//------------------------------// // VII - Return; Retread; Threat // Story: Alluvion // by journcy //------------------------------// + + + … + + + Twilight stumbled, hitting a cobblestone wall. She blinked. Where was she? The events leading up to her stepping into the portal were still clear to her, but they felt almost like a dream. However, Twilight understood this feeling now. She understood what had happened, or more specifically, what she had caused to happen by casting the Failsafe Spell. Instead of undoing Discord’s chaos, the spell had simply taken her somewhere else; somewhere untainted by the wrongs of the past and the distortion of the present. It had taken her to another dimension. And apparently that journey had done some strange, strange things to her memories. Looking around, Twilight noticed something very peculiar. Hanging before her in midair were several small pieces of dust. Not hanging as dust is wont to do, suspended by small drafts of air and the like, but actually hanging. Or… Well, almost hanging. Staring, Twilight was able to notice tiny hints of movement. The dust wasn’t perfectly still, but it wasn’t travelling with any normal and natural force. Really, it seemed like it was… …slowed. Twilight’s eyes widened. The properties of dimensional connection that had caused the storm in the other dimension were communicating the time stop the Elements of Harmony had created! Of course she wouldn’t be affected; none of them were. But then… Twilight looked up, and began dashing down what she now recognized as an alley of Canterlot. She had to find out if anything (or anyone) here was unaffected by the time stop! Or… Time slow, apparently. Thinking about it, there could be numerous reasons that time wasn’t completely halted like it had been before; really she should do more research into dimensional properties, clearly there was a lot to discover— Her run—and her train of thought—were interrupted by a sudden lack of ground to run on. Or, more accurately, a lack of ground that actually provided a helpful amount of friction, Twilight found, attempting to ignore the bitter taste of soap that coated her tongue. It was a clear sign that Discord was still on the loose. Discord. Her friends. The reminder of all that was wrong with this dimension hit her like a brick, and suddenly she wasn’t so sure she wanted to find anypony else…ever again. + + + Picking herself up, Twilight continued on her way, her mood significantly dampened and her speed significantly slowed—though that was in part due to the fact that the roads were all apparently made of soap now. As she trekked towards the palace (she was assuming it would be the best place to go to find somepony else), her mind wandered over what she did and didn’t know about this dimension…her home dimension, she supposed. It certainly seemed like there had been some sort of time difference between when she left and when she had returned; the fact that she ended up in a back alley basically confirmed that much. The real question was how much time had passed. Assuming that the timelines travelled at the same speed, then it was at least two days. But seeing as the time stop was affecting this world, too… But apparently only gradually… The question quickly spiraled out of control in Twilight’s head. There was too much she didn’t understand about the magic at work. Turning her attention to her surroundings, she noticed that time did actually seem to be speeding up. The bubbles from the soap looked to be moving faster than before, though not quite normal. She hadn’t seen any ponies (or draconequui), but that would make sense if they were all slowed down. Twilight continued on. + + + Coming up to the front of the castle, Twilight started with shock. The doors were completely destroyed! The damage was absolute, the charred wood leaving no doubt in her mind as to its cause. Somepony had been wielding fire magic. She passed through the ravaged doors, the clip-clop of her hooves on the floors deadened by the carpet of the entrance hall. The carpet, too, was destroyed, and in much the same way. Twilight’s confusion grew. Twilight moved up the stairs and continued on into the palace proper Minutes passed, with nothing but the lone sound of her walk echoing through the massive structure. Having traveled for a fair distance, Twilight stopped, and looked around. Finding what she was looking for—a window—she tried her best to get a good angle on the light… Surely enough, the dust swirling in it was back to its normal speed. Whatever effects the Elements of Harmony and the dimensional tie had been creating in this world were gone. From up ahead came a loud crash… …and then a voice Twilight wished desperately to unhear sounded around her. “Well, Luna, my dear, no reason to be so unkind!” Discord trilled. Wait. Princess Luna? Twilight thought. She’s free? Twilight began moving once again, her previous clip replaced with a frantic gallop. She followed the increasingly loud sounds of conflict and taunting, turning faster and faster through the halls that seemed to be growing in both length and monotony, and her breathing became labored. Finally she came to the throne room, although it felt like it had taken her far longer than it should have to get there. Throwing open the doors (which were remarkably undestroyed, unlike a good portion of the rest of the castle), she was met by an impossible sight. Before her stood Discord—but he looked not to her. All his attention was focused on the other mare in the room, the one which Twilight hoped would never exist again, the only pony that might have been worse to have around than Discord— Nightmare Moon stood tall, facing down the God of Chaos. + + + The End.