Circles and other strange tales #3

>You don't really know firsthand exactly what 'culture' is, but ponyville certainly had it

>Twilight finally stops in front of a large, slightly lopsided tree

>"here we are!"

>...

"You live here..? It's an oversized tree Twilight"

>"Yes, that's right anon! It's also the local library and it even has a telescope"

>A telescope? You barely refrain from snorting out loud

>As Twilight turns, you notice a tattoo on her side

>A tattoo that looks suspiciously like the centre of the NGC 2264 or the cone nebula.

>In fact it looked exactly like it

>But what was it doing on her side

>You decide against asking about the cone nebula - no need to spill too much information before you know what you're dealing with

"Twilight, what is up with the image on your thigh?"

>"oh, it's just my cutie mark. Everypony gets a cutie mark when they discover their special talent - and mine's magic. I got it whe-"

>You tune out once again, you were too tired to discuss this any further

>Entering the tree-house (?) you scan around briefly

>Yes this was definitely where you first awoke

>You start slowly making your way towards the back of the tree-house

>You cut across Twilight mid-story

"Twilight, how and where did you discover me exactly?"

>"I didn't, Rainbow saw a flash of light just beyond Applejack's orchard and when she went to investigate she found you lying in a massive crater. Then with the help of Applejack and Big Mac she brought you here”

"And tha-"

>Your left forearm suddenly starts bleeping

>Huh

>This is perhaps the most peaceful place you have ever visited, what could possibly be wrong

>You flick up the hidden panel

>You notice Twilight trying to peek her head in from behind

>You re-read the information twice, before closing the panel

>You remain very silent

>"a- Anon? What's wrong?"

>You round on her fiercely

"What is this place? What is it really, Twilight? Is that even you name? ANSWER ME!"

>She starts backing away, evidently afraid

>And oh she should be

>"It.. it's just a lib-library Anon. I am Twi- Twilight. I-"

"No" you snarl

>She flinches at the word

>You gesture at the room

"No, this very room is teaming with temporal overlays and distorted time energy. Now what are you, because I SWEAR if you're a time ag-"

>Seeing her again, you pause

>She is now curled up in a ball crying softly

>Oh shoot you may have messed this up slightly

>"I... I don't know Anon. Please, I'm ju- just Celestia's student. I write letters about friendship and I study a bit of magic. Please don't hurt me"

>You back away, disgusted with yourself

>These kinds of outbursts had originally started it all

>She's still cowering in the corner

"no... no of course. I'm sorry Twilight, please forgive me"

>No answer

"What I mean to say is that the time here has been altered. Where I am from that is an extremely dangerous thing to do, do you know what happened"

>Twilight looks up and blinks

>"Well this one time I tried a time-travelled using a spell.."

>Hmm so you weren't completely wrong then

"But why did you?"

>"To warn myself not to worry about the future"

>...

>You'll let that slide, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and even if it did you struggle to believe that such an innocent creature could do such a thing

>"But, why is travelling in time dangerous?"

>So she had room to be curious whilst afraid. She could have been a knight of the round in another reality

"Because time is more than just something that passes by. Time is a vital part of the universe, it's almost like the glue that keeps reality stuck together"

>You pause, unsure how to phrase this to someone who obviously had no experience in the matter

"Travelling in time does not only risk causing paradoxes, but it can un-ravel space. Like taking all the cement out of a building can cause it to fall"

"and time can never end, time can never exist in circles. Because circles have no end and no beginning, they can only iterate themselves for eternity”

>You glance up to see Twilight wide-eyed and staring intently

>"Oh, don't worry Anon I promise not to do anything like that again"

>You smile

>"But.."

>She looks almost afraid to speak

>"please don't shout again... that's not how you make friends"

>There's that word again

>Friends

"so what is 'friends' Twilight?”

>She turns around and her head slightly tilts to the side, giving you a quizzical look

>She must be thinking that you're pulling her leg

>hoof?

>after a pause, she answers

>"Friends, or friendship is a mutual relationship between two ponies who enjoy each other's company. They will always want what is best for their friend. They trust each other and will help each other through whatever problems"

>She pauses again

>"Friendship is the best way of gaining experience and enjoying life Anonymous - in fact it is magic. It is only through friendship that the elements of harmony defeated Nightmare moon and Discord!"

>Interesting, you imagine the closest thing you had to a friend was your old tutor and fellow knights

>Although that was almost definitely more duty than anything else

>You ask Twilight what she thinks of this

>Another unsure look before

>"Well, I suppose that may be friendship Anonymous. Maybe you'll get a better idea after you spend a while in ponyville"

>May not be a bad idea, it's not like you had a home to go back to anymore anyway

>Besides, you had plenty of experience with collapsing stars, space pirates, political interspecies relations and mortal combat. Surely this could only improve you as a person.

"Very well Twilight Sparkle, I accept your terms"

>"What terms? The whole point of friendship is that it is reciprocative"

>You glance down at the little purple unicorn

>No one had ever dared to answer you back in a very long time

>This was new

>Well if friendship was mutual you could hardly be her superior in this

>You remain quiet

>"Anyway, I think we should turn in. It is only a few hours until sunrise"

>She shows you to your 'room'

>It was a little study just off the main room, with no door

>Two mattresses had been stuck together to form one that may accommodate your taller frame

>Having been stuck on an overcrowded cargo ship for the better part of 3 months, you'd seen worse

>You mutter some thanks for her hospitality and sleep claims you almost as soon as you hit the floor

>You watch in horror as every single display starts hitting 0

>You furiously mash at the closest control array, sending another huge omega pulse towards the centre of the planet

>But the dying planet simply does not respond, flashing in and out of existence

>The region was literally un-happening

>You rip open the array, and jam a knife directly into the outlay system core

>The sirens blank off, leaving the events below to unfold in a deafening silence

>Ideas. You needed ideas. How can you correct phase without direct contact?

>40m behind, you hear the lift door ‘bing’ open

>You freeze

>Access to the lift was denied to most personnel

>You were meant to be alone here

>Something had been fishy about this entire trip from the very start

>You lower your left hand towards the knife as you slowly, yet purposefully turn to face the lift doors

>"Well of course he's in here Spike”

>You spring into action immediately, your hand striking and clamping on the throat of the intruder

>something feels wrong

>Where had the metal walls gone

>You look forward

>Why were you choking Twilight?

"Oh fuck" You stammer, dropping Twilight immediately

>Oh fuck was right

>You stammer, still slightly in shock

"I'm really, really sorry Twilight"

>She's backing away, her eyes bloodshot with fear and mouth trembling

"Twilight I-"

>She opens the door and runs off

>A wave of emotion rush over you as you watch her run away

>Guilt? It was unfamiliar whatever it was. It drove into your throat, suddenly making you feel much smaller than her

>You gulp, doing the thousand yard stare into your shaking hands

>That last mission was traumatic, but you had never expected that to happen...

>Where had Twilight run off to? You should probably explain that outburst

>You start towards the door, when a voice travels down from behind

>"I would leave her be for a while"

>You turn to see a pile of books with two scaly feet walking down the staircase

"Oh, okay"

>Spike puts down the pile and sighs

>"You really are quite new to this stuff aren't you?"

>Briefly enraged, you pike up

"Hey, I'll let you kno-"

>You catch yourself

>Way to irony anonymous

>You correct yourself in a quieter voice

"Yeah, I guess I am..."

>Spike gives a half smile, and turns back up the staircase to get more books

>"I wouldn't worry too much about it; Twilight was going to wake you so you could read those books she chose for you. Why not read them until she returns?"

>The little guy does talk a large amount of sense

>You return to your room, now noticing the small pile of books near the doorway

>You pick a few up

>'Equestria: a history' by G. Tomkink

>'A history of Equestria' by Baggy Bagshot

>You pause at the last title

>'The cycle of day and night: Equestria's beginnings'

>Cycle? You needed to keep a better note on these coincidences, even if that was all they were

>Should you give the books a go?

>Well a little information can hardly hurt now, can it?

>You remove the bulky outer shell of your armour, as well as your gauntlets, and sit back against the bedroom wall

>Book in hand, brain in gear

>You hadn't read many paper books... back at home one in such fine condition would be considered an antique

>You turn the page, and start reading

>It's much later in the day when you finally hear the front door open

>Strangely, the sunlight was just as intense as it was when you woke up

>You had now finished 6 of the books, leaving out the one on anatomy

>Basic Biology was a module of your combat training

>The books had raised more questions than they had answered though

>You were also feeling increasingly uneasy about this world. Or this reality as it were

>Conjecture 1: You [for some inexplicable reason] and been blasted to an alternate dimension

>If this was true - then this dimension was worryingly similar to you own

>In fact, for the most part, the culture and history here was incredibly similar to Earth's past

>For instance, why were there pony-pulled chariots for ponies to ride in?

>There were differences yes, it was almost as if someone had re-written history and removed most of the violence and strife

>But it did seem there is more to this world than just ponies

>Of course, trying to explain or reason for any such links to your own world would be difficult

>Which leads you to your second conjecture

>Conjecture 2: You were in a coma

>Conjecture 2 had some very refreshing simplicity

>Nonetheless, it would be best to assume the worst is true and that your actions do have consequences

>"Anonymous?" a familiar voice calls

>Speaking of consequences

>You get up and walk out, following Twilight's voice

>She's standing in the doorway, looking at the floor, and a few paces behind Rarity

>Rarity has a scrawled up face that must be an attempt at disapprovement

>The overall effect just made her look like a cross, moody bunny rabbit

>You chuckle, as if bunnies could possibly be cross or moody

>This chuckle does not seem to amuse her however

>"You. You get in there. I'm having a word with you mister"

>You would love to feign mock terror

>Best to keep on the straight and narrow for now, you don't need to mess up again today

"Yes Ma'am"

>You back into the room, Rarity herding you in with her disapproving face

>She shuts the door after her

>"You."

>She jabs you with a hoof

>"You can't just do that to a pony. I don't care where you are from, but that is my friend and no-one hurts my friends!"

"Listen Rarit-"

>"Don't interrupt a Lady mid speech! Now I don't want to hear about anything like this again, Twilight took you into her house and you should show some respect!"

"Serious I ju-"

>"Gosh, you really don't listen do you?"

>She suddenly stops, looking at your neck in surprise

>"Darling, black, red and yellow don't work on collars. Honestly, who designed that?"

"what? I don't know, it's standard edition"

>Rarity gives out a noise somewhere in between a "humf" and a gasp

>"Well we certainly don't do standard here. Now, Anonymous, go and apologise to Twilight. And promise her this won't happen again"

"Yes Ma'am"

>She opens the door, and you walk out to a still semi-timid Twilight

"Twilight"

>She gulps

>"y... yes anonymous?"

"I'm very sorry for what happened this morning"

>Rarity clears her throat

"And I promise not to intentionally hurt you again"

>Don't push the issue Anonymous

>Twilight gives a smile, and Rarity takes that as her cue to leave

>But before she leaves

>"And one more thing anonymous"

"What is it?"

>"Make sure you come to visit sometime so I can sort you out with some -proper- apparel"

>Well, no prizes for guessing what her profession is

>She exits

>You turn to Twilight

>She looks a little better, although you should probably keep the surprises to a minimum in the next few days

"oh, and Twilight, I've read the books you brought in earlier"

>She almost gives a half-smile at that

>"Yo- you did! That's wonderful Anonymous, why don't we discuss the content? It's been ages since I had a good book conversation"

>You're not exactly in a position to refuse right now

"Of course" You smile

>She smiles too, levitating the books out of your room and walking to the top floor of the library

>She turns to see you motionless

>"well come on Anon - we haven't got all day!"

>You kick your brain back into action and follow her up

>You wonder whether you could have forgiven yourself as quickly as she just forgave you

>Probably not

>Well, that might be something to do with this 'friendship' concept then

>You sniff, reaching the top of the stairs and finding Twilight already reading 2 of the books

>You lower yourself onto the rustic floor

>It was a strange feeling to sit down in half-armour without any worries or dangers lurking

>But a better feeling than the guilt trip this morning

>twilight points a hoof at an annotated picture in one of the books

>And you talk the rest of the day away