another pic in my season 9 epilogue series except this one takes place about 200 years after the final episode of the show so they have been petrified for over 211 years… this pic is 146 years after the previous pic so Strange quark is about 242 years old in this pic
 
Strange Quark Quickly descended through the treetops of the forest in the afternoon sun with some equipment he had sought for about 34 years, he was late for his visit today but that wouldnt matter as he had a way of not just talking to Chrysalis and the other two, but he had a way now to allow them to talk to HIM.
 
“sorry i’m late, I had to get something real quick. over the last 3 decades or so I have been searching for something powerful, something I could use to let you three talk to me in a way so it’s less one sided when we talk.” Strange Quark said as he set up the few pieces of equipment… well there was only 2 pieces, a stand for a relic and the relic itself… it was an artifact of the big bang itself.
 
“this is one of the 6 elemental crystals that controls everything in the universe. or as they are called ‘infinity stones’. this one is the mind stone, each stone has complete control over what it’s name entails so the mind stone is the combined essence of every mind in the universe… even yours. it can control minds in any way it’s user wants, or allow minds to connect… that is what I will be using it for. I will be connecting our minds until I can find a way to permanently channel your minds through an audio output.” Strange Quark said as he concentrated his magic on the glowing yellow stone in front of him and he felt his mind tingling as he channeled his thoughts through the stone to pull the three minds he needed into the stone in a sense so he could talk with the petrified trio.
 
IN THE MIND STONE
 
Q.C: where am I?
 
C.G: I don’t know… but look at all the ponies and other creatures here!
 
L.T: huh… they don’t seem to care about us.
 
S.Q: that’s because these creatures haven’t met you three… welcome to the world within the mind stone. right now you three are still in stone in the physical world, your mental form is free here although minds cannot truly interact, just talk here.
 
L.T: UGH! if it isnt mister high and mighty himself. what mockery are you to make of us this time. wasn’t it enough that you talk to statues? now you bring us into a world where we cant do a thing but talk!.
 
S:Q at least it’s a step up from NOT being able to talk wouldnt you say?
 
C.G: actually Tirek, he does have a point. Being able to talk even in a non corporeal form is better than being trapped in stone.
 
Q.C: look PONY, how DARE you bring us here to try and convert us with that sickness you call “friendship” no matter WHAT you say we WON’T bow down and become puppets of your pathetic race.
 
S.Q: except you completely miss the point of why I even started watching over and PROTECTING you three…
 
Q.C: oh yeah? and why is that?
 
S:Q: because no one deserves to be lonely… even you three, I know how much loneliness hurts because my entire life I was cast out despite being the adopted son of Celestia, it turns out others were jealous of my position and legal guardian so not a lot of other ponies really liked me too much. I just dont want others to have to feel that pain. of course that pain must be unimaginable for you three so what do you do with it?
 
Q.C I always just project it to others… seems to work for me.
 
S:Q: but that’s not what you should do with it… what you do with that pain is hold onto it TIGHT, and you say “no more… no one else will have to live like this, no one else has to feel this pain” trust me I know, I know what it is like to lose things… all of my friends I had when I moved to ponyville have died, so have their children and THEIR children, their children are now elderly some are dead and almost all of them have great grandkids now. I lost 3 towns worth of good friends I had known and loved for their entire lives…
 
L.T: so you are saying that despite all that pain you never once decided to take it out on others?
 
S.Q: NO… in fact i’m trying to get you to see, and im ALMOST there… that there is a better way to go about handling this kind of thing than letting the anger, pain, and bitterness consume you.
 
Q.C: UGH here we go again with the whole “friendship is magic” sham, stow it! all friendship ever did was take away everything that ever gave my life value.
 
S.Q: but that’s the thing… over the 2 centuries I have been watching over and protecting you three as well as keeping you company I have displayed many of the elements of harmony… I have brought you all gifts despite them not benefiting me which is generosity, I have demonstrated loyalty to my self appointed task by visiting EVERY SINGLE DAY for over 200 years so far, I have always been completely honest with you three about the things I say, I have demonstrated kindness by even coming to visit and appointing myself this task in the first place to keep the three of you company, I have demonstrated four out of the 6 elements despite them doing nothing really to help ME… because I want to help YOU, I want to help you three turn your lives around and eventually lead happy fulfilling lives where you are loved by many.
 
Q.C: but why do you do these things if there is nothing in it for you? i’m confused
 
S.Q: that’s EXACTLY the point… THAT is what friendship is about. it’s about putting the welfare of others above your own, it’s about being selfless, doing things to benefit others even when there is nothing in it for yourself… I have brought gifts, read stories, kept you three company, protected you, and given YOU love to make sure you don’t get too hungry, and many other acts even though there isn’t a thing in it for me. although sometimes these selfless acts do have rewards… sometimes physical rewards like gifts but usually it’s the gratitude of whoever you preformed the act for. sometimes even love…
 
Q.C: hmmmmm…. now you got me intrigued. well I suppose we dont have anything else planned for the next few hundred years. carry on.