“Woah!” I shouted as I hit the ground. I looked around and saw everyone else had been teleported as well.

“Well, Twily, looks like Chrysalis was able to teleport us thousands of miles.” Shining Armor said as he got himself up. “And she even managed to get us close to the dragon’s land.” He noted and pointed a hoof in a direction. I looked and for a second I thought I was seeing things, but I knew it was real. A massive mountain that looked like it dipped down into a valley loomed on the horizon, and it was covered at its peaks with snow.

“No time to waste, let’s go already!” Dash said hurriedly, as I got up I fell back down again, this time to another place I didn’t know of.

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I was somewhere that looked oddly familiar, the design of it was kinda like Cloudsdale, but I’ve only ever seen it from a distance. Why was Rabil here, more importantly, where was here? I heard steps and I noticed he was walking up a staircase and then creatures decided to meet him. I realized they were griffins, and that he must be here for something from them.

“Well, well, looks like we have another volunteer for us.” One of the griffins sneered menacingly.

Rabil laughed, and looked directly at them. “Oh, I believe it’s going to be quite the contrary. Now show me to your king.” I knew he was dead serious, and but the griffins didn’t take his word.

“Come on now, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way.” One of them said, approaching with shackles.

“It’s the hard way for you then.” Rabil said as he cast some spell that instantly knocked out the approaching griffin. “Anyone else care to try me?” He taunted. Three of the griffins charged him, but he sliced them with his blade. Only a few griffins remained on the staircase, and Rabil asked them, “Do you wish to meet the same fate as your comrades?” They gulped and shook their head. “Then show me to your king.” He ordered. The griffins led him through a marble hallway, covered with quilts that depicted ponies shackled together building things for the griffins. He went through a doorway, and on a chair sat the presumed king.

“Why do you bring a slave in front of me?” The griffin king asked, annoyed that he had been interrupted.

The doors instantly shut and Rabil walked up to him, “Oh I think you have our roles confused, my griffin.” Rabil laughed. The king looked terrified.

“Guards, kill this thing!” He ordered, but Rabil flicked a spell that seemed like a dark blade towards all of them, killing them.

“I am here for one thing, for your surrender.” Rabil said. The king looked mad and attempted to claw at Rabil, but he grabbed the leg and broke it, the snap filling the room. “You know what, I believe you deserve the best role for you, the lowest slave.” He said as he looked into the griffin’s eyes.

“I will never bow down to you.” The griffin king spat in defiance, albeit weakly. Rabil sighed in mock dissapointment.

“I was afraid you would say that.” Rabil said, and the armored colts appeared. “Men, take this man captive and once this city is ours, execute him publicly.” He ordered. The king tried to protest, but Rabil ignored him and walked out, in front of him the sight of hordes of creatures from Tartarus along with his own colts were capturing the city. He seemed to take it almost like good weather, but was irritated when he saw one of his soldiers running from the battle, towards him.

“My lord, I have something of vital importance.” The soldier said, panting slightly, his hoof holding a book. “This has something that relates to what you have been searching for.” Rabil seemed to momentarily spare the soldier’s life and took the book.

“Oh no, please don’t be another copy of my book.” I said, and Rabil opened it. He roared as soon as he saw what was contained in the book. It was written in some language I could only understand because Rabil knew it, and it contained a message to him:

Dear Brother,

If you are reading this, I suppose you have returned and are searching for my contingency plan, which I must applaud you on. For a being of evil, you at least have some intelligence in that you are actually not spending your time relishing your rule, but attempting to secure it. It is of no use, I am afraid, because my contingency plan has already been set in motion the second you returned. Enjoy your time here, because it won’t last long. I look forward to seeing you, Rabil.

Your sister,

Naqril

It seemed kind of like a taunt, yet written in a light hearted matter of style. Rabil didn’t seem to think the same about it however, and he blew apart the building where the king resided. “DAMN YOU NAQRIL!” He shouted, “YOU DECEITFUL HAG, YOU NEVER DESERVED TO EXIST!” The ground shook violently, and he looked towards the soldier, who I thought was scared, but I couldn’t tell behind his helmet. “INTERROGATE EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE ABOMINATIONS OF CREATION, IF THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING, THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO LIVE!” He fumed, as his form melted into the ground.

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My eyes opened to Phalanx who looked worried, and as soon as he noticed I was back, he asked urgently, “What’s happening?”

I replied immediately, “Rabil has taken over the griffins’ kingdom and apparently his sistur left him a note sayin’ he don’ have much time, and that her plan is already in motion.” Phalanx looked even more worried.

“Shit, he’s going to find us sooner most likely.” He said, and then he looked at me again. “Come on, we’ve set up camp.” He gave me a hoof and I got up. As we walked through rough dried out terrain, with seemingly near dead trees, I decided I wanted to know something.

“Phalanx, what’s goin’ on between ya and mah dad?” I asked. He seemed to feign ignorance, and asked a question back.

“What do you mean what’s been going on between your father and I?” He asked.

“You know darn well what Ah’m talkin’ ‘bout, you arguin’ with mah pa, and then him actin’ all hostile towards ya.” I replied, getting irritated.

“Fine, he’s just doubtful of my capabilities as a guard.” He said.

“That’s a lie and we both know it. What’s happenin’?” I asked, anger slightly entering my voice.

“Listen, right now’s probably not the time to talk about this they are waiting for us at the -” He said, and I didn’t listen.

“What is goin’ on? Why won’t ya tell me!” I said, now infuriated. He looked at me for a moment, and made whatever decision he made. Probably “Should I tell her or not?”.

“Apple Bloom, you have every right not to even acknowledge my existence if I’m going to say this.” He said. “I honestly am a bit sickened by it myself.”

“What do ya mean?” I asked, still angry.

“Apple Bloom, I-” He stammered, “I think I’ve fallen in love with you.” Everything seemed silent. He turned away, clearly ashamed. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it myself. For a moment I felt lightheaded, and then it went black.

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“You gave me quite a scare there, Apple Bloom.” A voice said, and I opened my eyes to see a pony standing there, along with another. I was still in the forest, but the two ponies had a sort of glow to them. I looked and saw I did as well.

“Heck, you scared me as well.” The other pony said.

“Who are y’all?” I asked. The first one laughed.

“My name is Aetius, I am the Spirit of Time. That is my brother Manuoel, Spirit of Space. If our names are ringing a bell, it’s because we’re the two who sealed away Rabil initially.” The first one said.

“Why are you talkin’ to me? And what’s goin’ on?” I implored the two.

“Come with us, we’ll show you.” The second one said and gave a gesture with their hoof. I followed them to where our camp appeared to be set up. Everypony was standing still, and I realized it probably was because of the two. “This is about two minutes after you passed out.” The second one, wait, Manuoel, said.

“And why are you showin’ me this?” I asked, curious why they would be presumably pausing time and space because I passed out. Aetius seemed to almost hear my thoughts, and responded.

“We paused it because you have learned one of the truths that will occur throughout this whole journey, and a very important one at that.” Aetius informed me.

I scoffed, and asked, “What truth could be that important? That some grown colt in the Royal Guard that is probably one of the most disciplined in the world is attracted to a filly?” Aetius frowned, and replied.

“He’s only older than you by less than a year. And that’s not a lot, trust me.” Aetius said.

“It’s sick and wrong!” I said, not understanding how they could justify it. Aetius and Manuoel looked at each other and seemed to come to a silent agreement.

“Hear the argument before you make an argument.” Aetius said, and everything seemed to go backwards, until we were back to the night after I had found Diamond Tiara. Everything started moving normally, but nopony noticed me or the other two gods. Phalanx was sitting on a log, seemingly in thought when my father walked up. Phalanx took note of him, and greeted him. My father seemed mad, though.

“Don’t give me that load of hay.” My father spat. Phalanx seemed confused, and my father huffed. “I have seen the way you act towards Apple Bloom.” He hissed, and Phalanx frowned a bit.

“Trust me, I’m just as confused about it, much less sickened by it as you are, if not more.” Phalanx said.

“Hayseed, you can just go and think of her like that! She’s a damned filly for Celestia’s sake!” My father replied, angry.

“Yeah, and I was her age not too long ago!” Phalanx harped back, “Look, I don’t know why, okay? But you know what, I would be willing to lay my life on the line if it meant she could live happily!”

“Bullshit, you can’t possibly know what it’s like to love someone!” My father replied.

“Yeah, and when was the last time you saw your wife, huh? Hate to say it, but you might not remember it!” Phalanx replied.

“Don’t you dare mention my wife!” My father demanded.

“I’m sorry, but I am making a point. You just saw your daughter today, for the first time in her life! I know I may be one to talk, having met her just a couple of days ago, but I at least haven’t been going like a damned pedofoal trying to violate her, I would never dare do such a thing!” Phalanx argued back.

“Right, like you’re a damned alicorn!” My father spat.

“You know what it was like growing up for me? I was normal, albeit I never was interested in anypony else, then, six days after the changelings invade, I get a damned guard at my door asking if I would like to join the most elite force in the world! You know how horrible it would be to even think things that would be perverted towards her! I don’t know why, but I love her!”

“You know what, I have a deal for you, you freak.” My father said.

“And what might that be?” Phalanx asked sarcastically.

“You don’t say anything about the way you feel about her to her, and I don’t say anything about her to your comrades.” My father said.

“Fine, but if it comes to her becoming suspicious of something, don’t be surprised when I break under pressure. Because you know what, as I said, I would die for her.” Phalanx said. Everything paused again and started to move back forwards quickly to where our current camp was, but still it was paused.

“Phalanx is just as confused about it as you, Apple Bloom.” Aetius said, “He’s been forced into a situation, in this case joining the Royal Guard, albeit because it was a dream come true to him, and then he’s been put through something like this.”

“What my brother’s saying, Apple Bloom, is that he’s in essence no different than you. And I think that you deep down, whether you choose to see it or not, know that.” Manuoel said.

“Well why does love even matter in this whole thing, Rabil’s the thing we need to focus on!” I said.

“It has everything to do with it, because Rabil does not feel love, because he does not care about others, he is who he is.” Aetius said.

“But Ah’m not turning into Rabil!” I protested.

“But you will need that love soon.” Aetius replied.

“What do you mean, what’s going to happen?” I asked, now wondering.

“Can’t tell you, I’m afraid. Otherwise it would cause a problem in this whole mess.” Aetius said, “But right now, I’m afraid we need to change one thing, otherwise it will cause a problem with the continuum.”

“What problem? What are you changin'!” I demanded.

“We’re changing the flow of time momentarily for you, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle so that the instant you get up, you three are biologically twelve.” Aetius explained.

“WHAT! ARE YOU INSANE?” I asked.

“Good luck, Apple Bloom, and remember, he’s there for you.” Aetius said as I rushed into a tent.

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“Owwww....” I groaned as I opened my eyes, passing out shouldn’t have made my whole body hurt like this. I remembered the two god-ponies saying they were going to age me, and looked to see that my body seemed to take up almost the full length of the tent. I heard two voices, they sounded like Scootaloo’s and Sweetie Belle’s except they sounded a little deeper, scream. I got outside and Scootaloo looked a lot larger, with larger wings, and Sweetie Belle looked larger too.

“What. Just. HAPPENED!?” Rainbow Dash yelped. Everyone looked at us three, wondering how the small three fillies just turned into grown mares.

“How did you three become grown up?” Twilight asked, terror in her voice.

“I don’t know, I was just standing here!” Scootaloo stammered. I decided to explain parts of what had just happened with me, pretty much nothing about Phalanx, and Applejack looked furious.

“What right do they have to age y’all into mares!” She shouted, seeming to expect an answer from them.

“Obviously something is coming that we need to be fully grown for.” Sweetie Belle stated, “Otherwise I don’t think they would just do that to us, especially when we’re trying to stop their evil brother.”

One of the guards spoke up, “You know what, there’s a good reason for this most likely, and we probably don’t know the full extent. So let’s just treat them the same as usual, at least in my opinion.” Everypony seemed to agree and dispersed, and I heard my father yelling at somepony, presumably Phalanx. I dashed over there to find them pretty much in a hooffight.

“You sick twisted son of a bitch! How could you say that to her!” My father shouted.

“She was the one who noticed it, it’s not like we were invisible with your glaring. And she wouldn’t let up either, trust me, I didn’t want to say it because I’m embarrassed that I could be considered a pedofoal!” Phalanx argued back.

“Both of y’all, just stop fighting.” I said, and Phalanx immediately stopped, but my father made sure to get a hoof to the face in. “Look, Phalanx, Ah don’ think yer a sick colt, Ah mean, even if Ah hadn’t had my age accelerated fer whatever is ‘bout tuh happen, we’re not really that different agewise.” I said, “Come tuh think about it, Ah think from what Ah understand, Ma was a couple of years younger than ya Pa.” My father stopped, seeing his own logic being broken down.

“Look, I’m sorry I said that to you Apple Bloom, you just kept on pressuring and pressuring.” Phalanx apologized.

“Ya have nothin’ to be sorry for, Phalanx. Hay, other than Scootaloo an’ Sweetie Belle, yer really the only other pony Ah consider a friend.” I said. “An’ you know what, Ah think Ah want tuh talk to ya ‘bout somethin’.” Phalanx stood for a moment, probably considering whether it was a good idea or not to talk to me about whatever I had in mind, and nodded. My father glared at him one more time before I walked over to the edge of the camp.

“You really don’t think I’m a sick freak?” Phalanx asked, seeming doubtful that I could consider something he could not himself.

“Well, Ah originally did.” I said, but explained to him in full of what the two god ponies had shown me. “Listen we can probably talk more on the trip, Ah’m gonna hit the hay.” I informed him, and he nodded, staying out probably to process what I had just told him. As I laid down, an odd dream awaited me.

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I was someplace warm, definitely warmer than where the camp was. I looked around and saw large plains with the occasional tree dotting it. A river streamed by and the sky was clear. It seemed almost like a paradise, and I noticed some other ponies further down the river. I walked over, and there was a group of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi bowing before somepony. I looked and saw it was Naqril, who had them stand, probably trying to be modest. Standing off to the side was what appeared to be Rabil, with crossed legs, looking bored.

One of the pegasi asked the goddess, “”What is thy task, holy one?” Naqril seemed to blush a little, and responded.

“I would appreciate to teach the earth ponies somethings they can do with the land in order to make food.” Naqril responded, and the group of ponies looked like they were being shown how to become a god. The earth ponies walked up, and Rabil rolled his eyes, grabbing an apple from a tree. “Good, please go over there,” She gestured towards a flat area, “And I will be there momentarily, I must talk to my brother.” Naqril walked over to Rabil, who seemed to have no visible change in his expression.

“What are you coming here for, Naqril? Want me to teach the unicorns some magic while you teach the earth ponies how to farm?” He asked, sarcasm clear in his voice.

“Rabil, they appreciate you just as much as I.” Naqril replied. Rabil scoffed.

“Really? Then why don’t you have me go and teach them how to farm?” Rabil asked, seeming to know the answer.

“Because they are a bit scared of you Rabil, the way you act makes you seem, well, evil, and they trust me a bit more.” Naqril answered.

“My point exactly. No reason to have me around.” Rabil said, popping another apple in his mouth. “Look, I’ll see you later, okay?” He informed her, “I’m going to go see if there are any ponies interested in my help.” He walked off, and his sister sighed, and then turned in my direction.

“This is the kind of things that led to his corruption.” She said, now definitely talking to me. The surroundings changed back to the place where I had first met Naqril.

“Why am Ah here?” I asked, curious why I had been brought back here.

“For two reasons, Apple Bloom, one of which being explaining how Rabil became to be evil, and the other, the necessity of Phalanx.” Naqril explained.

“What do ya mean Phalanx’s necessity?” I asked.

“The love between you two will become a vital thing in due time.” Naqril explained.

“Why am Ah bein’ forced into this thing with Phalanx, just curious.” I asked, and Naqril laughed.

“You’re not being forced into anything Apple Bloom.” Naqril said matter-of-factly.

“Course Ah am! Ah can’t just stand and let Rabil do this!” I said.

“Exactly, Apple Bloom, it is all your choices that affect this, it doesn’t matter if a prophecy says you will do something, it in the end depends upon what you believe is the best choice.” She replied. “Choices made Rabil who he is, and choices affect our daily lives.” I nodded and she grinned a little. “I’ve kept you long enough, Apple Bloom. Best of wishes to you.”

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The morning passed by relatively quickly, as Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and I were able to do a lot more.

As we started our hike, Scootaloo asked a question to no one in particular. “Why did we suddenly grow when we turned 12?”

“It’s a deep magical spell, that is unknown in its origins.” Twilight explained. “When a pony reaches the age of 12, they gain the body of them as a grown pony.”

“Probably was Naqril.” Sweetie Belle said. Phalanx had been quiet to say the least, hay, you wouldn’t even notice he was there unless somepony pointed it out. I flinched when I stepped on a sharp rock, but continued forward.

“How are we even going to do this?” Spike exclaimed, “We barely got out of a dragon place last time! We don’t even have any gems to offer them!”

“We’ll figure something out.” Shining Armor stated. I went over to Cocoon who was walking along with us, albeit farther away from most of us.

“Just how many ponies were in that group that came to ya?” I asked him.

“Around 11 ponies, though most didn’t speak.” He replied. Well, another mystery to be solved another day.

“Wow, Fluttershy, I thought you were scared of dragons.” Twilight said, and I walked over. Fluttershy seemed to be walking confidently up the side of the mountain.

“If that Rabil had Angel killed, I am willing to do anything to get him back.” She replied in a normal volume voice, which was unusual for Fluttershy. She really must be undone if she wasn’t her normal self. Pinkie Pie still had her poofy mane, thank goodness. It wasn’t good when her mane “deflated”.

“Watch out, Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo’s voice shouted as I felt someone grab me, and my eyes turned down to see a large drop. As I walked backwards, I looked at Scootaloo. “You really gotta watch where you’re going Apple Bloom.” She said.

“Sorry.” I said, making sure to keep my attentiveness. It seemed we were about to start walking down into the valley. As we did so, Rainbow Dash looked shocked, and finally commented out of her stupor.

“Scootaloo, how did you fly that fast?” She asked, with a jaw that seemed to hit the ground.

“What do you mean? It wasn’t that far.” Scootaloo responded, confused.

“You were right there,” Pinkie Pie said, “And then you were right there!” She pointed her hoof to where Scootaloo was then to where she had rescued me. “You got there in less than a second!” She informed Scootaloo. Wait, what? Did Scootaloo just fly along the speed of Rainbow Dash, if not faster?

“It would’ve taken me a couple of seconds to get to Apple Bloom.” Rainbow Dash admitted, “But I would’ve been able to grab her before she landed.” She added on to make herself look good. We continued on, leaving me to wonder just how fast Scootaloo really could be.