An Mistake Left In Time

Twilight pace back and forth in front of Starlight house. She had just got into their little town that morning, wanting to check up on her since their little adventure three months ago. But when she got there, a crowd had form in front of Starlight house. She asked what was going on to several of the other pony but all she got was a few of them muttering something about time laws. She didn’t read or hear anything about time laws but it was obvious that it was about the time spell Starlight had made. Now, she was pacing in near panic, hoping that whoever was behind those doors was not going to do anything to drastic.

Before she could go into full on panic mode, the front door swing open. Out step three ponies, one she recognized and two stranger. The first stranger was a unicorn that had bright yellow coat with a slightly spike mane and brown eyes. His cutie mark was a pocket watch with a quill. He glance at Twilight direction but continue walking. The other was a pegasi that was had a cherry red coat, long straight hair for her mane and a scar over one eye. Her cutie mark was a stop watch. She flew right past Twilight and landed a few steps away. She turn back and was watching Twilight intently.

The one she recognize was one she see in Ponyville almost every day and was surprise to see him here.

“Doctor Hooves, what are you doing here? What going on? Dose it deal with what happen with the spell? I already explain to Princess Celestia that…” Twilight was going to start rambling but Doc raise a hoof in an effort to keep her calm. Twilight stop rambling and started to take deep breaths. When she finally calm down, Doc pull out a bag from his pack.

“Would you like a Jelly Filly? I find they help me stay calm.” Doc said, popping a few into his mouth. Twilight shook her head, Doctor Hooves shrug and continue. “Now as for the matter at hoof, I’m a part of a secret society, if you will, that deal with events in time. When events like what happen between you and Starlight happen. Me and my two friends over there.” Pointing to the other two ponies that were behind Twilight. “We figure out how dangerous it is and what we need to do.”

“So, how bad is it?” Twilight ask. Doc look towards the door to see Starlight was standing there, confusion written all over her face. Doc look at his two friends who had harden looks on theirs.

“We should all talk in private.”

(Inside Starlight Glimmer house.)

If Twilight wasn’t nervous before, she was now. Thought the Doc was being kind and gentle, his “friends” were cold and as distance as possible. Doc introduce the red pegasi as Sky Watcher and the yellow unicorn as Record Keeper. The two of them refused any food or drink, but instead just sat at two ends of the table that they all sat at. Doc sat in the middle, sipping out of a tea cup. Starlight was on his left, glancing back and forth between him and Twilight. Twilight was trying not to have a panic attack. She didn’t have any idea what this group could do but she felt like she was back at filly school.

“Okay, now that we are all settled, let try to do this calmly.” Doc said. A huff noise was made from Record Keeper side and Sky Watcher roll her eyes. Doc ignore them both and continue. “Now, do you two know how most of us theories how time works?” He pointed at both Twilight and Starlight. Twilight raised her hoof, and Doc pointed to her.

“When I was in the different time, the Zecora of that world talk about it being like a water stream. It flows in one direction and if something change the flow, it can cause different effects. But I thought when I kept Starlight from changing the event with Rainbow Dash, I stop any of those future from happening.” Twilight said. She notice Record Keeper was starring daggers at Starlight. Doc wince, lift his hoof and made a swaying motion.

“That sort of right.” Doc said, “You see, you stop your timeline from experiencing those events. But your timeline not the only one that exists. Imagen a hundreds of streams, all intertwine at one point or another. Now, we go one path why other go another. We worry about what would happen if someone saw you or found out about the other time streams. It could cause all kinds of problem.”

“What kind of problems?” Starlight ask. This cause Record Keeper to sit up straight but keeping his eyes on Starlight. When he spoke, his voice was a soft but deep voice.

“Oh, I don’t know. What happen when a ruthless army decide that their time stream isn’t the only one to capture? What happen when one siege by war and famine decide we have what they need? How about a world where they have a disease that we never encounter and could kill us all.” Record Keeper list off, getting increasable angry. “DID YOU EVEN THINK!?!” He roar all the sudden, causing Twilight, Doctor Hooves and Starlight to jump. “Did you even consider the actions of what you have done? You left us open to so many attack and all because you couldn’t deal with a problem a child knew how to handle?”

“Rec, that is enough.” Doc said in a calm but stern voice.

“He not wrong.” Sky Watcher said, her voice as cold as ice. “She acted without remorse and put us all in danger. Time is not friendly mistress and she straight up spat in it face.”

“I said, that ENOUGH!” Doc said, slamming his hoof down on the table. “We have plans, spells and protocols in case of all events. We also know that it take a lot of magic to create a portal that could bring an army. We have nothing to worry about as long as when take certain precaution.”

“What precaution?” Twilight ask, scare of what punishment they would come up with. Would they turn Starlight into a statue? Tie her up for the rest of her life? Throw into a burning lava pit? She held her breath as Doc started to speak again.

“Starlight Glimmer, You are here by ban from entering the Star Swirl the Bearded library for life.” Doctor Hooves said. There was a stun silence, then a chuckle broke out.

“What? You’re serous. You come here acting like I committed murder and the worst you can do is ban me from a library. What next? Charge me for the overdue books? Oh no, you might make me be 5 bits poorer.” Starlight said with sarcasm. Twilight saw Record look over to Doctor Hooves.

“I told you that she wouldn’t take it that seriously.” He said in a gruff tone. Doctor Hooves shook it off and turn back to Starlight.

“We don’t have the power or authority to enforce any real punishment. Somepony lost our paper work that prove our groups worth.” Doctor Hooves said, a little annoy. Twilight saw Sky Watcher blush a bit but didn’t react any other way. “But we need to make sure that nothing like that happens again. We are lucky no pony got hurt.”

(Three mile outside of Ponyville.)

Grass Trend and Stone Smasher were sitting in the shade of a big oak when they saw the strange pony walking up the road. Stone threw an apple to Grass Trend and began to pick a rock.

“Hey Grass, I bet ten bits I can hit that pony from here.” Stone said, tossing the stone up in the air. Grass look at the strange pony then back to his friend.

“You’re on.” He said, throwing an apple core to the side. Stone grab the rock out of the air and aim for the strange pony. After a couple seconds, he arch back his hoof and toss it as hard as he could. The rock flew with great speed and hit its target on the head. A small thunk noise was made as it connected with the helmet.

“Bull’s eyes!” Stone shouted. He felt proud…for about five second. That all it took before magic wrap around his throat and yank him into the air. He saw his friend was right next to him and saw a purple hue surrounding his friend throat. It was probably the same magic holding him. He look down to seem the strange pony was suddenly standing only a few feet in front of them.

“Since you’ve grab my attention.” The strange pony said, showing no sign of strain or struggle of holding the two colts. “I will ask you a question. Have you seen this pony?” She produce a picture out of her pack. The two colts look at the picture and Grass started nodding quickly. “Where?” She loosen the magic around Grass’s throat, allowing him to speak, only barely.

“Was in Ponyville a while ago. Speak to the pony name Twilight. She’ll know where.” Grass gasp out as much as he could. The pony tilted her head to side and then nodded.

“Well, I guess I can let you live.” The pony said. Before Grass could respond, the pony fling her head back causing him to go flying into the distance. She turn her attention towards Stone. “You, on the other hand, drew the short straw.” Just like before, the magic turn blood red and Stone barely had time to scream.