open The Town That Friendship Forgot

[Samurai Equine 51,985]

@Dynamo Pad, @C. Thunder Dash, @ExplosionMare, @PawelS, @Ragland Tiger, @Kronos the Revenant

It seems that they were all starting to get a little suspicious of Finn, especially after Nopony points him out. What should he do? Finn is starting to get nervous.

Also, what no one sees is a spirit floating through the air, making its way closer to Finn in rapid succession.

"Well... Eh, I'm not sure how to put this... But yeah, Mr. Nopony is right. I can't learn too much or give too much away right now. In fact, I'm not even suppose to be here. I am working on a special kind of magic, and that magic brought me here. Maybe I am suppose to see something, meet somepony, or do something." Finn moves away from Bluebell. "And untill I found out what that reason is, I can't leave, because...." And suddenly, Finn is cut off.

As this spirit invades him, he falls over dramatically. His eyes go wide, yet they are blank.

For within the recesses of his mind...
Finn can see he is not alone. "Who are you? Kaiser? What's a Kaiser?" Finn asks the apparition in his mind. However, now that Kaiser is here, there are very little secrets Finn can keep from him.
Earlier, Finn was researching time travel magic. He infused a magic stone into a pocket watch, and somehow it brought him to Friendshire.
This is the power Kaiser detected! It's time travel magic! Finn isn't even from this timeline.

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@Samurai Equine

Kaiser was able to sense this chronological magic within the pony.
 

I sense Chronological anomalies within you, young pony, Kaiser told Finn upon realizing what the pony possessed, With my advice, i can allow you to rewind, erase and even freeze time with this little device. With a little practice, your little pocket watch could allow you to conquer anything and everything. 

[Windy Breeze 15,190]

@Samurai Equine

Shadow finally decided a way to get back to her apartment, but she still has doubts, but they are now just behind her head “I guess you can teleport both of us back to my apartment, then” she said

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Dynamo Pad @ExplosionMare @Samurai Equine @Kronos the Revenant

Chelsea gasped. "Finn! What's going on?!" She asked in shock. She sensed a spirit, not just any spirit but one that seemed to have some intent. "Be careful Finn. I don't trust this spirit. You're still a foal. Whatever you do, keep your guard up..." Chelsea said through telepathy to Finn. 

Thundy noticed as well. "Jeez...things just went up to a whole new level..." Thundy stated. 

[Dynamo Pad 11,378]

@Ragland Tiger @ExplosionMare @Samurai Equine @PawelS @C. Thunder Dash

It seemed that Chelsea could see that Dynamo's earlier comment had some merit. "You have a point, Chelsea. It's sort of dangerous how one could easily be swayed. I know I'm not a psychologist, but I've heard about something. If something traumatic were to happen to someone so young and nobody is there to help explain to that individual. Then it would leave a lasting effect on said individual. Pretty much resulting of them being impressionable to what caused them that trauma. I know it's not the same here, but being swayed at such a young age could lead to damaging results." He says, the suspense was eating away at his curiosity. Hearing that Nopony's assumption was correct was almost like a wake up call to the blue unicorn. "Not supposed to be here? Working on magic that brought you here to us?" What does that mean?" He asks, trying to figure out what Finn was talking about. Was this some form of time magic? If so, then how and where did he try and learn such magic? "I remember Chelsea had mentioned about the name, Crow. Do you happen to know who this Crow is? Maybe that was someone or something you were supposed to see or meet." He wondered aloud, before taking notice that Finn had suddenly stopped in his explanation. 

The next thing Dynamo knew was that Finn had fallen over dramatically towards the ground. "Finn?" He asks, the air around the group becoming hauntingly quiet. Almost as if you could hear a pin drop. "Finn!" He exclaimed, rushing over as he kneeled down next to the fallen unicorn. "Finn? Finn. Come, on. You got to wake up." He says, placing a hoof upon his shoulder to shake him awake. However, it didn't seem to do anything as his eyes seem wide and blank.  He looked towards Chelsea, who was next to Finn. "What's happening to him? What's going on, Chelsea?" He asks, hoping to gain some light on the situation before the group. 

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@C. Thunder Dash

Kaiser turned his attention to the griffon upon hearing she could sense him. He floated in front of her and squinted with suspicion. 
 

You can see me, cant you? he asked her. 

He decided not to bother with it for now and phased back into his new vessel. 

Edited January 6, 2021 by Kronos the Revenant

[ExplosionMare 18,065]

@Dynamo Pad @C. Thunder Dash @Samurai Equine @PawelS

Pencil smiled warmly towards Dynamo. She was glad she could ease his conscious a little bit. She would have said more just to keep conversation going but Dynamo seemed preoccupied with obtaining the gaming belts. She let him focus on that and instead conversed with Chelsea who had offered to do something fun with her again.

“Of course we can do art together!” she responded. “You’re welcome to use my materials. Samurai gave me a whole bunch of things so I’m practically loaded with art supplies!”

She clapped excitedly for a moment at the prospect of drawing with a buddy. Drawing alone was fun in its own right, but drawing with someone else was fun as long as it wasn’t turned into a competition. Her little moment ended when the group started to sense something strange. Pencil felt oblivious for not sensing anything herself, but it wasn’t like she had that kind of power. What she did come to notice however was rather shocking.

“Wait, we just took this colt along with us? No questions asked? Uh, maybe before we do anything, we should locate his parents,” she sputtered. She then made eye contact with Finn and bent her neck down slightly to meet him at his level.

“You, uh, you do have parents or a guardian or something, right?” she asked worriedly.

Before she could receive her answer, the colt passed out on the ground. Pencil gasped and stood in shock at the sight. She thought of going over to check on him but she worried touching him might make things worse. This didn’t seem like a fainting spell like the one Tree Song had. This one seemed sudden and unusual.

“F-Finn? Can you hear me? Uh, whether or not you can respond, um, just hang on, we’re gonna try and help you out,” she spoke, trying not to sound too frantic.

Edited January 6, 2021 by ExplosionMare
Needed to catch up

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Kronos the Revenant @ExplosionMare @Dynamo Pad @Samurai Equine

"I can feel you. Now you leave that colt alone. He's done nothing to you. You're trying to sway him aren't you. You're trying to make him one of your evil vessels aren't you? If the answer's yes...then I won't let you." Chelsea stated. Because of Chelsea's pure heart, she was determined to not let this spirit mess with Finn. 

 

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@C. Thunder Dash

Kaiser sneered at the griffon. 
 

Hmph, he huffed, And what exactly do you intend to do otherwise? There are only two ways for you to harm me, and both involve harming the host, and you dont want that, do you? The griffon would sense that Kaiser is giving her a condescending smirk. 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Kronos the Revenant @Dynamo Pad @ExplosionMare @Samurai Equine @PawelS @Windy Breeze

"Pft, like that's gonna ever happen." Chelsea said as she gathered some water energy. Her hair started to glow an aqua blue as she felt the darkness of Kaiser. She was able to get a spirit hold on him. 

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@C. Thunder Dash

Kaiser felt the griffon’s grip on him

 

NANI!? He exclaimed to Chelsea, WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU—HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS WITHOUT HARMING THE CHILD!? RELEASE ME AT ONCE, BIRD WITCH!! IF YOU FORCEFULLY RELEASE ME FROM THIS YOUNG FOAL, HIS SOUL GETS RIPPED ALONG WITH ME LIKE A BEE’S ENTRAILS GOING ALONG WITH ITS STINGER!!!

Kaiser is really making Chelsea work to release his grip on the young foal. Maybe there’s some way she could bargain for the young foal’s life?

Edited January 6, 2021 by Kronos the Revenant

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Kronos the Revenant @Dynamo Pad @ExplosionMare @Samurai Equine @PawelS @Ragland Tiger

Chelsea pushed harder, putting more strain on Kaiser. "I'm no witch..." She said as she hovered into the air, streams of water surrounding her. She sent the streams of water, which gently wrapped around Finn. She gave a hard pull, but it didn't affect Finn at all. Instead, it yanked hard at Kaiser, causing pain because of her purity, which clashed with his evilness. As they say, light always overcomes the darkness. 

[Samurai Equine 51,985]

@Dynamo Pad, @C. Thunder Dash, @ExplosionMare, @PawelS, @Ragland Tiger, @Kronos the Revenant

If Kaiser was trying to be the spirit of temptation, he'll need to do better then that.

"...Conquer? Erase? Why would I want any of that? You are right about one thing, though..."

To everyone's surprise, Finn's body stands up on its own. His eyes are still blank, but he's moving, as if automatically. Finn reaches into the pocket of his waistcoat and pulls out a pocket watch. The same one with a magic stone fused into it.

"I do have time magic. And if you don't get out of me right now, I'll just go back to when you weren't, and give everyone an early warning." It's a conversation no one else but Kaiser can hear. Chelsea might be able to hear some of it, if she is that empathic.

@Windy Breeze

Trilby smiles and puts a hoof on her shoulder. "Hang on." Giving her a second to get ready, Trilby lowers his hat backwards to reveal his glowing horn and teleports them both, arriving just outside of Windy's home. Immediately afterwords, Trilby blinks, shakes his head, and rubs the side of his head. "Heh... You know, I only learned to do this for the sake of emergency clothing deliveries."

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Samurai Equine @Kronos the Revenant @Dynamo Pad @ExplosionMare @Ragland Tiger @PawelS

Chelsea noticed Finn stand up. "Yes! That's it Finn! Finn is right Kaiser. He and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that you won't hurt him ever again,." Chelsea stated, her words traveling to the spirit Kaiser

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@C. Thunder Dash @Samurai Equine

Kaiser screamed as the water somehow burned his ethereal form. Somehow, even his host is also able to resist his influence. 
 

THAT...NOISE...Kaiser strained, CANNOT....DEFEAT...ME!!! Suddenly, Kaiser finds himself yanked out of Finn’s body, but he also somehow managed to gain a physical form as well. He gains the appearance of a giant, hollow suit of armor with Chelsea’s water making up the inner framework of his body. His eyes glowed a fiery red against his watery body. Steam was visibly leaking out of this form of Kaiser with an audible sizzling sound. The water is hurting him, but it’s also giving him a form to maintain. 
 

“Hmph, fine then,” he declared, seemingly undeterred by the holy water burning him from the inside out, “Of you wont let me possess this body, I’LL JUST TAKE YOURS!!!” He made a mad dash for the griffon with a watery morningstar wielded. 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Kronos the Revenant @Samurai Equine @Dynamo Pad @ExplosionMare @Ragland Tiger

"Yea no...away with you." Chelsea said calmly as she charged a water kamehameha-like attack. She released the water right at Kaiser, flowing with purity, rendering it nearly impossible for Kaiser to take over. 

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@Samurai Equine @C. Thunder Dash
Kronos stared straight ahead with eyed widened with revelation. 
 

He has shown himself, his voices declared. 
 

“Yes, he has,” Kronos replied, “Time for action.” 
 

Kronos got back into his suit and leapt from building to building until he saw the whole commotion happening. 
 

“KAISER!!!” He shouted at the ethereal form. 
 

“YOU!!” Kaiser growled as he turned towards Kronos, “YOU WERE WEAK. UNWORTHY OF MY ASSISTANCE ANY LONGER. I GRANTED YOU MY WILLPOWER AND YOU SURRENDER TO A RAGTAG GROUP OF LOWLIVES!!”

Being around Chelsea allowed the other three spirits to manifest visibly.

”You do realize that was all just a video game reality, right?” Gabriel replied.

”Wait,” Kaiser asked, “How can you do that?”

”They remember who their true vessel is, Kaiser.” Kronos answered. He snapped his claws and the other three surround Kaiser. Kaiser attempted to attack, but he was already imprisoned into a set of ethereal chains. 
 

Gabriel turned towards Chelsea, “Thanks for keeping him at bay. You gave us enough time to track his activities and pinpoint his location. Without you, we might’ve just tried to fight everyone here until Kaiser got drawn out.” Finally, Kronos went up to Kaiser and pulled out a special orb. The orb absorbed Kaiser’s essence into it. In the aftermath of the brief chaos, Kronos inserted the orb into his chest. His left mechanical eye gave a green glow. He floated briefly into the air with a digital aura and a triumphant chorus played from literally nowhere. A holographic textbox appeared below Kronos, and it read “KAISER REACQUIRED. WILLPOWER FULLY RESTORED”

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Kronos the Revenant @Samurai Equine @Dynamo Pad @ExplosionMare @Ragland Tiger @PawelS

"Hm? Oh no problem." Chelsea said as she slowly hovered back down to the the ground gently resting on all fours again, her hair returning to its natural color, all except for a few locks that remained blue. "At least that's over with..." Chelsea said to herself. 

[Windy Breeze 15,190]

@Samurai Equine

Shadow was a little nauseated, but quickly recovered, she looked around in awe, then at Trilby, who did not gave a single hint of being affected by his own spell. Hearing his little tale, Shadow smiled.

“I guess you often get emergencies?”

She did not waited for an answer and went inside her apartment too. She went inside her bedroom, opened her bag, then picked up her camera, and strung it on her neck.

She stopped.

She started at the black diary, something tempted to show it to her Trilby, tempted to make it read it, tempted to destroy their connection, but it wasn't strong enough to make her act what it wants her to do. Shadow casually walked out, leaving it in the shadows of her saddleag.

“I got it now” she told Trilby, showing off her black camera.

[Silly Druid 7,058]

@Samurai Equine @C. Thunder Dash

When an evil spirit possessed Finn, Nopony was going to intervene, but Chelsea did it faster and better than he could ever do. "You did a great job, Chelsea! Let me know if you need any help dealing with evil magic in the future."

Then he asks Tree Song on the side, so no one else can hear them: "Do you remember the name of that old time-obsessed pony we met before entering the town?"

"Final Premonition. Why do you-" Then a sudden realization strikes her. "It's him!"

Nopony turns to the colt. "Are you OK, Finn?"

Edited January 6, 2021 by PawelS

[ExplosionMare 18,065]

@C. Thunder Dash @Kronos the Revenant @PawelS @Samurai Equine

“W-wait, Chelsea, don’t—“ Pencil tried to warn, worried Chelsea would end up harming Finn. Thankfully, that didn’t occur, but there were a couple of close calls during the fight between Chelsea and whatever the soul thing was. Pencil thought of making some sort of weapon as a backup, but she couldn’t form anything out of just grass. Instead, she stayed on guard in case anything did occur.

In a matter of minutes, Kronos had appeared to stop the soul which apparently belonged to him. The soul was absorbed by the orb which was able to protrude a message to confirm that the ensnarement actually worked. This sudden release and entrapment of the soul made Pencil very curious. Bravely, she asked Kronos,

“How did you acquire this soul anyways? Also, if they can possess ponies like Finn, how come they can’t possess you?”

[Dynamo Pad 11,378]

@Ragland Tiger @ExplosionMare @PawelS @Samurai Equine @Kronos the Revenant @C. Thunder Dash

Dynamo raised a curious eyebrow as he heard Chelsea's statement. Who was she talking to? For that matter, what was she talking about? "Who is it Chelsea? What's going on?" He asks, trying to figure out what was going on. His jaw dropped slightly as it looked as if Chelsea's hair started to glow. Was this another of her abilities? "A witch? Wait, what?" He asks, wondering why Chelsea would say she's not, while she hovered in the air. To Dynamo, it looked as if she was possessed by a spirit of some sorts, but she still seemed to be in control. Whoever she was fighting, it seemed as if she was trying to help free Finn. Speaking of Finn, he was surprised as the young colt had suddenly stood up. His eyes still looked blank, but he looked to have been walking and in some sort of trance. "F-Finn?" He asks, hoping he could hear the blue unicorn's voice. However, it seemed that the young colt reached for a pocket watch. Why did that pocket watch seem so familiar to Dynamo. Whatever was happening, it seemed to have worked. 

Dynamo watched as whatever possessed Finn had gained a physical form. A sort of knight or suit of armor. His eyes shrank slightly as he could see what could only be described as red eyes. "Taking over bodies!?" He asks in surprise, before looking down at his belt. 'I have to do something.' He thought, but it seemed unnecessary as Kronos had managed to show up. As he listened to the exchange between the spirit and Kronos, Dynamo began to think back to when the spirit said lowlives. He blinked as a thought soon crossed his mind. The moment he and the others had fought Kronos in the gaming world. 'So, that was what was taking over Kronos? Whatever this thing is, it took over him?' He wondered as the voice suddenly seemed familiar to the unicorn. 

In the ensuing chaos, other spirits manifested as they managed to subdue the evil spirit. Before long, the spirit was absorbed into a little orb, before Kronos placed the orb into his chest. Dynamo blinked as he wasn't sure what was happening. Even when there was a sort of chorus signifying that what happened was triumphant for the group. "Uh...o-okay. So, that was a thing." He would say, nodding as Pencil's question had made the blue unicorn curious. "I think I heard one of the spirits mention something about the game world. If that's true, then was that Kaiser the one that we fought when facing off against you, Kronos?"

Edited January 6, 2021 by Dynamo Pad

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@Samurai Equine @ExplosionMare @Dynamo Pad

In the aftermath of the chaos, everyone was clearly mixed with relief and confusion. 
 

After regaining Kaiser, Kronos went to answer some questions. 
 

“Yes,” he first answered Dynamo, “That was the same Kaiser from the game world. That old soul couldnt stand losing, even if it’s just a game. The other spirits usually keep him in check, but i guess something about the video game world prevented that from happening. Dont worry, it’s all good now.”

He then answered Pencil, “How did i acquired this soul? Well, in my culture, once every generation, a being known as The Vessel is born. The Vessel is destined to be granted the powers of the greatest ancestors my people have ever had. I turned out to be The Vessel of my generation, much to the dismay of my sister. They technically do a form of possession of me, however, since Finn is not the True Vessel, he can’t manifest or manipulate these spirits the same way i could.” He then brought out the spirits, Kaiser included, to properly introduce them. 
 

“Greetings,” the blueish white spirit greeted, “I am Gabriel, Archangel of War and Vanguard of Justice. I serve to ensure proper balance in the morals of society.”

 

“He honestly has no business in that, but he does himself,” the reddish spirit retorts before introducing himself, “‘Sup, name’s Krux, the Devourer. I am a savage warrior with insatiable bloodlust. Simple as that.”

 

”It takes the combined efforts of myself and Ajax to prevent him from simply killing everything in sight.” Gabriel commented. 
 

“I am Ajax, the Aegis of Ragnarok. I ensure that no harm comes to my people in times of war. Now that i possess this Vessel, i ensure no serious harm comes to Kronos as well.”

 

The other three turned towards Kaiser with contempt, who then sighs with a “fuck it” attitude and says, “I am Kaiser, Conqueror of Ragnarok. I’m the most ancient spirit that possesses Kronos. I was one of the first warriors of our history and one of the warriors that established the values and culture of my people.”

 

”There were many flaws to it, obviously, as generation after generation made large amounts of amendments to your manifestos.”

 

”They were to ensure no one else would conquer u—AHHH!!”

Gabriel struck Kaiser with holy light, which shut him up.

 

”Anyways,” Gabriel continued, “Again, we’d like to thank you for keeping Kaiser ay bay. If there’s anything you need from us at all, just ask him.” He gestured towards Kronos before all four returned to him. 
 

“So, yeah,” Kronos said, “Those are the guys that are possessing me. Well, ‘possessing’ is kind of a generic term, so more like they ‘occupy my body with limited control’.”

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Kronos the Revenant @ExplosionMare @Dynamo Pad @Samurai Equine @Ragland Tiger @PawelS

Chelsea listened to Kronos's explanation. She was intrigued. "Well as I've heard, spirits are nothing to mess with. As for me, I guess it's time I tell you my full story..." Chelsea said with a small sniffle. Thundy walked over to Chelsea and sat next to her, sort of hugging her from the side, waiting for everyone to gather around to listen to Chelsea's story. 

[Dynamo Pad 11,378]

@Ragland Tiger @ExplosionMare @Samurai Equine @PawelS @C. Thunder Dash @Kronos the Revenant

Hearing that his suspicions of that boss fight in the game world were correct. Dynamo could only sigh as he shook his head. "I had a feeling, but I wasn't entirely sure. I mean, seeing Kronos now and the way he acted in that fight really explains things." He would say, before a thought occurred to him. "I know he wouldn't take losing like that when we fought him before. However, how was he able to gain control over you? Can that happen at any certain time, or is it just by the container of the spirit's choice?" He asks as Kronos began to answer Pencil's question of acquiring the spirits. "I'm guessing your sister wanted to become The Vessel instead? Also, The Vessel? Your culture? What kind of culture does this sort of thing?If you don't mind me asking, that is. " Dynamo would say, hoping he wasn't sounding rude. He was rather curious as his classes at school had never taught him anything revolving around this sort of culture. 

He stopped in his bombardment of questions as Kronos had summoned the spirits to talk to the group. "Oh, Vanguard. I know it's probably not the same as what you're known by, but I've heard of the word. It's actually the name of a card game as you lead your allies into battle against your opponent. Considering that Vanguard is known as the one who leads the way. That's pretty cool, in my opinion." He smiled at the spirits as they all seemed interesting in their own right. He wasn't too keen on Kaiser, but it seemed that the other spirits were able to keep Kaiser under control. He nodded at Gabriel's thanks as the four spirits returned to Kronos. "Thanks for clearing up on the term. If there's anything we need to ask of the spirits, then we'll talk to you. Also, I'm sorry about the things I had said in the game world, Kronos. I really didn't know that it was Kaiser who had taken control over you in that time." He says, giving Kronos an apologetic look. He looked up briefly as he turned towards Chelsea, who mentioned about her full story. "What do you mean, Chelsea?" He simply asks, before seeing Thundy hugging her from the side. He hoped he hadn't done anything wrong as he heard the female griffon sniffle. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to. If it's difficult to talk about, then we'll understand. We're still here for you, Chelsea. Never forget that." He says, moving over to take a seat with the group.