Lock Light: The Second Son of Sombra

Chapters

A Servant in the Night
Lock Light and the Doctor
A Quick History Lesson
Past Participle
In the Crystal Castle Court of King Sombra
Lightning and Power

A Servant in the Night

Chapter 1 A Good SamariPony

It was another day at Sweet Apple Acres for the Apple family. Applejack was busy bucking trees, Apple Bloom was helping Granny Smith with making the grape juice, and Big Macintosh was carrying carloads of buckets loaded with apples to the barn. They toiled all day but were working to getting everything settled before the winter came in. The wind started to blow as dead autumn leaves blew in Applejack’s face “C’mon ya’ll,” she said “you know the consequences if we don’t get these here apples picked.”

The wind increased in volume so much, it spun the wind vane until it came off the roof! It flew through the air continuing to spin until it hit Big Macintosh’s cart and broke the side of the cart spilling all the apples on that side. Applejack rushed over to help, the mounting stress obvious on her face. Granny Smith shouted “Them Timberwolves be a comin’!” over the dirge of wind which raced across the farm. Applejack took one look at the cart and exasperatedly whinnied “Does this really have to happen now? Come on Big Mac, looks like we have to take this load in by hoof.”

The work went slower this way, but at least they finished it. Applejack galloped back, three buckets dangling from her mouth as she placed them, bucked a tree to load them with apples, and then hauled them one at a time to a second cart Big Mac was pulling up. The day continued like this, hour after hour they strained and sweated even in the cold winds racing down from the chilly north hard the heels of the Wendigo’s that proceeded them. That night they went to sleep. Granny Smith had gone in earlier to bake their supper. When they came in, exhausted, breathless, and sweaty, she had had a wonderfully aromatic array of apple pies, fritters, and a cobbler spread out on the table. They ate greedily with voracious appetites, even Granny Smith ravenously devoured one of her own loaves slathered with Zap Apple Jam.

Applejack looked at them all “Well ya’ll,” she said “it was tough today, but it was worth it. We’ve got to keep going ahead but at a faster pace tomorrow because winter’s comin’ in. I’ll talk to Rainbow Dash about possibly redirecting some of this dog gone it wind. But if she can’t, we still gotta press forward.”

Big Mac nodded his head “Eeyup!”

Apple Bloom’s face fell as she took her spoon and played with what was left of her apple fritter. Applejack looked at her “Cheer up Sugar Cube,” she said comfortingly “it’ll be over before you know it. Besides, there ain’t nothin’ we gotta worry about. I believe in you and in us.”

Apple Bloom simply sighed, completely tuckered out from that day’s work and Applejack knew it. They all were. She got up from the table and started walking up the stairs to her bedroom “Night ya’ll,” she said looking back over her shoulder “get to bed early, especially you Apple Bloom. We’re gonna need all of the energy we can get.”

As they filed off to bed, Applejack chanced a glance back again and smiled. She really wanted them to have enough money this year to buy Apple Bloom a nice birthday present. Hopefully Pinkie Pie wouldn’t be overly extravagant again this year…but who was she kidding? It was Pinkie Pie after all. But Granny Smith needed a new hip and they now needed to replace that broken cart. She sighed and continued walking up the stairs. Collapsing on her bed, she drew the covers in and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Outside of her window, the night was at its full. A hunter’s moon waxed high in Princess Luna’s magnificent glittering night sky. Billions of stars were visible on a night such as this, only Twilight Sparkle would be up this late though, documenting the various orbits of planets and observing the constellations. There was one other though. A masked pony, covered hoof to nose in black. His wings were exposed and his shaggy long mane hid most of his face and forehead. He’d been watching and heard everything which Applejack had been saying all day. He also knew their work habits. He’d been doing this for a long time, it was clock work. Unknown to Rainbow Dash, he was the second fastest flyer in all of Equestria. His experience, agility, and speed had made him Captain of the First Wonderbolt’s squadron. Though his story erased from the official history books, allowed for only three people in their entire world to know him, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia…and the Doctor.

He stepped out into the moonlight, his long black grey tipped mane fluttering in the gentler night breezes. He took a breath and dashed to the side of the barn. Grabbing five buckets in his mouth, he flew as fast as he could to the further edges of Sweet Apple Acres. Setting those down, he returned, making nearly sixty trips, placing the buckets in groups of three underneath every tree he could just like Applejack did. That was all he had time for this night, he had to keep up his average. He then in a blaze of speed flew into the branches of each tree that had buckets and shook them. The apples plummeted to the buckets below. Twenty trees, done in about thirty minutes. He then took each full bucket and flew back to the barn. If he timed it correctly, then when the Apple family reached those portions of the farm, then they would be three weeks ahead of schedule by the time he was done. He’d been doing this all season long, only working when they were asleep. He was nearly finished. Sixty trees per night for the past five months. He didn’t want to make too big of a dent, but Sweet Apple Acres was enormous. He always felt sorry for them, especially the little filly who dragged her hoofs in at the end of every single day.

The more he observed, the more he came to respect and admire them. Particularly Applejack. He didn’t know where the parents were, but Applejack had a strong air of confidence about her that he liked. He wanted to do something nice for them, but he didn’t want them to know because he loved doorbell ditching and other such activities where he would do acts of unexpected service for other ponies in Ponyville. It seemed to brighten the other pony’s days, and so he continued. For the past seven years he did the same service for the Apple family. A different stretch of the farm each year. So far, Applejack didn’t notice, and that was just fine with him. When he was done, he took out a small bag of coins and quietly placed it on the cart where Big Mac would find it. It would be enough to cover the cart. He looked around, everything in order? He asked himself I believe so. Then he remembered. Earlier that week when Applejack and Apple Bloom were shopping in Ponyville, Apple Bloom pointed to a toy she wanted for her birthday. It was rather pricey and after much convincing and pleading Applejack promised that she would get it for her birthday if she worked hard and was good. He secretly purchased the toy and kept it hidden, waiting for just the right moment. But it wasn’t now.

He flew off at near the speed of sound out over through the hills of Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville. He looked around him, and when it was clear, he started doing other works of service around the town.

The dawn broke over the horizon as the ponies began to awaken. Fluttershy began to make her morning rounds. Carrying a basket of vegetables as she gently flapped over to the various holes which her favorite animals lived, she greeted them “Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Vole,” she said cheerfully “you sleep well last night? How about you Mr. Hedgehog? I brought you all breakfast.” She looked down at the first hole and saw that there was already that morning’s breakfast laid out for them “Oh my,” she said “did you take anything from the pantry Mr. Hedgehog?”

He shook his head vigorously and started to speak “Oh,” Fluttershy said “somepony gave you the food? Who was it? You don’t know? A Pegasus? How long have they been doing this? All year! Is it always the first day of the week? I guess I didn’t notice.”

She flew back to her cottage saying “I’ll have to thank Rainbow Dash for helping me out with my chores that was very thoughtful of her.”

Pinkie Pie bounced through Ponyville and gave her usual morning greetings. Her eyes went wide when she noticed something different about it. She dashed inside excitedly exclaiming “Mr. and Mrs. Cake, come quick! You have to come see this!” Like lightning, she ran up the stairs, burst open the door, and repeated “Come! You won’t believe what I found!” They staggered out of bed. The little colts wide awake after Pinkie’s outburst, smiled in greeting to Pinkie Pie as their parents picked them up and brought them downstairs. Still bouncing, they opened their eyes wide with amazement as the previous night’s mess which had been caused by ten rush orders and a wedding had vanished without a trace. Countertops and windows which formerly covered in flower, icing, and egg yolk sparkled in the morning sun.

“Pinkie Pie,” Mrs. Cake asked “did you do this?”

“Nuh-uh,” Pinkie Pie responded her eyes narrowing “I didn’t, but I think I know who did!”

With the blink of an eye, she was out the door and running to Twilight Sparkle’s house. She got there, and gently tapped on the door. Spike opened it and let her in, “Hello Pinkie Pie,” Spike said “how can I help you?”

“Is Twilight inside?”

“Well yes, but?”

“I need to talk to her right away,” said Pinkie Pie “tell her it’s really, really, really urgent!”

“Okay,” Spike said “she’s up in her bed…”

She was gone again. Up on Twilight’s bed and bouncing up and down in her excitement.

“Thank you so much Twilight,” she shouted.

“Pinkie,” Twilight said “stop jumping on me.”

“Oh,” said Pinkie Pie as she hopped off. She rapidly continued “I just wanted to say, it was really, really, really, really, extremely, thoughtful of you to do that. I mean Mr. and Mrs. Cake were up nearly all night wondering how it was going to get clean, and I couldn’t do anything about it because I was not only watching the colts, and then they were stressed because of the ten last minute orders and the wedding they had to do…”

“Pinkie,” Twilight said “thank you, but it wasn’t me.”

“What?”

“I was up all night watching the stars,” Twilight continued “There was a Hunter’s Moon last night. I wanted to watch it because there was the possibility of there being a meteor shower. Not a big one but still significant. Spike had gone to bed and Owlowiscious was busy restacking the books. I was behind on several assignments I had to Princess Celestia this morning and when I came out, every book I needed was on my writing desk. I thought Owlowiscious had done it but he told me that he took an early night. I got my work done in record time.”

“So you didn’t help out Mr. and Mrs. Cake?”

“No,” Twilight said “it’s strange you thought so.”

“Yes indeed,” Pinkie Pie said slapping on a deerstalker and smoking a bubble pipe “this sounds like a mystery. One that needs solving!”

“It’s probably just some pony doing a good turn,” Twilight said “we shouldn’t…”

“But what if,” Pinkie Pie interrupted “it’s not! What if it’s a burglar! Or a ghost! Or a supernatural?”

“Pinkie,” Twilight answered “there’s no such thing. Now, is there anything else you need?”

“Well, no.”

“Alright then,” Twilight continued “how about we walk together.”

“Okiedokie, then!”

They walked downtown Ponyville and met up with Fluttershy. They also asked her how her day was when she told them about the animals already fed the first day of every week without her noticing.

“Strange,” Pinkie said still wearing the deerstalker. She tapped the underside of her lip with the mouthpiece of the bubble pipe “there seems to be a correlation here.”

“Pinkie,” Twilight responded “it’s just a coincidence, nothing more.”

“Ha,” she exclaimed and darted over Applejack had come into town to buy that day’s ingredients for her family’s lunch “we’ll ask Applejack if she’s seen anything.”

Sticking her nose into Applejacks she asked in an interrogating manner “Applejack, did somepony do something nice to you earlier this morning?”

“Well,” she said “as a matter of fact yes. Yesterday the family and I were working on the farm, but due to the wind blowing so hard yesterday, the weather vane on the barn spun off and broke the side of one of our carts Big Mac was usin’. This mornin’, I found not only a small bag of coins on the broken cart which will cover the costs, but when I went out to work this morning, I found that the section of the farm which we were gonna work today was already done!”

“What?!”

“Yeah,” she said “at first I thought that I had simply forgotten that, but then I remembered yesterday that the trees hadn’t been bucked over that way yet. When I looked around the other parts of the farm, there were similar sections. By my calculations we’re two and a half weeks ahead of schedule. So I came into town today to by some groceries.”

“Hold on a minute,” Pinkie Pie asked “don’t you think there could be Apple Rustler’s stealing your apples?”

“Nope,” continued Applejack “because when I opened our storage cellar where we keep the apples, I saw it stacked, organized, and right in front of our cider machine, already sorted!”

“Ah ha!”

“What is it Pinkie?”

“We have to ask Rainbow Dash next!”

With that the group moved on, not before Applejack gave a questioning look to Twilight who answered with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow Dash startled and fell out of the small cloud she was snoozing in right on top of Spike “Hey guys,” she said rubbing her head “sorry Spike.”

“No problem,” Spike said.

“Rainbow Dash,” Pinkie interjected “did something nice for you happen today?”

“Well you guys showed up.”

“No,” Pinkie Pie said “I mean like did somepony do something nice for you today?”

“Well,” she said “somepony gave me tickets to this upcoming Wonderbolts show! I didn’t know if I could afford it this year. I remember talking about it with you guys. Did one of you get it for me? It’s a group ticket so we all can go! Its box tickets too! Best in the house!”

“Once again,” Pinkie Pie said “there is a growing and established pattern here. Now, the facts are these. One of us knows everything about the others and is doing nice things for them. However, it has to be the most unlikely pony to do something like this?”

Rarity was humming to herself as she arranged clothes on a mannequin when her door burst open and Pinkie Pie blew out a bubble on her pipe. She paced in front of Rarity as Rarity sat there dumb founded.

“Rarity,” Pinkie Pie said “we have ample evidence to prove that you are guilty of…”

Pinkie Pie gives Rarity a hug so big which makes Rarity’s eyes bulge “…giving the best thing to all of us ponies. I had no idea that you were such a considerate pony!”

“Um,” Rarity said “well, thank you, but it wasn’t me actually.”

“Huh?”

“I came home to find that all of my chores for the day had been done,” she continued “you remember that Hoity Toity asked me to make. I was so busy yesterday that I couldn’t think of anything else or get anything else done. So I continued on with my work. When I was finished, I was surprised that somepony did all my daily chores! I knew it obviously had to be my favorite Spikey-Wikey as he’s the only one who knows what to do without me asking.”

“Actually,” Spike said sheepishly, scratching his neck spikes “much as I’d like to take the credit for it, I was busy helping Twilight with all of her school work.”

“But then who…”

“Exactly!”

All eyes turned to face Pinkie Pie as she enlightened them “Some amazing pony has been doing all of these nice things for us, and it’s not just us, look around you. Every pony in Ponyville is happy because of this pony. We need to find this mare or stallion and have him be recognized, because trust me, as Ponyville’s chief happiness bringer, it’s a lot of hard work.”

“But Pinkie,” Twilight said “what if it’s just like the time when we were Mare-Do-Well. What if they’re doing these things because they’re just good ponies, like you.”

“I agree with Twilight,” said Applejack “a good pony who does this doesn’t need recognition.”

“Pinkie’s got a point though,” Rarity interjected “I’m sure it’s such a drag doing all of these kind things for other ponies. I for one think that any pony who does good works, be given proper thanks for their work. Why certainly, if Iwere such a pony, and ran around giving ponies desperately needed make over’s, I would want to have somepony give me a simple thank you.”

“It’s settled then!” Pinkie exclaimed “We need to find out where this good pony is doing their noble deeds and watch. Then we catch them, bring them before all of Ponyville! They should be given a parade, and presents, and…”

“Pinkie,” Twilight admonished “I don’t think that would be a good idea, at least for the party and the parade. But we could definitely find out who is doing this.”

Suddenly Applejack jolted “Oh my gosh,” she hollered out “I forgot its Apple Blooms birthday today! What with everything with the harvest going on, I’ve been working so hard I forgot! Later girls, I gotta go buy Apple Blooms present!”

With that she galloped away down the street looking for the Joke Shop that held the funny toy Apple Bloom wanted. She got there too late, another pony had purchased the last one right as she got there. Dejected she started walking back to Sweet Apple Acres, I don’t know what I’ll tell Apple Bloom she thought but she’ll be heart broken. I know she was really looking forward to getting that toy.

As she walked into the kitchen where they were going to have lunch, Apple Bloom rushed over and gave her a big hug “Thanks Applejack,” she said “for being the best sister ever!”

“Shucks,” Applejack said blushing “why’s that? I didn’t do anything special.”

“Are you kidding? The toy you bought me was everything I wanted!”

“What?” Applejack looked over and saw the very toy which Apple Bloom had pointed out a week ago that had a note still attached to the colorful wrapping paper To: Apple Bloom From: Applejack. Bouncing all over the kitchen due a sugar high from eating a cake with zap apple icing which Granny Smith made, Apple Bloom gave her sister another big hug “This was the best birthday ever!”

Yeah Applejack now fully curious Pinkie’s right, I gotta find out who’s doing this. If only to say thank you.

“Hang on ya’ll I gotta go tell Pinkie something,” she said and ran off to Pinkie’s house.

The stake out was organized that night. Spike carried all of their supplies and they were dressed in black. Rainbow Dash was up in a cloud and she would point out where the mystery pony was, Applejack and Twilight would attempt to pin the pony down and reveal who it was. They decided that the first night, since it was the first day of the week that they should try Fluttershy’s home. Gathering their gear, they headed off and set up camp. Rarity wore a homemade but fashionable insect net hat, while the others had to be content with ointment. They needn’t have bothered though, what with the onset of winter bearing down on Ponyville, all of the insets were hiding at this point waiting for spring. Then they began to wait. Rainbow Dash began to nod of when she noticed movement down below and out of sight of the others. She whistled their signal down to them and they got ready. They watched as a pony, also dark clad, creeped up to Fluttershy’s food shed and unlocked it and entering. The pony came out with a bucket of food in its mouth, then it stretched out its wings, and with a flurry of speed it darted to every single hole, placing the correct amount and specific food type for each animal before returning back to the shed. Gently the pony placed the bucket back inside and locked the door.

At breakfast they all talked about what happened the night before. Fluttershy said “I don’t know if I feel safe anymore. That pony opened my lock without a key, as if it knew it was always unlocked.”

“Well it is isn’t it?” Inquired Rainbow Dash.

“That’s aside from the point,” Fluttershy said “this pony, clearly knows my habits at least. It’s kind of creepy.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash agreed “I mean the fact that this pony knows so much about us I mean. They’ve obviously been watching us for a very long time. That’s what spooks me.”

Lock Light and the Doctor

Chapter 2 Lock Light and the Doctor

“But this pony is only doing good,” Twilight retorted “they’re not stealing or damaging anything. And Fluttershy, you did say that this pony helped you get ahead of schedule, just like they did with Applejack. If Applejack had to work yesterday, she would’ve completely forgotten Apple Bloom’s birthday instead of nearly forgetting it. The present which this pony bought Apple Bloom was a obviously a backup plan in case Applejack was still too busy…”

“But Fluttershy’s got a point,” interjected Rainbow Dash “I mean I don’t know how you guys feel, but I don’t want someone completely at home and familiar with all of my stuff. I don’t want them touching anything, even if they are helping. It’s an invasion of my personal space.”

“Yeah,” said Pinkie Pie “personal space!”

“Pinkie,” Applejack retorted “you always invade people’s personal space to throw parties.”

“True,” Pinkie Pie said “but that’s not…”

“And you love throwing surprise parties,” Twilight said “what if ponies had the same attitude towards your parties is like how this pony feels about doing good deeds?”

“But…”

“Girls,” Twilight said getting up “I think that we should just give this pony the benefit of the doubt. Now let’s pack up. It was fun, but I still have to finish those reports to Princess Celestia.”

They all got up, but Pinkie was insistent “Wait!” she said “how about one more stake out? Just to prove you’re right Twilight. Let’s say, at Applejack’s place?”

“Well,” Applejack said “I don’t know…”

“Oh come on,” Pinkie Pie said “please?”

“Oh alright,” Applejack replied “but one night only, and that’s because I don’t have to work today.”

They repeated the same plan. They slept until dark and then began their nightly vigil. The wind was chillier this time, keeping them all awake. Rarity threw a thick navy blue scarf over herself “Anyone else want one?”

“Shhh,” the others said.

“Alright, alright,” Rarity whispered “no need to get in a fuss.”

The hunter’s moon waxed high in the night sky again but it was clear due to the night breeze blowing all of the clouds away. The dark clad long maned pony stepped out from behind a tree. Pinkie Pie elbowed Twilight Sparkle who woke up and nudged Applejack. They watched as the pony went to the barn, got the buckets, and dashed off, flying as fast as he could. Applejack whispered “If the pony thinks they can steal my apples…”

“Wait,” Twilight said “let’s just watch.”

A few moments later he came back with a bucket of loaded with apples and placed them in the barn. In the blink of an eye, he was gone again. The pony returned, sixty times, doing a full day’s work in a few hours. The pony then proceeded to separate the good apples from the bad ones. After taking one look around the pony locked the barn, placed all of the buckets back in place, put a small sack of coins in the same spot and then flew off into the night. Applejack got up, Twilight whispered after her “Applejack, get down!”

“No,” Applejack said back “I can’t let them go without telling them how I feel. I know how much money they gave us and it was quite a lot. They can’t keep doing this, otherwise they might not be able to provide for themselves. It’s generous and all but now knowing what I know, I can’t simply stand by and let it happen.

Pinkie followed her “She’s right,” she said “I have to know who they are.”

The others followed after the pony. Twenty minutes later, they arrived in the town square of Ponyville just in time to see the pony land by the fountain next to the town hall. They were by the bridge opposite to the fountain when out of nowhere, they heard a low grinding metallic sound which gradually got louder and louder as next to the fountain, a small blue police box appeared out of thin air. A door opened light emanated from it as a pony with an hour glass cutie mark stepped out.

“Twilight,” Applejack said “I can’t hear anything. Can you cast a spell or something to help out?”

“Okay,” she said “but magic shouldn’t be used to spy on other ponies.”

“I think this is a necessary exception,” Applejack responded. Twilight’s horn briefly glowed and the sound came through her horn so that they were all able to hear the conversation that followed between the two ponies by the blue box.

“Hello Lock Light,” said the Doctor “it’s been awhile my old friend.”

“Indeed it has,” said Lock Light “not since we fought off the Cyber Stallions in the Crystal Empire.”

“Cyber Stallions,” whispered Pinkie Pie “what are…”

“Shhh,” Rainbow Dash whispered as she nudged Pinkie Pie with her elbow “I’m trying to listen.”

“It’s me Doctor,” Lock Light said smiling “I know you’ve been through a lot but really, it’s me.”

“Can’t ever be too sure,” he said “I remember once when the Dalek’s made a robotic replica of me and nearly took my friends in.”

“Fair enough,” Lock Light said as the scan was completed “but I still told you the truth now didn’t I?”

“Yes,” the Doctor said smiling “you’re looking rather sweaty and out of breath. What have you been up to?”

“Oh just doing some service around Ponyville Doctor,” Lock Light answered “the Apple family mostly. They work so hard with so few ponies that I just had to chip in, but I don’t want them to see, so I’ve been working at night while they’re asleep. It’s actually kind of sweet how Applejack reacted this morning. She was so shocked. It’s all worth it when you see that.”

“And a little something besides?”

“Doctor,” Lock Light said admonishingly “I don’t have any ulterior motives with her. They needed help and so I gave it.”

“Right,” said the Doctor “I haven’t been around for thousands of years just to be deceived by that little line which I’ve heard equally as much. But that’s okay if you want to keep your secrets…”

“Alright,” Lock Light said “I do have some feelings for her, but that isn’t the only reason why I do it. I mean after all we’ve save Equestria a couple of times haven’t we? And not once did we ask anything from Princess Celestia.”

“Well she probably wouldn’t have given me a copy of the special edition of Casablanca if I asked for it,” said the Doctor “but I get your point. Anyway, we’re needed. I informed the Princess that we’ll be going to Halcyon in Sector ZZ 7 Gamma 1.29…”

“How far away is it,” Lock light asked “and when?”

“About three thousand years ahead in the year 4,242 in Equestrian time that would place us in the fourth celestial year of peace and about five thousand light years across the galactic disc. You coming?”

“Do you really need to ask that?”

“Don’t you want to know the dangers before we go?”

“I’ll figure that out on the way,” Lock Light said “besides, my work here is done for the night. I could use a shower and a good brush."

“Everything’s onboard the Tardis.”

“Right then,” Lock Light said “let’s get going, besides, I think I was followed here.”

With that, Lock Light and the Doctor entered into Tardis and disappeared.

“Whoa,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “that pony’s a lot cooler than I thought! And to think he’s a Pegasus!”

“Certainly,” Twilight said “and he’s friends with a time travelling pony called the Doctor.”

“What,” asked Spike “was that he said about traveling to a different planet?”

“The Doctor said Halcyon in Sector ZZ 7 Gamma 1.29,” Twilight answered “I don’t know where that is, I’ll have to check my guide to astronomy. But Halcyon if I remember correctly is…there!”

Twilight pointed upwards and they all looked, a bright twinkling blue-white star, larger than the others around it was seen.

“Seriously,” Rainbow Dash said “I have to meet this pony. What was his name?”

“Lock Light,” Pinkie Pie said “that’s what his name is, Lock Light. Funny though, I haven’t seen him before tonight. I guess I didn’t notice he was here!”

“True,” Spike said “but maybe you didn’t see him because he didn’t want to be seen. I mean it’s obvious that he’s a good pony, and he probably gets nervous around other ponies.”

“That’s right,” Twilight said “so far we’ve only seen that he’s a good pony, I mean, he goes off to different stars and saves others. That’s an admirable quality.”

“What do you think Applejack?” Pinkie Pie asked “I does like you after all.”

“Yes,” she stammered “well, that don’t mean nothin’. He told the Doctor that he did it because we needed help and that’s all fine and well with me.”

“But…”

“Pinkie,” Twilight said “you don’t need to pester Applejack about it. She’s embarrassed enough as it is.”

“But…”

“Come on girls,” Twilight said “let’s get some sleep.”

They then trotted back to Twilight’s house and did so. The next morning shone bright and warm on the dead autumn leaves which were about Ponyville, yet everyone was about their daily business. Shopping, chit chatting, and enjoying themselves on this fair autumn day. Suddenly a pony galloped into the square “Run for your lives!” she screamed as she reared and then continued onwards. A huge two legged pony with one eye, four horns and six arms slowly trailed in her wake. The other ponies scattered while the Ipopony smashed buildings left and right.

The Ipopony uprooted the Twilight’s house and shook it causing all of her books and the friends to tumble out. The Ipopony tore the house in half and threw the pieces, the top smashing into the town hall and the rest of the trunk falling on Sugarcube Corner. The Ipopony bellowed in rage as it stomped and smashed.

Its voice rang out “Where is he?” it said “where is Lock Light?”

“I’m right here, Ipopony,” he said stepping out of the Tardis with the Doctor.

“Looks like we got back here in time,” the Doctor said “never a dull moment with you is it?”

“That’s not the pot calling the kettle black.”

“Fair enough,” the Doctor said “anyway what are we about to…”

The Ipopony charged at them.

“Usual plan Doc,” Lock Light said as he flew off towards the Ipopony.

“Lock Light,” the Ipopony raged “I’ll tear you to pieces like I did that tree.”

“You can’t win White Lightning,” Lock Light said back “no matter what creatures you spawn to send after me, they’ll all suffer the same fate.”

Lock Light dove and missed the first punch the Ipopony swung at him. He butted against the second arm’s arm pit causing it to clutch itself in pain. A swift kick to the back of its left knee brought it crashing down on the town square fountain. The one eye glared hatred and fury at Lock Light as he missed more punches. A burst of fire belched from its mouth as he tried to incinerate Lock Light.

“Doctor,” Lock Light yelled as he missed another punch “is the machine ready?”

“Just a few more calibrations,” he said with his sonic screwdriver in his mouth, it’s blew light glowing as the sounds emanating from it whistled and whined “I have to get it so that the black hole it generates won’t suck the whole planet in.”

Lock light spun and kicked the Ipopony in the jaw sending it the ground knocking the wind out of it “How much time?”

“Five minutes!”

That usually means three, Lock Light thought “You got it!”

Lock Light dove, he took his hoof and elbow dropped the Ipopony as it tried to get back up. The Ipopony’s face cased a small crater to form after it was slammed against the green grass. It pushed itself up with all its strength angered at being beaten so badly and urged on by the master who was controlling it. Lock Light flew higher and began dodging as the Ipopony threw pieces of roof timbers at him.

“Doctor!”

“Nearly there,” the Doctor said “almost…”

“We don’t have enough time,” Lock Light said “he’ll destroy the entire town if we don’t act now!”

“Done!” the Doctor pressed the activation switch and the machine came to life “Ha ha!” he said excitedly as he danced around it “It works! It works, it works, it works!”

Lock Light repositioned himself so that he was in front of the machine pointed straight at the Ipopony’s tusked face.

“On my mark Doctor,” Lock Light yelled as he flew closer and closer to the Ipopony. The Doctor braced himself against the machine and got ready. It had to be timed at the exact right moment. Lock Light flew past the Ipopony, it jumped trying to grab at him. Lock Light dodged flew back towards the Doctor, spun around and kicked the Ipopony square in the jaw again in one quick loop.

“Now!” he screamed at the Doctor. A brilliant beam of orange light which flew towards the Ipopony, Lock Light flew underneath, and cast a spell of banishment with his unseen unicorn horn underneath his shaggy mane. A small black hole began to emerge and sucked the monster out into deep space before it winked out of existence. The town was dead silent as Lock Light landed next to the Doctor. Everyone stared at them in utter amazement. Then first one, then another, started applauding with their hooves. Rainbow Dash cheered “Wahoo! That was awesome!”

She flew to Lock Light who was talking with the Doctor. As she came closer she heard him say “Congratulations Doctor. That was a brilliant piece of engineering you did there.”

“Well, nothing that your…”

“Excuse me,” interrupted Rainbow Dash “can I get your autograph? You’re so cool! That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”

“Not half as cool as your Sonic Rain-Boom,” Lock Light said nodding towards Rarity “I was in Cloudsdale that day. I remember you saving your friend there.”

“But I mean your flying,” Rainbow Dash said excitedly “that was almost as good as the Wonderbolts!”

“You’d be insulting him if you really believe that,” said the Doctor “after all he was captain of the first Wonderbolts Squadron and is Co-founder of the Wonderbolts Academy.”

“Doctor…”

“Wow!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash “Twilight, did you hear that? He was captain of the first Wonderbolts Squadron and Co-founder of the Wonderbolts Academy. No wonder you were able to get those tickets so fast!”

“Pardon?”

“The box tickets to the Wonderbolt’s show next week! Don’t you remember?”

“Oh that,” Lock Light said “it was…wait…”

He looked around and realized at a glance what happened last night and who had followed him and the Doctor as Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack walked towards them.

“Doctor,” he said “gotta go. Now!”

“Wait,” Rainbow Dash said following him as he flew off “was it something I said?”

“No one was supposed to know it was me,” Lock Light said as he tried to get rid of Rainbow Dash “I just don’t like talking with people about it.”

“But…why?”

“Long story,” he said as he headed towards the Everfree Forest “well, I’ll see you later.”

He flew into the tangled web of trees and Rainbow Dash followed. Lock Light sped up and with a turn of speed, he flew pulled so many tight maneuvers that he lost Rainbow Dash in the branches.

“Humph,” Rainbow Dash said to herself “well that was rude. All I wanted to do was say ‘thank you’.”

She flew back to Ponyville and saw the others crowding the Doctor.

“What’s this machine for?” she heard Twilight ask.

“Oh this?” said the Doctor “it’s a simple worm hole generator. I picked one up while I was on Pepion last week. Thought it’d come in handy in a place like this. I recalibrated it to…”

“Just a minute,” Rainbow Dash said “who are you?

“I’m the Doctor.”

“The doctor of what?”

“Space and time travel I suppose,” the Doctor said “are you a doctor?”

“No, I most certainly am not,” Rainbow Dash answered “anyway, who was that pegasus who helped you? I tried to thank him but he left and lost me in the Everfree Forest.”

“That’s Lock Light,” the Doctor said “and he’d probably hate me for the rest of his life if I told you more. But he’s a good sort, he just is shy around other ponies and doesn’t like recognition. He says it’s embarrassing.”

“But,” Pinkie Pie asked “why? Doesn’t he like it when other ponies are nice to him? He does so many nice things for other ponies that he never asks for anything back?”

“That’s just who he is,” the Doctor said “it’s a long story.”

“Well,” Twilight said “how about you come to my place and…”

“You mean the one that was just torn to pieces by the Ipopony?”

“I see,” she said.

“How about you all come onboard Tardis, we can chat there.”

A Quick History Lesson

Chapter 3

“Um,” Fluttershy said “how about we don’t.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash agreed “how do we know that we can trust you?"

“You can’t,” the Doctor said.

“Well,” Rarity said “then I for one am not going in.”

“Okay,” the Doctor said nonchalantly “you’ll just miss out on a whole lot of useful information where you’re going.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked. Then Spike belched really loudly and a message popped into his hands. He looked at it “It’s from the Princess,” he exclaimed.

“Read it out loud,” Twilight told Spike.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle,

“Your presences is needed in Canterlot as soon as possible. An old enemy has arisen and threatens to destroy Equestria once again. Come quickly my faithful student. – Celestia”

“Well girls,” Twilight said “you heard the Princess.”

“I got a faster ride then any of you,” the Doctor offered “Tardis…”

“No way we’re getting in that thing,” Rainbow Dash said brashly “we don’t trust you or your crazy machine.”

“Fair enough,” said the Doctor “I’ll see you there.”

“The Princess didn’t ask you to come,” retorted Rainbow Dash.

“Oh trust me,” the Doctor said “I’ll be there. You can count on that.”

“Come on girls,” Twilight said “we have to get there quickly, we’ll take the train, that’s the next fastest way to Canterlot.”

Without packing they galloped to the to the train station and got onboard. It was a couple of hours before they reached Princess Celestia’s castle. The main doors swung open as they walked familiar ground to the central throne room. Before them sat the Princess, and beside her was the Doctor. They were quietly whispering to each other when they clopped inside.

“Hey,” Rainbow Dash said “how come he’s here?”

“Girls,” said Princess Celestia looking up “I see you’ve already met the Doctor.”

“Yes we have,” Twilight answered. They all bowed respectfully to the Princess before she continued “we were wondering why we were summoned here your highness.”

“That,” the Princess said “I can help you with. As I said in my letter, an old enemy has arisen and is seeking to once more destroy Equestria. It isn’t the first time, but there are brief periods when he doesn’t send anything. But he always sends monsters. This time, he’s sending an army of them.”

“Then the Ipopony,” Twilight said “was one of his creations?”

“Creations,” the Doctor snorted “more like genetic mutations if you ask me. I’ve seen the like before when I was on the planet Procyon in the fifth celestial year of peace. It wasn’t one of his but something like it.”

“How does he know about it?” said Applejack “is he working with this pony who makes the monsters?”

“Ever a tactful one aren’t you,” replied the Doctor “I’m not a traitor. You haven’t seen a quarter of what I have done for the Galaxy and believe you me sister, you’re in for a rude awakening. This is just the beginning for this pony who’s attacking us. I know I was there at the beginning, and so was Lock Light.”

“What?” Twilight exclaimed.

“Yeah,” continued the Doctor “well, sort of, he may have quasi caused everything which repercussioned afterwards, albeit inadvertently.”

“Could someone,” asked Rainbow Dash “please tell me what is going on?”

“I can,” interjected the Princess rising from her place on the dais “the Doctor is right Rainbow Dash. This enemy is centuries old. He is called White Lightning and he is the biological son of…”

“If I may interject Princess,” the Doctor said “at least, ever so politely. I have idea. Why don’t I just take the girls there? It’ll save a lot of time of explaining.”

“You can’t be serious?” Rainbow Dash yelled “I’m not getting in that thing.”

“That’s a good point Doctor,” said Princess Celestia temporarily ignoring Rainbow Dash “if you would only take less than an hour to explain everything…”

“Only the major highlights yeah,” the Doctor said “promise.”

“Alright girls,” the Princess said “you go with the Doctor.”

A stream of protests and complaints came from Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and most notably, Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie oddly enough was the only one who hopped right to the door.

“But Princess,” Fluttershy said “we don’t even know how it works!”

“Darn tootin’ we don’t,” said Applejack “I ain’t gonna get inside somethin’ I don’t understand. What will it do to me?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said “how do we know it won’t kill us? Or blow us up? Or turn us into tiny, tiny, tiny, microscopic bits.”

“That,” the Doctor said “was a surprise. I didn’t expect that.”

“Expect what?”

“Well,” the Doctor said “you too know what microscopic means.”

“I know what it means,” said Rainbow Dash haughtily “and you’re steering away from the main point!”

“Girls, please,” the Princess said, and they all were dead quiet “do you trust me?”

“Yes,” they answered.

“Then you can trust the Doctor,” continued the Princess “he has helped save Equestria hundreds of times. I know, I’ve been there and have seen him do it with my own eyes. Even as I place my trust in the Doctor, and in you, so you should also place your trust in him.”

“That was rather philosophic and messianic,” said the Doctor “but nice touch.”

“Besides,” said Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down “I wanna see what’s inside!”

“That’s the spirit,” the Doctor said “come on you lot. You’re about to get the most amazing history lesson in your entire life.”

They all walked in as he swung open the door, Applejack was dragging Rainbow Dash by her tail as she dug her front hoofs into the floor “No!” she said “I won’t go! I won’t go!”

With that, the Doctor closed the door behind them. Good luck girls thought Princess Celestia good luck Doctor. Good luck Lock Light. The Tardis slowly began to disappear. A deep low, rumbling, mechanical grinding sound was heard throughout the throne room chamber. Then after about ten seconds, the Tardis was gone.

Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash followed the Doctor inside Tardis. Its large dome loomed over them with many lights flickering on and off. Pinkie Pie walked over to the main control console “Ooh,” she said her eyes getting wide “what are all the buttons?”

“First things first,” the Doctor said facing Pinkie Pie “no touching buttons. Secondly this will take a while and even though it’ll take me a little bit, we’re going to have to travel backwards in time. Remember, don’t change anything, don’t get outside the Tardis, and don’t touch anything!

The after effects could be catastrophic not only to your current timeline girls but more importantly to his.”

“Are we really going to go back in time?” Twilight asked.

“Certainly,” the Doctor said as he pressed a couple of keys, flicked a few switches, and turned a few nobs “you didn’t think I would lie to you about this, did you?

“Well no,” Spike said “it’s just we’ve never done it before.”

“Obviously,” the Doctor responded casually “it’s alright, you’ll only feel like you are pulling a seven twenty at the speed of sound, fly inverted, and then get shocked by lightning.”

“Just that?” Rainbow Dash asked “I’ve done that hundreds of times.”

“Just kidding,” said the Doctor “it’s much, much worse.” And he pulled a lever.

The Tardis shook and spun round and round as they traveled back words in time “I think I’m going to be sick,” said Fluttershy.

“Pinkie Pie already is,” Applejack remarked as she gripped the side rail for dear life. Twilight looked over to see Pinkie Pie wretch a day’s worth of cake into a depression on Tardis’s floor. Twilight looked at the Doctor, surprisingly, he was walking around the control panel as if nothing was bothering him. He checked gauges and screens as data scrolled downwards at a rate her eyes couldn’t track. The Doctor simply nodded then looked around “Having fun yet?”

“I think you have a weird idea of fun,” said Rarity. The blue tinted glasses she was wearing fell to the floor and smashed “my glasses!”

“Don’t worry,” the Doctor said to a now fuming Rarity “you’ll get another one.”

“Come on guys,” Rainbow Dash said “this is the best roller coaster ever!”

Glad someone’s enjoying themselves Twilight thought as she continued to grip onto the railings. She looked at Spike who smiled at her. The Tardis continued to buck and weave through space and time for the next ten minutes. Then as soon as it began, it stopped.

“Well now,” said the Doctor “we’re here, and all’s well that ends well.”

“Where are we?” They asked.

“You are one thousand five hundred and twenty years ago, shortly before the first celestial year of peace. This is the time shortly after,” the Doctor answered “about a hundred years after the Pegasi, Earth Ponies, and Unicorns leave their former homeland and come to settle in Equestria.”

“More importantly,” Twilight asked “when are we?”

“Ah,” said the Doctor “a smart one she is. We are actually not in Equestria right now. Actually, I said all of those historical facts so that you can get your bearings. We are in the same time period, but we’re actually in the Crystal Empire.”

“The Crystal Empire,” Twilight said “but that means…”

“You guessed it,” the Doctor interrupted.

“Guessed what?” The rest of them asked.

Twilight turned to them “This was when King Sombra still ruled the Crystal Empire, before Princess Candice was the princess. This was the time when he stole the Crystal Heart which we had to find to restore the happiness to all of the ponies who lived there. It was also the time when ponies here were enslaved to King Sombra. It was a dark time for all ponies who lived here. Many were forced to labor for the king while he sat on his throne and ruled with an iron hoof.”

“That’s right,” said the Doctor “hit the nail right on the head. Ha, excuse me, didn’t mean to have the horse reference in there.”

“Why did you bring us here?” Rainbow Dash asked shocked “won’t we get caught? Also turned into slaves?”

“Well most certainly,” answered the Doctor.

“But why then?” Applejack asked “why would you put us into so much danger?”

“Aren’t you curious?” the Doctor responded.

“About what?” They replied.

“To find out about Lock Light of course,” the Doctor said

“I thought you said he’d hate you for the rest of his life if you told us about him?” Applejack said.

“Well, I’m not about to tell you now, am I?” said the Doctor “I’m about to show you.”

He swung open the door and they stepped outside into the domain of the Crystal Empire.

“What are we supposed to see here?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Nothing right now,” said the Doctor “except in about three…two…one, ah, here they are.”

“Who’s…” Twilight began but then she suddenly stopped. A small group of fillies and colts on a school trip, hiking up the mountain trail where Tardis had parked them. They were laughing, and giggling, and being obnoxious little brats, just like every other pony was in Ponyville when they were young. This shocked Twilight Sparkle because of all the reports she’d read about the Crystal Empire while Sombra was in power, it didn’t say anything about this.

“I know what you’re thinking,” said the Doctor interrupting her thoughts “if everything was so great for every pony in the Crystal Empire then why did they usurp King Sombra earlier?”

She nodded.

“Well,” continued the Doctor “these aren’t every day ponies. These are the fillies and colts of the nobleponies of King Sombra. Do you see that fellow in front acting as chaperone?”

He gestured with his right hoof towards a sturdily built, broad shouldered handsome looking Kiso stallion. His black mane glistened in the afternoon sun, well-polished with grey tips at the end. He was keeping a sharp look out for danger.

“That is Lock Light’s father,” said the Doctor “Foss Saber, Captain of King Sombra’s Advanced Guard. A good and noble chap. Lock Light takes a lot after him. Oh, wait, look!”

A pudgy little Pegasus, looking like a bloated butterfly with undersized wings was barely able to keep up with the rest of the group.

“Dad,” Lock Light yelled “wait up!”

They paused and Captain Saber looked back at his son with fondness “I’m here son,” he said “we’ll wait here and let you catch your breath. In fact, why don’t we all take a break. You all look tuckered out.”

Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash started to giggle as Lock Light strained with the effort to keep a loft.

“I know I struggled with flying,” giggled Fluttershy “but at least I was able to.”

“Ha, ha,” laughed Rainbow Dash “he looks so ridiculous!”

“He does doesn’t he?” asked the Doctor “Lock Light was very close with his father. They did everything together after his mother died when he was born. Lock Light was happy, even though he didn’t understand anything that was going on. When he looked around, he didn’t see all of the oppression, or the slavery, the corruption which was rampant in the Crystal Empire under King Sombra. He only saw his father, the champion of good in King Sombra’s Court.”

Lock Light and Foss Saber embraced as he finally caught up. The other ponies were panting and resting from the tough climb up the mountain they were on.

The Doctor continued “Lock Light did everything his father told him. He admired the way his father handled himself around King Sombra, being one of the few ponies able to withstand his gaze and look him in the eye. King Sombra was jealous of Captain Saber because he could get things done whereas only Sombra could only give the orders. Ponies liked and loved Captain Saber over Sombra, therefore Sombra saw Captain Saber as a threat to his kingdom, but he couldn’t do anything about it personally because it would only hail Captain Saber as a martyr for freedom. Until…”

A low rumbling shook the mountain. It shuttered and buckled under the tremendous weight, as a huge Chimera came onto the path where they were all standing. It roared in their faces sending the fillies and colts screaming as they began to scatter. The Chimera took a step towards one of them, when Captain Saber stood in its way. The Chimera roared again in his face “You don’t scare me,” said Captain Saber his voice cool and level “I’ve faced worse creatures than you demon spawn!”

The creature reared upwards at this the goat’s head rammed towards him but Foss Saber dodged, quick as lightning and kicked at the creature’s chest. The Chimera clutched itself in pain as the snake tail hissed forward striking, left and right, every time missing at Captain Saber’s remarkable agility. He taunted the creature “What? Is that the best you can do?”

The creatures lion head snapped as Foss Saber jumped onto the cliff face, trying to draw it away from the fillies and colts. The Chimera followed, smashing paw holds into the rock and sending shards hurtling below.

“Can’t we help him?” Applejack asked.

“No,” the Doctor said “it wouldn’t be right. It would change Lock Light’s history forever. That’s also not how time works. This is the catalyst which made Lock Light who he is. It can’t be altered, no matter what we do. If we save Captain Saber now it will only mean that he’ll die later and not of old age. It’s his tragic death which allows Lock Light to develop and it’ll happen again sooner or later.”

They continued to watch. Captain Saber leapt down from the top and hurled himself at the Chimera, biting, kicking, and fighting with all of his might. The Chimera’s grip loosened and they tumbled off the cliff side landing once more on the trail. By this time all of the fillies and colts were hiding in a shallow cave, little more than a depression, in the rock wall. It shook with the impact and they screamed as the cave entrance collapsed in front of them. Captain Saber saw what had happened and as the roof fell, he tried to dig them out. He only got a little hole dug in “Lock Light,” he yelled as the Chimera once more got back up on its feet and turned to face him “save your friends. Save them. Protect them.”

“Father,” Lock Light yelled helpless as he was pinned by a rock.

“I love you son,” Captain Saber said and turned to face the Chimera. He knew it was his last moment. His last heroic act before he died. He braced himself, and then, he launched against the rocks behind him which now protected his one and only son. With Lock Light’s screams still ringing in his ears he flew at the Chimera straight as an arrow. His head jamming itself into the lion head’s open mouth causing it to choke as it stepped backwards…and over the edge of the cliff. The Chimera’s roar faded slowly as they hurtled towards the bottom of the canyon and splashed into the torrential waters below.

The rocks began to shift and move as ten tiny hoofs began to dig their way out. When Lock Light’s head broke loose, he scrambled out running over towards the cliff edge yelling “Dad? Dad? Dad!”

He ran around frantically, looking for his father. But he was nowhere to be seen. All that remained of his father was the gigantic bite torn out of the edge of the cliff where they stood. The others got out, and shook with fright and fear. One of them stepped forward “What do we do now?”

“Back,” Lock Light said through eyes full of tears “we have to go back. Down the mountain.”

“But who’ll take care of us?”

“I will,” Lock Light said “until we get to the castle I will.”

“It shouldn’t be that difficult,” said one “there should be slaves or servants who can help us get down.”

“No,” Lock Light said “I have to. I’ll do it. Even if it means carrying each one of you down on my back I’ll do it.”

“Well if you’re offering,” said another.

“You stupid idiot,” said another. He was about Lock Light’s height, but jet black with a blue mane. White lightning bolts etched his legs, blue wings and his mane “can’t you see he didn’t really mean it? It’s an image. He won’t really carry you all down. You’ll have to carry yourselves down. Besides,” he continued “he needs more help than any of us now.”

Lock Light broke down into sobs and tears. The other pony hugged him. Soon the others joined. Lock Light sobbed, and sobbed for about an hour. Afterwards, his voice hoarse and cracking “Thanks you lot. Especially you,” he said pointing to the black colt “what’s your name?”

“White Lightning,” the pegasus said holding out his hoof “and yours?”

“Lock Light,” said he as he shook White Lightning’s hoof “who’s colt are your parents?”

“I’m surprised no one here recognized me,” he said “after all, the son of Sombra and Crown Prince should be well known throughout his kingdom.”

They all bowed instantly. Although they were young, every pony knew how to address at least the King and the Prince. There had been so much going on that Lock Light had forgotten all of their names by this now. “Forgive me my lord,” Lock Light said “I was just…"

“No matter,” White Lightning said “you’ve had a hard day. The worst of us all. Come on everyone, you’re now to listen to Lock Light.”

Lock Light looked at him and the Prince looked back “You want to follow your father’s last wishes don’t you?”

Lock Light nodded getting up “Come you lot,” he said “let’s get moving.”

They all trudged back down the mountain trail.

The Doctor tapped Twilight on the shoulder, she turned her eyes brimming with tears “Come on,” the Doctor said “we should go to.”

They all walked back into the Tardis and he closed the door. Slowly it disappeared.

“Why did we have to learn that?” Twilight asked “that’s private information. We shouldn’t’ve been allowed to see it.”

“You had to know why Lock Light is the way he is,” the Doctor said “that’s just part one. Part two is happening in a few minutes. I’d fasten your seat belts this time.”

Twilight didn’t even notice when the Tardis landed this time. She was still dwelling on Captain Saber’s death and also Lock Light. She had guessed right the night before. He was a good pony, he just had a lot of issues to deal with. She was sure she was going to find out more.

“We’re here all,” the Doctor said “welcome to seven months later. During this moment, Lock Light is older, happier, and best friends with the Crown Prince. He has lived at the castle up until now and he’s looking great! We’re parked about halfway between where he is and the Castle.”

The door opened and they saw the city in front of the Crystal Castle. They looked around “Where’s Lock Light?” Spike asked

“Over there,” the Doctor said nodding in the general direction. They all looked and they gasped. Lock Light was taller now. All of the fat gone from his body. His wings were strong and powerful. His dark brown glossy flanks were knotted with muscle. He walked with a stride of confidence and pride, his black grey tipped mane blowing in the gentle breeze. Beside him, White Lightning strode. They laughed together after White Lightning told a joke about a slave and a crock pot. Lock Light heard a scream, a mare was getting her coins robbed by bandits.

Lock Light looked at White Lightning and together they flew off at the speed of sound, quickly catching up with the thieves. They fought them and took the coins back giving them back to the noble mare who was waiting for them.

“Oh thank you my lord,” the mare said bowing.

“Think nothing of it,” White Lightning said “just remember to keep better hold of your purse next time.”

With that, they trotted off back towards the castle. They continued to talk and laugh as if nothing had happened, taking everything very nonchalantly. When two guards walked up “Your Highness,” one said addressing White Lightning “you’re needed at the castle. Your father requires your presence.”

Looking down trodden White Lightning complied. Lock Light nudged him and smiled. White Lightning smiled too. Twilight could see that they liked each other like brothers and that they needed each other.

“Want me to come with you?” Lock Light asked.

“Sure,” White Lightning whispered when the guards had their backs turned “maybe we can beat the guards to the castle. I’m probably in trouble with my dad anyway. Wanna race?”

“Alright,” Lock Light whispered back bracing himself and unfurling his wings “through the lamp posts and around the foundation pillars twice before we fly through the balcony.”

“Right,” White Lightning said then shouted “Race you to the castle!”

He shot past the guards who had delivered their message. Lock Light was hard on his heels. They sped off towards the castle doors. The guards shouted “Your highness please!”

They ignored them. Lock Light and White Lightning were now neck and neck with each other. They were nearly breaking the sound barrier when they reached the castle grounds.

Past Participle

Chapter 4 – The Past Participle

The Doctor gestured to the girls and they went back into the Tardis.

“Alright girls,” the Doctor said once they got back into the Tardis “gotta keep moving if we want to finish on time…”

“Time?” Twilight exclaimed “we’ve lost all notion or understanding f time since we got onboard this thing. It’s changed everything. How we perceive ourselves, the things we used to take for granted. Why do we have to keep on seeing these segments of another pony’s life?”

“You have to understand,” the Doctor answered “where this evil originated…”

“I see nothing evil,” Twilight interrupted “all I see is us looking into somepony’s past and that’s wrong, especially without their permission. It’s wrong, and it will always be wrong.”

“The Princess…”

“No,” Rainbow Dash interrupted “you insisted that we go into this flying time travelling box thing…”

“Tardis…”

“And for what?” Rainbow Dash continued “to learn something about somepony who isn’t even aware that we’re peeping into the darkest secrets of his past? I’d be furious if somepony did that with me!”

“What I wanted to show you,” the Doctor continued “was that in spite of all the evil which White Lightning has done to Equestria and the surrounding lands and ponies that are here, he still has good inside of him. He and Lock Light used to be best friends, they were surrogate brothers. I wanted you to understand that so that you will understand how difficult it is for him to deliver the final blow…”

The girls stood there, their heads bowed low listening as the Doctor proceeded “Lock Light knows more about why White Lightning became evil, but he also knows that the reason why White Lightning is evil is because he only has a partial knowledge of the truth of what happened to King Sombra, his biological father. He also knows that if White Lightning could only see the mistake he made in trying to kill Lock Light and all of the other ponies whose lives he’s ruined over the centuries in which he’s waged his war, then everything would be alright and true peace will be restored. But Lock Light also understands that in order for this peace to be restored, he has to kill or banish White Lightning from the world completely. He’ll try everything he can before he does so but he knows the inevitable. Just like the time you understood how to properly use the Elements of Harmony to destroy Nightmare Moon, so to do you need to learn the origins of the evil and to realize that sometimes when ponies go evil, it’s because they don’t know any better and feel that there is no other option for them. In White Lightning’s mind, his cause is just. He is trying to kill Lock Light whom he remembers and sees as fighting and nearly defeating King Sombra before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna arrive and banish him with the Elements of Harmony. He also sees Lock Light as the one who destroyed his father’s Empire and himself as the one who is trying to bring it back. White Lightning will stop at nothing, and use anything he sees as necessary as a means to an end to destroy Lock Light. Lock Light is the only pony who can really stop him, not me, but Lock Light. I can only help, but in the end, it has to be Lock Light.”

The girls stood there in sheepish silence, waiting for a break in the Doctor’s lecture. They looked up as he went on

“I saw him once. When he was still a young colt, when he joined the resistance against King Sombra when before they placed Princess Cadance on the throne. They fought like mad beasts both King Sombra’s guards and the resistance warriors. I couldn’t do anything. I could just stand there in Tardis and watch. I saw the King use cunning and deception to slowly beat back the resistance who were in the city walls. Then there was one, Lock Light, his jet black grey tipped mane fluttering in the wind like a banner as he stood there defiantly gazing into the eyes of Sombra. He rallied the other ponies of the resistance, and had three Pegasi, one of whom was your ancestor Rainbow Dash, fly back to Equestria and alert Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to what was going on. He then shouted ‘for freedom! And the Empire!’ and with his head forward he flew forward as fast as he could leading the charge. The vanguard followed in his wake as they took up the battle cry. They knew they were fighting for a better cause then the fear of Sombra. They knew that they were fighting for the freedom from slavery so that their colts and fillies could choose for themselves what they could be. Sombra sent blasts of magic as did the other unicorns into the ranks of the resistance, but they had their own unicorns. Force fields were placed around them as they collided with the Advanced Guard of Sombra and drove them to the very gates of the Crystal Castle which Lock Light knew and loved so dearly as his home. Lock Light led a group of his friends, Azure Shield, Twilight’s great-grandfather Night Wind, and Princess Cadance’s great-uncle Wild Horn charged up the steps of the Crystal Castle into the Imperial throne room.

“There they confronted King Sombra, alone on this battlefield. White Lightning was by his side. White Lightning at his father’s bidding, was told to fight Lock Light. Wild Horn and Azure Shield tried to block his path and fought him, but White Lightning was too fast. He killed the Earth Pony Wild Horn by throwing him out the window using a levitation spell. I saw him fall on a guard’s pike. Night Wind wasn’t killed but he was too incapacitated to fight any longer. White Lightning then prepared a powerful blast of black magic to shoot at Lock Light, when Azure Shield leapt in front of him and blocked it, sacrificing himself in the process. Fueled with anger and rage Lock Light attacked White Lightning. Blasts of magic from White Lightning’s horn and the thuds from the hits of Lock Light filled the throne room. The whole time Sombra sat there smiling and laughing maniacally.

“Then suddenly, White Lightning slammed into a chandelier as he was kicked upwards by Lock Light. The chandelier came crashing down on top, stunning White Lightning. As he stood there panting and sweating, King Sombra loomed over head. All laughter and dark humor gone from his eyes he raged ‘you have killed my son!’ then he came at Lock Light. Lock Light dodged, left and right, up and down, flying as fast as he could. But the powerful blasts of magic followed him. He knew he had to fight back. Throwing all of his might into every punch and kick the fight lasted for nearly three hours. By this time the resistance had defeated the rest of King Sombra’s guards. ‘I will not be defeated,’ King Sombra yelled ‘I will live on. Even if you kill me now.’ Then Lock Light stopped. He realized then what Sombra wanted him to do. He wanted Lock Light to kill him so that he would become as evil as himself. He couldn’t kill his best friend, so he tried a different way. A way that nearly worked. ‘No,’ Lock Light said ‘I won’t kill you. You’re evil Sombra, and you’ve ruined the lives of many ponies. But you deserve the chance to change all the same. That is a right which is granted to every pony. The freedom of choice. Even though you took it away from other pony’s you still will receive it by my hoofs.’ Sombra laughed at this ‘Do you think I am weak?’ he asked him ‘Do you think I need your permission or consent to choose for myself whether or not I live or die?’ Sombra charged at Lock Light but then the windows above shattered and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna appeared. They wielded the Elements of Harmony and banished King Sombra forever.”

The girls stood there, listening. They didn’t want to interrupt. The more they heard the more they came to respect Lock Light. The difficult decisions he was forced to make. The sacrifice of his friends in the face of impossible odds. The work he was trying to do to rid himself of the Legacy of King Sombra. Twilight didn’t know, Applejack didn’t know, and neither did any of the others understand the depth to which this drive would show. But all of the good deeds and actions which he did for them made sense. In his mind he was paying off the debt to the other pony’s for generations to come because of his association with King Sombra. A debt which he felt wasn’t paid yet. He fought off monsters, he saved Equestria multiple times as he’d said and didn’t ask for anything in return. Applejack continued to wonder why he had feelings for her. But she figured that she would learn that at a different time.

“Afterwards,” the Doctor continued “the resistance ponies wished him to be their king. But he refused and said that a ruler such as Princess Celestia should lead them. One who is just, kind, and compassionate. However Princess Celestia declined, and she instated Princess Cadances first ancestor to the throne. I met him a few months later, he had wondered from the Crystal Empire and was in the North Lands when I appeared to him. I invited him inside to warm up and to chat. We agreed to work together from that point onwards. That’s how I know Lock Light. That’s why you should trust me, because I know. I know a host of things which you don’t understand yet. I know a lot of things which are about to happen and which have already happened. Time for me is irrelevant, but time can be set right for you but only if you let me work with you and help you. I can’t do that if you’re constantly arguing with me about how I do things or why I do them.”

“Alright,” Twilight said “then, I trust you.”

“That goes for me,” said Rainbow Dash “I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here and if Twilight says you’re okay, then you’re fine by me.”

“I liked you from the start!” Pinkie Pie said.

“I guess I have no choice,” said Fluttershy.

“I just wanna know something,” Applejack said.

They all turned to face her “Huh,” she said awkwardly “how come he’s so interested in our lives? I mean ours, what do we have to do with anything about him? I mean, we all know he’s good now, but why does he do small things like our chores and everything?”

“He’s been interested in you your entire lives,” said the Doctor “since the day you were fillies.”

“What?” they all said.

“Yes,” the Doctor continued “wanna take a peek?”

They nodded. The Doctor flicked a couple of switches and pulled the lever. A few seconds later he opened the door “Welcome to one of your pasts,” he said “this might be a little embarrassing so I’ll let you guess whose it is.”

They’re in Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash blushes deeply as the others giggle. They see Rainbow Dash on Rainbow Blaze’s head waiting in anticipation for the announcement of the Equestria Games. When it is said that the games won’t be in Cloudsdale she is disappointed. She pulled many impressive maneuvers with her flag in spite of that fact. When she landed, a pegasus with dark brown glossy flanks and knotted muscles walked up beside her. His jet black grey tipped mane folded on his right side as he looked down. He wore the goggles and uniform of the First Wonderbolts Squadron and his insignia was the team captain “You know,” he said looking at Rainbow Dash “you’re a pretty good flier for being only a filly. I bet you one day you’ll join the Wonderbolts.”

Excitedly Rainbow Dash said “You really think so? Am I that good?”

“You wanna know something else?” Lock Light whispering to Rainbow Dash while taking off his goggles “I hear that if you fly fast enough, and also have a good heart, and are loyal to your friends, that you can make a sonic Rainboom!”

“Wow!” Rainbow Dash said “you really think so? Do you think I can pull it off?”

“If anypony can,” he said “you can do it. Hope to see you with the Wonderbolts some day!”

With that he flew off.

“Wow!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as they stepped back into the Tardis “so that’s where I got the idea in my head. I didn’t remember anypony ever telling me before!”

“How about another one?” The Doctor asked.

“What about Rarity?” Rainbow Dash said pointing.

“He can’t possibly have anything to do with me,” she said haughtily “I would have remembered.”

“Oh really?” The Doctor said and after typing some more controls he pulled the lever again. When they opened the door they saw little Rarity without her cutie mark. She is working on her costumes for the school play and wondering what is missing on the costumes because she is a perfectionist.

“I remember this day,” Rarity said “of course I do, and I remember nothing…”

“That’s because we didn’t want you to see anything,” said the Doctor “just watch.”

On the other side of an enormous boulder blocking Rarity’s view, Lock Light was fighting a Hundred Hoofed Pony. It was too far away to be heard by Rarity who wasn’t paying attention anyway. Lock Light flew up trying to distract it “Now Doc!” He shouted.

They saw the Doctor activate a similar machine to the one that got rid of the Chimera which attacked Ponyville earlier that day. This one however grabbed hold of Rarity’s horn and dragged her towards the boulder. After the black hole disappears from sucking in the monster, Rarity’s horn stops pulling her. Then Rainbow Dash does her sonic Rainboom and splits the rock in half allowing her to discover the gems inside which she needs to complete her outfits. So enthralled with the gems, she doesn’t notice Lock Light helping the Doctor load the machine back onto Tardis and disappearing.

“But,” Rarity stammered “it didn’t do the same thing when you activated the machine earlier today!”

“That was our first prototype,” the Doctor said grinning “we realized by watching the films recorded and observing you that it had the bad side effect of dragging all unicorns towards it. It would not only give away our presence potentially in the future but would also cause some other’s which we hadn’t yet identified at the time. So we recalibrated it and voila! A scientific machine in all it’s perfection.”

“Oh,” Rainbow Dash said “do Applejack!”

“I don’t think we have enough time for that,” the Doctor said.

“Aww,” all except Applejack said.

“We have to get you back to Princess Celestia,” the Doctor went on “we’re already five minutes off schedule. Lock Light will be getting ready to or will already be at the Crystal Empire. We need to go there to help him fight White Lightning.”

In the Crystal Castle Court of King Sombra

Chapter 5 In the Crystal Castle Court of King Sombra

“But why do we have to see why Lock Light has to defeat White Lightning?” Twilight asked “It’s not really relevant to what the task at hand. It’s all very fine and well to learn about Lock Light and to understand why he is the way he is, but it’s unnecessary. If everything is so urgent like you say it is, then we should be joining him right now! Instead of wasting our time!”

“Wasting our time?” the Doctor exclaimed laughing and clapping his hoofs together “I forgot just how impatient you ponies really can be. Oh, forget Nightmare Moon girls. You think you can just waltz in there like you normally do, defeat the Nightmare of Equestria? White Lightning, is the real danger. Nightmare Moon was just a fantastic fairy story compared to White Lightning. He’s killed hundreds of ponies within his lifetime. He’ll make mincemeat of you. Don’t you understand? Remember how difficult it was for Princess Celestia to defeat King Sombra? This is the direct, biological Son of Sombra. Remember Discord? He’s a filly compared to White Lightning. White Lightning has used his only his words to turn entire armies against their commanders, not magic, words. It’s not a title with White Lightning, he’s not just an heir to an empire, he’s not just a powerful Alicorn who can possibly be the only pony in Equestria who can confidently say that he can defeat Princess Celestia in single combat! You girls have to know! You have to learn! Everything you know is an advantage over him! The more about someone’s past you learn, the more about their intricate secrets which they possess. The deep and dark portions of his mind which no gods, princesses or ponies can see, you can use against them if you know! Privacy is a luxury which has to be used and treated carefully. I don’t abuse my power, but in some instances like this, I have to use it, because without it, Lock Light will fall. With Lock Light gone, your entire world will shatter. Everything will change.

“White Lightning is the true monster. The dark pony whom you are about to face, who lives in the secret chambers beneath the Crystal Castle is the same pony who became King of the Underworld. He was the one who created or summoned every single monster which attacked Equestria and Ponyville. Remember the legend of Discord? The Timberwolves? White Lightning has his hoofs in all of the stories. He bred the Timberwolves which now run wild and rampant in the Everfree Forest, it was he who first set Discord loose in Equestria! You all remember being taken in by Discords lies and deceits? He received all of his training, all of his skill in persuasion from White Lightning!”

Twilight remembered. How the second time they used the Elements of Harmony that they didn’t work because of Discord. She remembered the anger, frustration, panic, lies, and fear which spread simply because it was Discords pleasure. She finally nodded. She understood. She realized that she had been fighting the Doctor this whole time mentally when she should have been supporting him.

“So,” Fluttershy said timidly “why do we have to go and face him? If he’s as bad as Discord…”

“No,” Rainbow Dash cut in “he’s actually worse remember?”

“Because there is no one else,” Twilight said walking beside the Doctor and turning to face the girls “we’ve been through so much together, just like Lock Light and the Doctor. For too long they have been the only two ponies who’ve really saved Equestria. We’ve had our adventures, and we’ve done our part. But every night, for centuries, these two ponies have done a great service, not only to the Princess, but to ourselves and our very lives. Now we get to be apart of finishing it. I see now. Lock Light was helped us move along so that he could get us to this very moment in time, because he needs all of us.”

“All of us?” Fluttershy asked “are you sure he needs all of us?”

“Yes Fluttershy,” Twilight responded “all of us. We work well as a team. We each bring something unique to help Lock Light and the Doctor. We are the embodiments of the Elements of Harmony. We can use them to help Lock Light defeat White Lightning. However, we also understand now that it’ll be Lock Light’s final choice, but we have to be there to help get him to that moment.”

Twilight looked around at each of their eyes “Are you with me?”

“You bet,” Rainbow Dash said “I’m always ready for a fight!”

“I don’t quite understand what’s going on,” said Applejack “but if you say it’s a good cause, then I’m with ya.”

“Why certainly darling,” Rarity said with a flick of her mane “wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I have to agree with Applejack,” Pinkie Pie said placing her hoof on her chin contemplating out loud “everything’s been very confusing and I don’t even remember how we ended up here. But it sounds fun!”

“I guess so,” Fluttershy said, her eyes looking downwards.

“Then it’s settled,” Twilight turned around “Doctor, we don’t know everything as well as you do. But like the Princess, we trust you, and we’ll help you.”

“Good,” the Doctor said “and with that…”

He pulled the lever on the control panel. They were suddenly back in Princess Celestia’s inner throne room. The girls stepped out of Tardis and blinked. Pinkie Pie hopped out in her usual high humor “That was fun!”

“Did you learn anything girls?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Yes,” Twilight said “we learned a lot. A lot we don’t fully understand, but we know our role and purpose. We’re going to help Lock Light and the Doctor.”

“Good,” said the Princess “I knew you’d eventually see truth. Lock Light informed me that he’s at the Crystal Castle right now. You should go to him as quickly as you can.”

“Should we step back in Tardis?” said the Doctor.

“I thought that only went back in time,” Rarity said “besides…”

“It can fly too,” interrupted the Doctor “and it can fight, time torpedoes and everything! Plus it’ll be a lot faster even than Rainbow Dash to get us there.”

“Okay Doc,” Rainbow Dash said angrily “I may have agreed to work with you but I don’t have to take any of your apples!”

“It’s a simple matter of space physics and time mechanics. You see,” the Doctor explained “we actually don’t fly. It works a lot like teleportation. In fact, well, I guess you all understand how that works. Yes, it’s teleportation essentially.”

“So it can use magic as well?” Twilight asked.

“Well,” continued the Doctor “science actually, and electricity, lots of electricity. But isn’t electricity just invisible magic?”

“Huh?”

“Oh never mind,” the Doctor went on “what do you say girls?”

“Alright,” Twilight said “girls?”

“Right behind you!” Rainbow Dash said. And they all got back on the Tardis. In the blink of an eye they were gone.

Two seconds later they were in the Crystal Castle dungeons. It was dark, gloomy, rank with the scent of old sweat, rotted meat, and dead rat. Water dripped noisily from above forming the various stalactite’s and stalagmites which formed enormous and grotesque rock formations both above and below them.

“Uh,” Fluttershy shuttered “is it safe?”

“Of course not,” the Doctor said “otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

There was a bellow from behind a rock four Diamond Dogs leapt out and attacked them. Before they could do anything, Lock Light came from out of nowhere and beat them up so fast they couldn’t say apple fritters. He stood there and looked at them, his long shaggy mane hiding most of his face “Hi girls,” he said awkwardly “I see the Doc showed you everything.”

“Yes he has,” said Twilight “we know who you are Lock Light, and we’re sorry that we doubted and mistrusted you.”

“That’s alright,” he said nodding his head towards them “I don’t trust ponies easily myself, it’s how I’ve been able to stay alive for this long. Don’t trust ponies and don’t grow attached to them. That’s the secret to a long life girls.”

“Lock Light,” the Doctor interjected “shouldn’t we go to the upper levels?”

“No,” said Lock Light “he’s here. I know he is, I just don’t know where.”

“Exactly,” the Doctor said “so why don’t we start up there, instead of being down here?”

“This is where I came in,” Lock Light said “I found a couple of Diamond Dog guards apart from these four and after I beat them up I questioned one of them. He told me that White Lightning had his inner sanctum here somewhere. He didn’t know. All the Diamond Dogs stayed clear of that area. Black magic and sorcery were happening every day there. New strange and scary creatures were being bred there. I don’t like it Doc. Something just doesn’t feel right about it.”

“It never does feel right my friend,” the Doctor said grinning “that’s why we do what we do.”

“I’m with you there Doc. Now,” he said turning to the girls “we need to find this cavern. I don’t know how well you lot’s underground senses are. Mine are about as good as a mule’s. Twilight, do you think you can cast a spell to help us out a bit?”

“Well,” she said “I didn’t the last few times I was underground. First with the Diamond Dogs and then with the Changelings. However I could try to think of something. Rarity?”

“Oh,” Rarity said “Twilight, I’m good at finding gems, not other ponies. Least of all evil voracious and horrible ones.”

“Right,” Lock Light said “until then we’ll split up to cover more ground. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity you go on in one group. Doctor, you, Rainbow Dash and Applejack should get along fine. And Twilight, Spike and I will go together. Mark the sides of the tunnels with rock scratches so that you know where you’re going. Doc, you know how to contact me, Twilight, Rarity, you each can communicate through magic.”

“Right.” They all said, and split off down various tunnels.

“Let’s go.”

Lock Light and Twilight Sparkle went down the right hoof tunnel. It was twisty and wide. Lock Light picked up a rock and began to with scratching a star and then making arrow scratches along with is hoof.

“What am I supposed to be looking for exactly?” Twilight asked.

“Any magical anomalies in the surrounding area,” Lock Light replied “I’m certain that’ll be an easy task for Celestia’s star student.”

Twilight blushed “well,” she said “I’ll give it a try.”

With that her horn gave a strong sky blue light which lit up the cavernous tunnels.

“Impressive,” Lock Light said “how is it supposed to work?”

“When we’re close to an anomaly,” Twilight said “it’s supposed to flicker and get dimmer. The magic anomaly will draw power from the spell I created, therefore weakening it.”

“Not bad,” Lock Light said admittedly “I can see why she calls you that.”

“How do you know the Princess?” Twilight asked.

“Oh,” Lock Light responded “we’ve known each other for a long time. She’s like a big sister to me. Like how Princess Cadance was to you.”

“Was she your baby sitter?”

“No,” Lock Light continued “we didn’t have baby sitters in the old Empire. But she’s known me since I was a colt.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he said “we’ve been through a lot together. Many dangers we have passed through. She’s save my life multiple times.”

“Did you love her once?”

“Strangely enough no,” Lock Light said as they continued to walk and he continued to etch on the wall “I never saw her in a romantic light. Besides, I couldn’t be Prince. That’d be too dull of a life.”

“How did you meet the Doctor?”

Lock Light paused, his head lowered suddenly as if he was observing the dirt.

“Oh,” Twilight said “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry…”

“It’s alright,” Lock Light said after a long pause “I was engaged once.”

“Really?” Twilight asked “to whom? Was she beautiful?”

“Yes,” Lock Light continued “she was. Her name was Silver Sun. A white pony with a golden mane and blue eyes.”

He hung his head again as he remembered “I met her the day after my father died. She comforted me in my grief and sorrows. I was so angry but she encouraged me to use that anger to become a better pony, both physically and in character. She told me to be everything my father was and more. It was our wedding day, after we had banished King Sombra, when Lock Light sent his first monster, a Cypony, a giant pony who walked upright and who had only one eye but one of his four arms snatched her away from me. And then he ripped her in half before my eyes. That's when the Doctor showed up. We fought and defeated the Cypony. Then after Princess Celestia saw how well we worked together, she made us a team, to fight the supernatural monsters which White Lightning sent to destroy Equestria.”

Twilight stood there listening intently, her feelings reaching out to him “I’m sorry,” she said “you’ve seemed to have lost more ponies than we knew about.”

“You didn’t know any better,” Lock Light said.

Wanting to change the subject Twilight asked “how old are you? I mean, you’ve obviously been around for a really long time, but how are you able to stay alive this whole time?”

“Did you ever wonder that about Princess Celestia?” Lock Light asked rhetorically.

“Well,” Twilight said and then she thought more about it. No she never asked for about it, she just accepted that she was always older.

“Exactly,” he continued “you know a time travelling spell right?”

“Yes,” she said “but it only goes…”

“Back a week,” he interrupted “I know. I came across that spell while I was searching the archives of the Crystal Castle. I foolishly thought, at least before I met the Doctor and I came to a more complete knowledge of how time works, and that if I could simply go back in time, I could save my father. But that’s not how time works. It was the significant event in my life which made me who I am. If my father had lived, I’d still be a very different and very spoiled pony.”

He laughed “I loved my father, but I would probably still be that pudgy pegasus the Doctor showed you.”

“You know about that?”

“Of course,” Lock Light said “the Doctor knows how to contact me. We communicate often. I knew about it while you were doing it. Now, about the whole immortality thing. You know as well as I do that there are certain spells which can be only cast by unicorns and others which even Earth Ponies or Pegasi can cast if the conditions are right. Princess Celestia and the Doctor helped me cast this spell. However, the conditions have to be absolutely perfect. I cast the spell on myself, so I am immortal, but I also have traveled and worked with the Doctor for many years.”

He looked at Twilight “Then it makes it a matter of theoretical and space physics. When one travels at the speed of light, as the Doctor and myself have done, age becomes irrelevant. There’s almost a time pocket, or a time paradox which happens. You see, whenever the Tardis travels through time, what happens outside are two things. Using a mathematical equation which the Gallifreyan’s, or the Doctor’s people, came up with, if in space, the Tardis will create an artificial pocket of gravity…”

“What’s gravity?”

“You haven’t discovered that principle yet?” Lock Light asked “Oh well, never mind, it’s the force which keeps us from floating. It’s the thing which allows only Pegasi to fly and why apples fall to the ground that sort of thing. Anyway, an artificial pocket of gravity is generated around the Tardis and then a wormhole is activated…”

“Wormhole? Like the kind that earth worms make in gardens?”

“Not exactly,” he continued “but similar. Essentially, what happens is that you are bending the fabric of space-time around you and forming a tunnel. Does that make sense?”

“Uh,” Twilight said.

“Let me see,” he said “space and time are two intertwined fabrics, only you can’t see them. Time is like a river. It flows normally in one direction, but also it can flow backward. But time is also a cycle. Time moves therefore in a straight spiral. When you move forwards or backwards in time you move along that path. In order to access a portion of it, or a eddy or current, you have to use gravity. Which is why whenever you travel in Tardis, you spin. You’re following a little current of space time. Everything has its own sub-cycle within the Great Universal Timeline, grass, trees, apples, flowers, ponies, you name it, it has one. When you saw my past you dipped into my specific eddy in time. That’s why the Doctor probably told you not to touch anything. The after affects could be catastrophic. Imagine if you killed a queen ant while it was still an egg. Not only would you have the immediate consequence of killing an entire colony of ants, but all of the functions and roles which ants have in our world, which are done by that specific colony, in that specific area of time and space, have vanished because of your one action. The past is destroyed and you drastically changed the future. Chains of events have been drastically altered. Now what does this have to do with my age? Well, there we get into the realm of parallel universes.”

“What do you mean?”

“A parallel universe is a universe which coexists with our own,” Lock Light rambled on “remember the time you ever had to make more than one choice in something? Anything?”

“Yes,” Twilight said “I always do when I wonder which books I’m going to read next.”

“You have a whole library, yes?”

“Of course,” Twilight said.

“That’s an example of a parallel universe. Every single choice that we make every single day closes down one parallel universe and opens up another. When you decide which book you are going to read in your library, up until the moment you make the choice, you are standing at the crossroads of multi-parallel universes. There is are multiple parallel universes for every single book. For example, in one universe you decide to pick up your favorite book. You use magic, you pick it up, bring it down off the shelf, and then you come to another crossroads, either you can set it down, read it, or place it back on the shelf. That’s just the tip of the needle on the tip of the iceberg Twilight Sparkle. That’s why asking me the question, ‘how old are you?’ is so difficult for me to answer, because I have to ask myself according to which time? Equestrian time? Your time? My time? The Doctor’s time?”

“Okay then,” she said mentally exasperated “according to Equestrian time if you insist.”

“I’m about four hundred and twenty to be exact,” Lock Light said matter-of-factly.

Twilight gave him a once over “Looking good.”

“Thanks.”

“Now how are you able to stay so young then?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t you remember about parallel universes?” Lock Light asked.

“Don’t tell me,” she said rolling her eyes.

Lock Light smiled “I won’t start my lecture over again, but it ties in. According to my time frame and physically, I’m only a little bit older than you. I’m actually the same age as Shining Armor, at least that’s how old I was when I cast the spell with the Princess and the Doctor. When we cast the spell, I was the same age he was when he got married to Princess Cadance.”

“But you can never die,” Twilight said “is there a counter spell?”

“There always is a counter spell for every spell,” Lock Light said “you know this as a unicorn, I know this as a scientist. For every action there is always an equal or opposite reaction. There will always be higher and advanced levels of magic. So yes, there is a counter spell, but just like the spell itself, there are specific conditions.”

“What are they?”

Lock Light stopped and turned to her staring at her hard for a few seconds “Only those who know the spell can know the conditions for the counter spell. But if the Princess trusts you and calls you her ‘star pupil’ then I feel that I can both trust you and know that you will understand.”

She nodded.

“I won’t tell you the words of the counter spell,” he went on “only those who know the spell also know the counter spell. It is a private and a sacred thing, for the conditions are these, either the caster must wish to die after being alive for centuries or millennia and wishes to make their final rest, or they must be in love, and wish to die with their loved ones and be with them for time and all eternity.”

Twilight blinked. She thought of what she overheard Lock Light tell the Doctor. About what he had said about Applejack. Was that really the reason why he did those things for her and for them?

“I see you’re thinking about my feelings for Applejack,” he said interrupting her thoughts.

“Yes,” Twilight said “how long have you been helping her? Helping us?”

“Remember when you all went to the Great Galloping Gala for the first time?” Lock Light.

“Yes,” Twilight said “it was a disaster.”

“I’d forgotten that you even existed until that moment,” he said “not because I wanted to. But I had my own tasks which the Princess wanted me to do with the Doctor. I’d seen you when you were all fillies, but that was the first time I saw you in a long while. When I saw Applejack set up shop in the gardens, I wanted to speak to her, but I didn’t have the courage to do so.”

“You” Twilight scoffed “were nervous?”

“Naturally,” Lock Light said “she’s such an amazing pony. I was with Tardis on an away mission to M557-216 in Sector Gamma Delta 3 when you helped defeat Nightmare Moon with the Elements of Harmony. The Princess told the Doctor and I about it on our return briefing after we reported on our mission. I was so impressed and when I was told that it was you girls, I just had to see you again, but I didn’t know how to go about doing so. I’m not very good with other ponies. I’m socially awkward and only make good speeches when my blood is boiling and adrenaline is pumping through my veins. So, I didn’t know how to talk with you all, but I knew how to do one thing, and that was to help other ponies out.”

“So for the past three years,” Twilight said hocked “you’ve been doing all of that?”

Lock Light awkwardly scratched his left hoof and said “Yeah.”

“But you gave Applejack enough coins to buy out Ponyville that means!”

“Over time yes,” he said “don’t worry, it didn’t make a dent in my expenses.”

“But, how?”

“I fought an evil dragon a while back,” he said “orders of the Princess. The dragon’s loot was my payment for that particular job. Singed my tail in a couple of places though.”

“You really could have come to us,” Twilight said admonishingly “at least to me. I would’ve convinced the other girls to let you be around us. We don’t turn other ponies away, no matter how odd they are.”

“I know that now,” he said “and I wished I learned it sooner.”

“Couldn’t you have simply moved forward in time to learn that?”

“But think on what I would have missed?” Lock Light asked rhetorically “Let’s move on.”

They walked in silence for a couple of minutes and then Twilight worked up the courage to ask “So, how do you feel about Applejack?”

“Oh,” Lock Light said exhaling “I’ve loved her since the Gala.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Lock Light continued “when I saw her in that gown Rarity made. I was speechless. I wanted to talk with her, to let her know how I felt and what I’d done for her. But she would’ve just thought me creepy. I didn’t know how to go about it. I would have bought everything she offered on her trays if it meant only exchanging a few words with her.”

“She is amazing isn’t she?”

“That she is,” Lock Light said “caring, compassionate, a family pony. If a stallion wanted to settle down with anypony, it’d be her.”

“Another question,” Twilight asked “when we were in Tardis and you helped influence our lives. Like Rarity with that machine you and the Doctor made which pulled her to that rock which had the gems inside, or when you first told Rainbow Dash about the Wonderbolts. How did you influence Applejack?”

“Applejack?” Lock Light said “that’s a long story in itself. You see, I didn’t know her personally when she was a filly. But I knew that she was special somehow. I followed her to Manehattan and made sure she was safe the whole way there, while she stayed, and on her journey home. While she was gone though, Granny Smith nearly lost the farm due to there being not enough ponies for the harvest and they wouldn’t be able to make the payments. I talked with Granny Smith and asked her how much money she needed, then I gave it to her and ten years in advance. She never told Applejack, but that’s one of the reasons why she lets me on the farm work after dark. She knows I’ll protect and guard it at night.”

“And that you’ll work it,” Twilight said “extra hoofs make light work.”

Lightning and Power

Chapter 6 - Lightning and Power

“But wait,” Twilight asked “how did you solve the problem on Sweet Apple Acres and also follow Applejack?”

“That was easy,” Lock Light said “I’d had contact with the Doctor by that time. Remember what I said about time and space? Well, it’s simple really. Through magic you can teleport and I can through science.”

“How did you feel about when Trenderhoof came to Ponyville then?”

“I knew enough about Applejack’s character by then that I knew she wouldn’t go for him,’ he said “and even if she did. It still wouldn’t deter me from helping out on the farm, even if it meant only helping out Granny Smith, and she needs all the help she can get. Let’s move on. We can’t let the others get ahead of us, I can feel that Lightning is close.”

“Tell me about him,” Twilight said.

“About who?”

“White Lightning.”

“Didn’t the Doc show you everything?”

“No,” Twilight said “he left a lot out. We ran out of time befor he showed us what you two did inside the castle.”

“Oh,” Lock Light said “that. It was a tournament, that’s all.”

“What happened?”

“I…”

Lock Light stopped talking, his head snapped upwards and his eyes glared in front of him.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“The Doctor’s calling,” he said. Then he dashed off, the sound of his hoofs reverberating from the rock walls “come! They’re in trouble!”

With that they sped off down the tunnels, coming to a large central chamber reminiscent of Tardis. The Doctor was there, as were Rarity and the others. They were surrounded by enormous bats with wing spans twice the size of normal ponies. They darted to and fro, clinging on the walls and hanging upside down. They screeched “Who dares enter the Court of King Sombra?”

Lock Light came to the tunnel atrium’s entrance and stopped. He knew these bats. They were ancient, their age stretched back centuries to the dawn of Equestria. He also knew them by name.

“Hasaliss,” he said “Captain Hasaliss! Where are you?”

The bats continued to swarm around them until one broke off and glided towards Lock Light landing on the ground in front of him. Twilight took two involuntary steps backwards. She didn’t like the way this bat looked. An eye patch covered one of his eyes, his skin was cracked and wrinkled. Where there were cracks, thin lines of blood constantly oozed onto his black wings. He crept up to Lock Light, his fangs barred. Then he reached out his left claw, and touched Lock Light’s face “I know your face,” he said.

“I know you do honored Captain of the Underworld,” Lock Light said.

“Your voice,” he stammered “but surely not…”

“Oh but it is my old friend,” Lock Light said coming a step closer.

“I thought you must surely be dead,” the bat said, tears swelling up in his eyes “after what happened in the halls above…”

“You know this thing?” Twilight asked.

“Yes I do,” Lock Light said “and a truer friend you couldn’t have or find below ground.”

“My prince,” the bat said “my captain, and my lord. Bats! Come! See! He has returned! The prophesies have come true! The prophets of our kind foretold this day would come, when the heir of the King would come to us again!”

“What in Equestria is he babbling on about?” Rarity asked.

The bats suddenly ignored them and swarmed on Lock Light but not our of malice. They all remembered him “My Lord Lock Light,” one said “forgive us, I beg of you. We knew not that you had graced us with your presence in these, our darkened halls.”

“Long has it been since I was here last,” Lock Light said smiling fondly and his voice suddenly changing. It became more regal and refined, not the pony which they had met earlier “it is not you who need my permission to enter into your dark realm my friends. For when I was but a lowly fugitive, and a prisoner in my own home, you took me in and fed me and gave me warmth. I have never forgotten such kindness.”

“My Lord,” another bat said “would you be so kind as too…”

“My Lord?” Rarity said her eyes getting wider “you can’t possibly be serious? A Lord? You are just an ordinary pegasus I thought.”

The bats hissed in distaste at Rarity’s tactlessness “Peace my good friends all,” Lock Light said, still in that strangely quiet yet regal sound “good Guardians of Darkness, my pony friends knew not much about my past. I am an enigma to them. But to you who know my true nature, remember to show courtesy to those who do not.”

“But Rarity’s right,” Twilight said “how can you be royalty? Your only a pegasus.”

“This is no ordinary pony,” the Doctor said “this is Lock Light. The Second Son of Sombra, and true heir to the Crystal Empire, proclaimed from the mouth of King Sombra himself at the Royal Tournament of Champions. Captain of the Resistance of Crystal Empire Ponies Against Sombra, Champion of the Crystal Empire!”

The bats kneeled and bowed their heads in respect. The girls stood there in shock.

“But only Alicorns can…” Twilight began.

“Be royalty?” Lock Light finished. He flicked his mane and a unicorn’s horn jutted out from his mountain of mane. They all gasped.

“How is it possible?” Rarity asked.

“The tournament,” Lock Light said “the Royal Tournament of Champions. What the Doctor didn’t show you was that both White Lightning and I competed there. He had to, he was Sombra’s Son. I chose to just to see how well I’d do. I beat out fifty other competitors. White Lightning defeated only forty nine. In the end we had to fight each other. I wore a mask because I didn’t want to be humiliated in case I didn’t fight too well. I didn’t expect to be in the final round. White Lightning and I fought like mad horses. We fought for nearly an hour or so the other Lords had said. In the end, I kicked him in the jaw and he lay there knocked out cold. Sombra flew down from his throne and berated me, asked me who I was who thought he could dare defy the line of Sombra. He ordered me to take of my mask. Though I didn’t want to, I had to, my king had commanded me. So I did. I remember the crowd gasping and King Sombra laughing in genuine humor ‘Well,’ I remember him saying ‘if it isn’t Saber’s Son. Unfortunately you couldn’t be one of mine. You were always the superior to my own flesh and blood. I wish I had you for a son.’ Then one of his advisors walked up to him and whispered something in his ear which I couldn’t hear. Then he exclaimed ‘Of course, I am king after all.’ I then felt a searing pain on my forehead. It was as if my very skull was being stretched and elongated. I was powerless. I couldn’t do anything. White Lightning woke up just as he saw me being turned into an Alicorn. ‘What?’ he said glaring icy daggers at me ‘he’s an Alicorn too? He can’t be! He’s just a common pony!’ ‘Not so,’ Sombra said ‘I am king here. My word is law.’ Then he faced the crowd ‘Hearken unto me noble mares and stallions of the Crystal Empire. From this day forth, I proclaim Lock Light, formerly known as the

Son of Foss Saber, Captain of my Advanced Guard to be named Lock Light the Second Son of Sombra and I proclaim him heir to my empire.’”

Lock Light paused for breath and then went on “White Lightning was furious with me after that. He refused to speak to me for years. He said that I used him, that I only was his friend so that I could impress his father enough. I destroyed his entire world. I knew that I was better at him then somethings but I didn’t realize how his father treated him. I found out later the hard way. Sombra constantly yelled and beat his son, calling him a coward, good for nothing, and lazy. He kept comparing myself to Lightning. He’s bitter towards me because not only in his mind did I take everything away from him, but I ruined his life. Though I was the Second Son, I was always first in the eyes of Sombra.”

“What did you do?” Fluttershy asked.

“After a year,” Lock Light continued “I snuck out. I couldn’t live there anymore. The guards searched and hunted for me. I was Sombra’s favorite, but I would never be a son of his. He made me his son through magic, but Foss married my mother and he loved her.”

They listened in silence as he went on. How he discovered the caverns below the castle. How he befriended the oppressed Guardians of Darkness. How he would free slaves and bring them down to the caverns to form the resistance. How he eventually raised an army and confronted Sombra in open warfare. How he nearly beat Sombra, but through his study of magic and the Elements of Harmony, he knew that he, Lock Light, couldn’t place the final blow because only the Princess’s Celestia and Luna could do so while unified and wielding them. He also told them of White Lightning’s escape from capture, even though he was well treated, and his turning to evil, following in the footsteps of his father, how he hunted Lock Light to every cave and corner across Equestria until he became a member of Princess Luna’s Advanced Guard.

“She remembered me from when we defeated King Sombra,” he said “this was before she became Nightmare Moon. I was second in command of her Advanced Guard and part of what we called the ‘Officer’s Cadre’ or a council of her most loyal and faithful officers. I felt more comfortable around her than Princess Celestia because of my past, and I also didn't receive as much prejudice from her guards as I did from Celestia's, so that's why I joined. But over the years, I saw that she became bitter and more resentful towards Princess Celestia. I myself an am amateur astronomer. But I was one of the few ponies who appreciated Princess Luna’s generosity and skill with governing the night. Slowly, she walked down more and more paths which led her deeper and deeper into true darkness. Then one day, she called a meeting of the Cadre. She explained to us her plan and it was at that moment that I knew, that that gentle, kind, and gracious pony, had turned to the wickedness and jealousy that was in her heart. She’d become what she had once helped me defeat.

“I fled her court. Once more, I was hunted to every corner in Equestria. I avoided Ponyville to keep your parents safe. I knew the good that you all would do for Equestria one day, more so than the Doctor and myself. I finally arrived in Canterlot where I announced myself to the Princess. She had also known me since I was a colt. Through her power magical, she was able to see the truth in all that I had said. Together, she, myself, and the Doctor banished Nightmare Moon and her guards to the Moon itself. The Doctor placed a special type of protection which locked the Nightmare Moon on the Moon…”

“It was simple really,” the Doctor said confidently “it was a powerful black hole powered self regenerating force field that completely surrounded the Moon in orbit. I designed it myself…”

“Until the Princess broke out,” Twilight interjected “there was a flaw in your plan.”

“Yes,” the Doctor said “well, not all plans are perfect. But it did work for a few bloody hundred years I could tell you.”

“It did Doctor,” Lock Light continued “the conditions for Nightmare’s release were set by Celestia herself. She knew that you all would play a key role in defeating Nightmare Moon. However, since she also saw that the Doctor and I worked so well together, she made us a team and tasked us with fighting all the evils which would beset Equestria both from Nightmare Moon and White Lightning.”

“So,” Twilight said “when you said earlier about communicating with each other. You knew all along?”

“Yes,” Lock Light said.

“And even earlier,” Rainbow Dash said “when you were helping Fluttershy out. The door was locked and you simply unlocked it using magic?”

“Yes.”

“And with the apples,” Applejack said “you made work get done faster than my whole family working together with magic?”

“Yes.”

“And my chores?” Rarity asked.

“Yes.”

“And the cleaning? And the other helpful things you did around Ponyville?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Yes.”

“I just have one more question,” Twilight asked “you didn’t teleport with the Doctor didn’t you. You could use magic, just like in the tunnels right?”

He nodded.

“That makes total sense!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. They all turned to her.

“Huh?” Spike asked.

“Twilight,” she continued “you remember yourself that only someone with magic could have done all of those things for every pony every night right? Well doesn’t it stand to obvious reason and logic that it would be either a unicorn or Alicorn?”

“Yes,” Twilight said “but I don’t remember…”

Pinkie Pie cut her off “and Applejack, you knew that whoever pony was helping you also had to have magic right?”

“Well,” she said “like Twilight I don’t exactly…”

“And Rarity,” Pinkie went on “you remember…”

“Yes darling,” Rarity said “we get the picture finally. Everything’s coming together. You don’t have to get all excited about it. It makes perfectly rational sense.”

“Right!” Pinkie Pie said “so now what I understand is why he had to say anything?”

“My lord,” one of the bats said tugging at Lock Light’s leg “does this one annoy you with her incessant babbling?”

“No good friend,” he neighed “she’s asking out of pure curiosity. Captain Hasaliss, could you show us where the old throne room is?”

“Yes, my lord,” he said hissing softly “we’ll glide in front of you. We’ll guide you with our voices in the dark.”

“We need to hurry,” Lock Light said “Doctor, you need to guard the girls. I’ll go on ahead, this is my fight.”

The Doctor nodded and Lock Light turned to face Captain Hasaliss “Captain,” he said “you need to leave one of your own here to help the others follow us.”

“We’ll provide them an escort my Lord,” said Hasaliss “Cassalis, you will stay behind.”

“But Captain,” Cassalis started in protest “I wish to fight and die beside you and his lordship.”

“There will be a time for that,” Hasaliss hissed “for now you must stay behind. You are my most trusted Lieutenant. The others would be lost without us to guide them. The remainder of you will stay with me and provide safe passage of the Sssson of Ssombra.”

With that, they sped off down the tunnel, the bats flying above and using their echo location to see in the dark. The girls, the Doctor, and Cassalis, stood there for several moments “We mussst move,” he said gesturing to them “I, like my brothers in front of you, will glide in front to show you the safest routes through the dark caverns and tunnels of our world.”

“Excuse me Cassalis,” Twilight asked “how do you know Lock Light?”

“He was a young colt,” Cassalis said “as he said, and it is true. He was hunted by Sssombra, and his guards. Tired, weak, and barely able to stand, he crawled into our caves and laid down as if to die. But we recognized him. We knew who he wasss. I was the one who discovered his shape in the shadows.”

“Why did he want to run away if he had life so good with King Sombra?”

“Do you really thhhink that?” Cassalis said as he soundlessly flew in the eternal night of the cavernous tunnels “Even as Ssombra’s Son, he had life pretty bad. His name, wasss, a mere title, White Lightning was through blood. He was constantly harassed by hisss new and jealous brother. Though White Lightning wasss older, Lock Light was more favored in the eyes of their father. We could hear the tantrums and rages of Sombra, even down here in the dark from the halls above. Lock Light left because he only wanted to be the pony hisss true father wanted him to become, and not a wizard’s student. Lock Light became an Alicorn through force, not desire. It was thrussst upon him as he said. We all knew, we the servants of the Empire. Ssso, we all secretly did that which we could to help the poor creature. We knew of his generosity, of hisss compassion, of hisss kindness towards all creatures and lack of segregation. He accepted all who came to him and who wished to be with him. Secretly, we all wanted him to ascend to the throne instead of White Lightning anyway, and I thhhink Ssombra knew that, which is another reason why he made Lock Light an heir to the throne.”

“How about yourself? How come you live down here?”

“We are a forgotten people,” Cassalis said “our function was to serve King Sombra. He created us in the chambers where we are going to now. Thisss is our home. We guarded the caverns which he forced slaves to work, preventing their escape from the tunnels of our deep realm. We are an abomination in the eyes of your princess and therefore, we only hearken to Princess Luna, should she grace us with her presssence. But even she finds us repulssssive, and now even she the Lady of the Night, won’t visit her most loyal subjects. We are a very lonely people.”

Twilight felt sad for the bats, she looked at Fluttershy she also had concern on her face. Piping up she asked “Are there any more of you down here?”

“We are the lassst of our kin,” Cassalis explained “we were born through mutation and genetic alteration. We cannot breed but we are spawned from the Demon Pit of Karakhum. That is where we are headed now. All that is needed is a single piece from our bodies to spawn. It is a great sacrifice for it is painful to tear into your own flesh, but it is needed to produce another. We are a weak people, though once we were strong. Once we swarmed and there were many, many in the caverns below. But it was our war with the Changlings which brought an end to our race. They used our love for each other and our love for our people againssst us. Their queen took over this Kingdom, making it a stinking place where rats freely roam and there are no sounds of laughter or of song.”

“Why do you think Lock Light didn’t tell us earlier that he was royalty?”

“Would you have treated him any different?” Cassalis retorted “he is not like every other noble pony who you come across. Have you ever met royalty before?”

“Yes,” Rarity said “and the only thing royal about them is that they are a royal pain!”

“Indeed,” Cassalis said giving a hissing chuckle “ssso we thought alssso. But Lock Light wouldn’t have told you if we hadn’t forced his hand. Our Captain blew his secret, and so he had to tell you. Otherwise, he would have continued without letting you know. It is a secret which he has kept for many years and one he isn’t proud of.”

“But he couldn’t help it,” Applejack said “he didn’t want to become Sombra’s son. I mean he ain’t that type of pony, at least from what I can see. He ain’t evil, and he’s thoughtful too.”

“Indeed,” Cassalis said “we joined his resistance when he formed it here in the caverns below the castle. We were given the charge to protect the tunnel’s entrances both by day and by night. The guards wouldn’t dare enter while we still were here. The Changelings, though dominant, were on another portion of the caves. So we were free to move within our own half, at least, those of us who remained.”

They suddenly came to a second large chamber. This one lit with bright red torches. Blue light danced as if reflecting water from a large pit in front of them. Lock Light stood there, his eyes shifting around, the bats surrounding him protectively. The girls, the Doctor and Cassalis came in. Lock Light spun around “Girls,” he shouted “don’t…”

The door slammed shut behind them. Rainbow Dash tried slamming against it but stopped as soon as the pit in front of them erupted them in white fire. A face appeared before them. It seemed tattooed in jagged white scars on a black face with dark blue eyes and a white mane. The face laughed maniacally.

“So,” the voice said “after all these years, we’re finally together again, aren’t we, brother.”