Chapter 8: Twilight & Science
James woke up to the smell of coffee, causing him to follow the scent to the kitchen. He soon met a familiar face... Himself. This made him do a double take, then sit down. "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here, right?", the other James said. James nodded. He chuckled to himself, then served the eggs and coffee. "First off, I'm from the future. But, I'm not here to warn you about anything.", Future James said. James nodded, still in a state of shock. Future James slapped James, snapping him out of it. "Second, I'm testing out the new time travel tech that you'll soon invent" "But you won't tell me when, or what will happen, right?". Future James nodded. "Rules of Time Travel.", he said. James nodded, then took a sip of coffee. "Just came here to see myself in the past, and for that.", he said, pointing at the entrance.
The front door opens to reveal Twilight Sparkle, who was looking over a letter. "James, Princess Celestia...", she stopped in mid-sentence, staring at both James'. Future James laughed at Twilight's reaction. "Good luck.", James said, starting to glow. "You'll need it.", he said. He then disappeared completely. James started sipping on his coffee, then ate his scrambled eggs. Twilight was still in a shocked state. Finally, she something. "What?!" she said. James just shrugged, finished his eggs, then went down to the lab. Twilight soon followed.
Twilight was surprised by two James' in the same place. It was just like that time she traveled back in time to tell herself to relax. In reality, by doing that, she caused herself to panic. She shook herself of the odd memory, and went down to the lab to talk to James. James was readjusting the electro-magnetic device. "James, we need to go see Princess Celestia.", Twilight said, holding a piece of paper. James grabbed the piece of paper, looking it over. He then got up and left the lab, with Twilight following behind him.
Charlie was lying in bed, watching the new roommates. James then came out and went to grab the keys. Charlie knew what that meant. "You coming?" "Yes, yes I am.", Charlie said. "And don't forget about me.", Twilight said. James nodded, then stepped into the garage. Lyra and Bon-Bon both looked into the garage to see a orange VW Beetle. Bon-Bon's jaw dropped, while Lyra had a look of excitement.
"You...have....a CAR?!", Lyra exclaimed. James nodded, then remembered something, "Don't you remember riding it?" James said. Lyra thought for a moment, then said, "No." James thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. He then said, "Well, right now it's just me and Twilight heading to Canterlot. Maybe next time."
Lyra smiled at the thought of her and Bon-Bon riding a horseless carriage. James turned the engine on, then buckled his seat. Then did the same for Twilight. He then drove off, closing the garage door. As the car drove, James realized something. Gas. He looked at his gas gauge, seeing that it was almost empty. Heading into Ponyville, James stopped at Applejack's stand. "Howdy partn'r. Watch'a doin'?", she said.
Meanwhile, in another universe, Isabella felt as if somebody used her line, but then realized that it was in a different accent, and went back to reading a book.
"Do you have a tavern in this town Applejack?" "Fraid not, James.", Applejack said. James was upset. "But, I do have a bottle of Apple Cider.", she said. James looked at her, in which she pulled out a bottle. She poured a shot of it, then gave it to James. James picked it up, sniffing it. He smiled, smelling the alcohol come from the glass. He then drank it. Satisfied, he smiles, then asks, "Do you have a six pack?" Applejack nodded, then pulled out a open crate with a wooden handle and six bottles of cider. "15 bits.", she said. "Wait a minute, doesn't it cost 10 bits?"
"Extra 5 bits for the crate, Twi." Applejack said. James nodded, then said, "Deal!" He paid, then got out of the car, and started pouring alcohol into the gas tank. Applejack was confused as well as Twilight. Applejack then gave James a gesture of confusion. "Oh, right. This is fuel for my car.", he said. Applejack nodded, as he poured in half the bottle. "That should be sufficient for Canterlot and back." he said, as he closed the fuel tank and headed for the driver's seat, started it up, and drove it off.
"This car used to have a gas-powered engine, when I discovered another fuel source. What is something we have loads of, but never use as fuel for our cars?". Twilight was about to answer when James answered for her. "Alcohol! Loads of it, but is never used as a actual fuel source for the car. So I reinvented the engine, and...", James paused, then in a Italian accent, said, "Voliá, she'sa working like-a new.". Twilight gave him a 'What?' look.
"Hey, at least I didn't reinvent the wheel. *Buh-dum bum crash*". James smiled at his little joke, as they soon came upon Canterlot. Driving though, James saw a lot of surprised faces as he drove by. "You'd think they've never seen a carriage.", James said. Twilight smiled, then said, "They have. They've just never seen a horseless carriage.". Both James and Twilight started driving, when James stopped. He parked it, turned the engines off. "We'll need to walk the rest of the way there.", James said. "Why?", Twilight asked. James placed signs on the car, then poured 'toxic' plastic bottles in the back, and placed several cans of bug spray in the front.
Soon, it looked like a exterminator car. The metal roof unfolded from the car, turning the convertible into a normal beetle VW. James then rolled up both window, and locked the car. "So we don't have ponies looking at the odd carriage, and thinking they can steal it.", James said.
Five minutes later, James and Twilight made it to the Royal Castle, surrounded with guards. "Wow. Just like Buckingham Palace. Only the uniform's different, and the guards are all ponies.", he said. "We're here to see the Princess. She wanted to see us.", Twilight said. The guard nodded, then allowed them though the gate.
The doors to the Throne Room opened, reviling Celestia and Luna in their seats. "Greetings, Twilight and James.", Celestia said. "Greetings, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.", Twilight said. James just cursied, then said, "HOLA!". This took Twilight by surprised, completely. But both pony princesses were not completely surprised. "That means 'Hello', in Spanish.", he said. She nodded, then got up. "The reason why I brought both of you here is because you are needed for something important." "We want both of you to be Equestria's Scientific Advisories.", Princess Luna said. James nodded. "No problemo, dudettes.", James said. Twilight just facehoofed. "My car, the shrink ray, flameproof liquid, those were my inventions. Well, except for the car. I just reinvented the engine.", James said. Princess Celestia nodded, then said, "That is all.". Both nodded, then left. "Hey Twilight, race you to the car."
25 minutes later...
They finally came back home, glad that they were back in Ponyville. More specifically, They were in James' house. Twilight was looking at James, who was experimenting with chemicals. "James, I have a question. Why did you let Bon-Bon and Lyra live here?". James thought for a moment, then remembered why he did that. "Simple. They needed a place to stay, and they were nice.", James said.
He then dropped a Alka-Seltzer tablet causing the chemical to shoot out sparks. Soon, it settled, glowing a eerie green. "I hope this works.", James said. He then drank it, hoping that it would do something. He then had an idea. "Twi, I need you to kick my spine so it'll snap, then lift me up and shake me.", James said. He thought of something and before Twilight said something, he added, "Trust me.".
Twilight did just like Applejack does to trees, and bucked hard. So hard, he felt a painful, yet a good pain in his back... last week. She then used her telekinesis on James, shaking him like a can of paint. He soon started to glow like a glow stick. While she stood there in shock, he smiled, looking over himself. He then started writing down information on his notes. He then turned toward her.
He then had an idea. "How would you like to help me in some experiments?", he said. She becomes nervous at the idea, imagining herself with two heads. "I-I don't know", she said. "Don't worry, it's not permanent. In fact...". He grabbed a vile, drinking in down. He then stopped glowing. "You shouldn't worry, they're mostly harmless." "Ok, t-that... Mostly HARMLESS?!", Twilight exclaimed. "Well, they don't kill anyone or cause internal damage.", James said with a shrug.
Twilight thought for a moment, then said, "Ok, as long as it doesn't kill me." James nodded, then shook her hoof.