//------------------------------// // Reacting to the Unforeseen. // Story: Equestrian Eeveelution. // by Symphonicdysonince //------------------------------// I made my way through town, racing after Rainbow on our way to the weather office. When we got there, Rainbow burst through the door, quickly making her way to her office. I made to follow her. And ran into Yomega. <> I squeaked out. <> <> He grumbled. Picking himself off the floor, he started to move past me. <> His tail stopped me from following Rainbow. <> <> I looked between Yomega and Rainbow's office. I turned and followed my grey friend. <> <> Yomega ordered. <> <> I pressed. <> He glanced at me. <> <> I darted around Yomega. <> I booked it to Sugarcube Corner. Blurring in through the back door, I did a quick circuit of the kitchen. I attempted to stop to get my bearings. Key word being attempted. I forgot that kitchens are usually tiled, and linoleum makes for poor traction. I really hope the Cakes like my impression. I glanced to my left, noting another failed stopping attempt from a week prior. ... Impressions. "Does this make you an impressionist?" That was bad, and you should feel bad. "Oh, hey Leo!" A mass of pink pulled me from the wall. "Sorry I didn't have a cushion ready, I'm still getting used to that combo. Are you looking for Zann?" I nodded. "He's upstairs in my closet!" She carried me to the door near the stairs. My legs were already running by the time she placed me in the hallway. Once paw touched carpet, I was thundering up the stairs. I sped through the dog door Pinkie installed for Zann, jumped up onto Pinkie's bed, before bleeding off speed by running across the walls. I finally stopped in front of the closet door. I leaned against said door, and gave it a light knock. "I heard you coming up the stairs." Zann's voice carried through the door. "I just reached the latch. You might want to stand back." I heard something click. I then fell forward as I lost my support. I looked up to see Zann raising an eyebrow at me. "I swapped the doors so they open inwards. You okay?" "Yeah, just gotta catch my breath." I looked around the room. And I do mean room. This was the Tardis of closets, I swear. I looked at the diagrams, sketches, and pages of notes pinned to the walls and covering the floor. The pages nearest to me looked like some sort of recreation of the Canada Arm. "Are you ok-" My eyes landed on the mass of stone at the back wall. "Is that a foundry?!" "I think so." Zann helped me up with a shrug. "Pinkie added it in overnight, quite literally in her sleep. She was just as surprised as you when she woke that morning." "Why, how did she, but the size...?" I shook my head. "No, no. That way lies madness. Yomega wants us to meet up at the pond by the reeds. Something about an emergency meeting involving the timeline." "What timeline?" I looked at him, and waved a paw towards the bedroom door. "Their timeline? I thought we were staying out of it?" "Somethin' happened." I began pushing him towards the door. "Now hurry up and get over there, I need to bolt out to the Daycare and get the last three. We'll meet you there." I waited for Zann to acknowledge me before I tore my way out of Pinkie's room. To save on energy, I slid down the banister, hopping off to bolt through the kitchen. I made it to the edge of town, then launched myself into an Extreme Speed to get to the farm faster. Most of the way there, my body decided it would be a good time to tell me something: fur doesn't stop friction very well. You know that thing you'd do to your friends or people who really annoy you? The one where you would grab their arm then twist, leaving a slight burn? The banister did the same to my stomach. That was apparently mistake number one. Mistake number two was curling up in pain. In the middle of the Extreme Speed. I ended up rolling up the path to the farm. The world was a blur of colors to me, though, so I barely noticed. All I knew was that I needed to stop. So I made mistake number three, and uncurled to dig my paws in to stop. I came to looking at red wood paneling. Looking around, I saw that I lay by the barn at the end of a shallow trench. Thankfully, everyone missed my wipe out. I staggered out from my little divot. I made my way into the doubled orchard, looking for the Reckless Duo. "I think you fit the first part of their title more right now." I limped further into the swaying trees. What was your first fucking clue? Was it the beach ball impression? "Nah, I think it was when you attempted to use your face as an e-brake." "There she is!" I turned around to see a pair of Cys leading two Conners to me, twin Vinces following with a shake of their heads. I sat and waited for them to get closer. "Oh, hey guys! I was just looking for yous." The Conners came up to me before placing their glowing pink paws onto my forehead. "What did you say she did?" He said as he came into focus. "She came rolling up the main path before extending into an epic face fault." Vince smirked. "Overall, an eight out of ten wipe out." "Oh please, that was a six at best!" "No time for joking." I stood up again. "Yomega's called an emergency meeting. We're meeting up at the reeds." I started jogging back the way we came. I got to the edge of the trees before looking back at them. They hadn't moved. "Let's go! It's about the timeline!" Leading the way, I just barely heard someone say, "Where does she get all that energy?" We all lay on the pond's shore, except for Lulu. She floated in the water nearby. Yomega waited for Conner to catch his breath. "So, I'm going to cut to the point here. Abes found some letters that make us worry about the timeline." Yomega looked at me. "You watched the show the most, what do you know about Moon Dancer?" "Not much. She only had an off-screen presence in the first episode." I paused, trying to recall what I could. "I heard rumors that she might be making an appearance in the next season. I don't know what role she would have had though. What's going on?" Abes spoke up. "Twilight has been sending Moon Dancer letters about us. Turns out, Moony is a biologist, or at least studying to become one. She's going to be coming here to write her thesis on us, while helping Twilight figure us out." "We don't know how much this will affect the show's timeline." Yomega finished. "After all, the smallest things could fuck shit up. We are a good example of that. You said Moon Dancer wasn't a major player in the show, Leo? And you only know rumors for later?" I nodded. "Then there are only two things that could mean. Either she has no more than a minor, background role in the show, similar to ponies like Derpy...." At that moment, said mare crashed into the pond on the far side. All of us winced as she called out her trademarked reassurance to the ponies on that side. "... Or she could be a major player like Zecora." Yomega finished. He shook his head with a slight smile. "From the evidence that I can see now, I speculate that, no matter her prior role in the timeline, we've changed it. If she barely had a role before, we've pushed her further into the spotlight. If she was going to have a major role, we've changed what that role is. "If she was going to be a force for "good", we've basically given her early access to the element bearers. If she was going to be a villain, then we've basically nixed that path for her." He turned to us with a serious expression. "Gentle-vees, the timeline we've known is now useless." We all shared a somber look. Without our foreknowledge, we couldn't know if we needed to stay out of the way, or just leave. The one that worried me the most is that we could prevent Twilight from ascending, which would leave Equestria open for Tirek to take over. Our dour mood was interrupted by someone starting to giggle. We all turned to Zann. "Don't assume! It makes an ass out of you and me!" He dissolved into full blown laughter. "And now Zann's lost it." Lulu deadpanned. "We're doomed." "No, no, no, no." Zann squeaked out. "Your assuming that where Moon Dancer is is important to the overall working of the universe! I bet the major problems will still happen. What's the next episode, Leo?" "When the hell did I become the archivist?" I grumbled. "Lets see, we just had Spikezilla, the next one should be... Ugh, Hearth's Warming Eve." I scowled. "That won't even be until mid winter, then there's Family Appreciation Day, which is going to be in spring, maybe. We're not going to get anything interesting through the show anytime soon. Not unless we make it." "What about the Running of the Leaves?" Villhiem asked. "Two things," I turned to him, "we got here after that episode, and I was already including that. So, it looks like we are in charge of our own entertainment for the winter." "What's Hearth's Warming?" Lulu asked. "Pony Christmas." The Duo chorused. "Oh~." Lulu simpered. "I just love Christmas! The snow, the hot chocolate, the presents! Oh, it's my favourite time of year!" The others began to talk over each other and Yomega's attempt to restore order. "Yay." I scowled. "We done here? Rainbow's probably looking for me." "Yes." Yomega sighed to me. "You can go back to your job now." I turned to leave, and ran face first into Zann. "I'm so excited for Christmas and there isn't even snow yet! You think it's to do with us being dogs?" "I think you need to switch to decaf." I growled. The other's excitement had finally stared to die down. "I can't help it! I'm already thinking about what to get everyone!" "Good for you." I muttered as I tried to scoot around him. I didn't notice that everyone was now looking at me in silence. "What do you want to get for Christmas?" "Nothing!" I shouted. "Now get out of my way!" I stalked away from the group. "I think he doesn't like Christmas." Zann whimpered behind me.