Time
Chapter 1
“Midnight! Go, get out of here! It’s getting too strong. Go!”
“No, I’m going to stay with you. I can help you!”
“No, you need to – aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh…”
“…aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!” Midnight Dust woke up with a start, sweat streaming down his flank. His dreams were getting worse. “It’s just another nightmare,” he calmed himself. But it wasn’t “just another nightmare,” it was a terrible memory that he repeatedly tried to shove from his mind and forget that it had even happened. He tried to sleep, but his agitated mind would not let him rest. Even if I could fall back to sleep, it would only result in more memories that I’d rather not let resurface. I’ll take a walk.
It was still only 5:00 in the morning, but there were a few other ponies up, mainly the hospital workers that happened to come to this quiet part of Canterlot. As other ponies slowly awoke, Midnight strolled back to his apartment to gather his things and get ready for the day. His job as a mechanical engineer was a good job for him because it helped him immerse in something other than the memory of what happened.
He shivered, not because of the cold, but because remembering the slightest bit of that horrible event shook him at his core. He pushed it aside and moved on with his day.
The rest of the morning went on without incident. But at lunch, a thestral flew to his shop with a message, “The Elder Sister Sovereign, Princess Celestia, has requested audience with Midnight Dust.”
“I’m here,” said Midnight.
“Come with me.”
As the two flew across Canterlot, Midnight began to wonder. Why would the princess of the sun want to see me? As the guard and his inquisitive visitor arrived at the castle, Midnight gained a sense of foreboding.
In the throne room, Celestia waited for the arrival of her guest. When she heard the doors of the chamber open, she stood up and addressed the one to whom she wanted to speak. “Midnight Dust, I realize you have experienced much in the past few years. As I feel the need to help all of my subjects through their worst predicaments, I have found a solution to your suffering. The paleontologists have uncovered something of great importance. It is a portal to any place or time. At the end of your journey, the gateway will take you back to your original entry directly after you leave. I realize that you would like to fix something in the past. I will grant you this one chance to go through the portal.”
“Yes, I accept this offer!”
“Wait, there is more. Once you go through the portal, you have three days to come back. If you do not come back within the amount of time allotted, the portal will close and you will not be able to come back.”
“I accept!”
“Then go. You have somepony to save.”
So Midnight walked to the portal at the other end of the room, and stepped through.