Singularity: The Paradox

Renko entered the present day Singularity tower, only to see that the E99 bomb plan was fruitless, the tower still stood.

"Have fun on your trip down memory lane, Captain?" Demichev laughed, holding a gun to Dr. Barisov's head. "You look surprised. All that effort to destroy the Singularity and all I had to do was simply rebuild it. Now, give me the T.M.D-"

"Don't, Renko!" Barisov interrupted "We were missing something, but we can figure it out! We can set things right-GUH" Barisov was knocked over by Demichev pistol whipping him.

"Only the victors rewrite the history books!" Demichev growled. "And you," Demichev raised his gun to Renko's head, "lost." Time slowed, Renko aimed his Centurion pistol at Demichev's chest and fired twice. Demichev fell to the ground.

"Only the victors rewrite the history books...That's it! The Singularity is not the problem, you went back in time and saved Demichev from being killed in the burning building! Remember?" Barisov asked in a semi-excited tone.

A flashback filled Renko's mind, the rotten hallways, the broken walls, ceilings, and windows. The overgrown plant-life on everything. The Time Shift. What was once a broken building had changed into one engulfed in flame, the screams of the injured and burning echoed around him. He saw himself grabbing for Demichev to prevent him from falling into a hole of flames.  The scenery changed once more, he was running down a hallway with Demichev hanging limply over his shoulder. An explosion causing him to falter momentarily.

A flash changed the hallway to the giant statue of Stalin's head, where he had set Demichev down to be checked by medical staff. The Time Shifted back to what would be present time, the statue of Stalin's head changed to one of Demichev holding something lost in time.

"He is what you changed, and he is what you have to change back!" Barisov continued. "You can not let Demichev live!"

Demichev coughed, "It won't work, you've already tried that, and failed..." He took a raspy breath, "Don't you remember who else was there, Captain Renko?"

The flashback started again, flashing to all the chrono-messages.

*What if this is supposed to happen?

He started it all.

MIR-12 is wrong!

We've tried already.

Barisov has it wrong!*

He is coming!

It changed to Renko kicking open a door, Demichev draped over his shoulder still. At the end of the hall, he saw a dark figure, his features blocked by flames and shrapnel.

"Renko, stop! Don't let Demichev live!"

The figure shouted. The flashback ended.

"That other man, " Demichev took a breath, "was you."

"He's right, Captain! You are the anomaly!" Barisov's tone darkened, "Which means the only way to correct the timeline is for you to stop yourself."

"You mean kill himself!" Demichev growled weakly. "You're asking a man to sacrifice himself for something you've been mistaken about, how many times now? I'm not sure you are a reliable authority, Barisov!" Demichev spit his name as if it were poison.

"Renko, don't listen to him, you can save the world!" Barisov pleaded. Demichev got on a knee.

"So you say, but Captain, think about what you were before all of this. A drone in the hive," He tried to stand, "I can offer you a whole other life. Things you could only imagine...at your fingertips! Give me the T.M.D," He was standing at this point, a hand over the bullet wounds. "and help me rule the world." Demichev coughed. Barisov clenched his fists.

"Is this a world you want to be a part of, Renko?! Look around you! Look at all the suffering this man has caused!" Barisov pointed.

"No visionary leader...is without his critics." Demichev took a step closer to Barisov.

"He is no visionary, he is a mass murderer! A dictator! You must stop him, at all cost. Use the T.M.D to go back and time, and kill yourself!" Barisov pleaded once more.

"Well, that certainly sounds like an attractive offer." Demichev said with sarcasm dripping from his tone. "Or, you can prove your loyalty to me...By killing Barisov. And I will grant you... unlimited power. Make your choice, Captain."

Renko stood for a moment, thinking. 'I choose...Barisov.' He thought. He raised the gun to Demichev's head and pulled the trigger, splattering his brains on the glass behind him.

"Renko...you just killed the most powerful man in the world! Now, you must use the T.M.D to go back in time and stop yourself." Barisov repeated. "I'm sorry."

Renko turned raising his arm to the Singularity before launching a beam into it. The scenery around him changed again, he was in the burning building once more, the door down the hallway was kicked open, past-Renko carrying past-Demichev over his shoulder.

"Renko, stop! Don't let Demichev live!" He shouted. Seeing past-Renko ignore his plea, he aimed down the Centurion's sights. 'Please...please just stop!' he begged inwardly. He put his finger on the trigger. 'I don't want to go!' He mentally screamed before pulling the trigger. Past-Renko fell limp before Renko felt an intense burning sensation in his head, then, he felt nothing.

Now this is when things get technical.

You see, every death is a fixed point in time, it has to happen. When Renko shot himself in the past, it both happened and didn't happen.

When he killed himself in the past, he broke the chain. Since he dead before he can live long enough to kill himself, he ceases to be alive, but not dead. If he kills himself in the past, he can't live to kill himself, which has to happen.Thus, he is a paradox. Paradoxes shouldn't exist in our universe, therefor, he is removed.

Confusing, yes? Good.

Canterlot, 3PM, National Museum.

The Equestrian National Museum was having an auction, selling off some older artifacts to raise money.

"And here we have one of the oldest artifacts, No one knows much about it. It is said to be older than Celestia herself!" The Museum directer waved a hoof at the statuesque object. It was egg shaped, a shiny blue color, the insides blurred. "It's an odd object, when you shine a light through you can see a shape in it. But no matter how hard we try, we can't crack it. Let's start the bidding at 50,000 bits!"

Vinyl was at the auction to get some cool decorations for her new club. She was there with two of her friends as well, Rainbow Dash and Octavia. Not only were they friends, but co-managers as well. Vinyl had recently won the Equestrian lottery, a grand total of Twenty-Five million bits. She figuratively wet herself when they called her numbers.

Yeah, figuratively.

Anyways, she had bought herself some topnotch equipment and a new club with her winnings. Some decorations, a new bar, just redid the entire thing. Now she was here, getting some decorations that could be talked about, like statues and such. Not paintings that could be easily ruined if some dickhead threw his beer at it. Statues could be easily cleaned, and stuff.

I'm lying. She just hates paintings.

Moving on. This piece interested her, like, it would be just perfect in her club, shine some lights through it and it would look very nice. 'Should I try for it?' She thought. "Rainbow, what do you think of it?" She asked.

"Eh, it's pretty cool, I kinda want to know whats in it though." Rainbow waved a hoof at it.

"Octavia?" Vinyl looked to the gray cellist.

"I like it, I feel like...it's talking to me." Octavia stared at the piece.

"Pfff, you're crazy. It looks nice thou-" Vinyl was interrupted.

"Renko, stop!" An unknown voice rang in her head.

"What?" Vinyl stared intently at the piece, along with her gray friend.

"I don't want to go! *BANG***" The noise made both mares jump in surprise.

Vinyl raised her hoof. "Alrightwhitemarehasitforfifty, canIgetsixty? Sixty? No? Okaywhitemareforfiftyinthree...two...no? Nooneelse? Alrightwhitemare, youhaveitforfifty,comeupandgetyourticket,youcanpayforitonyourwayout." The director banged a small gavel.

Vinyl stood and grabbed her ticket before sitting down again. When she sat, her eyes where drawn to the statue again, something inside was producing light. "You're hearing it too?" Octavia asked, not looking away.

"Yeah...what do you think it it?" Vinyl asked, a shrill ringing piercing her ears. "Ow!"

"What are you two talkin' about?" Rainbow asked, she didn't hear anything.

"You don't hear it? The ringing?" Octavia looked to her rainbow maned co-manager.

"No, there isn't any ringing. You're just crazy." Rainbow blew a raspberry.

"No...I hear it too." Vinyl's ears fell to the side of her head when the ringing started again, same with Octavia. "There's something talking too."

"I don't hear anything. You got your ticket, can we go now? This place is so boring." Rainbow suggested.

"Yeah, sure. Wanna grab something to eat on the way back?" Vinyl's stomach growled.

"Sure." Rainbow smiled.

"Sounds good." Octavia stood. The three friends made their way to the front desk and Vinyl set the ticket on the desk.

"Would you like some help getting your item home?" The attendant suggested. Vinyl wrote the club's address on a slip of paper and set it on the desk.

"Put it in the garage." She said before walking outside with her friends. "Any suggestions?"

"I could go for a sandwich." Rainbow looked around for a close restaurant.

"Only the victors rewrite the history books." All three mares' ears picked up.

"Did you hear it that time?" Vinyl asked the pegasus.

"Yeah, it sounded like someone from Stalliongrad." Rainbow spotted a restaurant. "How do you two feel about '5 Stallions Sandwiches and Hay Fries'?"

"And you lost *BANG BANG*"

The mares jumped again. "Uh...sure, that's good." Octavia shook a little. The three mares made their way into the sandwich joint and made their orders. They got their drinks and found a table, waiting for their food to be made.

"Do you think buying that statue was a bad idea?" Vinyl nervously tapped a hoof.

"Yeah, it'll look cool in the club." Rainbow looked nervous.

"What do you think was talking?" Octavia asked quietly.

"Number thirty two?" The cashier called over the mic, Rainbow went to get the food.

"Maybe it was whatever is inside it. Maybe it's haunted." Vinyl shrugged.

"There's no such things as ghosts. It's impossible-"

"Don't let Demichev live!" The voice rang again.

"Who is Demichev?!" Vinyl unintentionally shouted, drawing attention. Rainbow returns, setting the bag down on the table. Each mare takes their respective order and starts eating when a...'geeky' looking colt walks up to the table.

"Did you say Demichev?" He asks.

"Yes...? Why, do you know him?" Octavia asked, wiping her muzzle with a napkin.

"You watch My Little Human as well?" He then asks, trying to look suave. And failing horrifically..."Well, Demichev was one of the bad guys in season two. He wanted to get ultimate power but was stopped by another character named Renko. He stopped him by using the element of science. Now us Human-lovers are waiting for season three." The geeky colt smiled at Rainbow, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"No, we don't watch it. Maybe that's what we were hearing, someone watching it from inside their home." Octavia took a bite from her sandwich.

"But we heard it in the museum, and in here. There were no TVs." Vinyl finishes her sandwich. "Ah, whatever. Let's just finish eating and get back to the club."

"So uh...You free tonight?" The colt asked Rainbow.

"No. I have work." Rainbow said before crumpling the empty bag of hay fries.

"Well, where do you work?" He was persistent.

"None of your business." Rainbow tosses the bag into a nearby bin. The colt turns to the grey cellist.

"How about you?" He asks.

"I'm already seeing someone." She says simply.

"And I haven't done my homework." He retorts.

"What does that have to do with your advances?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Oh, I thought we were listing things that didn't matter." He laughs slightly before Octavia pushes him away.

"Are you two ready?" Octavia asked her friends, ready to leave.

"Yeah." Rainbow and Vinyl say in unison.

"Maybe this strong, handsome colt should escort you ladies to where you are staying tonight." The same colt, backed by one of his friends, said.

"I think we're good." Rainbow sighed. The mares walked out of the sandwich joint and slowly started back to Ponyville, opting to catch a carriage.

"So, Octy, I didn't know you were seeing someone. Anyone we know?" Vinyl asked slyly.

"Yeah, tell us." Rainbow added.

"You may not know him, but he's the locksmith." Octavia said a light blush on her cheeks.

"Really? When did this start?" Vinyl then asked.

"A couple weeks ago." Octavia simply answers

"Locksmith...locksmith...The green stallion, right? Same mane and tail colors as Bon Bon?" Rainbow tapped her chin with a hoof.

"Yes, that's him." Octavia yawns.

"Oh, yeah. He's pretty cool." Rainbow says nonchalantly.

"So, uh, you two done anything yet?" Vinyl laughs at Octavia's red face.

"N-no!" Octavia says defensively.

"Oh my gosh, you totally have!" Rainbow laughs. "Such a naughty filly."

"I don't want to talk about this right now." Octavia says before looking out the window.

"Alright, alright. We should be back in Ponyville in twenty or so minutes." Vinyl sighs. After about five minutes, Rainbow speaks up:

"So...how is he in bed?" She snickers.

"Stop!" Octavia shouts. She then continues to mumble something.

"What was that?" Vinyl leans closer. She mumbles again. "We can't hear you!"

"*mumble mumble*...limping." Octavia looks away again.

"Limping? Why would you be limp, oh, OH." Vinyl and Rainbow's face reached a new shade of red. "Yeah...let's not talk about this anymore..."

The carriage was silent from then on.

Ponyville. Opening night of '20% louder'

The club had an interesting design. It was two sided, Vinyl had a side, and Octavia had a side. Vinyl's side had all the wubs and such, and Octavia's side was classy and refined, with her playing with her group. Both sides were completely sound proofed. Rainbow Dash worked security with a small group of bouncers.

They decided to put the statue in the lounge separating the two area's, where all would see. In the first night, someone tried to tag the statue, Rainbow had one of her bouncers take him out back, no cameras. It was going flawlessly.

"So this is the club? Looks nice." Twilight marveled at the statue, her and the rest of the girls decided to go see their friend's new job.

"Like the statue?" Rainbow asked her purple friend.

"It's neat, know anything about it?" Twilight asked.

"Not really. Anyways, which side are you going to?" Rainbow asked.

"Which side is which?" Pinkie bounced.

"Left is Octavia's and right is Vinyl's." Rainbow pointed to the signs.

"I'd enjoy some sophistication." Rarity stepped to the left.

"I-is it quiet in Octavia's side?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"Yeah. It's pretty quiet. The door price is ten bits for entry but I can give you all a discount, so, about four bits." Rainbow read of her clipboard. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight entered Octavia's room while Pinkie and Applejack went to Vinyl's.

"I can't say I prefer this kinda music, but it better than that classical racket." AJ observed the flashing lights.

"I like it! But I wonder when the Deadlock will cut?" Pinkie walked up to the bar.

"Whats a 'Deadlock'?" Applejack asked her cotten-candy maned friend.

"It's a neat ability! I've only seen one of the characters on My Little Human use it though, it's were I recognized it from!" Pinkie bounced.

"I don't see what you human-lovers see in that show." AJ whispered to herself, ordering a drink.

Octavia's side

"Well this is nice!" Twilight looked all around herself.

"The decor is just fabulous!" Rarity swooned. "And the ponies! So refined! It's hard to believe we are literally a wall from such a loud and dirty place." Rarity sat on one of the chairs, star-eyed.

"It's nice and quiet, and no mean ponies bumping into me!" Fluttershy squee'd.

Three hours later

.

The girls on both sides of the club had their fun, and alcohol, before screaming was heard. "OMG WHAT THE BUCK IS THAT THING?!?!" A random valley-pony screamed. The music was cut on both sides and everyone ran towards the lobby.

The girls, including Vinyl and Octavia, got to the middle of the crowd and saw what happened. The statue had cracked open and something fell out. Fluttershy squeaked and fainted at the sight, there was a lot of blood around the creature.

"I-I-I think i-it's dead!" Twilight stammered. Rainbow went to poke it when she had the scare of her life. The creature flipped to its back and arched, gasping for air.  Almost everyone screamed. It started flailing around, seemingly to find something. It pulled out a glowing red needle and jabbed it into it's arm. It stopped shaking as much and the hole in it's head closed.

"Is it...is it dead?" Pinkie's mane was straight. It coughed up a small amount of blood.

"No...I think it's uncon-" Twilight was bowled over by an impulse. The creature was standing now, a device on it's arm was beeping quickly.

"E99 levels are off the charts..." It said quietly.

"Um, hello? Are you all right?" Vinyl asked the creature quietly.

"I think I'll be fine talking pony thing. Wait. Talking pony thing.*THNCK*" The creature fell limp once more.

"Was it something I said?" Vinyl sat, confused.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

This chapter took nearly a week to make! I had fun every minute though!

Oh.

And yes, Octavia's coltfriend is a SHAMELESS self-insert of my OC. Won't hear much of him though, just needed a name.