//------------------------------// // Consequences // Story: Clockwork // by 71NYL-5CR4TCH //------------------------------// The changes I have made outside the rule of time have persisted within it. As I dared to defy the natural order of an already chaotic world, my changes, as small or large they may be, have remained. The worlds in which I exist are connected by myself, a gap that only I can bridge. For the first time I have dared to let another cross this gap, and see the world which is invisible to most. As she continues to smile, I realize that my love for her seems to feel eternal. For I have long acknowledged that all is subject to the change of time, I feel this is immune. I hope this is true, for the knowledge I have gained within my gaps has always preserved, so surely my emotions would do the same? Why was this? In the myriad of complex thoughts and knowledge I had accrued for an invisible eternity, I remembered it all. Every book, every picture, every gap I had no issue to preserve. Yet the actions and names of others which I have only gained in time's world seemed to fade, to erode, the longer I spent in its world. My changes in mind were eternal. I seemed only to forget my existence within time as time progressed, yet my time within gaps was immune to it's change. Were these worlds so starkly separated that time could not affect my timeless changes? It made sense, as the changes of time certainly never reached me within my gaps. Was it possible that the bridges I had created between these worlds were so utterly destroyed when I closed my gaps that they could no longer effect one another? This would mean that the power I held was far more dangerous, and frightening than I had originally believed. Eventually, all of my life outside the gaps would be erased, washed away, by time. I would forget all that I had known of the ordinary world before I lost a second of my own. But far more frightfully, it meant the changes I made were no longer subject to the affect of time, as if they were rejected. They were eternally preserved. The weight of my actions were eternal, all decisions I made could never be undone within the flow of time. My heart pounded. The feelings Twilight had gained for me, the trust and love she found within my gap would be eternal, as my feelings for her were as well. My changes in soul stood eternal. But Spike... My heart ponded again. His cut... The world comes rushing back. "Twilight, how is Spike's cut?!" I ask, terrified of what her answer might be. "Whoa there! What's wrong Clockwork? It was just an accident, he's fine." Twilight was shocked at my sudden and intense concern. "No...no, you don't understand...how long does it take a papercut to stop bleeding?" I ask, frantically, the implications of my actions weighed upon me like a sea of guilty. "Very quickly, Clockwork, really, don't worry. It'll probably stop within the minute," she reassures, her voice, soothing while confused. "You really don't like hurting anyone do you?" She placed her hoof on my shoulder, "We all make mistakes, but really, you're blowing this out of proportion." "I hope you're right Twilight...I hope you're right." "Why wouldn't I be?" She asks. "Twilight?" A voice calls from upstairs. "Yes Spike?" She answers. "The bandaid isn't working, this things still bleeding like crazy..." His voice doesn't contain a hint of concern, just annoyance. "It hasn't slowed down at all?" Twilight asks, then looking to me with a concerned expression. My heart won't stop pounding. "No, do we have some gauze?" "Um, yeah, I'll get you some Spike..." She calls back again, before looking at me, her eyes heavy with concern, "Clockwork, what's going on?" My heart stopped. So it was true... My changes in flesh stood eternal as well. I had to fix this, but how? His body wouldn't heal his wounds...this change was immune to the normal flow of time. So it had to change back outside of time. I open yet another gap, and gallop upstairs, leaving Twilight to stare at an empty space. Quickly, I tear the bandaid from Spike's finger. It was such a tiny cut, a thin line of crimson blood marring his skin. Ordinarily, it would be nothing more than a nuisance, but if the cut never closed, such a minor wound could kill the the largest beast, if given enough time. But Spike was just a child, how could such little change hold such heavy consequence? Would I be responsible for the death of a child? I refused to let it be so. Time resumes, and spike jolts, as I seem to randomly blip into existence directly in front of him. "Jeez dude, where did you come from?!" Spike asks, holding his claws in front of him instinctually. "Listen to me, Spike, I know you have no idea who I am, but this cut is my fault, and I have to fix it." "Um, it's okay mr, uh..." "Clockwork." "Clockwork? That's a weird name. Are you a watchmaker or something?" He asks, suddenly curious. "No, I'm...it's complicated. Listen, I have to fix that cut." "I don't see what the big deal is, it's just a papercut, besides, you didn't give it to me, Twilight did." He grumbles. "No, I did, but it was an accident." "An accident huh? So this wasn't part of mystery punishment?" He asks. "No, Spike, just the book switch, but that's when I cut your finger." "Wait...huh? I was staring at the book the whole time, there's no way you could have actually switched the books without me noticing...It was just an illusion spell or something, right?" His eyebrows raise at the sudden change of circumstance "No, I...again, it's complicated. Just...I need to fix this, so you need to trust me, ok?" "Um, Ok?" "Grab my hoof, and hold on tight." Spike did this, and I began to open a gap. This was my only chance, if the cut was made outside of time, it could not be fixed within it. This was the only place it may heal... I hoped.