Once a Time Lord, Now a Pony

Meanwhile, as Boltstrike plotted in secret and ran a few final tests on his Ironside he thought he had created the Doctor remained unaware of what was going on behind the scenes. He had found Celestia and has struck up a conversation...

"This war... it's wearing on you isn't it? I can see it in your eyes." He said, and Celestia looked at him sadly with a mix of shock thrown in there as well.

"Is it really that obvious?" She asked, as the Time Lord nodded. "Who are you anyway?"

"Just a friend. Just someone who wants to see that sights." The Doctor replied, but Celestia didn't believe him, not for a moment. The war had turned her cynical, and it wouldn't be until after it was over that she would be back to her old self.

"Ponies don't "See the sights" as you say in the middle of a war between nations. What are you really doing? I don't like to be lied to, Doctor." She said, looking straight at him. Her gaze seemed to drill right into him, but the Doctor was unfazed.

"Who said I was lying? That's all I really want to do, just see what there is out there." He replied, and this time Celestia seemed to believe him but she had another question on her mind.

"You said we've met before, but I don't recall..." She started before being interrupted.

"Meeting me? Oh, you'll know what I mean eventually. Just wait a couple more years. There are changes coming in your future Princess, some good and some not. Spoilers." He added with a grin before mentally groaning. Why'd that term make him want to do that? It wasn't like it had before. "Sweetie" also seemed to make him want to groan as well. How odd.

"Best you get some sleep." Celestia told him. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

The very next day, the Doctor and Shining found themselves in the middle of chaos as ponies ran to and fro as orders were relayed to them. Apparently, the Griffin army was getting closer as they'd broken through the nearby defence line a mile away while everypony else had been sleeping.

"Alright everypony!" Boltstrike shouted over the din. "Looks like this is it, we beat the Griffin Army here or we die trying! Now, are you all with me?"

The soldiers roared their battle cries in response. The Doctor got out of sight, fighting was just not for him. Shining, on the other hoof got handed some armor by Boltstrike.

"Here, didn't catch your name, but take this. You'll need. Just try and wash the blood off when you're done eh? I so do hate armor looking so messy when the mares are around." He said, winking before looking at Shining with a critical eye. "You know, you look almost... familiar. Wonder why?"

"I... I guess I just have one of those faces." Shining said with a nervous grin. Boltstrike didn't look convinced but shrugged it off. He didn't have time to ponder on this, not when it was time to unleash his surprise.

"Alright, those birdbrains want to see death? Oh, they'll see it alright but it's not going to be use who are doing the dying. Them on the other hand..." Boltstrike chuckled gravely. He turned to the Doctor. "Come on out, I know you're there. You're going to want to see this."

He lead them outside, Shining's armor looking odd on him as it didn't quite fit. High in the sky, some approaching griffin warriors could be seen flying towards them. Boltstrike yelled "Fire round one!" before blue beams of light fired from behind some crates. Their source could not be seen. The Doctor's eyes widened at the sound. It couldn't be.

"Fire round two!" Boltstrike ordered and more shots fired and more griffins fell, dropping from the skies like leaves.

"No no no no..." He whispered in horror and denial. "Why them? Why here?" He panicked and Shining began to look concerned. The last time he'd seen the Doctor afraid, it was with the Weeping Angels. But that was nervousness. This was almost outright panic, mixed with denial.

"Doctor? What's wrong?" He asked, but received only a terrified look from the Time Lord and a whispered "No no no no... Can't be, not here." Shining's confusion was only heightened when a pepper pot shaped being rolled out from behind some crates. The Doctor began taking a few steps back. Boltstrike, if he noticed the Time Lord's terror, either didn't show it or just didn't care and smiled.

"Doctor, meet my Ironside and the key to winning this war."

As they went back inside the commander's tent now with the Ironside among them Boltstrike was greeted with cheers and claps of approval. He took it all in and smiled. He loved the victory after a battle, despite how much he told everypony else otherwise. You see, under that calm demeanor of his the Captain loved attention and to be acknowledged. He lived for it. He patted his Ironside on it's domed head.

"You see? Nothing to worry about now huh? Not with my Ir-"

He was interrupted from behind him by the Doctor.

"It's not called a Ironside." He whispered loud enough to be heard, and Boltstrike turned to look at him.

"What? Sorry, speak up I couldn't hear you." He asked sarcastically. The Doctor got in his face and growled out "It's not called a Ironside, it's called a Dalek. And right now it is the most dangerous thing in the room. I know you didn't create it, so where'd you find it?"

Boltstrike laughed nervously.

"F-find it... Surely you're-"

"Today is not a good day to lie to me, Captain." The Doctor growled. Celestia trotted forwards, but Shining stopped her and said "No, let him talk. Something's off here, and I can smell it."

Boltstrike finally gave up the ghost.

"Alright... ALRIGHT! I didn't create it." He admitted. "I found it in a crater. Brought it here, fixed it up. I wanted to win this war, give those damn birdbrains what they deserve." He yelled in rage, beginning to show his true colors for the first time. The Doctor had heard enough, gestured to the guards who restrained the Captain who yelled various curse words at him which can't be printed here.

The Doctor turned to the Dalek.

"Alright, why haven't you shown yourself yet?" He asked, staring down his arch-foe's eyestalk.

"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND." The Dalek answered in confusion. Least, that was it seemed to be in. But the Doctor knew better.

"Don't give me that. I know you understand perfectly well. I am the Doctor, and YOU are a Dalek." He snarled, and that was all it needed. It answered with one simple word.

"CORRECT."

And it fired...