//------------------------------// // 9 Diving Deeper // Story: The Time Ponies and the Cutie Mark Thief Vs. the Queen of Hearts // by My name is R //------------------------------// There was a light dusting of snow lying on the ground early one Thursday morn, a testament to the accuracy of Ponyville’s weather team. Winter was just peeking its head over the remainder of Autumn, and it would only get colder as time wore on. The running of the leaves had been the focus of most of the town, and with its passing it was time to head into the next season. Perfect Timing didn’t care about all that this year. She had been preoccupied with thoughts of how to safely return Inky to her. She watched as Starlight talked to Time Turner and Extra Time about diplomacy with the Everfree refugees. She and Derpy had been invited into the discussion, due to them both holding government jobs, but they had both declined. Perfect had stepped up in town hall to keep Inky from having too many problems when she got back, but she wasn’t going to accept the leadership portion of acting sheriff from ponies who knew what had happened. And Derpy knew that all that stuff would just go right over her head. “Alright, We’re ready to go,” said Starlight, strapping on her saddlebags. “This time we should be safe upon arrival, so we’ll go in any order that’s convenient.” Time Turner and Perfect Pace stood at the control pillar and then the portal fired up. First white and a soft green that sort of looked like Inky's eyes made a series of quickly shifting circles. Then a dramatic flash of white made Perfect Timing glance away. When she looked back the mirror was covered by a swirling pattern of the two colors that reminded her of Inky's transformation, if it had matched her unicorn irises instead of her changeling eyes. Starlight was first through the mirror and Perfect followed next, after waiting a few seconds to let Starlight move out of the unloading zone. As with the previous trip there was a very disorienting moment that felt like spinning through a rainbow followed by the abrupt release into the new world. This time though she wasn't flying level with the ground but up into the air. It was only at that moment that she remembered something Time Turner said last time about making sure they would be upright. Apparently he only meant when they were heading straight into trouble. “Aaa-ff. For Celestia's sake, I only thought it was bad the first time.” Perfect brushed herself off and stood up. Looking around she saw that she had been fired out of a lake into a cave with a few dozen ponies in it. There seemed to be far more light than there should have been, given she couldn't see the sky. It was also uncomfortably warm. “You might not want to keep standing there,” called a familiar voice, bringing Perfect back to the moment at hoof. She trotted away from the pool toward her friend. No, she reminded herself. Towards this other Pinkie Pie. “Hello there. Do you know who I am?” “Of course not silly, we've never met before. You dooo look sorta like our old deputy Perfect Timing. You don't look nearly as panicked as she would be though.” “Aha! I always suspected there was something about those six mares that attracted trouble, ever since that time when...” Perfect trailed off, not sure how much to share with this mare. She noticed that there was some sort of gathering going on on the other side of the cave, though about a third of the many ponies in the cave were wandering about, as if searching for something. Pinkie gasped. “Did your Ponyville also get attacked by the changelings!” “No, no. In our world the changelings never attacked Ponyville, but a lot of other things did. Tell me, did anything cause significant harm to Ponyville between Nightmare Moon's return and the changeling's assault?” “Nightmare Moon? Who's that?” “Did the sun refuse to come up for a long time in your world? Maybe about two years ago?” asked Perfect. She noticed that Fluttershy had approached them, though she remained silent. Pinkie tilted her head. “Why would anypony keep the sun from coming up? Without the sun we would all be frozen in eternal ice.” Pinkie gasped. “Is Nightmare Moon working for the Windigos?” “What? Windigos? Why windigos?” Fluttershy stepped forward. “Because the windigos seek to freeze Equestria, and we know only two ways to stop them. One is love and friendship, and the other is heat. That’s why the sun never sets anymore.” “What! The sun never sets? The windigos are back? When did that happen?” “About a week after the changelings attacked,” answered Fluttershy. “Changelings feed on love, so ponies stopped being as loving. Then the windigos came back. After almost a month the sun simply stopped at its peak, and it has remained there since.” “When did all this happen?” asked Perfect. “Well it's hard to judge time without the sun,” said Pinkie, “but it happened after the one thousand, one hundred, and seventh Summer Sun Celebration.” Perfect blinked. “Ivory Scroll’s seventh reelection was that summer?” Perfect blinked again. “Two years after Sheriff Silverstar left Ponyville?” “That I know. It was about a year ago, at least for us.” “Is that when our pasts diverge?” asked Fluttershy. “Well that was about a year after the long night, which we know is different. Come to think of it, I don’t know when the change happened. Let’s compare histories. Pinkie, when you were still a filly you moved to Ponyville from a rock farm, right?” “No, I only moved to Ponyville after I finished growing up.” “Was your version of Ponyville also started by earth ponies, starting the tradition of winter wrap-up, where we bring spring to the town without magic?” asked Fluttershy. “Yes, and specifically by the Apples.” “Oh, I just remembered, the purple alicorn said that somepony named Starlight went back in time to stop the alicorn’s friends from coming together,” said Pinkie. “Does that help?” “Was the purple alicorn named Twilight?” “She never said her name.” “But her dragon did,” added Fluttershy. “How did you know that was her name?” “Because I only know four alicorns, and no two are the same color.” Perfect raised an eyebrow. “How many purple alicorns do you know?” “We only know two Alicorns, and both of them were captured in the opening strike against Canterlot. Why isn’t Twilight with you?” “Hi everypony!” Minuette jumped over to them from somewhere, Perfect hadn’t been paying attention. “I’m Minuette and I’m so glad to meet you! Tell me Pinkie, did we ever meet in this world?” “I don’t think so, but we have now. I think I’m going to like you.” “Nice to keep the trend going.” “Is she always like this?” asked Fluttershy while Minutte bounced off, Pinkie following behind and chattering pleasantly. “Just about. Usually Pinkie would be matching or exceeding her enthusiasm, but your Pinkie seems to be a bit calmer than ours. Still fun to hang around with, I bet.” And so the conversation drifted on, but the seeds of knowledge had been planted, and would not easily die out. Meanwhile, beneath the attention of any of the chatting mares, Driver sat contemplating what he had heard. Emerald scanned the ponies in the cave. She noticed that while Daring Do was here, as were the other two ponies who had been with her, Ahuitzotl was nowhere to be seen. Daring Do and the older pony were busy talking with Starlight, Extra Time, Zecora, and a few other ponies who were probably from the Everfree camp; but the younger pony who had been with them was standing all by himself by the entrance. She decided to go talk to him, but just as she turned to go she saw Derpy looking up at the ceiling a few paces away. “Hey Derpy?” “Hmm?” “I was going to talk to one of Daring’s companions, and I thought I would invite you to join me?” Derpy nodded, and the two of them set off toward the lone stallion. When Emerald and Derpy came close enough to speak to him casually Emerald cleared her throat. “Hi there. I’m Emerald and this is Derpy. Would you happen to be Biff, by any chance?” “Yeah. So I guess Daring’s books are a thing in your world too? Let me guess, why am I helping Daring Do when I should be fighting her at every turn because I’m one of the bad guys?” Emerald huffed indignantly. “Not every Daring Do fan blindly idolizes everything about her. Although I can think of a few ponies who are probably exactly what you’re thinking of. Maaaybe more than a few. But a decent portion of the fandom are fairly reasonable ponies who, while appreciative of the narrative, don’t make their favorite characters out as unimpeachable paragons of virtue while vilifying anypony who opposes them. Isn’t that right Derpy?” Derpy’s eye slowly drifted apart, causing Biff to look away uncomfortably. “I don’t know all those words.” She grinned apologetically. Emerald sighed. “Do you think Dr. Caballeron and his minions are all completely evil with no redeeming traits?” “Of course not! They trust each other and have great teamwork. Plus they never leave one of their own behind. And really, leaving Rienda del Rey tells a lot about a pony.” “I’m pretty sure Dr. C’s never been to Rienda," Biff interjected. "He just likes to pretend he has, but his parents left before he was born.” “How long have you known him?” asked Emerald. “He was my high school history teacher. So, I didn’t exactly grow up with him, but I’ve known him longer than anypony else I know of. I’m the only member of his crew who’s still with him. All the others left when he teamed up with Daring and Zotl to help bring the day and night back into balance.” “What?” Emerald asked, with Derpy tilting her head and making a quizzical noise. “Yeah, he is fighting the changelings, but he’s specifically trying to stop the windigoes so the sun and moon can go back to moving. I think Daring is the only one more upset about the changelings.” “Speaking of, I saw Daring and Ahuizotl earlier, but where is Dr. Caballeron?” At Emerald’s question Biff stiffened, glancing away. “I... I can’t say.” “I thought you were still working with him?” Derpy gasped. “Is he lost?” “I can’t say,” Biff growled. “Now I’d better be off, goodbye.” And with that he turned tail and ran out of the cave. Derpy lowered her head. “I thought everything was fine. I just don’t know what went wrong.” “I think Biff may have known more than he was letting on,” Emerald whispered, looking at the gathering of what passed for the leaders in one area of the cave. She studied Daring’s third companion. He was a brown earth pony with a gray striped tail and green eyes. The longer she looked at him the more familiar he looked, though his cutie mark was covered up. “Hey Derpy, do you recognize that stallion?” she asked, pointing. “The one who looks just like Filthy Rich’s father?” “Maybe? I’m not familiar with that name.” “Huh?” Derpy tilted her head. “Oh, of course, you don’t live in Ponyville! Dark brown with a gray mane?” “Yes, is that stallion... whoever you said he looks like?” “Well, he looks a little different, but I haven’t seen him in several years.” “Huh. I think he looks like Dr. Caballeron.” Derpy stared at the pony with both eyes. “You’re right. Does this mean Mr. Rich is secretly related to Dr. Caballeron?” “I think it’s a coincidence, but who knows. I’m not sure if that is Caballeron, but he did come with Biff, and Biff is acting odd about Caballeron’s whereabouts, so it’s something to keep in mind.” “Are you a detective?” Emerald shook her head. “No, I run a bookstore, but I do read detective novels.” “That’s helpful.” “Most ponies respond to that by saying that the stories don’t mirror reality, and not to assume everything works like a novel.” “Oh. That’s... not helpful?” “Eh, as long as you don’t let literary conventions fog your judgment too hard it can still be good practice.” “Whatever you say.” “Isn’t it grand, how well ponies can get along if only they put their minds to it?” said Extra Time as the meeting between the various representatives was drawing to a close. “If only it could be like this all the time. This went by much faster and smoother than most talks between leaders I’ve been privy to.” “A common foe does help keep things civil, and none of us have much time to spare,” said the older stallion. “Though I very much look forward to meeting you in less rushed circumstances, for now explanations must wait.” “For the first time in months we have an actual goal beyond ‘fight the changelings’. That’s all I need. You do your thing, we’ll make sure to keep them busy.” Daring smirked as she and her companion turned and headed for the cave exit. Zecora turned and called to the cave, “Please come here Pinkie and Fluttershy, there is one who needs you more than I.” After a few moments both mares stood at attention in front of Zecora and the others. Starlight nodded. “I have a plan to help stop the changelings. By a castle hidden in this forest there is a collection of ancient artifacts that should help. Unfortunately I’ve never seen them in use myself and I’m not quite sure what they do, but I’ve heard firsthoof accounts that they can defeat gods and demons, so they should be sufficient to deal with the changelings. The hard part is that only those chosen by the Elements can use them. Since in my world you were two of the bearers we thought you might still be able to use them here.” “We’ll do our best,” Pinkie said with a salute while Fluttershy nodded. “If that is all we should away, I hope we meet again one day.” Zecora began rounding up her refugees and heading up into the surrounding jungles. Extra Time walked into the central pool, causing Fluttershy to tilt her head. “Why is he leaving?” “He’s not terribly handy on an adventure and he didn’t want to join. He offered to come for discussion but now that that’s done his task is complete.” “I see...”