//------------------------------// // Thief of Time Pt 1: Crazy, But That's How It Goes // Story: The Equestrian Omni-Knight // by Azure5555 //------------------------------// The basement was flooded, with smoke as Cyrus and I ran out thinking the experiment had failed again only for Time to rush out with a shining blue liquid with purple dots in his hooves. "EUREKA!! We did it! We actually did it!! Wait here! Now that i finally have the correct measurements and formula I can make as many of these as you'll need, of course I'll only be able to make two more vials, but this is an incredible breakthrough in alchemical science!!" 'Yeah okay.' Time Turner rushed straight to his workshop leaving me alone with Cyrus. Cyrus then brought up a question that seemed to be bothering him. "The dragon...was it...painless?" "I don't know. I can't know. I'm not a necromancer, I don't know how the undead work." "I see. What will you do with the remains?" "I'm probably gonna make a motorcycle out of the bones once I have the parts. Dragons deserve to fly, and he or she deserves one last hoorah." "I see. Thank you for your time, i will return with my sister once the red tape has been cleared on my side of things. Farewell, Azure." And with that, Lord Cyrus of the Dracomancer was off. "Rather nice fellow isn't he?" "GAH!!?? WHAT!?" I fell on my ass, startled to see Time Turner looking down on me, a pouch at his side. "Here you are! If ever you need my help again, you'll know where to find me. Now if only i can figure out how my flameless fireworks function..." I took the vials and entered my home. A strong smell of grilled vegetables filled my nostrils. "Master! How was your...day. You are in big trouble." Apparently I had failed to notice my open wounds. 'Wait, wasn't I exposed to Poison Joke?' I quickly toss the entirety of my inventory pouch onto the floor before I join it once again in pony form. "GAH! What happened to you!? And...why do you look so huggable?" 'Ugh!!!' After a bit of packing I had everything I needed in terms of gear and gold. Gear: Ultra Guardian Robes, Demon Knight Plate, Frostvale Mercenary, Tuning Blade, Ultra Guardian Shield, Supreme Overlord's Legend, and High Oracle's Taladosian Ward. Gold count: Fifty thousand. I said my goodbyes to Veral, and made my way to the train station. On the way I had noticed a large contingency of Diamond Dogs hauling several carts of gemstones as they hummed to their work. "Yo hey, Modern Love!" The Dogs heard my outburst, dropped their carts took one look at eachother and just... 'Wow those dogs have some pipes...and some wicked group choreography.'  The small show garnered the attention of other working ponies and soon the square had been filled with grooving and jiving ponies as the dogs continued with a rather heated number.. "Let's Dance!" The ponies began to dance like their lives depended on it. "Let's Dance!" They danced to the song that was given to them. "Let's Sway!" They swayed as magic lit up their faces. "Let's Sway!" They swayed as a crowd filling an empty space. 'Well, I'd stay and enjoy myself but I've got a train to catch.' The station itself was rather empty, as everypony seemed to be dancing with the Dogs. Gilda and Rainbow stood next to an open cabin, Fluttershy huddled close to Gilda. The two seemed to be having a moment and I would have left them to it but Pinkie had popped up from behind me. "Hiya best friend!" 'Curses! Just when the emotional moment was getting good.' Gilda and Fluttershy separated themselves, blushing profusely. We made our way to the girls and I see Pinkie set down a rather large suitcase. I'd inquire but...no. "Evening Fluttershy, you comin with?" I ask. "Oh um...no. I just wanted to wish Gilda good luck. Um...good...g-g-g-good luck Gilda," In a shocking turn of events, Fluttershy gave Gilda a quick peck on the cheek. "Come back safely!" The usually shy mare then ran off like the wind itself was upon her hooves. "Uh...yeah that happened. You three ready to leave?" After getting situated in our rather nicely furnished cabin, Gilda brought up the obvious. "How...are you a pony?" "How are you the apple of Fluttershy's eye? Rainbow, you got the vials?" "Huh? Oh yeah def, the twins wouldn't accept the gold. Instead they want to see you for a private session. They won't take no for an answer." Rainbow gave me my money and my vials, I pocketed everything in my limited inventory. 'Hmm...the spa twins want me for a private session? I just hope it's a normal spa treatment and not some hero's reward...' Before my thoughts could develop further the train conductor had started speaking through the intercom. "Now I don't want to scare anypony, but we seem to be followed by a group of griffons. Please remain calm, I'm sure it's noth-" The sound of violence filled the air as the intercom was shut off. Pinkie was the first to get up. "Azzy, make sure the conductor's okay, Gilda hold down the dining car! Rainbow, you take the skies!" "What are you gonna do!?" Asked Gilda. "I'm gonna go throw a party silly! Let me tell you it'll be a doozy, see ya!" Pinkie was a puff of pink smoke and she had taken her suitcase with her... "Well, can't argue with that. C'mon, we got work to do!" I curse myself mentally for not taking the short sword as the large blades I did pack barely fit in my jaw. Then again, I did order those vials for a reason. I bust out the door cleansed and armed. Just in time too as the windows had shattered , making way for griffon bandits to swoop in and crowd the cart. Before I could even act, a bolt of rainbow lightning shot passed me and the bandits fell to the ground hard. The bolt stopped and revealed Rainbow Dash. A sword clipped to her side. "You gonna stand there and look pretty or are you gonna do your job?" Rainbow asked with a smirk. "Oh ho, big mare over here everybody! How bout you take that fancy slab of metal, fly outside and stick it where the sun don't shine!?" "I think I just might! There's a target!" She said before bolting out a window. A loud ear piercing shriek splitting the air. "My balls!" Cried one of the bandits.            I give a quick chuckle, only to be cut off by the intercom blaring to life. “Well that took quite some time! Old timer really knew what he was doing there!” The disembodied voice gave a chuckle. “Ladies and...ugh I’m not gonna say it, passengers of the fairer sex, WE are the Iron Claw Rebels,” ‘I’m sorry they called themselves the WHAT!?’ I mentally shout. “Now we mean you poor poor ponies no disrespect or harm...we only ask for a small donation. Everything you have, your women, AND your children. If anypony doesn’t WANT to aid our NOBLE endeavours...well i’m sure my pals will help you see reason.” The intercom shuts off and I’m standing like an idiot when I should be rushing through these cars trying to stop the asshole running the name of my rebellion through the dirt!!                                                                               ‘Deep breaths...one foot forward, next foot-huh?’ My foot had hit one of the bandits and a glowing orange crystal rolls out of his jacket. To my surprise it was the ninth crystal from Final Fantasy Dissidia. “Well hello crystal of light, who do you belong to-” My mind blurred as a mental message ran through my mind: “I, Zidane Tribal one of the heroes of light, will aid you in any fight against a friend or if you need something.. Let's say liberated. Just hold this crystal up to the sun." “Just...hold this crystal up...to the Sun...Let’s do this!” I rush over to a shattered window and held the crystal skyward. The light of day danced through the gem body an activated a great light within. ‘I hope this works.’