Chapters Several years in the past...
“Time. A living being that happens all around us at the same moment. Time is everywhere and every thing. It’s happening everywhere. We’re living in the past, present. Pretty soon, in five seconds, five days, five months, five years, five centuries even, the future will soon be here before we know it. There’s one being who can go and visit all of them.”
“Who is it?” My little foal self asked Ms. Ditzy, a grey mare with blonde mane and crooked eyes and a smile that makes everyone happy, telling me a story while her daughter and sister, my best friends Dinky and Sparkler was asleep soundly in her bed.
Reason why I was up, I couldn’t sleep. It was always hard for me to sleep at night. It would cause tension towards my caretaker and the other foals back at Ponyville's Orphanage. I would do nothing but make up stories...and gaze at the stars.
More like..looking up at space.
Once again, on that night, I was outside with my telescope, looking up at the sky when she caught me outside. When she asked me that i knew what time it was, I replied by saying “Time is relevant when looking up.” A faint sad smile spread on her muzzle before she walked out beside me and began telling me the story.
“A pony, with a box. He’s a dangerous being, a hero he once was. Going around, saving others, passing through time and space.” Dinky said as she hoofs me a muffin. I used my magic, my horn glowed a beautiful blue color that looked like the night sky and had white specks in it like stars. i lift the muffin and ate it. “I used to travel with him.”
“Really?” I muffled, the muffin in my cheeks.
She gave me a nod. “Why yes. I used to travel around everywhere with him. We would see many diffrent things. Some adventures were scary and we almost got killed several times. I loved him.” She sighed, looking back at the house where they were inside.
“What happened?” I then asked.
“He...he changed...he became the pony I didn’t know. We had a fight and then...he’s gone. That’s what he does, Mystica, he appears and disappears all at the same time.” She replied with a sigh. “He’s a coward and...and a liar.” She said, rubbing her cheeks.
There was something else. I couldn’t put it, but something wasn’t right about the story. i could tell that she loved this pony but she also looked afraid and sad at the same time.
“Do you miss him, Ms. Ditzy?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Oh, Mystie,” she said, calling me by my nickname. “Days don’t go by when I don’t think about him. He...he was my everything. But...if he were to come back...I would never travel with him again.”
I scooted closer to her and tilted my head. “What’s his name?”
She put her wings around me and smiled sadly. “He...he goes by the name...Doctor.”
“Doctor who?”
Ditzy giggled. “Just Doctor.”
“Wow..”
The Doctor….I’ve been to dozens of doctors before. But when it goes by that way, it made me tingling inside. I never knew why, it just...does.
A week after I was told that story, I was heading out to the Everfree forest with my telescope. The Castle of the Two Sisters was the perfect place to scope out the stars.
Why wasn’t there anyone with the young filly you may ask? Reasons why? I never had anyone looking after me, why start now? The stars are my company.
When I came to the bridge, I was stopped by a loud sound.
VWORP VWORP VWORP
It was loud, it hurt my ears, but it was also the most amazing sound I had ever heard. It was coming from behind me. Looking back at the castle, I dropped the telescope - probably broke it - and ran back into the Everfree forest.
Hooves beating into the dirt, I ran through the woods. I was running towards a log, using my magic, I managed to teleport to the other side and kept on running without missing a beat.
VWORP VWORP VWORP
There was that sound again. Louder and louder it became as I ran closer. I couldn’t understand it, but I felt as if it was calling me.
A homing beacon of some kind. It was like I was being lead to only Luna knows where. My tiny legs ached from the running and my lung burnt but I didn’t stop.
I ran and ran as fast as I could…
Until I ran dead smack into a wooden structure.
“OW!” I cried as I stumbled back. I rubbed my sore muzzle with my hooves. “Owie.” I whimpered.
I looked up to what I ran into and gasped softly. It was a large blue box. Getting up on my hooves, I slowly circled around it curiously. When I got to the front, the words PONY PUBLIC CALL BOX marked white on top.
“I’ve seen these in Manehattan.” I muttered. The orphanage had a field trip there and I’ve see those. It was strange.
What could this box be doing in this sort of woods all out of place.
Then, I started to think of the story Derpy told me. About a pony in a big...blue...BOX!
Thanking Luna that I didn’t own a cat, I raised a hoof and went to open it, but once my hoof touched the door, it opened by itself.
I jumped at the motion and backed up a bit. Seeing light shining from inside, my curiosity lead me inside. Pass through sort of a ramp, I gawked in amazing when I saw how big it was inside.
Blinking, I quickly ran back outside, facing the box. In my size yeah it was big, I ran back inside the box and saw how enormous it was. It was...it was..
“It’s bigger on the inside.” I squealed. I galloped towards the center and saw a huge console station that reached up to the roof. Doors in various places that might lead to glorious rooms. From all the sci-fi books I’ve read before, I could tell it was a spaceship!
Not just any spaceship, the Doctor’s spaceship! I hoped.
Giggling, I dug into my satchel and grabbed my camera and took photos. No one from the orphanage was ever going to believe this! Engulfing my camera with magic, I started to explore the ship.
Rooms, so many rooms I could count! There was a room with so many different clothes and costumes, there was a room that was fashioned as a den, a door that lead a huge grassy field that I could’ve sworn i was back outside if it wasn’t for the metallic roof. This place also had a huge pool! (I may or may have not taken a quick dip in it’s warm bubbly water). When I just about to open a door to what appeared to be the kitchen, everything started to jerk around and the sound was made again.
VWORP VWORP VWORP!
“Uh oh…” I said in realization. This ship was now moving with me stowaway!
SO COOL!!!
Waiting to take a pic of the pilot - the Doctor I hoped - another time, I decided to explore more before making my presence.
After a while, I finally came to was a huge library! So many books lay upon countless tall shelves. Not only that, so many artifacts in glass casings.
One in particular caught my eye. It was two pocket watches in a silver case. It had stranges etchings on the covers, both etched differently but still, it looked like multiple circles and dots.
Tilting my head to the left, the one on the right had this strange orange aura radiating from it. Mesmerized by it, my horn started to cast its magic and encased the strange watch and levitated off it’s pedestal.
As I was about to touch it with my hooves, a dark figure jumped right in front of me, cutting the connection between me and the watch and my magic.
I let out an eep and jumped in fright. In front of me was a stallion pegasus with light grey coat, messy unkept yucky dark mane and tail, tired blue eyes. He wore a white ascot and a black cape, he had an hourglass cutie mark on his flank and scowl on his muzzle.
“Who the hell are you and how did you get into my bloody ship?” The tall pegasus growled at me. He had a strange accent, similar to Ms. Octavia’s.
I smiled at him. “Are you the Doctor?” I asked him, my colorful tail - which, like my mane that was in braids at the time, were colors of purple, pink, blue and red that faded over my black coat - actually waving.
He blinked when I asked him that, taken aback by my question. “H-how did you-” he shook his head, his wings jerked before glaring at me. “Where did you come from little girl?” he then asked me.
“Ponyville.” I replied giggling. “Doctor!” I ran up to him and actually hugged him. I’m actually meeting him! He wasn’t a story Ditzy made up, he’s real and I’m actually hugging him!
He let out snarl and pushed me aside with his wings.
“Enough of this!” He snapped. “Last thing I want is to be accused of foal-napping some deranged filly!” He spat on the side and began walking off. “I just come from Ponyville, now I have to go back? Un-bucking-believeable.”
“Going back?” I asked with a frown before running up to him. “I don’t wanna go back.”
“I don’t care.” he hissed. “I want to be alone. I don’t need to foal-sit! I’m taking you home.”
“But Ms. Ditzy says you go around the universe, time and space, saving other ponies! i wanna come!” I whined.
The Doctor stopped walking the second I mentioned Ditzy. He slowly turned his head to where he was looking at me over his shoulder with the meanest look in his eyes. “Ditzy huh? You know her?”
I nodded. “I know her, Dinky and Sparkler. They’re my best friends.” I smiled. “Ditz-”
A feather was placed over my lips. The doctor leans close to me with that mean look plastered on his face. “Don’t...mention those names in my presence...again.” He said in a low tone. From the way he said it, he might do something if I do say their names again. “Understood?”
I nodded in response.
“Good.” he said low before removing his wing and continued walking. I followed the Doctor.
I was baffled. I didn’t understand this. Why was the Doctor acting so mean? He...he wasn’t what i thought he might be.
Why was that?
“Doctor?” I called for him as we entered the control room.
“What now?” He snapped as he started pressing buttons.
“Why are you being mean?” I asked him.
He grumbled something under his breath. “I don’t think a foal such as yourself could even comprehend.” He mumbled before pulling a lever. The machine started up again. Lights and sounds came from the controls “Now shut up or I’m dropping you off on the moon.”
I huffed.
Such big meanie.
He’s taking me home. i don’t wanna go home. I don’t have one to the begin with. Seeing that this was going to be it, I took the camera out of my satchel and snapped a photo of the Doctor.
After the flash wore off of his eyes, he shook his head and glared at me. “Did you just took a photograph?”
“Um...no?” I lied as I hid the camera behind me.
He then approached me with a hoof out. “Hoof it over, little girl.”
“Um…” I nervously smiled. “No.” I said before using my magic and I ended up teleporting to the second level.
He snarled. Unfurling his wings and flew up to the level. “Give me the camera now!”
“No, it’s mine, meanie pants!” I stuck my tongue out at him before teleporting again to the ground level and ran through on of the doors.
The doctor ended up chasing me through multiple doors in his big ship. The closer he got to me, I teleported out of his way before running down the opposite way. There was no way he was going to take my camera. It was mine.
“Confounded! Little Filly, give me that camera!” The meanie Doctor snapped as he chased me.
“No!” I snapped back.
When the doctor got to me, he pounced! I quickly used my magic to phase myself from him. I climbed on his back, using my magic again, I levitated myself and actually flew!
“H-how are you able to do that?!” He snarled but was bewildered as well.
I levitated ten feet above his head and smirked. “I read a lot and a lot of books in my spare time. Magic books being a few of them.” I’ve read every book in Twilight’s castle library three times because I was so bored. i spend time with friends, but I get bored so easily.
I have been told I was advancing much faster than normal fillies my age.
“Interesting…” He muttered before catching himself before saying something else and glared at me. “I’m tired of playing games with you, kid. Give me the camera or else.”
I levitated to him. “Or what? You’ll hit me?” I basically challenged him, staring into his eyes. I then smirked, a candle went off in my head. “Tell you what,” I said, landed in front of him, pulling my camera out of my satchel. “I’ll give you the camera, if you do one thing.”
“And what, pray tell, do you want?”
“Lemme travel with you.”
“For the last time, I’m not traveling with any pony!” He hissed. “Now give-” He was about to reach for the camera before stopping himself. I watched him before a grin came across his muzzle.
“I cannot take you with me.” He said, retracting his hoof.
“Why can’t I?” I whined.
“Because, my dear, you...you are far too young.” He said, reaching over and patting my head with his hoof. “Too small. You can easily get hurt during my travels.”
“Really?” I asked him.
He nodded. Still had that sly smile on his face. “Yes...what is your name again?” He asked me.
“Mystica. But everypony calls me Mystie.” I introduced myself.
“Mystie, what a lovely name. As I was saying, you are too young to travel with me.” The doctor said. “But, maybe that’ll change when you are older.”
A smile formed on my lips. “Really!?”
he chuckled. “Yes, really. I promise, Mystie, I’ll take you with me when you are a grown mare.” He swore before holding out his hoof. “But before I could fulfill my promise, you have to fulfill yours.”
I thought for a moment, looking at both him and my camera before giving it to him.
“Excellent.” He stretched his smile before taking it somewhere else before taking me back to the control station.
A few moments the ship made a thud sound before he announced. “Well, we’re here. Ponyville.”
“Already?”
“It is. The TARDIE is the fastest ship in the universe.” He said before he shoves me out with his wings.
“So When are you coming back?” I asked as I was pushed outside. We were in the middle of Ponyville.
“Oh in a few- NEVER!” He roared before slamming the doors.
“Hey!” I cried out before I turned and pound on the doors. “You promised!” The TARDIE made that sound again before it disappeared before my very eyes!
I let out a shout and stomped where the ship once was. I couldn’t believe he tricked me! Ditzy was right! He was a big meaning, and a liar!
That makes two of us liars.
I did give the doctor my camera, but i didn’t give him my film which was now in my satchel, just ready to developed.
“Mystie?” Ditzy’s voice called out. I turned around and I saw her standing there with Sparkler and Dinky. Her coat was white as a sheet, so was the others.
I knew I have to tell her the truth.
As I reluctantly walked over to the girls, I thought it might be the last time i would ever see the Doctor, besides the photos I’ve hid from him.
It was not the last time I’d see The Doctor. Not by a long shot
Author's Note
My first story in fimfic on my new account. Hope ya’ll enjoy
Now …
“-Starswirl's Mystical Trinkets and Artifacts .” I read the cover before slipping it back in it’s place in Twilight’s castle library. A bored expression on my face. I picked up another book with my magic and read it. “History of Equestrian Mystical Creatures. ” I placed it back in it’s place once more.
Next to me were a huge stack of books of which I’ve read and reread over for the umptenth time.
“Groves and Treasure Troves Vol. One-” Put it up. “-Vol. Two, and Vol. Three. ” I sighed.
Sweet Celestia I was bored out of the wazoo!
“Hey, Mystica.” Spike waltz in, his voice getting deeper. He was almost as tall as the door as he entered. “Need a claw?”
“I’m good.” I told him casually.
For many years I’ve been showing up in Twilight’s Castle, scouring her library, borrowing her books, I quickly became accepted here, seeing Twilight and her friends occasionally. Starlight too when she comes over from the Crystal Empire.
“Where’s Princess Twilight?” I asked him then.
“Canterlot, something about Royal Summit. I decided to hang back with the boys.” Spike said, looking up at me.
Yes, I mean looking up at me, as I was fifteen feet above his spiky head, levitating a the large stack of books at the same time.
“Lemme Guess, playing that silly game?” I smirked. Ogres and Oubliettes was a RPG table game the boys play. Dinky and I used to play when we were fillies but ya know...we grew up.
“Hey, it’s not silly when Discord is playing.” Spike chuckled. “You know, Big Mac’s sick, so we’re down a player. You wanna join us?”
“Hmm, playing a game with a teenage dragon and a draconequus? As much fun as it sounds, I have dinner plans with Ditzy and Dinky Doo.” I said as I continued to put books up.
“Don’t you have dinner plans with them every night?” He raised an eye. “I know Ditzy had took you in as her Foster Daughter, but you can have a life outside of them.”
“What does that suppose to mean? I have a life.”
He folds his arms, claws dancing on his bicep. “You’ve read all these books a million times since you were a filly, your magic is practically the same level as Starlight’s and yet you’ve decline on going to Celestia’s Magical Univercity, even after Twilight offered full exclusive if I may add.”
“That’s because i’ve read everything there is to read and learn in the Canterlot Library and plus, what’s the point of learning something I already know.” I told him annoyed.
“You have every opportunity to become the greatest unicorn there is.”
I sighed before flying to his eye level and pointed at my flank. “You see this? What do you see that is missing?”
Spike’s eyes drifted to my flank. “Um...your cutie mark?”
I nod briefly. “Yes. My cutie mark. If you haven’t noticed...I haven’t gotten mine! Who’s going to take me seriously if I don’t have a cutie mark?” I sighed and levitated back to the books.
“Have you talked to the CMC again?” He asked me.
“I had...five times.” I muttered, my ears drooped in embarrassment. “Best three ponies around Equestria to help discover my destiny...even they couldn’t find it.”
“Aw c’mon Mystie,” Spike smirked. “Everypony around here takes you seriously. Twilight especially. Look, a cutie mark will come when you least expected. The CMC are prime example of that.”
“You can say that, but you don’t have one.”
“That may be, but you have so much potential, don’t let your blank flank get in the way.” Spike smiled. “Just come and play Ogres and Oubliettes with Discord and I tonight. Who knows, you might have fun.”
I sighed softly and gave Spike a small smile. “Okay, I’ll play.”
“Sweet!” Spike said excitedly. “I hope your avatar is as awesome as Garbunkle and Captain Wuzz.”
“Hope ya’lls is as awesome as Lady Nightswift.” I said as i turned back to the books.
“So you have played, that’ll make things easier. What class and level is she?”
“Level Maxed Assassin.” I said as calm and cool as I can be as I put more books nicely in their place.
That dragon gulped. “Well...see you later tonight then!” He said before quickly leaving.
Shaking my head. Well, this night will be fun.
Night quickly rolls around, after telling Dinky and Ditzy that I wasn’t going to join them, I returned to the castle. Strolling down the crystaled hall, my tail dragged along the floors as I made my towards the main hall.
As I got to the doors, I couldn’t help but overhear the commotion that was happening.
“What do you mean Big Mac is sick?!” The sound of a new pony shouted through the doors. “We can’t play without him!”
Discord, I guessed.
“Aw c’mon Discord, Mystie is a good friend. Let her fill in for Mac for one night.” Spike said, vouching for me.
“I rather play with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.” Discord humphed stubborn.
“Rainbow Dash is away on Wonderbolt Duty and Pinkie is busy with orders. Besides, she’s not new to this so she’s able to play.”
Rolling my eyes, I used my magic and opened the doors and entered. “Hey Spike.”
Inside with the teenage dragon was a draconequus. I knew that name sounded familiar, he was THE Discord. Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony.
Discord turns his head completely around and faced me. His weird eyes narrowed at me. “Who’s she?”
Spike sighed. “Discord, this is Mystica. She’s going to be playing with us for the evening. Be nice.” He grunted.
Discord grumbled before teleporting in front of me. “Nice to...meet you.” He gritted his teeth. Then he blinked, his head came unattached and floated really close to me. “You look very familiar.” He said, circling his head around me. “Have we met before?”
“You probably seen her around the castle.” Spike chimed in, not even surprised by Discord’s powers.
“No, not around here…” He sniffed me then as his head came back on his body. “I feel like I’ve meet you personally before.”
I raised a brow. “Um, this is the first time we met.” I told him confused.
“You sure?” He asked, stroking his goatee. “I do feel like we’ve met before. But where?”
“Are we going to play or not?” Spike asked annoyed.
“Right.” Discord said, snapping his claws, teleporting both of us to the table. I ended up sitting at Twilight’s chair while Discord sat in Fluttershy’s chair and Spike was sitting in Rarity’s chair. “So, Mystie , what is your character?”
Using my magic, I dug into my saddlebag and pulled out my avatar picture that I redrew on Dinky’s and I game. It was my Lady Nightswift, wearing a white hooded robe with red accents, brown tunic, wearing stylish boots that were meant for sneaking and blades floating around me using my magic.
“Ooh!” Spike gawked. “Yours look kickass!”
I chuckled softly. “Why thank you. She has to be.”
“Hmm, I’ve seen better.” Discord said, crossing his arms together.
I looked at their avatars; Spike’s was cute, Discord’s...his was okay I guess. Kinda weak though.
The draconequus cracked his fingers before suddenly the reality around us started to changed. Surrounded by large game pieces from the game, the roads lined up with playing cards and dominoes.
When I realized what happened, I looked down at my hooves and noticed I was wearing an exact replica to my Lady Nightswift’s digs. I used my magic and levitated my many daggers and short blades and grinned. “Sweet!”
“Wow!” I heard Spike’s voice. I turned around and stopped. The dragon had on a robe and hat that looked similar to Starswirl the Bearded - he even had a beard - and a large staff. I could see his green eyes eyeing at him.
“Hey,” I motioned him to look at me. “Eyes up here, bro.” I couldn’t hide the smirk i had from looking at his costume. He looked ridiculous.
“Alright,” then Discord floats in. Wearing a green tunic, carrying bows and quivers, long flowing blonde hair. Okay, HE looked ridiculous, Spike looks cute. “Let’s get going, Garbunckle.”
“Will do, Captain Wuzz.” Spike grinned, fixing his hat. “Alright, m’lady, you follow us. This battle is a lot more complex than your usual fight.”
I rolled my eyes before getting into my long awaited character. “To you, boys I shall, but…” I raised my blades at them. “If you shall leave me astray, expect a blade sticking out of your traitorous backs.” I said with a smirk.
“Ooh, Lady Nightswift has a bit of spunk, nice.” Discord/Captain Wuzz said, taking out his bow out. “Now, let’s go defeat the Squizard and save Sparity.”
Sparity? Nice, Spike’s idea for Rarity? I thought before following the two throughout the game.
Which...I never expected to have this much fun. Defeating enemy which were large playing cards, dodging traps, talk about epic PLARPING! (Pony Live Action Role Playing) Not to mention it was an awesome way to relieve stress I had built up for years. I couldn’t help but love the feel of adrenalin, the rush of adventure.
When the boys and I got to a cave, Spike/Garbunckle, lifts up his staff and rolls the dice with his “magic”. The giant dice rolled on a seven and a blue.
He frowned when a scroll appeared and he read it. “The great Garbunckle must enter the Cave of Truth alone to retrieve the Gem of Agmora…”
“Ooh! Cave of Truth, nice.” Discord/Captain Wuzz chuckled. “Well buddy ol’ mine, you have to go in.”
“You can do it, Garbunckle.” I cheered him on.
He let out a gulp, he rose his staff. “For Sparity!!!” He roared before charging inside the cave. Not even a minute pass and he already let out a girlish scream.
I was about to charge in and help him when Discord/Captain Wuzz stopped me.
“Uh uh uh!” He waved his tail at me. “You gotta follow the rules, Lady Nightswift. He must get the Gem alone.”
I nodded at him. “So, what do we do now?”
“We talk.” He said. Something was off with him. I got the feeling we was out of character at this point.
“Talk about what?”
“Like...where have I met you before ?” Discord let out a conniving grin.
“Discord,” I sighed. “I told you, I never met you before until tonight.” I stretched my hooves.
“Hmm, maybe it was your mother because I do have this strange sense I’ve met a pony that looks like you before.” Discord said, circling. I gave him a glare when he mentioned my mother. “Do..do you even know your mother?”
I shook my head. “Orphan. Ditzy took me in as her foster daughter.” I told him. “Don’t remember my mother.”
“Father?”
I closed my eyes and let out an aggravated noise. “What’s with the personal questions that I don’t know? I’ve never met you before until now and right now you are quickly making me wish I haven’t now.” Those type of questions always get me aggravated so easily. I don’t remember my mother, my father. i don’t remember any pony before ending up at the orphanage. But...there was something I do remember from my past.
Before I were to blow a gasket on him, i began humming a song. A lullaby to be frank, when everytime I get sad or actually mad, I sing or hum that lullaby. That lullaby stuck with me throughout the ages.
As i hummed, Discord raised a brow.
“That’s...a lovely hum.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “For a blank flank .”
“Oh…” I said, seized humming. “Thanks..” I really hate being called that, especially to somepony I don’t even know.
Not a moment too soon, Spike/Garbunckle runs out, smoke radiating off of his robe. “Nopony told that there’s a DRAGON IN THERE!!”
“Um, dude, you’re a dragon.” I called him out. “You could’ve taken it out.”
After that, we continued our quest. The game lasted until it was late. We said our goodbyes and went home.
Next day…
I walked down to the ground level to see Ditzy in the kitchen.
“Muffins, muffins, I love you, I love to eat Muffins.” Ditzy sang as she was baking muffins in the kitchen.
“Morning, Ditz.” I yawned.
“Morning, Sleepyhead.” Ditzy giggled, looking at me. “You had fun last night?”
I nodded weary before levitating a banana,unpeeled it and ate it. “Discord is something else…”
“He is a weird one.” She hummed.
“Where’s Dinky?”
“She left early to catch the morning train to Canterlot.”
“Aw.”
Ditzy sighed before looking at her book. “Oh, um well..” She muttered to herself before rummaging through her kitchen items and her ears flopped. “I don’t have that.”
“Have what?” I asked her.
“I need an ingredient to bake these muffins. I’m trying a new recipe but I don’t have any.” She frowned. She really wanted to bake that muffin.
“Well, what do you need and I’ll go get it.” I insisted.
“It’s an ingredient called…” She narrowed her eyes to read the text from the book. “Sagarium pondrake root.”
I was skeptic about that. “Sagarium pondrake root?”
“Yeah. It says here in the cookbook that this recipe requires it or otherwise it would ruin.” Ditzy said, taking the book off of it’s stand and shown me the page. I took the book from her with my magic and examined it. I looked at the cover, front and back. The title was Exotic Sweets and Yummy Treats. I looked at the recipe and saw that it had all of the normal recipe to make a muffin, but there was a part with the root that was literally three pages long to use it properly...half of that were side-effects if the root’s used inappropriately.
“Well...I’ll see if...if the store or the Cakes have that one particular ingredient.” I told her, making my saddleback appear on my back and I put the book in the bag.
“Thank you so much, Mystica!” Ditzy giggled, giving me a big hug. “You are the best!”
I chuckled softly before making my way outside into town.
It was then I realized that going to the store was a bit of a bust, because they apparently don’t sell the pondrake roots because they make ponies act strange...one of which makes them afraid of water? And that most ponies don’t even know how to handle them correctly. So, I made my way to the Cake’s.
As I entered, I noticed a pink mare with cotton candy-like pink hair.
“HI Mystie!” Pinkie greeted at me bubbly as Vinyl Scratch left the bakery with her treats.
“Hey Pinkie.” I responded back to her as i came to the counter.
“We have a special today. We are giving away a free cupcake from our new batch!” She rushes into the back and runs back with a tray of cupcakes. They all were a different color and were casting sort of a bright glow of their respectable colors. “These cupcakes have a surprise twist with every bite!”
I chuckled. “That’s nice, Pinks, but I actually came to ask something.”
“Sure thing!”
“I was wondering if you had a sagarium pondrake root? Ditzy’s trying out a new recipe and she needs that ingredient.”
“Ooh! That root makes you do Ca-razy things if it’s not handled right.” She giggled, bouncing around. “I’ll go check the back.” She hops away then.
I waited for a second before Pinkie suddenly hops out of my bag. I let out a shout.
“Huh, I guess we don’t have any. I thought we did, but I guess not.”
Trying to catch my breath, I looked at her. “D-do you know where i might...find some?”
“Hmm, you could ask Zecora. She has tons of them for her brews.”
Zecora, nice. I haven’t seen Zecora in ages. Last time I saw her, she was helping me cure my poison joke poison (I frollicked into a field of them when I was a little filly that was heading towards the Two Sister’s castle...I was light as a feather, ‘nuff said.)
“Okay, thanks Pinkie.” I waved at her before heading out.
“Hey, you forgot a cupcake!”
With a smirk, I lifted up a gold glowing cupcake and left with it. When I looked at the cupcake, thinking I would eat it later, I put it in my back and made my way.
Strolling down the Everfree Forest, brought me back many memories from when I was a filly. Even though it has been years since I came here, I still remember every little trick of getting by the forest safely without dealing with Ursula Majors, monsters, mantacorns, timber wolves and all the other baddies that love to lurk in the forest. Plus it cuts about half of the travel time.
It wasn’t long before I made it to Zecora’s hut. When I came to her hut, I tapped on her door.
“Enter.” Zecora called from the other side.
I pushed my way inside to find the zebra mixing a brew. When she turned to me, she smiled. “Well do my eyes deceive me? If it isn’t Mystica here you be.”
“Long time so see, Zecora.” I chuckled. “Whatcha making? Some brew of some sickness or a potion?”
“It is not that part of that mast, for what I am making is my breakfast.” She said, tossing some veggies in the the black pot.
“Oh.” I peered my neck into the pot. “Yummy.”
“What brings you here? My dear?” she asked me.
“Oh, well...I was wondering if you have any sagarium pondrake root?” I asked her.
“A strange request, that root isn’t at it’s best. When using inappropriately, it can make pony folk do strange things you see.” Zecora rhymed.
“So i’ve been told. I’m here for Ditzy,” I said while taking the book out of my bag with my magic and had her shown the page.
Zecora narrowed her eyes. “Exotic Sweets and Yummy Treats, I see.” She gets off of her stool and wanders into her pantry and scours at her jars. It took a moment before she pulls out a bag. “One root for sure, to prepare it is something Ditzy may have to endure.”
“Thanks, Zecora.” I thanked her before using my magic to levitate it over to me. I then felt her eyes narrowing at me as I put the root in my bag. “Is everything okay?” I asked her.
“From what I noticed of when you start, it seems that you don’t have your mark.” She said, pointing at my blank flank.
My cheeks blushed pink as my tail covered it. “Yeah, I know.”
“For as old a you are now, you don’t have one is a how?” she asked me.
“I’ve been wondering about that…” I muttered.
The zebra then walked up to me. “I see, you changed from when you last saw me.”
“Changed? how? I’m the same pony I visit you years ago.” I said, shuffling.
“No, my dear.” She said, circling me. “Mystica, you have lost your spark, i fear.”
“My spark?” I blinked.
“Yes! your spark, you have lost it. Without it, then you won’t get your cutie mark.” Zecora said, looking at me.
I had to laugh at that. “Oh, I can assure you, I have my Spark.”
“This is no joke, this is something you had revoke.” She said, going back over to her pantry. “Your lack of cutie mark and spark is all connected I fear, you tried everything to earn it my dear?”
“Uh, well…” I muttered. I had tried everything. Singing, dancing, artist, linebacking, everything! Half of the things I’ve tried I’m not good at.
Zecora huffed before finding a bottle with the substance of milk in it. “I think I may help find your spark. To guide your way from the dark that is in your mind.”
“My mind?”
“Your memory. This potion will make you see what you lost temporary.” She said, giving it to me.
“Um...I think I’m gonna pass.” I said, stepping away from the potion.
“If you don’t drink this, you will never know what you have lost. Drink this and you’ll find your spark and with it, a cost.”
I was hesitate about that. She said that I lost my spark. Without it, I wouldn’t get my cutie cutie mark. I thought about it then sighed. Might as well get this over with. What could go wrong?
Taking the potion in my hooves, I took a sip before everything suddenly turned white.
***
“Ow…” I muttered, rubbing my head. “What did she-” I stopped when I realized that there was an echo with my voice. I looked up at my new surroundings. i frowned when I realized it was all blurry. Nothing but gold blobs and strange sounds.
“Okay, Zecora, where did you send me?” I asked rhetorically, looking around. I stood up and walked around my new surroundings.
It was so freaking weird! Everything was a blur, sounds were disoriented, creepy even. I couldn't see straight, so i keep bumping into things, such as what I felt were chairs, bars, walls. I couldn’t see anything straight.
Then…
“You know you can’t keep her…” A voice came out of the blobbiness in this place. Disoriented, but a voice. It sounded like it was a stallion’s,
“You don’t have to remind me…” Another voice, but this voice...it was almost crystal clear. It was deep, soothing even. The voice sent chills down my spine.
Following the sound, I moved closer. Using the voices to lead me into a room.
Inside, though blobs, I could make out two stallions. One was a blobby dark blue pegasus, the bigger blob was a maroon unicorn wearing what I could tell was a black cape.
In his hooves, I froze when i saw what he was holding…
It was me! I could tell by the color of the coat, the bits of purple blue and pink hair faded to the tips, bright orange eyes, in a pink blanket. I could tell that because I wasn’t a blob.
“If she stays here, it would destroy everything you work for! Everything you have done would disappear if you keep her.” the pegasus told the unicorn. “I know you love her, but you have to give her up.”
The red unicorn turned his head away from the pegasus and looked down at little me. “I…I don’t think I can’t..” his voice cracked, sounded nearly clear. He sounded as if he was on the verge of crying. “I rather have her stay with me...where it’s safe…She’s all I have left...”
“No she isn’t.” The pegasus snapped at him. “You-”
Little me started to cry.
the pegasus sighed softly, looking at me. “She is something...I’m sorry, but she has to go…”
The red unicorn held me close to his chest. “It’s okay, Mystica...everything is going to be okay…” He shuddered. He didn’t want to let me go...but the way he was tearing up...he had no choice. “I...How about a song?” He asked me.
From what I could see was his horn glowing yellow, music started to play. Something you hear in a music box.
Then he began to sing...
“Oh little star, shining bright
Soaring across the night sky
Over the moon, past the constellations.
You are the one that brings me peace.
You are my revelations
That lights up my life.
My little star, burning bright
It breaks my heart when to see you cry
Hush now, my love, you will be fine
For I will return for you one day
Until then, when you cry, you will sing this lullaby…”
As he sang, Foal me stopped crying. She wiped her eyes with her tiny hooves and looked up at him with amazement.
I was amazed as well. That lullaby...it was my song. The lullaby I sing when I feel sad or angry...this was it…
“My little star, you are the gift that makes me feel complete
You don’t know how much you mean to me
When you dream, dream about the stars above
Shining as bright as you.
Oh little star, shining bright
Soaring high in the night sky
My love for you will carry on
Until the end of time…”
He put his forehead against mine, his body shuddered as he held me close.
Little me yawned tiredly before putting her hooves on his lower jaw. With a tired smile, she spoke. “Da da…”
Stumbling back to the present, I was left speechless.
“What did you see? Is it your spark that came back to reality?” Zecora asked as she put a hoof on my back.
I looked at her speechless before teleporting out of the hut and landed somewhere in the middle of Everfree, leaning against a large tree without another word.
That trip was crazy! Though blurry, that voice, what I just witness...was my father debating on giving me up or not. I shut my eyes to try to see if I could get a clear enough vision of him. I know he was a red unicorn...but that was it!
My father..
My dad…
I ended up heaving up the banana I had eaten earlier before sliding down onto the ground. I coughed before placing a hoof on my heart, feeling it ached. A pain I only felt once in my life years before this. A hole in my heart.
Zecora must have gotten the potion wrong because it didn’t show me my “spark”, it gave me a blurry image of my dad. Why was it all that blurry? I had no clue why, probably because I was just a foal so everything to a baby’s a blob.
But still….I got a glimpse of him. Something all I ever wanted in my past.
Later that day, after giving Ditzy her root, we sat down at the table and eat her experimental muffins.
“MMMMHHHMMMM! These muffins are the best tasting muffins I’ve ever eaten!” Ditzy beamed, a smile on her face, crumbs of the muffin dripped from her muzzle. “That root makes a difference.”
“Yeah…” I muttered, picking my first muffin with a fork.
“Aren’t you going to eat, sweetie?” she asked me. She scooted her chair closer to me. “You alright?”
“I’m fine, I guess. Just not hungry.” i said softly, poking the treat.
She then placed a hoof over mine. “What’s wrong? I can tell you’re upset.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I told, getting up off the chair.
“But, Mystie, you can tell me ev-”
“Stop acting as if you’re my mother okay!?” I snapped at her.
Ditzy gasped. Her bright eyes saddened and watered before she started to cry.
“F-fine, that’s how you gonna…” she then began to sob and flew out of her chair and flew upstairs.
Great…
Now feeling like a major donkey, i should be. I hurt her feeling by snapping at her. I didn’t mean to.
Taking a muffin or two, I teleported up to Ditzy’s room. I knocked on her door with a free hoof. “Ditzy?” I called out for her. I put a ear on her door. My heart broke when I heard her crying. I didn’t want her to cry.
I opened the door and poke my head in. “Ditz, i’m so sorry.” I apologized.
“Y-you yelled at me…” She cried into her pillow. “You never yelled at me before.” she said something else but I couldn’t make it out what it was due to her face stuffed into the pillow.
My ears dropped before going up next to her, climbing onto her bed, placing the muffins in the space between us. “I really am sorry that I yelled at you...I just have a lot on my mind.”
“What is it that you have to yell at me for?” she whimpered.
“My...my father…” I muttered admittedly
Ditzy turned her head on the pillow where one eye was looking at me. “Your father?” I nodded in response at that. “Y-you’ve seen him today?”
“Well...not exactly…” I sighed softly. “I had a vision about him and it raised a lot of questions.”
“Oh,” She said, sitting up, hugging her pillow close to her chest. “That could make any pony feel cranky.”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry for that.” I said, pushing the muffins to her. Ditzy waited for a moment before grabbing the treat and eating it. “I’m just got questions that are confusing.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I know I’m an orphan...but it raises typical questions: Like, who am I? Where I come from?” I said, a hoof going through my hair. “Is it affecting me from getting my cutie mark?”
A kind smile came on her muzzle. “Mystica, you can be any pony you what. You are strong, beautiful. Every pony in town loves you. Where you come from? Any other places, but I’m sure it’s not affecting your ability to get your cutie mark.” She wrapped her hooves around me and brought me in an embrace. “You’re you, Mystie.”
I wrapped my hooves around Ditzy and returned her hug. “Love you Ditzy.” I muttered.
“Love you very much, Mystie.”
When I remove my hooves from her, I told her that I was going out for a walk.
“Just be careful, okay?”
I nodded. She kissed my horn before I left.
When I got outside, I began walking through the familiar streets.
Wandering around, I looked at one side, there were a bunch of young fillies and colts playing in the park. I looked at the other, I see a father, a mother and their two kids sitting on a blanket, eating their meal.
My heart ached when seeing them. What hurt more was when I saw that both of the kids had their marks, causing me to hide my flank with my tail.
I sighed softly and continued walking. As I strolled into town, I got a bunch of waves, a bunch of ponies calling me by my name. I replied them back and kept on walking.
The more I walked, the more I wasn’t feeling well. The walk wasn’t working.
“Oh, who am I kidding? I’m doing the same thing again.” I sighed, my ears drooped. “I need to find my way...a way that isn’t here…”
I then started singing...
“I’ve walked on all these streets before
There isn’t a pony that I know, oh-whoa-oh-
There nothing in the place that I don’t already know
I’ve done a bunch of trials, I’ve done my best
Maybe I just need to go on a quest”
(I looked up at the sky, seeing a bunch of pegasi flying around in the clouds.)
“So I think that it mean it’s time for me to go
I know there’s more that’s out there
And I just haven’t found it yet
I know there’s more that’s out there
A part of me I haven’t met.
This town is full of ponies that I love
But still I don’t belong
All of know who they are,
Shining bright as a star
So I should probably go
Will I find what I’m lookn’ for
If I just do it on my own
(With that, I made my way back into the Everfree Forest, for what reason? I didn’t know. What I did know that pass this forest, was a world beyond the forest)
I know there’s more that’s out there.
Something to fill this hole inside.
(Eventually, I made my way to the Castle of the Two Sisters)
I know there’s more that’s out there
(I stood at the doors before teleporting inside and ventured inside, finding my way to the stairs quickly.)
And I’m not afraid to try.
There’s only so much this place can offer
And I’m not saying that it’s wrong
But I know there’s that’s out there
‘Cause I’ve been searching all along.
(I came to the tall tower, when I pushed the doors to the balcony, I realized that the sky was dark blue, the skies filled with beautiful stars. In the balcony, was my old telescope.
I walked up to it, using my magic, I put the telescope up towards my eye and I looked up. In the sky, was a large bright star. A memory flashed in my mind, recalling from my youth. A bright shining star I viewed with my telescope. Viewing the one thing I had loved most of all. I dropped the telescope, engulfing myself in magic before I began flying into the night sky, dancing among the clouds)
Beyond these skies, beyond these stars!
So much to see, I want to see them all
There’s somethin’ out there callin’ me
And it’s a mystery that I can’t wait to see!
(I had traveled as far as I could to get closer to the beautiful star. Surrounded by the beautiful constellations. Feeling what I had lost. What I lost, my spark! My love for the stars.)
‘Cause I know there’s more that’s out there
Another place, another way!
And I know there’s more that’s out there
And I’ll find out someday!
(I hugged myself and smiled softly, knowing what I needed to do)
I’ll find out someda-AHHHHHH!!!!!”
Something then grabbed me by my hind leg in mid-sentence and drags me back down to the ground miles below. I screamed as I descend at rapid speeds.
Falling, falling, the rush of air stinging my lungs as I screamed. I looked down and saw how fast I was coming to the ground and clenched my eyes shut, thinking that I was dead.
Then, a voice, low and conniving, forced my eyes to open. “Well, is this a surprise…” When I opened my eyes, I found myself hanging upside down, a tail was wrapped around my hind legs. I found myself staring at Discord.
“D-discord? What’s going on? Put me down!” I said.
“Ooh, if you say so.” Discord sang before lifting me with his tail and threw me down on the ground. Pain hit me as if a ton of bricks landed on me.
When I looked up to say something, something huge was falling right at me! I teleported to the side just in time as literally a ton of bricks fell and landed right where I was just at.
“What in Tartarus are you thinking!?” I shouted at him, looking up where Discord was.
He was sitting in a floating throne-style chair above my head. He had this angered look on his face. No fun, no games he wanted to play. He was pissed.
“You know, Mystica, I thought you looked familiar. It took me a moment to realize that we had met before.” He growled. “I’ve met you before in my old Cavern with the Doctor. ” He teleports to my side, his claws extended. “Because of you, Mystica, I’m the last of my bloody kind!”
“What are you talking about?” The Doctor? I haven’t heard of him in ages! What the heck was going on!
“You put me to sleep for five thousand years! Before I was trapped in that stone by the princesses, you made me sleep for ages while my kind died out!” He shouted before he went to slash me. I rolled out the way but not fast enough when Discord scratched my foot.
I took off running, trying to ignore the pain that seared through me. I could hear Discord manically laugh as he chased me.
“Ooh, I love this game! Run mousey run!” He cackled as the world changed around us, he changed my form into a mouse and he became a large cat.
I scurried throughout the terrain with my tiny feet.
Not good not good! I was so confused. Why does Discord think that I put him to sleep? I have no spell to put any pony to sleep! Especially for five thousand years! And the Doctor? That pony tricked me to leave his ship. How would I even be associated with him after all these years?
“You better move those feet, Mystie! I’m catching up!” Discord taunted from behind and I didn’t dare to look behind my shoulder to see how close he was. For all I know, he could be right at my tail. Him being a powerful spirit, he could get me right there. Guess he wanted me to get my energy out so I wouldn’t fight him.
Using my magic, i levitated myself, making me into a normal pony and flew across the Everfree terrain. Bursting through thicket and bush, my heart pumping full of adrenaline and fear of being caught.
Well, I wasn’t going to. I may not be able to actually take the spirit out, but what I could do was buy me some time to escape. Turning my body around, flying backwards, I shot beams at him. Discord, was literally right behind me, wasn’t expecting that and got hit. He got blasted back, knocking down several trees as he fell.
When he let out a gruesome roar, my blood ran cold.
“Oh boy oh boy!” I yelped before turning my body back around and began flying faster.
“Come here!” Discord shouted, bursting through the debris and was right at me at speeds matching Rainbow Dash!
I screamed and teleported at a distance and flew. I then started shooting at trees, having them fall behind me but it wasn’t working. He went through them as if they were paper!
Oh sweet Luna what was I going to do!? I do have one spell that could help, The Cerium Pandemonium spell, but I can’t use it or else i want every pony from here to Vancouver to die! The blast of it would be at a catastrophic levels! Enough to crumble the mountains in Changeling territory! I didn’t know how to minimize the blast. So that spell was out of the question.
Running out of options, I then flew into this cave that was completely covered in dirt, vines and rocks. i didn’t get to far when I flew right smack into a strange surface, causing my magic to disperse. I coughed hectically because whatever I ran into hit my right in my throat.
“You can’t run from me, My little pony!” Discord snapped. i saw him coming towards the entrance. I turned around and gasped, seeing the pure anger and rage he had flying towards me.
I hunkered down and covered my head, thinking that I was actually going to die when I heard what sounded like doors slamming shut. Surrounding me in darkness. Sounds of Discord running into it made him cry out.
Discord started slamming himself into the door. “Open the door! You can’t hide forever little filly!” He screams, beating down the door.
As he beat the door, I used my horn to light up the place.
The place was covered in vines and dirt. Tiny dead trees lay around the floor. When i turned around, I gasped from what I saw.
The console of the TARDIE.
