//------------------------------// // Wait for No Mare // Story: Time and Yuletide // by Darkstarling //------------------------------// Beginnings, it has often been pointed out, are slippery things. It is the nature of stories to coil one to the next like an ouroboros. Here a young unicorn flees Equestria in loneliness and resentment. There they find redemption in a friend, and go on to offer their own redemption in turn. Any hero’s tale weaves into others and spawns new threads in turn. An endless tapestry, such that finding any beginning at all is difficult at best. And that’s without time travel and destiny getting involved. It was a cold winter’s day. Princess Twilight Sparkle shivered as she walked down the streets of Ponyville. She held her wings close and fluffed her feathers, but it simply wasn’t enough to stop the biting wind. She was regretting not dressing for the weather, and making a good pace for Sugarcube Corner.  But she stopped dead in her tracks when an orange mare in a heavy cloak stepped up to her out of nowhere. She could barely see her face under the hood, but something seemed familiar about her. “There, just like that,” she said in a friendly tone, and wrapped a scarf around Twilight’s neck. Then she galloped around the corner. Twilight blinked, completely nonplussed. What? And she knew that voice! There was no way it could be, that made no sense. But… “Sunset? Sunset wait!” Twilight shouted, and darted after her. The figure dashed into an alley, Twilight following hard on her hooves. But as she looked down the alley there was a blinding flash of green light. She covered her eyes reflexively. And, when they cleared, there was nothing but hoof prints and a heavy pile of untouched snow. In the days that followed Twilight made many attempts to investigate the strange incident. But when she asked Sunset through the diary she was just as confused as Twilight. Nopony else had seen any mare matching the description. And so, with the business of wrapping up schoolwork for the Hearths Warming break, she eventually had to put it out of her mind. A week later Starlight Glimmer trotted into the castle library, in a glowing mood despite the butterflies dancing in her stomach. After all, it was the eve of the Winter Solstice. Sure it wasn’t much celebrated these days, but as far as she was concerned it was all the meaning of Hearths Warming without the baggage of looming frosty death. And, she added to herself with a happy little shimmy, she had talked Twilight into staying in for the evening to celebrate with her. While Spike was away on a sleepover with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. A little historical research project, and a quiet event together before the rush and bustle of Hearths Warming. Just the two of them. Not that it was a date. It definitely wasn’t. Not that she didn’t want it to be. But she hadn’t said anything. But maybe tonight if it went well… No, focus, she thought sternly to herself. Ignore the new crop of butterflies emerging from their cocoons. Just concentrate on having a nice night, and let anything else come naturally. Set things up, that’s a good distraction. “Candles?” A quick flare of her magic summoned them with a poof. “Check!” “Books to read together?” She started pulling a selection from the shelves into her orbit. “Check!” She’d sort them in a moment, that was always the hardest part after all. “Hot cider, blankets, pine boughs, and couch?” Poof, poof, poof, “Check!” “Princess of Friendship...gah!” She jumped as Twilight teleported in right front of her, dropping the flurry of books and landing on her backside with a thump. “Heh heh...on the way. Check. Hi Twilight, you’re early.” Wow, she thought. Smoothest unicorn in Equestria. She reflexively wondered how fast she could get off a memory spell before squelching the idea. Twilight looked contrite. “Sorry. I had just finished up, and I was so excited to see you I just had to rush.” And just like that, everything was better. “It will be lovely to recreate such an ancient tradition. I can’t believe you consulted the Pillars about pre-Discordian traditions! It’s so exciting.” Starlight nodded, getting to her hooves again. “I know, it’s great to be able to consult with living history. At least when Starswirl isn’t being, well, Starswirl.” They both shared a brief laugh at that. ”I’ve got some activities for tomorrow, but tonight is really simple.” She reached out her magic to turn down the crystals and light the candles. “We can just appreciate the light in the darkness, and warmth in the cold. I’ve got books and hot cider.” She lay on the couch and raised the blankets, trying desperately to look casual and confident. Not at all like a foolish, over-dramatic nervous wreck. Darn it why did she have to pick a not-date that was so....so! This had been a terrible idea. Twilight just smiled, and hopped onto the couch herself. “It sounds perfect.” Her aura gently took over holding the blankets, tucking them in, and Starlight’s eyes shot open as Twilight put a warm wing over her. She tried to suppress a happy shiver. “This is just what I need. It’s been a really long day. It will be nice to appreciate stillness for a bit.” “It’s really enough to make you appreciate the night isn’t it? A good rest?” Starlight said awkwardly. Her thoughts were in a jumble. So much for things developing naturally, everything is going just like I hoped and I have no idea what to do! What do I say? The parts of her that should be helping find words were occupied with how Twilight felt leaning against her, and the soft rustles of her feathers. Fortunately Twilight solved the problem by picking up one of the fallen books and pulling it over. “Ooh, ‘Broken Chains and Shattered Illusions’? That looks like Yak philosophy. Where did you find it?” “Yona recommended it when I asked about their winter traditions. I wanted to understand what was up with all the, you know, smashing. And she said it would explain better than her. Apparently it’s all about impermanence? I was hoping to study it with you.” “That sounds perfect.” They spent the next few hours curled up together, reading and discussing and joking about ‘If you meet the sage in the road, smash the sage.’  And eventually they put down the book and were simply talking in the candlelight. “It’s been a real journey the past year hasn’t it?” Twilight said, at the end of a comfortable pause. “Starting the school, Neighsay, Cozy Glow, diplomacy, the endless paperwork…I didn’t think it was possible to get sick of paperwork.” Twilight shuddered as Starlight rolled her eyes. “But I got through it. We got through it, I mean. That is to say you and I. I mean...thank you. For being here with me.” “Of course. I’m always going to be with you.” Starlight smiled and hesitantly nuzzled her cheek. It was hardly the first time she had, but this felt different. Special. Twilight nuzzled her back. “I know you will, Starlight. And it means so much to me. That’s why I…” The moment was shattered by a blinding green light flaring from the darkened room. Starlight and Twilight both stared as the form of a winged pony appeared before them in a burst of energy and collapsed to the floor. The strange magic licked over it like flames before dissolving, leaving the room in darkness once more. It let out a cough, and groaned. Starlight lit her horn, flooding the room with light. What was going on? Was it an attack? And then her mouth dropped open. The mare sprawled on the ground was unmistakably Sunset Shimmer, transformed to an Alicorn. She recognized her instantly, even though they had only met once. But she was older. Much older, with a stature like Cadance. She wore a black leather saddlebag, and some arcane contraption of crystal and silver had fallen on the ground beside her. And then Starlight saw her face, and gasped. Her horn had been broken clean off by some terrible blow that had also left scars. Just like Tempest, Starlight thought dazedly. Oh, and the wings. Can’t forget those. Smoldering and lightly singed. Starlight absently noticed she was clinging to Twilight in shock, but couldn’t quite get around to letting go. “Twilight?” Sunset groaned from the ground. “Twilight, are you there?” “I’m here!” Oh, she thought, Twilight is clinging to me too. She’s just as shocked as I am. Glad it’s not just me. “Oh thank Harmony, it’s really you.” Sunset staggered painfully to her feet, but there was still a pained smile on her face. “You have no idea how good it is to see you again. Twilight, I’m here from the future. We have to save them, we have to save the changelings!” “What? But...when? How?” Twilight sputtered. “There was a terrible disaster. But... but that can wait.” A look of relief came over her face, and she laughed like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. “It worked! I can’t believe I found you again, I…” And then she paused, as if her eyes had finally caught up to her. She stared at Starlight with a look of confusion and betrayal, how Starlight and Twilight were clinging to each other in the blankets. “Who the tarts are you, and what are you doing with my wife?”