My Little Pony: The Chrononauts

by Solace_Sanctity

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Alternate Universe, Human
Length: 5441

The Mane 6 use a talisman that Princess Celestia gave them to explore and learn from the different moments of human history.

Princess Celestia rewards Twilight Sparkle with a talisman called the Chronex. With it, Twilight has the ability to visit any moment of our human history as it happened. With this, she can also bring her friends along to experience the same. In turn, Celestia designates each of the Mane 6 a different aspect to study:

Rainbow Dash would explore our world's military history, such as the Battle of Thermopylae, the Iraq War, etc.

Fluttershy would explore our world's natural history, such as the extinction of the Dodo bird, the Mount St. Helens eruption, etc.

Rarity would explore our societal history, such as the Code of Hammurabi, the Civil Rights movements, etc.

Pinkie Pie would explore our cultural and entertainment history, such as the painting of the Sistine Chapel, Woodstock, etc.

Applejack would explore our business and economic history, such as Marco Polo's trade route, the subprime mortgage crisis, etc.

Twilight Sparkle would explore our scientific and technological history, such as Newton discovering gravity, the invention of electronics, etc.

That's not to say only one at a time. All of the Mane 6 can be in different periods at different locations (using the Elements of Harmony to keep in touch), or studying a related subject (the invention and life of video games would be something Twilight and Pinkie would check out).

NOTICE:
This fanfic and its subsequent stories may contain sensitive content and suggestive situations to some readers which are integral to the narration, as they reflect on actual events in history. It is appropriate for those who can read the stories bearing this in mind. A mature audience is suggested.

The stories in this fanfic tell various events of history in a fictional and looser nature, to avoid over-detailing discrepancies, preventing accidental/unintended biases, and to maintain a shorter, fictional, cartoon-like feeling intended for the stories. Any other minor form of actual happenings are purely coincidental.

None of the stories reflect the views of the writer, readers, et al, in any way whatsoever. This work is purely for entertainment purposes.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-17 06:53:50 UTC

A Requested Audience

Every passing moment becomes a part of human history. Everything happening to everyone being chronicles the evolution of humanity, particle by particle.

From the miracles of life and discovery, to the scourges of tragedies and evil unraveling humanity’s fate, it all becomes a part of human lore for future generations to learn and understand history as it happened.

Time and again, it is said that history is written by those who win, but whether or not they won is a polar statement; considering that even if they had a different result, history is still made. History does not discriminate by itself. It still needs the input of the very people who experienced, engaged, and eventually studied the matters at hand to determine the value of the history made. History is merely only what happened, and nothing more.

In another realm, the world of Equestria, seven brave souls, best friends amongst themselves, will embark on a breath-taking journey across a world unlike their own, as they explore human history. They will experience firsthand every unraveling fold that built the story of humanity.

This is…

My Little Pony: The Chrononauts

Diligent at her desk, Twilight Sparkle focused her magic to attempt incarnating a daisy from her flowerpot. The magic from her horn emanated slow and steady.

“Carefully now…” She muttered under her breath, while the energy transmitted between her horn and her flowerpot.

Her sights were fixed on the soil. Moment by moment, the soil crumbled from the center, and a shine of bright green was budding through.

“Hi Twilight!” Spike shouted mirthfully into her ear from behind.

Through the surprise, Twilight’s face cringed and her body locked up. Then she fell over.

She groaned, looking at him from the floor, “Ugh, Spike! Didn’t you see I was working on my plant spells today!?”

“Of course! I just felt like sneaking up on you.” He chuckled.

“Lovely.” She replied.

Not a moment sooner, and Spike heaved a breath before burping up a message scroll for Twilight.

Twilight wondered, “Hm, I wonder what Princess Celestia wants today. I’m not expecting correspondence…”

She read the message to herself… “Interesting. She wants to see me and my friends, Spike. Yourself included. She says she has something to show us.”

Now Spike was curious. “I wonder what she could have for all of us. Is it one thing or many things? Is it a reward or a punishment? … Or a trick!?”

“Oh Spike, don’t be silly. We’ll go gather our friends now, and we’ll all see. It can’t be bad. Everything seems fine now, no?”

He shrugged and replied, “Yeah. I guess so. Hey, maybe she’ll promise me the moustache you didn’t.” He stuck his tongue out at her.

She giggled. “Well come on then; only one way to find out. Let’s go get the gang and be on our way.”

They both left home and started their search through the day by looking for Fluttershy at her place.

“Oh, I’d be so happy to see. Maybe she has something good for all of us.” Fluttershy responded. She poured a bit of birdseed on the ground for her bird friends to feed on. “Here, I’ll pack up now… Maybe she might have a new friend for my litlle bunny Angel.”

Angel glanced menacingly.

A loud jet-like roar screamed across the sky above them. They looked up and they saw the telltale streak of rainbow trail extending.

“That makes four of us… Hey Rainbow Dash! Come down here a sec!” Twilight shouted up at her.

The rainbow trail then made a loop and started descending downward, closer to the ponies and Spike.

Whoosh! Rainbow Dash swept past with blinding speed before turning around and slowing down to catch up. “Hey ponies. What’s up?”

“Princess Celestia requests our audience. She has something to show us.” Twilight told her.

“Nice! Maybe she has some flight gear for me handy.”

Spike laughed, “Everyone’s wondering it’s something good for them!”

Twilight added with a grin, “Yeah, what if it’s only one thing for all of us?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “A pony can dream, can’t she?”

The four then went to find Pinkie Pie. An easy find as they trekked around Ponyville. By a fountain, she was practicing miming. The ponies watched in humor at her act.

She felt the air around her as if she was in a box. She started to react as if claustrophobic to this box of air around her. When she slammed her hoof into the wall of air repeatedly, a clearly-audible set of thuds followed, before she found what appeared to be a doorknob. The other ponies could hear the knob turning and the door’s hinges opening before she stepped out.

“Oh! Hi girls!” Pinkie said with the widest ear-to-ear grin.

Rainbow Dash snorted laughing. “Pinkie, you’re something else, I swear.”

Twilight greeted back with a smirk on her face from the act. “Hey Pinkie. Celestia wants to see us. She says she has something to show us.”

Pinkie cheered, “Goody! Maybe my super-portable instant-action party-arcade-cabaret kit came through!”

“… Your what?” Rainbow Dash asked.

From right behind Rainbow, Pinkie replied after a deep breath, “My super-portable instant-ac-”

“Alright alright, I get it.” Rainbow brushed her off.

The other three laughed.

“Alright gang. Let’s go pick up Applejack and Rarity, and we’ll be on our merry way.” Twilight stated.

When the crew visited the apple orchards, they saw Applejack down a hill at one tree, bucking it to shake some apples down. They trotted over to take her along.

“Well howdy girls. What brings y’all here this fine day?” Applejack welcomed and asked. She kicked the tree again and more apples fell into her buckets before she hoisted them up to carry back to the farm.

Twilight said, “Princess Celestia called for us to go see her.” She decided to keep quiet about this ‘something’ that the others thought could be something for them.

“Hm, I wonder for what?” Applejack thought to herself.

Fluttershy answered, “She says she has something for us.” Twilight rolled her eyes, wondering when she’ll ever hear the end of this.

Applejack cheered, “Yee-haw! I smell a fresh new tractor to help when Big Macintosh’s down and out.”

Off the side, Mac nodded, rubbing his back cramp, and muttered under his bit of pain, “Eeeyup…”

Everyone but Applejack laughed. She asked, “What? What’s the matter?”

Spike told her in his laughter, “Everyone’s thinking it’d be a special gift for them. We don’t even know what it is yet; if not what they are.”

Rainbow rushed, “Either way, let’s go pick up Rarity before this carries on too far. I’m totally missing out airtime for this.”

The gang agreed and went to find Rarity. They went to her house, and invited her to tag along and see Princess Celestia.

“Thank you so much for inviting me, darlings. But I do need to finish this gown for one of my clients.” Rarity replied, looking above her glasses. “Do tell the Princess I said hello!” She grinned.

Pinkie reminded with a plea in her voice, “But but but- but she says she got something for us! Like, a… SURPRISE!!!” She pulled out the party cannon from nowhere and shot a blast of confetti into the room. “I love surprises! And it’s for us! Which means, you too!” She concluded with a wide smile.

Rarity thought about it. “Maybe I will go. We can make this quick, I suppose.” She looked upward and thought to herself out loud, “Maybe she has-”

“ENOUGH!” Twilight and Spike hushed her abruptly.

Confused, Rarity stuttered under her breath, “… Pearl-colored threads?”

Twilight suggested in excuse, “We’ll explain later. Let’s get a move-on, shall we? Heh?”

The seven then departed, and trotted onward to Canterlot to see what Princess Celestia had called them for.

When they arrived at the palace front, the royal guards greeted the ponies and let them in to visit the Princess.

Advent of Adventures

The ponies and Spike entered the pristine hall, and found Princess Celestia waiting for them at the other side. She opened up to them with a warm smile.

“Welcome, welcome, my little ponies. Please come here. I have something to show you all.”

She opened the gilded chest that contained the Elements of Harmony. Underneath the lid and visible to see was a seventh, unfamiliar item.

The seven approached the Princess and the Elements, curious of what was to be seen. They genuflected in unison out of respect.

“Princess?” Twilight began to ask. “I read you wanted to see us. We are here for you. What is it that you want to show us?”

“I’m glad you asked, Twilight…” Celestia grinned. She pointed with her hoof over to the chest. “Do you see, along with the Elements of Harmony, a seventh talisman?”

It was a rose-quartz charm, shaped like an hourglass, transparent and crystal-like in appearance and cut. The charm was attached, by base and top, between a black, narrow leather threading that made it a bracelet-like jewel. It was so clean and clear, sparkles and rainbows glistened with every bit of light passing on and through it.

The ponies saw it, in awe of its beauty. Spike licked his lips hungrily at it. “Looks delicious!” He smirked.

Celestia smirked and giggled. “Well, maybe it is… But you don’t eat it… This pendant you see before you is the ‘Chronex’; a magical talisman that allows its wearer to travel through time. Of course, that’s the next thi-”

Pinkie Pie cheered, “Oh cool! I’ll get to party every night! Whee!!!”

The ponies looked at her sternly, and she grinned in response.

Celestia continued, “Like I was saying… The thing is, it’s not of this world whose time you can travel… Twilight, you may know from your studies among the stars. Do you remember the star, known as Sol?”

“Oh, yes I do! So so far away, but it looks beautiful at night.”

Celestia nodded. “That star has one planet with another world of life living on it, known as Terra. I’ve observed them for quite some time. And the species there seem to be very advanced in some ways… This is the world whose time you will be able to travel from.”

Applejack asked, “Why that world ‘specially?”

“That is where I found it came from. I was curious where it came from, and through magical synechdoche, I found it was from there.”

“Sineck-what?” Spike inquired, trying to pronounce the word.

“It’s pronounced ‘sin-eck-duh-key’. It means it’s part of a whole, and that talisman comes from there.” Twilight informed.

“Very good, Twilight! You’re on top of your studies.” The Princess congratulated. She then continued, “Anyhow, I have found the time-traveling power of the Chronex to be an interesting device for Twilight to study with more; not only for its magic, but to see the values of life from the perspectives of another world and its time. And being that you all are her closest friends, I wanted to grant you the opportunity to share the experience… It’ll be something quite like a ‘field trip’ if you will.”

Rainbow Dash blew through her lips in a sigh. “But history is SO boring. I don’t feel like learning what happened already; especially in another world. I want to do some action! I want to get physical and competitive, not play egghead for Twilight!”

Rarity stuck out her tongue at Rainbow. “You just aren’t cultured enough to appreciate this opportunity, darling! It’ll be lots of fun! Imagine what kinds of people and ideas we’ll get to see!”

Pinkie Pie said, “Yeah! We’ll get to see how another world likes to party!” She cheered and cartwheeled around the room.

Fluttershy smiled softly and thought to herself, “I wonder what kind of creatures they have there. Or what the land is like. It must be so pretty.”

Applejack said, “Or hey, being history n’all, maybe I’ll pick up a thing or two from their business savvy to take home to the farm.”

Twilight grinned and added, “Yeah! Maybe we can pick up some new knowledge and technology from there and see how it all came about!”

This gave Celestia a great idea. “Well then, I have an idea, for all of you… Allow me to elaborate…”

Celestia then walked to the ponies, one by one, and announced to them…

“Rainbow Dash. Perhaps you may like to learn about the different wars and military traditions that shaped that world, seeing your desire for action. With this, that shall be your focus when you go with Twilight…

Rarity. Your affinity for people, communication, and ideas shine clear. Your focus shall be on the social elements of that world…

Pinkie Pie. Your love for fun and mirth shows you may learn very well from the world’s cultural and entertainment history…

Fluttershy. Your love for nature and her beasts may prove well as you study the world’s natural history, and how it has affected the world…

Applejack. Your interest in learning how to adapt with the world’s economy makes that a suitable venue for you to learn with…

As for Twilight and Spike, the both of you shall share the insights of studying the world’s knowledge and technology. And while Spike is around to help you, the entire realm of these trips ultimately lie on your shoulders to experience and learn from, my fair student Twilight. To the others, this is a welcoming gift and an opportunity for them to do the same.”

The other five ponies smiled and chattered about their designations, interested at the thoughts of what they would be learning about. Twilight simply bowed, “Yes, Princess Celestia. I will not let you down.” She then smiled.

Celestia then continued, “Thank you, but this is for you and your friends, not just for me.”

“Still…” Twilight replied.

Celestia shrugged. “Alright then. I must add that with the great power that comes with this talisman, there is the great responsibility that comes with it. To aid you all and keep everything in check, I have also provided the Elements of Harmony. Twilight, you may want to give Spike the Chronex, so that all seven of you are adorned a power…

Using the Chronex is a simple process. To travel to a different point of time, simply genuflect as you wear either your Elements or the Chronex. This will summon a vessel of magic to envelop you and bring you to any region in the world’s past that you choose, as well as right here in Equestria at the present where you departed, should you wish to return… The same goes for the Elements as long as the Chronex is in effect… Easy enough to do, right?”

Everyone agreed.

Celestia then lowered her face a bit. “… But do be warned…”

“Huh?” The ponies and Spike were curious and listened.

“It will be an exhilarating experience to see the history of another world and how it has developed for as long as it has been. But you must know some aspects…

Firstly, where you will be traveling has already happened. No matter what you do to change it, there is no changing it. If you disrupt, change, or engage in something that happened then, it won’t change anything at all… Try not to get extremely involved in any event; short of learning something from the denizens you meet.

Secondly, the experience will look, feel, and be, as real as what you are in now. Anything and everything that happens can easily affect you, then and there. Be very careful about the world’s environment and her denizens if they get dangerous at all.

Thirdly, there is no future. Everything happening now is the future to them. You can only travel in what has happened, and then right back here in Equestria, to this present moment… This is what brings me to the Elements of Harmony.

As long as you are in that world’s history, you must wear your Elements as a guide. Namely to protect you through any situations during your trip in time with your magic and abilities. But most important of all, the bond between the Elements and the Chronex are what allow all of you to basically stick together, no matter what time period each of you are individually bound to…

For example, If one of you did not get to transport back with the others and the one with the Chronex because you don’t have your Element, you will, in essence, be buried in time, never to be found again, because you did not exist where the Chronex shifted, and with the past unable to change, so will one’s possibility to be found. You will live through the world’s history in that period, never to be found again, never to be caught again if your rescue even tried to come back.

And as well, should some of you be in one time period and then another in a different time period, keeping the Elements and the Chronex together will ensure that everyone will, in essence, stay in touch and communicate with each other. Basically, the Chronex is now like an Element of its own, along with the other six.

This is why Spike should wear the Chronex for Twilight. This will allow all seven of you to stick together at any point in time and be able to return together through him as the link. So, to iterate again and as imperative as possible… Never… Ever… Remove your Elements when time-traveling.”

Fluttershy backed down, scared at the thought of disappearing forever. “Please, don’t scare me. I don’t wanna be lost in time. Ngh…” Pinkie Pie and Rarity came to her and comfort her, reminding it was a notice, and encouraged her to stick tight and be brave.

Applejack looked over at Twilight and asked, “Wow. This sounds like serious stuff, darlin’… Are you sure you wanna get into this, Twilight? As a good friend, I’ll sure stick to your side, but think out the ‘sponsibility here.”

Twilight took a moment to herself to think.

Celestia added, “It’s quite alright if you don’t want to do this. I’m only offering it to you because I thought you might be interested in learning from it as my student.”

Twilight took a bit longer… She nodded slowly, looked up at Celestia, and stated, “Yes. I’ll be happy to accept this gift. I will keep myself responsible with it, and with those who come with me.”

The ponies and Spike cheered. Twilight grabbed the Chronex with her mouth and handed it to Spike. Spike looked at it to see its orientation, and then slid it on his wrist.

“Looks pretty nice if you ask me.” Spike approved with a narcissism in his voice. He started showing it off like it was the latest watch.

“Heh. Alright, Spike. I’ll hold you as my trusty custodian for it.” Twilight implied. “In the meantime, I will take the Elements with me, so you guys can come with me whenever I go, between not having to bring it to your own places and having to come back to see the Princess… It’ll be like having an augmented time-portal system, all in one spot.” She smirked.

“It so appears that you are ready then. With that said, you may take the Elements and the Chronex home with you, my student, and you may retire to your homes now. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to talk to me, even if I’m busy. I want you to remain safe in your travels, and I wish all of you the best. And please, let me know how each of your trips go!” Celestia concluded.

Everyone had then wished their goodbyes to Princess Celestia, and departed back to Ponyville to resume their day into its fold of night.

Twilight nestled up in her bed, as did Spike. “Well Spike, it’s time to get some shut-eye. With a little bit of insight, We’ll be able to take a peek into a whole new world.”

“I’m a bit nervous about it, Twi… I mean, I guess it could be fun, but what if all the dangerous stuff the Princess said happens while we’re there?”

“Well, that’s why we’re only going to put our hoof-tips in the water here. It’ll be a new experience for all of us. Just stay close with me.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“We’ll be fine, Spike. Just stay with me. Now let’s get some rest…” Twilight yawned before turning over in her sheets.

The First Go

Into a healthy morning light, both Twilight and Spike woke up from their slumber. Spike went to prepare their breakfast, as Twilight washed herself. She hummed soft and heartily to herself as she scrubbed herself clean. When she finished, she got in her robe and trotted downstairs; smelling the appetizing mealwork that Spike had prepared for them.

“Smells delicious, Spike!” She praised warmly.

“Thanks! I tried a different ingredient to bring some zing… Courtesy of Chez Spike.” He replied.

The two of them sat at the table and ate their meal. Twilight was reading one of her spellbooks in between bites, and Spike was playing with the Chronex. Naturally, this came to discussion.

“So Twi… What do you think we should do with this? Obviously we’re gonna give it a whirl, but like… Will it be just us two to start?”

“Precisely, Spike. Our first trip will be purely an experiment. Something for me to learn, and I need you to help me. I don’t want the other ponies caught in any… Unforeseen complications, so to speak. I don’t know what this thing’s capable of, so…”

“Makes sense…” Spike nodded.

Twilight stated, “So, according to Celestia, the Chronex is like the hub. We can’t travel without it. So, like she said, I’ll keep you in custody of it. And I’ll go get my Element after breakfast. We’ll both go, and see what happens.”

Spike wondered, “I wonder why it’s called the Chronex…”

“I would like to think it’s a portmanteau of Chrono-, which means time, and Nexus, which means like a hub. But I could be wrong… Maybe that’s how it works… That’s what we’re going to learn today.” Twilight answered.

After they had finished their breakfast, they went to Twilight’s quarters to prepare for the experiment. Twilight grabbed her Element, and wore it on her head. Spike put the Chronex on his wrist.

“Alright Spike, let’s get ready… Before we go, heaven forbid anything goes wrong from here on in, just know that I love you and you’ve been an awesome assistant and friend for me, mkay?” She gave him a hug.

“Back atcha, Twi.” Spike smiled, touched at the remark.

Twilight stood down and gave herself space. “Alright. Celestia said to genuflect. You go first; you have the Chronex.”

Spike nodded, and genuflected. The Chronex began to glow. Quickly, it went brighter, and a constant shining hum was buzzing louder and louder.

“It’s working, Spike! It’s working!” Twilight exclaimed.

She knelt down and genuflected in turn. Within seconds, her Element began to do the same. A shining bright rosy ball of energy grew between the Chronex and the Element, and both Twilight and Spike were enveloped in it. Not much longer, and the sphere quickly collapsed; taking Twilight and Spike within itself and its implosion. The house was now silent and without a soul.

Twilight and Spike were now in a void; silent as death, and strewn with iridescent blends of colors and imagery, unfamiliar to them. In one direction, they saw a nebula with an eerily realistic montage of the Terran world and its life, along with the world itself, constantly morphing in and out of its states. What they were seeing is the world in its every stages, from every location, all at once.

Spike was already getting heart-pounding nervous. “Twilight!? Where are we!?”

Twilight felt similar, but insisted on learning about this. “I don’t know, Spike. This is actually pretty creepy… But fascinating… Stay close to me…”

The two floated around, getting used to the void and its environment of silence and weird. “Let me see something…” Twilight wondered.

She raised her hoof outward, and began her magical work from her horn and Element. The imagery and iridescence that swirled around them suddenly came still…

“Hm…” She wondered again. She stopped using the magic from her horn, relying on only the Element. It was still the same. She had control of the void using just the Element. She then slowly moved her hoof around, and the nebulae began taking different sizes, shapes, and imagery.

“I see… Using the Element, I can determine when and where across this world’s history I can locate myself to… Try doing the same, Spike…”

Twilight stopped, and the void that stopped swirling, slowly picked up and resumed. Now it was Spike’s turn to try this. He floated back a bit, and with his hand bearing the Chronex, he did the same. And the reaction was the same. He was able to pan across any hour across any location on the world.

“Wicked cool…” He said in amusement.

Twilight supposed, “Alright, so from what I’m getting so far, we can’t come here without the Chronex, but once we’re here, we can all control it, as long as we have the Elements… Whoever wears the Chronex is the hub. Now, we need to test the ability to enter a period, then come back to here, then back home in Equestria… Are you ready, Spike?”

“Sure. Let’s do it.” He replied.

“Let’s see… Let’s pick something that looks simple and slow enough to go to, and then come back. We don’t need to do a full excursion now.” She suggested. She put her hoof up again and powered up her Element. She guided the nebulae to slow down, so she can gaze into it and see into where she would first prefer to visit.

She saw what appeared to be an older man in a toga sitting at a bath-side. It appeared to be a bright day around this tiny home of earthen material.

“Interesting. This looks pretty quaint.” Twilight suggested.

“It’s someone at a bath. Why is this even interesting you?” Spike asked sarcastically.

“Remember what I said about taking it slow? That’s gotta be it. Now… Let’s try this out.”

Both Twilight and Spike readied themselves, and dove into the nebula. In seconds, a bright rosy flash consumed the two, and they had flashed the same way into the new world, kneeling in genuflect as the Chronex required to function.

250 BC – Syracuse, Sicily

The two looked around. It was a very small home indeed. Musty in appearance and atmosphere; even in the air. They then turned to the side, and there was the older gentleman in his toga, by his bathside.

They looked at each other. The man was quite startled at what he saw. Spike felt the same and they both backed away from each other.

Twilight intervened before anything went awry. “Hello, sir! My name is Twilight Sparkle. And this is my assistant, Spike. Please, we come in peace.” She raised her hoof nervously, hoping something good would come of this.

The man hesitated a moment, before reaching his hand out slowly, beginning to open up to her. “Hm… Well met… My name is Archimedes… Now if you don’t mind, I would prefer to take a bath.”

Twilight thought a second. She should let him go, but she’s come this far. “Before you do that, I want to talk to you. I’m new around here.”

“In that case, don’t mind me while I take the bath.” Archimedes rolled his eyes up a bit. He sat back down to take off his sandals. “Go on…”

“Well, like… Where are we? Tell me about your kind. I come from a faraway place, and I want to learn more.”

“Faraway sounds about right. Heh. Anyway, this town is Syracuse. And I am a Greek.”

Twilight was trying to understand what he was saying. “So, you’re from Greek, but you live here. Correct?”

“Greece. Those of us ‘humans’ who come from there, are Greek people. Now, what pray tell, are you and him?”

I’m a pony from Equestria. And Spike is a dragon; also from there. I live in a world full of us equines. We have unicorn ponies and pegasus ponies and-”

“Pegasus!? He’s a mythical beast! A horse with wings! Clearly I must be going mad, even having a conversation with a talking horse and her dragon.” Archimedes laughed. He then turned to undress himself of his toga.

For a moment, Twilight and Spike winced. An older naked man.

Twilight shook her head to recollect herself and her study. “Wait, you know about pegasi?” Twilight asked quickly, getting past his snooty remark.

“Pegasus. He is a flying horse-god.”

“So there’s only one?”

“Correct.”

Archimedes turned his attention to the bath. He set his foot in to the bath. The water in the tub started pouring over and out of the sides of the tub.

“Hm…” Archimedes wondered to himself. He stood still a moment, despite the water slightly sloshing around. He took one more moment, and sunk his foot even deeper. More water spilled out.

Twilight and Spike looked at the tub. “What are you looking at, Archimedes?” She asked.

A strong glow in Archimedes’s face dominated his emotion right from there. “Eureka! I have found it! It just might make some sense now!”

Spike asked, “So, what is it?”

Archimedes pointed at the water. “Watch what happens, when I put more of my body in…” He sunk his foot even deeper, and more water spilled out. “I displace the water that’s already in there! This might help me determine the crown’s purity after all!”

With a sudden rush of excitement, he ran out from the bath and out of the house, running down the path in town in his complete nude, shouting his cheerful “Eureka!”.

The two stood there in his home, silent about what they saw.

“… That’s it? Water displacement? Who’d get so choked up over that?” Spike rolled his eyes up.

“That’s just it, Spike. We’re likely in a primitive period of human history. He had just discovered water displacement. Think about how this helps in not only their world, but ours too. We just saw a pivotal moment in history. And a scientific one at that, too!”

“I still think it’s funny we have magical power to traverse all of time in this world, only to end up seeing some dude get excited over bath water.” Spike chuckled to himself.

“Spike, think about what kind of innovations can come from that now. He can get to measure the volume of something without physically measuring it. He was mentioning something about a crown and its purity, so…”

Spike shrugged. “For a short trip, I guess we got something out of it for ya then.”

Twilight nodded. “You know, I’d like to explore the rest of this Syracuse place, but I did say this would be a purely experimental trip. Wanna head back and tell the others? Maybe they’d like to join us in the future.”

Spike agreed. “Sounds good to me. I’m getting a bit hungry anyway.”

The two stepped away from each other, and they genuflected. The Chronex was beginning to beam and glow, as did Twilight’s Element. The ball of energy grew from between them, and it enveloped the two before imploding, to return them to the void.

They appeared, and saw in front of them the same nebulae that held the history they searched. Spike looked around and behind him, and saw the portal that looked like home as they left it.

“Twilight, over there.” He pointed over and directed Twilight. The two floated over to the portal, and the same flashing happened between the void and Twilight’s quarters.

Present-Day Equestria

After the flash, the two ended up in her room, just as they had left it.

“Wow, Spike… That was actually pretty cool! I can’t wait to show the others.” Twilight cheered.

Spike said, “Glad you like it. Now if you excuse me, I’ma go grab a bite to eat…”

“Please, go ahead. Later, I’ll ask you to write a report on this for Celestia.”

Twilight couldn’t help it. There was such magic in being able to see a whole world’s own history and to learn from it. She couldn’t wait to see what else was available; but of course she wouldn’t go without the other ponies.