Once a Time Lord, Now a Pony

Canterlot General, Shining Armor's room...

It was past midnight in Canterlot, and Shining Armor was awake. Everypony else had gone to sleep, even his girlfriend who had watched him for hours never leaving his side. It comforted Shining that Cadence was willing to stick with him in his probable final hours. He knew he probably wasn't going to make it through the night. If only he had Alicorn level magic like Celestia, who Shining knew would probably pull through this if the cure were to be found. He didn't have that much time to wait for it. Honestly, he didn't have any real regrets, the only one being that his dear Twiley wouldn't learn of this until after she got back from wherever she was. He just hoped she wouldn't blame herself for not being here, though Shining knew that was probably a false hope.

"Oh, don't tell me that's all it takes to do you in. A form of fever and some bloodloss?" A very familiar voice teased. But it couldn't be who it sounded like, as it's owner had been dead for over a year. But there he was, Flash Sentry standing in front of him in full Royal Guard armor. "I know you boss, and you're tougher then that."

Shining blinked and rubbed his eyes. He heard ponies often saw hallucinations before they died of the Nightwitch but he'd never believed it. "Flash" chuckled as if he knew exactly what his Captain was thinking.

"Oh, you're not seeing things. I'm here."

"B-but you-" Shining stammered before he was cut off.

"Died? Yeah, I died. Got my neck snapped like a twig didn't I? You can correct me if I'm wrong or something here." Flash said in a possibly embarrassed tone. "Killed by a freaky statue. Yeah, that's pretty high up there on weird ways to go." He muttered before he faded away briefly and swore quietly under his breath before continuing.

"Listen, I don't have much time so I'm here to tell you this. Shining, don't give up hope. A cure will be found, it's not your time just yet."

"How do you know?" Shining asked in suspicion with his eyes narrowed. He still didn't quite believe what he was seeing.

"Let's just say I have a fast forwarded view of things from where I am." Flash smirked before he began to fade away again. Flash shouted off one last thing as he did so. "Listen, tell my dad that I lo-"

He never finished whatever he was about to say before he faded away completely leaving no trace he was ever there. With a touch of sadness and yet with a new hope in his voice Shining whispered "Don't worry Flash, I'm sure he knows."

R.I.F.T Labs

Meanwhile, at R.I.F.T Sunburst had been working through the night to create the cure that was desperately needed to save the Sun Princess and the Captain of the Royal Guard. It had been going well, but at the very last moment a little snag had been it. One of the last things needed, Orion Leaves was out of stock at the labs and although it had been ordered it wouldn't be here for a couple more days... Which they didn't have in Shining's case as stated before.

"Damn damn damn... Oh, I hope nopony heard that..." Sunburst muttered as he put his face in his hooves. "My mother would slap me over the head if she heard me cursing at all." He whispered nervously while glancing right and left to see if anyone was near. In the corner of the room, Galaxy Swirls who had been guarding him throughout the night chanted under his breath over and over. "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao." it went. Sunburst raised a eyebrow in disbelief. Although he knew tons of spells, he never heard one quite like that.

"What are you doing?" He asked. Galaxy whirled around to face him, with a odd grin on his face. It was either his " I know something you don't" or his "I'm having a good time and nopony can bring me down" one. It was really hard to tell between the two more often then not.

"Glad you asked. It's a old Chineighse spell. Used to summon things. Hopefully I can summon that Doctor character and his machine." Galaxy chirped. Sunburst sighed.

"Y-you do realize that only u-unicorns can preform spells right?" He stammered. Galaxy hung his head and muttered "Oh, right. Well, worth a shot I suppose."

It was then both of them noticed a package that had been laid outside the lab doorway. They shared a look, as they both knew perfectly well the Orion Leaves couldn't have arrived THAT quickly.

"Sooooo..." Galaxy began as they approached it. "Who wants to open the package and die a rather horrible death?" He said mock-cheerfully.

"N-not me." Sunburst stammered.

"Well, you and I are the only ones in the room and it's not going to be me." Galaxy retorted. "Now, if you want to be the sacrifice I promise I'll give you a nice eulogy."

"Gee, cause that sounds so reassuring." Sunburst responded dryly. Galaxy's jaw dropped for a good minute or so. Looks like those self help books he heard Celestia sent Sunburst as a gift were working out. For the next half minute or so, Galaxy couldn't even sputter out a good response. Eventually though he managed to regain the power of speech.

"Well, in that case if neither of us wants to open it by hoof..."

Both of them retreated to the back of the room and with his magic Sunburst opened up the box from afar. Nothing happened, much to both of their surprises. Galaxy nervously went over to box and with a "You have to be kidding me" expression lifted out what was inside. What was inside was some Orion Leaves...

Rich Enterprises Cybersuit Factory, Future Manehatten...

Twilight, Filthy and the Doctor ran. Behind them, the rhythmic hoofsteps of a good ten to twenty Cybersuits followed. KA-THUNK! KA-THUNK! KA-THUNK! they went never loosing their pace. This only encouraged the threesome to run faster. They rounded a corner and the Doctor shut a door behind them before locking it with his sonic. To add to that, Twilight melted the door handle with a spell.

"There... There, that should hold them. At least for a while." The lavender unicorn panted, tired out from all the running she'd had to do throughout the night. Offhand, she wondered if her future Alicorn self ever got tired from running. That is, if she ever did that at all thanks to those powerful looking wings she saw she had. Actually, now that she thought about it, how'd she even gain her Alicorn status in the first place anyway? What had she done to deserve it? She looked at the Doctor questioningly. Surely in all his travels through time and space in the past year he would know. But the Doctor once again gave her a serious look, and once again he knew her thoughts.

"Trust me Twilight, asking too many questions about the future could change it in any way and it's not always for the better." He told her with a frown before muttering "No, this is too easy. Why haven't they started breaking down the door yet? I know the Cyberiad. They don't give up this easily."

"What I'm wondering is how my daughter got more of her up and running so fast. They actually need ponies inside them to power those suits." Filthy wondered aloud.

"Who says they don't?" Twilight guessed, and the room seemed to gain a distinct chill at her statement. Nobody bothered to refute her, as they all were thinking the exact same things in the back of their minds. It was only Twilight who had decided to voice it aloud. Suddenly she screamed as another Cyberpony suit came out of the darkness and pointed it's foreleg mounted cannon at them.

"DELETE! DELETE!" It repeated in it's monotone voice. The Doctor reacted fast and pointed his sonic at it and suddenly the Cyberpony's emotions changed. Or to be more accurate, they came back.

"What... What am I? How... Oh Celestia, who did this to me?" The mind once known as Suri Polomare exclaimed in horror as the Doctor whispered "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." as Twilight and Filthy watched in horror. Then, it happened. The cyberpony's head exploded with a shower of sparks and the body slumped to the floor.

"What... What did you do?" Filthy asked.

"Disabled the emotional inhibators. Let that poor pony see for itself what it truly was. Looks like your daughter's plans are moving faster then we thought if she's already taking living brains and putting them in those things." The Doctor explained.

"Do we really have a right to do that? Kill them I mean?" Filthy asked and Twilight shook her head sadly. From what she just heard, it sounded like a mercy to end those ponies suffering.

Eventually, and spurred on from what they just witnessed the threesome eventually made it to the Cyber Control Center. But Diamond was already there, hooked up to a special chair just like John Lumic had been back on Pete's World. But once again, there was a difference.

"Dad, help me... Please!" Diamond pleaded even as the Cybersuit she wore controlled every of it's counterparts that were exactly like it.

"Diamond, you did always want to be a princess." Filthy laughed sadly before he fought back a sob. "And now, thanks to me you are one, of a kingdom of steel. I'm sorry."

Twilight watched in confusion. Last time, Diamond seemed to have no emotions. And now she did. Then Twilight's eyes widened, as she figured out what had happened. When the Doctor made that cyberpony back in the corridor regain it's emotions, they must have somehow fed back to Diamond and freed her as well. The Doctor realized this as well, and began to get a idea.

"Diamond, you've got to fight this! It's not you, I know it." The Doctor yelled. "If you don't the pony race ends right here, right on this very night! And all the other races soon after that! All that'll be left is a metal Equus, and metal inhabitants. And then they'll spread out amongst the stars turning others into things just like you! Believe me, I've seen this happen before! So for the love of Rassilion, just stop!" He roared, and something clicked in Diamond's mind.

"You're right. I'm a princess now, a princess of steel. And a princess protects her people!"

Diamond screamed as she focused all her will through the Cyber Controller's chair and all it was connected to, every last Cybersuit and the brains inside them. Emotions were brought back, before their owners realized what they had become and felt the backlash before quickly being silenced. And then, in a instant it was over.

Diamond let out a small, barely audible "Thank you." before she slipped into unconsciousness.