Shadow Fall

They say that an adventure never starts until you're willing to take the first step. If that first step would most likely cost you your life would you take that step? Would you go forward and put your life on the line for the prize at the end of the long journey or would you turn away from that danger that lies ahead never to face the trial and tribulations like a coward? Would you fight all that stands in your way or would you stand aside and let others take what is so rightfully yours? Most importantly though, would you keep moving forward if it meant the ones you love would perish? These are the questions one must ask themselves before going forward into the unknown.

-Unknown

There comes a time in most ponies lives when they ask themselves what they can possibly do to spice up their lives. Simply put doing the same thing every day get’s boring especially when you’ve lived as long as princess Celestia. Today was a was a good example of such.

Today Celestia went through her usual routine the same one she had been going through for the last few millennia or so. As of now she sat idly in her throne looking through scroll after scroll. Complaint about small things that wasn’t worth her time made up most of the pile today.

“This is so boring I wish something would happen” Celestia muttered before moving to get another scroll.

It was at that point when she noticed something was off. Everything seemed still at little too still. Even for a day like today when nothing was happening there would have been at least a noble or two coming in to meet with her, but there hasn’t been one pony coming in all day. Actually now that’s she thought about it the sun hadn’t moved from it’s position in over an hour.

“Guard!” Celestia shouted towards the guard at the left of her throne.

He did not answer. He didn’t even flinch or show any sign at life at that.

“Just as I thought” Celestia muttered before making a deep sigh knowing nothing good could good could come out of this “Alright come out already you old fool,” Celestia said through an exhausted voice

At that moment a young white blank flank unicorn colt with silver hair trotted from behind her throne “ I take offence to that you know,” the colt said in mock offense before settling in front of the Celestia looking at her with his icy blue eyes.

“You know most would take offense to you coming into their kingdom and completely stopping time.” Celestia said with a bored voice

The colt’s form shifted slightly his body seemingly growing in height and size “True most would but luckily you’re not like most in fact you’re one of a kind.”

Celestia raised her brow “I see so what brings you here today?”

The colt stood and walked toward one of the stain glass windows depicting discord defeat at the hooves of Celestia and Luna. As he walked his body grew bigger with each step. Most would call it unnatural Celestia just called it a immature display of a higher deities power of time. As it was he was just getting bigger in fact he was aging himself with each step. By the time he had gotten to the the stain glass mirror he was seemingly a young adult.

“Celestia have you ever thought you were inadequate like you were below the standards that were put out for you.”

Celestia was rather surprised by the question never had she ever heard of him being unsure of himself. Rather he was usually either overly cocky or brimming with wisdom that easily overtook her own. Why would he of all ponies be asking a question like that.

Celestia shook her head shaking away the surprise out her head before answering him “Well yes of course I have it’s apart of wielding great power don’t you think?”

The stallion chuckled “Sometimes, Celestia, sometimes”

“Why are asking in the first place you’re one of the few I would least expect to ask me for any advice of any kind”

Father Time turned to face Celestia once again changing his age to that of an elderly stallion. “Because Celestia you or one of the few that knows how it feels to fail at someone you wish to protect to with your life be the

“Is that insult or a compliment?”

That stallion shrugged “Take it as you want to, Celestia”

“So what has event has transpired that you would need to turn to me for advice?”

“Celestia I failed, I failed and lost someone very dear to me someone I saw as one of my closest friends I had to sit and watch as that friend was killed before my very eyes”

Celestia’s eyes widen in shock “What do you mean who, died and who did you befriend you don’t trust anyone enough to be their friend not even us ”

The stallion’s eyes literally turned red as he glared at Celestia “Oh please Celestia while it may be true I don’t trust most of you nitwits I’m not foolish enough not to at least have one friend,” He said angrily “and while it may be true that I don’t trust most of you I do have plenty of trust in certain individuals in our little group you not being one of them.”

Celestia washadn’tr taken aback by that it seemed as if she still hadn't truly figured out the stallion that stood in front of her “Be that as it may none of us have died in over a ten thousand years,”

The stallion eyes turned back icy blue before he started growing younger again as he made a deep sorrowful sigh before he was once again a young stallion “That is was true but sadly that has changed Celestia”

“Who was it”

“You’ll find out in due time Celestia” The stallion looked down to the floor “ As things are proceeding now you will be finding out soon enough”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that the one that killed my friend will be coming here in about,” The stallion closed his eyes for a moment before speaking again “twenty three or so years”

“What why!?” Celestia yelled angrily

The stallion looked at her passively “Calm your teats Celestia you don’t have anything to worry about for now I can guarantee you that it won’t be coming here until then.”

“You’ve yet to tell me who and why” Celestia said through clenched teeth.

“And I won’t mainly because I’m not allowed to do so”

Celestia sighed “I hate it when you say that”

The stallion rolled his eye and turned away from Celestia trotting towards to the door to the throne room before he got to the door though he stopped turning his head to look back at Celestia “Oh yeah before I forget I’m going to be in Equestria for the next twenty three years I have to make sure things go as I need them to”

Celestia glared at him “I would deny you but I doubt you’d actually listen just make sure not to cause any problems Father time”

Father Time smirked while turning into a colt once again “Oh please Celestia when have I ever been known to cause problem, just for the record while I’m in Equestria refer to me as Clockwork would you and before I leave you should know a very important filly is being born today.”

Without waiting for Celestia to respond Father Time or rather Clockwork Disappeared without a flash.