My jaw was still hanging, as I, Fluttershy and Insert name here ascended the stairs from the basement to the ground floor of Trottingham University. I thought to myself, no way, Fluttershy the second. I never heard that Fluttershy had children. My face was showing that I was very confused and shocked to find a descendant of Fluttershy this far into my future and Fluttershy herself could see this but we both knew this was not the time for questions.

We reached the top of the stairs and out into one of the corridors I had walked down with professor Time, lucky I knew the way out after finally getting to know my way around by the end of my second day working here. “Follow me!” I said to the two ponies “I know the way out!” and I led them through the maze of Trottingham University, sometimes having to take a different route because some of the walls and ceilings had collapsed at some point in the past , but eventually we made it to the reception.

As we approached the front doors I looked towards the reception desk. There, sitting in the chair I had last seen him in was the remains of Mr Paperweight who looked like he had been working when he died. In fact I thought to myself, he may not have even noticed the explosion or the flames, but I had to move on. No point in mourning the dead. I had to focus on me.

I looked away from the remains of paperweight and turned back to the front doors. Fluttershy and Insert Name Here were waiting for me. I approached them, “Another pony you knew” said the stallion and I nodded my head to say yes, then Fluttershy got my attention. “You’re still alive! Always remember that and never forget it”.

I reached out with my hoof and opened the front doors of Trottingham University. I was going to see what the world looked like after all this time and then, I saw it, Trottingham. “Welcome Tick Tock to the wastelands of Equestai.” I was in shock at what I saw.

275 years and a wave of flames had taken its toll on my home. Everything was in ruin. Buildings that, only yesterday I had past, were either destroyed or in a state of collapse. I could see the poster of the Cutie Mark Crusader work programme that I had read only an hour ago, it had been badly burnt. I could only make out a few words, the rest was gone. “Find your Cutie mark today!” I said to myself reading what remained of the poster. I turned to Fluttershy and Insert name here. “What happened? What in Luna’s name has happened to my home?” I asked, angry building up inside of me and my face and voice showing it. Fluttershy and Insert Name here looked at me. They could tell that the anger I was showing was not directed at them but at what the world had become.

Fluttershy approached me and placed a hoof on my shoulder. “I know you’re angry and upset to see your home like this and I promise you that we will explain everything that we know to you but we need to get somewhere safe.” Her voice was so kind. She was like Fluttershy herself except she had way more confidence than the first Fluttershy did. I looked at her with disappointment but I accepted the fact and we moved on.

As I walked down the steps to the road, I noticed something. Silence! There was nothing. No birds, not even the sound of running water from the fountain outside. Just the sound of myself, Fluttershy and Insert name here walking away from Trottingham University, a place I knew as my prison and now as my safe haven from the flames.

As we reached the bottom of the steps I thought of my parents, my home. I knew that they were long gone but I wanted to take a look to see if there was anything from my old life I could take with me. “Before we go, I would like to make one stop.” I said while Insert Name Here was looking around the corner, keeping an eye out for ghoul ponies. When he gave the signal that the coast was clear, he and Fluttershy turned to me. “This may not be the best time Tick Tock.” Fluttershy said. She then turned her head to face insert name here and he just nodded. “Ok Tick Tock! where would you like to go?” Fluttershy said with the same tone of voice I had once heard past Fluttershy speak in “I want to go home!”

The trip from the University to my home was a short one. I was lucky not to live far away but I still had to be up early just like all the other members of the university when I was working there. We passed by so many familiar places that I had once been to. Shops, homes of friends I once knew, now all gone and before I knew it, I was standing outside my house.

My Home had seen better days. It was still standing to say the least. The roof had collapsed inward on the right side of the house and all the window were smashed. Some still with glass hanging from their frames and the front door looked like it had been blasted off its hinges. It was lying on the floor burnt and decaying.

“This is it! Welcome home Tick Tock.” I said to myself which my companions overheard. They looked at me with sorrow. I ventured into the house. The lack of a door made it easy for us to enter.

A pony tapped me on the shoulder. It was Fluttershy. “I know you’re here for sentimental reasons but could we look around for supplies as well.” I did see the logic in looking, after all from the state of the world, supplies would be in short supply. “Sure! Come with me.” I beckoned Fluttershy and Insert name to follow me.

“It would be best if one of us stood guard while you two look around. We don’t want to get trapped again.” insert name said looking at Fluttershy, and then to me. I nodded in agreement and took Fluttershy to the kitchen.

Once I entered the kitchen, I used my magic to lift my parent’s medicine box from its place. I had never been allowed to open it myself for some reason, which now I would never find out why. I hovered the box and placed it over to a counter next to me. Fluttershy was looking in all the cupboards for food but all the food would most likely have expired 100 years ago.

I began to open the medical box when “Tick Tock!” I look and saw Fluttershy using her magic to hover something out for me. “I found this saddle bag before we found you. I think you may find it more useful that the last pony who it belonged to.” I was going to ask but I knew, they most likely encountered the ghoul ponies and did not survive.

She hovered the saddle bag over me and placed it onto my back. It had a pouch on each side. I had to admit, it was a helpful thing to have for carrying anything I found. “Thank you Fluttershy. This will help.” Fluttershy blushed a little at my thanks and went back to looking for food.

I opened one of the saddle bags and using my magic placed Professor Time’s Pip-Buck inside it before closing the bag and returning my attraction to the medical box which to my relief still contained medical supplies inside. I was thankful that no one had found it before us. Inside were some magic bandages and three healing potions. I guessed one for each member of my family and, something I never expected to find inside a medical box. A clear orb.

I surrounded the orb in magic and lifted it out of the box. I looked to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, do you know what this is?” I show her the orb. “Where did you find that?” She pointed her hoof at the orb. “It was inside my parent’s medical box.” “What a strange place to store a memory orb.” Fluttershy said. “A what?” I said in shock and wonder as I had never heard of a memory orb before. “It’s something from your time. It stores a memory. I’m surprised you don’t know about them.” I guessed that because Trottingham is on a small island not a lot of information was available from the main land. So memory orbs must not have been well known but somehow my parents did.

I hovered the Orb back into the medical box and closed it. I thought It would be much easier to carry all the supplies if I took the box with me. I hovered the box and placed it inside the saddle bag making sure it was secured before moving on.

“Fluttershy, are you finished? Did you find anything?” Fluttershy turned to me. “Yes! There was not much. Some of the food was still edible though.” I wondered how but I did not want to know.

I led Fluttershy upstairs to the second floor of the house. There were only three rooms. One my parents were in, a bathroom and my room. I went to search my room but the ceiling had collapsed into it and I was unable to enter. It would have taken ages to clear a way, so I moved on. Looking back once more at what only yesterday had been my room.

The door to my parent’s bedroom was, to my surprise, still on its hinges and was at the moment closed. I placed my hooves on the door and pushed. It did not move. “Here! Let me help.” Fluttershy had placed her hooves on the door as well. “1, 2, 3!” I said and we pushed. Slowly the door opened.

My parent’s room was what you expect. Wardrobes, a dresser which my mother used to put on makeup and jewellery, which had melted. I could see spots of gold and then there was the bed. I screamed at what I saw but Fluttershy quickly put her hoof over my mouth before I could make much noise. “Sorry” I said. I looked back to the bed thinking that what I just saw was not there, but it was.

Two pony skeletons were on the bed, covered in the remains of what used to be a quilt. I started to approach the bed with Fluttershy slowly following behind me. I was now staring at the two pony skeletons. “Hello Mum! Hello Dad. I’m home!” I said to the two who I knew were my parents. Fluttershy Gasped. She now knew who these ponies used to be. She placed a hoof on my shoulder as a show of comfort. “Tick Tock, I’m so sorry!”

It was too much for me to handle. Anger overcame me and I was unable to control it. Everything I had seen today, trottingham, my parents and Professor Time. everything I had experienced was making me so angry. “Tick Tock, are you ok?” Fluttershy could tell that something was wrong with me.

I could no longer hold it back “What do you think Fluttershy” I said in an angry and sarcastic voice. “My home is gone, my parents are dead and my whole life had just gone.” “Tick Tock, calm down!” Fluttershy said in a panic, knowing I was about to lose myself to anger and then, I did! “CALM DOWN! YOU EXPECT ME TO CALM DOWN! THIS IS A NIGHTMARE. WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME? AND YOU….” I point my hoof at Fluttershy “WHY ARE YOU HELPING ME? I NEARLY GOT YOU KILLED! WHY? WHY WOULD YOU HELP SOMEONE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW?” At that moment, Fluttershy’s horn glowed. I could feel my saddle bags become lighter. Fluttershy had removed something from my saddle bag and then the something was touching my horn.

Everything was staring to fade. My parent’s room and Fluttershy were being replaced with white. The last thing I saw before everything faded was Fluttershy crying, I did not mean to upset her.

Everything was white. It was like the darkness of being frozen in time but at least this was brighter. Then the white began to be replayed. A different environment was fading in but as it became clearer, I noticed that I was not in my parent’s bedroom. Then I realised. Fluttershy must have used the memory orb on me, most likely to calm me down.

The room had finally faded back and I could see where I was. I was in a hospital lying on a bed. I could feel myself holding something but I could not move any part of my body, not even my eyes. I could only watch. My eyes then turned to the right and there was my father younger than he was when I last saw him. “so, is this the memory you want put inside the orb” My father said placing a clear orb on the bed” Then I spoke but the words were not mine “Yes, I want to leave a message for our child when he is grown up”.

The voice was my mothers, so I was seeing a memory of hers. This was amazing and a little disturbing at the same time. My eyes then looked down and I saw a baby. “Do you have a name for him?” my father said, “Yes, I know it’s a silly name but I want to call him Tick Tock.” ”No way!” I said but no noise came out of my mouth. I was looking at myself as a baby but then my father came closer. “Are you sure? It is a silly name but if you’re sure then I’m ok with It.” he gave us both a smile. “So are you ready? Do you know what to say?” My head nodded and my father placed a mirror in front of me. And there was my mother. Young and, if she was not my mother, I would have said, attractive.

“Hello Tick Tock! I guess when you find this you will be all grown up and we will be no more. I know what you’re saying. Yes! Why would we say that when I just had you! but please listen, I just wanted you to know that having you has been a very proud moment of my life but even more when I get to raise you, I just want you to know that I will love you, even if I get angry or annoyed at you I still love you and never forget that even when you see this. It’s your turn now dear” she turned to face my father.

“Hello son! I’m not very good at these emotional speeches but I’ll try. Your mother’s right! We are both very proud to have you and to be raising you. I could not think of anything better than having a son to raise. I want you to know that and if, when we’re gone, that you need comfort then this orb is for you.” I watch my father get of the chair he was sitting in and sit next to me so that both of them could be seen in the mirror opposite. “And we will be proud of you with whatever you do with your life. Always remember that.” I was crying. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks. Then the picture started to fade back to white. I stared at my parents for as long as I could make them out then they became white as well.

I was still crying as I started to fade back into my parent’s room. I was on the floor. My head was resting on something soft and a hoof was stroking my hair. “I know you’re still in the memory but I want to say this even if you’ll never hear it. The reason I have helped you is because I want to follow my great grandmother’s hoof steps. From what I was told, she was a kind pony but also very shy. Nothing like me.” I could not help but crack a smile. “But in this world, kindness is more of a weakness. It makes you vulnerable. But when it can be given, then it’s worth it.”

Fluttershy Had started crying again. “I’m sorry!” Fluttershy flinched but stayed still so that my head continued to rest on her. “I’m sorry for taking it out in you. I guess everything that’s happened just built up, I’m sorry.” I was crying and Fluttershy hugged me. ”I know you have been through so much in one day and I needed to say I expected it. I’m sorry I used the memory orb on you. It was the only way to calm you down. What did you see?” I looked up at her, tears still streaming down her face and my own. “A message from my parents on the day I was born. They told me to have a good life and that’s what I’m going to do.”

I spent a few more minutes with my head resting on Fluttershy. It was like when my mother would do the same but then I got up off of Fluttershy and she got up herself. I turned to her. “Sorry! I just want a minute to get some sentimental items.” Fluttershy nodded her head and headed out the door to the landing where I could see her waiting.

Not many of my parent’s things had survived. I checked my mother’s dresser. Most of the jewellery had melted but one item was in better condition than the rest. It was a small necklace. The outside had melted slightly but it opened ok. Inside were two small pictures. One of my father and one of my mother. I closed it back up and placed it in my saddle bag.

I looked over the whole room but nothing else had survived. As I started to leave the room I looked back at my parents. My mother was wearing a locket. I had seen her wear this so many times but she never told me anything about it. To my surprise it had survived completely intact. I hovered it over to me and place it in my saddle bag before using my magic to move the remains of the quilt over my parent’s skeletons “Good night mum and dad forever.” And I closed the door behind me.

Suddenly, I heard a gun go off down stairs. “I don’t mean to rush you up there but I just saw a ghoul pony and I had to shoot or it would have called for more. Get down here. We don’t have long.” We turned to face each other and then ran down the stairs and out the front door. I saw Insert name here. One of the guns on his side still smoking and there on the ground nearby was a ghoul pony, dead.
We both ran to insert name here who still had his guns trained on an area of the street the ghoul pony must have come from. No sooner had we all got back together did they appear. About a hundred ghoul ponies were heading around the corner onto the street we were in. They all saw us and growled as they all began to run towards it. Not needing a second to think, we all turned around and ran as fast as we could up the other side of the street.

Insert name here stopped and turned around on the spot aiming his guns at the ghoul ponies. He fired off two shots and they hit two Ghoul ponies but I could tell his aim was off because the two hit ghoul ponies were still running towards us. “This is no time to be heroic, RUN!” I shouted at insert name her and he took my advice. In a moment he was already running next to me and Fluttershy.

The end of the street had two ways we could go. One was back towards Trottingham University, the other way was towards Trottingham Castle. I had been their several times on my school trips so I knew the way there very well.

“Let’s try to get back to the university. We may be able to hide in the pod ag….” But she stopped. We were all looking down the street that lead to the university but it was blocked. More ghoul ponies were heading our way. They must have heard the other pack of ghoul ponies growling and the gun fire by insert name here.

“Tick Tock,” insert name asked me with worry, “What’s down the other road?” I replied as quickly as possible. The ghoul ponies were getting closer. “Trottingham Castle. But how will tha…” but he quickly interrupted me. “That’s where our home is. Let’s go!” And we all ran.
Trottingham Castle was still a good distance from my house but the road we were on lead right to it. We all managed to keep running without stopping until we finally reached the castle. “Where’s the entrance?” Insert name here asked. “Down this way!” There was a circular road that surrounded the castle. The road that we were on came out to the side of the castle.

We ran till we arrived at the entrance to the Castle. I took a deep breath but insert name here turned back to get me. “Come on Tick Tock! We’re almost there.” I ran up the steps and into the courtyard of the castle.

I looked around at the castle wondering how it had faired over 275 years. It was in a very bad shape. Several of the walls had collapsed and most of the towers, although still in place, looked very unstable and seemed as though they could fall at any moment.
“Do you think we lost them?” Said Fluttershy gasping for air. Insert name here was always on it. He was walking away from us and went down the steps until he reached the bottom of the castle.

“So are they there?” Fluttershy called. And then it happened. A ghoul pony had heard them and was running towards insert name here. “WATCH OUT!!!” I called and he heard me just in time. He saw the ghoul pony, aimed his guns and shot it. It was so close when it was shot that the damage was immense. The bullet had left a great hole in the ghoul ponies’ chest. It just stopped and collapsed. A pool of blood flowed where it had collapsed.

Then we heard it. The scream of the ghoul ponies. They were close by and had heard the gun shot. “Get up her now!” Fluttershy screamed and Insert name here ran up the stairs as fast as we could.

I turned back to Fluttershy who was in the centre of the courtyard. She was using her magic to pull something out of her saddle bag. It was a small square device with a switch. I could see writing on it but it was very hard to make out. I was trying to keep an eye on Insert name here running up the stairs. He looked very tired from all the running.

Fluttershy flicked the switch with her hoof and a circle in the stone flooring had lifted up and moved aside to reveal a hole. Seconds later a metal platform was rising out of the hole large enough to be able to hold many ponies.

I turned back to see insert name here. “Tick Tock! Fluttershy! If the platforms up, get on it. If not, then call it.” Fluttershy looked in the direction insert name here’s voice was coming from when he said this but moved onto the platform. Insert finally reached the top of the stairs and approached me.

“Go! I’ll hold them off for as long as I can.” I raced over to the metal platform as I heard gun shots from behind me. I reached the platform and jumped on. Fluttershy was ready with the switch which I could now see. The switch said ‘open’ and ‘close’.

I looked back to insert name here and gasped. It was too late to warn him. A ghoul pony had entered the courtyard through one of the collapsed walls and had jumped at Insert name here forcing him to the floor. The ghoul pony was trying to attack him but luckily he had fallen on his side and the metal barrel of the gun was providing a shield, but not for long.

“Go!” he shouted as we watched him struggling with the ghoul pony “I’ll be fine just go!” Fluttershy flicked the switch and the platform started to move down. That’s when I saw the gun that Fluttershy had taken out when we were trapped inside Trottingham University. Without hesitating. I used my magic to hover the gun out of Fluttershy’s saddle bag and moved it to my side as I jumped off the platform before it went too far down.
I could hear Fluttershy screaming behind me “Tick Tock, what are you doing? Get back here!” I ignored her and ran to save insert name here.
I had only seen a gun fired once but I thought I had a basic understanding of how to fire it. I stopped near the ghoul pony. The screams of the pack of ghoul ponies was getting closer. The ghoul pony stopped attacking insert name here as he saw me. “Run!” insert name shouted but I did no such thing.

The ghoul pony got off insert name here and ran straight for me. I aimed the gun right for it and using my magic I pulled the trigger. The ghoul pony was so close that when I shot it, its head exploded. “That is something I never want to see again”. The headless pony fell to the floor, where it lay there. Never to move again.

The force of the gun firing had been too much for my magic to handle. When it fired, it flew out of my magic field and landed on the metal platform where Fluttershy retrieved it and returned it to her saddle bag.

I ran over to insert name here and offered my hoof to him “Need a hoof?” I said looking at him with a smile. “Thanks!” he said with gratitude and I helped him back to his feet. “Don’t worry, everyone says that when they see a head explode for the first time, I did the same” I chuckled and so did he. “You idiots! Get over here. They’re right behind you!” and she was right. Just arriving at the top of the stairs were the ghoul ponies. We ran straight for Fluttershy who had already started to lower the platform as we approached.

The platform was nearly below the stone floor and I knew that the circle stone would soon cover up the hole. Insert name her was the first to get close enough that he jumped for it and landed on the platform. I was smaller than he was so I had to run a little closer. The stone circle was already hovering over the hole. I made the jump and made it through landing on the platform. I looked up and could see that a ghoul pony tried to jump through to follow us but only got half way before he became stuck by the stone circle as it slotted back into place it crushing the Ghoul pony and covering us all in what I hoped was blood.

It was now very dark as the platform descended below the ground. Fluttershy broke the tension. “Now I have a reason to have my bath early.” We all laughed.

Being in darkness seemed to be something I was doing a lot lately. Three times in one day. Well the first time was over 200 years ago I thought to myself.

The platform was still moving down and we were still in darkness until it emerged into a chamber with light. It blinded me for a few seconds but I was soon able to see where I was.

The lift emerged into a chamber that looked like it was made well after the completion of the castle above.

“What in Equestai is this place?” I said as the lift finally stopped. I stared around the room and then I noticed something. A gigantic door with the numbers 79 written in yellow paint. The same number that insert name here had on his suit. I then knew where we were.

Is this a stable?” I said to Fluttershy and insert name here as the lift finally stopped. Fluttershy approached me “Yes this is a stable! Do you remember the stables from your time Tick Tock?” Fluttershy said with curiosity. “Yes! I remember hearing about them. Stable Tec made them as fallout shelters, but I didn’t think the war with the zebras would be so bad that we would need them.” I look at them both.“Now I guess they were”

I look back at the gigantic metal door, wondering what a stable actually looked like on the inside. Insert name here walked past me and over to a control panel, which was to the left of the metal door. It was hard to see what the control panel had on it because insert name here was in the way but he knew what he was doing, so I left him to it.

Alarms started to ring! The sound of machinery and metal on metal began to sound, which hurt my ears so bad that I thought I never wanted to hear it again. The door to stable 79 was pulled backwards to reveal the entrance.

“Welcome to our home Tick Tock.” Fluttershy said. I turned to look at Fluttershy, then to insert name and then back to Fluttershy. A look of surprise and shock could be clearly seen on my face. “This is your home?” I said and Fluttershy responded “Yes! We are residents of stable 79.