Once a Time Lord, Now a Pony

1 year before the Doctor's arrival...

Deep within the Canterlot dungeons he sat, just like he always had for over a decade and a half if he counted correctly. It was impossible to tell, as nothing seemed to change here and time lost it's meaning. Oh sure, prisoners came and went, some in boxes and he heard gossip from the guards but he never really figured out everything that was going on in the outside world. Right now, his ears perked up in interest from the conversation going on outside his cell.

"Did ya hear? Hear the latest?" A young voice asked in excitement. It's owner probably couldn't sit still.

"No. I didn't. Been down here all night till you came around to take over for me." The other voice, slightly older and with a Transylmainan accent (He suspected it was a thestral because of this) answered in response. "Not that I really do care.. Or do I?"

Ah, now he knew who that was. Galaxy Swirls, part of the Royal Guard's night shift which was the successor of the Night Guard of the Two Sisters era one thousand years before. Speaking of successors, HE had been promoted to Captain of the Royal Guard not too long ago if the gossip was corrected. HE, who the stallion had failed to kill all those years ago.

"Anyway, what's the news? Tell me, has Celestia been rumored to be spending "special time" with her subjects again?" Galaxy asked with derision and boredom. Annoyance was there as well. "Cause, y'know, I really hate those rumors. They got old long before I got here. REALLY old."

"Nah, nothing like that..." The younger voice said, and probably was waving his hoof in dismissal. "Actually, I heard this big blue box crashed into a café with some weird stallion calling himself the Doctor inside it. Can you believe it?" The first one asked in disbelief. The prisoner's eyes widened. So... He was here now. Must have just arrived in the timeline. Well... now things were getting interesting. Very interesting indeed...

Back in the past...

"Damn... He's escaped. Should have expected something like this." The new and rather hastily appointed Captain of the Guard, Steel Sentry who was the father of Flash Sentry said sadly as he shook his head. He gazed down at the bloody mess in front of him and a open chariot door. "How could this have happened? What do I tell the family."

The Doctor stepped up.

"Tell him, his killer won't be on the loose for much longer. We'll catch him. For the record... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He said sadly, but Shining shook his head.

"No, I'll catch him. He's my responsibility." Shining snarled, and both Steel and the Doctor looked at him in a quizzical manner.

"How come?" Steel asked.

"I... have my reasons." Shining said, but Steel was still confused. He was a gray furred stallion, with matching mane. His Cutie Mark, a shield with rivets was hidden by his armor like all Royal Guards.

"Who are you anyway? Don't think I ever caught your name." He asked.

"Just a friend." Shining said simply, before running off down the street. If he was right, he knew exactly where Boltstrike was going and what he was attempting to do. He had to be stopped, one way or the other. Fatally, if need be. He just hoped he wasn't too late...

The home of the Sparkle Family...

Young Shining was just emerging from his hiding place under the bed. He'd heard the sounds of laser fire and screaming followed by a explosion. He didn't know where his parents were, they said they would return from their shopping trip but for all he knew they could be dead, killed by some enemy griffin. He let out a small sob of fear, before quickly silencing it. NO! He must be brave. Future Royal Guards never show fear, never. Then, he heard the sound of footsteps coming up the wooden staircase creaking as they did so. Were they back?

"H-hello...? Who's there?" He called.

He heard the door open.

"Kid? Where are you kid?" Boltstrike asked, and Shining crawled out from under the bed. "C-captain? Have you seen my mom and dad? Please, I need to know!" He yelled in fear. Boltstrike smirked in a almost evil manner. Insanity glinted in his eyes.

"Yeah, sure I saw them. Just coming home. Lucky, they were to avoid the chaos my Ironside caused. But they weren't so lucky to avoid me. Knocked them out, when they wake up they'll be in for a nasty surprise..." Boltstrike snarled, and Shining whimpered. He didn't know why, but he was afraid.

"W-what do you mean?" He asked nervously.

"I mean YOU dead, kid. Sorry, but no Royal Guardhood for you!" Boltstrike laughed, and advanced closer. Shining took steps back before he found himself up against the dresser able to move no further. He sobbed in fear as the mad stallion pulled out a knife.

"Captain, please! Boltstrike!" He pleaded, but to no avail.

"SHUT UP! You'll get what you deserve!" Boltstrike yelled before leaping forwards. But before he could kill his target, he was blindsided as the older Shining burst through a window and knocked him up against the bed.

"Get away from him." Shining muttered before whispering a spell under his breath that harmlessly knocked out his younger self. He didn't need to see this, plus it would avoid some uncomfortable questions.

"Ah, so you've come to save YOURSELF?" Boltstrike asked, and Shining blanched in shock. "Yes, I'm smart enough to figure things out. I am a Captain after all." Boltstrike said arrogantly.

"You're NO Captain. You don't deserve that title." Shining snarled, before using his magic to throw his enemy down the stairwell. Boltstrike recovered, and ran back towards Shining, and lunged at him with the knife drawing blood making the older Shining grimace in pain but he quickly shook it off before punching his foe in the face knocking him out. Shining said nothing as he looked at his foe silently. The damage was done, and it would be a while before his younger self could trust anypony fully ever again...

Soon, the Doctor and Steel arrived as Shining explained what happened. After he had, the Doctor pulled him aside as Boltstrike was taken away in chains.

"So, that's why...?" He trailed off sadly.

"Why I'm not trusting of anypony? Yeah, that's it. Funny thing though. I never really knew who saved me that day. I always assumed a Royal Guard showed up to stop Boltstrike." Shining replied. The Doctor could only smile to that.

"Well, you're not wrong." He joked, making his companion smile.

"No, I guess I wasn't..."

Present Time, Golden Oaks Library...

Twilight sat back in shock at the Doctor's tale.

"Wow, I never knew... I knew he had trust issues, but to be almost killed by his idol and mentor. I... I just can't imagine. What if it was me, and Princess Celestia?" She asked, but the Doctor put a hoof on her shoulder.

"It won't ever be. Trust me." He said with a smile.

"How... How do you know?" Twilight asked.

"Trust me. I'm the Doctor."

END