A Race Against Time......'s Collapse

It was the night of the wedding. Everyone who was anyone was there that night. Most there for the entire wedding including the after-party, however, not the lunar princess. Luna stayed long enough for the newlyweds to leave. Few moments later she left for she still wasn’t used to modern times. The parties were far different than she remembered. The biggest difference likely being how the music was played. Because of all this it didn’t take long for her to fly to the other side of the mountain where she could have peace of mind and just simply think.

At first she had only thought that it was bad being imprisoned on the moon for the loneliness even though she had already felt that in Equestria years ago. The only one to pay all that much attention to her had been her sister and even then for the most part she was alone. Now she realized that being imprisoned there was also bad for the times. It was troublesome adjusting. So much was different from before. So many things she had known about…had changed. She’d dealt with change and loss but a millennium was a long time to be gone and things could change any day.

At least there was one thing she could always rely on to never change against her. The night sky, her night sky. The moon that she now knew so much more than anypony else ever would. That and all the stars that plastered the darkness. In a way this gave her more power than her sister. Celestia had power over a single star, even if it was the one star necessary for their survival. Even though this was true Luna still had power over an infinite amount of stars, and at times had fun with them creating her own temporary constellations. Tonight she made a shield overlaid by the crystal heart. Anypony who at least read the paper and knew anything about the two who also liked to explore the constellations would understand. She wasn’t sure how many that would be, but she figured if not the bride and groom then Twilight would most likely tell them about it. Eventually she began to grow weary and without much more thought fell asleep on the spot.

~~~~~About an hour later~~~~~

Luna felt a nudge against her, however not physical. She began to stir realizing something was amiss. As she cleared her eyes with a hoof she looked around to see what was wrong and then back to the sky trying to find the source of the disturbance. After a few seconds she saw what looked like a falling star, yet she knew it couldn't be. Not unless she decided for one to happen, which she knew she hadn't. She continued to watch it descend until it crashed directly at the halfway point between Canterlot and Ponyville. “Whatever it is it seems we’ll all be involved,” she started as she took off towards the crash site.

Many things were going through her head as she grew closer towards the crash. One of these thoughts being ‘alien’. The last time anything like this happened, well, things got a tad out of hand between a few colts. One of the three having a strange device that now that she got closer, felt much like whatever crashed. “No. It couldn't be the same. The last one has been locked away for millennia. So, what is this?” she asked as she finally landed. Then she looked around and whispered once more to herself, “And where is it?”  As if on cue a door opened seemingly attached to nothing. Against her better judgment she took the invitation and entered.

The inside was so different from anything she had seen before. Alien was definitely the correct word. She just stood in the doorway. Once she had finally taken in the surroundings she found herself looking upon a navy blue pegasus colt at some kind of panel.

“Why is there a draft?” I asked, partly to nopony, partly to the TARDIS.

“Draft?” That was a voice. I have no companions right now so who was that? I turned around to look at the mare.

“How are you in here? The TARDIS should be locked right now,” I asked. I was mad that somepony actually noticed and was in here even with the chameleon circuit active. However, I was also confused as to why the TARDIS would open up for somepony who wasn’t me or at least with me.

“Well…it just kind of opened so I took the invite,” she stated.

Just opened? For you? First off who are you that she would actually open for you. Also, what are you? Wings and horn do not belong on one body. “First off, the TARDIS is not an it. She is a her. Also, forget about that…what are you?” She just kind of stared blankly at me at that point which was getting on my nerves. I pointed to my head and opened up my wings. After around a minute still no answer. “I asked you a question. I don’t like not knowing what something is.” I stamped my hooves to emphasize my point.

“You really don’t know? Wow, that’s different. Never has anypony not known what we are.”

“We? There are more then?”

“As of this moment there are two more, yes.”

“Two more of something I don’t even know about. That’s not normal. Care to explain?”

“Well,” she started as she began to approach cautiously, “the term would be alicorn. As to why you don’t know of our existence I’m not sure. I’m honestly confused as to how you don’t know.” It was my turn to stare dumbfounded.

“So, timelords have no knowledge of an alicorn. Interesting!” She jumped at the sound of the word timelord. “Why are you excited, specifically by ‘timelord’?”

“That would be because you are actually the second one to know about us.”

“Wait, second? Another timelord? There’s another here?”

“Well, of course. He’s been here for years…although you’ve always been a pony haven’t you?”

I walked over to the railing and thought back to my first life. Of course I had. What else was there to be? Unless, “Are you saying the timelord is human?”

“Was. Before he came here he was. Instead of going back to wherever he came from, though, he stayed. Actually come to think of it, I believe he lost his TARDIS, but that was after he decided to stay.”

“Interesting, anyway what’s wrong?” I asked getting a very confused look. “Something has to be wrong. No other reason for me to be brought here. Never taken to where I want to go, just taken to wherever is in trouble.”

She shook her head before speaking, “Nothing that I know of. The only problem just finished. The only other weird thing wa-,“ She looked behind me causing me to turn around. The console was sparking and began to glow. I walked over and pushed her right out the door and closed it behind me. “Why’d you do that?” I sat down and looked at the stars.

“The TARDIS needs to recover. Big fall, but I’m sure you’re aware of that detail. By the way, name’s Phase.”

She looked at me then off somewhere in the distance. “Luna,” she said in reply. “Do you plan on staying here for the time being?” I simply nodded in reply. It was too dark to venture off anywhere and the TARDIS was down. It wasn’t like there was anything else for me to do. “Then come with me. No reason to stay out here.”

“You sure it won’t bother you?”

“Not at all. I can’t just leave you out here now can I? Better question is whether or not my sister will.”

“Why, who’s your sister?” She looked on in disbelief for a few seconds before changing her expression to one of understanding.

“Celestia. Princess Celestia. She raises the sun, and for quite awhile the moon as well. Not really sure she bothered with the stars however.” She looked down in deep thought.

“She controls the sun and the moon and she’s a princess?” I asked incredulously.

“Well just the sun now and yes.”

“And you the moon?” I asked stifling a giggle.

“Yes, though I suppose my sister realized I fell asleep earlier because the moon has progressed since then.”

“Oh, you’re serious. Well that’s weird. So, where is it?” As soon as I finished the question she pointed up to a city on a hill. “How are we going to get there?”

“You’re a pegasus. Fly of course.” I laughed nervously in reply. “You can’t fly?”

“Never practiced. Wings are also kind of new to me.” She just sighed and her horn began to light up. Next thing I know I’m temporarily blinded. After that faded I looked around. I'm on a balcony. At a castle. That’s typical for royalty I suppose. And a mare. Just sitting there. Now there is something out of place. Nice mane color though. It's different, electric blue. “Who’s that?”

Luna looked at me confused, “Who’s who?” I just pointed. “Better question would be "why is she still here?" The party must have ended at least an hour ago.”

“Party? I mean it explains the streamers, confetti, and balloons, but what for?”

“After party for the wedding.”

“Another day I suppose?” I asked tilting my head.

She smiled and trotted over to the other mare. "Hey, Vinyl. Is something the matter?” Vinyl simply replied with a yawn. “You, tired? Aren’t you used to this kind of thing? Partying late into the night? I mean you are a DJ.”

“Yeah, but today was…different.” She yawned once more. “I usually do well to stay awake, at least for the walk back to the hotel.”

“How far?” Vinyl just stared unsure of what the lunar princess had meant. “How far is your current hotel from here?”

Vinyl looked out at the city, probably trying to remember where it was herself. “Oh, um…the other side of the city?”

Luna just sighed before turning towards the door and replying, “Come on, let’s get you a room as well.”

“Really?,” she asked enthusiastically.

“Of course. Why would I ask a question if I didn’t mean it?” After asking the question she started walking to the door and we followed after.

I just sighed in response. “Anyway,” I started, turning my attention to Vinyl, “is the castle really that nice? You don’t quite seem the one for anything super fancy like this.”

“I’m not really all that sure, honestly. But it’s the princesses’ castle. Who wouldn’t want to stay a night here?”

“I suppose I wouldn’t really know much about that.” For the next few minutes we just walked in silence, but I started looking at the scenery and couldn’t help but ask, “Why is everything smashed and/or shattered!?”

“Changelings,” the unicorn stated nonchalantly.

“What’s a changeling?” Another thing I don’t know? Really?

This time Luna spoke up, “A bug-like equine in appearance. They feed on emotions, mostly love. Their queen infiltrated the castle disguised as the bride-to-be. Then they launched a full assault that included the whole hive. Almost won.”

“Disguised herself as the bride? How?”

“Just as it sounds. She took on the appearance of Cadance. As Cadance she fed on Shining Armor’s feelings for her, his love, and eventually the shield he had been holding was broken due to his exhaustion. That’s when the attack actually started.”

“So, it’s over now…then why am I here?”

“I don’t know, Phase.”

“Care to explain what’s going on?” Vinyl asked somewhat intrigued.

“Wish I could. Can’t really. It’d confuse you anyway.”

She just sighed. "Really, it'd confuse me?"

"Yup!"

"How is something going to confuse me when you don't even know what's going on?" she said chuckling.

"Um...trust me?"

"Whatever, I'm tired anyway," she said with an exasperated tone. Really, you want to know that bad?

"It's not that it would confuse you per se, but it's hard to understand and you're right. I don't know what's going on. I haven't a clue yet."

"Now see, that's confusing. How do you not know what's going on? You keep saying there is some big problem, but you haven't even said what it is."

"That's because I don't know what it is."

She stared at me then at the floor seemingly collecting her thoughts before she finally replied, "Well, what if you aren't here for any specific reason? You're just here to be here..."

"That would be strange. That doesn't happen. I didn't choose to come here. I was thrust here."

"If you say so," she seemed finished so I turned to the princess. "You said they almost won...what do you mean?"

"Chrysalis took down my sister. She's the strongest we have alive curre-..." before she trailed off she was already looking at the floor, so I turned forward just to see the same mare we were speaking of.

"Luna?"

"Oh sorry, I was just thinking of...well you know."

"You know as well as I do that he is long gone." Luna flinched in reply. "I don't mean to be harsh. I miss him too, but the last we saw of him was millennia ago. He's pr-"

"You're right. The last we saw of him was quite a long time ago...but that doesn't mean he's dead!" the younger snapped.

"Perhaps not, but we have no evidence that he is alive."

Luna lied down on the spot, "I know, but...we've also found no evidence that he isn't."

Celestia got down to eye level with her sister, "No, we haven't. However, how could he possibly survive this long?"

"You know very well that he has multiple ways he could have continued his existence even till now." The sun princess just stared whilst I and Vinyl each took a seat. She looked like she hadn't a clue what her sister spoke of and it turns out I was correct.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean what do I mean? Wait...what did you do in your alone time with him?"

Celestia looked at her suspiciously, "We either read or trained my magic skills...why?"

"That's all? Never alchemy?"

"He attempted to teach me once, but I was no good at it," she looked embarrassed. "Is that what you two did in your time?"

Luna got up and looked out a window towards the Everfree. "Yes, sometimes. Besides that we played some kind of game or did as you did."

"He trained you in his profession? Why?"

"It was what he knew. He tried to train you once correct?"

"Yes, he did...so you actually were successful at it then?"

"No where near him, but yes."

I started thinking about everything thus far and decided to speak up, "Alchemy...it's possible here?" There's no way. Alchemy has never been done that I've seen.

"Yes, it is. Another thing that you've never seen?"

I stayed silent so Celestia spoke up, "Anyway, he taught you not only the alchemy, but also how to continue your existence for longer than normally possible even for us?"

"No, but I knew and still know he has a few ways. Most of which he would never do...and he also has a way that deals with magic rather than alchemy...know anything about that sis?"

"A way using magic? How do you know about this and not me? I'm the stronger of us when it comes to that area."

"Maybe so, but you are also the princess of the sun. I was awake more so in the night than you were and most times was actually able to keep him from noticing me. I heard quite a bit of his nonsense...nonsense that seemed possible and if he were right..." she trailed off once more and I spoke up before Celestia had a chance.

"I am so confused, what is going on?"

"Just our...an old friend," Celestia said then looked to her sister.

"Really now? A friend?" was my only reply.

"Now you see how I felt earlier, huh Phase?" I only grumbled in response.

The sun princess looked back to her sister, "Even with this new knowledge I'm still unsure about him being alive."

"Really!? Even you should realize he's highly likely still alive."

"I do but..."

"But what?" Luna pressed her older sister for an answer.

Celestia turned away before replying. "I don't want any false hopes." Her voice was shaky and near a whisper.

"I- I'm sorry. Let's get these two to their rooms." Luna replied dropping the subject. The two stood and started walking down the corridor so we followed suit.

Vinyl leaned in to whisper to me, "That was really weird, and probably the only time we'll ever see it happen."

I dropped my voice to match hers, "See what happen?"

"We saw not one, but two princesses in a moment of weakness. That's very rare."

"Is it good though?"

"It's not necessarily good or bad, just surprising."

"It was a bit, but hey, it's not like just because they're princesses they don't have emotions."

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Hey, you two." We both looked at the moon princess. "Corridor splits here. Vinyl, you go with my sister. Phase, c'mon," she gave me no time before she continued on. I was just about to follow, but after the other two left I felt a presence behind me, which I'm guessing had been there the whole time. I just hadn't noticed because of the rest of my company. I turned around to see nothing but the long corridor filled with broken glass I had just come from. It was a bit eerie, but I have a feeling the princesses wouldn't have a haunted castle.

"Whomever is there...ah forget it. Just my imagination," I said then trotted up to Luna.