//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 - Depression and Dimensions // Story: Fred Walsh's Adventures in Equestria // by Baguettedood //------------------------------// Chapter 10 “That settles it; Celestia is on the verge of bloody depression and has been ever since she had to banish Luna. That can’t be good for anyone in any universe, let alone the ruler of Equestria, and she’s not going to get better until her sister returns, which isn’t for another 204 years. “Hmm, maybe if Celestia knows Luna will return, it might lighten her spirits. Though, she’ll need to know that Nightmare Moon will return first. That prophet might be a good way to tell her, but he’d need proof before she believes anything. “This is going to be hell to fix, and I’ll have to be careful to make sure I don’t reveal my knowledge of the show to anypony. “...Wait, did I just say that I have to get Celestia to see one of the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return?” After lunch had concluded, Fred Walsh once again returned to his room by utilising the mental map he had been building. He didn’t really enjoy the meal that much; he wasn’t paying attention. He was too worried about Princess Celestia’s well-being the entire time. ‘She’s keeping those feelings inside. I’m not a psychologist, but I know damn well that’s a bad option. I’m not leaving until I know she’s going to be ok.’ Fred stepped out onto the balcony to think about what he could do. He looked out to the West again and noticed that the dots he thought to be Ponyville had now disappeared. ‘Odd, could’ve sworn that was Ponyville. Mustn’t’ve been, then; leaving me to wonder what it was. Guess it probably doesn’t matter.’ Fred found the outdoor view a little distracting for his current mindset so he stepped back in and closed the door to continue pondering the sun princess’ condition. He deeply considered her depression for quite some time, he lost track of it. ‘Screw it; I’m not going to get anything done in here.’ He purposefully left the room to find the Princess, assuming she wasn’t busy with day court or something else. He didn’t really care if Celestia would try and keep it inside; talking to another about problems can make a difference, even on its own. ‘Back to wandering the corridors senselessly, I guess. But first I’ll try the main chamber.’ Fred took a left from the blue guest room to find the princess. He doubted he’d make it in, but he expected her to be in the throne room holding court. Fred navigated the corridors between his room and the antechamber leading to the throne room fairly efficiently now thanks to his use of the major walkway. When he reached the double doors to the throne room, they were open and it was empty. ‘Well, other than that prophet, I haven’t seen anypony even walk to or from the throne room. Maybe she doesn’t do it today.’ Fred turned and walked back through the corridors to work out a new plan to find Celestia. He passed science laboratory 3 again and heard the princess’ voice, along with one of the scientists from earlier. He looked inside. “What’s a universal signature, anyway?” he heard the princess ask. The unicorn stallion she was conversing with – crimson coat and dark brown hair – spoke next: “Basically, every universe has a certain unique energy pattern present in local matter. Fred Walsh has a signature different from ours. It’ll start to degrade as he regenerates his cells with local materials.” Fred butted in, “So I’d be stuck here if you can’t see enough of my pattern?” He temporarily put aside his goal to learn some science instead. The unicorn confused at his sudden appearance, but recovered quickly. “I’d estimate a month tops.” “So we have a month for me to get back to Earth,” ‘A month to help Celestia.’ “Although my country is Equestria, our planet is also named Earth,” Celestia inputted. “It’s slightly confusing.” Fred pondered this for a moment. “Midgård it is, then.” “That’s all I have; it’s in my report, if you wish to read it,” the stallion gestured toward a few pages of parchment stacked on top of each other. “Thank you, Doctor Green,” the alicorn ended the conversation. ‘Crimson but called Green? Well, it’s either his last name, or his parents’ idea of a joke .It’s probably rude to ask.’ Celestia turned to leave the lab, but Fred interrupted before she could, “Princess, at lunch you said you didn’t want to talk about your past, but you can’t-“ “Fred Walsh, you are welcome to stay in the castle until we can send you home, but I’m not going to talk about it.” She didn’t quite storm off, but her steps were faster and heavier than normal. ‘Shit.’ Very little happened for the remainder of the day. Fred didn’t see the princess since the conversation in the science lab, not even at dinner, which he still felt out-of-place. He asked one of the bakers, and it was okay for him to eat the meals in his room in the future. It had gone dark. Fred glanced at his watch; it read 9:37 PM. He decided it was time to turn in for the night, so he made his way to his room through the dark corridors, and into bed. ‘Comfortable… Anyway, I’ll look for Celestia tomorrow.’