Fate Weaver - The Edge of Time

ENIGMATIC GUEST

THE GOLDEN OAK LIBRARY

The trip to the library was stressful enough for Twilight. Once Spike returned to her, he told her that her friend, Applejack, was extra busy in the orchard, but that if she needed her later, she'd be more than happy to help.

Lucky for her, though, another one of her friends, Pinkie Pie, was available, and offered to help... and to Twilight, that fact alone was enough to smile at.

Pinkie Pie was a pink-coated earth pony mare with a darker pink mane and tail. Her mane and tail were puffy, and had a slight resemblance to cotton candy. She was wearing a white sleeveless shirt with pink denim jeans, and a pair of pink boots.

Twilight grunted as she pushed the door open with the human's arms still firmly gripped over her shoulders, and his midsection still held up in the air by her magic. Pinkie had his legs wrapped in her hooves, and she carried him facing backwards, with Twilight guiding her.

"Okay, Pinkie... step! Step... step... and... there!" With the last of her energy, Twilight placed the human on the pink couch in the library; a friendly little housewarming gift from a certain pink visitor. Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie and smiled warmly. "Thank you again for your help, Pinkie Pie... I don't think I would've been able to make it here, if it weren't for you!"

Pinkie, in turn, waved her left hand dismissively and replied in her usual high-speed, high-pitched tone, "Oh, it was nothing, Twilight! I couldn't help but notice that you were in need of help, and a good friend always, and I mean always, has to look out for her friends, because, I mean, that's what friends are for, right? To help one-another out in their times of need!"

Twilight, despite missing half of Pinkie's ramblings due to the speed, was able to understand what she meant and nodded her head with a thankful smile. "Yes, Pinkie... and I'm eternally grateful for your help. Right now, though, I need to go find a book on human care... I'd hate to be a burden, but... can you watch over him for me right quick? I shouldn't take long at all!"

Pinkie gave her a salute before replying, "Okie Dokie Loki!" Then she reached into her mane and (somehow) pulled out a magnifying glass, then closely examined the human's face through it.

Twilight lightly chuckled and rolled her eyes at Pinkie Pie's antics, but decided to hurry up to her room. Spike followed her up the stairs to help her look.

About five minutes have passed, and Pinkie was still staring at the human through her magnifying glass. She hummed as she examined him even closer, though... but more specifically, as she examined his dark brown hair. Curiously, she inched closer to his hair and bit down on a small lock of it carefully, so as not to pull any of his hair out. Then she released his hair from her teeth and rubbed her snout in thought. "Huh... his mane doesn't taste like chocolate..." She tilted her head in confusion before inching closer to his face. Then... she licked his left cheek, which made him turn his head away from the source of the foreign contact. "And his skin doesn't taste like banana... or vanilla! So this isn't some sort of food monster, at least!" she quietly told herself with a relieved smile.

It was then that the human's eyes slowly opened up. He groaned before turning to his left, where he met the overly hyped out pink pony that sat on the floor, with her face undeniably too close for him to feel comfortable. They both stared at each other with a neutral expression on their faces... but no matter what, none of them could find anything to say to the other one.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, Pinkie spoke. "You taste funny, Mr. Shaved-Hornless-Minotaur-Monkey-Shaped-Banana-Vanilla-Chocolate Coated Thing. You aren't made out of a foreign kind of blend of food from another kingdom, are you?"

The human slowly raised an eyebrow out of confusion at the pink mare. He had to refrain from freaking out at the first few words she said. He even wanted to answer her question that followed, whatever it was, but at the rate she spoke, it was impossible for him to even understand most of what the question was. His train of thought was interrupted once again the moment she gave him a painfully large, toothy grin. Then he suddenly wanted to know where in the world the strange squeaking noise came from.

Finally, after yet another long moment of silence, he was able to speak again.

"... What?"

From behind the human's point of view, he heard Twilight gasp. "Oh, good! You're awake again!" The human turned towards her. When he noticed her, she was rushing towards him from the bottom step.

"Oh... hello, ma'am! Um... Twilight, was it?" the human asked while watching her trot around to where she and Pinkie Pie were in the same general area.

Twilight eyed him curiously. "That is correct... at least you didn't forget that... hey, wait a second..." she gasped before pointing at him, "how on Equus did you know who I am?!"

The human scratched the back of his head before replying, "It's strange... I don't know how, but... I just know you by name. Nothing more, though... well, aside from the others."

Twilight tilted her head in even more confusion. "Others? You mean my friends?"

With a nod, the human clarified, "Yeah... Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy. As for how I know them, I can't say, because I don't know. All I know is what they look like, and their names... but that's it."

Twilight and Pinkie Pie both eyed him suspiciously at that statement. Twilight rubbed her chin in thought before asking, "Hm... so you're saying you can only remember us, but only on a visual level?"

Again the human nodded his head. "What's odd, though, is that I don't know how... and I can't even explain how I could actually know you six, yet I don't even know my own self!" He then noticed their expressions and waved his hands defensively. "B-but I don't think I could've been some sort of spy of any kind! I mean... if I was, then I promise I'm not any more!"

The mares seemed to relax a little at that comment. Then Twilight cleared her throat before saying, "Well... I'm not sure how to think of that... I mean, you look like you're telling the truth, but... I'd keep information like that to myself, if I were you." She then weakly smiled at him. "But regardless, you don't look like the kind of guy who would pose a threat. I mean, it's clear your mannerisms are good, so that's a start!" Then she lightly chuckled. "But please, just call me Twilight. There's no need for 'Miss', or anything like that, since I am only seventeen!"

The human nodded his head and replied, "Understood... and thanks, by the way. I'm not kidding when I say I can't remember anything else, but... if I was some kind of threat, I can assure you I'm not, anymore." His stomach started to grumble a little, which made him slightly jump at the sudden sound. The ponies raised one of their eyebrows at him confusedly while he, in turn, stared at his stomach in disbelief. "W-what the heck was that?!"

Everyone was silent for a moment. Then, out of nowhere, Pinkie Pie started to giggle. Twilight did the same, before the two of them burst into a fit of laughter. The human turned from his stomach to them with a worried expression on his face.

Finally, when their laughter was done, Twilight was the first to reply. "Oh my gosh! You mean to tell me you don't know when you're feeling hungry?"

The human just stared at her blankly before scratching the back of his head. "I... can't say I do know for sure... is that bad?"

Twilight lightly shook her head and replied, "I can't believe I actually have to explain this to anyone! No, it isn't that bad... but it isn't that good, either! It just means you have to eat something!" She rubbed her chin in thought and hummed. "If I remember correctly, humans were considered to be omnivores, meaning they had to eat meat and vegetables to remain healthy. Considering we're in a herbivore-dominant place, however, we'll have to feed you some meat substitute... tofu, stuff like that!"

The human tilted his head in confusion. "Um... meat substitute?"

Twilight nodded her head and replied, "Of course! Sometimes, when he isn't looking, I have to give Spike a small amount of tofu to keep him healthy, since dragons are naturally carnivores... well, with the exception of gems."

The human rubbed his chin in thought. "So Spike is a... dragon?"

She nodded her head and replied, "Pretty much! Of course, he's only a baby dragon, so it's not like he's dangerous, or anything like that! Plus, when he grows older, I'm certain he'll still be the friendly little lovable drake that he is today! Um... minus the little part, though."

The human nodded his head and asked, "Okay... but, um... can you help me with another question?"

Twilight smiled widely at him before replying, "You actually like learning?!"

The human shrugged his shoulders. "Well, yeah! I mean, I don't really know much about anything, yet I'd love to know more!"

Twilight nodded her head in response. "That's a good attitude! I... might not be able to help you with everything that you need to know, but I promise I'll do the best that I can! Now, what would you like to know?"

The human had to think back on his question again for a moment. Then, once he found it, he looked at her confusedly. "Um... what's a dragon?"

Everyone was silent for a moment. Then Twilight lightly smirked before asking, "You're... you're kidding, right? You don't know what a dragon is?!"

The human shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Heck, if it weren't for you and Spike telling me earlier, I wouldn't even know what I am! And while I know you and your friends, I don't even know what any of you are!"

Twilight frowned at him with a sad expression. "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that. Don't worry, though... I'll help you figure these things out, and I won't think any less of you for asking simple questions!" Then she smiled at him and pressed her right hand on her chest. "For starters, I am what you call a unicorn, or a subspecies of a pony that has a horn on her head!" Then she pointed at Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie over there is an earth pony, meaning she doesn't have a horn, or wings on her back, which would belong to what's known as a pegasus! Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are pegasi, while Rarity is a unicorn like me! Applejack is another earth pony like Pinkie Pie, though, and their extra natural strength is what makes them unique."

The human smiled and nodded his head at her. "Thanks for that info... but what about dragons, though?"

Pinkie Pie decided to chime in. "Well duh, silly! Spike is a dragon, which should show that they are similar to lizards, with scales and spines, as well as fins and spikes! Most of the dragons breathe fire, but there have been other dragons that breathe different elements, such s water, ice, and lightning! Also, they can grow up to be a quarter of the size of mountains!"

Twilight stared at her blankly. "Um... how did you know that, Pinkie Pie?!"

Pinkie giggled before replying, "Silly Twilight! One day, when I was just a little filly, I was eating a cupcake, then I started thinking about the way how cupcakes worked, and after putting one and one together, then putting two, and two, and two, and even two more together, I started asking myself, 'What makes dragons the way they are?' So I decided to eat a dictionary, and at once, the words became clear in my mind!"

Both Twilight and the human raised an eyebrow, while trying to put Pinkie's "logic" together. Twilight then decided to ask, "Wait... you ate a Dictionary, then got the information from it?!"

Pinkie giggled and shook her head. "Huh? Oh, no-no-no-no-no! I was just curious how a Dictionary tasted like. I got the information from the 'Dragopedia' on your shelf while you were away!" She pointed at the bookshelf behind her, pulled out a random book, and tossed it to Twilight, who caught it with her magic.

After trying to figure Pinkie out for a moment longer, she merely groaned before rubbing her forehead out of slight pain. "Ugh... I need some iced water." She then turned to the human and weakly smiled. "Would you like some, Mr... um..." She gasped at a sudden realization. "Oh my gosh! We still have to figure out a name for you!"

The human opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, the front door to the library burst open by a rainbow-colored blur. When everyone looked towards the source of the noise, only to find a cyan-coated pegasus mare with a rainbow-streaked mane and tail. She was wearing a light blue sleeveless shirt with dark blue track pants and red shoes over her hooves. She also wore rainbow-colored wristbands that covered the lower halves of her arms.

She was sweating profusely, and panting with a worried expression on her face. Twilight walked up to her worriedly and asked, "Rainbow Dash?! What's going on, what's wrong?!"

In a tired, tomboyish voice, she replied, "Twi! It's... it's AJ! S-she... she's in trouble!" She then looked at the human and raised a confused eyebrow. "Um, Twilight? Who's that?!"

Twilight ignored her question and shook her head. "I'll explain later. What was this about Applejack being in trouble?"

Rainbow pointed outside the door and replied, "There's a creep in her orchard! He threatened Big McIntosh's life, and left him injured!"

Both Twilight and Pinkie Pie gasped at that statement. "WHAT?!"

Pinkie then commented, "B-but Big Mac is a really, really, really strong stallion! H-how could anyone be able to hurt him?!"

Twilight shook her head and replied, "No time for questions! Applejack needs us!" She then turned towards the human and weakly frowned at him. "I'm sorry, but we'll have to think of a name for you later. Right now, I need to go save a friend. I'll be back as soon as I can, though, I promise!" Without even waiting for a response, the three mares dashed out of the doorway and headed towards Sweet Apple Acres, the town's local Apple Orchard.

The human sat there for a moment while contemplating on what he should be doing.

"Ỳóu ͝s͜h͞o̶uld go ͡and he̵l͞p̶ ̶t̡h͠e̴m.́"

The human gasped and jumped at the sudden voice that echoed around him. "What the... who said that?!"

"Thàt͢'s҉ no͘t ̕i̢ḿpo͏rta͜nt̸ r̡ight̸ ͢n̷ow.̧.. y͜o̸u ̧w̡o͏ul͢dn͞'͞t̀ ̸want ͟t̡ha̵t̵ ͟c͠re̢e͝p t͟o ̧endan̨ger͠ ͠your̕ p͟ót̕e̕n͡tiaĺ ͠ne͠w͢ ̛f͏ŗi̵e̸n̡d́s, ͜ţhou̵gh, wou͘ld ̡yóư?̨"

The human shook his head. "N-no... I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to anyone, even!"

"T̨hen yo̢u͝ kn̨ow wh́a҉t to͜ ͜do͏."

The human nodded his head and scratched the back of his hair nervously. "Unfortunately... I think I do..." He took a deep breath before rushing out of the door to the library, and followed the distant ponies who were headed towards the orchard.

SWEET APPLE ACRES

An orange-coated earth pony mare with a braided blonde mane stood in the orchard with an intense glare on her face. She wore a red t-shirt, blue overalls, a pair of brown boots, and a pair of brown gloves. Over her scalp she wore a light brown stetson hat, and in both of her hands she held a rope.

Lying on the ground directly behind her was a red-coated stallion with an orange mane, an orange t-shirt, blue overalls, black boots, and black gloves. His face was covered in blood and his breathing was raspy.

The mare was glaring at a man dressed in an all-black bodysuit. His eyes glowed pure white, and around his eyes his mask had red rings that crawled vertically over and below his entire head, ending at a red ring around his neck, and circling around his eyes. In the center of the ring around his neck another red line lowered halfway down his stomach and parted two ways in the center of his abdomen in an upside-down "V" shape. The two lines lowered to the sides of his waist, where another red ring was. His gloves and boots both had red rings at the corners that rose up to his elbows and knees. In both of his hands he held Katanas with black handles and red blades.

He lightly chuckled, with the rings around his eyes squinting. "Such a terrible waste of time... why should you stand in my path?"

The mare spat on the ground before replying, "My brother ain't as much a' fighter as Ah am... now, Ah don't know who y'all are, but y'all have ten seconds ta leave this farm, 'fore Ah make y'all leave!"

Again the figure chuckled before shaking his head. "You certainly have a lot of guts, if you think you can handle me! Do you not realize who I am?"

The mare retorted, "Do y'all know who Ah am?! Ah'm Applejack, the hardest workin' mare in town!" She pulled the rope from both ends, which revealed that she was carrying two, instead. She whipped them on the ground before pointing at the figure.

The figure slid both Katanas' blades together and grinned. "Ah, a fellow ambidextrous fighter... very well, then... I am Cruelty, Spirit of Destruction and Misery." He raised his right Katana at her and lowered his knees slightly into a battle position. "Now, then... let's see if you can keep up with my capabilities, shall we?"

Applejack side-stepped away from her brother for his safety while keeping her eyes glued onto Cruelty's. Then she leaned into a battle position while waiting for the first strike to be made.

At a blurring speed, Cruelty was directly over Applejack's unconscious brother with both of his swords ready to impale him. Before his swords could even lower, however, Applejack's ropes wrapped around his wrists and pulled him towards her. Then she leaped into the air and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying back to where he started.

He stood back up, but didn't appear to show any signs of pain. "Huh... you truly are a cut above the rest, aren't you?" Then he grinned again and took a step towards her. She, in turn, braced for his next action.

He raised his swords in the air and prepared for his next action. "Of course, if you call that a strike, then I'd be very afraid if I were you." In the blink of an eye, he was directly in front of Applejack. He leaped into the air and managed to kick her in the chest with both of his feet, which sent her flying into a nearby tree.

She grunted in pain as she fell to the ground. Then she weakly looked up, only to gasp when she saw Cruelty standing over her brother with his swords ready to strike him again. She also noticed that, during the time she was kicked, she was disarmed of her ropes.

She reached her left hand out for her brother and shouted, "BIG MCINTOSH!" Then the figure's Katanas pierced into the ground.

Cruelty tilted his head in confusion once the dirt from the impact of his blades cleared. His blades were pierced in the ground, but the stallion was nowhere to be found.

With an annoyed grunt, Cruelty turned towards the sudden sound of hoof-steps nearby. The only thing he could see from that point was a rainbow and cyan-colored blur, before he found himself flying back even further than before.

He landed and rolled a few times before quickly rising back up to his feet and deadpanning at the one who kicked his chest... Rainbow Dash. Behind Rainbow Dash was Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack, who quickly grouped with her friends, despite the amount of cuts and bruises she had from the blow that she took mere seconds ago. Rainbow Dash appeared to be holding a pair of metal knuckles, while Pinkie's right arm was covered by a blue miniature cannon. Twilight was holding a lavender spectral spear with a purple handle.

Cruelty chuckled before shaking his head. "You lot aren't the ones I'm looking for... begone, you interfering little horses!"

Twilight glared at him and raised her spear at him. "You have some serious issues if you think we'll let you get away with attempted murder! Do you honestly have any idea who we are?!"

Cruelty stood still for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. Then his swords disappeared into a pair of back mists before crossing his arms over his chest. "As a matter of fact, I do know who you are... Twilight Sparkle! And what's more, I even know your deepest, darkest secrets... Twily."

The ponies gasped and Twilight's grip on her spear intensified. Then she slightly lowered it out of curiosity. "What the... h-how would you know that much about me?!"

Cruelty shook his head and replied, "That isn't important right now... what is important is that you tell me where HE is! Do so, and I won't make this difficult for you, or your friends!"

Twilight tilted her head out of confusion. "Um... who?"

Cruelty deadpanned at her again. "You know who I'm talking about! Your clueless friend! The one whose very existence marks the death of us all!"

It took Twilight a few moments to register the stranger's words. When she finally realized who he meant, she gasped and took a step back.

"Hey! What's going on here?!" a vaguely familiar male's voice called from behind the mares. When they turned around, they saw the unnamed human from the river rushing up to them, only to stop when he saw Cruelty standing there.

Cruelty chuckled before raising his right hand. Then he swept it across the air horizontally, and in a huge burst of wind, the mares flew away, with Twilight bumping her head on a tree, rendering her unconscious.

The human tried to rush up to her, only to notice Cruelty headed his way.

Cruelty leaped into the air with both of his katanas over his head ready to cut vertically. In a rage-fueled yell, he shouted, "YOUR TIME HAS COME, SEPHTIS! PREPARE YOURSELF!"