The Future They Didn't Want

Shining Armor failed to remember anything significant about the culprit from his dream other than that the culprit might be closer to home than he initially thought. He also remembers that Big Mac was there. He had recognized the stallion thanks to his sisters' long letters and even longer conversations about what she and her friends had been up to. Including detailed descriptions of family and friends significant to whatever story she was telling.

The next day, Shining arrived at the Apple's farm shortly after the sun had risen good and high in the sky. Finding the stallion in question plowing the fields. He stopped just on the edge and called out to Big Mac.

"Hey! Big Mac!"

Big Mac stopped and turned at the voice. Noticing Shining Armor standing just a few feet away. He gives a one-moment signal as he sets down the plow. Wiping the sweat from his face with his shirt which was wrapped around his waist. Big Mac walks across the neatly plowed rows to greet Shining Armor.

"Shining Armor right? Twilight's brother?" Big Mac held out his hand in greeting reaching where Shining stood.

"It's good to finally meet you. Twilight's told me much about you" Shining shook the offered hand.

"Likewise AJ said you're a royal guard in Canterlot right?"

"Yeah, it's a rewarding job much like your farming" Shining smiles kindly looking up at the taller stallion.

"Everybody has their place" Big Mac agrees with a grunt "so what brings you all the way out here?"

"A vision, I'm pretty sure you had as well" Shining hedges hoping he isn't mistaken.

"Mysterious voice" Big Mac confirms.

"Yep," Shining nods.

That confirms Shinings' suspicions that Big Mac has also been shown that horrible future he was. He has to know if the crimson stallion has seen the same things he has and if not what the differences are. They move over to a shady part of the farm. Sitting down in the grass beneath a tree.

"We should check our facts," Shining says draping his arms over his knees.

"Yeah, I'll tell ya what ah can remember" Big Mac nods.

These are the theories that Shining and Big Mac compiled from the telling of their separate visions to each other.

One: It was someone they both knew or know but physical appearance may have been changed by the creature.

Due to shinings thought that he sort of recognized the figure shown in his dream by who they will be calling " the vision giver" until an actual name is found.

Two: Whoever summoned or set free the monster from the depths of Tartarus gained both immense power and lost all control of themselves essentially becoming a meat suit for the creature.

Shining came to this theory thanks to the repeated theme in both their visions of being unable to control their own bodies but still aware of everything going on around them. He assumed this was a power of the creature, but only a taste compared to what the host was probably experiencing.

Three: It had a vendetta against any and everything pony.

Big Mac mentioned this one. He figured it was only attacking places with ponies. No other creatures seemed to be in serious danger in either of their visions. This could also be because the images shown were limited in scope. Pertaining to just them individually.

Four: The one that gave them the vision believed for whatever reason that they not the mane six could prevent it all from happening. They were not the ones shown the visions after all.

"So who or what do ya think gave us the warnin'in?" Big Mac asks.

"I don't know, there's a lot of different creatures with varying degrees of power, that could conjure up visions, throw their voice, become invisible, or even see the future. However, none can do a combination of most if not all of them at the same time. Well, none that are free to actually use their powers anyways." Shining explains recalling his earlier research.

"So we just wait for it ta show itself. Are we even trusting these visions?" Big Mac asks skeptically.

"I don't know about you but, I can't shake the feeling that it's not trying to trick us," Shining says eyes boring into Big Mac.

"Yeah" Big Mac nods.

Then a thought dawns on Big Mac, "what if it was also freed with the evil thing?"

"Time travel would be needed or at least some form of it" Shining muses aloud

"It does feel ancient but familiar like I've known it my whole life" Big Mac continues

"But if it's always been around how could it have been trapped" Shining continues

"Right, this is confusing" Big Mac sighs

"Yeah, let's just wait and see for now" Shining concludes standing up.

Big Mac follows suit with a nod.

"I'll see ya later," Shining says with a wave.

"Eeeyup" Big Mac responds waving goodbye.

Shining and Big Mac were not the only creatures beneath the tree that afternoon. A snake sat curled up amongst its roots its shiny gold speckled black scales blending in with the dark bark keeping it perfectly concealed. Once the Stallions had left the snake slithered off.