Archmage: Beyond the Crystal Mirror “Out of Time - Part 2”

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“What… How… I don’t…” Twilight’s mind was reeling. This massive, hulking form was most definitely Spike. He lacked the wings that most other dragons had, and his brilliant scales were still their deep, amethyst purple hue. What’s more, his face was very similar, although it had lost its baby-like qualities and matured into something Twilight would go so far as to call dignified, maybe even handsome. At least, handsome for a two-hundred-foot-long dragon. His spines had grown to sharp points with black tips that ran down the length of his spine, and he stood on all fours. Though as Twilight watched, he reared up to his full height, standing on his hind legs.

“It’s been a long time, Twilight.” His deep, rumbling voice made the ground beneath Twilight’s hooves shake slightly, and vibrated inside her chest. Not only that, but there seemed to be some sort of arcane resonance with his voice. She could feel the soundwaves washing over her, pulsing and vibrating in time with the words that flowed from his mouth. “Although, I’ll admit, this isn’t the first time in the past two hundred years we’ve met.”

“This is the first time I’ve met you.” Twilight plopped onto her rump, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Ever since you left for the century-long nap. When did you wake up? Where did you go? What happened? I don’t-“

”All will be explained in time, dear counterpart of mine.” Twilight had almost forgotten about the two other princesses and the goddess in the throne room with her. Her counterpart drew her attention away from Spike for a moment, and she swallowed several times to try and regain control of her heart.

“Sorry, I hope you can identify with just how shocked I am…” Twilight breathed, shaking her head and pressing a hoof to the bridge of her nose. “I haven’t seen spike since well before I became Archmage. I thought he’s return to me after his century nap, but he never did. I began to fear the worst.”

“Come on, Twi.” The massive dragon rumbled, his grin spreading as wide as a small road. “I didn’t die.”

“No, I didn’t think you’d died.” Twilight waved a hoof. “I thought you might have forgotten about me… I mean, so little was known about dragons. And our studies are still inconclusive. We’re not sure what happens when dragons take their century-long naps…”

“I think I can answer a few questions for you.” Spike chuckled and slowly lowered down to all fours, his massive, muscular neck pulsing as he swung his head down towards them. “But not here, and not now. I’m afraid we have to go back to your world, Twilight. The root world.”

“What? Why?” Twilight peered around, noting that the goddess had the same grim look Spike did just then. “What’s happening?”

“This world will collapse before long.” Spike’s solemn tone made her shiver. She knew he wasn’t immature enough to joke about something like this. Celestia and Luna appeared to be equally as shocked to hear the news. Twilight’s face turned serious as she nodded.

“Alright. Let’s leave. Immediately, if possible. I don’t know how or why, but I guess we must leave.”

“I’ll tell you along the way.” Spike grumbled, his body beginning to glow with a golden aura. Twilight gasped as Spike began to shrink down to a more manageable size. Before long, he was roughly double her own size, but at least this way he could fit through the portal. “Ladies, lead the way.” Spike gestured with a claw, and Celestia and Luna turned to leave. Spike began to talk as they followed the two princesses.

“Why do we have to leave?”

“There’s too much interference in this world, I’m afraid.” Spike sighed. “You see, my coming here was almost completely by mistake. Unfortunately, I managed to trap myself here. But I didn’t belong in this plane of existence. This is their world, and I am a visitor. The portal is what anchors me here, and the energy that’s shared between myself, you, and any other visitor to this world is causing an imbalance.”

“That’s not good.” Twilight knew from experience that imbalances when concerned with magic were dangerous. It’s what caused the fallout of prophecies, and many major spell failures resulted in imbalances, hence the dangerous explosions and catastrophic side-effects. She couldn’t imagine what any planar imbalances might result in, though by the sound of Spike’s voice, they were none too pleasant.

“Not good indeed. It seems the influx of visitors from other worlds through the mirror helped agitate a condition I had created. You see, I came to this world ninety-eight years ago by your standards, but thanks to my magic, I was able to lessen my impact on this plane of existence by fixing my essence at a point in time. That way, I was technically only interfering with the mirror’s imbalance for about a year and three months. But you don’t possess that power, and neither do any of the other visitors. Your ascension, and, heh, descent, drew much more attention to this world than there should have been.” Spike’s intent gaze swept around to the goddess behind them, his smile knowing and rather foreboding. “That massive black sphere you fought back there wasn’t the product of your prophecy failing. That was the imbalance of all the visitors.”

“You’re joking.” Twilight breathed. “What’s the fallout of my prophecy, then?”

“It won’t manifest for another two weeks.” Spike gestured vaguely. “We won’t be able to see it. Or rather, we can’t.”

“I see.” Twilight was downtrodden. “So my coming here was a waste.”

“Hardly.” Spike scoffed. “You see, I came here by my own means. Unfortunately, I was a young god, and didn’t really think to leave a way out. I was stuck here in this world, a place I couldn’t call home.”

“What about your counterpart?” Twilight asked.

“He’s living his life, happily raising a brood somewhere past Saddle Arabia. It seems he never returned after awaking from his nap in this world. I had free reign of most Equestria and the surrounding areas.”

“Caused quite a bit of a stir, I must say.” Luna scoffed. “It was right around the time Celestia and I had the dream from the goddess that he showed himself.”

“Hey, yeah.” Twilight narrowed her eyes slightly. “How could you two have been visited by the goddess in your dreams before she was technically a goddess?”

“A little help from your friend there.” Celestia sighed. Spike chuckled again.

“Being the God of Time, I took a little liberty to explore this world’s timeline. I was able to bring a visitor from the future back with me, and helped her sort some things out with the princesses. To help ease your passing, and brace them for what was to come. I transported your deity counterpart into the past exactly one year, where she was able to warn Celestia and Luna of the events that would transpire.”

“Fascinating.” Twilight shook her head in disbelief. They were approaching the room with the portal in it. Twilight recognized the hallways they were walking down. She knew her time was short, but she still had so many unanswered questions. She picked up the pace to walk next to Luna.

“This may seem overtly personal and incredibly out-of-left-field, but… How is your relationship with… Well, me?”

“With your counterpart?” Luna glanced over her shoulder at the goddess. Her expression seemed torn. “I honestly don’t know… I mean, this is the first time we’ve experienced this particular chain of events for ourselves. It seems so surreal, what with the warnings and all the counterparts, I… I honestly just don’t know.”

”I’ll have you know, Luna…” The goddess smiled warmly at Luna. ”I still feel love and desire. I may be immortal and powerful, but I am still madly, deeply in love with you.”

“There’s your answer, then.” Luna’s smile warmed them all, spreading infectiously. “I don’t feel any different. I was concerned at first that the change would make her more like the night… Aloof, cold, and indifferent. But it seems I’m lucky enough to keep Twilight forever.” Luna’s smile turned into a devious grin for a half a moment. “Though I might have to get used to learning how to please a goddess. I bet her orgasms could split a mountain.”

They all laughed at that, some of them raucously, others a little more conservatively. But still, the grim mood was lightened considerably. Twilight didn’t even feel saddened as they entered the room with the portal. There were still so many questions Twilight had about this world, like what the fallout of her prophecy actually looked like, and her counterpart’s plans for Equestria now that she had a considerably larger amount of power… But Spike appeared to be growing concerned for the safety of this world, and Celestia and Luna didn’t seem all that happy to have two visitors that jeopardized their very existence either. Twilight paused to smile at Luna as they stood at the threshold of the portal.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused you. Please, once Spike and I leave this world, destroy this portal. I’ve seen some bad worlds. This is a rather nice one, and I’d rather not have it vanish.”

“I’ll do what I can, Twilight.” Luna smiled. “Gosh, you’re so like her it’s eerie.” Luna looked between Twilight and the goddess, her smile warm and happy. “I couldn’t possibly imagine living with two of you.”

”I can make that happen.” The goddess smiled and nudged Luna’s side. ”I can make many things happen, but not if this world is destroyed. Twilight, you are a strong and able counterpart of mine, unlike some of the other versions I’ve had the displeasure of seeing. I wish you much luck and happiness in your travels to other worlds. And be cautious. Some of them are as grim and dark as you may think they are. But others, like this one… Well.” The goddess smiled and kissed Luna’s cheek. The tender display nearly made Twilight cry.

”They make you happy for the things you have, and the things you could have. Farewell, Twilight. I hope someday I can see you again.”

“Someday.” Twilight nodded with a warm smile. “Until then. Good-bye, everyone.”

“Come on, Twilight.” Spike nudged her playfully, turning both of them back towards the portal. “Let’s go home.”

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“Welcome back, Twili- WOAH!” Luna gasped and flapped backwards until her back hit the far wall, her wide eyes panicked. “Twilight, it’s a dragon! Get back!”

“Relax, Luna!” Twilight dashed forward, placing herself between Luna and Spike. “Don’t you recognize him?” Luna looked between Twilight and Spike several times, her chest still heaving excitedly. After a short while, though, she calmed and squinted at him cautiously.

“No… Is that… Spike?”

“The one and only.” Spike grinned and rose to his hind legs, offering a claw to Luna. “It’s good to see you again, Princess.”

“How did you… No one else can come through the portal except those who originate from here.” Luna took his claw in a semi-traditional hoof-shake, her expression still tense and shocked.

“I am from here.” Spike said nonchalantly. “I have a story to tell, and boy is it a doozy.”

“Even I don’t know all the details yet.” Twilight explained to Luna. “I met him in that world. Apparently he came from this world, and was trapped in that one. At least… I think that’s what happened. Is it?”

“Like I said.” Spike grimaced back at the portal. “It’s a doozy.”

“O-okay. Right. Can you… Do you sit?”

“With some difficulty. If it’s all the same to you, I’ll just lay here.” Spike scuffed a spot on the stone floor with a claw before slowly lowering himself. Even reduced in size as he was, he still took up quite a bit of the chamber Twilight and Luna had called their impromptu home. Twilight fetched two chairs while Luna began to boil water for tea. Twilight was slightly parched from the whole ordeal in the parallel world, so tea sounded wonderful. Spike respectfully declined, waiting for the two of them to get settled before he began.

“Where should I begin… I guess with my exodus from Ponyville, eh?” Spike smiled and closed his eyes, as if he were recalling a long-lost memory. Twilight realized his eyes were actually glowing beneath his eyelids, and whenever they would flicker open, a faint golden light would leak out. He inhaled deeply and began talking. “I left Ponyville intent on reaching the dragon’s home. It’s the same place you, Pinkie, and Rarity came to when I was a little bit lost about who I was.” Spike sighed wistfully. “I found a cozy little cave and settled down to begin my nap. But for one reason or another, as tired as I was, I couldn’t fall into a full, deep, magical sleep. I kept waking every few hours or so, and couldn’t sleep again for another hour. It was strange, but I discovered that I wasn’t supposed to nap where I was. Apparently dragons are drawn to one specific place for their nap. They can be dissuaded, sure, but they don’t like to be told what to do for the most part. So I started roaming. Searching.

“My search actually led me North, into the Crystal Kingdom. It took a little fine-tuning, but the ponies up here still think me some sort of hero after that whole ordeal with King Sombra and the crystal heart. Anywho, I tried napping all over the place, but I never could quite find it. It seemed like I would settle on one spot, only to be pushed into another. But that one spot was always roughly the same.” Spike pointed directly up to the ceiling, smiling at them. “It was exactly three hundred and fourteen feet above where we are now.”

“No way.” Twilight breathed. “You’re telling me your nap was calling you to this chamber?”

“Precisely.” Spike nodded. “I made my way down here with a little help from the palace staff. A skilled unicorn was able to find the way down here and keep it a secret from Cadance and Shining Armor. I followed the cave and arrived here, almost a hundred and eighty-three years ago. That’s when I entered my nap. I was too tired and too young to think about the spell-form on the walls around me, or what effect they might have had on me.” Spike scoffed and shook his head, almost as if he wished he could scold his past self.

“When I awoke, I was like this. And I had quite a lot of magical power. When I left here, everything was standing perfectly still. When I thought about how strange it was things seemed to be frozen in time, they jumped ahead at a blinding speed. Before long, I was standing in the ruins of the Crystal Empire, and when I thought about how terrible that was and how I wanted to go back, I was watching Equestria be terraformed by these massive bolts of arcane energy.” Spike sighed wistfully and looked up at the two of them.

“I had complete and total control over where I existed in time. So I began to use my powers to explore. You see, Twilight, Luna.” Spike lifted a claw to rest over his heart. “I’ve lived millions of years by your standards. Tens of thousands of lifetimes. I’ve watched Equestria be created, destroyed, reforged, and destroyed again so many times I could write the unabridged history of the world. In that time, I’ve collected knowledge and skill. I learned my name, my purpose, and many, many other things.” He lifted his head proudly. Twilight was awestruck. Here was Spike, the baby dragon she had hatched from an egg, a god. He wasn’t some two-hundred-year old dragon, or even an old friend. He was a being to be respected and revered. He was likely smarter than all four of the princesses combined, herself included. Twilight swallowed as he continued.

“I am called many names by different groups of ponies. The earth ponies call me ‘watcher of sands.’ The pegasi call me ‘The gold one.’ But the unicorns… They know me by a far more formal and ancient title. My birthright, the name given to me by the two gods who fathered Celestia and Luna.” Spike’s eyes began to glow with a golden light, illuminating the entire chamber.

“I am Chronos.” The glow died down, and a shudder passed through Twilight’s body as he smiled at her. “But you can call me Spike. I might be a god, but I am still your friend, Twilight. And yours as well, princess. I would hope so.”

“It’s my honor.” Luna breathed, laying a hoof over her heart. “I’m just so astounded that you’ve… You’re… You used to be so small and unassuming. The last time I saw you was-“

“Nightmare Night. At least, that was the last time you actively saw me. I was at Shining’s wedding, but you were too busy talking with everypony else.” Spike smiled at Luna. Twilight remembered the last time she had seen Spike. He had looked so tired, but so determined. Something magical had taken ahold of him. She woke up one morning to find him looking at her sadly. He had simply said ‘goodbye’ and left. Not even her own magic stopped him from leaving then. They had made quite the ordeal… A tiny little purple dragon dragging a sobbing purple unicorn out of town, until Twilight had given up and let him go. She had been inconsolable for a week until Celestia sent a letter explaining what had happened. The memory wasn’t entirely comfortable, but Twilight was happy for Spike.

“Still, though…” Twilight’s serious voice brought them all back to the present. “Why were you called to take your century nap here? Why did sleeping here for a hundred years turn you into a god? And how did you get into that other world? There are still so many questions that need to be answered…”

“Well, let me see…” Spike tapped his jaw with a long claw. “I can’t say for certain what it was that drew me here, but I do know that Chronos’ power moves from dragon to dragon. There’s a text in Celestia’s private library detailing some of the effects. I guess you could say I was selected to be the next recipient of his power. When I die or don’t feel like guarding the timelines of this world and the others, another dragon may very well be called to take his century-long nap here.”

“You’ve been in Celestia’s private library?” Twilight asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

“Yes indeed.” Spike smiled. “In six thousand, four hundred and eighty-seven years, Celestia makes the library free to access for all unicorns able to pass a relatively difficult series of tests. I have some pretty powerful magic of my own, so I disguised myself as a pony and went to visit. I read many wonderful and insightful, albeit terrifying things there. One such thing being the text talking about Chronos’ power being transferred from dragon to dragon.” Spike nodded at her. “I’m willing to bet Chronos’ power transfers to whatever dragon is called to take his nap here. I don’t remember dreaming anything, so I can’t say for sure what happened for those hundred years, but when I awoke I was like this.”

“Fascinating…” Twilight shook her head in disbelief. So much had happened! She had witnessed herself become a god, saved a world from destruction, re-united with Spike, and learned so much about the mirror in just one eventful day. She was exhausted, but curiosity fueled her. She had to know at least one more thing before getting some rest. “But how did you get to that other world?”

“Aah. That one is relatively easy to explain.” Spike rubbed his claws together and grinned happily as he launched into his explanation. “There are points in time where worlds converge; where series of events make the two planes of existence so similar that the two worlds almost co-exist for a moment. They’re exceedingly rare, incredibly difficult to find, and once they’re gone, the two worlds separate once more. For something like me, I can slip inbetween those cracks in time, where two worlds become one. But once I’m on the other side, I have to come back immediately, or I’m trapped there.”

“Wow… So our worlds intersect at times?” Twilight found that difficult to believe.

“It’s not as easy as that.” Spike leaned forward a little. “Twilight, the parameters are incredibly specific. Every single molecule of existence has to coincide perfectly. Every blade of grass, every breath, every hoof-fall, every blink of your eye… All of these things have to happen at the exact same point in the timeline, in the same place, in the exact same way, for exactly one-point-three-eight miles in radius.” Spike leaned in further to emphasize. “Think about it. Think about a place in this world that another world could act the same way, the same exact way, for exactly one-point-three-eight miles. Where everypony breathes at the same time, talks at the same time, takes all the same steps… Where the beads of dew on the grass and the insects buzzing through the air take the same path. Do you know how rare an occurrence that is? When two worlds are, for all intensive purposes, exactly the same?” Spike sat up straight again, his eyes slightly dark.

“It’s nearly impossible. And in the history of this world, from dawn to destruction, it’s happened only four times.” Spike lifted his claw, ticking each one off. “Once, very early, where for that circular sphere of exact totality, a lava flow on a mountainside progresses the exact same between three worlds for point-zero-zero-two seconds. The second,” He ticked another off. “Happens during the birth of a poor farmer’s foal, where a convergence of four worlds lasts for point zero eight seconds. The third.” Another claw. “Is during the end of the world. And that moment, all worlds share in common for all of twenty-eight seconds.” They were silent for a few moments while Twilight considered all this meant. It was Luna who broke the silence.

“You said there were four…”

“The fourth one…” Spike’s eyes turned a little misty, and he smiled at Twilight. “Happens for eight-point-six-four seconds, and is a convergence of sixteen million, eight hundred and forty-three thousand, two hundred and nineteen worlds.”

“What is it?” Twilight asked. “What’s happening in all of those worlds for so long?” At her question, Spike’s smile widened.

“It’s right here in Canterlot, in the busiest, most crowded square on one very special, particular day. You want to know what’s happening? What has so many ponies acting so perfectly in sync that over sixteen million worlds are converging at the same time?” Spike leaned in until his intent, golden eyes were all Twilight could see. His next words made her shiver.

“You’re being announced as Archmage.”

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They took a break after that little revelation. Twilight wondered why, in all of the archmages throughout all of history, her announcement was the most memorable that it would cause sixteen million worlds worth of ponies to act the exact same, perfect way for eight whole seconds. Spike explained how keeping his essence frozen at a point in time so he didn’t destroy the world he had been in was a rather exhausting and taxing experience. He excused himself from the castle to go find a suitable spot to slumber ‘for a few hours or years. You can never tell with dragons.’ His words still made Twilight chuckle, even as she shared a dinner with Luna.

“That’s fascinating.” Luna offered. “I can’t believe Spike became Chronos…”

“Have you ever met him?” Twilight asked idly, feeling surprisingly famished. She was eating ravenously.

“Who? Chronos? No, not at all. Though I hear Celestia has, and the night has mentioned him in passing a few times. I can’t believe I didn’t pay better attention to her during those times…” Luna sighed and shook her head. “It’s mind-boggling.”

“You’re telling me.” Twilight, despite her hunger, had to sit still for a moment to contemplate all that had transpired. “I wish I could have asked him more… I get the feeling we’re not getting the whole story from him, regarding his involvement with the other worlds.”

“You too, huh?” Luna teased, smiling faintly. “Like, if he can travel back and forth in time, why didn’t he return to the convergence, and come back to this world? Why did he stay in that world for… What, over two hundred years?”

“Exactly. I want to know why he didn’t return to this world when he knew his presence in that world was going to eventually destroy it. Something smells fishy here.”

“I’m sure he had his reasons. Maybe he couldn’t, or risk throwing the balance out too much?”

“Why didn’t the imbalance destroy that world the moment he entered, then?” Twilight groaned and shoved her plate away. “It’s mind-boggling. What possible reason could he have to stay there?”

“Twilight! Luna!” Cadance burst into their chamber, huffing and lathered in sweat. She looked panicked. Twilight steadily rose to her hooves, ready for the worst. “There’s a dragon in the palace.”

Twilight and Luna both laughed at the same time.

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“So you’re back.” Celestia smiled as Spike emerged from seemingly nowhere beside her.

“Indeed I am.” Spike’s voice made her mane tremble around her shoulders. Celestia rather enjoyed that about him.

“Thank you. A million times over, thank you, Chronos.”

“Hey, I can understand.” Spike sighed. “I’m just glad I picked right between the two.”

“Two worlds out of sixteen million,” Celestia sighed. “Two worlds in that convergence where Twilight becomes a goddess and tries to save Equestria. You’re certain she didn’t stay long enough to-“

“No.” Spike cut her off. “I made certain to remove her, and all of the other visitors, from the world before she… Before it… Dies.”

“Is killed.” Celestia corrected him, albeit with a frown. “She killed it.”

“I know. I just find it so hard to believe.” Spike shuddered visibly, his spines clacking with a bone-like sound.

“What ruse did you use to get her to return so promptly?”

“I told her she and all the other visitors were creating an interference with the energy of the world, thanks to the portal. I even told her I was endangering that world by being there.”

“So you could play the chivalrous one.” Celestia shook her head as if in disbelief, though a ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

“In all seriousness, though… Did she destroy that world? Could she have?”

“I know she could.” Celestia sighed and plodded from her office out onto a nearby balcony. “She’s done worse…”

“Really? Worse than annihilating an entire world?”

“She’s killed us before.”

“No way. She can do that?” Spike seemed shocked.

“Ineed.” Celestia sighed again. “Twilight’s discovered a way to kill an immortal being. She says she did it in case we ever wanted closure, from all the pain and suffering.”

“Oh. Well.” Spike sighed and rubbed the back of his spines. “I can’t say I blame her. Even in this world, there’s a lot of pain and suffering.”

“Yes, but nopony should have to suffer that. Celestia turned her gaze North, towards where Twilight and her sister were likely discussing Spike’s return even now. “Nopony should have to know there’s nothing they can do to save the world from the fallout of their prophecy.”

“She could have…”

“But she hasn’t. You’ve seen it, I’ve seen it… I’m sure Luna will see it in time, too.” Celestia’s gaze was dark and brooding. “There’s not a single world where Twilight becomes a goddess that Equestria is saved.”

“Well,” Spike sighed as he stepped up beside Celestia. “At least I managed to spare her that much. If she had stayed for even twenty minutes more, the fallout would have claimed her. And even if she managed to survive, the portal would have been destroyed. She would be stuck there. So at least we managed to save her from that much.”

“At least there’s that.” Celestia sighed and gently leaned against Spike’s side. The dragon gingerly lifted his arm and draped it over her back. “I missed you.”

“And I missed you too, my love.” Spike smiled and kissed Celestia’s cheek. “It’s good to be back.”

“How long has it been?” Celestia leaned into the tender kiss, her eyes closed blissfully.

“Four hundred and eighty-three years, two months, twenty-eight days, fourteen hours and seven seconds.”

“Close enough.” Celestia smiled up at Spike, or rather, Chronos. The one creature she could honestly say she loved.

The one creature that could possibly understand her torment.

The two turned into Celestia’s quarters. That night, even the Solar Princess found solace in the arms of her lover.