//------------------------------// // Searching for Answers // Story: Angels in Ponyville // by advocateofpants //------------------------------// After Rainbow had calmed fully, she and Twilight returned downstairs to find that their friends were still browsing the shelves of books for any useful information about the Weeping Angels beyond what they already knew, but it didn’t seem like they were having much luck. “Is it just me, or is this starting to feel like a lost cause?” Fluttershy asked. “We can’t give up, dear,” Rarity responded. “Twilight, we haven’t found anything that could point us in the right direction. I certainly don’t want to forfeit our cause, but we’re running out of books to search through.” “Well,” Twilight whispered as she approached the now-empty shelves, “I think I might have an idea.” “We’re open to anything at this point,” Applejack quipped, earning a desperate look from the others. “Spike, take a letter—to the princess,” Twilight commanded. “Ready when you are,” the young dragon replied, happy to hear his friend’s trademark phrase once again. Taking quill to paper, he awaited Twilight’s message. “Celestia… My friends and I have a matter of importance we were hoping you could aid us with. We have received word that the statue you gave me is actually a much bigger threat than any of us imagined. We’ve looked through all of the books in the Ponyville library, yet have come up empty-hooved, aside from what we heard from the pony you sent earlier and stories some of us heard when we were younger.” Rainbow eyed the floor nervously in response to that last statement, but calmly shook her head when she felt the others staring in her direction. Getting the hint, Twilight continued. “I was hoping you would be able to help us in some way. Maybe you or Luna have anything you could provide, or perhaps there’s something in the library up there that could help us. I await your response. Your friend, Twilight Sparkle…” With a sigh, she nodded to show the letter was ready to be sent. Instinctively, Spike sent the letter toward Canterlot as he had done so many times before. When the green flames had dissipated and the letter was gone, Twilight and the others nervously waited for Celestia’s reply. “I guess we should clean up this mess while we wait,” Spike said as calmly as he could. Twilight nodded and managed a small smile, and with a bit of her magic, the books had returned to the shelves they were pulled from. Once the library was clean again, Twilight descended into one of her many nervous habits as a veil of anxiety now covered the room. As she wordlessly paced back and forth, the others couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, yet were unable to think of anything to say to help their friend. With a loud burp breaking the silence, a scroll had dropped onto the floor. “I swear, this gets more and more annoying each time it happens,” Spike mumbled as he instinctively picked up the scroll resting at his feet. Not wanting to waste any time, Twilight took the letter from her assistant and began to read it, but by the end, her face held a look of disappointment and frustration. “Well, what’s it say? What’s it say?” Pinkie asked as she nervously bounced up and down. “The fans are dying to know!” “I’m just going to ignore that,” Applejack muttered with a roll of her eyes. “Please tell us what the princess said. Can she help us or not?!” In response to her own outburst, the farmer pony quickly pulled her hat over her eyes. “I apologize for that, Twilight.” “It’s quite alright, Applejack,” Twilight whispered. “Here’s what she said.” Upon clearing her throat, Twilight began reading her former mentor’s manuscript. “’Dear Twilight, I am happy to hear from you and am thankful for your concern in the current matter. I sincerely wish I could provide you with information beyond what you’ve received already. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. I have provided my own staff with instructions to search the library for any valid information, but that search has proven to be a waste of time so far. To make matters worse, nobody at the castle—not even Luna or myself—has heard of anything like these ‘Weeping Angels,’ so none of us have any valid leads. However, I assure you that if we do find anything, I will pass it along to you and your friends.’” “‘In the meantime, do what you can to resolve the problem. Tell that time-traveling fellow I said ‘hello’ when you get the chance. Work with him as you would work with me, Luna, or one of your other friends, and I request that you all take care of yourselves and each other. If anything happens, tell me immediately, and I’ll do what I can to assist you, but I regretfully confess that my hooves are tied in the matter; Luna is just as confused as I am. I am truly sorry for this, Twilight, but this is one problem I can’t help you with. With a heavy heart, Princess Celestia.’” Once Twilight finished reading the message, she calmly rolled it up before sending it flying toward the nearest trash can. Unsure of what else to do, the young alicorn sat down, leaned back against the bookshelf behind her, and cried as she faced her friends. “Twilight, you alright?” Applejack asked. “Does it look like I’m alright?!” Twilight snapped, prompting the others to flinch. “We understand you’re upset, darling,” Rarity responded, “but there’s no reason to bite our heads off about it.” “Yeah, Twilight. We’re just as bummed out as you are,” Pinkie added. “Princess Celestia doesn’t know anything about these angel things, and so she can’t help us. Luna can’t help us because she doesn’t know anything, either. Because the princesses and the rest of the ponies at the castle don’t know anything, we have to stick with Time Turner, tell him that Princess Celestia said ‘hello,’ and help him help us help Ponyville and all of Equestria avoid this unforeseeable danger.” As the hyperactive party pony finished her odd summary of Celestia’s letter, she fell onto her back and burst out into the hysterical laughter she was recognized for. “Pinkie Pie, you are so random,” Rainbow remarked as she started to laugh along with her friend. “Let me make sure I’m understandin’ this right. We’ve got these weird living angel statue creatures potentially poppin’ up all over Equestria, or at least Ponyville, and the only pony who can help us put a stop to them is a stranger from out of town who, if Celestia’s letter is to be believed, is some sort of time-traveler, and all you can do is laugh about it. Equestria is as good as doomed,” Applejack deadpanned. “Applejack!” Twilight exclaimed. “Well, this doesn’t seem like the time for Pinkie’s obnoxious laughter!” the farmer shot back. “What the hell, Applejack?” Pinkie responded, all traces of her hyperactivity disappearing in a flash. “Laughter is what I’m known for, and you decide now to call it obnoxious? Do you find my parties obnoxious, too?!” As she pressed the question to her friend, the pink pony’s mane and tail began to deflate. “No, I don’t find your parties obnoxious, Pinkie,” Applejack answered. “And I certainly don’t find your laughter obnoxious.” “Then why would you say something like that?” Rainbow asked as she comforted her fellow prankster. “I’m just… I don’t know!” the farmer confessed as she began to cry. “Our home is in danger, and there’s little we can do about it. I’m just tryin’ to keep my sanity in one piece.” “And we’re not?” Pinkie asked through the tears that fell from her eyes. “I was just trying to lighten the mood a bit, but if you want to deadpan and call me and my laughter obnoxious, then I won’t even bother.” “C-Can you please stop arguing?” Fluttershy quietly begged. “I second Fluttershy’s request,” Rarity declared. “We were once the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. We earned the Elements because we were living embodiments of what those Elements stood for. I should hope that statement still rings true, even though we no longer possess the Elements. Sure, we may slip up on occasion, but the point is that we were chosen by the Elements themselves because, together, we represent harmony itself—we represent true friendship, and I will be damned by Celestia herself before I stand back and let that friendship fall apart.” The silence that suddenly filled the room was thick enough that anyone present could likely hear their own heartbeat. With the eyes of five ponies and a dragon on her, Rarity continued her impromptu pep-talk. “Twilight herself has thanked us time and time again for the time she’s spent with us—all the memories, all the laughter, all the lessons about friendship—all kinds of things that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives. If it weren’t for our friendship, do you think we would be standing here as Equestria’s greatest heroes? Do you think Nightmare Moon would’ve been destroyed and either Luna or I would be standing among you? Do you think Discord would’ve given up his chaotic methods? Do you think Canterlot would be free from changeling rule and Princess Cadence and Shining Armor would be happily married? Do you think King Sombra would’ve been killed and the Crystal Empire restored to what it was before that villain touched it? Do you think Twilight would’ve ever even been considered for princess-hood? Think about all of that! Think about every single fight we’ve ever been through, and think about how differently they would’ve all ended if we had never become friends! Think about all of that as you stand there and openly criticize each other’s beliefs and call each other names!!” “Rarity…” Spike whispered. “Yes, this situation is dire, and we’ve never had to deal with anything like this before. However, I would think your common sense would dictate that we stick together now more than ever before. I will not lie to you—I am scared out of my mind. The thought of losing my sister or my parents, especially to something like this, frightens me so much more than I can say. I trust the rest of you feel the same way about your families. I would think you would have that same concern for each other. Celestia told us to stick together, and as the Element of Generosity, I intend to stick by all of you as we dive head-first into this mess. If anything, this is a good time to laugh. I’m sorry, Applejack, but a little cheer in the face of danger can prove to be a blessing in disguise. We need to be strong at a time like this; we’re going to need to be resourceful in ways that we’ve never even thought of. Celestia would be weeping if she saw the pathetic state of disarray you four,” she pointed at the motley crew consisting of Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, “have fallen into. You know things have fallen apart when the Elements of Generosity and Kindness are the only ones with a level head on their shoulders in the midst of a crisis…” Again, the room fell silent as a grave upon Rarity’s grim observation. However, that silence was short-lived as she burst into tears as the weight of her words sank in. Out of pure respect and admiration, Spike was immediately at the dressmaker’s side, saying what he could think of to comfort the pony he had once called “the most beautiful creature in the world.” “Rarity, listen to me,” the young dragon whispered, calmly. “You have no reason to be ashamed of anything that you said. You’re right; there’s no reason for us to be fighting like this. This is the time to band together for the sake of our home, our friends, and our families. It doesn’t matter what Element you once held; you should never be afraid to stand up to your friends when they’re not acting like themselves. Trust me, you did the right thing. Celestia would certainly be proud of that; I can personally say that I’m proud of you, and I hope you feel the same way. Cheer up, Rarity.” With that, the young dragon reached up the best he could and kissed the object of his admiration on the cheek, a gesture he had received from her before. Twilight was the first to respond to what her young assistant said. “Spike is right, Rarity. Look at us—we’re at each other’s throats for no justifiable reason. We’re all worried about this angel business, and it’s really starting to show—I mean, look at me…” Twilight held out a hoof; said hoof was shaking just as the leaves in a fierce windstorm do. After placing her trembling hoof back on the floor of the library, she continued. “Celestia gave me that statue in good faith; it was a gift from one friend to another. Point is, we have someone who knows how to approach the situation, and we need to follow Celestia’s advice and band together and work with Time Turner, just as you said.” “If there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about banding together, it’s me,” Rainbow Dash added, proudly. “They didn’t give me the Element of Loyalty for nothing! What do you have to say, Element of Laughter?” She smiled at the pink pony next to her. “I say good friends should always stick together,” Pinkie answered with a smile. “In turn,” Applejack began, “I can honestly say that, Rainbow, Pinkie, I owe you both an apology. It wasn’t right of me to say the things I said to either of you before, and I wouldn’t ever dream of divin’ into a crisis without my friends at my side. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your honesty, Rarity. We were all bein’ foolish; thanks for snappin’ us out of it.” “Apology accepted, Applejack!” Pinkie declared, her cheer restored in the same manner as her hair’s inflated status. “Likewise,” Rainbow added, smiling. With harmony restored to the group of friends, Rarity found the courage to smile in the midst of the harsh statements she had made only moments ago. “Applejack… All of you…” Rarity began, softly. “My dearest friends… Thank you so much for sticking by me. It is my greatest pleasure to aid you in whatever manner I can and to be the best friend possible, even if it means I have to say something uncharacteristic of myself. I’m glad I was able to help resolve this little dispute.” “Sometimes, you’ve got to be a bit harsh to get your point across,” Applejack noted. “Just as Spike said before, you did the right thing.” After a group hug, the seven friends sat down in a circle and faced each other. After a collective sigh from the group, Twilight was the first to speak. “So what do we do now?” she asked. “We have virtually nothing to go on. There has to be something we’re missing; something out of the ordinary that could solve this mystery.” “I have an idea,” Fluttershy replied. “Good,” Twilight said, happily. “What do you suggest?” “Something you missed and something out of the ordinary—specifically, someone you missed and someone out of the ordinary.” “You can’t possibly mean…” Rarity whispered. Fluttershy merely nodded and clarified her statement. “There is a zebra and a draconequus that we can ask about these Weeping Angels. One of them has to know something about what these creatures can do and how they can be stopped.” “You really want to ask Discord about something like this?” Applejack asked. “Well, as much as I’ve spoken to Zecora, I’ve learned quite a bit about what she’s seen and where she’s been between her homeland and Ponyville, and based on that, I can confirm that she wouldn’t know about anything like this,” Twilight noted, “so Discord would be the better candidate to speak to. He’s the expert on breaking from the usual and defying what is supposed to make sense.” “He’s like me, but cranked up to eleven!” Pinkie exclaimed in agreement. “He just can’t break the fourth wall like I can.” The pink pony beamed at her own statement, which earned blank stares from the others. “Well, it’s true. You guys out there believe me, right?” “Who are you talking to?” Spike asked, looking in the direction Pinkie was suddenly facing. “Focus, guys!” Twilight cut in. “There’s no other choice; we have to speak to Discord about this. Spike!” “Are you sure about this, Twilight?” the young dragon asked, worriedly. “Absolutely,” she replied, flatly. Without a word, Spike pulled out a quill and piece of paper just as before and awaited the message. “Celestia, it’s Twilight again. I’m sorry to bother you so soon after writing to you before, but I need to speak to Discord. My friends and I have reason to believe he might know something about the Weeping Angels that could help us. Would that be alright with you? Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle.” As the letter headed for its destination, a sound of some kind echoed and with it came a few things that shouldn’t exist, such as an umbrella that opened in reverse and a five-dimensional Rubik’s Cube. “That was fast,” Applejack noted. “I’m Discord, God of Chaos,” a voice rang out. “It’s what I do best.” “Alright, then, Discord,” Twilight said with a serious tone. “Think you can answer some of our questions?” “Why don’t you answer a question of mine, first?” the draconequus quipped as he nonchalantly swam through the air. “We don’t have time for your nonsense, Dipcord!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Now, is that any way to talk to a friend?” Discord asked as he suddenly disappeared and reappeared directly in front of the rainbow-maned pegasus “You want me to help you save your precious little home, since you can’t really do it yourselves, right?” “There’s no time to fool around, guys,” Twilight calmly chimed in. “What do you want to ask?” “Why would you waste your time talking to me, when you already have someone who knows about the crisis you’re facing, hmm?” the trickster mused, now using the lavender alicorn as a makeshift bed. “He…” Twilight began, unable to fully answer Discord’s question. “You don’t need my help, Twilight!” Discord sternly noted as he stared into the purple eyes of the individual now in front of him. “That pony you call Time Turner already filled you in on the nature of this statue you have covered up. He told you how to deal with it. If I were to get involved in any way at all, I would be violating some serious rules. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill chaos; these are time-based shenanigans we’re dealing with. Not even someone as powerful and unpredictable as me has an answer for that.” Discord’s blunt remarks were met with a look of disappointment from Twilight. “So you can’t help us, then?” she asked. “You catch on fast, Princess Twilight,” Discord taunted. “Are you absolutely sure you can’t help?” Fluttershy asked, calmly. “Yes, I am,” the draconequus replied, a tone of irritation present in his voice. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must be going.” Upon finishing his statement, he snapped his fingers and disappeared in the same flash of light that brought him to the library. “Looks like we’re on our own, then,” Rarity noted. “I’m sorry, you guys,” Fluttershy whispered, sadly. “It’s fine, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, reassuringly. “We just have to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Time Turner will know what to do.” “So we’re back to playing the waiting game,” Rainbow remarked, irritated at the lack of progress toward a solution. “I know you meant well, Fluttershy, but calling Discord here was just a big waste of time.” “I know, but you have to agree that it was worth a shot,” the shy pegasus replied. “Fluttershy’s right,” Applejack added. “It was worth a shot.” “So it’s back to business as usual until anything exciting happens?” Rarity asked. “It certainly seems that way,” Twilight observed. “Alrighty, then!” Pinkie exclaimed as she bounced toward the door. “Too bad Discord didn’t leave any of those cotton candy clouds behind.” “Typical Pinkie Pie…” Spike noted, remembering the incident the hyperactive pony was referring to. “I think I should get back to the farm,” Applejack cut in. “Don’t want to stay here too late, you know.” “I understand,” Twilight replied. “You all have business you likely need to attend to, so don’t let me keep you from it. Until we see each other again, be careful, and always be alert.” After the thoughtful message was given, the others wished her similar sentiments as they departed from the library. Before long, Spike and Twilight were alone with the concealed form of a Weeping Angel. Silently, Spike stepped over to it. “Spike, don’t even think about it!” Twilight said, harshly. “You know what’ll happen if that thing is uncovered. Leave it alone!” “I know it’s dangerous, and I had no intention of messing with it, Twilight,” Spike replied, hurt by his friend’s outburst. “I was just wondering what’ll happen if we end up never being able to get rid of this thing.” “Yeah, that thought crossed my mind as well,” Twilight admitted. “But we shouldn’t jump to conclusions; assuming the worst never solved anything. I’m sorry I yelled at you, by the way.” “Apology accepted…again,” Spike mumbled. Twilight and Spike sat alone in the library and the two decided to pass the time by reading through some of the books again, even though they were aware of the lack of insight within. A few hours passed, and before long, the sun started to fall. In the midst of the harsh silence, the door opened to reveal a single figure. “Twilight?” a voice called. “I’m back. Sorry I took so long; had to find my way around, you know.” “Time Turner,” Twilight observed. “Sorry, I got a bit distracted with some of my own affairs.” “It’s quite alright,” the visitor replied. “My friends and I scoured the books here for any information we could use. Then, I wrote to Celestia about the matter. I even contacted Discord, but not even that helped. I’ve exhausted every resource I have, and I haven’t found anything useful. Have you?” “I’m afraid not. Who is this Discord fellow, by the way?” Twilight took a moment to describe the God of Chaos to her guest, and he smiled at the thought of someone so random. “Sounds like a rather delightful fellow, in an odd manner,” Time Turner mused. “Not really…” Twilight mumbled. “Did you notice anything odd or different while you were out? Any signs of other statues in the area?” “Nope, none of that, either,” the time traveler confessed. “I’m sorry, dear.” “Don’t worry about it, Time Turner,” Twilight whispered. “I guess we’ll just have to wait for others to show up, and then corral them somewhere… Somehow…” “That sounds like the best possible plan at the moment,” the visitor noted. “As promised, I’ll help with the efforts. I’ve had a first-hand—” He paused as he caught the term he inadvertently used. “—first-hoof encounter with these things, and I have seen what they can do. This place is far too cheerful to fall victim to that.” “That’s kind of you to say, Time Turner,” Twilight replied, smiling. “By the way, I’d like you to tell me exactly where you’re from. I understand the circumstances earlier didn’t allow you to provide a full explanation, aside from you being sent from Canterlot. However, based on your accent, I’d say you’re originally from Trottingham, or at least somewhere close to it. Did I guess that right?” “Not quite,” he confessed, clearing his throat. “I can tell you a bit about where I’m from, but you might not fully understand it.” Twilight shook her head and smiled in invitation for the curious explanation. Returning the smile, Time Turner gave the brief summary of himself that he provided to Luna and Celestia, leaving a confused dragon and a curious alicorn in its wake. “If you’re from another world,” Spike began, “then how did you get to Equestria?” “A bit of a mishap courtesy of the Tardis,” the Time Lord explained. “’Tardis?’” Twilight asked. “What’s that?” “It’s how I travel through time,” Time Turner clarified. “It has a tendency to act up from time to time, though. Actually, now that I think about it, the Tardis could’ve brought me here because it could detect that the Weeping Angels were somehow here in your world. This is certainly a first, I can assure you.” “Wait a minute, Doctor!” Twilight exclaimed. “Are you saying that your Tardis is alive? That is so cool!!” “Oh, dear…” Time Turner uttered in response to the outburst. “I guess it is pretty ‘cool,’ in a manner of speaking.” “Wait, he’s a doctor?” Spike asked with a suspicious tone. “I don’t remember hearing him mention anything about that.” “Celestia made an allusion to it in the letter she sent earlier,” Twilight revealed. “She referred to Time Turner as a time-traveling doctor, saying that in his world, he’s only known as ‘the Doctor.’” “So you’re a time doctor?” Spike asked. “In a manner of speaking, I am,” the Time Lord answered. “Where is your Tardis?” Twilight asked, bouncing up and down. “It’s right where I left it; back in Canterlot,” Time Turner answered, to Twilight’s disappointment. “You work alone, then?” the alicorn asked. “I’m only curious since I’ve never heard of anyone like you.” “Sometimes, I do work alone,” the time traveler explained, “but more often than not, I have someone with me. I can handle things on my own when needed, but it never hurts to have a bit of assistance. Though, even in the times when I am alone, I am not without my own tools.” As he said that, he pulled a silver object of some sort of futuristic design out of one of his pockets. “What’s that thing?” Spike asked. “The sonic screwdriver,” Time Turner answered. “It doesn’t harm or kill, but it is great at opening locks or operating machinery. The only thing it can’t break through is a deadlock.” “Interesting, but I’m not really sure how often you’ll be using that thing,” Twilight remarked. “It does sound pretty practical, though.” “It’s a fair bit more than just practical, my young friend,” Time Turner said, happily. “This thing has aided me more times than I can count; I’d be lost without it.” “That’s good to hear,” Twilight mumbled. “Obviously, our hooves are tied at the moment, so maybe we should just get some rest in preparation for the long battle ahead. I have a spare bed you can use while you’re here, Doctor. My home is your home.” “I like the way you think, Twilight,” the Doctor beamed. “It will be my greatest pleasure working with you and your friends, and I am most grateful for your kind hospitality.” Suddenly, the atmosphere was disrupted by a rumbling sound from nearby. “Whoops! I’m sorry,” Twilight apologized, sheepishly. “I guess with all of this excitement going on, I sort of forgot about eating.” “That’s fine,” the Doctor said, politely. “Leave it to me!” Spike exclaimed. “What do you want?” “Surprise me, Spike,” Twilight invited. “I’m welcome to just about anything, myself,” Time Turner added, “though, I would advise you to hurry, for your friend’s sake.” Spike laughed as he headed toward the kitchen to prepare dinner for himself and the two ponies present. “I must say, Twilight, you’re lucky to have such a faithful assistant,” the time traveler noted, calmly. “Thank you,” the young princess said, bowing. “Rainbow Dash said basically the same thing once. Just as with you and that screwdriver of yours, I’d be completely lost without Spike and my other friends.” When the young dragon had finished preparing dinner, he called Twilight and Time Turner into the kitchen. Twilight eagerly accepted a plate of her assistant’s cooking as she sat down at the table. After passing a plate to Time Turner and preparing a plate for himself, Spike took a seat between his friend and their guest. “What is this concoction you’ve created, Spike?” the Doctor asked as he politely stared at the plate in front of him. “It smells great, but it doesn’t look like any dish I’ve ever had.” Twilight obviously wasted no time in quenching her hunger while Spike attempted to describe his recipe. “Oh, it’s just a little something I threw together using some leftover cabbage, a little bit of tomato paste, some herbs and spices, and—Twilight, do you mind?” “Table manners, be damned!!!” the starved alicorn exclaimed through a mouthful of food. “Well, if it calls for that sort of response, it must be good,” Time Turner noted as he helped himself to the pleasant meal. Mentally agreeing that an attempt at conversation was futile, both Spike and Time Turner enjoyed the stew and apple juice amidst the chaos that was Twilight’s questionable eating habits. Hooves; how do they work? the curious time traveler wondered as he observed his own body movements in regards to handling silverware and drinking from a glass. As he inwardly laughed at the princess’s table manners, or current disregard for them, Time Turner continued to enjoy his dinner, and when he got the chance, he broke the odd silence that filled the dining area. “Many thanks for the wonderful dinner, Spike,” the Doctor said, graciously. “I aim to please,” the dragon replied. “I am Twilight’s number one assistant, after all.” “I can certainly see why. Twilight?” “Hmm?” the alicorn replied. After wiping her mouth and taking a drink of apple juice, Twilight spoke fully. “What is it, Time Turner?” “Are you absolutely sure you’re alright with me staying here? I mean, I have no idea how long it will take us to solve this crisis. The Weeping Angels are curious beings; they act on their own accord. You could potentially be stuck with me for weeks or even months.” “I am absolutely sure about you staying here; stay as long as necessary. I welcome whatever insight you can bring to this…fight. You’ve dealt with those things before, and so you know from experience that you have to be crafty when approaching them. Trust me, Time Turner, you are by no means a burden to me.” “I appreciate the kind words, Twilight. I promise I won’t disappoint you.” With that, the odd trio finished their dinner in silence, and after cleaning the kitchen, went upstairs. “This is my bedroom,” Twilight explained. “The spare bed is right over there, just across from mine.” “Ah, excellent!” Time Turner exclaimed. “And you have your desk facing the window for those times when you want to watch the activity going on outside.” “There’s also the door that leads out to the balcony,” Spike added. “That’s useful for those times when she wants to do some reading outside, though both her and Celestia have used it as a landing pad before.” Twilight gave an embarrassed grin in response to her young assistant’s remark, and laughed as she spoke again. “Time Turner, you must be exhausted. I’m sure you’ll want to get ready for bed, so I’ll just leave you to that.” With that, Twilight and Spike left the Time Lord alone. Going by what I’ve observed in the short time I’ve been here, wearing clothing seems to be a bit of a rare occurrence in this world, Time Turner mentally noted. Knowing that… He sighed as he set about the embarrassing task of removing all of his clothing. Now that I’m not wearing anything, I shouldn’t stick out as much, though I will need to make a mental note to gather this stuff before I have Celestia restore me to my normal body. “Alright, Twilight, you can come back up here,” he called. In little time at all, Twilight and Spike had returned. However, before she could say anything, the lavender alicorn merely blushed as she gazed at the stallion in front of her; Spike looked up at his friend in concern for her awkward silence. “Something wrong, Twilight?” Time Turner asked. “N-no, nothing! Nothing at all!” she replied, laughing nervously. “Very well, then,” the time traveler said happily as he walked over to the bed he would be using during his stay at Twilight’s home. After making himself comfortable, the brown pony looked back over at Twilight. “Trust me; if I were in my own form, I’d be wearing a comfortable set of pajamas right now. I can assure you, what is normal in your world is considered…inappropriate in others.” “Like…?” the alicorn asked as she tried in vain not to stare at the Time Lord’s figure. “Like not wearing any sort of clothing under normal circumstances,” he answered. Without a word, he covered himself with the sky blue blanket and smiled at Twilight. “Better?” “Somehow, I don’t think so,” Spike lamented. “Don’t worry, guys…I’ll be fine,” Twilight stammered, “I promise.” After she and Spike had made their way to their own beds, Twilight turned off the light and did her best to get some sleep. In little time at all, Spike was snoring loudly while Twilight’s breathing had softened to a more relaxed pace. However, while the two of them slept, Time Turner merely stared at the ceiling above him as his mind raced. Why would the Weeping Angels want a world as peaceful as this one? What could they hope to accomplish by invading it? Beyond that, if they can break in here, what other horrors from my exploits would be able to find their way in? At least if the Daleks or the Cybermen discovered Equestria, the princesses would have a better chance of confronting them; there would be no waiting games, though there would be casualties. I shudder to think what would become of this world if any of the nightmares I’ve faced were to have their way with it. I must be diligent in my efforts; there is no way I can allow this place or any other to fall prey to such monsters. The Time Lord continued to ponder the predicament wordlessly, mentally preparing himself for the impending storm. However, his thoughts were interrupted by the soft voice of Twilight. He smiled as he listened to her talking in her sleep. Cheerful girl, he thought. “Time Turner?” the sleepy alicorn asked suddenly. “Yes, Twilight?” he responded after sitting up. “Everything alright over there?” “Yeah, I guess so, but why are you still awake?” “Time Lords don’t sleep.” “Oh… I’m sorry… By the way, I’m sorry I was so rude to you at first. Even with my suspicions, I had no business confronting you the way I did.” “All is forgiven, my dear.” With that, Twilight smiled calmly and went back to sleep. At the beginning of the next day, Time Turner, Twilight, and Spike were up and ready to go in their efforts in confronting the Weeping Angels. As they and the rest of Twilight’s friends went about their daily business, they made it a priority to maintain their watch for any suspicious activity in Ponyville, especially in the vicinity of the library. However, to the slight dismay of Twilight and friends, all remained calm in the tranquil city of Ponyville—for a time. Almost a week passed without any sort of activity, and just when it seemed like things weren’t nearly as bad as expected, a wave of unnerving rumors surfaced regarding mysterious statues around town. Almost immediately after the rumors came, ponies started to vanish without a trace, making way for all sorts of farfetched explanations about the cause. Horror filled the hearts of Twilight and the others at the possible truth behind the confusion. Anxious to stop the crisis before it escalated too far, the group of friends gathered at Golden Oaks Library to weigh their options. “They’re here,” the lavender alicorn lamented, “just as Time Turner said. At least…it would seem that way.” “So what do we do?” asked Applejack. “We waited for them to make an appearance; they’ve certainly made an appearance, even if it is a bit subtle.” “In that case, it would be safe to assume that our next goal is to round them up in a single location, somehow,” Rarity noted as she nervously looked at the statue that still somehow remained in the same position it had been in since being brought into the library. “If they really are here,” Fluttershy whispered, “then we have to find a way to get that one in contact with the others.” “We have to find a way to lure them all out of hiding,” Rainbow stated. “We can use Twilight’s statue as bait.” “That is a risky maneuver, Rainbow,” Time Turner noted, “but you are on the right track.” “In that case…” Pinkie began, shifting her gaze around the room, “we have to be like spy ponies. We have to find where the statues are hiding and round them up without worrying anyone.” “That’s it!” Twilight exclaimed. “Pinkie Pie, you’re a genius!” “No, I’m not; I’m a spy!” Pinkie countered as she somehow managed to don a secret agent uniform in the space of a split second. “Can we somehow use your reality-warping talents to round these things up, Pinkie?” asked Applejack. “I’m not so sure it works that way,” Time Turner replied. “However, a secret investigation is our best course of action. Be on the lookout for any sort of rumors, but don’t let anyone become aware of what you’re doing; we don’t want to scare anyone beyond what’s already been done.” “That settles it,” Twilight declared, “we’ll search every inch of Ponyville if we have to; these Weeping Angels will be found and dealt with.” With a plan of action in front of them all, Twilight and her friends dispersed around town to find any leads pertaining to the Weeping Angels.