“You know, Boss, when you teleported onto my kitchen table this morning shouting ‘FIELD TRIP!’, I expected we were going hiking up the falls for miracle petals, or to Crater Lake for jicama root. Not… this,” She gestured to the area she was hovering above. “You HATE mud!”
Slogging barrel-deep in the muck, Arca turned and smiled at his apprentice. “Juniper, when have I ever done anything without a reason?”
“Last week you caused a landslide outside of town ‘because it was cool’.”
“Hey, those boulders were practically begging to get shoved! And don't worry, I know plenty of cleaning spells to make me and my lab coat presentable.”
Juniper stopped for a moment, hovering in the air. “Presentable? For what, do we have a double date or something?”
“Oh, Juniper. Never change. No, we are not going on a double date. We are, however, meeting somepony. Didn't you check the map? Or have you forgotten which famous pony lives in Hayseed Swamp?”
“Wait, seriously?!” The pegasus shared wide-eyed at her mentor in realization. “We're going to meet THE Mage Meadowbrook? Pillar of Equestria, master healer?” Juniper's demeanor changed quickly into fangirl mode as she smiled, her grin growing progressively larger. “Blue coat, auburn mane? There's a signed first edition copy of her recipe book in the town library you need special permission to even touch? THAT Mage Meadowbrook?”
“The same. I was hoping we could compare notes on brewing techniques, and maybe-”
“EEEEEEEE!” Juniper squealed with pure joy as she began flying in circles around her boss. “And you brought me along? Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!”
Arca chuckled, tracking his apprentice’s movements. “Anything for my number one apprentice. Besides, I can't expect you to become a world-class alchemist if all I have you do is sit on the sidelines! Look, you can see her treehouse in the dist-”
*shoom*
“-ance. And, she's gone. I guess I'll just walk the rest of the way. Or would swimming be faster? Eh, whatever.”
Meadowbrook, or Meadow as she preferred to be called, was busy explaining to customers about the various remedies she had to offer when a very excited pegasus entered the shop. Great, another overexcited historian, she thought to herself. Ever since she and the rest of the Pillars of Old Equestria had returned from limbo, historians from all over had been coming and going to hear their perspectives on both modern times and events from their era.
Deciding it would be better head this off before too much of a commotion ensued, she motioned for the pony to wait a minute and finished her explanation before trotting over. “Hey there, sweetie, can I help you?” she inquired. “You seem a little… eager.”
Juniper Berry, firstborn of her siblings, had been through a lot of fiascos and shenanigans. Far more that the average pony, possibly even more than those mares she kept reading about in the paper. But nothing prepared her to meet the pony she idolized, the one she had only hoped of meeting in her wildest dreams, the one whose selflessness drove her to study alchemy. So she began hyperventilating as soon as Meadowbrook offered her a hoof to shake.
“Oh, dear. A big fan, I take it? Calm down, deep breaths.” Juniper's breathing slowed down slightly, but not yet to a manageable level. “Calm down. There's nothing to worry about, and I'm a very calm, patient pony, so nothing you could say or do is likely to upset me. Just say whatever comes to mind.”
“I-I… y-you… hi?”
“Hello, dearie,” Meadow replied, offering a warm, motherly smile. “And what might your name be?”
The light green pegasus barely managed to stammer out a response. “J-Juniper. Juniper Berry. I'm a junior alchemist, and I'm a huge fan, M-Mage Meadowbrook.”
“See? Was that difficult, sweetie? This place is a tranquil place, where relaxation and peace are key, and cooler heads prevail…”
Suddenly, a loud FOOM noise was heard as smoke erupted from the cauldron where an herbal remedy had been brewing. Meadowbrook’s attitude did an immediate 180, angrily turning and shouting towards the the slowly dissipating cloud.
“ARCANE CATALYST! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO- wait, force of habit...” She let her head droop, as though remembering somepony from long ago, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.
“Whoops. Guess adding thunderthistle to the mix wasn't such a good idea.”
Meadowbrook's ears sprung to attention. “Wait. There's no way…”
“Hey, Boss.”
“Arca?”
“I'm home.”
“ARCA!”
I KNEW IT! I CALLED IT! I BUCKING CALLED IT! I'M A GENIUS! HAHAHAHHAHAHAH!
9373885
Yeah, yeah. Gold star.
But did you know this was originally planned in reverse, with Maedow travelling to Rainbow Falls after hearing of a legendary alchemist? Then I realized everypony there knows Arca by name and we'd miss the heartfelt moment at the end.
So either Arca's immortal (which would certainly explain a few things) or he's some sort of time traveler (which would also explain a few things.)
9373931
Imma just tell you: immortal. I can't write time travel well. I try too hard to avoid writing paradoxes and end up having an existential crisis about the nature of reality.
9373956
Paradoxes are half the fun of time travel! (Especially if you write around them in an incredibly lazy way, like having an "paradox-proof" accessory or somesuch. Or just make paradoxes self-preventing or self-resolving.)
(weeeeeelllll.... almost, i though he was a secret alicorn. my only basis for this was he always wore that labcoat...? to hide his wings? but close enough! right?)
What, what what I think something needs explained MAYHAPS alot of somethings.. Also gathering no pony except for maybe the princesses know certain parts of Acra's past.. THough it does explain how Celestia is so familiar with Acras hyjinks
9374173
Meadowbrook canonically disappeared a little over a thousand years prior to the show. Any kind of blatant attention would just disrupt buisness, and he doesn't like that...
He will, however, admit he is several centuries old if asked directly. It's just that all of Rainbow Falls knows already, so nopony's bothered to ask in-story yet...
Goddamnit! Again you hit me with the feels!
Please continue making great work.
9374300
How is speed writing this in 45 minutes good workThank you!
9374233 I'm surprised with the passage of time anyone in Rainbow Falls remembers. I assume if more ponies knew Acra's true age and association with Meadow Brook he'd get alot of ponies bothering him as well
AS A PS You mis-spelled Meadow in the Line "Hello Dearie."
9374367
Actually, the only pony in existence who knows Arca's actual age is Celestia. Arca lost count around 500, and all his records were lost nearly 300 years ago when a fire razed most of the town to the ground. He asks Celestia to keep it to herself so he doesn't feel old. For legal purposes, Arca identifies as 30-35 years old.
Excuse me while I go
glare atspeak with my editor. Although I'm shocked spellcheck didn't catch that one first...9374394 AS I know for embarrassing experience spell check only makes sure the word is spelled right not that its the right word. Also being capitalized spell check might of ignored it assuming rightly it was a proper name
Honestly, simple lack of aging isn't that impressive in the grand scheme of things. I had honestly assumed he'd done it by accident, à la Age of Adaline.
But that bit with Meadowbrook? Ah that was heartwarming.
9374508
Stay tuned, because I'm dropping some major backstory in the next chapter. Should clear up a few questions that you, Meadow, and Juniper probably all share.
Huh... so it looks like he actually did turn himself into a homunculus.
Which of the seven deadly sins does he embody?
And where are Alphonse and Edward?
9374367
9374394
I blame Arca for that missed typo.
Edit: Also, there's a biig difference between immortal and ageless.
Immortal is not able to die by conventional means, such as bodily harm, aging, deseases, and poisons.
Arca is... actually that old? This surprises me exactly none.
Needs more! Soo want to know how those 2 know each other
Le whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat ?!
9375033
Immortal does not cover death by Arcane Catalyst though, the universe is still working on how to circumvent that
Welp. That happened. The borked potion, not the agelessness part.
How dare you and thank you for this.
Both.
Thanks, though, mostly.
Ya You!
So he did have a reason
Clearly not enough, considering that he's still doing it
Extremely confused at the moment...