“The ponies preach harmony, yet here we suffer without the prosperity that Equestria holds!” The deep voice of King Akita of the Diamond Dogs resonated from his throne across the lands he ruled. Lands stricken by poverty and poor hunting grounds. His domain was a mere shadow of its former self, left to rot by the ponies of Equestria. “They dare to speak of such things while we sit in squalor, my brothers and sisters?!” The crowd amassed before him writhed and seethed with anger.

“Our families are forced to subsist on meager scraps while they grow fat, wallowing in their wasteful wealth!” Barked a member of the crowd.

“Our children and elders grow sicker with each passing day, with no hope of treatment!” Another shouted. “Generations of Diamond Dogs are being wiped out! But do they care?! No!”

“We can’t live like this any longer!” Another voice bellowed. The collective anger of those assembled heaved like the waves of a storm at sea.

“And we shall not!” Akita vowed. “Even now, our armies gather their strength, all able bodied dogs rally to take what we rightfully deserve from those self-righteous ponies!” The crowd's cheer roared throughout Akita’s throne room as they excitedly chanted his name.

“And you will surely fail!” A voice cut through the chants. The mass of dogs became silent, heads were turning in all directions looking for the dismissive voice. All eyes soon caught a mysterious figure cloaked in a dark robe, standing in the back of the room.

“Who are you?!” Akita demanded with a glare. “Come stand before me and show your face, coward!”

The crowd parted as the figure made his way toward the throne. “My dear naive king,” he spoke. “You truly think you can stand against the might of Equestria? I find your arrogance and sheer stupidity highly amusing.” He chuckled wickedly as he neared the center of the room. “If you were to send your armies out now, you would only guarantee the extinction of your kind. The Equestrians are better fed, equipped and trained and you plan on defeating them with this? A malnourished and weakened pack of mongrels? Tsk, tsk, tsk. How pathetic.” He had neared the edge of Akita’s throne when his bodyguards blocked his way, aiming their spears in his direction.

“You dare to come into my throne room, the very center of my power, and talk to me like that?” Akita demanded in a low growl as he leaned forward in his throne. “You were foolish to come here. You reek of pony filth!” Akita snapped his fingers and like lightning his bodyguards charged the stranger, howling a mighty war cry.

A devilish smile formed upon the stranger's face as the dogs lunged at him. He outstretched his hand and rapidly sliced it across the air. To the shock and horror of all, the guards were tossed aside like ragdolls, slamming against the hard stone walls. A sound of bones being snapped echoed as they slumped onto the ground. “Pathetic.” The figure mused.

“What sorcery was that?!” Akita demanded as he rose from his throne, taking up his sword. “Fine! I will slay you myself!” He roared as he jumped at the cloaked figure, poised to run him through.

The figure reached to his left, gripping a cylindrical object tight in his hand. With one fluid motion, he slashed it across the air, a loud hissing and hum followed. The assembled crowd stood in stark terror as the top half of Akita’s sword fell to the ground.

Akita looked at the remains of his sword before his gaze was drawn to the figure’s blood shining blade, little more than a beam of light frozen in place. “What are you?” His blood ran cold as he voiced the question of all present.

“I am the future,” the figure coldly replied as his blade sheathed itself into the hilt. The figure raised his hands, aiming them at his bewildered foe. “Now be a good dog and kneel.” A torrent of pure blue lightning materialized from his fingers, arcing around the now defenseless Akita. The figure smiled as he watched his victim writhe like a worm on a hook, letting out an ear piercing scream. He continued the barrage of lightning as Akita kneeled to the floor, screaming and writhing in pain. Pleased with the sight of his foe on his knees, the figure ceased the lightning barrage.

Akita slowly looked up at the figure, smoke curling from his roasted flesh as he struggled to breathe. Every nerve ending was awash with agony, but Akita would not break. Would not bow his head in defeat. If this was his day to die, then he would meet Death with his head held high.

“Good boy. Now play dead.” The figure spoke as  he once more unleashed lightning, watching with sadistic pleasure as Akita writhed and screamed bloody murder. After a few minutes of the relentless barrage, the former king lay dead on the floor. The figure ceased his lightning storm and gazed upon the stunned crowd. None dared to speak up, the fear had them frozen. One by one, they all kneeled to the figure, who made his way towards the now vacant throne.

“Please Aunt Tia, just one more piece?” Loki begged as he followed Celestia down the hallway. Celestia giggled as she made her way to the end of the hall and navigated through the spacious kitchen, carrying a small cake in her hands.

“I’m sorry Loki,” Celestia responded as she reached the refrigerator at the back. “One piece is plenty.” She reached up and placed the cake on top of the fridge and turned to her nephew, patting him on the head. “Now why don’t you go and play with your mother, ok?”

“Ok Aunt Tia,” Loki replied. Celestia planted a little kiss on his forehead before heading back to deal with other matters. Once he was sure she had left the room, Loki turned his attention to that which he desired most. There it sat, a layer of sugary goodness wrapped in a layer of white frosting, calling out to him. Loki searched for a means to get at his treat when he eyed the drawers under the counter. A mischievous smirk appeared as he ran over and started pulling out the drawers one by one. Once he made his makeshift staircase, he quickly scrambled up to the counter top. Now halfway to his goal, he scanned for anything to assist him in claiming the treat. His search didn’t last long as he eyed the hanging cupboards. He swung one of them open and climbed up it’s shelves, carefully reaching out to grab the top edge of the fridge. Once he got a solid grip, he lifted himself up, finally reaching his prize. Without a second thought, he ravenously started tearing the cake apart, shoveling bits into his mouth.

“Master Loki. Where have you run off to now?” The mechanical voice of C1-X1 sounded through the kitchen as the droid entered, his visual receptors scanning around for his young, adventurous charge.

Loki quickly lay flat on his stomach, trying to hide himself from his mechanical babysitter.

C1-X1 kept looking around and finally climbed atop the counter, finding him on the fridge. “Master Loki. It’s dangerous to climb there.” Reaching over, he easily plucked the boy from his perch. “And you appear to have eaten Princess Celestia’s cake. Master will not be pleased.”

“Put me down!” Loki whined, trying to squirm out of C1's grip to no avail. “Put me down! Put me down!”

“Master’s orders are quite clear,” C1-X1 replied as he began carrying his struggling charge to find Princess Luna. “Please do not struggle, Master Loki.”

“Let me down now!” Loki shouted as he tried hitting and kicking his captor, who simply kept marching on, not feeling any of his blows.

The duo finally reached their destination: Princess Luna’s chambers. Stopping at the door, C1-X1 knocked on it. “Permission to enter, master?”

“Come in, C1-X1.” Luna replied through the closed door.

The droid opened the door with his free hand and carried Loki inside, closing the door behind them and standing before his master. “Apologies for Master Loki’s mischief, master.”

“What’d he do this time?” Luna asked as she rose from her chair, crossing her arms.

“He climbed onto the refrigerator in the kitchens and ate a slice of cake that Princess Celestia had been saving,” C1-X1 reported. Wonderful thing about a droid nanny. No hesitation in reporting his charge’s misbehavior.

“Tattle tale,” Loki replied, pouting and crossing his arms as C1-X1 set him down. Loki turned to face his mother, who had a frown plastered on her face. Guilt quickly set in and he sheepishly made his way over and wrapped his arms around her leg.

Luna, though still peeved, softened her expression and scooped him up, holding him tight against her. “Oh I can’t stay mad at you,” she said. “But don’t ever try that again, ok?” Loki nodded as Luna bombarded him with kisses, getting some of the cake remains on her face. “Come on Loki, let’s get you cleaned up.” She giggled as she wiped away the frosting smears from her face, carrying Loki to a much deserved bath.

[Siberian Overture by Henry Jackman: 0:00-2:25]

Time Turner sighed in relief at finally getting out of the office. He looked at his watch and picked up the pace. Hopefully he could make the last train to Ponyville. After such an exhausting day, he was looking forward to dinner with his family. He was distracted from his surroundings by thoughts of what Ditzy was cooking, so he didn’t notice movements in the shadows behind him.

Three figures followed him, keeping a good distance from him as to not be noticed. They moved quickly but quietly, darting into the shadows before the doctor could see them. With each step they closed the gap between them and their prey. Once they were within a few feet of him, one of them rapidly tackled him to the ground.

Time Turner may have been an intellectual, but he also valued the ability to defend oneself. Using his assailant's momentum, he threw the figure from him and rolled to his feet, sizing up his aggressors and coming up with a plan.

After seeing their comrade tossed about, the remaining two figures rushed the persistent doctor at once, hoping to overwhelm him. The figure on his left swung at him with his huge paw, but Time Turner managed to evade that blow and kicked the figure as he ran past. He turned in time to see the other figure charging, letting out a war cry as he lifted his arms over his head, attempting to execute a downward strike. Time Turner managed to block this strike, though the sheer strength of this assailant managed to get him on one knee.

Getting out from under the attacker, Time Turner backed away as fast as he dared, no longer trying to block their strikes but only guide them slanting away. He could not meet them strength to strength. Only when he felt the arms of a fourth attacker lock around him and lock his arms to his sides did Time Turner realize that he’d been suckered. The three had herded him like a lamb to slaughter. The largest of the attackers managed to strike him twice, once in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. The second was in his face,which knocked him out cold.

“Alright, tie him up, bag him and let’s get out of here.” The largest ordered. The others quickly followed his instructions, binding Time Turner’s hands and feet and shoving him in a large burlap sack. After the bag was tied shut, the largest attacker slung it over his shoulder and all four scurried off into the darkness.