Rainbow Dash has been rather quiet and reserved lately, since her left-wing, progressive "Lightning" party only got 125 seats in the Horseshoe, making her leader of the official opposition. She really thought that since democracy was in Equestria now, people would want more progressive things, like free healthcare and better wages. Guess she didn't know Equestria was rather conservative?
Anyways, she has been trying really hard to not let her politics get in the way with her friendship with Rarity, especially with the first Equestrian budget being tabled in a few days. Maybe she can squeeze in the 15% increase in minimum wages into the omnibus? Regardless, today Dashie went to Rarity's office in Ponyville to discuss something nonpolitical today.
"Uhh, Madam Prime Minister, it's me, Dashie, can I come in?" She asks politely, knocking on the door.
"Oh please, darling, I'm still Rarity! Only do that charade in the Horseshoe. Come in!" Rarity says, inviting her friend/political rival into the office. "What seems to be the problem? If it's about Applejack, I know all about it, I am not an idiot! Besides, I am only fiscally conservative, darling."
Dashie blushed. She didn't even tell anyone about them being a couple. Maybe she was being a bit too bold with her in public. Ponies were not really used to "filly foolers" as she heard people call them as a child, but things seem to be changing now. "N...no, it's not about that. I just want to know where Nathan is? My caucus received documents from a third party proving that he is alive, and that Twilight went to an alien world to find him." Rainbow Dash says. "This is a matter of national security, and the Americans and the Russians will have my flank if they don't know where he is!" Rainbow Dash says, noticing that Rarity is shocked that classified information was leaked. Obviously, the official opposition had the right to subpoena the documents, if they saw fit, but the means of acquisition in this case were not correct.
"Darling. I am happy you asked me, but your caucus was out of order in receiving these documents. This could be quite problematic. Anyways, yes. Kronos is alive and well, on an alien world called Etheria. We still do not have his exact location, but the American DEA is working with us to try and find him. I can assure you that he will make it back in one piece." Rarity says.
"Now, besides this, let's get to business for a moment. Ever since Pinkie Pie died during the war, the Elements of Harmony have been left without a host for Laughter. I want you to form a state commission to find the next pony who will take up the mantle. I would do it myself, but I am busy with "Operation Turn Back the Clock". Can you do this for me, and put partisanship aside for a moment? This is crucial for defense." Rarity asks Dashie, who nods.
"Good, darling. I trust that the opposition can work with the government to find the next host of Laughter. I have stuff to do now, but it is always lovely to see you, darling." Rarity says, pointing to the door.
"Right, I will get started on the commission now." Dashie says, flying out the door.
"Shit! I promised AJ I would lie low about us, and Rarity saw right through it. I hope she doesn't get mad! Anyways, who could be the next candidate for laughter?" Rainbow Dash thinks to herself as she flies back to Wonderbolts HQ, where her office is.
ENTRAPTA'S PERSONAL LABORATORY: FREIGHT ZONE, ETHERIA
For someone who has never done debugging before, let alone in an ancient programming script, I actually did a decent job. I got the AI up and running, while Entrapta did some more testing on the weapons system.
"You know, most people in the Horde are rather dull, I like having a sharp mind around here." Entrapta says, nodding in approval of my work.
I have a few questions about this whole thing. If Entrapta is so smart, how come the Horde hasn't won already in their fight to subdue the rebellion. Wait, I have an idea!
"Hold up, Entrapta, I have a question. Do you guys do any work with time travel?" I ask. I could kill two birds with one stone with this idea: 1) I could help the Horde end the rebellion before it even starts. 2) I could prevent The Foundation from ever existing.
Entrapta laughs at me: "Time travel, Nathan? We are decades behind that. I don't even think the First Ones could travel through time-." Entrapta pauses her train of thought and remembers the temporal energy that I emitted a while back during her diagnostic testing. "Oh my god! You ARE a genius. I need a blood sample, and I can probably isolate your Hybrid DNA making a time machine. I have to consult with Hordak first." Entrapta says with glee. She is thrilled at having a guinea pig to do her dirty work, and with the idea of time travel.
Entrapta runs out of her lab, and darts towards Hordak's throne room, a few buildings down. This might take a while, and I don't want to mess with time too much right now, so what am I going to do to bide my time?
I feel a bit weaker in the Freight Zone than I usually am on Equestria, or on Earth. I wonder if my powers are limited. Can I contact my other counterpart? I mean, I don't have telepathy, but if Paradox knew where I was back during the Plumber incident, perhaps all time gods could sense each other? I try to picture my pony counterpart, and time freezes.
"Woah, holy shit. How did you call me?" Alicorn Kronos says, becoming a projection on the wall, showing his location in real time.
"I don't know. I just thought about you and you showed up? Anyways, do you know anything about this planet I got sent to? Apparently this crazy lady named Entrapta wants to use me to time travel and prevent a rebellion from starting. That's a bad idea, right?" I ask him,
"Bro, don't even fucking think about that. I know you want vengeance, but you gotta stick to the present. Last time we tried this shtick, Pinkie Pie died. No more innocent blood on the hands of the Clock, okay?" Alicorn Kronos says sternly.
"One more question. Does anyone know I am alive?" I ask him.
"Fuck, how do I put this, mate? Earth and Equestria thought you were dead for a while, and then Twilight, who became queen while you were gone, summoned me to find you. I sensed your energy, and Twilight is fucking mad at you, bro. She is looking for you as we speak. She is on your planet. I did some skimming of the timeline, and you are on the wrong side of this war, man. The Horde are the bad guys, not the rebellion. I'd defect while you can." Alicorn Kronos warns me sternly.
"What the hell are you talking about? I did the same time skimmage as you, and it was the rebels who had the oh-so brilliant idea of experimenting on children, and selling the tech to the highest bidder. You think Tirek thought of it himself?" I reply, angry that he would even accuse me of siding with evil.
"Remember what that guy told you, your perception of space and time is warped by your quest for revenge. You don't see shit clearly. Get out, now, and you can regroup in New York, or at my place. You have time, man!" Alicorn Kronos warns me.
"I am in too deep. They have biometrics on me, they know my planet. If I flee now, they could just find me. Besides, you are basically me. Wouldn't you want to kill the bastards who maimed you and took away your humanity? I mean, I erased Luna, but she wasn't the source." I say, holding back tears.
Alicorn Kronos shrugs: "Look, mate, don't say I didn't warn you. Your crazy tech lady is coming in 15 seconds, but you should know that. Bye." My temporal equal says, severing the connection, and resuming the normal flow of time on Etheria.
15 seconds, huh. I run to the door, and I see that Entrapta brought Hordak with her. He looks more menacing than usual. Maybe Alicorn Kronos was right?
"Ah, there you are, Terran. Why didn't you tell me you were a Hybrid? You have stakes in the game now." Hordak says after opening the door.
"Well, you didn't ask, and I didn't know who you were." I replied.
"Fair enough, regardless. I have given permission to Princess Entrapta to take a biopsy, so we can isolate your time essence to rewrite history."
"Hold up, PRINCESS ENTRAPTA? I'll ask more later." I say to myself.
"Hold on, why can't I just go back in time for you and do the thing you want then?" I ask. It is a fair question.
Entrapta sighs: "If you do that, then Hordak won't know what or how it happened. Paradoxes, dude." Ah shit, the crazy lady has a point. I roll up my Horde uniform sleeve and reveal a vein.
"Take my blood, if you need it. I can help with the programming. I mean, I am the time travel guy, no?" I say, as Entrapta sterilizes a needle and puts it into my left arm, drawing 3 mL of blood.
"Alright, Nathan. Let me run labs on this. That's step 1, then we work on the time machine. Okay?" Entrapta says, trying not to scream. "TIME TRAVEL! THIS IS SO COOL!" Entrapta thinks to herself.
"I trust that this plan of yours will work, Entrapta. Maybe we can even get Force Captain Adora back with us, if this works. Proceed." Hordak says, leaving to go back to his throne room. "I hope Horde Prime won't think I am inferior now!" Hordak thinks to himself as he walks back to his throne room.
BRIGHT MOON PALACE: ETHERIA
"So who exactly is this friend of yours, Queen Twilight?" Queen Angella asks her fellow sovereign.
"Well, I told your daughter Glimmer a bit about him before you came, but I can give a recap, if you want." Twilight says
"Hold on, Twilight, before you do anything, tell us about your planet!" Adora says, eager to learn more about another race's planet and culture.
"Well, Adora, I live on a planet called Equestria, where everyone there is a sapient pony, like me. There are four different races: earth ponies, which are quite similar to horses on Etheria and on Earth. Pegasi, who can fly, and unicorns, who know magic. Then there are three alicorns, or a mix of all three races, who act as ambassadors and peacekeepers. We have magic on our planet, which is powered by friendship. It is really cool, actually."
"I mean, I gave the "Sparkle-Approved" version of events, notwithstanding the genocidal regal sisters, human experimentation, and time travel." Twilight thinks to herself.
"Woah, that sounds awesome. Can we come visit?" Bow asks Twilight.
"Yeah, can we come visit?" Glimmer and Adora say as well.
"After we find my friend, and defeat the Horde, sure. I don't see why not. I mean, we already have relations with Earth, so another planet won't hurt at all." Twilight says, affirming the three teens' question.
"Back to the point. Nathan Smith was born on Earth 19 years ago, and was kidnapped by an evil woman, and experimented on for two weeks. He got infused with ancient DNA from a time dragon, turning him into a Hybrid, and a very powerful one at that. An experiment went wrong, and he got sent into a 5th dimensional prison called "The Void". He was literally there forever, and after some extremely lucky quantum flux, ended up on my planet, where I found him, nursed him back to health, and helped him find the mare who did that to him." That was all in the span of a week for me."
Angella is trying really hard not to comment on anything, since she is indirectly responsible for my suffering.
"Woah, that sounds horrible. You think the Horde made this tech? I mean, I knew someone who could probably fix this, but she switched sides recently. So sad." Adora comments.
"Yeah, Entrapta could probably cure that poor kid with her eyes closed." Glimmer says.
"Well anyways, do you know where Nathan is, other than on this planet?" Adora asks Twilight.
"No clue. A few helpers could be quite useful. My guess is that Tirek, the guy that sent him here, probably sent him to the Horde, so that search and rescue mission you brought up earlier would be a good idea." Twilight says.
"Very well. As sovereign of Bright Moon, I authorize this benevolent alicorn to assist the Best Friends Squad on a search and rescue mission for this Nathan fellow." Angella says.
"Okay, so we have to infiltrate the Freight Zone again, and maybe pull Entrapta out while we are at it." Bow says, trying to come up with a better strategy than last time. They did win the battle of Bright Moon, but they lost Entrapta, and the war isn't over. "If this time god is aligned with the Horde, we are really screwed, aren't we, Adora?" Glimmer asks her friend.
"Probably. I wonder how Catra is doing…" Adora says.