//------------------------------// // Echoes of Times Past // Story: Rip Van Glimmer // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// In a flicker of yellow light, platters of food were dropped onto the table, pulling me from the internal research I had been doing. I was still trying to figure out what had caused the seizure, and what had caused the voices. I was worried that there might be some lingering effect of the coma. I knew that in cases where a subject suffered lack of oxygen for any appreciable time, brain damage could occur. “Dig in!” Flurry’s bubbly voice broke through. “It’s all been grown locally by the Apples, and I made it myself!” I looked at the platters in front of us and my mouth watered as I took in the various foods. Spring green salads, a platter of steaming hay fries, oat and fruit cakes, and a hot pot of what smelled like lentil soup. My stomach growled and I immediately began setting cakes and fries on my plate. I’m sure I looked like Twilight used to as I dove into them, abandoning manners to silence the complaints rising from my empty tummy. “Someone looks hungry,” Echo said, spoon hovering in her citrine aura. I paused for a moment to wipe my mouth with my napkin. “Famished for some reason,” I responded. “It’s been a while since I’ve been this hungry.” “Well, there’s plenty,” Flurry Heart chirped. “So help yourself!” She turned to my companion and grinned. “Tell me about yourself, Ms. Echo.” “No miss,” Echo said. “I’m the great-granddaughter of Beatrice Lulamoon, who you knew as the Element of Magic.” “I thought you looked familiar,” Flurry cooed. “You look very much like her.” “So I keep hearing,” Echo muttered, gesturing at me. “She even called me Trixie one time on the train.” “I said I was sorry!” I protested. “But, my field of study is temporal mechanics and their effect on the mantic fabric,” the echo of my friend continued. “Much of my research is from Princess Twilight’s notes, but…” The food soured in my mouth. “Temporal mechanics?” I whispered. “You’re researching time spells?” “Of course,” Echo said. “I thought you knew. Didn’t Princess Twilight tell you?” “No, she didn’t,” I said, standing suddenly. “Do you have any idea the amount of trouble that kind of magic can cause?” “Of course,” she responded, looking confused at my outburst. “That’s why I’m researching it based on its long term effects on localized rifts.” “You can’t just open up a temporal rift to see what happens,” I shouted. “The ramifications on the course of time are too unpredictable. I should know!” “That’s why I chose you as a subject for long term observation,” Echo said. “With Princess Twilight being an Alicorn, temporal anomalies would have little noticeable effect. But you are a regular Unicorn. Even in a coma I could see if there was any lingering effects your time travel might have had.” My blood ran cold. “Then all I am to you is a test subject? A lab rat?” She realized at that moment the way she had delivered her information. “No, Glimmy…” “Shut up!” I growled. “No matter how you phrase it, no matter how you sugar coat it, there is no way I would be ok with you poking around my head or in dabbling in time travel.” Flurry Heart shifted uncomfortably. “Starlight,” she started. “No, I think I’m done,” I snarled, storming out of the castle, leaving Echo behind. The train rattled as it raced along a set of tracks that hadn’t existed prior to my coma. I stared out the window as the hills of the Inner Valley gave way to the mountains of the Northern Reaches. I could still feel lingering anger in my heart at how Echo had calmly declared how I was just as much a walking and talking experiment in progress as I was a link to a relative she barely remembered. As the train rounded the edge of the mountain the tracks had been carved into, I caught sight of the village I had built, and my jaw dropped. When I ran this hamlet, it was two rows of identical houses and shops with my house at the tail end. I never realized until later just how ingrained I had been for equality, even subconsciously designing my little commune in an equals sign. Now, it had spread out to nearly four times it’s former size with buildings of all shapes and sizes, colors and finishings. And at the edge of town, where the train platform rested, was my old house. I walked slowly to the building, and I saw the restoration efforts that had been undertaken through the years, new sheathing on the exterior walls and fresh shingles on the roof. A plaque next to the door noted that this was the former home of the last student of the Princess of the Moon. I smiled at the mention. At least I was remembered as something other than… Wait a minute… Hadn’t Twilight said she had taught each of Trixie’s descendants? My mind whirled, replaying every word I had heard both Twilight and Echo say, no longer trusting anything I had heard from the living echo of my best…friend. Living echo…Her name hadn’t been unusual to me at first, but now my mind had sprung into suspicion mode. There had been too many loose ends, like how niether Sunset nor Twilight had wished to speak on our friends, understandably so at the time, but now somewhat uncharacteristically. Twilight hadn’t gone into details about how Dash died or how I had been placed in stasis but not Dash. Sunset hadn’t seen me or sent word once in the month I worked on getting my atrophied limbs back to serviceable condition. While I understand being a princess was demanding on time, she could have made time. Even if she was having odds with Twilight, she would have mentioned that when I saw her at the palace. And Flurry Heart, not knowing why or how the Elements selected new bearers. She may be the Embodiment of Joy and Bearer of the Element of Laughter, but with Twilight, Sunset, and Sunburst back when she was younger, she should have been able to explain it at least in general terms. A loud footfall fell behind me and a shadow fell across me. “It’s about time you got here, Starlight,” a voice said. It was deeper, more resonant, but I knew who it was. “Hello, Spike,” I said as I turned around. The drake towered above me, his color darker in his age and smoke curled from his nostrils as he breathed. Most noticeably in changes was how his left eye was now a scarred hollow. He looked as though he had gone through a war. “I’m glad to see you,” he rumbled. “I’m sure you’ve got questions.” “One or two,” I said.