Guilt of a Phantom

by Powerdrainer

A Long Time Ago...

He hovered in the viewing chamber, frowning. Glowing eyes observing the being of interest through the swirling green of the viewing portal. Seeing the once proud king reduced to a mere wisp of darkness, struggling to hold himself together; retreated into a dark and somber cave.

Clockwork sighed deeply, dragging a flat hand over the left side of his face; feeling his scar.

He watched as the flimsy wisp fell apart, yet still trying its hardest to keep from vanishing completely.

"I'm sorry," he spoke somberly, his hand lowering from his face. "I'm sorry for the fate forced upon you; for the fact I wasn't able to stop it. And I'm sorry that for your entire existence, you have been nothing more than a pawn. A pawn used to shape a life and destiny that even I wasn't aware of until recently." Clockwork sighed loudly once more.

"And I'm sorry, most of all, for the fact you have never been able to live your own life… All that you were, all that you did. They were the reflection of someone else. You, Sombra, have been nothing more than the shadow of Pariah Dark." He waved with his cane, and the viewing portal closed as he turned around, eyes closed. 

"It was a fate worse than death." Clockwork spoke solemnly, sighing out as memories of old resurfaced.

Never blinking eyes watched the chosen ghost as he went through his day to day business. The adult male, in his early forties when he suddenly died as a result of a aneurysm, had been one of interest to them, and had been for a long time. He was being observed even before his birth, as they knew this individual's actions, his gift, his presence in a time not his own. 

They knew that his presence and actions would help shape lives both past, present, and future. 

He was chosen. Chosen to take up a mantle of responsibility not many were suited for. Nor was he, but time changes everything.

Not too long ago, he died. Well, relatively speaking of course. What are centuries to someone who has died, and has all the time in existence? 

But for a ghost, Clockwork was still quite young. Of course, relatively once again. Compared with the true ancient ghosts, he, as well as most other ghosts were merely a side note in the duration of their existence.

But even to Clockwork, the days, months, years, and even the centuries moved by with speed. Speed controllable by his observation.

To him, it was as if he observed himself; his actions from a third person perspective. Watching his choices affect others, and set in motion an endless chain of actions and reactions.

He showed a talent, a control, an ability to watch events unfold, and play into them.

It was because of this that he was chosen.

"Greetings, Clockwork." A voice spoke, and Clockwork turned around to see a most peculiar sight.

A ghost unlike any he had seen before had approached him. A ghost with an extremely thin body, narrowing more and more as it tapered off into an intangible tail. Yet it, or he, as his voice was clearly male, had an unproportionally broad upper body, with long arms, and hands with long, sharp claw like nails. Yet the one feature that gave Clockwork pause, and made him raise a eyebrow, was the individual's head. Although Clockwork wasn't sure if calling it a head would fit the green glob with only one massive eye in it.

Another detail were the ghost's clothes. A white, full body suit with wide sleeves. A golden, intricate design decorating the end of the sleeves. And a single, golden band in its center ran the length of the suit, with a similar design decorating the neck area. A black robe, red on the inside, hung over his shoulders, and the collar extended up past the ghost's 'head' to only allow one to see his 'face' when looking at him up front.

"And who might you be?" Clockwork asked, puzzled and intrigued.

"I am an observant. One of many of the same." The Observant introduced himself. 

"Many of the same?" 

"Indeed," the Observant confirmed. "What you believe to be a single individual speaking to you right now, is merely a misplaced concept based on what you see before you. Understandable, but wrong. I am no mere individual. Instead, I am one of many. We are the Observants," he spoke grandly, reaching out with his arms to the sides, and more of the same beings revealed themselves to Clockwork. "We watch, we observe, we safeguard time. And we have need of your help."

"You need my help?" Clockwork repeated, giving no readable response in emotion. "For what?"

"The task which requires your help is not easily explained. But know it can not be completed successfully without you."

"I see," Clockwork said simply, taking a moment to observe the Observants as they hovered around him. "And what if I refuse?"

"Time has already showed us you will agree to help."

"Then why bother asking?"

"Because we have have seen it to be done so."

Clockwork crossed his arms, looking at the Observant talking with a flat look. "Then if you are able to see all this, then why don't you 'see' how to solve this problem of yours yourself?"

"That is not how this works."

"And asking me, someone who does not know you, and who knows all too well how the Ghost Zone works does?" The Observants looked at one another for a moment, not sure how to reply. "For all I know, you are just a group of ghosts trying to lure me, or any ghost willing to 'help' you into a trap of sorts. So, I ask again. Why do you need my help? And for what?" 

"Very well," the Observant relented. "As I already told you, we watch over and safeguard time. It has come to our attention an event of critical importance is about to unfold. One in which you play a vital role. You, alongside another."

"Another?"

"Indeed. You and… this other individual will work together to solidify a critical point in several points of time."

"Ignoring the fact that you, a stranger to me, wants me to team up with yet another unknown individual. Intervening or manipulating points and events in time is tremendously dangerous. Even the smallest of changes can cause a massive ripple of events in the long term. And you want me, and someone else to actively meddle with history?"

"What makes you think this has to do with historical events?" the Observant asked, intrigued.

"You already said you know who I am; that you saw me play an active role in the very events that I haven't partaken in. Of course, this could also mean we're talking about the future. Yet the way you keep saying things is as if it has already happened, and is not going to happen. While at the same time, what has happened still is going to happen. My future is the past you have observed."

"You are indeed the one we have need of," the Observant spoke, impressed. 

"So, I am right." Clockwork stated.

"Indeed you are."

"Hmmm… And if I were to accept this task you have for me. Who is it I will be working with?"

The eyes of the Observants looked at one another, before returning to Clockwork. 

"Allow us to introduce you to him."

Silence.

Long lasting silence.

"A book!?"

"Yes."

"This other you were talking about is a book!?"

"In a way."

"Is this supposed to be a joke?"

"Not at all. However, his form is rather deceiving." The Observant said.

"Although, he does seem to like this particular form above all others." Another Observant noted.

"What are you talking about?" Clockwork demanded, growing irritated. "Is this book actually a shapeshifter?"

With a sudden and unexpected burst of green light, the book shot out of one of the Observer's hands, and came to an abrupt stop close to Clockworks face; flipping open at the centerfold.

This book has a name, you know.

"Interesting," Clockwork hummed, watching the words appear before him as if they were written by an invisible hand. "A sentient being posing as an inanimate object."

So you've figured it out, huh? The name's Necronomicon, but just call me Necky for short.

"The book of the dead!" Clockwork exclaimed, floating away to put some distance between himself and the book. Eyes widening, then narrowing as he gave the book a distrusting glare. "How is something this… evil going to be helpful?"

A loud, tired, and overly annoyed sigh came from Necky. The book slammed shut, and the skull on the cover glared at Clockwork with glowing green eyes.

"Yes, I'm the 'book' of the dead." Necky shot at Clockwork, the skull's jaw moving as he spoke. His voice firm and masculine, and with a slight accent Clockwork would describe as British. "But that doesn't mean I am evil. Nor does it mean all I do is bring death." 

Clockwork tried to interject his own opinion, but Necky didn't allow him. 

"If anything, I consider myself more of a neutral party. I'm neither good nor bad. Instead, I base my actions on events in the here and now. Whether this is in the past, present, or future is merely relative. And yes, I knew you would bring up that point." He added as a finish, leaving Clockwork in a very rare state. At a loss for words.

"... Well, this partnership is off to a great start." An observant noted lightly, redirecting Clockwork and Necky's attention to him instead. 

"You want me to work with the Necronomicon!?" Clockwork said with a low, calm voice, not hiding how he felt about it. 

"Hey, you're not hearing me complain about it either. After all, first impressions are key. And you aren't all that great at it, if past experience is to tell." Necky shot at Clockwork, his pages rustling for a moment.

Clockwork leered at Necky for several long seconds, before, slowly, turning towards the Observants. 

"And what, exactly, is it that is going to happen which needs the involvement of I and the Necronomicon?" Clockwork asked with suspicion.

"Necronomicon!" Necky corrected. "There is no 'the' 'it' or 'a'. It's a name, my name. And I am not some lifeless object."

Clockwork's eyes glanced at Necky for only a moment, before settling back on the one-eyed ghosts with them, still waiting for an answer.

"Your worries are understandable, but fear not," one of the Observants answered.

"Like you, Necronomicon has a vital role to play. You both are needed, because of your individual skills." Another Observant added.

"And worry not. There shall be no raising of the dead…" another one continued, before hesitating.

"Well, not in the conventional way." Yet another Observant finished.

Clockwork's eyes steeled as they narrowed even further.

"Explain!" He demanded. 

"To explain everything would take too long, as there are many different points in which intervention is required."

"They are several points in time, on several different worlds. All separated by distance, time… and other forces."

"But what you demand knowledge about would be the Kadzait, and the crimes they've committed."

"Kadzait?"

"It's a pack of sapient wolves from the world Firosina. They are best compared with terrorist groups from your world." An Observant clarified.

"They, and one other of great importance, will be responsible for a great many deaths." Another continued.

"And it is up to me and th- and Necronomicon to stop this?" Clockwork said, making it clear he didn't like any of this. "Why would I want to get involved in any of this?" He asked them, intimidatingly.

"You wouldn't." An Observant told him. "Which is also one of the reasons why you are needed for this task."

"What do you mean?!" Clockwork shot back.

"Objectivity," was the answer. "It will help you stay objective."

"Also, we are aware of your talent; your ability to see the ripple of actions and reactions. Time has already shown you are part of all this. But what might happen if you chose differently?"

Clockwork turned his head slightly to the right, thinking with a deep frown wrinkling his forehead. 

"You speak of events still coming, yet they have already happened. Any choice I make I have already made, and thus aren't really making a choice at all. This would suggest I don't have any free will over my own actions, and makes me inclined to break free from this supposed hold by choosing the opposite, and refuse to be a part of all this." —His frown deepened— "But by changing the outcome of my decisions based on the knowledge I have now, I would cause a ripple of reactions, and responding actions as one change would lead to many different changes. Resulting in an outcome unpredictable as the set timeline would branch out into many different, parallel versions of the original."

"This would be indeed the case." An Observant nodded his eyeball head. 

"And as you have made clear, you wouldn't have any part in interfering in the lives of many like we have asked of you. But how would events play out if you did refuse? How many lives would be affected? For the better, or the worse." Another Observant asked Clockwork.

"So, as I surmised. The choice has already been made for me. Which makes me wonder if I have any free will of choice at all. Has everything I have done up to this point, alive and dead, all been predetermined actions out of my control, or am I master of my own actions?"

"This we can not answer, I'm afraid." An Observant told him. "We merely watch over, protect, and maintain the timeline. Any answers regarding free will, or Destiny even are well beyond us."

"What we do know, you must partake in the events to come. It is imperative for more lives than you realize. Both past, present, and future."

"You are now standing at a crossroad, Clockwork. Help us, or change the course of history with unknown consequences."

"What choice do I have?" Clockwork growled, eyes glowing in anger. "Fine, I'll do it. But when this is done, I don't want to deal with any of you ever again."

The Observants looked at one another, not saying a word for several long minutes.

"Very well," came their answer. 

Clockwork took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "Fine, where do we start?"

"Right here," an Observant said. And with a wave of his hand, a swirling green portal opened; showing scenes from a different time and place.

"What is this?" Clockwork asked, the slightest hint of awe breaking through his anger as he watched the creatures on the other side of the swirling mass, recognizing them. "Hold on… Isn't this-"

"Equestria, yes. Millennia ago, and many centuries after the severance." An Observant finished, nodding as he explained. 

"Severance?"

"Yes. The link between the two worlds which was formed a few short centuries ago, had been present long before. But certain events in the past resulted in the severance of this connection." They told Clockwork, the images showing the various creatures known to reside in this magical world, ranging from dragons, griffins, and many others, until showing a collection of ponies; either with horns, wings, or without.

"How did we not know about this?" Clockwork demanded. "We have thousands of archeologists studying the past, there has to be some proof of this."

"But there is, Clockwork." They told him, and Clockwork turned to look at them with confusion.

"There is indeed proof of your kind interacting with those found on this world before. Yet this proof is dismissed as myths, fables, or even as stories told to your children."

"Ancient greek mythology." Clockwork gasped, eyes widening. Turning back to the portal, he watched the many ponies showed. "Then do they know of this shared history?"

"No. Time has caused this knowledge to fade, just as it has done with yours. But, like on Earth, hints and clues are left behind."

Clockwork looked at the viewing portal, frowning. "... You said the former connection was severed. Why?"

"Long ago, humans, ponies, and all the other intelligent creatures found on this world lived together. This also included us ghosts," an Observant told him.

"For the most part, their coexistence was peaceful. Of course there were those who did harm, but for the most part there was a peaceful balance. Except for the majority of the ghosts." Another sadly sighed out. 

"We ghosts have our spectral energies. Our 'life' force, so to speak. The ponies, however, have something different all together. As you know—" With another wave of a sharp nailed hand, the images changed; showing a unicorn using a power Clockwork recognized as magic. "—their magic is a powerful force. A powerful, oppositional force to our spectral energy."

"Different types of this magic exist, based on the different species and races. Yet all share a same common trait; their magic reacts violently to our spectral energy."

"For some ghosts this was not a problem, as they lived peacefully with the locals. The majority, however-"

"Saw this as a real threat." Clockwork finished sourly.

"Indeed," several of the Observants nodded. "There were fights. Terrible, bloody conflicts. And in response, a choice was made."

"The eldest of us ghosts, those born from spectral energy upon creation of creation itself gathered and used their shared powers to sever the link between worlds, and shield this magical world from our spectral brethren." 

"In doing so, they shielded the inhabitants of this world from ghostly harm. For the most part. Some ghosts remained, only to fade away in stories and myths." Yet another Observant continued, to the annoyance of Clockwork as he was forced to shift his attention every time they did this.

"But by severing these two worlds, and expelling most of the ghosts, a new problem arose."

"And this is where I come in?"

"No," was the answer, much to Clockworks mild surprise. "Upon severance, chaos broke free. And in order to keep things from spiraling out of control, we called upon the help of one of the ancients. A powerful individual who embodies chaos himself."

"And something went wrong," Clockwork surmised, having a good idea who they meant with that.

"No… Well, not at first. The moment in time we are observing now happens just a few short years shy of Discord's descent in madness; going mad with power."

"This is where you come in. You, Necronomicon, and two other chosen." The images in the portal changed to two young ponies. One a white pegasus with a pink mane, somewhere in her late teenage years; a Cutie Mark of a sun with parting clouds displayed on her flank. The other, a midnight blue unicorn with a light blue mane, just shy of ten years of age

"Who are they?" Clockwork asked, eyes narrowing. "They look familiar… somehow."

"Those chosen to take up the mantle of responsibility, and restore the upset balance their world will suffer from in due time." 

"You two will go to their world and time, and set in motion the events that will help shape their lives."

"You mean to tell me that, not only are my actions already decided, but theirs as well!?" Clockwork said with raised voice.

"Yes!" Necky shot back. "And with good reason." Then, with a wavering aura surrounding the book, rippling erratically in response to his mindset, he said: "You may not like everything told to you, but that does not give you the right to argue everything."

"But what right do we have to meddle in their lives?" Clockwork shot back.

"None. But if we don't, then someone else will."

"What!?"

"Allow me to reveal a little secret," Necky said, suddenly sounding all business like. "There is such a thing as Destiny. And then there is free will. Now, Destiny is a grand thing, a plan for all. Yet only a few will be put on a path leading to true greatness, or great evil. But only if they CHOOSE to follow this path." Necky revealed, his cover opening slightly and his pages bristled for a brief moment. "Now, let's take you for example. You said you didn't have a choice with the options given to you. But we all know this is not true. You could have chosen to turn your back and leave all of this behind."

"Only because this would cause irreparable damage to time itself!"

"Would it?" Necky shot back. "True, changes would flow from your decision. But this would not be the end of set events… You can choose to take a different path, and Destiny will find someone else who will follow its calling. That is Destiny. Not a stubborn force holding onto a single individual like a child holding onto a piece of candy. Destiny allows you to make your own choices. And if this means you are no longer on the path, then so be it. If you won't do it, then there are many others, in many different times. You always have a choice. Just as they have a choice," he said as he looked at the two ponies still on display in the viewing portal.

"But I'm sure you realized something like this. Maybe not everything, but you know, deep down. Having seen it yourself even without realizing it. This is why you are so defiant. You wish to see the reactions of others when you rebel against this very notion. And in doing so, see the flow of events following. That is also why you chose to help, despite your protest. You wish to see how our actions will affect the lives of others. Not out of ill will, but mere curiosity. To see what is, what was, what can be, what could be, and what can never be…. Am I wrong?"

Clockwork looked at Necronomicon with wide eyes of shock, not saying a word. Then, slowly, his eyes narrowed as he glared at Necky. 

"I suspected something, yes. I have seen many beings during my time; saw the choices they made. Every choice made setting in motion a ripple, a reaction. Yet from time to time, I saw those who defied the logical pattern of action and reaction. Surprising me, and those around them with the unexpected; breaking free from the expected path. But this does make me wonder… Just how much do you know, and how do you know all of this?"

"Well, then here we have the mystery. You want to know the answers to those questions, then something must be given in return. Equivalent exchange. You help us with what needs to be done, and I will reveal some of my knowledge. Do we have a deal?"

Clockwork frowned, deeply; eyes shifting between the viewing portal and Necky. Then, with a deep sigh, he relented. "Fine, I'll bite."

"Excellent." An Observant exclaimed, reminding Clockwork they were there too.

"So, what is it that we must do first?" Clockwork asked. 

"These two children, they will come to face a great deal of difficult trials. But as they are now, they will not succeed. This is where Necronomicon comes in. His powers are not solely focused on death alone, and he has the power to gift them with powers far greater than any of them would ever gain naturally."

"And how do I help?" Clockwork asked.

"Giving them these powers isn't the problem. The problem is choice. As I said, one can chose to accept the path before them, or turn away. You will need to interact with them, make them accept the powers I will bestow on them." Necky answered.

"And how must I do that!?" Clockwork asked, cynical. "I'm sure that I can't just approach them as I am."

"How right you are." Necky said deviously as a powerful glow surrounded his form. 

"Wait! What is going on!?" Clockwork shouted as the same glow surrounded his body; feeling it change him.

"The reaction to your choice," Necky answered vaguely, mirth clearly noticeable in his voice.

"GHAAA!" Clockwork yelled as the glow of energy surrounding him grew brighter and brighter, blinding everyone save Necky.

Then, with a flash, the power died down; the glow vanished, and the room they were in suddenly seemed eerily dark.

"Well… Aren't you the most adorable thing my old eyes have ever seen." Necky chuckled as he, and the Observants looked down on the pale blue colt with dark purple mane.

"What happened?" Clockwork asked, only to fall silent as he heard his voice; much younger, and without the lowered tone he gained during his teenage years.

With shock, he reached a hand for his throat, only to yelp out in shock as he realized his versatile appendage had transformed into a hoof. A quick inspection, and several strong swear words later, he realized the full extent of his change.

"WHAT THE HELL!" He shouted, and Necronomicon lowered himself to eye level. 

"Welcome back, Clockwork. Welcome back to the living!"

"I. Hate. You!" Clockwork repeated for the thousandth time.

"I know. I know." Necky answered with a light tone.

"I. Really. Really. Hate. You!" 

"You have made yourself quite clear the last several hundred times."

"I. Hate. You!"

Sighing, Necronomicon looked down at the young colt with him; the both of them hiding at the edge of a massive forest near the small settlement home to the two young ponies.

"Despite your clear opinion about your personal feelings for me, not once have I heard you complain about your transformation… Well, except for the initial response of course."

"I. Hate. You…" Clockwork said again. But right as Necky was about to reply, he continued. "... But that doesn't mean I am stupid."  He sighed out as he lifted a hoof and looked at it. "I can't think of a better way to interact with them, than as one of them. Believe me, I've tried to come up with a better way."

"Well, at least you're honest." Necky sighed. "Now, do you have a plan how to approach them?"

"Perhaps," Clockwork answered. "The youngest of the two, the dark blue one. From what I saw as we observed them, she's the more adventurous of the both of them. Often wandering off into this forest, despite being told not to."

"Ah, and you are hoping she would do so again. And then the two of you would just 'bump' into each other, while her older sister comes to get her before anyone else finds out they are here."

"Just about, yes."

"Ah, the perils of a young, still relatively wild world. Yes, this might work."

"Might?"

"Well, there is the manticore sneaking up on us from behind. That could ruin things."

"WAIT, WHAT!?" Clockwork shouted as he spun around, eyes locking on those of the giant beast. A creature he'd only heard of, but never seen before. As tall as a bear, and with the head of a lion. Massive bat wings, and a lethal scorpion's tail. Both shock and fear rooted Clockwork on the spot, until, with a noticeable tremble, he lifted his hoof to fire a spectral beam. Only, nothing happened.

"WHAT?!" He shouted in disbelief. The manticore growled, and began to close the distance.

"Why aren't my powers working!?" Clockwork demanded.

"Ah, yes. I forgot to mention. When I welcomed you back to the living, I was serious. You are, in fact, mortal again. And as such, have no spectral powers to call upon." Necronomicon explained with a far too calm voice.

"THEN HOW DO I USE THESE PONIES' MAGIC!?" Clockwork shouted in panic, backing away.

Necky slowly rotated in the air as he kept his eye on Clockwork. "As explained, spectral energy and magic are opposites. Seeing how I use spectral powers myself, and not using this magic, it stands to reason I cannot give you access to any magical powers of your own. Hence why you have neither wings or a horn."

Clockwork's pupils shrunk to pinpricks at Necky's words, and over the fact the manticore was now almost on top of him. Staring up at the gargantuan beast with wide, fearful eyes; ears folded flat, Clockwork released a frightened 'eep' before turning tail and running away. Loudly yelling: "I HAAAATTTEE YYYOOOUUUUUU!!!!" at Necky while trying his hardest to get his four legs to not tangle together.

"Yes, you've been quite clear on that." Necky said flatly while the manticore roared and sped past him, not showing any interest in the hovering book.

Necronomicon hovered in place for a moment as he watched Clockwork and the manticore weave around the trees, before breaking free from the forest.

"Hmmm… Perhaps I should help him a little bit?" Necronomicon wondered aloud as Clockwork screamed, sounding almost girly. "... Yes, a little bit."

Clockwork ran as fast as his short legs allowed him. 

He was well aware that as a quadruped, he was much faster than when he was his bipedal self. But after centuries of being able to fly, he had some difficulties coordinating his legs. The fact he had two more of them not helping either, and he stumbled more times than he would have liked, giving the manticore ample opportunity to close the small distance between them and finish him off.

"Aaaaahhh!!" Clockwork screamed in fear, unable to do much else in his struggling attempt to escape.

The manticore roared at his prey.

"DUCK!" someone yelled, and Clockwork did just that. And in no way did he trip over his own legs. No, he ducked, just as he was told to do. 

A blast of nightly blue energy slammed into the manticore's chest, making the beast stumble and roar in anger and confusion. 

Shaking its head, the beast turned towards the source which had interrupted the hunt on such easy prey.

"Hey, ugly. Remember me?" The dark blue unicorn said, grinning.

"... Eehh. Should I?" Clockwork asked, dazed.

"Not you," she shot back, rolling her eyes. Then she refocused on the manticore, and lowered her stance; grinning as her horn glowed. "Sunny isn't here right now, so we can have all the fun we want."

A roar came in answer, and the manticore lowered its stance as well; its deadly tail raised high above its head. 

The blue filly grinned, and the glow of her magic grabbed hold of the bulbous tip. 

The manticore snarled in surprise as it looked up. His surprise soon changed into a dazed look with crossed eyes, and his tongue lolling out of his mouth, as the bulbous part of his tail slammed down onto its head.

A second blow soon followed, with a thirth not long thereafter.

"STARLIGHT!" A voice cut in, stopping the manticore's tail from hitting a fourth time.

The blue pony turned to look behind and up, seeing the white pegasus with a pink mane hovering in the air; forelegs crossed over her chest as she looked down with a frown.

"Starlight," the pegasus repeated disapprovingly. 

"Sunny," Starlight groaned exasperatedly. 

"You know you can't run off like this. There are numerous dangerous creatures out there."

"Yeah, I noticed." Starlight said flatly, slamming the manticore's tail onto its head for a fourth time. "Really dangerous," she deadpanned.

Sunny's frown deepened, then she looked at Clockwork.

"Who is he? I haven't seen him before."

"Don't know," Starlight shrugged. "I saw him running out of the forest, chased by big ugly over here." A fifth slam on the head emphasized her point, and the manticore finally collapsed; unconscious. 

Sunny's frown softened, and she dropped to the ground. "So, you saved him?"

"I guess," Starlight shrugged. She then turned to the colt still lying on the ground. "What were you doing in the forest anyhow? Don't you know it's dangerous?" She asked, and Sunny snorted while shooting Starlight a glare over her hypocrisme. 

"Yes, I noticed." Clockwork groaned flatly, pushing himself up. He dusted himself off, then took a moment to properly observe the one who had saved him. His eyes widened a fraction upon realizing who was with him.

"Is everything alright?" Sunny asked, worried.

"Yes… yes—" He shook his head to clear his thoughts "—Just happy to be, uh… alive." He said the last word with some confusion.

"Who are you? And what were you doing in the forest anyhow?" Sunny asked him.

Straightening himself before answering, Clockwork noticed that in his younger, pony form, he was a head shorter than Sunny. Something which annoyed him for some reason. "My name is Clockwork," he introduced himself. "And I'm here looking for, umm... something."

"Something?" Starlight quirked an eyebrow.

"I, ehh…" Clockwork looked around for a moment to come up with an answer. He then realized who was missing. "That stupid book," he sighed out.

"Well, I guess that works as well." Necky muttered as he watched events unfold from the shadows. 

Turning around, he looked down on those gathered. Dozens of reanimated skeletons, and a few carcasses of the more recently deceased animals stood in a semi-circle behind him, awaiting his command. 

"Okay, back to your graves." And with a burst of his power, the dead fell to the ground; the skeletons falling apart. Then they all disintegrated into dust, which blew away in the wind.

"A stupid book?" Starlight repeated, confused. "You were looking in the forest for a stupid book?"

"No.. yes… well… It's complicated," he replied hasty.

With a low whine, the manticore stirred, drawing their attention. Starlight's horn bursting into life once more.

"No, sister. That's enough!" Sunny shot at her. "We'll go back to the village where it's safe."

"Fine." Starlight drew out the word in annoyance.

"And I will tell mother and father about this," Sunny added in final. "You come too," she told Clockwork. "We’ll do a more proper introduction when we're in the village. Night is approaching, and the more dangerous beasts will come out to hunt."

That sounded like a excellent plan, and Clockwork quickly nodded and followed after the two; glancing back behind him at the sluggishly rising manticore, as well at the place Necky was still hiding. The latter he looked at with a heated glare, even if he couldn't actually see the source of his growing frustration. 

And as twilight settled down over the land, two pair of glowing eyes watched the trio walk towards the village. The light of fire and magical orbs lighting the darkening sky; shining over a large log fence surrounding the village, with two gates allowing ponies to enter and leave.

"He doesn't yet realize it, but he will be more involved in their lives than he initially had planned." Necky spoke.

"I know." Clockwork replied, hovering next to Necky; his staff held tightly in his hand. "And I still haven't forgiven you for what you have done… and what you're going to do."

"... Why are you here, Clockwork?" Necronomicon asked the ghost hovering next to him.

"You know very well why I am here."

Necky sighed. "To relive the first moment when you met her. Crossing your own timeline to do so."

"Only because it was inevitable from the beginning," Clockwork muttered. "Everything that was set in motion so long ago; all those different lives connecting at one point in time or the other. I have already seen the end of it all; saw how everything led towards the choices and actions of Danny Phantom, and others who followed. I have lived through it all, yet for my younger self it is a story still unfolding." Clockwork and Necky hovered in place in silence, watching the first stars reveal themselves in the darkening sky.

"They shine as bright as her," Clockwork muttered, closing his eyes as he sighed out. "... It's strange, in a way. To know now my life started centuries after my death. And now, millennia after this happened, I have reached the point in time where my past is repeating itself. Only this time, I am an observer, watching my own past while it happens."

"What happened?" Necky asked, already knowing the answer Clockwork would give,

"Spoilers." Clockwork sighed again, grimacing as he looked down at the village. "... I have never said this before, and I doubt I will ever say this again… I can never forgive you, what you did. What you're going to do. But, it was because of you I also met her. So, for that, you have my thanks."

Silence took hold of them again, with only the song of crickets, a few hooting owls, and the sound of creatures moving through the forest's foliage to break the silence. 

The sound of walking brought their attention towards the being standing behind them; her eyes large as she observed her surroundings.

Clockwork gave a half smile, floating over to the new arrival. He gave a nod, and with a wave of his cane a portal opened.

"Come, let's not interrupt in their lives any more." 

The other nodded, and together the two vanished in the swirling green of the portal.

Necky held still for several minutes, watching, listening to the world around him.

"In the end, all comes together. One way, or the other."

He silently flew towards the village, looking for the home Clockwork was led to.

"Mother, father," Sunny Skies called out as she entered the simple wooden home.

It was similar in design as his human ancestors had made oh so long ago, Clockwork realized as he entered after Starlight.

The wooden structure was comprised out of a large central room with a fire pit in its center. A small ventilation hole was made in the straw roofing to allow the smoke and heat to safely vent out. 

Two small chambers could be seen at the far site of the home, with two flat beds made of hay covered with a cloth in each. 

The entire home was noticeably void of furniture, save for a small worn out table made of rough wood standing near one of the walls. An assortment of unwashed vegetables and grass lying on it. 

Some strings holding dried fruits hung on the wall above it, with a couple of empty spots which, Clockwork assumed, held the fruit now boiling in the small kettle held above the fire in the home's center.

And standing next to it, holding a stirring spoon in her mouth, was an older pegasus mare. Ears flicking towards the doorway as the trio entered.

"Mother," Sunny Skies called out, trotting over to her mother; a mare with an off white coat, fiery red mane, and a trio of raindrops for a Cutie Mark.

The mare smiled as she put away the utensil, and used a wing to pull her daughter in a hug.

"Starlight," the mare said with a stern, but warm voice, looking at her other child. "You were out in the forest again, weren't you?"

"No," Starlight lied, looking away as her muzzle scrounged up in an adorable pout.

Her mother raised a eyebrow, clearly not convinced, and she stared at her daughter in a way only a mother could; making Starlight flinch as she lowered herself slightly.

"Fine, I was going to the forest." She admitted.

"Starlight," her mother scolded, "by now you should know how dangerous the forest is. Especially at night."

"Well, I did save him." She said defensively, pointing towards Clockwork.

Now all eyes were on the old ghost disguised as a young colt, who had silently witnessed everything being said and done; feeling rather awkward as he did so.
 
"Did you now?" Starlight's mother responded. "And who might you be? And why were you in the forest?"

Clockwork straightened himself and cleared his throat as he answered. "My name is Clockwork. As for why I was in the forest. I'm, ehh... just passing through." He said with a hint of uncertainty.

"I thought you said you were looking for a stupid book?" Starlight quipped. Clockwork looked at her with a blank expression.

"Don't mind her," Sunny Skies said as she rolled her eyes.

Ignoring her daughter’s customary behavior, their mother smiled towards Clockwork instead.

"Well hello, Clockwork. My name is Raindrop and these are my daughters, Sunny Skies and Starlight." Raindrop introduced with a slight nod of her head, and a warm smile.

"Is father not present?" Sunny Skies asked, looking around.

"He will return later. He has to keep watch at the eastern gate." Her mother answered.

Sunny Skies frowned. "There has been a noticeable increase in attacks by wild beasts, but does he really have to go on watch again so soon?"

"I'm afraid so," Raindrop sighed sadly. "And if this keeps up, it will be difficult to go out and tend to our crops. We're already running out of fresh fruits and vegetables."

Shaking her head, she returned her attention back to Clockwork. 

"But let's not worry about that. You've brought a friend over."

"Well, actually. We've only just met," Clockwork told her. He then looked around again, taking in more of the details. "It's a nice place you have," he added awkwardly.

"Why, thank you," Raindrop responded with a warm smile.

"What village are you from?" Starlight blurted, looking at Clockwork with a puzzled frown. "I know there is one up South, about a day travel by hoof. And another one due East, almost three days away."

"I, ehh… I'm not really from around here," he admitted. "I guess you can say I've been wandering around for a long time."

"A long time? You're what, nine, ten years old?" Sunny replied, puzzled. Clockwork then remembered he stood before them as a child, not the centuries old human ghost her truly was.

"... It seemed longer to me," he muttered, looking away while subconsciously flattening his ears.

"You aren't alone, are you?" Raindrop asked, worried. "Did you belong to a group, or at the least with your parents?"

Clockwork frowned, saddened as he thought back to his youth. Not having any memories of his parents, and having grown up in an orphanage.

"My parents have been dead for some time now," he told them truthfully. "And I'm not with a group either." He looked at the three ponies, seeing the expected reaction of sorrow and empathy. 

"So you’re all alone?" Raindrop asked.

"With the exception of...well, a book which I unfortunately lost in the forest, yes."

"A book?" Raindrop repeated, blinking a few times in confusion. 

"You mentioned it before," Sunny said, "is it important to you?"

"... I'm still trying to figure that out," Clockwork muttered. Then a feeling he hadn't felt in a long, long time became apparent to him. And as his stomach growled loudly, he first looked down at his belly, then at the ponies before him; eyes wide and embarrassed. 

"Ah… uhmm… Excuse me," he apologized.

"Oh my, you poor thing. Just how long have you been wandering around, without anything to eat?" Raindrop said with concern, stepping closer to Clockwork.

Clockwork's mind jumped back through the years, coming up blank. "It has been a while," he admitted vaguely. 

Raindrop's facial features shifted into an determined, not taking no for an answer frown. "Then it is settled. You will stay here with us for now. We may not have much, but I will not allow you to go out there, at night no less, without anything to eat."

"Oh no—" Clockwork objected, "—that isn't necessary." His stomach growled again.

Raindrop's frown, fueled by motherly concern, deepened. "No buts, young stallion. I won't have any of it." And she firmly, but gently guided Clockwork towards the steaming kettle; quickly pushing a clay bowl in his hooves, and filling it with a generous helping of a vegetable broth.

Clockwork noted that the contents of the kettle were already running low just from what he was given, and it must have shown on his face as he glanced at the kettle and the generous family who literally shoved their food in his hooves.

"Don't you worry about us," Raindrop assured him. "There is still more than enough for the rest of us."

Clockwork wasn't convinced. Having heard what was said a moment ago, and having seen the provisions still available he knew he was putting a serious strain on what little they had left. But he couldn't just decline this offered food either, not wanting to insult the mare who had shown him nothing but kindness. Him, a complete stranger.

Besides, she had already made it abundantly clear she wouldn't accept a no for answer.

"Thank you," Clockwork said sincerely. 

Looking at the steaming contents in the bowl, wondering momentarily how to eat it without any utensils, only to remember he didn't even have any hands left. After thinking for several more seconds, he finally shrugged and dove his muzzle into the steamingly hot vegetables. 

It was then he reexperienced another feeling he hadn’t felt for a long time. A burnt mouth.

The next few moments were filled with Clockwork wheezing in an attempt to cool down his throbbing tongue, while Raindrop shot him a perplexed look. Sunny Skies and Starlight, also taken aback by Clockwork acting as if he had never eaten anything hot before, also couldn't help snicker softly as Clockwork looked at his burned tongue; cross eyed, while silently muttering several strong words towards a certain book. 

A certain book who, unseen in the dark night's sky, was watching him from the ventilation hole in the roof, chuckling to himself.

Hours had passed, and night had well and truly claimed the land. 

Clockwork, lying on a hastily made bed of hay slowly rose. Unable to sleep, both because of the strange events currently transpiring, and the fact he hadn't slept for centuries.

True, ghosts could sleep if they wanted to, but there was no real need for it. Just like breathing was no longer a necessity, it was a residual need linked to their days alive.

Of course he had no intent to sleep to begin with. No, instead he lay in wait for the curiously welcoming family to fall asleep themselves. And hearing all four ponies (the father, an unicorn introduced as Radiant Spark, had returned home some hours after Clockwork had joined for dinner,) now breathing calmly and deeply, he knew he could go out and look for Necronomicon.

Still, he had to be careful. He was a stranger in a unknown village, and a time not his own. Even his own form was alien to him. 

Fortunately, the darkness of night would provide him with needed cover. Unfortunately, this also made his search all the more difficult. Add to that the fact there were ponies out on guard, something he determined based on the discussion held between Raindrop and her daughters, he knew he had to be careful. 

Stepping out into the dark, Clockwork looked around, orientating himself while squinting his eyes; unable to see all that well, and realizing his ability to see in darkened places was severely reduced as well as a mortal.

He quietly sighed out, muttering in annoyance towards the ever growing source of his irritation. 

"Now where is that infuriating book?" he muttered quietly.

"Right here," Necky answered, directly next to Clockwork.

With a frightened whinny, thoroughly confusing and surprising Clockwork as much as Necronomicon speaking next to him, he reared back, and fell onto his rump. Necky gave sounds indicating his strained effort to keep his laughter down.  

"I hate you," Clockwork grumbled as he pushed himself back on all four hooves. "And where were you when that beast chased me?" He added accusingly, glaring at the hovering book.

"In the forest—" Necky answered matter-of-factly "—watching you 'bump' into Starlight, just as you had planned."

Clockwork hissed an angry retort, but a sleepy groan pulled his attention towards the home he had just exited; realizing neither he or Necky had been keeping their voices down all that much. At least, not as much to stay unnoticed at the dead silence of night. 

Looking at one another, Necky and Clockwork quickly but quietly made their way to a more secluded place; hiding in the darkness between the outer wall and a storage shed of sorts.

"Now, what do you want?" Clockwork said with strained calm, glaring at Necronomicon. "You and those Observants said I needed to make them accept this power of yours. How do you need me to do this, exactly?"

"And here I thought you had a plan," Necky hummed with fake disappointment. Sighing, he continued. "Alright. This power I will bestow upon them is spectral in origin. Now, you know their magic is the exact opposite of this power, and the reaction that occurs between the two." —Clockwork nodded— "What you undoubtedly don't know is the other possibility. A rare occurrence when the two conflicting energies manage to…" He paused a moment to find the right word "...Coexist with one another. A balanced conflict which will create a tremendous power as a result. This does not happen easily, however."

"How so?" Clockwork asked, listening with wrapped attention despite his personal feelings towards Necky.

"As with anything, balance is difficult to find. Lean too much to one side, and you will find yourself falling down. As such, it will be difficult for them to accept this balance." —He slowly sunk down, hovering before Clockwork at eye level, with only a few inches between the two.— "Giving them these powers is easy. It will be nothing more than a flick of my figurative wrist. But in doing so, they will be exposed to a great imbalance as their magic and these spectral energies will clash. Both powers will become unstable, unpredictable. Trying to use one power will make them access the other, and vice versa. They could exhibit abilities not possible by mortal standards… Well, not by any of the standards they have set in regards to their magic." Necky mused, taking a moment to let his mind dwell on the subject of the ponies' magic.

Shaking his cover to clear his head, he continued. "There will be conflict, a great deal of it when I bestow spectral energies upon them. Should I do this now, here, at this time, they will panic; as will everyone else. They might think they are cursed, sick, or something else nefarious at play."

"They wouldn't be wrong," Clockwork pointed out.

"True," Necky allowed, "but the result will be all the same. They will fight what will happen to them. Run away from it, putting too much weight on one side, and fall of the edge."

"Are you saying they could die?" 

"There will be conflict. A great deal of it. If they allow for it, it will tear them apart." Necky replied, and Clockwork stood in silence, eyes wide in shocked realization; contemplating his part in all of this.

"This is why you are here, Clockwork." Necky told him. "You must push them towards the other side; towards balance. Nothing outgoing, but a simple nudge here and there. A thought, an idea. Something that will make them more… compliant with the changes."

"What!?" Clockwork gasped out. "But how am I supposed to do this? Something like that will take-"

"Years, yes." Necky finished, hovering back up to tower over Clockwork. "You are needed here, for now. You will find a place amongst them. Live with them. Work with them. Grow up with them."

"Hold on!" Clockwork almost shouted in anger, grabbing Necky with both front hooves and pulling the book right in front of his face; Necky's green glowing eyes reflecting in Clockwork's mortal red's. "I didn't sign up for this!"

"No, you didn't." Necky agreed. "You thought this to be a simple job, a few days maximum. But it isn't, and this is how it is. These are the consequences to your choices. And, although you don't like this; hate me for it even, you will do it. Because, despite all you might say or do to me, you can't help but wonder; wonder what could be. What actions could flow forth from your presence here." With a burst of his power, Necronomicon freed himself from Clockwork's grasp, hovering up and out of reach. "I will go now, to your future. It will be a passing of seconds for me, but years for you. When we meet again, we will find out just how successful you have been." —Clockwork glared with rage at Necronomicon— "You do not like this, and you may hate me for this. But know this. One day, you will thank me for it." And with a final burst of his power, he vanished.

"Thank you for this!?" Clockwork seethed. "I'll rip your pages from your spine!"

As much as he hated it, Clockwork knew he was stuck on this world and time. And as much as he hated Necronomicon, he knew he couldn't walk away from this either. 

Necronomicon would return, clearly having said so himself. And, as much as he hated himself for doing this, he couldn't allow either Sunny Skies or Starlight to succumb to the power Necky would force upon them. 

Thus he stayed. Finding a place with the family who had so graciously opened their door for him, and helping out where he could while keeping up the appearance as the child he appeared to be. If anything, it allowed him to stay close to the two young ponies, which was a small blessing on its own.

Had he have to come up with a reason to interact with the two for an extended amount of time, while true to his age… Well, he doubted he would even be allowed into the village.

But as it was, he lived, worked, and yes, even played with the other ponies. Trying to live his new life as best he could, but always feeling the shadow of Necronomicon over him; the weight of his words growing heavier and heavier with each passing year, and with every attempt he made to make Sunny Skies and Starlight more open to any supernatural changes without revealing too much about himself, or what he knew.

It in itself was a precarious balancing act. If he pushed too much, they would grow suspicious. Too little, and the results could be catastrophic. No, it had to be done one small step after the other. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. And year after year. And before long, it had become a natural routine to Clockwork. So much so, he could go on with his day to day activities without much thought on the matter, save for the lingering feeling of betrayal which wouldn't go away.

And, of course, puberty. 

Going through it as a kid was one thing. But now, with his mind already an adult, he couldn't help but notice all the changes he, and the children around him went through.

He cursed Necronomicon's name with every preadolescent hormone causing havoc in his maturing body. Hormones which he was confident he could keep under control, if it wasn't for a slightly severe inconvenience. 

His mind may have been human, but years living as a pony had certainly left an imprint. Throw in the fact he was living in the same house with two maturing mares, one of which of the same age he himself appeared to be, and who didn't have any of the inhibitions Clockwork was dealing with. Add to that the fact that Sunny Skies had a devious side, and loved to tease and push him and Starlight together in as many awkward situations as she could, and the recipe for disaster was complete. The only thing keeping things from spiraling out of control completely being Clockwork's adult mentality. But it was difficult for the age regressed, shapeshifted ghost. Adult or not. Those pubescent hormones certainly were a most troublesome adversary. 

Still, even if he tried to keep his distance, the same could not be said for some of the young mares, and even some of the young stallions in the village. Clockwork, in the body of an earth pony, and having helped work the lands and cultivate food, had grown a healthy and noticeable physique. And much to his own discomfort, he had noticed others ogling him one more than one occasion. Worse, deep down he liked the attention. 

The reason he had allowed himself to get this… involved with the community of the village would be rooted long back in his past, and his first childhood. As an orphan, he and many other children lived in the same building, played with the same toys, and ate the same food. They all lived together, but to say they lived together would be a misconception. Much unlike how things were here, in this unnamed village filled with ponies. Here everyone was part of the same community. Back in the orphanage, everyone was much more divided, and could easily be placed into groups.

There were the tough kids; pretending to be cool with their situation. The optimists, who dared to hope each day a loving family would walk through the double, worn out doors and take them in. There were the pessimists, whose view of things were the complete opposite. And then there were those like Clockwork. The realists. 

He and a few others saw things for what they were, and accepted the situation. Even as young as he was. It did give him a sober look on life, giving him a level head and thinking. But still, even he, an eight year old kid, did dream and wonder. Yes, there were the occasional dreams shared with the optimists, and the thought of a welcoming family would keep him busy. But most of the times, he would focus on the then and there. Even as a child, he sought out a role model. Someone to look up to, and hope he could be as amazing as him or her one day. 

Sure, one of the orphanage's caretakers, a pudgy woman with large round glasses certainly did her best to fill this role. Taking care of him and the others with all the loving care of a mother. But her attention was continuously divided between all the children. But that was alright to Clockwork. It was alright, because someone else had caught his attention. A young boy, just a few years older than himself. Someone who appeared out of nowhere, and was quick to make a name for himself. A child who did countless impossible things, and who quickly became the role model Clockwork looked up to. A boy with snow white hair, who could disappear and fly. A true hero… until everything fell apart, and Clockwork—

A trio of rapid tapping on his head shook him out his thoughts. 

"Hellooohoo!" Starlight all but shouted into his ear. "Starlight to Clockwork. Are you there?" She asked, grinning coyly.

"Huh, what?" Clockwork uttered, shaking the cobwebs from his mind. "What is going on?"

"You tell me?" Starlight shot back, lightly rolling her eyes. "You were so far gone, I thought you were on the moon."

It took Clockwork a moment to remember where he was; so lost in thought about his past, for a moment he thought himself to be that eight year old boy holding a plush version of his hero and handing it over to the ghost boy to have it signed, accompanied by his caretaker who kept the excited child under reasonable control.

Eyes focusing, he saw he was no longer on that world. Instead, he stood with muddy hooves in the upturned soil harvesting the vegetables he and the others had sown last season.

"I, uhh, was lost in thought," he finally said.

"Yeah, I noticed… We all did," she commented dryly, giving a flat look as she waved a hoof around to indicate the ponies working the field; all of them done with their respective jobs, with only Clockwork lagging behind.

Clockwork flinched slightly, and showed an awkward, apologetic smile. "Right, sorry." He muttered, quickly picking up the pace to make up for lost time.

They were all in a hurry, he knew. There was only a limited amount of time where they could leave the safety of the village's walls, and go out to tend to their crops. It was a problem Clockwork had picked up on the very day he first stepped into the home he would come to share with the kind family. 

It was just as Sunny Skies had said back then, that there was a noticeable increase in attacks by wild beasts. A noticeable problem which grew only worse and worse over the years which passed. Yet for reasons they didn't understand, there was a small window of opportunity each day.

Although, after having it given some thought, Clockwork did have some idea why this was. Not that he could share his suspicion, though.

He still remembered what Necky and the Observants had said, about Discord. And seeing how day to day events transpired; a set window of opportunity each day, every day. It was clear to him someone was playing a game. A very dangerous game. Pushing the boundaries a bit further and further every time. It wouldn't be long until something would snap. And when that happens, Clockwork doubted any of them would be safe.

He let loose a weary sigh, flexing his muscles as he continued to pull the half-full cart; slowly moving it over the field and allowing ponies to deposit their harvest into it.

Suddenly, a foreboding feeling grabbed hold of Clockwork, and he came to a full stop. And he wasn't the only one. Everypony around him had stopped, all heads turning towards the nearby forest, a mounting pressure of unease growing. Then, as if a bubble bursted, loud squawking of thousands of birds filled the air. A massive flock of the winged creatures rapidly ascending from the trees, blotting the sky and casting a large shadow on the ground. A ground which the all could feel trembling. Faint at first, but growing more pronounced with the passing seconds. 

Clockwork's ears fell flat while his eyes widened. A expression of shock and fear mirrored by all the others. 

A chorus of roars and growls rolled out from behind the trees, and the first of many manticores, hydras, and other beasts rushed out of the foliage; eyes narrowed and locked on their prey.

"EVERYONE, RUN!" Clockwork bellowed, already running for the village some distance away himself. 

A mixture of screams in fear and panic answered his call for retreat, the ground shaking under the combined pounding of their hooves. Everyone rushed for the safety of their village, pushing and shoving to get there as fast as they could; all of them able to see the ponies standing guard already in the process of closing the gate, leaving just enough room for them to enter. But it was closing fast. A loud scream cut over all others, drawing Clockwork's attention. Against all instincts screaming at him to ignore everything behind him, and instead focus on making his legs move faster than they ever had done before, he dared a glance back. He nearly tripped over his own legs, and was forced to slow down.

The one who had screamed, now lying on the ground with an injured leg, was Starlight; seemingly trampled in the chaos.

"Oh no," he gasped out, eyes flicking between the downed mare and the approaching mob of feral beasts.

Despite every fiber of his being's protest, Clockwork turned around and ran with purpose towards Starlight; eyes narrowing in concentration and anger as his gaze locked onto a familiar manticore. A manticore now closing in on Starlight with bared fangs and poison dripping from it's lethal tail.

"Hey, ugly. Remember me!?" He shouted towards the enraged animal, noting that its behavior, as well as that of the others, was clearly not normal, but choosing to ignore this for now. 

The manticore roared at him before turning back to Starlight.

"Oh, no you don't." Clockwork breathed through teeth, willing himself to move faster despite the bulk of the cart still hitched to him weighing him down. A cart which, if he had calculated his approach and speed correctly, would make a fine improvised weapon.

Barreling down at the manticore, sweat dripping down his forehead and into his eyes, Clockwork blinked rapidly to keep as much of a clear view as he could. 

'Not yet, not yet…… NOW!' He shouted mentally, tearing his gaze away from the manticore, and the other rapidly approaching beasts, he quickly used his mouth to unhitch himself from the cart and jump away. But either due to bad luck or nefarious play, one of his hind legs got stuck in the harness, jerking him along with its momentum; breaking his leg in the process. 

Clockwork roared out in pain, unable to free himself in time before the cart struck. 

With a solid 'WHAM' the cart collided with the feral beast. Wood splintered, vegetables flew in wild arcs through the air, and two distinct yells of anguish sounded over all other sounds. 

Starlight, having seen it all, hobbled over to the crash site on her good legs; the injured one dragging limply behind her. With panic clearly showing, she scanned what remained of the cart, looking for Clockwork, but finding nothing. 

"STARLIGHT!" Sunny Skies shouted to her sister, flying with blurring speed to her. 

"SUNNY, WE NEED TO HELP HIM!" She shouted back.

"THERE IS NO TIME!" Sunny Skies replied in panic, and it was only then Starlight noticed the mob of rampaging beasts almost directly on top of her.

In a blur of motion, Sunny Skies dove in, grabbed her sister, and flew as fast to the village as her rapidly beating wings and heart allowed her.

Starlight trashed around in protest, unwilling to leave Clockwork behind. But unable to free herself from her sister's unusual strong hold, all she could do was watch down at the broken remains of the cart. Watching in horror as Clockwork painfully dragged himself from underneath the rubble, blood staining his fur in multiple places.

"HE'S RIGHT THERE," she shouted. "GO BAC-" Her voice died in her throat as she saw Clockwork being grabbed in the maw of a massive manticore. A manticore with extremely dark fur, and glowing green eyes.

"No…" She gasped with a hollow voice, hanging limply in Sunny's grasp as they flew over the village's wall. Watching as the dark manticore ran off to the forest with Clockwork in its mouth.

With a low, drawn out groan Clockwork came to. Pressing a hoof against his throbbing head, eyes held clenched shut.

"Uugh… Am I dead?" He murmured, barely opening his eyes.

"Well, technically…" a familiar, and much hated voice spoke in answer, "you're both."

"What?" Clockwork groaned, carefully shaking his head and slowly opening his eyes to look around.

For a long moment he thought he was seeing things, unable to comprehend what and where he was. He blinked several times, gradually opening his eyes further and further as his vision came into focus. It still didn't answer where he was, however.

Dark, dirty, age worn walls rose up on both sides; made of large, rough hewn stone. The floor was of similar design, and an arched ceiling high above. Numerous ancient looking, candle chandeliers hanging from it in a long line, following the length of the hallway Clockwork now realized he was standing in. There were no windows to be found, nor any decoration. The only light that illuminated the cold stone path came from the weakly flickering candle light. And hovering in the air, halfway between the floor and ceiling was Necronomicon; looking down on Clockwork.

"You," Clockwork breathed through gritted teeth.

"So, you do remember me. I'm touched." Necky said with a hint of humor.

"Come down here, and I'll do a lot more than touching!" Clockwork threatened, fell silent, and glared up at Necky with embarrased irritation while the book gave voice to a honest chuckle. "... That came out wrong," Clockwork muttered.

"Did it now?" Necky teased. "And here I was getting all excited for nothing."

Clockwork's heated glare could have slain an adult dragon, yet Necky merely shrugged it off with a rustle of his pages. 

"But to answer your proposed, half-conscious question. Until your friends come to find out which state you're in, you are both alive and dead.  Ah, Schrodinger would be proud."

"What do you mean!?" Clockwork demanded, using a hoof to push himself back to all fours… and froze where he lay. 

His hoof was gone. Replaced by an appendage he hadn't seen, felt even in almost eleven years. A hand. He was human again.

"What in the world?" He murmured, stiffly curling up the fingers; overcome by both a familiar and alien sensation. He then noticed the glow surrounding him. "Am… am I dead again?"

"Indeed you are. Such an ugly way to go, being chomped down by a manticore."

A panicked memory forced itself back to the forefront of Clockwork's mind, and he remembered the dark beast that grabbed him. A beast with green glowing eyes. His glowing red ones shot towards the still hovering book. 

"It was you!" Clockwork accused. 

"It was me, what?"

"The manticore, it was you!" He stated, hands clenching into fists and shaking, "Then it was also you who initiated the attack."

"No!" Necronomicon said firmly, slightly lowering towards the floor. "The animals rampaging as they did was not my doing. It was, however, merely the first step of Discord's descent into power crazed madness; having grown tired with the occasional prod and push to tempt fate. However, I will not deny my involvement with your second demise. Yes, I posed as the manticore, using the chaos to blend in. And no, I did not kill you… Well, not with teeth, at the very least."

Clockwork held silent, observing the spectral book for any hints of deceit, but finding it difficult to 'read' this particular book. Yet despite his anger towards the book, there were still several issues that demanded answer. Most importantly-

"What happened with the village; with Starlight and Sunny?" He demanded, furrowing his brow deeply, and indicating he wouldn't let this go without a proper answer.

"Sunny Skies and Starlight are, under circumstances, safe. Some injuries, but nothing which won't heal. Physically, at least." Necky answered, the last portion holding a careful, and noticeable hesitant quality to the words. "Mentally, however, this cannot be said." A weary sigh escaped him. "The villagers fought the beasts. Same with all the villages close, or near the forest. But it has undoubtedly not gone by without notice that these animals' behavior was not normal. Spurred on by Discord's power and twisted… playfulness, they initiated a frontal assault…." A very heavy and unsettling silence took hold over the area, and Clockwork wanted to speak but was unable to do so. "... Very few made it out alive. Even less without injury… I… am sorry," Necky said, and Clockwork knew he meant it.

Several long seconds were spent in silence as Clockwork processed this.

"I need to go back," he stated. "Help them… however I can."

"In due time," Necronomicon replied, "but your presence is needed elsewhere first."

"What!?" Clockwork shouted angrily.

Necky allowed himself to lower even further, well within reach of Clockwork. "Remember what you were told by the Observants, about the Kadzite?"

"... Yes. What of it?" Clockwork replied, irritated. "How is any of that important now?"

"More so than you think." Necronomicon answered seriously, his voice lowering a fraction as he said so. "Chaos is unleashed on the world which has become your second home. Chaos which should have been kept under control. But the one supposed to keep control is also the one allowing it to run wild. So, if Discord is no longer maintaining the balance, another must do so. Or several others, in this case."

Clockwork was about to retort, but then fell silent; the details of his conversation with the Observants so long ago returning in full. "You mean to tell me you plan on giving the task of maintaining this balance to these Kadzite?" He asked with a forced calm tone, but his billowing anger was easily heard. "Beings which the Observants said were best compared with terrorist groups from my world."

"Sometimes you can only fight fire with fire. Or in this case, chaos with chaos." Necky answered, bobbing slightly in the air before hanging still again. "But that doesn't mean I plan on unleashing terror on this world. No, a plan has been formed. One which will shape many lives, on many worlds, in different times. A plan which requires your assistance."

"My assistance… how?" Clockwork asked, suspicious.

"Nothing too invasive, or lengthy, like your previous task. This one is more for show, and to send a message." Then Necky's glowing green eyes narrowed slightly, almost as if he was frowning. "In fact, things have already been set in motion. All we need to do is intersect an event at a precise point."

"And what if I refuse?" Clockwork stated, arms crossed, and a heated glare aimed towards Necronomicon. "I will not go anywhere until I know they are safe. And not until I have helped them overcome any trauma they undoubtedly have after such an attack."

Necky sighed out. "I was worried you would say that, but it's understandable. Unfortunately, going back there, now, as you are now or as your pony self will cause more damage than even Discord has caused now. Not to mention, it will undo everything we've set in motion so far. No, this I can not allow. Until they come to find you, you can not interact with them in any way imaginable."

"Then I refuse to cooperate," Clockwork stated simply, but firmly.

"Which is precisely why you are merely needed for show, this time," Necky stated with heavy voice, a sickly glow shining from between his pages.

"Wha- what is going on!?" Clockwork demanded, only for his mind to go blank an instant later.

"...The consequences to your choice," Necky answered, his voice echoing away in the hallway.