Destiny Book 2: Time Traveling Foal Sitters

Chapters

Prologue
Making a house call
Breakfast with royalty
The Royal Breakdown
The attack
Escape from Everfree Castle
Night in hiding
Back to the Castle
Enter the stronghold!
Storming the castle
The Changeling King
The end of the Alicorn Empire
Fading into history
Epilogue

Prologue

The following is a fanfic of the two television shows: My Little Pony and Doctor Who. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro and Lauren Faust and Doctor Who is owned by the BBC network. Please support the official release.

“In the very beginning of the world, there was nothing. There was no ocean, no sky, and no life. The planet Earth appeared to be nothing more than another rock floating in nothing. That is, until the magic happened. According to legend, a star had died and broken apart into billions of pieces. Some of those pieces crashed onto the planet anew. With nothing significant about these fragments, many assumed that they were just a random phenomenon. Nopony assumed that these fragments would later be revealed as the ancestors of the Elements of Harmony.

Born from chaos, these 6 fragments landed near each other, almost like they had a bond as a star. The stones dug deep into the ground, and after a few thousand years, the stones produced a miracle upon this world: a tree. The Tree glowed with the power of a hundred suns, thus heating the surface up. The rock melted and turned into magma. The magma already reached the shores of the Tree, but with a consciousness of its own, the Tree escaped its own destruction. With a power unlike any other, it rose from the ground. As it climbed, the magma followed, eventually overtaking the rock it once called home. The Tree climbed higher and higher until it couldn’t no more. To prevent its destruction, it created a shield over the magma. Theory suggests that this created the molten core of the planet.

7,000 years later, another phenomenon occurred. A storm of rock from a doomed planet flew toward the molten planet. Seeing a plan working, the Tree flew even higher than before with trillions and trillions of rock flying below it. The rock collided with the magical barrier between it and the magma below, heating the rock even more. Thanks to the magical barrier, it only heated the rock. The mountains of rock continued to grow as it chased the Tree. Eventually, the Tree couldn’t climb any more. It created yet another magical barrier, keeping the molten rock at bay. This created the mantle.

With magic running through its veins and the powers of a god at its disposal, the Tree could do more. Using the mysterious force it grew accustomed to, the Tree attracted what remained of the planet beyond. This will of magic created the crust where ponies lived and played today. Allowing nature to move on its own, and with a canvas for the Universe to draw on, the Tree of Harmony was free from its duty. Shielding itself inside a cave, the Tree slept. Overall, it took 10,000 years to create the body of the planet.

Over time, the Universe did paint on the planet. The Tree, seeing as it was unique, spread its magic throughout the Universe. Stars began to shine again and planets were formed. With a simple template to work with, the Universe was soon populated with canvases waiting for the right painter.

With the Universe and the Tree’s magic, the Earth began to breathe. Spots of green and blue began to surface, overtaking the planet. Rain began to fall, and meadows began to grow across our land. Trees grew and provided for the atmosphere we breathe in today. Nopony had ever guessed that—”

The alicorn put down the book. “Are you both sure you want me to read this? It’s too grown up for you,” she said.

Across from her, the two foals nodded their heads. “Please mommy, it sounds so cool!” the young one exclaimed.

“It’s almost like it was supposed to be born. Magic trees. Super stones. Everything sounds like it was planned!” the elder one said.

The mother alicorn smiled. “Well, I think that your father should take over this story, assuming he is coming back like he said he would. Have you heard from your father?”

“He said he was going to be out late, that’s all he said,” the young one said.

“Your father likes making sure everypony is asleep before he rests. I should’ve known he would be out like this. Anyway, you girls need to get your sleep as well. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”

Immediately after the mother said that, the siblings yawned. “But I’m not tired yet!”

“Me nether!”

“Well, I am your mother, and mommy says it’s time to sleep.”

The siblings expressed their disproval for sleep, but they climbed into their beds. The elder was the first to be tucked in. “So mommy, how did the Tree die? I’m sure nothing lasts forever,” she asked.

“Oh, it just slept. It didn’t die. Remember kids, all things must sleep in the end, no matter how tired they get. It’s natural.”

The younger one smiled. “One day, I will sleep all day and run around all night,” she said with a smile on her face.

“Well, we have a long time to wait you know. I love you two,” the mother said.

“We love you too mommy!” they said in unison.

The alicorn smiled. She kissed the foreheads of her daughters. “Goodnight Celestia. Goodnight Luna.”

“Goodnight mommy!”

The mother alicorn smiled and walked out of the door. The alicorn sighed as she made her way out of the hallway and down the stairs of the castle. The alicorn radiated a glow that made everypony smile, literally. As the queen of the Sun, Queen Solaris shone with the power of the Sun. Her mane and tail were not of horse hair, but of stardust. Points on both mane and tail glowed brighter, symbolizing the stars she controlled. Her wings were of fire, but were calm. While she smiled for her subjects, she frowned everyday. The war between the alicorns and the Draconiquus Empire raged inside and outside the castle walls. With King Cosmos’s plan on creating a shield for their subjects working, Solaris had nothing to worry about.

Speaking of King Cosmos, Solaris heard her husband in the throne room on the opposite side of the wall. She smiled as she teleported. Inside the throne room, the King of the night stood proud as he talked to one of his advisors. King Cosmos was said to be born from the Moon itself, however, he claimed he had the memories of having a mother and father of his own. The two were destined to be united, and no pony disagreed. His mane and tail were made to reflect the Universe. His wings were purple and majestic once opened. His strength, coming from the stars his wife controlled.

The king turned his attention to his wife. “Dear Solaris,” he called out.

“Cosmos, you’re late,” she said with a smirk.

The king chuckled. “A small village in the east refused to sleep, so I put them on a special cycle. It doesn’t help with the lack of trust they are getting from us,” he said.

“I know, but the Draconiquus Empire grows stronger everyday. It is only a matter of time before a full-fledged war is at our door. Speaking of, have you news from the battlefront?”

Cosmos sighed. “We lost a brave general today. His actions could’ve spelled genocide to both races had he not been stopped. I had no choice.”

“Not Silverstar!”

The king bowed his head. “Yes, it was him. I do not understand what had gotten him upset, however, every action has a reason.”

“Yes, speaking of that. Your daughters wanted to hear that story again. The creation of our world. Ever since you found that book, they never stopped reading it. I’ve always had to pull them away from it before they finish reading it,” Solaris said.

“Yes, I probably should do something about that.”

Solaris smiled at her husband. “I don’t know how to tell the girls, seeing as how he was their foal-sitter.”

“I agree. We must find somepony to watch them, especially tomorrow night. Do you know anypony?”

Cosmos smiled. “Why yes, and I think I still have his number.”

Making a house call

Applejack smiled as the doors opened.

The Earth pony never knew that one day she would be the first pony in all of the history of Equestria to see her home from so far into space. She never knew that out of all her friends, she would be the privileged one to travel on an adventure no pony else could see. She knew, however, the Doctor had done this before, but she didn’t care. Applejack knew that the Doctor took ponies along who probably saw the galaxy where she was born into, and probably thought the same thing she was currently thinking.

What Applejack didn’t know, however, was why she was where she was. Any of her friends were more qualified to journey through the stars. Twilight would be cataloging all of time and space and learning the TARDIS inside and out. Rarity would want to journey to new worlds to study their cultures and, maybe, liberate them of a few rare gemstones. Fluttershy would want to meet every creature in existence. Rainbow would probably want to just fly everywhere. Pinkie would be able to stop wars and bring races together. The question remained: why was she there and not any of her friends.

As the earth pony watched space travel before her, the Doctor was busy at his console. Ever since he had returned from his old Universe, he had been running all kinds of diagnostics and running algorithms nonstop. In fact, he stopped the TARDIS, opened the doors, and told Applejack to look at the Universe while he worked. Applejack would often hear the Doctor mumbling about ‘Gallifrey’ and ‘Trenzalore’. While she didn’t know what he meant about Trenzalore, she knew it was important for him.

Applejack looked back at her friend and sighed. “Ya know, it ain’t fun watching this here galaxy spin if somepony don’t explain nuthin to me,” she said.

The Doctor looked up. “Huh, oh yes! Right, sorry. You know, something you thought you forgot suddenly reappears within your head and you have no say in how you distract yourself from said something is exhausting sometimes,” he said.

“Well, why don’t ya relax fer a little while?”

The Time Lord smiled and left the console. He approached his companion and sat down next to her. “So, Luna didn’t create the stars huh?”

“Well, no. You see, these stars were born with the Universe. Compressed energy and superheated mass creates these stars and they can live for billions of years, maybe more. The stars were always covered up by the mist that the planet still expels, making it so they appear created every night. After the blizzard, the nights were still blank and starless until Luna used her magic to unveil the beauty of the stars. Celestia and Luna have some ancient magic that allows them to still control the Sun and Moon that much is clear. It is amazing what can happen when you are directly related to the original Bearers of the Sun and Moon,” he said.

Applejack looked up at him. “What?”

“You didn’t know? Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are princesses because somepony is already the king and queen,” he said like it was not a big deal.

“They had parents?”

The Doctor nodded. “Everypony has parents, even gods. How else do you bear life?”

Applejack chuckled as she stared back into space. “Ah’ve been here fer an hour and ah’m already getting a headache,” she said.

“Why?”

“’Cause they never had parents. Princess Celestia believes she was born from the Sun. Luna too,” she said.

“Even gods have parents at some point in time. It’s a long line of understanding, and I won’t trouble you with the whole process of it all. Still, I do know the Princesses’s parents. I have tea with them every half century or so,” the Doctor said.

Applejack smirked at him. “Why can’t we see ‘em then?”

Before the Doctor could answer her, they heard a high pitched ringing. Applejack was immediately startled by the sudden noise, but the Doctor had a look of confusion on his face. He searched the room and couldn’t find the source of the noise. Applejack pressed her ear onto the door. “Doctor, it’s here,” she said.

The Doctor spun around. “That’s not a real phone! It came with the design,” he proclaimed.

“What’s a phone?”

“It’s a messaging system that allows you to talk to someone far away. If you and Twilight had phones, you all would be talking right now,” he said. “There are designs that work just for talking, but there are others where you can send messages, but that’s more advanced technology.”

“Spike’s gettin’ replaced then,” Applejack said.

The Doctor laughed. “I forgot that he is the royal messenger when it comes to Twilight.” He walked over and opened a sub-door inside the door. He picked up the phone. “Hello?”

There was some silence. “Oh hello, I was just telling my new companion about you. Yeah, she doesn’t believe me.”

Applejack had a face of shock. He was talking to somepony from far away. Spike’ll be jealous, she thought to herself. “Ok, just send the coordinates to my TARDIS and I should be there 3 minutes ago. You know how to do that, did you forget? Excellent.”

The Doctor smiled at Applejack. “Well, remember when I said I was going to let you choose where you want to go first?”

“Yeah.”

“Well that’s not happening. We have an appointment with the king and queen of Early Equestria, and we cannot keep royalty waiting,” he said as he ran to the console. “You might need to close the doors.”

Applejack did as she was instructed. She walked over to the console and sat down on the chairs. In her previous experiences inside the TARDIS, she only traveled through space with her friends when Sombra brought tyranny before. Time traveling and moving in a blue box were two completely different things, and she was about to experience it.

The Doctor punched in the coordinates on his typewriter and fidgeted with the various buttons on the console. Without a second thought, the Doctor released the brakes and the entire TARDIS started shaking violently. Applejack made a desperate grab for the railing as she clung onto her hat. The Doctor was laughing as he watched his companion cling on for dear life. He remembered when he first stole the TARDIS and how it was difficult to handle it correctly.

Inside Applejack’s mind, the thought of traveling through time was occupying fear. She didn’t feel it, but she knew she was going back decades after decades, centuries after centuries, and so on. After a while, Applejack went from clinging onto the rail to waving her Stetson high in the air as the journey continued.

Her fear returned a second after. The console exploded, scaring both the Doctor and the cowpony. “What’s happenin’?!”

“We’re entering a point in time that should never be entered! The TARDIS is resisting! I can’t land her!” the Doctor explained.

“What?!”

The Doctor steadied himself. “The era we are going to is sealed from time! There was an event in early pony time called the—”

The TARDIS crashed to a halt before the Doctor could finish his sentence. The console smoked as the engines cooled. Applejack’s balance was shaken up and she felt like the room was still moving. “Ah thought time travel’ll be smoother than silk,” she said.

“Well, that would be possible if there were more pilots. The TARDIS is supposed to have more pilots, but it’s only me who can fly her. That, and I failed my test when I was young,” he said.

“What test?”

“A test to see if I can fly the TARDIS correctly.”

Applejack gulped in fear. “I’m not a licensed pilot but they can’t arrest me, they’re dead…I think.”

“Yer people?”

The Doctor smiled faintly. “Yeah, my people. Anyway, you have just traveled back in time. Care to step outside in a different era?”

Applejack’s face immediately lit up as she fixed her Stetson. “So where are we?”

The Doctor threw open the doors. Applejack followed and her eyes immediately expanded 3X’s their size.

In front of the TARDIS was a giant castle. They were standing on one side of what appeared to be a canyon. The castle was on the other side, and the only way to get there was a small bridge at their hooves. In the background of the castle was a waterfall that led to a river heading down the edge of the canyon. Applejack’s eyes and mind tried processing everything at the same time.

“Welcome to the Everfree Kingdom! This is the castle where you found the Elements and the Tree if my memory is correct,” the Doctor said.

Applejack nodded. “Well, the Everfree Forest is the greatest cover for the Alicorn Kingdom afterall. Very few ponies ever came into the Forest because of the royal blood that pumps within. We are in the year 860 B.C., which stands for ‘Before Celestia’ and the very peak of the monarchy. The Alicorn Kingdom is currently 1500 years old right about now with King Cosmos and Queen Solaris leading the ponies,” the Doctor said.

“860?”

“Well somewhere around there.” He looked around for the guards who normally guarded the bridge. “Strange, I don’t see any guards.”

Applejack looked around and noticed that there wasn’t anypony around them. “That’s strange, but I—”

“HALT!”

The Doctor and Applejack turned to be met with several armed alicorns, each with spears raised at their necks. The Doctor noticed their armor quicker than the weapons. They were wearing black armor with glass shields over their eyes. The armor they were wearing had engravings of crests and a Suit of Armors over the center of the armor. The Doctor noticed this immediately and gulped.

“Doctor, who are they?”

“Silence! You both have been found trespassing on royal property after curfew! You are both under arrest!”

The alarm clock in Applejack’s head rang. “Curfew, but that means—”

“Yup, this is 311 B.C., the last year of the Alicorn War,” the Doctor said.

The guards growled. “And they think we’re spies.”

Breakfast with royalty

Queen Solaris sighed as she raised the Sun once again. While she may be the Goddess of the Sun, she enjoyed the moment when the Sun sets more than when it rises. The beautiful moment when the day and night no longer exist. That one split moment when time can stop. She remembered when the moment the Sun rose, she was born.

She walked over to her throne and sat down. Upon sitting, she was immediately flooded with ponies with different pieces of her grand agenda for the day. As she checked through her schedule, she noticed that there was one thing that stood out the most. The most important thing on her agenda was also the most risky: the Draconiqui Peace Talks scheduled for that evening.

The queen sighed as she overlooked the plan her husband wrote. While he was in charge of military, she had to overlook the final preparations when it came to things like this. Oh husband, what art thou doing now? She thought to herself.

The plan alone was insane, and probably never work, but she had faith in her husband. His plans almost led them to greater times. Key word is almost.

As the queen began to ponder her thoughts on the upcoming evening, the doors of the throne room burst open. Solaris looked up and noticed one of her guards were there with a serious look on his face. He appeared to have been in an argument with that look of annoyance. Solaris knew this guard never got along with the common pony folk, even when she commanded that he should.

“Your Majesty, I bring news,” he said with his chest puffed out.

“Sir guard, while I value your loyalty and longing to the safety of the Crown, I must remind you that every pony who wanders into the forest is not out to assassinate myself or my husband,” she said.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, I have pledged myself to the protection of the Crown and have since remained vigilant,” he said.

“Sea Crest, please. What is your news?”

“Two ponies were seen approaching the castle doors, ma’am. One of the ponies, an Earth stallion, claims he was invited by His Majesty, King Cosmos. He even planned on displaying a blank piece of paper as a letter,” the guard, Sea Crest said.

The queen thought for a moment before she sighed. “And the other?”

“An Earth mare, ma’am. They both seem to be a couple who plans on infiltrating the castle.”

Solaris mentally face-hoofed herself. “Bring them before me.”

“Your Majesty, is that wise? Remember the threat that we face if we allow strangers, especially in this time.”

“I am aware of the Changeling threat, however, we have no proof that they would infiltrate the Crown. Now, bring the two ponies before me!” Solaris commanded.

The guard raised his head. He walked outside the throne room and returned with two Earth ponies. The first one Solaris recognized immediately. The second, however, was new. The new pony had a blonde mane and tail with a bright orange coat. On her muzzle was a series of freckles, possibly from the Sun. On her head was a rather unusual hat.

The guard led them to a safe distance from the throne. Two more guards entered with spears in their hooves. “These two are charged with trespassing and breaking curfew, Your Majesty! What be their fate?”

Solaris scanned the two ponies. The mare looked amazed to be in the room. “I recognized the stallion, however, you have pointed out our recent dilemma with the Changeling Regime, so I shall take that into account.”

The queen rose and walked toward the two Earth ponies. “I have given the stallion three answers to three questions that only we share. If this stallion can correctly answer two of the three questions, then he and his companion are cleared of all charges. Oh, and sir guard.”

Sea Crest looked up. “Curfew doesn’t start when the Sun rises,” she said.

“Told you,” the mare said.

The guard sneered at his prisoners, but instead of submitting, the mare smiled. “I shall ask these questions. Respond correctly, and your clear to leave, is that a deal?”

The stallion nodded. “First question: what is my husband’s pastime while he is not planning war?”

The stallion thought about it for a moment. “Well, it’s a tie between playing with his daughters and baking and eating a fresh pumpkin pie,” he answered.

Ah guess all stallions like their pie, Applejack thought to herself while remembering the Grand Galloping Gala.

Silence filled the room as all the guards looked to Solaris to give the verdict. “He has turned from eating pie to playing with his children, but you are correct.”

Everypony in the room let go of the breath they were holding. “Next question: when my daughters feel sad, I do one thing above anything else to cheer them up, what is it?”

“Oh that’s easy: you fly into the clouds and come back with a beard. Your daughters would normally tear pieces of the cloud from your chin and make mustaches and laugh at each other,” the stallion said.

Everypony looked over at the queen. After a few seconds, she smiled. “You have passed. Guards, they are to be cleared of all charges and released, is that clear?”

They all nodded. Sea Crest walked over to the two ponies and performed a spell on them both. “You magically bound them to the floor?!” Solaris asked.

“In case they tried to leave,” the guard explained.

Solaris sighed as their enchantments were lifted. “Now then, leave us!”

The guards objected, but as they did, their loyalty to the Crown came first. They all exited the room without protest. Once the doors closes, the queen let out her breath. “Oh Doctor, it’s good to see you again,” she said.

“And to you as well,” the Doctor said.

The queen stepped down from the throne and hugged the Time Lord. Applejack had no idea what to do since she always referred to Princess Celestia and Luna as friends more than authority figures. All she could do, however, was remove her Stetson. The Doctor noticed this and smiled.

Solaris released the Time Lord. “I know I’ve never met you. Care to tell me your name?”

“Mah name is Applejack, proud owner of Sweet Apple Acres,” she said.

“Your own business? How extraordinary,” the queen said. “Well, I cannot hold you two anymore, yet I am hungry. Care for a late breakfast?”

The two ponies nodded.

Solaris poured the tea for herself and the Doctor. Applejack, deciding that she wanted something other than hot leaf juice, mashed up a few apples and made a personal mug of cider. While she did so, the Doctor and Solaris talked about the last 300 years they spent away. As Solaris talked about how Luna and Celestia were getting along, the Doctor munched on his breakfast: an English muffin with butter. As it seems, Luna had already named some of the constellations that her father brought into light for the pony folk below. The Doctor smiled as Luna’s fascination of space bore fruit young.

“And so, Doctor, how art thou with thy life?” Solaris asked.

The Doctor smiled. “Well, I seem to have stumbled onto some more friendships recently. Applejack here is the bearer of the Element of Honesty, a powerful ingredient in all friendships. She holds the power of the alicorns,” he said.

Applejack turned around when she heard her own name. “Pardon?”

“Oh nothing, just telling Her Highness about you,” he said.

Applejack smirked as she finished making her personal batch of apple cider. “As I understand, there are others who wield the other stones?” the queen asked.

“Oh yes, and I’ve seen them in action. Tis a fascinating subject that I can study first hoof. Speaking of the Elements, have you heard from them?”

“Yes, the cave below houses the Elements, however neither I nor my husband can wield them. I fear their magic will be kept for a long time.”

The Doctor sipped his tea. “The Elements are harsh to begin with, but I fear their future.”

Solaris nodded. Seconds later, Applejack came back with four mugs of apple cider on a silver platter. She set the platter down on the table and took one. “Mah granny’s special cider. Been in the Apple family fer generations. Well go on then, Yer Majesty, try it,” she said.

Solaris took one look at the mug of cider. “Maybe once I am done with my tea. Perhaps my husband will want to try your cider,” she said.

Applejack smiled as she sat down next to the Doctor. The queen took one last sip of her tea and sighed. “As you know, Doctor, Silverstar has been the foalsitter for Celestia and Luna, right?”

The Doctor nodded. Applejack froze at the name. Guess it is a real pony, she thought to herself.

“Well, the other day, we discovered that Silverstar passed away. We feel that maybe you and your companion can take his place for tonight, especially tonight,” Solaris said.

The Doctor’s eyes widened. “It is just for a few hours while my husband and I take care of some political matters. Since you are familiar with Celestia and Luna, seeing as you have helped with us before, we thought it was a good idea that you two should spend some time with them.”

“Why not tell ‘em about Silverstar?” Applejack asked.

Solaris fidgeted in her seat. “Well, why not ask me?” someone said.

Applejack and the Doctor turned to see King Cosmos standing at the doorway. He had on a Navy blue uniform with several badges on his chest. He appeared to be worn out like he was bored for several hours. The Doctor stood up and walked over to the king of the night. “Cosmos,” he said.

“Doctor,” the king said back. “It’s been 300 years.”

“300 years and two regenerations, but nevermind that.”

“Is that why you look like a donkey’s plot?”

“COSMOS!”

The two stallions laughed at Solaris’s outburst. “Oh Doctor, so good to see you again!” Cosmos said as he hugged the Doctor.

“And you as well. Good to see you!”

The two stallions eventually let go of themselves and Cosmos approached his wife. He gave her a kiss before picking up a pot of tea. “I see we’re having tea again,” he said while looking into the pot.

“Well, the Doctor’s friend made a beverage using apples earlier if you want that,” Solaris said.

Cosmos looked up. “Ah yes, that does look like a beverage. I tell you, it’s nothing but hot leaf juice.” He made a disgusted face while his wife smacked him playfully. He picked up the mug and took a sip. Immediately he licked his lips as he went for another swing. The king finished his drink in 10 seconds flat. “Delicious drink, and I am sorry if I am rude. Who might you be?”

“Mah name is Applejack,” she said.

“Applejack, eh? Nice name,” the king said as he sat down next to his wife. “So, what are we talking about?”

“Foalsitting for starters,” the Doctor said, “But I am curious about Silverstar. It’s one thing to mourn a fallen soldier, but I have yet to see any signs of grieving from you two. The way you decide not to tell Celestia and Luna that their favorite foalsitter is dead is also alarming. I sense he wasn’t a casualty for the Alicorn Empire like the others.”

The royals looked at each other. The Doctor leaned in. “So what’s the real reason why you won’t tell them?”

Cosmos sighed. “He tried to destroy the Draconiqui Empire without mercy or diplomacy. He tried to commit genocide,” he said.

The Royal Breakdown

King Cosmos sighed as he placed the mug on the table. He suddenly didn’t feel like drinking anything else. The silence between the two rulers upset the Doctor, but Applejack was confused. “What’s genocide?”

“The slaughter of an entire race or species. It includes the destruction of the population, religion, architecture, art, and so much more. It is like erasing an entire history from the planet,” the Doctor said with venom in his voice. “It’s a crime more serious than anything else, and I’ve paid the price for it.”

Solaris nodded. “That’s awful! Why would this Silverstar fella want to genocide the Draconiqui?” Applejack asked.

“That’s what I would want to know,” the Doctor said as he turned to Cosmos.

The king sighed. “Silverstar was one of my best generals and a friend to the family. When the war started, he had compassion and a heart to stop the Draconiqui from taking the world. He was smart, but that’s the nasty truth about war: it changes you.”

He looked down at his tea cup. “A few months ago, a battalion of Draconiqui laid siege to a settlement in the East. It was comprised of unicorns and alicorns, even his parents. When the Draconiqui arrived, the settlement was reduced to ashes. Silverstar was there as he watched them destroy his family. According to eyewitness reports, there were 150 Draconiqui in the area. The report said that all of them had their throats slashed by his wings.”

Applejack no longer wanted to drink her cider. “He was heartbroken,” the Doctor said.

“Yes. We tried consulting him and even tried to cover up the incident, but we failed in both. Word got out and our armies appeared to be comprised of vengeful gods. I even asked if Celestia and Luna can help him, and for a while it worked,” Solaris said. “He opened up to us for a little while.”

The two time travelers sighed. “The other day, we discovered a plot set by him. He had signed his team up to storm the royal fortress of the Draconiqui and capture the king. In reality, Silverstar wanted to kill him and all the others inside. By doing so, he would send up the red alert and bring all the Draconiqui there to finish him off. One alicorn against a whole empire is madness.”

“Tis suicide to consider being a lone soldier,” Solaris said.

The Doctor grimaced. “However he is not the first to do so, is he Doctor?”

Applejack looked over. “What happened then was because there was no other choice. I did what I had to do to ensure all of Creation would continue spinning. Billions and billions of trillions of lives would not exist had I stood by and watched Time burn,” the Time Lord said. “What separates me from Silverstar is that I did it because there was no other way.”

“And we believe you Doctor,” Cosmos said. “And in a way, we all understand his pain. We can all be vengeful gods should we be pushed too far. I had to deliver justice by removing Silverstar from his duties permanently otherwise worse things may’ve happened.”

The Doctor’s ears perked up. “Go on,” he said. “You mentioned Changelings earlier and I assume they are trouble.”

“They are a third party in this war. They despise both races and can gain from either one’s loss, and that makes them a threat. Nothing is more dangerous than an enemy that nopony expects. It’s especially dangerous when we cannot predict their actions,” Cosmos said.

Applejack sighed. “Ah hear ya,” she said. “Changelings interrupted Princess Cadence’s weddin’ in the future.”

“Their best attribute is infiltration, young mare,” Solaris said. “I pray the Changelings can learn from their impending doom.”

The Doctor looked up with concern in his eyes. “What are you doing?”

Solaris and Cosmos looked at each other. “We decided to seek an audience with the king of the Draconiqui in hopes of ending the war before the Changelings,” Cosmos said.

Applejack immediately stood up. “Ya can’t do that! Draconiqui are lyin’ snakes!” she said.

“While I agree with my companion, you do have a point,” the Doctor said.

Applejack looked over at the Time Lord. “Doctor?”

“No Applejack, they are wise to go through here. Draconiqui are known for their wits and speed. Alicorns are known for their brain power and strength. An alliance can work,” he said.

Applejack sighed. “Doctor, ya know Discord is trouble, don’t ya?! These Draconiqui are probably worse!”

“Yes, but look at where they are. Both sides are targets of the Changelings and both sides have held them back over the years. If Cosmos and the Draconiqui king, what’s his name?”

“Silver Heart,” Cosmos said.

The Doctor looked confused. “A lot of ‘Silver’s in this time,” he said.

“Tis a common name,” Solaris said as she shrugged.

"If Cosmos and Silver Heart can hold their forces and combine to stop the Changelings from becoming a threat, they can probably achieve more than freedom."

“Indeed. Silver Heart and I will hold a summit in a secret location and discuss terms as to how the war will end. If we can agree to a formal event, Silver Heart and I can organize an attack on the Changeling homelands outside the kingdom and hopefully stop them from ever trying to interfere with our quarrels. If we can do this, and keep the treaty intact, we can have the peace we’ve been striving to obtain for over a thousand years. I want to raise my children in a world where Draconiqui and ponies can work together and live united through magic,” Cosmos said.

“Tis a dream every parent dreams about,” Solaris said. “And while I feel as though this can end differently, I have hope we can accomplish peace tonight.”

“And foalsitting Celestia and Luna?” the Doctor asked.

Cosmos sighed. “Being a family of magical might, we tend to make enemies. For a while now, Changelings have been trying to take the throne of the Empire in order to end the war. My daughters are clever enough to detect Changelings, but they know they can. We have discovered an attempt on their lives, and we feel with Silverstar’s passing, you two would be best in protecting them. I know you, Doctor, and how you helped us before. We have faith in you and your companion,” Solaris said.

Applejack blushed a little bit. Somepony had enough faith in her to protect, not regular fillies, but the royal sisters that she later befriends. If Twilight were here, she would call it heaven. “So, can we count on the last Time Lord in existence and his charming companion to look after our treasures?” Cosmos said.

Solaris smacked him in the shoulder, but the Doctor was already smiling. He looked over at Applejack and she smiled at him. “Shall we get started?”

Solaris and Cosmos let their new foalsitters through the castle. As they walked, the Doctor was able to keep Applejack up to date on the current events. Most of the stuff was restricted because there was a lot that Cosmos had not completed yet. The Doctor kept reminding himself that he is in their timeline and revealing future events was dangerous. Applejack was busy looking around the castle to hear anything from the Time Lord.

Applejack looked down a hall they were passing, and immediately recognized it. Down that hall was the Hall of Statues that she and Rainbow Dash got lost in. Why Rainbow thought she put her hoof around her, she will never know. Yeah, Rarity may’ve had something to do with it, but for RD to say it like she did raised an alarm in the Earth Pony’s head.

“—and that’s why I can never go to Zecora’s without at least one magical charm, although I don’t see why she would want a piece of my TARDIS, and I’ve told her several times that ‘NO’ means ‘NO’, but then she goes into a rap battle and in 900 years of time travel, I’ve never—”

“Doctor?” Applejack called out.

“Yes?” he responded.

“Shut up.”

Solaris held back her laugh while Cosmos shook his head and smirked. “I’m liking your new companion more and more, Doctor. She seems to burn with a fire that would outburn you,” he said.

Applejack smiled at the king. “Ok, Luna and Celestia should be around here somewhere. LUNA! CELESTIA! Where are you?!”

The Doctor looked around. “I suppose they are on the other side of the castle,” Solaris said.

“But we checked the Hurricane Slide, their bed chambers, and even in the garden. Where could they be?”

Applejack looked around. The Hall looked pretty much empty and everything looked the way they did back in her time. As the Doctor continued searching for the two fillies, Applejack began walking through the Hall. All the statues looked to be perfectly still and in place.

But not the last one.

“Uh, Doctor?”

The Time Lord came to her. “Hmm, what is it?”

Applejack pointed to the last statue. Unlike all the rest, this one was moved slightly to the right. The head was turned in the other direction, like somepony was playing with it. The Doctor smiled as he realized what was going on.

“Well, since we can’t find the two princesses, I guess we should just go back to our regular adult talks in the kitchen, right my faithful companion?” he said aloud.

“Oh ya, we aughta go back. Ah am mighty hungry after searching fer them. Ah don’t know about ya, but ah want me some chocolate cake,” Applejack said, catching on.

The statue moved slightly. “Cake?” came a small voice.

There was a pause. “Luna, I think they have cake,” one voice said.

“Sister, why are you in love with that frosty treat? It’s so messy!” Luna said.

“But-but its cake!”

The Doctor quietly walked over, and opened the breastplate of the statue. Two filly alicorns came tumbling out, Luna landing on Celestia. Applejack looked down at them. They looked so adorable like that. They reminded her of the Crusaders when they go off on their adventures.

“Tia, you made us lose! All for cake that probably isn’t real!”

Celestia facehoofed herself. “Whoops, sorry. Hi mister-”

The fillies looked up at the Doctor and his companion. “-and miss. You look familiar.”

The Doctor fixed his tie. “Well, maybe I am familiar. Hello Celestia and Luna, we’re your new foalsitters!”

Celestia looked around. “Where’s Silverstar?”

King Cosmos intervened. “He’s still out, but while we wait for him to get back, the Doctor and his friend here will take care of you for a little while,” he said.

Luna shrugged and approached the Time Lord. “Your nose is big.” Then she ran down the hall with blazing fast speed.

“LUNA!” Solaris yelled.

Celestia ran after her sister, both laughing. Applejack tipped her hat and ran after them, apparently playing with them. The Time Lord turned and looked at both of them. “Don’t worry, they’ll be fine,” he said.

“Ok, but don’t mention Silverstar. I want to save the news until after the war ends, which I hope is soon. We will be back before sunset,” Solaris said.

The Doctor nodded. The royal couple ran after their children and said their goodbyes to them. They later boarded their balloon carriage and flew off toward the rising Sun.

That was the last time Celestia and Luna ever saw their parents.

The attack

The laughter of young Princess Luna filled the halls as her elder sister chased her. It was bath time for the royal sisters, and since Luna refused to bathe while Celestia obliged, it was the task of the elder to hunt down and clean her target. However, Celestia was supposed to wait until her bath was finished.

Luna turned a corner into a grand hallway with a very sudsy Celestia behind her. One of the guards had managed to avoid a head-on collision with Luna, but when he turned to resume his patrol, young Celestia crashed into him. Without any sort of remorse or even a hiccup in her momentum, Celestia continued the chase. As they disappeared into another hallway, the guard sighed and continued walking for another 5 feet. Without any warning, the guard slipped on the soap Celestia was leaving behind her.

The guard was able to pull himself back up and changed his route to a less sudsy one. A few moments later, Applejack rounded the corner, almost slipping on the soap on doing so. She was soaking wet with her Stetson missing. She appeared to be out of breath when she reached the guard.

“Whe-where did they go?” she asked.

The guard pointed down the hallway. Applejack thanked the guard and ran off to find the royal fillies. The guard sighed and continued walking down the hall. As he turned the corner, he nearly ran into the Doctor. While he was not there when he first visited (because his grandparents weren’t born yet), he was a fan of the Time Lord. If the royal family can respect him and treat him like a family member, then he is worth spending time with.

When the Doctor stopped, the guard fumbled. He saluted, thinking of no other way of greeting the pony. The Doctor sighed. “I thought I said no saluting,” he said.

“Consider it my instinct when I meet anypony with meaning,” he said.

“Then start saluting the common pony folk,” the Doctor said. With that, he ran past the guard. Before he turned the corner, however, the Doctor stopped. “Um, where did they go?”

“Down that hall, sir. I should point out that they appear to be heading toward the garden. Take that hall on the right so you can cut them off,” he said.

The Doctor thanked the guard and ran down the hall. The guard chuckled to himself as he finally continued his patrol.

Luna had found the perfect hiding spot from her sister. While her flying was adequate, her ability to blend into the shadows wasn’t. Behind a large pillar, the young princess of the night hid, trying to suppress her giggles. There was no way her sister was ever going to find her here.

Luna was able to quiet her panting and look over her shoulder. Celestia was nowhere in sight. She sighed. It was almost sundown, and her parents were going to return soon. She looked around her for an exit and there it was. A large, unguarded doorway that led to the swirly slide she enjoyed. If she can get to the door, she can escape into the garden where her soaking wet sister cannot enter until she is dry. By then, she will need another bath.

With no other ponies in sight, she dashed for the door. She was so close to victory, just a few more feet…

“YEAH!”

Celestia jumped from the ceiling and landed on her sister. The two alicorns tumbled through the door and down the slide. The two argued and cheered as they raced through the castle and into the crisp autumn air. They both landed onto the ground, separating the two. Luna flew high in the air and into a bush while her sister flew into a pile of leaves left by their gardener.

Applejack burst through another door to see the two dirtier than they were an hour ago. She felt her tempers rising. She pounced at Celestia, who was too distracted glaring at her sister to notice. Applejack had the young princess in one hoof while she looked at the other. Luna shrieked as she ran past the earth pony and back into the castle. Applejack sighed as she ran after her.

Luna looked back and saw the orange pony chasing her with her sister under her arm. “Get back ‘ere!”

The lunar princess grinned. “NEVER! I AM THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT! THE FUTURE RULER OF THE LAND! I WILL NOT TAKE MY BATH TODA—”

She ran into the chest of the Doctor. She gulped as the Doctor smiled down at her. “Even gods need to bathe. Nopony likes a stinky filly.”

Luna groaned as she was led off by the Time Lord. Celestia wiggled out of the grip of the earth pony and ran off to join her sister. Applejack looked at the both of them, and smiled. They reminded her of the Crusaders when they tried getting their Cutie Marks in Stealth Ops back home. Took everypony a record time of 5 minutes to find them.

“Mister Doctor, why must we take a bath? I don’t think I smell bad,” Luna said.

The Doctor chuckled. “Celestia, sniff your sister real quick.”

Before Luna could protest, Celestia took a big whiff of her sister and immediately gagged. Luna mocked a laugh and punched her sister in the shoulder. Celestia gasped and returned it with an equal punch to her. Before she knew it, Applejack was watching the two sister beat each other while the Doctor was busy walking ahead of them. Feeling the presence of maturity on her, Applejack ran over and broke up the fight.

Well, sort of.

As Applejack tried to pry them away from each other, Celestia and Luna both fired magical spells at each other. Since Applejack’s head was in between them, she absorbed both spells. One side of her face was shaped as an apple while the other was shaped like an orange. The two fillies stopped fighting, and laughed at Applejack’s current situation.

The earth pony looked at both of them, and mocked a roar at them. The girls thought she was a monster and ran. They ran past the Doctor, who was too busy talking to himself. As the fillies ran, Applejack was close behind them, growling and roaring like she was a dragon. The Doctor noticed this, and smiled.

The two sisters were finally cleaned, and with some persuasion, Applejack’s head was returned to normal. With their coats smelling like lavender, they all sat down for some more fun and games. While Applejack hung out with the Doctor, the sisters were hard at work playing on their chess set. While she didn’t understand it at first, Applejack needed the Doctor to explain how that board game was considered a game.

The Doctor smiled as he watched the girls play chess together. It almost brought back a pleasant memory of his grandchild before they went off on their marvelous adventure beyond Gallifrey. Applejack noticed this and smiled. “It’s nice to see ‘em playin’ together,” she said.

“Yes, it is. Strange how in 1,000 years, they end up dueling each other, isn’t it?”

Applejack nodded. “Ya look like ya have seen it before,” she said. “Children playin’.”

The Doctor smiled. “I’m a parent and grandfather. I’ve seen children playing when I was still on Gallifrey. Children need to play, to imagine a world unlike any other. Imagination is what gets ponies through the day,” he said.

Applejack looked back at the fillies. Celestia was beating Luna. She still had her Queen while Luna had only one Rook left. “What’s it like, bein’ a parent?”

The Doctor chuckled. “It’s strange. It’s different. You find yourself having this sense that everything needs to be perfect of your fillies. You are responsible for them growing up right. It’s, well, the best feeling in the world. You have something to call yours and it’s not something you buy.”

Applejack nodded. She looked back over at the game. Celestia had won the game. Luna sighed and surrendered her King. "Chess is a Gallifreyan game. I know all the tricks and secret moves no other race knows. That makes me a cheater, doesn’t it?”

“Only if ya use it.”

The Doctor agreed. Suddenly, the royal fanfare began to blare. Celestia and Luna both rose up and ran for the door leading out of the room. The King and Queen were back. The Doctor and Applejack packed up what they brought along: towels, squeaky toys for stress, Sonic Screwdriver, and coat. Applejack fixed her Stetson and they both followed the sisters out.

They all ran to the landing platform where the Royal Airship was just coming into view. The guards were in position and the red carpet was rolled out. Celestia and Luna waiting at the doorway, waiting for their parents.

Applejack looked up at the balloon with amazement. She had always seen the balloon in Canterlot parked outside the castle for the princesses, but seeing it for a King and Queen was an once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

The Doctor also smiled as he watched the balloon descend. The balloon was slowing its descent. As Applejack looked around, she noticed the guards who were playing the trumpets. They all were levitating the instruments with their magic. As she looked around, she noticed one thing that made her blood turn cold. One of the guard’s magical aura was green. It was a sick green that she had seen somewhere before.

“Um, Doctor?”

The Doctor followed her gaze to the guard with the green energy. As he focused in on the guard, the Doctor’s mind raced. With his mind on track, he could only speak. “NO!”

It was too late.

The Royal Airship exploded just above the landing zone. The guards all were shocked for a moment before their weapons were raised. The one guard with the green energy had suddenly changed into the one thing Solaris and Cosmos feared: a Changeling.

“DEFENSES UP! INTRUDER!”

The Changeling fired magical blasts at whatever guards were around it. Alicorns were supposed to be powerful, but they fell as the intruder laid waste to them. The Changeling stood strong against the guards on the platform. As it felt victorious, another wave of guards arrived. One of those guards somehow looked too much like Applejack. The Doctor turned to his companion to see that she wasn’t there. “Wait Applejack! Don’t!”

The earth pony sped up, jumped, and bucked the Changeling before it could fly away. It flew alright. It flew up in the air and off the side of the platform. The last thing it saw was a rather pointy statue right under it.

Before anypony could move, a crash of thunder rocked the castle. Applejack looked up into the sky. Dark clouds had rolled into the area, blocking the Sun. More Changelings appeared from the heavens with their horns charged up. The alicorn guards were ready for the attack. The Doctor and Applejack tried to lead the sisters from the platform, but they weren’t moving. Celestia and Luna were both frozen. They had just witnessed their parent’s death.

Celestia was the first to speak. “MOM! DAD! NO!”

They both sobbed out of control. Applejack felt her heart break. Suddenly, she jerked. The memory of her and her family in the Everfree Forest came back to her. She, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom were in a wagon with their mother while their father pulled it. The sound of Timberwolves filled the night.

The Doctor snapped her out of it. “We have to get out of here! Celestia! Luna! We have to go!”

They wiped the tears from their eyes. “There’s nothing we can do, come on! Applejack!”

The earth pony breathed in a deep breath. As the Changelings and Alicorns attacked, they managed to escape the platform.

Behind them, what remained of the Royal Airship laid burning. The Alicorn Empire was without its rulers.

Escape from Everfree Castle

As the Doctor and Applejack ran through the castle, the two sisters continued to cry out. The image of the balloon blowing up was still fresh in their minds. The Changelings swarming the castle and attacking the guards was still fresh as well because it was still happening. As they ran through the halls of the castle, the Doctor had to restrain himself from fighting with the Alicorns. He wasn’t supposed to even travel, but interfering with a war that never happened was something different. He was underpowered, even with the TARDIS.

The TARDIS. The Doctor just remembered that his TARDIS was still parked outside the castle’s walls. If the Changelings noticed it before their attack, they may certainly try to open it. But nothing can open those doors, absolutely nothing.

Unless I didn’t lock it, he thought to himself. Pony feathers.

Applejack led the group through the halls, mainly because she is more familiar with them. She had seen the castle while she was helping rebuild it for the sisters. Boy that ended a lot differently than she expected. The hidden spring trap wasn’t supposed to go off right in the middle of the ceremony.

Applejack stopped and turned around. Luna and Celestia were still in tears, but they were more afraid than sad at the moment. Applejack looked around her surroundings. She was in the Hall of Hooves. So the castle’s many traps and gadgets were built with Solaris and Cosmos.

She turned to the Doctor, who immediately got what she was thinking. The Doctor looked around, and found one spot where there wasn’t a hoof on the wall. Before he could do anything to the wall, another explosion rocked the castle. Two Alicorn guards came crashing through the opposite wall. The head guard, Sea Crest, looked battered and bloodied. Next to him, his partner laid. The Doctor didn’t move, thinking that the Alicorn was dead. He checked his vitals.

Sea Crest sighed. “He was just a rookie. This was his first century working with us. If we survive, it will be Hell to deliver the reports to their families,” he said.

“But ya will survive, right?”

“I’ve survived three hundred years in the war and two swims in the volcano realms of the Badlands. I think I can survive a couple of bugs buzzing about,” he said.

The Doctor smiled. “You look like you survived a war of your own, Doctor. I can see it in your eyes. I see fire and rage,” Sea Crest said.

The Doctor fidgeted. Applejack immediately noticed this. “I’ve seen a lot of fire and rage in my days,” he said.

Sea Crest shook his head. “I see your rage, Doctor. I have seen fire in your eyes, sir. Do you regret?”

The Doctor was silent for a moment. “Yes,” he said. “Every bit of it. I try to live beyond that horrible day, but I can never right that wrong. There is no other way.”

Sea Crest nodded. “Apple one, take care of your friend. I fear there will be times where he needs a shoulder to cry on. Nopony can stay strong forever.”

Applejack nodded. Suddenly, another explosion rocked the castle. The hole where Sea Crest flew from was suddenly filled with blood-thirsty Changelings. They immediately attacked with their magic, but Sea Crest immediately responded by forming a shield over the ponies behind him. Already he seemed to be struggling.

Sea Crest strained to hold the shield. Behind him, little Celestia and Luna looked upon him with worry. Luna ran up to Sea Crest and hugged his forehoof. Celestia did the same, fearing for his life.

The guard’s eyes began to water. “There is a secret exit on your left, Doctor. I will hold them back for as long as I can, but you have to move! Get them out of here!”

Applejack's eyes widened. Get them out of here!The Doctor nodded and raised his Screwdriver once more. This time, a lock from the other side of the wall came undone, and the wall spun around, revealing a tunnel. Celestia and Luna didn’t budge from Sea Crest’s legs.

“Luna, Celestia, we have to go,” the Doctor said.

Luna shook her head. “No! Sea Crest, come with us!”

The battered alicorn continued to struggle underneath the shield. His magic was waning. He looked down at the two foals. He wasn’t going to die like the others, but he was a guard. He was supposed to prevent this. His comrades were dying around him, but if he could defeat the Changelings at their source…

Sea Crest made up his mind. Using what he had left of his magic, he thrusted up with his power, knocking the Changelings back. He immediately went on the offense. Charging up his horn, Sea Crest fired a lightning bolt at the Changelings. They all fell over, fried. He led the sisters through the hole, Applejack and the Doctor close behind him. Once the Doctor entered, the door sealed itself.

Thankfully, the Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver also worked as a torch. Keeping a steady rhythm with his instrument of awesomeness, the Doctor lit a path down the tunnel. Of course, Sea Crest stayed in the front with the sisters behind him. The Doctor kept the light with his companion close next to him.

As they walked, Applejack’s mind began to race as her heart went into overdrive. The sudden flash of her parents the night they died upset her deeply. The smell of the Everfree Forest filled her nostrils. It was autumn when they attacked. The howling of the Timberwolves broke through the night, and boy did it frighten the mare today.

‘Big Mac, take your sisters and get out of here! We will hold them off!' her father said to them.

She remembered being dragged by Big Mac with Apple Bloom on her back. The trees were dense and the fog was unbearable. Applejack’s heart began to race as the memory continued to unfold in her head.

Young Applejack heard the piercing screams of what may’ve been her mother behind her. She almost wanted to jump into her memory and rescue them. Maybe she can stop her parent’s deaths.

The memory of arriving back at Sweet Apple Acres brought her temporary relief. She heard herself scream Granny Smith, it’s the Timberwolves!

Somewhere inside the barn, Granny Smith managed to raise the alarm, which was the sound of iron bells. The ringing echoed through to the forest, scaring the Timberwolves away. Applejack’s young heart was racing as the sounds of the Forest were reduced to the grasshopper’s chirping.

“Applejack? Applejack! Wake up!”

The voice echoed through the farm. It was the Doctor calling out to her. Her vision blurred and the last scene she saw was the Sun rising and the Everfree Forest filled with fully armed ponies.

“Applejack! Wake up!”

Applejack’s eyes shot open. Somehow, she collapsed onto the ground of the cave. The Doctor was scanning her with his Screwdriver, searching for whatever was the cause of her blackout. When he saw her eyes opening, the Doctor gave a big sigh of relief. “Are you OK?”

The farm pony looked around her. Sea Crest was with the royal sisters further down the cave. They seemed to have calmed down a little bit because they weren’t crying as much. The Time Lord, however, wasn’t concerned about them at the moment. The sudden shift of attention made the mare blush a little bit.

The Doctor helped Applejack to her hooves. He scanned her one more time with his Screwdriver, convinced something forced her to the ground. Finding nothing to help him, the Doctor gave up. Instead of saying anything, Applejack gave the Doctor a hug. She needed somepony to cry on, but crying wasn’t on the agenda for today.

The Doctor hesitated for a little bit, but returned the hug. “What is that for?” he asked.

“Later,” the farm pony said.

The Doctor didn’t push for any information. “Come on, we have to get out of here. If the Changelings are looking for the little ones, they will be looking for magic. We have to hide.”

Sea Crest came over with the fillies. “I remember a small town where we can stay for the night. I can probably look for a spell to hide our magic for the time being, but we have to go now.”

“Do you have access to the Alicorn Army?”

“No, all castle personnel refrain themselves from the war effort. I was relieved of duty after my service, so I lost personal communication,” Sea Crest said.

The Doctor sighed. “I can’t get my TARDIS from here. No remote control,” he said. “I should probably fix that.”

The guard nodded in agreement. “What’s wrong with your companion?”

The Doctor looked over, expecting Applejack to answer. Silence. “Personal problem. Right now, we need to get out of here. You know the tunnel routes, you lead from here.”

Sea Crest agreed. His horn charged up and they continued walking. This time, Applejack was in front of the Doctor. If she fell over again, he would be there to help her right away.

After 10 more minutes of walking, the 5 ponies found the exit, and with Sea Crest’s magical cloak, left the castle undetected. They followed the river downstream and out of the Forest. They were safe, for now.

Night in hiding

The Sun had set itself after they escaped Everfree Castle, and since there was a village of unicorns nearby, Sea Crest used them as the perfect place to hide their magical powers. Disguising all alicorn magic at their disposal and their wings, the 5 looked more like traveling companions rather than survivors.

Thanks to a kind unicorn, who Applejack said looked very familiar, they had been given a room in a nearby hotel. With a few bits and a couple bales of hay, the 5 set up their room and finally rested. While the Doctor and Sea Crest continued to handle the security, Applejack had tucked in Celestia and Luna. With a blanket over them and a soft pile of hay underneath them, the two quietly fell into their sleep. Applejack smiled as Luna snored into her sister’s ear.

The farm pony removed her hat and placed it on the ground in front of her. The Stetson that was given to her by her father. She remembered her mother and father clearly. It was like she was recalling the day before. The last day she was happy around her parents. With Apple Bloom fresh into the family, Applejack’s father started teaching her how to buck apples. She would normally miss or nearly break her hind legs when she first tried, but after a while, she had gotten used to bucking apples.

If only he could see her now.

The Doctor knocked on the door to the girl’s room. Applejack looked up and opened the door. The Time Lord had a look of concern on his face. “Are you OK?”

Applejack found interest to the ground. The Doctor lifted her head with his hoof. “Well?”

Silence. Applejack looked up at the Time Lord, expecting impatience. Instead, the Doctor showed signs of fatigue and understanding. “It’s ok if you don’t want to say anything. I shouldn’t ask you to divulge information you don’t want to share, but I want you to know that I worry,” he said.

“Ah know, and ah appreciate it, but ah need to make sure of it mahself,” Applejack said.

The Doctor smiled. “Sea Crest has finished with the security detail. Some unicorns are already on high alert with the attack. You just get some rest.”

The thought of rest worried Applejack. “Um, Doctor?”

The Time Lord looked over. “Twilight said that Celestia and Luna had no parents.”

“Well, the history books got confused as time progressed. With so many events in early Equestria, like the Cataclysm, Age of Ice, Chaos Empire, and the Shadow Revolution, history kept getting rewritten. It was after the Age of Ice when Celestia and Luna emerged. The time between the Cataclysm and Age of Ice have been known as the Dark Ages. Separation between the three tribes grew during those dark times, and much of early pony history was burned,” the Doctor said. “There may be a scroll out there with the Alicorn family tree, but that is highly unlikely.”

“Cataclysm?”

“The end of the Alicorn and Draconiqui Empires. The Changeling Empire is believed to survive the event, but there was never a confirmed report. The Cataclysm—”

“—could’ve ended the war in the beginning.”

Both the Doctor and Applejack turned over. Sea Crest was standing by the door with his wings extended. He had a stern look on his face. “The Cataclysm is also a top secret project. Do I need to have a reason to doubt that you are an ally, Doctor?”

The Doctor stood. “You shouldn’t. From our time, the Cataclysm is an event, but you are making it sound like it’s more than that.”

Sea Crest sighed. He walked over, fashioned a bed of hay using his magic, and sat down. “The Cataclysm was an idea pitched by His Highness, King Cosmos. It’s a magical time bomb designed to cut all magical power in the land.”

“So a blackout?”

Sea Crest looked over at the Time Lord. “In a way. We’ve studied a Draconiqui up close. Our science department had discovered that a Draconiqui is born of different body parts of different animals.”

“No kidding,” Applejack mumbled.

The Doctor tried really hard to suppress his laugh. Sea Crest looked at the Earth Ponies with a raised eyebrow. “Well, something like that doesn’t happen naturally. They are born through magic.”

The Doctor looked up. “Oh, now I see.”

Applejack looked at the Doctor. “What?”

“The Draconiqui are composed almost entirely of magic. If we caused a massive magical blackout, yes it would shut down our magic, but we can still fight without it. The Draconiqui depend on magic to survive, and without it—”

“They would die off over time.”

Sea Crest nodded. Applejack, however, was confused. “Wasn’t that what that fella Silverstar wanted?”

“Silverstar tried running at them head first. This is using the mind over strength. We were trying to even the playing field, but his…er, intervention set us back a few centuries.”

The Doctor looked over at Sea Crest. “But that’s still considered genocide.”

Sea Crest sighed. “We didn’t intend on killing them all off. All the royal family wanted was the Alicorns and Draconiqui working together to bring harmony. That is the work of the gods.”

“You’re wrong. If the goal was to create peace and harmony, holding a magical timebomb over their heads would not accomplish that. By creating the Cataclysm, you guaranteed the continued rise of the Draconiqui," the Doctor said.

“It was the only option we had. Either we eliminate all magic or continue fighting until magic kills us all. We made our choice by creating the Cataclysm—”

“—which may be back at the castle.”

Sea Crest froze. “If the Changelings know about that weapon, and they use it, they can hunt and kill whoever stands in their way. You left the codes of the Doomsday device wide open, now they need to find it!”

The alicorn started to hyperventilate. “But-but it’s heavily guarded by the strongest alicorns in existence. They won’t be able to get to it—”

“—unless every alicorn in the castle went to war against the Changelings that invaded.”

Applejack started to worry now for the foals. “But Doctor, their future—”

“There might not be a future if the Cataclysm is used against the world. Time is in flux, Applejack. Anything can happen. Celestia and Luna might not even live long enough to see the throne,” the Doctor said.

“Then we have to stop ‘em!”

“HOW?!” Sea Crest shouted. He realized the fillies in the room and hushed his voice. “I mean, how? We have no army, no king, no queen, and at the moment, no power to stop them.”

“But we have princesses.”

The Doctor and Sea Crest looked over at Applejack. “Yes, I completely forgot.”

Sea Crest smiled, but it quickly disappeared. “But, they’re too young.”

“So? A princess is a princess, right?”

The Doctor smiled. “Yes, and they are just at the right age to tap into their vast storage of raw magic. Their Magic Cores are producing tons of energy by the minute now, if I remember the aging process of alicorns correctly,” the Doctor said.

“You’re correct,” Sea Crest said. “For an Earth Pony, you sure know quite a lot about magic.”

The Doctor smiled. “In my old dimension, science dominated the Universe. Here, it’s the same, but more advanced. I’m still learning some of pony anatomy and history.”

Applejack smiled. “Ok, we need to get the sisters back into the castle somehow without detection. We can’t use magic, can we?”

Sea Crest shook his head. “Unless we want them to know what we are doing, I suggest stealth. If we can fight them off, we can use the Cataclysm to—”

“No.”

Sea Crest looked over. Both the Doctor and Applejack stood together. “If the Cataclysm backfires, we all could feel its effects.”

“No more magic. No future,” Applejack said.

“But-but it’s a temporary effect. We take their magic, drive them away, and wait for the effects to wear off. That’s the beauty of the Cataclysm: we can use magic again afterwards,” Sea Crest said.

“But they’ll be back.”

The Doctor smiled. The gears in his head started to turn, and all his past lives began chatting in his head. They all came to the same conclusion. A plan that would keep the Changelings in check for a few thousand years. Applejack noticed his thinking face and became concerned.

Sea Crest also expressed concern, but after a few moments to think about it, he too came to the conclusion. Applejack felt almost left out because of the two geniuses in the room. Celestia and Luna were asleep, but they probably had the same idea.

The Doctor looked over at Applejack. “How well do you know the castle?”

“Not much like Sea Crest,” she said.

“Well, we need some help. It appears this plan cannot go through without some sort of organist playing in the background, if you know what I’m saying.”

Applejack raised her eyebrow. “Ya want me behind the curtain…again?”

“Well, this time you are pulling the strings. You will be putting on the greatest musical the Everfree Castle had ever seen. It’ll be mind-blowing, and the king of the Changelings will be bouncing all over the place.”

Applejack caught what he was saying, and smiled evilly. She was lucky to have Pinkie around that organ. “Ah’ll need to practice.”

“Excellent. We grab the Cataclysm, blast the Changelings away, and save our future.”

The three ponies cheered quietly. “Ok then, we have an empire to recapture.”

“Right! We should get started—”

“—when the Sun comes up.”

The three agreed. Sea Crest yawned and made himself comfortable in his bed of hay. Applejack did the same, but noticed the Doctor didn’t do anything for sleep. “Aren’t ya going to sleep?”

The Doctor shook his head. “I’m not much of a sleeper.”

“Well, ya are now tonight. Ah got some space left on mah hay pile. Ya can sleep here tonight,” Applejack said.

“But I—”

Applejack gave him a stern look. The Doctor, admitting defeat, agreed and joined his companion on the pile of hay. Applejack curled up on one side while the Doctor did the same on the other. Once he rested his body on the hay, the Doctor suddenly felt some exhaustion wash over him. Applejack turned her face away from the Doctor, and felt herself grow hot at the face area.

He’s the first pony to sleep by me.

She looked over at the Time Lord, who was already snoring quietly. She turned her head back over.

Why did ah do that?!

Back to the Castle

The Doctor yawned as he awoke from his dreamless sleep. Since he didn’t make it a habit of sleeping, he didn’t know what to dream about. His mind was rushing as his past lives debated the structure of the plan. He knew that this plan needed to go perfectly, otherwise Celestia and Luna will never reach the throne and Twilight will never reach her destiny.

Maybe that won’t be so bad, especially with what Starswirl saw, he thought to himself.

The Time Lord shook his head. Twilight’s future isn’t set in stone…yet. She has 2,000 years until she decides whether or not to accept her fate. I hope you were wrong, Starswirl, because the world isn’t ready for the End to come.

The Doctor sighed. He rose from the hay he shared with Applejack. He walked out of the room and out the door leading to the balcony. The door creaked as it opened, but the Doctor didn’t mind. Greeting him was the rising sun. The colors of red, orange and yellow danced above his head, welcoming a new day. The Time Lord knew, however, this day was going to end in one of two ways: victory for the Alicorn Empire or the end of all magic in Equestria.

The Doctor sighed as he replayed yesterday’s events. Celestia and Luna managed to watch as their parents were destroyed and the castle they thought was safe was attacked. It is sad that there will be plenty of chaos in their lives before they can find peace. Just the idea of it made the Doctor wish he could alter their timelines, but even couldn’t do that.

Behind him, the door opened. The Doctor turned to see his companion standing at the doorway without her Stetson. She had bags under her eyes and her mane suggested that she didn’t sleep well.

“You look awful,” the Doctor said.

“Ya look worse,” Applejack responded.

The two chuckled. “You look like you had a nightmare,” the Time Lord pointed out.

Applejack bowed her head and kicked the straw on the balcony. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Silence came from the companion. “Problems don’t go away when you keep them to yourself, you know that right?”

“Well, yeah but—”

“I understand if you don’t want to share what’s been bothering you. I won’t pry, but I just want you to know that if you isolate yourself with a problem, the problem will grow into a situation, and it will be difficult to remove. My door is always open,” he said.

Applejack looked up. Her heart started to beat faster than one of Rainbow Dash when she performs a Sonic Rainboom. “Ah need to ask ya somethin.’”

“Go ahead,” he said.

“Do ya find yerself feeling regret when ya lost yer family?”

The Doctor sighed. “Yes.”

Applejack looked up. “I’ve felt regret, mainly because I was too scared to use the power I had to save them. Instead of using my brilliant mind to save them, I used an old weapon that destroyed them. I had to face a difficult choice. Either stay in the war and watch the Universe burn and later die, or destroy both my people and the Daleks with me at the heart of the explosion. Either way, I died that day. Stay and die or fix everything and die.”

He paused. “I wanted to die that day. I wanted my body to erupt in flames as my regeneration kills me but the Universe didn’t give me that salvation. I survived when I didn’t want to. I guess in the end, the Universe saved me. Because I survived, I base every action on what happened on Gallifrey that day. Either everybody dies, or everyone goes home and lives another day. Gallifrey falling is my strength that I use every day to ensure it never happens again to any civilization.”

Applejack looked down. “What about ponies ya lost, like family or companions?”

The Doctor smiled. “Every companion I’ve ever had brought something incredible to the TARDIS. Losing them over time has taken a toll on my hearts, but what they bring in the TARDIS never leaves. They turn me more human, in this case pony, every day. Their strength is my strength. The strength of your parents is your strength as well.”

Applejack looked up. “Ah didn’t mention mah folks.”

“You didn’t need to. I sensed what was troubling you yesterday.”

The farm pony sighed. “Either ah stay with ‘em and die, or ah run and die inside. Either way, ah died that night.”

The Doctor smiled. “Your parents saved you from an early death. They knew you will become somepony simply amazing. Let’s prove them right.”

Applejack smiled. Then from the doorway to the house, Sea Crest cleared his throat. The time travelers looked up. “Good Morning Sea Crest. Sleep well?”

“Not really, but I think I can manage.” He looked out toward the Everfree Forest. “Today is the day, isn’t it?”

“Well, tonight is probably the best time. There’s a storm coming, and I do believe it is the best time to hit the Changelings hard,” the Doctor said.

Sea Crest sighed impatiently. “I just want this nightmare done and over with.”

“And it will end, we just need to go over the plan.”

“He’s right,” Applejack said.

The alicorn guard sighed. “Very well.”

The Doctor smiled as he looked out toward the Everfree Forest. “Time is in flux. That means anything can happen and the future can be changed. This is where we are: we have the Princesses, the last of the royal family sleeping in the house. We have a castle filled to the brim with Changelings and maybe the king himself. We have a doomsday device that, if it is unlocked, can cause a magical blackout that can destroy the future for all of us, and we have the Draconiqui Empire silent as the grave somewhere in the world. Am I forgetting anything?”

“Yes, you’re forgetting the fact that if this does not work, I have the full power of the Alicorn Empire to activate the Cataclysm as a Plan B,” Sea Crest said.

Applejack sighed. “That is not an option,” the Doctor said.

The alicorn approached the Time Lord. “I’m sorry, but which one of us is a royal member of the Alicorn guard? Which one of us actually fought in the war against the Draconiqui? ME!”

“And which one of us knows that if the Cataclysm doesn’t work, the whole future will be doomed? Celestia and Luna have a great destiny ahead of them, one that will span eons and be remembered as the Time of Peace that lasts over 6,000 years. If Celestia and Luna die because the Cataclysm was never tested, you destroyed the future,” the Doctor said.

Sea Crest growled. “Doctor, I am acting on orders—”

“From a dead empire! Face it, the Cataclysm is a weapon that can be used against anypony and everypony. It will be taken apart once we get inside,” the Doctor said. “End of discussion.”

Sea Crest huffed in annoyance. “Ok, Applejack I hope you remember how to use the organ inside the castle. Now, I bet there will be guards both inside and out. Once you are clear of the guards inside, I need you to take the ones outside. I checked the castle last night and I saw two on the towers. I assume you can deliver.”

Applejack smiled. “Ah promise ah’ll always deliver,” she said.

“Ok. Once the guards are gone, Sea Crest and I will enter through the front. I’ll give you some earpieces so we communicate. I will give you the hallway number of where the guards are the heaviest. You take care of them, we get inside, and we wing it from there.”

The alicorn sat up. “Whoa wait a minute. Did you say ‘wing it’?”

“Yup,” the Doctor said.

Sea Crest facehoofed. “Wing it? You are going to infiltrate the most heavily guarded structure in the whole world and just wing it??” He laughed. “I must still be asleep right now, because there is no way on any world that winging it is considered a plan!”

“Well guess what? Not everything in life is planned. There is room for improvising in anything in life. We can get this all done with no problem, I guarantee you. Nopony else will die tonight,” he promised.

Applejack looked at the Doctor. She knew when ponies were lying, and the Doctor was lying through his teeth. While he was, he was trying his hardest to tell the truth at the same time. This pony is really confusing, she thought to herself.

Sea Crest looked back to the house. “What about the girls?”

“I say leave them behind, mainly because what we are about to do will pretty much declare war against the Changelings,” the Doctor said.

The alicorn guard chuckled. He looked at the Time Lord with darkness in his eyes. “They started a war when they attacked and killed my comrades. Trust me, they will be begging for mercy once we are done,” said.

Applejack took a defensive stance. The Doctor only shook his head. “We move at nightfall.”

Thunder crashed as lightning ripped the night sky apart. Over the course of the afternoon, clouds coming from the Badlands began rolling into the kingdom. The winds picked up, making flying a challenge for pegasi and Changelings all over. Changelings, who had no control over the Sun and Moon, allowed the cycle to resume naturally instead of forcing their will upon it. The Changelings had every corner of the castle well-guarded, including the TARDIS sitting just in front of the bridge.

Hidden in a bush near the South Wall was Applejack. Her mission was as simple as it was: sneak into the castle. While she was with the girls when they fully explored the castle, she managed to find some secret entrances all over the place. The 400th torch handle in the lower levels of the castle opened a secret room that led directly to the throne room and so on. Twilight had fun with those.

Applejack snuck up to the wall and pushed a stone. Immediately, a section of the ground near her gave way to a staircase that led into the castle. With a wild grin on her face, the earth pony ventured off into the interior.

Enter the stronghold!