Lost Future
The three fillies exchanged fearful glances as they stared at the boundary. "W...what's going on?" Scootaloo asked nervously. "That...that..."
"I...I don't think we can leave," Sweetie Belle managed to say. "I...I felt like I was...disappearing. I don't know what it means..."
"Th' magic around th' book faded somewhat while you were fading," Apple Bloom pointed out. "Do...do ya think it means we're connected to it, somehow?"
"It might be," Sweetie allowed as she turned back to the energy. "But why?"
Another window opened. This one rapidly showed events in San Francisco starting at Jade's arrival...with no sign of the CMC. It continued until Jade used the Rabbit Talisman in an attempt to get to school on time, only for the Talisman to be blasted by one of Kepler's experiments.
"But Jade didn't do that," Scootaloo pointed out. "She rode Cumulo, because she'd seen using magic irresponsibly was a bad idea-"
Scootaloo's voice was cut off in a gasp as they saw Jade break through time in the distant past. They saw events unfold as she encountered a younger Jackie, and a younger Valmont. The window closed with Jade's return to the present.
"Did...did that make sense ta either of ya?" Apple Bloom asked in confusion.
"It...it looked like it was showing what would happen if we weren't there," Sweetie observed. "A sort of It's A Wonderful Life montage. And...Jade going back in time somehow affected Valmont..."
"Say, where are we in this future anyway?" Scootaloo demanded irritably. "How come we're stuck here in the cave?" She frowned as the Book did not respond. "What gives?"
"It means the Book of Ages has no power over you three," Hsi Wu declared as he swooped into the chamber, Jade floating down to land at his side.
"I was wondering what happened to you three!" Jade declared urgently as she rushed forward to embrace the fillies. "I felt the Harmony Seal flare with pain, and Hsi said that meant we had to go to Australia. What's going on?"
"That is what I would like to know," Valmont demanded coldly as he materialized behind them. "Why are any of you here? I thought I'd made sure the new timeline would give no one with power to do so any desire to change it."
"No one with power?" Apple Bloom asked in confusion.
"Well, Daolong Wong would certainly want to change it," Valmont allowed, "but I took him from the old timeline and sealed him inside the version of him from this timeline who's happy to serve a great Wizard like Uncle. I felt that was the most appropriate punishment I could give him. And I wrote that the nine Demon Sorcerers would rule past, present and future because that meant myself as a Demon Sorcerer would have been shaping the world towards a happy outcome, even if being the one to alter the book meant I wouldn't remember the new timeline any more than I did when I was at the epicenter of the Harmony blast that normalized magic." He then turned to the fillies. "Why aren't you with Uncle? I wouldn't have interfered with that, not even my self in this timeline."
"Uh...we don't think the Book of Ages has any power over us," Scootaloo allowed. "I don't think we're even recorded in it."
Valmont moved over to the Book, examining the pages carefully. "No, you aren't," Valmont observed worriedly. "But that shouldn't cause a problem. Why wouldn't you have just left here and sought out those who did remember you?" He glanced at Jade and Hsi Wu. "Speaking of, I can see you two do remember the old timeline and not this one. How is that?"
Jade lifted up her scrap of the book, the page with her life story on it.
"Yes, that would explain it," Valmont allowed ruefully. "I suppose that made things awkward?"
Jade glanced down at the most obvious signs of her change from the old timeline. "Gee, ya think?" she demanded sarcastically, crossing her arms to make those signs more prominent.
"Well excuse me, Princess!" Valmont countered playfully, briefly causing his golden armor to shift into his old green suit.
"Her title is Queen," Hsi Wu pointed out incisively.
"I thought it was 'Mistress'?" Sweetie offered teasingly.
"I'm not his Mistress!" Jade snapped out angrily.
Valmont smiled indulgently as he watched this interaction and the fillies giggled. "So why haven't you left?" he asked the fillies again.
"We can't," Sweetie Belle explained worriedly. "When I tried...I started to fade."
"And when we asked the Book, it showed us the world without us and Jade going back in time!" Scootaloo added.
"Wait, it what?" Valmont demanded, turning to face the book. His face faded away, revealing his glowing demonic eye surrounded by golden light.
"...gonna have nightmares about that..." Apple Bloom whimpered softly.
After a time, Valmont's face reassembled itself and he slumped back. "Oh..." he murmured in a defeated tone. "I...see..."
"What?" Hsi Wu asked insistently.
"This timeline I created...cannot sustain itself," Valmont allowed. "Only so long as time allows for there to have been nine Demon Sorcerers - for me to have ascended - can this timeline exist...but forces not under the Book's power are necessary for that to have happened." He gestured to the three fillies. "The Book is feeding on their magic to sustain the new timeline, which is why they can't go too far from it...and the longer it feeds, the less distance they have. And when they have no more magic to feed it and vanish..."
"The old timeline reasserts itself?" Jade asked hopefully.
"No," Valmont replied, shaking his head. "The original timeline reasserts itself, the 'what would have been' had they never been a part of our world. I never become the ninth Demon Sorcerer. I...I never come to love Bai, and be loved...you and Hsi..." He shook his head. "No...that cannot be allowed to take shape. There is too much good that was built. Jade, when I leave, put your fragment of the Book back. That will restore time as though I hadn't altered it..."
"Except it will be known that you had," Hsi Wu spoke up. "Brother, you know what that means for you!"
Valmont smiled sadly at Hsi Wu. "...you call me Brother, even knowing this?"
"You are our Brother," Hsi Wu insisted. "And you know what will happen to you..."
"I gambled with Time itself...and lost because of what I could not have known..." Valmont turned away. "I am ready to pay the penalty. Besides...without Bai by my side, what is the point? I'm ready to fold..." With that, he slowly faded away.
As silence fell, Hsi Wu spoke up softly. "And this is why I was relieved it was only the Book of Ages," he told Jade. "So many protections built into it, it's almost impossible to successfully misuse...and the cost is always extreme. Put your page back, Jade. It's time for Time to be set right."
Jade nodded, understanding what she had to do. "But what about Valmont?" she asked worriedly as she placed the page back and magic began to gather.
"We can do no more for him," Hsi allowed sadly. "He has at most two weeks before the Council comes knocking at his door, and he has to pay the piper. We can only hope he has a plan..."
As the world faded and the previous timeline reasserted itself, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo exchanged glances. Maybe he doesn't have a plan, they all thought, but we do. Two weeks...they knew what was in two weeks.
They had a letter to write.
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Cutie Mark Crusaders Timeline Repair Ponies!
It was fawfully clever to have the book be feeding on the pwnies' magic to keep the "Valmont became a Demon Sorcerer and tried giving everyone a happily ever after" Timeline....
Okay, it looks like this story arc was short lived, BUT it looks like the CMC are going to stand up for Valmont and most likely explain things to the Council with a letter. It should be interesting to see how things go this time.
Then again, he CAN think at the speed of light. I'd be surprised if he HADN'T thought something up before he left the room.
Hey it's Santa to the rescue!!! I was wondering if the big man was going to make another appearance. He is perfect for this situation as well as the captain so helpfully pointed out... Santa outranks even the gods on Christmas.
Damn it Tats! You hit me right in the feels again! I love how you portrayed Valmont. Plus I am looking forward to seeing how the CMC handle this situation.
Edit: Just re-read the chapter and realize something, you used a Rumpelstiltskin line. You're a Once Upon a Time fan! Huzzah I have another of my brethren!
I can't say much here... only that great magic usually comes with a great price.
wow, the great Valmont.. FOLDING?! damn..guess he saw it was hopeless.. but knowing the trio.. they are gonna change that
Here comes the CMCs in their finest moment. The unspoken force lurk beneath the surface waiting for the chance to strike at the most unexpected moment (with mix results).
Wait a minute... doesn't Christmas coming soon?
Wow, never thought i would ever feel sorry for Valmont.
ci.memecdn.com/663161.jpg
,,,,So Val will end up giftwrapped and sent to Bai or vice versa?
And asking Santa to make people happy is the best way to use a Christmas wish. I can't wait to see what changes stick and what gets tossed. Still, I really want to see Po Kong get a power limited that lets her take on a human form so she can be there for Bai's wedding and find a nice mate.
merry christmass everybody
NO! NONE OF THAT! SHAME ON YOU!
And there, under that frosted fir tree. Valmont spotted the Big Man himself. Streaking through the snowy sky, with a sleigh full of Christmas cheer. The patron saint of prostitutes-
"Look it up."
-Old Saint Nick.
NAUGHTY!
8453605
If you mean the "magic has a cost" bit, I'm not sure that's close enough to qualify... but on the other hand, HELLO FELLOW TIMER! Or was that "Oncer"? Only heard the term once...
8453589
But I don't see any sandwiches of victory, there's a distinct lack of doom mustard, and I don't think anyone has fury, let alone FURY... Or am I reading too much into typos again?
I see someone is a Zelda fan and a big one too to have seen that cartoon.
Oh jeez, I can’t predict anything anymore. I’m just gonna sit back and wait for the Daolong Wong arc to start.
Well, it was a good attempt while it lasted. Maybe the fillies can help to fix things.
I'm still holding out hope that someone can come up with something to let some of the Demon Sorcerers free. There's a number of them that would be useful to have on the side of stable world order. Valmont included at this point.
8453881
“Dear Santa, all we want for Christmas is the Panku Box
The Grand Chess Master in action everyone.
Valmont's head turning into an all seeing eye is the most disturbing thing you've ever seen? I could have sworn you'd seen worse than that.
He made an oversight. He missed one tiny detail. One change which resulted in the most unfair, and unjust of events to happen to the most innocent.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have the Demon Sorcerer of Loyalty.
He lost. He knows he's lost. And I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Jade Council sends either Captain Black or David Xanatos to collect him…
…on Christmas eve.
It's time for the CMC to throw the Christmas version of a Hail Mary.
Or potentially they have a couple of songs to sing. A couple of songs, and perhaps one which might have a certain magic from another world. A song they do not know, have never heard before, and yet know it is the perfect song to sing for Santa Claus as he travels through the night sky.
And if for extra insurance… I have a feeling the Jade Council is going to have a bunch of very odd gifts heading their way over the twelve days leading up to Christmas.
You know, after they badger the information about the Jade Council—Names, Addresses, Preferred Postal Service which is not immediately delivered to Santa if letter is addressed to the North Pole—out of Captain Black.
Or failing that, they find out which member of the Jade Council ordered the Veil Authority to send the CMC to Japan under false pretenses so they could be sheer happenstance stop the Dark Hand from releasing Po Kong.
It wouldn't absolve Valmont of his own crimes, but it would get someone else in very hot water if their interference plan which blew up in their face were to be made public. I honestly wouldn't be surprised at all if Jade is the one to realize she was being used. And I doubt she is going to take that lying down.
8453899
I came to the conclusion he was more Generosity. More in common with Rarity than Rainbow Dash.
Well that's certainly a way to get this arc put in place and then almost immediately shatter it. I was intrigued to see where it may have headed, but this setup makes a lot of sense. We couldn't have this story continue without the CMC, and it did seem like it was going to go WAY far from canon to still use the rest of the show's arcs. I like what you did though, and it makes it clear just how much better of a person Valmont is in this story. Still not necessarily a "good guy," but he still is a good guy.
Chapter One Hundred Fifty
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 40
"He's Not My Boyfriend!"/"I'm not his Mistress!"
Chapter Count: 0/1
Total Count: 44/2
8453590
nope there going to the big guy himself. SANTA!!!
Wait, the CMC are not only from a parallel world, but their presence constitutes a time paradox too?
Huh.
This story is by far, one of the best i have ever read.
I should cry Deus Ex Machina at the top of my lungs but you had previous set this up all the way back near the beginning of the story. I feel that this is going to be one heck of a wish that is being asked for. I would have preferred if all the fillies did was change the timeline this way; one had Valmont have Chan’s number in his phone, two the Enforcers helped after their boss went down, and third Jackie calmly listened and didn't act rashly. That way Valmont most likely won't ascend and Bai would still be around. Requesting this wish is almost to much, but I trust you Tatsurou.
8453898
You do that. I'll make the summoning circle of crushed gingerbread and candy canes.
Somebody get me the Duffanomicon!
...dang. I liked Valmont as is, but the way he's been portrayed here's earned him a lot of points in my book.
A sad chapter. I hope the fillies know what they're doing.
Kinda thought they were writing to Santa, as well
8453623 Can't win them all
Anyone else have a flashback to Red Dwarf? :)
8454085
Bout right OMG lol imagine red dwarf heaving ponies in it how much mayhem could that be
Is Christmas in two weeks? Are they writing letters to Santa, who will temporarily be the most powerful mage in existence?
8453848
An interesting question is whether the Daolong Wong arc makes sense in the context of the story. With magic normalized, there's less incentive for him to go after the talismans specifically, since he can find magical artifacts elsewhere. Though it is still presumably possible. After all, he was already a pretty powerful Dark Chi wizard in the original cartoon, but he still saw value in obtain the talisman powers. Plus, also with magic normalized, I'd be surprised if Section 13 doesn't have mystic defenses that would keep him out. And Valmont is definitely unlikely to be sending his enforcers in to steal them either, so he couldn't exactly sneak in after them.
Huh... usually it's someone having to save the Big Man on Christmas, not the other way around. This should be interesting. *preps popcorn*
8454021
more than likely what they're going to Santo for is Valmont to be pardoned for his crime and the following Demon Sorcerers to be released from prison: Po Kong, Xaio Fung, Tso Lan, and Bai Tza.
Cause really, have any of them really done anything since their release from their prison to warrant being on Santa's naughty list?
8454023
wasn't the Duffanomicon lost to Spacetime?
8453796 That sounds like the Doctor Who Loops?
I never liked Valmont in canon, but Valmont here grew on me. It ain't fair for him lose the Siren he loves from gambling with Time.
Damn... I...
I feel... sorrow for Valmont here... damn my empathic capability! I hope that whatever the CMC have in their heads works. Godspeed, girls... godspeed.
8454205
The problem as I see it is that they would need several wishes for it to be pulled off. One for Valmont and one each of each of the Demon Sorcerers they want to release. So they technical have none left because Valmont, Bai, and Hsi are who the girls would prioritize. Unless they somehow keep the timeline they way it went for them becuase they saw how it went in canon they are in for a rough ride. Still let's see how the Jade Council handles the fact that the CMC are apparently major wrenches in not only the book but apparently many plans.
In the end, time is the most powerful force in existence. Gravity can only bend it, and so can speed. But should anything try and control it to any degree, a price will be exacted. One that can never be undone by any force. Even Discord and his Chaos cannot avoid this price. Sometimes this price is much greater than the death of millions, entire worlds gone, from the matter than once made it, to the memory of it in the minds of those who once knew of it. Even time itself forgets these worlds. There are forces that should never be touched or controlled, ones that corrupt and destroy, even erase, and time is one of those forces.
Seriously why do people have to mess with time, it never ends well for anyone!
So you're say his villain decay in the second season on was all Jade's fault?
8454334
Yup. Triggered by her going back in time...and being followed by his Enforcers. This resulted in him growing up certain of his future, which swelled his ego and thus destroyed his future.
8454224
The term for THAT Fandom is "Whovian", if I recall.
Chapter One Hundred Fifty
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 47
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 82
8453839
That means nothing. I haven't seen the cartoon, but I know about that meme...
8453941
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh4f8SUp-PU#t=38s
8454272
Or they could ask Santa to release the Demon Sorcerers who are on his nice list from their prison.
I have a gut feeling that's Po Kong, Xaio Fung, Tso Lan, Bai Tza, and Valmont (depending on what the Jade Council decides to do with him).