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…

“...wiligh…”

“Twilight!” I wake with a startle as one of Chrysalis’s changelings woke me. Wind… Something I don’t care. Before I could blast him with my magic he quickly spoke up. “You need to get up before you’re late to class again. For the fifth time in a row.”

“Oh… right.”

I hate this routine I’m in. Wake up, learn things I already know, eat at some point in the day, return here, plan for the future, sleep, and repeat. But I had to put up with this charade in order to keep the timeline intact as much as possible. But for now I had to get moving. I strapped my prepacked saddle bags to my side, put on an illusion to hide my eyes, and teleport to the Castle of the Two Sisters. Not killing the changeling for entering my room should be enough thanks for waking me in time for class.

I reappear in an empty hallway. That itself would raise a red flag but I also didn’t hear a sound, not even a mouse or hoofsteps. I took a few steps toward the nearest twist in the hall and peak around the edge. Still there was nothing and nopony anround. “This is strange but maybe I can sneak into class without Celestia knowing.” I whispered to myself as I step back into something. Whatever it was scared me half to death. I squeaked in shock and drew my head back in alarm.

“Before I know what?” That voice came in clear as day from behind me. I turn my head up to find Celestia herself looking down at me with contempt. “You’re late… again. Also your teleporting pattern is getting predictable.” That explains why there’s nopony around.

I stepped forward and turned around to face sunbutt. I felt a little disrespected at that notion. So I gave her a scowl and replied with slight venom in my tone. “Predictable? I’ll show you predicab-” She practically shoved her hoof in my mouth with simultaneously shut me up and cancelled my concentration in casting my next spell.

“Twilight, we talked about this.” She removed her hoof from my mouth. “Good thing I cleared my schedule to compensate for your late arrivals. Now follow me. It’s time for your next friendship lesson.” Is she condescending me or am I just paranoid?

I admit to getting too carried away. It’s obvious the stress has taken its toll through the years. No Sombra, conforming the changelings to my side, fooling Celestia, and corrupting Luna seems to have put more pressure on me than I realized. Despite all that I must keep a level head. I begrudgingly follow Celestia to our little classroom she had set up for another boring class in magic that I already know. It’s a pain just to act ignorant which is something I didn’t think I would ever have to do.

Some hours later and this torture is finally over for the day. In no time at all I rush over to the castle library to conduct some research of my own. Once I open the doors all my plans for reading and planning had flown out the window as one particular pony caught my eye, Starswirl the bearded. This is our first encounter so I needed to make an impression. I trot past him to the advanced magic section and can already hear the questions he could ask a young... young looking mare like me.

He audibly cleared his throat and I turned to see him staring with furrowed brows. “Miss, maybe you should go to a section of books about levitation or such. Those are obviously too advanced for you.” The complete superiority in his tone was almost enough to choke him to death. He turned back around to his scribbles as if we were done talking.

I grab a book on solar magic with my own, hoping that Celestia was his favorite student, and place it onto the table next to him with an indignant thud. More than likely most magic was theoretical at this part of history so I could divulge anything too complicated. I hopped onto the bench next to Starswirl and began to put him in his place. “I am pretty sure that I can read these since this is a public library. Besides, I'm trying to figure out how it took the entire unicorn race to raise the sun when Celestia could accomplish such a task herself.”

His gaze turned more curious than livid. “That’s a big question for someone,” he looked me over seeing I’m not just another unicorn with my superior posture and saddlebags full of books, “of your skills? Where are you in your studies?”

“Well I can teleport, produce magic blasts, conjure elements, and soon whatever Celestia will be teaching me next.” A smug grin plastered my face.

Starswirl on the other hoof grew both impressed and curious. “Celestia is teaching you?” A small chuckle left his throat. “I shouldn’t be so surprised that my students are teaching others. They’re both above me in magical studies.”

I had to fain surprise which had been easier thanks to Chrysalis. “So you’re their mentor? I heard something about that but didn’t believe it until now. They must really respect you.”

He looked from one side to another. I gave the room a magical poke and the few ponies that also occupied the library were interested in their own activites. “Want to see something I’ve been working on?” A ‘oh face’ and a head shake later he removed a piece of paper from one of the books nearby. “This is something I’ve been working on for a few years.”

There is was. The missing piece of the puzzle for all my plans. “Is that… time travel?” I said breathlessly.

“Well the start of time travel. My theory is that-” I pulled his face till we both stared into each others eyes. Mind control was so much easier with direct eye contact and with this time periods knowledge of magic protection, subduing Starswirl had been too easy.

Now I have work to do if I want to finish these calculations but for now I have to hide it. I quickly grab the paper and run to the back of the library. Thankfully it’s dark and noponies around, perfect for hiding an important document for now. A scream sounded from the bench. Dammit all. I left Starswirl sitting there like an idiot. I ran to where Starswirl sat to see him with a blank face, dark magic eyes, and Clover the Clever desperately try to shake him out of the mind control.

Her gaze shot to me which she screamed again. “Guards! Get the princesses! There’s a monster! She tried to attack Starswirl!”

Oh fuck me. My disguise lifted when I mind raped shithead.

I sat in the middle of the throne room with my normal eyed disguise. Celestia and Luna sat on their thrones with Starswirl recovering in the back. Celestia didn’t look mad, just disappointed. Luna just wanted to rip me in half. That much became apparent.

A heavy sigh escaped Celestia. “Twilight… I’m trying but I need you to work with me. Why didn’t you say these temptations were still around?”

“Temptations?” Luna said as if the word itself were toxic. “This is an evil pony. I have been patient Celestia but what will it take for you to see that thing is just playing with your emotions!?” Luna pointed at me on the mention of a ‘thing’. I backed away a step and lowered my head making sure to seem very scared and submissive.

“Luna! This is not the time nor place to act like that. We’ll talk about this later.” Celestia again put the hammer down on Luna for the uptenth time. Proof that they were butting heads which bode well for me.

Luna didn’t miss a beat. “Later? It’s always later with you! If not now then when?!” She stood up and began walking out the throne room. She had to walk past me to leave so I trained my eyes on her in case she broke early. Her hate filled scoul isn't what drew my attention but her slightly sharper than normal teeth. Nothing that could bite into meat much less gems but they weren’t standard molars. I’d estimate between ten months to a year before Luna succumbs to the darkness. “Come, Starswirl. Let us get you checked out further.”

“Agreed princess.” I didn’t turn around to look at him but from the subtle eye movements from Celestia told me he glared at me as well.

When they both left it was just me and Celestia. Fake tears formed at the corners of my eyes. “C-Celestia I-”

She held up a hoof which made me stop immediately. She let out a defeated sigh. “Twilight… nothing you did today is unredeemable.” I lowered my head and produced a few sobs. From the sounds she got up and walked toward me cause I soon felt a hoof around me. “Please Twilight. I can see this is hard for you but I need you to come to me for these issues. That’s just one reason why I’m here. If you come to me whenever these thoughts and desires come up I promise I won’t be mad and I will do anything I can to help. Would you do that for me?”

With a faked heavy heart I nod into her snow white coat. I’ll have to time this just right or risk getting involved with historical events and no one wants that.