"Bullshit," I grunted as I tried to sit up, only to be stopped by a weight on my body. Glancing down, I was met with the sight of Tempest, Jury, and Twilight huddled up on me. I blinked and scanned the void to see the others huddled together in little groups as well, at which point I realized I'd fallen asleep. I sighed and laid my head back down, just watching the three ponies with me for a moment before scanning the void again.

My eyes drifted to Celestia who was lying with her sister hugged up to her, then to Flurry and her parents who were in a similar position, and then to Twilight's friends. Most of them were sleeping off the miserable situation we were in, while Rarity, Applejack, and Starlight were awake and having a muted conversation while Rarity idly and anxiously brushed her mane with just her magic. I blinked and turned my head to get a better look, then watched her for a moment.

"What are you doing?" I called, causing her attention to snap to me. At the same time, the ponies lying on me jumped and began to stir.

"What?" Rarity called back, as now the rest began to sit up. I grunted and pulled my arm free from the pile I was in and pointed at her.

"With your mane."

She frowned and humphed. "My best, of course. We don't exactly have-"

"You still have your magic?" I pressed. She blinked and furrowed her brow.

"Yes? Why wouldn't I?" She retorted. I huffed and scanned the rest of the group, who were focused on me. I glanced down and met the eyes of the ponies atop me. I grunted and tried to sit up, at which they shuffled off and sat beside me.
"What about you?" I demanded and began inspecting my phase distorter.

"You've thought of something?" Jury desperately asked, hooking her forelegs around my arm.

"I think so."

"Ha! Told you!" Starlight called.

"Shoot, 'bout time!" Applejack muttered.

"Oh, thank Celestia!" Rarity cried. I paused and glared back at the group as they began making their way over to me.

"What have you concocted Edward?" Luna asked once they were gathered. I stared at the group for a moment before glancing back at Twilight. I hummed and rose to my feet before ripping my glove off.

"Magic," I grunted as I began inspecting the inside of my glove, especially the casings holding the gems. "Responds to intent, as I've always said. In big enough amounts, it can even rewrite how the universe works. Harmony and all that bullshit." I popped one of the gems free and began inspecting its runes. The heat from overuse had actually evaporated a good chunk of the exterior and scoured a lot of the rune work with it. I clicked my teeth and began inspecting the others.

"Meaning what?" Starlight pressed. Each of the other gems was in a similar state.

"Meaning the magical creatures here might be able to pump their magic into the atmosphere and kickstart the universe again," I replied, rattling the gems in my hand as I mulled over what runes would be needed. As I did, the group shared a look before Twilight shook her head.

"Eddy, our magic isn't-"

"Strong enough? Normally no," I said as I began trying to etch off the last of the rune work with my teeth. "But what even is strength? In terms relevant to us right now, it's the amount of force you can exert on something else." I inspected my work and then thrust my hands out.

"And in case you haven't noticed, there is no 'something else.' So! In theory, with a little effort and direction, your magic combined can make a change, which will in turn be resisted by nothing. Understand?" I looked over the whole group who now wore hopeful, if slightly confused expressions. Except for Jury who caught on to my meaning immediately. I nodded and began work on the next gem as she scooped up a few from my hand and started helping.

"Now, the effort is easy, but it's the directing part that'll take some skill on your part," I pointed at the whole group. "You need to really focus on the world that was. 'Cause your magic is going to be the foundation, and it's going to react to whatever you're putting into it." I rattled my gems at them.

"Jury and I will get these prepped. So take some to really get a mental picture solidified with each other," I held up a hand and huffed. "Any deviations will be permanent."

"Deviations?" Flurry squeaked. I nodded as I chipped another gem.

"If this works, it should spit the universe back to the point we left it. But if there are any deviations in the intent you put into this spell, it'll all shift to match," I paused and rolled my hand. "Uh, for instance, if you put the intent that, I dunno, trains ran on magic instead of coal, the spell will remake history to match." The severity of my words had a visible effect on their faces as they shared a look.

"Eddy," Twilight muttered as she trotted forward, scanning the ground. "You're making it sound like we aren't undoing the damage he did. We're just.. Patching over it." I looked down at her and she met my eyes. Her ears were pressed against her skull, and she wore that frown that used to eat at me.

"We are," I replied bluntly, causing her to whimper. I waved my hand over the expanse. "But even if it's not exactly the same world, something is better than this." I stared out at the void and paused.

"We can at least try our best to make it accurate, you know?" I blinked and my eyes drifted down. "Maybe even better."

"You're sure you've all got a unified idea in mind? You remember what the world was?" I pressed as Jury and I set the gems around the group.

"Yep, yep, yep!" Pinkie replied, bouncing in place as she did. My eyes immediately snapped to Celestia who gave me a reassuring smile.

"We have spent a considerable span of time ensuring we were on the same page, Edward," she explained. "While you worked, I suggested we focus on the present rather than go into much detail about history."

"Good thinking," I nodded as I set another gem down. "It should fill in the gaps nicely." I paused and grumbled.

"Ah, well," I finally huffed. "No certainty this will even work, so who cares?" I set the last gem down and took a step back, scanning the entire circle while Jury trotted in with the rest of the group.

"Jury, you remember what you're supposed to do?" I asked as I framed the scene with my hands.

"Yep! Keep my mind blank and let their idea take hold since I wasn't in on the preparation," she responded. Twilight frowned and looked between us.

"What'll that do to her?" She anxiously asked.

"Uh, well," I retorted as I circled the group. "Ideally nothing, but if any changes in history do take place, since you're all safe in this circle, you should be, uh."

I snapped my fingers, searching for the word. "Isolated? Neutralized?" I grunted and shook my head. "You'll still be you, but you'll remember new things as if you've lived your whole life in the new world."

I paused and took a shallow breath. "Theoretically," I folded my arms and shrugged. "Should go without saying I'm not entirely certain about most of this." Jury's ear twitched and she shared a look with Tempest who pulled her into a hug. I stepped back to one side of the circle and pointed at a specific gem.

"Anyway, when you're ready, focus on the image in your minds and each other. Do the friendship magic thing you've got so much practice with," I bent down and tapped the gem while looking at Twilight. "Then blast this with your magic." I huffed and stepped away as she nodded and shared a look with the group. Then she turned back to me.

"Eddy," she began, looking me up and down. "Why are you standing outside the circle?" The rest of the group noticed this as well. Starlight's ears snapped back, while the alicorn sisters shared a look.

I shook my head with a shrug. "Ain't got no natural magic. Even compared to those who got drained, I'm as mundane as it comes," I explained. "Might contaminate the process. Better safe than sorry." A look of shock washed over most of the group.

"Eddy!" Twilight cried. I waved my hand at her and turned.

"Besides!" I added. "New world might be better off without an Edward Bedlam." I let out a yelp as I was slammed to the ground. I grunted and looked down to see Jury and Tempest atop me with their hooves locked around me.

"I'm not leaving you!" Jury screamed. I groaned and tried to pry myself free.

"Hey, c'mon, you need-" I was cut off again as a hoof smacked me in the mouth. I looked at Tempest in shock.

"Just shut up!" She screamed before hurling herself onto me again. "Just.. Just shut up." I lay back and sighed, staring at the empty void above. I managed to slip my arms under the pair and hugged them tight, a gesture they returned. After a moment, Twilight appeared in my vision.

"Eddy?" I looked into her eyes for a moment before looking down at Tempest and Jury. Both of them had their eyes screwed shut and were clutched as close to me as they could manage. I gave Twilight a solemn nod, at which she recoiled. We held each other's eyes until she finally closed hers and withdrew from my sight. I stared up at the void and waited. I heard her magic charge up and saw color begin to fill the white expanse, emanating from the point they all stood.

"Goodbye, Eddy," she gasped as their spell was unleashed. The light it produced overwhelmed the whiteness of the void and then...

I let out a sigh as I stared through the window of the trolley carrying me through the town to the palace. The only creatures riding along with me were my armed flat cap wearing diamond dog guards, who carried those scary wood and metal weapons like what Bedford had used.

Rifles, that was it. Equestria had begun importing them six hundred years ago, and they'd been very popular among those without magic, just like the electric lights that filled every major city in Equestria. However, we all knew it was just a deviation Eddy'd warned us about. The world was full of those now.

Luckily, he was right about our memories. With just a little effort, we all realized we could recall the new details about this world as though we'd lived here our whole lives.

"It's the princess!" I blinked and waved at the school foals waving at me as we rolled by. Their uniforms reminded me and I looked over myself with a hum. Fashion had certainly undergone a few changes, and we all knew whose fault that was. For starters, more creatures were clothed more regularly. I was pretty sure the beige dress and pearl necklace I had on were appropriate for the meeting I was heading to.

I let out a sigh and rested my head against my seat's arm. Just had to get through to tonight. The last few questions I've had about this new world would finally be answered then. My eyes drifted to the strips of grass and artificially planted trees nestled between the road's paving stones. Hanging between each pair of trees were banners announcing the arrival of certain delegates from nations neighboring Equestria.

New memories about said delegates came rushing to my mind and I groaned. Just had to make it through to tonight.

The doors were swept inward by my magic, revealing the private lobby within. If this room was the only one I'd ever seen since we woke up in this world, I'd swear nothing had changed. The chandelier, golden framed mirrors, pearly white columns, and rich-looking chairs and sofas atop the freshly polished floor tile all screamed Canterlot Castle. To say nothing of the other pony in the room with me.

"Twilight! Wonderful to see you," Celestia cheered as I entered the room. She trotted up to meet me and we shared a hug. As we parted I looked her over. She was in a red button-up shirt with a sash bearing Equestria's colors, had her mane in a tight bun, and was wearing glasses of all things. Her horn had been restored at least.

"Nice to see you too," I murmured. She giggled and patted me on the back.

"I know it looks a bit strange, but we must make a good impression," she declared before adopting a more severe expression. "How're the girls? Were you able to find them?"

"Yep. Those telegraphs are really nifty," "I saw them all face to face over the last week and a half. They're actually going to meet me here in the city later tonight."

"Wonderful," she sighed with a nod before perking up. "And I've recently made contact with Cadance and her family. Did you know the Crystal Empire is actually responsible for most of the materials we use in lightbulbs throughout Equestria?" I hesitated before slowly nodding my head.

"I didn't a minute ago," I sighed. "This is all so.. eerie." I scanned the room and looked out the windows at what Canterlot had become. The wide paved streets, the trollies, the shape of the buildings, the slight haze from the industrial quarter. It looked more like Manehattan than anything. I found myself lost in thought, drifting back to everything that was lost. Everyone that was lost. I shivered and then a wing brushed my back. I looked up to meet Celestia's eyes.

"Would you like to know how I've coped with it all?" She asked. I meekly nodded and she continued, looking out the window as she did. "To be honest with you, though the circumstances are much more fantastic and.. grim. This is all fairly similar to what I have seen as the world advanced around me."

She took a breath and studied the ceiling which was painted with numerous scenes across our new history. "The old world rapidly melts away as society progresses, and new and confusing social norms," she paused and then met my eyes. "Losing those close to me." I frowned, but she offered a reassuring smile.

"How I have managed is through learning and sharing," she said with a nod. "There is a whole new world for us to experience, Twilight Sparkle."

She pulled me into a hug. "And by the slimmest of chances, we have our friends to experience and share it all with." I sniffled and hugged her back. We sat like that for a few minutes until the clock struck two. I groaned as we parted and let out a sigh. Celestia chuckled. "Now, now, I never said all experiences would be pleasant, did I?"

"I know, but these guys are just so," I screwed up my face as we made for the door. "Well, like him." Celestia chuckled again as she opened the door.

"Yes, well, we certainly all seemed to have a certain bipedal species on our minds at the time. Especially its most provocative specimen," she said before pausing. "Speaking of.."

"Where do you get off threatening ME?!" President Gunn roared, pounding his fist on the conference table and jabbing his finger at Prince Benny, who remained resolute and sat with his arms folded.

"I get off the carriage that delivered me here! That's where," the prince chortled, adjusting his sash as he did. Gunn growled horribly before turning to us and jabbing his thumb across the table.

"You believe this guy?!" He demanded. Celestia and I shared a look, while Luna hummed but otherwise remained silent. Both of these esteemed world leaders were human, yet another deviation and both of them absolutely hated each other. President Gunn was an older man with slick white hair, and pale skin like Eddy's. His eyes and smile were somehow crueler than Eddy had ever looked, though. Mainly since he was always smiling, and his eyes were dead, like a shark's.

Prince Benny was darker skinned, wore a thick mustache, and was notably more vocally reserved than his opponent, but appearances were the only difference between the two. When it came to land, money, or power, the two were practically identical, to say nothing of the fact they both wore similar black suits and ties. At least, that's what my new memories told me.

They also told me most humans could be reasonable, which, considering Equestria bordered a few other human lands, I was personally thankful for. These two though..

"Let us be frank," Benny began, folding his hands and resting them on the table. "The discovery was made by prospectors from my kingdom. So, the rights to the drill site should-"

"Go to us, since it's closer to our border!" Gunn screamed.

"Only by one mile," I quietly huffed. "The oil well's closer to us than either of you." Silence gripped the conference room and I blinked before realizing all eyes were on me. I nervously smiled.

"I mean-"

"Ah, yes!" Gunn exclaimed, pounding his fists and maintaining his smile. "How silly of me! We were gathered here to discuss who should have the rights to the oil."

"Yes," Benny added, turning his attention to us. "Since you seem inclined to prevent a war between us." The pair nodded and leaned toward us, with an intensity in their eyes.

"So?" They demanded in unison. I swallowed and looked up at Celestia, who met their eyes with a smile.

"Well, my esteemed guests, I'm afraid I have some bad news I must convey," she began before shrugging. "I would have told you sooner, but you were quite wrapped up in your argument." The two recoiled and shared a look before scowling at her.

"What bad news?" Benny demanded. Celestia nodded and presented a small stack of telegraph paper she'd shown me before we came to this meeting. The sight drew a nervous smile from me.

"The site has already been claimed." Both men leaped from their seats.

"WHAT?!" Their eyes immediately snapped to each other. Celestia hovered the papers over them, and they both jumped for them, landing on the table and wrestling for them before finally glaring at each other and reading them in unison.

Then their expressions fell.

"Aw, c'mon," Benny groaned.

"That son of a.." Gunn hissed, losing his smile in a way only one creature could manage.

Then the doors flew open and said creature came striding in. Both men seized up and slowly turned to glare at him.

A scientist and thaumaturgist from Gunn's nation, who defected after feeling his research was not properly appreciated. He fled to a small island off the coast of Equestria, where he began developing weapons with his two Equestrian refugee assistants.

In a span of only two years, he managed to become a dominant military power most other nations were too frightened to challenge due to the sheer scale of "boots" he could deploy, as well as the fact his soldiers were machines. Since then, he has remained docile due to positive relations with Equestria and our urging him not to do something silly like try and take over the world.

The renegade, one-man geopolitical superpower: Edward Bedlam and his co-conspirators, Jury-rig and Tempest Shadow.

"BASTARD EX-PAT!" Gunn roared, rolling to his feet and jabbing a finger at him. "How the hell'd you get in here without us hearing?! I've got security out the wazoo out there!"

"I made like a bar of soap and gave them the slip," Bedlam quipped as he slithered into a seat at the far end of the table. He slipped off his glasses and tucked them into his coat before offering a smile to the other humans. "So! I presume you've read the message?"

"Where do you get off claiming land?!" Benny spat, grinding his teeth as he glared. He thrust his hand at us. "I thought you were pacified by them?!"

"That's certainly a word for it," he purred, nodding our way. I blinked and frowned, but he didn't notice. "But that hardly means I can't expand when my research calls for it." He snapped his fingers and Jury reared up on the table before drawing a rolled-up map from her bag. She opened it and slid it toward the center of the table. The two men leaned over it and studied it.

"As you can see, there're several pockets of gems we've detected in that patch of soil with unique properties," Bedlam explained, tapping his thumbs together as he spoke. "Possibly a reaction of Equestrian earth magic and the oil, but who knows?" He laughed and input a sequence onto his gem-covered glove. The map buzzed and the two men recoiled as the image of several bands of dozens of animunculi appeared on it.

"And as you can see, we've already begun excavating," Bedlam added with a shrug. "If you're not satisfied feel free to take the first swing!" The two men winced and shared a look before glaring at Bedlam, who only smiled in response.

"Things don't need to escalate like that, Mr. Bedlam," Celestia declared, drawing all eyes to her. She tilted her head to Bedlam. "For instance, perhaps you'd be willing to draw up the oil these fine gentlemen are after and-"

"Give it to them?" Bedlam barked a laugh, reclining in his seat and folding his legs on the table. "Hell no!" The two men bared their teeth and glared death his way.

"What about us?" I offered despite myself. He looked at me and my breath hitched. After a moment, I cleared my throat and nodded. "Why not trade it with Equestria, and then we can trade it with both of your nations?"

Bedlam scoffed and waved a hand before drawing and donning his glasses. "Works for me. My machines have no need for such crude fuel sources."

"Would that be acceptable, Gentlemen?" I asked the two. They both hummed and looked at each other with disgust before slowly nodding.

"Excellent," Celestia hummed. "I'll send for the necessary papers and we can prepare a treaty for it."

Bedlam scoffed again and whispered something to Jury, who blinked and glanced at me before nodding. "I'll let my aid handle that. I'm heading to my suite. Later losers and ponies!" He chirped and strode out of the room, waving his hand back as he left. The two men snarled as he slipped out of sight.

As they fell into a heated conversation with Jury and Tempest, which Celestia tried to moderate, I couldn't help but focus on the door he'd left through.

Despite his connections to Equestria, he spent most of his time on his little island nation. So, since we showed up, I hadn't had a chance to come find him and talk with him.

Was it really him?

Or were they all just another deviation? One created by our collective memory of him?

I pulled open the door and stared down at the alicorn princess waiting on the other side. "Yes?"

"Good evening, Mr. Bedlam," she greeted with a little curtsy. "May I come in?" I grimaced and looked over my shoulder to see Jury and Tempest were fast asleep on the bed.

"Fine, but keep it down, please," I replied, stepping aside for her to enter. I gestured to the balcony I'd been sitting for the past hour or so, just watching the city and taking in the atmosphere. We walked in tandem to the balcony and sat in the chairs on either side of the little metal table I had a platter of cheese and wine on.

I sighed and stared out at the city. Somehow, despite the saturation of electric lights all over the place, the moon and stars high above were as clear as anywhere else in the world. In fact, the yellow glow that hugged the city contrasted with the blue light of the night sky perfectly and made the dark room behind us seem more.. Snug? Inviting?

Whatever, it was pretty.

"So," I sighed, my eyes locked on the city. "What can I do for you, Princess?" No response came and I clenched my eyes before turning to look at her. She was staring at me with a desperate little frown. I grimaced and she spoke.

"Eddy. Is it you?"

I closed my eyes and slouched in my chair with a grunt. I took a breath and slowly nodded. "Yeah. It's me," I gently waved my hand back at the room. "I don't know how, but we survived and merged with the new world."

I huffed and opened my eyes. "Then again, I guess I really didn't know what to expect from all that." I grunted as she leaped across the table and wrapped her forelegs around me. I sat there, staring at the blue sky as she nuzzled my shirt, until pulling back and glaring at me.

"Why are you so standoffish?" She quietly asked. "I thought you were gone forever."

"Might've been better if I was," I grumbled. She pulled my face forward and glared into my eyes.

"Don't you dare." I rolled my eyes and pulled her hooves off.

"Well, what do you expect? I'm," I sighed and rubbed her hooves while I mulled over the new world. "I'm still the bad guy, aren't I? Still the belligerent lunatic. Still making weapons out in the hidden places of the world, still.. Making enemies."
I hung my head and sighed. "Nothing's changed, even after being given the biggest second chance possible. I'm still me." She pulled her hoof free and raised my head.

"You're wrong," she retorted with a severe look. "This is different. Things have changed."

"Have they really?"

"Yes!" She cried, bracing her hooves against my shoulders. "Eddy, you're still making machines, but check your memories! You're not at war with anyone! Even those two humans!"

Her wings snapped out and she waved her hoof at the palace. "Even that whole show you put on with claiming that land," she sighed and gave me a sad smile. "You did that to help stop a war, not start one."

I grimaced and looked off to the side. "Still feels the same, though."

"So, why'd you come here?" She asked. I winced hard and met her eyes. "If everything's the same, why'd you come back here where you knew you'd bump into me?" When I didn't answer, she continued.

"Is it cause you needed to hear it?" She pressed, wearing that frown she knew ate at me. She nodded and pressed her forehead to mine. "Cause if that's all, then no Eddy. It's not too late. I'm sure of it now." She wrapped her forelegs around my neck, but this time I returned the gesture. She squeezed me but then withdrew, and wore a severe look again.

"But that's not a free pass, Eddy. You need to work at it," she declared, tapping me on the chest as she spoke. "Things are different now, and you've got a chance to do a lot of good and it seems like this new universe is in support of that."

She took a breath and her expression softened. "But I'm confident you'll make better decisions this time." My head drooped against the back of my seat.

"Will any of that make up for anything I've done?"

"Nothing can change what you've done, especially not now," she replied and gently shook her head. She tapped my shoulder. "But that's why you need to do better." She hugged me again, a gesture I returned. I screwed my eyes shut as tears formed and slid down my face.

"I'll try."

"I know," she whispered. "And I'll be there to help, okay?" We held each other a little longer before she withdrew, and wiped her eyes with a hoof. I gently took her hoof and squeezed it.

"I'm sorry, Twilight."

She kissed my forehead. "I forgive you, Eddy." I took a breath and smiled as she fluttered from my lap to the railing. "Alright. I need to head into the city to meet the girls. Catch up tomorrow?" She gave me an expectant smile and I nodded.

"Tomorrow," I replied. She nodded back and leaped off the railing, before soaring off into the city. I watched her fly until she shrunk out of view and then sat alone with my thoughts. "Do better, you jackass." I reached over, grabbed a thin slice of cheese, and took a bite from it when my glove dinged as it received a message.

Furrowing my brow and clicked a sequence on it and it projected my messenger. What I read made my heart stop.

[> ;)]

My hands were shaking and my mind was racing. How-

A giggling snort from inside the room drew my attention that way. Back on the bed, I saw Jury looking back at me with one eye open and her own messaging device active. She tapped it a few times and another message dinged. Turning, I read it.

[> Come to bed, Eddy.]

I let out a hearty sigh and cast a critical leer her way, which caused her to giggle. Rolling my eyes I rose to my feet and stretched before scanning the city one last time before stepping inside and closing the balcony door.

BEDLAM III

Author's Note