Dear Diary.
Today is my 15th birthday. Everyone says I'm going to grow to be one of the smartest in the hive. I believe so. One day I'll be part of the hive.. part of them. It's a bit scary. I don't want everyone to know my secrets, but in turn I will know theirs. But think of the knowledge! Everyone equal. It's what the leader wants for us. I will regret giving away my sketchbook, though.
The dull lavender mare stared down at the pages of her diary, reading over what she had wrote. Indeed, this diary of hers wouldn't be necessary in one short year, but it was tradition of hers to write on paper. Her magic shut off and the pen she was holding hit the bench next to her. Soon after she folded the book shut and began to look around the area she was in.
Her eyes scanned the grey walls and the dulled coats of those around her. It was like someone had turned the contrast down on a photo. The air tasted stale on her tongue, like always. The city had been like this for many years now, the fifteen that Twilight had witnessed and the countless before her.
“It's peaceful.” She mused, running her hoof along a small book she had on her lap. The front cover was made of blank plastic, and inside were many sheets of paper. She had made this a few short months ago, after she was forced to throw the other one into a lake, lest the person following her find out what was inside. Her head tingled as she opened the first page, revealing a pencil sketch of an older stallion with wild hair and devilish eyes. He stood upon a cliff face that overlooked a beautiful city. She turned the page to look over the next sketch, a work in progress of the same stallion soaring through an open sky with his wings stretched out. She lifted her pencil and began to firm in some of the older lines, humming a tune to herself.
The sound of uneven footsteps brought her out of her trance as she glanced up and surveyed the crowd. As usual there were hundreds of ponies with earpieces moving around chattering between themselves. However there was one pony that stood out from the crowd.
An earth pony with a brown coat, darker brown mane and the bluest eyes you had ever seen was looking at her from far away. Her heart quickened as she glanced at her sketchbook, quickly closing it and stashing it away in her saddlebag. He was grinning. That was odd.
Now a days readers, it's very common to see a pony smiling at you. In fact, it's more often than not. But back then, when everyone was in the hive, no one smiled unless it was a very important event, a 16th birthday, a school award, or the killing of a traitor.
Yet, this pony wore a genuine smile! He trotted towards Twilight, holding the same calming grin. As he grew closer Twilight shifted uncomfortably.
“Hello there young lady!” The pony called from a few hoof-steps away, bowing his head in a polite gesture.
Twilight jumped to her feet immediately and began apologising. “I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I wasn't doing anything wrong I swear! Please don't hurt me, I didn't do anything!” She bowed down low, practically pressing herself flat against the ground, trembling visibly.
The brown pony flattened his ears and looked guilty. “Excuse me, why are you apologising?” He asked, dipping his head down to meet her eyes.
His eyes. His eyes. Twilight lost herself for a moment. They were brilliant.
The brown pony furrowed his brow. “Hello?”
Shaking her head slightly she rose to her hooves. “S-Sorry. I mean – nothing, I was just surprised. Sorr- er, sorry.” She looked directly at the floor.
The stallion chuckled lightly. “It's alright. I'm a friend. I have something to show you, if you want. But you have to promise me you'll bring your sketchbook, got it?”
Twi's head rose immediately as her heart began beating at a million bpm. “N-No! I mean yes I'll go with you! But I don't have a s-sketchbook, they're not allowed, remember? Th-that was just a diary, that's all! Please don't turn me in!” She stumbled over her speech and leaned forward slightly with a look of desperation. The stallion chuckled lightly and shook his head with a smile.
He turned around and reached into his saddlebags, pulling out a small book of his own. He opened the pages to reveal paintings stashed inside the pages of beautiful sunsets and summer days.
Twilight was speechless.
“My name is Timeturner. I regulate the clocks for the hive. But as you can see, I'm not connected to it myself. I have to keep the time separately in case the hive goes down, and that means I have to be separate from it.” He flopped his right ear down, showing the lack of an earpiece.
Twilight breathed a sigh of relief as she began to calm down, rolling her shoulders to work off some of the tension. Still glancing down occasionally she introduced herself. “Twilight Sparkle. I'm not allowed on the hive yet, I'm only fifteen.”
The earth pony nodded. “I can take you somewhere really cool, but you have to keep it a secret, you got that?”
Twilight tilted her head, her ears flattening slightly as her trust wavered. “A secret? Why?”
Timeturner shook his head. “I can't tell you that yet. Not until you swear on an oath.” He placed a hoof over his chest. “I solemnly swear I will not break this oath by revealing the secret of Timeturner and his friends.” He paused and allowed Twilight to repeat what he had said before continuing. “I also agree to pursue an art form in absolute secrecy.”
Twilight took a step back. “Excuse me? Isn't that against the rules?! I'll be killed!” She hissed, voice barely above a whisper.
“Well if you want to live like them all your life, it's your decision...”
The mare shook her head. “No! No, I'll do it. I'll see what the secret is.” She took a deep breath and solidified her resolve. “I also agree to pursue an art form in absolute secrecy.” She reiterated, her heart fluttering on the last few words.
Timeturner grinned even wider than before, jumping forward suddenly to embrace the younger mare. “Thank you so much! You're going to be amazed! I swear I will show you the most amazing time ever!”
Twilight had doubts growing in her mind about making the decision to swear the oath, but they were hushed as she followed the mysterious stallion through the streets.
He had a light step and walked gently on his hooves, bouncing from one hoof fall to the next. It was.. what was that word again...
“Peppy.” Twilight mused, following with great haste.