Convexa Tempus

Twenty-one

They kept running, never looking back. Shining Armour knew they were close, he could sense Fate’s presence. After losing Spitfire their journey became fairly linear, just corridors of one type or another. They were giving it everything they had, Shining Armour using ever ounce of strength he’d gained in his training, Dusk on his powerful work horse legs, Scootaloo flying ceaselessly, and Dawn gauntlets keeping her up with the rest of them.

As they ran Shining Armour came close to Dusk so they could talk without being overheard.

“Have you thought any more about what I said?” he asked in a low voice.

“A bit yes,” he said hesitantly, “but how would you even ensure the future was changed?”

“Cadance wrote a letter, which if it’s presented to Celestia, she will do everything in her power to stop it,” he said confidently, trying not to give away the fact he was still nervous himself about the mission.

Dusk didn’t answer, and Shining Armour didn’t put anymore pressure on him. After Zecora and Spitfire he knew Dusk was beginning to be swayed. Then he felt something shoot through his head and he came to a sudden halt. The others stopped and turned to see what was wrong. As he stood massaging his head he tried to figure out what had caused it, then it hit him.

“Come on,” he ordered galloping as fast as he could, the others immediately started running again trying to keep up with him.

Shining Armour could see the door at the end of the corridor, he was inches from it. He reared and kicked it open and they dashed in. they arrived inside a cave, the walls covered in fungus, and there at the other side, still wearing her spectacles and collar, was Fate. But she wasn’t alone; as they arrived she was attempting to fight off creatures Shining Armour had never seen before. They were billowing black cloaks flying through the air, red eyes peered through their hoods and claws clutched scythes.

Fate just realised they were there, she swore trying to get away from these ‘reapers’ but she didn’t get far when one rose up to the cave ceiling spreading its claws. The entire cave was swallowed by darkness, Shining Armour felt himself sinking into it, he tried to call out for help but the others were already obscured. The last thing he saw was the reapers red eyes, before he was swallowed up by the shadows.

He opened his eyes, blinking in the light. He was lying in a heap on a floor that seemed vaguely familiar. Dragging himself up he took in his surroundings, he was in a large hall, there was a red carpet stretching through the middle of the room to a raised platform. He realised where he was, he just didn’t know how he could be there. It was the Canterlot Castle, on the day of his wedding.

It was completely deserted except for one figure standing alone on the altar. Shining Armour recognised Cadance, forgetting everything he ran towards her, but as he got close she turned around and her eyes flashed green. He came to a stop, trying to understand what was going on.

“Impossible, we defeated you,” he said, the figure laughed as Cadance’s skin ripped away to reveal Queen Chrysalis.

“Defeated perhaps, but so long as I live, I will always return to take what’s mine,” she laughed, “you should have killed me when you had the chance.”

Shining Armour was sent flying, she’d moved so fast he didn’t have time to react. He fell in a heap back at the door, while Chrysalis fluttered down beside him.

“Poor Shining Armour,” she kicked him in the face, he tasted blood and could only see blotches of light, “first you lost your dear little sister, and soon you’ll lose the one you love.”

She kicked again sending him rocketing into a pillar, reducing it to fragments.

Shining Armour saw her flying in for another attack, so he tried to focus his magic, but it wouldn’t come, he was powerless. He rolled as she came down, narrowly avoiding her hooves. Shakily he stood up and turned to face her, she laughed at his injured state.

“Its like I told you, love is a pathetic notion,” she said walking closer, “it’s not going to save you this time.”

Shining Armour was shaking on his legs, he didn’t have it in him to protect himself, if she attacked again, he’d be done for.

“This is for ruining my plans,” she raised her head, ready to bring her horn down. Shining Armour closed his eyes waiting for the end. But it didn’t come; he opened his eyes and looked up. Cadance was standing in front of him, holding off Chrysalis with her own horn.

“Our love will always see us through,” Cadance said pushing Chrysalis stumbling back. She looked shocked.

“How is this possible?” she hissed, but Cadance just glanced at Shining Armour and smiled.

At that moment he felt all his power returning. He walked next to Cadance and together they lowered their horns and focused their energy. Chrysalis’ eyes opened wide with fear, before they unleashed their power which, combined together, destroyed Queen Chrysalis utterly. Shining Armour tried to get his breath back while Cadance turned to him again.

“I knew you could do it,” she said, “lucky I got here in time.”

“How are you here?” he asked, wondering if this was another trick.

“I’ve been watching you the entire time,” she said reassuring him, “I just wasn’t able to help while you in the real world.”

“So where am I?” he asked confused.

“You’re dreaming Shining Armour,” she replied, “the reaper trapped you here.”

“How do I escape?” he asked more confidently now.

“It’s like I said, love will always see us through.” She then stepped forward and kissed him.

Twenty-two

Dusk couldn’t see Dawn anywhere, after the darkness swallowed him he woke up in a familiar environment. The brick houses, the paved streets, the sky filled with smoke, he was back in Manehattan. How it was possible, he had no idea, but he was getting used to things that didn’t make any sense since entering Tartarus. It didn’t stop him worrying about Dawn though, but he reassured himself that she’d be safe with the Elements of Harmony.

Only then did it occur to him that not only were his friends not there, there was nopony here. He wandered the streets trying to figure out where exactly he was in Manehattan, before it dawned on him all the streets were identical, right down to the litter.

“Feeling a little lost?” Dusk turned around to see who had spoken, and saw a grey colt with a blazer, hat and moustache.

“Claxon?” Dusk said unbelievably. What in Equestria was he doing here?

“Please, call me Davitt.” Dusk was confused about that, but as he watched Claxon morphed into a speckled grey colt with a wispy beard, twisted horn and spectacles that totally hid his eyes.

“What’s going on?” Dusk asked.

“Good question, one which I’d answer if I knew the answer.” Dusk was starting to get a bit freaked out.

“Okay, do you know how I get out of here?” Dusk asked, starting to get bored.

“Have you tried waking up?” Davitt asked smiling.

Dusk tried to wrap his head around that, dreaming seemed like a plausible explanation, the last thing he remembered was that thing flooding the cave in darkness.

“I've heard, if you die in a dream you’ll wake up,” Davitt said. Dusk only realised what he was implying when he took off his spectacles. Instead of eyes, which is what Dusk was expecting, instead there were just black pits where his eye should be.

“I can help with that,” Davitt added. Then from his sockets streams of darkness began shooting out, wrapping around Dusk’s limbs and holding him in place.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Dusk demanded, but Davitt just laughed. Then with little effort he fired Dusk into a building, he hit at such speed that the whole building collapsed. Coughing and trying to ignore what felt like broken bones, he pulled himself out of the rubble.

“I wonder why Cadance thought you could be of any help,” he mocked, “from what I understand, it was Dawn who saved Equestria from civil war, you would have died if not for her.”

“You’re right,” Dusk said quietly, stepping off the ruins, “I would have died, and we would have lost, which is why no matter what happens, I will not let Dawn’s efforts be in vain.”

Davitt smirked, “you seem to be forgetting, all you have is physical strength, and my powers trump your strength.”

At that the tendrils of darkness stretched out from his eyes once more, but Dusk was ready. When they wrapped around his front legs he bit down on them, tugging as hard as he could. Davitt screamed as he was dragged down the street to where Dusk stood, and once he was in range Dusk spun around kicking Davitt with all his strength using his hind legs. The result was absolute, Davitt’s jaw was snapped back, his skull was most likely fractured, and he slumped to the ground, limp and lifeless.

Dusk limped away from the corpse so as not to get blood on his hooves which was pooling around Davitt’s head. The pain in his limbs was coming back and he was finding it difficult to continue moving. Eventually he collapsed, unable to stay standing.

“How do I get out of here? How do I wake up?” then he looked up at the sky and shouted, “Dawn, please help me!”

Twenty-three

Scootaloo opened her eyes, but shut them again quickly when bright sunlight shone into them. Rolling over she opened her eyes again and looked around her, the colourful cottages, the stands packed with apple products, this was Ponyville, but how could she possibly be in Ponyville? She rubbed her eyes with her hooves, she felt tired.

“Welcome home,” spoke a voice behind her, she turned slowly around and her eyes widened in shock when she saw who was standing behind her.

The blue coat, the magnificent wings, the multicolour mane, and the rainbow coloured lightning bolt emblazoned on her flank.

“What’s up pip-squeak?” she asked. Scootaloo didn’t answer, her eyes just filled up with tears and she dashed over embracing Rainbow Dash.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she sobbed.

“I know sis, I’ve missed you too,” but her voice changed.

Scootaloo opened her eyes and looked up at Rainbow Dash as she began to transform, growing tall and thin, jet black, with withered wings. She pulled back in fear and horror.

“What’s wrong Scootaloo?” he asked grinning widely, “you already lost Rainbow Dash once, surely a second time should be easy to adjust to.”

“Who are you?” she demanded backing away.

“Well I have a name, but lately ponies have taken to calling me Wither Wings,” he said walking lazily forward, not letting Scootaloo get away.

“That’s a nice cutie mark there,” he said pointing at the wing on her flank, “isn’t it funny how it wasn’t until after the ones you cared about left you, you finally found yourself? Perhaps you’re meant to be alone forever.”

Scootaloo was angry but she didn’t want to take any risks.

“Perhaps it would interest you to know you’re so called friends are living happy lives without you,” Wither Wings said, trying to get under her skin.

“I’m glad to hear that, I just want the best for them,” she answered back.

“And what I if told you, you read that line wrong,” he said get dangerously close, “that Sweetie Belle and Applebloom remained friends after moving away, and they decided together to let you go.”

“No,” Scootaloo said shaking her head, she felt a wall behind her and knew she couldn’t back away any further, “you’re lying, they wouldn’t do that.”

Wither Wings laughed, then without warning he dashed forward kicking Scootaloo through the wall she was standing against.

Picking herself up she looked around wildly for Wither Wings, but didn’t realise he was standing right behind her. The next kick broke her leg and sent her even further crashing into the earth.

“They won’t even know you died trying to save all of Equestria,” he said moving in for the kill, “they won’t even know you died trying to save them.”

“You’re wrong,” Scootaloo whispered, stopping Wither Wings advance, causing him to stop and stare in confusion

“How so?” he asked sounding uninterested.

Scootaloo fluttered slowly to the ground, and never took off again… until one day.

“You’re talented,” Spitfire had told her, “we could use your skills at the Wonderbolt Academy.”

“Sorry,” she said moodily, “I don’t do that anymore.”

“Since Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo nodded, and then she continued in a comforting tone, “you know our friends, the people we care about may leave us, it’s a simple fact of life we have to deal with. But as long as we remember them, remember the way they made us feel, then they’ll always be in our hearts. Even death will not keep us a part.”

Scootaloo stood up slowly not breaking eye contact with Wither Wings.

“Maybe Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stuck together, maybe they didn’t,” she said softly, “but it doesn’t matter. As long I have a place in their hearts, and they’re still in mine, we’ll always be together.”

Scootaloo spread her wings blasting into the sky, piercing the clouds and still flying faster and higher. She saw a black speck standing in the middle of Ponyville she knew was Wither Wings, and finally at her optimum height, she dived.

She was falling but remaining in control, she was flying faster than she’d ever done her life, and she was going to succeed at this. She continued picking up speed, the air slicing in front of her. Wither Wings was staring in disbelief at her as she came speeding down. Now was the moment of truth, could she pull it off? She was only metres away, only feet away, and then she was only inches away, her eyes met Wither Wings, before she bounced right back up.

There was an awesome explosion; light shone everywhere reducing everything to nothing. The only pony to succeed at the sonic rainboom was Rainbow Dash herself, and now Scootaloo had truly proved herself to be Rainbow Dash’s sister. As she flew back up the rainbow arced over where Ponyville used to be. Reaching the clouds she stopped flapping her wings and let herself fall through the air, she looked down at her torso and saw a cut running diagonally, practically slicing her in two. She hadn’t noticed at the time, but as she bounced away from Wither Wings he got one final attack in. She sighed.

“Sorry everypony,” she said to herself, “but it looks like… its all down to you now.”

Twenty-four

Dawn was falling through an endless space, after the darkness had swallowed her; the Elements took her somewhere else entirely. But why would they take her here?

“Hello Dawn,” a voice said, materialising as a purple unicorn, “we’ve been waiting for you for a long time,”

As she said that five others appeared around Dawn, an orange earth pony with a cowgirl hat, a blue Pegasus with a rainbow coloured mane, a white unicorn with a crystal clean coat, a pink earth pony with a puffy mane, and a yellow Pegasus whose mane covered most of her face.

Dawn immediately noticed their cutie marks, a star, a lightning bolt, an apple, a diamond, a butterfly and a balloon, the same symbols on the elements of harmony

“Who are you?” Dawn asked confused, the unicorn smiled at her.

“We’re your predecessors,” she said kindly.

“Why am I here?” Dawn asked, her smile faded and was replaced by a sad look.

“I think you know,” she replied, and Dawn remembered her dream, “Are prepared to make the sacrifice?”

Dawn sighed, and nodded. The white unicorn approached her.

“You may call me Rarity,” she said, Dawn smiled and nodded.

“Rarity,” she responded, then the gauntlet around one of her hooves shined bright before disappearing. This repeated itself for two of the other gauntlets and the necklace; Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash.

Then the pink pony stepped forward, and recognition hit Dawn.

“We’ve met before,” Dawn said, the pony nodded happily, “you hosted the Harmony fundraiser, the place Dusk and I got together.”

“That’s right,” she said beaming, “I’m Pinkie Pie.”

The last gauntlet disappeared, and Dawn turned to the purple unicorn.

“Are you ready?” she asked Dawn, who nodded in response.

“Alright, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and we thank you.” The crown disappeared and all around Dawn there was blinding light, the six faded away and Dawn felt herself rising further into the light. She shut her eyes tightly and when she opened them again she was standing in Manehattan.

Twenty-five

The armies had fallen, Equestria’s last line of defence was broken. Philomena sped through the air, she had to get to Canterlot, she had to warn Cadance. As she flew into the castle she swooped through an open window, causing the guards to jump out of shock. Not stopping she flew into the throne room where Cadance and Marelin were holding council. She perched on Cadance’s shoulder, transferring her thoughts to Cadance.

Cadance sighed and walked across the room to stare out the north-west window. Marelin joined her.

“Has the defence failed?” he asked, she nodded, “so now our only hope is that Shining Armour fulfils his mission fully.”

“He will,” Cadance said confidently, “I was able to help him earlier, but he’s beyond my reach again.”

“What if Dusk refuses to change the past?” he asked seriously.

“Then all is lost.”