//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Welcome to Equestria! // Story: Where did you come from? // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// Twilight stared at all the readings before her, her mind struggling to process all this new information. Claw was a dragon pony, the first she'd ever seen. Also, from the future. That much she knew. Probably from Spike and Rarity. Still a tad big miffed about that, but she'd be fine. Val was... different. Not pony, not pony magic, very strange all around. She wondered for a moment if he was from Canterlot High, but the stories Cheerilee told her made her doubt it. That world had been strange, but it hadn't been horrifying. Besides, magic didn't seem to exist much there, while Val claimed that magic was common where he was from. That meant there were more dimensions, joy. She'd have to write a dozen letters to the princess, start a committee, years of research. There could be entire dimensions out there, of all kinds. Why, there might even be other realms like hers. Maybe ones where she wasn't an alicorn. Ones were her friends weren't even friends. But there could be horrible ones, too. Ones where... maybe they'd gone to war with the zebras or the griffons, any number of things. That sent a chill down her spine and she focused on the task at hoof. So she'd sent Claw back from the future, to this specific time with a damaged letter that she couldn't decipher without a lot more time and effort. For all she knew, Claw's parents were in deep, deep trouble. The trouble had to stem from something about this time, something she had to stop. She had to deal with. But what? Val and Claw arriving at the same time couldn't be a coincidence. It was possible that his arrival just happened to be the easiest time to send him, though. The temporal disruption he caused on his arrival could have been what she focused on in order to send Claw through time. Well, at least there wasn't anything else going on today. “Ah hem, princess?” Flash asked. Oh, right. Royal guards. So there was a third thing. She glanced back. “Err, right. Sorry, distracted. I uhhh, lots of research to do. Yes, lots!” She held up the book to demonstrate, giving him a nervous smile. Whyyyy had the princess sent him? She suspected it had something to do with his name being mentioned in her reports about that other world. She loved her teacher greatly, but she suspected that the mare had a mischievous side. Maybe. Possibly. “You came for a reason?” He nodded. “Yes, your highness. We've come to protect you.” She blinked a few times and looked them over. “Four pegasi? Are there more outside?” He blinked. “Err, well, no.” The alicorn couldn't help but be a little tiny bit unimpressed. She quickly did a few mental calculations, measuring the average speed, strength, endurance of a royal guard pony, then amplifying it by an additional twenty-five percent just in case they were the pick of the litter. Even still, just four seemed a little... low. “Protect me?” “Yes. There was a theft in Canterlot. Starswirl's wing in the library was hit and a number of books were stolen. We have reason to believe they'll attempt to steal from you, next.” She nodded. “Ohhhh. You're here to guard the library! Yes, of course. Ummm... carry on.” She motioned with a wing. “Do the... thing that you do. So well. I guess. I'll ummm, just get back to my research. Yes, that would be best.” She quickly turned around and buried her head into the letter. Nope, there was no way he could suspect anything. Why would he? Wait, hold on a minute. Where was Spike? She would have sworn he was here a moment ago. She then shook her head. Focus, Twilight, focus! Some kind of thievery, a time traveling pony, an interdimensional pony, an unreadable letter. It all had to make sense, somehow! She had to make sense of it. Somehow. The lives of her friends depended on it. On her poor, baby dragon. Who her friend had apparently taken advantage of and-- no, no no, not now. Focus. Getting focused on that mystery later. Now, saving everypony. ------ Spike gulped nervously as he stared up at the rather... disgruntled Rarity. Her mane was a little bit messed up and her eyes were little pin pricks. He also had the oddest feeling that he was going to die. Also, that it was going to hurt. She'd hauled him off to the great table and stuffed him into his chair. Rather firmly. “Spikey, I think it's time we had a little talky.” The dragon gave a nod and eyed Rarity's hoof which was currently in the middle of tapping on the table with enough force to make it shake. “Have... you been hanging around my little sister a lot lately?” “W-what?” “My dear, innocent, naive little sister. Sweetie Belle. Remember, she just got her cutie mark not long ago? I know you were at the cute ceañera. She truly was adorable, wasn't she?” “I... guess?” he asked softly, looking up. “I didn't really notice.” And gave her that little fidgety love sick look again. How could he! Use her sister like... no. That was future Spike. She took a deep breath. She would deal with this with dignity and grace. Like a grown mare. “How could youuuuuuuuuuu?” she whined, her eyes getting all wet and watery as she looked down at him. “She is my little baby sisterrrrrrrrrrrr.” She collapsed dramatically over the table, a hoof over her head. “She isn't ready to be a mother! In fact, neither am I, but... how could you? Why couldn't you keep your claws to yoursellllllllllf?” she whined with all her power. “W-what? I am keeping my claws to myself! Honest! See? Right to myself, under my arms.” He crossed them dramatically for effect. “P-please don't cry. I-I don't know what I did!” “You had a baby with my sisterrrrrrrr!” There was a pause as he cocked his head to the side. “Wait, another time traveling dragon pony arrived?” “No, Claw is yours and Sweetie's!” she wailed. “I don't know how this happened! She's such a good girl, so young, so naïve, how could you?” He just looked confused. “Wait... I thought he was yours and mine?” “I thought he was too-ooo-oooooooo,” she whined some more. “Are you sure? Did Twilight do tests?” “No...” Rarity said, before covering her face with her hooves. “But he told meeeeeee!” Spike glanced towards the door, where Claw was distracted trying to catch the door knob in his hooves, before leaning up to gnaw on it. “Are you sure he's not... err... confused?” “He told me it was her cutie marrrrrrrk! How could youuuuuuu? She's my little baby sister!” she whined dramatically as she wallowed in her misery. “She's too young to have a colt friend! Whyyyyyyy?” Spike groaned and swore if he ever got the chance, he would smack future Spike for making this current Spike's problem. It wasn't fair, he didn't have any kids, yet now he had one and he didn't even know who the mom was! Then he looked sad. “Wait, so you mean... you and I don't get together in the future?” She paused and blinked. “W-well, that wasn't... necessarily a likely scenario anyway, it--” She had to roll over a little to give the dragon room to collapse on the table and fall into his own rolling, whining mess. “It's not fairrrrrrrrrr,” he whined. “I knowwwwwwww,” she whined back. “I thought I finally got youuuuuuuu.” “I can't believe you used my sister like thatttttt! How could youuuuuu?” There was a pause and he sat up. “Wait. What does that mean? I'd never, ever use your sister!” She looked back at him. “Of course you did! She's just a child!” There was a pause, followed by a flat look. “Well so am I!” She blinked a few times. Then put a hoof to her chin. “Of course! It all makes sense! You two are just close to the same age and--” There was a crunch and she let out a shriek, rolling off the table and galloping towards the end. “No, Claw, bad! Don't eat the chairs! Don't eat the chairs!” ------ Twilight hummed as she examined the magic, before nodding. “Well this is quite fascinating.” “Are you almost done?” Val asked, glaring up at her. “Huh? You're still here? I'm sorry, I thought I told you you could leave.” The colt just stared, his eyes wide. Then he shrieked. “You mean you've left me strapped in here for... forever and I could have just left! BLEEP this! For the underdark!” He charged forward, got tangled in the wires and flipped head over tail, landing hard on his rump. Cheerilee cringed, waiting for the colt to burst into a tirade of cursing, screaming and threats. Instead, little tears began to form up in his eyes. Then he began to full on bawl. The teacher just stared for a moment, her eyes wide. This was... this was... This was a great relief! It was the first normal, colt like thing she'd seen him do! She swooped in besides him and began untangling him, before picking him up in her hooves. “There there. It's okay, Val. See? It's just a little boo boo,” she said softly. “I-I want to go home!” he screamed, before giving a little hiccup. “I know, I know,” she whispered. “We're doing everything we can.” Buck that. She wasn't letting anypony send this poor, abused colt home. That place sounded... despicable. Worth a few bleeps if ever there was one. She gently cuddled him in her hooves. “How about we go get you something sweet, okay?” “I-I'm not eating grass,” he muttered softly. “Of course not. How about a nice cupcake? Or ice cream?” “You can turn screams i-into ice?” She paused for a few moments, just staring at him. Then a grin spread across her lips. “How about we go get you a nice slice of ice cream cake?” He just looked up at her, confusion on her face. “W-what?” “You'll see.” Once again she let him ride of her back as she trotted out the castle. Twilight didn't even seem to notice. “I-I wasn't crying,” he muttered softly. “I know, dear,” she said with soft chuckle. ------ “AHHHHHH!” Val shrieked as he held on, looking at Pinkie with the utmost fear. She thought he had been afraid of his mother, but this was apparently even worse. “A very welcome to Equestria, to youuuuu~” Pinkie sung as she danced about. Cheerilee merely rolled her eyes and let the mare continue. She couldn't imagine how the pink mare had discovered he wasn't from Equestria, but her mind had already come to the perfect decision. If he wasn't from Equestria, that meant he was new. That meant if he was new, that he probably hadn't had his welcome to Equestria party. If he hadn't had his... well, Pinkie was not one to stand by and let some pony be un-partied. The poor colt had no idea what to make of the singing, dancing mare. Or the cakes, or the presents(where in Equestria had she gotten presents so fast?), or of... well, Pinkie. He was trying, with great futility, to hide in Cheerilee's tail. Unfortunately, hers was nowhere near big or bushy enough for him to. “Where the sun always shines!” And a cupcake was shoved in the screaming colt's mouth. He choked a little, coughed a few more times before his eyes lit up. “Silence, scary jester pony!” he yelled. Or tried. It more came out as a little over a whisper, allowing the pink pony to continue her song. Cheerilee blinked before jumping to the left, barely avoiding the party cannons as they went off, burying poor Val in confetti before Pinkie went into her knee skidding final slide, her hooves splayed out. “Welcome! WELCOME! WELCOME!!!!!” she yelled, panting and then looking down at the little colt. His head popped out and he spit out some confetti, before glaring at her. “That song was BLEEPing ridiculous!” he snapped. “And the dance an undignified mess!” But then he paused. “However... your... little treats of the spongy and soft variety do make up for it. I will allow you to live and serve as my cook when I reign in this realm.” He nodded, before letting out an eep as he was picked up and twirled by the pink pony. “Ack, no, stop, put me down! This is not a dignified way to handle your future overlord!” “My name's Pinkie and we're going to be the best friends ever!” “Help meeeeee!” Val whined, holding out a hoof to Cheerilee. The teacher merely shrugged and nibbled one of the cupcakes. “Why? I thought you, the great and powerful future ruler of Equestria, would be more than capable of helping yourself.” “Put me dowwwwwn!” he whined, wiggling about. She did not. But she did feed him another cupcake, temporarily satisfying his blood lust. ------ Rarity looked at the slightly torn chair of Twilight's. It was made of very, very sturdy materials so it wasn't too damaged. Still, she looked at Claw with disappointment. “Darling, you should know better than to eat other pony's property.” He hung his head, his tail squirming down between his legs. “Sorry mommy...” She sighed before gently reaching out, giving him a hug. “It's okay, darling. You're just hungry, aren't you?” “Uh huh...” She nodded. “I'm sorry. I really should have gotten you something nice and filling to eat before we left to travel all over Ponyville.” She then glanced to Spike. “So... errr... what kind of gems are filling to a dragon?” “Probably garnets,” the dragon said with a shrug. “They aren't the best tasting, but full of fiber and fill you up real fast.” “Nooooo!” Claw whined. “I don't wanna eat garneeeeeeeets!” He wiggled about in her hooves. Rarity sighed. “Fine. How about we get some nice garnets and then, if you're good, we'll get you some rubies.” That made the colt perk up, a smile spreading on his lips. “Can daddy come too?” Now his tail was wagging. Rarity glanced back to the baby dragon before giving a sigh. “Very well. I suppose it won't be... that troubling for him to come. You're still in trouble though, Spikey.” She let the colt go and stood up. The dragon gave a little whimper. “But I didn't do anythingggggg!” “Yes, but you will,” Rarity said with a harumph before trotting out, her head held high. Claw looked between the two, before mimicking Rarity's movements. He held his head too high and walked into the wall, falling back with a whimper. “O-ow... owie...” He gave a little sniffle. “M-mommyyyyyyyy.” Almost instantly he found himself scooped up in Rarity's magic and carried to her waiting hooves. “There there, my little darling. Don't worry, mommy has you.” He snuggled her affectionately. Spike crossed his arms and trotted after them, pouting. “Why do future Spike's problems have to be my problems?” ------ “Your sister is acting really strange,” Scootaloo mumbled as she, the other members of the cutie mark crusaders and Silverbelle peered into Twilight's castle through one of the windows. The guard by the door occasionally glanced over to them, but they seemed harmless enough. “Ah can't believe she had a baby! With Spike!” Applebloom said quickly. “I can't believe she didn't tell me,” Sweetie mumbled, dejectedly. “Well, she probably didn't know it was going to happen,” Scootaloo said with a shrug. “It was in the future.” “Yah don't suppose she's pregnant now, do yah?” Applebloom asked. “Nahhhhhh. She'd tell Sweetie if Spike was her very special somepony. Right?” Every eye moved to look at the little white unicorn. She gave a tiny nod. “I... think she would.” “Then yah know what this means, don't yah?” Applebloom asked as a grin formed on her lips. “What?” her two friends asked in unison. “We need tah make sure that the two stay together! After all, if Spike's not her very special somepony, then there might not be an egg or however baby dragon ponies come an' then all that time stuff goes wrong, right?” The three shared a look, before jumping into the air and high hoofing. “Cutie mark crusader--” “Super spies?” Rarity asked, peering down at them. The three looked up and shrieked, backing up. “She ummm... miss Rarity is here,” Silverbelle finally mumbled, her voice just above a whisper. The mare looked unamused, Spike behind her and giving a little wave. Claw was a few feet away, snapping his jaws at a little gem held in her magic, bouncing around playfully. “Now, what exactly are the three of you scheming?” Rarity asked flatly, staring down at them. “Errr... j-jus' how tah make you an' Spike very special someponys,” Applebloom said, gently poking at the ground. “We didn't mean anythin' by it.” Rarity took a deep breath, before smiling. “Now, girls. I do appreciate your desire to help, truly I do. But what's going on with Claw here is between me, Spike and...” She looked down at her sister. “Twilight. There's no need for you three to get involved. Now, run along. I want you to try focusing on something else for a bit.” She then looked to Claw and gave another nod. “Spike and I have plenty we need to discuss. How would you two like to take Claw to get something to eat? Think of it as... foalsitting.” Their eyes lit up and they practically leaped into the air. “Cutie mark crusader foal sitters!” “Very good,” Rarity said before dropping a few bits into Sweetie's hooves. “Make sure he's full, please. Mostly on garnets. If he eats them all, he can have some rubies.” She let out a sigh of relief as they dragged the stallion off, Silverbelle trailing slowly behind the energetic crusaders. “Are you sure that's a good idea?” Spike asked softly. “What?” She glanced down to him. “Letting them... run off with him? What if they figure it out?” Rarity glanced back towards the fleeing crusaders and sighed. “I'm going to have to tell her eventually.” She then glared back. “You better not be making a move on my sister for a long, long time,” she warned. Spike held up his claws defensively. “I didn't! I don't want to!” he said pitifully. Rarity sighed and started trotting. “Come along, Spikey. You can help me set up his room.” She glanced back to Spike. She knew it wasn't his fault, but she couldn't help being a little miffed. Spike's little crush had always been so cute, so adorable. Little puppy love. She never imagined anything would come of it. Well, okay, she had once or twice imagined that there could be a small, itsy bitsy tiny chance. He was quite charming, in his own little, adorable way. But now they had a living, breathing, gem eating sign of exactly what he was capable of. Worse, what he was capable of with her little sister. She knew it wasn't him, that it was future him. It was no fair to get mad at him for something he hadn't even done yet and, if Twilight's theory proved right, might never even do. But she still couldn't stop it. She wondered if anypony had ever felt like she did right now. ------ Twilight sneezed, cringing as she tried wiping off the paper with her hoof. Where had that come from?