//------------------------------// // Time // Story: Equestrian Ending // by StapleCactus //------------------------------// Dawn peaked through the room’s curtains and I awoke from my dreamless sleep. Everything that occurred the previous day was but a memory to me, one that I wanted nothing to do with. As such, I stepped out of the room in a morning fog, not quite awake or wanting to be. Unconsciously, I walked to the dining hall, as if I had never left my life behind. The journey there was a blur of ponies and hallways until I opened the doors to find Celestia and Luna standing at the far end of the room, discussing something. Their faces were concerned as they turned to me and gestured for me to sit. In response, I took my usual seat next to the sun-emblazoned chair. The room was rearranged so that both sisters chairs were next to the other, so they were both nearby when they took their own seats. I hung my head as I slouched within my seat, not caring to eat or talk, but willing to go through the motions none the less. I heard a servant enter and leave after a quiet order from Celestia. Silence. Shuffling. More silence. A cough. Yet more silence. Celestia broke the quiet morning and said, “Dex.” “Hmm?” “We are here for you.” “Of course you are. Just as everyone I’ve ever known was there for me at any other major change.” “Shall we eat?” “Go ahead, I’m not hungry.” “What are you going to do now?” “That question again. The same answer as before.” “Dex, will you look at me?” I raised my head to stare blankly into her eyes, eyes that darted between both of my own. Whether she was looking for something or just wanted to show sympathy, I showed no reaction. Eventually, I blinked. “I win!” she exclaimed. Her joke did nothing to improve my mood. “Sister, perhaps it is best to give him it after all.” Another moment of silence passed before Celestia sighed and agreed. “Dex, stay here a moment, would you?” “As you command,” I answered blankly. She sighed again before teleporting away. “Dex, I know what it is like. Do you want to hear a story?” Luna asked, looking to me in hopeful sadness. I nodded, but said nothing, only watching the nightly princess. She adjusted herself to be more comfortable and began. “When I returned from my imprisonment, I knew nothing. Everything had changed and everyone I knew had passed long ago. In my loss, I secluded myself for over a year, only leaving at my sister’s request that I mingle with our subjects within the castle. I thought I could deal with the changes on my own and get through my emotions alone. “Then, one day, Celestia had me visit Ponyville and meet with my saviors. I greeted them and had fun with them over the course of the night, but it was only a small step. I was sure that if I made new friends, I would forget the old. On my return to the castle, ‘Tia had me visit the graves of those I had lost. “It was horrible. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t feel ready to say goodbye to them, but she stayed with me. She stood by me as I wept and she comforted me as I said my goodbyes. Then, after I had spilt my last tear, she said something, something I will never forget.” “Mourn the loss of life if you must, but never mourn their death; for if you remember them, they are never truly dead.” I turned my head to see Celestia entering the room as she finished speaking. She was carrying a large golden-rimmed mirror behind her in telekinesis. As she set it down in a corner of the room, she said,” Although I would love to take credit for that quote, it was actually one of my dear students who wrote it." She turned to me and smirked. “Though some literary license has been used to translate it from the old language.” Despite myself, I felt a small smile form. “I’ve heard something similar, though it’s always good to hear it again.” I took a moment to stand and collect myself. “I still am not ready to move on.” “Of course,” she said as she nodded faintly. “Now come here, Dex. I wish to show you something.” I walked over to Celestia and her mirror, no longer dragging my feet as much as I was. When I reached the object, I saw my reflection. A tall thin-haired human stared back at me with silver-blue eyes. My skin had paled under my red beard. I vaguely recalled my eyes being a deep sapphire not too long ago, and Celestia caught it as well. “It is good to see some color returning. After we told you what happened, those eyes of yours dimmed to grey. Now, do you know what this mirror is?” When I shook my head, she continued. “This is the same mirror I told you about when I first met you.” I turned to her in shock. “You mean...” “Yes. This mirror will show you other dimensions, as well as other times. I want you to use it until you have said goodbye.” Luna stepped up beside me. “Don’t dwell on the past too much, Dex,” she said. “We will leave you for now. Just think of who you want to see and the mirror will respond.” With that, the two princesses left the room. I stood there, frozen at the spot, as the doors closed behind them. I had been given the opportunity to view any dimension or time, and I wasn’t even in the right frame of mind to use it. Dropping to the floor and crossing my legs, I watched as my reflection did the same. A man with nothing left returned my gaze. How did I let this happen? I inadvertently causedmy worst fear to come true. I sighed as my head drooped. Well, I guess I should use this thing. Hmm... How did my family on Earth do? Looking up, I saw the mirror’s surface warp my image and blend colors until I saw my old house. Tall half-dead grass covered the lawn and everyone’s vehicles were present. As the image zoomed in, I took in the slight mess of the kitchen and dining room. My family was seated in the living room: my mom, step-dad, two brothers, sister-in-law, and nephew. No, move forward. The image changed again, this time to a new house on my old farm, but they were still gathered in one room. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and had moved on. That’s good. I’m glad they didn’t do anything drastic and continued their plans. I let the image fade away, back to my reflection. Closing my eyes, I let a few tears fall, but I felt slightly relieved that they were doing fine, or had been fine, without me. A long silence was held as I let my emotions smoulder inside me. One more. Riches, one year after my imprisonment. The mirror blurred into the town of Slade, ponies milling about, until it switched to the tavern Riches was staying at. She had grown enough to be considered an adult mare, her golden coat shining and her silver mane growing further below her shoulders than before. A cutie mark of different ores adorned her flanks. Instead of manning the tables or running supplies, she was sitting at the bar. I watched as she picked up a glass and raised it to the sky. “Here’s to you, brother,” she said. Tall Glass walked into the picture, standing behind the bar, and grabbed a glass to do the same. “To Dex,” he added before they both drank deeply. Riches slammed her glass down as she emptied her mug, while Glass continued to hold his own. “You gonna be alright, Metal?” “Yeah, I’ll be fine... I miss him though.” I asked the mirror to speed up the image to two years. This time, she was in a house I assumed she owned, as she was tinkering with the gun we had made. Riches stopped and sighed. “It’s about that time, eh, Numbers?” Heh, of course she still calls me that. She stood and headed out of the house, walking over to the tavern she used to live in. When she entered, Tall Glass greeted her with a wave to the bar. Riches sat at one of the stools while he poured two drinks. “It’s been two years now, Metal. How are you holding up?” he asked as he set her mug down in front of her. “I’ve been good, you?” she responded. “Business is doing good. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of them stallions from a few years back.” Riches chuckled and reached for her glass, raising it up. “Well, here’s to Numbers then! The knight who saved Slade from wannabe gangsters!” He raised his own. “Here, here!” They drank. Once more, I let the image fall as I reminisced and thought over what I had seen. It was good to see Riches doing well without me. I was thankful for that, at least. My family mourned and moved on as I hoped, and now Riches seems to have found her own calling after I left. Well, only one more to see, and how difficult it will be. Another sigh escaped my lips. Just one more to say goodbye to. With an aching heart, I called Panacea into the mirror. She stood in the castle gardens, looking forlornly towards the statue of me. Surely, she’s just visiting. She stayed there, unmoving and with tears in her eyes, until the sun began to set. This isn’t right. Move forward four months. Again, the same image of Pan in the gardens, but although tears did not form, she still looked sad. No, no, this isn’t right. Move on, Pan! The image blurred for a few moments until the scenery around her turned to winter. Please, Pan. Summer, now. No... Celestia appeared in the image next to Pan, looking between the peach-colored mare and my statue before she spoke. “Panacea, he would want you to move on.” “I know, and I have, but I...” Pan trailed off as she looked to the edge of the gardens. “I miss-” Something happened to the image. One moment, I was watching Pan speak, and the next, it blurred into darkness. When the picture returned, she was working in the hospital with a smile. What was that? I didn’t know a thing about the magical mirror, so I called for a page. When the young stallion arrived, I asked him to bring Celestia back to the dining hall. As he left, I stared into the mirror and watched the mare within take care of a patient. By the time Pan completed her checkups on the pony, the sun princess arrived. “Dex?” Celestia said as she closed the door behind her. I stood and said, “Celestia, I just saw something strange. I don’t know anything about this mirror, so I hoped you could tell me what happened.” I attempted to conjure up the image of Pan when she was in the gardens, but the mirror didn’t change. “I... I can’t get it to show you.” She looked into the mirror and saw Pan running some hospital errands. “What happened?” I told her what I saw earlier. “Hmm, try thinking of her before that moment.” This time, as I thought of Panacea, I let the mirror show me a few minutes prior to the event. The image changed once more into the mare standing at my statue. Just as I was going to ask a question, something streaked by the view. The gardens began to darken as they had before and slowly reached Pan before the mirror cut out and replaced everything we were seeing with Pan entering the hospital. A small gasp exited Celestia’s lips before she turned to me. “Dex, that was a time worm.” “A... time worm?” I asked as I continued to watch the mirror. “A time worm, yes. We do not know much about it, other than it eats time, specifically, time from a certain being.” At my confused response, she continued. “When something occurs that should not have, or can not have, the time worm is released to cleanse the timeline. From what I can see, it is taking you away from our time. Without your time, you will cease to exist.” “Cease to exist? But, why?” “If I had to guess, it may be from your battle with Discord and your subsequent breaking of Order’s law.” “Well, what can I do?” “Nothing that I know of, Dex. I’m sorry, but soon, it will reach this time and you will disappear.” Nothing I can do? Disappear? No! I refuse to accept this fate! “I won’t let that happen! If it wants to erase me from existence, I’ll do the same to it!” I began to build my energies until they physically manifested. “Dex, what are you planning?!” Celestia yelled over the howl of my generated wind. “If the mirror is any proof, the worm is going backwards first. I’m going back in time and meet it head on!” The strain of forcing all my power into use at once was making me collapse. “You are breaking another law of Order! You can only go back for a few moments!” “Don’t worry! I’m going to use a loophole!” God, I hope this works. “I’ll see you again!” “No!” Adjusting time to fit my plan was not as simple as creating a single thought. I had to completely rewrite the logic behind time and space in order for me to manipulate it to my needs. Mixing warp theory with relativity, I created a new outlook that I then used to travel through. In a flash of multicolored light, I winked out of time. All of time was set before me. Though there was no sight, I felt when I needed to go. With a simple thought, I found myself standing in the same spot I was before, only one year after I was turned to stone. Luckily, I was alone in the room, as I did not want to figure out how I would explain myself to Celestia’s past self. I was weak after my time jump, but not so weak that I couldn’t walk. Trying to be as quiet as possible, I left the dining hall and snuck around the hallways of the castle. There was a close call or two where I had nowhere to hide as a pony walked along, but I managed to get by with a simple levitation to the ceiling, although it was difficult and drained me further. After what felt like hours, I reached my room and softly opened and closed the door as I entered. The room looked just as it did when I was turned to stone, a mess of inventions and papers. I chose the time I did for a few reasons. One, I wanted to see Riches and Pan again. Two, I needed to recharge if I was going to fight the time worm. Three, I was getting away from the constant changing of events for a little while. With those points in mind, I collapsed upon my bed and passed out.