Chapter 1: Meet the New Pones, Same As The Old Pones!
It’s a regular warm, autumn day in Montreal, Canada. People are going on their day to day activities, from buying clothing downtown, or visiting the Old Port, a popular tourist destination. It’s also the first day of the new school year at Concordia University, where a student named Noah Weiser is about to begin his second year of his BA in Political Science. Noah has always had an interest in geopolitics from a young age. He reads the newspaper every day, and keeps his eyes on what is happening at home in Canada, and around the world.
Noah’s first day of class goes by smoothly. He purchases his textbooks at the Concordia bookstore, located at the entrance of the metro tunnel. A lot of stuff about international relations this year. This particular subject is one of Noah’s favorites within the realm of political science, as diplomacy has far reaching consequences for both domestic and global issues. It’s often overlooked, but sorely needed.
After an annoying commute in Montreal’s metro system, he finally makes his way home after forty minutes. Noah places his backpack on the sofa, and just before he was to grab a granola bar from his kitchen’s snack cabinet, a voice jolts Noah to attention:
“Noah! Max is on his way. You’re on babysitting duty tonight!”
The twenty year old sighs. Even though it was the first day of class, Noah was given plenty of coursework to review. As much as he loves his five year old cousin Max, he’d much rather be productive in his academic career. Nevertheless, Noah takes a deep breath, and replies:
“Got it, mom. I’m more than happy to help!”
Max Weiser is Noah’s maternal cousin, through his uncle. The five year old boy is like a brother to Noah, and is an extremely bright, bubbly young boy. While Noah is waiting for his cousin to arrive at his place, his hourglass necklace that he wears around his neck begins to buzz. The cyan blue necklace is one of Noah’s most treasured items. It is his direct connection to an alien world far beyond the confines of Earth. A world where he’s not just a university student, but something far greater.
“Huh? What the hell’s going on?” Noah thinks to himself, as he taps the hourglass necklace with his right index finger. Almost immediately, a telepathic voice begins to speak in his mind; a voice that Noah knows extremely well, and is the most comforting voice in the world to him. The voice belongs to that of a famous alicorn princess, one who’s proclivities lie in the domain of the night.
“Hello, my sweet boy.” the voice says.
“Hey, Luna.” Noah replies. The young man smiles. It’s been a good while since he’s heard from his beloved alicorn guardian. Just hearing her voice puts Noah at ease.
“Just checking in on my favorite human colt. Is everything going well with your studies? I’m quite lonely on the moon, and I’d love to see you again…or should I say, I’d love to see Clockwork again.” Luna says, with a hint of mirth.
Noah groans with slight annoyance. Clockwork is the form Noah takes when he’s in the alien land of Equestria. Clockwork is a cyan blue unicorn stallion with a navy mane and tail. Luna granted Noah this form, along with Clockwork’s powers, as a young boy, back when the My Little Pony TV show was in its heyday.
“Luna, it’s been four years since I’ve been to Equestria. I’m super busy. I have school, I have my cousin to babysit, and I have a job at an AI startup accelerator, and-”
Luna gently interrupts her human charge with a chuckle. “You forget, Time Prince. Our two universes do not run on the same flow of time. You’ve been gone for four thousand years, not just four. Remember, you’ve spent many years in our land, but mere hours pass on Earth. Equestria’s magic is a fickle thing.”
Noah takes a minute to process this statement from his favorite pony. Four thousand years? That’s crazy! If this is true, most of the ponies he knew as a child are long gone, remnants of the past!
“Wait…does that mean-”
“Yes, my child. Your old flame is one with the stars. I’m sorry. I know how much you loved Starlight. She wanted to come home with you to Earth, live as a human, but she couldn’t.”
Noah takes a good minute to process this. The damn COVID pandemic took everything from him. He left Equestria to return to Earth, and now his old girlfriend is dead? The unicorn who made him smile. He’s too taken aback to grieve properly. Luna’s voice shushes him, and is soothing.
“Noah, she lived a good life. She loved you, too. However, the only ponies that are left from your time with us are myself, Auntie Tia, Queen Twilight, the young Flurry Heart, and Cadence. Everypony else is long gone.” Luna says, quite lucidly. She takes a deep breath and continues.
“A lot has changed since you’ve been gone. There’s new magic, new ponies, and new friendships to be made. You’re more than welcome to come back. I miss you, my boy.” Luna says, trying to coax him to return, even for a short visit.
“Luna, I haven’t even used my powers on Earth in four years. I don’t even-”
“It’s as you humans say, my child, ‘like riding a bike’. Unicorn magic is innate to a pony’s soul. You haven’t forgotten a thing. Now, did you say you have a cousin you foalsit for?” Luna asks, genuinely intrigued.
“I do, in fact. His name is Max.” Noah replies. Luna chuckles, in her signature manner.
“Bring him with. I want to meet the youngster. Perhaps young Max will find ponies to befriend, as you did when you were his age. I recall that you were around six when I found you, and gave you your powers.” Luna suggests.
The very idea of bringing Max to Equestria both terrifies and excites Noah. He takes a good minute or two to think about it.
“Luna, if what you say is true, and it’s been four thousand years, I don’t know anypony anymore. I don’t have my studio apartment in Canterlot, I don’t have my girlfriend, I don’t have-”
“Noah. Calm thyself. You’ll figure it out. You’re my charge. A true son of the night. Bring Max with you to Equestria. Let him make friends. I’ll see you shortly.”
And with that, the telepathic connection breaks, and Noah’s hourglass necklace stops buzzing. Noah sits down at the kitchen table, and takes a few deep breaths.
“F….four thousand years…my…my girlfriend.” Noah whimpers. He opens his phone and looks at his homescreen. It’s a picture of himself with a young woman wearing a purple beanie who had magical purple eyes. They went to see “Avengers: Endgame” together that day. Starlight only came to visit Earth a few times, but she was the only person, no, the only pony who ever truly understood him. He didn’t want to break up with her. COVID made that choice for him.
Just as Noah finally was about to grieve properly for his girlfriend, he hears a loud knock on the door. It’s Max! Noah quickly composes himself and goes to let his adorable cousin inside.
“Cousin Noah! I’m so happy to see you!” Max says, his bubbly voice filled with excitement. “Are we going to the park today?”
Noah smiles, and pats Max on the shoulder. “Actually, we’re going somewhere a lot cooler today. You’ll be home before dinner, I promise.” He says, hugging his cousin.
“Where are we going, Noah?” Max asks, genuinely curious. Noah takes a deep breath, and for the first time in four years, his hands glow with a pale, blue magical aura.
“We’re going to Equestria.” Noah says with determination. With a snap of his fingers, a quantum tunnel opens in Noah’s living room, and Noah and Max walk through it. As Noah and Max travel across the multiverse, the university student begins to transform. His human body morphs into the majestic unicorn stallion Clockwork Relativity. His navy mane and tail match his cyan coat perfectly, and his cutie mark of a golden hourglass glistens in the tunnel.
“Woah…a unicorn as a cousin! That’s so cool!” Max says, quickly climbing up Clock’s back. By the time Max is done with making himself comfortable astride the unicorn, the tunnel spits Clock and Max out in a pristine coastal town, where ponies are going about their day-to-day business. It’s mostly Earth Ponies.
“Welcome to Maretime Bay”, the sign says at the town entrance. Clock and Max are in for something new, that’s for sure!
Chapter 2: Sunny's Smoothies
Maretime Bay is pristine, tidy, and quite adorable. The Earth pony settlement seems to be quite lively, with ponies living their normal lives. There are a few pegasi flying around, with wares to sell, and Clockwork seems to be the only unicorn present right now. With Max on his back, Clockwork trots around, trying to get a feel for this new Equestria, one completely alien to him.
“No way, they have electricity now.” Clockwork thinks to himself, admiring the rather modernized buildings. Shops have lights on them, for example, “Banana Boat’s Banana Stand”, which is run by a chipper earth pony stallion of the same name. His shop has a neon banana lit up as an advertisement.
“Hey, Noah. All these ponies are so cute!” Max whispers to his cousin, with a wide grin on his face. Clock grins, and shifts his shoulders a bit, so Max is sitting upright on his back.
“Max, I’m Clock here. Remember that. And yes, all these ponies are cute, indeed.”
Clock replies, noticing his cousin’s astute observational skills.
There are many different shops in Maretime Bay, and one of them catches Clockwork’s eye. It’s a smoothie truck! Clock loves smoothies. An orange earth pony seems to be the owner of this stand. Clock grins, and asks Max:
“Hey kiddo, want a smoothie? It’s on me.”
Max nods in reply, which gives Clock all the permission he needs to canter his way over to the smoothie stand.
“Everypony try my smoothies! They’re the best in Equestria! I make sure all my ingredients are fresh, and it’s a certified Canterlogic nut free establishment. I don’t want anypony to get sick with my amazing smoothies!” The orange pony says, advertising her wares. Clock is the next pony in line, and the smoothie-selling pony immediately spots Max astride Clock’s back.
“Excuse me, Mr. Unicorn, but what is that…uh…that thing that’s sitting on you?” The earth pony asks, genuinely interested in learning more about what Max is. Clock smiles, and quips: “He’s my cousin, uh…what’s your name?”
“Sunny, Sunny Starscout.” She replies, smiling at the human child. Max waves to Sunny, and is quite friendly with her.
“Nice to meet you, Sunny! My name is Max, and I’m five years old. I’m a person!” The child says, introducing himself. Clock can’t help but chuckle at how freaking adorable his cousin is acting right now. Classic Max.
“So, what will the “person” and his unicorn be having?” Sunny says, pointing her front right hoof to the smoothie menu. Clock ignites his horn and levitates the menu to eye level, so he can take a gander at what smoothies are available for purchase.
“Hmm…banana-strawberry…or do I want Mango-blueberry?” Clock asks himself. Before he has a chance to order, Max pipes up with what he wants: “Sunny, can I please have a banana-strawberry smoothie?” He asks politely. Sunny smiles at the youngster, and nods. “Of course. I’ll make it foal-sized for you. And what about you, uhh…I never got your name, unicorn.” Sunny asks, waiting for Clock to make his order.
“My name’s Clockwork, but you can call me Clock. I’ll have what Max is having, but make it regular sized. Stallions have bigger appetites!” He says, laughing a bit. Clock spawns his old Equestrian wallet using unicorn magic, and doles out ten bits. Sunny examines the currency that Clock gives her, and says:
“Clock…what…what is that? We use Marestercard, Neighsa, or Pegasi Points. I can’t take whatever this is. It’s not money.” Sunny says, realizing that the unicorn in front of her is some sort of oddity.
Clock quickly remembers that Equestria has moved four thousand years into the future since his last visit. Of course his old currency isn’t legal tender. However, this might pose a problem. How can he pay for the two smoothies? Clock is a fish out of water right now. This really isn’t good.
A purple unicorn taps Sunny on the shoulder, quickly diverting her attention from the two quixotic patrons. “Psst. Sunny. Did that unicorn say his name is Clock?” She asks, her horn lighting up purple with excitement.
“Yes, Izzy. He did. Why is he giving me gold pieces? That’s so weird. You don’t use those in Bridlewood, do you? Is it a unicorn thing I don’t know yet?” Sunny asks the purple unicorn, who Clock and Max now know is named Izzy.
“No, it’s something much, MUCH cooler. Your customer right now is the Time Prince!” Izzy exclaims, waving excitedly at Clock and Max.
Clock goes completely pale, and his unicorn magic deactivates, dropping his wallet and the golden bits. On the one hand, it’s good that there is one pony who knows who Clockwork is, but on the other hand, it’s been four thousand years. He had no idea how big of an impact he had in Equestria.
“The…the time what?” Sunny asks, totally confused. This is a totally new development for her, and she’ll need Izzy to explain herself. Izzy is clearly more than happy to oblige on that part. “Well, I know you’re a hardcore history nerd, Sunny. SURELY you know that Princess Luna had a son, right?” Izzy asks rhetorically. Sunny takes a minute to think about this, putting her hoof on her chin in pensive thought.
“Luna was never my-” Clock tries to interject.
“Shush. Clock. I’m trying to help.” Izzy says, taking the floor once again. “Anyway, legend says that Luna found somepony who looked like Max over here…a “Human”, and raised him, making him a unicorn. Apparently he was some sort of time travelling unicorn prodigy, who did all sorts of cool stuff with the Grand Mage Starlight Glimmer…I mean…it’s legend, so I don’t know for sure. Ooh, Ooh! Can you see the future?!” Izzy says, clearly hyperfixated on Clock allegedly being the Time Prince.
Clock looks at Max for a second, and then turns to look at Sunny and Izzy. “Welp. You got me. I’m Clockwork Relativity, the Time Prince. I have no idea how I ended up being Luna’s son. She was just my teacher, similar to how Twilight Sparkle was with Celestia.” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m just trying to buy a smoothie for my kid cousin right now. My hero days are long gone. It’s been four years-”
“Four THOUSAND, Clock. Why’d you say four?” Izzy interjects.
“Relativity is complicated, Izzy. Where I come from it was only four years since I was last here. All…all this” Clock points in every direction “is brand new.” Izzy seemingly nods in understanding, and then taps her unicorn horn onto a cube shaped item on Sunny’s register.
“Smoothies are on me, Time Prince. I paid in full. Always happy to meet a unicorn legend like yourself!” Izzy says cheerily. Sunny sees on her merchant console that, indeed, Izzy paid for Clock and Max’s smoothies.
“Well, mister Clock, you got lucky. Free smoothies for you. Two banana-strawberry smoothies, one foal-sized, coming right up!”
Clock watches in amazement as the earth pony in front of him seemingly transforms into an alicorn god. Her pale-yellow horn and wings appear out of thin air, and she uses magic to make the two smoothies, in a jiffy. Clock is clearly flabbergasted by this, stammering in sheer doubt. Max is totally clueless, and claps at Sunny’s trick.
“Wow. A flying unicorn. So cool!” Max says, totally oblivious to the sheer unimaginable feat that Clock witnessed. Once the smoothies are ready, the silhouette alicorn wings and horn vanish, leaving a regular earth pony Sunny Starscout, who hands the two smoothies to Clock.
“Here you go, Clock and Max. Two smoothies! Enjoy!” Sunny says, as Clock uses his basic telekenesis spell to levitate the two smoothies, handing the kid-sized one to Max.
“O…okay then…I think we should have our smoothies. How does that sound, Max?” Clock asks, sipping his banana-strawberry smoothie. “Sounds great, Noah…er…Clock. It’s so yummy! The smoothie’s the best I’ve ever had!”
Clock smiles, and realizes that even though nothing makes sense to him anymore in Equestria, as long as Max is happy, Clock will be a good tour guide for his cousin in this land of ponies.
