External Monologues
Star Swirl had been walking for nearly half a day and was starting to feel it was about time for lunch. The only problem with this was that he couldn't easily find a spot to rest when the sun kept setting and rising every few seconds.
But the fact that Discord was the Spirit of Chaos soon worked in Star Swirl's favor as Discord quickly tired of the novelty and instead simply set the sun to lazily trace a figure-eight in the sky. Now the unicorn could see reliably, though it was somewhat disturbing that his shadow kept moving.
Focusing his eyes straight in front of him, and trying as hard as he could to ignore the flickering darkness at his hooves, Star Swirl spotted a pleasant-looking place up ahead, shaded by a tree. It would serve his needs quite nicely.
His meal was finished too soon for his liking, so Star Swirl just plopped down on his back. He wasn't in that much of a rush after all and besides, his feet still pained him a bit.
"Yes... it's a nice spot, isn't it? But be careful you don't close your eyes. You may not open them again."
Star Swirl jumped up and spun around in the direction the words had come from. On the other side of the tree sat what seemed to be a pony, though its back was to Star Swirl and an obtrusively large hat and a belled robe hid its features. Like most ponies, Star Swirl did not normally wear clothes. They reminded him of the nobility and, besides, they looked ridiculous. But Star Swirl could feel its power, and it made him cautious. "You say there is danger, sir. Is it from you?"
The figure turned slightly and Star Swirl caught sight of the fringes of a luxurious beard. It held up a small flower. "Not I, this. It possesses an unusual defense against any herbivores that may want to eat it. When creatures come near, it emits a mild soporific."
"That's incredible!" Star Swirl had never heard of this plant before. "But if I may ask, how is it you are unaffected?"
"Unfortunately for the flower, but fortunately for the predatory packs that usually cohabitate with it, immunities are swiftly developed. All it takes for a pony-sized creature is a few hours of sleep. I was able to survive a violent awakening. Most are not."
"Well I am quite lucky to have had you around, then." Star Swirl Bowed his head in thanks.
"Luck... Indeed, that's what it was."
Star Swirl could hear a bit of laughter in the other's voice, but ignored it for the moment. "And might I say, your beard is fairly magnificent. Perhaps it is you who should be called 'the Bearded' instead."
"You shouldn't be so quick to give our title away, me." The robed pony, for it was in fact a pony, turned around fully. His features were aged, but unmistakably familiar. It was impossible.
Unless...
Star Swirl stumbled back. "Discord!"
"Calm yourself, Younger One." The doppelganger chided. "I am no spirit."
"Than how is it you wear my face?" Star Swirl challenged the almost-identical pony.
"Simple. It's my face as well." He replied, sounding as Star Swirl himself did when he was lecturing. "I am you."
"An older version of myself... But how?"
The older Star Swirl smiled. "That also has a simple answer. Magic. I created a time travel spell."
"Time travel... is it truly possible?" The young one rubbed his beard thoughtfully. Then something occurred to him. "Wait, if you've come back in time, that means I succeed. I find the Sisters. Right?"
"I found the Sisters. You haven't done anything yet." The old one replied indignantly.
"They exist..."
The old one sighed. "Listen, me, and listen well. Just because I was able to complete my mission, that doesn't mean you will. No older version of me saved me from the flowers, I had to fight free myself. Your future can be, and already is, different from what I've experienced. You can still fail."
"But that doesn't make any sense." The young one shook his head in disbelief. "If I fail, then I wouldn't be able to go back in time. Or there'd be no point to."
"I don't understand it fully myself, though they tell me it's called a self-generating paradox. Obviously, the expectation would be that anything you do would affect me. But my history remains unchanged. Reason, it seems, must be held to the side when one is dealing with time travel."
"So where can I find them?" This was going to make the younger one's journey so much simpler, or so he hoped.
Alas, his hopes were swiftly dashed. "Why would I tell you that? Nopony helped me."
"Why would you risk traveling through time, if not to tell me?"
Energy began to crackle around the older one. "I don't have a lot of time left, young me. The spell can only sustain itself for so long. So here's a final piece of advice. Be careful who you trust from here on out. Oh, and start working on the time spell!"
Then he was gone.