The sun flares as the planet turns.
Pieces are moved and agreements made.
The one who runs free will be laid low.
We can see him now.
His presence is finite.
Time slaps at his face.
Life feels cheated of her race.
Death only wishes to claim what is her own.
Law will be obeyed even if he must take Tom's home.
Though there is another that they fear.
Law's foe that he is in no way near.
The answer to Discord will be the unnamed one.
He will bring balance to the world.
Thus says Prophecy, the keeper of fate.
***********************
Time stared out upon an empty field. He had been watching this time and knew when Tom would exit the forest. He felt a small warping and ground his teeth. Tom had created a rogue element this day, yet there was nothing Time could do. Tom bound him in chains of reason and fear of the paradox. He could do nothing as the Tree Spirits were made.
As he waited, his mind turned to the events that had passed. It was something unbelievable when he had come to meet himself. That never happened. Some higher being, probably Prophecy, was pulling on the spirits. Who was Tom? Law seemed to think he knew his name. It had surprised Time when Tom knew his. Few really did. Oh they called him Time but they were thinking of Time Turner. The clock maker. No, Tom had actually called him Time in its full meaning.
He understood me, thought Time. He had spoken with full understanding of my nature. No one else has ever done that. Now comes Tom right on schedule... He seems almost uncertain. There, I’ve got his line. Ok, I see my point of entry would be shortly after he meets Dash.
Time moved forward a few minutes along Tom's line. Then he walked out and threw the gold coin at Tom's face. Tom saw
Time’s flank just before he went over the hill.
Time feels the Paradox close and time flow unhindered. It had been a close one. Jumping back to the relative present, Time Turner prepared to go to his meeting. It would be quite a time to see...he could almost feel the ripples from here.
**********************************************
Derpy Hooves was having a great day. There wasn’t much death around, so her left eye was almost behaving normally. She thanked the maker that she only had to collect the souls of the sentient beings or her eye would have probably been rolling out of the socket. It was so distracting and all she really wanted was to raise her daughter in peace. It had been a nightmare to get Life and Law to agree to even let her have a kid. Then she had to wait for Time to say it was ok. Ugh, Dinky was still just a child. She wouldn't have to take up her responsibility until at least a hundred years from now. Time said that she would be the new spirit of Knowledge. After all, the daughter of Death could not really be expected to take on a lowly job under Law.
Who was she kidding? Law pretty much ran this outfit. He decided the rules that all the mortals were under, anyways. Death sighed. The only one she could talk to was Life, really. She had given her a daughter and was just so kind... though it still confused Derpy as to why Life liked her. They were opposites, but according to Life they both gave a kindness... Oh well...
Derpy Hooves, the incarnation of Death, continued to fly on her errands. She would make it to the meeting on time... probably.
*******************************************************
"Ok now... push!"
The mare beneath her screamed as her bones creaked and moved to make way for new life... though it would partially fail. Life herself knew this and presided over the birthing.
The first would be stillborn while the second would have a half-life, dying early of some accident. Whatever accident that was would be up to Fate or Prophecy as he preferred. Time may also step in if needed... ugh. The politics of the sprits was a convoluted mess. Death at least only seemed to care about performing her task.
Turning toward the mare again, she caught the first foal and brought it over to the station where they tried to bring it to life. Turning again, Nurse Redheart went to get the only of the two foals who would live.
*******************************************************
Law looked out from his patio across the city as his uncaring eyes continued faking mirth and life to those around him.
Time had delivered the meeting point. He would be there last, of course. It would show his position of superiority. Until then, it was time to get that new bill passed.
******************************************************
Tom inhaled deeply. Focusing, he used his earth magic. The earth turned beneath him at the push of his daughter. Life's craft was all around him.
Turning, he warped the power onto a single spot. There, the living matter began to grow, forcing a great weight to lift above it even as the once nearly-dead cells sprung back to life. Reaching out, the building creaked and groaned slightly as wood shifted on its own. The roof grew so close that there was virtually no space between the boards. Then, there was none.
The roof of Fluttershy’s cottage was leaky. The table was wobbly. Well, at least they had been. The mare in question was not in at the moment. She had left to go get some carrots and had taken her rabbit with her. He had agreed to fix the leak, and while he was at it he decided to fix the table as well. Feeding the animals for her had been easy. Just a few words and they got what they needed and left. Now he was standing in the doorway with nothing to do... Sometimes being powerful had its drawbacks.
Next time I'll just use these hooves, he thought. Doing so will at least keep me occupied.
Tom needed to be occupied. He would be meeting with the spirits today. Then they would begin to manipulate him and expect things... They would want him to explain his actions. He was tom. No one has that right save for the Creator and he did not talk much.
He decided to leave before Fluttershy returned. He had much to think about. Tom walked out toward town but was quite surprised when Twilight came up to meet him halfway there. In her eyes there was a mad look. She seemed crazed and frantic, evidenced by the large stack of papers in her satchel.
"Tom! There you are! We have a LOT to talk about!" She pulled out a scroll and shoved it in his face. "There are a thousand magical authorities that have questions and they still need the clarifications on the nature of the Alic-"
Tom stopped her right there by putting his hoof over her mouth. Then he thought for a moment… Yes, that was really his only option. It would cause some disturbance to move ahead early, but it would definitely distract her and the rest of the society from the new understanding of magic he had given them. He could force it on her but that seemed wrong for some reason.
"Twilight, I'm going to offer you a deal. Listen quite carefully and answer as if your life depended on the answer... In truth, it does."
The mare was staring at him, her eyes wide and unblinking.
"Now, I could do something that would make you understand the nature of Alicorns with ease and give you all the time you would wish in order to study it. There is a catch. If I do that, you will forget that it was me who did so. I will delete your memory of this conversation. The second option available to you is to turn around and walk away. I cannot take your rambling on about this and I have no desire to answer so many questions. So which do you choose?"
Twilight almost took the turning around option, she really did, but in the end it was too much for her.
"I choose the first option..."
"Are you sure? This is your last chance to back out."
"I'm sure."
Tom used a tight beam of magic, and like a key to a lock it slipped right into her essence. The spell had been on her for such a long time. It had to be. Suppressing her powers and building a base of strength would allow her to take on the aspect of the night.
He hesitated for only a moment. Did he really want another daughter? Then he remembered Luna screaming as she was sealed away. He pushed further and snapped the barriers. The unicorn gasped as her power grew. She felt the push of the two new magics in her. She was about to cry out in wonder when her higher brain functions were shut down by Tom. He deleted the appropriate memory and implanted instructions. He ordered her to teleport to her room, go lie on the bed, and sleep for a full day after telling Spike she wanted no visitors for the day as she was tired.
Tom was rather pleased with himself. The transition had been incredibly smooth. She would wake tomorrow with a mild headache and a new pair of wings... It really was necessary anyways. Luna had gone mad trying to govern the ponies' dreams and move the moon. With Twilight to help her, there would not be a second Nightmare Moon incident. Plus, Celestia would be able to keep her favorite student.
He continued walking toward Ponyville awhile before turning east. From there, he walked until nopony could possibly see him or feel his teleport. Tom finally found such a place... There could be no hesitation in his strength during this meeting. For the first time Tom took the fullness of his power into the pony form. Then he brought himself up to full strength. The brown fur shifted into a darker tone. His mane began wave in the air. His gray eyes changed to gold and his whole body gave off heat. The grass around him withered and died.
In a moment his mind expanded as his full depth returned. It was a trivial thing in this form to go undetected by the Alico... His daughters. Reaching out, he checked on a few things. That buffalo tribe was still fighting. He moved on. They would need to learn the lessons of war. There was that one unicorn practicing necromancy. After a moment of consideration he looped her spell causing her horn to explode, serving her magic without killing. Lastly he shouldered the bulk of his power. Now.... he would need a form. Mentally smiling he created an image of his pony body at the location and entered it.
Tom opened his eyes and looked upon the frozen summit. No living being could come here. Tom noticed the snow melting all around him and the stone he stood on cracked. The temperature change was too much. He willed a simple shield against the wind and cold into being. Shining Armor would have gawked at the power used so calmly for comfort but to Tom as he was, it was next to nothing.
The next to arrive was Death. She walked out of a shadow. Her simple form expanded. The detail in her cutie mark returning. Those spheres were the souls she controlled and ferried. The mare opened her eyes, both of which glowed red and focused on him with an expression colder than the wind that whipped around his shield.
“As always, Death, you arrive exactly on time."
“Of course, Tom. I have to be.... Well at least with my real job." The mare smiled at Tom. He was a big tipper and she liked that.
“Life is as unpredictable as ever, I see. Though I believe she will be here shortly."
“Of course none of us would miss meeting you. Would you like a muffin?"
Tom graciously accepted the proffered treat. Dispelling the death enchantment and leeching spell took only a moment before he bit a large piece out of it. It tasted of death.
“Where did you get such a treat?"
“Oh there was a baker in Trottingham. It was his time to pass this morning so I went to collect his soul personally. He insisted on finishing his last order, though. Even if nopony would eat them. So I took them."
"I'm sure he took that well."
"Not at all. Well, at least until I explained how food made by the dead would kill."
"Yes of course.... You ate the rest?"
"Of course..."
The two beings stood in silence till Life arrived.
She came in the form of a ball of light. She had her full power as well. Her eyes of many colors you could not name mixed well with her ever-shifting form. It stayed pony-like, however. Though sometimes it would have scales. Her cutie mark represented the blood and the conflict needed for life.
"Tom... It is not well between us."
"I would assume so."
"It was wrong of you to bring that life into the world without my consent."
"I need no one's consent. I am tom."
"tom, hmmm not Tom. Yes in this form I notice the difference. Tell me: what is tom?"
"tom is my nature. If you cannot see it then I will not explain it."
"But if I could see it then why would it need to be explained?"
"Why indeed."
"You two stop fighting," butted in Death. "Time will be here soon."
"Law will probably be fashionably late," chuckled Life "He always was one for image."
“Of course he is. Ah! My good friend!" Time simply came to be. His pony body looked normal, except you could never pin down his age. He seemed to be incredibly old one moment then a child the next. But those eyes... Timeless. He walked up to Tom and gave him a big hug much to the others’ surprise.
“What is the word, Time?" He threw up a spell so the others could not hear.
“It is FH}WQ_HGOPRF5554JO Tom. Look, it is good to see you again. How far are we along?"
"We just spoke for the first time yesterday. You had no idea."
Time laughed
"Of course not. I was a child then... Look I won't be able to help you with this..."
"I know my old friend, I know." Time backed away, glad to know that this was not the first time he had called Tom friend. He was, of course, wrong. Tom had been as surprised as the other two at Time’s action. The code was one he had considered and memorized immediately after seeing Time. It was a message to himself to remember just for such an occurrence."
“I have never seen you so... old, Time," said Life, looking at him strangely.
“Ah yes, well the me you met yesterday to tell you the meeting point was… oh, about a hundred thousand years ago for me. Plenty of time to pick up some new tricks. I'm getting old, though. Perhaps I’ll be finished soon."
“Do not worry, Time. I will have a place for you soon." Death smiled
“Oh of course, Death. We all know you lay with every man eventually."
Death blushed as the other laughed. It was a good joke. Then Tom felt him.
Reality warped and broke down. He simply walked there. His control of the laws allowed him such power. No magic just.... It was so wrong in Tom’s mindset. Such things should not be used for showmanship. His cutie mark was a symbol of order and control.
“It is good to meet you, Law. Or should I address you by your title?" Tom sneered. He hated this being." Prince Blueblood, arbiter of the law in Equestria."
"You will address me by my real name Tom. Not by a title in a lowly country. I may have persuaded Life to give me a living body and had to suffer the indignity of being born, but that is far more honorable than a welp who bends MY domain and makes a body from stone alone, instead of following the correct procedures."
“Procedures you wrote, Law. I never agreed to them. This is the first time I have spoken to any of you!"
“And whose fault is that? You chose to never learn the rules, so you are still responsible for breaking them."
“I did know them, Law. I choose to break them."
“Do you think to speak to me that way, welp?"
"I will speak in any way I wish."
The other three gasped at Tom’s disrespect and his power. He matched Law’s voice. No one could stand up to Law once he began to speak.
Blueblood was taken aback. No other spirit should be able to stand after he used his power on them, let alone answer in the same tone.
"You dare use what is mine, Tom? Is there no boundary you will not cross?"
"Those chains were placed by you, Law. I will not bend to them. I am beyond them."
“Really, Tom? Beyond them? They are there for a reason. Let’s look at what your actions have caused: a civil war in Equestria between two immortal sisters. The thousands of lives disturbed and, yes, ENDED by your manipulation in order to create the elements of harmony. You trampled over Death's and Life's Domains. The Everfree forest herbivore population explosion which is sure to come. Applejack’s parents. Now, I'm not saying all of that turned out bad. Your actions caused discord to be sealed away, which is commendable. But because you acted alone, so much was broken that did not need to be. I was surprised when you acted. You have watched as civilizations fell doing nothing... Why did you stop Discord?"
"... I had to, Law. He was destroying the world, slowly but surely."
"Yes... he needed to be stopped. He used to work with us, you know. Before her... I tried to stop him but was unable to make it work. Then you come in, and a short time later he is sealed away and the balance restored. At first, I thought this meant you were Harmony, then Order. But now I realize the truth: You are Balance – the one who keeps the world from becoming too chaotic or ordered. Instead of going to face Chaos yourself, you created something to counter him. Then you had him sealed away."
Tom stared at Law who had a smug look on his face. The fool thought he could name Tom, but that was undermined by his
basic assumption. That Tom was like him. The truth of the matter was that he was on another level from Law. The prideful fool would never have considered such a thing. There were levels of beings in this world. Mortals, immortals and spirits. Then there were eternals. And above all, the Creator. Law did not know of the Eternals. He was just a spirit – little better than an immortal. They would end with this universe while he lived on.
"Law... I could not speak with you... If you did, I knew that eventually we would clash. Leave me be. I do not want conflict between us."
The smug look on blueblood's face grew bigger. None could resist him.
"I cannot allow that, Tom. All must follow the rules and they will be enforced."
"I hope that it never comes to that, Law... I would hate to destroy you, even if you are a prick."
Instantly, the look on Law’s face was replaced with rage.
"Now look her To-"
"I will work with you from now on, Law. And you others as well," Tom interrupted. "For now however, I must go."
Tom warped back to the field, leaving an enraged immortal spirit to be exposed to the freezing cold on the mountaintop. He calmly returned himself to normal and began the trek back to Ponyville.
***********************************
Spike was just about finished helping Rarity. "Is there anything else I can do, my sweet?"
"No my little Spiky-wikey that is all the help I need today."
He smiled at Rarity and turned to leave. Just outside her door, however he was confronted with something that set his teeth on edge. Tom, that overconfident blowhard. He scowled at the stallion, who glared in return.
"Well, well, look who returned."
Tom's mouth frowned downward at the little dragon. "Where else would I go? I live here."
"Ya mooching off of Rarity."
"I paid her my rent."
"How could you do that? You don't even have a job."
Rarity just happened to come out of her studio for a drink when she heard a muffled noise. Curious, she moved toward the stairs quietly. When she relished that it was an argument in hushed tones she snuck slowly down the steps and avoided being seen by the two males.
"I do not hate you, Spike, but you must let it go."
"Let it go. Let It GO! What makes you think I can just let it go?!?!"
Neither knew that the mare in question was listening and trying to understand what could be so important to spike.
"Yes! Let it go. You cannot have her."
"Oh what? You want me to give her up so you can? Why would I do that?"
"Because if you really do care for Rarity, you will understand what it would mean if two were together."
"What do you mean by that?" said the dragon, claws extended.
"You know what I mean. She does not think of you that way, Spike. To her you are a child and nothing you do will change that. She cannot trust you, Spike. "
The dragon's face twisted in rage even as he knew it was true. His eyes began to water.
"Do you think she trusts you any better Tom?"
"I would like to think so. We have been growing closer."
"That is just a lie, Tom."
"What would you know of that?"
"She has been spying on you for the Princess."
Tom noticed a gasp. He looked up and saw Rarity even as Spike continued speaking, oblivious to the mare coming out of hiding behind him.
"I was walking by the town hall not long ago when I heard Rarity speaking from a small window. When I leaned against the wall I heard Luna and her talking about you. She has been watching you. It was all for Luna."
Tom was looking into Rarities eyes, her head was shaking no. But he could see the truth of Spike’s words in her face.
His heart shattered. In a moment his eyes watered. She did not love him. All for the Princess. It was all for the Princess
"Tom... I–"
"Is it true?" spike was shoved aside by the stallion. He just stood there, wide-eyed when he saw Rarity.
"I–"
"Is It TRUE?"
"....Yes."
Tom closed his eyes and turned around. Rarity tried to get to him.
"Tom... I... I just couldn't say no. She nearly demanded that I answer. Look, I have told her that I won't do it anymore." He heard none of this. She continued to plead with him for a while before he said anything.
"You lied to me..."
"NO! I never lied to you."
"... Yes you did. Was I just the means to raise yourself, Rarity?" His voice was growing angry
"NO!"
"What am I to you? A pawn to become a lady of the court? Do you hope to just use me to reach Luna's favor?"
"NO!"
“Oh, it is just like you Rarity always working for yourself!" she stood stock still at those words. "You just help others for you own gain, is that it? Just look at Sweetie bell. Your own sister! You barely spend time with her. You just let her run off and do what she wants."
"I care about my sister!"
"Wrong! You just care what others would think if you did not pretend to love her! THAT IS WHY SHE ALMOST DIED!"
His hooves slapped over his mouth as all the rage drained from his face. How could he have said that to her? He knew none of it was true...
"Rarity–"
"Get out." She was livid as tears ran down her face.
"Bu–"
"Get out."
Tom stood still.
"GET OUT! GET OUT!! I NEVER WANT TO SE YOU AGAIN!!! GET OUT!"
Rarity pushed Tom straight out of the door and slammed it, and there he sat with tears coming out of his eyes.
Spike walked up to the now crying mare
"Rarity..."
"Spike." She looked at the little dragon. It was not in her but to tell him the truth. "I...we cannot be together."
The dragon recoiled as if from a fire. He backed away the tears coming in streams. Then he turned and ran out the back door.
This left Rarity alone to cry in her main studio until Sweetie Belle came an hour later to lead her to bed. There she would still sob till she had no more tears to shed.