Chapter 14: Home for the Holidays
(Twilight Sparkle's Point of View)
It was already time for Hearth's Warming. My friends are going off to their homes for the holidays. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy went to Cloudsdale to go to their families. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were staying at their parents house. And Applejack and her close family went with Pinkie Pie to celebrate Hearth's Warming with Pinkie's family.
But this time was different. My parents, my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephew are coming to Ponyville to celebrate Hearth's Warming with us. But right now, I'm worried about M.C. and Mutt. They don't have families here in our time. M.C. might have it tougher than Mutt, since he has been years without his family. I don't know how Mutt will take it.
I walked over towards the room that M.C. and Mutt shared. I was about to knock, but the door opened and out came Mutt.
"Morning, Twilight," said Mutt.
"Morning, Mutt," I said. "Are you two going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine," said Mutt. "This isn't the first time I had Christmas without my parents. My dad died when I was only four months old. And my mom, she's an archaeologist. But, she was away a lot. Sometimes, she came. Other times, she was caught by her work. But she would still send me some Christmas Presents. Last time I saw her was Christmas back in our time. M.C. was lucky enough to get her to where we were."
"How's M.C. doing?" I asked.
"Oh, M.C. already left earlier this morning," Mutt told me. "Spike got a letter from Princess Celestia. Something about some kind of rift opened up inside the castle in Canterlot, and he went there as quickly as possible."
"So, what else do you know?" I asked.
"Nothin' else," he said. "Can we get something to eat? I'm starving."
"Sure," I told him. Then the two of us headed for the kitchen.
(M.C.'s Point of View)
Earlier today, I wasn't planned on much to do today. Since Hearth's Warming is this world's version of Christmas, and I've been alone for years. But today, I was called to Canterlot for something. I arrived in Canterlot and was greeted by Princess Celestia.
"Glad you could make it," said Princess Celestia. "I hope you weren't doing much today."
I sighed and said, "No big plans."
"What is wrong?" she asked me.
"I'm always like this during the holidays that are family related," I told her. "My kingdom was destroyed on my seventh birthday. I was the only survivor."
"That's similar to Joshua's story," Celestia said to me.
"Who do you think gave his parents the idea to send him here?" I asked. "I've waited years for him to arrive. But I didn't know it would take ten thousand years for him. Anyway, what is it that you wanted me to see?"
"Of course," said Princess Celestia. She then levitated me onto her back, and walked towards somewhere in the castle. We came into one room, which looked like a hospital room, and laying down on one bed was... another Mobian. It wasn't just any Mobian, but I knew this one. She was a dog, older than me. She has purple fur, and was wearing the outfit of an archaeologist. She even had a digital eye patch for scanning things. Princess Luna was watching her.
"Impossible," I said.
"Do you know who this Mobian is Michael?" Luna asked.
"I do," I told her. "This is Ava Muttski."
"Muttski?" Celestia asked. "Is she in any relation with your friend, Benjamin Muttski?"
"More than just a relation," I told her. "She's his mom."
Princess Luna smiled and said, "Well, at least your friend will have family here. I'm sure he would like this surprise, wouldn't he?"
I lowered my head and then shook it and chuckled. I then said, "Mutt is going to get a huge surprise. Have you tried waking her up?"
"We've tried everything," said Luna. "But it seems she's in a coma like state. There's no way of waking her up."
I seen her like that before. She was knocked out one time when I was around. Not my fault. But I know one way to wake up Ava. I then said, "Ava, some idiot from the future is threatening your son."
Then Ava woke up and said, "Where is he?! I will tear him limb from limb!" I started laughing. If anything will wake up a mother in a coma like state, it's when her child would be threatened. She then asked, "Michael Crayton, is that you?!"
"'Sup, Ava?" I asked her. "Mind telling me how you got yourself into the future?"
"I'm in the future?" she asked. "How far?"
"Ten thousand years," said Princess Celestia. "A lot of things have changed."
"I'll explain to you on the way," I told her. "But first, let's get you some more clothing. It's cold outside."
It took a while for Ava to understand what was going on, and accepting that we're fine here, but we eventually caught up. In fact, she found something in an old temple. She was showing me while we were in a private high speed chariot from Canterlot to Ponyville.
"This is how I got here," she said. "I found these old ruins at the bottom of Rail Canyon. I walked in and found that it was the temple of Queen Fate."
"Queen Fate?" said one of the guards. "She was one of the first Equestrians to set hoof in the land before Equestria was formed. Exactly fifteen hundred years ago."
"Really?" I asked. "She's one of the first ponies? She must've done a lot of things through any time."
"Indeed," came a voice. The pegasi stopped and looked up. Flying down from the sky was another alicorn pony. She was white and her mane and tail were red. She was wearing royal attire and her Cutie Mark was of a quill and ink.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"Prince Crayton," said one of the pegasus royal guards. "That is Empress Faust."
"Oh, so that's Faust," I said. "Joshua told me about his encounter with her last year."
"And I see that you are adjusting well to this world," said Faust. "I hope you have a pleasant time here. Now, as for those stones, they belonged to my mother."
"Wait a minute," I said. "You're the daughter of Queen Fate?"
"Yes," Faust said. "And my mother was the soul guardian of those two stones. The stones have different abilities. One stone can manipulate the fabric of reality, and show what has happened in the past. And the other stone can let you see possible futures, or even take you to the future or to the past."
"So, these are the famous Time and Reality Stones," I said. "Most of the Mobians thought that the Temple of Queen Fate was a myth."
"That I can believe," said Faust. "But, I believe that the Time Stone would be better off if I keep it out of the forces of evil."
"Good call," I said. "But what about the Reality Stone?"
"I think you'll be able to protect it," said Faust. "Protect it with your life." I nodded and put it in my pocket. Faust was confused by that and said, "Where did you put that? You don't even wear any clothes?"
"Then what are these pockets?" I said, stretching a pocket from my waist. She then looked at Ava in confusion.
"Don't ask me," Ava said. "I'm as confused as you are."
"Anyway, I must get going," said Faust. "I have already spoken to the other Mobian in this timeline. I shall hope to see you again."
Then Faust took off into the sky. Ava and I were confused because she just vanished in mid air. Ava then looked at me and I just shrugged my shoulders. I then looked towards the guards and said, "Aren't we heading somewhere?"
Then the guards started moving again. Ava then asked, "How were we still in the air when they weren't moving?"
"It's magic," I said. "I'm starting to get used to it."
I walked into the family room of the Castle of Friendship. There, I saw Twilight and her whole family, along with Mutt. I walked over towards Mutt and sat next to him. As for Ava, I had her wait in the room where Mutt and I sleep in. She was going to be a big surprise for Mutt. I looked over and saw that Cadance's stomach was bigger. Made sense since she was pregnant. Guard was feeling the bump for a kick for his new sibling who was going to be born.
"So, M.C.," said Velvet. "What did Princess Celestia want you for?"
"Oh, nothin' big," I said. "She just wanted to know how Mutt and I are taking it to staying here in Equestria."
"Are you sure?" Night Light asked.
"Of course," I said. Then Mutt brought over a present to me and handed it to me. I looked at it confused and asked, "What is this, Mutt?"
"It's actually something you might like," said Mutt. "Go ahead and open it." I looked at the others and they nodded. I then opened it up and saw that it was a photo album.
"A photo album?" I asked.
"Open it up," he said. Then I opened it up. I saw that it had pictures from my past. It contained pictures of when my parents with me during my childhood. Me being rescued by the United Federation. My many adventures. Somehow, Mutt got pictures of me when I was on Earth.
"How did you...?" I asked, but was interrupted.
"I... had a little chaotic help," said Mutt, pointing at the window. I looked at the window, and saw Discord there, giving a thumbs up with his lion paw.
I chuckled and returned to looking at the photo album. There was also the picture where Mutt and I met, during the fire. Then I saw some of our adventures before we came here. Even some with Sonic the Hedgehog. And then there was when Mutt and I were announced to Equestria. Then I saw the picture that Mutt and I were in with Twilight, Spike, Nyx and Joshua. I then closed it, and gave off a few tears. These tears aren't tears of sadness. They are tears of joy.
I then grabbed Mutt, and hugged him tight and said, "Thank you, Mutt. I haven't been this happy in a long time."
"Everyone deserves a present for the holidays," Mutt said.
I then remembered something, and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. I got something for you as well. It's in the room we share. Go on."
Then Mutt ran off. Then Twilight looked over at me and said, "You got him something in Canterlot, didn't you?"
"It was actually a surprise for me as well," I said. "But it seemed we got a surprise visitor from 10,000 years in the past."
"Who?" asked Twilight.
I chuckled and said, "Ava Muttski. Mutt's mom."
We then got up from our seats, and headed towards the room where Mutt and I slept, and saw Mutt and his mom reunited, and hugging. I was happy for the two of them. At least Mutt got his family back. I was about to walk back to the other room, but I was pulled in by Mutt, and I got joined in the hug.
"Thank you, M.C.," said Mutt.
"You're welcome, Mutt," I said. Twilight and her family were all watching us.
We all then got back into the family room, and enjoyed the rest of the holiday, together. I just hope all of the ponies will accept Ava like they accepted me and Mutt.