//------------------------------// // Chapter 27: A Freezing Conflict // Story: A New Point of View // by Cyber V //------------------------------// A/N Everypony please read and review, because I want to know what everypony is thinking about this story. That is all I have to say. End A/N I had eaten the meal that Platter left behind for me and the tray was taken away by different pony. I waited there for about five minutes until heard about twelve sets of hooves entering the room. I turned around and saw Twilight and her friends entering and walking up to me. As gathered around me Twilight spoke up, “Star we came as soon as we heard about Arcana.” “Um… are you alright Star? “Fluttershy asked concerned. “Ya, I’m fine Fluttershy, ”I said as I lied to her. “That’s not true there partner, I can tell we you’re not telling the truth “Applejack said, reminding me that she is an Element of Honesty. “Sigh, fine you’re right Applejack, “I said truthfully, “I am just worried about Arcana, for there is nothing I can do.” “You’re telling me, “Dash said getting frustrated, “I’m the most loyalist pony there is, and I can’t even help one of my friends.” “I had never seen a spell like this one before, “Twilight walking around it, “I was surprised when Princess Celestia said she and her sister or any other unicorns wasn’t able to get this spell active. I even more mystified that Arcana was the only pony to get this working.” “Star dear, how long have you been here anyway? “Rarity asked looking around. I looked up and out of the windows and saw that it was almost night time, “I don’t know, I think about an hour, hour and a half, maybe two.” “How come your eyes are red? Have you been shedding waterfalls, “Pinkie said, feeling apparently upset. I didn’t answer her and just said, “I am just worried for Arcana and I hope that she is ok.” I stood up and walked towards the center of the diagram, “Arcana had always been there for me and I wanted to be there for her, ”I said, but then I started to get mad, “but this… thing, took Arcana, and I want her back, it just won’t be the same, “and then a tear fell out of my eye and landed on a symbol in the center of the diagram. “Come on Star, it’s getting late, “Twilight said walking up to me, “the princesses allowed us to stay here in the castle.” I nodded and Twilight and the others lead me to the exit. Come on Arcana, you never give up on anything, for you always had friends behind you, and then I felt a tear fall from my eye hitting the floor, please Arcana, come back, I miss you. As we all were about to leave, I stopped when I felt some tugging that I couldn’t explain, I noticed that Twilight and Rarity had also stopped in their tracks. “You two feel that too? “I asked them. Rarity nodded and Twilight said, “yes I’m feeling that also.” “What in tarnation are you three doing? “Applejack asked, when she noticed that we three weren’t following the others. “Don’t the rest of you feel it too? “I asked them. “Feel what? “Dash asked, “I feel nothing except tired, but that is all the time.” “What feeling is it? “Fluttershy asked, “Is it hurting you, oh dear, should I get help?” “No Fluttershy, it doesn’t hurt, “I said to her, “it feels like something is tugging on me really.” “What does that mean? ”Pinkie asked. “It means Pinkie, “Twilight preparing to explain to Pinkie, “that something is using large amounts of magic.” “But Star is a pegasus, not a unicorn, “Rarity said, finally speaking up. “But remember Rarity, I have strange magic and so does Arcana, “I explained, “that might also means that I am attuned like a unicorn is.” “But the only spell that requires large amount of magic and is within range to affect us, is the…”Twilight trailed off, and then we all realized what she getting at. We all is turned our attention back to the center of the room, and there made us all render speechless. There in the center of the spell diagram was a thin pillar of light with pinpricks of light swirling around it, eventually being absorbed into it, and then the pillar of light started to expand. It stopped expanding when it reached the edge of the diagram. Then the pillar of light started to get brighter and brighter until it became like a piece of sunbeam, but we all couldn’t stand looking at it from fear of being blinded, as I turned my gaze from the sunbeam covering my eyes with my hoof, I saw Pinkie looking at it with a pair of black tinted goggles on and giving a crazy smile. “Ladies and gentlemen fasten your seatbelts, “Pinkie said happily. Did she just do a Spiderman 2 movie reference? I thought, but then the pillar of light started shrinking until it was back to its’ original size, and then it exploded, causing a shockwave to be created, knocking all of us to the ground. There in the center of the spell diagram, laid a pony wearing a cloak that looked like it went through a battle, we couldn’t see who it was for the hood was up and covering the pony’s face, and then the pony started to stir and get up, with groans being heard. And then the pony stood up fully and removed the hood, causing everypony in the room to take in a gasp of surprise, for it was Arcana and it looked like she went through a battle too, we all stood there shocked at what just happened. “Arcana, is that you? ”I said taking a step forward. Arcana’s POV I had been in this time for about a week helping ponies with building homes, farming food, and helping the pegasi with weather management, but I noticed that it seemed to be getting colder and colder. Clover, Pansy, and Smart Cookie and I were gathered around the table in Starswirl’s home, enjoying a nice warm meal. “So Smart Cookie, “I said starting up a conversation, “how are those apple saplings doing?” “They are doing great, if fact they seemed to be growing faster than I thought, “Smart Cookie answered me, “do you have any more helpful tips?” “Hum, let me think, I think I can screw with time just this time, ya in fact I have one for each of you, be honest to yourself and others, Smart Cookie, “I said giving a smile to Smart Cookie. “What about me? “Pansy asked. “Be kind, “I said to her, “and Clover.” “Yes?” “Never give up studying magic, ”I said to her, “and speaking of magic, Clover, do you know where Starswirl is anyway? I haven’t seen him for a while.” “He is in his study at the great hall, “Clover answered me putting in a slice of potato in her mouth, “your time traveling really got him interested in time and its’ connection to magic, but he should be here soon.” As soon she said that, Starswirl burst through the door, surprising all of us. I noticed that he was carrying a black box in his mouth, but I couldn’t tell anymore, for he immediately rushed to a door near where he slept and slammed it shut. “Um Clover, “I said breaking the silence that has fallen on all of us, “what was your mentor carrying?” “I don’t know, I have only seen that box one time, it was when somepony gave it to him along with a note, and at the time I was just beginning my apprenticeship, “Clover truthfully answered, “I asked him what was in the box, but all he said was that they were objects with great magical properties bestowed on them, and that was that.” Magical objects, why does this keep sounding like I heard this before, but I gave up on it. As we’re cleaning up Starswirl came out of the room slowly and said, “sorry ladies that you had to see me in that state, but something important had made itself known that caught me by surprise.” “Um… what is it sir? If you don’t mind me asking, “Pansy asked. “I will, “Starswirl said to her he then continues, “but first there is something I need know, had anypony noticed something strange going on lately?’ “Aside that it appears to be getting colder, nope, “Smart Cookie answered him. “Anything at all, like missing ponies, strange vibes, weird sightings, “Starswirl suggested. “Well now that you mentioned it “Smart Cookie started, “I haven’t seen Puddinghead for a while now.” “Same here, “Clover added, “Miss Platinum hasn’t been seen by any other ponies for a while too.” “Oh dear, oh dear, “Pansy started to worry, “Hurricane is usually seen every day, but I haven’t seen her for days oh I hope she is ok.” “Well, on the first day I was here, “I started, “when I made contact with Puddinghead, Hurricane, and Platinum, I felt really cold, and when I looked into Puddinghead’s eyes I saw something… I guess you can say stir in her eyes.” “Really, “Clover said looking at me, “why didn’t you mention anything?” “Hay I didn’t give it much thought, because it is kind of hard to take things serious when you just time traveled to the beginning of Equestria, “I countered. “Besides, what’s the big deal anyway? “I asked towards Starswirl, but I saw him pacing back and forth worried. “Oh no, oh no, “I heard him said under his breath, “it’s happening just as that pony said.” “Ok, spill it, “I said walking up to him making him stop his pacing, “you know something, because you have been acting weird ever since you got here. Now talk.” I glared at him causing him to be nervous, until finally he started speaking, “fine, years ago when Clover hear just became my apprentice, I was approached by a strange pony, for he had a horn of a unicorn, but also had wings like a pegasus-“ “An alicorn, “I said in disbelief, interrupting him. “What’s an alicorn? “Clover asked. “An alicorn is a pony with wings and a horn, “I explained, “There are two in my time, “I looked back Starswirl and saw him tapping his hoof on the ground in annoyance, I gave a sheepish smile and said, “sorry, please continue.” “Well an alicorn approached me and gave me a box. I immediately sensed great magic coming from it, but I couldn’t open it, he said that mysterious pony will arrive with strange magic infused within; this pony will witness a rising coldness that will return to this land, this coldness will be hidden and will have its’ influence in three ponies that had been influenced by it before, and if they waken, the land will be frozen and cold.” Ok I seriously heard this somewhere, I just can’t put my hood down where though, “and you think that this coldness had returned right now and that it has control over Puddinghead, Hurricane, and Miss Platinum.” “Oh I don’t think, Miss Arcana, I know that they are influenced, for I have been observing them ever since you mentioned your encounter with them, “he stated. “But master, what is this coldness? “Arcana asked worried. “You should know what it is, my apprentice, “Starswirl said to Clover, “in fact you three have defeated them before with the fire of friendship, “he said glancing over to Clover and her friends. “Wait you mean the windigoes, “Clover said shocked, “but we defeated them, they should have never returned.” “Wait windigoes, as in spirits that feeds off fighting and hatred? “ Starswirl nodded his head and said, “the very same, and Clover yes you and your friends did defeat them, but they weren’t destroy though.” “Um… excuse me, but –, “Pansy said, but was interrupted by me. “But why have they returned? Why now?” “Maybe for revenge and this is still a fragile peace we all are holding here.” “Excuse me, but I have something to tell you all, “Pansy said out loud, getting all of our attention. I saw her standing by the front door with snow coming in. “Pansy, will you please close the door, “Smart Cookie started, “you are letting in the snow… in? ”Realizing what she just said. We all rushed to the door and looked outside and saw that it was a full blown blizzard out there. I felt the sharp stings as the snow flew into my face, blinding me also, “it has begun, the spirits of the cold is about to waken, ”Starswirl said as he saw the blizzard, and then he did one thing that shocked us all, for he rushed into the blizzard. We all stood there stunned and then I got over my shock and said to the others, “come on let’s go, maybe we can them this time.” We all rushed out into the blizzard. Immediately I felt the snow pile on me, and my hooves numbing from the cold. I saw a light moving away and I pointed it out to the others and we started following it. When we neared the light I realized that we’re following Starswirl’s light that was coming off his horn, guiding us through the blinding snow. I wasn’t sure how far we follow the old mage, for it was difficult to tell in this snowstorm, in fact if it wasn’t for Starswirl’s light, we would’ve been lost for sure. He had finally stopped when it looked like he reached his destination. We all caught up to him, panting from the chase, for an old pony he sure can move fast, “what are we doing here? “I asked the mage, “where are we?” “This is where the coldness is returning, “he said looking at me, “and we are at the great hall. “H-h-h-how c-c-can y-y-you t-t-tell? “Smart Cookie asked, shivering from the cold. “Because, we are in the eye of the storm, “Starswirl said, “look around.” We looked around and saw that he is right. In fact it wasn’t snowing anymore, when we all looked at the great hall. What we saw made us all take in a breath, for the great hall was incased in ice, when I took a closer look, I saw that the ice was spreading out from the building. “Where are our friends? “Pansy asked. “They are inside the great hall, “he answered her, “we need to get inside, right now.” “Here let me, “Clover said walking up to the frozen set of doors, her horn lit up in flash of red light and released whatever spell she set up at the door. There was a flash of red light and steam, when the steam cleared; we saw that she had melted the ice off the door. “Ha take that ice, “Clover said proudly. “Hum Clover, you spoke to soon, “I said to her, “look, “and pointed to the door. We saw the ice quickly grow back to it was like before, like Clover never did anything at all, “but, but, how is that possible?” “The windigoes must be getting stronger, they’re freezing the water faster than you can melt the ice, “Starswirl observed. “Here let me try, “I said stepping up to the door. I put my front hooves on the door and concentrated, a blue transmutation circle appeared on the door, and results were immediate for the ice started moving away from the door. “What did you do? “Starswirl asked me as I pushed open the door, gaining access to the great hall. “Well if the windigoes are freezing the water, why not just we move the ice away instead of melting it, “I explained. “That’s brilliant, but now is not the time for celebration yet, “Starswirl said walking into the great hall, “we have some winter spirits to get rid of.” We all followed him, as soon as we crossed the doorway the ice crept back into place sealing us off again, but this time we were inside. We looked at each and decided that we will cross that bridge later on. We continue to follow Starswirl down the frozen hall, with the sounds of our hoof steps bouncing off the ice stalactites, and stalagmites, and the light from Starswirl’s horn refracting and reflecting off the ice, creating multiple shadows, and our frozen breaths going into the air. After we walked down the hall passing the occasionally door that lead somewhere else. We reached to a set of doors at the end of the hall, and these door weren’t frozen shut. Starswirl walked up the door and gave them a push, opening them and revealing what’s on the other side. We were taken aback at what we saw. We entered a room that was circular and tall. Near the ceiling was swirl of clouds, but wasn’t that made taken aback, because there suspended on the walls were the three tribe leaders, help in place by ice that was slowly inching over them, the ice slowly encasing their unconscious bodies. “Quickly get them out of there, “Starswirl commanded, “They are going to freeze to death.” We rushed over to them, ignoring the clouds overhead, and started breaking the ice that was encasing them, after we had released the three tribe leaders from their icy grip, but I noticed that they are freezing cold to the touch. “Alright master we got them down, “Clover said to her teacher, and then she turned towards him continuing, “now wha-AAAAHHHHHHH, “and let out a high scream. We whirled around and saw that Starswirl was completely encased in ice, with a look of horror on his face. Smart Cookie, Pansy and I started to scream along with her and then we all heard a roar coming from above us, we looked up and saw that the windigoes were drifting down to the ground in the middle of the room. We all quickly gathered together as we saw the windigoes forming into together of what resembles a tall pony. The apparition roared again, but this time it felt like something is piercing my head, causing unbearable pain. I fell to the floor in agony felling the cold floor through my cloak. I opened my eyes and saw that I wasn’t the only one experiencing this, for I saw Pansy, Smart Cookie and Clover withering on the floor, letting out moans out of the pain, and then I heard them become quiet, passing out from the pain. And then I heard a voice pierced my head, filling me with coldness, “I have returned, and now I will take my revenge on those who had impaired me and also those that are allied with them, now feel my revenge.” I then felt the frost started to form into ice on my coat, which are starting to put a lot of pressure on my body, weighting me down. No I can’t let that happened, I started to push myself off the ground, determined to put a stop to this all of this madness. “Oh, there seems to be a dissenter among us, then I will take my revenge on you last and also make you watch, as I freeze your friends first, ”the spirit’s voice spoke in my head. I then felt coldness creeping up my legs. I looked down and saw ice quickly forming around my legs encasing them in ice, the results was me frozen standing. I struggled to free myself, but I couldn’t move a muscle, “now watch, as I freeze your friends, “the spirit said. I watched in horror as the spirit started encasing my unconscious friends in ice, “Pansy, Smart Cookie, Clover wake up! Please wake! “I cried out, but they didn’t wake up as the ice had finally encased them, I cried as I saw my friends disappear under the ice, my tears froze as they made down my cheeks. The spirit turned its’ attention to me, “and now time for you to be frozen along with them, “then the ice then resumed growing. It slowly made its’ way up my body, when the ice hit my up to my chest, I felt my breaths becoming shorter with every breath I take in. The ice had finally reached up to my jaw, causing it to be more difficult to take in a breath, I saw the ice making its’ way to my muzzle, I took in my final breath before the ice cut off my air supple, as the ice was covering my head I heard the spirit say, “now be prepare to encase in the feeling of hatred and loneliness for eternity, “the ice had finally covered my head, blocking all light, filling my vision with darkness. I heard the spirit laughing, finally getting revenge. As I floated in the darkness, I started to feel despair and hopelessness started to make its’ into my heart as I realized that we had lost, as the darkness was making into my heart I saw a ball of light appear in front of me. The light expanded until it fill the darkness I was in, and there I saw Star standing there, with Twilight and her friends behind him, and behind them I saw the two princess standing. Am I dying? I don’t feel like it, what’s going on here? And then the Star apparition stepped up and said, “come on Arcana, you never give up on anything, for you always had friends behind you, “and then I saw a tear fall from his eye, “please Arcana, come back, I miss you.” I miss you too Star, and you’re right I never give up, because I always had my friends who had my back, I won’t give, not now, not ever, and I promise that I will get back to you guys. And as if they heard me, they all smiled and then they faded out with the light growing back into a ball of light. It floated closer to my near my necklace and then it merged into my necklace, filling me with warmth, hope and loved, banishing the coldness, despair and loneliness from me. And then I heard a voice speak to me, you have unleashed a new power within yourself, but realize that your life will never be the same. I then felt a new energy enter inside me, filling me with knowledge of what I need to do. Now it’s time for me to fight back. Third POV The spirit was celebrating that it will finally got its’ revenge and has now planning to go out and freeze the land it is on. As it was about to leave, it noticed that the unicorn it imprisoned in ice is lighting up inside. It took a closer look and then the light went out, all of a sudden the sound of cracking was heard through the room. The spirit noticed that cracks were forming in ice, as it was about to fortify the prison, shards of crystals burst though the ice prison in a flash of light, completely shattering the prison that held the unicorn in. The spirit looked away as soon the flash of light happened, when it looked back it saw that the unicorn was free from her prison, but now the mare had a pair of wings made out of crystal coming out of her back. The mare looked up at the spirit and gave a look that made the spirit feel that it hadn’t felt in years, ever since it was bested by the fire of friendship; fear. The mare spoke up with authority in her voice at the spirit, “you think that you can beat me that easily, I don’t think so, “the unicorn walked up to the spirit, “because I have friends waiting for me back at home, and will not let you destroy this land.” “Then I will have to destroy you myself, pony,” the spirit said in a panic, it quickly formed icicles in the air and flung them at the unicorn, but she disappeared right before they made impact. The icicles hit the floor sending ice and snow into the air. The unicorn appeared a few feet away from her original position. “Oh and by the way my name is Arcana, “she stated and then her horn glowed white and a red diagram appeared the horn and then the spirit felt heat starting to rise in the room. “No, I won’t let you take me away from this land, “the spirit cried out, it extended a wisp of an arm to the ground and stalagmites of ice started bursting through the floor and rushed towards the unicorn, but as the same as before, she disappeared, making the attack hit the wall behind her instead, and then later on reappearing yards away from her starting point. The spirit then flung more icicles at Arcana before she can disappear, but she seemed to be anticipating that and swung her wing around her cutting the ice into pieces flinging them around the room. Before the spirit can make another attack Arcana disappeared and reappeared in front of the spirit, flapping her crystal wings making her airborne, her horn glowed white again, but instead a yellow circle appeared around her horn, the spirit quickly made itself intangible, just as Arcana released her spell, lighting shot out and went through the spirit, but the spirit still felt the pain from the lighting as it pass through it. The spirit let out a shrill of pain, forcing the spirit to become tangible and crash into the floor, Arcana appeared next to the spirit’s head, giving the spirit a death glare. “What are you? “The spirit asked fearful of the unicorn on top of it, “Because you not a normal pony.” Arcana grinned at the specter, “you are right, I wasn’t always a pony.” “Then what exactly are you?” The phantom of coldness questioned, “and how where you able to move like that I didn’t see you use any spells?” “Well, “Arcana answering, “ the reason I was able move like that, because I gained a new power, “she answer the spirit, “the power to move through time, ”and then a thought came to her, now I know why this all sounds familiar, because this already happened, “and also your defeat was already preordained.” “But that’s impossible, “the phantasm exclaimed shocked, “and you still haven’t told me what you are?” “Ooh it’s possible, because I have been taken from my time, and as for what I am, ”her horn started to glow bright white, “because you see spirit, “she slammed her front hooves onto the ground, “I’m a human, “and a white transmutation circle appeared around the spirit. The spirit scream while trying to escape from the spell diagram, but it wasn’t able to move due to the immense pressure on it. Arcana’s horn became brighter as she put more power into the spell, “now spirit be gone, “she yelled releasing the spell. The spirit let out a shrill as it felt itself being forced away from this world, causing some stalactites to fall from the ceiling and crashing into the ground, shattering into millions of pieces. With the last of Arcana’s reserves running dry, she let out a final burst of magic into the spell. The spirit was then finally forced out of this world. Arcana’s POV I saw the spirit that had cause all of this disappear in flash of light, I smiled then I felt the extortions of the all the spells I did as they caught up to me, causing me to slump to the ground, with my vision fading in and out. The last thing I heard before I blacked out was the sound of ice breaking. … I drifted in and out of conscious, barely remembering what happened when I was conscious. ... I heard gasps and speaking, but I couldn’t understand any of it… ... I felt my body being lifted and carried somewhere else… ... I saw the sun melting the ice and snow outside… ... I smelled something warm and good… ... Something was poured down my throat, filling my mouth with taste and warmth… … … I opened my eyes and saw that I was back at Starswirl’s home, in the bed that I first awoken in. “Ah good to see you finally awake, Arcana, “I heard somepony said, I looked over to the table and saw Starswirl sitting there with a smile, “we were afraid that you wouldn’t pull through, but you made it, and saved all of us and for that we thank you.” The door burst opened with Clover and the other five rushing in and rushed to the bed and started saying thank you and that they worried that I wouldn’t make it. “Whoa there everypony, I’m alright see, “I got up from the bad and noticed that I was being weighted down on my back. I looked behind at my back and saw that my crystal wings were still out, wait if I am here and not at the hall, then everypony must have seen my wings. I was going to ask him, but as if he read my mind, Starswirl said, “yes Arcana, we all have seen them, but don’t worry it’s just Clover and the other five, and I must say, those wings are really well crafted, are they common in your time?” I was about to ask another question, but yet again as if he read my mind he said, “and yes, Puddinghead, Hurricane, and Platinum knows that you are from the future. I shook my head and answered the question he asked me, “no, they are one of a kind.” “I say, those wings look gorgeous on you, “Platinum said, taking a wing in her magic and examining it. “Can you fly with them? “Puddinghead asked me, I answered her by nodding. “I would have never thought that a unicorn will be able fly, “Hurricane stated. “Um, how long have I been out? ”I asked. “You have been asleep for two days now, “Clover answered, “and I guess we now know what your reason to be here was.” I started chuckling at the situation. “What are you laughing at Arcana? “Pansy asked, “are you ok?” “Yes Pansy I am ok, I am just laughing because this had already happened, “this raised some eyebrows from everypony. “What do mean already happened? “Smart Cookie questioned. “Well in my time there is a story…”I then explained the story to them, after I finished, once again I received raised eyebrows. I put a hoof up and said, “don’t ask, because it will get more confusing later on.” “So, what are you going to do now Arcana? “Starswirl asked me. “Well since this crisis is over I guess I need to return to my time.” “But how are you able to get home though?” “Well Starswirl, when I was frozen and was about to give up, I received a new power, I think I am able to use it to get back to my time.” “And what is this power? “Clover asked me. “Well this is going to sound impossible, but I can walk through time.” “From all of the craziness we got from these last few day, I believe ya, “Smart Cookie said, getting nods of agreement from everypony else. “So how are you going to get back? “Hurricane asked. “Well I guess to the field you found me in the first place, “I stated, I turned my attention to Starswirl, “because that is where you said you sense great amounts of magic, correct?” He nodded and then realization hit him, “ah of course, you think there might be some kind of… gap in time there.” I nodded, and then everypony else started to look sad, “what’s wrong? “I asked to them. Puddinghead stepped up and gave me a hug and said, “You’re going to leaving soon, I only gotten to know you for a short time, I wanted to be friends.” I returned the hug, I think I can mess with time, this one last time, and then said, “come on Puddinghead, don’t be so down, from the time I was with you, I saw that you bring laughter and joy to those around you, never stop doing that, “ she looked at me and gave me a smile. I turned my attention back to the others, “Hurricane, with our time I saw that you are always loyal to others, but mostly with your friends, “she beamed at that, “Platinum, when I was with you I saw that most give than receive, don’t ever stop doing that, “Platinum smiled softly, “but I have to go, there are very important ponies in my time that I need to get back to.” They all nodded as they now that I am right, I turned my attention back to Starswirl and asked, “can you show me where I arrived?” “Sure can, “he said, “but first I need to get something, “he added he rushed into the room by the bed and a moment later he came back out with the black box in his magic, “here you take this, “he levitated the box over to me, where I grasped it in my magic, “there is probable no need for it to be here in this time, maybe it will help in your time, and also take it as a thank you.” I looked at the box and thought, the story has been completed, now I need to do is to get home, ”thank you, ”and put the box into the worn out cloak, Rarity is going throw a fit if she sees me in this. “Now let’s take you to the location I found you and get you back home, “Starswirl said walking towards the door, “oh and you might want to put those wings, “he suggested. I nodded and concentrated on wings, I heard gasps as I felt them shrink and morph until they were once again a necklace, he nodded and he was then outside. As we all followed him outside, I looked around and saw that the snow and ice was almost gone, and that it was getting warmer, making it a beautiful day. After walking through the settlement, we arrived in a field and immediately I felt a great pressure in the area, “well this is the place, “Starswirl said. I nodded and walked to the center of the field and then I concentrated on the surrounding area and felt something become active. I was immediately surrounded by the same spell diagram that had brought me here, I turned and faced them and said as the light from the spell was getting brighter and brighter, “thank you all for being great friends, even though we are separated by probable thousands of years, I think we would all see each other someday.” They all smiled and started waving and saying good bye. I smiled and waved back and then I felt myself being pulled and then they were gone. I looked around and saw that I appeared to be in a tunnel made out of light and that I can images on the outside. I looked out and saw dragons, griffins, a minotaur, and then I saw Discord, this caused me to panic a little, but then I saw Princess Celestia and Luna turning Discord into stone, next came Nightmare Moon being banished to the moon by the Elements of Harmony, I guess I am in some kind of time stream, I concluded as saw events that happened to me and Star. All of a sudden I felt the wind get knocked out of me, as I landed unexpectedly. There was a bright flash, when the light faded away, I found myself lying on a title surface, I groaned as I stood myself up, feeling all of aches and pains from the landing. I looked up and found that the hood of my cloak had fallen over my face, please let it be my time, I thought as I removed the hood, I heard gasps being made and there I saw Star, Twilight and her friends standing there with surprise written all over their faces a few feet away. I saw Star taking a step forward, “Arcana is that you? ”he asked. “Do bees hate you? “I said giving a smile of joy, and then everypony rushed in and became a group hug with me in the middle. As we all were enjoying everypony’s company, with of course Rarity throwing a fit at what I was wearing, there was a bright flash as in the room, blinding everypony in the room. When our visions came back, we saw that Princess Celestia and Luna was there in the room, when Luna saw me, she rushed over to me and started asking and apologizing. “Where were you Arcana? We couldn’t find you anywhere; oh I am so sorry Arcana. I didn’t know that was going to happen, what are you wearing, and why do I sense large amounts of magic coming off you? Did something happen to you? Are you ok? Oh I am so sorry.” “Please stop, “I cried, silencing everypony in the room, I turned my attention to Luna and said, “Luna I’m alright, see, and plus you didn’t know that was going to happen though, and yes something did happen to me, and it is not a bad thing, but I will tell you about it, “I then turned my attention to Celestia and said, “and you wouldn’t believe where I was.” This started up a lot of questions, but they became silenced and Celestia raised her hoof up and said in a clear voice, “let me guess, you went back in time, Arcana.” I felt my jaw drop in surprise at how she knew, “how did you know?” “I will tell you later, but first, I think you should explain to the others, “Celestia suggested. I looked over to my friends and saw that everypony else looked like they are about to explode from questions to ask me. “Oh right, but first, will somepony please tell me how long I was gone?” “You been gone for about five hours, “Star answered, ”I should know, because I was here the whole time.” “I was only gone for five hours, but I’ve been gone for almost two weeks, ugh, time traveling is so confusing, “I said sitting down and rubbing away the raising headache. “Tell me about, that is why I don’t do it, “Pinkie stated, but nopony heard here, for I was immediately swamped by everypony else’s questions. “QUIET, “I yelled out, quieting everypony, “please I will tell you, ok. I took in a deep breath preparing to tell them what happen to me, “it all started with that spell… over there? ”I said questioningly at the empty space where the spell diagram used to be. “Don’t worry Arcana I will explain for that too, “Celestia added. “Well anyway, this all started when I received a letter…”Hours later after telling of what happened, “and then here I am, “I said, finally finishing my story. “That amazing, I can’t believe it that you meet Starswirl the Bearded and the others, “Twilight exclaimed, “tell me, what was he like? Please.” “Maybe some other time, “I said to Twilight. “So you can really move through time, “Star asked with wonder in his eyes. “Yup, but I can only do it for short bursts of time though.” “Maybe Arcana can come with us, when we go on pranking sprees Dashie, “Pinkie said Dash with glee written all over her face, “it will be so fun, that it will take her no time at all to set them up.” And then Celestia cleared her throat, gaining all of our attention, “sorry everypony, but it is nearing midnight, and everypony must be tired, ”she turned to her sister and asked, “dear sister will you please lead the others their rooms?” “Of course, “Luna answered, she mentioned the others to follow her, but as I was to get up, Celestia stopped me with a wing of hers, “I still need to talk to you about some things though.” “Ok.” “But not here, “her horn glowed pink and then there was a flash, next thing I know I saw that we were now in a large library with scrolls and books filling the shelves set up like a spoke on a bike wheel, with a giant hourglass in the middle of the room. “Where are we? “I asked walking up to a shelf and examine their contents. “We are in the newly addition to the Starswirl the bearded wing at the Cantorlot Archives, “Celestia answered. “How new is this place?” “About ten minutes before you arrived from you time trip, Arcana.” I looked back at her surprised, “but how can that be, this place looks like it had been here for days.” “Because of you time traveling, Starswirl, spent a lot of time researching into time magic, this cause a ripple in time to be created, well this is the results.” I looked around and took in its size and height, damn, from one trip, this happens, I will never time travel again. “And also, “Celestia speaking up, “I found this letter in one of the books, “she levitated a piece of folded parchment, which was nesting on a table, to me. I grasped it and saw that it was old and dry, but on it written in ink that had almost faded away was my name, I unfolded it and started reading: Dear Arcana I am not sure that this letter had reached you in one piece, but I am going to give a shot. It has been almost a year since you left, and I would like you to know what happened since then. Clover the Clever had finally passed from being a apprentice to a master at magic, and is currently helping raising the sun and moon. Pansy is still shy as ever, but she has been a great help here, for we used to scared at nights due to the wild animal, but thanks to her we can now go out at night, she also discovered an ability that she is calling The Stare. I smiled as I read that. Smart Cookie’s apple orchard has grown so much, that we are now almost eating apples everyday in our meals. Her apples have been declared the best fruit in Cantorlot. Hurricane had nothing to do ever since the unnatural snow clouds disappeared, making weather management easier, so she spends most of her time flying about five months you left she did a phenomenon that no pegasus is able to repeat. She was able to break the sound barrier and make a rainbow at the same time, she is now calling it the Sonic Rainboom. I felt my jaw drop at that. And Miss Platinum, thanks to your advice, she has become more generous in her giving’s, in fact she even declared that the pegasi shall control their own space in the air, Hurricane and Pansy had decided to call it Cloudsdale, and that they can make the weather there too, constructing had already started by the time I started this letter. And me, I have spent time studying… well time, and its connection to magic. I even was able to travel back in time for a minute to a day, to even a week. I have saved Cantorlot a few times and was even given a new title, but I must write good bye, and I hope we meet someday again. Yours sincerely, The Protector of Cantorlot, Starswirl the Timekeeper. A/N Hello everypony, sorry about me haven’t update in awhile, but don’t worry, I promise that I’ll try to get the next chapter in sooner, and Cloud Thunder I promise next time, ok. End A/N