Ghost of the Crystal Empire

In the center of the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor stood before The Doctor and his TARDIS on the insignia of the crystalline snowflake as the Crystal Ponies around them seemed be of a sunnier disposition in stark contrast to the depressed and frightened expressions they wore earlier.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us and the empire.” Spoke Cadance.

“Yeah,” agreed Shining Armor. “I’m just not sure how we’re going to repay you…”

“Ah, that won’t be necessary.” The Doctor replied, waving a hoof dismissively.

“But, what if the empire ever comes under a similar attack and we need you again?” Shining added as an afterthought.

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much if I was you-I tend to show up wherever I’m needed.”

“Well, I certainly hope we don’t have to wait for the next crisis in order to see you again…it’s always good to see a good friend drop by.” Cadance replied, warmly.

Shining Armor saluted The Doctor.

“No, no, don’t do that-ah, well alright, I suppose…” he muttered before returning the salute.

“I really should be going, now though-there’s this temporal storm of chaos thing-well, more like several things happening throughout time and space really and I should be getting to the bottom of it.”

“Should we be worried about it?” asked a concerned Cadance.

“No, well yes, well-probably, but don’t-soon enough I should have it all under control-I hope.” He added under his breath.

And with that he walked back into his TARDIS as the two watched in amazement as it de-materialized.

Cadance then turned to her husband after seeing The Doctor off.

“Well, that was certainly interesting…now, I can see why you wanted to rest before coming back-traveling with The Doctor must be very exhausting…” she nuzzled his neck as the walked side by side back towards the castle.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Even back when I was a guard I’d get exhausted just standing around all day, without even seeing a second of combat…we must be getting old.”

“Shiny, we’re in our twenties.” She pointed out. “We are old.”

“Yeah,” he repeated. “Imagine being over a hundred or even a thousand and still doing that kind of stuff…I wonder how they do it?”

“Who?”

“The Doctor and Celestia.”

“Well,” Cadance put a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “It certainly can’t be easy for them and I’m sure with all of the pain and loses they’ve suffered from…they’ve become very empathetic and can’t stand the thought of leaving behind someone in need of help…kind of like you.” She added, nuzzling him again for emphasis as they reached the castle’s front entrance.

On the outskirt of the empire stood a lone unicorn, with a dark grey coat, wearing a black shroud to protect him from the relentless onslaught of the coming night’s brutal, icy winds.

His vision had been obscured by the tightened hood, but once he believed that he had found what he was searching for, he pulled it back to reveal a shaggy black mane and a hot red horn jutting from his forehead that was forked in the tip as a small fracture ran down its center.

The dark violet eyes rested upon the object that they required; the horn of King Sombra.

With it, they could resurrect him and re-establish unicorns to their proper position of the Master Race of all ponykind, the recent ascension and coronation of the now ‘Princess Twilight Sparkle’ proved it…and yet, there were still non-believers.

Well, that wouldn’t matter for long…

Lord Sombra would set them straight once he returned to full power and once he had a new queen to rule by his side, none would dare to challenge unicorn supremacy.

Orange bolts of magical energy surged through his damaged horn as he squeezed one eye shut in a desperate attempt to focus before the horn levitated of the ground, surrounded by the orange glow.

Noting this, his look of frustration turned to one of glee as he manically exclaimed.

“For King Sombra!”

TO BE CONTINUED…

The Doctor will return in; “A Tale of Two Doctors”