The Other Draconiquus - Story 2: Bite of the Changeling

"He's gone, isn't he?" asked Twilight.

"Yes, he is," said L, knowing perfectly well she was talking about Flash. "I'm sorry."

"You have a time machine, don't you? Can't we go back and try again, this time saving him from becoming one of those things?"

"No. We cannot."

"Why not?"

"There are laws of time. They have extremely strict policies about altering events that had occurred in the past in your own life. There are also a law, which states, that if you know something is going to happen in the future ahead of time, you can't change it, either."

"Then what's the point of a time machine?" she asked.

"To see history happen," replied L.

"How can I face all these coming millennia of immortality knowing that I failed to save the stallion I loved?"

"No. The real question is: Was it really him you loved, or the other him? The one from the other world?"

Twilight was about to say, "Of course I loved him", but stopped herself. It was then that she realized, L had spoken a very good question. She wasn't even sure that even she, herself, could answer it truthfully. She was uncertain. "I honestly don't think I can answer that," she said, instead. She then looked at him, questioningly. "How do you know about that?"

"As Discord accurately put it: I heard about it from you in your future. Anyway, there was something else you had told me that you had done with me that I'd like to ask you to. Or rather, invite you to."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, curiously.

"Would you like to come along with me?"

"Come along with you where?"

"Anywhere! That box doesn't just travel in time, you know. It can go anywhere, anywhen, free of charge. Just um, try to avoid contact with with any other of yourself you may see along the way. You were lucky you didn't blow up the universe last time you traveled in time. Yes, I know about that, too. What do you think? I know this might not be the best time to ask you this though."

"No, it's okay. I need a little break from all of this. I know that Princess Celestia just had a reunion with her daughter, and that's great, and all. I can't bear to face the full aspect of the wedding being cancelled now. But do you promise to get me back here by tomorrow when we return?"

"Yes. But we should probably tell the others what's going on, first."

L got up from where he was sitting, and walked up to the others, and Twilight followed suit.

"We have something we want to tell you guys. Oh, before that though, I have to ask. Celestia, so Chryssie is your daughter, right? Who was her father?" asked L.

"Well, it doesn't really matter much, seeing as how he died before he even knew I was pregnant with her," said Celestia.

"I know but who was he? Don't tell me he was who I think he was!"

"I don't know who you think he was, L, but it is of no concern to you."

"The more you neglect to answer the question, the more certain I become that I know the answer."

"Just drop the subject, okay."

"Alright. Anyway, as I was going to say, me and Twilight have just been discussing having her travel with me. She wants to go through with it. Would that be alright with you, Princess Celestia?"

"Quite. I knew that at some point you would allow her to be your companion. I knew, because I've met her many times before she met me, and she was with you during those times."

"How many times have you met him in the past, Celestia?" asked Twilight.

"I've lost count. But I always look forward to a visit from him. I'm surprised you didn't show up when Discord broke free the first time."

"I did! You don't remember, do you?" said L

"Remember what, L?"

"Just like Twilight and her friends, Discord hypnotized you, too. He made you a sex addict, called Molestia, and I had to unhypnotize you while he was away, in order for you to send her back the friendship letters she wrote to you, in order for her to remember that she and her friends were just that. I'm surprised you've forgotten. Then again, I did have to change you back, so nothing would seem off to him."

"YOU AIDED HER IN STONING ME AGAIN, YOU MEDDLING INFIDEL!??!" exclaimed Discord.

"There's no need to loose your head."

Discord told L to do something very inappropriate to himself.

"Dude! Watch your language! This show's made for little girls!"

"What?" asked Rainbow Dash, derp-faced.

"Don't call me 'dude'," said Discord. "I'm not a stoner anymore. Not since-"

"Since you got stoned!" exclaimed L.

"Kiss my flank, L!"

"I totally would take that offer, but you don't even have a flank at the moment."

"Don't remind me."

"Too late."

Discord was about to respond when Luna exclaimed in the Royal Canterlot Voice: "ENOUGH OF THIS CHILDISH LAMPOONERY*, YOU FOALS! BEHAVE THOUSELVES AT ONCE OR TO STONE WITH BOTH OF YOU!"

"You're right, Luna. I'm sorry, Discord. I'm afraid I got a bit, too, carried away with the puns. I do hope you find your body soon." He leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "To be perfectly honest, I really would take the offer to kiss your flank. In fact, remind me when next we meet, assuming, of course, you've found it by then, and I will."

"Agreed," said Discord, considering what would be the most awkward situation in which he would make him do it. He would certainly take a picture and spread copies of it throughout all of Equestria. He'd embarrass his rival to the point in which he would never show his face in Equestria again, and show hundreds of mares his sexy bum all in one go. Best prank ever! 42/0!

They all went down to the ballroom where L stored his blue box, the others were there to see him and Twilight off. L pulled a key out of an invisible pocket, and inserted it into a hidden lock on the door, turned it, and opened the door. He turned back, before entering. "Oh, Pinkie," he said, "I almost forgot." He snapped his fingers and gave Pinkie Pie back her mouth.

"Thanks for remembering me! Last pony who took my mouth forgot! And it took a week before I ever got it back! I had to live off some liquid in a bag given through a needle in my leg! It tasted like snozzberries!"

No pony bothered to ask how she knew IV feed tasted like a fruit that doesn't exist. Pinkie Pie often says things which simply make no sense whatsoever, and everypony has simply learned to just let these things slide as her "just being Pinkie Pie." What they don't know is that... well... that's revealed in much later installment of The Other Draconiquus.

"Until next time, everypony," said L, as he stepped inside the box, leaving the door open for Twilight.

"Don't worry about me everypony," said Twilight. "You'll probably see me again in a minute, since this is a time machine." She stepped inside, and closed the door behind her.

She looked at the inside in awe.

"What do you think, Twilight? What's the first thing that comes to mind?"

She hesitated before saying, "It's bigger on the inside."

"That it is! Welcome to the Tardis, Twilight Sparkle. That's Time And Relative Dimension In Space. This ship is inspired by the time machine of a fictional character created on another planet by a member of a race of ape descended life forms, called homo sapiens, or humans. I loved saying that. It sounded so intelligent."

L walked up to the controls in the center of the room. Twilight stood drinking in her surroundings.

L waited a moment before asking, "So, Princess Twilight Sparkle, where and when would you like to go first?"