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

I woke up that morning screaming and springing from the bed to the floor. "Ow, my back. That hurts. Floor plus back plus five feet in the airs equals sore. Let's not do that again. Wait, why was I screaming?" I walked over to the window and looked out. No clouds were moving. The sun was frozen in place. No breeze was making any trees, grass or anything of the sort sway. Not a single pony who was a wake already or that had stayed up all night were moving a bit. "I knew I felt a presence!" I yelled running out of my room.

Time is not something to be controlled. At least I know now why I'm here. At that moment I ran into Luna knocking the both of us down.

"What the-...Phase? What's the hurry?" she looked at me earnestly.

"What are you doing?"

"I was...coming to wake you up...for breakfast?"

I shook my head then asked what I meant, "How are you moving?"

"Time being affected doesn't effect alicorns...or Pinkie, but she's an odd case."

"You're more different than I had previously thought. Anyway, you know those with a lot of power right?"

"Yes, why?"

"Who could do this?"

"I can think of one, but he is long dead. There is also me and Celestia, but I assure you this isn't our doing."

"Well, someone had to. I'm going to find out who that was." With that I barged out of the castle and into the streets. Where could they have possibly gone? Anywhere, great. I closed my eyes and just listened. After a few minutes I heard the flapping of wings and chased in that direction.

Once I got to the area nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everything was still frozen. No pony seemed out of place, well there were a few misplaced, but they probably came from the night life. A looked around closely at all those who may have been who I was looking for. There was this particular black unicorn that stood out. Still no budging. Nothing I did changed a thing. It was weird too, I mean he felt different than the others. It wasn't who I was looking for though. His heart was stopped just as everypony else's. So, on I went running in no direction in particular. "Would you stop running!? I'm getting tired of this game!"

I spent an hour...perhaps it was two, well technically I spent no time searching, but anyway I spent more not-time than expected searching for him until time started back up. I got a shiver up my spine as some sort of spell went off and then not even a minute after time started up in a wave. "What!?" I yelled as everyone around continued on through their day. I pulled out my screwdriver and scanned until I found the strongest point of the fluctuation and followed it. "No way you're escaping this time."

Once I got there I went inside the building and climbed the stairs to the point of the anomaly. Once I got there I tried the door and when it failed to open I used my screwdriver to unlock it. I forced the door open just to find a maroon mare sound asleep. Not what I was looking for. Not at all. Well, she did seem a tad familiar, but I don't know why and it didn't really matter either. Why here? I left and locked the door back behind me. Who is this that they can evade me so? I started walking having lost my only lead. Not to anywhere particular.

I eventually found my way back to the castle, and by eventually I mean several hours after running around like an idiot. Anyway, I decidedly just sat out on the balcony I started at here. I most have zoned out everything around me because apparently after a few minutes of Vinyl trying to get my attention she simply sat in front of me and stared. "Vinyl?"

"Finally an answer. Anyway, what's wrong?"

"Oh just couldn't find who I was looking for and I have no leads now." I lied down.

"Hey, just 'cause you lost this one doesn't mean you won't get another."

"Yeah, but they did something I'm not really okay with at all. I was hoping to catch up with them today. Anyway, different topic, why are you still here? I would think you would have gone home by now."

"Yeah, well as long as I'm allowed I'll stay."

"Will the princesses send you home?"

"If they don't my manager will make me leave."

"Are you successful?" she just stared at me. "Stupid question?"

"A bit. I did get to play the music for the after-party of the wedding."

"So that's a yes. That's good."

"Yep...why are you asking?"

I answered her question with another, "Do you produce your own music or does somepony else write it for you?"

"I produce it of course. What would be the point playing another's music?"

"That's even better."

"Why is this such a good thing?"

"If you're as successful as you seem to be you could always start your own company. Be your own manager." She just blinked and stared. "Earth to Vinyl? I can understand what I did, but zoning out in the middle of a conversation?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. It's not that I haven't thought about it...I just haven't tried to."

"Interested enough to come with?"

She was elated, "Really? You want me to come along?"

I nodded, "Why not? You seem interested, fun, and you can always come back to your normal life and do well on your own. Besides, you're the first normal mare I met here. Aside from you I have only met princesses. Being such I'm sure they have duties to attend to."

"Then if I'm coming along, care to explain what little you do know?"

I gave a nervous chuckle in response. "Sorry about that before. Um, yeah. I still don't really know much at all except that whoever it is has the ability to affect time. That's a lot of power, and one no pony should have."

"Is that really all you know?"

"Yep, but isn't it more fun not knowing what's going on?"

"What?"

"What's the fun in knowing exactly what you're going after? Not knowing is half the adventure." She laughed at me. "What's so funny?"

"First off, you are so weird. Second, you are so gonna get yourself killed."

"Already have a few times."

She stopped laughing and stared at me in disbelief. "Your kidding right?"

"Nope. Why would I be kidding? Death is a serious matter."

"How can you die...multiple times, no less...and still be sitting here talking to me?"

"Timelord."

"That explains about nothing to me."

"Ah, well, perhaps in time you'll understand. Anyway, I'm famished. Been running around for what felt like hours," I looked up to see the sun directly above, "and yet because time was frozen it's actually only around noon."

"Well, that is generally lunch time."

"Yes, but time was frozen for at least an hour so for me it's more like one 'o clock if not later and I didn't eat breakfast."

"Still lunch time," she snickered.

"Whatever, let's just go see the princesses."

"Sounds good to me."

We started walking to the doors and right as we got there they opened up and that same crimson mare from before walked up next to me. She leaned in and whispered, "See you later Phase," then she took a running start and flew off.

"Did she just-"

"I never told her my name...who was that!?"

Vinyl led me in and asked a guard where the princesses might be and next thing I knew we were in the library. "Phase? Phase!"

"Huh? Ow, my ears. Is that necessary Vinyl?"

"I tried to get your attention for a few minutes, but when trying calmly wasn't working I did what I knew should work. I yelled."

"How can you be that loud?"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm a DJ. I have to be loud for anypony to hear me, even with the mic. Hay, sometimes I'm not even supplied with that so at those times I really need to be loud."

"There was nothing else you could have done?"

"Well, I could have hit you, but from my experiences friends don't usually do that." Luna and Celestia were just sitting off to the side giggling like little fillies.

"Well, now that I'm back...you two are really childish for your age." They both stopped dumbstruck. "Then again you do look pretty young. Is this like young adult stage for you guys?"

Celestia looked at me, "I honestly have no idea. There hasn't been an alicorn to have died of age. The only one that actually has died that we know of was the old crystal princess. It was a bad time. The crystal kingdom isn't even here anymore. It disappeared with Sombra."

"Well that must be troubling. Never knowing how long you can actually live for. Anyway, who was that?" They looked back and forth between each other and once they returned their gaze to me they looked entirely puzzled. "The maroon mare."

"Just another pony...why?"

"She knew my name! I've haven't even been in Canterlot, let alone Equestria, for twenty-four hours. Nopony should know my name, but you three and maybe your guards."

Vinyl stepped forward, "Back to last night...when you two were talking about that mystery pony," they nodded acknowledging they understood what she was speaking of, "is that who you were speaking of when I walked in? Luna, you said, 'I told you he's still alive.' That's who you spoke of correct?" I just stared at her. Well, this is definitely a different Vinyl than I've seen so far...and I missed something that important? Luna gave a hesitant nod and Vinyl proceeded, "That mare left right as we began to make our way here and suddenly you know that this mystery pony is alive...so was that pegasus him?"

Luna sighed and Celestia confirmed her suspicions, "Yes. It was."

"Wait, wait, wait. Hold on...he's a she?"

Luna looked at me and shook her head, "No. He's not a she Phase. Luna spoke of his ability to survive in other ways...he's using magic to survive off the life force of others." I looked at the unicorn disgusted. "Isn't that right princesses?"

Celestia sighed, "I've never heard of such a-" Luna stopped her putting a hoof to her muzzle.

"Yes. Sort of. He can't just simply take their life though. The spell puts him in their body. I'm not exactly sure what part of the spell does it, but rather than his own life force going down whoever he's taken over...but at the same time, draining a ponies life force is unnecessary and he can also insert his own life force inside the ponies if he feels like it." Celestia looked to her sister in awe. "I said he wasn't dead. I couldn't believe with the many ways he had of staying alive, even beyond his time, that he could be dead. I'm glad and sad I'm right."

"There is a spell like that?" Celestia continued staring at her sister.

"Now who knows more when it comes to magic?" Celestia looked to the floor.

I took a step forward, "Forget about the magic. That's not what really matters right now. We have somepony who has the ability to affect time and has been killing ponies for years. That's not in the least bit good and he needs to be stopped."

"What do you plan on doing?"

"Whatever is needed Luna." I stated flatly.

"Just-" Luna started with a small glimmer running down her cheek.

Celestia put a hoof on her shoulder than said what she was thinking, "Just don't kill him. I'm surprised too, but I'm sure he has his reasons. He always did."

"It's late though. If he's been awake as long as I have, he needs sleep soon. As do I. Vinyl, do whatever, but make sure to get some rest. We start early tomorrow looking for him."

"Okay Phase...how early are we talking?"

"Crack of Dawn. Princess Celestia, make sure I get up, please." I received a nod. "Vinyl, Celestia, Luna, good night. Long day ahead I'm sure." I walked out and walked to my room in silence. I opened the door and sighed. Luna was the first I met here and now I'm going after someone close to her? Ugh, this is such a mess. I don't want to kill him...maybe break his horn...but there's still the alchemy. I don't feel they'd lock him up either. And all those ponies... I sighed again then l climbed into bed and closed my eyes. Still gotta wonder...how'd he know my name? Suddenly I felt a little tingly. Spells... My eyes shut close and I immediately fell asleep.