The Scrapyard

While watching The Doctor work on the Cyber King, Rainbow Dash was taken off guard when Twilight jumped on her before wrapping her forelegs around her in a warm embrace.

“I’m so glad you’re safe!” she exclaimed happily as she cried tears of joy.

“Uh…thanks?” Dash replied uncertainly. “But, why would that guy think he could control the Elements of Harmony even if he caught us?”

“He was insane,” Twilight replied as she released her and wiped the tears from hers eyes with the back of her hoof.

“Unfortunately, it looks like his talent for magic and science had gotten the better of him…he could have had mental illness before all of this, but all of that knowledge and power would have done nothing but corrupt him further.” She sighed.

“It’s an unfortunate pitfall for a lot of brilliant minds recorded throughout Equestrian history, unfortunately…they get so caught up in their own hubris that they put themselves up above everyone else with some even believing to be gods.”

“What about you?” Dash pressed. “You’re super smart and good at magic, but you’re not like that.”

“Well, maybe that’s because I have friends like you to keep me grounded so I don’t have such a high opinion of myself.” Twilight reasoned.

“When I first became a princess, my biggest concern was having to leave all of you to fulfill my royal duties…but I’ve never asked to be treated any better than anyone else and I wouldn’t have it any other way than for all of my friends to see me as I am; Twilight.”

“And that’s why you wouldn’t take whatever offers that guy was giving you?” Dash added.

“That and I believed he murdered you.” Twilight replied somberly. “And then there are all of these innocents he killed…”

“Yeah…” Dash agreed quietly. “There isn’t anything we can do for them?”

Twilight shook her head.

“The Doctor already told me he can’t go back and save them because it would do more damage than it would repair if he went back on his own timeline.” She explained.

“Their bodies were also incinerated once the brains were removed.” The Doctor added.

“Which is why I’m triggering the remote self-destruct sequence for this facility, I found it while poking around the programs inside the Cyber King, and despite his insanity he was quite brilliant.”

“Wait; ‘self-destruct’?” Dash asked, her wings flaring in alarm.

“There can’t be any trace of Cyber technology left behind or we risk having this happen all over again.” The Doctor elaborated.

At that point there was a loud whistling as blue lights lit up on the room’s main console.

“Doctor, what does that mean?” Twilight asked, now sharing Dash’s concern.

“RUN!”

All three of them then tore down the hall as Rainbow Dash began flapping her wings before lifting off from the ground as Twilight and The Doctor galloped beneath her.

“Did you calculate the time it would take for us to get out of here?” Twilight panted.

“Or remember that there’s an elevator we need to take to get back outside?” Dash added.

“Um, no…forgot to take both of those into account.” The Doctor replied, sheepishly.

“IDIOT!” Dash groaned. “Great, now we’re ALL going to die!”

“Not necessarily,” The Doctor continued. “If we hurry, there is a very slim chance that we can escape the explosion.”

They skid to a halt before the elevator as Dash’s hoof repeatedly pounded the button to take them to the ground floor.

“Are you pressing the right button?” The Doctor asked.

“OF COURSE I AM!” Dash snapped.

“I think it’s stuck…” Twilight uttered, her voice filled with panic. “Doctor, can you delay the countdown with your Screwdriver?”

“Not at this rate, I’m afraid.”

The first few explosions could be heard as the trio looked back in horror at the flames that were blasting down the hallway to engulf them.

They all huddled close together and squeezed their eyes shut to await the inevitable before Twilight out of desperation focused all of the remaining magical energy she could muster into her horn.

A gentle breeze caused the trio to open their eyes.

They were back outside, standing before the TARDIS.

Rainbow Dash was the first to speak.

“Uh, how did we get back out here?” she asked, scratching the back of her head.

“Before the explosion was about to engulf us, I tried casting a teleportation with what little magical energy I had left.” Twilight replied, gazing back at the hill.

“So where’s the explosion?” Dash pressed. “Shouldn’t we have heard something or seen some flames by now?”

“That would be the perception filter,” The Doctor explained. “When Twilight cast the spell, it must have occurred while we were materializing between there and here.”

“What about the Cyber King?” Twilight asked anxiously. “He didn’t die from that explosion-did he?”

The Doctor shook his head.

“No, based on my Screwdriver’s analysis and what I’ve seen firsthand; his armor could easily withstand such a blast, albeit with a few dings and scorch marks.”

“So are we going to put a sign up or something to warn people?” Dash cut in.

“No.” The Doctor replied softly. “It’s better off for everyone if this place stays hidden-we’ve already seen what happens when technology like this is abused.”