Chapters Introduction: Searching for Starswirl.
As the sun began to part with the horizon, the looming shadow of shelves in the Canterlot Archives cloaked a purple pony with darkness. The pony was slumped against the wall, a book, still open on her chest, which was rising and falling with the rhythms of sleep. Suddenly, a beam of light fluttered over her eyelids, and they opened to reveal purple eyes.
Not again, Twilight thought to herself. This wasn't the first time in her visit to Canterlot that her studies had turned into an overnight stay. She got to her hooves and stretched her wings, which had been wedged awkwardly under her body all night. The sunlight began to illuminate the Starswirl the Bearded wing. Twilight sighed. Just the musty smell of the ancient spellbooks, the thought of opening th e worn leather cover and delving into the handwritten journals, made Twilight want to never leave the archives.
Twilight used her magic to pick up the book that had fallen to the floor and return it to its shelf. She had spent all week looking for Starswirl's hidden spell and still no lck. She cursed herself again for falling asleep; those 8 hours could have been spent searching, not dozing off.
It was her last day on her visit to Canterlot and she had to make it count.
"Good morning, Princess Twilight," said a voice from behind her.
"Spike, since when have you called me 'Princess Twilight?'"
The little dragon shrugged. "Just thought you'd need some good luck. Last day." he remarked.
The whole visit had been very last-minute. It had started when Twilight came across something quite intriguing in a book about Starswirl the Bearded. It said that Starswirl had written a secret, undiscovered spell and had hidden it in the hopes that some bright young unicorn could find it and unlock its secret powers. Powers that could control dimensions, powers no pony has ever had before. Twilight knew exactly what pony was going to find that book. However her own library only had a select number of books on the subject, and what better place to look for Starswirl's secret than in his own secret journals? She ended up catching the next train to Canterlot and booking a week-long stay.
"Right. If I'm going to find Starswirl's spell, I have to get down to business." Twilight was determined. She wanted to be remember for something. Something beside being a princess. She wanted to be that pony who cast Starswirl's secret spell.
"Well, I brought you breakfast." Spike said sullenly. "Take it or leave it."
"Thanks, Spike, but I have to start looking right now. No time for distractions like eating!"
Spike carried the tray over to the door, muttering under his breath what sounded like "unappreciated"
It all happened very quickly. Spike was carrying the tray of eggs, rolls, toast jam and tea. His foot slipped on a page of Twilight's notes. The tray flipped out of his hand and fell onto the wood floor with a deafening crash.
"Spike!" she scolded. The tray was shattered to pieces, the tea spilled in a growing brown puddle and the toast had landed jam-side-down. But Spike was too distracted to notice.
"Twilight, look." Twilight followed his gaze. On the spot where the tray had fallen, a wooden floorboard had popped out of the floor's design, reveal a shallow compartment with only one item in it: a book.
Twilight grasped it with a burst of magenta emitting g from her horn. It was an old journal with a crimson color, stamped with gold letters spelling "Uncover the Secret." the old parchment was so yellowed and brittle, it looked like it might crumble.
"Of course! Why didn't I think of it? Of course Starswirl would have hiddent it! Oh, Spike, do you know how long this book has been missing?" Twilight was talking very quickly.
" you may have mentioned it once or twice," Spike grumbled under his breath "a minute."
"This book has been missing for centuries! And I just found it! Do you know how exciting this is, Rarity?"
Spike looked behind him. No Rarity. "You could open it." Spike suggested.
"Of course! Thanks, Pinkie Pie, you are a genius!"
"I try." said Pinkie Pie joyfully. Spike was very confused.
Twilight flipped through the book vigorously. It had to be in there somewhere. What better place to hide a top-secret than in a top secret journal hidden in a top secret compartment in the Cantrlot Archives?
She wondered if 'uncover the Secret was supposed to mean something.
"I can't find it anywhere! But that's impossible! It has to be in here somewhere! Starswirl--" Twilight broke off. Inside the front cover was a small hidden pouch. She held her breath and shook the book. From inside the pouch, an ancient scrap of folded parchment fell and flitted to the ground, landing silently at Twilight's hooves.
Author's Note
I typed this on my iPad, so sorry for an autocorrect errors.
Twilight stared at the little slip of paper on the ground. Could it be? For a moment, all she could do was stare. Then slowly, painstakingly she raised the note to eye-level. Even her magic felt shaky with anticipation. Heart racing, Twilight cleared her throat and began reading.
"To whomever this note may find: My name is Starswirl. I am a unicorn, 30 years of age, skilled in the field of magic. Like any unicorn, I use my magic to help with my special talent. Except one small difference. My talent is magic." Twilight broke off momentarily. She had known that Starswirl was a unicorn with similar qualities to herself, but she hadn't realized how oddly alike they were. A cold realization hit her. What if she possessed magic as powerful as THE Starswirl the Breaded? Pushing the thought out of her head, Twilight forced her eyes back to the paper.
"Throughout my studies I have encounter more than your average pony. It is true that I have battled with mythical beasts like the Hydra, trekked further than Equestria itself, observed the working forces of the universe. However, no spell I have encountered is able to consistently bring one object to another point in time in the future of the starting point. But, I wondered one day, what of one was in the future, and could simply transport the object forward in the time stream? Theories like that are ones that could land ponies in jail. So I write this note today in the hopes that one day, in a brighter future, a unicorn may speak the incantation below and introduce me to the future I helped create. Good luck, and hope to see you soon.
-Starswirl Twilight gaped. Starswirl the bearded? Wanted her to cast his top-secret hidden spell? He wanted to meet her? In person? It was almost too much to handle.
"Can you believe this, Spike?" Twilight's voice was barely more than a whisper.
"do you think it's really true?" Spike's eyes were like huge green orbs, filled with wonder and confusion.
"Of course it is!" She assured him. "I hope."
"What does he mean, theories could land a pony in jail?" Spike asked, feeling very confused.
"Back in Classical Equestrian Era, ponies were ruled by the Pre-Celestian monarchy. If a pony would disagree with or speak against a royal belief, they could face crueal punishment like imprisonment or even banishment. Thats why a lot of Starswirl's theories never made it to the public until after his death in the Modern Era." Twilight paced anxiously across the cavernous library. " Can you believe we're going to meet him, for real?" Spike dashing to keep up with her, was still confused. "So, how did Starswirl help create the modern era if his ideas weren't spread until the modern era already started?"
" what kind of question is that, Spike?"
"A valid one!". The baby dragon defended.
"Well, during the Classic Era, ponies didn't believe in harmony. Their society was based off of strong, negative emotions like hatred, cruelty and greed. Earth ponies were forced to labor for the others, unicorns had to raise the sun with their ,magic and the Pegasi worked all day creating the weather for the ponies with more money. What Starswirl did was hold secret meetings of ponies and try spread positive ideas, and positive emotions. "
"So they all gathered up and overthrew the monarchy?"
"Actually, no. The kingdom grew so weak and unstable that the element of chaos overtook its citizens. They were eventually invaded by a Draconiqus. You may have heard of him." Twilight said in an ironis tone.
"Discord?"
"The very same. Anyways, that's when Celestia and Luna come in and lead the way to the Modern Era."
Twilight ran into a wall. She had forgotten she was pacing.
"So, are you going to do it?" Spike asked.
"Do what?"
"Starswirl's spell!"
"Oh, that. Of course I am. How could I pass up an opportunity like this?"
"Then what are you waiting for?" Twilight and Spike met each others eyes. Then Twilight summoned the note, cleared her throat once again and began to recite the incantation.
Author's Note
Sorry I totally messed up the Italics.
Darkness. All Starswirl could see was complete and utter darkness in all directions, confining and yet somehow infinite. Then he opened his eyes and reality slid into focus. A bright light, something purple. Distant sounds, reaching him through a layer of glass. Starswirl stretched out his hooves, and a surge of agony erupted through his muscles. Where was he?
Squinting, Starswirl could make out the forms of two ponies-- no, one pony and one...something else.
"Starswirl?" the single word broke the glass barrier and pierced into his mind until it was too painful to remain conscious and darkness enclosed him once more.
"Do you think he's okay?" As Starswirl awoke once more, an unfamiliar voice reached him. He sat up, and it didn't hurt so much this time. Now he could clearly see. A young mare with purple fur and a dark mane stood next to him, and behind her, Starswirl could see--
"Is that...a dragon?" Getting to his hooves, he approached the little creature. He was about the size of a young filly, standing on two feet with green spikes descending from his head to the end of his tail.
"You can call me Spike." He said casually.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle!" said the purple pony brightly, trying to get as close to Starswirl as possible.
"I am Starswirl. Where am I?" it was all very confusing.
"You're, well, you're in the Canterlot Archives..." the pony glanced at the little purple dragon.
"Welcome to the future!" Spike said loudly.
"The future?" Starswirl looked around. Mostly books covered the shelves around him. Tea and jam were smeared on the floor along the shards of a shattered tray. A light enclosed in glass hung from the ceiling. An enormous telescope was displayed in a huge glass container. And a statue...of a colt...who looked familiar. "Good lord!" he exclaimed. The panel at the foot of the statue read: Starswirl the Bearded. "How did I get here?"
"We found your note. You told us how to bring into the future, well, your future. Our present. That you helped create."
"Impossible, I...I wrote that not just last night! I never had a chance to try it myself! I-- what year is it?" Starswirl stuttered
"You're in the year 2014." Twilight answered.
"More than a thousand years in the future!" Starswirl exclaimed.
"1420 years, to be exact." Twilight responded.
"What is that?" Starswirl asked, pointing at the small yellow light inside the glass orb.
"What, the lightbulb?" Twilight looked at him inquisitively. "Well, it uses electricity to make a light..."
"Electricity?"
Twilight shook her head. "It appears that you have a lot to catch up on."
"Why does that statue have my name on it?"
"Well. You were kind of an important part of our history."
Suddenly, Starswirl noticed something odd about the unicorn. Which was that she wasn't a unicorn at all. She had wings on her back and a horn. "You are an Alicorn! Then the legends are true! Tell me, is this the legendary kingdom of the Alicorns?"
Twilight hesitated. "Not exactly. I'm kind of...a princess."
"A princess." Starswirl let out a long whistle.
"come with me," said Twilight Sparkle. "You may want to see this."
.....................................................
"So, this place is called Canterlot." Starswirl confirmed.
"Right," Answered Spike.
"And this is the castle."
"Right."
The three walked through the corridors and stairways of the Canterlot Castle as Spike explained the details of Ponyville and Canterlot to Starswirl. Apparently, a lot had changed over the past 1420 years. Finally, they arrived at the door to the balcony. Twilight opened it meaningfully with one hoof, and gestured for Starswirl to enter. He walked out onto some sort of balcony overlooking a town of sophisticated homes and parlors. Except one small detail. Everything was wrong.
"I was envisioning something a bit more...well, a bit less...what's the word...chaotic?!?"
Twilight rushed over the the precipice. Instead of the usual calm atmosphere, something was terribly wrong. Random splotches of paint splattered the beautiful buildings in neon colors. Muddy hoof prints left trails on the pavement. An occasional shop hung upside down in the air, clothing and goods falling out their windows. A drop of something landed on Twilight's ear. A drop of something brown. Chocolate milk. She only knew of one pony, or rather one Draconiqus who could have caused the kind of damage.
"Discord," hissed Spike.
"Did I hear someone say my name?" in a small flash of light, Discord appeared in front of the ponies. "Well I don't believe we've met!" he exclaimed, looking at Starswirl.
"Oh, really? Have you forgotten me, Discord? I see the future's come a long way." He replied coldly.
Discord almost fell out of the air. Regaining his confidence, Discord said, "Well, if it isn't my pal, Starswirl? Tell me, what are you doing in the 21st century?"
"Vacationing." Starswirl replied. "You can't have caused all this chaos on your own, Discord. Whose helping you?"
Twilight ans spike stared. Old pal? How did these two know each other?
"Oh, just a convenient little rupture in the fabric of space time. Maybe you've heard about it." Snapping his fingers, Discord caused the chocolate milk to rain harder. "Oh, I'm sorry, wouldn't want to mess up your perfect manes!" Snap. Bright yellow rain hats appeared on the ponies' heads.
"Discord, stop fooling around! Put those houses down right now!" Twilight yelled angrily
"Or what? You'll throw me in your pathetic little dungeon?"
"Or I'll use my element against you!" Her element alone wouldn't be enough to stop Discord, but it was a decent threat.
"Fine, have it your way." Snap. The houses fell out of the air, crashing to the ground loudly. "Twilight, you are no match for my magic now!" he made the chocolate rain harder. "Chaos will reign, or should I say, rain, once more!"
What had happened? Why had it happened now? How could the spell have caused so much chaos? She had just wanted Starswirl to see the future as it was, as it really was. She wanted him to see the future that he created. And with all this chaos, how was she supposed to get him back to his own time? She felt like crying. What if Starswirl never could return to his own time? Who would restore harmony to Equestria? Could she have changed time? The questions spun around in her head, stealing her from reality.
Suddenly realizing that her coat was soaked, Twilight shivered. "Aw, are you cold? Perhaps you'd like a jacket!" Snap. They two ponies were wearing straitjackets. Helpless. The two ponies. Spike had escaped.
Applejack stared sullenly at the trees of Sweet Apple Acres. She had grown up in this nightmarish farm, and she wouldn't leave it for all the gold in Equestria. But every day, when the chocolate rain poured down, when she gazed out the windows at the trees suspended in midair, roots stretching upwards, probing for ground to settle in, she knew it felt wrong.
The only pony Applejack knew of who had been around before the time of chaos was Granny Smith. She told of the days of when Harmony ruled, long ago.And both longed to see those days.
On the contrary, most ponies were quite agreeable about it. That included Applebloom, Applejack's younger sister.
"Hey, Applejack!" Applebloom bounded carelessly into AJ's bedroom. She skidded on all four hooves, shook the chocolate rain out of her hair, and stood in a sideways position that showed off her cutie mark, a coil of rope.
"What is it, Applebloom?" Applejack looked at her younger sister.
"Someone's here to see you!" She hollered.
"And who might that be?" Suddenly, a small purple ball of scales and spikes hurtled into the room, barreling over Applejack and knocking her over.
"Applejack," said the creature, panting "I need...to talk...to you,"
"And would you mind tellin' me exactly who," she surveyed his odd appearance, "And what you are?"
"I'm Spike! Please tell me you remember me," He looked into AJ's eyes desperately. "I'm Twilight Sparkle's pet dragon!"
"Are you talkin' about THE Twilight Sparkle? PRINCESS Twilight Sparkle?" Applejack said with a tone of disbelief.
"Yeah, I guess so," Spike said. "And she and Starswirl the Bearded really need your help."
"So let me get this straight. Princess Twilight and some random pony named Starshine or something of likes need my help?" she laughed. "Maybe you have the wrong pony. I'm just a regular old pegasus!"
Spike looked at AJ's side. Sure enough, there were wings folded on her back.
"It isn't supposed to be this way, AJ. All this chaos, everything has changed. I promise, it wasn't meant to be like this!" Now Applejack was listening. "Sweet Apple Acres isn't supposed to be upside down. And you are supposed to be an Earth Pony, Applebloom isn't supposed to have her cutie mark and-- Sweet Celestia! She sure isn't supposed to have a horn, and..." He broke off panting.
"So how exactly did this end up happenin'" Applejack said, staring incredulously.
"No time to explain. Just come with me, okay? We need to get be to the old future. Our future. Our present. You just need to help me."
Applejack stared at her hooves. "I knew all this wasn' right." she commented. "Alright, I'll help you."
"Thanks so much, AJ. Now come with me!"
"Just tell me where to go, and hop on!" Spike jumped onto AJ's back.
"Are you sure? It took me a long time to get here from Canterlot!"
"Spike, I can just use the boosters!" She said, fixing what looked like metal armor onto her wings. A row of blue light lit up on the edge of each wing, and an unsettling rattling emitted from the device. "Hang on!" she yelled, and they were off.
.............................................................
Applejack was fighting against the wind. Even with the boosters bushing her wings to their limit, the wind buffeted her mane. Her fur was blown wildly in all directions and her eyes were streaming as the air forced tears out of them. Focusing on the thought of fixing her world kept her flying. She pointed her front hooves forward, and attempted to push off the air with her back hooves.
After a while longer of this, AJ swooped down, leaving the wetness of the clouds, entering the harsh currents below, chilling her wet body to the bone. Shivering, she narrowed her eyes in concentration, flying in and out of cotton candy clouds raining chocolate milk. Setting her boosters to maximum, the turrets and rooves of Canterlot approached rapidly.
They slammed right into the wall.
Author's Note
I know, this chapter, and all my chapters, are terribly short. I just don't have that much time to write! I had to cut this one off short sorry.