My Little Detour

Chapters

Chapter Two: Not What I Had In Mind
Chapter 3: I Write My Own Story
Chapter 4: Time Turner
Chapter 5: A Trot Through Ponyville
Chapter Six: A Ponyville Day In The Life
Chapter Seven: A Pure and Innocent Wish
Chapter Eight: The Seed of Love
Chapter One: Feeling Stagnant

Chapter Two: Not What I Had In Mind

The last thing Star Breeze remembered was Discord snapping the fingers of his lion paw above his head then a brilliant white flash erupted all around her, but that “whiteness” didn't fade away nearly as fast as she expected it would. Honestly, aside from the stories she heard from her father and the memories she viewed through the Red Crystal of Discord, Star Breeze had only personally met Discord very recently but that was long enough to realize that his reality-bending powers could literally alter things in a “flash”.

Except this time. For once, reality refused to fade in as fast. Instead, it came in gradual steps. First, there was whiteness, then there was intense ringing in her ears; then she steadily became aware of the sensation of lying against a stone-cold floor. As her mind turned to the physical sensation, she gradually grew aware that she was lying on a physical floor and she also had her gravity back. She felt a bit lighter than she expected, though. Perhaps, wherever and whenever this new world was, gravity was lighter on it.

“. . . ther Win . . .” Star Breeze barely heard through the ringing in her ears. The voice also seemed to echo, too much to make what was said understandable. The voice itself was familiar, though. She listened carefully in case the voice repeated again.

“. . . eh-ther Wind! Come on! Get up!” the mysterious but also familiar voice cried out urgently. Very urgently! Like, emergency urgently! The voice still echoed, but it was steadily becoming clearer and sharper. Along with that, a new sensation started to get her attention. She gained the physical sensation of being turned around, the stone-cold floor now at her back. After that, she gained the physical sensation of being lifted a bit, then shaken urgently.

“This is no time to be sleeping! Get up!” the voice urged on frantically. At that point, Star Breeze could identify that the speaker was female, and also sounded older.

The echo continued to fade away, and Star Breeze's sight started to come into focus. The whiteness around her started to fade, and what replaced that were blurry images. That feeling of being shaken again resumed, but it actually felt quite odd. Kind of like being shaken in very slow motion, probably because that was how fast her brain could register the sensation.

“We have got to go!” another female voice urged, but it sounded a bit more distant and much younger this time. “They are almost here.”

“Darn it! We were almost there!” complained a male voice.

“DESTROY! DESTROY!” cried out a very loud robotic voice around Star Breeze. A robotic voice that sounded very raspy. “EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!”

Suddenly Star Breeze grew very alarmed. That was the first time she personally heard those kinds of voices, but she’d heard of them before. Her father once warned her that such voices belonged to one of the most hostile races the Doctor and his companions had ever encountered. If her hunch was correct, that would be a Dalek's voice she heard.

HOLY CELESTIA! If that is what I heard, then the situation is indeed very urgent!
Darn it, Discord! You said you'd go easy on me! Plus, I don't think there are too many Daleks in Ponyville. If I'm wrong about that, then I have been severely misinformed.

Due to the potential emergency, Star Breeze fought her way to consciousness. She tried to force her body to function. She shook her head, limbs, and body. Apparently, that must have gotten her companion’s attention because they seemed to have noticed.

“That's it! Come back to us!” the nearby feminine voice encouraged.

Just then Star Breeze suddenly realized whom that voice belonged to, and why it was so familiar before.

“Muh . . . mom?!” Star Breeze asked in an attempt to confirm her theory. When she asked, she inwardly winced a bit. Her voice sounded weird.

“What?!” her mother, Stern Wing, exclaimed in shock. “Nah . . . no. Your mother died years ago, remember?”

“We don't have time for this!” the other young feminine voice urged.

“I know!” the male voice said in a near panic.

After the voice spoke, Star Breeze heard a weird wavy-sounding noise. It momentarily made Star Breeze dizzier for a moment, then she heard.

“Of course! Stupid-stupid Doctor!” exclaimed the male voice. “We have those! Vision, let me borrow those glasses for a second!”

“Ah . . . sure, Doctor, but you know I can't see without them.” the young female voice reminded. At that point, Star Breeze suspected that the young female voice was Vision, and apparently the foal version of her. The male voice was likely the Doctor.

Okay, so . . . that accounts for my mother, the Doctor, and Vision. Where is my father and Derpy?

“I just need them for a few seconds,” the Doctor assured.

“Okay. Here.” Vision said back.

“DESTROY! DESTROY! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! THE DOCTOR AND ALL INTRUDERS MUST BE EXTERMINATED! EXTERMINATED!” the robotic raspy voice (or voices?) cried out, and it (or they?) sounded much closer.

The wavy sound issued again, but it had a much different effect this time. Instead of making Star Breeze feel dizzier, her senses rapidly recovered. The blurriness of her vision faded in seconds, and the sounds around her became crystal sharp. When her reality finally came into focus, she looked around herself. She was being held by her mother who clasped her right in front of her. Hovering above her, she finally saw the Doctor in person, a tan stallion with a deep brown mane who wore a green tie. For a moment he also wore round-rimmed glasses that were completely black.

The Doctor lifted up the glasses from his eyes and gazed down at her from below those glasses. At that point, he asked, “You alright now, my friend?”

“Feather Wind, use your magic to tear down those pipes around here!” Vision urged nearby who vaguely gestured to large steel pipes above them in a curved hallway. While she asked, the shadows of several tall weird things slowly encroached upon their area. Whatever they were, they had an apparent plunger on one side of the contraption and a straight stick on the other side. If what Star Breeze heard was correct, those straight sticks were actually deadly blasters. On the head area of these contraptions, there were two, about five inch longer cylinder things jutting up diagonally on their dome head. In front of that head was a long tube which was especially thick at the end. The long tube thing coming from their head seemed like it should be these alien creatures blasters, but they were actually a way for the creatures within to view the outside world. Now that she heard these things better, she also heard electronic sounds as those contraptions approached them.

“Feather Wind! Where?” Star Breeze exclaimed in surprise. She whipped her head about in an attempt to look for him, but he didn't seem to be anywhere in sight.

Except for the fact that her own voice sounded like her father's.

Star Breeze widened her eyes in shock.

“Oh no! Don't tell me!” Star Breeze realized in horror, then slapped her hoof to her face. “DISCORD! This is NOT what I had in mind!”

“Discord?!” her mother exclaimed in startled and horrified recognition. “Did you say Discord?”

Right after she said that Star Breeze heard Discord chuckle quite maniacally, much like a sinister villain, except the voice seemed to echo a bit like a telepathic message, followed by the telepathic statement: “Oh, you're welcome!” The voice said with evil glee. “I'd get up soon, if I were you! Those nasty Daleks can be quite sinister, but they are not without some personal charm, I feel.”

“We don't have time for this!” Stern Wing exclaimed, then grabbed Star Breeze and thrust her across Stern Wing's back. Star Breeze could feel her mother's wings on both sides of her body. “Let's just go! The Daleks are nearly here, but the TARDIS is not that far either.”

“Right-y, that,” the Doctor agreed then gave the black glasses back to Vision. “Put these back on, and follow my voice!”
“You don't have to tell me twice!” Vision agreed. The white filly with matching mane and tail galloped after the Doctor while putting the black glasses on which, quite frankly, fit her smaller facial configuration better anyway.

I can't believe this! Star Breeze exclaimed in her mind, then mentally called out: “Darn it, Discord, when I said I wanted to get to know my father better, I didn't mean to do it as him!”

Discord's only apparent reply was to laugh, but with a mental telepathic echo.

“Where is Derpy? We can't leave her behind!” Star Breeze complained, then winced again. Darn it, it felt so weird for her to have the wrong vocal cords like this.

“He really does have amnesia!” Stern Wing realized, then grunted. “Shoot! Just what we need right now on top of everything else!”

“No,” Vision objected in a spooked tone, sounding like she realized something. “It's something else.”

“Huh?” Stern Wing wondered, glancing back over her left shoulder at Vision for clarification. “You know what's going on?”

“A little less chatting and a little more RUNNING, PLEASE!? THANK YOU!” the Doctor urged.

Blaster sounds issued from within the narrow corridor the intrepid adventurers galloped through. The noise which greatly startled Star Breeze. “She” just couldn't help but billow a shrill scream when the blaster bolt hit a position nearby them which exploded into a shower of sparks.

“CHEESE AND BISCUITS!” Stern Wing exclaimed. “You picked one heck of a time to have amnesia, Feather Wind! You're among the very few that could possibly deflect those blaster bolts!”

Dozens of blaster bolts chased after them since more and more Daleks came into proper alignment. Most of Star Breeze's companions just kept on galloping frantically, but Vision actually attempted, and succeeded, to do a little bit of evasive maneuvering as she galloped. It was as if she had a sixth sense for where the blaster fire would be.

“EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! THE DOCTOR AND HIS COMPANIONS MUST BE EXTERMINATED! EXTERMINATED! EXTERMINATED!” That last word just ended up repeating over and over again. The more times it got repeated, the more Daleks joined the chant. While that happened, they continued their blaster fire. Each shot got more and more accurate as the Daleks gained a better and straighter position to aim.

Until Star Breeze's companions suddenly made a left turn. Blaster fire hit and exploded on the corner they just turned from. Several more blasts hit that corner and exploded chunks of concrete off of it.

Very shortly after rounding that corner, Star Breeze noticed the environment and temperature change. She looked around and noticed that she was now in the TARDIS! The sight of this blue box's spacious interior was quite the welcome sight indeed for multiple reasons.

Looking back where they came from, Star Breeze noticed Vision quickly shut the doors to the TARDIS a second before Star Breeze herself was suddenly dropped to the ground after being bucked off her mother's back.

“Sorry!” Apologized the large but lean brown mare with brown ombre wing with black tips, a color scheme which was shared by her mane, tail, and hooves. “You alright?”

Meanwhile, the Doctor raced frantically to get to the controls of the center console of the TARDIS. He flipped, twisted and pulled at multiple switches and levers in a hurry. Seconds later Star Breeze felt a jerky motion as the TARDIS groaned to life and probably took off somewhere.

But that initial jerking motion was the worst of it. Gravity seemed to stabilize after that.

“Whew!” the Doctor said with very wide eyes as he brushed a hoof through tightly his mane. “Well . . . that was certainly an adventure!” He looked about at the other occupants in the TARDIS. “Is everyone else here alright?”

“Alright?!” Star Breeze exclaimed incredulously. “Of course we're not alright! Where is Derpy? How could you just leave her behind?!”

The Doctor looked stunned to hear that accusation. Everypony else in the TARDIS seemed the same way.

“But . . . Derpy is right here in the TARDIS,” the Doctor reminded. “Getting her the medicine we needed was precisely why we invaded that compound!”

“Oh? Really?” Star Breeze looked taken aback.

“Yeah,” the Doctor concurred. “Speaking of which, Vision,” the Doctor tossed her some kind of metallic-looking vial. Lead, it seemed, from what Star Breeze could tell from a glance.

In mid-flight Stern Wing exclaimed, “DON'T TOSS . . .” she cried out in panic, then sighed in relief when she saw Vision catch the tossed vial. After that, she glared at the Doctor. “Celestia darn it, you shouldn't go tossing our cure like that, Doctor! We worked really hard to get it! Even risked our lives for it!”

“Oh my!” the Doctor exclaimed sarcastically as he gripped his cheeks. “We've never done that before!”

Stern Wing grunted a little less. “True. Maybe we have done it before, but you shouldn't take security risks like that unnecessarily! What if she dropped it? What if we had to go back and get another one?”

“Then we go back and get another one,” the Doctor said matter-of-factly as he landed back on all four hooves. “But I had faith in my companion to catch it. Vision has a 'sixth sense' for such things.” The Doctor focused on Vision. “And she could use the medical practice. Go, and administer the cure.”

“Actually, I think we need to address another serious issue here,” Vision announced, then pointed in Star Breeze's general direction. “This is not Feather Wind.” Vision turned her head towards Star Breeze'ish. “It may look like him, but another personality has taken over his mind.”

“What?!” The Doctor and Stern Wing exclaimed simultaneously. Immediately after that, the Doctor stepped off the upraised platform leading up to the TARDIS's center control consoles. Now standing two feet away from Star Breeze, the Doctor reached a hoof out to Vision and demanded, “Vision, I need to borrow your glasses again for a moment.”

“It's not the Dalek virus this time,” Vision assured.

“Are you sure?” the Doctor asked emphatically. “Because Derpy caught it none too long ago. If Feather Wind here has caught the same thing then . . .”

“Yes, I'm sure,” Vision promised again but also tossed her black glasses at the Doctor. “Scan him yourself if you don't believe me, but I'm telling you . . . it's not the virus this time.”

“Then what is it?” Stern Wing asked with worry. “What's wrong with him?” Stern Wing looked at the Doctor as he proceeded to scan Star Breeze, apparently using the black glasses to pull that off. They didn't quite fit on his larger face, though, so he simply held it near his eyes with a hoof pressing it there. Everypony was silent while they waited for the Doctor with bated breath.

“Okay, confirmed.” The Doctor tossed the glasses back at Vision. Despite her being blind, she caught it like a boss and even put them back on her head with some stylish flair. “He doesn't have the Dalek virus. This is something new.”

“He did mention something about Discord earlier,” Stern Wing reminded. “Maybe this is another one of his sick and twisted little jokes!” Stern Wing said with intense disgust.

To which Star Breeze telepathically heard Discord chuckle with maniacal glee which sent a shiver down Star Breeze's spine. She remained pretty certain that Discord was not really the “bad guy”, but apparently it amused him to pretend to be sometimes.

That also informed her that Discord continued to monitor the situation from some higher dimension, apparently. That assertion she privately found reassuring because it informed her that Discord might correct the situation if things got too much out of hoof.

Actually, come to think of it, maybe he already did. For a few moments there, those Daleks had a straightforward shot at any one of us. Either they are the worst shots in the whole universe, or Discord secretly interfered with their aim.
I wonder . . . if that's true . . . what would have happened if I had not been here? Would the fact that Discord was not here and secretly not guarding his friends mean they would have died back there? Has my arrival indirectly already saved their lives in this timeline?
It seems to me this moment is before they all saved the world from the Dark Star, too. An event like that would have been so powerful that it would have affected Discord adversely too, so he had a stake in keeping his friends alive, at least until they fulfilled their destiny back in Equestria.
It feels kind of weird to stand among them all with so much knowledge of their future, and yet possess such startlingly little knowledge of their past, including their recent past. For instance, what is this “Dalek virus” they keep mentioning, and is it contagious?

“Now that is a serious possibility,” the Doctor agreed with Stern Wings assertion that whatever might have changed Feather Wind had something to do with Discord. The Doctor looked at Vision. “Let's get to the heart of this issue. Since you, Vision, were the first to notice something is wrong with him then I take it you sensed something wrong with him empathically. Am I correct?”

“Confirmed.” Vision nodded.

“And I take it you sensed the change in him when he regained his consciousness?” the Doctor probed further.

“Confirmed,” Vision agreed again.

“May I also assume that the empathic impression you sense within him is that of a young foal, and a female one at that?” the Doctor checked.

“Female?!” Stern Wing exclaimed in shock. “Do you mean to tell me that Discord put the mind of a little girl in the body of my boyfriend?”

“Would you put it past him?” the Doctor reflected to Stern Wing. In response, Stern Wing growled in anger.

“Uh . . . confirmed.” This time Vision sounded quite surprised that the Doctor guessed that accurately.

“Okay, then.” The Doctor looked straight at Star Breeze then asked while looking straight into “her” eyes, “Is your name Star Breeze?”

Star Breeze widened her father's eyes with startling intensity.

“I take it, from your reaction, that the answer is yes?” the Doctor checked onward.

Star Breeze barely nodded numbly.

“Uh-huh. Okay, then.” The Doctor wheeled about and headed back to the center control consoles. “Time to change course.”

“Where are you taking us now, Doctor?” Stern Wing asked his retreating form.

“To Ponyville,” the Doctor answered after he arrived at the controls and started fiddling with them. “I'm not escorting yet another child into our hostile adventures. We'll take 'her' someplace safe until we get this new business sorted out. In the meantime, would some pony please give Derpy the injection she needs before she is completely converted into another Dalek? I like to keep my companions clean of any filthy Dalek artificial viruses, thank-you-very-much, and I strongly assume she'll be pleased to pay her hometown another visit once she recovers from this recent ordeal.”

“THE INJECTION! OF COURSE!” Loudly exclaimed Stern Wing. “Poor Derpy! She's been suffering this whole time while we've been busy arguing.”

“Actually, I put her into blissful sleep before we left the TARDIS,” the Doctor informed. “But that does not solve the core problem. I see no useful reason to delay the true solution to her more recent problem now that we finally worked so hard to get that medicine into our hands. Hint-hint!”

“On it.” Vision started to trot out of the room. “I'll see to it she gets the injection, and I foresee a full recovery after that as well as a deepened appreciation for being restored to her old self again.”

“A master seer indeed,” the Doctor concurred with a gracious bow near the console which was full of flourish.

“Is it Discord who put you up to this?” Stern Wing checked at Star Breeze. When Star Breeze looked back, Stern Wing recalled something that widened her eyes for a moment. “Oh my Celestia! Didn't you call me mother none too long ago?”

“Ah!” The Doctor raised a hoof in objection. “I wouldn't look too deeply into this if I were you, Stern Wing. Would you really feel comfortable with the prospect of this situation if the answer to that particular question is yes? Believe me, the less you know about your own future, the better.”

“And yet you invited a seer into your journey,” Stern Wing reminded. “Please don't be a hypocrite.”

“Hey! I didn't want to invite her along into danger, remember?” the Doctor objected. “It was all of you that kept begging me to let her tag along, especially Derpy.” The Doctor jabbed a hoof pointing in the direction she was resting. “Besides, what was I supposed to do? Leave her behind so she could get snatched up by Puppet Master or the Dark King? No thank you! You’ve seen for yourself what just one of those magic-wielding psychopaths could do to those guards at her temple.”

Stern Wing looked down in depression at that reminder.

“Sometimes my hands are tied in my adventures,” the Doctor went on. “I do whatever I can in each and every situation I face. Life is always one giant puzzle to me, and I solve it the best I can with the available pieces that I've discovered, so don't you go accusing me of being a hypocrite!

“Notice the fact that I changed our course to Ponyville the moment I realized that I was dealing with another child on board my ship. A child who possesses the body of your boyfriend, by the way, and my friend as well.”

The Doctor looked around the TARDIS and sighed as he leaned one hoof on a rail beside him.

“At the moment it actually does sound like nerves are frayed here so I think a pleasant vacation in a quiet and friendly town is just what the Doctor ordered in the wake of our recent ordeal,” the Doctor added.

“You do know who she is?” Stern Wing checked while using her head to nod towards the body of her boyfriend. “She isn't a security risk on board this ship? She won't hurt our friend?”

For a moment the Doctor glanced at Stern Wing as she spoke, then glanced at Star Breeze when Stern Wing nodded to “her”, then looked back at Stern Wing with confidence as he said, “She is most assuredly not an enemy of ours. On the contrary, I think she is in dire need of our protection. Someday she'll be old enough to stand on her own four hooves and be a more useful companion in our adventures, but for the moment we're stuck on babysitter duty, compliments of a certain mischievous draconequus.”

Stern Wing growled with hatred at the reminder of Discord's involvement, but her gaze softened considerably when she looked back at Star Breeze.

Gazing back at the past version of her mother, Star Breeze finally had enough time to let the details of this situation sink in. She gazed at her mother in wonder at how much younger she appeared. This was before her mother got stuck in ancient Equestria for over ten years. This was her mother before Star Breeze herself was born, and this was her mother before raising her as far as she had.

“I want to make something perfectly clear to you, dear,” Stern Wing began at Star Breeze. “I most certainly am upset at what has happened to you and my boyfriend. In fact, I'm downright livid on what that contemptible draconequus has done to you both . . . but I don't blame you for that, sweetie. This is not your fault,” Stern Wing said in a reassuring tone.
“Ooo! Your mother has such passion! No wonder your father fell in love with her! Oh my!” Discord telepathically said then snickered. “How ever am I to handle the wrath of this woman scorned?”
“Ease off, will ya?” Star Breeze mentally requested. “That's my mother you’re talking about!”
“I noticed you have yet to look down upon 'yourself.' Afraid your tiny little mind and heart can't handle it?” Discord taunted. “Oh-ho! I guess I should be careful with my wording, then. In fact, you are smaller now than you have ever been in years, my dear!”
“If you start making 'short' jokes, I swear to Celestia . . .” Star Breeze mentally threatened.

Discord snickered for a brief moment, but his tone changed drastically when he mentally spoke next. This time it was far more soothing.
“But seriously, don't forget to have a little bit of fun on your trip! You requested an adventure, and an adventure you have received! I think you can take it from here. Ta-ta for now! I'm sure this will be a most educational experience for you.
“Oh, and by the way . . . YOU'RE WEEEEEELCOMMMMME!”
“Wait, you're leaving me?” Star Breeze asked in frantic fear.

No response. Instead, it was the others that spoke around her that nabbed her attention.

“Star Breeze, are you okay?” Stern Wing checked as she placed a hoof on Star Breeze's shoulder, or rather to say her father's shoulder. “You zoned out there for a second.”

“Oh, uh . . .” Star Breeze shook her father's head to clear it, then assured, “I'm fine. I'm just . . . processing all of this. I'm here in somepony else's body and I'm here on the TARDIS and traveling with all of you . . . sort of. It's a lot to process.”

“I know, my dear. I know,” Stern Wing said sympathetically. “By the way, just to be clear, just how old are you, anyway?”

Star Breeze widened her eyes for a moment, then looked down with a thoughtful look.

Well, this is it. This is the line. The book, “Sky Dancer, the First Flying Unicorn” never did cross that line, quite possibly on purpose. The fact that she asked me right now means that this scene is either written in yet another story, or this scene will be skipped in that story, or . . . something or another. Well . . . okay. Finally the moment of truth. My life is not defined by some book out there that some nameless pony wrote. As my father is quite fond of reminding me, I write my own story, thank-you-very-much.

Star Breeze focused back on the past version of her mother and answered, “I'm twelve. Twelve years old. As in . . . I was born twelve years ago before I possessed your boyfriend’s body.”

Stern Wing gained a dull look as she continued to regard Star Breeze. “I know what age means, my dear. I'm not that much of a dunce.”

Star Breeze widened her eyes in objection, then said, “I never said you were!”

“Calm down!” Stern Wing commanded soothingly. “We'll get through this. Trust me. I've been in plenty of dangerous and odd situations. This is just another day in the TARDIS to me.”

Star Breeze's eyes softened lovingly. “I trust you,” Star Breeze assured warmly, then realized something. “Hey! Mind if I ask you a question?”

“Shoot,” Stern Wing invited.

“And this is just to give me a frame of reference, mind you,” Star Breeze assured, then pointed to herself. “How old is this body I'm possessing? How old am I for as long as I stay stuck like this?”

“Oh!” Stern Wing blinked. “That's simple. At the moment, you are . . .”

“And we're here!” the Doctor inadvertently interrupted as the TARDIS materialized at their destination.

Chapter 3: I Write My Own Story

“We're here already? Are you sure?” Star Breeze checked in surprise.

“I know you are not as accustomed to this ship or its crew yet, but if you were, you'd be used to the chaos by now,” the Doctor said as he trotted away from the center console and towards an adjacent room. “I know where I'm going, and I'm quite sure.”

“Then where are you going now?” Stern Wing inquired of the Doctor.

“To check on Derpy and get her to be alright,” the Doctor answered, then paused at the door leading to an adjacent room. From there he looked at Stern Wing and Star Breeze (who was temporarily within her younger father's body at that moment). “Since you've been here once, Stern Wing, you're welcome to escort the young 'lady' out on the town. I assume you'd want to keep an eye on her anyway, I'd wager. Just keep in mind that the citizens of Ponyville won't see her as 'Star Breeze' but as our dear friend 'Feather Wind'. Because of that potential confusion, you might want to stick around her to make sure you are available to smooth things out. Also, I don't think she's ever been to this town before so an escort would be prudent.”

“I was going to do that anyway,” Stern Wing agreed, then gave a nervous glance at Star Breeze, then looked back at the Doctor as she asked him, “but Doctor, what if this is permanent? What if Discord never reverses this alteration? You seem to be more familiar with her further future self. Can you give me any assurance that Feather Wind will return to us, and this young lady will return back where and when she belongs?”

“Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to Discord,” the Doctor lamented, “but I have it on good authority that things will eventually be straightened out. For the moment I recommend we press forward under the assumption that this is just a little detour for her. It is likely that things will go back to normal soon, such as it is.” The Doctor turned to face Stern Wing further. “Understand that, until she does return to where and when she came from, I'm not having this ship depart from Ponyville. Not while she is still here, at least. If another emergency crashes upon this town then I might reconsider that stance, but until then I'm holding the TARDIS here by default. Is that understood?”

Stern Wing gave the Doctor a right wing salute. “Not only are you understood, but accepted and appreciated. Surprisingly, Vision has proven that she can hoofle her own, but I'm not eager to invite yet another foal on our adventures. Not when our journey often proves so dangerous to even fully grown adults. Besides, for as long as she's here in my boyfriend's body, Feather Wind is not among us, and it might prove to our detriment if we take off without his help. He's come in hoofy too many times to consider it wise to take off without him.” Stern Wing looked at Star Breeze. “Sort of,” she amended.

“Exactly my thinking,” the Doctor agreed. “So I take it you'll supervise her in the meanwhile?”

Looking back at the Doctor, Stern Wing nodded confidently then said, “You can count on me, Doctor!”

“I never doubted it,” the Doctor assured with a grateful and proud smile to Stern Wing. He then let out a long breath, then said, “Right. If we get separated out there, meet us back at the TARDIS. Until we meet each other again, Talley-ho! Onwards and upwards, my friend.” He nodded at them one final time then departed from the room, but not from the TARDIS itself. Stern Wing and Star Breeze were standing closer to the main exit and entrance instead.

Star Breeze felt a little uncomfortable when she regarded the younger version of her mother, and she dwelt on the fact that was an unusual sensation for her. She knew that she was from the future and knew many things her mother did not know yet. It was hard to know what was safe to say and not say at that moment. Also there was the fact that she physically looked like her father right now. Actually, not just looked like her father but actually dwelt within his body. Star Breeze was accustomed to getting hugs and kisses from both of her parents, especially when she was younger, but her current situation made the mere idea of that quite awkward.

Both of them stayed still and silent for a long moment. Star Breeze studied her mother’s face. It seemed that Stern Wing was trying to figure something out. Stern Wing stared forward at empty space for a long pause, glanced at Star Breeze for two seconds with her brown eyes only, then resumed looking forward while she either debated something or tried to puzzle something.

Meanwhile, Star Breeze contemplated the fact that usually she could read her mother like an open book, but there was enough difference between both versions of her mother that it put Star Breeze at a greater disadvantage than she was used to. She knew that her mother was a security officer through and through. It was the one thing about her that never changed. All of her thoughts and inbred instincts were bent towards that fact, but for years Star Breeze had only known her mother to be in “mother” mode which meant her being careful with Star Breeze as a mentor in a “I care for you” kind of way. This pony, on the other hoof, was someone younger and perhaps very different from the mare Star Breeze grew up with. This version of her mother was stuck in “adventure” mode instead. That made sense, of course, given their current predicament, but that also made her mother far less predictable to Star Breeze. Star Breeze was far more accustomed to having a very close connection with her mother and that required a level of understanding and honesty which seemed to be lacking in their current predicament. Star Breeze really didn't like that feeling of looking at her mother like she was a true stranger. A familiar stranger to be sure, but still different enough to feel unsettling.

Just before Stern Wing spoke, she shook her head then focused her gaze back at Star Breeze, then said, “I just can't get it out of my head, so I have to know for sure.” Stern Wing turned her head to look at Star Breeze fully instead of merely gazing upon her with her eyes only. “Star Breeze . . . are you really my daughter from the future?”

Star Breeze pursed her father's lips and gazed down with discomfort and uncertainty. Would answering that question potentially jeopardize her very existence, maybe?

“Okay, okay! Forget that question,” Stern Wing decided, changing her mind. “But I do have to know one thing. Has Discord hurt you in any way to get you here?”

“No!” Star Breeze emotionally assured with strong intensity, looking back at her mother in the process. “He most certainly has not hurt me. Well,” she rolled her eyes, “okay, he has teased me and this,” she gestured across herself at her father's body, “was not what I had in mind, but believe me when I say that Discord is merely trying to do me a favor. I was bored and stagnant where I came from. Also I was eager for . . . something.” She looked down. “My parents raised me for years on stories of their grand adventures together. It made me very excited to grow up and experience things like that myself.” She looked back at her mom. “I've read stories and listened to stories and . . . some other stuff.” Star Breeze didn't feel too confident to admit that she gained a connection with the Red Crystal gem after her father, nor the subsequent stuff she learned from it. Much of the stuff she learned might be in the future of this version of her mother.

“Excuse me, doing you a favor?!” Stern Wing asked with bitter skepticism as she narrowed her eyes at her disguised daughter. “Taking your mind and putting you in the body of another pony in the distant past while we were fleeing from an emergency situation is your definition of a favor?!”

“Maybe not everything worked out as he intended. His inherit nature is chaos, so perhaps some elements of the situation weren't what he predicted,” Star Breeze said in Discord’s defense. “My point is, he did it for benign reasons. He wanted me to grow by being a part of this adventure. He knew we'd end up in Ponyville, too, so this is his way of scaling the adventure down a bit.”

“Listen,” Stern Wing lifted her head high. “I don't know if I have any true authority over you or not, but no daughter of mine is welcome to hang around the likes of Discord! That despicable monster has no right to meddle in the affairs of my family! If you ever see him again, then I order you to stay away from him as much as you can. You hear me, young lady?”

Star Breeze looked down with a pained expression.

“I'm telling you this for your own good,” Stern Wing assured. “That evil spirit is nothing but trouble.”

“What's your problem with him?” Star Breeze asked a little more defensively than she really intended as she looked back at her mother. “Discord is merely trying to be my friend.”

“Really?” Stern Wing cocked her head. “And how can you be sure? How do I know that he didn't pop you out of non-existence just recently? Even if you did exist for twelve years before now, how do I know he didn't force you to say what you just said about him?”

Star Breeze opened her mouth to make a rebuttal, but then shifted her father's eyes to her left when it occurred to her that her mother had a good point. If Discord really could do anything, then perhaps her very existence was a lie until recently.

Which reminded her of her existential crisis about her debate over who wrote the book “Sky Dancer, the First Flying Unicorn”.

“For that matter,” Stern Wing placed a hoof on her own broad and firm brown chest, “how do I know he didn't force me to play the devil’s advocate? Disharmony is in his nature. It would make sense that he would arrange a circumstance like this just to ensure we'd have an argument, and meanwhile he's probably hanging back and having a good laugh at our expense! He toys with our lives and puts our friends in danger purely for the sake of his own amusement. Only a villain takes vicious pleasure at causing other creatures’ suffering like that.

“How do we know if any of us have true freewill while a monster like that floats about and toys with the very fabric of existence? Do you see where I'm coming from, here?”

“Yes, I suppose I do,” Star Breeze admitted as her father's yellow eyes focused back on Stern Wing. “You think like an earth pony and you always have. You want stability in your foundation and core beliefs, and the existence of someone like Discord threatens those beliefs. Security is the most important thing in your life, so a being that could potentially threaten that is unacceptable to you.”

“I'm not just objecting to the degree of his power, I'm objecting to how he uses it!” Stern Wing argued. “Do you want to know what he did the first day we met him? Back then he turned the TARDIS into a dark and creepy amusement park filled with creepy clowns as hosts of the carnival and filled to the brim with apparent deadly games of chance with our lives on the line. He forced the Doctor to solve riddles and puzzles while the rest of us were trapped helplessly in something like a cage with a removable bottom. Below that was an aquatic tank with a shark eagerly swimming about in it, which had a laser attached to its head. During that time he also removed my wings and made the bars slippery!” Stern Wing waved a hoof away. “I don't want to talk about what he put the rest of my friends through. If you know me at all, maybe you can understand why I've had a sour impression of him ever since.

“Later on he tried to reveal how all of these things were far less deadly than they initially appeared, but none of that removes the fact that it was still a sick and deeply twisted cruel joke, or remove the scars of his psychological torture! I never trusted him ever since, and I'll never see what Feather Wind or Vision saw in him ever since then.”

“Vision can look into other creatures hearts quite deeply,” Star Breeze reminded. “If she trusts him, he can't be all bad.”

“Unless he used his powers to force her to sense or believe that,” Stern Wing counter argued. “You can't win this one, Honey. I know exactly why I deeply despise his guts!”

“Nor should you try to convince her otherwise,” Feather Wind mysteriously said beside Star Breeze. When he appeared, time around them seemed to pause. She looked at him in shock. Seeing that, he quickly put a hoof to his mouth and gave her a hushing noise, then said, “I'm not really standing here right now.”

“If you're communicating to me through the Red Crystal, does that mean you're actually Crystal Wind?” Star Breeze checked.

“Indeed,” Crystal Wind confirmed with a grin to Star Breeze. “You're one smart cookie.” He then pointed at the Red Crystal that she still wore around her father's neck. “Right now that version of the Red Crystal comes from the future, or rather to say it is in your time.”

“Did Discord switch our minds?!” Star Breeze asked urgently. “Is my father, Feather Wind, currently dwelling in my body in the future?”

“Huh.” Crystal Wind blinked in surprise as he gazed forward blankly, then admitted, “Surprisingly, no, but that honestly does sound like it should have been his style. Doing that would have evoked more chaos to amuse him. He should have thought of that.” He focused back at her. “Instead of that, my past self is instead asleep within that body you're currently possessing. He had no memory that this was transpiring to him while he was asleep, but don't you worry. I'll record the events of what happened to him while you possessed him, but I won't include your private thoughts. I'll only include what you do and say while you are here. Feather Wind will review those memories later on when he wakes up, which is why I'm aware of it right now.”

“Which means you even recall everything else I will do or say while I am here,” Star Breeze realized in awe as she stared straight forward blankly, then looked at her father with a questioning expression. “I take it I shouldn't inform your wife about your presence right now?” Star Breeze checked.

“Right now she's not my wife yet,” Crystal Wind said with a shrug as he regarded the past version of Stern Wing. “The decision in regards to informing her of my presence here is up to you, but that said,” he looked back at Star Breeze, “I wouldn't recommend it.”

“Okay.” Star Breeze acknowledged. “I'll keep this a secret, then.”

“Get ready. Time is about to resume. I'll pause it again when and if you need me too, but you can just as easily communicate to me mentally while time is resuming. So . . . there is that. You ready?”

Star Breeze nodded at Crystal Wind then regarded her mother. “Ready, Dad.”

“Okay, then. Here goes. In the meantime, I'll stay by your side and answer any of your questions,” he assured, then waved a hoof and time resumed.

“Um,” Star Breeze began, but forgot what her mother last said.

“She was just telling you how much she hates Discord, and why she doesn't trust him,” Crystal Wind reminded Star Breeze while lovingly regarding the past version of his wife. “Don't concern yourself with her orders about insisting you remain away from Discord, either. This version of her hated his guts with a passion, but she warmed up to him after the favors she saw him do for our friends as we marched our way north to confront the Dark Star. She was especially touched on all the favors she saw Discord do for Fluttershy.”

Unexpectedly, Star Breeze grew a little angry at her mother upon hearing that, then said, “Mother . . .” she looked firmly into her mother’s eyes and noticed her look of shock when Star Breeze confirmed that Stern Wing was her mother. Star Breeze went on. “. . . the parents who raised me, raised me to be a strong and confident filly. They didn't tell me whom to pick for my friends or not. They left that up for me to decide. As my father often tells me, my fate is not written in some book, nor is it any picture on my flank. Instead, I write my own story, because I am the main character of my story. My fate is up for me to decide, and so I shall. Whether I choose to go on an adventure or not, whether I choose to hang out with Discord or not . . . it's my choice because it's my life. Maybe you don't understand that now, but someday you'll grow up too and become the wise and powerful mare who raised me.

“Besides, you are wrong about Discord! If he truly had evil intentions, you would have never escaped that deadly carnival. A being that powerful could have made sure you'd never escape. He would rig every game and riddle so that it was unsolvable, but you did solve it and you did escape it. You did get stronger and grew up a little bit ever since then, whether you choose to accept that fact or not.

“As for our free will, believing that Discord's mere existence and all of his great reality-bending powers invalidates any of our choices is giving him far too much credit. How can you possibly believe that someone like Discord is the author of our story when it's so well written? Do you think a being as foal-like as him could possibly write out so many deeply complex characters, stories and situations? If he really was the true author of our reality, everything would always be a straight-up comedy. Everything would be just one bad joke and pun one after another with an occasional good joke tossed in there by pure random chance, but of course that is a matter of opinion of his audience. Being as purely random as he is, he'd be constantly tossing dice in his head to make random plot points smashed together when they don't really fit. Nothing would ever truly make sense. This would all just be one giant silly dream.”

Star Breeze looked around her, then went on, “But we're standing in the TARDIS, a legendary machine capable of pulling off miracles that are well fought for and well earned. There is history and deep structure to every creature that ever set a hoof in this fantastic machine, and that includes us and the Doctor. A story this rich and complex couldn't possibly be written by someone like Discord. If anything, it's more likely to be written by his counterpart, the spirit of Order and Harmony, whomever that is. There is too much structure here to realistically believe otherwise. Too much A that leads to B that caused C which later resulted in D.” She looked back firmly at her mother, who was crying a bit at this point with a proud and happy smile. “So don't question your existence, mother, nor mine. Neither of us deserve that. We,” Star Breeze pounded her father’s chest with a hoof in order to gesture to “her”self, “are the true authors of our own stories. Never lose faith in that. That is what my wise and loving parents taught me, and that is what I choose to believe.”

Crystal Wind also smiled proudly as he said, “Well said. In that case . . . I guess you finally decided to invalidate the 'Discord wrote the book' theory. It's about time you finally realized that.”

“I guess I just needed a healthy dose of reality check.” Star Breeze mentally decided at the phantom image of her father. “See? This is the reason I wanted to go off on adventures. I wanted to grow and learn.”

Stern Wing sniffled, gazing at the disguised image of her future daughter with pride, tears watering her eyes. “I can't believe this!” Stern Wing exclaimed. “You're not really even born yet, and already I love you so deeply!”

Hearing that brought tears to Star Breeze's own eyes, and her emotions overwhelmed her. She launched into her mother’s massive chest and got swallowed by it, especially considering her father’s very small stature. Star Breeze tried to reach her father's hooves around Stern Wing's chest, and Stern Wing pressed a hoof across Star Breeze's back as well as enveloped both of her brown wings with black tips around her like hugging a small, plushy toy.

There she is! Star Breeze thought to herself cheerfully. There is the mother I know and love!

Chapter 4: Time Turner

Both Star Breeze and Stern Wing jumped a bit, startled, when they heard a knock on the front door of the TARDIS. At that point they released each other and looked at the front door simultaneously. For four seconds they both stared at it in silence then glanced at each other for a second. When the knock occurred again, Stern Wing started to stand up in order to approach the door and check who it was. Before she could complete that action, however, she blinked in surprise when she saw the Red Crystal around Feather Wind's neck glow red. In that same instance, a red glow materialized around the doorknob of the front door to the TARDIS. Stern Wing whipped her head quickly to look at the front entrance when she heard the door opening.

Standing beyond the door was a very familiar looking stallion. A stallion that just so happened to share a perfect resemblance to the Doctor.

“What?!” Star Breeze exclaimed then looked in the direction she had seen the Time Lord depart from. Last time she checked, the Doctor should still be in the TARDIS, seeing to the recovery of Derpy, so why was it that he's also standing outside of the TARDIS at the same time?

“Forgive me for startling you two,” the stallion that resembled the Doctor said while still standing outside of the TARDIS. From there, he adjusted his red bow tie just a bit in a slightly nervous gesture. “May I have permission to come aboard?”

“Oh, of course. Please come in,” Stern Wing gladly invited, then looked at Star Breeze and noticed her confusion. While Stern Wing waved a hoof to regather Star Breeze's attention, the stallion that resembled the Doctor casually trotted into the TARDIS. He even had a bit of an extra bounce to his steps. When Star Breeze looked back at Stern Wing, Stern Wing said, “I know this looks confusing, but this stallion isn't the Doctor. Well, he is, in a way, but not our Doctor, the one in the TARDIS.”

“Hmm?” The other stallion paused and regarded Stern Wing and the body of Feather Wind in confusion. He was familiar with them both and, accordingly, they should have been equally familiar with him, so why was Stern Wing explaining his presence to Feather Wind as if they just met again?

Stern Wing waved a hoof up and down in front of Star Breeze. “Let me explain. First of all, I'll need to mention the fact that both the Doctor and Derpy on this ship come from another reality, one in which they bizarrely have pockets built into their flanks which are hidden just above their cutie marks. This Doctor,” Stern Wing gestured to the new stallion in the room, “is native to this timeline and reality instead. Although he does bear a striking resemblance to the Doctor, there is another important distinction between this stallion and the Doctor already aboard this ship, and that is the fact that this stallion is neither an alien or a Time Lord. Instead, he is exactly what you see, a regular earth pony of Equestria. Despite this, however, they do share an uncanny resemblance in their cutie marks and personality.”

“Does he have amnesia?” the curious and concerned stallion checked.

“No,” Stern Wing answered as she looked at the stallion. “He . . . um . . . I'll explain in a moment. One thing at a time.”

“Oh! Of course. Press on, my friend,” the stallion gladly invited.

Looking back at Star Breeze, Stern Wing went on with her explanation. “The Doctor aboard this ship really is named the Doctor, although both Feather Wind and Vision have a hunch that he's hiding another name which he had in his youth and since changed it to the Doctor, but if this stallion is any indication of that, then the Doctor's true name is Time Turner.” Stern Wing looked at the other somewhat bewildered stallion. “Which is his,” Stern Wing nodded at the stallion for indication, “true name. This stallion's name is Time Turner, and we all call him that to avoid confusing him for the Doctor aboard this ship.” Stern Wing looked back at Star Breeze. “To be fair, this stallion was born and raised with the name Time Turner and he was never called the Doctor until recently. When we visited this town earlier in our adventures, the Time Lord Doctor introduced himself to the citizens of Ponyville as 'The Doctor' without realizing that he already had a native counterpart, but I guess the citizens of this town since ended up liking that new name so they started to call Time Turner here the Doctor instead.”

“Which is fair,” Time Turner accepted as he casually adjusted his bow tie again. “I actually do have a Doctorate in Science. The citizens here like the name and I don't find it insulting in the least. In fact, I actually find it quite flattering.” He focused on Stern Wing as he asked her, “Why are you explaining this to him as if he's never met me before? Surely I am not that forgettable.”

Stern Wing growled in anger and looked at Time Turner with a dour expression. “The reason I'm explaining this to him is because this isn't Feather Wind. Well, he is and he isn't. This is Feather Wind's body but it's currently being taken over with the mind of a young foal, and a little girl at that. Her name,” Stern Wing nodded at Star Breeze to indicate her, “is Star Breeze, and apparently she is and will be my future daughter.”

“Fascinating!” Time Turner exclaimed with wide eyes, then moved to approach closer. He ended up standing right next to them and gazed at Star Breeze with wonder. “So you are from their future? How endlessly fascinating!” He looked at Stern Wing in confusion. “How in the world has this possibly happened, and is this condition temporary?”

“This is the hoofiwork of an old nemesis of ours, a spirit of pure chaos and disharmony who recklessly likes to toy with the fabric of reality for his own personal amusement. Apparently this is the latest action in his cruel and sadistic humor,” Stern Wing explained with a growling tone and dark look to her face.

“Oh, you mean Discord?” Time Turner checked as he looked at Stern Wing.

Stern Wing slapped her face with a hoof as she requested, “Please, don't even mention his name in front of me. He and I have a bad history between us.”

Time Turner tilted his head as he gazed forward at nothing blankly. “But I thought Miss Fluttershy and her friends helped him to turn a new leaf. At least, that is the rumor I heard that they said.” Time Turner looked back at Stern Wing. “Perhaps the . . . spirit . . . you encountered is an alternate version of him, or it might be from a time before he got reformed. The lot of you travel through time and space as much as I suspect he does.”

“I don't care what time period we're referring to here.” Stern Wing regarded Time Turner dourly. “That mischievous spirit is nothing but a menace, and I, for one, would prefer to have nothing to do with him if at all possible. If you need more evidence of that, then here's exhibit A.” While still looking at Time Turner, she waved a hoof to indicate Star Breeze. “Just another victim in a long line of cruel and sadistic jokes. He doesn't care about our feelings. Nothing will stop him from doing as he pleases, even if he has to mess with all of our lives to do it. Perhaps I should say especially if it messes with our lives.

“If I hadn't made it clear yet, I hate bullies like him who pick on those weaker than themselves and I especially loathe them if they find such activities amusing. Creatures like that, and I, will probably never truly get along together.”

“From what I can tell, that much is true,” Crystal Wind assured to Star Breeze (the only one in the room who could see him) as he regarded the past version of his wife. “Stern Wing is a natural guardian, so those she perceives as bullies will always be antithetical to her nature.”

“Hmm.” Time Turner studied Star Breeze for a moment as he rubbed the bottom of his chin with a hoof, then asked, “Perhaps this is a stupid question considering the nature of the particular spirit involved, but is there any indication as to how long this condition will continue?” When he finished his question, his eyes shifted to look at Stern Wing without otherwise moving his face.

Stern Wing shook her head. “None whatsoever, and I wouldn't dare to presume that any action stemming from that nefarious spirit is predictable, but there does seem to be some evidence that this condition will eventually pass. For instance, Star Breeze here recalls being raised by her father. How could that occur if he was still possessed by the spirit of herself that whole time? Star Breeze here claims that she came of her own volition, but the result was not exactly what she had in mind. My guess is: she wanted to get to know her father better, and ended up much closer to the situation than she cared for. At least she seems relatively confident that this sojourn will end whenever she wills it.” Stern Wing looked at Time Turner. “What I do know is that the Doctor assured us that he will not leave Ponyville until this condition passes, for he has no desire to invite yet another foal into a potentially dangerous journey.”

Time Turner nodded in agreement as he said, “Indeed, that would be a prudent course of action, given the evidence. He and I indeed think alike. If I were captain of this ship, I would likely do no less.” Time Turner looked about. “He certainly could have picked a much worse place than Ponyville. This town has a reputation for being one of the friendliest towns in Equestria.”

“Are you a fellow time traveler?” Star Breeze asked Time Turner curiously.

“But of course, my dear,” Time Turner replied matter-of-factly. “We are all time travelers. How could we not be? At every moment of our existence, we are constantly traveling through time in a forward direction. Also, when we recall our memories of the past, are we not traveling through a mental window into the past?” he asked while turning his gaze a bit to the side in order to regard Star Breeze with one eye and even leaned a bit forward as he asked that question, but he regarded her normally with a straight forward look as he went on. “Time is subjective anyway, my dear. It is a mental construct which we, as thinking and conscious creatures, have invented in order to put value and structure into our limited existence. Furthermore, by traveling through space, we are also traveling through time. The physical space over five-hundred miles away to the west is one hour earlier than the time we're standing on right now. There are many facets to explore when evaluating a concept like this, and that is the wonderful thing about life! It's so deep and full of mystery, readily inviting inquisitive minds, like myself, to explore the deepest depths of this puzzle of life! We are all travelers of a sort and we are all explorers! Explorers of a journey both inwardly and outwardly.

“And speaking of fellow travelers,” Time Turner looked at Stern Wing, “where is my handsome counterpart, Derpy, and Vision?”

Stern Wing glanced at and nodded to an adjacent room as she said, “Both the Doctor and Vision are tending to Derpy.”

“Oh no!” Time Turner looked alarmed, his eyes growing small in the process. “Is Miss Hooves alright?”

“She should be soon,” Stern Wing reassured as she looked back at Time Turner. “She caught an illness that was slowly converting her into a Dalek. I'll give you one guess as to which species was responsible for that mess. As it stands, we had to invade a compound which was full of the little buggers. It wasn't easy to snatch the cure from their clutches, but we managed it somehow . . . same as always.” Stern Wing sighed in annoyance. “I am really getting tired of being shot at by those abominable tin cans!”

“Hmm.” Time Turner rubbed his chin again with a hoof. “I wish I had a chance to study such a specimen up close. If we could understand them better, it might help you all in dealing with them again in the future.”

“From what the Doctor tells me, you might regret that chance if you had the opportunity,” Stern Wing warned Time Turner. “He tells me they look kind of like a flat squid with a single eye and a bunch of tentacles about them. Probably not a creature worth taking a selfie with, not to mention the danger involved.”

“Well unlike my counterpart here, I'm no exobiologist,” Time Turner assured, “but I am quite familiar with the workings of technology. Those 'tin cans', as you so eloquently put it, are probably a marvelously complex piece of work. Just think of all the possibilities we could learn from an invention like that! If we had such an opportunity, it is our duty to take advantage of it to the fullest . . . for science!”

“Let's see if you still feel that way while they are busy trying to 'EXTERMINATE' both you and everypony you love during your attempt to study them.” Stern Wing said bitterly, putting special emphasis on the word “exterminate” by attempting to mockingly copy the way the Daleks use the word. “Study them if you want to but, personally, I had enough of the buggers to satisfy my curiosity for a dozen lifetimes. You haven't seen the devastation they wrought on other worlds like I have. It is so sad every time I see it. They are artificially created monsters designed specifically to enslave or eliminate any and all sentient species that are not Daleks. Any race that is that intolerant has no way in Tartarus to become my friends. The Doctor agrees with me too, by the way, so if you really are like him then you would most certainly agree with us too if you'd also went through and seen everything we went through and seen.”

Time Turner sighed, then admitted, “You're probably right. I hate the feeling of lost opportunities, but sometimes the answers that science gives us are pretty ugly. Magic might be sparkly, pretty and cute, but science is always bluntly honest. Science always tells us the truth if you know how to approach it properly like I do. It will even tell us things that we would normally not prefer to know.”

“Not to mention the security risk involved,” Stern Wing added. “Trust me, I've seen plenty of indications of what happens to a society that gains access to science too far ahead of them. When dangerous technology lands in pony hooves before wisdom and experience has a chance to catch up, the result is often disastrous. Science is the great teacher of knowledge, Time Turner, not wisdom. Only experience and quiet self-reflection reveals the true flower of inner wisdom, and that's important too.”

“I suppose that's true, but my personal destiny is to solve my insatiable hunger for new knowledge. That is what I shall always pursue until I die,” Time Turner promised.

“Has he ever joined you all in any of your past adventures?” Star Breeze asked Stern Wing as she waved to indicate Time Turner.

“Um . . . yes.” Stern Wing looked at Time Turner questioningly. “Twice . . . right?”

Time Turner nodded in confirmation. “That is how many times I've joined you personally in your adventures, at least so far. I'm curious.” He tilted his head a bit at Stern Wing. “How long has it been for all of you since you last saw me?”

“Uh . . . you should probably ask the Doctor questions like that. He has a better knack for keeping track of time than I do. Likely that's an innate quality of a Time Lord. Speaking for myself, it feels like at least a couple of months,” Stern Wing guessed.

Stern Wing looked at Star Breeze as she said to the filly, “When Time Turner and the Doctor talk to each other, it's quite dizzying to behold. Not only is it easy to lose track of which is which, but their personality and speech patterns are virtually impossible to keep up with. The speed and complexity that they talk to each other is practically a foreign language to me. Even Feather Wind and Vision struggle to keep up with them, but at least they can do it.” Stern Wing looked down and to her left with depression and embarrassment. “I'm ashamed to admit it, but every time that happens in front of me, it makes me feel so dumb.”

“I'm sorry,” Time Turner apologized earnestly as his ears drooped down. “I'm virtually certain that neither me nor my counterpart had any intention to insult you.” He perked up as he went on. “For me, it's just so thrilling to finally talk to somepony who can mentally keep up with my speed. I so rarely face an equal in that regard. Certainly he trumps me in terms of years and experience, but it's so fun to finally be talking to somepony who feels like an equal.”

“You were never human, right?” Star Breeze checked with Time Turner.

“As I told you earlier, Time Turner here is a naturally born pony,” Stern Wing reminded. “Also the Doctor was never human either. He simply resembled one at one time.”

“Have you ever seen a human before?” Star Breeze asked Stern Wing curiously.

Stern Wing shook her head, then said, “If they exist in this dimension at all, they might be exceptionally rare.”

“There is one librarian in town who claims she has encountered one,” Time Turner brought up. “In fact, she also claims she has become one while she visited that dimension. Naturally she wrote a whole book and report about it later. A book which I had the privilege of checking out myself. Apparently she encountered a magic mirror while visiting the Crystal Empire about nine months ago. At that time the mirror served as a gateway to this 'other world'. The interesting thing about it is she physically became like them when she reached the other side, then later reversed that process back to her pony self when she crossed back. Add to that, the Doctor became a pony too when he crossed over into our universe. I can't help but wonder if he'd turn back into this humanoid form if he somehow found a way to return to that universe. It seems to me, while studying this apparent pattern, that there is a force between our worlds that is forcing each species to convert to the other as they cross back and forth. If this is true, then it might indicate the reason why these 'humans' don't seem to exist in our world at all.”

“Actually, I haven't seen any at all while we've been exploring the universe,” Stern Wing added. “In fact, quadrupedal species seem unusually common in general. The Doctor noticed that a long time ago, and even I caught on to that fact. If we're exploring alien beings that were raised on an entirely different planet, why do they keep resembling us so closely? If you're right and there is a force that 'ponyfies' every species that exists here, then this force might actually be fairly universal. That said, I have seem some species that walk on two legs or three or none or all kinds of other appendages. I've seen one species that was a sentient cloud of gas. The universe is weird, but there are certain common threads running between them that is quite suspicious if we look at the big picture.”

“Do you think Discord is converting them to ponies and vice versa for those who cross back and forth?” Star Breeze asked.

Time Turner shook his head with a doubtful expression. “Based on all the available evidence that I have gathered, the likes of some creature like Discord is a rather unlikely suspect. I'll admit, he is theoretically capable of such a feat given the seemingly unlimited potential applications of his powers but, if he were the culprit, I'd expect creatures to be randomly polymorphed every time they cross back and forth between universes, but a stable pattern indicates form and structure to the system. This is something I have not come to expect from the spirit of ultimate chaos. Reformed or not, this pattern does not fit his M-O.”

Stern Wing nodded at Time Turner as she said, “I agree. Such consistency does not seem to have his grubby little paw and talon all over this. Whatever is causing these changes, it must be something or somepony else.”

“Which means we have a mystery on our hooves,” Time Turner said with a growing excited grin. “I do ever so much enjoy a good mystery.”

Stern Wing tilted her head at Time Turner as she asked him, “Oh, by the way, how long as it been since we last visited you and this town?”

“Sounds like it's about the same amount of time as it was for you,” Time Turner answered. “About two months, give or take about a week.”

“Anything interesting happen while we were gone?” Stern Wing checked with Time Turner.

“Um, well . . . let's see.” Time Turner tilted his head just a bit downward while he tapped his lips in thought, then recalled something. His hoof returned to the ground as he looked straight back at Stern Wing. “Yes. I do recall one notable thing that happened about two weeks ago. It's a shame you missed it, actually, because, quite frankly, it sure was a blast! Back then Rainbow Dash was having a birthday party and anniversary commemorating the day she moved here to Ponyville. The thing that makes this event noteworthy, however, was the fact that this particular celebration was nothing short of epic! If you really do have a time machine here, I highly recommend you swing by and check it out!”

Stern Wing squinted her eyes in confusion at Time Turner. “Why would this party be especially epic? She's just an ordinary filly like many others here.”

Time Turner lightly shrugged. “I wouldn't exactly say that. She does have a particularly intense sense of style. It seems to me she thrives on it. I recall a time when she was so desperate for attention that she did anything she could to appear to be a hero in the eyes of her fellow Ponyvillion citizens, even if it was just opening up a can of jam. However that, in itself, was not what made this particular event special.”

“Pinkie Pie, I take it?” Stern Wing guessed. “It seems to me she has a reputation for such things out in these parts. The way she inspires a coordinated song with the whole town despite no rehearsal is nothing short of miraculous, at least according to Derpy.”

“That's only part of it,” Time Turner replied. “The other half was another guest party planner who temporarily moved into town who specializes in particularly epic parties, a stallion that goes by the name of Cheese Sandwich.

“You should have seen it! That party was amazing! They had giant balloons and huge party cannons and balloon rides, a petting zoo, an entire pool made of punch, a roller coaster, Hawaiian T-shirts, several stage performances. I could go on and on!”

“Geeze!” Stern Wing said as both she and Star Breeze widened their eyes in amazement. “Who paid for all of those things?”

In response, Time Turner merely shrugged.

“Golly!” Stern Wing stared forward at nothing blankly. “That just might be worth a detour in the past.” She looked back at Time Turner. “Two weeks, you said?”

Time Turner nodded.

“Is there anything else happening now or soon that we might not want to miss?” Star Breeze checked with Time Turner.

Again he looked thoughtful as he processed the answer to this latest question, then focused on Star Breeze as he said, “While I'm not quite as interested in this one, there is another event coming tonight that celebrates the founding of Ponyville itself. I heard that, this year, Rarity is supposed to be hosting this event, and she has indicated that she has some classy ideas in mind.” He grinned and half shrugged. “But naturally we've come to expect such things from the fashionista.”

“That should be fun!” Star Breeze said brightly to both of them with a bit of a smile. “I wanted to check out Ponyville anyway. If I happen to catch an event that celebrates its founding, so much the better.”

“Any sight you want to check out in particular?” Time Turner asked Star Breeze curiously.

“Um . . . I was hoping to pay Sweet Apple Acres a visit,” Star Breeze answered. “I've known 'Granny' Smith since she was a much younger mare. Before she was even called 'Granny', in fact. I'd be interested to see how the farm has developed over time.”

“Huh?” Time Turner tilted his head in confusion, then his eyes exploded widely as he recalled something. “Oh that's RIGHT! The two of you are actually native to this world's past!”

Stern Wing nodded in confirmation, then said, “About one hundred years, give or take a few years.”

“Right, right.” Time Turner looked thoughtful again as he looked down a bit and tapped his lips again in deep thought, but got interrupted from that train of thought when another pony entered the room.

“Good news, everyone! Derpy has made a full recovery!” the Doctor announced happily when he returned to the room. “I had advised her to get more bed rest, but when I told her that we had arrived in Ponyville, she got up out of bed as stubborn as a mule.

“Oh!” The Doctor blinked in surprise when he noticed his counterpart. “Well hi there, handsome! Good to see you again.”

“Well one should expect that when you land the TARDIS in the middle of my home,” Time Turner pointed out with a sly and snarky look.

“Hey! You invited us to land here last time, remember?” the Doctor reminded. “Since I had to land somewhere in Ponyville, doing so here would cause less of a stir since you were aware of us anyway.

“And on that note, I'd like to ask how is Derpy doing that's native to this reality?”

Time Turner shrugged. “I'm not sure. Busy delivering mail is my guess. I don't keep a solid track of the mare, but she does swing by on occasion after work to check out more of my crazy inventions. She hasn't done that in a while now but I can tell she's curious.”

“Inventions? Really?” Star Breeze asked Time Turner. “You're an inventor?”

“It's kind of a hobby of mine, actually,” Time Turner clarified. “My real job is working to take care of this clock tower here. I keep it in good shape and make sure it remains punctual.”

“We're in a clock tower right now?” Star Breeze double checked.

“Yes sir!” Time Turner said confidently, but then grew suddenly uncomfortable when he realized something. “Or Ma'am or filly or . . . something or another.” He shook his head. “Great Whickering Stallions! This one sure is a mind bender. What would you like me to call you, my dear?”

“Um,” Star Breeze glanced at the others in the room for a second (including Crystal Wind, unbeknownst to the others in the room), then looked back at Time Turner as she said, “For the moment the prudent thing is to call me Feather Wind for as long as I am here. I'm not comfortable with that prospect, but it should serve to confuse others less if we stay consistent on that point in case anypony else is around.”

“Most ponies out in these parts barely know me or Feather Wind,” Stern Wing pointed out. “If you want us to call you Star Breeze, it shouldn't be a problem, especially when we're in the privacy of only each other's company.”

Star Breeze shook her head at her mother. “I just want to err on the side of caution.”

“Well, if you insist,” Stern Wing relented. “But I can imagine how awkward I'd feel if I had to actually live as my father for a few days.”

“Well, since you admitted that you are an inventor,” Star Breeze began as she addressed Time Turner again, “I'm curious about something. My parents once told me there is a jar of multi-colored rings on board this ship which they call 'Flameless Fireworks', but so far they haven't figured out how to get them to ignite. I was wondering . . . can you help us figure it out?”

Time paused for a few moments as Crystal Wind asked his daughter, “Why do you ask? I already told you how they are ignited.”

“I was just wondering if Time Turner here may give them some clue,” Star Breeze answered her father.

“If I already told you that we figure it out years later, why would you think anypony would know the answer to that question before we figured it out? That already implies that Time Turner didn't know the answer to that question either and thereby making the question pointless to ask.”

“Um,” Star Breeze's eyes glazed over as it occurred to her that her father was right, then she admitted, “True. I guess, in my excitement, I hadn't thought that one through.”

Crystal Wind chuckled for a moment, then he said to his daughter, “I advise you to be more discreet with your questions and comments from now on. I already know how this event turns out because of the memories I'm storing within the Red Crystal. It is enough to know that you started a chain of events because of that blunder of yours.” Crystal Wind looked at and gestured to Time Turner. “Check this out.”

When Star Breeze looked back at Time Turner, time resumed. While that happened, Crystal Wind happened to catch a momentary look of confusion on the Doctor's face as if he somehow became aware that time briefly paused for a moment. Likely it was because Star Breeze's facial expression or position of her facing suddenly shifted just a little bit, and the Doctor was cunning and observant enough to catch minor flaws like that. Upon noticing that, Crystal Wind privately realized he should probably follow his own advice and be more discreet around ponies like the Doctor from now on.

“Flameless . . . fireworks?” Time Turner asked in confusion due to lack of recognition. “What is that?”

“A potentially dangerous invention that I insisted the Doctor move to a more secure room like he should have done in the first place,” Stern Wing announced, a little dourly, at the Doctor. “If he's going to insist on keeping an explosive device on board his ship just because he hasn't figured out how to get it to ignite yet, then the least he could do is move it to a bomb-proof room, or explosive resistant, I should say.”

The Doctor chuckled as he briefly closed his eyes and shook his head. When he next spoke, he opened his eyes again and focused his attention back to his counterpart. “During my long journey, I encountered a recipe on an alien world from a lost civilization that would create a mysterious substance which could be used as a sort of firework, but it did not need fire to ignite. When I encountered it, I was intrigued. Here was a puzzle right in front of me. How could I not attempt to decipher this riddle?”

“Exactly! How could you not?” Time Turner reflected in complete agreement with the Doctor. “Have you made any headway into this mystery?”

The Doctor shook his head as he said, “Not as such, so far.” Then the Doctor gained a brilliant idea. “Hey! How about you? Would you like to try your hand in helping me solve this mystery?”

“Sure!” Time Turner invited eagerly. “How can a brilliant mind like ours possibly rest until we have this great mystery solved? Our inquisitive nature is precisely what makes us the ponies that we are.”

“Pony'ish,” the Doctor half agreed. “Well, if you're up for the challenge then I'll gladly invite you to tackle it. Perhaps you'll be the first between us to solve this mystery.”

“Challenge accepted!” Time Turner eagerly agreed.

“See what you started?” Crystal Wind lightly scolded his daughter. “Fortunately this event does not cause too great of a ripple, but be more mindful of your actions from now on. Discord might appreciate little continuity errors like this, but you, my dear, need to be more careful while visiting another timeline. Take this lesson to heart. Everything you do affects the future and the past because it's all connected.”

“I will, Dad. I promise.” Star Breeze mentally reassured her father. “I'll try to be more careful from now on. It's just that . . . I'm so in the habit of being honest.”

“Being honest and reckless are two different things. Learn to decipher the difference,” Crystal Wind advised.

Chapter 5: A Trot Through Ponyville

“What challenge is accepted?” asked a new female voice that Star Breeze was familiar with, though this was the first time she heard it personally. She whipped her father's head over to gaze to the adjacent room in time to see a new occupant enter this room. This newcomer was a gray pegasus with unkempt, currently bed-head, yellow mane style. Another distinguishing characteristic of her was her wall-eyed look. At that particular moment, she also looked somewhat unsteady. She had to lean against the door frame for a brief moment as if she needed to in order to regather her strength, then she pressed on into the control room of the TARDIS.

“Derpy!” Star Breeze cried out cheerfully at the sight of the gray pegasus mare. She then happily pranced over to the newcomer then stopped before her while happily regarding Derpy. “I'm so glad to see you, and that you are up and feeling better.”

“She's up against my better judgment,” said the next filly who entered the room after Derpy. This one was a mostly white-coated and maned filly who wore entirely black round-rimmed glasses. “I told her that she should remain in bed and get some rest, but as soon as I also told her that we landed in Ponyville, she bolted out of bed. Oh, and,” Vision nodded to Star Breeze, “I also told her who you really are.”

Derpy regarded Star Breeze with a strongly sympathetic look, then unexpectedly gathered Star Breeze's father's head and pulled her close, close enough to hug the disguised filly to Derpy's chest. Derpy also wrapped her right wing around Star Breeze gently.

“You poor, poor thing!” Derpy said in a consoling tone. “You must be so frightened to be here and stuck in somepony else's body, but don't you worry. I won't judge you, nor let anypony harm you.” Derpy pulled Star Breeze's father's head away enough to look at Star Breeze with her wall-eyes as she asked in concern, “Are you hurt? Is Feather Wind hurt? Is he conscious somewhere inside you?”

“Um . . . no,” Star Breeze answered. It wasn't entirely a lie either. The entity who spoke to her while seemingly standing next to her, invisible to anypony else, was actually being telepathically projected from within the Red Crystal. Her real father, who belonged in this timeline, according to Crystal Wind, was asleep within this body.

Derpy tilted her head to the side and shifted it back just a bit. “You don't sense him within you at all?”

“At all?” Star Breeze repeated, then thought about it, then said, “Perhaps a little. Enough to know he's alright. He's just unconscious, is all.”

“You okay there, Miss Hooves?” Time Turner asked while regarding the gray pegasus with concern.

“Well enough to stand . . . Doctor?” Derpy looked in confusion between the Doctor and Time Turner, then she realized something. “Oh, it's actually Time Turner, right? We are in Ponyville, after all.”

“Um, right. I am Time Turner,” Time Turner confirmed as he gestured to himself, then gestured to the Doctor, “and this is my Time Lord counterpart, of whom I'm sure you are much more familiar with. I must say, Miss Hooves, you seemed in much better shape the last time I saw you.”

“Miss Hooves has suffered quite an ordeal recently, and therefore she should be in bed,” the Doctor explained to his counterpart while regarding Derpy, he himself still standing near the TARDIS's controls in the center of the room but leaning on a rail, facing outward towards the crowd around him. “Knowing her as well as I do, however, I'm not at all surprised at her reaction after learning where we landed.” His next statement he said directly to Derpy. “My handsome counterpart has duly accepted the challenge of identifying more information about those Flameless Fireworks that we've kept in storage for quite some time. More specifically, he was hoping to identify how to get them to ignite. Being the ingenious scientist that he is, I figured I'd let him give us a hand with it by offering him the recipe.” The Doctor grinned in amusement has he looked off to his left side at nothing. “You know, it's funny. After all this time we spent with it, and considering the fact that we have a time machine on our hands, it's quite ironic to realize that we've just been too busy to give that thing any attention.”

“I still wish you'd throw that thing out,” Stern Wing grunted in annoyance. “If it really is a potential danger to those aboard this ship, I'd prefer not to deal with the security risk.”

“Scientific discovery shall not be denied or contained!” Time Turner said to Stern Wing enthusiastically. “I'll crack this mystery someday so that you won't have to keep it aboard this ship anymore. I promise. That said,” he looked at the Doctor, “I do not have a time machine as well, or at least not yet. Give me some time to work on the problem and I'll have it all figured out for you all eventually.” Time Turner rubbed the bottom of his jaw as he asked the Doctor, “I don't suppose you could skip ahead in time real quick, find out what my future self has to report about that thing then return back to me in this time to report to me what my future self said?”

“If I did that, what need have you to investigate it?” The Doctor countered to his apparent duplicate. “That's precisely why I haven't done that. The thrill of discovery is a journey we make on our own.” The Doctor waved Time Turner off a bit with a hoof which still rested on the center rail around the controls. “I have run into both my future and past selves before, but usually not on purpose and it tends to occur whenever there is a dire need.”

“That must be strange!” Time Turner exclaimed. “You get along with your time duplicates well, I take it?”

The Doctor shrugged as he said, “Usually, but sometimes we still get into arguments. With time comes change, and with change comes the potential of variable opinions. I still usually have much more in common with either version of myself but if doctors can make the worst patients, then the 'Doctor' doesn't always make the best companion for me, ironically enough. Sometimes it can be a problem when you encounter someone with too much in common, or not enough.”

“We get along, don't we?” Time Turner checked as he gestured between himself and the Doctor.

“Oh, but of course!” the Doctor assured. “You're not nearly as arrogant as some of my other selves are.”

“Coming from you, I'm not sure how I should take that,” Time Turner said in a confused tone.

“With a grain of salt lick, I recommend,” the Doctor advised. “That's still something you equines like to do, right?”

Everypony else seemed confused by the Doctor's question.

“Well . . . anyway,” Derpy brought up after four seconds of awkward silence in the room, “I'm off to explore my hometown. Anypony else care to join me?” She regarded the Doctor. “Will you, Doc?”

“Um,” the Doctor glanced around to assess the others in the room, then looked back at Derpy, “I just might be the only one in the room to say no to that question, at least for the moment. I need to stay here and assess and fix a few things. For one, my sonic screwdriver.”

“What happened to it?” Derpy asked in concern.

“Yeah, I noticed you didn't use it in our last adventure with the Daleks,” Star Breeze observed. “You just said that it needs fixing, and Derpy seems to be unaware of that, so I take it that it broke during your last adventure before I possessed this body?”

The Doctor sighed in annoyance as he gazed forward blankly at nothing. “Apparently my mortal enemies set a booby trap for that, as if anticipating that I'd use the thing on our last adventure. Fortunately for me, I kind of had a backup with Vision's glasses, but I had to seek another way around the door that broke my original device. As usual, the Daleks underestimated my ingenuity.”

“Whatever condition afflicted Miss Hooves, was it contagious?” Time Turner checked as he regarded Derpy with concern for multiple reasons.

“Perhaps, but we had her well contained during the affliction,” Vision assured, “and she's clean of the infection now. I'm quite certain of that. All that is left is to clean up the lingering damage, and bed rest is just what the doctor ordered on that front!” Vision said with an accusing tone at Derpy. In response, Derpy blew a raspberry at Vision.

“This is my hometown, and I don't see it very often anymore,” Derpy declared in her own defense. “With all the dangers we encounter, I have learned to cherish these visits all the more, for I cannot be certain if this will be my last time.”

Derpy turned and started trotting towards the exit of the TARDIS. “I'm going,” Derpy assured. “If anypony is willing to come along with me, you are welcome.”

“That's pretty much why I'm here,” Star Breeze declared as she moved to follow Derpy. “Mind giving me a tour? This is my first and potentially last visit to Ponyville.”

“It would be my pleasure!” Derpy said over her right shoulder at Star Breeze so brightly that her eyes were closed, she wore a big goofy grin, and she made a squee sound.

“I'll accompany her as well, and keep an eye on her,” Time Turner assured his handsome counterpart. “I do hope you'll join us before the end of the day, though. It is the Ponyville Day celebration, after all. It would be quite apropos for you to join us in such a festivity.”

“In a moment. I have a few things I need to look over before I'm ready to join you all, and I will be ready before the end of the day. Trust me,” the Doctor assured the others. “You all go on ahead. I'll join you shortly, as soon as I'm done here.”

“Ooo! Seriously? We arrived in time for Ponyville Day celebration?” Derpy asked in delight. “In that case, who is hosting this year?”

“As I explained to your other friends earlier, I believe it's Miss Rarity that will be hosting this year. From what I have seen and heard, she has some very classy ideas for the ceremony.”

“Huh,” Derpy said as she exited the TARDIS. “That does sound like something she'd do.”

“That actually conflicts with some likely baseless rumors I've heard about her recently, however,” Time Turner went on. “According to those rumors, she tried to dress up as a farm pony for awhile for some odd reason.”

“Um . . . you're right. Those rumors probably are baseless,” Derpy agreed, but Star Breeze couldn't see the gray mare anymore because she lingered behind as a result of something the Doctor said earlier.

After the others were out of earshot, Star Breeze then asked back at the Doctor, “You are going on another mission with Card Shark, aren't you?”

The Doctor passed Star Breeze a cunning, knowing smile. Instead of verbally answering, he just gave her a dismissive wave.

Star Breeze matched his cunning smile right back at him before turning away and leaving.

* * *

Ticking, clicking and creaking surrounded Star Breeze when she exited the TARDIS. It wasn't just the sounds that captured her attention or imagination either. There was motion all around her as well. Some, even, from things she could not identify. Among the things she could identify were giant cog wheels. Notably, most of the construction all around her was made of wood. The smell that surrounded her was also that of wood mixed with maybe grease?

The walls and ceiling above, as well as multiple bars hanging lower from the ceiling, looked rather deadly to touch. It looked too easy to get a hoof caught in between the spinning cogs of the wheels, although most were too high to realistically reach unless one happened to be a pegasus and flew up or into where they clearly do not belong.

It felt surreal to Star Breeze to step from an actual time and space machine which was a tiny blue box that was significantly bigger on the inside, to all of this. As her gaze continued to sweep across all of this, her gaze paused for awhile as she beheld what appeared to be a bed strapped to a wall. It was tucked neatly away. Star Breeze even saw the covers tucked around the edges of the bed. That was either Time Turner's actual bed or a guest bed. Either way, it was easy to imagine that whomever slept here in this dizzying array of sounds and motion probably also dreamt of running clocks all the time.

Time Lord, indeed, Star Breeze thought to herself whimsically. He may be a real pony physically, but his spirit and mind might be something else beyond this world.

Star Breeze's attention continued to be swept across this room. In her eyes, this was clutter, but there was a lot of open space between the clutter. There were piles of this and that spread out throughout the one giant room she could see, but that clutter was tucked neatly into various corners. She also spotted a chalkboard with a dizzying array of numbers on it. That was when it occurred to her that this scenery could make a very curious case study on the Doctor, or at least a sort of reflection of him. Was this some hint on how the Doctor saw the world in his head? Science, ticking, motion, advanced math, and organized chaos?

What a curious mind he must have.

But, upon further reflection, it occurred to Star Breeze that this behavior was actually not too unusual to ponykind in general. Whatever a pony's natural talents were, they usually threw themselves into it with a staggering degree to those viewing such things from the outside. This was why her race was such a marvel. Members of her race could take a concept that might have a very simple base premise and blow it up to unbelievable proportions. This was what the Doctor's life could have turned out if he were born a pure earth pony from the start. It was a mind that solved puzzles and was endlessly fascinated with the thrill of discovery. A mind whose imagination was boundless. Even without a TARDIS, Time Turner likely was trying to explore all of time and space in his own way. That which was written on the chalkboard was very likely proof of that.

“Are you coming?” Time Turner prompted, calling back through a door along the north wall. Star Breeze looked, and was startled to realize that she was the last one in the room besides Time Turner himself. Everypony else had already left. Derpy was probably the first to leave the room. She seemed driven for some reason.

“If the others had not left so soon, I would have been glad to give you a tour,” Time Turner expressed as he looked among his many inventions proudly. It always delighted him to enlighten curious minds. Doing so helped to prove to him that he was not alone in his pursuits. “Alas,” he gazed back at her while still beaming a bit, “the others have left so, curiously enough, we are running out of time here.” He tilted his head at the exit behind him while still gazing back at Star Breeze. “Shall we?”

“Um, yes. Yes, of course,” Star Breeze said a little numbly. She trotted over to him fairly quickly. She always made sure never to overstay her welcome. Whenever somepony told her to leave their place, she considered herself polite enough to leave.

Well, at least he's flattered at my interest.

While trotting out to Time Turner, she looked back for a second at Crystal Wind who, notably, didn't follow. When their eyes met, he gave her a dismissive gesture with a hoof, waving for her to proceed on.

Star Breeze looked back at the exit and proceeded out in the direction Time Turner was indicating. She wasn't worried about her father falling behind. Since he was actually just a mentally projected thought, he could “teleport” around and show up anywhere without warning, but he usually gave plenty of warning since it was rarely his intention to startle her.

Past the door, there was a flight of stairs leading down. She proceeded downward. Her hooves pounded loudly on the wooden stairs. Even if she paused, she could hear more ahead of her because of the others. Without that, there was still the loud ticking all around her. Sometimes, as she continued to descend, she could see more of the gears whirling in the clock tower. They were out of reach and there were wooden beams preventing one from falling off the stairs or getting too close to the other gears. Star Breeze did not feel frightened to behold those gears. Instead, she felt fascinated.

Along her way down, it occurred to her that there probably was a way beyond those wooden beams if it became necessary to maneuver past them in order to repair them. The details as to how was probably left in the minds of other professionals, but it probably had something to do with stopping the clock first before trying. After the repair, the clock could always be fast-forwarded to match the correct time again.

Oh goodness! Star Breeze paused down the stairs as she realized something. Is this one of those clock towers that rings a certain number of bells every hour? If so, how would one sleep through that when they're this close to the source? That sound is most likely meant to be loud enough to be heard across Ponyville. If it were me, I'd be driven nuts in here.

It was a square spiraling staircase that lead down. Every time she reached a corner of the clock tower, she was forced to make another ninety-degree turn. She had to scale down about four stories of this before she finally reached the base. At the base was another room, this one much less cluttered than the one above. There were a few pieces of modest furniture here such as a comfy looking chair, a bookshelf with books along the wall, and two doors. One lead outside the clock tower. The other one she wasn't sure. Kitchen, maybe?

Upon exiting the clock tower, Star Breeze held a hoof above her eyes to shield them from the bright sunny day beyond. Her father's eyes were not adjusted to that yet, so she had to pause a moment while she did that. When her father's eyes started to clear, the details of her surroundings finally sank into her.

The tweet of birds was actually the first thing she acknowledged besides the fact that Time Turner exited the building behind her. Beyond that, the buildings started to take shape and then the closer details like the many colorful ponies trotting about the open streets.

Whoa! This is the future! Star Breeze privately marveled in awe. Amazing! I'm actually standing here, breathing in this air!

Star Breeze continued to look around. The more she did, the more she realized how mundane and quite ordinary her surroundings seemed. Star Breeze had traveled to many places across Equestria before. Honestly, this town did not look all that different from a dozen others she'd seen in the past. Even the architecture seemed familiar, but not exact. Every town was always unique, but certain core elements about it were usually the same, and this was no different. Even as she marveled at the fact that she stood here in the future, the day was pretty ordinary for the other ponies trotting about and going about their daily business.

“Howdy,” spoke a friendly creamy orange pony with brown mane and tail who had a cutie mark of blue crisscrossed horseshoes.

“Ah . . . howdy,” Star Breeze greeted back, then inwardly winced again. It was still so hard hearing and feeling her own father's voice coming out of her mouth, not to mention having to look up at the other stallion from her own diminished height.

“You have a happy Ponyville Day celebration!” the same stallion bid kindly as he continued to trot on.

“You too,” Star Breeze reflected with a bit of a grin. Attitude like that, she knew from experience, was particular to small towns like this. She knew for fair certainty that she was a stranger to this town. Her father had been here a few times before but unlikely enough times for everypony to be familiar with him or her. Instead of that, it was more likely that he greeted everypony like this.

Probing her environment further, Star Breeze noted another finer detail that eluded her earlier. Everypony she saw seemed at least a little happy. Like this other mare that crossed her path, going the opposite way that the other stallion did. This pony, who was light creme and sported a blue and pink mane, simply nodded at Star Breeze instead of speaking to her, but the mare was obviously in a fairly good mood. More than would be typical for an average town citizen.

This phenomenon wasn't exactly unique. Happy towns certainly existed elsewhere too, but the degree and intensity of happiness she observed here did seem a touch unusual, which honestly was very pleasant to observe.

Setting aside everything else she knew, such as what was going to happen to this town later on, at that particular moment, it all boiled down to one fundamental concept; this seemed like a nice place to live. What more could one ask for from a home town?

“Equestria to Star Breeze! Come in, Star Breeze!” Time Turner prompted behind her. She looked back and found him gesturing to his side. Following that gesture, she realized she fell behind her friends again. For a group that said they would escort her through town, Time Turner seemed to be the only one that really held up for her.

Feeling embarrassed, Star Breeze raced ahead to catch up to the rest. Time Turner did too, even going past Star Breeze to talk to Stern Wing further in the lead.

“You know, it's funny,” Vision brought up as she continued her travel along with Derpy, Star Breeze, Time Turner, and Stern Wing. “With the five of us traveling together like this, it seems like nothing has changed from an outsider's perspective. Little would anypony suspect that we are traveling with the Doctor's true pony counterpart, that somepony else has temporarily possessed Feather Wind, or that I'm secretly a changeling who replaced your amazingly awesome and beautiful companion Vision during your brief stay on the space station Zegga V.”

“If that's true, then apparently changelings can be psychic as well. Good to know,” said Stern Wing to “Vision”.

“Nah, we're just really good liars,” Vision jested. “Except when we're honest, which we like to do from time to time, like now, just to confuse those we infiltrated even more.

“But yeah, in all honesty, it's weird how we all look the same from our last visit but a whole lot has changed beneath the surface. Nopony else is likely to suspect a thing.”

Vision's next comment came directly at Star Breeze, and it happened in a very unusual way. There was a low, wavy, sonic pitch that Star Breeze almost couldn't hear while Vision spoke. Also she sounded like she was projecting her voice down a metallic tube. “” Vision said to Star Breeze with confidence.

“Huh?” That sounded really weird, so Star Breeze looked over her father's left shoulder at Vision who trotted behind them, dead last in the group. “How are you . . .?” Star Breeze began, but got her explanation as Vision pointed at her sonic screwdriver which was disguised as black glasses. Glasses which, Star Breeze knew, communicated to Vision's brain and gave her a sonic echo-location of everything around her. This was why Vision was able to follow them so confidently despite truly being blind.

“” Vision went on. “” For once, Vision pointed directly at Crystal Wind. She did not point in his general vicinity like she usually does, but instead pointed at his exact position even without “looking” at him herself.

“You can see me?” Crystal Wind asked Vision in surprise. His apparent image trotted nearby them, only five feet to Star Breeze's left side.

“No, I can sense you,” Vision mentally projected at Crystal Wind. Oddly, Star Breeze heard that telepathic message as well.

Crystal Wind rolled his eyes. “Of course you can. I don't know why I even bother to wonder about you.” Looking at Star Breeze, he then explained to her, “You heard her telepathic message because I deflected it at you even while I was receiving it,” Crystal Wind explained to his hidden daughter. “In truth, it is actually me sending the message at you.”

“Which thereby gives us yet another secret way to communicate to you two. Interesting,” mentally said Vision. “Well, in that case, I guess I don't have to use these glasses after all. How very resourceful of you, Feather Wind, as usual.

Anyway, that's all I really wanted to say to you both. I'm just letting you both know that I'm aware of your secret, and that I shall not spread this information without your permission.”

“Oh wow! You're amazing, Vision!” Star Breeze complimented the blind seer excitedly. “You were also the first one to identify that I was different from my father. I guess that eye symbol with a triangle around it on your flank is not just for decoration.”

“We all have our talents and quirks,” Vision returned. “Mine just happens to be the ability to see beyond the veil of reality.”

“I wish I could do that! You changelings really are impressive impersonators.”

Vision grinned at Star Breeze from behind as she mentally projected, “You say that now, but wait till you discover your cutie mark. You won't be so jealous of me then.”

“Have you met my future self?” Star Breeze asked Vision without looking back at the white blind filly.

“In a manner of speaking,” Vision answered enigmatically.

“That's a seer for ya,” Crystal Wind said with a chuckle. “What she can't see in the physical plane physically, she can sense the beyond psychically.”

“I have my gifts, and you all have yours. Every creature is unique. That's actually what we have in common,” Vision informed.

“We are all one, despite evidence to the contrary,” Crystal Wind assured. “I felt that and experienced it first hoof.”

“Well, right now, you and I are a little more 'one' then I care for,” Star Breeze telepathically said sadly as she looked at her own reflection in a window beside her as they walked past an adjacent building. Gazing upon her reflection, she tilted her head from side to side a bit to gaze at “her”self from different angles. It was so disturbing to watch the face of her father cooperate with her mental commands perfectly, and to see the face of her father instead of her own.

“How does that make you feel?” Crystal Wind pressed, seeing an opportunity to teach an important lesson right now.

“Empty. Hollow. Fake,” Star Breeze thought in a lamenting mental tone. “I love the face that gazes back at me in this reflection, but it isn't supposed to be my soul gazing back at me through those eyes. I'm . . . me but not me right now at the same time. This feels bitter.”

“Why do you think you feel that way?” Crystal Wind checked.

“I know what you're getting at,” Star Breeze thought at her father while also looking at his phantom image. “You're trying to teach me the importance of being myself. I remember you said something just like that when you spoke about the planet that reversed the genders of everypony who set hoof on it. Back then, you said to me that you'd take me there if you could, if only to teach me the importance of being myself.”

“If you ever doubt that in the future, recall this moment,” Crystal Wind advised. “Recall the time when you were not quite yourself, as well as how and why you felt that way.”

“A planet that reverses the gender of whomever steps hoof on it? That will be interesting,” Vision remarked. “Thanks for the spoiler, guys! Any other surprises you wish to ruin for me today?”

Star Breeze squinted her eyes at her father as she mentally projected, “You know, you don't have to deflect everything I am thinking at you to her as well, or is she picking all of this up on her own? You told me she is empathic, not telepathic.”

Crystal Wind chuckled a bit, then said, “As far as I'm concerned, tipping her off about anything in the future is a moot point. If I don't say it, she'll probably find out some other way anyway.”

“Whoa!” exclaimed somepony very young nearby. Star Breeze and, secretly, Crystal Wind looked to see a young dark brown colt with lighter brown eyes, very light brown mane (almost to the point of being orange) mixed with very light brown, almost to the point of being white. He wore a cap that had intermittent downward stripes of brownish-orange (same color as his mane) and white. There was a spinning propeller on top of his cap. This young colt regarded Star Breeze with wide, stunned eyes, or rather he seemed to. He was actually looking at something Star Breeze's father's body was wearing.

The young colt stood beside another mare with creamy yellow hide, light blue eyes, as well as brown mane and tail. While still regarding Star Breeze in shock, the young colt then pointed at the disguised filly as he said, “Look, Ma! Look at! That cloak is leaking down mist all the time. Is it on fire, Ma?”

At first the mother of this colt rolled her eyes with a sigh, but when she regarded Star Breeze's father's Mist Cloak, she cocked her head as she gave it a curious look too. For a moment she even looked a little concerned that it may indeed be on fire, but apparently there were enough hints to help her ascertain the truth. Then she said, “No, Button. It's just magical . . . I think.”

“Indeed it is,” Star Breeze expressed, wanting to settle this argument and possible excuse for a panic.

In the lead, Stern Wing gazed back at this scene in amusement.

“Whoa! Cool!” the colt whose apparent name was “Button” exclaimed in delight, then looked at his mother excitedly as he begged, “Can you get me one too, Ma? Huh? Can you? Can you?”

The mother squinted mischievously at Button as she said, “I thought you said you wanted ice cream instead.”

“Yeah!” Button confirmed. “I want that too!”

The mother rolled her eyes as she said, “Greedy little boy, aren't you? Come on. Off with us. It isn't polite to stare.” After she said that, she started taking off.

“But it's got cool flashes of lightning in it and everything!” Button pointed out as he raced after his mother. “It would look so cool while I wear that at school!”

“Feather Wind often gets that reaction about the cloak, even when we visit other alien planets,” Stern Wing informed Star Breeze from the lead. “I keep telling him that maybe he should hide it while we visit a new place as it poses a minor security risk due to the attention it draws, but he keeps insisting that it is his 'wings' and that it is a part of him.”

“I know,” Star Breeze said back. “I have seen many others gawk at him on . . .” she almost mentioned her home airship, but Crystal Wind interrupted that one

“Ah-ah-ah! Careful!” Crystal Wind advised and reminded.

“. . . well . . . back where I came from,” Star Breeze diverted. “We get a lot of visitors by doing the things we do. Many of them haven't seen father's Mist Cloak either, so I grew accustomed to other ponies surprised reactions. Some others get used to it if we regularly associate with them. Also, I know how stubborn father can feel about it. He really does feel like it's apart of him, and for good reason.”

“Oh trust me, I know. That's why I no longer put my hoof down on the issue.” Stern Wing shook her head as she looked ahead of her again. “I swear to Celestia, for a guy who claims he doesn't like to be the center of attention, he sure likes to wear fancy things that tends to gather said attention. That's his own fault.”

“Where are we going, anyway?” Star Breeze asked curiously.

“Following Derpy, apparently,” Stern Wing answered ahead of Star Breeze. Of all of them, Derpy was in the furthest lead, and she seemed driven somewhere with utter focus. If Star Breeze didn't know better, she would have said the wall-eyed mare was hypnotized.

“I think I know where, too, but I won't spoil the surprise,” Time Turner said with amusement, but then he looked at Stern Wing in concern. “I've actually seen this expression on her before, but I want to check and make sure that she wasn't also like this while under the infection she suffered recently.”

“That isn't a pleasant memory for me to discuss with you,” Stern Wing warned Time Turner. “That said, I can assure you that she didn't act like this at all while infected. She was getting much more distracted and aggressive in a way that's very unlike her. I'm glad we got that over with. Now this Derpy looks really driven and excited.

“Come to think of it, I think I know where she's going, too.” Realizing where they might be going, Stern Wing regarded Time Turner for a moment. “You got bits?”

“Some, yes,” Time Turner confirmed, “and don't you worry. If need be, I'll treat you all.”

Stern Wing looked over her left shoulder again at her disguised future daughter. At that moment Stern Wing observed Star Breeze regarding the sky with a look of longing that she hadn't seen in her boyfriend's eyes in over a decade. At that point she asked, “You okay back there, Honey?”

“Yeah. It's just . . . the shadow of a pegasus passed over us a few moments ago. I looked up and saw a mint green pegasus fly past us,” Star Breeze said.

“Yeah? So?” Stern Wing probed. She also trotted slower to allow Star Breeze to catch up, then resumed trotting beside the disguised young filly.

“So, it just feels weird and sad to me that I can't just take off and fly along with them,” Star Breeze told her mother.

“Wait, what?!” Stern Wing looked taken aback. “You're a pegasus? But . . . you used that Red Crystal so proficiently earlier. I thought anypony with that much experience with magic would have to be a unicorn, like your father.”

“No.” Star Breeze shook her father's head as she also regarded her mother to her right side. “Just because I learned to attune myself to the Red Crystal doesn't mean I'm a unicorn. Part of me wishes I was, because I do love magic, but my connection to the Red Crystal is a result of training and family connection. If you could learn to attune yourself to this stone, then you could potentially use unicorn magic through this stone.”

“Huh.” Stern Wing stared forward blankly. “I guess that never occurred to me.” She then shifted her look back to her daughter. “That's funny. Here you are, temporarily possessing your own father's body and wishing you could fly off like you are used to. Are you aware how ironic that is while possessing the world's first flying unicorn?”

“This,” Star Breeze gestured to her father's flank, “is my father's cutie mark talent, not mine. If I stayed in his body for years then maybe I could eventually learn to tap into its magical potential, but I'd still have serious doubts. Just because he can fly using this body, doesn't mean I can. I'm used to flying with wings, Mom, same as you. If I had to learn to fly through him, it would take me at least as long as it did for him, if not more.”

Right after Star Breeze said that, she gave a curious look at a familiar looking mare. It was a pale creme earth pony with pink and blue mane and tail. The odd thing was, she was traveling north to south, but the last time Star Breeze saw her, this mare was traveling straight west. Had she already circled around north then headed south?

“And that took him years to learn,” Stern Wing assured. “I know. I was there, helping him to learn it from scratch along with my cousin Sky Dancer.”

The mere mention of “Sky Dancer” brought Star Breeze a flash memory of the book Discord summoned many years ago. Also it brought up her own memories of the flying stallion himself. Star Breeze personally met Sky Dancer far more than once. He was fun and inspirational. Like her father, Sky Dancer also helped inspire Star Breeze to appreciate her gifts for flying. The main difference between herself compared to either her father or Sky Dancer was the fact that Star Breeze's heart was set much higher than the sky, like the very stars themselves.

“Oh, you know him?” Stern Wing guessed, which was based on the familiar look she saw crossing her boyfriend's face, then she blinked as she looked forward. “Wait a second! What am I talking about? Of course you met him! I'd settle for nothing less. Unless I never get back to my home time period or he dies before you were born, I'd make sure you meet my cousin Sky Dancer, even if I have to lock you two in a room together.”

“Trust me, you won't have to fight nearly that hard to get us to talk to each other,” Star Breeze assured her mother. “Not that I personally recall, but both you and him claimed that he met me while I was still a baby, multiple times. To my perspective, I remember him better once I started to learn to speak. Around that time he visited us occasionally, and I always looked up to him like a fun uncle kind of guy. Also, he may look and act like a cool surfer dude, but he's also incredibly wise.”

“Does that imply that cool surfer dudes are normally foolish?” Vision teased.

In response, Star Breeze giggled a little in a very young girlish way which sounded so weird from her father's own throat. She otherwise made no follow-up to that comment.

“You know, if you really wanted to see what Ponyville looks like from above, I can simply pick you up and carry you,” Stern Wing offered. “I'm really strong, and my boyfriend is one of the lightest weight ponies I know. That's kind of the point of his existence. He is named 'Feather Wind', after all, implying being light as a feather enough to be blown in the wind.”

“Hmm.” Star Breeze looked skyward, feeling tempted to accept her mother's offer. She was interrupted from that train of thought by a question asked ahead of her.

“So, my young filly friend, what do you think of Ponyville?” asked Time Turner in the lead, but he soon trotted slower too so Star Breeze and Stern Wing kind of caught up to him.

“What do I think of Ponyville?” Star Breeze reflected. “Well, um,” she paused for awhile as she looked around.

Star Breeze carefully assessed her surroundings again. She observed the simple architecture she usually observed in many other small towns, but there was something “fun” and “uplifting” about this place. Something about it that put a smile on her face. For example, up ahead, she was able to see a building with a smaller building built on top of it, and the second smaller building (more like the size of a single room) was shaped like a cupcake. It was stuff like that that gave the town its own personal charm.

“I like it!” Star Breeze said after a long pause, and by then Time Turner was trotting to Star Breeze's left. Because of that, Crystal Wind diverted himself further left and a bit behind. “This town is happy and cheerful! I feel like it can break out into a spontaneous song at any moment.”

That comment made Time Turner chuckle, for he recalled moments when the town did exactly that. Sometimes he was directly a part of such musical ensembles.

“I look around me and I notice an unusually high percentage of smiles,” Star Breeze went on, “and it looks to me like most ponies are just moving on to their daily business. Nothing special, nor expecting something special. It's as if they are like this all the time.”

“Well, there is the Ponyville Day celebration coming up tonight,” Time Turner reminded. “That's probably a factor that's lifting up the average mood of the town right now. By Celestia, I'm quite looking forward to the festivities myself.”

“Well, yeah. I guess there's that,” Star Breeze conceded. “But it feels like something more than that. Something hidden underneath. Something elusive that makes this place feel special.”

“I concur,” Vision agreed. “I'm quite empathic, and the town itself has a general mood of its own. Almost like it has its own spirit.”

“While growing up with my father and mother's stories about this place which they, in turn, learned from Derpy, as well as their own personal experiences in this town, I've come to think of this place as a nexus of Destiny,” Star Breeze informed. “That said,” she looked around again, “the one thing that feels weird to me about this is the fact that I'm gazing into a reflection of this world from the future of my time. This is a small piece of what the world will look like so many tomorrows ahead of my time. I think of that and I look around me at how ordinary this town physically looks. I've traveled in many similar to it in the past, but nothing exactly like it. Overall it seems very familiar to me on the surface. Single story buildings, a tiny pegasus selling newspaper, a giant white pegasus selling cinnamon nuts and hawking his wares very loudly.” Star Breeze then regarded somepony strangely as she said, “A really familiar looking creme mare with pink and blue mane and tail which I swear we passed her by two times already.”

“Huh?” Time Turner looked around, then spotted the one Star Breeze was likely referring to. “Oh. That's Bon Bon. Yeah, we see her around here a lot, often in the company of one of her very dear friends.”

Star Breeze looked back the way they came, then asked, “Does she have a twin sister or triplets? Because I swear we passed her twice before.”

“Not that I'm aware of, no,” Time Turner answered.

Huh. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me. Either that, or this unusual twist on reality is part of Discord's hoofiwork for me. He did say that his powers often have some extra chaotic twist to it somewhere and that maybe even he cannot help it. If it is him, maybe he's also making it so that every other pony here regards that as perfectly normal. Everypony else here seems to accept the fact that there are 'Bon Bon' clones everywhere.

Come to think of it, I think I saw a few other duplicates of other ponies around here as well. If so, that is the most unusual twist I've discovered so far.

“Um, anyway,” Star Breeze shook her head in order to clear it. “Yes. On the surface, this town seems quite ordinary, like many I have seen before. I should know. I travel a lot for my young years. Despite that, although this town looks quite ordinary on the surface, it has a magical sort of feeling to it hidden underneath.

“I once visited a quiet hamlet in the middle of a stinky swamp. I quite callously once asked one of the local residents there, 'How can you stand living in this place along with that constant awful smell?' The one I asked looked at me oddly, and asked in return, 'What smell are you talking about? The air is clean and fresh.'

“After he said that, my father pulled me aside and explained how our noses could grow accustomed to a sensation we experience too much. It grows desensitized to it. In thinking of that, I wonder if the residents of this village are anything like that. That they have grown so accustomed to such a happy atmosphere that they hardly notice it anymore unless they break into spontaneous song and dance.”

“Huh. You know, you might have a point there,” Time Turner acknowledged. “I'm not sure about your era, but in mine most ponies don't travel around too much, so they grow to heavily identify with the place they live. I think I read something about this from a famous pony psychologist by the name of Mind Job who once called this kind of phenomenon 'Group Psychology', which is a kind of mob mentality but it could gravitate towards any potential emotion. If you ever go to a busy sports game, you can see this group psychology in heavy action at such places. It doesn't even matter if you root for a single team or not. It's so easy to be swept up by the mood of the atmosphere.”

“Oh, I know!” Star Breeze heavily agreed. “I've been to all kinds of sports games hosted by the Wonderbolts, particularly some races. My scream of joy seemed to get swept up in the cacophony around me at those times. It was so fun.”

“Yet another note to self for me,” Stern Wing slightly complained. “Now I know I'll have to take you to several Wonderbolts games.”

“Welcome to my world, then, where you are in very good company,” Vision teased. “That said, admit it. You would have taken your foal to a Wonderbolts game anyway. That's just the kind of pony you are.”

“Okay.” Star Breeze raised her father's head high. “I am growing more and more certain that we are heading directly for that building with the cupcake on top of it.”

Stern Wing laughed for a moment, then said, “You obviously haven't met Derpy before, then.”

Derpy burst in through the door pretty forcefully. Fortunately no other pony was in the way of the door, or they could have gotten smacked pretty hard. As it stood, the bell above the door rang pretty hard.

When Star Breeze stepped through the door, the first thing she noticed was the scent of pastries fill her nostrils. Looking about, she noticed that the decor of this store had a pretty homey atmosphere, and there were some pastries being displayed in a display case. Surprisingly the only other ponies she saw in the room, besides her friends, were two very young and very unattended yearling babies. They were playing with letter blocks. By the looks of it, the pegasus one was more content to smash the block on the floor over and over again while his sister watched and clapped her forehooves while giggling in amusement.

Wait a second! Star Breeze thought to herself in alarm, then looked at Time Turner.

“Where are we? What shop is this?” Star Breeze asked Time Turner.

“Why, this would be Sugarcube Corner, my dear,” Time Turner answered eloquently.

Star Breeze widened her eyes, then passed that same expression to Crystal Wind as she thought to him, Shoot! Didn't you once say that this is where Pinkie Pie lives?

“Yes,” Crystal Wind confirmed simply.

Star Breeze tilted her head at Crystal Wind while Derpy smacked a counter bell in the hopes to summon attention soon. While Derpy waited anxiously, Star Breeze mentally asked her father, “Didn't you say to me that Pinkie Pie and her friends haven't met you until the ancient past as time clones? Doesn't that mean I shouldn't be here right now in your body?”

“Okay, first of all, pretty good memory,” Crystal Wind commended his daughter. “Secondly, I only told you that Twilight said she hasn't met me until the ancient past, and thirdly . . .” he trailed off for a moment when he observed Derpy smacking the counter bell repeatedly in extreme impatience. Watching that dazed him for a moment, but then he shook his head and went on with his point. “Thirdly, Pinkie is not here right now anyway. She's outside, helping others to set up for Ponyville Day party.”

“Are you sure?” Star Breeze double checked cautiously.

Crystal Wind looked from Derpy to his daughter as he said in a reassuring voice, “I'm recording everything you are observing right now, and Feather Wind will review those memories when you leave and he gets his body back, and I have his memories of this moment a long time ago, so I am pretty sure. I suppose nothing is set with the likes of Discord being your tour guide, and your own choices could make a new reality, but . . .” again he trailed off as his eyes shifted ahead of him again but his face remained directed at his daughter. What drew his attention was a new occupant entered the room. This was a bit chubby blue hide mare with two shades of pink for her mane and tell which was set in a swirl pattern, and she wore an apron with pink frills on the strap and golden base.

“How are you, dearies?” the mare asked pleasantly upon arrival. She regarded Derpy directly. “My-my, somepony is awfully hungry today. What can I get for you on this happy Ponyville Day?”

Derpy's response was to lift herself up by propping both of her forward hooves on the glass counter between her and the blue baker. After that, Derpy leaned forward silently and very emphatically with an obviously intense look to her otherwise adorable wall-eyes which frightened the innocent baker a bit. The blue mares eyes grew smaller as her face scrunched up. Her eyes darted behind her for a split second to make sure she had room to back off from Derpy, then proceeded to do so when she noticed the coast was clear behind her. After a four second awkward and kind of creepy silent pause, Derpy whispered in a strong, husky voice, “Muh-FIIIIIIIIINNNNNNSSSS!” Derpy intensely demanded.

Chapter Six: A Ponyville Day In The Life

Chapter 6

A Ponyville Day In The Life

Crystal Wind secretly assured his daughter that Derpy was not normally this demanding when it came to her favorite pastries, but this version of Derpy had an exhausting and harrowing adventures in the TARDIS. All of this she found worth it. She would not trade those experiences for anything else, but often the thing that helped her pull through and summon enough inner strength to endure these challenges were the thought of muffins, and of those, the ones baked in Sugarcube Corner was an especially strong comfort food for her. Crystal Wind assured that Derpy knew how to make her own muffins in the TARDIS, but nothing she could bake could feel quite as authentic or nostalgic as the ones made by the pony who originally caused her to fall in love with the treats. Every time Derpy bit into a warm and fluffy muffin in Ponyville, it felt like a confirmation that she was finally home. The ordeal she recently suffered before that moment made that reassurance feel especially desperate for her.

The shop baker, Mrs Cake, obviously did not know that. More than likely, she probably saw Derpy no more than a few days ago tops, delivering mail as Derpy usually did (which was, frankly, not entirely competent). Mrs Cake had no reason to suspect that another version of Derpy from another reality stepped into her shop on that day and demanded the treats for reasons that were far beyond what the innocent baker could imagine.

Which was probably for the best, Star Breeze decided. The citizens of Ponyville seemed to have a warm and charming atmosphere which was likely far from ready for the rigorous adventures of the TARDIS, such as visiting other planets and timelines where fire and brimstone were coming down from the skies, rivers flowed with lava and seas boiled, the dead were rising from the grave, ponies were sacrificed, dogs and cats lived together. Mass hysteria!

In other words, far beyond the norm of a typical day in Ponyville, and even that sleepy town had a few “epic” moments on occasion. After all, when the occasional stampede of bunny rabbits rushed through the center of town and accidentally broke the stem of one of the zinnia flowers, it was enough to cause one to faint and twitch in horror.

In thinking of that and comparing it to the tales she heard of in Ponyville verses the adventures her parents had in the TARDIS, it almost made her question if she was really having a “true” adventure right now. Everything she was going through at that moment felt so much more tame compared to what her parents said was out there in the universe. Eventually Star Breeze decided that the lower scale of an adventure does not dismiss the fact that it was an adventure. By exploring a place she had never been to before, it was still enough to warrant her story to have the “adventure” genre, but probably also “slice of life” considering how tame her adventures were.

But the day was still young, and so was she. She had a lot more to explore, and so she did with the rest of her friends.

Most of Star Breeze's company were strangers to the citizens of this town, but they still got an occasional nod and a “howdy”, or something to that effect. Of her company, only Time Turner occasionally got more of a reaction from the rest of the town citizens, but it still usually wasn't that much.

In fact, the one pony who interacted with Time Turner the most was a red mane flower seller mare named Rose. When she first spotted Time Turner, she waved for him to approach. He did, and the rest of his company either paused or approached along with him. Star Breeze did not eavesdrop on their private conversation too much, but she gathered enough to ascertain that Rose wished she could accompany Time Turner on his rounds through Ponyville, but she was stuck on flower selling duty. A duty made more important due to the fact that she was making decent sales today which usually happens anyway during certain festivals. She especially made a killing in sales on Mares Day. Rose did, however, express interest to join the group after she finished selling late into the afternoon. By then Ponyville would be too busy participating in this years main activities, so there was no point in continuing to keep her shop open. This year she heard that Ponyville would have some classy events that she would be interested to attend, and asked the “Doctor” if he would be interested to join her in a classy dance with her. Not only did Time Turner say yes, but he also then introduced Rose to the rest of his companions for the day. Upon being introduced, Star Breeze found Rose to be exceptionally pleasant, but that no longer surprised the little filly. Before Star Breeze and her friends departed, Rose gave a few complimentary flowers to the other mares and filly of Star Breeze's party, which notably did not include Star Breeze herself. For a brief moment Star Breeze felt left out, but she had to remind herself that she was wearing her father's body at that moment. This was another stabbing reminder to her that she was not herself today, which felt momentarily very painful. If Crystal Wind was not secretly traveling along with her, it would have made the moment even more painful, but at least she could say that she kind of traveled with both of her parents during this adventure.

After her friends left Rose's stall, Vision secretly tucked the flower she received in Star Breeze's father's mane, right between his left ear and white cloud-like mane. Looking at Vision in surprise, Vision explained that the psychic empath felt how Star Breeze felt left out, and Vision couldn't see the flower anyway. Star Breeze argued that Vision could still smell it at least, but that only made Vision pat the disguised filly on the back and pass a reassuring kind of grin.

Considering her current predicament, Star Breeze felt a little weird to have a rose tucked on her father's mane, but she just couldn't bear to part with it, especially since it was a gift from a recent friend.

Star Breeze got the impression that Ponyville was busier that day than it typically was. No where else was that more apparent than the Market street. That area of the town, more than most others, had a lot of hoof traffic. It felt like more than a mere day for shopping. It felt like a festival, especially since they had a few more activities that day than the town typically did.

For example, and this was something that made Star Breeze especially interested, there was an emphasis in expressing Ponyville's history on that day. On Market street there was a few ponies hawking old wares that they claimed had historical significance to the town somehow. It happened a bit too frequently to take their claims without some level of skepticism, but the items for sale did indeed look pretty old. For all Star Breeze knew, everything they said about the item might be true.

Star Breeze ended up more interested in the folks that did nothing more than talk about Ponyville history, and one old mare in particular especially caught Star Breeze's interest, and that was Granny Smith. Granny Smith sat on an old rocking chair and elevated up about three feet above the crowd around her. The reason for the height was the fact that she and the rocking chair was on a block of wrapped hay.

Star Breeze was well aware that the old green farm pony might recognize Star Breeze's father, Feather Wind. Accordingly, Star Breeze cautiously managed to secure a position behind and somewhat to the right side of the old mare.

From there, Star Breeze just stood there and listened to the old mare ramble on with the level of fascination Star Breeze usually had with the stories from old ponies. This story, in particular, Star Breeze found especially captivating because the disguised filly knew for a fact that Granny Smith was indeed one of the original founders of this town. By this time period, she was likely the oldest one left. While listening to the stories, Star Breeze marveled how today, of all days, was the perfect time period to visit Ponyville. How appropriate that on the very day Star Breeze explored Ponyville for the first time, that just also happened to be the day the citizens celebrated the anniversary of the founding of the town itself. Accordingly, they were prone to talk about the history of the town which thereby explained to Star Breeze all the years she had missed in skipping this far ahead in time.

Star Breeze was almost twenty years younger than Granny Smith, so it was possible for Star Breeze to survive this long and trot around this town as an old mare herself, but there was no proof of that so far. For all she knew, getting a recap of Ponyville's history today might be her one and only chance to find out what happened to this town after all these years. Considering the fact that Star Breeze did feel some personal connection to this town, that made the stories she heard from Granny Smith have all the more impact.

Star Breeze's companions noticed her interest so they patiently stood with her. They looked delighted too, for they somewhat understood why this was so important to her and to themselves.

In fact, most of the citizens who paused to listen to Granny Smith did so with a smile on their face. In general, it was the younger citizens of the crowd that were much more bored. They wanted to go out and either play or eat something delicious while this old lady rambled about a time long before they were born. The older ponies, however, were more personally involved with some of the stories Granny Smith spoke of, so they had a stronger investment in her story. Star Breeze could see hints of recognition on the faces of the older listeners as they nodded and seemed to indicate, “Yeah, I was there! I remember that one too.” Seeing that made Star Breeze briefly envy them due to that historical and also emotional connection to the story.

Overall, Granny Smith's stories lacked focus. They seemed to shift from topic to topic, and more than once she seemed to have forgotten where she left off. This was especially evident when she paused for awhile as she tried to recall what happened next, or ended up repeating something she already said a few minutes ago. Sometimes she was annoyed with others when they reminded her of the fact that she already said that a few minutes ago, and sometimes she looked embarrassed at her blunder. She seemed at least partially aware of that weakness in her.

This was quite different from the younger version of Miss Smith that Star Breeze knew, or at least enough to feel familiar. Miss Smith still had that bossy, matriarchal attitude that Star Breeze recognized so much. A lady who was in firm control over her own destiny and was proud of it. The main difference was the fact that the younger version Star Breeze knew was much more active in manifesting her destiny rather than simply sitting in a rocking chair and reminiscing about the good old days. It made Granny Smith look and feel somewhat displaced in time as well, as if this wasn't really her world anymore. That belonged to a younger generation, but at least most of that generation proudly looked upon her and listened with rapt attention, especially on that day of all days. On that day her stories felt especially poignant. Star Breeze was glad to see that.

It was a bittersweet moment for Star Breeze to watch Granny Smith ramble on about her life and the important events that made Ponyville what it was on that day. Bitter because she got to see a version of Miss Smith who had less active fire within herself, but comforting to see proof that Miss Smith will indeed have a very long and mostly very good life. Not only was Miss Smith an important foundation for this town, but she got to live long enough to witness it grow and develop far beyond her initial efforts. It was amazing to realize how much importance she, her family and those Zap Apple trees put an indelible mark on this town and even the whole of Equestria. Just like those apple trees, the start of a grove or forest begins with the seeds from a single tree.

Star Breeze's heart glowed when she thought about how everything that was done here helped to mark the beginning of many other important events which ultimately lead to the saving of all of Equestria multiple times. By listening to those stories, she got a vivid picture of the web-work of life. How one event caused this which later resulted in this and then this and followed up by this. It made everything in life feel important to her, and reminded her of something her father always said to her many years ago, about how all life and nature was connected. Her grand uncle, Ramadon Mesmer, claimed that magic was everywhere in their reality. On that day, Star Breeze was feeling the proof.

There were other events during the course of the day Star Breeze and her friends took part in. She sampled lots of snacks such as cinnamon nuts, muffins, cupcakes, ice cream, cotton candy, and popcorn. She also spent a few hours in the Ponyville Day Spa (and to do it on Ponyville Day, no less), and nearly an hour at Rarity's Boutique in order to rent a classy outfit for the dance later on. Rarity herself was not there at that moment. Instead, her friend Spike helped out the customers pick an outfit then directed them to the dressing room. For a moment Star Breeze contemplated the fact that this might be the first time Spike and Feather Wind have met each other, which should mean that Spike's time clone recognized Feather Wind on sight, but Crystal Wind reminded Star Breeze that their meeting in the ancient past would not occur to Spike for several more years ahead of this day, and he was too busy anyway to memorize other ponies in detail.

Star Breeze felt weird to dress up in a classy tuxedo, but her father managed to convince her to think of it as little more than a costume for Nightmare Night. Thinking of it in those terms made wearing the outfit feel less awkward and more fun.

Time Turner paid for the rental of the outfits, although he had to bring up a tab for that and agreed to pay for the rest later. The cruel irony of that was the fact that they met up with the Doctor shortly later, and he reminded the group that he had plenty of outfits like this back in the TARDIS. Upon reflection, it occurred to Star Breeze how unusual it was that no pony else who traveled on the TARDIS before thought of that fact.

The dance itself was fun, but it also felt a little awkward to Star Breeze since she was not wearing her own body at that moment, and that body had a sentimental history with the other members of the party. To help alleviate that a bit, Derpy herself danced with Star Breeze instead of Stern Wing. The Doctor danced with Stern Wing, Time Turner danced with Rose as promised, and Vision didn't dance at all, nor did anypony else expect her too since she looked like she was blind.

The next event the others participated in was a wine sipping. Star Breeze sat that one out and waited for the others to finish along with Vision and the secret mental projection of Crystal Wind. Together, they talked about philosophy.

The last major event of the day to take place was a runway show where Rarity showed off a few of her outfits. Rarity herself posed in a few of them. Star Breeze wasn't too worried about being spotted within that thick crowd. She enjoyed the atmosphere of that moment, including the lights, sounds, the excited crowds and the outfits themselves. Being a secret filly herself, Star Breeze was lulled with fascination of some of those outfits and wished she could wear some of them herself, but gained an empty feeling when she realized that, A; she wasn't a filly at that moment, and B, these outfits would not be invented for nearly a century when Star Breeze did return to her own body and time period. At least she got to see the outfits for a moment, and it could inspire other ideas back in the past as well.

For dinner, she and her friends had a good time at the Hay Burger joint where they had a simple and messy meal as they ate slowly and talked a lot, mostly about what happened over the course of the day. The conversation was somewhat modified because Rose continued to hang out with them because of Time Turner in particular, ever since their visit to the Boutique. As a result of her presence, the group modified what they said to each other in her company. They did not want to startle her with all the knowledge they accumulated about the rest of time and space. Considering that point, Rose seemed to take the presence of Time Turner's apparent twin brother fairly well. Star Breeze guessed some logical explanation was given to Rose on that point quite awhile ago.

After dinner, the group retired back at Time Turner's clock tower, except for Rose. She parted company with the group after leaving the Hay Burger. Of those who returned to the clock tower, some also went back inside then slept in the TARDIS. Star Breeze was the only one, besides Time Turner, to opt to try to sleep in the clock tower itself. She suspected she'd have trouble sleeping with all that clicking noise, but she also hoped that her mind would eventually phased it out as background noise. Star Breeze ended up sleeping on a guest cot bed that Time Turner pulled out, and he slept on the bed that was strapped to the wall but he lowered it in order to sleep on it.

“So what did you think of your first day in Ponyville?” Crystal Wind asked his daughter with a warm voice. “Is this adventure all you hoped for?”

“Not everything was ideal,” Star Breeze mentally told her father. “I wish I had done this as myself.”

“Perhaps you will next time,” Crystal Wind consoled. “You can already do it as yourself in the past.”

Facing up on the cot and resting her father's right hoof to his forehead just below the blue horn, Star Breeze mused. “It was fascinating and comforting to see how Ponyville will develop. It felt strange to me at first to witness the future like this, but the casual indifference of the other pony citizens eventually rubbed off on me. It made me feel like I could regard this like an average day. Just another ordinary day in Equestria, except for the excitement of the festival. I'm really glad I was able to catch that. The recap I've gained over this town's development in history helped me to connect with all that I've missed. It's mind boggling to me that they are speaking in past tense of events which will occur in my future. That made me feel somewhat displaced.

“That's kind of how I imagine Granny Smith felt, except I didn't see even a hint of an empty feeling in her. She didn't look bored or depressed about her life at all. Instead, she looked fulfilled. The rest of us would be so lucky if we can look back at our own history so fondly when we get to be that age.”

“Granny Smith has been through a lot by now,” Crystal Wind verified. “She has a lot of good memories. Memories which you can help to build in the past if you want to. Do not forget, Honey, that this is your world too. You help to build it up into whatever wonder that you want. Thanks to us, the glory of the Crystal Empire's rainbow light will illuminate the skies of Equestria again, and we of the Scroll family also have the honor to document every important event that we witness. I do it through my poetry. You still need to find your own way.”

Star Breeze turned her father's head to look at Crystal Sage as she asked, “How did father feel about this day when he reviewed the memories you are leaving for him in the Red Crystal? For instance, does he remember that I'm having a conversation with you right now?”

Crystal Wind shook his head. “No. I left out the parts where you and I have a conversation with each other. I mainly focused on the memories of what you did and said while here, not what you thought and not our conversations with each other. I did not want to grant too many spoilers.

“As for how he felt,” Crystal Wind paused for awhile as he looked down and to the left for seven seconds of silence while he gathered his thoughts and memories, then said, “it felt surreal to him to review the memories in the crystal that are so vivid, it would feel like reliving those memories all over again except he could not control his actions. It almost felt like witnessing somepony else's life. Part of him felt like he was intruding because of that.”

Crystal Wind looked at Star Breeze. “Believe it or not, this still isn't his first clue that he would have a daughter someday, but this is the most direct interaction by this date. He felt sadden by the fact that he couldn't talk to you himself.”

“I felt that way too today,” Star Breeze expressed. “I wished he could be with me as I explored this time. Having you here with me helped on that front.”

Crystal Wind smiled lovingly at her as he said, “I'm glad I could help.” His expression softened as he said, “Your father wrote a poem later on about his experience with you temporarily possessing his body. Would you like to hear it?” he offered.

“Yes please!” Star Breeze eagerly invited.

“Okay.” Crystal Wind took a moment to review the poem which was recorded within the Red Crystal, then he spoke.

“Generations shared through the winds of time.

Generations shared through the eyes of another.

The echo precedes the voice, and shared right back unto itself,

like the glimmer of stars sparkling across endless eons stretched to meet the eye,

across the valley of space and time.

Love is the bridge upon which they met, even for a brief moment.

The future is endless.

The past is endless.

Only the present is the infinite now. Blink, and you'll miss it.

Void filled me as I embraced myself,

for it was the closest thing I came to hugging her.

It is all that I have of her. All that existed yet.

To hug myself, I hugged her vicariously.

All that I have is her shadow.

And, of course, her mother.

I gaze upon the stars with foalish wonder, even as I traveled among them.

Wondering to myself . . . when will she finally make me complete?

When will this void within me be filled?

Both me . . . and her mother.

Patience is a virtue.

I am oft reminded.

In the meantime, I have this indefinite now.

That's all I have.

That's all I'll ever have.

Life is a river of destiny which flows from one moment to the other.

Like the doors to the TARDIS, infinite wonders beckon beyond

to the sea of stars and endless possibilities.

I must be brave.

I must go on.

One hoof in front of the other.

One gush of wind blowing into my sails.

My adventure continues to draw me to endless horizons.

To endless hopes, dreams, and possibilities born over and over again.

I can only hope that it is enough to prepare me for my ultimate adventure . . .

Fatherhood.

This I vow to you, my dearly loved unborn one,

I will be all that I can be . . . for you.

You . . .

and your mother . . .

are the reasons I push myself to be the best pony I can be.

May all the stars hear my voice and my solemn vow.

My name is Feather Wind, and I am going to be a father.

For every day of my existence, I shall strive to be worthy of that ultimate blessing.

May she ever know the joy my love brings.

For it is her inheritance, as it was mine,

This is the family legacy we share in all of creation.

So it was,

And so it shall always be.”

Tears were in Star Breeze's father's eyes as she gazed upon the phantom image of her father's eyes.

Eventually, with the glow of love filling her heart, she turned to her side, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

“I love you, Daddy,” Star Breeze mentally projected with her heart exploding with intense gratitude and love.

“I love you too, Sweetheart.” Crystal Wind returned softly. “May Luna's kiss carry you off to pleasant dreams.”

Chapter Seven: A Pure and Innocent Wish

Chapter 7

A Pure And Innocent Wish

Star Breeze rolled onto her father's back as she stared upward with red cracked lines across her father's eyes. She had wondered if sleeping in the noise of a clock tower would be difficult several hours earlier, and now she had her answer. Perhaps if she had a lot more practice, this would be easier. As it turns out, Time Turner's snoring wasn't quiet either. As the hours rolled by, she tried to recall what her father said about the Doctor's snoring habits, and all she could recall on that front was her father having trouble recalling if the Doctor ever slept. Perhaps, as an alien being with two hearts, he never did need to sleep. Time Turner was a true pony, however, and his snoring was not quiet. That, on top of everything else, made sleeping in here feel impossible.

There were no guarantees that sleeping in the TARDIS would be better either. It may be that, one day, she'd have to find out anyway. If she really did have a destiny in this time and space machine, then on that day finding out the answers to those questions was inevitable. Attempting to sleep in this clock tower, however, might have been a once in a lifetime chance. After tonight, she decided that maybe that was a good thing. Curiosity was satisfied, and this annoyance might not be something she'd ever have to deal with again, by choice!

Star Breeze took a deep intake of breath then let it out slowly. That was a trick both of her parents taught her when it comes to calming down. In fact, Crystal Sage once also echoed that advice. Every respected mentor in her life kept telling her the same things as long as that advice really mattered.

Well she knew a long time ago that these things happen during an adventure. Going to a new place was an adventure. Traveling through time was an adventure. Trying out a new dish she never tasted before was an adventure. There was simply no way to tell if gambling her fate on something new would be good or bad before she tried it. All she could really do before hoof was to try it and see how she liked it, and after trying to sleep in this clock tower for at least five hours straight, she came to one inevitable conclusion.

This SUCKS! Star Breeze screamed in her mind in frustration. She also felt like actually screaming into her pillow, but she did not want to risk waking Time Turner up.

After all, he did nothing wrong. All he did was to be a gracious host by helping escort her and her friends through Ponyville, pay for countless items across the day, and offer her a guest bed in his own home. As a host, his politeness has been beyond reproach.

But the fact of the matter was, she just couldn't sleep here. It did not matter how tired she was either. The constant ticking, clicking and snoring kept her up.

Star Breeze sat up in frustration and looked around. Being in the darkness for as long as she had been, her eyes were well adjusted to the darkness. It wasn't too dark either. The moon shone pretty brightly through the forward face of the giant clock tower. She looked up at it and noticed the apparent image of her father sitting at the bottom edge of the face of the clock tower, looking outwardly from within the tower. He quickly detected her scrutiny, however, or he simply recalled it. He looked back at her and gave her a soft, serene and loving smile. He said no words. He simply let his facial expression communicate his feelings towards her.

Looking at the wall on the opposite end of the face of the clock tower, she saw the giant shadows of the clock's hands. She also saw the shadows of the numbers of the clock backwards. It took her a moment to realize that the one thing that was missing was her father's shadow, but then she realized that a mental projection of him casts no shadow because he wasn't actually physically there. The only reason she could see him was because he chose to project to her mind the phantom image of his presence.

On a whim, Star Breeze threw the covers off of her, which momentarily chilled her due to the coldness of the night. It wasn't noticeable before, but without the protection of her covers anymore, she learned just how cold the night air was. This did not deter her, however. Star Breeze felt determined.

She wrapped her father's Mist Cloak snugly onto herself then trotted for the exit on the north wall. Once there, she glanced back at her father's phantom image, curious to see if he would make any attempt to stop her. Instead, she noticed how he continued to regard her calmly and otherwise said nothing. She had to remind herself that he did not need to guess what she was doing or what she would later do. He could simply recall all of this. Another reason he did not object was because he didn't want to do anything to impinge upon her personal freedom, unless she was set upon an action which would bring substantial danger.

That was fine. Star Breeze did not really want him to object anyway. She only glanced at him just to double check. She noticed he said nothing to oppose her, so she took it as a sign that what she was about to do wasn't too dangerous. It might even be educational. So she left.

Star Breeze ignited the ruby crystal around her neck with bright crimson light. It was enough to notice that there was an unlit hoof lantern within the hallway of stairs, but she decided to leave it there because she was resourceful enough to summon her own light, albeit through the Red Crystal.

She thought of it before and she thought it again, she loved magic.

Star Breeze trotted her way down the stairs then eventually outside the front exit to the clock tower. She did not see her father's phantom image again until she was outside the clock tower. He was just to the right side of the exit. A small part of him stood just in view from beyond the door frame so she wasn't startled at all to see him there. Once she was outside, she paused for a moment to look at him, just in case he had anything to say to her this time.

Crystal Wind was still silent as he gazed at her with soft love, but then he used his face to nod upwards at something then followed that up shifting his gaze to look at something above them. Following his gaze, Star Breeze looked above her as well.

There she saw the moon half covered by a cool, wispy cloud. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the phantom image of her father wave a hoof above him. A moment later the cloud above quickly started shifting away as if blown away by a sudden gust of wind.

“You can still do that within the Red Crystal?” Star Breeze mentally asked her father as she regarded him in surprise.

“It's just the two of us standing here, Star Breeze. You can speak verbally if you want to,” Crystal Wind informed and offered. He looked to her. “The answer to your question is yes. I have learned how to tap into my own cutie mark talent from within the Red Crystal in addition to tapping into Crystal Sage's.” He shrugged. “It's simply something I've picked up over time. When you discover your own cutie mark talent and imbue your spirit within this stone, I imagine you'll add your own potential to it until it comes time for this Crystal to serve it's ultimate purpose.” Crystal Wind then pointed upward at the moon. “Check out the moon. Notice anything different about it?”

Star Breeze looked back up at it, then smiled. “Yes. It's missing its Nightmare Moon shadowy silhouette. You've already told me about this a long time ago. I've come to expect it here in this time period.”

“Yes, but this is the first time you are witnessing it in person . . . sort of,” Crystal Wind countered. “You grew up all of your life seeing that shadowy silhouette on the moon. What do you think of it now that it's missing?”

“It's beautiful,” Star Breeze marveled. “More pure, I guess. I'm also happy about its connotation. Without the Nightmare Moon silhouette, it means that Luna is finally free from the moon and no longer suffering from her perpetual nightmare.” She gazed forward at nothing with a slightly haunted look in her father's eyes. “Ever since you told me that, about who she really was and what she would become again, a feeling of pity overcomes me whenever I gaze up upon that Nightmare Moon shadow.” She looked back up at the moon again. “Before you told me that story all those years ago, I used to regard the moon's appearance as downright normal, but now I feel a sense of guilt in knowing that somepony was really trapped up there and suffering. I'm just glad that story has a happy ending.”

Crystal Wind nodded in agreement, then he said, “And that's why I wanted to point this out. As I said to you many times before, I don't want your glimpse into a bright future to make you lazy. Both you and every pony of our era has to work to make this fantastic future a reality. It is our responsibility to ensure it becomes so. I just want you to remember this moment, as it is a clear sign of hope. This bright future is possible. You are seeing it before your very eyes right now. Don't ever forget this moment, Star Breeze.”

“I won't,” Star Breeze promised. Then, to ensure she would keep her word, she imprinted her feelings into the stone right at that moment and thus saving her feeling of wonder, gratitude and hope in the stone.

She then assessed her local area more carefully, trying to get her bearings and attempt to identify which way was Sweet Apple Acres.

“It's that way,” Crystal Wind answered her mental thought. He then created a silvery glow around his horn then shot that light forward, becoming a hovering ball of silver light. The glow floated away from her down a certain street. The odd thing was, it seemed to actually illuminate the surroundings as if it were an actual light, and yet Star Breeze remained mentally aware that the silver light was a phantom image as well. Crystal Wind simply simulated the light and projected a mental image of what the surroundings would look like if an actual magical light was there. Knowing that, Star Breeze was confident that the light would not attract the attention of any other pony. Another hint she had that the silver glow was, in fact, a phantom light was because her father's physical eyes remained adjusted to the darkness. Staring straight at the silver light was not blinding either in the slightest. She could stare at it forever and it would never burn into her father's retina.

Crystal Wind was literally illuminating her path, and she had every confidence that he knew the way, so she followed the light with utter trust in her heart.

* * *

Despite the phantom silver light, the trees of Sweet Apple Acres remained in shadowy illumination at first as she made her way down the road to it, but the sunlight rose midway through her journey. It was difficult to fully appreciate just how many more trees there were on the farm during this time period aside from the smell, but as the new morning light touched upon the grove with a soft reddish glow, she began to fully notice just how many more trees there were on the property. She paused for awhile to admire that fact alone.

“It's almost a century's worth of progress here,” Crystal Wind said as he looked around as well, “and this is a work of passion. These ponies here tended to these trees really well. They even went so far as tell the trees bed stories at night sometimes. This is actually pretty typical for ponies with cutie marks in such things. When work like this is the indelible mark of family destiny, it becomes a labor of love. They poured their heart and souls into this project. You can feel that in the earth and see it with every tree here. You can even smell it in the air!”

“I know. I can tell,” Star Breeze confirmed. “This is not just an orchard. There is magic in this land. A magic that extends from generations of true passion. I love it! This gives the area so much special meaning.”

“Indeed.” Crystal Wind then passed his daughter a cunning, knowing look. For a moment she wondered why until she felt a weird magical pulse from within. Pausing for a moment, she noticed that the pulse was actually extending from the Red Crystal around her father's neck. After pouring her attention into the Crystal, she noticed that the Crystal pulsed again as a reaction to sensing familiar magic somewhere within this territory.

“That Crystal did something similar to that whenever it sensed dark magic somewhere within the area,” Crystal Wind informed. “The Dark Star rang especially intense within the Red Crystal back then, able to be detected within hundreds of miles away from the crashed meteor. The main difference between that example and this experience is the Crystal is instead reacting to something benign.”

“So . . . something good is hidden within this area,” Star Breeze figured.

Crystal Wind nodded. “Also something familiar to the Red Crystal for some reason.” He looked at Star Breeze to see if she would decide to check this out, but he wasn't really curious. He already knew what she would decide.

Star Breeze returned her father's knowing grin, figuring he knew her well enough to know what to expect from her in situations like this anyway. She knew that he knew that her adventurous heart could not possibly resist investigating this new intriguing mystery.

So she went to investigate, which lead her off the paved dirt road. Now traveling off the beaten path, she eventually stumbled upon several remarkable things. The first thing she noticed was a mysterious rock that seemed out of place. It jutted out of the earth and seemed to have no useful functional purpose. In fact, something like this was an obvious flaw to the land. The kind of thing usually dug out because it could impede the growth of another apple tree on its exact spot. Closer examination, as well as the ever increasing illumination of the rising morning light, revealed that there was something special about this rock. Carved on it was a heart and the images of two other symbols within it. One was obviously an apple, and the other was a jar of . . . something, but she couldn't tell exactly what. Both of these images were probably copies of cutie marks, she figured. This was meant to symbolize love between two ponies, both of whom probably worked here before. Once she realized that, she also realized why this stone was not removed. It obviously had great sentimental value for those who worked here.

Star Breeze passed a pleasant smile back at the phantom image of her father due to this discovery. He shared that smile right back at her, then nodded ahead of him to indicate something else she missed earlier. Something that was beyond the rock.

Following his indication, she couldn't see it at first because the details didn't sink in yet. At first she was looking past the tree behind the stone, but then she started to notice two unusual details of the tree itself. One was the fact that it was actually two separate types of trees woven together, an apple and a pear tree respectively. The second notable detail was there was a gap in between them that had the shape of a heart.

OH . . . MY . . . CELESTIA! Star Breeze regarded these trees with stunned awe.

“Magic in the land indeed,” Crystal Wind said warmly. “As several of my mentors taught me so long ago, love is the greatest magic of all. When that emotion is used as a power source, it can achieve miracles.”

“It's . . . so beautiful! I feel like crying just to behold it!” Star Breeze gasped in awe, then she said with recollection, “Also, I know I've never seen this on the property before. Maybe I have spotted the rock itself, but this tree . . . I'm pretty sure this didn't exist in my time period.”

“You're right. It's been planted since then,” Crystal Wind confirmed. “In fact,” he looked about, “about seventy percent of this entire orchard was planted since your time.” While his face remained directed in his left direction, his eyes shifted to look back at the interwoven pair of trees. “These ones among them.”

The magical pulse washed over Star Breeze again. It felt a lot stronger this time. Whatever it was, it almost felt like a heartbeat. It physically felt nearly identical, like when she recovered from a hard gallop and her heart raced to calm down again. It felt sort of like that, except there was this glow of positive feelings that washed over her after she felt that heartbeat pulse. Whatever the source of that was, it came from somewhere very close to this vicinity.

“What is that?” Star Breeze wondered aloud. She knelt down next to the stone ahead of her and lifted up the Red Crystal with her father's hoof. She waited until she felt another magical-like heartbeat pulse. She carefully paid attention to the fact if the pulse felt stronger or weaker and thus used that as an indication if she was colder or warmer to the source.

It took her awhile to ascertain that, whatever it was, it was something buried just beneath the stone here. Once she identified that, a feeling of uncertainty and guilt washed over her at the thought of digging whatever that thing was up and identifying it. The thought of that felt almost sacrilegious, like disturbing sacred ground.

“I bet if you slept here, you'd have very pleasant dreams,” Crystal Wind mused.

“What is this?” Star Breeze wondered aloud. “Something is buried beneath this stone. Something holy. Something pure.”

“It is a seed of an innocent and pure wish,” Crystal Wind answered calmly a short distance behind her. “A seed planted by somepony who wished harmony and good fortune to settle upon this place. Behold!” He gave a grand gesture to the tree behind the stone. “I'd say that wish has been fulfilled.”

“Who planted this seed, and why does it feel so familiar?” Star Breeze asked while looking back at her phantom father over her father's physical shoulders (the left, in this case).

“This mystery is up to you to discover,” Crystal Wind told her. “I told you that I'd only imprint upon this stone the memories of while you possessed me during this time period, but this seed was planted long before that. Unless you dig up this seed now and investigate it in person, then the answers you seek are somewhen in the past. Perhaps that might shed more light upon this blessed mystery.”

“I don't feel like I should dig it up now,” Star Breeze said as she regarded the stone ahead of her. “That feels wrong to me for some reason.”

“Trust your instincts,” Crystal Wind advised. “If something feels wrong to you, then don't do it.”

“Whomever it was,” Star Breeze touched the stone ahead of her affectionately, “loved this land very much. It was probably one of the farm ponies who grew up in this land. Obviously this land meant a lot to them.”

“It wasn't just them that cared for this land,” Crystal Wind expressed. “But they are definitely among those who cared for it. As you saw in the festival yesterday, however, there are and were many others who moved to this town and it became an important part of them, too. The reasons they came are many and varied. Some came to just taste the sweet Zap Apple Jam. Some came here to sell it. Others, over time, came here because somepony else they cared about came here first. Life trickled into this town and breathed more and more magic into it. All of these things started with very small seeds which eventually,” he paused for a moment as he gestured all around him, including the direction of Ponyville, “grew into all of this,” he finished. He then looked at her squarely. “An important lesson to learn, don't you think?”

“I started as just a seed before I was born,” Star Breeze mused. “A seed from my mother that was fertilized by you.”

Crystal Wind nodded. “A seed which begets another, just as many came before you.” He gazed lovingly at the intertwined trees ahead. “We are, all of us, connected, my dear. Each of us are a leaf from the same branch of life. The same magic empowers us all.”

Star Breeze rubbed her hoof across the stone ahead of her, then said, “This feels sacred.”

“What feels sacred?” asked a new voice behind her. Whomever it was, it sounded very young and female. Star Breeze whipped her father's head back to gaze at a new young filly that unintentionally snuck up on her. This was a bright yellow earth pony with vibrant red hair which was tied up by a great big red bow tie in her mane.

Now that she was looking upon the filly, the filly gestured ahead of her and past Star Breeze at either the stone, the tree, or most likely both a she said, “Do ya mean this place?” she asked with a thick country accent.

“Um . . . yes. Yes I do.” Star Breeze confirmed as she looked back at the stone. “The only thing is . . . I'm not sure why.” Star Breeze half looked over her right shoulder, gazing back at the young filly with her father's left eye only. “Do you know why this place is special? I'm curious to know.”

“Well, I can only ans'ah that question fo' me.” The young filly gazed ahead at the tree fondly. “Honestly, I don't know much ah-bow this place as well. All I know is it meant something special to mah parents.”

Parents who are most likely dead, or at least gone somehow, otherwise this young filly could simply ask her parents directly why this place was so special to them. Or perhaps they are here but choosing to keep their secret for some reason.

But, no . . . something in her voice suggested a loss of some kind. A kind of bittersweet acceptance about this place.

“I'm sure there are a lot of ponies who passed away over this town's long history,” Crystal Wind pointed out with a delicate tone. “As blessed as Granny Smith has been over these many long years, that is one of the burdens she had to live with that comes with the territory of very senior age. This is just a natural part of life.”

“Did you know mah parents?” the young filly asked hopefully.

Star Breeze shook her head. “I hadn't had the pleasure, nor is it likely I ever will.”

“Yeah,” the filly agreed sadly. “Shame, that. I heard they were wonderful folks.”

“I'm sure they were.” Star Breeze smiled back at the filly. “But not all is lost. They're a lingering blessing to this land, besides this place, is you.”

“And Applejack,” Crystal Wind added.

Star Breeze glanced at her father in surprise as she thought, “Really? Applejack is related to this little one here?”

To answer, Crystal Wind merely nodded in confirmation.

“I was hoping ya knew something more ah-bow mah parents, since ya seemed drawn to this area fo' some reason,” the filly observed. She approached and sat down beside Star Breeze. “Do ya think that . . . when we die . . . we see them beyond?” The filly looked straight up. “Mah sister says that we find those we lost beyond the rainbow and the stars.” She looked at Star Breeze hopefully. “Ya think it's true?”

“I know it's true,” Star Breeze assured.

“Ya do?!” the filly asked brightly, hope and joy filling her eyes and making them shine.

“Of course. They live on in our minds and hearts. If you listen real carefully, I'm sure you can hear them,” Star Breeze encouraged. She looked at her father. “I know I can hear my father that way.”

“Did he pass on?” the filly asked worriedly.

Star Breeze shook her head as she looked back at the filly. “No, but that doesn't need to come to pass for me to know this. He already lives in my heart.”

The filly gazed at the tree. “Sometimes . . . whenev'ah I sleep 'ere on occasion . . . I think I dream about them. I think I hear them sing to me, telling me how much they love me.”

“I'm sure that's true,” Star Breeze said confidently. “You're their foal. Of course they'd want to express their love to you in any way they can.”

“Here, I feel closer to them somehow,” the filly said in a warm but somewhat mystified way. “That's how this place is special to me.” She looked at Star Breeze. “Not sure if that's what ya mean.”

“Well,” Star Breeze looked at the stone, “there is definitely something enchanting about this place.”

“How do ya know that?” the filly asked curiously.

“I can sense the magic with this stone.” Star Breeze indicated the one worn on her father's neck. “Also I can feel it in my heart. This place has a magic pulse to it. Kind of like a heartbeat.”

“Oh wow. That's neat,” the filly expressed. She looked at Star Breeze. “I haven't seen ya around 'ere before. Ya a friend of the family, or what?”

“You can say that,” Star Breeze verified. “Your family and I go way back together.”

“Really?” the filly asked as she cocked her head to the side curiously with an absolutely adorable expression on her face.

“Yes,” Star Breeze confirmed.

“I'm beginning to realize why Dunken Doo said that our family is quite enigmatic,” Star Breeze mentally expressed to her father.

Crystal Wind shrugged as he said, “As a member of the Scroll family, sometimes we have mysterious and magical ways to gather and maintain records of history. This just comes with the territory.”

“Applebloom!” called another young filly from behind them which drew their attention. There they saw not one, but two new fillies enter this area. One of them was a dark orange pegasus with purple eyes, mane and tail. The other filly was a similar age to the pegasus. She was a white unicorn with two shades of purple mane and bright green eyes. “There you are!” the orange pegasus exclaimed upon galloping here. “Sweetie Belle and I have been looking all over for you! We've got a brand new idea that might just give us our cutie marks!”

“It occurred to me yesterday while I saw my sister Rarity set up for the Ponyville Day celebration,” the one named Sweetie bell expressed upon arrival. “Seeing her set up all those things, it occurred to me that maybe we should try it!” Her voice squeaked high when she said the word “we”. “So what do you say? Want to try it?”

“Ya mean like . . . plan parties like Pinkie Pie?” Applebloom checked.

“Well, kind of,” Sweetie Belle partially agreed. “I mean more like an event hostess. There can be all kinds of different types of parties to plan. We should give them all a shot!”

“So wadda ya say? Are you in, or are you in?!” the orange one asked very enthusiastically as she threw her forehooves above her head for a moment.

“That does sound like a ton of fun!” Applebloom expressed excitedly as she stood up on her four hooves. “I'm in!” She looked at Star Breeze. “It was swell to meet ya, mister! I sure hope you find what yo' are look'n fo'.”

“I think I already have,” Star Breeze said with a soft smile. “It was a pleasure to meet you too, Applebloom. Now you go on and play with your friends.”

“Ya don't haff'tah tell me twice!” Applebloom exclaimed as she galloped off with her friends.

“Do you mean what you said?” Crystal Wind asked his daughter after the three fillies left. “You found what you were looking for?”

“In more than one way.” Star Breeze stood up. “I've seen enough.” She turned her father's head to look at his phantom image. “Ponyville is a nice place to visit, but I've learned important things about my own destiny when I got this sneak peak into the future. We have a responsibility to cause this wonderful future, and we need to preserve a record of it. Imprinting positive feelings in this gem, for example, will help us restore the Crystal Empire. I find it oddly appropriate that some of the positive feelings that I imbued in this gem includes the many wonderful memories I've gathered since visiting this place, but my true destiny is not here. Somepony, and indeed many ponies, need to make sure that this future comes to pass. That is where we come in.” Star Breeze turned to face Crystal Wind fully. “I'm better now. Peace and acceptance settle in my heart. I think I know what I have to do, so take me back home.”

Crystal Wind smiled fondly and knowingly at his daughter for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze to some creature past her shoulder as he asked, “Did you get all that?”

Star Breeze looked over her father's right shoulder, and widened her eyes in surprise when she saw Discord standing behind a camera set on a tri-pod and aimed at her while manually turning a crank off the side of the camera.

“Oh, indubitably!” Discord expressed excitedly as he lifted his head from behind the camera as well as ceased operation of it. His eagle talon pinched together and was brought near his lips which he kissed then blew the kiss away. “Magnifique! Simply magnifique! And to think, we got it all on the first take, too.” Discord snapped his lion paw and a brilliant white flash wiped away the movie camera. In its place was a four foot square movie screen. Twelve feet away from that was a projector aiming at and projecting moving pictures towards the screen. At the same time, Discord materialized beside Star Breeze on a three legged wooden stool and he had a carton of popcorn which he offered in Star Breeze's direction. He also wore curious looking glasses, half of which was shaded blue and the other half red.

“I especially like the part where you stood up to your mother!” Discord expressed excitedly. Then a moment later, he suddenly grew quite serious with no warning at all. “I mean it. You stood up to someone you dearly love and look up to, and you did it for me. You did it for a friend. When you invite others to be your friend, you really mean it.”

Discord sighed as he dipped his 3D glasses down a bit and gazed at the movie from over them. “There are many in the past that attempted hoof pointing at me and besmirched my name. They had good reasons for it too. I was not always the nicest draconequus, and my powers are capable of a lot.” He looked at Star Breeze sitting beside him, who was looking up at the draconequus herself. “I warn you, my dear, there are plenty of other entities out there who are almost as powerful as me, and who have far more sinister intentions, and yet some of them seem a hundred times more trustworthy than me. You need to keep your guard up.” He looked back at the movie. “Your mother is not the first to accuse me. I'm actually kind of used to it, but those who actually defend me by giving me the benefit of the doubt when nopony else does, who sticks up for me when all the other chips are down . . . that is rare, and I want you to know that I will never forget that, my dear.”

Star Breeze looked down for a moment. She blushed happily, then looked back up at Discord when he resumed speaking.

“That said . . . it is interesting to note how you defended me by attempting to insult me.” After Discord said that, he lifted a tiny rectangular black box thing that had a bunch of buttons on it. By pressing the thumb of his eagle talon on it, the movie up ahead which originally said “mute” on the bottom corner disappeared, then suddenly sound could be heard in the movie.

“As for our free will, believing that Discord's mere existence and all of his great reality-bending powers invalidates any of our choices is giving him far too much credit,” Star Breeze in the film argued to her mother. “How can you possibly believe that someone like Discord is the author of our story when it's so well written? Do you think a being as foal-like as him could possibly write out so many deeply complex characters, stories and situations?” After that comment, Discord muted the movie again with another click of the same button on the tiny black box thing.

“Um, well I . . . just . . .” Star Breeze began lamely until Discord pressed a finger into Star Breeze's father's lips which made a squeaking sound.

“Before you go ranting on about some sappy apology, first you must become aware that I, in no way, found this to be offensive. On the contrary, I found some of your words to be so accurate that I occasionally found them hilarious.”

“Well that is what I do, stick up for my friends, and I'm proud of it,” Star Breeze said earnestly. “I do love my parents, and I have the utmost respect for them and their experience, but I already know that adults are not always right. Just because they are older and way more experienced than I doesn't mean they are always right, nor is my youthful experience always makes me wrong. One thing I have learned from this little detour is to stick up for myself too and defend my opinions as well as my friends. It's my life to do with as I want, and I shall write this story however I want.”

Discord passed Star Breeze a rare affectionate half grin while peeking at her above the rim of his 3D glasses, then snapped his lion paw. The movie projector and screen disappeared. Instead of that, he handed a new book to Star Breeze. She took it and read the front cover. It said, “My Little Detour.”

“Consider it a souvenir of your journey,” Discord suggested. “Read it at your leisure. I know you already have a copy of your memories stored in that little gem there, but something feels better about holding it in your hooves, wouldn't you say?”

Looking upon the book with wonder, Star Breeze opened and skimmed through it. Not only was the story filled with text, but there were animated pictures on some of the pages, likely highlighting certain moments of her most recent story. She then closed the book and looked up at Discord questioningly.

“Are there really others out there reading my story?” Star Breeze asked hopefully.

“There are some,” Discord admitted honestly. “Probably more over time.

“And, with that in mind,” Discord stood up from his chair and snapped his lion paw. The stool he originally sat on vanished within a white flash, “it's time to put a close to this chapter. There is one more that you have to write, my dear.” He briefly flicked Star Breeze's father's snout which made her crinkle her nose and sneeze for a second. “You're welcome to read ahead and find out what you'll do next, but I doubt you'll need to.”

“No, I don't need to read ahead,” Star Breeze agreed. “I write my own future.”

In response, Discord silently bowed to Star Breeze in respect of that statement, then lifted his lion paw above his head and snapped his fingers which was followed by an explosion of brilliant white light.

Chapter Eight: The Seed of Love

Star Breeze's eyes fluttered open. Gazing above her, she noticed the sky lit with a brilliant orange fire. It was near sunset where and when she was, still. Just like it was before her mind sank into the Red Crystal. The irony of it was, it was early morning when she traveled back from Sweet Apple Acres in the future.

Star Breeze sat up and noticed she was still on a small cloud which was not much bigger than herself. She then examined herself and noticed she had returned to the same black hide foal with tiny white dots.

I'm back! I'm me! I'm me again! YaaaaAAAAAAAaaay!

Star Breeze proceeded to hug herself with her forehooves and black wings with white tiny dots. She squeezed herself and squealed as she inwardly glowed with the thrill of knowing she had her own body back again. She realized that her father was right. By spending a day not being herself, it made her feel fake and hollow which all the more facilitated her appreciation of being returned to normal.

It felt so good to be herself and home again, but she did not forget why she longed for her own adventure too. Back then it felt like something was missing in her life, but now it felt like she gained a deeper appreciation for what she already had. There was a very good reason she loved her life. She had many blessings in it. Just by being up here, in this cloud, was among those blessings. Some ponies could only dream what that was like, her father among them at one time. It used to be his wish to fly up here in the skies or dance on clouds, and now he could. Another pattern of this family was to make their deepest wishes come true, even if they seemed impossible.

Star Breeze took a moment to channel her feelings into the Red Crystal to preserve the influx of positive emotion she felt. Many millennia ago, her father taught ancient earth ponies to pick up stones and infuse it with positive energy, especially gratitude, so that those energies could be used to fuel other important projects. What she did with the Red Crystal wasn't much different, and that was among the blessings she was grateful for. The fact that she had a place to store her feelings. The fact that she had a place to review it for nostalgia. The fact that it could be used as a surrogate horn, and the fact that not one but two souls she loved were housed within. Someday a copy of her own soul was likely to linger within until the stone serves its purpose.

It wasn't just gratitude she sank into the stone, it was also love. A soft glow that welled up inside her, causing her to feel like she was burning and also lighter than air. She paused for several minutes as she sank that feeling into the stone where it got copied and preserved.

How many more times is it going to take for all these reminders about why I should be so grateful for my life for it to finally and fully settle into me? I really don't know. The well I explore in my soul just keeps getting deeper. I keep discovering new reasons why I should be grateful for my life, and perhaps that is for the best. Perhaps I always should discover new reasons every day. That endeavor almost sounds worthy of a vow.

I came to this cloud hoping to find a way to feel more fulfilled, and 'poof'! My friends and those I love find a way to make it happen. That's just how my life goes. Ask, and I shall receive. One day I feel like I'm going to have to do something to earn all these blessings, but for now I'll just be happy. I'll be happy because that is what those who love me wanted. It is why they granted me these enormous blessings.

“Father,” Star Breeze uttered quietly, her voice aflutter with rich emotion, “thank you. Thank you for giving me life, and thank you for all your efforts in making me feel happy, appreciated, and loved. How can I not share that right back at you? Daddy,” she closed her eyes softly as gentle tears rose in her eyes, “I love you!”

Before it arrived, Star Breeze both heard and felt the approach of the wind, but she did not feel it externally (at least not at first). She felt it internally. She felt the magic radiate out of her body, and probably also from the stone on her neck. A few seconds later the wind arrived. It was moderately strong, yet it felt like a gentle caress at the same time. Star Breeze sat up on her hind knees as she spread her forehooves and wings in an open and inviting manner, catching the wind like a sail. She closed her eyes as she cooed in a soft, soothing way. She felt her fur flutter in the wind, as well as the feathers at the tips of her wings. The wind mostly hit her at the front side but it spiraled around her just a bit, almost feeling like a warm hug.

* * *

So this is it, Star Breeze thought as she landed. Sweet Apple Acres in my time period. She looked around. Funny how it feels like things aren't as they should be, now. I look around me and it actually feels like there are many trees missing in this time period. Trees I saw. Trees that will be there. Trees that should be there. They will be there. They just need time to grow, and that takes effort.

We have to take responsibility to cause the blessed future I saw. That is one of the greatest lessons I learned on my journey.

Star Breeze trotted down the dirt road. The sun was sinking even further beyond the western horizon. She was going to lose daylight soon. Shadows were thick and stretched across the land. On the other side, all objects and creatures here were bathed in soft reddish hue light. She loved the sight and feel of it.

To help get her bearings, she paused a moment as she partially sank her consciousness within the Red Crystal and brought forth a memory. She overlaid that memory over what was here, allowing her to see across time in the present and future simultaneously. Phantom images of the orchard which will be here came into her vision, but they were transparent, like a ghost. She only saw that future once, but she hoped it was enough to find her way around here.

Her plan turned out better than she thought. While trotting down the dirt road, a phantom image of her father suddenly curved left. Star Breeze looked and saw her father Feather Wind head off in that direction, but she knew that she was in control of his body at the time.

This was perfect. Originally she was using the visual image of her terrain to guide her to the correct spot, but it turned out replaying the memories of the last time she was here came with an unexpected bonus. It showed her exactly where and when she curved off the road. She even felt a distant pulse of the heartbeat again.

But as she followed the phantom image of herself within her father's body, it faded away when her other self arrived at the stone she was looking for. The one that jutted up from the earth. This time, however, there was no special tree behind it, and there was something else missing as well. She paused for a moment as she stretched out her feelings, and waited. And waited. And waited. But no. No magical pulse this time. Whatever she felt before, it wasn't here yet.

Except, this time, it was no longer a mystery to her. She figured it out. She figured out why that magical pulse felt so familiar. She figured out where she felt it before. That feeling felt akin to the Red Crystal. It was similar but also different because that stone grew up with different experiences imprinted upon it.

Star Breeze looked at and lifted her left hoof. Before her very eyes, she willed a new Red Crystal to manifest. A crystal that was created using Crystal Sage's old cutie mark talent. That was imprinted upon the stone around her neck, along with everything else that got added to it since.

Everything important in life starts from the miracle of a single seed, Star Breeze thought to herself as she gazed at this new tiny nugget of ruby red crystal on her left hoof. One seed to bloom the fruits of a new miracle, and love and life to be spread. As I have been blessed, so too shall I pass on my blessings to this sacred land. She closed her eyes and concentrated her feelings towards the new gem on her left hoof. May this stone attract more love, and may that love be used to further bless this sacred land. May this land be filled with the wonders of magic, so that countless other blessings will be born from it. May this light spread from this farm to this town, to the local region, then all of Equestria!

Tree of Harmony, hear my plea! Bless this land, the wonderful ponies on it, and all those who shall ever trot upon it. Bless this seed so that its light spreads to all corners of Equestria. Let one blessing beget another, and another. Ever on and endless blessings. May the Magic of Friendship spread to the hearts of all creatures everywhere.

After that, Star Breeze opened her eyes and knelt down to the base of the rock. Using the Red Crystal, she telekinetically dug a small hole at the base of the rock large enough to stick her hoof into. After that, she gently set the ruby gem down there while her heart continued to flow with love. The next thing she did was push the dirt back into the hole with both of her hooves then pressed both of her hooves there for several seconds while she repeated her earnest plea in her heart. She imprinted a pure and innocent wish upon this stone in order to attract more forever on.

“Star Breeze? Is that you?” a familiar feminine voice spoke behind her.

Star Breeze gave a pleasant sigh, opened her eyes slowly, stood up, then turned about to face Miss Smith.

“Yes, it's me,” Star Breeze confirmed. “I hope I'm not intruding.”

“Not at all, young'un,” Miss Smith said with a dismissive wave of a hoof. “I juz' didn't expect ya, is all. This is a pleasant surprise. What'cha doing here?”

“Fulfilling a promise I made to destiny,” Star Breeze answered mysteriously.

Which took the green farm pony aback. “Well, then. An how's that work'in fer ya?”

“Very well, actually!” Star Breeze expressed gratefully. “I've had a trying but also a wonderful, wonderful day that helped to open my eyes and better established how we're all connected through our dreams, hopes and love. How we're all connected through magic.”

“Is that what they teach ya city folks out in some fancy country?” Miss Smith asked with an eye squint.

“Honestly, I've had many blessed mentors,” Star Breeze said. “Like my father before me.”

Miss Smith lowered her head slightly as she said, “Weeeeeeeelllll, to each their own, I guess. Both me and mah folks out here have a much more simple philosophy. We get up early in the mornin', eat hearty, then work hard, and that is what will serve a better Equestria. I know it. I feel it in mah bones.”

“I believe you!” Star Breeze said with a soft, fond, and knowing smile.

“You really do, don't'cha?” Miss Smith said as she grew a grin of her own. “Well hot diggity! It's nice to move forward in lafe with confidence in yer soul.”

Star Breeze nodded in agreement. “It is at that. My parents did everything they could to help raise me to be this strong. I know they went through a lot to learn what they have, and they feel it is important to pass on all those lessons to me. Not just the knowledge or textbook stuff, but wisdom and rich emotional nourishment as well.”

“Then you'll do fane in lafe, young'un. Ya got plenty of future left ahead of ya. As for me, I ain't plan'n to retire anytime soon. You mark mah words on that!”

“Once again, I'm more than merely confident that such things will come to pass,” Star Breeze promised prophetically.

“An I will at that,” Miss Smith returned evenly. “And with that, I gots tah get on mah chores. Nice to see ya again, young'un. Until next time,” she spoke over her left shoulder as she started to take off, “take care.”

“You too, Aunty Smith,” Star Breeze conveyed affectionately. When Aunt Smith was out of sight, Star Breeze passed one last fond and wise look at the base of the stone where she planted the red seed, then looked forward again before leaping to take off into the skies.

Chapter One: Feeling Stagnant

Star Breeze floated in the empty void of space. She stretched her hooves in every direction around her while quietly relaxing. While floating out there, she sleepily gazed out into vast stretches of space and the ocean of stars that swam around her. It was mind-boggling to her how every one of those tiny dots of light may have spent thousands, millions or even billions of years to catch up to her eye.

Here they were, all around her, unfiltered by the atmosphere of the planet. Just naked dots of truth which hint at endless potential and possibilities.

To think, any one of those stars might have planets of their own. Any one of those planets might have life on it as well. Of those life forms, which one of them might be causing the sun to rise and set every single day and night? What special soul might be dwelling out there, causing light and darkness to rise and set for every other life form on their planet?

For a moment, Star Breeze tried to imagine how she would feel if she was one of those souls out there on some distant, alien world. To imagine something that enormous and important hanging on her shoulders, it felt like a heavy responsibility. Star Breeze wasn't sure if Celestia ever got used to that. Even after nearly a thousand years, had it ever felt totally routine to her while also knowing that every single pony and creature on her entire world depended upon her and this most sacred duty?

Maybe Luna once felt like that too before she got trapped on the moon.

Oh, Luna. Dear, sweet Luna . . . someday you will be free, Star Breeze thought to herself as she steadily closed her eyes. Just like someday I'll be free to wander the galaxy and explore all of time and space. I can't wait for that! Celestia darn it, I really can't!

Star Breeze relaxed in the void. Part of her imagined that this was what it might have felt like to float in her own mother's womb at one point in her life, except now she was floating in the womb of the whole universe!

Well, at least, a mental facsimile of it.

Star Breeze sighed in a bit of lament at the realization of that. This wasn't really the true void of space. If it were, she would be having a much harder time breathing or staying warm.

No, Star Breeze knew that the true void of space would have been far less hospitable to herself and her kind. Despite her black coat speckled with white tiny dots like stars in the sky, which made her seem very akin to the void of black space with its ocean of stars, Star Breeze knew she wasn't truly at home in the middle of space like this.

Nor was her father, whose memory she borrowed this moment from. Her father, Feather Wind, had once traveled all over time and space with the legendary Time Lord, the Doctor. Even then, she knew her father could never pull this off without the air-shield around the TARDIS. He needed protection, too, in order to float out in the void of space like this. When he did, he claimed he later stored the ecstasy of that memory into the Red Crystal, the last true remnant of Sombra, who now calls himself Crystal Sage within this crystal and its subsequent mental zone.

Ever since Star Breeze learned to attune herself to this crystal as well, she had since learned to pull her mind into the Crystal and exist as a mere mental projection of herself in a virtual environment.

By default, the first virtual environment created within the Red Crystal was the Crystal Empire itself, but other memories had been added to the Crystal since then. Moments like this, when Feather Wind floated out in the void of space. Star Breeze took that memory and since modified it by simply deleting the mental facsimile of the TARDIS and all who had once dwelt within it. As a result, it left her all alone in the vast emptiness of space in privacy.

Star Breeze had since loved to come back here for a visit many times to simply take a private moment to think and relax. She always had a special connection to the stars and space. It always felt like that was her true home, and that her home world was just a pit stop to help prepare her for a much larger journey. Within the Red Crystal, getting time for that private moment was easy to do. Time was subjective here in the Red Crystal. She could spend as long or as short of a moment as she wanted and not even one second would pass outside in the real world, or she could make it so that one second in here equals a thousand or more years out there. All of that was under her control.

In here, time itself was her toy.

That felt good to her. It felt right because, deep down, that was the way she always should have been. Like time and space was always supposed to be objective. Things like the TARDIS was where she felt like she belonged. Everywhere and everywhen . . . absolute freedom of movement through both time and space. Endless possibilities. Endless adventures.

She couldn't wait to get started on that journey but, for the moment, she was forced to, and that felt frustrating.

Thinking of that, Star Breeze grunted in frustration then made a mental facsimile of the book, “Sky Dancer, the First Flying Unicorn” suddenly appear before her, the very same book that Discord had once created and claimed that someone else wrote about. Because of his interest in the title due to it sharing the same title as his first poem written in his life, her father requested to borrow that book for a few seconds and since copied it into the Red Crystal. That copy was what floated in front of Star Breeze. By act of will alone, she had the book open itself and flip through it to the very last two pages, to the section of the story that the book called, “The Epilogue”. This was the only chapter that Star Breeze was actually interested in because this was the only event that had not occurred for her yet. It claimed that the TARDIS would eventually swing by and pick her up, but only when she felt emotionally ready for it.

That chapter, and indeed the entire book, never did mention her age straight on so she was left guessing when this event would actually take place. As a result, she had no idea when this event would occur, but lately, she felt eager for it to show up already.

At that moment, while floating out in the middle of simulated space, she couldn't tell if she fully felt ready for this journey or not. The only thing she knew was the fact that she wanted to feel ready because, apparently, that would be the moment the TARDIS finally would show up and pick her up. Star Breeze felt eager to get on with it. She was tired of waiting! She hated it! Hated-hated-hated-hated-hated-hated-hated-hated-it. Star Breeze never was a really patient filly, but that was simply because she was so excited to get on with her own adventures.

Too long had she spent merely imagining the possibilities. Too long had she eagerly waited to gallivant across time and space and be both a heroine and explorer herself. To do otherwise felt like it defied her nature. Star Breeze knew in her heart that she was born to be one with the stars, and space, and space-time. She was a very strong filly physically, mentally, emotionally . . . perhaps spiritually, and that strength felt wasted if she wasn't meant for this destiny. Why would life give her so many special gifts if she wasn't meant to actually do something important with it?

According to the epilogue of that book floating in front of her, it certainly hinted that such things would eventually be her destiny someday, but only when she felt ready, but now she was thinking, Ah, come on, heart! Feel ready for this, already! Why isn't it now? Or now? How about now? Now? Darn it, get on with it!

And why am I hesitating? Star Breeze wondered as the book vanished in front of her. Is it because I'm not fully an adult yet? Is it because I feel I could be even stronger when I grow up? But . . . I'm already so very strong as it is. I'm the first spellcasting pegasus for crying out loud!

True, it's only borrowing from Crystal Sage's potential using this Red Crystal. I haven't found my own true horn yet, but still . . . I can cast spells nonetheless.

I'm also healthy and strong. I can fly, I can lift huge amounts of weight. I'm brave. I'm adventurous. How much stronger do I have to be to finally feel ready? Will the adventures of space and time really be that challenging? Will it be so hard that I'm not even ready yet despite how strong I already am? If so, what about all the others who stepped into the TARDIS? Were they really ready when they did it?

Take Derpy Hooves, for example. A.k.a., Miss Ditsy Doo. She's sweet and innocent. She seems more foal-like than even I am, despite her actually being older. I haven't really met her yet, but Father did have many stored memories of her within this Red Crystal. After reviewing it so many times, I feel like I've already gotten to know her. It's enough to realize that even she probably never really felt ready to set a hoof into the TARDIS, and yet she hoofled the journey just fine. If someone that innocent and timid could do it, why can't I? What am I really missing here?

The main thing Star Breeze could think of was the Doctor's preference not to invite young foals into the journey. Maybe that was true no matter how strong they were. Star Breeze had to admit, if the situation were reversed and she was the captain of the TARDIS instead of the Doctor, how would she feel about inviting a young foal to her journey? Doing so meant inviting the young foal into potentially very serious danger, and her companion would be her responsibility.

The thought of such a dear friend dying in her watch was just too painful to bear. Her mind just automatically shunted that thought. While inwardly examining that reaction, she could well sympathize with the Doctor for facing the same decision.

It takes far more than mere physical or mental strength to hoofle the rigors of adventures. Growing up means attaining a certain level of emotional maturity too. Derpy seemed a lot younger than she was, or at least that was how she acted, but there was strength deep in her eyes if she needed to summon it. No doubt the journey had fortified her. She must have endured a lot of painful experiences and came out on top to get that look in her eyes.

Upon further reflection, Star Breeze was forced to ask herself if she really had that level of inner, moral courage. If not, how was it possible to get that kind of strength before going on such a journey?

Star Breeze was already accustomed to being a traveler. All of her life, she was raised on an airship as their home which moved back and forth all across Equestria. During that time, she had seen all kinds of ponies and a few other species as well that got ferried back and forth across Equestria. Star Breeze was very accustomed to dealing with strangers. So much so that it was the familiar that felt a little strange to her.

Star Breeze loved to listen to the stories of other passengers as long as they were willing to share it. Of them, it was often very older ponies who were the ones most willing to share their story, which was great since Star Breeze was so eager to listen to them. Not only that, they tended to have the most stories to share which made sense since they had lived longer lives. They stared at her and smiled that someone so young could look up to them and admired them so much.

Star Breeze, in turn, felt strengthened by their stories. She felt like this was a necessary step to prepare her for her own much larger journey. Before embarking on her own adventures, she felt it was important to listen to those who trotted the long road before her. The tips they could offer as fellow travelers on the road helped to prepare her for the challenges ahead. For every problem they faced and the innovative solutions they mentioned on how they conquered those problems, it gave Star Breeze ideas on how she could deal with it if she ever faced similar problems in her own future.

That had always felt important to her. This incredibly powerful urge to be ready for something. Whatever it was, it was probably something epic. Some incredible danger, likely with a great deal at stake.

Maybe, one day, she'd regret rushing ahead. One day maybe she'd long for the calm days of rest again. Maybe someday her journey would burn her out, but right at that time, she didn't know what that felt like.

She tried many times to simply imagine being bored of adventure and longing for some peace and quiet, but too often she failed to imagine it. She's just too much of a foal for that. Too much of her life was ahead of her, and that was precisely the problem. Too much potential and not enough fruition or action. She spent far too much time wishing she had precious memories to cherish rather than dwelling on it.

Well, I take that back. I already have many precious memories to cherish. Indeed, too many, sometimes. It already feels like I can spend too much time dwelling on and appreciating the journey I've already had.

I don't know why, after traveling back and forth across Equestria so many times, why do I feel so stagnant?

“It's because you are comparing it to the adventures to come,” a familiar voice spoke out in the void and somewhere nearby her. She looked and saw her father materialize nearby her then subsequently floating out in space along with her. His light blue coat and puffy white mane, so much like a cloud, was unmistakable to her. Along with that, he also wore his familiar-looking Mist Cloak which was made of condensed cloud always leaking down mist and occasionally flashed with lightning.

Star Breeze regarded him fondly, recalling the time, several years ago, when she accompanied him to a tall cliff and he told her about the story of his life which helped to inspire her. Back then she was still smaller than him, but now it was she who had the upper hoof. That still wasn't saying much. Her father was unusually short.

Except, in a way, this wasn't her father. This was a copy of him preserved in the Red Crystal. He spent years attuning himself to the gem. Doing so imbued a copy of his soul in here, much as it did for Crystal Sage just before his physical death almost a thousand years ago by the hooves of his own dark counterpart.

In a way, this was a glimpse into Star Breeze's future as well. As her own connection to the Red Crystal deepened, it slowly imbued her own essence into the gem. One day that essence will awaken to its own independent intelligence. Maybe someday it would be her turn to guide the next bearer of the gem until it gathers enough positive energy to fulfill its ultimate purpose.

So this version of her father was stuck inside the gem as well, along with Crystal Sage, until the gem was ready. Her “real” father was still outside of this gem doing . . . whatever.

To avoid confusion, Star Breeze started calling this version of her father, “Crystal Wind”, to which Crystal Wind gave an innocent shrug and said she could call him whatever she'd like. Certainly he was the last pony who would want to impinge upon her sense of inner freedom unless he felt it was necessary to protect her from serious danger. Since he was such a free spirit himself, he shared those benefits with others as much as he could.

“Hello, Father,” Star Breeze said in a pleasant greeting.

“I hope I'm not intruding,” Crystal Wind said in polite caution. “Do I have your permission to join you?”

“Of course!” Star Breeze said in a very light, happy tone. “You're always welcome to join me, Father.”

Crystal Wind shifted his face a bit to the side and gazed at her with one eye with a squint as he said in a cautious tone, “I doubt that I would always be welcome with you in your most private moments, but rest assured that I'm not taking your statement too literally.” He focused both eyes back at her with a calmer look. “I know what you meant.”

Star Breeze gazed ahead of her blankly at nothing with a spacey look. “I think I know what you mean as well. You think I feel my current journey is too inadequate next to the journey I'm imagining ahead in my life.”

“At least you do have the time to dwell on this now,” Crystal Wind said with a grin. “Trust me, you'll think this is a luxury later on. Whatever you are imagining about your own future with the Doctor, trust me when I say you will feel grossly unprepared. Both because you imagined too much and also because you didn't imagine enough. There are colors and sounds out there in the universe you never heard of or seen on this world, so you have no way of imagining it at this moment. Combine that with so many unexpected situations.

“Many times I have wanted to just sit and dwell on the possibilities that might come just to help me feel more prepared for my journey with the Doctor, but usually my mind can't even open those amazing doors of his on the TARDIS. The reason for that is that I've learned, no matter what I try to imagine, I'll never get it quite right. Anything can happen so I've learned to adjust and reorient myself outside my comfort zone. I was forced to confront the unknown instead of imagining it far too often. I had to learn to take things as they were and use that information to figure out the next step.”

“When it comes to your time to be on the TARDIS, analyze everything, Sweet Pea. It's all important. It's all connected. The will of the TARDIS is sentient and alive. It knows where you need to be rather than when you want to be. Always keep that frame of reference in your mind when you travel in the TARDIS someday. Wherever you go and whatever you do, know that somepony in that time and place will need rescuing.”

Crystal Wind looked to his right direction with an expression of regret on his face. “When you do face that situation, you might not always succeed in your mission. Watching others suffer and/or die on your watch is very painful, at least for me.”

Star Breeze regarded her father sympathetically. He shook his head. “I could never adjust to that,” he went on. “I could never get my heart cold enough to just blindly accept that. Every wound I witnessed pained me. It all mattered to me.”

Crystal Wind looked back at his daughter. “Life is a gift, Star Breeze. Cherish it, and protect it whenever you can. Indeed you are strong, and I've known plenty out there in the universe who are in dire need of that strength.

“As thrilling as it can feel out there, remember to cherish these quiet moments too. You'll need these memories of peace and contentment to help you cope with the stress out there.

“And with that in mind, I got a tip for you. You'll need a least a few minutes to pull this off, depending on your connection to the Red Crystal, but most of the time you can always sink your mind into the Red Crystal and create more time for yourself whenever you need it. There may come a time when you'll need this luxury.

“For my part, I've usually spent this time to myself writing poetry, usually about the adventure I've just experienced. It's my own way of keeping track of my journey. When your turn comes, what will you do to keep track of your journey?”

“I'm not sure.” Star Breeze folded her forehooves behind her neck as they continued to float out in space. “I'll think of something.”

“Until you do, it might be another layer that is keeping you from feeling ready for your own journey, I think,” Crystal Wind said with a knowing, slightly squinted look to his right eye. “Several years ago, I thought you said you were interested to write poetry like I do. What happened?”

“Life happened,” Star Breeze answered quickly, then shrugged. “I don't know. Lately, I haven't felt inspired to do so. Instead, all I can think about is the journey I haven't taken yet. I don't feel ready for it and yet I want to feel ready.

“Isn't that odd? I'm eager to get started, yet part of me hesitates. Part of me feels afraid, and yet I'm also thinking . . . when has anypony ever been totally ready for the journey of the TARDIS? With that many endless possibilities landing on one's plate, it almost feels arrogant to say to oneself, 'I feel ready.'” She shook her head. “How can anypony possibly be ready for something that huge?”

“You might be surprised how much you have in common with the Doctor,” Crystal Wind said with a loving grin to his daughter. “At one point in his life, the Doctor was a young child as well, gazing up at the stars with wonder. In his heart, he knew he was an explorer too. He promised himself that, one day, he'd go up there and see it all.” Crystal Wind gazed out at the stars around them with wonder. “He swore to himself that he would be acquainted with every star and planet in the universe. Obviously a goal that large would take a great deal of time, but nopony could possibly complete a journey like that without taking one hoof step at a time.”

“Is that something you learned in the TARDIS's hidden library?” Star Breeze guessed as she looked at her floating father. Even as she slowly rotated in space, he matched her alignment so he remained right-side-up to her.

“That, and other things,” Crystal Wind answered calmly as he looked back at her with gentle eyes full of wisdom and compassion. In fact, it was actually more wisdom than Star Breeze had seen on her real father outside. She had to remind herself that time was subjective here in the Red Crystal. This version of her father could potentially be millions of years old.

Then she thought to herself that her father had many opportunities to take these “time-outs” within the Red Crystal, potentially many times throughout his life as he grew up and grew more attuned to the Crystal. Maybe that was one of the reasons he acted far older than he was physically. Maybe that was what it would be like for her when she grew up. With all this extra time she spent here, she might be both mentally and emotionally twenty-six when she physically turns twenty. That might also account for another reason why she felt so impatient for her “real” journey to start. By spending extra time here and virtually pausing time outside of the gem, she's only delaying her destiny even further . . . unless this experience counts towards building her up to “feel” ready to start her journey. Maybe it does?

“You know, in a way you don't have to wait for your journey to start,” Crystal Wind reminded. “You are an adventurer right now, and you are a pegasus. You can just take off into the sky and fly wherever you want. Send a wind message to your father outside. Tell him that you're going for a fly and you'll be back whenever you feel like it. Since I know your father pretty darn well, I have to say that he'd most likely not object unless he had a specific reason to object, like learning through another wind message to him that there is an emergency in the direction you happen to be flying off to. In that case, he would at least wish to pass on a warning to you.

“Remember, Star Breeze, I have personally met your future self in my past. I already know that you will start your journey among the stars someday, but right now my priority is helping you to prepare for that.

“You are, indeed, part of the reason why I chose to live in an airship and ferry passengers and cargo across Equestria. I factored you into the equation. I knew you were meant to be an adventurer. I knew you were going to choose this lifestyle. I gave this gift to you in the hopes to make you happy. That's all I ever wanted for you, Sweet Pea. I love you.”

“Thanks, Dad. I love you too,” Star Breeze said with a mild grin. She heard that too many times in her life to always get rocked by that statement, but she also knew it was always spoken from his heart. If she needed more proof of that, she could simply review any of the messages stored within the Red Crystal to verify, and indeed experience, the intensity of his love towards her.

He was always like that. That was something she always loved about him. He was always intensely genuine with her.

There was something he said that made her curious, though.

“What was she like?” Star Breeze wondered wistfully. “My future self, that is. What was her personality like?

Right after she asked that she already predicted how he would answer.

“She was like you, Sweet,” Crystal Wind answered. “Every feeling, action, and word spoken by her will be up for you to decide. As I have told you many times before, I won't take that choice away from you.”

“There had to be more than that,” Star Breeze decided. “She was me, but an older version of me. A version that had been on the journey longer. A version of me that probably feels fulfilled to finally start her journey instead of simply looking forward to it all the time. I keep wondering if it will be everything I am imagining, or if it's more.”

“Of course it will be more than you can imagine,” Crystal Wind assured. “Life is always like that, no matter where you go or what you decide to do. The future is filled with too many possibilities for you to see it all coming.

“For now, the most accurate prediction I can offer you is to decide now what you will do. The future is always your choice, just as your present is.”

“My present?” Star Breeze reflected. “Is that enough? Am I doing enough now to prepare for that future? I feel so stagnant right now. I've been wandering and exploring all of my life, and yet it doesn't feel like enough anymore.”

Crystal Wind sighed briefly, then decided to switch up his tactics. “Okay. Since that is the reality you are choosing to live with right now, what do you think it will take to get you out of this rut? I love you, Sweet, so I always want what's best for you and for you to be happy. What would that take at this very moment?”

“Um,” Star Breeze shrugged, “what I'm doing right now is all I can think of at this precise moment. I've been spending my time here doing exactly that, contemplating my next move. It's frustrating for me to not 'feel' ready for this journey. According to the epilogue of the “Sky Dancer” book, my true journey won't begin until that condition is met first, so I've been floating here and contemplating exactly that. What would it take for me to feel ready?”

“Feel ready for what? An adventure?” Crystal Wind checked. “Is that what you want?”

“I guess,” Star Breeze decided lamely. “Maybe not the full scope of the adventure in the TARDIS, but at the same time something more than I have now. Right now I have Equestria, but that doesn't feel like enough anymore.” Her eyes focused on her father. “I say this because I have to consider what's ahead of me, too. To prepare me for something that big, what would it take? Something less than the TARDIS, but more than Equestria.” Star Breeze shrugged. “Right now, I don't know what that should be.”

Crystal Wind gave a knowing grin. “So, if I'm understanding you correctly, you want a chance to practice your life in the TARDIS. Does this sound accurate?”

“YES!” Star Breeze exploded brightly and excitedly. “That's exactly what I want!” Star Breeze beamed, then cooled down a bit as she went on. “But it also has to be meaningful. I want my adventure to actually accomplish something. No more virtual environments like this here.” She gestured to the stars all around her. “No more practicing or simply 'viewing' your adventures through your memories stored in the Red Crystal.” She gestured to her chest with her own hoof. “If I'm to add any meaningful feelings into this crystal so that those feelings could later bring back the real Crystal Empire, I need a fair chance to feel included in something more real.

“I love my life, I love my family, I love my many, many friends, I love being a girl, I love being a pegasus, I love being a pony in Equestria, I love being your very special daughter, but I'm also meant to do something more. Something that's truly important, and right now I don't feel ready for that role fully but I want to feel ready. Does this make sense?”

Crystal Wind nodded. “Absolutely, and I have some ideas to that effect. Do you mind if I make a few suggestions?”

Star Breeze nodded eagerly. “Please, do!”

“But, for my plan to work,” he said with a sideways glance at her, “I'll have to get another person involved.” He focused at her fully. “Do you mind if I do so?”

“Huh?” Star Breeze looked confused. “But . . . you and I are the only ones attuned to the Crystal enough to do anything in here, unless . . .”

Star Breeze realized that he might be referring to Crystal Sage, and he had plenty of past experience to draw upon. Lately that pony has been more and more reclusive within this gem as he prepared himself to fully cross over into the afterlife after completing one last unfinished task, but if her father knew some way to encourage that old grump to get more involved with her life, then so much, the better, so she beamed as she said, “Sure, Dad. Invite away.”

Crystal Wind bowed to her out in the middle of space as he said, “Sure, Honey. Thank you for your permission.” Then he called aloud. “DISCORD! Discord, please come. I have need of you again. I need your help in spreading a little chaos.”

Star Breeze's eyes exploded widely. “DISCORD?!” She had not even thought of that draconequus. Also, she had never met the Lord of Chaos before other than a hoofful of memories from her father stored in the Red Crystal.

And potentially the real author of the book, “Sky Dancer, the First Flying Unicorn”. The jury was still out on that one, but the writing style didn't seem to match the Lord of Chaos, though. The way the plot points build with obvious structure, that does not seem to be his modus operandi, as far as she could tell.

Star Breeze's heart skipped a beat when she actually saw an eagle talon appear and seem to shred a piece of reality, causing a hole to appear in existence. After the tear, the talon shifted back and forth to widen the hole in reality. Shortly later a very mixed up racial individual snaked his way out of the hole and rose up in front of Crystal Wind.

“Oh, you've finally found the need to call upon my majestic majesty again?” Discord asked with pleasant excitement as he gestured to himself with his lion paw while regarding Crystal Wind. “It's about time you've called upon me and my services. I've been eagerly awaiting for you to say that you were actually looking forward to spreading a little chaos with me!” He tapped his eagle talon and lion paw together as he grew a trollish grin. “Please tell me you plan to involve your wife in this devious little scheme of ours! I do know how much she adores me!” He gave an evil snicker.

“DISCORD!!!” Star Breeze exclaimed with positive, shocking intensity like beholding a famous celebrity. She launched at him then wrapped all four of her hooves tightly around him. By now she was big enough to do so to his thin, serpentine-like body.

“WHAT IN THE WORLD?!” Discord exclaimed with shock, noticing Star Breeze for the first time. She didn't give him much of a choice, actually. As he asked, he looked down in surprise at the moderately sized filly hugging him tightly. “Who in the hell are . . . wait a second.” He narrowed his eyes with mismatched sized eye pupils at the filly. “You look awfully familiar. Black hide,” a black chalkboard materialized beside him, “white dots,” he went on, then the black chalkboard quickly gained many tiny white dots in the space of a few seconds, “and sunset color mane,” he added, then a yellow base rainbow streaked across the background of the chalkboard which was followed by red, then deep purple, then ended in black. A tiny trollface image of Angel Bunny was quickly drawn a few seconds later beside that rainbow. “Don't tell me!” He pointed back and forth between himself and her. “This is the moment when we first met each other?”

“I've so eagerly wanted to meet you!” Star Breeze cried out excitedly, then she shrieked in explosive excitement.

That shriek caused Discord to wince in pain. During that time, his eyes cracked like glass. He held that expression as he stared straight forward at the readers of this story for four blank seconds before he blinked his eyes and regarded her again. When his eyes blinked, it instantly repaired the damage to his eyes. He then chuckled, split himself apart in the middle of his serpentine body which caused her to clasp upon nothing anymore, floated back a few feet then gently pat Star Breeze on top of her head with his lion paw as his body reassembled. After that, he said, “Oh-ho-ho! That's adorable! It's always nice to meet another one of my many adoring fans.”

“Please be my friend!” Star Breeze cried up at him eagerly while giving him very wide, hopeful, puppy-dog like expression.

“Why, my dear, when have I ever given you the impression that we weren't already?” Discord asked with a dramatic wave to himself with his lion paw and bowed to her. “Consider thy request granted.”

“Oh THANK YOU!” Star Breeze was about to launch at Discord again for another hug but Discord stilled her by pressing a talon finger into her lips which caused a brief squeaking sound.

“Ah! But first . . . why don't we get a little more acquainted with each other before we get on hugging terms again,” Discord recommended a little insistently.

Star Breeze barely cooperated. Her whole body shook, especially her head, and steam spewed out of her ears as she struggled to contain herself from launching at Discord again.

“I assume you had a plan in mind?” Discord asked Crystal Wind, temporarily ignoring Star Breeze for the moment. “You often do have some of those disgusting things.”

Crystal Wind shrugged. “More like a goal, and a few ideas how to accomplish it. You see, my daughter has been feeling stagnant lately so I was thinking that . . .”

“Say no more!” Discord commanded as he held up his lion paw in a stop gesture. At the same time, a red octagonal stop sign appeared beside him for a brief moment while he closed his eyes for two seconds.

“Dispelling boredom is my specialty. That would have been my cutie mark if it already wasn't the sign of the Lord of Chaos and Disharmony. See?” Discord lifted his torso up to Crystal Wind which had a new image on it, much like a cutie mark. The image, in this case, was simply his face with a wide-open, smiling mouth with one long fang hanging down and his eyes wide open in delight. “This here,” he paused in silence for a second as he pointed as his “cutie mark”, then went on to say, “represents one thing about me. It is a symbol expressing how utterly awesome I am. Huzzah!”

There was a sudden explosion of party confetti and fireworks going on behind him as he started blowing kisses with both his eagle talon and lions paw out at some invisible but not inaudible audience that was clapping, cheering, and whistling at him ecstatically. “Thank you! Thank you all, my wonderful adoring fans! You're welcome!”

“Well, true. That is the basic idea I have in mind,” Crystal Wind admitted. “Keep her age in mind, however. This version of my daughter is not as mature as the one you've worked with before. I did invite you here to put a little chaos in her life, but,” he lifted a hoof up high then slowly scaled it down as he said, “in this case, you'll need to scale it down just a little bit. Keep it E-Rated, okay?”

“Eh.” Discord suddenly looked a bit bored as he shrugged while regarding Crystal Wind. During that time, the cheering crowd, party confetti and fireworks in the background disappeared. “That won't be as fun, but trust me when I say I've had plenty of experience guest-starring in a certain children's cartoon show. Your wish,” he bowed to Crystal Wind while placing his right limb to the center of his serpentine body just where he bent it, “is my command.”

When he straightened himself, he then rubbed his lion paw and eagle talon against each other as he regained his evil, scheming look. “Now then . . . what sort of chaos and disharmony adventure did you have in mind?”

“First,” Crystal Wind lifted a hoof to halt Discord for a moment, then regarded his daughter as he lowered that hoof again, “I need to explain something to you, and this is important so pay attention!” Crystal Wind finished that sentence in a rare demanding tone to his daughter which helped to shake her out of her stupor of regarding Discord excitedly and instead regarded her father. Once he had her attention, he resumed. “It's important that you understand something when it comes to relying upon Discord for any favors. It may be true that he can do anything in reality, but never forget the fact that he is the Lord of Chaos and Disharmony. He is rarely here to solve your problems, my dear. Instead, he often shows up to specifically cause your problems, but that is his own way of granting you a favor.

“Also, it's important to remember never to abuse his friendship. If he does you a favor then it is important to remember that it is exactly that. Just because he can do anything easily, doesn't mean his services should be taken for granted or never returned. Discord is not my bellhop.”

The moment Crystal Wind said that, Discord suddenly gained a bellhop outfit but he continued to regard Crystal Wind as if oblivious to the fact that he suddenly gained that outfit. That action seemed to have no point other than to disprove Crystal Winds words.

Glancing at him for a second, Crystal Wind chuckled to himself for a few seconds then went on, once again addressing his daughter. “Instead, he is first and foremost my friend, and I'll never allow myself to forget that fact. I advise you to keep that in mind as well. If he does do you a favor, then he does it as a friend and appreciate it accordingly.”

“Um, sure but . . .” Star Breeze regarded Discord with a little bit of fear, “. . . he's going to cause me problems on purpose? How is that doing me a favor?”

“Well you said you wanted an adventure, didn't you?” Discord reminded as he finally looked back at Star Breeze. At the same time, his bellhop outfit suddenly disappeared. “What great adventure lacks risk?

“Besides, you don't have to worry.” He waved her off. “I'll be sure to scale the adventure appropriate to your skill level. One should never throw a level twenty dungeon at a level one novice.

“Well,” he glanced to his side with a troll grin which showed his teeth a bit, “I do it sometimes as the game master but my players have learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to my fantasies.”

Discord looked back at her as his expression returned to normal. “But you are my friend too, and I shan't overwhelm you unnecessarily, at least not on purpose.

“That said, my magic always has at least a little chaos in it.” He gestured to himself and closed his eyes for a second as he gained a brief arrogant expression. “I am the Lord of Chaos, after all. Whenever I use my powers, not even I can completely predict what will happen. That's just my nature.”

Discord closed his eyes again and lifted his lion paw upward in a dramatic gesture. “Chaos . . . is a wonderful, wonderful thing,” he opened his eyes at Star Breeze again and lowered his limb, again, “and it shouldn't be taken for granted.”

“Ultimately,” Crystal Wind added, “the purpose of the journey is to strengthen you. Take this as you would regard anything else in life. Right now we're asking the Lord of Chaos for a favor so that basically means we want to be surprised, but that happens every single day anyway. Every time you wake up in the morning, you'll never know what you'll encounter until you encounter it.”

Discord lifted a talon finger as he said to Star Breeze, “Which is why I argue that chaos is the ultimate determinate of all things within the perspective of a single, fixed reality.”

“Oh wow!” Star Breeze widened her eyes. “My father said that you said that to him years ago.”

“But of course! It's still true, my dear.” Discord said matter-of-factly as he folded his limbs behind his back under his mismatched wings. “What is and was shall forever be.”

Discord then regarded Crystal Wind again. “But we're getting side-tracked here.” Just after he said that, train tracks appeared under Discord and Crystal Wind, and it was the same fixed track, but two seconds later the tracks shifted two feet to their side. Right after that, the tracks vanished as suddenly as they appeared before he went on to his next sentence. “You said you invited me to spread a little chaos, and I'm eagerly awaiting the specifics of that request.” He waved Crystal Wind off, unfolding his arms from behind his back in order to do so. “Rest assured I shall make my games passable and fair, and age appropriate in this case, but did you have something more specific in mind?”

“I do, but the specifics are up to my daughter.” Crystal Wind looked at her. “You are welcome to accept suggestions, but this is your adventure. I want to remind you that you are the one who must trot it, and you will always be in control of your journey. Same as it always was, and same as it ever shall be.”

“Well,” Star Breeze began as she looked at her father, “right now I choose to listen to a little advice. If you have something specific in mind, I'm all ears.”

“So am I!” Discord agreed and, for a few moments, he turned into one giant ear which was aimed at Crystal Wind. He then said in a conniving sort of way, “I'm listening!”

Crystal Wind thought back as he looked off to his side. “During the many adventures I had with my extended family in the TARDIS, which occasionally included you, Discord,” he said with a brief nod to the draconequus, who promptly nodded back even in his giant ear form, “I remember there was one time and place he continuously brought us back to in order to rest and recover.” He looked at Star Breeze. “Since it was so new to me, your mother and Vision, it was still an adventure, but a tamer one. In consideration of your age and your desire to explore a small piece of the many wonderful locations of all of time and space, how about you start with Ponyville from the future? Are you still curious about that place? I recall you used to ask me a lot of questions about it before.”

Right after Crystal Wind asked that question, the opening of the giant ear of Discord's current form aimed at Star Breeze.

“Sounds perfect!” Star Breeze cheered. “I always wanted to see the future of Ponyville and what will happen to Sweet Apple Acres. By now I have seen the version of it in this time, but I've longed for years to see what will become of it later and how successful it will be.”

“Eh.” Discord suddenly turned into his “normal” mixed-up self while waving Star Breeze off with a bored expression. “It's just a normal apple farm, like a thousand others, with the exception of the Zap Apple trees. I tried to spruce the place up a bit at one point but my efforts weren't too appreciated so,” he shrugged, “I had to change it back. Personally, I felt it could use a little more flair, but I guess when you have friends, you can't always have things your way. It's a give-take situation.”

“That's true,” Star Breeze agreed as she looked at Discord. “I have lots of friends spread out all over Equestria. Mostly we're just pen pals, though.”

“Oh!” Discord's eyes lit up with delight, then seemed to disappear for a moment except he appeared again at the same time much closer to Star Breeze, only this time he was shaped like a tiny black pen with Discord's face on it which was directed at Star Breeze. “We could do that too!” Discord proposed to Star Breeze, then gave her a mischievous look while still looking pen-like. “Actually, I have a wonderful idea what we could do about that.

“Here is my proposition. Take me and write a letter to Princess Celestia. You must begin each letter with the exact phrase, 'Dear Princess Celestia', then proceed to write whatever you want, except with a twist.” He paused a moment as he snickered, then went on. “Whatever you write in that letter, it is a fate that will come true in her castle, no matter how outlandish it is. This includes your spelling and grammar errors. No matter what you write down, it will come true. How about it? Want to become the new author of this reality, just like the author of “Sky Dancer” was?”

“You might be disappointed,” Crystal Wind warned. “I taught my daughter very good spelling and grammar, just as my father once drilled into me . . . and no! Please don't demonstrate that by putting an actual drill to my head! That would give me uncomfortable recollections of Puppet Master.”

“Oh my Celestia, your proposition sounds so fun!” Star Breeze said excitedly, sorely tempted. “That would basically put your powers into my hooves!”

Somehow Discord's pen form actually shrugged, then he said, “Which I don't mind, as long as you solemnly swear that you'll be up to no good.”

“No,” came Crystal Wind's flat and firm denial. “You know I'm normally very lax with your pranks, Discord, but this is my daughter we're talking about and I'll not have you corrupt her innocence too much.”

“But you called upon me!” Discord objected as the face of the pen turned to Crystal Wind. “You promised me that there would be chaos. What's wrong with a little harmless fun? You do trust your daughter not to be too naughty with my powers, don't you?”

“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I may allow you to make that offer again when she's older and more mature, but for as long as she is under my care, I won't allow you to let my daughter rewrite the fabric of all reality.” He looked to his side. “Dang. I didn't expect I'd need to say that sentence today, but I suppose I should have known better when inviting the likes of Discord.”

Discord sighed in lament. “Oh, very well.” The pen version of him disappeared and he reappeared as his normal draconequus self beside them. As his “normal” self, he gently patted Star Breeze. “For as long as you are under your father's authority, I must respect it because I have too much respect for him to do otherwise. Perhaps later.”

He twisted his head to the side, leaned his head towards her and put the back of his lion paw beside his mouth as he whispered at Star Breeze in a conspiratory way, “And if you ever need a little chaos in your life later on as well, you let me know.”

“Will do!” Star Breeze promised with a mischievous wink.

“Ooo!” Discord looked giddy as he leaned back and shook his upper limbs near his face with a slight “squee” sound. “A girl after my own heart. I'd better be careful.” He regarded Crystal Wind as he said to him, “You didn't warn me that this one is such a charmer.”

“Well she is smart, and knows a golden opportunity when she sees one,” Crystal Wind agreed. “Anyway, it sounds like she agreed to my proposal, but there is one little twist that I'd like to propose. She wanted to get to know the crew of the TARDIS too, and most especially me.” Crystal Wind gave a mischievous wink to Discord. “Think you can arrange that?”

For a moment Discord looked confused instead because he caught Crystal Wind's subtle message but couldn't translate it for a short while. Then he recalled something that put this situation in perspective. After that, he gained a very devious smile which made Star Breeze nervous to observe. He said with a dramatic wave of his limb, “Your wish . . . is my command!” Above his head, he snapped his lion’s paw. A brief white flash assailed all of Star Breeze's reality, then she noticed she was somewhere else.

Author's Note

As of the date 2/7/2020 the views on this story are 67 first chapter but sharply drops to 23 on the second chapter. Every single other chapter is lower than that. At the same time, views on my other story "Sky Dancer" have increased. I have a theory as to what's going on. I think a lot of people are avoiding "Sky Dancer" at first because they see how long it is, so they skip to the first chapter of "My Little Detour" to get a bite-size of the story despite the warning that "My Little Detour" is a sequel. However, after that, they get so intrigued by what they read in the first chapter of Detour that it convinces them to catch up with Sky Dancer after all with the possible plans to resume Detour as soon as Sky Dancer is finished. Am I making sense here? Is this what some of you are experiencing?

Let me know in the comment section what you think, and if the theory I proposed above is exactly what happened to you or if it's not what happened to you but you agree that maybe others are doing that. Or, whatever. Say anything you want.

As of the date I mentioned above, there are no comments on this story at all. Please don't be afraid to share your thoughts with me. I won't bite.