Twimelines

The silver box, about the same size of a small living room, sat silent in the middle of the chamber. Bright lights lit up the white walled room.

“No, it’s not actually a portal.” Twilight Sparkle nodded. “It’s more like a uh… um…” The purple egghead trailed off, a hoof hovering in the air before her, searching for an invisible answer.

“A teleportation matrix?” The purple princess blushed before her previous mentor.

Twilight shot straight up in her seat. “Yes!” Spike sighed from the sidelines.

“Here we go again…” The teenage drake muttered.

“It’s sort of like a teleportation matrix in the way that it covers an entire three dimensional space, in a way so that it is not constricted to the size of the frame built to house its time matrix! Unlike the Crystal Mirror, of course.”

“Very interesting.” Princess Celestia took another sip of her earl grey and set the cup down gently. “I’m very proud of you, Twilight. Though, I hope this time matrix has no intention of trying to disrupt the past.” Twilight held back a cringe and instead beamed up at Celestia.

“And that’s why I have sworn an oath to never touch time travel to the past ever again!”

Princess Celestia blinked, as did the seven other beings in the room save for Twilight.

“Come again sugarcube?” Twilight nodded and gestured to the silver box on the opposite side of the glass window, separating the testing chamber and the observation deck. Her next statement was simple.

“It just travels to the future and back.” She smiled back at the surprised room’s occupants. “No risk of breaking timelines at all!”

“But… um, Twilight?”

“Yes Fluttershy?”

“Didn’t you say that you wanted to experiment with travelling to the past?” Twilight gave a gentle smile to the yellow pegasus.

“Twenty years ago, I would have said yes, and even now, I would say yes. However, after studying time matrix theories for so long, I learned that travelling to the past has too many chances of paradoxes.” She shrugged. “It’s far more easier to use a distant memory retrieval spell to look into one’s past; it’s safer, more materially and magically efficient, and does not require the spellcaster to use alicorn levels of reserve magic.” The room sat silent for a time, as everyone took in this information.

“That’s quite mature of you, Twilight.” Twilight smiled and nodded in respect for the old sun goddess.

“Yep, i’ve learned a lot after realizing that combining books and field research can provide knowledge gain.” Twilight took a sip of her moolong tea as the room burst into laughter.

“Twilight!” The teenage dragon’s voice shook Twilight from her walk to the time machine’s door control panel. She turned around; Spike had his arms outstretched just within the room’s still open doorway.

They met somewhere in the middle of both of their paths, embracing each other without a moment’s hesitation.

“Don’t be gone for too long. I don’t know how long time travel can take for you, but…” Spike let out a morose chuckle as he continued to stroke Twilight’s mane. “Even after all these years, i’m still a baby dragon.” Twilight pushed away from the teenager, holding him by the sides as she looked up into his emerald irises.

“I promise i’ll be back soon, Spike.” She smiled and gave Spike another hug. “You’re a big strong dragon now, so stay happy for me, alright?” Spike nodded and smiled without a word.

“I love you, Twilight.”

“I love you too, Spike.”

They stayed in each other’s embrace for a time, before Spike hesitantly let go. Spike left back through the doorway, and gave Twilight another wave from the other side of the observation room’s glass; Twilight waved back.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight returned to the door control panel of the time machine, and stepped inside. She took a seat and strapped in. With a burst of magic, the time matrix housed in the silver box's center column came to life, bringing with it an ominous hum.

Today marked a new age of pony history.

Tomorrow, Twilight didn’t really know what to expect.