//------------------------------//
// Foresight 
// Story: The Right Place in the Wrong Time 
// by RunicTreetops 
//------------------------------//

You open your eyes. Your feet are on solid ground. It's a bit chilly. Around you are stone walls, some tables, a bookshelf. On the floor, underneath a nearby table, rests the Time Tuner. Right where it was when you got sent to Maretime Bay. You walk towards it. It is still inverted. You gingerly pick it up off of the ground and place it back into the box. You look behind you once more. This is definitely the Castle of the Two Sisters.

You're home.

Interesting that the Time Tuner didn't go with you, though. Something about paradoxes, probably. You take a deep breath. As fun as it was meeting your new friends in the future, you can't pretend like you weren't stressed about whether or not you'd be able to get back home. You glance at the nearby stained-glass window. Light was pouring through it, so it must still be day. That said, how much time has passed here since you disappeared? Has it been a week here, like it was from your perspective? Just as you think that, you notice a flash come from the podium in the center of the room. You had failed to notice that Spike's Power Ponies comic was still sitting there. The comic suddenly seemed to jump into the air, and you watch your friends get launched across the room. They all started cheering, something about super powers or something? Then Twilight and Spike started having a conversation about what it means to be helpful? It seems they had an adventure all their own. It also seems as though you haven't been gone for very long. They all begin walking out of the room before Twilight notices you sheepishly standing in the corner.

"Oh, hey! You would not BELIEVE the adventure we just had."

"Trust me, I think I can believe it just fine."

"What do you have there?" She gestures towards the box sitting behind you that holds the Time Tuner.

"Something really important. If it's all the same, I'd like to bring it to Princess Celestia myself."

"Wait, it's that important? What did you find?"

"Well, uh, let's walk and talk, shall we?" You grab the box before the two of you walk out of the room, catching up to the rest of your friends. You regale them with the events of the past week (technically the events of the past, like, ten minutes) as you all make your way back to Ponyville. They, in turn, excitedly tell you of their adventures as superheroes in Spike's enchanted comic. It seems you all had a busy day. Twilight had a lot of questions about the future, but you ultimately decided to be vague about the details. Just as Izzy had said, "spoilers." You probably know more than you should, and you shouldn't talk about it too much. Still, that didn't stop you from talking about your friends. Perhaps too much, as you were still talking by the time you all returned to Ponyville. Everypony said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. It is still midday, but you've all been in that castle for a fair deal longer than that and you're pretty tired.

Twilight, Spike, and yourself return to the library. You still carried the Time Tuner in its box as you made your way to your basement bedroom. You set the box down on the floor (it can't fall off of the floor) before taking a shower and changing your clothes. You'd been wearing the same thing for about a week, and it was certainly getting noticeable. As you do so, you feel something heavy in one of your pockets. Reaching inside, you pull out the smartphone that Pipp had given you. Wait, objects can travel through time, too? You turn it on. It still works, though there is obviously no service considering your time doesn't have smartphones. That said, you can't help but be curious. You chuckle to yourself as you attempt to call Pipp.

Ring ring. Ring ring.

"Hello!?"

What?

"Pipp? Is that you?"

"Wait, how are you doing this? How are you calling me? Did you make it back home? What's happening?" The video feed suddenly turns on. Sure enough, there stands Pipp, making herself comfortable in a makeshift bed in what looks like Izzy's house. You fiddle with the phone for a moment before turning your own camera feed on, and Pipp lets out an excited gasp.

"Let's see. One, all I did was call you. Two, I have no idea. Three, yes I did! And four, once again, I have no idea!"

Behind Pipp you could see Sunny, Izzy, Zipp, and Hitch squeeze into frame. Sunny excitedly called out your name.

"This is so cool, but like, also makes no sense? How does a phone work through time?" You can't help but laugh in disbelief.

"I have no idea, but I'm not complaining!"

You all start laughing harder. There is little you can do BUT laugh. How does this work? WHY does this work? You don't really care. It may just be through this phone, but you can see your friends again. The thought alone fills you with an indescribable joy. You all talk for a good half hour before Pipp lets out an obnoxious yawn. It must be later there than it is here. You all say your goodbyes once more and hang up. This makes your adventure's end a little less bittersweet and a little more... sweet. You recline on your bed and rest the phone on your stomach. Staring up the ceiling, you can't stop smiling. It's a good day.

That said, it will be better once you talk to Tia. After resting for a bit longer, you check the time. It's a little past sunset, so she should be getting to her quarters about now. You have a lot to talk to her about. You stand up, pick up the box, close your eyes, and cast the teleportation circle spell. When your eyes open back up, you are greeted with the familiar sight of Tia's balcony and the wonderful view of the Canterlot evening it provides. Still carrying the box, you knock on the door to Tia's room. You hear some shuffling before the door gives off a magical yellow glow and opens for you. Tia is inside, sitting at her vanity and smiling at you through her reflection.

"There's my little human. A wonderful evening, is it not?"

"Well, it is now that I get to see you." The two of you share a chuckle.

"Alright, what's going on? That's the look you get when there's something on your mind." Dang, she can read you like a book. Well, to be fair, you can read her just as well.

You sit down on the end of her bed. After she finishes removing her regalia and makeup, she sits next to you and wraps a wing around you. It's very soft and comforting. You take a deep breath, and slowly explain the events that transpired after you first entered the Castle of the Two Sisters. Unlike with Twilight, you spared no details.

After you finish, the two of you sit in a moment of quiet contemplation. There is a lot to unpack in your story. On the surface, your story is pretty cut-and-dry. You accidentally activated an ancient artifact, got sent through time, made some friends, and got their help to return to your original time. Look under the surface, though, and there is much more to consider. What was the flash of light that made the Time Tuner fall over in the first place? What led to the three ponykinds separating? What happened to the princesses, who are supposed to be immortal? You imagine that these questions are just as prominent in Tia's mind as they are yours, if not more. Unlike you, she is the ruler of Equestria. Its future is largely in her hooves. Surprisingly, though, she begins to laugh.

"What's so funny? I figured you would be worried or upset or something."

"Trust me, dear, I learned a long time ago to stop worrying about the future. You think Twilight is the only one who messed with a time travel spell in her day?" She gives you a playful wink. "Besides, it sounds like your new friends are very kind. That is my main concern. So long as Equestria's citizens still hold on to the magic of friendship, I don't doubt that everything will be okay." You breathe a sigh of relief. The last thing you want to do is stress Tia out even more, but she's taking this really well. That said...

"What about that book that talks about the First?"

"What about it?"

"Well, doesn't that bother you?"

"Not really. We have that book here too, you know. You can easily get a copy at the church here in Canterlot. And before you say anything, no, the contents do not upset me. That book has been around for a long time, and the information in it is pretty natural."

"But you and Luna aren't given any credit at all! That doesn't seem fair. The book treats you two like... like puppets for the First to use as she pleases!"

"Is it wrong?" She looks at you with complete seriousness in her eyes. Not a shadow of doubt, no fear, no worry, no anger. "I'm telling you, whatever you found in that book is completely natural. There's no need to worry about it, okay?" She tilts her head at you and gives you a small smile. It's adorable, but you still feel worried. "Let's change the subject, shall we?"

Easy for her to say. Why is she okay with this? What does she mean it's "completely natural?" Is that really how she sees herself? You haven't broken eye contact with her. She once more has a completely serious look on her face. It doesn't take a genius to know that she is telling you to "drop it," and you don't dare argue with her. She can be very... convincing. As much as you don't want to, you decide to change the subject.

"So, about this box." You gesture towards the box still resting in your lap. You have an obligation to fulfill. "Do you think you could outfit it with a new lock?"

The two of you discuss the strange alicorn lock that the box had in the future. She assures you that it can easily be done by an enchanter friend of hers, and she also promises to keep both the box and the Time Tuner safe. You figure that the box will naturally fall into Izzy's possession at some point in the future. After finishing that, the two of you are left sitting in silence once more. The discussion with the First worried you, but it's hard to stay stressed in Tia's presence. She gives you a look that you're familiar enough with by now to know is an invitation to stay the night, and you have no intention of refusing.

The evening was pleasant. It always is with her. As is practically routine by now, you found yourself waking up first, and you had the difficult job of getting her out of bed so that the sun may rise. She gets ready for her long day of princess duties while you wave goodbye and use the teleportation circle to return to Ponyville. You don't have work today, so you simply return to the library. Twilight and Spike are out doing who knows what by the time you get there, but you can't help but notice the Journal of Friendship sitting on a nearby table. Oh, right. You have one more job to do.

Your thoughts are filled with visions of Maretime Bay. You'll probably call your friends again later today. Once more, you have gotten out of a grand adventure not only unscathed, but arguably better than when you started. As you think about your friends from the future, you feel magical energy course through your body and towards your head and your back. ...Yup, there are your horn and wings. Now that you think about it, you forgot to show Tia yesterday night. Oh well, there's always later. You grab a nearby quill and start a new entry in the journal. You give a warm smile to no one in particular as you write.

"Dear Diary, 

Friends really can be found anywhere. No matter how far from home you wander, hold your head high! There will always be someone willing to help you, and there is always hope that you will find your way back. And who knows? These new friends may have even more in common with you than anyone you've ever met.

PS. If I'm reading this, the thing I'm looking for is at my friend's house. Just make sure she doesn't unicycle it."