Fears of Bygone Eras

by Lusaminia

Chapter 5

“Though the reasons were not good, I myself have seen what messing with time can do to Equestria. You change one thing and all the sudden the entire world is foreign to you. Nopony knows your name, wars that never existed before suddenly appear, and those who rule are not who you once knew. At the time I didn’t consider just how terrible it would have been if Twilight has not resolved things and showed me what I was doing was wrong. That has given me time to think about what would have happened if I had succeeded, and how much worse things would be in the end.”

“Yet, I’ve come to realize that nothing would have changed, as what was going on almost seemed to be fate by itself. I’m reminded of old papers I found many years ago, about this ‘barrier theory’ that scholars had suggested centuries ago. They asked the question of why, if alternate realities truly did exist, has our Equestria never collided with it. After many years they came up with an idea that was impossible to test, but has been believed ever since. The idea was that, for the longest time, Equestria has been protected by a sort of barrier that kept timeline’s separated. This barrier was the only line of defense we had against time mixing and unnatural occurrences, or paradoxes, from taking place.”

“Having seen it myself, I can confirm that something is indeed keeping our timeline from colliding with others. When me and Queen Twilight fought back then, I had almost ripped apart a spell that I believed had been keeping her safe. Remembering where we had put it after that incident, I decided to check it and see if I could gain anything. What I found wasn’t what I expected, but had indeed provided me with answers I had never imagined having questions for. If these ponies were correct, that spell would have continued to throw Twilight back to me no matter how many times I tried to change the timeline. That all had to do with that one piece of paper that I had half torn apart.”

“Or, perhaps it would be better to say that it was half torn.”

“Luminous… was it you calling for help from the crowd last night?”

Luminous’ heart suddenly skipped a beat, a feeling of fear gripping her as her eyes got wider and wider. The princess had heard her, and that was the reason that she had been called to the throne room. Luminous had no idea how to respond, her heart desperately seeking some way to dodge the question. In the end, however, it failed, and Luminous found herself with only one possible road to go down. With a deep breath in, she prepared herself for whatever reaction Queen Twilight had, and breathed out.

“Yes, I… did call for help,” Luminous said, doing her best to keep her voice strong. “Though the reason behind that call for help is not what you think,” She took another deep breath, finding the courage within her to continue. “Now, I know what I’m gonna say sounds crazy, but the cry for help you heard wasn’t for myself or anypony in the crowd. I had… a vision, of a pony falling from one of the castle towers.”

Luminous closed her eyes in anticipation for the reaction to come. She more than expected laughter or groans or anything that signaled that the queen didn’t believe her, but it never came. Hearing somepony whispering, Luminous opened her eyes to see Twilight talking to an older pony next to her. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but she knew that it had to do with her. Whether it was good or not, she didn’t know, but she knew she was going to find out as the queen turned back to her.

“Luminous, would you mind describing what you saw in this vision?” Twilight asked.

Luminous once again found her heart stop for a second, a sneeze escaping her as she did. Of every response she could think of, as few as they were, that was not one that she had expected. It didn’t answer whether Queen Twilight thought she was sane or not, but she wouldn’t waste the opportunity. Perhaps the alicorn knew something about these visions, and if she could help then it would be foolish to refuse.

“It’s not the first one I’ve had, but it was the first time I had seen anypony in them,” Luminous responded. “It was much the same as every other vision I’ve had, actually. It was always night out, though the moon was never in the sky. I was typically the only pony around no matter how far I traveled, and after a little bit I would return to reality,” Luminous paused, allowing her words to sink in. “That… wasn’t what happened this time, however. I remember looking at the castle and seeing a pony, a pegasus, falling from one of the towers. I was all the way in the back of the crowd, but somehow I knew her wing was broken or… something like that?”

Twilight frowned, noticing the look of confusion on Luminous’ face. “You don’t know.”

“My memory was never good but I can’t remember what was wrong,” Luminous explained, closing her eyes. She allowed yesterday’s events to play out in her head, staying silent for a moment before speaking again. “Something was wrong with her wings, and she couldn’t fly. However, the part that worried me the most was the foal she was carrying with her.”

“What?!” Twilight said, shooting out of her seat, catching everypony in the throne room off guard. Noticing the odd look Raven was giving her, she sat back down a forced a cough. “Sorry. What happened next, was the foal okay.”

“I don’t know,” Luminous replied, shaking her head in grief. “I couldn’t see them over the castle walls, but I felt terror from one of the ponies. That’s why I called out for help,” Luminous looked Twilight dead in the eyes. “That was when I looked at you and… well I’m not really sure what happened then. That’s the part I don’t understand the most.”

“I see,” Twilight said, looking to Raven to see that she had gotten everything down. Smiling that it was word for word, she looked back to Luminous. “I’m sorry for you to had witnessed something so terrible. I wish I could give some information but this is the first I’ve heard of anypony having visions like this,” Twilight could help but feel guilty as she saw the sorrow on Luminous’ face. “However, what you saw is something I think is necessary to look into. How long did you plan on staying in Canterlot?”

“Long enough for me and an old friend to see the festival,” Luminous replied, doing her best to smile. “Why do you want to know, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I know that sharing something like that probably was difficult,” Twilight said, getting up and walking towards Luminous. “In truth, it sounds a lot like hallucinations or a nightmare, but I’ve learned better than to judge when ponies come to me with these things. Besides,” Twilight sat down an inch from Luminous, a smile on her face. The pegasi had her jaw hanging loosely as her heartbeat quickened. “I didn’t just hear your cry for help. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but I felt your fear.”

Luminous found herself unable to look away from Twilight, shocked that the queen actually believed what she had said. Twilight had felt her emotions somehow? It didn’t sound possible, but at the moment she didn’t know what actually was. The constant feeling of familiarity that she had from the city and castle, the strange vision she had, and now this. Twilight reached a hoof out, her target being Luminous’ shoulder. The queen wanted to do everything she could to comfort this mare, knowing that there was something strange about her. Luminous followed Twilight’s hoof as it reached her shoulder…

… and went right through her. A sudden feeling of anxiety overwhelmed Luminous, her heart racing hand brain hammering at the sight. She stood up, checking the area Twilight had attempted to touch, noticing it was still solid. Not noticing what had happened from her point of view, Twilight got up and tried to hug the pegasus. As she did, she finally realized why Luminous reacted in the way she did, her hooves going straight through the mare’s neck and wrapping herself instead. Just like before, Luminous felt for her neck, finding it still solid despite what had just happened.

“What… what the-” Luminous attempted to say, finding herself to confused to understand what was actually going on. “Your hooves just… what the heck is going on?”

“Luminous please calm down,” Twilight requested, once again reaching her hoof out. “I’m sure that is an explanation for whatever just happened. Just stay calm.”

“She can’t touch me, she can’t touch me,” Luminous said, her brain finding itself stuck in a loop. “She can’t touch me she can’t touch me she can’t… what can’t she touch me?” Noticing Twilight once again reach out for her, she panicked. “Stay away!”

Luminous tried to push the queen away as Twilight once again tried to give her a hug, but neither were successful. Twilight, in an attempt to out maneuver Luminous, launched herself toward the pegasus, Luminous’ attempt to stop her being unsuccessful as the queen once again phased through her. At that moment, Luminous’ stopped working, looking down at her hooves. She clapped them together, not noticing that the queen’s tail was sticking out of her stomach. She brought her hooves to her face, feeling her skin against them, all logic leaving her mind.

“Your highness, are you alright?” Raven called as she and Spike made there way to Twilight’s side. Spike helped Twilight to her hooves, noticing that she had that look on her face for when the impossible happened. “What happened? It looked almost as if you-”

“Raven,” Twilight said, interrupting the mare. She motioned to Luminous, allowing the royal scribe’s vision to fall on the pegasus. “I think she is the one who needs help right now.”

Spike was looked to Raven, the mare nodding to him in return. He gave Twilight a reaffirming smile before turning to Luminous. The immediate detail that fell upon him was how Twilight’s tail went through her body as if she was a ghost. He closed his eyes and shook his head, only to find that nothing had changed when he opened them up again. Deciding it was best to not ask questions, ones that Luminous no doubt couldn’t answer, he reached his hand out to her shoulder.

“Luminous?” He called to her. He heard the mare sniffle, gaze still on her hooves. “Luminous, everything is going to be alright?”

“How is this alright?” She asked, turning to Spike. Tears stained her fur, and she had to force her voice to say anything. “I’m… I’m so scared. What is happening to me? For Luna’s sake what is happening to me?!”

Luminous took Spike in her hooves, squeezing him heard enough that the dragon thought he heard something pop. Though she cried softly, her eyes were so full of tears that her vision was blurred. Spike, not knowing what else he could do, hugged the pegasus back, her grip on him getting easier as he did. Luminous, despite how scared and confused she was, felt happy to just feel somepony else. It was reassuring in its own way, her face doing all it could to try and smile.

“I’m alive… I’m alive.”

“Luminous has been given a guest room, as you commanded,” Thunder told Queen Twilight as he returned from dropping the mare off. He bit his lip as he readied himself to ask her majesty a question. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Queen Twilight, but did you really phase through Luminous?”

Twilight nodded, remembering how much Luminous had cried before falling asleep in Spike’s embrace. The look the mare had as she slept was not one of content or happiness, having curled up in a ball still crying. Luminous’ terror once again seemed to transfer to Twilight, the alicorn having grown more and more concerned each moment that she looked to the mare’s sleeping form. Feeling a tear of her own going down the side of her face, she took a deep breath in, knowing that she had to stay strong in front of those around her.

“You heard correct, both Raven and Spike are my witnesses, if you don’t believe me,” Twilight replied, her attempts to force a smile failing.

“No, I believe you, your majesty,” Thunder said, letting out a sigh. “I should have known that this was going to happen, with you two finally meeting each other.”

“You know something about this?” Twilight asked. She knew very little about Thunder and Luminous’ relationship, but she could tell the two had been close a long time ago. “Would you please share with us, Captain Thunder? Anything we could do to help her would be welcomed.”

“I want to, trust me, but I promised Silvia I wouldn’t say anything,” Thunder replied. Twilight tilted her head, not recognizing the name he just mentioned. “Just trust me when I say that you two need to be careful around each other. Luminous herself isn’t dangerous, but this meeting just made things a whole lot more complicated.”

“And I assume that this complication has to do with the recent death of a certain pegasus?”

All attention shifted as a new voice suddenly sounded throughout the throne room. Turning around, Thunder found himself standing before a griffon and golden armor, feathers an unnatural red. Behind him were two guards, both looking more experienced than any member of the equestrian royal guard. The red griffon took his helmet off and bowed to Twilight, a calming smile on his face. Twilight smiled back, the face of Griffon Emperor Gabriel doing much to ease her worry.

“Forgive me for not knocking or announcing myself, but word upon entering the castle was that some strange mare had sent the queen into a frenzy,” Gabriel explained, caring his helmet with a talon. As he reached Thunder, he held out a claw. “Thunder Shield, the “flightless gale”, if I remember correctly. An honor to meet the new captain, though I’m sorry for the loss.”

“Thank you, your highness,” Thunder said, his expression unchanging. “It's a pleasure to finally talk with you, though I just wish it was at happier times.”

“Spitfire was indeed special to you, if Silvia is to be believed,” Gabriel responded, getting a nod for the captain of the guard. “Know that which ever one it was, we griffons will keep our eyes out for any suspicious figures in our territory. Just because you lost her doesn’t mean you shouldn’t-”

“Now isn’t the time,” Thunder said, motioning to Twilight with his head. “Either way, thank you.”

Gabriel nodded to the captain before signalling his company to leave. With a bow, the griffon soldiers escorting him turned and made their way to the door. Thunder looked to the queen, the latter nodding to the captain’s wordless question. With a bow to the Griffon Emperor, he, Raven, and Spike all departed, knowing that Twilight would want to talk with him in private. When all but the two rulers had left the room, Gabriel finally spoke.

“So, the Crystal Empire has accepted,” Gabriel stated, his earlier joy having turned into a scowl. Twilight only nodded in response. “Then we can all put confirm her motives. Flurry Heart has not come to the festival since she has taken the throne, and she plans your assassination.”

“Yes, it seems that way,” Twilight again nodded. “Everything about the world feels so wrong now. I remember back when my friends could still make it to the consul of friendship, nothing like this would happen,” Twilight closed her eyes, thoughts turning to the friends she hadn’t seen in months. “So much more has changed than I like to admit at times.”

“It definitely feels different, doesn’t it?” Gabriel asked, following Twilight in reflecting on the past. “Celestia and Luna always seemed to know the future was bright, that Equestria would stand, but now…” His expression continued to darken. “Now we find ourselves facing firsts that had not occurred since they took the throne. Like the spirit guiding us to that bright future has suddenly left us.”

“That’s… definitely one way of putting it,” Twilight said. She opened her eyes again. “I know this is a different topic but, Gabriel, you seem to know this Silvia I heard Thunder mention. Who is she?”

“You mean, you haven’t heard of her?” Gabriel asked in shock. Twilight shook her head. “Even if she has never stepped foot in any of Equestria’s larger settlements, that’s quite a shock. She’s become somewhat of a legend to the rest of the world. ”

“Really now?” Twilight asked back. Gabriel rolled his eyes, not really shocked that someone like the queen didn’t know. She was probably to stuffed in books when not helping ponies with problems to care at all. “Well, I guess I’ll have to thank her if I ever get the chance. Though, I have to ask, who is this pony?”

“Well, first of all, she is not a pony,” Gabriel explained. “Truth be told, we don’t know what she is, and she isn’t telling us. She not a changeling, griffon, dragon, or hippogriff. If I had to give a description, she’s like an intelligent, flesh and blood timberwolf,” Gabriel’s eyes went wide as he said those words. “Also, don’t ever call her a timberwolf… or a diamond dog. Last time a griffon did she started using this strange magic that-” A chill went up his spine at the memory. “Actually I don’t want to talk about it. Long story short she isn’t actually from Equestria.”

That last bit of information hooked Twilight instantly. “Wait, so she’s from a completely undiscovered land?”

“No, Queen Twilight,” Gabriel explained. “I meant that she is not from our Equestria.