//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: The Pony in The Book 
// Story: The Story of Zeta 
// by Z-A-C 
//------------------------------//

"So..." Said Ganger while she walked along beside me. "I've been wondering about that tunnel. How could possibly have gained this much ground?"

"I too have thinking about it, but I do not know. I think one of the books I've brought with me has something about such occurrences in it." I looked at the sky but it was obscured by the canopy. "Hmm, it's starting to get pretty dark." I looked at Velvet. "You think we should stop?" She looked around and shrugged. "Your voice acting up again?" She nodded her head. "Great." I sighed. "Ganger, you think we should stop?"

"Maybe to see where we are, but I don't think we should stop for today. I think we still have an hour or two before night fall."

"Considering the canopy and how dark it is now, I figure we have an hour at most before we have to make camp. But I agree lets stop for a little while." We all stopped, and I sat the bag on the ground and searched for the right book. I heard the familiar squeak of Velvet's voice and turned to her. "Yes?"

"Having trouble?" She wrote on her blackboard.

"Uh...yeah." I scratched the back of my head and chuckled. "I can't seem to remember the name of the book..." I tapped my chin in thought and looked at the books. "The Doctor's Guide to Time and All Things Temporal? What the hay? don't remember packing this." I heard the tapping of chalk.

"Who's 'The Doctor'?"

"Doctor Who?" Ganger chimed in.

"I honestly don't know." I opened the book and Table of Contents. "Hmm, Gateways and other timey-wimey things? What an odd title." I said as I turned to the start of the chapter.

"This Doctor seems....weird..." Ganger said looking at the book as well.

"Indeed." I said as I started to read. "Um what?"

"What's wrong?"

"T-theres a button...in book..." I blinked a few times in confusion.

"What?" Ganger and Velvet did the same.

I press the button and an oddly familiar brown pony stallion appeared from the book. I jumped back at the sudden appearance. "What the buck is that!"

"A hologram." Velvet wrote and shrugged. "Pretty advanced for such an old looking book."

"I agree." Said Ganger.

"Yes, that's nice and all but are you going to listen or should I go?" The stallion in the book said.

"A-are you...The Doctor?"

"Yes, and before you ask, it's just The Doctor. Nothing else just. The. Doctor. Are we clear? Good. Now, where we?" We all looked at each other and back at the Hologram Doctor. "Hello?"

"Um...Gateways?"

"Oh, right. Gateways! Yes temporal gateways. A slightly very rare occurrence, especially in this world."

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Temporal gateways can transport you through time, forwards and backwards, but not through space, depending on the type of gateway. In the event that you happen to somehow stumble into one, you may experience nausea the first time. Your body will adapt to the sensation the more you go through the gateways. But I do not suggest it without some kind of protection, or the TARDIS. Before you ask, that stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space. Any questions? No? Good. Now, if none of you are feeling sick then congratulations, you got lucky. The odds of first time gateway users not getting sick are slim."

"Then how did we gain five hundred miles?"

"What? You traveled distance as well?" We nodded our heads. "And none of you are sick?" We shook our heads. "Fantastic!"

"What do you man 'fantastic'?"

"You just went through a Class three Gateway! Without getting sick!"

"Did we go back in time as well?" I asked this time.

"Hmm yes it appears that you did. About two days I'd say." He nodded his head sagely.

"So," Ganger started. "We not only gained distance, but we gained time as well?"

"Yes."

"Awesome!"

"Now, if there's nothing else I will leave you to your travels."

"What happens if we meet ourselves?"

He almost looked panicked when she asked that. "You must not meet your past selves! That would create a paradox!"

"Would there be a chance that we would meet by accident?"

"No, it became a fixed point in time as soon as you stepped through the gateway. It's locked in an infinite time loop. As long as you keep moving there is no chance of that ever happening."

"I think that's all we needed." I said.

"Good! Glad I could help. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be going now." And then he was gone.

I closed the book. "Well that was...interesting." The others nodded and I packed the books up and we continued walking. 





It was almost pitch dark now and we were forced to stop. I couldn't understand how we stepped into a temporal gateway without know it. Also I wanted to figure out where in the tunnel the gateway was. But The Doctor's voice came in my head telling me to not go back. And I knew if I did, something bad would happen. We made a small fire, just big enough to keep us warm but too big as to cause the jungle to catch fire. We had walked for about two to maybe three miles today. It was hard to tell in this jungle.

One of the good things about being in a jungle is finding berries, and this jungle is plentiful. We decided to pack some when we reached the edge. But for now, I was looking over supplies while Ganger tried to help Velvet with her vocal exercises. Picking berries is helping with our food supply, so our main concern is water. I can hear a stream not to far from here, we will fill our canteens in the morning.

"Can you talk now?" Asked Ganger.

"I-I think so?"

"Don't push yourself too hard, okay?" I said, looking up from the bag. "I think we have enough supplies for another two to three days. Possibly four depending on how many berries we take with us."

"What about water?" Asked Velvet.

"We will freshen it up when we continue tomorrow." She nodded her head and Ganger laid down. "Tired so soon?" I asked in a teasing tone. "I thought you had more energy than that."

"I think it's side effects from the gateway."

I shrugged. "Could be. I'm wide awake though." I looked at Velvet. "What about you?"

"I'm a little tired, not enough to fall asleep though."

"Hmm I see. Ganger, if you want to sleep you can. We'll keep watch."

"I think might. Goodnight guys."

"Goodnight." Both Velvet and I said.

"Anything on your mind Zeta?" Asked Velvet.

"Not really. I still can't comprehend went into the past, I don't feel any different."

"Neither do I, but it is just two days. If it were a year I believe we would feel it."

"I guess you're right. That does make sense, doesn't it?"

"Yeah."

"This jungle is quite nice isn't it? A little hot and maybe humid but at least we have shade."

"I agree. It's a lovely place, shame we have to leave it..."

Then there was a quite a startling noise in the distance. It sounded like wild animals fighting. I looked in the general direction of it and then slowly back at Velvet. "Maybe for the better." Her eyes were wide, and you could see the fear on her face. "Don't worry I'll protect you two." She said nothing but nodded instead and got closer to me.

I have a feeling I'm not getting any sleep tonight.