//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Time Turner // Story: My Little Detour // by Scroll //------------------------------// Both Star Breeze and Stern Wing jumped a bit, startled, when they heard a knock on the front door of the TARDIS. At that point they released each other and looked at the front door simultaneously. For four seconds they both stared at it in silence then glanced at each other for a second. When the knock occurred again, Stern Wing started to stand up in order to approach the door and check who it was. Before she could complete that action, however, she blinked in surprise when she saw the Red Crystal around Feather Wind's neck glow red. In that same instance, a red glow materialized around the doorknob of the front door to the TARDIS. Stern Wing whipped her head quickly to look at the front entrance when she heard the door opening. Standing beyond the door was a very familiar looking stallion. A stallion that just so happened to share a perfect resemblance to the Doctor. “What?!” Star Breeze exclaimed then looked in the direction she had seen the Time Lord depart from. Last time she checked, the Doctor should still be in the TARDIS, seeing to the recovery of Derpy, so why was it that he's also standing outside of the TARDIS at the same time? “Forgive me for startling you two,” the stallion that resembled the Doctor said while still standing outside of the TARDIS. From there, he adjusted his red bow tie just a bit in a slightly nervous gesture. “May I have permission to come aboard?” “Oh, of course. Please come in,” Stern Wing gladly invited, then looked at Star Breeze and noticed her confusion. While Stern Wing waved a hoof to regather Star Breeze's attention, the stallion that resembled the Doctor casually trotted into the TARDIS. He even had a bit of an extra bounce to his steps. When Star Breeze looked back at Stern Wing, Stern Wing said, “I know this looks confusing, but this stallion isn't the Doctor. Well, he is, in a way, but not our Doctor, the one in the TARDIS.” “Hmm?” The other stallion paused and regarded Stern Wing and the body of Feather Wind in confusion. He was familiar with them both and, accordingly, they should have been equally familiar with him, so why was Stern Wing explaining his presence to Feather Wind as if they just met again? Stern Wing waved a hoof up and down in front of Star Breeze. “Let me explain. First of all, I'll need to mention the fact that both the Doctor and Derpy on this ship come from another reality, one in which they bizarrely have pockets built into their flanks which are hidden just above their cutie marks. This Doctor,” Stern Wing gestured to the new stallion in the room, “is native to this timeline and reality instead. Although he does bear a striking resemblance to the Doctor, there is another important distinction between this stallion and the Doctor already aboard this ship, and that is the fact that this stallion is neither an alien or a Time Lord. Instead, he is exactly what you see, a regular earth pony of Equestria. Despite this, however, they do share an uncanny resemblance in their cutie marks and personality.” “Does he have amnesia?” the curious and concerned stallion checked. “No,” Stern Wing answered as she looked at the stallion. “He . . . um . . . I'll explain in a moment. One thing at a time.” “Oh! Of course. Press on, my friend,” the stallion gladly invited. Looking back at Star Breeze, Stern Wing went on with her explanation. “The Doctor aboard this ship really is named the Doctor, although both Feather Wind and Vision have a hunch that he's hiding another name which he had in his youth and since changed it to the Doctor, but if this stallion is any indication of that, then the Doctor's true name is Time Turner.” Stern Wing looked at the other somewhat bewildered stallion. “Which is his,” Stern Wing nodded at the stallion for indication, “true name. This stallion's name is Time Turner, and we all call him that to avoid confusing him for the Doctor aboard this ship.” Stern Wing looked back at Star Breeze. “To be fair, this stallion was born and raised with the name Time Turner and he was never called the Doctor until recently. When we visited this town earlier in our adventures, the Time Lord Doctor introduced himself to the citizens of Ponyville as 'The Doctor' without realizing that he already had a native counterpart, but I guess the citizens of this town since ended up liking that new name so they started to call Time Turner here the Doctor instead.” “Which is fair,” Time Turner accepted as he casually adjusted his bow tie again. “I actually do have a Doctorate in Science. The citizens here like the name and I don't find it insulting in the least. In fact, I actually find it quite flattering.” He focused on Stern Wing as he asked her, “Why are you explaining this to him as if he's never met me before? Surely I am not that forgettable.” Stern Wing growled in anger and looked at Time Turner with a dour expression. “The reason I'm explaining this to him is because this isn't Feather Wind. Well, he is and he isn't. This is Feather Wind's body but it's currently being taken over with the mind of a young foal, and a little girl at that. Her name,” Stern Wing nodded at Star Breeze to indicate her, “is Star Breeze, and apparently she is and will be my future daughter.” “Fascinating!” Time Turner exclaimed with wide eyes, then moved to approach closer. He ended up standing right next to them and gazed at Star Breeze with wonder. “So you are from their future? How endlessly fascinating!” He looked at Stern Wing in confusion. “How in the world has this possibly happened, and is this condition temporary?” “This is the hoofiwork of an old nemesis of ours, a spirit of pure chaos and disharmony who recklessly likes to toy with the fabric of reality for his own personal amusement. Apparently this is the latest action in his cruel and sadistic humor,” Stern Wing explained with a growling tone and dark look to her face. “Oh, you mean Discord?” Time Turner checked as he looked at Stern Wing. Stern Wing slapped her face with a hoof as she requested, “Please, don't even mention his name in front of me. He and I have a bad history between us.” Time Turner tilted his head as he gazed forward at nothing blankly. “But I thought Miss Fluttershy and her friends helped him to turn a new leaf. At least, that is the rumor I heard that they said.” Time Turner looked back at Stern Wing. “Perhaps the . . . spirit . . . you encountered is an alternate version of him, or it might be from a time before he got reformed. The lot of you travel through time and space as much as I suspect he does.” “I don't care what time period we're referring to here.” Stern Wing regarded Time Turner dourly. “That mischievous spirit is nothing but a menace, and I, for one, would prefer to have nothing to do with him if at all possible. If you need more evidence of that, then here's exhibit A.” While still looking at Time Turner, she waved a hoof to indicate Star Breeze. “Just another victim in a long line of cruel and sadistic jokes. He doesn't care about our feelings. Nothing will stop him from doing as he pleases, even if he has to mess with all of our lives to do it. Perhaps I should say especially if it messes with our lives. “If I hadn't made it clear yet, I hate bullies like him who pick on those weaker than themselves and I especially loathe them if they find such activities amusing. Creatures like that, and I, will probably never truly get along together.” “From what I can tell, that much is true,” Crystal Wind assured to Star Breeze (the only one in the room who could see him) as he regarded the past version of his wife. “Stern Wing is a natural guardian, so those she perceives as bullies will always be antithetical to her nature.” “Hmm.” Time Turner studied Star Breeze for a moment as he rubbed the bottom of his chin with a hoof, then asked, “Perhaps this is a stupid question considering the nature of the particular spirit involved, but is there any indication as to how long this condition will continue?” When he finished his question, his eyes shifted to look at Stern Wing without otherwise moving his face. Stern Wing shook her head. “None whatsoever, and I wouldn't dare to presume that any action stemming from that nefarious spirit is predictable, but there does seem to be some evidence that this condition will eventually pass. For instance, Star Breeze here recalls being raised by her father. How could that occur if he was still possessed by the spirit of herself that whole time? Star Breeze here claims that she came of her own volition, but the result was not exactly what she had in mind. My guess is: she wanted to get to know her father better, and ended up much closer to the situation than she cared for. At least she seems relatively confident that this sojourn will end whenever she wills it.” Stern Wing looked at Time Turner. “What I do know is that the Doctor assured us that he will not leave Ponyville until this condition passes, for he has no desire to invite yet another foal into a potentially dangerous journey.” Time Turner nodded in agreement as he said, “Indeed, that would be a prudent course of action, given the evidence. He and I indeed think alike. If I were captain of this ship, I would likely do no less.” Time Turner looked about. “He certainly could have picked a much worse place than Ponyville. This town has a reputation for being one of the friendliest towns in Equestria.” “Are you a fellow time traveler?” Star Breeze asked Time Turner curiously. “But of course, my dear,” Time Turner replied matter-of-factly. “We are all time travelers. How could we not be? At every moment of our existence, we are constantly traveling through time in a forward direction. Also, when we recall our memories of the past, are we not traveling through a mental window into the past?” he asked while turning his gaze a bit to the side in order to regard Star Breeze with one eye and even leaned a bit forward as he asked that question, but he regarded her normally with a straight forward look as he went on. “Time is subjective anyway, my dear. It is a mental construct which we, as thinking and conscious creatures, have invented in order to put value and structure into our limited existence. Furthermore, by traveling through space, we are also traveling through time. The physical space over five-hundred miles away to the west is one hour earlier than the time we're standing on right now. There are many facets to explore when evaluating a concept like this, and that is the wonderful thing about life! It's so deep and full of mystery, readily inviting inquisitive minds, like myself, to explore the deepest depths of this puzzle of life! We are all travelers of a sort and we are all explorers! Explorers of a journey both inwardly and outwardly. “And speaking of fellow travelers,” Time Turner looked at Stern Wing, “where is my handsome counterpart, Derpy, and Vision?” Stern Wing glanced at and nodded to an adjacent room as she said, “Both the Doctor and Vision are tending to Derpy.” “Oh no!” Time Turner looked alarmed, his eyes growing small in the process. “Is Miss Hooves alright?” “She should be soon,” Stern Wing reassured as she looked back at Time Turner. “She caught an illness that was slowly converting her into a Dalek. I'll give you one guess as to which species was responsible for that mess. As it stands, we had to invade a compound which was full of the little buggers. It wasn't easy to snatch the cure from their clutches, but we managed it somehow . . . same as always.” Stern Wing sighed in annoyance. “I am really getting tired of being shot at by those abominable tin cans!” “Hmm.” Time Turner rubbed his chin again with a hoof. “I wish I had a chance to study such a specimen up close. If we could understand them better, it might help you all in dealing with them again in the future.” “From what the Doctor tells me, you might regret that chance if you had the opportunity,” Stern Wing warned Time Turner. “He tells me they look kind of like a flat squid with a single eye and a bunch of tentacles about them. Probably not a creature worth taking a selfie with, not to mention the danger involved.” “Well unlike my counterpart here, I'm no exobiologist,” Time Turner assured, “but I am quite familiar with the workings of technology. Those 'tin cans', as you so eloquently put it, are probably a marvelously complex piece of work. Just think of all the possibilities we could learn from an invention like that! If we had such an opportunity, it is our duty to take advantage of it to the fullest . . . for science!” “Let's see if you still feel that way while they are busy trying to 'EXTERMINATE' both you and everypony you love during your attempt to study them.” Stern Wing said bitterly, putting special emphasis on the word “exterminate” by attempting to mockingly copy the way the Daleks use the word. “Study them if you want to but, personally, I had enough of the buggers to satisfy my curiosity for a dozen lifetimes. You haven't seen the devastation they wrought on other worlds like I have. It is so sad every time I see it. They are artificially created monsters designed specifically to enslave or eliminate any and all sentient species that are not Daleks. Any race that is that intolerant has no way in Tartarus to become my friends. The Doctor agrees with me too, by the way, so if you really are like him then you would most certainly agree with us too if you'd also went through and seen everything we went through and seen.” Time Turner sighed, then admitted, “You're probably right. I hate the feeling of lost opportunities, but sometimes the answers that science gives us are pretty ugly. Magic might be sparkly, pretty and cute, but science is always bluntly honest. Science always tells us the truth if you know how to approach it properly like I do. It will even tell us things that we would normally not prefer to know.” “Not to mention the security risk involved,” Stern Wing added. “Trust me, I've seen plenty of indications of what happens to a society that gains access to science too far ahead of them. When dangerous technology lands in pony hooves before wisdom and experience has a chance to catch up, the result is often disastrous. Science is the great teacher of knowledge, Time Turner, not wisdom. Only experience and quiet self-reflection reveals the true flower of inner wisdom, and that's important too.” “I suppose that's true, but my personal destiny is to solve my insatiable hunger for new knowledge. That is what I shall always pursue until I die,” Time Turner promised. “Has he ever joined you all in any of your past adventures?” Star Breeze asked Stern Wing as she waved to indicate Time Turner. “Um . . . yes.” Stern Wing looked at Time Turner questioningly. “Twice . . . right?” Time Turner nodded in confirmation. “That is how many times I've joined you personally in your adventures, at least so far. I'm curious.” He tilted his head a bit at Stern Wing. “How long has it been for all of you since you last saw me?” “Uh . . . you should probably ask the Doctor questions like that. He has a better knack for keeping track of time than I do. Likely that's an innate quality of a Time Lord. Speaking for myself, it feels like at least a couple of months,” Stern Wing guessed. Stern Wing looked at Star Breeze as she said to the filly, “When Time Turner and the Doctor talk to each other, it's quite dizzying to behold. Not only is it easy to lose track of which is which, but their personality and speech patterns are virtually impossible to keep up with. The speed and complexity that they talk to each other is practically a foreign language to me. Even Feather Wind and Vision struggle to keep up with them, but at least they can do it.” Stern Wing looked down and to her left with depression and embarrassment. “I'm ashamed to admit it, but every time that happens in front of me, it makes me feel so dumb.” “I'm sorry,” Time Turner apologized earnestly as his ears drooped down. “I'm virtually certain that neither me nor my counterpart had any intention to insult you.” He perked up as he went on. “For me, it's just so thrilling to finally talk to somepony who can mentally keep up with my speed. I so rarely face an equal in that regard. Certainly he trumps me in terms of years and experience, but it's so fun to finally be talking to somepony who feels like an equal.” “You were never human, right?” Star Breeze checked with Time Turner. “As I told you earlier, Time Turner here is a naturally born pony,” Stern Wing reminded. “Also the Doctor was never human either. He simply resembled one at one time.” “Have you ever seen a human before?” Star Breeze asked Stern Wing curiously. Stern Wing shook her head, then said, “If they exist in this dimension at all, they might be exceptionally rare.” “There is one librarian in town who claims she has encountered one,” Time Turner brought up. “In fact, she also claims she has become one while she visited that dimension. Naturally she wrote a whole book and report about it later. A book which I had the privilege of checking out myself. Apparently she encountered a magic mirror while visiting the Crystal Empire about nine months ago. At that time the mirror served as a gateway to this 'other world'. The interesting thing about it is she physically became like them when she reached the other side, then later reversed that process back to her pony self when she crossed back. Add to that, the Doctor became a pony too when he crossed over into our universe. I can't help but wonder if he'd turn back into this humanoid form if he somehow found a way to return to that universe. It seems to me, while studying this apparent pattern, that there is a force between our worlds that is forcing each species to convert to the other as they cross back and forth. If this is true, then it might indicate the reason why these 'humans' don't seem to exist in our world at all.” “Actually, I haven't seen any at all while we've been exploring the universe,” Stern Wing added. “In fact, quadrupedal species seem unusually common in general. The Doctor noticed that a long time ago, and even I caught on to that fact. If we're exploring alien beings that were raised on an entirely different planet, why do they keep resembling us so closely? If you're right and there is a force that 'ponyfies' every species that exists here, then this force might actually be fairly universal. That said, I have seem some species that walk on two legs or three or none or all kinds of other appendages. I've seen one species that was a sentient cloud of gas. The universe is weird, but there are certain common threads running between them that is quite suspicious if we look at the big picture.” “Do you think Discord is converting them to ponies and vice versa for those who cross back and forth?” Star Breeze asked. Time Turner shook his head with a doubtful expression. “Based on all the available evidence that I have gathered, the likes of some creature like Discord is a rather unlikely suspect. I'll admit, he is theoretically capable of such a feat given the seemingly unlimited potential applications of his powers but, if he were the culprit, I'd expect creatures to be randomly polymorphed every time they cross back and forth between universes, but a stable pattern indicates form and structure to the system. This is something I have not come to expect from the spirit of ultimate chaos. Reformed or not, this pattern does not fit his M-O.” Stern Wing nodded at Time Turner as she said, “I agree. Such consistency does not seem to have his grubby little paw and talon all over this. Whatever is causing these changes, it must be something or somepony else.” “Which means we have a mystery on our hooves,” Time Turner said with a growing excited grin. “I do ever so much enjoy a good mystery.” Stern Wing tilted her head at Time Turner as she asked him, “Oh, by the way, how long as it been since we last visited you and this town?” “Sounds like it's about the same amount of time as it was for you,” Time Turner answered. “About two months, give or take about a week.” “Anything interesting happen while we were gone?” Stern Wing checked with Time Turner. “Um, well . . . let's see.” Time Turner tilted his head just a bit downward while he tapped his lips in thought, then recalled something. His hoof returned to the ground as he looked straight back at Stern Wing. “Yes. I do recall one notable thing that happened about two weeks ago. It's a shame you missed it, actually, because, quite frankly, it sure was a blast! Back then Rainbow Dash was having a birthday party and anniversary commemorating the day she moved here to Ponyville. The thing that makes this event noteworthy, however, was the fact that this particular celebration was nothing short of epic! If you really do have a time machine here, I highly recommend you swing by and check it out!” Stern Wing squinted her eyes in confusion at Time Turner. “Why would this party be especially epic? She's just an ordinary filly like many others here.” Time Turner lightly shrugged. “I wouldn't exactly say that. She does have a particularly intense sense of style. It seems to me she thrives on it. I recall a time when she was so desperate for attention that she did anything she could to appear to be a hero in the eyes of her fellow Ponyvillion citizens, even if it was just opening up a can of jam. However that, in itself, was not what made this particular event special.” “Pinkie Pie, I take it?” Stern Wing guessed. “It seems to me she has a reputation for such things out in these parts. The way she inspires a coordinated song with the whole town despite no rehearsal is nothing short of miraculous, at least according to Derpy.” “That's only part of it,” Time Turner replied. “The other half was another guest party planner who temporarily moved into town who specializes in particularly epic parties, a stallion that goes by the name of Cheese Sandwich. “You should have seen it! That party was amazing! They had giant balloons and huge party cannons and balloon rides, a petting zoo, an entire pool made of punch, a roller coaster, Hawaiian T-shirts, several stage performances. I could go on and on!” “Geeze!” Stern Wing said as both she and Star Breeze widened their eyes in amazement. “Who paid for all of those things?” In response, Time Turner merely shrugged. “Golly!” Stern Wing stared forward at nothing blankly. “That just might be worth a detour in the past.” She looked back at Time Turner. “Two weeks, you said?” Time Turner nodded. “Is there anything else happening now or soon that we might not want to miss?” Star Breeze checked with Time Turner. Again he looked thoughtful as he processed the answer to this latest question, then focused on Star Breeze as he said, “While I'm not quite as interested in this one, there is another event coming tonight that celebrates the founding of Ponyville itself. I heard that, this year, Rarity is supposed to be hosting this event, and she has indicated that she has some classy ideas in mind.” He grinned and half shrugged. “But naturally we've come to expect such things from the fashionista.” “That should be fun!” Star Breeze said brightly to both of them with a bit of a smile. “I wanted to check out Ponyville anyway. If I happen to catch an event that celebrates its founding, so much the better.” “Any sight you want to check out in particular?” Time Turner asked Star Breeze curiously. “Um . . . I was hoping to pay Sweet Apple Acres a visit,” Star Breeze answered. “I've known 'Granny' Smith since she was a much younger mare. Before she was even called 'Granny', in fact. I'd be interested to see how the farm has developed over time.” “Huh?” Time Turner tilted his head in confusion, then his eyes exploded widely as he recalled something. “Oh that's RIGHT! The two of you are actually native to this world's past!” Stern Wing nodded in confirmation, then said, “About one hundred years, give or take a few years.” “Right, right.” Time Turner looked thoughtful again as he looked down a bit and tapped his lips again in deep thought, but got interrupted from that train of thought when another pony entered the room. “Good news, everyone! Derpy has made a full recovery!” the Doctor announced happily when he returned to the room. “I had advised her to get more bed rest, but when I told her that we had arrived in Ponyville, she got up out of bed as stubborn as a mule. “Oh!” The Doctor blinked in surprise when he noticed his counterpart. “Well hi there, handsome! Good to see you again.” “Well one should expect that when you land the TARDIS in the middle of my home,” Time Turner pointed out with a sly and snarky look. “Hey! You invited us to land here last time, remember?” the Doctor reminded. “Since I had to land somewhere in Ponyville, doing so here would cause less of a stir since you were aware of us anyway. “And on that note, I'd like to ask how is Derpy doing that's native to this reality?” Time Turner shrugged. “I'm not sure. Busy delivering mail is my guess. I don't keep a solid track of the mare, but she does swing by on occasion after work to check out more of my crazy inventions. She hasn't done that in a while now but I can tell she's curious.” “Inventions? Really?” Star Breeze asked Time Turner. “You're an inventor?” “It's kind of a hobby of mine, actually,” Time Turner clarified. “My real job is working to take care of this clock tower here. I keep it in good shape and make sure it remains punctual.” “We're in a clock tower right now?” Star Breeze double checked. “Yes sir!” Time Turner said confidently, but then grew suddenly uncomfortable when he realized something. “Or Ma'am or filly or . . . something or another.” He shook his head. “Great Whickering Stallions! This one sure is a mind bender. What would you like me to call you, my dear?” “Um,” Star Breeze glanced at the others in the room for a second (including Crystal Wind, unbeknownst to the others in the room), then looked back at Time Turner as she said, “For the moment the prudent thing is to call me Feather Wind for as long as I am here. I'm not comfortable with that prospect, but it should serve to confuse others less if we stay consistent on that point in case anypony else is around.” “Most ponies out in these parts barely know me or Feather Wind,” Stern Wing pointed out. “If you want us to call you Star Breeze, it shouldn't be a problem, especially when we're in the privacy of only each other's company.” Star Breeze shook her head at her mother. “I just want to err on the side of caution.” “Well, if you insist,” Stern Wing relented. “But I can imagine how awkward I'd feel if I had to actually live as my father for a few days.” “Well, since you admitted that you are an inventor,” Star Breeze began as she addressed Time Turner again, “I'm curious about something. My parents once told me there is a jar of multi-colored rings on board this ship which they call 'Flameless Fireworks', but so far they haven't figured out how to get them to ignite. I was wondering . . . can you help us figure it out?” Time paused for a few moments as Crystal Wind asked his daughter, “Why do you ask? I already told you how they are ignited.” “I was just wondering if Time Turner here may give them some clue,” Star Breeze answered her father. “If I already told you that we figure it out years later, why would you think anypony would know the answer to that question before we figured it out? That already implies that Time Turner didn't know the answer to that question either and thereby making the question pointless to ask.” “Um,” Star Breeze's eyes glazed over as it occurred to her that her father was right, then she admitted, “True. I guess, in my excitement, I hadn't thought that one through.” Crystal Wind chuckled for a moment, then he said to his daughter, “I advise you to be more discreet with your questions and comments from now on. I already know how this event turns out because of the memories I'm storing within the Red Crystal. It is enough to know that you started a chain of events because of that blunder of yours.” Crystal Wind looked at and gestured to Time Turner. “Check this out.” When Star Breeze looked back at Time Turner, time resumed. While that happened, Crystal Wind happened to catch a momentary look of confusion on the Doctor's face as if he somehow became aware that time briefly paused for a moment. Likely it was because Star Breeze's facial expression or position of her facing suddenly shifted just a little bit, and the Doctor was cunning and observant enough to catch minor flaws like that. Upon noticing that, Crystal Wind privately realized he should probably follow his own advice and be more discreet around ponies like the Doctor from now on. “Flameless . . . fireworks?” Time Turner asked in confusion due to lack of recognition. “What is that?” “A potentially dangerous invention that I insisted the Doctor move to a more secure room like he should have done in the first place,” Stern Wing announced, a little dourly, at the Doctor. “If he's going to insist on keeping an explosive device on board his ship just because he hasn't figured out how to get it to ignite yet, then the least he could do is move it to a bomb-proof room, or explosive resistant, I should say.” The Doctor chuckled as he briefly closed his eyes and shook his head. When he next spoke, he opened his eyes again and focused his attention back to his counterpart. “During my long journey, I encountered a recipe on an alien world from a lost civilization that would create a mysterious substance which could be used as a sort of firework, but it did not need fire to ignite. When I encountered it, I was intrigued. Here was a puzzle right in front of me. How could I not attempt to decipher this riddle?” “Exactly! How could you not?” Time Turner reflected in complete agreement with the Doctor. “Have you made any headway into this mystery?” The Doctor shook his head as he said, “Not as such, so far.” Then the Doctor gained a brilliant idea. “Hey! How about you? Would you like to try your hand in helping me solve this mystery?” “Sure!” Time Turner invited eagerly. “How can a brilliant mind like ours possibly rest until we have this great mystery solved? Our inquisitive nature is precisely what makes us the ponies that we are.” “Pony'ish,” the Doctor half agreed. “Well, if you're up for the challenge then I'll gladly invite you to tackle it. Perhaps you'll be the first between us to solve this mystery.” “Challenge accepted!” Time Turner eagerly agreed. “See what you started?” Crystal Wind lightly scolded his daughter. “Fortunately this event does not cause too great of a ripple, but be more mindful of your actions from now on. Discord might appreciate little continuity errors like this, but you, my dear, need to be more careful while visiting another timeline. Take this lesson to heart. Everything you do affects the future and the past because it's all connected.” “I will, Dad. I promise.” Star Breeze mentally reassured her father. “I'll try to be more careful from now on. It's just that . . . I'm so in the habit of being honest.” “Being honest and reckless are two different things. Learn to decipher the difference,” Crystal Wind advised.