Stumbling every few steps or so, a jet black stallion inched his way towards a light he saw in the distance. His limping figure was very out of place, as a phenomenal storm raged all around.
Trees whipped back and forth, casting their soaked leaves to the ground like angry giants. The stallion presumed he was somewhere near the border of the Everfree forest, so he also presumed the light he saw was a residence. As he labored on, he gasped and jumped back as CRACKKKK.
A bolt of lighting struck a tree ahead of him, felling it instantly. The stallion almost laughed at himself for doing so. As if a scorched tree would cause any problems. The weather is the least of my worries.
With a degree of effort and some groans, the stallion worked his way over the trunk and continued on his way.
Minutes later, the stallion finally breached edge of the forest and found himself in a clearing centered around a small cottage. Light shined through the small windows that permeated the home, so the stallion knew somepony had to be inside. As he was about to approach the home, he stopped and collapsed in agony as he finally realized the extent of his wounds.
For the first time, he noticed a wide gash ranging from his hoof to his side, arcing up his body. Deciding he couldn't wait any longer, he scurried up to the front door. Lightly knocking, the stallion did his best to look as presentable as one could with a wound in the middle of a storm. He may need somepony's help, but he certainly didn't like the idea of intruding.
After a few moments, the door opened, but only a crack revealing an eye peering out at him. The stallion cleared his throat to say something, collapsing before getting the chance.
Fluttershy gasped in surprise as the pony right outside her door collapsed. Throwing the door open, she looked over the jet black earth pony and gasped again as she noticed a huge gash along his side. Quickly arguing with herself, Fluttershy finally decided to bring the stallion inside.
After getting him through the door, she fell backwards and backed away from the pony. She wasn't specifically afraid of him, but she was very shy. Minutes passed as she decided what to do. Stepping closer, she more critically examined the pony's injuries. She almost touched his gash before he fitfully woke, causing Fluttershy to jump backwards and cower.
The stallion slowly opened his eyes and looked around the cottage he was in. Shakily getting up, he immediately noticed Fluttershy, peeking from a corner wall. "You! Where am I? Who are you?!" he exclaimed. He slowly approached Fluttershy, an almost crazed look in his eyes. Just as she was about to run away, a potted plant flew and shattered against the stallion's head, knocking him out. Fluttershy turned in the direction of the projectile and met eyes with her pet rabbit, Angel. Seeing the look in Fluttershy's eyes, the rodent shrugged and hopped away.
When the stallion woke, he was tied to a chair. Almost laughing, he thought, Please! I have been through worse. Just as he finished the thought, he noticed a small yellow Pegasus mare peeking around the corner. After a minute of awkward staring, the stallion spoke up and said, "Ummm… Can you untie me? I don't bite. Sorry if I was a little crazed earlier, but I was in pain."
Fluttershy blushed and replied, "Sorry that I tied you up… but I didn't want to take any chances." The stallion laughed and said, "Water under the bridge! Anyway my name's Solstice. I would shake your hoof but…", looking down. Fluttershy realized and quickly tried to untie him. "My name is Flutter-" Solstice dismissed her with a wave of his hoof saying, "I already know your name, Fluttershy." She backed up a few steps asking slowly, "How know my name?"
Solstice smiled mischievously and turned to his side, "The same reason the wound you thought would scar me is gone without a mark." Fluttershy gasped as she saw that he was right, his side was unscathed. She looked back into his eyes fear creeping into her mind, "W-who are you?" Solstice smiled again and replied, "Sit down Fluttershy, we have a lot to talk about."
Fluttershy sat down rather shakily as Solstice began talking. "I don't often divulge my identity with other ponies, so you'll have to forgive me if I am not… Illustrious in my account. Anyway, I'll try to make this brief. Way back when I was a foal in high school, my closest friends and I were out one night, and we accidentally discovered an ancient relic. Long story short, oneof those friends, who is now a lunatic, is on an evil rampage." Solstice finished the statement with a tone so sarcastic, Fluttershy almost thought he was joking.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," she replied in a meek voice, "no offense, but you are not very good at explaining things…" Solstice's eye twitched for a moment before he made a noise that sounded like frustration. "Yes, I realize that. I'll have to use more… unconventional methods." Solstice extended his hoof as he finished his sentence. Fluttershy drew back her hoof and asked timidly., "Wh-what's that supposed to mean?" Solstice shook his head looking down and back up at Fluttershy, "I can't describe the experience using words, but you'll just… understand. Either way, it's perfectly safe."
Hesitating a few moments, Fluttershy thought to herself, What am I doing? I don't even know this strange pony! She took his hoof and closed her eyes expecting the worst. But nothing happened. She felt Solstice's hoof slip away as he leaned back and muttered, "And so, it begins."
At first nothing seemed out of the ordinary. That was, until Fluttershy noticed that the sounds of the raging storm had disappeared. She peeked out of her window as the last dark clouds evaporated into nothing, replaced by the sun. Except, the sun was moving rapidly across the sky, and in the wrong direction. In fact, it was going completely backwards, the moon rising and setting just as quickly.
She was going back in time. Fluttershy gasped as her chicken coup disassembled itself and her garden began shrinking into the ground, seeds popping out and disappearing. She turned towards Solstice, fear in her eyes, "What's going on? Are we going back in TIME?"
Solstice chuckled and muttered something to himself before replying, "No, we are still sitting safe and sound while that killer storm is raging on. I assure you, this is only in your mind." Fluttershy, not quite convinced, turned back towards the window. However, she quickly backed away, as the cottage disassembled itself all around them. The furniture and everything else in her home soon disappeared, along with any trace of the abode.
Fluttershy looked towards the sky as, the sun and moon rocketed by for a few moments, before slowly coming to a halt. She looked for any signs of continuation, but everything was still and silent. Fluttershy turned back to Solstice, who was whistling to himself, rather than paying attention. Realizing that he was on the receiving end of Fluttershy's stare, he quickly apologized before talking. "Well, we are in the proper time. Now for the place…" He closed his eyes, asking Fluttershy same. Fluttershy gasped as she opened her eyes in what appeared to be a hospital. She turned her head when she heard Solstice clear his voice. "Now before I show you my life, we need to 'get some things straight'. First of all, do realize that I need YOU of all ponies to help me, but you need to know what my backstory is beforehand. Please refrain any question asking until the end. Also, you must realize that some things I am about to tell you, will be unbelievable at first. So, bear with me." Turning towards a clear window in the wall, Solstice gestured for Fluttershy to look at something. Following his hoof, Fluttershy glanced in the direction he was indicating. Standing around a crib, two ponies, who Fluttershy assumed to be parents, smiled at something in the crib. Getting a better angle, Fluttershy saw a seemingly newborn, jet black, earth pony foal. "Welcome to the day of my birth, Fluttershy." Solstice muttered.