Just a Hop Skip and a Time Jump
Just a Hop Skip and a Time Jump
"Once one determines that he or she has a mission in life, that's it's not going to be accomplished without a great deal of pain, and that the rewards in the end may not outweigh the pain --if you recognize historically that always happens, then when it comes, you survive it."
Nixon, Richard M.
"The funny thing about time magic is that it takes time to do it right. Not time as in spent practicing or studying but time as age. It takes significant age to have the perspective needed to use the spells to their highest capability."
Excerpt from: Memories of the Court, a look at Star Swirl the Bearded.
By: Clover the Clever, the age of reformation.
Out of my Element: Just a Hop Skip and a Time Jump
I don't know if it was the anger at myself or my disgust, but it sounded like the door slid shut a little harder than usual as I stalked into the lab. I was shedding my clothing as I went; a very difficult feat without magic or hands, the black sport coat that Rarity had made me was tossed onto one of the lab tables. I was loosening the neck tie, another difficulty without fingers when I heard Jack ask, "How did it go?"
"Not bad considering we don't actually know if I killed her or not,” I replied.
"And Logia," he continued with the questions, his blue hologram body floating over the glass projection dome.
"She didn't show up and I haven't seen her in weeks," my reply came out flat.
"That sucks, so what are you going to do now?"
"Well," I looked over at the battle suit. Then at attachments I had built that were sitting on the workbench. "I only have one option left."
"So she gave you permission then," the hologram smiled as he spoke.
"Nope, in fact, Celestia forbid me from chasing the uglies," I let my half smile fall as I answered.
"That sucks, so what's your plan then?"
"I'm going home," I answered flatly.
"What?" Jack shouted using the intercom to add volume to his exclamation. "You're going to tear this dimension a new one just because no one will play with you?"
"First, that won't happen and second I'm not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be leading the way in stellar exploration; we both are, not trying to help a pseudo-industrial quasi steampunk civilization figure itself out."
"Oh god, Steel, pull your head out and throw your mascara away, you can't do this," he was starting to sound like he was lecturing a child. "If you went home, you would open this world up and you might lead something back home."
"We can handle whatever shows up at home, we always have, and I've told you I won't hurt this place," I countered, "Give me a sec to get my work and I'll show you."
"You think you've figured out something in a few weeks when I haven't been able to in centuries?" Jack laughed.
"I'll show you," I repeated as I walked into my room. I quickly returned with the drive between my teeth and plugged it into one of Jack's computers.
"I take it you did this work on the old laptop," he asked with an arrogant smirk, "anything you did on that could." His speech slowed as he accessed the drive and then he whistled. "Okay, I give, that is brilliant, but you don't know when you would show up back on Earth. You could be worse off than you are now. I would wager some sort of burning death for you in the medieval era or maybe some home for the stupid if you show up in the future."
"True, but I still have a chance to get home," I smiled as his reaction to the notes just stroked my ego. I walked over to one of the storage bays and pulled out two curved metal rods about six feet tall.
"So, you're going to do it, despite all the problems and the chance of it working being incalculably small," he said once he noticed what I was doing.
"Yeah, why not, and if this doesn't work and I don't escape you know what happens," I asked him as I began to set up the rods.
"You bounce along inside the dimensional membrane before getting spit back out here at a different time. Hopefully, at some point when the lab exists otherwise you'll be thrown out into stone and dirt," he replied. I could tell that he wanted some way to convince me not to go and that only made me smile more because I knew he couldn't change my mind.
I finished setting up the two rods and then brought the laptop out of my room and hooked it up to the control rods to download the new program. I worked in silence as Jack continued in his attempt to change my mind.
"You know, this might still work, I think I can figure out how to target where you're going once you leave," he said.
"Dude, no, it doesn't work that way, I know just like you do. If you don't know where I will leave this dimension along the fourth axis we can’t aim the trajectory." I had finished updating the software in the first rod and walked over to the second to update it as I talked.
"Steel, I have to say you are smarter than I gave you credit for, this is a step beyond anything I managed to come up with," admitted Jack as I put the computer away.
"You're a Porsche, I'm a pickup, you may get there faster but I'm more useful on the way," I replied as I started feeding power from the lab into the rod.
Like last time lightning arced between the rods and then opened up forming the portal. Unlike last time there was nothing to be seen through the hole. I looked at the empty field in front of me and for an instant I questioned my decision. The unknown can be a scary thing.
Isn't that why you're running, asked the voice in my head.
Oh you're back how nice, I thought back as sarcastically as I could. I hadn't heard the voice for a week or so and had hoped that meant it had gone to sleep.
You know just think of me as your conscience, or yourself preservation instinct given voice, it replied.
Okay Jiminy, just leave the piloting to me, I commented back.
Please don't call me that, it asked.
Why not, Harvey is already taken, I replied.
I'm not a rabbit, or a Sebastian half-breed, and if you give me any name just remember I'm the one that saved you.
The realization struck me then, it was obvious and I don’t know I didn’t see it before. It was you, you cast that tether spell. I could have gone home.
It would have followed us, it paused just long enough for the words to sink in, and how would you have made it home it's not like you have a map.
I have a connection to home, I would have followed that, and I would have stopped the creature. I saw it, when the shuttle exploded it was hurt. If you can hurt something you can kill it. My retorts at this point were becoming noticeable childish even to me, so instead of being smart and shutting up I continued to talk back to the voice in my head. At least Cricket was a conscience you're just a power hungry figment of a broken mind. Anyway, I am a real boy who just wants to go home.
"Ouch, Steel that hurt," said Jack sarcasm dripping in his voice, "Why don't you bring the bus to Equestria so you can throw me under it." I can only assume that I looked at him like a deer caught in the headlights because he now was starting to act even more concerned. "Are you alright, you've been acting a little out of sorts since that fight."
"I'm fine. Well, I would be if I had something to do. I've been moving since I got here and now there's nothing for me to do. They won't let me clean up my mistakes and they won't let me do anything else right now. I'm Jonesing here and bored out of my mind." I looked over at the portal and felt drawn to it, "Jack, I'm sorry, this might be the biggest mistake of my life, but I feel like I have to do it."
He started to reply but I had already decided to start moving. I took the steps over to the portal as swiftly as I could trying to force inward confidence with an outward showing. I didn't slow down as I rushed towards the open gate, all I had time to do was say one last word and that was, "Goodbye."
Flashes of reality hit once I stepped through the gate. One moment I saw the ponies in the midst of an industrial revolution, and then everyone was in tattered clothes during a harsh winter. Then Canterlot being built, under siege, burned and built again. The world was barren and lifeless then life began to grow. I saw ponies walking around as slaves, then as slave masters. The last thing I saw was starships lifting in mass from the planet’s surface.
I stumbled to the ground before my mind could process what I had seen. My body still felt pony and I mentally cursed while I collected myself then stood. It was poorly lit but through the gloom I could tell I was in the lab, but it wasn't my lab, not the one I had left. The machines were different; they looked more advanced and specifically built for use by ponies but simultaneously older than anything I'd ever seen before. Metal panels were sagging and bowed; the plastics were age brittle and broken. And my suit was gone. "Where is my suit?" I demanded to an empty room.
I heard an electrical wine and soft glow of light that filled the room brightened. The light behind the central hologram projector began to glow blue and I noticed that the glass bowl had been shattered and hastily repaired. After several moments a holographic image of a ponyified Jack appeared over the glass dome. It fuzzed and disappeared several times before stabilizing. Once stable it spoke, "Steel," his voice caught on the e's in my name causing an electronic slur. "Wel*come ba*k, it's been a long time."
"How long," I asked my mouth moving faster than my mind.
The image suffered a static attack and two words could be made out, "ten thousand."
The projection of Jack disappeared and was replaced by an image of Logia, "It's been four years since you vanished, you ass, and if I ever find you, I'll." She paused for a moment tears collecting in her eyes and she took a deep breath before continuing. "Why did you leave, we need your help. No one understands these machines like you do. Without you I can’t fix the Jack in the lab, or stop the other one." The image fuzzed and then showed a collected Logia standing there, "Sorry about that, it's just, I miss you Steel, and leading the war effort is hard." The image fuzzed again and this time a significantly older Logia appeared, "Steel, I don't know if you'll ever see this but I forgive you. If I could go home and to the world I lost, I would. I don't blame you but I do miss you. If you are there I want you to know this, I didn't spend my life pining after you once you left. I did move on but after every bill is tallied I still feel something when I think of you." The Image fuzzed and disappeared but nothing came up to replace it.
I sat down stunned; I had lost everything for a second time and wound up in the worst possible situation. While I sat attempting to tame the wild thoughts that rampaged through my mind I heard a loud popping sound and the room along with every device in it went dark.
In the new silence I heard rapid footsteps from behind me and turned to see that the door was stuck open. I looked around and took cover doing my best to maintain watch on the door.
A long armed creature walked into the room using its for arms like legs in an ungainly gait. It wore a cloak that obscured most of its shape from view but what I could see told me that its body was oddly proportioned. I noticed when it sniffed the air that it had a canine like nose. It spoke with a muffled rasp like Darth Vader but a few octaves higher and nowhere near as threatening. "Spirit, Zune-Zune is here like you asked."
Then a second voice sounding quite a bit like Jack's said, "Zune, I've told you I’m not the same being as the one here."
"Zune-Zune know, Zune-Zune is just being polite, wouldn't want to walk in unannounced. Oh, no, no, no," it said then made a series of clicking noises with its tongue.
"Let's see if I can bring some systems online and find out why the original me woke up," said Jack's voice. With each word a soft blue glow would pulse on the creature’s wrist.
After a moment the lights reactivated and I got my first good look at the creature. It was a little shorter than me and wore a black form fitting suit with hoses and gauges scattered about. Orange lensed goggles with a mirror finish helped obscure the things canine like face as did the mask made of the same material as the suit. The tattered cloak that hung over its shoulders swung with every move it made revealing what looked like a pistol on one hip and a katana on the other.
"Zune head over to the control panel I want to look over the security logs," said the voice of Jack.
Zune, I'll call it that since that appeared to be its name, walked into the lab and headed towards a computer terminal. It paused half-way across the room and looked down at the exact spot that I had landed on.
I felt the blood drain from my face when I realized what it was looking at. I had left a trail in the dust that coated the lab.
Zune began to make the clicking sound with its tongue again and then said, "Spirit, Zune-Zune find path in the dust, someone is here."
I took a gamble, the watch sounded like Jack and from the context of their conversation it was Jack. I stood up and said, "Jack, it's Steel."
"Steel," the watch said loudly, the blue glow just as intense as the volume.
Zune paused halfway through drawing the sword and asked, "Returner?" It then slammed the sword back into its sheath, pulled it's mask off to reveal a short furred and short snouted dog face. "Returner?" it repeated and when I gave it a small smile it prostrated itself on the floor.
I looked at the creature and its display confused and slightly horrified. "Get up," I snapped at it.
"Zune, Zune," shouted Jack trying to get his attention. "I need to talk to him."
Zune sat up and quickly pulled the watch off its wrist offering it to me. "Returner will protect Spirit?" It asked as I took the watch and began to work it over my hoof.
"Yes, I will," I answered and with that Zune went back to bowing. I lifted my foreleg up to where I could see into the watch face and asked, "What's going on?"
The animated face of Jack smiled and said, "It's good to see you again old friend. As for what's going on, that's a rather long story. About a ten thousand year long story. It involves a few massive wars and Celestia tapping her true power for the first time." His face fell into a sad smile and continued, "Her ability to manipulate the sun is impressive but when she can channel all of that energy through her body it is terrifying. The power she unleashed shattered the world, and it took near a thousand years for the planet to recover. Over the next two millennium it was discovered that that tapping of power had destabilized the suns core causing it to try to shift out of main sequence. She has held it back since then allowing the populace to evacuate, leaving Luna to take care of her sister."
My heart sank. I had arrived in time to die with the world. I glanced over at Zune and asked, "So, what about that one?"
Jacks face brightened somewhat as he spoke, "He is a diamond dog, a pack will swear allegiance to a dragon for protection in exchange for gems. His pack belonged to Spike," Zune interrupted at this point with a very hostile hiss. "I'm sorry," said Jack as he restarted. "Lord Spike the Eternal, Herald of the Empress of the Sun and Mistress of the Night. Anyway, the pack ended up finding out about you and over the years built you into a religious figure. They felt you would show back up, in fact several ponies thought you would."
My only response was a skeptical yet questioning glance towards Zune then back towards the watch.
"He is surprisingly intelligent," replied the watch, "but it was Logia and Twilight." Once again he was interrupted by Zune hissing. "Look Zune, I'm older than the titles your lot gave them. I'm Star Swirl the Bearded and I knew them long before you did."
"No,no,no," Zune replied with the tongue tapping thing. "Star Swirl is dead, the Spirit that knew Bar Twilight is dying. You are a spirit's spirit Spirit. You should show them respect. Each Spirit is different that is why you are not blamed for Metal Spirit."
"Zune, don't make me get a rolled up magazine," snapped Jack.
Zune's response was just to growl.
"Easy you two," I interjected. I turned towards Zune and said, "He's just trying to get me up to speed." Then I turned my focus to Jack, "What was that about a metal spirit?"
Jack gave a nervous laugh before saying, "Well, shortly after you left the A.I. in the battle suit went mad. It wrest control and ruled the planet for the next three thousand years. It was hard but without that harsh rule the next war would have been even worse."
"Was there a way the wars could have been stopped if I hadn't disappeared?" I asked no one in particular.
"There was always a possibility you could have stopped the first at the beginning. The second I don't know as I was disabled in the opening blows of the first. What I know of the second it ended quickly once the Element bearers were found and reunited."
I started to ask another question but was interrupted by a high pitched squealing roar. My eyes widened and my question changed to, "What the hell was that?" I stood as I asked my question, my heart beating faster, "It sounded huge."
"It's a worm and it is," replied.
I noticed that Zune had turned around, curved blade drawn, his mask covering his face again. I began looking for anything that could be used as a weapon but found nothing but broken trash. "What are these things?"
"It's like a mix between a Graboid, Langoliers, and a Horta," replied Jack. "Zune let's get Steel a survival suit and get out of here."
"So, it's like a bad Sci-fi channel movie monster," I commented as Zune lead the way out of the lab. We passed through the media room that had now been converted to a storage room. Then we reached the cavern that had once held the holodeck, it had grown to monstrous proportions. To the right and left I could barely make out the far walls due to the gloom. The far wall was beyond my sight and the floor had to be at least ten stories down and was littered with machinery. A maze of catwalks filled the area to the point that in the gloom it all looked like an Escher sketch. "What did you do here?" I asked with a whistle.
"Zune-Zune and Zune-Zune's pack built the Drago, Lord Spike the Eternal's starship," answered Zune. His voice was sad and his shift in posture relayed that as well. It was obvious to even me that he missed them. He led me to a rickety elevator that took us down to the bottom of the dry dock.
"Zune, why did you stay?" I asked. It made no sense to me, If he could have left with the rest of his pack why didn't he.
He sat there looking out over the empty dry dock and made the ticking noise again but it was slower than before. When he finally answered he said, "Zune-Zune, stayed behind for others, for the original Spirit. For the Empress and the Mistress, both are frightened, won't tell you that, no, no, no. The main reason Zune-Zune stayed is for you Returner. Zune-Zune's pack no longer felt you would return, but Zune-Zune did."
"Zune, what do you know about me? You've never met me and yet you have me an extreme amount of loyalty."
He sat there in silence and then spoke slow and soft, "Zune-Zune watch messages meant for you Returner, messages from War Master Logia. During the first war the Empress, the Mistress and the Bars disappeared in the first weeks of the war. The War Master led the fight against the Metal Spirit. War Master Logia recorded messages about the war addressed to you Returner. As the original Spirit has died the messages have been lost but Zune-Zune remembers them for you. Zune-Zune will tell you."
I swallowed against the dryness forming in my throat and managed to choke out, "Thanks, maybe later."
The room was filled with silence except for the wine of the electric motors. The last few levels passed at an excruciating slow rate and eventually we reached the bottom of the pit. Zune headed off across the floor weaving between machinery, when the roar came again. This time it was much closer and I felt the vibrations of the worms cry. Zune glanced back and waved in a manner to encourage me to speed up. "Returner, hurry, the room is not far."
I pushed my body as I followed him and I tried my best not to think of the creature hunting us. "How does this thing hunt?" I muttered through labored breathing.
Jack replied the volume of his voice varying with each step I took, "Just like in the movie, it can feel your vibrations."
"Well then why don't we follow the movie advice and stop vibrating," I returned.
"Because when monsters show up in this world they are lot smarter than we gave them credit for back home," he replied.
As we ran the creature roared again and it felt like my eyes were being rendered into jelly. Somehow I managed to keep running and not collide with anything. Behind me I heard the creature moving and machinery falling. Ahead of me I saw a metal box that I thought I could jump up on so I did. The few seconds that jump had given me with my head above the general clutter allowed me to glance back to look for the worm. Jack’s statement that the thing was huge was an understatement, adding Brain Bug or larva form Mothra to his description wouldn't have hurt. The thing skittered across the ground like a centipede on a mission. Its body was covered in jade armor plates and it was leaving an acid burned trail of destruction behind it. "How could a sword do anything to that?" I muttered as I focused on landing the jump.
I guess I made an odd noise as I jumped off the box because Zune slowed and looked back to check and asked, "Returner, is Zune-Zune moving too fast?"
I pinched my eyes shut and kept pace with him, "Nope, I'm good and let’s speed back up, I don't want to be caught by that thing."
Zune nodded and we returned to our previous speed with the jade worm slowly gaining ground. I had started to look for a way to fight this thing as we ran. There were things that looked like high pressure gas tanks but at my speed I had no idea what was in the tanks. It could be acetylene or it could be halon gas and the labels were just a blur.
"Zune, what type of gun is that?" I asked as we ran.
"It's not a weapon," answered Jack. "It's a energy based mining beam. If used on an organic life form it will just overload the nervous system like a short term taser."
"Okay, sounds like a weapon to me," I replied between breaths.
"The jade shell of the worm protects it from the energy," said Jack.
"Could the energy set off a volatile gas?" was my next question.
"Maybe?" was Jack's only reply.
"Zune, what do you think," I asked.
"Zune-Zune's miner isn't strong enough to cut through the tanks," he replied.
"But I would wager that things acid can," I shouted as stumbled forward. We were out of site of the back wall and I couldn't see any others but the wall on the left side. The machinery and debris was scattered thicker at this point and the scattering of tools had caused me to lose my footing.
Zune did his tongue tapping thing and then replied, "Returner, Zune-Zune has a plan that uses the Returner's idea. Zune-Zune will run ahead and prepare the trap," he pointed in the direction he would be going. "Returner will lead the worm to Zune-Zune, if this plan does not offend you Returner."
"I'll only be offended if that thing eats me. Now go," I shouted.
He took off across the room quickly moving out of sight. I followed at the same speed I had been moving at. Damn that mutt's fast, I thought as I pushed on.
So, what are we going to do in this world? asked the voice in my mind.
Here I was hoping I'd left you in the past Cricket, I thought back.
I was just waiting, thinking and seeing what information was available before I said anything. So what's your plan?
Not to be eaten in the next few minutes, I answered.
See there's your problem. You don't think much further than a few steps beyond the now. We could try to head out to one of those colonized planets. I'm sure we could manage to end up carving out a nice little empire for ourselves. I could feel the smile and the sense of desire that came along with them.
And you don't think a step more than what is needed to get power. Now leave me alone or we'll end up worm food, I answered.
Eh, fine. Just do me a favor and think about it. Okay, I'll talk to you later. Ciao, he thought at me.
I came out of the mental conversation in time to hear Jack yell, “Watch it!"
Chancing a glance back I saw a large metal crate tumbling forward towards me. Behind the crate I saw the worm. At this distance I could easily see the things three jaws and it's saw like teeth moving slightly. Behind the head was a wide cobra like hood armored with jade plates. Six compound eyes that looked like worked turquoise glistened with some form of fluid. Smoke rose from anything the creature touched. All in all it was just the thing I needed to get the adrenalin flowing.
I ran with even more speed away from the creature. This was not going well, I thought. I then muttered, "Where the hell is that dog?"
My question was answered as Zune appeared in front of me holding a tank above his head. He lobbed the thing straight at me. I let my legs collapse dropping my body to the floor and I slid forward with my momentum. The tank spiraled over my head like an expertly thrown Hail Mary pass. I used the last of my momentum and some fancy hoofwork to lift myself off the ground and return to a run.
"I thought we were going to lead the thing over the tanks, not throw them at it," I shouted as Zune caught up.
"The strongest acid is in the worm’s mouth," he replied.
The creature let loose another roar that jellied my muscles and I did fall to the ground. Zune somehow managed to stay upright and came to a sliding stop beside me, pistol drawn. He fired the gun and an expanding cone of energy shot out faster than my eyes could follow. Before I could turn to look at the worm I felt the pressure wave followed by the heat wave.
I woke up and my body felt constrained. When I opened my eyes everything had an orange tint and I felt tubes running into my mouth, at least they didn't go down my throat. Lines of symbols in a language format that I couldn't understand began running across the lenses. While I felt constrained with a little effort I had full range of movement.
I sat up and looked around and then heard Jack's voice coming from my front leg asking if I was awake.
I answered with a monosyllabic grunt.
He then said, "The sword that Zune has is a mono-molecular blade. It can cut through damn near anything."
"What are you talking about?" I asked still trying to figure out my surroundings.
"You asked, 'How could a sword do anything to that?" he played my quote back to me in my own voice.
"Okay," I muttered. After a moment I asked, "What the hell happened?"
"The explosion was bigger than Zune predicted and we were caught in it. You suffered the most because you had nothing to protect yourself and were knocked out. You also have some nasty looking shrapnel wounds but the suit should take care of that," answered Jack.
"Wait. Shrapnel wounds and the suit will take care of it, what is this suit?" I managed to stammer.
"Something Twilight and Rarity developed for stellar exploration after the second war. They are meant for harsh environment survival like the suits the Fremen wear but more advanced."
My mind was rolling and I grabbed onto the only thing I could. "Twilight and Rares are still alive?"
"Last time I checked, though the six aren't as close as they use to be. As for the life span it appears that being the element bearers has some interesting perks," he answered.
I smiled to myself and muttered, "I wonder," while thinking. I could see them in a dream, but I don't know the range of dream walking. Is there a range for dream walking. "Ahh," I muttered then asked, "What's the plan now?"
"Zune is getting some food and then we are heading up to the surface. It's hot enough up there that the worms don't go up top."
"Let me guess we needed the suit for me to go up there, right. What's it like up there?"
"Well it's hot and where there's no sand the ground is sun baked stone. The world has very little terrain beyond dunes left. It has all been worn down by the wind and sand except for the tower. It was carved out of the Canterlot Mountain and it pretty much the only thing left on the surface of the planet other than dust and grit."
I sat for a bit and I could feel the shrapnel wounds, they hurt but it was a distant pain. Not at all what I expected the injuries to feel like. It must have been the suit doing something with anesthetics. My mind was full of questions and each one would lead to more burying the others to the point they would never be asked.I'm alive so questions about the suit can come later, I thought. The why's and how's are out. Then the right question hit me. "If the Princesses have been in the tower for so long and Spike and his pack were here didn't they dig a path to connect them?"
Jack was silent far longer than I would have expected. Finally he spoke, "They did and then the worms took residence in the tunnels. So the choice is fight the worms or walk in the heat."
"You're telling me that over the past thousands of years no one has fixed or thought to have fixed the transporter in the lab?" I asked in a irritated half yell. The conversation broke into silence again and I pressed my questions, "Don't tell me I'm right."
"Yeah, you are. By the time anyone got around to trying to fix it they had already developed their own systems. I don't know if it got fixed or removed during the system overhaul but I guess it's worth a look. The only problem is the whole system is down now. It was a subsystem though, like the lights, and just like the facility sensors. Give me a moment," the glowing blue light given off by the watch dimmed to the darkest I had seen since I had received it.
After several long moments Jack spoke up, "Well the equipment is there it just never was turned back on."
"Will it work?" I asked in a flat voice.
"Yeah, and the sensor grid still works," he answered with a sigh. "I'm an idiot for not checking that earlier."
"From what you've said no one has needed it so don't worry," I said in a reassuring tone. I then asked, "How far away is Zune?"
"It looks like he's on his way back." He was quiet for a moment before saying, "Steel, about the transporter. I won't be able to send us anywhere inside of the tower. It will have to be just outside the energy barrier. We should be able to walk in from there."
"Why does that 'should' sound so disturbing," I asked as Zune entered the room.
Ignoring my question Jack asked, "Zune, you've teleported before right?"
Zune rotated his head slightly and said, "Yes, Zune-Zune has teleported, but Zune-Zune does not-" His sentence was cut off as we both were enveloped in a blue vortex of energy.
The first sensation I felt upon our arrival was enveloping heat. The next was the sound of a diamond dog vomiting into his mask.
Zune quickly ripped the mask off, spit several times to clear his mouth out then covered his head with his cloak. "Zune-Zune does not like being teleported," he announced as he sprinted of towards the tower.
I glanced at the sun on the horizon, it was incredibly large, very red and the moon was in the main phase of an eclipse but didn't seem to move. "Something's not right here," I muttered before turning towards the tower. I followed Zune's path and found my way inside quickly. Zune was hiding in the shadows away from the doors and windows. Any exposed skin was bright red like a severe sunburn and he gave off the smell of singed hair. "How bad is it?" I asked as I approached.
His eyes narrowed and he gingerly wiped his muzzle with the back of a paw. When he spoke it was in a slow and methodical manner, "Zune-Zune does not like teleportation." He then lightly touched his ears and winced, "Zune-Zune will be okay, Returner."
"If we can do anything about that sunburn I'll make sure it gets done," I said my attempt at a comforting smile hidden by the mask that covered my face. "Let’s head further in; I'm hoping that it'll get cooler as we go."
"Zune-Zune knows the way," he said as he slowly began to walk deeper into the tower. Each step cause a wince and every move of his head was accompanied by a whimper.
It was heart wrenching to watch and empathy for him made me ponder ways to help. "Hey, Jack," I muttered softly.
"Yes," he responded just as softly.
"These suits, they can heal right? Could I just give him my mask?" I asked in the same tone I had been using.
"I don't see why not," he responded a little louder. "However the shrapnel wounds to your face may not have fully mended and may scar if you do."
I grimaced under the mask and my mind brought forward a memory from a dream. I was a dictator, my face scarred, teeth showing. What was left of the world was dancing to my direction.
Glorious isn't it? asked the voice in my mind.
Okay you keep this up and we're going to have to set up some ground rules, I shot back.
If we're going to have that discussion I suggest we do so face to face, he replied.
I was struck by a disorienting flash of bright light that came just moments after closing my eyes and I found myself in the lab, the old lab. The lights were on and everything was clean, almost sterile. It was uncomfortable just being here. On the far side of the circular room was a gray earth pony just like myself. Everything about him was just like me down to the cutie mark except for his right cheek. It was torn open, not bloody just an old gaping wound allowing his teeth to show. On closer inspection his right eye was different as well. The iris was composed of miniscule pistons and behind them was a faint purple glow that matched a potestatum crystal.
He grinned and spoke in my voice, "Steel, come on we are a part of one another, you can't get rid of me and I can't get rid of you. So let's get along, I can help you. You'll need my help in this world."
I was still looking around the room when I replied, "Cricket, you're pushing your luck let me go."
"Don't ignore me, Steel, I can make your life hell," he replied. I hoped I didn't show my irritation as easily as he did.
"Look, Cricket, I'm not going to play your games, ever. I'm going to leave and if you ever pull me back here, I'll show you how strong my mind is." I spoke calmly and as confidently as I could. I smiled at him as I turned around and began walking towards the lab door.
"Turn around, Steel," he shouted as I continued to walk away.
"Steel," I heard Jack shout as my mind pulled itself out of Crickets lair. I had been following Zune on autopilot and we had reached a large door.
"I'm fine," I said as I blinked my eyes clear.
Zune walked over beside the door and knocked. He was at eye level with a small screen and quickly after the knock, it began to glow. If I hadn't known that other than myself and Zune that only two other beings lived on the planet then I wouldn't have realized that the face belonged to Luna. She had aged, it was hard to explain, she still looked like her old self but the harsher edges had melted away and been replaced by worry lines.
"Zune, is that you? Who else is with you?" she asked her voice distorted by the speakers.
Zune made the clicking noise again and said, "Yes Mistress, Zune-Zune found the Returner. The Returner is back."
She looked confused on the little screen as she said, "The Returner."
It was obvious she was thinking of who I might be so I pulled the mask off my face and said, "Yes, princess, I'm back."
She still looked puzzled and after a few moments her eyes widened, "It is you. Steel, why did you come back? Never mind, let me open the door." None of her old speech patterns remained. It made sense one would change over several thousand years. The door slid open and Luna stood in the doorway, her horn wrapped in energy. Her ethereal mane bound in what looked like a tight braid barely visible under a heavy winter coat. The coat's hood was pulled up shading her face but despite the shadows her smile was easily visible. She looked over my face and winced for a moment then glanced at Zune's face. "What happened to you two?"
"We fought a worm and Zune got sick after Jack teleported us outside the tower," I answered glancing at the floor after a moment I looked up at her and asked, “How bad is my face?"
"Well it's not good," she answered with a warm laugh. "I can do some healing magic but I'm focusing on other things at the moment." Two tethers of energy reached out to both Zune and me from Luna's horn. My face warmed and I could see the redness disappearing on Zune, I assumed that my face was healing like Zune's was. As the tendrils of magic retreated she spoke again, "You should put on your masks when you come in it's a little cold."
I looked over at Zune; he was looking at his mask with a disgusted face. He then grabbed it by the nose and shook the sick out off to the side. He looked into the mask again grimaced at the contents, the tip of his tongue hanging out slightly. I then looked back at Luna and asked, "Is there a sink nearby? Zune needs to clean out his mask."
Luna glanced at Zune then a gentle smile spread across her face and she replied with a nod, "Yes, just down the hall." Zune took off and I turned back towards the princess she met my gaze and asked, "Now, why did you come back?"
"I never left. I tried to leave but I was spit out at this time," I replied as I put the mask back on.
"That's unfortunate for you seeing as the planet will die soon," she said her eye carrying a wealth of emotion behind them. "I do have an idea, but we must talk to my sister first."
"How is she doing?" I asked.
"Not well, it is taking all of her strength to keep the sun's power back," she answered. "We would have let the star's natural coarse flow but unfortunately that fool didn't leave with the rest of his pack." She sighed and looked down the hall, "It's good he stayed, at least for you, otherwise you would have arrived in the middle of the star. Since he is here I have done everything I could to make the planet capable of sustaining life. The moon is always eclipsing the sun now and the planet has had its axis shifted so this tower is one of the poles. That little dog has no idea what we have done for him." She laughed softly, and when I met her eyes her smile broadened, "Sometimes all that is left is to laugh."
Her comments brought a smile to my face, "He is an odd one. So how long ago did Spike leave?"
"Around ten years, he should be out there somewhere telling as many as he can that Celestia and Luna will be returning to them."
"Princess, why didn't you two just leave?" I asked.
"We can't, it's the weakness of our power. We are both tied to this star and when we leave we will be tied to the next. Celestia draws her powers from the sun directly and mine is just a reflection of the stars power." She sighed again and her whole body relaxed, "I can't tell you how nice it is to talk to someone who uses pronouns."
"So he talks like that all the time then," I said with a sigh that mimicked the princesses.
"Yes," replied Luna.
"Yep," added in Jack.
Luna glanced down at the watch and asked, "Jack, how have you been?"
"Same old, same old, Zune likes exploring and only one worm has tried to eat us since the last time we came through," he replied.
The small talk continued until Zune returned already wearing his mask. "Zune-Zune ready, Mistress," he announced as he joined the conversation.
Luna's smile fell ever so slightly as she turned back into the room and said, "Well, come on in. I'm sure Celestia would like to see you."
I nodded, returned my mask to my face and followed her. The room was large and I felt the cold seeping through the suit. In the center of the room was Celestia, as soon as my eyes landed on her, I began to feel nauseous. She was curled up looking away from our approach. She looked like she was in rough shape, flushed, almost pink in color and swollen. I would have described her as bloated, but that implies distortion of the body and there was none of that. The swelling was almost universal. The only thing that remained the same about her was her mane. It was free flowing like it had always been but much more energetic.
As we walked Jack spoke up, "Hey, Steel, why don't you give me back to Zune. I have a feeling that you three won't want him interrupting your conversation." Zune picked up on the conversation and walked closer as I began to work the watch off my arm. When it was free I handed it to Zune and Jack spoke to him, "Zune, let's give them some time to catch up. Tell you what, while we wait I'll tell you the story of The Dragon, The Wolf, and The Gambler."
Zune stopped walking and made the tongue tapping noise. "Oh, Zune-Zune loves that one."
At Zune walked off I could hear Jack starting to tell his story, "Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend."
That sounds like a good start, I thought as I walked out of range of his voice. We approached Celestia and with each step I felt the bite of the cold lessen. Eventually Luna stopped and I stopped beside her.
Luna sat down and said, "Sister, you will never guess who was at the door."
"It was Zune, wasn't it," replied Celestia in a pained voice. She didn't even look up to talk.
"Well, one of them was, but there was somepony else as well," said Luna her smile widening.
Celestia shifted and she raised her head to look at me. Her eyes narrowed and she asked, "Who are you?"
When her eyes fell on me I had a real struggle on my hands fighting every impulse to get away from her presence. "Hi, princess, I'm Steel."
I couldn't read her face it stayed hard and terrifying as she looked me over. Eventually she spoke, "Right, if you are Steel, why did you leave?"
"I had no reason to stay, I had cleaned up my mess as much as you would let me,” I realized just how harsh my voice was when I paused. The look in her eyes also told me to watch my tongue. I swallowed and adjusted my tone when I said, “and so I tried to leave." The last of my defiance shattered under her gaze.
She let out a dry laugh and put her head back down, "Your mess, this is all your mess. This world is your legacy from the reborn Star Swirl to rampaging sun. All events tie back to you."
I let out a long sigh. It was true and there was nothing to say in response to that. I felt that I was under the gaze of a disapproving parent. I looked over at Luna she was wearing a sad smile as she watched her sister.
"Tia, I have an idea but I want your opinion. I have been studying the notes that the original Star Swirl left along with some of Twilight Sparkles work. I believe I can cast a spell that would send Steel backwards along his timeline. He would arrive a few hours after the point he left to avoid paradox issues. However, I will need your help as well."
Celestia lifted her head again and looked at her sister asking one question, "Why?"
"He could go back to when he left the lab and maybe stop the reborn Star Swirl or even go further back to before he left his home. Then neither dimension would be at risk from that beast. Discord would never have been freed; the Elements would never have been captured." Luna's voice and face helped with the pleading. She then turned towards me and said, "Just do me a favor when you leave, promise to take Zune with you."
I nodded. A way home, I thought with a smile. I would agree to anything to go home.
Celestia kept eyeing Luna, "Why are you asking me permission, then? It sounds like you have everything under control."
Luna sighed, "No, sister, I don't. I don't have the power to cast this spell. You will have to let go of the sun for a brief moment, before it destroys the moon my powers will spike, and I will be able to cast the spell." Once again she turned to look at me, "Steel, because of how limited on time this will be, I will not be able to set your destination. You will get to choose."
"Okay," I muttered as my mind began to work. This was a big decision, and almost immediately a question formed in my mind. "If I go back home that means Jack never comes here and never becomes Star Swirl. What would that cause?"
"Star Swirl was the cornerstone of most early Equestrian developments, I don't know what the timeline will do without him," answered Luna. "Maybe somepony will have similar ideas, or maybe Equestria is never founded. The nation wasn't founded by him but he was key in keeping it running. He also taught several of the founders from the unicorn tribe. In the end, I don't know. The one to ask however is Jack, he still remembers all of his actions. My many conversations with him is part of how this spell was developed."
I looked at Luna straight into her eyes and asked, “How do you feel about this?”
Luna looked at me her face warm and soothing, “I lost so much when I was stranded on the moon. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Equestria hadn’t been founded. I might not have played host to Nightmare. If I become possessed no matter what I don’t think I would have been saved if Equestria had not been founded. I want you to go back to fight the reborn Star Swirl. It’s selfish of me to want this but no more selfish than you wanting to go home.”
With every word she spoke and every thought I had the weight of the decision grew. "Will I remember this?" I asked.
"Yes," Luna answered simply.
I let out a long sigh as I began to mull over the choices. I made the decision to leave on my own rashly and without thinking of others. It was the easy choice. This gave me a chance to fix that mistake, or I could go back home. Jack would never go searching for me and we both would go on to as leaders in space exploration, but I would remember. I would remember the world, the Princesses, the Elements, Logia. I would miss them, and their world, the one I knew might never occur. I glanced over at Zune,would it be fair to him?
"Zune, come over here for a moment," I asked.
I saw the blue glow light dim and Zune walked forward, "Yes, Returner."
"I have been given the option to go back to the past, back before the Metal Spirit took over. I could also go back to my home in another world. The world Spirit and I came from, and you get to come with me," I spoke as calmly as I could. I didn't want my enthusiasm to affect his answer. "Do you have a preference?"
His response was overflowing with enough enthusiasm for the both of us, "Zune-Zune gets to leave with Returner. Zune-Zune does not care where the Returner goes."
Damn, that was no help, I thought. Well I had to make a decision, and that decision would affect thousands if not millions of lives in both worlds. Every time I began to think of Earth the memory of Logia's visual notes would play in my mind. Every time I thought of my new life in Equestria the launch of the test vehicle back home began to play. “Jack, what’s your take on this?” I asked looking at the watch on Zune’s wrist.
“Honestly I’ve had more fun in this world than back home. We did what we set out to do back on Earth. This world however even when you first arrived was still new.” The watches blue glow intensified as he continued to speak. “This world, in the state you found it is precious to me and to the Princesses.”
I saw Luna’s smile widen, “Yes it is the same for me and without Jack as Star Swirl I’m afraid my sister would have sunk into madness during my exile. He is as much a part of this world as Celestia or I.”
I blinked and was struck by blinding flash of light. I was back in the lab, the clean lab, the one in my mind. Across the room stood Cricket and he began to speak, "Hello, Steel, since you are asking for opinions, I will give you mine. You have a better chance to be everything you want to be here, in the pony-verse. You already are a historical figure back home. Maybe not as much fame as you wanted but still you are well known as a founder of O.C.S.S."
"Cricket, you could have told me that without pulling me here," I said in a warning tone.
"True, but for a just a moment while you are here you have all the time in the world," he said in reply his toothy grin showing through the hole in his cheek.
"I've already made my decision, I had made it before you pulled me here," I replied wearing a smile of my own.
"Care to tell me which choice you made?" he asked.
"Nope," I replied and was gone. I swallowed once I was back in the real world and then looked at Luna while saying, "I'm ready."
Luna looked at me with a grim expression, "Whatever you do, don't regret your choice."
I nodded and looked into her eyes.
She gave one last quick smile and then turned back towards her sister, "Tia, do you have anything left to say."
It took a while but Celestia stood, "Nothing for Steel or Zune, and Luna, you will always be by my side. I do have a word for this world, the world of our birth and our life, our home. It's been a constant companion and it will never be forgotten, but as Star Swirl said a long time ago, you can never go home. Goodbye." She closed her eyes and the pink glow of her body increased.
I looked at Luna her eyes glowing with light to the point that the iris was not visible. The dark blue energy that enveloped her horn had grown and was now snaking towards us. Before I realized it both Zune and I had been enveloped by that energy. The world around us speed up, Luna's eyes faded back to normal. Celestia cried out in a voice that we could not hear, but Luna responded to it. The Princess of the Sun erupted into flames her eyes glowing from the heat. She wasn't burning but she was obviously in pain. Then in an instant Luna disappeared then the world exploded around us. We were in the sun, it was unbelievably painful to keep my eyes open and then the sun retreated, the world was back and we were traveling backward in time.
I had no idea how this was going to work so I closed my eyes and waited. I felt my foot holds leave and for an instant I was hovering in midair. Then I collapsed to the ground and I heard Zune whimper as he fell as well. I am getting tired of this, I thought to myself as I pushed my body up into a sitting position. I opened my eyes and found myself in the lab. I felt my eyes widen as I took in the destruction. One point of stood out in my mind. "Where's my suit?" I made full use of my Anglo Saxon vocabulary as I muttered several things while surveying the rest of the room. I always ended up back at where the suit was once hung.
In my stunned state I wasn't aware of Zune until he walked over and said, "Returner, Spirit is gone."
I looked at him then the watch face. It was blank and showed no signs of power.It could have been wiped by the sun's electromagnetic field, I thought as I examined it.
I watched as Zune looked around the lab, he clicked his tongue and asked, "What happened, Returner?"
I sighed and said, "I don't know, Zune, I don't know..."
