Conversations to Pass the Time
Treks over great distances often turned boring, and it was for that reason that ponies had developed traveling songs and riddle-games. Unfortunately, Star Swirl was more studious than adventurous, and had never bothered to learn any of them. The only quests he'd cared for had been undertaken long ago by other ponies.
Which is why he was now trying and, irritatingly enough, failing to make conversation with his companion. "So are you originally from that city? The one we met under?"
"Cumulonium?"
"If that's what it's called," he confirmed. "Were you born there?"
"No," Downward replied.
Star Swirl pressed on. "Then where are you from?"
"Somewhere else." She didn't elaborate.
"Where?"
Downward shrugged. "You wouldn't know it."
"Maybe I do." Her reticence was frustrating Star Swirl, and it was beginning to become evident in his voice. "You might be surprised."
They came upon the edge of a forest. To Star Swirl's relief, Downward decided to skirt around the outside instead of plunging into it. The mountain was still fresh in his mind, and though the forest was most likely easier to traverse, he was fine with sticking to the open plain.
As she made her decision on which route to take, the pegasus didn't skip a beat in their conversation. "The only thing that's surprised me so far is how sheltered you really are. Didn't you ever play outside as a child? Run around and meet people?"
"Why would I do that? All I need to know, I can learn by reading."
"You couldn't even tell the difference between male and female griffins!"
"Well, we can't all be streetwise exiled urchins," he growled. "On that point, how did you get free?"
"Can't a girl know a few tricks?" She smirked.
Star Swirl opened his mouth to snap back at her, but before he could her eyes fluttered shut and she fell forward mid-step. In an instant he was kneeling at her side. "Downward?! Downward, what's wrong?!"
She was limp, and her breathing was ragged. Each intake was painfully shallow. Little droplets of sweat were forming on her forehead, prompting Star Swirl to press a hoof to it and confirm she was indeed running a fever.
She seemed to be dying, and Star Swirl didn't know what to do.
Star Swirl was just barely aware of the sound of approaching hoofbeats. He looked up and saw a light brown earth pony with dark, tousled hair. The other pony saw Downward cradled in the unicorn's forelegs and immediately asked, "What's wrong?"
"I- I don't know! She just fell over, I don't know what's wrong!"
"Yes, medical knowledge in this age is quite poor. Let me have a look." The earth pony sat next to the pair and waved a strange, buzzing wand over Downward.
"Are you a doctor?" Star Swirl thought an hourglass was an odd cutie mark for one.
"In a manner of speaking." The wand stopped buzzing and the pony looked at it. "Ah yes, that makes sense."
Star Swirl perked up. "You know what's wrong?! What is it?"
"It... might be too early to say." The earth pony produced a sharp needle attached to a vial of glowing liquid.
"What?!"
The pony gently pierced Downward with the needle and emptied the vial. "Look, you can ask her when she wakes up if you're curious. For now just let her rest. Oh, and make sure she stays warm."
Saying nothing else, the strange doctor got up and left. Star Swirl watched him, bewildered by his display, until he was no longer visible. Then the unicorn gently laid Downward down, rose, and began preparing a campfire.
"How are you doing?" A voice asked from behind Star Swirl. His voice, though slightly gruffer.
He turned to face the older, wizened version of himself. Star Swirl was again taken aback by his future self's beard, its silver hairs glinting in the moonlight. How far into the future did that lay?
He supposed it was a worry borne of his coming middle-age. He didn't possess a single grey strand yet.
Star Swirl smiled wistfully. "I set myself on this journey, but I can't help but feel I'm a ship being buffeted by the winds. Very little thus far has been determined by me."
"I can relate, Young Me, I can relate. So tell me, how's that time spell going?"
"Another wind blowing," Star Swirl griped. "I've come to understand the problem, but I've yet to grasp the solution. If I can..."
Star Swirl trailed off when he realized his older self was staring at Downward. "Is there something wrong?"
"Oh, no. No." Old Star Swirl forced himself to look away, though his gaze would dart back every now and then.
"I'm a bad liar," Star Swirl accused himself.
"It's... It's complicated, Young Me."
"Is there a reason you chose to help me?" Star Swirl demanded as his future self sat down. "Does it have something to do with her?"
"Yes and no, respectively. Come sit by me." He patted the ground beside him.
"I'll stand, thanks."
"Suit yourself," Old Star Swirl said. Then he tore his left foreleg off. "I saved you, Young Me, because nopony deserves a prosthetic as ill-fitting as this one."
Star Swirl slowly approached. "Your leg... How is this possible?"
"I told you I'd fought my way free," Old Star Swirl reminded him, shrugging. "I just didn't get away whole. Dragged myself to Cumulonium, got patched up, and spent the rest of my quest on a peg. Once things calmed down, I designed this fake leg for myself. I call it a prosthetic. Pioneered the field."
"All while figuring out a time spell."
He laughed. "Don't get down on yourself, Young Me. I said our timelines were different, didn't I? By this point I hadn't even figured out the problem yet, let alone started on the solution. I was too busy with... other things."
Old Star Swirl stood abruptly. "Young Me, you have been given the chance to make it through this quest with your body and honor intact. Do not squander it."
Then he was gone.
Star Swirl got no sleep that night. His mind was too busy mulling over his various problems, not the least of which was his future self's strange behavior. So he just sat tending the fire.
Downward's eyes slowly opened as the sun rose.