The Sequence Starts
Written by ZekeOfTheFreaks
Las Pegasus. A city filled with large buildings, beautiful greenery, and everywhere you look, there's ponies either going to or coming from somewhere. One pony in particular seemed to be enjoying his day. Source Code, an earth pony with a special talent in working with technology, was just coming home from work, when he looked through an alleyway, and saw an old unicorn stallion, passed out and barely breathing. He rushed to the unicorn, felt his pulse, and luckily it was stable. Source Code was certainly no doctor, but he could tell that it was probably just a case of exhaustion. Since his house was nearby, he carried the unicorn on his back, and walked the rest of the way home.
Source Code finally arrived home with the old unicorn. He placed the stallion on the couch, and quickly went to grab a glass of water for him. As soon as he returned to the stallion, he could already see him waking up. The unicorn looked at him, almost as if he recognized the pony before him. He immediately shouted,
"It's you! You're my successor!" The stallion's words caught Source Code off guard. He thought the poor old pony was acting senile, but he at least wanted to get some information from the unicorn, so he asked,
"Successor? What do you mean? More importantly, who are you, and how did you end up passed out in the alleyway?" The unicorn placed his hoof on his face, as if he was embarrassed by the situation, and responded,
"Allow me to explain. My name is Clocksworth, and I was sent here to find my successor. You see, I'm a time traveler."
"Time traveler? Wait, that's actually possible?"
"Quite so. In fact, it has been done for centuries. We simply haven't been visible to the ones we visit."
"Wait, we?"
"Wow, I really must be confusing you. You see, we time travelers are a secret society. A clan, of sorts, if you will. When we travel through time, we can only be seen by the ones who we want to see us. However, there are only so many of us, and when one of us has reached the end of our life, we give our title to a pony we see potential in. These ponies are called our successors."
"So, wait, if I found you passed out in the alley, and you say I'm your successor, does that mean--"
"I'm afraid it does, young Source Code. My time in this universe has nearly come to an end. I was told by a fellow time traveler that a young stallion with a knack for technology, and a creative mind would be found in this point in time. Judging by the physical description they gave me, it must be you; average height, beige coat, dirty blonde mane, wears a blue vest with dark brown glasses, you fit the description perfectly." Source Code was in such awe by Clocksworth's words that he never realized that the unicorn already knew his name.
"So, does that mean I am to become a time traveler?"
"Yes, Source Code, it does, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. You see this watch on my hoof?" Source Code looked at the device on Clocksworth's hoof. It looked a lot like his own watch, but as he touched it, it turned into a machine of sorts.
"Whoa, what is that thing?!"
"It's an invention of mine. I call it the Teleportation And Time Travel Hoof Watch, or TATTHoW for short." Source Code had never seen such technology before, even with the fact that he had been working with modern technology for as long as he could remember."
"How did you make this? Is it some type of magic/machinery hybrid?"
"You could say that. Anyway, I want you to have it." Source Code was still processing the fact that he was witnessing a piece of futuristic technology, so he couldn't respond to Clocksworth with anything but a simple nod of the head. Clocksworth removed the TATTHoW from his hoof, handed it to Source Code, and said to him, "Everything you need to learn about how to use it will come to you naturally. Time is now on your side." Clocksworth then faded away, leaving nothing behind.
Source Code had been standing in place, not moving a muscle, for no less than half an hour now. He had just witnessed a time traveling pony, a piece of modern technology, and the death of a pony in his own house. He finally shook himself out of his trance, and placed the TATTHoW on his left hoof. Suddenly, his vision blanked, and all of Equestria's history flashed right before his eyes. Not only that, but when he tapped on the TATTHoW, it went from looking like a casual watch to the same futuristic device he had witnessed the late Clocksworth use. He was feeling a mix of panic, joy, and confusion. He tried to see if he could work this device, so he pressed a red button right by the minute counter, and it teleported him back to when he was at work that morning. He thought that everypony would see him like this, and get suspicious, but nopony noticed. In fact, when he looked at himself, he appeared to be some sort of hologram. He remembered what Clocksworth said about time travelers only being visible to the ones they wish. He then thought that if his current self was seen by his past self, it would alter the timeline, and his own fading could result. He immediately pressed the red button again, and he returned to the present. Not a thing had changed. Source Code thought to himself,
"So, when I time travel, my place in time is frozen, and perhaps I don't even age. This means I can go forward and back to any time I want, and as long as I'm not noticed, I'll be fine." Just then, Source Code heard a voice beckoning to him. It was a robotic voice, and it said,
"Well done, Source Code. You have learned how to travel through time. Remember, when you press the red button, it takes you to whatever moment in time that you imagine."
"Who said that? And why can't I shake the feeling that I recognize your voice?"
"I am the TATTHoW's spirit. The second you placed me on your hoof, we bonded. I am now a part of you for life."
"Spirit? You mean you're alive?"
"Not exactly. I am sentient, but I'm not alive. Clocksworth created me with advanced A.I., so I can speak to you whenever I'm needed. In other words, I exist to help you." Source Code now realized that his new accessory was also his new assistant.
"Wow! Thanks, TATTHoW. Hey, is there anything else you can do?"
"Indeed there is. Besides traveling through time, I can also take you to any place in Equestria at will, and unlike time travel, there's no risk of altering any timelines. All you need to do is press the blue button next to my hour counter, while thinking about where you want to go, and you'll be there."
"That's amazing! I think we're going to make a great team, TATTHoW."
"I know we are, Source Code. And yes, I know your name." Source Code smiled at the TATTHoW, and tapped on the monitor, returning it to the basic watch form he first saw. He decided to spend the rest of the day as he normally would, going on his computer, and just spending his time the way he wanted. It came to the time for him to go to sleep, and he took off his old watch, as he had forgotten to do earlier, tapped on the TATTHoW's face, and said,
"Thank you for becoming my most valuable assistant."
"I should be thanking you, Source Code. Without you showing up, I would have faded along with my original master, Clocksworth."
"I'm your master? I wouldn't want to sound like I control you. Can't we just call each other friends?"
"If that is what you wish, then so be it, my friend Source Code."
"Well, good night, TATTHoW."
"Good night, Source Code." He tapped on the watch, and it returned to normal. He got into bed, and quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, Source Code woke up feeling extra happy. It was a day off from work, so he could do whatever he wanted. Thanks to the TATTHoW, he was now also free to go anywhere in Equestria he wanted, as well as forward and backward in time. He tapped on the TATTHoW's face, and it said,
"Good morning, Source Code. How can I help you?" Source Code had thought about the Apple Pie Contest he had participated in only a few weeks ago, and said,
"I think I'll go to Ponyville."
"As you wish. Just imagine Ponyville, and press the blue button. You'll be taken there immediately." Source Code closed his eyes, imagined the town, pressed the blue button, and away he went. When he opened his eyes, he found himself right by Ponyville town hall, and saw a pink filly sitting on a bench, crying.