Act I: Forward

…… “Twilight, this isn't what we planned.” ……… “They have to learn, one way or another.” ………. “Please, listen to me. We must…”………… “…will tear your kingdom apart, she wouldn’t…”………… “chosen for a reason, I’ll do what I must!”……….. “Twilight, please! You need to listen to me!” ……….. “Twilight…. TWILIGHT!!!!” ............

“WAIT!!!”

I woke up with a start, panting heavily. My clothes clung to my sweat-drenched body, my arms and legs trembling uncontrollably, and my eyes sore from being tightly shut for far too long. My muscles, having languished in prolonged rest, ached and strained as I fought to rouse myself. Disoriented and unsure of my surroundings, I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the faint light that barely illuminated the space.

The dim, ghostly glow revealed little about my location. A chilling dampness pervaded the air, and an unsettling silence pressed down on me. Shivering, I struggled to sit up, desperate to get a clearer view of where I was. My mind, still clouded with remnants of sleep, gradually began to focus on my immediate environment.

I found myself in a vast, rectangular chamber, flanked by worn stone columns that bordered wide, stony walls. The walls bore strange engravings, their intricate designs blurred almost beyond recognition by the relentless passage of time. I squinted at the faded symbols, a throbbing pain coursing through my head, eliciting a groan as I raised a trembling hand to my brow in a futile attempt to ease the discomfort.

"Mmmmgg… My head…" I muttered, the sound echoing faintly in the cold, empty space. Drawing on previous experiences, I took a deep, calming breath and focused on remembering why I was here. My memories were a chaotic swirl of indistinct images and fragmented thoughts, but one clear recollection stood out amid the confusion.

"It worked." The realization was simple yet profound. The fact that I was breathing, that I could see and feel, meant that I had survived. My aching body craved movement, and after several clumsy attempts, I managed to stand on my slightly worn-out boots. I dusted off my clothes as best as I could and approached one of the walls adorned with strange engravings.

I leaned closer, trying to decipher the worn symbols. Though time had rendered much of it indecipherable, I could still recognize the patterns. They were of my design. Relief washed over me as I understood where I was.

‘I'm still in the chamber. Just as we planned.’

It was a remarkable accomplishment, given the sheer madness of our plan. The fact that I remained intact after a thousand years of programmed sleep was an unprecedented feat in the magical land where I resided. Our unconventional methods had achieved what many deemed impossible.

With my thoughts now clearer, I examined my surroundings more closely. The chamber was a functional, rather than aesthetic, structure. It bore a resemblance to the long-lost catacombs Daring Do might uncover on one of her daring expeditions. Its sole purpose was to house my resting body safely through the centuries. I scoured my memory for the layout of the chamber, recalling the details as I approached what I believed to be the exit.

The chamber had been built underground when I first entered stasis, and there was a significant possibility that the exit had since become buried. This could pose a serious problem. Steeling myself, I muttered, "Well, there's only one way to find out."

Determined to escape the gloomy environment, I crossed the chamber towards the carved stairs that led to the exit. Time had been merciless, eroding the walls, ceiling, and columns that supported the structure. The floor, too, showed signs of wear, and the complex rune-carved engraving that occupied most of the central area was now barely legible. In the past, that engraving had contained an intricate spell array designed to propel me forward through time—or at least, as close as we could come to actual time travel.

The idea had been straightforward, yet my unique nature, lacking any inherent connection to the world’s magic, had driven me to employ less orthodox methods. As I ascended the worn steps, my mind wandered back to the elaborate preparations and the sacrifices made to achieve this feat.

Reaching the top of the stairs, I paused, taking in the sight before me. The exit was partially obstructed, as I had feared, but not entirely blocked. With renewed determination, I began to clear the debris, each movement bringing me closer to the surface, and to whatever awaited me in the world beyond.

In the dim light of the chamber, I couldn't help but feel a surge of hope mingled with trepidation. The world I had known was long gone, but a new one awaited, and with it, the chance to make things right. I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and continued my ascent, ready to face the unknown.

‘Hmm, I guess Starswirl was right, or at least it would seem so. I'd hate to come out and realize I've gone back 10,000 years or worse.’

Temporal magic was an exceedingly intricate branch of arcane study, rarely explored and even more rarely mastered. Few dared to venture into its enigmatic depths, and fewer still managed to weave even the simplest of spells from its convoluted threads. As far as I knew, only the legendary Starswirl the Bearded and the cunning Starlight Glimmer had successfully executed significant temporal spells, with Twilight Sparkle achieving similar feats during her relentless pursuit of the demented unicorn.

“Twilight…” Her name escaped my lips like a lament, and with it, the weight of my decision crashed down on me. Not even three steps up the ancient stairs, the full brunt of my actions struck me with the force of a thousand regrets. My friends, my family—I had known the consequences of my plan, but the emotional toll was far greater than I had anticipated.

Hours had been spent preparing myself, mentally bracing for the inevitable, but nothing could have readied me for the heart-wrenching agony of departure. Every achievement, every hard-won victory, all seemed to crumble in the face of this moment.

“Everything we did, everything we achieved, only to end like this…”

The desperation of our situation had necessitated drastic measures. This plan, as painful as it was, had to be carried out. It was imperative for those who would follow, those who would suffer for our mistakes—for my mistakes. Shaking my head violently, I banished the agonizing thoughts before they could consume me. Now was not the time for reflection; I had to keep moving.

As I ascended the worn stairs, I glanced at the wall to my right, noting the blurred engravings that complemented the main array on the chamber floor. It had taken me months, aided discreetly by several ponies, to conceptualize and construct this intricate design. Starlight Glimmer had been among my secret collaborators, her reluctance palpable as we worked behind the backs of our friends. Yet, as I had told her then and reminded myself now: it was necessary, for the future of us all.

Climbing the long, worn-out stairs, the rhythmic movement of my legs brought my attention to a slight bulge in my left pants pocket. To my surprise, despite the passage of decades, my clothes had not degraded as much as I had feared; they held together remarkably well, a testament to our careful preparations.

‘Another achievement for you, Rarity. Time-proof clothes. I imagine the princesses would have put them to good use.’

As soon as the thought landed, a wave of depression washed over me once again. The slim chance of ever seeing my friends and family again was a bitter pill I had swallowed long before embarking on this enterprise. I removed the bundle from my pocket and found a small, smooth, sky-blue gem. Its natural luster and glow were now barely noticeable.

‘When I get out, I have to charge it again to full capacity; otherwise, it won’t work. And the information it contains is invaluable for the mission,’ I reminded myself, making a mental note.

This gem was one of my earliest discoveries during my collaborative efforts with the ponies to better Equus. The ability of certain special types of gems to store information, much like a USB drive from my home world, had astonished me. Although they lacked the complexity of electronics, meaning they couldn't store family photos or extensive data, they had proven immensely useful. The most promising application was the ability to cast spells using the magic contained within these gems, along with certain language integration spells to help me overcome my natural deficiencies. While I could levitate toast from the toaster, it would never rival the skill of a well-trained unicorn. Nevertheless, these gems had served me well in the past.

"And you'll be very useful to me now," I muttered to myself as I continued up the last flight of stairs. The chamber was built deep underground at the foot of the mountain chain that bordered the coastal cities of Baltimare and Fillydelphia. During our initial scouting of the site, we had discovered several vast deposits of Dimeritium buried deep within the mountains. As a magic-canceling metal, constructing the chamber close to these deposits rendered it undetectable to magical scanners.

‘Hmm, by the looks of the place and the absence of any prints, it seems it wasn't discovered by anycreature during my stasis,’ I thought, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.

As I approached the exit, I encountered two Dimeritium-reinforced gates. Pulling hard, I managed to open them inward, teeth grinding as the thunderous creaking of their rusty hinges assaulted my eardrums. Instead of open skies and a soothing breeze, I was met with a layer of humid dirt completely blocking my way out. It wasn’t very thick, as I could make out the roots of plants from ground level.

“Well then, it’ll have to be the hard way,” I muttered with a determined gleam in my eye. I reached for the gem in my pocket, closed my eyes, and concentrated. Simple spells like levitation or light constructs were easy after much practice, but those requiring greater amounts of magic and focus always left me exhausted and dizzy if cast for too long or too many times in quick succession.

“Bombarda!” I opened my eyes and shouted, pointing my free hand toward the layer of dirt. The gem emitted a whitish glow, and from it emanated a wave of energy that impacted with a thunderous roar, sending chunks of earth and plants flying outwards, clearing the exit.

I took a moment to catch my breath. My long sleep had erased much of the stamina I had built during my late years in Equestria. I used to cast far more powerful spells without batting an eye. Even though the magic came from the gem, my body still suffered from the effects of the energy release. It wasn’t built to withstand such sudden energy output, and overdoing it could strain my physique to the point of damage. The fact that I could use Latin words to cast spells, like a Hogwarts student or a cheap anime character, amused me to no end. Yet, it was necessary to ease my spellcasting. Twilight could never fully understand it, and neither could I. Still, it worked better than screaming the words in Equish or merely visualizing the desired effect in my mind. It had been an outstanding discovery back in the day, especially for those not attuned to magic like a unicorn.

With the exit now cleared, I gazed up at the sky to see a blue expanse, with barely any clouds in sight, and the sun shining brightly in the middle, warming my freezing body with its gentle rays.

‘Well, at least the sun remains in its place,’ I mussed, reassured by the familiar sight.

From where I stood, it appeared to be midday. With the sun at its zenith, I couldn’t use it to orient myself. Nothing had been allowed to accompany me into the future besides my clothes and the gem, meaning no compass or any other helpful gear. However, I wasn't worried. I knew the location of the chamber by heart, and thus, I was facing east, toward Horseshoe Bay and the Celestial Sea.

I allowed myself a deep, satisfying breath, savoring the taste of clean air and the scent of nature all around me. With one final stretch to shake off the stiffness from my long sleep, I stepped out of the chamber into a clearing surrounded by tall trees—a subspecies that blanketed the mountain chain and extended to the coast, forming one of the largest forests in the country. This lush forest, named after the nearby city of Baltimare, had provided perfect concealment for my resting place.

Not wanting to waste any more time, and without any idea of how pony civilization might have evolved—if it still existed at all—I began my journey toward the closest settlement I could remember: Woodlock Town, a small village about an hour from Baltimare by train. It had been a quaint, almost exclusively earth pony village whose main economic activity was logging from the surrounding woods. Few inhabitants, almost no unicorns, and minimal risk of discovery. I needed to check if it was still standing and find somepony willing to bring me up to speed. I had slept through hundreds of years’ worth of events, after all.

‘Mff, I hope things didn’t end up reaching the breaking point. I fear what might have happened if the mistrust and anger turned into something worse.’

A thousand years could hold a multitude of changes, as the history of Equestria and Equus had shown. As I made my way toward the village, my mind cleared, allowing me to recall happier times: moments with my friends, the day-to-day life in Ponyville, and the bi-annual cataclysmic events that endangered all of Equestria, only to be resolved by the girls with the power of friendship. I still couldn’t comprehend how a concept like friendship could wield so much power. On Earth, conflicts were resolved very differently.

It also bothered me how quickly things could deteriorate in Equestria, a nation that preached love and harmony. The hate, the unfiltered rage, the mistrust, and the fear of one another…

‘It almost resembled the day of the pony tribes. Without a princess to guide them, the ponies almost seemed not to be so different from humans at our lowest.’

Drastic measures had been necessary to prevent irreparable damage to ponykind. And yet, for the first time the girls and I tried to set things right, it hadn’t worked out as it should have. Our greatest failure, my greatest sin.

“If only you had listened to me, Twilight…”

I walked through the forest for several hours, the dense canopy complicating my sense of direction and causing me to go in circles multiple times. During my trek, no dangerous creatures appeared. None inhabited these woods, unlike the Everfree Forest, which was filled with creatures lurking in the shadows for the chance to make a meal out of you.

So lost was I in my memories that I only realized after a while that I should have arrived at the town by now.

‘It wasn’t more than an hour from the chamber in a straight line. I can’t hear anything, nor can I see any smoke rising above the trees…’

Deeply confused, I looked around for any sign of civilization. All I saw were the tall, maroon-hued trees and several crystals scattered among the vegetation.

‘Wait a minute. Crystals?!’

I didn’t remember there being crystal formations when we built the chamber, at least not as prominent as these. They rose well above the vegetation in varying shapes and sizes, emitting barely any light. Seeing them reminded me of the gem in my pocket. I checked to see if it had begun recharging with ambient magic as designed.

“Hardly anything,” I realized worriedly. Where a pulsing hue of bluish magic and a soft hum should have been, only the barest movement could be seen inside the gem. The near-total absence of ambient magic could only mean one thing.

“She had to do it… dammit. DAMMIT!!”

I had hoped with all my heart that it wouldn’t have been necessary, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Scorching anger burned within me as I continued searching for the village or its remains. Despite my efforts, I found nothing.

“Dammit, must have been abandoned a long time ago, enough for its remains to completely disappear too.”

Seeing nothing but vegetation around me, I abandoned the search and, worn out from the fruitless effort, found a small clearing under a huge tree where I could rest. Nightfall had arrived, and the surrounding crystals provided a gentle, cold light, barely enough to illuminate my immediate surroundings. I sat against the rough trunk and rested my feet. Not wanting to lose my way by wandering around during the twilight hours, I chose to spend the night there. The only things I could carry with me after the spell transported me were my clothes and the gem that held the key to my mission’s success.

‘Time to rough it up,’ I lamented to myself.

It was only a couple of minutes later, just as I was about to fall asleep that I felt it. A tremor, but not from the ground. A reverberation, but not in the physical sense. Puzzled, I got up and looked around trying to discern the origin of such phenomena, muscles tensing in preparation for incoming threats..

But it was no threat, but something truly wonderful. Before, I felt it. A moment later, I saw it.

“What in the world…” I could only mutter as the crystals around me lit up in a dazzling array of colors, painting the night sky. A wondrous aurora spread out from the east, covering the entire firmament. My skin tingled, and the air tasted different, charged with magic to the point of saturation. Even without a natural connection to this world’s magic, I could definitely feel the effect of what was transpiring.

Both confused and amazed, I turned my gaze to the direction the aurora had originated from. “The Crystal Empire is NOT that way, and the Elements of Harmony stopped working when Harmony was compromised. What in Tartarus is going on?!”

I checked my pocket and saw my gem slowly regaining its glow, humming softly with the flow of magic that had previously been dampened but was now set free.

‘Well, at least that’s solved, saves me from using the nasty trick. Gonna need the magic if I’m to complete the mission. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get a couple more. This gem can only hold so much magic at once.’

Looking around, I managed to find some small crystal fragments scattered from the larger ones. They didn’t hold much charge combined, but they’d have to do until I found a more permanent solution.

With the renewed glow from the crystals, the newly illuminated surroundings put me at risk, so I moved under a nearby bush to better hide myself. I didn’t want to risk being spotted while I slept.

Sleep came short and rough. I barely got any rest, trapped between my memories and confusion about that sudden magic outburst.

Morning came far too quickly. Restless and covered in leaves, I shook myself awake and proceeded on my way east, deciding it was best to find out who or what caused that outburst first, although I could almost imagine what it was. A small shimmer of hope warmed my heart, yet the implications wouldn’t exactly work in my favor.

‘It might complicate things more. Faust dammit, as if being in another time wasn’t enough already.’

I saw no sign of anypony nor any other creatures on my way out of the forest, which gave way to an endless stretch of grassy fields covered in a thousand kinds of flowers. The silence that had accompanied me since my awakening was unnerving. Only a couple more hours until I’d reach the coast. Continuing my journey east, I used the time to think about how I would approach the matter at hand.

I had hoped the conflict wouldn’t escalate, that the races would see reason and join again in peace. Celestia and Luna had done a wonderful job during their rule, and Twilight gave her best to continue their work.

‘We should have been more careful. We should have seen it coming. The Unity Crystals were too much, even if they would ensure the safety of the ponies at the cost of their magic.’

Safety… from what? Conflicts and disagreements were not unknown among the different races, with racial slurs and historical claims being the main weapons. Since the return of Luna and the rise of the Elements of Harmony, ponies and other creatures were more united than ever. The School of Friendship admitted pupils from all over the world… It all fell apart so quickly, so abruptly, that the other creatures started feeling threatened and decided it was best to flee from the growing breach and isolate themselves once again.

‘I hope the young six managed to stay together. They shouldn’t have had to pay for our mistakes.’

One thing was clear: I had to approach this carefully. No flow of magic meant that Twilight hadn’t managed to fix the breach between the three tribes, and thus had no choice but to activate the Unity Crystals, our magnum opus, the product of desperate minds finding no better way to fix a crumbling nation. According to their design, without harmony between the ponies, the magic all ponies enjoyed freely would be locked away from them. This was to avoid further conflict and harm, since magic wielded the wrong way could become catastrophic, as happened during the many times Equestria’s existence had been threatened.

One of our earliest debates regarding the matter suddenly came to mind. ‘Taking away their magic won’t take away their fear and hate, Twilight. We must help them see again. Magic is too important, too necessary for the daily lives of ponies. I can’t even imagine what might happen if one day it disappeared. We must think of alternative solutions.’

We were lost, desperate, and willing to risk more than we should have. Now, something big had happened, and magic once again permeated the land as it always should have. I could only wish it was because, somehow, the pony races had managed to join together again, for it was then that the Unity Crystals would relinquish their hold on magic.

‘Even if it is so, I can’t take the risk. I need to complete the mission. I can’t allow this to happen ever again.’

The mission. The existence of the crystals was too dangerous. If they were destroyed or manipulated by the wrong hooves, the fate of magic would be at stake. I had to reach them. I had to reverse what she did. I had to find out why it truly happened in the first place!

In my gem, I had all the necessary information. How could a magicless creature hope to reverse such a spell? How could it free what was imprisoned by the most powerful pony who ever existed? The method I knew, the rest I had to improvise.

‘Even if it takes my own life...’

On my way down the slopes of the valley, I passed near a cliff and found the remains of a campfire. It did not seem to be very old, perhaps a couple of days at most. In addition, I found hoofprints leading in the opposite direction to my own path.

‘At least I know that ponies still populate this place, but how come I haven't seen any?’

Ponies were not as numerous as humans on Earth, not by a long stretch, but they were still a ubiquitous presence throughout the entire country.

Seeing that night would soon fall, I decided to rest for the remainder of the afternoon at the site. I gathered some wood nearby to rekindle the campfire and found a small bush with pink berries that I recognized as non-poisonous.

‘It will have to do...’

As I ate my meager dinner and warmed myself by the campfire, memories of the events that led to the separation of the three tribes flooded my mind. What started as minor disagreements and power abuses among the more ‘advantaged races’ had escalated into something far more severe. Petty fights that the royal guard once handled swiftly grew into widespread unrest. Many ponies began questioning their place in society, their worth, and the painful differences between those more and less attuned with magic.

It disturbed us to see ponies changing their minds so abruptly and drastically. Our investigations revealed that somepony was actively inciting these fights, spreading fear and distrust among the ponies, accusing others of mistakes they hadn’t committed, and reinforcing each tribe's perceived superiority over the others.

‘Equestria is not an abusive totalitarian state. Everypony is entitled to their opinion, but this wasn’t normal. Never in hundreds of years had such rifts arisen among the ponies.’

We dug deep into the issues arising across Equestria, attempting to solve them peacefully by preaching the tenets of Harmony and seeking reconciliation. Then, after many failed attempts to restore peace, the Map called to us all.

It was a huge surprise to be summoned by the Map along with the girls and Spike. Seeing my hands flashing suddenly was not a pleasant experience—I thought I had touched something dangerous in the lab without realizing it.

I remembered taking the first train to Ponyville and running across the town like a madman toward the Friendship Castle once the scare wore off. The passing ponies looked at me worriedly, some of them shouting to ask what the issue was that had me so rushed.

The Map pointed us toward Dodge City. It had been a while since any of us had visited that town, and we hadn’t recently received any concerning news from the place. Somewhat puzzled, we set off immediately.

The journey had been pleasant. It had been some time since the girls, Spike, and I had traveled together like we used to before Twilight’s ascension to the throne. We didn’t know what to expect. The Map had been silent for the better part of a year. Twilight’s short reign had been prosperous and peaceful, with no cataclysmic events requiring our intervention, focused on building bridges with the rest of Equus’ races and improving the lives of her little ponies. Even the brewing problems hadn’t been enough to draw Harmony's personal attention, or at least she wouldn’t show it.

After getting off the train, we decided to look around town, trying to find the friendship problem that had brought us there. After some wandering and questioning the townsponies, we heard a commotion from the central square and decided to investigate. It was there, surrounded by locals, that we saw her for the first time after her departure from Twilight’s School for Gifted Unicorns.

Of all the villains we faced, none managed to cause as much damage as she did. No pretensions of grandeur or desire for conquest—she only had to convince the population and make them see lies. Her speech was terrifying, but even more so was watching the ponies nod their heads in agreement.

With a hundred memories swirling around in my mind, I barely got any sleep that night either. Early in the morning, I resumed my journey, with only a few hours to go to reach the coast. I could almost taste the salinity in the air, a few seagulls breaching through the higher clouds. I hoped to find a settlement and, with it, the origin of the phenomenon I had witnessed yesterday.

After half a day on the road, I set my eyes upon it. From the top of a hill, I could discern a coastal town, with a modest lighthouse at the far end of the bay. It didn't look like anything too special, except for a huge quadrangular building that reminded me of a production facility, or something similar, towering over the seaside-themed houses.

However, the image of the coastal town wasn't what truly captured my attention. Before my eyes, I finally glimpsed the source of that mysterious explosion that painted the sky with beautiful auroras. Climbing toward the endless firmament, a straight rainbow emanated from the top of the lighthouse. The rainbow ascended high until it blurred in the darkening blue of the afternoon sky. Although I was too far away to see it clearly, it gave the sensation of moving slowly, gently towards the heavens as if projected by the light of the lighthouse.

‘That's no ordinary rainbow. I've seen enough of them over the years to distinguish those arising from magical phenomena of great power. It seems to be a recurring theme.’ I chuckled to myself. My masculinity did suffer a blow when I first arrived all those years ago, to my dismay.

I had to get closer to be able to distinguish the inhabitants, my sight poorly lacking in comparison to that of a pegasus. I was sure of one thing; this town was NOT Baltimare. Both for its location and its size, the coastal city seemed to have been replaced by this humble village. I wasn't going to affirm I knew for sure how many years I had traveled into the future, regardless of our flawless calculations, but it must surely have been several centuries if something like this had taken place. Luckily, that rainbow showed me the exact location of the Unity Crystals, or so I hoped, saving me from exposing myself to the ponies for the time being. I couldn’t allow any more distractions to interfere with my plan.

The path leading downhill diverged in two: the right path continued up the hill to the lighthouse, and the left path descended to the lower entrance of the town. A worn-out sign stood nearby, the name ‘Maretime Bay’ written in white letters over a blue background, chunks of paint and wood missing around the edges. Not wanting to cause a fuss, I decided to visit the lighthouse first and confirm that the Unity Crystals were indeed there. As I neared it, I could discern how part of the upper structure had collapsed, and some signs of repair could be seen at the bottom of the tower.

‘Hmm, perhaps the activation of the crystals was too much for the lighthouse?’

Evening was fast approaching, and I couldn’t see anypony nearby. With any luck, no one would notice my arrival. The bustle and incessant questions that arose with my arrival in Ponyville the first time were not experiences I wished to repeat. No unwanted questions meant going straight to business.

“If these ponies truly comprehended the significance of crystals, they wouldn't leave themselves so vulnerable,” I mused to myself as I finally reached the lighthouse. A faint buzzing filled the air, undoubtedly a byproduct of the powerful magic surging skyward.

The lighthouse's design was reminiscent of traditional human standards, with alternating horizontal red and white stripes marred by numerous cracks. At the top, remnants of what once was the lantern room stood in silent ruin. Below the tower, a more house-like structure protruded, suggesting that somepony lived here.

To confirm my suspicions, I cautiously tiptoed toward the exterior of the house and peered into one of the windows, doing my best to avoid tripping over the scattered building materials intended for later use. The curtain was half-closed, but I could make out a living room bordered by an open kitchen, and a work desk surrounded by numerous boxes and various papers.

The decor was simple and rustic, with an absence of walls dividing the rooms, creating a pleasant feeling of space. Ponies generally disliked enclosed spaces, especially pegasi. This type of layout was very typical in their homes.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed a purple tail protruding from one end of the sofa that occupied the center of the living room. At the other end, a mane of the same color and part of an orange-furred leg hung over the edge.

“Looks like somepony is taking a nap… just great,” I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose in exasperation. “Okay, let's see if the lessons I received from the Abyssinians have paid off.”

I had never mastered the cloaking spell, so I had to be extra careful. Climbing up the exterior was not an option. I didn’t trust the damaged structure to hold my weight, and I wasn’t much of a climber either.

‘Shame on you, space monkey. Now you have to sneak in.’

Resigning myself to a direct approach, I headed for the door, preparing my gem to use the Alohomora spell when I remembered that ponies rarely locked their homes. Just as I thought, a simple click and a slight push opened the door.

‘Ponies are way too trusting…’

With practiced stealth, I crossed the threshold and tiptoed past the foyer toward the center of the room. I searched for any stairs leading to the top of the lighthouse but only found an elevator in the room's center. Fixed on the wall nearby was a small lever-shaped mechanism that seemed to control it.

‘Ugh, that's going to make a lot of noise… think, think!’

Unable to climb on the outside, the elevator was my only way up, but it would surely wake the pony sleeping on the couch. Speaking of the pony, I could now discern that it was a mare. Considering nearly seventy percent of the pony population consisted of mares, that wasn’t too surprising. Lying on her right side, she slept peacefully with a tiny smile on her muzzle. Her coat was a rich orange color, lightening around the fetlocks. Her mane was a deep purple with a single rainbow streak in the middle. In her sleeping position, I couldn’t make out her cutie mark. I didn’t seem to have disturbed her sleep if her gentle breathing was any indication.

‘She looks adorable, but so do all ponies.’

Before reaching the elevator, I couldn’t resist glancing towards the small study in the corner of the hall, and what I saw took my breath away. Hanging on the wall were several objects familiar to me. A map of Equestria, with locations corresponding to the time period I had arrived from Earth. To its left, a tribal mask identical to the ones Zecora had in her house in the Everfree. Numerous drawings and diagrams were scattered around the edges of the map and all over the desk. On the other side of the room, a banner bearing Twilight's cutie mark decorated the wall.

I couldn’t believe it. Whoever lived here seemed to be researching what I believed would now be called Ancient Equestria. My eyes returned to the slumbering pony, a hundred new questions filling my mind.

‘... No time right now, focus!’

A few more cautious steps brought me within reach of the elevator.

“I was hoping not to rely too much on magic, but I have no choice now. Let's see if my practice has paid off… Furtim zona!” I whispered, casting a spell to reduce the sound around me. If I had done it correctly, the noise from everything surrounding me, including the elevator mechanism, should be dampened.

Carefully, I stepped onto the platform, my weight activating the spring mechanism to make the elevator rise. The buzzing intensified as I neared the top, becoming almost tangible.

It only took a moment to reach the lantern room. There, pieces of stone interconnected with wooden planks formed an improvised floor over the damaged structure. In the center of the room stood a stone pedestal, missing chunks in some places.

On that pedestal, levitating about a meter above it, the three joined Unity Crystals emitted their rainbow magic into the heavens. I had never seen the crystals at work before embarking on my ‘trip’. With conflicts escalating so quickly, I had little hope that they would ever come together after being activated for the first time under Twilight's supervision. Only the three tribes united as one could make them work and bring magic back to Equestria. I had thought that if the conflicts grew so severe that the tribes ended up permanently separated, the crystals would also remain apart, forgotten as the years passed.

And against all odds, here they were. Together and active, allowing magic to flow through the land once more.

“No doubt this makes things much easier for me. Even though they are working now, I can't allow them to continue to exist.” Ponies' magic should not depend on something as fragile as these crystals. We can't deny them their magic at the risk of its misuse. All of Equestria revolves around it. Without it, ponies would lose their purpose, their spark, and become completely helpless.

To deny them something so essential was unforgivable, no matter what conflicts might arise. They were capable of change, of learning, of choosing a better way.

‘We would have found a better solution. We went too far...’

Seeing them in front of me filled me with guilt. We had no right to do what we did.

‘And yet, they have managed to survive and thrive. If my plan goes well, things can go back to the way they were, and maybe they can learn from our mistakes.’

I had to be extremely careful. It wasn't as simple as just shattering them to pieces. No, that would entail catastrophic circumstances. These crystals were now the main, and possibly only, conduit for magic across Equestria, the master switch through which every ounce of magic flowed. If they ended up broken, the magic would remain inaccessible forever, or worse. I had to reverse what we had done, restore the connection to the land, and free the leylines that were now imprisoned by these gems. The ponies' connection to magic is something truly profound, something a human like me could never fully comprehend. Learning of Tirek's invasion, I became acutely aware of the devastation that the absence of magic could cause.

“But they were not created to have their effect reversed…”

Starlight and I spent countless hours trying to figure out how we could reverse their effect without permanently damaging the connection. She also believed we had gone too far, one of the very few that shared my point of view. But Twilight wouldn't listen to either of us.

Determined to rectify this once and for all, I approached the pedestal, wielding my gem in my right hand, my left stretched out before me, reaching for the crystals. Encoded in the gem was the spell array we had created to try to reverse their effect. It was exceedingly complex, too complex to be encapsulated in a single word as was common in my spell casting. With a few key words, the spell array would activate and make use of the gem's energy to undo the terrible mistake we made.

There hadn’t been any previous testing; we only relied on our knowledge and that of those who came before us to build it.

Only a few centimeters separated me from my target, my hands trembling and my pulse racing.

“Now or never,” I muttered to myself and, taking a deep breath, began to recite the words. “Reparare damnum, Harmonia restitue, Fac nos…” I spoke quickly, seeking to finish as fast as possible.

But the Unity Crystals were faster.

Before I knew it, a strange sensation ran up my arm. I felt numb, my breath coming in raspy gasps, momentarily losing touch with reality. In less than a second, the crystals charged and released a wave of energy, powerful enough to shake the unfinished lantern room. A shockwave spread from the top of the lighthouse, followed by a circular rainbow that covered the entire bay.

My legs failed me, and I collapsed like a rag doll, my whole body trembling, my left arm completely unresponsive.

Shocked by the crystals’ retaliation, I tried to make sense of what had happened.

“They weren't designed to include a defense mechanism. This shouldn't have happened!!”

In my disoriented state, I could hear a female voice shouting from below. “Hey! Who's up there?! What just happened?!” This was followed immediately by the sound of the elevator descending to the lower floor. My stealth spell had not been enough to conceal the explosion.

“Shit!! Why didn't it work?!”

I tried to stand up, but my body felt like a limp noodle, trembling uncontrollably, barely responding to my commands. Before I could even sit properly, the elevator activated again, carrying the orange mare who started wildly looking around the room with an anxious expression. The moment her eyes fell on me, that expression changed to one of disbelief.

I looked towards her and back to the crystals. She followed my gaze and suddenly realized what was happening. The moment she noticed me trying to approach the crystals, she jumped in front of me, blocking my way.

“Whoa there!!” She cried once her hooves connected back with the wooden floor. “Look, um, I don’t know what’s going on, or who you are, but I can’t allow you to touch those crystals… again.” She warned me with a defiant tone, her posture low and ready in case she needed to intervene.

I had learned not to underestimate the might of earth ponies. She wasn’t very intimidating, not that ponies could ever be very intimidating if I’m being honest, but still, I didn’t wish to be struck by an orange earth pony mare, again.

‘One time was enough AJ, time for the peaceful approach.’

“I mean no harm,” I spoke, her eyes widening slightly the moment she caught my words. “But it’s imperative that I reach those crystals. Countless lives are at stake here.” I explained a bit dramatically. I had to try again.

“Look, it took my friends and me a lot of effort to reunite the Unity Crystals and bring magic back, and I’m not going to risk losing it again to some… um, whatever you are. Sorry, but these crystals are under my protection and are to remain untouched.” A firm stomp on the floor sealed her resolve.

For a moment, I was surprised that she hadn't freaked out when she heard me talking.

‘Well, that’s better than the first time I talked to a pony, but still….’

“Listen to me, pony….”

“Sunny,” she cut me off with a matter-of-fact tone; no doubt disliking being called ‘pony’ as if she were a common animal.

“Okay, Sunny. Look, I can explain myself to you later, but right now I have a very, VERY important thing to do with those crystals. They are a danger to you, and having them here in plain sight only adds to the problem. Allow me to fix it, please! I promise the magic will not disappear and nopony will be harmed.” I reasoned with my most honest tone. It wasn’t like I was lying to her.

“Uh,” the orange mare didn't quite buy my warning. “I can see that whatever you think you need to do is important to you, but I would very much prefer you didn’t try anything until my friends arrive. Then we can talk about it and see how we deal with whatever you think will happen with the crystals, okay?” She remained firm, taking a hesitant step back closer to the pedestal.

“Sunny, please…” I tried again, finally regaining the feeling in my arm and legs. I changed into a crouched position, not wanting to rise to my full height and scare her even more, but still being ready to jump towards the crystals at the first chance.

“Look, I’m sorry, but I really can’t let you. Please if you would only wait for my…” She pleaded with a guilty expression on her muzzle. She glanced back towards the elevator, hoping her friends would have heard the commotion and were on their way to assist her. She only looked away for a second, but that’s all I needed.

Jumping from my crouched position, I pushed her back to the elevator, the spring mechanism taking it down with her. “WAIT!!” She screamed as she descended down the tower. I only had a couple of seconds. With renewed strength, I set myself up to try again, this time using my gem as well as the ones I had collected on my way here. Once again, I stepped towards the pedestal, raised my arm, and screamed the words.

“REPARARE DAMNUM, HARMONIA RESTITUE, FAC NOS LIBERARE…”

This time was different. Before I could finish, the energy from my gems suddenly drained away. A buzzing sound was emanating from the crystals, a sound I could have sworn I’d heard before as if they were charging up. A moment later I could feel said charge running through my body, swirling colors circling in my peripheral vision in a rainbow pattern. This continued for a few seconds. Sunny had already managed to return and watched breathlessly at whatever was happening to me.

Once again, I fell to the ground. I could almost hear a voice in my head, whispering to me in an all-too-familiar tone.“No, my dear. Your path shall be another. Just a bit longer…”

‘W-what?!’ Was all I could think as I laid on the floor. As quick as it came, the buzzing stopped, as did the energy coursing through my body. Confused and defeated, I casted my tired gaze upon the crystals, now unperturbed as they kept pouring their rainbow magic.

“I failed.”

The words I most feared speaking were now drowning my mind. After all that hard work, the lies, and cheap excuses to my friends, leaving them behind to never see them again. After all I had to sacrifice…

“I failed.”

Sunny cautiously approached me, a sad expression adorning her muzzle, mirroring my own. “Hey, um, I think that’s enough messing with the crystals for one day. Please, just come with me.”

I could feel my anger boiling. I didn’t want to lunge at her, so I released it through the second-best option.

“FuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!” I screamed at the heavens as I slammed my fist into the hard stone, making Sunny jump back from my outburst, ears pressed to her scalp and ready to bolt from the unfinished room at any moment.

Now, with my rage gone along with my purpose, I did the only thing a man could do after reaching that point. I curled into a ball and cried, cursing my fate.

“Hey… um, can I ask you a question?” Twilight probed while approaching the couch where I was sitting, leisurely spending time checking over a book on the Chemistry of Crystalline Substances. We were alone in my room, both of us starting to gather info for our newest project. Another all-nighter, but I didn’t mind as long as it was with her.

“Sure, what’s on your mind?” I answered, looking away from the pages to meet her concerned visage.

“D-do you think I’ll be a good ruler? As good as Celestia and Luna?”

I could see in her eyes how worried she was about her new position. Since being granted the throne, Twilight had incessantly questioned her capabilities. And once again, I was there to reassure her.

“Yes, Twilight, you’ll do a magnificent job. You’ve been trained your whole life for this, and you can count on the girls and I to help you every step of the way.” I reassured her with a warm smile. “Also, I’m sure your time as headmare at your school helped with the ‘getting used to being in charge’ mentality, right?”

She nodded, a faint blush adorning her cheeks. “Yes it has, even if I don’t particularly enjoy being in charge. I know I’m good at it, but a whole nation it’s way more than a simple friendship school! I fear the citizens won’t accept me or outright refuse my propositions to better Equestria.” Her ears drooped and her posture sagged a bit. “... As much as I would like to, I’m not Celestia.” She admitted while looking down the pristine floor with a frown.

I signaled her to sit beside me. She did so and cuddled against my side, her head coming to rest on my chest and her saddened gaze upon my face. I started petting her between the ears, the infallible trick, and all the way down her neck. She closed her eyes and sighed in bliss, pressing herself further into me.

“You don’t have to be anypony other than you, Twi. We all trust you and will accompany you the whole way, just as we always have.” I whispered, my fast-beating heart full of love and admiration for the mare beside me.

She snuggled deeper into my side and whispered back. “Thank you. Thank you so much… It’s very reassuring to know that I can count on all of you in case I make some mistakes or start overreacting.” She looked just about to fall asleep.

I closed my book and decided to call it a night, gently laying against her and wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “You? Overreacting? Now that would be the day…”

Author's Note

First chapter, first fic. English ain’t my mother tongue so expect some wierd grammar. Hope you like it.