaze drops any further her eyes are going to bust through the floor >"-I'm sure she'd be happy to help you find a way to go on living. In any case, I will be happy to help you. My sister will be happy to help you." ^"Starlight… maybe…" >a set of glowing chains makes its way around Buff Twilight's legs >all traces of her former bad attitude have vanished >and without the dark magic pouring out of them, her eyes now look just as tired as Skinny Twilight's >Celestia smiles gently once Buff Twilight is secured >"I'd like the both of you to come with me and Luna now. Once you've recovered from your experiences, perhaps you could join us in our travels. If there are any two ponies who need time to rest now, it's you two." >the pair of future-Twilight's allow themselves to be meekly led out of the conference room >Celestia calls back to present-Twilight >"We'll be in my old study if you need us, Twilight. Make your decision, but take your time in doing so. You must be sure that you're making the right choice, after all." /"But… what is the right choice?" >Celestia's smile grows subtly sad >"I don't know." >with that, Twilight is the only alicorn left in the room >she stands in silent contemplation >and noone dares to interrupt that train of thought >but finally, she does reach a decision, of a sort /"Let's take a break, everycreature. This has all been a lot more to take in than any of us expected. We'll meet back in here in, say, twenty minutes." >Twilight shuffles out of the conference-room >immediately, Gallus takes the opportunity to scowl at you >"Was that the future you wanted for Twilight?" >the gryphon takes off his helmet and stalks out of the room >fuck it >you decide to clear out of the conference-room too >so you head out into the corridor >and you look for a door with a big, magenta star on it "I figured you weren't actually taking a break." >Twilight glances up from the piles of paper on her desk /"Well, you were right. I'm kind of busy right now, Anon." >you slip into Twilight's study and shut the door behind you "It's the least I can do to help you out here. You know, since that new timeline is kind of my fault." /"It wasn't your fault, Anon." "Maybe. But I bet you could use someone with my unique perspective anyway." /"What?" "You know, with the looming demographic crisis and all." >Twilight sighs /"I think I liked you better 13 years ago, when you were too shy to offer me any help." >you flop down into the chair next to Twilight's "Should have thought about that before showing me that whole 'friendship' thing." /"Apparently." "Come on. When's the last time we had a chance to talk, just the two of us?" /"I don't remember the last time I had a chance to talk with anyone all alone. That's just not how being the princess works." "Just show me what you're working on." >Twilight frowns at her papers /"I'm just compiling some statistics." "I love stats." /"You hate stats." "Twilight." /"Okay, fine. So, donkeys and mules are lumped into one demographic category, and they make up the largest non-pony population in Equestria. Donkeys and mules make up about 5% of Equestria's population, all spread out fairly evenly across the land." "All right." /"In second place comes buffalo, at about 3% of the population. They're mostly concentrated out west. Conflicts sometimes happen, but those could probably be minimized by putting a halt to westward expansion." "You're probably right." /"And in third place is cattle. They're about 2% of the population, mostly centered around Ponyville." "So thus far you've got a 10% foreign population." >Twilight shakes her head /"No, not quite. Donkeys, buffalo, and cattle were all native to these lands before ponies first settled Equestria. Really, there's a 1% foreign population, consisting of gryphons, dragons, yaks, etcetera, concentrated in Ponyville and Canterlot." "Which leaves you with an 89% pony population." /"A 99% Equestrian population." "Sure, but still an 89% pony population." >Twilight grimaces /"89% isn't so bad, is it? You saw statistics like that back on Earth, right? That's not really a crisis, is it?" "No, it's not quite a crisis yet. But you'll definitely start noticing problems around this point, if you're paying attention." /"Not so many problems. Cattle, donkeys, and mules are all perfectly integrated with Equestrian society. Like I said, buffalo are still involved in conflicts sometimes, but they're mostly concentrated in areas where ponies mostly aren't." "What about the other non-ponies?" /"At 1% of the population? How many problems could they be causing at this stage?" "Enough for things to snowball out of control in 150 to 200 years, apparently. You have any figures on how things are with them in Ponyville and Canterlot specifically?" >Twilight's eyes scan the pile of papers /"Eh… no. Not here, anyways." "Things probably aren't as good as they should be." /"Well, maybe not. What I need is a solution." "Okay. So, re-opening the school and leaving the gates wide open to foreigners will lead to a civil war in 200 years." /"But going back in time to prevent the school from being built will lead to a foreign war in 150 years. And at this point, outright closing our borders against our allies could very well sow tensions that could erupt into a war somewhere down the line as well." "Why do I get the feeling that you already figured out the solution before I walked in here?" /"I figured out a solution, not the solution. I don't like it." "Well what is it?" /"We leave the School of Friendship destroyed. That's it. Hopefully, the school has already instilled foreign powers with enough respect for friendship and ponies to avert a war in the future." "But at the same time, there's not much incentive for anyone to immigrate to Equestria without the school, right?" >Twilight nods /"I hate this. The School of Friendship represents my life's work to me." "Yeah, but think about it like this. We know that it's going to work." >Twilight cocks her head /"How can you know that?" "Well, if it doesn't work, then we would have gotten a third future-you by now, right?" >Twilight scratches her chin /"Maybe…" >and her pupils shrink /"Or maybe I just don't get a chance to cast the time-travel spell before something happens to me. Maybe things just fall apart before I'm strong enough to cast it!" "What? No. No, it's gotta work. How could the school shutting down possibly speed things up?" /"You're probably right, but… there's just no way to know for sure." "It's gotta work, Twilight. It's got to." >you follow Twilight back into the conference room exactly twenty minutes after she called away break time >she takes her place at the front of the room >you take yours in your seat >looking at Twilight from a distance, you can't help but feel a little relieved >she doesn't happy, exactly >but she looks as though a great weight has been taken off of her back /"Excuse me, everycreature. Excuse me. We're going to get started again." >Twilight scans the room, ensuring that everyone is in their seats >the problem? >everyone's not in their seats /"Ah, where are Gallus and Smoulder?" >Ocellus buzzes nervously >"Um… Gallus got really mad during the break. He, um, asked me to tell you that he was quitting the Royal Guard. And that he was going back to Griffonstone." >Sandbar speaks up as well on this point >"Said he always wanted to take up treasure-hunting anyway." >Twilight nods /"Oh dear. What about Smoulder?" >Silverstream raises her talon to offer what she knows >"Smoulder got mad too. She was super snappy and bitey with us, and she said she was going back to Ponyville right now to write to everydragon she knows to move in with her." >apparently there was also a courier while you and Twilight were out of the room >he reported that Starlight's condition was getting worse >but you sort of lose track of the discussion after that >on the far side of the conference room, a large, ornate grandfather clock stands proudly against the ivory wall >you see the pendulum swinging through the glass pane in its body >you see the hands slowly making their way around the face >and, although it's certainly too far away for you to actually hear it >you imagine you can hear the clockwork inside of that old clock >ticking