Snips in Time
Wednesday morning
Celestia's and Luna's reign
Year 0
Snips woke up the next morning to the cold embrace of the time machine floor.
The previous day he had simply trotted in, shut the door and collapsed on the floor exhausted, this didn't stop the time machines AI: Sparkle, from asking questions that, by now I'm sure you all know, had something to do with hearts and buttons.
"Morning master! How'd yesterday go?" Sparkle asked.
"Terrible...I met a bunch of new ponies I should have never met, and messed up the time lines like crazy..." said Snips
"Right, did you get the red silk?" the computer said.
"The what now?...oh yeaaah...that..." he answered "I forgot."
"You need to focus master, you also forgot that you were supposed to press the heart shaped button, first thing in the morning." Sparkle informed.
Snips groggily reached out for the button but halted in midway. "...almost had me there for a second." he said tired, and streched out, which caused his bones to snip and snap like that of an old pony.
"Well, that floor is doing wonders to you it seems." said the computer.
"Marvels" said Snips.
"I wouldn't worry too much tough, you can always just use the scarf." the computer stated.
"...huh?" Snips sighed.
"Yes, the scarf around your neck is made of authentic red tartarusian silk" said the computer.
Snips would have done something drastic at this point, but he was simply too tired and too much in pain from sleeping on the time machine floor, so he simply said: "You didn't mind telling me this before I left?"
"I wouldn't want to part you from the only fashionable piece of clothing you own!" said the computer.
"I'm so gonna install a virus in you if we get back..." Snips said annoyed.
"I understand." said the computer "after all, I want my master to look his best, we'll save the scarf for the last!"
"Fantastic, whats the next item then?"
"Oh, its simple really." said the machine.
"What is it then!?" Snips said his patience growing thin.
"Just stuff a thunder cloud from Cloudsdale in the fuel compartment."
Snips thought about this for a while and huffed.
"Sparkle, look at my sides." he said.
"Yes?" the computer said obliviously.
"You see any fricking wings!?" he asked.
"Uhh...no?" the computer said sheepishly.
"Then pray tell, how do I get up there, grab a cloud and bring it here!?"
"I don't know" the computer said. "Surf a rainbow up there or something."
That's when some pieces of Snips' memory clicked back together and his eyes widened. "...can you check something for me"
"As I have state..."
"Good, check a pony named Rainbow Dash from the future records." he interrupted.
"Huh?...There are...no records of Rainbow Dash in the future." the computer stated.
"Of course there isn't..." Snips said. "because she dies" he thought.
Snips stormed out of the time machine as fast as his pony legs would allow him to go. He had forgotten! How could he have forgotten!? Rainbow Dash was still in danger, and to top it off, the tryouts for The Wonderbolts Flight academy, The academy where she would die, were today!
So once again he rolled around at the speed of sound, and in his haste, he forgot to ask where the tryouts were, and he had no idea where he was going. The most important thing, it seemed, was simply to go!
His constant running had made many Ponyvillians to believe that Snips was some kind of a marathon pony, nopony knew where he lived tough but they had seen that he simply ran into the direction of the forest in the evening and they assumed he kept running in circles through the night until, in the morning, he simply turned around and ran back into town.
Snips had a case of "run into random ponies because youre an idiot who doesn't look where he's going" and he stumbled into an equally clumsy pony on the road. Snips was quickly on his hooves again and moved to help the mare he had accidentally tackled. Then he noticed it was the same familiar grey pegasus he had met yesterday!
"Ditzy! Good to see you!" Snips said "Listen...I need help with Rainbow Dash again, the tryouts are today and..."
"What?...Who are you? How do you know my name?" said the grey pegasus flustered.
"Who am I? We just met yesterday! I'm Timey." he said confused.
"Sorry...I don't know you" Ditzy said sadly.
"But..what about...The Doctor, you know The Doctor right?" asked Snips.
"Doctor? No, I'm fine, really, this happens to me all the time...even though its usually me who crashes into others instead of being crashed into." Ditzy chuckled. "I'll be going now!" she said and turned around to leave.
"Huh? Wait! Ditzy!" Snips said and went after her.
"Hmm? Whats the matter?" she asked.
"You honestly don't know The Doctor?" Snips said extremely confused.
"Its ok! I don't need a doctor" she said and blushed "are you...are you really that worried about me?"
She didn't know him! The pegasus he had met yesterday wasn't the same one standing before him at the moment! Then who was it? It could have only been the same pony, there was no mistaking those eyes or that voice, still at the time they met, she knew The Doctor, but now she had no idea...could it be...no, that's impossible.
Still, Snips assumed it would be safe to ask for help from this pegasus, who knew The Doctor...or would know him at some point at least.
"Can I ask for a favor Ditzy? Do you know Rainbow Dash?" he said.
Ditzy was suddenly taken away from her day dreaming "Huh? Yes, she's the weather team captain." she said disappointed.
"OK...listen to me...she's in terrible danger." he said.
"What? How!?" Ditzy said panicked "We need to tell Twilight!"
"No! We can't tell Twilight or anypony else!" Snips hissed "Look, Rainbow is going to be at The Wonderbolts flight academy tryouts today and they're going to accept her...but...we can't let that happen no matter what."
"How do you know that?" Ditzy said and whispered as well.
"I just do, trust me." he said.
Ditzy was quite confused, but what she did understand was that Rainbow Dash was apparently in danger, and that this pony was trying to save her. Sure it didn't seem like the most convincing tale, but Ditzy was bored that day and a crazy adventure with a cute stallion didn't seem like such a bad idea. Besides, he seemed distantly familiar, like they had actually met before after all.
"OK, I'll trust you, what's the plan?" she asked.
Snips was taken back by this. "Wait, you'll trust me, just like that?"
"Sure, you're not lying right?" she said.
"Well, no but.." Snips stumbled.
"Then whats the matter?" said Ditzy.
Snips smiled, now he could see why Ditzy would know The Doc someday.
They trotted over to the tryouts where many ponies were running around. The place was a large field where a bunch of seats, and stands selling Wonderbolts merchandise, formed a circle, and In the middle of that circle, pegasi practiced the standard array of aerial stunts and moves.
Rainbow Dash however, was far from "standard aerial stunts." Her moves were absolutely ridiculous in scale and delivery, she was really pushing herself too far to convince the judges and even the smallest mistake could send her crashing to her doom. It was understandable since only one pegasus was chosen from each town of Equestria.
Snips could see why they accepted her into the academy, but he could also see why it would lead her to an untimely demise.
"It's too late to sabotage her performance now that she's here in front of the crowd..." Snips whispered to Ditzy "The only way we can stop her now...is for somepony else to be better than her."
"But look at them! The other pegasi stand no chance!" Ditzy said.
"No...but you just might." Snips said deviously.
"What? Me? But I can barely fly straight, let alone do stunts like that!" Ditzy said blushing.
Now, as you all know, levitation was revolutionalized by Twilight Sparkle in the future, allowing for a wide array of levitational tricks, and as a result, pegasi tryouts would be heavily guarded for any magical aid.
At the time Snips was in however, levitation was only advanced enough for an unicorn to levitate another pony in the air, and this was not seen as much of help when doing stunts.
Snips was a pony of the future tough, and he knew exactly how to propel things with the speed of sound using levitation, here it would come in hoof. Granted he had only practiced with rocks and he had not levitated other ponies like that, first time for everything!
"Don't sweat it...I can give you some magical aid and boost your moves with levitation." Snips said.
"Levitation? That won't be much of a help, even Twilight can't levitate pegasi to do stunts." said Ditzy in disbelief.
"No she can't, but I can, just flap your wings and smile, I'll do the rest." Snips said with such confidence that anypony would have believed him.
Ditzy believed him too, much to her surprise "Fine..." she said, and she trotted over to the sign in counter.
"Name?" said the Wonderbolt on the counter in a bored tone.
"Ditzy Doo."
The Wonderbolt raised her head and looked at the grey pegasus in front of her. "You sure? You don't look like you can even see straight." she said surprised.
"Excuse me?" Ditzy said angrily.
"Its your funeral kid, move out to the circle with the other pegasi." said The Wonderbolt who clearly felt she didn't need to show any respect to these "wannabes". Suddenly, with no warning, she slapped a paper with a number on Ditzy's flank. Ditzy scowled at her but kept going.
Meanwhile Snips had taken his place in the crowd and attempted to find the most conspicious place there was. Unfortunately he ended up bumbing into nopony other then Twilight Sparkle herself. Snips blushed furiosly when he saw the purple beauty once again "I'll never get used to that" he thought.
"Twilight! I mean...Twilight what are you doing here?" he said awkwardly.
"I'm here to cheer for Rainbow Dash of course!" She said smiling "You know...I'm still not entirely sure who you are exactly...tell me...what are you doing here?"
"Oh nothing!" said Snips nervously. "Just watching the show."
"...You better not be trying anything funny..." Twilight hissed "I'm watching you..."
Snips heart lept and he blushed! Twilight was watching him! This was amazing...no wait! Of course the most magically talented unicorn had to be there when Snips was attempting to cheat using, just that, magic!
Ditzy was trotting around, smiling nervously. "Places everypony!" shouted The Wonderbolt from the counter.
The circle was cleared of pegasi and they moved to the waiting area to wait for their turns. Ditzy hoped that Rainbow wouldn't notice her but, to her bad luck, her turn was right after Rainbow Dash!
No matter how much Ditzy attempted at hiding behind her mane like Fluttershy, Rainbow trotted over to her.
"Derpy?" said the raspy voice, using Ditzy's infamous nickname.
"Hi, Rainbow! You're uh...last? I thought you'd be first in the line since...you've been waiting for this for weeks now." Ditzy said nervously,
"Well, I might have skipped sleep a couple of times, and I might have had a little unvoluntary nap in the morning, and I might have come here pretty late, which is why I'm last on the line." answered Rainbow.
"Well...good luck then!" Ditzy said smiling.
"Thanks I guess...but you're not supposed to be here you know." said Rainbow and then she noticed the number on Ditzy's flank "Wait...you're the last in line?"
"Yeah, I'm uh..." Ditzy said.
"You?" asked Rainbow in desbelief.
"Whats wrong with that?" said Ditzy.
"Pfft! You can't even fly straight!" Rainbow said and then, much to Ditzy's annoyment, she collapsed on the ground with laughter "What are you gonna do? Crash on the judges so they accept you? Baahahaha!!"
Ditzy was fuming with anger but said nothing, after all, Rainbow was right, she wasn't much of a flier. Still she wouldn't be insulted like this! But just when she was about to open her snout for a come back, the judges called out for the first contestant.
Snips was sweating nervously, Twilight wasn't looking at him at the moment so he tried out if he could magic something without her noticing. Much to his luck Snips' magic was colored light blue, which made it blend perfectly with the sky and would make it hard to see when the stunts began.
Still, as soon as a single sparkle flew out of his horn to levitate a nearby empty soda can, Twilight was on him. "What are you doing Timey?" she said suspiciously.
"Just levitating this can?" he said.
"Levitating an empty can?" said Twilight.
"Gotta keep the nature clean of trash right?" said Snips and smiled sheepishly.
"Sure" Twilight answered and drilled on to him with her eyes. "but you better not be levitating anything else..."
Snips chuckled nervously and looked out for an distraction. He couldn't find any.
Finally Rainbow was called out for the tryouts and she flew as expected, stunningly and without any flaws! The crowd was simply amazed by the way she pulled off the most dangerous moves and regained her altitude when it seemed she was about to crash. Even Snips was in awe, yet he hoped that Rainbow's show would last longer and give him some time to think of a plan, no such luck presented itself however and soon it was Ditzy's turn.
Ditzy trotted over to the circle nervously and watched the numerous ponies staring at her from the crowd. She swallowed nervously and took to the air waiting for Snips to start the show. Nothing happened
Snips just couldn't get rid of Twilight! She was right there watching him at all times like a hawk! Poor Ditzy was in trouble however, she was awkwardly just flying in front of the crowd with a desperate expression on her face. Rainbow was snickering uncontrollably and soon the judges had had enough.
"Miss Doo, I think thats quite enough, unless you show us some stunts right now, this test is over."
Snips was running out of time, he looked at Twilight and then he looked back at Ditzy.
She had trusted him! Ditzy had trusted him and now he was about to let her down! Snips came up with an idea, a thing that would surely distract Twilight. Sure It would probably lead her to hate him forever yet there was no alternative. Snips was determined, he would not let Ditzy down.
"Twilight." he said in a serious tone.
"Hmm?" said Twilight and turned to look at him.
"I'm sorry." said Snips
And right at that moment he activated the levitation spells and planted a kiss right on Twilight's snout. Twilight eyes widened in surprise and she was definately not paying attention to Snips' magic, neither was Snips tough.
Ditzy flung around the air like a ragdoll and she screamed and flapped her wings furiously. She flew backwards, sideways and turned around in a ninety degree angle just when she was about to hit the ground in high speeds. The judges stared in awe, Rainbow's laugh died like flowers in winter and the crowd cheered! Ditzy's moves were out of this world!
Snips' magic ended, Ditzy did a couple of backflips and accidentally landed on the ground right on her hooves, eyes spinning. "She is our mare!" said the judges "such disregard for the laws of physics have never been seen before!"
Snips broke out of this kiss, turned to look at Dizty being cheered by the crowd, nodded and with lighting speed he made his escape.
For a moment Twilight was too stunned to even say anything "...oh wow" she finally said.
Snips returned to the time machine with a huge smile plastered on his face. "I kissed Twilight!" he thought and opened the door.
He didn't even bother saying hello, he just said: "Check the records for Rainbow Dash!"
"Rainbow Dash" said the computer "The founder of a popular stunt group called: The Prismaticbolts."
"Wait, what?" Snips said surprised.
"The records say that after being rejected from joining The Wonderbolts stunt group, at the year 0 wonderbolts tryouts, she decided to simply start her own stunt flying group, which evolved into The Prismaticbolts, currently the most popular aerial stunt group in Equestria." the computer said.
"Whoa..." Snips said. "I did that?"
"Did what?" asked the computer confused.
"Nothing..." Snips said in relief, Rainbow Dash was saved then, still he didn't want to ask what had happened to the other ponies he had messed around with or he could find himself in a situation like this again, start fixing things and end up breaking more then fixing.
Sometimes, not knowing the future, was a better option.
"Did you get the thunder cloud?" the computer asked.
"The what now?...oh...horsefeathers!"
To be continued in:
Zap to the future.