The planet of Zanifar was protected by a special satellite barrier that likely would have proven more of a deterrent if Aphelion weren't so heavily upgraded. As it was, the only reason Ratchet and Twilight were even aware of it as they approached was because Aphelion mentioned it in passing. Zanifar itself proved to be a rather picturesque world, the area they landed in being filled with snowy plains and distant - and not so distant - snow capped peaks. The only thing marring the beautiful vista was the massive fortress of Dr. Nefarious.
"My sensors are detecting an unknown anomaly," Aphelion spoke up as they started their approach. "Similar to the one that hit us near Quantos."
"That must be the time gate Clank said he was making for us," Twilight hypothesized, only to pause. "Time...Gate? That terminology seems...familiar."
"We'll think about that later," Ratchet replied. "We need to figure out how to get to Nefarious and Orvus before Clank's Dad bites the big one!"
"Right!" Twilight agreed as the pair leapt out of the cockpit. "Any help you can offer, Aphelion?"
"Unfortunately, my own quantum signature is currently unstable due to the newness of the Zoni based upgrades," Aphelion apologized. "It would be best if I limited my activity on this world as long as active Time Gates are present."
"Then we'll do this the old fashioned way," Ratchet decided, limbering up with his Omniwrench.
As Ratchet and Twilight began to explore, they encountered enemies similar to the mushroom like creatures they fought on Quantos, but a different color. They did not appear to be any more durable, however. The robots deployed by Nefarious to patrol the area proved to be much the same as they'd encountered before as well, providing little to no challenge for their tried and true tactics.
Not far along the path, the pair came across a Grummel-Net vendor, which now had a new Cryomine Glove for sale. The weapon was apparently based on some old Lombax tech, and deployed mines that would home in on hostile targets and freeze them solid. Ratchet and Twilight each bought one, once Twilight was able to get hers modified to work for her even though she lacked fingers.
Beyond the next gate, the pair encountered Fongoids who appeared to be rather miserable. The first they approached brightened at their presence. "Praise Orvus, a Lombax!" he proclaimed eagerly. "Have you come to rescue us?"
"Actually, in all likelihood, when we're done here you'll have never needed saving," Twilight replied. "Clank sent us here after arranging to stabilize the temporal anomalies here into Time Gates we can use to go back in time to save his father, Orvus, from Nefarious...which probably means whatever happened here won't have happened the way it did."
"What did happen, anyway?" Ratchet asked, staring around at the energy field cages most of the Fongoids were trapped in.
Once the Fongoid got over the shock of Twilight's statement, he began his explanation. "Well, Dr. Nefarious arrived a little over two years ago, and tricked us into helping him build this outpost. Before we knew it, his troops were herding us into detainment camps! The gates are controlled by that guard tower up there." He glanced nervously between Ratchet and Twilight. "Before you start playing games with causality, do you think you could help us out in the now?"
Twilight glanced at the Guard Tower in question. "...anyone in there friendly?"
"No, just Nefarious' robots," the Fongoid replied.
"Aphelion?" Twilight called through the comms. "How big an etheric discharge can I risk without destabilizing the local temporal fields?"
"I would recommend not carrying out your current plan," Aphelion cautioned. "Given the proximity of the open Time Gate to the Guard Tower, obliterating the Tower with a magic discharge may flash back across the portal to destroy it two years ago as well, and that's likely where Nefarious and Orvus presently are in the past. The resulting paradox would likely obliterate Zanifar, and us."
Twilight ceased gathering her magic. "Time travel is such a headahce," she grumbled. "I can't even blow stuff up anymore!"
Shaking his head, Ratchet led the way towards the Guard Tower. The path was blocked at first, but a bit of cleverness involving the Omnisoaker and a tetramite nest cleared it. Making their way along the towers to the main controls was straightforward, as Twilight was able to swoop around them to deliver a bombardment from above, allowing Ratchet to sneak up behind the defenders while they were focused on Twilight. This allowed them to readily make their way into the main Tower, where they were able to shut down the containment grid, clearing the path to the Time Gate.
When the pair reached the Gate, they paused. "Are you ready for this Twilight?" Ratchet asked.
"Ready for what?" Twilight responded, a little confused.
"To leap through time," Ratchet replied. "To play with the fundamental nature of causality. To toy with the very fabric of space time in an attempt to undo events that have already occurred, and reshape history to our whims?"
Twilight paused. "Oh...wow. I hadn't really thought about it like that. When you put it that way...that's a lot of responsibility. My every action in the past is going to carry with it terrible consequences which could drastically alter everything we know. The slightest mistake could very well create a paradox that would wipe us from existence, and who knows what else!" She stared into the Gate. "...I don't think I'm ready for this..."
Ratchet knelt down beside her. "Twilight...I know it's a big responsibility-"
"I need bigger guns first!" Twilight proclaimed eagerly.
Ratchet chuckled. "I don't think there are any available, Twilight."
"Huh," Twilight replied thoughtfully. She then shrugged her shoulders. "Eh, I'll jury-rig something on the other side." With that said, she leapt through the Gate.
Laughing, Ratchet went through after her.
Firsts!!!!!!!!!!
second
poor Twilight can not any thing destroy stuff
Oh, Twilight and her guns
Poor Twilight. She can't use her normal method of dealing with obstacles.
With great responsibility comes the need for great power. ...Or something like that.
eh...i don't think Twilight will ever have big enough guns.
she is going to make an antimatter nuke isn't she
6930631 forget an antimatter nuke shes going to make a cannon that fires mini-guns that fire cruise missiles with MIRV warheads
Wait how will this effect Twilight when she has to deal with Starlight Glimmer in the future? I mean I know most adopted displaced are from season 4, but could Twilight be from the end of season 5? Crazy time shenanigans.
6930610
And if she kills Nefarious before he convinces the Zoni to kidnap Clank?
Twilight is truly embodying the spirit of Engineer/Dell Conagher here.
"Use a gun. If that don't work, use more gun."
Twilight needs moar Dakka!
6930678 America in a nutshell
Ratchet knelt down beside her. "Twilight...I know it's a big responsibility-"
"I need bigger guns first!" Twilight proclaimed eagerly.
This made me laugh out loud and picture Twilight making a RYNO v20 a gun so powerful.... well let's just say Twilight likes BIG BOOM
6930883
It would erase her reason for coming to that part of the galaxy. Which means she'd never set foot on that planet. Which means she'd never kill Nefarious in the past. Which means Nefarious would be alive and dead at the same time in an etherically and chronometrically charged environment, amplifying the destructive effect of the unleashed paradox...while Twilight is carrying over 100,000 Zoni, and all their time power when the paradox wave hits her.
6930904
Except that the very reason beyond the Great Clock's existence shows that Great Clock related Time Travel doesn't work that way, and a paradox of that level would be the same as the paradox buildup cascade that necessitated the Great Clock's creation in the first place.
6930647
Actually, I think it would happen like this:
Starlight Glimmer: It is too late, Twilight Sparkle! I've already won! *leaps through the portal laughing*
Twilight Sparkle: *pulls out a communicator* Daddy?
~Several years ago ~
*Starlight Glimmer lands inside the Great Clock*
SG: This isn't Cloudsdale. Where am I?
Orvus: Hello, Starlight Glimmer.
SG: Who are you?
O: Doesn't matter. What matters is that you are messing with my granddaughter's timeline. *pulls out oversized weapon* Let me show you what I think about that.
SG: *screams*
6930943
6930926
Uh, Temporal Mechanics, gives me a headache every time.
6931216 And this is why I leave Time Travel to the profesionals... and Doc Brown... The Doctor... Link on occasion... Er, you get the idea (I hope).
6931309 I get that you're saying that The Doctor isn't a professional in regards to time travel. I can understand why you'd say that Doc Brown isn't, but The Doctor? That's probably what his PhD is in.
... did what?
6931370 Honestly, it's always seemed like he treats it as more of a hobby. Humanity has just gotten lucky that he A) shows up just when we need him and B) finds us so interesting.
6930759 Sadly.
6931616
Fixed.
6931216 Bob and George said it best.
"I hate time travel..."
6930490
6930500 And this, gentlemen, is a sure fire way to get downvotes. Next to insulting the story/author, and generally making a Fool of yourself. Welcome to the losers club!
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
twi op
plz nerf
6932206 I was joking around with that "first" bit. It was actually my first time doing it.
6933062 well, you might want to make it a bit more obvious next time. Not having an icon, and not even trying to act like it's a joke make it a lot less funny.
6933091 I'll remember that next, thanks.
6932206
On a different topic, is it odd/bad that I imagine Aphelion sounding like PHYLLIS/Sheila from RvB?
No matter the situation, bigger guns are always useful. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
On the bigger guns thing, why not combine bits of each specific weapon type, like the explosive gloves, the various explosive launchers, the best parts of the RYNO's, and so on. Making a nice high quality standard for Galaxy saving level heroes.
6938162
Stop giving Twilight ideas. Please.
And here they are with the Epoch or a Gate Key.
Though I suppose it's not like they (Twilight) couldn't make the latter or modify Aphelion to emulate the former.
Twilight, the only way i think you'll be able to go bigger is if you somehow made a MAC cannon and then made it small enough to be mounted on your back with all of it's weight neutralized so it wouldn't crush you, all while keeping the orignal's destructive capability.....
Oh shit, i just might of given the key's to the universe's destruction..
Would it be funny if she ran into a box or time travel screwed with her appearance to look like Future Twilight with wings and big guns?
7004673 Not entirely.
You left out a new model Rhino with the MLP theme instead of the 1812 Overture.
I like Twilight's line of thinking.
68.media.tumblr.com/8fd5e022fc79914147cb6e9c8b5897d0/tumblr_mieb2u1vba1rp2q0ko6_250.gif
One quote from Warhammer 40K comes to mind for this.
...........More Dakka.
8312191
Discord would love this Twilight I swear.
7209062
That would be awesome.
6945554
I'm just gonna put this riiiiiight here:
byyyye~