The Timepony's Journal

Chapter 20 - Time to Smell the Roses

The phantom of Radiance's past gracefully trotted ahead of her. It was a strange experience, yet a somewhat familiar one. The halls became older and older, her TARDIS no doubt twisting the architecture to their advantage. It all felt like a dream to her.

"You're nervous and scared, I understand. But we must always continue to move forward" said Hedley.

Radiance looked down, different thoughts and questions swimming within her mind. Hedley definitely sounded different than from their first meeting, a lot less uptight and regal and much more whimsical and childish. This was likely due to not only the further progression in her memories but also her change in how she viewed her past self.

Hedley seemed to be guiding her down into a more organic area of her TARDIS, her own home. Something inside of her mind was trying to click, to reach out and latch on only for it to miss. The floors were made more of soil and grass than hardwood while the yellowed wall rounders were wrapped in vines. The closed and constructed hallway gave way to the inside of a large tree, causing Radiance's jaw to drop as she stared out at the beauty before her.

A large field of the same luscious pink flowers that combed across the first world she visited stood before her, surrounded by a kind of tree that she also recognized yet couldn't recall the name. The roof extended so high that it appeared to have its own clouds, above a room so big it had its own wind current.

"Feel familiar?" Hedley asked as she lightly danced across the field as to not trample the vegetation.

"I-I... it's just like-"

"Just like the garden on Provia. All it's missing is something special."

Hedley lead her towards the center of the grove where a circular platform with ancient Gallophreyan symbols carved into and around it. It was her name made out of stone, spanning nearly twelve feet left and right. Placing her hoof on the center circle, the very middle of her signature, she began to cry. Hedley trotted up to Radiance and gave her a hug, beginning to sing a soft and sweet tune to the melody of the wind blowing through the trees.

"What's once was lost may be found
The sailing sound of time.
The stories leather bound
In the library of my mind.

Sailing across the river into the forgotten known
I want you to know that you'll never be alone.

You have yourself, and you have me.
You can still recover all your lost memory."

Radiance wiped her tears and took the hoof that Hedley offered.

"B-but what does this all mean, why is this here? Why can't I remember?"

Hedley only smiled and continued her song.

"This is the start, where our story began
But it's not the end, there's still more to be said.
Reach into your heart before your head, this was the place that you called home."

"I... lived on Provia?"

"Yes, as Equuis was to the Doctor, Provia was to you. Time and time again between your own adventures, you've returned to this very place as your sanctuary."

"I...I remember... I don't know how I could ever forget this place. But there's more here, more than just a place..."

Radiance's eyes widened with shock as the image of not something but someone returned to her mind. How could she have forgotten even them, the first friend she had ever made during her travels.

"PRISM!"

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A long long time ago Hedley was messing with the controls on the TARDIS console, setting the destination to Provia once again. Her hooves were dancing across the controls like a master pianist until she stopped, her hooves shaking. She'd been trying to distract herself from this for the past few hours, the memories of the home she left behind. Nothing good ever happens to those that leave Gallophrey behind, especially as she did. But there was nothing she could do now, the decision had been made.