Chapters The Misadventures of One Mixed-up Time Pony
"Storm! They're coming closer to Equestria!" shouts Esha. I look at the white mare, all unseriousness removed from my face.
"Esha," I try to force the words past my teeth, "In a minute I will give you a choice, I will give you the chance to save yourself and leave me and this TARDIS to face the Dalek fleet, or you can stay to see me at my most magnificent, then at my worst. Staying means that I can't guarantee your safety, but if I send you back, I won't be sure that my magic will be able to save me from the darkness. I want you to have a good life and forget about this old trickster, but I don't want you to hate me for sending you back. The choice is yours, but I promise that if I send you back and I live, I will find you again."
"St-Storm, I have seen so much travelling the multiverse with you, but even if it means waiting for you, I will let you save me to save the world." She hesitated then continued, "I will wait until I'm an old gray mare for even the slightest chance that you'll come back." As I cast the spell, Gallopfreyan words swirl to life at Esha's feet. She is drawn into the teleport spell and disappears into the words, probably appearing back at her home in Ponyville.
Next, I turn to look out the door at the Dalek fleet, I draw from my own magic instead of the words and create a freezing inferno on a single ship of the Dalek fleet. I turn to the control console and program it that, so after the battle the TARDIS will hide itself. Finally, I enter the world in my mind.
While floating in the mind world, I navigate past the wards that protect my mind and go past the maelstrom that takes up most of the space. I float to what looks like a small moon staying outside of the vortex, and then go into the moon. The crystalline hallway where I landed was near where my destination was, thankfully. I go to the room and open the doors. Inside on a small table is a single box bound with a million chains. The chains dissipated at the touch of my hooves, and then, when there was only the largest left, I toyed with the idea of removing it.
Memories of the decades spent wandering the multiverse searching for the way to create this chain come back to my mind. The hair ripping at Alexandria, the insane fits in Canterlot, the banishment from Absalom, Palanthas, plus everywhere else, and the meltdown in my own library. I remember how I combined unicorn, elvish, and human magics, along with half broken Chameleon Arch, all just to create this single chain. I decide not to break this chain, it being my final failsafe when all else fails.
Instead, I draw out a key made up of my own life-force and place it in the lock. I turn it and the lock opens. I barely have enough time to create an astral projection before the shadows from the box overtake me.
Thrust back outside, but also outside my own body, I watch as a transformation occurs over my body. It twitches and an eye opens. The eye is not the normal greyish hue, but a deep red.
"My, my, looks like the old bag has finally taken a hike," I shudder to hear that voice again, He looks in at the mirror on the console. "This will just never do." His horn, no, not his, my horn glows and his hair sticks up and brings itself to points at the end. A red aura envelopes his entire form and when it dissipates, the white on my mane has turned to black and he has taken on a darker coat altogether. "There, much better. Now, what to wear to the beginning of the end?" He walks down the TARDIS corridors for a while, finally coming to stop in front of a wardrobe. He comes out a short while later, with a white coat and a hawthorn cane with a small silver grip. I remember stealing that cane from a minor death god, good times, good times.
The demon in pony form goes to the front door and turns to the Dalek fleet and raises his cane as if about to conduct a symphony. He points the silver skull at the most forward of the attack ships, a red blaze forming all around the different ships. Next he turns to face the console and spins, as if also dancing to his symphony's piece. He turns to the command ship and an explosion happens at the core, then blossoms out to the nearest ships. The explosion then reverses into an implosion and the remaining fleet disappears into it, and the Dalek threat is no more.
After this turn of events, the demon turns and starts to think aloud, "I'm surprised the weak half released me so conveniently, but apparently he also died in the process, good thing, too. If he got our body back under his control, I don't even want to think about it."
Suddenly, the TARDIS shakes and knocks both of us out of the door, the TARDIS having apparently been traversing the Time Vortex the entire time. "Curses! I should have remembered that he would have set some trap in case I got out. Still, have to give credit to the old fox, he did know how to hide the TARDIS mid-materialization, where I could never get into it" This place gives me the feeling that this somewhere and when is important. Suddenly, it comes to me, this is the Reign of Chaos, and five days from now, the Princesses will find the Elements of Harmony and turn Discord to stone.
I start to wonder how I can prevent him from changing all the fixed points that occur at this time. Being an astral projection means it takes a lot of effort to manipulate anything tangible, so that puts a bother on my plans. I tinker in my head with a way to stop him using the last chain, but I decide better of it, so I set to work seeing what he will do before I decide what I will do to stop him.
"Looks like it's time to have some fun." I speak the best I can in my astral form Looks like this will be a battle between us, Professor Raven.
The Misadventures of One Mixed-up Time Pony
Chapter 1: The Draconequus Whisperer
Looks like this will be a battle between us, Professor Raven. I attempt to say grimly.
Raven teleports with an unknown passenger into the middle of a surreal blur. "Hello, Discord."
Discord spits out the chocolate milk glass he was drinking and stutters "I-I-ii know your voice"
"Yes, you do, but you have no name for me"
Raven is good at making things up, apparently. I suppose a couple decades gives him time to learn what he wants. "Then you should know that I am Raven, half of the Element of Entropy."
"Isn't entropy just chaos, though?"
"No, it is the chaos caused by the flow of time, constantly destroying and rebuilding in a never ending cycle." I have seen the Lord of Chaos before, but he has never appeared as frightened as he is now. Raven surveys the scene, "I do love what you've done with the place, though. It looks like my whispers have done some good after all." Raven gives Discord a smug expression, as if sharing a secret between the two. "Well, must be off, have some destruction to create"
A small vortex forms in front of him and he hops in. I barely manage to jump in behind him before the portal closes.
Using part of my skills, I note that this is actually the day before. Two ponies, one white and one dark purple, seem to be very startled at the appearance of this single stallion. So that's how Luna and Celestia looked before ruling Equestria. So much more carefree and unburdened by the future that awaits them. "Celestia and Luna, may I be ever blessed by your good graces." Raven gives the princesses a bow full of mock formality.
Luna was not impressed. "You dare mock us?" she shouts. A bolt of energy shoots from her horn. Raven laughs and teleports right behind the future princesses.
"Tsk, tsk. such bad manners towards someone who is trying to help you." Raven seems unphased by the attack. Celestia seems to maintain composure and addresses Raven.
"What is it that you wish to help us with?"
"It's quite simple, really. I know you're trying to dethrone Discord, and it suits my plans to help you. I am going to show you relic of great power which will help you on your way. The first of which is conveniently located here at your home. However, there is a catch. In order to wield the Elements of Harmony, one of you must leave and not be a part of this."
Luna looks as if she's about to accept when Celestia puts a hoof in front of her "Never! We will find our own way to defeat Discord if that is the price for your 'Elements'!"
Raven just laughs "Celestia, because you refused to abandon your sister, this is yours." An orb appears in front of Celestia. "Congratulations, you have just discovered the Element of Loyalty." He pauses, as if remembering something, "Another hindrance is that finding these things means that you must wait one day before gaining a new Element." Raven summons another portal and hops through it, shouting "See you tomorrow!"
We appear the next day in the same spot.The princesses are already waiting, "Today you must got a few miles out from your home to seek the next Element. I will be waiting for you there." His teleport spell is faster than usual, so I had no choice but to follow the princesses. Luna took advantage of the trip to talk to Celestia.
"I do not trust this Raven, he has already proven to be a liar and has shown disrespect for us, even if he is helping us gain the Elements. We should be wary incase he turns into a traitor."
"Luna my sister, his lies were but a test. But you do have a point about the lack of respect, but be quiet now, here he is." I had been listening to their conversation and not noticed that Raven was waiting for them.
"Princesses, here is the next Element!" Raven announces with much grandeur. The empty plain seems to have no markings to denote the fact that there is an Element. "Now you must pass my next test, or the Elements will never be yours." A thin field of magic surrounds the area nearest to Raven. An Ursa Major appears in the field and Raven raises his cane. "Welcome to the show, and I do sincerely wish that you beat him, but be wary of my trick." He says this last bit with a smirk and disappears using the magic of his cane.
The Ursa Major flies into a blind rage, attempting to smash both the Princesses. Celestia tries to counterattack with a magical blast, but it dissipates against a bubble, the energy dispersing itself across the whole shield. Luna tries an attack from the back, and makes contact, only at her dismay to find that an iron chain has appeared around his neck where she was striking. Suddenly, a pop and then a cloud of red dust appears to herald the arrival of Professor Raven. He has a mug in his hand and is cheering loudly for what he has termed "his Ursa". Celestia has maintained her barrage of magic, all dispersing harmlessly. Then, the Ursa's fist starts to glow the same color as Celestia's magic and it lunges at Celestia. She barely manages to dodge it, but it leaves a large crater where Celestia had been standing. Luna manages to free the chain from the Ursa, causing it to disappear.
Raven stumbles up to the two and manages to pull some of his usual cool composure together, "Congradulashuns, Luna. Here's the Element of Kindness. Noticing the enchanted iron chain was a good call. But Celestia, really? Blasting a poor Ursa with solar heat nonstop is just cruel." The next orb appears and floats near Luna before winking out of existence. "Relax about the orbs disappearance, I'm just keeping them safe, because they are very heavy and it would be a pain to carry them the entire time."
"But why are you putting all these tests in front of us?" Luna seems wary of the whole situation.
"Multiple reasons; a, it's kind of fun at my age and two, no, b: the Elements chose their wielders and you must prove to have the Element's characteristic. The next one will take a long journey for you to get to, seeing as how you can't teleport all the way there due to the spells I placed on the region. I would suggest you get going before it's too late. The directions are to go to the eastern mountain range. Next find the rocky outcropping that I am waiting on."
With that, both of us teleport to an outcropping on a mountain range. I know he threw us forward in time, seeing as how neither of us has patience for waiting that long for the princesses. Eventually, the princesses arrive on the outcropping. Raven raises his cane in a very theatric style and announces, "Welcome to the beginning of the hard part, princesses!"
For the first time, I notice that behind the white coat, a new cutie mark has taken form. This one has a shattered hourglass instead of mine, which is a lighting bolt inside an hourglass. Raven, what have you become? I say out loud.
The Misadventures of One Mixed-up Time Pony
Chapter 2: A Short Break...
While I was left wondering why Professor Raven had a different cutie mark, Raven had begun to give the next test. "Alright princesses, here is your next test. But first, out of curiosity, How much do you trust me?" Raven asked the question with a bit of a smirk, as if laughing inside. But given that it was him, he probably was laughing.
"Of course we trust somepony who would help defeat Discord." Celetia really can't lie that well. Either that, or I am in the wrong crowd most of the time. Raven also seemed to share my thoughts on the subject as he started laughing like a madman. He began after he was able to form somewhat coherent words.
"Really? heh, heh, that is the best joke I've ever heard. Well, either you are an idiot, which I wouldn't put past you, or you are just a really, really bad liar, which is slightly more likely." He regained his composure quickly, which seems to be a gift of his. "I guess you don't need the Elements if you can't even be honest, goodbye. He began to open a rift to the Time Vortex to perform another hop, when Celestia grabbed him in a field of telekinetic magic.
"Do you really think you can get away from us like that?"
"Actually, yes." His horn glows with magic as he slips out of the grasp. "But seeing your dedication to the Elements, maybe you aren't a lost cause, then again, I have made mistakes before, like not killing him sooner." I know he is talking about me, obviously. "Now if you want to get the rest of the Elements with my help, another one of my special stipulations will come into play." Just the way he said special made it sound like it was filled with venom. "No more lies from your end. If you happen to need to lie, make sure somepony who isn't a moron will believe it." He said this last bit with a hint of a smirk, but only if hints stare straight at your bloody face. "So, another special curiosity of my own, which of you will you will truly rule Equestria?" It seems as if he is going to drag the next Element out for a long time, so I cast a quick time travel spell around myself and hope it works without a corporeal body.
I end my time hop, thankful that I seem to have survived intact. The Princesses seem to have finally finished the gaining the Element of Honesty. Professor Raven seems very bored, floating in midair and yawning. "Took you long enough, but here it is... the Element of Honesty! Honestly though, it took you long enough. Especially you, Celestia. Next up is another Element. But for now, I must leave." Raven opens another portal, and I follow because I have no choice. The trip takes longer than usual, but the Vortex has been unpredictable before, so I pay it no mind.
We come to a scene that I know rather well. It is when Discord breaks free of his stone prison and corrupts the Elements. Judging from the position of everything, and the lack of chaos, I only can guess that this is the part where the Element bearers are lost in the Canterlot Garden's maze.
"Well, if it isn't the pony who singlehoofedly heralded the end of my reign." Discord's tone has a bitterness that can only be described as, well, bitter .
"Yes, I just wanted a front row seat to the rise of a new era of Chaos!" Raven seems completely unphased by Discord's anger. "Lessee, here. Judging by the position of the maze, I suppose Fluttershy is up next."
Fluttershy, Fluttershy, now which one was that again? I can't keep them straight, as I studied the artifacts more that the users. Ah, that's it! Yellow, butterflies, kindness, I've got it! Glad I remembered, I turn back to the situation at hand. Discord had turned himself into three butterflies, distinguished by his regular set of horns. Strangely, though, the pegasus seems to be scared of the butterflies, giving a small scream before cowering away from Discord. Once getting a better view of them, she chased after them saying "Wait! Don't leave me here!" She continued her pursuit of the butterflies until she ended at a crossroads.
Discord then approached her, speaking in a higher voice, "Fluttershy, why you've been left behind by your so called friends, huh?"
"Oh no, I'm certain they're doing their best to find me."
Discord began to circle around Fluttershy, "Well it must be so upsetting to know how weak and helpless they think you are."
Fluttershy responds, with unnaturally large pupils, "Not at all, I am weak and helpless and I appreciate their understanding.
Discord's voice begins to revert back to it's usual pitch, "Well surely it burns you up, I mean-" he switches back to his false voice, "they're always pointing out your flaws, right?"
"Not really, in fact, I think I'm awfully lucky to have friends who want you to be the best I can be."
In a flash of light, the butterflies disappear, revealing the true draconequues form instead. "Oh, for goodness sake!" The Lord of Chaos places a talon on Fluttershy's head, "You've been kind for far too long, my dear. Time to be cruel. Arrivederci!" Fluttershy's coloring dulls away and she begins to lose her balance. Discord disappears in a flash of light. Suddenly, a part of the maze falls down, revealing four more mares, one with large boulder on her back. Judging from appearances, the ponies are Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle. There is a bit of conversation, then they leave to go on with their little maze game.
Behind me, a potted plant transformed into the all too familiar form of Professor Raven. He is in the middle of a fit of hysterics when he transforms back into his typical form. "Ah-hah-hah-heh. I needed that. Those Princesses 'orderliness and being good-ness' was really starting to get to me. Oh well, back to the action" He hops out into the Time Vortex and I follow behind him.
Focusing on exactly where he was going, questions started to cross my mind. Why is he talking to himself? What exactly is he trying to do? After I dismissed the thoughts, I started focusing on how I would get my body back. The strain Raven was placing on my body was not at all healthy and I wanted it stopped. But how, when I don't even have a corporeal form of my own?
