Aspect woke up that morning to find that his beloved Bon Bon was missing from the bed, as was Lyra. Midnight was there, and given the time, Rainbow was out doing her pre-morning exercises before work.

Mmm...what to do today? Well, first on his list of getting things back to normal was getting Sombra naturalized. And the sooner that happened, the better. There was a harvest festival going on though...so maybe afterwards, if he could get the girls together.

Oooh, he wondered. How much work had little Applebloom and Bon’s other students been putting into their Geomancy?

Plus it was a weekend, so Megan’s kids might visit as well. All in all the day was sounding pretty full for a lack of things he had to do.

So, first things first...he had no bloody idea. His stomach rumbled, which gave him a heading. Breakfast first, then see where the wind took him.

He headed downstairs to find Bon and Lyra in the kitchen, the former making… things. A lot of things, with Lyra being her assistant and taste tester. That said, the two paused in their work to give the stallion a kiss each when he entered.

“Morning to you as well,” he greeted before kissing them back. “So, harvest festival. How many inventive fillies and colts do you think we’ll have out of our students, Bonnie?”

“Quite a few from the sounds of it,” Bon Bon said as she returned to her cooking, some kind of fruit and vegetable salad. “Pretty much all of Cheerilee’s class. And I hear our kids are even doing one. Spearheaded by Moonie.”

“...Is it too late to run into the Everfree, screaming?” Aspect mused after hearing that. “I’d probably have higher odds of surviving.”

“Bite me!” Nightmare yelled from somewhere within the house.

“Be nice,” Bon Bon chided them both. “Now, I’m guessing you want some food and coffee my dear?”

“That would be appreciated,” Aspect nodded. “It’s only just become morning after all. It’d be best to go into a full day with a full tank of fuel.”

“I wouldn’t expect any disasters,” Bon Bon said as she placed a mug down on the table, along with some toast and eggs. “That said… this is Ponyville after all.”

“Expect nothing, prepare for everything,” Aspect nodded as he sat in front of the plate of food. “That way you’re not surprised, just reacting to the things that crop up. It’s how we survived the Everfree.”

“Pinkie Pie.” Bon Bon simply said. “Twilight Sparkle. Cutie Mark Crusaders…”

“True, but the forest can be...inventive in trying to run you off,” the stallion supplied. “There’s a reason you don’t know of the Crimson Choking Vine anymore.”

“...The what now?” Lyra and Bon Bon echoed at the same time.

“Exactly,” Aspect nodded. “The forest sent the stuff at us when we’d started to build the castle. It would wrap a pony up, then use its barbs to slowly cut a pony to pieces in the most agonizing way possible while not wrapping your mouth up. So your screams of torment would tell everyone exactly where you were...so they would come rescue you. So it could wrap them up too. The reason you don’t know about it is because I burned it all. All of it.”

“...I am suddenly so very glad you did,” Lyra squeaked.

“Yeah… that’s one thing I don’t want tying me up,” Bon Bon nodded, her face going pale.

“Yeah. Hunting down colonies of giant spiders, getting rid of dangerous pony-killing plants…” Aspect hummed between bites of his food. “The only thing I didn’t get rid of was the Flyders. They were tricky and got away.”

“I hate those things,” Bon Bon shuddered. “Had to hunt some swarms before. You do NOT want to see what I’ve found in the past.”

“Most of the major threats to ponykind I got rid of myself, so I would probably understand,” the stallion replied. “If it wasn’t a wayward Aspect, it was their castoffs, the things they left in their wake. Gawd, you don’t want to know about the Vorpal rabbits…”

“How is anything rabbit scary?” Lyra teased. “Now you’re messing with us.”

“Picture a cute, ordinary rabbit,” Aspect said. “Now give it the ability to cleave through anything. I don’t know how they do it. And you can’t tell if a rabbit is a vorpal one or not just from looks alone. You’d have to watch the rabbit and see if it, I don’t know...bites through a predator and takes its head clean off.” He shook his head. “There’s a reason you always respect bunny rabbits.”

“...Well, there goes my appetite,” Lyra groaned, Bon Bon wishing it would affect her. For some reason… it just made her hungry. Bloody pregnancy cravings. Aspect looked up to see the mare bite down on something as she worked… was… was that bacon?

“...One of these days that will seem normal, but today is not that day,” Aspect muttered as he turned back to his own breakfast. He knew better to try meat as a pony.

“Hey, it’s your fault,” Lyra waved a hoof at him. “You’re the one that put a dragon baby in her.”

“It’s actually quite tasty,” Bon Bon mused. “Also, I got a message this morning Aspect. One you’ll be interested to hear.”

“Oh?” the stallion perked his ears as he began to drink his coffee.

“My bosses at S.M.I.L.E have contacted me,” she said. “As of now, I have been reassigned.”

The stallion slowly put his mug down and turned his head to look at her. “Oh?”

“Mhm,” she nodded without looking at him. “I have been assigned to watch the subject known most commonly as ‘Balanced Aspect’ indefinitely.”

“...Ah,” the stallion sighed. “That sounds like it’ll be a taxing assignment.”

“Well, it’ll be a challenge,” Bon Bon said with a serious nod. “At least I have my assistant Lyra here.”

“Mhm,” Lyra mused. “Speaking off… I know what I want for breakfast~”

“Oh?” Aspect turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. “You don’t want Bon Bon’s cooking?”

Lyra simply giggled as she ducked under the table. What was she… oh… OH!

“Well that’s one way to start your day,” the stallion grunting, bracing himself by putting his hooves on the table.

Bon Bon just rolled her eyes as she went back to work, ignoring the sounds coming from under the table. “So, what have you planned for today dear? I trust you’ll be coming to the festival?”

“I can try to attend at least,” Aspect agreed. “It promises to be iiiiIIIINteresting…”

“Something the matter?” Bon Bon asked with a curious smile. “You seem… fidgety.”

“Just...distracted,” Aspect huffed.

“Is that so?” Bon Bon mused as Aspect felt magic coming into play as well. Ooh, now she was cheating!

“It’s...not easy remaining foooooholygods she’s good,” the stallion panted as he looked at Bon Bon. “Did you teach her things?”

“Hmm, did I?” the mare giggled as she started to dice more vegetables. “Maybe~”

“Fuuuuuuck, I won’t complain about you all conspiring against me like this,” the stallion muttered as he finally just leaned back in his chair and let it happen.

The atop all that, she started to hum as well, a trifecta of pleasure from under the table.

“Just try not to drown her,” Bon Bon said as she moved to the fridge to get a few more ingredients.

“How...productive do you think I am?” Aspect panted, reaching a hoof under the table to find Lyra’s head and rub it in appreciation.

“Last night, Midnight and I returned to find you having turned our newest playmate into a ball,” she commented dryly as she tossed some stuff into a pot.

“Because I was in Seapony form,” the stallion commented. “I’m just a normal unicorn now.”

“Hmm, out of curiosity, what would be your most… prolific form?” Bon Bon asked, her tail slightly raised thanks to the smell coming from the table.

“I...haaaaah...wouldn’t know,” the stallion replied. “It’s not like I’ve tested them all.”

“Well, what would you think it would be?” Bon Bon asked.

“I don’t know,” Aspect reiterated. “It’s not like I went around asking them what their mating habits were like.”

Bon Bon snorted in amusement. “Urgh, tell Lyra to hurry up before I get down there and help her. That smell is driving me nuts!”

Aspect gasped. “I think she heard you,” he relayed, gripping the chair with his hooves to brace himself again. Lyra had increased both her pace and the intensity of her magic.

Then she cast a new spell. A spell by a pony named Silken Touch, known as ‘Bottled Volcano’.

It didn’t take a genius to know what that spell did.

Aspect let out a low groan as he fed Lyra her breakfast, what felt like far too much coming out of him as he just let it happen. After what felt like an hour… or a minute. He finally stopped as Lyra crawled out from under the table with a small smile…

Before trotting over to Bon Bon and kissing her while Aspect was looking… and showing that sharing is caring~

“...You’re going to constantly try and one-up yourself in this sort of relationship, aren’t you?” the stallion asked. “Not that I’m complaining.”

Lyra broke the kiss and swallowed, a lump sliding down her throat as she let out a sigh. “Well, I have a lot of ground to catch up on,” she mused.

“Just as long as you don’t immediately think you have to go as far as bearing me foals just to stay in this relationship,” Aspect pointed out.

“Naah, I think you have enough kids,” Lyra said with a shrug. “I’m still surprised you even said yes. I’d have been okay just… being friends.”

Aspect raised an eyebrow before looking at Bon Bon.

“I really doubt she would have been,” Bon Bon said. “Guess when you got stuck with me, getting stuck with Lyra was inevitable.”

“Ah well, I will bear my silly unicorn with pride,” Aspect said, holding a hoof to his chest. “Hopefully she too does not overwhelm me with foals.”

“I’d imagine they’d simply be Tiny Lyra’s,” Bon Bon giggled, getting a pout from the minty mare, before Lyra smirked.

“Oh hey Bonnie, can I take Aspect to a party?” she asked, as the mare’s eyes widened.

“No.”

“Aw comeon,it’ll be fuuun~”

“No.”

“What sort of party is she talking about?” Aspect asked.

Bon Bon sighed. “It’s something that stemmed from old Earth pony tradition,” she sighed. “Back when population was an issue and herds were more common. Sometimes… herds would, mingle, to boost productivity so to speak. Fast forward a few centuries and now couples have these parties were they… swap partners so to speak. Lyra would go to them as a Single.”

“Singles can go, if they feel lonely,” Lyra said. “I’d try to get Bon to go, but that always ended in a bust.”

“I see…” Aspect mused. “So...you’d purposely take me to this sort of party to...what, share me?”

“Why not?” Lyra shrugged. “It’s a bit of harmless fun. As long as you're careful.”

“Yeah… Mrs. Cake screwed the pooch on that one,” Bon Bon rolled her eyes.

“...I suddenly don’t think I want to know,” Aspect muttered, shaking his head. “So, what...you’d bring me there to share me and my myriad forms? Just for the sake of fun?”

“Mhm,” Lyra nodded. “Bit of harmless sex.”

“Honestly…” Bon Bon sighed.

“Tell you what,” Aspect walked over and booped the mare’s nose. “Get the others to agree to this and I’ll take part.”

“Mmm, well it’s just a thought,” Lyra said.

“And would you honestly unleash Midnight on those poor ponies?” Bon Bon mused.

“I meant more ‘get everyone to agree to share me’, not ‘get everyone to agree to go,’” the stallion clarified. “I just don’t want the others to be surprised by this.”

“Well, our completely messed up lovelife aside,” Bon Bon sighed. “Finish your breakfast. I’m going to be taking over the kitchen soon.”

“Uhoh, better warn the others,” Aspect chuckled as he downed his coffee. “Right, I’m off to take in the sights today.”

“Bye,” Bon Bon, waving her tail at him and offering him a sparse glance underneath as she resumed cooking in that cute little pink apron.

Aspect chuckled and used his magic to swat that flank of hers, getting a surprised squeak from her, before he walked deeper into the house, going over his mental checklist to see if anything needed to be done. When he couldn’t find anything in his immediate concerns, he walked outside and sighed as he sat down and just took in the day.

This...was a nice day. He wished more were like it. Nice and calm.

Well it was, up until he saw Artemis standing a few feet away, his fur standing on end as he snarled, claws extended and fangs bared.

“Artemis?” Aspect asked. “What’s wrong?” He looked up saw exactly what was wrong. Standing on his front lawn, simply looking around, was a human woman. She was, around five and a half feet, maybe taller. Long, black hair flowed down her back. Her crimson eyes taking in the scenery, her lithe, curvaceous body covered in a mix of tattered rags held together with strips of cloth.

And she radiated power.

“Okay, that...shouldn’t be possible,” Aspect muttered. “We sunk that crystal into the earth. You should be trapped.”

“Hm?” she turned, apparently not having noticed him. “You look the same. Why…” she tilted her head. “Ah, time flowed differently for me in that realm. Tell me, how long has it been since we met?”

“Not long, maybe a few days,” Aspect said, mentally preparing to secure what he could from her. If he had to, he’d fight her first and send a message later about the damages.

“Hm, it’s been two hundred years for me,” she replied, almost bored. “I suppose that’s what I reap for experimenting with the Aspect of Time.”

“S-She’s the Aspect of Time?” Artemis asked, already preparing to attack.

“No, she’s...different,” Aspect replied. “Stay out of this, you wouldn’t be able to fight her.”

“Hmm, is this little one strong?” she mused, having appeared behind him. What? How? She didn’t teleport. He couldn’t feel displaced air. How did she move like that? “Ahh, the Aspect of Earth? He’s cute.” She leaned down and pet his head, making his ears fold back and whine. “Hm, I suppose my Water Aspect doesn’t agree with you though.”

“Why are you here?” Aspect grit his teeth. “It was going to be a peaceful day.”

“I am curious. Why are you strong? How did you get so strong? Was it merely time and experience? Or something more?” She appeared next to him. Again, he felt and sensed nothing. How!? “You are… curious.”

“If I told you how I got stronger, it would lead to you trying the same thing, and I think I’d rather avoid that,” Aspect growled. “Why don’t you just—”

“Ahem.” That...was someone new. A small voice calling from just behind the lady. And she didn’t see anything when she turned to look...until she looked down.

Then she saw a small, white rabbit...wearing a waistcoat, glasses, and holding a pocketwatch. And he seemed to be...very angry with her.

“Would you care to stop mucking about with time?” he asked. “It’s giving me a headache.”

“Hmm, and what are you?” she leaned down and looked at the rabbit. “Are you strong too?”

“You are meddling with my element, and I don’t appreciate it,” the rabbit replied angrily. “You’re making me late for a very important date. So either you stop, or I make you stop.”

“I do not care for you little fuzzy,” she said and stood up to her full height. “Only for the strong one here.”

The rabbit sighed and pulled a small, rabbit-sized sword from his belt, careful not to let it touch anything as the edge faintly glowed blue. “Last chance, otherwise you’ll experience all the pain of Time,” he warned. “Either you stop or I will make you.”

“Hmm, I am still… experimenting with my powers,” she said and looked at him. “Careful who you threaten though. I have consumed much bigger than you.” Her arm warped, becoming shadows and ending in a great maw.

There wasn’t even a flash from the rabbit, he didn’t even move to the naked eye.

She just suddenly...lost her hand, whisps of shadow leaking from where the maw connected to her arm as a black liquid stained his blade.

“The Vorpal Blade. Snicker-snack,” the rabbit said, wiping it clean with a handkerchief.

She just, stared at the stump, blinking once… twice… Before her arm returned to normal, flexing the fingers of her regenerated hand. “How… interesting. I did not even see that attack just now. How did you do that?”

“I am Time,” the rabbit explained. “You think you’re strong? I’ve been here since before this young one here went around righting the wrongs. My children can do it without a sword, but I’m the original one who learned how to cut through Time itself.”

“Cutting through time…” she flexed her hand again, “I should learn that. It seems like a useful technique.” She looked at the rabbit. “You are too strong. I cannot defeat you as I am now.”

“I should bloody well hope not, if you did time would stop,” the rabbit snorted. “Many have tried to kill me over the years. I’ve gotten very good at defending myself.”

“Hmm, time stopping would be detrimental to me defeating this one,” she said, looking at Aspect. “However, I have observed that he would not take me seriously either.”

“The last time he got serious, I had to put in overtime to make sure that the world didn’t unravel from his grievous power useage,” the rabbit muttered. “Damn runes warping the fabric of space and time...should have just been forgotten, but nooooo, he had to go and find them.”

“Yes, runic magic, what he used to defeat the Chaos Aspect,” she nodded as she snapped her fingers, turning a nearby tree into a cardboard cutout. “Tch, this power is difficult to control… I had meant to do something else.”

“Oh would you bloody stop that already?” Aspect growled as he shot a beam of power at the tree, runes dancing along the beam as he turned it back to normal. “If I catch wind of you attempting to consume any pony out here, I will hunt you down and destroy you,” he threatened the mysterious woman.

“I need not consume ponies, they have not wronged me in anyway,” she said plainly. “I consumed the Umbrum because that was what they desired. They called a creature that would destroy everything. They did not exclude themselves in their haste to bring me into being.” She summoned her sword, a black and red mockery of his own. “Besides, after gaining sentience, I have decided that total destruction would be… boring. If I killed everything, then what would be left? No, you will entertain me. But as it stands, I cannot challenge you. Your full might would overwhelm me. I must become stronger.”

“...” Aspect looked her over for a time, not sure if she was serious or not. “...Is she being serious?” he asked the rabbit.

“Mmm...I can see many probable futures,” the rabbit replied. “The only ones in which she is the destroyer have already been averted. She honestly is just looking for a good fight.”

“...How about this?” Aspect said to the lady. “You learn from the beings here, on this side of the world, figure out the sorts of things a normal being gets educated in during their lifespan here, and you’ll understand the source of my strength. I’ve walked among most of them and learned their lives and culture, their ways of fighting and protecting. If you can do the same, you’ll learn why I’m so strong.”

“Intriguing,” she said, sending her sword away. “So, you say it is because of others that you are strong? That, somehow being with them gives you your strength?”

“It is because I have done so much, been with so many, learned from all the walks of life, that I am as strong as I am,” Aspect replied carefully. “I have blended as many ways of fighting into myself as possible, learning them by heart. I am comfortable in any form, so can fight no matter the situation. But most importantly, I know what all the races of the world hold dear to their hearts...so I know how to properly fight to defend what I hold closest to me as well.”

“Hmm…” she leaned back, just floating in the air. “How curious,” she murmured. She closed her eyes, before just… teleporting away.

Aspect let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding before looking over at the rabbit and inclining his head. “White. Normally don’t see you.”

“No, nobody normally does, but when you muck about with time, you tend to draw me out,” the rabbit muttered. “Which reminds me, quit rewinding time with your bloody runes. It’s like a headache and a fever all at once.”

“I’ll...keep that in mind,” Aspect chuckled. “Planning on sticking around?”

“Eh, I’ll visit my grandson while I’m in the area,” the rabbit replied, sheathing his sword and pulling out his watch. “Should have the time for that before I have to be off to see another family member.”

There should have been some effect. Some sort of ripple or something. Not just...blink and the rabbit was gone. Leaving the others to question how he could possibly move so quickly.

“Um…” Artemis held up a paw. “Teacher? What the holes was THAT!?”

“The White Rabbit, the Aspect of Time,” Aspect explained. “He’s been doing his job since before I got here. Though if you’re asking about the woman...let’s just say she’s a negative version of me.”

“But, it’s not even Tuesday!” Artemis sighed and sat down. “Seriously… Can’t we have a normal day for once?”

“I’m sorry, do you even know the family you’re a part of?” Aspect quipped as he lay on the grass. “Just...accept it as being part and parcel of being immortal. Some beings go a bit...kooky with age.”

“Am I gonna go crazy?” Artemis said, sounding worried. “Can I hand my Aspect back now?”

“As long as you don’t do something that requires me to step in and tell you to behave, I wouldn’t worry about your sanity,” Aspect replied. “At least for a thousand years or so.”

“Greeaaaat,” the canine sighed.

“You know, that’s an interesting thought,” a voice spoke up. The males turned to see Nightmare leaning against the doorway. “You step in to correct wayward Aspects. Yet, who steps in if you go nuts and want to destroy everything…? Again. We’re fresh out of Chaos spirits to distract you with shiny mirrors.”

“That is...an excellent point,” Aspect regretfully admitted. “I wish I had an answer for you.”

“That’s reassuring,” Nightmare shook her head. “By the way… I’ve come up with an idea I would like to run by you.”

“Oh?” the stallion asked as he tilted his head in curiosity.

“Mmm,” she stepped out into the light, her starry mane lying limp in dark blue strands. “I got the idea from the Music Aspects… and I’ve already run it by Luna. She got… weirdly happy for some reason.” She sat down on the lawn. “Come and sit with me… I won’t bite.”

“That is actually the last thing I’m afraid of, but okay,” the stallion muttered as he walked over, sitting next to the diminutive Dream aspect and wondering what she was going to do.

“I have decided to split the dream Aspect,” she said with a small nod. “I have… decided that I quite like being this age. It, lets me live the life I never had. I came into being as a full grown mare. Bent only on destroying the world and ridding it of Celestia and her sun. Now…” She sighed and shrugged. “I don’t really know. Maybe I’ll get bored of it soon enough.”

“A choice I will never fault you for,” Aspect replied softly. “So...what is to become of the rest of it?”

“I’m giving most of it back to Luna. She knows what she’s doing after all. But me… I’m handling foals dreams. Luna’s a bit too… intense for them sometimes. And vague. Kids want it spelled out for them, not some cryptic riddle that will only make things worse.”

“Aye, that they do,” Aspect chuckled, reaching over and rubbing Nightmare between the ears. “I assume she’ll hold onto it until you feel ready for it?”

“She’s keeping it. I’m good the way I am… plus I like the idea of Fate giving me this and me flipping it off and doing what I want instead,” she smirked maliciously.

“Oh dear, I’m pretty sure Yggdrasil will not be happy about that,” the stallion chuckled, one ear turned in the tree’s direction.

“I had EVERYTHING planned out! She was going to make a wonderful Aspect of Dreams. Now she’s going to be the the Aspect of ‘foal’s Dreams… Urgh… you know what, I don’t care. She can do what she bloody likes! I have bigger plans in the works, she was just a hobby.”

“Yup, he’s mad,” Aspect chuckled. “Well, sometimes you just need to be yourself,” the stallion said to the filly. “Controlling everything about someone’s life just sounds like a bit too much to me.”

“Hmm, says the stallion that slapped a Runic curse on me,” she replied with a teasing wink.

“Don’t act like you didn’t deserve it,” Aspect warned her. “It’s only now that you’re turning over a new leaf that I’m even considering just taking it off, consequences be damned.”

“Uhuh,” she mused and folded her forelegs. “So, seems you’ve made a new friend. She wields how many Aspects now?”

“She’s not a friend,” Aspect replied sternly. “She’s someone that wants to fight me. She’s the mirror version of me, the negative from where Sombra once lived. They made her to counter me...before she killed them all.”

“Huh… sooo, does that mean she has every Aspect?” Nightmare pointed out. “Even the fun ones like Fate, Life and Creation?”

“Goodness I hope not,” Aspect muttered. “That would just get...confusing, fast.”

“She could literally make it her Fate to never lose to you… or you know, create and imbue her own Aspects,” Nightmare pointed out. “She’s a god and has no idea she is one from the looks of it.”

“The reason I was ever as strong as I was was because I slew the old Aspects, taking their magical essence into myself, when they went astray,” Aspect explained. “She doesn’t have that. She has a bit of everything...but she’s not as strong in them as I am. She would have to kill an Aspect to get that strong.”

“Huh… still, she’s versatile, unlike you,” Nightmare pointed out. “Just be careful. I still have dibs for ones wanting to kill you. She needs to get in line.”

“Yeah, I never had Time, so she has that on me,” Aspect agreed. “I wonder which one of the local rabbits is his grandson…”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if it was that little shit of Fluttershy’s,” Nightmare chuckled. “Could you imagine that little terror being a Vorpal Rabbit?”

“And you’re certain you don’t need anything?” White asked his grandson. “Your pony is taking care of you, and you’re taking care of her?”

“Yeah, though it’s mostly me taking care of her,” Angel shrugged. “She has her moments, but damn if she isn’t afraid of her own shadow… and I mean that literally, half the time.”

“Ah, well, ponies are sometimes softer than your average rabbit,” White nodded. “I have no idea why that youngster thinks they’re running the show these days.”

“Eh, they make some damned fine carrots,” Angel said as he gnawed on one. “Plus she’s cute, so that’s a plus~”

“Just keep in mind that she’s only ever going to see you as a pet,” White warned. “Well...if that’s everything, I’ll be off. Bun-Bun is celebrating his litter’s birthday today, and I promised I’d make i—”

“Oh, there you are Angel,” Fluttershy cooed as she approached. “Hm? You have a friend? Aww, what an adorable little coat he has~” The soft pegasus scooping him up and nuzzling him. “Aww, aren’t you just the cutest widdle thing, yes you are~”

Angel was rolling in the tears of his laughter.

“...Angel, please explain to your pony who I am,” White deadpanned. He wasn’t going to admit that it felt nice. He was the Aspect of Time. He had all the time in the world for ponies when he wasn’t busy seeing to family obligations.

“N-Not a chance,” he cackled as Fluttershy pet his little rabbit ears.

“Ooh, are you hungry?” the pegasus said as she started heading inside. “I just bought some fresh lettuce and juicy carrots~”

“I don’t have time for this,” White replied. “I have to visit my next grandson before he starts the birthday party for his litt—”

“You ain’t getting outta this one grandpa, sides...her food is pretty awesome,” Angel said as he hopped inside after them.

“I...suppose I can spare a minute or two,” White muttered. “But no more than that! Any more and I’ll be late for a very important date.”

“So you keep saying, have you ever actually been late?” Angel deadpanned as Fluttershy put White down and headed into the kitchen.

“Not yet, but I keep barely making it to important events,” the rabbit replied as he looked around. “She...has a thing for animals, I see.”

“Wow… totally not taking that out of context,” Angel said as White beheld Fluttershy’s menagerie of critters. “You really need to learn phrasing old man.”

“Bah, language just needs to quit evolving on me, problem sorted,” the rabbit muttered as he took out his watch to stare at it for a moment, before sighing. “I’ll have to cut through time to get there on time.”

“Yeah yeah,” Angel rolled his eyes as Fluttershy came back, setting two bowls down. Fresh cucumber, lettuce, tomato and carrot, dressed with a clear dressing and it smelled divine, Angel was already facefirst in his bowl, utterly destroying the work of art.

“Decorum!” White huffed, slapping his grandson upside the head with a paw. “I know you know it!”

“Ow!” Angel rubbed his head. “Come on, if I have to play a pet, I might as well act the part right?”

“Act a pet?” Fluttershy blinked. “What do you mean?”

Oh… right, she could understand them.

“Well, now you’ve gone and done it,” White chuckled. “And this time, I’ll let you explain what you are to the pony.”

“Uh, something like… a protector I guess,” Angel sighed. “You know the human right? Balanced Aspect I believe he goes by. Well, the geezer here is like him. He commands Time itself.”

“Oh my…” Fluttershy gasped, her eyes going wide. “And… and I treated you like.. Oh dear oh dear…” She lowered her head. “I’m ever so sorry.”

“It’s fine, I’m used to ponies doing that by now,” White replied, munching on a bit of the salad. “Mmm...quite good food you make miss Fluttershy. I can see my grandson picked out a good home with you.”

“So… protector hm?” Fluttershy giggled. “You always did act like my little white knight~” she said, leaning down to nuzzle his head.

“Gaaah,” Angel pouted, fixing his messed up fur.

“Mmm, Vorpal rabbits are like that, once they get attached to a pony,” White noted.

“Vorpal Rabbit?” Fluttershy blinked. “What’s that?”

“I’ll explain later,” Angel sighed. “Any other secrets you wanna blurt out while you’re here you old coot?”

“No, I think I’m good,” White chuckled as he drew his tiny sword. “Take care.” He swung it in front of himself and vanished with a blue flash, having cut through time itself to get to his next destination.

“Always a show off,” Angel rolled his eyes and looked at his mistress. “Well… guess I have a few things to explain.”

Aspect hummed to himself as he walked back home. After a quick check around town to make sure that woman wasn’t lingering, disguised as him checking to see if there was anything anyone needed help with for setting up for the festival, the stallion had returned home to wait out the rest of the time until the show started.

What he found was Megan carrying some large boxes out of the mirror room and towards his living room. He could also hear some banging coming from the roof.

“...I’m sorry, what?” he asked. “Is...something going on?”

“Mhm, but you’ll have to wait and see,” Megan said as she pushed past him. “Stay out of the living room. Also, tempted to steal some of these bug ponies. They’re hard workers, unlike their great grandfather here.”

“What?” Aspect asked, a bit more shrilly than he had meant to. “I made Chrysalis, she made them. The furthest back their family tree goes is to me, the grandfather.”

“They have kids too ya butt,” she smirked. “Wow, doesn’t even know they exist… that’s just sad Chris…” She put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. “Must break their lil buggy hearts.”

“...Okay, so maybe I need to catch up with some species a bit more than others,” the stallion muttered as he shook his head. “I look at all of them like they’re my grandkids anyways.”

“Honestly,” she sighed and kept walking. “Stay out of the living room. I mean it, or we’ll see if my boot fits up your butt.”

“MOOOOOOM! GONNA STUDY WITH TWILIGHT BYE!”

A younger girl tore past Aspect and off into the noon sun, eager to meet her purple study buddy.

“Gonna hang with the Crusaders! I want my Cutie Mark too!” the younger daughter yelled as she ran past, spinning him the other way.

Once the stallion stopped spinning, he looked up at Megan and folded his forelegs, sitting on his haunches. “If things go sideways today, I blame them,” he stated.

“Drama queen,” she mused and poked her tongue out. “How are they worse than your little hellions huh? At least they can’t fly or use magic.”

“Give the Crusaders an afternoon, they’ll fix that,” the stallion muttered.

“...That terrifies me,” the woman shuddered as she entered his living room and closed the door. A moment later, he could hear power tools starting up. The hell was she doing in there?

“Try not to damage anything!” Aspect cried through the door.

*crunch*

“I CAN FIX THAT!” the woman shouted. Aspect shuddered in fear of what she was doing to his home.

The Harvest Festival itself was… interesting. Seems ponies made floats of various things like fruit and vegetables. Some were actually rather well made… some, not so much.

And then… the ground shook.

And a float bigger than others stomped into view. A simply giant timberwolf. One could have been scared that it was actually real.

If it wasn’t for the fact that the Cutie Mark Crusader’s symbol was painted on the side. And that Scootaloo was waving from one of the massive eyesockets.

Aspect could feel the various magicks in play. The Sorcery that moved the thing. The Geomancy that held it all together and… when it opened it’s mouth and roared, yup, that was Aeromancy being shunted through a few pipes to make the sound.

“They’re really getting the hang of their magics,” Aspect muttered as he smiled and waved at the float. They were some of his better students, he had to admit. He was surprised they’d mastered this much already. Maybe they’d prove to be prodigies at the arts.

So… why was the giant timberwolf staring at a float further down… One driven by Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and a filly he didn’t recognise.

Oh no…

“Girls, no,” Aspect whispered. “Don’t do it. Be better than that.”

The wolf stomped closer, Scootaloo making it roar again as it got the attention of Diamond. Her eyes widened, as did Silver’s as the third filly floored it.

Too bad she didn’t see the turn coming up, and the float went over the edge…

Or it would have… had the wolf float not caught it.

“...Better than I was hoping for, to be honest,” the stallion breathed. That...had been close.

Only in their celebrations, Applebloom forgot that her magic needed upkeep…

And that was how six fillies got buried in wood, mud and shame with a mighty crash.

“...And that’s a pretty big lesson in humility delivered as well,” the stallion chuckled. “No intervention on my part needed.”

When he returned home, he saw something that… perplexed him. Part of his roof was now covered in dark, glossy panels. What the heck were those? He could only assume Megan was behind this. Somehow.

He resolved to get answers by walking up into his house and heading for the living room. He got there just as the door opened, revealing Megan.

“Oh hey, nice timing,” she mused. “How was your day? I heard there was some kind of parade.”

“Harvest festival, but that’s not important right now,” the stallion said. “What have you put on my house?”

“Stuff and things,” she mused. “Figured you missed some crap in the last twenty odd years. You can pay me back later.”

“That tells me nothing,” the stallion grumbled. “What did you do?”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” she mused as she opened the door. “And would you turn back, I’m used to your human form.”

“Fine, for you,” the stallion muttered. There was a flash of light, and Christopher was standing there, his arms crossed. “Spill,” he ordered.

“Better,” she mused as she pulled him arm and led him inside.

Against one wall, one of his bookcases had been replaced. A large black cabinet stood there, and inside was something he hadn’t seen in over two thousand years.

An honest to god television!

“...What?” He asked. “How? There’s no way you got that through the mirror.” Not that he was complaining. He just knew the dimensions of the thing.

“Of course not… had to borrow these,” she tossed him his saddlebags. “I totally want a pair by the way. Now, earth’s gone through a huge technological boom in the last decade. We went from… shit, VHS and radio to bloody science fiction space travel thanks to some… friends. So something like this was surprisingly cheap. Got you nice and stocked up on DVD’s too. Movies, music, documentaries. Few history ones too for you. One in particular should be very interesting.”

“Okay, I’m interested,” the male admitted as he put his saddlebags by the door. “What did you get us? And how does it work?”

“Right… forgot you’re from the stone age,” she muttered. She looked at the remotes and frowned. “Fuck...I don’t have a clue. The kids usually do this.”

“Well your younger one is probably helping to hose the Crusaders off after a little...incident in the festival’s floats went awry. No idea when your older one will come back from Twilight’s,” Chris supplied. “I’m sure the quantities of nerd in that library are approaching critical mass.”

“...You dissin’ my kid?” Megan said in a warning tone. “You’re not too big to be put on your ass Chris.”

“I’m just saying that there comes a time when you have to admit your kids have become nerds,” the human said consolingly. “I’m sure Twilight and her will make wonderful foals together.”

“...That’s it, killing you now,” she said, walking up to him and cracking her knuckles.

“Think of it, little satyrs running around,” Chris waved a hand. “Hooves of a pony, hands of a human, horns of a unicorn...it’d be the best of both wor—”

And that was a fist connecting with his shoulder. Cripes that bloody hurt!

“Aww, wookit the poor widdle immortal, ‘bout to get his ass kicked by a girl,” she smirked.

“You’ll have to catch me to do that~” Chris chuckled as he drew on his power and vanished, appearing behind her and heading for the door.

Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, a feet sweeping his leg as his back hit the ground, the woman sitting on his chest.

“Seven years of Judo classes,” she smirked and patted his cheek. “Don’t worry, it’s okay to be second best Chrissy.”

“I still do not regret anything,” he said with a smirk on his face. “Face it, Megan, they’re nerding out over each other’s culture right now.”

“They are not!” Megan shouted, before kicking him out of the room. She had work to do and he was being distracting.

“So… you’re saying that humans are pretty much a monogamous species, sans for a few exceptions?” Twilight said as she wrote that down. “Well, I suppose you have the gender ratio for it.”

“And ponies used to herd until their gender ratios appeared to even out,” Stacy mused as she wrote that down as well. “I still don’t understand how mammals could ever not have a 50/50 split. It’s basic biology.”

“Species war, followed by spirits that feed on hatred freezing half the continent,” Twilight said. “Given that most of the military was male, they were the ones that were lost. I believe back in the early days, just after the war, inbreeding was also a thing that happened. Some regions still allow cousins to marry,” she stated. “It’s not illegal… but I believe it’s not socially acceptable.”

“That’s definitely not something you should allow,” Stacy replied with knowledge of her own. “Inbreeding means if there’s any genetic diseases in the family, they have a higher chance of being passed on to the offspring. Meaning you get things like brittle bones, weak immune systems, or just mental disorders.”

“Perhaps on your world,” Twilight said. “That said, we used what was called ‘Line Breeding’ only half-related could produce offspring. It actually helped in most cases. Mostly nobility practiced it, to keep their wealth within the family. Trust me, it’s not practised these days. Nor are herds. Aspect’s is the only one I have ever seen with my own eyes.”

“So not focusing on that,” Stacy muttered. “It raises way too many questions.”

“Agreed, honestly, I have no trouble on the theory… the practical on the other hoof… nothing but awkwardness.” She sighed and looked up. “Tell me, do humans only form relationships with the opposite gender?”

“No, there’s plenty of known relationships with same-sex couples,” Stacy replied as she flipped through her notes. “There used to be a big controversy about it, but it gained traction and became legal to marry wherever you lived, whoever you loved.”

“Ah, whereas same sex relations here have always been acceptable,” Twilight said, rifling through her own notes. “And… on a more personal note. How would a human… confirm their sexuality if they were unsure?”

“Most people form relationships over their lifespan through schooling,” Stacy said as she looked up briefly. “They go through puberty and find themselves attracted to one gender or another...or sometimes both. They confront themselves about who they feel romantically for and eventually accept it...and then most people go through college with their newly discovered orientation and ‘explore’ the possibilities with all new people that they’ve never met before who want the same thing.”

Twilight remained silent for a moment. “So… experimentation would be the most suitable way… but…” She sighed. “Goodness, how am I supposed to do that?” She muttered to herself, unaware that humans had pretty decent hearing.

“Usually dating is involved,” Stacy spoke up cheekily. “Ask someone you have feelings for out for a date to see how the night goes and if it triggers any romantic feelings in yourself. And as mom always says, ‘other stuff later, I’ll tell you when you’re older.’” The girl shrugged. “She forgets who installs the child-proofing on the computers…”

Twilight giggled at that one. “Mom was the same. Tried to give me the Talk, even though I’d already read several biology books and knew fully well the mechanics involved in sexual activities and reproduction.” She paused and closed her eyes. “I was eight.”

“Thirteen here,” the girl admitted. “Didn’t get free access to a computer at home unsupervised until then.”

“I didn’t have any experience in the area until I got… inebriated one evening,” Twilight sighed. “I then flirted with a mature-acting thirteen year old and wound up in Aspect’s bed with him muzzle deep in my—”

“I did not need the details!” Stacy cried out, putting her hands over her ears.

“Ah, my bad,” Twilight winced. “Sorry, I tend to ramble when I get a bit of wind under my sails. Sorry Stacey.”

“Look, what you need is to approach it with emotion, rather than as just a thing that happens,” Stacy said, pulling her hands away from her ears. “You need to find someone that makes you happy rather than just someone that’s...there. Otherwise you’ll keep running into the same stumbling block.”

“But that’s just the thing,” Twilight groaned. “If I asked, Aspect would likely welcome me into his herd with open hooves. But that would mean being romantic with Rainbow Dash, who’s one of my best friends. Not to mention a whole slew of confusion surrounding Aspect and I. Then there’s the mare who’s taught me since a foal and somepony I consider a second mother. I find out that not only does she have feelings for me, she tried to brainwash me into it!”

“Hmm…” Stacy hummed. “Well while I won’t condone the brainwashing, at least she has feelings for you that you can easily identify. If there’s confusion with Aspect, then it might be harder to unravel that than it would be to make this other mare own up to being in the wrong and fix her behavior. Or it could be the other way around. Just because Dash is your friend doesn’t mean you can’t have more than friendship. Some high-school sweethearts started as best friends and stayed happily married fifty years later.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of stories like that… heck, my own parents met at school,” Twilight said. “But, you also make a lot of sense. I could have something with Dash, but… I simply don’t feel that way. I even tried reading griffon and dragon romance books. To see if other species made me feel that way. But… written word doesn’t quite cut it. This is something that requires actual experience. And so far, my experiences have been… less than stellar.”

“Then you need to go out there and get that experience you’re missing,” Stacy replied sagely. “You need to figure out for yourself what you’re attracted to—wait. Did...did you just skip that part of puberty?”

“Sort of?” Twilight shrugged. “It was just never all that relevant to me. It had nothing to do with furthering my studies, only hindering them. Besides, I wasn’t the most… social of ponies. Even now, I doubt I have the necessary social skills. Then there’s this whole thing with Princess Celestia…” She sighed and closed her book. “She’s never been so… possessive before. Nor has she shown romantic interest. Titles aside, I don’t know if I could think of her that way. She practically raised me. She’s more like a second mother than a possible romantic partner.”

She sighed again and shrugged. “That’s neither here nor there. Now, let’s get you caught up on recent Equestrian history hm?”

“Fine, but we’re circling back around to your issues once we’re done,” Stacy promised, pulling up a book. “Griffon wars? That doesn’t sound like it was...well thought out.”

“Ponies and Griffons used to fight hoof and talon over territory a few hundred years back,” Twilight explained as she held open the tome. “Some animosity still exists today, but overall, we’re on good relations. Funny thing is, nopony knows how the war actually ended, only that it did. I don’t even think Aspect knows about it, as this was during the time of his self-imposed wanderings of the world. The last thousand years of Equestrian history are as unknown to him as they are you.”

“Hmm, sounds like something someone should get to telling him one day,” the teen mused. “Mom did say he made quite a few things...griffons were on that list. It’d be a shame if nobody told him how his ‘kids’ have been acting…”

“I think he knows?” Twilight said. “Rainbow mentioned about him making a Griffon the Aspect of Air. So, he might have visited them already. Still… I might bring it up. Now, it was around this time that dragons…”

“So uh…” Lyra and Bon Bon stared at the giant TV, along with a surround sound system set up and some other things that they hadn’t been told what they were yet. All of which was hooked up to a solar power panel on the roof. “What… is all this?” the minty unicorn asked.

“Ahh, I was hoping you’d ask,” Megan smiled broadly. “This, is what Chris has been missing out on in the last twenty odd years on Earth. Admittedly, this is an old model. I’m not that rich to buy him the newest crap. But it’ll do.”

“Okay… but what is it?” Bon Bon said. “It looks like a miniature movie theater…”

“That’s pretty much what it is,” Megan nodded. “You put these little discs in that machine there,” she said, pointing at the Blu-ray player. “And then you can watch movies and stuff. I brought them, documentaries, cartoons for the kids and some other random stuff.”

“Huh…” Bon Bon blinked and looked at Aspect, to see how he was reacting.

“I still cannot believe you risked taking the saddlebags across the mirror,” the stallion muttered. “Who knows how they would have reacted? Twilight says it’s a low-energy density world for magic over there. If they’d worn out of magic, they could have lost the enchantments woven into them, and that would have been a mess you’d need a bulldozer to clean up.”

“Yeah well… I was only there with them for a few minutes,” Megan shrugged. “Now… where’s—”

With a magenta flash, Twilight and Stacey teleported into the room.

“There,” Megan nodded and pulled her daughter closer. “Now, need your help kiddo. Mom’s got no idea how any of this crap works properly.”

“I know, dad spent three hours reading the manual, only to plug it in wrong and call tech support,” Stacey replied, walking over to the TV. Getting a sneaking suspicion, she picked up the manual to the blu-ray player, flipped through it...and then looked at the TV’s input plugs before sighing.

“This all has to go to AV input one,” she said, unplugging a few things and rewiring the system. “And do I want to know where you got a cable line for this TV from? Or where it’s going to?”

“I don’t know!” Megan threw her hands in the air. “I’m normally blowing up technology, not putting it together!”

“Oh, you mean like with those—” She was cut off as her mother put her hands over her mouth.

“Ahaha, kids, they say the darndest things,” she smiled. She leaned down and shook her head at her daughter. Stacey raised an eyebrow, wondering why her mom didn’t want her to say…

Then her eyes fell on Aspect and she figured it out. Ah…

The teen ducked out from her mom’s hold and said her next sentence a little more carefully. “He’s going to find out, you know, so...why are you not telling him?”

Megan groaned. “Because if I tell him. He’ll want to do something about it. And if he does something about it, it’ll get their attention.” She narrowed her eyes and looked at her. “And suppose they find Equestria hm? How long will a pony last against them?”

“Fair enough, but the portal would seem to be distinctly not them-sized,” her daughter pointed out, pushing the power button on the TV dramatically and bringing the whole thing to life.

“...Well there you go,” Megan hummed and sighed. “And three… two… one…”

“So what’s this ‘them’ you keep talking about?” Aspect asked, and when Megan turned to look at him, he flicked his pony ears a little cheekily.

“Of bloody course,” she sighed. “If you must know… around five years back, mankind got definitive proof that other life exists in the galaxy. In short, aliens.”

“Ooohhh~” Lyra leaned in closer, looking very interested.

“That sounds like it has its own host of problems,” the stallion observed carefully. “Because last I knew, we were only planning on going as far as the moon. Which implies they found us...which implies a significant power disparity.”

“Mhm,” Megan sighed as she sat on the couch. “And… not all of them are friendly. Now, what do you think when you think aliens Chris?”

“Oh, you’ll think it’s silly, but the first thing that comes to mind is the typical ‘little green man from Mars’ idea,” the stallion waved off.

“So, not thirty foot tall robots that can transform into just about any earth vehicle you can imagine?” Megan said. “Or, giant robot dinosaurs… or giant robots that merge with other giant robots… Or stories of a robot so big it eats planets?”

“...You know, for once, I don’t think I can do anything about that,” Aspect whispered in a quiet voice. “I honestly don’t think I can.”

“Mhm, human issues,” Megan said. “Don’t worry, we have some on our side, so we usually just have them go at it. That said, you think my shotgun is scary? Maybe I’ll bring my alien gun next time~”

“You’re either going to scare the ponies, or give them a kick start into the I-don’t-know-what-era,” Aspect pointed out. “And forced advancement is a bad idea. They won’t have time to figure out rules and laws about the technology they’ll be outstripping past before they invent the next thing.”

“...You think I don’t know that?” Megan sighed and shook her head. “This TV is about as advanced as you’re getting from me. Consider it a favour for calling me back here again.”

Aspect chuckled, before he pulled his bags to him with his magic, sticking his muzzle in and rooting around inside for a moment. When he pulled back out, he had a small pouch clasped in his teeth, which he floated out towards Megan. “Friends don’t owe each other favors,” he explained, putting it in her hands.

“What’s this?” she asked, hesitantly taking the pouch.

“Open it,” the stallion suggested. The woman rolled her eyes and opened the pouch…

The contents of the pouch glimmered, and when the glow was a little more manageable, she saw a small collection of...glowing diamonds?

“Star diamonds, so they were called in the day, for the way they resembled the night sky’s treasures,” the stallion explained. “They were a rare formation in Dream Valley, I picked some up before we had to abandon it. I never did get the knack for making them while I held Earth.”

“Okay… they’re pretty, I’ll give you that,” Megan said as she looked at them. “So, what am I supposed to do with them?”

“Whatever you want,” Aspect shrugged. “I have another small pouch of them. Keep them, sell them, decorate your house with them. They’re yours.”

“Well I can’t sell something that doesn’t exist on Earth,” she said and rubbed her chin. “Actually… I have an idea on what do do with them.” Uhoh… that was her patented ‘I’m scheming something’ smile.

“Mares,” Aspect pulled Bon Bon and Lyra closer, hugging them. “That is a look that you run from,” he explained. “It does not end well.”

“Oh shut up,” Megan said, throwing a cushion in his face. “You’ll like this surprise. Same with you…” She looked at Stacey. Then to Twilight. “And, you’ll tell your mom if you decide to… experiment okay? I got nothing against it. You know I have nothing against same-sex relationships…”

“Mom!” Stacey blushed and looked away. “I am not in a relationship!”

“Huh?” Twilight looked up from reading the instruction manual for the TV. “Experiments? We haven’t reached that stage in our studies yet. What kind of experiments exactly?”

“You don’t want to know,” Stacey quickly provided, going so far as to cup her hands over the mare’s ears to prevent her from hearing more lies from her mother.

“See!” Megan pointed at Aspect. “I knew I was right, fucking asshole.”

“I dunno, the way she blushes and denies it,” the stallion hummed.

“...Stacey, we’re going home,” Megan said as she stood up.

“Huh? Why?” Twilight blinked, a little sad to lose her study buddy. None of her other friends were even remotely interested in learning history. “Oh, speaking of. Aspect? What do you know about the Griffon/Pony wars?”

“Only that they happened, and that apparently I have an entire species to discipline, but beyond that, not much,” the stallion replied. “The exact details escape me.”

“...I have two to teach now?” Twilight’s eyes sparkled.

“And we’re leaving,” Bon Bon and Lyra said, leaving Aspect to his nerdy fate. “Don’t break him Twilight, we need him to help raise foals.”

“I’ll try my best,” Twilight said, before smiling and teleporting Realm, Artemis and Nightmare into the room. “You three could do with this as well.”

“Waitwhat?” Nightmare looked around.

“Uhoh,” Aspect noted. “This promises to be one of the good lectures.”

“We have to learn now?” Artemis sighed.

“Yes, because I think Cheerilee will be impressed if you knew beforehoof,” Twilight smiled and rubbed her hooves. “Now, the first instigations between Ponies and Griffons started in…”

Author's Notes:

Well, things can't get more out of control, right?

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