A Defender of Another Future; A Lost Defender of Harmony

by SilverOrion

First published

In a freak accident, Discord twists space itself in Equestria while the Vortex break the tides of time.The result? Twilight is warped to an ancient Earth, and Ecco is warped to Equestria. Can Discord still be stopped? Can Twilight survive the Vortex?

In a freak accident (while the mane six is on vacation to manehattan), Discord decides to twist space and time itself on April Horseshoes Day; meanwhile, the Vortex returns to destroy the Tides of Time in an attempt to lock Ecco in the Tides forever, giving them the chance to strip Earth of all its living inhabitants once again. The result? Twilight is warped to an ancient Earth, and Ecco is warped to Equestria. Can the mane six discover what has happened and get Discord to stop? Can Twilight survive the Vortex in a dark game which is virtually impossible to win? In the end, one thing is for certain - Ecco cannot bear Twilight Sparkle's element of magic to stop Discord, and Twilight Sparkle wasn't programmed to get retries for the levels in Ecco the Dolphin III's source code...

"You take the cover of two different disc holders. One is for a strangely unreleased MLP episode, and the other is a snatched Ecco the Dolphin III demo playthrough. The person who gave them to you told you to play them both at the same time on your computer, and line them up so that both CD's would hit 13:13:13 in their running times. He seemed a little weird, saying that through ahead-of-its-time quantum physics, dimensions could be crossed if the conditions were right - but for a strange reason, he didn't tell you who he was - he just told you that he wanted you to test the theory for him, because if he revealed his true identity, it could make serious headlines on the news and his career as a quantum physicist could be kaput. Having nothing better to do one Saturday night, you take the two discs, and slide them into your computer. But first, you read the descriptions on the back of their covers:

MLP:FIM-SEASON#EPISODE# "TWILIGHT'S MULTIVERSE THEORY MELTDOWN"
After Discord wreaks mischievous havoc once again in Equestria, it is up to Twilight and her friends to set him straight again. But this time, Discord goes too far, and he loses control of his own chaos.

Ecco the Dolphin III: Earth's Final Hope
After several years of Ecco's entrapment within the Tides of Time, the Vortex returns once again, vowing to have their vengeance on Ecco, and their victory over Earth, once and for all. Shattering the Tides of Time to pieces, the Vortex turns their eyes to have their way with Earth - but will Ecco really be trapped within the Tides of Time forever?

Ecco the Dolphin III: Earth's Final Hope - Opening Sequence

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PLATFORM: SEGA GENESIS

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DRIVE.INPUT=SEGACD[APPROVE]
PROGRAM=ECCODOLPHIN.III
DATA.INPUT=SOURCECODE.REF

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START.GAME=TRUE

PLAY.ECCO.VGM = TITLE SCREEN

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Ecco didn't know what to think.

Actually, he wasn't thinking about much at all. He hadn't been for years. For as long as he could remember, he was trapped in this strange vastness...

He suddenly remembered, but quickly banished the thought. This was all because he had been foolish enough to tamper with the Tides of Time some years ago, and because of it, he was now doomed to wander within the Tides of Time for eternity.

But suddenly, all of this was about to change.

Ecco squinted for the first time in years. A bright light, brighter than he had ever seen in his life, was shattering the void he was trapped in. Ecco heard a piercing, electric scream which tore through his body, shaking every inch of him. He began to feel as if he was being vaporized - becoming less than material. Shouting in mute agony, Ecco began to dissapear into the crackling space beyond the void - bound for another adventure, which could redeem him from this purgatory forever.

- - -

"Is the deed done?"

"Yes, my Queen."

The Queen of the Vortex growled, her hunger for consuming meat becoming more and more voracious by the minute. After a moment of breathing in the contaminated water surrounding her, she sighed, and responded.

"Good. With the Tides of Time interrupted by the Asterite's precious Stone of Disarray, Ecco will be trapped within the Tides of Time for good, without any hope of his escape. Return to Earth. This time... This FINAL TIME... We WILL devour all life on Earth, and we will NOT be mocked by one meddling dolphin."

The Queen's minion saluted, and swam away in the contaminated water of the "machine" as it was called. The minion felt antagonized by the fact that they were being sent to Earth all over again just to devour the creatures there, but the Queen's denial of defeat could not be wavered.

Not only could her will not be wavered, but she would eat anyone alive who disagreed with her.

Reaching the entrance to the Queen's chambers, the minion pressed a button which reversed the current of the water, making it possible to swim through the tunnel ahead. Arriving on the other side of the tunnel, the minion made its way to the control center of the machine, dodging the moving parts of the ship along the way. The machine's mechanism was complex, intricate, and lethal - created in order to make it virtually impossible for intruders to reach the Queen, and it always worked... except, not against Ecco.

Having made it to the control center of the machine, the minion pressed a button changing the current of the tunnel once again, making it possible to swim through. Reaching the control deck, the minion eyed all of the other vortex creatures within the bridge, with those minions mutually eyeing the entering minion back.

"Vortex drones, purify the water as it is stated in the fresh meal preparation guide in paragraph 2b.33, and prepare for descent. The Queen demands her dinner to be served on the double, and with a taste of "Earth"."

- - -

Ecco plummeted into the ocean hard, causing a giant splash in his wake. It was a wake-up call to feel this kind of impact on him, considering how long he had been trapped in the Tides of Time. But now, he was somehow... free.

He didn't understand it. How could he be let out of the Tides of Time? Was it some kind of glitch? Was it something the all knowing Asterite had not told him ages ago?

Beyond the questions racing through Ecco's mind, one thing was for sure: The ocean, seafloor, along with the flora and fauna, was much more colorful than he remembered it. Then again, he had been trapped inside the Tides of Time for a long time.

One thing was for certain - needed to get back to his pod, and fast. If he didn't save his pod from the inevitable attack of the Vortex in his disappearance, then the entire world could be stripped of all life as he knew it. In fact, they may have already done so.

He had to swim. He had to save his pod. His family. His friends.

Everything he knew.

MLP:FIM_SEASON#EPISODE# - TWILIGHT'S MULTIVERSE THEORY MELTDOWN: Introduction

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MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC
INTRODUCTION

Lights up, a decorated balloon drifts through the clouds before the screen pans down with Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom. See each of the six protagonists, cut to seeing each protagonist involved in their daily activities, finally ending the introduction with a depiction of a letter sent to Princess Celestia with a photograph of the six protagonists.

END SCENE

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Twilight Sparkle was trotting along the streets of Manehattan with her closest friends beside her: Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy.

It was a beautiful day, like always - the sky a bright blue, sprinkled with some white puffy clouds here and there, the bright, vividly-colored buildings lining the sidewalk, and the streets being prepared for the annual April Draconiqi day parade - a celebration of mischief and fun.

It was all very festive, and it was making Pinkie Pie a handful - she couldn't stop pointing at all the festivities and saying exactly what she wanted to do - every half a second. There couldn't be anypony in Equestria who could talk faster than her.

And there was Rainbow Dash... Aaaand there was Rainbow Dash. Honestly, if there was anypony she knew right off the bat who could "play it cool" and stay aloof about all the festivities of April Draconiqi day, it was her.

Then there was Fluttershy. She didn't say much, and when anypony prodded her to buy something, she always "shrunk back in her shell" as they say. She was so timid, but she was such a wonderful friend.

And Rarity. She couldn't take eyes off of anything. She was genuinely mesmerized by all the goings-on of the holiday, taking everything in and going crazy over some of the golden ribbons and streamers hanging from the buildings.

Finally, there was Applejack. She just seemed content about everything - not too excited, but not disappointed either. She critiqued some of the decorations and events, but they were always followed up by some constructive criticism.

Twilight was so glad to have found these friends - she couldn't imagine losing them. Ever.

Changing the subject in her mind, Twilight thought about Discord. She still didn't comepletely trust him after he was reformed by Fluttershy, but she felt that he was mostly changed for the better anyhow.

Actually, Twilight had been thinking a lot about Discord. She couldn't imagine that he would not want to wreak any havoc on a day that was actually named after him. Not to mention that there would be a parade being held for him in Manehattan, of all places.

Using her better judgement, Twilight allowed her friends to pass ahead of her for a moment so that she could use an anti-draconiquus spell. It wasn't meant to get ride of draconiqi - just neutralize their power in an area where they are not present. She learned about it soon after becoming an alicorn herself.

Concentrating the energy in her horn, Twilight created a quick, soundless burst, which immediately filled the area with an invisible field of magic, preventing any chaos from taking place.

"Hey Twilight, come check this out! They have corn on the cob!"

Twilight quickly recognized Rainbow Dash's voice.

"I'm coming!" she responded, quickly trotting up to Rainbow Dash, who was standing by the stall selling the delicious, golden snacks.

"That'll be two bits, please." spoke up the register, slightly agitated for some reason.

Rainbow Dash dished out two bits for herself, as did Twilight for her own corn on the cob.

Placing the second bit on the table at the stall, Twilight suddenly felt exhausted, as bright light began to crackle through her vision.

"Hey Twi, y'all feelin' alright?" Applejack asked. But to Twilight, her voice sounded distant.

"Yeah, I'm..."

Suddenly, a piercing, electric scream penetrated the air, and Twilight collapsed from the feeling of it, shouting out in agony. Her body began to vibrate rigorously, while she could still hear the sounds of her friends panicked voices from far, far away. The world suddenly turned a bright white, before Twilight finally whited out.

- - -

"Aww, that's no fun..." Discord quipped, sitting down on the upside-down sofa which he had conjured for himself.

"How am I supposed to give my contribution to the April Draconiqi day if there's a protection spell on it? Well, that's not going to do - I'll just have to reverse it a little and surprise the pony who conjured it. It's obviously done by an amateur after all - not like Princess Luna or Princess Celestia."

Discord snapped his fingers, and a special ray gun appeared in his gun labeled "Limited Edition Magic Field Destroyer." After diving into the ground and down out of a cloud above Manehattan, Discord pointed the gun down at the city below, and fired.

Nothing happened.

"Aw, now how's that for a magic field?"

Discord stared down at the city dejectedly. Then an idea suddenly came to him.

"I'll just shift the Magic Field Destroyer to maximum overdrive, hehehe..."

A dial suddenly appeared on the gun, and Discord spun it all the way to its limit where it stopped - and then more, the dial making clicking sounds as it began to turn farther than it was conjured to.

"Now lets try this again..."

The gun fired again, this time shocking the magic field with an invisible lightning bolt, forcing it to return to its conjurer, whomever it was.

Although, the bolt did more than that.

In the bolt's wake, a tear in space began to emerge, sending everything in its path into insurmountable chaos, unseen by anypony in Equestrian history. At most, Discord figured, the pony who conjured the spell would have a little headache for an hour or so, but as long as time was not being split as well, everything should be fine.

- - -

Twilight slowly opened her eyes, seeing grass everywhere, and hearing the tide splashing up against the shore. Seagulls shouted in the air, and the breeze softly caressed her mane.

Twilight got up slowly, remembering what she had learned about whiting or blacking out in a book about medical care. She looked around slowly, noticing that she was standing in the grass beside a sapphire-blue cove, bordered by bright, emerald-green trees. It was the most tropical place Twilight had ever seen, everything seeming so peaceful and untouched by civilization.

"I must be experiencing a lucid dream." Twilight concluded, blinking before giving the area around her another look.

"A very realistic lucid dream at that."