//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Tempus Alicorn // by cerealkiller78 //------------------------------// "Twilight, quit pacing. You're going to wear the floor out..." Spike deadpanned. "What if it really was all a simple misunderstanding?" Twilight questioned, as she continued pacing. "The guy sat in Luna's throne and was fantasizing about ruling with Celly..." Discord reminded. "Pretty questionable if you ask me..." "Twilight Sparkle, quit pacing. You're going to wear the throne room floor out." Celestia spoke as she and Luna entered the throne room. "Oh, thank Celestia you are both here!" Twilight turned to them in relief. Celestia raised an eyebrow. "...You're welcome?" Luna grumbled under her breath. "Ponies never say "thank Luna..." "There was a pony here that Discord claims he saw seating himself on your throne Luna, and fantasizing about ruling with you, Celestia. I don't know if it's anything to worry about, or if he was just fooling around." Luna looked angry and offended. Celestia appeared confused, more than anything else. "How did a random pony get into the throne room? How did he get past the guards?" She questioned. "Well, that leads me to the next part..." She held out the Tempus Alicorn. Celestia's horn lit up as she took it in her magic to inspect it. "What is it?" She asked, studying the alicorn features of the artifact. "He said it is capable of time travel, and that he is from the future." Discord spoke. "It's a large stretch to believe such a claim, I know." Twilight added. "But we don't know how else to explain how he got in here." "What is his name?" Celestia asked. "He called himself Hitch Trailblazer, or more specifically; "Prince Hitch Trailblazer the Great." Discord air quoted, while rolling his eyes. "Hitch Trailblazer..." Twilight tried the name on her tongue. "Where is he now?" Celestia asked. "I had the guards put him in a holding cell." Twilight explained. "Precisely where he should be." Luna spoke bitterly. "But, what if it was all just a simple misunderstanding? Let's say he finds this relic, and it takes him to our time, and to the throne room, specifically. He could have just been fooling around because it was his first time travelling through time." Twilight reasoned. "It wouldn't change the fact that he disrespected the thrones..." Luna grumbled. "Mine specifically." "But, if he meant no harm by it, can we really imprison him for it? I mean, no harm was actually done..." Celestia turned to Twilight. "Twilight, what do you think?" "Well..." Twilight looked deep in thought. "What if we were to go to his time, find out from those who know him who he really is, and if he should be let go or not?" Twilight suggested. "A reasonable suggestion..." Celestia commended. "If we knew how to activate the artifact." She finished. Discord suddenly took the artifact from Celestia. "If only it could be something as cliché as rubbing the artifact." He rubbed its surface, and the alicorn's eyes flashed red. "SWEET CELESTIA'S BARBEQUED ALICORN WINGS!!" He screeched as he dropped it, before it opened a portal into a forest. Discord stared. "...Well...that...worked." "...My barbequed alicorn wings?..." Celestia deadpanned, staring at him. "Nevermind that." Discord waved it off, gesturing to the portal. "Looks like we have our destination." "What makes you think you're coming?" Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Uhh, hello Celly!" He threw his paw and claw up. "I did just activate the artifact...your welcome." "By accident." Celestia pointed out. "It still worked." Discord insisted, before picking the artifact up again. Celestia sighed. "Fine." She finally relented, before focusing on the portal. She stepped up to it, looking through to the other side. "Here goes nothing..." She extended a hoof and put it through. She could feel grass on the other side, and could see her hoof in the portal, as she moved it around. Deciding that it must be safe, she walked forward, through the portal. She was in a vast forest now, towering trees all around. She turned around and saw the others on the other side, staring. "It is safe, don't worry." She assured. "...COOL!!" Twilight squeed, picking Spike up and rushing through the portal, joining Celestia on the other side. Luna followed through, joining them, before Discord came through last with the Tempus Alicorn, and the portal closed. "Why did the portal not close until we were all through?" Twilight wondered. "Discord came through last, and he had the artifact." Luna pointed out."It appears that when the artifact is put through the portal, it closes again." She reasoned. "Huh...that is interesting..." Twilight spoke blankly as she looked up at the sky. "What is it Twilight?" Celestia asked. "Well, if we are in the future right now, in a time where we would all be gone already, then how is it that the sun is still in the sky? I'm assuming if we stay long enough, night will come as well. How would the sun and moon be moving by themselves now?" Twilight wondered. Celestia and Luna looked worriedly at eachother. "Uhh...Certainly not because we were faking it..." Celestia chuckled nervously. "Oh, I'd never think a thing like that!" Twilight laughed. "How would you," She gestured to Celestia, "have banished Luna to the moon then?" "Uhh...Certainly not because it was staged..." Celestia sweated snowball sized droplets. "See? Such a thought is just ridiculous! I'm glad I can always trust you both!" Twilight smiled from ear to ear. "But alas, I fear we will never know the mystery to the sun and moon rising and falling on their own in this time..." She sighed. "Oh well, some things are just not meant to be revealed." "Yup! Mystery indeed! Well, Let's travel onward shall we?" Celestia moved to get out of the conversation. "Uhh...Twilight..." Spike tried getting her attention before Celestia pulled him aside suddenly. "Spike...you're a dear." Celestia said sweetly. "But let me just say..." She lowered her voice dangeously. "I will teleport you to Pinkie Pie's house to make cupcakes with her, and then send those cupcakes to the Rainbow Factory if you say one word!" She hissed. Spike stared at her. "Ahem..." She addressed the group once more, speaking sweetly. "Come everypony, let us not waste time..." With that, she trotted on, gracefully.