//------------------------------//
// Loop 52 
// Story: The Time Thief 
// by Reading4HalfMyLife 
//------------------------------//

The pony had been watching her for several minutes now.

Astral had been to Sugarcube Corner enough times to know exactly who sat where on each day.

And this mare had never been here before.

Sure, it could be butterfly effect, maybe Astral had done something this morning that made this mare come to this cafe, but she had been staring at Astral since she had first entered.

Astral had never seen this mare before.

She had a golden brown coat and amber eyes and a two toned redish pink mane. She didn't look much older than Astral, and her cutie mark was completely hidden from Astral.

And she wouldn't stop staring.

Eventually, Astral got up, though she wasn't sure whether to leave or to confront this stranger. Before she could decide, the stranger got up and walked past her, slowing down just as she passed in time to say, so quietly that Astral had to strain to hear "giving you magic means she's loosing her own" and trotting out the door.

Giving you magic means she's loosing her own.

"Wait!" Astral yelled, ignoring the stares and teleporting outside to find the streets devoid of any ponies.

But that's impossible, not even Earth Ponies can run that fast.

Sudden movement, a mouth beside her ear, and a whispered voice telling her "chin up Astral, you get through this." Jerking her head around, all she saw was a brick wall, and nothing else. 

Which was odd, since she was sure she had seen something blue right beside her.

But she did see something, all right. The mares cutie mark.

A clock with an arrow going over it.