//------------------------------// // The Bearded Mage Rises // Story: The Dashpoint Paradox // by ArcadePonyFubuki //------------------------------// “So the Rainboom gave me my cutie mark, but took away yours somehow?” The two Rainbows were back at the filly’s house trying to make sense of the day’s previous events. “That’s what it looks like. I’m not very knowledgeable about the magical rules or whatever so I don’t know why it did, but maybe if we find a unicorn or, by some miracle, an alicorn, we can get this fixed.” “Fat chance, as far as I know Nightmare Moon’s the last alicorn and I doubt she’s gonna be very helpful.” “Well are there any powerful unicorns out there?” “Why would I know? I’ve never even felt the grass down there.” “I can’t believe I’m saying this but.. do you have a history book I can borrow?” “Ew you’re really about to learn in front of me? I have one from school, it’s under my bed.” “That’s not a great place to keep it.” Adult Rainbow raised an eyebrow judgmentally. “History books don’t help me fly, so why bother with them.” “Well spoiler alert squirt, you actually like reading when you’re older.” Adult Rainbow flashed a playfully devilish smile. “Yikes, and my universe is supposed to be the messed up one?” Filly Rainbow giggled as she handed over a thick book entitled ‘The Modern History of Equestria’. Adult Rainbow cracked it open and skipped forward to a chapter called ‘The War of The Moon’. She quickly skimmed through it until a name stood out to her. “Here! ‘Starswirl the Bearded, known as the most powerful unicorn mage in history. He’s said to have trained the two sisters themselves’. If anypony can fix this mess it’s him!” “Um, one problem, he’s ancient, missing, and probably not even real. So there’s actually three problems.” “Well, says here he was ‘known to reside in the tallest mountain of Ghastly Gorge when not in Canterlot.’ and I think I saw a map of Equestria when I was flipping through the pages, so now we know where to look at least.” Adult Rainbow pointed out as she placed the book into Filly Rainbow’s school bag and strapped it to her back. “What a clichè.” Filly Rainbow scoffed. “So we’re just supposed to walk into this guy’s creepy cave house and ask him to do your job for us?” “Uhhhhh, yeah?” “Sounds good to me, let’s do it!” “That’s what I like to hear! Oh, you better leave a note or something so your parents know why you’re gone.” “Good idea.” Filly Rainbow grabbed some crayons and a paper and crudely wrote down ‘hanging wit flutter’ and taped it to her door. “Ok, let’s get going!” The two Rainbows revved their wings and shot out the bedroom window. Or, at least one of them did. Adult Rainbow promptly got a face full of wall. “Ow! What the hay?!” Adult Rainbow stumbled back as she held a hoof to her nose. “You ok down there?” Filly Rainbow asked as she hovered outside the window. “Yeah, must’ve just got caught on something.” She revved her wings again and promptly slammed into the wall again. “Son of a-“ “Are you injured or something?” “My wings feel fine, I just can’t take off right for some reason.” “Are you not taking off fast enough?” “Pssch, am I not going fast enough? Remember who proved the Rainboom was real in the first place?” Adult Rainbow scoffed as she carefully hovered out the window. “Well if you’re as ok as you say you are, why don’t you race me there?” The filly challenged. “Sure, if you promise to not throw a fit when I beat you.” “You’re on old timer!” “I’m literally from the future!” “Can’t hear you I’m too busy winning!” Filly Rainbow sped off in a flash. “You’re on kid!” Adult Rainbow flew off forward………. at a moderate pace. “…this is just getting sad.” Filly Rainbow said as she watched her adult self meander in her direction. “So, it would seem there are side effects to losing your speed themed cutie mark.” Adult Rainbow sighed when she finally caught up. “This is going to be a long trip.” _______________________________________________ “Being… slow…. SUCKS.” Adult Rainbow said through labored breaths as she flopped down onto the mountain cliff side. Filly Rainbow softly landed next to her and observed the cavernous entrance before them. “The nightmares I get from this better be worth it.” Adult Rainbow grabbed two sticks off a dead tree near the entrance and rubbed them together until one of them caught flame. She held the newly crafted torch in her wing and cautiously led both of them through the cave’s opening. “Not much for interior design..” Adult Rainbow muttered to herself. The two ventured deeper into the cave until a dim light became noticeable in the distance. “Hey, I think I see a fire over there, somepony must’ve been here recently.” Adult Rainbow pointed out. “What would he need a fire for? Is there not like a body warmth spell or something.” “I don’t know, maybe it’s magic fire.” “Magic fire?” “Y’know, fire used in magic.” “That’s not a thing.” “What would you know you’re like 6.” “10.” “Same thing.” Their ears perked up as the sudden sound of galloping echoed throughout the cave. Adult Rainbow turned around and was met with a hooded figure swinging an hoof across her face. Filly Rainbow stared in confusion as the hooded attacker then bucked a rock in her direction. She reacted by using her newfound speed to grab it midair and return it to its sender, who stopped it with magic and threw it behind them, hitting Adult Rainbow in the head again. “Ow dude! Not cool!” Adult Rainbow sprung up and attempted to attack from above by flying over. Her wings were then encased in magic and she was dropped back down to floor. The hooded figure broke a stalactite off the ceiling with their magic and dropped it above Adult Rainbow, who rolled out of the way in a panic. “What is your problem dude?!” The figure swung the stalactite towards Filly Rainbow, who narrowly ducked under it. The stalactite swung back around and hit Adult Rainbow in the back of the head. Filly Rainbow jumped back and flew forward at full speed, promptly smacking into the hooded figure. The figure tumbled back and crashed back first into the cave wall. “I’d like to see him get up from that!” Filly Rainbow spat mockingly. “I wouldn’t.” Adult Rainbow groaned. “Now start talking buster.” “I’ve seen some quick pegasi in my time, but never anything quite like that.” The figure’s hood fell back, revealing an old unicorn stallion with a grey coat and long white beard. “Holy shit.” “Language!” _______________________________________________ “So, it would seem that you’re an older version of this filly here, and you hail from the future of an alternative timeline?” “Pretty much.” “Hm. Quite the anomaly.” “Tell me about it, why is it that I only went back a couple years but it changed stuff from before I was even born?” “Well, when you go back and change certain events, time doesn’t just go forward as normal. It starts from scratch, constructing a whole new set of events. So if one changes the future, they also change the past. And you’d have to be quite the fool to do so.” Starswirl explained as clearly as he could. “If Twilight explained it like I definitely wouldn’t have gone back.” Adult Rainbow groaned as she rubbed a hoof on her forehead. “Who?” Filly Rainbow asked. “Don’t worry about it. Look is there anyway you can get me my cutie mark back?” “I’m afraid not. Two of the same cutie mark simply can’t exist in the same timeline.” “Well can I get like a.. temporary cutie mark? Preferably a speed related one.” “I hate to disappoint but only alicorn magic can grant a pony a new cutie mark, and I hardly believe the tyrant of the moon is just handing them out.” “Oh come on! You taught that tyrant everything she knows about magic! If anypony is magical enough to fix this mess it’s you!” “Things have changed since that day.. I’ve disavowed any advanced magic after I introduced that fiend to it. I’ve wiped all memory I had of those spells so I can no longer bear the curse of knowledge upon this world. So I apologize, but I can be of no help to you.” Starswirl solemnly said as he removed himself from the conversation and exited the cave. “What a drama queen.” Filly Rainbow scoffed. “Back to square one… I’m sorry for dragging you around kid, this really isn’t your problem.” Adult Rainbow sighed. “Hey, I’m only here cause I want to be here. Anyone messes with you they gotta go through me first.” Filly Rainbow jokingly puffed her chest out. “That’s what I’m afraid they’ll do.” Adult Rainbow softly laughed as she pulled her filly self closer. “…you’re a real lucky kid, you know that? When this is all over, you fly back home and you give your sister the biggest hug you possibly can.” “That’s the best plan you’ve had yet.” The two Rainbows chuckled to themselves as they slowly drifted off to sleep for the day. _______________________________________________ Starswirl returned to his domestic cave, finding the two rainbow maned mares sleeping humbly. He sighed to himself and dropped his saddle bags. Venturing deeper into the cave, Starswirl casted a spell onto an engraving on the wall. The marking began to glow blue as an opening revealed itself, a collection of books and a matching hat and robe on the other side. “You knew this day would be coming..” _______________________________________________ Adult Rainbow weakly opened her eyes, finding a coat over her head and a robed unicorn standing above her. “If you want a cutie mark I suggest we leave soon.” “H-huh? Leave where?” “The dungeons of Canterlot castle. I’ve tracked alicorn magic to the area.” “You found Celestia!?” “That is what I’m hoping.” “What’s going on?” Filly Rainbow asked, rubbing her eyes awake. “I shall assist in locating this alicorn, but that is as far as my help goes.” “How’d you trace this magic anyway? I thought you didn’t do that stuff anymore.” Adult Rainbow questioned. “Tis hard to put down a good book, as one would say.” Starswirl smiled. “Now put those coats on, I find it beneficial to keep a low profile when breaking into a warlord’s home.” “Wait we’re going wh-“ _______________________________________________ “-ere?!” Filly Rainbow questioned as she suddenly found herself teleported to the outskirts of Canterlot Castle. The castle loomed over any and all ponies at its feet, its previously inviting atmosphere replaced by a threatening and commanding aura. Dark clouds swirled over Canterlot at all hours, casting a never ending chill over the land. “The castles a little.. bigger than I remember, but maybe that’s just the dread talking.” Adult Rainbow commented. “If we enter in from that eastern tower we should be able to traverse to the dungeons without detection.” Starswirl instructed. “Last one to Celestia is a dragon egg!” Filly Rainbow shot up to the tower as Starswirl teleported himself and Adult Rainbow. The three ponies carefully traversed down the spiraling tower until they reached an open hallway. “Stand back.” Starswirl whispered as the sound of clanking armor closed in on their location. As the guard approached a blue glow emanated from Starswirl’s horn and glided over the guard’s eyes, causing him to collapse over. Starswirl caught the guard in magic before he could crash to the floor. “What’d you do to him?” Adult Rainbow questioned. “A simple sleep spell, now put this on.” Starswirl said as he floated the guard’s armor over to Adult Rainbow. “It’s a little big for me ain’t it?” Starswirl glared back at her. “Ok ok, geez.” Rainbow grumbled as she slipped into the armor. “Alright, where to now?” “Around this corner, fourth door on the right. You’ll lead the way.” “Then let’s get a move on.” Adult Rainbow commanded in a deep voice. “What’s with the voice?” Filly Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “I dunno, just getting into character.” “Getting into what now?” A guard asked turning around the corner. “Uhhh just um.. j-just getting these trespassers into the dungeon, yep.” Rainbow stumbled through her facade. “Smooth.” Filly Rainbow muttered. “Alright then, let me lead them ther- holy horsefeathers is that Starswirl the Bearded?! Commander Luna will want to see this immediately!” “Oh that won’t be necessary, this isn’t Starswirl its uh.. it’s just some crazy old pony that thinks he’s Starswirl. I mean just look at that phony beard.” Adult Rainbow tugged harshly on the beard. “Ow! Watch it!” ”It’s really glued on there y’know? Anyway I gotta get these two to the dungeon immediately so I better get go-“ “Hold on. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around here. What’s your name and rank?” “Oh, its.. its umm..” “Oh for the love of Celestia I can’t do this anymore!” Filly Rainbow shouted in annoyance. Everything slowed around her as she began to fly around the guard. She turned his helmet around on his head and pushed him to the edge of the staircase they came from, she teetered the guard forward and returned to the group. The sound of crashing and yelping echoed throughout the room. Adult Rainbow and Starswirl glared down at Filly Rainbow, who stood there with an innocent smile. “So much for discreet, let’s get outta here.” Adult Rainbow lead the group down to the Canterlot Dungeons. The trio entered the damp corridors where several empty cells sat untouched. Starswirl drew a light from his horn and ventured deeper into the cellar. Upon reaching one of the last cells the figure of a weeping alicorn with a strange device around their neck came into view. “Is that Celestia?” Filly Rainbow asked. “Wait a minute.. Princess C-“ “Hey! Why is the dungeon entrance open?!” The far away voice of a guard called out. “Shoot! Quick, free her and let’s get out of here!” Adult Rainbow shouted. Starswirl activated his horn and teleported all four ponies out of the castle. The guard came rushing down the stairs and was met with an empty cage where an alicorn used to be. _______________________________________________ Approaching the entrance to the throne room, a guard took what he anticipated to be one of his last breaths and opened the doors. The nearly pitch black room stretched for what seemed like infinity. The grueling walk down the rolled out carpet was bookended with the throne itself, where the ruler of Equestria sat surrounded by the only lights in the room, that being dim purple flames. “Your highness, it would seem the prisoner has somehow escaped.” The guard knelt before the throne. He held his breath as he awaited his master’s response. “Then retrieve her. Immediately.”