Prologue.
The barren sand covered world was not what one was used to seeing on the glorious planet known as Earth, but this wasn’t the same Earth where human dwell this was an Earth from an altered time line in a alternate universe. This was an Earth in which alicorns once lived, but now no more. All that is left of this fantastical race are two sisters slowly starving to death. Two little fillies mourning the death of their elders and parents weeping their eyes out and waiting for death to claim them “Tiana...are we...we going to die?” the younger alicorn asked, her coat a midnight purple and a cauliflower blue mane, her flank was blank. The elder sister, a pink flowing mane and a dirt covered white coat couldn’t bear look at her little sister as she spoke “Yes” She said gravely, “But Lucy, you must be brave...and...you mustn’t fear the end, we...we’ll be with the other shortly my sweet Lucy Lou....” The elder laid beside her little sister trying to ignore they empty stomachs and ghastly forms that lacked muscle or any short.
“Your lives need not end this way, for we can help. All we ask...is when we call upon you, give us your aid”
The two sisters looked up in awe as an aura of pure light washed the sisters and coated the world in blinding light....
Chapter 1:
Shadows.....
“AH!” A magenta colored female pegasus screamed as she sat up in bed, “Whoa...super weird dream...” The filly turned to her clock and nearly screamed again “I’m late! Oh my Celestia!” She scrambled out of bed and tumbled to the floor “No time for food! Gotta jet!” The pegasus freed herself from her sheets and kicked open her bedroom window “Hello morning sun!” Spreading her wings she took to the air and rushed towards her destination, Canterlot castle. This filly had a very important job to do! This filly whose name is Swift Heart or to her friends Swifty was the royal messenger for Princess Celestia and Luna. It was her job to deliver letters from them to other leaders around the globe! It was a job she loved, it was a career of her dreams.
Traveling everywhere and seeing everything that could be seen. Her cutie mark wasn’t a compass rose for her talent wasn’t navigation, her talent was more corny in her opinion. This fillies talent was following her dreams or rather working hard to make her dreams come true. Some ponies would say her talent was following her heart, she’d laugh and blush at shake her head. Upon her flank was a red heart with tiny white wings sitting at the base looking ready to fly off towards the endless sky.
Swift flew into the open window of the Princess’ throne room and landed before the regal mares “Your highness’ I’m sorry for being late, I beg forgiveness!” She said bowing low to the ground. The white regal mare and her little sister smiled at the magenta colored pegasus and giggled “Swift Heart, you say that every morning and not one have you actually been late” Celestia said smiling, Luna nodded “Thou must protest, dear Swift Heart thou art the most prompt of ponies we have seen in a thousand years” The moon princess said gently, “But tis not the time for pleasantries, there are more pressing matters we need to address this moment” Luna said standing to her hooves, Celestia stood as well
“My little messenger, this matter is very grave...for years we have had peace with the griffin kingdom to the North; however, the griffin army has invaded our boarder. They’ve killed an estimated number of 100 ponies and enslaved triple that number...you are to go and deliver this message to Emperor Redwing, this message will inform him of what happened and ask of him to meet with me. I do not believe he would initiate war with us, you will be the envoy of peace in my stead. I would send an ambassador...but apparently his sprained his hoof while power walking” The Princess said while rolling her eyes “Swift Heart...I wish you the best of luck on this mission..be safe my little pony” Celestia said levitating the message over to Swift Heart and placing it in a saddle bag and setting it on the pegasus’ back.
“Your highness I will not let you down!” Swift Heart said spreading her wings opened and standing up. “I’ve been to the North Griffin Kingdom many times, and I know the Emperor is kind, I’ll get him to listen!” She said determinedly and with a flap of her wings took to the sky and soared out the window into the sky....
Meanwhile, in a time and place not of Equastria’s Earth. A strange blue box was rocking, shaking, and tumbling quite terribly while a strange man runs around smashing buttons with this fingers, using hammers to ring bells that seemed randomly placed all over the console on the machine board. “Oh no, no, no, no! Come on old sexy don’t fail me now!” The Doctor said trying to figure out why his little blue box was acting out as such. A rather violent jolt threw the Doctor to the ground as box began spinning 180 degrees in all directions “Oh! I think I’m going to lose my fish and chips!” He shouted as he clutched unto anything that seemed stable, it was better then being flung around like a “My fez!” He shouted as a familiar red hat went flying past him and out of his reach “Now I’ll never find it! Drat...I can buy a new fez” He said almost pouting at the thought of losing his beloved fez again.
The TARIDS began leveling out, the Doctor let out a sigh of relief thinking the turbulence was over. Sadly this was only the calm of the storm to come as blue bolts of lighting shot through the time machine and throughly elector shocked the poor time lord “AH!” He cried as he crippled upon the floor, the last thing he could recall was a strange shifting feeling within his body as his sight drifted off into darkness.
When he woke, it was to a loud banging on his front door, the Doctor blinked and sat up “What?” Another bang resounded “What?” He asked again getting up this time; however, he found it hard to stand on two legs suddenly “what?” He shook his head as the banging began to get frantic. Frantic normally meant someone was in danger, someone in danger meant they were panicking, without a thought to his sudden inability to stand on two Doctor rushed to the door and opened it. In a flash of pink a creature rushed in and slammed the door shut as two rather loud thumps hit his poor TARDIS.
Doctor looked at his new visitor, “What?” He blinked again and shook his head wondering what he was seeing exactly “Pardon me for asking....are you...a pegasus?” he questioned the pink winged horse...no pony...too small for a horse! A pink pony! That was every earth girl’s dream!
Said pony looked up at him, its backed pinned to the door as if hoping whatever was chasing it would be barricaded, “Yes...and where in the world have you been to ask such a strange question?” The fact it, no SHE replied amazed Doctor. The Doctor decided to take a good long look at his visitor before further questioning as his hand...hand? He looked down at his hand and gasped “AH! My hand is gone!” He was going to use his fingers to turn on the shield; however, the fact he no longer had hand or fingers would make the task quite hard “A hoof?” He gulped and looked at his body “AH! I’m a horse!” He look at himself gasping loudly.
“Uh...your an Earth pony what’s the big deal! And how is this box so much bigger on the inside?!” The pink pegasus said looking at him as if he were a mad colt, which as of five minutes ago, he was! He was a mad colt with a box!
The Doctor look over himself, dark brown fur coat, a tattoo on his rump...now that he noticed the mare had a tattoo on her rump, he’d have to ask about these rump marks when he got the chance....a loud bang on the door broke his musings as he finally turned on the shields “Now then, the shields are up whatever is chasing you can’t get in!” He said happily and watched as the pegasus seemed to tentatively relax...it probably helped that the banging stopped.
The little pony settled on all four hooves and walked forward “Listen...I’m really sorry for kind of barging on your home like this and once night falls I swear! I’ll be right out of your mane! Just till night fall, please do not send me away or they’ll get me and my efforts will be in vain!” She said with a serious look on her face.
“Tell me...what is it, or rather whom are you running from?” The Doctor asked rubbing his new hoof on his chin, “And if possible I would like to know the name of my house guest” He said with a smile. The pink pony scratched her head and chuckled nervously “Well for starters, my name is Swift Heart. My friends call me Swifty! As for the ones chasing me...I think I need to start from one hours ago...” she said trailing off.
“Flying through the airway, Making the right stops. Through a storybook of places
Making all my drops!” Sang the little pony, “See the cliffs of the diamond falls, and over to the right the snowy white-capped mountains majestic, standing bright!” Swift Heart sang swooping up into the air with an elegant loop de loop as she spread out her legs as if she were mimicking an eagle, “Hey don't you know that I’m off to see the world I’m off to find my dreams!” She closed her eye and began spirally upwards into the clouds
“Why is my heart beating so fast?” She opened her eyes and placed both her hooves over her heart “Why is there suddenly a brand new hope inside of me that will surely last! Hey don't you know that I’m off to see the world!”
“I’m off to find things new. So I will follow every clue! Just thing there suddenly
A chance to find it in all I dreamed in dreams come true!” She sang melodically as her hooves touched down on a tree limb. Something shot past her “AH!” She reared up startled by the sudden intrusion to her singing as she fell backwards “Whose there!” She demanded quickly getting to her hooves as she looked around for whatever it was that shoot past her.
“Well, well, well” A gruff voice said catching Swift’s attention, “Who are you?” She asked again facing the shadows now as buff looking griffin stepped into the light followed by two other griffin, “So your the little pony sent to give dear old Emperor Redwing, Princess Celestia’s precious letter” The male griffin said in a sarcastic tone, “Well too bad for you, because I so happen to love money! Money made through war can make a griffin rich ya know so..better fly little pony! Griffin’s are omnivorous and I’ve got a craving for pony flesh” He remarked as Swift heart took a few steps back, “W..wait! What are you doing? Don’t you want peace?” She asked backing away as the imposing Griffin stalked forward “Peace? How lame! I like the thought of being rich! Better yet, I like the thought of eliminating you prissy ponies!” The Griffin and his subordinates lunged at her.
Acting fast Swift Heart took to the air and flew as fast as her little wings could, she had to admit this was the first time anypony tried to kill the innocent messenger “Can’t we talk about this?!” She shouted not even looking back at her perusers for fear they might be closer then they sounded. She heard them screeching from behind, it felt like her heart was going to burst from fear! The magenta pony closed her eyes, she knew closing her eyes was the worse thing to do when flying but some part of her felt that urge not to look, which was a bad thing considering she didn’t see that blue box appear right in front of her.
Swift Heart slammed head first into the large blue box and crashed to the ground “Oh no” She turned back and saw the Griffins gaining and for all she was worth began banging on the door, even if it was cramped in there better inside then out!
“And then I banged on the door a few times, before tumbling in, you said ‘what’ a few times began freaking out! Followed by asking me who was chasing and that is everything up to now!” Swift said quickly glancing back at the door.
“Did you...really sing?” Doctor asked cocking his head to the side, “Yes...yes I did, loud sounds frighten off the timber wolves in this area” Swift answered simply enough with a smile, “Now if only I could figure out where those griffins are...I have to get to the griffin kingdom!” She said determined turning to the door. “If I may ask, why are they after you?” The Doctor asked stepping forward, he was getting the hang of four legs!
Swift Heart sighed “I’m Princess Celestia and Luna’s royal messenger, and currently I’m being sent to the North to meet with Emperor Redwing, his army at our conjoined boarder has attack Equestria lands, killed innocent ponies and enslaved thousand. I was ordered to deliver a message.” She turned and faced him, “She wishes to meet with him in hopes of talking peace. She believes Redwing would never attack our kingdom, and want to make him aware of the situation and salvage what we can...” She said frowning, “But...I’ll admit I’ve never had that happen!” She said pointing to the door she came through, “Being hunted by Griffins is a first! I mean manticors, yes. Timber wolves, definitely!”
“I rather like this Princess....” The Doctor said, without another word he began rushing around the control console, making what use he could of his new found hooves “You are a lucky pegasus to have found me! Because today I am going to make sure you get that letter to his royal highness and stop this impending war!" the time pony said as the box began shaking, “Whoa! How do you plan on doing that?” Swift Heart asked trying to stay on her hooves, “I plan on doing that with my little blue box” The crazy stallion said, “Frankly it’s amazing that the TARDIS even has power! Different universe and all!” He spoke excitedly, of course Swift Heart didn’t understand a thing he was saying...
Everything became still, “Alright then! Here we are the Kingdom to the North!” The Doctor said smiling at the filly, “What? But...how...all this box was shake a bit” Swift said turning her head towards the door, “Go take a look! Though since I don’t know the geography of this world I may be off by a few miles....or months...” he looked away as he said that scratching his chin with his hoof. Swift Heart turned to the door and gulped, well if she was eaten she’d come back and haunt him! She wondered what it would be like to be a ghost? Would she loose all feeling? Well time to find out! Swift took a deep breath and pulled opened the door.
The little pegasus blinked as she stepped out, “How...how!?” All around her was the Griffin city in all it’s glory, she really was in the capital! Her head turned and she smiled “Amazing! Simply amazing!” She said laughing and jumping about, Doctor followed behind her and watched with a strange sense of amusement as the little filly pranced around. “We have to get to the castle! Come on Doctor!” The magenta colored mare grabbed the Doctor and began dragging him off, of course the Doctor was going to follow anyway so it was a pleasant surprise when Swift Heart took the initiative to drag him along “You helped me get this far, it only right you come with me the rest of the way!” Swift said smiling.
The two ponies trotted quickly through the Griffin city, Swift Heart pointing out a few building here and there and giving a brief history of it. The Doctor impressed as he was, couldn’t help but be reminded of Russia during its renaissance. All around him were marvelous structures built by the clawed paws of Griffin architects, the style and form were all so similar and yet so new. It was a sense of awe to walk through the city being made before his eyes; however, he noticed there was primitive technology also adding in the work. One must remember when dealing with the Doctor, ancient technology to him was a lifting crane and bulldozer. They seemed out of place, and yet they there were lifting materials up while sculptures continued to work. Such an odd sight for him to see. However something was off, the Griffins who lived here where looking at them, with a strange look in their eyes....fear...but not fear of them, but fear for them.
“Doctor! Doctor look! Oh isn’t it marvelous! You’ll never see a church like this again! No seriously...you...I heard Emperor Redwing’s ancestor gouged out the eyes of the architect that designed this castle, because he didn’t want the griffin to build an even more magnificent palace then his!” Swift Heart said as the Doctor admired the beauty and the magnificent colors of the palace before him. “Its beautiful....” The Doctor said simply, the statues carved into the walls, the gargoyles mourning on the ledges, and walls covered in brilliant shinning gem stones titled intricately in a fancy design
“Simply amazing, I must say its truly a marvel to see such a grand castle” Doctor said rubbing his chin, upon seeing the church he knew this kingdom was indeed what would be Russia in the universe he was from, before him stood Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Swift Heart simply smiled “Well on to Terem Palace! That’s where the Emperor resides, its not opened to the public sadly” She said trotting off. Doctor shook off his discomfort, he truly was in a pony-verse which amazed him. He had figured that all shifts to alternate dimensions was all but impossible, so how was it even possible for him to be here or for the TARDIS to be even working? Something seemed off...
“AHH” The scream broke his thought as his head snapped to attention just in time to see a clawed paw dragging Swift Heart away into the shadows “Ms. Heart!” He shouted charging in head first, and watched as several griffins ran off with her. Narrowing his eyes he followed behind them, at his new forms top speed. Doctor had to get to her, he didn’t know what was going on but he couldn’t simply let her get hurt before his eyes, not when he was the one that brought her here. He watched as the griffins dove into what appeared to be an abandoned a building of some shorts and thus followed them in the metal door slamming shut behind him. “ALRIGHT! LISTEN UP” He shouted at the top of his lungs.
The griffins turned to him and dropped Swift Heart, “I’m the Doctor and if there is one thing you should NEVER do its make me an enemy! And taking my friend is the sure fired way to do so.” There was a deadly tone to his voice as he approached them. The door behind him opened making the Doctor turn his head, he came fact to beak with yet another griffon “Prince Ivan!” Swift Heart suddenly shouted and ran past the Doctor and gave the new comer a friendly hug.
“Oh Swift Heart I’m so glad your all right! Thank goodness my guards found you before my older brother did!” The griffin name Ivan said returning his friend’s hug, his feather were a dark crimson, his fur a deep shade of brown, and his eyes a bright green. “You must leave the country! Fast! Your lives are in danger simply by being here!”
Swift heart was in shock, “No! I’m not leaving until I speak to Emperor Redwing! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna wish to speak with him! This incident could lead to war! I know your father doesn’t want that!” She said stepping towards him with a serious look in her eyes. The Doctor rubbed his chin again, “I’m going to assume something happened to your father, and the fact your fearfully worried for Ms. Heart’s life something is up...something very serious” he said stepping forward.
Ivan looked away, a sad look in his eyes as the prince let out a sigh “Your very observant, it is true...something has happened to my father...the Emperor...he..is dead” He bowed his head in sorrow, “I have discovered through my own investigations that my elder brother had been slowly poisoning him, he was so sick...I foalishly thought nothing of it, I Figured it was the common cold” There was a pained looked on his face as he spoke, “The sign all pointed to the common cold...I feel it were my fault..and now my elder brother Adam is Emperor.” The young griffin moved away and took a seat, his paw rubbed his feathered head. There was a stressed look on his face.
“What else is there, your not telling everything” Doctor said narrowing his eyes, “Ivan...we’ve been friends for a long time...anything bothering you can tell me” Swift Heart said sitting down on the ground. Ivan looked ready to cry, “Brother first orders was to slaughter the ponies across the boarder, and for the ponies killed...he made the soldiers eat them! He fired roasted several of his kills in public! He then ate them! In front of everyone! He ordered that ever restaurant, butcher, and shop sell pony meat! Griffins have been buy the meat, and then giving them a proper burial in a secret cemetery the community made...in order to avoid suspicion of doing the act we hold a mass burial every weekend...no griffin had the stomach to eat the pony meat...” the griffin noble looked ready to lose his lunch as did his companions. Swift Heart looked sickened and frightened “He...he ATE them!” She knew during the ancient war it HAD been common, but in this day an age it was considered a taboo to eat a sentient being. Now a days Griffins when or if they ate meat would mostly eat whale, fish, various other sea creatures, rabbit, chicken, or some other form animal, she had even heard they ate manticores....but never pony! “S...so a war is really going to happen” Shift said feeling a chill run down her spine, the thought of peace vanishing as the armies of the griffin Emperor trampled through the country side, killing and feast upon her kin...how would Princess Celestia handle this? What should she do!?
It was a bad sign, the Doctor was frowning clearly not happy about what he heard “Swift Heart, are you going to deliver that letter?” He asked suddenly causing the young filly to snap from her thoughts. Truth be told she had forgotten about the letter in her moment of fear, but just remembering it caused her to snap “I am! I will follow Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s request! Ivan! Your the only one in this room that can get me in the castle! Even if it means my life! I will deliver this message of peace! Doctor, I want you...with your magic box to inform the Princesses of my death...as my friend it...” Before she could finish the Doctor silenced her “first of all you are not going to die and heres why, because I’m going to expose this Emperor as the murder of his father and get Ivan placed on the throne while I’m at it without causing even the slightest rebellion! I’m going make him advocate the throne!” He declared as those in the room looked at him as though he were mad, and indeed he was.
A short while later Doctor, Swift, and Ivan found themselves outside the castle. Swift Heart swore she could hear her heart pounding in her ears, her throat was dry, and fear was coursing through her veins. She glanced at the Doctor “We’re...just going through the front door...right?” She asked gulping. The Doctor smirked “Of course the front door approach is always the best way” He answer trotting forward. “Swifty, I must say...your friend is very insane. I don’t know how I will protect you from my bother...but I will try comrade” The griffin said strutting forward leaving Swift to follow behind. The guards allowed them to enter the palace, Doctor looked around the halls and frowned deeply “I must say your brother taste in decor is rather indecent” The time lord was even more displeased by the moment, along the walls were the taxidermy heads of fellow ponies. “Ivan, tell me why does your brother hate ponies? They seem like such nice creatures! Rather pleasant, peaceful. The leader wants peace so why does your brother have such ill-will towards them?” He asked trying to get a better picture of this Emperor. “W..well I believe he thinks were supposed to be superior to ponies, a higher species so to speak” He said scratching the back of his neck with his claws clearly uncomfortably with the conversation.
Doctor spoke no more after that and focused on the current situation as a marvelous plan formed in his head. What he wasn’t expecting as he was show the throne room, as a Griffin hanging from the ceiling in a cage and an empty throne with no Emperor sitting on the throne...The Doctor blinked and even before the caged griffin spoke he knew...he knew what had happened...
“Swift Heart you must run! Its a trap!” The griffin shouted
To be continued....maybe
