Turner dragged his hooves in the snow, the book held between his teeth.
"We can shelter in there."
Quill suggested, gesturing to a large cave. Firecracker gave a gruff nod and began walking toward it, snapping branches off of pine trees with her magic as she passed.
The cave was cold on the inside, but well sheltered against the harsh winds at the top of Foal Mountain. Turner rubbed his face with his hoof, trying get rid of the drowsy feeling in his head. He rolled out his sleeping bag and curled up on it for comfort, opening the book in front of him. He watched as the mark on the map moved southwest, toward Horseshoe Bay. He grimaced. He never liked the water. Picking up a pencil in his mouth, he wrote down a series of marks on a piece of paper, trying to compile all the clues to their quest into a final conclusion.
He glanced down at the notes, but the small symbols were blurry. He couldn't hold it back any longer. He felt his eyes roll back as he wrapped his arms around the book, giving in to fatigue. Quill looked up from the fire and gave a sorrowful look at her friend.
"Turner's worked himself to the bone. I hope he'll be okay."
Quill said to herself, pulling out a notebook as she began writing.
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Turner opened his eyes and found himself in a cell of some sort. He glanced around frantically, trying to find a way out. He suddenly felt something push through him, causing a chill to run up his spine. He turned to see...himself?
Confused, Turner gazed at his frail self in wonderment. He seemed battered and defeated. Turner wondered why he felt this way. He listened closely as his future self mumbled.
"Quill...Ash...Firecracker...dead...I'm sorry...amulet...Wisteria...Gone...Why...failure...Equestria doomed..."
Turner stepped back in horror. His friends, his brother, were dead? Does that mean that they...failed? Turner felt tears form in his eyes. All they worked for was for nothing. He began to cry hard, as if he were trying to drown himself in his own tears.
Turner suddenly felt a hoof touch his shoulder. Wisteria. His tear stained face looked into her lavender one, his mind filled with questions.
"You have questions for me?"
she asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"*sniff* Yes. Is this really our future? Are my friends and brother really going to...you know?"
he asked tearfully. Wisteria thought a moment.
"That is entirely up to you."
she said simply.
Turner dried his tears in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
he asked.
"The future is made up of many paths. Choices made in the past and present determine which path we go down. This path is the only one of many that can be crossed."
Wisteria explained.
Turner suddenly felt himself grow happy for the first time in a long time.
"So, I can try to make the choices to save them? This future won't come true?"
Wisteria gave a weak smile.
"That is only determined by your choices, but I have confidence you'll do what's needed. Good luck Time Turner."
With the last word, Turner watched his vision go black. He was waking up.
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Turner lifted his head off the ground and run his head, excitement running through him. He glanced down and saw his sleeping bag replaced by pine needles and snow, the book lying next to him. He stared up at his comrades, who stared back in confusion.
"What did I miss?"
he asked.
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