Time is Magic

Holy… Flying … Feathers…

I am royalty… I am bucking royalty, and 1.2 million creatures are prostrating to me. I can’t believe it. I turn around after being crowned and, in an act of potential coltishness, embrace Luna with every bit of gusto I have. She was caught by surprise. “We are glad thou art happy, but we must continue. Have thou prepareth for the special address?”

Well yes, of course I did! I summon my cue cards with my magic and make my way to the podium, which I see is already covered with my new seal, a clock in the shape of a Star of David! My word, I feel crazy right now, but everycreature wants to hear from their new timekeeper. Can’t disappoint them!

Taking a deep breath, I make my way to the microphone and begin to speak:

“My fellow American… wait, wrong planet! Denizens of Equus! I have a few different names, but you can call me the Clockwork Prince. I think that is simple enough. Also, you may be seated…”

Everycreature does as I asked them and are now seated in their chairs.

“Right, where was I? As you might have heard by now, I am not from Equestria, but from another reality altogether. I helped a different Princess Luna save Equestria in her timeline, and in her final, selfless act named me as her heir and sole successor. So...that’s why I am here today. I can elaborate on this further if need be, but today I just want to explain to everycreature what exactly my job is. Using a time spell, I project a map of the spacetime continuum onto the setting sun. “This...is all of spacetime. My mandate is to protect the flow of time for everycreature in the universe. It is a hard job, but it is something I am good at. Basically, as long as everycreature doesn’t try time travelling to alter the past, you are already on my good side!”

Everycreature begins to laugh at this joke.

“So… besides watching time and raising the moon every now and then, what exactly am I going to do? Well, let me start with this! I love education, and I plan on starting a contest across all the lands to pick personal pupils! Knowledge has always been a value of mine, and I want to share this joyous gift with the smartest and brightest minds!”

All of the younger Equestrian citizens oohed and ahhed, excited to potentially be selected.

“Everycreature under the age of thirteen in attendance has a paper card underneath their seat. On this card is a logic puzzle that I devised myself. If you can solve this puzzle of wits, mail it to my palace, which is under construction but has a mailing address. The card is enchanted, so no cheating. It’ll know it’s you who solved it, and not a friend or parent!” I say, smirking. I love puzzles!

All of the younger citizens fumble underneath their seats to see exactly what I described, a paper card with a puzzle on it. This puzzle is a basic tenet of Talmudic exegesis. “Kal Vachomer”, or A fortiori inference. It used to express a conclusion for which there is stronger evidence than for a previously accepted one.

“Out of all the puzzles, only one candidate from each race will be selected to be in my elite class. If you don’t get in, don’t worry. I plan on holding this contest every year, and the cards will be mailed to your houses. If you get selected, you will get a letter and I will interview you, to ensure you meet my criteria. Once you get in, you will become a Guardian of Time. Now, the Magic of Time is not the same as the Magic of Friendship, but there is a lot of overlap. You will learn history, logic, and even magic. Of course, you will continue your regular Friendship studies. I assured Princess Twilight of this when we agreed to create this program.”

The children in the audience are in awe, they could potentially be a student of mine!

“As for everybody else… I will be giving lectures in Equestria on a variety of subjects while I am not teaching your elite youth, and I want to know each of my citizens intimately. Best part about being a time-alicorn is that I can do that, since I can just rewind time over and over to meet each and every one of you. There is a chance I have already begun to do that!” I say, winking.
“I will also be working in concert with Princess Twilight to ensure the status quo of optimal friendship, and the council will be in contact with me at least once a week to verify my plans. I work well in a group! Anyways… I will not be accessible on Saturdays and certain days throughout the year, which will be known as they arrive closer. Besides these days. I can be reached anytime, anywhere. I will always respond to a letter. Anyways, enough chit chat! I think Equestria deserves a party today.”

I’ve wanted to try the Canterlot voice for a while now. Now I can!

“My first royal edict will be a simple request. Madame Pinkamena Diane Pie, Element of Laughter, come hither!”

Pinkie Pie bounces forward with all of her usual Pinkie enthusiasm.

“I bestow upon you the privilege of inaugurating the coronation festivities, do as you wish.” I say, using a spell to amplify Pinkie’s voice.

“OMYGOSHIEVERYPONYTHISISCLOCKWORKSPARTYLETSGOO! TIMEPARTY!”

And with reality warping at her will, a massive party capable of feeding millions spawns out of thin air. Must be some Element magic, I presume?

Getting off the podium, I fly and try to locate my mother and sister among the crowd of millions.

I see my sister pop up in the sky and drag me down to see somepony she just met.

“Oh my goodness Noah! If you got crowned, does that make me a princess?” Rivka asks me as somepony taps me on the shoulder. It was a human!

“Woah… a human in Equestria. Never thought I’d see the day… Wait, do I know you?”

"I believe so, Your Majesty.", while bowing.

I take a minute to think about who this could be…

“Wait. State your timeline and coordinates! Your energy readings are too high to be a human. A changeling? No… too high for tha- oh my G-d… you are the guy I did my first lecture on for Starlight! How’d you get here?”

He places a finger to his lips while smiling mysteriously.

"An Alicorn never reveals his secrets…"

Well, the guy isn’t made with a pencil. I have more people to meet and greet, but this is so weird. I narrated his life story and now he’s here… never had that before.

“Say… want a cupcake or something while you are in my timeline? I don’t think that’ll cause a butterfly effect.”

"No need, kind sir.'

… He produced a cupcake out of nowhere. I'm also not sensing any magic… at least magic that I can detect.

'Already got one."

“Okay… If I recall correctly you have alicorn DNA from somewhere, correct? Do you have the power of meta?"

His only response was another secret smile that was eerily similar to a particular pink pony's…

“Nevermind. I have more people to greet. It’s funny to see you here, also, your wings are showing, you know that? Your blazer tore at the seam.” I say, with a smirk as Luna taps me on the shoulder next, directing me to meet with the griffon delegation.

"I know.'

He glances behind me and glups.

'Which brings with them unneeded female attention… It was truly wonderful seeing you again, but I need to leave ASAP."

What does he know? He knows I have ten years to try and prevent this bad timeline from happening?

“You know about the calamity?” I ask, only to realize that he’s gone.