//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - Thoughts and Insomnia // Story: Fred Walsh's Adventures in Equestria // by Baguettedood //------------------------------// Chapter 3 “I’ve said multiple times to people that when you are is much more important than where you are. Take the situation I’m in right now: I’m in Equestria, but that is pretty much meaningless. If that’s the only information given, I could be in Equestria before it was founded, far into the future, or anywhere in between. Anyway, as it turns out, I’m in the year 796. That places me 204 years before Nightmare Moon’s return, meaning I have some foreknowledge into the future. At some point, I’ll have to tell Princess Celestia about what I know, but now is not the time. “As for why she threw me in here, I guess that I can understand being wary of a random unknown thing falling across the inter-dimensional maelstrom - you know, that would make a great band name! Anyway, it seemed to be a more temporary thing. It was rather late, especially in what is probably summer right now – hey, I don’t know if the seasons match up.” *At this point, the camera is tilted away and the feed cuts out.* After Fred had finished using the video camera, he changed the date on his watch (more of a wrist-mounted computer than a watch) to set the time and date. “Oh, glorious Epoch, hear my call!” Fred chanted as he attempted to change the year. As he expected, however, it didn’t, due to the OS’s inability to handle pre-1970 dates (the time of the UNIX Epoch). Instead, he changed it to 1996. ‘Better have it slightly inaccurate than have it not work at all.’ ‘Now, for the fun part: Setting the time.’ Fred had absolutely no idea what time it was supposed to be. In his time zone on Earth, it was roughly 5am when he left, now it was about 7:30am. Doing some guesswork, guessed that he would be just in a separate time zone. Fred disregarded logic and estimated he was around 9:30pm, remembering he travelled in time as well as space. He then set the watch to sleep mode to conserve power, but still be accessible quickly. Despite Fred’s sleep being interrupted by a spontaneous wormhole, he found it difficult to leave the realm of consciousness due to the few hours of sleep he did get. He stood up from the floor he was sitting on, and looked out of his bars into the dimly lit corridor between cells. Fred looked carefully, but couldn’t see signs of any ponies in the dungeons. Fred believed this to be unusual for a moment, but after some thought, it was probably the norm for Equestria. ‘I’d have to check, but Equestria probably has low crime rates. Just as well, I would’ve annoyed the hell out of anypony down here while vlogging earlier.’ Fred took a final glance at the dungeon hallway, then turned his stance toward a bed comprised entirely of hay, resting at the far end of the cell. Fred lay down on it due to having nothing else to do. ‘I probably have no chance of managing sleep, but damned if I don’t try!’ Princess Celestia always found it difficult to sleep, ever since she unwillingly was forced to banish her own, and only, sister to the moon. For a whole month after the event, she had no luck sleeping whatsoever. Celestia could never forgive herself for what she had done, her mind always searching for alternatives to permanent banishment, but she couldn’t find a single option. She was riddled with insomnia. It never truly left her conscience. But tonight was worse. The Princess behaved too irrationally due to Fred Walsh’s arrival. ‘I shouldn’t have been so offended at his presence. He didn’t choose to come here; at least I don’t think he did. I just let my anger invade myself like that. Composure is what separates us from the horrible creatures of Everfree…’ Celestia trailed off as she yet again recalled the events and repercussions of Nightmare Moon’s banishment. The Elements of Harmony were never intended to be used against another bearer. The incredible power they contained had an effect on everything surrounding the former Everfree Castle. The energy released spiralled in all directions. Some of it she absorbed herself, which formed her ethereal mane, another reminder of that night. Most of it transformed the castle and a huge expanse around it into a twisted mockery of life: The Everfree Forest. Lastly, the remaining energy from the elements that actually struck Nightmare Moon – Very little by comparison – carried out its job to prevent the wicked mare of darkness from destroying Equestria, or worse. Princess Celestia couldn’t bear the insomnia anymore. She stumbled out of her bed and walked out onto the balcony. From her tower, she could see a large portion of Canterlot, but that isn’t what she wanted to see at the moment. Celestia turned her gaze upward, toward her sister’s moon to do some thinking. Princes Celestia was jerked out of her deep thought by the chimes on the Canterlot Clock Tower. She turned her gaze downward to look at the time. A mental scream escaped. ‘5am already‽,’ realising the length of time she had spent in deep thought. Following her schedule, she was already late for sunrise. She quickly lit up her horn to continue the solar/lunar cycle on its appropriate path. Then, still feeling restless, the Alicorn left the balcony. It was time to set a few things right. Unlike Princess Celestia, Fred Walsh managed a few hours of sleep before he was awoken by the sun shining in through the cell window. He was briefly startled by the change of sleeping arrangements from normality due to the human memory, but recent events returned quickly. Fred became aware of two sets of hoofsteps traversing the dungeon. ‘That must be for me; not enough for a new prisoner.’ Even before he could actually see the two ponies that were here for him, Fred still knew who one of them was. The radiant light Princess Celestia gives off is unmistakeable. As the two ponies came into view, Fred recognised the other pony escorting the Princess as the guard pony who told him the date last night. Princess Celestia spoke first as Fred stood up: “I’d like to apologise for last night. If I thought before sending you to the dungeons, I would have realised that you’re not a threat to myself or Equestria.” “It’s alright,” Fred began, brushing himself off, “I’m actually kinda used to this, being Australian and a PC gamer as well.” Celestia motions to the guard, prompting the unicorn to levitate a key out from a space in his armour to unlock Fred’s cell door; it swung open with a light squeaking sound. “Lieutenant Bullhorn, please show – Fred Walsh was it?” Princess Celestia asked. “Yep, that’s me.” “Please show Fred Walsh to one of the guest rooms.” “Yes, ma’am.” Lieutenant Bullhorn nodded. “You may stay there until we figure out how to send you back to your home.” Fred thanked Princess Celestia before he was guided to his new room by Lieutenant Bullhorn.