The End of Time And All Things

"So then what happened?"

"The one closest to me raised its weapon, there was a very bright flash, and then I woke up"

Celestia and Luna were walking down one of the dimly lit hallways near their personal chambers. Being only # in the morning, the entire castle was silent. No maids were cleaning, no nobles causing a ruckus with anypony they didn't like. The few night guards that were stationed throughout the castle were being as proffesional as ever. At least when the princesses were nearby. It was no secret to the princesses that the perfect posture, the stoic faces the dead-serious attitude that the day and night guards were known for didnt always carry on when the guards were left unattended.  Especially with the newer, less experienced guards. Celestia was glad that the castle was so empty at this time. There was nopony around to see her in such an unkept state. It was the fifth night in a row now that Celestia had woken up in a cold sweat. Something she was not accustomed to.

"Tia please! Allow me access to your dreams. I cannot help  you unless I can confront whatever it is that is causing your nightmares directly. For something to be able to give somepony such as yourself such terrible frights, it would have to be quite good at what it does, and most likely will be near impossible for you to stop alone. Letting me enter your dreams is just the first step."

Luna, you have managed to convince me to share with you my nightmares while in the waking world. You know how hard that was for me to do because you know how much I love and want to protect you. After all, I did have to take your place as mistress of the night during your banishment. The dream realm is nothing new for me. Whatever it is that is causing my nightmares is very powerful and it could infect your mind too."

"Tia, I am the master of the night. You may have had one thousand years of practice, but I am at one with the dream realm. I hardly think-"

"Luna please."

"No sister! I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I am not a filly anymore. You know you need my help, just as I needed yours over a thousand years ago when my mind turned sour. I won't let you say "no" to try to protect me. Not again, not this time."

Luna had stopped and turned to Celestia. When Celestia turned to look Luna in the eye, Luna could see the effect that nearly a week of stress and disrupted sleep due to fear had had on her. She tried her best to hide it but Luna's trained eye it was plainly visible. It caused Luna's gaze to soften a bit when she realized how much her sister was trying to deal with.

"Tia, this it the worst one of your dreams yet. It is the first time these creatures you described have made it all the way into your chambers. They were going to kill you no doubt. Let me enter your dreams. I can help you. You know that you need it."

Celestia looked away to hide the tear slowly sliding down her cheek. She knew Luna wouldn't let up about this. She knew she needed Luna's help. She knew Luna wanted to help. Every night it was the same thing. She'd be standing there, useless, as Luna was killed right in front of her. Every night she would just stand there, speechless, as Luna's life was taken, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't even lift a hoof to save her. There would be no blood, no visible injury. Just dead at the hooves of the nightmare creatures. She still knew though, that Luna was the only pony in all Equestria who could possibly end these night terrors.

Without looking at Luna, and hanging her head low, She said,"I will let you enter my dreams. I will not, however, let you attempt to aid me in any way." Then in a quieter voice she said,"I couldn't bear knowing that I had the chance to protect you from harm and again failed."

Celestia began walking away, the clip-clop of her hooves being the only noise that echoed up and down the hall. Luna just watched her go. Celestia was very protective of Luna and she could understand that. Luna doubted she would have lasted half as long as her sister if Celestia was suddenly gone by Luna's own hoof.Plus she'd only been back for barely more than five years. So much had changed during her banishment. New customs, new laws, new towns and cities, and Celestia had been there to help Luna every step of the way. Celestia was there for Luna. Now Luna hoped she could do the same.

Later that day, at Twilight's castle

"Spike!"

"SPIKE!"

"SPIKE!!!"

"Geez Twilight. What is it?"

"What's taking you so long?"

"I've only been over here for like five minutes"

"That's five minutes wasted! What are you even doing in the comic book section?"

"Well you did tell me to get every book we had that had anything to do with the ultraverse"

Twilight barely managed to stop herself from facefoofing. "It's multiverse, not ultraverse. And I am not going to use a comic book as a reference for what could be a huge scientific discovery"

"I only did what you asked" the dragon said defensively.

Twilight was about to retort, but settled for sighing reluctantly and saying,"Fine, you did follow instructions. I should have been more specific. I also should have known that you couldn't resist straying over to the comic books." Spike smiled sheepishly at that. Doesn't matter. It looks like you've gotten all of the other books anyway. Let's get reading!"

"What! Do I have to?"

"Yes Spike, you have to read too. This is important. That wave of wild magic that I felt yesterday didn't come from the everfree."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that that magic came from the other direction."

"Ok so what's in the other direction?" Spike was only a little more curious now.

"The only thing that's in the other direction is the rest of Equestria. While it is strange for ambient, wild magic to go very far past the boarders of Equestria, for it to come from directly within the kingdom is downright concerning."

"But why would you assume it came from inside Equestria? Wouldn't it just have come from beyond the boarders on the other side?"

"That's what I thought too, but when I tried to trace it back to it's origin just in case, I found that it didn't come from outside the boarders. Do you know what that means spike?"

"What?"

Twilight gave him her best 'really?' face. "It means that it somehow simply came into existence right here, within our boarders!"

"Uh, wow?"

"Wow is right spike. Wow."

"So then where in Equestria did it come from?"

Twilight conjured up a map of Euestria. "Here" she said after marking the spot of designation with a red X. "It's just a couple miles north of ponyville. Instead of simply panning out in all directions like most would expect, it was a bit uneven. Basically almost all of it came in this direction so the princesses most likely didn't sense it.

Now, while it's never really been proven that other universes exist, that magic had to have come from somewhere, and something about it didn't feel right either. It was different than what I would normally feel from the everfree. It coming from another universe is the only plausible explination. I mean you cant just move magic from one place, and release it in another."

Spike was really interested now. "Are you saying that it was magic from another universe?"

"I'm saying it's a probability"

"Cool! Just like in that one comic of Supermare!"

Twilight sat down and levitated over several books."Ok, enough talking. We need to start reading."

"Do I really have to?"

Twilight noticed the dismayed look on his face. "I'll take you to Sugar Cube Corner when were done."

Before Twilight had even finished, Spike had opened the first book he could get his claws on.

Meanwhile, in another part of the same universe

Ditzy and the Doctor were back in the TARDIS, now orbiting a planet below.  The Doctor always in his cheery attitude said,"So, Ditzy, what did you think of Barcellona?"

The grey mare giggled. "It was so amazing! I didn't know dogs without noses could be so cute"

The Doctor's gaze became a little distant when she said that. "Yeah, it was fun wasn't it"

"Doctor, what is it?"

Quickly, the Doctor returned to his usual cheeriness. "Nothing! Just some old memories. No use worrying about the past, right? Barcellona! Such a festive civilization. Can you believe that was a slow day for them?"

The Doctor then jumped over to the console. "Anyway, where should we go next? Somewhere fun, somewhere relaxing? Somewhere eye opening? I wonder if the Ood exist in this universe"

"Doctor" Ditzy said through her giggles. "It's my turn remember? You got to take me around the universe for a week. Now i get to show you around Equestria for a week."

"Oh, right. Well that should be fun. We could spend a day in Canterlot with the nobles. Maybe we could meet the princesses."

"I was thinking more social. I think I wanna show you around Ponyville. My friends would love to meet you."

"Ok that sounds like fun too. Not many of my companions have introduced me to their friends."

He began running around the room, flipping switches, pushing buttons, and turning knobs. He then stopped and pointed to a large handle with his hoof. "Would you care to do the honors?"

Ditzy laughed and ran forward with the biggest smile on her face. she flipped it, but as soon as she did so the whole TARDIS began to shake violently. "What did I screw up this time!?"

"I don't know what's wrong. Whatever it is, you didn't do it, I'm sure" the Doctor said as he struggled against the vibrations to stand. he looked up at Ditzy hovering in the air, free from the shaking. "Well you certainly have it easy, don't you?" he half shouted. Ditzy just blushed.

"Help me get the monitor where I can see it." Ditzy did as he asked and after nearly falling over once the Doctor looked at the screen and what he saw scared him.

Hi's fright must have been visible because Ditzy cautiously asked,"Doctor what is it?"

The Doctor didn't answer as he started to quickly push buttons and turn knobs. Ditzy tried again,"Doctor, you can tell me. What's wrong?"

A bit forcefully the Doctor answered,"We have to get out of here now!"

Just as he finished saying that the shaking increased dramatically in magnitude which only served to make the doctor work even faster to try to work the TARDIS controls. Ditzy just watched him frantically run around, doing this and that at a speed that made her dizzy. As he ckept going he began to even talk to his machine. "Come on! Cme on ol' girl! I know you can do it! Don't give up no-"

Suddenly all was quiet. Ditzy and the Doctor just stayed quiet,waiting for something to happen. Neither made a sound. The silence was a bit unnerving after what had just happened.

Ditzy decided to be the first to speak. "Doctor, what was that?"

The Doctor slowly turned to face Ditzy. "That was a crack, Ditzy"

"A crack in what"

"In space, in time. A crack that can't simply be fixed. Nor can it  simply be created. It was a crack in the universe. We just happened to be sitting on top of it back at Barcelona. The moment the TARDIS started entering the time vortex the crack started to get bigger. When it got big enough it tried to suck us into the void"

"What's that?"

"The void? Well you see, there are an infinite number of universes. All that ever could happen, will happen. It's the way the multiverse works. A different universe for every possible chain of events. The space in-between these universes is called the void. The void is nothing. Nothing exists there because nothing can exist there. When a crack like the one we just experienced happens, everything that is in the mediate vicinity, and has traveled through the void gets sucked back in. I've been through the void with my TARDIS before. That's why it tried to suck us in. You were just along for the ride."

"What does this mean?" Ditzy asked

"Well, it clearly means that something ins very wrong with the void"

"What's wrong with it?"

"I don't know" A slight smile crept its way onto the Doctors face. "But that's why were going to find out together. Allons-y!" he exclaimed as he pulled another lever and the TARDIS began to move through space and time, towards another adventure.