The Quest Through Time

Chapter 2

“No major injuries to the head or body.”

“It’s a good thing you found her when you did, she would’ve only lasted another ten minutes.”

“Look, I think she’s waking up!”

Twilight slowly opened her eyes as she began to regain consciousness. The faces she saw were not familiar, nor was the room she was in.

“W…Where am I?” she said softly.

“You’re in the medical bay,” one of the doctors said. “You were found out in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold.”

“But… I was having a picnic and…” It was obviously she was still not 100% there. The two doctors glanced at each other.

“Do you have any idea where you are right now?” the second doctor asked.

Twilight looked around. “I’m not sure, did they put in a new hospital in Ponyville?”

Once again they shared a concerned look. “There is no Ponyville… at least not anymore.”

“What?” Twilight soon shot up. “What are you talking about? What happened?”

“You don’t know?”

“…Do you know who our current ruler is?”

“Of course, Princess Celestia,” Twilight responded.

“…Dear, Princess Celestia has been missing for over fifty years now.”

“F-Fifty years?” Twilight looked at herself. It wasn’t possible… could she have…? “You mean this is… the future?”

“I suppose it is,” the first doctor said. “If you are indeed Twilight Sparkle then somehow you have crossed time along with your friends.”

“My friends!” Twilight said, now remembering. “Are they alright?”

“They are just fine,” the second doctor said. “But don’t thank us, these three here are your saviors.” Twilight then saw she had more company. A white unicorn with a navy blue mane, a blue pegasus with red and black mane, and an earth pony who was brown with a black mane.

“I… thank you.” Twilight said softly.

“No problem at all,” the unicorn said, smiling. “The name’s Snowblind and this is Arwen and Dax. If you don’t mind doctors, we can fill her in from here.” The two doctors nodded and left. “If you really are from the past, then I have to warn you: a lot has changed in fifty years.”

“How so?” Twilight asked, paying close attention.

“Technology has advanced at a high level,” Arwen said. “So much now that we have new modes of transportation, entertainment, you name it.”

“But what happened to Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked.

“Ah… well we don’t know exactly what happened to her, but most likely she is somewhere in Equestria,” Snowblind replied.

“Equestria has a new leader now,” Dax said with disgust. “Or I should say, the Equestrian Empire.”

“Perhaps the boss can go into more detail,” Arwen said. “But we’re just glad you’re okay and we found you when we did.”

“I feel the same way.” Twilight soon got out of bed and saw she was able to balance herself. “Are my friends awake as well?”

“Yes,” Snowblind said, smiling. “In fact they’re waiting outside for you.” He nodded towards the door and Twilight went out.

There waiting for her were her friends. And upon seeing her, they all quickly reacted. “Twilight!” She was then greeted by a huge hug from all of them.

“Well I’m glad to see you all are alright as well,” Twilight said smiling. “I’m sure they told you as well.”

“They sure did!” Applejack said.

“Poor Ponyville is gone,” Rarity said.

“And an Empire, whatever that is!” Pinkie Pie said.

“And they have machines…” Fluttershy said.

“And Princess Celestia disappearing.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Well, I hate to say it, but somehow we got ourselves stuck in the future,” Twilight announced. She then looked to the other ponies. “Where did you find us exactly?”

“In the middle of nowhere up in the mountains around here,” Snowblind said. “Imperial soldiers almost had a hold of you but we got there just in time.”

“I remember there was some sorta earthquake and then the ground all broke up and we fell through the crevice,” Applejack said.

“Not just that but it was like something grabbed us,” Rarity continued. “No doubt some sort of magic was involved.”

“But the question is why, and how did we jump through time?” Rainbow asked.

“That I think I can explain.” The six of them looked over to a larger pony who had a green coat and blue mane.

“Sir!” Snowblind, Arwen, and Dax said at the same time, saluting.

“At ease you three,” the pony said with a small smile. “I’m Basil, (A/N: Pronounced with an a as in apple.) and I’m the leader of this resistance. Come, let us talk in the meeting room.”

Once they all found themselves a seat in the meeting room, Basil was quick to begin. “I’m sure you have any questions and I will do the best I can to explain. The world you are in now is no longer the Equestria you once knew. The government has become, in short, a dictatorship, one that we are currently fighting in civil war. The military now composes of machines that are able to use elemental magic, known as “Magitek.” Where Ponyville used to be now stands the new capital, Vector. To put it all short, the future has become a terrifying place.”

“And just who is this new ruler?” Rainbow asked.

“Emperor Ghidious, an alicorn just like Celestia,” Basil stated. “He has been around for as long as she has. I do not know how exactly he came to power. According to him, Celestia no longer felt fit to be ruler and therefore vanished, but I sense something else happened.”

“Not to mention he’s rotten to the core,” Arwen added.

“And what about Princess Luna?” Rarity asked.

“She too vanished, although there have been rumors she’s been seen around and about all over Equestria. We have been trying to get in contact with her, but it appears she wishes to stay in hiding.”

“Okay, I think I’m starting to understand it all,” Twilight said. “So we have a major bad guy, but if we can find Princess Celestia and Luna, then we can defeat him?”

“It’s really not that simple,” Dax said.

“Ghidious has… come up with a way for non-unicorns to use magic,” Basil said gravely.

“But that’s impossible!” Twilight said.

“Magic cannot be transferred to earth ponies or pegasi!” Rarity argued.

“I know, but he found a way, although we’re still trying to figure it out,” Basil replied. “But his entire new army consists of such ponies, which makes them deadly. Not to mention having all these mechs and airships. We are greatly outnumbered but only have been able to hold out as long as we have because of our terrain. This fortress is massive and it would take the entire army to eventually conquer it. At this rate, all we can hope to do is eventually have this become a war of attrition.”

“So in other words, guerilla tactics?” Applejack asked.

“Something like that,” Dax replied.

“However, before you ask, I may have an idea where Celestia could be,” Basil said. “We have a contact in Fillydelphia, which is not far from here. He has his way of listening in on things. If you can find him, then perhaps-”

Suddenly the ground shook as an explosion could be heard outside. “Damn it,” Basil cursed. “They’ve resumed the bombardment. I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you three must leave now. Head to Fillydelphia and find Marcus. You three, you’ll be accompanying them there, but make sure they go down to the armory first.”

“Yes sir!” Snowblind said. “Alright ladies, follow us!”