experiment 3: visual

[4thdimensional]

Hello! Dr. Brown here, making an announcement as it's been a while.

As it stands, I have no plans to attend the Grand Galloping Gala. I don't believe that sort of ceremonial ritual is my 'scene', given the circumstances, but I'm willing to offer my assistance to any attendees. I have a few spare parts that might give your masks some much-needed edge.

But the main reason I've come to you today is that I have a request. If you have information about the historical figure known as Starswirl the Bearded, I'd like to learn about him. Thank you.

Comments

/permaprivate

[4thdimensional]

...that was before my arrival? I dug through the archive when I first arrived, but I think I may have missed something very important. Excuse me a minute.

[There's the sound of him rifling through once more]

[soulofblue]

It was around this time last year. I can sum it up for you?

[4thdimensional]

That would be helpful in the meantime, thank you!

[soulofblue]

On the night Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon, Star Swirl attacked Princess Celestia too. He'd been researching ways to make himself immortal, and she tried to stop him.

[Pollo can only assume the methods for doing so were something horrible. He can't recall Celestia saying what exactly they were, but...well, that's not the sort of thing that comes through normal means.]

He was responsible for creating the mirror-portals to other dimensions as well, and most of them were smashed in the fight. The magical backlash caused the Everfree Forest to be...well, what it is now.

[4thdimensional]

Either of those points in history could be pivotal in our current situation. I'll have to examine them more closely.

[soulofblue]

[Is that grounds to address this? He's gonna take it as grounds to address this.]

Are you talking about time travel?

[4thdimensional]

...no use in trying to hide it, is there? Yes, I am.

[soulofblue]

I'd be careful with that. From what I've heard, time travel in this universe tends to result in stable time loops, so it should be alright, but those are some major historical events...

[Obviously he's not bothering with the question of how feasible Doc's plan is. Pollo knows he can create working time machines.]

[4thdimensional]

I've heard the same, so I'm putting my team through training to be as utterly inconspicuous as possible. We may need to resort to concealing spells, but I know we can succeed.

[soulofblue]

You're bringing a whole team?

[4thdimensional]

A small one. Well-trained to deal with the mishaps we might face in the Equestria of the past. Marty and I are good, yes, but I want a more familiar guide or two when entering unfamiliar territory.

[soulofblue]

The only ones really familiar with anything that far back would be the Princesses.

...and Discord, I suppose. [Does he have to explain why THAT is a bad idea?]

[4thdimensional]

I'm sure I can't alter the history of this world, but time travel always has its risks.

Discord has no fondness for me, and the princesses...I'm not certain they'd approve.

[soulofblue]

Oh, they wouldn't!

[4thdimensional]

Then I must continue this mission and obtain the information in complete secrecy.

[soulofblue]

[He's...not sure that's wise, but...]

Okay...

[At least he's in on it now. Pollo would honestly probably rat Doc out to the princesses if he thought things were going too far. But just going back to view history firsthand can't be too bad, right? It could be helpful!]

[4thdimensional]

Thank you for everything, Pollo. I'll let you know about my future developments.