//------------------------------//
// Deeper Into The Uncanny Valley 
// Story: Out of Time 
// by Lunarus Solaris Nexus 
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            It was around noon when he reached the rear garden of Princess Twilight's castle. This was where he had to put his first faze into action. He did make a plan but it wasn't a very good one. Nor his most complex. Get into the castle, get to the library and find something, anything, that could have caused this. If he was VERY lucky, and he was found, his other theory would be that only Canterlot was affected by whatever it was. There was next to no chance but it steeled him to sneak his way through the oddly populated gardens.
Not by guards in the garden, but by residents of Ponyville. Despite that meaning there shouldn't be any need to sneak, it didn't help the fact he still had his legs and wings. He could rectify one of those issues. He detached his wings and stashed them in the closest Blue Bird Rose bush, hoping that the light blue of the artificial feathers would blend a bit better there. He made a mental note of where it was and started towards the castle with careful eyes on all of the ponies in the garden. He got lucky. There were enough chest high hedges hiding his legs from sight. But there was two hundred yards of flower beds between him and the rear gates. And sadly, there were guards.
Judging from the stone wall around the garden, ponies weren't suppose to come in the way he had. That was the only way into the castle. this before confounded him. His horn flashed as his magic surrounded him, mostly his legs. This was an advanced spell but he knew a much easier temporary version. His legs, once metallic, now seemed organic and covered in the cobalt fur Dust loved so much. His chest plate was given the same spell. He looked normal again! But he knew it wouldn't last. He'd used a similar spell on Ephialtes a few years before but that one was much more permanent, this one would last about an hour. He was still weak from his encounter with Luna.
Clock was ticking. No doubt the guards would notice somepony they didn't see come in try to go out on their own. Lucky him it looked like a small family was leaving. With any luck he could slip in without being noticed. The thought then crossed his mind. How long would it take for sketches to be all over Equestria. If he knew Firebrand well enough there'd be something about him in before the end of the day.
Nexus started towards the family and came upon the tail end of their little group. He strode to the doors with a fake smile on his face and a spring into his step. He didn't mean it in the slightest but he certainly had to make it look like it. He passed the guards without them even batting an eye but that might just be because this plan was stupid. But it was better safe than have a spear in his chest…



Well that backfired even harder than he thought. The second he found the archive room, the spell wore off with what might as well been massive fanfare. His legs flashed back to normal and every pony there instantly spun their heads to see what all the fuss was about and he was met with obvious adversity.
"Stop right there!" guards shouted.
Nexus did have to admit that in their stand point he'd be assuming he was a threat too. Thankfully Twilight's Castle was nowhere near as heavily guarded as Canterlot and he was able to slip out with minor difficulty. He was able to grab his wings on the way out and fly back into the forest of apple trees. He didn't quite remember the layout of Ponyville but he had a feeling he could remember how get to the main square and then to the Carousel Boutique. And from there he might be able to get to find some kind of disguise. At least a cloak at most a powdered wig.
Thankfully nopony was in and lucky for him she didn't have a single powdered wig... that day. There was more than enough fabric to turn into a makeshift shroud. Covered the wings and legs but not so long it'd trip him up. Good enough for now. As he walked, he grumbled to himself.
"Alright, Dust doesn't know who I am… that' odd enough but… why did Astral look different? He was blue…ish. And his mane!? Why was it dirty blonde!? I don't understand! And what about Luna? She was talking like she hadn't been around ponies that much in years! This doesn't make any sense! And most importantly. Why does nopony know who I am!?"
Nexus would've continued ranting to himself if he hadn't run into a dark blue blob that was walking near him. Nexus grunted from being hit and fell onto his rear with the sound of fluttering paper. "Watch where you're going dude!" a generally familiar voice called.
"Why don't you…" Nexus would have finished if he didn't notice who he ran into. The leather jacket was enough of a giveaway.
His brown mane and eyes were staring him down not sure what to say to him but certainly not happy. The blue coat and typewriter cutie mark could belong to almost anypony… but the leather jacket that nopony else would wear in this heat was unmistakable.
"Vince?" Nexus asked about to lose his mind even more than he already had.
"Who the fuck wants to know?" Vince said picking up his now scattered papers.
"Vince… You're dead…"
"Last I checked I wasn't. Wait… Did that mare- oh I'm going to kick her green ass!"
"No… You were on my airship in Saddle Arabia… You were reporting on the Changeling War and died in the crash…"
"I'm sorry but stop talking to me like that. I'm not dead and I'd like it if you answered my first question. Who are you?"
"Vince, it's me! It's me! You're cousin Nexus!!"
"Nexus?"
"Yeah, Aunt Molly's kid!"
Vince started to nod as he seemed to be remembering something. Things might not be going so bad for Nexus after all! "Yeah… Yeah I think I do remember you." "THANK FAUST! "That's him! It's that guy from the posters! Help!" "FUCK YOU!"
Nexus hit him with a quick knock out spell and bolted off in the opposite direction before anypony could figure out exactly what was going on. Hopefully anyways.