The Timeless Chronicle

The lights surrounding me reform into recognizable patterns again.  I recognize Clover. Among a crowd of ponies. Dancing and drinking cider...

The place I'm in is dark, but the fireplace in the middle provides a homey atmosphere. From the inside the building is wooden and looks like a tavern, this must be the outskirt of the castle. There is a group of ponies around the fire, roasting sausages and toasting bread, and selling it to those around. Those around were whirling around to the sound of the music, which in return came from the corner of the room, where, on a pedestal, a group of farmers stood, with their primitive, homemade instruments, playing swingy country music. I saw such a thing once before, at Luna's first Nightmare Night, when there was a similar ensemble in the town square.

And among this farmer and common folk, Clover the Clever, Moonycharm, is swinging around with a partner. She seems to have a good time, and so is her companion, a tall silver mare, of regal built. The patched dress the silver pony is wearing looks completely misplaced on her, and I can nearly hear Rarity's complaints about not even the colors of the patches matching.

The song ends, and another, much quicker begins. Most of the ponies remain on the floor, but a few, including Clover and the silver mare retire upstairs, where tables have been set up, and a barmare is going around serving drinks.

"To the King's stables, that hath been the greatest experience of my life! Thou needest to get me out more often, Bars," puffs Clover exhausted.

"Come on , this hath not been all thou can do? The party hath only stared, Clover," Bars exclaims, still shaking, full of energy.

The little, orange mare tries to pull herself up to a standing position, but fails, falling back the table. She looks up at her friend, and pleads, "Let us stay here for a while longer. We may converse a while, and then thou can take me back to thy dancing."

Bars grins and the shaking stops. "The deal is sealed. What dost thou wish to talk about?"

Clover thinks for a while, looking through the room for some conversational objects, until her sight falls upon the mare on the other side of the table. "Let us start with formalities. I do not wish to call thou by thy mark all time."

"I will only reveal myself, if thou speakest first," Bars replied her smile wavering but for a second.

Clover considers the proposition, but then her face widens in a smile. "I have taken liking to the nickname thou hast created for me. Let us keep the names then. I also see thou hast a problem with disclosing information on thine own, allow me to try guessing thy past myself."

"This might be entertaining, commence my friend." Bars looks skeptical at Clover, but waits for the events to unfold.

"We have met at an aristocratic ball, have we not? This meaneth thou art of middle or higher upbringing. If middle thy  family is rich, which would fit with your mark. Metal is not a commodity in our times.

"But there is the possibility that thou art higher born, even our royal bloodline now being of minerals. I have not heard much of the royal family, but their child should be our age now, should it not?

"Thou art not her though, she would be much better guarded. Maybe a lesser noble. My heraldry hath I forgotten in this night's beverages. I think the Home of Rust, or of Ruby might be appropriate of thy status."

The mare across starts clapping her hoofs and bursts with a friendly laughter. "Thy powers of observation are terrific. I will not tell thou the truth, but I can tell thee, thou wert close. Now letest me try.

"As thou have mentioned, the place we met in discloseth a lot about us both. What thou have not mentioned is the third option. Thou may have omitted it, because thou knew exactly that I was not in't. 'Tis the scholars, and thou art one.

"Thy knowledge about everything amazeth me, so let us let our conclusions go, and thou may continue entertaining me with the conversation."

Clover seems shocked, and her slack jaw manags to mutter only, "I'm sorry, i have underestimated thou. I see I have met my equal if not better."

"Nothing of this kind, although the flattery pleaseth me verily. I am certain my mind compareth not with that of thee, so the more am I happy being able to help thee by pointing out discrepancies."

"Thou art right, let us set this aside, and continue with our games. I feel the powers have returned to my body once again," Clover says and to prove her words stands up. The pair goeth downstairs, and mixeth into the crowd, swilring to the sounds produced from the stage. I remain there standing and watching them dance the night out, happy to finally get to see a positive memory.

They dance and dance. Many ponies that were is here leave through time. Finally the tavern is nearly empty, and the musicians have their instruments packed away. The place seemeth empty, and the higher floor is, containing only the two mares. Clover layeth on the bench on her back and looketh dead tired, while Bars looketh into the ceiling, not yet asleep, but already dreaming.

Then Clover rises up. She looketh around, and asketh for the time. Bars shrugeth with her shoulders. Clover runeth up to a window. Outside she seeth pink. The pink of a rising sun.

She falleth to her knees and throweth her forehooves into the air.

A loud "No!" soundeth through the air, and it takes several seconds for the ringing noise to stop.

Bars standeth up and runeth to the lying Clover, who looketh like a doll, her strings cut loose. She falleth by her side, and heaveing her head up, asketh, "Art thou all right, Clover?"

There is stunning silence everywhere around them and a chirping of a cricked is heard in the distance. Clover, with heavy eyelids, slowly openeth her eyes and looketh into the deep violet eyes before her. She looketh through them, as if not completely aware of her surroundings.

Then, she speaketh,"I...

"I have...

"I forgot to do...

"My Homework."

She fainteth.

The lights start flickering.